Desserts are life! And Verzenay is the lifeline. 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. read more

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It had been awhile since my wife & I stopped by this bakery and thankful we tried it again. They have certainly added to their menu and it is still wonderful. We came for lunch and enjoyed their mushroom and gruyere grilled cheese. Perfect! Lots of gooey cheese and the mushrooms were full of flavor. Not leave without any sweets, we tried both the eclair and Paris-Brest. The Paris-Brest is the way to go and well worth the price. It is quite large, full of light and fluffy hazelnut cream. Do get! Service was excellent - our food was prompt and the cashier was extremely friendly. read more

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So many options for pastries! I dined in and ordered a turkey on baguette and a chocolate croissant. The baguette was too hard for me so I couldn't enjoy my sandwich. The chocolate croissant was good. Menu is on the pricier side. Service was quick. You order at the counter and then sit down. They had my food items right after I ordered. For drinks, they'll call your name as it's ready. They have a self serve area of utensils, napkins, and water. They also have a bucket where you can put your dirty dishes in to clear your table once you're done. read more

Verzenay - Chocolate Croissant - A pastry with multiple thin layers, topped with chocolate drizzle, placed on a white plate on a dark surface. - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here on a Sunday around lunchtime and it was very crowded, which is expected. The space is cute and the food is good. I had the mushroom melt, quiche, and pistachio lemon cake, and the cake was a standout. The issue was the service. I waited about 30 minutes for my quiche, then had to ask about it, only to be told they had already called my name and someone must have taken it. There was no real apology or effort to fix it, which was frustrating after such a long wait. Good food, but the service needs serious improvement, especially during busy times. read more

Ambiance is pretty basic cafe, small interior with some regular table seating. We only got a pastry but it was so good and I was dying to try more. The canales were already sold out by noon, bummer. I liked the variety of teas they had including mutiple chais. The pink one was amazing. Mine wasn't very hot even though I asked for extra hot, maybe I should have said SUPER hot! It was still good, though. read more

Returned twice here this winter. I had what was probably my top favorite chocolate croissant in the city and forgot just how good the dough is here. Unfortunately I also tried a few desserts a Paris Brest, raspberry tart and a scone, but they were simply not memorable. Overall, I would so highly recommend if you're looking for for Viennese pastries but can't say the same for other things they have. read more

A small cafe located in Lincoln Park. I went there mostly because I wanted to try their baguette. The bread turned out to be great: its dark brown crust and scoring were beautiful. The outside was very crunchy and the inside was moist and airy. It also had a balanced saltiness. Even having the bread without anything else was delicious enough! Other than the bread i also ordered a slice of Kale & Leek Quiche and a cup of Asparagus soup. The filling of the quiche was creamy and so tender that it looked like a bit runny. The soup was disappointing as it was too salty and had no asparagus at all. read more

Verzenay - Inside - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Light, airy space and helpful staff. Lots of places to sit, and self-service water/utensils. Got a cortado and cold brew and thought they were both delicious! I also tried the turkey baguette and wow, the quality of the ingredients shone through. It was simple but delicious, the bread wasn't tough but still crispy, and they warmed it up which made it even better. I also loved the dairy-free carrot cake with chocolate hazelnut frosting. It was moist and flavorful without being too sweet. Also chef Kat does bagels on Thursdays, so they had a French onion soup bagel featured which looked amazing. read more

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Very good pastries here! The pecan almond croissant had a really good amount of filling. Not an extra strong taste of almonds because there was pecans mixed in too but was very nice! The pistachio escargot pastry was so fresh and flaky and you could really taste the pistachio! Delicious!!! read more

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Stopped by because the exterior pastel teal color was gorgeous!! Service was quick, we got our drinks within 5 minutes! My friend got the hot almond latte, which came with nice latte art. It wasn't sweetened at all, which he appreciated. I got the decaf iced vanilla latte with whole milk. A standard latte and a fail proof choice! Overall, vibes are cute, some French pastries to choose from. Next time, I'll definitely want to try their chocolate eclairs! read more

Verzenay - Hot almond latte - A latte with a swirl pattern on the foam is served in a white ceramic cup on a matching saucer, on a dark table surface. - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nice cafe with a decent selection of breads and baked goods. Tasty sandwiches as well

This is a cozy little spot, with comfortable seating inside and outside, but inside has all the sounds of a cozy little cafe. Everyone working there was friendly and seemed happy to be there and it showed in how fast everything came out and the attention to detail. The food was delicious and displayed beautifully. Inside was clean, even after a rush, including the facilities. It is worth your time whether you want a sweet treat or grab lunch. read more

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Delicious! Tried the Chocolate Eclair, Mango Passionfruit Cheesecake, Thandai Shortbread, and chocolate chunk cookies and they were all great! I would definitely recommend this place and look forward to coming back to try some savory items. It's a bit pricey, but all items are beautiful and high quality. read more

Verzenay - Chocolate Eclair Mango Passionfruit Cheesecake Thandai Shortbread - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I got the mushroom and guyere sandwich (not pictured) and the breakfast potatoes today. I got the broccoli and cheddar soup and egg and cheese on a croissant with added chicken sausage before. I really enjoyed each dish! The bread stands out here. The mushroom and guyere's bread was especially crispy. I also got a slice of chocolate cake to go. Very rich, recommended. Place is kids friendly! Sometimes short on seating though because it's so popular read more

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This is now one of my favorite bakeries in the city. Everything they sell is *chefs kiss. So far, I've tried their chocolate eclairs, quiche w side salad (def the best quiche I've had in awhile), the French onion bagel (omg so good), carrot cake (fire), and strawberry iced matcha latte (MY FAVE), they do run out of stuff later in the day, so get there early! The ppl who work there are all lovely, all providing excellent service. The inside is cozy and comfy. There's easy street parking. The best! read more

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I got a chocolate croissant and cold brew. The croissant was sooooo good, perfectly buttery and soft with a nice crisp on top and the chocolate itself wasn't too sweet or overpowering in any way. I don't think you can go wrong with any of their baked goods. The cold brew was good too but i did ask them to add some honey and milk (which didn't help and was a bad move on my part). I think the cold brew by itself would have been just fine if that's what you like, i should have just chosen something else. It's also very cute inside and not a bad spot to get some work done, it definitely gets the creative juices flowing. Staff is very kind and friendly, i'd highly recommend! It's honestly one of the best bakeries in Chicago. read more

Verzenay - Chocolate croissant - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super duper cute café in Lincoln Park. I ordered their chai latte which tasted just like chai milk tea which was very different but at the same time very good in my opinion. I got the turkey baguette because I wasn't in the mood for something heavy but was semi hungry so I just grabbed a sandwich. I wish I had asked for them to toast my baguette because it was a bit hard to bite into but no biggie since I just wanted to enjoy my time inside. The place was super crowded on a Saturday afternoon around 2:30pm and they close at like 4pm which is a good sign that this place is legit/always popping! I can't wait to be back to try other pastries as they looked really good! Super friendly people along with quick service at this café. If you're in the area, just stop by for a quick bite then take a stroll around the neighborhood with a drink in your hand! read more

Verzenay - Chai Latte - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Verzenay has cemented my view that it's the best French bakery in Chicago. I've been there many times since my original review, but my experience with a pie order this Thanksgiving sealed the deal. I wanted a special pie to bring to a family member's house for the holiday and thought of my favorite bakery first. Verzenay had a great selection online, and after consulting with my cousin I went with a French silk pie that would not duplicate other pies people were bringing. She warned me that there were some nut allergies, but it looked to me from the website that this pie was okay. Well, I was wrong...I went to pick up the pie the day before and asked to confirm it was nut free. It had hazelnuts, which sounded fantastic but would pose a problem. I somehow missed that on the website. The kind woman handling pickup asked if it would be okay, and I said unfortunately no - and asked if they had any whole cakes I could buy instead. She went in the back to check and - unbelievably - returned several minutes later with a nut-free French silk pie! Someone else who was picking up much later ordered it, so they decided to give me that one and make a new one for the other person that morning to replace it. I'm still blown away thinking about this. The Thanksgiving pre-order and pickup routine must be beyond stressful for bakeries, and them remaking a special pie while still handling their busy morning of both holiday and regular traffic is just amazing. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm incredibly grateful for the team at Verzenay for taking care of me and my family. Thank you. And the pie was gorgeous and delicious! read more

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Mon Cherie This spot is every bit of a gem in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and after visiting, I see why the line was nonstop the entire time. Verzenay brings you French vibes with an Indian fusion - why is that? Well, this spot is woman owned by Chef Arshiya Farheen who grew up in India but moved to Paris to train professionally in the pastry arts - for 10 YEARS! The pastries are almost too pretty to eat and Chef Arshiya is in the back, also as the Executive Chef, pouring her passion into her product. The food is made with locally sourced and clean ingredients and the focus is on flavor and quality. Stop by and grab a hearty breakfast sandwich, a perfectly crafted pastry or a cup of something warm to drink and tell em that Bri from Planes and Plates sent you! read more

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Verzênay bakery is a wide selection of pastries and cakes for everyone. The exterior colors and presentation are very aligned and authentic to the Parisian experience. Their drinks are well flavored, but overall presentation, quality and taste of their drinks and pastries are standard and probably not worth waiting in line on jam-packed weekends. I tried their mushroom and cheese pain suisse which looks pretty in photos, but extremely hard and hollow with very little filling. The pistachios escargot was delightfully sweet drenched in sticky sugar as shown. I do enjoy their raspberry tart and Paris Brest which is a darling almond paste delicacy. read more

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After lunch, we were craving a nice dessert and decided to order from Verzenay. I've had their croissants before and loved them, but this time we decided to branch out and try a few new items: the Royale, Mango Passionfruit Cheesecake, and the Rugelach. I have to say, the Royale and the Cheesecake were absolutely delicious! Both were beautifully packed and presented (you can see from the pictures), and the quality really stood out. The cheesecake was incredibly refreshing -- every bite was light, fruity, and full of fresh flavor. The Royale was almost like a fancy KitKat, but elevated in the best way possible. The Rugelach was okay, not bad, just didn't stand out the way the others did. But overall, we were so impressed with the flavor, freshness, and presentation that we'll definitely be ordering again. read more

Verzenay - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If I could give 0 stars, I would. I've never felt this frustrated before. I understand that mistakes happen in restaurants--I'm in the industry too--but making the same mistake over and over again is just exhausting. I genuinely love your place--both the pastries and desserts are amazing. But I honestly don't understand why it's so hard to get my order right. I only ever order two things: a matcha latte and a grilled cheese with brioche. That's it. But 3 out of the last 5 times I ordered, I got sourdough instead. It's really frustrating to wait while I'm hungry, only to get something I didn't even order. This has happened so many times that I stopped ordering from you for three or four months. And today, it happened again. Same mistake. I think I'm done now. This might be the last time I order from you. You honestly make the best grilled cheese I've ever had--but it's fine. I'll go try to find a new favorite somewhere else. read more

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Place was pretty decent. Got the job done with a moderate price. Wait was about 5 min albeit then being crowded. Not sure I'd cut corners just to make it here but if in the area it's a solid option for breakfast items. read more

Verzenay - Spinach and Kale Quiche with breakfast potatoes - A slice of spinach and kale quiche with a golden crust is served with roasted breakfast potatoes on a patterned paper plate. - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We always get our baguette from Verzenay at the farmer's market. Finally made it to the mothership/store and it was just adorbs. We came here for breakfast on a Saturday so the place was bustling! Wouldn't expect anything less. The service was fast and friendly and the Mushroom & Gruyère Melt was *chef's kiss. My partner got something else (I don't remember what it was bc he was underwhelmed by it). We also got 2 ice coffees to go with our meal. Wasn't the best coffee, tbh. It was a little funky? Our experience at the store wasn't quite what we thought it'd be since every pastry we've had at the farmer's market has been awesome! Their egg salad and chicken salad sandwiches are TERRIFIC... we'll stick to the farmer's market location for now. read more

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Terrible organization and service! I have ordered 7 cakes just to buy and go! How difficult is it to put in a box! I waited 25 mn for that! I left, and had a bad feeling , I double checked and 1 cake was missing! I am French and I miss French pastries but honestly to have to wait that long and with no apologies whatsoever, mistakes happened but it was not the first time. I found it not professional! Never again! Bittersweet bakery has similar qualities with perfect service! read more

This is a quaint, charming, order at the counter little French cafe with good coffees, a plethora of French pastries, and some good looking sandwiches/ quiche etc . There is seating but be warned this place is packed on weekends so not so easy to snag a table. Therefore we ended up getting coffee drinks to go. I will return as their avocado tartine looks and sounds great. read more

Verzenay - Food menu and pastery case - A woman is behind a bakery counter with baked goods visible in the display case and a chalkboard menu listing various bread and food options. - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped in this quaint cafe for an iced coffee in Lincoln Park area of Chicago. Relaxing music and sweet vibes. read more

Verzenay - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

the food is tasty--the lemon meringue tart is a delectable treat--and the store is cutely decorated. however, the staff (except for the bussers) were quite rude and standoffish. if you want to be treated nicely, you'll need to get tea service. read more

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Great pastries. All well-made but very premium-priced. Sells best kouign-aman in the city! Staff could be a little friendlier, though. read more

The service and the food is delicious! I went here on a whim - I drove by it and went around the block to stop. The storefront was that appealing. My order was mistakenly grabbed by someone else who was waiting. The lovely folks at Verzenay remade my order. When the guy who took my order brought it back, they could have just told me to take it but they remade it for me anyway and were so apologetic. They didn't need to be since the guy who took my order wasn't paying attention and it was his fault. When my husband and I ate our order, the food was fresh and delicious. We also had their shortbread cookies which were so deliciously almond flavored. We are definitely fans! read more

Just rediscovered Verzenay. I wish you had come to Armitage so I could be there every day. A great variety of options and each one crafted with excellence. I'm a huge fan!! Last week it was the turkey baguette and kicked off this week with the savory croissant. Every item has that little something to makes it stand out. Love it. read more

This morning, I enjoyed a beautiful pear tart from the Green City Market. The tart shell was so buttery and flaky, and the pears were sliced perfectly on top. Excellent pear to pastry ratio. Pears were so ripe and fresh as though they had just been picked today. The savory cinnamon balanced the sweetness perfectly. Don't forget to stop by Verzênay at the Green City market Wednesdays and Saturdays until Oct? read more

Verzenay - Pear tart - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

BEST bakery in Chicago! Cannot even begin to describe how high quality and delicious all of their pastries are. The kouign-amann is a must-try, and they have the best croissants ever. We have their sourdough at home at all times . The ambiance is also so cute and very Parisian-inspired. The staff is very kind - however it can be quite crowded and the line may move slowly, but it's worth the wait. They also did our wedding cake which turned out absolutely amazing- couldn't have asked for better! Highly recommend. read more

Verzenay - Butter Croissant, Kouign Amann, Pistachio escargot All 10/10 amazing - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A little slice of Paris in the Midwest. We recently had the pleasure of visiting Verzenay, a pâtisserie, boulangerie and café located in the heart of Lincoln Park. The owner and head pastry chef of this lovely, sun-filled gem actually studied French pastry making in Paris. She, then, brought back her knowledge and skills to Chicago, where she now passionately handcrafts authentic French delicacies, using high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. In light of the season, we decided to try several fall-inspired menu items during our visit, both sweet and savory. Here is everything we ordered: Pumpkin Cake, Paris-Brest, Apple Pie, Egg & Cheese on Croissant with Chicken Sausage, Mushroom & Gruyère Melt and Pumpkin Latte. We honestly adored every single dish! The Pumpkin Cake was super moist and delicious, with no artificial pumpkin taste. The hazelnut praline cream in the Paris-Brest was delightfully decadent. The Apple Pie was warm and cozy, with an amazing crumble on top. I am obsessed with their Croissant Breakfast Sandwich! The croissant was flaky and buttery, and the chicken sausage was loaded with flavor. The Mushroom & Gruyère Melt came on this thick, crunchy bread, and the Gruyère was just perfectly melty. Finally, the Pumpkin Latte had a nice, creamy texture with subtle pumpkin flavor. So good! If you're into French pastries, I cannot speak highly enough about this place. We were very impressed by the authenticity. Definitely check them out! Oh, and they only do pies during the fall, so go grab a slice while you still can. You won't regret it! read more

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I don't often use the term "gem" when I do reviews, but think the term applies well to Verzenay in Lincoln Park. There have been a few high end French or French inspired bakeries popping up across Chicago recently, that is one is one of the better ones. From what I was told, the owner spent at least a year living and studying in Paris to learn French pastry making. I was told spontaneously by at least one customer that they go here everyday. This seems to be true as one of that owners said goodbye to her when she left. First, the food is excellent. They have more that pasties. In addition to the raspberries tart, royal, pistachio escargot, chocolate croissant and desi valour my wife and I tried the potato & leeks quiche and chicken salad sandwich. The highlights for us were the flakiness of the croissants, the unique flavors of the Desi valour and the wonderful tasting chicken salad. I also ordered a cold brew and liked that too. Second, the interior is perfect. When I stepped in, I felt like I was transported to France. The colors and white tile perfectly suited the place and created a nice ambiance. Third, the value of the food is good. I'm not going to lie, this spot is not cheap. You will pay more for pastries here than you would otherwise at other bakeries, but it's 100% worth it. This place is great spot to treat yourself when you want something a little more high end. In sum, this is a must visit. read more

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Always incredible flavors, textures, and beauty. Love this place and LOVE supporting a female owned business.

Yum!! I can't believe it took me so long to finally come to Verzenay. Their regular food menu is small but mighty. I had a mushroom Gruyère melt that was absolutely delicious. Their highlight is of course the French desserts and pastries, and the French Silk Pie was one of the best pies I've ever had. Super cute spot, too. And it was PACKED on a Sunday morning, so good for them! read more

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Amazing food! I don't think I've ever had such an excellent croissant the texture was simply out of this world. I will highly recommend the chocolate croissant to any customer I felt as if I was once again in France! The interior of the cafe was very clean and elegant, I was impressed with both the decorations and even simple things like the utensils and plating. Will be coming back with some friends to share the delicious pastry's! read more

Verzenay - Delicious French food, the croissants were some of the best I've ever had! - A croissant and a pain au chocolat are placed on white plates on a black table, with a person holding a fork nearby. A small vase with flowers is also visible. - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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delicious pastries, and the coffee was the right amount of concentration and not overly sweet. Friendly staff too! read more

Verzenay - A cafe table holds a cup of hot chocolate, an iced coffee, a croissant, and a small flower arrangement in a glass vase. - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not sure that I am a fan of the cramped seating seat up that is insufficient for all the little kids and their strollers, nor for the "we'll scream it out and you come get it" order delivery process for both take away and eat in comestibles, but the chow and the baked goods and the coffee are quality. read more