A neighborhood treasure. Superb sandwiches at a good price. Really extensive list of choices,, and also daily specials.. Also excellent desserts. We'll buy a bunch of desserts when we need to supply a get-together, and they are always a hit. read more

Panes is a hidden gem! Great fresh food, great portions and such reasonable prices. Love this place! read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Spicy veggie omelette - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped in here after a spa visit next door. My massage therapist mentioned Panes having good sandwiches, and I immediately started recalculating my trip home after hearing that. He had me at "sandwich," which I am an absolute sucker for. It's no joke - ask my credit card. I recently went on a 2 month bender of eating a ridiculous amount of sandwiches non-stop, but I digress... Panes has fresh bread daily, an extensive menu, including a full page of different types of sandwiches, and a super cute vibe on the inside. The walls are colorful, eclectic signs and art, and lots of tables to sit at. Very low key, which is definitely more my style. It felt like a mom and pop shop, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it was. You order and pay at the counter, grab your card number, and wait for order up. The woman that helped me recommended the pollo diablo, which she described as spicy. Me: Yes please! Total for the sandwich was $8 bucks, and I must say, the portion was HUGE. Definitely enough for a couple of meals. It was a delicious sandwich and you get a bag chips with it. Definitely recommend for those in working in the area. I heard the veggie sandwiches are really good there as well. 4 stars! read more

This place is AWESOME. I'm lucky that it's just far enough east that I'm not tempted to go back and make it my daily lunch spot (parking was a challenge). But the bread was so SO good here. I went with two friends, we ordered three sandwiches and each ate a quarter of each, and then fought for the last quarter of our favorite sandwich (luckily it worked out well!) My favorite was "The Popular" (no surprise, huh?). A good amount of succulent chicken (I'm always afraid the chicken will be dry - but I was pleased), onions caramelized to perfection, on a healthy bed of spinach, some peppers, cheese -- all snug between two delicious slices of homemade tomato bread. SO GOOD. I will surely be back again. read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Pollo diablo. Delicious. - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very cute, cozy, (seemed but I'm not sure) family ran cafe. They were quick, friendly, and had great coffee, baked goods, and breakfast items. No one I was with tried lunch/dinner items but they looked great! The chocolate chip cookies were the best I've ever tried no joke. read more

I love this place. I've had the grilled chicken club and the roasted beef and they were both amazing. Their fresh, in-house baked bread is incredible, and all of the ingredients were super fresh. A sandwich and chips for less than $10 in this area is pretty amazing, especially at their quality. Highly recommend this little place. read more

I'm not going to lie, this is hands down one of the best hidden gems of Chicago. I moved here 2 years ago, and am kicking myself that we didn't try this out sooner. I got the turkey turkey and constantly crave the fresh tomato bread, fresh veggies, and mayo. Guys this is the real deal here!!! Make sure that you stop in and take home the monster cookie!!! Also they are now accepting credit cards!!!! read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food and great prices. You can't beat that. Their carrot cake is very tasty, but not super sweet.

Sandwiches are divine. I've never had a "sweet french bread" but that sh*t was on point as well. Highly recommend. Do call restaurant if you want pickup over ordering in-store, as it seems the ordering service used is wonky. There was a rather distraught Karen in today while we waited for our order. Prices very reasonable for how full we are. Highly recommend! read more

The freshly baked bread and sandwiches are out of this world. 10/10 would recommend. Oaxacan pork is my go to sandwich.

This place was absolutely amazing! We split an order of Pasta salad which was a huge, flavorful portion with artichoke hearts, lemon zest, feta, sun dried tomatoes, olives and an amazing dressing. This was absolutely delicious and would make a meal on its own, particularly with the homemade bread it was served with. We each also ordered a Portobello sandwich and were blown away. The fresh tomato bread it was served on was soft and delicious. The pesto was flavorful and perfectly complimented the pieces of portobello. The sandwich, served with kettle chips, was so large, we each took half for later. It was just as delicious hours later! I really wanted to give this place four stars for not taking credit cards (theres an ATM across the street) but couldnt because the food was so amazing! read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Portobello sandwich. YUM!! - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great prices! I had the tortilla salad and it was really good! Friendly staff and nice interior. The reason I don't give the place a five was because they only took cash. Kind of annoying since I had to go out and look for an atm. read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Tortilla salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always amazing. The bread any everything else is so fresh and delicious! We have been going here for years, and have always had great food.

Got the popular chicken but with turkey breast and ciabatta instead and it was phenomenal!! also got a side of spicy mayo. my new favorite sandwich - i can finally stop going to potbelly and support local. lived around the corner for almost a year and finally tried it. safe to say i will be back...a lot. read more

My favorite sandwiches in the city by far. When I lived close by I would get panes multiple times a week. Fresh, warm, homemade bread, no other bakery compares!! read more

Our neighborhood gem! Wonderful people and fresh sandwiches, soup and bread! Desserts are also really good. The roast beef sandwich and the chicken diablo are amazing! Give this small business your business and keep them here! read more

Had their portabella sandwich and it was fantastic. Their bread is homemade and was very fresh. Wifey had the pollo diablo and she loved it. Had outdoor seating, which was perfect for a summer day. Can't wait to come back to try their pizzas and pastas. Tip: BYOB and cash only read more

I like that they bake their own bread and make the sandwiches to order. Try the monster cookie. Try them for brunch! read more

I've been wanting a really delicious sandwich and when searching yelp, came across panes. we ordered 2 chicken clubs and potato salad. they told him the price for everything was around $15- $16 and we thought it was a great price. luckily he asked what form of payment they take (cash only) otherwise we would have been screwed. when he got there they told him the price for our meal was more than what they said over the phone. he told them and the lady said she couldn't have said that because she spoke to him specifically... he said she did tell him that and he didn't have more cash on him so she let him "slide". not very good customer service. now onto the eating our meal... the chicken club lacks flavor & it's really dry. definitely missing something, but the bread is really delicious. the potato salad was okay. I'm still in search for a really good sandwich but i will be back to try their other sandwiches and seems like the pollo diablo is the way to go since it has so many good reviews read more

delicious food. my favorite is the tomato soup. i also like the BLT mozzarella. i would come every friday when i worked at the school nearby. read more

Unbelievable sandwiches and fresh breads. A perfect casual neighborhood spot, but with food worth traveling for. A must go!

This place is simply a gem. Have you ever felt what it feels like to be chosen by God? To feel as if you are completely and absolutely in the supreme right place at the right time because you are surrounded by so much beauty and warmth? This is how I felt when I stepped into Panes. This Wednesday was haywire. My partner got in a bike accident and I need to drive her to the ER because she barley had any short term memory and was concussed most likely and hurt. Well they took her in and I wasn't allowed to go in because of COVID-19. So I had t wait for agonizing two plus hours. This whole time now knowing what's going on and if she was ok. They wouldn't let me sit inside cuz of covid 19 so I went on a Little walk around the lake view area. Ans I turned a corner and there was panes. I was hoping they servers coffee or tea but I didn't quite know. I took my chances and pulled open the door handle as it was warm with yellow light in there and beautiful colorful walls, I felt beyond safe and secure. I asked them if they serve coffee and tea and they said both. Then I got two cookies, a cowboy needs a treat while his partner is in the ER, I got a monster cookie and a chocolate chips. I got two so my partner can have a treat. As I was checking out I also said fck it and bought a loaf of sourdough it was a good price like 2.75$. I felt like I was in New Mexico in that place. It was just so homey and right and warm. It was everything I imagine my eternal resting place to be in the arms of god. Natural. Warm. Cozy. Not to mention the perfectness cookie I have ever ever ever eaten. She also dumped honey in my black tea for me which was nice. Idk I feel like I traveled when I went there. It saved me. I enjoyed my tea and cookie out in the cold bench at the courtyard at the hospital. Thanks Danes, I hope to come back and try one of those tasty looking sandwiches too. Maybe a BLT. read more

Panes Bread Cafe - The best chocolate chip cookie I ever had. Crispy crunch circumference whilst still being soft gooey in the center - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really like this place. Very good food. The staff is friendly and the prices are reasonable. I had on different occasions the pork and the chicken sandwiches. The soups are also good. read more

Panes Bread Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I am very thankful that I live close by. I haven't had a meal yet that was not tasty and well done. I am trying different sandwiches by the week and I haven't been disappointed. Panes makes their own bread and gives you bread with most orders. The menu is wide ranging and doesn't change! Breakfast is amazing. They are always on the ball with making your meal. Even when it's crowded they make your food very quickly. Panes has very reasonable prices too which is a break from the majority of Chicago food scene. It's cash only so keep that in mind, but they do have an ATM inside. If there's item on the menu that isn't top shelf I'd say it's their pizza but it's still good. Leave your pizza order for the pizza specialists nearby. Their hours of operation are very generous. I don't know where'd I be without Panes in my backyard! They deserve heavy patronage every day of the week. read more

Was not "wowweeeeeeed." That's all I kept thinking.. The glorious Panes....the mecca for sandwich lovers, Chicago's claim to sammie fame. And, hmmmm...fell a bit short for me. Truthfully, the "cash only" policy has kept me at bay for quite some time...I'm just not a cash carryin' kind of gal, but hey...if friends want to lunch, you hit the ATM and make a deal. Turkey sandiwich on tomato bread: are we seriously doing this like...cold cut turkey style? Salty and sort of slimy. Oscar Meyer like. Not good. Bread was interesting enough, but that nitrate soaked turkey just tripped my wire. Alarms: abort mission! The baked goods look sweeeeeet (pun intentional), and the salads could be worth a shot, but hey...after all, peeps come here for SANDWICHES. I tried. I obviously just don't get the hype. *cash only *Wellington Brown *some street parking *good fountain Diet Coke. *busy at lunch, but ample tables. I'll save my cash. read more

Really? With 184 reviews and an average star rating of 4.5, I expected much more from this place. And I didn't even know about the positive yelp reviews until I logged on to write this utterly Meh review, but I had heard people say in passing it was good. I attribute this to the Kuma's phenomenon - that a place gets so much hype for how good it was in its heyday that the word from those days lives on while the present day just can't or won't live up to the legend. I got the portabello - it was decent, but not that flavorful. A friend got the turkey sandwich and he was grossed out by the fact it was pressed and processed turkey as opposed to sliced turkey. I got a fountain coke, it was way watery as if it didn't have enough syrup and when I asked my friends about their fountain drinks, the root beer had too much syrup, but the diet coke was just right. I heard the chicken soup was divine, but the bread that accompanied it had a moldy taste to it. Due to the coke tasting oh-not-so-good, I got a glass of water. It had some funky taste to it. Doesn't take credit cards - cash only - doesn't affect my review, just a nice FYI to have about a place! Darnit for making it after the legendary days in the Meh days. read more

I used to live right near this place, and I agree that the sandwiches are really good. The side dishes are tasty too! Had to take away a few stars because the flan was the nastiest I have ever tasted, and the employees are always a pain. The cash-only policy never bothered me, but something was definitely always bothering them... maybe they ate the flan or something. read more

Do you mean to tell me I could have been coming here in 1994? When I was anticipating new Seinfeld episodes, living and hanging out in pre-hot, pre-self-conscious Andersonville, eating at The Dellwood Pickle on Friday nights, tooling around in my '93 Camry, debating O.J.'s guilt or innocence? Well, yeah. I coulda. And recently I found what I was missing. Another fine sandwich place in East Lakeview. My friend Heathcliff and I came in for a Friday Old Man lunch. The place was consistently busy but never crowded. The only challenge was the strollers. Kind of a cozy and close place which I don't think was necessarily contemplating strollers. But the clientele was a mix of local professionals, and young families. We ordered The Turkey, Turkey, and the BLT, and did the old bite 'n switch by sharing very generous-sized halves. Both sandwiches were scrumptious mouthfuls of fresh, fresh bread and an exciting combo of meats, cheese, veggies and avocado. I am officially going to stop making my own sandwiches. There are too many other people who make them better. Love the casual bakery vibe here, too. Loaves to take away, of course. Even though a polite little sign almost apologized for a price increase, all of their choices whether salads, sides, pasta dishes and sandwiches, are all very reasonable. Their generous and toothsome sandwiches are all around $5.95. They would be twice as much at Jerry's, for example. So even the prices are kind of 1994. I'm so happy I finally made it here. Yummy, yummy, yummy, got a loaf in my tummy.. read more

I have eaten here a few times, the last time was the best time for sure! Kicked off with some free brownie samples from the counter, some darn good brownies for sure! The second kick off, the one we paid for... Cranberry bread, it was cranberry and something or cherry and something, all I know is it was amazing! One small complaint I asked if they could heat this loaf of heaven in the oven so it could be a warm alter ready to receive the religious experience of bathing in loads of butter, the first time I asked she out and out ignored the request, mind you we were the only people in the restaurant, second time she said NO, I thought she must think I was asking if they had some warm, so I asked again with more explanation, and she said NO we will burn the bread, I am not 12, and since about 12 I have heated already cooked bread in a warm oven or even microwave so that butter will melt more easily, anyway, I was a bit put off.... So I was pleasantly surprised after that back and forth, this decidedly not warm loaf of cranberry bread was moist and wonderful and the butter was soft so it spread oh so easily, this good size loaf was easily consumed most with butter but when we went through all our butter rations and a third of that beautiful bread loaf still sat winking at me...I dove in dry, holy good even unbuttered batman, it was still wonderful and soon it was all gone! Second appetizer, on what turned into a carb parade, was big soft pieces of country toast bathed in a thick layer of goat cheese, these were melt in your mouth amazing, a stark savory flavorful contrast to the sweet beginnings we had just swam through... My main course was amazing but not as life changing as the first two, I had a roast beef sandwich and substituted the tomato bread in lieu of the standard bread for this on menu masterpiece, this sandwich was warm melty wet juicy and just plain really good and quickly disappeared! read more

What is my favorite thing to do in Chicago? Is it taking in a ballgame at historic Wrigley Field? Is it checking out all the sights of downtown? Is it going out to a few of the millions of bars that line the streets? No, no, no. It is, without a doubt, a visit to Panes for a Super Panes sandwich. The trip up to Chicago usually involves an hour long planning session detailing when my friends and I will go to Panes and what we will order. That is usually followed up by three hours of narratives chronicling our favorite Panes sandwiches from days gone by. I'm not exactly sure what makes the sandwich so great. I've tasted all the ingredients on their own and each is delicious but not exactly captivating. Together, though, it all combines for an ambrosial and divine taste that is the perfect combination of salty and sweet. For $5.95 you get the Super Panes and a bag of Lays potato chips. You might think that is a yawn-inducing side but somehow the chips go perfectly with the sandwich. Perhaps because it is hard to complain about anything when you are biting into a Super Panes. For a few minutes, everything is right in the world. When I get back to St. Louis, I pretty much sit at home, stare out the window, and wait until I can go to Chicago and be reunited with a Super Panes. read more

I'll keep this short and sweet. Went here with the boyfriend so he could grab some food to go. Like a moron, I left my phone on one of the tables. Called the next day, and they had put it on the side for me. When I picked it up, they wouldn't event accept a reward. F'ing cool. Can't wait to actually try their food. read more

UNLIKE VEGETARIANS THAT REVIEW STEAKHOUSES... and slam them when they aren't fans of meat, I will write my review of Panes as if my very existence revolved around my love for bread and sandwiches. ***deep breath...you love carbs, you really do...a sandwich is a perfectly acceptable dinner meal...exhale*** Wow!!! Panes really impresses with its tasty selection of sandwiches on thick sliced, freshly baked bread. Try the pollo diablo! Okay, I can't do it. I DO like sandwiches (a pastrami from Katz's in NYC could be a last meal on Earth on a given day), but Panes just didn't do it for me. I found the bread fresh, but way too dry on my pollo diablo. The bread to filling ratio was way out of whack for my tastes as I like to have more toppings than bread in my sandwich. Honorable mention: I really enjoy the breakfast menu here. Great omelets at reasonable prices. read more

What a great little local shop for some well-deserved comfort food on a chilly March afternoon. I've subtracted one star because the service was a little slow and a lot unfriendly. Maybe we caught them on a bad day; who knows...but I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully the next time I come back they will be much more pleasant. They're primarily known for their bread. Because of my innate and unwavering hatred for sandwiches (except the GC, of course) I opted to go a route whereby the main ingredient was not bread. But, I did order the hummus appetizer (which sadly came at the same time as my entree AND my salad) which came perfectly spread on some Panes bread and it was absolutely delightful: both the hummus and the bread. I also ordered the Mac n' Cheese and was in food heaven. Very tasty and one of my favorites yet since I've moved to Chicago. There was nothing extra special about it; no fancy cheeses or finely grated green apples to adorn the top; just good ol' mac n' cheese with cheddar and parmesan. Simple, not overly done, but yummy for the tummy! I will definitely be back. Thank you Panes for a wonderful food experience. I hope the next time I am there, your service provides a similar experience. read more

I think I'm done with Panes. Today I ordered the Tuna Blanca sandwich for carryout from the less than enthused woman behind the counter, and waited approximately 20/25 minutes for the sandwich. I should also probably mention that it was approximately 2:30, and there were maybe 3 tables occupied (so not the height of lunch rush hour). After waiting maybe 15 minutes the woman behind the counter tells me my order is coming up. After about 20 minutes she asks me what my number is, and I tell her I never received a number....she then tells me, "Let me check on the order" only to come back and ask, "What did you order?" Huh, really? After 25 minutes? I finally get my food and head to my office only to find the sandwich has cheese melted in the middle of the tuna, which the menu description mentions nothing about... and I cannot eat cheese... While I've always enjoyed the food when my order is right, but I've had enough of the subpar customer service, messed up orders, and cash only payment. Done, done, and done. +Good food when your order is correct +Great breads and deserts -Orders are often incorrect -Does not accept credit or debit -Long wait time, even when ordering ahead by phone -Staff is not super friendly read more

For a girl who doesn't adore sandwiches, 4 stars is a big freakin' deal. Panes bakes some tasty bread and oh lord, their Sloppy Pollo sandwich is so damn good--I'm talking good like the stuff-drips-down-your-chin-good. Also high on my list are the curried chicken salad, the pulled pork and, sandwiches aside, their homemade rice pudding (no surprise there) and buckeyes (you know, those peanut butter chocolate delights). The hub loves their Pollo Diablo, as does everyone else on Yelp, apparently. Every time I've been to Panes the line has easily stretched to the door and while it's difficult to stand there drooling over everyone else's lunches, it ends up being worth the wait. read more

Delicious and cheap breakfast! I got the bacon egg and cheese. It was served on their bread along with potatoes. My friend got the French toast which had a great presentation. Sit outside if you can! read more

Panes Bread Cafe - French toast was so good! Baked apples on top. - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great local sandwich shop! I'm lucky I live right around the corner. You order, you pay, and they bring your food out to you. Water is self-service, which means you don't have to ask anyone for refills while you're trying to nurse the hangover. Most sandwiches are $4.95 and come with chips! Anything with pesto and provolone is delish! Tuna salad is also very good. Definitely worth the 10 minute wait for their sandwiches. The seating area is very tight - I actually like Panes better in the summertime because of their outdoor seating on Sheffield. It is annoying they don't take credit cards, but if that means $4.95 sandwiches, I'll take it!!! read more

Tried Panes for the first time and got the Turkey Turkey! Let me say the tomato bread is unbelievable and it is certainly a bang for your buck. Tried the chocolate chip cookie and was amazing as well! Can't wait to come back and try other sandwiches! read more

I have been coming to this place for years and even though I no longer live in the neighborhood, I still try to treck out here every couple months. In fact, in reading everyone else's reviews, I'm thinking I really need to get out of my comfort zones and try new things. I really like the Pollo Diablo and the California Turkey, but I am also partial to their Mac&Cheese and once I even had enchiladas! The soup is also very good and you always get some of their homemade bread. They make all of the breads here and will even do a custum sandwich for you. It could be 2pm on a weekday or Noon on a weekend and the place is usually jammed. My favorite recent story is the older couple that sat at the table next to me in January. They were on a date and the man had brought wine, a corkscrew and two wine glasses for them to enjoy with their lunch. I was pretty impressed by his game. Sure, it was a little much for a casual sandwich shop-- but hey? Aren't those the kinds of snapshots we love from living in a big city? read more

I lived right next to Panes for a year, and I fricken loved this spot. Here's what I recommend: 1.) Order Pompazo. 2.) Take a bite or two of the sample cookie they likely have on the counter. 3.) Enjoy some of that free filtered ice water (note: ice is there, just lift up that black knob and use the ice scooper they place in an empty cup). 4.) Grab a copy of today's paper that they have on display for you. 5.) Get caught up on current events while you enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of a mom & pop restaurant in Chicago. 6.) Eat Pompazo and resist making a bunch of noises prompted by the pure deliciousness. 7.) Leave feeling satisfied. 8.) Return next day and repeat steps 1 through 7. Enjoy. read more