Matari Coffee Co — Restaurant in Lombard

Beautiful place, nice seating, but I’m afraid the beauty is only skin deep. Unmotivated and seemingly confused staff slowed the line, and not all pastry prices are marked. This lead to me purchasing a pistachio croissant role for $12, which, even if it were properly baked and delicious would be too expensive, but it turns out neither of those things could be said about it. Had the case been lit, I might have suspected it was overbaked and possibly stale, as it was hard everywhere except the very middle. That meant we couldn’t eat this pricey pastry. The strawberry cheesecake was edible but not worthwhile - the food coloring did a lot of heavy lifting in that display case. Those things are what I brought home to my wife as a pick-me-up for something she’s been coping with, so that was a big letdown. I called about it and left a voicemail, but it’s 24 hours later and nobody has responded, so I finally threw that $12 in the garbage. The fact that it took so long for the cashier to ring me up that the screen timed out to the screen saver didn’t impress either.

What I enjoyed in person was a vanilla cake pop (even though I ordered red velvet), which I could have gotten quicker at Starbucks. It took 8-10 minutes for my chai, which I thought odd since it was the same beverage the person before me ordered. The Adeni Chai was delicious, thankfully, though they use more spices in the same beverage at Qahwah House down the street, and that gives it more complexity over there. It’s quite loud inside and hard to have a conversation - it’s great for them that they’re busy, but a little acoustic treatment would have...

The place is very stylish and beautiful — it’s genuinely a pleasant space to be in. The atmosphere is great, and the decor is tastefully done. The staff was okay — I didn’t feel particularly special or welcomed, but there was no rudeness either. Just neutral.

Why 3 stars? Simply because I didn’t enjoy the taste of the food.

The coffee cups were dirty on the outside, which was disappointing. I understand that coffee preparation can get messy, but I would strongly recommend wiping the cups before serving to avoid guests getting their hands dirty. That said, the cups themselves were beautiful and generously sized.

As for the desserts — they just weren’t for us. We couldn’t even finish half of what we ordered. What they call a “mousse” dessert wasn’t a mousse at all — it was very dense and heavy, not airy or light as a mousse should be.

Surprisingly, the almond cake was more mousse-like in texture. That one was okay.

But the “Dubai Chocolate” was the biggest letdown. It had no filling whatsoever. If you’ve been wanting to try the famous Dubai chocolate, I wouldn’t recommend trying it here. The essence of Dubai chocolate is supposed to be a rich, abundant filling — moist and flavorful. As you can see in the photo, there’s barely any filling here. It’s like ordering a pizza and getting...

Matari Coffee Co. is a dessert lover’s paradise! They have an incredible variety of sweets, from German cake and Termasi to blueberry mousse cake, chocolate mousse cake, vanilla cake pops, date cake, Dubai chocolate cheesecake, and so much more. If you’re a fan of baklava or cheesecake, you’ll be in heaven here. They also offer cookies and croissants for a perfect pairing with their drinks.

Speaking of drinks, their selection is just as impressive! They serve authentic Yemeni chai and Adeni chai, as well as refreshing mojitos and fruit blends like blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, and pomegranate. I tried the mango dragon refresher, and it was absolutely delicious—super refreshing and full of flavor.

The café itself is spacious with plenty of seating, making it a great place to relax or get work done. They even have custom chairs with their logo, which adds a unique touch to the ambiance. Parking is easy, which is always a plus!

Service was top-notch—despite how busy they were, I received my drink within a minute of ordering. The staff is efficient, friendly, and really knows how to keep things moving smoothly.

If you’re looking for a cozy spot with amazing desserts, drinks, and great service, Matari Coffee Co. is...