Tried this place for the first time today. We ordered the soup of the day and sandwiches. Both very good. The meat, cheese and especially the bread were very fresh. Two daily soup specials were delicious but a generous serving. We will make this a regular rotation,in our lunch outings. Service was great! read more

I can't say enough good things about this establishment or the people who worked there. First, let me start with our scenario. It was my son's 10th birthday and he is a huge whovian. We already had his themed birthday party prior but the day of his birthday, but what could we do to top that? I did a search on the internet and came across the Blue Box Cafe. I noticed that the hours are until 7pm during the week so I used the contact us to obtain more information. A quick reply happened from Chris, the co-owner, which was warm and welcoming to me that he would be there waiting for us and if we needed to stay a bit longer after 7pm, that he would accommodate. When we arrived, we were not let down. My son was so surprised with all the paintings, pictures, memorabilia, gifts, and decorations. Knowing that it was my son's birthday, they wished him a happy one which made him feel so special. On three tv's was an episode of doctor who playing and then Chris made this even more special. He asked my son what was his favorite episode and he would put it on. We took many pictures and really enjoyed the atmosphere in its entirety. The staff was absolutely perfect. It went beyond wishing my boy a happy birthday. There was a sense of care in the midst of everything. They almost seemed to be happy working there. Fancy that. Employees who care. One gentlemen was just so pleasant that he really made an impact on my 11 year old daughter. He was just so nice and friendly. It was amazing. Employees like this are a valued commodity in today's world. My family isn't a huge sandwich/salad/soup for dinner, so I was a bit apprehensive about this. I was blown away about the food. I went with the Submarine Italiano and it was fantastic. The bread was soft and fresh, the meats were rich and the sweet pickle that they put on there just made it complete. I also had a chance to try my 6 year old daughters grilled cheese, which her response was "they made me pick three cheeses" as if it was the hardest thing that she had to do all day. Perfectly grilled. Perfectly tasty. I also had a taste of my 9 year old son's chicken and rice soup. Thick and full. There was chicken in there. A lot of chicken. The taste was again, just perfect. Although I didn't try the salads, they looked well presented and fresh. When speaking to Chris, he did tell us about the events that they host which appears to be even more engaging than just a sandwich shop. I highly recommend The Blue Box to all, regardless if you are a whovian or not. You will enjoy yourself. read more

Love, love love this place. Food always tastes great and it has a nice cozy atmosphere.

I loved the coffee here! The turtle lattes are scrumptious while the atmosphere is trendy and innovative; points for a Doctor Who theme!

Best sandwiches and coffee in downtown Elgin. I moved to Elgin a couple months ago and have explored all the coffee and breakfast options near the train. Blue Box is the clear winner - the breakfast sandwich is always delicious and hot and the coffee is way better than the other places. I only wish it was right off the tracks because I am often running too late to make it in there . If I have an extra 5 minutes, I will choose Blue Box every time. Also, my favorite Doctor is represented on the coat rack. read more

I love the theme! Not saturated with the Doctor, just right. The Club is made with Boar's Head deli meat and it's amazing. Get a dirty chai tea iced and you'll forget the sugary Starbuck's version. Sandwiches are small for the price but good. read more

Great atmosphere, very cozy. The staff is very friendly, delicious sandwiches and coffee.

Just happened upon this place when we were in town and looking for a coffee shop to kill some time. We were delighted at the Doctor Who theme! Friendly staff and cool vibe. read more

Love the vibe of this little coffee shop. The coffee and food was good. The reason they missed a star is because the girl who helped me at the register was pretty rude and didn't seem like she wanted to help me. read more

Let's say you just want some good food at a good price. GO THERE. Want to order, go sit down at a clean table then have your food delivered a few minutes later? GO THERE! Are you into DR. WHO? Why haven't you been there yet? It's awesome! GO THERE!!! read more

I decided to go get lunch after school, and this was the closest thing, so I figured why not. I called ahead to ask if they knew if any of their breads were vegan, (because I'm vegan) and although the person I spoke to on the phone was very sweet, he didn't know. From there I had to call the bakery that they get their bread from, they only have one kind, their white roll. So I went to this cafe, ordered the veggie sandwich with no cheese and on a white bun with a cup of their house coffee. The coffee was cold and had a very bad and bitter taste. Once I got my sandwich, I was late for my appointment, so without looking at the sandwich first, I grabbed the bag and ran out the door. (I paid first of course). Once I was able to start eating, I noticed that there was cheese on my sandwich and the sandwich was not on the bun and was on the original bread. I couldn't eat the sandwich and ended up drinking less than half of that terrible coffee. read more

This is a great sandwich and soup shop. Great place to get a hot, pressed sandwich. Staff is great and I had no complaints during my first visit. I got the Rueben, which, to be truthful was 100% faithful to the traditional rueben. Instead of sauerkraut, Blue Box uses coleslaw. I was not disappointed, it was a great substitution! And the bagged chips were great too! And if you're a fan of Dr Who fan, lots of to enjoy at the Blue Box. read more

This place is awesome. Who fan or not it's a must visit for people into local owned cool places. Good food, friendly owners, lots of Who memorabilia even the music is cool! read more

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This place is one of my favorite stops to make when I am in town. They have a variety of unique beverage choices from which to choose and their food is very good as well. The staff is very friendly also!! I also love the window art that changes. read more

I initially reviewed Blue Box a few years ago, when I gave them only four stars. I say "only" because after recent visits, they deserve the full five (if not more, were that possible). Their portion sizes have grown significantly after my initial complaint that they were on the small size for the price. I have to say that their salads are now my favorite of all the dining establishments in downtown Elgin. What's more, the owners do so much for the Elgin community, offering free food to those in need and hosting events for gamers, comic book fans, and more. As an added bonus for those who are environmentally conscious, they now use non-plastic straws so I can enjoy my iced coffees guilt-free. read more

Blue Box Cafe is one of my favorite places to eat in Elgin... or anywhere for the matter! I love the atmosphere and theme. The staff is awesome. The food is excellent. Their "Reuben Rueben" sandwich is my absolute favorite! It doesn't have sauerkraut like a traditional Reuben sandwich (which I do love), but instead has coleslaw and it's amazing. It's different and so delicious! I will definitely be going back soon. read more

Blue Box Cafe is decked out head to toe in everything Doctor Who, but even non-fans (such as myself) will enjoy their coffee specialties and sandwiches. This is a great spot to relax, grab something small to eat or sip on a drink and move along. The place is clean and nicely decorated and their staff is friendly. read more

I've been a LOOOOONG time Dr. Who fan, so when I found myself in Elgin, ready for lunch, I HAD to go check out the Blue Box Cafe. It was a really nice shop. Not huge, but definitely cozy. The staff was friendly, and didn't try to rush me, which I appreciated. I ordered a Ruben, and I was a little surprised to find that it had sweet coleslaw on it, instead of sauerkraut, but it was very tasty. The iced peppermint tea was very good too. I chilled out, eating my sandwich and enjoying the (appropriately themed) TV show episode. I noticed on the calendar that there are discussion nights, but alas, I had a rehearsal to get to, and couldn't stay for that evening's event. I would definitely come back, next time I am in town. (I particularly enjoyed the blue police box in the parking lot.) read more

Been here quite a few times. Service is good and the bring your meal to your table. Owners are great friendly people. So far everything I have ordered has been good. My fav is the BLT n coffee. Has a nice small coffee shop feel. They have special events as well with live music. I will be back again soon! read more

The wife, kids and I went to check this place out. We are Dr. Who fans so we had to go. The parking was easy. Super clean place with a fantastic vibe. I had the grill cheese which was very good. We enjoyed looking at the decor while eating and relaxing. The staff was friendly. The kids liked the free wifi so they could send pictures to their friends. I'm excited to have an easy place to get a beverage and a sandwich with a great vibe. Only down side was when you first get there the menu board is a bit overwhelming. We just grabbed a menu and that was easier. read more

I really enjoy the white chocolate mocha a lot! It's one of the best!

A great little cafe. My daughter and I came to see the Dr. Who decor, but we were also really pleased by the quality of the sandwiches and desserts. Friendly staff made the experience all the more enjoyable. Would definitely visit again. read more

I go there quite often for coffee or a sandwich. I am impress as they do have a good deli sandwich. Would rather eat there instead of Subway, as good quality Boar's Head meats are used on their sandwich. The owner/manager is very friendly along with the staff. If you are a Dr. Who Fan, you will enjoy spending time here as it is the theme of the establishment! read more

Went in today to get a chai tea for my mom and my cashier was this girl with dark hair in a high ponytail , super sweet , talkative , I wanted to just be friends with her already , we had a conversation about our days and I couldn't have been more satisfied with my service . Never got her name sadly , so to whoever that sweet girl was thank you for your awesome service !!! read more

One of my favorite coffee shops/delis in Elgin. Consistantly friendly and quick service, great and unique coffee creations, all in a fun setting. read more

Great mild Doctor Who themed. The best thing are the sandwiches. My husband took me there because of the Doctor Who theme. We loved the great friendly service and tasty fresh sandwiches. We will definitely go back. read more

Great local coffee shop and deli. Staff is always friendly and helpful. Great atmosphere inside and an excellent place to meet or study if need be. Never have been disappointed by any drink or sandwich that I have ordered from here. read more

Great cup of coffee. Friendly service. Cute atmosphere. Any Dr. Who fan would love this place. Prices are comparable with Starbucks. However, the specialty drinks are unique. Great local establishment. read more

When it comes to service, good options and amazing tea lattes, blue box cafe is amazing. You have to be a fan of Dr. Who to really love and understand the ambiance of it. Food: There is a ton of options here. Salads are pricey but a huge portion. Eating healthy anywhere always equals pricey. I like their turkey rueben, Bluebox salad, Caesar wrap and definitely their seasonal Turkey Gobbler (I believe that it is called that). The turkey gobbler is really delicious. You could probably look at the ingredients and make it at home after Thanksgiving, but I'm looking for the convenience of being ready to eat without carving a freshly baked turkey. Come on. Drinks: I love coffee but for some reason their coffee is too strong for me. I was informed by a worker there that it could be the milk option that I have chosen and suggested to go with higher fat in the milk would help. The milk did make a difference, but I still can't handle it. My choice of poison is their London Fog latte and some honey. Hot or cold, it just gives me the right amount of caffeine needed to complete the rest of my day at work. Snacks: Try their magic bar with chocolate and coconut!?! They have other options, but this is my choice. Line: The line may be confusing on where to order if it is your first time. Sometimes, the line starts directly in front of the register or curves along the drink bar. Just ask the person in front of you if they are in line. Bathrooms: if you are needing to go to the bathroom, they do not have a direct one. It is more of a communal one with the other businesses in the building. Every attempt that I've tried to go, I've always ran into an issue such as no toilet paper or dirty. It's not their fault since it is shared. The workers: They are very sweet people. I have seen some random acts of kindness with whom, I believe, are the owners to people in the area that not even customers. To treat others with respect and humanity, this is always cool in my book. Try different things until you find your niche. It took me a little while to give up on their coffee options. read more

First time at Blue Box Cafe I'm a coffee snob...go to Calibre coffee shop in The Arboretum of So. Barrington for Intelligencia... direct buy local and San Francisco roasters beans...grind my own and do variety of processes: French press; poor overs, etc.. With that in mind the drip coffee at Blue Box SMOKED anything I've had in a long time!! Great, distinctive taste..smooth...good "note" at end of each taste! Will go out of my way...past many starbucks etc., to go here. I'm definitely trying their sandwiches next time also. read more

We are big Doctor Who fans and loved it here. The food and service was great, we will definitely go back.

Great sandwich and breakfast place, great coffee, cooky decor, I'm not hip to Doctor Who but I can appreciate the theme. Lovely addition to downtown Elgin!!! read more

So fun! Very friendly. Delicious black coffee and baked goods. I also love their white chocolate and lavender drink.

Best coffee shop in Downtown Elgin! The owners and employees are super friendly and the food is very good. Even if you are not a Doctor Who fan (I am...), the decor and atmosphere are super fun! read more

This place is amazing. The coffee is delicious. The prices are great. I go there about 3 times a week and the owners are so sweet. About once in every 10 times, they tell me the coffee is free. I also love the quirky environment. read more

After a long, arduous day at a previous establishment, my friends and I decided to stop at Blue Box Cafe to decompress. Not expecting much, we were shocked by the welcoming and comforting aura of it all. The service was excellent and the employees went above and beyond. The food was decent and inexpensive and the decor was fun without being overwhelming. I definitely recommend this wonderful cafe! read more

Fun...great place to have lunch with a friend. We recommend it to all our friends. Premium sandwiches.....great friendly service. read more

Went here for the first time today. Delicious! Fresh ingredients and very good quality. Definitely will be back.

Blue Box has it all Great food, lots of fun and a fabulous staff. When you want to great sandwich or a great side try this place as it is run by a person who truly knows how to provide tasty food at great prices read more

Wonderful food and my friends and I love the Doctor Who themed interior. I only wish they were open on Sundays.