Backstory Cafe

The soups are always good, and I’ve never been disappointed with the sandwiches, either. Timing is sort of crucial, especially if you happen to go on a day when they end up short-​staffed. Line can get long by noon.
They should serve the dehydrated (or whatever they are) pieces of bread that they stick in some of the soups with their sandwiches, or stock some chips.

Don’t be deterred by the somewhat industrial front to this coffee shop, it’s nice on the inside.
great vegi beet sandwich, definitely one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in 6 months. The loose leaf tea was good too but I’m not very picky about tea.
There’s seems to be a strong connection with the local community. There were photos up on the wall of neighbors and some neighborhood girls helped sweep and clean up around the coffee shop. Based on conversations overheard from an employee, it seems like this coffee shop is socially conscious about where it gets its ingredients but I didn’t see any statements of this nature posted anywhere.

You know those clubs with no sign out front? The ones only the coolest of the cool went to? Remember raves?
Ok. I don’t. That’s only because I was never cool and never invited.
I am making up for lost time with this coffee shop. It’s hidden in what appears to be a dead end street. It feels almost illegal coming here. Instead of dance drugs like ecstacy I get my legal stimulant on.
So take that… my former hipster roomie who was hipster before that term entered our vernacular and who always bragged about the house parties/​raves she got invited to, but never invited me. Always bragging about how no one knew where the party was except for her and her artsy fartsy, pretending to not be conformist but dressed all alike and each waving glowsticks friends!
You will never go here because you probably never venture south of Wicker Park.
Bitter much? Yes.
Your loss. The coffee is great. Sadly I know most people won’t venture down here, even those who only live a few blocks away on 57^th… you know who you are!!!
Now I am the cool one. HA! HA! HA! I’ll be waving my glowsticks while drinking my coffee.
So visit this hidden gem… get your rave on without the illegal substances and bad dancing.

Really solid lunch location in an area that could definitely use more options.
Friendly staff, tasty food, fair prices. Never disappoints!
Try the homemade soup.

I. Love. This. Place. It has a wonderfully calm interior. Something about the cream-​colored walls and wooden furniture, something about the chalkboards. The spontaneous look of the place, as if someone decided to open up a coffee shop in a garage. The staff is so friendly, the food is so good and fresh – some of it from their own garden, I heard, but I haven’t verified this – and even cheap, like the carrot muffins we chowed down. My tomato-​and-​mozzarella sandwich with a perfect and mild pesto dressing was filling and tasted like sunshine. The ideal accompaniment to checking my email via the free WiFi.
Backstory has very, very limited hours. This seems only to add to its ethereal charm. I can’t wait to go back.

Once upon a time, in a not so far away land, lived a big, nasty, ancient dragon who was terrorizing everyone — little and big ones alike — around. Its back was full of moss and ivy, its scales were tough as stones and its breath smelled like rotten paper. It was rumored that fun, and all other good things like joy, sunshine and laughter, came to die in its presence.
Its name was terrible, and only the bravest among the braves could mutter it without trembling.
It was The University of Chicago.
But not everything was totally hopeless in this desolated land. Tucked in a tiny little corner almost forgotten by all lived a bright and lively little place which was doing its best to lift the curse that has befallen the kingdom. It didn’t have a shining armor, or a sword that could defeat evil. Just a few tables, warm coffee, delicious sandwiches and a will to help the community that made it dear to all hearts.
It’s name was Backstory Café.
On one rainy day, a freshly escaped student decided to take her translation away from the Cold Library. She needed to warm up her soul and her body. So along with her dearest friend, unfortunately still submitted to the rule of the mean dragon, she settled down and started working while sipping her tea.
Smiling.
A ray of sun fell on her computer, and as she was smelling the kitchen aromas rising in the air, she knew that the tale would end well for everyone.

The morale of the story:
— BSC is environment responsible. They recycle, compost and use biodegradable products.
— BSC has a complete menu of drinks (hot and cold), sandwiches, salads, soups and pastries. Everything is super fresh, made to order and just tastes wonderful. Give a try to the 61^st street Special — you won’t regret it.
— BSC knows how to keep the fun rolling with board games, books, comics and various workshops and events: music luncheons, film series, playdates, supper clubs…
— BSC is a local little gem, and that, by itself is enough to put it down in any book out there.
…they got married, and lived happily ever after.
The end.

Its the hidden gems like Backstory Café that make Hyde Park such a charming neighborhood. I’ve never been a huge soup fan, but Backstory has made me a convert.
All the items are listed on a wipe board menu that you mark-​up and hand over to the cash registrar. A warning — it’s not a great system and every time I’ve been there there’s been a mix up with my order. But, what are you gonna do. Generally they only have 2 people working at any given time — so they make due the best they can. Back to the food, they have great sandwich, soup, and salad options that are made fresh to order. They also have pastries and metropolis coffee.
I usually get a cup of soup and a salad. The cup is more like a bowl and they top the soup off with a bunch of toasted croutons. All their soups are so hearty and chunky — I have never left unsatisfied.
The crowd is also very different. You see a much older crowd and not many UC students as you’d expect. Perhaps grown-​ups aren’t as afraid to venture south of the midway as the young’ns are…

I love the Backstory!!! It is a terrific coffee shop, a great place to study, great food, and free wi-​fi. How can you go wrong? Some details:
First, they have absolutely delicious coffee — Metropolis coffee is some of the best. Plus, Backstory brews each cup individually with tender loving care. That means you have to wait 5 minutes or so to get your cup once you have ordered it, but you know that when you finally get it that it will be smooth and delicious.
Second, they have lots of vegan and veg options for their food and it is almost always delicious. They usually have a soup of the day that tastes very fresh — lentils, carrots, potatoes, etc. always something good.
Third, they have brunch on Sundays that consists of a vegan buffet plus usually an entrée for extra that ranges from eggs to waffles to French toast. It can get crowded, but in the summer they have an outdoor seating area that is just perfect.
Those are the positives. The downside is that it can get distracting in the afternoon as kids run in and out to get free water or just to warm up (winter) or cool down (summer). If you are studying, this is terribly frustrating and if you are like me you don’t mind coffee shop distractions except when it comes to kids or people with kids. Call me crazy, but coffee shops are not for children and certain not for unsupervised children. Also, it is not that cheap so I am sort of surprised that it is ranked as only $. Yes, if you just get a cup of coffee you will spend less than $ 10, but it is not cheap coffee and you get charged an extra $ 0.25 if you get your coffee to go. Brunch on Sundays is around $ 15, or a couple dollars more if you get the entrée as well. Then add in coffee and/​or juice to your brunch order and you are starting to look at $ 20 a person.
That said, it is still a great place and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Backstory opened around the time I graduated from the U of C. I found out about it when I started working in Hyde Park last summer. It’s one of my favorite coffee shops ever. The food and coffee is comparable to my other favorites, and it’s a great place to sit and relax or do work.
What I really love about Backstory that sets it apart from other favorites is the crowd. It’s strange that I’ve seen a more «U of C crowd» at Noble Tree or Bourgeois Pig, and at Backstory it’s a mix of professionals, older students, people from the community and really young students/​kids from the school nearby and from the community. The kids really get me, because this is the only place where I’ve ever seen a bunch of kids come busting through the doors to unwind at a coffee shop after school. It’s definitely not a bother, because they’re pretty well-​behaved and clearly like going to Backstory.
They have soups, salads and sandwiches and pastries all made in house. They also sell bottled drinks, like Jones Soda and a few other things. When you order food, you get a laminated menu and mark it with a dry-​erase marker, which I like for some reason. The coffee is great, and overall, Backstory is just great quality food and service.

Ok, so I’m a little biased. I used to work here. But the fact that I still patronize this place even after my brief stint behind the counter is a testament to how great this little café is. Great coffee, yummy sandwiches, and freshly baked cookies? AND free wi-​fi? What more could a girl ask for? I’m just sayin’…it takes a certain kind of skill to make a turkey sandwich with beets delicious, and they pull it off beautifully.
They also get props for immersing themselves in the community. Their childrens’ programming is awesome, and you can tell that it really makes a difference.

I’ve been walking the block to Backstory for afternoon coffee or tea about 3 days a week since they opened. What started as a «hey, it’s close» coffee run has turned into the loveliest part of my work day.
First, quickly, I’ll chide them for changing their hours on their customers with weird notice… but they’ve gotten that straightened out for the most part! They started opening at 8, then it switched to 10, then hey, closed on Monday! But I think we’re all on the same page now, so it’s all good.
Now, on to the praise! The space is small, unassuming, and for all its concrete and brick, still manages to exude a warm and friendly feel. I’m always there close to lunch time, and it fills up quickly with kids, students, and worker bees alike. It’s busy without being too noisy, and it seems like kids are able to chill and play (there are a few toys), students are able to study (free wi fi), and everyone else is able to take a break from their day and chat. During the summer, their outdoor seating is really lovely – a small area partitioned off with old doors… really funky and cute.
So, atmosphere: bonus! But even if the place itself wasn’t inviting, I’d hit it up for the coffee and tea. And the sandwiches. And the pastries. Their coffee is rich and flavorful without being acidic, and their food is delicious! My only misstep thus far has been the lemonade, waaaaay too tart for my liking.
And let’s not forget the baristas, who are friendly and quick to remember your face and your order. They make you feel right at home.

Attendees at the Chicago Humanities Festival were invited to enjoy 10% off at this café during the opening day events. From the reviews and the quality of the festival I was expecting a fine college campus café experience.
I was soooo disappointed. Cashier — not helpful to a newcomer. Menu — no detail on what u are getting. Sandwich — on that chewy thick «French» bread that u have to eat with a knife — and theirs are dull. Salad greens not washed, every mouthful was like eating the dirt they were grown in.
Certainly kid friendly — i was seated beside two little boys fighting over their chess game while their mother hopelessly tried to discipline them. The place is so small that patrons have no space to do anything like just stand and talk or take in the art or postings. had to excuse myself to drop off dirty dishes, excuse myself to get tableware.
Been to these kind of cafes before — there is a sense of cliquedom that serves regulars but not the general public.
Filter or New Wave Coffee, local Starbucks or Intelligentsia it is NOT.

This place is getting better and better. It’s easily worth the walk across the Midway (especially if already you happen to work or live in the «wrong» side of 59^th).
Several specialty sandwiches are available, and patrons also have the option of ordering custom sandwiches with dry-​erase markers on a reusable laminated menu. Their sandwiches are filling and come with a small side vinaigrette.
Since I don’t drink coffee, I think their best offerings are daily soups. I’ve never been disappointed, and there’s something unusual almost every day. Always worth adding to your order.
I’m also pleased with their eclectic selection of real sugar soft drinks (Mexican and gourmet). Recommended.

I stop by the Backstory Café not infrequently for lunch. I typically get the soup of the day to go, and have not once encountered a soup that I didn’t like. They use eco-​friendly disposable containers and potato-​starch disposable forks & spoons for the to-​go orders.
Today I stopped in for a sandwich to go, choosing their mozzarella and tomato option. It was delicious! They also offer a create-​your-​own-​sandwich option, but seriously, try the mozzarella and tomato.
I typically see people from the University in here over the lunch hour, eating with colleagues or working on their laptops. One point that is really in their favor is that they accept credit & debit cards, whereas the other cafes (all inside University buildings) that exist south of the Midway do not. Bonus.

Other than the fact that this is a warm and comfortable café that successfully merges «kid-​friendly» and «place to study», AND that they make the bomb chocolate chip cookies, I fell immediately in love with this place because of one drink: the That Other Famous Golfer.
Because fuck an Arnold Palmer, that’s why. Lemonade mixed with orange juice for a fancified taste of Sunny D, AND it’s an ode to Tiger Woods? Score.

Wow, did I imagine this place? It was so quaint and comfortable, this is the perfect place to hang out and enjoy life. The menu looks delicious (so far I have only had the chocolate chip cookie and lemonade), and I think everything is organic and sustainable. I love the menus. They are lamented, and you check off everything you want with a dry erase marker, write your name at the bottom, and hand it the the cashier. This is brilliant! It’s quick and efficient, and reusable!
Really, I was quite impressed with this place, and I wouldn’t have even known about it except for a small sign at the 61^st street farmers market.

How did I not know this place was here!!! What a fantastic community minded, home-​grown coffee shop. My friend and I stopped by the farmer’s market and popped our heads into this little gem.
I had a fantastic cup of coffee, an amazing cookie, and I generally just enjoyed hanging out here and soaking in the vibe. We weren’t ready for any lunch, but did peruse the menu and the food looks great. A few other patrons had some mouth-​watering sandwiches. Sandwich envy will drive me back here for food at some point in the near future.
They really just take everything you find in a regular coffee place and do it better. Free wireless, board games, compostable carry out containers, used book library, games for the kiddies, comfy couches, cozy space, homemade soups and its all for the people by the people.
I will be giving my business and recommending this place to everyone!

Stopped in here this morning for coffee with a co-​worker at about 9, looks like they opened at 8am. It was cozy and kind of lodge-​y feeling. The 2 guys working at the counter were so friendly, happy and seemed so fresh. A nice way to interact with people early in the morning. :-) We were all laughing because someone had dropped some Euros in the tip jar that morning.
There was a sofa and a bunch of little tables and chairs. There were books and a few kids toys available for general reading/​playing with while you wait, or you can just hang out there. There were about 6 other people hanging out in there while we were there.
Peope in the neighborhood often ask me HOW TO GET THERE. (It’s tucked away a bit.) You go to the corner of 61^st and Dorchester, and then head east. It looks like a dead end at first, but just keep to the right, it’s in a little one-​story building. I’ll probably drop in here more regularly. :-) The coffee was god, and came in a nice 16oz.

So as I was skimming the details and getting the back story on Backstory, I noticed the «Categories»: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches.
They got that right. Make that «Specialties», in fact. Backstory has «single origin» and blend coffee, a little overpriced at $ 2.25 and $ 2.50 compared to the on-​campus locales, but well worth it. And their sandwiches are incredible. Grab a laminated menu, a dry erase marker, and build your own sandwich — I recommend turkey, provolone, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrot, red onion and beet. with green goddess and garlic mayonnaise on a multi-​grain baguette. Yes, beet — this, coming from a girl who’s had beets a handful of times in her life. Tasty sandwich + mini side salad + cup of soup = $ 7.50 & tax. It will be a challenge to finish the first two.
Barring two factors, I am a HUGE fan of this café and it may actually be my favorite study spot in Hyde Park…
1. The slightly inconvenient location. My friend and I literally walked into an alley behind the school looking for the café… it was only until we hit the dumpsters, complete with smelly flies, that we realized we were far far off. and we aren’t *that* directionally challenged, I swear.
2. The fact that it is behind a school means difficulty after 2:30 PM on weekdays — noisy children are fun to watch sometimes, but not so much to listen to when you’re trying to read this question:
«An adenovirus named Virus Y is prepared which has the E1B gene deleted. This virus is unable to replicate in a cell line in which the p53 gene is intact. If this same cell line has the gene for the E1B protein inserted into its genome and expressed at high levels, which of the following is most likely to be observed when the E1B-​expressing cell line is infected with Virus Y?»
did you lose your train of thought halfway into the question? so did I about 10 times, thanks to the kids. I swear I like kids though. I like that Backstory caters to them too with a little table of cars /​tracks and toys, and 10 cent pretzel sticks and 15 cent pickles.
Last but not least: the free wifi is a little faulty — operative for the most part. But where, oh where, is a coffee shop where the wi-​fi strength is enough to support my CBT MCAT? It’s the freaking holy grail, dude.

Tucked away behind an elementary school and a stone’s throw away from University of Chicago and Woodlawn, Backstory is a local, liberal, and community lover’s dream.
If you can find it (and please persist!) — you will enjoy the comforts of a clean, homey, recycled nook perfect for reading, lunching with a friend, or working over coffee.
Inspired by the idea that everything has a story behind it — Backstory café is intentional about the way in which they procure, prepare, and present food, drink, and resources. While your local Metropolis coffee slow drips through handmade clay filters, read a local zine or draw your map of Chicago. Eat the delicious and inventive soup that is homemade every day — and often sold out by late noon. The sandwiches are delicious, the internet is free, and the atmosphere itself is a muse.
All of this is just one arm of the larger project, The Experimental Station. If you can, take the time to check out their website here:

A new farmers market, community bread bakes, bicycle shop, and a sundry of other projects are a part of an ever-​developing independent community infrastructure. Dan and Connie are fabulous and creative people that embrace the opportunity to connect with and develop the world and people around them.
I guarantee a trip to Backstory will make you and your stomach very happy.