Excellent little mom and pops place! The sandwiches are phenomenal. All the bread here is handmade and let me just say that their sweet French bread is hard to put down. The entire menu can satisfy almost any craving with the different varieties of sandwiches available to order. read more

So amazing! I got the turkey turkey sandwich and was not disappointed. The bread was freshly made and delicious. It made all the difference. The whole store smells like freshly made bread, I can't wait to go back and try their other sandwiches. Another positive is that the sandwich was huge, so I walked away with left overs. They're cash only though, so make sure you have cash when you go. If not, they have an atm in the store. read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Turkey , Turkey Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have been coming here for over 20 years. By far is one of my favorite sandwich shops and all of the Chicago. The bread is made here so fresh and delicate with the perfect crunch. Wonderful selection of meats always fresh. I've nothing but positive to say about this place. read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Super Panes. Delish - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great sandwiches and neighborhood cafe - love their specialty sandwiches on the homemade bread - the pasta is also solid

If you live in Lake View and haven't tried this place yet, you're in for such a pleasant surprise. So many banging sandwiches on the menu. The breads are freshly baked, and the daily specials are always offering up something awesome. My go to is the Oaxacan Pork. Holy s**t bud, are you kidding me?!? Can't be beat read more

We came in on Sunday and grabbed the bruschetta, monster cookie, turkey turkey sandwich and pollo diablo. The turkey turkey was fantastic and so was the bruschetta. The bread was so soft. The monster cookie was wonderfully flavorful. We will definitely be returning. read more

I absolutely love this place. Moved in down the block a few months ago and I can't go a week without going to Panes at least once. Best sandwich I've had in the entire city! You have to try it yourself to believe it! Had to update the review because the food keeps getting better. Tried the Todo Italiano today and it was incredible! Love this place. read more

It was alright, I guess. I'd been excited for quite some time to try it out. The neighborhood is a lot of fun and I thought that I'd found a new sandwich spot (yes, it's bread with stuff in the middle but getting it right is an art form). Sadly, I have not. Why? 1.) The service. For most of my visit, I thought I was at an ice cream shop -- I got the cold shoulder. Yikes. I understand that everyone has bad/off days, but I interacted with three people and all three avoided eye contact, acted as though they wanted to be anywhere than at Panes and doing anything else than helping me. I was beginning to develop a complex but I was relieved (ha!) to see that patrons after me were treated in a similarly dismissive way. 2.) The food. It wasn't bad but it wasn't memorable. It's times like these that i am glad I make notes about my business experiences. Hey, it's a job. I take it seriously. I ordered 'The Popular' and by description, I can understand the name: chicken, carmelized onions, spinach, peppers, and provolone. It's also supposed to be served on tomato bread. Mine was not. I don't know whether they ran out or made a mistake, but I ate my sandwich on a crunchy baguette. I am not a baguette kind of guy because, invariably, the hard sonsofb!tches rip up the roof of my mouth. This one was no different. The sandwich was not enjoyable and not what I ordered. 3.) Lack of attention. The bread thing shouldn't have happened. Either the person making my sandwich didn't know how to make it (problem), didn't care what s/he was doing (problem) or couldn't be bothered to tell me the difference in the item on which I spent my money (problem). In any of these scenarios, I can't find a satisfactory answer. When coupled with the bizarre service, it's more proof to me not to come back. Luckily for them, I am a fatty with a sweet tooth. The monster cookie came out of nowhere to give me good lovin', rock me through the night, light my cigarette, AND make me breakfast in the morning. That cookie saved this review. It's as good as everyone says. If you come here and don't order the cookie, I question your ability to read. In fact, I'll go so far as to say the cookie is the only reason to come here... and it alone is worth three stars. read more

Great sandwich place. It's a bit claustrophic so the next time I go I might consider getting my order to go but the sandwiches are worth the tight squeeze either way. My husbands BLT was about the best I have ever tasted. Thick pieces of meaty bacon, gobs of mayo, crispy lettuce, sweet tomatoes all in between this yummy bread. I could have died right there and then and would have been totally satisifed. Make sure to bring cash because they don't take cards and be prepared for a bit of a wait as the place is pretty popular! read more

Panes Bread Cafe is a neighborhood gem that has been near the corner of Sheffield and Wellington for 1,000,000 years. Ok, it's only been 20 years. 20 YEARS!!!! How do I know? I used to live around the corner when they opened up. '93 or '94. 20 years later Panes is still one of THE best sandwich shops in the City of Chicago. Sadly, they have had a massive price increase over the years: their excellent, best in the city sandwiches now cost $5.95 instead of $4.95. the nerve. The same lady has been running the place the entire time (forgive me, Panes Lady...after 20 years and 200 sandwiches, I should know your name, but I don't!). She's 20 years older, I'm 20 years older, and Panes still completely blows the doors off of nearly every other sandwich joint in the city. Quietly, calmly, and efficiently, I might add. It's cash only. So if you don't have $10 in your pocket, don't come. They don't deep-fry anything, so if you're looking for a gut-bomb, this ain't yer joint. And they do great pastas, fresh bread to go, and some simple yet not-every-day desserts as well. Panes is small, so seating is tight, and at lunch time it's hard to get a seat. But they are excellent at carry out, so take it to go and enjoy it at your own place where you have all the room in the world to savor the outstanding ingredients and fresh bread that make their sandwiches so spectacular. The Popular, the Pompazo, the Pollo Diablo, the Roasted Beef, the Super Panes...all are FABULOUS. But don't ask me about the Oaxacan Pork - because I don't want you numskulls ordering it and then there won't be any left for me! (Ok, it's really, really good!) For pastas, their Panes Linguini is a rock solid takeout winner at only $7.50. Panes is just great all-around: great people, great place, great sandwiches, great pastas, great bread, great prices, and a great 20 year track record. Panes, congratulations on 20 years, and please, please, please stay open for 20 more! read more

Panes Bread Cafe - 2014 sandwich menu w/prices - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I distinctly recall visiting here during a Chicago visit circa 2007. Seven years later, Panes was remembered fondly. I sought this place out again upon returning to Chicago in March 2014 because what ever better to do on a winter evening of a blustery -15 degrees than to walk two miles for a sandwich and a tiny buckeye. Slipping on ice works up an appetite. For less than the price of the generically vapid and unvaried chain deli lunchtime sandwich, you can support a lovely little local deli with fresh bread and giant sandwiches made to order. My favorite is the Pollo Diablo. It's not that spicy if you're a spicy lover. The sandwiches are hearty and huge. See pics; they're totally instragram worthy. I love taking friends here for lunch. They love it and they love the prices. It's cute and no frills and a hidden gem. read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Pollo Diablo - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My boyfriend and I ordered from here for lunch because the spot is super close to my place. We decided to split a pork sandwich and their beef one. Although the bread was really good the beef one lacked flavor so I decided to add some horseradish sauce I had in the fridge. The pork one was flavorful but not too heavy. The only downside for me for this place is that they are cash only and the atm they have charges a fee to withdraw money. :( read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Roast beef sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The Pollo Diablo sandwich made on their fresh baked Tomato Bread is something to write home about. When it comes to dining out, I never choose chicken because nothing compares to the tender, juicy beer-can chicken off the grill at home. But Yelpers convinced me to try this Pollo Diablo sandwich here at Panes, and I am so glad I did. Juicy, delicious and sooooooo tender! This sandwich is described on the menu to have some kick to it, but I never discern such. I think they dilute the sriracha with too much mayo. FYI, when I ask for onions added to any of their sandwiches, all they have to offer are sweet caramelized onion. I like happen to enjoy these onions, but some people probably wouldn't --they are super sweet! They are so sweet in fact, I had to inquire about their preparation. And the answer is yes, the onions are caramelized with sugar. Stuffed mushrooms are well executed, and the surrounding marinara sauce is a great touch, but... $3.75 for 4 small 'shrooms is steep. Taking home fresh loaves of bread is always a win. They are super delicious and very reasonably priced. I like the country white for homemade grilled cheese. I love how they roast the vegetables for the sandwiches, rather than putting them on an oily grill. I am usually afraid to order Portabella sandwiches at any restaurant, because I know that mushroom is a sponge for oil. Panes takes the danger out of ordering mushrooms; their roasting process is spot on! Go to Panes and order off their menu freely. I'm quite certain everything is a win. They just know how to create tasty stuff. But with that said, whatever you choose, do not order a monster cookie! I repeat: Do NOT order a monster cookie. They are too good and I want them all to myself. #cookiemonsterindisguise read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Omelet - Fluffy and Delicious - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very quaint lunch spot with lots of great sandwich options. I got the turkey sandwich and the focaccia was delicious. Huge portions and great bang for your buck read more

This place is CASH ONLY (personal checks are accepted here as well). My intention was to get a sandwich or soup, but with $2, it didn't get me far enough for have a real meal. They have an ATM on site though, but it was out of order. How did I know that? My husband was assigned to fix the machine, and that was why I was here. Make sense now? Anyways, I got myself a mint chocolate cookie for $1.75. I'm assuming the tax was included because the price was what exactly listed on the menu. It was delicious and not too tiny. Everyone seemed to be friendly and was not too crowed like other cafe places in Lakeview neighborhood. I wish I wasn't "poor" so that I could try their food. Other patrons were dining in there and they did look appetizing...oh bummer! They do have wifi available...and a nice patio! read more

Small place but offers delicious bread sandwiches. Bread is fresh and soft with good size skin. The meat and toppings in the sandwiches are flavorful and they definitely don't skimp on those. Tip: this place takes cash only. Bathrooms downstairs. read more

Fresh bread everyday. Terrific desserts. The best salads. Tasty sandwiches. All for a low price. You won't leave here hungry as the portion sizes are fairly large. read more

Having only frequently Panes a handful of times, I'll tell you why... NO CREDIT CARDS. But, whatever, make a special trip to the bank for your extra special (and cheap!) Panes meal. They have a great assortment of sandwiches, salads, and pastas. If you're lucky, they'll also have crumbles of their yummy cookies waiting at the front of the line while you're "contemplating" super hard on your meal decision while shoveling them in your mouth. "I just don't know what to get (nom nom nom nom) maybe if I (nom nom nom nom) just focus on what meat I want (chew chew nom nom), it will make my choice easier! Ok, back to the real food. I've only had sandwiches here, but that just means I'm confident in saying that they freakin rock. If you like spicy, try the Pollo Diablo. Otherwise, go with The Popular (gee, I wonder why?!) with delicious carmelized onions/chicken or the Turkey Turkey to be safe if you're non-adventurous or something of that sort. The wiches really are cheap here, and they come with potato chippies, which I don't even think are necessary. There's free water, some outdoor seating (though kinda loud from the El) and lovely people watching (I mean YOU, watching ME eat, ya know?!) I hear they do breakfast mighty nice and have quite the delicious pasta dishes. Perhaps more cash in my wallet will allow me to stop by here more frequently now that I live closer. Dun dun dunnnnnnn! read more

There need to be more places like Panes. I'm saddened it took me so long to discover Panes despite living a couple blocks away. I say there need to be more places like Panes because it's very reasonably priced everything and perfect for that lunch when you don't know what you want. They've got about a dozen sandwich options most of which come on some of the best tomato focaccia type bread you'll ever have. And a lot of the sandwiches are creative. I had the spicy philly which was kinda like a cheese steak with a bit of chipotle mayo thrown in there. It was absolutely incredible. and despite only costing about $7.50, I got two meals out of it (admittedly had an appetizer to start with). Great, quaint atmosphere with a bit of random everything, but again perfect for when you're not sure what you want. The pizzas look quite good and they have salad and even pasta options. Only downside is that it's cash only which is a pain if you don't realize. But can't wait to go back!! read more

So damn good. The bread was so fresh. We ordered the Turkey Turkey and Turkey club. The sandwiches come with classic chips. Great for a Saturday out and about, super filling. Enjoy! read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Found this place on Yelp and came for lunch on my vacation in Chicago. The Service --- You order at the counter and they bring your food to your table. Everyone was nice. No complaints. The Food --- So we got the tomato soup, potato salad, sloppy pollo and the popular. The tomato soup was really good, the best I've had in a long time. Same thing with the potato salad. It was pretty garlicky which I loooved! The sloppy pollo was delish! It had shredded chicken, onions and BBQ sauce. The popular was okay. It tasted like a pizza in sandwich form. Nothing spectacular. Both sandwiches came with potato chips. The Prices --- It was cheap. I think each sandwich was somewhere around $6 and the potato salad around $3. Definitely worth the money. If I'm ever in Chicago again, I'll definitely go back. They have seating outside with umbrellas so you're not in the sun. Great place for lunch on a nice day. read more

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Everything here is amazing. The bread is so fresh. My mom had a salad and said it was stellar. I felt like I was eating fresh, healthy ingredients for a completely reasonable price. What a fabulous neighborhood gem! read more

Awesome fresh bread and ingredients. So good! I got the Super Panes. Nice sweets as well.

I can't believe I forgot to review this when I was living in Chicago! Panes is the picture-perfect epitome of a hole-in-the-wall--a delightful, relatively undiscovered culinary gem offering delicious, homemade comfort food. My friends and I came here a lot as starving grad students. The owner is Canadian (yay!) and a Parisian-trained chef. Virtually everything is made from scratch, and you can really taste that. My absolute favorite item was the Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake with cream cheese frosting. Chocolate + Coca-Cola? How can anyone say no to that? The cake was always so moist and delicious with the perfect amount of frosting. I enjoy frosting, but it's often too overwhelmingly sweet for me. I could have eaten this frosting by the bucketload. One time, in a fit of culinary ecstasy, I ended up buying 3 slices of the chocolate coca-cola cake to take home with me. The owner laughed and gave me a 4th slice on the house. Score! Other great items include the monster cookie, pretty much any sandwich (as the bread is made from scratch) and the pasta with vodka cream sauce. I don't live in Chicago anymore, but whenever I visit, Panes is always on my itinerary. read more

My favorite sandwiches ever. End of story. I always leave here in bliss. Everything here is yummy, the decor is fun, and the restaurant efficient, cozy, and clean. The sandwiches with house-made bread are the best thing on the menu in my opinion, especially the pollo diablo. I love it with chips, a coke, and a chocolate truffle for dessert. One of my favorite spots in Chicago! read more

When I visited Chicago for the first time back in 2007, I was looking for parking in Lakeview and parked around the corner from Panes. As I was walking around, I noticed Panes and decided to go in for lunch. I can't remember what sandwich I ordered that day, but man, it was absolutely delicious! So imagine my delight in 2012 when I moved to Chicago into a place off Sheffield and Diversey and realized that the wonderful cafe I wandered into 5 years before was right in my neighborhood! For the past 8 years that I've lived in Chicago, Panes has been one of my most beloved places in Chicago. Every sandwich I've had here has been stellar, with the Oaxacan Pork and Pollo Diablo being my all-time favorites and most common orders. Their breads are all superb, I always grab a loaf to take home whenever I'm here. The desserts are great; the carrot cake is absolutely perfect and their truffles and buckeyes are so satisfying. Everything here is just really good. When I think of all the things I love about Chicago, Panes always makes the list. If you're in the neighborhood, go to Panes. If you're not in the neighborhood, go out of your way to go to Panes. It's just that good. read more

Best people, best food, best spot. Perfect sandwich shop in Chicago. The brunch sandwiches are good too.

This place is super cute and right next to my old apartment. It seems to be family owned, and has really interesting decorations and a decent sized patio! My favorite is the tomato bread... I love it! Which is why my favorite sandwich is Turkey, Turkey with smoked turkey, avo, roasted red pepper, spicy mayo and tomato bread. The tomato bread is really good for people who are pizza fans. They bake their own bread and its cash only too! read more

Great food, fresh bread, and an environment that makes you feel at home. We wanted everything on the menu. Adorable unique local lunch or breakfast spot. One of my favorites! read more

Where else can you get a sandwich on home Made bread and chips for under $10. My favorite is the Oaxacan Pork. I've eaten it about 100 times and never tire of it. Great cookies and desserts. This place is a gem read more

Decided to try this place out because it was a close walk from our Airbnb. So glad we did! The food was amazing and the prices are cheap. Loved the overall atmosphere. Make sure you bring money because they only take cash. I got the feta salad and it was perfectly filling and delicious. The bread it came with was super soft and tasty. read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Feta salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a hidden gem. All of the sandwiches are great but I really love the bruschetta starter. The price also cannot be beat

A neighborhood treasure. Superb sandwiches at a good price. Really extensive list of choices,, and also daily specials.. Also excellent desserts. We'll buy a bunch of desserts when we need to supply a get-together, and they are always a hit. read more

Loved it. Unique sandwiches at a great value. We ordered our food to go, but it looked like a great patio to sit outside and eat. Also very generous portions, and a chance to eat some vegetables, as many of the sandwiches have spinach and/or peppers. I'm a fan!! read more

I've heard this rated one of the top five cheap eats in Chicago and I understand why. Everything is cooked fresh and homemade. The restaurant is charming and quaint. I've only ever ordered sandwiches and pastas, but been consistently happy with my selection. It's certainly a comforting place to go for very comforting feel-good food. They always have the day's specials listed on the wall and I have never been disappointed with anything off the daily menu or the regular menu for that matter. I'm also a little reluctant to recommend the sweet french bread loaves that are baked fresh everyday since they are always out of them by the time I get there to pick one up, but they are addictive. Just be sure to have cash in your pocket because they do not take credit cards. read more

The reviews here are incredible, but I must have swung and missed during my experience, since I thought the food was pretty average. The Pizza Bread appetizer/starter was pretty bland and my Pollo Diablo was served on some pretty tasty bread but was light on filling...this ended up being a blessing in disguise, since I walked to DMK next door for a stellar chocolate shake. The potato chips on the side were also pretty plain and there were not many of them. But I love anything BYO and the outdoor patio was perfect two days ago for sitting outside with my big (11 peeps) team of friends. If I lived closer, I might try other things on the menu but I'm not sure I'd be back. I will give Panes big props for being priced appropriately...for $6.50, you get an average sandwich of average size. read more

Nom. So glad I was finally able to try Panes! I know Panes is mostly known for their sandwiches, but this is definitely a hidden excellent breakfast gem. Came in with the boyfriend on a snowy Saturday morning and it was basically empty. Panes has a casual atmosphere with a great homey feel to it. You order at the counter and then find a seat. We had a really difficult time deciding what to order, they have several omelet, egg scramble, and breakfast sandwich options. I ended up going with the roast beef egg sandwich and the boyfriend got an egg scramble with veggies that he added bacon to. Our breakfast was incredibly inexpensive, I think the prices at Panes are a few dollars less than most breakfast places in the area. Our food was up quickly and brought to our table. My sandwich was phenomenal! Plenty of perfectly cooked roast beef, muenster cheese, sweet caramelized onions, and scrambled egg on, what was definitely, a freshly baked sandwich roll. The flavors complimented each other so well and I had to forfeit some monster bites to my dining companion because it was so huge. The sandwich came with really tasty roasted potatoes. The boyfriend had an egg scramble with veggies and bacon that was incredibly flavorful. It also came with the roasted potatoes and a green salsa. We were given a basket of bread with our meal that just makes me want to come back and try ALL of their breads! Overall, I definitely recommend Panes for breakfast and will be returning for lunch! read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Roast beef breakfast sandwich, awesome. - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Panes is a hidden gem! Great fresh food, great portions and such reasonable prices. Love this place! read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Spicy veggie omelette - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Mmmm Panes....I get excited just thinking about my next visit! My fiancee and I stopped in for lunch on a Friday afternoon and we were both seriously impressed by their offerings. I tried the Turkey, Turkey and he had the Spicy Philly and both were fantastic-warm, freshly baked foccacia bread piled high with fresh, tasty ingredients to make a supremely superior sub! While waiting for our food I was drooling over the delicious looking Tomato Soup and stacked Grilled Cheese sandwiches at the table next to ours-the perfect meal for a cool fall day in Chicago-I know what I'll be ordering next time! To finish off our meal we indulged in one of their Monster Cookies and all I can say is WOAH...these are well worth the extra calories! While I do wish the woman working the counter was a little more friendly, and the fact that they are CASH ONLY is a bit of a pain, I'm still giving Panes Bread Cafe a big fat 5 stars because once I took a bite of my Turkey, Turkey all that was wrong was now so right! read more

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Stopped in here after a spa visit next door. My massage therapist mentioned Panes having good sandwiches, and I immediately started recalculating my trip home after hearing that. He had me at "sandwich," which I am an absolute sucker for. It's no joke - ask my credit card. I recently went on a 2 month bender of eating a ridiculous amount of sandwiches non-stop, but I digress... Panes has fresh bread daily, an extensive menu, including a full page of different types of sandwiches, and a super cute vibe on the inside. The walls are colorful, eclectic signs and art, and lots of tables to sit at. Very low key, which is definitely more my style. It felt like a mom and pop shop, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it was. You order and pay at the counter, grab your card number, and wait for order up. The woman that helped me recommended the pollo diablo, which she described as spicy. Me: Yes please! Total for the sandwich was $8 bucks, and I must say, the portion was HUGE. Definitely enough for a couple of meals. It was a delicious sandwich and you get a bag chips with it. Definitely recommend for those in working in the area. I heard the veggie sandwiches are really good there as well. 4 stars! read more