Senem’s Coffee & Tea House

Stopped in to Senem’s this afternoon for the first time and I will definitely be going back. The coffee was good, service was great and the atmosphere is warm and homey. I would highly recommend it!

This has become my new haunt. The staff is always so helpful and accomodating. I usually just have a coffee before my rehearsal but I love the atmosphere and the staff is very welcoming. They even recognized me and welcomed me back after I had been out of town and returned back to the café. Great place to just enjoy a coffee and read a book or study. They alao have a «frequent coffee» program where you get a free beverage after you purchase so many. I very much enjoy this place and plan on returning frequently.

Lovely café with excellent service. Free wifi. The homemade guacamole with gluten-​free chips, paired with fresh lemonade with mint leaves was perfect. They have a loyalty card too!

Adorable coffee shop with incredible service! The place looked inviting and I am always on the lookout for a well crafted cup of coffee. I decided to sit down and try a Turkish coffee — very well made and the presentation was superb! Comes with a little Turkish candy. I would love to come back with my computer next time and stay awhile, or bring a friend to try their food options!

I was at Senem’s last Saturday after a couple of months. They told me that they were closed for a while and just opened that day under new management. Just like the old management, the new owners are very friendly and polite.
I ordered the mint lemonade and after it was served realized that they were not able to take credit cards on that day, and I didn’t have any cash on me. The lady very graciously told me not to worry about it and that the drink was on the house. I still felt bad for not having cash but the professional way they handled situation was highly commendable.
This is absolutely great customer service. I will definitely go back to try the new menu.
Oh, the mint lemonade was fabulous!

This place is lovely. Clean, laid back, and wonderful teas and coffees. The owner is a chef originally from Istanbul and takes great care in everything made for you. Free WiFi.
Note: strangely they are closed on Tuesdays.

This is a nice little quaint coffee and tea place. The have assorted teas and coffees. I preferred iced coffee, which was fantastic. I really appreciate the indie coffee establishments that Chicago has to offer. Will definitely be back tomorrow visit!

A friend told me about the place and Chef Chino so I had to go see for myself. It was a warm atmosphere. The music was not what I was expecting but it was pleasant. Several tempting items on the menu but I could not resist the Turkish Sausage panini. But the main reason I went is because the online menu said they had mint lemonade. All I can say about it is that it is absolutely hands down the best lemonade I have ever tasted! The panini was really good too. Chino and his business partner were very friendly. They even let me pick their brains for some cooking advice. I will definitely come back as often as my bank account allows. Oh and the sandwich and a large lemonade was under $ 11 with tax.

Wonderful coffee accompanied by great service!
I stopped into Senem’s craving a morning jolt, tired and admittedly hungover from the night before. As a die-​hard espresso enthusiast, I disregarded the menu and ordered the usual. The barista enlightened me that, of course, I was at a Turkish coffee shop and would do well to try the Turkish coffee. For those unfamiliar, Turkish coffee is similar to espresso, but the coffee grounds remain in the cup and the liquid is reduced slightly. It’s a fantastic variation on espresso and Senem’s nailed it.
I wildly recommend espresso lovers to give Senem’s a try, and I’ll certainly make the journey back!

Met a friend here for breakfast this morning. Yes, it was early for a Saturday (9:30 a.m.), but since we were the only people there, you’d think we’d get decent customer service. We were already a bit disappointed to see the menu when we walked in, since it really had nothing Turkish on it, besides Turkish coffee. The pastries (we were hoping for sekerpare or something similar to treat ourselves) looked like they were old and had been left out since yesterday. We ordered the Morning Buzz – English muffins with eggs, cheese, and turkey sausage. Five minutes after we paid, the man behind the counter tells us they don’t have eggs. What?!? It’s Saturday morning, you’re a coffee house/​café, and Jewel is across the street. Please explain this. He offered to make us whatever we wanted – the only other options were a veggie English muffin, a bagel, or oatmeal. I got the oatmeal, which was basically a bowl of microwaved sugar, that was served cold with some Craisins dumped on top of it. My friend’s veggie English muffin was dropped on the floor, so he made her another one, but never cleaned up the mess from the one he dropped.
Overall, a terribly disappointing experience, and we won’t be going back. It seems like others have had good stories to share, so maybe we picked the wrong day and time.

I stumbled on this place when in Lakeview looking to plop down for a little bit and do some work on my laptop. The guy working was very nice and he brewed a mean Turkish coffee. It the cup and platter that it came in were beautiful. Playlist was solid, but I eventually listened to my own tunes.
Here is the downside. Their free wifi was cripplingly slow
(Update) — I typed this at the coffee shop and it took 10 minutes for this review to load.

ALERT! OFFICIALLY OPEN AGAIN! =D I only know this because I was literally the first customer on re-​opening day. They were still in the midst of setting up, but the employees were extremely kind and apologetic. WINTER TIP: Try the WINTER MILKSHAKE!!! It’s a Turkish hot beverage, known as «salep,» consisting of root of a mountain orchid and milk. Definitely a nice detour from coffee! I will return in a few weeks once they are more settled. =)

This place is ADORABLE! For a small place they have plenty of seating, and it’s so warm and cozy inside. They have artwork all over the walls, including an actual clarinet? Very interesting indeed.
The baristas were very friendly, and answered all our questions happily. They have a wide variety of teas, and all the standard coffee beverages. I personally was in the mood for a hot cocoa, which was frothy and delicious. Prices are extremely reasonable — starbucks can suck it.

I’ve had a sampling of espresso beverages here and everything has been outstanding. The atmosphere is friendly and chill. Plus, unlike Starbucks, Senem’s actually has a bathroom.
The only, only minute detail that needs to be changed… the «Coffeehouse» XM radio station? I mean, really? Unless you are the only person in the world who enjoys listening to acoustic covers of Sheryl Crow, bring headphones.

Since moving to the neighborhood, I have become a regular here. My usual is the Americano which is beyond delicious. Hands down it is the best Americano I have ever sipped on. Smooth as can be and goes great with the oatmeal in the morning. Senem’s oatmeal is a little taste of heaven; both hearty but healthy. All of the food Senem prepares looks delicious, and the best part about it all is that it is prepared with absolute care that you can taste.
The ambiance of the shop is another huge plus. The décor, music and lighting are absolutely delightful. I feel at home, and can literally stay for hours. Senem also recently added a patio which is great for a warm day. This coffee shop has a small town feel for a café in such a big city.
There is a sign that Senem has placed over the counter that reads, «Enter as Strangers … Leave as Friends.» This couldn’t be more true about this wonderful, warm, welcoming place.

I came here yesterday after checking out the reviews on Unilocal,eager to find another coffee shop to nerd out and play some Sims 3 in. When I approached the barista, I was automatically systems go! She was so friendly and knowledgeable, and as I tried my very first Turkish coffee, was walked through it patiently and with zeal. «When you hit the coffee grounds, you’re done. Just sip. Drink this cold glass of water– you’ll be thirsty!»
Got it! And what a treat! The Turkish coffee was the size of an espresso, but sipping it was like a dream, a sweet and yet still heart-​poundingly caffeinated dream. As I sipped my coffee, successfully setting my sims house on fire, I became quickly annoyed however by the man sitting next to me.
Since he’d stepped in, he’d begun to complain. About the cake he bought (for which he demanded a refund), about the coffee he ordered (which is actually quite delicious and that he rudely snarled was rancid), about the book he was reading and how he FINALLY had a laugh– after 200 pages– and it wasn’t even a good laugh, and how the music was SO acoustic and annoying and «oh, did it just mention a coffee– shop? Do you feel touched? I feel sooooo touched. «And as he stuck up his nose at his surroundings, I found myself holding back from punching him, right in his massive, snobbish, air sucker.
Instead of punching him, however, I laid my Sims to rest in their local graveyard and ordered a latte– LOUDLY proclaiming how delicious it was and how anyone who didn’t like it was retarded, and that I wasn’t even SUPPOSED to be drinking lattes, but that I was so thrilled to try theirs I couldn’t resist. This went on for a long time, loud enough so that the entire coffee shop could hear me. Thank you, acting class, for those voice projecting lessons. I graciously thanked the barista for having me in and took my seat, sizing up the man next to me with disdain.
I admire how the barista handled this jerk– with a smile and amiable attitude. As a barista myself, I know how hard it is to put up with over-​privileged Lakeview-​ians who don’t understand that SOME of us have to WORK for our money– not use daddy’s credit card.
I will definitely be back. I myself am hard to impress, and I found this place to be warm, well decorated and exceptionally inviting, with a good product that I’m going back for tomorrow morning.
Thank you, hero barista, for having me!

Impossibly tasty. Barista took her time making Turkish for me. My first. Could be biased, but hot damn.
Relentlessly chill atmosphere, place covered in antiques and warm tones. Loved every second.
Oh, and I got the Turkish and a latte, came in under $ 8. Gorgeous.

This is everything a café should strive to be. Small but cozy sunken interior, it doesn’t try to take on more than it can handle. If it’s pleasant out open they open the door to let fresh air in.
«Tea House» is meant to be taken literally. They have a encyclopedic selection from multiple vendors, the illustrious Teavana included. They gave us free tea from Wiseman, just for stopping in, which was tremendous. I haven’t tried the coffee but I know what the Turkish variety does to my body and have willingly abstained.
It’s a little effeminate inside: a board of pictures, swirly handwriting on the menu, a sign hanging over the bar «Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends.– I don’t mind these things, just noting. Please, try the panini– it’s to die for. Like you can feel yourself dying a little from joy when you eat.
There is an absolutely fastidious devotion to tea and food preparation. They are truly masters of their trade. When it’s ready they serve it to you on a pewter tray; pot and cup included, so you feel like you’re in Gosford Park.
My one genuine gripe: playlist. I think it was satellite radio «Coffee House,» which for those that don’t know is acoustic versions of bad pop songs (i.e. Bruno Mars, Train). But that’s just my taste.
Otherwise, one of my new favorites and I dare say, if I didn’t live on the other side of town, a new haunt. Support a new local business.

There’s coffee, and then there’s Turkish coffee. If you think you’ve tried the latter but you’re not quite certain… well, then you haven’t.
Turkish coffee gives me wings. Then again, it also makes my hands shake like a freshmen girl in the presence of the senior quarterback despite years of consumption. And for the Eastern European and Middle Eastern population (anywhere, really), it gives us an excuse to sit for many hours and socialize before transitioning to harder stuff (wine and vodka, natch!).
Back to the lecture at hand. Senem’s does the Turkish stuff and they do it well. But for java junkies still stuck on gateway caffeine (pedestrian coffee), there’s Metropolis. I’ve also had the pleasure of sipping on a cinnamon latte and I love the large, real mug and the slightly sweet flavor. Syrups should enhance not dilute the flavor of espresso, and Senem’s gets this right.
They also serve artisan sandwiches, wraps and baked goods. There’s complimentary robust wi-​fi (trust me, it is indeed robust as I access my VPN here and it’s a bandwidth swallower) and interesting art adorning the walls. And they cater to your ears, too: Fantastic music. The playlist was full of Bowie, The National, Mumford & Sons, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, and even I few I didn’t recognize. I even may or *may not have* clicked Shazam a few times. Embarrassing!
Welcome to the neighborhood, Senem’s. Spoiler alert: I’m coming back (hide yo’ Turkish coffee, hide yo’ bandwidth)!

My latest stop on the latte adventure. I have passed this place more times than I can count and never stopped in. My mistake.
This is the coffeeshop experience I have always envisioned. It’s small and cozy. There’s books and board games there if you want to hang out for a while. There’s free wifi (I didn’t have my laptop so I didn’t get to test out the speed) and outlets to plug your computer into. There’s Jason Mraz and Simon & Garfunkel playing on the radio. I’m not a regular coffee drinker and yet I want to be a regular at this place.
I ordered a cinnamon latte… it was good. I think. It’ll take my palette time to get used to it not being as sweet as I would have gotten from Starbucks. But I’m sure if I was used to lattes, I’d love it. They had items to nosh on there but I didn’t try them during this excursion. The owner seemed genuinely friendly and that is always a plus. I will definitely return to test out their tea, and who knows, maybe I’ll test out Turkish coffee too.