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Patio in The Evening - The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar, Chicago, IL
Jambalaya with Extra Side of Bread - The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar, Chicago, IL
Super Crunchy and Caterpillar Maki - The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar, Chicago, IL
Crunchy Crab & 53rd Maki - The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar, Chicago, IL
Dragon Maki - The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar, Chicago, IL

The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar

4.1
4.1
40 Reviews
$30 and under
Sushi
The Sitdown Café is a unique sushi bar and restaurant. The inside of the little bistro is cozy and comfortable, reflecting all of the neighborhood charm of a local diner. The staff here is friendly and helpful, always ready to offer a recommendationnn or answer any questions guests might have. The Sitdown Café offers a wide variety of dishes. The menu is broken up into appetizers, soups, salads, sushi, sandwiches and pizza. This kind of variety is unique, as most restaurants do not offer both sushi and pizza. Popular sushi rolls at The Sitdown Café include the Chicago Fire with tuna, salmon, white tuna, jalapeno and cilantro, as well as the drunken tiger with crab, avocado and cucumber topped with tiger shrimp and mango tobiko sauce. The pizzas are completely customizable, with guests adding ingredients as they want, like mozzarella, tomato, basil, mushrooms, feta, peppers, onion, black olives and prosciutto

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 1 time today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Sushi, Pizza Bar, Mediterranean
  • Hours of operation
    Daily :11:00 am – 9:30 pm;
  • Phone number
    (773) 324-3700
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Catering
    We offer all sorts of catering options, please contact us directly for further details.
  • Neighborhood
    Hyde Park
  • Cross street
    53rd & Kimbark
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    53rd and Wood Lawn CTA Bus
  • Additional
    Beer, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 40 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.1
4.1 based on all time ratings
  • 4.1Food
  • 4.1Service
  • 3.7Ambience
  • 3.9Value

NoiseModerate

40 Reviews
  1. JohnG

    Chicago

    7 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on October 6, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience2
    Sushi was very good - but hard to call this a bistro

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  2. Rosalind

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our server was the right amount of friendly and attentive. Very good experience. Food came quickly; fresh, well presented and generous portions

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  3. RITAS

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Glad this place survived the pandemic! Great sushi options, great martinis & the owner has a watchful eye on his customers.

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  4. Sincere

    New Orleans

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Tasty, gluten free options and quick service. We will be back

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  5. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Sushi was delicious! I had Kamikazee, Chicago Fire and nigiri platter; all were very tasty and fresh. Service was great and everyone was very attentive.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 13, 2023

    overall1food1service5ambience3
    Sushi tasted old

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  7. OmariK

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 5, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    The fool was overpriced. The server was inattentive…..took her a long time to come back, and they barely had anybody inside of the restaurant. They serve also messed them out order and then try to make you seem like I ordered something else that I did not order.

    1 person found this helpful

  8. NSmith

    Chicago

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Had dinner here with my husband and we were very pleased! I had a special for an appetizer, I think they called it hamachi carpaccio. It was so delicious and fresh I wound up getting another one as my meal. I also had a bowl of their jambalaya which was a nice mix of spicy, meaty and hearty. My husband, who complains about nearly everything (love ya honey) had a platter of sashimi and loved it. He was nice enough to let me grab a couple pieces and I enjoyed it equally as well. Give the SitDown a go, you won’t be disappointed.

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  9. JanetB

    Chicago

    11 reviews

    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on January 14, 2023

    overall3food1service5ambience3
    The wait service was excellent. I only had sushi, so this review is limited to only that. The fish had not gone bad, but it was not fresh either. Sushi fish has to be fresh. I would go back to The Sit Down Cafe again, but I would not have sushi. The miso soup was good, however.

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  10. Chrissie

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 16, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    Our group of five arrived late on a Sunday evening, were greeted graciously and well-served. We all were pleased with our choices (soup, mussels, sushi, sandwiches, salads, shrimp with rice). Everything was delicious; it’s nice having a menu with a variety of options. We didn’t even get to the pizza, which I remember being very good on a previous visit.

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  11. BekiD

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 26, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everyday is a good day at the St Down Inn!

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  12. BarbaraW

    Chicago

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Nice and quiet place. Easy conversation. Lots of choices on the menu, most excellent salads and soups. Love it!

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  13. mitch

    Chicago

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on October 1, 2019

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    Great food, reasonable prices. Understaffed the noon we were there. Waitperson was hustling as fast as she could. Kitchen also seemed slow. I had mussels, and toasted bread came much later.

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  14. DanaH

    Greater Boston

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on September 6, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Very welcoming service! Kid friendly but still for adults. Fresh, well-prepared food. We will be back!

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  15. YasminH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 10, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Definitely my favorite sushi spot. The manager is great. The servers are great. The sushi is so fresh and delicious. Never have tried one I didn’t like. My friends and I always have a great time when we visit. Life long customer.

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  16. formerwaitress

    New Orleans

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 1, 2014

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We are so lucky to have this restaurant in our neighborhood! With all the new restaurants that have been opening and then occasionally closing, this restaurant is the best and reminds you why you loving living in Hyde Park.

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  17. cachto

    Chicago

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on June 14, 2014

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fabulous gluten-free selections! Everyone was satisfied with the food. Great choice! The management and wait staff were terrific! It's difficult to find a restaurant that please both those with Celiac and those who don't need gluten-free, but this is one of the best choices I've ever found. The gluten-free bruschetta was fabulous!

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  18. hydepark40th

    Cincinnati

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 6, 2014

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    We had a great variety of food among us for lunch...from soup to salad to sushi. It was all good. The service was fine. We were not in a hurray and neither were the waiters. It was the perfect place to meet, eat, and chat.

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  19. Olliesmom1

    Chicago

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on February 18, 2014

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Sitdown is a terrific find in Hyde Park. The owner Sal is always on hand to make you feel welcome. He features his grandmother's soups and while it may sound strange to mix pizza and sushi, his fish is the among the freshest in the City. If you think Pizza and sushi is a strange mix, don't dis it until you have tried it. He also offers gluten free and vegetarians always find tons to choose from. He offers saki night and half price bottles of wine on one weekday night.

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  20. GypsyD

    Chicago

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on February 14, 2014

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Finding the restaurant was like looking at a geode. It's what's inside that counts. No ostentatious display; in fact, it was hard to find even with the help of my smart phone and standing outside the door. But the restaurant is filled with warm and welcoming staff serving yummy food. My wife enjoys sushi and similar items. She's ready to go back when we visit Hyde Park again. I had Jambalya Stew and Caprese Salad. Delicious. Stopping then would have left us satisfied, but the dessert selections were so enticing we extended our visit.

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  21. Knong

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 14, 2014

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    I love the Sit-Down for its fresh ingredients and variety. Where else can we order from a vast sushi menu AND get a steaming bowl of jambalaya? And they're both fresh and delicious? Great salads, sandwiches, appetizers (love the tempura shrimp as well as the bruschetta), super fresh sushi. Street parking is easy, the staff is helpful and attentive, relatively easy to get a table. Oh, and wonderful desserts!

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  22. DavidR

    Chicago

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 4, 2014

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    Great apple salad, followed by excellent thin crust pizza and adequate sushi. Had a first date here very early in the evening, so I'm sure it gets louder as the place fills. 3 tables seated whip we were there. I would love to go back

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  23. 8itallup

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 25, 2014

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    My longtime friend and I both turned 60 a few months ago and decided to meet for lunch at SDCSB. We both tried the luncheon specials which are delicious, nutritious, generous and affordable. I chose the Chicken Pesto Sandwich, with berries and 1/2 serving of miso soup with crab. She had the grilled vegetable sandwich with berries and jambalaya. The sandwiches were generous and savory. The berries were pleasantly fresh and sweet. The waitress was welcoming and attentive. The soup was fresh and hot at serving, which was a very pleasant offering on a cold blustery Saturday that preceded the Arctic vortex. Dining was such an enjoybale and pleasant experience. We will be coming back and will bring friends and relatives.

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  24. WindyCityLo

    Chicago

    192 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    192 reviews

    Dined on October 12, 2013

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had yet another great meal as we headed to Hyde Park for an early dinner before a concert on UC campus. Menu really covers the gamut from great salads, sandwiches, pasta, pizza and sushi! Our group had a bit of this and that and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal. We have enjoyed SitDown several times now, seeking it out as a HP option to what seems (to us northsiders) rather limited options. So, THANK YOU!!

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  25. 18thcfox

    Nashville

    7 reviews

    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on September 11, 2013

    overall3food2service3ambience2
    Not enough sushi rolls with adventurous stuff...pretty unimaginative. I like hawaiian rolls, things with fruit in them, octupus, squid, etc.

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  26. WindyCityLo

    Chicago

    192 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    192 reviews

    Dined on April 28, 2013

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    We come to Hyde Park 3 or 4 times a year for concerts or theatre and have the area a bit lacking in great food places. So we're very happy to have found the Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar since it seems have "something for everyone - AND sushi"! Creative menu, very fresh, generous portions (my hubby and I shared a wonderful apple & greens salad and also a sandwick and were quite satisfied). A woman was seated - on the first warmish day of our very-slow-to-come spring - outside, having a martini and enjoying an appetizer. It was such a delight to see an al fresco adventure. She was so content!! We were, too! We will absolutely return!

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  27. Shed

    Chicago

    177 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    177 reviews

    Dined on April 23, 2013

    overall4food4service3ambience2
    Great variety of Sushi and other foods for non-sushi eaters

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  28. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 11, 2013

    overall4food3service3ambience4
    I was just mad that a 15% service fee was added to my bill when my entire party didn't even show up. Yes I reserved for 10 people but I never got a notification about the service fee and also my entire party didn't even show up. Unacceptable

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  29. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on April 3, 2013

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    One of my favorite places in Hyde Park. Staff is friendly and friendly crowd. I made a reservation (not necessary) and my table was waiting. Our server and everyone was very nice. Although it is known for their sushi they do have other wonderful items on the menu. The jambalaya was delicious and not spicy served with warm bread. The steak sandwich served in a pita bread was wonderful. Please don't leave without having dessert. I had a slice of chocolate cake topped with macadamia nuts. Very rich and you can share it. The best part of it all is that they have Pepsi on their menu (big time kudos for that)! Good place, good food what more could you ask for?

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  30. EvanC

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 24, 2013

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Each member of my party commented on how much they enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant and quality of the food. The dessert was particularly outstanding as we all shared two different choices. The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar has a wide range of choices that are suitable for any picky eater, even an entire gluten-free menu. I will definitely be coming back and enjoying other menu items soon!

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  31. OpenTable Diner

    Detroit

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 22, 2013

    overall4food4service3ambience5
    Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar had amazing martinis and great sushi. Service could be improved slightly, as we were waiting for our waitress a couple of times for requests, but overall, it had great ambiance, was quiet enough to hear each other, but very energetic.

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  32. TammaraW

    Chicago

    9 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on March 19, 2013

    overall4food4service5ambience3
    First timer... Enjoyed the food and the friendly neighborhood atmosphere. Sushi was pretty decent for the price and the night I came was a half off special on bottles of wine. I will come back.

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  33. RavenCash

    Chicago

    379 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    379 reviews

    Dined on March 16, 2013

    overall4food4service3ambience3
    The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar is a good restaurant in Hyde Park. They also serve sandwiches, but I only had the sushi, and it was good. I recommend this place for lunch.

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  34. RavenCash

    Chicago

    380 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    380 reviews

    Dined on March 16, 2013

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    The Sit Down cafe is a good spot for sushi and sandwiches. Nothing over the top, just a good spot to go to if you are in the area.

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  35. josephisen

    Chicago

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on March 10, 2013

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    This is an amusing, eclectic, restaurant, with food for a wide range of tastes, all good. Often, the restaurant has uni (urchin roe), a great treat for me. The wines are well chosen. At first, the combination of sushi and pizza may seem puzzling, but then when you see families where the parents eat sushi while the kids eat pizza, or groups of more and less adventurous eaters, it all makes sense.

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  36. WindyCityLo

    Chicago

    192 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    192 reviews

    Dined on February 9, 2013

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    We don't get to Hyde Park often but when we do (concert, etc.), we come to the Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar. They seriously have "something for everyone" in the realm of cross-cuisine offerings. burger? sushi? pizza? it's all there. luncheon specials look really inviting and affordable. And, with a nice bar with reasonable beer/wine/sake lists, it's a fun and tasty deal. Surely busy - make a reservation!

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  37. OpenTable Diner

    Milwaukee

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 8, 2013

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    The service was attentive but not in your face. They were pleasant and helpful. Regarding the food, the menu has something for everyone, but it is not so much that it would impeded the quality. My sandwich was good, and my girlfriend likes this place a lot because it has an extensive selection of gluten-free options. AND, the gluten-free brownie, with the chocolate sauce, is amazing.

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  38. Nora

    Chicago

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on January 25, 2013

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Tasty food Friendly service Affordable

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  39. Pleased

    Chicago

    14 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on December 5, 2012

    overall4food5service3ambience3
    I thought our server was slightly scared of us. Although the place is small, I felt she was very attentive to us and our requests. I wish she had taken the reigns a little more and given us suggestions based on what we were ordering. We had this amazing appetizer that was like a tuna salsa served with chips. We ended up ordering it twice more! I wouldn't say the sushi was the best I've ever ordered but they had great choices and a good amount of fish in the rolls. A very nice place to eat and somewhere I would definitely go again.

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  40. Kimmiecole

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 7, 2012

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was fresh with excellent portion sizes. The servers were friendly and the atmosphere was very inviting.

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FAQs

You can order delivery directly from The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar using the Order Online button.

The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar is rated 4.1 stars by 40 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 1 time today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar

1312 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615

Additional information

  • Cross street
    53rd & Kimbark
  • Neighborhood
    Hyde Park
  • Hours of operation
    Daily :11:00 am – 9:30 pm;
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Sushi, Pizza Bar, Mediterranean
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    53rd and Wood Lawn CTA Bus
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (773) 324-3700
  • Catering
    We offer all sorts of catering options, please contact us directly for further details.
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