My experience here has always been good. I come from time to time, since like 2022. It's a great place to work. Ambiance is good. Food is good. And service is typically good as well. Maybe it's because I'm not typically on my phone when I go to order so I've never heard of this "rule" before. But apparently, they don't serve people if you're "on the phone." In my case, I wasn't just otp, I was on a Zoom meeting. Can't just sign off. It was for work, just wanted a coffee and maybe something to eat before heading to my job. It wasn't a negative experience. Per se. It looked like the owner was pretty chill about it. And I get it---ppl can be rude, I'm sure. Having to take an order while someone is on the phone is annoying. But it's also strange to police people's behavior to that extent. So anyway, I got my coffee and decided against getting food. I'll still probably come back. My fave is their pistachio latte and it's a comfortable, chill spot to write at. They should probably put a sign up about that rule if they haven't already! read more

Unbelievable negative experience based on how our situation was handled, not because of an order miscommunication. Context: I ordered a specialty sandwich with a bread substitute and gave my name. The name was misheard and written down incorrectly (and order was not repeated for confirmation). So there was confusion when the order was called out. When I checked on it, I was told by the manager the sandwich can't have substitutes and to either order something else or take the already-made order (that was probably cold at this point). Instead of acknowledging there was a misunderstanding, it seemed the blame was shifted on us and that we were SUPPOSED to know they can't substitute when we initially ordered, even though we weren't informed of this by the barista. We felt the manager approached us with a more accusatory tone than necessary, so we requested a refund. Instead of refunding my card, he returned with a gift card for the value of the sandwich. We were confused because this had not been what we asked for. And then he went on to inform us that he had reviewed security camera footage and had confirmed via the footage that there was "no mention" of the bread substitution (even though he admitted there was no audio recording). He stated he needed to side with his employee even though we repeatedly told him we understand that miscommunications can happen. We didn't expect him to throw his employee under the bus or "choose sides" but we expected him to handle the situation more professionally. His handling felt unnecessary, dismissive, and confrontational. The focus should have been on resolution NOT investigation. He was especially dismissive to my girlfriend who voiced the concerns initially because she wasn't the one who paid for the order directly. We were both rightfully upset so it felt rude for him to shut her down. Mistakes happen in any restaurant. What shouldn't happen is making a customer feel as though they are being blamed or told their account of events isn't credible (which he consistently did). A straightforward acknowledgement, refund, and moving on would have resolved everything. Instead, the situation was escalated and handled in a way that felt defensive and unprofessional. Ultimately, we received a cash refund, but unfortunately, this left a far worse impression than the original mix-up, especially for a cafe that has "Community" in its name. ‍ read more

Hands down my favorite coffee shop in Bridgeport. Everyone is so attentive, caring, and kind! My favorite order is the Southside Reuben with some jasmine green tea. I usually come here to work and feel like the environment is stimulating yet not distracting. The lofted ceilings open the space up and make it the perfect place for an artist to be inspired. The music playlist is always phenomenal and the art work is curated so beautifully. Thank you Base Cafe for being an exemplary spot that represents Bridgeport! So happy to be a customer here :) read more

Plenty of seating area with natural lighting. The baristas were nice and the drinks were good. A lot of options from sandwiches to coffee to tea. But the both time I've been there it was super hot and humid. read more

Base Community Cafe - Honey green tea - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Oatmilk vanilla late is gas. Their bagel sandwiches are fresh and delicious. Love this spot

Welp, now that I came here to write this review, I'm not shocked nor surprised to see most of the poor reviews are either about the owner, Paul, or the "male" staff member. As a remote worker, I've supported this cafe numerous times over the past couple years. I've periodically noticed rudeness displayed to customers from those two, but 'minded my business'. Well today, it happened to me. I shared with the owner, Paul, that his worker (bald Asian guy), was dismissive when I asked him for assistance with connecting to WI-FI. It was a simple "you should be aware of how your staff is speaking to customers, but not a big deal" situation, however, he wasn't trying to hear it and said he's going to side with his staff (as if I asked him to pick sides) and then proceeded to review the security camera, even though I told him he wouldn't be able to pick up anything, because we weren't being confrontational. During our conversation, he suggested a couple times that I am "free to leave if you don't feel safe here", as if I said I didn't. One thing I don't do is argue with fools, so I left and will be taking my dollars to an establishment that cares about how customers are impacted. This is our reminder to start reading reviews of businesses before we support them! read more

This café definitely has a unique setting. Nestled inside of a large warehouse between other businesses, storage center, and so much more, the atmosphere is more than just what is indoors. The outdoor patio/canopy of white curtains, chandeliers, and glass is so pretty. It looks good enough for a wedding. Inside the coffee shop, there is ample space and comfortable seating, with a smattering of art on the walls. Better yet, they have string lights which I love. While here I had ordered a matcha lavender latte which was good. Not too sweet. I also ordered a bagel sandwich which was served on a bagel. The egg on the sandwich tasted freshly made and there was a good amount of turkey on it as well. I ordered a side of fries cooked in beef tallow. The fries were lightly seasoned and tasted good. They definitely were a more moist fry, which I liked. Sometimes the double-fried method of making fries dries them out. I appreciate the moisture left in the fries here. The baristas were friendly and welcoming. read more

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I've been coming to this café for years because it always felt like a welcoming, creative space, the kind of place that supports artists and community events. Sadly, my most recent visit completely changed that feeling. I stopped in to post a flyer for my upcoming Painting workshop; I politely asked the barista if flyers needed approval, and she said no, I could post it. When I grabbed a nearby chair to reach the bulletin board, the manager (I'm assuming ) rushed over, snatched the chair away, and started scolding me about standing on the chair in front of customers. Instead of simply asking me to be careful, he demanded to know what I was posting, told me to take it down and then crumpled my flyer in my face, and told me it was because it "wasn't local." Then, in front of everyone, he questioned whether I was even a customer and demanded my phone number to "look me up in the system." It was shocking, humiliating, and completely uncalled for -- especially from a business that promotes itself as community-based. There was no kindness, no conversation, and no respect. What should have been a small, supportive interaction with a local artist turned into something that felt discriminatory and dismissive. For a café that claims to represent Bridgeport's community, this kind of treatment sends a message that not everyone belongs, that some people's presence or creative work is questioned rather than welcomed. Community spaces should build bridges, not barriers. I'm sharing this because artists and neighbors deserve to feel safe and supported in local spaces ; especially the ones we've helped build through our time, money, and energy. I won't be returning, but I hope this encourages reflection and accountability from management. No one should be made to feel small for trying to share art. read more

Best food, best service, best ambience. Someone keeps taking down this review. read more

Perfect spot to get some work done and get a light lunch. Its location in Bridgeport also makes for a great meeting spot.

We had an event at Base Community Cafe recently and every aspect from planning, to set up, to day- of support went perfectly. Their team was so helpful and attentive, the food was amazing, and the ambiance, lighting, sound quality, and atmosphere was exactly what we needed for our business casual event. I would highly recommend working with Base Cafe! read more

I'm so upset I didn't come here sooner for living in Bridgeport for the last 2 years! I ordered an iced matcha latte and it's probably one of the bests I've had in the area. Usually it's either way too milky where you can't taste the matcha at all or it's not sweet enough where it's too much matcha. But this place delivered! Service was quick and the ambience was very cute. read more

Hi, I love this place...Great coffee and food. I highly recommend....Plenty of tables if you want to sit down with your laptop. Great wifi... read more

Big fan of this place. Variety abound with drinks and food. I enjoyed an iced oat milk latte with hazelnut syrup to go with a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on a jalapeño cheddar bagel. Everything was delicious and I didn't have to wait long for my order. Fridge by the entrance is stocked with a number of different drinks beyond coffee and espresso beverages (water, Jarritos, and more). Takes credit cards and cash tips are recommended. The cafe has a lot of space with different sized tables to meet with people or conduct work. Parking is plentiful with a lot on the north side of the building. Cool place to work, study, or do what you need to do while enjoying coffee or a light meal. read more

Base is the best! Great coffee and friendly service at reasonable prices! Cool atmosphere and great food. Go check it out!

This is a great coffeeshop on the Southside and located in the Bridgeport Art Center. It's a very cozy shop with plenty of seating and space to hang out or work. The staff is always very friendly and welcoming when I've visited. The coffee is delicious as is the food (shoutout to the cubano sandwich) - in a neighborhood of great coffeeshops Base holds it's own. I'll definitely be back! read more

2 nd time stopping in and the last. 1st time stopped in I felt like I was being watched . I was waiting for my friend to order food. They are that desperate for you to order that they will come up to you and say that you have to order something or leave .I was looking at the menu when they said something to me ,I waited 20 min for my friend to arrive before ordering. It made me feel some kind of way about this place and very uncomfortable. 2nd time coming here to study I ordered a drink ,something Immediately so no one came up to me about ordering food or a drink. I ordered food after my friend arrived. My bagel was soft and warm ,my friend's bagel was burnt and hard.she went up to the desk to asked if they could make her a new one because it was Burnt ,and they told her no,she would have to repurchase (she had one bite) .the worker started arguing with her that it goes through the same belt and it will come out the same, but mine wasn't burnt on the edges and hard. So I walk over and ask can you please just make us a new one that's not burnt on the edges, they still said no and refused. At that point I was a little upset that they would treat customers like this after spending 40 dollars for coffee , bagels and fruit. I don't know if they are racist or this is just how they do business and how they treat customers, but I feel like everyone should know how they treat people that we eventually left because I was not going to allow us to be treated this way over a burnt bagel. Overall the vibe is cool, some of their employees are not. I do not recommend this place at all, I have never been treated so poorly at a coffee shop.it was honestly unreal. read more

Base Community Cafe - Jalapeño cheddar bagel - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Hardwood floors and big windows on the first floor of the Bridgeport Art Center, this cafe lets you play retro Mario games for free and is still relatively unknown in the neighborhood. The name is probably a little confusing to non-gamers. "8a5e" is just a nerd way of typing "Base." The industrial-loft vibe includes a DJ corner and an impressive full wall mural in color-waves. Tons of plugs and good wifi for getting a little work done. This place is an open coffee shop M-F with coffee and sandwiches (limited menu in 2018 just expanded to daily menu 2019). The review that says this is event-only or not for public is just wrong. I'm sitting here right now sipping coffee and working on my laptop. 8a5e is not open on weekends--like many shops esp. closer to the loop--and yes the space is often rented for an event on the weekends. They do weddings in the art center courtyard, and art and tech events are often hosted in the Bridgeport Art Center, which also hosts art studios and a museum. One nice advantage of being in the Art Center - free huge parking lot for those who drive. The techy-creative vibe draws coders, photographers, digital artists, but all sorts come through 8a5e including kids from nearby schools. The IT-oriented owners can build you a website or fix your computer and have a few tech accessories for sale. read more

This is literally a hidden gem. If you drove by this place you would miss it. I learned of this coffee shop through a friend of mine who lives in the neighborhood. The coffee shop is located inside an Industrial Building which houses Event rooms, all sorts of businesses, and art museum, art sculptures inside and outside, etc. It's a very cool place. " 8a5e" cafe which stands for Base (pretty clever with spelling of the name of Base) is a very roomy , open, big room establishment. It's a very welcoming cafe which offers handcrafted coffee as well as a limited menu of sandwiches and other food items. The person who took my order was very nice and very informative. I ordered their vanilla latte and with skim milk. I was told that they don't have skim milk but do have 2%. He also said they have oat milk. I never heard of Oat Milk but I was willing to try to it. He offered me a small sample of it and to my surprise it was really good. My latte with Oat Milk turned out to be very good. I will definitely come here again. Next time I will try one of their food items and maybe some other type of coffee. I'm sure I will not be disappointed. Great place to visit, very welcoming, service was good, and latte was fantastic. read more

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I don't drink coffee anymore but this place was good. Cool vibe and solid coffee. If you're a coffee drinker would definitely recommend.

The coffee is expensive but good. However, I've never felt very welcome here because it takes a while to get waited on/noticed and the staff aren't friendly. read more

Great ambiance and truly outstanding bagel sandwiches. They've remodeled in the past year or so, and really changed the feeling in the space (for the better!). read more

I took a walk down the street from my home with my baby in a stroller. Well, I discovered a treasure on that walk! 8A5E Cafe was hiding in plain site. When I went in, the staff greeted me right away. They were so friendly. They served up a fantastic chicken pesto panini and EXCELLENT iced coffee. Wow! I then sat and enjoyed my meal at a nice clean table near the front of the cafe. There, I spoke with the friendly staff who helped answer questions about the art building which this cafe sits inside. So helpful and kind! Thank you for a great experience. My daughter and I will see you all again soon! read more

This is a very calm environment, plants decorate this place perfectly, and there are tables for one person, 3 people, and even groups, so it's great for studying! They have a variety of different things to drink and eat, but its great no matter what you pick. And parking is easy because it's attached to the Art Center, so you can park over there. Very nice hidden cafe! read more

Super cool place. Stopped by around lunch for coffee/food & to get some work done, would definitely recommend checking it out read more

Base Community Cafe - Subbed the bagel with sourdough, & got an iced almond milk latte with 2 pumps of vanilla. - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Terrible service, terrible coffee. Transphobic, bitter, burnt out barista. My worst experience at a coffee shop.

I really enjoy this coffee shop. Best decaf iced latte and the staff is nice and welcoming. Good sandwiches too.

This is the dopest low key coffee shop. It's tucked away inside Bridgeport art center. I love getting their Americano and lox bagel! read more

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Awesome place with good coffee !! They have different types of cbd that can be added to your coffee and they actually work !! Great place to study as well read more

Great cafe with a nice vibe. They have good lunch options as well. There is a good amount of seating if you need a place to work.

Sneakily tucked in off the loading dock, and only open for standard work-week hours, but a nice Place with good food and coffee and a relaxed vibe. read more

This cafe is a great place to study or work. An overall great vibe and friendly staff. The chicken pesto panini I had was delicious. I also tried the iced americano and would definitely recommend. read more

My backup computer literally told me to get its battery serviced, and after the keyboard broke (and I couldn't youtube video my way out of it), i knew I had to take it to Bo to get it fixed up. His cafe is super welcoming and a great place to chill out, plus nowadays the staff is super diligent about following COVID protocols. Absolutely my go-to spot for IT needs and always a good place to grab a snack. They have a decent selection of loose-leaf teas, too, which is wonderful if you prefer tea to coffee. read more

Disclaimer, I work in the building so I've known them for a while, while they were a small shop on the fourth floor before they upgraded. The owners have always been very nice people, and always had their doors open during our Open Art Studios in third Friday's. They host a lot of cool events, such as classic video game sales or DJ events. They recently added food too so there's more to consume there. Being able to plug in your computer or play their Super Nintendo classic makes it more enjoyable. Overall, they run a pretty great ship and are worth supporting. read more

The pesto sandwich is amazing!! Loved their ice tea as well. I can't wait to go back.

This cafe is located in the Bridgeport Art Center, so you are able to park for free in the huge parking lot immediately north of it. The shopkeep took the time to explain the coffee they use are from their favorite local roasters, and recommended a manual brew as a pour-over or with an Aeropress. I opted for the Aeropress, and coffee was fantastic! I also had an egg & cheese breakfast bagel sandwich, which did not disappoint. I appreciate the displayed artwork are actually from local artists, so that's pretty neat! This is definitely a hidden gem in Bridgeport and worth checking out. read more

Love this local cafe! Absolutely delicious food, esp the soup and 8A5E salad, and great coffee. I'm a new regular! read more

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Great coffee (passion house) Great place to work at or just to visit. It's in an art space and guess what, it's beautiful. It's right now more catered as a place to work, previous iteration was probably only for that. But the outside is just as beautiful as inside, with brick arches, sculptures among high trees in a quiet part of town. Lots of free parking to come check this amazing find. Would recommend completely. My au jus roast beef sandwich was good, but my latte was even better. Great prices too! read more

Great sandwiches especially the grilled cheese as well as the turkey sandwich which is stuffed with turkey and greens but my favorite is the caprese sandwich. I love the hibiscus tea and iced lattes too. I Buy the hibiscus tea by the quart for mixed drinks, yum! The fruit bowl is always delicious and fresh with sweet pineapple, grapes, and citrus. The owner, Paul and barista, James are very professional and friendly. Cool vibe too on 3rd Friday nights with open mike and the art on the walls changes frequently because they allow the artists from the building to hang their art. Excellent Bridgeport coffee shop! read more

Blessed to meet PAUL AND BO This place is amazing great breakfast and amazing coffee . Thank you for the amazing food everything for my guys read more