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.

Service isn't the best, but the coffee seems okay, maybe a little better than average…read more Nice concept, but they should put bike people can touch even if they're from the scrapyard. That would automatically make it cooler here.

This was my second time here! I got the iced banana cream latte w/ oat milk for the second time! I…read moream usually not one to get sweet drinks but I am obsessed with this drink. It's sweet, but not too sweet. The large iced latte is also great, it has 3 shots of espresso which makes the ratios perfect. My boyfriend and I also got the Bacon egg and cheese, sausage egg and cheese, and the Korean chicken cheesesteak sandwich! Also super yummy. Cant wait to check out the other new location in Park Ridge! The vibe and aesthetic are also so cute in here! Love the simple design! It is located inside the train station, so while it was busy both times I went I received my food and drinks super fast! I am super picky with where I spend my money on coffee/matcha, but this is one of the few places in the area worth it!!

The drinks here are really a delicious suck I got the ube…read morelatte which is really thick so if you like your drinks more watery or thinner this might not be for you. It does have condensed milk in it. But the flavor of the new base is so rich so delicious it's not over sweet I definitely would come back if I was ever in Chicago again. My friend also got a drink I want to say she got the banana flavor I could be wrong but more than once she looked at me and said I chose the right coffee shop

Very nice no-frills deli, the pastrami was exquisite, light and not salty. Bagels were very fresh…read more It's best suited for to-go. We also got the potato salad. Wasn't a great fan of it, but it was fine. It was a little loose and sweet. I like a tight, less sweet salad. Definitely be back for the rest of the sandwiches. Staff is very courteous and speedy. Parking is very convenient. They have catering.

Found this place because my husband wanted Italian Beef and I'm not a fan. So while he ate…read moreelsewhere, I found this deli I got the lox sandwich - and it came with a side of slaw and a pickle. I added a drink and black and white cookie to complete the meal. The service was great. My only issue was that they don't have seating or a table. So I had to bring it back to my car to eat. But that's not their fault. Pricing was fair for today's economy - lunch with the drink and cookie came to $19.

The best latte hands down. So glad they opened up one in Gurnee. I had the salted caramel latte and…read moremy friend had the cold pistachio latte. Bothe were sooooo good!!!! We had a chocolate pastry which was also good but the table next to us had some kind of chicken sandwich that looked tasty. Yum. Will be back for sure. The place is beautiful and spacious. They have a room for private parties like baby shower that you can reserve. The staff is friendly and very nice!!

I was craving cardamom coffee and we decided to stopped by Haraz to try it out. Very spacious and a…read morelot of parking spot. They even had a quiet room with door for coworking/studying. Went with their all spice mofawar, and a cleaner palate one Qishr since hubby wanted something tea-like. After ordering all that, we noticed there's a separate tea option that had a citrusy flavor so we got the sunlit tangerine also. The drinks were very strong in a whole mix of spice flavors, which I actually really liked, but it is a little too watery, not dense or creamy enough, and the coffee flavor lean a bit more too acidic/sour. It's not bad, but I think it's just not exactly to my liking. What I didn't realize was that a lot of the spices sunk to the bottom so when I remixed the thic layer of spices with oatmilk at home, it tasted pretty good with the right consistency. All of the drinks were pretty diluted in our opinion, and I think it's too much spice for my husband although I liked it. I also ordered some pastries, but the server packed the wrong one. If I didn't look closely enough I might've missed that. There was one last Dubai pistachio cookie which I asked for, but they gave me the Biscoff cookie instead which was a less expensive one. Anyway, they were fine switching it out after I pointed out, but no apologies or anything. While we weren't impressed with the drinks at first, the medovik mouse/honey layered cake was really good-- it was pretty dense where the buttery parts were, and it was pretty sweet so it balanced well with the acidic coffee. We didn't know the cookie had more fillings on the inside until we got home. The fillings had crunchy flakes which adds a really nice texture, and the filling is not too sweet. Really good. We liked the pastries a lot more than the coffee. Perhaps we just aren't used to the flavor and taste profile of the coffee. I'd be willing to try more here.

The iced tea is very good and and the food is on point. The service is very well. The servers are…read morevery polite and nice. The ambiance was great.

From the moment I walked in, I knew this place was special. The atmosphere was warm and…read moreinviting--perfect for a girls' brunch, a coffee date, or a slow morning to yourself. The lattes were exceptional; I tried both the hot and iced caramel and loved every sip. The food was equally impressive. The Dubai Chocolate Crêpe with pistachios was light and delicate while still feeling incredibly indulgent. The avocado toast with pickled onions was packed with flavor, and adding a balsamic drizzle made it absolutely unforgettable. After spending three weeks in Chicago and visiting more coffee shops than I can count, this was easily my favorite. In fact, it was the only café that impressed me enough to come back a second time--and I'd gladly return again.

the food was delicious. i got the bubble waffle and the watermelon juice. the tables and overall…read moreaesthetic is so cute here. they also give games to play as well. the service was a little slow but we came during a rush. the watermelon juice tasted exactly like a watermelon on a summer day but it wasnt red like i expected. still very delicious

The store was very cute! Lots of places to take some pretty, fun pictures (even a ginormous bear…read morethat my daughter loved)! The Vietnamese coffee was strong but so good! They even have a sweeter version if you prefer that. They had so many choices, I will need to come back to try some other drinks. I got my daughter the coconut, mango drink with mango popping boba and she really liked it (25% sugar). The staff was friendly and helpful as well. We got our drinks pretty fast. They have plenty of seating or games to play while you are waiting.

Got some coffee and pastries at this Park Ridge cafe. It has a close relationship with the beer…read morestore next to it. Off The Wall Cafe is a chill place. A pretty easy menu to go along. There's board games. Coming in it wasn't that crazy. It's quieter than the other places at breakfast that are around here. There's long tables if not able to get a booth so it wasn't like we had to wait. Order at the counter in front. There's not a whole lot to choose from which makes it easier to pick stuff. It's about $5 to get a latte. The Cookie Butter Latte was as great as it sounded. It's made with cinnamon, cookie butter syrup, and espresso. There's only a few pastries. It's about $5 to get a muffin. There were a few vegan choices including the Chocolate Muffin which was a big one. Have to say it's a great place for chilling. It's got an opening to the store so you can get beers after getting coffee and pastries. This is conveniently located across the street from the Metra station.

After multiple visits, the one question that comes to mind is: why isn't Off the Walk busier? They…read moretruly deserve all the business! I'm a sucker for a good coffee shop with fun flavored lattes. I'm also a sucker for cute atmospheres. So when you pair a great coffee shop with a board game cafe, how can you go wrong? Off the Wall is a cute storefront that is a branch off their establishment next door serving craft beer. I would often go to Off the Wall mid day throughout the week, and each time I go I'm shocked that it's not filled with remote workers and families. The staff are all pleasant and more than happy to provide recommendations if you feel stuck deciding what you want to order. With a variety of beverages, food, and even gluten free pastries (a win in my book!) you really can't go wrong with any choice. I always opted for coffee, and I really loved their specialty flavor this month featuring banana and caramel. The flavors aren't overpowering and aren't overly sweet, so for a coffee lover that actually likes the taste of coffee this is perfect. Their board game selection is vast and the interior of here is so cozy, I could stay for hours. Did I also mention they're wheelchair accessible? That's right - there's a wheelchair ramp and wide spacing to ensure everyone can enjoy their experience here. Can't wait to try their next fun coffee flavor!

This bakery has some of the most legitimately delicious bread I've ever had, and it's become a…read moremandatory stop whenever I find myself in Niles. No matter how many times I visit, I always end up finding something new that catches my eye. Between the incredible selection of breads, pastries, and drinks, it's nearly impossible to leave empty-handed. One of the things I love most about this place is the variety of bread flavors they offer. Whether you're in the mood for something sweet, savory, classic, or unique, there always seems to be a fresh batch coming out of the oven. The bread always tastes incredibly fresh, whether you're eating it immediately there or in the car or saving some for breakfast the next morning. The drinks deserve recognition too. They're consistently good, surprisingly affordable, and pair perfectly with whatever baked goods you decide to bring home. My go to drink here is the jasmine milk tea with 50% sugar and light ice. It's rare to find a place where the quality is this high while the prices remain so reasonable. I've tried a variety of their drinks over the years, and they've yet to disappoint. I was so happy they finally opened an 85 Degrees bakery here in the Midwest because I would always visit this place when I visit the West Coast. If you're a bread lover, this bakery is absolutely worth the trip. The combination of fresh-baked bread, flavorful drinks, affordable prices, and an endless selection of goodies keeps me coming back time and time again. It's one of those places that makes you start planning your next visit before you've even finished what you bought from this one.

We initially were going to a different bakery/cafe but when we realized it was in H-Mart, we wanted…read moreto go somewhere that was more comfortable. We were meeting our daughter and this was a convenient location. 85 C was in the same parking lot as H-Mart so we changed our plans. They are laid out like other Korean Bakeries. They have a very nice selection of sweet and savory pastries, bubble teas, coffees, milk teas, regular teas and more. I simply had an iced tea. At our table we also had one bubble tea and one latte. My partner and daughter also had pastries. I don't eat them but was told they were very good. They don't have a whole lot of seats but we were fortunate to get a table right away. We didn't feel rushed at all even though they were busy. I'd say this is a fine place to for an afternoon visit.

This was so delicious! The food was enough for two meals…read more The servers for friendly and nice! It's a family type resturant. Busy but fun to meet friends! You can eat outside or in family style booths and tables . Ample parking in a strip mall. I will try lunch next time . Well worth it .

The feel/ambiance was more like a diner than a cafe. I was given a booth and immediately regretted…read moreit because the cushions were useless. I felt like a child sitting there because the seats were low. It doesn't help that I'm not very tall either. The food was okay, and the portions were generous. I ordered the sweet potato skillet, which came with diced ham, cheese, and eggs. It also came with a short stack of pancakes, which were also generously sized. Although you definitely need butter and syrup on the pancakes, it wasn't very tasty without them. I could only finish half of this meal and had to take the rest home. Do not order the coffee, it tasted terrible, as if it were burnt. The server was very friendly and attentive at first. But when the food arrived, he didn't check back very often. I had to flag down another server for a takeout container before he came with the check.

I left my Apple AirTag here about two months ago, and just realized it. In the morning, I called…read moreGlenview Grind and spoke to an employee, but she didn't think they had it. She then called me right back and said that they did have it in their Lost and Found. So, I headed right over to their establishment. I am so appreciative that they saved my AirTag for this long, and didn't just toss it in the trash. I ordered a toasted sesame bagel, and a chai tea latte with oat milk. As a vegan, I would love to see Glenview Grind offer more vegan options for their customers. The place is bright and has a lot of seating options. The staff here were great!

Nice outdoor patio with street views. Visited this restaurant on a Monday morning and did not have…read moreto wait long for my order. The Canadian bacon egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on an English muffin was decent but, it will not be something that I will be craving. I ordered a 12 ounce bulldog coffee to go with my sandwich. The bulldog coffee is coffee with espresso. I said yes to the cream and sugar and it was still pretty strong. The coffee and the sandwich cost me $12.15.