New Wave Coffee

I have been a patron for many years. I have many food allergies so I was elated when I found a coffee shop with a vegan sandwich option. It is always super full with the chickpea blend. Unfortunately, on at least two occasions now, there has been barely any salad. I made sure to tip because the service is great, but spending $14 and getting bread and arugula is insane.

The coffee was really good it had a lot of flavor! I got the cold brew with caramel. Be ready for a long line though and minimal seating! It’s in a good location close to the farmers market. The bathroom has a ton of graffiti that is fun to read haha

There is a good selection of coffee and specialty lattes available at New Wave Coffee. The plenty of seating makes it perfect for those looking to settle in for work or hanging out with friends. The ambiance gives off an artsy vibe, which I find quite enjoyable while spending time here working.

Lots of seating — love how roomy it is! Wish there was a loyalty program.

Really good. Their coffee is on the stronger side but a splash or two of simple syrup smooths it out. They have decaf, plant-based milks, candles, roasts to go, large open seating area indoors and outdoors, and a really cool/gritty styled bathroom. I recommend.

The 1st question I asked was "do you have any sugar free options" she said no. That was disappointing as a diabetic. They did have Splenda. The place is very spacious. Comfy chairs and long tables. It looked like a lot of people on their laptops and working. The staff was not friendly at all. No welcome in or when I was leaving have a great day. Very mellow chill vibe. My large iced coffee with room to pour my own cream and put my own Splenda in was $5.95. The coffee in my opinion was not my favorite. The person next to me got an apple cider that looked good. I will have to try next time .

Good coffee - but 2 iced vanilla oat milk lattes are $16.59 and I think they should at least list out (maybe legally required?) the up-charge for both oat milk (now often the same as whole) and syrup on the menu. The price would be more palatable if they were served in non-generic plastic cups too.

Very large coffee shop. Busy usually. Several options to buy excellent coffee beans and over great service

I have been a patron for many years. I have many food allergies so I was elated when I found a coffee shop with a vegan sandwich option. It is always super full with the chickpea blend. Unfortunately, on at least two occasions now, there has been barely any salad. I made sure to tip because the service is great, but spending $14 and getting bread and arugula is insane.

The coffee was really good it had a lot of flavor! I got the cold brew with caramel. Be ready for a long line though and minimal seating! It’s in a good location close to the farmers market. The bathroom has a ton of graffiti that is fun to read haha

There is a good selection of coffee and specialty lattes available at New Wave Coffee. The plenty of seating makes it perfect for those looking to settle in for work or hanging out with friends. The ambiance gives off an artsy vibe, which I find quite enjoyable while spending time here working.

Lots of seating — love how roomy it is! Wish there was a loyalty program.

Really good. Their coffee is on the stronger side but a splash or two of simple syrup smooths it out. They have decaf, plant-based milks, candles, roasts to go, large open seating area indoors and outdoors, and a really cool/gritty styled bathroom. I recommend.

The 1st question I asked was "do you have any sugar free options" she said no. That was disappointing as a diabetic. They did have Splenda. The place is very spacious. Comfy chairs and long tables. It looked like a lot of people on their laptops and working. The staff was not friendly at all. No welcome in or when I was leaving have a great day. Very mellow chill vibe. My large iced coffee with room to pour my own cream and put my own Splenda in was $5.95. The coffee in my opinion was not my favorite. The person next to me got an apple cider that looked good. I will have to try next time .

Good coffee - but 2 iced vanilla oat milk lattes are $16.59 and I think they should at least list out (maybe legally required?) the up-charge for both oat milk (now often the same as whole) and syrup on the menu. The price would be more palatable if they were served in non-generic plastic cups too.

Very large coffee shop. Busy usually. Several options to buy excellent coffee beans and over great service

Really enjoyed this coffee shop - great cortados, lots of space inside and out, good place to work from as well.

This used to be a great place to hang out. Their Ice Mocha used to have a nice kick to it. Now its trash and you gotta wake up at the crack in order to spend any time there. Im not a fan of their post COVID Hours. I was politely told to get the Fuck out at 3pm the other day. Nobody else in the area does this. Covid is Over. Thanks.

Came during the farmers market and waited in line for 15 mins to order and another 6 mins to get the drinks. Very busy coffee shop. Service was good. Coffee was ok. The cortado was finished beautifully even though there were so many orders (really appreciated the baristas' attention to detail) and tasted smooth but we didn't like the espresso base that tasted a bit over-extracted. The cold brew was nothing special and on the lighter taste side.

Enjoyed this cafe when I was checking out the farmers market in Logan square. The environment and menu was very simple and to the point without any frills. Can't go wrong with simplicity. If I'm in the area, I'll stop by, but not a place to go out of the way for.

Good old favorite Logan Square coffee shop where the coffee is more like an afterthought. It's big, spacious, and brings in a diverse group. New Wave is a great place for doing work. Always plenty of room and outlets for laptops and devices. The coffee itself is about the least interesting thing about it. A coffee shop is more than about coffee. It's also about the comfort and feel. This is such a place that has these. For sure the coffee isn't the best around but it's not bad. Serious, it can even be pretty good, but it seems people care more about the coffee shop itself than the coffee products. It's about $3.50 a cup. There's oat milk and raw sugar you can pour in yourself. A nice touch. Get however much you want instead of a barista giving a dribble of milk or whatever. Almost no food, but about $1 for apples. There's also a few pastries like donuts and muffins. Chill place to get stuff finished. It has plenty of outlets. The furniture is worn out but comfortable, though I wouldn't sleep on these things.

I have been frequenting this coffee shop for 10 years, and I miss when they served food with cute names named after new wave and 80s groups. Now, it's become more of a serious coffee joint, which is fine, but I don't feel the name makes sense anymore. Coffee is great, and the ambiance is great. Lots of outdoor seating too, which is lovely in the spring and the summer. A great place to caffeinate before hitting Wolfbait or City Lit Books.

The way coffee should be...simple and actually poured right. I was so happy to find this place. We are just visiting here for the first time and we are not disappointed. So this place was an absolute gem and we will surely be back!

Came here to pick up coffee during the farmers market. Got an iced coffee with almond milk and honestly it was just OK. They make you get the larger size if u want iced coffee and they charge for alternative milk. This was $5.26 which to me wasn't worth it. Overall pretty mid.

Pretty cool place to write and chill out! It's very comfy and spacious. The environment is relaxed and upbeat, but not too chaotic or loud. Service is prompt and friendly. Their tea tastes great. I only lament they do not serve much in the way of casual cafe food. The cafe has a great balance of large groups like a writers' group I joined up with, and some young professionals and artists working on their projects.

I wish this place had better reviews!! They deserve a 5. We got the hot honey cinnamon latte and a lavender and vanilla matcha. Everything was great! The vibes inside look amazing too we just got to go though

So, it's no secret, I think, that Chicago has a bathroom availability problem. Restaurants will sell you food and drink, but then not let you use the bathroom. 'To some, that's irresponsible.' They're basically asking for public urination. I feel really sorry for the women, in that regard. We all know about the Starbucks bathroom controversy, so I don't even go there. One of the first things I noticed about New Wave was their glorious, multi-stall bathrooms, open to the public, and they didn't seem to care if non-customers use them. I purchased a small mocha, anyway. What a respite for the bloated, over-served tourist! I noticed cool music, and attractive patrons, too.

A bit disappointed in this one. They need to update all media. The no longer sell sandwiches. They did have donuts and bagels. I ordered a vanilla latte. It was okay, but I couldn't really taste the vanilla. I would stop for a coffee when in the area, but that's about it. Nothing to write home about.

Chill coffee shop in Logan square, plenty of seating and good place to hang out or do some work. They serve halfwit coffee. On Saturday's they close at 4pm.

I was in logan square and decided to check this place out! It's a very laid back and chill coffee shop! There were people getting work done and just chilling/hanging out with their friends! A younger crowd (20s-30s). It reminded me a little of the Friends Central Perk coffee shop!! Had I lived in Logan, I would have made sure this coffee shop was one of the hangout places with my friends. The place is very spacious! I had the caramel latte and it was pretty good! Didn't get a chance to checkout anything else on the menu though. Hopefully the next time I'm around the area I'll have time to check out something else on the menu!

Roasted: highly disappointing. I can get over the decor and the coffee shop not being clean - those things I can forgive but what I can't forgive is bad coffee. The latte I ordered (which they did have sugar free options) was not drinkable. The espresso was horrible - it was extremely tart and sour - my guess is it was wildly under extracted causing it to ruin the latte. I can't remember the last time I was unable to even drink a latte I ordered. The sign by the bar said today's espresso was dollap - which I've had before and enjoyed. Beautiful latte art and for here mugs gives this a 2 Star. Unfortunately this will not be a place I return. Unroasted: this place reminds me of walking in to your friends basement apartment unannounced. It's has cheap linoleum old side of the road furniture. It's dingy grudge and sells coffee. I ordered my usual latte and received it in a mug with fantastic art! The staff was friendly and plenty of seating. Now the bad my coffee was not good at all. Undrinkable! One of the worst I've had. I have no idea how it got so bad but no thanks. I swear I was drinking the bottom of a vanilla mcd milkshake. Sorry new wave no amount of sugar can help me drink this.

Living in Logan Square is gold if you're a coffee snob like me because you're surrounded by some of the best spots in the city to drink it. New Wave Coffee is one of those spots everyone should stop by once for an espresso shot or cold brew, at the least. I like to snag a couch and post up with my laptop here while sipping on an iced chai tea latte or cortado. I also gravitate here due to the yummy sandwiches you can't find at other shops that don't focus on food as much. Baristas are your friendly neighborhood hipsters. Skip Starbucks and get your fix here.

This is a great place to get coffee and hunker down to write. Seriously, the place is packed with people on laptops. And the space is actually pretty big so that should give you an idea of what a writer's paradise this is. They have tons of tables (individual and shared), plenty of outlets, great music, and of course, free wifi. The service is friendly. There's a very chill vibe here overall. People seem low key and unpretentious. Lots of windows and light. It's just a really pleasant atmosphere to get some work done. And, if you're hungry, they have food too! I was getting fairly distracted with all the lovely smells in the air. They have a grilled cheese that I had my eye on and will probably try one of these days. One thing to note: I found the chai to be pretty strong and actually got a little jittery drinking it. I'm a little sensitive to caffeine though so that might have just been me. I got a lot of writing done here and was feeling really creative and happy when I left. I can't wait to return and get some more writing down... and of course, that sandwich!

My go to whilst in the square. Delicious house made chai latte's with oat milk. The cold brew is great. I enjoyed chatting with the baristas. There are tables on the Logan Blvd side to sip and enjoy the outdoor air. No indoor seating. A great place.

This place is great they have amazing bagels and coffee cool vibe. The only problem is most of the time I come at around 10 am and they are already sold out of bagels y'all are open for hours still why not just order more bagels???

Had the most watered down chai I've ever tasted for $5.75! I should of just walked to 4LW on Diversey where they actually know how to craft an in house chai. Years ago this place use to have a Hail Mary which is just an odd decision for a name to call a dirty chai. Won't ever bother with new wave for a chai again.

New Wave in Logan Square opens late enough (until 10pm). Often times Rosa J. wants her coffee fix after dinner, so hanging out at NW is an excuse for not going home early. While Mama J. was wondering where her daughter was at, Rosa J. and hubby were chilling at the Hipsterville. I have to admit that the coffee here is just alright, even though Metropolis is their choice of coffee beans. I could have ordered a regular drip coffee, but I shouted out "honey cinnamon latte" instead. I didn't regret that decision, but it was literally dessert for me in a coffee form. The free wifi worked the entire duration of our stay, so there wasn't a reason to render less than a three (3)-star rating. The hipster baristas were friendly to us, or I should say we didn't do anything to upset them. For the convenience (near the CTA Logan Square Blue Line station) and hours that work for me, that's worth four (4) stars in my book.

Cool coffee shop in Logan Square. Very spacious so lots of room to move around. Staff is extremely friendly and coffee is great!

Nice space. Plenty of chairs, sofas and tables for any size crowd. I was there during the middle of a weekday so it was not packed at all. I enjoyed my honey cinnamon latte (along with the latte art). I'll come back when I have a taste for coffee whenever I'm in the area.

Love you guys and come here often. My only request is please send more Chocolate Chip Scones from the Bakeshop! Lately, if I arrive any time after 12:30 you are out. On a Saturday or Sunday, forget it, there's not a chocolate scone in sight. When I asked your super awesome barista to pass on the message she said that you "try" to run out which made me think she won't be adding my request to the suggestion box. And for the record, I get it, I get it, this is a business and no one wants to throw away perfectly good scones but let's be real - who actually likes Orange Currant as much as Chocolate Chip?? No one. Plus is just looks like chocolate chip but less good which is really disappointing. Love you as ever, but hoping you'll send more chocolate scones!! Love, I Don't Want to Go to Scone City

I've been holding out on writing a review but my Mega Mocha tastes like watered down hot chocolate. I've been coming to New Wave for over a year (moved to Logan Square in 2017) and the first couple of times here where awesome. The first issue happened 6 months ago. I ordered a double shot espresso (it was good) and I am pretty sure it was a single. I asked the barista and she reassured me it was a double... She offered to give me another one for free but I declined because my order wasn't wrong. I dont like to take advantage of those situations. Today though... I ordered a mega nutella mocha and a cinnamon latte. They both taste watered down and for a 16 oz latte it was $5. Starbucks is better and cheaper. It sucks because I really like New Wave's location and it was nice to go there for work. Unfortunately, I will have to go to a different Cafe... Also, I heard that they were bought out by a bigger conglomerate which would explain the higher price and lower quality coffee.

Awesome coffee shop in Logan Square! The coffee was super hot and great! I would write more in this review but I think this one will entertain you way more... Read Candice's instead.. http://www.yelp.com/biz/new-wave-coffee-chicago?hrid=4LcU8f6LRJFX7d0sY57x6Q Cause it's pretty amazing! But for me, I dug the place, was only in and out but it's a really big coffee shop with lots of tables and most importantly OUTLETS!!!

I just stopped into New Wave to grab a coffee before a meeting. I was craving a latte and because it was the first coffee shop I saw and it was crazy busy, I figured it would be the best place. The ambiance is very fun. There were lots of people, it was loud and it seemed like a good place to get together and hangout with people. The staff was super nice. The cashier bonded with me over getting our wallets stolen. The service was fast and they delivered me the right thing, which never happens so that was great! I prepared my latte the way I always would, and went on my merry way. Unfortunately, when I sipped the coffee it tasted more like milk than espresso. The ratio was off and I just really didn't enjoy it. Would I be back? Maybe to try one of their good looking sandwiches, but not another coffee.

Good coffee, friendly staff and just a pleasant place to hangout and read or work. I go here often and would recommend it to anyone. And with regard to it being dirty, it isn't. It's a hodgepodge of furniture. Kind of like hanging in a friend's basement. And they clean the bathrooms all the time. I swear one out of 3 times I'm here, I can't get into to the bathroom because they have that traffic coney thing outside barring admittance because they're doing a mid day cleaning of the cleaning in there. New Wave definitely won't win an award for interior design, but the friendly staff and good product keep me coming back. If your looking for a place to frame your next Instagram post with some cool (wow! Aren't I cool!) interior designed background, this isn't the place for you. Stay away, you folks annoy the f#ck out of me.

Logan Squares OG coffee shop! There's a lot of competition for the best coffee shops but I think this place should run supreme! Has original coffee shop vibes and the food! Gosh don't get me started so yum! Good for on the go to! The bagels are great and new wave doesn't skimp on the cream cheese! Lastly the coffee will have you actually liking forward to work! Latte approved! Thanks friendly staff for making this LGBTQ guy have a safe space.

Neighborhood coffee shop in Logan Square. What it lacks in vibe it makes up for in friendliness; though the furniture is not sparkling new, the baristas were super nice. My nutella latte was appropriately decadent, though a bit pricey. Do note that on farmer's market days they set out a to-go tent outside.

Love the food, the coffee, the wide space + outlet availability. Amazing. Had a great flat white. Good biscuits. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is due to service. While they were both very nice, the barista completely finished every previous espresso drink as he got them before taking my order (compared to the normal practice to take the next few orders in line so you can be efficient in your espresso pulls). Again, not a huge deal in the long run, but the memory of time passing, like cold and thick molasses, as I watch each, slow, careful thump of the single espresso shots being emptied, each slow (but perfect) rosetta form in the foam, living with the knowledge​ of how much the owner of that Rosetta​ will enjoy their drink before I​ can even enjoy the satisfaction of expecting my own, it stays with a person!

I stopped in after going to the Logans Square Farmers market the other day. It was very busy, with most of the tables taken, but given its large space i am sure a table would have opened up shortly. I got an iced Americano that was pretty decent. I didn't sample the food, so i can't comment on that. The people behind the counter were friendly, but no overly friendly. The drink took a reasonable amount of time. The place had some character, but also looked a bit unkempt. All in all, I'd say the place fits the neighborhood...

The coffee was very nice, not exceptional, but I was completely satisfied. Also, there is a lot of space and tons of seating. Personally, I just don't relate to the vibe here of "worn down and ugly is cool." It seems like old (dirty) furniture. But that's the personality, and they have nailed it, but that's doesn't speak to me.

Okay, so, if you're not taking care of the front of the house, what are you doing back of the house. I was overwhelmed with disgust when I walked into this coffee shop. The furniture is run down and dirty. I honestly did not want to sit anywhere for fear of bed bugs and everything under the sun. But I did anyway. I ordered a chai latte, which was fine. But as I sat trying to enjoy my beverage, I just couldn't. There was dust build up EVERYWHERE and in one corner there was a SOCK! A godddang SOCK with a shot ton of dust on it...like its been sitting there for ages! I obviously could not finish my drink and you couldn't pay me to order anything to eat here.

The coffee here is good. In particular they make a good soy latte, which is difficult. The problem is on cold winter days they don't set the temperature high enough, and it's cold inside. It's kind of always cold. The cold combined with the doors opening and closing means that it's really not somewhere you can stay for very long. Plus, the furniture is steel and other kinds of metal that are additionally cold. This is just not a good winter hang out. I'm updating this in summer of 2018. This place must be making money. They have updated the signage that's now professional looking. Unfortunately, the faucet in the bathroom necessitates holding it on with one hand constantly. This means you can never actually wash your hands. Plus, there is never paper towel to dry your hands. Basic hygiene is lacking.

I love this place. It is one of my top study/work place choices. They have plenty space, a lot of plug-ins, tasteful drinks and good sandwiches. But I have to take one star out since when the summer comes, this place should not be called NEW WAVE COFFEE but NEW WAVE REFRIGERATOR.

I recently moved away from Chicago and I'll really miss this place. I was worried that COVID-19 would be the end of them, but they miraculously reopened and replaced the floors! I miss the slightly grungy feel of the Linoleum floors, but I get it. Gotta make your coffee shops look nice this days. Thee baristas are always friendly, and coffee is good, and the sandwiches hit the spot when you need a simple meal while working.

The amount of space that this Coffee Shop has to offer is incredible. This is the kind of place you enter and you will not want to leave for quite some time. The atmosphere encourages relaxation and to focus on whatever task you have on hand in front of you from your personal devices. What Shall You Find Here: 1. Comfy Couches 2. A Variety of Teas 3. A Variety of Coffees 4. Sandwiches 5. Fresh Lemonade 6. Baked Goodies 7. Free Wi-Fi I grabbed a Cozy Chamomile Tea while I was in here. I just remember feeling like I just want to grab a blanket and explore all my options, as I enjoy this intrinsic vibe.

Stop in on my break I ordered their turkey sandwich through ritual and the sandwich blew me away. I got it on a baguette fresh and toasted all the ingredients were fresh including the avocado, it was nice and green. I noticed they have good space, nice crowd, good food, this is the place to go for sandwiches definitely fresh is the key. Will be back on my brakes since I work close by.

I like this place for it is location, great people watching spot, close to Palmer Park, and that you can sit here for hours without being bothered. During the summer and fall they have Farmer's market on the weekends which is nice. But any other times-- The food is meh at best The coffee...not sure that is what I am drinking The staff is just there, not friendly, not rude. Just present. I agree with John C.'s review on this part The ambiance is typical hodge podge of seats , chairs, sofas and tables- nothing special They do have a print-by-the-page which is nice if you don't have a printer and/or want to trek to a FedEx/ Kinkos to print out.

Plenty of seating. Wi-fi. Open late. Common coffee selections, menu and carb centric pastries. Pastry + Small Nutella = $9. Food selections $5-8. COFFEE -- Metropolis beans. Bottomless for $4.50 (ouch). NUTELLA MOCHA COFFEE -- balance. An alternative to the plain Mocha. Art Latte is default presentation. TEA -- Rishi.

New Wave was a regular stop pre COVID. I went here recently and while I missed some things I was very appreciative of their efficiency and attention to safety. They have a very limited menu and I really miss their bagels; however they have streamlined their service to ensure a quick and safe experience. All items are clearly marked and prices are shown. The sizes for both hot and cold drinks are displayed. There are reminders to wear a mask, don't touch anything, and no cash accepted. There is no leaning over the counter, grabbing straws or sugar, or using the restroom. I appreciate the clear guidelines. With that being said, service was still friendly and the drinks were tasty. I have no hesitation going there and look forward to the return of the pumpernickels bagels!

I don't know who owns New Wave now but they did not respect the atmosphere that it had cultivated for YEARS. I don't care if the coffee is good, or even if the coffee is BETTER. I will NEVER give them business again. Absolutely heartbroken.

Decent coffee, cool space. If I were still in college, I would've loved to come here and do work.

You remind me of the babe. What babe? The babe with the power. What power? The power of voodoo. Who do? You do. Do what? Remind me of the babe. This is gonna sound weird, but I swear.to.god I can remember both the smell and taste of breast milk from when I was a babe (with the power). And I can also say that their 'Get Well, Gertie' beverage of steamed milk and mint tea tasted pretty damn close to breast milk (sans the smell, though)... and I mean that in the absolute best way possible. I cuppa that sweet sauce and I went from ready to dance to ready to nap right on the table. It's not a strong or very flavorful drink and I generally despise the thought of milk or squishy cow udders for that matter, but as BIG fan of ET the Extraterrestrial and particularly any parts with kid sister Gertie, I had to have it and I'm glad I did. I felt like I was going to love NW based on everything I'd heard from friends and the fact that next to Go Kart music, New Wave is my absolute favorite. I was really hoping to hear some on my visit here, but now I'm thinking that the New Wave aspect really only has anything to do with the deco... which at the time included artwork from a local artist who appears to only paint silly pics of cats, which I am ALL about. I don't live in this area so I can't speak to how badly the neighborhood may need an independent coffee shop as others have mentioned, but I just feel like New Wave didn't live up to the hype for me. Every table and seat were full of people, but the library-brand quiet made it really awkward. That and the asshole who felt like it was okay to take his f*cking shoes off and lay horizontally across their full length couch with his hole-y socks and one knee up in the air like he's doing some sort of Playboy spread and then writhing his stupid legs around inside the couch cushions like he's f*cking Rick James or something. F*cking asshole. Other people are all around you, not only looking for a place to sit, but trying to drink open beverages and eat baked goods and they don't want your sour-socked feet stink getting all up in their air... or at least I don't. I don't know, man. Something about that dude acting like he lived there and everyone around him just being fine with it was a huge turn off, in addition to the astounding silence. I'm not going to rate them any lower because some of their costumers are jackoffasaurs, but I was let down in general. And I guess they took away the old Nintendo video games and stuff that they had- not that I ever would have chosen to play video games over dicking around on my phone, but I think having some sort of sound or interaction between people would have been nice to see. It just seemed like a place that looks like it'd have a lot more character and edge than it did on my experience. At least the beverages were good and surprisingly affordable for quality. I already mentioned the breast-milky 'Get well, Gertie', but I also sipped some of their seasonal cider, which was unexpectedly frothy and tasted really pure. Like, it made me think twice about when was the last time I'd eaten an actual apple, and make a mental memo do so in the near future... or at least purchase some high-quality cider such as New Waves. I'd for sure go back, probably with my laptop for a quiet work place and not a meeting spot or place to java up with a date, but I'm not in any hurry.

Logan Square desperately needed a place like New Wave Coffee. The neighborhood has attracted independent, creative-minded young folk in a rapid fashion for many years now. On my last visit I liked my Elvis Costello sandwich a lot and the hipster help is pretty friendly. I've been here a few times and have never had a problem w/ a drink order. The food is definitely on point for the price. New Wave is decorated with lots of great album covers, many of which I used to own. My former tastes are now Hipster Irony. Point taken! Nice mix of couch/comfy chair spaces with chair/table work spaces. And there's nice original art on display and for sale everywhere. One shortcoming here is they like to play the music loud, and even though I love the music that they play, it's way too loud even if you're just there to socialize. It doesn't have to be a library, but seriously, only Spinal Tap's amps should go to 11. I've heard lots of Missed Connections happen here and I wouldn't be surprised. All eyes were on me and every other person that stepped through the door (making me feel not so special afterward). So if you're looking for a Hipster Love Connection, you should be able to find it at New Wave in about 2 and 2!

It took me so long to actually get to New Wave from the time it opened that I'm surprised they didn't rename it in the meantime. I mean by this point shouldn't it be Old Wave or at least Middle Aged Wave? Anywave (er way) you slice it though, this cafe is a welcome addition to the area around Logan Square park. I'm not a coffee drinker, which is part of why I had never set foot inside. But it was nearing November (and therefore National Novel Writing Month) so I needed to find a place with wi-fi for my new netbook that was a) close to home and b) wasn't as noisy as the Logan Square Library. Little did I know when I wandered in the door just before Halloween that this would become a go-to, relatively quick, *restaurant* for me in such little time. The sandwiches here are 80s themed and delicious. They're slightly upscale ingredient wise for a coffee house but not too expensive. I've found myself just stopping in for a grilled cheese (less than $3.00) and some hot cider (more than $3.00 but worth it). And like Spinal Tap (though they were hardly New Wave), they go to 11. Only the 24 hour Mexican places and grill pubs on Milwaukee serve later. Now there are some issues here that I feel the need to wave at as they pass. These issues could easily constitute other possible names for this coffee shop; such as: Slow Wave: the ordering system here is chaotic to say the least. There has to be a better way to order food than the barista screaming across a crowded cafe when the meal is ready. Drag Wave: the wi-fi is free so who am I to argue but if you're looking to do something more advanced than just surfing the internet (i.e. downloading music), you're better off at the library. Speeds are actually faster at the CPL. Hipster Wave: I feel old and squarer than Logan no matter what time of day I'm there. Crowded Wave: seating can be hard to come by. It's interesting seating, a mish-mash of office furniture and incredibly comfy couches, if you can get it. Still the music is generally good (more punk and 80s than indie or pretentious), it's not too loud, and once you get a seat it's one of the more relaxing coffee restaurants out there. Now that I've finally caught this wave, I'm going to keep riding it for a while.

Great place to chill! I had a great time here; review would've been 5 stars but they were out of their gluten free treats by noon? Their chilled drinks are fantastic!

Could it be!?!?! The long awaited answer to Filter?! Maybe! Space is bright, vibrant, and yes, super 80s. It's like I'm drinking tasty coffee while the crazy colors of the Saved By the Bell opening credits whiz by me. Although the opening of a New Wave themed coffee house right now seems to be riding on the back-end of the nostalgia train, the place is very fun. Yes, they have a Nintendo set up. Yes, you could do a remote broadcast of Yo! MTV Raps here. Just a thought -- maybe it's time to do a grunge throwback? I see all the kids in W.P. are starting to raid their sibling's old flannel & thermals, and in truth, I don't think Candlebox ever really got the respect they deserved. Anyway, check the place out. Prices are VERY reasonable, there is 0 attitude (unlike Filter), and it's generally a very peppy, nice, open-floor type coffee place.