My favorite staff ever, parking garage right next door, and super good sandwiches/speciality drinks! Always clean and happening, but never TOO busy. Service is always quick and I've never had anything made wrong before! read more

The only thing I loved more than the incredibly Whovian decor was the delicious food and premium ingredients! The nerd in me felt right at home. These guys really nailed it. From the throwback episodes of Doctor Who playing silently on every wall, to the calm and imaginative playlist flowing from the speakers at an appropriate decibel level, this place captured my heart. Dalek shaped Ghirardelli chocolate pops? Who can compete? Nerds and hungry folk alike will love the great food, warm service and inviting ambiance of this little cafe. Great place to study, lunch, or nerd out with your favorite companions. read more

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I'll be honest, I come to Blue Box way too often, but Chris and his wife are so wonderful that I look forward to a coffee or breakfast on my way to work each morning. The cafe is doing a wonderful job promoting downtown Elgin with events and fresh ideas. Everyone I've dealt with are friendly and the decor seems to continue getting better each month. I think I'd visit even more if the place was a little bigger, with some couches and small tables for board games or cards. But then I'd probably never leave, which would be bad. Give it a try! read more

A very cosy cafe with many choices of deli and different favor of coffee. They have the best ice cream in town, especially the chocolate with dark chocolate topping...Soooooo yummy. read more

Such a quaint spot! Reminded me very much of Wicker Park atmosphere. Super cozy, unique wall art and niche coffee and tea drinks. I got the lavender white mocha iced, it was delicious. Only downfall is the price. A small was close to $5.00, I didn't ask what a large was (only two sizes). Otherwise, I wouldn't mind splurging once in awhile when I visit downtown Elgin! read more

Rude and not customer friendly. Food and coffee is just average. Go to the other cafes nearby.

Perfect place for a casual paced meal and decorated with cool decor! Love having it in downtown Elgin as it serves as an excellent place for coffee, and other pick me up drinks as well as a meal with several delicious sandwiches and soups which I always enjoy. read more

Blue Box Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

We're a family of Whovians, and we recently moved to the area, so we had to go. The staff is friendly, the kids and I loved the decorations, and we were all fans of the food. I had the blue box cafe salad, which comes with bleu cheese, bacon, and hardboiled eggs. The eggs were overdone ( which is super easy to do with hardboiled eggs anyway, honestly), but the salad was still really good. The little monsters each had the grilled cheese, and they loved it. I also had an iced black coffee, and I loved it, it was really flavorful. Also, for my Pokemon Go friends: There is a pokespot that is incredibly close, so you can actually access it while inside the cafe. Splendid time to throw a lure on while sitting down for lunch. There are also a bunch of poke spots in the area, so you can take a nice little walk afterwards and easily hit 8+ pokespots ( a bunch of which all had lures on them at the time) I definitely plan on going back again. I am a fan! I think I heard that sometimes they host board game events, too read more

One of the few places with great coffee in the area. Sandwiches are good too. I wish they were open early but I'll take it good coffee and sandwich where I can get it. read more

I had a café Italiano, and Metropolis has never tasted so good. The shots were balanced and sweet with a creamy finish. Eggplant on the veggie sandwich was roasted perfectly. Blue Box's success is attributed to far more than Dr. Who cult following. read more

A little expensive and our sandwiches were pretty small. While I liked the theme, I do not think I'll return.

Great little Dr. Who themed coffee/sandwich shop. Great selection of gluten free sandwiches and items, love their turkey club and potato salad. Fast friendly service with nice atmosphere. Park across the street in the garage, street parking not always availble. read more

About to celebrate 5 years as the go-to place for coffee and sandwiches in downtown Elgin. Owners Chris and Kathleen are committed to community, plugged in, and offer great food. read more

I got the Elgin club and it was pretty good, but at $8 for a little sandwich I feel that I didn't get much value for my money. read more

Blue Box Cafe - The elgin club. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

food is delicious! the atmosphere is laid back. love it!! they are very accommodating with your requests read more

If you like dr who this is the place to eat. Great staff and amazing deli style food.

This is my favorite cafe to go too. I've been going since it's opened and it's awesome. I love that it's doctor who themed and they very cool drinks and some treats that go with doctor who (Timelord limeade, Last Cinntorian, Jack Harkness etc.) The food is really good too. I love the Turkey ranch and if I'm not really hungry the rice krispey treats are really good or I get the Tardis cookie that has chocolate on the back. Another bonus is that they have a Tardis bench and a Huge Tardis by the "back" !!!!! read more

I love the blue box cafe! If I could live there I would. The people are friendly (both the servers and the customers), the food is absolutely delicious, and their coffee is to die for (black or fancy coffee, they can't go wrong). Whether or not you are a Doctor Who fan this cafe is the perfect fit for anyone who enjoys high quality food and friendly ambiance. I am a fan of the Doctor, but I introduced my best friend to Blue Box Cafe who doesn't have a clue. During her visit with me that week we went to the Blue Box Cafe 4 times for coffee and lunch. I highly recommend the Blue Box Cafe. Parking isn't too bad either, there is a free parking garage across the street. It's the perfect spot to spend a morning or afternoon sipping your favorite hot drink and chatting with friends or reading a good book. read more

Stopped at BBC for the first time yesterday. Got to try two different sandwich's and a cup of soup. Elgin club and turkey Ruben, both were delicious. We ordered three drinks, iced coffee with almond milk, orange screwdriver and a dirty earl. All of the drinks were good. I must point out that they put slaw on the Ruben which was amazing. Can't wait to go back. All of the staff working were so nice. read more

Great sandwich shop and good to its neighbors and it's community members. Thumbs ups from me for that alone!

I was covering a news story and we took a break to grab some grub. I immediately recognized the Blue Box reference and went inside. It's like the perfect hang out for Whovians and non Whovians alike. But getting to the food; excellent turkey club. It's better than if I made it at home. The soup was really good, too. Hit the spot. It's a really awesome place and I wish there was something like this in Rogers Park. Hint hint. read more

Blue Box Cafe - Great atmosphere - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

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This is such a cool place - even if you are not a Doctor Who fan! It's quite popular. They have coffee, sandwiches, ice cream, and more. I have been here a few times, always happy with my meal. I had a grilled cheese this time which was wonderful, and my husband had a Reuben. The Reuben was wonderful, however he had a problem with it because it should actually be called a Rachel - because it has coleslaw on it! (Which he loved!) Hes a purist, but whatever you call it, it was delicious! The coffee was great, and I wish I'd had room for some of their bakery items this visit - they looked great! Parking is either on the street, or in the small lot behind them. Definitely a place to try! I know we will be back! read more

A surprising hidden gem in the heart of Downtown Elgin. Sandwich and coffee shop with a full blown Doctor Who theme that ranges from a TARDIS doorway, an evil snowman statue that's up seasonally, and framed photographs of the owners and the show's stars (also autographed). I would suggest the Elgin Club that comes with Sriracha mayo. Make it a meal and add their delicious homemade potato salad. Support local and take a peak in here. read more

Happy to have a great coffee shop near work! The mint chocolate coffee is delicious - been looking for something similar to Philz mint mojito ever since I left San Francisco, and this may be it! Going to try one of their yummy looking sammies next time. read more

Really good food! Coffee is amazing. Thankful for Groupon. We didn't even know Reid place existed. Hubby and I love places that are small and family gun feeling. This is a place that is nice to visit during summer where you can sit outside and enjoy the City of Elgin while sipping your awesome coffee. Grand Victoria Casino is less than a mile away. Get that caffeine boost before hitting the slots!! read more

Reubens are FANTASTIC!!!! Huge portions & really juicy. They're pretty messy so make sure you have a few napkins handy!

of the ever increasing number of cafe's popping up downtown elgin, this one doesn't only stand out for its Doctor Who decor. the theme is very exciting and the multiple tv's constantly playing episodes of Doctor Who is also a fun touch, especially when dining alone. but even if you've never heard of Doctor Who, the food is good enough to keep you coming back for more. delicious speciality coffees, whether you order it hot or iced; amazing soups and salads; and delicious signature sandwiches (my personal favourite is the Blue Box BLT). they also offer a wide variety of menu items for a cafe, and they're constantly integrating new or limited time entrees into the menu. my only qualm with the cafe, and the only reason it's not a five star review, is price. you're definitely paying for the experience in addition to the food. it's not unreasonable -- no more expensive than going out for dinner would be -- just not an everyday thing. whether you just want a coffee or are looking for a delicious meal, if you're looking for something special, or if money isn't an issue for you, then i would definitely recommend this cafe. read more

It's decorated based on Dr.Who but what is even better is the coffee and the sandwiches. The Elgin club is amazing and they have a lavender ice coffee kinda drink and it is amazing. I truly love this place. read more

I hate Dr Who and I hate its fandom, so the theme of this cafe is really annoying. That being said Blue Box is an excellent cafe that I've had multiple excellent americanos from and this weekend I had a very delicious toasted BLT that's tastiness literally shocked me. So anyway when in Elgin make sure to go here even if you hate or are indifferent to Dr Who like myself. read more

I recently enjoyed a Dirty Earl here, weird but I liked it. Earl Gray tea, steamed soy and espresso. I will be trying that at home this weekend. Wish they had more Doctor Who stuff here. I met a friend who told me about the place and I got there, realizing I had been here before. Obviously not memorable the first time. But this time the Dirty Earl was. I also got a BLT and the bacon was surprisingly good. I wasn't sure if it was going to be more a fake rubbery sort of bacon but it was a yummy sandwich. read more

I was always afraid of coming to this place because I thought the theme was too adventurous and they wouldn't get it right. Was I ever wrong and now regret the wonderful sandwiches I've missed. They addressed the theme perfectly! Not too much and not too little! The Dr. Who episodes is a nice touch! Equally important is the food. I had a Reuben Reuben that was lean and plentiful! Very delicious but I'm sure to try the others very soon. And I haven't even tried the coffee! Highly recommend!! read more

Great sandwiches and atmosphere. My kids are Whovians and we eat here whenever in the area. Fun place and good food :)

This was my first visit but will definitely be back. They do breakfast, lunch and desserts! There are a lot of menu options to choose from including the options to create your own sandwich which makes it hard to make a decision but I choose their new item, Clara's chicken salad sandwich. This was a great choice for a hot summer day. Next time I'll have to try the chili! The atmosphere is casual and comfortable and they bring your food to your table which was a nice surprise for such a casual place. read more

Blue Box Cafe - Lots of reasonably priced sandwiches to choose from plus a new addition, Clara's chicken salad sandwich on toasted whole grain bread. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

As Whovians, we've been intending to go here for some time, but didn't make it until today. I can't really add much to the previous complimentary reviews--the food is good, of course! I had Clara's chicken salad with potato salad and both tasted absolutely fresh, like all the ingredients were assembled when I ordered. My husband had the build your own sandwich and felt the same. The theme is very well done throughout. Not too sure about the smartass from Chicago denigrating the decor--apparently he's not aware that the Doctor was rebooted this century--I found it charming and a delight for Whovians, particularly the little details, like the "Fezzes are cool" sticker next to the door. Well done! And don't blink. read more

I am a local and live down the street so and this is one of my favorite places to get a sandwich. The decor and style is super cute. They put a lot of thought and ideas. The doctor who theme is creative. My son loves to build his own sandwich and my favorite​ is the Turkey Ruben​. A must-have​ for a quick bite. read more

My husband and I love the Blue Box Cafe! We live right down the street and always swing by. I can't say enough about the staff - the owner Chris and his wife are some of the kindest and hardest working people we've had the pleasure to meet. They recognize us by name, and I always hear my husband come home, telling me about the good coffee he got that morning, or how he loves the ham and cheese breakfast sandwich. The cafe is special, as it prides itself on being a Dr. Who-themed cafe. Though I am not familiar with the show, I can see how much attention went into detail for their themeing. Every time I go in, there is something new that screams Dr. Who. The food is very good. The pressed hot sandwiches never fail to impress. I love how we can build our own sandwich - they have many many things to chose from, and it's a nice "homemade" alternative to Subway. While the cafe did recently get wireless to give it more of a "coffeehouse feel", I would be pleased to find more seating availability. It is always a tight squeeze when eating in there, and sometimes you are pressed to find a seat. The atmosphere of the cafe is nice too. You can tell they are working really hard to bring customers and attention to downtown Elgin, as they host improv nights, live bands, etc. Good job Blue Box, keep up the good work! read more

I had the veggielicious with no cheese sandwich and it was delicious! Only thing was that I found sticker label on my eggplant. Which to me is a minor flaw considering that it proves they cook with fresh ingredients, so I just picked it out. I find it hard to find something healthy when dining out but this place caters to everyone. I was amused with their Dr. Who theme but being that I have never watched the show, I felt as though I was kinda missing out. I really like their teas especially their ginger lime tea. I live in Elgin so it's nice that it's nearby. I will definitely be back. read more

Blue Box Cafe - Label sticker on eggplant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

Fantastic atmosphere, great food, even better staff. The only thing more delicious than the decor is the food! A fantastic mix of geeky and functional. The staff all wear geeky shirts, are very nice, and provide excellent service. The fresh brewed tea is wonderful too. read more

Blue Box Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

Great little lunch spot excellent sandwiches and service. I ordered the Italian sandwich but as a wrap and it was divine! Here for work but will probabaly go back before I leave. read more

The food here is great, and the people are too. The female cashier who helped me today was very talkative and helpful with my order. I did not get her name however I learned a whole lot about her from her male co worker, who I am assuming is a manager. He was wearing a purple shirt and had dark short hair. I could hear him yelling about something in back, and a short while later the nice talkative cashier left, looking upset. 5 minutes later I found out why. As I was sitting on the bench next to the snowman, I could clearly hear the male employee bad mouthing his fellow co worker who had just left. Saying things like "she is too pushy, she forces things on the customer, etc." while I do agree she was slightly pushy, it was not in an aggressive way but more of a suggestive way. When I ordered with her I made it clear I had no idea what I wanted and she offered quite a few things and tried to help me with my order as much as possible. I have never, ever had a bad experience here. But hearing this male blue box employee talking smack about his very nice co worker behind her back, acting like he wanted her fired. That was extremely unprofessional. I was by the door, and he was by the front counter and even over the music and chatter of the other patrons I could hear him loud and clear. I am extremely upset with his behavior, and would like to see action taken on this. That cashier was nothing but nice and helpful and he said some very mean things about her when she left, loud enough for everyone in the whole cafe to here. The only reason I am giving this many stars is because of the stellar help from the nice cashier and the yummy sandwich. My food was excellent as well as my hot coco which the nice cashier suggested. His behavior made me nauseous, and he complained about her for a good 5 minutes. He should have talked to her nicely about it behind closed doors, suggested maybe making less suggestions if he found it to be such a huge issue. The way he handled it, berating a fellow employee in front of the entire cafe was disgusting behavior. Thank you to the wonderful cashier, and the sandwich maker. You, sir, should not be working at a wonderful place like blue box cafe. read more