I would give Matari 4.5 out of 5 stars, so I'm rounding to 5 based on service and ambiance! I heard…read moreabout their fruit mousse cakes online, so we knew we had to stop by to check it out. The cafe is immaculate and service was very friendly. The person who took our order was patient as he explained the different pastries in the case. I wish they had signs explaining what each pastry was so I could have decided while waiting in line. We ended up sharing an iced pistachio latte (delicious and 10/10!), the pistachio cheesecake (10/10!), and the strawberry mousse cake (7/10 - a subtle sweetness, great texture, but needed more cake or crust inside as it was mostly whipped cream and the shell). The mousse cake was $12.00, which felt steep considering it was mostly whipped cream, even though it was obviously beautiful. We would definitely come back for the coffee and to try more menu items! Check this place out!

I wanted to like it. I did. But after a few visits, it's just not for me…read more The first trip, I tried the Matari Tea: Green tea, Himalayan pink salt, milk, and spices, topped with roasted pistachios. Sounds good, right? Alas, it could not have been blander. I couldn't taste any "spices" or even the hint of salt. The profile was that of very watered-down tea mixed with milk, and a ton of pistachios floating on top. Like, barely crushed pistachios. Huge pieces, covering the top of the drink, bobbed around like tiny icebergs, and even they somehow had a toned-down flavor. The drink was definitely a swing and a miss. Fast forward two weeks, and I tried Matari again. This time with a simple cortado. I sat at the table right by the door, and the espresso was pretty good. Solid body, not too bitter. It was on the pricy side ($7+), but I was ok with that. But then, I'm hanging out, sipping my coffee, and I catch a burst of perfume-like scent. I'm shocked, but whatever, I figured someone in heavy perfume walked by, no big deal. A few minutes later, wham, I'm hit in the nose with another burst of perfume. Then, I see it. A slight haze around me. So, not a heavily perfumed woman after all, but an automated air-freshener. After further inspection, I see the unit plugged in on the ground right behind my chair, which sprays up and out on a timer. That's right, an air freshener right next to a table where people consume food and beverages, shooting a mist into the air that slowly rains down onto my head and table, and into my coffee. I ended up tossing the last few sips of my cortado, as I could taste the scented whatever-it-was in my cup. I'd have gone to the counter and asked for a new one, but I was so over my visit by then, I just opted to get out. The staff aren't very friendly. Not rude, but they don't give off a welcoming aura, and I didn't feel like trying to explain the issue. Lastly, can we talk about their little "your order is up" beepers? We've all seen them. The little electronic things that blink and make a noise when your order is ready, so you can go snag it from the counter. When I think of a coffee shop, I think quiet and peaceful, or perhaps a bit louder, with bustling people and well-paired music. At Matari, it's an insane BEEP BEEP BEEP that goes off every few minutes when an order is up. I get it, you don't want to bring the food out to your customers. But does it really need to feel like an airport Chili's? It's a bummer, because Matari is beautiful inside. It's clean, it's chic, and its location is at a notable crossroads in Skokie with plenty of parking, leaving it extremely convenient. They've even got an easy-to-use website, which so many coffee shops simply do not have. There aren't a lot of coffee shops in this particular part of town, which is why I so, so very much wanted to love Matari. But subpar drinks? Air freshener spray intrusions? Frequent and obnoxious beeping? I tried. I'm sorry. I just can't.

Friendly staff. Chill seating & pleasant music. Ube latte was delicious. My preschooler liked the…read moreoverhead lights; he said they look like dandelions. Highly recommend.

Such a warm and cozy cafe. Grab something to go or stay awhile, this place is IT. They have…read morecoffees, teas, and specialty lattes. I went with an iced peppermint tea and it was very refreshing. I also tried the guava and cream cheese pastry and my goodness this was insanely delicious. The pastry dough is crispy, flakey and fluffy. The guava jam and cream cheese was sweet and not overly sweet. I stopped in on a weekend morning and throughout my time here there was a constant flow of customers coming and going. Staff members were able to keep up with the influx of weekend customers. Within 5 minutes of placing my order my items were ready to be picked up at the front counter.

Stopped by MOTW Coffee & Pastries for a quick visit and was really impressed! The atmosphere was…read morebright, open, and super clean such a refreshing space to relax in. The staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, and the menu had a ton of variety. I ordered a Cortado, which was perfectly balanced and smooth, and tried a beef empanada for the first time warm, savory, and exactly what I needed on a cold day. I also couldn't resist grabbing a baked cookie, which was sweet, soft, and delicious. Overall, this place checks all the boxes: great vibes, amazing service, and quality food and drinks. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area!

Friendly staff. Standard coffees. Giant wall art with a ceramic mug, and yet for table service it's…read morea post-Covid paper cup. The Argentinian chicken empanada was okay but not made in store, and lacked any real savor. Baklava type pastry the size of my big toe was dry as a squirrel turd. Beverage cooler sparsely stocked. One t-shirt dangling from the merch rack. No side table for the wall sofa. This business needs to rethink its posture toward customer comfort. Anyone can sell coffee and pastries from a hole in the wall. I might stop for a take out coffee if my car breaks down outside, but other than that a poor business model tells me to grab a cup at my local greasy spoon.

Well, this is crazy. I came here last Friday to meet a friend for lunch who I hadn't seen in ages,…read moreand it happened to be Good Friday. Apparently the first (and only other) time I came here was Good Friday last year to meet a different friend for coffee. I didn't realize it had been almost a full year since I had been here. I've been wanting to try their food because it always looks so good on Instagram, and I wasn't disappointed. My friend ordered the mediterranean salad and a side of berries and tea, and I ordered the vegan soup of the day (tomato basil) and a side of fries. The fries were probably unnecessary because I didn't read that the soup came with bread, but I ate all of them anyway because they're delicious. Service was great, and we sat there for almost 2 hours and they didn't kick us out (unlike last year, it wasn't that crowded this time. We came at 2pm, so it was not as busy of a time, I guess). We were in the restaurant part, and the vibes are great. As a note: for counter service make sure you tip, as they still have servers bringing out the food for you (it's not like Panera). I feel super bad because I didn't realize that it wasn't included in the price. (We had looked at a few different places online and both Bar Siena and Hampton Social include an 18% gratuity automatically, and I think my brain was thinking that Cupitol also does that. But they do not. So many places do that now, some of which still ask you for an extra tip, so it's hard to keep track). Next time I go I'll tip double. I will definitely be back because everything was delicious and omg their pastries look so good.

- fine food, ok ambiance, kind staff - no reservation made…read moreor could be made - not looking to come back Went for a spontaneous brunch and I was not really thrilled with the overall experience. It all had felt too casual and self-serve - ordering at the counter with my assigned table hand-written, a water cup station, and no check-ins at all. This was just not what I was expecting from what I had heard. The food was ok, but overall underdelivered. For my meal, I had gotten the Chicken B.L.T.A. and Matcha Sparkling. The sandwich itself was fine, a standard combination of ingredients. The country white gravy was very runny and soaked the bread quickly, and the bread itself was already not toasted. Nothing really special that I noticed eating it. My drink was fairly plain too, would have preferred a green tea if I knew it would taste very watered down. Additionally, there wasn't much "sparkling" in it, as it was mostly flat. My girlfriend had gotten a bowl of Chicken Bone Broth that was served with some bread. The soup was very standard and had an ok amount of chicken chunks, but not that much of that or anything else. The chicken came out to be slightly dry too. The soup was served in a very wide bowl that was fun, but I understood why it is not too common. The soup quickly cooled and was no longer an enjoyable temperature halfway through, but it was still ok for dipping the bread in afterwards. Her drink was also nothing crazy, not much mint and just tasting like sweet and cream. Overall not that impressed with both the food and set-up for the brunch service. Potentially dinner is better from the experiences I have heard, but that sort of drastic difference is not something I find appropriate or exciting for any restaurant.

Kneads and Wants sits tucked away in downtown Skokie with a cute little store front. There's plenty…read moreof seats to dine in and I was impressed with the space inside. There were two staff working and both were so kind during my visit. I decided to get a breakfast sandwich to go and a pastry for a treat for later. Sandwiches are cooked to order. I ordered The Standard which the menu says is bacon, souffled egg, and hot honey on a waffle. Because I got it to go, it was wrapped in a hot sandwich type deli paper. I didn't taste any hot honey at all but this sandwich was delicious. I loved the souffled eggs which were so light and fluffy. I think my particular sandwich got a liiiitle extra toasty, the waffle was pretty dark and the bacon was bordering burnt, which isn't my preference. This sandwich is deceivingly filling. I couldn't quite finish it but man was I full. I will absolutely be back for this and to try other sandwiches. For later I grabbed a flattened strawberry pistachio croissant from the bakery side. I actually love the flattened part of this because it was so much easier to eat than big fluffy croissants and still had all the flakiness that laminated dough pastries bring. I loved this! I can't wait to go back and try their big soft pretzel and maybe a drink next time! Thank you Kneads and Wants!

Phenomenal breakfast sandwiches. Pricey, yes, but worth a splurge every once in a while. Plus you…read moreprobably won't need lunch afterward. Bakery items are hit or miss: delicious cookies (especially chocolate crinkle), and a killer coffee cake, but bland scones and muffins. Also, I wanted to try their big soft pretzel but there was no salt on it. Come on now.

Stopped by C3 Coffee for a quick visit and was genuinely impressed. The space was extremely clean,…read morethe staff was very kind, and everything felt well thought out from start to finish. I ordered a cortado, which was excellent, and it came with a complimentary sparkling watersuch a unique and refreshing touch. I honestly wish more coffee shops did that. I also grabbed the chicken pesto panini, it was absolutely delicious and way more filling than I expected. Fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with quality ingredients. Overall, a great experience all around. High-quality drinks, great food, and a welcoming atmosphere. I'll definitely be back.

This review is long overdue but well worth mentioning that it's one of my favorite coffee shops!…read more I worked in the heart of Skompton for several months & C3 was my morning grace. Colin and Dolly are two of my favorite baristas of all time! My go-to drink is usually anything seasonal when it comes to their coffee and their iced drinks you can add different flavors of Red Bull. YUM. Really enjoy their photo wall art of all their different customers throughout the years. Overall just a really family friendly place to go if you're in the area getting some shopping done! Support locally!

A new place for me that I accidentally found on Google Maps. It looked interesting in the photos,…read morebut in real life it's even more beautiful. A very nicely decorated place with great taste and attention to detail. I went with my friends for an afternoon coffee. We all ordered different types of coffee, and every single one was excellent. Unlike chain coffee shops where everything comes in paper cups, here you actually get a real cup, which I really appreciated. My friends also ordered spinach pie and said they hadn't had such a good one in a long time. The guys who work there are very kind and pleasant. Overall, everything was truly wonderful. I would definitely recommend everyone to visit this place!

Unbeknowest to me, I have made it a life mission to visit every Qawah House in the nation. I would…read morenot consider myself a huge jet setter, but I have been to the multiple ones in Detroit and houston, and now in Chicago. This one was no different in the style, and decor of the interior there was also no different in being extremely busy. It might have been our fault for coming on a weekend, but we had no other choice. And it was as busy as ever. However, it was quick.They were quick to bring it our order out, and have it ready, despite being so busy inside.We did have to wait a little bit to find a table for our family as large as ours, but that seems to be the norm, because most tables also seem to have about six people on each. The adeni as always is a must have and always my favorite to get. The honeycomb bread and a smattering of other little treats we got from the display cafe that they have was also good and welcome to have in a typical windy day. I would note that even though it smells delicious in here with the coffee aromas, this does not would not be a good place to come to study. This feels like a very friendly friend of the environment because we saw so many different families here and because of that, it was very loud. Just as a heads up. If you're looking to have tea or coffee after dinner out with a family, then this is the place.

Good coffee. Love the vibes they put out. Busy place, but not so much that you wish you'd have…read moregone to another place. The folks who take your order are proficient. Some coffee places you only order coffee since the food selection is weak. That isn't the case at Backlot. I get the Classic( somewhat spicy) and my wife gets the Monty breakfast sandwich. A great start to your day!

They have a wide selection of drinks, pastries and local fare. The staff is very friendly and the…read morevibe is a friendly neighborhood coffee house full of art, plants, fresh pastries and local fare. It's always good to support local.

Ambiance - casual, spacious, great place for coffee & dessert…read more Service - only 1 person taking orders/making drinks on Sat night, service slightly backed up Food - hot chocolate + biscoff topping was slightly on the sweeter side

I've been here several times and shocked I haven't wrote a review yet! This place is a super cute…read morecoffee shop that has a decent amount of seating to study, work and hangout. Plenty of drink choices, my favorite is the Kashmiri chai. It's just perfect. I got the pumpkin cookie butter latte which was a fall special. Definitely recommend! So many sweet choices, including tarts and macaroons. They do have other food options, I'd have to find time to stay there to order it though. Mornings definitely empty but I've seen them full of people in the evenings.

A sip of history Haraz finally opened up in Niles, IL and honestly I could not be more excited…read more had the chance to check it out today and ordered the matcha latte that comes with oat milk and I added in honey and it was delicious and then also ordered a mocha latte as is and that was so yummy as well! The entire place is gorgeous inside and perfect for hanging out with the friends or just to have a place to sit and work:) The staff is incredible and so sweet I will definitely be coming here ALOT! Can't wait to try the food items soon! .. The multiple eats of Haraz! Here are the things I've found amazing since going to Haraz on the daily! * Brand New Dessert! Chocolate pistachio brownie with knafeh and pistachio ice cream! * Brand New Mango Matcha * Salted Caramel Latte * Pistachio Latte * Iced Adeni * Matcha with honey *Matcha and lemon honey cheesecake * Iced Mocha Latte *Istanbul Cheesecake *Spinach and Feta Cheese Pie, Dubai Chocolate, and Iced Adeni * Dubai Chocolate *Warm Matcha, Cheese Danish, Beef Pogacha *Iced Adeni *Pistachio Danish *Matcha with a view

I was craving cardamom coffee and we decided to stopped by Haraz to try it out. Very spacious and a…read morelot of parking spot. They even had a quiet room with door for coworking/studying. Went with their all spice mofawar, and a cleaner palate one Qishr since hubby wanted something tea-like. After ordering all that, we noticed there's a separate tea option that had a citrusy flavor so we got the sunlit tangerine also. The drinks were very strong in a whole mix of spice flavors, which I actually really liked, but it is a little too watery, not dense or creamy enough, and the coffee flavor lean a bit more too acidic/sour. It's not bad, but I think it's just not exactly to my liking. What I didn't realize was that a lot of the spices sunk to the bottom so when I remixed the thic layer of spices with oatmilk at home, it tasted pretty good with the right consistency. All of the drinks were pretty diluted in our opinion, and I think it's too much spice for my husband although I liked it. I also ordered some pastries, but the server packed the wrong one. If I didn't look closely enough I might've missed that. There was one last Dubai pistachio cookie which I asked for, but they gave me the Biscoff cookie instead which was a less expensive one. Anyway, they were fine switching it out after I pointed out, but no apologies or anything. While we weren't impressed with the drinks at first, the medovik mouse/honey layered cake was really good-- it was pretty dense where the buttery parts were, and it was pretty sweet so it balanced well with the acidic coffee. We didn't know the cookie had more fillings on the inside until we got home. The fillings had crunchy flakes which adds a really nice texture, and the filling is not too sweet. Really good. We liked the pastries a lot more than the coffee. Perhaps we just aren't used to the flavor and taste profile of the coffee. I'd be willing to try more here.