No wait for a party of two on Saturday around 1pm. Our server was really sweet, she comped my…read morefriend's apple juice and gave us free "unicorn poop" donut holes which were too sweet for my taste. I really enjoyed the short rib hash - I will say though the potato portion was overwhelming, as if they gave you a whole bag haha. They have a large glass case full of treats, so I would definitely wanna try something if I ever visit again.

The hardest place in the world to order a cake…read more I was a loyal customer for years, going back to the Bleeding Heart Bakery days. Unfortunately, my recent experience was so frustrating that I will never order from them again. If you call, nobody answers. If you leave a message, nobody calls back. I finally drove there in person to place an order at the counter, which I had done many times before. Instead, I was told all cake orders must be placed online because they are handled by a different department. It felt more like dealing with a bureaucracy than a bakery. I asked the employee how long it would take to get a non-custom cake and was told 48 hours. It was Friday morning, so I went home and ordered one of their signature cakes online. To my surprise, the first available pickup date was four days later. The cake is good, but not good enough to justify jumping through this many hoops. The entire process felt like ordering something during the height of COVID restrictions. After years of being a customer, this experience convinced me not to come back. They didn't just lose a sale--they lost a longtime customer.

This place was walking distance from my VRBO. The service was amazing! She remembered my order…read moreevery time I came in. The coffee was Soooo delicious! But, that cinnamon roll was the star!!! The inside had so many places to sit and enjoy even take pictures.

After my friends and I had brunch in Pilsen we stumbled upon a charming family owned pastry shop…read morecalled Bittersweet. It was such a nice day outside that they also had wonderful open air seating which was a really nice added touch. There aren't that many pastry options which I actually can appreciate as too many can make it hard to decide. They have plenty of cafe drinks which many customers were enjoying but there was this featured item that I am so SO glad that I got but regret that I forgot to take a pic. It was their homemade focaccia topped with Chicken and Mole Rojo. O. M. G. I would make the hike to Pilsen just for this. I did manage to capture a photo of their vanilla crème cake which was just the right thing to satisfy my sweet tooth. Such a lovely pastry and cafe shop and such lovely and friendly service!

Hidden gem on W Grand/West Town! The quiche is absolutely amazing! Seriously the best I have…read morehad-ever! The bakery has a variety of items- everything from lamb cakes, beautifully colored macarons, flakey croissants and much more. They will create custom cookies and cupcakes, which a friend of mine said were beautiful AND delicious. Lastly, they have a fancy espresso machine. This place rivals Mindy's- plus no line!!!

It's small muffin. For the price is ok. It was about $4.00. Not sure what other bakeries charge for…read morea muffin.

An excellent stop on the way to the airport. Our pal, Dr. Robert, has redeemed himself by…read morerecommending this spot. Leonidas is a regular for the good doctor. It's a nice coffee-with-your-peeps stop or maybe a small lunch. It's quite cozy and they have a nice variety to choose from. Certainly, many as a drop in bakery and take their treasures to-go. I had a lovely strawberry Belgian waffle and a Marocchino Caldo. Good to the last drop. I noticed many people ordering crepes and croissants. There's just so much here. Robert always walks out with macarons that he snacks on throughout the day. So even the health wise has his days. I chose the Chocolate Raspberry Bombe and don't regret it! Our service was terrific. Such nice folks distributing a luscious product. Another fantastic find in metro Chicago. 02/26

My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025!…read moreRestaurant: 30/50 Month tried: May Favorite dish: Floranger Hot Chocolate (dark chocolate + orange) Absolutely yes. Worth the wait from when the old meat market closed for Leonidas to finally open. I only got hot chocolate, but I'm telling you it was the BEST hot chocolate of my life. I got a dark chocolate with orange, with fresh hand-whipped cream. Yummmm. I brought some little chocolate truffles home and their flavor selection was fantastic - think Bergamot Caramel, Strawberry Balsamic, Sesame Nougat...it was impossible to choose. Only regret is that I wasn't there for a full meal. The crepes and waffles sound incredible. Gotta make my way back soon!

One of my favorite bakeries in Chicago!…read more The vibes were 9.5/10. Kerrie, the owner, was so nice ringing us up and all the employees were super kind. We got there 10 minutes before opening and were second in line. We even saw the first customer get a free drink, which was such a nice touch. The space feels really welcoming and homey, and I loved the aesthetic. There are only 3 tables though, so seating is limited. The Banana Bread (9.9/10) was ON CLOUD 9. So moist and chocolatey, with a light chocolate cream and roasted candied pecans that had the perfect crunch. Absolutely loved this one. The Raspberry Cinnamon Roll with Espresso Cream Cheese (9/10) had a nice laminated pastry and espresso cream wasn't overly sweet. Such a good combo. The Cookies & Cream Cheesecake Danish (9/10) tasted like a chocolate fudge danish topped with cookies and cream, which I loved. It had the firmest shell of the pastries we got and that extra crunch was perfect. The Hot Dog Pastry (8.5/10) was super flaky, and I loved the crunchy pieces on top. The Guava Custard Danish (8/10) had a great guava flavor and was solid. The Breakfast Pastry (8/10) had hashbrown, ham, and cheese inside a flaky crust. It was a really good flaky breakfast sandwich and WAY better heated up. The Atomic Cake (7/10) had vanilla cake, banana, strawberry cream, cheesecake, chocolate, and a light whipped cream topping. The cake layers were moist and it wasn't overly sweet.

Finally had time to drive over and try the pasteries! Service was super fast, no wait time. It's a…read morecompact and cute store. Only 3 window tables that fill up pretty quickly. I bought 3 and my friend got 2. Calamansi cream + pistachio paste danish was my favorite. The Calamansi cream was the perfect texture and density with a fragrant citrus note. When I took a sip of coffee afterwards it made my coffee taste like I was drinking fresh orange juice. The pistachio is more cake like inside than full paste and isn't too sweet. Flaky dough, soft pistachio center and creamy top with a sharp citrus cut. Peach + raspberry Melba danish. The peaches were soft. I'm not familiar with a Melba dessert but the center of this was almond paste which is not my favorite but if you like almond and tart danish it would hit the spot. Raspberry espresso cream cheese cinnamon roll was a fun fruity twist to a cinnamon roll. Couldn't really tell there was espresso though. Blueberry lime cheesecake danish. I also liked this one because of the lime. It really cuts through the heaviness. The fruits on top were also fresh. They also have one day old blind boxes. I grabbed a 6 piece day old box to go and it was actually 6 different pasteries, half sweet and half savory! It only repeated 1 of the pasteries I had originally tried so I'm excited to try more, especially the savory ones. It's an amazing deal if you just want to try a variety of flavors. Tried the Hot dog danish - really good! Upscale pigs in a blanket vibes. The tiny fried are seasoned perfectly and add a fun crunch. The splashes of Dijon cut through and it doesn't feel oily at all.

Cute spot, friendly staff, decent coffee. We got: - Go…read moreBananas Mocha - Minion Cold Brew - Morning Bun The morning bun was great, but it's hard to hate sugar. I didn't taste and banana in the latte, it was mostly mocha. The cold brew was pretty solid the cold foam was tasty. A cool spot, give it a visit!

This place was totally worth the drive. Small shop, but it smells amazing the second you walk in,…read morecoffee, chocolate, pastries, all of it, they had it all. The staff were super nice, just good vibes all around. I was craving hot chocolate and this spot really delivered. I got La Parisienne, a hot chocolate that was dark, a little bitter, smooth, and rich... exactly how I like it. That mix of flavors just hits right. The whipped cream with a dust of cocoa powder on top was the perfect finish. Also grabbed an almond croissant, and man, that was a good move. Flaky, buttery, with that nutty flavor that just goes so well with the hot chocolate. Dipping it in? Yeah, that's the way to do it. Everything together made it feel like one of those slow, perfect mornings you don't want to rush.

I found this gem of a coffee shop located just next to Myopic Bookstore…read more Beverages: 5/5. You can't do espresso wrong, and it's a perfect mid-afternoon pick me up for further urban exploration. Service: 5/5. Cool. Ambiance: 5/5. Hella eclectic and dope vibe, similar to the infamous (and now closed) Bourgeois Pig in Franklin Village, L.A.

It's Lenten season, so throughout March I've been exploring more vegetarian options. After finding…read moreout that Bloom Chicago was temporarily closed, my sister and I decided to check out Bru Chicago at 1562 N. Milwaukee Ave., right in the heart of Wicker Park. The first thing I noticed was how cute the space is. It has a cozy café vibe with plenty of seating, soft pillows, and even an overflow area in the back. The warm brown tones throughout the space make it feel inviting and comfortable, perfect for relaxing or getting some work done. I also have to give a big shoutout to the staff. Everyone was incredibly accommodating and very knowledgeable about the menu. It was my first time trying this style of food, but my sister (who was visiting from El Paso) was more familiar and helped guide us a bit. We ordered rice crêpe and shared an açaí bowl, and I was genuinely blown away by both. I got the tofu rice crêpe, which were perfectly seasoned, honestly one of the most delicious things I've had all month. I practically inhaled them. As for the açaí bowl, I had mine with strawberries and dragon fruit, and it felt like a full-on discovery. I couldn't believe something dairy-free could taste that good. It was refreshing, flavorful, and honestly a bit of a revelation, I can't wait to have another one. Overall, my first experience at Bru Chicago was excellent. I have no complaints. I'll definitely be back, recommending it to friends, and making it a go-to spot for lunch or getting work done. An easy 5 out of 5 stars.

Loba has been on my pastry bucket list for awhile! With inventive pastries that you won't find…read moreanywhere else, this spot sits at the top of Chicago's bakery list. The interior was pretty small and cozy, so I wouldn't count on getting a seat during peak hours. Because they tend to sell out quickly, I strategically went on a weekday around noon. However, they were already almost out and if that's not a community endorsement, then I don't know what is! The sourdough muffins were listed as a house favorite, so I opted for the pineapple. This was unlike anything I've had before- I'm not typically the biggest pineapple pastry fan, but this was outstanding. The sourdough gave it a unique flavor and it was perfectly moist without being too sweet. All of the flavors came together really well, and you better believe there was not a crumb left. The offerings aren't cheap, but the quality definitely outweighed the price for me. I will definitely be back soon (and earlier), and highly recommend paying a visit!

This was recommended by a friend and I'm glad I gave it a try. The pastry was excellent - fresh and…read moreflavourful. I got the Almendra en flor (I don't remember what was in it but I got it with corn milk) which was pleasant and paired perfectly with the pastry. Service was great, staff was friendly and my order was made quickly. The place itself is small and there are seatings but very limited. Only reason I'm holding back on a 5-star rating is that I've only tried a few items so far and would like to come back to try other things next time.