This is a casual deli with assorted selection of hot and cold sandwiches, pastas, and a seemingly limitless assortment of cookies, pastries and desserts in their dessert case. The salads and pasta are good, but the best part of the deli is the sunlit interior. They also have pasta sauces and whole tiramisu cakes for sale. Fast counter service is a plus. read more

Ferrara Original - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We ordered our wedding cake and desserts from Ferrara for our June 2023 wedding, and it did not disappoint! We were interested in getting a cake from Ferrara since specialty wedding cake shops often prioritize aesthetics over taste, and we were looking for a simple cake that tasted great, plus a selection of pastries and cookies to complement it. We met with Nello in the fall to taste the cake and look over our options, and we appreciated their insistence on buttercream frosting (no fondant ever). On Nello's advice, we went with their famous specialty, a vanilla cake with the layers separated by one layer of cannoli cream and another of fresh strawberries and custard. We were impressed then by how fresh the strawberries tasted. When it came to the day of the wedding, the visually simple cake was absolutely beautiful with just some fresh flowers to decorate it. More importantly-and this is truly impressive-it tasted fresh and so delicious. Since wedding cakes have to be started several days ahead of time to allow everything to settle for creating the tiers, we truly just didn't expect it to be that good, actually even better than when we tasted it in the bakery. The other desserts were beautiful and equally delicious, providing all of our guests with a variety of lovely options, and we had no trouble with delivery on the day of the wedding. read more

Ferrara Original - a white wedding cake with fresh flowers - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The ferrara bakery is really great to have in the area. I love that they have low price high quality coffee ($1.62 for a 12oz brew) and a huge assortment of baked goods. I love their raspberry filled butter cookie the raspberry contrasts well with the rich butter. I also got the eclair which i didn't love. It tasted fresh but it was a bit too sweet and heavy on the stomach. I 100x recommend their cannoli and tiramisu. They've got "Chicago's best cannoli" on their coffee sleeves and I definitely agree. Always fresh, sweet and tangy filling and lots of flavor! read more

Sheesh.. could the girls there be any ruder or less welcoming? I doubt it. At $3.00 per cannoli ? They didn't invent cannoli, there are other bakery's that are just as good and better. The owner is old and tired now maybe time to give it up. For sure the counter girls need to just quit and move on, they're not happy and it shows. read more

I'm totally in love with this establishment I've had a salad, a sub sandwich and now the rigatoni with the vodka sauce!!! I give it a 10! I recently rediscover this beautiful family restaurant. Today I ordered my favorite sandwich and I requested hot peppers on my sandwich, she didn't put the peppers on my sandwich. The last time it was my cannoli. If you can't understand what I'm saying why not ask me to repeat myself. I hate returning to my job to find that my food isn't right or I didn't get what I purchased. I'm not returning, I think he needs to replace her. read more

I love this bakery. I've been going there over 40 years. Food is always good. I love their pastries

My girlfriend brought me home food from there that she ordered hours ago, and when she got home it was still absolute delicious!!

My friend catered for book club and everything was delish! The chicken pizza slices were disappointing Abit salty to taste. I look forward to catering from here in the future. read more

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Sfogliatella was bomb. This was exactly what I was craving. I also had two lemon ricotta cookies that were okay, didn't taste like too much. But the sfogliatella made up for it I'll definitely come back to try more! read more

Ferrara Original - Sfogliatella :) - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I always feel nostalgia with this bakery. It has been a family tradition for generations. They have the best Italian desserts in Chicago. If you haven't tried them make a stop. This is truly a gem. The owner is always there and super courteous. read more

Ferrara Original - Italian butter cookies I always get a couple of each - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing food! Great employees!!!! And super comfortable setting. Fast service and delicious food!!! Highly recommend

The Ferrara Signature Sandwich is everything I want in an Italian cold cut sub. The bread use is crusty and chewy. The meat and seasonings along with fresh tomatoes, onions and lettuce make for a tasty sandwich. I haven't tried the desserts yet but my kids weren't crazy about the chocolate cake, but think the cannoli was good. I look forward to trying the sweets. UPDATE: We got cookies for the road and sadly we didn't like them. They had an I'd flavor like they have been stored too long. We bought two boxes. It's disappointing when we were looking forward to them on the ride. So I'm down grading to three stars. The savory was great but the baked goods not so much. Bummer. read more

Ferrara Original - Ferrara Signature Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have lived in Chicago for 35 years. I'm embarrassed to say that today was my first time ever here. I was taking some out-of-town clients around and showing the properties and we were around Taylor Street and I saw the reviews on yelp and was ready to give it a shot. I had the hot chicken sandwich and my clients had the classic Ferrara. We washed it down with cappuccinos . I wish I had the space for some tiramisu or some of the other incredibly delicious looking deserts. They had stuffed pepper as a special and I saw some other people ordered that and it had my mouth watering from two tables over. When my family comes in from out of town I will be bringing them here immediately . Classic feel. It was as if I stepped back in time 50 years read more

Decent Italian bakery with sandwiches, pastas and salads for lunch. They are very quick and efficient when it comes to ordering, paying, and serving the food. Though, that's all I can really give them. The food for my taste is just okay at best. Nothing too wowing unfortunately. Thin crust pizza slices were $5.44 plus tax so that seemed like a deal. Sandwiches can range from $6-$8. I got the grilled chicken giardiniera sandwich which was just okay. I hear they are great for salads though but I'm not one for salads. read more

Ferrara Original - Grilled Chicken giadiniera sandwich $7.50 - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came today for a quick breakfast while waiting for the bus. My bf ordered Tuscan Chicken and I specially requested her for an Iced (hot) Chocolate. She stated it was first time she made that drink order, but YES, I LOVE IT. I was just expected hot chocolate pour over ice, but noooooo, she made it perfectly GOOD. She decorated my drink with chocolate sauce and whip cream too. And my bf also likes his sandwich. We will definitely be back. Great service and convenience too since it's close to the bus stop. read more

Ferrara Original - Iced Chocolate. Perfect - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious pastries in a comfortable setting. The variety is overwhelming! I chose a few Sunday goodies for my family including a lemon tart which had buttery, flakey crust and perfect tangy sweet filling, a pasticciotto filled with limoncello ricotta that was rich and luscious, tiramisu which was delicate and layered with fluffy lady fingers soaked in espresso, a classic eclair, and a beautiful cream filled clam shell pastry I could not for the life of me spell or pronounce! Also picked up a small container of mixed cookies, buttery shortbread and frosted crumbly delights that disappeared fast especially with the house espresso to dip in. Looking forward to trying the lunch here. read more

I absolutely love this place. What a gem! Came in this late afternoon for a sugar fix and came out with way more than I can chew! The staff is amazing, every one of my visits is always such a great experience. Today my boyfriend and I came in for gummy worms and ended up getting chocolate chip cookies,pizza slices, and cannolis! This particular visit, we were greeted immediately by a very nice (handsome) man who ended up giving me 2 free slices of the spinach pizza with the 2 slices I already picked up!!! That just goes to show how amazing the staff is, real personable too, totally adds to the bakery's at home atmosphere. Can't get any better than that! The baked goods / desserts are nothing short of perfection! The candy display always makes me feel like a kid. I love the selection and always leave wishing I ordered more!!! They have a full menu equipped to fill your hearts Italian desire! Oh and I have to mention that my very first cannoli was from this bakery and I'm totally hooked for life! This is a local neighborhood business that my Boyfriend and I will continue to support. The kindness of the store doesn't go unnoticed. Thanks! read more

Ferrara Original - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ferrara Bakery's charming long history in Chicago adds to its authentic Italian appeal. I picked up lasagna with added meatballs, tiramisu and cannoli for lunch. Portions were individually sized, but they can also split with another person if not very hungry. The order came with a side garden salad with a fantastic creamy Italian dressing. Lasagna and meatballs probably had Asiago, Romano, or Sharp Parmesan that added a pungent cheese profile, but I can also see people having split opinions about this. It made it more distinguished from the typical frozen version. To finish off the meal, the desserts tasted fresh and indulgent - my preference is less sweetness and a lighter touch, but these were very good. The strong expresso and nutty, pistachio flavors really stood out in the tiramisu and cannoli. read more

Although I've been going to Ferrara for many years, I've not written a review mainly because I just don't know where to begin. It's a bakery, and yes, I have ordered more than my share of Cannoli cakes for family events, I've eaten many cookies and pastries - more than I care to admit, but it's so, so, so much more. It's been awesome to experience the expanding menu of savory items on Ferrara's menu over the years, some have been misses (no one is perfect), but most have been hits, from soups, to sandwiches to pastas to pizzas and salads - so much good food!! On my most recent visit, I decided to keep it simple and try something I never had before - a Garden Salad with ranch dressing on the side. I figured it would be a small salad - something I could eat at my office to get me through the end of the day. When the young lady came out with a big bag I had to ask "What did I order?" She repeated exactly what I ordered...when I got back to my office I pull out this huge container with a beautiful salad with romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, roasted red peppers, croutons (made in-house), celery, carrots and more that I can't remember. And the ranch - which tasted like it was also made in-house, was SUPER-DELICIOUS!! Seriously, sometimes, it pays to keep it simple. This was one of the best salads ever. The staff at Ferrara are also worth mentioning, they are all so friendly and attentive. It's always a pleasure to go for a visit. Hope Ferrara is around for many more years. read more

I usually go to Ferrara for a cup of coffee (which is great), sometimes tea. Sometimes I get a pastry. Sometimes I go for a coffee there even though I don't need it, because the staff are wonderful and their kindness can get me through a tough day like a great cup of coffee would. read more

Great Italian spot in the middle of a veritable food wasteland, I get the same thing almost every time I come here: Summer Salad w Tuna - Delicious, grapes, bleu cheese, olive oil and regular salad stuff with a health dose of mayo laden tuna so I can justify it as being protein Spinach Pizza - Bomb They recently got rid of their pizzas, which I thought were awesome, and if you come in here at noon it gets super crowded from the hospital people. This place is solid, def. try it for lunch. read more

I was a little shocked to find that this bakery is the oldest bakery of Little Italy but is the FARTHEST establishment away from all the other stores on the main strip of Taylor street. Oh well. Luckily I was driving and not walking. I only tried two things from this bakery, both of which I thought were delicious. I had the cinnamon butterfly cookie (elephant ears), and the apple turnover. YUMMIE! I wanted to try some of their other cakes and cookies but thought I'd save myself for my next trip back. Definitely not located in the best of areas, so bring a buddy or go during the day. read more

One delicious bakery. Simply put: there's something for everyone and prices are very reasonable. Customer service is great, too. read more

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Stopped in here for lunch with 7 of my coworkers, and they really did a great job serving everything in a timely manner. We sat outside as there aren't any tables inside for parties larger than four, but it was a nice day and it's a covered area, so it worked out nicely. I had the Ferrara Special sandwich with hot peppers, and others ordered the lasagna, the meatball sub, and the gnocchi. Everyone had great things to say about the food. I really enjoyed the sub, it was a little different since it had italian dressing instead of oil and vinegar that is usually on similar subs, but it was good and juicy, which is how I like it. I wish now I would have tried some of the bakery items because they did look good! Overall a great little spot to grab some food and treats. read more

Came here to try out some bakery items. I had the tiramisu. It wasn't the best I've had, but it was okay. Cannoli has peanuts and not pistachios like other have stated, but I wasn't really a fan of it. My sister didn't care for the strawberry shortcake. She said it tasted like cheap cake and overly sweet. Sorry, but doubt I'll be back. read more

Ferrara Original - L-R - Strawberry Shortcake, Tiramisu, German Chocolate Cake, Cannoli, Red Velvet Cupcake and Banana Walnut Cake - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This little bakery in Little Italy is charming. We had the lasagne plate and antipasto salad and a chicken parm sandwich. The lasagne was lovely and came with a little salad and crusty bread. Huge portions and we took it home. Loved it. Come hungry and don't forget the cannoli ! And this little bakery has been around for over a hundred years. Fun fact: the original owner Salvatore Ferrara was a lawyer who gave up law to start the bakery and subsequently invented the candy Lemonheads.cant beat that. read more

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I love this place. They are great for a quick and easy lunch--particularly love their meatball and chicken parm hot sandwiches. It's a no-frills kind of place where you seat yourself and clean up after yourself, but the food is SO GOOD. It does get busy around lunch, but there's plenty of seating and they have a good system for working efficiently. I've never spent more than 10-15 minutes waiting for food, even at their busiest times. Their baked items are fantastic as well. I love picking up 1/4 pound of biscotti for the weekend (anise almond is my favorite). And their tiramisu is the best I've ever had, hands down. I wasn't super impressed with their cannolis to be honest, but they're good if you're craving a cannoli. I can't wait to try more of their Italian pastries and cookies when I stop by again. I can't recommend this place enough. read more

This place has been around since I can remember. My mom used to get all our birthday cakes here when we were little. We lived a couple of blocks away and she remembers the small cake costing 8$. The canolli cakes are still delicious and their trays of cookies and pastries still mouth watering. Apparently they sell pasta and sandwiches now. I guess this is convenient for all the people who work at the nearby hospital. I have not had a chance to try the food but I will soon. Still my favorite Chicago birthday cakes! read more

I took a looong bus ride to Ferrara to get cookies for Christmas Day! 10000% worth it. The pignoli cookies are out of this world.

Great restaurant in the TriTaylor/Medical District area. I love their strawberry poppyseed salad. It gets busy during lunch and there isn't much seating available inside, so plan accordingly. I wish they had longer hours. read more

What a fantastic find!! This place has been in existence since the last 110 years - yes its been that long. Its like walking into a historic place. We wanted to pick up some tiramisu for dessert. There were so many pastry/cake choices - it was difficult to choose. There was a family picking up a cake and I started chatting with an elderly gentleman. He had catered his wedding cake from this bakery 50 years ago, and he was here to pick up a cake for his 50th anniversary. How can you not like this place after hearing that story? We ordered the cannolis, tiramisu and the strawberry shortcake - all of the desserts were fabulous. I would love to come and try more desserts from here. read more

Fantastic Thanksgiving Turkey and sides.. We took a chance and glad we did.. Everything was prepared Little oven time and it was perfect. I'd definitely recommend this place fir your Thanksgiving feast. read more

We wanted an authentic cannoli and eclair and oh boy did we get them!! The sweets and treats are delicious! The cannolis are enormous and they are very liberal with the filling which is fantastic! The eclair was enormous too and an absolute treat! I can't wait to go back and try some other sweets! My only concern was the area... It's literally 2 blocks away from juvie. But that has nothing to do with the quality of the food in this gem of a bakery! read more

Ferrara Original - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ferrara bakery was my favorite place to go for salads. Being a popular establishment you will think the staff would wash all vegetables and greens before preparing people meals. Well that doesn't seems to be the case. Today, I found live bug in my salad. well the bug found me. This is the most disgusting and disappointing thing ever! read more

Ferrara Original - Found bug in my salad! - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Thanks for all the reviews on here! I was in a bind on Friday, needing a Tres Leche cake, and someone gave it a good review, and I called 6 places and all need 3 days! I called in the order at 2pm on Friday and it was ready for pickup 10am on Saturday. Easy parking in front, was able to get right in, and pick up the cake. They showed it to me, making sure it was what I wanted, before writing on it. It came out spectacular! They box it up, wrapping strong around the box to keep it in place. The owner (who was actually the person that came out to right on it, and rung me up, who is on the website), she was very kind, and gave us a free piece of their canoli cake. Wow! Now I want the Canoli cake, it had 3 layers of cake, with a layer of fruit in between one, and then a layer of, I think a pudding. Very good! Would be back in a heart beat, and recommend to anyone! read more

Ferrara Original - Tres Leche - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This anti pasti salad was everything. I didn't fully read the menu so I didn't realize it was fresh mozzarella till I tasted it and it was heaven. I also got a Tuscan chicken sandwich that was overflowing with chicken and even though I hate pesto I loved that tuscan chicken sandwich. I can't wait to come back here for some of their thin crust pizzas and desserts read more

Ferrara Original - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mom had the beef bolognese LAST YEAR and hasn't stopped talking about it! The lasagna I had was great-I was only upset that I didn't get enough bread to sop up the rest of the sauce! The side salad that comes with the meal has the best dressing as well! Great service and great food-can't beat it! read more

Ferrara Original - If I was the only person inside the restaurant, I'd be licking the plate! Tiramisu was amazing! - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

chicken Caesar salad is the bomb!!! I love this place excellent customer service!!! great food!!! and deserts

I ordered a 10" chocolate sponge cake with cannoli filling for $48 for a dear friend's last day at work. No sponge cake, just regular cake that was really cold and wet and almost soggy. The whipped cream and cannoli filling was not cold, just the cake. I suspect the cake layers were frozen and defrosted, so that the melted ice crystals then made cake wet, not moist like a good cake should taste. Besides being really cold, the cake was tasteless. And what about the sponge cake that I ordered? I also bought 2 lbs of Italian style cookies, which had very poor taste, like baking powder. I am really disappointed. I think this bakery is mass producing its cakes and cookies and has lost any focus on quality. read more

Every single picture in our family album celebrating a birthday or event has a Ferrara cake in it! I am no longer a Chicago resident but make every attempt to stop in for a cannoli or this last time ... a cake!!! Enjoyed every single slice!! Absolutely delicious old fashioned birthday cake!!! read more