Just left this awful place. I don't know what burned in there, but the smoke was everywhere and made it smell awful. Should have left immediately! I ordered a grilled cheese, and after 15 min of seeing no activity, ask when it will be done, and it hasn't even been started! Left hungry and angry! Didn't bother to get it, people on lunch break don't have lots of time!!! read more

I love Blue Box! I've been going here for years and everyone who works here has always been so sweet. Their coffee is amazing and I always get the Capaldi Caprese, which never disappoints. Highly recommend :) read more

Tried veggie sandwich.. loved it!!! Also tuna melt for hubby , also liked ... not overpowering with tuna , just about right. Place is comfy and you can relax , not overcrowded and just enjoying the food , coffee and each other's company.Our first time , me & hubby! We stopped by here cuz it was close from elgin indoor race track which is by the way free for public.. read more

Super yummy drinks and food. I go there often because their specialty coffees are amazing!

Always a great sandwich here and plenty of options! Awesome staff. Don't miss this gem downtown.

This place is great for a quick stop-in if you're in the area. The Doctor Who ambiance is nice, yet not overwhelming, and the coffee/food is pretty good as well! I got the Jack Harkness, which is a dark chocolate/cherry coffee, and I would highly recommend it. As far as food goes, it's good, but nothing super special. You can get breakfast sandwiches, create your own wraps, etc. Overall, not a bad place for a quick bite to eat. read more

Great Harvest Walnut & more salad!!! Owners are the best!!! Great Harvest Walnut & more salad!!! Owners are the best!!! read more

We stopped by for some quick coffees and the latte tasted old and bland , and the soup was watery. The decor was good but I could've gotten better at Starbucks. It wasn't until we left that we saw that it was supposed to be a 5 star cafe. On the bright side, the workers were kind. read more

A wonderfully marvelous place for sandwiches for Whovians and non-Whovians alike. By Whovians. The place has memorabilia and art that would do a Time Lord proud. And the sandwiches are magically delicious, made with tasty ingredients, including Boar's Head meats. I had the Blue Box BLT and the Turkey Ranch, and both were amazingly amazing. I highly recommend this place. Oh, they have great coffee and tea, too. read more

This is a amazing cafe!!! Rolling daleks, weeping angels, tardis(s) yes, plural, the silence drinking coffee, They even have a crack in the wall!!! This is the best hidden gem in the city. The food was absolutely FANTASTIC!!! And the servers were helpful, kind and friendly (rare aspects, these days). This is a truely amazing experience. I appreciate everything they do!! read more

I learned of this place months ago, but put off going because of Covid and such. I finally decided to try it because I was in a Doctor Who mood and man oh man, am I glad I did! I seriously can't believe there is such a cool eatery less than three miles from my place! The whole atmosphere of the restaurant is so delightfully chill and nerdy, I almost squealed upon entering. The two sandwiches I got (melted goodness and the tuner) were out of this world delicious (especially the tuner) and made in a timely manner. The only reason I gave this awesome place four stars is because it is a bit pricey for just a sandwich (in the $6-$7 range). If the price included chips or even a pickle, I would call it reasonable, but I am still happy to support a local place with delicious food that is so proudly nerdy. Will DEFINITELY be returning there as often as I can! read more

Great coffee shop in downtown Elgin with a cool, quirky vibe centered around the Dr. Who show. Everything I've had here has been delicious. The ice cream is from a creamery in Wisconsin and it is to die for! read more

Service is poor. There is a server with short blonde hair, that now for the second time is very caustic. Not a people person at all. Can excuse a first time nasty experience, everyone has an off day. Came in on a Sunday at 3:30, cafe closes at 4pm, the first words from her was, " We close at 4pm. This a sandwich, salad, coffee cafe. You walk to a counter to place your order, seriously don't think it's going to take a customer 30 minutes to decide what they want. She's reluctant to serve. Sandwich was mediocre, have ordered it previously and it was amazing. I seriously will not be going back for more rude treatment. She should find a job not working with the public. read more

I had high expectations with the good reviews coming to this place. We came about a half hour before closing and the girl make sure to let us know that they were closing soon. It was not a problem for us because we were grabbing a quick bite to eat before heading back. We order the caprese sandwich which was about seven dollars. Don't get me wrong the sandwich was very tasty but after we got it we realized it was just bread cheese tomatoes and some basil. A bit expensive for something so simple. We got a chocolate muffin which was just OK. I wanted to love the coffee here. My husband's drink was decent but I got the lavender white mocha latte and first sip I thought I was drinking water. It seemed very diluted. I gotAlmond milk because of my dairy issues. I barely taste of the White chocolate and hardly taste of the lavender. I never complain about my drinks at coffee shops. But this one was very disappointing. I went up to the front and asked the girl if it was supposed to taste a little watery and she offered to give an extra pump of chocolate and an extra pump of lavender. After that it tasted a little better but it still tasted watery. Definitely not going to order that drink again and I'm afraid to return. A lot of times people should offer to remake the drink or ask if you would like something else. I know they were closing soon but I was really unhappy with my coffee. For 5.50 I just expected a bit more. read more

best coffee in downtown elgin, hands down. on top of it, the staff is always super friendly too.

Yesterday was my second time here. The first time was a couple of years whatever I had wasn't so memorable. It wasn't bad at all. It just wasn't anything to write home about. I did enjoy the atmosphere which is an important part of the dining experience. I returned yesterday and my sister advised me to get the Reuben. All I can say is Mmmm Mmmm good. It was delightful. Thanks, Sis! I got it to go and had to eat it on the run. It was still warm and very tasty. They weren't skimpy or overindulgent on the ingredients. It was a great work of art if I may. I will definitely be back. read more

Great place to eat. Good food that is fresh. Their sandwiches rock, and the salads are tasty too

My wife and I decided to try out something new for lunch a few weeks ago. That new the Blue Box. It was good enough to inspire a second visit just a few weeks later! Great little spot to catch a great sandwich. I had the Turkey Ruben and my wife the Tuner Melt. Both came out quick, hot and made well. If you are in the area make sure to give them a visit! read more

I've visited the Blue Box a few times now and I always make it a point to come in whenever I'm in the area. Even though I'm not a huge Dr. Who fan, I love the decor and the atmosphere. There coffee and speciality flavors are amazing! Bonus: they use paper straws! I would highly recommend giving them a try if you're in need of some good coffee. read more

Pros for this place is the atmosphere and super friendly wait staff. I'll admit I don't know anything about the "blue box" or pretend to understand all the crap hanging on the walls.... but I do know the best Reuben I have ever ate.... literally the best! Cons would be the parking can be a challenge and the place is tiny... seats are a luxury read more

I love this place! My friend and I go for the unique coffee and like minded nerds! I love their Tuner melt sandwich and their fun desserts. Also they have fun events on weekends and throughout the week. read more

One of our favorite places. The food is great and the coffee drinks are excellent. You don't need to be a Doctor Who fan to appreciate this place, but if you are, it's that much better. Do yourself a favor and go to the Blue Box! read more

It's a great coffee cafe with a magical tint to it. The food is fresh and the drinks are good but not outstanding or amazing. The ladies behind the counter have a welcoming energy and true smiles on their face, my partner and I felt very welcomed and that made the atmosphere even better. The selection will have us coming back because there is a LOT to try. It's very spacious and allows you to enjoy a conversation or some time for yourself. My only con was that the temperature inside was a bit too cold and the light a bit dim. Over all great place and will be coming back to geek out over magic different coffee selection and delicious breakfast sandwiches. read more

For the first time in my life, I could care less about food and service. A Doctor Who themed coffeeshop. My god. This world IS still full of wonders. I sat on a Dalek, and squealed with joy. I am a grown ass adult. read more

I've had several people recommend me to the Blue Box in the span of a week, so I went to check it out. If you're a casual fan of Dr. Who, and I found the interior absolutely charming. Friends of mine who aren't fans found it interesting (in a good way). The people behind the counter were friendly and helpful in picking out something excellent to eat. On a recommendation from the cashier, I ordered the sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich with sourdough bread and chipotle mayo. (I opted for a bottle juice, so I didn't get a chance to try their coffee.) My friends and I grabbed a seat and my sandwich arrived at our table about 5 minutes later. It was excellent! I may become a regular of this place... read more

More than a gimmick. Cute little cafe with a Doctor Who theme. Looks like they host gaming events and open mic type events. More importantly, the food is great. I had the turkey reuben and it was delicious. Their baked goods are great too. As a lark I picked up a Tardis-shaped cookie and it was filled with an amazing chocolate. Ice cream is high quality too. Worth a drive! read more

This place is awesome, it's apparently very new two to three months new since this posting. I've been brought here twice by my boss' food/coffee run at lunch time in recollection it wasn't super busy. The location was between a third and half of capacity. You'll find all kinds of people there and various occupations. It's a nice little people watching location because of the large windows and somewhat busy street in downtown Elgin. If you like Doctor Who, this is your place--your home. The location is covered with Doctor Who memorabilia or spin offs of it. They even have a live sized TARUS (Police Box) door! I've had their Elgin BLT and Turkey Ranch which I can both suggest, they were exec lent and delicious--They toast the bread and give the sandwiches some TLC. I'm getting hungry just writing this. I haven't had their coffee so I can't speak to that but their machine does have carbonated water if that is a thing for you--It is for me! Their staff was nice too. Overall, this is a place you should hit up for lunch and coffee (as I've been told) at least. I will be going here for at least another third time and probably more. read more

What a great spot to get work done! My husband is the biggest Doctor Who fan (he has an entire sleeve dedicated to it!) and he stumbled upon this cafe online so we had to check it out. We both work from home so we're always looking for places with good wifi, coffee, snacks, and comfortable seats. This place had it all! There was a Doctor Who episode playing the entire time and a lot of great memorabilia. The best part was that the owner stopped by our table to chat with us about meeting Peter Capaldi. Can't wait to go back and get some work done while enjoying all of the Doctor Who details around us. read more

Hands down, this place is one of the best in Elgin! I went for a Chai Tea Latte, it was very tasty (totally recommend it) I'd say it has a similar taste to Starbucks Chai Tea Latte. I as well had the breakfast sandwich, it was delicious and perfect for a quick breakfast before class. The staff is super friendly and the shop is cozy and clean along with a nice view of Elgin. :) read more

Bring your Sonic Screwdriver! This place is great for those that get the gag, but still good for those that don't. Good coffee, good food, good decor and location. I particularly enjoyed the Tom Baker outfit on the coatrack at the back. read more

You can tell a lot of love has been put into this place. There are so many little flourishes added to make any fan of the Doctor happy. Their drinks are pretty good, as is the food. I was here with a small group and everyone seemed pleased with their meal. We came back later in the evening to warm up with another cup and weren't disappointed. The place is a little small, and when they have live music you have to go into the hallway to have a conversation, but it's a nice little indy and I do plan on returning! read more

Everything from here is amazing. The coffee is great, the sandwiches are out of this world! The Reuben is so good it's hard to try anything else. read more

Blue Box Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

Dr. Who fans must try this place! The theme is just awesome. I ordered a chai tea with soy and a breakfast sandwich. Paid only like $6 for both. And they were both excellent! Glad I tried this place out. read more

Great atmosphere for the die hard Dr Who fan! Service is fantastic went out of the way for my large group that was there for my Mom's birthday! read more

Blue Box Cafe - Fun place to bring kids - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

I had a great experience catering with Blue Box Cafe. The restaurant itself is so cute and homey- a perfect place to go and get some work done, and enjoy a delicious bite of food. They serve both breakfast and lunch- but my catering order was for lunch. I ordered 20 boxed lunches which included a sandwich, chips, and a cookie- and felt the price was fair for the items purchased. The people who ate the lunches said they were fresh and delicious. I'll definitely be back! read more

It's a really small place and it has uhmm.. some small bites and some varieties of coffee. It's self service and they have some 10 tables for about 30 odd people to be seated. I liked today (Saturday) - geeky discussion, so might be a good place to come by and chill out. I hoped to see a little more food options in the future :) read more

I ordered a turkey Rueben expecting sauerkraut and turkey but instead I received a turkey sandwich soaked in mayo and coleslaw with bacon. You really should post a disclaimer noting that your Ruebens aren't really Ruebens. Also the Rice Krispie treats are made with margarine. Yuck! read more

How are they able to turn ordinary sounding sandwiches into something ahhhh-mazing??! Good service every single time. Very chill atmosphere. Felt right at home even though I'm not really a Dr. Who fan. It's our new lunch spot. read more

I am basing my experience as a first-time customer and I have to say that the ambience is really excellent however the customer Service given by the plus size dark-haired woman with the piercing who prepared my food was less than desirable. After coming in from the back she prepared my food with bare hands she did not have any gloves so the sanitation was definitely not there. I'm talking about bare hands touching raw onion putting it into my chili and the same with the cheese, meat that went on my Sandwich and condiments. She seemed offended when I asked her questions about the menu and asked if she could put the sandwich on the Panini press. Then after she was done with the food she said thanks like she was finished with my order but she forgot to make my latte. The owner however seemed very cool and genuine about the business. He talked about live music during the week. I mentioned to both of them that I was a first time customer and only the owner showed interest the woman with the dark hair with the piercing didn't seem like she could give a care in the world. I'm not sure if preparing food with no gloves is up to the health code and I have not tried the food yet this review is solely on my experience and interaction with the staff. The young boy who took my order was very nice and provided good customer service as well. read more

I'll be honest, I come to Blue Box way too often, but Chris and his wife are so wonderful that I look forward to a coffee or breakfast on my way to work each morning. The cafe is doing a wonderful job promoting downtown Elgin with events and fresh ideas. Everyone I've dealt with are friendly and the decor seems to continue getting better each month. I think I'd visit even more if the place was a little bigger, with some couches and small tables for board games or cards. But then I'd probably never leave, which would be bad. Give it a try! read more