Plenty to choose from in a bright, bustling setting that won’t break your budget
Who eats:
Spotted were a postman, lone lunchers using smartphones, women in business attire and besuited men.
Why eat:
When people say, “Come on down to Under 55,” they mean it. Take the down escalator to the basement of the 55 E. Monroe building. It’s a place for Loop workers who don’t have money, or time, to waste. You’ll leave with both stomach and wallet full.
Ambience:
You expect a subterranean space to be dark; Under 55 disappoints (thankfully). An atrium brightens the sprawling cafeteria. The ceiling is open to reveal painted pipework for a mod look along with breathing room. Geometric prints make it all the more attractive. You’re still in, or under, the central business district, though. A TV in the corner shows the Bloomberg channel.
Dress code:
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Cafeteria casual.
Noise factor:
You expect a cafeteria to be noisy; Under 55 does not disappoint (unfortunately).
Overheard:
“She irritated me Thursday. By Friday, it was like, ‘Oh my God.’ She was still talking.”
Service:
It’s a cafeteria, so that would be up to you. Those behind the counter, though, were pleasant and speedy: Tacos, for instance, took two minutes.
Cellphone reception/Wi-Fi:
A Verizon call went through. A T-Mobile call succeeded once and failed once. Email worked.
Menu:
Themed food stations take you from Asia to Mexico, while the Carvery offers hand-carved roast beef, turkey and ham. It’s all about variety, from breakfast cereal to Rice Krispies-style treats to Red Bull and sparkling clementine orange juice. There’s even a coffee shop at Under 55, with Dunkin’ Donuts brew, pastries and cushy sofas.
Reliable options:
Carved sandwiches can be combined with side orders, a drink and frozen yogurt ($6.99). Our roast beef was pink and juicy and came with tater wedges that definitely were a cut above the last cafeteria we frequented — in college. The turkey was moist and “basically like the turkey you get at Thanksgiving,” our companion said. Tacos were stuffed with chicken and accompanied by salsa hot enough to make us think we had gone to Mexico (part of another $6.99 deal). A jumbo Maxwell Street Polish ($5.49 by itself) also lived up to that billing. And then there’s the buffet: A foam container piled with fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, salad and roasted potatoes comes in at $4.82. Light lunchers will want to check out the sushi ($5.19 for the Alaskan roll) or the soup ($2.49). We liked the smoky split pea with ham chunks.
Expect to pay:
Less than $10. If your bill is more, your eyes were probably bigger than your stomach.
Contact:
312-849-9512