OUD Coffee & Cake is a Palestinian American cafe in Downtown Chicago | Eater Chicago

"On my first visit to this new River North cafe, I was struck by how explicitly Palestinian the space and menu feel: started by four first-generation Palestinian Americans and opened at the end of June, the partners have filled the 1,300-square-foot shop with decorative family items and two ouds on the wall, and they aim to host oud performances and tatreez (Palestinian embroidery) classes in the future. I watched a customer tear up over a traditional Arabic tea when a familiar song played — a kind of emotional response you don’t get at corporate coffee shops — and the shop clearly seeks to be a community gathering point. The coffee program draws on Ghassau’s family’s import business (beans from Guatemala, roasted locally), and the menu ranges from classic Americano, cappuccino, and drip to a dozen flavored lattes (ginger turmeric, rose, honey lavender) plus the signature OUD latte, which features cardamom, pistachio, and mint. Other beverages include Turkish coffee (ground ultra-fine), masala and turmeric chais, a blended mint lemonade made with whole lemons, Tamr Hindi (tamarind, water, sugar), smoothies, and alcohol-free mojitos. Pastry offerings — some made with local Palestinian bakers — include half a dozen baklava styles (pistachio, walnut, Nutella), knafeh cakes with creamy cheese filling and toasted pistachios, and a Viral Dubai chocolate bar (dark chocolate stuffed with pistachio paste). Savory items include manakeesh with cheese, spinach, or za’atar, as well as breakfast sandwiches, wraps, crepes, panini, salads, and a variety of waffles (Lotus biscoff, Kinder Bueno); the menu omits pork, using turkey bacon and turkey sausage instead. Overall, the cafe feels intentionally cultural, intimate, and community-oriented — a downtown spot that showcases food, music, and objects from the owners’ families while offering familiar cafe staples. It’s located at 714 W Wells Street and is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday." - Lisa Shames