I was looking for a place to kill an hour or two in Oak Park while waiting for a friend to finish up some business and I didn't want to sit around a Starbucks or Caribou, so I found myself at Buzz Cafe. The logo-- a coffee cup with wings-- led me to believe that it was a more casual kind of coffee shop. However, at least at lunch hour, it's a sit-down restaurant with servers, which makes lingering over your drink a bit awkward. Deciding I'd give it a go anyways, I was told to seat myself. The furniture in Buzz is eclectic and hand-painted, which is cute but can verge on impractical. The table I sat at, for instance, was so short that I could barely fit my knees underneath it, and I stand just shy of 5'3"! The decor overall was typical of a place trying hard to be artsy-- mismatched furniture, brightly colored walls, eclectic paintings. I ordered the Italian Grilled Cheese panini (bacon, cheese, tomato, and a balsamic-garlic mayo), which came with a side salad. Y'all, this sandwich was utterly DOMINATED by the mayonnaise. When I picked it up, the stuff came squelching foully out onto the plate. The bread was soggy and dripped when I held it up to my mouth. Even beyond the mayonnaise issue, the sandwich was crying out for something to balance the salty-fattiness. With salty bacon, salty bread, salty cheese, and tons of sauce, the sparse, thinly-sliced tomatoes added little in the way of brightness or acidity. The accompanying side salad was basically unremarkable-- your average bagged mixed greens with a too-sweet balsamic vinaigrette and maybe three or four halved cherry tomatoes. Maybe this particular entree was a miss, but the insipid salad did little to encourage me to try another some other time. I give Buzz props for having lots of vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free options and I can see how it might have appeal for folks working those kinds of diets. But the mediocre food and unoriginal atmosphere weren't worth the ten-dollar-plus-tip bill. read more

Excellent coffee: Metropolis blend. Great place for breakfast or lunch. The food portions are perfect size: Not too big and not too small. If you love giant portions, you may be disappointed. They give you a choice of organic or regular for many of the entrees. I can not tell the difference so I always get the regular to save a buck or two. Food always tastes very fresh to me and many of their items can have a nice slightly spicy edge such as the southwestern egg wrap. Usually get a choice of side salad (ask for the balsamic dressing) or fresh fruit which is usually ripe and tasty. Additional pluses: Great little playroom in the back if you have kids and free WIFI. My one criticism is the mediocre pastry at the counter in the AM. No place is perfect. I would say that Buzz is worth a special visit whenever you want a quality breakfast or lunch and is definitely worth the stop in the morning for their great coffee especially if you have to take the Austin ramp onto 290 in the AM. read more

Nice atmosphere - sometimes too many kids - with pretty fast service. Their brunch and lunch options are pretty good.

The place looked cute thought to come in with my friend but the girl seemed not so thrilled to see us. The min we walked in the door. When i was ready to order she seemed annoyed even when my friends asked where was the restroom she seemed annoyed and pointed it out with a not so friendly attitude. I guess she does not like minorities there. Not a place to visit. read more

I dig the atmosphere. It's relaxed and what I think a Seattle Coffee shop might have looked like Nirvana years. Cool colors, cool art, and cool staff. I wasn't blown away by the food. I'll have to try something more substantial next time like a sandwich. I had the cream of chicken soup, which I normally love....any where else. There was an herb in there that just didnt go. I also had a salad, which was basically good but the generic dressing killed it. If I go back for only one thing it will be the dreamy chocolate dipped gluten free coconut ball things. Wow! They look small and will make you a little surly that you paid almost $2 for this thing but then you'll bite into it and want to order a dozen more. It's creamy coconut goodness wraped up in a light layer of chocolate. read more

--- EDIT 3/2/08: If you're here for the Sunday brunch, and if you finished eating and paid just after closing at 2pm, you might be one of the lucky few to take home their remaining pastry at the counter! Yep, they give them all away! --- When I first discovered this neighborhood cafe three years ago, I didn't think much of it. There was this dude playing guitar in the dim lounge area, for two or three customers. Granted it was a weeknight. I had a latte to go and that was it. It so happened that I'd soon move to the Art District of Oak Park, and was elated to re-discover Buzz. Besides its location, the decor immediately tells you it's an art - and caffeine - lover's paradise. Very, very comfortable. This place is rather small, so I'd be hard-pressed to bring a group of 6 to this joint. Outdoor seating is available in summer, tho' its proximity to I-290 could make conversations a little tough. Their menu is pretty simple. Get a wake-up dose of The Buzz (or Buzzer, their blended ice coffee, in summer), with anything on their breakfast menu and you'll be the happiest person for the rest of the day. My favorite is their organic breakfast. On their lunch menu, the Zesty Italian panini is to die for. On Sunday - if you're up early enough - they've got a special brunch menu that includes the wonderful quiche and crepes. Yum! It's clean, service is prompt yet not overly attentive, and you can stay as long as you like without feeling hurried. Oh, they've got The Onion on the shelf too! read more

I ate the best pie of my entire life here. It was an apricot blueberry pie with whipped cream. Blew my mind!! It's such a great little place with local art, local ingredients and local music. I highly recommend their Friday night live events. We saw a great jazz quartet during a lovely evening. And the iced chais are great! Vegans are welcome here too. read more

Buzz Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Met some folks here for a business type meeting, and one person had been working in Oak Park 3 YEARS and had never been here. Well I like to think I made a couple new Buzz fans. Again, CAUTION, this is not Starwarsmegabucks, or it's ilk. I personally think their coffee is better than those big guys, but then I am black coffee drinker, not a mochiatto half-skim half decaf froo-froo coffee-esque drink consumer. read more

Cute old school cafe. Perfect almost halfway spot for meeting my parents whom are coming for the Western burbs. The menu is simple, pleased the basic breakfast seekers, and the more adventurous vegetarians. I had the cheesy egg sandwich and a chai tea. Very tasty! The inside is super cute, with local artists paintings filling the walls. read more

Mini spontaneous girls lunch with my mom, and only my second time dinning in. (If I didn't mention it before, the veggie panini is better at sbux, the desserts are hit or miss, but I did enjoy Sunday breakfast, mexican spice mochas, and Chai w almond milk.) We only went for a short walk and coffee but decided to stay because of the ham and spinach special sandwich of the day. I asked at the counter if they offered a vegetarian option for me, and I was told sure. The lady at the register said they had veggie sausage for an extra buck, and the guy said he could maybe do something with eggplant and zuccchini. Yay! We decide to dine in. I think it should be noted that being a vegetarian, the only thing interesting about a ham sandwich special is the other stuff on the sandwich which is not ham. In this case, it was the sautéed spinach. I place my order for zucchini, eggplant, and veggie sausage on the sandwich in place of ham (as discussed at the counter) and am told they're out of zucchini and I can only pick veggie sausage OR eggplant. I'm told I "can't" have both. *blink* Now, I knew there would be a dollar extra charge for the veggie sausage, which was fine. So saying I could only choose one or the other, and cant have both, took me back a little. I've never heard of such a thing outside of a fastfood establishment. If it's $3 or $4 more to make it the way I want it, fine. Let me know and give me the option to have it the way I want it. The sandwiches arrive, I'm starved. I totally clean my plate. It was very, very yummy! Best thing I've ever had there. After I swallowed it, I realized there was no spinach on it... the reason I ordered it anyway. I was disappointed, but didn't mind too much because it was still good. My mom checked her sandwich to see that hers was missing spinach, too. Instead of taking my mom's back to add spinach (it was too late for me), they took one dollar off both sandwiches and handed me the bill. *blink* My mom didn't particularly care for her sandwich... probably because the missing spinach broke hers. (Veggie sausage probably has more flare than pig.) Handing me the bill before asking if I want anything else is a lot worse than not asking if everything was okay (which she didn't). It's like saying "bye! leave!" And so we did. Considering I actually did want to order something else, I wasn't very pleased. I will be back to Buzz, but my mom (who insisted I write this review) declares she's sticking to the coffee. I HOPE the next update will be 4 or 5 stars. read more

3 Stars for the food though, it was marginal. Could be injected with a little bit more excitement. I do love the vibe here, the art on the walls, the coffee, and how it is kind of a community center. I want to go to a psychic reading here, which they have at night sometimes. Overall its really cute and friendly. I just wish that they had better grub. read more

1. Food - fantastic. They have tons of vegetarian, organic, and healthy foods. The coffee is pricy but great. I Just had their burger today for lunch and I ate every last bit of it. Sometimes you forget how great organic beef can be, but the Buzz reminded me that the mark up in price is worth it. The rest of the food is great including their breakfast, brunch, and now family friendly dinners. 2. Service - I've never had a problem with service. I've eaten there probably 10 times and every time the wait staff is considerate and helpful. 3. Atmosphere - If you have a family with small kids, you'll love this place. If you're a trendy-childfree-hipster who can't stand an occasional slip and fall, burp, or laughing children, then stay away! I read one review that complained about the kids, but frankly, this is a large draw for some people. There are a bevy of resturaunts that cater to dinks (double income, no kids) but the Buzz is truly a place where you can take your young family and not feel like you're bothering people around you. There's even a section in the back where you can send your little ones to play with toys and read books. Great stuff! read more

For coffee? I LOVE Buzz. If there is anyway I can reroute my daily adventure in order to swing by Buzz for a dose of caffeine, I will. Are they overly friendly? No. Does it bother me? Not really... I mean, service is important and all, but I prefer normal people vs. employees who are overly enthusiastic and in my face fake. Especially at 8am. No one has been outwardly rude to me, so I'll respect the staff for being normal, everyday people. Shoot, sometimes I don't love to be at work either. I've munched on cookies and bagels, but other than that I can't really comment on the healthy organic eats (hence the reserved 3-start rating). If Buzz weren't so far from home, I'd surely have been there for lunch by now--for that menu is quite enticing! read more

As for cafes in Oak Park, this seems to be the spot. The coffee is a combination of their own roasts and Metropolis roasts. The whole menu for food is organic and cheap. And if you like art, the walls don't disappoint. read more

***Update about the music*** Apparently the musicians I complained about are the regular open mic performers. I guess they perform on a weekly basis. . . I guess it's cool that they're given a space to express their enthusiasm and whatnot for music. . . *ahem* Though sometimes I wonder if what they have in enthusiasm they lack in talent. For the record, I still love the food and it's a good neighborhood joint. I will still beat a swift retreat whenever I see the talent show going up. . . read more

I was here over a year ago but I remember having a fantastic pancake and delicious coffee. Price wasn't terrible but the service seemed a bit condescending, it was a busy Sunday morning, so waitress may have had her feathers ruffled. I distinctly remember her forgetting my coffee refill and when I politely asked for it again, she remarked that I should have asked for some on her first trip back. I didn't feel like arguing or complaining since I was enjoying the food and company and otherwise she seemed very nice. Since I have such good memories of the food, I would return and make the trip out to Oak Park for it. read more

I am addicted to the coffee. And I don't put cream OR sugar in my coffee. Nope--love it tall, dark, and strong. The food is also spot-on. But the food isn't what keeps me coming back...that would be the coffee. And Buzz Cafe, if you can hear me, consider operating at normal hours on Sunday, would ya? So often I want to swing by for a cup on a Sunday afternoon but Buzz is already closed. Bummer! read more

Love Buzz. Everything is fresh. Great service. I come here often because they are super dog friendly. Dog treats and water bowls for my dog. He can come inside to the counter to order with me, and we sit outside. Today I got the French toast and side of fruit for brunch. Very good. So happy this is a very local spot for us. read more

The food may not be incredible and the service at tables sometimes iffy. But this is a great local coffee shop/cafe -- it's a great part of the fabric of the neighborhood. Some have complained about the decor. It can be a bit much, but those wacky chairs are painted by kids from the area every year! Same with the art on the walls -- totally local. I stop in a few times a week for coffee and a few times a month for breakfast meetings. And I feel good doing it. read more

Oh the Buzz. Good cookies and wraps but the service is a bit sluggish at times and even rude or maybe tired feeling. Sometimes I get my coffee quickly while other times I could be standing for 10 min. waiting. It can be a bit high in price for food and since service is unpredictable I probably would not recommend sitting down. A neat side note they do sell one- way CTA passes that can come in very handy!! read more

Love the fact they are not a chain. Really good food with many vegetarian and organic options. Even some of the nonvegetarian items can easily can be made veggy friendly. Seating can be an issue during busy time. As seating is self serve and as this place has more of a coffee house feel people tend to linger at there tables. Speaking of the tables, all have chairs that are uniquely painted. Service, well I have never gotten an incorrect order even with a such of added weird request, however service can be slow, especially if the place is packed. read more

Good brunch spot. I had a breakfast burrito. Nice. You can order it conventional or made with organic ingredients. GOOD coffee! Nice neighborhood vibe. Fits in well with the Oak Park arts district. read more

Positives: Within walking distance of my apartment, nestled in the cute Arts District (just around the corner from Brown Elephant!), GREAT COFFEE, decent menu, dog treats, yummy pastries and a great community/neighborhood feel. Negatives: I've ordered food twice and thought it was fair to good, but never great, which is why I'm docking one star. Overall: The Buzz is definitely worth a visit, even if just for a coffee, donut and neighborhood hang. read more

They offer Metropolis coffee which is delicious! Lattes are perfectly made and I love their iced coffee! Counter staff is always very cordial and friendly and wait staff is as well. I love their healthy options and their daily specials. The Buzz Cafe is an Oak Park treasure and one of the best parts of the arts district. read more

I like to come here for breakfast. They have the best offerings and it doesn't hurt that it is my favorite meal.But I always pop in for a latte or a chai and perhaps a scone.I beg to differ with one of the previous reviewer though, the "little Blonde girl" always gives me polite and friendly service and makes my latte perfectly. My husband and I pop in frequently on a Saturday or Sunday morning and she is always service with a smile. Also I would recommend stopping on a weeknight. There is always a dinner special and the food is great. read more

I drag my family in from the suburbs and friends in from the city to join me for breakfast and coffee at Buzz. Buzz has quickly become one of my favorite quirky spots to have a breakfast burrito or a BLT (with avocado of course). I have also developed a taste for their coffee...it's not something that I rave about, but it is decent and I can pick it up so easily on my way to the train in the morning when I'm too lazy to make my own! Not to mention that they have one of every paper sitting to read in the morning... so I can catch up with news in a glance :) The ambiance... be prepared. If you are expecting a very quiet coffeeshop to sit and study for hours...give up now. It's a noisy, busy, fun environment!! And I become easily distracted...whether it's staring at the unique art on the walls (sometimes trying to figure out what it is), or realizing that the servers at the counter already know what the "regulars" are going to order and start to get their drinks ready as they walk in the door! Side note: They do offer wireless...but sometimes it isn't working :( Heck, sometimes no one's wireless is working... but it's happened to me a few times that I have dragged my laptop over there and been disappointed. But I do keep going back... read more

I don't get to Buzz Cafe often enough, but when I do, I am always happy I went! To begin with, this place lives up to its reputation of locally-owned, locally-grown, and locally-conscious food and fare. From the organic food options to the decorated chairs and art pieces on the wall, the ambiance is wicked fun and entertaining. And just in case you didn't know this place was cool, the Lady Gaga\Nicki Minaj-inspired music sets the mood. The food is great and the prices are ok- but considering the quality of the ingredients and preparation of the food, I'm happy to pay {they also have "non-organic" options that make the plates cheaper}. The quantity of food is good {but if want over the top portions go to Delias on Lake}. The vibe is super fun- this morning the crowd ranged from grandparents to parents to kids in cozy sweaters to little dogs in cozy sweaters. And the colors and art work in this immaculately decorated cafe really appeals to my undiagnosed ADD. There are also tons of events that you can read about in the Buzz newsletter. Service is a little hit-and-miss, but everyone is really friendly. This morning I waited longer to pay my bill than I did to order and eat my food, but oh well- I got some reading in. What else could you ask for on a Sunday morning? read more

My wife suggested we go there for lunch as she had tried it before and I had not. I thought it was ok. The ambiance was fun as it reminded me of some small hipster coffee diners I remember going to while in college. Good coffee, average burger with a handful of ruffles. For the price I could have found a better burger, but I do like supporting small businesses so it was all good. I don't know if I'd go out of my way to go back, but if I found myself in the area and was hungry, I'd probably give it another go. read more

Very unique, cozy, and super friendly service! Art hanging on every square inch. I ordered the Mexican mocha and had a DELICIOUS pumpkin whoopie pie! Lady at the counter was soooo sweet. If I'm in the area again, I'll be back! read more

Buzz Cafe - Art everywhere! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I don't understand why people still go here! I can't believe they have managed to stay in business so long. The owner is horrible to her employees, which is probably why the people who do work there to a terrible job. It's a complete crap shoot whether your food will be good or not, hot or cold or served in a timely fashion versus waiting 40 minutes for a sandwich. I've also heard the owner makes a huge portion of the food in her apartment kitchen above the restaurant, which is a big health code violation. I get that some people like the artwork on the walls, but it is just too much. It's like an assault to your senses when you walk in. I'm not saying get rid of all of it, but at least tone it down a little. And putting pieces by real artists along side something that looks like my 5 year old made dilutes all of it. If you want good food, coffee and a relaxed atmosphere Nola's Cup is a much better bet. At least you know it's clean and the food is good, not something made in the owners kitchen upstairs. read more

Staple weekend breakfast spot. The cheesy egg sandwich is my favorite! Plenty of vegetarian options for breakfast or lunch/light dinner. Great atmosphere and nice staff! read more

I would echo the comments of others re: odd/rude service. We dropped the dog off for surgery and wanted to grab a coffee and lunch while we worked and waited. Walked in and sat at a four top because we both had laptops. Was asked to move to a two top table instead of the four top we selected. When I said we needed the room but wouldn't be too long we were told "it's almost lunch". What? If you don't want open seating then seat people-otherwise, too much attitude for a cup of coffee. Simple solution-we left. Not recommended. read more

Unfortunately, I've only tried one of this establishment's food menu items but, I've developed a nearly pathological attachment to the Organic Gourmet Burger: #3 -- Mozzarella Cheese, Garlic Grilled Mushrooms and onion served with chips I'm done for! Anyhow, it's always a treat to visit this establishment and experience the familiar wait staff, it's progressive culture, and experience the wall art created by area talent. Also, Buzz Cafe baristas make killer coffee drinks as well, with my favorite being the soy latte, even though my habitual coffee drinking days seem to have escaped me. I recommend this spot for anyone who needs the experience of a nice lunch in the confines of this historic, suburban Chicago, community. read more

Great local spot. Not very big but good food and great hot chocolate.

Went in looking for A light lunch to go. I asked for a toasted bagel with cream cheese,tomatoes and onion but instead got a bagel not toasted, with too much onion and with no cream cheese. I took it back and got a super lightly toasted bagel still with too much onion still. They are good for a sit down meal but not for cafe Togo standards. read more

This is a lovely place. Good coffee. But, if you are coming for a leisurely and peaceful time--beware. I went there today with a friend whom I haven't seen in a long time, and we wanted to chat, sip coffee, and just have nice time . Tough--a cleaning lady was vacuumed for quite a while, the ladder was in the midst of the cafe- with someone cleaning and dusting the ceiling fans, etc. And this was all happening at 6 pm in the evening. read more

I've been going here for years. I really like their coffee drink (Mexican mocha is delicious!). Their food is also pretty good. The reason I'm giving them 3 stars is because their drip coffee is horrible. I thought maybe I had a bad experience the first time. The coffee tasted like it had been sitting for hours. My boyfriend agreed that the coffee was really bad. I went back with my mom and the coffee was horrible again! We are all coffee drinkers and all complained that the coffee was not good. I wonder if it was because we went later in the morning and the coffee had been sitting around for a while. I will be back for their coffee drinks but I'm going to skip the regular coffee next time. read more

I think this place would be a great place to get coffee. Unfortunately we ordered food. Buzz is the run of the mill hippie-esque coffee house. Funky hand painted oddball wooden chairs and tables. The walls are an in your face gallery of paintings, for sale, by local artists of various skill levels. The place serves up Metropolis coffee which is great. This would have been a great place for my friends and I to hang out and drink copius amounts of coffee when we were in high school. Three of us went for lunch. The service was pretty horrendous as was the food. I think the food could best be described as a stoned 15 year olds creation in his or her mothers kitchen, under the influence of the munchies. I had the veggie pita pocket which couldn't have been any more underwhelming. Our friend had a cheese pizza. Beware of the cheese pizza. It consisted of a pita type flat bread with a layer of canned pasta sauce, a slice of mozzarella cheese, and hunks of beefsteak tomato. I am pretty sure the monstrosity was heated in a microwave as the "crust" was pretty soggy. At the end of the meal we couldn't decide whether "Scuzz" or "Buzz Kill" cafe would have been better names. Drink the coffee. Eat at home. read more

Everytime I go here it takes FOREVER to get ANYTHING that I order. The staff is young and inexperienced, the art on the wall is NOTHING to rave about, and the drip coffee is always bitter. I don't go here anymore. I gave it way to many chances. The staff is rude, and there are WAY to many little kids running around. It's very loud there. The ONLY thing I like about that place was their brie plate. But now I go to marion cheese market to get the same plate, in a much quieter atmosmphere, with MUCH better coffee. read more

I really want to support this place since I live in the neighborhood but the service is SO BAD. The kids that work the counter are too cool for school and make you wait until they finish their conversations before you can order. I have to stop myself from automatically saying "thank you" because they are just so darn unpleasant. The food is good and it's a cute place, but I'm angry *every time* I leave, which makes me perfectly happy to give my money to Starbucks. read more