For a long time, I considered myself among the very few being ignored at this shop because I had the audacity to be over age 40 and ordinary-looking. After reading the reviews below, however, I am comforted to know this establishment has an egalitarian policy of treating people, even young attractive people, like used coffee grounds. Lattes have been consistently good. But I can get tasty lattes elsewhere in Logan Square without enduring this dispiriting shop, with its clownish floor tiles, faux skylight, jarring angles and amateur artwork. Escaping to the patio comes as a small relief as the pink paint evokes memories of decorative spaces for trailer parks. If this is "new wave," I fear the next wave is hot asphalt and zombies. read more

I visited New Wave on 6/1/14 at around 9:45am. The service here is by far the worst I have ever experienced in the history of service. Both workers taking orders were extremely rude when I asked about what drinks/flavors they offered. One of the workers ignored a question all together and walked away. I have no idea how these people have jobs after all of these bad yelp reviews. This was not the first time I have received bad service here. Do not go here and expect to get a good drink or service. Go to Reno accross the square!!! read more

Tacky interior. Okay coffee. Good sandwiches. Baristas who do not look like American Apparel models (that can be good or bad depending on who you ask, I'll keep my opinion in the vault). Terrible wall art. One more time: terrible wall art. And this is Logan Square, which Lula has proved is capable of providing excellent wall art. Unacceptable. read more

This is pretty much the second coming of FILTER from old Wicker Park. Nice big space with lots of of seats, but chances are they will be filled when you get here, no matter when you get there. I don't drink coffee, so i can't comment, but the hot chocolate is good. Prices are sorta steep. Lots of vegan cookies and such, wish they had more in the way of animal product and gluten filled offerings. Sandwiches were said to be decent (didn't have it myself). But, its nice to have a place like this to achor the nighborhood, even if the "hip" (by that I mean a hipster or hippie) crowd gives me flashbacks of wicker park eight years ago, right before it all went to hell. Ah memories. read more

Love it, hate it, who cares, go there. Seating: ample Sandwiches: good Coffee: a little weak Outlets: plentiful Vegan baked goods: jackpot Staff: they don't wanna be friends. read more

Solid place. I study here sometimes because it's spacious, good music and there's a nice variety of seating options (big tables, small tables, comfy couch, cushiony chairs, etc.) So that works for me. They make a great mocha and decent sandwiches. I've never found the staff to be rude because I put my phone in my pocket as I walk in the door. I think they've actually always been pretty friendly. read more

I live a quarter mile from New Wave, and I welcomed it to the neighborhood when it moved in. It was really nice to have a non-starbucks coffee shop option so close. I was never a big fan of the thrift store couch vibe, but it was large enough to be easy to find a seat on most weekdays. The staff is totally nice. They've never been rude or huffy, and always ready to make actual eye contact and chat for a second. That's great. My problem, I assume, is with the ownership or management. They have made it impossible, under threat of legal action, for La Boulangerie, a new French bakery next door, to sell individual croissants. I understand that the clause in their lease that makes this possible is there to block a Starbucks or Caribou or something from moving into the building (in a hot and getting hotter location), and driving the little local guys right out of business. I can understand that. It was probably a smart, necessary move. But La Boulangerie is not a chain. It's a small local business, and it's not even one that competes directly with New Wave. People will be going into La Boulangerie for French baked goods - people will be going into New Wave for coffee and muffins and sandwiches. It's anti-competitive, and it's despicable. I won't be going into New Wave for a cup of coffee again until I can first buy a single croissant at La Boulangerie. read more

I mention it a lot, but I am a huge fan of supporting local business so I will ALWAYS go to New Wave over Starbucks. The coffee is better, cheaper and I'm not making the rich richer. Or at least I can tell myself that. But above all else, try the cherry Italian soda. Now that's what I'm talking about. read more

Oh New Wave. I have such a love/hate relationship with you. They use Metropolis coffee, which is almost my favorite of all time. The drinks are always predictably tasty. The interior is charming, and I love that they feature local artists. Also, the food is booooomb. Any of their sandwiches I've tried are ridiculously delicious fresh ingredient packed delights. The vegan peanut butter and chocolate Rice Krispie treats are to. die. for. Howeverrrrrr... The atmosphere here is so very, very Logan Square. Don't get me wrong, I love Logan Square, but sometimes the attitude is so... Ugh. It takes forever to get your coffee here, and while I don't mind waiting, I often get the vibe that I'm not waiting for any particular reason other than the barista is too cool to move any faster. None of the staff ever smile, ever. And really, not many of the patrons do, either. Parking is impossible, and as mentioned before, you seriously will wait upwards of 20 mins if there's a line for coffee. I'm 29 and I often feel like I am WAY too old and uncool to be here. But I still come back. And so, the love/hate goes on. read more

To be honest I'm not really a coffee shop kinda gal, but I actually liked this place a lot and could see myself hanging out there. The decor is fun and super bright, the seating is mostly comfy couches and the music is flipping sweet. A Psychedelic Furs song, The Ghost in You, came on and I was completely won over. They have original Nintendo, which is pretty cool. I just had a tea but the guy who served me was super friendly. Overall, it was nice, the bathroom was clean, the tea was cheap, and the whole vibe was very comfortable and relaxed. read more

New Wave Coffee is pretty much a living caricature of affluent hip-kid culture, but behind the shitty plastic sunglasses is a pretty fun and sincere little coffee shop. I started frequenting New Wave because it's close to my apartment and is open until 11pm. It's absurd how few coffee shops are open past 9 in this city, so I appreciate a place that will let me get my blog on at an unreasonable hour. I was simultaneously disgusted and drawn in to the decor of the place; Every wall is an obnoxious color, the floors are checkered pink and black, and behind the counter are framed 80's records. It's like if you asked some high school girl what M.I.A.'s dream coffee shop would look like (minus gunshot sounds, of course). I guess you could say I love to hate the place. So why am I being such a cock even though I go there all the time? Well. New Wave looks a little over the top, but otherwise is a pretty rad coffee shop. It's nice and big, so even when the place is packed (always) I can usually snag a table. The coffee is good, as well - the dark roast is fantastic, and more than makes up for the terrible light roast and passable espresso drinks. The food, while slightly pricey, is good as well (congratulations on making a vegan cupcake I not only tolerate, but love). Most importantly, though, the staff has been consistently polite and friendly. The first half of my review is me being a douchebag about the image of this place, but don't take that to mean there's anything snobby about the staff or patrons. I've gotten a very pleasant vibe every time I've gone in. The place seems too busy to really establish yourself as a "regular," but you'll feel welcomed enough that it really doesn't matter. If you can laugh at the hand that feeds you, you'll dig this place. read more

Sub-par service, average food/coffee, and unethical business practice (IE. La Boulangerie).

Okay, love this place because it's open later than most and is comfy. I don't mind the beat up recliners, but two things just get under my skin about this place. One, it's always freezing inside. It's like an icebox at all times of the year. Two, the annoying ass music. Sometimes it's chill and has interesting tracks. And sometimes the shitty death metal or experimental random noises without a melody are so unbearable that I just have to run out and never look back. When the music is that annoying that you can even hear it through headphones you know it's bad. I don't expect elevator music but come one, it's a coffee shop and people are trying to get work done and/or study. Or just chill. The experimental puke kills me! I want to crush on you New Wave, I do! I really do! read more

I'm not a huge fan of this place. Don't get me wrong, it's not terrible, but I've tried to give it second and third, fourth, etc. chances, but I'm still not impressed. The coffee is so-so, the customer service isn't there. I'm surprised if anyone working says more than three words to me when I'm in. The atmosphere is nothing to write home about, either. It's like everyone comes to be seen - or heard, everyone is so loud- and not to actually do any work or relax over a cup of coffee. The location is so convenient for when I'm at the Farmer's Market, but I still choose to walk further to Cafe Mustache. At least there I'll be looked in the eye and treated like a real person. read more

Good coffee, angry hipster service. I think the best way to deal with this place is just to accept that the staff is going to be rude to you and then be pleasantly surprised if they're not. I was there this past week, waiting for my latte. A small drink came up on the counter, and no one was grabbing it. A couple minutes passed, and a woman standing amongst the waiting customers came over to counter and very politely asked that she had ordered that drink, but a medium instead of a small. The barista barks, "Yours is coming up. Keep your shirt on!" The poor girl sort of half-laughed and walked away, looking embarrassed. Meanwhile still no one has claimed the drink on the counter; give the woman a break for thinking it might be hers! OTOH, my latte was really good, and I like having an independent coffee shop in the neighborhood. For better or worse, it's kind of an institution. I generally don't stay there because I find the decor sort of dirty-looking and way too reminiscent of some college student group house. read more

great space, lots of places to sit, decent drinks, and alright food but this place needs a major power clean! the majority of the furniture belongs with Heathcliff in the dump! A simple wipe down of the tables and such would do... read more

With all the amazing coffee shops in Chicago, I'm stunned that this one is around. To sum it up, none of the employees care about the products they carry and I had one of the worst espresso drinks ever... And I am not picky. So bummed that all three times I went here, it was a total let down :( read more

I came in three times during my visit to Chicago. And I'm sure I'll return in future visits. The espresso drinks were good. The baked goods were good. They had vegan cream cheese for my bagel. There's lots of seating, natural light, and space. The servers got the job done even if they weren't particularly friendly. (They were interesting at the very least.) The restrooms were clean-ish. The password for the wifi is on the column behind where you pick up your drink. read more

Reasonably priced coffee, cute furniture, and super mario brothers. Need I say more? I will definitely be a frequent customer.

It looks like Urban Outfitters threw up all over this place. I get the feeling someone is trying a little too hard to appeal to the "cool kids" in the neighborhood. I give New Wave a shot every few months and always end up leaving after five or ten minutes. While the coffee isn't bad, the ambience is horrible: loud music, uncomfortable seating, inconsistent baked goods, bad food. I want so badly to like this place, but New Wave just isn't cutting it. And the worst part is CroissantGate. New Wave not only provides a mediocre experience, but they are entrenching mediocrity in the neighborhood by not allowing a legitimate, high quality business from selling croissants and coffee next door. I can't figure out what La Boulangerie was thinking when they signed the lease, but that doesn't excuse New Wave's enforcement of this petty rule. I can't wait for a real cafe to come into this neighborhood. read more

This place exists because of the location. Move it out of Logan Square to anywhere else, no one would care. The place feels very dirty, the furniture is picked from an alley, and the baristas have an attitude problem. Worse, when you order a sandwich, the guy taking your money turns around to make the sandwich -- No washing of hands, no plastic gloves, so yep, his grimy hands that have touched money all day is now making your meal. When is the city health inspector going to stop by? I've been to this place about a dozen times (I live four blocks away) and finally have decided I can't go back. This place should be more than it should and its success is simply because it's the only game in town on the square. The coffee is good though, but only because it is Metropolis and you can get that many places. read more

eh. this place is alright. maybe i'm going to this place when it's busy but it seems like there's never comfortable seating available. there's also many people sitting at single tables with their lap tops doing their own thing. doesn't really make it easy to socialize and meet people when they have their heads buried in their comps and their music blaring on their headphones. the coffee isn't anything special but their tea is quite delicious. i do like that it's really close to my house so i have the option to go there if i want since there's really nothing else in the hood like this place. read more

So this place has been open a week and a half, and it's already bustling (I had trouble finding a table at lunchtime yesterday!) and has heaps of great reviews here. I feel like there has been this whole hidden crowd of people just waiting for this place to open, and suddenly we've all emerged. I think the hype is justified! The atmosphere is fantastic - everyone seems happy to be there, including cheerful, friendly staff and relaxed customers. There's none of that "I'm too cool to make a coffee for the likes of you" attitude from the baristas that you could sometimes get at Filter, and, equally, the customers don't seem to be there to pose in an artfully-angsty way as they used to at that late, lamented 6 Corners spot. The coffee is decent, the food is good (I've had a couple of the sandwiches, a bacon-choc-chip cookie, and a lavender brownie - all excellent), and the music is great, and never too loud. Also, the owners really seem to listen to suggestions: I noticed an earlier comment mentioned the lack of a vegan food option - and now, apparently, they've got something; there were perhaps too few tables when they first opened, but now they seem to have added more (I think). My only suggestions: sometimes it's a little chilly in there - though I guess they don't want to run up a gargantuan heating bill when they've just spent all their money getting the place open; secondly, perhaps when it gets closer to summer, some blinds or drapes for the windows on the Milwaukee Ave side would help - I was in there when the sun was going down on a bright day the other day, and it was too dazzling. Of course, that's not such a huge issue with the weather as it is right now... Overall: a fantastic addition to Logan Square. There really wasn't anywhere you could sit and relax or work, that was also easily accessible from anywhere (the 56 bus stops right outside the entrance, and the Blue Line stop is just across the square). I'm surprised that it's taken so long for a hang-out cafe to open here, given the obvious demand - I'm delighted not only that it's open, but also that it has such unique, inventive decor and such a good atmosphere. EDIT: It's now a lot warmer in there - the heating is fully functional! read more

I was liking this place, until I touched the outside of a plastic to-go cup just to see how big it was and some long-bearded guy behind the counter SCREAMED at me "Next time, don't touch the cups. We don't know if your hands are clean." Strange that he's so concerned about cleanliness - shouldn't he be wearing a net over that beard while he makes me coffee? I was already having a crap day and then this guy yells at me? They're kinda like the soup nazi on seinfeld, but not funny. read more

I thought this place is okay when I came by here. It was a tad loud for me, so I knew I won't able to concentrate at all on my studies. Before I left, I got myself a coffee drink of chai latte with espresso (forgot the name) and thought it was quite good. But I like the coffee more at Intelligentsia and Ipsento. This place is a cool spot and good place to hang out with friends, but for me, it's not part of my study spot rotation. read more

Classic Nintendo Video Games! Great Coffee ( Metropolis)! You bet you butt you'll find me here. I was glad to see a good coffee shop open up in area. Top favorites here include the iced tea and the Hail Mary. I've yet to have sandwich but the cupcakes are delicious. The space is very open and it's usually pretty easy to find a seat. Unless it's the day of the Farmers Market. Then it gets pretty slammed. Otherwise sit back and enjoy. read more

Awful, awful, awful. Blaring hard rock music, apathetic staff, and a 20min wait for coffee because there was one barista working on a Saturday. I cannot believe anyone would return here when there are so many better options in Logan. read more

The aroma of hipsters nearly bowled me over. Dag, if I ever walked into a stereotype, this was it. Nice guy at the counter takes my order, and I step to the right a little for the next person to be able to step up. A gal at the register then tells me I have to pay her but she has no idea what I ordered, and makes a lame joke about how I can't skate by without paying. She expects me to repeat my order again!?! Not like I didn't just order about 4 seconds ago... We just stared at her, and the barista then repeated the order to her. Half-assed setup at best with that. If you're gonna divvy the responsibilities, then cashier better be paying attention to what's being ordered. Kinda slow service, but the drinks were fine. The doppio espresso seemed a bit small, but the mocha was a good drinkable temp, instead of molten lava hot. I suppose it was fine, we might try again, but if I have to repeat myself 4 times at the counter, I won't be back. read more

Professionals working on their laptops, parents with kids running around, girlfriends gossiping about so and so, hipsters reading Kafka, good looking people, not so good looking people, Johnny Cash on the speakers, strong coffee and free WIFI. Big bright space. Big space. This is the coffee shop Logan Square's been waiting for! read more

I love New Wave. The staff is nice and the coffee is brewed strong. They have a bottomless mug you can order if you plan to stay a while and work. The original Nintendo Entertainment System is in perfect working order with a great selection of games. It is my cafe fantasy to finally beat the Legend of Zelda 2 in front of the dozens of hipsters and business people that inhabit New Wave. As the onlookers applaud my achievement, a beautiful tiny Asian woman will push through the crowd and stare longingly into my eyes. We will marry a few years later and have mixed race children. read more

Perfect location, right by the Logan stop on the Blue Line; opens early enough and stays open late enough to get some coffee and (small) eats. Welcoming staff, comfy chairs and sofas. Great place to meet up with peeps to hang out or have professional meetings. I've done both there. Its very laid back, but it AIN'T NO COMMUNE, which makes it ultra-cool because it's run professionally (always a clean space to eat and drink at without feeling the need to gag-out) and the business stuff stays business-stuff; in the background, away from the clientele. read more

They make coffee and tea, but there are so many places that do. The people who work here are pretentious "hipsters" who love to be ironic and rude. (In no way am I claiming to not be hip, but you can still be nice) If you don't tip them you're "cheap", if you even glance at your phone while at the register they act like you just spit in their face. They will take absolutely forever to get you your drink (no matter what you order) and then act like you've completely inconvenienced them by even showing up. I just paid $4 for a drink, you could at least say "you're welcome" after I say "thank you". Unfortunately this place is convenient for me so I show up (only on Sundays, I would go postal if I had to be at this place everyday) and grit my teeth and hold back my comments. Also, the decor is ridiculous, the 90's are over, let's move on. read more

I went to New Wave Cafe this morning because I was in the direct vicinity, even though I've had negative experiences here in the past...I thought I'd give it another chance. I have never, in my twenty years living in Chicago, been treated as rudely as I was today. My usual order is a large iced americano with no water, just extra ice. I've been told at numerous coffee shops (without attitude, mind you) that the easiest way to order this drink is just to order the # of shots I want over ice. I approached the cashier and said that I'd like to pay for as many shots they felt it would take to fill up a large cup. Suddenly, four people behind the counter, including the barista who'd been glaring at me from the on-set, joined in the transaction to tell me "no". Flat out..."no, we can't do that." I told them that I completely understood the premise of not letting people order a few shots over ice, only to turn around and make their own lattes with milk or cream at the to-go station. This did nothing to appease them. I was so taken aback by being told no to a coffee drink that I order everywhere I go that I persisted in making my case. I said that I would just go ahead and order an ice coffee if that would be easier but that I wanted espresso because it has a more concentrated flavor, especially over ice. After no one could agree on how many shots it would take to fill up a large cup (they kept trying to give me a small one), I finally ended up just agreeing to four shots. I paid for this and went over to wait for my drink. At one point one of the employees chimed in and said that it would take 16 shots to fill up a large cup. Again, I get this drink everywhere I go with no issues and the max amount of shots it usually will take to fill a large to go cup is 6. The barista glared at me through the entire transaction, and seeing that I wasn't going to leave without my drink, she plopped down my espresso in front of me in a kids size paper cup with ice and snarled sarcastically to "have a nice day". At this point I lost it and yelled at both her and the other employees behind the counter. The one employee who I'd spoken to the most seemed to understand my frustration, especially at how rudely the barista had treated me. They poured my shots back into a large cup but it barely took up a third of the glass so I just left it behind as I was yelling at them. I've just never been treated with such aggressive rudeness. If I wanted an iced latte, I would have ordered one, and frankly if I wanted one shot and wanted to use their entire carafe of milk on top of it...that should be my prerogative as a paying customer. Do yourself a favor and boycott this hideous excuse for a cafe. Gaslight is just down the street and is filled with employees who care about customer service and quality in a clean and beautiful space. Word of mouth counts in today's economy and I will make it my mission to tell everyone I know not to go here. read more

i'm a fan i think. they had a breakfast sandwich on a pretzel roll, which may have been the winning factor. but the prices weren't bad, considering they had free wireless internet. the seating is odd in this place, i was able to find a table, but it was super tipsy. and in a weird spot. the food took a while too, but i was asked a few times what i was waiting on, so i at least felt they were on the ball. bottom line, i have lived in logan for a while now, and i'm excited that there is somewhere besides mcdonalds to get my morning coffee. i think this little coffee shop could be a good thing for the sq. read more

My favorite thing about new wave is that I live two blocks away from it. The coffee is good and there's plenty of fancy options if a cup of black coffee doesn't suit your fancy. They have a handful of vegan desserts and one vegan sandwich, which is pretty good. The vegan chocolate peanut butter crispies are SO GOOD and I get them whenever they have them if I'm there for a treat. One more vegan food option, and I'd probably bump this place up to 5 stars. read more

Good coffee, good sandwiches (the 9-5 is delish, can't go wrong with pretzel rolls!), and cute punk/hipster interior. I dig the patio seating and I like that it tries to be green and recycles their silverware. Sure the vibe can be a little intense and you can feel out of place if you aren't between the ages of 20-27, wearing plaid or ripped raw denim, etc. But I promise they will serve you coffee even if you are wearing your preppiest best. read more

Worst coffee EVER. Ordered a regular plain latte and it tasted like gross old coffee not even espresso. I wish i tasted it before. I drove away. And maybe that guy could smile or something. Ugh read more

nevermind the metal tables. they have people like susan working there. people who, when you have forgotten cash or your wallet, let you take the coffee 'on credit' so that you don't have to use your credit card to charge the small business $1.65. i forgot i had run out of cash and as i went to pay realized i only had my credit card. new wave DOES NOT have a minimum for credit cards but i realize how much this can hurt small businesses and i HATE doing it. susan understood and told me she knew i as good for paying them back in cash the next time i was there. why can't there be more of this small-town trust other places where one is a regular? way to go new wave. read more

Ok - I am amending my review. I've been going there again - and two years later they have changed their attitude. People who work there are much more friendly. Still love Metropolis! The La Boulangerie situation still sucks though! Hence the 3 stars. read more

The Hail Mary is a religious experience, but the employees at New Wave are kind of annoying. They don't really like to talk to you and it kind of feels like they were judging everyone. Also, it's really expensive and the music is super, super weird. On a positive note, the patio is dog friendly and also an amazing place to hear some of the most bizarre conversations about things like tattooing your own leg. read more