Now this is a cool concept. Let's back up. I meet a couple of friends on Sunday mornings at coffee…read moreshops and cafes. No chains, just stand alone locations. Each place has a theme, or a charm all its own and Grind N Gears Cafe is one of the latter. When you pull up you immediately recognize the place as a former body shop or service station. Not a as station, but a body shop. They have their own small parking lot in front with special motorcycle parking on the sides of the lot. It's a small place. When you walk inside there is a runner leading up to the counter with their case of delicious looking eats and a platform above with an old Indian motorcycle perched looking over the place. To the right of the counter are some toys for the kids, including a kids motorcycle and other funs toys to keep the kiddos busy while their parents enjoy a magically concocted coffee drink by the shops artisans. There are comfy little sitting areas composed of oversized furniture from your parents basement. The front has a few racks of leather jackets that feels like your at The Alley's northern location. They do have some hats and apparel for their own shop and I almost bought a hat. On the left side, they have another seating area, but it looks more like a table in a cozy kitchen than a sitting room. It's quaint no matter where you look or sit. Lastly, their drinks and food are quite good. With all the stand alone coffee places popping up, Grinds N Gears is one of the cooler places and I don't mean hipster.

What a fun themed coffee shop! From a motor shop to a coffee shop, there's fun for all. The parking…read morelot is a bit small so it becomes a hindrance when it's busy. But once you get inside it's so much fun. With a variety of drinks from coffee to teas and boba there's really something for any mood. They also have baked good from local bakeries. The staff is also super friendly and knowledgeable when it comes to drinks. All in all, a great experience and we can't wait to come back soon and try other drinks.

It was my first time going there. I had a Turkey breast and Swiss sandwich on Rye with potato…read moresalad as a side. It was so good! Definitely my new go to lunch place. Next time I'll bring home some bagels and cream cheese.

Good food/product Ignorant staff…read morePeople wouldn't be confused on where to order if you actually took orders at the order here sign. Ha

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.

3.5 stars because the price is ridiculously high…read more Seen this place on Yelp a lot but never went. It was beautiful inside. Space is pretty big and nicely spread out so you're not sitting on top of one another. Just super expensive, especially for the bakery items! Like almost $15 a slice, which is crazy to me. Drinks are also pricey. XL Dubai chocolate cheesecake - Just ok. Bland and we didn't like the cheesecake texture. It was pretty flavorless overall. Chocolate baklava - Now this was the winner! It had cream inside which we didn't expect. Delicious! Harazi Mufawar (Coffee, cardamom & cream) - Delicious! They recommended adding sugar because it's too strong otherwise. It was still strong w regular sugar, so glad we did. Haraz Latte (Double shot espresso, honey, milk, haraz spice) - Very good! Didn't really come hot though, it was lukewarm Coffee Beans - $30 for a small sized bag. Pricey! Price - Expensive!! 0/5 for price, crazy expensive

Service,owner and other stuff was great! Location is nice as well with nice neighbors plus view on…read morepublic transit train makes more cool! Food and drinks was yummy!

We've enjoyed our two visits at this new addition to downtown Park Ridge. Both times we've ordered…read morethe same thing and staff has been very kind and helpful. We both like light sweetened and strong tasting coffee. This is that place to fill that void! I personally order the Fredo and my husband gets the mocha. It's sweetened to our liking and water is given to us even when we wait for a to go order. Really great service! Also a huge difference from our first visit but still great both times. Inside is a little tight because this place seems to stay busy, rightfully so!

ooooh probably one of the best for chicago suburbs. they have a wide selection and they are all…read morepretty solid. i got the Vietnamese coffee and tastes v authentic. the interior is cute and the staff is super nice. not sure if the staff was super overwhelmed but my friend got the ube coffee drink with milk and it just straight up tasted like ube milk not coffee. :/ recommend altering proportion since the coffee taste isn't even subtle!

Stopped by this bubble tea spot and had such a great experience! The inside was super clean and…read moremodern, and it was really easy to order using the kiosk. We couldn't decide what to get, so of course we ended up with three drinks for my bf and I. A refreshing mango drink, a crème brûlée cold brew, and the cutest cookie cake drink served in a little bear cup (I paid extra for it). They also offer food, which we didn't try this time, but definitely will next visit. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and there's a parking lot right in front which makes it really convenient. Will definitely be coming back!

After multiple visits, the one question that comes to mind is: why isn't Off the Walk busier? They…read moretruly deserve all the business! I'm a sucker for a good coffee shop with fun flavored lattes. I'm also a sucker for cute atmospheres. So when you pair a great coffee shop with a board game cafe, how can you go wrong? Off the Wall is a cute storefront that is a branch off their establishment next door serving craft beer. I would often go to Off the Wall mid day throughout the week, and each time I go I'm shocked that it's not filled with remote workers and families. The staff are all pleasant and more than happy to provide recommendations if you feel stuck deciding what you want to order. With a variety of beverages, food, and even gluten free pastries (a win in my book!) you really can't go wrong with any choice. I always opted for coffee, and I really loved their specialty flavor this month featuring banana and caramel. The flavors aren't overpowering and aren't overly sweet, so for a coffee lover that actually likes the taste of coffee this is perfect. Their board game selection is vast and the interior of here is so cozy, I could stay for hours. Did I also mention they're wheelchair accessible? That's right - there's a wheelchair ramp and wide spacing to ensure everyone can enjoy their experience here. Can't wait to try their next fun coffee flavor!

Off the Wall Cafe is a tiny, low-ceilinged and dim-lightingish but definitely cozy neighborhood…read morebreakfast restaurant that can double as a coffee spot for catch-ups and get-togethers. It's intimate without a lot of privacy and they have excellent coffee creations (lots of lattes), super friendly staff, and a fun board-game vibe (featuring a wall sized bookcase of board games) that makes it easy to linger and relax. Their seasonal lattes, tasty pastries, breakfast sandwiches and welcoming atmosphere make it an easy place to hang out plus it's right across the train tracks from the Park Ridge Metra train station.

If you love pastries that melt, flake, crackle, and crunch in all the right ways... 85°C Bakery…read moreCafé is your new best friend. Every pastry on my table was unreal: the almond croissant was buttery and crisp on the outside with the softest layers inside; the cheese bread had that glossy, chewy exterior and sweet creamy pockets; the chocolate bun was rich, moist, and cocoa-packed; and the pineapple bun had that signature sugary crust that breaks like a cookie. Paired it with a creamy iced matcha and a caramel coffee frappe that tasted like liquid dessert. Between the freshness, the textures, and the warm bakery aroma filling the entire place... this is top-tier bakery bliss.

Visited 85°C Bakery recently and was disappointed with the customer service. The inventory was…read morealready pretty limited, but what made the experience uncomfortable was the way the staff handled a small mistake. While choosing bread, I switched one item and accidentally left another bread in a different spot instead of putting it back right away. I understand that I should have returned it properly. However, while I was paying, the cashier left to get the bread, then came back and told the other cashier about it while glaring at me. I completely understand employees wanting customers to keep things organized, but the attitude felt unnecessary for such a minor situation. Mistakes happen, and customers should still be treated respectfully.

My wife and I have been going to the brunch cafe for years. NEVER had a bad experience, always…read morecourteous and on point. Especially the manager and I always great each other ( even though he's an Audi driver, I used to sell BMW's). Special shout out to Jacob and he's whole servers team, they are all true pros! Thanks for the great service and see you next time. Alex and Brigitte.

The feel/ambiance was more like a diner than a cafe. I was given a booth and immediately regretted…read moreit because the cushions were useless. I felt like a child sitting there because the seats were low. It doesn't help that I'm not very tall either. The food was okay, and the portions were generous. I ordered the sweet potato skillet, which came with diced ham, cheese, and eggs. It also came with a short stack of pancakes, which were also generously sized. Although you definitely need butter and syrup on the pancakes, it wasn't very tasty without them. I could only finish half of this meal and had to take the rest home. Do not order the coffee, it tasted terrible, as if it were burnt. The server was very friendly and attentive at first. But when the food arrived, he didn't check back very often. I had to flag down another server for a takeout container before he came with the check.

I've gone to Glenview Grind a number of times, but usually via the drive-through. I love…read moreindependent coffee shops, including this one! I ordered a soy latte and asked for a ceramic mug since I was staying inside their establishment this time. There's plenty of seating; they really pack it in there and utilize every space. This coffee shop really has a community field to it. The beverage was made well and tasted great. The staff were very friendly and helpful. My only complaint is that I wish they had vegan options for food.

I love this place! I've been many times and every single time the coffee has always been excellent…read more My favorite is the peanut butter cup, but recently I tried the pistachio dream (I think that's the name, pistachio with chocolate). It's a very cute and cozy cafe that always seems to be busy and bustling. They have a little library where you can grab a book and sip on your coffee. Everyone is always friendly and helpful with questions. Lovely local coffee shop to check out!

First time customers. Just me and the girls decided to try somewhere new. Very warm and welcoming,…read moremodern interior with everything updated. Menu is clear. I like that it's a concise menu that offers just enough without doing too much. The service was quick. Seated immediately. Several other couples there, plenty of seating available. Staff was very friendly and the food was delicious. We ordered avocado toast. I give it 5 stars. This was more of an adult meal, my daughter's palette wasn't there for this. The sauce or jam on it with balsamic wasn't something she liked, but I thought it was fabulous with an egg on top. The vanilla latte with vanilla cold foam? My daughter said was way better than Starbucks. So that's a compliment from her world! She said 10 stars. The potato that came with the avocado toast was excellent. Perfectly seasoned. The side of turkey bacon, a little dry. But that's usually how it is.

Went in for brunch on a weekday after an appointment and was happy to see this beautiful…read morerestaurant. So clean and spacious, it really was a joy. We came and ordered and our food was out quickly. The portions were large and delicious. There's plenty of amazing choices and you can make your selections of omelets into skillets (which I love). You also can choose from an assortment of exciting flavors on the selections. Some dishes you'll find amazing choices with Zaatar or Halloumi Cheese. I am in love, honestly. Ohhh and they made me FRESH iced tea. That's insane and it was delicious. I am looking forward to coming back here. It's definitely a great restaurant.