The No Exit Cafe

Have been going to shows here for some years and had season tickets last two years (including this season). Shows are good. Very good actually.
Unfortunately the space itself has issues.
Space is uncomfortably crowded/​small and there’s a serious problem with the climate control. It’s almost always hot in there (regardless od season) with some parts of theater being hotter than others and the bathroom usually cold.
They bill themselves as a ‘cabaret’ yet they have a very limited bar. The limited part applies to both the booze selection and the staff ability. The wine selection is always one white and one red — seems like they are selling whatever their distributor is trying to get rid of on clearance. Sometimes the wine is quite nice, and sometimes both choices are awful. Sometimes it comes from a box. They’ve really got to get it together or at least allow byob (we’ve asked repeatedly for them to allow byob with corkage or to improve selections but they seem un-​interested in either).
The food is always a non-​starter. Apparently it is supplied by the Heartland. They might want to think about pairing up with another restaurant/​caterer to supply the food items and run the bar. It’s unfortunate as the dinner/​show idea is pretty neat.
Alas, will almost certainly not renew season tickets next year unless they improve the bar (and hopefully the food too). Or they could stop referring to themselves as a Cabaret, which would remove the expectation of a decent bar.

I visited No Exit Café for the first time for Theo Ubique’s production of «Always…Patsy Cline.» The theater company offers dinner & performance or performance-​only options; we chose the former. It was all delightful! The space is intimate, yet uncrowded, the performance was engaging & entertaining, and the meal was enjoyable.
The fixed menu is themed for each production, and since Patsy Cline was a product of the South, the menu comprised chicken-​fried steak with milk gravy (or chicken-​fried seitan for the vegetarian option), squash and greens (with apple brown betty for dessert). There’s a full bar, though wine and beer selections are limited (red or white wine, three beers), but that’s fine.
Another unique feature is that the cast serves the food — this is a great way for the cast and audience to establish personal rapport prior to the show. A nice date! I’m looking forward to returning for future shows…

I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone when I stepped into the No Exit. Taking note of the other reviews, I arrived early (almost an hour before curtain time) for the performance of the Cole Porter Revue here a couple of weeks ago. It was an adventure getting to the venue, as I got out of the cab and even passed by the storefront a couple of times before finally locating the entrance (maybe the name should be changed to No Entrance/​Exit). Drinks were offered, though I abstained, as I had an early pre-​show supper of my own devising at III Forks. I am glad that I did, as the hangar steaks didn’t really appeal. I was surprised to note that the actors actually served the food – even desserts during intermission– and take my hat off to a hardworking crew. The venue is definitely intimate, and you get to know your seatmates. Fortunately for me, it was a convivial bunch, with one table of older gents next to me even offering me a pour from their communal bottle of wine – of which they’d promised/​threatened to order 8 more by the show’s end. I think that was an ambitious goal, as I only saw two (three, tops) bottles of the Eye Spy red ordered and actually drunk. As to the seats themselves, I should’ve remembered to bring a cushion to sit on, as I needed to take a stroll ’round the block during intermission, just to get the feeling back into my hindquarters (TMI, anyone). The show was high-​energy, and it was a unique experience getting such a close-​up view of the performers and stage sets. That, combined with the people watching, made this a memorable evening out and I’m glad to have had a chance to venture here before this season wrapped up.

I just got back from seeing a coupe of shows in Chicago and THIS was one of the places I got to check out.
The show itself, ASPECTS OF LOVE, even though it’s a very difficult story to tell, was performed beautifully.
The venue is small and we got stuck by the band, so my friend and I spent a lot of act one straining to hear what was happening far downstage. That being said, my biggest rant is about the seating. They need more padded seats if there is going to be a three hour performance happening — after a long while those hard seats… well, hurt!
The bar is nice and convenient, if not overpriced for the size of the cocktail you receive.
Looks like the food service was a big hit as well. I did not partake, but it did look good! I’ll be sure to see more shows at this place!

First tip: ARRIVE EARLY! No Exit is teeny tiny. We arrived right under the wire and had to sit on separate ends of the «theater». It’s essentially a little coffee shop with a few tables and bar stools around the perimeter, which makes it a great spot to see an intimate play. The musical I saw, Light in the Piazza, had some strong vocals which seemed to frighten the lady in the front row, so you may want to hang back a little.
They have a liquor license and actually offer a play-​inspired menu (this was spaghetti and meatballs, you know, ’cause it’s Italian) prior to the show which is served to you by the actors. We didn’t partake, but the crowd seemed to enjoy it.
Overall, the performance was strong and the space is cute. I will come back to see more.

Played outside with a brass band and then saw a fun burlesque show here. Support live art!

I saw a performance of Chess this past weekend at No Exit and I was very impressed with the performance. The singers were fantastic and the staging, choreography and musicians were stellar. I can’t get over how their small cast was able to deliver the choral pieces so well. This venue was TINY which actually made the whole thing even more enjoyable. Sure, the tables were squished together and people kept bumping me from behind — but it was all worth it as I was about 5 feet from the performance and could see and hear everything perfectly.
We didn’t eat beforehand since I didn’t see a possibility of anything very vegan friendly able to occur so I can’t comment on the food. However, being waited on by the actors would have been very fun.
I also can’t comment on the bathrooms since we were invited to use the ones at The Glenwood next door — and those were very nice.
Overall, being able to experience such talent and entertainment at so small a venue and for so reasonable a price, is one of the many things that makes living in Chicago as worthwhile as it is. I brought my parents to the show and they had their doubts as we were seated. However, they left completely awed and thrilled. I can’t wait to return for another show.

this is where a piece of my heart is. used to read at open mic in ’96 and met my first love here. wouldn’t trade those wednesday nights in for anything in the world.
stay gold, no exit.

I used to come here in high school and college all the time. The time between 1991 and 1998 was freakin’ magical when it came to hanging out at No Exit. Doing my homework in the back corner, listening to some great jazz on Sunday nights, laughing at the hippies talking about «groovy vibes», drinking some great coffee, crushing hard on the waitresses… you couldn’t possibly go wrong.
The Heartland people bought this place, eliminated their only competition in the immediate neighborhood and haven’t really made good use of this place at all.
I booked some pretty great all ages punk shows here, until it was no longer profitable for Heartland Inc. Whatever, I’m not bitter. Point is, these hippies gone venture capitalists have bastardized an otherwise great coffee shop. Good job guys. *slow clap*

The No Exit Café is tucked away on a strip of Glenwood Ave in Rogers Park. It looks like a place most people wouldn’t venture in unless you knew somebody who knew about it. The inside has this feeling of a small diner, something out of a small po-​dunk town where the locals look like locals and the coffee is black. The décor is made up of anything and everything. People just leave oddities such as Elk antlers or a painting of James Dean, and then it gets put up on the walls. Along with the eclectic décor this café has a lot of history behind it; it has been in this location since 1967 but it moved here from Evanston back in 1958. Back then it was known for being a beatnik (coffee and Jazz) kind of joint with a diverse crowd, mostly a lot of college students and professors. With the changing of the times and being in the «art» district of Rodgers park I would say that it is even more diverse now.
In addition to being a café it hosts a play here and there which is really why I experienced such a place. The play «Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night» was nothing short of brilliant. Nothing like sitting at a table with some friends and wine watching a play so close that if you stuck your foot out they would trip (It was an accident. ok) one of the actors. French translator Arnold Johnston did a terrific job at bringing Jacques Brel’s play to life and he was actually there the night I went. This play is so worth seeing and I would get tickets asap because I believe it won or is nominated for a Jeff Award. The performers themselves gave such a passionate performance that the crowd was speechless. What makes this café unique is that the performers are actually the staff too and sure enough as soon as they step foot of the stage they fill up your water or hand you a receipt for your meal.
I can’t say I would eat here but I would come back for a play or two.

Used to be a full on coffeeshop, and one of the first places I hung out at when I moved to Chicago. My brother has macked on many a waitress here. Now part of the Heartland Conglomerate.
Now it’s sort of a threadbare performance space with dingy, beat up furniture — home of Democracy Burlesque — and has food service too. I saw «food service» in the barest possible terms, ‘cos it’s sorta light on the «service»

I really miss this place. On Sunday nights, me and some of my friends (were talking 10+ years ago) would go there, drink coffee and watch this Jazz combo play til about midnight. It was truly awesome. It had a wonderful, dim, relaxing aura to it. The place itself didn’t look like it changed much since the sixties, in fact I remember seeing some graffiti in the restroom that read «Strawberry Fields Forever 3÷6÷67.

Never really open anymore but it used to be a nice place to take in an open mic, hear live music, or watch films. The area’s very hit or miss, half a block down south (Morse) can be trouble, half a block north you have the Heartland and the Red Line Tap.

Over a decade ago, I used to attend their open mic and poetry nights. It was a nice little place.
Nowadays, the No Exit hosts a theatre group, special meetings and small events.
Historical note: It’s known as the oldest café in Chicago.

This place is great for having a deep conversation, catching a live performance or playing a game of chess. It can get pretty darn smoky in there.

I used to frequent this place in high school and my father did as well back in the 60’s when it was located in Evanston. It is a very liberal place, although I think it changed hands since I was there last.

Right down the street from the Heartland Café and Red Line Tap, this small gem can be found. A long history of left wing political activists have graced this cozy café that once only served coffee, tea or light snacks, but now boasts a full menu. They have local and regional musicians on the stage, as well as poets and comedians. The parking is scarce but the coffee and atmosphere make it well worth the trip to east Rogers Park.

This is your classic coffee house that has been through several incarnations in the neighborhood. It was serving doppios long before Starbucks was even a glint in its founder’s eye.
I used to go and hear Art Thieme and Tom Dundee and great folks like that back when it was on the other side of Glenwood.
They still serve up coffee and pastries and give the stage to aspiring performers. Now owned by the righteous folks at Heartland, this is a great place to sit and get over-​caffinated and write bad poetry and flirt with the cuties doing the same. Or have a heated discussion about some obscure topic that is of the utmost importance to you and practically no one else.