Spoken Cafe

We stopped at Spoken Café for a bite prior to leaving Chicago and were really impressed with everything. Delicious coffee, a fabulous ham and egg bagel, great service, and an eclectic décor made for a great start to the day.
The poppyseed bagel was really the star, great smokey ham and served very tastefully. Definitely a stop in the future next time in Chicago.

I’ve been coming to Spoken Café for a while and I’ve always gotten fantastic service. The owner of the Café Will, treats every single customer like they are the most important person on earth, and every single sandwich like it’s the last sandwich he will ever make.
The lox and bagel sandwich is as good as any I’ve ever had in NY delis even though one can’t get it with tomato unless it’s tomato season. It’s ok cucumbers work just as well. His vegetable and his artichoke cream cheeses are hand made and balance the salty, savory and creamy just right.
Bagels are made fresh daily and brought in from… Well haven most likely.
I think I had a bad experience once, it was an attitude issue that I likely could have handled better myself. I didn’t complain about it and at this point in time the employee in question is no longer with the company. Will instills the same level professional excellence in all of his employees, I would imagine the ones who don’t adapt that attitude part ways in short order.
I’m glad to give Spoken café my money, and if I ever were out of work I would love to be employed by such a great owner and business man.
Thanks for being of service to our community!

At the risk of sounding harsh I will say that I try to set my self apart from Hipsters as often as possible, whether that means sporting a biker chick look or a preppy girl look, yet I can’t stay away from Hipster-​run cafes because they’re always serving up such damn good food and drinks. I have to give credit where credit is due and say that the Hipsters know what they’re doing in the food industry.
As you can tell by my little rant, Spoken Café embodies the spirit of the Hipster whether you’re talking about the décor of the café, the names of the sandwiches, the all-​organic condiments set out for its patrons or the actual people who work here. I personally did like the décor and thought that it was an interesting array of items lining the wall, but it wasn’t somewhere that I could settle into and get a lot of work done. I actually do work very close to Spoken Café and am sure I’ll find myself here’s doing work in the future, but it seems like a place where I’d get very distracted. I say that because the staff were constantly screaming and a making a lot of raucous the entire time I was there with a co-​worker. I could barely hear my co-​worker because of the staff exhibiting pretty unprofessional behavior. Also, before and while ordering my food the cashier was extremely brash in her words, thereby coming off very rude.
Not that I thought it was okay for the cashier to speak that way to patrons, but I got over it (in the moment, at least) because of how good the food looked. I wasn’t let down by the food or the drink which I got. I just got a strawberry lemonade from the cooler, but it was excellently tart and sweet at the same time. I also got the Kelly OPI sandwich, though I was torn between that and some of the others. The sandwich had all fresh ingredients which I believe we’re also organic. I would have maybe preferred to get the sandwich with salmon but it was ridiculously over-​priced. I thought mine was even over-​priced at about $ 10, considering it was only made of vegetables. I don’t care if it’s organic or not…$ 6 or something similar would have been more reasonable. Aside from that, my co-​worker got a croissant and mocha, both of which she loved.
The food is really, very good and if I were rating Spoken Café on just that then it would be a five star review, but you can’t forget about everything else. My only other complaint is that the straws and paper napkins were also organic — stop with the organic shit already, it can be overkill especially when the straw is so brittle that it breaks the moment you touch it, therefore making it very useless. There are many things I could do without here, but the food will probably suck me back in a few times.

The place is very cozy and delicious! The place is hidden on the corner of Montrose. I don’t usually drink black coffee but the coffee here was just perfect black, very flavorful. I ordered the Italian sandwich, which was full of flavor. The staff is super friendly. Overall a great little coffee shop.

Been loving this place for the past couple months. Decent coffee, they make a lavender syrup that makes for a very good, not-​too-​sweet latte, and they have quality pastries — do-​rite donuts and floriole pastries. Solid four star joint.
Today was kind of a turn-​off though. I got a cup of drip coffee to go, put some cream in it and headed for the train, only to notice that the cream had totally curdled in the coffee.
A little googling will tell you that this can happen if your cream is nearing the end of it’s life span (hot acidic coffee will speed up curdling compared to the cold carafe), if your coffee is very acidic, or some combo of the two. Not dangerous — if the cream wasn’t bacteria-​ridden enough to curdle in the carafe, pouring it into a cup of coffee won’t suddenly make it so. Speeds up the chemical reaction, not the biological cause behind it.
I’ve seen it happen a couple times, back when I worked at a café. We’d apologize and give the person a new cup of coffee and an unopened carton of half and half (instead of the one that’s sat for a morning in the carafe.) Problem solved.
I figured I’d call back and just let them know it’s worth checking out the cream. Especially as I had picked the one of two drips they had going based on it being the «less acidic» one.
Me: hey there, just got some coffee to go and noticed after I left that it curdled your cream, thought I’d let you know it might be worth double checking your cream.
Barista: oh that’s just the acidity of the coffee, the cream is fine.
Me: yeah could very well be. Kinda unpleasant though.
Barista: yeah, ok bye. [hangs up]
To be fair, I was on the train, maybe she didn’t hear the bit about «kinda unpleasant.» Clearly she got the gist of what happened though, which seems worthy of an apology at least, maybe offer a free cup of coffee next time.
Tldr — wish they would warn you, if it’s likely that the drip of the day is going to curdle cream. And/​or, just be receptive to fixing the problem. Grainy protein clumps suck.

The coffee is good, however, the service is another story. I recently was there having a cup, and heard some guy answer the phone. He then handed the phone to a woman who was apparently a manager, and she asked what the person on the phone wanted. The guy shrugged, and very openly said, «I don’t know, tell him to go fuck off». Now, I am in sales, and understand the difficulty of that job. I also get how getting a sales call on a busy day is annoying. But that level of disrespect is uncalled for, and speaks volumes about the kind of place this is. If that were me calling, I would’ve cussed them out, and hung up. But it’s fine. There’s a Starbucks close, and they don’t treat people that way.

I love this place! They always have interesting and delicious coffee offerings. Their bagels and cream cheese are also very fresh and creative. It gets very busy on weekend mornings with the stroller crowd – think strollers parked inside – everywhere – but it’s clearly a popular place for a reason. The décor is very cozy and welcoming, and you feel good about supporting a truly local coffee shop. Note that a small is not a typical American «small” – you’ll have to ask for a medium.

Paid for a ham and cheese croissant and was given a chocolate. I had already left the café by the time I noticed. Wednesdays, amirite? But really, all I wanted was the ham and cheese croissant.

Quality food and drinks and a comfortable atmosphere.

I try so hard to like this place, but they keep letting me down. I’m not that picky about my bagels, but Spoken (formerly Beans and Bagels) frequently runs out of bagels pretty early on the weekends, especially in the nice weather. I went in today in hopes of getting a bagel and an iced coffee and they were out of both. A little frustrating since pretty much all they sell are bagels and coffee. I had to get an iced Americano instead, which does the trick but is basically twice the price.
The service is super slow and the lids for the hot coffee always drip when I take a sip so I end up spilling coffee on my clothes. It’s as if they bought the cups and the lids separately so they don’t fit together perfectly.
I really want to support a local business, but I’ve been disappointed by this place so many times that I really can’t recommend it.

Cozy little café. Great selection of bagels and cream cheese. Wheat bagel with cranberry and walnut cream cheese is superb. Also great choice of latte flavors/​variations. I had a Honey and vanilla latte really good. Great selection of Kickapoo coffee roasted in Wisconsin!

I LOVE THIS PLACE! Their homemade bagels are awesome and they make really tasty sandwiches. The servers are super friendly and it’s a really cute and laid back vibe. Great spot to grab something before heading on the train or relaxing with a good book.

After a disappointing brunch I had to stop by a coffee shop to get some coffee and something to subsidize my hunger. Spoken café was around the corner so we went. The inside was quaint a cozy. Tables were small but plentiful for a small coffee shop. There were a handful of people on their laptops doing work.
I ordered 2 small coffees and a bagel. The barista showed us how big their small coffee was. It was nice that he showed us because we opted for the medium. I got a wheat bagel with jalapeño cream cheese. I also got a chocolate and banana tart. Bagel was warm and melted the cream cheese to ooey gooey deliciousness. The chocolate banana tart was just the right amount of sweetness and neither the banana nor the chocolate was too overpowering. Coffee was a dark roast that was smooth and velvety.
Although I don’t live in the area I would come again when I’m in ravenswood. I highly recommend it!

This is a small and homey café. But homey to a level that I felt like I was in someone’s crowded living room. There is not much seating. My latte was tasty, but small for the price. (I came here with my coffee passport, so a good deal for me.) The place also closed quite early for a Sunday, at 3pm. It was fine, but not necessarily a place where I could settle in with a book or some work to get done.

Excellent place. Great vibe, friendly staff, and great coffee. The Mamou Mocha is fantastic, really doesn’t skimp on the spice.

Cool little place, kind of over-​hipster vibe. Good food but not amazing. My main gripe is the coffee: it’s just not very good. Sandwiches are good. Nothing special.

You know what, it’s exactly what I was looking looking for in a quick, yummy breakfast this morning. Breakfast bagel sandwich with turkey, hard boiled egg, cheddar and chili pepper crunch on an everything bagel. Good size sandwich, definitely full when I was finished. Large coffee to go with the sandwich which was equally as good.
Location/​Space: This place has more of a «go-​to» feel to it, which is fine for a quick stop and go meal (it’s directly below the montrose «L» stop). The tables are a little small, more appropriate for 1 – 2 people than a large group. I waited maybe 5 minutes for my order.
Favorite Part: FRIENDLY STAFF. Always nice at 7:30am to walk into a place and be greeted with a hello and smiling faces. Definitly has that neighborhood feel in a big city.

Excellent variety in both food and beverages. I had a bagel with dill and feta Crème cheese made in house. My latte was delicious and beautiful. Great music and great atmosphere.
An excellent place to study or relax with a coffee.

Family owned & operated. Will & Sidonie have created a warm, friendly establishment with a terrific professional & efficient staff. Handmade benches; interesting artwork; delectable bagels; mouthwatering pastries; nice music at appropriate background volume; comfortable neighborhood vibe.

This is the rename of the previous beans and bagels… same staff just a new name and some cool new updates. I feel like family here! My finance’s and I are having a kid and had to move closer to the burbs but we love this place so much that we go out of our way when we can to go here. The best coffee in the city that I have ever had, always fun to see everyone, incredible breakfast bagels, sandwiches, and pastries. Purposely went here to get bagels and cream cheeses for my baby shower and everyone loved them! Thank you guys for only getting better and better as time goes on!

One of my 2 favorite bagel places in the city. Used to come here when it was Beans and bagels, and am so glad the only change was the name. You cannot beat this place for the selection of cream cheeses, my personal favorite is the feta dill! They also have great coffee and a pretty big selection of glazed and infused donuts.

This is my go-​to place between having a perfect cup of coffee, fresh bagels, delicious cream cheese, and being veg-​friendly. My usual order is an everything bagel with spicy veggie cream cheese (or feta dill) and coffee. For a sandwich, I get the holy jalapeño.
I go here to work on my laptop, meet a friend to chat, and I always take people who visit me here for a delicious breakfast.
The people who work here are kind and truly work to remember their customers by name. The space is beautiful and has really transformed over the years. The owners have southern roots (Louisiana), so it’s a cute/​thoughtful mash-​up of the south and Chicago showcased through unique artwork and a beautiful custom bike on display.
Thank you to everyone who works here — you are wonderful!

Such an amazing little neighborhood café! I really only stopped here because it’s near where I’m staying, but it has everything I could ever ask for in a coffee place — delicious Counter Culture coffee, amazing donuts, friendly baristas, and a great atmosphere. If I lived around here, I would be at this place all the time!

First time here. Great little spot with a neighborhood feel. Located right next to the Montrose, Brown line stop. Very cozy and welcoming spot for a cup of coffee or tea and a quick bite to eat. I ordered their bagel with lox. It was great! The staff was very welcoming. Looking forward yo visiting this place again soon. If you haven’t been, check it out! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Proto-​hipster neighborhood coffee + sammich joint. Stopped by around 10am to get a quick breakfast and caffeine jolt.
# Food
Everything bagel + «Eye of Sauron» house made cream cheese spread: I love spicy. This had a decent kick. Bagel was toasted well, with great bite and flavor.
Cortado: Good consistency and flavor. Espresso wasn’t as lively or nuanced as some others, and the steamed milk wasn’t particularly sweet, but I’m nitpicking here. It was solid overall — especially given they’re more a café than a dedicated coffee bar.
# Service
Baristas were friendly, and the wait was not long at all.
# Ambience
The place had a quiet murmur of music and voices. Perfect for getting some work done or just hanging out and catching up.
# Seating
Probably 6 – 8 cozy tables with handmade wooden seats/​stools, plus bar seating against the wall. Seems like seating could max out pretty quickly — we were there around 10am and seats were 80−90% occupied, though bar seating was empty.

Still the same good folks with excellent coffee and breakfast options. Love the bagels, love the choice in spread, looking forward to eating more croissants and donuts. Had a sandwich for the first time — the Hemingway — and it was pretty good but not as sublime as the breakfast foods.

Stopped in here on a blistering fall day to get some warm coffee. The barista told me all about the history of the café (one of the oldest in Chicago!) and changes they’ve made (including growing their own veggies!). The food looked good, the coffee was good, and the atmosphere was pleasant. The only downside is it’s mostly bench seating without a back. Not the comfiest for a long time.

My boyfriend and I come for a bagel almost every weekend. These are the best bagels I have had in Chicago and coming from NY we take our bagels seriously. There is a large variety of bagels to choose from and a unique list of cream cheeses to match. The staff is always very friendly. Highly recommended!

Cranberry Walnut Cream Cheese. Yes. Sweet baby Jesus yes. I don’t get anything other than that here and it makes my mornings when I do. I was not a big cream cheese fan until I tried it and I fell I lovveeeeee. Someone catch me!
I love this place. Even with the new hipster name. I will admit, «Spoken Café» is a lot cooler than «Beans and Bagels», although it does not have the same ring to it. Eh, it’s a give and take I guess.
Ambiance: Wood everything. A variety of seating — booth, bar, window, table — a little bit of everything. Great vibes. Low-​medium volume. Great for catching up with a friend over morning coffee; okay for work (if you put your headphones in).
Quality: they really take their time with the food. Sometime too much, which then reflects in your punctuality to work. I always get the cranberry walnut cream cheese on cinnamon raisin bagel. I hate bagels because of how tough they are, but that never seems to bother me here. They toast it just the right amount to make taking a bite off easy. I love the walnut in contrast to the cranberry. I will admit that sometimes there is a garlicky taste to my bagel because of previous flavored bagels that have run through the toaster, but that’s a tough issue to correct (I think?). Great for breakfast or lunch — some even call it… «brunch»…
Customer Service: Always upbeat. Super friendly, but not overwhelming. They keep the place all kinds of clean.
Accessibility: Street parking that always seems to be available. If you park a block or 2 down in pretty much any direction, you should be able to find something free.
Area: Safe, friendly, with some cool shops you can check out with a friend after «brunch».
I love Spoken. I hate how late it makes me sometimes, but if it is your only place to be, it’s always satisfactory.
Jamie «Jammy» D.
«I’m not picky, I’m particular.»

Thank God Spoken is Beans and Bagels with a name change. For homemade bagels there’s no place better. They have seriously huge, chewy, fresh bagels with a variety of homemade spreads. The donuts are also generously sized. I didn’t indulge, but others in my party did and said the donuts were totally sugar buzz-​worthy and delicious. They also make one of the best, smoothest lattes out there. The coffee has a warm, roasted taste. It’s a small place tucked under the Montrose brown line tracks. The people who work there are always pleasant and helpful. Beans and Bagels, er… Spoken Café’ is a neighborhood treasure.

Wandering on foot with a GF looking for casual brunch when we passed by Spoken. Peered in the window, inside looked coffee shop cool, but we decided to try it another time. Our next venue had a ridiculous wait and the menu was unfriendly to my new and annoying food sensitivities so we returned to Spoken to give it a shot. Totally the best decision! While the GF choices were minimal, the counter staff advised that any sandwich that struck my fancy could be bowled into a salad on a bed of fresh spinach. Delish! Even better, the house made chai had nice bright spicy notes without that heavy syrupy taste of some concentrates. We enjoyed a light and fresh casual meal, I’ll definitely be back!

I love this place. Their name change (from Beans and Bagels) did not diminish their greatness. Their bagels, sandwiches, especially paninis, coffee, customer service, attitude, are all top notch. The atmosphere in the place is always friendly, too.

Yikes! Hours are incorrect Unilocal for Saturday and Sunday, so I haven’t had a chance to try y’all yet.

Today at 5:00 pm… my most precious Beans &Bagels on MONTROSE, changed its name to… SPOKEN.
We celebrated and rejoiced with Abita beers and shrimp Filé GUMBOOOOO.
Bt the way… (pops collar).I got the LAST Bowl of the aforementioned Gumbo.
So good, smiles. neighborhoodians…along with t-​shirts and ball caps with the new KICK ASS logo on it!
btw.the beers AND the Gumbo were all complimentary.
These guys rock SO0OOO hard.
Everyone was up at 5:00 in the Oh my Gawd Mutha#!f@$! A. M to get us our coffee and prep for tonight’s festivities. I just left. it’s now 9:30 p.m. …and all the cool kids at the coffee house formerly known as BEANS and BAGELS, will be up early in the morning to do it all. again underneath a beautiful new cypress tree.