rev:text
| - I've never really known what the hype is about Delanie's, and I hadn't been in recent years. (From what I've heard they've gotten their act together since they first opened in 2011.)
After a lengthy business meeting that left me starving and in need of caffeine, I decided to stop in and give them another fair shake to see if this place was legit or if it just appeals to those who live nearby and/or college-aged women who get a boost from flirting with the mostly male, hipster staff.
I ordered a cappuccino and a chicken salad sandwich. No frills about the service. No one bothered to recommend anything to someone who was not at all a regular customer or would be familiar with the menu. As some other Yelp reviewers have pointed out, the vibe from the baristas tends to be cold and weird. I've yet to experience the "class" and "friendliness" that others allegedly have, but I'm sure that does come and go in waves with the moods of the staff.
Really wasn't wild about my coffee even though I wanted to like it. Not sure if it was the roast or what the deal was there for me. I did, however, love my chicken salad sandwich, so kudos to you guys for that. The croissant was warm which made it that much better. It took a long time to come out and almost had to ask where it was as I was drinking my coffee, but good nonetheless.
In terms of atmosphere, it is cool that they have a loft space and exposed brick but I wouldn't prioritize that over the coffee or service. The women's restroom looks like it hasn't been mopped since the day they opened. I consider that likely a byproduct of a mostly young male staff.
Overall verdict: other than the Beehive, there aren't many unique grab-and-go lunch spots or coffee shops in the South Side and so I see the appeal and convenience of going there from that perspective. However, compared to other coffee shops in the city, I wouldn't be jonesing to get down to Delanie's if I wasn't already in the South Side. In terms of coffee shops in other cities, I definitely don't consider them to be running with the big dogs.
|