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Coffee and WIFI in Ravenswood
Log On, Chicago. Edition IV/ii
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Dolce Casa Cafe
(4 / 5)
Pros
- It’s got character. Lots of old wood. (No, that’s not grandpas on Viagra. I mean wood floors, trim, and cabinets.)
- It’s got its fair share of beards (No, that’s not Jennifer Garner…)
- Smells like a bakery. Whatever they’re baking here, it smells so good I can hardly stand it.
- Free street parking, including on Damen
Cons
They would like you to think they’re in Lincoln Square.
WIFI: Not memorable, which probably means good enough for a hot spot
Can you work or study here? Yes
Plugs: Can be a challenge. But hey, you might meet someone while you’re on your hands and knees, trying to wind your cord under a table and through a stranger’s legs, on your way to the nearest electrical outlet.
Public Restroom: Honestly don’t remember.
Dolce Casa is in Ravenswood, although, as evidenced by their homepage, they’d prefer to associate themselves with Lincoln Square. Who doesn’t love Ravenswood? Street Advisor (SA), that’s who. They rank it 23rd among Chicago neighborhoods, which isn’t bad … I’d say that puts it in the top 20% if I knew about things like math. SA ranks Lincoln Square 16th. That probably explains Dolce’s decision to align themselves with the latter. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that SA ranks Uptown 9th. Ninth? Ninth! But do you think you’re going to find Dolce saying, “Hey! We’re near Uptown!” No. And why not? Because SA obviously has no fucking idea what they’re talking about. According to SA, Uptown is four rankings higher Lincoln Park! If any of you unfortunate folks with property in Lincoln Park want to side with SA, and would like to upgrade to a condo near the very heart of what apparently makes Uptown so appealing, I will swap you. And I’ll throw in underground parking.
Now that I’ve got that off my chest, let me tell you that I like Dolce Casa. It has a little patio in back that is kind of charming in a make-shift kind of way. Inside, a moderately-sized area, and they’ve maxed what space there is for tables. Nice window up front.
Plenty of free street parking, including on Damen. In Ravenswood.
Lincoln Square
Lincoln Square is, like the Vatican, an independent island within another sovereign entity. In LS’s case, it’s Ravenswood. I’ll reserve reviews for Lincoln Square cafés, such as The Grind, for a LS post.
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Drop your panties at Dolce Casa Cafe
Dolce Casa is accessible via the Brown Line, if you don’t mind walking five blocks. And you shouldn’t mind, what’s wrong with you? The closest Divvy station is about that same distance. Since there’s free parking, though, and, let’s face it, it’s a remote location, no one would fault you for driving.
Other places to log on: Archer Heights, Boystown, Fulton River District, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Rogers Park, West Loop, Uptown
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