Pause

I absolutely love Pause and have never been let down by any of their drinks. One of the baristas was rather rude to me up until I engaged her in a casual conversation; as someone who has worked in food service, I understand how customers can seem like cattle. I also showed my paintings in a group show there in October; no sales, but the owner was very helpful.
RE: joey m.
«They also have a fairly ridiculous sign… informing us to not use pronouns to describe people unless we are certain of what they wish to be perceived as… If they would worry about the coffee as much as they worry about making goofy signs, this would be the busiest coffee shop in the Western Hemisphere.»
Joey, transgendered and transsexual people have worked at Pause. You may benefit from learning up on transpeople and taking some sensitivity training.

L-​O-​V-​E this place. It really is an odd location to have a café, hidden on a side street, a one-​way one at that. I guess I’m pretty glad about that though (fewer customers and distractions). It’s really eccentric and quirky, kind of looks like a garage sale exploded inside, but in a good way. Anyway, they have great comfy seating, good coffee drinks/​pastries and free wi-​fi.
I started laughing when I read the comment about cheeky commentary (which wasn’t the case when I came but wouldn’t bother me if it was) b/​c I thought of Brothers Café in Evanston which definitely has that (a tip jar w/​a picture of birds singing teep-​teep stuck to it). They’re not as creative here, but I highly recommend it for those of you who rank cafes based on ambiance.

I frequent the berwyn stop and would love to love this café.
Previous reviews that mentioned waiting for service while baristas chat amongst themselves or with friends are spot-​on.
A barista informed my girlfriend they were out of sugar-​free vanilla syrup and got rather sassy when I pointed out where it was on the shelf.
They also have a fairly ridiculous sign about why they deserve to be tipped, along with another sign informing us to not use pronouns to describe people unless we are certain of what they wish to be perceived as. Interestingly enough, the ‘regular’ coffee is often not hot enough, not fresh, or both. If they would worry about the coffee as much as they worry about making goofy signs, this would be the busiest coffee shop in the Western Hemisphere.
They earned the second star for having a Margaret Weiss/​Tracy Hickman book on their bookshelf.

Pause Coffee to me is small, quirky and wonderful! They have wonderful coffee-​Inteligencia (a local roaster). They have very good pastries and goodies. Try the spinach & Feta pocket-it’s kind of like a baked pie with yummy middle eastern spices (have it heated in the small oven for 4 minutes or so).
Pause has some very friendly-​if quirky staff. (They have their days of course and personalities vary wildly-​some consider one or two of them unfriendly but I’ve found they are just a bit shy and if engaged will be very friendly.)
The place is somewhat small and narrow, but they use the space relatively efficiently. You will find a nice skylight in the back which brings a lot of light in.
Pause features local artists and photographers and there is normally a display of art/​photographs on the wall (often for sale). If you choose a large table you may be asked by another patron to share. I actually like this. Some of the customers will interact with complete strangers.
Realize that the neighborhood is home to several «group homes» for the «mentally challenged», many of whom are functional enough to leave and enjoy the outside world. They sometimes show up at Pause and may be a little different in actions, but this just adds to the «funky» atmosphere.
I give Pause 5 stars because of the freshness and taste of their coffee and pastries, nice selection of teas, great staff, interesting music (though you may have to ask them to turn it down occasionally-they’re always happy to comply) and overall atmosphere. Try it, you’ll like it!

Here’s what made me a fan of Pause Café:
— Fantastic green tea lattes
— Wonderful customer service
— Cute artsy décor
— Natural light from skylights
— Old school telephone booth
— And a clean bathroom.
Seriously, this place is awesome!
So, if you find yourself near the Berwyn Red Line El stop, take the time to pause and reflect in this wonderful establishment, since it’s a great place to read, write and socialize. Also, remember to take a moment to pause and enjoy the artwork. I just loved the yellow wall in the back adorned with six different clocks of varying sizes and times. It reminded me of a Dali painting and I liked this café all the more for that.

So I was walking down from the Berwyn Red Line stop and was in desperate need of coffee. I saw some joint down the street that was half furniture store half coffee bar (???). Not trusting some half assed coffee joint, I decided to continue to search for coffee. Seeing a lady sitting on the patio I was encouraged that they probably sold coffee!
On the door was a welcoming red Unilocal sticker letting me know that Pause Café carried the Unilocal seal of approval. Inside was an older lady working quietly on her Macbook and then a confused girl undecided on what she wanted to drink. She let me order first and I noticed a large Macchiato for $ 3.50: Deal!
The barrista quickly whipped up the Macchiato and I popped a lid on it. For $ 3.50 for such a tasty treat I was so glad that I tipped her the $ 1.50 change. Next time I need coffee and am by the Red Line Berwyn stop, I will make sure to stop by Pause!

Damn good coffee, good atmosphere (incl outdoor seating) and great staff. Nuff said.

The décor and atmosphere are pretty good, although I’ve sometimes felt like I’m being too loud, even when talking at a low volume, because so many people are there alone, typing away on their laptops. So when you go in with another person to chat, try to find a table sort of secluded and away from everyone that can’t help but listen in. Not a good place for a convo you don’t want other people to hear.
Also, the staff is reallllly hit or miss. Sometimes they are okay, others, they just sort of look at you and offer as little as possible. Not that friendly. They just got some new pastries in too and they are so obviously shipped in and pre-​packaged. Not very good.
Lastly, on a high note, their looseleaf tea is awesome, and it is what keeps my friend and I coming back. A small pot of it is around 2 bucks, and they have some great varieties.

I stumbled into Pause, late afternoon today, when I had to meet someone at the Berwyn red line stop. I’m rarely in the area, so I was happy to come across such a nice little coffee shop with so much character.
As much as I love modern, sleek interiors, I also appreciate old world appearances. Tin ceilings, stain glass, retro fans and an English phone booth, all completed the warm feeling within Pause. I must say, their restroom is exceptionally clean and roomy — definite plus!
I ordered a soy green tea latte, which was super tasty. The perfect amount of green tea mixed with soy. I had the middle eastern pie consisting of broccoli, mushroom and cheese. A quick nosh to tide me over til dinner. This little gem is certainly one to remember and I’m definitely going to make it a point to stop through when in the area!

Today’s moments:
— the mouth-​watering: chocolate/​zucchini loaf. Wonderfully moist and chocolatey, superbly decadent. The highlight of my day.
— the mildly annoying: a very capricious wifi. It took me a looooong time to get a connection that ended up being lost one hour later. All the CPR I could muster wasn’t enough and I just left my computer dying on its own. Amen.
— the crime inducing: I don’t know what was exactly going on but I spent the afternoon in the room with a group of loud and obnoxious middle-​aged mustached men who thought they were writing the next big sitcom hit or something and were punctuating every other breath they took in with a rattle-​sounding laugh that drove me nuts. I didn’t complain once and it should be admired. Thank you.
Still love you though, Pause.

This is in the running to be my absolute favorite place to be in Chicago. I came across it in some «fair trade coffee shop» googling. Metropolis, Stella, and Common Cup are all good options that are close to where I live, but I was just tired of packed, noisy coffeehouses. (Once at Metropolis, I counted the number of times the girl next to my table said «like» in one minute. 38 times. Thirty-​eight.)
Enter Pause. It’s far enough away from Loyola to not be crowded with students but it’s not so far that it’s a big ordeal to get to.
I ordered my standard drink (hot chai latte) and for $ 3.something I had the smoothest, freshest-​tasting chai ever. And pretty fast, too. I enjoyed it at a table in the corner, where I just sat and took in the atmosphere (and the free wi-​fi, which I’ve never had problems with???). Peaceful with a touch of sass. My favorite. Good music, too. (There’s one barista in particular who I swear can read my mind when it comes to what music I want to hear.)
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been there since that first experience. I really recommend the chai (obviously) as well as their King Crimson tea blend. $ 2.10 for a pot of tea with a 1970s prog rock band namesake? Yes please.
My only complaint is that it should be open later so I can spend more time there.
Go to Pause! Read their funny handwritten signs! Tip your barista!

I’ve had hibiscus tea as well as a rose almond latte here. The café itself is adorbs and has unusually nice rotating art work for a coffee shop. There are also funny aggressive notes around like the one at the register that reads, «Did you know using your cell phone while standing in line is sign of moral inferiority?»
I really like the accepting vibe Pause puts out and I equally enjoy the variety of clientele pause brings in due to that vibe.
The rose almond latte sounded amazing, but had a little too much rose and not quite enough almond in it. Still… the idea is a splendid one. I had a sip of my partner’s white mocha macadamia latte which was supremely good to the tongue.
Also, free wifi plus a computer to use while there if’n you don’t have your own. So nice.

First off, this place is adorable, good coffee, tasty pastries. If you are coming to have a conversation or read a book, really a fantastic pick.
Sigh…I want quaint, cute, locally-​owned, non-​chain coffee shops to compete for my business, I really, really do. But, it tends not to happen in Chicago.
Why? Because Starbucks has the most stable wireless connection, plain and simple. Coffee shops generally have come around to acknowledge that many of their customers tend to want to sit and work on their laptops for a while, attached to a wireless connection. Pause has free wireless, but it is massively unstable. I have experienced the same problems with other «local» coffee joints. The group of folks next to me got frustrated and left; with a working wireless connection, they might well have stayed much longer and ordered more food/​beverages. I got frustrated and left only 10 minutes after.

Gotta love rolling out of bed and waking to Pause to get a cup of Joe or water. This place makes me feel like I’m somewhere else. I live in Edgewater and this place gives the area a unique feel. You can hang out outside and watch people go by, hear the train, check your email on free wifi and chit chat with a friend.
Love the café here!

At this particular moment I am sitting at Metropolis, which has inspired me to write a review of Pause — mostly because I really wish I was there instead. Pause is cozy, quiet, friendly, neighborhoody and welcoming. The layout is perfect — people who want to go to have some peace and quiet have their area, people who want to grab a coffee with a friend have theirs. I can go chill there for hours at a time, do some work, not feel hurried or uncomfortable. All things I am not quite feeling at Metropolis right now. Which is why I am writing this review rather than focusing on work.
Honestly, what I look for a coffee shop more than anything is a spot in the corner to curl up with my laptop and a good latte to sip. Finding a good latte in this city is really no chore, but finding a good spot to curl up in is a treasure hunt. So far Pause is my neighborhood spot hands down. what the heck am I doing at Metropolis?

I feel kinda bad I don’t come by here more often, and often forget that they exist, due to the abundance (and almost overabundance, if ya ask me) of other coffee shops in the area. But like others said, the staff is really nice, and the ambiance is very decent (albeit the slightly uncomfortable seating, like others said).
French sodas are probably my fav drink here, can’t believe my mind nearly had obliterated my memory of how good the ones are here. Guess it’s now time for me to make a belated ’08 resolution to actually come here more often, and make up for all my times of forgetting this place.
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Update 5÷18÷08: I finally came here, and it’s about still as good as I remember it. Nice to see that as I thought, they do serve Southport Grocery + Café cupcakes here, and also sandwiches! Only thing that’d make this place better is if Metropolis was served instead of Intelligentsia, but I still like this place regardless.

My friend and i came here to study, and despite being on the cramped side, we got alot accomplished in the several hours that we spent here.
How can i describe Pause? Depending on your perspective cramped or quaint come to mind. Towards the front, stools line a counter around the front window with a very small table placed in the center of it all. In the larger area near the back there are lounge chairs, bigger tables, and more space to stretch out. If you or your group occupy only part of a table, expect to share it with those seeking more space. The middle of the store has a few flat screen iMacs for those net addicts caught without a laptop.
Initially the crowd was loud and lively when we entered. A couple, presumably on their first date or two, were sitting on stools along the window, quizing each others likes and personalities, while a teenager was chatting it up on her cellphone, while surfing on one of the Macs. A very lively group in the back was generating very loud laughter. We sat in the small table up front, with the laughing couple, and another student sitting on the counter around us.
Right off the bat we ordered a round of coffee. I had a mocha and my friend had a latte. If you love coffee on the sweet side, this is the place to go. My mocha tasted sweet, but it did not over do it on the sugar, but my friend had to order another cup of house blend coffee because she said the latte tasted too sweet for her and she was diluting the sugared latte with the house blend. The house blend tasted ok, nothing to rave about, and when it came for the taste to price ratio, we were ranting, not raving. We ordered two rounds of pastries. Both were delicious. I recommend their chocolate chip cookies. I know I offered my friend a piece and then finished it before she could try it.
As day turned into night, the patronage changed from mainstream to artsy. I know we got some dirty looks from the artsy crowd when we were quizing each other on accounting, something the daytime crowd ignored. Even the barista seemed to change her attitude, when we went up to order again. Finally after five hours at this place, our brains were fried and we left.
Pros: Quaint, close to the el, pastry and cookies are delicious, drinks are on the sugary side, computer access available.
Cons: Cramped, house blend coffee leaves alot to be desired, limited food options, drinks too sweet for some.
To Sum It Up: If you need a Pause for a coffee break and there is space, go in and grab a coffee and a cookie. If you have a group of friends and expect to spend some time in one place, keep on moving.

Y’know, I really want to like Pause. But it just doesn’t really do it for me.
The free Wi-​Fi is nice, I’ll give you that. But the music is always really loud, and the seating is just outright uncomfortable. If you want a place to sit and do work, this is not a great choice. And I’ve often had to wait for the staff to finish whooping it up with friends before taking my order.
The coffee was tasty, but their Chai is very meh. And there isn’t much in the way of food.
This is an ok place, but I prefer Coffee Chicago down the street.

I don’t drink coffee, but it seems that I frequent alot of coffee shops. I guess I just like to hang out.
I used to live right down the street from this place. Occasionally we would stop in for some hot chocolate or a pastry, or whatever they had.
The staff seems nice enough. And the people who frequent this spot seem pretty down to earth. Occasionally a loud mouth on a cellphone will pop in, but give them enough dirt looks, and they usually get the idea.

Great drinks, nice service, free wifi. Sweet deals on refills. Pretty much no matter what I’ve ordered, they’ve given me a refill of for 80 cents or something outstandingly awesome. They also get an extra star for carrying Southport Grocery’s cupcakes.
There are a few patrons who hog the electrical outlets for their laptops AND cell phones, which is annoying. (Lap tops I understand. Cell phones… notsomuch.) On the other hand, most patrons are really easy going about sharing space at larger tables.
The only weird thing that I don’t get are their prices for italian sodas, which seem reall expensive given the ingredients… I can’t bring myself to pay more than $ 2 for club soda with flavoring. (Which is really too bad, because you don’t KNOW how bad I want one!)