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Filter
- Nearest Transit:
-
Damen (Blue)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
109 reviews for Filter
Review Highlights
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Filter was my second living room and now that it's gone, so is a piece of my heart.
Bubble fruit smoothie, Thanksgiving wrap, deluxe grilled cheese...knitting all day, people watching, meeting friends...doing nothing, yet still feeling productive...
I cry a little on the inside every time I think about Filter's demise.
:o(
Yeah........
I used to hang out here. Are you shocked? Didn't think so.
Guess what else I used to do. I used to bring work in here and pretend to be occupied when all I was really doing was reading glossy mags and sizing up all the people who looked identical to me. I even ordered the "Hipster Hash" and Chai lattes. What's even worse is that I didn't live remotely near Wicker Park when I started hanging out here. I would drive the Corolls-royce in from River Forest with my knapsack just to sit around and be poncey. Somebody punch me in the face for I am a parody of myself.
I probably don't even need to tell you that I was good and pissy when I found out Filter was turning into a BoA. Where the hell am I gonna go now...Letizia's? Fuck off.
Perhaps it's a good thing that this place closed - it's forced me to branch out and develop a broader repertoire of hipster hangouts. Now I never really have any reason to spend any amount of time near the Crotch.
Yes, I do occasionally go to Rodan. On weeknights, right, what do you take me for?
FINALLY! I've been staying in various neighborhood in Chicago but have been dying to find a cool/hip/alternative neighborhood with cool galleries and cafes and here it is! I get off at the Damen blue line stop, and step out, and hear the bongo drums immediately. I am attracted to its sound - I follow it to... Filter Cafe.
The crowd inside is eclectic, diverse, hip, youthful, and trendy. I immediately get a "Ritual Roasters" kind of vibe (those from San Francisco will know what I'm talking about). Alas, the coffee is not strong enough for my liking (I ordered a non-fat iced latte) but I'm giving it 4 stars for its vibe alone.
First, I would never eat here. It's a cafe but more like a coffeehouse place, not one to boast a kitchen.
Second, they close at midnight on weekdays.
Third, you have to pay for wifi. Ridiculous. Who the fuck does that anymore?
And finally, but also most importantly, the staff here is so insolent and anti-service I heard on 3 occassions in ONE visit the barista/cashier childrens bitching about being there/the number of people in there/the mere idea of having to work here/moaning about closing time is their favorite time.
Give me a g-d break, bitches.
I do appreciate some of the patrons in here though. A lot of them are like: fuck you, it aint closing time and i've 5 minutes so let me read the rest of my chapter!!!
Walked in, and before I had ten seconds to look around I expected to see:
- Scruffy-haired dudes in new but faded graphic tees - check.
- Beautiful young women trying for understated cool - check
- Post collegiate reading, such as Tom Robbins - check
- Apple laptops - check
- Piece of shit couch - yep, they've got two
Predictable. It reminds me of a saying I heard in the eighties: "nobody wants to be a yuppie but everyone wants to qualify." Insert modern-day social stereotype term in place of yuppie and you've got it.
But there were nice surprises: AWESOME mango tea, really nice employees, a good selection of sandwiches and desserts, including a broad range of vegetarian and vegan. No smoking. And overall, I felt comfortable and at home sitting on the couch, chatting with good friends and checking out the artwork.
Bring your powerbook pro, bleached asymmetrical haircut, starving artist bod, Chucks, and awkward insecurity over, but check your need for privacy and space at the door. Most of the loners inside are barely looking at the paper/novel/blog they're working on, and instead stare at your screen to see what you're doing/reading. Or checking everyone else out. The conversations can get rowdy, and the crowd can be a bit young, but I love a good seat at the window to watch the passerbys and work on my chunky powerhouse -yep- Dell.
Oh, and their food is amazing. Try the Hipster Hash if extra hungover. I have a platonic crush on the super skinny blond girl that works the counter too.
EDIT, 8.21.07 - R.I.P. Filter, in Logan Square or wherever you are - you will be truly missed. I'll now be holing up @ Gallery Cafe.
I came up with this alliteration while using the restroom here:
There are plenty of pubes on this public pooper. Please pick them up, people.
It's coming baaaack...?!?! stay tuned here, http://strawville.word... ,the official renovation site, for details
1 Previous Review:
-
1/26/2008
The resurrection awaits...
Check back here soon. New updates to follow!
Wicker Park will always have a reluctant love/passive loathe relationship with its cultural epicenter. By "cultural" I'm talking about the young folks who have co-opted the neighborhood to Wicker Park's current identity. And by "epicenter," I'm talking simply of location.
As a coffeeshop, it offers a wide array of beverages and food items. Much of it is pretty standard, although the food menu is unexpectedly diverse. The full kitchen offers a large array of sandwiches, soups, and comfort food with plentiful desserts. Even vegan options surpass the quota. Unfortunately, quantity takes precedence of quality, as I've never eaten a decent meal here. And the coffee is mediocre at best.
Unfortunately, that's not the point.
Its proximity to the six corners (Damen, North, and Milwaukee) and the Damen Blue Line stop make a prime target for any type of rendezvous, whether it be meeting an out of town guest, a blind date from that golden shower chatroom, or old friends while waiting for the Double Door to open to endure that next Urge Overkill reunion.
Naturally, it gets crowded. Combined with the sci-fi novel reading bohemians, ridiculously dressed hipsters complaining about yuppies, bland yuppies complaining about hipsters, and, of course suave socialites writing Yelp reviews into their Powerbooks, there's little seating to be found. So, I'd advise that if you're planning on bringing a large group to have your obnoxious book club meeting, take it elsewhere. Besides, no one cares what you think of Dave Eggars.
And with crowds comes the meat market. Lonely caffeine junkies can text public messages to the flat screen display in the back of the room, and the socially retarded ones litter craigslist with Missed Connections. On the opposite side of passive, we have artsy bachelors tactlessly working their way from table to table, seeing who takes their hilariously pathetic lines. Like I said, no one cares what you think of Dave Eggars.
It's an obnoxious circus, with a self-consciousness seeming more loaded than a criminal line-up. The nervous glances are contagious, and I find myself unable to concentrate when I feel like everyone's looking at me. So, in turn, I stare at everyone else.
So, I don't have hippie-ish clothes or the facial piercing anymore and I don't think that I am a hipster, but I do love going to a place that you can relax and read a book while dining on some pretty good food and coffee drinks. This place is also fantastic for people watching and people watching you.
If you are into veggie fare, try the Tofu Reuben. I have dreams about that sandwich...
Filter, Filter, oh how I miss thee
The coffee, the tea
Sweet potato fries and heavenly sauce
The smokey haze
Messages on the restroom wall
Where are you now?
Come back
Come back
Damn you BofA
Go away
and bring our Filter back
Not a pleasant experience. The staff were dumb and rude, to say the least. How hard is it to get an order of ice latte right?? It took them 30 minute for a sandwich that you put together on a table in 2 minutes. The staff act like you are privileged to receive their service...gimme a break!
Too much attitude, mediocre food, and a bad ice latte. I am never going back.
The one star is for couches and people watching.
Dear patrons of Filter: TALKING LOUDLY DOES NOT MAKE YOU MORE INTERESTING.
We used to come to this place every weekend. Now we avoid it when we can because we are tired of having to overhear the conversations of people not even self-aware enough to qualify as pretentious.
The coffee is tasty, there's a nice selection of vegan treats, and the rotating wall-art is passable maybe fifty percent of the time (quite a good hit-rate for coffee-shop art). The Ms. thinks the cute blond cook is just great (he will cut her bagel into thirds) and barista tattoos still haven't gotten old for the Mr. However, none of this is enough to bring us back as regulars. Try it on a weekday, when you are less likely to want to poke your eye out with a sharp stick because someone next to you is prattling on about his "screenplay" to some chick he met on Nerve who will be blocking his e-mails in another 24 hours.
In the evenings, this is a great place to catch installments of Extremely Uniformed Debate. If this is the sort of thing you find amusing, have at it, champ.
Complete this Meat Market Analogy --
Chads : McFaddens :: Hipsters : _____
Oh Filter, there have been many times I've traveled down Milwaukee Ave past dozens of places that make coffee and dozens of places that have free wi-fi so I could sit in your confines and pay for a breve and an hour of wireless time.
Can you blame me? I like coffee. I also like attractive people. Crazy, I know.
Let's just say this place could be called "Missed Connection" if its inhabitants wouldn't adjust their square-framed glasses, roll their eyes, and mutter what an "obvious" statement that was as they went off in search of the next place nobody knows about that everyone actually knows about.
I say this, full of self-mockery, as I do stop in when I can... especially if my bed-head looks particularly effortless that day.
The place has good drinks, a decent snack menu, good tunes (though they could cut down a bit on the Jeff Mangum), and dare I say the best eavesdropping in Wicker Park.
BTW. Didn't I see you there yesterday? You were wearing a LaCoste cardigan and I was the bookish fellow buried in my dog-eared copy of Franny and Zooey. I saw you mouthing along to Photo Jenny and I thought I'd say hello. But didn't.
8/17/07 Update: Filter is closed and is becoming a Bank of America. Some laugh, some cry, some will find another place to make puppydog eyes at eachother. I'm indifferent. Just think of it as an allegory of what's going on in the Bucktown/Wicker area for better or worse. Maybe in 10 years, the very same patrons will be coming in with their labradors and strollers saying, "You know, Conor/Rilo, I used to hang out here when it was a coffeeshop."
Reasons why I like filter:
-They have a full kitchen and I've never had bad food here. No nothing is amazingly delicious, it's a coffee shop. But the potatoes, pancakes, and sandwiches I've had here have always tasted good. This is also one of the cheaper places in the neighborhood to eat out since you don't have to tip a waiter and the food is for the most part pretty inexpensive.
-Good coffee and tea, with a large selection of tea and lots of specialty coffee drinks to chose from.
-Though it's always crowded, I've always managed to find somewhere to sit.
-It is really really close to where I live.
Reasons why I don't like filter:
-No free wireless! This is pretty much the only reason I'm taking a star off. When I moved here from Austin where every public park and dairy queen has free wireless I was totally shocked that coffee shops here don't offer it! Having to pay for internet makes you lose major points in my book, and I will choose farther-away, crappier-coffee Alliance instead because their internet is free.
-Yes, you will probably feel like an outcast here if you're using a (gasp!) PC. Despite the hipster vibe that I guess scares away some, people are friendly here, including the staff.
-It is very crowded, but you can't fault filter for this it means they're running a successful business. But I'm putting it on here because it would be a bad choice if you are with a large group or need a lot of room to spread out.
I'm glad to hear that Filter could be coming to the Divison-Ashland-Milwaukee six corners in the upcoming year! As much as people may give them crap, they're a mainstay and I love 'em - for their great tea selection and sandwiches.
Edited: Actually, I guess Filter's changed their mind and not they are going to Logan Square. Too bad for us Wicker Parkers.
60+ reviews for FILTER!?!! Haha. This place smells like pot and reminds me of stumbling into a real life '30 seconds to mars' video.
With how crappy WP is these days, I seriously wonder how a coffee shop scene exists near this primo corner?!? HOW LONG BEFORE THIS PLACE TURNS INTO ANOTHER BANK OR MORTGAGE PLACE? I give it an extra star for the location and collecting all the little indie rock scensters who hang on despite the frat takeover of the neighborhood, ala Cans, Tavern, etc.
Man, oh man...the LAST thing this neighborhood needs is another friggin' bank! For real - how many more can they open within a half-mile radius of Mil/Damen/North?
Ok, tirade over. As for Filter itself, I wasn't big on sitting in the shop (too hipster for my taste) but I'm really going to miss stopping in for a bubble tea to-go. It was the perfect treat on a summer day. Somehow, I don't think a high-interest money market account will be quite the same.
Dear Filter,
It's been many years since we met. We hung out so many times, it's like now I like can't live without you. Why did you close? Every time I hear the words to that really deep love song "Because of You" that has the thankful yet tear-jerking chorus "Because of you my life has changed...thank you for the love and joy you bring...oh-oh-oh"
I miss the scent of your sweet Iced Mocha on my shirt after we would embrace. I miss the friendly smile and attentiveness your staff gave to their customers. Oh, and I remember the time you got me so drunk on your Mocha that I was shaking in ecstacy and got so excited that I spilled on my pants after the third time!
Why did you close, Filter??? WHYYY!!!???? It's just not fair! But, no matter what happens in the future, I will never EVER be with another, especially that slut Starbucks!
Goodbye, Filter. I'll miss you!
A pretty good coffee shop in a prime location. I've stopped in to pick up a cup and recently had brunch with my girlfriend.
The food was pretty good. I enjoyed my breakfast burrito well enough and the breakfast sandwich looked pretty good. I think it was probably a little pricey for food, though.
It was a nice place to hang out and relax whilst hungover, but it's not likely to be a regular stop of mine.
I pledge allegiance to this shop,
and not to the Bank of America.
And to the artwork,
Under which it stands,
One community, in Wicker Park,
Indivisible, with Creativity and
Non-conformity for all.
I fully agree that this place can be a bit full of themselves, but you can't get much better people watching than this. I was at a women's reading and the guy next to me (who was clearly on a mind-altering substance) took off his shoe and started smelling his foot. I don't think you can get that at the Man across the street. I'll miss you.
I wasn't horribly impressed with this place, but overall, it's a cool place to hang out with a coffee and good book or your laptop. The first time I went here, I needed wifi because I just moved and didn't have my high speed hooked up yet. The wifi wasn't working, and when I asked about it, they were rather rude to me. Whatev.
But on two other occasions, it worked without major problems, and the drinks are pretty good here. I could do without the snotty service just because my hair isn't three different colors, but that's the neighborhood for you. I'm getting used to it. Also, as someone else posted, beware that some of the other patrons might try to stare at your screen to see what you're doing. At first, I thought I was getting hit on or something, but turns out, people are just way too curious about what's on your laptop screen.
My friends tell me that Filter is closing, last night open is tonight.
2007.07.12 RIP
Here is an article about it:
http://www.consciousch...
I love sitting in Filter. As many reviewers have said already, it's a prime location to people watch. The employees aren't very friendly. That's probably not a very accurate assumption though. I think it's just one girl that works there that is usually not polite. I went there not too long ago and was turned away 40 minutes before their kitchen was scheduled to close. They closed it early! Not 5 or even 10 minutes early...but 40 minutes! Ugh.
I feel really rushed when I walk in there and I'm deciding what to order. Their menus are all written in chalk of every color of the rainbow. I get this, I really do, but it's hard to read. It's trendy and pretty, but I find myself looking all over the place and still don't feel like I know what all they have to offer. I typically just order the same thing, a large mocha. I have tried the tuna melt, which is big and tasty. The baked mac and cheese is pretty much to die for. It looks like a small portion, but it really is a whole meal.
Now let's talk about this new flat panel screen they've put in the main room. At the bottom of the screen, there is a phone number that you can send a text message to and your message will show up on the screen. My friend and I visited a few weeks ago and tested this out. It became creepy. Someone in Filter was responding to every message we posted, stalker-style. He/She/They began describing us and where we were sitting. We scanned the room many times and never caught on to who it was. I was a bit freaked out and looked behind me a few times as I was leaving. Anyway, I'll go back but may cut down on the text messaging.
Final words: Cheer up Filter employees! Be nice and don't close your kitchen early!! If it happens again, I'll be going to Earwax only from then on.
Finally stopped in here after hearing, sadly, its being closed.
http://www.yelp.com/to...
I hope they move and dont fold altogether. Good stuff here. I like.
1. Filter's employees are WAY too cool for school.
2. Filter's food and drinks are WAY overpriced.
3. Filter's music is WAY too loud and it's usually WAY too crowded.
However, they have COUCHES, which far too few coffee shops have these days, and you can camp for hours and hours. I've written many a paper at Filter. I'll be very sad when they close.
For the record -- they DON'T accept credit cards. They take ATM cards only, they have some sort of weird set up.
EDIT: Filter is moving to Logan Square. Everyone who's anyone already knows this, apparently. But in case you're no one (Like I was until the other day) consider yourself warned.
And they now have Boba tea! With the option to use soy instead of milk! I had jasmine green boba tea, which was good except the boba were really really syrupy. Also, they didn't give me one of the big straws, and I grabbed a normal straw off the counter not even paying attention, and didn't realize it til I'd left with my drink.
I agree with prior comments about service--it's generally terrible. Coffee is alright. I've not tried the food.
In my experience, this place has almost always been packed and it can be difficult and uncomfortable finding a place to sit. For me, it's not the best choice for any activity except maybe meeting a friend for a cup of coffee and people watching, both inside and out on the corner.
Usually, there's some some decent music playing. If it was less crowded, it'd get another star for style points.
I have never been to filter and had a good experience.
Last time I went there, a girl I was with needed to use the bathroom, and as everyone knows (or is apparently supposed to know...) , it's customers only. I waited in line while she scuttled off to the other side of the building and all the sudden I turn around to place an order and I hear someone screaming at the top of their lungs.
"CAN YOU NOT READ? THE BATHROOMS ARE FOR PAYING CUSTOMERS. NOW YOU HAVE TO BUY SOMETHING."
Of course everyone in the whole cafe` was looking and kind of laughing and shaking their heads. I was so embarrassed. I walked right over to him with a cookie I'd gotten, told him I was waiting for a drink, and asked what his problem was. Immediately started kissing my butt left and right.
I think he was the owner, and I honestly would rather go spend my money on Starbucks and Seven Eleven coffee before I ever get something from Filter again.
Too bad their food is decent. You really don't find very many places with awesome sweet potato fries.
In addition, the baristas are ridiculous and even when they screw up, they've got something to say about it. Normally I don't care if you're rude to me, because obviously that's what you're going to get when you visit WP now days, but just give me my coffee and let me go about my business.
Ugh.
I know it's closed-but I had to.
I adored Filter, and even used to make special trips from my old place 45 minutes away just to enjoy their delicious grilled cheese and steamy mochas while reading and studying. I really want to know if they're planning on re-opening anywhere so if anyone here has information, let me know!
Filter, I miss you.
I've been here once at noon on a Tuesday:
- Hipster infestation not that bad. Nothing like Ritual in SF.
- Comfy vintage couches, and a fireplace that I could imagine being on in the winter. Love the exposed brick interior.
- Granola, yogurt, and fruit oddly served in tall, sundae-like glass.
- Minus one star for charging so much for wireless ($2.50/hr, $8.50/day)!
Is there really a sign in the window that says to keep an eye on your belongings: "wallets, laptops, GIRLFRIENDS, etc."?
If I find out this is true, they're getting a one star rating from me.
Oh Filter. How I hate thee and how I love thee. I mean when I talk about love/hate relationships I am not talking about future love interests, I am talking about places like Filter. Sometimes I love to feel like a complete and total douche and sometimes I like to watch everyone else act like a douche.
This is the kind of place where pictures are taken and in 10 years everyone in that picture will go "What the hell were we thinking wearing those pants and those shirts and ALL THOSE BELTS. WHY DID I NEED FOUR BELTS? I DIDN'T! I was such a DOUCHE!" Kind of like when I look back at myself in elementary school wearing Stir-up Pants and Huge T-Shirts with Flowers across the boob. I thought I was so cool, boy was I wrong.
Food is ok. Coffee is Ok. Atmosphere is iffy but people watching is superb, as are the over heard conversations. The things people will talk about if they think no one is listening. Trust me, I am. Watch out.
We were headed to brunch but the restaurant was closed for a week for vacation. Sigh. We wanted something relatively inexpensive so we decided to try Filter.
It's good, but not great. It's a little pricey but probably one of the cheaper spots in the NoMilDam area.
I'd go again if need be... but not a top pick.
Wow. I hate Filter. An overpriced, overrated, scene coffee shop is definitely not my thing these days, if it ever was.
The wireless Internet is expensive and hardly ever works, drinks are expensive, food is expensive. Way too crowded! I don't think I've ever found a seat that wasn't on a couch with 6 strangers. Annoying strangers that varied from art school students to Lou Reed-aged wannabe hipsters. The staff is pretentious, annoying, and rude.
The reason I'm so harsh on this place is that coffee shops should be a communal place where everyone gathers, and a cool place to meet others. Filter's location is perfect for that, but it definitely doesn't deliver. The attitude that permeates here is one that makes newcomers feel totally unwelcome and alone, and I just don't buy into that shit.
I swore this place off after my last visit over a year ago where the wi-fi wasn't working but they made me pay for it anyway. Plus, in a really weird experience, a crowd of (apparently) regulars gradually took over the area around me, leaving me smack dab in the middle of a boisterous card game. I left since it was impossible to read and the wireless still wasn't working.
If you have little experience with coffee shops that aren't Starbucks or Cosi, you may enjoy this place. But if you've ever been to a coffee shop that truly caters to community, encourages involvement, and one that doesn't rip off its customers, you'll know what I mean when I say I'm sorely disappointed with this place.
According to a sign on the cash register, Filter will be closing it's doors on the Wicker Park location as of July 10th. They are still unsure of if and where it will relocate to. This corner is being converted into a Bank of America, because clearly the two other banks on the corner aren't enough to satisfy the insatiable appetite for banking in Wicker Park.
This place wasn't amazing. They had decent coffee, a fair selection of vegan and vegetarian treats and meals. They stayed open late, which was nice, as most of the other coffee places around here close too early. All in all, this place will be missed. It certainly was better than having another bank here, Wicker Park is becoming Lincoln Park west, but that's been apparent for some time now. Right now I'd settle for a place that i could just get some good take out coffee that isn't Starbucks.
So long filter, we hardly knew ye.
I am writing this review whilst currently sitting in Filter.
I am quite possibly the least *hip* person in the room. I have already seen three members only jackets, and no, I am not kidding. There is also a dude on the couch that keeps staring at me and every other female patron that crosses his visual path. Ewww.
So, yes, there is people watching galore to be had at Filter as long as you can get over the hip kids glaring at you and each other.
The coffee is pretty good and similar in price to the major chains. The food menu is quite extensive in terms of salads, sandwiches, pastries (even some vegan items) and hot, made to order fare. The food plus couch seating could make Filter a good first date spot as well.
I give Filter 3.5 stars. Kind of reminds me of kaffeine in Evanston (with all the couches and what not), but a bit more pretentious.
First off my review is really 3.5 stars, not three. I wish http://yelp.com would consider half stars...but anyways back to the review...
I have to admit it, I've always hung out in Wicker Park. The people are down to earth & hip, there is always something going on, and it is just a great environment to go to when you have the day off from work/school.
Filter is a Wicker Park destination. You want to go where there is good music, coffee, room for your laptop, headphones, and comfy couches. If you desire this, then Filter is the place for you. Things you don't go to Filter for is great service, high quality food, and cheap prices.
Let's call it what it is. A good hip place that serves good coffee. Just don't piss off the baristas. They will smirk at you while you get your Soy Latte with two extra shots.
I just love to read there, so therefore...this is my guilty pleasure. It has a better relaxing environment than most busy Starbucks.
I'm not certain why the hipperer people have latched on to this place. The coffee is better than most places.
Otherwise there is nothing special about this place other than, you know, the hipperer people are all hanging out here.
With the citywide restaurant smoking ban in full effect, some folks would undoubtedly argue that Filter has lost some of its je ne sais quoi. I say, good riddance: the irritating thing about Filter (as with those bar-restaurants that are still exempted from the ban) was that the smoke never stayed in the smoking section. Plus, the smoking section had the cooler seating. Now that the whole establishment is smoke-free, nonsmokers are free to enjoy the vibes of Filter's less crowded side.
Thanks to its location, its design and its tasty menu (coffee = good; coffee + wraps = better), Filter is a good "third place" -- it has density and, therefore, energy. Its only drawback is that it's not an especially FRIENDLY place, but it is in Wicker Park, after all, so to expect a welcoming hug -- especially if you're over 30, overweight or overdressed -- simply isn't reasonable.
I definitely saw two skinny emo girls duking it out in front of Filter tonight...screaming at each other in a very melodramatic and emo way....which I found to be hilarious.
Also, I'm not totally sure about the comment regarding "friendly baristas"....I'm pretty sure they spit in your drink if you order anything with real dairy.
Addendum to above: this morning an actually friendly barista single-handedly earned Fliter two more stars. Way to go cute, sweet-tattoo-ed, asymmetrical hair gal!

