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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, DePaulArmitage (Purple Express, Brown)
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This is my absolute favorite Argo in the city. I love every Argo because I love tea, but this neighborhood makes me happy, with the old buildings and the endless types of people passing through. There's a bar by the window where you can people watch, and I often do.
The baristas are always friendly and often cool people you'd be friends with if they weren't behind the counter making your drink. They also give out the drinks that people never return for, meaning there's always a slight chance you'll end up with 2 drinks for the price of 1.
The tea sets and loose teas are all nice and comparably priced to some place like Teavana, but you have somewhere to sit and enjoy your tea, which is nice.
They also serve coffee for the uninitiated and have a small but tasty selection of treats, most of which are vegetarian and a few of which are vegan. Like tea, Argo always makes me feel warm and fuzzy and a little more optimistic about my day.
Being in a new city, I make it a rule to go to non-chain restaurants, restaurants I KNOW I can find in other places.
I'm not sure if Argo Tea is in any other states besides IL, but it originally started in Chicago. As my friend brought me to the original Argo Tea, I was suprised when I walked in. So many unique tea flavors to try from.
I tried the mate late. It was pretty good- I liked the fact it was tea, not too sweat, etcera. My friends got the gingerbread chai and the earl grey vanilla creme.
Price was normal for any coffee/tea place. The prices were very similar to Starbucks, in fact.
The gift sets they had on display were nice too. I liked the trendy tea diffuser, as well as the tea sets. A possible nice gift to give someone someday.
Very cool place. Wasn't your over advertised coffee/tea place like Starbucks as well- it's unique and very Chicago. I liked it and plan to go back to try many more of their teas.
Pumpkin
Spice
Chai
Soy
Shot
Espresso
---------------------
Drink Fall, to-go.
A round of applause for Argo...
Seriously, this is one legit operation. A non-corporate entity that…
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More writing this review in general for all Argo locations, and not on which location I like more or less. This is a review I intended for a long time to write, and is coincidentally their original location. Some of the tea-based drinks are a miss(Mojitea), but I'm a big fan of their hibiscus drinks, such as the Tea Squeeze. The Charitea and Red Velvet aren't bad, and I like some of their hot drinks that I currently am forgetting the name of. Good alternative to a certain * and $$ chain, when I want an interesting(and often sugary) drink, but more tea-based.
And the quiches are great, too. Always have loved how they often have free samples outside of any of their locations, and what enticed me long ago to become a fan. I just wish Argo Tea corporate would focus its expansion outside of downtown and near-downtown areas, for once. Couldn't some in the company wake up and smell the potential of opening locations beyond just downtown and 'hoods from Lake View to south, please? And I don't just mean O'Hare and Evanston, although at least that was a good initial step.
Sincerely,
from everyone who'd like more convenient Argo Tea locations
This place makes me miss my sister and chicago. It was our spot to meet up while i read and she did homework...they have a great menu of an assortment of drinks...coffee, teas...but my favorite was always the bubble tea which if i recall correctly had like coconut jelly in it.. it was always yummy and it was my replacement for boba for awhile.
Very refreshing morning pick me up spot, the tea squeeze and apricot croissant are among my favorites friendly staff and a really nice place to unwind & whip out the ole notebook.
I'm an anti-morning-beverage-establishment person. I think ritzy venues had soured my take on the traditional morning pick-me-up.
While I can't afford to go out for it every morning, I can wager the occasional treat to start my day off right.
Coffee is cool, but it leaves a strong taste in its wake. Some mornings call for less offending beverages, and Argo Tea has zazzed up the leafy brew, propelling it away from old-lady status to today's hottest (or coldest) accessory.
Convenient location right off the Armitage brown line stop with Free Wifi!
Take some of the dried goods back home with you. Impress your friends with homemade tea. They'll wonder what they've been missing all of these years!
Argo Tea has broken through my judgemental barriers and sweetened my take on the neighborhood caffeine stop.
Thanks Argo!
When I've had a really crappy day, I seek out a tea or coffee shop for therapy. I stumbled onto Argo Tea in the search for my comfort food and wasn't disappointed. I'd never been there before and, while I am a tea drinker, I didn't know their menu, what was good, etc.
After staring blankly at the menu, hypnotized by the wealth of selections, one of the ... I don't know what to call them... baristas?... anyway, they asked me a few questions about what I generally liked and then made a couple of suggestions for me to try. I still hesitated a bit and they offered me a couple of samples to help me make up my mind. What a fantastic idea!! I wound up feeling great about the tea I ordered and was on my way to healing my soul with yummy goodness.
It's probably good I don't live in Chicago. I'd go broke visiting this place. But, they do hold a very special place in my heart. =)
Go there. Drink tea. Heal your soul.
Love this place - esp the Mojitea
A refreshing escape from coffee for tea enthusiasts.
Their daily specials are always creative, refreshing, and delicious and the employees are actually happy to be there.
I love their summer teas... yummy tea sangria... though I'm very tempted to bring my own alcohol for spiking purposes. My boyfriend loves their hot teas, particularly this Early Grey/english breakfast they had on special once... and never again on our days in. He can't pass an argo tea in the city without stopping in to check.
The seating is very limited but Armitage is such a lovely street it's no big deal to walk around with your tea and enjoy the shopping and sights of the street.
The latest in my haphazard quest to go to every Argo Tea. Like some crack addict I can't resist when I walk by and realize I haven't treated myself in a while. I'm beginning to think it's good I don't pass Argo every day.
And it's Red Velvet with soy FTW folks.
When it comes to coffee & tea places, they hold a special place in my heart. Why? Because I have such a deep love for all coffee & tea! That's why! Duh!
Anyway, only being in Argo Tea a few times, because honestly not that familiar with them. They always have a lot of choices & this particular location is always busy. I have a deep fear of being in line, looking at the menu, sweating hard as I am trying to figure out what I am going to order, because there are 45 other people in line behind me, all while trying to keep my cool! WHEW! [Looks like I over think these sort of process lines...]
Well. Let me tell you all something. Argo Tea has some of the most helpful tea-gurus working behind the counter. They answered all of my questions without a complaint. They walked me through the process, and made me feel welcomed. I was wowed. After ordering my first raspberry bubble tea--ever! I was so pleasantly happy! It totally made my morning go by so much better, while sucking down those raspberry pearls. Oh I will be back for sure! Thanks Argo!
I love Chai.
This is the perfect Chai. Either with skim or soy, it's phenomenal. Now I don't drink it from anywhere else!
Note: My ratings are in regards to comparing each Argo Tea location. My goal is to visit them all!
Yes, ANOTHER Argo Tea review. Watch out, you know I'm going to create a list!
As much as I loved reading my book at the front window of this particular Argo Tea, letting the post-work sunset stream onto the pages of text as I squinted at the natural sunlight I get far too little of...I could hear every word of everyone's conversation. Wow, now that's distracting.
The location is pretty small and conversations and sounds of the steamer bounce off of the walls. The staff members spent 10 minutes taking the order of the lady ahead of me, either because they were having a hard time hearing her or were just blanking out.
Also, ewww...did I just step over a leaking garbage bag sticking out from behind the register on my way to get a napkin?
However, I really can't argue with the GREAT location. You can SEE the Armitage El stop from the front window.
I suppose if you're really into tea you would like this place. The tea I had was ok, it satisfied my thirst, but I wouldn't get it again. It did not taste that good and was a bit pricey. The place is small and there were no seats available. They have coffee here, too. I am not the biggest Starbucks fan, but I would rather go sit in Starbucks than here, and I like their drinks (including tea) better there.
Argo Tea is the ONLY decent vanilla chai that I can find in the city. Plus, it has free wi-fi! This location was my favorite to study in (if I could find a seat). The pastries were hit or miss, but I'm hard to please in that department.
Mmmmm I love tea...... for some reason though, I don't drink it regularly. Nah, I'm more of a Starbizzy girl always looking for that caffeine rush to keep me pumped throughout the day. With my recent bout of being sick though, I'd been drinking tea like they're about to toss it all back into Beantown Harbor - yeah, I guess you could say I've been t-baggin' it. Looking to get away from the old box 'o chamomile I've got in the pantry I hopped in the hooptie to head to Sbucks for a chai only to find this Argo Tea at the same intersection dramatically tugging on my heartstrings.
I found what I've known to be true for awhile now... I LOVE IT THERE!
The drinks are great... dare I say better than coffee drinks?? Maybe I'm just over-lattéd but this Mama is ready for a turn of the leaf, literally. A few of my favs are the maté laté, which isn't really a "latté" at all... just a fabulous blend of energizing (yerba) maté, almond and steamed milk. Packs the same wallop as a cup of joe but is so much more soothing and tasty! The charitea (red tea + cherry juice) is fab hot or cold, virtually calorie free and has 10% of its sales proceeds donated to charity. How's that for steamy?
For you bubble tea fans, they even serve up teas with those weird, chewy pearly things you like. Go crazy on those why don't ya?! I'll be too busy cheating on my boyfriend, Starbuckeroo, macking in the corner with a steamed hibiscus sangria. Shameless? Nah. I just found a better lovah.
Pumpkin Chai.
(OK, if you haven't noticed, I'm obsessed with Pumpkin flavored things)
Get it before its gone!
I opted to try out Argo's white chocolate mint tea creation the other day as I dashed in from the cold - Glad I did! Yeah, I'm spending $$ on a few hot drinks daily, BUT it's my only vice and you kinda have to in this cold Chicago climate!
In the AM, it's a 1/2 decaf soy latte, usually from some place serving up Intelligentsia, but mid day, I don't want coffee, rather, tea! The matte latte is excellent - I always add honey for soothing benefits. I've tried the matte espresso drink and thought it tasted like dirt. It just doesn't work for me. The loose chamomile tea is great to steep before bed!
The white chocolate mint tea really hit the spot! I'm glad they were sampling and they offered me some. With all the walking around I do in the cold, this drink makes me feel like I'm walking in a minty winter wonderland!!!! hahahaha
I asked for a recommendation considering I drink tea all the time and wanted to try something new and exotic (like me, hehe)
Barista: Earl Red?
Me: Uh, no something more adventurous like white water rafting
Barista: Needle Point Jasmine Pearl?
Me: Ok, more adventurous like sky-diving
Barista: Oolong formosa?
Me: Last try, how about adventurous like cage diving with sharks
Barista: Mate, coffee-like with a smoky flavor
Me: That's more like it
Mate wasn't strong enough for me. I like to have a PUNCH of flavor like I was caught cheating.....but I wouldn't cheat on Mojitea - cold green tea, sparkling water, lime, simple sugar, and fresh mint. My "own invention" signature drink I'm making at parties now (shh...don't tell....eh, it's ok none of my friends read my yelp profile anyways)
I've had many, many delicious drinks here - the Carolina sweet iced tea, the Mojitea with sparkling water, boba drinks and mattes - and one gross drink - a warm Charitea with soy, but the milk kind of curdled and it was like drinking hot tea with cottage cheese in it ...[shudders with the memory of it...]
But overall I love this place and I love supporting such a cute Chicago-based mini-chain. Prices are high. This one is slightly more cramped than comfy, but I still like it.
My one issue with this location: I hate when people try to make me feel like I'm going crazy, because I probably am going crazy and I really don't need any help. Case in point - There used to be a little area in here for little kids, with some books and some cute little toys and stuff. But now that's not there anymore and when I've asked about it, the staff looks at me like I'm insane, or making it up or something. Look dammit, just tell me you moved it or burned it all, hell, I don't care, just don't act like I'm nuts. It was there...(damn you..I swear it was there....)
And, of course: Open one on the far Southside Argo! Get with the program - You're FROM Chicago even. Come on....Please?
I like Argo and God knows I visit their various locations enough.
Yesterday, I went to this Argo and put in an order for a blueberry muffin and my gingerbread chai. I received both items wrong and was too far away when I realized it. It wasn't that early and certainly wasn't busy. What gives?
Okay, this is probably the 5th time that I visited this Argo tea. The teas? Great. The soy hot chocolate (hey, sometimes you don't want tea)? Very good. The vegan blueberry muffin? Bleh. I'm still scraping my tongue from the experience. Clearly, I must make a trip to either Bleeding Heart or Chicago Diner for any sort of desirable baked delights.
Argo tea, revamp your muffins!
I love tea and I love Argo. I don't care that they're a local chain now and that every month or so a new one pops up. Argo - especially this one on Armitage - is by far my favorite cafe, and has been for the past few years. The baristas are cool and friendly, and aside from the Lincoln Park High Schoolers who come in after school lets out, the place is relatively quiet. Though it can get pretty packed in the late afternoon.
Anyway, I usually get the Earl Grey Vanilla Crème because I have a sweet tooth and love Earl Grey. But I think anyone can find one of the specialty drinks tasty. I've heard that the cappuccinos aren't bad either. I also appreciate their straight-up teas. They have a nice selection to choose from. The English Breakfast is some of the best I've tried. Oh, and the vegan muffins (though I'm far from vegan) are quite good.
I came here to get out of the rain and to grab a cup of coffee.
They had me at "red velvet tea".
Coffee cannot compete with the richness and delectability of this drink. Buy one of these for me and I will most likely say "yes" to anything you ask of me.
Wow.
It's 2 blocks away from me, has free wi-fi, and makes great tea. I can't ask for much more..
*note: seating feels more crowded and less comfortable at this location, but it's nothing to complain about. =)
Give me tea over coffee any day of the week! My boyfriend and I were looking for a place to duck in out of the cold and saw a choice between Argo Tea and Starbucks. So glad we decided on Argo Tea.
I was amazed at what Argo Tea can do with tea! Not just hot water and tea leaves, but tea with milk, juice, and chocolates are offered as well. And oh how I love my milk teas.
I wanted something with a flavor punch, and I asked the guy behind the counter what he would recommend. Next thing I knew there was a cup of hot Green Tea Ginger Twist in my hand. Whoa! That's a lot of ginger! Almost too much for me to handle, so my boyfriend took it off my hands and gulped it down like a champ.
I'll need to find another Argo Tea the next time I'm in Chicago. There's still too many flavors I need to try!
I am addicted to the iced green tea ginger twist!!!! Apparently, it's either an acquired taste or I am weird because no one else I know likes it...or can even tolerate it. If you like ginger, though, it's not to be missed.
I love all argo teas, but hate all the people camped out with their laptops working. That is a general pet peeve of mine, though. I can never find a place to sit and drink my tea or kill some time. grrr. This argo is probably the smallest of the bunch, too.
GOSH I LOVE ARGO! I am a proud to be a club member to support the recent tea drinkers popularity movement.
Argo is an independent tea store (now nine stores exist but it's nothing like the annoying Starbucks monopoly) that has a variety of unique tea based drinks. If you're having a difficult time choosing...A few of my favorites are: the Mate Late (great iced for summer days or hot for winter days; however do beware that the majority of Americans do not care for Mate--I guess you have to travel to South America to undergo a taste buds adaptation), Mojitea (Mojito Tea Fusion for those lushes), Tea Sangria (if you like a kick of energy with fresh fruit), and the frothy Chocolate Mint or Earl Grey Vanilla Creme for those frigid Chicago days. They also sell nice tea lover items such as cute tea pots, steeping spoons/diffusers, fresh pastries/food & a large variety of pre-bagged/sealed & loose-leaf teas.
While the location on Armitage is the ORIGINAL shop but a bit small (I prefer the stores on Randolph in the loop & on Broadway in Lake View), all the locations are quaint, have free Wi-Fi and are comfortably clean.
If you love your visit, join the Argo Club for a card that earns you points for free drinks and other products. Argo tea fanatics welcome everyone, including those coffee addicts! So don't worry, they sell coffee as well.
Argo makes tea so deliciously delightful. I recently tried their summer Acacia white tea special. It's mixed with a hint of lemonade and absolutely spectacular. I always like to try the barista's recommendation when I'm there, because there are so many different things to try.
So I was visiting Chicago and came across this place by chance. Argo is the Starbucks of tea. Like a lame duck I went in and ordered a coffee. I don't regret it a bit since their Chocolate Biscotti Latte was awesome.
The shop plays new age music, making it a nice retreat from the city around it. I felt like I was flying with all the caffeine and the trippy music.
I do think their prices are a bit on the high end, considering its tea.
The fact that Argo is a chain drink shop is devoted primarily to tea rather than coffee is the bees knees. The fact that this location attracts Lincoln Park high school kids is not the bees knees.
High school kids, I know what it feels like to really want to make out with some cute boy (or girl) in your class, so you feel like you have to impress them and be funny and all that crap that people do when they wanna make out. However, I want to advise you that a loud, bad Borat impression is not the way to first base. It is, however, the way to lure me to glare at you while wishing that my eyes could shoot lazer rays of death.
Yay for free wifi, boo for high school kids that ruin concentration, boo for tiny amount of seating, yay for that hibiscus drink.
Basically spent my life as a student here once I made the discovery...I am an avid tea drinker and it was a relief to have a place that provided some taste and variation for tea-lovers...unlike the Starbucks across the street. I made it a point to try every single thing on the menu, and that I did, although I mostly stuck to my classic favorites...chai of course, mate late, and for a cool refreshment, peach white tea sparkle. YUM.
It occasionally gets busy with a younger crowd around the time school gets out, 3pm or so, but realistically, there are always going to be lots of people in a place as good as this. Generally speaking, I've done lots of successful study sessions there and haven't been disturbed. Plus, the delicious tea soothes any inconvenience one might feel.
They offer a student discount, and a handy points card that will get you a free $5 every once in a while. worth it for frequent fliers like myself.
My only complaint is that I had to leave it behind when I moved out to Colorado...come with me Argo! I miss you!
I came in for a simple green tea, and left with a green tea latte. Not only a green tea latte, but a soy milk green tea latte with almond. And you know what? It was amazing. Better than most coffee-based lattes I get. I enjoyed every drop of it.
Meanwhile, my tea snob SO was standing near me thinking I'd just done terrible, terrible things to a decent cup of tea. He ordered the formosa oolong and said it was basically just "okay". He's not overly impressed with Argo's selection in general, claiming that they have about three serious teas. He does really enjoy their earl grey, though he doesn't place that in the serious tea category. (He also wanted me to note that most people will probably enjoy the teas here, but we're talking about a man who drinks several cups a day of really good tea.)
Then there's me. As I said, I ordered a tea latte and I like my gimicky drinks in general (er, sometimes. I think most Starbucks drinks are foul, for example). There's a ton on the menu here that I'd love to try just for the novelty of it. I may be completely hooked, and I'm in trouble because there's one in Hyde Park (UofC hospital). I'd hang out in this location to get work done. I'd probably blow my budget on drinks in the meantime.
Argo, I underestimated you when I just ordered plain cups of tea. Your real skill is in weird tea-based lattes. I may have to try this at home.
The thing I love most about this AT location is that the staff is freakin awesome-always. That will really make or break a place for me...
I work close to this place, so I pop in pretty often. Great selection, clean quarters, && of course AWESOME tea.
Ar-gasm: (noun) feeling one experiences when first discovering Argo Tea -or- experiencing a sensational journey to an Argo shop (as always).
I absolutely love this place! I'm so glad I came here the day I did, instead of Starbucks. Definitely worth it.
So far, I've had the pumpkin chai, chocolate smoothtea, and hibiscus iced tea. By far, the chocolate tea was the best!
I've been to the Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Evanston locations and the staff at every store is so nice and knowledgeable. This is something that I still haven't found in Starbucks, even after their so-called espresso excellence training this year.
I'm considering a second job and might even apply with them as a testiment to how much I like their store.
I was all about Argo Tea just based on the Randolph location and I'm even more all about it after visiting their Armitage location this morning.
I approached the counter in dire need of caffeine and before I could even open my mouth the woman behind the counter was offering me a croissant sample, as well as many different tea samples...now, that's good service! She and the other guys behind the counter were eager to help me discover the perfect tea and I ended up settling on the ginger bread chai....wow, this puts my normal latte to shame everyday!
I need an Argo Tea right next to my apartment, although that ginger bread chai is worth the walk/drive.
Convenient location from the "L" Brown Line (Armitage stop; toward Sheffield Ave). I stopped here based on Yelp reviews. Good call!
Inside was small and cozy downstairs (probably 8 small individual tables and 4 window seats). Mellow instrumental music was playing overhead. Most of the seats were filled with patrons using their laptops. Several pre-packaged gift packs were available for purchase around the store.
Loose teas for sale by the ounce started at $2.25. Pre-packaged teas were also available. I ordered a small Armenian Mint tea at the counter ($2.25) which was pretty good.
Nice place to warm up on a cold day!
I love argo tea and this location is great for me since it is right by the armitage brown line stop. The people are nice and the service is generally quick when I stop in for some coffee before work (what can I say, I love coffee, even at a tea place).
YUMMY!!!! This place is fabulous!!! Just tea and all tea!!! ( and not the kind in a tea bag! Their tea drinks are soo delicious!!! I have only been a few times, but if I was closer I would be a regular for sure!!! Damn! They definitely need more locations... just don't turn into the Starbucks of tea!
I tried my friend's Mohitea.... sooooo good!!! I was mad I didn't order that!
I was so excited too because their travel mugs are stainless inside (The pink one I bought I use all the time!)...unlike the plastic ones I have from Starbucks.
So yummy! If you love or even like tea - this is a definite must go!!!!
Even though I loved it... they should use some cleaning supplies or hire someone to clean for them. When we were looking at the their merchandise, everything was layered in dust. Which I thought was kind of gross... but i still bought my tumbler and I still love the tea! :))
PS - I didn't try any of the food, so I can't comment on that.
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