Tary Coffee House

With its tall ceilings, bright white space, and marble tables, this Kazakh cafe in River North is a refreshing alternative to the chain coffee shops in the area. Tary, the namesake grain, adds a pleasant subtle layer of earthiness and nuttiness to their espresso or tea. Along with drinks, they also have savory dishes like eggs benedict, a burger, and steak—but they all end up tasting under-seasoned and bland. Luckily, the sweets like baursak with berry jam or housemade wafers and cookies are better. So if you’re in the area and need a place to answer (or pretend to answer) some emails or catch up with a friend, feel free to stop by for coffee or snacks and a pot of tea.