05/24/08

I want my Filter back!!!

by Irrotc

Filter was the most awesome-ist place. The bank that now reside in its place was soooo unnecessary and completely out of place in that area.

04/22/08

The most missed hang out in wicker park

by divsky22

Bring back Filter! or something like. Did we really need another bank in the neighborhood???

We are short on coffee shops....and a filter-like atmosphere is what we need.

• Pros: Come back.
• Cons: It's gone

01/25/08

CLOSED

by bpharri1

This place was torn down months ago and replaced with a bank. It was great. Stupid capitalism. darn.

• Cons: it closed

05/20/05

Good for Wicker Park, not the best in the City

by newmail5456

This cafe has its character, and that character is a little too grunge for me. It fits its neighborhood perfectly however. The coffee is not sensational, it's coffee. They have lots of food to choose from, which is a definite plus. The lighting concept is weak though. There are too dark spots, and there are spots with too strong overhead lighting. The place is also not brand new and that shows. Overall, good to hang out, but not the best.

05/14/05

Not Starbucks, Woohoo!

by nil8me

If smoke bugs you a lot then stay away...if you're tolerant, read on :-)

The menu is unique and not too expensive. Quite a bit of vegetarian food and alternative choices like Sweet Potato fries. Their drip coffee is fair, espresso standard and they have a variety of smoothies and even Bubble Tea.

The ambiance is average with tables a bit close but the variety of people there are nice. They do keep the music a bit louder at times and I wonder if they do that to keep out the business people who like to hold conference calls. If so, I appreciate it. The people are a good variety. Artistic, crazy, bland, punk, etc. Overall, the employees and the patrons are real and don't have the Starbucks cookie-cutter smile and greeting. A nice change in my opinion.

If you're open and like diversity give this place a try.

• Pros: Wi-Fi / Outlets, Food/Drink Quality, Diversity
• Cons: Smokey, Closer Quarters

10/31/03

Flooded with natural light, this Wicker Park coffeehouse is perfect for sipping coffee while tapping away on your iBook.

by Contributor

In Short
This coffeehouse is as bustling as the intersection of Damen, North and Milwaukee where it resides. Students, professionals and artists wind down or gear up amid vintage earth-toned velour couches and post-industrial khaki green walls, with light flooding in two walls of windows. The menu is loaded with semi-healthy, hip cafe grub: chicken wraps, spinach salads, sweet potato fries and pesto sandwiches. A full breakfast menu is also offered. Efficient servers range from cheery to blasé.

• Pros: convenient locationinternet access
• Cons: loud

08/01/03

Smoky, But Wireless Internet Available

by pixy_stix

Filter is close by, it has inexpensive wireless internet available (good if you need to get out of the house), and the food is pretty good. The one problem I have is that it is smoky! But, if you sit in the non-smoking side it isn't so bad. Too bad that the non-smoking side doesn't have the comfy couches! On the plus side, they don't mind if you sit there for hours as long as you've purchased something.

• Pros: Wireless Internet, Comfy Couches
• Cons: Smoky

03/10/03

Horrible Cigarette Smoke

by abigailthorne

Horrible Cigarette Smoke!!!!

While the location and food are great, the cigarette smoke is absolutely awful. I think because Starbucks and Caribou forbids smoking, every chain smoker in Chicago flocks to Filter. The density of the smoke is worse than that in a bar. After just a few hours, your clothes will reek of cigarette smoke.

After banning smoking, management should invest in a few rugs to cover the cement floors.

Other than that, the location cant be beat corner of Milwaukee, Damen, and North Avenue. The food is good and the staff is friendly. Lastly, they have wireless Internet so you can bring your own laptop and get connected.

• Pros: Good Food, Wireless Internet, Great Location
• Cons: Smoking, Cigarette Smoke, Cement Floors