Oromo Cafe

Lovely coffee shop with Turkish influence. They make pistachio milk and have a pistachio rose latte that looked heavenly. For pastries, I went for the traditional baklava but if you’re feeling wild, then there’s a baklava carrot cake option for a unique twist. I recommend hanging out a little bit because the vibes, music and decor are pleasingly cozy. It’s also across the street from the (Tuesday AM and Thursday PM) Lincoln Square Farmer’s Market. You can order via the Toast app if you’re in a hurry. There’s a second Bucktown location if that’s closer.

Oromo Cafe is a touch of modern amongst the Turkish pot, kettle, and cup lined walls. Hazelnut brownie - shareable dessert, since one bite provides full hardiness of the dark chocolate fudgey flavor. Teff-almond butter cookie - not dry but can taste the teff flour giving it a powdery velvety taste full of almond. Oatmeal cranberry walnut cookie- maplely, coconuty, moist, and nutty - like a tasty protein cookie yet not overly sweet. Topping is decadent enough to tie the whole cookie together. Baklava with chocolate - First delightful bite is an ahhh moment. Well balanced chocolate and oil is mixed to perfection. Sahlep w/cinnamon - distinctive holiday flavor will make you walk outside in your Sandra Bullock sweater enjoying the luxurious drink in the autumn weather. Hot hazelnut horchata latte - Good blend of all the flavors, added caramel to better blend the flavors. I must come back and try more of the coffee variety and of course the desserts.

I haven’t been to Lincoln Square in some time and did a quick search for a cafe and ended up at Oromo. Great find! I settled in for a while to do some work, and it was a really warm and pleasant atmosphere. The design is lovely, the staff is friendly and welcoming. The cafe and pastries are excellent. I happened to leave my favorite water bottle there and realized it later. I called back and yep, they’d found it, took down my info, and said they’d hold onto it for me. Like a dummy I forgot about it for several weeks. I stopped in, fully expecting it to no longer be there, but when I sheepishly asked about the water bottle I left over a month ago, the barista noted with a smile, “Yep, the green water bottle. We still have it!” I love the story of the owner starting his own business after deciding pre-pharmacy school wasn’t what he wanted to devote his life to. Instead, he followed his passion for coffee and community and started his own business, a unique and flavorful take on the traditional Chicago coffee shop. I also love and applaud Oromo’s ethics: “At OROMO CAFE the purity of our ingredients and vitality of our customers is our top priority. Creativity. innovation, and originality are but a few words that characterize our craft lattes. We use house-made nut milks and nutrient-dense confections that are free of refined sugar, dairy, eggs, and gluten, as we aspire to support and nurture the health of your mind and body in new and exciting ways. With respect to ethically harvested organic ingredients and sustainable agriculture, we strongly advocate an environmentally friendly business model that preserves our Earth’s beauty and naturai resources. Our creations are prepared with love and passion for uniqueness, and inspired from an integration of globally diverse herbs, spices, and flavors. Bringing to our Earths complexity, we transcend the aditional coffee experience to bring CULTURE-CONSCIOUS COFFEE.” Love this place! ps-oh! and great music too! and (big deal for me): they allow well-behaved canine friends.