chicago: julius meinl (streeterville)

where: 211 e ontario st, chicago, il 60611
when: sat & sun 8:00am-5:00pm
nearest L stop: grand-red (red line)

there are a few julius meinl locations in chicago. some are larger coffeehouses and some, like the one on ontario, are smaller cafes. the cafe felt fresh and welcoming, with a crisp color scheme of black, white and red accented by tiny tabletop bouquets and a striped bench. spend a minute asking the staff to explain the menu - the options read a bit differently than your usual starbucks (but taste great!). he says:

• "it was like the miel latte - it was warm, welcoming - but not too sweet."
• "it was like the cafe of a small, well to do eastern european country - modern but still comfortable."
• "it was like a modern version of a cafe you would have found in the austro-hungarian empire"
• "it was like the cafe off an upscale, eastern european hostel - i could imagine it with a crowd full of aspiring creatives."
• "it was like a mid-century, eastern european salon - with a dash of proletarianism."

menu:

london fog (early grey latte): (x)(x)(x)(x)(  )

miel latte: (x)(x)(x)(x)(  )

linzer bar: (x)(x)(x)(  )(  )

chicago: elaine's coffee call.

where: 1816 n clark st, chicago, il 60614
when: sat & sun 6:30am-5:00pm
nearest L stop: sedgwick (brown line)

elaine's coffee call is attached to the lobby of hotel lincoln, just across the street from lincoln park. the walls are covered with faux-peeling wallpaper, rotary phones line the back of the coffee counter, and eclectic but comfortable seating is readily available in the cafe and adjoining lobby. if you stop in around 3, you can enjoy a coffee and then join the line for the j.parker rooftop restaurant.

menu:
latte: (x)(x)(x)(  )(  )
coffee: (x)(x)(x)(  )(  )
cinnamon crumb cake: (x)(x)(x)(  )(  )
scone: (x)(x)(  )(  )(  )