Robust is such a great space to work or meet up with friends. Food: I like to get the bacon, egg, and cheese on an English muffin. The first time I ordered it, I ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture. Lol. When I went back the second time, I remembered. They also have donuts and a variety of food (sandwiches, salads) you can order. Drinks: I enjoy their berry smoothie. The first time I went, I ordered the Honey Nut Latte. It was decent, but I prefer to go to Robust for the food and the space. Space: Robust is huge. There is a ton of space in the front and the back. You never feel too closed in next to someone else. The cafe has nice big windows which lets in a lot of natural light. Service: the service is always good. The baristas and cashiers are always kind, and provide good service. I definitely recommend going to Robust. If I lived closer I would definitely be a regular. read more

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We needed some breakfast delivered one early Sunday morning. We ordered bagel and lox, cinnamon raisin bagel w/ cream cheese, turkey sausage biscuit, make your own breakfast sandwich w/ bacon, egg and cheese on croissant and a vanilla latte hot. Everything was delivered timely, hot and taste yummy! One cool thing to point out- they wrapped the sandwiches in newsletter print paper. So you could read something interesting while you eat. Love that because I love a good read!! Thanks! read more

Not the friendliest baristas or the best tasting coffee. I guess they get points for the solid pastries and sandwiches. I actively look to support small local businesses and I want Robust Coffee to succeed. Their long-term success will coincide with a stronger focus on customer service. They have a really cool space, they just need to hire staff to better represent the business. read more

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Best coffee shop near my house, excellent quality food beverage & service! A nice thing to do when visiting is to offer to pay forward a tea or coffee to another local person who may need a brighter moment in their day!!! The baristas know exactlyWhich local folks could use the help. The Elvis is our Favorite Smoothie!!! read more

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

This review is solely about the Honey nut latte. It is freakin DELICIOUS! I'm not a huge coffee fan, but I really enjoyed it. It has just enough of a kick to keep me awake but sweet enough so I don't think I'm drinking coffee. read more

This place is definitely hit or miss via food service app. But I'm sure it's a way better experience if you order your food in person. I've ordered here several times & there's been times where the food was extremely good. & also times where it lacked or I was missing food. I guess it depends on who's working. The breakfast sandwiches are so good though, never had a problem with those, delish!! However. Really good spot!! read more

Today after my workout I decided to treat myself to a cheese bacon croissant and grits...I was Uber hungry and quickly disappointed. Croissant was not fresh, it was crispy hard, cheese not melted, and I paid for double bacon which I'm sure I didn't get. Grits, strait watery! No taste...added salt and butter, but it didn't help...undercooked and watery!!! And coffee was luke warm...So DAMN disappointing! Food went in the garbage..I probably won't come here again, when I first starting patronizing this place, these two items were always fresh and on point..I don't know if the chefs/cooks have changed but I'm miffed I spent almost $15 for breakfast and was completely dissatisfied..I hope Robust Coffee gets their ish together, soon! read more

This is going to be short and sweet. Stopped by robust for an apple cider and decided to add the grilled cheese to my order. They were out of the bread that the sandwich typically comes on. The chef suggested a crossaint bread to substitute. When I tell you this was the BEST d@%n! Grilled cheese I had that would be an understatement. The bread was so soft and flaky and the cheese just melted all over the bread and was delightfully gooey! I would recommend adding the crossaint version to the menu. The cafe itself is really cute and cozy. Great neighborhood spot. I'll be back for my modified grilled cheese! read more

I am obsessed with Robust! Stopped by for breakfast after taking my dog to the dog park at Jackson park. There is a parking lot behind the building, not sure if it's dedicated for any certain businesses though? There is also a lot of street parking, although it is a busy intersection so can be hard to stop with all the traffic. The inside was very well decorated with a modern/industrial vibe. There were quite a few people in line but it moved very fast which was awesome. Menu is more diverse than typical coffee shop food/drinks; of course there is coffee, espressos, lattes, sandwiches, etc but they also have donuts, smoothies, sandwiches, treats, etc. I decided to get a breakfast sandwich and donut, was SO GLAD to find out breakfast food is 50% off on weekdays before 8AM!! The sandwich was a pretty typical breakfast sandwich, but it really hit the spot. They have a variety of bagels/croissants for bread options along with different meats, cheese, and eggs to top it off. There are a ton of tables and outlets, and even a second room of tables for dining! Quick service, great vibes, awesome food with amazing deals - I will DEFINITELY be coming back!! read more

Good food, good coffee, but unreliable on hours. They aren't open on weekends despite the sign on their door saying they are. Weird and disappointing for a local, small business coffee shop to be closed on a Sunday read more

To start I placed an order through Uber Eats I get the confirmation that my food is ready. I walk yes walk because this is my neighborhood coffee shop to pick up my order. Parts of my order was ready beside my bagel. No problem I'll wait. 10 mins goes by and I'm ask the man to cancel because of a bagel takes this long idk if it's safe for me to eat it. While I was talking to one of the employees, the red head cook comes from the back throws both my bagel and the recipe ticket at me. Now, being black I could have started an uproar but instead I chose to write a review about how I was treated and would probably never again pay for a 5$ bagel that takes 10 mins to be thrown at me for absolutely no reason. In a coffee shop in the hood. For this to be black owned it saddens me that this is how we treat consumers. read more

Robust Coffee Lounge - This is my uber eats pick up order as you see I had 3 items. And only received 2 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is always good. The ambiance and aesthetic is great. Perfect little coffee shop in the neighborhood. My only and probably petty complaint is, the service. I'm not a regular necessary, but I order online about once a week. Without fail, the short heavy set guy is always a little rude. I'll walk in and greet the workers when I walk up to the pickup counter (it should be the other way around tbh) and usually one of the young ladies would smile or greet me and ask how can they help me, etc. The short guy can be standing there but he'd just look and turn his head like he couldn't be bothered. I'm talking when it's not busy, he's not doing anything, just standing there. You'd be better off not even looking at the door if you're not gonna be pleasant when they walk in. Like I said it's not a review of the food just the customer service. I worked at Starbucks for 20 years so I understand customer service, quality, etc. Anyways, I'll still support the place just wouldn't hurt having a brief conversation about making the customers feel wanted and not like I'm bothering you read more

Every time I order I get quality! The sandwiches are the best and the coffee with oat milk is one of my favorites. I love the service so I don't mind the wait. Thank you read more

Love the food and the staff. I'm new to the Woodlawn area and love my morning walks to the coffee shop. Food is always great, I recommend the honey nut latte (iced) best latte around Woodlawn! read more

I grew up in this neighborhood and was delighted to see this cafe open along with the other growth of the neighborhood. I said this would be MY coffee house; local and cute . Ive been to this cafe many times and use the WiFi and order a smoothie and / or snack and get a little work done . Last week i went and met a business associate there . I arrived first and waited for him to come As soon as he came we were greeting each other setting up our meeting A worker who I believe is named Richard ( short stout black guy with a teeny weeny Afro ) came and stood over us and told us that their seats were for paying customers only. My associate and i were SHOCKED First of all it's very rude but we are professionals and were going to spend money there , Ive spent in the past and planned to always come there . I even had intentions in showcasing it on social media or my radio show but they didn't know that Anyway , my associate is much more even tempered than me and told him sure we will order something , we just haven't YET " Richard " remained standing over us while we were seated as if to wait for us to order or leave So we cut our meeting short , packed up and my associate STILL ordered us drinks and we took them to go I won't be back read more

I don't come to Robust often, mostly because it's a bit out of the way from everything else around the Hyde Park/Woodlawn area. BUUUT, when I do come, I am never disappointed. I'm not a coffee drinker (although I hear their coffee is incredible), but I do like hot chocolate. And their white hot chocolate is the absolute best. During the winter, I am willing to walk a mile and a half in 15 degree weather down from my apartment just to satisfy my Robust craving. In the summers, I get their lemonades which are also great. The apple fritters--divine. The donuts--delicious. This place is a hidden gem, and it's great for the flourishing community in the Woodlawn area. There is always street parking and is a 15 min walk away from the UChicago campus. read more

Robust Coffee Lounge - Apple fritters and peppermint white hot chocolates. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Me and the fam are in Robust at least twice a week. They make great hot and cold drinks, and I've had wuite a few sandwiches and I haven't had a bad one yet! read more

I come here a LOT because of its proximity to my workplace--sometimes on the clock and sometimes not, depending. In the 25 or so times that I've been to Robust, I've tried a LOT of the menu and I have also had a lot of different interactions with different staff. I have not had a particularly consistent experience here, which is why I have held off on a review. I've had some five-star customer service experiences and some two-star customer dr vide experiences. I've had some five-star food and some two-star food. I'm going to focus instead on my overall experience, including the sum of 25 visits to Robust. Overall, Robust is an excellent addition to the Woodlawn community. It's located conveniently right on the corner and it's a meeting place for lifelong residents of the community, as well as University of Chicago staff and students who want to venture a little off the beaten path off campus. Uniform-clad school children can frequently be found here enjoying a snack or beverage after school hours. The diversity of customers at Robust is great and adds to the welcoming atmosphere. The service can be hit or miss. Some of the staff are incredibly kind, patient, and friendly, while others are fairly negligent and inattenive. My orders are messed up maybe 35% of the time, which is not the best. I have had my order forgotten more than a few times. Sometimes, the staff are really apologetic and offer to give me extra flavor or a bigger size to compensate. Sometimes, they barely bat an eyelash. I've tried maybe half of the menu items, including blended drinks like the oreo madness, smoothies like the almond milk, banana, chai, food items like the grilled cheese and hummus platter, the mocha diablo, pumpkin spice latte, gingerbread latte, etc. So, why the four-star rating? At the end of the day, I know I can count on Robust to be a cozy haven--a true gem in Woodlawn. Robust has a great atmosphere, acceptable drinks/food/prices, and (most importantly, for me) seating, outlets, and wifi. Seriously, I have never not been able to find a seat or outlet here and that is the most important thing! I will continue to be a happy customer at Robust as long as I work in Woodlawn. read more

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

This is my first review in years! Just moved to Chicago and had to review this place. The coffee is smooth and strong. The smoothie are made with honest to God real fruit (unlike some places I've noticed claim are made with REAL fruit but it's just syrup). The coffee comes in XXL which is like a large soda at the movie theater. Yes ma'am sign me up! The food is great too with vegan/vegitarian options. read more

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

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Robust has always been the best coffee lounge since it opened. It has a full menu of delicious foods for breakfast, brunch, and lunch and has some of the best drinks around. The Mocha Diablo had been my favorite since day one, and their biscuits and gravy is to die for. read more

I wrote one review sharing how disappointed I was in the breakfast bowl I ordered (5.17.16). Since then, I found out that the advertising for the coffee shake is FALSE. The sign says "cold brewed coffee, cinnamon, almond milk". The reality is that they use a coffee mix from a packet that contains tons of sugar, saturated fat, and preservatives. One serving is half the packet, but they put the whole packet in for one shake, meaning the calories START at about 500 just for the mix. The "cinnamon" is a syrup, adding more sugar to the drink. At least Starbucks is honest about their ingredients for a comparable drink, the coffee frappucino. And, Starbucks ingredients are better for my health. A coffee shop needs to serve real coffee. There's absolutely no excuse for using a cheap mix. Robust Coffee is lying to customers and lagging behind Starbucks for coffee quality. I won't be going back, and am considering contacting the Better Business Bureau regarding their misrepresentation of the product ingredients. read more

I was visiting my son and fiancée over the weekend, who happen to live a few blocks away. We ended up getting breakfast from here along with our morning coffee three days in a row. The atmosphere is pleasant, the workers seem very efficient and friendly. The breakfast sandwiches and banana bread French toast are delicious along with the coffee. read more

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So I'm standing here as I write this review. I come here all the time because the sandwiches are good and so is the coffee. I'm giving three stars because I often try to call ahead to avoid the wait and they take their phones off the hook VERY OFTEN, so I'll go to a different place because of this. So today I had time, as I strolled in I continuously called no ones picking up. I ask one of the ladies why aren't you answering the phone. She says "we take the phone off the hook when it's really busy" so I look around as I see about literally 7 people. So she looks and says "yeah I know it's not busy right now I don't know why it's off the hook". Yeah ok, I wonder if the owner knows that they are literally missing money due to the phones purposely being disconnected. read more

Loved their honey nut latte. Sweet and simple. Their Carmel cake wasn't bad either. A little too sweet for me but my boyfriend love it. Homemade, soft, and melts in your mouth. Will be back read more

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

**Workspace** One of my go-to study spot in The University of Chicago are, especially in the frigid winter as there is a large (and free) parking area at the back of the cafe. There is plenty of seating, with three outlets - one at the back, and three by the window at the front of the counter. There is another room tucked in the back. There is no outlets here although there are plenty of booths to lounge around. **Coffee (and Other Beverages)** There are a wide variety of coffee beverages, whether you're a sweet tooth or prefer it black. They also have plenty of smoothies from fresh fruit. I especially love their Mexican Spicy Mocha, sweet with a kick to it. **Food** Their menu has an assortment of sandwiches - all delicious. My favorite is the pulled pork sandwich. It have apparently been featured on TV and it's pretty damn satisfying, so I believe it. **Rant** Overall a hidden local favorite for any nomadic worker. If you happen to be in the area and need a spot to take out the laptop and burn a few hours, Robust Coffee Lounge provides the perfect spot. read more

Everything about this small establishment is spectacular! The customer service is amazing and the specialized drinks are delicious. Great location whether you are walking, driving, or using public transportation. It's a nice spot to grab a a drink and study or read. read more

Went here yesterday for the first time. I got a iced honey nut latte drink and I thought it was great!! It was perfect and not too sweet. Husband got iced caramel macchiato and he liked that a lot as well. I'm still thinking about my drink today so figured that was enough to warrant a good yelp review haha. read more

For someone who studies so close, it's a shame that I hadn't visited Robust more often. This cafe is thankfully relatively not crowded and mostly devoid of students so it's a lovely escape from academia. It's a relatively small place but that adds to it's charm. Numerous tables near outlets and free wifi make this an excellent place to do work beyond the confines of a library. It's a lot quieter than a Starbucks, even with music playing, Their coffee is excellent and decently priced. But lemme tell you about their Rueben: A+. Just the right amount of corned need and cabbage. So delicious. I'm actually sad that I have been living so long without it. If you're in the area, come on by. You won't regret it. read more

Robust Coffee Lounge - Hello gorgeous! A delicious Rueben that hit the spot! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Consistently good and it allows me to get my steps in on my Fitbit in the morning. The Caramel macchiato was a bit too sweet. The breakfast burrito is economical and sufficiently filling on a Saturday morning errand rush. read more

I've gone here at least 5 times in person and I only order a latte or a breakfast bowl it always takes 45 minutes no lie the last time I decided to order i watched as they sat my food down and no one ever called me I got up after 20 minutes to ask was my order ready and they didn't know where it went I just so happened to say is that it when he looked in the bag it was the same food they let sit there 20 minutes prior after i said something a girl lied and said oh I just sat it down -I guess I'm ray Charles- anywho I live 4 minutes from the place and each time I've tried to Uber from them my order gets canceled after an hour lol. They need to train for speed and customer service read more

Robust Coffee Lounge just makes me happy. What doesn't make me happy is how far it is from where I live. I can assure you that I would likely have a new line item in my monthly budget if this place was in my neighborhood. 5 reasons why Robust rocks: 1. Excellent coffee - Alterra beans roasted in Milwaukee. Smooth and delicious! 2. Great food - I enjoyed an superb make-your-own breakfast sandwich (Egg white, turkey, cheese on challah) 3. Lemonade - I watched them freshly squeeze the lemons that would become my mango lemonade. So good! 4. Outstanding decor and atmosphere. Seriously, i love it. I want my dining room to look like it. 5. Friendly staff with personality. Thank you! Don't pass up on this coffee house gem in South Chicago. read more

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First time here I loved the atmosphere and staff. It's definitely a vibe for the mornings. Food came out fast and was de

I have been to Robust 2 or 3 times and love the environment. I would probably give it a 5 on atmosphere. Robust is very spacious, having both a front and back room. The building appears to be repurposed given the exposed beams and ventilation as well as the concrete floor. There are a variety of seating options including a small counter, tables for 1-2 people, a long leather sofa style bench that is reminiscent of an old barber shop, large tables for up to 6 people, and 1 or 2 armchairs angled around coffee tables. There is also a good deal of natural light. Another positive environmental factor is that the clientele is especially diverse as far as coffee shops on the southside go. My only complaints about the atmosphere are the restrooms are not particularly clean and the music is a little too loud to focus on work or to have conversation. The food is pretty good as well. They are famous for their brisket sandwiches and rightfully so! I also tried their breakfast sandwich and to my delight the eggs were definitely freshly fried. In my personal opinion though, the coffee is not very good. I got the light roast and it tasted like the beans had been over roasted. It was drinkable, but not "good." The service is pretty middle of the road. My order took a little longer than it probably should have, but I wasn't especially upset because I didn't have anywhere to be. I was disappointed to see, however, a number of workers on their cellphones while people were waiting for service. Overall, I think I'll be back. But next time I might order the tea and bring some headphones if I am going to be doing work that requires focus. read more

So happy this gem is in my neighborhood. I've been coming here for about 3 years. I can enjoy Robust even when I'm working from home because they deliver! We love the breakfast sandwich and brisket grilled cheese. read more

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

I've been going to Robust for 6 years now. It continually has gotten worse and worse. The mochas are more foam than liquid now like a cappuccino. I understand it happening once or twice, but it's been several times now. I'm not paying $5 for foam. A sandwich, chip, and pop are always over $10 and the wait to get the sandwich is often near 10 minutes. This is acceptable if the food is unique or good, but the food is rather mediocre and not worth the price. Starbucks is about a mile North on Woodlawn, I might have to start travelling there for my caffeine kick. read more

I used to go here when my doctors office was down the street. Love the hot chocolate the doughnuts are fresh at least the on I had. They are being covid safe everyone is wearing a mask.The store is clean. read more

Great coffee/ breakfast spot! The prices were really reasonable. Offer milk alternatives for their coffee- got the Honey Nut Latte, which was the best coffee drink i've had in a while. really enjoyable to sit and chill or even study. Would return if in the area! read more

Robust Coffee Lounge - Honey Nut Latte, egg and cheese croissant, Banana Bread French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really like this place! Especially the Veggie Bagel! They have a large selection of Fruit Juices, Coffees and Teas! The Staff here are very friendly and they'll get your order out quick! We'll be back, often and soon! read more

Can't type too much. Perfectly full. I just had the simplest of breakfasts. Fried eggs and grits with cheese. It was sublime. Perfection.

I had the banana bread French toast and dark chocolate mocha. Both were excellent! Good service and fun decor inside as well read more

Robust Coffee Lounge - Banana Bread French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois