Conca D'Oro Bakery in Edison Park

You must go here. I don't care what it looks like and I don't care how long the line is. The food the owner makes every Saturday and puts out around 11:00 am is fabulous!!! She makes food the same way both of my nonnis (both from Monreale) did. I ordered a tray of sausage & peppers and a pan of lasagna for a party and everyone wanted to know when I had found the time to make the food. It was THAT GOOD. The cannolis are fresh and wonderful, not heavy. The tiramisu is fantastic! I can't say enough about the place. I am in love again!!!!

And where might this oasis of culinary splendor be?

trpt2345 wrote:And where might this oasis of culinary splendor be?

Conca D'Oro Pastry Shop
6710 North Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60631-1317
(773) 631-1962

It's been mentioned before on LTH--in threads on cannoli, pizza, and Norwood Park, among others.
Disclaimer: I haven't been there.

I can personally vouch for their pizzas. They're right next door to
Tony's Italian Deli which has been mentioned here numerous times.

Tony's Italian Deli
6708 North Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60631-1320
(773) 631-0055

Artie wrote:I can personally vouch for their pizzas. They're right next door to
Tony's Italian Deli which has been mentioned here numerous times.

I strongly second the pizza recommendation. It's "bakery style" and one of the better examples of the type. The biscotti aren't bad, either. Cannolis are filled to order.

Their cucidati [spiced fig & fruit-filled cookies] are the best I've had since my grandmother went to bake for Jesus. [Jesus is getting the better end of the deal, though].

The decorating scheme in the bakery is kind of, um, interesting, though. Heavy religiosity. It wasn't like that 20 years ago, but I suspect something changed in the family.

This is the place my mom sends me to pick up canoli shells to fill for desert at holiday dinners.

Giovanna

Giovanna wrote:The decorating scheme in the bakery is kind of, um, interesting, though. Heavy religiosity. It wasn't like that 20 years ago, but I suspect something changed in the family.

The husband of the family (who I have never met) moved back to Italy some years ago, leaving the bakery in the hands of Juliette, who runs the whole thing single handedly. At one point, they got rid of the freezers that used to hold pre-made dinners, pizza dough, etc. and tried to make the place into a café of sorts (kind of like GNR Maria's in Highwood), but it never took off and it was too much for Juliette to handle all by herself.

Ralphie wrote:You must go here. I don't care what it looks like and I don't care how long the line is. The food the owner makes every Saturday and puts out around 11:00 am is fabulous!!! She makes food the same way both of my nonnis (both from Monreale) did. I ordered a tray of sausage & peppers and a pan of lasagna for a party and everyone wanted to know when I had found the time to make the food. It was THAT GOOD. The cannolis are fresh and wonderful, not heavy. The tiramisu is fantastic! I can't say enough about the place. I am in love again!!!!

Both Tony's and Conch D'Oro are so good that I jump off the METRA NW train and catch the next one. The sandwiches at Tony are great and the cannolis and biscotti are NOT to be missed. And they are very reasonable in their pricing.

I hope the bakery stays open a long time. It is always looks like a place that might be gone next week.

Funny such a new an enthisiastic post drew people out. I like Conca D'Oro a lot too, but it's all based on catering. I've had the pastries others brought in to meetings and thought they were some of the best Italian cookies and cannoli in Chicago. Didn't realize they have savory stuff, though I'm not surprised to hear the bakery pizza is strong.

JeffB wrote:Didn't realize they have savory stuff, though I'm not surprised to hear the bakery pizza is strong.

At one time they had a full line of savory items. These days, it's limited pretty much to the bakery pizza.

I grew up 3 blocks away from Conca D'Oro and their bakery pizzas were the only reason I went there. Highly recommended. While you're there, a trip to Tony's Deli next door should be mandatory as well. Tony's has very good subs and great lasagna and eggplant parmesan.

But Conca D'oro has always been about the bakery pizzas for me. Excellent stuff!!