50 Best Cafes near Oak Lawn

“Yesterday I took the Sourdough Breadmaking Class with Chef George at The Ancestral Oven and I just pulled an amazing loaf of bread out of my home oven 24 hours later! Chef George provided all the necessary instruction and supplies - including a lively starter - for students to start their own sourdough journey at home. The class included hands-on experience feeding the starter, as well as folding and shaping the dough. I had a great time at the class and can't wait to return to try out the breakfast and lunch menu at The Ancestral Oven Bakery and Cafe.“

“Came in for the first time today. Customer service top notch. Drinks were delicious! Also had the Oreo Nutella pancakes. So good!“

“Best espresso martinis in Oak Lawn. Excellent service, adorable decor, perfect spot to sip on a delicious drink, eat a wonderful appetizer, and catch up with friends.“

“The employees here do such an amazing job at making sure their guests are satisfied. Shout out to Rochelle!! Rochelle cleans the heck outta this place and makes sure everything is sanitized after every person. She's awesome!! She's a great person to talk to and give the atmosphere of a cafe a whole new meaning. She makes it personal and cozy!!! Give her a raise!!“

“I was at a conference nearby, and this was a nice diversion from both fast food and the expensive hotel restaurant. I had breakfast (Anaheim scramble) and lunch (chicken pomodori sandwich) on separate days, and both meals were very good and decently priced. Service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere was nice.“

“Quick line, even though I didn’t know what I was doing;) The young lady behind the counter was very cool and helpful. Food was good! I never had a chicken avocado sandwich and it was yummy!!“

“Placed my order to be picked up by 2, I got my text that it was "ready". it wasn't, at least not my drinks. I was handed off my empty cups, to serve myself? one I could do, not the other....my coffee was suppose to have cinnamon syrup and an espresso shot, that's not at the beverage station, so i ask where do i get my extras(which i paid for) all I get is 😳 from young lady, manager or supervisor comes out but just fumbles, and as I walk out fuming mad.... he tells me I would like to see your receipt, did not ask while I had him beside me..... but decides to holler that as I walk out FU.... the only item that was for me I got ripped off paying all that, to just end up with a plain cup of coffee.“

“Everything a matcha latte should be. Balanced in every way. Also ordered a bagel sandwich which was pretty good - as an East Coaster bagels in Chicago just don’t hit the same however it was decent. Definitely a bit pricey but overall worth it!“

“The space is big and beautiful with lots of natural light and cool views outside! Their croissant breakfast sandwich was a nice big portion and tasted delicious. Love the location behind the Chicago Park District headquarters so you could go for a stroll or check out the park and recreational fields afterwards.“

“good coffee and great service!“

“Amazing food and great customer service“

“What a gift to the neighborhood. This is a truly fantastic coffee shop. Great coffee, friendly service, wonderful location on the boulevard. They really do well with all the important stuff.

If I’m going to be picky, the furniture is not very comfortable and the tables are small. I’d love to come here more often to work but that prevents it. There is also a lack of outlets, especially at the center community table, which is the most comfortable place to sit by far. These things make this place not ideal for extended stays unfortunately, just my honest feedback. They really kill it with the coffee and service so I will be back and they still deserve the 5 stars.“

“Thank you so much Cafe El Menson for your generous donation to my kindergarten classroom today. My students really enjoyed the Arroz con Gandules. I cannot thank you enough!“

“Very well thought out menu, great service, welcoming and pleasant ambience!“

“Very clean and cute place. We tried some milkshakes, boba refreshers, iced coffee and mini pancakes and EVERYTHING was absolutely delicious!“

“This is hands down our favorite restaurant. We eat here at least twice a week, and the consistency is one of the main reasons we keep coming back. The service is warm, efficient, and always welcoming. The chicken skewers are outstanding. Perfectly seasoned, tender, and cooked just right every time. They are flavorful without being heavy, and you can tell the ingredients are fresh. The Greek salad is equally impressive. Crisp vegetables, generous feta, balanced dressing, and always fresh. It is simple, but done exceptionally well. When a restaurant can deliver this level of quality consistently multiple times a week, that says everything. We highly recommend it.“

“Everything you could want on their menu trust me“

“Chose to come here because it’s a halfway point between my friend’s and I’s homes, and it was such a pleasant experience! The atmosphere was very nice and calm, the smells were divine, and the service was excellent! We got to chat with the owner for a second and she was absolutely darling! I had a strawberry matcha latte with brown sugar boba and I know in a week I’ll be craving it again. 10/10 will be coming back again!“

“I’ve seen this place in my neighborhood for quite some time and decided to try it out and I’m glad I did. Their sandwiches are absolutely delicious! And great value too. I definitely will recommend this place to friends and family :)“

“there make great refreshers“

“I have always been happy w everything about this place. I’ve talked about it ad nauseam to everyone who will listen 😂. The service, the people, the food ? 10/10. I love coming here“

“We loved talking with the helpful man behind the counter. He took the time to explain the various chocolates that they sell. The way in which the fabricating of the chocolate is controlled in such a richly authentic way won me over. My granddaughter loved the samples that we were given. I will be back to buy more bars and to try the hot chocolate. I am thinking that these bars would make lovely gifts. You are a great addition to the Pilsen vibe! Judy DeLeon“

“If you’re looking for a variety of delicious pan(Mexican sweet bread) and cafe(coffee) or tea, this is a ONE STOP SHOP!
They serve the smoothest cold brew and richest cafe de olla!
Now— “early bird gets the worm” as they sell out fast(bread.)
They are open later than most local cafes(6 pm) and have the BEST team. Not only are they phenomenal with drink recommendations but the customizations they cater towards their customers provides the best quality of coffee you can experience!
Anything and everything you can think of they might have. If not, ask for a recommendation; I can almost BET you will not be disappointed!“

“I placed an order to go. Was informed that there was a $3.00 to go charge and a gratuity would be added on the order cause it was over $100.00. After I checked the receipt, $18.35 was the gratuity. I thought it would be maybe $5.00. Very disappointed. Had I known this, I would have come into the restaurant and ate there had them provide me with service. I am a senior and that was definetly not right. I've already instructed my family not to get me gift card from Maple and Jam.“

“My son and I went there today for a nice cool treat. My son says that it’s the best Oreo smoothie he has ever had (he has had many! lol). I got the pistachio ice cream and it’s the most delicious ice cream. Sweet, but not too sweet. The environment is very calming and a great place to have a sweet treat!“

“This place hands down has some of the BEST tasting Cuban food I have ever tried. You can taste the intent behind there dishes. Don't get me started on their coffee either. Their prices and portions are decent too. I've never had a bad experience here. Highly recommend trying their food & beverages.“

“High quality trivia night host. Incredible food on a changing menu. Great place to hang with friends and family. Or a great place to sip wine and hang out with one of the many in-house books. Classy and laid back atmosphere.“

“The coffee is excellent, the food never disappoints, and the atmosphere is perfect whether you’re relaxing or getting work done. What really makes it special is the customer service—everyone is so kind and welcoming, and you can tell they genuinely care about their customers. It feels like more than just a coffee shop.“

“I had brunch here today with a friend, first time here. I had the corned beef benedict and not only was it the best corned beef I've ever had in my life, but the orange juice was amazing, the service was great, and the value was fabulous also! Will definitely be back and plan to possibly go once a week with friends! 10 out of 10 recommend!“

“Never been to something like this and found it on google looking for a dessert type place to go with family. It was pretty expensive and overwhelming with options but we just weren’t familiar with this type of place. We settled with a chocolate shake and a chocolate lava cake and it was freaking delicious. It looks like a hot mess but it was 10/10. The flavors aren’t like a normal brownie or cake batter for the cake, it wasn’t Nutella and was melted chocolates, and I never had gelato before and the vanilla gelato was a like custard like cream cheese type of flavor and texture and it was really good.

The shake was super light and fluffy. Hard to describe but different.

Atmosphere was clean and nice. We really liked it.“

“I’m a sucker for good bread and the Italian sub was delicious. I’ve had two different flavor smoothies and I love them. Can’t wait to try the Reuben sandwich. 😋“

“Yum. The food was fantastic.“

“Every time I go, everything is delicious. Had the Cubano Sandwich today along with a tasty cup of java!“

“Love, love, love this place and that it’s so close to home! Chill atmosphere, good tunes and they support other local businesses and artists. If you haven’t tried the “Wildflower” it’s a must! 🍃☕️🤎“

“Thanks for the vegan offerings. My family and I enjoyed our meals very much. Super tasty!!!“

“Wow 10/10. My wife and I got the avocado and mozzarella paninis. Delicious! Bread was crispy exterior with soft interior, it tasted fresh and just wow, I didn't expect it to be that good. The coffee is excellent as well. Sorry that my picture is a partial sandwich. I wasnt expecting to leave a review but we were so impressed that I HAD to. Thanks for the great service and great food! Adi is amazing and when she wasn't preparing any orders she was cleaning the whole place spotless. Again, WOW! Thanks!“

“best coffee and awesome food“

“Excellent taste. No need for sugar or cream. The aroma is magical and it leaves you craving for one more cup. The flavor reminds me of sipping on a cup of coffee on a early morning, in the mountains of Mexico. Definitely an excellent cup of coffee no matter the time of day or weather.“

“Phenomenal and reasonably priced boba drinks, the tapioca here is SOO GOOD (sweet and perf texture), delicious green tamales (got one just to try, super impressed, would have bought a dozen if they weren’t so expensive @2.75/ea), amazing service, clean, and welcoming environment!! 10000/10“

“Delicious food-Awesome Service Will recommend and hope to return soon.“

“good coffee and great service!“

“Staff was very friendly and helpful, we got roll matcha icecream, the staff provided us option whether if we wanted to watch our ice cream be prepared. So we did, we also ordered fries, my kid really wanted fries and it did not disappoint. This establishment was very beautiful and clean, you do need password to use bathroom, they will give you a code :). Highly recommended“

“I’m so lucky to have CTRL Z in the neighborhood. It’s hands down one of the best spots in the city for coffee. The staff is also very lovely.“

“The hospitality here is just as AMAZING as the popcorn and doughnuts!! 🙌🏽 I highly recommend u stop by and check them out!! U’ll Thank me later 💯😘“

“Great chicken, sandwiches, and smoothies“

“went last night with my son. very rushed. I ordered a meal with spring rolls as an appetizer. they came with my meal, not before. my son ordered a chicken and rice meal, took a bitr and hated it. they refused to take it off my bill. 88$ for a meal for my sonnamd I and he didn't eat his meal. didn't offer another meal or anything. other restaurants would have made it right. theives. my left overs leaked through my bag going home. nor happy. we also felt obligated to tip even though server was rude and dint know about the 20% charge that's automatically charged“

“The best coffee made by Vito Brancatto! I now have my sister hooked and will travel from the South Side to join me for the best coffee. Mr. Brancatto will not disappoint.“

“Clean, friendly, 6 large tvs, bar snacks and great drinks. I recommend!“

“The Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Unity Action Council (UUMUAC) condemns the racial defacement on January 5,,2023, against the Cook it Mama Café’ in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago. We strongly support well-integrated neighborhoods, both for residents and businesses, communities which practice the Multiracial Unity of Martin Luther King, Jr. (the solidarity of the rank and file of all racial and ethnic groups). We encourage area residents to keep on eye out to protect this valued business, to dine there, to assist the investigation of this attack when they can, and to show public support for multiracial unity.“