got a decaf coffee expresso the coffee was good however don't bother with purchasing the baked goods I got a lemon bar it wasn't fresh and the zucchini pound cake also tasted stale the items on display must be really old since they had to go in back to pull product. i wont be back again read more

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We just moved to highland park and already perfect blend is our favorite sandwich shop. My partner loves the grilled ham and cheese and I love the grilled chicken sandwich. Her frozen lemonade is SO. GOOD. We get one every time. It's better than any state fair lemon shake up. The banana bread and cinnamon butter cake is also delicious. Plus she sells all the flavors of dippen dots. Seriously ignore these bad reviews. Not everyone needs to be kissing your forehead just for walking in the door. The manager is not overly warm at first but by the second time we were in there she was so friendly. read more

Food is delicious don't let the rating fool ya, they have the best lemon shake up! I love the chicken breast sandwiche & Grilled cheese sandwhhch with ham. read more

This cafe has a nice selection of teas. When I'm in the area and I need some extra caffeine this is one of my go to places

Good coffee. Owner is off-putting. I was trying to make small talk because there wasn't anyone else in the shop, so I asked her how long the shop had been open and she got defensive and said in a rude tone, "why? Are you asking me because the shop looks old?" Please... I'm from the area and it was my first time coming across this place! i was just trying to be nice. She then told me the shop had been open for 27 years, which left me confused. Why are you getting defensive when the shop literally IS old?? Nothing wrong with an old shop! Just don't get mad at me for asking you a simple question. Honestly, I'll probably return because the coffee was decent and I like that they use monin syrups. Next time, I just won't ask any questions. read more

Cheap from the start. Signs of no cc under 5.00, bathroom for customers only. I bought an Americano and immediately spilled it. The sleeve they provided was loose. It went everywhere. I was really looking forward to forward to it so I ordered another. I expected to be charged by the woman/owner at the register. Because this is the type of place it is. read more

Extremely rude owners. I was shocked by how rude the woman behind the counter was to me infront of my daughter. As I was ordering, she was glaring at me. I assumed I did something wrong? But then I came to Yelp and saw that it wasn't just me. The coffee is OK. The place seems a little dirty and unkept. my daughter really liked their Boba smoothies but unfortunately due to the unfriendly owners, we will not be back. read more

You're selling Costco muffins? Really?? Not very clean Rude service from who I assume is an owner/manager. Went to another coffee shop in the area and it was super clean and friendly. What a contrast. read more

Pro: lots of menu items from teas to coffee. I'm sure the coffee is great. Cons: unbelievably short and rude. I had never been here, wanted bubble tea but wanted time to review the menu. The lady behind the counter stared us down like we were the biggest inconvenience of her life. Turns out a dairy free smoothie here is just apple juice, flavored syrups and ice. I can't believe I paid over $5 for what I can only explain as drinking apple sauce with popping boba. read more

A quick visit here, so I'll write a quick review. Do you like Haikus? A good location. Quaint place with lots of sunshine. Some quiet seating. Extensive menu. Lots of sandwiches and drinks. I was so hungry. I got a sandwich. It was pricey and boring. Don't want to come back. read more

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Perfect Blend is the best! The ramen is a must have. There are three different kinds. The smoothies are so good!

Coffee is fine but VERY unfriendly (almost combative) while I'm overly friendly and polite (coupled with me being with two young kids). I asked for an Americano and I noticed her getting ice and I said "I suspect that's for another guest but wanted to be sure it wasn't for me" which she angrily snapped "you ordered an ice coffee" (I've been drinking coffee daily for 40 years and have never had anything but a hot coffee). I nicely said "that wasn't me, thank you" and she continues her rude scowl. Avoid. read more

Wow there's a big menu here! Maybe multiple salads. I think I saw fried rice. A big board of boba teas. All I wanted was my plain light roast lol. read more

I'd definitely recommend for breakfast. Stopped by for the first time around 9 AM on a weekday. Food: The muffins were fantastic - we sampled blueberry, coffee cake, and lemon poppyseed. All were moist and full of flavor. The breakfast sandwich - ham, egg, and cheese on croissant - was fantastic, and I would definitely order it again. The croissant was perfectly crispy. Coffee: They made a great cafe au lait. Staff: The staff member was friendly and helpful. She was the only one working, so I can see how some might be frustrated if you're in a hurry. It was well worth the wait! read more

I was so disappointed in the service and the food. Never been to Perfect Blend, stopped in to have lunch. The woman (who I think is the owner) at the counter was so rude, unfriendly, short-toned and really seemed that she did not care if we were there or not. Each got a sandwich and a drink. My apricot tea was very good. The sandwich of chicken salad, was unseasoned, boring and over priced. The bonus was that we could sit outside her place and enjoy the Fall sun, but will not return. As much as patrons need to support local, owners need to be appreciative, at a minimum. read more

My family loves the smoothies. The soups are delicious as well. We enjoy going to a small privately owned coffee shop.

Really nice local place. Coffee is delicious, baked goods are really good and friendly staff. Multicultural choices of teas and snacks. Bathrooms are clean too, one of my pet peeves. read more

Quiet, cozy little coffee cafe in the heart of downtown Highland Park. Came here to do a little work today. They have WIFI. My sister has always raved about their smoothies, but I never believed they were that good. Well, they're quite good and they DO use real fruit. I asked! He said they often use a little apple juice, powdered milk, and banana to mix it all together once you choose two ingredients. I went with mango and strawberry. Very yummy and affordable! ~$5 unless you add some additional ingredients. They also carry Bobo's Oat Bars (made in Boulder, CO). I got the Almond Butter today. They also carry lemon poppyseed and cinnamon raisin. Chill tunes of Colbie Cailet played on their radio today. Nice spot to come hang out casually with friends, work remotely, or just relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. Good vibes here. read more

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With a love for coffee and experience working at Caribou Coffee for a little I started out 2014 with the mission to visit all of the coffee shops in my area. After visiting a few, I thought why not write reviews and share my thoughts on each of them. So here we are... with out any further ado let's dive right in to my unbiased review of The Perfect Blend. First I will say, I wrote this review based on the first time I went. After visiting a second time, or attempting to, they were not open. Their sign said 7:30am, and I waiting a half hour in the parking lot (I thought they opened at 7) and eventually made my way to the shop around 7:35. I pull on the door and its locked. I then looked inside and saw all the lights off, no bakery pulled out, nothing happening, and after waiting a few more minutes I eventually just left and headed to a different coffee shop. The chances of me returning after this experience are very low, and I must now agree with all other low rating the shop has received! With all this in mind I am not going to alter my review (listed below) I am just going to change my rating, and no longer recommend this shop! Location & Ambiance: The perfect blend has a nice location in downtown Highland Park. The location itself I imagine brings in a lot of business. While I was there it was a little busy but I was able to find a table to sit at and enjoy my warm skim latte + an amazing French Toast Muffin! The muffin was warmed up with out even having to ask which was definitely a plus! Overall Location & Ambiance are top notch. Coffee: Well it is a coffee shop, so lets talk about the quality of my cup of coffee! I will say this shop isn't die hard with their coffee as they do offer quality blended drinks as well as a quality espresso based drink. There espresso drinks are made by hand on an old-fashioned non-automatic espresso machine. The milk was not burnt or old tasting. So overall if you're looking for a quality cup of coffee or even just a blended drink (I tried the blended Peanut Butter one and it was quite good) Food: There are a lot of options for you if you want a little breakfast with your cup of coffee. I personally have only tried their French toast muffin (both times I have gone to visit) because it is so tasty! I asked their staff about the muffins, and they told me they make them in the shop and get the dough locally! So fresh homemade tasting food is always a plus for me! Staff: The staff was nice, but felt the same as Starbucks, Caribou, or any other corporate store. I wouldn't say this ruined my experience, but it for sure didn't make it better. Overall, I would definitely give The Perfect Blend a try despite its other overall poor reviews. The quality of my coffee, AMAZING muffin which was served warm, and an average staff I would give this a "Meh. I've experienced better" rating at 4 of 5 stars. (Note based on the lackluster approach to management, which was seen by having no one at work on Sunday after I traveled to their shop and waited, I will be changing their rating to 2 of 5 stars. This is because although they are a mess management wise, they still have some damn good muffins!) read more

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If you live in Highland Park and you're not getting your coffee here, you are missing out! They have a great selection of drinks and a good selection of coffee you can buy. I haven't taken any coffee home to brew yet but I may one day. My all time favorite drink to get from here is a mocha granita. They are better then any cooler from Caribou or frapacinno from Starbucks. They also have some excellent sandwiches for lunch. Friendly staff and free wifi. read more

Perfect Blend - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Highland Park, Illinois

Service seemed fine. I ordered the Chicken Ramen bowl which had ZERO FLAVOR! There is more flavor in the cheep 2 minute ramen packets you get from the grocery store then this. And so much for being a chicken ramen bowl had four of the tiniest pieces of chicken. read more

Came here after Yelping a non-Starbucks coffee shop that my friend and I could sit at and study in for a few hours. I am not a big coffee drinker so I ordered their berry-green ice tea, it was pretty good by itself and just needed a little bit of Splenda to make it sweet enough for my taste. I started sitting in the back away from the, what seemed to be a regular group of cyclists as well as families letting their children loose while I questioned their parenting skills. After sitting there for a couple hours I got hungry and ordered their Chicken breast sandwich, multi-grain bread. The sandwich was perfect, warm chicken with crisp veggies and a spicy mustard that must have a little bit of horseradish in it because it had a little more kick than some of the bland mustards that I've had in other places. My study buddy eventually caved into his hunger as well. He went all out ordering a raspberry smoothie, chicken caesar salad and a corn muffin. He really seemed to enjoy the salad, digging into it with gusto. The muffin though, which I got to sample a bit of was really very good. I don't expect much from coffee house pastries, I expect them to be a little stale and not flavorful but this was outstanding. Soft, warm and like a little corn bread popover. Delicious. The staff seemed to know almost everyone who came in to stop and sit, chatting them up and catching up on little things. Eventually, we were the only two left and the owner actually came to talk to us a bit as well. A really nice laid back place to study for sure. I think it will be me and my buddy's default study spot on the North Shore. read more

Just had this great new addition to the menu shrimp wonton soup. Have been back 3 days in a row for it! read more

Perfect Blend - Shrimp wonton soup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Highland Park, Illinois

Came here today after church.Wanted to try a coffee tea place in Highland Park and am very glad I did.This place is small but cozy with a nice vibe.Large selection of tea available at a very affordable price.I tried the Organic African nectar with had a very calming effect.Good music in the background;just a nice place to chill on a Sunday.I Can't speak for the coffee as I already had my morning cup but finding a good coffee tea place with a real good selection of tea is a deal maker for me.Wifi is available as well.Great place to relax and reflect and enjoy a hot beverage on a winter day. read more

Perfect Blend - Cozy,Intimate,nice place to chill - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Highland Park, Illinois

While I try my best to support Highland Park's local businesses, I was treated so rudely at this coffee shop yesterday that I was shocked. With the exodus of business establishments in our town, I would think that politeness and customer service would be a high priority. I live close by this store and stop in frequently to meet friends or just take a break during the day. I bought some ice tea yesterday and asked for an extra cup with ice. My friend , with whom I was with, had been ill this week and this was her first day out. I told her I would get an extra cup so she could try some of the flavored tea. When I asked the woman behind the counter ,she just stared at me and questioned that I would want a free cup. She made a big point out of the fact that she would not give me a cup but would charge me 50 cents for the additional cup. I was so embarrassed. I told her not to bother. There were about six people behind me waiting to order. I doubted whether supplying me an extra cup would make a difference to their bottom line that day. While this may seem like a minor event, it left me with the feeling that I would go somewhere else the next time. How you treat your customers does matter and make a difference. I would hope that the owner would learn from this and accommodate small requests from customers. It goes a long way. read more

Stopped in for coffee and a chocolate muffin. Service was friendly. Coffee was strong, the way I like it and the chocolate muffin was very moist and delicious. read more

Perfect Blend - a cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate cake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Highland Park, Illinois

Have you ever wondered why you keep going back to certain businesses time and time again? For some reason I always choose Perfect Blend as a place to meet friends and clients. It's not the only coffee shop around, but it's simple and familiar and really low-key. When I stop in, I always order a delicious cranberry muffin and a small regular coffee. The house coffee blend is smooth and not too strong. The muffins are always fresh since the coffee shop owners also own Breadsmith on the west side of Downtown. A small coffee is less than $2 and rightly-sized for a pick-me-up. The guy behind the counter has been there forever. Though we carry on brief conversations, he respects my time and I respect his. The atmosphere is small, cozy, and typically the perfect temperature. I will say that in the cooler months it can get a little toasty, but I'm always chilled. The only thing I don't love about this place, especially for someone who might be stopping in for the first time, is that the tables are really close together and it's not very private. If you're hosting a business meeting you'll want to sit outside, or come early enough to grab a table in the north end corner where it's a bit more tucked away. With the new coffee house around the corner and down the street, I asked the guy behind the counter whether it has affected his business. He said it hasn't because the customers come for a personalized experience. He also said he tends to remember their orders and they really like that. Though he has yet to remember my usual order, he's right about the regulars. I always see the same familiar faces. In my opinion, the upside of Perfect Blend is that it's low-key and neighborly. My coffee and muffin are always consistent, and for those with bigger appetites they offer a small lunch menu consisting of soups and sandwiches. Their smoothies are also pretty tasty. Street parking has never been a challenge, but in case you come during the rush, there are two parking lots just down the street. The downside to this place is that some will think it's nothing super special and private conversation opportunities can be limited. Though Perfect Blend might not be perfect for everyone, it's certainly a right place for me. read more

I was in Highland Park for some reason and wanted a coffee. My girlfriend and her family went to a Greek yogurt place across the street (which I should've gone to) but I decided to go get a coffee at Perfect Blend. I ordered a small "Coffee of the Day," unbeknownst to what the coffee of the day actually was. I asked the manager, who was not particularly fluent in English, what the coffee of the day was. He responded, "The perfect blend." Upon receiving the coffee, it was not a perfect blend. In fact, the blend offered was quite imperfect. I'm not even particularly partial to blends (I prefer single origins) but this blend was definitely not perfect. I'm never returning, you liars. read more

I am of the "try new places" philosophy, which is why I decided to pop into Perfect Blend instead of walking an additional block to Starbucks while I was in the area, but the strategy backfired on me this time. Sometimes I have the yelp review planned out in my head as I am leaving a place. This was my second visit to Perfect Blend, and it was shaping up to be just like my last trip. Quaint feel inside, reasonably pleasant staff, with average coffee beverages - these things all point to 3 stars. However, it was my luck to be just out of that "I'm still close enough to take it back" distance when two stars unbuckled their seat belts, rolled down the window, and jumped out of my car without a second thought. I looked down at my iced hazelnut latte and saw a tiny fly inside. Gross. Hair and bugs, the two things in food (or coffee) that catapult me into a state of madness. Once I had a chance to inspect it further, I noticed that there were in fact THREE small flies that had met their demise in my should-have-been-refreshing beverage. A fleeting thought entered my mind - had I said or done anything to the barista to cause him to sabotage my drink? That would be the only way that he could have missed the three bugs that ended up there, right? They couldn't have come through the espresso, so they must have been either in the syrup or the cup. Either way, gross. I ended up chucking the drink and heading to old reliable - Starbucks. Perfect Blend is an ok coffee shop with terrible quality control. I won't be back. read more

Friendly staff, quaint location, mediocre at best. The coffee was weak and pumped from a insulate carafe. The cinnamon roll was dry and bland. Small coffee and pastry was $5.30, pretty cheap considering what the rent here must be. Better to raise your prices and provide better quality products. read more

BIKERS AND ALL OTHERS, DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS PLACE!!! I have stopped here countless times in recent years for muffins, tea and coffee. Although the food is barely adequate, that is not the issue. I stopped there 4/7/12. I saw the sign in the window, "FREE WIFI INSIDE". So, I asked the surly counter person for the password. He says, "you must purchase something in order to get a password". I freadked out. I reminded him of my frequent purchases at this place, and he says, "I don't remember you." Not only is this insulting, but what coffee shop in 2012 makes wifi conditional on a purchase? So, he calls the owner, Yong Min Choi. She confirms this foolish and archaic policy. So, NEVER AGAIN at this dump. Right around the corner is a lovely coffee shop and deli, Arriva Delicious. They will get all of my business from now on. I hope other bikers will move their business to this much friendlier place, that also has much better food and beverages. In reading other reviews of Perfect Blend, I realize I am not alone in my rant. Many others have had similar negative experiences. read more

Perfect Blend, oh you are almost perfect, just almost. I've been coming to this place for years, it's conveniently located on the corner of Sheridan Rd and Central so definitely easy to spot. They have outdoor seating in the summer which is always a plus and I'm definitely a fan of mostly everything they are serving. I've had a bunch of their pastries and they are very fresh, moist and can't complain about them one bit. I've had some of their salad including the harvest salad with chicken with a yummy rasberry vinagrette. The salads are around $7 so not expensive and you get a decent portion. So if you're looking for quick snack or lunch and you don't want to break the bank, Perfect Blend is your place. I also like most of their sandwiches, my coworkers love the tuna salad sandwich. I personally usually get the turkey with all the veggies (and they have avocado) on a toasted, everything bagel. I also like that they can toast all your breads here. Some of my other friends like their simple, veggie maki rolls. Those aren't for me since I need lots of fish, fresh fish in my sushi, but if you're craving all veggies, that's not a bad option. Now, my absolute favorite thing on the menu is the granida. Yes, it's this amazing, frappucino like, they don't serve this at Starbucks, cool coffee drink. I can't even describe it other than saying it's $4.00 well spent. Every time the weather gets better and I need my caffeine fix with something delicious and fulling shall I add, granida is the way to go. I tell all my friends who come to Highland Park to make a quick stop here. Overall, a great little coffee shop good for breakfast and lunch. The guys working there always have a smile on their face. The prices are decent and the service is good so I think they will not be going anywhere despite the economy and all the changes happening in Highland Park. By the way, they don't accept American Express, but Visa and Mastercard are just fine. read more

I stopped at Perfect Blend twice in one day, while out for a six-hour bike ride in the area. First, for coffee, I ordered an iced latte. It was good, but nothing to write home about. Later, for lunch, I had a turkey sandwich and chip. Again, nothing to write home about, but it fit the need at the time. Inside seating is limited, so many people (myself included) tend to take advantage of the outside seating on a nice day. However, the folks taking orders at the cash register seemed put out when we asked them to bring the sandwiches to us outside. This coffee shop is located around the corner from Higher Gear bike shop, and seems to be a place where many cyclists in the area stop. The staff were happy to let us refill our water bottles from their sink inside. I give the folks at Perfect Blend an extra star for being cyclist friendly. read more

Perfect Blend of nastiness, me thinks. tsk.... **grimace** should have gone to the Starbucks down the street. At the very least, they pretend to be nice. Was in desperate need of caffeine & food. Coffee, not so good. Iced coffee even worse. Their oatmeal was a watery mess. It was instant, not real sure how they could screw up pouring water "up to the line". Upon pointing it out, the response was: Guy: Well, what do you want me to do about it?" Me: Um... can I have a new one? Guy: Undisguised eye roll. Not sure what the attitude was all about.... but there's a newish organic place across the street...... gonna try my luck there, next time . read more

The coffee was okay. The part that bothered me was the upkeep and cleanliness of the shop. Bathroom was disgusting (and I'm usually not hard to please). Seats were not wiped down and the lady working there clearly hated her job read more

The food, coffee and drinks here are actually fairly good. They should actually have negative points for service. I have been here multiple times and the service not moves at a snails pace but they have the attitude that they are doing YOU a favor to wait on you. Often you come in and the clerk is sitting a table (not there are many table to begin with) chatting with her friends. Clearly an imposition to wait on actual customers! read more

I try to patronize independent coffee shops in lieu of Starbucks. I wish we would have gone to Starbucks. It's kind of rundown, has a limited selection of teas, and one very surly employee. Not a winning combination. :-( read more

Perfect Blend is the perfect place to stop for a little pick-me-up when bike riding through Highland Park, be it on Saint Johns, or the Robert McClory Trail. If you need something warm, something cold, something caffeinated, or something fresh-baked and sweet, they have it for you, complete with outdoor seating and a bike rack nearby (and a nice bike shop a half a block away.) Saturday or Sunday morning, you'll find the place hip deep with us cyclists, chatting amiably as we catch our breath and slake our thirst. Make sure you bring your phone in; they Belly! read more

This was my 2nd visit. Not sure what to make of it really... I actually had a pleasant experience during my first visit. My Americano was pretty decent. I didn't like any of their selections of pastries that were left. I wasn't sure about their coffee drinks... So, I just went with the tea, from a single tea bag...wasn't very good... The guy working at the register was nice but couldn't really answer any of my questions... (I guess he didn't know much... ) Since I'm in the neighborhood at least once a week... I may need to stop by for a hot cup of drink in the cold months... I may give them another try... read more

The Perfect Blend has a very nice atmosphere, kind staff, great coffee, AMAZING fresh fruit smoothies, and it's a perfect place to get work done, socialize, or just enjoy a beverage . It also has very good food. It's my personal favorite coffee shop. read more