I have been excited about the addition of Bean Bar to our neighborhood in downtown Northbrook for a…read morewhile.  We finally had a chance to visit together before we went to the Art in the Park the Saturday of the Mother's Day weekend!  It totally justified all the hype! Given it was a Saturday, there was an annual art fair in the Village Green close by, and the Mother's Day weekend, we expected it to be very busy, and it was justifiable so.  There was a rather long line placing orders at the cashier, but it moved quickly.  There were many laminated menus for us to read while waiting in line.  The cashier was friendly, patient, and helpful in answering questions.  Our daughter ordered an Avocado Toast and a Berry Zen Refresher.  My husband and I found that a good idea, and each of us also ordered an Avocado Toast, although I had hoped that I got different types of dishes to photograph, lol.  Husband had a Cappuccino, and I had a large Iced Pistachio Latte (oat milk).  This simple brunch came up to $77.34 with tip, and it's worth it. All 3 Avocado Toasts were perfectly made.  All the ingredients were very fresh, although there wasn't a lot of seasoning, the taste of each ingredient worked well together to achieve a delicious dish.  I especially liked the over easy egg and the crispy edges of the warm toast.  My Iced Pistachio Latte was very good without being too sweet. Although the food and drinks were the star, the ambiance was so pleasing and relaxed that totally elevated the entire experience.  The dining room with high ceiling and chandeliers was spacious and beautiful.  There were many different types of seating for patrons -- big comfy couches, regular tables, high-tops, small booths, conference rooms with long table and chairs, small private rooms... not to mention about the large sheltered patio with many tables and seats!  As I have mentioned, we went at a busy time, there were not a lot of tables left for dining purposes, we opted for a high-top.  Even though the venue was almost filled to capacity, it still felt very airy and comfortable.  I could just chill there happily for half a day with my latte! However, there were small hiccups that fortunately did not ruin our first experience there.  My husband's and daughter's drink came out almost instantly after we sat down, but I had to chase down a staff (there's no servers except for the staff who delivered the dishes or cleaned tables) to tell him that my drink was missing.  I told him that it's supposed to be cold but with no ice.  He immediately got me a Pistachio Latte but with ice.  The cashier lady had specified no ice on when she placed the order for me, I talked to her about this and she offered to make me a new one, but I had already had a sip and didn't want to put the drink to waste, so I just kept it.  I later scooped out all the ice so that it did not dilute my drink, and it was good.  I must mention that the food came out in just 5 minutes even though the place was busy. Our high-top table wobbled when we used our knives and forks to cut the toasts, not a very big deal, but the restaurant could easily have that fixed as I am pointing it out now, It's one of the high-tops under the BB sign. This brunch kicked off a very happy Mother's Day weekend.  I was in a very good mood going to the art fair from Bean Bar.  We will definitely return to try the many other items on their menu.

The ambience is incredible here! What an eclectic, artsy vibe. I feel like I'm in Chicago when I'm…read moreat the Bean Bar. I love the brick walls, high ceilings, and the wide variety of seating areas - both indoor and out. Staff here is wonderful, very friendly with top-notch service. I ordered the avocado toast with no egg to make it vegan, and a latte with oat milk. The latte was perfect, but I didn't love the avocado toast. Bean Bar is the perfect place for both personal and work gatherings... or to just hang out by yourself.

Got a little bit of side eye when we're walked in, lol we're from CA and wearing our LA Dodgers…read morehats! Lol We got some good fall coffees and: Into the woods Chi 10/10 Bourbon Pecan latte 8/10 Coffee cake 9/10 Pumpkin cranberry muffin 8/10 Blueberry muffin 9/10 The vibes were good and the staff were pretty friendly oh, and they sell beer & wine which is a huge plus! Oh & GO DODGERS!

Such a cute spot. I stopped in for coffee & really liked the vibe right away. The menu has lots of…read moreoptions without feeling overwhelming, & everything feels thoughtfully done. My Tiramisu Latte (winter drink) was really good. Smooth, not bitter, & clearly made with care. You can tell they take pride in what they serve. The space feels cozy & welcoming, not rushed or loud, which I loved. Staff was friendly & easygoing, which always makes a difference. This feels like the kind of place you'd come back to again & again, whether you're grabbing a quick coffee or sitting for a bit. Definitely worth a stop I attached the menu that I recreated in Canva from the one hanging in the coffee shop since it was a bit hard to read in the photo, along with the Winter Menu.

Delicious coffee and excellent service Best decaf brew…read morearound! My favorite staff on the North Shore!

I came here awhile back to meet my friends, who were headed up to an event in Highland Park. This…read morelocation is huge, and the staff is great....they didn't bother me when I said I was waiting for a friend and sat at a table for 20+ minutes without ordering. (It turns out, my friends went to the Winnetka location, so after texting back and forth, we realized the error so I left to go meet them and get a drink at the other location lol). I have had the coffee here as well previously, and it's always good, too. All the Tala locations are top notch. But I did appreciate that they didn't hassle me when I was awkwardly taking up space for almost a half hour haha.

Owned by Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins,this tea house/record store sells a variety of…read moreteas,coffee and vegan pastries as well as a small selection of small bites..all vegan. There is an area with indoor seating and they have live music on most weekends. For some great tea and good conversation, Madame ZuZu's is definitely the place to go in Highland Park.

Madame Zulu has been on the list of places to check out for a long time. When we were in on the…read moreBridget Calls Me Baby list we made the trek up to Highland Park and it was worth it. We'd never been to a tea house before. It was rather large, but they do events like comedy nights and small shows. The tea is quality and there are lots of offerings to choose from. There is a small food menu. Plus a good selection of Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan merch if that's your thing. Bonus points for the Orange Garden sign. Staff were super nice and helpful. Parking available on the street or Metra lot for a fee.

Stopped by for a late lunch with my wife yesterday and we really enjoyed the place…read more An awesome little cafe for pastries or a light breakfast/lunch in downtown HP. I had a Caesar salad, my wife has the French onion soup and a grilled cheese and all items were solid. Also had the Chocolate chip cookies which were awesome. They have a ton of pastries that I look forward to trying down the line as well. Would definitely recommend.

I met a girlfriend here for a mid-priced lunch last week, and it is such a cute little French…read morebistro right in Highland Park. I ordered the croque madame with the fried egg on top, and it was delicious. You can absolutely tell they use real butter--the true French way! My waistline might not thank them, but my tastebuds certainly did. I even brought home an almond croissant for the Hubby and snacked on a cheese and chive scone the next day, and everything was just fantastic. The only little hiccup is that the service can get a bit hectic. The staff seemed a little confused trying to match up the order numbers to the tables, and we almost got run over on our way out by a waiter sprinting to the patio! But even with the fast-paced environment, the food is wonderful whether you eat in or grab takeout. Definitely worth a visit! A much better experience here than MY 1st time. I think it's because they enlarged the dining area with more table space. It's still hard to have a conversation due to the high ceilings which echo the sound.

So excited that one of my favorite coffee shops in Skokie is open closer to my neighborhood! The…read morehours aren't updated here but they are definitely open, at least on the weekdays. They're located inside the Metra Station which is the perfect little spot for commuters. I got my usual Cardamom Rose Latte which was just as great as the one in Skokie and a spinach and feta empanada. My husband enjoyed his iced americano and spicy chicken salad croissant. The barista was kind enough to toast both items and let us know that it would be a bit of a wait for it to warm up but it was totally worth it. Definitely worth popping in if you're going to take the train or even if you are just craving a really great latte!

5 stars for the food but took off 1 star for service and 1 star for the smell. My daughter and I…read morecome here almost weekly and our clothes and hair reek so badly afterwards. Being that it's winter I have to wash our jackets immediately after to rid the smell. I haven't seen many reviews that mention it though, do others not notice it? I am embarrassed to go to other stores or activities afterwards. Sometimes when we go inside the cafe the air is thick and cloudy. Unfortunately this is my daughter's favorite spot, and I can't deny that the food, drinks, and chocolates are great which are mentioned in detail in everyone else's reviews. Service is hit or miss depending on who's working but can generally expect it to be cold. However, all the people who work there work extremely hard in a tight space to take orders and cook. Perhaps they aren't trying to be rude but are just busy. I do want to recommend the tomato and basil soup. It's so good and comes with a delicious cheese toast. It's the best when the cheese is melted off the bread and crispy! You can get an extra cheese toast for $2.

This is one of my to go to places for a quick lunch or coffee with a friend. I'm probably there at…read moreleast once a week. I like the ambiance and their menu. I usually get their Brie & Prosciutto Croissant which is delicious! Lately I've discovered another favorite.. Strawberry Belgian Waffle. It is SO GOOD! Their waffle mixture is just so delicious I really can't get enough of it :) I typically go with a cappuccino or a regular coffee. Today's coffee didn't taste very fresh though. My friend got an omelette, which she enjoyed. The service...that is the one thing that still needs improvement. I've already shared my feedback with the manager a few weeks back regarding one certain employee who is unfortunately very unfriendly and straight up rude. The manager knew exactly who I'm referring to and was supposed to "address it", however when I was there last week the girl was still there and her attitude/behavior seemed unchanged. Other girls working there are very nice and friendly though! Easy street parking! I will be back!

I'm so excited for all the new stores opening up at Plaza del Lago. While some of the ones I'm most…read moreexcited for haven't opened their doors quite yet, I was thrilled that Space 519- The Lunchbox was one of the first! I made it here to celebrate my bday over lunch with a few friends this past Friday. They have a grab and go counter with some delicious looking cupcakes, but we passed right by that and lots of beautiful clothes to the lunchroom. I've eaten at their downtown location a few times and have always enjoyed it so I was excited to eat here. We began with diet dr brown sodas (always a fave) and took a look at their delicious looking menu. I've been on a migas kick lately so decided to go for that. It was really good and definitely something I'd order again. My friend's salad also looked really good so I may go that route next time too. Service was great and the atmosphere couldn't have been more lovely. I had to get back to work after so didn't have a lot of time to shop, but did a little browsing the clothes here are absolutely gorgeous...and great spot to pick up a gift for someone too. It was easy to find parking, although i do foresee parking being more difficult as their amazing lineup of stores open up. My new favorite brunch/lunch spot in the area and I can't wait to come back!

SPACE 519's The Lunchbox is a super convenient, grab-and-go counterpart of The Lunchroom -…read more They offer various soups, quiche, tarts, sandwiches, pastries, and even heftier meals, such as mac & cheese and pasta pie. I'm a fan of their Farmstand Egg Salad, which is prepared with Amish eggs, whipped cream cheese, mayo, and herbs, served in between country white bread. Don't forget to add a side, such as their 4PS Pasta Salad (prepared with penne, green peas, pine nuts, pesto, and Parm) and their corner Deli Potato (with fingerling potatoes, celery, red onions, chives, and mayo). If you're a fan of The Lunchroom's pimento spread, you can find Miss Lucie's as a side here! I'd like to try their chicken Divan Casserole next time - note that these order ahead options require the order to be placed 48 hours in advance! Their offerings are super fresh - try to get there first thing in the morning! A nice option if you are in the area! Located at Plaza del Lago, there's ample parking in the shared lot. +grab-and-go options +sandwiches +ample parking