Man, I swung by Loaf Lounge in Avondale and tried their Asparagus Focaccia with burrata, pistachio & pickled‑mushroom vinaigrette, plus a coffee to round it out. That focaccia was next-level: pillowy and herby, loaded with creamy burrata, crisp asparagus, and that tangy mushroom vinaigrette that tied it all together. Paired with a smooth coffee, it made for a perfect meal. The vibe is super laid-back and local--small place, friendly staff who actually know their stuff, and art on the walls so it feels like a neighborhood hangout. I'll definitely be back. read more

Loaf Lounge - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ambiance - very family, friendly, and neighborhood vibes Service - service was very friendly. Everyone was super kind and accommodating. Food - I can only speak on the breakfast sandwich, but it was very high-quality and the prices were reasonable. I did not get the lunch sandwich but it did look like it was a lot bigger in portion. read more

Loaf Lounge - Sausage egg and cheese breakfast sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's definitely worth the hype! One of the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever had. Though next time I'd get the hash brown on the side, it's a little big otherwise. The sausage has the perfect amount of sweetness. It's also very filling so you won't still be hungry afterwards. I would definitely eat it at the restaurant next time, because the bottom bun was very soggy by the time I ate it (my fault, I took forever to go grab it). But it was still amazing regardless! read more

Loaf Lounge - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious sandwiches and friendly service. Nice sunny space as well. The zucchini sandwich, smoked salmon tartine, and cappicola sandwich were all super delicious - great flavors, very good balance of fillings/toppings. read more

Loaf Lounge - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sausage breakfast sandwich was really good. Stopped in with my sister to dine in, not much space and it was busy. We ended up taking our food to go because there were no open tables. Staff is meh, don't seem to care much. If you want a good breakfast sandwich - order for pickup. Not much energy or service worth dining in. read more

Pastries are super good, no doubt about it - my favorite has to be the ricotta one. Service can be worked on, (white/pale) cashier had a positive/outgoing attitude with the (white/pale) people/customers ahead of me and my friend (latine/poc). Once it's my turn - their face shuts down yet I greet with a "Hello, how are you doing?" and hear nothing back. I ask about if there are any loaves remaining per chance and the cashier turns around quickly and responds with "There's nothing left over". I just went ahead and checked out with my pastries and left but upon leaving I hear the cashier come alive again with the next customer. Overall checkout experience was just... questionable. read more

Came because of the hit show The Bear which featured the chocolate cake so of course that is what led us here. Small homey type place with friendly staff. In addition to the cake slice we ordered a sausage breakfast sandwich and a bacon breakfast sandwich both WITH hash browns. In MY opinion and also my nephew's opinion, we found the breakfast sandwiches here surpassing that of another Bear featured establishment, Kasama. Here the sesame seed bun was softer, fluffier and the flavors were better. Plus no need to wait an hour to get it. Now to the reason why we went. The slice of chocolate cake was heavy! It appeared decadent and super sweet however once eaten it is not overly sweet at all. It was pleasantly sweet. Would go so well with cold milk or coffee. read more

Loaf Lounge - Bacon breakfast sandwich with hash brown (put that inside the sandwich), famous chocolate cake and an oatmeal cream pie. - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Came here with a friend who claimed this was the best breakfast sandwich spot in the city and can say he was not wrong. Ordered three sandwiches to share between me and my fiancée plus the chocolate cake to share with the table. Sausage, egg & cheese: This was by far the best sandwich. The home made English muffin was super fluffy and the saltiness of the sausage plus the runny egg and cheese made a perfect combo. Make sure to add a hash brown to your order to either put into the sandwich or munch on the side. Truly a breakfast of champions. Capicola, egg & cheese: Not pictured, but this was also amazing. Served on a croissant that was super buttery. Really good flavors and again the running egg really set it off, too. Would also get again. Bacon, egg & cheese: This might be a bit of a newer item for them, but although the flavors are good, the bun just doesn't hit as hard as the English muffin. Decent, but the other two sandwiches are just another level above. The Bear Chocolate Cake: Ordered this just because we had to considering we're a big fan of the show. The cake itself was solid. Nothing out of this world, but very solid. Like how it wasn't too sweet. Worth getting once, though I'd probably share it with a couple other people at least. Service was fine, just order at the front before you sit. The decor is like diner style. Nothing crazy, but clean and casual. Seating can be tight when it gets busy so be prepared to do takeout or be prepared to wait a bit. read more

See all

I have never gone out of my way to leave a review before but I was genuinely shocked and disappointed in how expensive this place is. I ordered a small coffee and a breakfast sandwich which came out to about $20. The sandwich was not very big and the coffee was tiny under 16oz. Neither was anything to rave about. I know coffee isn't cheap anymore but 6 dollars before tax on a coffee about 8oz is just ridiculous. They add additional fees to the order without telling you and that's why it is more here. If you want to add fees just add it to the food item at that point so people can pick what they want to pay for. Also if you claim to add additional fees to pay your staff more then why do you ask for you to tip them on the service pad. In my eyes I have no problem tipping or paying staff more but you need to have it one way or the other not both. I work next to here and have been sending my customers over there recommending them here and I will no longer be doing that. Maybe I'll tell them to try Sipping Turtle because I did not find this place to be reasonable. read more

Stopped in around 9 on a Saturday morning, i expected there to be a lotta ppl in there and it was def packed. Bc it was so cold outside, the line awkwardly snaked around inside the restaurant, which was already packed w ppl waiting for their food that they ordered. The line did get drastically shorter after about 40 min or so. We each got a sausage, egg, and cheese bfast sandwich w hashbrown in it, an oatmeal cream pie, a slice of the bear cake, a cold brew, and an iced vanilla latte. The coffee drinks were great. The bfast sandwiches were even better. A small part of me regrets not having ordered the eggs scrambled bc when he bit into his sandwich, it was like a yolk sprinkler and it squirted everywhere lol but the sandwich was so tasty! That English muffin might be the best English muffin I've ever had, so springy and chewy. The hashbrown even stayed crunchy in a 30 min long car ride. I'd recommend getting the bfast sandwich w eggs scrambled! We'll be back, but will try to go before or after 9am to beat the morning crowd. Easy street parking outside. Servers were friendly, but slowwww, they all take their time to make delicious food and drinks. The oatmeal cream pie is WOW SO GOOD. it tastes like a wayyyyy better version of the store bought kind. Was also surprised to see that they serve cocktails. There's maybe 8 small tables in there, not very much seating, but the turnover was pretty quick. read more

See all

This is a cute establishment. Nice and welcoming. We ordered the egg sausage sandwich. There is cheese, homemade sausage patty and an egg. The egg is runny. It was ok. I felt as if the sandwich was kind of greasy. Not my forte. read more

See all

Great breakfast sandwiches and even better cookies. Staff is very friendly. Cool place.

I came here hoping just to get a couple of pastries to take home. Everything looked delicious it was hard to choose. The line wasn't as long as I thought it would be, but there's definitely always a line. I would say we came pretty early and they were starting to sell out on a lot of stuff. I ordered their Capicola, egg & cheese sandwich. It's priced reasonably. It came on a fresh croissant with spicy capicola, egg, Muenster cheese and fig mostarda. I couldn't stop eating it, it was that good. We also took home their kouign amann, chocolate croissant and their Bear Chocolate cake. I'm not big on chocolate cakes, and this one was also pricey, but I would definitely order this again and again. The cake was moist, and very sweet. The only chocolate cake I eat nowadays is from Portillos, and The Bear Cake definitely rivals it. Will definitely be coming here more frequently now. read more

See all

I came in with the intention of getting a breakfast sandwich, having seen more photos and reviews on this, but was much more enticed by the lunch sandwiches! It had great volume and interesting textures and the sauce was great. I think I got the broccolini sandwich. The staff were also accommodating in letting me order from the lunch menu slightly early too! It's a bit crowded but we were able to snag a seat pretty easily and quickly. read more

I came here at around 1pm on a Wednesday and ordered the breakfast sandwich ($10) (sausage egg and cheese on an english muffin) before the kitchen closed. It's probably the most I've ever spent on a brekkie sandwich but also possibly one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. It was flavourful, both crispy and crunchy, and I wanted to savor every last bite. I saw Loaf Lounge being super hyped up and I can definitely see why. With that being said, I would probably not come here super often if I lived I'm the area just because of the cost. Service was relatively fast and I appreciated having the water refill station for guests sitting here longer studying or catching up with friends. There was a bit of construction happening around the area when I went but otherwise it's in a relatively accessible location. The inside was clean and there were a good amount of tables available for those dining in. read more

Loaf Lounge - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

My sister was adamant that we go here because of a show that she kept raving about - THE BEAR. All she wanted was the chocolate cake. The chocolate cake that was featured in the show. We ordered two slices of the Bear chocolate cake, a chocolate croissant, and a cinnamon roll to go. For breakfast we dined in and shared a sausage, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on a croissant. It was buttery, airy, flakey, it was soooo good, I'd say it's one of my top breakfast sandwiches that I've had at least in a long time. It was rich, perfect to share and went good with our cups of americano. When we got back to our hotel, we tried The Bear Chocolate cake. The slice is very generous and it was surprisingly soft and moist. The frosting is rich but it goes well with the multi layered cake because it's fluffy and soft. It reminded me of the chocolate cake from Claim Jumpers or Costco minus the density. FYI - after visiting this place, that same week I started watching The Bear. I finished both season's in less than 2 weeks. So good! Highly recommend this place if you're a Chicagoan or planning to visit Chicago! read more

See all

Loaf Lounge is an outstanding addition to Avondale and provides multiple delicious options for breakfast, lunch, and sobriety. The sausage egg and cheese muffin is a supersized version of the McD's variety and extravagantly better, with an egg oozing with yolk, loads of cheese and a spicy sausage held together by a fluffy fresh muffin. Their sandwiches are huge and can sustain two. The grilled cheese is loaded with cheese, and the turkey sandwich is a perfect combination of hard crunch from the bread mixing with the tender turkey and creamy red pepper mayo. Finally, for dessert? The chocolate cake from the Bear completely lives up to the hype and is one of the finest I've had - dense cake, and creamy chocolate frosting that is not at all cloying. A stellar specimen! Oh, hey, why be sober during all this deliciousness? The Loaf also serves up beer, wine and cocktails. My noble bourbon boozers will appreciate the Old Fashioned, a stellar pour of bourbon freshened up with some persimmon liquor. read more

There are a bunch of brunch places that specialize in pastries and breakfast sandwiches. I don't think Loaf Lounge is anything special and there are much better places in Chicago and even in Logan. Let's start with the cake. Everyone comes here for the cake because it is the chocolate cake prominently featured in the show The Bear. Is it good? I mean it's chocolate cake how bad can it be. The sponge is a bit gummy for my taste and there isn't much of a flavor different between the chocolate flavor of the cake and the outside frosting. The ganache in the center is INCREDIBLE. Give me a bowl of that and I'd be happy. The cake is fine. I don't think it's the best in the city nor is it necessarily worth a special trip. The breakfast sandwich was also okay... but once again nothing spectacular. The homemade English muffin was fine. The sausage was okay. The egg was cooked well. The cheese melted very unevenly and I couldn't get a good bit with everything. I don't know, I think I was disappointed overall with something that was supposed to be hyped up so much. I was hoping for something on the level of Kasama and a strong attention to detail. The was just overall lacking. read more

Came here to pick up some pastries for the weekend and they were absolutely delicious! I saw they have killer breakfast sandwiches that I would love to try during my next visit. I came pretty early on a Saturday morning (8:30am) and everything was fully stocked but I hear their pastries sell out quickly. Raspberry morning bun: I don't usually get morning buns but I figured I'd try one this time. It was delicious! The inside reminded me of a cinnamon bun except with raspberry filling. The sugar coating really tied all the flavors together! Pest & potato danish: I would buy this danish over and over again. So good and so worth it. The danish itself is pretty huge too. Savory pastries always have a way with my heart. Almond croissant: So I originally ordered the strawberry almond croissant but they ended up giving me a regular almond croissant instead and I didn't notice until I got home. I wasn't mad though because almond pasties are my favorite. This croissant is HEFTY. It was huge and heavy to hold. It made me so full after eating it. Probs one of the best almond croissants I've had!! Ruby sprinkle chocolate chip cookie: This cookie was so good and probably popular with the kids! Very sweet and buttery. The sprinkles make it fun! read more

See all

Both the sausage egg and cheese sandwich and the breakfast sandwich were SO GOOD!!!! Fresh made bread and the eggs are cooked to perfection! Easy to pick up and go. Will be back soon! read more

See all

Got here fairly late on a Sunday so they ran out of breakfast sandwiches. Luckily my friend got there slightly earlier and got one for us to split. The sandwich wasn't anything special, nice, runny egg and a soft sesame bun. The cheese could have been melted a little more and maybe some more mayo. Lastly, I didn't even realize it was a maple sausage. On the side, we got a hash brown which was crispy but very greasy. We also tried "The Bear" chocolate cake which was massive, but a little dry. Finally, we had to try the oatmeal cream pie, which is something my I get whenever it's on the menu. It was unreal! Either the best I've ever had or number two. Great cream filling and unlike most others, the cookie was a little crispier which contrasted well. Will be making some more appearances here to get this again. read more

See all

This cute place makes the chocolate cake from the show The Bear. It is WORTH IT. It's almost cake pop texture, with a light whipped chocolate frosting in the middle of the layers & a fudgy frosting on the outside. Not too sweet! In a great way! Also yum was the savory croissant w/kale & gruyere. So flaky! I had initially wanted to try the sausage & egg breakfast sammich bc it's on a fresh baked english muffin (for which I am a sucker) - but they were out of the english muffins. So we got likely the best toasted ham & cheese sammich on sourdough ever. A festival of textures & tastes: house made bread - toasted crunchy on both sides, grainy mustard, generous w/good ham, fresh crunchy purple cabbage slaw. A HUGE sammich - in width and girth. Definitely shareable, or more than one meal. And a properly very very murky dark dark green, iced matcha americano. So good!! Come here. Try everything! read more

See all

If you have nothing else, go for the Bear cake. It's frosting covered Heaven. The sandwiches are great too. I will definitely be going back repeatedly for their delicious fare. read more

If you're a fan of The Bear, Loaf Lounge is definitely worth stopping by. The chocolate cake featured in the show was pretty yummy, and so are the breakfast sandwiches. Coffee and latte were both great, not too acidic. The staff were friendly and they give you one of those table number holders to bring with you to your table. When you're ready to head out you bring your plates to the designated area. I love the laidback neighborhood sandwich / bakery shop vibe and would stop by again! read more

Loaf Lounge - Bear Cake - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

RATING: 10/10 This was the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had and will have in my life. I truly did not expect to be so blown away! My friend got the bacon egg and cheese on a sesame seed bun which was interesting because it felt like a burger. I got the sausage egg and cheese. We both agreed the sausage egg and cheese was the standout sandwich -- the crispy outer edge of the english muffin was jaw dropping, the egg yolk was runny, and the sausage was delicious (and made in-house!) I will definitely be bringing all of my friends back here! read more

See all

It seems like hype is the star of the show here. Yes, the chocolate cake was a major plot point of "The Bear." Yes, it is available here. But, is it worth the $7.50 price tag? Not at all. This is average chocolate cake, perfectly moist without much depth of flavor. Bite after bite I was left wondering how much better was it than, say, what comes out of the Betty Crocker box. When it comes to bread, however, well they absolutely crush that. My wife had the veggie sandwich, fresh ingredients (that could have used something to elevate the flavors) between two incredible slices of country bread. I mean, truly some of the best bread I've had in Chicago. On bread alone? An easy 4+. On everything else, from the overrated, hype-machine "The Bear" cake to the cloud cookies? Just slightly above average, I hate to say. read more

Loaf Lounge - The Bear Cake - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A super cute lil cafe in Avondale. Came in on a Friday morning for breakfast, wasn't too busy when we came in so didn't have to wait in line and were able to grab a table inside. The breakfast sandwich i had was good and the hashbrown was nice and crispy with the perfect amount of salt. The chocolate cake (made famous by the show The Bear) was good - but not sure if it was anything to write home about - i feel like it was pretty comparable to Portillo's chocolate cake but for nearly double the price for a slice. Overall though still tasted good! read more

Loaf Lounge - chocolate cake from the bear - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Delicious mushroom lunch sandwich. I had a taste of the turkey sandwich, which was also excellent. I need to return and try their Bear chocolate cake. Service was quick when 3 of us sat at the bar. read more

Decent amount of seating. Limited free parking next to restaurant, everywhere else is pay for parking. Came here for their version of the sausage egg McMuffin and got the ham and cheese croissant . $10 for sammich and $2 for hash brown. Pricey ,but I knew what I was getting myself into because I I'm very into sausage egg McMuffin. Sign said it would take 20-25min during busy time. It tastes better than mcdonalds. It's good, I would get it again. Sausage and English muffin were the highlight. Not too salty and full flavor . A lot of times breakfast sandwiches are overly salty. Not this one read more

Loaf Lounge - Sausage egg muffin sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

They're kinda mean and the coffee is okay so it doesn't justify the standoffish behavior.

Food was delicious . We had a bacon, egg, and cheese. The bun was nice and soft. Only downside was the service was super slow and they charge a 4% tax for higher hourly wage. If you are looking for a quick stop this isn't the place. You'll be waiting over 15 minutes for your sandwich. read more

My friends and I decided to venture over to Loaf Lounge for brunch and were so happy to do so! Inside is super small, very casual, and you order at the counter. Luckily, we got a table shortly after we ordered, otherwise we would be waiting for a bit! They give you a number and will bring you your food as it comes out. We got a oatmeal cream pie and the Bear chocolate cake to share, the sausage breakfast sandwich on a croissant with hashbrown and the turkey bacon sandwich. The oatmeal cream pie could have been warmed before serving and would have been significantly better, but still delicious. The cake though? COME ON. I am not even a big cake person and I absolutely loved it! Rich, decadent and worth sharing. And the breakfast sandwich?? Probably one of the best I have had in a really long time. I loved the homemade sausage, runny egg and was perfect with the croissant. I look forward to coming back again! read more

See all

I had been here once before to get a slice of THEE Cake for my wife's birthday. It was solid, but I knew I needed to come back. There isn't a ton of seating and definitely isn't meant for large groups. Seriously like three people max per party. The smells are insane. You know those Jimmy John's signs that say free smells, well I would pay money for these smells...in this economy?!?!...the answer is still....YES! You order from the front and take a number to *fingers crossed* find a seat. The staff was really nice. The breakfast sandwiches were a !!! I had the bacon, egg and cheese with a scrambled egg and my wife got the sausage, egg and cheese. She normally is not a fan of English muffins, but she said this one is making her reconsider. We also too home a loaf of sourdough and an oatmeal cream pie to split. Person oh person, this place is doing it right! We'll be back. read more

We waited for almost an hour for a grilled cheese and a sausage egg and cheese sandwich. On top of that with two drinks the bill was over $50. This place takes too long and costs too much. Not worth it. read more

Excellent sausage breakfast sandwich!! Believe the hype!! This thing is full of UMAMI AND MAGIC!!! I crave it every morning but limit myself to it being my weekend treat!! One day I'll work up the courage to deviate my order as I hear everything is awesome but for now... go... order... and enjoy the bliss!! read more

Loaf Lounge - Sausage Breakfast Sandwhich - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This place has a cute cafe vibe with indoor and outdoor seating. You order at the counter, where they have an array of pastries. I did not try the Bear cake this round, but I thoroughly enjoyed my selections, especially the turkey focaccia breakfast sandwich! The turkey was juicy, the greens were fresh, and the delicious sauce tied it all together. The focaccia was so yummy. We also got the fries, which were standard. The pastry was pretty decent, but the breakfast sandwich is what will bring me back. read more

Loaf Lounge - Turkey focaccia - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Okay...how much can you expect from a breakfast sandwich? Judging from the reviews I expected it to be good, but OMG this was amazing!!! I got the bacon egg and cheese and it's top tier. The scrambled eggs were chefs kiss. I also ordered the oatmeal cream pie and wow. Delectable delight!! read more

The eggs were jammy. The English muffin had such a delightful chew. The spinach danish had a nice lemony flavor. The Muenster was perfect with the capicola. And oh the lamination! Our two-year-old made quite the flaky mess. read more

See all

Tried their sausage egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and it lives up to the hype. The muffin was incredibly soft and the patty was just as good. It's a must try! read more

Loaf Lounge - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I wanted to like it, it's a fun name. The food though was not there and cannot say I'd go back for another try. The Kouign Amann did not have any flavor, just sweet and the oatmeal sandwich had a garlic or chive taste in it, but can say the texture was nice. read more

Loaf Lounge - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois