I had high hopes for this place considering the great reviews and the photos looking promising. I ordered the turkey turkey and was so disappointed. Fillings were skimpy and the tomato bread was incredibly dry. The only thing saving it was the avocado. Flavor was also bland. I ordered the last banana bread on the shelf and that was also so bad. It was so dense and dry I had to force myself to taste the banana flavor. The only moderately decent item was the monster cookie. So much for being a "bread cafe". Additionally, there were only 2 parties inside the store (me and another group of 4) and it took almost half an hour just to get my sandwich. Maybe it was an off day for them but I will definitely not be returning. read more

Such a good spot for sandwiches!!! Big menu with lots of options and super tasty. I will say that you should definitely order ahead here because the wait was pretty long! read more

Awesome sandwich spot with out-of-this-world bread. I have gotten many of their sandwiches but by far my favorite is the popular chicken on their tomato cheesy bread. I'm typically the type of sandwich person who cares more about the actual contents and meats of a sandwich but it's the bread at Pane's that really stands out. They also have awesome breakfast sandwiches that come with awesome home fries. You honestly can't go wrong with any of their sandwiches and you can get breakfast anytime of day which is yet another plus. Price is reasonable compared to a lot of other places in the city, especially since they give you chips on the side with your sandwich. The place is always crowded so definitely call ahead if you're planning on taking out. It's nice to eat their if you plan on doing that but just know that there aren't a lot of tables and it can be difficult to find a seat during peak lunch hours. read more

Panes Bread Cafe - The Popular Chicken Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always love any excuse to stop by for a meal at Panes! Go to the doctor, stop at Panes. Visiting a friend, takeout from Panes! Have friends visiting me from out of town, take them to Panes! Everyone finds something they love every time we go there. My fav is Panes Angel Hair pasta. My hubby only eats their Super Panes sandwich. Picky eaters? They can customize their order. I've been going here since they opened in 1994. read more

Hands down my favorite restaurant in all of Chicago, and I've been to tons. The cozy atmosphere, the homey foods, everything about Panes is perfect. From the amazing sandwiches (I recommend the panes sandwich or the ham and cheese), to the rotating soups, desserts, and iconic garlic potato salad, this place has something for everyone! read more

Panes was A-ok! The sandwich I got was turkey on a sun fried tomato bread. We didn't wait long which was nice! But to be honest it was a little soggy. I'll come back but think it was just a bad batch! read more

Panes is especially for those days when you realize you're spending way too much on eating out but you also just happened to not bring a lunch. They have delicious, huge sandwiches at a very reasonable price. I got the special written on the chalkboard which was a steak sandwich with mushroom & pepper jack. The bread is crispy on the outside and warm and toasty on the inside. All the ingredients are fresh and very hearty. I can easily split the sandwich into two meals. Come here if you have 45 minutes to spare and relax. It is one of the best places for lunch if you want something quick. Bonus! Sometimes they have bread out on the front counter to sample. read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Steak sandwich with chips - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pollo diablo was really good. The sandwich is pretty big so was going to only eat half but it was to good! 8 bucks for a sandwich and chips not bad. Got the BBQ sauce on the side and it was super salty but warm and good. Def will be coming here a lot during my lunch breaks. Bring cash! Update- came here again and ordered the pompanzo or whatever.. The last sandwich on the menu. Super good!!! How do they get the chicken so juicy? Yum! Had to give the BBQ sauce one more shot but it was extremely salty and pretty unbearable! Never ordering that again. Also not that big of a deal but prices online are different from the actual place. All the sandwiches are around 8-9$ bucks.. Can't wait to try something else here! Turkey turkey isn't horrible but not the best thing here.. If anything just get the tomato bread cause that was the best thing about the sandwich.. Everything else was average! read more

See all

I really enjoyed the rosemary olive oil bread. The breads are labeled whether or not they contain milk, which is great for a person with a dairy allergy. Their bread is baked well and nice and soft on the inside. The service is friendly and straight to the point. read more

We recently picked up a couple of sandwiches for lunch. I'm not sure why I've never stopped here because it was so good! The bread was tasty and fresh! I'm looking forward to trying more! read more

Every neighborhood should have a Panes. Relatively cheap sandwiches and quality ingredients. During my few hours there, a constant stream of customers stretched from the counter to the door. Clearly, this is a popular joint. I ordered the Pollo Diablo (spicy chicken) sandwich. I enjoyed it, but I wished the chicken were just a little more tender. It definitely had a kick to it. The cheese was nice and melty, but it will cool quickly. Panes takes longer than a shop like Potbelly's, so you should know that before going in. The trade-off is that you have a larger menu and some cool, unique sandwiches. I'd definitely go back for lunch when I'm in the neighborhood. read more

We popped in awhile ago and we had been here maybe 8 years ago and it's STILL an awesome little sandy shop!!! I would say these sammys are some of the BEST you will get anywhere. The bread, the fillings, the condiments! There is method to making a great sammy vs just the chain crap out there.. YUMMM!! The service, the sammy the vibe all hit the mark here!!! read more

Panes is right around the corner from me and is the absolute perfect lunch spot! It has wonderful homemade bread, sandwiches, soup and more!! I highly recommend it if you're in the Lakeview area and are looking for a good lunch. read more

Kicking myself for not having tried Panes sooner! Some of the best bread I've ever tasted and such good portions (I had the veggie cabra sandwich). May need to go back for a loaf! read more

This place is okay. I've heard from the neighbor that it's one of the best places to get sandwiches, but they've been just decent every time I order from there. I believe they bread they use in homemade, so I think that's the appeal. read more

great family owned restaurant. I believe they bake their breads. they have an atm since it's cash only. not sure if it's changed since I been there but the quality of their food is always amazing and fresh . street parking easy read more

I really love panes, ive been going there every other thursday for a couple months now. the servers are friendly, their soup and desserts are to die for and its just overall super cute. love!!! read more

Panes Bread Cafe - a person holding a cup of coffee - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything is great here. Bread is fresh and tasty, sandwiches are amazing (love their special sandwiches of the week/month/whatever it is), their pasta is awesome, their soup is great, and their desserts are amazing. Love it all! If I had one negative critique: I wish the staff were a little friendlier...always seen a little stand-offish that's why I give it 4 stars. To get a perfect five stars, establishments must have both great food and great service. don't get me wrong, they aren't mean, they just aren't welcoming that much. but the food is great! my favorite sandwich is "el parisino" I think. Their special chicken curry sandwich is also a good one. read more

I used to get my lunch here multiple times a week when I nannied next door. Super dangerous. I lived in Lakeview at the time and would still get this for lunch on weekends. Once I started moving out west and south I tried coming in every so often because it's that good!! Any time I get my order messed up when I order out elsewhere I think of this spot where you canorder anything and not be upset by your choice. Oh and def try their baked breads! read more

Prices are double then online. Service is slow and portion size is small. Won't be returning

Great cafe with a variety of delicious menu items. I had the Pollo Diablo sandwich which was fantastic. The bread and all the other ingredients were fresh and the portions are generous. My only complaint is that I live 705 miles away but I always make it a point to stop with every visit to Chicago. read more

this is the best god damn place i've ever been to in my entire 21 years on this god damn earth thankyou god read more

Absolutely delicious. A hidden gem. Puts most sandwich places to shame. The freshest bread you will ever eat.

Great Cafe. Very nice staff. Amazing food. VERY reasonable on cost. Top of the line bread! I've been going for years and will continue. read more

Love it here. I had the most delicious chilaquiles here and shared a monster cookie. The prices cannot be beat and the food tastes fresh. The ultimate comfort food. Great place to go for a casual breakfast or brunch on a weekend morning when you need something hearty and simple. Can't recommend it enough! read more

We have been going to Panes for over 20 years. It has always been our go to -- awesome Mac and cheese, best BLT ever (it's the bacon and the sweet white bread!), good salads (we love the tortilla salad and the crispy bacon salad). It is where I take my friends who are visiting and everyone has loved it. However, in the past few months, I have noticed a disturbing decline. Any restaurant can have an off night. But I have noticed that the so-so nights have outnumbered the good nights. Tonight was so disappointing that I just had to write. Panes soups are good so I decided to have Mexican Tortilla Soup as my dinner. Bread comes with soup and the bread that they gave us was stale in one side - I assume it's been sitting out for a while. Eww. (And the stale bread has been the norm over the past few months). I eat around the stale parts because the bread is good. But really - the bread should not be stale. I was so disappointed when the tortilla soup came. It was a bowl of chicken broth with crushed tortillas. Nothing else. Not a bean or corn kernel or whisp of chicken. And the broth tasted like canned. For $4.95. I mentioned my disappointment to the young gentleman who took our order. I said this soup was not good and definitely not up to Panes standard. He said sorry. At the very least he could have said can I get you another kind of soup? A cookie? No - just a "sorry". I really hope Panes can turn around. It is dropping off our go-to list which makes me sad. read more

Exemplary sandwich. I had the pollo Diablo and would 10/10 recommend. Great vibes. Don't forget to bring cash!! read more

This place deserves more than 5 stars. I've been here multiple times and have ordered a different sandwich every time and I have yet to be disappointed. My favorites are the Roast Beef for sure and the Turkey Turkey with bacon. I come here weekly for these sandwiches and I have no intention of stopping. Their bread alone is what makes this place awesome and their quality of ingredients is always outstanding. It is cash only but there's an ATM inside if you need cash. Also, you can't beat the prices! read more

The CUTEST little bakery in Sheffield in Lakeview. I've come here tons of times for cookies, loaves of bread, and even lunch! You cannot go wrong with anything. The sourdough is out of this world and I have to pick up a monster cookie every time I'm in! read more

Started working across the street from Panes a few months ago and I can't believe I haven't tried their sandwiches until today. I got a grilled chicken sandwich with pesto, roasted peppers, and provolone on fresh ciabatta, and it was SO GOOD. I can't wait to try more of their sandwiches, if only to get more of the delicious fresh bread (though everything inside the sandwich was also fantastic). All of the sandwiches are also super affordable which is a huge plus, especially when making a big group order at work. I definitely recommend Panes when in the area and looking for a delicious sandwich for lunch/dinner, and I know I'll be back! read more

Some of my favorite sandwiches in town! Delicious combinations with quality ingredients and generous portions. Love their tomato bread! Great local spot with a cozy feel. Worth every penny. read more

Good food and customer service. Small but confertible. A must try place. it's by the hospital

The bread here is SO GOOD. We love to stop here for a quick soup or salad just to get a side of the bread. Their other food and desserts are great too and I love the rotating selection. Great to stop by on the way home from the train stop! read more

Delicious on the go sandwich!!! Ordered the Turkey, Turkey with smoked turkey, avo, roasted red pepper, spicy mayo and tomato bread. The tomato bread was soooo tasty. Everything tied together very well. Highly recommend this sammich. Also comes with a side of chips! Coming from Boston, the cute shop felt even homier with the Red Sox decor. Chatted with the owner and she was the sweetest. May have to become a regular once I start working nearby. :) FYI, cash only! read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Turkey, turkey: turkey, avo, roasted red pepper, spicy mayo on tomato bread. SO GOOD. - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The bread here makes the sandwiches taste like heaven. Everything was super fresh, I highly suggest stopping for lunch here.

Easily the best sandwich I have ever had in my life. I got the oaxacan pork sandwich and it was perfect! Big enough to easily feed two people! read more

I've been going to Panes for over 10 years, since I was a poor college student at DePaul. I just went back for the first time in over 3 years, and it was just as good as I remembered. This honestly might be my favorite restaurant in all of Chicago. These are the things that stand out: Family owned and operated - I believe the husband is from Mexico and the wife is from France. It's been a while, so I may be slightly off. But they've brought some of both cultures into their business. Everyone who works there is delightful. The bread - There's something about fresh bread. Every culture has its own version. Everyone knows the smell, the taste, the comfort. Everything they make is made better with bread. The sandwiches are made on it. The soup comes with it. And so on. The sandwiches - I love the roasted beef. Everything I've tried is delicious, but I keep going back to this one. Warm roast beef, avocado, some kind of aioli. It's the stuff of dreams. The desserts - Save room. They have some wonderful dessert creations. I like the bread pudding, lemon blueberry custard/tart, and the cookies. Don't forget to take bread home!!! read more

Their food is just simply awesome. You have healthy options and then you have their delicious sweet section. The staff is kind and friendly. Bilingual is always a plus for me and they just topped off my experience with that which I loved!!! read more

I love this place! The prices are great. So filling and delicious. The inside and patio are so cute. Ingredients are fresh and amazing.

This is one of my top 3 lunch spots in Lakeview. Panes makes their own sour dough bread for all of their sandwiches daily, along with all of the sweets and desserts behind the counter. Food: 5 stars for their sandwiches. I have had the turkey, turkey , the Diablo chicken and my new favorite the turkey blt. I also have just started buying a loaf of bread to snack on for the next 2-3 days after. Service: 4 stars. Everyone helping you is nice and friendly. They have helpful recommendations. Atmosphere: cute and cozy. Their is plenty of room and tables to enjoy lunch in the restaurant. Cheers! read more