Spoke & Bird Cafe (South Loop)

Great place to hide and get some work done on Sundays. Food is great, coffee is delicious.

I have loved this little cafe since it opened back when I used to live in the south loop neighborhood! Today I had the biscuit which was kind of like a blend of a biscuit, scone and cornbread- good but due to its density more jam would be nice than the small container offered. Jams are seasonal and today’s was strawberry rhubarb. I also had the Trop It Like It’s Hot cocktail (tequila base)- it was refreshing! Cocktails are pricy for the small size- $14

Chill vibe with outdoor and indoor eating spaces connected to the park district building with an indoor children’s playground and event spaces. They even have a dog menu!!

Wait time is 45 mins !!!

Beware of hidden fees when ordering online or using the table QR codes! Their new website is a major step backwards.

I’ve been a regular here for a couple of years. They have a great atmosphere and seasonal dishes, and their drinks aren't overly sweet, which I appreciate. Staff are always friendly, and while prices are on the higher side and waits can get long during the warmer months, it's usually worth it. They also sometimes have a monthly soup subscription which is fantastic. (I wish they offered it more often!)

With that said, I'm very irritated by their recent website change. The new design is significantly less user-friendly: it takes more clicks to access the same information, and the menu layout is cluttered and confusing. Instead of listing drinks with size and style options, each variation (small hot, large hot, iced) is a separate item, making browsing a chore.

Worst of all, they’ve added a hidden service fee—roughly 40 cents for a single drink—when ordering online. (I'm pretty sure this applies to ordering in-person using the table QR codes too!!) Not only is it ridiculous to suddenly start charging a “service” fee for an order I’m placing myself (that now requires more work with this new website anyway), but hiding it within the tax line is deceptive. If you're going to charge me a fee for using your website, it better at least be a good one. Not to mention, if this does indeed apply to the table QR code ordering... wow. Talk about gross business practices.

On top of that, the new site no longer allows me to use the rewards I’ve earned online. I’ve accumulated over $20 in rewards that are now inaccessible unless (hopefully) they still work in person—something I haven’t had the chance to verify yet.

Overall, I’m very disappointed in the direction they’ve taken with their digital experience. The in-person cafe is still great, but their online system has taken a serious step backward. Be aware of the hidden fees if you’re ordering online and don’t count on using your rewards.

I love the location of this shop and the shop owner seems to love her business. However, since she doesn't live in her shop, my experiences have been mixed. Was served a half filled chai latte. They're already overpriced, so I went back inside to ask them to fix it. I was met with a condescending response. Seriously felt like I was being punked. They just frothed some milk and poured it on top. I wish I didn't tip 30 percent. Overall, unless you see the owner, run, because there is a 50/50 shot of getting pissed off.

The service staff taking order was extremely rude. Extremely slow service and not customer oriented at all. I would avoid this place at all costs

Used to be nice but pricey. Had really nice fresh banana bread, my go-to. Today was the second time I bought stale, smaller (shrinkflation, I gather) and slightly burnt banana bread.

The patio is the perfect place to unwind on a sunny day—spacious, dog-friendly, and full of charm. The staff were incredibly kind and attentive, making the experience even more enjoyable. And the burger I ordered was absolutely delicious—juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection!

The food was absolutely great—everything we ordered was delicious and came out quickly. However, the experience was dampened a bit by one of the servers who was quite rude. We were asked to move to another table simply because there were only two of us, and they said they reserve certain tables for parties of three or more. The odd part was that no one was waiting to be seated, so it felt unnecessary and unwelcoming.

Nice quiet spot for breakfast with great coffee and delicious food. Highly recommend the mushroom biscuits and gravy!

Lovely patio. 25 mins to get a not great black coffee with pretty terse delivery, that was after leaving a 20% tip

I had the worst experience I’ve ever had at a restaurant, and it cost me $45 and 45 minutes of my time that I’ll never get back. I ordered French toast, and what came out was soft, mushy, and completely unappetizing. I politely voiced my concerns and was offered a remake — fair enough. But after waiting over 30 minutes again, I had to approach the cashier to ask for a refund because we had already finished our sides and drinks while waiting.

Just as I was asking to speak with a manager, Ashe, the new plate finally arrived. We gave it another shot, only to find it was made the exact same way — mushy, soggy, and absolutely not what we ordered.

I then asked for a refund for both untouched dishes. The manager flat-out refused, saying they couldn’t issue a refund because “ingredients were used.” That logic makes no sense when the dish was never eaten — twice. I asked for a replacement dish from the menu, she refused. She offered pastry items only to replace the two orders of french toast!

As a veteran in the service industry, I was shocked by the poor customer service, long wait times, and complete lack of accountability. This place doesn’t value customers’ time or satisfaction. I will NEVER return, and I highly recommend you save yourself the disappointment.

Food was great, a little pricy, and the seating area was absolutely packed with a pre-mccormick con crowd (me included). Egg sandwich was delicious

Cute location and fun to hang in warmer months on the patio. The prices of the drinks are high though, I don't think they are worth it for the flavor

Too crowded to order with a 30 minute wait for seating and another 30 food prep. Sunday 11 am must be their busiest time. It's a medium space with neighborhood parking.