We had a toddler date with a friend and her son here at the cafe at the Peninsula. They had some…read morelimited-time St. Patrick's Day specials that caught my friend's eye, including the Pot of Gold, a special dessert only available for the weekend. The food was really excellent, as was the service. But it was ridiculously priced. The reuben sandwich was $28. It was a great sandwich, very lean, but you could get a sandwich as good for half the cost elsewhere. They only have a couple of kid's items, but my friend requested buttered noodles for her kid rather than the cheesy noodles. I got the hibiscus drink and lavender lemonade, both non-alcoholic, and they were very good. My little one especially liked the hibiscus. And we ordered the appetizer of whipped ricotta and honey; my daughter liked this more than anything else we ordered. We didn't have dessert at the restaurant, but ordered to go. The pot of gold was really good. There were little "gold nuggets" on it and that was my daughter's favorite part; good thing since I didn't realize it had a layer with Bailey's in it. It was very rich, and the cauldron was really thick chocolate (and actually was a struggle to get into, a bit!). The restaurant is small but it didn't feel crowded. We never felt rushed or unwelcome, and we were there for a couple hours (longer than I realized; it took an unusually long time to make two reuben sandwiches). Their pastries are really nice but somewhat expensive, like the rest of the menu. It was a nice, sophisticated experience.

Literally the cutest café. This was my favorite breakfast spot while visiting Chicago…read more The second I walked in, I was obsessed. The green and white color palette immediately reminded me of Ralph's Coffee. It felt classic and polished but still charming. Everyone working there had a smile on their face, and the warmth felt so genuine and comforting, especially first thing in the morning. They had such a huge selection of pastries and cakes that it was honestly hard to choose. I ended up getting the cake shaped like a cherry because it looked so interesting. It was a black cherry cake and I paired it with a cappuccino. It was the perfect combination. The cake was beautiful and tasted just as good as it looked. We also ordered the breakfast burrito, which came with a small side salad. It was fine, but not the standout for me. If I came back, which I would, I would probably stick to the pastries and coffee and try more of their baked goods instead. Service was amazing. The ambience was adorable. I loved how all the silverware, plating, and dinnerware matched that perfect green tone. Every detail felt intentional. It was just perfect.

A cute little quaint, but modern café served up some of the best quiche I have ever had not to…read moremention the delicious hazelnut based dessert! The line may seem long, but somewhat fast moving with counter service and then find your own seat. They call your name when your order is ready at the front. I cannot recommend this place enough for quick bite to eat, but also very filling and well-balanced. The quiche was so soft and the crust was not soggy perfectly buttery flakes of goodness. The hazelnut cake was a version of the opera cake, but with no coffee flavoring, it taste tasted like a very fancy Ferrero Rocher.

Desserts are life! And Verzenay is the lifeline…read more My love for flaky pastries and aesthetic desserts led me to find Verzenay. I always look for a patisserie whenever visiting a new city, and after scouring for hours, nothing in Chicago really caught my eye except for Verzenay. Other spots had basic desserts, but Verzenay had a wide selection of interesting dessert flavors along with coffee, teas and a brunch menu. Royale 5/5* Very similar to the Opera cake, but with hazelnut instead of coffee buttercream. This was so decadent. The feuilletine was crisp, delicate, and buttery and perfectly balanced out the creaminess of the hazelnut praline and chocolate. Pistachio Escargot 5/5* So flaky and crispy. The lamination on this pastry is unreal. So many layers. Desi Valour 4/5* Wow you can really taste the cardamom. It was an interesting mix of flavors. The carrots were so caramelized it was almost like a fruit chutney. You would never have known it was carrots. Saffron rice crisp at the bottom was really hard to cute through with a plastic knife, but Passionfruit Ricotta Cake Slice 4/5* Eaten immediately at the cafe, it was cold and so refreshing, light, and perfect summer flavors. The passion fruit was tart, and Butterbean smooth, fluffy, and not overwhelmingly sweet. When eaten later though, it somehow tasted way too sweet. There is a reason Verzenay is rated so high. Beautiful presentation, decadent flavors, and perfect indulgence on a nice sunny afternoon.

This was our go-to coffee spot whenever we were near the Riverwalk area or needed strong matcha in…read morethe morning for the day ahead. I would order ahead via the app, and either my husband would pick up or we would go there together. The baristas consistently made drinks well. It's a cute little PB spot. I would definitely recommend if you're staying at one of the nearby hotels and need a PB fix.

Decided to stop by Paris Baguette to pass the time prior to my flight. This location is much…read moresmaller than the location in CA. The variety of parties is very much limited as well. I love that there is an outdoor patio. It was nice sitting outside during the warmer weather. I elected to try the raspberry pastry, which was flaky and delicious. The cream balanced the tartness of the raspberries. I enjoyed the sausage pastry as well. I love that the woman at the counter offered to warm it up. I will visit again during my next visit to Chicago!

This is my absolute most favorite bakery. So this is my ode to the bakery and Dom, who is a gem of…read morean employee there. I've been a customer of almost 10 years and have been obsessed since they first opened their doors at a different location. I literally live an hour away without traffic and even longer with traffic, but I make sure to stop by or send someone else to get it for me at least once a month or more. I love the amazing cakes that are so delicious and unique but on top of that, it is Asian owned, LGBTQ supporting, etc. A lot has changed since their little storefront with no seating. The bakery is now a full on cafe and I'm so happy to see how much they've grown and how successful they are. And while it is glorious, I will say I miss the sweet neighborhood charm and great customer service it used to have. Getting in touch with the bakery through phone or text can be tough and to be honest, sometimes one of the people working there is kind of...very mean. It had me questioning if I should keep coming back. I just love this bakery so much though and being raised by parents that had a small food business, I can't help but want to support. I had a particularly difficult last minute request for the bakery a few weeks ago and I was reminded why this place is so great. It had been YEARS since I made this specific request, which was an order for a slice of cake for every flavor and a cupcake for every flavor. This is a BIG and time consuming request, especially if it's last minute. Unfortunately I come to the city whenever the traffic isn't atrocious, so it's always last minute. Dom absolutely pulled through though. Even though there were other employees there (I saw two others but one disappeared and then another male was kind of walking around the cafe and such), Dom took this giant request and fulfilled it himself. The other gentleman (not the mean person previously mentioned) was actually who I made the request to, but he told Dom to do it. I was kind of confused why they didn't do it together but idk, maybe the other guy isn't allowed to handle food? Who knows. Regardless, this request obviously took a long time and the line was getting longer; people were getting a little restless but Dom stayed calm but was swift. I swear he was moving faster than most people in the industry could with a cake knife like that. He was not impatient or rude to me at all. He was just there to do his job as fast and well as possible. It's so rare to see that type of work ethic. He is also so obviously proud of the bakery and the food they serve which makes you feel good about being a patron there. So although I continue to have an unpleasant experience with one particular employee there, Dom keeps my love for this bakery alive. He reminds me of what this bakery was like when they first opened their doors. I hope Dom is cherished there and I bet he is considering his work ethic. I will continue to support this bakery and I recommend everyone else to support as well. It may not be that small little shop anymore but Dom is a reminder of the heart of the place.

I've been to Jennivee's twice now and I also got my college graduation cake from here last year for…read morepick-up! They did a beautiful job. For my graduation cake, I chose the tres leches and it was so creamy, moist, and delicious. I basically ate half of the cake by myself lol. This most recent time, I needed a snack and wanted something sweet. Everything here looks amazing and I'm sure tastes amazing too, so it's hard to choose. I chose to get the berry chantilly cake slice since it was a hot day, and it was the perfect refreshing treat! It was soooo good.

This bakery has some of the most legitimately delicious bread I've ever had, and it's become a…read moremandatory stop whenever I find myself in Niles. No matter how many times I visit, I always end up finding something new that catches my eye. Between the incredible selection of breads, pastries, and drinks, it's nearly impossible to leave empty-handed. One of the things I love most about this place is the variety of bread flavors they offer. Whether you're in the mood for something sweet, savory, classic, or unique, there always seems to be a fresh batch coming out of the oven. The bread always tastes incredibly fresh, whether you're eating it immediately there or in the car or saving some for breakfast the next morning. The drinks deserve recognition too. They're consistently good, surprisingly affordable, and pair perfectly with whatever baked goods you decide to bring home. My go to drink here is the jasmine milk tea with 50% sugar and light ice. It's rare to find a place where the quality is this high while the prices remain so reasonable. I've tried a variety of their drinks over the years, and they've yet to disappoint. I was so happy they finally opened an 85 Degrees bakery here in the Midwest because I would always visit this place when I visit the West Coast. If you're a bread lover, this bakery is absolutely worth the trip. The combination of fresh-baked bread, flavorful drinks, affordable prices, and an endless selection of goodies keeps me coming back time and time again. It's one of those places that makes you start planning your next visit before you've even finished what you bought from this one.

We initially were going to a different bakery/cafe but when we realized it was in H-Mart, we wanted…read moreto go somewhere that was more comfortable. We were meeting our daughter and this was a convenient location. 85 C was in the same parking lot as H-Mart so we changed our plans. They are laid out like other Korean Bakeries. They have a very nice selection of sweet and savory pastries, bubble teas, coffees, milk teas, regular teas and more. I simply had an iced tea. At our table we also had one bubble tea and one latte. My partner and daughter also had pastries. I don't eat them but was told they were very good. They don't have a whole lot of seats but we were fortunate to get a table right away. We didn't feel rushed at all even though they were busy. I'd say this is a fine place to for an afternoon visit.

Our experience with Bittersweet Bakery was exceptional from beginning to end. We ordered our…read morewedding cake from Bittersweet, and they made the entire process enjoyable and stress-free. The cake tasting was a wonderful experience, giving us plenty of delicious options to choose from while helping us create the perfect cake for our special day. Throughout the entire process, their communication was outstanding. They kept us informed every step of the way and worked directly with our wedding venue, "Firehouse Chicago", to coordinate the delivery and logistics. Everything was handled seamlessly, and our cake arrived exactly as planned without a single issue. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but Bittersweet's professionalism, organization, and proactive approach gave us one less thing to worry about. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellent customer service truly stood out. One feature we especially love is that they keep the recipe and design of your wedding cake on file. Every anniversary, they can recreate your wedding cake or a cake in any size you choose. We've continued this tradition, and each anniversary cake has been just as delicious as the original while bringing back wonderful memories of our wedding day. If you're looking for a bakery that is responsive, dependable, and delivers an outstanding product, I highly recommend Bittersweet Bakery for your wedding cake or any bakery needs. They responded promptly to our questions and requests, unlike some businesses that never replied to estimate inquiries. Their customer service and quality were truly exceptional. A heartfelt thank you to Samuel who conducted the Cake Tasting and the entire staff at Bittersweet Bakery for helping make our dream wedding a reality. We will always be grateful and look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries with your incredible cakes.

The pastries at bittersweet will never disappoint. I grew up going to this bakery and the quality…read morehas never wavered. The quiche is always fantastic, and anything out of the pastry case is a must. Drinks are good as well! Such a cozy spot to grab coffee with a friend (or give in to the temptation of snagging a pastry on your way to the brown line)

I've been to Mindy's a few times now and have never had a problem finding a treat to enjoy. There…read moreare wide variety of pastry items, breakfast sandwiches, and beverages. My favorite, along with many others, is the iced banana bread latte. Definitely get it with the vanilla cinnamon cold foam! I've had a variety of pastries here, but particularly love the coffee cakes and cookies. The breakfast sandwich is also really great if it's fresh. The staff for the most part have been very warm and friendly. If it's busy, they are less likely to want to chat about the options and give a recommendation, so come in with a few ideas of what you're looking for if you come on a weekend! The store itself is very cute, with lots of wood and warm colors. There is limited seated outside on a few benches. I recommend walking to the park to enjoy your treats and coffee.

Stopped by on a day of bopping around town. I asked the gal at the counter to help me pick some…read morethings. She recommended a Bolognese Danish, a Dubai pistachio brownie, and I added an everything bagel and took it all to go. The Danish was by far my favorite. The pastry was flaky, heavenly, and the filling rich and meaty. This is a pastry worth crossing town for. The brownie was fine, but maybe I'm over the Dubai chocolate trend. It didn't really come together as a unified dessert for me. I wanted the brownie to be richer, fudgier, maybe even a bit sweeter. I would probably get something else next time. The everything bagel was a good texture, but the fennel seeds in the seasoning took me so far away from the classic "everything." They overpowered the other flavors, but the texture was fantastic. Overall, I enjoyed the treats I got, would go back to try some other options. I would probably give this 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up. Also want to add how much I miss Hot Chocolate!

Yummy and intimate. Not a lot of seats but there are some on the inside. Worth the visit and…read moreexcellent for a sweet treat or gifts I'd return here again. I loved the raspberry croissant and madelines.

We went to Hendrickx for breakfast recently and it is one of the few bakeries that makes Canelé!…read moreThey have very few indoor seating but we were able to secure a spot. Ratings: Croissant (Prosciutto) 4.5/5 very yummy! I do wish they toasted the croissant so it was warm. Quiche: 4/5 I loved the flaky crust. I wish there were different types Canelé: 5/5 for sure an item that we go to Hendrickx's for! The ambiance is a cute bakery. There is some seating indoors and some outside. The service is quick and they are very nice.