I'd been meaning to try this place since they opened and finally got there last weekend. It is crazy cute inside. More comfortable and spacious than I expected. Oatmilk latte was exceptional. Iced chai latte was beyond exceptional! Not too sweet and clearly made with fresh spices. Foamed on top too, which I rarely see on iced chais. Warm and attentive service too. We didn't get food this time, but a couple of tables by us had food, and it looked and smelled incredible. We are coming back for that breakfast combo! read more

Omg I literally love this cafe! It's so cute and the service is always great. The ambiance is cozy and welcoming and a great place to grab brunch or study. We got the breakfast combo and affogato. Highly recommend the breakfast combo since it's a hefty portion of food and great for two ppl! The affogato is always amazing! You have to get salted caramel gelato with it, and the espresso/coffee beans they use are so delicious and aromatic! This place is our Sunday go to, hopefully you can make it yours also read more

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I absolutely love this place. They should probably hire some help as it's a bit slow. But the quality and variety is top tier. read more

Mella Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

mella is sooo cool u have to come here & try it!!! i've never had ethiopian/eritrean food before and it seems rlly yummy! i didn't actually get a full food item but i tried the telba which is a ground flaxseed drink mixed with water and honey, and it's delicious. if you like nuttier/earthier flavors and want something refreshing i'd definitely recommend it. the girl working was super sweet and ok with me asking her a bunch of questions about it. she made it medium sweet with honey for me and said she could add more if i wanted, but i think medium sweet is perfect especially for tasting the flax seeds but still having a hint of sweetness. i also got the lentil samosa which was amazinggg especially with the sauce. you could tell they use very fresh ingredients. i'd love to come back and try an actual food item from their menu but they have everything - coffee, smoothies, sweet and savory pastries, and food! the outdoor seating is also rlly nice but they have some seating inside as well as free wifi so you cld easily work from here. read more

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I've been to this lovely cafe a few times to enjoy their latte and pastries. Every time I walk by the delicious scents wafting out make me almost swoon so I finally asked for a breakfast combo to go - it looked so good and I always wanted to try it. They had just closed the kitchen for the night but were nice enough to make it anyway. It looked great, smelled heavenly, but I honestly didn't know what it was. I can't recall anytime recently when I ate something so tasty my eyes rolled to the back of my head! An introduction to some wonderful tasty spices. Wow!! This single breakfast combo provided enough food for three meals! The staff were warm and service accommodating. This place is such a gem! read more

Mella Cafe - Breakfast combo. - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wanted to try a new place in the area to support a local business so we went here. Food was not bad to be honest. The service was just awful. We asked if we could modify the order by adding meat to a spinach and egg sandwich and the person at the register did not seem to understand what we were trying to say. She also did not bring our order to us (we sat outside so we thought it was self serving) but brought the next person's food to their table (they sat next to us). My first, and sadly the last time at Mella Cafe. read more

Welcoming service. Delicious fuul and Portuguese rolls. Wonderful jebara coffee service with popcorn!

Suuuuch delicious food! I ordered the breakfast combo with a cappuccino and a mini cannoli. The breakfast was sooo flavorful. The staff was so kind and attentive. The holiday decor inside was absolutely beautiful. I'll definitely be back again read more

Mella Cafe - Breakfast combo - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We've been to Mello probably a dozen times, usually for the Gelato but we've had the food as well. We're consistently impressed and would absolutely recommend giving it a try, you won't regret it! read more

This place is FANTASTIC. Starting with the food- Mella specializes in Eritrean/ Ethiopia fusion food, with unique items great for brunch or lunch. The menu is not what you get at a standard Ethiopian restaurant- items that I have never seen before. Dishes are built around French Bread or pita with a beautiful berbere flavor. The spice is fantastic- deep, flavorful, warming. Hubs and I come here frequently for lunch, and are eating our way through the menu. Favorite dish so far is the kitcha fit fit- it's almost like pancakes smothered in a berbere butter gravy and drizzled in honey. It is a bite that will live in your taste bud memory because it is SO good. The cafe also carries a good coffee menu and a strong selection of pastries- little bags of shortbread cookies, baklava, cream puffs. Service is great- they are so kind and patient with my kid who takes forever to pick a gelato flavor. The gelato counter alone should make this a staple. Under $3 for a kid scoop and a topping! With tons of indoor and outdoor seating, great place to pop to and get a gelato scoop from the numerous kid spaces (Ladybug, Burnham Playground, Little Peirce Pre-K) that are on the block. With coffee, pasties, ample seating, would good be a good workplace. Music might be a little loud for virtual meetings. read more

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Wow! What an awesome place. I live very close to this restaurant, but had never been in to check it out. I wish I would've found it sooner. The coffee was delicious and I had the fatta - so fresh and filling. Lots of options - vegetarian, spicy, whatever you wish for and they have a lot of gelato options too. Very kind staff and very clean place. Nice tables for sitting. I can't wait to go back to try more dishes! read more

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Had the most amazing brunch here! There are so many options and the customer service was amazing. Will certainly return!

Mella is exactly what you want out of a neighborhood cafe. They have excellent and very cheap lattes, a wide selection of pastries, and should you want to eat a heartier breakfast, there's a whole Ethiopian menu for you to order from. It also isn't crowded (or wasn't on the day I went) and it's totally self service, so lingering a bit to do work wasn't annoying to either other patrons or the lovely woman who runs it. I was hungry so I got the absolutely massive breakfast combo, which comes with a veggie scramble, a bowl of fuul, kicha fitfit (with sour cream in a little pot to pour over it!) a hearty root vegetable salad, and 2 huge loaves of Portuguese bread (which I actually smuggled home in my backpack because there was no chance of my eating them along with the rest of it). read more

Excellent food! The dishes are unique, tasty, flavorful, spicy and very reasonably priced. I had never tried Eritrean food before but if you are a fan of Ethiopian and Indian cuisine, you will love what Mella has to offer. I tried the Fitfit and the Egg Silsi and both were astounding. There's also delicious gelato to boot for that sweet tooth! The cafe staff are very friendly and welcoming. Ambience is great. They have free Wi-Fi and is sort of a mix between a cafe and restaurant vibe. read more

Cozy place. Service was very good and the pastry was fantastic. They have authentic Ethiopian coffee ceremony (Gebena coffee) If you want to experience how real coffee is prepared you should try the Gebena Coffee read more

My favorite spot. I love the ambiance of this spot. I love the beautifulness of the spot, reminds me of home a lot. Food is amazing. I love the owner, she has accommodated me and my friends with our food restrictions. I have brought probably ten of my friends to this spot on different occasions. Best breakfast and brunch spot. The macchiato is amazing, must have if you go. Definitely going back soon read more

Mella Cafe - Coffee(buna) - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious coffee, great food, amazing service and friendly staff! Such a cozy little place with so much to offer. I will definitely be back!

Unfortunately, I don't have any good pictures of what it looks like inside the cafe but rest assured, I enjoyed my macchiato and baklava from this place. The staff is friendly and polite. They have a great selection of desserts and authentic Ethiopian/Eritrean breakfast menu items that I've yet to try but some people around me ordered them and they looked so good! Can't wait to come back and eat my through their menu! read more

Mella Cafe - Macchiato - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Finally an Eritrean/Ethiopian restaurant that serves breakfast items too. I had the Kitcha and it was deliciousssss Also for all you espresso lovers & coffee snobs. The coffee & espresso is finally done how it's supposed to here. If you also dislike that acidic cherry/fruity taste in your espresso than this is your place. 10 stars. read more

I ordered a latte with oak milk for here hoping to enjoy it on the patio without creating waste. I neglected to ask if the oat milk had an extra charge...99 cents. And then I was given the drink in a to go cup. Very disappointing. Also, the latte tasted pretty watered down. Can't say anything about the food. The pastries did look delicious. read more

Finding it was a surprise and not easy to see. It was worth finding. While I was there some Eritriean cab drivers came in for lunch so iot must be authenic and to them good food att a decent price. I enjoyed the breakfast combo. They also had very good tea. The star for me was the lemon cake that the lady behind the counter told me that she mde herself. I ordered one meal and one piece of cake and I was almost not able to finish it. It was generous in portion size. It is a must try to me as there are other thinkgs on the menu that I want to try. read more

Loved it. Stopped in for lunch. Had the fava bean stew and the frittata (more like a scrambled egg dish). Both were served with excellent bread. Nice decor. The staff were lovely. Definitely going back. Excellent addition to the neighborhood. read more

Really good iced coffee and friendly staff. Want to come back again and try to food. Their sidewalk patio was also nice with ample table and chair space. read more

We came here not knowing anything about this cafe and it was a great experience! They have coffee, pastries, Eritrean style breakfast food and gelato. We split a the breakfast combo which was DELICIOUS. Bean stew, egg frittata, and scrambled spicy bread cubes. A very hearty and seasoned meal without it being too heavy! We finished the meal off with coffee, a great mango smoothie, and yummy baklava! Very affordable as well! read more

Food was excellent. Ful and quanta firfir is so delicious. Can't wait to go back again.

It is just an amazing place to visit. Each of the menus are full of excitement and this time one of our choices which we enjoyed the most is Quanta Firfir among all those so tasteful foods. You must visit to believe it read more

Such a gem, and a happy addition to edgewater!! We'll be coming back regularly (: def Check them Out read more

A great place with an eclectic mix of traditional Berber fare and cafe standards, both savory and sweet. I enjoy the Sardine Salsi, or if I'm feeling basic a chocolate waffle or some gelato. I always take some baked goods to go. Also, great tea! read more

Love this little neighborhood family run gem. Flavorful and interesting food, wonderful and helpful service. We will be back soon.

All four reviews are correct. I came in after Mass to try Ethiopian coffee. Coffee comes from the Kafa region of Ethiopia. It was smooth and delicious! In addition, I ordered the Frittata and the spicy fava bean dish, Fuul. Both came with two really good wheat rolls. I was truly amazed at how well-cooked and seasoned my meal was. Also, I'd like to add that the owners work diligently; Their customer service was superior! I will definitely be back! read more

Cannot say enough good things about Mella. Some of the most delicious gelato and espresso I have had since living in Italy for half a year. I ordered the fuul and asked if it was gluten free just to make sure, and the manager offered to make me a gluten free flatbread from scratch (they even showed the bag of oat flour they would use to be certain). The fuul and bread were outstanding and both were served fresh and hot - it felt all around like a home cooked meal. The music and setting were really nice and relaxing as well, down to small details like incense and flowers in the bathrooms. Don't miss this place! read more

Adorable, frendly, cute hole in the wall that's actually nicer inside than it looks outside! Eritrean breakfast combo was HUGE and TASTY consisted of two oven fresh french loaves that I put the spicy scrambed eggs, DELISH fuul bean salad, vinegary potato salad and mysteryious fried noodle stuff that came with either sour cream or honey! The menu is Eritrean, Ethiopian meets Italian cafe' with display cases full of beautiful gelato and lots of pastries! When I was there today the friendly owner explained which desserts were made in house and I had the "castel" which was kind of like a hazelnut napoleon and really buttery and rich. Didn't try the gelato. Full espresso bar. I loved that the employees were Central Asian immigrants listening to Mexican Conjunto Norteno music with an Eritrean owner cooking and Eritrean customers dining outiside on their front patio combined with an Italian cafe vibe and menu. Only in America! Really worth supporting on this kind of forgotten block of B'way. read more

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Wonderful breakfast combo dish- such unique flavorings! Reasonably priced. cute cafe with lots of lovely pastry offerings. So happy to have Mella in the neighborhood! read more