The Other Side
135 Beardsley St, Crystal Lake
(779) 220-9843
Recent Reviews
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I attended the family meeting on Wednesday night and was very impressed with the knowledge, support and resources available. I would recommend this meeting to anyone that has a loved one that struggles with addiction.
The ham and jack sandwich was excellent, as was the raspberry paloma. Good vibes overall.
A little disappointed that on a Saturday night it was almost entirely grey hairs; I was hoping for a younger crowd.
That said, I'll probably be back. There are so few places where someone in recovery can socialize without alcohol being the main focus.
This is the first time I've wanted to give a negative review just to preserve a space for myself. :D The staff are so kind, the food and drinks are excellent, the space is lovely and comfortable, there's air hockey and Space Invaders and they play Bob Ross clips. It's a return of the so-called "third space" that has otherwise largely evaporated, and it's the healthiest expression of such; no encouragement to drink or smoke, just to focus and enjoy and be present.
I really love TOS, and these are things that might make it even better:
- It could use a bug zapper outside, the garage windows are lovely but flies sneak in.
- The content they play on TVs could be expanded; I hope to contact management soon and see if they can regularly screen classic movies, nostalgic commercials, samurai films and absurd martial arts comedies, whatever might keep people more engaged in staying.
- I wish they had lunch hours on Sunday, e g. 10-3, so that they were still accessible for coffee or a sandwich.
Still, I think it's a fantastic place and an important place, on par with the way I feel about the public library. We need more spaces to relax and interact with our community, and TOS excels at that.
Very clean and comfortable. It's nice to have a place to hang out without the normal temptations that are especially bad for some of us.
Great overall experience
Best Sober Bar in Northwest Suburbs
Excellent food, drinks, service, entertainment, and humans
I am so grateful for this space
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cozy, comfortable spot with nice mocktails and coffee drinks. Excited to try some food next time! I'd easily come back and love that we have such a welcoming, inclusive place in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nice and quick service. Coffee tasted good. Thank you. May i know what beans you use?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very professional staff, nice and cozy place to enjoy your time or plan a date. I even got to experience live music, but I don't know though if that's a regular thing. Would recommend this spot and can't wait for an opportunity to come back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Baristas are very nice! Hip, cool vibe. Great coffee. Great positive cause!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I can’t believe I only discovered this place recently. It has quickly become my family’s favorite hang out. Good coffee, good food and excellent service. We have met 3 of the young ladies that work there and they are all very friendly and personable. Also, I love the artistic flair- it’s always fun to see what the cardboard cup warmer will look like at each visit. Next up, I want to check out one of their open mic nights or comedy nights. I highly recommend you check out this hidden Crystal Lake gem!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Wonderful place so relaxing and everyone is so friendly. Come see Jen she is so sweet and helpful! The drinks are super tasty and fun comedy shows.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vibes are pretty good here, decent alcohol free drinks. Good food, nice people, clean place to hangout.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Pesto Caramelized Onion Jam Roasted Tomato Balsamic Glaze Chicory
Excellent place for respite. I had just returned from a cold rainy visit to Chicago and needed a caffeinated and nutritious snack to finish my adventure home.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great atmosphere and staff! Love everything that they're doing with this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Can’t rate the food because I didn’t get to try any of it! Stopped in on Friday at 11:00 AM for some coffee and a late breakfast. Politely waited for a few minutes as there was nobody up front. There were a few customers sitting at various tables with drinks and food so I figured it would only be a few moments before somebody would take my order. I reluctantly rang the bell for service as it was getting awkward standing there. Still nobody. After about 5 minutes I just walked out.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 1
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