I catered my party from Curt's and was extremely pleased with the food! I ordered 50 sandwiches--an assortment of roast beef, turkey, caprese, and hummus. My guests all commented on how delicious they were! read more

Café with a Cause? Absolutely. I run an organization called Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative, where we teach visual arts, creative writing, and audio production inside juvenile detention centers. We're currently active in three Illinois Youth Centers--Chicago, Warrenville, and St. Charles--as well as at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center. I often interview my students about their creative work, and recently I met up with one of them to talk about a powerful piece he created for our Locked Achievements gallery show. During our conversation, he mentioned he'd been gaining work experience at Curt's Café--so naturally, I had to see it for myself. Tucked in the heart of Evanston, Curt's Café is warm, welcoming, and beautifully intentional. As soon as I walked in, I spotted not just one but two of my students working behind the counter. That moment alone made my day. The café has a comforting vibe and a menu that caters to everyone--even someone like me on a cleanse. I grabbed a vegan dish featuring sweet potatoes and kale, and it hit all the right spots. Clean, hearty, and full of flavor. What makes this place even more special is the mission: Curt's Café is dedicated to giving young people a second chance through employment, life skills training, and mentorship. They're doing real, restorative work--and it shows. I even found out they're hosting an art showcase on May 3rd, and there's a chance some of our students' pieces from Locked Achievements will be featured in their gallery space. If you're ever in Evanston, do yourself a favor: stop by Curt's Café. The food is great, the mission is inspiring, and your support goes a long way. Check out their website to learn more. Five stars--because how do you rate a place that serves up hope and sweet potatoes? read more

Curt's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

I love the egg, bacon and cheese sandwich but the turkey on multigrain bread is also a close 2nd favorite! Go in! The coffee is so good and the service is excellent! read more

The food here was really good and well-prepared. My husband and I came on a Saturday morning for breakfast and we ordered the spinach and goat cheese wrap. It was grilled and prepared to perfection! The order came with fruit on the side, it was really healthy and satisfying. The coffee was really good as well. We will come back again and try other dishes. The staff here are really kind and courteous as well and I love the mission of the place. Delicious food and a good cause. You can't beat that! read more

YUM! I stopped here on my lunch break, not familiar with the area and hoping to find something good. I was so pleased by the atmosphere, the spinach veggie wrap was AMAZING and the cafe supports a good cause. I'll definitely be back again. read more

Curt's Cafe - Spinach wrap and French fries - Cafes Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I've never eaten at this place but I would highly recommend it. The place is amazing, cozy & chill. The food outstanding just by the talent that is hired at this spot. Give it a try can't knock it till you try it. read more

I woke up this morning wanting to try a new place for coffee so I found this little gem on Yelp. Curt's is an adorable community coffee shop that have a nice selection of cafe beverages, fresh pastries, donuts for Do-Rite, and even smoothies! I got a nitro and a cinnamon chip scone. The nitro was fairly decent but the scone was DELISH! I will have to be back to try something else from their drink menu. I'm thinking a latte would be a better choice. Parking is convenient with lots of street parking all around. read more

See all

Quality food. And it didn't cost my whole wallet to get it. I also like the interior decor, it's kitschy and fun

The cause is worth a visit but the place needs work! There are usually food bits on the floor, some chairs are dangerously rickety, employees sometimes stand around chatting while the food sits on the counter getting cold. I believe in the reason for the restaurant, often patronize it, and the food is really quite good, but it can benefit from some improvement. read more

Curt's Cafe - Floor with leftover food - Cafes Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I'm in love with the avocado toast! Being vegan and gluten free, it's hard to find breakfast when eating out. This meal, and I believe one other, can be made vegan and gluten free easily. The gf bread isn't bad either, which is saying a lot! My partner eats everything, so when he got a breakfast sandwich, and saw how big it was, he was ecstatic. It's very much worth the price. The inside is very homey and beautiful! It's a place I keep wanting to return to. The outdoor seating is nice too, and everything is kept clean. We've always felt very welcome here. read more

Curt's Cafe - Inside dining area - Cafes Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Love their mission and would support the restaurant on that alone but their food also speaks for itself. Did takeout on one of their speaker nights last year and loved it. Chicken, pasta, cauliflower, and a side salad! read more

Curt's Cafe - a meal in a plastic container - Cafes Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

We ordered Curt's Cafe catering this past weekend for my daughter's second birthday to celebrate with our family, and all of the food was delicious! We got mini sandwiches (ham, chicken salad, & pesto caprese), purple potato salad, lemon orzo pasta salad, and the kale & strawberry salad. Everyone was raving about the food, and the portion sizes were great for the price. We will definitely order from there again! read more

Curt's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I only stopped in for a quick coffee, so it wouldn't be fair to give a full review without having the pleasure of trying absolutely everything, which is something I definitely want to do the next time I'm in the area. The truth is, this place should be called Curt's Cozy Cafe, because upon stepping foot in the space, I wanted to stay for a long time! It's got such an inviting cozy feel with a more-than-obvious community focus with all that lovely artwork on the walls inspired by Evanston artist Ben Blount. After a stop across the street for some fabulous crepes at Gotta B Crepes, I popped in for a quick dessert coffee before heading out of Evanston. Immediately greeted by an amazing case of baked goods, I was too full to order anything, but...next time. The customer service was friendly and helpful, and since I ordered a cup of their house coffee to go, I was directed to a selection of coffees on the counter in lovely carafes to choose from. I selected an Ethiopian coffee by Uncommon Coffee Roasters. It was a mild, smooth brew, and I had such a fun time adding spiced sugar from The Spice House (way to support another local Central Avenue business). The sugar was a cinnamon blend, and it gave my coffee a lovely kick. They have a few two-top tables, and a bigger table with a comfy couch for gathering with friends. Just a lovely stop. And, of course a lovely mission, providing workforce training and life skills for at-risk youth. read more

See all

Stopped in today to meet a friend. So pleasant to be here. We had coffee and it was so quiet and pleasant. I like the mission of Curt's Cafe and am glad this place is on the neighborhood! read more

Food is consistently delicious! The smoothies especially are really good. I really appreciate the vegan & gluten free options. The ambiance is cozy and fun. Service is hit or miss. I understand that comes with the territory of the mission, which I support, and a big part of why I keep coming back. I just make a point never to go to Curt's "real quick" when I'm on lunch break or in a hurry...because real quick never happens. This morning they opened late because none of the staff showed up. Keep up the good mission! read more

Glacial slow. Shameful bagel and cream cheese. Think cheapest bagels you can buy at a grocery store, toasted in a consumer grade toaster, then they toss you the tiniest cup of Philadelphia they could find. read more

Rich espresso and tasty pastries! It's very cozy inside and very affordable. A hidden gem!

I had been meaning to check out this place near me for awhile. Their menu looked really appetizing and I knew there was a deal on Livingsocial. Just so happened I was in the area and made a stop in for something to go. Upon arriving, it was smaller then I had thought. There was a couch and some tables and chairs to sit and eat, but not many. There is also a nice array of freshly baked breakfast and pastry items on display. Also, a very large assortment of teas, some of which I've never tried before. I was looking at the menu and waiting for someone to ask me what I would like to order. There seemed to be some discussion about who should take my order. I know I am not an intimidating person so it didn't bother me. I think it's wonderful that at risk youth have this opportunity to gain real restaurant experience. The young man who waited on me delivered excellent customer service and was a really nice guy. I ordered the lunch flight of a small soup (butternut squash) and baby spinach and goat cheese salad for $8. With the Livingsocial deal $5 off 8 orders it was only a little over $3. Both of the items were delicious and very satisfying! It also came with a small chocolate chunk brownie which of course I can't say no to. I really like what this place is doing so hope they keep up the good work! Excited to try more items on the menu. read more

See all

i *love* this place! Delicious food, yummy beverages and friendly staff! Definitely returning soon!

I have gone here a few times because I worked down the street. There is always a problem I only kept returning cause it was convenient. I'm only leaving two stars for their cashiers cause they were nice to me. However who is supervising their kitchen? It's always a long wait for food even if no one is there. I tried mobile ordering and even showed up late and they didn't even start to prepare my food or drink. I waited an additional ten minutes went back to work. When I opened the sandwich it was missing 3 ingredients.. the one I cared most about was the avocado so I had to go back they threw some avocado on it and sent me on my way. The sandwich was cold and I wasted my whole break going back and forth. I reached out to the owner who said she would refund me but then she came in to my work and gave me a gift card. Nice lady but that wasn't what I asked for. I know she wanted me to give them another chance but I gave them several and all I wanted was a refund. I just moved an hour away and no longer work in the area. read more

Food quality is good. This place is a funky sort of Cafe with mismatched furniture and amateur artwork on the walls. It's comfortable but a little cluttered in places and some of the tables needed cleaning. The place was pretty empty and the staff was just sort of standing around. That's the main drawback, the service. A student violinist was using the back room for practice and that was nice. The breakfast sandwich was made on a croissant and it had bacon, eggs, cheese and mayonnaise. It was very tasty. The breakfast burrito had sausage, egg, corn and cheese on it. We had orange juice but it wasn't fresh. It was Tropicana in a bottle. It was a little overpriced but at least I didn't have to stand in line at Walker Brothers. read more

Wonderful Coffee Cafe with Super Friendly Staff and Great coffee, Scones. If you are in Evanston on Central st. Please stop in as soon as you Walk in you feel Better about Anything and Everything!!! I had late with Cinnamon Chips Scone that was made there. Just Fresh Friendly Warming Cafe. Can't wait to try there soups and Sandwiches. read more

See all

This place is great! It's very cozy, furnished with all sorts of big furniture. It's s good place to meet with friends and enjoy delicious food and coffee. Their food is excellent. I've had almost everything listed on the menu board, but my favorite is the Eggplant Caprese sandwich. Fresh, melty mozzarella, I think basil and thin slices of eggplant. So good! Any of their 3 quesadillas are also delicious, especially the chicken and bacon one. It's more like a crispy flatbread. And their desserts are outstanding, particularly their scones. The white chocolate and apricot one is wonderful! Great food, reasonably priced and you get to see a training program for at-risk youth flourishing. Can't beat it! read more

This little cozy place with the friendly staff is a great value for your money. I had a nice crispy chicken sandwich with sweet pickles and chipotle Mayo with a giant side of broccoli cheddar soup that was both hot and delicious! All for under 10 bucks! It hit the spot on this cold and snowy day. I'm sure to come back. read more

Great concept.......................Good food and service............................

Lovely spot and very helpful/friendly staff! I loved my mocha with almond milk and the scone and breakfast burrito I split with my husband were delicious! My husband and I are rarely in this area but it was a great date for us and a trip we'll probably make again. read more

This place is seriously amazing. Everything about it is amazing! First of all, you are dining with a purpose. You are supporting at-risk young adults... Some of whole may have had run-ins with the law, some who may be homeslees, some of whom may have dropped out of school. Curt's cafe is giving them a job, training, and education. The food is also fantastic and so is the service. Eric served me this morning and was so so welcoming, kind, and helpful. Everyone there is so positive. It is extremely community oriented and even has a fabulous basket of free cards in case you need one! There is art up on the walls for your viewing and purchase, and tons of delicious sweet and savory dishes to choose from. I went on a Tuesday morning for breakfast and there was plenty of seating available. Nobody was rushing me out. It was so comfy and literally all my favorite songs were playing. This place is a true gem. Go enjoy the food and drink and support something amazing! read more

Curt's Cafe - Breakfast burrito ~$8 - Cafes Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

My favorite food items were the goat cheese + egg breakfast wrap (I would order this over and over again), the coffee (free refills!), and the kale smoothie. I've always been really skeptical of green healthy smoothies, but the cashier recommended it and it was actually really delicious. Also, really comfy seating and great service! read more

I'm not one to compliment much. I have to say I have never had better food than what I had at Curt's café today. I had the best tuna salad I have ever eaten in the 70 years of my life. Also wonderful sweet potato fries and a chocolate ganache that was to die for. The Best part is that Curt's café helps at risk youth learn the skills so they can go out into the world and get jobs that they never would've had the opportunity to have without Curt's Cafe and our support. Try it out. You won't be disappointed. read more

Curt's Cafe turned out to be a class act. I never asked for this, but they gratuitously credited my account for the sandwich I was dissatisfied with. No communication, it was just there. I guess they saw the sandwich was half eaten after I left. I'm not writing an edited review because I "got paid" to do so. Rather, when any retail establishment reacts to a customer's lament in such a way, it should be recognized and commended. The sandwich was late and cold, but they said "sorry" in a very sincere and classy way. They well deserve this edited review. read more

Very chill, neighborhood cafe with an admirable mission for positive social change. I've ducked in here a few times between errands or on a weekend walk. Every time, the staff has been super friendly. The cookies have been outstanding. And the coffee has been of a high quality. I've never seen it even remotely crowded. Mostly there have been a few folks quietly enjoying their food and beverages while reading whatever. Its nice to have a local alternative to SBUX. read more

My wife & I have lunched there twice.....today being the second time. The menu is small but the food is great as is the service. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the mission of the place is inspiring (see www.curtscafe.org for details). Dining at Curt's cafe feeds your body with really good food as well as your spirit by helping others. This place is unique & will likely become quite popular. Give it a try!!! read more

This is a nice neighborhood cafe and I love the charitable concept behind Curt's Cafe. I called in asking if my dog was allowed in the cafe. They did have a nice bench outside for him to be strapped onto. My husband and I tried the breakfast options. I had the proscuitto panini and my husband ordered the southwest burrito. Each order came with a side of fruit. The customer service was excellent and the food came just in time. The food was very good and light. Next time I would like to try their coffee as others are raving about it. read more

I didn't realize at first that Curt's is actually a non-profit organization that teaches at risk youths skills such as cooking and serving in a real cafe. I just thought the servers looked extremely young. I got the mocha and the Tuscan Breakfast Sandwich. Both took a little time to bang out but both were made with care and were very tasty. Curt's has a comfy coffee-house vibe with the community's best interest at heart. Way to go guys! read more

I usually come to Curt's strictly for a coffee, or a smoothie. But today I was craving soup, salads, and sandwiches, so my husband, and I, checked out the menu online, and placed an order for pick-up. I got the grilled cheese and chorizo sandwich, with half Quinoa salad, and tortilla soup. He got the tuna sandwich and half tortilla soup. Mind you, we were originally planning on grabbing Panera for our soup, salad, and sandwiches, but decided to put our money to a good cause. Even if the food were bad, it was going to a good cause. But the food is FAR from bad. It was absolutely delicious, and I am kicking myself for not eating here sooner. The grilled cheese chorizo has caramelized onions and pico de gallo in it which adds an unique change on a lunch staple. And the bread is crisped so perfectly that it didn't get remotely soggy on the journey home, or the time it took for me to get to eating it after the salad and soup. The Tuna literally melts in your mouth. The flavor is just bursting. And the Quinoa salad is made with fresh spring greens and spinach, that are not at all close to being wilted or old. Just fresh! The chicken tortilla soup was by far the best thing we ate, and definitely the best chicken tortilla soup I've had. The chicken is pulled and moist, and definitely plentiful. And the tomato broth isn't too watery like you find with a lot of tortilla soups. And it was perfectly seasoned! Each box had a delightful, and complimentary, caramel fudge brownie. Not to mention it would have cost more to eat at Panera. I will be now making it a point to eat at Curts often! read more

Came in Friday afternoon around 2-4 pm to order a coffee and cookie, but the customer service was really weird. When I walked in I wasn't greeted by any of the cashiers. When he finally acknowledged me (the only person at the counter) I asked him about the coffee. He then asked me if I was okay? I said yeah I'm just looking for the menu. I asked him how much are the cookies and coffee. Then he responded, why are you so quiet? Umm, I wasn't aware that I was supposed to be talking your ear off sir. I just ordered the cookie and left because a coffee seemed to be too much of a hassle to comprehend. I highly doubt I will be back. read more

Had an event catered and found it to be a good experience. Their sandwiches are better than average and certainly enjoyable if on the small side. You'll probably eat at least a couple. Chocolate chip cookies are too thin and crispy for my tastes but the chocolate used was an excellent dark chocolate. The brownies were reasonable, and their lemon bars were better than average. read more

We need more places like Curti's Cafe. In between classes we chose this great place for lunch on Saturday. Great vibe, decor is very comfortable, and the Living Room is the clincher. Turkey Havarti Panini was excellent. All other parties gave a "mouth too full to speak, enthusiastic thumbs up". The staff is attentive, friendly and helpful. I love the mission of this organization and with the Living Room, I plan to be a customer and will certainly spread the word. I need to make it back for the breakfast menu. Curt's Cafe is worth visiting. read more

I absolutely love Curt's Cafe -- The mission is so great, that'd I'd give 5 stars no matter what. But the food, smoothies and coffees are all so good, i wish there was a way to provide more stars. And the atmosphere is so friendly and welcoming, not only the staff but the customers are all so respectful and kind. Seriously, everything I've ordered has been great: Buffalo Chicken Wrap, Turkey/Bacon Wrap, Yogurt Parfait and Free Refills on Coffee (with real mugs!). Great place for the kids too - they have a few toys in the side room. read more

I am definitely a fan of this little non-profit cafe. GREAT coffee (free refills) and excellent food. The manager and chef do an excellent job with ensuring that top quality ingredients, and experience is met. The other staff are kids (young adults) kinda shuffling along, and they have volunteers that come in, so that can make things seem a bit clunky. Keep in mind this is a counter service casual cafe, with a mission to employ and train young adults skills to enable them in the 'real world'. If you have a bit of an ego and want 5 star service, this is not the place for you to dine. read more