Prequel Cafe

I stopped here with my friends during our trip to Chicago, and it was amazing! The food was delicious. We got the bagel with cream cheese, the deluxe breakfast sandwich, a muffin, a cookie, and the turkey sandwich, and they were all delicious! The drinks were the perfect way to warm up on a rainy morning. I had the London Fog and it was one of the best I’ve ever had! The atmosphere was delightful, and I’ve absolutely come back here again!

Hello everyone! Thanks for subscribing to my reviews! My reviews and photos have already been viewed more than 5 million times! Today is Sunday and we decided to drink coffee and eat something tasty. This is my fifth time in this cafe. I like their coffee and food. There are always a lot of people here. It is clean and there is pleasant music. I definitely recommend visiting! Try the burger 🍔 and you will stay here to live 😀

Really cute place visually. I ordered: 1 cold brew, it was good 1 pastrami bfast Sammie - I never like brioche for the bread because it’s so bready. Basically I think it needed more grease because of the bread choice. The other option was a bagel again not a fan for a sandwich. Also too much egg but to each their own. It was beautiful The cookies are good, coffees are good

Awesome little coffee shop. Very friendly and courteous baristas. Made me a great Americanojust the way I like it. Quad shot large is $5.55. Will definitely stop again if in the area again!

I went for a pick up, the food is fine the coffee is good but the real reason you wanna go there is the friendly staff and the lovely feeling you have sitting there , the atmosphere is amazing and definitely worth a sit down. I had the breakfast sandwich and the coffee and they were good on the go

This place was a little busy, but they were able to get to use rather quickly. I ordered the espresso, the pimento cheese bread, and the bagel with cream cheese. Everything tasted great, and the service was good. The atmosphere was calm and I loved the music choice, very chill j-pop with some indie mixed in. The bathrooms are all gender bathrooms and have a nice area to set stuff down in.

Prequel is my favorite coffee shop in all the lands! Their beverage menu is tasty and creative and I love all the rotating seasonal flavors; I'm so glad that brown sugar cardamom latte is here to stay, because it is coziness in a mug. I'm a huge fan of their homemade bagels and don't even get me STARTED on their homemade poptarts--a work of art. The staff is endlessly lovely and kind, and I adore all of the decor right down to the paint colors in the bathroom. Prequel, you're too good!!

A charming coffee shop with a colorful and aesthetic interior design. They offer a great selection of specialty lattes, and I was pleased with the quality of the pour-over I ordered. There are plenty of tables and bar seating available which make for a great spot for laptop working/studying.

Moved into the neighborhood in the summer, and Prequel has quickly become my go-to coffee shop. Their shop is beautiful with a good array of social/work spaces, great spot to work if you can snag something. Their drinks are spot on - ginger maple latte is my current rotation, looking forward to what they bring for winter. All their sandwiches are consistently great (breakfast sandwich is A+), and the pastries have a great balance of classics and fun, interesting options. But the biggest perk is their service - great team, especially the baristas, so friendly and efficient, nice to have a little oasis. Only wish they were open later during the week, but not a real issue :)

Was in the area for an appt and needed a spot to do some work. I ordered a cold brew and avocado toast. Both were good and it was nice to have the coffee served in a glass since I was staying. A good number of tables and many people working or conversing on a Friday afternoon. The front had a lot of light from the big windows. Staff was friendly. Will definitely be back when I'm in this area of town!

Stumbled into this place while looking for great service and a break from my norm, and it turned out to be a win. I ordered a pourover, and honestly, it was fire--dialed in and had this dark chocolate vibe. One of the best I've had in a minute. The space is perfect for getting some work done--bright lights, warm vibes, and cool art all around. The breakfast sandwich I got was amazing too, totally worth the wait. Definitely coming back whenever I'm in the area again. Five stars for sure!

Came to prequel cafe on a weekday morning to do some work with a friend and loved it! The ambience inside is bright, clean, comfortable and not too loud. The drinks themselves were great - not too sweet with lovely fall flavors, I could have definitely used a little more ginger in my drink but that's just personal preference. The staff were super friendly and helpful when choosing our coffee! Overall a lovely space in West Town and will definitely be back! Drink: 4.5/5 Price: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambience: 5/5

What a pleasant surprise this was! We actually came here because our go-to spot was closed, and we ended up getting really lucky because this place is a gem. I just ordered a simple drip coffee on just another Monday, and man I think it might've been my favorite drip coffee I've ever had. Tasted very much like dark chocolate. I've been wondering about it ever since! Not sure what it was or how they do it, but I really enjoyed it. The vibe & the decor is on point. They have some fun artwork around. Stayed to enjoy our coffee & play some cards and it was real comfortable. There were others getting some work done and chatting. Left with some breakfast sandwiches to go. I will say it's not cheap, and the sandwiches took a little while for them to make, but it certainly is delicious. Breakfast deluxe sandwich was awesome. A breakfast sandwich with pastrami & other goodness is great! I wasn't expecting to be blown away like I was. Maybe someday when we're in town we'll be back for another drip!

Really cute place visually. I ordered: 1 cold brew, it was good 1 pastrami bfast Sammie - I never like brioche for the bread because it's so bready. Basically I think it needed more grease because of the bread choice. The other option was a bagel again not a fan for a sandwich. Also too much egg but to each their own. It was beautiful The cookies are good, coffees are good

It is a cute little place for wfh! There is more seating than usual for coffee shops. The music is a bit loud to be productive. But I enjoyed my drink (iced honey hazelnut latte) & the breakfast sandwich (especially because it had spicy mayo) but the sandwich is probably not worth the $10.

I normally just order a cup of brew but the brown sugar cardamom latte just called to me. Thank goodness because it was super yummy. The cafe is also super cute. What a nice neighborhood cafe!

I love a vanilla latte and Prequel came through! Great vibe to work remotely in, but a little small so get there early if you want a place to work at for the day. Barista was very talkative and kind and incredibly knowledgeable on the menu.

This place is a gem! I didn't intentionally mean to stop by but came across it and remembered I saved Prequel Cafe in my bookmarks. It's really cute, and there's lots of seating. They also have a lot of pastries if you're hungry for food. I asked the barista for a healthier milk alternative, and he was extremely helpful and even brought out his milk cartons to compare the nutrition facts. I really appreciated that gesture. I ordered a signature lavender latte, and it was super yummy. It had the perfect creaminess and strong coffee flavor, and the lavender tasted delicious as well. I highly recommend this cafe! It seems like a cute spot to study or to have a date in too.

Love the vibe of this place! So colorful and open, but even more importantly, the coffee drinks are really good! Friendly service and it's just a round the corner for me so I'll definitely be back!

Cute coffee spot in Ukrainian village, new and clean, relaxed staff. Reasonable prices too! I had the mocha and it was delicious.

Very cute coffee shop. There isn't very much seating and one area is a sort of standing floating bar. But the coffee was good and the seasonal mulled apple cider was incredible. There is a small selection of baked goods and food. Service was quick and attentive. A very cute neighborhood spot.

Update on my previous review. My latte was again delicious. This time I ordered the veggie quiche. It was perfection. The melt in your mouth crust, perfectly seasoned egg mixture, the roasted vegetables, all perfect.

Cute little coffee shop in an area that needs more coffee shops. I got the breakfast sandwich which was loaded and huge. Coffee was great, but very very pricey.

Was only there for a quick second. I ordered the sparkling Yuku lemonade, it was incredibly refreshing. The space is very bright and decorated very cutely. It's only flaw that it was so hot out and when you walk in, the temperature is practically the same inside. I'll come back in the fall to try their food menu.

Coffee: ok, tasty but way to milky in lattes. Service: terrible- tall guy working there has massive attitude. Saw him scold a customer for bringing their dog in (fine, you're allowed to not allow dogs). Instead of a polite-I'm sorry, we unfortunately do not allow non service animals inside, the man just went "you CANT bring your dog in here" plain rude. Also overhead him scold another customer for trying to snack on an outside sand-which after buying several coffees. Again, I understand having a no outside food policy. But do NOT scold your customers. A simple, "I'm sorry- even with a purchase we don't allow outside food for for safety purposes" would do worlds better. There are other good coffee shops with nicer people. Don't give your money to these cops.

We were visiting Chicago for work a few months ago and after seeing the crazy line for Kasama, we decided to walk over to Prequel for coffee and breakfast. I can't remember our servers name, but he was super friendly and provided excellent customer service. The avocado toast was the most Californian thing we could've ordered, but a taste of home was comforting and also nice and light. The lattes were delicious and hot. I would come back go Prequel for sure.

Wow, surprised and delighted by the breakfast sandwich! I didn't look at the ingredients and was pleasantly surprised to see a slice of pastrami on the egg sandwich. Different and a great flavor for breakfast sandwich. Really nice change of pace from the standard bacon or sausage. Cold brew is good too.

I am gosh glad I stumbled upon this adorable little cafe this afternoon! When I finished a workshop at Flowers for Dreams a few blocks away, I wanted to get a quick bite since I hadn't eaten today. Prequel has a handful of tables, and based upon the number of folks in the cafe with their laptops open (which was actually almost everyone; five tables, five open laptops) it must be a good place to work. It was quiet so I could totally see it. They also have a long counter like you'd see at a bar, and a comfy looking sofa near the front windows. I got a mulled cider (I assume they must sell a chai latte, my go-to, but what's fall without cider?) and a breakfast sandwich. The sandwich was actually quite good, which I admit I wasn't expecting when I saw the square of egg that was on it--I looked at it and thought, this is going to taste funny. But it was good and I'm not sure what the sauce was that was on it; not really sure I could taste it all that much, to be honest, but it wasn't bad. I also got a cinnamon roll for my partner (I tasted a bit, and it was ok) and a smoked maple brittle bar by Terroir, a small company in Minnesota. I hadn't heard of them before but they will be stocking stuffers for my chocolate-loving mama this year! I wish that Prequel was closer, but I very rarely get to West Town; I've probably been to Pullman more times than I've been there. However, I expect that I'll attend more workshops and/or pick up at Flowers for Dreams, so at least I know my cafe of choice in the area. They have two all-gender bathrooms. Parking is street only and it can be pretty chancy, but I was able to find a paid parking spot around the corner on Damen. If you find parking on Chicago, maybe consider buying a lottery ticket.

My favorite coffee shop in the neighborhood. Quality drinks and homemade pastries with a lovely, vibrant atmosphere.

Cute little cafe. I'm usually a black coffee fan, but I wasn't impressed with their house blend. Instead, the espresso was way better, so I would go that route. The shop itself is on the smaller side with several tables nearby power outlets, so not a bad place to set up if you're in for a long morning. Love the natural light the windows let-in. Really friendly staff!

This is my favorite cafe in Chicago. They always have the best music playing and the staff is very friendly. What I love most about this spot is that every beverage is created with love. Seriously, I've never had a bad drink here. I can tell they put a lot of effort and thought into creating tasty elevated coffee.

Makes for a good study or reading space. Limited menu but fitting for the space. Friendly service even in the early AM.

They have the best coffee I have ever tasted. They roast and grind in house. Their Latin Pastries are epically delicious. The service is so friendly.

Stopped in for a breakfast sandwich and a coffee and enjoyed it! Next time we'll add a pastry, they looked tasty! The breakfast sandwich was really good, definitely get it with bacon. The pepper jam is a fun sweet tasty addition. I would say the lattes were just ok!

Quick service, good coffee, and friendly staff. It's easy to stop in and get an order to go, but there's also plenty of seating and a good soundtrack if you want to stay.

this is gonna sound a bit pretentious but whatever. i try to go to a new cafe at least twice a month, and this is the first time this year ive had a properly made cappuccino. chicago's got no shortage of good cafes for latte lovers, but i was about ready to give up on my beloved capp. also had a pretty great mango/raspberry (definitely raspberry, a little foggy on if it was mango or not) pastry! finally, and perhaps most importantly, the baristas were both INCREDIBLY nice. i felt much more comfortable sitting in with my drink than i have other places. maybe because it was a saturday, but it just didn't have that "GO!GO!GO!" vibe a lot of places have. would recommend, would return :)

I love Prequel. They have a thoughtful, friendly staff. They're drinks are spot on, both hot and cold. There is a wonderful minimalist vibe inside, and in a way that is warm and inviting. The thing that really stands above all else (and I mean ALL else) is the in-house baked goods. They are *next level*. I cannot stress this enough. Goat cheese-cherry tomato scones, roasted corn/sesame seed/green onion focaccia, strawberry rhubarb oat bars - all made in house, and all absolutely incredible. The baked goods seem to slowly rotate, and everything new seems to be better than what I had last. Don't sleep on Prequel!

Prequel just opened near Chicago & Damen and it already has tons of character. Right now they're just doing to-go and requiring masks. They have a standard drink list and homemade pastries that look incredible. Iced latte and cappuccino were great and so was the coffee cake. Can't wait to try the quiche and other goodies.

Prequel is a gem, and a welcome addition! Atomix may have lasted 19 years but they definitely stopped enjoying themselves about halfway through. Thoughtful food and delicious coffee make my world go around.

Really happy to see this place up and running again. Good coffee and very tasty pastries/baked goods!

Prequel has the best latte in Chicago. I would have the brown sugar cardamom latte every day if I could. I love to try all their different flavored scones and pastries since they rotate them. There hasn't been a single one I've disliked. Highly recommend!

This is my favorite cafe in the West Town neighborhood, maybe even in Chicago. 100% my favorite vanilla latte because of their very high quality and unique espresso. The pastries are also always delightful as well as the very sweet baristas. I love coming here to study because of the calm vibes and beautiful windows. 10/10 recommend!

wonderful little cafe with creative drinks and homemade pastries. Owners are there often which gives it a homey touch. Highly recommend!

Great coffee! And really cute, bright space. Our barista was very friendly. Definitely recommend - we'll definitely be back :)

Had a great oatmilk latte here! I love their esthetic and simplicity. Very very cute inside and inviting. I just wish they opened at 6am so I could get coffee on my commute to work - it is right near the Chicago & Damen bus stop. That would make this place perfect!

A true cafe bar. Everything made from scratch in house, including pastries and breakfast sandwiches (homemade bread). Owners always there so personal touch. Great coffee and lattes. Special latte ingredients also made from scratch. Truly unique!!

i got a latte and it just tasted like straight milk. if u charge 6$ you should be able to taste the espresso. maybe put it in a smaller cup.

Cool spot! Very friendly baristas! Chill interior. I will definitely be back. Loved my matcha latte with oat milk!

We've spent the last 5 nights in an airbnb across the street from Prequal. Every morning we have been delighted with with their coffee and all of the pastries. The blueberry scones, citrus poppy seed cake, banoffee broche and breakfast sandwich bring great gastronomical joy to accompany the coffee experience. Will miss them when we leave today. .Plus the staff is friendly and accomodating..

Really nice people and nice interior , but honestly some of the blandest coffee I've had. Coffee fruit flavored water