Mud And Char — Restaurant in Downers Grove

Ah, the coffee shop around the corner.. a place I thought would be my little slice of heaven. And to be fair, it almost is. The loaded avocado toast? Absolute perfection. Seriously, it's the stuff of dreams. They must have some kind of avocado wizard in the back making it because it's always spot-on. The atmosphere? Also top-notch. They've nailed that cozy, modern aesthetic that makes you want to curl up with a book and stay all day. The lighting is perfect, the seating is comfy, and the baristas are super friendly. But, and here comes the kicker, what is with the music? I get it, some people love old pop. And hey, I'm all for a bit of nostalgia every now and then. But when I'm trying to enjoy my avocado toast and a cappuccino in a place that seems like "chill vibes" I don't wanna feel like I'm stuck in a John Hughes movie. It's like they've got the same 90s playlist on loop, and honestly, if I hear "I'm every woman" one more time, I might just lose it. The worst part? It totally clashes with the whole vibe they've worked so hard to create. The sleek, modern decor begs for something more ambient or even some indie tunes. But nope, it's pop all day, every day. It's like they think we won't notice if they keep the volume low, but trust me, we do. Just a thought. So yeah, I'll keep coming back for that loaded avocado toast and the friendly service, but for the love of all things caffeinated, please, can we do something...

(updated review)

I stopped in to try out using the Too Good To Go (TGTG) app.

The counter server RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY, greeting me and gathering all four items. The store owner and staff were all very EFFICIENT, FRIENDLY, and RESPONSIVE. I was even able to chat with the owner about why they were doing the TGTG app program. She said that it was to encourage recycling, avoid waste, and SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY FOR HER FAMILY AND THE FUTURE.

The four items include a medium ICED LATTE, a twelve-ounce super berry KOMBUCHADE, a cherry-granola YOGURT PARFAIT, and a large FRESHLY-MADE CHOCOLATE FUDGE BROWNIE. (All that for only $4.99 using TGTG!!! I also got my usual coffee au lait and a regular coffee.)

YUMMY!!! YUMMY!!! YUMMY!!! YUMMY!!!

(Updated, updated review...)

I used the TGTG app today to try different drink items and to support a local, responsible, sustainability-oriented business that supports the local community.

Again, the SERVICE and the DRINK/ITEMS WERE ALL DELICIOUS!!! The three TGTG items were a delectable Earl Grey tea with cream, a vanilla, chai-infused (overnight) oatmeal with granola sprinkles, and a scrumptious pistachio muffin. I was impressed!!! ALL THAT for only $4.99 using the TGTG app.

I ordered my usual cafe au lait and also tried the flavorful carrot-cheesecake muffin and a heavenly chocolate chip cookie.

YUMMY!!! YUMMY!!!...

Update 2/6/24:

I wanted to try this place out again to update my review. This time with pictures. Service wasn’t that terrible. They acknowledged me when I came in and welcomed me. I ordered an avocado toast and classic breakfast sandwich. They about several places to sit but it is limited when it gets busy. They have a good amount of selection when it comes to coffee and tea. They have breakfast sandwiches, bagels, power bowls, etc. Prices are okay. My rating still stands at 3.

-avocado toast 2 - multi grain bread, avocado sliced beautifully, and one egg I added on. It was tasty but not for $6.50. For the price, they could have added some onions and sauce. -classic breakfast sandwich - the bread was a little tough. I would have liked it to be softer. Ingredients were fine. Price was fair for this one.

I came here a couple times. It’s a nice hangout place in the morning/early afternoon when you have breakfast/lunch. Employees are pleasant. They make good quality coffee and smoothies. I had the classic breakfast sandwich. It’s a good size and it was tasty. Prices are inflated which is why I took off 2 stars. $6.50 for a breakfast sandwich...