We LOVE Sweet Reserve! It's such a lovely spot to step out of the hot (or cold!) and enjoy a coffee…read moreor tea. They have a great variety for everyone and even have a selection of fresh pastries and cakes. I go here often and the baristas are always so kind. The shelves of art and jewelry made by local artists is always fun to look at and I love the support for the local community! Highly recommend Sweet Reserve in Skokie!

Ambiance - casual, spacious, great place for coffee & dessert…read more Service - only 1 person taking orders/making drinks on Sat night, service slightly backed up Food - hot chocolate + biscoff topping was slightly on the sweeter side

Amazing gelato ice creams my kids favorite and wonderful customer service…read more Everything here so delicious that you want to order everything .

This was such a random find of gem!! The place was jam packed even late at night. The service wZ…read morefriendly and quick. The dessert was amazingly good and the portion is huge. The menu is huge so take your time going through all the items because I wanted every single item on there! We chose the banana pouch which was soLed with melt chocolate And the banana inside is seasoned with cinnamon powder which gave it such a good kick to every bite of the crepe. The lotus cheesecake was delicious and paired with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. CNt wait to return to try the pistachio crepes and other fruit bowl!

I wanted to like it. I did. But after a few visits, it's just not for me…read more The first trip, I tried the Matari Tea: Green tea, Himalayan pink salt, milk, and spices, topped with roasted pistachios. Sounds good, right? Alas, it could not have been blander. I couldn't taste any "spices" or even the hint of salt. The profile was that of very watered-down tea mixed with milk, and a ton of pistachios floating on top. Like, barely crushed pistachios. Huge pieces, covering the top of the drink, bobbed around like tiny icebergs, and even they somehow had a toned-down flavor. The drink was definitely a swing and a miss. Fast forward two weeks, and I tried Matari again. This time with a simple cortado. I sat at the table right by the door, and the espresso was pretty good. Solid body, not too bitter. It was on the pricy side ($7+), but I was ok with that. But then, I'm hanging out, sipping my coffee, and I catch a burst of perfume-like scent. I'm shocked, but whatever, I figured someone in heavy perfume walked by, no big deal. A few minutes later, wham, I'm hit in the nose with another burst of perfume. Then, I see it. A slight haze around me. So, not a heavily perfumed woman after all, but an automated air-freshener. After further inspection, I see the unit plugged in on the ground right behind my chair, which sprays up and out on a timer. That's right, an air freshener right next to a table where people consume food and beverages, shooting a mist into the air that slowly rains down onto my head and table, and into my coffee. I ended up tossing the last few sips of my cortado, as I could taste the scented whatever-it-was in my cup. I'd have gone to the counter and asked for a new one, but I was so over my visit by then, I just opted to get out. The staff aren't very friendly. Not rude, but they don't give off a welcoming aura, and I didn't feel like trying to explain the issue. Lastly, can we talk about their little "your order is up" beepers? We've all seen them. The little electronic things that blink and make a noise when your order is ready, so you can go snag it from the counter. When I think of a coffee shop, I think quiet and peaceful, or perhaps a bit louder, with bustling people and well-paired music. At Matari, it's an insane BEEP BEEP BEEP that goes off every few minutes when an order is up. I get it, you don't want to bring the food out to your customers. But does it really need to feel like an airport Chili's? It's a bummer, because Matari is beautiful inside. It's clean, it's chic, and its location is at a notable crossroads in Skokie with plenty of parking, leaving it extremely convenient. They've even got an easy-to-use website, which so many coffee shops simply do not have. There aren't a lot of coffee shops in this particular part of town, which is why I so, so very much wanted to love Matari. But subpar drinks? Air freshener spray intrusions? Frequent and obnoxious beeping? I tried. I'm sorry. I just can't.

Even though it's on the expensive side , the mouse fruit cakes were absolutely outstanding!…read more Had the hazelnut, mango , raspberry mouse fruit cake and the pistachio tiramisu cup. By far the raspberry mouse was the best one! Maradi coffee is a bit in the expensive side but the service is outstanding and the food delicious. The place was packed so we couldn't eat there but it looked very cozy. A must in the neighborhood.

Truly a hidden gem. NC Chocolatier has always been one of those places I drive by daily and say…read morehey I'm going to stop by one day. Well that day came, and I'm forever grateful I did. Located in a small plaza and can be confusing with the Illinois Nut and Candy sign but when you walk in the sweet smell of chocolate fills the air. There are glass closures of bon bons/ truffles that I've learned are hand painted, chocolate covered everything, gelato and more. They also have taffy apples, some with just the caramel, some with nuts, some with chocolate chips. You can never go wrong! Their chocolate is kosher friendly and I'm obsessed with the cookie bark, I could eat that all day. Highly recommend going on one of their chocolate tours too that's available on sundays. Make sure you book first as I found out they do sell out. You get to learn the history of chocolate and make your own taffy apples and chocolate dipped goodies. They also ship nationwide, I am definitely going to order some goodies for birthdays coming up!

It's a small chocolate shop. What sets them apart from others is the simple layout, their chocolate…read moredisplays, their friendly staff, and of course their delicious sweets! Well, I guess there's a lot that separates them! They have unique chocolate dipped fruits, nuts, cookies, etc. Everything I tried was delicious. Give them a try if you have a sweet tooth!

Tried the candy, the Dubai chocolate it is so perfect!!! It's made with both milk & dark chocolate…read moreso it's not too sweet, it's a perfect balance! By far my favorite from all the places I've tried. I believe it's the owner - if he was, he is very nice and generous! The place so nice, clean and organized. The mixed nuts & seeds mix is great. They also freshly ground Arabic coffee beans too!! My new spot 10/10 definitely recommend!!

These pastries/candies are so good. The green one has pistachios and the nougat was light and not…read moreoverly sweet. The crushed nut ones are nutty and flavorful, but not overly oily like what you'd expect with western peanut butter. And the red candies were chewy and lightly sweet and sour. The texture is just right, not too hard or soft, and leaves a clean after taste. I can't rave enough about this candy store. I loved everything I've tried so far. Loved how it is rich in variety and depth of labor, the texture is just right and not overly sweet or greasy. I ordered some pastry for a party and every guest loved them!

I just recently discovered this place. I work in Lincolnwood. It has a great ambiance to talk with…read morefriends, co-workers, or just chill by yourself and sip on coffee. More than enough seating and outlets to do work. My go-to drink is the iced café latte with whole milk. The coffee quality is far superior to Starbucks. Also, I love the gauva empanada with cream cheese! Also its good to know you are supporting a local business. Happy to know 5% of their proceeds go to charity. Overall highly recommend!

Such a warm and cozy cafe. Grab something to go or stay awhile, this place is IT. They have…read morecoffees, teas, and specialty lattes. I went with an iced peppermint tea and it was very refreshing. I also tried the guava and cream cheese pastry and my goodness this was insanely delicious. The pastry dough is crispy, flakey and fluffy. The guava jam and cream cheese was sweet and not overly sweet. I stopped in on a weekend morning and throughout my time here there was a constant flow of customers coming and going. Staff members were able to keep up with the influx of weekend customers. Within 5 minutes of placing my order my items were ready to be picked up at the front counter.

Not gonna lie, it's a little overwhelming but shoutout to their whole team for the open arms…read morewelcome from the start! They gave us free brownie bites, samples of any flavor, and even ice water. The decor was really fun and animals and lights every where, very attention getting. There's also a lot of seating outside and even parking on the street and the side of the building. In terms of ice cream and price? Pretty good! I got a shake and you can get a shake of any flavor. I got the espresso ice cream in a shake and my wife got a kids cup size of the vegan ultimate Oreo with a sugar cone. OH Importantly, they have a good amount of vegan options! Also you can order custom cakes here too. There are a ton of different cone types and toppings to choose from so we'll definitely have to come back. Lastly: CASH ONLY! DONT FORGET, CASH ONLY! We'll be back!

Service as always on point! Fun music and a great place for a Friday night! Yummm ice creamread more

A temporary 4/5 We…read moretried A BUNCH and the ones that were good were fantastic and addictive and there are so many more we need to go back and try. Some weren't that flavorful and were a bit confusing to the pallet but that's just preference. The quality of the chocolate and flavors is what matters and we are very excited to come back and get some more!

Exquisite chocolates, both beautiful and delectable. Plus, quite affordable compared to other…read moreboutique chocolatiers. They sell boxes of four, nine, and sixteen, any of which would serve as a nice gift for various occasions. My wife gave some as hostess gifts for a few events that she attended this year, and in turn I got her some for Mother's Day. There are traditional western varieties such as hazelnut, praline, coffee, and vanilla, as well as fruity options and other Filipino-inspired flavors. I'm happy to support a local business and will definitely be using them again for future gift-giving occasions.