Cafe Ballou's Review

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Café Ballou's

  • Address: 939 N. Western Ave., near, Wicker Park, Chicago, IL | Map It
  • Phone: 773/342-2909

Fodor's Review:

European charm lies in details like a preserved tin ceiling, a squishy couch, and smooth marble tables. The inviting atmosphere at this café nestled in the Ukrainian Village, near Wicker Park, is a far cry from Starbucks, and you won't find many grab-and-go caffeine addicts here. 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, most often to her customers, many of whom are local neighborhood immigrants.

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