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Restaurant Fri Mar 16 2007
Vienna in Chicago
Julius Meinl serves coffee the way coffee should be served: in a big round mug with a glass of water, a slim, elegant sugar packet and a small square of chocolate on the side. The whole shebang is delivered to the table on a silver tray, tiny spoon balanced delicately atop the water glass. This definitely ain't Starbucks.
And the coffee is just the beginning. This Austrian "Kaffeehaus" in Wrigleyville also serves an infinite number of pastries, sandwiches, salads, teas, and "European Specialities" including goulash and kasespatzle. Eating at this cafe truly is like taking a mini European vacation without the jet lag. Still, there are also plenty of things on the menu that will be readily recognizable to the American palate. I highly recomend the chicken salad, which is studded with chunks of dried apricots and served on raisin walnut bread.
Despite the fancy coffee service, Julius Meinl is not at all pretentious. I've sat there for hours with my laptop typing away without being bothered. Of course I do tend to fuel my work sessions there with a steady stream of coffee and iced tea so I probably pay for my time there.
My only complaint? The wireless internet is pay to play. I'm willing to overlook this one little flaw, however. As soon as my coffee arrives, on its shiny silver tray with its little cluster of accoutrements, I find I have nothing to complain about.
