Chefs Sujan Sarkar & Sahil Sethi Expand Sifr With A New Daytime Café Concept, Opening November 11

Sifr is expanding its River North location with the launch of Sifr Café on November 11. Operating Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the new café features specialty coffee, curated teas, house-made pastries, and savory breakfast dishes inspired by the diverse flavors of the Middle Eastern diaspora. 

Building on the success of Swadesi Cafe, from the team behind Sifr, Indienne, and Nadu Chicago, Sifr Café brings a distinct Middle Eastern perspective to Chicago’s daytime café scene. Guests can order at the counter for dine-in or grab-and-go, whether stopping in for a morning coffee or settling into the dining room for a relaxed breakfast. The space offers a seamless morning stop for neighborhood residents, commuters, and visitors before Sifr transitions to dinner service.

The menu features familiar café favorites, highlighting the balance between traditional Middle Eastern techniques and the culinary creativity that defines Chefs Sarkar and Sethi. Savory highlights include a Breakfast Sandwich with egg soufflé, cheese, and harissa mayo (with the option to add a hash brown or lamb adana patty) alongside the Olive & Harissa Focaccia Slice, Lamb Keema Focaccia, and a Chicken Musakhan Croissant Ring with sumac chicken and caramelized onions. The pastry case showcases inventive sweet and savory creations, including a Carrot Halwa Babka, Baklava Croissant, Mahalabia Custard Croissant, Cardamom Canelé, Date & Chocolate Tea Cake, Semolina Basbousa, and Tahini and Nankhatai cookies.

Heartier midday selections served on house-made focaccia include a Falafel Sandwich with harissa tahini yogurt and a Chicken Sandwich with cilantro labneh, roasted peppers, and pickles. Guests can also enjoy several of Sifr's signature spreads, including Classic Hummus with extra-virgin olive oil and za'atar, and Whipped Ricotta with Urfa Chili Crunch, both paired with fresh focaccia. 

Complementing the food menu, Sifr Café’s beverage program features Metric Coffee espresso alongside signature drinks like the Date Caramel Latte, Smoked Tahini Latte, and a Sticky Date Latte crafted with Medjool dates, maple syrup, and warming spices. Non-coffee options include Sulaimani Masala Chai, a spiced, dairy-free black tea blend with ginger and cardamom, alongside a curated selection of teas from Chicago's Spirit Tea.