Don’t Miss Out on the Good Eats at Engrained Cafe

My freshman year at Loyola I made the mistake of only ever ordering coffee at Engrained. Don’t get me wrong the coffee is great, but Engrained is so much more than a coffee shop. With offerings ranging from a Loaded Grilled Cheese to the best cake balls you’ll ever eat, you need to explore the menu here.

At their location inside the Institute of Environmental Sustainability it’s appropriate that Engrained shares the same goal of running an environmentally friendly business. The waste from the kitchen is nearly 100% compostable. Eventually they hope the waste from the dining area will reach the same standard of eco-friendliness. A few other world-saving features of the cafe are found in things you normally wouldn’t think twice about. The chairs you sit on are actually 111 Coke bottles, the tables are reclaimed Chicago wood, and the floors are made of cork. Kudos to Engrained for stepping outside the box to help take care of the planet.

Engrained’s menu is completely unique thanks to their commitment to sourcing nearly all of their food within a 150 mile radius of their location. Their partnerships with local farms and businesses mean fresher food for you and I. So fresh in fact that they make their soup and other menu items in house every morning—the closest thing you’ll find to a home-cooked meal on campus. The most popular order at Engrained is the “Adult Grilled Cheese” with Tomato Basil Soup. Personally, I’m partial to the BLT or Grilled PB&J. Engrained carries a sweet line of baked goods from Chicago’s West Town Bakery that are the perfect way to finish off any meal. When you’re in the mood for a hot drink the cafe sells typical tea and coffee drinks, but if you’re looking for something a little extra special I recommend the hot chocolate or apple cider–by far the best you will find on campus.

So thanks to Engrained for keeping our stomachs full of good eats that keep us–and the planet–happy.