Crema's Take
“Ground Up's banana latte is genuinely worth seeking out—it's the drink regulars actually order repeatedly, not just Instagram bait—and their hand pies (ham and cheese especially) put most coffee shop pastry cases to shame. The vibe is consistently warm and the pricing won't make you wince, though service quality seems to depend heavily on who's behind the counter that day. If you're in North Chicago craving specialty coffee with real food substance, this independent spot delivers on both fronts.”
What to expect
Specialty coffee. A slow-sit, quick-grab spot, good for meetings. Pastries and light food on the menu.
Google Reviews
See all on Google →I love this place! I’ve been to the locations in River North & West Loop and both are amazing. Best banana latte in all of Chicago! They also have fresh pastries and mini pies, I especially love the ham and cheese pie. Couldn’t recommend this place enough!
Had a good visit here this morning. Great service and great coffee at good prices. Good selection of pastries from a small coffee shop. Ham and cheese hand pie was excellent. Would definitely come back again if in there area
Good latte, mediocre apple fritter, and a manager being extremely rude to his team. In the last half hour before closing on 2/10/26, while I was the only customer, I had to overhear at least 20 minutes of scolding. The manager stood directly behind the barstool I was seated on…
Incredible vibes, quick, friendly service, and delicious food and drink. We got a hand pie and a croissant, plus the Milk and Honey Latte. The latte hit the spot on a cold morning, and the hand pie was surprisingly large and filling (and delicious; flaky buttery crust and lots…
First time in the shop, and I know I'll be back! The staff was so friendly and kind (love that! Especially in a coffee shop!) I asked for a recommendation and the barista gave me a couple of his favorites... I chose the Amber Hazelnut Latte. Sooooo good!!! Toasty, rich, dark,…
Crema Reviews
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