CHOW
116 West Park Ave, Elmhurst, IL, 60126
CHOW Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Elmhurst for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Elmhurst for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Elmhurst for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
116 West Park Ave
Elmhurst, IL, 60126 - Phone (630) 530-8646
- Website https://chowtogo.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :9:30 am - 7:00pm
Specialities
- Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Waiter Service : No
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Jeff C.
Have you ever walked into a restaurant and immediately known you were going to like it? That was my experience today. There's something about the décor and the friendliness of the staff that made me immediately feel comfortable. I really try not to "judge the book by the cover" but I was reluctant to try this restaurant. I honestly thought it was entirely carry-out. Funny, but I waited until summer just in case I had to eat in the car ... lol. I didn't realize that they made fresh sandwiches and they had indoor seating. Not a lot mind you, but there are a few tables. Plus, I should have noticed the tables outside. I'm not a very observant person! In terms of sandwiches I ordered the turkey with havarti cheese on a baguette. I don't think I've ever had a better turkey sandwich in town!! It was also a great deal. I had the sandwich, some spicy chips, and a container of fruit for a little over $8. I can't wait to go back! As of this writing there are ninety-six restaurants in Elmhurst. I plan on eating at, and reviewing, every one. Follow me on Yelp.
(5)Tina T.
Chow just added a salad bar to their offerings and it hits the spot! I was driving back from an appointment and really had a taste for a salad. Most of the salads you get at restaurants are generally not all that healthy - you can't control the ingredients and end up with a high calorie count for things you don't even really want. So generally I make my own. But since I did not have the time nor the fresh ingredients to do so, I was in a quandary. But at Chow's, they now offer a salad bar - one where they actually spoon at the ingredients so you don't have to worry about someone else breathing all over your food! And I was able to get exactly what I wanted. Only thing - they could use a few more vegetable ingredients, but it hit the spot.
(4)Daniel K.
If you are thinking about Chow for a catered event, run the other way! We had heard good things about Chow, so we decided to try them for a major catering event. The owner set up a time to meet with us at the store and then arrived 35 minutes late due to running an errand. After a rocky start, we had a good discussion on possible menu items. The owner promised to get back to us the next day with her proposed menu. After two days passed with no contact, we called on the third day only to be told the owner was out of town and no menu had been prepared. No one can run a business this way. Thankfully Cafe Amano down the street accommodated us on very short notice and did a magnificent job!
(1)Karyn K.
I like this place! My husband has been quite a few times and i just went with him for lunch the other day. I had the salad bar which was perfect. All the right fixins. I also had a little havarti cheese with crackers. Yum! I tasted my husband's italian sandwich and it was fantastic. The meat was super tasty and the bread so soft. I think i'll be getting that next time. I must agree with a previous reviewer that the service is kind of slow though. We waited around for a good 10 minutes for the sandwich and salad. Price wise- I think it's fair. Enjoy!
(4)Ruth F.
This is a chi-chi food place, and the food quality is good, but not sublime. They have an interesting selection of sides at $8/lb, as well as frozen entrees and wine. Sandwich list is huge, with a couple of vegetarian selections. The two breakfast sandwiches (eggs plus various options) are available with or without meat. I ordered a breakfast sandwich, a cup of squash soup and a single serving of the farmer's market salad. The salad was a little oily but fairly good. The first taste of the soup was incredibly salty and I realized tasting it that I didn't know if it was vegetarian or not (it tasted of chicken). The server didn't know as the chef had left for the day, so she gave me a refund. (Soup is confirmed gluten free; apparently vegetarian is less trendy.) Honestly, I wouldn't have finished it if she'd confirmed it was something I could eat. The sandwich was good, though it might have benefited from some pepper.
(3)Annie H.
Fyi: owner didnt appreciate feedback so my review got moved to the "do not recommend" section instead of responding! So i will repost! Went to wedding catered from here...none of the food was the stuff at the taste test. None of it tasted fresh either, like it had been made the day or two before and heated up.The lasagna was like eating a brick, dry, tasteless and insanely greasy. For the money she charged for the food and "service" it was ridiculous. She had a plated salad but was going to charge an extra 20 a head to serve the food over buffet? Also the "bar"if you want to call it that---couldn't make a cosmo and told my husband they didn't have big enough glasses to make a long island...again for the money this woman charged my loved one...she got away with murder in my opinion, had it been my wedding none of these shenanigans would have taken place! Beware if catering!
(1)Brian G.
The food is pretty good. I've been there a couple of times and the sandwiches were enjoyable, but not knock your socks off. However, the service leaves something to be desired. After finishing lunch outside, I went inside and emptied my basket and handed it to the cashier. Holding up my glass bottle, I then asked if they recycle. She responded "obviously not." I'm not sure why it is so "obvious," especially since on another occasion the cashier indicated that they did and took my glass bottle. Then the cashier felt compelled to add that I should feel free to take the bottle home with me to recycle it there. Although I didn't take her up on her offer, I will feel free not to go back to Chow. I really think a simple "sorry, we don't recycle" would have sufficed.
(2)Laura C.
Catered sandwiches and macaroons for daughters wedding. We sampled macaroons before hand and day of wedding they were nothing like we sampledpaid a lot of money for mediocre quality.
(1)Jon P.
Not a fan. Have had issues with food there on multiple occasions. Tried it again for carryout for a meeting, and the quality was not improved at all.
(1)Jay M.
A year ago, Mary at Chow catered our wedding at the Wilder Mansion and we loved it at the time. But we decided to wait until our first anniversary to see if we still thought so highly of her work, or if it was just afterglow of the wedding day. Well, here we are, and we still love the service we got! It was a fantastic experience from planning through execution. Mary was a tremendous help in picking out a good selection of food for our budget. We feel like we got more food for our money because the food was so good and our guests were all satisfied with their meals. The food was fresh and the offerings were unique and interesting, which was perfect for a wedding dinner. As for planning, Mary was helpful in contributing feedback about timing of cutting the cake, when to put out appetizers, etc. She followed through on every detail and it took so much stress off of our shoulders. In addition, because she was so familiar with the location, it helped the event run smoothly. One year later we are thankful to have come across Chow, both for the quality and selection of food, and also for Mary and her involvement in our big day. Thank you for making our wedding a success and for being so easy to work with throughout the process! We highly recommend Chow for wedding catering in and around Elmhurst! Jon and Erin
(5)Jennifer V.
I've been a customer of Chow ever since I moved to Elmhurst. I live right around the corner. This is my first review for them. I love the food in the case. The kale salad is the best I like most of their soups, and they are more than willing to let you sample. I wish that was the case for their pastries. So many times I have bought something there i.e. muffins, cakes, cookies, and they were just terrible. They do really well with the peanut butter cookies & lemon bars but any other thing is hit or miss. Would have given them 3 stars but the hot foods, soups, and friendly warranted an extra star.
(4)Noelle V.
I love their raw kale salad and everything here is so fresh. Also very friendly and a lot of gluten free food. For people who don't eat it. Awesome!
(5)Bear C.
Catering: The food delivered for our wedding at Wilder Mansion was incredibly good! Nothing was missed and I can't wait to order again. Restaurant: Everything looks and tastes homemade. The prices are a bit high but the ingredients are top quality.
(5)Robbie L.
Just had the most awesome Asian Kale Salad. The flavors in the salad were so yummy! I was introduced to Chow this week. That afternoon I ran right over and bought up all the Almond Cookies to mail to my college student at Marquette. He was so happy and loved them. Really the best cookie ever. I am a huge fan of Chow and so excited it will be a passion of mine. The service was perfect.
(5)Peter H.
We wanted to find a local business to cater our wedding at the nearby Elmhurst Art Museum. We also wanted a variety of food and to design a menu that could please our gluten free, paleo, vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian friends all in one go, while still being delicious and in line with seasonally appropriate trappings (this sounds like we are a pain no?). Mary and her team catered our 160 + person (crowded!) event and did a great job, and the food was killer. We had so many options and got so many guests going out of our way to tell us how good the food was. Pumpkin Hummus, beef brisket, pulled pork, roasted root vegetables, macaroni w/broccoli, glazed chicken, salmon cakes are just some of what we had. We really appreciated Mary working with us throughout the entire process, coming up with a totally custom menu, helping us lay out the floor plan and timing of everything to best fit our wedding day. A wedding day is a lot of planning and you only get one chance to figure out how you're gonna do it. For us, having good food, good drink and good music was our priority. We wanted it to be a great party for our friends and family. We wouldn't have changed a thing about it, and would hire Mary and Chow again without reservation. I only wish we could eat that dinner again. The whole operation went smoothly, was no stress on our end, and everyone was well fed and happy. You couldn't ask for more. We do make a point to stop in for lunch whenever we are in town now as well and enjoy eating at the shop, because, well why wouldn't we? Always different things to try and always healthy and tasty stuff.
(5)Buddha B.
Somehow Mary makes kale salad taste not just edible but delicious. I love the sandwiches and other creations.
(5)Matthew S.
Great place. I'm using them to cater for my wedding, I must say the food is like a home cooked dinner at grandma's (that good). I would recommend this place to anyone to just sit and eat for dinner or to cater for your wedding.
(5)Sharon H.
Now I can rate this on GREAT food & GREAT customer service. Mercedes is a jewel & has totally made up for how I felt in regards to the customer service! Thanks, Chow!
(5)John C.
I used to go here every day because I worked close to Chow. I would literally go every day, and it was very consistent. I stopped going for a little while, a couple months later I stopped in for a sandwich and have never been so sick in my life from eating food. I thought that maybe a coworker didn't wash their hands or a refridgerator died. I went back a couple weeks later and I got the same sickness. Never going back.
(1)Grant P.
The best part of my day just started when I realized I forgot my gym clothes in the other car and decided that having a sandwich for lunch at CHOW was more fun than lifting weights on my lunch hour. Especially if the latter activity would have to be done in my street clothes. I walked in and was greeted by everyone who worked in the shop as if they knew me. The teenage girl behind the counter offered me a free cookie and didn't even balk at my aversion to chocolate - instead they just smiled and offered me a peanut butter one instead! Maybe THAT was the best part of my day. I know it certainly wasn't sitting in that two-hour meeting where we discussed things that had already been decided. #pointless "We love redheads!" the other lady said. Maybe THAT was the best part of my day. Too many good things were happening all at once. I needed to sit down. I ordered the daily special, which today consisted of a baguette with tempura fried chicken, homemade barbecue sauce and homemade coleslaw. Homemade deliciousness is more like it. You heard me right. TEMPURA FRIED CHICKEN. That definitely had to have been the best part of my day. As I was eating I texted the below picture to my wife and told her what it was. "Whoa" was her response. Whoa indeed. This was worthy of a Joey Lawrence-level "whoa." And then I went back for two more of those sandwiches so we could have 'em for dinner.
(5)Katy E.
Went to wedding at the Wilder Mansion a few weeks ago. A friend of mines daughter saved and saved to have it there. I'm going to nut shell this or we'd be here all year. Appetizers. Never even saw 2 of the 3 passed hor d'oevres. We didn't get offered the bruschetta or the 3rd choice all another friend and I got was 1 wrapped something. It was a strapped little "weenie". It was the greasiest sausage I"be ever had but we were hungry. I can say these things because I have been a professional chef for over 25 years. By this time the appetizer plates, drink glasses, and empty beer bottles were really piling up.A man at our table asked if they could be cleared away! We were told yes but there they sat. Really shocking to me because we were at table #3where the grooms father was sitting. Nice impressio. So much for the nut shell; 8 people at a table and you put8 rolls in s basket. That didn't look too cheap THE BUFFET.........A buffet is supposed to be a self serve table where people can help themselves and maybe learn a little about the person behind them. 4 chaffing dishes on a table with 2 people serving you!!!!! What did you not want us to see???? The lasagna as you call it was all burnt.Everyone at my table cut at least half of it off and left it. The chicken tasted like it had shake n'bake smeared on it and some really cheap balsamic vinegar splashed in top.I will say the chicken was nicely cooked. The potatoes were either all cheese or all soupy potatoes. Green beans were okay. With over 100 people you need at least one double sided buffet. The way table # 10 isn't sitting down with there food and table #3 is done and still waiting for the appetizer plates to be cleared. Would it have killed you to put some kind of decorations on the buffet table!!!! Shame on you!! Brides beware!!!!' Had to give it one star of wouln't post so just look at it as a negative one.
(1)Tiff J.
I've only been here once, but I got a turkey/brie sandwich & it was great! They made my sandwich super fast and were very kind at the counter. It was slightly on the pricier side for a simple sandwich, which is why I gave 4 stars. I will be back to buy some frozen meals which were half off through the end of this month-September (2015).
(4)Stephanie S.
Love this place! Excellent sandwiches. Try the Salsalito turkey on a pretzel roll or take some of their horsey bacon dip to go. Great chicken salad as well.
(4)alicia b.
If you know me you know that I have a slight obsession for Honey in Glen ellyn.Its one of the greatest restaurants eva and Chow actually made me forget about Honey for a little bit,and when I say a little bit I mean 2 or 3 days tops. Anyways I lunched with my mamma here one day. Its a tiny little place,you know one of those you order,stand and wait and take your food to go.Well we actually stayed and ate.They have 4ish small tables that you can enjoy your amazingly delicious food at. Now to the foodies- They have an extensive sandwich list along with all sorts of tast salad/pasta dishes,sides,misc.meals and of course dessert! My mom and I shared the veggie wrap and got a side of the tomato,onion and pita chip salad along with baked mac and cheese. Holy poop was the mac and cheese good,I mean blow your mind good and confuse you all at the same time. It was soooooo flavorful but it wasnt gooey with cheese it was almost dry,but trust me dry is a good thing in this situation. The sandwich was yummy and the onion salad was great they put hard pita chips in it that get kinda soft after the balsamic soaks up! We were super stuffed and happy lil fatties so we left to go shopping and not 2 hours later we found ourselves back in the same situation....staring at the Chow menu! We were ready for dessert,I got a brownie/crunchy bar thing and mom got the sugar cookie w/frosting.Both were absolutely fabulous too! Make your self happy and go eat at Chow,dang it!
(4)Natalia S.
I LOVE CHOW. Earlier this year, me and one of my close friends started going here almost daily. (It becomes addicting!) The food is awesome - try the tuna on pretzel baguette (fancy i know!) and you really can't go wrong with any of their desserts, or other sandwich options. I prefer their sandwiches, to what they have in the case. There is personally nothing more delish than a freshly made sandwich. Love love love love love . so much. It can get pricy, but just be smart. The do let you order half sandwiches and such. The staff is very pleasant and very approachable.
(4)Tim A.
I have been threatening to write a review of Chow for a long time and the day has finally come. I am a regular here so naturally I am a little biased, it's my favorite place to eat lunch in Elmhurst. Yes, it's a little more expensive than your typical chain sandwich shop but they use quality ingredients, fresh breads, boars head meats, have delicious kale salads and are worth the few extra bucks. Plus all the employees are pleasant and do their best to get you in and out within reason. It gets busy at peak lunch time so bring some patience, the specials are almost always good and the meals to go are a great dinner option. They also have special menus built around holidays and those meals are quite like having a fancy meal out, but at home. I did the Valentine's dinner for two with braised short rib, seared asparagus and more and it was like fancy dining in our pajamas.
(5)Hannah S.
The food is decent. But I ordered a grilled cheese and they charged me $7.50. That's ridiculous since a much more complicated sandwich is the same price. When we asked if that was the correct price the lady working was extremely rude. Poor service isn't worth going here.
(1)Steve H.
I want to really like this place, however it falls short. This is more of a 2.5, however I gave them the benefit. We stopped in to grab lunch. Everything felt rushed, the lady behind the counter kept pestering us with questions. I ended up ordering something I regretted, and I feel if I wasn't so rushed, I would have never ordered that sandwich. I ordered a turkey on baguette. It was pretty much bland, even the bread was day old and tasteless. A bit on the expensive side, however if they truly use Boars Head, then its worth the price. I will give them another shot, hopefully the pushy older lady isn't working!
(3)Chris M.
I love coming here during my lunch breaks on Saturdays. I attend Elmhurst College Graduate School. Located next to the Metra stop beside a few other great places to eat and drink. I have tried the gourmet sandwiches and they are phenomenal. Always fresh and healthy. High quality, natural, handmade food for any occasion, business or pleasure. There are a few tables to sit down and eat. Refrigerated salads and other prepared foods are in front of you while you order. Behind you there is a refrigerator filled with pretty cool drinks. While I'm eating I've seen people picking up catering orders of sandwiches and cupcakes. They also serve breakfast and the staff is very friendly. The menu changes daily.
(5)Zeke R.
Great food, HORRIBLE service. I worked as a cashier at Chow for about three months before quitting because I could not deal with my rude and aggressive coworkers. I would watch in horror as they snapped at customers, or ignored them altogether. While i cannot deny the high quality of the food, it does not justify the way in which Chow treated their clientele. Do not come here unless you enjoy being yelled at when you ask for a sandwich.
(1)T. R.
It had been months since I received a long, dark hair with a sandwich around it, and the air was forgiving today, so I decided to give Chow another chance. And it was magical. My order was the kale salad (a menu staple here) and a large box container of the cider braised polish sausage. Having received a sandwich with hair inside during my last visit, I thought I was being attentive this time, watching diligently as woman at the counter filled the container with two sausages, closed it, then fixed up the salad and place it on top of the previous item. Both containers sealed, my food was in the clear. I turned around to grab a beverage, returned to the cashier, who had the containers staged for checkout and rang me up to-go. The magic trick, it turns out, reveals the prestige back at the office, when I open the box container to find a small salmon fillet, stuffed with who cares where the hell did my sausages go... if the salad weren't in a clear container, I probably would have received someone else's soup. Whoever ordered the salmon got the better end of the trick, as I'm sure the sausages they received in its place were much better than what I ate. Until this place is restaffed with robots who wear hairnets, it's not worth your while.
(1)C C.
We just had our wedding catered by CHOW this past Saturday and it was amazing. Mary is experienced and throughout the planning process, made me feel like she just had everything under control. And during the wedding, things just happened behind the scenes magically and I never had to think about the food for one second (other than that it was super tasty!). I think one of the other reviewers complained about her being unorganized, but I don't think she's unorganized, she's just not the most responsive by email, but that wasn't a big deal to me because she was responsive by phone if you really needed to ask her something. I got the sense that she has a big catering business and so she's often busy, and if your wedding is still many months or weeks out, then the events she has before your event are going to take precedence, which is how it should be (even though your wedding is foremost in your mind for the whole month before, for a vendor, it's just one of many weddings and they have to prioritize chronologically). I'm super type A normally, but I just set my expectations that she was going to take a long time to respond by email and if I needed an answer sooner, I would call, and it worked out fine. People loved the food, she was able to also do a cake, so it was great not to have to get a separate baker. Her servers were also fantastic, they were so sweet throughout the night, very attentive, wonderful people. She let us buy our own alcohol, which was great so we could return unopened bottles. She was also flexible with meal changes until the very last minute. And on my wedding day, I ended up not having any lunch, and after pictures in the sun, I was really worried I'd feel faint during the ceremony, so I went up to where the caterers were setting up and even though she already had the appetizer platters all wrapped up and about to bring them down for the cocktail hour, she opened them back up and took out a bunch of cheese cubes so I could get some food in me and sweetly assured me it was no big deal even though I'm sure it was at least a little troublesome to have to do that when she was busy getting everything ready. We had the most wonderful wedding, and the great food and not having to worry about the food played a big part in that. (Also, we had our wedding at the Logan Center for the Arts on the University of Chicago campus, so if you're considering having your wedding there, know that Mary now has a lot of familiarity with this venue).
(5)Rose D.
Tried CHOW for the first time last week with a coworker for lunch. The food was excellent! I had the sandwich special of the day and a red velvet cupcake. The toasted baguette for the sandwich was perfect, too. Sometimes they can be too tough to really bite through easily but this bread was so tender and delicious I was pleasantly surprised. Why only 3 stars? Mainly, the prices. It's $7.50 for a sandwich and that's just for the sandwich. Want a small bag of chips? Add $2. The sandwich WAS awesome and I'd gladly pay the price for it but $2 for a little bag of chips? No thanks. I understand they are a small local place and can't price things on the cheap like big chains can but I think they could do a little better on the side item pricing. I do LOVE the decor...especially the wall of their various packaging/display supplies on the shelves up the one wall. Everything is arranged in a pleasing way and many items are in wicker baskets. There are a few small tables so you can dine in or carry out.
(3)Leona L.
Owned by a caterer, the food is top notch and homemade. You can taste the quality with every bite. You can't go wrong with a sandwich special, which changes everyday. They use Labriola Cafe pretzels and Boar's Head meats for their sandwiches, their food is fresh and flavorful. I also buy my eggs here, which they get from a local farm.
(4)C G.
CHOW is a great place and Elmhurst is lucky to have it. Most of the food is really amazing and delicious. Gourmet, healthy and tasty all at once. I am a definite fan. I LOVE: Variety!, creativity! I love the kale salad, their sliders are always amazing. The bread is delicious. The dips are grrreat. I DON'T LOVE: Some of their options can be misses, but I appreciate the variety. The tacos are usually too loaded, and some of the sandwiches can have too much going on, and I do wish there was a fun pasta salad on a regular basis. It is pricey for a lunch place, but you will get quality.
(4)Richard M.
First class. Had a ham and cheese well made sandwich. My friend's sand was delayed several minutes and a staff person gave us two pastries and an apology. Everyone was very friendly and knowledgeable. Took a marvelous large meatball with sauce home for dinner. I'll be back.
(5)Renita M.
Let's add another business to my "favorite block of Elmhurst." I get my hair cut on this block. There's a great wine/small plates bar. A Lou's. A tea shop. An ice cream shop. A coffee shop. And also Chow. It's cozy. A little cluttered maybe, definitely close quarters. I imagine most people get their food to go, but I wanted a light dinner to eat right then and there, so I squoze myself into the corner with my roasted veggie wrap. It's also true that they are a bit slow -- the woman took my order and disappeared for perhaps 10 minutes while I stood there staring at things. I did drool over the cookies and cupcakes a bit, but resisted. And it was not the cheapest wrap ever. But it seemed pretty high quality, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. The veggies were roasted well, with a nice toothiness (not mush) and great flavor. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it contained squash, carrots, zucchini and asparagus among other things. The goat cheese was sort of blobbed on -- would've preferred it spread out a bit more -- and oil dripped all over my hand. Bit messy. But great flavor, definitely. The other sandwiches sounded great, and I'd probably go for something on bread next time. This feels like something you might find tucked into a corner in a much bigger city, but here it is in downtown Elmhurst. I appreciate the quality and love they put into their food ... but I dunno, maybe you could throw in a small side with the sandwich for that price?
(4)Denise J.
I would give the food a five, but the service here is inexplicably horrible. I ordered thirty dollars worth of food and I felt bad asking for another sandwich because the staff looked so put out having to make it and the other customers around me also commented on it. I come here at least twice a week and the service is getting ruder. I'll be heading to whole foods for prepared food instead!
(1)Stacy S.
Sandwiches are delish. Great menu of gourmet items, sweet treats and drink items. Very friendly ladies made my lunch even more pleasant!
(5)Kristin S.
Okay, I can't really give this place a fair review, so I will tell you exactly what I am basing this on. Friendly staff, nice sandwich selection. They have Boar's Head deli meat. I got a plan Ham and Swiss on whole grain. It was fine. But they have super cool fun sandwiches too. For $2.00 more. Not bad. Now, on a previous trip, I got a brownie. IT WAS YUMMY. My style. Chocolately, dense, intense and not overly sugary. This place has lots of pre-made nice deli meals to go. Cute space, a few tables. Homemade cupcakes and other baked goods. Would like to come back and try some of their entrees....
(4)Sonia B.
Overpriced and pretentious. Those were the only two adjectives I can think of that would describe CHOW. So tragic. The service is slow, the food is just OK, and the prices are well, let's just say I spent $16 on a sandwich, chips, and one bakery treat. Yes, $16, for a cafe lunch. UGH, I could have kicked myself for spending that much, but I wanted to try it before I knocked it. I wish I hadn't. Overall, I really don't see what the big hype is over this place. I wouldn't even suggest coming here for a quick bite cus it'll for sure empty your wallet. I would suggest going to Two Brothers next door and get yourself a slice! Yeeesh.
(1)Amy M.
I really like Chow's set-up - they've crammed a lot of yummy food into that tiny place! As you wait for your order to be ready you get to drool over all the baked goods, the homemade meals, and the fancy cheeses . It was all very tempting! I got the smoked turkey and brie sandwich on whole wheat bread. It was tasty, but like other reviewers have mentioned, a little overpriced. I got the combo, and they let me switch out the chips for their raw kale salad, which was surprisingly really delicious! As someone who has tried eating kale raw, I expected the salad to be tough and bitter, but it was actually very light and sweet. I would definitely go back there just for that salad, and to try some of their other prepared dishes and sandwiches. Overall, I liked Chow and I am sure I will be back. I wish it was cheaper, but then again, I'm willing to pay a little extra for quality ingredients.
(4)Marie B.
From the looks of this place from the outside, I expected it to be very organic/local food focused. That is not the case from the menu, but by no means a deal-breaker in my book, either. There is a decent list of sandwiches to choose from, along with various bottled beverages, including a couple of beers. There is a deli section where you can order various sides (southern fried green peppers with artichokes!) and a few baked goods, as well as some shelved items. I ordered the turkey sandwich, simply because it came with brie (a mighty generous chunk of it, I might add.) Besides the delicious brie, the best part of the sandwich was the pretzel baguette, which I chose from a listing of bread options. At first I wished it was a little softer, but as I ate my sandwich and periodically tasted a little salt from the baguette, I was sold. I agree that it was a bit on the expensive side for this kind of set-up if your order the sandwich with a side - $8.50, but at the same time I had plenty of food with a sandwich alone - under $7 - and the ingredients were really fresh, so I'd consider the price to be fair. Service is a bit slow and unorganized. I ordered my sandwich, but no one asked me to pay, so I stood around, several other people ordered food, I sat down, I stood again, and then was asked what I'd like to order. My two dining companions, who ordered their sandwiches right before me, had their food for several minutes before mine was ready. Thus, I definitely would not go here if you're on a tight schedule, unless you call ahead to place your order. The catering menu looks really good as well - I'd love to go back, order some things to go, and bring them home for an easy dinner.
(4)Judith B.
THE GOOD: They are also caterers and a specialty market; which is a plus! ALSO- the staff is super nice. THE BAD: overpriced. I understand they're gourmet, but I've tasted better for those prices. THEY ARE SLOW! when you order a sandwich it takes forever! What are they doing back there? I'd rather go to Cafe Amano down the street. and THE UGLY: - not really! its a cute place.
(4)Stove P.
I came here after getting my hair cut next door. Having just eaten a few hours before, I decided to go with a red velvet cupcake. It was delicious! I'd say it's even better than Swirlz. Much better. To be honest, I don't understand what is so special about Swirlz, but that's another review. My mom and I both wanted hot tea, but they don't have any available for customers. The lady was really cool and brewed us some tea from her own pot. The store is a bit small for dining in, but it's perfect if you want to quickly grab something. It also serves as small store as there are some unique items shelved throughout. I reeeeeeeally want to try some of their sandwiches. Next time.
(4)Carrie W.
So I heard that this place was the cat's meow of gourmet delis so I decided to check it out. I ordered a sandwich and got a fruit side. They took so long to make the sandwich that my stomach started to growl. I finally received my sandwich and was rung up... $8.50+! Not including any type of drink or any other side. I'm sorry but that is just way too much for a sandwich.
(2)H S.
We used Chow for our wedding catering at Wilder Park Mansion. We worked directly with Mary (the owner) who was disorganized to say the least. We struggled to put together a contract and get a final estimate on the price. One thing I loved about working with Chow is that we were able to take care of all of our rentals through them -- got the tablecloth, dishes, etc. for a very reasonable rate. But Mary served the WRONG entree at our reception. I will warn you that although Chow is very affordable and offers a great variety of appetizers that were a huge hit, you have to be beyond flexible and organized in order to manage Mary. Even then, you may end up with a surprise meal at your event. Good luck!
(3)Michael M.
Stopped into CHOW, last week and had a La Cox water from France. The service was excellent. Sat outside infront watching downtown Elmhurst. Was very nice. Watched the trains go by and the people in downtown Elmhurst are very friendly. Great place for lunch in downtown Elmhurst. I recommend it. Love the flavored waters, great selection.
(4)Dwight D.
We hired Chow as our wedding caterer as it was one of 7 to choose from on our vendor's list. Chow was very responsive, which surprisingly couldn't be said for all the caterers we contacted. Chow was very flexible and willing to work with us on pricing, the number of staff provided, drink selections, and type of meal (we had heavy appetizers at our wedding and most caterers we spoke to didn't like that idea). We also were able to get our linens through Chow and that helped a lot as it was one less vendor to work with. Additionally, the owner, Mary, who we worked with primarily is a very nice lady. However, there are negatives in working with Chow. The number one negative is disorganization. Nothing ever seems to be under control when working with Mary. We did our best to ensure she understood all we wanted which admittedly was different than the typical reception. Still, we were in constant e-mail communication with her, met with her two or three times at our venue to discuss details, and provided her with written instructions so everything would run smoothly. You might think that all of this preparation was overboard but trust us, it wasn't. That's obvious because things didn't run smoothly. First, our seating/table arrangements were incorrect--which resulted in one of our immediate families being seated in an area where they weren't able to see much. Luckily, our families are pretty laid back and were simply perplexed by their location, but this is the kind of thing that could potentially ruin the entire event. Second, Chow closed the bar during dinner when it was contracted to remain open all evening. Third, we received many questions during the set-up process (such as how to set up centerpieces, where things went, etc. that we had discussed IN DETAIL and Mary had WRITTEN DOWN during our prior in-person meetings). Fourth, perhaps most important of all: Chow forgot to feed us--the bride and groom. We planned to have a private dinner for 30 minutes during cocktail hour (thus allowing us to mingle with our guests while they ate their dinners), but when we arrived to our private area, there was no table set up for us and no food. We planned all of this in detail with Mary before hand. We eventually got our food about 45 minutes later after we sent a wedding-party member after it. This whole debacle was frustrating and resulted in us having less time with our guests. In the end, our reception still went well. The food received great reviews, as it should have. Chow did provide delicious food, and most of the issues we had were things our guests wouldn't necessarily have recognized. However, know that if you hire Chow and work with Mary that you shouldn't expect her to be a calming influence during your planning and that even with tons of preparation there still might be some curveballs during your reception.
(3)Emily Y.
Blargh. Counter staff aren't as sweet as they used to be. And what's up with all of your sides being super starchy lately? Chow, I hardly know you.
(3)Miss A.
I've fallen out of love with this place over the past year. It's good, yea, but come on...it's a sandwich! I cannot avoid playing $15 bucks for sandwich/soup drink here and that gets tough. Sandwiches are creative though and the chicken salad is incredible, but the service is a bit slow (calling ahead is the way to go!) and some of the folks that work behind the counter can be a bit intimidating and short with you. Try the pretzel breads and don't forget dessert!
(3)Ang R.
I can't believe I haven't written this review sooner. Mental head slap. I love Chow. I've eaten here too many times to count now. I usually pop in for lunch, because I work so close that it'd be a shame not to do so occasionally. Everything is priced by weight, and the menu changes almost daily. Some things I never pass up: the dilled hearts of palm salad, the caprese, the various incarnations of pasta salads. Some daily offerings are also good in a pinch: the pretzel rolls, the italian tuna salad (particularly good), and the selection of cheeses. I've had a few of the sandwiches (I've mostly done the daily specials.), and they're delish too. And actually, we had a great catering experience with them. For a party, my mom ordered two salads, and one was something we specifically requested (regular, basic potato salad) and it was so good that there was none left after the party. And it was a HUGE tray of potato salad too. It can get expensive, if you're ordering a lot. You have to be really careful on portions. The people behind the counter don't always listen when you tell them how much you want, so be on guard. And just order smart. Don't order four things if three is enough food. But it's worth it. The food is worth it.
(5)Todd B.
I have to admit procrastinating on this one months ago. My first visit to Chow began with a very nice, and generous sample of South African wine. That day we also went home with a great loaf of bread and some cookies. The conversation in the car was something like, "wow, I'm so Glad we have a place like that here... I'm glad we moved to Elmhurst... we should go there all the time so they'll stay open." We all know how the rest of the story goes. Anyway, I've been traveling way too much since moving to Elmhurst and in the chaos - just forgot about the place. Today I wanted a good, hearty sandwich (and not the massively-large roast beef from Arby's). My wife and I stopped by Chow today on the way to downtown Chicago. I had an excellent "Italian" on a baguette: capaccola, fresh mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, ham and salami. It was very tasty. Tasha had a sliced pork loin sandwich which was wonderful as well. In addition to being a great sandwich shop, Chow offers a frequently-changing menu of prepared gourmet meals for dinner on the go, a host of fun sauces, dips and salads, a small selection of well-chosen wines and wonderful cheeses from around the world. This is a great concept, hitting the spot for Elmhurst's metra commuters.
(5)Lauren S.
The food is really good and creative. There is always something different. I personally like to go there and get something out of the glass case to have for lunch or dinner. They usually have fish in the case and its always been really good. They had orange roughy one day and I had never tried it before but it was fabulous!
(4)e j.
This place is so cute and well done, what a treat for us in the Suburbs. They seem to have cut back on the selections of sweets, too bad, all are wonderful. I love all the small businesses that invest in the suburbs to give us more of what the city offers so abundantly. Chow is one of these, so I love to stop in whenever in Elmhurst. In their grocery section they have Lucky's pasta sauce which I highly reccomend!
(5)Charles L.
I stopped in Chow, because I work in Elmhurst, and trying to cross the tracks is a pain. The food is excellent, good quality sandwiches, and I really like the selection of beverages they have. The service is not fast, but it is well worth the wait. I have not tried the other prepared foods they have, but they look very good. I also like the fact that they carry the Twisted Spoke Road Rash Mary Mix. Bottom line is I went there initially for convenance, but I continue to return because it is probably one of the best options for lunch in downtown Elmhurst.
(4)cheryl m.
I used Chow for a catering order, and the service was fabulous. From the very first call to the delivery. They were patient with me while I was trying to pick out my menu, offered suggestions, and didn't force me to over order. I will not hesitate to use them again.
(4)Jen S.
Yummy food and very generous portions! You will pay a little more than a typical sandwich shop, but they serve high quality meats and cheese (Boars Head) and have interesting combinations. Try the smoked turkey with cranberry chutney - you will not be disappointed!
(5)K B.
Seriously, this place has gone down considerably. I've been going here since they opened and have ALWAYS recommended them but in the past year I've had several bad experiences. Whether it be less than friendly workers, a decrease in the quality of the selection (ok, it's been a few years...you used to have an unbelievable tuna salad minus the mayonaise, now I can get the same mediocre salad at Jewel), or the computer system that doesn't work. I had the same experience this summer when I couldn't use my credit card...no big deal. Then, again less than a few months later, I walk in...wait 10 minutes because it's busy and am told after FINALLY getting my order that I couldn't pay with credit card, the system is down. Just my luck, the rare time in years I don't carry cash! "You can leave your credit card number and expiration date and we'll run it tomorrow". No offense but I'm not leaving that information with anyone, even though I trust you. Let's get this straight, if your CC system constantly is crashing get a new system or tell customers waiting for 10 minutes if you don't have cash we won't be able to serve you. Good food or not, bad service may never bring me back. I don't mind paying a premium price, in the past it was worth it, but you need to provide premium service as well.
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