Savor the Flavor - Lincoln Park

Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Address: 2545 N. Sheffield
Website: none
Hours: 7am-10pm M-Sat., 8am-10pm Sunday
Phone: 773-883-5287
Parking: Street parking - meters - Difficult
Wi-Fi: Free unlimited, ask for the password when you order

Seating: This cafe offers tables of varying sizes and although I wasn't fond of the black wire outdoor- type tables, the cushions on the chairs was a nice touch. They have a few couches and two tables in the windows with great afternoon light pouring in.

Food: Since it had warmed up to 34 degrees today, they were doing great business selling milkshakes?! The cookies and cream version made for the customer before me looked thick and delicious served with an extra large straw. The baked goods were saran wrapped which always makes them look less appealing to me but there were muffins, chocolate banana bread, bagels and bite sized brownies which were $0.75. The build your own grilled cheese sandwich is the star of the menu with 8 choices of cheese and some extras. These start at $4.50 including carrots and chips and there's a soup and grilled cheese special as well.

Drinks: Besides the aforementioned milkshakes, a good variety of loose Mighty Leaf tea is available. The coffee is from Intelligentsia and the Coffee Lovers Milkshake which includes vanilla ice cream, espresso and iced coffee sounds great!

The Vibe: This spacious coffee shop was hopping on a Saturday afternoon when I dropped in. The two college girls behind the counter were friendly and efficient. They offered to let me smell the tea I wanted since they hadn't tried it. I heard them ask another customer if he'd like to sample the tomato bisque that was according to her "really good."

Pros: Children's art on the walls, Grilled cheese and tomato soup combo, Street parking is difficult but with entrances on both Sheffield and Lincoln you double your slim chance of finding a meter!

Cons: $5 minimum on credit cards, $2 for a bag of goldfish crackers, Saran wrapped baked goods
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Asado Coffee Roasters - Lakeview East

Neighborhood:
Address: 1432 W. Irving Park
Website: www.asadocoffee.com
Hours: M-F 7am-6pm, Sat. 8am-5pm, Sun. 8am-2pm
Phone:773-661-6530
Parking: Street parking - easy unless there's a Cubs game
Wi-Fi: none
CASH ONLY!

Seating: There are a handful of two tops, two of them are in the window in between a great Zen water fountain.

Food: A few muffins are on display on the counter.

Drinks: Every drink, including drip coffee, is brewed to order (and with great care). Coffee is roasted on-site daily.

The Vibe: The main focus of this cafe is definitely it's beautiful roaster. The owner is passionate about what he does and I really like when people follow their dreams. When I walk into a cafe I can almost immediately tell which ones have absentee owners who are driven by profits and which ones have owners who love what they do, Asado Coffee is definitely the latter.

Pros: Kevin, the owner, and his wife spent over a year living in Andalucia and wanted to bring the taste and warmth of a Spanish cafe back to Chicago. He is serious about his coffee. Fair Trade coffee available. On-line and wholesale ordering available.

Cons: Very limited food offerings, no wi-fi

Cafe Avanti - Southport Corridor/Lakeview East

Neighborhood: Lakeview East (Southport Corridor)
Address: 3714 N. Southport Ave.
Website: none cafeavanti@gmail.com
Hours: 7am-8pm 7 days
Phone: 773-880-5959
Parking: Street parking - meters- often difficult
Wi-Fi: Free unlimited
CASH ONLY!

Seating: There are four two-tops and window bar seating facing bustling Southport Ave. The front room is sunny and I love that. In the back there are an additional nine two-tops. It is nice and secluded but you can hear kitchen talk so bring headphones if you're partial to a quieter cafe experience. There are Lots of outlets in front and back for laptop usage.

Food: Breakfast anytime features egg sandwiches in a variety of combinations, bagels with many toppings including avocado, roasted tomatoes, pesto, flavored cream cheeses, egg bowls with your choice of mix-ins, scones, croissants, mini-belgian waffles. There are fifteen varieties of specialty sandwiches priced $5-7 including chips. Soup of the day also offered

Drinks: A full blackboard of fancy-pants drink choices are behind the coffee bar with names like Extreme Coffee Toffee and Serendipity Decadence, special chai offerings include Pumpkin Spice and Amaretto, and a variety of smoothies.

The Vibe: Cafe Avanti is located in an easy-to-miss location up a flight of stairs in a cozy converted house. The polka-dot and striped decor lend a nice decorator's touch to the space. Many quiet patrons engrossed in grading schoolwork and reading the newspaper. One barista worked the counter while there were 3 people bantering and preparing food in the kitchen. Greenware cups made from corn and 100% compostable are advertised on the cash register. A large community bulletin board advertising violin lessons, tutoring and many community events greets you as you walk in.

Pros: Comfy bench seating along front and back walls, Serendipity Frozen Hot Chocolate (made from 15 kinds of chocolate and exotic cocoas, ground into a rich slush)

Cons: Difficult parking

Swim Cafe - West Town

Neighborhood: West Town
Address: 1357 W. Chicago Ave.
Website: www.swimcafe.com
Hours: 6am-6pm 7 days
Phone: 312-492-8600
Parking: Street parking - meters- I have always found parking in front or around corner
No parking on West side of Chicago Ave. 7-9am
Wi-Fi: Free unlimited

Seating: There are 19 2-tops which can be easily combined to form larger tables. Laptop users will be happy with the amount of outlets along the banquette on wall. Additional bar seating along a sunny Chicago Ave. facing window. Although there are many tables in a small space, I definitely felt like I had enough space between me and other patrons.

Food: Breakfast offerings include a breakfast panini, oatmeal, and yogurt parfait. The rest of the day offers sandwiches, panini, salads, homemade soup of the day, and a wide variety of baked goods.

Drinks: Swim takes their drinks seriously with 100% fair trade Just Coffee, Ineeka Organic Tea, Smoothies, Frozen Lemon/Limeade, and Naked juices.

The Vibe: Swim Cafe's name comes from the Ida Crown Natatorium, part of the Chicago Park District, being just across the street. It is a chill, blue/green space that was fairly quiet on a Wednesday afternoon. Many mothers and children stopping by for an afterschool drink/snack. The food here is amazing! Just to give you an example, Panini with Goat cheese, grilled mushroom, zucchini, tomato and basil with balsamic on focaccia and Lemon Spinach Soup with Orzo were on the specials board the day I posted. The sandwiches are in the $6-7 range but with the side salad and fruit served with it and the flavor profile and quality of ingredients it is definitely worth it. While blogging I asked the barista about some of the items and the owner Karen came out to answer my questions. She was wonderful, welcoming, and clearly passionate about this place.

Pros: Aside from the amazing croissants (Alliance Bakery), the weekend donuts (Glazed Donuts), and the breads and pastries (Red Hen), all of the other items are homemade on site including the soups, salad dressings, pastries, ice cream, pies, bagel chips, etc. They support local businesses including Americorps, Donors Choose, and the elementary school across the street. Scrabble Sundays take place from 1-6pm on Sundays. And although I'm not a dog lover, dogs are loved here at Swim and dog treats are available. Bottomless cup of coffee for $1.75 but you'd be crazy to come and not try the food!

Cons: Close at 6pm

Awake Cafe - Buena Park/Lakeview East

Neighborhood: Buena Park/Lakeview East
Address: 736 W. Irving Park Rd.
Website: None
Parking: Street parking often difficult
Wi-Fi: Free unlimited
Seating: There are many two and four tops with one large community table in a sunny nook.
Plugs: Plentiful along wall, accessible to at least 7 of the tables

Food: A few sandwiches and panini are offered along with a variety of salads and a few desserts contained in a refrigerated display case.

Drinks: Awake offeres Intelligentsia coffee and tea, an interesting variety of specialty lattes, and frozen drinks including smoothies and shakes.

The Vibe: Awake is in the space on Irving Park just east of Broadway that formerly housed Fixx. They've made the space a bit "cozier" by closing off the back section. Although it's a few steps underground, the sunlight that streamed in during my afternoon visit was wonderful. The staff was pleasant enough and the cafe au lait at $2.05 was good. All coffees are served a la Julius Meinl with a small glass of water which, although I could easily request this anywhere myself, is a nice touch. On a Sunday afternoon many college students were quietly studying and free samples of cheesecake were being passed by one barista.

Pros: Sunny tables with comfy leather benches
Cons: Must enter food/drink prep area to get to restroom