Why only 4 stars? Because Dollop is no where near where I live, I have only been there twice, and I am mad it's not closer because it's SO COOL! Otherwise, I have to say I would have given it 5 stars. My friend introduced me to Dollop on a cold, rainy afternoon and suddenly the day didn't seem so dreary after all. The place is exactly what you want out of a good coffee house - dark, cozy corners, good coffee, lots of couches, and random books you are free to pick up and read if you wish. I don't know why I haven't been back more often, oh wait, because it's so far! If anyone knows of a "Dollop" in the West Loop - please let me know. read more

Really cute place. The sandwiches are really good. I'm not sure if getting the ceramic cups is worth it if you're staying in. I'm all about going green but the take out cups are bigger. If you're going to stay in, I would just order a small size of anything. The Internet here is awful. No joke, there's so much space to sit and plug in, but the wifi is constantly going in and out. Even after they reset the router, it's super shotty. read more

Dollop Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What an outstanding place to come work. Nestled on a quiet street. Sometimes it's hard to find a comfortable place to focus, but everyone is on their laptops and the vibe is focused and relaxed. Partly because the customer service is top notch, work from home people come visit this place. Unless you talk a lot on your cell phone, stay at home, I don't want to hear it. Seriously though, the food options sound good, especially the pies, the best in town. And my espresso was bitter, wouldn't order it again, unless they tinkered with it. But I wouldn't change the service, the location, the vibe. 5 stars read more

I am so happy this place exists. I've been studying at Starbucks and literally wanted to cry it was so painful and noisy. I randomly found dollop one day when I searched for any coffee shop that wasn't Starbucks! I have been back 4 times already that's how happy I am with dollop. The coffee & tea is made so well, they have creative flavors and everything I have tried is amazing. Some favs so far are: green tea late (brewed not syrup, thank goodness!), the honey & cinnamon latte and a cappuccino with almond milk. The dollop is huge and ideal for studying. There is a back room with lots of tables. The only issue I've had are other patrons who are loud but that's the chance I take studying at a coffee shop. Overall, people are pretty respectful though. Enjoy :) read more

Dollop Coffee - Great study spot! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really good place for locally roasted coffee (Metropolis) now has several locations. Today I had the "fluffy coffee" which has lots of foam, maple and cinnamon. I usually go for the cinnamon latte. Both have great flavor. I've also tried the Nutella latte, which is good but not great. Dollop also has really good fresh made sandwiches on bakery bread. The Buena Park location is oldest of the shops, the most casual, and still maintains the eclectic vintage, old sofas, rough hewn wood furniture, coin operated video arcade game, circa 1980, and old tile floors. A room in the back is setup for kids with toys and kid size furniture. The front room is on a corner and has good light. Wifi and outlets are available. The shop tends to be full but not crowded. A good neighborhood hangout. The Dollop locations downtown are all modern and are either small shops in office buildings or larger sleek, modern and newly renovated. I have always liked Dollop. I am at Dollop locations more frequently now that they take Brew Pass. read more

Coffee is deliciously strong, both the Americano and the Capuccino were good. However the Orange Chocolate Scone has NO orange. For the rest, a hip space with plenty different seating arrangements in the prettiest of areas. read more

Nestled in the sweetest neighborhood on a street corner, Dollop was beautifully humble, the signage was vintage and genius, the name itself made me want to go in, and the coffee was superb. One of my favorite things about this coffee shop is that they didn't charge for simple syrup! It was available like a condiment along with honey or sugar at the condiment bar. So great!!! The atmosphere was perfection, especially the downstairs where there was a little kids' vintage train table which sweetly reminded me of when my boys were small. I got whole bean to go - can't wait to brew. Bravo Dollop! read more

Dollop Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this coffee shop, the have great sandwiches. I either get the turkey sandwich on sour dough which is to die for or I may get the PB & J. I know what's so special about a PB&J but they use a blackberry preserve that is so good on sour dough or multi grain bread. I like it with the multi grain. The coffee selections are great as well. I usually get the cappuccino which they make solid. read more

Dollop Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Honestly I've been living in the neighborhood for 5 years and every time I have come here it's been unwelcoming-they can't even be warm back. It's like I'm bothering them with my presence. I decided to come here for the first time in a year in hopes of a "hello" "have a nice day" but nope just the same blank stare and nod in response to my "thank you! Have a nice day!" So underwhelming given the times we're in, we could all use a little more warmness & kindness that's all. Wish some (not all) of their staff would realize that. Makes it hard to want to support local in this case. read more

I wandered in here today because my car broke down a few blocks and I'm really glad I did. Quaint, charming little coffee shop. I liked everything about this place and my latte was perfection. This is the anti Starbucks. I realize it is also a chain but it feels so neighborhoody ( is that a word?). Down to earth people, friendly service, relaxing inviting atmosphere and excellent product. I'm putting this on top of my list for the next time I'm meeting someone for coffee in lakeview. read more

Wtf. Interesting vibe, cool punk rock hipster kinda place. But then I ordered "a sweet, fruity iced tea"...this tea literally tasted like ground beef, and it only took about 19 minutes to make... good job, dollop. I literally dumped $7 on the ground because it was so terrible. read more

Yelp has always been reliable and helpful when searching for restaurants. It did it again with Dollop. After years of relying on Yelp, this stop made me realize I should join in and offer reviews too. Dollop has a warm and welcoming feel and would be my regular coffee shop of choice if I lived in Chicago! Friendly staff, good coffee and enjoyed my almond croissant. Next time, I'm going for the pie! read more

I got an iced chai. It was decent. I think if I'd gotten a different drink, I'd liked the café more. The wonderful thing about this place is that the staff is great and you can tell that they are well trained at what they do. Another bonus is the amazing amount of outlets they have. When I saw all the outlets, I actually wanted to rate this place and write an entire review about the plentiful outlets. It is annoying to go to a coffee shop for hours and have to look around under peoples' feet to find an outlet. Ahhh, yes...outlets. read more

Dollop Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bonus: free cup of coffee when you buy a whole bag o' beans. Made my day! read more

This cute little coffee shop is a place I could see myself killing a few hours yelping and stuff. Our group came here needing a caffeine fix (and to warm up). I headed straight to the barista and said, "Whatcha got that's chocolaty and caffeinated." His response: mocha and coffee. Nuh-duh! Gimme something good! Something zany and crazy that I can't get anywhere else but "Dollop Coffee Co. in Chicago, Illinois!" When I gave him a disappointed expression, he was quick to tell me they don't serve any of that fru-fru pretentious stuff. Just good coffee. I dig, I dig. So the fella then suggested some mocha-ey, caramel coffee topped with whip cream and a fancy garnish of chocolate syrup. Sweet, hot and full of "get me coo-coo" caffeine, it hit the spot. Oh, and my fatass (just ate at Urban Belly) also couldn't resist the carrot cake cupcake taunting me from the dessert window. It was nom-nom good. Other pluses that I totally dug: The music. Walking in, they had Muse on, and I later heard a bit of Spoon, Regina Spektor and oh shoot, I forget. But me likey; lots of couch and table/desk seating; bookshelves in the back; décor is kitschy and comfy; peeps talking, reading, studying or yelping on their laptops... read more

Cashier got confused when I tried to order a dirty chai, after getting some attitude her supervisor had to explain the order to her. Barista used incorrect milk type (I'm lactose intolerance, so this is always unpleasant) and then served me an overflowing drink. Unhelpful staff, ok coffee, wasted my morning. read more

Ooooooooh Dollop. While giving a business a 3-star rating certainly isn't a bad thing, Dollop should have/would have/could have earned 4 from me. The evidence: love Metropolis coffee. And even better, Dollop is one of the only coffeehouses that I know of in Chicago that carries a sugar-free chocolate syrup. It's amazing-- it actually makes your latte taste like a rich hot chocolate super-charged with caffeine. Do it! Also, I love the cozy and eclectic insides. Cool art hugs the walls, good music is pumped over the airwaves and comfy seating abounds (minus the wobble in the tables). Really, there's only one problem: the staff doesn't seem to have a sense of urgency here. I'm usually not in a rush when I come, but if I ask for my latte to go and then a friend or favorite customer comes in following my order, it would be nice if you started on my drink instead of gabbing for 10 minutes. Waiting 15 minutes for a latte late on a dead Saturday afternoon is a bit excessive. And trust me, I'm patient! I wish I could say this hasn't happened before but that's three times too many. Guess I'll just have to find another coffee joint with sugar-free chocolate. read more

When I was in school, I would go out of my way to come here. Its a great place for working, and the free wifi is a plus. And, their drinks are delicious. I haven't really gotten any super great art on my latte, but they still taste good. And the pastries are yum too! I also hosted a crochet-club meeting here and though we had to fight for a space on a sunday afternoon, once we were in, the staff was accommodating, and happy to have us crafters there! I love how its kind of like a library, and its warm and cozy. And delicious! read more

All I wanted to do was search for jobs someplace besides my own living room, drink some good coffee, and hang out with my mate. He suggested this place and it fit all my requirements so, we went. Aesthetics are nice, big couches, low lights, tables and bar tops, a general feeling of warmth. The artwork could have used an upgrade, it looked a bit like an elementary school art show. The coffee was good. In fact, the barista brewed a fresh pot when I ordered. The eclectic mix of coffee mugs and water glasses was a nice touch but I recommend NOT getting a medium hot beverage because they serve it in a glass without a handle so you risk grabbing a hot cup. (annoying) I gave Dollop one star for two reasons: 1. you only get 90 minutes of free internet at a time and you have to punch in a nonsensical code from a business card. I get the "business reasons" for doing this (so people go and buy a new drink ever 90 minutes rather than just camping there all day with an espresso) but it's really annoying. 2. the barista was a complete asshole. I asked him if I could get a code card for 90 minutes of internet and I swear he eye-rolled as he said "um, yeahhh". He was really short with all of his answers and acted as though he didn't want people there. I prefer warm and friendly service at coffee shops; you're not that cool. Next time I want a warm atmosphere, good coffee, and a couch for job searching, I will stay in my own living room. read more

Sorry, Dollop, but you've done bad. You've changed where you get your baked goods from. No longer do you source your scones and such from Bleeding Heart Bakery - no, Alliance Bakery is your new supplier. This means no more vegan scones, no vegan baked goods at all (I'm sorry, but bagels do not count). I live across the street and my wife and I would frequent your establishment despite the high price of your soy lattes because a) it was close b) vegan scones c) the lattes are tasty, but the lack of b) means I can get my equally tasty lattes for much cheaper at other places that are not so close in order to enjoy them with my requisite baked goods. Oh, and apparently many of the employees are either ignorant of or don't care about the smoking laws in Illinois, because they stand directly outside the front door to smoke on their break. I'll no longer have to plunge through their noxious clouds of tobacco vapors in pursuit of caffeination and edibles, that's for sure. Nevertheless, a reminder - 15 feet from any door or open window, people, 15 feet. read more

Hmm, I wasn't pleased by all the flies buzzing my head and other places (not on me!! eww!!) about the coffee shop. When I mentioned I liked that it was a little dirty, I meant in that "looks like but not really" kinda way. This is an area in which it's OK to sell out. Authenticated flies are not my thing. Secondly, you (not you, kind barista in the pink shirt)! Yes, you the surly coffee lady (no fancy term for you). I'd like it if you didn't roll your eyes at my drink order or grunt and nod when I ask which cup is mine. I was once a teenager too. And I was meaner. And I can channel him. Like *that*. 'k? read more

Whilst awaiting one Ms. Colleen C to show up so I can buy her a birthday coffee, I'm struck with the pleasantness of this place. It reminds me exactly of the sort of coffee house I envisioned opening when I was younger. Tall ceilings, old honeycomb tile floor, liberal dress code for staff, lots of corners to get cozy with a book (this vision was, after all, before laptops) and a mellow music selection above. Good Metropolis coffee. Almost bare pastry case. $2.15 for a mug-for-here, not bad. Couches, tables, outlets, wifi, easy parking and close to public. Pretty much what I need in a coffee shop. Minus one star for $1 refills. $1? I know you have to make rent and all, but that means I'm paying like, $6 for a few hours of coffee plus tip. Yipes. Or maybe I'm just cheap. read more

Yikes! Okay for the record, I think that this place is incredibly cute and I really, really wanted to like it. After stopping by this place for the third time this week, I'm sad to report that I am kinda disappointed. The first couple of days that I came here it was fine. The pastry selection is quite minimal and the staff was as friendly as can be. I actually worked from this cafe yesterday and the wifi, while free, wasn't very fast. But this morning... oh boy... As I have a ton of work to do, I needed that extra kick so I stopped by this morning and ordered a triple espresso. A perfectly simple, normal drink... or so I thought. I had one simple request, can i get it in a small cup, since the little espresso cups are far too small after I add cream and sugar. I was refused! Shot down. 'We don't do that anymore...' I was told. I reacted with a confused 'okay that's fine' when in my head i was screaming 'What?! I just want it in a different cup!' Okay, so that was weird. I get my espresso, and usually I wait a little while for it to cool down cause I don't like super hot beverages... so halfway home I take my first sip and holy crap wtf, it's cold. How is this cold? I did not understand. Was the espresso machine broken? I don't think this has ever happened to me. I didn't want to bug them so I just went home and put it in the microwave. Awkward. Anyways, this could have been a one-off experience so I encourage you to check it out. As I said in the beginning of this review, this place is really cute and cozy so you might like it. Their actual product however... hmmmmm..... read more

Great atmosphere, comfy couches, ample tea selection (the loose kind they put in a little paper satchel for you), superb (I've heard) locally roasted coffee from Metropolis, yummy Hoosier Mama Pies, and friendly service from cute baristas. Should be 5 stars but... My old lady gripe: The music (well chosen) is too dern loud. I almost always want them to turn it down, and have made that request a few times. A tip: the music is not quite as loud in the back room. You kids are gonna lose yer hearing! read more

Could be a fabulous coffee shop. Good: 1. Cute Bad: 1. Dirty 2. Rude 3. Slow 4. Not so great... what did I pay for? read more

Great vibe for studying/working. Need to get here early to get a table seat though. It's often packed.

I love this coffee shop! I love the people that work here and their coffee and biscottis! What more can I say about this place that everyone and their mom on yelp has not? You tell me! I gave this place one gray star (yes I said one gray star because I want to be original okay?) because I wish they would serve warm food? and I don't mean the bagels and scones that could be tanned in the oven. I meant something like a panini? perhaps a grilled steak? okay maybe not a grilled steak but you know what I mean (do you?) read more

This place used to be a great spot for chilling with great snacks BUT NO MORE. The case is always bare with fewer and fewer treats, even in the morning. They no longer get treats from Michelle's Bleeding Heart Bakery...why you ask? I just think they don't give a shit! The baristas all have a bad attitude, like they're doing you a favor...give me a break. I asked if they could up the heat recently because it was freezing in there and you'd thought I had asked for their first-born son. I also called the other day to see if they had received a bakery delivery so I didn't waste a trip and I found out they don't have a phone, just voice mail. What business owner in his right mind forgoes a phone? It's not the 1930s dude! So I left a voice mail and the owner called me back and argued his business practices with me, telling me vehemently that he knows his business. He doesn't know it very well if he couldn't prevent a customer like myself from taking the time to write a negative review of his cruddy little joint. Get some food dude, get some heat, get some clean coffee cups, get some baristas who don't disappoint, get a new attitude guy and get a dollop of customer service! I'll go down the block to Starbucks before I come back to your sorry-ass cafe! read more

If I could give 8 stars I would. I love this place with all my heart. On Saturday mornings when I can't begin to force myself to work on more design stuff, I can quickly walk to this little piece of heaven and immerse myself in my laptop while sipping a coffee and munching on an always fresh bagel. I'm pretty sure I need to meet the person who picks out the music while I'm here because we might just be music soul mates. The Shins, Soundtrack to the Royal Tenenbaums, Steve Wonder and HEAVY on the James Brown. Who is this person and when can we meet? Actually, I'm writing this review while sitting in Dollop and do you know how I can do that? Because they have FREE WIFI. To be honest, that's what got me here in the first place. I wouldn't have known it existed without that little feature. I came for the free intarwebz and stayed for the coffee. and bagles. and sometimes pumpkin pie. read more

Yelp's Hook and Needle events have become my beer gardens of the winter. Instead of sipping brews in beautiful beer gardens in the hot summer sun, I'm drinking coffee or tea, knitting, and kvetching with fellow Yelpers among the various coffee shops in the city. This month's Hook and Needle took place at Dollop. I like that Dollop's located in the middle of a residential area and near the hospital. It gives you that feeling of a neighborhood hangout. When I got there, the front room was packed with studious people and their laptops. Becky secured a spot in the couch and chair setting out in front. It gave us a lot more light than previous experiences with other coffee shops. After settling in, I grabbed a chai tea. For those relaxing there, they give you a nice mug. The tea's pretty decent with a lot of foam-so no complaints here. The coffee shop's walls are filled with artwork-some good, some not so good. I enjoyed my afternoon of knitting and kvetching with the Yelpers. Overall, it's a good coffee shop that has that lived in feeling where it borders a dive bar in decor. It's nice and I would return if I'm in the neighborhood. read more

You know you're old when the only person in the place that you know well enough to watch your laptop momentarily while you run back to your car for something you forgot is a friend of your high school daughter. Good: Dollop has free WIFI and played excellent music today; lots of excellent jazz. Bad: My table wobbled annoyingly. Dollop charges $7.50 for a stupid sandwich (which I refuse to pay), and had little else in the way of food except fattening, expensive pastries. On balance: nice enough place but no one anywhere close to my age. I felt like I was intruding. read more

I got my usual (double or triple espresso) so I didn't get something that acts as a good benchmark for comparison. I'll be going purely off of atmosphere, service, etc. Its such a nice change from Starbucks- the exposed brick, the worn tables and the overall feeling that you are refueling in an artists loft instead of a coffee shop. Its a nice place to sit and do work or have an intimate coffee date. I will definitely be back, if only to enhance my Yelp review. Until proven otherwise, I like this place! read more

So today my girlfriend and I decided to stop by this place and discuss an upcoming trip with some coffee and treats. First off I would like to say that the atmosphere of this place is really calm and relaxing. Great place to study. They have one section where it could seem to be full with everyone lounging around on their computers. And another further back where there are couches and small tables. Second the coffee was really tasty. Food was alright, for those who like hummus, I suggest the hummus sandwich. The only thing that I did not like was the one of barista, who was a fairly tall women with yellow rain boots, was a bit sassy to my girlfriend when explaining how "they" serve there particular coffee differently compared to a Starbucks. For a place to call themselves welcoming to strangers that really aren't regulars I find it a bit displeasing. Other then that person, which maybe had a bad day, I would suggest this place for the coffee and free wi-fi to be use as long as you please. read more

Great little coffeehouse. The music is a little on the loud side, but overall, a very nice vibe. I used to go to Filter and Sip way back in the day, and I think the vibe is more Filter than Sip. Excellent service and clean bathrooms! Can't beat it. Great place to do a little bit of reading. read more

I've been in here twice this week, after a long, long time away. The first time, I had a nice exchange with a friendly female working behind the counter. I was happy that my neighborhood coffee shop was back on my good side! So I decided to come back today. I walked up to the counter a little foggy, and after probably 8 seconds of deliberation, I apologized to the guy after settling on a large coffee, saying it shouldn't be such a hard decision. He walked away to pump the coffee out and said, with his back to me, "No, it shouldn't." Jerk. Sorry to have wasted those 8 seconds for you. There was no one behind me in line. I almost walked out right there, but decided instead to ask him to repeat himself when he came back to the counter. He did, with a smile this time, but sorry, Dollop, looks like we're breaking up again. The guy at Kahawa, on the other hand, is as friendly as could be! Life is so much more pleasant when we're nice to each other! It's not that hard, cranky Dollop guy! read more

I'm not sure why people like this place so much. If it' wasn't down the street from me, you would never find me here. The staff seems bothered by having to wait on customers and they are hardly every helpful or friendly. The place gets really crowded and they typically have music playing way too loud. They make you toast and cut your own bagel and refills are not free. I do like the decor and cozy atmosphere and the coffee is good. I would love to become a regular here but I frequent Dollop strictly due to proximity. read more

Apparently you can hear EVERYthing that goes on in the restroom in the back area. I did not know this when I went in. And it was really awkward when I found out. But this place is still pretty great. Nobody stares or glares! People genuinely seem more concerned about their caffeine, conversations or computers than their cool, coffee-sipping personas. A real rarity for the hipper Chicago cafe spots. And it only gets better: they've got pictures of "Dollop DOGS" by the door. read more

I doubt this review is going to be popular, but it's a free Yelp, so here we go! I used to live next door, literally.. right above Bojono's. This place consistently draws the hippie/freak/starving-artist crowd. Apologies up-front, that wasn't meant to be a negative connotation, that's just the best way I know how to classify that group of people. If you enjoy "classier" coffee-places like a Caribou or even Peets / Starbucks you might feel a little out of touch here, but if you're looking for a local coffee place that's more like a college campus hang-out, this is probably for you. read more

I have to admit, I have been at Dollop nearly daily since the very day it opened. Dollop replaced Meyer's Pharmacy, a hole of a run-down over-sized medicine cabinet and the neighborhood has benefited greatly because of that. I have known only one other coffee shop to exist in Chicago as Dollop does, and it closed down September 1, 1998. (Yep, I was there, managing). For those who feel they're too old, or prices aren't cheap enough, or that it's not clean enough, cool (air) enough, whatever enough, here is what is clear to me: there are other coffee shops for you. Seriously. Dollop doesn't ask you to bring any expectations because it sets none on you. And yes, I mean that anthropomorphically. The pies and other treats are priced because they come from other independent business owners in Chicago. They're hand-made products by people who care about what they make. They're not metal stamped like some of the stuff you'd find at your local 'bucks. Mmmkaaay? Dollop's Wifi is free, as is the atmosphere, the ability to chat to a table neighbor, and the opportunity to meet people you would otherwise overlook in this town. Come here to find a place of respite, unique attitude, roasted goodness (again, local "grown"), and make it your second home. It's been that for me for four years now, and I don't see that changing any time soon! read more

Oh how I love slackers. The lifestyle, the fashion, the music. I would be one too if I wasn't so damn productive. Good coffeehouse for embracing this cultural phenomenon and a damn good cup of joe too. Free wifi lures the slacker out of his apartment and into society. I think that's nice. read more