Do yourself a favor, and let yourself splurge a little at Au Levain. First off, their fresh, homemade sourdough english muffins are out of this world I love to buy a pack of 6 ($12) to bring home and make avocado toast with a soft scrambled egg on top. (They freeze great too if you want to savor them). I haven't tried their breakfast sandwich, because I'm not a big pork sausage person-- would love if they had more variations of a breakfast sandwich! You can also order a toasted english muffin that comes with fresh butter and a homemade jam.. it's so simple but addicting. I have had their Lox English Muffin a couple of times, and if you love Lox, it's GREAT. Really good balance of cream cheese/veggie/lox ratio.. though Lox is always so overpowering so it's most of what you're going to taste. If you are a quiche person, PLEASE try theirs. The creativity in their rotating flavors, and their perfect crust, are a must-try. It's soooo well done. Every pastry I've tried has been spectacular, from their almond blackberry croissant to the pistachio escargot, to their donuts.. I don't think you can go wrong. Their cinnamon roll is next on my list.. but I need to try it when I'm with 2-3 other people because it is GINORMOUS. I don't trust that I wouldn't eat the whole thing by myself. Their coffee is good, but there's nothing special to me about it! I come here for their fresh pastries and eats. They have free wifi and it's fairly quiet, so a good place to knock out some work or have a good conversation with a friend. It's neat, clean, and bright with a good amount of seating. This place is right next to my therapy office, so I frequent it a couple of times a month, and I have always felt welcomed and cared for by their employees. If you are eating there, they will go the extra mile to bring your food to your table and make sure you have everything you need. Highly recommend!! read more

Au Levain - Pistachio Escargot + Pistachio Lemon Doughnut - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Au Levain is a huge hike for us but I am willing to go the whole nine yards and even plan some family activities for the neighboring area just so I can return and splurge. We stopped by on a Saturday morning around 8:30 am. There were a few patrons dining in and enjoying their breakfast. The display case was well stocked. We ordered the following: 1) Sourdough English muffin, pack of six* 2) Pistachio lemon doughnut 3) Strawberry glazed doughnut 4) Chocolate glazed doughnut 5) Almond blackberry croissant* 6) Pain au chocolat* 7) Lemon blueberry Danish* 8) Pistachio chocolate escargot* The ones marked with an asterisk are my favorites. The pain au chocolat was love at first sight/touch. I could immediately tell it was incredibly flakey, buttery, and light just by lifting it off the plate. Every bite was divine. If I was not concerned with my waistline, I probably would have had more than one. I used the English muffins to make lunch sandwiches at home. I toasted them and they held up really well after I layered them guacamole, pan-seared German bologna, cheesy-potato omelette, and Sriracha aioli. I am thrilled to try other sandwich variations with these English muffins. Another pro is that they offer Sparrow Coffee. My husband and I are both fans. There were several small tables for dine-in options. We would love to return and enjoy a cup of coffee with breakfast. read more

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My second time here in less than a month and just as good as before. I ordered the Sausage & Egg Sandwich on an English Muffin. The only thing that I didn't care for was the breakfast sausage, it had a thick skin like a Polish Sausage. The sausage had a very good flavor and a good size to boot. My friend ordered the Strawberry French Toast with fresh strawberries and Maple Syrup. Her order was a good size big enough to take half home for breakfast the next day. She ordered the Breakfast Blend tea and said it was good. The coffee I ordered was very good and freshly made. In a matter of minutes your order is served piping hot. Depending on how many people are there it can be a little noisy from time to time. They have an all-gender bathroom which was very clean. In cold weather sit in the back away from the front door. read more

Au Levain - Apple Pie split in half - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Read a review that Au Levain had the best French ham sandwich. Glad we believed it - the Le Parisien lived up to the hype. Perfect. Will be back ( and try other things, but knowing how good the sandwich is, maybe not...). read more

Tasty sausage egg muffin sandwich, bread was soft and warm. Flavorful sausage and can't ever go wrong with caramelized onions. Delicious lavender latte. Customer service can work on greeting everyone the same, so they can genuinely feel "welcome in." read more

Au Levain - Pistachio Doughnut and Chocolate Croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My husband has a thing for French ham and cheese sandwiches. He has tried them all over the city and says Au Levain has the best. This is the sandwich he dreams of - all components are on point. We also can't get over the fantastic English muffins. Buying a bag of 6 to last all week feels like such a treat. They're deeply luscious. Don't sleep on Au Levain. read more

I had this bakery saved after having an amazingly delish pastry from them at the apple fest last year, and was so happy to finally get to try them this weekend! Very cute ambiance inside, there were plenty of people sitting and enjoying their food and drinks with friends. Service was friendly and quick. We got the sausage and egg English muffin sandwich and raspberry almond croissant. The sandwich was solid, although I feel like could have had some added spice. The real star was the croissant - it was so buttery and flaky while at the same time not feeling too heavy. Can't wait until our next visit to try the rest of the pastries - the cinnamon rolls and babkas were as big as my head! read more

Au Levain - Raspberry almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious authentic french croissants. Nice people and generous size! Ran into them at a pop up market so I can't speak to actual location.

I was excited for my first visit to Au Levain after awaiting their arrival on Lincoln Ave!! I've followed them on instagram and their pastries have looked so good, but I wasn't expecting the interior to be so large and cute, too!! My friend and I each had a specialty latte (there were a couple to pick from) which were definitely tasty. My only feedback is it would've been nice if they'd stirred them, instead it was very much syrup/milk on the bottom half and espresso on the top half, needing a good mix. The pastries were both spectacular. I was surprised to see an entire menu of breakfast and lunch items, also! The interior was absolutely adorable, though I will mention it got quite loud! I'm glad to see a local business is booming, but keep the noise level in mind as you map out who you'll be spending time with here. read more

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Good pastries, great ambiance overall. Parking is plentiful in the area if that matters. Definitely a nice little place to sit and enjoy pastries and coffees - except that it's probably a little too popular these days with waves of business coming in every 20 minutes or so on the weekend. read more

Au Levain - Coffee and cozy vibes all around. - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love that Au Levain has a permanent storefront now! This store is full of light and is a space I could spend a few hours in. I popped in on a sunny winter day and did all but curl up in the sunshine after enjoying my breakfast wrap. It was so good! I loved the presentation and that they automatically included sour cream and two salsas. Thank you for using real dishes! The breakfast wrap was beautifully balanced. I got a little bit of everything in each bite. Bacon, egg, cheese, hash brown, avocado...it was really lovely. I am so excited to go back soon to try more menu options and a latte! Parking is paid on Lincoln, but if you just go on any of the side streets you'll likely find free non-permit parking. read more

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From the outside you might think: Au great another French place. I bet they have 8$ croissants or some shit. But then by the time you actually came in you'd piss yourself on purpose for not coming in sooner. Au levain is owned by angel chavez who is the pastry chef of bistro champagne. And while yeah there are croissants he also brings way more creative items to the table that makes this my favorite. Corned beef croissants anyone ?? Additional items have included conchas, paczki but you really have to keep an eye on the menu that changes every week. I'll be back and I'm happy to support and have another Hispanic owned business in the neighborhood. read more

Au Levain - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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When you walk into this this bakery it smells delicious. They have so many baked goods and sandwiches. It was hard to pick what to get. Decided on a pistachio escargot and it did not disappoint. A flaky croissant with pistachio butter on the inside read more

This asparagus and herbed cheese croissant looked so tasty ... I admit I was in a hurry so I didn't spend a lot of time properly eyeballing the pastry case. If I had, I might have noticed that some of the asparagus spears looked especially hefty. It turned out they were elderly asparagus spears-- so far grown that they had evolved from vegetable to wood pulp. One of them could best be described as green dental floss. I had to remove two of the three and throw them away. When you are charging $7 for a croissant, the least you can do is make sure that the main event, in this case the asparagus, is edible. The herbed cream cheese was tasty and generously applied, and they clearly know how to make a croissant, but this bakery left me with, literally, a bad taste in my mouth. I considered adding a photo here of the abandoned asparagus spears but why should I make you as nauseated as they made me? read more

Great googly moogly this place is so darned good! The chocolate croissants have two thick pieces of chocolate in a buttery flaky pastry where most places have a small blob somewhere in the middle. The donuts are warm, large and fabulously tasty and crisp in all the right places. The almond blackberry croissant is sweet but not too sweet and absolutely delicious. Tastes just like Paris! The chef also seems very nice. I almost hesitate to give this little gem away, but I just had to! read more

This place of course has delicious baked goods, but did you know it also has a great brunch? I recommend the chilaquiles and coffee! Occasionally they will also do special bakery releases. I got the egg nog cheesecake last winter and it was delicious! Parking is easy down the side street. read more

Au Levain - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I thoroughly enjoyed this breakfast. Sandwich was good but admittedly doesn't rank against Chicago's best. What does rank as the new best cookie in the fucking city is the "crookie". My simple mind is under the impression that is simply a melted cookie atop a croissant but regardless of the method this thing is magical. Quiche was damn near perfect. The fact that is was served with a salad gave you an amalgam of textures. read more

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This is a new trendy baker in the North Center neighborhood on Lincoln Avenue. There is a lot to like about this place, but some things that need improvement or I wish would change. I've visited twice and on my two trips I got a hot latte (they brew Sparrow Coffee), a babka (my first visit) and their breakfast warp. (My second visit). The Pros: The quality of the food is excellent, at least their baked goods are. The babka I bought on my first visit was delicious, even after a walk and car ride home in the cold weather. I felt for the price, seven dollars, it was good value, given its size. The breakfast wrap that I ordered was good, but excellent. The ingredients were fresh and yummy, but a bit on the small size for the price. They have good coffee. Sparrow is very good coffee and it was nice to find it so close to home. The latte itself was good, not great. They have a good atmosphere. The place is laid back and I didn't get any air of pretentiousness. The Cons: First, it's expensive and I question the value of a seven dollar croissant. I have not tried the croissant yet, but I want to in the future to see if it's worth it. Second, once they run out of something, they don't make any more. The first time I went I got there around 11:00 am and they were already out of croissants. While I liked my babka a lot, that was not what I wanted to order. Third, they don't have ice coffee drinks. I wanted an iced latte, but all they had was a hot one. Not a deal breaker, but it left me surprised and disappointed. Lastly, service was good, not great. On first trip, the person who helped me seem anxious, stressed and curt. On my second trip the staff member who help was nice, but not exceptional. Overall, all service average out to be good. In sum, this is a very good bakery and I look forward to trying more of their pastries and savoy breakfast dishes. It is place you should visit. However, I wish they had iced coffee drinks, would make their pastries bigger (to justify the price) and make more of what they sell so I don't have to get there super early just to buy a croissant. read more

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Delicious. The pan au chocolat tasted like a pastry in Europe. Sandwiches were served on lovely hand thrown pottery plates/baskets. Great coffee shop energy. read more

Au Levain - Chocolate Croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The staff was nice and helpful. Quite a bit of seating too! My crookie was warm and delicious. read more

Au Levain - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The pastries aren't bad. Pretty good just a little run-of-the-mill for the cost. Dough is well laminated but the portions are small for the price. My real gripe is the atmosphere. The employees always look so angry. I'm a super friendly, kind dude and I can't even get a smile or a head nod back from the cashiers. It's like you're bothering them by being there. They also allow pet dogs inside in clear violation of city and state health codes. They will lie and say it's a service animal but we all know the ruse at this point. It's endlessly frustrating because I have friends with lupus and immune conditions and dog allergies who can't even go here with me because management thinks it's a dog cafe. Update: I would like to point out that the owner "Matthew S" responded to this comment thread in a seemingly civilized way, but he actually privately messaged me to call me a fucker as well as several other colorful insults. I'm guessing the nasty culture people are picking up on in the store comes from the top. And yes, I have a dog allergy, my best friend has lupus, and his mother has both lupus and is a cancer survivor. People can suffer from multiple health maladies at once -- I know, that must be mind blowing for the owner. read more

Au Levain is a welcomed cafe to the neighborhood. The croissant was next level delicious and the breakfast wrap was tasty. I had a small coffee and it was excellent. The space is minimal and it's basically counter service. The staff were friendly and the owner was present. I think it was a little pricey, $27 for a pastry, wrap and coffee with a tip. High quality food and a quiet atmosphere makes it worth the splurge. read more

Au Levain - Chorizo, egg and kale wrap, with a chocolate pistachio croissant, scrumptious! - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

New bakery on the block! Exciting to see what they come up with next. I got a delicious pistachio escargot and a small coffee. I tried their cinnamon rolls before when they were a pop up and really enjoyed them. I will come back for sure and try other things on their menu. The only bad side is that they're closed early in the week but that makes sense. read more

Au Levain - Small coffee Pistachio escargot - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was here today with my mom and children. I've been here before and had a better experience, but today it was awful. I have previously recommended this to many of my friends but no longer will. I ordered the breakfast sandwich without chorizo- terrible and dry I ordered the French toast- terrible I ordered the pistachio latte- all milk and not enough espresso The music was so loud you couldn't even hear one another My kids started crying and I got so many dirty stares from the staff. 3 men working today, one shook his head. This is not what any family wants to experience. Overall terrible. I'd actually like to speak to the owner, Angel. read more

Hot damn, this is some good pastry! (And I consider myself a connoisseur of sorts). I would go as far as to say this is the best I've had outside of France. Stunning lamination that shatters exquisitely upon first bite. Do not eat it in your car - you've been warned. I popped in on a Saturday morning around 8:30 and it was empty - why? I do not know. This place is one viral tiktok away from having a line around the block. I grabbed a lemon blueberry Danish and an raspberry almond croissant. Both were still warm. Is this heaven? Seriously, what a gift to have in our neighborhood. read more

Au Levain - Poorly lit photo of the raspberry almond croissant. Captured after I gobbled down half of it. Delicious! - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was excited to finally have the time to come in here since I pass it all the time going to the jewel across the street. The coffee is amazing but the breakfast...a little disappointing. Got the egg sausage on sourdough and was just not happy with it. The sausage is a pork sausage with the casing on it which made it hard to eat. The caramelized onions didn't add much flavor. $12 is such a steep price for a breakfast sandwich in this case. read more

Au Levain - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is not affiliated with the bakery of a similar name in West Loop. I recently learned about this microbakery/virtual bakery and wanted to give it a try. I think it's called micro/virtual because it's not a place with a physical location of its own--it uses the space of Due Lire restaurant on Sunday morning. You can place orders via the website by Friday evening and you'll be able to pick up on Sunday at this location. They do have extra pastries made and available to purchase on site, but they may run out and close early, so if you want to be certain to get what you want you should order ahead or be here when they open. I'd never heard of a chorizo danish, but I needed to taste it. And it was pretty good! The pastry itself was fantastic--flaky and buttery as it should be. The topping included some chorizo, cheese, and an avocado topping as well. It was huge, so you've been warned. I also had to pick up a kouign amann since that's my favorite pastry, and they make it with brie and applesauce. It was so good--the chef knows his way around laminated dough--and the applesauce was too good. Really was more like apple butter. I also got a tin of cookies and they were ok, but not what I'd come back for. The linzer cookies were probably the best but I'd find my gingerbread men elsewhere. There's parking on the street along Lincoln if you're driving, and there's a parking lot across the street as well. Depending upon when you come, it may be empty since it's quiet in the neighborhood at some times on Sunday. The baked good are sold through the window, so if you see a line that's probably what it is. But they're cashless so be prepared to pay for your food via Zelle or Venmo. read more

I was tried the ham & cheese croissant and it was zesty-licious. I also grabbed a pack of sourdough english muffins and were outstanding! So luscious. read more

A place that specializes in traditional French laminated pastries and classic cakes. The first time I went, they were mostly out of their baked goods. The second time I got the - escargot crossaint? and the jalapeno crossaint. The staffs are nice. Can't wait to go back and try the other specialty pastries. read more

Au Levain - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Treat yourself! But can you leave a table open for me too? This place has quickly taken off now that they have a brick and mortar spot, and has become a favorite. Besides picking which pastry to try and make my new favorite, also love to get their carrot cake (my birthday treat this year) and the English muffins to go. The English muffins are great for homemade breakfast sandwiches that I take to work during the weekdays. Tip: bring a friend to split either the French toast or the breakfast sandwiches and get a pastry or danish. Also, an extra side of the condiments that come with the breakfast sandwich is needed- whether you split or eat it all yourself. read more

Au Levain - French Toast - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pastries are so good I have to stop myself from going here every weekend. The giant cinnamon roll was everything. read more

Au Levain - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Au Levain deserves 10/5 stars. Exceptional quality food, ambiance, coffee, service. A great example of how beautiful a coffee shop can be, definitely a spot other coffee shop peers should visit. New favorite neighborhood spot! read more

Au Levain - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very nice inside and a good addition to the neighborhood. I wish they had more savory options. Specifically, it would be good to have at least one savory option without pork. read more

In a city like Chicago, there are so many great choices for food. But this shop really stands out. They take such great care of creating savory, delicious, real food, and also, caring for their customers. Every bite is so fresh and so filling. Bless your soul -- eat here. read more

The Nutella Babka may be one of the best pastries I have ever had. The croissant is also very, very good and the English muffins were delicious if a little heavy. But the Babka will have me thinking about it for some time read more

Amazing pastries. Highly recomend the pistachio escargot. The savory stuff I've tried has been great, and the chocolate chip cookie is one of the best I've had. The line is usually not too bad, and the staff is super nice. I believe they have cafe stuff for dine in, but I haven't checked it out, or tried the coffee. Definitely recommend this place for pastries read more

Great new cafe. Amazing lemon blueberry Danish, very good chilequiles and good coffee. Also friendly service. Owners there working! Can't wait to go back! read more

My wife and I stopped in today to grab a latté, espresso and cheesecake. Everything was really delicious and the service was so friendly. The cheesecake was amazing and had a very beautiful toasted top on it, which was similar to the cheesecakes I had in Basque Country in Spain. One of the best I've ever had. I hope this place does great and I can't wait to keep coming back to try new menu items!! read more

Absolutely obsessed in every way. Everything is delicious, staff have attention to detail, and the space was incredibly warm and welcoming. Not many bakeries keep their baked good warm and ready to go. read more

Amazing - one of if not the best in the city for sure. Everything made here is just downright delicious. The croissants are so flavorful and they always are experimenting with various new flavors each day that it's always worth return visits. Your only problem will be deciding what to get. My personal favorite is the chocolate croissant which I strongly believe is far and away the best in Chicago. they have also been expanding their breakfast menu to include other items such as breakfast wraps / sandwiches, burrito, and strawberry French toast. All phenomenal. Coffee is Sparrow, which if you're a coffee fan you also know is fantastic. Really only down side of this place is that it's pricey. But given the quality and local nature of the business it's totally worth supporting. read more