Robust Coffee Lounge

Robust is a great neighborhood cafe. It has a variety of hot and cold drinks and breakfast and lunch sandwiches. I really like getting their egg and cheese croissant for breakfast with a French vanilla latte - so good! This day I stopped in for lunch and tried the chicken salad sandwich on raisin toast. I prefer my chicken salad to have sweetness so this wasn't my fave sandwich but it was still pretty good. This is a great place to stop for breakfast or lunch if you're in the area. You can work from there also using their WiFi.P.S., I hadn't been here in a while and didn't know the WiFi information. I asked the man working on 7/2 around 1:30pm for the password. He just rudely pointed to the sign. This wasn't Richard who I've known from here for years. It was another person with dark hair and mustache. That wasn't very nice.

The Good. I have patronized this quirky coffee shop since the first day the doors opened and watched the business grow. They hire people from the community i believe to work their. Coffee preparation has gotten better.The Bad. Depending on the day, never know what personality will show. I visited today 7/31/24 at 11:30am. there was a long line as usual, a good sign. but as i waited 5 minutes before I ordered. I witness a man and a lady with braids to her derriere behind the counter. The WHOLE 5 minutes she scratches her scalp and stroke her braids and lift the braids to form a pony tail. then begins to stroke her braids again from one side of her shoulder to the next. They guy she was talking to is looking at me look at her. he says nothing. the manager says nothing. the lady at the register looks at me noticing the braid lady and looks back and raises her eyebrow. i raise mine. i begin to placed my order, a large white hot chocolate with coconut milk. but i had to run to the car for my money. I came back waited in line again and now the man that was talking to the braid lady was at the register. I ordered white hot chocolate, large with coconut milk. as he took my order he looked at me with distaste and aggravation. when my order came up i sipped before i walk out. i asked the manager, "is this a white hot chocolate"? she told me NO, 'You ordered a regular hot chocolate'. I said, 'no i didn't. as i began to explain she turned to him and said,' what did she order'? he said. ' a regular hot chocolate'. the manager turns to me and said,' maybe YOU made the mistake because he rang you up a hot chocolate because that what you ordered'. I attempt to explain again. the manager said, 'well, what do you want me to do about it'. i said, 'may i have what i ordered a white hot chocolate, its my favorite i know what i like'. the manger said, 'why don't you just drink it'. i said 'no'. she said, 'fine aggressively and took the hot chocolate and poured it in the sink. she said, 'so what do you want'. i said, 'a large white hot chocolate with coconut milk'. she made it drink and smacked the white hot chocolate on the counter. I said thank you and walked out not able to enjoy my drink. this upset my spirit.

The place has a really good ambiance and is truly a much needed third space for commuters and neighborhood folks. I do need to start taking pictures so that my proof is better with these reviews. Do get a breakfast sandwich. Do not touch the grits. Grainy soup!!!

I am writing this review as my second time going here and I think this place is so so. I do love the ambiance here, the music is great, there's enough seating. However, the staff isn't the nicest. I placed an order for an iced coffee and received a hot coffee and the barista got upset at me for the cashier's mistake. It was a very unprofessional experience, so I came back the second time to see if it would be better. The first time I tried an Iced Latte (which let's just say the coffee is BETTER than the food) and it was really flavorful. The breakfast sandwich was ok, it has a bit more bread than ingredients. My second time trying I went for the breakfast bowl and it was honestly nothing to rave over. Overall, I'd probably on go here for coffee. I'd like to try their smoothies next as well. Please go for your own experience!

FAV EVERYDAY SPOT - Robust is amazing breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They serves breakfast and lunch eats, and beverages. Teas, coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, bowls, pastries, and more. Right on the corner, surrounded by ample parking, and rays of natural sun light - Robust Coffee Lounge is situated in the perfect location. The service is amazing small but mighty team of knowledgeable Baristas. Always greeting you with pleasant energy no matter how long the line. It's a pretty popular spot, so the line tends to be long. So if you hate waiting, be sure to order ahead of time online. Love their Chair Tea, Elvis with Blueberries, Build Your Own Sandwich, and the Grits Bowl. I haven't tried the whole menus yet, but looking forward to it. They also have their own house blend that is absolutely divine, and you can add flavor shots of your choice. It's really nice how you can customize their items as needed. There is also ample seating space, and almost has the feel of Barnes and Noble or bookstores when they still had chairs in them. And on a good day, you maybe able to get a lesson or a game of chess in while you enjoy a cup of tea. Great location for a party of one or a party of ten. The food, vibes, and location - you will love it.

Probably the best value for money in the Hyde Park/Woodlawn area. I think they use Intelligentsia coffee, and it's pretty reasonably priced. Their breakfast is also pretty tasty and something that won't break the bank.They have a large seating area, with the front room a little more updated and modern and the back being a little more retro and frankly some of the booths do need a little work. But it's a super chill vibe that I can appreciate.

I love coming to Robust it's such a homey atmosphere and the people who work there are so friendly. The food is so good! It's a great space to get some work done also. It definitely has its peak times also so if you come at the wrong time, you could be waiting for about 20-30 minutes. Other than that, I would highly recommend this place to everyone.

The food is good, coffee too, but they let people sit inside with their dogs. This pit bull was clearly not a service animal. Health code violation, and very uncomfortable. Not coming back here.

The food was SUB PAR. The ambience was charming. The service was very good. The location is great. The quality of the cooking just too much to be desired.

Robust Coffee, situated conveniently in the heart of Woodlawn, initially seemed like a promising local gem. Despite my close proximity to the establishment, my experiences there have consistently fallen short of the basic expectations I have for every place I visit.Primarily, the service has been a recurring issue. Despite placing my orders online well in advance, the wait time always exceeds the estimates provided by Uber Eats. Upon entering, there's a noticeable lack of acknowledgment from the staff, with customers left to wait without any form of a warm welcome. Today's encounter was particularly disheartening, but I still stayed and waited for my order. While I've reluctantly grown accustomed to these instances of poor service at Robust, today's experience crossed a line. Upon returning home and eagerly anticipating my breakfast sandwich, I was disgusted to discover a hair in my food (And before anyone asks, NO this is not my hair. My hair is currently dyed red). This oversight not only further tarnished the dining experience but also raised concerns about hygiene standards.Moreover, beyond the service and hygiene issues, I'm compelled to address a broader concern. It's disheartening to see yet another white-owned establishment profiting from the patronage of Black communities without prioritizing basic things like good customer service and food quality.In light of these recurring issues and the lack of accountability, I regret to say that I can no longer support Robust Coffee. It's a shame to bid farewell to a local establishment, but the consistent disappointments outweigh the convenience of proximity. I hope that Robust takes these criticisms constructively and works towards meaningful improvements in the future.