Ground Up Coffee & Bites
Quick info
About Ground Up Coffee & Bites
Ground Up Coffee & Bites is a counter-serve coffee shop on W Van Buren St in Chicago, pairing a specialty espresso bar with a bakery case. A baklava coffee anchors the drinks list, and it sits alongside Greek-style pies, including a spinach and feta version and a cheese pie, so a coffee order can double as a meal. Espresso drinks are built with homemade syrups, and iced lattes run beside rotating seasonal specials such as a hazel-and-amber latte. Croissants and baklava round out the pastries, and food items are heated before they reach the counter. The menu runs to roughly 59 items across drinks and food. Orders are walk-in, with no reservations taken, and seating is generally free for customers who settle in to work, study or meet someone. Dogs are welcome, which suits anyone stopping in mid-walk. Music plays through the room, and the doors open daily.
Good to know
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Paid street parking · Somewhat difficult to find a space
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating · Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsFamily friendly
- DietaryServes vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
59 dishes · mains $2–27- Spinach Pie$6.50
- Ham & Cheese Pie$7.00
- Cheese Pie$5.50
- Ham & Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich$6.75
- Turkey & Swiss Breakfast Sandwich$6.75
- Spinach & Mozzarella Breakfast Sandwich$6.50
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention spinach feta pie, ham and cheese pie, baklava and espresso and homemade syrups.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention spinach feta pie, ham and cheese pie, baklava and espresso and homemade syrups.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often come back to the coffee, praising the espresso and tea, a baklava coffee, the Stawbana matcha, a seasonal hazel and amber latte, and homemade syrups, with one calling it smooth and not burnt tasting. Close behind are the savory pies and pastries: the spinach and feta pie is a repeated go-to for lunch, the ham and cheese hand pie is described as buttery, flaky and filling, and the almond croissant and baklava get mentions too. A spicy chicken wrap also earns praise for flavor. Several describe friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere where they work, study, journal, or catch up with friends. The main complaints are mixed in with that. One reviewer found the croissant, lemon poppy cake, old fashioned doughnut and cappuccino bad and suspected they were microwaved, and another called the coffee only decent, found the music slightly too loud, and reported the wifi not working at all. Even that reviewer found the servers pretty friendly, and one regular says no order has ever been botched.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often come back to the coffee, praising the espresso and tea, a baklava coffee, the Stawbana matcha, a seasonal hazel and amber latte, and homemade syrups, with one calling it smooth and not burnt tasting. Close behind are the savory pies and pastries: the spinach and feta pie is a repeated go-to for lunch, the ham and cheese hand pie is described as buttery, flaky and filling, and the almond croissant and baklava get mentions too. A spicy chicken wrap also earns praise for flavor. Several describe friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere where they work, study, journal, or catch up with friends. The main complaints are mixed in with that. One reviewer found the croissant, lemon poppy cake, old fashioned doughnut and cappuccino bad and suspected they were microwaved, and another called the coffee only decent, found the music slightly too loud, and reported the wifi not working at all. Even that reviewer found the servers pretty friendly, and one regular says no order has ever been botched.
Featured reviews
- Delilah Robinson
“Stopped by Ground Up Coffee & Bites right by West Loop for a quick lunch today. I ordered their spicy chicken wrap and a large vanilla latte to go. The wrap was actually packed with flavor and the coffee was smooth, not burnt tasting at …”
- Rileigh Tepper
“This was easily the best coffee I had on my trip to Chicago! They’re knowledgeable and have quality espresso and homemade syrups. The service was great, there’s shops and a train station close by, definitely worth a try!”
- Dan LaGuardia
“This place has the absolute worst croissant I've ever had in my life. Totally in edible. The other items I got were bad too (lemon poppy cake, old fashioned doughnut, cappuccino). They heated them up in why I have to assume is just a microwave based on The way all this food came out. Utterly horrible.”
- Leah Tabor
“the hand pie was awesomeeee sooo buttery and flaky!! i got the ham and cheese and it was filling but not too heavy. plus customer service was great! just got it to-go so can’t speak to the atmosphere or anything”
- Mimi
“I love the vibe of the cafe! The drinks are super good :) I got the Stawbana matcha twice during the time I was here. Their spinach and feta pie is amazingly delicious and the workers there were very friendly 💖 I stayed here with my friends to junk journal, study, and catch up.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Laid-back counter-serve outlet featuring specialty coffee drinks, plus wraps, baked goods & sweets.”
- Serves great coffee
- Has great tea selection
- Popular for popular for breakfast
- Popular for good for solo dining
- Popular for good for working on laptop
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Dogs allowed inside
- Has no-contact delivery
- Offers takeaway
Show more amenities
- Serves dine-in
- Family friendly
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Casual
- On-site services available
- Serves coffee
- Dining options· 6
- Serves breakfast
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Has catering
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Parking· 2
- Paid street parking
- Somewhat difficult to find a space
- Highlights· 1
- Has great tea selection
- Popular for· 3
- Popular for breakfast
- Good for solo dining
- Good for working on laptop
- Atmosphere· 2
- Cosy
- Trendy
- Accessibility· 2
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Service options· 1
- Offers delivery
- Offerings· 2
- Sells prepared foods
- Quick bite
- Facilities· 2
- Has gender-neutral toilets
- Has toilet
- Crowd· 2
- Good for groups
- Popular with university students
- Pet-friendly· 1
- Dogs allowed outside
Location
Coffee shops near Ground Up Coffee & Bites
- Blue Bottle Coffee4.38821 mi$10–20
river view seating, avocado toast, café mocha
- Cafe Deko4.53881.1 mi$10–20
breakfast sandwiches, latte and drip coffee, hot chocolate
- Intelligentsia4.32,0911.3 mi$1–10
croissants, lattes, flat white
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Up Coffee & BitesPastries | 4.6787 | — | $1–10 | spinach feta pie, ham and cheese pie, baklava |
| Blue Bottle Coffee | 4.3882 | 1 mi | $10–20 | river view seating, avocado toast, café mocha |
| Cafe Deko | 4.5388 | 1.1 mi | $10–20 | breakfast sandwiches, latte and drip coffee, hot chocolate |
| Intelligentsia | 4.32,091 | 1.3 mi | $1–10 | croissants, lattes, flat white |
The 3 nearest coffee shops by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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