Charming little cafe serving delicious coffee creations as well as home made breads, pastries and…read moreauthentic Mediterranean delicacies such as baklava, feta fries. We had pistachio lates, a to-die-for Apple danish and yummy breakfast sandwich made with yummy homemade bread, eggs, salami, cucumbers and a sauce that was a perfect compliment. The sandwich was huge but I literally couldn't stop eating it. Hellen's was a fabulous hostess and answered all Our questions about some of the tempting menu items. There's an outdoor deck so we are planning a trip back so we can have breakfast lunch or dinner outdoors.

The matcha was great! Try the Turkish coffee! The menu looked great but we didn't have time to stay…read morefor food so next time food will be added to the coffee !

Love this space! Half of it is a work from home space where a lot of people have laptops out and…read moreare working. The other half of the space is a book store with some great books and little trinkets. I opted to get a Ube Matcha and it was VERY good! Love that the ube was well balanced with the matcha. The baristas were kind and helpful to answer questions about the matcha/coffee.

On our way to class recently, we stopped by The Understudy Coffee and Books for the first time to…read morecheck it out. The coffee shop was bustling and almost full around 12:30 pm. We were lucky to grab the last small round table for two.  The pastry case was only 40% stocked at this point. We were happy that they still had our favorites -- 2 almond croissants ($14 for 2) and a cappuccino ($5 + $0.50 Oat Milk) to go.  The cashier was very friendly, patient, and welcoming. The decor of the store is modern and charming.  There were a variety of seating options, and many customers were working on their laptops while enjoying their drinks, giving the café a cozy yet lively atmosphere. The bookstore occupies about half of the space and features an impressive collection of books focused on drama and theatre.  If you are interested in theatre, this thoughtfully curated bookstore is for you. We noticed a sign indicating that The Understudy partners with Defloured Bakery, which also partners with a long list of businesses, including another coffee shop in the neighborhood that we frequent a lot. We have enjoyed almond croissants and other baked goods at that café very often, they were just as delicious and large, since they were sourced from the same bakery. However, The Understudy charged $7 for an almond croissant, while the other café charged only $4.50 for the exact same pastry. That's a significant price difference. The cappuccino was another slight disappointment. It was only lukewarm rather than hot, although I am not sure whether the oat milk substitution may have affected the temperature. Judging by how popular The Understudy was during our visit, it's clear that many people appreciate its ambiance, curated bookstore, and friendly service. If those qualities are important to you, you may find the higher prices well worth it.

Really good food. Nice change to see a focus on food quality, ingredients and presentation. Will be…read moreback.

I recently tried their burrata danish and it was fantastic! I was too busy eating it to get a…read morephoto. Freshly made pastries and well made pastries are always a treat! I picked this up to go but saw the inside and it's nice. Ordering online is possible but a little funny, so pop by if you're just buying a few pastries.

The espresso is delicious and the baristas are kind. Oftentimes these two things don't correlateread more

Good coffee. Clean bathroom…read more Limited food but good quality. Uncomfortable chairs. Baristas are hit or miss. I'd go there regularly if I lived close by. Certainly better than Starbucks.

I stopped by Oromo one afternoon for a quick pick-me-up. The woman working the register was so…read moresweet and welcoming. I asked her for some recommendations and she suggested one of the frozen drinks. I'm so glad she did because I have been craving it ever since! They have a few frozen drinks to choose from, but I went with the cold brew + hazelnut truffle. It's made with housemade hazelnut milk, cold brew, cacao, frozen bananas, housemade coconut caramel, maple syrup, vanilla, and seasalt. Trust me-- it is just as heavenly as it sounds! I forgot to get photos of it because I drank it so quickly--sorry! The space is so cute inside and it's in a fun area to wander around, right in the heart of Lincoln Square. Can't wait to come back!

What a cute concept and I adore the fact that they have vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free…read moredesserts that taste so so good! That brownie I had was delicious and actually satisfying for a sweet tooth like me! The rose latte was enjoyable and once again, they had gluten-free bread to offer for the sandwiches/paninis. Not only that, they are actually a dollar less than the regular one because they say it's smaller. Less - you read that right. Anywhere else they up-charge for the gluten-free version, even if it's just frozen Udi's. It wasn't so here! Note: their savory stuffed pastries like the spinach ones and potato ones aren't gluten-free because they're brought in by another vendor.

To give this place less than 5 stars is criminal. Everything I ate had superb flavors and made with…read moregreat quality. The Ube Banana Pudding is TO DIE FOR! Also, the Longanisa & Egg Musubi was absolute fire! 6 out of 5 stars if anything. Some jerk gave this 2 stars and compared the food to junk food in a Hawaiian gas station and he clearly has no idea what he is talking about. Sure, I guess it costs more than average, but you are paying for quality and the love these people put into their product. I just finished eating and I CAN NOT WAIT to go back! - Not to mention the shop is soooo cute!

Such a fun spot to pick up some grab and go goodies before heading to Montrose Beach!! Bonus points…read morefor having free street parking surrounding the neighborhood!! The owner was welcoming people into the store - it was so cool and vibey! This small store (reminds me of a bodega) is owned by a Filipino guy that was raised in Hawaii, so the food is Filipino-Hawaii fusion. You truly get the best of both worlds here!! We tried the longanisa and egg musubi, which I surprisingly did not love which was sooo awesome!! Just so fatty and delicious!! Also tried the tomato jam and egg musubi, which has incredibly subtle flavors of garlic and furikake, a small dollop of tomato jam spread, and the tamago. I really enjoyed this subtle bite and thought the rice to ingredient ratio was perfect!! Finally, I've been so jealous of the influencers filming themselves eating at the beach!! Anyways, got a 2 scoop poke bowl with spicy ahi and shoyu ahi. Both my friend and I thought the spicy ahi with the spicy mayo and sesame oil hit harder!! Poke was super fresh, and while the bowl itself is small, the actual poke portion is incredibly generous. I found myself not having enough rice for the amount of poke!!

First Slice Pie Cafe has been our favorite spot for Sunday Brunch since we moved to the area in…read moreSpring 2022. We love the food, the staff, and the full dining experience. First and foremost, the food is delicious and affordable. Win-win! My husband and I love everything on the menu, but we definitely have our favorites. My husband loves the buffalo chicken wrap and I love the caramelized onion and bacon quiche. Yum! He likes the side of chips and I love the side salad. The salad is the perfect sweet and savory combo with greens, apples, and vinaigrette. We love the staff! They are so friendly, helpful, and welcoming! We are so grateful for their kindness and professionalism! Prices are great, the space is delightful, and everything is clean! Plus, if you need items to go, they have all your needs! We like to get a full quiche to slice into pieces and put in the freezer for lunches at work throughout the week. We also like to get the pies for impressive items to bring to a dinner or gathering with friends. We love First Slice and how it is a staple of our Andersonville/Edgewater community! If you've never been, we recommend you stop by next chance you get !

The short walk in this torrential downpour was so worth it. Came here after work today and felt…read morelike a light lunch and First Slice Pie proved to be the perfect choice (especially on a rainy day) Felt the need to get my veggies in so went with their Goat Cheese and Roasted Veggie Sandwich. Had to add my protein so added chicken. I am a big fan of all of the things that came in this sandwich so it was an easy choice for me. Great sandwich indeed. The creamy goat cheese blended everything so well together and the crispy cauliflower added a delightfully refreshing crunch. And can't forget to mention that poached pear...genius addition to add a little sweetness without over saucing and taking away from the healthiness of a veggie sandwich lol. And how can't I not get a slice of pie from a place with the word Pie In the name? Went with a slice of Michigan Sour Cherry and...WOW. PERFECT crust married to the perfect filling. I'm so satisfied right now (I literally am writing this post meal) Such a small, simple and charming sit down cafe. My type of joint. Just what the doctor ordered for lunch. Glad I found a new go-to spot.

A regular sized ice coffee is 16 ounces! These people are here for you. I have coffee right when I…read morewake up so I can go get some coffee if you know what I mean. I don't have time for 12 oz nonsense. I don't even want to think about that. So I feel seen here. Friendly staff and space. There's a second room through the portal on right side of the cashier! More seating and little French tables. I like hanging out here. The coffee here is the rich earthy kind. I dig it even though it's not my usual style. I just ask for a little extra oat milk to top it off. I hope that's ok. Nice looking cookies and muffins too.

It's like walking onto the set of Gilmore Girls. The Perfect Cup is such a sweet and welcoming…read moreneighborhood coffee shop. There are so many trendy coffee shops now -- I like that The Perfect Cup isn't going for that, they are just being themselves and doing what's worked for the last 20+ years. There are two rooms with seating, so it's actually a lot bigger than I thought! There is also plenty of outdoor seating along the sidewalk patios. I decided to order the Anne's Special, which is a shot of espresso, house blend coffee, chocolate, and milk. I got it iced which was super tasty! I also ended up ordering the turkey panini. Everything was tasty and reasonably priced. I love this little shop + and I'm happy to have finally visited!