Sifr Café officially opened today in Chicago's River North neighborhood, expanding the Michelin Bib Gourmand–recognized restaurant into daytime service. Operating Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the café occupies Sifr's existing dining room at 660 N. Orleans St., allowing the restaurant to serve guests during morning hours before transitioning to its evening dinner service. Chefs Sahil Sethi and Sujan Sarkar designed the café menu to complement the restaurant's dinner offerings, pairing café staples with Middle Eastern flavors. Savory selections include a Breakfast Sandwich with egg soufflé, cheese, and harissa mayo; Lamb Keema Focaccia; Chicken Musakhan Croissant Ring; and Olive & Harissa Focaccia Slice. The pastry case features house-made Baklava Croissant, Carrot Halwa Babka, Mahalabia Custard Croissant, and Cardamom Canelé. The beverage program features Metric Coffee espresso alongside specialty drinks including Date Caramel Latte and Smoked Tahini Latte, along with traditional Sulaimani Masala Chai. Sifr Café operates on a walk-in basis with no reservations required. Sifr, which means "zero" in Arabic, earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in 2024 and 2025 for its wood-fired and charcoal-grilled Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes. The restaurant is known for its shareable mezze, grilled meats, and family-style platters prepared using traditional techniques with global influences.
Why It Matters
The move expands Sifr's operating hours and revenue streams without requiring additional square footage or kitchen investment—a practical model for fine-casual operators looking to maximize daytime foot traffic in urban markets. The café concept also builds neighborhood loyalty by creating a lower-barrier entry point (morning coffee and pastry) that drives awareness of the restaurant's dinner service.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Sifr Café's operating hours and days?
Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It's walk-in only—no reservations. The café uses Sifr's existing River North dining room at 660 N. Orleans St., so the kitchen transitions directly into dinner service after morning close.
Who's behind the menu, and what's the concept?
Chefs Sahil Sethi and Sujan Sarkar designed the café menu to complement Sifr's Michelin Bib Gourmand dinner offering. They're blending café staples—croissants, pastries, espresso—with Middle Eastern flavors like harissa mayo, lamb keema, and cardamom canelé.
What's the beverage lineup?
Metric Coffee espresso anchors the program, paired with house-made specialty drinks: Date Caramel Latte, Smoked Tahini Latte, and traditional Sulaimani Masala Chai. No alcohol during daytime service.
How does this model work operationally for a Michelin-recognized restaurant?
Zero additional kitchen or square footage investment—Sifr flips the same room and staff from morning to evening. It captures daytime foot traffic and revenue in a high-rent neighborhood without duplicating infrastructure, and creates a lower-barrier entry point for new customers.
What was Sifr's recognition status before launching the café?
Sifr earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in both 2024 and 2025 for wood-fired and charcoal-grilled Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. The restaurant is known for mezze, grilled meats, and family-style platters using traditional techniques with global influences.
