This is a great breakfast and coffee joint. I just walked past it and unfortunately it appears to be permanently closed. I will miss it.

Quiet cafe with great service and even greater food, I always get my cocoa java and grilled chicken panini and it comes out amazing each time, the place is very nicely decorated as well and the ambiance is so nice. Great for me as well being a UIC student, if you're looking for some good eats and a quiet place to study then this is your spot!!! read more

Demitasse Cafe - Pancakes and a sausage link I was so hungry I started eating before I could take a good picture!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food is absolutely amazing every time. The coffee is also so good! The staff makes you feel right at home and the waitress remembered me by my second time there. The decorations are nothing to special and they will often have Halloween/Christmas decor up months after the fact but honestly I like it it makes it feel cozy, lived in, and real, not like a restaurant sent up just for insta photos but a restaurant dedicated to actual making good food. read more

Demitasse Cafe - Plate of breakfast with coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The service was good, I called ahead to assure they were open for business, they answered energetically and promptly. They are allowing dine-in with social distancing, the staff do not wear masks however. I was self seated immediately. To began, the Au Lait was very good, the whip cream seemed light but add a little sugar & it was perfectly served in a nice portioned round mug. For my entree, I ordered the smaller version of the French Toast but learned once it came out that the small version is plain, they gladly fixed it. The regular size (4) is enough for 2 ppl. They are very heavy with the cream cheese filling. It's loaded w fresh bananas and strawberries. As we all know French Toast are typically al a carte so I ordered a side of turkey sausage. They were dry and $5 for two patties is steep, perhaps $3.89 is feasible. read more

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Food? Delicious. Coffee? Amazing. Service? Just as good. Atmosphere? Very cool, but cluttered. Still, the French Toast more than makes up for any issues with the place. read more

Excellent coffee and quality breakfast food with attentive and careful service. I only wish it were open later than 13:00 or 14:00; I often wish I could go at 2:30 or 3:00. read more

Good food, great ambiance, everyone is super nice including the staff. Just a little pricey for the portion size honestly but that's just me. read more

So I had the benefit of enjoying this place over the weekend as school at UIC was not in season and me and my gal found it very enjoyable. The house blend of coffee (I was told) is made up of a mixture of seven different beans. It was a delicious smooth coffee and while we were going to grab ours to go, I did a double take at the French Toast roll up and we ended up staying (High five to me Kim for solid decision making!). We ended up splitting the breakfast and it was a perfect way to start the day. The scrambled eggs were perfectly made and that French toast...wow! It was really good. Possibly a marscapone filling (not very sweet)? Plus, the owner went walking around giving people free refills like it was a diner. Very cool. I would definitely hit this place up again when back in the area. read more

It's a small owned family business. Came midweek, not crowded , nice service. Food was ok, not great. Of all the breakfast options on Taylor Street this would not be my 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice. A tad bit over priced, for the quality of food you're getting. read more

This little gem on Taylor St really deserves your attention. The food is amazing and the staff are extremely friendly. I will admit, if you are in a rush, then this place is not for you. Food is prepared to order & anyone eating here is appreciative of the laid back atmosphere. Definitely try the "Sams" plate... so freakin good! read more

Demitasse Cafe - Espresso Machines of yesteryear on display - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Out freakinstanding joint Great food Greater staff Old neighborhood meeting place for coffee and conversation with friends and neighbors Coffee is fresh and hot read more

I absolutely love how cozy this place is. The service is great, their coffee is great, and their raspberry cream cheese muffin is the cherry on top. I definitely see myself coming back just because of how home-y this place made me feel. I was able to bring my laptop and get some work done where it's a pretty quiet place on a weekday. I haven't tried their food yet but I do plan on it! If anything, come for the coffee! read more

The service is so good, they're all very respectful and friendly. The food & vibe of the place is wonderful. I'm not sure what espresso they use for the mochas but it's delicious, as well as the teas. I really recommend the raspberry matcha tea, either hot or iced is great. A lot of seating options read more

Demitasse Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Family owned & super friendly folks. They're understaffed but make it up with incredibly fresh, delicious food. Won't show up on any big marketing list, but worth a stop in. Def will come back! read more

This cafe is cute & cuddly. I got the window sear and enjoyed people watching over a good hot cup of coffee and homemade scone. Tried the reese's pb cup but will have to come back for the oatmeal chocolate chip and possibly some eggs too. #ilivechicago read more

Demitasse Cafe - Coffee & Reeses PB scone - not too shabby. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tried this out for a post graduation family breakfast. The food was good, the coffee was excellent. The service was not a nice experience. We were there with a party of 9. They completely forgot my mom's order. Brought out everyone's food and we waited. Eventually had to ask about the order and was told by a staff person "I didn't take the order". At that point she just asked for some toast. It took another 10 min to get toast. No acknowledgment, no apology until we solicited one. I tried to show empathy as I also work in hospitality and received a dismissive reply. The young lady who was doing the work in the front of the house was very kind. The rest of the place was not friendly. We ended up shelling out $120.00 with one guest leaving hungry. I do not recommend this establishment for a meal with family. read more

"Sorry, we don't have any more turkey." "Sorry, we don't have any more pasta." That is not what I want to hear when taking my wife and kids here for a nice little lunch, and that's exactly what happened. I ordered my kids a club sandwich, but they were out of turkey, so they substituted it with chicken. When we got this croissant club sandwich, the slices of ham, chicken, and even the cheddar were just too much even for me to handle. I got the chicken wrap. What a let-down. Too much cheddar, and not enough chicken. The tortilla chips that they gave on the side were stale. Yuck. My wife ordered some kind of strawberry/banana waffle, which was delicious, but there were no bananas to be found. Maybe we should have gone for just the breakfast, because the lunch items were a big disappointment. At least the waitress was nice. She even took a few dollars off my bill for the stale chips. I'm on the fence on whether I want to try the breakfast. One thing's for sure... no more lunch for me here. read more

I was very disappointed with " demitasse" we went there for brunch with our kids and the food was nothing special. They were out of turkey meat for their club sandwhich and pasta for their pasta dishes, and their food was not that great. I did like the service and I did like their latte although I thought i had ordered an ice latte and i got a hot one intead, and I ordered a Belgam waffle with strawberries and bananas and I got the strawberries just no bananas. I wouldn't go back to this brunch place very disappointing. read more

This place is great for coffees and drinks during breakfast time or during the evening. Chai Lattes and Cocoa Java are my favorite drinks. Not much of a fan of their food, mainly because of the small selection. read more

I really enjoy coming in here each time I have been! The food is delicious! There is a great selection of different coffee specialty drinks . The staff is always SO kind . read more

Despite its small size, this place knows how to rock breakfast! Don't be fooled if this place isn't packed. It is down the street from a few well known breakfast joints, but I think Demitasse is great. It may take a while to order your food or it can be very quick. It depends on staff. I've dealt with both before and sometimes you just have to roll with the punches and be patient. They do have coffee drinks that they make with care, usually the owner is around to talk to, really nice guy. Frittatas are pretty good (Open-face omelet served with house potatoes) At first it doesn't seem like a lot of food, then when you start, your belly fills. I am not a fan of their french toast with sweet cream and strawberries. It is a bit too tart for me (diabetic) and there is a lot of cream they put in between the toast. If you are looking for somewhere with a seat and cheap, give this place a try. In the winter, this place is great to get warm drinks at. read more

Demitasse Cafe - Backhalf of the place. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've gone on a few occasions. The staff is friendly and I haven't had to wait long before orders are taken and fresh coffee was quickly brought over and i didn't even have to ask for cream; they were also willing to do separate checks. The parfait was delicious and I got a taste of what everyone ordered. From breakfast burritos to oatmeal to their breakfast specials everything was pretty good. However, somehow i'm left without a feeling of excitement and a wanting to go back (hence the 3 stars). Was it the empty feeling of the place? The mostly bare walls? The usual breakfast/brunch menu found everywhere else? Who knows... I feel like I need to come when its full (if the do have a rush period) and see if there is a different feel to it. read more

Demitasse Cafe - Three eggs, spinach and swiss Breakfast Burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A cute little coffee shop! I've been here for brunch a long time ago, but most recently stopped in for an iced latte to go. The staff was so friendly and nice which is what I really appreciated most! The iced coffee I got was great, and I enjoyed the small rugelach I picked up on the side. They're going take out right now, so if you're in the area and looking for a quick pick me up, they're a great spot for that! read more

Not bad but not great. I got an omelette with swiss and ham and a short stack of pancakes. The pancakes were fluffy and good. The omelette tasted as one would expect of a ham and swiss omelette. Nothing special but not bad. My main gripe is that the food is a bit on the pricey side for the amount given. I would come again for a fast, diner-esque breakfast but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back. read more

They serve coffee really fresh and nice. The host and apparently his family were also very welcoming

Independently-owned cafe serving locally-roasted java, tea, other delightful drinks, and a large menu of inexpensive breakfast and lunch options. Jim, the owner, is a feisty fellow with a friendly smile, and his staff serve you fast and respectfully. You are welcome to study/hang-out or get your meal/drink and move on. -1 star for spotty wi-fi service. read more

Cute, homey feel without overspending on brunch. The staff is always so nice. My favorite item is Sam's special- stuffed French toast with fruit, choice of meat, and eggs. They have a nice drink selection too, from coffee drinks like the Snickers latte to their Italian sodas (try the peach)! I always look forward to visiting. read more

The brunch is good. It opens early in the morning and it is nice breakfast choice for UIC students read more

Demitasse Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Don't really know why this place has such bad reviews. I live a block away and come here pretty often for breakfast and sometimes just for coffee. I am always given very warm and quick service. There's nothing super fancy for breakfast but they do classic breakfast very well. The eggs are always cooked perfectly and their potatoes are well seasoned. Pancakes and waffles are fluffy and portions are generous. The strawberries on waffles are always fresh. Overall, I think this is a perfect place for weekend breakfast with reasonable prices and very delicious coffee. read more

Demitasse Cafe - Two cups of coffee, Sam's special, egg sausage cheese English muffin for $24 after tax. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm not a particularly awkward person, but the servers here brought out the awkward in me. I walked in here on a Friday afternoon around 2:40 pm, 20 minutes before closing, seeking an iced coffee and a baked good. After my eyes adjusted to the change in light, I noticed that both of the servers were standing completely still and looking at me like "uhh.." Me: Are you open? Girl: Uh, we close in 20 minutes. Me: So... can I order something? Girl: Uh, I don't know... we're closing in 20 minutes. [Pause as I glance around awkwardly and she is still staring at me like "uhh." The guy behind the counter runs to the back to hide, or at least that's what it seemed like.] Me: Okay, so is that a no? Girl: Uh, no, I don't know, I'm not sure. Me: Um.. I want an iced coffee. Should I go somewhere else or not? Girl: Oh, well yea, I guess that's fine. You can order that. I don't know if I am brave enough to go back in there and face the extreme awkwardness. The iced coffee was pretty good. There were very few baked goods available, and the chocolate cookie I got seemed like it might have once been pretty good, two to three days ago, when it was baked. It's right by my house so I want to like it. I want to be able to go every Saturday! But I won't. I might not go back, ever. If I do ever gather enough courage and confidence to walk in there some other time and try one of the more substantial items on the menu, I will surely update my review. As for now I give stars as follows: Service: 0 Drinks: 3 Food: 1 The average of the three scores coming to 1.33333 but I'll round up to 2 for the sake of the iced coffee. read more

I've been going to this place for a very long time. When I first went to this place, it was called Jamoch's. The owner is the sweetest man in the world. I've had mostly everything on the menu. The service is awesome here. Sometimes it's better than the food :) It's always what brings me back. This is one of those places that I hope I can pass onto my children or nieces when they go to college. Their chili is so fresh and like home made. The open face tuna sandwich is good. They have great coffee drinks and tea. And they make great Italian sodas. I love this place from the bottom of my heart. read more

Tried this spot again and enjoyed my meal a bit more this time around. I ordered oatmeal and the hefty portion left me more than satisfied. Still sticking with the three stars. read more

great food. quiet place and the staff are very friendly. definitely going to come back

After taking some ladies to a healthy Italian beef across the street, I figured I would find a place to waste some time and wash my hands. Very tasty coffees, cool interior. I really like this section of Taylor. Its a shame that most people I know don't even know about this neighborhood. Well, I guess that not shameful--it was easy to park. read more

I've been here a couple times before and really enjoyed the atmosphere. It was my experience today that put Demitasse in a league of it's own. I stopped in this morning because I was looking for breakfast/coffee but also a place to work for a couple hours on my laptop. I walked in, asked the young-lady (Michelle if I remember correctly) if they had wifi and she said yes, of course. So happy! As soon as I sat down, I was offered coffee and she helped me get connected. In an hour and a half I was amazed by the genuine friendliness on all fronts. Not only did I recognize this as a family business, but also the great relationship with customers and regulars. A family of 4, toddlers/infant, sat down with their mother and who I presumed to be the owner sat with them and playfully joked and conversed, even providing some toys for the kids. What an amazing site! Everyone who walked in was greeted and well-taken care of. Food was great, ordered a simple egg/hash browns/bacon/toast. Not expensive at all. Very filling. Fresh coffee too! Just what I needed to work through emails. Businesses like this thrive because of the service displayed today. I will always make sure to come back and recommend. read more

Demitasse falls behind Sweet Maple and Hashbrowns, but might just be on par with Stax Cafe as far as University Village breakfast options go. The unique part of my meal was the GIANT pieces of bread, toasted to perfection. The one drawback would be the interior of the place which I wasn't too fond of. It was bad; just not breakfast-esc. read more

Demitasse Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Whenever I'm in this area, past memories of the friendly waitresses serving that made by Demitasse's chefs and baristas draw me inside unrushed. As Edith explained in her review, upon entering, the surroundings envelope its patron with an old school diner experience. But on closer inspection, its surroundings promise more than a diner offers, with oil-on-canvas made original by the artist, waiting patiently for its audience and for sale around the perimeter. The oils are replaced with fresh ideas haltingly if not periodically. The menu and extensive list of hot beverages, which may humble the selection at Starbucks, keep the art viewer inside. I can only vouch for breakfast; a super-fresh croissant stuffed with egg, apple-smoked Bacon and Cheddar is one of my staples; though their frittatas made to order are just as tempting. read more

I've taken all my guests here for brunch and I told them if I had more money, I'd be a regular here. Some of the items can be a bit expensive. I think it was near $10 for my stuffed french toast, but it was real good. So much fruit and whipped cram. My sister got the the Egg White frittata with onions and asparagus. It was very flavorful and a much healthier option compared to my french toast. The cheaper items are good, too. I had a breakfast sandwich on a croissant and it was flaky/cheesy/scrumptious. One downside was the home fries were really skimping on portions. For $2.25, we really got a dollar's worth. To the drinks: I've had the iced chai and I got so much for not so much money. Real tasty. Better than Starbucks and that's saying a lot. The service sometimes lacks, but there's not so many employees. The girls there work their asses off, though. Overall, it's a nice place to enjoy a nice brunch. If you want a quicker meal, go on the weekdays. read more

I was a regular here every weekend for about two years... It was close by, but the food was OK, the service mediocre, and the prices were a little high for the quality of food, but not outrageous. However, they raised prices again on the menu, and now my blueberry pancakes cost way too much for what I get, the service has not improved any, etc. If you're really hungry for some breakfast/coffee and don't have any other options, it's good. Otherwise, look elsewhere. read more

I'd give this place 2.5 stars. Family & kid friendly. There's a changing table in the restroom & they have a small but nice assortment of kid toys and books. Food is fine. Not great, not bad. Coffee is also fine. Service was slow. Do not come here in a rush. If you're looking for a relaxed place with a relaxed vibe in every way, this is your spot. It felt like maybe a coffee spot that also happens to serve food. Our servers were friendly but just ok. Drink refills were hard to come by. Finally, it's overpriced. I paid $60 with tip (approx 18%) for 4 people (2 are kids). You could definitely argue that amount is to be expected. But for the quality of service and food, it cost more than it was worth. read more