It is no a Cafe. You are not allowed to drink a cup of coffee in one of those tables unless you order food. Is it a restaurant looking like a Cafe then? I am disappointed just for that. It used to be a Cafe but sine they have that policy, my place to go is Panera Bread. read more

As a mom of two toddlers, I love this place. I love this place for breakfast, afternoon treat or dinner. It is totally kid friendly and parent friendly. They have a great lounge area with tons of toys and books for little ones. It keeps them occupied while you enjoy a latte or finish up your meal. The food is consistently good, my favorites include the cheesy egg sandwich for breakfast and the bistro chicken wrap for lunch/dinner. The servers are generally attentive and friendly. Check out their website for different events - they seem to play host to various groups, speakers, musicians, etc. We enjoy the Saturday morning musicians who show up to jam when the Farmers' Market isn't in session. If I were to wish for anything more, it would be for a few more creative breakfast options. read more

This cafe has very rude service and a very pretentious client base. It is very small and the service is not the best. The waitresses are very loud when they converse with other customers in surrounding tables. Their service between minority and white customers is totally different. White customers get the above and beyond treatment, whereas minority customers receive very sluggish service. I love local homegrown businesses, but I am afraid this cafe will not receive any support from me. read more

Cute and arty place to get breakfast. We ordered the special crepes, pancakes, breakfast plate and French toast. I had the French toast and was disappointed. The bread didn't seem to be cooked. It was golden brown on the outside but runny (?) when you cut into it. Everyone else in our group was very happy with their food so I might of just made a bad choice. The server was very friendly and made sure our coffee was always topped off. There are a few tables to sit outside. Lots of people seem to come in for to go coffees. read more

Buzz Cafe - Nice strong cup of coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I prefer to drink my own coffee at home. I only go to coffee shops for specialty drinks (lattes, mochas, etc.) so my opinion is strictly based off that. If you like speciality drinks then this is a great place with some variety. Try the Mexican hot chocolate or mocha! So delicious! The store has cute and colorful vibe and if you dine-in you'll have a waitress/waiter! Great place to be productive, but it's close to the blue line so imagine there could be a decent amount of traffic depending on the time of day you go. read more

I really wish this place sucked so I could write something scathingly funny about it, but I really can't find anything to complain about. I work in River Forest but go out of my way to get lunch here as often as I can. I love how colorful the interior is; it's really got great energy. I can't really comment on the food extensively because I order the California Turkey EVERY time because it is so unbelievably good. It must be dipped in fairy dust and sparkles. I've never had poor service, although I think it a smidge too pricey overall. Parking is great and it is worth a trip because there are other great places adjacent that are worth wandering into (brown elephant! complete your psuedo-hipster afternoon by going to a socialism-tinged cafe and a thrift store!) read more

Love the sugar cookies! Gets crowded on the weekends but well worth the wait. Love their iced tea and lemonade. I wish I could still drink coffee. I get something here whenever I take the train. They also sell CTA cards!! Super helpful!! read more

Super cute little neighborhood spot with a huge and delicious menu! I highly recommend the southwestern wrap. The walls are filled with the work of local artists and the staff is super friendly. But the absolute number one reason to visit buzz cafe is the MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE!!! This drink is so spicy, creamy and delcicious that you just have to try it to believe it. read more

I found this little place after I had moved to Oak Park a few years ago. I frequent this place more at breakfast/burnch time. And I have to say the food is very fresh. Alot of their menu items are organic. I particularly enjoy their Cheesy Egg Sandwich on a toasted plain bagel. The touch of salsa on this breakfast sandwich gives it just the right amount of kick to it. The coffee the brew is from Metropolis. Therefore the coffee is always good and fresh. I try to get there when they first open in the morning on the weekends. It can get very crowded within an hour or so. And it gets pretty loud there too. I read more

This is a great neighborhood restaurant offering a tasty selection of coffee and food. I've only been here for Sunday brunch so I can't speak to the weekday menu. I enjoy meeting friends here and taking my time. It's not a place to go if you're in a rush. If you're looking for good ingredients, local flavor, and a quirky atmosphere this is the place! I liked the organic breakfast and the french toast.They put a unique spin on most typical b'fast items. Great neighborhood spot in Oak Park. read more

Wow! If, in your wildest dreams, you could hope for a neighborhood cafe where the neighbors actively gather for good drink and food to engage in conversations ranging from Ads on "Mad Men" to the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Buzz Cafe is it! Great location! Fun staff! Funky decor! Tasty menu! Affordable prices! and community oriented with eclectric bulletin board postings If you have yet to pop in, come get Buzzed! read more

I really liked it! The coffee was good, and the service was friendly. I had a tuna melt, pretty good. I had a nice quiet lunch with me, myself, and I. It's a bit crowded. read more

Excited to see a vegan burger, which not many restaurants in oak park have.. if any! It was lackluster! :( total let down! specially for the price! Won't be coming back. read more

Its different coffee shop in that if you want to sit down you have a waitress. Nice if you want lunch/breakfast but weird if you want to sit and study. Pie was good. Coffee good too. Also my waitress was eating her lunch then serving plates to customers. I think that's against health codes. read more

Fantastic food, fantastic service and my coffee cup was never empty. Totally bookmarking this place and we'll be back when we are in the neighborhood again. read more

Very cute little cafe. The negative is that it's often overrun with mothers & small children; I prefer to eat my meal with as little yelling going on as possible. The positive is the food. They have quite a few vegetarian options, and everything I've tried is good. read more

Oh Buzz I wish you could just be constant! When I would work near here I would have lunch at least 2 times a week. It was always so good. Their burger, one of the best. Homemade soups, amazing. You also had healthy healthy options to choose from. And Metropolis coffee...heaven help me!!! The Mexican hot chocolate and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies? Worth being late back to work for. Then all of a sudden crash and burn- grilled cheese panini's would not even have melted cheese. Veggie pizza missing half it's ingredients. Wrong food brought to the tables. It got so mediocre I stopped going. I could only assume they got new staff and were working things out??? I happened to be in the area today and stopped in for a quick bite and all the magic was happening again. My sister ordered a hot chocolate...it was chocolatey hot goodness. I got the cup of soup/half sandwhich option. White bean and bacon soup was a tad thick for soup but really yum. I got the California Turkey as my sandwhich and there was so much turkey it was almost like having the whole sandwhich. Service was spot on and this visit returned my faith in the Buzz. read more

Great coffee shop in the Arts District of Oak Park. The vibe here is really community-oriented, a refreshing change from all the places in town that are generally filled with people like me sucked into Laptopistan. It seems like many parents bring their children here for dinner and it had a nice after-school vibe given the amount of middle and high school kids I saw at 4:00pm on a weekday. The fact that they require you to pay for table service when all I want to do is buy a cup of joe and park myself for a couple hours is a little off-putting. Nevertheless, to be fair to the lovely people at Buzz, this is a restaurant in addition to a coffeeshop. I haven't had any food here but would certainly come back whenever I find myself back in Oak Park. read more

Damn the scary Jesus picture that was on sale for $300. Made me lose my appetite. I mean, I still finished my sandwich. It was yummy. I wish I got the chips instead of "fruit" (which was a skinny orange slice, pear slice, and un-trimmed piece of honeydew). But the turkey sandwich came with salsa - not sure why, it didn't need it. Nor did it need a full pound of turkey breast. Otherwise, the meal was extremely tasty! read more

This place is a cute little coffee place that has some food, too. It can get crowded and thus service can be very slow at times. The hours aren't that good, but if you are just stopping in for a coffee and some veggie hummus or something, this place will do. I used to live right across the street and it was more convenient to get to than the Starbucks and Caribou on the other side of town. read more

Used to LOVE THIS PLACE and went ALL the time. However, after not working in the area anymore, it had been a few years, since I was there. So, friends and I went out there from the far Northside of Chicago today and it was HORRIBLE. We arrived at 1:50 and they serve brunch until 2pm. We were told they were closing the kitchen in 5 minutes (via terrible attitudes, mind you...not caring it was 10 minutes before 2) and then we told them we alreaedy knew what we wanted and could order immediately. We were then told we could not even be seated. The girl who was in the seating area flat out told us we could not eat there. We had no idea where else to go in the area since we are not from the area. We will NEVER be back. read more

I had the worst experience on Father's Day of 2018. The staff was completely unacceptable. Our waiter never checked up on us. The female waitress was rolling her eyes at other customers. The only pleasant employees were the food runners and thank God for them because we wouldn't have gotten any refills without them. They did all the work that our waiter should have done. To top it all off they weren't even getting the tip. Our waiter took 20 minutes to bring us our check. The entire time we were there he and the other waitstaff were socializing by the front counter. I will never be back! It's so sad that a few bad employees can ruin an entire experience and completely turn me off of a local restaurant. read more

1. The food is just OK (although I really must try their delicous-sounding Sunday Brunch sometime). 2. The coffee drinks are OK (kudos for using Metropolis beans!) 3. Although the staff are friendly, the service tends to be on the slow side. 4. Love all the art on the walls. 5. Great place to stop in and have a light lunch or snack after shopping at Val's Halla and the Brown Elephant, or whatever other place you like to shop at in the Harrison Arts District. read more

This is a cute little cafe on a pretty little street in Oak Park. The food and coffee are not groundbreaking but satisfying nonetheless. I ordered the Vegetarian Deluxe, which is simply some veggies and hummus stuffed into a pita. It was what I was craving and hit the spot. Could've used a little kick but again, this is the type of place to go when you're looking for something simple. The iced latte was delicious although I found it peculiar that they served it to me in a tall glass with a paper sleeve around the base. My husband ordered the portabello sandwich - REALLY tasty. Something about the bun gave this dish a smokey appeal. The interior of this place is eclectic and funky. The local art displayed on the wall gives it a warm feel. It's clearly not the Institute so art snobs will surely have something to say (don't they always). I, however, think their support of the local arts is to be admired. read more

I've been here several times now and I get the same feeling every time, service kills it (in the bad way). They are always hopping and the food is good breakfast/lunch fare. I like the coffee and the array of goodies at the counter too (I had some almond cookie of chocolate deliciousness once that blew my mind). But their downfall is the service for sit down. More often then not we have to flag down the server for anything, including the bill. I'm not expecting too much really, just a refill on some coffee or water and the cursory "would you like anything else?" I like this place enough but it's not a must go. I'll stop in if I'm in the neighborhood but I won't go out of my way. read more

Buzz is one of my favorite places in Oak Park. I love how socially conscious they are. Organic options! Vegan options! Healthy options! (Choose a side of hashbrowns, fruit, or salad - with no upcharge for the healthier choices) And they host so many community events. My favorite part though is the cozy, funky ambiance. I love being there. read more

Great menu but food not well prepared. Have been disappointed on three visits. On all occasions it was either overcooked or delayed in bringing to the table and had gotten stale. I know it's a popular place, but I think maybe all it is is that there aren't any other places in that immediate area. Some of the staff are very nice and some are not so pleasent sadly. read more

I went twice. First, the WiFi is not reliable. And the employees foolishly blame the internet provider, I know it's the ownership. Decorations are not what I'd expect for an art district, but maybe I'm spoiled be over achieving artists. The coffee is okay, nothing to write Mom about. Table service is sadly lacking. People that sat down well after me were serviced well before me. That is all. read more

Great place for a quick lunch break. I always order ahead and they are prompt! Would def recommend to support small businesses!

Fresh off the plane from Arizona, and new to the Chicago area, I was aching for a cafe to call my own. This is an Oak-Park staple. The salon-style gallery walls, chairs smothered in childrens' paint, an eccentric staff, and a phenomenal menu make Buzz Cafe easy to fall in love with. There is a definite community vibe displayed here, very kid friendly, and a great selection of vegetarian and vegan options - organic and local when possible. The only pit fall is that it's not a great place to sit and linger; I always felt slightly out of place when I wanted to stay to read or use the internet. However, if you are looking for a good, fresh meal over conversation with friends, this place is a must. read more

As a vegetarian I do appreciate being able to find plenty of veggie options in the menu...I almost always get the same things...soup of the day, rustic salad, side fruit, or grilled cheese panini. I used to order their yummy qursadillas but they took that off the menu :( Anyhow, I understand the food is healthy, natural, etc...but my god the prices are high. That's the only thing that took off that one star. But overall, the service is excellent and the food is delicious. read more

We went for Saturday brunch and enjoyed it quite a bit. Food was quite tasty, service was great. I did find the portion sizes a bit on the small side, although I think many people would find them reasonable. My only real complaint was the noise level. Obviously it was a busy weekend morning with lots of other patrons, but it seems like the entire place is hard surfaces and maybe diners are a bit on the loud side so I found conversation a bit challenging. read more

Fun place to go with kids, they play in the back while you sip on a great coffee. I also love the fact that you can buy handmade jewelry and other crafts there. Makes for a quick gift for a friend or yourself when you're in a hurry...which moms always are! It's also BYOB. read more

I adore the ambiance of this place. It reminds me of an old beatnik dive from the 50's and early 60's. Their coffee (Metropolis) is bold and full bodied. They have a fine selection of food, including a good selection of organic, vegetarian and vegan dishes. I don't like the noise level of the joint. The tall ceilings combined with the tin on the walls make everything reverberate like a cacophony. This makes it difficult for us musicians who also play there. They also seem to have a bit of an identity crisis. I believe they can't really nail down whether they are a Bohemian hang out, or a yuppie dive. I don't like all the children running all over the place, as if out of control. The mothers just sit there and do nothing. It is not a very good place to grade papers, read, or if you want to carry on a conversation due to this fact. Of course I don't have children, and prefer to stay away from them if at all possible. Either embrace your artistic Bohemian side, or your yuppie side. It is a difficult tightrope to walk both. The Buzz does offer a wide array of activities and music, including tarot car readers, musicians, belly dancers, Bible study, Stitch and Bitch group, among others. Overall, I like the Buzz, but it could use some improvement (can't we all). I recommend trying it, especially on a Friday or Saturday night for the music, or other activities. read more

I was trying to decide between 3 and 4 stars, and here is why I went with 4- 1) I got an awesome double shot soy latte, with a good portion and great, creamy flavor 2) Many vegetarian options, which were yummy! 3) Salty, crispy hashbrowns, and generous portions thereof. Why I wanted to give 3-they forgot my friend's order! While the service was friendly, this is pretty bad. read more

I think this cafe was so cute and our server was "on top of her game". I had the Latte it was warm but not hot. It's okay because it was yummy. As I waited for my friend the atmosphere was nice to look at. Although, I wished the pregnant woman with the outdoor voice and her little boy banging his fork on the chair would stop. At first it was cute but after 20 min I was ready to put my headphones on. The server was kind and patient we had ordered the Hummus plate it was delicious. As the time passes the noise level was better. read more

Since we went out to Oak Park for the Frank Lloyd Wright audio tour today, we stopped in here beforehand. Holy awesome. I did the soup/sandwich deal with the soup of the day, garlic lentil and the mushroom and goat cheese pita. Oh my stars, what a good lunch. Perfectly filling along with a very foamy delicious chai. Next time I am in Oak Park, I will be going here again with my V.O.O.P. pal. :) To note: The paintings up are half terrible and half awesome. There is a painting of a European Hedgehog up across from the bathroom. So cheesy, omg! Girls, GO INTO THE BATHROOM and see the weird art in there too. read more

I feel like there are potentially 3 ways you can review this place. 1) As a restaurant. 2) As a coffee shop 3) As a hangout This review focuses on the restaurant side. My wife and I went by for breakfast the other day. I had the Southwestern Wrap and my wife had the Vegetarian breakfast wrap (she added tofu), both of us had the hash browns, and both came with fresh fruit. We each tried each other's wraps; the tofu ruined the veggie wrap, but my wife liked it. The hash browns were decent, but not amazing, and the fresh fruit was nothing more than a strawberry, a slice of pineapple, and a slice of some melon. My southwestern wrap, with eggs, bacon, avecado, pepperjack cheese, and spicy salsa was stellar! Very flavorful (not necessarily spicy, but yummy). The wait staff was good about refilling our coffee quickly. My only actual complaint would be the place is kind of cramped. Definitely will be returning in the evening some time. read more

Beautiful, cozy spot with a creative feel. Great service and great food! Good place to go for a sandwich or salad for lunch.

First of all, I am almost obligated to like this place because they offer gluten free bread or tortillas for any of their sandwiches (wooo-hooo!). That said, I would have liked it anyway because it's a fun little non-chain type place with loads of personality. It made me feel like I was back in my college town coffee shop with lots of big ideas to think, deep poetry to compose, and the sweet stress that only a mid-term paper deadline can bring. After living downtown in Dunkin Donuts/Starbucksville for the last few years, it was hugely refreshing. The chairs were all individually painted by children, there is art all over the walls (good and bad, love it all!), & they have just about everything you could want on the menu. I don't get out to Oak Park all that much, but I'll definitely be stopping by whenever I'm there next. PS. Just a note to the entertainment committee there: We were among the few in attendance at amateur comedy night...with comedians who apparently had no prepared material & just planned to riff with the audience. Yeah. I'd give that a thumbs down. Not the most appropriate venue for that particular art form, put customers ill-at-ease...we just wanted to enjoy our dinner and chat...which you can do with musical performance, but not with a stranger ranting about smoking pot & asking you why you're wearing a cocktail dress. Get outta my face, dude! :) read more