The Waterfront Cafe — Restaurant in Lake View Township

Easily the worst management I've ever encountered. Went on a Saturday night with family to celebrate a birthday, and while the food was actually pretty good, the entire experience was unpleasant.

To start, we ordered crabcakes and chips & guac, which never came. We repeatedly asked our server when our appetizers were coming, and also wanted to make sure they came well before our meal. Our waitress assured us several times this would be the case. After an hour and 5 minutes, our main entrees finally came, and we still hadn't received our appetizers. They then proceeded to bring out our appetizers 5 minutes later, at which point we sent it all back given the fact that we already had our food. In the process, all of our soft drinks were flat and tasted terrible.

At this point we called over a manager, and it took 15 minutes for anyone to come, yet another irritating part of the night. After explaining the situation, the manager went on to ASK ME what I think he should do to make the night better, rather than making sure we were taken care of, COMPLETE JOKE. I told him the soft drinks and appetizers needed to be taken off, and the dessert we were going to order for my grandfather's birthday we wanted off too, all of which he said was fine.

Later, when they brought our bill, we were still being charged for one of the soft drinks, and they didn't take the dessert off. The waitress came back with a new check which excluded the soft drink, but said they couldn't take off the dessert because the one we ordered wasn't the complimentary dessert they give people for birthdays (The restaurant only serves 3 desserts, ALL of which are $6). At this point, I called the manager again.

After another 15 minutes without anyone coming, I demanded to speak to someone otherwise we'd be leaving without paying (check was over $100). The owner came out and said they wouldn't take the dessert off because that's not the dessert they offer people for their birthday, even though I was assured earlier that it would be fine, and on top of that they were the exact same price. He also had the nerve to mention that it's due to inventory concerns. I basically told the owner that if he doesn't take the dessert off we will never be back, and that didn't seem to bother him too much.

All in all, the absolute dumbest management I've ever encountered, and I will absolutely never go back. In addition, the restaurant hurts the environment by using plastic silverware and should be ashamed of themselves for how they run...

This review is based on my most recent visits to Waterfront as the change in their service model has ultimately improved the dining and service experience at the cafe.

In years past, it would take forever to get a table at Waterfront and even longer to have your order served despite the seeming abundance of staff. Even though the ambiance and setting were awesome, the thought of the wait often resulted in me choosing elsewhere to dine.

The hybrid automated/ in-person ordering model that Waterfront has adopted since the pandemic has totally done away with both concerns. We never wait for a table now and I think that is because table turnover has improved. Beverage service (which is requested by scanning a barcode assigned to your specific table) is brought to your table in what feels like minutes, and the limited food menu makes the food service just as quick. Even though you do have to order in-person inside the restaurant, social distancing and mask are mandated so it feels relative safe.

Lake Michigan provides some of the most beautiful views in the Midwest which makes Waterfront a real gem as there are few othey dining establishments on the lake in Chicago. I'm so glad that the owners were able to pivot so that the lovely waterfront could still be enjoyed while sipping on a cup of coffee, cooling off with a cold libation or eating on a light snack despite the ongoing pandemic.

I've been happy to know that we were supporting a small business during these difficult times for businesses. I hope this review encourages others to do the same. If you do, you won't be disappointed because Waterfront Cafe is definitely...

I didn’t know what to expect. No reservations. Seat yourself, any open table. Order & pay inside and take a number to your table. They’ll bring the order once it’s ready. I love the beachy atmosphere! You sit under a canopy of trees and cafe lights, looking out onto beautiful Lake Michigan, clouds, sun, water. Just beautiful! Btw, there is no indoor seating; the only thing that’s inside is the kitchen and bathrooms. Every order was flavorful and filling. The chicken salad had big chunks of chicken, walnuts, and cranberries. It was not swimming in mayonnaise. My two favorites were the Jerk Chicken Nachos and Blackened Cajun Shrimp Roll. There was plenty to share with the nachos. Just alittle heat added for a very tasty shareable dish. The Blackened Cajun Shrimp Roll also had some heat balanced out with a sweet lemon caper aiol. The New England grilled buttered bun is also an unsung hero of this sandwich. Mmmmm….so good! We also had ordered drinks: piña coladas, margaritas, and cold beers. Bottom line: this is a great outdoor place to pass an afternoon or evening. Very casual, low stress. The views are wonderful. I love the natural surroundings. It makes you think you’re at the beach. Just go. You won’t have white linen and stemmed goblets, but you’ll love it...