Main Street Artisans

Food
Service
Ambiance
Overall

Top: United States: WY: Evanston

Description

Main Street Artisans is Evanston's only true coffee shop. This quaint cafe and gallery takes residence in the historic Blyth & Fargo building in downtown Evanston, which gives it a certain charm all it's own. It's nestled in the epicentre of the Historic District which is home to various shopping establishments, bars, restraunts and historical monuments celebrating the town's past. Its location makes it a great Saturday afternoon pitstop after a walk downtown.

The atmophere of the place is warm and inviting, but still lacks some of the traditional coffee shop fare. There are no over-stuffed couches or coffee tables. It's the not the iconoclastic "Central Perk" you see on a "Friends" episode. Rather, the owners have minimized traditional coffee shop "noise" to showcase the barage of art rendered by regional artists. Main Street Artisans also sport regular "Jam Sessions" in which local musicians will muse passer-bys with their electic mix of folk inspired music.

For being a coffee shop, Main Street Artisan's menu is rather extensive. They have various sandwiches, wraps, cakes, bagels and of course a full line of coffee. Especially rare in this age of "MSG" and "All Natural Perservatives", is most of their food is made fresh in-house. The food is light and perfect for a quick sit-down lunch. The cost is slightly more expensive than McDonalds, but considering their items are fresh made - it's worth it.

The service is generally very plesant and the staff do take great strives to keep the place "Pleasing to the Senses" as their signage states. The food, the coffee, the art - no detail is left unaccounted for.

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Pleasing to the Senses
Being a total "coffee whore", MSA is by far the only place in town to get a really well made latte. The food is pretty good, with only a few dishes severely lacking.

I do like the ambience, but it would be nice to see an overstuffed couch or some easy chairs. The lack of those items does make it fairly unconducive for "coffee talk"

Bearing in mind this is Evanston, the only major problem I have with MSA are it's hours. As anyone who goes to Salt Lake or any other large city will attest, there is nothing better than night time coffee and casual socializing. Especially during the week when going to a bar on a work night isn't wise.    [24 May 2005 04:07:57]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Turkey Panini Sandwich

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Review Main Street Artisans in United_States/WY/Evanston

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Ratings

Overall* pick one ***** Incredible. The best restaurant of this kind I have eaten at. **** Outstanding. *** Quite enjoyable. ** Decent. * Poor. Food pick one ***** Incredible. The best food of this kind I have tasted. **** Outstanding. A few details were not exactly to my liking. *** Quite enjoyable. One or two dishes lacked a bit in preparation or flavor. ** Decent. Some of the food was not to my liking, or average. * Poor. All of the food was poorly prepared. I did not enjoy any of it. Service pick one ***** Absolutely seamless. Every last detail was looked after. **** Courteous, prompt and friendly. Minor details could be improved. *** Pleasant. A few problems with service, but still a fine meal. ** Needs help. Inattentive / unhelpful staff made the meal unpleasant. * What service? Rude or ignored me altogether. Complaints were ignored. Ambiance pick one ***** Perfect. Unexpected extra touches delighted me. **** Atmosphere, setting, decor and cleanliness were exceptional; minor flaws. *** A pleasant atmosphere, but nothing unexpected; or there were some problems. ** Poorly done / not to my taste. * Where's the taste police / health inspector when you really need them?

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