Best bakeries in Chicago?

I am new to Chicago and just moved into an apartment in Lincoln Square. I am wondering where is the best place to buy good bread around here (on the North Side or in Lincoln Square). A lot of bakeries have good pastries and sweets and whatnot. What I want though is a good loaf of tasty bread. Any ideas?

One option would be Bennison's, at the corner of Davis and Maple in Evanston. From Evanston Online:

The excellence of Bennison's was reaffirmed in 2005 when current owner, Jory Downer, as part of Team USA returned home from Paris with the gold cup from the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie, known to the rest of the world as the Olympics of baking.

They also show up at several area farmers' markets.

I agree that Bennisons is a good option. Closer to home, you might try the Georgian bakery on Devon. They do a really excellent central asian type rustic round peasant bread that is outstanding (also fantastic cheese filled puff pastries called hatchapuris). Breadsmith on Wells is good for salt sticks and asiago cheese breadsticks. I've also been impressed with the quality of some of the breads at Whole Foods (really!). Their light rye (with seeds) and Tuscan loaves are especially good. Finally, I also really like the Ciabata rolls at Trotters to go on Fullerton (and not too expensive at under a buck each). Baguettes are still a problem locally however.

Agreed, there are some good breads at Whole Foods. Another suggestion is Red Hen. You can pick up some bread each Saturday at the Green City Farmers Market in Lincoln Park.

Trex
Welcome to Lincoln Square. If its decent bread your after check Delicatesen Meyer located on Lincoln Av. right in the square. Harvest Time Foods just west of the square on Lawrence at Rockwell carries bread from most of the local bakers. DaMato's , International Baking, Baltic etc. Also next to Harvest Time is a Greek (I believe) baker thats not bad.

JSM

Depends on the type of bread. Dinkel's on Lincoln just south of Belmont makes a good traditional rye loaf, but crustier bread varieties there aren't so good. The Cafe Selmarie baguette is above average, and certainly can't be beaten for convenience to your home. I think the brioche at Selmarie is excellent. Trader Joe's on Lincoln and Grace has fresh-daily local artisan breads of all kinds. The ciabatta is pretty good, as are the dense raisin walnut rolls.

You don't need to travel to Green City Market for Red Hen bread. In fact, you can get it and some amazing artisinal chees right in the heart of Lincoln Square at Bouffe: 2312 W. Leland

Thanks everyone.

Try Meyer Deli right in Lincoln Square for hearty rye.


Delicatessen Meyer
4750 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625-2010
(773) 561-3377

whoopsie daisy.......
did not see that prior metion of the Meyer deli

I agree that the Argo, the Georgian bakery on Devon is excellent. Be sure to take a look at their oven when you go--it's a huge pit in the floor and they slap the dough onto the sides to bake. You can also try Swedish Bakery on the 5400 block of N. Clark St. for cinnamon raisin bread and limpa bread. (Their other breads look good, too, but I haven't tried them.) The Devon Market (about 1500 west on Devon Ave.) bakes heavenly white bread on site in round or square loaves. These are as close to home-made as I've found. They also have a selection of croissants, baguettes, and the like that they bake from Vie de France dough. As a bonus, they have a great, reasonably-priced, produce section. North Shore Bakery, 2921 W. Touhy, has good Jewish rye and challah, as well as rolls made from challah dough (try the French onion). I've also enjoyed the ciabatta and onion bread from Flourish (on Bryn Mawr, a few doors east of Broadway). And heretical as it may sound, some of the specialty breads (La Brea brand) at Jewel are pretty good.

Forgot to mention, North Shore Bakery also has a multigrain bread that's pretty decent.