Bittersweet Pastry Shop
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Just sad I didn't discover this pastry shop sooner! On a Friday afternoon, they were bustling! They had some different indoor seating options, most of which were occupied by either people working or friends chatting. It was a pleasant atmosphere and cute decor, but I ended up taking my goods to go. It was hard to decide between all the enticing options but the friendly woman working the register pointed me to their popular chocolate cake and it did not disappoint! More of a mousse than a cake but it was rich and utterly divine. I also tried their spinach feta croissant, which was ok but I'm not convinced the right vessel for that filling. I also appreciated some of their baked goods were reasonable prices so you could easily try something for under $5 or alternatively splurge for the finer pastries.
First visit here, I got some yummy desserts to take home. We grabbed cheesecake, peanut butter tart, chocolate cake and some French Macarons. All desserts were delicious. My French Macarons were even good several days later. On the first occasion the attendant had already put stuff up and was rushing us to close. Even though we got there wit more than 30 minutes before closing time. We tried to come back a few days later as I really wanted that vanilla bean cheesecake again but they were closed. It was closed 30min prior to time advertised on website. We were bummed. While searching for nearby bakeries, we saw several other people try to patronize this business. So overall probably a 4 stars but knocking a star for not advertising the correct hours. Luckily we were already in the area but I would have been mad if made a venture up here and it was closed. I wouldn't bank on this for an after dinner treat. Get your stuff during the day as the hours are not dependable.
My husband and I stopped by on Sunday around 11am, and I'm so glad we did. I ordered the spinach pastry (warmed), and the staff recommended the honey lavender latte to me, which was incredible. It's floral, smooth, and so soothing to smell. My husband ordered a black coffee with his guava pastry, and we both agreed the baked goods were excellent! The atmosphere was casual but comfy, and everyone we spoke with was friendly. There was plenty of seating, and we used the café's WiFi to finish up work and plan our next trip, and had no issues. There's a bathroom onsite, though we didn't use it. Paid parking was also easy to find right outside. Our total came to about $26 after tax and before tip. Not cheap, but absolutely worth it for delicious treats. This was our first visit, and we're already planning to make it a monthly stop. We definitely recommend visiting if you're in the area!
After a disappointing experience at Seoul Taco a few doors away, my usual sweet craving kicked in. Yelp directed me to Bittersweet Pastry Shop, just a few doors down. I was very warmly greeted and told about a special they were running on some of the baked goods. I went for a slice of Opera cake and a Cortado. With the opera cake, I loved that it wasn't overly sweet and appreciated the delectable layers. However, my critique is that it was a smidge dry. I looked it up, and it seems a "proper" slice should be luscious and moist. This was the former, but not the latter. The Cortado was technically perfect! Too many places either make a macchiato or a latte, but Bittersweet appears to have hit the 1:1 espresso to milk ratio right on the head. The coffee quality was also excellent! It was well-balanced, not too sour or bitter. The vibe inside is light and airy - the kind of place where I'd love to spend some quality time enjoying coffee and croissants, or where I'd get caught up on my ever-growing backlog of Yelp reviews. Finally, considering the quality of the products, I feel as though the prices are reasonable. Final Verdict: While the opera cake was a little shy of perfection, Bittersweet Pastry Shop delivers on excellent coffee, friendly service, and a comfortable environment. While I'll likely branch out into other baked goods on my next visit, I can definitely see myself returning when I'm in the area.
Stopped by randomly. Sooo many yummy looking pastries. We got an almond croissant and a chocolate croissant. They were so good. Flakey and perfectly sweet, not overly sweet. My only regret is not getting more. I'm not in Chicago often but I will definitely go back!
Stooped at Bittersweet at 4pm on a Saturday and the place was packed. We wanted to have tea & snacks before seeing the Downton the Final movie. By 5:30pm when we left it was completely empty. Because of the size of our group and the lack of open tables, we asked and were granted a corner booth back near the kitchen door. It was perfect as the large table was necessary for all our teas & edibles. The spinach quiche was excellent, although it did not have a lot of egg -thus not as moist as others I've had. Nice light crust. The Guava pastry and the Vanilla bean cheesecake were both very tasty. without any qualifiers. Highly recommended.
Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Cafe went above and beyond my expectations. Honestly the inside compared to the outside did the same. The staff was super friendly and patient. The croissants were so flaky, airy, and buttery. You could taste the butter in each bite. The actual food was fantastic too. If you are getting the Croissant Breakfast Sandwich then definitely go with the side of fruit, the salad was a little sad. - Ube White Chocolate Croissant 9/10 - Banana Chocolate Chip Twist 8/10 - Strawberry Matcha Latte 8/10 - Croissant Breakfast Sandwich 7/10 - Avocado Toast 9.5/10 Definitely coming back.
I have been a loyal customer of Bittersweet for over 20 years, but unfortunately, the quality and service have noticeably declined under their new management. I recently ordered a custom birthday cake that cost well over $100. While the base cake itself was beautiful, the handwritten inscription was incredibly sloppy--crooked, uncentered, a lowercase "h" in happy, and the name "Gigi" was literally falling off the bottom edge of the cake. It looked like an afterthought from a grocery store bakery, not a high-end neighborhood patisserie. When I emailed the shop to express my disappointment, the response from management was even more frustrating. Instead of taking accountability for poor quality control, they essentially told me that because they have different decorators with different penmanship, the results will simply "vary each time." For a premium price, customers should expect consistent, professional quality--not a gamble on whether the decorator scheduled that day has basic piping skills. They offered a meager $20 gift card, which doesn't begin to cover the disappointment. This isn't an isolated incident, either; a few months back, staff members didn't even recognize classic menu items that Bittersweet was famous for making for years. It is incredibly sad to see a neighborhood staple lose its touch so completely, but after two decades, I will be taking my business elsewhere.
If you like sweets, you must give this place a try! We tried their Ube Flan by celebrity chef Katsuji Tanabe and famous Ube white chocolate croissant. They were so beautiful and yummy. Highly recommend it. The staff and baristas were very friendly to us and our little toddler. The coffee tasted ok nothing special, but good enough to enjoy with the pastries. They also have a hunch of savory breakfast and brunch items on the menu!
We did wedding cake tastings with multiple bakeries, but Bittersweet's quality blew the competition out of the water. All of the cakes, frostings, and fillings we tried were delicious, and the ones we chose for our cake came together perfectly! The cake was decorated beautifully and tasted amazing. If you want a custom cake that's a step above the rest, look no further than Bittersweet.
Bittersweet is an adorable Chi-town store front. Upon entering everything is bright and welcoming. The display case is beautiful with a wide selection of pastries both savory and sweet. We opted for the: almond cream croissant, ham and cheese, spinach and Gruyère croissants and a cinnamon roll. I was concerned about the packaging as all of the savory and sweet items were packaged together and we had quite a walk back to our Airbnb before I'd be able to separate them. This didn't prove, however, to impact the taste but we did lose some quality frosting to the lid of the box and the sides of some of the savory croissants. Our favorites were the spinach and Gruyère croissant and the almond cream croissant. They both were full of flavor with the perfect flakiness! I do recommend warming the savory croissants for a bit prior to enjoying.
My mother in law surprised me with a beautiful cake from Bittersweet for Mother's Day. The cake was gorgeous, but the flavors were what made it so special. It was a lemon blueberry made with vanilla cake, lemon custard and blueberry filling, and finished in Italian meringue vanilla buttercream. It was as delicious as it sounds, and we gobbled it up! I really liked how it wasn't overly sweet and how light the flavors were. The cake was delivered with instructions to remove from the refrigerator a few hours before serving, which worked out perfectly. I would definitely try more from Bittersweet's menu after this experience!
I came here quickly grabbed a cinnamon roll and a pumpkin cheesecake to go. There weren't so many people dining inside or around this area during lunch time on weekends. The cinnamon roll was really amazing, with crispy caramel at the bottom of it.
3 months ago
The pastries at bittersweet will never disappoint. I grew up going to this bakery and the quality has never wavered. The quiche is always fantastic, and anything out of the pastry case is a must. Drinks are good as well! Such a cozy spot to grab coffee with a friend (or give in to the temptation of snagging a pastry on your way to the brown line) read more
Stopped in just to pick up a quick pastry. Went with their classic croissant. Service was friendly, was in and out and the croissant was pretty good. It was huge, buttery and little flaky. They don't have the biggest selection of pastries, but can definitely see myself returning to check out a few other items. read more
Just sad I didn't discover this pastry shop sooner! On a Friday afternoon, they were bustling! They had some different indoor seating options, most of which were occupied by either people working or friends chatting. It was a pleasant atmosphere and cute decor, but I ended up taking my goods to go. It was hard to decide between all the enticing options but the friendly woman working the register pointed me to their popular chocolate cake and it did not disappoint! More of a mousse than a cake but it was rich and utterly divine. I also tried their spinach feta croissant, which was ok but I'm not convinced the right vessel for that filling. I also appreciated some of their baked goods were reasonable prices so you could easily try something for under $5 or alternatively splurge for the finer pastries. read more
11 months ago
First visit here, I got some yummy desserts to take home. We grabbed cheesecake, peanut butter tart, chocolate cake and some French Macarons. All desserts were delicious. My French Macarons were even good several days later. On the first occasion the attendant had already put stuff up and was rushing us to close. Even though we got there wit more than 30 minutes before closing time. We tried to come back a few days later as I really wanted that vanilla bean cheesecake again but they were closed. It was closed 30min prior to time advertised on website. We were bummed. While searching for nearby bakeries, we saw several other people try to patronize this business. So overall probably a 4 stars but knocking a star for not advertising the correct hours. Luckily we were already in the area but I would have been mad if made a venture up here and it was closed. I wouldn't bank on this for an after dinner treat. Get your stuff during the day as the hours are not dependable. read more
My husband and I stopped by on Sunday around 11am, and I'm so glad we did. I ordered the spinach pastry (warmed), and the staff recommended the honey lavender latte to me, which was incredible. It's floral, smooth, and so soothing to smell. My husband ordered a black coffee with his guava pastry, and we both agreed the baked goods were excellent! The atmosphere was casual but comfy, and everyone we spoke with was friendly. There was plenty of seating, and we used the café's WiFi to finish up work and plan our next trip, and had no issues. There's a bathroom onsite, though we didn't use it. Paid parking was also easy to find right outside. Our total came to about $26 after tax and before tip. Not cheap, but absolutely worth it for delicious treats. This was our first visit, and we're already planning to make it a monthly stop. We definitely recommend visiting if you're in the area! read more
After a disappointing experience at Seoul Taco a few doors away, my usual sweet craving kicked in. Yelp directed me to Bittersweet Pastry Shop, just a few doors down. I was very warmly greeted and told about a special they were running on some of the baked goods. I went for a slice of Opera cake and a Cortado. With the opera cake, I loved that it wasn't overly sweet and appreciated the delectable layers. However, my critique is that it was a smidge dry. I looked it up, and it seems a "proper" slice should be luscious and moist. This was the former, but not the latter. The Cortado was technically perfect! Too many places either make a macchiato or a latte, but Bittersweet appears to have hit the 1:1 espresso to milk ratio right on the head. The coffee quality was also excellent! It was well-balanced, not too sour or bitter. The vibe inside is light and airy - the kind of place where I'd love to spend some quality time enjoying coffee and croissants, or where I'd get caught up on my ever-growing backlog of Yelp reviews. Finally, considering the quality of the products, I feel as though the prices are reasonable. Final Verdict: While the opera cake was a little shy of perfection, Bittersweet Pastry Shop delivers on excellent coffee, friendly service, and a comfortable environment. While I'll likely branch out into other baked goods on my next visit, I can definitely see myself returning when I'm in the area. read more
Stopped by randomly. Sooo many yummy looking pastries. We got an almond croissant and a chocolate croissant. They were so good. Flakey and perfectly sweet, not overly sweet. My only regret is not getting more. I'm not in Chicago often but I will definitely go back! read more
Stooped at Bittersweet at 4pm on a Saturday and the place was packed. We wanted to have tea & snacks before seeing the Downton the Final movie. By 5:30pm when we left it was completely empty. Because of the size of our group and the lack of open tables, we asked and were granted a corner booth back near the kitchen door. It was perfect as the large table was necessary for all our teas & edibles. The spinach quiche was excellent, although it did not have a lot of egg -thus not as moist as others I've had. Nice light crust. The Guava pastry and the Vanilla bean cheesecake were both very tasty. without any qualifiers. Highly recommended. read more
2 years ago
Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Cafe went above and beyond my expectations. Honestly the inside compared to the outside did the same. The staff was super friendly and patient. The croissants were so flaky, airy, and buttery. You could taste the butter in each bite. The actual food was fantastic too. If you are getting the Croissant Breakfast Sandwich then definitely go with the side of fruit, the salad was a little sad. - Ube White Chocolate Croissant 9/10 - Banana Chocolate Chip Twist 8/10 - Strawberry Matcha Latte 8/10 - Croissant Breakfast Sandwich 7/10 - Avocado Toast 9.5/10 Definitely coming back. read more
3 months ago
I have been a loyal customer of Bittersweet for over 20 years, but unfortunately, the quality and service have noticeably declined under their new management. I recently ordered a custom birthday cake that cost well over $100. While the base cake itself was beautiful, the handwritten inscription was incredibly sloppy--crooked, uncentered, a lowercase "h" in happy, and the name "Gigi" was literally falling off the bottom edge of the cake. It looked like an afterthought from a grocery store bakery, not a high-end neighborhood patisserie. When I emailed the shop to express my disappointment, the response from management was even more frustrating. Instead of taking accountability for poor quality control, they essentially told me that because they have different decorators with different penmanship, the results will simply "vary each time." For a premium price, customers should expect consistent, professional quality--not a gamble on whether the decorator scheduled that day has basic piping skills. They offered a meager $20 gift card, which doesn't begin to cover the disappointment. This isn't an isolated incident, either; a few months back, staff members didn't even recognize classic menu items that Bittersweet was famous for making for years. It is incredibly sad to see a neighborhood staple lose its touch so completely, but after two decades, I will be taking my business elsewhere. read more
If you like sweets, you must give this place a try! We tried their Ube Flan by celebrity chef Katsuji Tanabe and famous Ube white chocolate croissant. They were so beautiful and yummy. Highly recommend it. The staff and baristas were very friendly to us and our little toddler. The coffee tasted ok nothing special, but good enough to enjoy with the pastries. They also have a hunch of savory breakfast and brunch items on the menu! read more
3 months ago
We did wedding cake tastings with multiple bakeries, but Bittersweet's quality blew the competition out of the water. All of the cakes, frostings, and fillings we tried were delicious, and the ones we chose for our cake came together perfectly! The cake was decorated beautifully and tasted amazing. If you want a custom cake that's a step above the rest, look no further than Bittersweet. read more
5 months ago
Business owner information
Esther G.
Hi Angelina,…
11 months ago
2 years ago
Bittersweet is an adorable Chi-town store front. Upon entering everything is bright and welcoming. The display case is beautiful with a wide selection of pastries both savory and sweet. We opted for the: almond cream croissant, ham and cheese, spinach and Gruyère croissants and a cinnamon roll. I was concerned about the packaging as all of the savory and sweet items were packaged together and we had quite a walk back to our Airbnb before I'd be able to separate them. This didn't prove, however, to impact the taste but we did lose some quality frosting to the lid of the box and the sides of some of the savory croissants. Our favorites were the spinach and Gruyère croissant and the almond cream croissant. They both were full of flavor with the perfect flakiness! I do recommend warming the savory croissants for a bit prior to enjoying. read more
My mother in law surprised me with a beautiful cake from Bittersweet for Mother's Day. The cake was gorgeous, but the flavors were what made it so special. It was a lemon blueberry made with vanilla cake, lemon custard and blueberry filling, and finished in Italian meringue vanilla buttercream. It was as delicious as it sounds, and we gobbled it up! I really liked how it wasn't overly sweet and how light the flavors were. The cake was delivered with instructions to remove from the refrigerator a few hours before serving, which worked out perfectly. I would definitely try more from Bittersweet's menu after this experience! read more
11 months ago
I came here quickly grabbed a cinnamon roll and a pumpkin cheesecake to go. There weren't so many people dining inside or around this area during lunch time on weekends. The cinnamon roll was really amazing, with crispy caramel at the bottom of it. read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
Have you ever just walked in and saw so many good treats and was like "oh I can't afford this" then look at the options and were like, oh terrifs have not hit this place. So good and oooompfy that chicken yasssss Salad mid pastries=if I could swear I could. Yass affordable lux. Workers quiet and good. People around here just vibe for vibes sake. Bad conversation snooping. read more
5 months ago
The shop is beautiful and the pastries look delicious . The staff was also polite . I picked up a birthday cake and while not the most tasty it's beautiful. read more
5 months ago
10 months ago
Do not trust this place with your order. I ordered a gluten free cake with flowers on it and it showed up with 0 decorations on it. $72 is a joke for this small of a cake that doesn't even have decorations on it. THIS PLACE IS A JOKE. read more
1 year ago
I reached out for a custom cake for my boyfriends surprise birthday party. From start to finish, it was easy to work with Bittersweet on my order. We worked together on design and I was given clear dates on when I needed to have a final count/updates on design. I would absolutely use Bittersweet again for any important occasion. They care about their customers and they ensure the cake is exactly what you'd like. On top of it all, it was perfectly baked and tasted delicious. 10/10. Thank you, Bitt read more
11 months ago
Delicious pastries! Everyday they do buy one get one free for their breakfast pastries. Lots of seating. read more
1 year ago
I've tried enough from Bittersweet's menu to confidently say that they excel at every category. Their drinks, savory dishes/entrees, pastries, and sweets are always phenomenal. I work nearby, so I end up coming in at least once a week. Between their daily specials and seasonal flavors, I can always try something new or stick with a favorite menu staple. I've never not loved something that I've ordered. The bread and pastries taste so fresh and you can just tell that everything was made by hand. The staff is always so friendly. Every person who works there just behaves like they love their job. And they all answer every question you could possibly have about the menu items. My favorite thing on their menu, by far, is their white chocolate ube croissant. The flavors are perfectly balanced and it's decadent without being sickly sweet. It's also HUGE. The whole place has a mid-century French patisserie theme to the decor that perfectly walks the line of being just enough without feeling too kitschy. I love that there is plenty of seating and natural light. It's a great atmosphere to actually enjoy your food. read more
2 years ago
The coziest morning vibes!!! Dining is airy and bright with the sweetest service. The pastry case is extensive, but it feels like time slows down as everyone is just browsing with no hurry to move along. I loved it. The honey lavender latte is my current obsession, and the savory scone was to die for! I also got a little cake slice to go and it was the perfect after dinner treat. So happy we stumbled upon the cutest pastry spot. I would happily return! read more
2 years ago
I popped into Bittersweet yesterday solely because I'd passed by so many times on my walks around the neighborhood and never visited. I ordered the seasonal special "chaider" (chai cider) and the ham and gruyere quiche. Yall this is legitimately the best quiche I've ever had. Flaky, crispy, not soggy or wet, super cheesy and generous amounts of ham. I may start getting a slice weekly. The chai cider was lovely as well! Very spiced, warm and autumnal. Go get this quiche! read more
Such a cute cafe! Limited seating for dining in, but they have to go options. Variety on the menu with sandwiches, salads, quiches, and breakfast options. Heavy traffic there but the service was timely for coffees and food. Cinnamon roll was huge! Really tasty but I should have asked for it warmed. read more
Well known after features in multiple Chicago guides, Bittersweet absolutely lives up to its reputation as one of Chicago's best bakeries! I recently ordered a blind grab bag and received a lemon meringue tart, berry danish, and maple pecan roll. All were so flavorful and fresh with the perfect sweetness, but the danish may have been my favorite with a light yet buttery crust and tangy berry filling! The staff was friendly and helpful and packaged the pastries with care. I will absolutely plan to return ASAP and highly recommend swinging by Bittersweet the next time you're craving a sweet treat! read more
I haven't come in a while and the menu definitely got a refresh! They have a chef from a season of Top Chef and even have mimosas now. We had such a pleasant breakfast here! Loved the decor and the staff was very friendly! read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
Cutest little cafe shop! They have a surprising amount of seating given the size of the shop, and great service. The plates and other dishes are all very cute, the ambiance of the cafe overall gives a European vibe. It's definitely a little pricey for the area but worth it if you're dining in and able to enjoy the experience. Everything is prepared in an aesthetically pleasing way, perfect for a cute brunch with friends. They have interesting and unique pastry options as well, which I recommend trying even if you're a picky eater. More of a coffee shop than a full brunch spot, know what you're going for! read more
8 months ago
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More info about Bittersweet Pastry Shop
1114 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
Lakeview
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(773) 929-1100
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http://www.bittersweetpastry.com/
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Ask the Community - Bittersweet Pastry Shop
Will you have Paczkis on Fat Tuesday?
Yes we will have Paczkis all weekend and on Tuesday and it's not too late to preorder! You can…
Do you sell any vegan pastries?
Hi Samm, We offer a vegan and gluten-free fudge brownie as well as a vegan vanilla cake with…
Does bittersweet still make a choco peanut butter cake with little crunchies in it?
Yes we do! Our Chocolate Peanut Butter torte is one of our most popular items!…
Do you bake keto goods?
Hi Charu, we make a gluten-free and vegan brownie but it does contain sugar. Feel free to suggest any specific recipes and we can look into possibly adding to a future menu!…
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