First coming in, they have tablets where you can place orders at without going to a cashier, which I like. Inside is very clean and they got good sandwich options as well. I got a chocolate and almond croissant - both tasted very fresh. The croissants here are unique, in a way that they are very soft and airy - not dense at all. The outside is slightly crispy/flakey and isn't super buttery or heavy. I think this will be a good option for people who want a lighter croissant for breakfast. I still prefer my croissants with more texture when biting into them. However, not a bad croissant at all! read more

The customer service was great. The food was over priced, bland but pretty quaint inside. read more

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Had business in the neighborhood and stopped in for lunch and was glad that I did. Had a croque madame and a salad, and the bread is delicious. I also really liked the Dijon vinaigrette that came with the salad. It's a fast casual order on the screen type of place, but I thought it was great for a reasonable quick lunch. read more

Been here several times for lunch with coworkers because it's one of my fave places to grab a sandwich. I'm not a fan of the self order at the kiosk but I'm willing to overlook it. Place isn't very big but we've always been able to find a seat to eat and food comes out fairly quickly. I'm a fan of the French baguette they use as well as their ham. read more

We happened by here on Sunday AM. Glad we did! We had Macchiato and Cappuccino which was made to order... but my review is about croissants! I got an Almond with Almond "filling"... but it's actually sliced and buttered with an Almond butter honey glaze and was delicious. read more

Lea - Croissants heaven. - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great little spot with simple French style food. Wish I could have gotten a side of fruit with my egg sandwich on a croissant and not a bag of chips at 8am, but overall it was a fine experience. read more

Loved that there was no wait to order! Come in and place your order at a kiosk. They will then call your name and pick up your order. I had a croissant sandwich and it was delicious! I also had the chocolate croissant and it was decadent. I went during lunch time and was able to find a table and chairs for my party of 3. Overall, a great little lunch spot! read more

we just keep coming back now that my wife has been, it's a perfect space for a delicious bite when in the Loop. a great place to stop after a visit to the Art Institute read more

i HIGHLY recommend the hazelnut croissant, it's amazing! Lea is a delicious, reasonably priced option for breakfast, brunch, and lunch! fast and friendly service with a nice atmosphere & yummy food & drinks :-) big fan! read more

Maybe cuz I was visiting from New York, but loved the various options they had on the menu for quick bites! I love Croque Madame, and this also came with a bag of chips which gave a really good balance. Portion size was actually a bit big b/c I shared with my friend! This is definitely an upgrade from your typical DD/Sbux for quick grabs in the morning (: read more

Lea - Croque Madame - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Solid pastries, if slightly over baked. Coffee is excellent. It's a cozy place with somewhat limited seating, which I actually love because it lends it a true bistro vibe. I come here every time I'm in Chicago! read more

Popped by to grab food on the way to the airport and was generally impressed and would want to try a few more things. Easy to grab preorders from the counter. Dan's Chocolate Chip Cookie - 4.5/5. Excellent textures, sweet and gooey. Le Saint Germain ( Brie ) - 3.5/5. Simple but effective. Heaping piles of Brie. Nice walnut butter. Odd combination with lettuce that sort of works. The bread was on the hard side but it was late in the day so I'll be kind. read more

Great breakfast cafe. They make the pastries fresh there. It felt like a quick escape to Paris.

This little spot is a great reminder of last year's trip to Paris. I was able to sit right in front of the window and people watch while enjoying my breakfast. Everything was really good. read more

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Been here quite a few times! My favorite drinks are the lavender lemonade & the sweet matcha (hot or iced are both great ) Great vibe for reading, working from home or even catching up with a friend you haven't seen in a while. Definitely would recommend any of their pastries! I like that there is I pad or counter service if you are in a hurry but want to grab one! My favorite coffee shop in the loop so far! read more

Lea - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was greatly looking forward to visiting Lea, since there aren't many European style cafes in the Loop, but was disappointed by the croque madame sandwich I ordered. The sandwich was greasy, and the baguette itself was super tough and chewy to eat. Maybe the pastries they offer are better, since the ones in the display case looked pretty good, but I am hesitant to try due to the diappointing croque madame. read more

Lea - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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For a Loop breakfast/lunch spot/patisserie, the hours at Lea are very generous - open 7 days/week. I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon for a late lunch. I had wanted to check it out ever since passing by this location on my way to the Orange Line. With the pandemic causing so many places to close, I was psyched to stumble onto this new spot, quite by accident. The clean, plate glass windows draw the eye, and the Parisian-inspired tilework and cafe tables immediately make one feel transported to a street cafe in France. The ordering kiosks provide a touch-free experience. The menu features an array of coffee drinks, tea, and lemonade. Lighter fare (think: pastries, salads, baguettes/croques and quiches) comprises the menu. I enjoyed my Americano and would put the croissant up there with those that I had sampled on my trip to France for study abroad, lo these many years ago. The atmosphere is relaxing and no-fuss. I look forward to seeing how Lea evolves, especially as the warmer-weather dining months draw near. read more

The food was some of the best I have ever had and for a very understanding price. They have great service and very nice employees.

Lea is my new go to for lunch when I have to go into the office. I've had two of the vegetarian options as my mains: Le Rivoli and the Croque Chèvre (pictured). Both are delicious and exceptionally fresh. The Rivoli's mozzarella cheese just melts in your mouth. It's amazing. The Croque Chèvre has literally all of my favorite things and the balance of cheese, avocado and tomato is perfect. Only negative is that it is very messy since it's open face. The soft boiled egg is perfect though, so it was to be expected. I've also had the almond croissant, the butter croissant pain au chocolat, shortbread caramel bar, and the pear and almond financier. Almond croissants are always my favorite and these don't disappoint. The shortbread bar is delicious but a bit hard on your teeth, and the financier is one of my favorite sweet treats to finish off my lunch. I've liked everything that I've ordered here! read more

Lea - Croque Chèvre - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

You can't go wrong with this place. Be warned if you go around lunch you will have to wait in line, but it moves fast and the staff are really lovely read more

This is the second location but the first one here. They have house made pastries. The beverages start at $2.75 and up and the food averages $8 - $13. Staff and service is great. read more

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So happy to see this spot open after Toni's patisserie sadly shuttered during the pandemic. They are a French-inspired cafe, offering sandwiches, salads, quiches, pastries, and various beverages, including coffee drinks. I really enjoyed my sandwich - the parisienne - which was basically ham, swiss, butter on a baguette but you can switch out condiments and add toppings like lettuce, tomato, etc. if you want to level up. The sandwich came with a bag of chips and I also tried the pear almond financier. The ordering process was very smooth - I used the tablets at the front and my food was up in less than 5 minutes (I visited before the lunch rush). Service was friendly, and the interior was cute. Lea just might join my regular rotation. read more

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Everything I've had from here has been super delicious! The ordering stations were quick and easy to use.

Incredibly delicious sandwiches in fresh, crusty, wonderful baguettes. Great value for money too. Highly recommended for the best lunch you could ever want. read more

conceptually beautiful... order off kiosks and quickly receive your flawless order. gorgeous menu of sandwiches to egg dishes. knocked off one star as my mushroom quiche was a bit tasteless. read more

Food was great but $56 for 4 egg sandwiches and a couple of rolls was way too much. I want to have loved it but the sticker shock was a big bummer. read more

I've never had a croque before (Madame nor Monsieur) and tried a Croque Madame today. Holy smokes! This thing was really good. I was prepared for something much saltier and heavier, and it was neither. I thought $11.50 was pretty steep but after this meal, it seemed reasonable. I've had food from Le before and it was fine, but slightly disappointing (the chocolate croissant could use a bit more chocolate, for instance, and still balance with the pastry); this croque really boosts my estimate of the restaurant. read more

I absolutely loved the croque madame. this was a quality French flair little place. I have been to Paris and think the croque is better here! I loved Lea. and I would love to come back if I'm in town again. this place is so delicious. I can't wait to come back and try something else on the menu. Bon appetit! read more

Lea - Croque madame - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best sandwiches. Great bread. Fast service. Clean. Nice European vibe. 100x better than subway.

The customer service is abysmal. I've gone in twice and both times I was completely ignored at the counter. When they do decide to deal with you they act like it's a chore. I won't be back. read more

They are consistent and I've only had one issue here but it was rectified. I do suggest ordering online because the wait time can be long. My go to is one of the croissant sandwiches because I think the baguette can be a little hard sometimes. Prices are reasonable for downtown. read more

The Almond chocolate croissant is perfection. For breakfast, the oatmeal is a good choice - big portion tons of nuts. read more

Went to Lea for the first time today. Very disappointed for these reasons: - No decaf latte so I ordered a decaf americano which was watered down and tasteless - Ordered the croissant with cheese, egg and avocado - also very tasteless (and completely mushy) - My daughter ordered an iced coffee drink and got a hot one instead - She ordered a different croissant sandwich but received the same as I did instead. Since everything was bagged to carry home we didn't see the errors until then. This place was highly recommended but I would never go back. read more

French style and very good taste. Many kinds of French in this menu. I think everyone like Paris can stop by here to enjoy.... I have four star for food and staff...., read more

A small slice of France in DT Chicago. Sandwiches, the ambiance and the feel is pretty close to what we can get for a French sandwich shop this side of the Atlantic. read more

They had fresh bread and croissants for their sandwiches. Their fresh lemonade was also good. It's a great place for a breakfast or lunch and near the Park and hotels. read more

Stopped in for lunch while attending a conference. Ordering was easy, quick service and great food! The croissant turkey sandwich was awesome! read more

My boss always brings me the chocolate chip cookies from this place and they are delicious. Today, I decided to actually check it out and was surprised by how much stuff they actually had. Plus, it was a cozy little place with a lot of seating. The coffee was great and I bought a sandwich for lunch. It was fresh and delicious and I'll definitely be back. read more

Excellent coffee and sandwiches with my favorite being the Parisien, ham cheese on a yummy baguette.

My girlfriend found this place and wanted to eat breakfast. Our first impressions walking in was that it had a smell that wasn't pleasant at all but that's what you get in a big city downtown. The place looked cute but there was no service, everything was order from a screen which is great but not when you want to make custom orders. We get our breakfast sandwiches and I ask for ketchup which they do not serve so then I asked for hot sauce and they did not have that either. When we unwrapped our food it was all bread very little inside, so what I did was just combined the sides with the egg and one slice of bacon (horrible) and ate it like that. For the price tag and for what we got I would not recommend for anyone hungry that's for sure or looking for a real breakfast sandwich. read more