This place is ridiculous in almost every way. The first impression you get from walking in here is a combination of starving artist haven/hippie scumbag hangout/snobby oak park mom hub...and that is being nice. The atmosphere in general reeks of pretension and everywhere you turn your senses are assaulted by awful art that is displayed like a child's art on a refrigerator door. First up is the coffee shop aspect of the cafe. I would like to say that there are pro's, but none really come to mind other than some of the staff. The coffee is terrible and overpriced, plain and simple. Save the time, money and exasperation and just go to Starbucks if you want a good caffeine fix. The food is decent, depending on when you go. There's a lot of vegan/vegetarian options on the menu...which only add to the snobby atmosphere that seems to breed in Oak Park. Same thing with gluten-free options. The panini sandwiches I have had there are probably the only selling points on the menu other than specials (again, depending on the day and time you go. Mornings seem to be the best quality food) Also, the entire restaurant is TINY. When there are more than a few tables occupied and a group larger than 4 people comes in, walking around to get anywhere else becomes a nightmare. Aka: be wary of going on weekends... To sum it up, don't bother wasting your hard-earned money at this place. The only reason they have stayed alive this long is because of the neighborhood's high-nosed lifestyle and the overall lack of other options for food or coffee in the area. That being said, it's still worth the extra commute to a starbucks or different restaurant. read more

This is just the sort of cafe that I love eclectic and personal feeling. In Montreal there are loads of them, but they are a rare find in Chicago. Great organic options, cute atmosphere. Maybe service was slow as someone had mentioned, but it was a busy Sunday and I was more than happy to sit and chat with my friend read more

Oaktoberfest. That's what we were passing through for. But the morning started with a run closer to home followed by hitting the road. By the time we made it to Oak Park, we needed some food, stat. So, Buzz Cafe had ample parking and beckoned us with all the charm of a local coffee hut. I ordered the White Chicken Salad Pita with very generously-sized side salad and the huz ordered an Albacore Tuna salad sammy with chips. We both had the yummy lemon veggie soup and that sealed the deal. We'll definitely be back for the charm and good vibe of the place. I just wish they had free wi-fi! read more

Can you give this place 10 stars? I can't say enough good things about this cafe their coffee and drinks are amazing and food is delicious. I have been here over 100 times and can't say enough good things they're the corner stone of oak park arts district. You have to check out their Saturday mornings live music and breakfast! read more

Great restaurant- horrible service. We needed a table for 6. You would think I handed my server a Rubik cube to solve. My server was more interested in pulling up a chair and talking to his friends than waiting on my table. Brought my 4 grandkids in for hot chocolate and donuts. I finally had to walk the check up to the counter myself so we could leave. Another customer noticed and mentioned how that was unacceptable. I will go back here (had breakfast there the day before) but ask for different server next time. read more

This place has very good coffee. It is well worth the price! I will definitely be back soon.

I love their coffee drinks. I've explored some of their menu but honestly, I need to try more things before I can give an honest review. Parking has always been easy to find right in front. Their pastries are good. They do have a patio that I haven't checked out yet and I haven't eaten in yet, but I like to come here for coffee and that's what they do best. read more

Mocha Buzzer rocks! I like this place for the neighborhood feel, something so opposite of corporate S-bucks. It's also family friendly which is a big plus! read more

Usually the food and service is pretty good here. Today the service was fine but the food was not. The waffle was spongy and limp, the scrambled eggs were soggy and the bacon was just over cooked. The fruit on the side was good as was the coffee. Stick to the breakfast sandwiches. read more

Nice lil spot in Oak Park to grab lunch (or breakfast- dinner too, if you like), do sl.e reading, and look at all the local art on the walls- every wall. Folks are mellow, but nice and the grilled cheese sandwich with bacon was a guilty pleasure :9 Buzz is the bizz! They also host a weekly event- Burgers, Beers, and Bands, you can bring your own brews!! Awesome. read more

I'm updating my review to 4 stars. I've been frequenting Buzz Cafe again. The service has definitely improved here. Keep up the good work guys! read more

Great coffee. Food is fair. Service has gotten better over the past year.

I too wanted to like this place but I found the food to be bland, service was non-existent and it was pricey.

Great organic eclectic coffee shop. Tough to get a table sometimes because it is so popular. But it is always worth a try. Love the grilled tofu salad. BYO. read more

Great food & service, but VERY NOISY. Good for bringing kids, not so good for two adults that want to slowly wake up with breakfast.

The food is mainly organic, all natural with vegan/vegetarian options but tastes horribly bland. It has a colorful, eclectic, rustic decor...art everywhere and a lounge area with books and toys for the kiddos. They are the pickup location for the Oak Park Food co-op. All in all, it's a cool/hip place but will not make you want to go there for the food or the coffee...service is very slow, as well. A good place to meet friends/family, read, or surf the net...their WiFi is free. read more

What I witnessed this morning was unacceptable! I patron this place on occasion and I am sad to say, never again. This poor girl's dog ran into the cafe early this morning because the clip supposedly came off the dog's harness. As I was walking out the cafe the guy at the counter yelled and shamed her in front of patrons. He shouted at her to get out and to never bring her dog in again as she was apparently told this previously. (Let me be clear this dog looked very young and non threatening!) She looked shocked. I was made to feel completely uncomfortable. I do understand it is a health code violation - truly I do, as I have a dog myself. But to witness the blatant out-of-control behavior this guy screamed at her was unprofessional! I'm sorry but how dare you treat a person this way. I don't care what the accusation is, there is a better way this situation could've been handled and shouting accusations is not one of them. You, sir, should never be allowed to work in customer service. read more

I didn't have a great experience today. I ordered a coffee for pick up (ugh covid-19), and I was shocked at the response of the person answering the phone. I was greeted with "Buzz Cafe" and I spoke, "Hello, I would like to..." and then was told "please hold", in a tone that wasn't terribly friendly, and then when the speaker laid the phone on the counter, she began to complain about me/callers, I'm not sure exactly, but it was something along the lines of that she hates when we start talking. I'm still not certain what the problem was, but when someone came to the phone a little bit later, I explained that I had heard the complaining, and I was a bit surprised. I've been going to Buzz for a long time (over 10 years at this point), but this experience was pretty off-putting and not quite surprising, as the sometimes the staff are awesome and sometimes they are a bit gruff. I think it's time for me to find a new place. read more

Sundays rock! There are special crepes and waffles. This Sunday was a bacon filled waffle with bacon topping. Vegan and veggie options abound as well as carnivore options! Hummus, pesto, salsa compote, pancakes, waffles, french toast etc, soups are hand crafted. So hang out and indulge, this place rocks!!! Any day of the week! read more

I love Buzz and am very grateful that there is at least one non-chain coffee shop in Oak Park. The coffee is very delicious, and as a vegetarian (with a vegan boyfriend), the many veggie options are appreciated. No, the food is not gourmet, but totally tasty nonetheless. read more

Excellent pastries and espresso drinks made with care. Very kid friendly, so it's not always the best place to sit in the back and write, but I do it anyway, and no one seems to mind. Tasty vegetarian and gluten-free options on the menu read more

Cutesy place, but the food took forever and was cold by the time it came out.

I love this cafe! The coffee is good and the food selection is great!. I like that there are vegan options in such a small location. All week, Buzz holds different events in the evenings. read more

I've eaten here twice, and am happy to have discovered this casual cafe that has excellent food and considerate friendly service. I was able to get good quality food, that feels good for me with good vegan options. Straightforward, non-pretentious, clean without a sterile vibe. read more

I'm in here often for coffee and a croissant in the morning. Everyone is super friendly and I'm nearly always in and out! Seems like it'd be an awesome place to hang out at if I have spare time sometime. read more

Cute Cafe, with good customer service. Chai was okay, nothing too special; the portobello mushroom appetizer was great. Eggplant wrap was a little blend. I have mixed feeling about the food, so did my girlfriend; but because of the atmosphere and customer service I will give it another try. Parking was convenient too. read more

Very cool place. Steps way outside of a typical Starbucks with more flavor and flair to their dishes and coffee. Tuna pita was the bees knees. read more

I live less than a five minute walk from here and it is my go to place. They have great coffee drinks but my favorite is their Mexican hot chocolate! Food is also fresh and tasty. read more

A great little cafe in the Harrison arts district. The Strawberry Rhubarb pie is great here. I'd gladly go back again . Also Damian our waiter was very nice and helpful. read more

A visit to Buzz is all about supporting the nearby community. The chairs were painted by kids, there's art from locals all over the walls and the waitstaff seems to be gathered from nearby high schools. A band takes over the kids play area in the back on Saturday morning for music and on school days they offer free coffee for teenagers who need a study spot. It's a noble set of enterprises for sure. But, the food (as others have noted) is pricey and mediocre. Last time, the pancakes with almond butter came burnt with a pat of butter and slivered almonds (technically correct, I know, but not what the name would indicate.) We came for the veggie options and tofu wraps, all of which are fine, but nothing that you can't make at home without much trouble. Coffee is really good, but the refills are slow. It's worth going if you're in the neighborhood for sure; there aren't many places that take such an interest and pride in their communities. But, know that you'll be doing something good for the community, not so much yourself. read more

I've been coming here for years for Sunday brunch. The food here is pretty good with many healthy options. Portions are on the small side. If you want a coffee drink make sure to ask for it hot as they trend to make drinks way to cool here. The Mexican spiced mocha is fantastic! The restaurant is cramped and somewhat chaotic but in an odd way that contributes to its charm. read more

Great food! It can get really loud in here, but that is the only reason I did not give it 5 star. They have a wide selection of Gluten Free offerings, and their food is always fresh and delicious. My husband and I have eaten there several times, and we keep going back at least once a week. read more

Went yesterday and got take out breakfast and a coffee. Really liked the breakfast sandwich, but the potatoes could use som seasoning or browning. Had the Mexican spiced mocha too, think I'll be back for coffee more often. read more

The atmosphere is pretty cool and is a an quick/easy place to get something on your way to the train. Unfortunately, I never like their espresso coffee. I've tried several times over the past couple years, and it tastes very bland and weak. read more

a great local independent coffe shop with okay service - I think the most attractive thing abou this store is that it is fun to hang out here. They have a community calendar of all the groups that meet at the cafe and a nice meeting area in the back. This restaurant is filled with the happening of the community as well as have local art plastered on the walls! read more

Great community coffee house vibe! Once each year, the customers can come and paint the chairs. I usually get coffee and do my schoolwork, so I cannot comment on the food, but I just love the atmosphere. read more

After an hour and a half of sweating, stretching and falling out of poses at Yoga Trek, I was more than happy to toss another dime in the parking meter and walk next door to Buzz Cafe (905 South Lombard Avenue, Oak Park, Ill.). There's something to be said for the Birkenstock-wearing crowd -- they know how to pick good eateries. I stepped up to the counter and ordered the drink with the coolest name -- Mexican Spiced Mocha (take that Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer!). It was a generously-sized cup of reasonably priced beverage. My verdict? Delicious. Read more over at my Oak Park blog -- www.theparkchick.wordpress.com xoxo, TheParkChick read more

This is one of the things that makes Oak Park special. The Buzz Cafe has a wonderfully distinctive feeling, from the local art on the wall to local music and meetings that are sometimes hosted. But the best part is the food, great healthy selections with lots of organic options. read more

Luv this place. Breakfast is reasonably priced and delicious. The pancakes and veggies sausage are my go to.

I grew up walking distance from Buzz Cafe and used to love coming here. I have since moved out of the area and stopped in for an impromptu dinner with my fiancé since we were in the area and hadn't been in a while. Our server was Crystal and this was this worst experience we've ever had here. I know Buzz isn't a formal dining experience, but as a former server, being friendly and attentive is must in the service industry. We walked in and grabbed a table. Our server came over and wiped down our table with a really wet rag and basically tossed out menus in front of us. It took her nearly 10 minutes to come back and take our order. In that 10 minutes I had to ask for napkins to dry off the table and ask for waters. She finally took our order and had no idea what was in one of the soups. We ordered and appetizer, 2 soups and 2 wraps. She brought our quesadillas and not even 1 minute later brought our wraps. 5 minutes later she hadn't checked back to see how anything was and we asked her about our soups and she said very rudely that they are still working on them, when she just could have mentioned it when she brought the food (or space/time the meal out properly). During the duration of our meal she didn't check on us and simply brought our check when she saw somewhat empty plates when we were going to order dessert. Most people don't go in and drop $50 in Buzz on a Saturday night and she missed out on what could be been a very good tip for a slow Saturday. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be back anytime soon. read more