Bread, alone...in Lincoln Square

My wife and I just recently moved to Lincoln Square and realized that we can't think of anywhere nearby to get good french bread.

Harvestime manages to burn EVERY single thing they bake on site, and the local coffee shops/cafes (Selmarie, the Grind) are kind of hit or miss on both availability and quality.

I thought of Nhu Lan, since the baguette is after all the foundation of everything they serve. I guess the only way I'll know for sure is by trying, but nevertheless, I was wondering what popular opinion is of their bread. For example, I've never had good bread from a panaderia, even though that's supposed to be their business. (note, I'm not saying there isn't good bread to be had at any panaderia, just that I've never found one that was much good.)

So, any advice on good local bakeries that we might have missed? I consider walking distance to be anywhere from Clark to Kedzie and Bryn Mawr to Irving Park...

Thanks!

I've only been to Nhu Lan once, but I did like the sandwich size loaf they used for the sandwich. AFAIR it was nice and crusty. You might also try Trader Joe's on Lincoln, a few blocks south of Irving. They have regular and demi baguettes as a garlic/parmesan loaf. There is a coffee shop on Damen just north of Lawrence called So Addicted which gets croissants and things from a French bakery; I don't know if that includes bread.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Jkarczek.

Despite my handle and to the shame of my family, I actually am not a bread lover. I guess I am more French than Baguette. Still, I do have a few suggestions for you.

The Cheese Stands alone usually carries good bread. They used to be supplied by Red Hen Bakery, although I don't know whether that still is the case.

Bouffe, which if I understand correctly slowly is morphing into Provenance, is another place you might try.

Finally, I spotted some very nice looking ficelles (a thinner version of the baguette) at First Slice Cafe just the other day.

The Cheese Stands alone
4547 North Western Avenue
773.293.3870

Bouffe
2312 West Leland Avenue
773.784.2314

First Slice Cafe
4401 N. Ravenswood
773-506-7380

The Cheese Stands alone usually carries good bread. They used to be supplied by Red Hen Bakery, although I don't know whether that still is the case.

Bouffe, which if I understand correctly slowly is morphing into Provenance, is another place you might try.

Bouffe also sells Red Hen bakery bread. Everyone, including me, seems to like that stuff.

But I think the best bread is the bread that's the freshest. The Jewel on Lincoln guarantees hot out of the oven, freshly baked bread at 5PM every single day. It's not bad at all.

You might want to check out your local farmer's market to see which, if any, bakeries set up there. Red Hen and several others set up tents at the one I usually go to on Armitage just east of Halstead.

LabRat wrote:You might want to check out your local farmer's market to see which, if any, bakeries set up there. Red Hen and several others set up tents at the one I usually go to on Armitage just east of Halstead.

And while it lasts, the farmer's market takes place on Tuesdays in the parking lot on Leland between Lincoln and Western.

my favorite baguette in the area is Trader Joe's on Grace & Lincoln. I used to love Red Hen, but their baguette, IMO, suffered a steep decline in quality about a year ago. I tried one recently and it was better, but not up to their previous standard.

I actually like some of the bread at Harvestime, but not their baguette. Their Portuguese roll is usually (but not always) good. Also - it's not french bread, but you can get lovely still-warm fresh pita from Al-Kaymeih there.

There is a place on Irving Park, just west of the el on the south side, called "Golden Loaf". I assume it's a bakery and I've been curious about it, but i have yet to try it.

(edited to correct the name of the place on Irving - I had thought it was "Golden Crust")