Cafe Castemila — Restaurant in Niles Township

I just read the comments on the reviews. I really felt discriminated and didn’t want to make it about that and held back. I only had commented on the product and the situation it turned into. But after reading some reviews I can honestly say the whole problem starts as soon as they see the customer. It is sad to be in 2025 and still being discriminated against because of our skin color. Now you can please read my review and honest opinion. I would like to start by mentioning the fact that they charge you $5 extra dollar for a spoonful of pistachio. It doesn’t look like the one in the picture. The flavor is good but the price is outrageous almost $20 for a cup of strawberries. I did mention that and the older lady in charge got bothered and proceeded to say how much they paid for the pistachios. I have to say that I’m adding this to my review after an hour after I wrote the review. This woman who happens to be the owner saw me writing this review and as I was sitting with my 6 year old granddaughter she approached me to tell me that she had seen this review and that she didn’t agree with what I wrote. My answer was when I was given the cup of strawberries I saw that what I was served of pistachio cream was so little so I mentioned this to the cashier. The woman who answered to my review lift the cup and said I see chocolate strawberries and pistachio so I answered yes but the amount of pistachio is so little she proceeded to tell me how much they pay for the product and was really bothered by my comment. So when she approached me I was sitting and she basically was so upset that I told her look can you please just stop my granddaughter is here so she approached my granddaughter saying hi and turn back to me to continue letting me know how bothered she was. Another lady came over to calm her down started talking in a different language but the owner was not having it. She made the situation very uncomfortable for me and scary for my granddaughter that I got up and walked out. The place is small. Everyone saw and heard the whole thing. I did tell her as a business owner you cannot start telling your customers what you paid for the product or get upset for a customer writing a review. I never said the product was bad I also didn’t mention her approach since the beginning. The one who made it uncomfortable was you. You didn’t respect the presence of a child. I kindly asked you more than 4 times to please stop because my granddaughter was present and you just kept on attacking with your comments. Your last comment was if you didn’t have the money or you think is to expensive I will give you your money back. Lady I recommend you to take some classes to learn how to control yourself in every situation specially when children...

I’ve been coming here for pistachio affogato coffee for a while, and it’s always been my go-to. This time, I sent my husband to order exactly that. What we got was nothing like what I’ve had before — just a single shot of espresso and one scoop of pistachio gelato. I went back to clarify, and instead of fixing it, they insisted my husband ordered something else. That’s simply not true.

The main issue here is communication. The person taking the order barely spoke English and clearly didn’t understand what was being asked for. If you’re serving customers in a busy shopping mall, you need to have staff who can understand and take orders correctly in English. There was a younger staff member who spoke English, but she didn’t step in until I came back to complain.

On top of that, they charged him like the pistachio affogato I always get — not the “regular” order they claimed he made. He even tipped them. No apology, no offer to replace the order, nothing. They just blamed us for their mistake. Even the phone number they asked for “wasn’t working,” which makes me question how they handle customer issues in general.

I used to enjoy coming here, but after this experience, I’m not in a hurry to return. Poor service and zero accountability.

REPLY——— Let’s be clear: I’ve been coming here specifically for the pistachio affogato for a long time. I know what it is, I know what it costs, and I know exactly what my husband ordered. What we got this time was not the same thing. He was charged the higher price that matches what I normally pay for the pistachio affogato, so saying he “ordered a regular affogato” is simply false.

As for your claim that my comments about language are “disrespectful” — that’s deflection. The reality is the person taking the order did not understand what was being asked, and another employee had to step in to translate after the fact. That’s not disrespect, that’s just describing what happened.

Additionally, there’s the issue of the overcharge: my husband bought two coffees listed at $7.50 each and tipped $3. With Skokie tax (10.25%), the total should have been around $19.54, yet our transaction shows $24.37. This discrepancy is not a mistake on my part—it shows the order was overcharged, contrary to what the café claimed.

Instead of owning the mistake and fixing it, you doubled down, blamed the customer, and even questioned my honesty. That’s not how good businesses handle problems. An apology and a corrected order would have solved this. Instead, your response proves exactly what I wrote in my review: poor service, zero accountability, and...

When you're at old Orchard you have to find your way to this Café. It has all the charm and atmosphere of a Kdrama meet cute! But it's not just for show this place has the creds of European skill.

Not only will your tired feet thank you as you plop yourself in the aqua chairs outside or the charming velvet chairs inside, but you'll feel the lightness and happiness.

The first thing I noticed were the pink ponies in the window. And then the flowers in the basket of the pink bike outside as if… Maybe once upon a time in our dreams when Paris was pink? The sisters that owned this place are experts gelato. Their family started 26 years ago in Poland.

I had to ask because they knew right away to offer a taste, and their suggestions were on point. I always gravitate towards the fruity gelato like lemon because if they know how to make a good lemon gelato it's the litmus test like a whiskey sour is for a bartender. And this lemon was not overly sweet the way it can be when someone is trying to overcorrect for too much tartness: instead there was a citrusy light beautiful rich lemon flavor that was clean and fresh.

They also introduced me to the passionfruit which was smooth and flavorful like the softer sister of mango. And their mango was fantastic.

In the end I went with a cold brew with extra ice because it's a hot day and a cold brew latte for my chauffeur friend who drove me here, and a strawberry pastry.

Today I was running an errand but next time I'll be back to sit and enjoy an unrushed moment of ease....