Green Line Cafe — Restaurant in Philadelphia

Green Line has been a favorite of mine for the past five years. Their coffee is unparalleled, my favorite being their iced mochas. Their bagels are also some of the best i’ve had from a coffee shop. Over the years, their baristas have been so kind, helpful, pleasant and gracious. The atmosphere is perfect for getting work done, or catching up with friends. That being said, my experience there is beginning to change. There is a specific barista that i have encountered there multiple times that is extremely unfriendly and borderline rude. This barista does not greet their customers and just stares at them with a blank expression when they approach the counter. There was an instance where the cafe was out of two things (oat milk and cream cheese) that i tried to order, which understandably happens, and there was no apology in this barista’s tone and instead seemed annoyed that i was asking for things that they happened to not have at the moment. Additionally, the espresso in my mochas tasted bitter and was extremely different than i am used to from Green Line. I have encountered this barista many times and have tried to shrug it off as them having a bad day but i am met with a consistently negative and rude attitude. As someone who has worked in the service industry for six years, i understand that customer facing jobs can be draining and stressful, but even that being said i cannot justify the attitude of this person. It is to the point that if i see them working through the window when i approach the cafe, I turn around and go somewhere else. I will continue to go to Green Line because overall their food and coffee is fantastic and their baristas are kind and friendly, this being one of the first baristas i have...

What started as a spontaneous stop before a salon appointment has quickly turned into a regular ritual—I’ve been to Green Line Café three times this month alone. It’s just that kind of place.

The first thing you’ll see when you walk in is a vibrant collection of plants soaking up all the natural light. There are plenty of tables up front if you enjoy a sunlit vibe, but there’s also a cozy room in the back with a comfy couch if you’re looking for something more relaxed and lowkey.

Their menu offers a solid variety of vegan options, which is a big plus. Even if you’re not vegan, you’ll find tasty breakfast burritos and sandwiches to choose from. My friend and I grabbed an everything bagel on our last visit—it was decent! Not quite a Jersey bagel, but definitely good enough for a Philly fix. One thing that did catch me off guard, though, was the $2 upcharge for cream cheese. Felt a little steep for a basic add-on.

That said, the drinks are where this place really shines. Everything I’ve tried has been super well-balanced—not overly sweet, never watered down, and portion sizes are generous. I got a banana latte on my first visit (even though I don’t usually drink coffee), and it was just the right amount of banana without being too much. A small goes a long way here!

Overall, I love the indie, artsy vibes here. It’s a great spot to chill, get some work done, or catch up with a friend. Definitely worth checking out—especially before a thrifting run on...

Nice place to do work, great location in central Philly. The coffee is good; thumbs down for the food. The vegan tofu sandwich was literally the worst of its kind I've ever had (and I've been eating tofu for more than 10 years): the vegan mayo had dried and made the tofu look moldy, the tofu itself had a texture that reminded me of rubber, and the bread was stale. I complained to staff and was told that the sandwiches apparently sit in their fridge for up to 5 (!) days - and since it was not past the expiration date, "this is just how they are". They basically tried to convince me I was making a fuss over nothing, and did not offer a refund or a different sandwich (my bad for not insisting on it). Where I'm from, day-old sandwiches and bread are clearly marked and sold at half-price - this place seems to operate on the opposite strategy. I'm very aware that a lot of food unfortunately goes to waste , but then maybe make fewer sandwiches and make sure they're fresh the day they're sold? Giving one star for food because the bagel I also had was decent, but won't be...