Gallery Cafe

Eh probably won’t come back, the employees were very kind, so they get a 4 star review, but the latte was awful, espresso is supposed to be a little sweet and slightly bitter the milk foamy and creamy. This espresso tasted of cleaner and burnt. I don’t know if it was burnt in roasting or what but I don’t think it was done well at all. Because after the third remake of the drink it was bad. Try changing out the beans or something?
The sandwich was just bland, not a lot of flavor and when you see avocado expect the worlds smallest smear if the stuff. I just wish it had something more to it, or even just more avocado. I don’t think I will make an effort to go back in to The Gallery Café, which is sad because I was so excited to finally try this place. Oh well, I guess there are people who like it or it wouldn’t be in business.
Well on to the next coffee shop I guess.

Go there for the sandwiches. I’ve only had the drip coffee which is fine, does the job.
The breakfast sandwiches though. Fantastic. Fresh eggs, delicious bacon, on whatever bread you want. The focaccia was fresh and was great with the Davinci sandwich.
Another pro, it’s not a cluster like so many other places in the neighborhood. If you’re not looking for the full wicker park brunch experience and just want a good old fashioned café experience, then this is it for you.

Just kinda meh. Got a biscotti, and it was hard as a rock.

Come for the breakfast sandwiches, they are fresh and have some of the fluffiest, most delicious eggs I’ve ever purchased. Consistently great breakfast sandwiches, with healthy options and whole grain bread on the menu.
The selection of pastries and random assorted garbage is lacking, which is fine by me. Decent cold beverage selection. Ambiance not quite as cozy or comfortable as some coffee shops. They recently added a bit more art to conform to their name. Overall, this is a go to spot for me and just close enough that I go out of the way to get to it.

I stopped in with a fiend on a whim and I had the most amazing smoothie– I think it’s called Monkey Power. I’m already thinking about when I can go back and get another! So delicious! I can’t comment on coffee but I was very impressed by the selection of hot teas available. I was surprised to read that some people felt the baristas were rude, I had the exact opposite experience– I found the servers to be extra friendly and knowledgeable. I’ll be back for sure!

I’ve been there a total of three times and every time my coffee tasted like an ashtray. Not only the coffee is terrible, the service is even worse. The owner is rude and incompetent. The last time I was the only person at the shop and I had to repeat 4 times that I wanted a vanilla biscotti, not chocolate, for which I got an eye roll as though my order was a huge bother to her.
PS Also there is a $ 5 min on debit/​credit cards. Considering a coffee there is under $ 5, it always forces you to buy something else.

Honestly, the best cup of regular coffee in town. And I enjoy smelling them roasting the beans, since I live so close. The sandwiches are also very good and great variety. The interior is just lacking comfort.

Went into for the first time today. Wasn’t super impressed. I tried the iced coffee. The barista told me they just pour hot coffee and espresso over ice. Not terrible but definitely not a cold press. I’d be willing to try a latte if I stop in again.
Atmosphere is pretty normal for a neighborhood shop. Any place that roasts their own beans can’t be too terrible.
Prices aren’t bad either. I paid less than three bucks for an iced coffee with caramel.

The creative menu is the best part of this place. Each dish is named after a famous artist: it’s quite clever.
The coffee was delicious, and the service relatively prompt. However, the food was very mediocre. My breakfast sandwich took way too long for a simple avocado and eggs on french roll. I’ve gotten better breakfast sandwiches at Einstein Bros. Bagels.
Nice place though, good atmosphere.

I absolutely LOVE this place! I work down the street, and spend almost 90% of my mornings stumbling into this place for a latte. All of the staff is friendly, knowledgable about coffee (that matters), and they are more than willing to go the extra mile to ensure your beverage, sandwich, or pastry is satisfactory. One time the manager went down the basement to grab me a drink holder for two coffees. I am shocked this place has such a poor rating on Unilocal.
Drink prices are on par with, if not cheaper than, a certain chain coffee shop located at Milwaukee/​Damen/​North and it makes me happy knowing my money is going to a local business owner. Furthermore, the food is DELICIOUS and the sandwiches are all prepared fresh before your eyes and served with chips. Local art is for sale on the wall and free WIFI is accessible. This is definitely a place in the neighborhood to support.

This place has SO MUCH POTENTIAL!
I’ve been here over the years and seen it change, go through employees (always a steadfast tall lanky blond man who had the BEST service), sadly most of employees who were by far the best are long gone.
The food is ok, i would not order anything with meat in it, but in a jam its affordable and if you keep it Vegg. your fine!
the coffee is sub-​par, nothing special, the espresso is often burnt
I’ve dealt with the owner Krista several times there, she’ seemed very disinterested in the prosperity of the place and generally seemed to also dislike her employees a lot too. This place is OK at best

Food is ok, but the hipsters behind the bar don’t understand the concept of decorum and treat (more like mistreat) the customers based on their piss poor mood, apparently.
If you want a wrap and a sandwich, there are plenty of other options down the street.

Two stars, according to Unilocal,means «Meh. I’ve experienced better.» That is totally correct for Gallery Café. It is average at best. Our fair city has MANY awesome coffee places, and Gallery is far from awesome. I think the problem actually may be the cups … since our coffee tasted like the dumb cup.
Skip Gallery and walk to plenty of other great coffee places in the neighborhood.
¹⁰⁶⁄₃₆₅

My favorite local spot for coffee. They have great sandwiches for lunch too. Some outdoor seating when the weather is warm!
Be warned they close a little on the early side — 5pm.

I’m giving this four stars for the potential I see in it. It was my own fault for not reading the hours listed and dropping in with a book to get cozy for a while with only 15 minutes left before closing. I did enjoy my 15 minutes however. I ordered a latte and was pleased they offered almond milk. I liked the amount of natural light in the coffee shop, the benefits of being on a corner with all windows. The tall ceilings also helped. I would certainly like to try this place again but with more than 15 minutes to take it all in.

Stopped by to grab a quick early morning coffee before heading to Damen North Dental across the street. Even though getting coffee before seeing the dentist is counter intuitive, I’m going to make this a regular pre-​dentist stop. The service was quick and the seating was plenty. The place is a little divey so I’m not sure if I would trust the food but the coffee was excellent.

I have walked by this place a thousand times, living only blocks away, and never gone in. A quick trip to the adjacent Fed Ex after a workout made me crave coffee and breakfast so I stopped in. My dog sitter sung their praises and their bohemian artist theme is right up my alley.
The place has a great small town coffee bar feel with high, old metal ceilings, a distressed tile floor and a long bar made of varying wood finishes. The menu is broken up on chalkboard accents above the bar in lots of warm colors. A nice contrast to the cool terra-​cotta and beige walls.
The menu itself, in sync with the name, features sandwiches named after famous artists from different ages and styles such as Kahlo, Chagall, Gauguin, and Picasso. First select your sandwich then on the small chalkboard by the wrap choose a cheese and bread. I opted for the DaVinci — two eggs, cheese, tomato and your choice of bacon or turkey sausage; I chose the latter. The eggs come piping hot so don’t try and bite in right away. The eggs are steamed instead of microwaved or fried, a refreshing change to the normal flat eggs, these are fluffy fluffy! And delicious!
The highlight of my experience was the incredibly friendly staff. I’m a sucker for customer service and good work etiquette and the super handsome barista illustrated just that. He smiled constantly, accepted responsibility for any errors and did not stop working for one minute during my thirty minute stay. He and his colleague cooked all the food, made all the drinks, cleaned up around the bar and café, handled the wrap and still maintained great hygiene.
I am very impressed with this hip and simple café. The prices are very urban, which is to be expected in this Wicker Park/​Bucktown locale, but they make up for it with great service and a mellow atmosphere. I will likely return here frequently and potentially amend this review to a five if the service I’ve witnessed is consistent.
Ps — if you dine in, leave a tip! These kids work harder than most and likely deserve it. $ 0.50– $ 1.00 can go a long way.

Warning before reading on: Unfortunately I didn’t get to try any of the coffee drinks here so this review is mostly for their ambiance and rice krispy treat!
Like another reviewer said, this little coffee place flies under the radar and is very unsuspecting. I think I’ve driven and walked by this place plenty of times without going in. But I finally tried it while waiting for my order from Puptection across the street. I loved the funky hippy vibe of the place with the menu scrawled in different colored chalk, large floor to ceiling windows, funky art, and a few tables and booths scattered throughout. The rice krispie treat I got here was tasty and their breakfast and sandwich menu sounded really good, I’ll have to try those another time. Staff was ok-​not super friendly but definitely not unfriendly. The one thing I didn’t dig so much is that there was a «Gandhi» sandwich which I really think does not do justice to who he was. Naming a sandwich after one of our world peace leaders just doesn’t seem right to me. I was seated by the windows and was disappointed to see that there were no outlets near where I was – I’d have to get up and move tables to plug in my dying laptop, but by then I had to bounce anyway so it didn’t affect this visit. If I did want to stay for a couple of hours though I’d make sure you found a table near an outlet.

I live right around the corner from Gallery Café and decided to give this place a shot. Their coffee is amazing, one of the best I’ve had. I decided to try one of their breakfast sandwiches one day and ordered the DaVinci. Pure bliss. I ordered it with turkey sausage, pepperjack cheese, and tomato bread.
Their wifi is reliable and fast. They have plenty of tables and outlets for you to work on, and if coffee refills are only .50!
I could stay there all day and work, it’s a nice cozy setting and the staff never pressures you to leave. They mind their own business and let you do yo thang!
Only reason I gave it a 5 star is because it’s a little too hipster for me, but it’s all good in the hood.

Every time I come to Chicago the Gallery Café is on my «must stop» list. I’ve had coffee all over Chicago including the premium price, ultra trendy hotspots. You name the brand or the coffee shop and I bet I’ve had it or been there. I don’t do lattes or barista required concoctions. I want dark roast straight up black. And no one does it better than the Gallery. Especially for the price. Proves that the quality of the coffee isn’t measured by what you paid for it.
They have great sandwiches and wraps — I’m particularly fond of the breakfast sandwich selections, all named after a famous painter. Outstanding. For a small place, they really serve it up huge.