I've gone to Glenview Grind a number of times, but usually via the drive-through. I love…read moreindependent coffee shops, including this one! I ordered a soy latte and asked for a ceramic mug since I was staying inside their establishment this time. There's plenty of seating; they really pack it in there and utilize every space. This coffee shop really has a community field to it. The beverage was made well and tasted great. The staff were very friendly and helpful. My only complaint is that I wish they had vegan options for food.

I love this place! I've been many times and every single time the coffee has always been excellent…read more My favorite is the peanut butter cup, but recently I tried the pistachio dream (I think that's the name, pistachio with chocolate). It's a very cute and cozy cafe that always seems to be busy and bustling. They have a little library where you can grab a book and sip on your coffee. Everyone is always friendly and helpful with questions. Lovely local coffee shop to check out!

I would give Matari 4.5 out of 5 stars, so I'm rounding to 5 based on service and ambiance! I heard…read moreabout their fruit mousse cakes online, so we knew we had to stop by to check it out. The cafe is immaculate and service was very friendly. The person who took our order was patient as he explained the different pastries in the case. I wish they had signs explaining what each pastry was so I could have decided while waiting in line. We ended up sharing an iced pistachio latte (delicious and 10/10!), the pistachio cheesecake (10/10!), and the strawberry mousse cake (7/10 - a subtle sweetness, great texture, but needed more cake or crust inside as it was mostly whipped cream and the shell). The mousse cake was $12.00, which felt steep considering it was mostly whipped cream, even though it was obviously beautiful. We would definitely come back for the coffee and to try more menu items! Check this place out!

I wanted to like it. I did. But after a few visits, it's just not for me…read more The first trip, I tried the Matari Tea: Green tea, Himalayan pink salt, milk, and spices, topped with roasted pistachios. Sounds good, right? Alas, it could not have been blander. I couldn't taste any "spices" or even the hint of salt. The profile was that of very watered-down tea mixed with milk, and a ton of pistachios floating on top. Like, barely crushed pistachios. Huge pieces, covering the top of the drink, bobbed around like tiny icebergs, and even they somehow had a toned-down flavor. The drink was definitely a swing and a miss. Fast forward two weeks, and I tried Matari again. This time with a simple cortado. I sat at the table right by the door, and the espresso was pretty good. Solid body, not too bitter. It was on the pricy side ($7+), but I was ok with that. But then, I'm hanging out, sipping my coffee, and I catch a burst of perfume-like scent. I'm shocked, but whatever, I figured someone in heavy perfume walked by, no big deal. A few minutes later, wham, I'm hit in the nose with another burst of perfume. Then, I see it. A slight haze around me. So, not a heavily perfumed woman after all, but an automated air-freshener. After further inspection, I see the unit plugged in on the ground right behind my chair, which sprays up and out on a timer. That's right, an air freshener right next to a table where people consume food and beverages, shooting a mist into the air that slowly rains down onto my head and table, and into my coffee. I ended up tossing the last few sips of my cortado, as I could taste the scented whatever-it-was in my cup. I'd have gone to the counter and asked for a new one, but I was so over my visit by then, I just opted to get out. The staff aren't very friendly. Not rude, but they don't give off a welcoming aura, and I didn't feel like trying to explain the issue. Lastly, can we talk about their little "your order is up" beepers? We've all seen them. The little electronic things that blink and make a noise when your order is ready, so you can go snag it from the counter. When I think of a coffee shop, I think quiet and peaceful, or perhaps a bit louder, with bustling people and well-paired music. At Matari, it's an insane BEEP BEEP BEEP that goes off every few minutes when an order is up. I get it, you don't want to bring the food out to your customers. But does it really need to feel like an airport Chili's? It's a bummer, because Matari is beautiful inside. It's clean, it's chic, and its location is at a notable crossroads in Skokie with plenty of parking, leaving it extremely convenient. They've even got an easy-to-use website, which so many coffee shops simply do not have. There aren't a lot of coffee shops in this particular part of town, which is why I so, so very much wanted to love Matari. But subpar drinks? Air freshener spray intrusions? Frequent and obnoxious beeping? I tried. I'm sorry. I just can't.

Well, this is crazy. I came here last Friday to meet a friend for lunch who I hadn't seen in ages,…read moreand it happened to be Good Friday. Apparently the first (and only other) time I came here was Good Friday last year to meet a different friend for coffee. I didn't realize it had been almost a full year since I had been here. I've been wanting to try their food because it always looks so good on Instagram, and I wasn't disappointed. My friend ordered the mediterranean salad and a side of berries and tea, and I ordered the vegan soup of the day (tomato basil) and a side of fries. The fries were probably unnecessary because I didn't read that the soup came with bread, but I ate all of them anyway because they're delicious. Service was great, and we sat there for almost 2 hours and they didn't kick us out (unlike last year, it wasn't that crowded this time. We came at 2pm, so it was not as busy of a time, I guess). We were in the restaurant part, and the vibes are great. As a note: for counter service make sure you tip, as they still have servers bringing out the food for you (it's not like Panera). I feel super bad because I didn't realize that it wasn't included in the price. (We had looked at a few different places online and both Bar Siena and Hampton Social include an 18% gratuity automatically, and I think my brain was thinking that Cupitol also does that. But they do not. So many places do that now, some of which still ask you for an extra tip, so it's hard to keep track). Next time I go I'll tip double. I will definitely be back because everything was delicious and omg their pastries look so good.

- fine food, ok ambiance, kind staff - no reservation made…read moreor could be made - not looking to come back Went for a spontaneous brunch and I was not really thrilled with the overall experience. It all had felt too casual and self-serve - ordering at the counter with my assigned table hand-written, a water cup station, and no check-ins at all. This was just not what I was expecting from what I had heard. The food was ok, but overall underdelivered. For my meal, I had gotten the Chicken B.L.T.A. and Matcha Sparkling. The sandwich itself was fine, a standard combination of ingredients. The country white gravy was very runny and soaked the bread quickly, and the bread itself was already not toasted. Nothing really special that I noticed eating it. My drink was fairly plain too, would have preferred a green tea if I knew it would taste very watered down. Additionally, there wasn't much "sparkling" in it, as it was mostly flat. My girlfriend had gotten a bowl of Chicken Bone Broth that was served with some bread. The soup was very standard and had an ok amount of chicken chunks, but not that much of that or anything else. The chicken came out to be slightly dry too. The soup was served in a very wide bowl that was fun, but I understood why it is not too common. The soup quickly cooled and was no longer an enjoyable temperature halfway through, but it was still ok for dipping the bread in afterwards. Her drink was also nothing crazy, not much mint and just tasting like sweet and cream. Overall not that impressed with both the food and set-up for the brunch service. Potentially dinner is better from the experiences I have heard, but that sort of drastic difference is not something I find appropriate or exciting for any restaurant.

Stopped by MOTW Coffee & Pastries for a quick visit and was really impressed! The atmosphere was…read morebright, open, and super clean such a refreshing space to relax in. The staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, and the menu had a ton of variety. I ordered a Cortado, which was perfectly balanced and smooth, and tried a beef empanada for the first time warm, savory, and exactly what I needed on a cold day. I also couldn't resist grabbing a baked cookie, which was sweet, soft, and delicious. Overall, this place checks all the boxes: great vibes, amazing service, and quality food and drinks. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area!

Friendly staff. Standard coffees. Giant wall art with a ceramic mug, and yet for table service it's…read morea post-Covid paper cup. The Argentinian chicken empanada was okay but not made in store, and lacked any real savor. Baklava type pastry the size of my big toe was dry as a squirrel turd. Beverage cooler sparsely stocked. One t-shirt dangling from the merch rack. No side table for the wall sofa. This business needs to rethink its posture toward customer comfort. Anyone can sell coffee and pastries from a hole in the wall. I might stop for a take out coffee if my car breaks down outside, but other than that a poor business model tells me to grab a cup at my local greasy spoon.

Super fresh food. Part of a chain of stores. Outdoor seating, so great to bring your dog. Local…read morehangout spot. I remember the original corner restaurant that used to be here. Yes, I'm that old, lol. This is a great little spot. Will come again.

Came here on a sunny day and it was bustling! The inside is very welcoming and clean but can be…read morevery crowded and loud - if busy would not be able to focus and get work done. Outside seating is cute as well. Food: my salad was delicious! 4.5/5 - I got it with hummus on the side which I definitely think it needed(or maybe avocado!) Avocado toast: 1/5 honestly the avocado tasted like smear from a plastic cup. For $10 it is very bad. They should use fresh avocado not mashed. Just make it at home. Smoothie bowl: 4/5 was pretty good! Could have been a tad bit bigger for the price but still delicious.

Phenomenal donuts, and the owner was very nice and helpful…read more I will keep coming back!

Dip and Sip is a bit hidden, tucked in a corner. I made it in right before they closed. Their menu…read morehad a variety of donuts to choose from. Being the first time there, I wasn't sure how it worked. Could I order only what's in the display or were there some in the back? The man working there was super nice and helpful. He advised me that I can choose from the menu and he will make it in the back. I went with the Mexican hot chocolate donut. The first bite was into a crisp exterior and a soft, fluffy interior. The combo of glaze and cream was slightly sweeter than I'd like, but perfectly complimented my black cold brew coffee. I definitely want to come back and try the strawberry fields signature donut.

Good location, nice atmosphere, clean, bright inside the shop. Good coffee! I had a decaf oat…read moremilk latte! It was yummy!!

It's only fitting that my 600th review is one of my go-to spots. Just a quick update that this…read moreplace is awesome. Love the community vibes and staff are great. Also they have very cute cups for the holiday season, which brings me joy. (I bribed myself to come here today to get bunch of finals week grading done, so the fun cups honestly makes it a little more fun).

From pistachio to chai, and every flaky bite in between Went back to Cafe 44 for a friend catch…read moreup date and it was just as good as the first time when I went! Pictured here is the pistachio latte (which, was....INCREDIBLE), Nutella croissant, pistachio donut, and an iced chai latte! Everything on the table was delicious and fresh! Each pastry was so soft and perfectly filled inside, the latte was so yummy and I usually never get hot lattes unless it's cold outside but I'm so happy I tried it because it's a must the pistachios on the side of the cup add an extra crunch when drinking that I couldn't get enough of! The iced chai latte was very refreshing, it wasn't too sweet and you really get the punch of the chai. The service here is so sweet and they are just the best and it's such a beautiful place to bring friends and hang out, or get work done! You need to check this place out!:) Sip, smile, repeat! Cafe 44 definitely was a treat, tried a strawberry matcha latte and an iced mocha coffee both which were very yummy! Will definitely go back to try food but the drinks and the atmosphere was incredible! It's definitely a place to go sit and do some work while you enjoy tasty treats:)) The service is also so sweet, made it even better!:)

Cafe 44 is a cafe that in the Morton Grove 'hood, offering various cold and hot drinks and…read morepastries. We came here for a caffeine fix, ordering the following: +Turkish Coffee +Latte with almond milk +a Pistachio Latte +and, a Spanish Latte We also tried their mini bird's nests, a few filled with chocolate, and another few filled with pistachio - these were actually pretty tasty! Unfortunately, the coffee was not brewed well and was extremely weak; they looked aesthetically pleasing, though, with the latte art and/or the toppings. Staff were friendly; once you order, your items will be ready for you on the side counter. The space is bright, and they have a handful of seating inside - the place is popular, so you may have to wait a few for a table. Street parking is available off of Waukegan. +weak coffee +stick with the mini bird's nests +street parking available

Fantastic bakery in the heart of Winnetka. All of their breads are amazing but my kids love the…read morechocolate croissants in particular. Also great sandwiches and coffee. Love their speciality items as well, we recently had their Irish soda break and corned beef meat pies which were incredible.

One of my family members went back to Hewn and brought home two more pastries for me to try!…read more The Chocolate croissant and the Morning Glory muffin! The chocolate croissant, like the plain croissant, was lacking. Not only was it missing the underlying buttery taste I've become accustomed to, but there was very little chocolate-it was almost a plain croissant itself! See picture, a thin layer of chocolate on the bottom. Again, the texture and flakiness of the pastry is spot on, but it pretty much ends there. Okay, I've 'saved the best for last'. The Morning Glory muffin! I don't know where to start, except it was amazing with each bite I took. Carrots, apples, walnuts, raisins, sunflower and flax seeds - it's a plethora of flavor and textures, with underlying notes of cinnamon and ginger - it's one of the best muffins I've had in awhile!

Visiting family again in Wilmette! We returned to Towne and Oak…read more Of course, I got the biscuit again - it was every bit as good as the last time I was here! I brought my own honey to drizzle on it! Next, I thought I'd try the pancakes. They were okay - light but not so fluffy. I'm used to a fluffier pancake - I make them regularly at home. Beating the eggs and letting the batter sit for several minutes enables the pancake to rise and accentuates the 'cake' of pancake.

Still love this place. Came here again for the Christmas vibes 2 days before Christmas to get some…read morework done. I needed to bribe myself with coffee I didn't make myself and to get out of my house to plow through a bunch of work admin. I took a chance coming here because I know they have some laptop policies, particularly around Christmas. This time it was no laptops after 9am and then none on Friday and weekends during the holiday season. (During the rest of the year it's certain tables that aren't allowed to use laptops and/or certain tables at certain hours). I came in at 7am and it was good motivation for me to knock out a bunch of things efficiently since I have a 9am cutoff lol. They also now put that notice on their front door, which is helpful and was my complaint last year when I came here to do work on a Saturday and found out I couldn't. As always, the coffee was great, and the Home Alone installation is always fun. Their tartines are also always amazing. Definitely keeping this in my regular rotation.