I have a lot of thoughts on this place, and I really hope it is successful in Evanston. There has been an influx of new bakeries in town lately and it's led to some tough competition. First, the good. The staff is welcoming and very friendly. I've only been in a couple of times, but have had very positive interactions with the workers each time. The croissants and sandwiches are really very good. The baguettes are crispy on the outside and perfectly soft on the inside. The ham they use is incredible. My family really enjoyed the raspberry croissants as well. The coffees are also solid. Now for the not so good. The presentation is not always the best. I'm mentally comparing this to That Little French Guy in Highland Park where presentation and consistency are top tier. Some pastries look a bit sloppy and the way they are laid out in the case isn't particularly appetizing. The space itself is not terribly well designed and doesn't really welcome you in. I believe this used to be a Chinese food lunch place, and it still very much has the vibe of a place you stop into to grab a quick lunch during the workday. When compared to Patisserie Coralie right down the street, it's not the kind of place you'd want to sit and hang out in. There may be some communication issues with the staff. I ordered two ham and cheese croissants about four separate times, and then they brought out a ham and cheese baguette. I was told there were no ham and cheese croissants today, so I ordered one baguette and one vienesse. When I got home, I found I had two baguettes. The baguettes were truly delicious, but it just wasn't what I ordered. As a very minor negative, the logo is so ugly I have a hard time taking it seriously. I'm not sure the name or the logo paint an accurate picture of what this place is -- a good quality French bakery. You also can't see the name anywhere from the outside so it's a bit confusing. There is definite room to improve, but I really believe this place has a lot of potential. I hope they're able to continue growing and are here for a long time. read more

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On my search for the best baguette, I wandered in. I agree that the street presence isn't great. The space is huge and could have been a hangout but isn't set up that way. There's only one staff person who is really nice. I asked for the ham and cheese croissants but they were out. She recommended the baguette sandwich but that wasn't what I wanted. So I got the baguette. There's only the regular size no mini. I got it hole and warmed it up and was disappointed that it was on the light side not as dense as I expect from a french baguette. It tasted good and heat up nicely. Just a bit light and too airy. read more

After coming home from Lyon, France, I was extremely happy to hear a pastry chef from Lyon was opening a bakery here in Evanston! I went on opening day and a few subsequent days afterwards in the past couple of weeks. The pastries are top notch. They are expertly made and flavorful. It's clear that the chef put a lot of love into them. I spoke to a woman my first time there that runs the social media and she was extremely nice and welcoming. We talked about how I recently went to Lyon and she was originally from Toulouse. It's really nice making connections like that in your community! The store itself is a rather large space and has had many restaurants rotating through it these past few years. It's pretty bare bones inside in terms of decor, though for me I always just grab and go, so ambiance wasn't my priority. They also sell espresso drinks. They are currently only open the latter half of the week. One thing I wish they did was sell pastries with the famous pralines baked into them. They do sell pralines in bags, but I would've enjoyed them in baked goods to really drive home the Lyon bakery feel. But either way, the pastries were so flakey and delicious, I don't mind. And the sandwiches were also great for lunch! read more

The Praline Cauldron - Bakeries Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I took home the rather expensive "mini Paris-Brest ring", and was pleasantly surprised by the Enormous quantity of excellent hazelnut filling , and the discovery of delightful, whole hazelnuts resting on the bottom choux layer ( and they were lightly-candied with a crisp, thin , hard-candy layer!). For me, it represented 3 perfect servings! read more

The pastries are exquisite, authentic. The Praline Cauldron is the most wonderfully French bakery - even the overall best bakery in Evanston. Pastries and sandwiches (some vegetarian options) can be warmed, correctly in an oven. The "squirrel" pastry is a wonderful combination of chocolate and hazelnuts. The butter shines the in the croissants and brioche. The lemon brioche has a fresh lemon filling. The bread has a good crust and flavor. VIVE LE PRALINE CAULDRON! Bonnie D. read more

J'adore cette boulangerie! Translation: I absolutely love this bakery! If you're looking for an authentic French bakery experience without hopping on a plane to Paris, Parline Cauldron is it. Everything tastes genuinely French and it makes perfect sense, because the owner and baker, Chef Remy Ruiz, is originally from Sainte-Étienne, France. I've been on a serious quest for truly great baguettes (and trust me, I've tried many bakeries). Parline Cauldron has the best tasting baguettes I've found anywhere. Chef Remy is a perfectionist, in the best way. Once, when I stopped in, they didn't have baguettes available because the last batch wasn't up to his standards, so he was baking a fresh one. That level of pride and care shows in every bite. And the desserts? Incredible. Beautiful, impeccably crafted, and unmistakably French. Each pastry looks like it belongs in a Paris patisserie window. A box of assorted desserts from here makes an amazing (and very impressive) gift. If you love French pastries or just appreciate topquality baking, go visit this bakery. You'll be so glad you did. read more

Oh my gosh, the food here is amazing! I just got finished enjoying their ham and cheese baguette and it is so authentic and the bread is so delicious and reminds me of being in Paris! Hands down fabulous! And can't wait to come back here with friends read more

This was DELICIOUS. I went with my dad who recommended it to me and no regrets at all! The service was so kind and welcoming, plus they gave us free samples to try and also some complementary praline nuts with my caramel latte! The latte was so delicious and they had almond milk available too! So foamy, rich, and smooth. We got one of each croissant and all were amazing, they made a great dessert platter for some guests we had over later that evening (which was a hit ). STRONGLY recommend trying this cafe, I can't wait to go back! (The almond croissant was probably my favorite, but even the plain was so fluffy and buttery, probably the best I've ever had . All their desserts are super authentic French treats that are to DIE FOR. Do urself a favor and give it a go!!!) ambiance was very clean, modern, and chic! read more

The Praline Cauldron - Chocolate croissant, chocolate hazelnut croissant, almond croissant, plain croissant, raspberry croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Its no surprise by the quality, care, patience and time that the bakery's founder and executive chef, Remy Ruiz, puts into his 30+ baked goods. He was raised in a culinary family in France, the son of a pastry chef, and has spent decades in the French pastry world. The sweet and savory selections I made were all outstanding, The French cruller were amazing, and the ham, cheese, cheese croissant was tasty and and had tons of flavor from such few ingredients. The HS teenagers in school work programs were very kind, sweet, and informative. You could see the pride in their eyes as they told Me about Remy! This is Def "a go to" on Anyone's food calendar!!! Enjoy some coffee, something savory and sweet, chat with the staff, and enjoy the good vibe atmosphere.... Best, Mike G read more

The pastries at the Praline Cauldron were very good, but we are not a fan of Illy coffee.

If you love authentic French pastries, you need to discover The Praline Cauldron. I recently stumbled upon this charming French bakery and coffee shop in Evanston and it immediately won me over. Behind the delicious creations is Chef Pâtissier Rémy Ruiz, who may be the new kid on the block locally but brings many years of experience in the art of French pâtisserie. Born and trained in France, Rémy first learned the craft from his parents, who owned a bakery in Saint-Étienne. That tradition and expertise clearly shine through in everything he makes. One of the biggest challenges when visiting is choosing a favorite pastry. Honestly, I can't decide, everything I've tried has been delicious. Each pastry is beautifully made and full of flavor. The baguette is also outstanding: perfectly crusty on the outside and soft on the inside, exactly the way I love it. One bite and you feel transported to a neighborhood bakery in France. A signature feature of the bakery is the fresh praline that Rémy prepares every day in his cauldron. In the tradition of Lyon, the praline has its beautiful pink color, made from almonds coated in caramelized sugar. Watching this process and tasting the result is a reminder that great pastry-making is truly an art. And the warm welcome makes the experience even more special. Solène greets customers with a broad smile and a charming French accent that instantly makes you feel at home. Her kindness and enthusiasm add to the authentic atmosphere of the place. The Praline Cauldron is truly a little slice of France in Evanston--and one I will happily keep coming back to. read more

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Even though we had baguette sandwiches (wonderful bread!!), the pastries looked exquisite. Was sorely tempted to try one, but it'll have to wait to next visit. Our server was very nice, Ambience is not quite Parisian and maybe a few more touches of French style should be introduced. Light, airy space, nice to see out the big window and watch the world go by. At the time we were there (noon-ish), it was quiet, perfect for a téte à téte. read more

Phenomenal pastries and food, excellent drinks, friendly staff (mostly French, though the speak English too!). They now have WIFI so it's a great spot to spread out. read more

A friend suggested having lunch at the Praline Cauldron in Evanston . . .the quiche Lorraine was so delish! My companion had their yummy Rustic sandwich on a baguette. The baker-chef is from Lyon, FR . . .It's slightly off the beaten path, a block west of Chicago on Davis . . .give your taste buds a treat! read more

If you are truly looking for an authentic French patisserie, this is the best! The pastries here are made on the premises every morning the way it is done in France by any respectable french pastry chef! My husband and I have been traveling many years and now relocating to France and we have never found an authentic pastry shop. It is not a surprise given the pastry chef is from Lyon. If you are a true Francophile or aficionado of authentic French pastries, this place is for you! read more

My daughter got a croque monsieur and a few baked items, including a millefueille. It was all just amazing. Every bit as amazing as we've had in France. Wow!! read more

Delicious pastries and a nice space with lots of seating and floor-to-ceiling windows. Service was very friendly. Will definitely be back!