I stopped in here on a whim because I needed a java fix while waiting for someone. This is a very old school place, but with new school prices. It's obviously got that nostalgic draw going on - I could just imagine tiny, lil Italian woman ordering bread and sweets, barely seeing over the counter. So, I ordered one cream puff, one cherry turnover and a coffee. 7 bones! Ouch. Okay, so I am a lil cheapish. The cream puff was yuck. Whipped cream instead of custard. Not good. The turnover appear to have a pizza crust-like base to it, and was not at all light. Kind of bland. Meh. I will try it again sometime. read more

I love this place the cookies amazing cake yummy! Years of coming here always one happy customer read more

Ferrara Original - Been coming here all my life - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Best Bakery Ever! I could not understand some of the comments because I have always had a great experience here. I have been coming here since I was a little kid and there has always been delicious food, and great service. When ever I go in I am immediately greeted and helped. I have never been disappointed in anything I ordered (although I do stick to the Italian staples). I would also disagree that this is a "bad area" it is right by the medical district and the bakery is only open during the day... I think you will be safe. I still have yet to try any of the meals they serve. read more

Went out in search of authentic Italian pastries and lunch and we were satisfied leaving! Their Caesar salad was big and delicious! The girl taking my order was very nice ! The decor is very authentic and you can tell this business is family Owned. I got a very unique cake that was amazing. It's a pound cake with cannoli cream as filling. Also got 6 cannolis to go! Everything tastes amazing ! This is my go to place in Chicago for pastries! Thanks Ferrara! read more

Ferrara Original - The outside, very neat , old fashioned decor. - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Family owned since 1908!! I make a point to ALWAYS stop by before heading back home to pick up Italian cookies and pastries. Having spent a lot of my childhood in Little Italy-NYC I may be a bit fussy when it comes to Italian sweets and this place NEVER disappoints!! The absolute BEST Sfogliatella in the Midwest, now I just need to create a reason to order a cannoli cake read more

Ferrara Original - Italian cookies the way nonna made them! - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Did not have the chicken added that was requested and paid for. Then the restaurant gave me the run around about comping a future order. This is not the first time I've had an issue with an order from them. Won't order from them again. read more

We went here to get some slices of cake for my birthday and some cannolis. Decided to get some lunch while we were there. The Italian beef sandwiches are tasty enough, but we loved their cannolis the best. If you want some authentic cannolis this place definitely has them (according to my girlfriend, I never had them before myself). They also sell a lot of candy. We didn't buy any of that though. read more

Ferrara Original - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is by far the best and only place to get authentic Italian pastries and cakes. I have not been to any other bakery that can compare. My parents went there as kids and I have been going there since I was a year old. We would always make sure to get birthday cakes here and a wide variety of pastries for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. So, you are say "Why only 4 stars if this place is the best around?" I stopped in a few years ago and found that the place had put in all these long tables in the bakery so that people can come in and have lunch. I understand that the owners are just looking for a revenue stream to bring in new customers, but you should have seen this place before. When you walked in there used to be small tables where old people sat and had coffee or espresso and pastries. There were fancy display cases that held Marsala Crystal Glass that you could purchase in sets. When you walked in, you were not just buying pastries, but going in for an elegant experience. It was much different from the penitentiary style dinning that they currently have in place. I guess that the old people eating pastries have passed on and their kids have moved to Elk Grove Village or Orland Park. None the less, this place still knocks out a top notch product!! read more

One of those hidden bakeries in Chicago... they have excellent pastries and they struggle with some of their more savory dishes... but the SFOGLIATELLA is out of this world! I did find lots of their food to be too oily for my liking and my friends too. Update 9/6/12: This restaurant is difficult to find with only an old sign on their brick building, but it is a great place for lunch, especially if you are not wanting to spend too much money and are craving some Italian food. The crowd varies from nurses to doctors to students and construction workers. Whatever you do, everyone comes here hungry and leaves satisfied! read more

This place needs no more reviews. They are probably all 4-5 star. I live right next to the place, that walking by I can smell almonds and sugar in the air usually every day and can see the many customers eating in and taking out. a regular customer, they know my order my heart. A nice feeling in an anonymous kinda time. good prices, good selection. read more

Caprese sandwhich and pasta fagioili soup was amazing. Can't give 5 stars because I still want to try more menu items. Baked goods are solid too! read more

Ah Ferrara's.. I'm a fan. And even if I wasn't, I have no choice as it's one of the few good Italian eateries in the area. I tend to go with the sandwiches here, particularly the Positano (prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato with EVOO and balsamic vinegar on french bread). It's delicious! The place is very Italian authentic, including in food, decoration, and, unfortunately, service. Lots of chatting, which is not a bad thing, except when you've pre-ordered and are in a hurry to make it before the short lunch break ends at work. read more

I havent had the privilege to stop by the store myself, but my husband brought cookies here one day and i was BLOWN AWAY! Maybe its a good thing i dont stop by myself coz i wud go crazy on a cookie/pastry spree! The cookies are delicious and im actually writing this review while munching on the salted caramel cookie w a nice cold glass of milk, and its frickin awesome. Now whenever theres a potluck i always pick a box of it and everyone loves it. Cant wait to try other pastries. read more

Ferrara Original - Assorted cookies from ferrara. Favorites are the salted caramel, almond milk chocolate. Always a party favorite! - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

You know how you eat soup too fast and then you burn your tongue and roof of your mouth and it is horrible?? I'm currently typing with blisters in my mouth but I DON'T EVEN CARE, this place is that good! I got the minestrone soup. It was simple with tons of veggies, but the broth was flavorful (and good portion). I also got the caprese sandwich which was SO GOOD. I get pretty nervous when I order caprese sandwiches because (1) so often does caprese mean old soggy tomato + bread + one or two moz pieces = no flavor = sad. But this sandwich is nothing like those! Huge pieces of moz, fresh tomato, pesto sauce which is amazing, and salt and pepper to top it off. I paid $11 for a soup (good portion) and sandwich which was filling and delicious. Didn't get the chance to try their pastries (damn you diet), but they look heavenly. Will be coming back!!! read more

I ordered a cannoli cake for my mom's birthday and not only was it beautifully decorated, it tasted amazing. The last time she'd had a cannoli cake was 30 years ago and it was all she wanted this year. She's not even a dessert person and she had two pieces. In fact, I think we all had two pieces. There was less than half the cake left when we were done with it. The bakery itself is great. Plenty of seating for eat-in customers and a huge selection of Italian pastries and cookies. No wonder this place has such a good reputation. Everything looked gorgeous and the cake was positively delicious. read more

My friend J took me to Ferrara because he has fond family memories of it. I can totally see why. This place is the definition of "old school Italian bakery" The service was fine, the place was pretty empty the first time we went and hoppin' the second. I wanted to get some cannoli the second time but they were out.....maybe next time. I've had a custard filled & chocolate dipped French horn, a lemon tart, a Sfogliatella and we've also had the powered sugar crescents. Everything I've tried I've liked, but I wasn't BLOWN AWAY by anything. read more

Love this bakery / cafe .excellent selection of Italian sugar cookies , cannoli and pasta/ panini A great part of the neighborhood! read more

Love the cuccidati and vanilla horseshoe! Great Italian beef! Try to come here whenever I am in Chicago.

amazing canoli, pignoilia (sp?) nut cookies, pizelles, napoleons, you name it... a lil pricy, but not above that of any other good italian bakery. The only negative thing i have to say is that they close too early read more

My chocolate horseshoe cookie was so hard that I thought I made one of the brackets on my braces pop off. I had an assortment of cookies, and all but one type were stale. The cannoli filling lacked something...it just wasn't sweet enough. And WTF, garnished with peanuts? The spinach and ricotta foccacia is still awesome, but by the time I got there (around 4pm) there was only one piece left. Meh! read more

I come here for lunch weekly and always order the summer salad with double chicken. Everything I have had here is good but small space and always crowded. read more

Best cannoli in Chicago. Not super sweet, not dry just perfect. Try to go before they close, last time they had only 1 left before an hour they closed. read more

Growing up I remember having had delicious cakes from here, but I guess I've learned how to differentiate between good and bad! I ordered a carrot cake from Ferrara's for my dad's birthday. It was a "small" cake, your stardard 8" inches wide and probably about 6-7" inches high. It looked nice but failed miserably. My family typically loves carrot cake, but was hugely dissapointed with this one. There was way too much cream cheese filling. The actual cake portion was moist but not flavorful. The cream cheese ratio to actual cake was about even. Not a good thing. With so much cream It was difficult to taste the "carrot" in the cake, the cream cheese was overpowering. It wasn't the worst carrot cake I've ever had, but it was close. Next time I want a cake, I know where I won't be going. read more

Ferrara Original - Bad "Carrot Cake"...notice the overwhelming amount of cream cheese! - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best cannolis and best meatball sandwiches!!! Also enjoy their fresh baked chocolate chip cookies!!! They are very tasty. I'm 30 years old and have been coming here my entire life!! Nella is amazing and Ferrera's is an amazing bakery/restaurant. I'm a lifelong fan and customer!! Always!! read more

Authentic Italian food and phenomenal bakery. One of the last "old world" Italian bakeries left in Chicago. The family who runs the bakery are as genuinely nice as you can get. If you are looking for a Taylor Street experience and meal, try Ferrara Bakery. #Cannoli CakeCaprese SandwichFerrara Signature SandwichItalian Beef read more

As soon as we got off the train from Michigan and checked into our downtown hotel we caught a cab and headed for Ferrara's. I have never been a big fan of cannoli but decided to give it one more try. Wow, I think that might be the best thing I ever ate. My husband ordered an eclair and then went back for a second one. We didn't know they served food until we observed others eating lunch. We did some sighseeing that afternoon and then hailed another cab and went back to Ferrara's for dinner (and more pastries). The granddaughter of the original owners came out to our table and talked to us and answered our questions about the bakery. We found the staff to be super friendly and helpful. The food was just what we were looking for, a real mom and pop atmosphere with down to earth good italian food. We can get plenty of the fancy Italian stuff back in Michigan so we were looking for something more like would be served at the dinner table in any Italian home. We found that in Ferrara's. I can't imagine us coming to Chicago again and NOT stopping in at Ferrara's. In fact we've already started planning our next trip. read more

I really wanted to love their pastries and other sweets, but I'm having a hard time with that. I've walked in there multiple times on a whim, craving some sweets. Every time, their cookies (I got a mixed box from their $7.95/lb assortment) all have a weird aftertaste that I can't put my finger on. Almost as if they were frozen before, or had been sitting their a while. Like when left over birthday cake sits in your fridge a while, it gets that pastic taste to it or something. The same exact aftertaste was on my red velvet cupcake. I gave my boyfriend a lemon tarte as a gift the same day, and he had the same comment about it and the cookies from my box. I would be worried to order a cake or other pastries for a gathering due to the fear of the dreaded after taste. The food I bought, however, was great. A tuna sandwhich and soup. Yum! Very fresh tasting. I will probably come back here, each time hoping for no aftertaste. It's really the only bakery in the area besides Jewel's. Perhaps I'll ask them what day they fresh-bake things and come in that day. Yes, I'll come again because it's so close to my house. read more

Best slab pepperoni pizza ever! Huge slices for so cheap! My favorite thing about Ferrara's is the cookie case. I can never visit without taking home a pound of assorted cookies. So so good. read more

I am giving this business a low rating based solely on their HORRIBLE customer service!!! I have worked nearby for years and been in countless times. To their credit, I must say that they are consistent. The food (soup and sandwiches) are always quite tasty. The cookies all taste the same all the time - not amazing. And, the business owners are regularly unpleasant, unwelcoming, unappreciative and generally just nasty. A few years back after a several month stint of daily trips (Monday - Friday) for their soup, I ordered a salad. The salad came with a live green bug on it. After quietly calling it to the attention to the woman in charge, she barked "What do you want me to do about it? We don't make the lettuce?" Needless to say I swore off the place from that day forward. Admittedly, I occasionally give in to an urge for one of their items and find myself going back for some more EXCEEDINGLY POOR customer service. Today was one of those days. I am regularly surprised (shouldn't be) that the rudeness continues. I have once again sworn off of Ferrara's because I prefer that my business be appreciated and not be regarded as a bother. Do not waste your time if you value customer service at all - the same or similar items can be purchased elsewhere and you may even get a "thank you" for your purchase. read more

With all of the great places on Taylor, I can't imagine why anybody ever eats this flavorless, inauthentic crap. Must be a captive audience of people who work in the area and don't have the time to travel east of Ashland. The service somehow is even worse than the food. read more

Hell I love this place. LOVE IT. Pastries galore... some of my favorites, profiteroles, cannolies, zeppolies! Not a fan of the cream puffs though, they are filled with whipped cream. I prefer the ones with the more thick, custardy, eggy filling... similer to papa beards. Which needs to open it's doors in Chicago by the way. I wanted to get an elephant ear, which is typically fried dough smothered in cinnamon sugar.. well their's is a puff pastry. Kinda turned me off. Sorry but I like my grease. Especially the doughy grease, none of that flaky shit. Besides that I enjoyed this bakery. If you're looking for old school, pastries and cakes this is the place. Screw obsesity, I need to become a regular here. read more

This place makes me so happy. I've only gotten the baked goods but the cookies and cannoli are amazing. The people who work there are wonderful and friendly. This place is full of regulars, so I'd definitely come back to try some of the sandwiches. read more

I've found the amore della mia vita! Once you try the original Ferrara's Cannoli Cake, you won't be able to eat Jewel's or any average Shmoe cakes anywhere! Made of sweet canoli filling, yellow cake, homemade whipped cream, fresh strawberries, and all this pinched with shaved coconut, it's SWEET HEAVEN! Although it's $18 a cake, it's perfect for any special occasion. If my partner and I were ever to get married, it would be his family's expectation to have a supersized Wedding-style Cannoli Cake there. After all, they were the first ones to introduce me to this gastronomical tradition that has been at every family celebration since their grandparent's grew up on the old Taylor Street, now what is well-gentrified called 'University Village.' Although the area continues to changed, the bakery has not. In other words, don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind Italian immigrant bakery or you'll be missing out a piece of Chicago's history. Oh and the best part of the visit (other than the adorable older nonna who secretly treats cutie pie visitors with a few pieces of candy--yes at 23 years old I can still pull it off!) is when they use their pulley contraption attached the ceiling to wrap up the products packaging with yarn. Yay for old school! read more

Best bakery ever fresh, natural, delicious, creative, wonderful you would not be an astronaut if you ate this everyday

came with a groupon and bought cannoli - the cream too sweet and the shell too hard pasticiotto - the lemon cake outside was good, but the cream inside too sweet chocolate eclair - good chocolate crust but bad filling focaccia - the crust too chewy and stale the cannoli cream that's ever-present in all their pastries is the downfall. too sweet and lumpy. read more

Holy Zeppoli! I came here last night to pick up 30 zeppoli for St. Joseph's Day to bring to work. The people were very nice and quite efficient at packing all 30 of them. Really inexpensive too. $1.95 per zeppoli that was the size of a baseball. And they were awesome. So tasty and filled with custard... Their cannoli cakes are pretty damn good too. read more

During my 2 months working at the JBVA, I've probably had at least 10 of their Ferrara Signature sandwiches. Not joking, I was OBSESSED with this place. Everything about that sandwich is fantastic, from the bread to the cold cuts to the tomatoes and lettuce, all delicately assembled and topped with a drizzle of olive oil and vinaigrette--at a great price, too. Also love love love their tiramisu (one of the best I've had). Their other pastries are meh (cheesecake, cookies) but the tiramisu is amazing. The shells with broccoli is not bad, either, though the chicken parmesan with pasta left something to be desired. Would not go anywhere else for lunch if I still worked in the Illinois Medical District. read more

What a fine establishment! Great sandwiches, soups, pizza, pasta and pastries. Look forward to going back soon.

Good cake! ... I just ramdomly yellow paged this place initially ... I needed a cake on fairly short notice and they came through like a charm! Everyone loved it and they saved the day ... I'll be going back again. read more

They may have the best cannoli in the world but the lunch menu knocks it out if the park every time! I have never had a bad meal here and I have tried it all! Warm up with a cup of Chili or Pasta Fagioli on a cold Chicago afternoon and don't forget to grab a box of cookies to share with friends and family. You can tell everything is made with the freshest ingredients and a lot of love. Would recommend to anyone who likes great food and pastries. read more