Right off the bat, I am not surprised this coffee spot has such high reviews. When my friend and I…read moremet here, we were impressed not only by the drinks and gelato, but by the service, as well. Sweet N Brew has a cozy, welcoming atmosphere with a European-style cafe feel. When we visited, we were the only ones sitting inside for a while. Several pick-up orders were coming and going, but having the space mostly to ourselves made the experience feel calm and relaxing. I ordered an iced caramel latte, and the owner, who was also working the counter, asked how sweet I preferred my drinks. She even mentioned she could adjust the flavor if needed. The latte was absolutely perfect on the first try. It was creamy, smooth, and well-balanced without being overly sweet. I also ordered a scoop of coffee gelato in a cone, which paired beautifully with my drink and tasted rich and authentic. What really stood out was the owner herself. She made friendly conversation while taking my order, and it was clear how passionate she is about her business and the quality of what she serves. That personal touch made the visit even more memorable. I do wish this spot were closer to me since I live in Schaumburg, but it is absolutely worth the drive. I cannot wait to come back and would highly recommend Sweet N Brew to anyone looking for great coffee, delicious gelato, and genuinely warm service. It is truly a hidden gem, and I am so glad I found it.

It's a cozy spot with tons of gelato flavors and customizable crepes, sweet or savory. Their coffee…read moreis the best--my go-to is an espresso with a croissant. Perfect for a snack or a quick pick-me-up! They have indoor and outdoor seating and are usually open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm, though hours can change.

I don't understand why more people don't go here. They have very good coffee, the inside is…read moreattractive and comforting, and the Polish family that runs it are as friendly as can be. They also run an open mike every Thursday night. I can't find a good open mike in the suburbs. Apart from me, there was only one other musician that played, but I see potential here in a bohemian sense. They have special coffees with different flavors named after famous artists, in accordance with the theme of the place. My Van Gogh (with raspberry) was excellent and my wife was happy with her Renoir (with pineapple - that's right). My home-brewed coffee this morning pales in comparison. There aren't many places like Art Gallery Kafe anymore and it pains me to think that they'll soon be gone if, whenever anyone wants good coffee, they can't think past the nearest Starbucks.

This venue is perfect for live music surrounded by art. The visit over the weekend featured a new…read morevocalist and a jazz band originally from Poland. There was snacks and assorted drinks available for sale, including alcohol and hot teas. And we're little tables and chairs set around the performers. Making intimate and very pleasant.

As far as hotel restaurants go, this is one of the better ones. This time, I had a steak sandwich…read moreand it was perfectly cooked and the toppings and roll were well-matched and fresh. Our server was nice and attentive, but not too much since she knew that we had work to finish up before we could turn in for the night. While the sandwich with fries was a little over $20, I feel like it could easily be shared. The fires were also very good: hot and fresh and somewhere between "regular" and "steak" or plank-style fries. We also had potato skins -- and they don't use small potatoes or skimp on the cheese and bacon. I wouldn't say there is much in the way of "ambiance" since it is located in the hotel lobby, and sometimes there is live music, which I think is a little distracting in such a small space and, well, inside the hotel lobby (though the lobby is 12 floors of hard surfaces and largely open space)

On the first floor of The Westin, this bar & bistro serves good food, good drinks & great service…read more Potato skins: great cheese to potato to bacon ratio. Only one skin was over fried. Ahi tuna salad: great cabbage, celery crunch. Fresh tuna and perfect sauce. Great convenience as a Hotel guest and also a good meeting place with quiet corners for business meetings

Pleasantly surprised when visiting Joe Donuts! The Itasca location is within the Ricky Rockets Fuel…read moreCenter. They have their own dedicated entrance, seating areas inside & outside, and a nice ordering counter. They have a wide variety of donut flavors but they seemed to be selling fast since it's the weekend. I highly recommend coming early to have your choice of donuts as I'm not sure how often they restock. When visiting, I tried their Boston Cream donut, Gimme My Regular breakfast sandwich, and Caramel High-Rise Coffee. The donut had a really good flavor of chocolate icing and custard filling. I got my coffee iced and it was the perfect sweet coffee treat. The breakfast sandwich was by far the favorite. The portion was huge and is easy to share or have leftovers. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and would certain come back!

Met a friend at JD for coffee and a donut. Here are some thoughts:…read more --It is located inside a Shell gas station, but once you walk inside, it feels like a food court. --JD's has donuts, but also a cook and quite a menu! --I ordered the plain old fashioned donut and it was good. Also got a vanilla latte. --Service is good,and prices are reasonable. Recommended!

Maple Leaf Coffee Roasters is a great, fresh option in the Roselle area. They have a variety of…read morebean options for light, medium, dark roasts and even sell decaf beans. The bags come is 12oz and 16oz options but one can also preorder a large format of beans for pick up. When I visited, the owner Alex was there and he could not be nicer! He made some great recommendations based on my preferences and offers items in bean or grounded formats. I purchased the Costa Rica Marigold option based on the notes listed. He gave me beans that had been roasted that day! The beans are high quality but not has flavor forward as I'm used to. Either way, pricing was very fair and seems to always have all options in stock.

I first came here for a coffee tasting session with Alex last summer, and that was a great…read moreexperience. Alex is super knowledgeable about coffee and clearly puts a lot of thought into what he does and how he does it. It's been really nice to be able to order coffee beans and have them delivered since we're so close to the store, but going there is easy too - convenient location and plenty of parking. The coffee itself has been solid - I am not a black coffee drinker, but my partner is, and he has consistently enjoyed the coffee he's gotten there. On our last visit to the shop, Alex told us about the other location they own, Maple Leaf Coffee House in St. Charles - we're hoping to check that out soon!

We were in the area and wanted boba. We ordered 3 things, the Vietnamese coffee with boba,…read morestrawberry matcha boba and the strawberry tang hulu. We ordered from the touch screen and none of the drinks could be customized for sweetness and the coffee could not have boba added so I had to physically give extra cash to the employee after I finished my transaction on the touchpad. Strawberry matcha- way too sweet with a lot of jam on the bottom Vietnamese coffee- tasty Tang hulu- still frozen with ice dripping off it. Nothing like the picture lol Feel bad for the one employee who could barely keep up working the register and making all the drinks.

This cute little bubble tea shop is one you should not miss! Set in a strip mall next to my nail…read moreplace on Meacham Rd... the selection is great and the price is awesome! They also have fun international items like chips n candy for sale too! Discount if you pay with cash also! You really need to stop in if you're close! Support your small businesses and give em a try!

This place is off to a good start. At its current location it's a little tricky to find. It's…read morelocated at a country club but you don't have to be a member to buy the gelato. Just go down stairs through the entrance marked the Fox and Turtle and you're there. They seem to provide four flavors at a time and have new ones frequently (daily?). At any rate it was delicious and it was nice not to have to go into dangerous downtown Chicago to get good gelato. Highly recommended and looking forward to the growth of this new business.

This next location is a hidden gem in Itasca…read more This small confectionery wonder is located near the front entrance of Fox and Turtle in the Itasca country club. The name is Undici Gelato in Itasca. The owner, whose name is Antonella, spent years with top chefs to create the most perfect Gelato. The flavors change by the week and are all made with fresh fruits and creams. Nothing is artificial. I had been here many months ago as a suggestion from a friend to try their out of this world Gelato. I again was contacted by a subscriber who told me that I needed to try their new shakes made with fresh gelato. They said it will blow my mind with how good it is. I arrived at around 4 o'clock on a Friday. I sat at the bar area of Undici. I spoke with Antonella for quite some time. She is such a wonderful and friendly owner. I could not wait to try this shake that she had in store for me. I opted to get my shake as a malt. The shake consisted of fresh strawberry gelato. When I tell you, I took my first sip and it took everything in me not to chug the entire shake right then and there. You could taste the fresh strawberries. You could also taste the high-quality cream. It was like drinking pure silk. It was so creamy and smooth, one if not the best shake I've ever had in my life. I had to get one to bring home to my wife so she could also try this confectionery masterpiece. The price of this super high-quality shake was only six dollars. It blew my mind. There is another shake and location literally a block away from here that I did a review on. They were charging $14 for a shake that could not hold a candle to the flavour and quality of this shake. As I sat and talked with Antonella, enjoying my shake, she also told me she had another drink that she was introducing to the menu. It was what she called an Italian spritzer that she wanted me to try. The drink before I tasted it looked so beautiful and refreshing. I took my first sip and it took me back to when I was in Italy. The flavours were a subtle orange with hints of citrus. It was a wonderful and refreshing drink to have on a summer day. I cannot stress enough that all of you need to go here for the best in Gelato. The quality and flavor is like nothing you've ever had. Follow her on Facebook where she updates her flavors weekly. Undici is open at 4 o'clock on Fridays to close. It is also open on the weekends. Check hours before showing up. I never recommend a place without my stamp of approval. Check Undici Gelato out and you can thank me later. I rate Undici in Itasca a 9.3 out of 10.