Revisiting Frango Mint Cafe

An exaggerated story around the Gustafson household is that my grandmother Janis Selmarten used to board an outer-drive bus every day to shop the sales at Marshall Field's. For a short time she was a dress designer for Leslie Fey, and managed to be fashionable on a budget up until her late 70s when she finally stopped wearing nylons and high heels. My first CTA bus ride at about age 3 was with her, to Marshall Fields of course, and to this day I still think riding an articulated bus is a treat. Up until her death in 2002 the only Christmas gift she would accept (she hated gifts and cameras and being the center of attention) was a box of Frango mints.

I always feel her spirit in Field's building, even though it has become progressively less glamorous since Macy's took over. Back when it was still Marshall Fields, I was a regular at the Frango Mint Cafe. I liked to eat alone and imagine her looking out the same windows to a 1970s Chicago below. 

Today though, Erik and Aaron joined me. And the question is: why don't we come here more often! Across the way from the Seven on State cafeteria (where 20 min lines are not atypical), the cool semi-circle Frango Mint Cafe booths sit nearly empty. My soup and half sandwich was everything you want from a cafe lunch: chicken chili in a vaguely Mexican style including a cilantro cream swirl, and a slightly sophisticated chicken salad sandwich with pesto and whole pistachios. There's even free refills on their strong black current iced tea.

Erik ordered the well-toasted grilled ham and cheese with a side of perfectly firm potato salad. Aaron ordered a 1990s Chi-Chi's-style taco salad in a shell. 

I can't say enough good things about this place! Here's one more- this place is one of the rare, high-quality, affordable restaurants where lemming hour does not exist! So if you have to eat at noon, head to the Frango Mint Cafe and save room for dessert. 

Since their menu is not online: 

Rating, each category out of 5: 

Taste           * * * * *

Value           * * *
Atmosphere  * * * * 
Service         * * * 

Links: Yelp