Taking a Seat at Standing Passengers
As a child, chances are that you dreamed of having a place of your own where you could eternally play video games, eat your favorite snacks, and enjoy the company of friends in sort of specialized clubhouse. If you take a stroll down West Town Chicago, you will find Standing Passengers, a coffee lounge that comes close or at least as reasonably possible.
Standing Passengers sits on 1458 West Chicago Avenue, near Eckhart Park, displaying a simple front glass window containing three standing pedestrian figures. Stepping inside, you will be greeted by a friendly barista and quickly intake the lax, indie inspired ambience.
Standing Passengers was originally a film production company, and it is clear that they retained some aesthetic from its roots. The space that keeps the intensity to a minimum with a mixture of blue colored and yellow lights hanging above. Next to the entrance sits a couch in front of two old television sets, with large one connected to a Super Nintendo Gaming System and the smaller to a Sega Saturn. The floor is covered in aged wood that has has been through the times but gives the place a welcoming, honest impression.
Towards the front is the white bar, you can view the standards drinks and food options above while the extensive special drinks menu sit below in a small stand next to the pastry display box. And of course, to left of the bar is another couch set up in front of a giant TV and Nintendo 64. Needless to say, the look Standing Passengers is something that Odd Future or Thundercat would nod in approval.
Drink wise, the shop offers the espresso standards like the latte, cappuccino, cortado etc. With both hot and cold options, extra shot, and flavored syrups to optimize the desired beverage. As with any cafe, pastries are a must and Standing Passengers offers donuts with vegan options, croissants, and muffins. For someone with a heavier appetite, they also offer sandwiches like meatball subs and BLTs.
For this review, I first ordered a maple latte and a vegan maple donut. I sat next to the window by the entrance and started indulging in them. The maple contained maple syrup, espresso, whole milk(milk can be changed to non-dairy). Standing Passengers uses Dark Matter Coffee their espresso drinks. In particular, they are currently using the “Starry Eyes” dark roast. The blend is advertised as having notes of almond, vanilla, and brownie. Additionally, “Starry Eyes” is described as “neutralizing acidity and amplifying sweet, creamy, and toasty flavors”.
While drinking the maple latte, the espresso is mellowed out by the milk but still retains a level of fullness as one would expect from a dark roast. Faithful to its description, the espresso mixes well with the milk and syrup, as it does not overwhelm with sweetness but rather adds an extra touch to the finishing taste. Nothing groundbreaking, but the maple latte doesn’t try to be. It is simply a warm and relaxing beverage that provides a pleasant embrace on a cold or lazy day. As for the donut, there seems to be a mix of maple and brown sugar for the top glaze. A hearty compliment to the maple latte.
My third item was one of the drink specials, the machito. The beverage is made by mixing matcha, limeade, and peppermint in a glass over ice. The limeade used is the Simply brand while the peppermint syrup is from Torani. The result is a modestly sour yet refreshing beverage. The lime flavor makes up most of the body, while the matcha adds a bit of texture, especially towards the finals sips. The Peppermint syrup makes a subtle but necessary role in the drink by halting some of the lime’s acidity. As a result, one can drink the machito without having to grimace through the sourness.
After eating and drinking, I tried my chances at Street Fighter II and Super Mario World. Years without playing having definitely taken their toll because I did not make it far in either game. Despite my shortcomings, it was fun replay the classics after being revitalized from the coffee.
Taking everything into consideration, I would recommend Standing Passengers to all coffee lovers or casual goers alike for the cozy, idiosyncratic atmosphere and steady quality of options for coffee and pastries. There is not much room criticism apart form perhaps the narrow spacing could make it awkward during busier times, though that is managed quite easily. Beyond that, the lounge does rightfully retain the role of lounge more than simply a shop made for quick drink. Combine that with the extensive special drink menu, and there is more than enough reason for returning. Perhaps the childhood is long gone but Standing passengers materializes the dream quite solidly.
