Loon Cafe

Looks like The Loon has closed… I will miss George… other than that not much to miss. The Loon of years gone by left a long time ago.

food was okay but pricey for what it was. fried seafood platter so-so…perch good but shrimp tasted soapy and scallops rubbery. fries were hot but strangely soft and rubbery.
service was good, friendly and fast (though it was not crowded at all.).
the people at the bar (mostly middle aged men) stared at us like we were invaders when we walked in.
i am so glad that there is no smoking in businesses anymore. however, the stench outside the front door of the loon and the foyer was overpowering, like it was dipped and aged in liquid yellow smoke. there was a large ashtray right by the front door, full of butts. it my have been a days worth or a weeks worth, but it stunk bad. almost turned us around right there, but we were hungry and there.

Ok, I’ve been there many times, only because a couple friendslike this place. They’re older and for some reason they love this plac. e I don’t love it. I think it stinks. Literally. It has a smell, almost a musty basement kind of smell as you walk near the bar. I don’t know if anyone else who reads this and has dined there knows what I’m talking about. it smells at a very specific spot and the smell hits you right in the face. Pow! The food. Crapski. No good. They burn everything. I’ve ordered the fish; burned. I’ve ordered the steak; charred. I ordered the pasta, ok, so they didn’t burn pasta, but I still wasn’t impressed. All in all, I have never had a good meal there. The staff can be unfriendly if you’re not a regular. They love my older friends because they’re regulars there but when I went there with a friend who was also older (only because the older folks I know seem to love it) who isn’t a regular, I was not treated very nicely. It was almost as if they were annoyed to wait on us. My dining partner wasn’t happy with the place either so I guess not all old people like the place. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

The company receptionist sent me over to this place to test it out for some big-​wigs who were planning a dinner meeting next week. The ambiance is very «Meh, I’ve seen better.» It was pretty much a bar, with some creative woodsy touches thrown in like the big moose head on the wall (niiiiiiiice) and the wood paneling on the walls and all. However, I told her I didn’t think the executives from corporate would like that too much. I have to say, the food was pretty good. I ordered the eggplant sandwich and it was pretty light –not greasy –and well seasoned. Overall, my experience is good but I just wasn’t really thrilled with the looks of the place. Probably a good choice if you are meeting up after work to get drinks and want some tasty, reasonably priced food but don’t really care if Bullwinkle is staring at ya…

I wanted to like this place. When I walked in it had a rustic, north-​woodsy feel. I liked that. Unfortunately, that is all I liked. I ordered a Filet, er, tried to order a Filet, but was told they don’t serve it anymore and they were waiting for their new, updated menus to arrive. Okay, that happens, should have told us that when we sat down, but, okay, that happens. So, I order a NY strip. About 15 minutes later, the waitress comes back to our table and tells me they don’t have that either. Okay, wtf? What DO you have? I ended up just ordering a burger, which was average. The food took FOREVER! And we were the only table at this point. One of the specials was sausage & peppers with rigatoni. It was served with mostaciolli. The red sauce tasted like ketchup with nutmeg, truly disgusting. My sister-​in-​law ordered chicken limone and the sauce was clumpy with cornstarch or flour and when she cut into the chicken it was RAW! Not good, won’t be back.

this placewas terrible. the service was bad and slow. the one waitress that didnt wait on us was rude and making snide comments about our group. The food was served half cooked sent it back and didnt eat anything else.

They used to be good, very good. They are nowhere near good these days. When you’re greeted by a dirty, greasy menu it’s kind of a turn off. Things only get worse from there. A server would have been nice, but then again it wasn’t as uncomfortable walking out when nobody even notices you’re there. We did stay long enough to notice the dirty silverware, though. They must be making all their money on the mob boys who are known to hang out there. Don’t ask me why.

I’ve been here about five times in the last couple of months (was just introduced to it) and I have to say I’m impressed. The prices are pretty reasonable and the food is quite tasty. I’ve only had a few of the menu items but I’ve been particularly fond of their soups. There’s so much to choose from — salads, sandwiches, burgers, pastas, seafood, ribs, soups, etc. More than anything, though, I like the casual and comfortable atmosphere.

We used to enjoy the Loon many moons ago. They used to have a great food and service. I don’t know what happened. The last two visits were horrible and we will not be returning. Our last meal there was a comedy of errors. The baked fontina was great until we ran out of bread to put it on and our waitress was nowhere to be found. By the time we got more bread, the cheese had hardened. The fish I ordered was overcooked and the veggies were nearly raw. Don’t show up thirsty as they charge you for every refill. The Loon used to be a great restaurant. The food and service used to be so good that you overlooked the outdated décor. Some major changes need to happen before I will be returning.

We went there for breakfast and at 11 on a Sunday the waitstaff was still moving a little slow. Their menu for breakfast is not large by any means. I was going to get the breakfast burrito and they were out of salsa. I ordered a Denver Omelet. I requested a side of fruit. They were out of fruit too. The potatoes seem to have been deep fried=super greasy. The omelet was decent, but the slow service, lack of choices, their shortage of things that are on the menu and the greasy potatoes makes me think there are better places to spend my cash.

First time and last time impression. Food was not good. Burgers are frozen! Lasagna was just ok. Drinks came quick and the rest took a long, long time. Over 45 minutes for an appetizer (potato skins) and they were terrible, the potatoes were burnt, and you could not taste the bacon. $ 7 I would have rather spent on a Wendy’s bacon & cheese potato, and still had $ 5 left over. Service not great! Snafu in the kitchen and was not offered a discount, or any compensation. Prices are too high and they are in desperate need of updating. Considering its at a metra stop where so many people experience downtown eateries, it should be a lot better. Go to Da Luciano or Pescatore Palace instead. I honestly don’t know how this place got it’s 5 star ratings.

The Loon café is great place for lunch. I enjoy their pork chop sandwich that comes with spicy mayo on the side. Very tasty. I read a couple reviews complaining about price but come on its not a drive thru. I think its pretty reasonable considering that their portions are pretty big. Their buffallo chicken wrap is also pretty good. Waitress are nice and the owner Tom is even nicer. If you do go for lunch it gets pretty packed but they do have a parking lot and additional parking so thats always good.
O yeah and if you need a small banquet for maybe like 25 – 100 ppl they have a private area in the back. =)

I’ve been to this place quite a bit. I used to live about a block away from here in the grove and it’s good food. I love the chicken wings honestly they are the biggest wings I’ve ever seen. Good calamari and I’ve had all of thier pasta type dishes. The waitstaff is always super nice and the bar staff just as nice. There really aren’t that many choices for a nice meal around here so this place is a no brainer.

My grandmother-in-law’s favorite restaurant, I find the food at The Loon consistently overpriced and terrible. Steer clear of the seafood — it’s not fresh and tends to be on the rubbery side, though the calamari is okay. The chicken runs dry, the pre-​tossed salads are LOADED with dressing, so go for dressing on the side if that’s a concern.
There are far better restaurants in the area for $ 15 a plate. Seriously, go someplace else. We’re in the process of weaning the family off going here just because it’s «the usual», especially since, every time, folks complain about the food.

I usually try to check into the «Loon Café» about once a week or so, after all I am considered to be a regular there. This last time I went to the Loon I ordered the «usual», a buffalo chicken wrap on their lunch menu, an item that I get with no lettuce, tomato, or celery. For the first time in the last two years I’ve been ordering this chicken wrap, they ran out of hotsauce. Not knowing what to order one of the staff whipped up some homemade cajun hotsauce in the back to put on the wrap. This new hotsauce is BY FAR one of the most unique, spiciest, and most delicious hotsauces I have ever tasted. After I finished the new and improved chicken wrap, our waitress came back to the table and asked me which hotsauce I liked better. I mentioned that I liked the new homemade hotsauce and was surprised to hear that because of my recommendation it maybe the new hotsauce that they use. Now I felt the need to COMPLETELY update my review to clear up some problems over some of the newer reviews. A lot of the customers seem to be complaining about the Loon’s breakfast menu. I would just like to clarify that the Loon’s breakfast menu is only about two months old and the chefs have never cooked breakfast foods for a restaurant before. Seeing that the restaurant gets relatively packed for breakfast, the few chefs have little time to gets all the food out without some mistakes. The dinner specials for the Loon are more expensive than their normal meals, but are normally a little bigger portions. The review stating that an appetizer took 45 minutes is absurd. Rarely have I seen any food, including appetizers, take that long to come out of the kitchen.

I like the location of this place. I found it one day on my way to Brookfield Zoo. It looks like a roadside tavern, but don’t let that fool you. It is a quality restaurant and pub. It has a relaxed atmosphere inside. It is a family owned and operated place that I know has been here at least 10 yrs. They have some really quality meals starting at aprox. $ 10. and go up to $ 28.00 for just the meal. I suggest trying their French Market Stew which is very tasty. They have specials on weekends.