Oh yea, I can totally see why this spot is popular amongst Hyde Park folks! Friendly and helpful…read moreowners when I asked for recs. There's even a community board towards the bathroom, which gives this spot a community-based vibe. It's a quick, casual spot with several tables open for grabs when people leave. I got a traditional everything bagel w cream cheese to start the day, which had the RIGHT amt of cream cheese. Sometimes places give wayy too much, ruining the exp. I also ordered their popular Sumac Chicken sandwich on their Dutch Crunch bread, which was really good!! The bread had a slight sweetness to it that was satisfying and the flavors altogether were soo yummy. I waited ~12 min for my order, since they were rightfully packed. No outside food/drinks allowed if you're grabbing a table to eat. There's WiFi and a restroom in the back. Lots of neighborhood regulars. Bonus points that their food is halal for those w dietary restrictions. Great neighborhood spot!!

Stopped on a whim looking for a good local sandwich shop. The highlight was that bread was very…read moretasty and fresh. The Caesar salad was also flavorful. It had homemade croutons and sides of bread. Got a slice of the carrot cake and it was very moist. Not too sweet with cream cheese frosting. Raisins included, if that matters to you. We got the garlic chicken on French baguette. It was a creamy base and not something I would buy again. Glad we added cheese because there wasn't much to it. the other sandwich we bought was avocado turkey on Dutch crunch. It unfortunately had enough mayo to drown the restaurant. The amount of meat left much to be desired. We asked for chips which they had but only for online orders that came in. ??? Doesn't make sense to me. For 2 Sammie's, a salad and cake it was $45, just for a gauge of prices. The cashier was on the phone the entire time and couldn't hear what we said because of that. Kinda acted inconvenienced we were talking while he was on the phone. The restaurant is pretty chill and seemed like a workspace for people with art on the walls for sale. The art also had a thick layer of dust, and overall the dining room could use a good deep clean. The bathroom cleanliness was decent. This probably won't be another place I would seek out in the future.

Usually super crowded, which is why I have begun to avoid it. It's nice to sit outside during the…read morewarmer months, but of course that's a very small sliver of the year. There are ample vegan and vegetarian options, and I highly recommend the vegan tartine (possible to customize as a salad) and vegetarian quesadilla. The croissants and desserts are above average. Coffee/chai/hot chocolate are solid options, and there is a refrigerated section with bottled juices. Service is always exceptional, and the servers are almost always cheerful and polite. The cafe is connected to the seminary bookstore, which is fun for a quick browse. If you are not connected with the University of Chicago, Plein Air is like a window into the university and its architecture, situated right next to Frank Lloyd Wright's well-known Robie House. Most patrons are students, staff and faculty at the university. Overall, I recommend this spot if you are touring the university and need an atmospheric place to hang out. Importantly, however, menu options are limited in the summer months or during university breaks - check before you go!

Food was good but really expensive. The cafe was very nice but did not have a variety of bakery…read moretreats. I'd recommend the drinks here. Also a great place to study for the college students.

There are so many planned cultural events here it makes one head spin. Throughout the building as a…read morewhole there's things happening, but they had a nice jazz series in the Spring. We came here on a Tuesday to hear some live music. It was cool on this day so we opted for tea instead of a 'drink'. The variety has good picks of pastries and salads. I don't think there is table service, but rather you have to go up and order on your own. It is not cheap but not grossly overpriced either. I usu get beverages so I can't quite speak to the food. I found comfort on the elevated seats, but there are comfy chairs and outdoor seating as well. The attached pictures are from an exhibit by Tony Smith, 'Black is Beautiful'. The walls are a pretty blue but I hope they keep rotating and redecorating the area. What a great space for a gallery/cafe!

Located on the Southside of UC's campus and managed by the onsite food service company, Bon…read moreAppetit. Large eating space (including a patio), but full of students/faculty on laptops. The food is clean, lots of Vegetarian and vegan options. Cafe selections as well as grab and go and beer and wine. You do order before you pay, so if you have any modifiers, you will need to trust the chef/cook to prepare your request correctly; as there is no ticket system. I guess this means that you could also tell the cashier something completely different and get charged a different price. Service is less than friendly, but efficient. I wish there were "for here" plating options. All prepared food is served in (compostable) to go boxes. This means that the garbages are frequently overflowing and you need to use disposable utensils.

Robust Coffee is a great spot if you're looking for a casual place to grab a solid cup of coffee…read more The space itself is pretty large with plenty of seating, and everything felt clean and well kept. The staff was friendly and welcoming, which always makes a difference. The coffee was really good just how I like it nice and strong, exactly what you want when you're trying to wake up. I also had a bagel which was good, though at the end of the day it's still just a bagel. The only real downside is parking. There isn't a lot of convenient parking nearby, which can make stopping in a little tricky depending on the time of day. It's also not the quietest environment, so it might not be the best place if you're looking to get a lot of work done. Overall though, it's a great neighborhood coffee spot with good drinks, friendly staff, and a comfortable atmosphere. I'd definitely come back.

This place sucks! And it's sad bc it's the only coffee place in the area so we don't have many…read moreoptions The service is rude and racist and they service mostly black and brown ppl. It's slow they never get orders right and even when you order ahead it takes FOR EVER! There is alway only one person making coffee at the busiest time, mornings. When you ask questions or for iodates it's always met with an attitude. Ppl dont say anything bc it's the only place in miles to get coffee. It's a coffee shop. You need more ppl making coffee please. And fix the attitude. Also they knew a new exhaust system. Anytime you go in there you smell like food. It's disgusting

Great place to go on a nice warm day! Staff was very nice and the cafe in general was beautiful…read more Food was AMAZING but a little pricey. They had many Dubai chocolate deserts that have been really popular on TikTok! Highly recommend the biscoff crepe!

Sweet Drip is a great little cafe spot in Hyde park. Offering all kinds of sweet treats from…read moredrinks, gelato, and cakes. On a weekend you may find people playing chess there. The staff were great and very nice. A great spot to get yourself a nice little treat.

La Boulangerie & Co was a nice little find. We were in the neighborhood craving some French…read morepastries and this spot popped up. It's small, but in a good way. Cute setup, little tables, and that Paris mural on the wall. It totally gives that authentic Parisian feel. Staff was really helpful too, super welcoming. I got the hot chocolate and a Swiss chocolate croissant. The hot chocolate was smooth and really flavorful. Made with steamed milk, so it had that creamy texture right away. Not too sweet, more on the rich side, with a slight bitterness that balanced it out nicely. The croissant though... that was the highlight. Super flaky, layers just falling apart as you bite into it. Light and crispy on the outside, soft inside. The chocolate in the center was slightly melted and it balanced perfectly with the buttery pastry. Every bite had that mix of crunch and softness. Honestly, it took me back to my fall trip to Paris a bit. Just one of those simple, really good moments. I'd definitely come back.

Welcome to La Boulangerie, we give you hardware for eating utensils, pretty funky bathroom door…read morelocks and several options of coffee that is served warm. I ain't gon cap. The little name and title enticed me to make it a thing on some type of routine basis but...the first time that I visited ( although I've returned several times afterwards) I was received poorly. Meaning, the cashier really had a difficult time with placing pleasantries in their tone. I mean, give me patience for the $8 coffee I want. I show up here because it's decent to look at but don't give me no side eye for wanting oat milk with size 18 hips. I did feel a bit judged for my selection but!!!! The next visits I had were nice, however, what does that do for anyone? You want repeat customers? Remember to be nice the first time you meet one always. (Respectfully) The chocolate tart thing was good tho.

The drinks are quite good, and they don't charge extra for plant-based milk. The food options are a…read moremixed bag: the tiny brownie bites are delicious, the sandwiches (caprese, mushroom) can be good certain days and not so good on other days, and the croissants are often mediocre. Unfortunately, the people at the counter can often be quite terse and unpleasant, though there have been other occasions where they have been exceptionally nice. The ambience is characterless, as one would expect from a Pret. However, the seating area right outside is beautiful during the warmer months, and it's nice to sit outside with drinks and food. The cafe can get quite crowded at lunchtime, but is usually only moderately full. Overall, I like having the option of a Pret on campus, though there are far better cafes within a short distance (Plein Air on Woodlawn, Hallowed Grounds upstairs in the same building, and Grounds of Being at Swift Hall).

Good food and ambiance, great location on campus and has good hours (few campus coffeeshops are…read moreopen during breaks for ex). Customer service is inconsistent. You have great friendly people but then also those who cannot be bothered to look in your direction when they talk to you. Coffee is consistently bad though.

I went on Saturday, May 16, at 10:45am and the two young ladies serving at the time were really…read moregreat. Both greeted me and were friendly. I chose the honey vanilla latte. I enjoyed it and tasted both flavors so make sure you like honey if this is what you choose. I think I would stick with my regular French vanilla next time. I also tried the cheese danish, warmed up and I enjoyed it. The seating options were varied and there were plenty of them. I liked the bar style seating along the window so you have privacy and a view. They also had tables which were good for couples or groups. I'd definitely return if I were in the area.

This review is just based on the tasty iced French vanilla latte with oat milk I got. I needed an…read moreafternoon pick-me-up Sunday and this was the perfect choice. When I went there was no line. There is a lot of seating and while I didn't go when it was too busy, there were quite a few people there. The barista who helped me was very kind. We found a table to sit at while we waited for my drink. It's very casual and unassuming. There is something almost retro about the space. We ended up doing our Duolingo at the cafe before I took my coffee to go on a walk at Promontory Point. The coffee was super yummy.

Really good coffee Pleasant people working & comfy…read moreatmosphere Parking can be difficult but otherwise all good

quick service, good coffee, excellent vibes. next time i'm giving myself more time to chill out…read morehere.