Ethereal — Restaurant in Woodstock

2023 updated review. We'll its been a year since my last review. It's almost maddening knowing how great they were, including the friendly staff and seeing what a waste of money this shop has turned into.

Every time I have given them a shot for old times sake, I am sorely disappointed. Prices have gone up, quality has gone down (this is including quality of staff as well.).

This used to be a place for coffee enthusiasts and fans of unique high quality confection options. I used to be excited at the non dairy options. Now they seem like they're taking advantage and quite frankly just robbing you. I took a look online for valentines day and didn't even bother this year. This is the first time in 7 years might I add. Instead I looked up recipes and made my own vegan peanut butter fudge and peanut butter cups for a fraction of the price with much high quality. Also realized that stores sell lavender and made vegan truffles with lavender on top for a fraction of the price as well. Maybe 25 cent each. Best of all, my son who is allergic to milk, loved them too!

That was even more of an eye opener. I don't know what all happened but there is only so much that can be blamed on covid.

It's very disappointing that they can't even do a bullet proof coffee any more. Pretty pathetic for a place that used to take pride in their craft and options. Now this location is run by staff who doesn't actually care to get off their phones and socialize with customers. Something I miss about the old shop as well. The layout of the new space really helps get their 'hurry up and order' message across.

I will not be giving it another try. This will be my last disappointing updated review. I will continue to steer people away from this shop as a great option for those with milk allergies. This review will make no difference in what they do. They do not actually care about customers anymore.

2022 Updated review: as of a few months back I gave a great review based on what was the standard of ethereal confections. I am disappointed to say that has obviously changed with the new location and staff. Visited last week and the quality of everything was much lower than what the standard used to be. -The girl who was would the cash register was on her phone more then anything else and very short with an obvious disinterest to communicate with customers. The old staff was very personable. -The chocolate peanut butter cups we got had a gross liquid layer on them so we didn't even eat them. When I tried to call to ask about a return being that they are expensive, no one answered no matter what extension I chose off the main menu. -The no loner have their old pastries and seems to outsource from another company for bakery items that are of less quality and more expensive. It's disappointing that they are no longer making the cinnamon rolls but more disappointing to see the replacements. -My friends mocha was disgusting and tasted like liquid corn. Not joking. They couldn't even get a mocha with oat milk correct this time. I had been excited to bring my friend for awhile since she is allergic to milk as well. Unfortunately she will be sticking with Starbucks and although I have been anti Starbucks for years, I have switched as well. Same price and consistent quality is the safer way to go. This review is painful to write because this used to be one of my favorite locations for at least 6 years but based on my last couple experiences I would say don't waste your money :/

Previous review: This is by far the best coffee location in mchenry County. I have been going there for 6 years and honestly have not touched a Starbucks coffee since. Same price and way higher quality here! My son and I are both allergic to milk and this is the only place we go for our chocolate and dessert fix. Definitely...

I used to come to Ethereal most days they were open, often to write abs work on my art projects. I b fan hearing rumors about management and at least one young employee with issues, but naturally, preferred to focus on the positive.

After all their chocolate is generally quite good, as are their pastry and teas. Coffee is acceptable.

I did enjoy their protein bowl, and their ice cream, although I’m aware of the packaging issues as when one college student spent twenty minutes trying to find a flavor of ice cream sandwiches. They obviously need to label or package a bit clearer.

They do serve alcohol and are have a bar called SpeakEasy on the lower level. While I don’t drink, most of us have been down there as on Fridays, by 3:00 one might have to an hour or more to use the bathroom, even though there may be few patrons in the place. I’ll let the reader decide what’s going on here.

The place is comfortable and many of the patrons are regulars. On the downside, it’s a bit closed off, dark and dingy. Maybe some sort of plant life is warranted.

An African American family, two professors and their children were banned from the place. They told me they typically spent 300.00/week there. When I asked why, they said “that place is about rumors.”

A mature gentleman in his early 90’s was banned. He is a staple of the community, and has done an unbelievable amount of good for are community. His crime? He was dancing with the music at Ethereal’s lower level bar, SpeakEasy. You heard correctly, dancing at a bar.

A friend of mine and owner of the most popular venue of the square asked Ethereal if he could look around their place, obviously hoping for a cooperative alliance. They told him, simply “no.”

This is highly disappointing and frankly disrespectful.

I did witness an employee laugh and mock a regular patron over a custom made drink. I have two friends on the square, one a fellow musician tell me, it wasn’t the first time.

In a fairness most of their employees are a delight. I loved their salads. But I’ve witnessed a sharp change in atmosphere.

Then one day it happened. I was banned from the place, and with the help of a call from what appeared to me to be an intoxicated manager, I myself was banned from Ethereal and Classic Cinemas.

Of course I have many character witnesses. I am 59 and had been an international missionary, and was a regular. I’ve been back at both places, with legal documents in hand, if required, along with my attorney’s number. But they weren’t necessary. Besides out of principle, I cannot say I wish to patronize such establishments.

I inquired to the police department, as to why I was banned. The police said that the owner claimed “people like me come there to scope bout young girls.”. (I did record the police’s comment.)

While I recall conversing with both male and female patrons, usually about the arts or spiritual issues, frankly I came to spend money and to work.

So to be objective, their teas are great, chocolate is good (although many of us have now discovered the homemade chocolate and ice cream at Between The Lines bookstore), but generally these items are good.

All of my friends seem to know that I support local businesses, but here I’ll make an exception. Oh I should add, the police officer said that “I gave Ethereal a bad review, according to the owner”. (I recorded this as well.)

So you, the reader, should be the judge, especially since I’m told that Ethereal’s reach has now extended into the nearby courthouse building.

A note to the community. woodstock is no longer a sleepy rural town. There is diversity, excitement and young families flooding to the area. Perhaps these matters need to be addressed in our lovely...

My two most recent visits caused me to write an updated review.

1. Stopped on Saturday for a quick lunch. While I know this isn't necessarily a food place, the staffer who made our paninis could use some training. For something like $9 we got a turkey panini with a single slice of meat, a couple of pieces of lettuce, one had cheese, the other did not, one had bacon the other did not... this person made our paninis back to back. Most of the staff looked distressed and too busy to fix it so I didn't complain.

2. I also stopped for a drink at the speakeasy on Friday with my husband. But I should have checked the event calendar. $35 cover just to get in, drinks not included. We were not expecting to pay such a high cover, so we declined only to be given a guilt trip about not being honored to come see such and exclusive trio. Just to be clear... We came to buy expensive yummy drinks, but the $70 for my husband and I to get into the place, prevented us from spending any money there at all. That, coupled with the attitude from the host was what got me. I would have been fine if he didn't throw us a guilt trip... The next day at lunch (at Ethereal) I was talking to my friend about it and an employee overheard and defended the cover again throwing out yet another guilt trip for not supporting a small business... While we were eating our food, having paid a combined total of $75 with lunch, snacks and extras purchased that day. I sense a little PTSD, and hostility from the staff likely due to the pandemic, but it's still very disappointing. I hope they can turn things back around. Poor staff can really kill a great business. Woodstock needs you Ethereal!

I will check back in a few months to see if things get better, but I don't want to be given guilt trips while spending that kind of money.

Original Review: Love this place! Love the Speakeasy as well! The staff is awesome...