I'm super excited to see new business on this block. We've been needing SOMETHING for quite some time, and lucky me - it's a charming little coffee shop that serves blended drinks, hot drinks, teas, smoothies, various flavors of lemonade, breakfast sandwiches, and an assortment of sandwiches for lunch (try the corn beef on rye....yum). It also looks like it will be a nice, well lit place to read and to get some work done. As with any new business, there's at least one kink to work out. For me, it was the waiting time for blended drinks since they currently only have 1 blender. But I give Robust Coffee Lounge 5 STARS for effort, hospitality, and the great drink I got. With continued business, they'll have more employees, blenders, and the like that will make service speedier. GO!!! GIVE THIS SHOP YOUR BUSINESS - We want to keep it here in Woodlawn, as well as attract more businesses to the area. read more

This place was amazing. The Lattes were REALLY smooth. Especially the Chai Tea. Waffle was wonderful and the Lox was GREAT! The atmosphere and decode were crazy awesome. They have a leave a book / take a book shelf. Staff was very helpful and friendly. And prices were very good. While there may be room for some improvement, it's very minimal. read more

I'm a regular at this place. I've always had a positive experience. The staff is very friendly and fun. I'm a pretty boring, "regular coffee" drinker, and am never disappointed here. If I'm feeling adventurous, I'll also have the shaken lemonade or the chai tea, which I also recommend. And this place sells the best peanut butter cookies. This isn't the best place to come if you're looking for a quiet setting to study or have a serious conversation. But a fun place to hang-out. read more

My husband and I were overjoyed when we discovered Robust just a few blocks away from home. Their coffees are amazing (and I love the giant mugs!), their breakfast sandwiches rock (especially egg, bacon, and cheese on a croissant - it's our special treat!), the staff is super nice and helpful (thank you!). We love Robust and tell all our friends about it. :-) read more

Cute little shop in Hyde Park. I ordered a croissant and coffee which I really enjoyed. Inside looks really trendy for anyone that cares about aesthetics. Check this place out if you haven't. read more

Nice menu selection from breakfast to lunch. Biscuits and gravy very good. Grilled cheese brisket is the best. Fast friendly service. Big place, lots of seats and tables. read more

I really enjoyed my experience at Robust. First off, it's good to see new business in this particular area of town, especially an eclectic place that serves a quality product. Second, the cofffee is REALLY good stuff. I had the caramel macchiato.... it's actually a REAL macchiato. Better than starbucks; pleasantly surprised. After I finished that, I wanted to try one of the lemonades -- had the acai berry flavored lemonade... again, a treat. Didn't expect them to have a flavor as rare as acai. Overall -- a really great experience, and a great value for high quality coffee. AND the owners are CUTE! read more

What a cool new place I happened to stumble upon! I loved the atmosphere of the place and the coffee and food is delicious too. I'm glad I found a great new coffee spot in the neighborhood. Perfect place to come for breakfast or lunch or if you're a student it seems like a great place to study or hangout with your friends. I am most definitely coming back here whenever I can. We need more cool cafes in the area and Robust helps! Their menu is pretty diverse too I couldn't figure out what I wanted everything seemed so good, from sweet Oreo waffles to a breakfast bowl and anything in between. I decided to build my own breakfast sandwich which was a sausage egg and cheese with avocado on a croissant roll, with a dark chocolate mocha to go with it. Delicious! You will not be disappointed. read more

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Let's see.. I loved the little atmosphere it had, not bland at all. Smelled like coffee and eggs! I loved that part. I decided to make my own sandwich. I made a croissant sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich. The sad part that made this place lose points was that the bread was very dry. The coffee? Now that was good. Good strong roast with some caramel I added. read more

I'm not saying they have the best food ever -- indeed, the sandwiches are a little simple and a little bland -- but there is something so delightfully *earnest* about this place. The space is bright, lively, and welcoming; the service is friendly; they make their own soup. And in it is in a little corner of South Hyde Park that desperately needs something welcoming and earnest. I've lived in Chicago for less than two months and I've already been here three times. read more

The staff is personable and they gladly accommodate my culinary eccentricities such as the everything bagel with a hard fried egg, lettuce, onion and tomato with light basil cream cheese. The "half-priced-after 5," freshly-made smoothies are a delight. As they expand their offerings and space, they have assured me that they shall even better accommodate vegetarians. We shall see. In the meantime, I shall order my usual. read more

Good experience every time! On the pricey side for food but lattes are in the standard price range.

I love this place! I come from School a few blocks away to do home work, and to enjoy yummy pastries. The students are loud and sometimes rude after school other than that the place is pretty chill.. read more

I was disappointed in the service. But I was even more disappointed that my BLT had only one strip of bacon!!! Like, how?! I've never seen anything like it before lol. I asked for another strip of bacon and was looked at like I was crazy lol. It seemed promising but after that I might stop in just for the coffee if I'm in the area read more

This place has gone so far downhill I can hardly believe it. Was once my go-to in the area for a mocha, and occasionally a breakfast croissant or a grilled cheese. Between the worsening staff, the constant array of bugs and occasional mice, and the food now struggling to meet mediocre quality, there's no longer much reason to come here at all. The staff used to be friendly and fun! Their reward card is a joke as well-- I got large drinks every time I came here. Fill up the reward card and you get a small (ridiculously small) drink. I asked if I could pay the difference and get my large-- 70 cents more than the small. The reply SHOULD have been no problem, you're a regular customer, we'll cover that 70 cents. Instead it was "reward card upgrades cost a dollar." I pointed out that the price difference was less than that, and the rude girl just repeated herself. If you all don't give a shit about your customers-- let alone the ones that are here 4-5 times a week-- then screw this place. read more

There is nothing like Robust around in this neighborhood, so it fills a need in the community. Because it is a little out of the way, there are always tables and parking spots available. Has free wi-fi, but not a lot of outlets. The music is a little loud and nearby conversations talk over the music, so depending on your study habits, it might be a hard place to get work done. The coffee is good and the prices are reasonable, especially when compared to other coffee shops. The best deal is the medium coffee and donut fo $2. Perfect for my tastes and student budget. read more

Love love love! Great coffee and atmosphere. Try the Breve iced with an extra espresso shot - my go to. Best part... parking is always available! The only con is it is a bit pricey but typical for a great coffee shop. The employees are super friendly too! read more

There are two rooms here: an airy one with lots of windows on the corner, and a cosier one where lots of men are playing chess. The regular coffee is pretty good, and comes in a very large mug. Apparently the breakfast sandwiches are also good. We got a grilled cheese without the bacon, and a bagel sandwich. Both were good (especially the grilled cheese), and we appreciated that the server confirmed that it was a grilled cheese without bacon when serving it. The mudslide was fun for being so decadent, but I didn't actually love it, though I can't say exactly why. Next time I might just get a donut. read more

This is probably my favorite place to eat in the area for a quick fix up and decent coffee. A bit pricey, but their sandwiches are awesome. Especially their grilled cheese and bacon. Perfect if you're in the area and need a quick bite. Would give a 5, but the prices are to steep. read more

This place beats the pants out of Starbucks. Staff is very friendly and the decor is old school with industrial qualities. I would definitely suggest having a taste of the honey nut latte. This drink is an amazing warm, smooth, and just the right amount of love in a cup to brighten any day. read more

Robust Coffee Lounge - And they will make your hot chocolate warm for the kids - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything here is good and made the way I like my food to taste! The grits aren't bland, the sandwiches are well balanced and the smoothies are delicious. The service is cool, I mean you don't feel like you are a part of the family lol but the prices are so reasonable for the great quality! Also, the wifi is strong so it is a great place to work or study. read more

Great place for studying. Lots of room and everyone is super nice. Their mocha is amazing. Plus, the breakfast sandwich I ordered was made fresh. It was so good! My friend didn't love the mocha because she said it was too sweet, but I think a little sweetness it deserved with chocolate. She did love the apple donut though! I can't wait to return! read more

Oh my goodness. Great vibe, great food, robust coffee. Chill vibe, spacious, great place for meetings. Highly recommend checking out this spot! read more

Robust Coffee Lounge - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this place!! Good coffee, friendly staff. Cool interior. Thank you for bringing this cafe in this neighborhood. read more

When this place first opened it was the best. High quality and great service. It really has gone down in quality and the service is really lacking now. The fresh squeezed lemonade often tastes too bitter, their pineapple green tea is too acidic, the croissants are now just heavy buns, donuts are hard and dry on several occasions. Went to get a English muffin there the other day and asked for it toasted, it came out rubbery and soft. Sent it back twice And then just gave up, threw it out and went elsewhere. My brothers went there the other day and even their specialty sandwich, BBQ Betty, was dry and not delicious anymore. I'm sad. Really loved this place for the first year or two. Not worth it anymore. read more

Nice space. Staff are ok, some friendly some not. First time I went they apologized for taking so long. Second time took really long too, but this time I got attitude for asking. I hope they fix the speed. I personally won't find out. read more

A really warm welcome to the neighborhood. I've been twice in three days and intend on keeping the streak alive. Great staff, cool space, and most importantly - great coffee. read more

Robust Coffee Lounge - Great Space - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really want to like this place but my most recent visit - today - no internet connection was available to me. Even though there were about nine other people apparently connected, it wouldn't work for me. (I'm currently typing this at Starbuck's on 71st and Stony Island - instant connection. Had turkey sandwich - it was decent - but since I couldn't connect finished and came here. Hopefully, next time will be different. read more

Literally my absolute favorite place to go get work done. I work from home most of the year and love coming here to get out of the house. They have killer service, great coffee, really good sandwiches. They don't make their own pastries, but they're good (nothing to write home about). They also always have a good set of music playing. My hubby is a med student at UChicago and it's convenient but out of the way enough that it's not crowded. Free internet is a huge plus too!! read more

I took my wife and two smallest children today to get a coffee and donuts at Robust on 63rd and Woodlawn. As I was paying for my bill a woman came in and was lingering around. The young man who was behind the counter rudely told her to leave and told her not to solicitate in the store. How this young man talked to her was what caught my attention. The anger and disdain that he spoke seemed like it was personal. I asked him why he was so angry and with many neck rolls, lips smacking, eye rolls, and heaving breathing he proceeded to tell me Robust's policy of not allowing people to ask for food. I understand how that at times can be problematic when running a business but this young man was super emotional and disrespectful on how he articulated that point of view. I walked over to the woman and asked if she was hungry and was there something I could get for her. She said she wanted a corned beef sandwich. I placed my order with the young woman at the cash register and Robert came running over to the cashier, neck rolling, lip smacking, and eyes rolling and emphatically told me I could not purchase the sandwich. I asked him why not and he told me because it was for the woman. I told him he would not dictate how I spent my money, he then told the cashier not to process my purchase. After a brief back and forth I submitted and just walked over to the woman and gave her the cookies I previously purchased. At this point Robert got super irate, began to talk crazy as if I wouldn't toss his flamboyant ass over the counter and back. Robert told me I now "had to leave"... I proceeded to "kindly" give Robert a clear depiction of what would take place if he continued his disrespectful ways this morning, prompting Robert to say he was calling the police. I sat down with my family and called the store manager to alert him of Robert's behavior towards the woman and myself. As the manager listened, he interrupted me and said that me purchasing food for another is a continued problem and against Robust's policy. So for clarity I asked him to explain his position and he continued to say that customers paying for food for "solicitors" is against the law and a big problem. I told him that we have supported Robust because it's a community business, I asked him how is it you can take profit from the community and allow someone from the community to be talked to in such a manner and dictate how costumers want to help those within that same community? I began to tell him about Robert and what I told Robert. He hung up on me. Now my conversation was unemotional and my argument was clear. The store manager was very adamant that the hungry people in the community are a "problem" and therefore I will cease purchasing from Robust. Under no circumstances will I ever allow any of my people to be humiliated and talked to in a manner that Robert spoke to this woman today. Being hungry is a "problem" and it's up to us in OUR community to look after our own. The owners name is Jake Sapstein. read more

I purchased an $8 bagel a couple of days ago from this establishment in hopes that this experience would end better than it did. My sister introduced me to the bagel on Sunday 9/27/20 and the bagel and experience was great. But on 9/30/20 I don't know what was in the air. I asked for a toasted bagel and the gentlemen said in a condescending tone "all our bagels come toasted. " Of course I know this because I just had the bagel on Sunday. The representative had no compassion for me as a customer. And there was no manager to speak with at the time. So imagine my surprise when I get home and the bagel isn't toasted. Brought the bagel back the next day to speak with a manager. The same untrained, rude gentlemen was at the counter and said "i don't know why you brought the bagel back," he went on to say "the condiments on the bagel made it soft." After speaking with 2 other employees before I finally got in contact with the manager on the phone, the manger says" You have already spoke to 2 people, why do you have to talk to me." The manager went on to say" if you don't like our establishment you don't have to come back." And he was correct. I will not be back and I will not bring any customers to this business. I asked for the mangers name but got a dial tone. read more

Great little community coffee shop. Love the vibes and the friendly staff. Excited this is walking distance from home! :)

Good coffee and a decent place to work or meet. I think they would have decent food based on the coffee and what things looked like, but I didn't try anything. Definitely next time I'm down there. read more

Great to have this in the area. Has a lot of potential- In order to help it get to where it will and needs to be, Ive got some constructive crits: Services take a tad too long because they dont have an organized service layout, Spill area gets kinda gross, and the food doesnt have a whole lot of character (bagel and lox, and breakfast dishes with eggs needs work). Other than that, welcome to the hood- Cant be soft on you because youre here!!! - read more

I have never wanted to go to a coffee shop for food...until Robust. They have special cupcakes and cookies which are amazing, but their prepared food is what I really love. Their sandwiches are all fresh and innovative-I can't decide which is my favorite actually....and I struggle with deciding between breakfast and lunch! Try the 1165 though, or go for a Veggie bagel if you don't like meat-there is something for everyone! The iced coffees and blended drinks (try Grasshopper or Oreo) cannot be missed either, so don't. Atmosphere here is comforting and trendy, all at once. I may need to get an apartment in the building....I love it THAT much! read more

I used to really love going to this place...my last three visits they gave me the wrong order after waiting for 15 minutes and then I had to wait another 15 minutes to get my order right. Needless to say, my hot chocolate or should I say hot milk got cold. I used to love their hot chocolate, but now they add a drop of chocolate sauce for any size and all I have is a cup of milk. I have to go out of my way to get to this place and I am disappointed. The plain bagels with cream cheese are still good, but this will be my last time going there... read more

Robust Coffee Lounge - Hot milk :( - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

LOVE this coffee shop in Woodlawn. Breakfast sandwiches are perfect hangover food. The space is really creative and unique.

Never. Ever. Coming back here. Since i cant delete. Here. 5 stars. My review is too short and yelp want to make it a tip to others.

The food was good. But for $36 the portions were so small and not worth the price paid. The food was hot and made correctly. The best part of the meal was the over sized lemonade but this is not an experience I would pay for again. read more

Great coffee, good sandwiches and a great place to meet friends or business associates in the Woodlawn community.