Omfg some of their employees are really just dumb as rocks. You would think you're in another country and suddenly you don't speak their language. Try to be genuinely nice to many of them and you're asking for some serious non-approval unless you happen to be a 20-something hipster in tight pants looking like you own urban outfitters, American apparel, or goodwill circa 1989. Bla-ach! It's like a Scott Pilgram renaissance with a vindictive Jane Addams kitsch museum indigestion farted an unbridled pretension and hipsters in there. I hate the fact that this place is the only coffee shop I can get to in less than 10 minutes, as well as that bull*ish with the bakery on the corner. No one should have a monopoly on sub-mediocre croissants esp when the bakery 25ft away serves real French croissants which brake the mold. The only original thing there is their idea to open a cafe when no one else was trying. If they didn't serve Metropolis Coffee, which I jones for, they would be just another flamed out hipster dream sleeping on a dirty sofa somewhere. Though, I have found many a great cup of coffee other than Metropolis mainly due to the aggravating employees with all their boundary issues and regular hating. It's a nice place when you have to punch a biscuit. read more

I wrote a longer [now removed] review, but this will be a bit shorter and to the point. -- If you want a cup of coffee, there are much better alternatives in Logan square. Their coffee is fine, nothing special. -- Their tea is not great, way over-priced. -- Their sandwiches are over-priced and hit-or-miss. For me, it was mostly miss. -- The staff is AWFUL. I have never had a good experience with the staff here, not one single time. I do not like to feel like I'm a huge burden by ordering, god forbid, a coffee. Don't even bother going over if they give you the wrong sandwich: if sighs and eye-rolls could kill. It's not even mean in an endearing way. Oh, and don't try to order something that they have a sign up for, but no longer serve. That'll give you at least two more sighs and an eye roll, and that's AFTER trying to explain to them what it is you're trying to order. "What? What? What? Oh, that? No, we don't have that anymore; we haven't had that for a long time." -- If you love hipsters or are a hipster, you'll like the atmosphere. If not, why are you even considering going here? Just go somewhere else. read more

Are you a hipster who loves showing off his/her Macbook Pro? This is the place is for you! Are you one of the insufferable asses who rides a fixed gear bike because it's the hip thing right now? This is the place for you! Do you enjoy paying far too much money for good coffee? This is the place for you! Do you enjoy waiting an eternity for your drink? This is the place for you! Do enjoy shitty, overpriced food? This is the place for you! On top of all of that the owner of New Wave has been enforcing a ridiculous non-compete clause with the wonderful La Boulangerie. This is a textbook example of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Does the owner think that by making it unbelievably restrictive to be next door that any similar business in its right mind will want to open and pay rent? Does the owner not understand how bad the economy is and that there isn't a queue of business lining up to be next door? When Logan Square fully gentrifies and there is a Starbucks on every other block New Wave is going to fail fast. Good riddance. read more

I tend to marathon coffee shops alot of the time and depending on where I am in the city at the time, I try to find whatever ISN'T Star Bucks. I've heard alot of great things about New Wave and came in. Having the arcade games set up was a great touch and while I've heard that they came around LONG before the Wormhole, I think it's great that the Chicago has two different 80's themed coffee shops to call its own. I got a cup of their basic roast on the day I went in as I wasn't looking for anything too fancy and was satisfied with the darkness of the roast. The set up of New Wave lends itself to hanging out and talking but as is the case with anywhere where there's wi fi, the amount of laptop surfers is a bit suffocating. I should just try to document all the great Chicago coffee shops I find in the city on Yelp. For Logan Square, New Wave is the only option! read more

Blah blah New Wave is mean. Blah blah blah poor La Boulangerie is only allowed to sell me 25 croissants. Yeah, that's right. Bread dude signed a contract promising not to sell coffee and croissants. Bread dude has now made it his life's work to subvert that contract. Yadda yadda, life is but a cruel hoax. The coffee here is really good, and I fancy myself a Gertie Get Well when I'm grinding my teeth from overcaffeination. I also like that I can hole up here for hours to work, and they have enough food options to get me through lunch *and* dinner when necessary. Having said that, I wouldn't mind so much if New Wave gave up the croissant dustup in favor of some high-quality bagels. I also wouldn't be put out in the least if they made a table & chair upgrade. Some of those seats have seen hard times, man. It hurts to look at, and to sit upon. read more

This place sucks. The coffee sucks. The sandwiches suck. The vegan baked goods suck. The people that sit and drink coffee for hours and hours and hours suck. The people that come in and buy nothing and sit for hours and hours abusing the Wi-Fi that's supposed to be provided for customers suck. All of the clowns outside smoking suck. That stupid cowboy guy that used to be friends with my old sucky roommate that goes in there sucks. The ugly art on the walls sucks. The people that come in to meet with other people suck. The dogs leashed outside suck. The bathrooms suck. The whole place looks like The Max, that crappy cafe where the kids from Bayside High would hang out after school, and that sucks as well. I do like the staff, though. They are pretty nice. read more

This is exactly what this neighborhood needs! I was a little worried about the 80's connection (not being my favorite of decades stylistically) but I have to say this place takes only the best aspects and in moderation. I like the decor and friendly, hang-out vibe. There are tons of outlets (great for laptops) and comfortable corners to nestle into if you're feeling like being alone. The artwork is beautiful and suits the space well. The music was good when I was there and not to loud. And most importantly the coffee is great! I was also impressed with how involved the owners seem to be. They seemed genuinely interested in my opinion and were eager to accept suggestions. I am looking forward to more breakfast options. I will definitely go back. read more

interesting that one of the last reviewers enjoyed the coffee and the service, but was compelled to score this business a two star rating because of the customers weren't hot enough for their liking. Personally, all I know is some of the best espresso I've ever had in my life has come from that gorgeous machine and the fact that the place feels like the neighborhood living room is good enough for me. If you feel uncomfortable at NWC 'cause it didn't live up to a Craiglist expectation, yay for me, cause if you leave, I'll get a seat on the couch near the nintendo, or the cushy blue leather chair. The more people find the most superficial reasons not to like this place, the better my chances of finding a place to hang out for as long as I want! read more

Its funny how white people like hanging in "ethnic" neighborhoods but only go to the gringo hubs, pubs & cafes. Smells like more gentrification to me. This Cafe has NO neighborhood connection (no clue) LETS SPREAD THE WEALTH PEOPLE! Don't get overly excited about "new" spots. SUPPORT LOCAL! There is plenty of coffee in Logan Square Walk around and search out the many small Mexican/Guatemalan bakeries that also serve lattes or Boricua/Cuban cafe con leche hang outs. Many of you don't consider yourself yuppies but YOU ARE. Be conscious of that and your spending choices before this neighborhood becomes just like the ones you detest. read more

I love this place for the atmosphere and the good prices. Its really hard to find a seat here. What I dont think most people understand is that it doesn't matter if they add more seating. The place is so popular that they'll always be full. I wish they didn't hire so many hipster assholes as of lately. They use to have really cool down to earth baristas when they first open. Now I see them walking down the dark path of becoming a lame cafe for the condescending hipster dick heads that live in the neighborhood. Hey, I'm a 22 year old trendy artist too. That doesn't mean that I have to act better then you. read more

Sooo. Here is the sitch. Rude people. Good food. The drinks were good, and reasonably priced, and their food menu is quite unique...the people on the other hand were less than pleasant. I felt like I was inconveniencing them when I approached to place my order. Last time I checked, you are being paid to offer a service...to me...how am I the inconvenience? They were cold...they did not strike up any conversation....they talked more with each other before I approached the counter than they ever did with me. RUDE. Moral of this Yelp: Good food....the customer service is lacking...a lot. read more

Finally! This cafe is just what the neighborhood needs! A place where the useless hipsters can go hang out and leave everyone else alone. Coffee drinks taste like ass. Sandwiches taste like ass. Pastries (har har) taste like ass. Speaking of pastries, the no-competition clause with La Boulangerie is an assy thing for them to do. I'm not kidding. I'll seriously judge anyone who would be stupid enough to frequent this assy place and support their assy behavior. Also, please train your baristas! They are useless! read more

I enjoy coffee places where your ass can hang out for 3 hours without being hassled by the staff. Don't get me wrong, they are busy every time I go in, but it's such a great relaxing atmosphere you want to spend all day there (and I often try to). Prices are excellent, which is a wonderful departure from every other coffee place I've been to. My only friendly suggestion would be to have the menu in larger type up on the wall. Try it, if you hate it then you can go back to starbucks... read more

Everyone who works here is such a crabby snob. And not in that cutesy Daria-esque coffee shop kind of way. No, they're just jerks. Also, if you miss La Boulangerie, you have New Wave to thank for that - they ran them out of the neighborhood. You'd think after running a pastry shop out they'd at least offer decent pastries ... but no. If you don't want your good mood completely ruined with your coffee, do yourself a favor and walk the five minutes to Gaslight. read more

Had to knock the stars down due to the very bad decision by the owner to stifle my choice of eating establishment. I love New Wave, but they need to grow a pair and let La Boulangerie sell individual croissants. Seriously dude? This isn't about keeping your business afloat, it's obviously about lining your pocket with profits from a distorted market. Do the right thing and be cool about the croissants. read more

Great Place!! There hot chocolate rocks!!! Logan Square needs more of these places! I hear Cafe Bella on Fullerton and Spaulding is opening there doors soon! It's suppose to be like a mini Ambria but cafe style!! hmmm.. sound interesting! I might just buy a condo in the neighborhood:) i was thinking about moving back to Pilson but sounds like Logan Sqaure is starting to be a happening place! read more

Awesome coffee shop! It sounds like they roast at a different location though, but the staff here were very helpful in selecting between their coffee roasts, and both my drinks and my sandwiches: Excellent presentation too, and there was a good amount of seating and parking so I'll definitely come back to chill! read more

Colorful coffeeshop enhanced with vintage album covers, this corner hangout, while not necessarily amazing, is necessary. I can't say the same for the actual coffee, which is middling, or the food that often emits burnt scents. Servers are friendly, though, and that's a good place to start. read more

Love this place and convenience of so much leg room and tables. Staff is great and the ambiance is conducive for any type of purpose: conversing, studying, or lounging. read more