I love backlot coffee; however, the reason I was unable to give this location 5 stars is due to the accessibility (or lack thereof). There is a large window looking into the register area which seems nice but could be too bright for some people. In addition, there is a lot going on inside the cafe to make it look festive but it can be a bit of a sensory overload. There is no braille menu; however the menu is available online and can be read using a screen reader. The area to order and pick up beverages is a lower counter which can be easily accessed by people in wheelchairs. The main accessibility issue is the seating. All of the seats are either high tops or very low, and I tend to find difficulty navigating between the pick up counter and seats and in between the tables, so I can’t imagine how difficult that might be for someone in a wheelchair. Lastly, the doorway is narrow and there is a bit of a ledge to get inside the cafe, and the sidewalk outside tends to get quite busy and crowded with pedestrians.
It’s so nice to be greeted by John, the owner, in the mornings! The vibe here is so friendly and of course the coffee and food is top notch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Oleksiy Lysenko
Order a small cappuccino. Very good coffee. Nice coffee machine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Monica M
friendly staff, reasonably priced coffee, and decent food - got the cardomon rose latte & recommend it! free wifi and seating available when I went on a Saturday afternoon ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Bevan Brookfield
An Evanston gem, with their own coffee roast that's really smooth. Great range of light brunch/snack/treat food too.You can to go or hang here all day in the friendly cozy atmosphere and good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Isaac Godbolt
Perfect little coffee
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Janna A
I absolutely love this place. Coffee is amazing (some of the best local coffee), food and baked goods are delicious. I only wish that the space indoors was slightly larger because it gets really crowded during the winter months. During the summer, it's perfect - outdoor seating in the back plus lots of benches in the park across the coffeeshop.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Valery Taylor
Good coffee and I tasted several food items/baked goods that are excellent!! I’m a snob when it comes to croissants and chocolate chip cookies. Two thumbs up!! The seating area isn’t large and the place can get pretty crowded due to popularity.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maverick Malina
This place is simply a gem! The coffee is high quality and tastes great. They have. A great selections of food and treats too. The best part is the customer service; everyone here is very friendly and give off great vibes. Love it!
This place deserves all the wonderful reviews! The owner is super friendly, the vibe is chill and the lattes and breakfast sandwiches are delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ryan David
Coffee is
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Gary Cole
There is no coffee establishment nearby that beats Backlot. The premises are warm and nicely decorated with painted murals and local artist paintings on the walls. Owner John Kim was running the front all 3 times we visited and greeted many patrons personally. That says a lot and he remembered my name on 2nd and 3rd visit. The latte was great and the excellent cortado exhibited powerful aromas of quality roasted beans. Both had excellent crema which is a must for me. The staff is efficient, keeps premises clean and maintains good service levels - could be more friendly following John’s example. Great selection of baked goods and roasted beans. Give this place your business and you will be happier for it. My wife ranks this establishment #1 in Evanston and she has excellent taste (especially in spouses).Parking: Easy street parking and free by walking 1-2 blocks away
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Michael Brinson
Can recommend enough. Has my favorite breakfast sandwich, The Monty. John, the owner is always cheerful and welcoming. The baristas are great. Love This Place!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Avocado Toast, Bakery
Molly Martin
Best Latte on the North Shore. Perfect espresso to milk ratio. Worth the waiting in the extra long line. Beats Starbucks hands down!
I love backlot coffee; however, the reason I was unable to give this location 5 stars is due to the accessibility (or lack thereof). There is a large window looking into the register area which seems nice but could be too bright for some people. In addition, there is a lot going on inside the cafe to make it look festive but it can be a bit of a sensory overload. There is no braille menu; however the menu is available online and can be read using a screen reader. The area to order and pick up beverages is a lower counter which can be easily accessed by people in wheelchairs. The main accessibility issue is the seating. All of the seats are either high tops or very low, and I tend to find difficulty navigating between the pick up counter and seats and in between the tables, so I can’t imagine how difficult that might be for someone in a wheelchair. Lastly, the doorway is narrow and there is a bit of a ledge to get inside the cafe, and the sidewalk outside tends to get quite busy and crowded with pedestrians.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Avocado Toast, Bakery
Love going here for coffee and pastries
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Classic Chocolate Donut, Peach Gallet, Bakery, Maple Latte, Scone
It’s so nice to be greeted by John, the owner, in the mornings! The vibe here is so friendly and of course the coffee and food is top notch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Order a small cappuccino. Very good coffee. Nice coffee machine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
friendly staff, reasonably priced coffee, and decent food - got the cardomon rose latte & recommend it! free wifi and seating available when I went on a Saturday afternoon ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
An Evanston gem, with their own coffee roast that's really smooth. Great range of light brunch/snack/treat food too.You can to go or hang here all day in the friendly cozy atmosphere and good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Perfect little coffee
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I absolutely love this place. Coffee is amazing (some of the best local coffee), food and baked goods are delicious. I only wish that the space indoors was slightly larger because it gets really crowded during the winter months. During the summer, it's perfect - outdoor seating in the back plus lots of benches in the park across the coffeeshop.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good coffee and I tasted several food items/baked goods that are excellent!! I’m a snob when it comes to croissants and chocolate chip cookies. Two thumbs up!! The seating area isn’t large and the place can get pretty crowded due to popularity.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is simply a gem! The coffee is high quality and tastes great. They have. A great selections of food and treats too. The best part is the customer service; everyone here is very friendly and give off great vibes. Love it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
This place deserves all the wonderful reviews! The owner is super friendly, the vibe is chill and the lattes and breakfast sandwiches are delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Coffee is
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
There is no coffee establishment nearby that beats Backlot. The premises are warm and nicely decorated with painted murals and local artist paintings on the walls. Owner John Kim was running the front all 3 times we visited and greeted many patrons personally. That says a lot and he remembered my name on 2nd and 3rd visit. The latte was great and the excellent cortado exhibited powerful aromas of quality roasted beans. Both had excellent crema which is a must for me. The staff is efficient, keeps premises clean and maintains good service levels - could be more friendly following John’s example. Great selection of baked goods and roasted beans. Give this place your business and you will be happier for it. My wife ranks this establishment #1 in Evanston and she has excellent taste (especially in spouses).Parking: Easy street parking and free by walking 1-2 blocks away
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Can recommend enough. Has my favorite breakfast sandwich, The Monty. John, the owner is always cheerful and welcoming. The baristas are great. Love This Place!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Avocado Toast, Bakery
Best Latte on the North Shore. Perfect espresso to milk ratio. Worth the waiting in the extra long line. Beats Starbucks hands down!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5