Café Ballou

Café Ballou Review

Café Ballou's European charm lies in details like a squishy couch, pressed-tin ceiling, and marble tables. The inviting atmosphere at this café nestled in the Ukrainian Village, near Wicker Park, is a far cry from Starbucks. Choose from a menu of international sippers that are served according to tradition, like Turkish coffee brewed on a hot plate inside a mound of sand, or Russian tea drizzled with cherry compote. The friendly owner speaks fluent Polish and Ukrainian with her customers, many of whom are local neighborhood immigrants.