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

Bittersweet Pastry Shop - Cortado - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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

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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

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I recently ordered my favorite go to cake ( strawberry almond brûlée) for birthdays and special events. I have been ordering this cake since it was $34. Now it is $67 which is fine. They changed an ingredient in the recipe. The almond tastes artificial with a cherry like flavor. It did not taste like that before and was part of the reason the cake was my favorite because of the almond flavor that paired well with the brûlée and strawberry. Now the new almond flavor is overpowering and I can not taste the strawberry. Sadly, I will not be ordering this cake anymore. I ordered the Cesar croissant sandwich to go and it was delicious. I would recommend sandwich with the lentil soup as a side. Service was friendly. read more

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

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Wow... cherry pie, everything is special and yummy! Cakes, cookies ... mini tarts are exceptional!

Suchhhh a pretty aesthetic - we took so many cute cafe photos. Love the variety and ambiance - definitely try the ube sweet treats. The savory items were also very good! Service was amazing as well. 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

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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

Bittersweet Pastry Shop - Cake - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was charged for a full price sandwhich at over $14 when I bought a premade one that was labeled at around $5.

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

Bittersweet Pastry Shop - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this place! I've been here so many times I'm shocked I haven't left them a review. Food is good, pastries are beautiful and yummy, great coffee, cute place and great service. Some people may think the pastries are on the higher end, but honestly they're worth every penny. read more

I had a really nice experience here! I came in sad about something and wanted to treat myself. The cashier was really friendly and helped me pick between two of their massive filled croissants. I also brought a raspberry ganache tart home to share with my boyfriend, which we both loved. My latte preferences are pretty simple and hard to mess up but I still enjoyed my beverage. I really like the bar seats and thought they were comfortable and spacious. I will for sure return when I'm in Lakeview. read more

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

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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

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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

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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

Bittersweet Pastry Shop - Very expensive cake with no decorations - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

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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

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Delicious pastries! Everyday they do buy one get one free for their breakfast pastries. Lots of seating. read more

Bittersweet Pastry Shop - Almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Bittersweet Pastry Shop - White chocolate, ube croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always delicious - If I have any complaint it's that it's pricey. I would say if you're stopping in for coffee and a treat, it's in line price wise with other spots in the area but for custom cakes and similar, it's on the expensive side. The cakes are gorgeous and delicious but very pricey. Inside is super cute - not a ton of space to sit but very bright and airy - tables aren't too tight on top of one another. Staff is friendly but efficient - they want to keep the line moving when there are a lot of people around. Pastries are wonderful! read more

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

Bittersweet Pastry Shop - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Terrific cocoanut cream pie and hot cross buns. This was a take out order. Everything was made fresh and ready on time.

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

Bittersweet Pastry Shop - Chaider (Chai cider) - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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

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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

Bittersweet Pastry Shop - Lemon Meringue, Danish, Pecan Roll - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I just moved in nearby and this place might be my favorite part of the neighborhood. Everything I've ever ordered here was beyond delicious. Their drinks are well made across the board. I never feel like I've been given a cup of ice with some syrup and milk in it. The coffee and espresso always has the perfect flavor. Then there's the food. There's sweet and savory options, little bites and perfectly portioned meals. You can tell everything is made fresh. The staff is also incredible; they always have great energy and each one can answer any question you have about anything on the menu. I'm glad to support this local small business instead of a soulless corporate chain every time I stop in. read more

Don't order the Griego salad. Portion is scsnter than it used to be and the tomatoes are anemic. Bittersweet: Either fork out the money to buy good tomatoes in the cold months or take them off the menu. When I complained, I got no reaction. 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

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Drivers are driving absolutely insane. They are so aggressive on the road and your cake is probably going to flop in the back :(

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

Bittersweet Pastry Shop - Breakfast sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What was once my favorite, go-to Chicago bakery for cakes, cookies, and desserts, is now seems to be a shadow of its former self. The current owners, one the niece of the previous owner...a James Beard Award nominated pastry chef, made changes to the shop during the past year--reducing the size of baked goods area and increasing the size of the cafe. The baked goods are now much more simple, and require less labor--from what I understand, a change necessitated by difficulties finding qualified help and higher labor costs. As a home baker myself, I certainly can appreciate that there is a lot of labor involved with baking...especially the fancier baked items like cakes and other pastries. That said, I expect to find compelling, more complicated pastries and cakes in a professional bakery. Otherwise, I can make the baked goods myself. My past two visit left me underwhelmed, and in one instance, I looked, but walked out without purchasing anything. My second visit, I purchased two cookies as a Hanukkah gift. But they were basic, cut-out butter cookies with sugar sprinkles--something that I could have easily baked myself. They were not the beautifully-decorated, iced cookies from Bittersweet's glorious past. I have not tried the cafe since they reconfigured the shop...perhaps it's wonderful...and it looks busy. But the bakery area has left me disappointed and longing for the old Bittersweet that I used to love and rave about. I still think that Bittersweet is a wonderful bakery...and I will continue to visit. But I hope they tweak their bakery menu and continue to include some of the wonderful pastries that made Bittersweet a must visit destination for 23 years. read more