Tala Coffee Roasters - Winnetka Cafe — Restaurant in New Trier Township

A Brew-tiful Experience at Tala Coffee Roasters!

I recently visited Tala Coffee's newest location in Winnetka for the first time after opening up nearly two years after the initial announcement of the new café. Working nearby I imagine this café may become my go-to spot for a caffeine fix. The location itself is a gem - nestled in what used to be a car service station steps away from a Metra rail line, the transformation is impressive and adds a unique charm to the entire experience. Although we are in the midst of winter I can see this spot becoming a great scene in the warmer months with their plentiful outdoor seating offerings.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show - the coffee. The brews here are nothing short of fantastic! Whether you're a fan of robust espressos or prefer a smooth latte, Tala has you covered. The baristas are not only skilled but also passionate about their craft, and it truly reflects in every sip. The variety of beans they offer for drinks and take-home is commendable, and I appreciate the effort they put into sourcing high-quality coffee.

The ambiance is cozy and inviting, with ample seating both indoors and outdoors. The outdoor seating area, set against the backdrop of the old service station, adds a touch of nostalgia. It will be a great place to unwind, catch up with friends, or simply enjoy some quiet me-time with.

Now, onto a couple of areas that could use a bit of improvement. The wifi signal here tends to be a bit weak to non-existent, which can be a slight inconvenience for those looking to get some work done or browse the web. It would be great if they could boost the signal to provide a more reliable connection for customers. A few more food options on the menu, especially some delicious donuts or muffins to pair with the fantastic coffee, would take the experience to the next level. Despite these minor areas for improvement, Tala Coffee Roasters has won me over with its great coffee, unique location, and friendly atmosphere. I'll definitely be returning, and I hope to see the wifi and menu offerings get even better in the future. Cheers to the team for creating such a delightful coffee haven on the...

This place has a lot of potential but is very, very underwhelming. The biggest issue are the food offerings - it's not 1980 anymore where you can just feed people Donuts. The alternative - gluten free/vegan muffins are just horrid. I took one bite and immediately experienced mental trauma. Thankfully the staff was kind enough to take that back. I'd have to be very hungry to voluntarily eat that. Bagels anyone? Croissants? Banana/Chocolate Bread? Yogurt? It's not that difficult to offer decent food. The extremely menu with an overpriced bacon breakfast sandwich doesn't help unfortunately. It's quite the contradiction actually - on the one hand they care about gluten and vegan, and but then only offer meat-based dishes. Figures.

The atmosphere is great in theory, but it's unbearably hot during a sunny day (even on a freezing day) since no blinds are installed on any of their south side windows. The sun is blinding too.

On the upside, they have a good tea selection, place relaxing music and the coffee is decent too. I frequent coffee shops daily (yes, I know I have a problem), but I won't be coming back here until they offer normal food and it's not...

Impossible to find parking on a Thursday morning. Service was alright, nothing special. Cashier had her back turned to us when we walked in and wasn’t that friendly. The food was especially bad — I got a blueberry muffin while my partner had the breakfast burrito. The burrito had basically nothing but chorizo in it and was tiny, while the muffin was awfully dense and unlike any other muffin I’ve had before.

At least the coffee was good, so if you’re only coming for coffee I’d recommend it.

It was super crowded inside on a Thursday morning and I expect as the weather gets colder it’ll be even more crowded since people won’t be able to utilize the seating outdoors. The interior is a bit too modern and bland for my taste considering there are some other cozier, cuter coffee shops nearby. Won’t...