Espression By Lavazza - Chicago

From the moment I walked in here.. I was greeted with kindness and energy! The staff was so friendly and helpful with any questions I had. I was invited back to pop in anytime. I would say the customer service was more than I have had at a cafe in a long time!I give this place 5Jerry (the pigeon) gives it 5 as wellFollow #JerryThePigeon on Instagram for more food fun recommendations.

Recommend: great coffee and food items. Unfortunately it seems only lavazza left in Chicago. Can be a bit slow during high traffic times but otherwise all great.

Esprssion should be skipped. We ordered 2 breakfast sandwiches, a frappe, and a scone. The employee at the register was incredibly rude when asked what flavors were offered for the frappe considering they aren’t posted. All of the baked items were rock-hard, dried out, and tasted like they had been made three days ago. They also messed up both sandwiches, replacing bacon with ham on one and replacing the croissant with a dried biscuit on the other. For $36, you would be better getting breakfast and coffee from one of the many convenience stores. Truthfully, the “pretzel” from the Field Museum is better quality and a better value.

I visit here for breakfast every time I stay at The Drake, and while the service was friendly and the coffee was excellent as always, I was really let down by the breakfast options this time. I ordered an egg, cheddar, and bacon sandwich, but the bread was stale and the eggs were just average. The croissant had a nice crust, but it lacked that flaky texture. Unfortunately, the sausage, egg, and spinach sandwich was nearly inedible. The coffee is still great, but the quality of the food has really declined.

The food and drinks here are excellent. However, one aspect that isn’t often mentioned in reviews is the unpleasant behavior of some customers at the Drake. Many seem to expect minimum wage workers from the south side to cater to their every whim. During my last visit, I witnessed a woman berating both the cashier and the barista for nearly 20 minutes. It was ironic to see someone who prides themselves on being socially aware being so critical and rude. Despite that, this café offers delicious food and beverages, and it likely serves the best coffee in Chicago, but it feels out of place in such a peculiar location.