Savor The Flavor

I have a major test to take in June and I’m going to have no life until then… but it is all made better by the fact that Savor the Flavor is steps away from my apartment.
It is absolutely the perfect spot for me (read: I don’t need complete silence when I study. In fact, I prefer a little bit of background noise). There’s wi-​fi, they have toasted rice green tea, their homemade soups are AWESOME (I’m addicted to the red lentil), and there is the most adorable pug named Felicity here.
Love, love love!

I’m here from out of town and needed a good place to work on my computer with WIFI so I looked on Unilocal and decided to check out Savor the Flavor!
The place is amazing! There is the most adorable bull dog. Also there is a combination of different types of tables (long family style tables, large round tables and coffee tables with couches). There is a lot of natural lighting and some track lighting. Good light for doing work or relaxing (ie. not to bright or dark). There is beautiful artwork on the walls which help for the friendly atmosphere :)!
They have a specialty drink right now called the «Winter Wonderland.» Very good if you have a sweet tooth and don’t like coffee. The drink is peppermint flavored and has a candy cane on the side with candy cane bits sprinkled on the top.
They also have delicious belgium waffles with good seasonal fruit!
Also, the people were wonderfully nice and helped me with directions when they found out I was from out of town!
A+++!

Was looking for a lunch spot a little bit on the lighter side, and walked past Savor the Flavor, which boasts a combo of my two favorite things in the entire world: Grilled Cheese & Ice Cream! Yum!
Texas toast is the correct choice, trust me… and mini sundae that accompanies the sammy was the perfect snack size (not snack size as in a mini candy bar that is bite-​sized, but snack size as in a little side of perfection). Food was great, not to mention the interior is cozy & adorable. I wish I worked closer to this place. I would be here every. day.

I like this place.
They have grilled cheese sandwiches that you can add up to three different kinds of cheese, plus meat like ham, bacon, or more, and you can add sundried tomatoes, banana peppers, ect.
Good selection of ice cream, and I love the space. They have two entrances, one of Sheffield and one on Lincoln. The counter is right in the middle, and both entrances are like their own little coffee shop, with spacious seating, board games, couches, and lounging.
Thumbs up!

Sad to say I have lived about 50 yards from this place for 10 months and today was the first day I’d visited. I walked in and was surprised to see a rare Pug skin rug, but was corrected… it’s Felicity… perhaps the most vicious (see: sarcasm) guard dog in all of Chicago.
Ordered a vanilla latte and an oatmeal raisin cookie. Friendlier, faster, cheaper, and tastier than Sbux. Definitely my new go-​to coffee shop! (And, dude, I am so going to be in grilled cheese heaven at some point in the very near future.)

Nice place: plenty of seats, nicely decorated, simple and very relaxing.
I am a big fan of places like this. I got a coffee — and I had to wait a little bit for it (they were brewing). My boyfriend got a hot chocolate, and we saw the barista prepared his drink and we knew right away — not enough chocolate for him (although he consume about 2 bars of chocolate a day, so I can’t blame her). Our drinks were ok — more like ³⁄₅.
Definitely a good neighborhood find and a good alternate for Starbucks. Seems like a good place to study too.

I love the feel of this place. It feels very Seattle coffe-​house-​esque. The coffee is ok, but not outstanding. I feel like the bigger reason to go here is for the comfort value. My husband and I went here on a chilly Sunday afternoon and sat and read books for an hour. We liked the chill-​ness.
I really love how the owner has your older pug walking around. That definitely adds to the homey-​ness.
One thing that I did see when I was there was one of the employees rudely ask a man who was studying if he would move from his 4 top table to a smaller one. Now I obviously don’t have a problem with the idea of moving to allow other customers the joy of sitting, it was just how rudely she asked. I didn’t get a cool vibe from that. And on top of that, the table that she did make him move for was annoying and loud with an irritating kid whining the whole time. I think that’s why we ended up leaving actually.
Overall, good place with decent coffee. Personally, I think bringing in some Lavazza or Starbucks and enjoying the coziness of Savor The Flavor would be the perfect combination.

This place is located between where I live and where I go to school, so I occasionally stop in.
First. Pugs are my third favorite dog. (Boston, Frenchie, Pug)
Second. The barista put hearts in my foam. I actually teared up because I was pmsing I think, but regardless, hearts were in my foam. ”
Third. Plenty of space to study and sit.
Forth. Awesome breakfast croissant, egg, cheese, meat optional, priced well thing. Order and enjoy.

This is an interesting little coffee shop where you can actually walk through and they serve, get this, ice cream!
We arrived at this place a bit empty inside and too full for our own good. I saw the grilled cheese menu and thought to myself, nostalgia! This place serves up a mean coffee for a colorful little shop that has ice cream and desserts and other candied treats all designed to put you in a sugar coma.
It’s a nice place to chill, hang out and be a kid, especially if you get a grilled cheese! We just stopped by for coffee and left after to go to the conservatory. Cute!

I defininetely savored the flavor here… at Savor the Flavor.
Making my way inside, I knew I wanted something hearty, but was heaving trouble making the 10am decision between breakfast and lunch. Obviously, I needed a coffee, but what to eat?!
My eyes immediately grazed over the make-​your-​own grilled cheese. Ok! Why not? With up to 3 cheeses kinds of cheese, a choice of turkey, bacon, tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, etc. I found myself making the right choice.
I had cheddar, colby jack, and moz. (they offered pepperjack, american, and swiss, too) turkey, and tomatoes on multigrain. Side choices were carrots or chips, or even a mini sundae scoop for .89! I swear, if it had been 11am, I would have gone for the ice cream.
It did however run me almost $ 9, but I saw it as brunch fare, so it was ok.
The place is adorable and is really large. I believe on the other side of the Sheffield entrance is the more for their ice cream parlor shop customers. There was a lot of seating, very comfy couches and friendly service.
It was a nice change from being rushed in and out of Starbucks, being unable to enjoy my beverage and breakfast at a table.

I spent a full afternoon here one day recently in order to get out of the home office for awhile. And let me tell you, it delivered beautifully.
As a recent shift in life, I haven’t taken full advantage of the work-​from-​home situation I have going. However, one day recently I agreed to help out some friends by hanging near their new apartment so I could let their new cable provider in to get them set up. Since I needed to get some work done while waiting in the 6-​hour block of time they gave for the possible installation, I searched Unilocal for places with wifi in the area.
(THANK YOU UnilocalERS!)
(Note: I’m not sure the wifi is exactly free. I was buying something anyway, but they gave me the passcode with my receipt, so it seems that they ask/​require purchase to use the wifi… but I think that is reasonable.)
Savor the Flavor is a nice coffee shop. I’m not a huge fan of coffee shops, so that’s saying something. I could totally hang out here. Do work, chill with friends, kill time, you name it! Good coffee, solid assortment of treats. If there was anything to nitpick, I’d ask for more «real food» choices, but the grilled cheese holds its own. (this is no simple grilled cheese… just trust me. and get it with bacon. can’t go wrong.)
I think the key in making this place so inviting is the size and layout. They have a lot of space, and it is somewhat divided into two areas. One half seemed to be filled with more socializing, while I was able to set up in the other side and get some work done with minimal distraction. There were also students studying, so I assume this was not the first time it has been divided as such.
Not only is the space inviting to a variety of activities (work, study, play), it is unique and comfortable. The décor is colorful and lively. The music is loud enough to enjoy when the mix comes across an old favorite, but not so loud that it disturbs your activity du jour. There are tables of different sizes and shapes that can accommodate all sorts of things, individual or group, work/​study or play! Even though I was there for business, I did notice a stack of games, which I plan to return to play. I can’t yet vouch for the quality of the games since I didn’t explore the options, but someday I’ll let you know.
Coffee, grilled cheese, ice cream, games. ‘Nuff said. Savor the Flavor, I’ll be back.

Amidst all the Starbucks that litter the city, that these little places exist and thrive… rules. Nothing against Starbucks, I just need more character, a different vibe and as much as an independent thinker as I am, I like the communal atmosphere here.
Right now, as I’m sitting here one guy orders the Belgian waffles… then SHARES it with everyone else sitting in the place! I declined on my bite. I have my Odwalla bars and Pecan Bites that they sell here.
My iced coffee is good. They have a pretty extensive menu of snacks, sandwiches and drinks. Milkshakes and ice cream too. Take that SB.
The lady who served me was very nice and friendly. She creamed my coffee then topped it off… and stirred it! Cute and very nice of her. That’s service. Maybe a little to personal for some, but even I appreciated it. And I hate people.
There’s also a fat pug sitting by the counter. He’s so fat… and probably old that he looks like those ceramic dog statues that you’d buy at Brookstone or something and put by your front door. But he moved. It was cute. And slow.
Free wifi and the music wasn’t too loud.

Grilled cheese and ice cream? Lactaid, take me away!
After years of passing this place, I decided to plan a little event here several months back; the owner could not have been nicer! We traded a few e-​mails and she reserved a table for my group. This may not sound like much, but I’ve done this same thing other places only to arrive and find that they forgot you were coming or remembered, but had no space set aside.
The place is very cute and eclectic, from its quirky floor plan to the random tables, chairs and artwork adorning the walls. The music is also quite varied too, but thankfully unobtrusive. They have some board games and free wifi too; they just ask that you limit your internet use to 2 hours per purchase.
Savor the Flavor serves your typical coffee and tea staples, but where they really shine is in the ice cream and grilled cheese department. If you’re jonesing for a grilled cheese, take a little laminated card and dry erase marker to choose your bread, cheese (up to 3 kinds) and add-​ons like tomato and side (carrots or chips). My grilled cheese was quite good, the only downside was that they don’t have ketchup, something I require when eating grilled cheese. However, they had a solution — Hoagie Hut. I’m sure the people *dining* there thought it odd when I strode in, pumped a little cup full of ketchup and strode out.
On my most recent visit, I spent several hours there working and decided to treat myself to a chocolate shake too. I’m no shake connoisseur, but this was really good — made with fudge instead of chocolate syrup and some brand of homemade ice cream that escapes me. I realize that it’s kind of like ordering a Diet Coke to accompany your super-​sized meal, but I loved that they were willing to make my shake with skim milk too.
If ice cream treats and grilled cheese aren’t your thing, never fear — they also serve Italian ice, Italian sodas and Sweet Miss Givings pastries (
).
During the day it’s a pretty quiet place to get some work done, but on the weekends it’s a bit livelier with DePaul students and people grabbing a quick drink before shows at the Apollo Theater down the street.
Just a short hop from the Fullerton stop (and right of the #11) this is a great place to work, chill, indulge your sweet tooth, or challenge a friend to a board game.
Note: I found it curious that the bathroom had a picture diagram on how to lock the door. I’m sure it’s there for a reason, but it’s just one of those little knob locks that take a half-​turn to lock, not Fort Knox. Really people? REALLY?!

Wow — it’s a good thing I read the review by «Jennifer M» before I went here. I had already packed up my fondue set and a can of sterno — and I was looking forward to making a snack while I took off my shoes and read War and Peace over there.
Thanks to her review I realized that if I wanted eat and drink there I had to get the food and drink the SELL there. Otherwise the place is pretty good. But, I will take off one star for not being able to bring in my own hibachi grill.

I come to Savor as often as I can and it’s definitely a long-​time favorite. It’s in my neighborhood but it’s not the closest coffee shop, so it’s usually where I come when I want to stay for a while. The coffee is great and I love that it comes in real mugs, and I actually enjoy the tea here (I rarely get tea at coffee shops).
Of course, I can’t forget about the grilled cheese! I try to come for lunch so I can get all that gooey cheese and crusty bread. Of course, there are chips or carrots if you like that kinda thing, which I don’t, but you might. You get those, too! And when you’re done, if you’re still hungry, or just want a snack, Homer’s Ice Cream is AWESOME.
Basically, this is a super friendly, super local place to hang around and study. And while the furniture may not be top of the line, I love the eclectic mix of comfy chairs and sofas with tables that are big enough for me to actually spread out and study. Oh! in the summer, there are lots of families with kids that come in for the ice cream, just something to keep in mind! Doesn’t bother me a bit, though, it’s plenty big for me to not feel too crowded.

I’ve been here a few times because my friend lives nearby and we both need a place to study. I am not a big coffee fan and so coffee shops don’t hold that much appeal to me. However, their apple cider is pretty good, even cold. They make a great grilled cheese sandwich which is a filling snack that tides me over between meals when I am hitting the books.
The wifi is good and there are plenty of comfy, spots where you can spread out and have quick access to all my study materials. The service here is really friendly, during my first visit I wasn’t sure how to order my sandwich but was given a suggestion by the woman that works there, it was a good suggestion and a good sandwich. I’ve been there multiple times and never disappointed.

I stop by this coffee shop most times I need to visit my doc’s office down the street because I’m always way too early because I usually forget where Lincoln Park is because I avoid Lincoln Park. So, I do it out of the necessity to kill time, most of all.
The staff is friendly, which may be a rare thing in icy Lincoln Park, but is not so much in sticky, hip Logan Square where I’ma come from. The coffee is hot. So’s the tea, and it comes in a bag. There are various baked goods and grilled cheese available. There is a bathroom. And ice cream.
Really, if ice cream can’t get you a star from Shasta «The Icecreaminator» then you’re not living up to your potential.
It’s the lay out and ‘art’ of this place that kills me. I think they went for «living room, cozy, charming and thrifty» in their décor attempt but what they wound up with was «pre-​school run by a bunch of grandmas who love end tables with sharp edges». They have a huge space, and that can be a challenge I understand… I don’t know. I’m done analyzing it just like I’m done patronizing it.
Note: this review was written by someone who just wanted coffee and a magazine, not by a college student or «writer» who enjoys spending hours in a coffee shop.

This is my favorite Lincoln Park coffee house. It’s airy, bright, and has plenty of seating. It’s not cliché like other coffee houses… you know, dark and trying too hard to be indie with emo music and Macs all over the place (not that I mind! i own a Mac, love indie/​emo music and can do the whole dark-​and-​dreary feel sorta thing).
Anyway, this place has *dun dun dun* FREE WIFI (but of course!) and serves Intelligentsia coffee. I’m not so much of a coffee aficionado, but I know for those who are that this is a big deal! I had their Tea 2 Tango iced tea and it’s great. I don’t know the name of the lady who works there but she has a great smile and is sooo nice! She made me the Tea 2 Tango drink and was so welcoming. I’ve been here before, but that was a precious moment!
This following is a plus or minus depending on your feelings on it, but it is a very family-​friendly spot since they have ice cream. Cute little kids come in with their yuppie parents and play games, which I think is cute, but not everyone would agree. Also, it draws a big Lincoln Park crowd so if you need a little more edge, this probably isn’t your place. I personally like the feel since I usually go to «edgier» scenes.
Quick Recommendations:
–Tea 2 Tango Iced Tea is fab! (Earl GOLD — not grey — tea with a hint of mango and orange or lemon).
–Iced coffee (Intelligentsia)
–Baked goods are great
–Ice cream is apparently really good. I haven’t had it, but I think more people come in for a cone than for a coffee.
Enjoy!

The fun, funky signage in this joint belies the indifferent service. I like it here because it’s never full or noisy, so you can spend as much time as you like. The two seating areas feature bountiful wall outlets and a mix of comfortable and utile furniture. You see a fair mix of patrons, too (it’s the frozen treats that draw the kiddies, I’m sure). The games in the toybox are beaten up and missing pieces, which is a real bummer.
They have great ice cream, and strike a fine balance between chocolate and espresso in their café mocha. I would appreciate a better pastry selection because sometimes a café mocha just isn’t enough when you’re trying to kill a sweet tooth after lunch.

A great café for everyone, right in the heart of Lincoln Park. But what makes it so great? Here we go:
–They have a big dot Unilocal sticker on the door ;).
–I’ve heard the owners are very active in the customer’s recommendations to always improve the café. After all, they did hire the best barista, Cailtin!
–They credit you 25 cents on reused cups for refills (although you have to pay for refills on certain drinks).
–They use Intelligentsia which is fair trade coffee.
–Inside they sell 16+ flavors of ice cream/​Italian ice. Don’t leave without trying the Peach ice cream. This is their best seller and is de-​li-​cious!
–There are tons of outlets (even on the ceiling – strange enough).
–The counters have mosaic tiles with fun rainbow colors, matching the great bright colored walls.
One large downfall is that the café wasn’t very busy, yet the Internet was snail slow! I actually had to head home to write this review it was so bad. So, they lost a star. Otherwise it’s a pleasant place to study that is most likely packed with DePaul student during their busy quarters and kids on hot days.