Demitasse
Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: University Village1066 W. Taylor Street
(between Aberdeen St & Carpenter St)
Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 226-7666
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
16 Reviews for Demitasse
One of Demitasse's Favorite Reviews
4 stars for yummy yummy goodness and friendly atmosphere and original artworks on the walls.
minus 1 because the service can be quite slow.
i love love love the stuffed french toast, definately something to share with somebody. and the waffle with fruit is yummy yummy too. and the parfaits. and the hot cocoa. which stays hot for a long long time.
so the service can be really slow depending on who is cooking and how many people are there, but they don't premake anything. nothing starts cooking until you order it and it is totally worth the wait.
i think i'll go back for breakfast soon....
Delicious coffee (at $2.75 for an iced coffee, it better be good!) and food also. Veggie-friendly. Went here for lunch on a weekday during prime lunch hour (or so I thought, at 12:30), and it was relatively empty, which meant good service and quick food preparation. Everything seemed a tad over priced, which is my only major complaint. I got a sandwich with fruit instead of chips, and an iced coffee, and it was $13-some! I'm assuming the fruit substitution upped the price, but THAT much?? Still, liked the chill atmosphere (not the hectic lunch crowd feel) and good food/coffee.
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2 stars for good coffee and ok service. Cute place too, sort of like your neighborghood diner, but cooler and cleaner.
My mom ordered the waffle with fresh strawberries and a side of bacon, my aunt ordered french toast, and I had a veggie frittata. HUGE dissappointment... And since I suggested to try this place, I was to blame... (and pay)
My mom hated the waffle. She's spoiled by the golden deliciousness at The Original Pancake House so this was a hundred steps down from what she's used to. The waffle was limp and soggy. She (being the knower of all waffles) said that waffles were suppose to be a little crispy and the one she had was like pancakes. And she had all of 3 or 4 strawberries... greedy? yes. The bacon was a joke. I know bacon isn't the leanest thing in the world, but it sure as hell shouldn't make you spit out grease. ughhh. How could you ruin bacon?? My aunts french toast wasn't too bad. They should really consider using less cinnamon or nutmeg or both... Someone said something about portions being big... I thought my fritata was a rip off. It was so boring... The potatoes I got were the frozen variety... Little perfectly cut cubes of fried potato. the best thing I had was my wheat toast.
The morning after my big move from the Big Apple, I was in need of a BIG, substantial breakfast to invigorate my could-not-peel-myself-off-the-bed exhausted self. Once I was able to manage the said peeling action, I strolled out one block onto Taylor st in search of any sign that read, "breakfast."
About 30 seconds later, I found myself staring at the window-displayed breakfast menu at Demitasse. It seemed to include all that one would hope for in a neighborhood eatery and some more: bagel sandwiches, breakfast burritos, French toast, flapjacks, parfait, oatmeal, omelettes, and a variety of hot and cold drinks. Prices were quite inviting as well - ranging from $3 to $11 for each item. Naturally, without any hesitation, I breezed my way in and sat myself at a diner-style cushiony booth and ordered a bottomless coffee ($1.95), parfait ($3.95) and a bacon, egg, tomato and cheese sandwich on a wheat bagel ($4.95). After what seemed to be forever-long 10 minutes, my waiter returned with my orders. The parfait was perfection with just the right amount of sweetness and fresh fruits, granola and almond flakes. The sandwich was also very satisfying with a slightly smoky piece of ham and fluffy eggs inside.
After about 30 minutes, I was a happy, just-arrived Chicagoan ready to take on the city's famous winds. So, off I went in my trusty wellies (as it was raining), rain coat, and an oversized, wind-buffered umbrella.
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I used to like this place. Service is okay but it seems like the employees just hang out there, instead of working. They used to have great food, but every time I went in there they were out of everything. To me that's a sign of a dying business who cannot afford their suppliers. It takes forever even when it's empty. It used to be a good back-up plan when Sweet Maple inevitably had a long wait...Sorry, Demitasse: We're broken up.
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I lived near campus for 4 years. It took me until the day I moved out before I ate here. And I wished I had tried it sooner! Their breakfast was delicious!! I went early on a week day before work. There seemed to be a crowd of regulars in and out for their daily coffee. The "waiter" also seemed to be the owner/manager and was extremely friendly. I had a few substitutions (like I always do) and he was very accommodating. The meal was delicious and I would highly recommend it... even if you don't live by UIC!
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I was a regular here every weekend for about two years... It was close by, but the food was OK, the service mediocre, and the prices were a little high for the quality of food, but not outrageous. However, they raised prices again on the menu, and now my blueberry pancakes cost way too much for what I get, the service has not improved any, etc.
If you're really hungry for some breakfast/coffee and don't have any other options, it's good. Otherwise, look elsewhere.
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bad news first:
-slow service
-kind of pricey
-hungover-college-boy-hostile hours (closed at 2.30 pm)
-run on an academic-year schedule - this place closes on UIC breaks.
the pros:
-large portions
-delicious coffee
-FUCKING DELICIOUS
-my girlfriend lives next door and has befriended most of the waitstaff, resulting in dramatically improved service.
overall, i can't really justify the prices and the slow service unless i'm with my girlfriend. a pity, because their stuffed french toast is so damn good....
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Whenever I'm in this area, past memories of the friendly waitresses serving that made by Demitasse's chefs and baristas draw me inside unrushed.
As Edith explained in her review, upon entering, the surroundings envelope its patron with an old school diner experience. But on closer inspection, its surroundings promise more than a diner offers, with oil-on-canvas made original by the artist, waiting patiently for its audience and for sale around the perimeter. The oils are replaced with fresh ideas haltingly if not periodically.
The menu and extensive list of hot beverages, which may humble the selection at Starbucks, keep the art viewer inside. I can only vouch for breakfast; a super-fresh croissant stuffed with egg, apple-smoked Bacon and Cheddar is one of my staples; though their frittatas made to order are just as tempting.
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Nice breakfast joint when you're not in a hurry. The food is good and most importantly Varied and fresh. The atmosphere is very laid back, which is perfect for lazy weekends late mornings. The service is rather slow for the place, but always nice and that makes up for it.
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good one for quality and very bad service in calling.
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This is absolutely my favorite cafe in the city. Half diner, half trendy coffee house with the best amaretto pancakes ever. The coffee and the espresso drinks are excellent and they don't mind if you spread out and study for a couple hours. There is always bad local art on the walls and the waitresses all look like chicago versions of Amelie. Fantastic!
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I've spent many a hungover morning here.
many a cognizant morning too
Their stuffed french toast is my favorite, and if you get a full portion it's perfect for sharing, as it comes with two massive pieces.
hmmm pieces seems like the wrong word..perhaps complexes is better. yeah. two complexes of french toast-like substance. They are topped with strawberries, bananas, whipped cream, and two kinds of sauce (just enough to not be overwhelming).
The waffles topped with fruit are a lighter option, but good as well.
ham/cheddar/tomato croissant is also a good bet.
BUT
for the love of god stay away from the panini's. strangely textured red bell pepper sauce and oddly greasy. just avoid them. side portions of ham can also turn out to be randomly skimpy. you just never know.
Another thing I've noticed is that the quality has gone down ever since a friend of mine stopped cooking for them. It's still good, I've just known it to be better. I also miss the chess set they used to have, but it was made out of glass so maybe it broke.
it's one of the only breakfast options in the area, and can be especially useful if you're looking to avoid the Sweet Maple line.
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Edit: had to change rating after Meli arrived. go there instead.
i love demitasse. i used to work at a little bookstore across the street, and i would stop in every day for a chocolate chip scone and the coffee of the day. both really, really good. the service is incredibly friendly...my only issue is that sometimes it took a little long when i was getting my stuff to go. i am always running a little late, and i need fast service. but i do think it's nice that it's a little more personalized and relaxed than your average starbucks. the stuffed french toast is soooo good, but get it to share! it's too much and too rich for one person. oh, and the art is all for sale. which is pretty cool, because they always have some interesting stuff.
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I would say not too impressed. My fiancee and I ate breakfast here because there was too long of a wait at the first choice restaurant and I wish I had just waited it out.
First of all, when I go to a restaurant and order a coffee you usually would expect the coffee pretty quickly. We waited quite some time and when I was finally annoyed enough to look up I saw our waitress behind the counter text messaging. That pretty much set the tone for the rest of my experience. Finally our coffees arrived and the food took even longer. I had ordered the special, 2 eggs, toast, hash browns and toast. When the food finally arrive, I must say, it was rather cold. The eggs had no flavor to them at all and there was probably ten little hash brown squares along with sausage that I believe came from a heat and serve package. The best part was the toast and that was only becuase I hadn't had rye toast in some time. I didn't feel that the price was even closely matched to what we ate. Maybe I would give it one more shoot just for the french toast everyone else seems to rave about, but that would be it.
This place is great for breakfast. They have the best stuffed french toast. They are moderately priced.
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