I've had my shares of Polish delis when I lived in Chicago, so when I got a chance to try another one I haven't been to, I jumped. Boy was I happy at what I discovered. They had the jars of marinate mushrooms, lots of pickles and best of all, their bakery and deli selection. Everything looked well stocked, clean and organized. The cookies and cake/breads looked fantastic. I asked for a recommendation and the young lady behind the counter said the apple cake was her favorite. Ok, I'm game. It was tasty! Not overly sweet and not too soggy with a crumbly topping. I headed to the sausage case because that's what I was really there for. An older nice lady helped me and when she didn't understand or wanted to ask me something, she called the young bakery girl again. Not a problem! I got my sausage shrink wrapped/sealed for an extra 80 cents. I was happy! The check out young guy was nice and overall, I only had really great service. I've been to a few Polish stores and it's not that they're rude, they are not always equipped to translate. Don't get intimidated, point and try? And go back for more! You can't lose and the prices are really reasonable. read more

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This store is a great spot for Polish groceries and food. I stopped by because I was craving pastries and saw they made some fresh daily. I tried a cherry turnover, cheese danish turnover, and raspberry danish. The cherry turnover was huge and so flaky. The bread was soft and covered in sugar while the cherry inside was very fresh and sour. One of those could be shared among a few people. The raspberry danish was also very well made as the bread was incredibly soft and dense. The raspberry was again fresh and the whole thing was quite large. The cheese danish turnover wasn't so great. It was quite bland and didn't really taste like anything. Overall, the fruit pastries were the best and huge items for very cheap. I'll have to come back and try some of their savory food items! read more

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This bakery is amazing! I had called bakeries all Over the country for polish food that would ship. My father is Polish and has dementia and all he wants to eat are his favorites cheese danish and Kolaches and rye bread. Mr Kolatek created a Polish box and took to FedEx and mailed from Chicago to Texas. He went above and beyond to help a Polish Man have his favorite foods when food is one of the things my Dad remembers. The customer service and his kindness has to be reflective of his care for the food and can't not wait to get our package! Dziękuję i błogosławię wam i waszej rodzinie. Dziękuję Ci! read more

Small but great place to get hot and fresh European food. They sell some cosmetics and vitamins you can't get nowhere else in Chicago. Costumer Service is very good compare to other European grocery stores in the area. Dark grain bread is must try! They offer ready to eat meals, different each day. I've seen an advertisement on the back of the store about their new special deal which looks pretty good to me. I'm coming back here since I tried some pastry. I recommend cheesecake with poppy seed and apple pie. Both are delicious. read more

Feirce Customer Service Alert Cake to the Resuce Shout out to the lovely Agnes at Kolatek's Bakery & Deli. I live in Oklahoma. My sister lives in Chicago. Being so far away really sucks, especally on my sister's birthday. Since i personally couldnt be there to celebrate, I had planned to use a food delivery app in the Chicago area to deliver her a few baked goodies. After several failed attemps on the technical end, a direct delivery refusal from a nationally known donut shop, I was frustrated, and about to give up...but then Agnes answered the phone. She not only personally texted me individual photos of the cakes available, but she had the cake delivered to my sister within the hour. As you can tell by my sister's insta pic, the cake was absolutely GORGEOUS! Well done, Agnes! You really helped make the distance feel not as far on that very specail day Many many thank you's! read more

Kolatek's Bakery & Deli - New Orleans dark chocolate cake. With milk chocolate and vanilla mousse layers. - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Most beautiful grocery store in Chicago! And I visited pretty much stores out there. Clean, lots of good food, polite people, great fresh baked bread. I could drive miles to buy here fresh made salads, great deli. Fried fish and French style pork cutlet taste like they are made at home! You will not be sorry for freshness, prices and quality above all! Love to stop by. Oh, and they have perfect creamy cakes. Update 07/01/19 Still one of my favorite grocery shops. And still most beautiful. It just reminds me of the Delicatesa shops in Europe. Small cute shops, with great energy and food. Bakery is amazing, from homemade cookies to amazing creamy europiab style cakes. I love their deli section. And selection of bread?! Amazing.. try Tata bread, only healthy ingredients they even have no yest breds. Great people with great energy work there so treat yourself and stop by. read more

Cute little grocery store! Really nice bakery inside. Went in for pazcki . They have a ton of different kinds. I placed my order over Facebook and arranged a time to pick up. Worked out great. It's an easy location to get to, they have a private lot for parking . 2 thumbs up read more

Kolatek's Bakery & Deli - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Visited on pączki day. What a gem! This little bakery makes a variety of breads, including gluten free, and pastries. There is a little deli case, some prepared meals and a small cafe area. I noticed they serve coffees and sandwiches as well. The pączki were traditional & perfect. We also tried their gołąbki (delicious). I will be back to try a few more Polish delights! read more

I love this store. I always buy organic real very tasty bread in it. I also often order cakes in this store for birthdays. Their own pastries are very tasty. I recommend the Fresh Strawberry Cake when it's strawberry season. There is also a very large selection of seasonings. I also really like buying Polish green leaf tea from them, which my whole family adores. We love this store. read more

in fact not even the fact she skipped me annoyed me so much, but I waited long in line to get one special bread from two left and the rude dude behind me got both of them! hope constipation follows him trough the years read more

My parents recently bought a cake here as a house warming gift for a friend. Service was very friendly, and the cake turned out amazing. We were able to get the cake customized, to say "Good luck " in Polish as well. The bakery itself was well kept, and had a variety treats that looked delicious. This place has quickly become my favorite bakery in the area. We will definitely come back for future cakes. read more

Kolatek's Bakery & Deli - Amrbosia Cake - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

On 12/24/2021 we purchased several dishes from Kolatek for Christmas Eve dinner. One item, sweet barley, turned out fermented (bad). On 12/30/2021 at 8:20 a. m. I took that item back to Kolatek for a refund. The owner got angry stating that no one ever returned anything. After I also showed them that they sold this product with a "sell by" or expiration date, she threw the item in the garbage, and asked the manager to give the refund. read more

This was my 1st time trying their breads. I found my tastebuds were actually exuberated by the fresh, and "made by Mom" taste! I have alot of trouble with gluten but I believe that the sprouting and sourdough process matters when it comes to essentially having the gluten pre-digested for you. I will definetly keep them as my 1st stop bread shop!! read more

I love Polish sausage, but unfortunately my head gets puffy after I eat your run on the mill Polish sausage because of the MSG, nitrates and other chemicals they add. To my surprise they have some all natural Polish sausage at Kolatek's that I can eat to my hearts content. Be sure to ask for it because some of the other sausages do have the usual suspect ingredients. They also have a nice variety of organic stuff, nice cheeses, and great baked goods. Sort of like a Trader Joe's but no booze, and with a bakery and ready to eat stuff like they have at Wholefoods. This is a good place if you want some nice organic and natural products mixed in with some ethnic staples. I highly recommend the nalesniki, good stuff! It's also nice to be able to fill up your cart and pay $50 instead of the $150 I usually blow at Wholefoods. I shop here every couple of weeks. read more

Paczki's were tough and dry.....I miss Miara's!!

This is one very hard working deli, really most versatile in the whole area. Cold cuts are fresh and last a good amount of time, meats are organic, their own production of delish hot dogs and sausages is always without MSG. Bakery goods are many and Kolatek's Deli offers their own, healthy choices of sprout bread. There are spices in the bulk, big variety of organic flours, lentils and dry beans, Sweets are in abundance as are good quality dairy products including Bulgarian yogurt, many types of milk, organic eggs, and farmer's cheese.Frozen section with Kolatek's own pierogi is simply eamazing. read more

I'd give them 4 stars for the food, but 1 star for the service. Unless you speak Polish, good luck communicating. I won a $50 gift certificate from a radio station for this place, when I checked out I was told that I had to spend the total amount of $50 or more as they cannot give me change. I said I'm fine with that - I'll just take the store credit. They told me that I had to use the entire $50 today as they don't give credit. I call bullshit on this place especially when it says nothing about that on the coupon. I'm a single person and don't need $50 worth of food at one time. I'm sure Andy's Deli on Milwaukee, or any other place would be happy to have my business because it will be a cold day in hell I come back. If they thought by advertising their company on the radio and offering gift certificates is going to help bring in new customers, they need to learn more about attracting new customers because they didn't win me over today. And here's a concept, if you're going to move to the United States and open a store, why not LEARN to speak the language,?! But of course they have mastered how to add and subtract in our currency. If I lived in Poland, or any other country, I would learn their language..... read more

This place is never a disappointment. Great deli with delicious prepared foods, hands down the best for Polish stores. The owners make sure to keep a high level of quality with the prepared foods. Makes me feel like I'm eating my grandma's potato salad and fried fish. So so yummy and 100% authentic! Mniam! Oh and let me not forget to mention the baked goods! Fantastic rolls, bread and amazing deserts! read more

They have expanded their store in the last year. It was much smaller a year ago. Now they have a large parking lot in the back and you can enter from the back or you can try to battle Harlem and park on the street. They have a great deli section with good prices and an awesome bakery. They bake all their goods there and rye bread is always fresh. Everything always seems fresh and tastes good. I'm giving it one less star because I don't do all my grocery shopping here and can't comment on the rest of their products. read more

Thinking about you walk into Whole Food but your surrounding peeps are speaking Polish, yes that's what Kolatek's looks like. This entire store feels like a "mini Whole Food." They have a strong bakery department, which features lots of Polish specialities and has an impressive presentation. However, I didn't find the deli section as magnificent as their bakery department. I would still prefer Montrose deli for soup, appetizers, salad, and other Polish yumminess. However, what wins me over is their frozen section. It looks clean, well-stocked, and extensive. They carry Alexandria's pierogis instead of Kasia's. I can't wait to try them! I don't live nearby, but I'm on a mission to visit as many Polish deli as I can in the city because I have an unexplainable obsession to Polish food. I will be back with my hubby so that he can carry the groceries for me! read more

I placed an order for some rye breads from them yesterday (they have many varieties!) & they couldn't have been nicer! I live in the far south suburbs so they overnighted it to me with no problem. Their breads are delicious!!! I'm so happy that I thought of this. This is the Old World rye bread of my childhood. Fresh & delicious & made without preservatives. Thank you, Kolatek's Bakery for being so great & for taking your craft so seriously! read more

I brought some smoked Kielbasa home from Kolatek's to California. Oh my, did my family enjoy our Polish dinner here. The very best Kielbasa. The servers called out my number in Polish, but no issues, i got my turn at the deli counter and had great service. They were able to put the sausage in a shrink wrap package for the airplane ride home for just 80 cents more. No smells in the suitcase that way. I highly recommend Kolatek's. read more

So many strange meats hanging up by the deli! I got some creamy borscht with cream that had been severely burnt, that tasted like beets mixed with cigarette ash. Also, I had a couple of chocolate pastries that were not the best. BUT it doesn't matter, because this place has CHIA SEED KOMBUCHA in a neighborhood where that's impossible to find. The ultimate pick-me-up, right by my favorite yoga studio in the universe. read more

Be careful, because they reuse expired salads by just adding more mayo into it and changing the date on the package. Also they rub their expired kabanos with oil to make them look fresh. Small variety of food, not worth going if you're looking for a specific product. read more

Love walking here. Super close to my house and I can get almost everything I need. Great selection of breads and pastries and home cooked meals that will make your mouth drool. The lady at the deli would let me sample everything. Even the home cooked pierogies, she let me have a whole one. Super delicious. Ended up buying a cake for my friends birthday and a couple sandwich meats for the deli. I loved that this polish store didn't treat me any different because I wasn't polish. Everyone made me feel welcome and like a normal customer. Will be back here all the time. read more

I stopped by on a Friday afternoon. They were not busy at all. The woman at the bakery was friendly and answered all of my questions. I bought the piña colada cake and it was very delicious! The cake was creamy and it was not too sweet. Everyone at my party loved the cake. I am definitely going back to try all the other cakes they have! read more

The first issue here is the VERY RUDE employees and management. All they had was brown paper bags to put your selections in then when you bring it up to pay they look disgusted at you like you just made their life harder because they now have to look into the bag to see what you have... then the manager laughs behind your back like you're stupid!! Then when you ask what the problem is they insist they don't speak English. The second problem is the actual food. It's dry, tasteless and sometimes burnt. Don't go here, save your money, it's not worth it! read more

Often times one's pallet conjures the mood for a 'sausage. Most invariably and ubiquitously present at Chicago-land quick eatery's is the all-time classic "Polish." I can think of few single menu items, other than some stiff cocktails which are recognized and named by its ethic ab-origins. That is for deliciously good reason. Because a truly home-made Polish Sausage is a delicacy. But let me tell you, at Kolatek's Bakery and Deli the sausages, the hams and all the other Polish meat selections are purely gourmet delicacies. It's a grocer and a gastronomical delight as well. There is a Spiced Ham, no; not at all as you think, this is a real ham seasoned with a blend of several different whole red pepper flakes on the exterior of the ham -pure heaven. If you're lucky enough to get the end piece, wow! And how about a slice of Cured Beef Bacon? Unbelievable! You gotta see and taste this. There are so many other choices including off the bone fresh baked goodness. If you are old enough to remember when American food products were not "enriched" with various chemicals like msg, growth hormones, and who-knows-what; well, after you taste a sausage from here you will be instantly transformed back to that time, by the taste and by the smell. Kolatek's also has butchered meats, beef, pork and chicken cut and served as you request. As the name indicates, this is also a full operating bakery, everything is baked daily. Fresh whole grains, dinner rolls, cakes, bread sticks, and huge homemade snack desserts for $1! This place is 'hearth heaven gold, without the price of Jewels -pun intended. Where can you get fresh daily cured corn beef and fresh baked rye bread - 2 loaves for a dollar you should know- today, right now? KOLATEK"S Bakery and Deli. The staff is helpful and if you don't speak Polish they will get someone, all the while with a bright service attitude ready to translate and serve you. You need to pay a visit. They also have your dairy needs and a nice variety of side items and Polish candy's. O'lde European brands that cost a fortune at the trendy healthier store-outlets, or in the 'organic' isles, are very affordable here. The shelves are stocked with items that are naturally organic because they do not have the mass market processing and are just made that way. An old Polish saying is: "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." Here you will love life like freshly made sausage and daily baked bread. read more

Checked out this place for our wedding cake after receiving a tip from one of our Polish friends. All in all, I was flexible with cake and the price was very right. My husband wanted something more Polish and less Americano super sweet and typical. We met with Bart and he helped us pick out cakes and made suggestions. We had 2 layers of tiramisu w/ mandarin oranges, and 1 layer of 'Ambassador' cake. Both cakes are delicate, have some fruit and they are GOOD! Picked up some fresh rye and it was still warm- YUMMY!!! Will be doing some grocery shopping for some fresh Polish grub. The fact that they bake their own bread on site makes them better than Bobak's and Caputo's. read more

Very nice polish bakery and deli. Not as many sausage types as Andy's in Jefferson Park but good nonetheless. The apple cake was delicious. I bought some apple cake from here and my mom stopped at Oak Mill and bought the same from there. Kolateks dough was nice and airy and the cake from Oak Mill was dense. Also Kolateks cake was cheaper. A much better taste and value at Kolateks. They did not have a lot of soups to choose from the day I went. I was disappointed to learn they actually carry gluten bread and pierogi but I did not see them out with any signage, so I didn't ask. The next time I am in the area I will try both out! Overall well worth the stop. read more

Good quality food and bread but very rude staff and few food labels in English so you don't know what you buying. The staff just stare at you and are so cold like at the Eastern Block border check in the 70s. The young girl at the counter would rather run through hell soaked in gasoline before she ever smiles and says thank you or hello. Get in and get out and expect nothing. read more

I looooove this store!!! They have all kinds of cooked polish foods amazing bread and anything you may need. Hidden gem! I usually get krokiety with mushroom & sauerkraut very tasty! read more

Very rude, don't go to this place unless you're Polish. That's how they made me feel. I'm sure the food is probably very good, but I'll never find out now. My wife told me last year they treated her the same way, so I figured I'd go this time. The result was no different, just poor customer service. We went to get paczkis for Fat Tuesday. read more

Want genuine Polish food? Want pastries your Polish grandmother would make for you when you were a little one? I was at Kolatek's on Sunday, 9-4-16. It's a truly fantastic place to buy traditional Polish foods and baked goods, as well as fresh meats and many varieties of smoked meats and sausages. Their prepared foods section is an unbelievably sumptuous array of ethic delights. The enormous variety of baked goods looked oh-so appealing--show stoppers. We bought a poppy seed roll and a section of apple cake and some candy made in Poland: the candy my grandmother would give to me when I was a wee one. Prices were ridiculously inexpensive (under $5 for a large poppyseed roll.). I wish Kolatek's was in my hometown of Westlake, Oh. This place is a solid 5 stars in every regard. read more

Awesome place to get food if you care about your wellness. They have a broad selection of gluten free food. Gluten free cakes are to die for. When I purchase a g.f products elsewhere -it usually ends up in the trash bin but not this wholesome goodness that they sell here!! I think this is the only place that sells gluten free pierogies! I was pleasantly surprised to find loose herbs that help with inflammation, immunity and body detox. Soups and other pre-packaged goodies had labels with all ingredients listed - very helpful when you have some sort of food intolerance. I am extremely happy I had stumbled upon this deli as I can finally enjoy delicious fresh food that does not make me ill. Never tried their sausage selection but I can tell that they follow the traditional was of smoking the sausage as oppose to some other delis that add that fake liquid smoke to their meat. Employees at the deli were attentive, nice, and spoke perfect English. The store was very clean and organized. This is my new fav. new spot AND I LOVE IT!!! read more

They have the best deli sandwiches. They are so fresh and made with homemade bread. I tried the turkey sandwich and it was delicious. They build them up high with a ton of veggies. read more

Great Polish food! Deli, bakery etc. delicious.

I've really tried to find something that I like here and that goes for the bakery as well as the prepared foods but so far, everything is bland and flavorless including the pastries. I bought the raspberry mousse cake and there really wasn't any raspberry flavor and the cake was more like a brownie than a light cake. Today, I tried the Ambassador cake and once again, even the frosting lacks flavor. It is neither sweet nor smooth and the cherry filling on top has a rubbery texture. Everyone thought that it had a strange aftertaste as well. We also tried the Beef rolls that also lacked any flavor and that included the mushroom gravy. The sauerkraut/mushroom pierogi were also on the dry side and lacked any real flavor. It's a shame because I had high hopes for this place but the Polish pastries and cooking that I grew up seems to be a thing of the past. I even tried the Rogaliki which are a yeast dough filled with cheese in the shape of a crescent roll and again, the cheese filling was very dry and lacked flavor. Sorry but I love to patronize local businesses but I have given up on this one. read more

Great food and people. Nothing like a mom and pop bakery with better quality ingredients and service. If language is a barrier for some folks you can still point to what you want, right Mike L? Doubt they'll miss ya though. read more

Kolatek has terrific,fresh deli items. Homemade soups that are delicious,a good variety of baked that day European breads. If you are lucky enough pick up a just smoked trout....AMAZING!. Pierogies from the deli are like Grandmas. Heres the only downside NO ONE speaks a word of English, just grunt & point . (sometimes the lines are long) read more