Lovely: A Bake Shop

Okay, so this is random. My friend from high school recently graduated from French Pastry School and mentioned a bakery that some of her classmates opened.

I looked it up and, while I haven't been there yet, it looks like a cute space with a decent menu and pastry offering.

Has anyone here ever been and/or have any thoughts on the quality of the grub?

Lovely: A Bake Shop
1130 N. Milwaukee

I do like this place and went when they first opened. It's spacious and it's been quiet the times I have gone there. The location makes it off the beaten path. I like that. I loved the cupcakes, and the small pies.....I'll be getting back there very soon.


Anne

It's a very pleasant space; service has been fantastic the few times I've been there, and even the pecan pie lived up to my Southern expectations. They have charming but fussy packaging. I've eaten in (nice setup with a variety of seating options; wifi) and taken out.

The reviews on Yelp are strong.

I do regret that it's on an odd stretch of Milwaukee -- a "single loaded" section, without supporting retail on the other side and worse yet, not on the sunny side of the street. I also regret that it's on the going-to-work side, which is no good for me since I'm always running late in the morning.

I went once, after having lunch at La Pasadita. I had the cupcakes and thought they were quite good, if a little expensive. I also had a blueberry muffin which was a little drier than I like, but tasty all the same. Parking over there is a real issue sometimes. I've driven by with the intention of stopping in, but that stretch of Milwaukee is often crowded, with non-existent parking and continuous construction. Korosh is another nearby nice restaurant that I don't go to as often as I'd like because of parking. I liked the atmosphere and the service at Lovely, but I'll only drive around the block twice to find nearby parking; there are better bakeries in the area. Sweet Thang is only about five minutes away by car, and has transcendent fare for the same price. I'll double park and risk the ticket to go to Sweet Thang, not so much, Lovely.

At first I scoffed at yet another cafe in the area (adding to Blend, Alliance, Swim, Mercury Cafe, etc et), but I have since come to enjoy Lovely quite a bit. They have free re-fills on (good) coffee if you eat in, and their new menu of soups and sandwiches is consistently good, if not a little small (FYI, the chips that come with sandwich orders are sweet potato chips, a good reason to forgo the healthier options of greens or fruit). As someone already mentioned, the blueberry muffins are good, and I can attest to the quality of their bran muffins, as well.

Friends of mine who go there to study were glad to discover that their wi-fi is free and reliable.

I just wish that they were open a little later in the evening so that I could stop in after work. Oh well.... can't have everything.

We went walking on Sunday from our place in Wicker Park to downtown, and stopped at Lovely for a mid-walk snack. We had two of their muffins. The blueberry and the apple walnut. Both were mini size, about 2 inches in diameter and fluted on the sides like they were made in a mini-Bundt pan.

Both were actually very moist and nicely flavored. I only needed a small bite to satiate my hunger and saved the rest for after our walk.

At 2pm, the place was about 85% full, with people at all the tables

The space has a really nice feel. Airy and old shop decor, but clean and orderly.

π


I only wish places like this had later hours in the evening. This would be a great dessert alternative to high end places like Hot Chocolate.

I stopped in for a morning coffee and muffin on Friday and lo and behold! WTTW was filming shots for Check, Please! I'm not certain that Lovely will suffer the same sort of Check, Please! effect as some other places (ie. Kuma's) but still -- consider this a four minute warning (though no, I didn't ask when it might be airing). I mean, while the sandwiches and soups are good, they're nothing terribly novel or unexpected and it's not like Lovely is much of a destination spot, otherwise. Maybe they'll get more business for pies and cakes, but I'll be real sad if I'm soon crowded out of my Sunday afternoon coffee/magazine catch-up spot.

Check please?!!! Oh no.......I hate when this happens!! Maybe the slightly hard to get to location will keep this place from having a line out the door. I really like the fact that it is off the beaten path...on the other hand I'm also glad that the owners are getting positive press! They are very nice people!


Anne

I went to Lovely with my friend on Sunday around 11 for an early lunch.

I really dig the atmosphere and service was very pleasant.

I had ths salami sandwich. The bagel they served it on was perfect.

The chili was not that great. For one, it was served up only mildly warm (which I could have asked them to heat it up) and the overall flavor was rather bland. There was a touch of spice, which was good, but it didn't seem to be present in every bite.

The vanilla bean cupcake was awesome. The frosting looks like it's just your run of the mill grocery type frosting, but instead it was very light.

I would like to go back.

I started working a block and a half away from Lovely about six months ago, and since then have been in almost every day. I appreciate the fact that everything there aspires to be Lovely, from the staff, to the mismatched dinner tables and chairs, to the vintage pastry cases, and diner-style bar stools. Recently added is a giant size wooden hand mixer that stands about 8-ft tall in the front window. Their herbal teas are all the real deal, scooped from little jars behind the counter, and offering unique choices like orange peel, lemongrass, and fennel. Staff is attentive and permanently friendly. Haven't had a chance to try much of their food, but the homemade soups helped get me through the winter in a non-heated office (honestly). Half-off Muffin Monday has stolen my favorite day of the week from Thursday.
I'd nominate them for an GNR if I'd had more of the sandwiches, etc. But outside of The Grind (which I live about 50 ft from), Lovely is most definitely my favorite neighborhood coffee joint.

grahamhh wrote:Recently added is a giant size wooden hand mixer that stands about 8-ft tall in the front window.

Lovely is in my neighborhood, and I feel rather "eh" about it. I've noticed the mixer à la Claes Oldenburg when I've ridden past. What's the deal with it? It just stands there like a mascot?

Apparently it actually works, and otherwise sits there and looks cool, awaiting the return of dinosaur eggs.

I searched the forum but didn't find mention of changes with Lovely. The Edgewater location is closed. It looks like their longtime manager was set to take over, at least the Milwaukee Ave location. Not sure if that occurred.

DNA Info article

http://www.lovelykitchenandcafe.com/home.html

Still Lovely.

I can report that the atmosphere is still the same now that Mary, the long time manager, has taken ownership. There is less emphasis on baked goods, and (slightly) more on sandwiches and savories, hence the name change to Lovely Kitchen & Cafe. But, it is just as welcoming as always.

After 12 years on Milwaukee Avenue, Lovely Kitchen & Cafe has abruptly closed its doors in Noble Square. The coffee shop, which served pastries and sandwiches, posted a note on its doors announcing its last day was Friday, June 22.

https://chicago.eater.com/2018/6/26/175 ... icker-park

This kind of kills me. Where I work, if you forgot your keys and were locked out, you could always go to Lovely and find someone you worked with who could let you in. They were funny and respectful and a joy to have nearby. Loved their BLTs with avocado. Really sorry to see them go.