Their seasonal specials are basically a lineup of everything I love, and they did such a great job…read moreputting these flavors together. Matcha + red bean - such a classic combo, yet somehow still not very common in cafés for some reason. Then black sesame + espresso? Nutty, rich, and surprisingly good. And the ube cream top foam over cold brew was honestly such a fun and delicious combination. Everything felt creative without being overdone. Definitely a seasonal menu made for people who love Asian-inspired flavors in coffee drinks.

The vibes here were so nice. I loved all the plants and the music they were playing, and there were…read moreplenty of people working inside. They also have free water, which is always a plus for a work-friendly cafe. Service was kind and they didn't rush us to order (8/10). The Manila Matcha (7/10) had a watery matcha flavor, but I loved the macadamia milk. The ube flavor was also really good and wasn't overly sweet. The Pandan Vanilla Latte (6.5/10) was surprisingly addictive. I wasn't a fan of the slight bitterness, but otherwise I liked the pandan and vanilla flavors. The Cardamom Bun (4/10) was basically like a cinnamon roll without the sticky filling. The bread was soft, but it just wasn't what I was craving.

Cafe Libra is my new go-to for Balkan food. The cevapi are ridiculously good and the portions are…read morehuge! I got ten of them stuffed into a fresh pillowy lepinja bread that they bake fresh. The bread is warm and soft and honestly makes the whole thing. And do yourself a favor: get the Nutella Serbian donut. It's amazing. The patio is one of the best parts -- super chill vibe with a ton of colorful umbrellas hanging overhead. The staff are so friendly too, always happy to answer questions if you're not sure what to order. Can't recommend this place enough. I'll be back for sure.

Stopped by Cafe Libra around 11am and sat outside with my puppy, which I really appreciated! The…read morepatio is super cute and colorful, and they had no problem with my pup sitting outside with me. I ordered an iced coffee and it was fine--nothing particularly special, but still enjoyable. I was hoping to grab a pastry or something to go with it, but unfortunately they didn't have anything out when I visited, which surprised me since it was already around 11am. One thing to know if you're planning to come here and get some work done: there was no Wi-Fi/internet available when I visited. Overall, Cafe Libra has that casual, familiar Balkan café feel. My experience was okay, but I'd definitely come back another time to try the pastries and more of the food. The cute patio and being puppy-friendly outside were definitely the highlights for me!

Really great vibes inside: the coffeeshop and bookstore combo is the ultimate cozy pairing!…read more Didn't have too much time to browse at the bookstore, but I ordered a seasonal strawberry matcha latte and an americano from the cafe. The americano was nothing special but refreshing on a summer day. The seasonal strawberry matcha was a bit disappointing, due to the lack of matcha flavor (the color was not very vibrant, and the matcha powder itself was likely not super high quality or oxidized) and sweetness. However, I tried the strawberry corn cookie, and it was one of the most delicious cookies I've had. Corn in dessert has been one of my favorites, and the texture of the corn with the strawberry icing to make a sweet and slightly tart summer treat was incredible! Everyone working there was super kind, and if I had more time to hang around, I would definitely bring a laptop and work here.

On our way to class recently, we stopped by The Understudy Coffee and Books for the first time to…read morecheck it out. The coffee shop was bustling and almost full around 12:30 pm. We were lucky to grab the last small round table for two.  The pastry case was only 40% stocked at this point. We were happy that they still had our favorites -- 2 almond croissants ($14 for 2) and a cappuccino ($5 + $0.50 Oat Milk) to go.  The cashier was very friendly, patient, and welcoming. The decor of the store is modern and charming.  There were a variety of seating options, and many customers were working on their laptops while enjoying their drinks, giving the café a cozy yet lively atmosphere. The bookstore occupies about half of the space and features an impressive collection of books focused on drama and theatre.  If you are interested in theatre, this thoughtfully curated bookstore is for you. We noticed a sign indicating that The Understudy partners with Defloured Bakery, which also partners with a long list of businesses, including another coffee shop in the neighborhood that we frequent a lot. We have enjoyed almond croissants and other baked goods at that café very often, they were just as delicious and large, since they were sourced from the same bakery. However, The Understudy charged $7 for an almond croissant, while the other café charged only $4.50 for the exact same pastry. That's a significant price difference. The cappuccino was another slight disappointment. It was only lukewarm rather than hot, although I am not sure whether the oat milk substitution may have affected the temperature. Judging by how popular The Understudy was during our visit, it's clear that many people appreciate its ambiance, curated bookstore, and friendly service. If those qualities are important to you, you may find the higher prices well worth it.

The desserts are the star here. The Napoleon was outstanding, with thin flaky layers, smooth light…read morecream, and just the right sweetness. The cream puffs were fresh, crisp outside and soft inside. Honestly, everything on my table was excellent. The presentation stood out too. Each plate came with fresh strawberries and blueberries, a chocolate drizzle, and a dusting of powdered sugar, almost like a restaurant dessert. The pastry case is full of choices, from honey cake and cheesecakes to croissants and savory pirozhki, so it's hard to pick just one. My cappuccino came exactly as I ordered it, extra hot. A lot of cafés get that wrong, and here it was perfect. There's also a free self-serve station with fresh water and fruit-infused water, a thoughtful touch. The atmosphere is quiet and cozy, with white brick walls and a warm, relaxed vibe. It's great for talking or just unwinding. The restrooms were spotless, and the staff were friendly and helpful the whole time. If you love European-style pastries and good coffee, Sweet Moon is a must. I'll definitely be back!

I had such a great experience at Sweet Moon Cafe & Bakery! The cortado was absolutely…read moredelicious--smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced. The almond croissant was freshly baked, flaky, and honestly amazing. I also tried the mushroom crepes, and they were fresh, flavorful, and so good. Everything tasted fresh and made with care. I'm already looking forward to coming back and trying more from their menu. If you're looking for a cozy spot with great coffee and fresh pastries, definitely give Sweet Moon a try!

The espresso is delicious and the baristas are kind. Oftentimes these two things don't correlateread more

8:30AM. The most tannest latte I've ever had. It actually looks and taste like some kind of milk…read more Where is the espresso? If you compare this iced v latte to La Colombe (Clark St), Sweet Moon (around the corner), or Starbucks even, Groundswell isn't even coming close. 95% milk 5% espresso. This drink shouldnt look and taste like a cup of milk.

I stopped by Oromo one afternoon for a quick pick-me-up. The woman working the register was so…read moresweet and welcoming. I asked her for some recommendations and she suggested one of the frozen drinks. I'm so glad she did because I have been craving it ever since! They have a few frozen drinks to choose from, but I went with the cold brew + hazelnut truffle. It's made with housemade hazelnut milk, cold brew, cacao, frozen bananas, housemade coconut caramel, maple syrup, vanilla, and seasalt. Trust me-- it is just as heavenly as it sounds! I forgot to get photos of it because I drank it so quickly--sorry! The space is so cute inside and it's in a fun area to wander around, right in the heart of Lincoln Square. Can't wait to come back!

I wanted to love Oromo Cafe. I popped in for lunch during a visit to Lincoln Square, primarily…read morebecause the menu sounded fabulous - so many plant based options, including house-made milks. Unfortunately the menu overpromises and the food underdelivers, at least that day. -Lentil soup: good flavor, but very watery, more like broth than soup. The amount of soup barely reached a third of the way up the bowl, and the price of $7 for the bowl size was candidly just not worth it. -Beet hummus sandwich: again, good flavor, but I was anticipating a sandwich (as per menu description). What was presented was a single piece of naan spread with a thin layer of beet hummus, scattered with a few toppings. For $13 my expectations were higher. The beet hummus was delicious; with the goal of recreating this at home I asked a member of the staff about the ingredients. Unfortunately rather than saying, "I'm not sure, but let me check," they responded with "I don't know. I just started and I don't know most of the menu items." There is a lot of fabulous food in Chicago. Although Oromo Cafe is fine, I recommend saving ones dining experience and money for something truly fabulous.

Kanin is a cute cafe specializing in poke, bento, and different types of Musubi. Be sure to get…read morethere early if you can, as they sell out of many options by midday. There isn't much space inside to sit but there's a bench outside if you want to take advantage of the still-good weather. There is only one gluten free musubi option (spicy spam) on the menu and I enjoyed it, though I hope they offer more variety soon!

I used to work at a Hawaiian restaurant and it's so hard to find good Kanaka Māoli food in Chicago…read more The Spam and egg musubi are delightfully marinated and juicy. Rotating onigiri every day with a large selection of fillings. I do wish they were in the convenience store wrappers because the nori was really gooey from being in Saran Wrap. The Kalua pork is extremely flavorful with perfectly seasoned rice. I do wish the meals came with a side of Mac salad instead of it being an upcharged side item. The banana ube pudding is the perfect end to a meal. Staff is great and helpful to make sure you get the best variety. The store itself is very cute and has lots of fun art.

The key lime pie is good- at almost $7 a slice! Also tried…read morethe Chocolate pie which is not as good as key lime pie in my opinion. The key limes coldness and tart just blasts your taste buds. A lot of pie choices- 14 at 5:30 on a Saturday. Cute neighborhood shop offering more than pies- salads, sandwich, soups and more. Seems to get a lot of to go pick ups.

Pies, food, and drinks are amazing!! Staff is very very kind and welcoming, feels very community…read morebased. They have board games to play in their dinning room, and bright windows. Wonderful place to support, and it's a non profit!

A regular sized ice coffee is 16 ounces! These people are here for you. I have coffee right when I…read morewake up so I can go get some coffee if you know what I mean. I don't have time for 12 oz nonsense. I don't even want to think about that. So I feel seen here. Friendly staff and space. There's a second room through the portal on right side of the cashier! More seating and little French tables. I like hanging out here. The coffee here is the rich earthy kind. I dig it even though it's not my usual style. I just ask for a little extra oat milk to top it off. I hope that's ok. Nice looking cookies and muffins too.

Forever the best coffeshop in Chicago. Super warm, cozy,…read moreclassy atmosphere. The staff is also exceptional with excellent service and kindness, and they also consistently make the best coffee. The Perfect Cup is truly the heart of Ravenswood.

While City Skyline makes a respectable cup of coffee, latte in my case, it's the vibe that will…read morehave me coming back. City skyline has a ton of aviation-related memorabilia, including bona-fide airplane seats and a bulkhead, complete with overhead compartments. I was even temped to buckle my seatbelt for the completeness of the experience, but felt that if there was 'turbulence' this was perhaps the only case where I *wouldn't* want my seatbelt fastened. Together with the aforementioned, the vibe is comfy, and not a bad spot to spend an hour or two. The latte I ordered was good. It wasn't overly sweet, and had great flavor. A latte lover would likely get more enjoyment out of it, compared to someone like me, who like their coffee industrial strength with the bitterness to go with it. The prices are fair - not the cheapest ever, but without the gut punch of competitors. The service is great. It is polite and fast. Point also for being mindful of a person experiencing a mental health condition outside, and locking the door that they do not create a severe disruption. Final verdict: The coffee is very good, but the cozy, aviation vibe is the real selling point! Would recommend?: Yes, especially to av-geeks. Would return?: Yes, especially when I get the itch to simulate flying somewhere, only without delays, TSA, or any of the discombobulation related to airports and flying.

This coffee shop has an airplane theme. The backroom had a cool wall art display with paper planes…read more I tried the horchata latte because that was the drink they were promoting that day. It was way too sweet. They added syrup even though the horchata is already supposed to be sweet. Unfortunately I couldn't finish my latte because it was too sweet and I ended up throwing it out.