CATEDRAL CAFÉ
2500 S. Christiana Ave.
(773) 277-2233
www.catedral.cc
Venture to the southwest side, and in the heart of Little Village, you will find a sort of sanctuary of coffee houses. Catedral Café opened up just over a year ago by a couple that emigrated from Mexico 30 years ago.
Outside and in, the place is designed with a very Catholic theme. Religious icons and arts adorn every wall and corner in a very colorful and cozy environment.
Live bands and open mics are featured weekly. The owners are committed to showcasing local and fresh talent.
This place may soon be known worldwide, as scenes from the movie “Stranger than Fiction,” with Will Ferrell were filmed there.
Their specialty blend, “Seven Angels,” coffee can certainly lift your spirits. And, the food menu consists of Italian and French dishes, including crepes, paninis and pastas, something unique for the neighborhood loaded with Mexican restaurants.
Recommendations: Vegetarian panini, lime and sugar crepes, bottomless house blend coffee.
GALLERY CAFE
1760 W. North Ave.
(773) 252-8228
Over in Wicker Park lies a place for the creative types with a fine arts education. They have a full menu of drinks, and their breakfast and lunch items are all under the names of artists.
While I was there, the guy behind the counter suggested the Thomas Kincaid, which is not on the actual menu, but is one of his favorite sandwiches to make. If you’re feeling daring enough to try it, ask for it when you go in, ingredients include mayonnaise, Tabasco sauce, peanut butter, bacon, Swiss cheese, onions and tomatoes. Sound yummy?
The staff there certainly was creative and spunky in their own way.
The coffee beans are roasted fresh there, and their local regular clientele partake in sipping and sitting while admiring the featured art displayed. Every 4-6 weeks their artwork display changes, as they consider themselves a venue for undiscovered artists. The environment is open, and the corner location allows for great people watching out the window walls.
Recommendations: Dollar coffee! Da Vinci, or Kincaid?
UNCOMMON GROUND3800 N. Clark St.
(773) 929-3680
www.uncommonground.com
If you’re heading up further north to Wrigleyville, be sure to check out Uncommon Ground.
Just two years ago, this place was transformed from a small coffee bar, to also include a full restaurant and liquor bar. Don’t worry, the coffee bar is still there though, and pretty well separated from the main restaurant area.
They serve Intelligentsia brand coffee, and offer many unique and seasonal blends in their drinks, like the “Trick or Treat”, which includes English coffee, mocha and whip cream.
Those that get tired of caffeine can always try the homemade cocoa served in a giant, cereal sized bowl. The cocoa is very popular and famous to those who frequent the café, and for kids, one is big enough to share. The food menu includes fruits and vegetables fresh from the farmers markets.
Every night, the place is transformed into a live music venue in the old coffee house back area. Open mics and folk acts frequent the stage.
As seems to be the trend, undiscovered art covers their walls as well. The selection changes regularly here also.
Recommendations: Mocha, baked artichoke goat cheese and pesto dip, cinnamon raisin French toast.
CAFÉ BALLOU
939 N. Western Ave.
(773) 342-2909
This place is located in Ukrainian Village, but you’ll forget where you are while inside. There is such a quaint feel, in this Old-World style café. Complete with fancy furniture, and lace curtains. Visitors can sit and study, access the Internet, or sip and eat. My favorite seat in the place is a table in front, which is up on a platform and by the window with the beautiful curtains.
Oh, the food and coffee are good here too. They offer pastries and desserts, but also sandwiches and salads. The owner, Christine Kordiuk, who speaks Ukrainian and Polish, is most always there; making sure everything is made with care and served delicious.
The coffee served here is Intelligentsia brand, but also popular are the teas and Turkish coffee.
Boar’s Head brand meat is served fresh on their sandwiches, but there are excellent vegetarian choices as well.
Just be sure and bring cash, as that is all they accept here.
Recommendations: Roasted red pepper and cheese sandwich, Turkish coffee, Red Eye coffee blend.
METROPOLIS COFFEE COMPANY
1039 W. Granville Ave.
(773) 764-0400
www.metropoliscoffee.com
Further up north, but convenient for those in Uptown, just off Lake Shore Drive, lies this find. Everyone in the place is friendly, the staff and the clients included. It is a great neighborhood hangout, and feels like a coffee house should feel. By that I mean, you will feel welcome, able to relax, chat, study, meet new or old friends, think, or even create, all while enjoying some of the best coffee in the city.
Metropolis roasts and sells their own beans, and satisfies many tastes, from classic blends like Mocha Java, and French Roast, to the Redline Espresso. A wide variety of teas and smoothies are up for tasting as well, but be sure to at least take some coffee home with you if you don’t drink any there.
Live music and local artists are showcased here regularly; art changes every 4-6 weeks, and music changes all the time. One night you might stop in and hear a DJ spinning electronic music, the next night, it may be classical. All forms of music and art are welcome at Metropolis, including café guest’s writings.
An old-school style typewriter is there for whomever doesn’t have writers block, or just has something to say. They select the ones they like and post them for everyone to read, thus making you part of their display. Frequent there enough, and you may even end up as one of their regulars profiled on their website.
Recommendations: Redline espresso, Hawaiian colada tea
INTELLIGENTSIA
3123 N. Broadway
(312) 563-0023
53 W. Jackson
(312) 253-0594
53 E. Randolph
(312) 920-9332
www.intelligentsiacoffee.com
Sure, this name may soon be all too well known, a la Starbucks. But, its roots are local, and I’m sure the people in Seattle still adore the original Starbucks location (I know I used to live there). And, truth be told, Intelligentsia is really great coffee, and with the original store on Broadway Ave., really a great hangout as well.
The lattes are far better than Starbucks to my tastes, as they have no need for all kinds of sweeteners added into drinks. Many restaurants and other coffee houses, as seen above, are starting to request Intelligentsia to make them a house blend.
The Broadway Avenue location in Lakeview is always busy, and people are always outside, sometimes even in the cold, chatting and drinking away one of the carefully crafted coffee concoctions.
There are two locations now downtown for all the commuters and tourists. One on Jackson, attracts the mostly businessmen and women, while the newest location by Millennium Park, on Randolph, attracts a larger, business and tourist mix. The décor of the Randolph location compliments the park’s atmosphere and feel.
Recommendations: Carmel latte, Americano, coffee!
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Novel crepe machine
Written by Guest on 2006-10-31 11:22:45
I came across a unique, fully automatic crepe machine that's fascinating to watch and it makes all sizes of crepes and pancakes. Your readers may find it interesting to watch. I found it at www.lilorbits.com /uni
Ema |
Catedral Cafe
Written by Guest on 2007-01-07 22:37:58
Unique great place..
Peter  |
CATEDRAL CAFÉ
