Charmers Cafe lives up to its name

I have a number of friends who live in Chicago’s diverse, fascinating Rogers Park neighborhood, so I hang there on occasion. Recently three of us wanted to have a nice, comfortable girls-only chat, so my two friends agreed the best place to do that was Charmers Cafe in the Jarvis Square area. This cute and quirky little coffeehouse, with a nice selection of named bagel sandwiches, coffee, tea, smoothies and milkshakes, was exactly what the doctor ordered. It’s a totally unpretentious space with a few couches, some tables, a bookcase or two, board games and a menu full of spoonerisms (that’s when you switch the first letters of two words/word phrases).

A little context: the site used to be the location of a neighborhood gay bar with the same name until earlier this decade. Dan Sullivan opened the shop about four years ago  in the same building where his mother grew up, and helped lead the rejuvenation of the section of town known as Jarvis Square. I’ve heard rumors that it incorporated a store next door called Dagel & Beli, which makes sense. Charmers is walkable from the lakefront, and it’s not the place to go if you just want to grab some Metropolis coffee and go (that’s the Chicago brand they serve here, a real favorite with locals). This is a place to sit and spread out, to work on your laptop, to talk and relax.

You have to order your drinks and your sandwich by picking your selection that’s printed on a piece of paper, then handing it to one of the people behind the counter. Me, I’m addicted to iced tea, so I had to ponder very seriously which of the two freshly brewed daily selections I wanted. I don’t remember which one I chose–a black tea of some kind, recommended by a barista, and it was lovely. I had a warm, toasty sandwich with hummus and red onions and tomatoes, but Charmers features many delicious-looking combinations including a reuben-style sandwich that I plan to try next time. And when an employee brings you your sandwich, it comes in a basket with a tiny little box of Chiclets gum, which is just adorable.

You might find the sandwiches ($6-$8) and drinks/drink refills here on the pricey side. But for that price you get high-quality food and coffee as well as free Wi-Fi. I understand the outdoor patio is a very nice place to hang out, but we’re still dealing with Chicago winter here so I’ll have to wait a few months before I’m willing to try that. But I’m definitely going back, and I’m taking all my pals with me. Charmers is at 1500 W. Jarvis Ave. (Greenview Ave. is the cross street). Or call ‘em at 773-743-2233. The Web site is at www.charmerscafe.com, but there’s not much there yet.