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.

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.

I got to try this standout bakery with TooGoodToGo, which helps local businesses sell older items…read moreat a discount. Preventing food waste and trying a new spot while I was in town was the right call! I got to give my host a couple of pastries, and take a couple of them back to my city and share them! The flakiness of the croissant was unreal, and that was even after a frost/thaw situation. The staff was super kind, and the variety of options in that storefront was pretty great, especially for 2pm. I will definitely be going back to try an assortment of sweets!

We visited here during our Christmas vacation. The store display was so cute so we decided to peek…read moreinside. The moment we stepped into the store, we could smell the delicious aroma of baked goods. There are some tables on the side of the store where we enjoyed our food. The seatings were cozy and a good place to enjoy a tea with friends. - Ham & egg croissant: delicious! My kiddo devoured 2 of them! The croissants were buttery and flaky. The ham and egg were tasty too. - Apple almond croissant: the croissant was too soggy for me. I could definitely tasted the apple but the almond paste filling was a tad too sweet for my liking.

Really cool place to get a great latte and breakfast right down in the loop…read more Cinnamon buns looked amazing. Latte and cereal granola bowl were really filling. Husband got a breakfast sandwich which was hearty. Long lines, limited seating.

Everyone but one particular women was wonderful. Her name was Tamera. She yelled at my friend and I…read moreto step up to the order area after we had been asked to wait, when we explained why we were waiting she said "ok well you can still step up!! right here! go here!" in an awfully rude tone. Tamera may need to be educated on how to appropriately redirect guest. I know customer service does not come natural to everyone but as this was my first and only exposure to this shop I felt immediately off put by her attitude. I waited 15 minutes for my food. I went inside to look to see if it was ready. Tamera responded with "We have been calling out names outside." in once again, another rude tone. I took my sandwich and left. The sandwhich was cold and squishy (ham and cheese croissant) due to the long wait. I do not recommend this place to anybody who is visiting while in Chicago. I understand that the cafe is busy. Learn to manage your stress and not take it on guests. Very unprofessional.

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.

On my way to work one morning, I passed by the patisserie. The woman who was working the counter…read morewas stepping outside to take a breather since this morning was apparently rather busy. I dropped my work bag off at my office and returned. I have a feeling that giving her time to collect her thoughts meant more than its weight in gold because when I returned, she was very thankful. When I returned, I ordered a café au lait and a croissant. The café au lait was clearly brewed from some good beans because it didn't require any sweetener. The croissant was fresh, still slightly warm. There are several other offerings that I will eventually get around to trying. This downtown location is less congested than the Evanston location. With it being less than a block away, I will indeed return at times, more when the weather warms up.

isappointing.. owner is rude and arrogant... quite a small selection of pastries that are blah…read more.. highly recommend Le Cauldron Praline bakery at 500 Davis, Evanston. It's brand new and has an amazing variety of pastries and fresh croissants.

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.

I was in Chicago last month and, while exploring the city on foot, I came across Paris Baguette and…read moredecided to stop and try one of their pastries and a coffee. From the moment I walked in I was impressed. The store was spotless , everything looked fresh, and the displays were beautifully organized. It was honestly hard to choose because everything looked so good. They had outdoor seating, which made it the perfect spot to sit back, relax and take in the city while enjoying a yummy pastry and coffee. Service was fast and no lines. Favorite unexpected spot during my trip to Chicago!

What I love about this bakery cafe is that it truly reminds me of my trip to Paris. There is a…read morefresh smell of butter, sweet cream and homemade breads. Everyone is so friendly and eager to serve. I love the variety, the themes and that they are trendy. I also love the French and Korean fusion. Ingredients are premium and the taste is real. Never too sweet and you're tasting the flavors you are supposed to taste. My first experience was in China Town, but I have certainly enjoyed other locations as well. Get the app, earn the rewards, eat or drink for FREE!

I usually love coming to this location because it is right in my neighborhood, the store is always…read moreclean, and the staff is consistently warm, friendly, and helpful. Buying our birthday cakes here has been a go to tradition for our family for a long time. Unfortunately, my most recent purchase was a huge letdown. I got the Matcha Strawberry Cake on the day of the celebration, but the cake base was completely wet, soggy, and mushy right where it met the cream and strawberry filling. Instead of the light, airy matcha sponge we normally look forward to, the texture was heavy and gummy, almost like it had been sitting in the display fridge absorbing moisture for days or the fruit had not been properly prepped. I really appreciate the great customer service here, which is why this review hurts to write, but the quality control on the bakery side this time around was unacceptable. I really hope the management addresses freshness and shelf life standards because we would love to keep coming back.

Great pastries and a wonderful French man behind the counter! A nice environment to enjoy our…read morepastries.

Barely acknowledged by the workers. But if that was all it would be ok, but no the drinks were…read moreawful and they include AUTOMATIC GRATUITY before then also asking for a tip on the screen. 1) Tiramisu iced latte--the latte was in a big premixed jug that was poured over ice and with syrup added after. The coffee was so watery because they wouldn't even make it fresh. 2) Coconut cloud strawberry matcha--the matcha was also in a big premixed jug with all of it clumping at the bottom. Then they just poured coconut water in and strawberry syrup. Was a watery white matcha.

The honey butter roll was so good that I came back in a few hours to buy 4 more. The iced pumpkin…read morespice with oatmilk was also delicious. I love how fresh the space smells as soon as you walk in. The pastries are on display, cafeteria style. You're able to use the kiosk to place your drink orders.

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.

Cute little bakery on Argyle. Almond croissant was pretty good could have used more almond flavor…read morebut was baked to perfection. Pork bun was my favorite. The bread was so soft and it had a generous amount of pork. Sesame cookie was also good and went well with coffee. Service was nice, staff were friendly. The bakery does not have much seating inside and seems more of a to go place

A cute place with very kind and patient staff. They have so many amazing baked goods, both savory…read moreand sweet. The custard bun was so amazingly light and sweet. There is limited seating so better to grab and go or come on a nice day to eat outside. I definitely will be back to try more delicious baked goods!