(third floor)
On the 3rd floor of this 1930s three-story house turned cafe known as Noble Tree Coffee on 2444 West Clark Street in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago's westside, I sit amongst my fellow studious neighbors, with their macbooks glowing, books spread out on various roundtables and highlighters squeaking against the laminate papers of books, I find myself almost wanting to have more homework to do to feel some sort of camaraderie in the struggle to finish our work before the school/work week starts. The atmosphere is extremely work-oriented and hushed in tonality. When the need to talk the voices travel across in a hushed whisper so as not to disturb those who are working diligently around us. The most noise comes from the first floor where the coffee counter & a smaller cafe-like room is situated. A narrow staircase with an ornate banister leads to the second & third floors that are similarly set up with all sorts of wooden chairs mismatched to add depth and interest, a few small couches sit in the corners, library-esque lamps hang over the round tables that give warm glow that offer a juxtaposition to the snow that has piled up against the window sills. The walls though could use some sprucing, they remain painted white without so much as a photo to grace it, their stark-ness reflects the white and cold world outside.
(third floor, view from my table near the stairs, the stairs were like a sound tunnel)
The staff wasn't overly friendly or welcoming as Jen, my roommate, and I walked in. I got the "please just order something so I can get on with making it for you" vibe from both workers behind the counter. I'm going to chalk it up to the fact that it's Super Bowl Sunday and they were both males who didn't want to be working today... But I doubt this was the case but I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt. I wasn't too thrilled to get my 12oz chai latte cup without a saucer because I had a long trip up a narrow staircase with an over-filled coffee mug. I had to stand and sip my latte before I could make the trek up these looming stairs and even then the idea of tripping up the stairs with latte in hand was not a warming thought.
(Their Chocolate cream pie, was way too dense and heavy)
I did have my eye on their homemade chocolate cream pie which I might even risk the trip back downstairs to try. I'll allow my sweet tooth to linger on the chai for a moment longer before I subject it to another attack of a sweet sensory overload.
(second floor)
Today, being Sunday, it is extremely busy in here. Each floor is packed with students. The music that is played over head is some sort of Mexican-like mix that I don't particularly care for. I did the old headphone try and played a few tunes to see how overwhelming the music might have been through my own music and much to my gratitude the cafe music did not seep through my own which gives the Noble Tree a bonus point in my book. *note: as the afternoon proceeded and a new shift of baristas entered the music changed completely and was enjoyable. I am delighted to say that "All I Need" by Radiohead played overhead which I have a strong connection to after dancing to it in a student-choreographed piece in my dance department.
(their bathroom, believe it or not)
Now on to the important part of all of this. The chai latte. I regret to inform you that it was as mediocre as the General Mills powder mix I can make back at my apartment. The chai was made from a syrup, and was made a little too foamy for my liking (1/4 of the cup was steamed milk foam). Thank you for the mustache. Much to my disappointment I was not granted any latte art! The new thing in cafes these days I have happened upon is the art that is made when pouring the steamed milk in the chai mixture. I was simply given my cup of chai and sent on my way. This is not to say the chai was bad but nothing I could not have gotten at a Starbucks or Caribou Coffee.
(A feeble attempt at latte art in Jen's Soy Latte)
The atmosphere of its victorian era charm triumphs over their product which I don't think should be something to strive for. None-the-less if you're looking for someplace to study I would highly suggest Noble Tree Coffee, though a word of advice would be to come on a slightly off day or at an off hour. Getting here and having to go up and down stairs looking for someplace to sit is a magic trick when caring a chai latte in one hand and a piece of pie in the other with your heavy book-bag bringing up the caboose.
(while the building itself remains cute and quaint the product nor the service lived up to the hype)
Noble Tree...
Chai latte 4/10
Atmosphere 6/10
Spot for studying 7/10
Cheers!
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