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    Critical Grind

    4.9 (21 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    So many games to play!
    Shannon M.

    This is a coffee shop, but oh so much more! They have many board games that you can play in-house (& they sell games too), as well as gaming events like DnD and Trivia Night. The menu consists of a variety of coffee drinks as well as smoothies and refreshers for us philistines who don't partake. I had the strawberry açai refresher, which lived up to its name and was neither too sweet nor too tart, and my companion had a dark chocolate mocha with hazelnut syrup. The food options consist mostly of various iterations of toast (good idea as it's handheld, not too messy and you can eat while playing a game!) He got toast with avocado, tomato and balsamic (the tomato is in chunky slices; maybe smaller pieces would work better?), and I "rolled for toast" and made a version of the Dracarys: hummus, buffalo sauce, everything bagel seasoning. For dessert we got the Chocolate Delight toast topped with Nutella and strawberries. Staff were friendly and made sure everyone was aware of the game that would be happening that evening. This was a great place for a first date because you have the automatic ice breaker in the games. (Plus you can learn more about your companion: do you collaborate well together? Are they a sore loser? Do they read the instructions or just try to jump in? Etc.) Would definitely return and bring all my friends!

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    9 months ago

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    1 month ago

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    11 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    Dana B.

    Helpful 2
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    3 years ago

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    Dana B.

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    5 months ago

    Amazing ambience and top tier service. Owner always makes us feel at home! Definitely my go to board game cafe.

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    1 year ago

    This place is a 10/10 amazing. Large selection of games and their coffee is so good. Staff is so friendly.

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    1 year ago

    coffee tasted strange almost like green tea. when i mentioned this i was basically told thats how its tastes

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    3 years ago

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    Dana B.

    Thank you for coming. I hope to see you again soon! :)

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    3 years ago

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    Dana B.

    Thank you so much Candice! We'll see y'all again soon. :)

    Helpful 3
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    2 years ago

    A great place with friendly staff there is always something going on and games to play.

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    3 years ago

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    Dana B.

    Thank you Jen! Can't wait to see you again soon.

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    3 years ago

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    Dana B.

    Thank you, Levi. :)

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    3 years ago

    Delicious drinks and food, options for a variety of health choices, and great choice of games! Employees are always friendly and efficient.

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    Dana B.

    Thank you so much! :D

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    3 years ago

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    Dana B.

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    3 years ago

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    Dana B.

    Thank you Mandy! See you again soon!

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    3 years ago

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    Dana B.

    Thank you for your kind words! See you again soon!

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    3 years ago

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    Dana B.

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    3 years ago

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    Dana B.

    THank you so much!! We hope to see you again soon.

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    3 years ago

    I have been a few times and had absolutely no complaints.The food and drinks were great and the owners are awesome people

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    Dana B.

    Thank you! :)

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    Ask the Community - Critical Grind

    Review Highlights - Critical Grind

    As we pulled up and parked, I knew we picked a good place due to being a Board Game Cafe.

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    The Wormhole Coffee - Lemon poppy and Boston cream each $3.67

    The Wormhole Coffee

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    37.3 miWicker Park, West Town
    $

    Haven't been here in years (2018?). Still a great hang with couches for catching up with friends…read moreand socializing. Staff was friendly and it's always a nice little luxury to get a coffee not made from home in this economy! I had the vanilla bean latte, half sweet, oat milk And my friend had the koopa troopa, half sweet, oat milk They've had the same menu a long time so it's tried and true and then their seasonal offerings as well! Love this place. Bit of nostalgia for a different time. I remember the cereal bar. Now that I've made myself sound about a million years old it's time to sign off! Go catch up with friends here

    One of my favorite coffee shops! It's almost always busy, so I wouldn't recommend coming if loud…read moreenvironments aren't your thing, but I absolutely love the vibe here. The decor is classic and cozy, and the coffee is genuinely excellent. I also love doing work here with their community tables. I usually don't like my lattes too sweet, but they nail the balance and flavor combinations every time. It is a bit sweet overall, but I'm not bothered by it? They really balance the flavor combinations really well, especially with the ghostly trio! Despite how busy it gets, the service is surprisingly quick, and somehow every drink still comes out consistently great. I honestly don't know how they manage it.

    Photos
    The Wormhole Coffee - Menu board

    Menu board

    The Wormhole Coffee - Chocolate croissant

    Chocolate croissant

    The Wormhole Coffee - Vanilla Bean with whole milk.....one of the best coffees I've had in a long while.....

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    Vanilla Bean with whole milk.....one of the best coffees I've had in a long while.....

    Cafe Bethak

    Cafe Bethak

    4.6(19 reviews)
    24.4 mi

    Needed a quick snack in the way to the arboretum and ended up here. It was so cute and welcoming…read more There was an event going on when we arrived but they were happy explain things in the menu, take our order and seat us. We sat at the cute floor seating area and lounged with our snacks. We got the bun kabob, haleem and karak chai. The haleem has no business being this good at a cafe lol. The bun kabob's meat to bread to chutney ratio was perfect. The chai was really authentic and not too sweet. We went for snack, but ended waay more stuffed than intended. Happily so

    I finally got a chance to come here. It's been listed as Chicago's first Pakistani-themed cafe. I…read morelike that they have long hours. There is a ton of parking available. I really like the look of the inside, it's very aesthetic and will likely appeal to these young American Tik Tok/IG girls. However, as Chicago's first Pakistani-themed cafe, I was hoping for a more authentic experience. I know their menu is half American and half Pakistani. I think 95% Pakistani would have been better. The pancakes, French toast, chicken cajun pasta, and chicken club sandwich, people can get that literally anywhere. The Pakistani food you can't. I ordered the paratha smash burger and honey cardamom matcha hot. The honey cardamom was great, not very sweet at all. The paratha was crispy and the smash burger was juicy. I really enjoyed the sauce on top of the burger. I would definitely come back here for that. Service was very friendly and helpful. I would give this place a 4. I would really love to see more Pakistani food on the menu as well as advertised on your social media. The Americanized food catering to Americans doesn't do the Pakistani culture justice.

    Photos
    Cafe Bethak
    Cafe Bethak
    Cafe Bethak

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    Grind N Gears Cafe - Coffee bar

    Grind N Gears Cafe

    4.5(28 reviews)
    38.9 mi
    $
    Family-owned & operated
    Free parking

    Now this is a cool concept. Let's back up. I meet a couple of friends on Sunday mornings at coffee…read moreshops and cafes. No chains, just stand alone locations. Each place has a theme, or a charm all its own and Grind N Gears Cafe is one of the latter. When you pull up you immediately recognize the place as a former body shop or service station. Not a as station, but a body shop. They have their own small parking lot in front with special motorcycle parking on the sides of the lot. It's a small place. When you walk inside there is a runner leading up to the counter with their case of delicious looking eats and a platform above with an old Indian motorcycle perched looking over the place. To the right of the counter are some toys for the kids, including a kids motorcycle and other funs toys to keep the kiddos busy while their parents enjoy a magically concocted coffee drink by the shops artisans. There are comfy little sitting areas composed of oversized furniture from your parents basement. The front has a few racks of leather jackets that feels like your at The Alley's northern location. They do have some hats and apparel for their own shop and I almost bought a hat. On the left side, they have another seating area, but it looks more like a table in a cozy kitchen than a sitting room. It's quaint no matter where you look or sit. Lastly, their drinks and food are quite good. With all the stand alone coffee places popping up, Grinds N Gears is one of the cooler places and I don't mean hipster.

    What a fun themed coffee shop! From a motor shop to a coffee shop, there's fun for all. The parking…read morelot is a bit small so it becomes a hindrance when it's busy. But once you get inside it's so much fun. With a variety of drinks from coffee to teas and boba there's really something for any mood. They also have baked good from local bakeries. The staff is also super friendly and knowledgeable when it comes to drinks. All in all, a great experience and we can't wait to come back soon and try other drinks.

    Photos
    Grind N Gears Cafe - Menu boards, circa Apr 2025.

    Menu boards, circa Apr 2025.

    Grind N Gears Cafe
    Grind N Gears Cafe - Chocolate chip muffin + iced lavender mocha with almond milk

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    Chocolate chip muffin + iced lavender mocha with almond milk

    Kafe De Kasa

    Kafe De Kasa

    4.6(74 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    Little Gem right there! Def understand my sister going there frequently when she lived in the…read morearea. Exceptional and friendly service. It is so cute inside and would choose this place over Starbucks or Dunkin' anyday. I got a brookie, ok was huge and definitely a shareable. The coffee I tried was a seasonal one with eggnog and would 100% get again. Looking forward to the next visit

    This Kafe and s WELL worth the drop. I drive by often when out west. My first time here I'm ashamed…read moreI passed by so many times and never stopped in. Situated just off of Rt 30 / Lincoln Highway in Cresthill IL on the side of the road it's a little red house with a decent sized parking lot. Super cute and way cozy. I always notice the patio that folks sit on early mornings and decided it was time. Upon entering I had three super friendly women say hello to me. It's larger than it looks with seating inside in nice booths and really well decorated. It's also very clean and customers keep rolling in on way to work. The staff is awesome and the women I spoke to informed me that they've been there about 5 years and that all the pastures are made in house. These are not average d eryday pastries they are luxurious treats beautifully created at a reasonable price. The in house bakers need a huge shout out along with the entire staff. Their coffee is really good too, string but not at all overwhelming. Actually excellent stop. I'm sure they will be seeing more of me. You really gotta try this place and I'm sure you'll return.

    Photos
    Kafe De Kasa - Blueberry oat bar and drip coffee

    Blueberry oat bar and drip coffee

    Kafe De Kasa - 16 oz. Regular Coffee and blue lagoon refresher

    16 oz. Regular Coffee and blue lagoon refresher

    Kafe De Kasa - Variety menu !

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    Variety menu !

    Critical Grind - coffee - Updated June 2026

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