Help me find a wonderful coffee/pastry shop that I visited?

Hello all. Before moving to Chicago, I visited to look around and see the neighborhoods. A friend took me to a coffee/pastry shop that had wonderful food. It sits on a corner, is very bright and white inside and had wonderful pain au chocolat. I know this is an impossible request because I have no idea what neighborhood we were in. But it's definitely in the city, on a neighborhood-type street, not on a busy street and it is a cute, little shop. I'm trying to find it! Can you help? I'm turning to the experts of all that is food in Chicago. I've searched high and low online because when I see the outside pics, if available, I'll know it.

I hope it was ok to post this request here. Thanks in advance!

I know that place, it's right next to the red eye bin...

jk, but we need a few more details - what style was the cafe - italian, french, american? Did they just sell pastries/coffee/sweets - or was it a sandwich/panini place too? Be as descriptive as possible, including any quirky details about decor, menu, etc. - one detail that's specific may trigger someone's memory file on your place...bright and white is too general.

Love to help, just need more info

HI,

I am going to sound like your Mother who asks, "Where did you see it last?"

Did you ask your friend where it may be? If she does not precisely recall, she might recall the general area.

Regards,

was it Floriole?



I had a meeting there a few months ago, remember it being bright and white - Lincoln Park is very neighborhood as you describe, and a quick google search shows they serve a popular pain au chocolat.

i'm going to guess Julian Mienl at the corner of southport and addison. but cathy's right- the OP should ask her friend.

Floriole might be it. Julian Mienl does not look right to me. But I thought it had green/white striped awnings. But it could be Floriole. It's worth a drive there to see it. When I walk in, I'll know it.

YES! I just found more pictures of Floriole and that is it! Thank you, thank you! I knew I could count on you all. Especially because I remember the friend learning of this place from this site.

THANK YOU!

When I read your query, I thought of Floriole when you mentioned the great pain du chocolat, but then ruled it out in my mind because it's not located on a corner. Glad you were able to identify it!

IMHO Floriole has the best breads and pastries in the entire city. You can read more about Floriole in the discussion topic about it:
Floriole Cafe and Bakery

Thank you for all of the replies. I knew I could count on this site.

I thought it was on a corner, ooops. That day was such a blur but I remembered how good this place was and wanted to return. I read the thread - now I'm craving it. Although some yelp-ers say Toni Patisserie is better. hmmmm

AMG1026 wrote:some yelp-ers say Toni Patisserie is better.

Toni Patisserie is very good; I'd put it among the top ten bakeries/pastry shops in the city, and its Loop location makes it very convenient. But I think Floriole is significantly better, and the offerings are more unusual.

If you love pastry and you'd like to try more than one place, I recommend combining a visit to Floriole with one at Vanille Patisserie on Clybourn, which is a five-minute walk west of Floriole, so it's easy to do both. Vanille is very good too, IMHO the second best bakery/pastry shop in the city after Floriole. And each does different things, although there's some overlap (e.g. croissants, French macaroons). In particular, Vanille has terrific entremets (individual-sized mousse-based pastries). If you're in downtown Chicago, Vanille has a satellite location at the French Market.

Refer to these discussions:
Vanille Patisserie
Toni Patisserie & Cafe - New Loop Option

and to the shops' own websites:
Floriole
Vanille Patisserie
Toni Patisserie

Other bakery/pastry shops I particularly like include Swedish Bakery in Andersonville, Alliance Bakery in Wicker Park, and three in the northern suburbs: Gerhard's in Lake Forest, Three Tarts Bakery in Northfield, and Gourmet Frog in Highwood. I also really like Fox & Obel, but primarily for their breads (including sweeter breads like their cinnamon swirl rolls), not so much for pure pastry.

Thank you for the helpful information. One Saturday, a few weeks ago, me and my boyfriend spent the day finding these type of places. Sad but true - we have a great love for pastries. And yet, still couldn't find Floriole! We did try Vanille at the French Market this past weekend - delicious.

Thanks again.