The Knight and The Bible…read more On a drive up to Chicago to catch a vacation flight, we stopped at The Cup and The Scone to get us caffeinated for the rest of the drive. We got there about 30 minutes before close and the barista was super nice as we ordered our drinks. Emily got a caramel latte and I got the.. you guessed it... an iced americano. We also grabbed a blueberry-lemon, cranberry-orange, and birthday cake scone. While we stood there as the barista was making our drinks, we chatted her up a bit and we were able to get a few free stickers from her. She said they don't use them all too much and was happy to give us two each. Once we got our drinks, we took off to the upper part of the coffeehouse and promised we wouldn't be too long since they were closing soon. Before we headed upstairs, I took some photos with the suit of armor that is by the counter. When we got upstairs, I was surprised to see another suit of armor, so I took a photo with that one, too. The Cup and The Scone specializes in a lot of gluten-free products and a small bit of religion. I don't know if their entire menu is gluten-free but as someone who's mom is gluten sensitive (and I will probably be at some point), the care about GI issues is great. As for the religious stuff, if you don't see the occasion bible strewn about the place, you'd honestly never know. But, their website seems to support helping people and I think that also is super great as this world is getting rough and scary. Any who, Emily and I really enjoyed our drinks. The americano hit all the right notes and Emily was delighted with her latte. We were split on the scones. I really liked the birthday cake while she really liked the cranberry-orange while we both thought the blueberry-lemon was just alright. We held true to our promise and dipped out before 2pm and hit the road. If I find myself in Pontiac for some reason in the future, The Cup and The Scone will definitely be my spot to get some americanos.

I was initially drawn to this spot by the big knight in shining armor that I saw on Yelp (I'm a big…read morechess fan) and then pleasantly surprised at how cool this place is. The decor really makes this spot, with lots of fun themed signs throughout the restaurant. This definitely gives it a different and more fun vibe than the average coffee house and the upstairs loft is cozy to hangout in as well. The coffee flavors and preparation are quite good here -- flavorful, and made with high quality ingredients. I also enjoyed the mini scones, with a nice texture that was soft but a little more firm than a muffin. Overall, definitely worth a visit if you're in Pontiac. Great vibe and delicious food.

My husband and I love to explore little towns in Illinois. El Paso was adorable. This coffee shop…read moreoutshines any I have ever been to. The ambience was A+++, the avocado toast was so yummy and my vanilla ice coffee was perfection. The service is warm, friendly, and fast. I will come back.

Java Café is such a cozy little spot in a quaint town. I had the veggie avocado toast and it was…read morefresh and flavorful. The veggies are served raw per the kitchen and it worked well, though I do wish there had been a little more avocado. Still, it was delicious and satisfying. I paired it with the rooibos hibiscus tea which was light and refreshing. They also have self serve water and a clean up yourself setup which keeps the vibe laid back. Food is served during breakfast hours only, but they do keep a grab and go refrigerated case stocked with premade items if you stop by later. Staff were friendly and kind, and the atmosphere is extremely inviting with plenty of nooks to settle into. One of the highlights is a painted chess table that adds to the artsy charm and is perfect for a photo. They also have a shaded outdoor patio if you want to sit outside. Definitely worth stopping in if you are in the area and looking for good food, tea, and a comfortable place to relax.

Big windows and an obvious coffee pick here, had a good mocha and selected a tonic in a can too,…read morethey were so busy! Parking and Wi-Fi were easy. It's a special space to be for a small town. The park nextdoor, cobbled streets, and ambient relaxed vibes are good stuff here.

Review Visit: February 10th, 2020…read more Eli's has opened a coffee shop in Metamora on some historic grounds. A long, long time ago in a city far away, there was a coffeehouse named Historic Grounds. Upon those grounds, one was able to find delicious coffees and baked goods. As time passed, people grew older and wanted to retire to a simple life. With that, Historic Grounds became just that. A page in the history books of Metamora. But, all was not lost for the building that was permanently etched with the aromatic scents of coffee beans and cookies. Eli's Coffee House, founded out of Morton, IL, caught wind of the vacancy and decided to expand it's business enterprise there. Finally the day came for me to visit one of my old coffeehouses and see if the new place does the old justice. Having had Eli's before and it being a good experience, I went in with some slightly higher than normal expectations for a new place. The second I entered, I could tell that Eli's made the place their own without covering up the antique-feel of the aged building. In place of the old normal counter was a big jetting one that offered barista access from multiple sides. Affixed to the wall was a giant and well-designed menu offering coffees in your usual varieties along with some yummy-sounding food options. Running on 3 hours of sleep, I chatted with the ladies working behind the counter, telling them of my much-needed need for some coffee if I was going to be in any state of awake to talk with my friend. Their patience was immeasurable as I looked over the menu longer than I should've and settled on just a black coffee. Too tired to try and order anything more complex, they offered me the pipping hot coffee in an Eli's-branded mug. I found my friend on the other side of the wall that cuts the coffeehouse in almost two. I quickly took a seat and blew on my coffee to cool it down while I woke up enough to have a conversation with my friend. Sensing one cup wouldn't do, I revisited the counter after I drained my first cup and expected to pay for a refill. The lovely barista took my cup and refilled it with the black liquid I so desired. I asked if I owed her anything and she said it was free. Free refills on great black coffee. I was truly in heaven. Eli's has taken a former great coffeehouse and kept the spirit alive. While they've definitely added their identity to the interior, they are tasteful upgrades and changes. Metamora is the kind of town that revels in it's history and small town vibe; them keeping a lot of the original feel and artwork on the walls was a wise decision. They even kept the Historic Grounds logo that is painted on the side wall. While I was standing in line for my refill, I was browsing over the food options and was drawn to The Southern Comfort melt. I loved every single ingredient on the list. Chicken with melted white cheddar, apples and brown sugar BBQ... give me 2 of those. One for lunch and one for dinner later. So, I will definitely be back to try out their food and baked goods. When I do, I will update this post with probably a perfect 5/5 and details on how the food tasted. Until then, stay caffeinated.

Love the Blend!!! They have wonderful drinks and snacks!! Great place to go visit with friends…read more Nice cozy place to hangout!

Review Visit: October 28th, 2014…read more The Blend is... A nice combination of upscale, cozy, delicious and comforting. Offering a nice selection of coffees and baked goods to choose from, you'll find something there that will tickle whatever it is you are craving. Everyone that I know that has been to The Blend loves it. I wouldn't say I love it, but I really do enjoying there for some reason. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the place just feels nice to be at. Between plenty of seating, free wifi, a large and varied coffee menu, board games (I think they still have them), it feels like a big chain place, but maintains that small town comfort. I have only had coffee here and wait... I usually try something new every time I go. I don't always love the new ones I pick but how could you not want Snickerdoodle coffee?! They offered quite some fun combinations of flavors for wild tasting coffees. Overall, a really nice and cozy coffee place. They have one of those 'stand alone' shacks also in Washington, so if you are in a rush, you can go there and stay in your car while getting some deliciousness in your belly. Definitely a recommended place if you love coffee and are in the Central Illinois area.

Stopped in on a Sunday afternoon to find a very busy afternoon going on. The place had almost all…read morethe tables and chairs filled with customers enjoying their drinks. The girl behind the counter was friendly and polite and took my order. I ordered a hot mocha latte with macadamia milk. I gave her my name and she said they'd call me when it was ready. I found one of the few open seats, a low sitting leather chair that was quite comfortable tyvm, and did a little people watching until they called my name. There was now a small line to the order line and I was pretty convinced I had made a good choice in coming here. In a matter of minutes later my name was called and my drink was ready. My latte was very good and the mocha made it even better. If you're in the area be sure to drop in and check them out.

The coffee is good, but the vibe is always weird. For a while they were selling monocle chocolate,…read moretheir own brand. Then they stopped. When I asked about it they said "we never sold chocolate, i don't know what you're talking about" (The chocolate was back today) Today it was asking about their canned coffee because the fridge was empty (they have a shandy coffee/lemonade that is killer) They looked at me like I was an alien for wanting to buy a product they've had in cans in the past. They assured me they still have it to make but don't have it in cans sell. When I asked if they knew when it would be back the barista was frustrated and repeated that they had it to make. Ok fine, but I'm driving an hour home and liked the cans? Just a weird thing like it's a pain in the ass that i know what products they have and am interested in them. The Huckleberry Sage latte was great, the Barista was great for suggesting it iced. I'd have it again. I'm just giving up on expecting clear answers about what they carry.

We loved this placed!…read more It was very off season so we were waiting all week until Thursday when they were open to try it. Our large group of 3 families enjoyed breakfast here and the lovely staff were very accommodating to our chaos. 3 grandparents, 4 parents and 4 toddlers to order, eat and we all enjoyed ourselves. We all loved the treats, the food, and best coffee we could find in the starved rock area! I got for the 4 I was in charge of: 2 hot vanilla latte, a kids French toast with bacon, a biscuit and gravy, cream horn, cinnamon roll, and more treats I can't recall now. Highly recommend this cute little stop and if we are in the area again we'd definitely stop by!

Cute shop on the outskirts of town. Staff was super welcoming and friendly. The baking goods were…read morenot only delicious, but incredibly affordable ($3!)

Review Visit: April 1st, 2015…read more Good ol' Uncle Bob. He is the Uncle you never hear of. But when you do, you love him. Well, that's how I feel about Uncle Bob's Homemade Ice Cream. I discovered this place while grabbing coffee in Eureka, IL. Oh boy, was it a good discovery. I sampled a few ice creams and loved each one. Conveniently when I was there, they also had dollar hot dogs! So between amazing ice cream and cheap hot dogs, I was in heaven. If you love ice cream and haven't visited Uncle Bob's, do yourself a service and go try some! The do sell Uncle Bob's ice cream at some local eateries, so keep your eyes peeled if you can't make it to the Eureka location.

This place is amazing. Served by mostly it seems local high school students, the service is…read morewelcoming, friendly, and efficient. With quite a few state fair winners in flavors, I find the ice cream delicious and well worth a visit. We had the peach and blackberry, both recommended to us by locals, and they did not disappoint. Strong fruit flavors in both with the peach having some good peach chunks too. We also ordered the hot dog which was solid but nothing crazy. Not that much seating throughout with probably 8 spots inside and a few benches outside. Great did a grab and go and there's a drive thru. We thought knowing Dayne Z or Brock M would help get us no free ice cream but we'll have to keep trying next time we visit.

Good service, just need to update there outdoor speaker. Its really hard to hear them.read more

Their food is delicious and the service is always great! The employees greet you with a smile and…read moreunless you ask for paper cups you're served w ceramic! It's a warm, cozy feeling and a bookstore connected to it! Very relaxing! Highly recommend! Great menu! We'll definitely be back!

Great coffee, drinks, baked goods. Superior service. Always a good selection. Worth the tripread more

Very good , great service . Great coffee , fast turn around, highly recommended Mr k Thank youread more

I ordered the chai, half expecting something thin and overly sweet. What arrived instead was a…read morewarm, fragrant testament to restraint--balanced spices, just enough milk, and a whisper of quiet joy. I sat back with K.W. in one of the window-side chairs, letting the mug steam gently into the late-morning light, and took in the interior. It's the kind of place that rewards attention: reclaimed wood, soft colors, seating that invites rather than insists. This was not an Instagram café--it was a Christian coffee shop. And I mean that as praise. I don't just mean it had a verse on the wall or worship music humming faintly behind the grinder. I mean the place carried a spirit of care. You could feel it in the details, the warmth of the baristas, and--most of all--in the baby shower happening quietly in the side room. From what I could tell, it was all women--close family friends of the expectant mother--gathered in soft tones, with gifts, cake, and affection flowing. There were balloons. Laughter. Maybe a tear or two, but the joyful kind. I thought about the holiness of childhood, the ridiculous courage of parenting, and the spiritual stubbornness it takes to keep loving in public. There are many ways to do Christianity poorly. But when it holds space for reflection, for the protection of the vulnerable--children, the poor, the disabled--it becomes something rare and tender. Guest House feels like one of those places where such values are quietly lived out, without announcement or ego. I'll be back. For the chai. For the ambience. But mostly to support a place that, in its own gentle way, remembers what a gift life is.

Be our guest and stay awhile…read more.. What once used to be By the Bean is now and has been for awhile Guest House Coffee and Pastries. This has been on my list for awhile now and with Emily and I heading to St. Louis to catch a flight to Colorado, it was the perfect time to get some caffeine before we embarked on a long day of traveling. We popped in a bit before lunch and were greeted by a friendly barista. He took our order fairly quickly and then we took a seat while we waited... and waited... and waited. There was 2 people ahead of us and it took about 10 minutes for our drinks to come out and a few minutes after that to get our baked goods. I got a peanut butter cookie and Emily got a lemon blueberry thingy. Sorry, I'm not great at knowing which is which when it comes to baked goodies. Once we got our goods, we made a beeline for the interstate. This is when I decided to try their cold brew and wow... it was the punch of bitterness that I love. Sometimes places pull back on the bitter but not at Guest House. After a few sips, I tried my peanut butter cookie and found it sorely lacking. I thought it was going to be soft but it was hard, crumbly and dry. I'm not sure if they can warm them up before serving them to you but if I could've had that, it may have helped a lot. I eventually ate most of it but really wish I had some milk to dip it in. I don't remember what Emily got but she seemed to really enjoy it. As for her lemon blueberry item, she said it was dry but that's normal for what it is. I tried a nibble and the flavor was definitely on point. It's not something I would've enjoyed but she seemed to really like it. As for the Guest House overall, I liked that they kept a lot of the decor from By the Bean. I was happy to see the doors that were previously there still there. If we weren't trying to get our stuff and get out ASAP, the wait time wouldn't have been a problem and with that in mind, I don't factor it into my score. We did leave wondering why there was one guy up front and what seemed like 2 employees in the back. But that's neither here nor there at this point. I would definitely come back to Guest House and maybe try to see if they would warm up their cookies before devouring them.