got a slice drink and a cookie + loaf of bread, all were good but the pizza was bussin . the service was good, all the baristas were nice and helpful. I love the old school general store type vibe mixed w/ a new age ambiance. read more

See all

The offerings are great, but the space is way too tiny to move around in. Head in knowing what you need because it's essentially single file with no chance of back stepping once you are in! read more

I really really enjoyed going to Publican. Definitely another gem in the oak park community. There are both savory and sweet options to indulge in. There are items if you're interested in a small bite as well as heartier options if you're more hungry. As someone that does not drink coffee, I enjoy their teas as well as their matcha beverages. You can't go wrong. As for the price ranges, it's affordable but expect to spend maybe $9-14 per person should you grab a bite and beverage. One additional cool thing is that they're a bakery so there's the option to grab some grocery items to take home. read more

See all

I got a decaf Latte and a almond croissant, and stayed there for about an hour and a half. The staff were very nice and efficient in preparing the food and drinks. The seats might be not very comfortable at the bar near the window, but it was good for me to just stand there working on my laptop. All good! read more

See all

These folks are honorable & decent. This is a Cashless operation. Have a card with You. They were good to me - I will be back for breakfast. I really appreciate the kindness. Thanks, Steve read more

Stopped in for a snack because we were waiting for Uncle Mike's Place. We ended up getting the braised beef tartine and it was delicious and really hit the spot. Wish we got their other pastries to try read more

Publican Quality Bread - Beef tartine - Bakeries Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I have wanted to try this place since it open and it had such strong reviews. I was somewhat underwhelmed. So it is located in Oak Park, so the folks who frequent this place daily for coffee and pastry or a fresh loaf of bread are far beyond my budget friendly mindset. The service was great, the 2 ladies behind the counter were informative and happily explained anything and everything about the products. I always lead with his before I make a critique. I am a former restauranteur and I understand rising food and labor costs. The one thing that I felt was not worth the money was the fruit top brioche for $15. It was in an 8x8 square pan and I love a baked bread but this was almost a touch too brown from my liking, a smidge away from burnt. When I got it home, I though eh, it's just a little brown but I bet it is soft and melt in your mouth delish when I cut into it. No. I had to microwave it to get it soft enough to get it down my throat and I threw the rest out because it was not what I was expecting. I also picked up some other baked items like the cardamon monkey bread. Had HIGH hopes because I thought that was quite different. I love cardamon so anytime I can get hints of it in unexpected places is a plus. This was not the ooey gooey yummy monkey bread we all love. It was dry as a powderhouse and it literally was a faint hint of cardamom. For $6 more waste of my hard earn dollars. Once again, I gave them 4 stars because the service was great, the ambiance was good, but this place definitely isn't targeting me and my demographic with the products. I am not a coffee drinker so I think soaking any of the dry pastries in coffee would make them delicious to a coffee drinker but for me, not so much. They were just dry and tasteless. I was a little sick when I walked out after spending almost $30. The other items I bought were so uneventful I don't even remember so that is not great at all. read more

The quality, service and vibe are amazing and I love this location in the very cool Harrison Arts District, but the prices are quite high for Chicago. I'm used to this in the Bay Area and tried to buy my relative a sandwich, but he refused saying it was much too expensive and he just got a $5 croissant. Sandwiches are $13 half, $25 full. That is pricy. Love the energy of this place though, definitely will come back and grab a sandwich and a bottle of Coke! Cool section where you can buy stuff to take home, too. Sardines! Love it! Thanks for taking my relative's questions about peanut allergy seriously, too. That was awesome. read more

See all

Oh my oh my oh my ..... the whole team here knocked it out of the park today and I can't wait to return!!! Perfect Saturday morning date spot!! Busy and bustling inside, but still felt cozy and chill. Great music. Sunny spot with high and low seating inside plus outdoor seating. Reasonable prices. Free parking. FABULOUS staff- so welcoming and friendly!! We scored an inside table and spilt a piece of strawberry-coconut cake and the most incredible strawberry-lemon curd tarte ever created. Coffee and bottle Coca Colas. Best date I've had in months!! Loved this place so much. I'll definitely be back. read more

See all

Went here for the first time today and The Veggie is hands down one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. The decaf coffee is delicious, too. read more

Publican Quality Bread - Bakeries Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Very happy to have this bakery option close to my work. And they open early at 7a, so you can stop by before work! I've tried many of their breakfast pastries and my favorite is the ham & cheese croissant. I'm a fan of their bread as well and if you come first thing in the morning, you can score day-old bread for like 1/2 off! I have not had the chance to try any of their lunch, dinner or special weekend options since I can only stop by on my way in to work. I highly recommend this bakery for your pastry and bread needs! read more

Publican Bakery in Oak Park is one of my favourite go-to bakeries. The ambiance is great, the almond croissant is addictive, and the staff is always helpful and friendly. DEMI in particular is SIMPLY THE BEST, and I can see why she was selected as a manager. Thanks so much for all that you do!! read more

God I love the 1979 seeded bread. The staff are great. I just joined the rewards club because im back there all the time and get this- it's 3 hours away! read more

Delicious pastries and coffee! The staff was helpful in their favorites and picking out a nice spread of different flavors. The street parking wasn't too bad nearby their shop in the Arts District - there was a little of a line but not too bad. They have WiFi available as well if you're looking for a spot to sit and wait too! read more

See all

Solid addition to this area. Nice employees, good light. Reasonable prices for the quality of backed goods you get. I wish they had more coffee size options--some of us like bigger cups than those smalls they have. And not sure why we have to pay a credit card supplement when it's a cashless operation--they should roll that into the prices if you have to figure in that supplement. read more

We went later in the day, and they were out of pretty much everything except their flattop pizzas. Although it was almost closing time, the staff was very friendly and helpful. There are a few seating options inside the place. I ended up getting a matcha latte and thought it was overpriced. Not my cup of tea, but seems to be a local favorite. read more

Publican Quality Bread - Iced matcha latte - Bakeries Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

We are so lucky to have Publican in Oak Park. The bread is excellent - love the Spence sourdough. The pastries are delicious - interesting specials on the weekend and delicious standbys (the kouign-amann...so yum!) We are also fans of the sandwiches - they change out regularly - and coffee. And they gave my daughter her sourdough starter. Also a great place to grab dinner if you've got theater tix downtown and want a quick dinner - a slice of pizza and a nice glass of wine is perfect before you hit the 290 traffic. Thumbs up. read more

There is inside and outside seating both are comfortable. It is nice to see the baking and food prep while waiting. The ordering process is easy and quick the food came was ready before we paid. The marinated tofu sandwich was full of flavor and stuffed with delicious veggies. The side salads were in to go containers and easy to take what is left over. Everything was fresh and nice flavors throughout. read more

See all

I ordered few items from Publican including the big Italian, the croissant and the chocolate brioche. I was expecting this to be a great brunch but unfortunately it was not. The sandwich didn't deliver on the flavor. It had a good mix of ingredients but I couldn't really taste something specific so it kinda fell flat for me. The croissant was better but also lacked the authentic croissant flavor. It was more crunchy than flaky and when it wasn't sweet or salty so again fell flat. The chocolate brioche was the star of the show as it was great in flavor and sweetness and it is the reason I bumped this into three stars and not two. Given the prices and the reputation of this bakery I was hoping for something better than was provided. read more

Publican Quality Bread - Italian sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

See all

A little pricey but very good. Savory and sweet great combination of flavors. Unique choices to pick from and the selection changes daily.

Great for delivery. Really fast and fresh. All three people were happy with their choices. Glad they opened a place in Oak Park read more

Publican Quality Bread - Ham and cheese croissant, almond croissant, chocolate croissant and monkey bread! - Bakeries Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Basic, nothing special. Went in at open on Mothers Day (a Sunday) and they only had 3 random pastries for sale, none of which are from the menu and all 3 strange, specific concoctions. When I asked for a basic croissant, the first thing on their menu, the cashier balked at me and said it would be "hours" before "something like that" would be made. Sorry, did that while "assumption" thing about the menu being available. They basically brought the hipster vibe to the neighborhood but forgot the basic business sense and bakery basics. Avoid unless you just want that basic soup n*zi vibe. read more

Had to stop by on opening day! They were out of bread but I enjoyed an oat milk chai latte! Absolutely delicious! After I'm assuming a very busy day, the staff were extremely friendly and kind! There was a large line even with no bread! Oak park is very excited to welcome this new business to town! Wonderful vibe inside with nice decor! I will be back! read more

Publican Quality Bread - Oat milk chai latte - Bakeries Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

See all

This is how bread should taste. Hopefully, it's truly free from all the crap that has been normalized in everyday foodstuff. read more

The food is really good but a bit pricy. The Jambon is my favorite. Service is hit or miss, sometimes they're nice and friendly other times they aren't too friendly if you don't know what you want to order right away. The service downtown is just lovely-staff are super friendly and knowledgeable so I'm not sure where the disconnect is between the two locations. read more

I was so excited to try this location even after three previous unsuccessful visits( sandwiches only after 1:00pm, my bad...)As of today I was ready... ordered sandwich on line for 1pm, waiting in the car and finally got it there at 12:50.... too early because bread is baking and sandwiches are after 1 but they are little behind..10 min more and more 5 and finally sandwich at 1:15....What can I say:bread exceptional , sandwich rich rosemary ham and Comte cheese but together average!Next time I 'll get breads but no sandwiches! read more

A nice array of baked goods, from pastries to breads. The jam scone tasted fresh and had an interesting blend of flavors while being on the softer side. The sandwiches are large. The oat milk draft latte is a tasty change-of-pace for me as a regular no-frills coffee drinker. Lines vary depending on what time you go, so be prepared to wait if you go during a peak time (morning, lunch). Employees are friendly and fast. Space is small and seating can be difficult to find, so plan to take your order to go and sit on one of the nice benches or nearby parks in the Arts District. No dogs allowed inside, which is understandable due to the size of the space. read more

I was so excited when I saw Publican Bread opening in the Harrison street Arts District. The bread is wonderful, but the experience was awful. It is a rip off! Went in to buy a loaf of bread. $11.00 expensive, but ok for quality bread. This is where the scam begins. I pulled out a $20 bill. "We don't take cash." Ok credit card! Screen "Tip 10% 20% etc. I punched no tip! Got the receipt and low and behold there is a $2,42 tip and a $.36 "Hospitality Supplement". Do I need to pay for the business' hospitality????? Disputed the tip charge. "I will need to go and find someone to take care of that." My time is valuable! I also am concerned about the amount of sales tax charged. If I go to the grocery store it's 1%. They are charging 10%? Solution: I will NEVER go there again. How to kill your new business in 5 easy steps. read more

LOVE, LIVE, LOVE....The turkey sandwich is awesome. So much arugula the best, it's put together very nicely. A little more smiles from employees may be warranted but overall I am pleased with this petite Bakery. I live in Tinley Park and will usually come here for a good sandwich! I know that's far but did I mention the word "Love". Butter chocolate cookies are never in always but are the best dessert of all! read more

Great to have you in the neighborhood. Love lots of your pastries! Some of the sweets could dial down on the sugar content, especially the icing on the macaroons and cinnamon rolls. Skip the icing on the macaroons and add butter to the icing on the cinnamon rolls to cut the sugar. read more

I loved the panettone but the Spence Farms sour dough is my regular go to, when I don't make my own. Greg does a great job with his breads. If you go, ask him where his challenge coin is. read more

I was so excited for this place to open, I live a block away. Unfortunately, the customer service from the counter people here is so bad, I feel bad giving this place any money. The Service Over the past 6 months or so, I've gone in probably 15 times, almost every time I feel like I've done something wrong by just ordering. This place is the epitome of bad service. I've tried all different types of approaches with the staff, each time I get a stone faced "I'm better than you and I hate my job" look. I thought it was me, but now I see a lot of other people are having the same experience. I'm probably going to stop going because of this reason, and something the owners should really consider fixing. The Food The bakery items are usually really good, to fantastic. There was a Cruffin with lemon that I still think about. The loaves of bread are really good, but sometimes overbaked imo. I like a good crust, but I don't want to cut my mouth on the bread because the crust is so overdone. This also holds true with the pizza about half the time, or more. I've gotten all the different pizza types and they are usually dried out, overbaked crust with burnt edges. I'm ok with charring, but not when it dries everything else out. They also seem underseasoned, muted flavors. The sandwiches are ok, but very overpriced for the amount you get. I know this isn't a "value" option for breakfast/lunch, but it's on the high end for food that isn't always the best. As others have said, there's other better/cheaper options out there. The Ambiance Cool to see the bakers working through the glass. Small interior, can be long lines during peak times, but not a big deal for me. Overall, I understand the place has an award winning owner etc., but this type of commitment needs to be carried through to all the staff in front. It only takes a few bad apples to spoil the bunch...or the bakery. read more

Walked by during opening day and there was a line down the block. What a great problem to have! Welcome to the neighborhood. We will be back to order when we do not have an inpatient toddler with us :) excited to update this soon! read more

It's hard to choose between the sweet and the savory in the morning. On the sweet side, the chocolate morning brioche bun is not to be missed. On the savory side, their quiche is so light and fluffy. I'm also a fan of their puff pastry with goat cheese and tomato jam. The tartines are a solid option for lunch. I'm excited to try their new summer seasonal offerings! read more

I come in here for bread typically, and it's fantastic. But the interactions with staff have been really odd. And my most recent trip had me trying to read a menu screen than flashes off over and over. I was told to read the case placards by the half asleep employee, but they were also half wiped off and hard to read. So instead I just bought my bread and left. Well I bought the bread after sleepy head walked away for more than a pause and I could finally pay and leave. Not sure about this place at all. read more

Great coffee and insane pastries. This place definitely gave Harrison Arts District a much-needed infusion! Lines are long and seating is limited, but I think that'll die down when it's been opened for awhile. Get the pecan snail or the chocolate orange brioche! read more

Absolutely insane, next level baked goods and bread. You will not get anything that will Not blow you away! So the food is as good as it gets. But it is way too small as space and you will have to wait in a very awkward, snaking line and the weight staff moves very slowly, because there aren't enough of them and as of this writing they are way too new. So you have to be ready to roll your eyes and deal with some annoyances and very little standing room for some incredible bakery fair that is well worth the price! If it's gonna be expensive, it should be the very best. It is the very best. If you can get the pecan snail, that will change your life. read more

Soooo good. Best bread around especially 1979 multigrain and delicious cookies. Pizza four cheese my favorite!

Oak Parker's aren't stupid enough to spend $16 on loaf of bread TWICE. Products don't warrant high cost. Cardamom? monkey 'cupcake' way too sweet (cloying), and had NO taste of cardamom! Sour dough baked fresh, but again, definitely not rave worthy. WF has slightly better fare for less money. If you want to $pend too much on baked goods, go for it. But don't expect to get excited. Won't be returning. (Tip: reassemble boxes ahead of time to move the line along at less than snail's (aka escargo's) pace.) read more

"Public" should not be the prefix here. More like Elitist Bread. The inequities of a cash free business has no place in a village dedicated to inclusion. I have a bunch of allergies, first the front counter staff had an issue confirming ingredients. Then they had an issue checking with the kitchen. Lastly, when I select an item they can't sell it to me, because they don't take money, only credit. There's nothing special about this corporate elitist bakery, in a neighborhood with multiple independent bakeries actually dedicated to the community, Publican was a huge disappointment. My friend recommended this bakery because they appear to have a wide selection of interesting baked goods and beverages, but why make 'potato pizza' out of wheat? There's no variety at this bakery. There's only one hot beverage selection not chocked full of acids, and if I want chamomile I can drink it at Denny's. If you want wheat and rye bread, that's only available to ppl with a line of credit, in an 'industrial chic' ambience, this place is for you! But if you want something baked with love go across the street to Happy Apple, or around the corner for good coffee. read more