Venue Name: Julius Meinl in Lincoln Square (4363 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: 773-868-1876)
Venue Type: Cafe, with loose leaf tea available for take-home purchase.
Cost: A pot of tea or a tisane averages around ranges from $2.95-$5.95. Sandwiches, scones, pastries, and entrees are moderately priced, with plenty of vegetarian options available.
Review: It is always pleasant to find a coffee specialist that takes tea seriously. Julius Meinl is an Austrian chain with two locations in Chicago. Its sunny, spacious Lincoln Square location hosts a varied clientele, and its attentive and competent waitstaff works hard to serve them with kindness and care.
Despite being known, first and foremost, as a coffeehouse , Julius Meinl pays close attention to its tea offerings. With over 50 varieties of loose-leaf tea and fruit, herbal, and rooibos tisanes, tea-lovers won't feel neglected. Tea is served in a Bodum infuser pot on a silver platter with a teacup, spoon, and a glass of water. Lovely!
I've only had a chance to try a few of Julius Meinl's teas, but all of them have been great: Their Keemun is wine-y and aromatic and a great accompaniment to one of Meinl's savory pastries. Rooibos lovers will adore the Rooibos Nougat Zambaione, sweet and mildly citrusy with a bit of lemongrass. Other standouts are Monk's Tea (black tea with jasmine and vanilla) and Nutcracker (dark oolong with hazelnut brittle, cacao peel, and mullen blossom).
There is plenty to fill your tummy, too: Scones, pastries, and cookies are available, as are freshly prepared breakfasts, sandwiches, salads, and entrees (I particularly recommend the Croque Madame sandwich). The weekends bring live music: Check their online calendar!
Loose leaf tea is available for purchase to take home: Selections are available at the front of the cafe.
Comments
Good to know. Some coffee places are serious about tea and others aren't. I'd like to know more about their vegetarian offerings. It's unusual to get a good selection of that to go with tea if it's at all traditional as Western fare.
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