Rivers and Roads Cafe — Restaurant in Lake View Township

I think this coffee shop is great. The reason I go here isn’t just the location, cozy atmosphere, and the good service- I also go here because they have direct trade Counter Culture coffee, a solid menu, and knowledgeable baristas. I have gotten a Chemex of a Costa Rican coffee that was great, oat (yeah, they have oatly) cortado that was beautifully pulled, the milk texturized and then poured. I have nothing to fault them. They are a great place and I am thankful they are this far north.

I for one am sick of these reviews on here about how expensive coffee is. I’m sorry- CHECK YOUR PRIVILEGE. Coffee in agriculture and trade is in trouble right now- do a brief google search to educate yourself. People with money and privilege have always taken advantage of the coffee trade for as far back as coffee has been taken by force by colonialists. Current day coffee Farmers are not being paid for the hard labor they endure to produce the amazing fruit that we all love. In some countries it isn’t even worth it for them to have coffee trees because they would LOSE money to produce it. And you think you should have it for 4 dollars because you have a tight budget? Wake up. Your choices make a difference. How you spend your money is how you make a difference in this world. Coffee is not your right, but if you choose to enjoy it you should consider where it is coming from and what is actually in your cup.

If you have a problem paying a fair price for coffee that is paying the Farmers for their skill, keeping this wonderful independent coffee shop open, and the baristas fairly paid for their skills- then by all means- take a short walk down to the corner where dark roasted unfairly traded disgusting overpriced “coffee” lives. Fun fact- if you dissected what is actually in your Venti Caramel Mocha you would realize you are OVERPAYING for a cup of sugar and dairy. Don’t act like you know coffee and come for small businesses who are...

Rivers and Roads Cafe

I'm so glad I found this gem of a cafe! The coffee is amazing, the pasties are delicious, and the sandwiches are unique and flavorful. The staff is warm and friendly, and the atmosphere is cozy and inviting. I love that the cafe is decorated in a hiking-themed style, which reminds me of my favorite national parks.

I was especially impressed by the cafe's environmental consciousness. They use compostable straws and utensils, and they have a recycling program. I also appreciate that they offer a variety of vegan and gluten-free options.

If you're looking for a great cup of coffee and a delicious bite to eat, I highly recommend Rivers and Roads Cafe. You won't be disappointed!

Pros:

Amazing coffee Delicious pasties Unique and flavorful sandwiches Warm and friendly staff Cozy and inviting atmosphere Hiking-themed decor Environmentally conscious Variety of vegan and gluten-free options

Cons:

Can get busy during peak hours

Overall:

I highly recommend Rivers and Roads Cafe to anyone looking for a great cup of coffee and a delicious bite to eat. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is inviting, and the food is delicious. I especially appreciate the cafe's environmental consciousness. If you're in the Edgewater area, be sure to...

Honestly probably the best cafe food and drinks wise that I’ve been to in the city? And I’ve been to a lot. Mind you, I’m a matcha drinker and oh my god, they kill that. The regular matcha latte is always well whisked and rich and the monthly matcha latte specials are out of this world (I swear if you guys bring back the black sesame matcha I will cry of happiness). While big cookies aren’t really my thing (although I’m sure they’re good!) the other pastries i’ve tried there are great! They also use Steingolds bagels, which are some of the best (easily accessible) bagels in the city, and every breakfast sandwich I’ve had there has clearly been made with fresh ingredients. The only thing keeping it from being my #1 cafe is that it’s always packed with Loyola students but that is to be expected given its proximity to the university. As someone who used to go to Elipsis almost daily and hates change I was at first resistant to loving Rivers and Roads but I think it may be impossible not to. Yay for great locally...