The food and pastries are top notch. Very tasty fare well prepared. Service is quick counter service. Always nice people. The place is cute and clean with some nice Frenchy touches. Prices are what you would expect on Michigan avenue, i.e. tourist pricey. My one quibble and why I can only give four stars is the coffee. When I first started going, the coffee was excellent, probably the best downtown. My morning latte used to be nice and foamy. It had a smooth caramel flavor and rivaled what I had in Europe. Lately, it has been hit or miss. I'm wondering if they've changed their beans or if the new baristas just aren't up to the job. The coffee is bitter, sometimes watery and lacking in creamy flavor. Disappointing. I'm wondering if others have had similar experiences. read more

This place was near our hotel so we tried it to brunch. I didn't realize this was like a franchise since I saw other stores like this throughout Chicago. Anyways - walking in they have kiosks to order your food. We took awhile ordering our food since this was our first time here. I got a turkey/ham baguette which was really large. I could only finish half and had to take the rest to go. Other folks got the egg dishes and they enjoyed it. Seating wise was at first hard due to limited space but after folks left we were able to sit and eat our brunch. I was expecting more French but it's more or a bare store being runned (Subways/togos etc. I would come again and the prices were reasonable. read more

Walking back to our hotel from The Art Institute of Chicago & Millennium Park, we spotted this small French bakery and stopped for a quick snack. That late in the afternoon, the baked good selection was sparse, but I opted for the pecan tart (which was amazing!) and hubs had a scone. Service was great, and we enjoyed sitting outside and watching the sidewalk traffic! read more

Lea French Cafe - Pecan tart, San Pellegrino Limonata, coffee, blueberry scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was in the area and decided to try this place for breakfast. I really liked the cafe... has a lot of natural light and a chic vibe, and it's close to Millennium Park. I ordered an iced mocha, an almond croissant, and the le chevre avocat tartine. I really enjoyed the coffee and the tartine in particular. I also noticed a few people working as there are power plugs, As I went in the morning, it was peaceful and quiet. I'd definitely come back to try more from the menu as this time it was a to -go order read more

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Latte was made with just the right amount of milk and coffee (for me, at least). Did not get to try the pastries but they looked delicious. Service was quick and efficient. You order on a tablet which was pretty easy to use. Restaurant was pretty chic and clean with huge windows facing Millenium Park. read more

Lea French Cafe - Pastries - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was staying in the city for the weekend and this was around the corner where I was staying. Cute little french cafe. Of course I had to get a crossiant. It was delicious. Quick order on the kiosk. read more

Lea French Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The service was fast and great! A good friendly atmosphere, professional and smooth. The ambiance of the restaurant was clean and very much a welcoming cafe. The food is great but im marking the review as just okay because of a few things. I ordered a croque monsieur and madame with a matcha latte. The matcha latte is great, perfectly done. The croques were delicious, but they weren't amazing for the price. They came with a salad, tho i would have preferred a cheaper a la carte option or something. I changed one of the salads for a fruit cup which was an additional charge unfortunately. The salad was awful. It might just have been my own tastes at play here, but it was chewy and I couldn't finish it. The mustard dressing (i think that's what it was) was okay and didnt save it. The croque monsier was the best, tho the bacon was too crispy. I still enjoyed it but the bacon pieces falling off the sandwich and being like little rocks took a little away from that. Overall, good place and I'd give them another shot if I'm in the area and craving a french cafe. Especially since the pastries look so good read more

Lea French Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A little spot to get a quick bite that has self service, pick a seat, and enjoy. Only a few tables are available. We had to politely ask that a table be cleaned, there was no rush by the employee to do so. Food bites were ok. I would recommend their lavender lemonade. In order to use the bathrooms you must ask for a key at the counter. Be sure to toss your trash on your way out where the only trash bin is located. read more

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Nice location, great variety of food and drinks for breakfast. Fast and friendly service, reasonable prices. read more

Lea French Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fresh pastries, great coffee and fast but friendly service. Good location near shopping center .

Cute place in downtown within walking distance from Millennium Park. We just happened to stumble upon this place walking by and I'm so glad we did! I still dream of their baguette bread! It's super easy to order from the kiosk and the staff is friendly. read more

Lea French Cafe - I don't remember what it was that we ordered but I do know I will be going back - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is such a hidden gem From the moment you walk in, the ambiance is super cute--cozy, warm, and gives you that little French café feel. The pastry display alone is enough to make you want everything. I tried the almond croissant and it was absolutely amazing. Perfectly flaky on the outside with a slight crisp, and soft and buttery inside with the most delicious almond filling. Not overly sweet, just perfectly balanced. The service was also really fast and efficient, which I loved. Overall, such a great spot for a quick pastry or coffee run. I'll definitely be back to try more! read more

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I'm always skeptical about places that are conveniently close to tourist attractions (right in front of the bean) but tbh this place kinda hit. there was lots of seating and it was pretty clean inside. lowkey why was the cappuccino like really good and hit the spot perfectly... i was shocked read more

Lea French Cafe - salami baguette + cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food tasted great, albeit a bit on the spendy side for what you got, but I took off a couple stars for the absolutely insane way orders were being handled. Orders are at self-done kiosks (probably 4) just as you enter. The orders were piling up at the takeaway area. We were 10 orders behind the orders they were processing. Friday at lunch, after a huge concert, and the young woman at the takeaway counter was very clearly being trained. I felt so badly for her. Her trainer/boss was so unhelpful! I watched a woman ahead of us explain that her order had been to-go but they gave it to her on a plate. She looked to be on her lunch break, had waited longer than us (prob 15 mins at this point), so she said it's ok I will just eat here. I watched him not understand how to put her items on a tray and instead chose to plop a napkin and flatware on top of her food. Who does that? It could be cute and a nice little lunch, but management needs to work on their game, as does the slow kitchen. read more

Lea French Cafe - Pastry case - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A nice spot across from Millennium park. We enjoyed their latte and the blueberry scone and a morning roll. There were two french customers who also seemed pleased with their order. read more

Lea French Cafe - 2 lattes, a morning roll and a blueberry scone. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm obsessed with this place. Delicious breakfast croissant , upgraded the complimentary chips for salad($1more) and got a refreshing hibiscus elderberry drink. On its own I don't think it would be as good but together it made for a satisfying breakfast/lunch. Then I came back for the salad the next day. It's so simple bit so delicious. I love their Dijon dressing. read more

Lea French Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very solid, quality food for a reasonable price. Authentic baked goods (including baguettes).

What a nice place on Michigan Avenue across from Millennium Park. There are kiosks for your order and their choices are mainly sandwiches. I ordered the Caprese sandwich and I thought it was only a half baguette , but it was a whole long one. Terrific. I had a lavender lemonade to drink. They also have salads, croquettes, quiches, and pastries. read more

The food and service are excellent. You order on a kiosk. Excellent French sandwiches and pastries. Coffees are very well prepared. Food is always fresh and has that extra. read more

Lea French Cafe - Great for breakfast or any meal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

You know this I love this place when we stopped here 2 times in one trip. The only con, be ready to wait. They are popular and you order on the screen and wait in a line for your order. They are organized but organization only goes so far, when you are busy. With that out of the way- make sure you get a pain au chocolate (if I spelled that right). I got 2 on my trip and ask my husband if we time to get another for the plane ride. The sandwich was amazing. I could have started each day of my trip out here. read more

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What a darling efficient location! You walk inside your immediately transported to a French bistro. There were so many yummy choices to choose from that was definitely the worst part. I chose the. La Boulanger quiche. It comes with a side salad with a yummy honey mustard vinaigrette that you put on yourself. The quiche was piping, hot and filled with delicious veggies, such as onion and mushroom. I sat inside, which was clean and had plenty of seating I love this location and the food! read more

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Delicious coffee and croissant breakfast sandwich. Lovely staff. Clean and beautiful cafe. read more

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Came downtown for the day. The original place we wanted to eat was packed and the wait time was long. We found this spot in our walk. It was such a delight. We enjoyed our breakfast outside. The food was delicious! The baked baguettes are so gooood! All the baked goods are delicious. Definitely a place to stop for a small bite to eat or a nice pick me up on the way to work. read more

While in Chicago, we decided to have a coffee and dessert in this place. Order two lattes, which wasn't really true latte more like coffee with milk and their chocolate eclair, which was very dry and tasteless. I ask manager that I would like to exchange dessert for something else. They told me I have to buy another one, even my desert was almost untouched. Very poor Customer Service, and not standing behind their quality. read more

First time here after a visit to the Art Institute. Order at a kiosk up front. They call your number when ready. Cashless establishment. Quite a variety on the menu. Croissants, baguettes, soup, salads, and quiche. Lots of pastries. I had the Le Saint Michel baguette sandwich and my wife had the Le Louvre croissant. Both much bigger than expected. The baguette was my kind of really crunchy on the outside ( like tear up the roof of your mouth crunchy) and fluffy on the inside. The croissant was absolutely huge. Very fluffy and easy to bite into. The sandwiches were excellent. The interior of LEA reminds one of a street side bistro with tiled floor and cozy seating. This was a surprise find as we walked along Michigan Ave. but the next time we are in Chi town we will be stopping in. Yes it can be a little expensive but this is a go to place in my book. read more

This is the second location of Lea. I have frequented the original outpost on Lake Street and am happy to see this establishment has branched out into a larger space. The ordering is via kiosk and orders are called out according to order number. I enjoyed my cafe americano. Soups and sandwiches are hits, and the pastries, especially the blueberry scone and butter croissant, are must-trys. I note this location serves wine. I'm not sure the Lake Street location serves alcohol and have filed this detail away for the next time I am near Millennium Park or the Art Institute and looking for a low-key spot to sip wine and watch the world go by. read more

Had to clean our own table. Coffee mug was dirty. Coffee was lukewarm. Pastry chef is good. Little attention to customer experience read more

Lea French Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It's a great place to visit a café near Millennium Park for morning coffee and pastries. It's cozy, reasonably priced, and offers good service, including restroom access. Parking is nearby underground, and the view is nice, especially for photos. read more

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I love baguette sandwiches with ham and butter and this was just perfect. Great soup and latte as well.

Great little stop for a snack on Michigan ave. Yummy coffee and food! We sat out on the patio and it was beautiful read more

Lea French Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is the avocado that I paid extra for!!! This should not have been served by any means. read more

Lea French Cafe - Avocado that I paid extra for!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friends and I used to grab coffee or a quick breakfast here before, but we won't be returning. We went yesterday and were talking about concerts while watching a few reels on our phones. An African American server with an afro hairstyle poked me through the back of the shelf behind me and told us to turn the volume down, even though the volume was not loud and it was a packed and noisy Memorial Day weekend. The way it was handled felt very rude and inappropriate toward customers, disappointed with the service and experience. Won't return. read more

Tastes genuine, fresh, and lovely. Decent price too!! The interior feels welcoming, although it feels better to order from a real person than a screen asking you for a tip. Overall, this place left a good taste in our mouths (literally and figuratively) read more

Lea French Cafe - Pain au chocolat, cappuccino, iced americano, baguette with butter and jam, and the peach pastry. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a mediocre place to eat, and an even worse place to work. The only particularly good thing on the menu is the chocolate croissant, and even then, the business struggles with cleanliness and mold. The owners have fully screamed into the faces of their workers, and I mean that very literally. They are borderline abusive to their employees and they treat their homeless customers with the utmost disrespect i have ever seen any establishment treat the homeless. If you have any moral high ground at all you will not support this establishment. read more

I don't ever leave reviews- but my experience was so foul I want to warn others. Food was great, which was unfortunate because the staff were HORRIBLE, and we will never be going back. We went in at 2:25pm to get sandwiches to-go, they do not close until 3pm. However, upon ordering the two women in the back loudly started talking poorly about how annoying it is that: "everyone wants to come in last minute". We also were there 35 minutes before close.. Every single customer that walked in was met with hostility. The employees continued to loudly complain saying things like: "this is why I'm gonna open my own restaurant because people won't be doing this shit there". If we hadn't already paid, we would have walked out. It's incredibly uncomfortable to order at a restaurant and have the staff loudly speak poorly about you while you wait. I have never been so disgusted by the blatant disrespect and lack of customer service. The two women need to be fired. Horrible horrible horrible. read more

Besides the fact that it's a cool place, the food is great. The croissants are really really good. The carrot curry soup was really flavorful. And of course the coffee.. read more

Ahh! This used to be Le Pain Quotidien. Remember that! This is the second location in the city. The first location is on Lake Street. I had a Chai tea. The staff and service are wonderful. read more

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Looking for a good French bakery in Chicago? Try Lea French Cafe! They have fantastic classic French pastries. We had a butter croissant, pistachio croissant, raspberry financier, and apple tartlette. All were fresh, buttery and delicious. We did takeout and ordered from a kiosk, which is the only thing that feels non-French. read more

Decent coffee shop nothing crazy. Self-serve order at kiosk. Food looked good. Vanilla latte just tasted like a regular latte. Hazelnut latte was better. Ambiance was fine. read more

It has all the makings to be a great spot, but the reality is there's just too much variability in what you get when you order. My 1st cup of coffee was awesome. I ordered the same thing for a 2nd cup, and it was different and did not include the same extra shots that I ordered. I asked for my morning born to be warmed up and that was not an option anyway tasty stuff but need to stay strictly on menu and even then it is a bit of a wildcard read more