I love Bittersweet's brioche. Their spinach quiche. Their wedding cake!! We had an amazing tasting at Bittersweet that was presented so beautifully. All the cakes were so moist and tasty that we had a hard time choosing which ones to use. We ended up doing carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and almond cake with creme brulee and raspberry filling with fudge cake. So divine. The cake was gorgeous in all its 3 tiered beauty. Simple, elegant. I loved it. The staff at Bittersweet are always so kind and helpful it continues to me my go to spot for brunch or cookies. Love.
(5)
Tricia D.
Things you should know about Bittersweet: - they have table service if you're planning on staying to eat your treats. - take a number by the door if you're gonna take it to go. - try the cheddar scone! - ice cream available! - the black and white cupcake was super fresh and moist and delectable. - I'll be back.
(4)
Matthew G.
I've been coming here for pastries and cookies for 15+ years. The food remains excellent as always. However the staff has become more and more clueless over the years. Today's experience included two people who could not figure out the credit card machine. Also, no AmEx - as a small business owner myself I realize that they charge more, but you need to make it easy for your customer to pay, and today Bittersweet made it as hard as possible.
(3)
Melissa H.
Our cake did not turn out the way we wanted. The major upset was that it was supposed to have writing on it........oh it had writing but it was in WHITE on a WHITE cake. Ummm....do I really need to explain what's wrong with that? Thank God my hubby knows Photoshop is all I got to say.
(1)
Martin C.
Came here just for some sweets, but I love the ambiance. Classical music playing, great coffee and some ridiculously sinful truffles. The atmosphere is a refreshing detour from the other intimate places where a visitor is too often made to feel like an intrusion. I feel very sorry for the individual who has to clean the glass displays as apparently many parents feel it's ok to allow their kids free reign to touch everything. The owners are there every day and the character of this place is a definite reflection of their warmth. Bravo. (I would definitely walk there as you'll need to burn a few calories afterward! It's too good!!!)
(4)
Alicia K.
Holy croissant heaven! I started coming to this place because I was taking classes at Stage 773 for work. SO TASTY!! The assortment of baked goods is plentiful - no matter what hour of the day. I must try the fruit tarts over the summer. They look absolutely scrumptious!
(5)
E M B.
Wedding Cake Review: Bittersweet was the preferred bakery of our wedding venue and we were familiar with their tasty cakes so we were happy we didn't have to search through the endless bakeries in Chicago for our wedding cake! I showed them a more intricate lace design that they had not done before and they did a beautiful job! My only complaint is that while there are so many cake/filling options, I wish there were some more innovative flavors. Regardless they were great to work with and the cake was beautiful and tasty.
(4)
Brandon W.
Really cute place with tons of pastries. I wish I could eat more of them but alas since I'm not one of you normal folk, I cannot. My wife loves this place, so I'm sure it's great. Tip: get the hot chocolate! It is insanely good and the main reason I stop by. Recommended
(3)
Li M.
We just celebrated our anniversary with the free cake that Bitter Sweet made for us. We ordered our wedding cake last year. We worked with Nancy and she is super helpful and professional to give us all recommendations. The cake they made was amazing. Not too sweet like most of the wedding cake. They told us last year that we do not need to save the top part of the cake， they will make us a fresh one this year. Their communication is super as well. Nancy replies emails with all the information you need right away.
(5)
Hannah C.
After spending many many evenings walking down Belmont and thinking, "that place looks so cute," I finally made it in just before they closed. Great selection of cookies, chocolates, and cupcakes. Just before close, cupcakes are 2 for 1! Unfortunately, nothing I tried was that good. The cupcake cake was pretty dry (although chocolate cake ones were more moister than vanilla based cakes). And the frosting is a dull buttercream that tastes like cheap cannoli filling. If you're not looking for a rich frosting, the milk and cookies cupcake was cute and filled with different types of frosting. The mint chocolate chip at least had some flavor. My final morsel was a salted chocolate truffle, which sadly tasted only like baking cocoa. I probably won't be back, especially since they aren't open late enough for me to make bad decisions after a visit to Cheesie's.
(3)
Jessi R.
Cakes and stuffs are good! They have the deal last hour of the day, buy 2 cup cakes for price of 1, and buy 2 breakfast muffin/ scone for the price of one! I normally get 1 cup cake and 1 muffin, they just charge me the one higher price One day, the lady said no, I have to buy 2 cup cake and 2 muffin,( which I don't need), I said, I ve come to the store for over 2 years and all the cashier let me mix and match! She said, whoever did so are wrong! I said can I talk to the manager ? She shout at me, I am one of them!!! I want to tell her how the hell kind of manager you are? Are u kidding me? If u are a " good" manager, U wouldn't shout and disrespect ur customer like that! And if u are a " good" manager: you would have trained your staffs not to do mix and match for the last years!! Finally, I tell her let me talk to your higher manager and she shut up and tell the girl to let me mix and match! I feel so bad for the store with good stuffs and good atmosphere, kind of high end, but some of the staffs are so mean and have no customer service skill! Especially the one" call" herself manager!
(2)
Britta S.
We ordered our wedding cake with Nancy from Bittersweet. It was amazing! First off: the communication was fast and easy. Second: the tasting was so well organized and we could try really anything and any combination of flavor! After settling for two (multiple tier cake) different flavor combinations, we talked about the design and to our surprise, Nancy said that it would not be a problem at all and I should just leave the pictures with her and they will create something. And she didn't understate: the cake looked exactly like we wanted it! And we don't even need to talk about the taste: amazing! Our guests were impressed and loved it! Thank you, Nancy and Bittersweet, for making our day even more special!
(5)
Nicole H.
I had the the tastiest chicken caesar sandwich! The brioche roll it was served on was sooo, sooo good. It was buttery and light and complemented the chicken very well. I also had a carrot muffin that was really delicious. When I eat here, the food is so good and tastes so well made that the price doesn't even bother me.
(4)
Angela P.
The Strawberry-Rhubarb macaron was one of the best ones I've had. The strawberry-rhubarb center was part cream and a surprising part fruit jam. The Lavender macaron was just OK. I was a little surprised that the FIRST thing we encountered upon entering was a sign indicating that we should watch our belongings, because pick-pocketing has occurred here. Well, okay... The last thing we noticed were the samples by the front door. The sugar cookie was really good, and my friend raved about the white cake. The employees weren't the friendliest. They seemed in a hurry to get us to sit down at a table, but we wanted to look at the bakery case first. The dining room was cramped, and I didn't feel like having to wait to be seated. It was faster to just order our items and go, so we took our goodies to the coffee shop across the street.
(3)
Tnon A.
Doesn't matter how you feel when you walked in, but I always walk out of here with a smile :D wonderful sweets that could lift up your soul with a great service from smiley staffs plus great ambience...
(5)
Evie H.
Bittersweet is one of those places where you want to keep returning to even though you know deep down it's not good to do so. They have so many little dessert creations that it leaves me very conflicted on what to order each time I ignore my deep down feelings and pop in anyway. + easily walkable from the Belmont or Wellington 'L' stops! + samples! + such a cute and brightly lit store. Perfect for afternoon snacks. Macarons - The flavors are outstanding and really pop when you take a bite. My favorites are the salted caramel and the passion fruit. The one area that was lacking was the texture. It didn't have the chewiness that I like from macarons so each bite fell flat instead. Pecan tart - Excellent pecan flavor as well but the tart was too hard for me. I felt like I had to stab at it to take a bite. Flourless chocolate cake - Very rich and chocolately. They use quite a bit of cocoa powder making it a little bitter but it counters the sweetness so it makes for a good balance. Perfect for chocolate lovers. Vanilla cheesecake - Yummy! I love the sturdiness of the cheesecake. It holds up well and doesn't fall flat in your mouth.
(4)
Noomi J.
Review #300! 4.5 stars. I've been here twice, once for brunch, and I was very pleased with their friendly service & excellent food. Tbh, I fell in love with their apple custard French toast o.o As a bonus, they have full table service. The tables at brunch had fresh flowers, and there were several couples dining in. Lovely interior, peaceful vibe. Happy to have them in the neighborhood, and I definitely foresee future noms here, my stomach sez so xD
(4)
XTreats X.
They have the best lemon bar I've had. That lemon to crust ratio. Go here if you're looking for treats on the sweet side. Pies, macarons, cookies, tarts, etc. great location.
(4)
Kimberly E.
Amazing pastries, but service needs to be clearer. We were told to sit down if eating in, but we had to take a number and get in the to-go line to even get our bill. Wish it was order at the counter and sit instead of being frustrated (French style?). On the other hand, the croissant, ham and cheese croissant, raspberry brioche, and pecan roll (made w croissant dough) are really great. Coffee is ok. Cute gift ideas as well.
(4)
Asper K.
Today, I noticed a hole in the elbow of my fave Pacifico long sleeve T-shirt. The same shirt that I was wearing years ago when my Yelp profile pic was taken (resplendent in fake jewelry) at the Goat on Wells. The same shirt co-workers mocked me for wearing every Friday for years (Hey! must be Friday, you're wearing the Pacifico shirt). On this sad day, I'm reminded by the sage words of Monty Python's Eric Idle. Always look on the bright side of life. Even in bittersweet moments (unfathomable bitterness followed by a touch of sarcastic sweetness) you must always look on the bright side of life. youtube.com/watch?v=WlBi… This advice, sung at the end of the movie Life of Brian, was at one time the third most popular song played at British funerals and was in fact sung by the surviving members of the comedy troupe at Eric Idles' funeral. And by countless other cheerfully depressed Brits whilst dealing with impossible circumstances including the crew of HMS Sheffield while their ship was sinking after being struck by an Exocet missile in 1982 in the Falklands war. (thanks wikipedia) Yes, that must of have been quite a bittersweet moment. Your ship is sinking in some bullshit ocean because some trigger happy Argentinian ahole decides he's got a point to prove. Sure that's fair. You could be watching Tottenham Hotspur complete it's amazing run to FA Cup glory in your favorite pub, or else you know, sink off the coast of wherever. So bittersweet. It's times like this that you need a little pick me up. A small cake or two. A bit of coffee to lift your spirits. A delightful exchange with a counter person. Yay. Bittersweet (the store) does indeed strive to be such a place. You only need to see how many Yelpers say it's "really cute" to understand what's on offer. I had a gingerbread cookie (shaped like I forget like what) and another cookie. I remember them both as being mediocre. I also ordered an Americano which threw my very cheerful counterperson for a loop. After asking in the back, and realizing that an Americano is expresso (they have an expresso machine) + hot water she happily made my drink. Munching on my mediocre cookie and sipping my Americano, I was reminded of Cameron Frye. Sure Ferris Bueller's day off was fun. But now, looking into the abyss. Your dad's vintage Ferrari destroyed. You have to man up. You have to face facts. Uncomfortable facts. The present is bitter. But the future might be amazing. (I'll be at Target this weekend). youtube.com/watch?v=bWui… (I remember this as the actual ending)
(3)
Hollina U.
I've given this place three chances now. First time, I had some macarons and cupcakes, of which the macarons were mediocre and the cupcakes were somewhat dry. Second time, I ordered a chocolate cake with hazelnut filling for my friend's birthday, of which the presentation was phenomenal since I requested for fresh fruit and flowers to be arranged on top. It was great presentation, but the taste was nothing special. Third time, I went to pick up an angel food cake that I specified multiple times on the phone that I wanted strawberries on top. What did I get when I went in to pick it up? No strawberries... Of which I was told it would be a 3 minute wait for them to add the strawberries... Which turned into a 10 minute wait, turning my total time in the bakery into a 17 minute debacle. I expected the most creative, beautiful strawberry display on the time it took them to slice 6 strawberries in half. Also, when the girl first brought out my strawberry less cake, she asked if I was going to eat it same day and that she had instructions for me on how to serve it. Well, she neglected to follow up with the instructions. I guess hand, cake, face. THANKS.
(2)
Janie C.
We had cake tastings at three different bakeries and Bittersweet won hands down. Not only did their cakes taste amazing, but the price was reasonable, and they didn't have to use fondant to make it look pretty. We provided the cake topper and cake stand to them ahead of time and everything arrived perfect the day of the wedding. Sometimes the cake tasting process is overwhelming and you don't know where to start or what a "normal" cake/filling/icing combination is. But Nancy was super sweet and helpful, she gave us suggestions, gave us space to try things at our own pace, checked in on us, answered all our questions. It was such a fun experience and their cakes were just sooooo good. We ended up with two flavors: 1) banana cake with dark chocoolate mousse and salted caramel drizzle and 2) hazelnut cake with vanilla bean brulee and raspberry preserves. We got so many compliments on our cake during the wedding through now (weeks after the wedding). I'm already looking forward to our one year anniversary where we get to go back and get a complimentary cake from Bittersweet. No freezer burned cake top here! P.S. - Banana cake is a good density smooshable cake for anyone who plans on smashing cake on their loved one's face. I'm going to do it every year. Muhahahahaha!
(5)
Andrea C.
We live right around the corner from Bittersweet and boy is it good. It's the perfect place to pop in if you're craving a sweet treat. They have a wide variety in offerings from macarons to cookies to cupcakes- and you can't really go wrong. I've never had anything other than deliciousness. The other nice thing is that they have a little cafe that serves food! Lots of lovely breakfast options as well as yummy lighter lunch fare. My only gripe and where they lose a star is that service tends to not be the best- not super attentive and can tend to be slow. However, it is worth it in the end because the food is delicious!
(4)
Derrick T.
I remember coming here quite a few years back when they offered the tickets into the Gourmet Festival deal by going around town and eating at places, and getting your card punched. I had no idea that a few years later, I'd be walking into the same spot all over again... but just for a morning coffee and macaroon. Service here was exceptionally friendly. Smiles all around, happy to provide advice, even on my odd-ball questions on how busy the street gets at night (since I was checking out the area for a potential restaurant build out). From what I remember a few years back, the pastries were a huge hit in my office, much loved by all. But to be fair, I don't even remember what I got anymore, so I"ll just talk about the experience this time out: Macaroon was dead on delicious, crisp outer layer, softy chewy inside with just the right amount of filling to make it perfect. Espresso was brewed just right, with a good balance of bitterness and barely sweet. Just how I like my espresso. And the waitress even brought out some water while I took care of some e-mail on my phone while I sat there sipping and nibbling. It made an excellent morning. Lots of regulars who seem to come by for a pastry breakfast with their kids or by themselves, or significant others. Verdict: All in all, a great spot with excellent pastries and great service. Looking forward to visiting again for a nice breakfast to enjoy!
(4)
Chelsea B.
The best pastries around. And ladies (or gentlemen...) grab a friend and head there for tea and treats. Makes a great lady date with your girlfriends.
(5)
A.S. V.
When your woman nearly bites your head off because it's that time of the month, you know it's time to visit Bittersweet and make an offering to appease the bitch goddess. Flourless chocolate cakes, fancy truffles, ice cream, they have it all. I never tried the pastries, because I prefer the chocolate goodies. Theres's also a pretty nice seating area to enjoy your dessert with some tea. Jolly good.
(5)
Harry S.
Ordered 2 cakes yesterday for my girlfriend's birthday on a recommendation from a friend and was very pleased. Judging by the amount of people asking me where I got the cake from, they were a definite hit.
(5)
Christian R.
This is why people live in large cities, for small place like this. it has a rotating lunch menu, delicious food, inexpensive and AMAZZING pastries and desserts. mmmm yummy! stop in for some free samples! Try the carrot jalapeo soup if they have it ! Its a small place though as far as seating so get there early!
(5)
Pamela S.
An excellent place for really great Mexican style hot chocolate. This stuff is what I grew up on in Texas, Hot Chocaolate with some spice to it, maybe they'll start serving Horchata in the summer time? One can only hope.
(5)
Katie P.
the cupcakes weren't bad, a little too moist even maybe. but what i can't stand is the rudeness. we waited for 15-20 minutes for someone - and we had an appointment. not only was she curt during our meeting, but she seemed truly disinterested. no problem, i'll take my money elsewhere.
(2)
penny h.
I just have one word for the bakery ... HEAVEN :)
(5)
Andrew H.
This place is overrated. I went in there with the hopes of enjoying a piece of chocolate cake or a chocolate cupcake. I was surprised that neither could be found in the display. Ordering is confusing -- there are no prices anywhere and the staff will just stare at you instead of asking if you need help. I settled for a couple strawberry cupcakes and two chocolate cookies. It was almost ten bucks. I was disappointed.
(2)
Mary Kate R.
oh my gosh i love bittersweet so much. it helps me get through the day. i go there for a coffee, but am way more excited about seeing which sample they have out. it always smells so amazing in there, and i havent tried something that i didnt end up loving yet. the cookies are so delicious. really good espresso drinks too. i want to get married tomorrow purely for the cake tasting....
(5)
Shmerpy S.
i could pitch a tent here and live at the pastry display, intermittently stealing heavenly bits of short bread and tarts to remain alive. such a good shop and the brunch menu, while not extensive, always leaves you with delicious or on the other hand delicious options. i recommend eating here and sampling as many amazing deserts as possible afterwards. i have loved every soup ive ever had here and the quiche is not too shabby either. all around YUM!
(5)
Chris G.
Bought our wedding cake from here and absolutely loved the entire experience! Tasting was calm, easy and Sue Ann was very friendly. Even at the tasting, with these small bites of cake and ramekins of frostings and fillings, I knew the cake was going to be superb, and it was. Excellent price point, delivery and setup was never an issue to a venue 40 miles out of the city, and we even went back to add takeaway breakfast cakes for our guests which they were able to provide beautifully wrapped and ready to go on relatively short notice. (It helped that the other table there for a tasting at the same time as us was full of awful people who demanded cake to take home to the fiancee and were very bossy, while we went together and tried our best to be patient and happy. I mean, we were engaged for goodness sake) I highly recommend them for wedding cakes and takeaways, and yes, their macaroons are also awesome!
(4)
Lisa A.
Stopped into Bittersweet with some time to kill (and a hungry tummy to fill) before a dance concert at the Theater Building Chicago down the street. I chose an incredible white chocolate tart, lined with dark chocolate, filled with mild white chocolate cream and topped with a raspberry and three ridiculously thick and enormous white chocolate curls. The pleasant gal behind the counter wrapped up my treat in a slick white box, complete with chocolate-hued ribbon. Too bad I ripped it right off and devoured the unsuspecting tart as soon as I got to the bench outside. A semi-pricey treat at $3 a pop, but definitely delicious and artfully done.
(4)
Marie L.
Everything I've tried here so far was tasty but why the attitude, counter ladies? It's like I have to woo you just to get you to take my money for your overpriced albeit delectable baked goods.
(3)
michael b.
place is amazing. almost as good as paris with similar service if you know what i mean
(5)
Vesuvi T.
I was so in the mood for a burger... but Indie Burger had closed down... so I wandered west until I found Bittersweet. I got a salad, which was good. I then tried some of the cupcakes and truffles. Now, I might've given this place the highest rating... but a couple of years ago, when visiting my brother, I went to a bakery (on Broadway, now closed) which was even better. So, although everything was good here... it suffers (slightly) from comparison. But it should also be noted that they sells gifts as well as food and treats.
(4)
Maria L.
A beautiful shop with pastries that dazzle the eye and palate. I placed a large order of cookies to give as gifts, all packaged so lovely and delicious, as well as sauces for ice cream or fruit...mmmmmmmmm. Have enjoyed breakfast and lunch on many occasions. Everything just wonderful, quiches, scones, soups, salads, sandwiches. Last summer, our daughters wedding cake - perfect! This is the place to go for beautiful pastires to impress guests or treat yourself.
(5)
Pat S.
Bittersweet cakes speak for themselves. Excellent and yummy! Wanted to share info about Nancy in this review. Nancy is the coordinator for wedding cakes and we were so impressed with her. She gave great info over the phone and we set up our wedding cake tasting. Unfortunately due to a medical situation the tasting was interrupted but Nancy was gracious and professional, acting in the best interest of the parties involved in the situation. She offered to call 911 and get the medical attention necessary despite it meaning the tasting was canceled. Then she followed up to make sure the concerned party was okay. That is a consummate professional! Thank you, Nancy!
(5)
Erin W.
Delicious cake! We, too, got married at the Mid-America Club at the top of the Aon Building. Bittersweet made our wedding cake and it was absolutely delicious! Before the wedding, we bought wedding cake take-away boxes and much to my surprise, our cake was completely gone!! The cake was so good that even our 200 guests couldn't get enough. We selected carrot cake with cream cheese dressing, and chocolate cake with mocha mouse filling. Both were moist and delicious. Incredibly well-made. If you are looking for a bakery to make a *delicious* and unique wedding cake, look no further.
(4)
Debbie L.
Absolutely LOVED the brunch here - a short menu but tasty! we got the quiche of the day and a ham/gruyere sandwich w beet salad and sweets to go. very inexpensive! This place is so charming and has bakery samples when you walk in. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Alejandra P.
Today was my little boy's birthday party. He had a Thomas the Train cake (original, I know) yet this cake was different. It was elegant, not gaudy, and it was delicious. We got a huge cake (for 35 peeps). It was vanilla (we usually get almond, but were afraid of kids allergies) with creme brule center and strawberries. DELICIOUS, not too sweet, just right. My little boy was so happy to see his favorite engine on his cake. Truly priceless!!
(5)
Tara T.
Everything I've had from Bittersweet has been amazing. The cake I ordered for my bf's law school graduation tasted as good as it looked. The fun, summer-themed cookies I brought to a kids' party were a huge hit. The cafe is a great place to go for a quiet breakfast/lunch. The only problem with Bittersweet is that I'm tempted to go there too frequently!
(5)
Pilsen C.
Never enough seating. Please, do not rush eating here, but dont take your "sweet" time either. It's Bittersweet when you do so....because then i have to take my food to go...
(2)
Esther P.
I was looking for a special and unique venue to spend a milestone birthday. After much consideration, I remembered some one had hosted their birthday at Bittersweet, and I thought that would be the perfect venue! Judy, the owner was so wonderful when we were planning for my big birthday celebration. I decided to host a cocktail party for my birthday with about 25 friends. Judy and her staff transformed the cafe and bakery into such an elegant and beautiful setting. The hor d' ouvres, pastries and the birthday cake were all so delicious and presented beautifully!!! I just provided the wine and champagne which was great because I brought in what my guests and I liked to drink. Not only was I blown away, but every single one of my guests commented on the uniqueness of the venue and the amazing transformation of the bakery for a chic cocktail party. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Judy, her staff and of course all of their delicious food and pastries. I am looking forward to the next time I am able to host another big event at Bittersweet. If you are looking for a special venue for a big celebration, then look no further than Bittersweet!
(5)
Julie W.
UPDATE! Oh. My. Goodness! My cake from Bittersweet for my grad party this past weekend was absolutely AMAZING. I had yellow cake, creme brulee custard filling, and vanilla buttercream frosting. The cake looked marvelous, so smooth and beautifully finished. Once the cake was cut, my entire family could not stop talking about how delicious the cake was! While everyone didn't have a slice, my 8 inch cake fed my party of 25 ppl, with 4 pieces still left over! Everything from my experience from the great service, presentation, to the overall taste...Bittersweet is my family's new go-to bakery!
(5)
Vicki M.
BEST WEDDING CAKE TASTING!!!!! I am getting married this summer and have tried numerous bakery's in the Chicago area and hands down this place was the BEST!!!! I am a HUGE chocolate cake fan and its hard to meet my expectations but Bittersweet did! The fudge cake is out of this world! But then again so is every other cake they offer. Customer service is also outstanding! This place is a much try!
(5)
Maria C.
All I have to say is *mouth salivating* Turtle fudge brownies.... This is the best brownie I've had, one of my employers used to buy a whole sheet of this and sell it at his restaurant, this was the popular dessert item... Every time I go there I just have that or cookies. I'm always in a hurry and it seems that everyone and their momma is in here.
(4)
Peggy C.
I love the place, however we went in for a cake tasting for a wedding cake and met with quite possibly the rudest woman on the planet. When we arrived at our appointed time, we wandered around and noticed a woman staring at us. I approached and asked if she worked there. When she realized we were who she was meeting with, she sat us at a table and rolled her eyes to another table -- right in front of us. Enough said. The cake was delicious but her behavior soured the entire process and we're still looking for a cake designer. I guess we learned where the "bitter" in the name Bittersweet comes from.
(1)
Laura G.
Staff makes one feel cheap for buying their day-old baked goods for 1/2 at the end of the day...and yes, those baked goods are sort of like marrying the brother of the hot guy. But so what?! I am the sort who ends up with the brother and relatively cheap, really good baked goods! Translation for folks who shop at Jewel (me) ...by "breakfast breads" they mean baked goods. k.
(4)
Brian H.
Great service excellent atmosphere and the cake was to die for.
(5)
David B.
We used bittersweet for our wedding cake and it was absolutely delicious. When we went to pick out our cake they gave us little pieces of all of their cakes, little cups with frosting/cream and fresh fruit for the cake filling. We then mixed and matched cakes and frosting until we found the perfect match! They also had tons of pictures to look at in order to get an idea of the type of cake you want. The bonus was that we had a cute wedding cookie waiting for us in our room after the reception! All around great!
(5)
Blanca R.
I am lucky that, Bittersweet is just around the corner from me. While I am sure their pastries and sweets are great, I have really only gone hear for breakfast and lunch. Their menu is obviously limited, but you can taste the freshness in everything they make. I have tried their ham and cheese quiche...which is delicious. The crust is so flaky and buttery. When I am in a healthy mood, I go for their delicious oat meal. The presentation is impressive. You get your oatmeal with quality fresh berries, soy milk and almonds on the side. And a bonus...when you walk in or out you can help yourself to tiny pastry sample of their liking. I do have one complaint. When I have ordered to go, or really even to eat in, service is often times very slow. But I keep thinking to myself that it's because they are making it fresh, and that's why I keep going back. There are also a 1 or 2 employees that could use happiness training.
(4)
Lauren H.
My roasted eggplant, goat cheese, and I cant remember what other vegetables sandwixh was one of the bext sandwiches I have ever had. Melted in my mouth and I can't wait to go back to t ry another. Also the fruit served with it was amazingly fresh and yummy (and I am not a big fruit eater) We had samples of some desserts--the carrot cake was amazing, the caramel apple something or other (custardy type thing), not so much. The chocolate dome I brought home, was good, but not great. I would give the desserts another try next time, though, and order something different. They also have a very nice selection of gifts.
(4)
Babs H.
I have loved every single thing I've ever had from this place. Favorites include: PB & Strawberry Jam bars Pecan Sandie cookies Apple empanadas Pumpkin crème brulee (haven't seen this since Halloween) And a friend ordered their wedding cake from here and it was to die for. Almond cake with crème brulee custard and vanilla butter cream frosting! GAH
(5)
Zac B.
BEST PECAN ROLLS IN THE WORLD!!! And for some reason I like that I was charged a quarter for my to-go cup of iced tap water. It seemed like a nod towards sustainable business practices, even if they made a few cents profit off that cup, ice, and Chicago's finest.
(5)
Darlene L.
The environment here is beautifully tweaked to cause oohs and aahs immediately upon entering this den of sweets. Pastries are gorgeous and there is something for everyone. It is easy to run up a big bill for just a few treats. The ingredients are top quality from the fresh fruits to the chocolate. The little fruit tarts look great at a dinner party. There are also a few half price items from the previous day, but they are hit and miss.Skip the bread which is dry and tasteless. Service is efficient but can be cold and all business. All in all would try it again with friends lingering over coffee and conversation .
(4)
Lois A.
I think this place is a little confusing but the food is really good. I don't like that the menu is placed right over the heads of people eating on the far end of the cafe. I was looking around for it for several minutes before we saw it. The dessert menu is also located in a place where you have to stare at people eating to see what you want. My boyfriend had the mushroom quiche for lunch today and I got the pesto chicken salad sandwich. His quiche was excellent but my sandwich could have used a little seasoning. A dash of salt would have made it A LOT better. I really liked the bread it was on. The coffee and all the little treats we tried were really good. Anything with lemon from here is excellent. The cream cheese brownies are pretty amazing. I would give them another star if the set up inside wasn't as chaotic.
(3)
Claudia D.
Our family adores the dark chocolate torte cake for birthdays.
(5)
Inna B.
After coming back from a European vacation, I was on a quest to find a croissant in Chicago that would come close to the ones I had abroad. Bittersweet is the closest I've come so far. I love coming here on weekend mornings for a coffee and a pastry. They also have really cute tarts and other desserts if you're heading to a dinner party.
(4)
Shan N.
I love Bittersweet. The treats are delicious and it is in a convenient location. I agree with others that it is a bit cramped at times, but I am happy to see a busy business--it usually means it is a good business. I do not like Bittersweet's website. It lacks the most basic information including hours and the daily rotation of cupcakes!
(4)
J M.
I LOVE the cakes and pastries here. However the customer service is horrid. I asked them to make a 40th birthday cake for my husband and from the start I wasnt impressed. She wanted me to send her a picture of what I wanted, when I told her I had no ideas and was hoping she could help me out since they are cake decorators she kind of blew me off. I made it very clear - NO FLOWERS - this is for a male (Happy Birthday John should've given it away). When I went to pick it up - black flowers everywhere!!!! I told the guy at the counter he needed to take them off and he looked at me like I had 3 heads. I asked for the manager and explained everything to her and they removed them and replaced with polka dots in grey and black. At this point it had been 30 min and I just wanted to leave. Dots are better than flowers so I was much happier. The manager didnt charge me for the cake and she even called me later that night to make sure it was OK. I appreciate that but probably will go somewhere else in the future.
(2)
Lola L.
The fact that I can customize the cake to the flavors I want already has my attention. The fact that it's inexpensive and taste so darn good is the icing on the cake. Granted we ordered the cake over the phone so no one has set foot into the bakery, seen the people who run it or that if it's even a legit store. We were going on the slice of cake a that a friend shared with us. For the heck of it, we ordered an almond cake, chocolate crème brulee custard with strawberries and vanilla butter cream frosting. Let me tell you, that cake was out of this world! Soft and moist almond flavored cake with the chocolate crème brulee would have been done the job but add the strawberries and the airy vanilla butter cream, no not frosting but butter cream, and that cake was heaven! The woman behind the counter was super sweet and threw in a few cookies when we picked up the cake. The pastries also looked yummy although we didn't have time to look since we were in such a rush to get home and devour the cake. Don't worry I made a mental note to come back and try them all for the sake of yelp!
(4)
Katrina M.
This bakery is adorable. There's a small section of the bakery for table service, and I managed to find a table for my friend and I to sit for dessert and coffee/tea. My friend had a raspberry torte, and I had a plain cupcake with a tall mound of frosting. They were okay..nothing out of this world. I would only go here if I was in the neighborhood. Customer service is wonderful though, and their prices are decent. My cupcake was 2.75, while my cup of joe was 1.75.
(3)
Nicole A.
What a beautiful little shop. I was just blown away by the gorgeous pastries they offer (and frankly should be for 3.50 a pop). I intended to purchase nothing more than the cupcake of the day but the menu was just oh - so tempting. I choose the 1/2 sandwich 1/2 salad, a combo of grilled cheese with zucchini and roasted red pepper, spinach salad with blue cheese and lemon vinaigrette dressing and a side of perfectly flavored green beans. For dessert I gravitated towards this fabulous blueberry, cream cake like pastry as well as a raspberry "thumbprint"...and had no regrets. This spot is perfect to meet friends and pretend you are in Paris for the evening...just a great get-a-way in Chicago.
(4)
Shari X.
There were so many people here that we just had to stop by. The cookies and cakes were super adorable, and we could see that it was freshly made. The concept of taking a number wasn't really clear, so we waited in line unnecessarily. When we decided to eat the espresso ganache and cranberry almond tart in the cafe, the service was super slow. The crust on both of these were too hard for the softness of the cake, so we didn't really like the complement. However, both fillings were delicious and rich. It was a cute find, but perhaps next time we'll just take it to go.
(3)
C T.
First time I went I got coffee and a warmed up pecan roll. Pecan roll was delish, coffee was excellent. Since I drink my coffee black, I noticed it was just the right strength, not too bitter, not too thick. My bf likes his coffee thick and dark as tar, so it was nice not to drink a cup that didn't stick to the roof of my mowf. Second time, I got a little pre-pack bag of chocolate chip cookies and this little mocha mousse thing. I ordered them to go because they were closing in a half hour. Cookies were so-so, crispy, not too memorable, which is why this place gets 4 of 5 stars--I've been to many an establishment just to test out their chocolate chip cookies and have found that certain places excel at such a basic item. I guess they are good for dipping in milk, coffee, etc. The mocha mousse, though, let me tell you, was deeeelicious. I'm quite the fan of sweets. It had these thick creamy chocolate shavings garnished on top that tasted wonderful and the mousse was soft and rich and mocha-y. I LIKE. And you know what? I waited two days to eat it, it was sitting TWO DAYS in my fridge in the cute little Bittersweet box they package it in, and STILL on the 2nd or 3rd day, it was so very delightful and tasty. Service is always good, the people behind the counter smiling and happy to help. They have a good little ice cream selection. I will be back for the mousses. And coffee.
(4)
Rose C.
i was so disappointed with the birthday cake i bought from bittersweet yesterday. it was my first time to the bakery and loved the looks of it when i stepped inside. looked so inviting and tasty things beckoned from every corner. but the cake! while i greatly appreciated the beautiful, festive confetti sprinkled on top and personalized writing, etc., i was SO underwhelmed by the interior! chocolate with creme brulee filling. sounds fancy and delicious, right? well, the chocolate was so dry and the filling tasted like regular vanilla filling---would never have distinguished it from a grocery store cake except for the multiple layers and the beautiful glaze on the outside. :( i was so, so sad. for a $30 6-inch cake, i would rather go somewhere that i know will taste delicious despite the high price tag (i.e. bombon). 3 stars for the yummy free samples.
(3)
Colleen C.
A very cute French-esque pastry shop when you walk inside. So far all I've had are the cakes, but they are seriously amazing! When I have a special occasion, the first place I think of for a cake in Chicago is Bittersweet. The chocolate chip cake in particular was a big hit with my family! The only complaint I have is that I've tried the iced sugar cookies, and when I had them, they were almost stale - kind of flavorless and hard. But I still need to go back and try more of their non-cake treats.
(5)
Jess J.
If you want the best cup of hot chocolate you have ever had, skip breakfast and/or lunch and come here. I say skip breakfast because this thing is so amazingly decadent and yet so delicious you cannot help yourself. One small sip means one cup later you will wonder who drank all your cocoa. The answer: you. They generally have a small daily menu, and my impression is that it may change by the day or the week. Features some sort of quiche, some soup options (maybe two), and a couple sandwich options. Though limited, everything I have tried has been great. If you're not looking to dine, they do great pastries (tartes, ganaches, the whole bit), yummy chocolates, and I am still looking for an excuse to get a custom made cake from them. Love love love. If you have an afternoon free in the week, I would suggest trying to come during a quiet time. Their seating area is small (thus it could be frantic during busy times), but it is worth it to enjoy some time there enjoying your food/drink/pastry if you have the chance to do so.
(5)
H. A.
Awful service- not that it isn't super polite, just excruciatingly slow. The food blew my mind. The menu constantly changes, but I tried the corn coup (unbelievable), the ham sandwich (also unbelievable), and one of their salads with bleu cheese/dried crans/pecans/etc. (very delicious). I also bought a pound of their small cookies for $15, which is a great price for sharing. I have to say, many of the cookies didn't quite cut it. They were not soft, not one of them. The best ones were the linzer cookies, the thumbprint, and the hazelnut balls.
(4)
Danita B.
A friend and I walked past Bittersweet this Saturday and we walked in "just to see". Yeah, seeing and then promptly devouring! As with other reviews "decadent" is definitely the word. I'm usually not a fan of frosted/iced cookies, but you really have to admire the absolutely obscene level of detail. There was a poodle cookie - complete with sparkling sugar for where the "poofs" of hair are on a poodle! And a fishnet-stockinged leg cookie with a piped garter! And yes, they tasted delicious. I also had a mini flourless chocolate cake. By far, my favorite was the chocolate macaroon. These were the flat disc type (french?) macaroons. You take two of them and sandwich them together with a bit of chocolate ganache. It was eyes-roll-back-into-your-head good. They just collapsed into chocolatey goodness in your mouth when you bit down.
(5)
M M.
I was CRAVING a cupcake. Walking in the front door eyeballed the big sign for the cupcake of the day... SOLD OUT :-( The whole purpose of going to the shop was to get a cupcake...definitely bummed. I ended up getting something else chocolatey. I loved the presentation, the china dishes, marble tables. Adorable place...I just need to go back and have a cupcake there.
(4)
Laura H.
Excuse my french, this place is a clusterf'$# every single time I've tried to go. You have to grab a number and half the time you are being pushed around and half way out the door. Maybe it's the people that go there, the employees, or maybe I've gone at the wrong times, but no thanks. I'm over it. T
(1)
S H.
This review is really about their food, not desserts. The homemade soups are OUT OF THIS WORLD. I stop by at least once a week for soup. I occasionally dine in for a meal, and for the quality of ingredients used, I think it is very affordable. I would eat here any day for lunch or a simple dinner. Cookies are hard - I prefer soft chewy ones. I've had a few desserts which have been good but not memorable. The day old baked goods section rocks - don't feel funny about buying them! I really like the atmosphere... feels like you are in a different city. The staff can be a little abrupt sometimes but you have to work with them. I've been going in for a couple of years now and know a few of them by sight. They're always friendly but very busy.
(5)
Karyn K.
Finally made my way here. Very limited lunch menu selection (2 sandwiches, 1 quiche, 1 soup, and 3 salads). However, I had the Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwich, delicious and on homemade bread! Also, had the Raspberry Lemonade cupcake. It was puny but delicious. Next time I will spend more time perusing the cases with all the delicious looking baked goods. They seem to have a nice collection of gifts if you need something for a mother to be, a new mother, books on chocolate or nice paper.
(4)
Claire Y.
I received a box of assorted chocolate truffles and too-pretty-to-eat ladybug cupcakes wrapped in Bittersweet's ribbons for Valentines' Day. Looks-wise, I was quite impressed with the amount of detail employed in decorating the cupcakes. The cupcakes were moist and not ooberly sweet - just perfectly delightful. I especially loved the surprise Boston cream-ish filling inside when i bit into one of the vanilla cupcakes. Normally, I don't care for frosting (and cupcakes in general), but I could not resist the creamy, fluffy frosting! The ladybugs sitting pretty atop were sugar cookies adorned in bright hues of pink and micro heart-shaped sprinkles. As for the truffles, they were the ultimate luxury. I particularly favored the dark chocolate/passion fruit flavor as it burst into a rich decadence of bittersweet chocolate with a touch of citrus. Mmmmm!!! I live a bit far from Bittersweet, but one of these days (when spring comes in Chicago) I will have to make a hike up north to explore its entirety.
(4)
Amy H.
My experience was a little limited. I went in for a cup of coffee and muffin to waste some time before an appointment. The cafe au lait was good and served in a huge bowl (Yes, bowl. I was so wired!!) The muffin was delish. The couple next to me ordered some soup that smelled really good and quiche. I'll have to go back for that. The cookies, tarts, and candies in the front display counter looked divine. A very cute shop with a cute cafe and reasonable prices.
(4)
Mandy M.
My boyfriend's 30th birthday party was last night and I just have to write a review about his cake! I had such a lovely experience with Zaida - she was incredibly patient and helpful, offering me lots of ideas when I couldn't make up my mind with what I wanted. I ordred the almond cake w/ creme brulee and strawberry filling and turned out amazing. It was beautiful and just what I wanted.. and delicious! I will be coming back again!
(5)
Edwina B.
For years I have frequented this bakery to buy birthday cakes and holiday pastries. So when I got engaged, my heart was set on booking Bittersweet for the wedding cake. My wedding is over a year out, but is on New Year's Eve and when researching vendors discovered that many catering companies and bakeries are not open for NYE. I wanted to book my vendors asap so I would not have to worry about them - they could get their deposits early too! I scheduled a tasting by calling and speaking with a worker - they had early hours only for tastings - nothing after the workday and I don't think there was anything immediately available for the weekend. As we approached the tasting (I had scheduled a few other tastings to compare that week), the owner Judy calls and tells me that she noticed I was getting married next year and "they don't do tastings past 6 months out". I asked if this was an accounting issue but explained that I wanted to get some commitment to booking a wedding cake vendor well in advance since I had encountered some caterers not being open. Judy replies, "we are open on NYE but we won't do a tasting...I am canceling your appointment and you will have to call and re-schedule a tasting as it gets closer to your wedding date". She was very unpleasant to me - I was heartbroken since I had come into her shop MANY times to buy cakes. Luckily, everything worked out in the end as I was able to find a great vendor for my wedding cake but trust me, I will not be spending my hard earned cash here anymore after being treated so rudely.
(1)
Jules D.
Sunday afternoon with kids in tow...no room to wedge yourself in with a shoehorn for an actual table, so we packed a nice assortment to go: iced cookies, choc. macaroons, brownies, cupcakes, parmesan biscuits, and a hazelnut cup. All were top notch! + Love the shop...lovely assortment, freshly made, tasted wonderful, etc. Really loved all the free wedding cakes samples, too. - Would have enjoyed a friendly sales girl that smiled, also a little room to breathe and maybe look at all the treats in the case. The line for a table is cumbersome and blocks a lot of the case. I am liking this more than most other pastry shops I have visited in the city.
(4)
Lil'J R.
I love this place. The sweet treats are delicious (avoid the cookies and go for the extravagant) and there's always a big plate of samples by the door, not to mention the Day Old Section with great bread, scones, muffins etc. at half the regular price. The staff are friendly and my husbands eyes almost pop out his head when they slice your bread with their super amazing bread slicer thingy. Go in the morning before heading to Belmont harbor laden down with baked goodness! I recently went to lunch with a friend and we split a bowl of soup and a sandwich. The soup was really good but I have to say I was disappointed in the sandwich (mozzarella, tomato and basil). Not much flavor, much mozzarella, and served with very salty green beans. It was pretty pricey and I'm glad we split it. I'll stick with the sweet stuff.
(4)
Emily Y.
A "ladies who lunch" sort of spot (although you can't get a martini, so I guess it falls a wee bit short). Upon walking in the door, you are hit with girlishness from floor to ceiling...to your right is a little shop filled with trinkets and beautifully decorated cookies (I salivated over the bridal ones just a leeetle bit) and to your left is the cafe. In front of you is a looming but beautiful pastry counter filled with heavenly goodness. We actually had to wait about ten minutes for a table to open up, which for a Thursday afternoon at 1:15 pm was a bit suprising. I would not venture there for a weekend lunch. To my dismay, there were lots of crying children/babies taking up much of the table space. So much for a civilized, sophisticated lunch. Luckily for me and my dining companion, most of the ill-behaved wee ones took off early into our lunch. The menu is quite limited, and posted on a chalkboard on the wall, giving the place a very European feel. Both my friend and I went for the quiche lorraine (the only other choices being a chicken liver sandwich and some sort of vegetarian sandwich; or salads). It was a very generous portion of quiche, as it should have been for $7.95. I thought the crust was to die for; my friend thought the quiche itself was a bit salty. I'm kind of a fan of salty, so I gobbled it right up. My cappucino was lovely but a bit too small for the price, I thought. My friend enjoyed her drip coffee and they were quick with the refills. Our water glasses never fell below half full (optimism, anyone?). Service was friendly and quick but didn't bug us when we wanted to sit and sip our coffees after we finished eating. I took home a little box full of mini cookies for myself and my fiance to devour that night, and we enjoyed all of them. I'd go back to try one of the tarts or cupcakes. But my bakery needs are satisfied by Swedish Bakery and the Sicilian bakery on Clark St. in A-ville...I see no need to venture south. Good place to take Mom or Grandma (or any other female relative over 40) when they come to visit. I don't think I would return for lunch on my own or with friends though...unless I was dying for some quiche, but I can't imagine that happening anytime soon.
(3)
Mikki K.
After researching and reading reviews, I was really hoping to like this place. BUT BOY WAS I DISAPPOINTED. This was easily one of the worst cupcakes I've had in the city (maybe ever). I ordered the Death by Chocolate and the Red Velvet. The only thing deathly about the chocolate was the dry, flavorless cake and disgusting whipped topping "frosting" (i.e. over-dyed blue Kool Whip). Also, where was the chocolate??? Certainly not in the sad brown excuse they called chocolate cake. The Red Velvet's cream cheese frosting was slightly better, but ultimately could not make up for the crumbly, bland mess they claimed as "cake." On top of everything, the service was pretty terrible: unpleasant employees and a completely disorganized ordering system. I would NOT return to Bittersweet. Never again.
(1)
Liz W.
This is such a cute bakery! After having dinner at Cuna's I was craving something sweet. Everything looked so good I didn't know what to get. I decided to get the mocha cupcake, sundae cupcake, and white chocolate torte. I didn't get a chance to eat the white chocolate tart =[ (long story) The sundae cupcake was awesome. The frosting was light and there was a fudge suprise in the middle. The mocha was ok. I'm not a coffee fan, but the coffee flavor wasn't overwhelming. If i'm ever in the neighborhood again I will definately be stopping there.
(4)
J U.
LOVED this place. My husband and I couldn't attend a friend's birthday party, but wanted to make sure we at least dropped off a cake (you know, so when he sliced it, he'd think, "Awe, they're awesome!' lol). Anyway, we didn't call ahead, but it was no problem because Bittersweet already had a great assortment of small cakes to choose from. We chose a German Chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache icing... to DIE for. On top of that, the baker added a cute handwritten message for us and accented it with little edible pearls... it looked and tasted incredibly gourmet. Our friends still talk about this cake. I've since gone back several times to grab reward cupcakes for my staff... they are equally in love with this shop!
(5)
Cathy L.
Bittersweet is a very apropos name for this shop - of the 2 girls at the register, one was sweet and the other was very very bitter. The raspberry and red velvet macarons are to die for but otherwise the sweets aren't that great and the variety of pastries (or breakfast breads as they call them here) is less than impressive. Don't know that it's worth coming back here solely for the $2 macarons.
(3)
A C.
Bittersweet was recommended by another artist and I am very pleased with the service. I worked with a wonderful lady Zaida that worked with me from start to finish. Provided a photo and wow was I amazed at the results when I picked up the cake (it looked just like the photo and the details, wow). Oh, it also was delicious that I'll have to hit the gym:). Also, have to thank the designer. The recipient of the cake had a smile on his face from ear to ear. Thank you Zaida and the designer for making this event over the top.
(4)
Javier Q.
Very good here. My friend had the rasberry white chocolate tart and I had chocolate cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Frosting alone is orgasmic mmm..but If u really want to focus on cupcakes Molly's cupcakes is the place to go!
(4)
Michelle E.
Thanks, Bittersweet! Because of you, I looked like a thoughtful girlfriend who knows what she's doing! I was on a mission to find a lemon tart for my boyfriend's birthday that would hold up to his strict lemon tart standards. (What can I say--when it comes to pastries and women, he's partial to tarts!) He maintains that most lemon tarts out there do not actually have any lemon flavor at all. So like a good lil yelper, I searched and searched for a bakery that would do me proud. When I called to place my order, the woman who answered the phone was very helpful and informative. She explained to me the difference between the lemon meringue tart and the lemon sabayon tart, and confirmed size and pricing for me. Usually you need to place special orders 48 hours in advance, but she assured me that they would be able to make a tart for me for the next day. Also, when I realized the next day, a few hours before I had to pick up the tart, that I had forgotten to request a "Happy Birthday" message on the tart (oops), they were able to add that for me, with no problem. The verdict: The lemon sabayon was a bit of tarty, zesty, lemony deliciousness! The tart also looked very elegant, with thin lemon zest slivers on top. Mr Man totally loved it! The pastries in the case all looked amazing, and I would like to come back to try their cakes, cookies and macaroons!
(4)
Leanne A.
Why haven't I written about Bittersweet yet?! Honestly, the first time I came here, I was so turned off by the name. Bitter repulses me, and the sweet just doesn't balance it out enough! However, the cafe is probably my favorite cafe in the city. The food is incredible. It's a different menu every day, and it's a very small selection. But I have not once had something non-incredible...gazpacho, turkey salad, eggplant soup. It seems expensive for cafe food, but it's so damn good. If it were by my work, I'd go at least twice a week. The cappuccino is incredible as well. I can't speak highly of the bakery. My deep affection for bakeries makes me a very good critic; I go to every one I've ever seen. This one doesn't measure up. It's fine, I guess. A lot of the tarts taste kind of pre-made to me. You know, like the crusts don't have that amazing homemade taste? The cookies are decent. But, the fruit scones are the best FREAKING scones I've EVER tasted. But that is the only baked item I fantasize about. Sometimes I walk here in the morning way out of my way to get two and arrive late to work. Don't waste your money on the other desserts, though.
(4)
M T.
Awesome wedding cake created for the Husband and me for our reception. Judy (owner) asked questions about our favorite desserts and presented us with great options to review (cubes of cake, different fillings and frostings). It really made a difference that she went through this exercise. We ultimately had the BEST wedding cake ever. Cheesecake, raspberries, chocolate cake - who knew? Rave reviews at our reception.
(5)
Sam S.
Follow this protocol as soon as you enter: - Turn left where the seating area is. - Scan the area. - If someone's already in line for a table: * Stand behind them. * Make yourself visible. * Stay alert. - If you're first in line: * Proceed to the middle of the seating area by the discount bread. * Stay alert. - As soon as someone gets up, gesture to get yourself noticed by: * Clearing your throat. * Taking a step forward. * Taking off your coat. * Twirling. * Combinations. When you're seated, ignore the line behind you and enjoy your space. And a hot chocolate. And quiche. And apple streusel tart. When you're done, pay at the counter, but by all means avoid eye contact with the hungry people in line.
(5)
Amina D.
The is one of my first bad reviews, and I could think of nowhere where I had the nastiest cupcake of my life. I went here while looking for something sweet to eat, the woman at the front recommended the lavender cupcake, which should have been a red flag to me in the first place, lavender should not be a flavor for anything, it's for smelling not eating! Anyway, I bit into it, and it's the first time since I tried Spam that I split out food because it tasted so bad, it was the worse cupcake ever and the frosting was more like whipped cream than real frosting, I tried some samples of other cupcakes and they were bad too. Yuck!! I only had their cupcakes and haven't been back since, and I doubt I'll ever go back there either, sorry if you can't even do cupcakes right, then you don't deserve any one's business. I did get a cute cupcake journal there though, but it's not a bookstore it's a pastry shop.
Affordable, delicious coffee and subliminal desserts. I get all of my bread from here too; yesterday's is half off!
(5)
Dave S.
I havn't had much of the baked goods, but the biscotti was fantastic. It was not too sweet, more like a well-made sconed than a cookie. The amount of anise seed they put in the biscotti is perfect. Also, try the egg salad sandwhich.
(4)
Michele A.
I had heard from a few different people that this place was very good. However, when I took family from out of town to this bakery, in hopes of wowing them with pastry delights, I was really shocked at how unexciting the food was. The pastry spread is visually stunning and they certainly have a beautiful space set up for their customers... but after ordering a huge selection of pastries (not just one or two cookies), we found nothing that tasted very good. How could this be?!!! I can think of 4 different bakeries off of the top of my head that would kick the crap out of this place. I am sad to report that this was an expensive disappointment. :(
(1)
Nicole B.
Good thing I got there early to beat the lunch rush - there was quite the line when I was leaving at 1 pm. I love the feel of the place, very cute. The coffee was hot and tasty and frequently refilled. The spinach salad with lemon vinaigrette was light, needed a few more pieces of crumbly blue though. The half turkey sandwich with Havarti cheese and caramelized onion was great, especially since the bread was so fresh. I would get chicken on your salad if you were to order it as a meal - give it a little more bulk. My "treat" for the day was a white chocolate dipped rice crispie treat - oh my god I love rice crispie treats! It was soft marshmallowy goodness.
(4)
David W.
It's tough for me to give such a non-manly place a 5. How do I explain it to my guy friends that the carrot soup was creamy yet light. And the quiche...... not too filling and yet satisfying. The wife loves the macaroons. She would kill for the macaroons. I've contemplated working there just to find out how to make the macaroons so that I can bake macaroons instead of spending 10 bucks on macaroons every other week. We get cakes there three times a year. One for my birthday, one for her birthday, and one for our anniversary. Buttercream cake from Bittersweet?? Elegant, not obnoxious.. taste wonderful, but make sure to let the cake get to room temp first... The buttercream tastes even better.
(5)
Leslie R.
The staff knows what they're doing, although during rushes they do get a little testy - however, understandably so. I love this place, though. So clean, bright, and delicious! The pastries and desserts are to die for, and they have great brunch options as well as italian sodas, coffee, and the Bittersweet hot chocolate - it's to die for. Huge display case to show off all the tasty - and gorgeous - sweets!
(5)
Margaret C.
Anywhere that can make me equally excited about a spinach salad (the lemon dressing is inexplicably delightful) and a homemade oreo cookie deserves nothing less than 5 stars.
(5)
Rico T.
I recently received a box of chocolate covered strawberries & custard filled chocolate cups. The custard cups were so cute...they looked like little tuxedo bodies, but they were just okay. Same for the strawberries. To be fair, I've never been to the bakeshop. Also, I've heard really good things about this place. I will make time in the near future to stop in, check it out, make my own selections & post a follow-up review. I'm willing to bet that I just got a bad batch or my tastebuds were in the fritz...
(2)
Sarah L.
I enjoyed a lovely cupcake from a friend (it was her birthday treat). The lovely cupcake came from Bittersweet. The cupcake reminded me of a cupcake you bring to your classroom when you're a kid. Yellow moist cake and rich chocolate frosting with rainbow sprinkles! The cupcakes were on the smallish side but it was the perfect amount. I will definitely give Bittersweet Pastry Shop a try in the near future!
We ordered our wedding cake from Bittersweet and Sue Anne was super professional and reliable. Our cake looked exactly like the picture I showed them, and they don't use fondant...it's buttercream which thrilled me b/c I'm not a fan of fondant. We had a green polka dots and got a lot more cake than we originally thought. Their prices were the lowest we had encountered, the quality was top notch, and the service was excellent. I asked for 5 dozen mini cupcakes a week or 2 before the wedding, and they accommodated me with no problems! And since we sent them a picture of our cake for their photo book, we get an anniversary cake! So if you see a white cake w/ green polka dots and black piping, with weebles for cake toppers, that's ours :) We've ended up ordering a few birthday cakes from them since our wedding too...we love Bittersweet! (here's a pic of our cake bit.ly/jJ5iWS )
(5)
cakemouth c.
Being a pastry chef, I appreciate walking into somewhere and feeling as though I'm in the safe, tasty hands of competence. This place is solid in their menu, recipes and execution. The only drawback is there's very few veg options for lunch. But everything else MORE than makes up for that. If I could marry a pastry shop, it would be this one. :)
(5)
Tony D.
The pastries are hit or miss; we loved the lemon meringue pastries but some of the other fare lacked that certain flavor that makes a pastry melt in your mouth but linger in your mouth with flavor afterwards. Why I gave it one star was the rudeness of the service--especially a large woman with orange hair. My wife was trying pick pastries to bring to our son and the counter person made a face of utter contempt at my wife who called her out at her rudeness. The counterperson felt my wife wasn't worthy of service. We're guaranteed never to come back and making sure to spread the word about the utter rudeness of the young staff who work there who obviously feel servicing you is an inconvenience to them.
(1)
Stacy Y.
The little tarts they serve are ridiculously delicious! I've tried various items from the case, but I now stick with my regular: those tasty little tarts. The white chocolate is definitely my favorite - but any of the other varieties are just as good. The mousse is so light with white chocolate shavings, a fresh raspberry in a buttery little crust. mmm... I was not at all impressed with the cookies and once I found moldy bread here. This place can become uncomfortably packed making it hard to navigate and place your order. Maybe they could reconfigure their seating arrangement?
(3)
Char Y.
We had the raspberry tart and the pear tart, and both were excellent. The store itself is clean and beautiful, a great space for relaxation.
(4)
Kimberly L.
Ordered a cake here ages ago for my friend's bridal shower. It was so lovely I gasped when I picked it up. Beautiful and elegant design...and guess what? It actually tasted good too! Good thing I don't live near this establishment because I'd end up being one of those people who needs to be transported via a crane and a team of firemen.
(5)
Amanda M.
How can you not love this place...they make the most incredible cakes...seriously!! My personal favorite is the almond cake, creme brulee and raspberry filing, vanilla icing and mounds of fresh fruit on top. It's sinful... can't go wrong with their pastries, cookies and other goodies either but must try the cake!!!
(5)
Julie T.
Okay, since wedding season is approaching, I have to stop procrastinating and share with all future brides my lovely experience with Bittersweet. I had a very specific cake design in mind and Bitterweet delivered exactly to my expectations! And, it was YUMMY...absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!! I also ordered several small pastries for my dessert table...they looked beautiful, but taste was just ok. I would have given Bittersweet 5 stars had it not been for the fact that they somehow had my credit card number wrong (even though they charged the same card the deposit months back) and called the day of the wedding to say that my card wasn't working...next time, please process the payment a few days before the wedding to avoid potential bridal panick attacks :-) That small hiccup aside, I would totally recommend Bittersweet to anyone for an absolutely delish and beautiful cake!!! Now, I will try to post a pic :-)
(4)
Puneh K.
Consistently great moist cake with a variety of options. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because they could use a better decoater. Although every cake I've gotten from there has tasted amazing, it's always looked pretty plain no matter how much I paid for decorations. It would be nice to have someone with ideas consult with you on the decorations. Other than that, a great place!
(4)
Philip B.
This place made me quit going to starbucks. The cappuccinos are REAL and way cheaper. The way a good espresso drink should be. Beautiful pastries and good looking food. I haven't had any of their lunch items, but I'm sure they are as good as I expect.
(5)
Tina B.
My husband and I were married out of state and had a chocolate mousse cake as a wedding cake. For our anniversary, I wanted to get a cake similar to what we had at our wedding. I found Bittersweet based on a Google search for the best chocolate mousse cake in Chicago. I called ahead of time to see if the cake was similar to what I was expecting. The lady on the phone was exceedingly nice and explained the cake in great detail. When I went to pick it up, I was delightfully surprised. It's completely charming shop and I was tempted to buy much more than just my cake. My husband thought this cake was actually better than what we had at our wedding. I will absolutely return to this place for desserts and I'm very excited to try to their lunch/brunch options as well.
(5)
Elizabeth N.
Amazing cakes!!!!!!! Everything else is okay. Be prepared for slow service but it is all with it.
(4)
Laura P.
Going into Bittersweet always brings on an ADHD attack, much like going into Costco, but better. There are just too many sweets to look out- from baseball and snake shaped cookies, to macaroons, half a dozen different scones, key lime pie, tarts of all flavors and sizes, gelato, peanut butter and jelly bars, cupcakes. You name it. This ADHD attack has only gotten worse since they've expanded, but we only get here about once a year so it is manageable. Bittersweet isn't just about the pastries and they serve a very nice breakfast and brunch. Their quiche is my gold standard, with a substantial pastry crust, a deep egg filling, and a sprinkling of cheese on top. It is a hefty slice and you get a choice of mixed green salad or fruit. The fruit is a kabob of small slices of kiwi, pineapple, strawberry, and cantaloupe so if you want something more, go for the salad. The guy behind us was raving about their soups, which we didn't get on a super hot Chicago day. They did have a cool cucumber soup that looked amazing. If you order a pastry you'll get it with a huge white quenelle- don't be fooled because it isn't gelato. It's a big, egg-shaped side of lightly flavored whipped cream which set off our plum with almond cream tart nicely. Getting the bill wasn't outrageous- about $30 for two drinks, entrees, and the split dessert. Waiting for their one restroom was a drag though, but you get to peek into their huge almost-industrial kitchen and watch while you wait.
(4)
Eric S.
It's Saturday morning, you've slept until 11, and your head is pounding. A "one-drink-and-home" evening turned into an epic romp through bars, clubs and possibly a White Castle. The wee hours are fuzzy. So now you need some peace, some coffee, and food that will make your weary body happy. Well, friend, Bittersweet is the place for you. You may have to wait a little while for a table, as this place has become quite popular with couples, hipsters with visiting parents, book clubs, new parents, on and on. So, spend some time admiring the pastry case and make notes on what you'll buy on the way out. Then look right of the entrance and grab a cake and/or cookie sample - it will be delicious. Next look to the far wall past the tables for the short list of menu options. There will be a soup, a quiche, salad and sandwich. Everything I've ever had there has been good, and their sides of green beans are especially tasty. I'd also recommend their bowl of cafe au lait - I'm not a coffee drinker and yet this still is one of my favorite morning beverages. Now, watch the passers-by on Belmont Ave, enjoy the sun through the windows, order a pastry as a breakfast dessert, and feel yourself revive and get ready for the day.
(5)
Jamie G.
This charming, little bakery is a nice place to find relief in the city. They have great-tasting macarons and cute holiday sugar cookies. The reason for four stars, and not five? I attempted to create a gift box with their holiday sugar cookies, and I left the cafe with an over-sized box and no bow. :(
(4)
Anne L.
A beautiful and tasteful creation! Last week was our 25th wedding anniversary; I had placed an order with another bakery I had used for 23 years. Saturday morning that bakery called and said they had dropped the cake and wouldn't be able to replace it. I called my son, Eric, whose girlfriend Lisa, uses Bittersweet frequently. He made a 3 way conference call to the owner who promised that by 5PM I would have an anniversary cake. She created a beautiful cake, fresh spray of flowers adorned the top. The cake was chocolate, with creme brulee filling and white butter cream frosting. Our anniversary dinner was aboard the dinner cruise ship the Odyssey at Navy Pier. Our dinner guests and those seated near by ooh'd and aaahh'd as the cake was wheeled to the table. The cake was not only beautiful, but the flavors blended beautifully as well, truly a taste sensation not to be forgotten. I want to thank the owner and staff for personally rescuing our anniversary dinner party. Without you it would have just been dinner. Thank you again for your hard work; you are the best of the best. Pamela Krause Glenview, IL
(5)
Jen S.
Crazy wonderful treats and such a cozy and comfortable bit of Europe here in Chicago. And of course the pastries are to die for but the daily quiches,soups and sandwiches are to die for! Great for everything to a wedding cake to a lunch or light snack!
(5)
L. R.
I'm so glad I got to discover this place! I am not a sweet's type of person, but who can resist... just take a look at the raspberrie thingies, at the strawberries, drink a coffee along, and oh... My dad's restaurant takes orders from this place and my dad tells me people love the banana bread and the muffins from this place. I love their pastries.
(5)
Marie B.
Fantastic pasteries. They have great cookie designs. From classic birthday and weddings, to local favorites: cubs and sox. Also the cookie designs change based on the season: gotta love the Bears cookies. Also the cakes are delicious. Custom ordering makes it even better and they only need two days notice!
(4)
Kyung P.
Wonderful pecan buns!!! Best ever. Melt in your mouth delicious. Heaven in your mouth. Flakey and caramelized. A little messy, but deal with it. I've had a lot of their breakfast pastries, but have never tried their cakes. They have a beautiful holiday cookie assortment - not sure how they taste though. Their scones looks good too. I heart bakeries.
(4)
Melissa B.
I lived very close to this place for over two years and never stopped in. I wish I had. The ambiance is very cute (although a tad cramped in the seating area) and I really wished I had more time to look around. All I got was a few mini cupcakes to go (I'm on a mission to find my wedding cupcakes), but I can say the service was friendly, and the place was very inviting. Perhaps I'll stop in again sometime. As to the cupcakes, one word comes to mind: forgettable. I finished mine not 30 minutes ago, and I honestly don't know what to write right now. Mine wasn't that bad, I guess. I asked the boy if he liked his creme brulee cupcake, and all he said was "meh." I may have to rewrite my review some other time, since all those cookies and pastries looked AWESOME. I'll have to stop by again, but not for cupcakes.
(3)
JK B.
This is a good place to go if you are in the mood for some European-style treats (e.g., rather than the American bakery style offerings) and you are in the Lakeview area. I think the fruit based tortes are better than the other choices (the non-fruit offerings can be rather cloying). I think there are better choices in the Chicago area (Fritz pastry, Vanille Patisserie), but this is pretty good.
(3)
Amy S.
I always walk by this place and have heard many good things about it, so I decided to stop in on a Saturday morning to pick up something for my mom's birthday. It was very busy, with people eating brunch/breakfast and then with other customers waiting to order or pick up cakes. It browsed around the shop and saw cute stationary products intermingled with decorated cookies to match the occasions (i.e. birthdays, baby shower, thank you, etc.) which is a really cute idea. The cookies also give you ideas on designs you might want on a cake. They had cheesecakes in the glass case, so I decided to purchase one of those. To my surprise, the woman who took my order didn't just pull out the one in the case (like they do at many bakeries), instead she said it would be just a couple minutes while they put the fresh berries on top. While I was waiting I sampled a piece of brownie that they had out, and drooled over the delicious looking bakery cookies. I will definitly come back here to order a cake for other occasions. I have tried a banana cream cake also, that a co-worker brought in, and it was good.
(4)
May S.
I wanted to surprise my fiance with a groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner. I called a few places and was shocked at the cost! I wanted a red velvet cake in the shape of a Bears jersey. Neither of the more expensive places told me that red velvet dries out as a sheet cake (I heard this from another bakery), they just told me the $300 price tag. Someone on theknot boards recommended Bittersweet and I called them. It was less than $100. It came as a round layer cake with red velvet and white chocolate frosting. On the top, they created a dark blue Bears jersey in what looked like fondant with his last name and our number - from far away, it looked like a real jersey! It was incredible! And it tasted awesome too!
(5)
Natalie F.
After being in Zurich for two weeks and being spoiled with Spruenglie there, I was craving pastry.....I went to Bittersweet and gave them a shot. Nope...and I don't say this to be mean. They have some wonderful pieces and selections in their shop that does remind me of Europe, however, the pastry's no. I had ordered what I thought was an apple tart but it was Pear. wonderful! I love Pear to. When I bit into it, I would have had no idea it was Pear though. They had so much glaze on it, they didn't allow for the sweet fruit flavor to come out. Which is really sad. Pastry's are delicate and full of flavor. We as Americans make the mistake that sweet is whats its all about, it should only be a little sweet with loads of natural flavor to it. The crust is sweet to. To much is sometimes to much. It was ok. Had I not known better I would have liked it more.
(2)
Nicole V.
I have had only good experiences with the baked goods, cakes and pastries I have purchased here. They have the cutest little cookies and treats! You always make an impression when you show up at a get together with some fun little sweets from here. They have some really unique alternatives to your standard icing on the cake. I bought a flour-less cake for my mom's b-day and they added an iridescent candy plate with a personalized happy birthday message written in metallic. So unique and fun....and the cake was delicious. The only reason they don't get full stars is because at times it gets extremely congested in there and they tend to not be very organized. I don't mind a wait if there is a line, but standing in a mass of people who are all in a hurry gets a little trying at times.
(4)
Mandi B.
Chef Celeste makes the best macaroons! The Passionfruit is a must, don't dare leave Bittersweet without one!
(5)
Greta P.
Um... I saw the employee drop 2 croissants on the floor. She slyly put them back with the others when she thought no one was watching. No way, man. No way!
(1)
Cali G.
Can you say yum? Lovely place to hang out and have lunch with a friend or desserts. They have great dessert ideas for you or can customize cakes according your event. Every time I come for lunch here I have their tomato soup and half a sandwich. It is so good.... They might have about 6 tables, so at times it might be a little hard to stay and enjoy what they have to offer. They have a great staff as well.. Very nice place if you have never been
(5)
Edie B.
This place has some of the best cakes, tortes, mousses, and pastries I have ever had in my life -- and that is saying something. As far as the service is concerned, let me say this: I worked at this place for a week back in 05 or '06, and its a fucking miracle they can keep any help. The owner is a tyrant who makes her managers paranoid, uptight and miserable, and the general employees spend their time feeling incompetent and terrified that they will be suddenly unemployed with no cause or warning or made the center of some teary and painful spectacle. Poor things. Anyway, I have no idea why this shop pretends at being a cafe. Go for the cakes, stay if you *must*, but, if you do, just order some hot chocolate to pass the time, and cut those kids some slack!
(5)
Sarah Z.
I recently down graded Bittersweet from four to two stars. I have ordered a few cakes here over the years, and the reviews went like this: Birthday cake for boyfriend in '01 - Excellent! Everyone loved it. Cake for Mothers Day in '05 and '06 - Pretty good. Birthday cake for Nephew in '07 - Two BIG thumbs down. Literally. Two children under the age of 10 would not eat this. I've eaten brunch/lunch here several times and the food is healthy and well proportioned (nothing supersized). The space is quaint and pretty. I used to really like this place, but the sweets just aren't that spectacular anymore.
(2)
Pamela K.
I like the pastry there. I went there many times for cakes, cupcakes, maccaroons, maccarons, brownies, cheesecakes, and more. I agree that the price is expensive. One small easter rabit cookie can cost you $4 a piece. However, I gave this four-star only to pastry but not to their service. I agee with other reviews that staff there is sweet but one is bitter! They were not quite helpful and lacked of the pastry knowledge. When I asked about the specific pastry or the basic differences between them, they could not answer my questions. They should have the proper knowledge about the product they sell. Plus, they always missed the quantity I ordered, for example, I ordered four and they gave me two.
(4)
John H.
There are some very high quality items here--the apple strudel muffins are fantastic--but I always felt like Bittersweet put a little bit too much emphasis on presentation. It was hard to leave feeling full without dropping ten bucks. I'd echo Jimmy B's comment on that note--feels more like a catering business than a bakery. A good option for the higher end cookies and cakes customers, but not the best spot for the more economical muffin/cup of coffee crowd.
(3)
Jisha A.
I ordered a birthday cake from here a few weeks back - the praises I got for it made me want to take credit for it :) Chocolate mousse with strawberries with a dark chocolate glazing. They may seem pricey but I think the cake was well worth it. They even added chocolate ribbons 'n strawberries for decor. It looked as awesome as it tasted. Really impressed. I tried one of her home speciality cookies as well, twas great ! I'll be back to see what else this place has to offer, without feeling guilty about the calories, i hope !
(5)
dottie m.
There is NOTHING bad here! The little tarts with the vanilla bean custard and strawberries are sublime, and there's nowhere else I go for fancy cakes (a PERFECT place when you have to "bring dessert"). I'll admit, I've only eaten dessert here (they have a lunch menu as well), but you can pretty much close your eyes and point to anything in the bake case, and you'll go home happy.
(5)
Kate W.
Best. Desserts. Ever. A friend gave me a slice of cake and said "you have to try this!" It was the greatest cake ever... EVER!
(5)
Andria M.
I will preface this with: "I am very picky about baked goods" This place is in my neighborhood and thought I should give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised with the ambiance upon entering; it looks like what I would expect a patisserie in France to look like (albeit, I have never been to a patisserie in France...). I ordered a pear ginger scone and a cream cheese carrot cake muffin, everything else was a little too foo foo for me. I was looking more for what another reviewer was looking for (bear claw, cinnamon roll..I guess that's not very French, though). The scone had no flavor resembling it's description, actually it really just had no flavor at all and the center was gummy. In the trash that went after 2 bites (had to be sure it wasn't worth it). So onto the cream cheese carrot muffin! That was an improvement (only had 1/2, trying to save for later); I'm still on the fence as to whether the center is gummy or just moist. All in all, I wasn't overwhelmed, but I might give them another chance...maybe for their lunch menu.
(2)
Randal B.
This is one of those joints where you take your mom or out-of-town friends for Sunday brunch. Top atmosphere, some of the best quiche in town, and some of the best coffee in town, too (and I don't say that lightly). I can't fail to mention the great pastries and sweets (be sure to check out the half-price leftovers on the left side of the counter). The only reason I don't give Bittersweet five stars is that they have the absolute worst check-out system in Chicago. Hands down, paying this place the slowest and biggest pain-in-the-butt for any place we eat. If Bittersweet would pony up for a standard credit-card system (for crissake, allow tips on cards and take Amex) and allow you to pay at your table (check-out involves taking a number or butting in line to just get your table bill) they'd probably get five stars out of me.
(4)
Amy L.
Went there this past Saturday afternoon with the hubby. It was pretty rowdy in there. We ended up just getting our dessert to go. It was wow. It has like an aroma to it when you eat it that made me want more. It was a small little tart type dessert with a strawberry on top. Good stuff. About 3 bucks each too so not the cheapest dessert..
(3)
Lori M.
Bittersweet is one of those places that I've been going to regularly since moving back from Italy in '98. I just adore their sunny savory & sweet treats, and am always thrilled with everything in their shop. For every year since, I've ordered my kids birthday cakes (Julian's favorite: Almond Cake with a Tiramisu w/ Espresso soaked Lady Fingers filling, and a Dark Chocolate Glaze) (Benjamin's favorite: Red Velvet cake with a Crème Brulee Custard, strawberries and Vanilla Buttercream frosting) from Bittersweet, and they're all very memorable. Recently, for Fat Tuesday, I stopped in and picked up King Cakes for the office - that rich brioche dough, garnished with sliced almonds and purple, green, and yellow sugar---ohhhh, what a hit. They were gone in minutes. I love to stop in to the cafe for a nice quiet lunch by myself once in a while, and ADORE their peach ginger scones in the a.m. with coffee... oh, who am I kidding, I love EVERYTHING about Bittersweet. If you like tarts and cute baker girls as much as I - be sure to stop in and try their lemon sabayon - it's to die for. Take some hot cross buns or pecan sticky rolls home for your sweety if you're in the dog house. I wish this place was open late!
(5)
Jerry M.
Good place to go to for brunch on Sat/Sun, if you don't mind the small selection of food, but I've always liked what they have (just one entree, soup, and salad). I had the spinach salad with blue cheese and can I say YUMMY?! The desserts are plentiful and yummy, but I'll admit that I'm more of a cupcake girl with tons of frosting, and they really don't have anything like this here - more like pies and cookies. But still good!
(4)
Jeanette S.
This place has some yummy and beautifully decorated treats! It's not the best in town, but certainly worth a visit.
(3)
Sue K.
Best cakes of the chocolate variety. Get one for a birthday or special occasion. Lunch cafe is also very nice and charming.
(5)
Cynthia N.
I just ordered cookies from Bittersweet for a new biz presentation for work. I am always amazed at the quality of work. I sent them a jpeg logo and they drew it on a cookie. They
(4)
Heather S.
Ack!! I can't believe I forgot to review this place! This was my dream wedding cake bakery and boy did they live up to my expectations. We had an extremely simple almond cake w/ lemon curd filling and buttercream frosting. It was and is the best wedding cake I have ever tasted. 2 years later, I ordered the same cake in a mini version for our anniversary. The shop is cute and small and has gorgeous baked goods. The cutest cookies and most beautiful tarts, etc. I have not eaten here for lunch, however.
(5)
Virginia T.
I haven't been to Bittersweet in a while....but when I was there I was very impressed. I've had coffee, cake, gelato, salad, pastries, and cookies and was not disappointed. In fact....I was so impressed that we chose Bittersweet to make our wedding cake. It was AMAZING. Lightly almond flavored cake filled with creme brulee and fresh sliced strawberries! Beautiful design, fresh flowers on top...gorgeous and delicious-albiet pricey!
(5)
ER S.
The cakes & cookies are terrific if a bit pricey. Lunch is great too... though they really don't put their heart into in on the weekends (same menu over and over and over). Checkout could be better... slow and painful at busy times.
(4)
Rachel G.
I have never been here....but I had tasted one of their wedding cakes and it was delicious. I am talking so delicious that the wedding was almost 3 years ago and I still remember how it tasted!! I guess I better get my rear in here and start tasting some of their other goodies!!
(5)
faith b.
I love coming here and getting a little treat for myself. My old boss bought me their macaroons and I was hooked! Sometimes I pick some up to give to my friends as little gifts. The packaging that they come in is very cute. I came here once to pick up my boss's birthday cake for her daughter. It looked so perfect and yummy... I just wanted to paw at it and shove it in my mouth. The only thing that would make these visits sweeter is if they hired friendlier people. I don't know why they always look so grumpy... maybe it's because they're tortured by all the yummy treats that they're not allowed to eat.
(4)
Michelle R.
I can only speak about the cakes, the beautiful yummy cakes! They just make pretty pretty cakes! the lemon curd is amazing!
(5)
Jeremy T.
Even a hot chocolate at Bittersweet is not "just a hot chocolate", it is THE hot chocolate. I don't think I even need to say anything about the dessert..
(5)
Melanie M.
Raspberry lemonade cupcakes from Bittersweet. Whenever they have it, I will drop all things to eat them. The lemon pastry I had was divine. I haven't done in a while and I should probably change that.
(4)
Penny C.
Like most of the less than stellar reviews, it isn't the food. I've been spending a few hundred dollars a year at Bittersweet for about 8 years because they have delicious interesting baked goods. I called first thing this morning to see if I could order mini scones for tomorrow afternoon. The woman on the phone was short and a little too pleased to tell me they needed 48 hours. I understand they are busy and yes, I should have called sooner, apparently 30 hours just isn't enough notice. She wasn't friendly and she didn't offer any suggestions, like "we have regular sized scones or a great cookie selection." She just didn't care. I called Bon Bon and Vanille - very helpful and friendly. Bittersweet won't miss my money, it isn't much, but the other bakeries will appreciate it.
(2)
Kimberly C.
Ooooh! Bittersweet! How could I have possibly left you off the list? This was the site of the prequel to the infamous cupcake crawl. Ms. E and I had lunch here the day before our grand day out and sampled a bit of the cake too. I have to say that the lunch I had was utterly fantastic. And the staff was wonderfully helpful and answered all of our questions about cake, cupcakes, and different flavor combinations to try. Although they only made cupcakes on the weekends, we tried one of their cake slices. The cake itself was divine. It was moist and flavorful, if not a little sweet. The mocha filling was near perfection. Unfortunately, I hated the icing. It literally tasted like butter and nothing else. The cake was visually beautiful, though. I'd be happy to go back and try some of the other icing combos with the cake and I am sure I could come up with one that worked for me. Overall they are doing desserts proud and pricewise ($1.75 w/o filling, $2.25 with filling) these cupcakes were high on the list. On a side note, they usually have bite-sized samples of cakes for walk-in customers. The carrot cake sample I tried was literally the best carrot cake I have ever had.
(4)
Erin C.
I hate this place and it's a bakery! I love bakeries! The cookies I've had here are bland and greasy. The pastries were tasteless though they looked pretty. I'm a pretty good baker myself, so i know an overuse of lard when i taste it. blech! The positives: it's cute and everything here looks very pretty. Go somewhere else if you actually want to eat something.
(1)
Sixto M.
still a great place to eat! I always want to make it here for lunch, but never get there in time: it's always packed by 12pm. Today, I went for a late lunch and had a delicious shrimp salad sandwhich. I'm glad to see their menus change, and they have a breakfast menu, then a seperate lunch menu. I didn't buy any pastries or cookies when I went, but I sure did have some of their samples (which were vanilla and chocolate cakes with buttercream, choc chip cookies, and "holiday" fudge).
(4)
Jerica W.
My friend and I were just walking down Belmont one afternoon and stumbled across this place. We decided to stop in for a cup of coffee. I had a cappuccino and a little blueberry tart and my friend had a bowl of their chilled cucumber soup. My cappuccino was great, as was my friend's soup. My tart was a little on the dry side. We went back this afternoon and each had a cup of coffee and a smore cupcake. The cupcakes were great!! We had the same server both times and she was friendly. Be advised... if you are paying with a card there is no where on the receipt to add tip, so make sure you have a few dollars with you to leave for tip. If you are looking for a cute place for a cup of coffee with a friend, I would recommend it.
(4)
Alice B.
I used Bittersweet for my wedding cake and pastries. My husband and I met with a very nice lady who guided us towards a cake we loved that was within our budget! She didn't pressure us and made us feel very comfortable. Day of the wedding, even though my reception site was quite far from the city and practically in the middle of nowhere, they delivered it on time. It was exactly what I wanted, not to mention delicious! I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Karen L.
Cute bakery/cafe that is a great place for lunch! I will have to say, though, that the menu is pretty limited. There were a couple of sandwiches and salads and soup. I ordered a half sandwich and bowl of soup. The soup changes daily, I believe, and I went when it was a carrot jalapeno. I am not usually a fan of carrot, but this was amazing! It had a really nice flavor and kick to it! The sandwich, however, was just okay. One thing was it came cold. And, looking at other tables', we noticed that their sandwiches had been "panini-ed". I would have enjoyed it way more if it was warm! It was nice that you also get a choice of a side item. My friend ordered the hot chocolate and she said it was wonderful! And, of course, I always hear the baked goods are pretty good so I would definitely go back if I had a craving for cookies or desserts.
(3)
Kat H.
wonderful pastries. I got a variety of things for a mani/pedi party i had and everybody loved what what i got. they also had good coffee and we helpful when i needed to know if there were walnuts (allergy) in any of the pastries.
(4)
Matthew T.
I went here for the first time on a whim and was pleasantly surprised by the expansive selection of items available. I had a fresh brioche and an ice coffee and was very satisfied with the quality and the price. I will have to return for the ice cream sometime seeing as they post great deals for the ice cream and other items on twitter where they can be followed at bttrswtpstryshp. I will be returning soon =)
(4)
Chelsea G.
The cupcakes range from OK to pretty good. I had a cream cheese tart once, which i think is my favorite so far. Great scones and truffles. I agree with a previous comment that the website is not very useful. I go about once a week because it's about thirty seconds from my apartment, and I always try something new (variety is definitely apparent). I like taking advantage of the samples as well, especially during Thanksgiving. Overall, nice but not the best.
(3)
Megan T.
So happy that I chose Bittersweet for my wedding cake! I highly recommend them for weddings and any sweet occasion you may have! From day one they were on top of my wedding and were so organized! They did not bug me for more than what was necessary and never asked me the same question twice! When you are a bride that is a huge relief to know you hired someone reliable. Sue Anne contacted me two weeks before the wedding and reviewed everything with me and sure enough come wedding day the cake was there more beautiful than ever! I was a very picky bride and before everyone arrived at the reception went into the room to make sure everything was just as I had laid out, I inspected the cake and there was NOT ONE bubble in the fondu it! It looked fabulous. Even more important the hazelnut cake with vanilla creme brule filling was phenomenal! I even have a special request about 3 days prior to the event for them to deliver a cupcake of the day with my cake so we could sing happy birthday to my new niece as it was her birthday that same day! As expected it was there perfect as could be! I can not say enough about this place and would even give it a extra star if it was possible! bottom line don't be disappointed....book bittersweet for your special occasion!
(5)
Katie H.
For being the only place in Chicago that carries macaroons (not the coconut kind but the delicious French kind) I give this place 5 stars. I happened to walk by while apartment hunting and squealed with delight when I saw my beloved cookies. After becoming addicted to these cookies at a French bakery in Pike Place Market, I had been searching Chicago for them. The almond and chocolate macaroons did not dissapoint. Judging from the lines, I would assume everything else is just as good. I will be back to try more.
(5)
Kurt O.
One of the nicest bakeries in town. Their chocolate and macaroons remind me of my Grandmother's baking....and she owned a Swedish bakery. I've tried to enjoy lunch there because the food is so good....but the tables are small and rather unstable and close together....it does not feel comfortable....so I usually avoid sitting and just get takeout.
(4)
Connie W.
Stopped in for the first time today. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The coffee and oatmeal raisin cookie were delicious! Looking forward to returning for lunch and more sweet treats!
(5)
Alli L.
This review is not really for eating in. We picked up a gorgeous, decadent, death-by-chocolate chocolate fudge mousse heart-shaped cake here, and it was amazing. I'm not even a huge sweets or chocolate person! (I mean, I am, but not the way some people are...) I have also heard on good authority (from someone who really knows her scones) that they have really good scones here.
(5)
Bianca J.
The white chocolate tartlet I ate here was so good I actually had a dream about it later. I don't even like white chocolate that much, but damn. Perfect buttery crust and smooth, creamy filling. They also have New Mexico style biscochitos- anise seed cookies, which were a pleasant surprise. I was also a devotee to the chocolate and orange zest flavore Cafe Chocolat- but the last time I ordered it the girl just squirted chocolate syrup in my coffee- what changed?!!
(4)
H. K.
LOVE IT!!! Apart from wonderful and elegant desserts, a very nice place for lunch (more of a grownup version). I went there with my mom, and another time with a friend, and they loved it. Really good soups and elegant salads in a very nice, kind of English tearoom setting. Their cakes are also exquisite. Wish they had more than one location (I live in the suburbs, but always try to stop by when I'm in Chicago).
(5)
Isabella W.
I was disappointed the second time back to Bittersweet. The latte was ok (despite the fact that they use Illy coffee - one of my favs). The latte just came out very lukewarm, not hot... at the very least they should have microwaved my latte if they didn't want to steam it. Also, the fruit tart while delicious was extremely difficult to eat due to its extremely hard crust. It was so messy that I lost my appetite halfway through eating the small tart. I do give it 1 star for the espresso tart (with a chocolate covered espresso bean on top) and another one for a free coupon due to an error in the specials (which said it was an orange cheesecake, but acutally had coconut). I'll probably come back if I'm craving a tart, but would prefer Bombon over this.
(2)
Lindley E.
[review is specific to cake] Worst birthday cake I've ever had. Dry, bland...heartbreaking. You get one birthday a year...the cake should be perfect. This was about as soul-less and empty as it comes. I brought my cake to work and no one went for seconds...and the folks I work with have never met a baked good they didn't like. I have tried other things there, and to my palate they have all been unremarkable. Pretty to look at, terrible to eat. Oh yeah, but the coffee was okay.
(1)
Eileen O.
Bittersweet made my wedding cake, which wasn't a cake but a croquembouche (I think I spelled that wrong). It's a french wedding cake made of many cream puffs stuck together with caramelized sugar. It was incredibly good. One of the great things about bittersweet was that I was able to order everything on the phone (with Sue Anne) and through email. I sent them photos of what I wanted it to look like and they made it gorgeous. Not having to go into the store was one less thing that I had to worry about. I also appreciate that the day before the wedding they called me and said "it's going to be 100 degrees out tomorrow... do you mind if we make two smaller ones instead of a huge pyramid since transporting that will not go well in the heat?" Honesty is so important! I'd rather have two perfect cakes than one big one that's falling apart It was more affordable than any other cake and all of my guests were falling over themselves to get more because it was so tasty! Thanks for making my wedding ever better!!
(5)
Matt R.
I really want to love Bittersweet. However, I find myself comparing many of their items to other bakeries and Bittersweet's never seem up to par. Mind you, I have never had anything bad. I also have never had anything out of this world. Still, Bittersweet is a cute place just to drop by for coffee and a snack.
(3)
Mary S.
Amazing macaroons. Passionfruit was THE best macaroon I've ever had. Everything at Bittersweet is yummy!
(5)
Paul F.
The pastries are great and the food is wonderful. But what really makes me love the place is the wait staff. My date has issues with onions and onion like things, so she ordered her sandwich with no onions, Well the darling waitress came back and told us that the artichokes in the sandwich had been marinated with onions and that where shallots in another part of my dates order, she then suggested something else. Paying this much attention is just wonderful I will be going back again, soon and often!!!
(5)
Stephanie T.
I remember coming here a few months ago, and I just fell in love with this place. I ordered 2 chocolate cupcakes that were a day old but still were good. I sat down with a friend of mine's and we couldn't help but admire the essence of Bittersweet. They offer samples of their baked goods and even bring a cup of water to your table. The staff was very quick and friendly and were kind to show me around since it was my first time going there. I love this bakery and would recommend it to anyone in the neighborhood.
(5)
Larry B.
one of, if not the best pastry shop in Chitown. wonderful desserts, cakes, breads and more. Judy the owner is a little anal, but in a good way. Not to be missed if you love sweets.
(5)
Jason D.
I don't think I'll be able to walk by this bakery any longer without stopping in for brioche. The counter staff is friendly and helpful, which helps as well. Also, croissants are supposed to be crispy and flaky on the outside. If you aren't aware of this please proceed to Bittersweet immediately.
(4)
K L.
Wonderful food in a pleasant setting. My only complaint is that the servers do not take your check. You have to wait in the (extremely long!!) cashier line, behind everyone buying cakes and pastries. It is a very frustrating way to end such a nice experience.
(4)
Y V.
This is my favorite place to get French macaroons. They offer several flavors, but I love their chocolate with ganache filling, almond with apricot buttercream, and pistachio with buttercream. I also recommend their creme brulee and mocha mousse tart. You can't go wrong with a classic dessert like creme brulee. I used to go to Bittersweet before they expanded to a cafe, so I still have to try their savory items. But I'll definitely be back to try their new menu.
(4)
Midori G.
I stumbled upon this bakery when I decided to walk West on Belmont, where I had never before ventured. The cute window display appealed to both my utterly girlie side and my sweet tooth. It was almost closing time, so everything was half off, but I don't think I would have paid full price anyway. None of the three cookies I had were incredible, but I would come back to try more when I'm in the neighborhood. Note: The bakery is technically on the North SIDE of Belmont, in case anyone was confused.
(3)
Angie T.
not wanting to venture far from home for brunch - now that the weather cooled and there were errands to run - we opted for bittersweet, just down the road. i had been in there only once before a few years ago, but never sat for a meal. boy have we been missing out! i had a bowl of roasted red pepper and potato soup and an amazing slice of ham and cheese quiche. just wow. the desserts all looked delicious too - the macaroons, the cupcakes, cookies etc, etc. even the day old half price bread and muffins looked worth giving a try. anxious to go back and try out more of their menu soon.
(4)
Tiffany K.
What a cute place! Cakes and pastries are reasonably priced and sooooo pretty. They have regular food, too, like sandwiches. Not too expensive and not just pastries and cakes! Great place.
(4)
Tricia G.
This is my favorite bakery! There cakes are AMAZING! They have these to die for Macaroons! Try them if you like something sweet! We always get our birthday cakes from here! We get the banana cake filled with vanilla creme brulee, fresh bananas and finished with a dark chocolate glaze. YUMMO! I've always wanted my wedding cake from here, but we are on a budget so I tried another bakery to save some money. We had a horrible experience with them that I ended up going back to our original choice... BITTERSWEET! Tonight we met with the cake coordinator, Sue Ann. We were about 10 minutes late because of traffic and they were still so accommodating! The nice girl first offered us coffee or tea in addition to the water they already gave us. Then we met Sue Ann and she had offered it to us again. She was very professional and didn't mind we were late. Remind you we stared with her about 6:15 and they close at 7:00. We both had our own plate with cakes and all these assortments of different options. She explained each one patiently, gave us the time we needed and checked on us a few times in between. She LISTENED TO ME! Not like the other bakery we went to. We ended up selecting a BEAUTIFUL 4 tiered cake (Butter cream) but there butter cream looks like fondant but doesn't taste like it! It's sooo smooth, does it get any better than that!?!? Sue Ann had such great pictures of there beautiful work that had our ideas going. When we were done she went over our cakes that she had asked us to mark. She asked us what was it that we liked about each cake and then she got her drawing paper out and sketched our dream cake! I have to say that this was the same price that the other bakery was! Compared to the other place, BITTERSWEET hands down won! Their professionalism, patience, listening skills has exceeding our expectations! She really got it and we can't wait for our dream cake! We have all the trust in them that it will turn out beautiful! I was searching for a very long time with all the other bakeries. No I haven't been to many others but I can tell you that Bittersweets pricing for their wedding cakes is a lot lower than some of these other places! Trust me, save yourself time!! Check them out if you haven't. You'll see what I'm talking about! We got a BEAUTIFUL cake with tax and delivery for UNDER $500! WOW! For some reason I thought it would have been a lot more for what we got! Thank you Sue Ann! Thank you!
(5)
Leah B.
Great place to decompress with your friends. good food and great location. You can make a day of it just wandering around Belmont.
(4)
Lee C.
Every pastry I've had at Bittersweet was excellent, though I wasn't impressed with the chocolate cake I ordered there. Definitely frequent this place for coffee and tarts though. And their quiche is great too. It's just two blocks from the Belmont Red Line stop.
(5)
Vinifer D.
This place would be rated 5 stars, if it weren't for their prices! OUCH! The cakes, pastries, and small treats are wonderful. However, I'm not a big fan of their truffles. I've had (and made) better truffles at a much lower cost. I ordered 2 mini tartlets and 2 truffles, and the total came to over $15!
(3)
Laura P.
Went here with some friends after seeing a show downtown. I wasn't sure if it would measure up to the Swedish Bakery, but I was pleasantly surprised! There is a cute seating area that is great to sit and relax while you eat your goodies. The sweets were very good, I even ended up taking home a box full of truffles & cookies to enjoy later. I would definitely recommend this place - especially if you need a fun, low key place to hang out, chat, and enjoy some sweets!
(4)
Rob C.
Should be on everyone's list when visiting Chicago. Pretty much, you'll probably find something that you like.
(4)
Dee W.
I love Bittersweet's cakes - one of my friends even ordered her wedding cake from Bittersweet - there's just something about them that just melts in your mouth and you feel like you're in heaven - not too thick or sweet but just perfect.
(4)
Johnny B.
Our lamb cake for Easter sucked. It was VERY dry. I will give them the benefit of the doubt, because I'm sure they had to bake these in advance to have enough ready, but it still sucked.
(2)
Ms C.
I just had my wedding a few days ago and I got my cake from Bittersweet. The cake was amazing! Not only did they make it look like I wanted it to look (Chicago Skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge on each of two tiers) but it so good! Everybody was very helpful every step of the way. Amy was also able to put in an order (at the last minute) for my mother-in-law--it was her birthday the same day as out wedding. Needless to say, the service was phenomenal and the cakes taste just as good!
(5)
Julie C.
Cute little bakery & cafe. They even have a section with cute food-related gift items. Great selection of pastries & baked items. Can't say enough about their macaroons! If you're in the area give Bittersweet a try, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
christine j.
Cute place, okay food, rude fat lady. Service was horrible. Will not go back.
(1)
Angela W.
Seriously, my FAVORITE place in the whole world. I'm going to keep this sweet and simple 1) Get the flourless chocolate mouse cake. It is to die for. 2) One of the best cheesecakes I have ever tasted (about the same caliber as Junior's) 3) Their mini tarts are just so pretty... not to mention delicious 4) Try their lunch sometime, the soup is really good 5) Repeat Donzo
(5)
Melissa K.
I went to Bittersweet for a special dessert tasting for an event we were doing at the InterContinental. The lunch we had was good, the desserts we tried were outstanding and the service was great. I'm not quite sure if I would go back for real food, but I'll definitely go back for the desserts and there coffee drinks.
(4)
Melissa R.
Bittersweet is one of my favorites of the city. It's sweet and quaint, with both their food/drinks and decor. It's a perfect place for lunch or dessert and coffee with girlfriends. The menu is limited to a couple options for sandwiches, salads, soup, and quiches but they are all delicious and reasonably priced. Also, their berry lemonade is amazing!
(5)
Jay R.
I haven't been to Zurich in a while (per the other review), but I consider a lot of their food to be top caliber. They serve some, if not THE best tortes in the city!
(5)
Isa B.
Very pretty place, good sandwiches, great desserts. The chocolate chip cookies are super crispy and delicious. I heard the soups are good too.
(4)
Ellen M.
They did the desert table for my wedding and it brought joy into the lives of all who attended. I thought it was seeing us married, but it was the chocolate-dipped strawberries and pastries in the shape of swans that caused the real bliss.
(5)
James J.
Bittersweet by far has the best baguettes in the city. FANTASTIC. I just wish there staff was more helpful. Sometimes there will be three people behind the counter all not helping me - and i am standing there alone. Also, you ask for ingredients ("Does this brownie have nuts?") and you get an answer like "I don't know." Come on.
(3)
Gfiddy F.
The food is very good, and in particular the savory pastries are excellent. Saved a lot of work cooking for all those people.
(5)
Philip S.
Having frequented Bittersweet for several years, we knew this is who we wanted to make our Wedding cake. After going to the bakery and sampling several cake flavors and fillings, we opted for tiramisu cream with a hazelnut cake. When we walked into the reception, the cake that we had designed with the Bittersweet staff, looked spectacular. The taste was unbelievable. I might be biased but the combination of tiramisu cream filling and hazelnut cake created a tremendously flavorful and moist cake. Our Wedding guests all complimented us about the cake for several days after the reception. The cake was still delicious and moist three months after the event!
(5)
Grace R.
Bittersweet's flavor is beyond compare. Many of our guests told us it was the best wedding cake they'd ever had! Bittersweet made us an amazing 3-tiered wedding cake (with 3 different flavors!) and also worked with us for additional sweets, including custom-colored macarons made just for us (they were delicious!) I would have preferred slightly more consultation on design aesthetic - unfortunately some messaging got lost in the cracks during a personnel change - but the outcome, though not what I'd originally envisioned, was still beautiful, and the taste was undeniably delicious!
(4)
Nana H.
Bittersweet is way more sweet, then bitter. After seeing it on Check Please, I went in and had a sandwich, a tart and a cookie. They were all very good,but i do think for the price the cookie should of been at least 25% larger. The cafe area feels slightly frenchie- and they sometimes have samples of things for you try! If you walk around back to the bathroom you can see all the pastry chefs and etc working, in the flour and the big machines.
(4)
Karen Z.
I ordered a birthday cake from Bittersweets and I liked it a lot! They used dark chocolate for foster, which makes the cake tasty and not too sweet. I especially like the texture of the cake. Definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Jennifer P.
The word to describe this place is "civilized." Take your mom there on Mother's Day, or have a breakfast meeting over their beautiful bowl of hot chocolate with whipped cream. Staff is friendly, sweet things are delicious, atmosphere is pretty.
(4)
Blah B.
Now this bakery is over priced and the goods aren't so good!! Yes they are perfectly decorated almost to perfect to say the least. I purchased a cake for my sister's baby shower and yes it looked so beautiful but it just wasn't that great and it was so pricey. It tasted like something I could have gotten at Costco but sadly I paid bout 9 times the value!!! Wouldn't go back unless I need a cake as a decoration!!!
(1)
Jen P.
I cannot say enough about Bittersweet and the process of choosing our wedding cake! First, the tasting itself is the most fun you'll have eating cake. We tried countless cakes, filling and icings and it was delightful!! We decided to a do a bunch of smaller six in cakes all decorated differently which allowed us to choose three different flavors. The Red Velvet with cream cheese filling/frosting was amazing but my favorite was the Almond Cake with a Mocha filling. If you love coffee, this is your cake. We also did a few cakes in a chocolate cake with white chocolate filling which was delightful and really not as rich as you'd think. I left the decorating up to the professionals after giving them ideas on what I liked. The cakes were delivered to the to the reception during the ceremony so I didn't get to see the cakes before the guest. As soon as I arrived, guests were coming up to me telling how beautiful the display looked. I was pleasantly surprised when I finally saw the end results... it was prefect!! The best part of this whole experience was how attentive and nice the staff was during the process! And pricing was much less than I planned. I would highly recommend any bride to work with this bakery.
(5)
Emy F.
Bittersweet, I used to really love you. I actually used to commute an hour from my old neighborhood just for you...almost every time I'm in Lakeview I visit you hopefully you have regained what I once loved so much and I've finally decided this is not the case. Your service has never been the best, and about a year ago I noticed your quality really started to suffer. As of lately I haven't enjoyed any of your products as much as I used to, and it's not like I found another bakery that I love. You're just not memorable or worth a trip anymore. I may still come in for a visit only when I'm in the area (if I haven' found a replacement of course), but otherwise so long.
(3)
Danielle F.
Not impressed. We came across Bittersweet while walking through the neighborhood and decided to stop and pick up a few treats. So we waited about 10 minutes to be helped, which should've been a good sign. I ordered a variety of treats, from cookies to tarts to macaroons, all of them lacked significant flavor. Honestly I was shocked, I thought I was in for the desserts of my life after reading the reviews on yelp (which I did while waiting in line). Sadly, I was let down. Oh well, maybe I burned a few calories while waiting in that sauna of a bakery!
(2)
Lisa S.
I was in the area and stopped by for some pastries to go this weekend. YUM! This places has great desserts and a cute, small cafe. Like most great bakeries, it is kind of pricey, but oh so worth it once in awhile. One thing I need to note, when I ordered a "medium" coffee to go, it was more like a size "small." Plus, when the worker asked me if I wanted room for cream, I didn't think she would leave THAT much room. I was done with that medium coffee in like 2 minutes. They do also have a section of cards and gifts. This place is very quaint and charming.
(4)
Brittney B.
My boyfriend decided to bring me home some cupcakes after I mentioned I was craving a cupcake on Twitter (points for him). He stopped here because it was close to the L and to home. I was surprised with a yellow cake cupcake with chocolate frosting and covered in sprinkles. I wasn't that impressed. The frosting was good, but the cake tasted like it was from your standard grocery store box mix. Nothing to write home about. Maybe it's because they were bought shortly before closing? I'd be up to giving them another shot and I'll update with another review when I do. Until then, not the best, not the worst.
(3)
R.A. H.
I found the selection and visual appeal of this place to be highly appreciated, but what I ordered lacked a certain something. I tried three of their shortbread cookies. The cinnamon lacked any serious cinnamon flavor. In fact, again while still a decent cookie, I had a hard time telling the difference between the chocolate and cinnamon ones. The chocolate slivers one was better and more distinctive and nicely done. I also sampled their homemade hot chocolate. The temperature was perfect but I found it to be a smidge too bitter and not smooth enough for my personal liking. I think I enjoy more of a semi sweet or milk chocolate flavor cocoa. Very much personal preference. The slightly dry aftertaste however made me hesitant to finish the drink. A fine establishment for those who truly prefer the bitter side of chocolate. My only real suggestion is to make the prices on your various display choices a little more evident.
(4)
janet t.
i was delighted that bittersweet would make cookies with my logo for a party. they were adorable! delicious, too.
(5)
Rachel B.
I'm about to move away from Lakeview and I think the one thing I'll miss the most is Bittersweet. I go in regularly for a coffee and a muffin to go, and I love this place's cute ambiance and the free samples. Muffins are great too, especially the apple muffin and sour cherry. The lunch menu is small, but consistently good. I also love that they have a selection of boxes of truffles, macaroons, holiday themed sweets, etc - perfect for bringing to someone's home for a dinner gift. The only feedback I'd give to them is they should offer a sort of "gift wrap" option where if you buy some of their unpackaged baked goods, you can have them packaged into a cute box - even for a small charge. If they did that, I'd buy their cupcakes, cookies, etc as gifts more often. Anyway, thanks Bittersweet for brightening up more mornings than I can count!
(5)
Michelangelo V.
Honest review first off dont trust all the positive reviews the food is not that good the portions are small n very expensive service is bad trust me u will be very dissappointed u can get better stuff at a corner bakery
(1)
Green B.
I was lucky enough to stop by right before they were closing. They have an amazing hot chocolate. The pastries were okay. It's a must try. I did not like that they were rushing us out of there. I would of rather not gone in, in the first place, if I cant enjoy what I bought.
We tried so many gluten free wedding cakes in the city and suburbs, and Bittersweet blew them all out of the water. Not even a scintilla of competition. They were prompt in responding, polite, helpful, and delicious. Cake tasting was the best part of getting married, but do yourself a favor and put this on your short list right now.
(5)
Brandon B.
Stopped by for lunch after finding another place closed. A little west of the main strip of dining locations but just a short walk from the El on Belmont. Small lunch menu for sandwiches but very well done and quick efficient service. The potato artichoke soup and reuben sandwich were filling and just the right size, and not overpriced. Surprisingly not too busy for a Saturday at noon in this neighborhood, but it is fairly small for dining. Massive displays of sweets of all kinds and generous sampling: the peppered glazed pecans left a kick for a while after I left! Half price bakery fragments from the day before which are a deal.
(4)
Anh N.
Was recommended by a few co-workers to try this place and even with all the hype, I was not disappointed! Bittersweet is a cute bakery on Belmont near Sheffield that also serves lunch foods and has tables inside to enjoy a meal or coffee. They have a great range of desserts, from cakes to freshly baked breads. They had cake samples out the day we came and those were absolutely delicious. I'm not a big cake fan, but their cakes are moist and the icing is light; not too sweet as well. The way to order is by taking a number and waiting for your turn. The service is a bit slow, so just be patient, especially when they're busy. If you decide to sit down, it's even slower...but if you're coming in for a leisurely visit, it's not a big deal. The staff is still gracious. A group of us tried the shortbread cookies, chocolate brioche, chocolate and almond croissant, lemon meringue tart, creme brulee tart, and hazelnut balls, which are like tea cakes with powdered sugar. Everything was great - highly recommend the chocolate brioche. Check 'em out!
(5)
Amber M.
I have finally gotten around to writing this review, even though my wedding was in November, 2013! Nancy was communicative, nice and easy to work with in selecting my wedding cake/design and it turned out beautifully. The cake was delivered all the way to Glen Ellyn on time and without any hitches. Since I am already a HUGE fan of the Almond cake here, that was my go-to, but I was able to taste and select some other layers to add. I've tasted Almond cakes at other bakeries and they do not even compare. You won't find that owerpowering flavor of almond extract, just a not too light and not too dense flavorful cake, they use real ground almonds which gives it not only the light flavor but real texture as well, never dry! For the main layer, I selected the Almond cake with raspberry preserves and creme brulee filling (my fav) second layer was a hazelnut cake with chocolate mousse filling and the last layer was a fudge cake with mocha mousse filling. Everyone at my reception was raving about the cake (as they should, cmon it's Bittersweet). It was expensive I will say (compared to other bakeries including the one included in my wedding package that was FREE but subpar) but worth every penny! I feel like some of the desserts and cookies here are hit or miss, but the cake, the cake NEVER disappoints!!!!
(5)
Van D.
Went in recently to buy a birthday cake for my son. It was a weekday morning so not very busy. Good selection of desserts on display and all looked good. Initially, a couple of college aged employees were working the front and they were friendly. A manager looking person eventually came out to help us. She did not seem overly enthusiastic to help us out and injected a few condescending comments while getting our desserts. During the checkout process, she continued to seem bothered when we added another pre-packaged item to our order. Quality of the desserts were good but definitely on the pricey side. Lots of friendly, quality, and cheaper bakeries in Chicago. Definitely don't need bakeries with attitude
(2)
Natalie Q.
This isn't quite the place I expected when looking for a bakery so this review is based on the bakery side of it. Bittersweet is a lot of things actually. It's a cafe, gift shop, and bakery. They have a wide selection of items, but sadly I haven't found what they specialize in I think. I bought a little bit of everything. Some bread, cookies, macarons, muffins, and cupcakes. None of these were amazing, just kind of typical. I think they must focus more on cakes, which did look pretty good. The macarons were probably the best but none of them were filled with any kind of jam or jelly, just a simple flavored cream filling. The cupcakes were okay and your standard sized cupcake. Just everything was okay. Nothing in the baked goods turned out to be great enough to make me go back for those items. I might go back and try some other stuff but for the price it's not one of my top options for a local bakery.
(3)
Lauren R.
My husband and I met with multiple wedding cake designers for our May 2014 wedding and Bittersweet was by far the most delicious, creative and paid the most attention to detail. We worked with Nancy, she was easy to get in contact with and provided us with honest feedback (ex: letting me know gold fondant would look too dark against rock candy). Bittersweet did an amazing job on our cake, the design was flawless. Even better, the cake tasted phenomenal! It was moist and the fruit layers contained a substantial amount of filling. I would highly recommend them! I can't wait until our anniversary so I can eat it again :)
(5)
Monique B.
Bittersweet made my amazing wedding cake. First, Nancy was great to work with. My wedding was a destination wedding and she was so accommodating for me. They offer an amazing cake tasting. Everyone at my wedding could not stop raving about how good the cake was!! They are also very reasonably priced!! I would highly recommend Bittersweet to every bride to be!
(5)
Laurie N.
Freaking loved this place, theres nothing I haven't liked. I still need to come here and try their food but their pastries are awesome!
(5)
Annie M.
I'm a huge fan of this place - but I don't like everything necessarily here. What I think they do really well are the breads, croissants, scones, flourless chocolate cakes and tarts. PLUS their dine in lunch options are nice as well. My husband introduced me to Bittersweet as he could eat one chocolate croissant after another. He compares all other chocolate croissants to Bittersweet's... and I basically stop attempting to try them elsewhere. I'm not a cookie person so I can't really rate theirs. Definitely check this place out...
(5)
Rachel N.
I have a lot of emotions abt Bittersweet, which, I guess is appropriate given its moniker. I've had lovely, luscious things from here - a flourless chocolate cake so rich it made me wish for an expandable stomach and an absent consciousness so that I could eat the entire thing in one solo sitting (serves 10-15p, clearly) - as well as a chocolate walnut torte that managed to be both airy and decadent - but, on the whole, I feel a bit like Bittersweet is an old Chicago grand dame in need of a facelift before heading to Palm Springs for the winter. It currently posits itself as a cafe/bakery - yes, you can sit and get table, but there isn't any real service. No menus, just a chalkboard - fine, I can read distance if my glasses happen to be on my face - but more problematically, no explanation that there was a chalkboard at which we should look. It's also awkward b/c you have to get up to survey the pastry selection - an activity that is worth your while, but makes for a strange coffee date if everyone is constantly popping up and down to scope out the goods. In terms of foodstuffs, obviously it's dessert centric, but the savory offerings are simple and well prepared (cauli soup, quiche, chicken pesto sando, grilled cheese, etc - the menu changes regularly) - so if you feel like easing into heavy cream and pounds of butter, it's possible to delay the inevitable w a proper meal. The real sin, aside from the service, is that they changed their macaron recipe - and let me tell you, what they just attempted to sell me as a macaron was a chocolate colored sham of a pastry - truly an abomination to my tastebuds and an assault to the fine French people who initially decided to whip almonds + egg whites + sugar into a cookie and bring Heaven to Earth. Having experienced BS macarons before, I was excited for a repeat adventure into the soft, chewy cookies sandwiching a proper buttercream or ganache filling, but the things they serve now are horribly hard and flavorless. As many of you have gathered by now, I have a lot of obstacles to overcome in my life - and I can safely say that recovering from the heartbreak of trying to bite into a presumed pillowy macaron only to have to retreat and ask for a knife is one that will take hours of therapy to undo. That said, on the whole, it remains a good place to say "eff you" to being paleo or vegan or whatever. To appreciate Bittersweet at its finest, your best bet is to hit it and quit it, rather than bother w sitting and savoring in the actual store. I've honestly never paid for myself here, but I think that whole cakes are $30+, cookies are around $2, sandwiches are under $10, and pastries are all $3-7? If you go at an off time, street parking in easy. Oh, for all you sample sluts - they give away their goods in bountiful quantities as soon as you enter. Bring your game face.
(3)
Brad L.
Service was non-existent. After waiting 5 minutes for the people ahead of us in line to be taken care of, we reached the counter and said that we would like to sit a table. They said go ahead and sit anywhere. I told them the tables needed to be cleaned, the girl started walking out like she was going to clean one and then never did!! Another few minutes later another person asked us to have a seat, I again informed the staff that there were no clean tables. This time they finally cleaned the table, but they left a big couple of crumbs in the middle of the table!! After sitting there for another 5 minutes without anyone saying a word to us, bringing water, or anything else, we left. No one seemed to notice and I'm sure they wouldn't have cared. The baked goods looked great. It's a shame they don't have a better staff. I doubt I'll go back. There is an abundance of comparable little shops in the area and I will be giving my business to friendlier and better organized shops.
(2)
Katie M.
This review is based on customer service, not based on food. I called Bittersweet a few days early to pick up some macarons for a friend. The lady on the other end of the phone was hard to understand and wasn't very pleasant. I felt she "barked" a few times at me, and seemed exasperated. When I picked up my macarons, it was the same type of service. The macarons were lovely looking (I didn't try one), but the service was lacking.
(2)
S H.
WOW, this Bakery should receive 1000 stars. 1) Their customer service is so good, they are super polite, classy and attentive. 2) Their flourless chocolate cake is SOOOOOO good, it's the best I have ever had and I have had LOTS of chocolate cakes 3) They have unique desserts that you don't see at other places 4) They always have samples that are delicious 5) They have this salmon sandwich that is SOOO good, and their Mushroom soup is beyond tasty. I LOVE this place
(5)
Anthony N.
The desserts are sweet, but the staff is bitter and misanthropic. Every time I walk in, I walk out regretting giving them another chance. Do they realize that people can notice them sneering, rolling their eyes and sighing after you ask a question?
(1)
Mike B.
I love this place! It's kinda spendy, but their flourless chocolate cake is awesome! Lemon bars are fantastic too. It's maybe the only thing that I've purchased from a bakery that my family went crazy over!
(5)
Shradha A.
Everything here was so amazing! They have samples out weekend mornings (at least) and their scone-like bread with jam, the pastries, coffee and the reason we were actually there - the cake were all really good! I'd love to return and just stock up for another party!
(5)
Joseph D.
I had walked by this place a few times as I live in the area and had a small pastry or two and thought they were pretty darn good. So when it came time to get something to bring to a friend's house for Thanksgiving, I thought of this place. Purchased a Chocolate Walnut Tort for Thanksgiving and it was a big hit. Covered in a rich chocolate ganache and filled with a delicate chocolate and walnut creamy dreamy filling, this is the kind of desert you want to keep eating but you know better as you will get a belly ache it's that good. At $36 it is a bit on the pricy side but to be honest, given that my wife bakes, we know what goes into making something a delicious as this so it is worth every penny. The price sheet claims is feeds 10 but I can tell you a small slice of this is more than enough so I'd guess it feeds more like 15 or 20 making it a good value even at $36. I had ordered in advance and told them when I was coming to get it. Thankfully it was ready as promised (that would have been a buzz kill) and the staff despite it being a huge rush, was pleasant and worked quickly to serve the 20 people in there. And for those who forgot to call ahead, they also had plenty of cakes and pies to select from that you could walk out with right there on the spot - smart move. Safe to say when I need to bring a desert somewhere and make a big impression, Bittersweet will be my go to bakery. Skip the nonsense you get a the supermarket and go for the real deal. It's worth every penny.
(4)
Suzanne P.
Bittersweet Bakery made our wedding cake, and I could not be more thrilled!! From start to finish, Nancy was a delight to work with. Our tasting was such fun, and we were so excited about what we picked out. So happy, in fact, that we used them for my Chicago Shower AND Rehearsal Dinner. All three events had our guests raving about the cakes. When I saw my wedding cake at the wedding, I was thrilled with how it came out. It was just gorgeous. And delicious to boot! I would highly recommend this to anyone throwing any sort of event. You will be well taken care of and your guests will rave!
(5)
Vineet S.
ordered a birthday cake for the first time from here. Great in quality, perfect amount of sweetness...it wasnt high on sweetness...nice soft sponge. Overall....great experience. Will definitely make this my default cake bakery. They should have better options for candles...if you're selling birthday cakes....candles are a given!
I enjoyed my treats at Bittersweet but I wasn't blown away. I had a lemon meringue tart which was good, but nothing out of the ordinary as well as a couple of orange shortbread cookies that were dry and bland to me. They have such a nice selection of treats to choose from so I will go back and hopefully my next trip will be more satisfying than my previous.
(3)
Belle L.
A fan since 2002 (or earlier) through the recommendation of a host from then-prominent restaurant. Taste best when consumed immediately. I hand carried 2 dozen of its refrigerated version to Edmonton, Canada. Bittersweet will gladly freeze when you plan ahead. Refrigerated or partially frozen, The Tarts still get adulation and compliments. I also give The Tarts as business gifts. How I wish Bittersweet is able to ship at a reasonable price. Sister loved their salads and still reminiscences about it. Bro loved the multi-sensory kiddie grilled cheese. I always indulge in the quiche of the day. A Judy Contino siting is cherished. It's exhilarating to see a neighborhood pastry shop grow from half a store into its present size. The marble tables are a treat. Service is always great. The chocolate drink has evolved throughout the years. From a cup, to a process (like the Traditional Japanese Green Tea). NOTE: Join the email list! Menu, bakery sale galore etc.
(5)
Jonathan W.
the flourless chocolate mousse cake was really good. I recommend getting the cake slices - they write the available flavors on a board. French toast (not on the board but I asked for it) was good but I wasn't wowed. Comes with pecan or apple bread. The pecan version was more of a spongy bread/cake with syrup on the side. not really what I was looking for in French toast overall shop is a bit confusing. there are lunch and cake items on chalkboards, but no menus. takes a while to get your bearings their samples aren't as good as their actual food
(4)
Michael M.
The menu is incredibly delicious, particularly the variety of croissants and scones. I highly recommend anything with chocolate chips. The service, however, leaves a bit to be desired. We waited about 20 minutes before anyone approached our table to take our order. And that was only after I walked over and told the waitress we were ready to order.
(4)
Karen M.
Bittersweet made our wedding cake. Everyone at the bakery was very nice, and the cake was awesome. We went with layers of red velvet with cream cheese frosting and vanilla with lemon sabayon. Both were amazing. We had a small number of guests with gluten allergies, and Bittersweet could not have been more accommodating. We ended up ordering another small gluten free cake at a very reasonable cost, and our gluten free guests were absolutely blown away at the quality -- all of them agreed that Bittersweet's gluten free cake was the best that they ever had.
(5)
R S B F.
In spite of having no previous experience with Bittersweet we took a gamble and went with many friends' recommendations that this was the place to order our wedding cake. Every member of the staff we dealt with during the process was more than helpful and the cake itself was . . . well, we couldn't possibly have hoped for anything better. Excellent presentation and superb taste. Scrumptious doesn't even begin to describe it.
(5)
Stephanie H.
I really wanted to like this place more. The location is great and some of their items are really tasty, but the service and prices are not. It's almost in a way... bittersweet. My first experience here was about a year and a half ago when a friend and I went for tea. The people working the counter completely ignored as and then showed us a table. Some time later a person who acted like she hated life came by with the teas (they serve Harney & Sons), teacups, saucers and hot water. When we were finished we looked for her again so we could pay. After a long wait we asked another server who said 'get your bill at the counter'. Apparently the woman who brought us tea had finished her shift and had left. We went to the counter again and after another wait were given our bill. We left the exact amount with no tip as our server had already left and no one else really helped us at all. I went by today to check out the cookies, etc as I plan to host a tea party later this fall. I tried the shortbread (ouch watch your teeth!) and then a macaroon. The salted caramel macaroon was delicious, but for $1.91 (inc. tax) each is just crazy. The macaroons at Argo Tea are $1. I might come back another time but there are other places nearby that probably treat you and your wallet better.
(3)
Katharine F.
My only complaint is that they do not have wifi. If they offered wifi, I'd probably be here every day because their food and desserts are THAT good.
(4)
Kirsten A.
Met a friend here for dishing and discussing and it was a great environment! We sat for two hours and enjoyed our yummy, warm cheddar cheese scones and tea, which was served on a gorgeously chic silver tray in tiny white pots with real tea cups! Love. And that's not to mention the tons of feet of pastry cases full of colorful, scrumptious looking treats. I just couldn't decide what looked best...the cake pops, chocolate truffles, sugar cookies, cupcakes, cakes, and mini tarts... This place is definitely a must stop if you're on Belmont!
(4)
Ben D.
Large variety and reasonable prices, great for coffee and something sweet. Creme Brulee Tart was my favorite
(4)
Racquel D.
I'm glad my sister found this place on one of her trips to Chicago. She was on a search for macaroons in Lakeview, and she hit the jackpot. The macaroons are delicious! They also have tons of dessert and coffees. Cupcakes are pretty good, too. I know they have other food there, but I haven't tried them before. I come back here when I want to take macaroons back home to Houston. The staff is also super friendly! The space itself is really cute. It's a good place to just sit and relax.
(5)
F N.
Another nice time at Bittersweet this morning. Bittersweet was my mother in law's favorite place in Chicago and I know why...we always have a pleasant time at Bittersweet. One disappointing note today was seeing that white marble tabletops were gone.
(5)
MG J.
I purchased 3 cakes yesterday. (All 3 totaled $107.) One gluten-free red velvet with "cream cheese" frosting. One gluten-free chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. One regular chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. The gluten-free red velvet cake with "cream cheese" frosting was both bad and ok. The red cake layers tasted like they made it 2 weeks in advance and just left them out on the counter. They were the most DRY crumbly cake layers that I've ever eaten in my entire life! Although on the other hand, even though the "cream cheese" frosting didn't taste like real cream cheese frosting - it was very light and very good. The chocolate frosting that was used on the gluten-free chocolate cake was the most heaviest, overly sugared/overly sweet frosting that I've ever had. It was gross! I don't understand HOW this happened since I explained to Susan that I wanted only very light frosting/filling and that I didn't want anything like heavy butter cream or heavily sugared frosting on any of my cakes. Hmmmmm.... Since I only tasted a piece of one of the cakes and the gluten-free chocolate frosting (off of that gluten-free cake) that I purchased I'll mostly judge Bittersweet on that. Gluten-free red velvet cake - ZERO stars - Horrible! Go elsewhere for something like this! Gluten-free chocolate frosting - ZERO stars! Loaf of bread for myself - 2 stars Decorations and the looks on the outside of all 3 cakes - 5 stars Customer Service over the phone (Susan) - 4 and 1/2 stars Customer Service in person when picking up the cakes - 2 stars I used Bittersweet in the past - about 10 years ago and I remember absolutely loving their cake! (Although it was a regular yellow cake and not a gluten-free cake.) I might give them another chance in the future if I just wanted to pick up a cup cake for only myself one day. But if I had to purchase 3 cakes ever again - I would definitely go to Swedish Bakery on Clark instead. Also, I had a gluten-free banana cupcake from Swirlz Cupcakes on Belden over the weekend and I do have to say THAT gluten-free item was absolutely delicious!
(2)
Mike D.
Sometimes I have to bring breakfast to work, and I always pick up a breakfast cake here when I do. I'm not the biggest sweets fan, but everyone else seems to love it. However, what I do love about this place is their sandwiches. Their "non-sweets" menu is very limited, but they serve really good food. Very fresh bread and sandwiches that taste like your mom made them. I highly recommend.
(5)
Sarah W.
We used Bittersweet Bakery for our wedding cake, and we loved it! I needed a gluten free cake, and Bittersweet has several options that are delicious - you can't even tell their cake is gluten free. We had a tasting that was really fun - we tried different combinations of cake flavors and fillings, and ultimately settled on two cakes - a small gluten free one for me and a large, regular cake for my husband and our guests. Both cakes were delicious! We requested a simple cake with just textured buttercream frosting - no fondant or anything like that. We brought some flowers to the bakery the day before the wedding, and they decorated the cake with those. It was simple, elegant and beautiful - and most important, it was exactly what we asked for. I would highly recommend Bittersweet!
(5)
Sally D.
I ordered cookies from Bittersweet for a party. They were very helpful over the phone with my order and very patient even though it was close to closing time. I picked up my order and took it to my party, only to discover that the one type cookie that I specifically requested to be included (I asked for a mix) was not included. I was close by but couldn't leave to go back to the bakery. I called Bittersweet to let them know that they didn't get my order right. They brought me 6 of cookies that didn't get included in the mix. THAT IS CUSTOMER SERVICE! I will be back for all my bakery needs. The cookies were a big hit and of course I told everyone what they did and everyone was very impressed with their customer service. The cookies were very yummy! They have a huge selection. The rest of the bakery items looked amazing. I can't wait to try something else on my next visit.
(5)
Kim R.
I loveeeee this place. Im a fan of choc cake and this place deserves five star. The decor is cute. The atmosphere is great. I havent try their coffee yet but def will.
(5)
Gabriel C.
We have been here quite a few times. The food is delicious and the desserts are just heavenly. We even had our wedding cake from here and it was great. Judy helped us through the whole process and she and her team created a gorgeous cake. The cake was more like a faux cake but the actual cake itself for the wedding was just fantastic. Thanks you bittersweet for making the a special day even better.
(5)
Mae B.
Free tasting for wedding cake!:) Nancy was friendly and approachable. Their cakes are a little expensive though. i had 2 layers for $195. I had red velvet cake with simple design. They work with Spiaggia, my wedding reception venue. Sweet!
(4)
Miss A.
They have the best French macaroons. They are so soft and fresh, passion fruit is my favorite, but they are all good. Their mini lemonmerengue tarts and little pecan tarts are delicious. My husband likes the coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate. You can taste that they use quality ingredients. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Ms B.
Amazing custom birthday cake! Excellent care and communication for my very specific request, from the moment I stepped in to the shop for the first time, for the cake tasting to the extra special birthday event day!! Nancy was a dream to work with, fabulous cake and fill flavor options, and gorgeous decorating! I truly loved the cake team's visionary craftsmanship! I will certainly be using them for all of my future cake needs :)
(5)
Priscila D.
Yum. Quaint spot. perfect for anytime... alone or on a date. I'm here today having tea time with my 5 year old. great time.
(5)
Rebecca C.
THE best flourless chocolate cake I've ever tasted anywhere. From five continents and tasting different varieties of flourless chocolate cakes in each, Bittersweet wins hands down! As a hostess gift, a Birthday cake, a holiday dessert, or for a staged celebration of something to nothing, the flourless chocolate cake wins the prize, and has won in my family for the past 10 or so years.
(5)
Antaash U.
My friend and I needed to kill some time before heading over to the Theater Wit. When we walked in, it was dessert overload (if there is such a thing). The glass cases were filled with pastries, cookies, cupcakes galore! They happened to have a buy one red velvet cupcake, get one free deal....SCORE!!! So, that was a definite yes. But how could we go in and just get one cupcake? We chose this peanut butter chocolate piece of heaven (ok, so I'm forgetting what exactly it was), but imagine a resees peanut butter cup but a more sophisticated and refined version, and that's what we had. We also had vanilla lattes that were very good. Bittersweet has a comfy vibe that welcomes you to sit down and take a load off. If you're going to enjoy their creations in house, servers will gladly bring your order to the table and continuously check on you to make sure you're not in need of anything. Everything from the sweet treats to the service was wonderful. Now, if it was just a little closer to the West Loop...
(4)
Truth I.
I had some graduation cake that was from here and it was the best cake ive had in my entire 39 years of life. It seems as red velvet.
(5)
Lauren S.
I love cake more than most things in life. I never spent any time fantasizing about dresses and flowers and all that jazz as a little girl, but I did dream about my wedding cake. We went into Bittersweet with high expectations, and we were not disappointed. Working with Nancy was a wonderful experience, and the cake tasting was definitely my favorite part of wedding planning. I wanted a simple cake that would still make a statement. No ribbons, no fondant, no 4 tier sculpture, just good cake.They gave us everything we asked for. Our guests ended up loving the cake, and we were a very happy couple.
(5)
Elise K.
This place is YUMMY! I bought breads, scones and cookies. The breads are very reasonably priced and fresh. I purchased a loaf of sourdough and a loaf of sandwich bread. Both I was pleased with. They offer to slice it for you, but if you can do it yourself as you go the bread stays fresher longer. I also recommend keeping it sealed and in the fridge. The scones and cookies were a little bit more expensive. I bought two of the cranberry-orange scones and was delighted by the flavors! I didn't like the cookies as much, I felt they were too salty and average. They sell beautiful cookies and cakes that look so good I'd be afraid to eat them. When it warms up, I'll certainly make the walk to get some fresh goodies!
(3)
Samantha K.
I stopped in here to get a small cake for a friends birthday. They were more than happy to help me pick the perfect 6" cake! Not to mention it was AH-Mazing!!!!!! It made her day and didn't cost me an arm and a leg. I look forward to the next birthday, and I'll be ordering cupcakes!
(4)
Ninihada C.
I really love their baked goods, but when we went in on a saturday morning to be seated for brunch, we were completely ignored and other people on the list took seats before we could sit. We ended up leaving and going someplace else. They should develop a better system for seating.
(3)
Jeremy W.
Nice place, classy, solid customer service, good presentation. Enjoyed the reasonable priced pastries but thought the coffee I ordered could've been better. Otherwise I'd recommend a visit if you're in the area.
(4)
Katie H.
Bittersweet is the perfect place to eat lunch or breakfast and if my wallet or waistline could afford to go here everyday, I WOULD!! in a heartbeat. Not that it's super pricey or anything. You can usually have a delicious light meal for $20 per couple or so, including a cappuccino or hot chocolate (both of which are unparalleled in this city). What's good on the menu? Uhhh... everything. They only have a few items per day and we've taken to calling ahead to see what's on the day's menu, but I've never ordered anything bad here. My favorites so far are the tomato lemon soup, the spinach salad with blue cheese and lemon vinaigrette (it sounds so simple, but believe me it's delicious), the smoked salmon sandwich with dill and capers, and the turkey sandwich with artichokes on ciabatta. For dessert, grab a chocolate macaroon to go (soooo rich, I'm satisfied by just 1 small cookie) or, if you're feeling decadent, a raspberry chocolate ganache or lemon custard tart. Their cookies, cheesecakes and pecan rolls are also great, and good for parties where you need to serve something fancy but didn't have time to bake. Bittersweet also made our wedding cake and all my family and friends still talk about it. I've ordered smaller replicas for anniversaries and graduation parties, and will keep doing so. Chocolate mousse + dark chocolate cake + fresh raspberries = best. cake. ever. Thanks Bittersweet! We'll be back!
(5)
Collin M.
Absolutely incredible desserts. Whether it's cookies, cupcakes, or dessert cakes, Bittersweet does a phenomenal job. It's a nice spot to have a quick bite and a coffee for lunch too. They have good sandwiches and salads. The service is very friendly as well.
(5)
Catherine W.
I was in Chicago for MLK weekend-oh, sub-freezing windchills, how I've missed you-and spent 50% of my time eating, or in transit to somewhere else to resume eating. All in all, an awesome time. We went to a bunch of amazing Chicago restaurants, including Portillo's (which I wish I could pack in a carry-on suitcase and take back to San Diego with me), but the most notable was Bittersweet Cafe in Lakeview. We were on our way to Theater Wit for Sketchfest and, shivering and in search of a bite, we stumbled upon this little place. Not having heard of the pastry shop before, we went in with no expectations and ended up more than pleasantly surprised. While primarily recognized for their outstanding pastries, Bittersweet's regular food was very tasty as well and served as a fantastic light dinner. (That day alone we'd eaten both a sizeable breakfast at OHOP followed immediately by a brunch of huge proportions at Bongo Room.) The Mexican hot chocolate was spicy in just the right amount, and the toasty carrot dill soup was smooth and comforting. My friend ordered a clafoutis which was deliciously moist and may very well be the New Scone in my book. My absolute favorite part: they ran out of the banana cream cupcake I'd ordered (OK, not this part), so instead, the lady gave me a Grasshopper cupcake from the next day's batch. And then she stored it for me in a makeshift cupcake holder: one of those large clear plastic drink cups with flat lids, turned upside down. Brilliant. Sprinkles better hurry up and open in SD so I can start taking my cupcakes to go.
(4)
Sandy N.
Went here for a second time, so it's about time to write a review. Both times I sat down in the cafe area for food, and left satisfied. This latest time, I ordered the vegetable fritatta panini. The fritatta was super fluffy. I also had the hot chocolate over ice, soft of a fancy chocolate milk. They add cinnamon and orange to it--definitely a fan. The pastries are beautiful in presentation, but I limited myself to a chocolate covered heart-shaped red velvet cake pastry (last time I wasn't so careful--everything tasted as good as it looked). Great for breakfast or lunch if you're in the Belmont area, wonderful pastries. Recommend!
(4)
David C.
I've used Bittersweet a few times to bring something "stand-out" as a guest at someone's home or party. The fruit tarts are always a big hit. So, if you need to make a good impression, go here. It's not cheap but it's justified. Their products are works of art. It's hard to decide what to buy when gazing at the great choices in their display case. They also have nice boxes/ribbon which helps with the presentation. The store is "cute" and I'd recommend it as an option for a guy looking for a casual date spot. But to be fair, there are often little kids typically there with Mom. So, factor that in.
(5)
Ashley M.
My boyfriend and I were taking a stroll and came across Bittersweet. It was crowded, but we really wanted to try some sweets. We made our made inside and boy were we happy we didn't let the crowds lead us otherwise! My boyfriend wanted to try a few different desserts. However, our favorite was the home-made Oreo cookie! It was to die for! The cream wasn't too sweet and the chocolate cookie part wasn't too crispy, but just right. We also had a chocolate chip cookie; now I wouldn't usually get a staple at a bakery, but this cookie just tasted better than others I've had! We also got a demi baguette that was crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside. We will definately make a return trip!
(4)
Lorelei C.
So, Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! My Friends are Cooking,Taking Care of all the Big Stuff, so I am in Charge of Bringing Dessert! I Ventured in to Bittersweet Bakery/Cafe this Morning- How Nice that was! The Minute I went inside this Lovely Cafe/Bakery it was a Great Experience, Warm, Cozy and Inviting! Lovely Place, On one side they have a Cafe Area where one could sit and enjoy a Meal or a Pastry- The other side was a Small General Store type area where you could purchase Items, Loved this part of Bittersweet, It reminded me of the General Stores out in Indiana and Michigan where I have Family- They have a Lovely Glass Case full of Cakes and Pies and other decadent Items, it was really hard for me to choose so I opted for 2 Different Items for Tomorrow, a Lemon Mousse Torte and a Flourless Chocolate Cake which I was told by the Most Helpful Bittersweet Employee was To Die For! Hey, I don't think I want to go that Far, I am 49! But, I think my Friends will be pleased and thats what matters to me. The Visual Image of the Case with the Cakes, Pies,Cookies and other things I should not have was lovely- They also have various Bread Items as well, Scones, Muffins- I saw a Chocolate Croissant that I really wanted but I did not buy-Props to me! Saving for Tomorrow! Bittersweet was a Positive Experience from Start to Finish, Customer Service, could'nt be any better, Helpful, Knowledgeable Expect to spend some Money Here, Bittersweet is not Cheap! But, to me it was worth what I paid out- Lovely, Warm, Quaint Place- I would definitely go Back to Bittersweet-
(4)
Maram K.
Came here for lunch since I needed to order a cake for my sister's birthday. Lunch was decent, and the service was incredibly friendly. Nothing more to really say about that. Ordered the cake and they have the largest selection of unique cakes, fillings and topping I've ever seen. I ordered a chocolate cake with creme brulee filling and a chocolate ganache topping for my sister, who is a super chocoholic. The filling was incredible and the cake was a bit dry. The uniqueness of it had me forgive the dryness for the most part. For a tiny cake, we spent a pretty penny.
(3)
Elissa B.
The epitome of adorable & delicious.
(5)
Majid M.
i went there yesterday to buy a couple cakes for my nieces birthday. we had around 15 kids and 7-8 adults. ended up buying 3 cakes cost me $80. cheese cake was good. peanutbutter cake was ok. third cake was custard cake that was ok as well. for the money i had better cakes in wholefood. i wouldn't buy any cake from here again. nothing special
(3)
Jennifer T.
We worked with Bittersweet for our Sept 2013 wedding. The cake was divine. And so totally edible. They were great to work with, and created not only a beautiful cake, but a very tasty one as well.
(5)
ButtaflyPoet P.
Hmm, well... this is an over indulgent sweets palace! The customers are not very considerate of other customers and they insist on making it a meeting spot like its a happy hour bar!! Kids, babies, snooty mommies and pish posh parents ordering for their next schmooze party! The staff seems to blend right in with this aura and practically ignore the common person with a simple yet curious sweet tooth. Walking into this place gave me an immediate anxiety attack. I could NOT believe the atmosphere, like rush hour on Magnificent Mile at lunch. Ridiculously unnecessarily chaotic!! All this for a sugar rush??? Hell no!! You are NOT important unless you are ordering cakes and/or dozens of bite size treats. Me ordering one piece of that and one piece of the other got me a glare, stare and a nasty look as if I was a waste of time. Well, I looked right back as if to say "kiss my entire a**" ...it's just as sweet as your selections. I have not stepped into this place since the second time. The first time was with an associate, the second time was to indulge the associate's child!! I was hoping the second time would make the first seem odd timing. NOT!! I proudly say Never...to stepping into this establishment again!!
(1)
Elaine W.
Wow. This place is really, REALLY good! Cute and cozy inside and they have truly delicious food. I'd highly recommend trying the clafoutis. Bittersweet's rendition of this classic French pastry has now converted me from a die-hard scone fan to a clafoutis lover! Now I just need to find places closer to me that have pastries as moist and delicious as those here... The food is quite excellent -- the salads are quite tasty, and the soup is notable as well. Also the Mexican hot chocolate really is the perfect drink for a cold blustery day in the city. What really sealed the deal for me here is that they're incredibly thoughtful, which you definitely don't find everywhere -- for example, we were there until pretty late, and though they were readying the place to close down, they made sure to leave just enough chocolate cake samples by the door for us each to grab one for the road!
(4)
Chad M.
great pastries obviously. excellent lunch sandwiches and soups as well. warm and friendly staff. Gets a bit crazy trying to pay at the register since its a tiny place and people are sometimes in a sugar high frenzy of cupcake purchasing... or maybe that was just me.
(4)
Lucy B.
I have visited Bittersweet many times an am always very pleased with the food, atmosphere, and servers. The shop and cafe area are sunny and clean, and very sweetly decorated. There are always fresh flowers on the tables and the menu (which changes daily) displayed on a cute chalkboard on the wall. on the other end of the space is a small retail area which offers adorable gifts, particularly for kids, and there are always some samples to try (!). I particularly like their quiche and salads for a yummy, healthy lunch, and think their day-old bread is fantastic.
(5)
Tracey H.
I really enjoyed my visit to BitterSweet, but the desserts where just okay and a bit pricey. For presentation, I give them 5 stars. Everything was beautifully crafted. I spent 10 minutes walking back and forth in front of the goodies trying to decide which ones to try (while drooling just a little bit). I finally settled on the mini crème brulee pastry, a lemon macaroon, an almond macaroon, a ginger shortbread cookie, and a molasses cookie. My reviews of these items are listed below: 1) Crème Brulee pastry: I told the server that I could not have any chocolate or caffeine. I had given up caffeine 4 days prior to my visit and did not want to have a relapse. She recommended the mini crème brulee pastry. Image my surprise when I discovered a thin layer of chocolate sauce separating the crème from the crust. Not good! They replaced this item with a raspberry topped pastry that was good. All 6-7 raspberries on top of it were sweet. The pastry underneath was well sweetened, but it didn't taste like anything other than a sugar paste. I'm a big fan of both sugar and butter, which is why I have well-padded hips, but I need to taste a little something extra like vanilla or almonds or something more than just sweetness. 2) Lemon Macaroon: It's was so cute I almost didn't want to eat it. It smelled as if it had been made with fresh lemons. The texture was perfect. Sadly, the lemon flavoring was very mild and easy to miss if you did not chew this dessert very, very slowly. 3) Almond Macaroon: This dessert smelled like almonds and had a crème filling sandwiched between two macaroon cookies. The texture was a bit gummy as if the cookies were not quite done. Also, the taste was high on sugar and low on almond flavoring. 4) Ginger Shortbread Cookie: I could not smell or taste the ginger in this cookie so either she brought me the wrong one or the ginger flavoring was overpowered by the sugar. If it was the latter, skip this version of the shortbread cookie unless you need to consume extra ginger for medicinal purposes. 5) Molasses Cookie: This one was actually my favorite of all of the desserts mostly because I could actually taste the molasses. This cookie was the only one that was big enough to hold with all 5 fingers unlike the other cookies which were only 2-fingers big. The texture can best be described as crun-chewy, which is the state of existence between crunchy and chewy. If this cookie had been a tiny bit sweeter, it would have been great. I would not make a special trip to Bitter Sweet, but if I were in the neighborhood and my sweet tooth flared up I would definitely stop by for another molasses cookie or two.
(3)
LJ S.
I stopped in today because I was in the area and the snooty service at Bittersweet, is just that, Bittersweet. The person who handled my order was annoyed that I had questions, uh..... perhaps you need not work with people if their mundane questions seem foolish to you. The decor and trinkets are very cute, my mini creme bruele tarts were sub par; it's like they filled vanilla pudding in mini pie shells and adorned them with strawberries-----with the green foliage still attached. These folks don't have to worry about me returning, with all 5000 bakeries in Chicago, I will stick to the places that treat customers with respect and courtesy.
(2)
Ali H.
Came in here with a groupon last week and got a bunch of treats to go. I won't say that I was pleased with 100% of the stuff, but probably a solid 70%. We got a slice of a peanut butter torte, a slice of a pear torte, a little bitty lemon meringue torte, a little bitty chocolate raspberry torte, a latte, and some ice cream (raspberry choco chip I think). The slices of the tortes seemed small for the money, only a few bites, but the choco peanut butter one was delish. The pear was only ok, actually I didn't like it too much. Bland crust and overly sweet filling. The mini tortes were both yummy. The latte was super bland and overly milky. Why is it so hard for some people to make a decent espresso drink? The cutest thing ever is their ice cream containers (chinese take-out boxes with a chocolate lining). I wish they had better flavors of ice cream. Everything was pretty standard and boring. If I hadn't wanted the cute take out box I would never have ordered ice cream. Everything in their little store is adorable and priced about 30% higher than if you get it elsewhere (especially the teas and honey). I'd maybe stop here again, maybe not. For exciting and delicious desserts, Julius Meinl is a consistent win in my book, and with First Slice and Angel Food nearby, I don't think I'd go out of my way to come here.
(4)
Roseann M.
My sister and I had lunch at Bittersweet today. Thanks to reviews from other Yelp'ers, I told my sister that it was possible the cafe would be packed and, if so, we would be eating somewhere else. We arrived right about 3:00pm, and there were 3 tables available. Other customers were an elderly couple, two moms and their toddlers, a single woman, and two tables of two women. A couple more tables were occupied, but they were behind me. Hey, out of sight is out of mind! It was not a loud crowd. The babies were happy and not crying or being obnoxious. We checked out the lunch menu on the chalk board, and saw that there were vegetarian items available. It took about 2 minutes before a server gave us our water, but that was okay. I ordered the soup and sandwich deal - carrot/coriander soup and grilled veggie sandwich. My sister ordered the tomato basil quiche. I stuck with water, and she had a berry lemonade, which she liked very much. The soup was delicious. It was a full-size bowl, which was surprising - I thought I'd get a cup of soup. My sister tried it, too, and she also liked it. It came with a small piece of bread. The server asked if I wanted butter, and I said no. The sandwich was very good. I had a selection for the side, and I chose the cold beet salad. It was all very good. My sister really enjoyed her quiche. While we were eating, the restaurant cleared out. By the time we were done, there were only two other tables occupied. That was why I was surprised it took us a little while to get the check. We were really full, and did not order any dessert. This, despite sitting next to the "day-old items", which looked pretty darn good. All in all, it was a good experience. It encouraged me to go again. It didn't blow me away; I did not have a food orgasm, but we enjoyed. As long as the place isn't crowded, I'd encourage people to come. I definitely wouldn't stand in line for a meal there, though. But I don't believe in standing in lines anyway. The last time I stood in line was for Star Wars, and that was a transcendent experience.
(3)
Jill P.
NO! NO!! NO!!! Bittersweet Bakery did our wedding cake in 1993. What a fantastic find back then. A small storefront business churning out some of the best Special O. cakes in Chicago. To the owner(s): Why oh why didn't you stick to your orignal concept??? Fast forward... I ordered an Italian Almond cake for my husband's birthday. Bittersweet stated they didn't know what I was talking about. In fact, the woman said, they had to Google my request but came up empty. You had to what my request??? We eventually settled on an almond coffee cake (I asked for marzipan and was informed they only use almond paste. Okay fine.) baked as a one layer cake. No icing. Only powdered sugar and candied slivered almonds pressed onto the outside. What we ended up with was a round incredibly inedible mixture of flour and something. The almonds were stale and on top, the cake was as dry as the desert and had not one ounce of almond paste. Absolutely horrible. While walking over to pick up the cake we decided to have a bite to eat. Forget about it. My brioche was dry and Mr. Man's potato cheddar quiche should have been called a potato and burnt crust pizza. Yeech. Oh and could the staff have been any LESS welcoming??? What the *%$# is up with your collective attitude??? The worst part of my saga, it was apparent the customers who had been seated at an adjacent table had spilled water, food, whatever. Water was everywhere, the tabletop full of crumbs and old food. Wouldn't ya' think that mess might have been swiftly removed as 1. It was a slip hazard and 2. The area looked plain filthy? Bittersweet is a text book example of "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Ditch the cafe concept and stick to coffee, tea, and sweets. Ditch the waitstaff/cashiers pronto or, send them to charm school. Reconfigure your mess of a floor plan. I can help you. I can really really help you. Really! You are in dire need of a major makeover. Call me. Gordon Ramsey.
(1)
Mike H.
I can only speak to my birthday red velvet cupcakes that my lovely and dear friend Maureen got me from here. I am a baker, and I am picky about anything red velvet because it is a cake I do from scratch and do very well. Bittersweet does a damn good red velvet cupcake, and thereby they get a review for those alone. Great ending to a great birthday. Thanks Bittersweet!
(4)
Donna B.
I Love this little place!!!! I went back for breakfast two weeks in a row while visiting Chicago just for the chocolate croissants and scones! It reminds me of the simple breakfasts we had in France. We also tried the French macaroons which were good but not like the ones at Vanille Patisserie down the street. Their sweet treats and cakes looked good and smelled heavenly!
(3)
Ngoc T.
If you want a place that takes you back to Paris, come here. Atmosphere was very European, classy and elegant. Pastries truly have reputations and everything in there is VERY well made, crafted, designed and cared for. I'm a poor college student, so I only ordered 3 lemon bars. But it was the best lemon bars I have ever tried in my life. And that's just lemon bars! What about the rest of the pastry shop??? I have to admit. It is pricey. But considering it is located in Lakeview, and just how classy and elegant this place is, it is not surprising. But I'm a college student, so I'm sure you can figure something out to afford 3 lemon bars :)
(5)
Pam N.
Worst macarons ever. My man brought me some. I had to dump him! Thanks, Bittersweet-- thanks a fucking lot.
(1)
S. S.
I came in today to use my Groupon. Yes it's the last day and yes I shouldn't have waited but the staff were not very friendly and never once smiled. The pastries are nicely decorated but they tasted OK, (ie: chocolate macaroons were dry not as moist as I've had at other places). Also they seemed stressed out. I felt bad for a couple customers who were dining in, they had to wait in line and grab a ticket just to get their checks! I don't think it's worth the trek or to buy another groupon from here unless you live within walking distance of the place and want a place to pick up a few pastries. Overall it was ok but I think there are a lot better cafes/pastry shops in the Chicago.
(2)
Laura K.
Bittersweet is not at all bitter and very sweet! I had the half sandwich/soup deal combo for dinner last night. The celery soup was hearty and the turkey/havarti/carmelized onion sandwich was bursting with flavor. I had the red velvet cupcake for dessert and got a 2-for-1 deal - sweet! My husband had the raspberry chocolate chip ice cream, and it was just wonderful. And its such a lovely little shop that reminds me of Europe.
(5)
Hallie L.
Happened upon this place while wandering around Lakeview with a friend after a late lunch. We were searching for dessert, and oh boy, we found it! The place is perfectly charming, classy but unpretentious, just as a bakery/cafe should be. I loved checking out the section of the cafe where there's chocolate, mugs, stationary, random things for sale. Very cute. I found some French lollipops, which made me squeal with delight. My friend and I both got kid-sized ice creams (only $1.50!). When we both asked for cups, the woman showed us the 'cup' and said, "It's lined with chocolate on the inside. Is that alright?" Was that alright?! More squeals of delight. The cup, by the way, was a Chinese take out carton. ADORABLE. After I finished the ice cream, I feverishly scraped at the sides of the carton, chipping away at the chocolate. They have some lovely flavours of both ice cream and sorbet. I had the coconut while my friend had something with star anise in it? There was also strawberry rhubarb. After we had our ice creams, we browsed around the pastry section for a little while. MACARONS!?! Third squeal of delight. Having tasted Pierre Herme macarons (the Holy Grail of macarons, IMHO) in London a few months ago, I've been dying to find macarons in the US that would match the Parisian ones in taste and quality. It's been a no-go so far, even in Manhattan. So the quest continues. I asked for one of each flavour (almond, chocolate, raspberry, and lemon). Each one cost around $1.50, I believe? The almond and chocolate ones were priced by weight, which was weird, but I believe they came out to a similar price. So far, so good - much cheaper than the ones in NYC, which weren't fabulous enough to warrant the $2.50 price tag anyways. Of the four flavours that I tried, I'd say I enjoyed the lemon and the chocolate the most. The raspberry got a little bit crushed during my commute on the CTA (tears!). I really, really liked the fresh taste of the lemon. The almond macaron I had was a bit stale and mediocre. My general thoughts? Pretty decent for the price! All in all, I thought this was a lovely bakery. There were cupcake samples at the door, and they were delicious! I'm looking forward to revisiting and trying more baked delights!
(4)
Mandi G.
Half-price day old bread! Great cafe but sloooooooow service. Still worth going in.
(3)
Amanda S.
tarts, cakes, loaves, cookies, and enough goodies to keep both kiddies and adults satiated. i've gotten every kind of milestone cake from bittersweet:: the graduation cake, the religious-occasion celebration cake, countless birthday cakes, and who knows, maybe one day..a wedding cake. nothing is ever too sweet and the cakes are fluffy and hold up days after your event. the staff is professional and the shop is utterly adorable. the tablespace in the cafe can get a little crowded and noisy, and it's a little annoying when tons of kids are moving about as it's a fairly small space, but the free samples and novelty gifts keep your mind off that while you wait to be helped or for your finished product to emerge from the kitchen. if you're looking for a cake that's sure to please (almost) everyone at your celebration, i promise you can't go wrong with bittersweet.
(4)
Alison S.
Great selection of desserts and gifts! Nice mix of European pastries (macarons, croissants) and sugary American classics (frosted cookies, chocolate cupcakes, Rice Krispie treats). Great place to pick up something to bring to the office or a party. Delicious coffee as well.
(4)
Amy L.
Please note this review is based only on my to-go selections..maybe I just had bad luck..but onto the review: First off, DO NOT buy their boxed cookies. I picked up a box to give as a gift, because it was already wrapped prettily and looked amazing. I asked the girl behind the counter if they were boxed that same day- she told me no (thank you for the honesty), but she also said that they are boxed earlier but are just as fresh as the cookies behind the counter. Oh man, was she wrong. When I got to my destination and my friend opened it to try it (she's like me and can't see sweets without eating them) she had it and I tried one-and they were ROCK HARD-mind you this cookie was a macaron, so it should have a crispy shell and then be chewy and delicious. Nope. Hard all the way through until you reached the filling, which was sweet (duh). and then the other half was rock solid too. Let me say, it's a good thing this is a particularly close friend of mine, otherwise I'd be pretty freaking embarrassed for having given this box of duds. I do want to note that their samples by the door were amazing! The lemon square and the mini cupcake-thing were both very soft and luscious-exactly what I was expecting from the rest of their goods. Sadly that was not the case. I assume that's what is generally the case (otherwise it would not have such great reviews) but I don't plan on risking it again to find out.
(2)
Jennifer H.
We got our wedding cake here, and it was very beautiful, tasty, and all around a hit at our wedding. The tasting was nice and flexible, we left full of cake and they even gave us some soup to round out our "dinner"... they were very flexible with our changing numbers, and delivered the cake on time. It was on beautiful display when I arrived at the venue, and it tasted great! We picked out hazelnut cake with vanilla creme brulee filling and fresh strawberries--everyone loved it! The only bummer was in the hustle my cake topper was forgotten, but it didn't ruin my day or my happy tastebuds.
(5)
Lindsay A.
As far as pastries go, this place is pretty decent! However, the atmosphere almost always is enough to make me steer clear. I know part of what makes lakeview so lovely is that is a family neighborhood but really moms? Do you HAVE to bring those obnoxious strollers and 3 year old EVERYWHERE? Because of the lack of space at this bakery, the sit down area for eating is cramped and often overcrowded with annoying kids who's moms would rather sit tea with their gal pals then discipline the kids that are running past your table and bumping your plates. I guess that's not bittersweet's fault though is it? Overall: food grade- A Atmosphere C-
(3)
Erika G.
I wish I liked sweets more, this would definitely be Nirvana. What it is, is a cute, charming European style cafe. The salads looked delicious and HUGE - would definitely be worth going back for that. The desserts . . . works of art. What was weird, was the servers were sort of tentative, awkward and shy. Esp. about putting plates on small, overloaded tables. Seems if they're going to work in a place like this, they should be facile with this sort of thing.
(4)
Dallas F.
Yesterday I attempted to have lunch at Bittersweet, but they were super busy. There was no way to make a distinction between customers who wanted to sit at a table to dine and customers who were there to order pastries. While waiting for someone to help us we nibbled on a few of the samples offered on a table. Whatever these little one bite treats were, they were amazing! We were finally told there would be a significant wait to sit and eat so we opted to head somewhere else. When walking back I really started craving more sweets since I had the tiniest of nibbles before. I stopped back in and ordered a few things. I ordered the cupcake of the day which was Caramel Apple, few apricot linzer cookies, a Halloween sugar cookie, and two of "yesterdays cupcake" which I don't remember what the name of it was, but I do know it had a gummy worm sticking out of the middle. The Caramel Apple cupcake, the actual cake part, was very good and had baked apples in the center.The frosting however was disgusting. The consistency was weird, almost butter but almost light like whipped cream and it had absolutely no flavor and possibly no sugar. That made me sad . The apricot linzer was A-Ok, but Ive had better. The "yesterday's cupcake", which were two for the price of one, were probably the best but I only had a sampling (but I did steal the gummy worms from both of them before giving them to my friends, so they had a cupcake with a hole in the middle). They were dark chocolate with a chocolate frosting and some dark chocolate shavings on top. Super decadent and sugar was definitely in that frosting. After tasting a very small bite, I went into sugar overdrive. I did not have the Halloween sugar cookies so I cant comment on the taste but they were well decorated. So overall, it was not bad and not too expensive. I just wish my Caramel Apple cupcake came through with the caramel part in the frosting.
(3)
Rinko E.
We ordered our awesome wedding cake from Bittersweet. Ms. Sue Anne was super professional and reliable. (The cake looked awesome and tasted awesome) I love their little tarts- my favorite was Espresso. I sometimes have a light lunch here too. Their soup, sandwiches, and coffee are all awesomely European (I have never been to Europe so I am just using my imagination). When I am at Bittersweet, I think time goes by so slowly and nicely. An ultimate neighborhood gem. I hope they will stay in business for a long time. :)
(5)
Anna G.
This little bakery is so cute! All the stuff looks delicious! I tried the pink princess cupcakes which were not that great! However, I did love the salted caramel macaroons and lemon bars! I will be back!
(4)
Emily W.
15 of my guilty pleasures can be found at Bittersweet. 1. Mini pecan pie 2. Chocolate covered strawberries (thick coat of chocolate too) 3. Caramel dipped in chocolate on a stick 4. Cute selection of toys and little knick knacks (I got a mini donut eraser!) 5. Ceramic Painted Cupcakes (bought one to put my rings in!) 6. ADORABLE greeting cards (got one that say Hey there cupcake and one that said Hello with a little sketch of a cupcake) 7. Birthday candles (all different types, including those little ballerina ones that were always on my birthday cakes as a kid) 8. Baby t shirts 9. Harney & Sons tea tins 10. Lollipops 11. Stationery 12. Free samples near the door 13. Mexican coca cola 14. Perrier 15. Baking cookbooks 16. Vanilla ice cream Love this place. Just love it!! All you people with a sweet tooth need to get off the computer and go here now! And then come back here again next time with your family when they come to visit. You'll spend about 20 minutes picking out a treat because they all look delicious. Their gifts and goody selection is just adorable too. There's trinkets, toys, cooking supplies, cookbooks, stationery, books, games, mugs, tea, ETC. I want to go stand outside and be first in line when they open tomorrow!
(5)
Triana O.
I love Bittersweet not only for their tasty treats, but I really enjoy the "french bistro" vibe inside. I love that you can sit in the cute little cafe area and have a server bring your tea and sweets. They have a tempting array of goodies, and I also love that they have a small area of adorable little stationary and various cute little items to browse besides the sweets. I agree with some reviewers that the employees are hit or miss at times... somedays I get one that's nice as pie, other days they are a bit blah. But it has never spoiled my visit so far. I really like bringing friends from out of town here to chill out and have some tea and sweets before a day of sightseeing/shopping. I'm a big fan of cupcakes but I like that Bittersweet has those plus so much more to try. The parking is somewhat sparse but I usually find a spot nearby with no problem, depending what time of day I go there. All in all a definite winner for me.
(5)
Carolynne M.
Oh...Bittersweet...what a completely appropriate name to describe my experience at my cake tasting. I was convinced - CONVINCED that this was the place that was going to be making my wedding cake. No ifs, ands, or buts, I had always had stellar service and the most delicious offerings from them in the past...why should I think otherwise? But at the tasting we were presented with quite possibly the most vile and horrific buttercream I have ever had the misfortune to put in my mouth. It was so bad my maid of honor and I were giving each other looks and whispering "do you think it was a mistake? did someone forget the sugar?" Had I been given a scoop of straight Crisco I dont think I could have told you the difference between the two. Cake flavours and fillings were good...but those were all masked by the tragedy that was the frosting. I cant serve this to my guests! Plus the quote for the cake design was the highest - by far - of any other bakery, which made me sad. Oh Bittersweet, so disappointed! (sad face here)
(2)
Shianne P.
Bittersweet made the most amazingly delicious wedding cake for us! It was three layers of banana cake with vanilla creme brulee filling and fresh strawberries. As someone who doesn't always like cake, this was one I was looking forward to for months - I think I bragged about it to anyone who would listen after our tasting - and I'm sad I didn't get to eat more on the day. Now I have to wait a whole year to eat the topper! In regards to the process, Bittersweet was wonderful to work with. We actually had this tasting immediately after our other option (not totally recommended...that's a lot of sugar), which was Amy Beck Cakes. Amy Beck was sweet, but the flavour combination we came upon at Bittersweet decided it for us. Our coordinator at Bittersweet was Amy C., who took the time to talk through design options and sketch out a cake that we would not have thought to consider otherwise. This was awesome, because we really felt like we were getting a unique cake, just for us. She only laughed a little when we gave her our Lego people topper; her emails and calls were always quick and on time; and, best of all, she worked out a great solution to get the cake we wanted within our price range.
(5)
Jenni B.
This place is cute and quaint if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth or pop in for a nice sandwich for lunch and such. it is a typical cafe/booked goods/ cake store. It has everything you want in a pastry shop. i've had their samples by the door which are good. The only thing ive gotten there was their ice cream which is 1.50 for a kids scoop. They have only like 6 flavors, and the ice cream sometimes tastes like refrigeration, so eh. Go here though just to try it, its nice.
(3)
Patrick L.
Everything I've ever eaten at Bittersweet - quiche, creme brulee custard, mushroom soup, even a just ham sandwich - has been heavenly. They have a huge selection of pastries, all of which look amazing. The prices are really reasonable for what you get, too. You won't be disappointed; this is one of the best bakeries I've ever been to!
(4)
Anahit G.
Simply put, one of my favorite cafes in Chicago. The macaroons are absolutely decadent, and they brew a great cup of coffee. I live their mini store, as well.
(5)
Emann B.
I've enjoyed Bittersweet ever since it opened, and have great memories of heartfelt special occasions that always included a Bittersweet cake. My "old reliable" is almond cake with creme brulee filling, fresh berries, and vanilla buttercream. A mocha filled cake with milk chocolate buttercream is a very close second.
(4)
Vivian S.
Bittersweet did our wedding cake through its relationship with the W Hotel on Lakeshore. Many of our guests gave us compliments on the cake! They all seemed surprised that wedding cake could taste THAT good. From the tastings to design to delivery, it all went really smoothly. They were even able to execute on our "skyline" design perfectly. They were very accommodating, and they seemed to take all of our input to heart.
(4)
Michael S.
3.5 stars in the face of Julius Meinl, but still it's great for a coffee drink and, of course, something sweet. Still, I'm usually pretty let down by their lunch offerings, which are limited to a quiche offering, salads, soups, and sandwiches. Thus, stick to the KISS rule (at least for me), and it's good stuff. Note... their flowerless chocolate cake is exceptional, and makes for a great cake to take home for entertaining, or whatever. Seriously, if I were to take a single piece home, it would last me for days it's so darn chocolaty. Depending on their desert of the day, I have either been enthralled, or utterly disappointed (like I was the last time with the strawberry rhubarb crumble, which was missing everything but crumble). However, if you stick to the sweets (at least in my case), there is most always something you will discover to enjoy.
(4)
Jennifer B.
I came to this sweet little bakery in search of a cupcake. I had heard that Bittersweet was THE place for cupcakes, so imagine my surprise when they only had 2 flavors available!! No biggie, I decided to go with the Strawberry Shortcake. I mean, I can count that as a fruit, right?!? But onto the review of the cupcake itself....oooh la la. Aces. In a city in which the icing of the cupcake is always far superior to the cake itself, Bittersweet is the lone pioneer of the "moist cake!" Finally, a fresh, moist, dense cake, as opposed to the dried out, crumbly cake at those other places. Thanks Bittersweet for the fresh cupcake!
(4)
Kelli C.
I love their chocolate sugar cookies. So...MUCH!
(5)
Hannah H.
I recently moved into the neighborhood and being a sweet/desert lover I was excited to try out Bittersweet after reading good reviews here on Yelp. Man, was I disappointed! I bought an assortment of cookies and 2 small cupcakes to share with my boyfriend. I took my first bite and literally thought I chipped a tooth! ALL of our cookies were as hard as a rock. If I'm paying $10 for a few cookies, they'd better at least be semi-soft. Not only were they hard but they were also very bland. While the shop and cafe look adorable and friendly, looks can definitely be decieving.
(2)
Karen S.
Even though the counter staff weren't the friendliest bunch of ladies I've ever encountered, I will go back to Bittersweet for the tarts. I have been craving them since I went there a couple of weeks ago. I used a Groupon to try a variety of tarts, all of which I would eat again. I also got a small chocolate mousse and hot chocolate. Delish! The tarts and mousse were all priced at just around $4 each. The lesson here? You pay a premium for exceptional desserts.
(4)
Jennifer T.
My husband went here on Sunday morning and bought a blueberry scone and a carrot cake muffin. The scone was bland. The carrot cake muffin, though really moist even after a day, is kind of bland as well. It doesn't have a sweet taste to it at all. I'd be willing to try this place again but not anytime in the near future.
(2)
Miss M.
They are expensive. But.... their stuff is the DA BOMB!!! Especially their lemonbars and macaroons and cakes! Their food is soo decadent!
(5)
Laura S.
I cannot say enough nice things about Bittersweet. They were our wedding bakery for our cake and other sweets, and they knocked it out of the park! We had originally gone with Sweet Mandy B's until I realized that THEY DON'T DELIVER. The thought of having to get someone to pick up our wedding cake and get it to the venue safely was just too much to deal with. So I set up a tasting at Bittersweet, and realized I should have gone with them to begin with. Nothing against Sweet Mandy B's, but their cake and frosting is EXTREMELY sweet--as in you eat half a cupcake and think you might throw up or become a diabetic. Bittersweet is dessert for a more grown-up palate, with sweet and savory all in one. Our tasting was truly special, everything was so nicely presented by Amy Crumrine. The different types of cakes were in little rectangular stripes on one long plate, with another small plate holding tiny square ceramic containers of different fillings and frostings. She gave us guidance on "pairings" and we were HOOKED. Our top two tiers of our wedding cake were chocolate fudge cake (OH MY GOD, so moist and delicious) with creme brulee filling. The bottom tier was yellow cake with lemon filling, and the whole thing was in vanilla buttercream with the most beautiful mehndi design on it (my husband--then-groom--is half Indian and we want ed to honor that). Amy and her bakers were amazingly well organized, everything was confirmed via email, etc. You can see the kitchen through the glass in the cafe and it is IMMACULATE. We have had brunch there a few times since the wedding and it is delicious--their quiche is to die for! And they always have some sort of free sample out of something delicious, not to mention cupcakes from the day before at half price. I'm glad I don;t live closer or I'd weigh a ton! Bittersweet also did a dozen cupcakes for us, a groom's cake with a custom Redskins logo on top, cheesecake squares, and a few pies. Everything was AMAZING. We kep the top tier of our cake but instead of freezing it, we ate away at it over the course of the next four days while we stayed at the hotel. It was STILL FRESH TASTING four days later, with no preservatives and in a mostly open cake box (no tupperware). Anyway, you won;t regret picking Bittersweet for your wedding cake, they were amazing, everything was delicious and delivered in the promised two hour time frame, and now we have a place we can go get our cake from on our anniversary every year! I will be using Bittersweet for all our family's birthdays from now on! Thank you Amy!
(5)
John H.
I WANT to love this place! I really want to. Last month, I ordered a birthday cake for my boyfriend's birthday. Since it was just going to be the 2 of us, I ordered the smallest cake they had (6"). $24.00! I thought that was a bit exorbitant, but a.) He's my guy & he's worth it and b.) I had a $20.00 Groupon. I chose a chocolate chip cake, with a white chocolate mousse filling and a caramel butttercream frosting. It LOOKED fantastic...very simple (I chose the polka-dot motif), GREAT writing on top, and very high. LOVED the look of it. Too bad the taste was a HUGE let down. In a nutshell: The cake? Dry. Not moist at all. The chocolate chips tasted good, but the rest of the cake itself didn't have much flavor. The filling? Tasteless. Really didn't have much flavor. Maybe another filling choice would have been better, but this tasted like sugar and nothing else. The icing? ODDLY tasting. Very "fake" and an aftertaste of alcohol (I'm assuming maybe they use a caramel extract 'flavoring'???). As I said, I REALLY want to love this higher-end bakery, but I will not be going back.
(2)
Stephanie S.
The only reason this place is getting an A-Ok is the fact that the desserts are amazing! However, the service is disappointing to say the least. My husband and I went on a Sunday so it was fairly busy, we had to wait for the waiter to clear 3 tables before even letting us sit down. After that, it took ages to even get the waiter's attention and bring two glasses of water, one of which smelt like dirty dish water. We ordered four pastries and when the waiter brought them to the table, two were not what I asked for (totally different, like bringing a cookie instead of a raspberry tart). I usually wouldn't address the problem, but I really wanted the tart, so I politely asked if I could switch it. The waiter obliged, but he still brought the incorrect order the second time. I'm glad it was good, but I didn't get what I wanted (nor did husband). When I saw the check, I was charged for the tart instead of the cookie, which was double the price. They had no problem correcting this issue at the counter when we paid, but we will likely not go back unless we just go to the counter. The table service really killed the experience. This is really unfortunate considering the place is charming and has a wonderful variety of delicious pastries, chocolate, and coffee items.
Have you ever been somewhere where they served pastries or cakes so delicious you wanted to steal a piece for home by disguising it as an ugly baby? or maybe putting it down your pants? and then tell anyone who asks that you're just really happy to see them? How about putting it in your prison pocket? ok then what about pulling the fire alarm and while everyone is panicking you jack that shit and bounce!! yeah.. neither have I. and if you are too busy recalling past instances of theft by going: hmmmmmm... welll... ummm...... errr.. you should really be ashamed of yourselves. but you guys, I was at this get together and a wondrous chocolate cake was served from here that made me think --oh wow and I think what would make nice, good people think of committing heinous acts such as cake theft. You thought I was going to say something like cannibalism didn't you.. you really are sick people. It's time you go crack open a Bible to cure your wicked ways. And by wicked, I don't mean super cool. Back to my point, I paid a visit to the bakery though because they make french macarons. GASP. My favorrrrrrite..! The macrons are legit and that is how you spell it spelling police. Everything in here is so pretty, especially their decorated cookies. I would come here again for the macarons and to try out their other pastries but the main draw for me are the french macarons. hmmmph! So hard to ignore. Love it.
(4)
Michelle D.
I made a special trip to walk over here because I was told they have a wonderful selection of macarons. Well the selection is there is mediocre at best since they had a total of four flavors, two of which were vanilla and chocolate. I decided to try one of the "special" flavors (cranberry) and I wish I hadn't wasted my money. The taste of the cookie was fairly flavorless with a only a slight artificial cranberry flavor, but the cookie itself was a total mess. They were hard (I purchased two), hollow, and shattered into stale little pieces when I bit into them. There was also hardly any filling at all. The service here was also miserable, with workers chatting, long lines, and seemingly random service (the 'take a number' system did not appear to mean anything) I would avoid this place as there are far better bakeries in Chiacgo
(1)
Vanessa R.
I emailed a pic of an owl that was the theme for my daughter's first birthday to ask if they could make a cake like this. They said yes:). They made the design out of gum paste (not sure if that is fondant). They were great with following up with me by phone after emailing them. Very professional. On the day of my daughter's birthday, everyone was in love with the cake! I had a few guests say that it was too pretty to cut. I felt the same way! But then I tasted the cake and... Yummmm...we cut the rest of the cake:) We will have all of our special occasion cakes from them now!
(5)
J T.
I have to give 5 stars to judy and the wedding cake maker for my 9-17 wedding at Golden Triangle. This the most beautiful wedding cake I have ever seen. Judy helped me to design the cake into a curvy blue/white porcelain vase and it is so well done that everyone at the wedding kept taking pics with the cake. The price was very seasonable too, probably the best value product I purchased for the wedding. Judy is an artist, and whoever the cake maker is, did a very good job. The blue patterns on the vase is so detail oriented! It looks like a 4 digits priced cake by a super star artist, but I only paid over $500 for the cake.
(5)
Kristi K.
After reading a few mixed reviews, I'm compelled to write my own. Great sweets. Good size portions (but not obnoxious). Wonderfully helpful. I had an apple tart with the most amazing real whipped cream, Great experience...and it's cute!
(5)
Araceli R.
delicius just the best'' yummy :)
(5)
Hannah H.
A cute little cafe off of Belmont, my friend and I came in here for some desserts. We tried out their Strawberry Rhubarb tart, their Strawberry Creme Brulee (both okay), and their iced Hot Chocolate. I absolutely enjoyed their iced Hot Chocolate as it had a great flavor, not too sweet, and had that bittersweet action going on. The whipped cream was also not too overpowering, and it came in a nice frosty glass mug with a straw. I would definitely come back here solely for that beverage! They also had some blueberry samples by the entrance as well as a case of Cookies n' Cream cupcakes for those who check-in/give shout outs on Facebook! Service was great and friendly, and they also had a little store of cupcake-decor novelty items (cupcake toppers, invitation cards, cupcake-shaped lip balm, etc.). Metered parking is available up along Belmont. Definitely a cute little dessert place! +iced Hot Chocolate :D
(4)
Justine M.
Love this place! It's so adorable. They have well made bakery items and their store is so nicely displayed. They also have a little corner that sells stationary items/gift items/cards, etc. Another section has tables where you can have a nice quiet lunch and then there's the beautiful display of pastries along the front. A friend and I purchased a bag of "mess up" cookies, macaroons, biscotti, bread, etc. for $3! So you can get a variety of things in one little bag. We also got the three macaroons (chocolate $.80, almond $.80 and raspberry - $1.50) and a individual sized raspberry cheesecake ($3). A total of $10. They were all DELICIOUS. My favorite was the raspberry macaroon. It was made with the PERFECT texture. Melted in your mouth. I plan to come back and take all my visitors here to have a cute lunch and buy some goodies :). I also love that they had samples of mini cakes by the door!
(5)
Shelly A.
This place immediately won me over because of its great interior look and vibe. It reminds me of places in my old neighborhood in Manhattan, and for some reason you don't see places like this too much around Chicago. It has a very different look compared to the more modern bakeries and coffeeshops. I feel like Bittersweet is less gimmicky and more classic. We tried a few bakery items, and they were just average. The macarons were fine, but I've definitely had better. However, many of their other bakery items are also sold at my local Whole Foods, so I can totally vouch for them. Many of the cookies - my favorite are the thumbprints! - are super popular at Whole Foods and tend to be a bakery staple. The drinks were great, I especially liked my Italian Soda which wasn't too sweet and had a great flavor. I'd probably come back only if I was intending to dine-in, considering the physical space was my favorite part. It looks like others have liked their special-order cakes, so it's definitely a place to keep in mind for that, too!
(3)
Hanan V.
I went to Bittersweet for a small, simple wedding cake after an experience with Alliance Bakery went sour (my husband and I loved both cakes but Alliance tried to screw us over by charging us extra because I dropped the word "wedding"). Anyway, the cake we had tasted was the red velvet with cream cheese and it was lovely and rich and not too sweet. So we ordered a 12 inch cake for 45 guests, which the lady assured me would be plenty, because they make FOUR LAYER CAKES. And she was right. The cake was perfect and beautiful and everyone was satisfied with a rich, thick slice of cake. The 12 inch round cake cost 70 (a similar size cake from Alliance would have put us back 190) The decorations were beautiful, I requested a smooth, simple design (which worked well because they top red velvet cakes with buttercream), and they put fresh flowers as a decoration on top (they gave me the choice between fresh flowers, sprinkles, chocolate shavings or one other thing...I think it was confetti). I was very satisfied with my experience and will definitely come back if I ever need a cake for a special occasion.
(5)
Leslie K.
We ordered a birthday cake (first time ordering from this bakery) for our soon to be 5 year old & it was FANTASTIC! We picked up the cake this afternoon, street parking was easy enough. The bakery is very cute but elegant. They balance the offerings very well & all of it was tasty. We ordered the pinkberry cake with milk chocolate& fudge frosting. We ordered an 8" round & they wrote the HBD message very nicely. We also purchased a variety of items from the case and those were excellent! I had a nutty buddy cupcake (AWESOME!), other items were: almond biscotti, homemade Oreo cookie, gingerbread heart, decorated apple cookie, and a raspberry linzer - all excellent!!! The staff member who assisted us was very helpful & patient as we gawked at the case trying to figure out what we wanted. We paid (very reasonable - the Mr. was pleased) and loaded up in our car to head home. We didn't make it out of our parking spot before we began handing out the goods. EVERYONE was pleased! Someone even saved a bite of the homemade Oreo to enjoy with milk! Now that says a lot (for us dessert fanatics anyway). We had part 1 of the birthday celebration today & the cake was super tasty! Thank you Bittersweet! Our experience was all sweet & no bitter! We will be back for more (of everything!)!!! :-)
(5)
Em K.
My wife and I used Bittersweet for our wedding cakes (1 gluten free and 1 gluten full) and they did a wonderful job. It was so good that my wife decided she wanted a replica of the GF wedding cake for her birthday. I called and scheduled the cake for pick up 2 weeks early. Called again the morning I picked it up to make sure it was all good and to ensure it was GF, i was assured. Got there at 5pm to pick it up, and it wasn't GF. It was my wife's birthday and she had been craving this sucker for weeks now. Needless to say i was really upset. They had no GF cakes in the shop, so i would be coming home with nothing on my wife's birthday. After venting for about 5 minutes, a woman who appeared to be the manager or owner came to my aid. She offered to make a macaroon cake for us for today and make the cake the next day...both free of charge. When I first found out the cake was not GF there was no question in mu mind I would never return. But with the way they handled it, I will not only return but will recommend this place to others. This is how a successful business makes up for their mistakes and keeps their customers loyal.
(5)
Deborah T.
I have been going to Bittersweet Bakery for many years...got my wedding cake there 13 years ago. And this year bought my brother his wedding cake there..recently, I had an opportunity to speak with the owner..she was helpful, gracious and generous! After our conversation she had her driver send me wonderful pastries as a gift! What a warm gesture..this will be always remembered sweetly..
(5)
SK R.
We have ordered two cakes from here, one for our baby shower and the other for our baby's three month birthday. Both times, they were extremely good with customer service and the cake was amazing! We got the fudge cake with bittersweet ganache and they added some decorations for free! Not anything super fancy, but cute and thoughtful. We will definitely be goon back here for special occasion cakes. Their space is very nice and they have an amazing selection of desserts and beverages.
(5)
LIDA A.
Ok - still no cake cutters - but this time I ordered the Lemon cake with buttercream frosting and fresh fruit filling - it was PHENOMENAL I highly recommend it for the summer! Absolutely delicious and refreshing. Keep up the great baking!!!
(5)
Jim P.
My wife and I purchased our wedding cakes (yes cakes) from Bittersweet. Nancy was great to work with and the cakes were amazing! 100% worth a look for your wedding or event.
(5)
Ali C.
Their pastries are simply out of this world - crazy good. We received two boxes as presents from a friend and our whole office fought over who would get which piece. The closest I have had to experiencing this level of quality was in Europe. Well done!
(5)
Sandra H.
I have been a loyal customer of Bittersweet for many years, and over the years I have tried a huge variety of Bittersweet baked goods. Everything I have tried has been excellent. In fact, my mother, who is a very accomplished baker in her own right, can always tell when I serve something from Bittersweet. This past week I ordered two Bittersweet birthday cakes. The cakes were decorated so beautifully and were so delicious that I decided to write this review (my first ever yelp review). The birthday party was held downstate, so I had to drive the cakes a long distance. The staff at Bittersweet helped me choose cakes that would survive the road trip and even provided me with a styrofoam cooler big enough to transport the cakes on ice. With the help of the staff, I decided to order a torte with lemon sabyon filling and a carrot cake. They were big hits and survived the drive beautifully! I am so grateful to Bittersweet for helping to make the birthday party a big success!
(5)
Tara P.
Scones are so delicious, large and fluffy and not overly sweet. Each one has a different shape. If you order a blueberry scone which I did this morning, it is full of blueberries. Raisin, full of raisins. Chocolate, full of chocolate chips. They do not skimp on their ingredients, and I have tried all their other varieties. Your able to taste the amazing taste of the scone along with the added ingredients. The perfect balanced taste. Amazing with their hot chocolate or tea. Their hot chocolate has a unique flavor, with an amazing after taste. It's not your typical hot chocolate and is served in a beautiful white pot which keeps the hot chocolate hot. Yes, their pasties and cookies and cupcakes are delicious too, but this review is mainly for their scones. They need to improve on their service. I was sitting quite a while before someone came over, and I had to flag them down. I always serve their scones when I have company and my guests love them. It's a change from serving cookies and cake and the presentation looks beautiful on my table.
(4)
Bonnie A.
I have walked past this bakery a few times and decided to stop in there to get something. It was so worth it! Their pastries, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, macarons, and tarts are all worth trying! My favorite is their passion fruit macaron. Nothing seems to beat that for me. I would come here and buy 10 passion fruit macarons and devour them. One time I had a fresh out of the oven apple turnover and it was ridiculously good...I love the decor of this place too.
(5)
Stacey M.
I have fond memories of Bittersweet Bakery from birthday cake celebrations in college with my friends! Because of this, I knew they would be the perfect place to go for our wedding cake and sweets table. Nancy was so easy and lovely to work with! She helped us design the perfect cutting cake to match our ceramic bird toppers. The tasting was delicious and beautiful - we tried every flavor cake and filling (this is standard) as well as all of the bite-sized sweets for our sweets table. We ordered more sweets for the table than we thought we would need but they were so delicious and such a hit that we ended up with barely any leftover! You better believe we have those leftovers tucked away in the freezer and cannot wait for our first year anniversary to enjoy them again. My husband and I highly recommend Bittersweet! We will absolutely be going back for any cake/sweets needs in the future.
(5)
Leigh J.
Every soup that comes out of the kitchen at Bittersweet is spectacular. It seems like they must start with a variation of the same delicious base before adding and adapting for the flavour du jour. There seems to be some cream or butter involved - though not enough to call it a "cream of" - because not many things that don't have butter taste like this soup does. The top is sprinkled with some very tasty homemade croutons that disintegrate ever so slightly while maintaining their buttery crunchiness, and you get a soft slice of fresh bread on the side for dipping. Best of all, you can order it paired with a half sandwich or half salad. Bittersweet uses quality ingredients and I have liked most everything I have tried from their menu board, which changes every day. And as long the soup is involved somewhere in your order, you really can't go wrong. The only reason they don't get five stars from me is because I haven't really loved all of the their pastries--though some have been good. I'm usually too full for dessert anyhow. The savory food is what keeps me going back.
(4)
Emily S.
We got the most delicious cake from here for our wedding!!! It was sooooo good, we received so many compliments! We worked with Nancy and was very helpful. We wanted a small tiered cake just for pictures and then had them make larger sheet cake for the remainder of the guests- our small cake was still beautiful and the sheet tasted just as good. We've gotten a few cakes from here before and will definitely continue to go to them in the future!
(5)
Jose C.
Bittersweet is consistently one of, if not the best bakery in Chicago. I have been eating here for years and can rave about everything from their fruit tarts to cakes, to even their amazing home made ice cream (cappuccino is awesome). They have a limited menu everyday with quiche a soup and a sandwich, as well as a few salads. It is hard to pick a favorite, but their carrot soup & potato quiche are my personal loves. Another must try is their hot chocolate. This is a must visit.
(5)
Lily S.
I live nearby and come here often. The food is normally really fresh and delicious, bakery items and coffee are all generally good as well. I wish I could give this place 5 stars, but the service is just really bad. There are maybe one or two employees there who are great, but more often then not it seems to be someone who has no idea what is going on. Incredibly slow table service and unable to answer questions. I keep going because its close, but the bad service is making it harder and harder. I also wish they would let you pay from your table if you eat in, the pay at the counter system is confusing and most of the staff are too timid to keep the line moving correctly.
(3)
Amanda P.
We had so much fun at our cake tasting here! The staff could not have been nicer and the cakes & fillings were Excellent! So moist & flavorful! I brought a few people along with me and they made us feel so welcome the whole time we were there. Waiting on pricing now but I have no doubt that they would do a spectacular job for our wedding!
(5)
Ruth G.
Beautiful cakes that taste even better than they look (and they looked great)! I needed a special occasion cake and the restaurant that was hosting my party recommended Bittersweet. Even though I was calling with short notice (3-4 days in this case), they were able to accommodate two 14-inch cakes given 48-hour notice. I'm not sure how they measure, because these cakes were huge! Maybe the measure is the radius instead of the diameter. The person who answered the phone took the time to answer all my questions and walk me through their Facebook page where I was able to see an album of choices and be guided through which decorations involved an up-charge and which were included in the pricing. We ended up with two cakes (not their largest) and it was more than enough for 100+ guests, many of who could not resist a second slice. We chose fudge-fudge-caramel and carrot cake, both of which were fantastic. They helped me coordinate the decorations so that they were different but coordinated. A lovely presentation! I would definitely use them again for a special event!
(5)
michele b.
addicted to their hot chocolate. it's not sweet, it has some subtle spices. it's rich and rewarding in a deep spiritual way. their sausage quiche is amazing. so light and fluffy and well....you just have to try it.
(5)
Melissa M.
I did not have a good experience here. This place is huge, and seems almost like a tourist gift shop in an airport than an independently owned bakery. First, the service was incredibly slow. And rude. We waited about 20 minutes just to place our order, and 10 more minutes just to have them take our croissants from the bins and place them on a plate for us. The food itself was also meh - nothing special at all. I also had an almond macaron, which was terrible. It was horribly constructed and also tasted terrible. Won't be returning.
(1)
Adam J.
Today was my first experience and I absolutely fell in love! The moment you step in the door you feel like you are in a mom and pop store yet it has the look of sheer elegance. The precision to detail with the food in presentation is flawless and the taste is just as amazing. I am a new loyal customer to Bittersweet! My only suggestion would be more cupcakes!!! Will not be my last visit.
(5)
Larissa A.
I have eaten a lot of scones. I've had every flavor you could imagine and have tested every recipe at home, but I have never had a scone this good. I took a bite, expecting mediocrity and could not get enough. I took another bite. It had just the right about of sugar, the right about of flakiness, the right texture and the best flavor. This is the best scone I have ever tasted.
The good: I enjoyed my hot chocolate which had hints of orange to it and was served on a plate with a cup, a pot for the drink, and a little container for the whipped cream. It was a very cute presentation. I enjoyed my salted macaron which had a good texture and was flavored well. I also enjoyed the little shop area with cute baking supplies, cookbooks, etc. The bad: The hazelnut cupcake I had was mediocre. The prices for some of their baked items seemed really high and the staff was quite unfriendly.
(3)
Jon D.
I really do want to like this place, it's down the street and incredibly freaking convenient. It's clean, has a cute little cafe, and a friendly staff. Unfortunately, that ends the collection of "yays" about this place. I've had two experiences, which doesn't seem like a lot, but was enough to turn me off all together. One was a birthday cake which was fancy, but not super fancy, as in it was appropriately iced in an even layer, not glopped on. The flavors were a bit blah, and the whole experience left me wanting more. We stopped by again this weekend to pick up some cookies for a party. Every single cookie was rock hard. I get that some folks enjoy a crispy cookie, although crispy cookies aren't generally this thick. Bittersweet makes the kind where you feel you MAY chip a tooth. This was the experience over 6 varieties. A bit over priced for what you get.
(2)
Traci G.
Finally made a visit here in July and was thoroughly pleased with everything!
(5)
Bethami M.
Since Phoebe's cupcakes closed, I needed a new place nearby to get my cupcake fix. After partaking in ample yelp research, I came across Bittersweet. What a better first time to try out pastries than Valentine's Day? I decided I wouldn't write this review until I tried every single thing in my box. When walking into the shop, I realized the space is a little crowded, around 1pm. This was probably just part of the Valentine's Day busier crowd. You pull a number (like at grocery stores) and you wait for your turn to get called. As a first time customer, I didn't realize the whole number-scheme, and my friend and I were a little late on pulling our numbers. Anyway I ended up not even getting a cupcake. I got three different macaroons, the passionfruit tart (heart-shaped), and the mini chocolate red velvet cake thing. There was NOTHING that wasn't above and beyond amazing. I'm normally not the hugest fan of macaroons, but that salted caramel flavored one absolutely blew me away. The passionfruit tart was also super fabulous. There wasn't an overabundance of meringue, and there was actually chocolate on the bottom of the tart. So delicious, and I ate it over four sittings--it's huge! Can't wait to go back again, and hopefully in the near future.
(5)
Mary R.
I was assigned with the task of ordering a cake for the bridal shower of a coworker in the office, and had no idea where to start. I stumbled upon Bittersweet and saw that they could deliver to the Loop and that they had good reviews, so I decided to go for it. I ordered it on a Tuesday to be delivered on a Friday, and called to confirm on a Thursday. Everything went smoothly and without a hitch. The cake was beautiful and tasted great--everybody loved it! It was nice because it was a cake large enough to feed 40 people, but still looked nice and neat. It was a round cake, which I found wasn't a common option with the amount of people I needed to feed (I think the round looked nicer than a sheet cake). The price was also very good for the high quality $70 for a 12" round, with a $20 delivery fee. Everyone, especially the bride to be, was very happy, and now I'm afraid I'll be the designated cake orderer. Bittersweet will get our business again!
(5)
Linda T.
omg. i was cheap and decided to get the one day old pastries that's half price. ate the raisin scone and man....it was still delicious! now i want to go back and try their fresh scones....in addition to their cakes and pecan rolls!
(4)
Tal C.
5 stars for their lunch fare+3 stars for pastries=4 stars overall I used to live right around the corner from this place, and stopped by often for lunch. They always have 2-3 sandwiches (I believe always at least one vegetarian), 2-3 salads, a couple soups, and a quiche. I love the Mediterranean salad that they have often, and the grilled cheese and turkey/brie sandwiches. The quiche is also good. It's a really cute place to sit down and have a coffee/lunch, but also a good option for carrying out as they're usually pretty quick. I don't love their pastries- I've tried some of the cookies and cupcakes and they always taste kind of superficial to me. They're good, but they don't taste homemade like some bakeries' pastries do. They do have day old breads though, which are dirt cheap and always worth buying because they're definitely still good.
(4)
elibbybet r.
The coffee is terrific. The food is delicious. The pastries are divine. If you're looking for a place to have lunch, coffee, or a sweet...this is your place. Hands down. If I had only been a walk-in customer, this place would have five stars. So, why only four stars? Well, we ordered our wedding cake here. The tasting was AMAZING. We couldn't decide, so we got two flavors, banana with passionfruit filling and hazelnut with mocha filling. Both flavors were delicious. Then came time to design the cake. We had a very unusual design in mind, unfortunately, and I think we didn't explain ourselves very well. Well, they did their best. It was a rather odd looking cake. But it tasted GREAT. Moist and flavorful. Really spectacular. So...my suggestion to brides wanting a cake from here? GO TRADITIONAL WITH THESE GUYS. Don't try to take them out of their element, design-wise. Believe me. The taste will win anyone over.
(4)
Carolyn L.
What a darling little shop on Belmont! I noticed this place while I've been riding the bus every day and decided to stop in today to pick up a cake for my mom's birthday. I chose a small flourless chocolate cake and it was MIGHTY GOOD. Rich, creamy, decadent, and moist. There was nothing I could improve on it! So happy I have leftovers so I can eat it for dessert during the week. I also picked up some vanilla extract, a cookie cutter in the shape of the Eiffel Tower (I'm obsessed with everything French!), and a mini Vosges chocolate bacon bar for my mom. It really is such a sweet place. I'd love to go back and try some of their macarons! A bit pricey, but the chocolatey goodness made it worth it.
(4)
Marjorie F.
My friend and I, both having recently traveled to Paris, were in search of a real French macaroon (not like Au Bon Pain - but those are really good too). In order to "deserve" a sweet treat, we trekked 3 miles from my apartment up to Bittersweet. Was it worth it? You betcha! We sat down in the cafe for lunch. My friend H had some kind of quiche - which she loved. I had a tuna melt which was OK - a little different. I'm not used to capers in my tuna salad. I don't think I would order it next time. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to sandwiches. The best part, by far, was the dessert. I had the chocolate souffle cake. Ooh la la!!! It was reminiscent of my trip to Paris when I had a hazelnut souffle that made me want to cry. OK, so I didn't really cry, but I was speechless for a while... After our meal, we bought some macaroons. The selection was limited to cranberry and nutella. Of course, we purchased both! They were very expensive at $2 per piece. We made sure to enjoy every morsel. Overall, I left fully satiated with dreams of a future rendevous with another piece of chocolate souffle cake.
(4)
Mary J.
Chocaholics, go here! That's not all that they have, but that's what I've eaten from here. My SIL got us not one, but two treats for dinner last night and boy were they yummy. The smoothness and intensity of the dark chocolate helped me ignore the terrible storm outside. We had a turtle brownie tort and some chocolate, fudgey, raspberry thing. Sorry, there was no label on the box and I was just catching a buzz from the great chocolate taste. Run, do not walk here!
(5)
Julia R.
This is a LOVELY bakery. Although I've not been to France (yet) this is what I imagine a french bakery would be like. Classy with unbelievably good pastries. This is a great place to sit on a Sunday morning with a newspaper. The first time I visited Bittersweet I am quite sure we were served by the owner. She was kind and helpful and even threw in a few of "her favorites" for free! I have quite an obsession with croissants and eat them at absolutely every chance I get. They require a lot of TLC to make and so I figure it's a good way to rate a bakery (as a novice baker I have tried to make them many times - even with Julia Child's recipe - and have ended up with not-so-good-results). The croissants at Bittersweet are awesome! Whether you're looking for quiche, baguette, cookies or scones, Bittersweet is the BEST.
(5)
Katy O.
My brother and his wife discovered Bittersweet maybe 8 years ago when they were living nearby. They started buying pastries, tarts and cakes to bring to parties and everyone always enjoyed them. Two years ago Bittersweet was on our short-list for wedding cakes. We had such a fun time at our cake tasting here and everything was delicious but we stuck with our (somewhat cheaper) favorite bakery (SMB). The wedding cake coordinator (that may or not be her actual title) was so helpful and accommodating. You should definitely check this place out if you are getting married. I have never eaten in the cafe, but all of their baked goods are delicious and I have tried a wide selection. This is a very cute shop and a cozy place to grab a cup of coffee or a sandwich.
(4)
Lizz M.
Not sure how I could've forgotten to review these guys, they're amazing! Their pastries are so detailed and gorgeous, and are absolutely delicious. What put them over the edge for me and why they get five stars, though? CAKE! I ordered a birthday cake from them last May for a joint birthday, and they did NOT disappoint! You get to build your own cake. I chose vanilla cake with lemon curd, and they made me lemon frosting at my request. The cake was decorated beautifully, and tasted AMAZING! Not too sweet, and not overly frosted, perfection. Even though the cake was small it lasted a long time because the cake was so rich and filling. Do recommend!
(5)
Stephanie H.
Bittersweet's Flourless Chocolate cake is best in the world. I've not tried anything better (at least not on 3 continents). If you are a connoisseur, this is a must. The deep chocolate is to the dark-chocolate lovers' delight. It is creamy inside and a little goes a long way. This is a taste to savor. It is a thick texture and the cocoa powder exterior really complements the melting (ganache?) of the inside. This is like the sophisticated grown-up child of brownies and pudding. A very fine cake to savor in good company. Very reasonably priced too. Yelper Kevin C. says, "The simple presentation allows the cake to shine as the star attraction (no distracting sauces or garnishes to take away from it)." I agree. Simple presentation, abundant flavor. I'm impressed. Seriously, I've had this cake about 3 times in my life and I can remember every occasion. This is a quality creation, I'd love to meet whoever is putting the love behind this one.
(5)
Kristine L.
Bittersweet prepared our wedding cake (and grooms cake) for our August 2011 wedding. We hosted our wedding reception at the Mid-America Club, which works exclusively with Bittersweet. I had enjoyed Bittersweet cakes and pastries previously, so was excited that our wedding cake would be prepared by Bittersweet. Our cake tasting appointment with Judy was great. She spent time discussing with us what we were looking for (both aesthetics and flavors). She asked us what our favorite desserts were and then went in the back and whipped up some amazing filling and cake flavors for us to sample. We ended up choosing two flavors for our cake: chocolate fudge cake with peanut butter mousse and chocolate filling and almond cake with creme brulee filling and apricot preserves. Our cake design came out great! The colors were not identical to our wedding colors, but they did great working from a copy of our invite to incorporate our style and certain design elements. Our cake tasted great. The only issue we had (this didn't bother me, but really bothered my husband), was that we had requested that the cake tier we cut into during our reception be the chocolate/PB cake and it wasn't. I secretly worked with Bittersweet to design a surprise grooms cake for my husband. It turned out terrific! He is a serious runner/marathoner, and Bittersweet designed a cake that mimicked his running shoe and had a marathon medal laying across it (I sent them pics to go off of). They also made this cake any flavor I wanted (I opted for chocolate with chocolate filling). Bittersweet did a great job of executing this and keeping it a secret! One of the greatest things about Bittersweet is that they say they will bake you a small cake to eat on your one year anniversary (so long as you send them a picture of your cake) so that you don't have to freeze your top tier for a year. I am really looking forward to that (and my husband is really looking forward to having his chocolate/PB cake!!).
(4)
Timo R.
I had a friend who would often bring cupcakes from Bittersweet to me... so, those pretty-much solidified my appreciation of them before even having visited the cafe itself. I also, eventually, had lunch there... and it was quiet, sophisticated... and just as sweet (although in a different way).
(5)
Nick G.
Very pleased with our wedding cake! Many guests said it was the best cake they had ever tasted. Very easy to work with - worth the price.
(5)
Yesy D.
If you go in here I recommend the Elvis. It is the best tasting cupcake I have ever had! It is a banana bread with peanut butter and light whipped cream. It was definitely yummy goodness. I want to go back and try other things.
(4)
Secky B.
We used Bittersweet Bakery for our July Chicago wedding. My mother in law had gotten us both cakes (birthday and shower) from Bittersweet and we fell in love before we even want in for our tasting. When we did have it.. we were set up by Nancy F., who brought all their different cakes and frosting for us to sample, as well as their sweet table. We got cupcakes for our guests with a cutting cake... and it was SO beautiful. All the guest loved them.... unfortunately we were so busy at the wedding we didnt get a chance to eat any... but our caterer made sure to box a few up for us to enjoy the nexy day. I'm a Chicagoan, so I have had long standing loyalties to my neighborhood bakeries... but Bittersweet won me over. The presentation and quality is better than I've seen anywhere, and the customer service was flawless. They were more expensive than some, less expensive than others.. but worth every penny. Thank you!!!
(5)
April P.
Site #2 of great Chicago macaron test. Yelp pointed me to the direction of this bakery upon the name search, but not too much information on variety. Well, I am here to tell you that Bittersweet has macarons, but only about 4 different flavors available! Disappointing and pale in comparison to Vanille's in categories of taste, variety, and flavors. Also they cost about $0.25 more than Vanille's batch. I also purchased a crème brule that a friend of mine pointed out wasn't even "brulee'd" or torched. Ahhh, slight mishap there....but made the world of a difference with the dessert. Not so appealing anymore, completely killed the texture factor Their cookies are really good, but if I were to base this review on the macaroons and brule alone, it's a 3.
(3)
Bernice D.
I love Bittersweet! I recently was here looking for treats to bring for a halloween party. We really particularly enjoyed the smores cupcakes (marshmallow frosting, chocolate mouse in the middle with a gram-cracker cake like bottom). You really can't go wrong with anything here. I also like that you can sit down and get a sandwich or drink while you are there.
(4)
Kelly S.
Solid! The place was a zoo and a bit disorganized with no one sure where to stand to get a table for lunch vs. line for bakery goods. But, when we finally got a spot, I had the most delicious broccoli basil soup. REALLY good. That in combination with the grilled ham and cheese and beet salad side made for a perfect lunch. Very small menu - just one soup, a couple sandwiches and a few sides plus quiche but quality ingredients.
(3)
Stella A.
I was introduced to Bittersweet Pastry Shop at a bridal show I went to last year. Bittersweet, among several venders, was sampling an assortment of mini cupcakes. Each Bittersweet cupcake I tried was better than the one before. They were wonderfully flavored and so damn cute too. I couldn't wait to go and try out the actual bakery. Fast forward a year (what?! I was super focused on my diet, I didn't want any temptation!). I met up with some friends here recently (finally!). I was so flipping excited to see what other amazingness Bittersweet had to offer. First off, the bakery itself is very cute. It had sort of a vintagey feel to it. One half of the place was a little store that displayed gifts and little knick knacks for sale. The gift area was divided by theme. They had a wedding section, which had really cute cookies you can give as favors. There was a baby section with cookies shaped as teddy bears in blue and pink. Everything was really cute. The other half of Bittersweet is a cafe where you can grab a bite to eat. It was a smallish area with maybe 12-15 tables. The front counter was impressive. They had a plethora of different kinds of cookies, bars, and other sweets to chose from. Some were elaborately decorated (i.e. a sugar cookie in the shape of a hot pink glittery poodle) and other were very simple. Everything looked great. Everything tasted great too. I decided to get their peanut butter chocolate ganache cake. It was awesome of course. As was the raspberry cake my friend ordered. I was really happy with their sweets. Their service, on the other hand, was not impressive. At the time I arrived, while the cafe half of Bittersweet was busy, the counter was not. In fact they didn't have any customers at the counter or in the gift area, except for my friend who arrived before I did. The staff behind the counter-I counted two- didn't even greet me. My friend arrived early and had been waiting there for awhile and wasn't greeted or acknowledged by the staff behind the counter. I asked her if she let someone know that we wanted a table. She said that she told the sole waiter and he told her in a not so friendly way that it was first come first serve. I understand that working a full cafe all on your own can be super stressful, but the least he could have done was told her about the sign in sheet so that we could be next in line for an open table. He didn't do that. Nor did the people behind the counter (I counted 3 at this point) even though they had seen my friend waiting around the gift area for awhile. It was when I asked one of the girls behind the counter about getting a table when we were finally told about the sign in sheet. The 3 behind the counter didn't seem to care about basic customer service since none of them cracked a smile or even tried to be pleasant. The waiter did get better when we finally sat down and ordered. However, the overall experience was not good enough for me to want to return. Disappointing.
(2)
Sawyer L.
This is the best little place in East Lakeview west of the Belmont Red Line station to have a light and healthy lunch or a quick business meeting over lunch. Every daily special includes some side salad. On one occasion, I had a hearty tuna sandwich with a cold lentil salad and still had plenty of room for a chocolate-carmel tart.
(5)
Deena D.
I pre-ordered a King's Cake at Bittersweet and it was a huge hit at the office. I've stopped in here many times before and just note 1) not open on Mondays 2) pretty busy on weekends. As soon as you walk in I would look for the number counter and grab one as you decide on what you want to kill your waistline with ;) There is a small seated area where you can sit and have cawfee talk / eat some grub / etc. This would be a nice alternative to your usual cafe for work or studying. They had a wide array of bakery items and it looked liked the have specials for yesterdays cupcakes. They have a select amount of lunch items as well as ice cream and coffee in addition - yay everyone can find something they want! PS They also had some cute gift items, cards, etc. hence making it a nice one stop shop before you're headed to any parties bearing gifts.
(4)
Kristen D.
Only bought one of the day old foccacia breads and it was pretty tasty. This shop has a whole slew of things, ranging from bakery treats, to a handful of lunch menu items, to favors for showers and mini toys and trinkets. Very cute little place!
Fantastic brunch/lunch spot! So adorable! I left lunch with several little goodies for friends and co-workers :) Your mouth will drool as soon as you walk in and are immediately drawn to the pastry bar! Mmmmmm....
(5)
Allison V.
ran in for a sandwich to go with a friend. the sandwich was awesome. a little pricey and took a long time to make, but well worth it. service was friendly and prompt. bike parking out front on the street. i would go here again and try something on the sweet side. everything look delish.
Our wedding cake came from Bittersweet a few weeks ago. It was elegant, beautiful, and most importantly, delicious. They have a wonderful selection, and the process was the easiest part of planning our wedding. I wish I had gotten to eat more cake on our wedding night, but what I did have was delish! Thank you, Nancy, for making such a beautiful and scrumptious cake for our biggest day :-)
(5)
Jessica V.
Recently the owner reached out to me to offer a couple of free cupcakes so I can retry them. Although I will respectfully decline because I no longer live in the area, I sincerely appreciate when owners respond to reviews and do so in a respectful way as opposed to getting defensive. That says a lot about not only the owner but the business in general and perhaps I had a bad experience or my picky tendencies over shadowed they're delicious treats. I will be back to try again knowing I am giving business to a company that does appreciate their customers.
(4)
FoodLover Z.
I've had a mixed experience at Bittersweet. There were pastries I've tried here that were great, but most of the others were just about ok. It's a cute little place and the people are nice, so I'd go here again, but there are better patisseries in town.
(3)
gerard n.
Bittersweet is a wonderful place to pick up a wonderful pastry or for breakfast/lunch. Staff is helpful and prompt. had mushroom quiche for breakfast - nice presentation with fruit (grapes, kiwi, pineapple) could not resist a scone for the road - raisin, was delicious. of course, you must, must try the chocolate truffles!
(5)
Patricia R.
Overall the pastries and daily soups, sandwiches and salads are excellent. I would have given them 5 stars but find the only thing they need to improve on is their service. Primarily when eating there they can be slow at times.
(4)
Niti B.
Not sure why it has taken me so long to come here but so glad I did! I was like a kid in a candy store! Wasn't sure what to try and and what to pass up. Walking in the place is so cute and I love that they serve lunch and have a shop as well! I had the sundae cupcake, hazelnut hazenult cupcake, chocolate dipped coconut macaroons, red velvet cakepops, chocolate banana cakepops, passion fruit macaroon, mocha chocolate tart, and espresso chocolate tart!! Of course I shared everything with my girls!! Can't say anything was a disappointment. I think that the prices are average and the variety is amazing. Will never hesitate to go back and try more!
(4)
Bri B.
I HATED CUPCAKES, and then I met Bittersweet. That red velvet cupcake with the cream cheese icing is to die for! I loved that the icing isn't too sweet. I loved that the cupcake was moist. I bought the cupcakes for my best friend's birthday because she loves cupcakes, and I ended up eating all of that girl's cupcakes! We also went another time before my amazing cupcake day and ordered a few pastries. I don't remember their names. The small chocolate pastry was delicious. I wasn't crazy about the tart or the creme brulee cheesecakey one? Not sure what that was...so that's the only reason there aren't 5 stars on here, but those cupcakes...WOAH!!!
(4)
Alison Y.
Since discovering this place a little less than a month ago, I've been here at least once every week because EVERYTHING I've had has been so delicious! My favorites: white chocolate mousse, creme brulee tarts, and their flourless chocolate cake is THE BEST THING ON EARTH! Also their bittersweet hot chocolate is to die for - they describe it as French style which means it's pretty thick and decadent but made with dark chocolate so it's not overly sweet. I couldnt' drink it all on one sitting but it was just as good refrigerated overnight and microwaved the next day. Lemon bars are nice and sweet with a bit of tang but not too much that brings tears to your eyes! Blueberry pie cream tart was nice and tasted of fruit but was definitely a bit more dense...not sure where the cream part came into play on this one though. I've tried their basic buttercream cupcake and the cake was wonderfully moist and their buttercream frosting is like air. I love it when I eat a cupcake and I don't feel like a fat cow afterwards and Bittersweet's is perfect! I can't wait to try everything on the menu...and if it keeps drawing me back every week like it has so far...I will...
(5)
Megan M.
Feeling a bit of a sweet tooth on my walk home, I stopped in and grabbed a couple of tarts - mostly chocolate. They did not disappoint! I will certainly be back to try a few more items.
(4)
John G.
My favorite bakery in all of Chicago! Judy & staff do a fantastic job. They did my wedding cake last year it was one of a kind,very memorable. Love the key lime pie, chocolate souffle cake, all the fresh fruit tarts. They also have small brunch/ lunch menu that is well executed, simple fresh flavor profiles. Return anytime I'm in the area.
(5)
Puja L.
Disclaimer: rating has NOTHING to do with the quality of their food!!! That said - their use of space in the cafe is terrible. I walked in here, curious about their confections...and my time in there began with me having to hold the door for a few minutes to keep from smacking others with it. There were maybe 4-5 people near the display case and I kept getting bumped from all sides as I tried to look. The cafe tables leave only a small pathway in front of the display case for customers not dining there. I walked out irritated without purchasing anything because it was just too cramped in there, and there weren't even that many customers!
(1)
Nat M.
Their tarts are delicious, especially the passion fruit one. The cupcakes are good, although not their specialty.
(4)
Jen R.
I LOVE & MISS this place...use to go here all the time to get cakes & whatnot for holidays & birthday;s while living in Chicago. I'm glad to be moving back...they also serve food & coffee too. There are so, so many things to look at & pick out..just wow..sometimes parking can be a hassle, but its worth it & everything always looks perfect! Check them out!
(4)
Amanda B.
In short: delicious but overhyped. Lives up to its name. I have purchased and enjoyed several things from Bittersweet over the past eight years I have lived in Chicago, and my family has special ordered cakes and pastries and had a good experience. I've come in a couple times for a leisurely brunch, and the service has been less than attentive... but hey, I did say "leisurely," so I don't mind much. Cute shop, always awesome samples available to nibble, and delicious buttercream. Personally, I am not a fan of sugary, thick frostings, and prefer a lighter, creamier variety. But this brings me to my (underwhelmed) reason for posting. Having recently gone 90% gluten and dairy free, the cupcakes I once loved are few and far between. So on a whim, I stopped by today with my Mister to pick up a treat and noticed two cupcakes of interest. One was called a "Black and Tan," the other a "Birthday Cupcake." As I'm familiar with the boozier definition of a Black and Tan, and the BDay Cupcake was obscured by a layer of sprinkles, I asked what was in each. "The Black and Tan is yellow cake with a milk chocolate buttercream." (Okay, confusing name choice, I thought-- but no worries, still delish.) "And the Birthday Cupcake is yellow cake with fudge icing." So I ask a clarifying (admittedly redundant) question, "So...the frostings are different then, yeah?" Snarky McGee (I apologize. I didn't catch her real name.) behind the counter retorts tersely, "Well, the fudge is fudge and the buttercream is buttercream." Okay, so today is not my day for outstanding customer service. Fine, I carry on and order the Black and Tan. And a cookie to give to a friend. Ms. McGee proceeds to wrap both of these items together, at which point I request nicely, "Oh, I'm sorry, could you please wrap the cookie separately?" With a look of exasperation, she obliges. I pay my money and go, a bit peeved, but I can deal. Now, I have saved my cupcake for a few hours and am ready to dig in, defying the grumbly tummy I am about to face with my food intolerances. But no matter, I love their buttercream and I'm excited. I open the box...aaaaand it's the other cupcake. Not the one I ordered. Which is just kind of a letdown...and the catalyst to my writing this review. Everyone has their bad days. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone is Snarky McGee from time to time. (I believe I am worthy of that title myself with this review. Whoa, meta.) But after this experience, eh, I'm over it. Bittersweet has some damn yummy goods. But for me, it will just remain another Chicago shop to get cupcakes, and I have no plans to count on any great service.
(3)
Mai D.
Bittersweet Bakery made a gorgeous three-tier white gumpaste ruffled cake for my Sept. 22, 2012 wedding and it tasted just as delicious as it looked. I chose a coconut cake with creme brulee custard filing and fresh strawberries. We had a slight snafu at the tasting as the bakery did not secure coconut cake before hand but Amy went above and beyond, cutting into a pre-made cake for us to taste. She then followed up with a small cake we picked up at a later date made with our chosen ingredients. My sister, who planned our wedding, pre-delivered a cake stand she embellished with chandelier crystals. Bittersweet was very specific with cake stand requirements, which helped my sister know what to create; Bittersweet used her custom design without a hitch. On the wedding day, the bakery gave us a five-hour window for delivery to the venue. I believe that worked out fine for the caterer and florist, who decorated the cake with fresh flowers. As for the amount of cake, I also had a dessert buffet which resulted in leftover cake. In addition to the three-tiers (10-inch, 8-inch, 6-inch rounds), I ordered two 10-inch side cakes that would be served but not put on display. Both of the side cakes were not eaten at the reception but we served them the next day at our Sunday brunch. I had a total of 127 guests so I would recommend no side cakes if you are also having a dessert bar.
(5)
Melanie S.
I've been going to Bittersweet pretty much since it opened, +/- 15 years ago. It was literally heaven on earth for me. Back then it was one of the few places I could indulge my love of all things sugary, buttery, and sweet. I'm the kind of person who looks at the dessert menu at a restaurant first as it will impact my entree selection and I need to make sure I save room accordingly. Desserts have always been my raison d'etre. Maybe I've matured, maybe my palate has, maybe because there are so many bakeries now, but Bittersweet no longer holds the same allure for me. It's still good, and high quality, but nothing wows me any more. I went here yesterday with a friend intending to get a sugar fix after our efforts were thwarted by Sweet Mandy's B's being closed. We just wanted to sit someplace and enjoy something sweet while we conversed. I ordered a hot chocolate as I've had it many times and it's always been good. It's thick, has a slight orange undertone, and comes with a side of whipped cream. I was hard-pressed to find anything I wanted to go with it, but settled on a raspberry macaron. It was decent, but nothing to write home about. I've always loved Bittersweet for their savory selections of soup, sandwiches and quiche. On any given day, you can find something along the lines of a carrot thyme soup or a proscuitto and gruyere panini. Their food is well-prepared and the soup and half sandwich combo is one of the best cheap eats in the city. Hearty and satisfying. Warm and delicious. So ironically, I may not come back to a place known for desserts because I think there are better places, but I will continue to visit for their food.
(4)
Zen-s-asia N.
I love this place!
(5)
Keney C.
Top of the line bakery! My husband and I got our wedding cake from this bakery and it was amazing. Not only are the cakes and pastries delicious, but the service there is exceptional as well. They did a full cake tasting for us and it was great. Very helpful and attentive. Definitely one of the best, and my fav bakery esp since it has a special place in our hearts! :)
(5)
Johnny R.
In short, tasty enough for a man but made for a women. :) Like many places on the North side, I've been here a few times but have not posted a review. The lady and I had lunch (or was it brunch dunno) this past Saturday. Had the Lentil Spinach soup which was very good, and a half sammy. The sandwich was turkey + harvarti cheese + caramelized onions panini style with I believe rye bread. Very good ladies. I think the sandwich would have been perfect with a little less turkey, so not really a negative for most, it was a little overstuffed and as I've been on a diet for 7 months I'm starting to get an attitude. :) Had a tort to finish up. Excellent of course. I think it was called a tort, it was a chocolate cup with raspberries in it. Service was a bit draggy but 90% of the tables were in slow dawdle mode anyway except for me of course. Go eat and proper!
(4)
Dalissa B.
Someone recommended this place and I'm glad they did! The pastries are amazing and it's a really nice atmosphere. The food is good too! And their coffee.
(5)
Joe A.
Sandwiches, soups and salads are unbelievable. Service is fabulous. My family came in once in the most horrid of moods. we left convinced that this is most likely the best bakery and pastry shop in the city. We've been back many times since then. Judy Contino has garnered dozens of awards over the years, and you can see, taste, sense exactly why. Thank you so much Judy and the Bittersweet team for supporting your West Coast Chicago Marathoners.
(5)
Anne T.
I was blown away by the level of quality and care that was put into everything that is made at Bittersweet. The pastry shop reminds of a place in Europe. Its quality is incomparable in Chicago. Their serving size is fairly small, but it is perfect it you are looking for fine quality food that you plan to eat slowly for flavor. Bittersweet is all about enjoying refined high quality desserts in small quantities. Everything has just the right amount of cream. I absolutely hate places that try to mask quality with more cream or more sugar. Not so at Bittersweet! They truly make use of fine flavors through wonderful ingredients. I absolutely love this place!
(5)
Kelly C.
This bakery has the most delectable treats with the option to take away, or enjoy at one of the french marble top tables in the store. The cakes and cupcakes have the smoothest and yummiest buttercream frosting that makes you melt inside its so good. If we had decided to do a full-on wedding cake this is the place we would have gone with. We felt they had experience and good service, with fantastic flavors to mix and match (I recommend the passionfruit filling, almond cake, and vanilla buttercream frosting). The hot chocolate here is also the real thing - imagine melted chocolate with warm milk poured over it and mixed together. Very rich, very basic, and very good.
(5)
Mandy A.
I stopped in here while I was out walking around taking pictures, saw the awning and remembered a coworker told me I needed to try this place out. Continuing on my hunt for amazing cupcakes, I ventured in. First off, it's a bakery, not a cupcakery. If that's a thing. They seem to focus on all desserts here, not just cupcakes which is totally fine and good. They only had one flavor of cupcake out so I just got it, plain vanilla. I took it to go and ate it in the car while I was stuck in traffic. When I took it out of the box the top looked a little overdone but when I bit in it was surprisingly moist and not dry at all. The frosting was reaaaally sweet, it may have been the only time I took some frosting off and DID NOT EAT IT. Overall, a cute place and a pleasant cupcake but not the one I'm still looking for.
(3)
Caroline A.
Holy Bananas.... Four Layer Chocolate Cake with Tiramisu filling. This might be the best thing I've ever put in my mouth. *Instantly Happy*
(5)
Yaeko M.
I love this place. I stand in front of the display glass case, smiling, being indecisive which one to eat. I love small size tarts and cakes and variety.
(4)
Mary T.
One hour before close all bread items are 2 for 1! 2 chocolate croissants for the price of one? There is a God and she is righteous!
(5)
Hua X.
Fantastic sandwiches. Coconut macaroons are sumptuous. What pushes the place to five stars for me is the venue itself. The classical music, the clean table surfaces, and the decor combine to make Bittersweet a great place to catch up on your latest magazines.
(5)
Mat M.
I've been in Bittersweet twice now and one experience was better than the other. Pros: Nicely Decorated Good Location Seating Area Mocha's Hot Chocolate and Tea Service Cons: Service is terrible, talk about bittersweet. I've experienced better cupcakes . . esp at Swedish Bakery Well I have experienced better service by far. I witnessed two people get awful service when trying to order a cake. They were seated and given books next to our table and told allegedly that someone would be by in a couple to help them. Nobody every came; so they flagged down our waitress. She told them that you have to place your order at the counter which contradicted what they were told in the beginning. A woman behind the counter came to their table and told them that she was told that they refused to come to the counter. Even if this had happened, not a professional thing to say to a customer; even more inappropriate given the fact that that was never said. Needless to say . . . The girls left without placing an order. When my party of 7 was leaving, we saw the girls again . . they were deadset to order their cake there; because they had, had good cakes there before. They were going to ask for the manager. Why the drama? There are lots of good bakeries. Go somewhere else!
(2)
Jessica K.
I want to live in here. Just so you know, I am doing all of my sister's Christmas Present shopping here. Not that you care about what I'm getting my sister, but if you know someone who loves baked goods and baked good-related things, do some shopping here for them! I went here for lunch the other day, and it was pretty bangin. For a bakery, they certainly have some amazing non-bakery food. The tomato/cabbage soup was "I want the recipe" worthy, and I really liked the fresh fruit option. I thought it was a classy touch, instead of being like HERE IS A COOKIE WE ARE A BAKERY. I will be going back, not only for my sister's presents, but for a ridic amount of pastries and cookies so that I can gain back the five pounds I just lost, just in time for January 1st's "I'm totally going on a diet omg" resolution...as per everyone's usual.
(4)
Cameron H.
After driving around a bit trying to find a bakery for my b-day cake, we came across Bittersweet. My partner has been here before and thought we might have luck with a cake here. So, we ended up with a yellow cake, with almond filling in between the layers and a white chocolate frosting. The cake was quite tasty and liked by all. However, the one complaint was that it was very dense. It was almost too rich for me but tasty nonetheless. Not that this matters, but when the cake was ordered, we told the person ringing up the cake the name to go on it. She said "how do you spell her name again?" We said, "the cake is for a guy." So from the time we told her that to the time she went to the back to have someone write on the cake (which was 2 minutes) we ended up with a cake with pink writing on it and pink and yellow flowers.
(3)
Valerie R.
Extraordinary customer service and the most luscious & richest chocolate mousse cake all in one day! Here I was, a Last Minute Lucy to use a Groupon on expiration day and could only pick it up right about their closing time. The staff from Bittersweet blew me away with their graciousness by taking my order and payment over the phone, regardless of the fact that I wasn't the only Last Minute Groupon Lucy in town and they were swamped. About the chocolate mousse cake..it was packaged with their flagship decorations of gold-swirled chocolate panels and chewy chocolate straws, which I set aside for my birthday girl's presentation this evening. She's my best friend and will completely understand why there's already a slice missing. Love you, Kathy B.
(5)
Dennis S.
Everything we bought was as good as it gets. I guess that's 5 stars! Michelle E. told me that Bittersweet Bakery has the best lemon tarts in Chicago. So when in the neighborhood, we stopped in and loaded up. It took two days to eat everything, and it was all great. Yes, the lemon tart was awesome - strong lemon tartness, perfect sticky meringue. We also bought pecan tarts, fruit tarts, and cookies. The crusts were excellent - something rare these days. The fillings were rich and wonderful. We weren't there for lunch or coffee - we were there for the bakery products. And they were fabulous. To comment on Chris J.'s first and only Yelp review, posted several days ago, about the racist owner of Bittersweet: I suggest there is some misunderstanding. The owner of Bittersweet is a "she," not a "he." Your review referred to "he" and "his." So whatever man chased you away was not the owner. I agree that racist store owners should not be supported. But please be sure of your facts before making such casual but destructive comments. As for me, I'll be looking for excuses to be on Belmont and try more of the huge selection of pastries Bittersweet offers.
(5)
Star L.
After a very filling Indian lunch, I came here for dessert. I walked past Bittersweet when I was out with a friend a few weeks ago, and made a mental note to check it out as I was going to be in the area. For some reason, I thought they would have cake slices, but that wasn't the case. No problem: I am a pastry whore and wanted some sugary goodness no matter what! There's a variety of different items around the store (cookies, biscotti, tortes, etc.) and they also serve food (such as soup, salad, and sandwiches), but it felt cramped inside, especially with the people dining in (I was there on a Saturday afternoon). Not a lot of tables are inside, so don't make plans to go there with a big group unless you get there early. I ordered the banana cream pie cupcake, which cost $3.25 and was the size of a tennis ball (it is considered a signature cupcake). I took a bite and initially thought it would be that cold, hard frosting that has a medicine taste, but it was actually buttery and fairly light. Not too sweet, but not bland. The cake had a banana nut bread taste to it, and the middle of the cake had real bananas (which I usually don't eat because of it's texture, but found it to be quite tasty). There is a cupcake schedule: 3 different ones on sale everyday (NOTE: they're closed on Mondays). All in all, it wasn't the best cupcake in the world, but it wasn't terrible. It's a short walking distance from the Belmont Red Line, so if you're in the area and craving a sweet, check them out.
(3)
Erica L.
We used Bittersweet for our wedding cake back in May. We met Judy at the tasting back in December. She was very friendly and patient with us as we tasted the different flavors and frostings. She gave great recommendations on flavor combinations. When we told her we loved salted caramel, she was able to incorporate that flavor into our cake. The final product was a delicious 4-tier cake of alternating layers of almond and fudge cake with caramel sauce and salted caramel buttercream frosting. Also, since my husband and I share a love for zombies, we asked her if it would be possible to make a zombie decorated cake. Judy and her team were able to deliver - customizing our cake to have 4 characters (my husband and I wielding a chainsaw and baseball bat respectively) on the top layer and the maid of honor and best man as zombies trying to climb up the other layers of cake. They were even able to match characters' outfits/dresses to our own. We were able to order a tasting cake a few weeks before the wedding to taste the combinations and make adjustments. Judy was very receptive and flexible with the changes we wanted to make. Our wedding cake was moist, delicious, and just the way we envisioned it would taste and look. My only comment would be I felt we were the ones who had to reach out to them in the week(s) leading up to our wedding. They had some difficulty via email sending us the contract several times. When we ordered the tasting cake, they said someone would contact us a week before the wedding to finalize the details. Judy called us a few days before the wedding. They also forgot to take the price of the tasting cake off the total as promised. Instead they gave us credit. Little things aside, we were happy with how our cake turned out and plan to order another one for our first-year anniversary...using our credit!
(4)
Jennie T.
First of all, I'm not a fan of desserts. The first time I came here, it was on a date -- I have to say though that I was pretty amused that the guy wanted to come here. The moment I walked inside, I was hit with nostalgia of my trip to Paris. The place reminds me of this bakery I used to go to with my aunt to buy our daily bread. It has a cute and delicate atmosphere. Very quaint. I like it. The coffee comes in this huge round bowl-like mug on little coffee plates with a little coffee spoon. You could order your desserts and they'd bring it out to you on these little plates. The service, as you can imagine, is great. I'm not exactly a fan of their actual baked goods though. Yeah, they're pretty and cute. But it's just mediocre. There's nothing in this bakery that really blows me away. Still, it's a nice place to go to have cookies and coffee. Bring a book or something to read. Sit and act as though you're escaping to somewhere in Paris (or anywhere in Europe for that matter).
(4)
Danielle T.
To preface, the star rating is based on the customer service received only. I ordered the Red Velvet cake and it was absolutely delicious. If it weren't for the extremely poor customer experience - I would definitely visit again and recommend to others. However, please read below.... I purchased the Bittersweet Groupon several months ago and recently ordered a cake. After I printed the deal, I noticed that twice on the form it lists delivery is included (copy/pasted below). I placed the order 48 hours in advance and then the day of noticed the delivery comments on the print out. I called there and just inquired if there the delivery was included, in which I was abruptly told no it was not and the Groupon was incorrect. After reading the associate, Amy, the info below, I was put on hold and then told in a very rude tone to "Take it up with Groupon". This was to my surprise as I wasn't expecting such a curt response. (Side note: I called the same day I was picking up the order, I didn't mention this part on the phone and just asked about the deal first... clearly would have understood if it was just not allowed on a same day pick-up). When I went into the store, I spoke to the manager who informed me they've had numerous issues with the Groupon deal and the way it was featured online. I explained what happened on the phone and mentioned how I didn't appreciate the lack of customer service received, especially being a new customer. She apologized but that was it. From a merchant's perspective, if your company was not featured the way that you negotiated and approved your contract - then you should probably take that up with Groupon and not suggest your customer does. Also, as stated above I purchased this offer months ago - if you've experienced issues numerous times, this should be addressed. It's unfortunate because the product produced is top of the line, but the combination of the defensive reaction received with the customer service has shied me away from giving repeat business. GROUPON READS AS FOLLOWS: Fine Print: Limit 3 per person. Limit 1 per visit, limit 1 per order. Not valid for dining in cafe. New customers only. Must purchase 1 food item. Must use in 1 visit. Tax and gratuity not included. Not valid with other offers. Delivery fee included. How to use this: 1. Print Groupon (or pull it up with our mobile app). 2. Call (773) 929-1100 for delivery order, mention Groupon.
(2)
Angela G.
This is a message to Angela, I heart you. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to head over to Bittersweet. My friend and I decided to stop at Bittersweet because we couldn't find a place to have lunch. Then I remembered I had a groupon for $20. The groupon was for baked goods only, which was fine with me. A great little sweet shop. Very clean and cute. I love the big display cases so your able to see all the products. We went at a time when they wasn't too crowded. They were a little busy but it wasn't that bad. I think people were mostly having lunch in the little cafe area. This was my first time in this shop and I wasn't really familiar with their products. This is where the sweet fairy Angela comes in. She answered every question I had, explained some of the ingredients used in the products and made some great recommendations. I was about to buy 3 regular shortbread cookies when they had chocolate dipped heart shaped shortbread cookies for half off. Did I mention they were delicious? She really knew the products and was very friendly. We talked like we were old friends. She took her time with us and didn't rush us to finish our purchase. It's a big plus also that we have the same name. Everything I purchased was delicious. Never had that happen before. One or two things is usually nasty. I had shortbread cookies, an individual cheesecake and angel food cake. My girl had a brownie and sugar cookies. She said it was so good and it must have been because she devoured it. I can't wait to go back and try something new. I hope Angela is working that day.
(5)
Kwoky L.
I have always been a fan of this bakery since my friend shared their delicious cheesecake with us. So, when I needed a cake for a surprise birthday party, I placed an order with them. They gave me a list of choices for the cake flavors, fillings, finishes and any additional garnishes, fruits etc. There's plenty to choose from but I ended up with a coconut cake with passion fruit curd filling and vanilla buttercream. I honestly have no idea what to expect because I have such bad experiences with sheet cakes and layer cakes elsewhere. But the cake was delicious! The cake was not soft and crumbly but it was firm enough to my liking. The flavor combination was excellent (I chose it, lol) and the overall sweetness was perfect! An 8 inch cake for $30 fed at least 16 people with some leftover. Couldn't ask for a better cake. The staff were very helpful but don't seem very friendly. It's great that they are serious with what they are doing but I don't think they like to smile at all. I'll be back, nevertheless, to try other pastry creations like their flourless chocolate mousse cake. I make a pretty mean version but I am curious to see how theirs tastes like.
(4)
Annie Y.
Adorable little bakery we stumbled upon after Pride. They have a lovely little display case of cookies and tortes. They've also got ice cream and sorbet which they give to you in a container lined with chocolate. I got the flourless chocolate cake, and it was probably one of the best I've ever had. It wasn't heavy or overly sweet, and the crunchiness inside the cake made for an interesting eating experience. I also got a couple of shortbread cookies, which were just okay -- a little brand and dry. My friend's red velvet cupcake was delicious, though. Prices are very fair (cupcakes are 2 for the price of 1!).
(4)
Linda C.
The shop itself is very cute, immaculately clean, & the folks that work there are really really nice. I know they offer other baked goods, but i am usually blinded by the cupcakes to even take note of what's there. How can you not love a place that has a cupcake flavor of the day? The last one I happened to have was a s'mores cupcake: a little handful of heavenly chocolate cake with marshmallow filling and a graham cracker frosting. The sounds I made after the first bite were nearly pornographic. I really had to tone it down because I was at work and that can be really embarrassing...not to mention a little unprofessional (well, at least in my industry). Today, I got a cake for a friend's birthday that i work with. They had a decent selection and personalized & decorated it really quickly. It was a chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and vanilla butter cream. If that sounds good to you, trust me it tastes even better. It was really a pretty cake before we all destroyed it at work. And this time I wasn't the only one being unprofessional in my enjoyment.
(4)
Becky K.
Bittersweet only gets two stars from me because a) their cake was pretty decent and b) the girl at the counter was pleasant. Aside from that, I have to say our cake tasting experience was underwhelming if not disappointing. We were on time for our appointment and waited for about 30 min for someone to come to meet with us. The woman with whom we spoke to constantly was looking at her watch and looked annoyed that we were even there. My friend (who was late to the tasting, but we had started without her) had a nut allergy and they couldn't even tell us if the carrot cake had nuts in it or not. To make matters worse, they told us that they likely cut the cakes with the same knife, so there was likely to be 'cross contamination' from the cake with nuts to the non-nut cakes. At the end of our appointment we were told, "ok, I have to go, I have guests at my house" and were ushered out the door. I understand that we were at the end of the day but this time slot was offered to us and WE were on time. After hearing such wonderful things about this bakery we left with a feeling of disappointment and discontent about the service and product we would have gotten. Perhaps we will give it another chance since it is in our neighborhood, but it will not be for a wedding cake.
(2)
Jimmy B.
This place seems to be more of a catering business masquerading as a sit & eat restaurant. The food was good, the service could use some help. Words for the owners, "if the lunch menu is about to be made available, don't make your patrons order from the breakfast menu while telling them you are out of half the items."
(3)
alicia g.
I finally walked inside Bittersweet for the first time this Wednesday and it was great! The only problem I have at this place is deciding what to get-I want it all. After deciding on the cupcake of the day I was VERY satisfied, and my boyfriend loved them as well. This place is going to be a permanent pitstop when I'm in the neighborhood.
(5)
Purnima M.
This is what chocolate mousse cakes dream of being when they grow up. Absolutely delicious. The cheery, stylish store front and tasty salad/sandwich options make waiting for dessert more bearable. Wish this place were closer to home!
(4)
Maysem H.
Best bakery in Chicago without a doubt!!! And I've tried a lot of places! I've been going to Bittersweet for about 7 years. A friend had introduced me to it. She had ordered a celebration cake...AMAZING!!!! So since then Bittersweet has become my fave bakery! I live in the suburbs...about a 40/45 min drive for me...so worth it!! Each time I go there I try something different....and so far no disappointments. At times I've had their lunches...their soups are amazing!!! Last weekend I went and tried one of their cupcakes for the first time...I have no idea what took me this long to try a cupcake. It was the chocolate covered strawberry (strawberry cake with chocolate ganache frosting)...Exceptional! I'm going to make sure to get a different cupcake each time:D Fave celebration cake to get is hazelnut cake with creme brulee and fresh strawberries..and covered in chocolate glaze. Be sure to also try their macarons...my fave is the chocolate.
(5)
Martha-Victoria D.
It pains me to give two stars but I had to do it. All their stuff is awesome by the way, the cakes and cookies are delicious. The small tarts are my absolute favorite...the strawberry custard tart is sex on a plate. I give it two stars because the service is TERRIBLE. The last time i was there was to get a small birthday cake. It took almost an hour. I walk in there and they have numbers you take but no one acknowledges your presence. Not even eye contact. At least say, "Hey, I'll be right with you." Lie to me, it makes me feel better. Or at least smile and nod....do something. And when you do finally get to people, say something like, "Sorry for the grueling one hour wait." Instead, they leisurely walk around like there isn't a herd of people waiting to be serviced. It's incredibly rude. It's to the point that although their cakes would be my first choice, i CANNOT STAND the idea of having to put up with the horrible, slow, rude service for a $40 six inch cake. The pricing wouldn't be so painful if the service was better. I had always dreamt of a wedding cake from here but I'm so peeved about the service I wouldn't want to give them the business. Next cake I need, I'm praying Dinkel's is open.
(2)
Candace M.
This is one of my favorite bakeries...the tarts are wonderful, the cakes are delicious and Suanne is great! I would recommend this bakery to anyone having a special event!
(5)
s s.
We ordered our wedding cake and 90% of our dessert table from Bittersweet this past May and it definitely made for some great food memories of our big day. Everything from our tasting with Judy, to the actual final deliverables of the cake and desserts were handled with care and resulted in the most magical wedding cake I had ever tasted. Honestly. Not only was it beautiful, it tasted every bit as good as it looked. My plan is to order a mini-version of the cake on our anniversary every year and relive the good times. The only thing I wish were different was that I thought I ordered mini raspberry fruit tarts for the dessert table but was surprised that I received raspberry macarons instead. It was an honest mistake - but no worries - they were gobbled up just the same. Thank you Judy and crew!
(5)
Misse D.
What an amazing pastry shop. The desserts are delicious! This is a great place to stop in and get something. I wouldn't recommend the cafe for lunch though. It was difficult to get a table and the seats are sort of uncomfortable. And, if you order a sandwich, speciality drink, and dessert, the bill quickly adds up.
(4)
P W.
Uh oh, why didn't I have a heavenly experience here?!?! I popped in on Sunday to pick up holiday cookies for friends coming over last night. My favorite holiday cookies are the crazy decorated sugar cookies with icing or sprinkly sugar on top. Well, I zipped out w/ one dozen cookies to the tune of $36 dollars (hello?) and that same night, we bit into these ROCK HARD cookies. They were not even pleasant to eat, my friends and I were wiggling our teef w/ our tongues all night to make sure none of our choppers broke off and the rest of the cookies are going in the garbage. For $36 dollars a dozen, please make the cookies edible. I won't go back, if they cannot get a basic/staple like sugar cookies right. Part One of "The Nightmare Before Xmas - Cookie Style".
(2)
Beau C.
their flourless chocolate cake is the BEST!!
(5)
Stephanie H.
I picked up desserts for a Saturday evening get together. I can't wait to have an excuse to go back to this place. The desserts were great! I spent about $25, (5 girls)...I had 6 tarts (they were sooo good!), lemon bar and truffles. It was enough...I served with Strawberries. I went first thing Saturday morning. I highly recommend for pickup desserts!
(5)
Carol B.
In all my years living in Chicago, I never found a better bakery than Bittersweet. It's always great. Consistently great and a real French Patisserie.
(5)
Lise P.
ginger-peach scones are delicious! great coffee, hot chocolate the frosted cookies are so darn cute!
(4)
Parker L.
My first experience with Bittersweet, was last christmas when I was given a large tin of their cookies from a Vendor of mine at work. They were so cute, and tasted great. Since I have ordered a tart and pie, and have not been dissappointed. Very crowded in there sometimes. But worth the visit.
(4)
Retired B.
They have TONS of cookies, moreso than pastries. I had the french sable, linzer, thumbprint and shortbread. All were really tasty. I also tasted a tart, and the cream or curd was very flavorful. Too bad the sizes weren't that generous. The shop also has plenty of tables as well as cutesy non-food things to look at/buy.
(4)
Laila K.
This place is beautiful, very French inspired, marble floors and tables. small cafe tables, classical music playing (not too loud that it interrupts conversation). They carry Harney & Sons tea, which I love. They also sell lucious baked goods. The quiche is maybe the best I've ever had, with the most absolutely perfect crust hearty buttery crisp but not overdone. the vanilla cake with creme anglaise was equally wonderful, the cake wasn't too sweet and the anglaise had a slight lemony tang which complimented perfectly. don't even get me started about the flourless chocolate souffle. the service is good too, not pretentious, definitely more cafe/deli style than full service restaurant, they bring you your food and leave you in peace to enjoy the ambience.
(5)
Whitney B.
After always walking past this place when it's closed, I happened to go by when it was open and had to go inside. I ordered a keylime cupcake and a raspberry scone. The cupcake was like eating a slice of key lime pie. I wasn't expecting much from it, but it surprised me with how good it was! and the scone was delicious. Reminded me of the scones that my grandma used to make me. The inside of this place was not what I was expecting, especially after going to cupcake places like Bleeding Heart and Sweet Mandy B's. It's very nice and somewhat fancy inside. Reminded me more of place you'd take your mom and grandma to for tea than somewhere you'd go with your friends for a snack. It was a nice, but unexpected change in bakery scenery for me. Reminded me of a french cafe sort of. The service here was nothing to write home about, but it wasn't terrible. The girls just seemed very unhappy to be dealing with anyone trying to give them business. Maybe it was a long day. Either way, I'd definitely go back for a scone or two, and maybe to try one of the lemon bars. They looked quite delicious when i was in.
(3)
R P.
I ordered a cake for my father's birthday party this past weekend, and I have to say it was just fabulous. I ordered a Black Walnut cake with cream cheese filling and frosting with apricot preserves! The cake was absolutely stunning and it couldn't have tasted better! Everyone at the event was raving about how delicious it was, which normally doesn't happen in my group. It was a great cake and as always, Bittersweet didn't disappoint!
(4)
Natalie S.
I first visited this place 8 1/2 months pregnant and wanting chocolate and lots of it. A woman next to me in line, whom I now refer to as "that brilliant goddess at Bittersweet last February" suggested the raspberry ganche tart and OH MY GOD. I will always love that woman. Everything I have ever had from this place was 5-star. Oh, and their Halooween coffin cookies are a horror nerd-slash- pastry weirdo's dream come true.
(5)
Jaclyn D.
We chose Bittersweet to make our wedding cake and it came out beautiful! It sure was delicious too! We had two flavors and both of them were outstanding. My husband even asks if we can get a taster cake each month. We loved it! We worked with Sue Anne and she was so nice and helpful. We were so happy with our wedding cake!
(5)
Candace T.
Best cakes ever! We've ordered two for special occasions in the last year, and they are the hit of the party. This past time we had banana cake, creme brulee and fresh raspberry filling, and chocolate glaze icing. AAAh-mazing!!!
(5)
Kristina F.
Bittersweet has a broad and gorgeous collection of truly delicious baked goods. They are the only bakery in Chicago that I have seen who's fondant artist rivals Alliance. My last birthday cake (chocolate filled with raspberry and some sort of vanilla creme, covered with dark chocolate ganache) was from here- It was gigantic, pretty and full of chocolatey goodness. They also have a selection of great gifts and candies.
(5)
Brad C.
This place is the perfect combination of atmosphere, service, and fare! We have not had an even mediocre treat from Bittersweet. Everything we've eaten there-cookies, bars, cakes, cupcakes, and brownies-has been spectacular. The staff provides outstanding service, always going the extra step to insure a delightful experience. Last night, we picked up my wife's birthday cake and decided to enjoy a slice at the cafe. The server decorated our plates meticulously; she removed the birthday wishes that were mounted on piece of chocolate atop the cake and placed the piece instead on my wife's plate with whipped cream and fruit glaze. Another server spent a good 10 minutes helping a tourist couple with recommendations and directions on a map. They are always incredibly accommodating and friendly, even at closing time. With an exposed brick interior painted white, the atmosphere has a very European feel. We actually schedule our dinner selections and reservations around Bittersweet's location, hours, and offerings.
(5)
Simone G.
walked in, walked out. Don't go if you're into vanilla, because you will have nothing available.
(1)
Stephanie B.
I cannot begin to say enough good things about Bittersweet. We used them for a sweets table last week for my wedding and we could not have been happier. My mom worked as a dessert caterer for years and between her tastes and my opinions, we pretty much walked into Bittersweet for our sweets table tasting with our own agenda of what we wanted to see made. Though I'm sure this threw Bittersweet off a bit, they took our list and created each dessert as we envisioned it. They were open to our ideas and recommended some of theirs that would compliment it and the whole display and taste of every dessert was wonderful looking and tasted great. We couldn't be happier with how it turned out, and we received more compliments than we could possibly count about the desserts. It seems the majority of our guests could not stop at one plateful of the desserts and we're so happy everyone enjoyed it as much as we did. I would highly recommend using Bittersweet if you're looking for a selection of different, fun, and wonderful tasting sweets! I'm still craving the miniature pumpkin whoopie pies they created for our big day :):
(5)
L N.
never disappoints and the most beautiful, exquisite cakes....
(5)
Joyce B.
I recently sampled a few things from this shop. I used to pass it all the time on the way home, and even stopped in once before to buy some brioche for making french toast. Unforch, they didn't have any. BUT this time, I tried a chocolate-caramel truffle lollipop, an apricot thumbprint, and a hazelnut ball cookie. The two cookies were just ok, they were a bit dry and made me really need a glass of water. No delicious buttery melt-in-your-mouth taste, just dry dough. The truffle was better, though. It was slightly larger than a regular one, and the chocolate and caramel were so combined that I actually had to stare at it to find out what crazy flavorness was going on in there. I would get that again.
(2)
Ross F.
The flourless chocolate cake is so good you might fall into a cocoa-induced coma. The staff is a little pretentious but who cares when you're talking about seriously great dessert.
(5)
Gail T.
very nice counter ladies.. lovely pastries. ordered two cakes for loved ones there! they were both beautifully finished with buttercream with a nice neat look. you can create your own cake: pick your own buttercream (fondant is optional), cake filling: creme brulee custard to chocolate mouse, cake flavor: chocolate, to fruitcake with optional ingrediants within the filling like my favorite rasberry!! never seen anything like it. better of all you can choose the size which is a good price factor. the cheapest you could get is for four people $25. I usually get mine for $40 and they feed up to 12 people which i believe is a great deal. street parking but there is a loading spot rite in front of the store.
(5)
Daria Z.
Although this place is obviously a great bakery, they also serve as a mini-cafe. They have all sorts of lunch specials and the smells here are awesome. The pastry shop is award-winning and has been featured on WTTW's "Check, Please."
(4)
Chris S.
Super little cafe and bakery in Lakeview. Great pastries. Everything that comes out of the oven here is amazing, from cookies to wedding cakes. Small lunch menu with excellent food on it as well.
(5)
a w.
Bittersweet is a great bakery, probably the best in town. They have really tasty deserts, and they all look as good as they taste. This bakery also has a little cafe inside where you can sit and enjoy some coffee and desert. They also take orders for weddings and other events. Don't miss out on this great little bakery!
(5)
Liliana S.
FANTASTIC pastry shop. I just got to indulge in the wonderful world of pastries and chocolates from Bittersweet last week and my oh my was it ever so good. I definitely will be going back for more goodies!
(5)
ashley r.
i walked past this place and just couldnt resist! it looked yummy from the outside! my coffee and cookie hit my craving for an afternoon snack. good crowd and the free cake samples are fun too!
(4)
Brian L.
I am about to move to the Belmont/Clark area, so I have been sampling several of the neighborhood hotspots. My girlfriend and I went to Bittersweet for lunch and both of us loved our meals! She had a grilled cheese & mushroom sandwich. I had a slice of ham & cheese quiche - very big and buttery. We split a couple of sweets from the case because they looked too good to resist. The food was fabulous, the staff was friendly, and the place was spacious and clean. 5 stars!
(5)
G G.
It's overwhelming- every detail on every pastry is artistically designed- from poodle cookies to fanned fruit tarts. A definite treat.
(5)
Julia B.
Awesome Bakery! The Cakes are amazing and the cookies are to die for. If you are looking for a large portion of bakery goods I would suggest stopping in here!
(3)
Yesy D.
If you go in here I recommend the Elvis. It is the best tasting cupcake I have ever had! It is a banana bread with peanut butter and light whipped cream. It was definitely yummy goodness. I want to go back and try other things.
(4)
Secky B.
We used Bittersweet Bakery for our July Chicago wedding. My mother in law had gotten us both cakes (birthday and shower) from Bittersweet and we fell in love before we even want in for our tasting. When we did have it.. we were set up by Nancy F., who brought all their different cakes and frosting for us to sample, as well as their sweet table. We got cupcakes for our guests with a cutting cake... and it was SO beautiful. All the guest loved them.... unfortunately we were so busy at the wedding we didnt get a chance to eat any... but our caterer made sure to box a few up for us to enjoy the nexy day. I'm a Chicagoan, so I have had long standing loyalties to my neighborhood bakeries... but Bittersweet won me over. The presentation and quality is better than I've seen anywhere, and the customer service was flawless. They were more expensive than some, less expensive than others.. but worth every penny. Thank you!!!
(5)
April P.
Site #2 of great Chicago macaron test. Yelp pointed me to the direction of this bakery upon the name search, but not too much information on variety. Well, I am here to tell you that Bittersweet has macarons, but only about 4 different flavors available! Disappointing and pale in comparison to Vanille's in categories of taste, variety, and flavors. Also they cost about $0.25 more than Vanille's batch. I also purchased a crème brule that a friend of mine pointed out wasn't even "brulee'd" or torched. Ahhh, slight mishap there....but made the world of a difference with the dessert. Not so appealing anymore, completely killed the texture factor Their cookies are really good, but if I were to base this review on the macaroons and brule alone, it's a 3.
(3)
Bernice D.
I love Bittersweet! I recently was here looking for treats to bring for a halloween party. We really particularly enjoyed the smores cupcakes (marshmallow frosting, chocolate mouse in the middle with a gram-cracker cake like bottom). You really can't go wrong with anything here. I also like that you can sit down and get a sandwich or drink while you are there.
(4)
Kelly S.
Solid! The place was a zoo and a bit disorganized with no one sure where to stand to get a table for lunch vs. line for bakery goods. But, when we finally got a spot, I had the most delicious broccoli basil soup. REALLY good. That in combination with the grilled ham and cheese and beet salad side made for a perfect lunch. Very small menu - just one soup, a couple sandwiches and a few sides plus quiche but quality ingredients.
(3)
Stella A.
I was introduced to Bittersweet Pastry Shop at a bridal show I went to last year. Bittersweet, among several venders, was sampling an assortment of mini cupcakes. Each Bittersweet cupcake I tried was better than the one before. They were wonderfully flavored and so damn cute too. I couldn't wait to go and try out the actual bakery. Fast forward a year (what?! I was super focused on my diet, I didn't want any temptation!). I met up with some friends here recently (finally!). I was so flipping excited to see what other amazingness Bittersweet had to offer. First off, the bakery itself is very cute. It had sort of a vintagey feel to it. One half of the place was a little store that displayed gifts and little knick knacks for sale. The gift area was divided by theme. They had a wedding section, which had really cute cookies you can give as favors. There was a baby section with cookies shaped as teddy bears in blue and pink. Everything was really cute. The other half of Bittersweet is a cafe where you can grab a bite to eat. It was a smallish area with maybe 12-15 tables. The front counter was impressive. They had a plethora of different kinds of cookies, bars, and other sweets to chose from. Some were elaborately decorated (i.e. a sugar cookie in the shape of a hot pink glittery poodle) and other were very simple. Everything looked great. Everything tasted great too. I decided to get their peanut butter chocolate ganache cake. It was awesome of course. As was the raspberry cake my friend ordered. I was really happy with their sweets. Their service, on the other hand, was not impressive. At the time I arrived, while the cafe half of Bittersweet was busy, the counter was not. In fact they didn't have any customers at the counter or in the gift area, except for my friend who arrived before I did. The staff behind the counter-I counted two- didn't even greet me. My friend arrived early and had been waiting there for awhile and wasn't greeted or acknowledged by the staff behind the counter. I asked her if she let someone know that we wanted a table. She said that she told the sole waiter and he told her in a not so friendly way that it was first come first serve. I understand that working a full cafe all on your own can be super stressful, but the least he could have done was told her about the sign in sheet so that we could be next in line for an open table. He didn't do that. Nor did the people behind the counter (I counted 3 at this point) even though they had seen my friend waiting around the gift area for awhile. It was when I asked one of the girls behind the counter about getting a table when we were finally told about the sign in sheet. The 3 behind the counter didn't seem to care about basic customer service since none of them cracked a smile or even tried to be pleasant. The waiter did get better when we finally sat down and ordered. However, the overall experience was not good enough for me to want to return. Disappointing.
(2)
Sawyer L.
This is the best little place in East Lakeview west of the Belmont Red Line station to have a light and healthy lunch or a quick business meeting over lunch. Every daily special includes some side salad. On one occasion, I had a hearty tuna sandwich with a cold lentil salad and still had plenty of room for a chocolate-carmel tart.
(5)
Deena D.
I pre-ordered a King's Cake at Bittersweet and it was a huge hit at the office. I've stopped in here many times before and just note 1) not open on Mondays 2) pretty busy on weekends. As soon as you walk in I would look for the number counter and grab one as you decide on what you want to kill your waistline with ;) There is a small seated area where you can sit and have cawfee talk / eat some grub / etc. This would be a nice alternative to your usual cafe for work or studying. They had a wide array of bakery items and it looked liked the have specials for yesterdays cupcakes. They have a select amount of lunch items as well as ice cream and coffee in addition - yay everyone can find something they want! PS They also had some cute gift items, cards, etc. hence making it a nice one stop shop before you're headed to any parties bearing gifts.
(4)
Kristen D.
Only bought one of the day old foccacia breads and it was pretty tasty. This shop has a whole slew of things, ranging from bakery treats, to a handful of lunch menu items, to favors for showers and mini toys and trinkets. Very cute little place!
Fantastic brunch/lunch spot! So adorable! I left lunch with several little goodies for friends and co-workers :) Your mouth will drool as soon as you walk in and are immediately drawn to the pastry bar! Mmmmmm....
(5)
Puja L.
Disclaimer: rating has NOTHING to do with the quality of their food!!! That said - their use of space in the cafe is terrible. I walked in here, curious about their confections...and my time in there began with me having to hold the door for a few minutes to keep from smacking others with it. There were maybe 4-5 people near the display case and I kept getting bumped from all sides as I tried to look. The cafe tables leave only a small pathway in front of the display case for customers not dining there. I walked out irritated without purchasing anything because it was just too cramped in there, and there weren't even that many customers!
(1)
Nat M.
Their tarts are delicious, especially the passion fruit one. The cupcakes are good, although not their specialty.
(4)
Jen R.
I LOVE & MISS this place...use to go here all the time to get cakes & whatnot for holidays & birthday;s while living in Chicago. I'm glad to be moving back...they also serve food & coffee too. There are so, so many things to look at & pick out..just wow..sometimes parking can be a hassle, but its worth it & everything always looks perfect! Check them out!
(4)
Allison V.
ran in for a sandwich to go with a friend. the sandwich was awesome. a little pricey and took a long time to make, but well worth it. service was friendly and prompt. bike parking out front on the street. i would go here again and try something on the sweet side. everything look delish.
(4)
Amanda B.
In short: delicious but overhyped. Lives up to its name. I have purchased and enjoyed several things from Bittersweet over the past eight years I have lived in Chicago, and my family has special ordered cakes and pastries and had a good experience. I've come in a couple times for a leisurely brunch, and the service has been less than attentive... but hey, I did say "leisurely," so I don't mind much. Cute shop, always awesome samples available to nibble, and delicious buttercream. Personally, I am not a fan of sugary, thick frostings, and prefer a lighter, creamier variety. But this brings me to my (underwhelmed) reason for posting. Having recently gone 90% gluten and dairy free, the cupcakes I once loved are few and far between. So on a whim, I stopped by today with my Mister to pick up a treat and noticed two cupcakes of interest. One was called a "Black and Tan," the other a "Birthday Cupcake." As I'm familiar with the boozier definition of a Black and Tan, and the BDay Cupcake was obscured by a layer of sprinkles, I asked what was in each. "The Black and Tan is yellow cake with a milk chocolate buttercream." (Okay, confusing name choice, I thought-- but no worries, still delish.) "And the Birthday Cupcake is yellow cake with fudge icing." So I ask a clarifying (admittedly redundant) question, "So...the frostings are different then, yeah?" Snarky McGee (I apologize. I didn't catch her real name.) behind the counter retorts tersely, "Well, the fudge is fudge and the buttercream is buttercream." Okay, so today is not my day for outstanding customer service. Fine, I carry on and order the Black and Tan. And a cookie to give to a friend. Ms. McGee proceeds to wrap both of these items together, at which point I request nicely, "Oh, I'm sorry, could you please wrap the cookie separately?" With a look of exasperation, she obliges. I pay my money and go, a bit peeved, but I can deal. Now, I have saved my cupcake for a few hours and am ready to dig in, defying the grumbly tummy I am about to face with my food intolerances. But no matter, I love their buttercream and I'm excited. I open the box...aaaaand it's the other cupcake. Not the one I ordered. Which is just kind of a letdown...and the catalyst to my writing this review. Everyone has their bad days. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone is Snarky McGee from time to time. (I believe I am worthy of that title myself with this review. Whoa, meta.) But after this experience, eh, I'm over it. Bittersweet has some damn yummy goods. But for me, it will just remain another Chicago shop to get cupcakes, and I have no plans to count on any great service.
(3)
Mai D.
Bittersweet Bakery made a gorgeous three-tier white gumpaste ruffled cake for my Sept. 22, 2012 wedding and it tasted just as delicious as it looked. I chose a coconut cake with creme brulee custard filing and fresh strawberries. We had a slight snafu at the tasting as the bakery did not secure coconut cake before hand but Amy went above and beyond, cutting into a pre-made cake for us to taste. She then followed up with a small cake we picked up at a later date made with our chosen ingredients. My sister, who planned our wedding, pre-delivered a cake stand she embellished with chandelier crystals. Bittersweet was very specific with cake stand requirements, which helped my sister know what to create; Bittersweet used her custom design without a hitch. On the wedding day, the bakery gave us a five-hour window for delivery to the venue. I believe that worked out fine for the caterer and florist, who decorated the cake with fresh flowers. As for the amount of cake, I also had a dessert buffet which resulted in leftover cake. In addition to the three-tiers (10-inch, 8-inch, 6-inch rounds), I ordered two 10-inch side cakes that would be served but not put on display. Both of the side cakes were not eaten at the reception but we served them the next day at our Sunday brunch. I had a total of 127 guests so I would recommend no side cakes if you are also having a dessert bar.
(5)
Melanie S.
I've been going to Bittersweet pretty much since it opened, +/- 15 years ago. It was literally heaven on earth for me. Back then it was one of the few places I could indulge my love of all things sugary, buttery, and sweet. I'm the kind of person who looks at the dessert menu at a restaurant first as it will impact my entree selection and I need to make sure I save room accordingly. Desserts have always been my raison d'etre. Maybe I've matured, maybe my palate has, maybe because there are so many bakeries now, but Bittersweet no longer holds the same allure for me. It's still good, and high quality, but nothing wows me any more. I went here yesterday with a friend intending to get a sugar fix after our efforts were thwarted by Sweet Mandy's B's being closed. We just wanted to sit someplace and enjoy something sweet while we conversed. I ordered a hot chocolate as I've had it many times and it's always been good. It's thick, has a slight orange undertone, and comes with a side of whipped cream. I was hard-pressed to find anything I wanted to go with it, but settled on a raspberry macaron. It was decent, but nothing to write home about. I've always loved Bittersweet for their savory selections of soup, sandwiches and quiche. On any given day, you can find something along the lines of a carrot thyme soup or a proscuitto and gruyere panini. Their food is well-prepared and the soup and half sandwich combo is one of the best cheap eats in the city. Hearty and satisfying. Warm and delicious. So ironically, I may not come back to a place known for desserts because I think there are better places, but I will continue to visit for their food.
(4)
Zen-s-asia N.
I love this place!
(5)
Keney C.
Top of the line bakery! My husband and I got our wedding cake from this bakery and it was amazing. Not only are the cakes and pastries delicious, but the service there is exceptional as well. They did a full cake tasting for us and it was great. Very helpful and attentive. Definitely one of the best, and my fav bakery esp since it has a special place in our hearts! :)
(5)
Jen P.
I cannot say enough about Bittersweet and the process of choosing our wedding cake! First, the tasting itself is the most fun you'll have eating cake. We tried countless cakes, filling and icings and it was delightful!! We decided to a do a bunch of smaller six in cakes all decorated differently which allowed us to choose three different flavors. The Red Velvet with cream cheese filling/frosting was amazing but my favorite was the Almond Cake with a Mocha filling. If you love coffee, this is your cake. We also did a few cakes in a chocolate cake with white chocolate filling which was delightful and really not as rich as you'd think. I left the decorating up to the professionals after giving them ideas on what I liked. The cakes were delivered to the to the reception during the ceremony so I didn't get to see the cakes before the guest. As soon as I arrived, guests were coming up to me telling how beautiful the display looked. I was pleasantly surprised when I finally saw the end results... it was prefect!! The best part of this whole experience was how attentive and nice the staff was during the process! And pricing was much less than I planned. I would highly recommend any bride to work with this bakery.
(5)
Emy F.
Bittersweet, I used to really love you. I actually used to commute an hour from my old neighborhood just for you...almost every time I'm in Lakeview I visit you hopefully you have regained what I once loved so much and I've finally decided this is not the case. Your service has never been the best, and about a year ago I noticed your quality really started to suffer. As of lately I haven't enjoyed any of your products as much as I used to, and it's not like I found another bakery that I love. You're just not memorable or worth a trip anymore. I may still come in for a visit only when I'm in the area (if I haven' found a replacement of course), but otherwise so long.
(3)
Danielle F.
Not impressed. We came across Bittersweet while walking through the neighborhood and decided to stop and pick up a few treats. So we waited about 10 minutes to be helped, which should've been a good sign. I ordered a variety of treats, from cookies to tarts to macaroons, all of them lacked significant flavor. Honestly I was shocked, I thought I was in for the desserts of my life after reading the reviews on yelp (which I did while waiting in line). Sadly, I was let down. Oh well, maybe I burned a few calories while waiting in that sauna of a bakery!
(2)
Pat S.
Bittersweet cakes speak for themselves. Excellent and yummy! Wanted to share info about Nancy in this review. Nancy is the coordinator for wedding cakes and we were so impressed with her. She gave great info over the phone and we set up our wedding cake tasting. Unfortunately due to a medical situation the tasting was interrupted but Nancy was gracious and professional, acting in the best interest of the parties involved in the situation. She offered to call 911 and get the medical attention necessary despite it meaning the tasting was canceled. Then she followed up to make sure the concerned party was okay. That is a consummate professional! Thank you, Nancy!
(5)
Johnny R.
In short, tasty enough for a man but made for a women. :) Like many places on the North side, I've been here a few times but have not posted a review. The lady and I had lunch (or was it brunch dunno) this past Saturday. Had the Lentil Spinach soup which was very good, and a half sammy. The sandwich was turkey + harvarti cheese + caramelized onions panini style with I believe rye bread. Very good ladies. I think the sandwich would have been perfect with a little less turkey, so not really a negative for most, it was a little overstuffed and as I've been on a diet for 7 months I'm starting to get an attitude. :) Had a tort to finish up. Excellent of course. I think it was called a tort, it was a chocolate cup with raspberries in it. Service was a bit draggy but 90% of the tables were in slow dawdle mode anyway except for me of course. Go eat and proper!
(4)
Dalissa B.
Someone recommended this place and I'm glad they did! The pastries are amazing and it's a really nice atmosphere. The food is good too! And their coffee.
(5)
Joe A.
Sandwiches, soups and salads are unbelievable. Service is fabulous. My family came in once in the most horrid of moods. we left convinced that this is most likely the best bakery and pastry shop in the city. We've been back many times since then. Judy Contino has garnered dozens of awards over the years, and you can see, taste, sense exactly why. Thank you so much Judy and the Bittersweet team for supporting your West Coast Chicago Marathoners.
(5)
Anne T.
I was blown away by the level of quality and care that was put into everything that is made at Bittersweet. The pastry shop reminds of a place in Europe. Its quality is incomparable in Chicago. Their serving size is fairly small, but it is perfect it you are looking for fine quality food that you plan to eat slowly for flavor. Bittersweet is all about enjoying refined high quality desserts in small quantities. Everything has just the right amount of cream. I absolutely hate places that try to mask quality with more cream or more sugar. Not so at Bittersweet! They truly make use of fine flavors through wonderful ingredients. I absolutely love this place!
(5)
Kelly C.
This bakery has the most delectable treats with the option to take away, or enjoy at one of the french marble top tables in the store. The cakes and cupcakes have the smoothest and yummiest buttercream frosting that makes you melt inside its so good. If we had decided to do a full-on wedding cake this is the place we would have gone with. We felt they had experience and good service, with fantastic flavors to mix and match (I recommend the passionfruit filling, almond cake, and vanilla buttercream frosting). The hot chocolate here is also the real thing - imagine melted chocolate with warm milk poured over it and mixed together. Very rich, very basic, and very good.
(5)
Erin W.
Delicious cake! We, too, got married at the Mid-America Club at the top of the Aon Building. Bittersweet made our wedding cake and it was absolutely delicious! Before the wedding, we bought wedding cake take-away boxes and much to my surprise, our cake was completely gone!! The cake was so good that even our 200 guests couldn't get enough. We selected carrot cake with cream cheese dressing, and chocolate cake with mocha mouse filling. Both were moist and delicious. Incredibly well-made. If you are looking for a bakery to make a *delicious* and unique wedding cake, look no further.
(4)
Debbie L.
Absolutely LOVED the brunch here - a short menu but tasty! we got the quiche of the day and a ham/gruyere sandwich w beet salad and sweets to go. very inexpensive! This place is so charming and has bakery samples when you walk in. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Mandy A.
I stopped in here while I was out walking around taking pictures, saw the awning and remembered a coworker told me I needed to try this place out. Continuing on my hunt for amazing cupcakes, I ventured in. First off, it's a bakery, not a cupcakery. If that's a thing. They seem to focus on all desserts here, not just cupcakes which is totally fine and good. They only had one flavor of cupcake out so I just got it, plain vanilla. I took it to go and ate it in the car while I was stuck in traffic. When I took it out of the box the top looked a little overdone but when I bit in it was surprisingly moist and not dry at all. The frosting was reaaaally sweet, it may have been the only time I took some frosting off and DID NOT EAT IT. Overall, a cute place and a pleasant cupcake but not the one I'm still looking for.
(3)
Caroline A.
Holy Bananas.... Four Layer Chocolate Cake with Tiramisu filling. This might be the best thing I've ever put in my mouth. *Instantly Happy*
(5)
Yaeko M.
I love this place. I stand in front of the display glass case, smiling, being indecisive which one to eat. I love small size tarts and cakes and variety.
(4)
Mary T.
One hour before close all bread items are 2 for 1! 2 chocolate croissants for the price of one? There is a God and she is righteous!
(5)
Hua X.
Fantastic sandwiches. Coconut macaroons are sumptuous. What pushes the place to five stars for me is the venue itself. The classical music, the clean table surfaces, and the decor combine to make Bittersweet a great place to catch up on your latest magazines.
(5)
Mat M.
I've been in Bittersweet twice now and one experience was better than the other. Pros: Nicely Decorated Good Location Seating Area Mocha's Hot Chocolate and Tea Service Cons: Service is terrible, talk about bittersweet. I've experienced better cupcakes . . esp at Swedish Bakery Well I have experienced better service by far. I witnessed two people get awful service when trying to order a cake. They were seated and given books next to our table and told allegedly that someone would be by in a couple to help them. Nobody every came; so they flagged down our waitress. She told them that you have to place your order at the counter which contradicted what they were told in the beginning. A woman behind the counter came to their table and told them that she was told that they refused to come to the counter. Even if this had happened, not a professional thing to say to a customer; even more inappropriate given the fact that that was never said. Needless to say . . . The girls left without placing an order. When my party of 7 was leaving, we saw the girls again . . they were deadset to order their cake there; because they had, had good cakes there before. They were going to ask for the manager. Why the drama? There are lots of good bakeries. Go somewhere else!
(2)
Jessica K.
I want to live in here. Just so you know, I am doing all of my sister's Christmas Present shopping here. Not that you care about what I'm getting my sister, but if you know someone who loves baked goods and baked good-related things, do some shopping here for them! I went here for lunch the other day, and it was pretty bangin. For a bakery, they certainly have some amazing non-bakery food. The tomato/cabbage soup was "I want the recipe" worthy, and I really liked the fresh fruit option. I thought it was a classy touch, instead of being like HERE IS A COOKIE WE ARE A BAKERY. I will be going back, not only for my sister's presents, but for a ridic amount of pastries and cookies so that I can gain back the five pounds I just lost, just in time for January 1st's "I'm totally going on a diet omg" resolution...as per everyone's usual.
(4)
Cameron H.
After driving around a bit trying to find a bakery for my b-day cake, we came across Bittersweet. My partner has been here before and thought we might have luck with a cake here. So, we ended up with a yellow cake, with almond filling in between the layers and a white chocolate frosting. The cake was quite tasty and liked by all. However, the one complaint was that it was very dense. It was almost too rich for me but tasty nonetheless. Not that this matters, but when the cake was ordered, we told the person ringing up the cake the name to go on it. She said "how do you spell her name again?" We said, "the cake is for a guy." So from the time we told her that to the time she went to the back to have someone write on the cake (which was 2 minutes) we ended up with a cake with pink writing on it and pink and yellow flowers.
(3)
Valerie R.
Extraordinary customer service and the most luscious & richest chocolate mousse cake all in one day! Here I was, a Last Minute Lucy to use a Groupon on expiration day and could only pick it up right about their closing time. The staff from Bittersweet blew me away with their graciousness by taking my order and payment over the phone, regardless of the fact that I wasn't the only Last Minute Groupon Lucy in town and they were swamped. About the chocolate mousse cake..it was packaged with their flagship decorations of gold-swirled chocolate panels and chewy chocolate straws, which I set aside for my birthday girl's presentation this evening. She's my best friend and will completely understand why there's already a slice missing. Love you, Kathy B.
(5)
Dennis S.
Everything we bought was as good as it gets. I guess that's 5 stars! Michelle E. told me that Bittersweet Bakery has the best lemon tarts in Chicago. So when in the neighborhood, we stopped in and loaded up. It took two days to eat everything, and it was all great. Yes, the lemon tart was awesome - strong lemon tartness, perfect sticky meringue. We also bought pecan tarts, fruit tarts, and cookies. The crusts were excellent - something rare these days. The fillings were rich and wonderful. We weren't there for lunch or coffee - we were there for the bakery products. And they were fabulous. To comment on Chris J.'s first and only Yelp review, posted several days ago, about the racist owner of Bittersweet: I suggest there is some misunderstanding. The owner of Bittersweet is a "she," not a "he." Your review referred to "he" and "his." So whatever man chased you away was not the owner. I agree that racist store owners should not be supported. But please be sure of your facts before making such casual but destructive comments. As for me, I'll be looking for excuses to be on Belmont and try more of the huge selection of pastries Bittersweet offers.
(5)
Star L.
After a very filling Indian lunch, I came here for dessert. I walked past Bittersweet when I was out with a friend a few weeks ago, and made a mental note to check it out as I was going to be in the area. For some reason, I thought they would have cake slices, but that wasn't the case. No problem: I am a pastry whore and wanted some sugary goodness no matter what! There's a variety of different items around the store (cookies, biscotti, tortes, etc.) and they also serve food (such as soup, salad, and sandwiches), but it felt cramped inside, especially with the people dining in (I was there on a Saturday afternoon). Not a lot of tables are inside, so don't make plans to go there with a big group unless you get there early. I ordered the banana cream pie cupcake, which cost $3.25 and was the size of a tennis ball (it is considered a signature cupcake). I took a bite and initially thought it would be that cold, hard frosting that has a medicine taste, but it was actually buttery and fairly light. Not too sweet, but not bland. The cake had a banana nut bread taste to it, and the middle of the cake had real bananas (which I usually don't eat because of it's texture, but found it to be quite tasty). There is a cupcake schedule: 3 different ones on sale everyday (NOTE: they're closed on Mondays). All in all, it wasn't the best cupcake in the world, but it wasn't terrible. It's a short walking distance from the Belmont Red Line, so if you're in the area and craving a sweet, check them out.
(3)
Erica L.
We used Bittersweet for our wedding cake back in May. We met Judy at the tasting back in December. She was very friendly and patient with us as we tasted the different flavors and frostings. She gave great recommendations on flavor combinations. When we told her we loved salted caramel, she was able to incorporate that flavor into our cake. The final product was a delicious 4-tier cake of alternating layers of almond and fudge cake with caramel sauce and salted caramel buttercream frosting. Also, since my husband and I share a love for zombies, we asked her if it would be possible to make a zombie decorated cake. Judy and her team were able to deliver - customizing our cake to have 4 characters (my husband and I wielding a chainsaw and baseball bat respectively) on the top layer and the maid of honor and best man as zombies trying to climb up the other layers of cake. They were even able to match characters' outfits/dresses to our own. We were able to order a tasting cake a few weeks before the wedding to taste the combinations and make adjustments. Judy was very receptive and flexible with the changes we wanted to make. Our wedding cake was moist, delicious, and just the way we envisioned it would taste and look. My only comment would be I felt we were the ones who had to reach out to them in the week(s) leading up to our wedding. They had some difficulty via email sending us the contract several times. When we ordered the tasting cake, they said someone would contact us a week before the wedding to finalize the details. Judy called us a few days before the wedding. They also forgot to take the price of the tasting cake off the total as promised. Instead they gave us credit. Little things aside, we were happy with how our cake turned out and plan to order another one for our first-year anniversary...using our credit!
(4)
Matthew G.
I've been coming here for pastries and cookies for 15+ years. The food remains excellent as always. However the staff has become more and more clueless over the years. Today's experience included two people who could not figure out the credit card machine. Also, no AmEx - as a small business owner myself I realize that they charge more, but you need to make it easy for your customer to pay, and today Bittersweet made it as hard as possible.
(3)
Jennie T.
First of all, I'm not a fan of desserts. The first time I came here, it was on a date -- I have to say though that I was pretty amused that the guy wanted to come here. The moment I walked inside, I was hit with nostalgia of my trip to Paris. The place reminds me of this bakery I used to go to with my aunt to buy our daily bread. It has a cute and delicate atmosphere. Very quaint. I like it. The coffee comes in this huge round bowl-like mug on little coffee plates with a little coffee spoon. You could order your desserts and they'd bring it out to you on these little plates. The service, as you can imagine, is great. I'm not exactly a fan of their actual baked goods though. Yeah, they're pretty and cute. But it's just mediocre. There's nothing in this bakery that really blows me away. Still, it's a nice place to go to have cookies and coffee. Bring a book or something to read. Sit and act as though you're escaping to somewhere in Paris (or anywhere in Europe for that matter).
(4)
Danielle T.
To preface, the star rating is based on the customer service received only. I ordered the Red Velvet cake and it was absolutely delicious. If it weren't for the extremely poor customer experience - I would definitely visit again and recommend to others. However, please read below.... I purchased the Bittersweet Groupon several months ago and recently ordered a cake. After I printed the deal, I noticed that twice on the form it lists delivery is included (copy/pasted below). I placed the order 48 hours in advance and then the day of noticed the delivery comments on the print out. I called there and just inquired if there the delivery was included, in which I was abruptly told no it was not and the Groupon was incorrect. After reading the associate, Amy, the info below, I was put on hold and then told in a very rude tone to "Take it up with Groupon". This was to my surprise as I wasn't expecting such a curt response. (Side note: I called the same day I was picking up the order, I didn't mention this part on the phone and just asked about the deal first... clearly would have understood if it was just not allowed on a same day pick-up). When I went into the store, I spoke to the manager who informed me they've had numerous issues with the Groupon deal and the way it was featured online. I explained what happened on the phone and mentioned how I didn't appreciate the lack of customer service received, especially being a new customer. She apologized but that was it. From a merchant's perspective, if your company was not featured the way that you negotiated and approved your contract - then you should probably take that up with Groupon and not suggest your customer does. Also, as stated above I purchased this offer months ago - if you've experienced issues numerous times, this should be addressed. It's unfortunate because the product produced is top of the line, but the combination of the defensive reaction received with the customer service has shied me away from giving repeat business. GROUPON READS AS FOLLOWS: Fine Print: Limit 3 per person. Limit 1 per visit, limit 1 per order. Not valid for dining in cafe. New customers only. Must purchase 1 food item. Must use in 1 visit. Tax and gratuity not included. Not valid with other offers. Delivery fee included. How to use this: 1. Print Groupon (or pull it up with our mobile app). 2. Call (773) 929-1100 for delivery order, mention Groupon.
(2)
Lisa S.
I was in the area and stopped by for some pastries to go this weekend. YUM! This places has great desserts and a cute, small cafe. Like most great bakeries, it is kind of pricey, but oh so worth it once in awhile. One thing I need to note, when I ordered a "medium" coffee to go, it was more like a size "small." Plus, when the worker asked me if I wanted room for cream, I didn't think she would leave THAT much room. I was done with that medium coffee in like 2 minutes. They do also have a section of cards and gifts. This place is very quaint and charming.
(4)
Angela G.
This is a message to Angela, I heart you. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to head over to Bittersweet. My friend and I decided to stop at Bittersweet because we couldn't find a place to have lunch. Then I remembered I had a groupon for $20. The groupon was for baked goods only, which was fine with me. A great little sweet shop. Very clean and cute. I love the big display cases so your able to see all the products. We went at a time when they wasn't too crowded. They were a little busy but it wasn't that bad. I think people were mostly having lunch in the little cafe area. This was my first time in this shop and I wasn't really familiar with their products. This is where the sweet fairy Angela comes in. She answered every question I had, explained some of the ingredients used in the products and made some great recommendations. I was about to buy 3 regular shortbread cookies when they had chocolate dipped heart shaped shortbread cookies for half off. Did I mention they were delicious? She really knew the products and was very friendly. We talked like we were old friends. She took her time with us and didn't rush us to finish our purchase. It's a big plus also that we have the same name. Everything I purchased was delicious. Never had that happen before. One or two things is usually nasty. I had shortbread cookies, an individual cheesecake and angel food cake. My girl had a brownie and sugar cookies. She said it was so good and it must have been because she devoured it. I can't wait to go back and try something new. I hope Angela is working that day.
(5)
Kwoky L.
I have always been a fan of this bakery since my friend shared their delicious cheesecake with us. So, when I needed a cake for a surprise birthday party, I placed an order with them. They gave me a list of choices for the cake flavors, fillings, finishes and any additional garnishes, fruits etc. There's plenty to choose from but I ended up with a coconut cake with passion fruit curd filling and vanilla buttercream. I honestly have no idea what to expect because I have such bad experiences with sheet cakes and layer cakes elsewhere. But the cake was delicious! The cake was not soft and crumbly but it was firm enough to my liking. The flavor combination was excellent (I chose it, lol) and the overall sweetness was perfect! An 8 inch cake for $30 fed at least 16 people with some leftover. Couldn't ask for a better cake. The staff were very helpful but don't seem very friendly. It's great that they are serious with what they are doing but I don't think they like to smile at all. I'll be back, nevertheless, to try other pastry creations like their flourless chocolate mousse cake. I make a pretty mean version but I am curious to see how theirs tastes like.
(4)
Annie Y.
Adorable little bakery we stumbled upon after Pride. They have a lovely little display case of cookies and tortes. They've also got ice cream and sorbet which they give to you in a container lined with chocolate. I got the flourless chocolate cake, and it was probably one of the best I've ever had. It wasn't heavy or overly sweet, and the crunchiness inside the cake made for an interesting eating experience. I also got a couple of shortbread cookies, which were just okay -- a little brand and dry. My friend's red velvet cupcake was delicious, though. Prices are very fair (cupcakes are 2 for the price of 1!).
(4)
Ms C.
I just had my wedding a few days ago and I got my cake from Bittersweet. The cake was amazing! Not only did they make it look like I wanted it to look (Chicago Skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge on each of two tiers) but it so good! Everybody was very helpful every step of the way. Amy was also able to put in an order (at the last minute) for my mother-in-law--it was her birthday the same day as out wedding. Needless to say, the service was phenomenal and the cakes taste just as good!
(5)
Julie C.
Cute little bakery & cafe. They even have a section with cute food-related gift items. Great selection of pastries & baked items. Can't say enough about their macaroons! If you're in the area give Bittersweet a try, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
christine j.
Cute place, okay food, rude fat lady. Service was horrible. Will not go back.
(1)
Angela W.
Seriously, my FAVORITE place in the whole world. I'm going to keep this sweet and simple 1) Get the flourless chocolate mouse cake. It is to die for. 2) One of the best cheesecakes I have ever tasted (about the same caliber as Junior's) 3) Their mini tarts are just so pretty... not to mention delicious 4) Try their lunch sometime, the soup is really good 5) Repeat Donzo
(5)
Linda C.
The shop itself is very cute, immaculately clean, & the folks that work there are really really nice. I know they offer other baked goods, but i am usually blinded by the cupcakes to even take note of what's there. How can you not love a place that has a cupcake flavor of the day? The last one I happened to have was a s'mores cupcake: a little handful of heavenly chocolate cake with marshmallow filling and a graham cracker frosting. The sounds I made after the first bite were nearly pornographic. I really had to tone it down because I was at work and that can be really embarrassing...not to mention a little unprofessional (well, at least in my industry). Today, I got a cake for a friend's birthday that i work with. They had a decent selection and personalized & decorated it really quickly. It was a chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and vanilla butter cream. If that sounds good to you, trust me it tastes even better. It was really a pretty cake before we all destroyed it at work. And this time I wasn't the only one being unprofessional in my enjoyment.
(4)
Becky K.
Bittersweet only gets two stars from me because a) their cake was pretty decent and b) the girl at the counter was pleasant. Aside from that, I have to say our cake tasting experience was underwhelming if not disappointing. We were on time for our appointment and waited for about 30 min for someone to come to meet with us. The woman with whom we spoke to constantly was looking at her watch and looked annoyed that we were even there. My friend (who was late to the tasting, but we had started without her) had a nut allergy and they couldn't even tell us if the carrot cake had nuts in it or not. To make matters worse, they told us that they likely cut the cakes with the same knife, so there was likely to be 'cross contamination' from the cake with nuts to the non-nut cakes. At the end of our appointment we were told, "ok, I have to go, I have guests at my house" and were ushered out the door. I understand that we were at the end of the day but this time slot was offered to us and WE were on time. After hearing such wonderful things about this bakery we left with a feeling of disappointment and discontent about the service and product we would have gotten. Perhaps we will give it another chance since it is in our neighborhood, but it will not be for a wedding cake.
(2)
Jimmy B.
This place seems to be more of a catering business masquerading as a sit & eat restaurant. The food was good, the service could use some help. Words for the owners, "if the lunch menu is about to be made available, don't make your patrons order from the breakfast menu while telling them you are out of half the items."
(3)
alicia g.
I finally walked inside Bittersweet for the first time this Wednesday and it was great! The only problem I have at this place is deciding what to get-I want it all. After deciding on the cupcake of the day I was VERY satisfied, and my boyfriend loved them as well. This place is going to be a permanent pitstop when I'm in the neighborhood.
(5)
Purnima M.
This is what chocolate mousse cakes dream of being when they grow up. Absolutely delicious. The cheery, stylish store front and tasty salad/sandwich options make waiting for dessert more bearable. Wish this place were closer to home!
(4)
Philip S.
Having frequented Bittersweet for several years, we knew this is who we wanted to make our Wedding cake. After going to the bakery and sampling several cake flavors and fillings, we opted for tiramisu cream with a hazelnut cake. When we walked into the reception, the cake that we had designed with the Bittersweet staff, looked spectacular. The taste was unbelievable. I might be biased but the combination of tiramisu cream filling and hazelnut cake created a tremendously flavorful and moist cake. Our Wedding guests all complimented us about the cake for several days after the reception. The cake was still delicious and moist three months after the event!
(5)
J T.
I have to give 5 stars to judy and the wedding cake maker for my 9-17 wedding at Golden Triangle. This the most beautiful wedding cake I have ever seen. Judy helped me to design the cake into a curvy blue/white porcelain vase and it is so well done that everyone at the wedding kept taking pics with the cake. The price was very seasonable too, probably the best value product I purchased for the wedding. Judy is an artist, and whoever the cake maker is, did a very good job. The blue patterns on the vase is so detail oriented! It looks like a 4 digits priced cake by a super star artist, but I only paid over $500 for the cake.
(5)
Kristi K.
After reading a few mixed reviews, I'm compelled to write my own. Great sweets. Good size portions (but not obnoxious). Wonderfully helpful. I had an apple tart with the most amazing real whipped cream, Great experience...and it's cute!
(5)
Araceli R.
delicius just the best'' yummy :)
(5)
Melissa H.
Our cake did not turn out the way we wanted. The major upset was that it was supposed to have writing on it........oh it had writing but it was in WHITE on a WHITE cake. Ummm....do I really need to explain what's wrong with that? Thank God my hubby knows Photoshop is all I got to say.
(1)
Martin C.
Came here just for some sweets, but I love the ambiance. Classical music playing, great coffee and some ridiculously sinful truffles. The atmosphere is a refreshing detour from the other intimate places where a visitor is too often made to feel like an intrusion. I feel very sorry for the individual who has to clean the glass displays as apparently many parents feel it's ok to allow their kids free reign to touch everything. The owners are there every day and the character of this place is a definite reflection of their warmth. Bravo. (I would definitely walk there as you'll need to burn a few calories afterward! It's too good!!!)
(4)
Vinifer D.
This place would be rated 5 stars, if it weren't for their prices! OUCH! The cakes, pastries, and small treats are wonderful. However, I'm not a big fan of their truffles. I've had (and made) better truffles at a much lower cost. I ordered 2 mini tartlets and 2 truffles, and the total came to over $15!
(3)
Maysem H.
Best bakery in Chicago without a doubt!!! And I've tried a lot of places! I've been going to Bittersweet for about 7 years. A friend had introduced me to it. She had ordered a celebration cake...AMAZING!!!! So since then Bittersweet has become my fave bakery! I live in the suburbs...about a 40/45 min drive for me...so worth it!! Each time I go there I try something different....and so far no disappointments. At times I've had their lunches...their soups are amazing!!! Last weekend I went and tried one of their cupcakes for the first time...I have no idea what took me this long to try a cupcake. It was the chocolate covered strawberry (strawberry cake with chocolate ganache frosting)...Exceptional! I'm going to make sure to get a different cupcake each time:D Fave celebration cake to get is hazelnut cake with creme brulee and fresh strawberries..and covered in chocolate glaze. Be sure to also try their macarons...my fave is the chocolate.
(5)
Martha-Victoria D.
It pains me to give two stars but I had to do it. All their stuff is awesome by the way, the cakes and cookies are delicious. The small tarts are my absolute favorite...the strawberry custard tart is sex on a plate. I give it two stars because the service is TERRIBLE. The last time i was there was to get a small birthday cake. It took almost an hour. I walk in there and they have numbers you take but no one acknowledges your presence. Not even eye contact. At least say, "Hey, I'll be right with you." Lie to me, it makes me feel better. Or at least smile and nod....do something. And when you do finally get to people, say something like, "Sorry for the grueling one hour wait." Instead, they leisurely walk around like there isn't a herd of people waiting to be serviced. It's incredibly rude. It's to the point that although their cakes would be my first choice, i CANNOT STAND the idea of having to put up with the horrible, slow, rude service for a $40 six inch cake. The pricing wouldn't be so painful if the service was better. I had always dreamt of a wedding cake from here but I'm so peeved about the service I wouldn't want to give them the business. Next cake I need, I'm praying Dinkel's is open.
(2)
Candace M.
This is one of my favorite bakeries...the tarts are wonderful, the cakes are delicious and Suanne is great! I would recommend this bakery to anyone having a special event!
(5)
s s.
We ordered our wedding cake and 90% of our dessert table from Bittersweet this past May and it definitely made for some great food memories of our big day. Everything from our tasting with Judy, to the actual final deliverables of the cake and desserts were handled with care and resulted in the most magical wedding cake I had ever tasted. Honestly. Not only was it beautiful, it tasted every bit as good as it looked. My plan is to order a mini-version of the cake on our anniversary every year and relive the good times. The only thing I wish were different was that I thought I ordered mini raspberry fruit tarts for the dessert table but was surprised that I received raspberry macarons instead. It was an honest mistake - but no worries - they were gobbled up just the same. Thank you Judy and crew!
(5)
Misse D.
What an amazing pastry shop. The desserts are delicious! This is a great place to stop in and get something. I wouldn't recommend the cafe for lunch though. It was difficult to get a table and the seats are sort of uncomfortable. And, if you order a sandwich, speciality drink, and dessert, the bill quickly adds up.
(4)
Melissa K.
I went to Bittersweet for a special dessert tasting for an event we were doing at the InterContinental. The lunch we had was good, the desserts we tried were outstanding and the service was great. I'm not quite sure if I would go back for real food, but I'll definitely go back for the desserts and there coffee drinks.
(4)
Melissa R.
Bittersweet is one of my favorites of the city. It's sweet and quaint, with both their food/drinks and decor. It's a perfect place for lunch or dessert and coffee with girlfriends. The menu is limited to a couple options for sandwiches, salads, soup, and quiches but they are all delicious and reasonably priced. Also, their berry lemonade is amazing!
(5)
Jay R.
I haven't been to Zurich in a while (per the other review), but I consider a lot of their food to be top caliber. They serve some, if not THE best tortes in the city!
(5)
Isa B.
Very pretty place, good sandwiches, great desserts. The chocolate chip cookies are super crispy and delicious. I heard the soups are good too.
(4)
Ellen M.
They did the desert table for my wedding and it brought joy into the lives of all who attended. I thought it was seeing us married, but it was the chocolate-dipped strawberries and pastries in the shape of swans that caused the real bliss.
(5)
James J.
Bittersweet by far has the best baguettes in the city. FANTASTIC. I just wish there staff was more helpful. Sometimes there will be three people behind the counter all not helping me - and i am standing there alone. Also, you ask for ingredients ("Does this brownie have nuts?") and you get an answer like "I don't know." Come on.
(3)
Gfiddy F.
The food is very good, and in particular the savory pastries are excellent. Saved a lot of work cooking for all those people.
(5)
Laura P.
Went here with some friends after seeing a show downtown. I wasn't sure if it would measure up to the Swedish Bakery, but I was pleasantly surprised! There is a cute seating area that is great to sit and relax while you eat your goodies. The sweets were very good, I even ended up taking home a box full of truffles & cookies to enjoy later. I would definitely recommend this place - especially if you need a fun, low key place to hang out, chat, and enjoy some sweets!
(4)
Rob C.
Should be on everyone's list when visiting Chicago. Pretty much, you'll probably find something that you like.
(4)
P W.
Uh oh, why didn't I have a heavenly experience here?!?! I popped in on Sunday to pick up holiday cookies for friends coming over last night. My favorite holiday cookies are the crazy decorated sugar cookies with icing or sprinkly sugar on top. Well, I zipped out w/ one dozen cookies to the tune of $36 dollars (hello?) and that same night, we bit into these ROCK HARD cookies. They were not even pleasant to eat, my friends and I were wiggling our teef w/ our tongues all night to make sure none of our choppers broke off and the rest of the cookies are going in the garbage. For $36 dollars a dozen, please make the cookies edible. I won't go back, if they cannot get a basic/staple like sugar cookies right. Part One of "The Nightmare Before Xmas - Cookie Style".
(2)
Beau C.
their flourless chocolate cake is the BEST!!
(5)
Stephanie H.
I picked up desserts for a Saturday evening get together. I can't wait to have an excuse to go back to this place. The desserts were great! I spent about $25, (5 girls)...I had 6 tarts (they were sooo good!), lemon bar and truffles. It was enough...I served with Strawberries. I went first thing Saturday morning. I highly recommend for pickup desserts!
(5)
Carol B.
In all my years living in Chicago, I never found a better bakery than Bittersweet. It's always great. Consistently great and a real French Patisserie.
(5)
Lise P.
ginger-peach scones are delicious! great coffee, hot chocolate the frosted cookies are so darn cute!
(4)
Parker L.
My first experience with Bittersweet, was last christmas when I was given a large tin of their cookies from a Vendor of mine at work. They were so cute, and tasted great. Since I have ordered a tart and pie, and have not been dissappointed. Very crowded in there sometimes. But worth the visit.
(4)
Retired B.
They have TONS of cookies, moreso than pastries. I had the french sable, linzer, thumbprint and shortbread. All were really tasty. I also tasted a tart, and the cream or curd was very flavorful. Too bad the sizes weren't that generous. The shop also has plenty of tables as well as cutesy non-food things to look at/buy.
(4)
Laila K.
This place is beautiful, very French inspired, marble floors and tables. small cafe tables, classical music playing (not too loud that it interrupts conversation). They carry Harney & Sons tea, which I love. They also sell lucious baked goods. The quiche is maybe the best I've ever had, with the most absolutely perfect crust hearty buttery crisp but not overdone. the vanilla cake with creme anglaise was equally wonderful, the cake wasn't too sweet and the anglaise had a slight lemony tang which complimented perfectly. don't even get me started about the flourless chocolate souffle. the service is good too, not pretentious, definitely more cafe/deli style than full service restaurant, they bring you your food and leave you in peace to enjoy the ambience.
(5)
Dee W.
I love Bittersweet's cakes - one of my friends even ordered her wedding cake from Bittersweet - there's just something about them that just melts in your mouth and you feel like you're in heaven - not too thick or sweet but just perfect.
(4)
Johnny B.
Our lamb cake for Easter sucked. It was VERY dry. I will give them the benefit of the doubt, because I'm sure they had to bake these in advance to have enough ready, but it still sucked.
(2)
A.S. V.
When your woman nearly bites your head off because it's that time of the month, you know it's time to visit Bittersweet and make an offering to appease the bitch goddess. Flourless chocolate cakes, fancy truffles, ice cream, they have it all. I never tried the pastries, because I prefer the chocolate goodies. Theres's also a pretty nice seating area to enjoy your dessert with some tea. Jolly good.
(5)
Harry S.
Ordered 2 cakes yesterday for my girlfriend's birthday on a recommendation from a friend and was very pleased. Judging by the amount of people asking me where I got the cake from, they were a definite hit.
(5)
Christian R.
This is why people live in large cities, for small place like this. it has a rotating lunch menu, delicious food, inexpensive and AMAZZING pastries and desserts. mmmm yummy! stop in for some free samples! Try the carrot jalapeo soup if they have it ! Its a small place though as far as seating so get there early!
(5)
Pamela S.
An excellent place for really great Mexican style hot chocolate. This stuff is what I grew up on in Texas, Hot Chocaolate with some spice to it, maybe they'll start serving Horchata in the summer time? One can only hope.
(5)
Nana H.
Bittersweet is way more sweet, then bitter. After seeing it on Check Please, I went in and had a sandwich, a tart and a cookie. They were all very good,but i do think for the price the cookie should of been at least 25% larger. The cafe area feels slightly frenchie- and they sometimes have samples of things for you try! If you walk around back to the bathroom you can see all the pastry chefs and etc working, in the flour and the big machines.
(4)
Whitney B.
After always walking past this place when it's closed, I happened to go by when it was open and had to go inside. I ordered a keylime cupcake and a raspberry scone. The cupcake was like eating a slice of key lime pie. I wasn't expecting much from it, but it surprised me with how good it was! and the scone was delicious. Reminded me of the scones that my grandma used to make me. The inside of this place was not what I was expecting, especially after going to cupcake places like Bleeding Heart and Sweet Mandy B's. It's very nice and somewhat fancy inside. Reminded me more of place you'd take your mom and grandma to for tea than somewhere you'd go with your friends for a snack. It was a nice, but unexpected change in bakery scenery for me. Reminded me of a french cafe sort of. The service here was nothing to write home about, but it wasn't terrible. The girls just seemed very unhappy to be dealing with anyone trying to give them business. Maybe it was a long day. Either way, I'd definitely go back for a scone or two, and maybe to try one of the lemon bars. They looked quite delicious when i was in.
(3)
R P.
I ordered a cake for my father's birthday party this past weekend, and I have to say it was just fabulous. I ordered a Black Walnut cake with cream cheese filling and frosting with apricot preserves! The cake was absolutely stunning and it couldn't have tasted better! Everyone at the event was raving about how delicious it was, which normally doesn't happen in my group. It was a great cake and as always, Bittersweet didn't disappoint!
(4)
Natalie S.
I first visited this place 8 1/2 months pregnant and wanting chocolate and lots of it. A woman next to me in line, whom I now refer to as "that brilliant goddess at Bittersweet last February" suggested the raspberry ganche tart and OH MY GOD. I will always love that woman. Everything I have ever had from this place was 5-star. Oh, and their Halooween coffin cookies are a horror nerd-slash- pastry weirdo's dream come true.
(5)
Jaclyn D.
We chose Bittersweet to make our wedding cake and it came out beautiful! It sure was delicious too! We had two flavors and both of them were outstanding. My husband even asks if we can get a taster cake each month. We loved it! We worked with Sue Anne and she was so nice and helpful. We were so happy with our wedding cake!
(5)
Candace T.
Best cakes ever! We've ordered two for special occasions in the last year, and they are the hit of the party. This past time we had banana cake, creme brulee and fresh raspberry filling, and chocolate glaze icing. AAAh-mazing!!!
(5)
Kristina F.
Bittersweet has a broad and gorgeous collection of truly delicious baked goods. They are the only bakery in Chicago that I have seen who's fondant artist rivals Alliance. My last birthday cake (chocolate filled with raspberry and some sort of vanilla creme, covered with dark chocolate ganache) was from here- It was gigantic, pretty and full of chocolatey goodness. They also have a selection of great gifts and candies.
(5)
Alejandra P.
Today was my little boy's birthday party. He had a Thomas the Train cake (original, I know) yet this cake was different. It was elegant, not gaudy, and it was delicious. We got a huge cake (for 35 peeps). It was vanilla (we usually get almond, but were afraid of kids allergies) with creme brule center and strawberries. DELICIOUS, not too sweet, just right. My little boy was so happy to see his favorite engine on his cake. Truly priceless!!
(5)
Tara T.
Everything I've had from Bittersweet has been amazing. The cake I ordered for my bf's law school graduation tasted as good as it looked. The fun, summer-themed cookies I brought to a kids' party were a huge hit. The cafe is a great place to go for a quiet breakfast/lunch. The only problem with Bittersweet is that I'm tempted to go there too frequently!
(5)
Pilsen C.
Never enough seating. Please, do not rush eating here, but dont take your "sweet" time either. It's Bittersweet when you do so....because then i have to take my food to go...
(2)
Jennifer P.
The word to describe this place is "civilized." Take your mom there on Mother's Day, or have a breakfast meeting over their beautiful bowl of hot chocolate with whipped cream. Staff is friendly, sweet things are delicious, atmosphere is pretty.
(4)
Blah B.
Now this bakery is over priced and the goods aren't so good!! Yes they are perfectly decorated almost to perfect to say the least. I purchased a cake for my sister's baby shower and yes it looked so beautiful but it just wasn't that great and it was so pricey. It tasted like something I could have gotten at Costco but sadly I paid bout 9 times the value!!! Wouldn't go back unless I need a cake as a decoration!!!
(1)
Lisa A.
Stopped into Bittersweet with some time to kill (and a hungry tummy to fill) before a dance concert at the Theater Building Chicago down the street. I chose an incredible white chocolate tart, lined with dark chocolate, filled with mild white chocolate cream and topped with a raspberry and three ridiculously thick and enormous white chocolate curls. The pleasant gal behind the counter wrapped up my treat in a slick white box, complete with chocolate-hued ribbon. Too bad I ripped it right off and devoured the unsuspecting tart as soon as I got to the bench outside. A semi-pricey treat at $3 a pop, but definitely delicious and artfully done.
(4)
Marie L.
Everything I've tried here so far was tasty but why the attitude, counter ladies? It's like I have to woo you just to get you to take my money for your overpriced albeit delectable baked goods.
(3)
michael b.
place is amazing. almost as good as paris with similar service if you know what i mean
(5)
Leah B.
Great place to decompress with your friends. good food and great location. You can make a day of it just wandering around Belmont.
(4)
Brad C.
This place is the perfect combination of atmosphere, service, and fare! We have not had an even mediocre treat from Bittersweet. Everything we've eaten there-cookies, bars, cakes, cupcakes, and brownies-has been spectacular. The staff provides outstanding service, always going the extra step to insure a delightful experience. Last night, we picked up my wife's birthday cake and decided to enjoy a slice at the cafe. The server decorated our plates meticulously; she removed the birthday wishes that were mounted on piece of chocolate atop the cake and placed the piece instead on my wife's plate with whipped cream and fruit glaze. Another server spent a good 10 minutes helping a tourist couple with recommendations and directions on a map. They are always incredibly accommodating and friendly, even at closing time. With an exposed brick interior painted white, the atmosphere has a very European feel. We actually schedule our dinner selections and reservations around Bittersweet's location, hours, and offerings.
(5)
Simone G.
walked in, walked out. Don't go if you're into vanilla, because you will have nothing available.
(1)
Stephanie B.
I cannot begin to say enough good things about Bittersweet. We used them for a sweets table last week for my wedding and we could not have been happier. My mom worked as a dessert caterer for years and between her tastes and my opinions, we pretty much walked into Bittersweet for our sweets table tasting with our own agenda of what we wanted to see made. Though I'm sure this threw Bittersweet off a bit, they took our list and created each dessert as we envisioned it. They were open to our ideas and recommended some of theirs that would compliment it and the whole display and taste of every dessert was wonderful looking and tasted great. We couldn't be happier with how it turned out, and we received more compliments than we could possibly count about the desserts. It seems the majority of our guests could not stop at one plateful of the desserts and we're so happy everyone enjoyed it as much as we did. I would highly recommend using Bittersweet if you're looking for a selection of different, fun, and wonderful tasting sweets! I'm still craving the miniature pumpkin whoopie pies they created for our big day :):
(5)
L N.
never disappoints and the most beautiful, exquisite cakes....
(5)
Joyce B.
I recently sampled a few things from this shop. I used to pass it all the time on the way home, and even stopped in once before to buy some brioche for making french toast. Unforch, they didn't have any. BUT this time, I tried a chocolate-caramel truffle lollipop, an apricot thumbprint, and a hazelnut ball cookie. The two cookies were just ok, they were a bit dry and made me really need a glass of water. No delicious buttery melt-in-your-mouth taste, just dry dough. The truffle was better, though. It was slightly larger than a regular one, and the chocolate and caramel were so combined that I actually had to stare at it to find out what crazy flavorness was going on in there. I would get that again.
(2)
Ross F.
The flourless chocolate cake is so good you might fall into a cocoa-induced coma. The staff is a little pretentious but who cares when you're talking about seriously great dessert.
(5)
Katie P.
the cupcakes weren't bad, a little too moist even maybe. but what i can't stand is the rudeness. we waited for 15-20 minutes for someone - and we had an appointment. not only was she curt during our meeting, but she seemed truly disinterested. no problem, i'll take my money elsewhere.
(2)
penny h.
I just have one word for the bakery ... HEAVEN :)
(5)
Andrew H.
This place is overrated. I went in there with the hopes of enjoying a piece of chocolate cake or a chocolate cupcake. I was surprised that neither could be found in the display. Ordering is confusing -- there are no prices anywhere and the staff will just stare at you instead of asking if you need help. I settled for a couple strawberry cupcakes and two chocolate cookies. It was almost ten bucks. I was disappointed.
(2)
Mary Kate R.
oh my gosh i love bittersweet so much. it helps me get through the day. i go there for a coffee, but am way more excited about seeing which sample they have out. it always smells so amazing in there, and i havent tried something that i didnt end up loving yet. the cookies are so delicious. really good espresso drinks too. i want to get married tomorrow purely for the cake tasting....
(5)
Shmerpy S.
i could pitch a tent here and live at the pastry display, intermittently stealing heavenly bits of short bread and tarts to remain alive. such a good shop and the brunch menu, while not extensive, always leaves you with delicious or on the other hand delicious options. i recommend eating here and sampling as many amazing deserts as possible afterwards. i have loved every soup ive ever had here and the quiche is not too shabby either. all around YUM!
(5)
Chris G.
Bought our wedding cake from here and absolutely loved the entire experience! Tasting was calm, easy and Sue Ann was very friendly. Even at the tasting, with these small bites of cake and ramekins of frostings and fillings, I knew the cake was going to be superb, and it was. Excellent price point, delivery and setup was never an issue to a venue 40 miles out of the city, and we even went back to add takeaway breakfast cakes for our guests which they were able to provide beautifully wrapped and ready to go on relatively short notice. (It helped that the other table there for a tasting at the same time as us was full of awful people who demanded cake to take home to the fiancee and were very bossy, while we went together and tried our best to be patient and happy. I mean, we were engaged for goodness sake) I highly recommend them for wedding cakes and takeaways, and yes, their macaroons are also awesome!
(4)
Lee C.
Every pastry I've had at Bittersweet was excellent, though I wasn't impressed with the chocolate cake I ordered there. Definitely frequent this place for coffee and tarts though. And their quiche is great too. It's just two blocks from the Belmont Red Line stop.
(5)
Gail T.
very nice counter ladies.. lovely pastries. ordered two cakes for loved ones there! they were both beautifully finished with buttercream with a nice neat look. you can create your own cake: pick your own buttercream (fondant is optional), cake filling: creme brulee custard to chocolate mouse, cake flavor: chocolate, to fruitcake with optional ingrediants within the filling like my favorite rasberry!! never seen anything like it. better of all you can choose the size which is a good price factor. the cheapest you could get is for four people $25. I usually get mine for $40 and they feed up to 12 people which i believe is a great deal. street parking but there is a loading spot rite in front of the store.
(5)
Daria Z.
Although this place is obviously a great bakery, they also serve as a mini-cafe. They have all sorts of lunch specials and the smells here are awesome. The pastry shop is award-winning and has been featured on WTTW's "Check, Please."
(4)
Chris S.
Super little cafe and bakery in Lakeview. Great pastries. Everything that comes out of the oven here is amazing, from cookies to wedding cakes. Small lunch menu with excellent food on it as well.
(5)
a w.
Bittersweet is a great bakery, probably the best in town. They have really tasty deserts, and they all look as good as they taste. This bakery also has a little cafe inside where you can sit and enjoy some coffee and desert. They also take orders for weddings and other events. Don't miss out on this great little bakery!
(5)
Liliana S.
FANTASTIC pastry shop. I just got to indulge in the wonderful world of pastries and chocolates from Bittersweet last week and my oh my was it ever so good. I definitely will be going back for more goodies!
(5)
ashley r.
i walked past this place and just couldnt resist! it looked yummy from the outside! my coffee and cookie hit my craving for an afternoon snack. good crowd and the free cake samples are fun too!
(4)
Brian L.
I am about to move to the Belmont/Clark area, so I have been sampling several of the neighborhood hotspots. My girlfriend and I went to Bittersweet for lunch and both of us loved our meals! She had a grilled cheese & mushroom sandwich. I had a slice of ham & cheese quiche - very big and buttery. We split a couple of sweets from the case because they looked too good to resist. The food was fabulous, the staff was friendly, and the place was spacious and clean. 5 stars!
(5)
G G.
It's overwhelming- every detail on every pastry is artistically designed- from poodle cookies to fanned fruit tarts. A definite treat.
(5)
Julia B.
Awesome Bakery! The Cakes are amazing and the cookies are to die for. If you are looking for a large portion of bakery goods I would suggest stopping in here!
(3)
Hannah H.
A cute little cafe off of Belmont, my friend and I came in here for some desserts. We tried out their Strawberry Rhubarb tart, their Strawberry Creme Brulee (both okay), and their iced Hot Chocolate. I absolutely enjoyed their iced Hot Chocolate as it had a great flavor, not too sweet, and had that bittersweet action going on. The whipped cream was also not too overpowering, and it came in a nice frosty glass mug with a straw. I would definitely come back here solely for that beverage! They also had some blueberry samples by the entrance as well as a case of Cookies n' Cream cupcakes for those who check-in/give shout outs on Facebook! Service was great and friendly, and they also had a little store of cupcake-decor novelty items (cupcake toppers, invitation cards, cupcake-shaped lip balm, etc.). Metered parking is available up along Belmont. Definitely a cute little dessert place! +iced Hot Chocolate :D
(4)
Justine M.
Love this place! It's so adorable. They have well made bakery items and their store is so nicely displayed. They also have a little corner that sells stationary items/gift items/cards, etc. Another section has tables where you can have a nice quiet lunch and then there's the beautiful display of pastries along the front. A friend and I purchased a bag of "mess up" cookies, macaroons, biscotti, bread, etc. for $3! So you can get a variety of things in one little bag. We also got the three macaroons (chocolate $.80, almond $.80 and raspberry - $1.50) and a individual sized raspberry cheesecake ($3). A total of $10. They were all DELICIOUS. My favorite was the raspberry macaroon. It was made with the PERFECT texture. Melted in your mouth. I plan to come back and take all my visitors here to have a cute lunch and buy some goodies :). I also love that they had samples of mini cakes by the door!
(5)
Shelly A.
This place immediately won me over because of its great interior look and vibe. It reminds me of places in my old neighborhood in Manhattan, and for some reason you don't see places like this too much around Chicago. It has a very different look compared to the more modern bakeries and coffeeshops. I feel like Bittersweet is less gimmicky and more classic. We tried a few bakery items, and they were just average. The macarons were fine, but I've definitely had better. However, many of their other bakery items are also sold at my local Whole Foods, so I can totally vouch for them. Many of the cookies - my favorite are the thumbprints! - are super popular at Whole Foods and tend to be a bakery staple. The drinks were great, I especially liked my Italian Soda which wasn't too sweet and had a great flavor. I'd probably come back only if I was intending to dine-in, considering the physical space was my favorite part. It looks like others have liked their special-order cakes, so it's definitely a place to keep in mind for that, too!
(3)
Hanan V.
I went to Bittersweet for a small, simple wedding cake after an experience with Alliance Bakery went sour (my husband and I loved both cakes but Alliance tried to screw us over by charging us extra because I dropped the word "wedding"). Anyway, the cake we had tasted was the red velvet with cream cheese and it was lovely and rich and not too sweet. So we ordered a 12 inch cake for 45 guests, which the lady assured me would be plenty, because they make FOUR LAYER CAKES. And she was right. The cake was perfect and beautiful and everyone was satisfied with a rich, thick slice of cake. The 12 inch round cake cost 70 (a similar size cake from Alliance would have put us back 190) The decorations were beautiful, I requested a smooth, simple design (which worked well because they top red velvet cakes with buttercream), and they put fresh flowers as a decoration on top (they gave me the choice between fresh flowers, sprinkles, chocolate shavings or one other thing...I think it was confetti). I was very satisfied with my experience and will definitely come back if I ever need a cake for a special occasion.
(5)
Leslie K.
We ordered a birthday cake (first time ordering from this bakery) for our soon to be 5 year old & it was FANTASTIC! We picked up the cake this afternoon, street parking was easy enough. The bakery is very cute but elegant. They balance the offerings very well & all of it was tasty. We ordered the pinkberry cake with milk chocolate& fudge frosting. We ordered an 8" round & they wrote the HBD message very nicely. We also purchased a variety of items from the case and those were excellent! I had a nutty buddy cupcake (AWESOME!), other items were: almond biscotti, homemade Oreo cookie, gingerbread heart, decorated apple cookie, and a raspberry linzer - all excellent!!! The staff member who assisted us was very helpful & patient as we gawked at the case trying to figure out what we wanted. We paid (very reasonable - the Mr. was pleased) and loaded up in our car to head home. We didn't make it out of our parking spot before we began handing out the goods. EVERYONE was pleased! Someone even saved a bite of the homemade Oreo to enjoy with milk! Now that says a lot (for us dessert fanatics anyway). We had part 1 of the birthday celebration today & the cake was super tasty! Thank you Bittersweet! Our experience was all sweet & no bitter! We will be back for more (of everything!)!!! :-)
(5)
Vesuvi T.
I was so in the mood for a burger... but Indie Burger had closed down... so I wandered west until I found Bittersweet. I got a salad, which was good. I then tried some of the cupcakes and truffles. Now, I might've given this place the highest rating... but a couple of years ago, when visiting my brother, I went to a bakery (on Broadway, now closed) which was even better. So, although everything was good here... it suffers (slightly) from comparison. But it should also be noted that they sells gifts as well as food and treats.
(4)
Maria L.
A beautiful shop with pastries that dazzle the eye and palate. I placed a large order of cookies to give as gifts, all packaged so lovely and delicious, as well as sauces for ice cream or fruit...mmmmmmmmm. Have enjoyed breakfast and lunch on many occasions. Everything just wonderful, quiches, scones, soups, salads, sandwiches. Last summer, our daughters wedding cake - perfect! This is the place to go for beautiful pastires to impress guests or treat yourself.
(5)
Bri B.
I HATED CUPCAKES, and then I met Bittersweet. That red velvet cupcake with the cream cheese icing is to die for! I loved that the icing isn't too sweet. I loved that the cupcake was moist. I bought the cupcakes for my best friend's birthday because she loves cupcakes, and I ended up eating all of that girl's cupcakes! We also went another time before my amazing cupcake day and ordered a few pastries. I don't remember their names. The small chocolate pastry was delicious. I wasn't crazy about the tart or the creme brulee cheesecakey one? Not sure what that was...so that's the only reason there aren't 5 stars on here, but those cupcakes...WOAH!!!
(4)
Em K.
My wife and I used Bittersweet for our wedding cakes (1 gluten free and 1 gluten full) and they did a wonderful job. It was so good that my wife decided she wanted a replica of the GF wedding cake for her birthday. I called and scheduled the cake for pick up 2 weeks early. Called again the morning I picked it up to make sure it was all good and to ensure it was GF, i was assured. Got there at 5pm to pick it up, and it wasn't GF. It was my wife's birthday and she had been craving this sucker for weeks now. Needless to say i was really upset. They had no GF cakes in the shop, so i would be coming home with nothing on my wife's birthday. After venting for about 5 minutes, a woman who appeared to be the manager or owner came to my aid. She offered to make a macaroon cake for us for today and make the cake the next day...both free of charge. When I first found out the cake was not GF there was no question in mu mind I would never return. But with the way they handled it, I will not only return but will recommend this place to others. This is how a successful business makes up for their mistakes and keeps their customers loyal.
(5)
Deborah T.
I have been going to Bittersweet Bakery for many years...got my wedding cake there 13 years ago. And this year bought my brother his wedding cake there..recently, I had an opportunity to speak with the owner..she was helpful, gracious and generous! After our conversation she had her driver send me wonderful pastries as a gift! What a warm gesture..this will be always remembered sweetly..
(5)
SK R.
We have ordered two cakes from here, one for our baby shower and the other for our baby's three month birthday. Both times, they were extremely good with customer service and the cake was amazing! We got the fudge cake with bittersweet ganache and they added some decorations for free! Not anything super fancy, but cute and thoughtful. We will definitely be goon back here for special occasion cakes. Their space is very nice and they have an amazing selection of desserts and beverages.
(5)
LIDA A.
Ok - still no cake cutters - but this time I ordered the Lemon cake with buttercream frosting and fresh fruit filling - it was PHENOMENAL I highly recommend it for the summer! Absolutely delicious and refreshing. Keep up the great baking!!!
(5)
Jim P.
My wife and I purchased our wedding cakes (yes cakes) from Bittersweet. Nancy was great to work with and the cakes were amazing! 100% worth a look for your wedding or event.
(5)
Ali C.
Their pastries are simply out of this world - crazy good. We received two boxes as presents from a friend and our whole office fought over who would get which piece. The closest I have had to experiencing this level of quality was in Europe. Well done!
(5)
Niti B.
Not sure why it has taken me so long to come here but so glad I did! I was like a kid in a candy store! Wasn't sure what to try and and what to pass up. Walking in the place is so cute and I love that they serve lunch and have a shop as well! I had the sundae cupcake, hazelnut hazenult cupcake, chocolate dipped coconut macaroons, red velvet cakepops, chocolate banana cakepops, passion fruit macaroon, mocha chocolate tart, and espresso chocolate tart!! Of course I shared everything with my girls!! Can't say anything was a disappointment. I think that the prices are average and the variety is amazing. Will never hesitate to go back and try more!
(4)
Laura L.
I love Bittersweet's brioche. Their spinach quiche. Their wedding cake!! We had an amazing tasting at Bittersweet that was presented so beautifully. All the cakes were so moist and tasty that we had a hard time choosing which ones to use. We ended up doing carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and almond cake with creme brulee and raspberry filling with fudge cake. So divine. The cake was gorgeous in all its 3 tiered beauty. Simple, elegant. I loved it. The staff at Bittersweet are always so kind and helpful it continues to me my go to spot for brunch or cookies. Love.
(5)
Tricia D.
Things you should know about Bittersweet: - they have table service if you're planning on staying to eat your treats. - take a number by the door if you're gonna take it to go. - try the cheddar scone! - ice cream available! - the black and white cupcake was super fresh and moist and delectable. - I'll be back.
(4)
Alicia K.
Holy croissant heaven! I started coming to this place because I was taking classes at Stage 773 for work. SO TASTY!! The assortment of baked goods is plentiful - no matter what hour of the day. I must try the fruit tarts over the summer. They look absolutely scrumptious!
(5)
Sandra H.
I have been a loyal customer of Bittersweet for many years, and over the years I have tried a huge variety of Bittersweet baked goods. Everything I have tried has been excellent. In fact, my mother, who is a very accomplished baker in her own right, can always tell when I serve something from Bittersweet. This past week I ordered two Bittersweet birthday cakes. The cakes were decorated so beautifully and were so delicious that I decided to write this review (my first ever yelp review). The birthday party was held downstate, so I had to drive the cakes a long distance. The staff at Bittersweet helped me choose cakes that would survive the road trip and even provided me with a styrofoam cooler big enough to transport the cakes on ice. With the help of the staff, I decided to order a torte with lemon sabyon filling and a carrot cake. They were big hits and survived the drive beautifully! I am so grateful to Bittersweet for helping to make the birthday party a big success!
(5)
Tara P.
Scones are so delicious, large and fluffy and not overly sweet. Each one has a different shape. If you order a blueberry scone which I did this morning, it is full of blueberries. Raisin, full of raisins. Chocolate, full of chocolate chips. They do not skimp on their ingredients, and I have tried all their other varieties. Your able to taste the amazing taste of the scone along with the added ingredients. The perfect balanced taste. Amazing with their hot chocolate or tea. Their hot chocolate has a unique flavor, with an amazing after taste. It's not your typical hot chocolate and is served in a beautiful white pot which keeps the hot chocolate hot. Yes, their pasties and cookies and cupcakes are delicious too, but this review is mainly for their scones. They need to improve on their service. I was sitting quite a while before someone came over, and I had to flag them down. I always serve their scones when I have company and my guests love them. It's a change from serving cookies and cake and the presentation looks beautiful on my table.
(4)
Bonnie A.
I have walked past this bakery a few times and decided to stop in there to get something. It was so worth it! Their pastries, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, macarons, and tarts are all worth trying! My favorite is their passion fruit macaron. Nothing seems to beat that for me. I would come here and buy 10 passion fruit macarons and devour them. One time I had a fresh out of the oven apple turnover and it was ridiculously good...I love the decor of this place too.
(5)
Stacey M.
I have fond memories of Bittersweet Bakery from birthday cake celebrations in college with my friends! Because of this, I knew they would be the perfect place to go for our wedding cake and sweets table. Nancy was so easy and lovely to work with! She helped us design the perfect cutting cake to match our ceramic bird toppers. The tasting was delicious and beautiful - we tried every flavor cake and filling (this is standard) as well as all of the bite-sized sweets for our sweets table. We ordered more sweets for the table than we thought we would need but they were so delicious and such a hit that we ended up with barely any leftover! You better believe we have those leftovers tucked away in the freezer and cannot wait for our first year anniversary to enjoy them again. My husband and I highly recommend Bittersweet! We will absolutely be going back for any cake/sweets needs in the future.
Our wedding cake came from Bittersweet a few weeks ago. It was elegant, beautiful, and most importantly, delicious. They have a wonderful selection, and the process was the easiest part of planning our wedding. I wish I had gotten to eat more cake on our wedding night, but what I did have was delish! Thank you, Nancy, for making such a beautiful and scrumptious cake for our biggest day :-)
(5)
FoodLover Z.
I've had a mixed experience at Bittersweet. There were pastries I've tried here that were great, but most of the others were just about ok. It's a cute little place and the people are nice, so I'd go here again, but there are better patisseries in town.
(3)
Leigh J.
Every soup that comes out of the kitchen at Bittersweet is spectacular. It seems like they must start with a variation of the same delicious base before adding and adapting for the flavour du jour. There seems to be some cream or butter involved - though not enough to call it a "cream of" - because not many things that don't have butter taste like this soup does. The top is sprinkled with some very tasty homemade croutons that disintegrate ever so slightly while maintaining their buttery crunchiness, and you get a soft slice of fresh bread on the side for dipping. Best of all, you can order it paired with a half sandwich or half salad. Bittersweet uses quality ingredients and I have liked most everything I have tried from their menu board, which changes every day. And as long the soup is involved somewhere in your order, you really can't go wrong. The only reason they don't get five stars from me is because I haven't really loved all of the their pastries--though some have been good. I'm usually too full for dessert anyhow. The savory food is what keeps me going back.
(4)
Emily S.
We got the most delicious cake from here for our wedding!!! It was sooooo good, we received so many compliments! We worked with Nancy and was very helpful. We wanted a small tiered cake just for pictures and then had them make larger sheet cake for the remainder of the guests- our small cake was still beautiful and the sheet tasted just as good. We've gotten a few cakes from here before and will definitely continue to go to them in the future!
(5)
Jose C.
Bittersweet is consistently one of, if not the best bakery in Chicago. I have been eating here for years and can rave about everything from their fruit tarts to cakes, to even their amazing home made ice cream (cappuccino is awesome). They have a limited menu everyday with quiche a soup and a sandwich, as well as a few salads. It is hard to pick a favorite, but their carrot soup & potato quiche are my personal loves. Another must try is their hot chocolate. This is a must visit.
(5)
Lily S.
I live nearby and come here often. The food is normally really fresh and delicious, bakery items and coffee are all generally good as well. I wish I could give this place 5 stars, but the service is just really bad. There are maybe one or two employees there who are great, but more often then not it seems to be someone who has no idea what is going on. Incredibly slow table service and unable to answer questions. I keep going because its close, but the bad service is making it harder and harder. I also wish they would let you pay from your table if you eat in, the pay at the counter system is confusing and most of the staff are too timid to keep the line moving correctly.
(3)
Amanda P.
We had so much fun at our cake tasting here! The staff could not have been nicer and the cakes & fillings were Excellent! So moist & flavorful! I brought a few people along with me and they made us feel so welcome the whole time we were there. Waiting on pricing now but I have no doubt that they would do a spectacular job for our wedding!
(5)
Jessica V.
Recently the owner reached out to me to offer a couple of free cupcakes so I can retry them. Although I will respectfully decline because I no longer live in the area, I sincerely appreciate when owners respond to reviews and do so in a respectful way as opposed to getting defensive. That says a lot about not only the owner but the business in general and perhaps I had a bad experience or my picky tendencies over shadowed they're delicious treats. I will be back to try again knowing I am giving business to a company that does appreciate their customers.
(4)
gerard n.
Bittersweet is a wonderful place to pick up a wonderful pastry or for breakfast/lunch. Staff is helpful and prompt. had mushroom quiche for breakfast - nice presentation with fruit (grapes, kiwi, pineapple) could not resist a scone for the road - raisin, was delicious. of course, you must, must try the chocolate truffles!
(5)
Patricia R.
Overall the pastries and daily soups, sandwiches and salads are excellent. I would have given them 5 stars but find the only thing they need to improve on is their service. Primarily when eating there they can be slow at times.
(4)
Ruth G.
Beautiful cakes that taste even better than they look (and they looked great)! I needed a special occasion cake and the restaurant that was hosting my party recommended Bittersweet. Even though I was calling with short notice (3-4 days in this case), they were able to accommodate two 14-inch cakes given 48-hour notice. I'm not sure how they measure, because these cakes were huge! Maybe the measure is the radius instead of the diameter. The person who answered the phone took the time to answer all my questions and walk me through their Facebook page where I was able to see an album of choices and be guided through which decorations involved an up-charge and which were included in the pricing. We ended up with two cakes (not their largest) and it was more than enough for 100+ guests, many of who could not resist a second slice. We chose fudge-fudge-caramel and carrot cake, both of which were fantastic. They helped me coordinate the decorations so that they were different but coordinated. A lovely presentation! I would definitely use them again for a special event!
(5)
michele b.
addicted to their hot chocolate. it's not sweet, it has some subtle spices. it's rich and rewarding in a deep spiritual way. their sausage quiche is amazing. so light and fluffy and well....you just have to try it.
(5)
Melissa M.
I did not have a good experience here. This place is huge, and seems almost like a tourist gift shop in an airport than an independently owned bakery. First, the service was incredibly slow. And rude. We waited about 20 minutes just to place our order, and 10 more minutes just to have them take our croissants from the bins and place them on a plate for us. The food itself was also meh - nothing special at all. I also had an almond macaron, which was terrible. It was horribly constructed and also tasted terrible. Won't be returning.
(1)
Adam J.
Today was my first experience and I absolutely fell in love! The moment you step in the door you feel like you are in a mom and pop store yet it has the look of sheer elegance. The precision to detail with the food in presentation is flawless and the taste is just as amazing. I am a new loyal customer to Bittersweet! My only suggestion would be more cupcakes!!! Will not be my last visit.
(5)
Larissa A.
I have eaten a lot of scones. I've had every flavor you could imagine and have tested every recipe at home, but I have never had a scone this good. I took a bite, expecting mediocrity and could not get enough. I took another bite. It had just the right about of sugar, the right about of flakiness, the right texture and the best flavor. This is the best scone I have ever tasted.
The good: I enjoyed my hot chocolate which had hints of orange to it and was served on a plate with a cup, a pot for the drink, and a little container for the whipped cream. It was a very cute presentation. I enjoyed my salted macaron which had a good texture and was flavored well. I also enjoyed the little shop area with cute baking supplies, cookbooks, etc. The bad: The hazelnut cupcake I had was mediocre. The prices for some of their baked items seemed really high and the staff was quite unfriendly.
(3)
Jon D.
I really do want to like this place, it's down the street and incredibly freaking convenient. It's clean, has a cute little cafe, and a friendly staff. Unfortunately, that ends the collection of "yays" about this place. I've had two experiences, which doesn't seem like a lot, but was enough to turn me off all together. One was a birthday cake which was fancy, but not super fancy, as in it was appropriately iced in an even layer, not glopped on. The flavors were a bit blah, and the whole experience left me wanting more. We stopped by again this weekend to pick up some cookies for a party. Every single cookie was rock hard. I get that some folks enjoy a crispy cookie, although crispy cookies aren't generally this thick. Bittersweet makes the kind where you feel you MAY chip a tooth. This was the experience over 6 varieties. A bit over priced for what you get.
(2)
Traci G.
Finally made a visit here in July and was thoroughly pleased with everything!
(5)
Bethami M.
Since Phoebe's cupcakes closed, I needed a new place nearby to get my cupcake fix. After partaking in ample yelp research, I came across Bittersweet. What a better first time to try out pastries than Valentine's Day? I decided I wouldn't write this review until I tried every single thing in my box. When walking into the shop, I realized the space is a little crowded, around 1pm. This was probably just part of the Valentine's Day busier crowd. You pull a number (like at grocery stores) and you wait for your turn to get called. As a first time customer, I didn't realize the whole number-scheme, and my friend and I were a little late on pulling our numbers. Anyway I ended up not even getting a cupcake. I got three different macaroons, the passionfruit tart (heart-shaped), and the mini chocolate red velvet cake thing. There was NOTHING that wasn't above and beyond amazing. I'm normally not the hugest fan of macaroons, but that salted caramel flavored one absolutely blew me away. The passionfruit tart was also super fabulous. There wasn't an overabundance of meringue, and there was actually chocolate on the bottom of the tart. So delicious, and I ate it over four sittings--it's huge! Can't wait to go back again, and hopefully in the near future.
(5)
Grace R.
Bittersweet's flavor is beyond compare. Many of our guests told us it was the best wedding cake they'd ever had! Bittersweet made us an amazing 3-tiered wedding cake (with 3 different flavors!) and also worked with us for additional sweets, including custom-colored macarons made just for us (they were delicious!) I would have preferred slightly more consultation on design aesthetic - unfortunately some messaging got lost in the cracks during a personnel change - but the outcome, though not what I'd originally envisioned, was still beautiful, and the taste was undeniably delicious!
(4)
Karen Z.
I ordered a birthday cake from Bittersweets and I liked it a lot! They used dark chocolate for foster, which makes the cake tasty and not too sweet. I especially like the texture of the cake. Definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Mary R.
I was assigned with the task of ordering a cake for the bridal shower of a coworker in the office, and had no idea where to start. I stumbled upon Bittersweet and saw that they could deliver to the Loop and that they had good reviews, so I decided to go for it. I ordered it on a Tuesday to be delivered on a Friday, and called to confirm on a Thursday. Everything went smoothly and without a hitch. The cake was beautiful and tasted great--everybody loved it! It was nice because it was a cake large enough to feed 40 people, but still looked nice and neat. It was a round cake, which I found wasn't a common option with the amount of people I needed to feed (I think the round looked nicer than a sheet cake). The price was also very good for the high quality $70 for a 12" round, with a $20 delivery fee. Everyone, especially the bride to be, was very happy, and now I'm afraid I'll be the designated cake orderer. Bittersweet will get our business again!
(5)
Linda T.
omg. i was cheap and decided to get the one day old pastries that's half price. ate the raisin scone and man....it was still delicious! now i want to go back and try their fresh scones....in addition to their cakes and pecan rolls!
(4)
Tal C.
5 stars for their lunch fare+3 stars for pastries=4 stars overall I used to live right around the corner from this place, and stopped by often for lunch. They always have 2-3 sandwiches (I believe always at least one vegetarian), 2-3 salads, a couple soups, and a quiche. I love the Mediterranean salad that they have often, and the grilled cheese and turkey/brie sandwiches. The quiche is also good. It's a really cute place to sit down and have a coffee/lunch, but also a good option for carrying out as they're usually pretty quick. I don't love their pastries- I've tried some of the cookies and cupcakes and they always taste kind of superficial to me. They're good, but they don't taste homemade like some bakeries' pastries do. They do have day old breads though, which are dirt cheap and always worth buying because they're definitely still good.
(4)
elibbybet r.
The coffee is terrific. The food is delicious. The pastries are divine. If you're looking for a place to have lunch, coffee, or a sweet...this is your place. Hands down. If I had only been a walk-in customer, this place would have five stars. So, why only four stars? Well, we ordered our wedding cake here. The tasting was AMAZING. We couldn't decide, so we got two flavors, banana with passionfruit filling and hazelnut with mocha filling. Both flavors were delicious. Then came time to design the cake. We had a very unusual design in mind, unfortunately, and I think we didn't explain ourselves very well. Well, they did their best. It was a rather odd looking cake. But it tasted GREAT. Moist and flavorful. Really spectacular. So...my suggestion to brides wanting a cake from here? GO TRADITIONAL WITH THESE GUYS. Don't try to take them out of their element, design-wise. Believe me. The taste will win anyone over.
(4)
Carolyn L.
What a darling little shop on Belmont! I noticed this place while I've been riding the bus every day and decided to stop in today to pick up a cake for my mom's birthday. I chose a small flourless chocolate cake and it was MIGHTY GOOD. Rich, creamy, decadent, and moist. There was nothing I could improve on it! So happy I have leftovers so I can eat it for dessert during the week. I also picked up some vanilla extract, a cookie cutter in the shape of the Eiffel Tower (I'm obsessed with everything French!), and a mini Vosges chocolate bacon bar for my mom. It really is such a sweet place. I'd love to go back and try some of their macarons! A bit pricey, but the chocolatey goodness made it worth it.
(4)
Marjorie F.
My friend and I, both having recently traveled to Paris, were in search of a real French macaroon (not like Au Bon Pain - but those are really good too). In order to "deserve" a sweet treat, we trekked 3 miles from my apartment up to Bittersweet. Was it worth it? You betcha! We sat down in the cafe for lunch. My friend H had some kind of quiche - which she loved. I had a tuna melt which was OK - a little different. I'm not used to capers in my tuna salad. I don't think I would order it next time. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to sandwiches. The best part, by far, was the dessert. I had the chocolate souffle cake. Ooh la la!!! It was reminiscent of my trip to Paris when I had a hazelnut souffle that made me want to cry. OK, so I didn't really cry, but I was speechless for a while... After our meal, we bought some macaroons. The selection was limited to cranberry and nutella. Of course, we purchased both! They were very expensive at $2 per piece. We made sure to enjoy every morsel. Overall, I left fully satiated with dreams of a future rendevous with another piece of chocolate souffle cake.
(4)
Mary J.
Chocaholics, go here! That's not all that they have, but that's what I've eaten from here. My SIL got us not one, but two treats for dinner last night and boy were they yummy. The smoothness and intensity of the dark chocolate helped me ignore the terrible storm outside. We had a turtle brownie tort and some chocolate, fudgey, raspberry thing. Sorry, there was no label on the box and I was just catching a buzz from the great chocolate taste. Run, do not walk here!
(5)
Julia R.
This is a LOVELY bakery. Although I've not been to France (yet) this is what I imagine a french bakery would be like. Classy with unbelievably good pastries. This is a great place to sit on a Sunday morning with a newspaper. The first time I visited Bittersweet I am quite sure we were served by the owner. She was kind and helpful and even threw in a few of "her favorites" for free! I have quite an obsession with croissants and eat them at absolutely every chance I get. They require a lot of TLC to make and so I figure it's a good way to rate a bakery (as a novice baker I have tried to make them many times - even with Julia Child's recipe - and have ended up with not-so-good-results). The croissants at Bittersweet are awesome! Whether you're looking for quiche, baguette, cookies or scones, Bittersweet is the BEST.
(5)
Vanessa R.
I emailed a pic of an owl that was the theme for my daughter's first birthday to ask if they could make a cake like this. They said yes:). They made the design out of gum paste (not sure if that is fondant). They were great with following up with me by phone after emailing them. Very professional. On the day of my daughter's birthday, everyone was in love with the cake! I had a few guests say that it was too pretty to cut. I felt the same way! But then I tasted the cake and... Yummmm...we cut the rest of the cake:) We will have all of our special occasion cakes from them now!
(5)
Katy O.
My brother and his wife discovered Bittersweet maybe 8 years ago when they were living nearby. They started buying pastries, tarts and cakes to bring to parties and everyone always enjoyed them. Two years ago Bittersweet was on our short-list for wedding cakes. We had such a fun time at our cake tasting here and everything was delicious but we stuck with our (somewhat cheaper) favorite bakery (SMB). The wedding cake coordinator (that may or not be her actual title) was so helpful and accommodating. You should definitely check this place out if you are getting married. I have never eaten in the cafe, but all of their baked goods are delicious and I have tried a wide selection. This is a very cute shop and a cozy place to grab a cup of coffee or a sandwich.
(4)
Lizz M.
Not sure how I could've forgotten to review these guys, they're amazing! Their pastries are so detailed and gorgeous, and are absolutely delicious. What put them over the edge for me and why they get five stars, though? CAKE! I ordered a birthday cake from them last May for a joint birthday, and they did NOT disappoint! You get to build your own cake. I chose vanilla cake with lemon curd, and they made me lemon frosting at my request. The cake was decorated beautifully, and tasted AMAZING! Not too sweet, and not overly frosted, perfection. Even though the cake was small it lasted a long time because the cake was so rich and filling. Do recommend!
(5)
Stephanie H.
Bittersweet's Flourless Chocolate cake is best in the world. I've not tried anything better (at least not on 3 continents). If you are a connoisseur, this is a must. The deep chocolate is to the dark-chocolate lovers' delight. It is creamy inside and a little goes a long way. This is a taste to savor. It is a thick texture and the cocoa powder exterior really complements the melting (ganache?) of the inside. This is like the sophisticated grown-up child of brownies and pudding. A very fine cake to savor in good company. Very reasonably priced too. Yelper Kevin C. says, "The simple presentation allows the cake to shine as the star attraction (no distracting sauces or garnishes to take away from it)." I agree. Simple presentation, abundant flavor. I'm impressed. Seriously, I've had this cake about 3 times in my life and I can remember every occasion. This is a quality creation, I'd love to meet whoever is putting the love behind this one.
(5)
Kristine L.
Bittersweet prepared our wedding cake (and grooms cake) for our August 2011 wedding. We hosted our wedding reception at the Mid-America Club, which works exclusively with Bittersweet. I had enjoyed Bittersweet cakes and pastries previously, so was excited that our wedding cake would be prepared by Bittersweet. Our cake tasting appointment with Judy was great. She spent time discussing with us what we were looking for (both aesthetics and flavors). She asked us what our favorite desserts were and then went in the back and whipped up some amazing filling and cake flavors for us to sample. We ended up choosing two flavors for our cake: chocolate fudge cake with peanut butter mousse and chocolate filling and almond cake with creme brulee filling and apricot preserves. Our cake design came out great! The colors were not identical to our wedding colors, but they did great working from a copy of our invite to incorporate our style and certain design elements. Our cake tasted great. The only issue we had (this didn't bother me, but really bothered my husband), was that we had requested that the cake tier we cut into during our reception be the chocolate/PB cake and it wasn't. I secretly worked with Bittersweet to design a surprise grooms cake for my husband. It turned out terrific! He is a serious runner/marathoner, and Bittersweet designed a cake that mimicked his running shoe and had a marathon medal laying across it (I sent them pics to go off of). They also made this cake any flavor I wanted (I opted for chocolate with chocolate filling). Bittersweet did a great job of executing this and keeping it a secret! One of the greatest things about Bittersweet is that they say they will bake you a small cake to eat on your one year anniversary (so long as you send them a picture of your cake) so that you don't have to freeze your top tier for a year. I am really looking forward to that (and my husband is really looking forward to having his chocolate/PB cake!!).
(4)
Timo R.
I had a friend who would often bring cupcakes from Bittersweet to me... so, those pretty-much solidified my appreciation of them before even having visited the cafe itself. I also, eventually, had lunch there... and it was quiet, sophisticated... and just as sweet (although in a different way).
(5)
Nick G.
Very pleased with our wedding cake! Many guests said it was the best cake they had ever tasted. Very easy to work with - worth the price.
(5)
Li M.
We just celebrated our anniversary with the free cake that Bitter Sweet made for us. We ordered our wedding cake last year. We worked with Nancy and she is super helpful and professional to give us all recommendations. The cake they made was amazing. Not too sweet like most of the wedding cake. They told us last year that we do not need to save the top part of the cake， they will make us a fresh one this year. Their communication is super as well. Nancy replies emails with all the information you need right away.
(5)
Hannah C.
After spending many many evenings walking down Belmont and thinking, "that place looks so cute," I finally made it in just before they closed. Great selection of cookies, chocolates, and cupcakes. Just before close, cupcakes are 2 for 1! Unfortunately, nothing I tried was that good. The cupcake cake was pretty dry (although chocolate cake ones were more moister than vanilla based cakes). And the frosting is a dull buttercream that tastes like cheap cannoli filling. If you're not looking for a rich frosting, the milk and cookies cupcake was cute and filled with different types of frosting. The mint chocolate chip at least had some flavor. My final morsel was a salted chocolate truffle, which sadly tasted only like baking cocoa. I probably won't be back, especially since they aren't open late enough for me to make bad decisions after a visit to Cheesie's.
(3)
Jessi R.
Cakes and stuffs are good! They have the deal last hour of the day, buy 2 cup cakes for price of 1, and buy 2 breakfast muffin/ scone for the price of one! I normally get 1 cup cake and 1 muffin, they just charge me the one higher price One day, the lady said no, I have to buy 2 cup cake and 2 muffin,( which I don't need), I said, I ve come to the store for over 2 years and all the cashier let me mix and match! She said, whoever did so are wrong! I said can I talk to the manager ? She shout at me, I am one of them!!! I want to tell her how the hell kind of manager you are? Are u kidding me? If u are a " good" manager, U wouldn't shout and disrespect ur customer like that! And if u are a " good" manager: you would have trained your staffs not to do mix and match for the last years!! Finally, I tell her let me talk to your higher manager and she shut up and tell the girl to let me mix and match! I feel so bad for the store with good stuffs and good atmosphere, kind of high end, but some of the staffs are so mean and have no customer service skill! Especially the one" call" herself manager!
(2)
Britta S.
We ordered our wedding cake with Nancy from Bittersweet. It was amazing! First off: the communication was fast and easy. Second: the tasting was so well organized and we could try really anything and any combination of flavor! After settling for two (multiple tier cake) different flavor combinations, we talked about the design and to our surprise, Nancy said that it would not be a problem at all and I should just leave the pictures with her and they will create something. And she didn't understate: the cake looked exactly like we wanted it! And we don't even need to talk about the taste: amazing! Our guests were impressed and loved it! Thank you, Nancy and Bittersweet, for making our day even more special!
(5)
Nicole H.
I had the the tastiest chicken caesar sandwich! The brioche roll it was served on was sooo, sooo good. It was buttery and light and complemented the chicken very well. I also had a carrot muffin that was really delicious. When I eat here, the food is so good and tastes so well made that the price doesn't even bother me.
(4)
Angela P.
The Strawberry-Rhubarb macaron was one of the best ones I've had. The strawberry-rhubarb center was part cream and a surprising part fruit jam. The Lavender macaron was just OK. I was a little surprised that the FIRST thing we encountered upon entering was a sign indicating that we should watch our belongings, because pick-pocketing has occurred here. Well, okay... The last thing we noticed were the samples by the front door. The sugar cookie was really good, and my friend raved about the white cake. The employees weren't the friendliest. They seemed in a hurry to get us to sit down at a table, but we wanted to look at the bakery case first. The dining room was cramped, and I didn't feel like having to wait to be seated. It was faster to just order our items and go, so we took our goodies to the coffee shop across the street.
(3)
Tnon A.
Doesn't matter how you feel when you walked in, but I always walk out of here with a smile :D wonderful sweets that could lift up your soul with a great service from smiley staffs plus great ambience...
(5)
Evie H.
Bittersweet is one of those places where you want to keep returning to even though you know deep down it's not good to do so. They have so many little dessert creations that it leaves me very conflicted on what to order each time I ignore my deep down feelings and pop in anyway. + easily walkable from the Belmont or Wellington 'L' stops! + samples! + such a cute and brightly lit store. Perfect for afternoon snacks. Macarons - The flavors are outstanding and really pop when you take a bite. My favorites are the salted caramel and the passion fruit. The one area that was lacking was the texture. It didn't have the chewiness that I like from macarons so each bite fell flat instead. Pecan tart - Excellent pecan flavor as well but the tart was too hard for me. I felt like I had to stab at it to take a bite. Flourless chocolate cake - Very rich and chocolately. They use quite a bit of cocoa powder making it a little bitter but it counters the sweetness so it makes for a good balance. Perfect for chocolate lovers. Vanilla cheesecake - Yummy! I love the sturdiness of the cheesecake. It holds up well and doesn't fall flat in your mouth.
(4)
Asper K.
Today, I noticed a hole in the elbow of my fave Pacifico long sleeve T-shirt. The same shirt that I was wearing years ago when my Yelp profile pic was taken (resplendent in fake jewelry) at the Goat on Wells. The same shirt co-workers mocked me for wearing every Friday for years (Hey! must be Friday, you're wearing the Pacifico shirt). On this sad day, I'm reminded by the sage words of Monty Python's Eric Idle. Always look on the bright side of life. Even in bittersweet moments (unfathomable bitterness followed by a touch of sarcastic sweetness) you must always look on the bright side of life. youtube.com/watch?v=WlBi… This advice, sung at the end of the movie Life of Brian, was at one time the third most popular song played at British funerals and was in fact sung by the surviving members of the comedy troupe at Eric Idles' funeral. And by countless other cheerfully depressed Brits whilst dealing with impossible circumstances including the crew of HMS Sheffield while their ship was sinking after being struck by an Exocet missile in 1982 in the Falklands war. (thanks wikipedia) Yes, that must of have been quite a bittersweet moment. Your ship is sinking in some bullshit ocean because some trigger happy Argentinian ahole decides he's got a point to prove. Sure that's fair. You could be watching Tottenham Hotspur complete it's amazing run to FA Cup glory in your favorite pub, or else you know, sink off the coast of wherever. So bittersweet. It's times like this that you need a little pick me up. A small cake or two. A bit of coffee to lift your spirits. A delightful exchange with a counter person. Yay. Bittersweet (the store) does indeed strive to be such a place. You only need to see how many Yelpers say it's "really cute" to understand what's on offer. I had a gingerbread cookie (shaped like I forget like what) and another cookie. I remember them both as being mediocre. I also ordered an Americano which threw my very cheerful counterperson for a loop. After asking in the back, and realizing that an Americano is expresso (they have an expresso machine) + hot water she happily made my drink. Munching on my mediocre cookie and sipping my Americano, I was reminded of Cameron Frye. Sure Ferris Bueller's day off was fun. But now, looking into the abyss. Your dad's vintage Ferrari destroyed. You have to man up. You have to face facts. Uncomfortable facts. The present is bitter. But the future might be amazing. (I'll be at Target this weekend). youtube.com/watch?v=bWui… (I remember this as the actual ending)
(3)
Hollina U.
I've given this place three chances now. First time, I had some macarons and cupcakes, of which the macarons were mediocre and the cupcakes were somewhat dry. Second time, I ordered a chocolate cake with hazelnut filling for my friend's birthday, of which the presentation was phenomenal since I requested for fresh fruit and flowers to be arranged on top. It was great presentation, but the taste was nothing special. Third time, I went to pick up an angel food cake that I specified multiple times on the phone that I wanted strawberries on top. What did I get when I went in to pick it up? No strawberries... Of which I was told it would be a 3 minute wait for them to add the strawberries... Which turned into a 10 minute wait, turning my total time in the bakery into a 17 minute debacle. I expected the most creative, beautiful strawberry display on the time it took them to slice 6 strawberries in half. Also, when the girl first brought out my strawberry less cake, she asked if I was going to eat it same day and that she had instructions for me on how to serve it. Well, she neglected to follow up with the instructions. I guess hand, cake, face. THANKS.
(2)
Noomi J.
Review #300! 4.5 stars. I've been here twice, once for brunch, and I was very pleased with their friendly service & excellent food. Tbh, I fell in love with their apple custard French toast o.o As a bonus, they have full table service. The tables at brunch had fresh flowers, and there were several couples dining in. Lovely interior, peaceful vibe. Happy to have them in the neighborhood, and I definitely foresee future noms here, my stomach sez so xD
(4)
Janie C.
We had cake tastings at three different bakeries and Bittersweet won hands down. Not only did their cakes taste amazing, but the price was reasonable, and they didn't have to use fondant to make it look pretty. We provided the cake topper and cake stand to them ahead of time and everything arrived perfect the day of the wedding. Sometimes the cake tasting process is overwhelming and you don't know where to start or what a "normal" cake/filling/icing combination is. But Nancy was super sweet and helpful, she gave us suggestions, gave us space to try things at our own pace, checked in on us, answered all our questions. It was such a fun experience and their cakes were just sooooo good. We ended up with two flavors: 1) banana cake with dark chocoolate mousse and salted caramel drizzle and 2) hazelnut cake with vanilla bean brulee and raspberry preserves. We got so many compliments on our cake during the wedding through now (weeks after the wedding). I'm already looking forward to our one year anniversary where we get to go back and get a complimentary cake from Bittersweet. No freezer burned cake top here! P.S. - Banana cake is a good density smooshable cake for anyone who plans on smashing cake on their loved one's face. I'm going to do it every year. Muhahahahaha!
(5)
Andrea C.
We live right around the corner from Bittersweet and boy is it good. It's the perfect place to pop in if you're craving a sweet treat. They have a wide variety in offerings from macarons to cookies to cupcakes- and you can't really go wrong. I've never had anything other than deliciousness. The other nice thing is that they have a little cafe that serves food! Lots of lovely breakfast options as well as yummy lighter lunch fare. My only gripe and where they lose a star is that service tends to not be the best- not super attentive and can tend to be slow. However, it is worth it in the end because the food is delicious!
(4)
Derrick T.
I remember coming here quite a few years back when they offered the tickets into the Gourmet Festival deal by going around town and eating at places, and getting your card punched. I had no idea that a few years later, I'd be walking into the same spot all over again... but just for a morning coffee and macaroon. Service here was exceptionally friendly. Smiles all around, happy to provide advice, even on my odd-ball questions on how busy the street gets at night (since I was checking out the area for a potential restaurant build out). From what I remember a few years back, the pastries were a huge hit in my office, much loved by all. But to be fair, I don't even remember what I got anymore, so I"ll just talk about the experience this time out: Macaroon was dead on delicious, crisp outer layer, softy chewy inside with just the right amount of filling to make it perfect. Espresso was brewed just right, with a good balance of bitterness and barely sweet. Just how I like my espresso. And the waitress even brought out some water while I took care of some e-mail on my phone while I sat there sipping and nibbling. It made an excellent morning. Lots of regulars who seem to come by for a pastry breakfast with their kids or by themselves, or significant others. Verdict: All in all, a great spot with excellent pastries and great service. Looking forward to visiting again for a nice breakfast to enjoy!
(4)
Chelsea B.
The best pastries around. And ladies (or gentlemen...) grab a friend and head there for tea and treats. Makes a great lady date with your girlfriends.
(5)
XTreats X.
They have the best lemon bar I've had. That lemon to crust ratio. Go here if you're looking for treats on the sweet side. Pies, macarons, cookies, tarts, etc. great location.
(4)
Michael S.
3.5 stars in the face of Julius Meinl, but still it's great for a coffee drink and, of course, something sweet. Still, I'm usually pretty let down by their lunch offerings, which are limited to a quiche offering, salads, soups, and sandwiches. Thus, stick to the KISS rule (at least for me), and it's good stuff. Note... their flowerless chocolate cake is exceptional, and makes for a great cake to take home for entertaining, or whatever. Seriously, if I were to take a single piece home, it would last me for days it's so darn chocolaty. Depending on their desert of the day, I have either been enthralled, or utterly disappointed (like I was the last time with the strawberry rhubarb crumble, which was missing everything but crumble). However, if you stick to the sweets (at least in my case), there is most always something you will discover to enjoy.
(4)
Jennifer B.
I came to this sweet little bakery in search of a cupcake. I had heard that Bittersweet was THE place for cupcakes, so imagine my surprise when they only had 2 flavors available!! No biggie, I decided to go with the Strawberry Shortcake. I mean, I can count that as a fruit, right?!? But onto the review of the cupcake itself....oooh la la. Aces. In a city in which the icing of the cupcake is always far superior to the cake itself, Bittersweet is the lone pioneer of the "moist cake!" Finally, a fresh, moist, dense cake, as opposed to the dried out, crumbly cake at those other places. Thanks Bittersweet for the fresh cupcake!
(4)
Kelli C.
I love their chocolate sugar cookies. So...MUCH!
(5)
Laura S.
I cannot say enough nice things about Bittersweet. They were our wedding bakery for our cake and other sweets, and they knocked it out of the park! We had originally gone with Sweet Mandy B's until I realized that THEY DON'T DELIVER. The thought of having to get someone to pick up our wedding cake and get it to the venue safely was just too much to deal with. So I set up a tasting at Bittersweet, and realized I should have gone with them to begin with. Nothing against Sweet Mandy B's, but their cake and frosting is EXTREMELY sweet--as in you eat half a cupcake and think you might throw up or become a diabetic. Bittersweet is dessert for a more grown-up palate, with sweet and savory all in one. Our tasting was truly special, everything was so nicely presented by Amy Crumrine. The different types of cakes were in little rectangular stripes on one long plate, with another small plate holding tiny square ceramic containers of different fillings and frostings. She gave us guidance on "pairings" and we were HOOKED. Our top two tiers of our wedding cake were chocolate fudge cake (OH MY GOD, so moist and delicious) with creme brulee filling. The bottom tier was yellow cake with lemon filling, and the whole thing was in vanilla buttercream with the most beautiful mehndi design on it (my husband--then-groom--is half Indian and we want ed to honor that). Amy and her bakers were amazingly well organized, everything was confirmed via email, etc. You can see the kitchen through the glass in the cafe and it is IMMACULATE. We have had brunch there a few times since the wedding and it is delicious--their quiche is to die for! And they always have some sort of free sample out of something delicious, not to mention cupcakes from the day before at half price. I'm glad I don;t live closer or I'd weigh a ton! Bittersweet also did a dozen cupcakes for us, a groom's cake with a custom Redskins logo on top, cheesecake squares, and a few pies. Everything was AMAZING. We kep the top tier of our cake but instead of freezing it, we ate away at it over the course of the next four days while we stayed at the hotel. It was STILL FRESH TASTING four days later, with no preservatives and in a mostly open cake box (no tupperware). Anyway, you won;t regret picking Bittersweet for your wedding cake, they were amazing, everything was delicious and delivered in the promised two hour time frame, and now we have a place we can go get our cake from on our anniversary every year! I will be using Bittersweet for all our family's birthdays from now on! Thank you Amy!
(5)
John H.
I WANT to love this place! I really want to. Last month, I ordered a birthday cake for my boyfriend's birthday. Since it was just going to be the 2 of us, I ordered the smallest cake they had (6"). $24.00! I thought that was a bit exorbitant, but a.) He's my guy & he's worth it and b.) I had a $20.00 Groupon. I chose a chocolate chip cake, with a white chocolate mousse filling and a caramel butttercream frosting. It LOOKED fantastic...very simple (I chose the polka-dot motif), GREAT writing on top, and very high. LOVED the look of it. Too bad the taste was a HUGE let down. In a nutshell: The cake? Dry. Not moist at all. The chocolate chips tasted good, but the rest of the cake itself didn't have much flavor. The filling? Tasteless. Really didn't have much flavor. Maybe another filling choice would have been better, but this tasted like sugar and nothing else. The icing? ODDLY tasting. Very "fake" and an aftertaste of alcohol (I'm assuming maybe they use a caramel extract 'flavoring'???). As I said, I REALLY want to love this higher-end bakery, but I will not be going back.
(2)
Hannah H.
I recently moved into the neighborhood and being a sweet/desert lover I was excited to try out Bittersweet after reading good reviews here on Yelp. Man, was I disappointed! I bought an assortment of cookies and 2 small cupcakes to share with my boyfriend. I took my first bite and literally thought I chipped a tooth! ALL of our cookies were as hard as a rock. If I'm paying $10 for a few cookies, they'd better at least be semi-soft. Not only were they hard but they were also very bland. While the shop and cafe look adorable and friendly, looks can definitely be decieving.
(2)
Karen S.
Even though the counter staff weren't the friendliest bunch of ladies I've ever encountered, I will go back to Bittersweet for the tarts. I have been craving them since I went there a couple of weeks ago. I used a Groupon to try a variety of tarts, all of which I would eat again. I also got a small chocolate mousse and hot chocolate. Delish! The tarts and mousse were all priced at just around $4 each. The lesson here? You pay a premium for exceptional desserts.
(4)
Stephanie S.
The only reason this place is getting an A-Ok is the fact that the desserts are amazing! However, the service is disappointing to say the least. My husband and I went on a Sunday so it was fairly busy, we had to wait for the waiter to clear 3 tables before even letting us sit down. After that, it took ages to even get the waiter's attention and bring two glasses of water, one of which smelt like dirty dish water. We ordered four pastries and when the waiter brought them to the table, two were not what I asked for (totally different, like bringing a cookie instead of a raspberry tart). I usually wouldn't address the problem, but I really wanted the tart, so I politely asked if I could switch it. The waiter obliged, but he still brought the incorrect order the second time. I'm glad it was good, but I didn't get what I wanted (nor did husband). When I saw the check, I was charged for the tart instead of the cookie, which was double the price. They had no problem correcting this issue at the counter when we paid, but we will likely not go back unless we just go to the counter. The table service really killed the experience. This is really unfortunate considering the place is charming and has a wonderful variety of delicious pastries, chocolate, and coffee items.
Have you ever been somewhere where they served pastries or cakes so delicious you wanted to steal a piece for home by disguising it as an ugly baby? or maybe putting it down your pants? and then tell anyone who asks that you're just really happy to see them? How about putting it in your prison pocket? ok then what about pulling the fire alarm and while everyone is panicking you jack that shit and bounce!! yeah.. neither have I. and if you are too busy recalling past instances of theft by going: hmmmmmm... welll... ummm...... errr.. you should really be ashamed of yourselves. but you guys, I was at this get together and a wondrous chocolate cake was served from here that made me think --oh wow and I think what would make nice, good people think of committing heinous acts such as cake theft. You thought I was going to say something like cannibalism didn't you.. you really are sick people. It's time you go crack open a Bible to cure your wicked ways. And by wicked, I don't mean super cool. Back to my point, I paid a visit to the bakery though because they make french macarons. GASP. My favorrrrrrite..! The macrons are legit and that is how you spell it spelling police. Everything in here is so pretty, especially their decorated cookies. I would come here again for the macarons and to try out their other pastries but the main draw for me are the french macarons. hmmmph! So hard to ignore. Love it.
(4)
Michelle D.
I made a special trip to walk over here because I was told they have a wonderful selection of macarons. Well the selection is there is mediocre at best since they had a total of four flavors, two of which were vanilla and chocolate. I decided to try one of the "special" flavors (cranberry) and I wish I hadn't wasted my money. The taste of the cookie was fairly flavorless with a only a slight artificial cranberry flavor, but the cookie itself was a total mess. They were hard (I purchased two), hollow, and shattered into stale little pieces when I bit into them. There was also hardly any filling at all. The service here was also miserable, with workers chatting, long lines, and seemingly random service (the 'take a number' system did not appear to mean anything) I would avoid this place as there are far better bakeries in Chiacgo
(1)
Esther P.
I was looking for a special and unique venue to spend a milestone birthday. After much consideration, I remembered some one had hosted their birthday at Bittersweet, and I thought that would be the perfect venue! Judy, the owner was so wonderful when we were planning for my big birthday celebration. I decided to host a cocktail party for my birthday with about 25 friends. Judy and her staff transformed the cafe and bakery into such an elegant and beautiful setting. The hor d' ouvres, pastries and the birthday cake were all so delicious and presented beautifully!!! I just provided the wine and champagne which was great because I brought in what my guests and I liked to drink. Not only was I blown away, but every single one of my guests commented on the uniqueness of the venue and the amazing transformation of the bakery for a chic cocktail party. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Judy, her staff and of course all of their delicious food and pastries. I am looking forward to the next time I am able to host another big event at Bittersweet. If you are looking for a special venue for a big celebration, then look no further than Bittersweet!
(5)
Julie W.
UPDATE! Oh. My. Goodness! My cake from Bittersweet for my grad party this past weekend was absolutely AMAZING. I had yellow cake, creme brulee custard filling, and vanilla buttercream frosting. The cake looked marvelous, so smooth and beautifully finished. Once the cake was cut, my entire family could not stop talking about how delicious the cake was! While everyone didn't have a slice, my 8 inch cake fed my party of 25 ppl, with 4 pieces still left over! Everything from my experience from the great service, presentation, to the overall taste...Bittersweet is my family's new go-to bakery!
(5)
Vicki M.
BEST WEDDING CAKE TASTING!!!!! I am getting married this summer and have tried numerous bakery's in the Chicago area and hands down this place was the BEST!!!! I am a HUGE chocolate cake fan and its hard to meet my expectations but Bittersweet did! The fudge cake is out of this world! But then again so is every other cake they offer. Customer service is also outstanding! This place is a much try!
(5)
Maria C.
All I have to say is *mouth salivating* Turtle fudge brownies.... This is the best brownie I've had, one of my employers used to buy a whole sheet of this and sell it at his restaurant, this was the popular dessert item... Every time I go there I just have that or cookies. I'm always in a hurry and it seems that everyone and their momma is in here.
(4)
Mandi G.
Half-price day old bread! Great cafe but sloooooooow service. Still worth going in.
(3)
Jennifer T.
My husband went here on Sunday morning and bought a blueberry scone and a carrot cake muffin. The scone was bland. The carrot cake muffin, though really moist even after a day, is kind of bland as well. It doesn't have a sweet taste to it at all. I'd be willing to try this place again but not anytime in the near future.
(2)
Miss M.
They are expensive. But.... their stuff is the DA BOMB!!! Especially their lemonbars and macaroons and cakes! Their food is soo decadent!
(5)
Peggy C.
I love the place, however we went in for a cake tasting for a wedding cake and met with quite possibly the rudest woman on the planet. When we arrived at our appointed time, we wandered around and noticed a woman staring at us. I approached and asked if she worked there. When she realized we were who she was meeting with, she sat us at a table and rolled her eyes to another table -- right in front of us. Enough said. The cake was delicious but her behavior soured the entire process and we're still looking for a cake designer. I guess we learned where the "bitter" in the name Bittersweet comes from.
(1)
Laura G.
Staff makes one feel cheap for buying their day-old baked goods for 1/2 at the end of the day...and yes, those baked goods are sort of like marrying the brother of the hot guy. But so what?! I am the sort who ends up with the brother and relatively cheap, really good baked goods! Translation for folks who shop at Jewel (me) ...by "breakfast breads" they mean baked goods. k.
(4)
Brian H.
Great service excellent atmosphere and the cake was to die for.
(5)
David B.
We used bittersweet for our wedding cake and it was absolutely delicious. When we went to pick out our cake they gave us little pieces of all of their cakes, little cups with frosting/cream and fresh fruit for the cake filling. We then mixed and matched cakes and frosting until we found the perfect match! They also had tons of pictures to look at in order to get an idea of the type of cake you want. The bonus was that we had a cute wedding cookie waiting for us in our room after the reception! All around great!
(5)
Blanca R.
I am lucky that, Bittersweet is just around the corner from me. While I am sure their pastries and sweets are great, I have really only gone hear for breakfast and lunch. Their menu is obviously limited, but you can taste the freshness in everything they make. I have tried their ham and cheese quiche...which is delicious. The crust is so flaky and buttery. When I am in a healthy mood, I go for their delicious oat meal. The presentation is impressive. You get your oatmeal with quality fresh berries, soy milk and almonds on the side. And a bonus...when you walk in or out you can help yourself to tiny pastry sample of their liking. I do have one complaint. When I have ordered to go, or really even to eat in, service is often times very slow. But I keep thinking to myself that it's because they are making it fresh, and that's why I keep going back. There are also a 1 or 2 employees that could use happiness training.
(4)
Lauren H.
My roasted eggplant, goat cheese, and I cant remember what other vegetables sandwixh was one of the bext sandwiches I have ever had. Melted in my mouth and I can't wait to go back to t ry another. Also the fruit served with it was amazingly fresh and yummy (and I am not a big fruit eater) We had samples of some desserts--the carrot cake was amazing, the caramel apple something or other (custardy type thing), not so much. The chocolate dome I brought home, was good, but not great. I would give the desserts another try next time, though, and order something different. They also have a very nice selection of gifts.
(4)
Babs H.
I have loved every single thing I've ever had from this place. Favorites include: PB & Strawberry Jam bars Pecan Sandie cookies Apple empanadas Pumpkin crème brulee (haven't seen this since Halloween) And a friend ordered their wedding cake from here and it was to die for. Almond cake with crème brulee custard and vanilla butter cream frosting! GAH
(5)
Zac B.
BEST PECAN ROLLS IN THE WORLD!!! And for some reason I like that I was charged a quarter for my to-go cup of iced tap water. It seemed like a nod towards sustainable business practices, even if they made a few cents profit off that cup, ice, and Chicago's finest.
(5)
Darlene L.
The environment here is beautifully tweaked to cause oohs and aahs immediately upon entering this den of sweets. Pastries are gorgeous and there is something for everyone. It is easy to run up a big bill for just a few treats. The ingredients are top quality from the fresh fruits to the chocolate. The little fruit tarts look great at a dinner party. There are also a few half price items from the previous day, but they are hit and miss.Skip the bread which is dry and tasteless. Service is efficient but can be cold and all business. All in all would try it again with friends lingering over coffee and conversation .
(4)
Lois A.
I think this place is a little confusing but the food is really good. I don't like that the menu is placed right over the heads of people eating on the far end of the cafe. I was looking around for it for several minutes before we saw it. The dessert menu is also located in a place where you have to stare at people eating to see what you want. My boyfriend had the mushroom quiche for lunch today and I got the pesto chicken salad sandwich. His quiche was excellent but my sandwich could have used a little seasoning. A dash of salt would have made it A LOT better. I really liked the bread it was on. The coffee and all the little treats we tried were really good. Anything with lemon from here is excellent. The cream cheese brownies are pretty amazing. I would give them another star if the set up inside wasn't as chaotic.
(3)
Claudia D.
Our family adores the dark chocolate torte cake for birthdays.
(5)
Inna B.
After coming back from a European vacation, I was on a quest to find a croissant in Chicago that would come close to the ones I had abroad. Bittersweet is the closest I've come so far. I love coming here on weekend mornings for a coffee and a pastry. They also have really cute tarts and other desserts if you're heading to a dinner party.
(4)
J M.
I LOVE the cakes and pastries here. However the customer service is horrid. I asked them to make a 40th birthday cake for my husband and from the start I wasnt impressed. She wanted me to send her a picture of what I wanted, when I told her I had no ideas and was hoping she could help me out since they are cake decorators she kind of blew me off. I made it very clear - NO FLOWERS - this is for a male (Happy Birthday John should've given it away). When I went to pick it up - black flowers everywhere!!!! I told the guy at the counter he needed to take them off and he looked at me like I had 3 heads. I asked for the manager and explained everything to her and they removed them and replaced with polka dots in grey and black. At this point it had been 30 min and I just wanted to leave. Dots are better than flowers so I was much happier. The manager didnt charge me for the cake and she even called me later that night to make sure it was OK. I appreciate that but probably will go somewhere else in the future.
(2)
Lola L.
The fact that I can customize the cake to the flavors I want already has my attention. The fact that it's inexpensive and taste so darn good is the icing on the cake. Granted we ordered the cake over the phone so no one has set foot into the bakery, seen the people who run it or that if it's even a legit store. We were going on the slice of cake a that a friend shared with us. For the heck of it, we ordered an almond cake, chocolate crème brulee custard with strawberries and vanilla butter cream frosting. Let me tell you, that cake was out of this world! Soft and moist almond flavored cake with the chocolate crème brulee would have been done the job but add the strawberries and the airy vanilla butter cream, no not frosting but butter cream, and that cake was heaven! The woman behind the counter was super sweet and threw in a few cookies when we picked up the cake. The pastries also looked yummy although we didn't have time to look since we were in such a rush to get home and devour the cake. Don't worry I made a mental note to come back and try them all for the sake of yelp!
(4)
Katrina M.
This bakery is adorable. There's a small section of the bakery for table service, and I managed to find a table for my friend and I to sit for dessert and coffee/tea. My friend had a raspberry torte, and I had a plain cupcake with a tall mound of frosting. They were okay..nothing out of this world. I would only go here if I was in the neighborhood. Customer service is wonderful though, and their prices are decent. My cupcake was 2.75, while my cup of joe was 1.75.
(3)
Nicole A.
What a beautiful little shop. I was just blown away by the gorgeous pastries they offer (and frankly should be for 3.50 a pop). I intended to purchase nothing more than the cupcake of the day but the menu was just oh - so tempting. I choose the 1/2 sandwich 1/2 salad, a combo of grilled cheese with zucchini and roasted red pepper, spinach salad with blue cheese and lemon vinaigrette dressing and a side of perfectly flavored green beans. For dessert I gravitated towards this fabulous blueberry, cream cake like pastry as well as a raspberry "thumbprint"...and had no regrets. This spot is perfect to meet friends and pretend you are in Paris for the evening...just a great get-a-way in Chicago.
(4)
Shan N.
I love Bittersweet. The treats are delicious and it is in a convenient location. I agree with others that it is a bit cramped at times, but I am happy to see a busy business--it usually means it is a good business. I do not like Bittersweet's website. It lacks the most basic information including hours and the daily rotation of cupcakes!
(4)
Shari X.
There were so many people here that we just had to stop by. The cookies and cakes were super adorable, and we could see that it was freshly made. The concept of taking a number wasn't really clear, so we waited in line unnecessarily. When we decided to eat the espresso ganache and cranberry almond tart in the cafe, the service was super slow. The crust on both of these were too hard for the softness of the cake, so we didn't really like the complement. However, both fillings were delicious and rich. It was a cute find, but perhaps next time we'll just take it to go.
(3)
C T.
First time I went I got coffee and a warmed up pecan roll. Pecan roll was delish, coffee was excellent. Since I drink my coffee black, I noticed it was just the right strength, not too bitter, not too thick. My bf likes his coffee thick and dark as tar, so it was nice not to drink a cup that didn't stick to the roof of my mowf. Second time, I got a little pre-pack bag of chocolate chip cookies and this little mocha mousse thing. I ordered them to go because they were closing in a half hour. Cookies were so-so, crispy, not too memorable, which is why this place gets 4 of 5 stars--I've been to many an establishment just to test out their chocolate chip cookies and have found that certain places excel at such a basic item. I guess they are good for dipping in milk, coffee, etc. The mocha mousse, though, let me tell you, was deeeelicious. I'm quite the fan of sweets. It had these thick creamy chocolate shavings garnished on top that tasted wonderful and the mousse was soft and rich and mocha-y. I LIKE. And you know what? I waited two days to eat it, it was sitting TWO DAYS in my fridge in the cute little Bittersweet box they package it in, and STILL on the 2nd or 3rd day, it was so very delightful and tasty. Service is always good, the people behind the counter smiling and happy to help. They have a good little ice cream selection. I will be back for the mousses. And coffee.
(4)
Rose C.
i was so disappointed with the birthday cake i bought from bittersweet yesterday. it was my first time to the bakery and loved the looks of it when i stepped inside. looked so inviting and tasty things beckoned from every corner. but the cake! while i greatly appreciated the beautiful, festive confetti sprinkled on top and personalized writing, etc., i was SO underwhelmed by the interior! chocolate with creme brulee filling. sounds fancy and delicious, right? well, the chocolate was so dry and the filling tasted like regular vanilla filling---would never have distinguished it from a grocery store cake except for the multiple layers and the beautiful glaze on the outside. :( i was so, so sad. for a $30 6-inch cake, i would rather go somewhere that i know will taste delicious despite the high price tag (i.e. bombon). 3 stars for the yummy free samples.
(3)
Jess J.
If you want the best cup of hot chocolate you have ever had, skip breakfast and/or lunch and come here. I say skip breakfast because this thing is so amazingly decadent and yet so delicious you cannot help yourself. One small sip means one cup later you will wonder who drank all your cocoa. The answer: you. They generally have a small daily menu, and my impression is that it may change by the day or the week. Features some sort of quiche, some soup options (maybe two), and a couple sandwich options. Though limited, everything I have tried has been great. If you're not looking to dine, they do great pastries (tartes, ganaches, the whole bit), yummy chocolates, and I am still looking for an excuse to get a custom made cake from them. Love love love. If you have an afternoon free in the week, I would suggest trying to come during a quiet time. Their seating area is small (thus it could be frantic during busy times), but it is worth it to enjoy some time there enjoying your food/drink/pastry if you have the chance to do so.
(5)
H. A.
Awful service- not that it isn't super polite, just excruciatingly slow. The food blew my mind. The menu constantly changes, but I tried the corn coup (unbelievable), the ham sandwich (also unbelievable), and one of their salads with bleu cheese/dried crans/pecans/etc. (very delicious). I also bought a pound of their small cookies for $15, which is a great price for sharing. I have to say, many of the cookies didn't quite cut it. They were not soft, not one of them. The best ones were the linzer cookies, the thumbprint, and the hazelnut balls.
(4)
Danita B.
A friend and I walked past Bittersweet this Saturday and we walked in "just to see". Yeah, seeing and then promptly devouring! As with other reviews "decadent" is definitely the word. I'm usually not a fan of frosted/iced cookies, but you really have to admire the absolutely obscene level of detail. There was a poodle cookie - complete with sparkling sugar for where the "poofs" of hair are on a poodle! And a fishnet-stockinged leg cookie with a piped garter! And yes, they tasted delicious. I also had a mini flourless chocolate cake. By far, my favorite was the chocolate macaroon. These were the flat disc type (french?) macaroons. You take two of them and sandwich them together with a bit of chocolate ganache. It was eyes-roll-back-into-your-head good. They just collapsed into chocolatey goodness in your mouth when you bit down.
(5)
M M.
I was CRAVING a cupcake. Walking in the front door eyeballed the big sign for the cupcake of the day... SOLD OUT :-( The whole purpose of going to the shop was to get a cupcake...definitely bummed. I ended up getting something else chocolatey. I loved the presentation, the china dishes, marble tables. Adorable place...I just need to go back and have a cupcake there.
(4)
S H.
This review is really about their food, not desserts. The homemade soups are OUT OF THIS WORLD. I stop by at least once a week for soup. I occasionally dine in for a meal, and for the quality of ingredients used, I think it is very affordable. I would eat here any day for lunch or a simple dinner. Cookies are hard - I prefer soft chewy ones. I've had a few desserts which have been good but not memorable. The day old baked goods section rocks - don't feel funny about buying them! I really like the atmosphere... feels like you are in a different city. The staff can be a little abrupt sometimes but you have to work with them. I've been going in for a couple of years now and know a few of them by sight. They're always friendly but very busy.
(5)
Karyn K.
Finally made my way here. Very limited lunch menu selection (2 sandwiches, 1 quiche, 1 soup, and 3 salads). However, I had the Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwich, delicious and on homemade bread! Also, had the Raspberry Lemonade cupcake. It was puny but delicious. Next time I will spend more time perusing the cases with all the delicious looking baked goods. They seem to have a nice collection of gifts if you need something for a mother to be, a new mother, books on chocolate or nice paper.
(4)
Claire Y.
I received a box of assorted chocolate truffles and too-pretty-to-eat ladybug cupcakes wrapped in Bittersweet's ribbons for Valentines' Day. Looks-wise, I was quite impressed with the amount of detail employed in decorating the cupcakes. The cupcakes were moist and not ooberly sweet - just perfectly delightful. I especially loved the surprise Boston cream-ish filling inside when i bit into one of the vanilla cupcakes. Normally, I don't care for frosting (and cupcakes in general), but I could not resist the creamy, fluffy frosting! The ladybugs sitting pretty atop were sugar cookies adorned in bright hues of pink and micro heart-shaped sprinkles. As for the truffles, they were the ultimate luxury. I particularly favored the dark chocolate/passion fruit flavor as it burst into a rich decadence of bittersweet chocolate with a touch of citrus. Mmmmm!!! I live a bit far from Bittersweet, but one of these days (when spring comes in Chicago) I will have to make a hike up north to explore its entirety.
(4)
Amy H.
My experience was a little limited. I went in for a cup of coffee and muffin to waste some time before an appointment. The cafe au lait was good and served in a huge bowl (Yes, bowl. I was so wired!!) The muffin was delish. The couple next to me ordered some soup that smelled really good and quiche. I'll have to go back for that. The cookies, tarts, and candies in the front display counter looked divine. A very cute shop with a cute cafe and reasonable prices.
(4)
Edwina B.
For years I have frequented this bakery to buy birthday cakes and holiday pastries. So when I got engaged, my heart was set on booking Bittersweet for the wedding cake. My wedding is over a year out, but is on New Year's Eve and when researching vendors discovered that many catering companies and bakeries are not open for NYE. I wanted to book my vendors asap so I would not have to worry about them - they could get their deposits early too! I scheduled a tasting by calling and speaking with a worker - they had early hours only for tastings - nothing after the workday and I don't think there was anything immediately available for the weekend. As we approached the tasting (I had scheduled a few other tastings to compare that week), the owner Judy calls and tells me that she noticed I was getting married next year and "they don't do tastings past 6 months out". I asked if this was an accounting issue but explained that I wanted to get some commitment to booking a wedding cake vendor well in advance since I had encountered some caterers not being open. Judy replies, "we are open on NYE but we won't do a tasting...I am canceling your appointment and you will have to call and re-schedule a tasting as it gets closer to your wedding date". She was very unpleasant to me - I was heartbroken since I had come into her shop MANY times to buy cakes. Luckily, everything worked out in the end as I was able to find a great vendor for my wedding cake but trust me, I will not be spending my hard earned cash here anymore after being treated so rudely.
(1)
Jules D.
Sunday afternoon with kids in tow...no room to wedge yourself in with a shoehorn for an actual table, so we packed a nice assortment to go: iced cookies, choc. macaroons, brownies, cupcakes, parmesan biscuits, and a hazelnut cup. All were top notch! + Love the shop...lovely assortment, freshly made, tasted wonderful, etc. Really loved all the free wedding cakes samples, too. - Would have enjoyed a friendly sales girl that smiled, also a little room to breathe and maybe look at all the treats in the case. The line for a table is cumbersome and blocks a lot of the case. I am liking this more than most other pastry shops I have visited in the city.
(4)
Lil'J R.
I love this place. The sweet treats are delicious (avoid the cookies and go for the extravagant) and there's always a big plate of samples by the door, not to mention the Day Old Section with great bread, scones, muffins etc. at half the regular price. The staff are friendly and my husbands eyes almost pop out his head when they slice your bread with their super amazing bread slicer thingy. Go in the morning before heading to Belmont harbor laden down with baked goodness! I recently went to lunch with a friend and we split a bowl of soup and a sandwich. The soup was really good but I have to say I was disappointed in the sandwich (mozzarella, tomato and basil). Not much flavor, much mozzarella, and served with very salty green beans. It was pretty pricey and I'm glad we split it. I'll stick with the sweet stuff.
(4)
Emily Y.
A "ladies who lunch" sort of spot (although you can't get a martini, so I guess it falls a wee bit short). Upon walking in the door, you are hit with girlishness from floor to ceiling...to your right is a little shop filled with trinkets and beautifully decorated cookies (I salivated over the bridal ones just a leeetle bit) and to your left is the cafe. In front of you is a looming but beautiful pastry counter filled with heavenly goodness. We actually had to wait about ten minutes for a table to open up, which for a Thursday afternoon at 1:15 pm was a bit suprising. I would not venture there for a weekend lunch. To my dismay, there were lots of crying children/babies taking up much of the table space. So much for a civilized, sophisticated lunch. Luckily for me and my dining companion, most of the ill-behaved wee ones took off early into our lunch. The menu is quite limited, and posted on a chalkboard on the wall, giving the place a very European feel. Both my friend and I went for the quiche lorraine (the only other choices being a chicken liver sandwich and some sort of vegetarian sandwich; or salads). It was a very generous portion of quiche, as it should have been for $7.95. I thought the crust was to die for; my friend thought the quiche itself was a bit salty. I'm kind of a fan of salty, so I gobbled it right up. My cappucino was lovely but a bit too small for the price, I thought. My friend enjoyed her drip coffee and they were quick with the refills. Our water glasses never fell below half full (optimism, anyone?). Service was friendly and quick but didn't bug us when we wanted to sit and sip our coffees after we finished eating. I took home a little box full of mini cookies for myself and my fiance to devour that night, and we enjoyed all of them. I'd go back to try one of the tarts or cupcakes. But my bakery needs are satisfied by Swedish Bakery and the Sicilian bakery on Clark St. in A-ville...I see no need to venture south. Good place to take Mom or Grandma (or any other female relative over 40) when they come to visit. I don't think I would return for lunch on my own or with friends though...unless I was dying for some quiche, but I can't imagine that happening anytime soon.
(3)
Mikki K.
After researching and reading reviews, I was really hoping to like this place. BUT BOY WAS I DISAPPOINTED. This was easily one of the worst cupcakes I've had in the city (maybe ever). I ordered the Death by Chocolate and the Red Velvet. The only thing deathly about the chocolate was the dry, flavorless cake and disgusting whipped topping "frosting" (i.e. over-dyed blue Kool Whip). Also, where was the chocolate??? Certainly not in the sad brown excuse they called chocolate cake. The Red Velvet's cream cheese frosting was slightly better, but ultimately could not make up for the crumbly, bland mess they claimed as "cake." On top of everything, the service was pretty terrible: unpleasant employees and a completely disorganized ordering system. I would NOT return to Bittersweet. Never again.
(1)
Liz W.
This is such a cute bakery! After having dinner at Cuna's I was craving something sweet. Everything looked so good I didn't know what to get. I decided to get the mocha cupcake, sundae cupcake, and white chocolate torte. I didn't get a chance to eat the white chocolate tart =[ (long story) The sundae cupcake was awesome. The frosting was light and there was a fudge suprise in the middle. The mocha was ok. I'm not a coffee fan, but the coffee flavor wasn't overwhelming. If i'm ever in the neighborhood again I will definately be stopping there.
(4)
Colleen C.
A very cute French-esque pastry shop when you walk inside. So far all I've had are the cakes, but they are seriously amazing! When I have a special occasion, the first place I think of for a cake in Chicago is Bittersweet. The chocolate chip cake in particular was a big hit with my family! The only complaint I have is that I've tried the iced sugar cookies, and when I had them, they were almost stale - kind of flavorless and hard. But I still need to go back and try more of their non-cake treats.
(5)
J U.
LOVED this place. My husband and I couldn't attend a friend's birthday party, but wanted to make sure we at least dropped off a cake (you know, so when he sliced it, he'd think, "Awe, they're awesome!' lol). Anyway, we didn't call ahead, but it was no problem because Bittersweet already had a great assortment of small cakes to choose from. We chose a German Chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache icing... to DIE for. On top of that, the baker added a cute handwritten message for us and accented it with little edible pearls... it looked and tasted incredibly gourmet. Our friends still talk about this cake. I've since gone back several times to grab reward cupcakes for my staff... they are equally in love with this shop!
(5)
Cathy L.
Bittersweet is a very apropos name for this shop - of the 2 girls at the register, one was sweet and the other was very very bitter. The raspberry and red velvet macarons are to die for but otherwise the sweets aren't that great and the variety of pastries (or breakfast breads as they call them here) is less than impressive. Don't know that it's worth coming back here solely for the $2 macarons.
(3)
A C.
Bittersweet was recommended by another artist and I am very pleased with the service. I worked with a wonderful lady Zaida that worked with me from start to finish. Provided a photo and wow was I amazed at the results when I picked up the cake (it looked just like the photo and the details, wow). Oh, it also was delicious that I'll have to hit the gym:). Also, have to thank the designer. The recipient of the cake had a smile on his face from ear to ear. Thank you Zaida and the designer for making this event over the top.
(4)
Javier Q.
Very good here. My friend had the rasberry white chocolate tart and I had chocolate cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Frosting alone is orgasmic mmm..but If u really want to focus on cupcakes Molly's cupcakes is the place to go!
(4)
Michelle E.
Thanks, Bittersweet! Because of you, I looked like a thoughtful girlfriend who knows what she's doing! I was on a mission to find a lemon tart for my boyfriend's birthday that would hold up to his strict lemon tart standards. (What can I say--when it comes to pastries and women, he's partial to tarts!) He maintains that most lemon tarts out there do not actually have any lemon flavor at all. So like a good lil yelper, I searched and searched for a bakery that would do me proud. When I called to place my order, the woman who answered the phone was very helpful and informative. She explained to me the difference between the lemon meringue tart and the lemon sabayon tart, and confirmed size and pricing for me. Usually you need to place special orders 48 hours in advance, but she assured me that they would be able to make a tart for me for the next day. Also, when I realized the next day, a few hours before I had to pick up the tart, that I had forgotten to request a "Happy Birthday" message on the tart (oops), they were able to add that for me, with no problem. The verdict: The lemon sabayon was a bit of tarty, zesty, lemony deliciousness! The tart also looked very elegant, with thin lemon zest slivers on top. Mr Man totally loved it! The pastries in the case all looked amazing, and I would like to come back to try their cakes, cookies and macaroons!
(4)
Mandy M.
My boyfriend's 30th birthday party was last night and I just have to write a review about his cake! I had such a lovely experience with Zaida - she was incredibly patient and helpful, offering me lots of ideas when I couldn't make up my mind with what I wanted. I ordred the almond cake w/ creme brulee and strawberry filling and turned out amazing. It was beautiful and just what I wanted.. and delicious! I will be coming back again!
(5)
Leanne A.
Why haven't I written about Bittersweet yet?! Honestly, the first time I came here, I was so turned off by the name. Bitter repulses me, and the sweet just doesn't balance it out enough! However, the cafe is probably my favorite cafe in the city. The food is incredible. It's a different menu every day, and it's a very small selection. But I have not once had something non-incredible...gazpacho, turkey salad, eggplant soup. It seems expensive for cafe food, but it's so damn good. If it were by my work, I'd go at least twice a week. The cappuccino is incredible as well. I can't speak highly of the bakery. My deep affection for bakeries makes me a very good critic; I go to every one I've ever seen. This one doesn't measure up. It's fine, I guess. A lot of the tarts taste kind of pre-made to me. You know, like the crusts don't have that amazing homemade taste? The cookies are decent. But, the fruit scones are the best FREAKING scones I've EVER tasted. But that is the only baked item I fantasize about. Sometimes I walk here in the morning way out of my way to get two and arrive late to work. Don't waste your money on the other desserts, though.
(4)
M T.
Awesome wedding cake created for the Husband and me for our reception. Judy (owner) asked questions about our favorite desserts and presented us with great options to review (cubes of cake, different fillings and frostings). It really made a difference that she went through this exercise. We ultimately had the BEST wedding cake ever. Cheesecake, raspberries, chocolate cake - who knew? Rave reviews at our reception.
(5)
Sam S.
Follow this protocol as soon as you enter: - Turn left where the seating area is. - Scan the area. - If someone's already in line for a table: * Stand behind them. * Make yourself visible. * Stay alert. - If you're first in line: * Proceed to the middle of the seating area by the discount bread. * Stay alert. - As soon as someone gets up, gesture to get yourself noticed by: * Clearing your throat. * Taking a step forward. * Taking off your coat. * Twirling. * Combinations. When you're seated, ignore the line behind you and enjoy your space. And a hot chocolate. And quiche. And apple streusel tart. When you're done, pay at the counter, but by all means avoid eye contact with the hungry people in line.
(5)
Amina D.
The is one of my first bad reviews, and I could think of nowhere where I had the nastiest cupcake of my life. I went here while looking for something sweet to eat, the woman at the front recommended the lavender cupcake, which should have been a red flag to me in the first place, lavender should not be a flavor for anything, it's for smelling not eating! Anyway, I bit into it, and it's the first time since I tried Spam that I split out food because it tasted so bad, it was the worse cupcake ever and the frosting was more like whipped cream than real frosting, I tried some samples of other cupcakes and they were bad too. Yuck!! I only had their cupcakes and haven't been back since, and I doubt I'll ever go back there either, sorry if you can't even do cupcakes right, then you don't deserve any one's business. I did get a cute cupcake journal there though, but it's not a bookstore it's a pastry shop.
(1)
Laura H.
Excuse my french, this place is a clusterf'$# every single time I've tried to go. You have to grab a number and half the time you are being pushed around and half way out the door. Maybe it's the people that go there, the employees, or maybe I've gone at the wrong times, but no thanks. I'm over it. T
Affordable, delicious coffee and subliminal desserts. I get all of my bread from here too; yesterday's is half off!
(5)
Dave S.
I havn't had much of the baked goods, but the biscotti was fantastic. It was not too sweet, more like a well-made sconed than a cookie. The amount of anise seed they put in the biscotti is perfect. Also, try the egg salad sandwhich.
(4)
Michele A.
I had heard from a few different people that this place was very good. However, when I took family from out of town to this bakery, in hopes of wowing them with pastry delights, I was really shocked at how unexciting the food was. The pastry spread is visually stunning and they certainly have a beautiful space set up for their customers... but after ordering a huge selection of pastries (not just one or two cookies), we found nothing that tasted very good. How could this be?!!! I can think of 4 different bakeries off of the top of my head that would kick the crap out of this place. I am sad to report that this was an expensive disappointment. :(
(1)
Nicole B.
Good thing I got there early to beat the lunch rush - there was quite the line when I was leaving at 1 pm. I love the feel of the place, very cute. The coffee was hot and tasty and frequently refilled. The spinach salad with lemon vinaigrette was light, needed a few more pieces of crumbly blue though. The half turkey sandwich with Havarti cheese and caramelized onion was great, especially since the bread was so fresh. I would get chicken on your salad if you were to order it as a meal - give it a little more bulk. My "treat" for the day was a white chocolate dipped rice crispie treat - oh my god I love rice crispie treats! It was soft marshmallowy goodness.
(4)
David W.
It's tough for me to give such a non-manly place a 5. How do I explain it to my guy friends that the carrot soup was creamy yet light. And the quiche...... not too filling and yet satisfying. The wife loves the macaroons. She would kill for the macaroons. I've contemplated working there just to find out how to make the macaroons so that I can bake macaroons instead of spending 10 bucks on macaroons every other week. We get cakes there three times a year. One for my birthday, one for her birthday, and one for our anniversary. Buttercream cake from Bittersweet?? Elegant, not obnoxious.. taste wonderful, but make sure to let the cake get to room temp first... The buttercream tastes even better.
(5)
Leslie R.
The staff knows what they're doing, although during rushes they do get a little testy - however, understandably so. I love this place, though. So clean, bright, and delicious! The pastries and desserts are to die for, and they have great brunch options as well as italian sodas, coffee, and the Bittersweet hot chocolate - it's to die for. Huge display case to show off all the tasty - and gorgeous - sweets!
(5)
Margaret C.
Anywhere that can make me equally excited about a spinach salad (the lemon dressing is inexplicably delightful) and a homemade oreo cookie deserves nothing less than 5 stars.
(5)
Rico T.
I recently received a box of chocolate covered strawberries & custard filled chocolate cups. The custard cups were so cute...they looked like little tuxedo bodies, but they were just okay. Same for the strawberries. To be fair, I've never been to the bakeshop. Also, I've heard really good things about this place. I will make time in the near future to stop in, check it out, make my own selections & post a follow-up review. I'm willing to bet that I just got a bad batch or my tastebuds were in the fritz...
We ordered our wedding cake from Bittersweet and Sue Anne was super professional and reliable. Our cake looked exactly like the picture I showed them, and they don't use fondant...it's buttercream which thrilled me b/c I'm not a fan of fondant. We had a green polka dots and got a lot more cake than we originally thought. Their prices were the lowest we had encountered, the quality was top notch, and the service was excellent. I asked for 5 dozen mini cupcakes a week or 2 before the wedding, and they accommodated me with no problems! And since we sent them a picture of our cake for their photo book, we get an anniversary cake! So if you see a white cake w/ green polka dots and black piping, with weebles for cake toppers, that's ours :) We've ended up ordering a few birthday cakes from them since our wedding too...we love Bittersweet! (here's a pic of our cake bit.ly/jJ5iWS )
(5)
cakemouth c.
Being a pastry chef, I appreciate walking into somewhere and feeling as though I'm in the safe, tasty hands of competence. This place is solid in their menu, recipes and execution. The only drawback is there's very few veg options for lunch. But everything else MORE than makes up for that. If I could marry a pastry shop, it would be this one. :)
(5)
Tony D.
The pastries are hit or miss; we loved the lemon meringue pastries but some of the other fare lacked that certain flavor that makes a pastry melt in your mouth but linger in your mouth with flavor afterwards. Why I gave it one star was the rudeness of the service--especially a large woman with orange hair. My wife was trying pick pastries to bring to our son and the counter person made a face of utter contempt at my wife who called her out at her rudeness. The counterperson felt my wife wasn't worthy of service. We're guaranteed never to come back and making sure to spread the word about the utter rudeness of the young staff who work there who obviously feel servicing you is an inconvenience to them.
(1)
Sarah L.
I enjoyed a lovely cupcake from a friend (it was her birthday treat). The lovely cupcake came from Bittersweet. The cupcake reminded me of a cupcake you bring to your classroom when you're a kid. Yellow moist cake and rich chocolate frosting with rainbow sprinkles! The cupcakes were on the smallish side but it was the perfect amount. I will definitely give Bittersweet Pastry Shop a try in the near future!
(4)
Stacy Y.
The little tarts they serve are ridiculously delicious! I've tried various items from the case, but I now stick with my regular: those tasty little tarts. The white chocolate is definitely my favorite - but any of the other varieties are just as good. The mousse is so light with white chocolate shavings, a fresh raspberry in a buttery little crust. mmm... I was not at all impressed with the cookies and once I found moldy bread here. This place can become uncomfortably packed making it hard to navigate and place your order. Maybe they could reconfigure their seating arrangement?
(3)
Char Y.
We had the raspberry tart and the pear tart, and both were excellent. The store itself is clean and beautiful, a great space for relaxation.
(4)
Kimberly L.
Ordered a cake here ages ago for my friend's bridal shower. It was so lovely I gasped when I picked it up. Beautiful and elegant design...and guess what? It actually tasted good too! Good thing I don't live near this establishment because I'd end up being one of those people who needs to be transported via a crane and a team of firemen.
(5)
Amanda M.
How can you not love this place...they make the most incredible cakes...seriously!! My personal favorite is the almond cake, creme brulee and raspberry filing, vanilla icing and mounds of fresh fruit on top. It's sinful... can't go wrong with their pastries, cookies and other goodies either but must try the cake!!!
(5)
Julie T.
Okay, since wedding season is approaching, I have to stop procrastinating and share with all future brides my lovely experience with Bittersweet. I had a very specific cake design in mind and Bitterweet delivered exactly to my expectations! And, it was YUMMY...absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!! I also ordered several small pastries for my dessert table...they looked beautiful, but taste was just ok. I would have given Bittersweet 5 stars had it not been for the fact that they somehow had my credit card number wrong (even though they charged the same card the deposit months back) and called the day of the wedding to say that my card wasn't working...next time, please process the payment a few days before the wedding to avoid potential bridal panick attacks :-) That small hiccup aside, I would totally recommend Bittersweet to anyone for an absolutely delish and beautiful cake!!! Now, I will try to post a pic :-)
(4)
Puneh K.
Consistently great moist cake with a variety of options. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because they could use a better decoater. Although every cake I've gotten from there has tasted amazing, it's always looked pretty plain no matter how much I paid for decorations. It would be nice to have someone with ideas consult with you on the decorations. Other than that, a great place!
(4)
Philip B.
This place made me quit going to starbucks. The cappuccinos are REAL and way cheaper. The way a good espresso drink should be. Beautiful pastries and good looking food. I haven't had any of their lunch items, but I'm sure they are as good as I expect.
(5)
Tina B.
My husband and I were married out of state and had a chocolate mousse cake as a wedding cake. For our anniversary, I wanted to get a cake similar to what we had at our wedding. I found Bittersweet based on a Google search for the best chocolate mousse cake in Chicago. I called ahead of time to see if the cake was similar to what I was expecting. The lady on the phone was exceedingly nice and explained the cake in great detail. When I went to pick it up, I was delightfully surprised. It's completely charming shop and I was tempted to buy much more than just my cake. My husband thought this cake was actually better than what we had at our wedding. I will absolutely return to this place for desserts and I'm very excited to try to their lunch/brunch options as well.
(5)
Elizabeth N.
Amazing cakes!!!!!!! Everything else is okay. Be prepared for slow service but it is all with it.
(4)
Laura P.
Going into Bittersweet always brings on an ADHD attack, much like going into Costco, but better. There are just too many sweets to look out- from baseball and snake shaped cookies, to macaroons, half a dozen different scones, key lime pie, tarts of all flavors and sizes, gelato, peanut butter and jelly bars, cupcakes. You name it. This ADHD attack has only gotten worse since they've expanded, but we only get here about once a year so it is manageable. Bittersweet isn't just about the pastries and they serve a very nice breakfast and brunch. Their quiche is my gold standard, with a substantial pastry crust, a deep egg filling, and a sprinkling of cheese on top. It is a hefty slice and you get a choice of mixed green salad or fruit. The fruit is a kabob of small slices of kiwi, pineapple, strawberry, and cantaloupe so if you want something more, go for the salad. The guy behind us was raving about their soups, which we didn't get on a super hot Chicago day. They did have a cool cucumber soup that looked amazing. If you order a pastry you'll get it with a huge white quenelle- don't be fooled because it isn't gelato. It's a big, egg-shaped side of lightly flavored whipped cream which set off our plum with almond cream tart nicely. Getting the bill wasn't outrageous- about $30 for two drinks, entrees, and the split dessert. Waiting for their one restroom was a drag though, but you get to peek into their huge almost-industrial kitchen and watch while you wait.
(4)
Eric S.
It's Saturday morning, you've slept until 11, and your head is pounding. A "one-drink-and-home" evening turned into an epic romp through bars, clubs and possibly a White Castle. The wee hours are fuzzy. So now you need some peace, some coffee, and food that will make your weary body happy. Well, friend, Bittersweet is the place for you. You may have to wait a little while for a table, as this place has become quite popular with couples, hipsters with visiting parents, book clubs, new parents, on and on. So, spend some time admiring the pastry case and make notes on what you'll buy on the way out. Then look right of the entrance and grab a cake and/or cookie sample - it will be delicious. Next look to the far wall past the tables for the short list of menu options. There will be a soup, a quiche, salad and sandwich. Everything I've ever had there has been good, and their sides of green beans are especially tasty. I'd also recommend their bowl of cafe au lait - I'm not a coffee drinker and yet this still is one of my favorite morning beverages. Now, watch the passers-by on Belmont Ave, enjoy the sun through the windows, order a pastry as a breakfast dessert, and feel yourself revive and get ready for the day.
(5)
Jamie G.
This charming, little bakery is a nice place to find relief in the city. They have great-tasting macarons and cute holiday sugar cookies. The reason for four stars, and not five? I attempted to create a gift box with their holiday sugar cookies, and I left the cafe with an over-sized box and no bow. :(
(4)
Anne L.
A beautiful and tasteful creation! Last week was our 25th wedding anniversary; I had placed an order with another bakery I had used for 23 years. Saturday morning that bakery called and said they had dropped the cake and wouldn't be able to replace it. I called my son, Eric, whose girlfriend Lisa, uses Bittersweet frequently. He made a 3 way conference call to the owner who promised that by 5PM I would have an anniversary cake. She created a beautiful cake, fresh spray of flowers adorned the top. The cake was chocolate, with creme brulee filling and white butter cream frosting. Our anniversary dinner was aboard the dinner cruise ship the Odyssey at Navy Pier. Our dinner guests and those seated near by ooh'd and aaahh'd as the cake was wheeled to the table. The cake was not only beautiful, but the flavors blended beautifully as well, truly a taste sensation not to be forgotten. I want to thank the owner and staff for personally rescuing our anniversary dinner party. Without you it would have just been dinner. Thank you again for your hard work; you are the best of the best. Pamela Krause Glenview, IL
(5)
Jen S.
Crazy wonderful treats and such a cozy and comfortable bit of Europe here in Chicago. And of course the pastries are to die for but the daily quiches,soups and sandwiches are to die for! Great for everything to a wedding cake to a lunch or light snack!
(5)
L. R.
I'm so glad I got to discover this place! I am not a sweet's type of person, but who can resist... just take a look at the raspberrie thingies, at the strawberries, drink a coffee along, and oh... My dad's restaurant takes orders from this place and my dad tells me people love the banana bread and the muffins from this place. I love their pastries.
(5)
Marie B.
Fantastic pasteries. They have great cookie designs. From classic birthday and weddings, to local favorites: cubs and sox. Also the cookie designs change based on the season: gotta love the Bears cookies. Also the cakes are delicious. Custom ordering makes it even better and they only need two days notice!
(4)
Kyung P.
Wonderful pecan buns!!! Best ever. Melt in your mouth delicious. Heaven in your mouth. Flakey and caramelized. A little messy, but deal with it. I've had a lot of their breakfast pastries, but have never tried their cakes. They have a beautiful holiday cookie assortment - not sure how they taste though. Their scones looks good too. I heart bakeries.
(4)
Melissa B.
I lived very close to this place for over two years and never stopped in. I wish I had. The ambiance is very cute (although a tad cramped in the seating area) and I really wished I had more time to look around. All I got was a few mini cupcakes to go (I'm on a mission to find my wedding cupcakes), but I can say the service was friendly, and the place was very inviting. Perhaps I'll stop in again sometime. As to the cupcakes, one word comes to mind: forgettable. I finished mine not 30 minutes ago, and I honestly don't know what to write right now. Mine wasn't that bad, I guess. I asked the boy if he liked his creme brulee cupcake, and all he said was "meh." I may have to rewrite my review some other time, since all those cookies and pastries looked AWESOME. I'll have to stop by again, but not for cupcakes.
(3)
JK B.
This is a good place to go if you are in the mood for some European-style treats (e.g., rather than the American bakery style offerings) and you are in the Lakeview area. I think the fruit based tortes are better than the other choices (the non-fruit offerings can be rather cloying). I think there are better choices in the Chicago area (Fritz pastry, Vanille Patisserie), but this is pretty good.
(3)
Amy S.
I always walk by this place and have heard many good things about it, so I decided to stop in on a Saturday morning to pick up something for my mom's birthday. It was very busy, with people eating brunch/breakfast and then with other customers waiting to order or pick up cakes. It browsed around the shop and saw cute stationary products intermingled with decorated cookies to match the occasions (i.e. birthdays, baby shower, thank you, etc.) which is a really cute idea. The cookies also give you ideas on designs you might want on a cake. They had cheesecakes in the glass case, so I decided to purchase one of those. To my surprise, the woman who took my order didn't just pull out the one in the case (like they do at many bakeries), instead she said it would be just a couple minutes while they put the fresh berries on top. While I was waiting I sampled a piece of brownie that they had out, and drooled over the delicious looking bakery cookies. I will definitly come back here to order a cake for other occasions. I have tried a banana cream cake also, that a co-worker brought in, and it was good.
(4)
May S.
I wanted to surprise my fiance with a groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner. I called a few places and was shocked at the cost! I wanted a red velvet cake in the shape of a Bears jersey. Neither of the more expensive places told me that red velvet dries out as a sheet cake (I heard this from another bakery), they just told me the $300 price tag. Someone on theknot boards recommended Bittersweet and I called them. It was less than $100. It came as a round layer cake with red velvet and white chocolate frosting. On the top, they created a dark blue Bears jersey in what looked like fondant with his last name and our number - from far away, it looked like a real jersey! It was incredible! And it tasted awesome too!
(5)
Natalie F.
After being in Zurich for two weeks and being spoiled with Spruenglie there, I was craving pastry.....I went to Bittersweet and gave them a shot. Nope...and I don't say this to be mean. They have some wonderful pieces and selections in their shop that does remind me of Europe, however, the pastry's no. I had ordered what I thought was an apple tart but it was Pear. wonderful! I love Pear to. When I bit into it, I would have had no idea it was Pear though. They had so much glaze on it, they didn't allow for the sweet fruit flavor to come out. Which is really sad. Pastry's are delicate and full of flavor. We as Americans make the mistake that sweet is whats its all about, it should only be a little sweet with loads of natural flavor to it. The crust is sweet to. To much is sometimes to much. It was ok. Had I not known better I would have liked it more.
(2)
Nicole V.
I have had only good experiences with the baked goods, cakes and pastries I have purchased here. They have the cutest little cookies and treats! You always make an impression when you show up at a get together with some fun little sweets from here. They have some really unique alternatives to your standard icing on the cake. I bought a flour-less cake for my mom's b-day and they added an iridescent candy plate with a personalized happy birthday message written in metallic. So unique and fun....and the cake was delicious. The only reason they don't get full stars is because at times it gets extremely congested in there and they tend to not be very organized. I don't mind a wait if there is a line, but standing in a mass of people who are all in a hurry gets a little trying at times.
(4)
Mandi B.
Chef Celeste makes the best macaroons! The Passionfruit is a must, don't dare leave Bittersweet without one!
(5)
Greta P.
Um... I saw the employee drop 2 croissants on the floor. She slyly put them back with the others when she thought no one was watching. No way, man. No way!
(1)
Cali G.
Can you say yum? Lovely place to hang out and have lunch with a friend or desserts. They have great dessert ideas for you or can customize cakes according your event. Every time I come for lunch here I have their tomato soup and half a sandwich. It is so good.... They might have about 6 tables, so at times it might be a little hard to stay and enjoy what they have to offer. They have a great staff as well.. Very nice place if you have never been
(5)
Edie B.
This place has some of the best cakes, tortes, mousses, and pastries I have ever had in my life -- and that is saying something. As far as the service is concerned, let me say this: I worked at this place for a week back in 05 or '06, and its a fucking miracle they can keep any help. The owner is a tyrant who makes her managers paranoid, uptight and miserable, and the general employees spend their time feeling incompetent and terrified that they will be suddenly unemployed with no cause or warning or made the center of some teary and painful spectacle. Poor things. Anyway, I have no idea why this shop pretends at being a cafe. Go for the cakes, stay if you *must*, but, if you do, just order some hot chocolate to pass the time, and cut those kids some slack!
(5)
Sarah Z.
I recently down graded Bittersweet from four to two stars. I have ordered a few cakes here over the years, and the reviews went like this: Birthday cake for boyfriend in '01 - Excellent! Everyone loved it. Cake for Mothers Day in '05 and '06 - Pretty good. Birthday cake for Nephew in '07 - Two BIG thumbs down. Literally. Two children under the age of 10 would not eat this. I've eaten brunch/lunch here several times and the food is healthy and well proportioned (nothing supersized). The space is quaint and pretty. I used to really like this place, but the sweets just aren't that spectacular anymore.
(2)
Pamela K.
I like the pastry there. I went there many times for cakes, cupcakes, maccaroons, maccarons, brownies, cheesecakes, and more. I agree that the price is expensive. One small easter rabit cookie can cost you $4 a piece. However, I gave this four-star only to pastry but not to their service. I agee with other reviews that staff there is sweet but one is bitter! They were not quite helpful and lacked of the pastry knowledge. When I asked about the specific pastry or the basic differences between them, they could not answer my questions. They should have the proper knowledge about the product they sell. Plus, they always missed the quantity I ordered, for example, I ordered four and they gave me two.
(4)
John H.
There are some very high quality items here--the apple strudel muffins are fantastic--but I always felt like Bittersweet put a little bit too much emphasis on presentation. It was hard to leave feeling full without dropping ten bucks. I'd echo Jimmy B's comment on that note--feels more like a catering business than a bakery. A good option for the higher end cookies and cakes customers, but not the best spot for the more economical muffin/cup of coffee crowd.
(3)
Jisha A.
I ordered a birthday cake from here a few weeks back - the praises I got for it made me want to take credit for it :) Chocolate mousse with strawberries with a dark chocolate glazing. They may seem pricey but I think the cake was well worth it. They even added chocolate ribbons 'n strawberries for decor. It looked as awesome as it tasted. Really impressed. I tried one of her home speciality cookies as well, twas great ! I'll be back to see what else this place has to offer, without feeling guilty about the calories, i hope !
(5)
dottie m.
There is NOTHING bad here! The little tarts with the vanilla bean custard and strawberries are sublime, and there's nowhere else I go for fancy cakes (a PERFECT place when you have to "bring dessert"). I'll admit, I've only eaten dessert here (they have a lunch menu as well), but you can pretty much close your eyes and point to anything in the bake case, and you'll go home happy.
(5)
Kate W.
Best. Desserts. Ever. A friend gave me a slice of cake and said "you have to try this!" It was the greatest cake ever... EVER!
(5)
Andria M.
I will preface this with: "I am very picky about baked goods" This place is in my neighborhood and thought I should give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised with the ambiance upon entering; it looks like what I would expect a patisserie in France to look like (albeit, I have never been to a patisserie in France...). I ordered a pear ginger scone and a cream cheese carrot cake muffin, everything else was a little too foo foo for me. I was looking more for what another reviewer was looking for (bear claw, cinnamon roll..I guess that's not very French, though). The scone had no flavor resembling it's description, actually it really just had no flavor at all and the center was gummy. In the trash that went after 2 bites (had to be sure it wasn't worth it). So onto the cream cheese carrot muffin! That was an improvement (only had 1/2, trying to save for later); I'm still on the fence as to whether the center is gummy or just moist. All in all, I wasn't overwhelmed, but I might give them another chance...maybe for their lunch menu.
(2)
Randal B.
This is one of those joints where you take your mom or out-of-town friends for Sunday brunch. Top atmosphere, some of the best quiche in town, and some of the best coffee in town, too (and I don't say that lightly). I can't fail to mention the great pastries and sweets (be sure to check out the half-price leftovers on the left side of the counter). The only reason I don't give Bittersweet five stars is that they have the absolute worst check-out system in Chicago. Hands down, paying this place the slowest and biggest pain-in-the-butt for any place we eat. If Bittersweet would pony up for a standard credit-card system (for crissake, allow tips on cards and take Amex) and allow you to pay at your table (check-out involves taking a number or butting in line to just get your table bill) they'd probably get five stars out of me.
(4)
Amy L.
Went there this past Saturday afternoon with the hubby. It was pretty rowdy in there. We ended up just getting our dessert to go. It was wow. It has like an aroma to it when you eat it that made me want more. It was a small little tart type dessert with a strawberry on top. Good stuff. About 3 bucks each too so not the cheapest dessert..
(3)
Lori M.
Bittersweet is one of those places that I've been going to regularly since moving back from Italy in '98. I just adore their sunny savory & sweet treats, and am always thrilled with everything in their shop. For every year since, I've ordered my kids birthday cakes (Julian's favorite: Almond Cake with a Tiramisu w/ Espresso soaked Lady Fingers filling, and a Dark Chocolate Glaze) (Benjamin's favorite: Red Velvet cake with a Crème Brulee Custard, strawberries and Vanilla Buttercream frosting) from Bittersweet, and they're all very memorable. Recently, for Fat Tuesday, I stopped in and picked up King Cakes for the office - that rich brioche dough, garnished with sliced almonds and purple, green, and yellow sugar---ohhhh, what a hit. They were gone in minutes. I love to stop in to the cafe for a nice quiet lunch by myself once in a while, and ADORE their peach ginger scones in the a.m. with coffee... oh, who am I kidding, I love EVERYTHING about Bittersweet. If you like tarts and cute baker girls as much as I - be sure to stop in and try their lemon sabayon - it's to die for. Take some hot cross buns or pecan sticky rolls home for your sweety if you're in the dog house. I wish this place was open late!
(5)
Jerry M.
Good place to go to for brunch on Sat/Sun, if you don't mind the small selection of food, but I've always liked what they have (just one entree, soup, and salad). I had the spinach salad with blue cheese and can I say YUMMY?! The desserts are plentiful and yummy, but I'll admit that I'm more of a cupcake girl with tons of frosting, and they really don't have anything like this here - more like pies and cookies. But still good!
(4)
Jeanette S.
This place has some yummy and beautifully decorated treats! It's not the best in town, but certainly worth a visit.
(3)
Sue K.
Best cakes of the chocolate variety. Get one for a birthday or special occasion. Lunch cafe is also very nice and charming.
(5)
Cynthia N.
I just ordered cookies from Bittersweet for a new biz presentation for work. I am always amazed at the quality of work. I sent them a jpeg logo and they drew it on a cookie. They
(4)
Heather S.
Ack!! I can't believe I forgot to review this place! This was my dream wedding cake bakery and boy did they live up to my expectations. We had an extremely simple almond cake w/ lemon curd filling and buttercream frosting. It was and is the best wedding cake I have ever tasted. 2 years later, I ordered the same cake in a mini version for our anniversary. The shop is cute and small and has gorgeous baked goods. The cutest cookies and most beautiful tarts, etc. I have not eaten here for lunch, however.
(5)
Virginia T.
I haven't been to Bittersweet in a while....but when I was there I was very impressed. I've had coffee, cake, gelato, salad, pastries, and cookies and was not disappointed. In fact....I was so impressed that we chose Bittersweet to make our wedding cake. It was AMAZING. Lightly almond flavored cake filled with creme brulee and fresh sliced strawberries! Beautiful design, fresh flowers on top...gorgeous and delicious-albiet pricey!
(5)
ER S.
The cakes & cookies are terrific if a bit pricey. Lunch is great too... though they really don't put their heart into in on the weekends (same menu over and over and over). Checkout could be better... slow and painful at busy times.
(4)
Rachel G.
I have never been here....but I had tasted one of their wedding cakes and it was delicious. I am talking so delicious that the wedding was almost 3 years ago and I still remember how it tasted!! I guess I better get my rear in here and start tasting some of their other goodies!!
(5)
faith b.
I love coming here and getting a little treat for myself. My old boss bought me their macaroons and I was hooked! Sometimes I pick some up to give to my friends as little gifts. The packaging that they come in is very cute. I came here once to pick up my boss's birthday cake for her daughter. It looked so perfect and yummy... I just wanted to paw at it and shove it in my mouth. The only thing that would make these visits sweeter is if they hired friendlier people. I don't know why they always look so grumpy... maybe it's because they're tortured by all the yummy treats that they're not allowed to eat.
(4)
Michelle R.
I can only speak about the cakes, the beautiful yummy cakes! They just make pretty pretty cakes! the lemon curd is amazing!
(5)
Jeremy T.
Even a hot chocolate at Bittersweet is not "just a hot chocolate", it is THE hot chocolate. I don't think I even need to say anything about the dessert..
(5)
Melanie M.
Raspberry lemonade cupcakes from Bittersweet. Whenever they have it, I will drop all things to eat them. The lemon pastry I had was divine. I haven't done in a while and I should probably change that.
(4)
Penny C.
Like most of the less than stellar reviews, it isn't the food. I've been spending a few hundred dollars a year at Bittersweet for about 8 years because they have delicious interesting baked goods. I called first thing this morning to see if I could order mini scones for tomorrow afternoon. The woman on the phone was short and a little too pleased to tell me they needed 48 hours. I understand they are busy and yes, I should have called sooner, apparently 30 hours just isn't enough notice. She wasn't friendly and she didn't offer any suggestions, like "we have regular sized scones or a great cookie selection." She just didn't care. I called Bon Bon and Vanille - very helpful and friendly. Bittersweet won't miss my money, it isn't much, but the other bakeries will appreciate it.
(2)
Kimberly C.
Ooooh! Bittersweet! How could I have possibly left you off the list? This was the site of the prequel to the infamous cupcake crawl. Ms. E and I had lunch here the day before our grand day out and sampled a bit of the cake too. I have to say that the lunch I had was utterly fantastic. And the staff was wonderfully helpful and answered all of our questions about cake, cupcakes, and different flavor combinations to try. Although they only made cupcakes on the weekends, we tried one of their cake slices. The cake itself was divine. It was moist and flavorful, if not a little sweet. The mocha filling was near perfection. Unfortunately, I hated the icing. It literally tasted like butter and nothing else. The cake was visually beautiful, though. I'd be happy to go back and try some of the other icing combos with the cake and I am sure I could come up with one that worked for me. Overall they are doing desserts proud and pricewise ($1.75 w/o filling, $2.25 with filling) these cupcakes were high on the list. On a side note, they usually have bite-sized samples of cakes for walk-in customers. The carrot cake sample I tried was literally the best carrot cake I have ever had.
(4)
Erin C.
I hate this place and it's a bakery! I love bakeries! The cookies I've had here are bland and greasy. The pastries were tasteless though they looked pretty. I'm a pretty good baker myself, so i know an overuse of lard when i taste it. blech! The positives: it's cute and everything here looks very pretty. Go somewhere else if you actually want to eat something.
(1)
Sixto M.
still a great place to eat! I always want to make it here for lunch, but never get there in time: it's always packed by 12pm. Today, I went for a late lunch and had a delicious shrimp salad sandwhich. I'm glad to see their menus change, and they have a breakfast menu, then a seperate lunch menu. I didn't buy any pastries or cookies when I went, but I sure did have some of their samples (which were vanilla and chocolate cakes with buttercream, choc chip cookies, and "holiday" fudge).
(4)
Jerica W.
My friend and I were just walking down Belmont one afternoon and stumbled across this place. We decided to stop in for a cup of coffee. I had a cappuccino and a little blueberry tart and my friend had a bowl of their chilled cucumber soup. My cappuccino was great, as was my friend's soup. My tart was a little on the dry side. We went back this afternoon and each had a cup of coffee and a smore cupcake. The cupcakes were great!! We had the same server both times and she was friendly. Be advised... if you are paying with a card there is no where on the receipt to add tip, so make sure you have a few dollars with you to leave for tip. If you are looking for a cute place for a cup of coffee with a friend, I would recommend it.
(4)
Alice B.
I used Bittersweet for my wedding cake and pastries. My husband and I met with a very nice lady who guided us towards a cake we loved that was within our budget! She didn't pressure us and made us feel very comfortable. Day of the wedding, even though my reception site was quite far from the city and practically in the middle of nowhere, they delivered it on time. It was exactly what I wanted, not to mention delicious! I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Karen L.
Cute bakery/cafe that is a great place for lunch! I will have to say, though, that the menu is pretty limited. There were a couple of sandwiches and salads and soup. I ordered a half sandwich and bowl of soup. The soup changes daily, I believe, and I went when it was a carrot jalapeno. I am not usually a fan of carrot, but this was amazing! It had a really nice flavor and kick to it! The sandwich, however, was just okay. One thing was it came cold. And, looking at other tables', we noticed that their sandwiches had been "panini-ed". I would have enjoyed it way more if it was warm! It was nice that you also get a choice of a side item. My friend ordered the hot chocolate and she said it was wonderful! And, of course, I always hear the baked goods are pretty good so I would definitely go back if I had a craving for cookies or desserts.
(3)
Kat H.
wonderful pastries. I got a variety of things for a mani/pedi party i had and everybody loved what what i got. they also had good coffee and we helpful when i needed to know if there were walnuts (allergy) in any of the pastries.
(4)
Matthew T.
I went here for the first time on a whim and was pleasantly surprised by the expansive selection of items available. I had a fresh brioche and an ice coffee and was very satisfied with the quality and the price. I will have to return for the ice cream sometime seeing as they post great deals for the ice cream and other items on twitter where they can be followed at bttrswtpstryshp. I will be returning soon =)
(4)
Chelsea G.
The cupcakes range from OK to pretty good. I had a cream cheese tart once, which i think is my favorite so far. Great scones and truffles. I agree with a previous comment that the website is not very useful. I go about once a week because it's about thirty seconds from my apartment, and I always try something new (variety is definitely apparent). I like taking advantage of the samples as well, especially during Thanksgiving. Overall, nice but not the best.
(3)
Megan T.
So happy that I chose Bittersweet for my wedding cake! I highly recommend them for weddings and any sweet occasion you may have! From day one they were on top of my wedding and were so organized! They did not bug me for more than what was necessary and never asked me the same question twice! When you are a bride that is a huge relief to know you hired someone reliable. Sue Anne contacted me two weeks before the wedding and reviewed everything with me and sure enough come wedding day the cake was there more beautiful than ever! I was a very picky bride and before everyone arrived at the reception went into the room to make sure everything was just as I had laid out, I inspected the cake and there was NOT ONE bubble in the fondu it! It looked fabulous. Even more important the hazelnut cake with vanilla creme brule filling was phenomenal! I even have a special request about 3 days prior to the event for them to deliver a cupcake of the day with my cake so we could sing happy birthday to my new niece as it was her birthday that same day! As expected it was there perfect as could be! I can not say enough about this place and would even give it a extra star if it was possible! bottom line don't be disappointed....book bittersweet for your special occasion!
(5)
Katie H.
For being the only place in Chicago that carries macaroons (not the coconut kind but the delicious French kind) I give this place 5 stars. I happened to walk by while apartment hunting and squealed with delight when I saw my beloved cookies. After becoming addicted to these cookies at a French bakery in Pike Place Market, I had been searching Chicago for them. The almond and chocolate macaroons did not dissapoint. Judging from the lines, I would assume everything else is just as good. I will be back to try more.
(5)
Kurt O.
One of the nicest bakeries in town. Their chocolate and macaroons remind me of my Grandmother's baking....and she owned a Swedish bakery. I've tried to enjoy lunch there because the food is so good....but the tables are small and rather unstable and close together....it does not feel comfortable....so I usually avoid sitting and just get takeout.
(4)
Connie W.
Stopped in for the first time today. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The coffee and oatmeal raisin cookie were delicious! Looking forward to returning for lunch and more sweet treats!
(5)
Alli L.
This review is not really for eating in. We picked up a gorgeous, decadent, death-by-chocolate chocolate fudge mousse heart-shaped cake here, and it was amazing. I'm not even a huge sweets or chocolate person! (I mean, I am, but not the way some people are...) I have also heard on good authority (from someone who really knows her scones) that they have really good scones here.
(5)
Bianca J.
The white chocolate tartlet I ate here was so good I actually had a dream about it later. I don't even like white chocolate that much, but damn. Perfect buttery crust and smooth, creamy filling. They also have New Mexico style biscochitos- anise seed cookies, which were a pleasant surprise. I was also a devotee to the chocolate and orange zest flavore Cafe Chocolat- but the last time I ordered it the girl just squirted chocolate syrup in my coffee- what changed?!!
(4)
H. K.
LOVE IT!!! Apart from wonderful and elegant desserts, a very nice place for lunch (more of a grownup version). I went there with my mom, and another time with a friend, and they loved it. Really good soups and elegant salads in a very nice, kind of English tearoom setting. Their cakes are also exquisite. Wish they had more than one location (I live in the suburbs, but always try to stop by when I'm in Chicago).
(5)
Isabella W.
I was disappointed the second time back to Bittersweet. The latte was ok (despite the fact that they use Illy coffee - one of my favs). The latte just came out very lukewarm, not hot... at the very least they should have microwaved my latte if they didn't want to steam it. Also, the fruit tart while delicious was extremely difficult to eat due to its extremely hard crust. It was so messy that I lost my appetite halfway through eating the small tart. I do give it 1 star for the espresso tart (with a chocolate covered espresso bean on top) and another one for a free coupon due to an error in the specials (which said it was an orange cheesecake, but acutally had coconut). I'll probably come back if I'm craving a tart, but would prefer Bombon over this.
(2)
Lindley E.
[review is specific to cake] Worst birthday cake I've ever had. Dry, bland...heartbreaking. You get one birthday a year...the cake should be perfect. This was about as soul-less and empty as it comes. I brought my cake to work and no one went for seconds...and the folks I work with have never met a baked good they didn't like. I have tried other things there, and to my palate they have all been unremarkable. Pretty to look at, terrible to eat. Oh yeah, but the coffee was okay.
(1)
Eileen O.
Bittersweet made my wedding cake, which wasn't a cake but a croquembouche (I think I spelled that wrong). It's a french wedding cake made of many cream puffs stuck together with caramelized sugar. It was incredibly good. One of the great things about bittersweet was that I was able to order everything on the phone (with Sue Anne) and through email. I sent them photos of what I wanted it to look like and they made it gorgeous. Not having to go into the store was one less thing that I had to worry about. I also appreciate that the day before the wedding they called me and said "it's going to be 100 degrees out tomorrow... do you mind if we make two smaller ones instead of a huge pyramid since transporting that will not go well in the heat?" Honesty is so important! I'd rather have two perfect cakes than one big one that's falling apart It was more affordable than any other cake and all of my guests were falling over themselves to get more because it was so tasty! Thanks for making my wedding ever better!!
(5)
Matt R.
I really want to love Bittersweet. However, I find myself comparing many of their items to other bakeries and Bittersweet's never seem up to par. Mind you, I have never had anything bad. I also have never had anything out of this world. Still, Bittersweet is a cute place just to drop by for coffee and a snack.
(3)
Mary S.
Amazing macaroons. Passionfruit was THE best macaroon I've ever had. Everything at Bittersweet is yummy!
(5)
Paul F.
The pastries are great and the food is wonderful. But what really makes me love the place is the wait staff. My date has issues with onions and onion like things, so she ordered her sandwich with no onions, Well the darling waitress came back and told us that the artichokes in the sandwich had been marinated with onions and that where shallots in another part of my dates order, she then suggested something else. Paying this much attention is just wonderful I will be going back again, soon and often!!!
(5)
Stephanie T.
I remember coming here a few months ago, and I just fell in love with this place. I ordered 2 chocolate cupcakes that were a day old but still were good. I sat down with a friend of mine's and we couldn't help but admire the essence of Bittersweet. They offer samples of their baked goods and even bring a cup of water to your table. The staff was very quick and friendly and were kind to show me around since it was my first time going there. I love this bakery and would recommend it to anyone in the neighborhood.
(5)
Larry B.
one of, if not the best pastry shop in Chitown. wonderful desserts, cakes, breads and more. Judy the owner is a little anal, but in a good way. Not to be missed if you love sweets.
(5)
Jason D.
I don't think I'll be able to walk by this bakery any longer without stopping in for brioche. The counter staff is friendly and helpful, which helps as well. Also, croissants are supposed to be crispy and flaky on the outside. If you aren't aware of this please proceed to Bittersweet immediately.
(4)
K L.
Wonderful food in a pleasant setting. My only complaint is that the servers do not take your check. You have to wait in the (extremely long!!) cashier line, behind everyone buying cakes and pastries. It is a very frustrating way to end such a nice experience.
(4)
Y V.
This is my favorite place to get French macaroons. They offer several flavors, but I love their chocolate with ganache filling, almond with apricot buttercream, and pistachio with buttercream. I also recommend their creme brulee and mocha mousse tart. You can't go wrong with a classic dessert like creme brulee. I used to go to Bittersweet before they expanded to a cafe, so I still have to try their savory items. But I'll definitely be back to try their new menu.
(4)
Midori G.
I stumbled upon this bakery when I decided to walk West on Belmont, where I had never before ventured. The cute window display appealed to both my utterly girlie side and my sweet tooth. It was almost closing time, so everything was half off, but I don't think I would have paid full price anyway. None of the three cookies I had were incredible, but I would come back to try more when I'm in the neighborhood. Note: The bakery is technically on the North SIDE of Belmont, in case anyone was confused.
(3)
Angie T.
not wanting to venture far from home for brunch - now that the weather cooled and there were errands to run - we opted for bittersweet, just down the road. i had been in there only once before a few years ago, but never sat for a meal. boy have we been missing out! i had a bowl of roasted red pepper and potato soup and an amazing slice of ham and cheese quiche. just wow. the desserts all looked delicious too - the macaroons, the cupcakes, cookies etc, etc. even the day old half price bread and muffins looked worth giving a try. anxious to go back and try out more of their menu soon.
(4)
Tiffany K.
What a cute place! Cakes and pastries are reasonably priced and sooooo pretty. They have regular food, too, like sandwiches. Not too expensive and not just pastries and cakes! Great place.
(4)
Tricia G.
This is my favorite bakery! There cakes are AMAZING! They have these to die for Macaroons! Try them if you like something sweet! We always get our birthday cakes from here! We get the banana cake filled with vanilla creme brulee, fresh bananas and finished with a dark chocolate glaze. YUMMO! I've always wanted my wedding cake from here, but we are on a budget so I tried another bakery to save some money. We had a horrible experience with them that I ended up going back to our original choice... BITTERSWEET! Tonight we met with the cake coordinator, Sue Ann. We were about 10 minutes late because of traffic and they were still so accommodating! The nice girl first offered us coffee or tea in addition to the water they already gave us. Then we met Sue Ann and she had offered it to us again. She was very professional and didn't mind we were late. Remind you we stared with her about 6:15 and they close at 7:00. We both had our own plate with cakes and all these assortments of different options. She explained each one patiently, gave us the time we needed and checked on us a few times in between. She LISTENED TO ME! Not like the other bakery we went to. We ended up selecting a BEAUTIFUL 4 tiered cake (Butter cream) but there butter cream looks like fondant but doesn't taste like it! It's sooo smooth, does it get any better than that!?!? Sue Ann had such great pictures of there beautiful work that had our ideas going. When we were done she went over our cakes that she had asked us to mark. She asked us what was it that we liked about each cake and then she got her drawing paper out and sketched our dream cake! I have to say that this was the same price that the other bakery was! Compared to the other place, BITTERSWEET hands down won! Their professionalism, patience, listening skills has exceeding our expectations! She really got it and we can't wait for our dream cake! We have all the trust in them that it will turn out beautiful! I was searching for a very long time with all the other bakeries. No I haven't been to many others but I can tell you that Bittersweets pricing for their wedding cakes is a lot lower than some of these other places! Trust me, save yourself time!! Check them out if you haven't. You'll see what I'm talking about! We got a BEAUTIFUL cake with tax and delivery for UNDER $500! WOW! For some reason I thought it would have been a lot more for what we got! Thank you Sue Ann! Thank you!
(5)
Kimberly E.
Amazing pastries, but service needs to be clearer. We were told to sit down if eating in, but we had to take a number and get in the to-go line to even get our bill. Wish it was order at the counter and sit instead of being frustrated (French style?). On the other hand, the croissant, ham and cheese croissant, raspberry brioche, and pecan roll (made w croissant dough) are really great. Coffee is ok. Cute gift ideas as well.
(4)
Brandon W.
Really cute place with tons of pastries. I wish I could eat more of them but alas since I'm not one of you normal folk, I cannot. My wife loves this place, so I'm sure it's great. Tip: get the hot chocolate! It is insanely good and the main reason I stop by. Recommended
(3)
E M B.
Wedding Cake Review: Bittersweet was the preferred bakery of our wedding venue and we were familiar with their tasty cakes so we were happy we didn't have to search through the endless bakeries in Chicago for our wedding cake! I showed them a more intricate lace design that they had not done before and they did a beautiful job! My only complaint is that while there are so many cake/filling options, I wish there were some more innovative flavors. Regardless they were great to work with and the cake was beautiful and tasty.
(4)
Brittney B.
My boyfriend decided to bring me home some cupcakes after I mentioned I was craving a cupcake on Twitter (points for him). He stopped here because it was close to the L and to home. I was surprised with a yellow cake cupcake with chocolate frosting and covered in sprinkles. I wasn't that impressed. The frosting was good, but the cake tasted like it was from your standard grocery store box mix. Nothing to write home about. Maybe it's because they were bought shortly before closing? I'd be up to giving them another shot and I'll update with another review when I do. Until then, not the best, not the worst.
(3)
R.A. H.
I found the selection and visual appeal of this place to be highly appreciated, but what I ordered lacked a certain something. I tried three of their shortbread cookies. The cinnamon lacked any serious cinnamon flavor. In fact, again while still a decent cookie, I had a hard time telling the difference between the chocolate and cinnamon ones. The chocolate slivers one was better and more distinctive and nicely done. I also sampled their homemade hot chocolate. The temperature was perfect but I found it to be a smidge too bitter and not smooth enough for my personal liking. I think I enjoy more of a semi sweet or milk chocolate flavor cocoa. Very much personal preference. The slightly dry aftertaste however made me hesitant to finish the drink. A fine establishment for those who truly prefer the bitter side of chocolate. My only real suggestion is to make the prices on your various display choices a little more evident.
(4)
janet t.
i was delighted that bittersweet would make cookies with my logo for a party. they were adorable! delicious, too.
(5)
Rachel B.
I'm about to move away from Lakeview and I think the one thing I'll miss the most is Bittersweet. I go in regularly for a coffee and a muffin to go, and I love this place's cute ambiance and the free samples. Muffins are great too, especially the apple muffin and sour cherry. The lunch menu is small, but consistently good. I also love that they have a selection of boxes of truffles, macaroons, holiday themed sweets, etc - perfect for bringing to someone's home for a dinner gift. The only feedback I'd give to them is they should offer a sort of "gift wrap" option where if you buy some of their unpackaged baked goods, you can have them packaged into a cute box - even for a small charge. If they did that, I'd buy their cupcakes, cookies, etc as gifts more often. Anyway, thanks Bittersweet for brightening up more mornings than I can count!
(5)
Michelangelo V.
Honest review first off dont trust all the positive reviews the food is not that good the portions are small n very expensive service is bad trust me u will be very dissappointed u can get better stuff at a corner bakery
(1)
Green B.
I was lucky enough to stop by right before they were closing. They have an amazing hot chocolate. The pastries were okay. It's a must try. I did not like that they were rushing us out of there. I would of rather not gone in, in the first place, if I cant enjoy what I bought.
We tried so many gluten free wedding cakes in the city and suburbs, and Bittersweet blew them all out of the water. Not even a scintilla of competition. They were prompt in responding, polite, helpful, and delicious. Cake tasting was the best part of getting married, but do yourself a favor and put this on your short list right now.
(5)
Brandon B.
Stopped by for lunch after finding another place closed. A little west of the main strip of dining locations but just a short walk from the El on Belmont. Small lunch menu for sandwiches but very well done and quick efficient service. The potato artichoke soup and reuben sandwich were filling and just the right size, and not overpriced. Surprisingly not too busy for a Saturday at noon in this neighborhood, but it is fairly small for dining. Massive displays of sweets of all kinds and generous sampling: the peppered glazed pecans left a kick for a while after I left! Half price bakery fragments from the day before which are a deal.
(4)
Anh N.
Was recommended by a few co-workers to try this place and even with all the hype, I was not disappointed! Bittersweet is a cute bakery on Belmont near Sheffield that also serves lunch foods and has tables inside to enjoy a meal or coffee. They have a great range of desserts, from cakes to freshly baked breads. They had cake samples out the day we came and those were absolutely delicious. I'm not a big cake fan, but their cakes are moist and the icing is light; not too sweet as well. The way to order is by taking a number and waiting for your turn. The service is a bit slow, so just be patient, especially when they're busy. If you decide to sit down, it's even slower...but if you're coming in for a leisurely visit, it's not a big deal. The staff is still gracious. A group of us tried the shortbread cookies, chocolate brioche, chocolate and almond croissant, lemon meringue tart, creme brulee tart, and hazelnut balls, which are like tea cakes with powdered sugar. Everything was great - highly recommend the chocolate brioche. Check 'em out!
(5)
Amber M.
I have finally gotten around to writing this review, even though my wedding was in November, 2013! Nancy was communicative, nice and easy to work with in selecting my wedding cake/design and it turned out beautifully. The cake was delivered all the way to Glen Ellyn on time and without any hitches. Since I am already a HUGE fan of the Almond cake here, that was my go-to, but I was able to taste and select some other layers to add. I've tasted Almond cakes at other bakeries and they do not even compare. You won't find that owerpowering flavor of almond extract, just a not too light and not too dense flavorful cake, they use real ground almonds which gives it not only the light flavor but real texture as well, never dry! For the main layer, I selected the Almond cake with raspberry preserves and creme brulee filling (my fav) second layer was a hazelnut cake with chocolate mousse filling and the last layer was a fudge cake with mocha mousse filling. Everyone at my reception was raving about the cake (as they should, cmon it's Bittersweet). It was expensive I will say (compared to other bakeries including the one included in my wedding package that was FREE but subpar) but worth every penny! I feel like some of the desserts and cookies here are hit or miss, but the cake, the cake NEVER disappoints!!!!
(5)
Van D.
Went in recently to buy a birthday cake for my son. It was a weekday morning so not very busy. Good selection of desserts on display and all looked good. Initially, a couple of college aged employees were working the front and they were friendly. A manager looking person eventually came out to help us. She did not seem overly enthusiastic to help us out and injected a few condescending comments while getting our desserts. During the checkout process, she continued to seem bothered when we added another pre-packaged item to our order. Quality of the desserts were good but definitely on the pricey side. Lots of friendly, quality, and cheaper bakeries in Chicago. Definitely don't need bakeries with attitude
(2)
Natalie Q.
This isn't quite the place I expected when looking for a bakery so this review is based on the bakery side of it. Bittersweet is a lot of things actually. It's a cafe, gift shop, and bakery. They have a wide selection of items, but sadly I haven't found what they specialize in I think. I bought a little bit of everything. Some bread, cookies, macarons, muffins, and cupcakes. None of these were amazing, just kind of typical. I think they must focus more on cakes, which did look pretty good. The macarons were probably the best but none of them were filled with any kind of jam or jelly, just a simple flavored cream filling. The cupcakes were okay and your standard sized cupcake. Just everything was okay. Nothing in the baked goods turned out to be great enough to make me go back for those items. I might go back and try some other stuff but for the price it's not one of my top options for a local bakery.
(3)
Lauren R.
My husband and I met with multiple wedding cake designers for our May 2014 wedding and Bittersweet was by far the most delicious, creative and paid the most attention to detail. We worked with Nancy, she was easy to get in contact with and provided us with honest feedback (ex: letting me know gold fondant would look too dark against rock candy). Bittersweet did an amazing job on our cake, the design was flawless. Even better, the cake tasted phenomenal! It was moist and the fruit layers contained a substantial amount of filling. I would highly recommend them! I can't wait until our anniversary so I can eat it again :)
(5)
Monique B.
Bittersweet made my amazing wedding cake. First, Nancy was great to work with. My wedding was a destination wedding and she was so accommodating for me. They offer an amazing cake tasting. Everyone at my wedding could not stop raving about how good the cake was!! They are also very reasonably priced!! I would highly recommend Bittersweet to every bride to be!
(5)
Laurie N.
Freaking loved this place, theres nothing I haven't liked. I still need to come here and try their food but their pastries are awesome!
(5)
Rachel N.
I have a lot of emotions abt Bittersweet, which, I guess is appropriate given its moniker. I've had lovely, luscious things from here - a flourless chocolate cake so rich it made me wish for an expandable stomach and an absent consciousness so that I could eat the entire thing in one solo sitting (serves 10-15p, clearly) - as well as a chocolate walnut torte that managed to be both airy and decadent - but, on the whole, I feel a bit like Bittersweet is an old Chicago grand dame in need of a facelift before heading to Palm Springs for the winter. It currently posits itself as a cafe/bakery - yes, you can sit and get table, but there isn't any real service. No menus, just a chalkboard - fine, I can read distance if my glasses happen to be on my face - but more problematically, no explanation that there was a chalkboard at which we should look. It's also awkward b/c you have to get up to survey the pastry selection - an activity that is worth your while, but makes for a strange coffee date if everyone is constantly popping up and down to scope out the goods. In terms of foodstuffs, obviously it's dessert centric, but the savory offerings are simple and well prepared (cauli soup, quiche, chicken pesto sando, grilled cheese, etc - the menu changes regularly) - so if you feel like easing into heavy cream and pounds of butter, it's possible to delay the inevitable w a proper meal. The real sin, aside from the service, is that they changed their macaron recipe - and let me tell you, what they just attempted to sell me as a macaron was a chocolate colored sham of a pastry - truly an abomination to my tastebuds and an assault to the fine French people who initially decided to whip almonds + egg whites + sugar into a cookie and bring Heaven to Earth. Having experienced BS macarons before, I was excited for a repeat adventure into the soft, chewy cookies sandwiching a proper buttercream or ganache filling, but the things they serve now are horribly hard and flavorless. As many of you have gathered by now, I have a lot of obstacles to overcome in my life - and I can safely say that recovering from the heartbreak of trying to bite into a presumed pillowy macaron only to have to retreat and ask for a knife is one that will take hours of therapy to undo. That said, on the whole, it remains a good place to say "eff you" to being paleo or vegan or whatever. To appreciate Bittersweet at its finest, your best bet is to hit it and quit it, rather than bother w sitting and savoring in the actual store. I've honestly never paid for myself here, but I think that whole cakes are $30+, cookies are around $2, sandwiches are under $10, and pastries are all $3-7? If you go at an off time, street parking in easy. Oh, for all you sample sluts - they give away their goods in bountiful quantities as soon as you enter. Bring your game face.
(3)
Alison Y.
Since discovering this place a little less than a month ago, I've been here at least once every week because EVERYTHING I've had has been so delicious! My favorites: white chocolate mousse, creme brulee tarts, and their flourless chocolate cake is THE BEST THING ON EARTH! Also their bittersweet hot chocolate is to die for - they describe it as French style which means it's pretty thick and decadent but made with dark chocolate so it's not overly sweet. I couldnt' drink it all on one sitting but it was just as good refrigerated overnight and microwaved the next day. Lemon bars are nice and sweet with a bit of tang but not too much that brings tears to your eyes! Blueberry pie cream tart was nice and tasted of fruit but was definitely a bit more dense...not sure where the cream part came into play on this one though. I've tried their basic buttercream cupcake and the cake was wonderfully moist and their buttercream frosting is like air. I love it when I eat a cupcake and I don't feel like a fat cow afterwards and Bittersweet's is perfect! I can't wait to try everything on the menu...and if it keeps drawing me back every week like it has so far...I will...
(5)
Megan M.
Feeling a bit of a sweet tooth on my walk home, I stopped in and grabbed a couple of tarts - mostly chocolate. They did not disappoint! I will certainly be back to try a few more items.
(4)
John G.
My favorite bakery in all of Chicago! Judy & staff do a fantastic job. They did my wedding cake last year it was one of a kind,very memorable. Love the key lime pie, chocolate souffle cake, all the fresh fruit tarts. They also have small brunch/ lunch menu that is well executed, simple fresh flavor profiles. Return anytime I'm in the area.
(5)
Annie M.
I'm a huge fan of this place - but I don't like everything necessarily here. What I think they do really well are the breads, croissants, scones, flourless chocolate cakes and tarts. PLUS their dine in lunch options are nice as well. My husband introduced me to Bittersweet as he could eat one chocolate croissant after another. He compares all other chocolate croissants to Bittersweet's... and I basically stop attempting to try them elsewhere. I'm not a cookie person so I can't really rate theirs. Definitely check this place out...
(5)
Brad L.
Service was non-existent. After waiting 5 minutes for the people ahead of us in line to be taken care of, we reached the counter and said that we would like to sit a table. They said go ahead and sit anywhere. I told them the tables needed to be cleaned, the girl started walking out like she was going to clean one and then never did!! Another few minutes later another person asked us to have a seat, I again informed the staff that there were no clean tables. This time they finally cleaned the table, but they left a big couple of crumbs in the middle of the table!! After sitting there for another 5 minutes without anyone saying a word to us, bringing water, or anything else, we left. No one seemed to notice and I'm sure they wouldn't have cared. The baked goods looked great. It's a shame they don't have a better staff. I doubt I'll go back. There is an abundance of comparable little shops in the area and I will be giving my business to friendlier and better organized shops.
(2)
Katie M.
This review is based on customer service, not based on food. I called Bittersweet a few days early to pick up some macarons for a friend. The lady on the other end of the phone was hard to understand and wasn't very pleasant. I felt she "barked" a few times at me, and seemed exasperated. When I picked up my macarons, it was the same type of service. The macarons were lovely looking (I didn't try one), but the service was lacking.
(2)
S H.
WOW, this Bakery should receive 1000 stars. 1) Their customer service is so good, they are super polite, classy and attentive. 2) Their flourless chocolate cake is SOOOOOO good, it's the best I have ever had and I have had LOTS of chocolate cakes 3) They have unique desserts that you don't see at other places 4) They always have samples that are delicious 5) They have this salmon sandwich that is SOOO good, and their Mushroom soup is beyond tasty. I LOVE this place
(5)
Joseph D.
I had walked by this place a few times as I live in the area and had a small pastry or two and thought they were pretty darn good. So when it came time to get something to bring to a friend's house for Thanksgiving, I thought of this place. Purchased a Chocolate Walnut Tort for Thanksgiving and it was a big hit. Covered in a rich chocolate ganache and filled with a delicate chocolate and walnut creamy dreamy filling, this is the kind of desert you want to keep eating but you know better as you will get a belly ache it's that good. At $36 it is a bit on the pricy side but to be honest, given that my wife bakes, we know what goes into making something a delicious as this so it is worth every penny. The price sheet claims is feeds 10 but I can tell you a small slice of this is more than enough so I'd guess it feeds more like 15 or 20 making it a good value even at $36. I had ordered in advance and told them when I was coming to get it. Thankfully it was ready as promised (that would have been a buzz kill) and the staff despite it being a huge rush, was pleasant and worked quickly to serve the 20 people in there. And for those who forgot to call ahead, they also had plenty of cakes and pies to select from that you could walk out with right there on the spot - smart move. Safe to say when I need to bring a desert somewhere and make a big impression, Bittersweet will be my go to bakery. Skip the nonsense you get a the supermarket and go for the real deal. It's worth every penny.
(4)
Suzanne P.
Bittersweet Bakery made our wedding cake, and I could not be more thrilled!! From start to finish, Nancy was a delight to work with. Our tasting was such fun, and we were so excited about what we picked out. So happy, in fact, that we used them for my Chicago Shower AND Rehearsal Dinner. All three events had our guests raving about the cakes. When I saw my wedding cake at the wedding, I was thrilled with how it came out. It was just gorgeous. And delicious to boot! I would highly recommend this to anyone throwing any sort of event. You will be well taken care of and your guests will rave!
(5)
Vineet S.
ordered a birthday cake for the first time from here. Great in quality, perfect amount of sweetness...it wasnt high on sweetness...nice soft sponge. Overall....great experience. Will definitely make this my default cake bakery. They should have better options for candles...if you're selling birthday cakes....candles are a given!
The desserts are sweet, but the staff is bitter and misanthropic. Every time I walk in, I walk out regretting giving them another chance. Do they realize that people can notice them sneering, rolling their eyes and sighing after you ask a question?
(1)
Mike B.
I love this place! It's kinda spendy, but their flourless chocolate cake is awesome! Lemon bars are fantastic too. It's maybe the only thing that I've purchased from a bakery that my family went crazy over!
(5)
Shradha A.
Everything here was so amazing! They have samples out weekend mornings (at least) and their scone-like bread with jam, the pastries, coffee and the reason we were actually there - the cake were all really good! I'd love to return and just stock up for another party!
(5)
Jessica P.
I enjoyed my treats at Bittersweet but I wasn't blown away. I had a lemon meringue tart which was good, but nothing out of the ordinary as well as a couple of orange shortbread cookies that were dry and bland to me. They have such a nice selection of treats to choose from so I will go back and hopefully my next trip will be more satisfying than my previous.
(3)
Belle L.
A fan since 2002 (or earlier) through the recommendation of a host from then-prominent restaurant. Taste best when consumed immediately. I hand carried 2 dozen of its refrigerated version to Edmonton, Canada. Bittersweet will gladly freeze when you plan ahead. Refrigerated or partially frozen, The Tarts still get adulation and compliments. I also give The Tarts as business gifts. How I wish Bittersweet is able to ship at a reasonable price. Sister loved their salads and still reminiscences about it. Bro loved the multi-sensory kiddie grilled cheese. I always indulge in the quiche of the day. A Judy Contino siting is cherished. It's exhilarating to see a neighborhood pastry shop grow from half a store into its present size. The marble tables are a treat. Service is always great. The chocolate drink has evolved throughout the years. From a cup, to a process (like the Traditional Japanese Green Tea). NOTE: Join the email list! Menu, bakery sale galore etc.
(5)
Jonathan W.
the flourless chocolate mousse cake was really good. I recommend getting the cake slices - they write the available flavors on a board. French toast (not on the board but I asked for it) was good but I wasn't wowed. Comes with pecan or apple bread. The pecan version was more of a spongy bread/cake with syrup on the side. not really what I was looking for in French toast overall shop is a bit confusing. there are lunch and cake items on chalkboards, but no menus. takes a while to get your bearings their samples aren't as good as their actual food
(4)
Michael M.
The menu is incredibly delicious, particularly the variety of croissants and scones. I highly recommend anything with chocolate chips. The service, however, leaves a bit to be desired. We waited about 20 minutes before anyone approached our table to take our order. And that was only after I walked over and told the waitress we were ready to order.
(4)
Karen M.
Bittersweet made our wedding cake. Everyone at the bakery was very nice, and the cake was awesome. We went with layers of red velvet with cream cheese frosting and vanilla with lemon sabayon. Both were amazing. We had a small number of guests with gluten allergies, and Bittersweet could not have been more accommodating. We ended up ordering another small gluten free cake at a very reasonable cost, and our gluten free guests were absolutely blown away at the quality -- all of them agreed that Bittersweet's gluten free cake was the best that they ever had.
(5)
R S B F.
In spite of having no previous experience with Bittersweet we took a gamble and went with many friends' recommendations that this was the place to order our wedding cake. Every member of the staff we dealt with during the process was more than helpful and the cake itself was . . . well, we couldn't possibly have hoped for anything better. Excellent presentation and superb taste. Scrumptious doesn't even begin to describe it.
(5)
Stephanie H.
I really wanted to like this place more. The location is great and some of their items are really tasty, but the service and prices are not. It's almost in a way... bittersweet. My first experience here was about a year and a half ago when a friend and I went for tea. The people working the counter completely ignored as and then showed us a table. Some time later a person who acted like she hated life came by with the teas (they serve Harney & Sons), teacups, saucers and hot water. When we were finished we looked for her again so we could pay. After a long wait we asked another server who said 'get your bill at the counter'. Apparently the woman who brought us tea had finished her shift and had left. We went to the counter again and after another wait were given our bill. We left the exact amount with no tip as our server had already left and no one else really helped us at all. I went by today to check out the cookies, etc as I plan to host a tea party later this fall. I tried the shortbread (ouch watch your teeth!) and then a macaroon. The salted caramel macaroon was delicious, but for $1.91 (inc. tax) each is just crazy. The macaroons at Argo Tea are $1. I might come back another time but there are other places nearby that probably treat you and your wallet better.
(3)
Katharine F.
My only complaint is that they do not have wifi. If they offered wifi, I'd probably be here every day because their food and desserts are THAT good.
(4)
Kirsten A.
Met a friend here for dishing and discussing and it was a great environment! We sat for two hours and enjoyed our yummy, warm cheddar cheese scones and tea, which was served on a gorgeously chic silver tray in tiny white pots with real tea cups! Love. And that's not to mention the tons of feet of pastry cases full of colorful, scrumptious looking treats. I just couldn't decide what looked best...the cake pops, chocolate truffles, sugar cookies, cupcakes, cakes, and mini tarts... This place is definitely a must stop if you're on Belmont!
(4)
Ben D.
Large variety and reasonable prices, great for coffee and something sweet. Creme Brulee Tart was my favorite
(4)
MG J.
I purchased 3 cakes yesterday. (All 3 totaled $107.) One gluten-free red velvet with "cream cheese" frosting. One gluten-free chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. One regular chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. The gluten-free red velvet cake with "cream cheese" frosting was both bad and ok. The red cake layers tasted like they made it 2 weeks in advance and just left them out on the counter. They were the most DRY crumbly cake layers that I've ever eaten in my entire life! Although on the other hand, even though the "cream cheese" frosting didn't taste like real cream cheese frosting - it was very light and very good. The chocolate frosting that was used on the gluten-free chocolate cake was the most heaviest, overly sugared/overly sweet frosting that I've ever had. It was gross! I don't understand HOW this happened since I explained to Susan that I wanted only very light frosting/filling and that I didn't want anything like heavy butter cream or heavily sugared frosting on any of my cakes. Hmmmmm.... Since I only tasted a piece of one of the cakes and the gluten-free chocolate frosting (off of that gluten-free cake) that I purchased I'll mostly judge Bittersweet on that. Gluten-free red velvet cake - ZERO stars - Horrible! Go elsewhere for something like this! Gluten-free chocolate frosting - ZERO stars! Loaf of bread for myself - 2 stars Decorations and the looks on the outside of all 3 cakes - 5 stars Customer Service over the phone (Susan) - 4 and 1/2 stars Customer Service in person when picking up the cakes - 2 stars I used Bittersweet in the past - about 10 years ago and I remember absolutely loving their cake! (Although it was a regular yellow cake and not a gluten-free cake.) I might give them another chance in the future if I just wanted to pick up a cup cake for only myself one day. But if I had to purchase 3 cakes ever again - I would definitely go to Swedish Bakery on Clark instead. Also, I had a gluten-free banana cupcake from Swirlz Cupcakes on Belden over the weekend and I do have to say THAT gluten-free item was absolutely delicious!
(2)
Mike D.
Sometimes I have to bring breakfast to work, and I always pick up a breakfast cake here when I do. I'm not the biggest sweets fan, but everyone else seems to love it. However, what I do love about this place is their sandwiches. Their "non-sweets" menu is very limited, but they serve really good food. Very fresh bread and sandwiches that taste like your mom made them. I highly recommend.
(5)
Sarah W.
We used Bittersweet Bakery for our wedding cake, and we loved it! I needed a gluten free cake, and Bittersweet has several options that are delicious - you can't even tell their cake is gluten free. We had a tasting that was really fun - we tried different combinations of cake flavors and fillings, and ultimately settled on two cakes - a small gluten free one for me and a large, regular cake for my husband and our guests. Both cakes were delicious! We requested a simple cake with just textured buttercream frosting - no fondant or anything like that. We brought some flowers to the bakery the day before the wedding, and they decorated the cake with those. It was simple, elegant and beautiful - and most important, it was exactly what we asked for. I would highly recommend Bittersweet!
(5)
Sally D.
I ordered cookies from Bittersweet for a party. They were very helpful over the phone with my order and very patient even though it was close to closing time. I picked up my order and took it to my party, only to discover that the one type cookie that I specifically requested to be included (I asked for a mix) was not included. I was close by but couldn't leave to go back to the bakery. I called Bittersweet to let them know that they didn't get my order right. They brought me 6 of cookies that didn't get included in the mix. THAT IS CUSTOMER SERVICE! I will be back for all my bakery needs. The cookies were a big hit and of course I told everyone what they did and everyone was very impressed with their customer service. The cookies were very yummy! They have a huge selection. The rest of the bakery items looked amazing. I can't wait to try something else on my next visit.
(5)
Kim R.
I loveeeee this place. Im a fan of choc cake and this place deserves five star. The decor is cute. The atmosphere is great. I havent try their coffee yet but def will.
(5)
Gabriel C.
We have been here quite a few times. The food is delicious and the desserts are just heavenly. We even had our wedding cake from here and it was great. Judy helped us through the whole process and she and her team created a gorgeous cake. The cake was more like a faux cake but the actual cake itself for the wedding was just fantastic. Thanks you bittersweet for making the a special day even better.
(5)
Mae B.
Free tasting for wedding cake!:) Nancy was friendly and approachable. Their cakes are a little expensive though. i had 2 layers for $195. I had red velvet cake with simple design. They work with Spiaggia, my wedding reception venue. Sweet!
(4)
Miss A.
They have the best French macaroons. They are so soft and fresh, passion fruit is my favorite, but they are all good. Their mini lemonmerengue tarts and little pecan tarts are delicious. My husband likes the coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate. You can taste that they use quality ingredients. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Ms B.
Amazing custom birthday cake! Excellent care and communication for my very specific request, from the moment I stepped in to the shop for the first time, for the cake tasting to the extra special birthday event day!! Nancy was a dream to work with, fabulous cake and fill flavor options, and gorgeous decorating! I truly loved the cake team's visionary craftsmanship! I will certainly be using them for all of my future cake needs :)
(5)
Priscila D.
Yum. Quaint spot. perfect for anytime... alone or on a date. I'm here today having tea time with my 5 year old. great time.
(5)
Rebecca C.
THE best flourless chocolate cake I've ever tasted anywhere. From five continents and tasting different varieties of flourless chocolate cakes in each, Bittersweet wins hands down! As a hostess gift, a Birthday cake, a holiday dessert, or for a staged celebration of something to nothing, the flourless chocolate cake wins the prize, and has won in my family for the past 10 or so years.
(5)
Racquel D.
I'm glad my sister found this place on one of her trips to Chicago. She was on a search for macaroons in Lakeview, and she hit the jackpot. The macaroons are delicious! They also have tons of dessert and coffees. Cupcakes are pretty good, too. I know they have other food there, but I haven't tried them before. I come back here when I want to take macaroons back home to Houston. The staff is also super friendly! The space itself is really cute. It's a good place to just sit and relax.
(5)
Antaash U.
My friend and I needed to kill some time before heading over to the Theater Wit. When we walked in, it was dessert overload (if there is such a thing). The glass cases were filled with pastries, cookies, cupcakes galore! They happened to have a buy one red velvet cupcake, get one free deal....SCORE!!! So, that was a definite yes. But how could we go in and just get one cupcake? We chose this peanut butter chocolate piece of heaven (ok, so I'm forgetting what exactly it was), but imagine a resees peanut butter cup but a more sophisticated and refined version, and that's what we had. We also had vanilla lattes that were very good. Bittersweet has a comfy vibe that welcomes you to sit down and take a load off. If you're going to enjoy their creations in house, servers will gladly bring your order to the table and continuously check on you to make sure you're not in need of anything. Everything from the sweet treats to the service was wonderful. Now, if it was just a little closer to the West Loop...
(4)
Truth I.
I had some graduation cake that was from here and it was the best cake ive had in my entire 39 years of life. It seems as red velvet.
(5)
Lauren S.
I love cake more than most things in life. I never spent any time fantasizing about dresses and flowers and all that jazz as a little girl, but I did dream about my wedding cake. We went into Bittersweet with high expectations, and we were not disappointed. Working with Nancy was a wonderful experience, and the cake tasting was definitely my favorite part of wedding planning. I wanted a simple cake that would still make a statement. No ribbons, no fondant, no 4 tier sculpture, just good cake.They gave us everything we asked for. Our guests ended up loving the cake, and we were a very happy couple.
(5)
Elise K.
This place is YUMMY! I bought breads, scones and cookies. The breads are very reasonably priced and fresh. I purchased a loaf of sourdough and a loaf of sandwich bread. Both I was pleased with. They offer to slice it for you, but if you can do it yourself as you go the bread stays fresher longer. I also recommend keeping it sealed and in the fridge. The scones and cookies were a little bit more expensive. I bought two of the cranberry-orange scones and was delighted by the flavors! I didn't like the cookies as much, I felt they were too salty and average. They sell beautiful cookies and cakes that look so good I'd be afraid to eat them. When it warms up, I'll certainly make the walk to get some fresh goodies!
(3)
Samantha K.
I stopped in here to get a small cake for a friends birthday. They were more than happy to help me pick the perfect 6" cake! Not to mention it was AH-Mazing!!!!!! It made her day and didn't cost me an arm and a leg. I look forward to the next birthday, and I'll be ordering cupcakes!
(4)
Ninihada C.
I really love their baked goods, but when we went in on a saturday morning to be seated for brunch, we were completely ignored and other people on the list took seats before we could sit. We ended up leaving and going someplace else. They should develop a better system for seating.
(3)
Jeremy W.
Nice place, classy, solid customer service, good presentation. Enjoyed the reasonable priced pastries but thought the coffee I ordered could've been better. Otherwise I'd recommend a visit if you're in the area.
(4)
F N.
Another nice time at Bittersweet this morning. Bittersweet was my mother in law's favorite place in Chicago and I know why...we always have a pleasant time at Bittersweet. One disappointing note today was seeing that white marble tabletops were gone.
(5)
Katie H.
Bittersweet is the perfect place to eat lunch or breakfast and if my wallet or waistline could afford to go here everyday, I WOULD!! in a heartbeat. Not that it's super pricey or anything. You can usually have a delicious light meal for $20 per couple or so, including a cappuccino or hot chocolate (both of which are unparalleled in this city). What's good on the menu? Uhhh... everything. They only have a few items per day and we've taken to calling ahead to see what's on the day's menu, but I've never ordered anything bad here. My favorites so far are the tomato lemon soup, the spinach salad with blue cheese and lemon vinaigrette (it sounds so simple, but believe me it's delicious), the smoked salmon sandwich with dill and capers, and the turkey sandwich with artichokes on ciabatta. For dessert, grab a chocolate macaroon to go (soooo rich, I'm satisfied by just 1 small cookie) or, if you're feeling decadent, a raspberry chocolate ganache or lemon custard tart. Their cookies, cheesecakes and pecan rolls are also great, and good for parties where you need to serve something fancy but didn't have time to bake. Bittersweet also made our wedding cake and all my family and friends still talk about it. I've ordered smaller replicas for anniversaries and graduation parties, and will keep doing so. Chocolate mousse + dark chocolate cake + fresh raspberries = best. cake. ever. Thanks Bittersweet! We'll be back!
(5)
Catherine W.
I was in Chicago for MLK weekend-oh, sub-freezing windchills, how I've missed you-and spent 50% of my time eating, or in transit to somewhere else to resume eating. All in all, an awesome time. We went to a bunch of amazing Chicago restaurants, including Portillo's (which I wish I could pack in a carry-on suitcase and take back to San Diego with me), but the most notable was Bittersweet Cafe in Lakeview. We were on our way to Theater Wit for Sketchfest and, shivering and in search of a bite, we stumbled upon this little place. Not having heard of the pastry shop before, we went in with no expectations and ended up more than pleasantly surprised. While primarily recognized for their outstanding pastries, Bittersweet's regular food was very tasty as well and served as a fantastic light dinner. (That day alone we'd eaten both a sizeable breakfast at OHOP followed immediately by a brunch of huge proportions at Bongo Room.) The Mexican hot chocolate was spicy in just the right amount, and the toasty carrot dill soup was smooth and comforting. My friend ordered a clafoutis which was deliciously moist and may very well be the New Scone in my book. My absolute favorite part: they ran out of the banana cream cupcake I'd ordered (OK, not this part), so instead, the lady gave me a Grasshopper cupcake from the next day's batch. And then she stored it for me in a makeshift cupcake holder: one of those large clear plastic drink cups with flat lids, turned upside down. Brilliant. Sprinkles better hurry up and open in SD so I can start taking my cupcakes to go.
(4)
Sandy N.
Went here for a second time, so it's about time to write a review. Both times I sat down in the cafe area for food, and left satisfied. This latest time, I ordered the vegetable fritatta panini. The fritatta was super fluffy. I also had the hot chocolate over ice, soft of a fancy chocolate milk. They add cinnamon and orange to it--definitely a fan. The pastries are beautiful in presentation, but I limited myself to a chocolate covered heart-shaped red velvet cake pastry (last time I wasn't so careful--everything tasted as good as it looked). Great for breakfast or lunch if you're in the Belmont area, wonderful pastries. Recommend!
(4)
Lorelei C.
So, Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! My Friends are Cooking,Taking Care of all the Big Stuff, so I am in Charge of Bringing Dessert! I Ventured in to Bittersweet Bakery/Cafe this Morning- How Nice that was! The Minute I went inside this Lovely Cafe/Bakery it was a Great Experience, Warm, Cozy and Inviting! Lovely Place, On one side they have a Cafe Area where one could sit and enjoy a Meal or a Pastry- The other side was a Small General Store type area where you could purchase Items, Loved this part of Bittersweet, It reminded me of the General Stores out in Indiana and Michigan where I have Family- They have a Lovely Glass Case full of Cakes and Pies and other decadent Items, it was really hard for me to choose so I opted for 2 Different Items for Tomorrow, a Lemon Mousse Torte and a Flourless Chocolate Cake which I was told by the Most Helpful Bittersweet Employee was To Die For! Hey, I don't think I want to go that Far, I am 49! But, I think my Friends will be pleased and thats what matters to me. The Visual Image of the Case with the Cakes, Pies,Cookies and other things I should not have was lovely- They also have various Bread Items as well, Scones, Muffins- I saw a Chocolate Croissant that I really wanted but I did not buy-Props to me! Saving for Tomorrow! Bittersweet was a Positive Experience from Start to Finish, Customer Service, could'nt be any better, Helpful, Knowledgeable Expect to spend some Money Here, Bittersweet is not Cheap! But, to me it was worth what I paid out- Lovely, Warm, Quaint Place- I would definitely go Back to Bittersweet-
(4)
Maram K.
Came here for lunch since I needed to order a cake for my sister's birthday. Lunch was decent, and the service was incredibly friendly. Nothing more to really say about that. Ordered the cake and they have the largest selection of unique cakes, fillings and topping I've ever seen. I ordered a chocolate cake with creme brulee filling and a chocolate ganache topping for my sister, who is a super chocoholic. The filling was incredible and the cake was a bit dry. The uniqueness of it had me forgive the dryness for the most part. For a tiny cake, we spent a pretty penny.
(3)
Elissa B.
The epitome of adorable & delicious.
(5)
Majid M.
i went there yesterday to buy a couple cakes for my nieces birthday. we had around 15 kids and 7-8 adults. ended up buying 3 cakes cost me $80. cheese cake was good. peanutbutter cake was ok. third cake was custard cake that was ok as well. for the money i had better cakes in wholefood. i wouldn't buy any cake from here again. nothing special
(3)
Jennifer T.
We worked with Bittersweet for our Sept 2013 wedding. The cake was divine. And so totally edible. They were great to work with, and created not only a beautiful cake, but a very tasty one as well.
(5)
ButtaflyPoet P.
Hmm, well... this is an over indulgent sweets palace! The customers are not very considerate of other customers and they insist on making it a meeting spot like its a happy hour bar!! Kids, babies, snooty mommies and pish posh parents ordering for their next schmooze party! The staff seems to blend right in with this aura and practically ignore the common person with a simple yet curious sweet tooth. Walking into this place gave me an immediate anxiety attack. I could NOT believe the atmosphere, like rush hour on Magnificent Mile at lunch. Ridiculously unnecessarily chaotic!! All this for a sugar rush??? Hell no!! You are NOT important unless you are ordering cakes and/or dozens of bite size treats. Me ordering one piece of that and one piece of the other got me a glare, stare and a nasty look as if I was a waste of time. Well, I looked right back as if to say "kiss my entire a**" ...it's just as sweet as your selections. I have not stepped into this place since the second time. The first time was with an associate, the second time was to indulge the associate's child!! I was hoping the second time would make the first seem odd timing. NOT!! I proudly say Never...to stepping into this establishment again!!
(1)
Elaine W.
Wow. This place is really, REALLY good! Cute and cozy inside and they have truly delicious food. I'd highly recommend trying the clafoutis. Bittersweet's rendition of this classic French pastry has now converted me from a die-hard scone fan to a clafoutis lover! Now I just need to find places closer to me that have pastries as moist and delicious as those here... The food is quite excellent -- the salads are quite tasty, and the soup is notable as well. Also the Mexican hot chocolate really is the perfect drink for a cold blustery day in the city. What really sealed the deal for me here is that they're incredibly thoughtful, which you definitely don't find everywhere -- for example, we were there until pretty late, and though they were readying the place to close down, they made sure to leave just enough chocolate cake samples by the door for us each to grab one for the road!
(4)
Chad M.
great pastries obviously. excellent lunch sandwiches and soups as well. warm and friendly staff. Gets a bit crazy trying to pay at the register since its a tiny place and people are sometimes in a sugar high frenzy of cupcake purchasing... or maybe that was just me.
(4)
Lucy B.
I have visited Bittersweet many times an am always very pleased with the food, atmosphere, and servers. The shop and cafe area are sunny and clean, and very sweetly decorated. There are always fresh flowers on the tables and the menu (which changes daily) displayed on a cute chalkboard on the wall. on the other end of the space is a small retail area which offers adorable gifts, particularly for kids, and there are always some samples to try (!). I particularly like their quiche and salads for a yummy, healthy lunch, and think their day-old bread is fantastic.
(5)
Tracey H.
I really enjoyed my visit to BitterSweet, but the desserts where just okay and a bit pricey. For presentation, I give them 5 stars. Everything was beautifully crafted. I spent 10 minutes walking back and forth in front of the goodies trying to decide which ones to try (while drooling just a little bit). I finally settled on the mini crème brulee pastry, a lemon macaroon, an almond macaroon, a ginger shortbread cookie, and a molasses cookie. My reviews of these items are listed below: 1) Crème Brulee pastry: I told the server that I could not have any chocolate or caffeine. I had given up caffeine 4 days prior to my visit and did not want to have a relapse. She recommended the mini crème brulee pastry. Image my surprise when I discovered a thin layer of chocolate sauce separating the crème from the crust. Not good! They replaced this item with a raspberry topped pastry that was good. All 6-7 raspberries on top of it were sweet. The pastry underneath was well sweetened, but it didn't taste like anything other than a sugar paste. I'm a big fan of both sugar and butter, which is why I have well-padded hips, but I need to taste a little something extra like vanilla or almonds or something more than just sweetness. 2) Lemon Macaroon: It's was so cute I almost didn't want to eat it. It smelled as if it had been made with fresh lemons. The texture was perfect. Sadly, the lemon flavoring was very mild and easy to miss if you did not chew this dessert very, very slowly. 3) Almond Macaroon: This dessert smelled like almonds and had a crème filling sandwiched between two macaroon cookies. The texture was a bit gummy as if the cookies were not quite done. Also, the taste was high on sugar and low on almond flavoring. 4) Ginger Shortbread Cookie: I could not smell or taste the ginger in this cookie so either she brought me the wrong one or the ginger flavoring was overpowered by the sugar. If it was the latter, skip this version of the shortbread cookie unless you need to consume extra ginger for medicinal purposes. 5) Molasses Cookie: This one was actually my favorite of all of the desserts mostly because I could actually taste the molasses. This cookie was the only one that was big enough to hold with all 5 fingers unlike the other cookies which were only 2-fingers big. The texture can best be described as crun-chewy, which is the state of existence between crunchy and chewy. If this cookie had been a tiny bit sweeter, it would have been great. I would not make a special trip to Bitter Sweet, but if I were in the neighborhood and my sweet tooth flared up I would definitely stop by for another molasses cookie or two.
(3)
LJ S.
I stopped in today because I was in the area and the snooty service at Bittersweet, is just that, Bittersweet. The person who handled my order was annoyed that I had questions, uh..... perhaps you need not work with people if their mundane questions seem foolish to you. The decor and trinkets are very cute, my mini creme bruele tarts were sub par; it's like they filled vanilla pudding in mini pie shells and adorned them with strawberries-----with the green foliage still attached. These folks don't have to worry about me returning, with all 5000 bakeries in Chicago, I will stick to the places that treat customers with respect and courtesy.
(2)
David C.
I've used Bittersweet a few times to bring something "stand-out" as a guest at someone's home or party. The fruit tarts are always a big hit. So, if you need to make a good impression, go here. It's not cheap but it's justified. Their products are works of art. It's hard to decide what to buy when gazing at the great choices in their display case. They also have nice boxes/ribbon which helps with the presentation. The store is "cute" and I'd recommend it as an option for a guy looking for a casual date spot. But to be fair, there are often little kids typically there with Mom. So, factor that in.
(5)
Ashley M.
My boyfriend and I were taking a stroll and came across Bittersweet. It was crowded, but we really wanted to try some sweets. We made our made inside and boy were we happy we didn't let the crowds lead us otherwise! My boyfriend wanted to try a few different desserts. However, our favorite was the home-made Oreo cookie! It was to die for! The cream wasn't too sweet and the chocolate cookie part wasn't too crispy, but just right. We also had a chocolate chip cookie; now I wouldn't usually get a staple at a bakery, but this cookie just tasted better than others I've had! We also got a demi baguette that was crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside. We will definately make a return trip!
(4)
Ali H.
Came in here with a groupon last week and got a bunch of treats to go. I won't say that I was pleased with 100% of the stuff, but probably a solid 70%. We got a slice of a peanut butter torte, a slice of a pear torte, a little bitty lemon meringue torte, a little bitty chocolate raspberry torte, a latte, and some ice cream (raspberry choco chip I think). The slices of the tortes seemed small for the money, only a few bites, but the choco peanut butter one was delish. The pear was only ok, actually I didn't like it too much. Bland crust and overly sweet filling. The mini tortes were both yummy. The latte was super bland and overly milky. Why is it so hard for some people to make a decent espresso drink? The cutest thing ever is their ice cream containers (chinese take-out boxes with a chocolate lining). I wish they had better flavors of ice cream. Everything was pretty standard and boring. If I hadn't wanted the cute take out box I would never have ordered ice cream. Everything in their little store is adorable and priced about 30% higher than if you get it elsewhere (especially the teas and honey). I'd maybe stop here again, maybe not. For exciting and delicious desserts, Julius Meinl is a consistent win in my book, and with First Slice and Angel Food nearby, I don't think I'd go out of my way to come here.
(4)
Roseann M.
My sister and I had lunch at Bittersweet today. Thanks to reviews from other Yelp'ers, I told my sister that it was possible the cafe would be packed and, if so, we would be eating somewhere else. We arrived right about 3:00pm, and there were 3 tables available. Other customers were an elderly couple, two moms and their toddlers, a single woman, and two tables of two women. A couple more tables were occupied, but they were behind me. Hey, out of sight is out of mind! It was not a loud crowd. The babies were happy and not crying or being obnoxious. We checked out the lunch menu on the chalk board, and saw that there were vegetarian items available. It took about 2 minutes before a server gave us our water, but that was okay. I ordered the soup and sandwich deal - carrot/coriander soup and grilled veggie sandwich. My sister ordered the tomato basil quiche. I stuck with water, and she had a berry lemonade, which she liked very much. The soup was delicious. It was a full-size bowl, which was surprising - I thought I'd get a cup of soup. My sister tried it, too, and she also liked it. It came with a small piece of bread. The server asked if I wanted butter, and I said no. The sandwich was very good. I had a selection for the side, and I chose the cold beet salad. It was all very good. My sister really enjoyed her quiche. While we were eating, the restaurant cleared out. By the time we were done, there were only two other tables occupied. That was why I was surprised it took us a little while to get the check. We were really full, and did not order any dessert. This, despite sitting next to the "day-old items", which looked pretty darn good. All in all, it was a good experience. It encouraged me to go again. It didn't blow me away; I did not have a food orgasm, but we enjoyed. As long as the place isn't crowded, I'd encourage people to come. I definitely wouldn't stand in line for a meal there, though. But I don't believe in standing in lines anyway. The last time I stood in line was for Star Wars, and that was a transcendent experience.
(3)
Jill P.
NO! NO!! NO!!! Bittersweet Bakery did our wedding cake in 1993. What a fantastic find back then. A small storefront business churning out some of the best Special O. cakes in Chicago. To the owner(s): Why oh why didn't you stick to your orignal concept??? Fast forward... I ordered an Italian Almond cake for my husband's birthday. Bittersweet stated they didn't know what I was talking about. In fact, the woman said, they had to Google my request but came up empty. You had to what my request??? We eventually settled on an almond coffee cake (I asked for marzipan and was informed they only use almond paste. Okay fine.) baked as a one layer cake. No icing. Only powdered sugar and candied slivered almonds pressed onto the outside. What we ended up with was a round incredibly inedible mixture of flour and something. The almonds were stale and on top, the cake was as dry as the desert and had not one ounce of almond paste. Absolutely horrible. While walking over to pick up the cake we decided to have a bite to eat. Forget about it. My brioche was dry and Mr. Man's potato cheddar quiche should have been called a potato and burnt crust pizza. Yeech. Oh and could the staff have been any LESS welcoming??? What the *%$# is up with your collective attitude??? The worst part of my saga, it was apparent the customers who had been seated at an adjacent table had spilled water, food, whatever. Water was everywhere, the tabletop full of crumbs and old food. Wouldn't ya' think that mess might have been swiftly removed as 1. It was a slip hazard and 2. The area looked plain filthy? Bittersweet is a text book example of "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Ditch the cafe concept and stick to coffee, tea, and sweets. Ditch the waitstaff/cashiers pronto or, send them to charm school. Reconfigure your mess of a floor plan. I can help you. I can really really help you. Really! You are in dire need of a major makeover. Call me. Gordon Ramsey.
(1)
Mike H.
I can only speak to my birthday red velvet cupcakes that my lovely and dear friend Maureen got me from here. I am a baker, and I am picky about anything red velvet because it is a cake I do from scratch and do very well. Bittersweet does a damn good red velvet cupcake, and thereby they get a review for those alone. Great ending to a great birthday. Thanks Bittersweet!
(4)
Donna B.
I Love this little place!!!! I went back for breakfast two weeks in a row while visiting Chicago just for the chocolate croissants and scones! It reminds me of the simple breakfasts we had in France. We also tried the French macaroons which were good but not like the ones at Vanille Patisserie down the street. Their sweet treats and cakes looked good and smelled heavenly!
(3)
Ngoc T.
If you want a place that takes you back to Paris, come here. Atmosphere was very European, classy and elegant. Pastries truly have reputations and everything in there is VERY well made, crafted, designed and cared for. I'm a poor college student, so I only ordered 3 lemon bars. But it was the best lemon bars I have ever tried in my life. And that's just lemon bars! What about the rest of the pastry shop??? I have to admit. It is pricey. But considering it is located in Lakeview, and just how classy and elegant this place is, it is not surprising. But I'm a college student, so I'm sure you can figure something out to afford 3 lemon bars :)
(5)
Pam N.
Worst macarons ever. My man brought me some. I had to dump him! Thanks, Bittersweet-- thanks a fucking lot.
(1)
Collin M.
Absolutely incredible desserts. Whether it's cookies, cupcakes, or dessert cakes, Bittersweet does a phenomenal job. It's a nice spot to have a quick bite and a coffee for lunch too. They have good sandwiches and salads. The service is very friendly as well.
(5)
S. S.
I came in today to use my Groupon. Yes it's the last day and yes I shouldn't have waited but the staff were not very friendly and never once smiled. The pastries are nicely decorated but they tasted OK, (ie: chocolate macaroons were dry not as moist as I've had at other places). Also they seemed stressed out. I felt bad for a couple customers who were dining in, they had to wait in line and grab a ticket just to get their checks! I don't think it's worth the trek or to buy another groupon from here unless you live within walking distance of the place and want a place to pick up a few pastries. Overall it was ok but I think there are a lot better cafes/pastry shops in the Chicago.
(2)
Laura K.
Bittersweet is not at all bitter and very sweet! I had the half sandwich/soup deal combo for dinner last night. The celery soup was hearty and the turkey/havarti/carmelized onion sandwich was bursting with flavor. I had the red velvet cupcake for dessert and got a 2-for-1 deal - sweet! My husband had the raspberry chocolate chip ice cream, and it was just wonderful. And its such a lovely little shop that reminds me of Europe.
(5)
Hallie L.
Happened upon this place while wandering around Lakeview with a friend after a late lunch. We were searching for dessert, and oh boy, we found it! The place is perfectly charming, classy but unpretentious, just as a bakery/cafe should be. I loved checking out the section of the cafe where there's chocolate, mugs, stationary, random things for sale. Very cute. I found some French lollipops, which made me squeal with delight. My friend and I both got kid-sized ice creams (only $1.50!). When we both asked for cups, the woman showed us the 'cup' and said, "It's lined with chocolate on the inside. Is that alright?" Was that alright?! More squeals of delight. The cup, by the way, was a Chinese take out carton. ADORABLE. After I finished the ice cream, I feverishly scraped at the sides of the carton, chipping away at the chocolate. They have some lovely flavours of both ice cream and sorbet. I had the coconut while my friend had something with star anise in it? There was also strawberry rhubarb. After we had our ice creams, we browsed around the pastry section for a little while. MACARONS!?! Third squeal of delight. Having tasted Pierre Herme macarons (the Holy Grail of macarons, IMHO) in London a few months ago, I've been dying to find macarons in the US that would match the Parisian ones in taste and quality. It's been a no-go so far, even in Manhattan. So the quest continues. I asked for one of each flavour (almond, chocolate, raspberry, and lemon). Each one cost around $1.50, I believe? The almond and chocolate ones were priced by weight, which was weird, but I believe they came out to a similar price. So far, so good - much cheaper than the ones in NYC, which weren't fabulous enough to warrant the $2.50 price tag anyways. Of the four flavours that I tried, I'd say I enjoyed the lemon and the chocolate the most. The raspberry got a little bit crushed during my commute on the CTA (tears!). I really, really liked the fresh taste of the lemon. The almond macaron I had was a bit stale and mediocre. My general thoughts? Pretty decent for the price! All in all, I thought this was a lovely bakery. There were cupcake samples at the door, and they were delicious! I'm looking forward to revisiting and trying more baked delights!
(4)
Amanda S.
tarts, cakes, loaves, cookies, and enough goodies to keep both kiddies and adults satiated. i've gotten every kind of milestone cake from bittersweet:: the graduation cake, the religious-occasion celebration cake, countless birthday cakes, and who knows, maybe one day..a wedding cake. nothing is ever too sweet and the cakes are fluffy and hold up days after your event. the staff is professional and the shop is utterly adorable. the tablespace in the cafe can get a little crowded and noisy, and it's a little annoying when tons of kids are moving about as it's a fairly small space, but the free samples and novelty gifts keep your mind off that while you wait to be helped or for your finished product to emerge from the kitchen. if you're looking for a cake that's sure to please (almost) everyone at your celebration, i promise you can't go wrong with bittersweet.
(4)
Alison S.
Great selection of desserts and gifts! Nice mix of European pastries (macarons, croissants) and sugary American classics (frosted cookies, chocolate cupcakes, Rice Krispie treats). Great place to pick up something to bring to the office or a party. Delicious coffee as well.
(4)
Amy L.
Please note this review is based only on my to-go selections..maybe I just had bad luck..but onto the review: First off, DO NOT buy their boxed cookies. I picked up a box to give as a gift, because it was already wrapped prettily and looked amazing. I asked the girl behind the counter if they were boxed that same day- she told me no (thank you for the honesty), but she also said that they are boxed earlier but are just as fresh as the cookies behind the counter. Oh man, was she wrong. When I got to my destination and my friend opened it to try it (she's like me and can't see sweets without eating them) she had it and I tried one-and they were ROCK HARD-mind you this cookie was a macaron, so it should have a crispy shell and then be chewy and delicious. Nope. Hard all the way through until you reached the filling, which was sweet (duh). and then the other half was rock solid too. Let me say, it's a good thing this is a particularly close friend of mine, otherwise I'd be pretty freaking embarrassed for having given this box of duds. I do want to note that their samples by the door were amazing! The lemon square and the mini cupcake-thing were both very soft and luscious-exactly what I was expecting from the rest of their goods. Sadly that was not the case. I assume that's what is generally the case (otherwise it would not have such great reviews) but I don't plan on risking it again to find out.
(2)
Jennifer H.
We got our wedding cake here, and it was very beautiful, tasty, and all around a hit at our wedding. The tasting was nice and flexible, we left full of cake and they even gave us some soup to round out our "dinner"... they were very flexible with our changing numbers, and delivered the cake on time. It was on beautiful display when I arrived at the venue, and it tasted great! We picked out hazelnut cake with vanilla creme brulee filling and fresh strawberries--everyone loved it! The only bummer was in the hustle my cake topper was forgotten, but it didn't ruin my day or my happy tastebuds.
(5)
Lindsay A.
As far as pastries go, this place is pretty decent! However, the atmosphere almost always is enough to make me steer clear. I know part of what makes lakeview so lovely is that is a family neighborhood but really moms? Do you HAVE to bring those obnoxious strollers and 3 year old EVERYWHERE? Because of the lack of space at this bakery, the sit down area for eating is cramped and often overcrowded with annoying kids who's moms would rather sit tea with their gal pals then discipline the kids that are running past your table and bumping your plates. I guess that's not bittersweet's fault though is it? Overall: food grade- A Atmosphere C-
(3)
Erika G.
I wish I liked sweets more, this would definitely be Nirvana. What it is, is a cute, charming European style cafe. The salads looked delicious and HUGE - would definitely be worth going back for that. The desserts . . . works of art. What was weird, was the servers were sort of tentative, awkward and shy. Esp. about putting plates on small, overloaded tables. Seems if they're going to work in a place like this, they should be facile with this sort of thing.
(4)
Dallas F.
Yesterday I attempted to have lunch at Bittersweet, but they were super busy. There was no way to make a distinction between customers who wanted to sit at a table to dine and customers who were there to order pastries. While waiting for someone to help us we nibbled on a few of the samples offered on a table. Whatever these little one bite treats were, they were amazing! We were finally told there would be a significant wait to sit and eat so we opted to head somewhere else. When walking back I really started craving more sweets since I had the tiniest of nibbles before. I stopped back in and ordered a few things. I ordered the cupcake of the day which was Caramel Apple, few apricot linzer cookies, a Halloween sugar cookie, and two of "yesterdays cupcake" which I don't remember what the name of it was, but I do know it had a gummy worm sticking out of the middle. The Caramel Apple cupcake, the actual cake part, was very good and had baked apples in the center.The frosting however was disgusting. The consistency was weird, almost butter but almost light like whipped cream and it had absolutely no flavor and possibly no sugar. That made me sad . The apricot linzer was A-Ok, but Ive had better. The "yesterday's cupcake", which were two for the price of one, were probably the best but I only had a sampling (but I did steal the gummy worms from both of them before giving them to my friends, so they had a cupcake with a hole in the middle). They were dark chocolate with a chocolate frosting and some dark chocolate shavings on top. Super decadent and sugar was definitely in that frosting. After tasting a very small bite, I went into sugar overdrive. I did not have the Halloween sugar cookies so I cant comment on the taste but they were well decorated. So overall, it was not bad and not too expensive. I just wish my Caramel Apple cupcake came through with the caramel part in the frosting.
(3)
Rinko E.
We ordered our awesome wedding cake from Bittersweet. Ms. Sue Anne was super professional and reliable. (The cake looked awesome and tasted awesome) I love their little tarts- my favorite was Espresso. I sometimes have a light lunch here too. Their soup, sandwiches, and coffee are all awesomely European (I have never been to Europe so I am just using my imagination). When I am at Bittersweet, I think time goes by so slowly and nicely. An ultimate neighborhood gem. I hope they will stay in business for a long time. :)
(5)
Anna G.
This little bakery is so cute! All the stuff looks delicious! I tried the pink princess cupcakes which were not that great! However, I did love the salted caramel macaroons and lemon bars! I will be back!
(4)
Emily W.
15 of my guilty pleasures can be found at Bittersweet. 1. Mini pecan pie 2. Chocolate covered strawberries (thick coat of chocolate too) 3. Caramel dipped in chocolate on a stick 4. Cute selection of toys and little knick knacks (I got a mini donut eraser!) 5. Ceramic Painted Cupcakes (bought one to put my rings in!) 6. ADORABLE greeting cards (got one that say Hey there cupcake and one that said Hello with a little sketch of a cupcake) 7. Birthday candles (all different types, including those little ballerina ones that were always on my birthday cakes as a kid) 8. Baby t shirts 9. Harney & Sons tea tins 10. Lollipops 11. Stationery 12. Free samples near the door 13. Mexican coca cola 14. Perrier 15. Baking cookbooks 16. Vanilla ice cream Love this place. Just love it!! All you people with a sweet tooth need to get off the computer and go here now! And then come back here again next time with your family when they come to visit. You'll spend about 20 minutes picking out a treat because they all look delicious. Their gifts and goody selection is just adorable too. There's trinkets, toys, cooking supplies, cookbooks, stationery, books, games, mugs, tea, ETC. I want to go stand outside and be first in line when they open tomorrow!
(5)
Triana O.
I love Bittersweet not only for their tasty treats, but I really enjoy the "french bistro" vibe inside. I love that you can sit in the cute little cafe area and have a server bring your tea and sweets. They have a tempting array of goodies, and I also love that they have a small area of adorable little stationary and various cute little items to browse besides the sweets. I agree with some reviewers that the employees are hit or miss at times... somedays I get one that's nice as pie, other days they are a bit blah. But it has never spoiled my visit so far. I really like bringing friends from out of town here to chill out and have some tea and sweets before a day of sightseeing/shopping. I'm a big fan of cupcakes but I like that Bittersweet has those plus so much more to try. The parking is somewhat sparse but I usually find a spot nearby with no problem, depending what time of day I go there. All in all a definite winner for me.
(5)
Carolynne M.
Oh...Bittersweet...what a completely appropriate name to describe my experience at my cake tasting. I was convinced - CONVINCED that this was the place that was going to be making my wedding cake. No ifs, ands, or buts, I had always had stellar service and the most delicious offerings from them in the past...why should I think otherwise? But at the tasting we were presented with quite possibly the most vile and horrific buttercream I have ever had the misfortune to put in my mouth. It was so bad my maid of honor and I were giving each other looks and whispering "do you think it was a mistake? did someone forget the sugar?" Had I been given a scoop of straight Crisco I dont think I could have told you the difference between the two. Cake flavours and fillings were good...but those were all masked by the tragedy that was the frosting. I cant serve this to my guests! Plus the quote for the cake design was the highest - by far - of any other bakery, which made me sad. Oh Bittersweet, so disappointed! (sad face here)
(2)
Shianne P.
Bittersweet made the most amazingly delicious wedding cake for us! It was three layers of banana cake with vanilla creme brulee filling and fresh strawberries. As someone who doesn't always like cake, this was one I was looking forward to for months - I think I bragged about it to anyone who would listen after our tasting - and I'm sad I didn't get to eat more on the day. Now I have to wait a whole year to eat the topper! In regards to the process, Bittersweet was wonderful to work with. We actually had this tasting immediately after our other option (not totally recommended...that's a lot of sugar), which was Amy Beck Cakes. Amy Beck was sweet, but the flavour combination we came upon at Bittersweet decided it for us. Our coordinator at Bittersweet was Amy C., who took the time to talk through design options and sketch out a cake that we would not have thought to consider otherwise. This was awesome, because we really felt like we were getting a unique cake, just for us. She only laughed a little when we gave her our Lego people topper; her emails and calls were always quick and on time; and, best of all, she worked out a great solution to get the cake we wanted within our price range.
(5)
Jenni B.
This place is cute and quaint if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth or pop in for a nice sandwich for lunch and such. it is a typical cafe/booked goods/ cake store. It has everything you want in a pastry shop. i've had their samples by the door which are good. The only thing ive gotten there was their ice cream which is 1.50 for a kids scoop. They have only like 6 flavors, and the ice cream sometimes tastes like refrigeration, so eh. Go here though just to try it, its nice.
(3)
Patrick L.
Everything I've ever eaten at Bittersweet - quiche, creme brulee custard, mushroom soup, even a just ham sandwich - has been heavenly. They have a huge selection of pastries, all of which look amazing. The prices are really reasonable for what you get, too. You won't be disappointed; this is one of the best bakeries I've ever been to!
(4)
Anahit G.
Simply put, one of my favorite cafes in Chicago. The macaroons are absolutely decadent, and they brew a great cup of coffee. I live their mini store, as well.
(5)
Emann B.
I've enjoyed Bittersweet ever since it opened, and have great memories of heartfelt special occasions that always included a Bittersweet cake. My "old reliable" is almond cake with creme brulee filling, fresh berries, and vanilla buttercream. A mocha filled cake with milk chocolate buttercream is a very close second.
(4)
Vivian S.
Bittersweet did our wedding cake through its relationship with the W Hotel on Lakeshore. Many of our guests gave us compliments on the cake! They all seemed surprised that wedding cake could taste THAT good. From the tastings to design to delivery, it all went really smoothly. They were even able to execute on our "skyline" design perfectly. They were very accommodating, and they seemed to take all of our input to heart.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Laura L.
I love Bittersweet's brioche. Their spinach quiche. Their wedding cake!! We had an amazing tasting at Bittersweet that was presented so beautifully. All the cakes were so moist and tasty that we had a hard time choosing which ones to use. We ended up doing carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and almond cake with creme brulee and raspberry filling with fudge cake. So divine. The cake was gorgeous in all its 3 tiered beauty. Simple, elegant. I loved it. The staff at Bittersweet are always so kind and helpful it continues to me my go to spot for brunch or cookies. Love.
(5)Tricia D.
Things you should know about Bittersweet: - they have table service if you're planning on staying to eat your treats. - take a number by the door if you're gonna take it to go. - try the cheddar scone! - ice cream available! - the black and white cupcake was super fresh and moist and delectable. - I'll be back.
(4)Matthew G.
I've been coming here for pastries and cookies for 15+ years. The food remains excellent as always. However the staff has become more and more clueless over the years. Today's experience included two people who could not figure out the credit card machine. Also, no AmEx - as a small business owner myself I realize that they charge more, but you need to make it easy for your customer to pay, and today Bittersweet made it as hard as possible.
(3)Melissa H.
Our cake did not turn out the way we wanted. The major upset was that it was supposed to have writing on it........oh it had writing but it was in WHITE on a WHITE cake. Ummm....do I really need to explain what's wrong with that? Thank God my hubby knows Photoshop is all I got to say.
(1)Martin C.
Came here just for some sweets, but I love the ambiance. Classical music playing, great coffee and some ridiculously sinful truffles. The atmosphere is a refreshing detour from the other intimate places where a visitor is too often made to feel like an intrusion. I feel very sorry for the individual who has to clean the glass displays as apparently many parents feel it's ok to allow their kids free reign to touch everything. The owners are there every day and the character of this place is a definite reflection of their warmth. Bravo. (I would definitely walk there as you'll need to burn a few calories afterward! It's too good!!!)
(4)Alicia K.
Holy croissant heaven! I started coming to this place because I was taking classes at Stage 773 for work. SO TASTY!! The assortment of baked goods is plentiful - no matter what hour of the day. I must try the fruit tarts over the summer. They look absolutely scrumptious!
(5)E M B.
Wedding Cake Review: Bittersweet was the preferred bakery of our wedding venue and we were familiar with their tasty cakes so we were happy we didn't have to search through the endless bakeries in Chicago for our wedding cake! I showed them a more intricate lace design that they had not done before and they did a beautiful job! My only complaint is that while there are so many cake/filling options, I wish there were some more innovative flavors. Regardless they were great to work with and the cake was beautiful and tasty.
(4)Brandon W.
Really cute place with tons of pastries. I wish I could eat more of them but alas since I'm not one of you normal folk, I cannot. My wife loves this place, so I'm sure it's great. Tip: get the hot chocolate! It is insanely good and the main reason I stop by. Recommended
(3)Li M.
We just celebrated our anniversary with the free cake that Bitter Sweet made for us. We ordered our wedding cake last year. We worked with Nancy and she is super helpful and professional to give us all recommendations. The cake they made was amazing. Not too sweet like most of the wedding cake. They told us last year that we do not need to save the top part of the cake， they will make us a fresh one this year. Their communication is super as well. Nancy replies emails with all the information you need right away.
(5)Hannah C.
After spending many many evenings walking down Belmont and thinking, "that place looks so cute," I finally made it in just before they closed. Great selection of cookies, chocolates, and cupcakes. Just before close, cupcakes are 2 for 1! Unfortunately, nothing I tried was that good. The cupcake cake was pretty dry (although chocolate cake ones were more moister than vanilla based cakes). And the frosting is a dull buttercream that tastes like cheap cannoli filling. If you're not looking for a rich frosting, the milk and cookies cupcake was cute and filled with different types of frosting. The mint chocolate chip at least had some flavor. My final morsel was a salted chocolate truffle, which sadly tasted only like baking cocoa. I probably won't be back, especially since they aren't open late enough for me to make bad decisions after a visit to Cheesie's.
(3)Jessi R.
Cakes and stuffs are good! They have the deal last hour of the day, buy 2 cup cakes for price of 1, and buy 2 breakfast muffin/ scone for the price of one! I normally get 1 cup cake and 1 muffin, they just charge me the one higher price One day, the lady said no, I have to buy 2 cup cake and 2 muffin,( which I don't need), I said, I ve come to the store for over 2 years and all the cashier let me mix and match! She said, whoever did so are wrong! I said can I talk to the manager ? She shout at me, I am one of them!!! I want to tell her how the hell kind of manager you are? Are u kidding me? If u are a " good" manager, U wouldn't shout and disrespect ur customer like that! And if u are a " good" manager: you would have trained your staffs not to do mix and match for the last years!! Finally, I tell her let me talk to your higher manager and she shut up and tell the girl to let me mix and match! I feel so bad for the store with good stuffs and good atmosphere, kind of high end, but some of the staffs are so mean and have no customer service skill! Especially the one" call" herself manager!
(2)Britta S.
We ordered our wedding cake with Nancy from Bittersweet. It was amazing! First off: the communication was fast and easy. Second: the tasting was so well organized and we could try really anything and any combination of flavor! After settling for two (multiple tier cake) different flavor combinations, we talked about the design and to our surprise, Nancy said that it would not be a problem at all and I should just leave the pictures with her and they will create something. And she didn't understate: the cake looked exactly like we wanted it! And we don't even need to talk about the taste: amazing! Our guests were impressed and loved it! Thank you, Nancy and Bittersweet, for making our day even more special!
(5)Nicole H.
I had the the tastiest chicken caesar sandwich! The brioche roll it was served on was sooo, sooo good. It was buttery and light and complemented the chicken very well. I also had a carrot muffin that was really delicious. When I eat here, the food is so good and tastes so well made that the price doesn't even bother me.
(4)Angela P.
The Strawberry-Rhubarb macaron was one of the best ones I've had. The strawberry-rhubarb center was part cream and a surprising part fruit jam. The Lavender macaron was just OK. I was a little surprised that the FIRST thing we encountered upon entering was a sign indicating that we should watch our belongings, because pick-pocketing has occurred here. Well, okay... The last thing we noticed were the samples by the front door. The sugar cookie was really good, and my friend raved about the white cake. The employees weren't the friendliest. They seemed in a hurry to get us to sit down at a table, but we wanted to look at the bakery case first. The dining room was cramped, and I didn't feel like having to wait to be seated. It was faster to just order our items and go, so we took our goodies to the coffee shop across the street.
(3)Tnon A.
Doesn't matter how you feel when you walked in, but I always walk out of here with a smile :D wonderful sweets that could lift up your soul with a great service from smiley staffs plus great ambience...
(5)Evie H.
Bittersweet is one of those places where you want to keep returning to even though you know deep down it's not good to do so. They have so many little dessert creations that it leaves me very conflicted on what to order each time I ignore my deep down feelings and pop in anyway. + easily walkable from the Belmont or Wellington 'L' stops! + samples! + such a cute and brightly lit store. Perfect for afternoon snacks. Macarons - The flavors are outstanding and really pop when you take a bite. My favorites are the salted caramel and the passion fruit. The one area that was lacking was the texture. It didn't have the chewiness that I like from macarons so each bite fell flat instead. Pecan tart - Excellent pecan flavor as well but the tart was too hard for me. I felt like I had to stab at it to take a bite. Flourless chocolate cake - Very rich and chocolately. They use quite a bit of cocoa powder making it a little bitter but it counters the sweetness so it makes for a good balance. Perfect for chocolate lovers. Vanilla cheesecake - Yummy! I love the sturdiness of the cheesecake. It holds up well and doesn't fall flat in your mouth.
(4)Noomi J.
Review #300! 4.5 stars. I've been here twice, once for brunch, and I was very pleased with their friendly service & excellent food. Tbh, I fell in love with their apple custard French toast o.o As a bonus, they have full table service. The tables at brunch had fresh flowers, and there were several couples dining in. Lovely interior, peaceful vibe. Happy to have them in the neighborhood, and I definitely foresee future noms here, my stomach sez so xD
(4)XTreats X.
They have the best lemon bar I've had. That lemon to crust ratio. Go here if you're looking for treats on the sweet side. Pies, macarons, cookies, tarts, etc. great location.
(4)Kimberly E.
Amazing pastries, but service needs to be clearer. We were told to sit down if eating in, but we had to take a number and get in the to-go line to even get our bill. Wish it was order at the counter and sit instead of being frustrated (French style?). On the other hand, the croissant, ham and cheese croissant, raspberry brioche, and pecan roll (made w croissant dough) are really great. Coffee is ok. Cute gift ideas as well.
(4)Asper K.
Today, I noticed a hole in the elbow of my fave Pacifico long sleeve T-shirt. The same shirt that I was wearing years ago when my Yelp profile pic was taken (resplendent in fake jewelry) at the Goat on Wells. The same shirt co-workers mocked me for wearing every Friday for years (Hey! must be Friday, you're wearing the Pacifico shirt). On this sad day, I'm reminded by the sage words of Monty Python's Eric Idle. Always look on the bright side of life. Even in bittersweet moments (unfathomable bitterness followed by a touch of sarcastic sweetness) you must always look on the bright side of life. youtube.com/watch?v=WlBi… This advice, sung at the end of the movie Life of Brian, was at one time the third most popular song played at British funerals and was in fact sung by the surviving members of the comedy troupe at Eric Idles' funeral. And by countless other cheerfully depressed Brits whilst dealing with impossible circumstances including the crew of HMS Sheffield while their ship was sinking after being struck by an Exocet missile in 1982 in the Falklands war. (thanks wikipedia) Yes, that must of have been quite a bittersweet moment. Your ship is sinking in some bullshit ocean because some trigger happy Argentinian ahole decides he's got a point to prove. Sure that's fair. You could be watching Tottenham Hotspur complete it's amazing run to FA Cup glory in your favorite pub, or else you know, sink off the coast of wherever. So bittersweet. It's times like this that you need a little pick me up. A small cake or two. A bit of coffee to lift your spirits. A delightful exchange with a counter person. Yay. Bittersweet (the store) does indeed strive to be such a place. You only need to see how many Yelpers say it's "really cute" to understand what's on offer. I had a gingerbread cookie (shaped like I forget like what) and another cookie. I remember them both as being mediocre. I also ordered an Americano which threw my very cheerful counterperson for a loop. After asking in the back, and realizing that an Americano is expresso (they have an expresso machine) + hot water she happily made my drink. Munching on my mediocre cookie and sipping my Americano, I was reminded of Cameron Frye. Sure Ferris Bueller's day off was fun. But now, looking into the abyss. Your dad's vintage Ferrari destroyed. You have to man up. You have to face facts. Uncomfortable facts. The present is bitter. But the future might be amazing. (I'll be at Target this weekend). youtube.com/watch?v=bWui… (I remember this as the actual ending)
(3)Hollina U.
I've given this place three chances now. First time, I had some macarons and cupcakes, of which the macarons were mediocre and the cupcakes were somewhat dry. Second time, I ordered a chocolate cake with hazelnut filling for my friend's birthday, of which the presentation was phenomenal since I requested for fresh fruit and flowers to be arranged on top. It was great presentation, but the taste was nothing special. Third time, I went to pick up an angel food cake that I specified multiple times on the phone that I wanted strawberries on top. What did I get when I went in to pick it up? No strawberries... Of which I was told it would be a 3 minute wait for them to add the strawberries... Which turned into a 10 minute wait, turning my total time in the bakery into a 17 minute debacle. I expected the most creative, beautiful strawberry display on the time it took them to slice 6 strawberries in half. Also, when the girl first brought out my strawberry less cake, she asked if I was going to eat it same day and that she had instructions for me on how to serve it. Well, she neglected to follow up with the instructions. I guess hand, cake, face. THANKS.
(2)Janie C.
We had cake tastings at three different bakeries and Bittersweet won hands down. Not only did their cakes taste amazing, but the price was reasonable, and they didn't have to use fondant to make it look pretty. We provided the cake topper and cake stand to them ahead of time and everything arrived perfect the day of the wedding. Sometimes the cake tasting process is overwhelming and you don't know where to start or what a "normal" cake/filling/icing combination is. But Nancy was super sweet and helpful, she gave us suggestions, gave us space to try things at our own pace, checked in on us, answered all our questions. It was such a fun experience and their cakes were just sooooo good. We ended up with two flavors: 1) banana cake with dark chocoolate mousse and salted caramel drizzle and 2) hazelnut cake with vanilla bean brulee and raspberry preserves. We got so many compliments on our cake during the wedding through now (weeks after the wedding). I'm already looking forward to our one year anniversary where we get to go back and get a complimentary cake from Bittersweet. No freezer burned cake top here! P.S. - Banana cake is a good density smooshable cake for anyone who plans on smashing cake on their loved one's face. I'm going to do it every year. Muhahahahaha!
(5)Andrea C.
We live right around the corner from Bittersweet and boy is it good. It's the perfect place to pop in if you're craving a sweet treat. They have a wide variety in offerings from macarons to cookies to cupcakes- and you can't really go wrong. I've never had anything other than deliciousness. The other nice thing is that they have a little cafe that serves food! Lots of lovely breakfast options as well as yummy lighter lunch fare. My only gripe and where they lose a star is that service tends to not be the best- not super attentive and can tend to be slow. However, it is worth it in the end because the food is delicious!
(4)Derrick T.
I remember coming here quite a few years back when they offered the tickets into the Gourmet Festival deal by going around town and eating at places, and getting your card punched. I had no idea that a few years later, I'd be walking into the same spot all over again... but just for a morning coffee and macaroon. Service here was exceptionally friendly. Smiles all around, happy to provide advice, even on my odd-ball questions on how busy the street gets at night (since I was checking out the area for a potential restaurant build out). From what I remember a few years back, the pastries were a huge hit in my office, much loved by all. But to be fair, I don't even remember what I got anymore, so I"ll just talk about the experience this time out: Macaroon was dead on delicious, crisp outer layer, softy chewy inside with just the right amount of filling to make it perfect. Espresso was brewed just right, with a good balance of bitterness and barely sweet. Just how I like my espresso. And the waitress even brought out some water while I took care of some e-mail on my phone while I sat there sipping and nibbling. It made an excellent morning. Lots of regulars who seem to come by for a pastry breakfast with their kids or by themselves, or significant others. Verdict: All in all, a great spot with excellent pastries and great service. Looking forward to visiting again for a nice breakfast to enjoy!
(4)Chelsea B.
The best pastries around. And ladies (or gentlemen...) grab a friend and head there for tea and treats. Makes a great lady date with your girlfriends.
(5)A.S. V.
When your woman nearly bites your head off because it's that time of the month, you know it's time to visit Bittersweet and make an offering to appease the bitch goddess. Flourless chocolate cakes, fancy truffles, ice cream, they have it all. I never tried the pastries, because I prefer the chocolate goodies. Theres's also a pretty nice seating area to enjoy your dessert with some tea. Jolly good.
(5)Harry S.
Ordered 2 cakes yesterday for my girlfriend's birthday on a recommendation from a friend and was very pleased. Judging by the amount of people asking me where I got the cake from, they were a definite hit.
(5)Christian R.
This is why people live in large cities, for small place like this. it has a rotating lunch menu, delicious food, inexpensive and AMAZZING pastries and desserts. mmmm yummy! stop in for some free samples! Try the carrot jalapeo soup if they have it ! Its a small place though as far as seating so get there early!
(5)Pamela S.
An excellent place for really great Mexican style hot chocolate. This stuff is what I grew up on in Texas, Hot Chocaolate with some spice to it, maybe they'll start serving Horchata in the summer time? One can only hope.
(5)Katie P.
the cupcakes weren't bad, a little too moist even maybe. but what i can't stand is the rudeness. we waited for 15-20 minutes for someone - and we had an appointment. not only was she curt during our meeting, but she seemed truly disinterested. no problem, i'll take my money elsewhere.
(2)penny h.
I just have one word for the bakery ... HEAVEN :)
(5)Andrew H.
This place is overrated. I went in there with the hopes of enjoying a piece of chocolate cake or a chocolate cupcake. I was surprised that neither could be found in the display. Ordering is confusing -- there are no prices anywhere and the staff will just stare at you instead of asking if you need help. I settled for a couple strawberry cupcakes and two chocolate cookies. It was almost ten bucks. I was disappointed.
(2)Mary Kate R.
oh my gosh i love bittersweet so much. it helps me get through the day. i go there for a coffee, but am way more excited about seeing which sample they have out. it always smells so amazing in there, and i havent tried something that i didnt end up loving yet. the cookies are so delicious. really good espresso drinks too. i want to get married tomorrow purely for the cake tasting....
(5)Shmerpy S.
i could pitch a tent here and live at the pastry display, intermittently stealing heavenly bits of short bread and tarts to remain alive. such a good shop and the brunch menu, while not extensive, always leaves you with delicious or on the other hand delicious options. i recommend eating here and sampling as many amazing deserts as possible afterwards. i have loved every soup ive ever had here and the quiche is not too shabby either. all around YUM!
(5)Chris G.
Bought our wedding cake from here and absolutely loved the entire experience! Tasting was calm, easy and Sue Ann was very friendly. Even at the tasting, with these small bites of cake and ramekins of frostings and fillings, I knew the cake was going to be superb, and it was. Excellent price point, delivery and setup was never an issue to a venue 40 miles out of the city, and we even went back to add takeaway breakfast cakes for our guests which they were able to provide beautifully wrapped and ready to go on relatively short notice. (It helped that the other table there for a tasting at the same time as us was full of awful people who demanded cake to take home to the fiancee and were very bossy, while we went together and tried our best to be patient and happy. I mean, we were engaged for goodness sake) I highly recommend them for wedding cakes and takeaways, and yes, their macaroons are also awesome!
(4)Lisa A.
Stopped into Bittersweet with some time to kill (and a hungry tummy to fill) before a dance concert at the Theater Building Chicago down the street. I chose an incredible white chocolate tart, lined with dark chocolate, filled with mild white chocolate cream and topped with a raspberry and three ridiculously thick and enormous white chocolate curls. The pleasant gal behind the counter wrapped up my treat in a slick white box, complete with chocolate-hued ribbon. Too bad I ripped it right off and devoured the unsuspecting tart as soon as I got to the bench outside. A semi-pricey treat at $3 a pop, but definitely delicious and artfully done.
(4)Marie L.
Everything I've tried here so far was tasty but why the attitude, counter ladies? It's like I have to woo you just to get you to take my money for your overpriced albeit delectable baked goods.
(3)michael b.
place is amazing. almost as good as paris with similar service if you know what i mean
(5)Vesuvi T.
I was so in the mood for a burger... but Indie Burger had closed down... so I wandered west until I found Bittersweet. I got a salad, which was good. I then tried some of the cupcakes and truffles. Now, I might've given this place the highest rating... but a couple of years ago, when visiting my brother, I went to a bakery (on Broadway, now closed) which was even better. So, although everything was good here... it suffers (slightly) from comparison. But it should also be noted that they sells gifts as well as food and treats.
(4)Maria L.
A beautiful shop with pastries that dazzle the eye and palate. I placed a large order of cookies to give as gifts, all packaged so lovely and delicious, as well as sauces for ice cream or fruit...mmmmmmmmm. Have enjoyed breakfast and lunch on many occasions. Everything just wonderful, quiches, scones, soups, salads, sandwiches. Last summer, our daughters wedding cake - perfect! This is the place to go for beautiful pastires to impress guests or treat yourself.
(5)Pat S.
Bittersweet cakes speak for themselves. Excellent and yummy! Wanted to share info about Nancy in this review. Nancy is the coordinator for wedding cakes and we were so impressed with her. She gave great info over the phone and we set up our wedding cake tasting. Unfortunately due to a medical situation the tasting was interrupted but Nancy was gracious and professional, acting in the best interest of the parties involved in the situation. She offered to call 911 and get the medical attention necessary despite it meaning the tasting was canceled. Then she followed up to make sure the concerned party was okay. That is a consummate professional! Thank you, Nancy!
(5)Erin W.
Delicious cake! We, too, got married at the Mid-America Club at the top of the Aon Building. Bittersweet made our wedding cake and it was absolutely delicious! Before the wedding, we bought wedding cake take-away boxes and much to my surprise, our cake was completely gone!! The cake was so good that even our 200 guests couldn't get enough. We selected carrot cake with cream cheese dressing, and chocolate cake with mocha mouse filling. Both were moist and delicious. Incredibly well-made. If you are looking for a bakery to make a *delicious* and unique wedding cake, look no further.
(4)Debbie L.
Absolutely LOVED the brunch here - a short menu but tasty! we got the quiche of the day and a ham/gruyere sandwich w beet salad and sweets to go. very inexpensive! This place is so charming and has bakery samples when you walk in. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)Alejandra P.
Today was my little boy's birthday party. He had a Thomas the Train cake (original, I know) yet this cake was different. It was elegant, not gaudy, and it was delicious. We got a huge cake (for 35 peeps). It was vanilla (we usually get almond, but were afraid of kids allergies) with creme brule center and strawberries. DELICIOUS, not too sweet, just right. My little boy was so happy to see his favorite engine on his cake. Truly priceless!!
(5)Tara T.
Everything I've had from Bittersweet has been amazing. The cake I ordered for my bf's law school graduation tasted as good as it looked. The fun, summer-themed cookies I brought to a kids' party were a huge hit. The cafe is a great place to go for a quiet breakfast/lunch. The only problem with Bittersweet is that I'm tempted to go there too frequently!
(5)Pilsen C.
Never enough seating. Please, do not rush eating here, but dont take your "sweet" time either. It's Bittersweet when you do so....because then i have to take my food to go...
(2)Esther P.
I was looking for a special and unique venue to spend a milestone birthday. After much consideration, I remembered some one had hosted their birthday at Bittersweet, and I thought that would be the perfect venue! Judy, the owner was so wonderful when we were planning for my big birthday celebration. I decided to host a cocktail party for my birthday with about 25 friends. Judy and her staff transformed the cafe and bakery into such an elegant and beautiful setting. The hor d' ouvres, pastries and the birthday cake were all so delicious and presented beautifully!!! I just provided the wine and champagne which was great because I brought in what my guests and I liked to drink. Not only was I blown away, but every single one of my guests commented on the uniqueness of the venue and the amazing transformation of the bakery for a chic cocktail party. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Judy, her staff and of course all of their delicious food and pastries. I am looking forward to the next time I am able to host another big event at Bittersweet. If you are looking for a special venue for a big celebration, then look no further than Bittersweet!
(5)Julie W.
UPDATE! Oh. My. Goodness! My cake from Bittersweet for my grad party this past weekend was absolutely AMAZING. I had yellow cake, creme brulee custard filling, and vanilla buttercream frosting. The cake looked marvelous, so smooth and beautifully finished. Once the cake was cut, my entire family could not stop talking about how delicious the cake was! While everyone didn't have a slice, my 8 inch cake fed my party of 25 ppl, with 4 pieces still left over! Everything from my experience from the great service, presentation, to the overall taste...Bittersweet is my family's new go-to bakery!
(5)Vicki M.
BEST WEDDING CAKE TASTING!!!!! I am getting married this summer and have tried numerous bakery's in the Chicago area and hands down this place was the BEST!!!! I am a HUGE chocolate cake fan and its hard to meet my expectations but Bittersweet did! The fudge cake is out of this world! But then again so is every other cake they offer. Customer service is also outstanding! This place is a much try!
(5)Maria C.
All I have to say is *mouth salivating* Turtle fudge brownies.... This is the best brownie I've had, one of my employers used to buy a whole sheet of this and sell it at his restaurant, this was the popular dessert item... Every time I go there I just have that or cookies. I'm always in a hurry and it seems that everyone and their momma is in here.
(4)Peggy C.
I love the place, however we went in for a cake tasting for a wedding cake and met with quite possibly the rudest woman on the planet. When we arrived at our appointed time, we wandered around and noticed a woman staring at us. I approached and asked if she worked there. When she realized we were who she was meeting with, she sat us at a table and rolled her eyes to another table -- right in front of us. Enough said. The cake was delicious but her behavior soured the entire process and we're still looking for a cake designer. I guess we learned where the "bitter" in the name Bittersweet comes from.
(1)Laura G.
Staff makes one feel cheap for buying their day-old baked goods for 1/2 at the end of the day...and yes, those baked goods are sort of like marrying the brother of the hot guy. But so what?! I am the sort who ends up with the brother and relatively cheap, really good baked goods! Translation for folks who shop at Jewel (me) ...by "breakfast breads" they mean baked goods. k.
(4)Brian H.
Great service excellent atmosphere and the cake was to die for.
(5)David B.
We used bittersweet for our wedding cake and it was absolutely delicious. When we went to pick out our cake they gave us little pieces of all of their cakes, little cups with frosting/cream and fresh fruit for the cake filling. We then mixed and matched cakes and frosting until we found the perfect match! They also had tons of pictures to look at in order to get an idea of the type of cake you want. The bonus was that we had a cute wedding cookie waiting for us in our room after the reception! All around great!
(5)Blanca R.
I am lucky that, Bittersweet is just around the corner from me. While I am sure their pastries and sweets are great, I have really only gone hear for breakfast and lunch. Their menu is obviously limited, but you can taste the freshness in everything they make. I have tried their ham and cheese quiche...which is delicious. The crust is so flaky and buttery. When I am in a healthy mood, I go for their delicious oat meal. The presentation is impressive. You get your oatmeal with quality fresh berries, soy milk and almonds on the side. And a bonus...when you walk in or out you can help yourself to tiny pastry sample of their liking. I do have one complaint. When I have ordered to go, or really even to eat in, service is often times very slow. But I keep thinking to myself that it's because they are making it fresh, and that's why I keep going back. There are also a 1 or 2 employees that could use happiness training.
(4)Lauren H.
My roasted eggplant, goat cheese, and I cant remember what other vegetables sandwixh was one of the bext sandwiches I have ever had. Melted in my mouth and I can't wait to go back to t ry another. Also the fruit served with it was amazingly fresh and yummy (and I am not a big fruit eater) We had samples of some desserts--the carrot cake was amazing, the caramel apple something or other (custardy type thing), not so much. The chocolate dome I brought home, was good, but not great. I would give the desserts another try next time, though, and order something different. They also have a very nice selection of gifts.
(4)Babs H.
I have loved every single thing I've ever had from this place. Favorites include: PB & Strawberry Jam bars Pecan Sandie cookies Apple empanadas Pumpkin crème brulee (haven't seen this since Halloween) And a friend ordered their wedding cake from here and it was to die for. Almond cake with crème brulee custard and vanilla butter cream frosting! GAH
(5)Zac B.
BEST PECAN ROLLS IN THE WORLD!!! And for some reason I like that I was charged a quarter for my to-go cup of iced tap water. It seemed like a nod towards sustainable business practices, even if they made a few cents profit off that cup, ice, and Chicago's finest.
(5)Darlene L.
The environment here is beautifully tweaked to cause oohs and aahs immediately upon entering this den of sweets. Pastries are gorgeous and there is something for everyone. It is easy to run up a big bill for just a few treats. The ingredients are top quality from the fresh fruits to the chocolate. The little fruit tarts look great at a dinner party. There are also a few half price items from the previous day, but they are hit and miss.Skip the bread which is dry and tasteless. Service is efficient but can be cold and all business. All in all would try it again with friends lingering over coffee and conversation .
(4)Lois A.
I think this place is a little confusing but the food is really good. I don't like that the menu is placed right over the heads of people eating on the far end of the cafe. I was looking around for it for several minutes before we saw it. The dessert menu is also located in a place where you have to stare at people eating to see what you want. My boyfriend had the mushroom quiche for lunch today and I got the pesto chicken salad sandwich. His quiche was excellent but my sandwich could have used a little seasoning. A dash of salt would have made it A LOT better. I really liked the bread it was on. The coffee and all the little treats we tried were really good. Anything with lemon from here is excellent. The cream cheese brownies are pretty amazing. I would give them another star if the set up inside wasn't as chaotic.
(3)Claudia D.
Our family adores the dark chocolate torte cake for birthdays.
(5)Inna B.
After coming back from a European vacation, I was on a quest to find a croissant in Chicago that would come close to the ones I had abroad. Bittersweet is the closest I've come so far. I love coming here on weekend mornings for a coffee and a pastry. They also have really cute tarts and other desserts if you're heading to a dinner party.
(4)Shan N.
I love Bittersweet. The treats are delicious and it is in a convenient location. I agree with others that it is a bit cramped at times, but I am happy to see a busy business--it usually means it is a good business. I do not like Bittersweet's website. It lacks the most basic information including hours and the daily rotation of cupcakes!
(4)J M.
I LOVE the cakes and pastries here. However the customer service is horrid. I asked them to make a 40th birthday cake for my husband and from the start I wasnt impressed. She wanted me to send her a picture of what I wanted, when I told her I had no ideas and was hoping she could help me out since they are cake decorators she kind of blew me off. I made it very clear - NO FLOWERS - this is for a male (Happy Birthday John should've given it away). When I went to pick it up - black flowers everywhere!!!! I told the guy at the counter he needed to take them off and he looked at me like I had 3 heads. I asked for the manager and explained everything to her and they removed them and replaced with polka dots in grey and black. At this point it had been 30 min and I just wanted to leave. Dots are better than flowers so I was much happier. The manager didnt charge me for the cake and she even called me later that night to make sure it was OK. I appreciate that but probably will go somewhere else in the future.
(2)Lola L.
The fact that I can customize the cake to the flavors I want already has my attention. The fact that it's inexpensive and taste so darn good is the icing on the cake. Granted we ordered the cake over the phone so no one has set foot into the bakery, seen the people who run it or that if it's even a legit store. We were going on the slice of cake a that a friend shared with us. For the heck of it, we ordered an almond cake, chocolate crème brulee custard with strawberries and vanilla butter cream frosting. Let me tell you, that cake was out of this world! Soft and moist almond flavored cake with the chocolate crème brulee would have been done the job but add the strawberries and the airy vanilla butter cream, no not frosting but butter cream, and that cake was heaven! The woman behind the counter was super sweet and threw in a few cookies when we picked up the cake. The pastries also looked yummy although we didn't have time to look since we were in such a rush to get home and devour the cake. Don't worry I made a mental note to come back and try them all for the sake of yelp!
(4)Katrina M.
This bakery is adorable. There's a small section of the bakery for table service, and I managed to find a table for my friend and I to sit for dessert and coffee/tea. My friend had a raspberry torte, and I had a plain cupcake with a tall mound of frosting. They were okay..nothing out of this world. I would only go here if I was in the neighborhood. Customer service is wonderful though, and their prices are decent. My cupcake was 2.75, while my cup of joe was 1.75.
(3)Nicole A.
What a beautiful little shop. I was just blown away by the gorgeous pastries they offer (and frankly should be for 3.50 a pop). I intended to purchase nothing more than the cupcake of the day but the menu was just oh - so tempting. I choose the 1/2 sandwich 1/2 salad, a combo of grilled cheese with zucchini and roasted red pepper, spinach salad with blue cheese and lemon vinaigrette dressing and a side of perfectly flavored green beans. For dessert I gravitated towards this fabulous blueberry, cream cake like pastry as well as a raspberry "thumbprint"...and had no regrets. This spot is perfect to meet friends and pretend you are in Paris for the evening...just a great get-a-way in Chicago.
(4)Shari X.
There were so many people here that we just had to stop by. The cookies and cakes were super adorable, and we could see that it was freshly made. The concept of taking a number wasn't really clear, so we waited in line unnecessarily. When we decided to eat the espresso ganache and cranberry almond tart in the cafe, the service was super slow. The crust on both of these were too hard for the softness of the cake, so we didn't really like the complement. However, both fillings were delicious and rich. It was a cute find, but perhaps next time we'll just take it to go.
(3)C T.
First time I went I got coffee and a warmed up pecan roll. Pecan roll was delish, coffee was excellent. Since I drink my coffee black, I noticed it was just the right strength, not too bitter, not too thick. My bf likes his coffee thick and dark as tar, so it was nice not to drink a cup that didn't stick to the roof of my mowf. Second time, I got a little pre-pack bag of chocolate chip cookies and this little mocha mousse thing. I ordered them to go because they were closing in a half hour. Cookies were so-so, crispy, not too memorable, which is why this place gets 4 of 5 stars--I've been to many an establishment just to test out their chocolate chip cookies and have found that certain places excel at such a basic item. I guess they are good for dipping in milk, coffee, etc. The mocha mousse, though, let me tell you, was deeeelicious. I'm quite the fan of sweets. It had these thick creamy chocolate shavings garnished on top that tasted wonderful and the mousse was soft and rich and mocha-y. I LIKE. And you know what? I waited two days to eat it, it was sitting TWO DAYS in my fridge in the cute little Bittersweet box they package it in, and STILL on the 2nd or 3rd day, it was so very delightful and tasty. Service is always good, the people behind the counter smiling and happy to help. They have a good little ice cream selection. I will be back for the mousses. And coffee.
(4)Rose C.
i was so disappointed with the birthday cake i bought from bittersweet yesterday. it was my first time to the bakery and loved the looks of it when i stepped inside. looked so inviting and tasty things beckoned from every corner. but the cake! while i greatly appreciated the beautiful, festive confetti sprinkled on top and personalized writing, etc., i was SO underwhelmed by the interior! chocolate with creme brulee filling. sounds fancy and delicious, right? well, the chocolate was so dry and the filling tasted like regular vanilla filling---would never have distinguished it from a grocery store cake except for the multiple layers and the beautiful glaze on the outside. :( i was so, so sad. for a $30 6-inch cake, i would rather go somewhere that i know will taste delicious despite the high price tag (i.e. bombon). 3 stars for the yummy free samples.
(3)Colleen C.
A very cute French-esque pastry shop when you walk inside. So far all I've had are the cakes, but they are seriously amazing! When I have a special occasion, the first place I think of for a cake in Chicago is Bittersweet. The chocolate chip cake in particular was a big hit with my family! The only complaint I have is that I've tried the iced sugar cookies, and when I had them, they were almost stale - kind of flavorless and hard. But I still need to go back and try more of their non-cake treats.
(5)Jess J.
If you want the best cup of hot chocolate you have ever had, skip breakfast and/or lunch and come here. I say skip breakfast because this thing is so amazingly decadent and yet so delicious you cannot help yourself. One small sip means one cup later you will wonder who drank all your cocoa. The answer: you. They generally have a small daily menu, and my impression is that it may change by the day or the week. Features some sort of quiche, some soup options (maybe two), and a couple sandwich options. Though limited, everything I have tried has been great. If you're not looking to dine, they do great pastries (tartes, ganaches, the whole bit), yummy chocolates, and I am still looking for an excuse to get a custom made cake from them. Love love love. If you have an afternoon free in the week, I would suggest trying to come during a quiet time. Their seating area is small (thus it could be frantic during busy times), but it is worth it to enjoy some time there enjoying your food/drink/pastry if you have the chance to do so.
(5)H. A.
Awful service- not that it isn't super polite, just excruciatingly slow. The food blew my mind. The menu constantly changes, but I tried the corn coup (unbelievable), the ham sandwich (also unbelievable), and one of their salads with bleu cheese/dried crans/pecans/etc. (very delicious). I also bought a pound of their small cookies for $15, which is a great price for sharing. I have to say, many of the cookies didn't quite cut it. They were not soft, not one of them. The best ones were the linzer cookies, the thumbprint, and the hazelnut balls.
(4)Danita B.
A friend and I walked past Bittersweet this Saturday and we walked in "just to see". Yeah, seeing and then promptly devouring! As with other reviews "decadent" is definitely the word. I'm usually not a fan of frosted/iced cookies, but you really have to admire the absolutely obscene level of detail. There was a poodle cookie - complete with sparkling sugar for where the "poofs" of hair are on a poodle! And a fishnet-stockinged leg cookie with a piped garter! And yes, they tasted delicious. I also had a mini flourless chocolate cake. By far, my favorite was the chocolate macaroon. These were the flat disc type (french?) macaroons. You take two of them and sandwich them together with a bit of chocolate ganache. It was eyes-roll-back-into-your-head good. They just collapsed into chocolatey goodness in your mouth when you bit down.
(5)M M.
I was CRAVING a cupcake. Walking in the front door eyeballed the big sign for the cupcake of the day... SOLD OUT :-( The whole purpose of going to the shop was to get a cupcake...definitely bummed. I ended up getting something else chocolatey. I loved the presentation, the china dishes, marble tables. Adorable place...I just need to go back and have a cupcake there.
(4)Laura H.
Excuse my french, this place is a clusterf'$# every single time I've tried to go. You have to grab a number and half the time you are being pushed around and half way out the door. Maybe it's the people that go there, the employees, or maybe I've gone at the wrong times, but no thanks. I'm over it. T
(1)S H.
This review is really about their food, not desserts. The homemade soups are OUT OF THIS WORLD. I stop by at least once a week for soup. I occasionally dine in for a meal, and for the quality of ingredients used, I think it is very affordable. I would eat here any day for lunch or a simple dinner. Cookies are hard - I prefer soft chewy ones. I've had a few desserts which have been good but not memorable. The day old baked goods section rocks - don't feel funny about buying them! I really like the atmosphere... feels like you are in a different city. The staff can be a little abrupt sometimes but you have to work with them. I've been going in for a couple of years now and know a few of them by sight. They're always friendly but very busy.
(5)Karyn K.
Finally made my way here. Very limited lunch menu selection (2 sandwiches, 1 quiche, 1 soup, and 3 salads). However, I had the Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwich, delicious and on homemade bread! Also, had the Raspberry Lemonade cupcake. It was puny but delicious. Next time I will spend more time perusing the cases with all the delicious looking baked goods. They seem to have a nice collection of gifts if you need something for a mother to be, a new mother, books on chocolate or nice paper.
(4)Claire Y.
I received a box of assorted chocolate truffles and too-pretty-to-eat ladybug cupcakes wrapped in Bittersweet's ribbons for Valentines' Day. Looks-wise, I was quite impressed with the amount of detail employed in decorating the cupcakes. The cupcakes were moist and not ooberly sweet - just perfectly delightful. I especially loved the surprise Boston cream-ish filling inside when i bit into one of the vanilla cupcakes. Normally, I don't care for frosting (and cupcakes in general), but I could not resist the creamy, fluffy frosting! The ladybugs sitting pretty atop were sugar cookies adorned in bright hues of pink and micro heart-shaped sprinkles. As for the truffles, they were the ultimate luxury. I particularly favored the dark chocolate/passion fruit flavor as it burst into a rich decadence of bittersweet chocolate with a touch of citrus. Mmmmm!!! I live a bit far from Bittersweet, but one of these days (when spring comes in Chicago) I will have to make a hike up north to explore its entirety.
(4)Amy H.
My experience was a little limited. I went in for a cup of coffee and muffin to waste some time before an appointment. The cafe au lait was good and served in a huge bowl (Yes, bowl. I was so wired!!) The muffin was delish. The couple next to me ordered some soup that smelled really good and quiche. I'll have to go back for that. The cookies, tarts, and candies in the front display counter looked divine. A very cute shop with a cute cafe and reasonable prices.
(4)Mandy M.
My boyfriend's 30th birthday party was last night and I just have to write a review about his cake! I had such a lovely experience with Zaida - she was incredibly patient and helpful, offering me lots of ideas when I couldn't make up my mind with what I wanted. I ordred the almond cake w/ creme brulee and strawberry filling and turned out amazing. It was beautiful and just what I wanted.. and delicious! I will be coming back again!
(5)Edwina B.
For years I have frequented this bakery to buy birthday cakes and holiday pastries. So when I got engaged, my heart was set on booking Bittersweet for the wedding cake. My wedding is over a year out, but is on New Year's Eve and when researching vendors discovered that many catering companies and bakeries are not open for NYE. I wanted to book my vendors asap so I would not have to worry about them - they could get their deposits early too! I scheduled a tasting by calling and speaking with a worker - they had early hours only for tastings - nothing after the workday and I don't think there was anything immediately available for the weekend. As we approached the tasting (I had scheduled a few other tastings to compare that week), the owner Judy calls and tells me that she noticed I was getting married next year and "they don't do tastings past 6 months out". I asked if this was an accounting issue but explained that I wanted to get some commitment to booking a wedding cake vendor well in advance since I had encountered some caterers not being open. Judy replies, "we are open on NYE but we won't do a tasting...I am canceling your appointment and you will have to call and re-schedule a tasting as it gets closer to your wedding date". She was very unpleasant to me - I was heartbroken since I had come into her shop MANY times to buy cakes. Luckily, everything worked out in the end as I was able to find a great vendor for my wedding cake but trust me, I will not be spending my hard earned cash here anymore after being treated so rudely.
(1)Jules D.
Sunday afternoon with kids in tow...no room to wedge yourself in with a shoehorn for an actual table, so we packed a nice assortment to go: iced cookies, choc. macaroons, brownies, cupcakes, parmesan biscuits, and a hazelnut cup. All were top notch! + Love the shop...lovely assortment, freshly made, tasted wonderful, etc. Really loved all the free wedding cakes samples, too. - Would have enjoyed a friendly sales girl that smiled, also a little room to breathe and maybe look at all the treats in the case. The line for a table is cumbersome and blocks a lot of the case. I am liking this more than most other pastry shops I have visited in the city.
(4)Lil'J R.
I love this place. The sweet treats are delicious (avoid the cookies and go for the extravagant) and there's always a big plate of samples by the door, not to mention the Day Old Section with great bread, scones, muffins etc. at half the regular price. The staff are friendly and my husbands eyes almost pop out his head when they slice your bread with their super amazing bread slicer thingy. Go in the morning before heading to Belmont harbor laden down with baked goodness! I recently went to lunch with a friend and we split a bowl of soup and a sandwich. The soup was really good but I have to say I was disappointed in the sandwich (mozzarella, tomato and basil). Not much flavor, much mozzarella, and served with very salty green beans. It was pretty pricey and I'm glad we split it. I'll stick with the sweet stuff.
(4)Emily Y.
A "ladies who lunch" sort of spot (although you can't get a martini, so I guess it falls a wee bit short). Upon walking in the door, you are hit with girlishness from floor to ceiling...to your right is a little shop filled with trinkets and beautifully decorated cookies (I salivated over the bridal ones just a leeetle bit) and to your left is the cafe. In front of you is a looming but beautiful pastry counter filled with heavenly goodness. We actually had to wait about ten minutes for a table to open up, which for a Thursday afternoon at 1:15 pm was a bit suprising. I would not venture there for a weekend lunch. To my dismay, there were lots of crying children/babies taking up much of the table space. So much for a civilized, sophisticated lunch. Luckily for me and my dining companion, most of the ill-behaved wee ones took off early into our lunch. The menu is quite limited, and posted on a chalkboard on the wall, giving the place a very European feel. Both my friend and I went for the quiche lorraine (the only other choices being a chicken liver sandwich and some sort of vegetarian sandwich; or salads). It was a very generous portion of quiche, as it should have been for $7.95. I thought the crust was to die for; my friend thought the quiche itself was a bit salty. I'm kind of a fan of salty, so I gobbled it right up. My cappucino was lovely but a bit too small for the price, I thought. My friend enjoyed her drip coffee and they were quick with the refills. Our water glasses never fell below half full (optimism, anyone?). Service was friendly and quick but didn't bug us when we wanted to sit and sip our coffees after we finished eating. I took home a little box full of mini cookies for myself and my fiance to devour that night, and we enjoyed all of them. I'd go back to try one of the tarts or cupcakes. But my bakery needs are satisfied by Swedish Bakery and the Sicilian bakery on Clark St. in A-ville...I see no need to venture south. Good place to take Mom or Grandma (or any other female relative over 40) when they come to visit. I don't think I would return for lunch on my own or with friends though...unless I was dying for some quiche, but I can't imagine that happening anytime soon.
(3)Mikki K.
After researching and reading reviews, I was really hoping to like this place. BUT BOY WAS I DISAPPOINTED. This was easily one of the worst cupcakes I've had in the city (maybe ever). I ordered the Death by Chocolate and the Red Velvet. The only thing deathly about the chocolate was the dry, flavorless cake and disgusting whipped topping "frosting" (i.e. over-dyed blue Kool Whip). Also, where was the chocolate??? Certainly not in the sad brown excuse they called chocolate cake. The Red Velvet's cream cheese frosting was slightly better, but ultimately could not make up for the crumbly, bland mess they claimed as "cake." On top of everything, the service was pretty terrible: unpleasant employees and a completely disorganized ordering system. I would NOT return to Bittersweet. Never again.
(1)Liz W.
This is such a cute bakery! After having dinner at Cuna's I was craving something sweet. Everything looked so good I didn't know what to get. I decided to get the mocha cupcake, sundae cupcake, and white chocolate torte. I didn't get a chance to eat the white chocolate tart =[ (long story) The sundae cupcake was awesome. The frosting was light and there was a fudge suprise in the middle. The mocha was ok. I'm not a coffee fan, but the coffee flavor wasn't overwhelming. If i'm ever in the neighborhood again I will definately be stopping there.
(4)J U.
LOVED this place. My husband and I couldn't attend a friend's birthday party, but wanted to make sure we at least dropped off a cake (you know, so when he sliced it, he'd think, "Awe, they're awesome!' lol). Anyway, we didn't call ahead, but it was no problem because Bittersweet already had a great assortment of small cakes to choose from. We chose a German Chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache icing... to DIE for. On top of that, the baker added a cute handwritten message for us and accented it with little edible pearls... it looked and tasted incredibly gourmet. Our friends still talk about this cake. I've since gone back several times to grab reward cupcakes for my staff... they are equally in love with this shop!
(5)Cathy L.
Bittersweet is a very apropos name for this shop - of the 2 girls at the register, one was sweet and the other was very very bitter. The raspberry and red velvet macarons are to die for but otherwise the sweets aren't that great and the variety of pastries (or breakfast breads as they call them here) is less than impressive. Don't know that it's worth coming back here solely for the $2 macarons.
(3)A C.
Bittersweet was recommended by another artist and I am very pleased with the service. I worked with a wonderful lady Zaida that worked with me from start to finish. Provided a photo and wow was I amazed at the results when I picked up the cake (it looked just like the photo and the details, wow). Oh, it also was delicious that I'll have to hit the gym:). Also, have to thank the designer. The recipient of the cake had a smile on his face from ear to ear. Thank you Zaida and the designer for making this event over the top.
(4)Javier Q.
Very good here. My friend had the rasberry white chocolate tart and I had chocolate cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Frosting alone is orgasmic mmm..but If u really want to focus on cupcakes Molly's cupcakes is the place to go!
(4)Michelle E.
Thanks, Bittersweet! Because of you, I looked like a thoughtful girlfriend who knows what she's doing! I was on a mission to find a lemon tart for my boyfriend's birthday that would hold up to his strict lemon tart standards. (What can I say--when it comes to pastries and women, he's partial to tarts!) He maintains that most lemon tarts out there do not actually have any lemon flavor at all. So like a good lil yelper, I searched and searched for a bakery that would do me proud. When I called to place my order, the woman who answered the phone was very helpful and informative. She explained to me the difference between the lemon meringue tart and the lemon sabayon tart, and confirmed size and pricing for me. Usually you need to place special orders 48 hours in advance, but she assured me that they would be able to make a tart for me for the next day. Also, when I realized the next day, a few hours before I had to pick up the tart, that I had forgotten to request a "Happy Birthday" message on the tart (oops), they were able to add that for me, with no problem. The verdict: The lemon sabayon was a bit of tarty, zesty, lemony deliciousness! The tart also looked very elegant, with thin lemon zest slivers on top. Mr Man totally loved it! The pastries in the case all looked amazing, and I would like to come back to try their cakes, cookies and macaroons!
(4)Leanne A.
Why haven't I written about Bittersweet yet?! Honestly, the first time I came here, I was so turned off by the name. Bitter repulses me, and the sweet just doesn't balance it out enough! However, the cafe is probably my favorite cafe in the city. The food is incredible. It's a different menu every day, and it's a very small selection. But I have not once had something non-incredible...gazpacho, turkey salad, eggplant soup. It seems expensive for cafe food, but it's so damn good. If it were by my work, I'd go at least twice a week. The cappuccino is incredible as well. I can't speak highly of the bakery. My deep affection for bakeries makes me a very good critic; I go to every one I've ever seen. This one doesn't measure up. It's fine, I guess. A lot of the tarts taste kind of pre-made to me. You know, like the crusts don't have that amazing homemade taste? The cookies are decent. But, the fruit scones are the best FREAKING scones I've EVER tasted. But that is the only baked item I fantasize about. Sometimes I walk here in the morning way out of my way to get two and arrive late to work. Don't waste your money on the other desserts, though.
(4)M T.
Awesome wedding cake created for the Husband and me for our reception. Judy (owner) asked questions about our favorite desserts and presented us with great options to review (cubes of cake, different fillings and frostings). It really made a difference that she went through this exercise. We ultimately had the BEST wedding cake ever. Cheesecake, raspberries, chocolate cake - who knew? Rave reviews at our reception.
(5)Sam S.
Follow this protocol as soon as you enter: - Turn left where the seating area is. - Scan the area. - If someone's already in line for a table: * Stand behind them. * Make yourself visible. * Stay alert. - If you're first in line: * Proceed to the middle of the seating area by the discount bread. * Stay alert. - As soon as someone gets up, gesture to get yourself noticed by: * Clearing your throat. * Taking a step forward. * Taking off your coat. * Twirling. * Combinations. When you're seated, ignore the line behind you and enjoy your space. And a hot chocolate. And quiche. And apple streusel tart. When you're done, pay at the counter, but by all means avoid eye contact with the hungry people in line.
(5)Amina D.
The is one of my first bad reviews, and I could think of nowhere where I had the nastiest cupcake of my life. I went here while looking for something sweet to eat, the woman at the front recommended the lavender cupcake, which should have been a red flag to me in the first place, lavender should not be a flavor for anything, it's for smelling not eating! Anyway, I bit into it, and it's the first time since I tried Spam that I split out food because it tasted so bad, it was the worse cupcake ever and the frosting was more like whipped cream than real frosting, I tried some samples of other cupcakes and they were bad too. Yuck!! I only had their cupcakes and haven't been back since, and I doubt I'll ever go back there either, sorry if you can't even do cupcakes right, then you don't deserve any one's business. I did get a cute cupcake journal there though, but it's not a bookstore it's a pastry shop.
(1)Kyle C.
If you want a fancy treat, this is the place to eat. Decadent is the word for Bittersweet. This is the first place I turn to, when I want to indulge. Luckily, it is right across the street! With a wide range of pastries, as well as little upscale gifts, an ice cream counter, and a little cafe, this place is warm and classy. Upon entry I go directly to the tarts displayed at the far west end of the store (okay, okay, I snag some free samples by the door first). These are my favorite! Everything from the Brown Butter Custard to the Crème brûlée, to the Espresso ganache is sublime. Many of them have huge fresh berries piled on top. They also have bigger cakes and tarts if you want to get one for a special occasion - I recommend the great chocolate souffle. They also have a cupcake of the day, which is always good. They pile them high with rich buttercream! I have had a couple of friends who weren't a big fan of this ("it tastes like I'm eating butter") but I have a sweet tooth and I adore it. While the store is a bit pricey, they do have a couple of great deals you should know of - 1) They always have delicious and reasonable day old bread and pastries for purchase and 2) Every day between 6 PM and 7PM they have a buy one, get one free sale on remaining breakfast pastries (muffins, croissants, scones, etc.) One of the few things I'm not a big fan of is the lunch at their little cafe a couple of times. The menu is always very limited, and they specialize in quiche, of which I am not a huge fan. If you are looking for a treat for a holiday or a special occasion, this is a good place to get it - they always have themed cookies (and you can special order from a large variety of different designs at any time) and they also have special menus for all different holidays! Bon Appetit!
(5)Courtney B.
Affordable, delicious coffee and subliminal desserts. I get all of my bread from here too; yesterday's is half off!
(5)Dave S.
I havn't had much of the baked goods, but the biscotti was fantastic. It was not too sweet, more like a well-made sconed than a cookie. The amount of anise seed they put in the biscotti is perfect. Also, try the egg salad sandwhich.
(4)Michele A.
I had heard from a few different people that this place was very good. However, when I took family from out of town to this bakery, in hopes of wowing them with pastry delights, I was really shocked at how unexciting the food was. The pastry spread is visually stunning and they certainly have a beautiful space set up for their customers... but after ordering a huge selection of pastries (not just one or two cookies), we found nothing that tasted very good. How could this be?!!! I can think of 4 different bakeries off of the top of my head that would kick the crap out of this place. I am sad to report that this was an expensive disappointment. :(
(1)Nicole B.
Good thing I got there early to beat the lunch rush - there was quite the line when I was leaving at 1 pm. I love the feel of the place, very cute. The coffee was hot and tasty and frequently refilled. The spinach salad with lemon vinaigrette was light, needed a few more pieces of crumbly blue though. The half turkey sandwich with Havarti cheese and caramelized onion was great, especially since the bread was so fresh. I would get chicken on your salad if you were to order it as a meal - give it a little more bulk. My "treat" for the day was a white chocolate dipped rice crispie treat - oh my god I love rice crispie treats! It was soft marshmallowy goodness.
(4)David W.
It's tough for me to give such a non-manly place a 5. How do I explain it to my guy friends that the carrot soup was creamy yet light. And the quiche...... not too filling and yet satisfying. The wife loves the macaroons. She would kill for the macaroons. I've contemplated working there just to find out how to make the macaroons so that I can bake macaroons instead of spending 10 bucks on macaroons every other week. We get cakes there three times a year. One for my birthday, one for her birthday, and one for our anniversary. Buttercream cake from Bittersweet?? Elegant, not obnoxious.. taste wonderful, but make sure to let the cake get to room temp first... The buttercream tastes even better.
(5)Leslie R.
The staff knows what they're doing, although during rushes they do get a little testy - however, understandably so. I love this place, though. So clean, bright, and delicious! The pastries and desserts are to die for, and they have great brunch options as well as italian sodas, coffee, and the Bittersweet hot chocolate - it's to die for. Huge display case to show off all the tasty - and gorgeous - sweets!
(5)Margaret C.
Anywhere that can make me equally excited about a spinach salad (the lemon dressing is inexplicably delightful) and a homemade oreo cookie deserves nothing less than 5 stars.
(5)Rico T.
I recently received a box of chocolate covered strawberries & custard filled chocolate cups. The custard cups were so cute...they looked like little tuxedo bodies, but they were just okay. Same for the strawberries. To be fair, I've never been to the bakeshop. Also, I've heard really good things about this place. I will make time in the near future to stop in, check it out, make my own selections & post a follow-up review. I'm willing to bet that I just got a bad batch or my tastebuds were in the fritz...
(2)Sarah L.
I enjoyed a lovely cupcake from a friend (it was her birthday treat). The lovely cupcake came from Bittersweet. The cupcake reminded me of a cupcake you bring to your classroom when you're a kid. Yellow moist cake and rich chocolate frosting with rainbow sprinkles! The cupcakes were on the smallish side but it was the perfect amount. I will definitely give Bittersweet Pastry Shop a try in the near future!
(4)RJ H.
Bittersweet really is one of my favorite lunchtime destinations in the city. I quite often find their savory dishes to be better than their pastries, which sometimes lack in either flavor, desirable texture, or moisture. I do like their tarts, however, so I stick with those. Lunchtime here gets pretty busy, so if you can swing it, I recommend holding back until things slow down around 2:00 p.m. or so. The servers will be less frantic then (as the usually are, for whatever reason), your wait will be shorter, and you'll feel less rushed. The menu rotates daily, more or less, and is kept fairly simple. It almost always consists of two sandwich choices, salads, soups, some fruit and other sides, in addition to three or four prepared desserts. You can also order pastries from the counter, if you like. Nothing too adventurous is served here. Bittersweet is just as its name suggests: a pastry shop and café offering well put together, safe mid-day flavor combinations. Good coffee, teas, cold drinks, bottled options to go, and so on. The product in their dishes is always of good quality; the portion sizes are very appropriate. I always leave feeling satisfied and never gorged. No burgers and heavy fried items here. Big eaters should probably order more than one item, or at least a side. They also have a small shop with slightly rare, occasionally desirable yuppie retail items, where I've been known to make a good find, from time to time. There's not a lot of seating, so it's not a good choice for people in group. Great spot for solo dining, though, or meetings of two to four.
(4)Yvette P.
We ordered our wedding cake from Bittersweet and Sue Anne was super professional and reliable. Our cake looked exactly like the picture I showed them, and they don't use fondant...it's buttercream which thrilled me b/c I'm not a fan of fondant. We had a green polka dots and got a lot more cake than we originally thought. Their prices were the lowest we had encountered, the quality was top notch, and the service was excellent. I asked for 5 dozen mini cupcakes a week or 2 before the wedding, and they accommodated me with no problems! And since we sent them a picture of our cake for their photo book, we get an anniversary cake! So if you see a white cake w/ green polka dots and black piping, with weebles for cake toppers, that's ours :) We've ended up ordering a few birthday cakes from them since our wedding too...we love Bittersweet! (here's a pic of our cake bit.ly/jJ5iWS )
(5)cakemouth c.
Being a pastry chef, I appreciate walking into somewhere and feeling as though I'm in the safe, tasty hands of competence. This place is solid in their menu, recipes and execution. The only drawback is there's very few veg options for lunch. But everything else MORE than makes up for that. If I could marry a pastry shop, it would be this one. :)
(5)Tony D.
The pastries are hit or miss; we loved the lemon meringue pastries but some of the other fare lacked that certain flavor that makes a pastry melt in your mouth but linger in your mouth with flavor afterwards. Why I gave it one star was the rudeness of the service--especially a large woman with orange hair. My wife was trying pick pastries to bring to our son and the counter person made a face of utter contempt at my wife who called her out at her rudeness. The counterperson felt my wife wasn't worthy of service. We're guaranteed never to come back and making sure to spread the word about the utter rudeness of the young staff who work there who obviously feel servicing you is an inconvenience to them.
(1)Stacy Y.
The little tarts they serve are ridiculously delicious! I've tried various items from the case, but I now stick with my regular: those tasty little tarts. The white chocolate is definitely my favorite - but any of the other varieties are just as good. The mousse is so light with white chocolate shavings, a fresh raspberry in a buttery little crust. mmm... I was not at all impressed with the cookies and once I found moldy bread here. This place can become uncomfortably packed making it hard to navigate and place your order. Maybe they could reconfigure their seating arrangement?
(3)Char Y.
We had the raspberry tart and the pear tart, and both were excellent. The store itself is clean and beautiful, a great space for relaxation.
(4)Kimberly L.
Ordered a cake here ages ago for my friend's bridal shower. It was so lovely I gasped when I picked it up. Beautiful and elegant design...and guess what? It actually tasted good too! Good thing I don't live near this establishment because I'd end up being one of those people who needs to be transported via a crane and a team of firemen.
(5)Amanda M.
How can you not love this place...they make the most incredible cakes...seriously!! My personal favorite is the almond cake, creme brulee and raspberry filing, vanilla icing and mounds of fresh fruit on top. It's sinful... can't go wrong with their pastries, cookies and other goodies either but must try the cake!!!
(5)Julie T.
Okay, since wedding season is approaching, I have to stop procrastinating and share with all future brides my lovely experience with Bittersweet. I had a very specific cake design in mind and Bitterweet delivered exactly to my expectations! And, it was YUMMY...absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!! I also ordered several small pastries for my dessert table...they looked beautiful, but taste was just ok. I would have given Bittersweet 5 stars had it not been for the fact that they somehow had my credit card number wrong (even though they charged the same card the deposit months back) and called the day of the wedding to say that my card wasn't working...next time, please process the payment a few days before the wedding to avoid potential bridal panick attacks :-) That small hiccup aside, I would totally recommend Bittersweet to anyone for an absolutely delish and beautiful cake!!! Now, I will try to post a pic :-)
(4)Puneh K.
Consistently great moist cake with a variety of options. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because they could use a better decoater. Although every cake I've gotten from there has tasted amazing, it's always looked pretty plain no matter how much I paid for decorations. It would be nice to have someone with ideas consult with you on the decorations. Other than that, a great place!
(4)Philip B.
This place made me quit going to starbucks. The cappuccinos are REAL and way cheaper. The way a good espresso drink should be. Beautiful pastries and good looking food. I haven't had any of their lunch items, but I'm sure they are as good as I expect.
(5)Tina B.
My husband and I were married out of state and had a chocolate mousse cake as a wedding cake. For our anniversary, I wanted to get a cake similar to what we had at our wedding. I found Bittersweet based on a Google search for the best chocolate mousse cake in Chicago. I called ahead of time to see if the cake was similar to what I was expecting. The lady on the phone was exceedingly nice and explained the cake in great detail. When I went to pick it up, I was delightfully surprised. It's completely charming shop and I was tempted to buy much more than just my cake. My husband thought this cake was actually better than what we had at our wedding. I will absolutely return to this place for desserts and I'm very excited to try to their lunch/brunch options as well.
(5)Elizabeth N.
Amazing cakes!!!!!!! Everything else is okay. Be prepared for slow service but it is all with it.
(4)Laura P.
Going into Bittersweet always brings on an ADHD attack, much like going into Costco, but better. There are just too many sweets to look out- from baseball and snake shaped cookies, to macaroons, half a dozen different scones, key lime pie, tarts of all flavors and sizes, gelato, peanut butter and jelly bars, cupcakes. You name it. This ADHD attack has only gotten worse since they've expanded, but we only get here about once a year so it is manageable. Bittersweet isn't just about the pastries and they serve a very nice breakfast and brunch. Their quiche is my gold standard, with a substantial pastry crust, a deep egg filling, and a sprinkling of cheese on top. It is a hefty slice and you get a choice of mixed green salad or fruit. The fruit is a kabob of small slices of kiwi, pineapple, strawberry, and cantaloupe so if you want something more, go for the salad. The guy behind us was raving about their soups, which we didn't get on a super hot Chicago day. They did have a cool cucumber soup that looked amazing. If you order a pastry you'll get it with a huge white quenelle- don't be fooled because it isn't gelato. It's a big, egg-shaped side of lightly flavored whipped cream which set off our plum with almond cream tart nicely. Getting the bill wasn't outrageous- about $30 for two drinks, entrees, and the split dessert. Waiting for their one restroom was a drag though, but you get to peek into their huge almost-industrial kitchen and watch while you wait.
(4)Eric S.
It's Saturday morning, you've slept until 11, and your head is pounding. A "one-drink-and-home" evening turned into an epic romp through bars, clubs and possibly a White Castle. The wee hours are fuzzy. So now you need some peace, some coffee, and food that will make your weary body happy. Well, friend, Bittersweet is the place for you. You may have to wait a little while for a table, as this place has become quite popular with couples, hipsters with visiting parents, book clubs, new parents, on and on. So, spend some time admiring the pastry case and make notes on what you'll buy on the way out. Then look right of the entrance and grab a cake and/or cookie sample - it will be delicious. Next look to the far wall past the tables for the short list of menu options. There will be a soup, a quiche, salad and sandwich. Everything I've ever had there has been good, and their sides of green beans are especially tasty. I'd also recommend their bowl of cafe au lait - I'm not a coffee drinker and yet this still is one of my favorite morning beverages. Now, watch the passers-by on Belmont Ave, enjoy the sun through the windows, order a pastry as a breakfast dessert, and feel yourself revive and get ready for the day.
(5)Jamie G.
This charming, little bakery is a nice place to find relief in the city. They have great-tasting macarons and cute holiday sugar cookies. The reason for four stars, and not five? I attempted to create a gift box with their holiday sugar cookies, and I left the cafe with an over-sized box and no bow. :(
(4)Anne L.
A beautiful and tasteful creation! Last week was our 25th wedding anniversary; I had placed an order with another bakery I had used for 23 years. Saturday morning that bakery called and said they had dropped the cake and wouldn't be able to replace it. I called my son, Eric, whose girlfriend Lisa, uses Bittersweet frequently. He made a 3 way conference call to the owner who promised that by 5PM I would have an anniversary cake. She created a beautiful cake, fresh spray of flowers adorned the top. The cake was chocolate, with creme brulee filling and white butter cream frosting. Our anniversary dinner was aboard the dinner cruise ship the Odyssey at Navy Pier. Our dinner guests and those seated near by ooh'd and aaahh'd as the cake was wheeled to the table. The cake was not only beautiful, but the flavors blended beautifully as well, truly a taste sensation not to be forgotten. I want to thank the owner and staff for personally rescuing our anniversary dinner party. Without you it would have just been dinner. Thank you again for your hard work; you are the best of the best. Pamela Krause Glenview, IL
(5)Jen S.
Crazy wonderful treats and such a cozy and comfortable bit of Europe here in Chicago. And of course the pastries are to die for but the daily quiches,soups and sandwiches are to die for! Great for everything to a wedding cake to a lunch or light snack!
(5)L. R.
I'm so glad I got to discover this place! I am not a sweet's type of person, but who can resist... just take a look at the raspberrie thingies, at the strawberries, drink a coffee along, and oh... My dad's restaurant takes orders from this place and my dad tells me people love the banana bread and the muffins from this place. I love their pastries.
(5)Marie B.
Fantastic pasteries. They have great cookie designs. From classic birthday and weddings, to local favorites: cubs and sox. Also the cookie designs change based on the season: gotta love the Bears cookies. Also the cakes are delicious. Custom ordering makes it even better and they only need two days notice!
(4)Kyung P.
Wonderful pecan buns!!! Best ever. Melt in your mouth delicious. Heaven in your mouth. Flakey and caramelized. A little messy, but deal with it. I've had a lot of their breakfast pastries, but have never tried their cakes. They have a beautiful holiday cookie assortment - not sure how they taste though. Their scones looks good too. I heart bakeries.
(4)Melissa B.
I lived very close to this place for over two years and never stopped in. I wish I had. The ambiance is very cute (although a tad cramped in the seating area) and I really wished I had more time to look around. All I got was a few mini cupcakes to go (I'm on a mission to find my wedding cupcakes), but I can say the service was friendly, and the place was very inviting. Perhaps I'll stop in again sometime. As to the cupcakes, one word comes to mind: forgettable. I finished mine not 30 minutes ago, and I honestly don't know what to write right now. Mine wasn't that bad, I guess. I asked the boy if he liked his creme brulee cupcake, and all he said was "meh." I may have to rewrite my review some other time, since all those cookies and pastries looked AWESOME. I'll have to stop by again, but not for cupcakes.
(3)JK B.
This is a good place to go if you are in the mood for some European-style treats (e.g., rather than the American bakery style offerings) and you are in the Lakeview area. I think the fruit based tortes are better than the other choices (the non-fruit offerings can be rather cloying). I think there are better choices in the Chicago area (Fritz pastry, Vanille Patisserie), but this is pretty good.
(3)Amy S.
I always walk by this place and have heard many good things about it, so I decided to stop in on a Saturday morning to pick up something for my mom's birthday. It was very busy, with people eating brunch/breakfast and then with other customers waiting to order or pick up cakes. It browsed around the shop and saw cute stationary products intermingled with decorated cookies to match the occasions (i.e. birthdays, baby shower, thank you, etc.) which is a really cute idea. The cookies also give you ideas on designs you might want on a cake. They had cheesecakes in the glass case, so I decided to purchase one of those. To my surprise, the woman who took my order didn't just pull out the one in the case (like they do at many bakeries), instead she said it would be just a couple minutes while they put the fresh berries on top. While I was waiting I sampled a piece of brownie that they had out, and drooled over the delicious looking bakery cookies. I will definitly come back here to order a cake for other occasions. I have tried a banana cream cake also, that a co-worker brought in, and it was good.
(4)May S.
I wanted to surprise my fiance with a groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner. I called a few places and was shocked at the cost! I wanted a red velvet cake in the shape of a Bears jersey. Neither of the more expensive places told me that red velvet dries out as a sheet cake (I heard this from another bakery), they just told me the $300 price tag. Someone on theknot boards recommended Bittersweet and I called them. It was less than $100. It came as a round layer cake with red velvet and white chocolate frosting. On the top, they created a dark blue Bears jersey in what looked like fondant with his last name and our number - from far away, it looked like a real jersey! It was incredible! And it tasted awesome too!
(5)Natalie F.
After being in Zurich for two weeks and being spoiled with Spruenglie there, I was craving pastry.....I went to Bittersweet and gave them a shot. Nope...and I don't say this to be mean. They have some wonderful pieces and selections in their shop that does remind me of Europe, however, the pastry's no. I had ordered what I thought was an apple tart but it was Pear. wonderful! I love Pear to. When I bit into it, I would have had no idea it was Pear though. They had so much glaze on it, they didn't allow for the sweet fruit flavor to come out. Which is really sad. Pastry's are delicate and full of flavor. We as Americans make the mistake that sweet is whats its all about, it should only be a little sweet with loads of natural flavor to it. The crust is sweet to. To much is sometimes to much. It was ok. Had I not known better I would have liked it more.
(2)Nicole V.
I have had only good experiences with the baked goods, cakes and pastries I have purchased here. They have the cutest little cookies and treats! You always make an impression when you show up at a get together with some fun little sweets from here. They have some really unique alternatives to your standard icing on the cake. I bought a flour-less cake for my mom's b-day and they added an iridescent candy plate with a personalized happy birthday message written in metallic. So unique and fun....and the cake was delicious. The only reason they don't get full stars is because at times it gets extremely congested in there and they tend to not be very organized. I don't mind a wait if there is a line, but standing in a mass of people who are all in a hurry gets a little trying at times.
(4)Mandi B.
Chef Celeste makes the best macaroons! The Passionfruit is a must, don't dare leave Bittersweet without one!
(5)Greta P.
Um... I saw the employee drop 2 croissants on the floor. She slyly put them back with the others when she thought no one was watching. No way, man. No way!
(1)Cali G.
Can you say yum? Lovely place to hang out and have lunch with a friend or desserts. They have great dessert ideas for you or can customize cakes according your event. Every time I come for lunch here I have their tomato soup and half a sandwich. It is so good.... They might have about 6 tables, so at times it might be a little hard to stay and enjoy what they have to offer. They have a great staff as well.. Very nice place if you have never been
(5)Edie B.
This place has some of the best cakes, tortes, mousses, and pastries I have ever had in my life -- and that is saying something. As far as the service is concerned, let me say this: I worked at this place for a week back in 05 or '06, and its a fucking miracle they can keep any help. The owner is a tyrant who makes her managers paranoid, uptight and miserable, and the general employees spend their time feeling incompetent and terrified that they will be suddenly unemployed with no cause or warning or made the center of some teary and painful spectacle. Poor things. Anyway, I have no idea why this shop pretends at being a cafe. Go for the cakes, stay if you *must*, but, if you do, just order some hot chocolate to pass the time, and cut those kids some slack!
(5)Sarah Z.
I recently down graded Bittersweet from four to two stars. I have ordered a few cakes here over the years, and the reviews went like this: Birthday cake for boyfriend in '01 - Excellent! Everyone loved it. Cake for Mothers Day in '05 and '06 - Pretty good. Birthday cake for Nephew in '07 - Two BIG thumbs down. Literally. Two children under the age of 10 would not eat this. I've eaten brunch/lunch here several times and the food is healthy and well proportioned (nothing supersized). The space is quaint and pretty. I used to really like this place, but the sweets just aren't that spectacular anymore.
(2)Pamela K.
I like the pastry there. I went there many times for cakes, cupcakes, maccaroons, maccarons, brownies, cheesecakes, and more. I agree that the price is expensive. One small easter rabit cookie can cost you $4 a piece. However, I gave this four-star only to pastry but not to their service. I agee with other reviews that staff there is sweet but one is bitter! They were not quite helpful and lacked of the pastry knowledge. When I asked about the specific pastry or the basic differences between them, they could not answer my questions. They should have the proper knowledge about the product they sell. Plus, they always missed the quantity I ordered, for example, I ordered four and they gave me two.
(4)John H.
There are some very high quality items here--the apple strudel muffins are fantastic--but I always felt like Bittersweet put a little bit too much emphasis on presentation. It was hard to leave feeling full without dropping ten bucks. I'd echo Jimmy B's comment on that note--feels more like a catering business than a bakery. A good option for the higher end cookies and cakes customers, but not the best spot for the more economical muffin/cup of coffee crowd.
(3)Jisha A.
I ordered a birthday cake from here a few weeks back - the praises I got for it made me want to take credit for it :) Chocolate mousse with strawberries with a dark chocolate glazing. They may seem pricey but I think the cake was well worth it. They even added chocolate ribbons 'n strawberries for decor. It looked as awesome as it tasted. Really impressed. I tried one of her home speciality cookies as well, twas great ! I'll be back to see what else this place has to offer, without feeling guilty about the calories, i hope !
(5)dottie m.
There is NOTHING bad here! The little tarts with the vanilla bean custard and strawberries are sublime, and there's nowhere else I go for fancy cakes (a PERFECT place when you have to "bring dessert"). I'll admit, I've only eaten dessert here (they have a lunch menu as well), but you can pretty much close your eyes and point to anything in the bake case, and you'll go home happy.
(5)Kate W.
Best. Desserts. Ever. A friend gave me a slice of cake and said "you have to try this!" It was the greatest cake ever... EVER!
(5)Andria M.
I will preface this with: "I am very picky about baked goods" This place is in my neighborhood and thought I should give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised with the ambiance upon entering; it looks like what I would expect a patisserie in France to look like (albeit, I have never been to a patisserie in France...). I ordered a pear ginger scone and a cream cheese carrot cake muffin, everything else was a little too foo foo for me. I was looking more for what another reviewer was looking for (bear claw, cinnamon roll..I guess that's not very French, though). The scone had no flavor resembling it's description, actually it really just had no flavor at all and the center was gummy. In the trash that went after 2 bites (had to be sure it wasn't worth it). So onto the cream cheese carrot muffin! That was an improvement (only had 1/2, trying to save for later); I'm still on the fence as to whether the center is gummy or just moist. All in all, I wasn't overwhelmed, but I might give them another chance...maybe for their lunch menu.
(2)Randal B.
This is one of those joints where you take your mom or out-of-town friends for Sunday brunch. Top atmosphere, some of the best quiche in town, and some of the best coffee in town, too (and I don't say that lightly). I can't fail to mention the great pastries and sweets (be sure to check out the half-price leftovers on the left side of the counter). The only reason I don't give Bittersweet five stars is that they have the absolute worst check-out system in Chicago. Hands down, paying this place the slowest and biggest pain-in-the-butt for any place we eat. If Bittersweet would pony up for a standard credit-card system (for crissake, allow tips on cards and take Amex) and allow you to pay at your table (check-out involves taking a number or butting in line to just get your table bill) they'd probably get five stars out of me.
(4)Amy L.
Went there this past Saturday afternoon with the hubby. It was pretty rowdy in there. We ended up just getting our dessert to go. It was wow. It has like an aroma to it when you eat it that made me want more. It was a small little tart type dessert with a strawberry on top. Good stuff. About 3 bucks each too so not the cheapest dessert..
(3)Lori M.
Bittersweet is one of those places that I've been going to regularly since moving back from Italy in '98. I just adore their sunny savory & sweet treats, and am always thrilled with everything in their shop. For every year since, I've ordered my kids birthday cakes (Julian's favorite: Almond Cake with a Tiramisu w/ Espresso soaked Lady Fingers filling, and a Dark Chocolate Glaze) (Benjamin's favorite: Red Velvet cake with a Crème Brulee Custard, strawberries and Vanilla Buttercream frosting) from Bittersweet, and they're all very memorable. Recently, for Fat Tuesday, I stopped in and picked up King Cakes for the office - that rich brioche dough, garnished with sliced almonds and purple, green, and yellow sugar---ohhhh, what a hit. They were gone in minutes. I love to stop in to the cafe for a nice quiet lunch by myself once in a while, and ADORE their peach ginger scones in the a.m. with coffee... oh, who am I kidding, I love EVERYTHING about Bittersweet. If you like tarts and cute baker girls as much as I - be sure to stop in and try their lemon sabayon - it's to die for. Take some hot cross buns or pecan sticky rolls home for your sweety if you're in the dog house. I wish this place was open late!
(5)Jerry M.
Good place to go to for brunch on Sat/Sun, if you don't mind the small selection of food, but I've always liked what they have (just one entree, soup, and salad). I had the spinach salad with blue cheese and can I say YUMMY?! The desserts are plentiful and yummy, but I'll admit that I'm more of a cupcake girl with tons of frosting, and they really don't have anything like this here - more like pies and cookies. But still good!
(4)Jeanette S.
This place has some yummy and beautifully decorated treats! It's not the best in town, but certainly worth a visit.
(3)Sue K.
Best cakes of the chocolate variety. Get one for a birthday or special occasion. Lunch cafe is also very nice and charming.
(5)Cynthia N.
I just ordered cookies from Bittersweet for a new biz presentation for work. I am always amazed at the quality of work. I sent them a jpeg logo and they drew it on a cookie. They
(4)Heather S.
Ack!! I can't believe I forgot to review this place! This was my dream wedding cake bakery and boy did they live up to my expectations. We had an extremely simple almond cake w/ lemon curd filling and buttercream frosting. It was and is the best wedding cake I have ever tasted. 2 years later, I ordered the same cake in a mini version for our anniversary. The shop is cute and small and has gorgeous baked goods. The cutest cookies and most beautiful tarts, etc. I have not eaten here for lunch, however.
(5)Virginia T.
I haven't been to Bittersweet in a while....but when I was there I was very impressed. I've had coffee, cake, gelato, salad, pastries, and cookies and was not disappointed. In fact....I was so impressed that we chose Bittersweet to make our wedding cake. It was AMAZING. Lightly almond flavored cake filled with creme brulee and fresh sliced strawberries! Beautiful design, fresh flowers on top...gorgeous and delicious-albiet pricey!
(5)ER S.
The cakes & cookies are terrific if a bit pricey. Lunch is great too... though they really don't put their heart into in on the weekends (same menu over and over and over). Checkout could be better... slow and painful at busy times.
(4)Rachel G.
I have never been here....but I had tasted one of their wedding cakes and it was delicious. I am talking so delicious that the wedding was almost 3 years ago and I still remember how it tasted!! I guess I better get my rear in here and start tasting some of their other goodies!!
(5)faith b.
I love coming here and getting a little treat for myself. My old boss bought me their macaroons and I was hooked! Sometimes I pick some up to give to my friends as little gifts. The packaging that they come in is very cute. I came here once to pick up my boss's birthday cake for her daughter. It looked so perfect and yummy... I just wanted to paw at it and shove it in my mouth. The only thing that would make these visits sweeter is if they hired friendlier people. I don't know why they always look so grumpy... maybe it's because they're tortured by all the yummy treats that they're not allowed to eat.
(4)Michelle R.
I can only speak about the cakes, the beautiful yummy cakes! They just make pretty pretty cakes! the lemon curd is amazing!
(5)Jeremy T.
Even a hot chocolate at Bittersweet is not "just a hot chocolate", it is THE hot chocolate. I don't think I even need to say anything about the dessert..
(5)Melanie M.
Raspberry lemonade cupcakes from Bittersweet. Whenever they have it, I will drop all things to eat them. The lemon pastry I had was divine. I haven't done in a while and I should probably change that.
(4)Penny C.
Like most of the less than stellar reviews, it isn't the food. I've been spending a few hundred dollars a year at Bittersweet for about 8 years because they have delicious interesting baked goods. I called first thing this morning to see if I could order mini scones for tomorrow afternoon. The woman on the phone was short and a little too pleased to tell me they needed 48 hours. I understand they are busy and yes, I should have called sooner, apparently 30 hours just isn't enough notice. She wasn't friendly and she didn't offer any suggestions, like "we have regular sized scones or a great cookie selection." She just didn't care. I called Bon Bon and Vanille - very helpful and friendly. Bittersweet won't miss my money, it isn't much, but the other bakeries will appreciate it.
(2)Kimberly C.
Ooooh! Bittersweet! How could I have possibly left you off the list? This was the site of the prequel to the infamous cupcake crawl. Ms. E and I had lunch here the day before our grand day out and sampled a bit of the cake too. I have to say that the lunch I had was utterly fantastic. And the staff was wonderfully helpful and answered all of our questions about cake, cupcakes, and different flavor combinations to try. Although they only made cupcakes on the weekends, we tried one of their cake slices. The cake itself was divine. It was moist and flavorful, if not a little sweet. The mocha filling was near perfection. Unfortunately, I hated the icing. It literally tasted like butter and nothing else. The cake was visually beautiful, though. I'd be happy to go back and try some of the other icing combos with the cake and I am sure I could come up with one that worked for me. Overall they are doing desserts proud and pricewise ($1.75 w/o filling, $2.25 with filling) these cupcakes were high on the list. On a side note, they usually have bite-sized samples of cakes for walk-in customers. The carrot cake sample I tried was literally the best carrot cake I have ever had.
(4)Erin C.
I hate this place and it's a bakery! I love bakeries! The cookies I've had here are bland and greasy. The pastries were tasteless though they looked pretty. I'm a pretty good baker myself, so i know an overuse of lard when i taste it. blech! The positives: it's cute and everything here looks very pretty. Go somewhere else if you actually want to eat something.
(1)Sixto M.
still a great place to eat! I always want to make it here for lunch, but never get there in time: it's always packed by 12pm. Today, I went for a late lunch and had a delicious shrimp salad sandwhich. I'm glad to see their menus change, and they have a breakfast menu, then a seperate lunch menu. I didn't buy any pastries or cookies when I went, but I sure did have some of their samples (which were vanilla and chocolate cakes with buttercream, choc chip cookies, and "holiday" fudge).
(4)Jerica W.
My friend and I were just walking down Belmont one afternoon and stumbled across this place. We decided to stop in for a cup of coffee. I had a cappuccino and a little blueberry tart and my friend had a bowl of their chilled cucumber soup. My cappuccino was great, as was my friend's soup. My tart was a little on the dry side. We went back this afternoon and each had a cup of coffee and a smore cupcake. The cupcakes were great!! We had the same server both times and she was friendly. Be advised... if you are paying with a card there is no where on the receipt to add tip, so make sure you have a few dollars with you to leave for tip. If you are looking for a cute place for a cup of coffee with a friend, I would recommend it.
(4)Alice B.
I used Bittersweet for my wedding cake and pastries. My husband and I met with a very nice lady who guided us towards a cake we loved that was within our budget! She didn't pressure us and made us feel very comfortable. Day of the wedding, even though my reception site was quite far from the city and practically in the middle of nowhere, they delivered it on time. It was exactly what I wanted, not to mention delicious! I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Karen L.
Cute bakery/cafe that is a great place for lunch! I will have to say, though, that the menu is pretty limited. There were a couple of sandwiches and salads and soup. I ordered a half sandwich and bowl of soup. The soup changes daily, I believe, and I went when it was a carrot jalapeno. I am not usually a fan of carrot, but this was amazing! It had a really nice flavor and kick to it! The sandwich, however, was just okay. One thing was it came cold. And, looking at other tables', we noticed that their sandwiches had been "panini-ed". I would have enjoyed it way more if it was warm! It was nice that you also get a choice of a side item. My friend ordered the hot chocolate and she said it was wonderful! And, of course, I always hear the baked goods are pretty good so I would definitely go back if I had a craving for cookies or desserts.
(3)Kat H.
wonderful pastries. I got a variety of things for a mani/pedi party i had and everybody loved what what i got. they also had good coffee and we helpful when i needed to know if there were walnuts (allergy) in any of the pastries.
(4)Matthew T.
I went here for the first time on a whim and was pleasantly surprised by the expansive selection of items available. I had a fresh brioche and an ice coffee and was very satisfied with the quality and the price. I will have to return for the ice cream sometime seeing as they post great deals for the ice cream and other items on twitter where they can be followed at bttrswtpstryshp. I will be returning soon =)
(4)Chelsea G.
The cupcakes range from OK to pretty good. I had a cream cheese tart once, which i think is my favorite so far. Great scones and truffles. I agree with a previous comment that the website is not very useful. I go about once a week because it's about thirty seconds from my apartment, and I always try something new (variety is definitely apparent). I like taking advantage of the samples as well, especially during Thanksgiving. Overall, nice but not the best.
(3)Megan T.
So happy that I chose Bittersweet for my wedding cake! I highly recommend them for weddings and any sweet occasion you may have! From day one they were on top of my wedding and were so organized! They did not bug me for more than what was necessary and never asked me the same question twice! When you are a bride that is a huge relief to know you hired someone reliable. Sue Anne contacted me two weeks before the wedding and reviewed everything with me and sure enough come wedding day the cake was there more beautiful than ever! I was a very picky bride and before everyone arrived at the reception went into the room to make sure everything was just as I had laid out, I inspected the cake and there was NOT ONE bubble in the fondu it! It looked fabulous. Even more important the hazelnut cake with vanilla creme brule filling was phenomenal! I even have a special request about 3 days prior to the event for them to deliver a cupcake of the day with my cake so we could sing happy birthday to my new niece as it was her birthday that same day! As expected it was there perfect as could be! I can not say enough about this place and would even give it a extra star if it was possible! bottom line don't be disappointed....book bittersweet for your special occasion!
(5)Katie H.
For being the only place in Chicago that carries macaroons (not the coconut kind but the delicious French kind) I give this place 5 stars. I happened to walk by while apartment hunting and squealed with delight when I saw my beloved cookies. After becoming addicted to these cookies at a French bakery in Pike Place Market, I had been searching Chicago for them. The almond and chocolate macaroons did not dissapoint. Judging from the lines, I would assume everything else is just as good. I will be back to try more.
(5)Kurt O.
One of the nicest bakeries in town. Their chocolate and macaroons remind me of my Grandmother's baking....and she owned a Swedish bakery. I've tried to enjoy lunch there because the food is so good....but the tables are small and rather unstable and close together....it does not feel comfortable....so I usually avoid sitting and just get takeout.
(4)Connie W.
Stopped in for the first time today. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The coffee and oatmeal raisin cookie were delicious! Looking forward to returning for lunch and more sweet treats!
(5)Alli L.
This review is not really for eating in. We picked up a gorgeous, decadent, death-by-chocolate chocolate fudge mousse heart-shaped cake here, and it was amazing. I'm not even a huge sweets or chocolate person! (I mean, I am, but not the way some people are...) I have also heard on good authority (from someone who really knows her scones) that they have really good scones here.
(5)Bianca J.
The white chocolate tartlet I ate here was so good I actually had a dream about it later. I don't even like white chocolate that much, but damn. Perfect buttery crust and smooth, creamy filling. They also have New Mexico style biscochitos- anise seed cookies, which were a pleasant surprise. I was also a devotee to the chocolate and orange zest flavore Cafe Chocolat- but the last time I ordered it the girl just squirted chocolate syrup in my coffee- what changed?!!
(4)H. K.
LOVE IT!!! Apart from wonderful and elegant desserts, a very nice place for lunch (more of a grownup version). I went there with my mom, and another time with a friend, and they loved it. Really good soups and elegant salads in a very nice, kind of English tearoom setting. Their cakes are also exquisite. Wish they had more than one location (I live in the suburbs, but always try to stop by when I'm in Chicago).
(5)Isabella W.
I was disappointed the second time back to Bittersweet. The latte was ok (despite the fact that they use Illy coffee - one of my favs). The latte just came out very lukewarm, not hot... at the very least they should have microwaved my latte if they didn't want to steam it. Also, the fruit tart while delicious was extremely difficult to eat due to its extremely hard crust. It was so messy that I lost my appetite halfway through eating the small tart. I do give it 1 star for the espresso tart (with a chocolate covered espresso bean on top) and another one for a free coupon due to an error in the specials (which said it was an orange cheesecake, but acutally had coconut). I'll probably come back if I'm craving a tart, but would prefer Bombon over this.
(2)Lindley E.
[review is specific to cake] Worst birthday cake I've ever had. Dry, bland...heartbreaking. You get one birthday a year...the cake should be perfect. This was about as soul-less and empty as it comes. I brought my cake to work and no one went for seconds...and the folks I work with have never met a baked good they didn't like. I have tried other things there, and to my palate they have all been unremarkable. Pretty to look at, terrible to eat. Oh yeah, but the coffee was okay.
(1)Eileen O.
Bittersweet made my wedding cake, which wasn't a cake but a croquembouche (I think I spelled that wrong). It's a french wedding cake made of many cream puffs stuck together with caramelized sugar. It was incredibly good. One of the great things about bittersweet was that I was able to order everything on the phone (with Sue Anne) and through email. I sent them photos of what I wanted it to look like and they made it gorgeous. Not having to go into the store was one less thing that I had to worry about. I also appreciate that the day before the wedding they called me and said "it's going to be 100 degrees out tomorrow... do you mind if we make two smaller ones instead of a huge pyramid since transporting that will not go well in the heat?" Honesty is so important! I'd rather have two perfect cakes than one big one that's falling apart It was more affordable than any other cake and all of my guests were falling over themselves to get more because it was so tasty! Thanks for making my wedding ever better!!
(5)Matt R.
I really want to love Bittersweet. However, I find myself comparing many of their items to other bakeries and Bittersweet's never seem up to par. Mind you, I have never had anything bad. I also have never had anything out of this world. Still, Bittersweet is a cute place just to drop by for coffee and a snack.
(3)Mary S.
Amazing macaroons. Passionfruit was THE best macaroon I've ever had. Everything at Bittersweet is yummy!
(5)Paul F.
The pastries are great and the food is wonderful. But what really makes me love the place is the wait staff. My date has issues with onions and onion like things, so she ordered her sandwich with no onions, Well the darling waitress came back and told us that the artichokes in the sandwich had been marinated with onions and that where shallots in another part of my dates order, she then suggested something else. Paying this much attention is just wonderful I will be going back again, soon and often!!!
(5)Stephanie T.
I remember coming here a few months ago, and I just fell in love with this place. I ordered 2 chocolate cupcakes that were a day old but still were good. I sat down with a friend of mine's and we couldn't help but admire the essence of Bittersweet. They offer samples of their baked goods and even bring a cup of water to your table. The staff was very quick and friendly and were kind to show me around since it was my first time going there. I love this bakery and would recommend it to anyone in the neighborhood.
(5)Larry B.
one of, if not the best pastry shop in Chitown. wonderful desserts, cakes, breads and more. Judy the owner is a little anal, but in a good way. Not to be missed if you love sweets.
(5)Jason D.
I don't think I'll be able to walk by this bakery any longer without stopping in for brioche. The counter staff is friendly and helpful, which helps as well. Also, croissants are supposed to be crispy and flaky on the outside. If you aren't aware of this please proceed to Bittersweet immediately.
(4)K L.
Wonderful food in a pleasant setting. My only complaint is that the servers do not take your check. You have to wait in the (extremely long!!) cashier line, behind everyone buying cakes and pastries. It is a very frustrating way to end such a nice experience.
(4)Y V.
This is my favorite place to get French macaroons. They offer several flavors, but I love their chocolate with ganache filling, almond with apricot buttercream, and pistachio with buttercream. I also recommend their creme brulee and mocha mousse tart. You can't go wrong with a classic dessert like creme brulee. I used to go to Bittersweet before they expanded to a cafe, so I still have to try their savory items. But I'll definitely be back to try their new menu.
(4)Midori G.
I stumbled upon this bakery when I decided to walk West on Belmont, where I had never before ventured. The cute window display appealed to both my utterly girlie side and my sweet tooth. It was almost closing time, so everything was half off, but I don't think I would have paid full price anyway. None of the three cookies I had were incredible, but I would come back to try more when I'm in the neighborhood. Note: The bakery is technically on the North SIDE of Belmont, in case anyone was confused.
(3)Angie T.
not wanting to venture far from home for brunch - now that the weather cooled and there were errands to run - we opted for bittersweet, just down the road. i had been in there only once before a few years ago, but never sat for a meal. boy have we been missing out! i had a bowl of roasted red pepper and potato soup and an amazing slice of ham and cheese quiche. just wow. the desserts all looked delicious too - the macaroons, the cupcakes, cookies etc, etc. even the day old half price bread and muffins looked worth giving a try. anxious to go back and try out more of their menu soon.
(4)Tiffany K.
What a cute place! Cakes and pastries are reasonably priced and sooooo pretty. They have regular food, too, like sandwiches. Not too expensive and not just pastries and cakes! Great place.
(4)Tricia G.
This is my favorite bakery! There cakes are AMAZING! They have these to die for Macaroons! Try them if you like something sweet! We always get our birthday cakes from here! We get the banana cake filled with vanilla creme brulee, fresh bananas and finished with a dark chocolate glaze. YUMMO! I've always wanted my wedding cake from here, but we are on a budget so I tried another bakery to save some money. We had a horrible experience with them that I ended up going back to our original choice... BITTERSWEET! Tonight we met with the cake coordinator, Sue Ann. We were about 10 minutes late because of traffic and they were still so accommodating! The nice girl first offered us coffee or tea in addition to the water they already gave us. Then we met Sue Ann and she had offered it to us again. She was very professional and didn't mind we were late. Remind you we stared with her about 6:15 and they close at 7:00. We both had our own plate with cakes and all these assortments of different options. She explained each one patiently, gave us the time we needed and checked on us a few times in between. She LISTENED TO ME! Not like the other bakery we went to. We ended up selecting a BEAUTIFUL 4 tiered cake (Butter cream) but there butter cream looks like fondant but doesn't taste like it! It's sooo smooth, does it get any better than that!?!? Sue Ann had such great pictures of there beautiful work that had our ideas going. When we were done she went over our cakes that she had asked us to mark. She asked us what was it that we liked about each cake and then she got her drawing paper out and sketched our dream cake! I have to say that this was the same price that the other bakery was! Compared to the other place, BITTERSWEET hands down won! Their professionalism, patience, listening skills has exceeding our expectations! She really got it and we can't wait for our dream cake! We have all the trust in them that it will turn out beautiful! I was searching for a very long time with all the other bakeries. No I haven't been to many others but I can tell you that Bittersweets pricing for their wedding cakes is a lot lower than some of these other places! Trust me, save yourself time!! Check them out if you haven't. You'll see what I'm talking about! We got a BEAUTIFUL cake with tax and delivery for UNDER $500! WOW! For some reason I thought it would have been a lot more for what we got! Thank you Sue Ann! Thank you!
(5)Leah B.
Great place to decompress with your friends. good food and great location. You can make a day of it just wandering around Belmont.
(4)Lee C.
Every pastry I've had at Bittersweet was excellent, though I wasn't impressed with the chocolate cake I ordered there. Definitely frequent this place for coffee and tarts though. And their quiche is great too. It's just two blocks from the Belmont Red Line stop.
(5)Vinifer D.
This place would be rated 5 stars, if it weren't for their prices! OUCH! The cakes, pastries, and small treats are wonderful. However, I'm not a big fan of their truffles. I've had (and made) better truffles at a much lower cost. I ordered 2 mini tartlets and 2 truffles, and the total came to over $15!
(3)Laura P.
Went here with some friends after seeing a show downtown. I wasn't sure if it would measure up to the Swedish Bakery, but I was pleasantly surprised! There is a cute seating area that is great to sit and relax while you eat your goodies. The sweets were very good, I even ended up taking home a box full of truffles & cookies to enjoy later. I would definitely recommend this place - especially if you need a fun, low key place to hang out, chat, and enjoy some sweets!
(4)Rob C.
Should be on everyone's list when visiting Chicago. Pretty much, you'll probably find something that you like.
(4)Dee W.
I love Bittersweet's cakes - one of my friends even ordered her wedding cake from Bittersweet - there's just something about them that just melts in your mouth and you feel like you're in heaven - not too thick or sweet but just perfect.
(4)Johnny B.
Our lamb cake for Easter sucked. It was VERY dry. I will give them the benefit of the doubt, because I'm sure they had to bake these in advance to have enough ready, but it still sucked.
(2)Ms C.
I just had my wedding a few days ago and I got my cake from Bittersweet. The cake was amazing! Not only did they make it look like I wanted it to look (Chicago Skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge on each of two tiers) but it so good! Everybody was very helpful every step of the way. Amy was also able to put in an order (at the last minute) for my mother-in-law--it was her birthday the same day as out wedding. Needless to say, the service was phenomenal and the cakes taste just as good!
(5)Julie C.
Cute little bakery & cafe. They even have a section with cute food-related gift items. Great selection of pastries & baked items. Can't say enough about their macaroons! If you're in the area give Bittersweet a try, you won't be disappointed.
(4)christine j.
Cute place, okay food, rude fat lady. Service was horrible. Will not go back.
(1)Angela W.
Seriously, my FAVORITE place in the whole world. I'm going to keep this sweet and simple 1) Get the flourless chocolate mouse cake. It is to die for. 2) One of the best cheesecakes I have ever tasted (about the same caliber as Junior's) 3) Their mini tarts are just so pretty... not to mention delicious 4) Try their lunch sometime, the soup is really good 5) Repeat Donzo
(5)Melissa K.
I went to Bittersweet for a special dessert tasting for an event we were doing at the InterContinental. The lunch we had was good, the desserts we tried were outstanding and the service was great. I'm not quite sure if I would go back for real food, but I'll definitely go back for the desserts and there coffee drinks.
(4)Melissa R.
Bittersweet is one of my favorites of the city. It's sweet and quaint, with both their food/drinks and decor. It's a perfect place for lunch or dessert and coffee with girlfriends. The menu is limited to a couple options for sandwiches, salads, soup, and quiches but they are all delicious and reasonably priced. Also, their berry lemonade is amazing!
(5)Jay R.
I haven't been to Zurich in a while (per the other review), but I consider a lot of their food to be top caliber. They serve some, if not THE best tortes in the city!
(5)Isa B.
Very pretty place, good sandwiches, great desserts. The chocolate chip cookies are super crispy and delicious. I heard the soups are good too.
(4)Ellen M.
They did the desert table for my wedding and it brought joy into the lives of all who attended. I thought it was seeing us married, but it was the chocolate-dipped strawberries and pastries in the shape of swans that caused the real bliss.
(5)James J.
Bittersweet by far has the best baguettes in the city. FANTASTIC. I just wish there staff was more helpful. Sometimes there will be three people behind the counter all not helping me - and i am standing there alone. Also, you ask for ingredients ("Does this brownie have nuts?") and you get an answer like "I don't know." Come on.
(3)Gfiddy F.
The food is very good, and in particular the savory pastries are excellent. Saved a lot of work cooking for all those people.
(5)Philip S.
Having frequented Bittersweet for several years, we knew this is who we wanted to make our Wedding cake. After going to the bakery and sampling several cake flavors and fillings, we opted for tiramisu cream with a hazelnut cake. When we walked into the reception, the cake that we had designed with the Bittersweet staff, looked spectacular. The taste was unbelievable. I might be biased but the combination of tiramisu cream filling and hazelnut cake created a tremendously flavorful and moist cake. Our Wedding guests all complimented us about the cake for several days after the reception. The cake was still delicious and moist three months after the event!
(5)Grace R.
Bittersweet's flavor is beyond compare. Many of our guests told us it was the best wedding cake they'd ever had! Bittersweet made us an amazing 3-tiered wedding cake (with 3 different flavors!) and also worked with us for additional sweets, including custom-colored macarons made just for us (they were delicious!) I would have preferred slightly more consultation on design aesthetic - unfortunately some messaging got lost in the cracks during a personnel change - but the outcome, though not what I'd originally envisioned, was still beautiful, and the taste was undeniably delicious!
(4)Nana H.
Bittersweet is way more sweet, then bitter. After seeing it on Check Please, I went in and had a sandwich, a tart and a cookie. They were all very good,but i do think for the price the cookie should of been at least 25% larger. The cafe area feels slightly frenchie- and they sometimes have samples of things for you try! If you walk around back to the bathroom you can see all the pastry chefs and etc working, in the flour and the big machines.
(4)Karen Z.
I ordered a birthday cake from Bittersweets and I liked it a lot! They used dark chocolate for foster, which makes the cake tasty and not too sweet. I especially like the texture of the cake. Definitely recommend this place!
(4)Jennifer P.
The word to describe this place is "civilized." Take your mom there on Mother's Day, or have a breakfast meeting over their beautiful bowl of hot chocolate with whipped cream. Staff is friendly, sweet things are delicious, atmosphere is pretty.
(4)Blah B.
Now this bakery is over priced and the goods aren't so good!! Yes they are perfectly decorated almost to perfect to say the least. I purchased a cake for my sister's baby shower and yes it looked so beautiful but it just wasn't that great and it was so pricey. It tasted like something I could have gotten at Costco but sadly I paid bout 9 times the value!!! Wouldn't go back unless I need a cake as a decoration!!!
(1)Jen P.
I cannot say enough about Bittersweet and the process of choosing our wedding cake! First, the tasting itself is the most fun you'll have eating cake. We tried countless cakes, filling and icings and it was delightful!! We decided to a do a bunch of smaller six in cakes all decorated differently which allowed us to choose three different flavors. The Red Velvet with cream cheese filling/frosting was amazing but my favorite was the Almond Cake with a Mocha filling. If you love coffee, this is your cake. We also did a few cakes in a chocolate cake with white chocolate filling which was delightful and really not as rich as you'd think. I left the decorating up to the professionals after giving them ideas on what I liked. The cakes were delivered to the to the reception during the ceremony so I didn't get to see the cakes before the guest. As soon as I arrived, guests were coming up to me telling how beautiful the display looked. I was pleasantly surprised when I finally saw the end results... it was prefect!! The best part of this whole experience was how attentive and nice the staff was during the process! And pricing was much less than I planned. I would highly recommend any bride to work with this bakery.
(5)Emy F.
Bittersweet, I used to really love you. I actually used to commute an hour from my old neighborhood just for you...almost every time I'm in Lakeview I visit you hopefully you have regained what I once loved so much and I've finally decided this is not the case. Your service has never been the best, and about a year ago I noticed your quality really started to suffer. As of lately I haven't enjoyed any of your products as much as I used to, and it's not like I found another bakery that I love. You're just not memorable or worth a trip anymore. I may still come in for a visit only when I'm in the area (if I haven' found a replacement of course), but otherwise so long.
(3)Danielle F.
Not impressed. We came across Bittersweet while walking through the neighborhood and decided to stop and pick up a few treats. So we waited about 10 minutes to be helped, which should've been a good sign. I ordered a variety of treats, from cookies to tarts to macaroons, all of them lacked significant flavor. Honestly I was shocked, I thought I was in for the desserts of my life after reading the reviews on yelp (which I did while waiting in line). Sadly, I was let down. Oh well, maybe I burned a few calories while waiting in that sauna of a bakery!
(2)Lisa S.
I was in the area and stopped by for some pastries to go this weekend. YUM! This places has great desserts and a cute, small cafe. Like most great bakeries, it is kind of pricey, but oh so worth it once in awhile. One thing I need to note, when I ordered a "medium" coffee to go, it was more like a size "small." Plus, when the worker asked me if I wanted room for cream, I didn't think she would leave THAT much room. I was done with that medium coffee in like 2 minutes. They do also have a section of cards and gifts. This place is very quaint and charming.
(4)Brittney B.
My boyfriend decided to bring me home some cupcakes after I mentioned I was craving a cupcake on Twitter (points for him). He stopped here because it was close to the L and to home. I was surprised with a yellow cake cupcake with chocolate frosting and covered in sprinkles. I wasn't that impressed. The frosting was good, but the cake tasted like it was from your standard grocery store box mix. Nothing to write home about. Maybe it's because they were bought shortly before closing? I'd be up to giving them another shot and I'll update with another review when I do. Until then, not the best, not the worst.
(3)R.A. H.
I found the selection and visual appeal of this place to be highly appreciated, but what I ordered lacked a certain something. I tried three of their shortbread cookies. The cinnamon lacked any serious cinnamon flavor. In fact, again while still a decent cookie, I had a hard time telling the difference between the chocolate and cinnamon ones. The chocolate slivers one was better and more distinctive and nicely done. I also sampled their homemade hot chocolate. The temperature was perfect but I found it to be a smidge too bitter and not smooth enough for my personal liking. I think I enjoy more of a semi sweet or milk chocolate flavor cocoa. Very much personal preference. The slightly dry aftertaste however made me hesitant to finish the drink. A fine establishment for those who truly prefer the bitter side of chocolate. My only real suggestion is to make the prices on your various display choices a little more evident.
(4)janet t.
i was delighted that bittersweet would make cookies with my logo for a party. they were adorable! delicious, too.
(5)Rachel B.
I'm about to move away from Lakeview and I think the one thing I'll miss the most is Bittersweet. I go in regularly for a coffee and a muffin to go, and I love this place's cute ambiance and the free samples. Muffins are great too, especially the apple muffin and sour cherry. The lunch menu is small, but consistently good. I also love that they have a selection of boxes of truffles, macaroons, holiday themed sweets, etc - perfect for bringing to someone's home for a dinner gift. The only feedback I'd give to them is they should offer a sort of "gift wrap" option where if you buy some of their unpackaged baked goods, you can have them packaged into a cute box - even for a small charge. If they did that, I'd buy their cupcakes, cookies, etc as gifts more often. Anyway, thanks Bittersweet for brightening up more mornings than I can count!
(5)Michelangelo V.
Honest review first off dont trust all the positive reviews the food is not that good the portions are small n very expensive service is bad trust me u will be very dissappointed u can get better stuff at a corner bakery
(1)Green B.
I was lucky enough to stop by right before they were closing. They have an amazing hot chocolate. The pastries were okay. It's a must try. I did not like that they were rushing us out of there. I would of rather not gone in, in the first place, if I cant enjoy what I bought.
(4)Alexandra K.
Driving up, I was like oh please let this be the place because the beautiful cakes are so inviting. Walking in, I immediately thought I was back in Europe. It's part patisserie, part café and part gift shop. The gift shop has very cute holiday gifts, ornaments, baking goods, etc... It's worth taking a peek at. The display case is huge and filled with beautiful cakes, cookies, cupcakes--anything your little heart could desire. Free Samples (spend an hour and a half here and you won't even have to buy a treat with the amount of GENEROUS samples they put out (I mean half-cookies!)) -Apple Muffin: maybe because it's a sample it's dry but it does have a good mix of apple and cinnamon. -Old Fashioned Sugar Cookie: mmm it's more like shortbread with great sugar crystals. Nice DRY cookie. -Chocolate Cookie: it's just like the sugar cookie, but in chocolate form. -Chocolate Chip Cookie: it's got a glaze of chocolate on the top and bottom and lots of chocolate chips within but I like my chocolate chip cookies gooey, and this is just too shortbread-y for me. Lunch (their lunch menu rotates on the daily but here's what we were able to dip into) -Spinach Ricotta Quiche: the spinach is a bit too mushy so it doesn't make the quiche taste as fresh as it should. It could also be creamier considering the ricotta. It's a bit too salty. Not my favorite--but a good portion. -Cauliflower Kale Soup: it's delicious. Good consistency. The cauliflower has a good taste and you get a slight hint of kale. -Chicken Pesto Sandwich: mmm! The pesto is so fresh and the chicken nicely shredded. The chicken could have been slightly cooler in temperature though to make it more refreshing. Desserts -Hot Chocolate: it's extremely creamy. And it has somewhat of a spice to it. It's absolutely INCREDIBLE. Tastes like Christmas. -Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte: the crust is like a crunchy pretzel/nut that has a bit of a malt consistency (and I don't like malt but it's GOOD). The two layers of chocolate are so rich (yes!), and mixed with the salty-and-not sweet caramel sauce on the side, it's really divine. -Lemon Meringue Pie: mmm the lemon is just like that in a lemon bar. Although I don't like meringue, I would recommend this for a refreshing snack (you barely taste the meringue). FINAL VERDICT: I really enjoyed my time here and if I lived in the area I would come back more often for a nice, European lunch.
(4)Erin F.
We tried so many gluten free wedding cakes in the city and suburbs, and Bittersweet blew them all out of the water. Not even a scintilla of competition. They were prompt in responding, polite, helpful, and delicious. Cake tasting was the best part of getting married, but do yourself a favor and put this on your short list right now.
(5)Brandon B.
Stopped by for lunch after finding another place closed. A little west of the main strip of dining locations but just a short walk from the El on Belmont. Small lunch menu for sandwiches but very well done and quick efficient service. The potato artichoke soup and reuben sandwich were filling and just the right size, and not overpriced. Surprisingly not too busy for a Saturday at noon in this neighborhood, but it is fairly small for dining. Massive displays of sweets of all kinds and generous sampling: the peppered glazed pecans left a kick for a while after I left! Half price bakery fragments from the day before which are a deal.
(4)Anh N.
Was recommended by a few co-workers to try this place and even with all the hype, I was not disappointed! Bittersweet is a cute bakery on Belmont near Sheffield that also serves lunch foods and has tables inside to enjoy a meal or coffee. They have a great range of desserts, from cakes to freshly baked breads. They had cake samples out the day we came and those were absolutely delicious. I'm not a big cake fan, but their cakes are moist and the icing is light; not too sweet as well. The way to order is by taking a number and waiting for your turn. The service is a bit slow, so just be patient, especially when they're busy. If you decide to sit down, it's even slower...but if you're coming in for a leisurely visit, it's not a big deal. The staff is still gracious. A group of us tried the shortbread cookies, chocolate brioche, chocolate and almond croissant, lemon meringue tart, creme brulee tart, and hazelnut balls, which are like tea cakes with powdered sugar. Everything was great - highly recommend the chocolate brioche. Check 'em out!
(5)Amber M.
I have finally gotten around to writing this review, even though my wedding was in November, 2013! Nancy was communicative, nice and easy to work with in selecting my wedding cake/design and it turned out beautifully. The cake was delivered all the way to Glen Ellyn on time and without any hitches. Since I am already a HUGE fan of the Almond cake here, that was my go-to, but I was able to taste and select some other layers to add. I've tasted Almond cakes at other bakeries and they do not even compare. You won't find that owerpowering flavor of almond extract, just a not too light and not too dense flavorful cake, they use real ground almonds which gives it not only the light flavor but real texture as well, never dry! For the main layer, I selected the Almond cake with raspberry preserves and creme brulee filling (my fav) second layer was a hazelnut cake with chocolate mousse filling and the last layer was a fudge cake with mocha mousse filling. Everyone at my reception was raving about the cake (as they should, cmon it's Bittersweet). It was expensive I will say (compared to other bakeries including the one included in my wedding package that was FREE but subpar) but worth every penny! I feel like some of the desserts and cookies here are hit or miss, but the cake, the cake NEVER disappoints!!!!
(5)Van D.
Went in recently to buy a birthday cake for my son. It was a weekday morning so not very busy. Good selection of desserts on display and all looked good. Initially, a couple of college aged employees were working the front and they were friendly. A manager looking person eventually came out to help us. She did not seem overly enthusiastic to help us out and injected a few condescending comments while getting our desserts. During the checkout process, she continued to seem bothered when we added another pre-packaged item to our order. Quality of the desserts were good but definitely on the pricey side. Lots of friendly, quality, and cheaper bakeries in Chicago. Definitely don't need bakeries with attitude
(2)Natalie Q.
This isn't quite the place I expected when looking for a bakery so this review is based on the bakery side of it. Bittersweet is a lot of things actually. It's a cafe, gift shop, and bakery. They have a wide selection of items, but sadly I haven't found what they specialize in I think. I bought a little bit of everything. Some bread, cookies, macarons, muffins, and cupcakes. None of these were amazing, just kind of typical. I think they must focus more on cakes, which did look pretty good. The macarons were probably the best but none of them were filled with any kind of jam or jelly, just a simple flavored cream filling. The cupcakes were okay and your standard sized cupcake. Just everything was okay. Nothing in the baked goods turned out to be great enough to make me go back for those items. I might go back and try some other stuff but for the price it's not one of my top options for a local bakery.
(3)Lauren R.
My husband and I met with multiple wedding cake designers for our May 2014 wedding and Bittersweet was by far the most delicious, creative and paid the most attention to detail. We worked with Nancy, she was easy to get in contact with and provided us with honest feedback (ex: letting me know gold fondant would look too dark against rock candy). Bittersweet did an amazing job on our cake, the design was flawless. Even better, the cake tasted phenomenal! It was moist and the fruit layers contained a substantial amount of filling. I would highly recommend them! I can't wait until our anniversary so I can eat it again :)
(5)Monique B.
Bittersweet made my amazing wedding cake. First, Nancy was great to work with. My wedding was a destination wedding and she was so accommodating for me. They offer an amazing cake tasting. Everyone at my wedding could not stop raving about how good the cake was!! They are also very reasonably priced!! I would highly recommend Bittersweet to every bride to be!
(5)Laurie N.
Freaking loved this place, theres nothing I haven't liked. I still need to come here and try their food but their pastries are awesome!
(5)Annie M.
I'm a huge fan of this place - but I don't like everything necessarily here. What I think they do really well are the breads, croissants, scones, flourless chocolate cakes and tarts. PLUS their dine in lunch options are nice as well. My husband introduced me to Bittersweet as he could eat one chocolate croissant after another. He compares all other chocolate croissants to Bittersweet's... and I basically stop attempting to try them elsewhere. I'm not a cookie person so I can't really rate theirs. Definitely check this place out...
(5)Rachel N.
I have a lot of emotions abt Bittersweet, which, I guess is appropriate given its moniker. I've had lovely, luscious things from here - a flourless chocolate cake so rich it made me wish for an expandable stomach and an absent consciousness so that I could eat the entire thing in one solo sitting (serves 10-15p, clearly) - as well as a chocolate walnut torte that managed to be both airy and decadent - but, on the whole, I feel a bit like Bittersweet is an old Chicago grand dame in need of a facelift before heading to Palm Springs for the winter. It currently posits itself as a cafe/bakery - yes, you can sit and get table, but there isn't any real service. No menus, just a chalkboard - fine, I can read distance if my glasses happen to be on my face - but more problematically, no explanation that there was a chalkboard at which we should look. It's also awkward b/c you have to get up to survey the pastry selection - an activity that is worth your while, but makes for a strange coffee date if everyone is constantly popping up and down to scope out the goods. In terms of foodstuffs, obviously it's dessert centric, but the savory offerings are simple and well prepared (cauli soup, quiche, chicken pesto sando, grilled cheese, etc - the menu changes regularly) - so if you feel like easing into heavy cream and pounds of butter, it's possible to delay the inevitable w a proper meal. The real sin, aside from the service, is that they changed their macaron recipe - and let me tell you, what they just attempted to sell me as a macaron was a chocolate colored sham of a pastry - truly an abomination to my tastebuds and an assault to the fine French people who initially decided to whip almonds + egg whites + sugar into a cookie and bring Heaven to Earth. Having experienced BS macarons before, I was excited for a repeat adventure into the soft, chewy cookies sandwiching a proper buttercream or ganache filling, but the things they serve now are horribly hard and flavorless. As many of you have gathered by now, I have a lot of obstacles to overcome in my life - and I can safely say that recovering from the heartbreak of trying to bite into a presumed pillowy macaron only to have to retreat and ask for a knife is one that will take hours of therapy to undo. That said, on the whole, it remains a good place to say "eff you" to being paleo or vegan or whatever. To appreciate Bittersweet at its finest, your best bet is to hit it and quit it, rather than bother w sitting and savoring in the actual store. I've honestly never paid for myself here, but I think that whole cakes are $30+, cookies are around $2, sandwiches are under $10, and pastries are all $3-7? If you go at an off time, street parking in easy. Oh, for all you sample sluts - they give away their goods in bountiful quantities as soon as you enter. Bring your game face.
(3)Brad L.
Service was non-existent. After waiting 5 minutes for the people ahead of us in line to be taken care of, we reached the counter and said that we would like to sit a table. They said go ahead and sit anywhere. I told them the tables needed to be cleaned, the girl started walking out like she was going to clean one and then never did!! Another few minutes later another person asked us to have a seat, I again informed the staff that there were no clean tables. This time they finally cleaned the table, but they left a big couple of crumbs in the middle of the table!! After sitting there for another 5 minutes without anyone saying a word to us, bringing water, or anything else, we left. No one seemed to notice and I'm sure they wouldn't have cared. The baked goods looked great. It's a shame they don't have a better staff. I doubt I'll go back. There is an abundance of comparable little shops in the area and I will be giving my business to friendlier and better organized shops.
(2)Katie M.
This review is based on customer service, not based on food. I called Bittersweet a few days early to pick up some macarons for a friend. The lady on the other end of the phone was hard to understand and wasn't very pleasant. I felt she "barked" a few times at me, and seemed exasperated. When I picked up my macarons, it was the same type of service. The macarons were lovely looking (I didn't try one), but the service was lacking.
(2)S H.
WOW, this Bakery should receive 1000 stars. 1) Their customer service is so good, they are super polite, classy and attentive. 2) Their flourless chocolate cake is SOOOOOO good, it's the best I have ever had and I have had LOTS of chocolate cakes 3) They have unique desserts that you don't see at other places 4) They always have samples that are delicious 5) They have this salmon sandwich that is SOOO good, and their Mushroom soup is beyond tasty. I LOVE this place
(5)Anthony N.
The desserts are sweet, but the staff is bitter and misanthropic. Every time I walk in, I walk out regretting giving them another chance. Do they realize that people can notice them sneering, rolling their eyes and sighing after you ask a question?
(1)Mike B.
I love this place! It's kinda spendy, but their flourless chocolate cake is awesome! Lemon bars are fantastic too. It's maybe the only thing that I've purchased from a bakery that my family went crazy over!
(5)Shradha A.
Everything here was so amazing! They have samples out weekend mornings (at least) and their scone-like bread with jam, the pastries, coffee and the reason we were actually there - the cake were all really good! I'd love to return and just stock up for another party!
(5)Joseph D.
I had walked by this place a few times as I live in the area and had a small pastry or two and thought they were pretty darn good. So when it came time to get something to bring to a friend's house for Thanksgiving, I thought of this place. Purchased a Chocolate Walnut Tort for Thanksgiving and it was a big hit. Covered in a rich chocolate ganache and filled with a delicate chocolate and walnut creamy dreamy filling, this is the kind of desert you want to keep eating but you know better as you will get a belly ache it's that good. At $36 it is a bit on the pricy side but to be honest, given that my wife bakes, we know what goes into making something a delicious as this so it is worth every penny. The price sheet claims is feeds 10 but I can tell you a small slice of this is more than enough so I'd guess it feeds more like 15 or 20 making it a good value even at $36. I had ordered in advance and told them when I was coming to get it. Thankfully it was ready as promised (that would have been a buzz kill) and the staff despite it being a huge rush, was pleasant and worked quickly to serve the 20 people in there. And for those who forgot to call ahead, they also had plenty of cakes and pies to select from that you could walk out with right there on the spot - smart move. Safe to say when I need to bring a desert somewhere and make a big impression, Bittersweet will be my go to bakery. Skip the nonsense you get a the supermarket and go for the real deal. It's worth every penny.
(4)Suzanne P.
Bittersweet Bakery made our wedding cake, and I could not be more thrilled!! From start to finish, Nancy was a delight to work with. Our tasting was such fun, and we were so excited about what we picked out. So happy, in fact, that we used them for my Chicago Shower AND Rehearsal Dinner. All three events had our guests raving about the cakes. When I saw my wedding cake at the wedding, I was thrilled with how it came out. It was just gorgeous. And delicious to boot! I would highly recommend this to anyone throwing any sort of event. You will be well taken care of and your guests will rave!
(5)Vineet S.
ordered a birthday cake for the first time from here. Great in quality, perfect amount of sweetness...it wasnt high on sweetness...nice soft sponge. Overall....great experience. Will definitely make this my default cake bakery. They should have better options for candles...if you're selling birthday cakes....candles are a given!
(4)Francisco F.
Dear Bittersweet, You are like the flour to my cake and the lettuce to my salad. You're important and needed in my life. Bittersweet is perfect that it deserves 4 exclamation points!!!! Lattes are never too hot or cold when they serve it to you.The French toast is perfect; sweet and buttery is all you could ask for in the morning. I've had the grilled cheese sandwich with tomato and spinach; a lentil salad as a side dish. A vegetarian couldn't be happier. You get the vitamin A-filled sandwich with a side of protein. Ding! The sandwich is cheesy and the tomato makes it a little tangy--in a good way. The lentil salad provides a fresh and light feeling to your meal. Don't miss out on the flourless chocolate soufflé cake. Mixed with the whipped cream, it will satisfy your chocolate cravings for a week. It has for me. A tip: show up a little early to your breakfast/brunch/lunch date. There are no reservations and sometimes one or two people can grab tables meant for four.
(5)Jessica P.
I enjoyed my treats at Bittersweet but I wasn't blown away. I had a lemon meringue tart which was good, but nothing out of the ordinary as well as a couple of orange shortbread cookies that were dry and bland to me. They have such a nice selection of treats to choose from so I will go back and hopefully my next trip will be more satisfying than my previous.
(3)Belle L.
A fan since 2002 (or earlier) through the recommendation of a host from then-prominent restaurant. Taste best when consumed immediately. I hand carried 2 dozen of its refrigerated version to Edmonton, Canada. Bittersweet will gladly freeze when you plan ahead. Refrigerated or partially frozen, The Tarts still get adulation and compliments. I also give The Tarts as business gifts. How I wish Bittersweet is able to ship at a reasonable price. Sister loved their salads and still reminiscences about it. Bro loved the multi-sensory kiddie grilled cheese. I always indulge in the quiche of the day. A Judy Contino siting is cherished. It's exhilarating to see a neighborhood pastry shop grow from half a store into its present size. The marble tables are a treat. Service is always great. The chocolate drink has evolved throughout the years. From a cup, to a process (like the Traditional Japanese Green Tea). NOTE: Join the email list! Menu, bakery sale galore etc.
(5)Jonathan W.
the flourless chocolate mousse cake was really good. I recommend getting the cake slices - they write the available flavors on a board. French toast (not on the board but I asked for it) was good but I wasn't wowed. Comes with pecan or apple bread. The pecan version was more of a spongy bread/cake with syrup on the side. not really what I was looking for in French toast overall shop is a bit confusing. there are lunch and cake items on chalkboards, but no menus. takes a while to get your bearings their samples aren't as good as their actual food
(4)Michael M.
The menu is incredibly delicious, particularly the variety of croissants and scones. I highly recommend anything with chocolate chips. The service, however, leaves a bit to be desired. We waited about 20 minutes before anyone approached our table to take our order. And that was only after I walked over and told the waitress we were ready to order.
(4)Karen M.
Bittersweet made our wedding cake. Everyone at the bakery was very nice, and the cake was awesome. We went with layers of red velvet with cream cheese frosting and vanilla with lemon sabayon. Both were amazing. We had a small number of guests with gluten allergies, and Bittersweet could not have been more accommodating. We ended up ordering another small gluten free cake at a very reasonable cost, and our gluten free guests were absolutely blown away at the quality -- all of them agreed that Bittersweet's gluten free cake was the best that they ever had.
(5)R S B F.
In spite of having no previous experience with Bittersweet we took a gamble and went with many friends' recommendations that this was the place to order our wedding cake. Every member of the staff we dealt with during the process was more than helpful and the cake itself was . . . well, we couldn't possibly have hoped for anything better. Excellent presentation and superb taste. Scrumptious doesn't even begin to describe it.
(5)Stephanie H.
I really wanted to like this place more. The location is great and some of their items are really tasty, but the service and prices are not. It's almost in a way... bittersweet. My first experience here was about a year and a half ago when a friend and I went for tea. The people working the counter completely ignored as and then showed us a table. Some time later a person who acted like she hated life came by with the teas (they serve Harney & Sons), teacups, saucers and hot water. When we were finished we looked for her again so we could pay. After a long wait we asked another server who said 'get your bill at the counter'. Apparently the woman who brought us tea had finished her shift and had left. We went to the counter again and after another wait were given our bill. We left the exact amount with no tip as our server had already left and no one else really helped us at all. I went by today to check out the cookies, etc as I plan to host a tea party later this fall. I tried the shortbread (ouch watch your teeth!) and then a macaroon. The salted caramel macaroon was delicious, but for $1.91 (inc. tax) each is just crazy. The macaroons at Argo Tea are $1. I might come back another time but there are other places nearby that probably treat you and your wallet better.
(3)Katharine F.
My only complaint is that they do not have wifi. If they offered wifi, I'd probably be here every day because their food and desserts are THAT good.
(4)Kirsten A.
Met a friend here for dishing and discussing and it was a great environment! We sat for two hours and enjoyed our yummy, warm cheddar cheese scones and tea, which was served on a gorgeously chic silver tray in tiny white pots with real tea cups! Love. And that's not to mention the tons of feet of pastry cases full of colorful, scrumptious looking treats. I just couldn't decide what looked best...the cake pops, chocolate truffles, sugar cookies, cupcakes, cakes, and mini tarts... This place is definitely a must stop if you're on Belmont!
(4)Ben D.
Large variety and reasonable prices, great for coffee and something sweet. Creme Brulee Tart was my favorite
(4)Racquel D.
I'm glad my sister found this place on one of her trips to Chicago. She was on a search for macaroons in Lakeview, and she hit the jackpot. The macaroons are delicious! They also have tons of dessert and coffees. Cupcakes are pretty good, too. I know they have other food there, but I haven't tried them before. I come back here when I want to take macaroons back home to Houston. The staff is also super friendly! The space itself is really cute. It's a good place to just sit and relax.
(5)F N.
Another nice time at Bittersweet this morning. Bittersweet was my mother in law's favorite place in Chicago and I know why...we always have a pleasant time at Bittersweet. One disappointing note today was seeing that white marble tabletops were gone.
(5)MG J.
I purchased 3 cakes yesterday. (All 3 totaled $107.) One gluten-free red velvet with "cream cheese" frosting. One gluten-free chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. One regular chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. The gluten-free red velvet cake with "cream cheese" frosting was both bad and ok. The red cake layers tasted like they made it 2 weeks in advance and just left them out on the counter. They were the most DRY crumbly cake layers that I've ever eaten in my entire life! Although on the other hand, even though the "cream cheese" frosting didn't taste like real cream cheese frosting - it was very light and very good. The chocolate frosting that was used on the gluten-free chocolate cake was the most heaviest, overly sugared/overly sweet frosting that I've ever had. It was gross! I don't understand HOW this happened since I explained to Susan that I wanted only very light frosting/filling and that I didn't want anything like heavy butter cream or heavily sugared frosting on any of my cakes. Hmmmmm.... Since I only tasted a piece of one of the cakes and the gluten-free chocolate frosting (off of that gluten-free cake) that I purchased I'll mostly judge Bittersweet on that. Gluten-free red velvet cake - ZERO stars - Horrible! Go elsewhere for something like this! Gluten-free chocolate frosting - ZERO stars! Loaf of bread for myself - 2 stars Decorations and the looks on the outside of all 3 cakes - 5 stars Customer Service over the phone (Susan) - 4 and 1/2 stars Customer Service in person when picking up the cakes - 2 stars I used Bittersweet in the past - about 10 years ago and I remember absolutely loving their cake! (Although it was a regular yellow cake and not a gluten-free cake.) I might give them another chance in the future if I just wanted to pick up a cup cake for only myself one day. But if I had to purchase 3 cakes ever again - I would definitely go to Swedish Bakery on Clark instead. Also, I had a gluten-free banana cupcake from Swirlz Cupcakes on Belden over the weekend and I do have to say THAT gluten-free item was absolutely delicious!
(2)Mike D.
Sometimes I have to bring breakfast to work, and I always pick up a breakfast cake here when I do. I'm not the biggest sweets fan, but everyone else seems to love it. However, what I do love about this place is their sandwiches. Their "non-sweets" menu is very limited, but they serve really good food. Very fresh bread and sandwiches that taste like your mom made them. I highly recommend.
(5)Sarah W.
We used Bittersweet Bakery for our wedding cake, and we loved it! I needed a gluten free cake, and Bittersweet has several options that are delicious - you can't even tell their cake is gluten free. We had a tasting that was really fun - we tried different combinations of cake flavors and fillings, and ultimately settled on two cakes - a small gluten free one for me and a large, regular cake for my husband and our guests. Both cakes were delicious! We requested a simple cake with just textured buttercream frosting - no fondant or anything like that. We brought some flowers to the bakery the day before the wedding, and they decorated the cake with those. It was simple, elegant and beautiful - and most important, it was exactly what we asked for. I would highly recommend Bittersweet!
(5)Sally D.
I ordered cookies from Bittersweet for a party. They were very helpful over the phone with my order and very patient even though it was close to closing time. I picked up my order and took it to my party, only to discover that the one type cookie that I specifically requested to be included (I asked for a mix) was not included. I was close by but couldn't leave to go back to the bakery. I called Bittersweet to let them know that they didn't get my order right. They brought me 6 of cookies that didn't get included in the mix. THAT IS CUSTOMER SERVICE! I will be back for all my bakery needs. The cookies were a big hit and of course I told everyone what they did and everyone was very impressed with their customer service. The cookies were very yummy! They have a huge selection. The rest of the bakery items looked amazing. I can't wait to try something else on my next visit.
(5)Kim R.
I loveeeee this place. Im a fan of choc cake and this place deserves five star. The decor is cute. The atmosphere is great. I havent try their coffee yet but def will.
(5)Gabriel C.
We have been here quite a few times. The food is delicious and the desserts are just heavenly. We even had our wedding cake from here and it was great. Judy helped us through the whole process and she and her team created a gorgeous cake. The cake was more like a faux cake but the actual cake itself for the wedding was just fantastic. Thanks you bittersweet for making the a special day even better.
(5)Mae B.
Free tasting for wedding cake!:) Nancy was friendly and approachable. Their cakes are a little expensive though. i had 2 layers for $195. I had red velvet cake with simple design. They work with Spiaggia, my wedding reception venue. Sweet!
(4)Miss A.
They have the best French macaroons. They are so soft and fresh, passion fruit is my favorite, but they are all good. Their mini lemonmerengue tarts and little pecan tarts are delicious. My husband likes the coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate. You can taste that they use quality ingredients. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Ms B.
Amazing custom birthday cake! Excellent care and communication for my very specific request, from the moment I stepped in to the shop for the first time, for the cake tasting to the extra special birthday event day!! Nancy was a dream to work with, fabulous cake and fill flavor options, and gorgeous decorating! I truly loved the cake team's visionary craftsmanship! I will certainly be using them for all of my future cake needs :)
(5)Priscila D.
Yum. Quaint spot. perfect for anytime... alone or on a date. I'm here today having tea time with my 5 year old. great time.
(5)Rebecca C.
THE best flourless chocolate cake I've ever tasted anywhere. From five continents and tasting different varieties of flourless chocolate cakes in each, Bittersweet wins hands down! As a hostess gift, a Birthday cake, a holiday dessert, or for a staged celebration of something to nothing, the flourless chocolate cake wins the prize, and has won in my family for the past 10 or so years.
(5)Antaash U.
My friend and I needed to kill some time before heading over to the Theater Wit. When we walked in, it was dessert overload (if there is such a thing). The glass cases were filled with pastries, cookies, cupcakes galore! They happened to have a buy one red velvet cupcake, get one free deal....SCORE!!! So, that was a definite yes. But how could we go in and just get one cupcake? We chose this peanut butter chocolate piece of heaven (ok, so I'm forgetting what exactly it was), but imagine a resees peanut butter cup but a more sophisticated and refined version, and that's what we had. We also had vanilla lattes that were very good. Bittersweet has a comfy vibe that welcomes you to sit down and take a load off. If you're going to enjoy their creations in house, servers will gladly bring your order to the table and continuously check on you to make sure you're not in need of anything. Everything from the sweet treats to the service was wonderful. Now, if it was just a little closer to the West Loop...
(4)Truth I.
I had some graduation cake that was from here and it was the best cake ive had in my entire 39 years of life. It seems as red velvet.
(5)Lauren S.
I love cake more than most things in life. I never spent any time fantasizing about dresses and flowers and all that jazz as a little girl, but I did dream about my wedding cake. We went into Bittersweet with high expectations, and we were not disappointed. Working with Nancy was a wonderful experience, and the cake tasting was definitely my favorite part of wedding planning. I wanted a simple cake that would still make a statement. No ribbons, no fondant, no 4 tier sculpture, just good cake.They gave us everything we asked for. Our guests ended up loving the cake, and we were a very happy couple.
(5)Elise K.
This place is YUMMY! I bought breads, scones and cookies. The breads are very reasonably priced and fresh. I purchased a loaf of sourdough and a loaf of sandwich bread. Both I was pleased with. They offer to slice it for you, but if you can do it yourself as you go the bread stays fresher longer. I also recommend keeping it sealed and in the fridge. The scones and cookies were a little bit more expensive. I bought two of the cranberry-orange scones and was delighted by the flavors! I didn't like the cookies as much, I felt they were too salty and average. They sell beautiful cookies and cakes that look so good I'd be afraid to eat them. When it warms up, I'll certainly make the walk to get some fresh goodies!
(3)Samantha K.
I stopped in here to get a small cake for a friends birthday. They were more than happy to help me pick the perfect 6" cake! Not to mention it was AH-Mazing!!!!!! It made her day and didn't cost me an arm and a leg. I look forward to the next birthday, and I'll be ordering cupcakes!
(4)Ninihada C.
I really love their baked goods, but when we went in on a saturday morning to be seated for brunch, we were completely ignored and other people on the list took seats before we could sit. We ended up leaving and going someplace else. They should develop a better system for seating.
(3)Jeremy W.
Nice place, classy, solid customer service, good presentation. Enjoyed the reasonable priced pastries but thought the coffee I ordered could've been better. Otherwise I'd recommend a visit if you're in the area.
(4)Katie H.
Bittersweet is the perfect place to eat lunch or breakfast and if my wallet or waistline could afford to go here everyday, I WOULD!! in a heartbeat. Not that it's super pricey or anything. You can usually have a delicious light meal for $20 per couple or so, including a cappuccino or hot chocolate (both of which are unparalleled in this city). What's good on the menu? Uhhh... everything. They only have a few items per day and we've taken to calling ahead to see what's on the day's menu, but I've never ordered anything bad here. My favorites so far are the tomato lemon soup, the spinach salad with blue cheese and lemon vinaigrette (it sounds so simple, but believe me it's delicious), the smoked salmon sandwich with dill and capers, and the turkey sandwich with artichokes on ciabatta. For dessert, grab a chocolate macaroon to go (soooo rich, I'm satisfied by just 1 small cookie) or, if you're feeling decadent, a raspberry chocolate ganache or lemon custard tart. Their cookies, cheesecakes and pecan rolls are also great, and good for parties where you need to serve something fancy but didn't have time to bake. Bittersweet also made our wedding cake and all my family and friends still talk about it. I've ordered smaller replicas for anniversaries and graduation parties, and will keep doing so. Chocolate mousse + dark chocolate cake + fresh raspberries = best. cake. ever. Thanks Bittersweet! We'll be back!
(5)Collin M.
Absolutely incredible desserts. Whether it's cookies, cupcakes, or dessert cakes, Bittersweet does a phenomenal job. It's a nice spot to have a quick bite and a coffee for lunch too. They have good sandwiches and salads. The service is very friendly as well.
(5)Catherine W.
I was in Chicago for MLK weekend-oh, sub-freezing windchills, how I've missed you-and spent 50% of my time eating, or in transit to somewhere else to resume eating. All in all, an awesome time. We went to a bunch of amazing Chicago restaurants, including Portillo's (which I wish I could pack in a carry-on suitcase and take back to San Diego with me), but the most notable was Bittersweet Cafe in Lakeview. We were on our way to Theater Wit for Sketchfest and, shivering and in search of a bite, we stumbled upon this little place. Not having heard of the pastry shop before, we went in with no expectations and ended up more than pleasantly surprised. While primarily recognized for their outstanding pastries, Bittersweet's regular food was very tasty as well and served as a fantastic light dinner. (That day alone we'd eaten both a sizeable breakfast at OHOP followed immediately by a brunch of huge proportions at Bongo Room.) The Mexican hot chocolate was spicy in just the right amount, and the toasty carrot dill soup was smooth and comforting. My friend ordered a clafoutis which was deliciously moist and may very well be the New Scone in my book. My absolute favorite part: they ran out of the banana cream cupcake I'd ordered (OK, not this part), so instead, the lady gave me a Grasshopper cupcake from the next day's batch. And then she stored it for me in a makeshift cupcake holder: one of those large clear plastic drink cups with flat lids, turned upside down. Brilliant. Sprinkles better hurry up and open in SD so I can start taking my cupcakes to go.
(4)Sandy N.
Went here for a second time, so it's about time to write a review. Both times I sat down in the cafe area for food, and left satisfied. This latest time, I ordered the vegetable fritatta panini. The fritatta was super fluffy. I also had the hot chocolate over ice, soft of a fancy chocolate milk. They add cinnamon and orange to it--definitely a fan. The pastries are beautiful in presentation, but I limited myself to a chocolate covered heart-shaped red velvet cake pastry (last time I wasn't so careful--everything tasted as good as it looked). Great for breakfast or lunch if you're in the Belmont area, wonderful pastries. Recommend!
(4)David C.
I've used Bittersweet a few times to bring something "stand-out" as a guest at someone's home or party. The fruit tarts are always a big hit. So, if you need to make a good impression, go here. It's not cheap but it's justified. Their products are works of art. It's hard to decide what to buy when gazing at the great choices in their display case. They also have nice boxes/ribbon which helps with the presentation. The store is "cute" and I'd recommend it as an option for a guy looking for a casual date spot. But to be fair, there are often little kids typically there with Mom. So, factor that in.
(5)Ashley M.
My boyfriend and I were taking a stroll and came across Bittersweet. It was crowded, but we really wanted to try some sweets. We made our made inside and boy were we happy we didn't let the crowds lead us otherwise! My boyfriend wanted to try a few different desserts. However, our favorite was the home-made Oreo cookie! It was to die for! The cream wasn't too sweet and the chocolate cookie part wasn't too crispy, but just right. We also had a chocolate chip cookie; now I wouldn't usually get a staple at a bakery, but this cookie just tasted better than others I've had! We also got a demi baguette that was crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside. We will definately make a return trip!
(4)Lorelei C.
So, Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! My Friends are Cooking,Taking Care of all the Big Stuff, so I am in Charge of Bringing Dessert! I Ventured in to Bittersweet Bakery/Cafe this Morning- How Nice that was! The Minute I went inside this Lovely Cafe/Bakery it was a Great Experience, Warm, Cozy and Inviting! Lovely Place, On one side they have a Cafe Area where one could sit and enjoy a Meal or a Pastry- The other side was a Small General Store type area where you could purchase Items, Loved this part of Bittersweet, It reminded me of the General Stores out in Indiana and Michigan where I have Family- They have a Lovely Glass Case full of Cakes and Pies and other decadent Items, it was really hard for me to choose so I opted for 2 Different Items for Tomorrow, a Lemon Mousse Torte and a Flourless Chocolate Cake which I was told by the Most Helpful Bittersweet Employee was To Die For! Hey, I don't think I want to go that Far, I am 49! But, I think my Friends will be pleased and thats what matters to me. The Visual Image of the Case with the Cakes, Pies,Cookies and other things I should not have was lovely- They also have various Bread Items as well, Scones, Muffins- I saw a Chocolate Croissant that I really wanted but I did not buy-Props to me! Saving for Tomorrow! Bittersweet was a Positive Experience from Start to Finish, Customer Service, could'nt be any better, Helpful, Knowledgeable Expect to spend some Money Here, Bittersweet is not Cheap! But, to me it was worth what I paid out- Lovely, Warm, Quaint Place- I would definitely go Back to Bittersweet-
(4)Maram K.
Came here for lunch since I needed to order a cake for my sister's birthday. Lunch was decent, and the service was incredibly friendly. Nothing more to really say about that. Ordered the cake and they have the largest selection of unique cakes, fillings and topping I've ever seen. I ordered a chocolate cake with creme brulee filling and a chocolate ganache topping for my sister, who is a super chocoholic. The filling was incredible and the cake was a bit dry. The uniqueness of it had me forgive the dryness for the most part. For a tiny cake, we spent a pretty penny.
(3)Elissa B.
The epitome of adorable & delicious.
(5)Majid M.
i went there yesterday to buy a couple cakes for my nieces birthday. we had around 15 kids and 7-8 adults. ended up buying 3 cakes cost me $80. cheese cake was good. peanutbutter cake was ok. third cake was custard cake that was ok as well. for the money i had better cakes in wholefood. i wouldn't buy any cake from here again. nothing special
(3)Jennifer T.
We worked with Bittersweet for our Sept 2013 wedding. The cake was divine. And so totally edible. They were great to work with, and created not only a beautiful cake, but a very tasty one as well.
(5)ButtaflyPoet P.
Hmm, well... this is an over indulgent sweets palace! The customers are not very considerate of other customers and they insist on making it a meeting spot like its a happy hour bar!! Kids, babies, snooty mommies and pish posh parents ordering for their next schmooze party! The staff seems to blend right in with this aura and practically ignore the common person with a simple yet curious sweet tooth. Walking into this place gave me an immediate anxiety attack. I could NOT believe the atmosphere, like rush hour on Magnificent Mile at lunch. Ridiculously unnecessarily chaotic!! All this for a sugar rush??? Hell no!! You are NOT important unless you are ordering cakes and/or dozens of bite size treats. Me ordering one piece of that and one piece of the other got me a glare, stare and a nasty look as if I was a waste of time. Well, I looked right back as if to say "kiss my entire a**" ...it's just as sweet as your selections. I have not stepped into this place since the second time. The first time was with an associate, the second time was to indulge the associate's child!! I was hoping the second time would make the first seem odd timing. NOT!! I proudly say Never...to stepping into this establishment again!!
(1)Elaine W.
Wow. This place is really, REALLY good! Cute and cozy inside and they have truly delicious food. I'd highly recommend trying the clafoutis. Bittersweet's rendition of this classic French pastry has now converted me from a die-hard scone fan to a clafoutis lover! Now I just need to find places closer to me that have pastries as moist and delicious as those here... The food is quite excellent -- the salads are quite tasty, and the soup is notable as well. Also the Mexican hot chocolate really is the perfect drink for a cold blustery day in the city. What really sealed the deal for me here is that they're incredibly thoughtful, which you definitely don't find everywhere -- for example, we were there until pretty late, and though they were readying the place to close down, they made sure to leave just enough chocolate cake samples by the door for us each to grab one for the road!
(4)Chad M.
great pastries obviously. excellent lunch sandwiches and soups as well. warm and friendly staff. Gets a bit crazy trying to pay at the register since its a tiny place and people are sometimes in a sugar high frenzy of cupcake purchasing... or maybe that was just me.
(4)Lucy B.
I have visited Bittersweet many times an am always very pleased with the food, atmosphere, and servers. The shop and cafe area are sunny and clean, and very sweetly decorated. There are always fresh flowers on the tables and the menu (which changes daily) displayed on a cute chalkboard on the wall. on the other end of the space is a small retail area which offers adorable gifts, particularly for kids, and there are always some samples to try (!). I particularly like their quiche and salads for a yummy, healthy lunch, and think their day-old bread is fantastic.
(5)Tracey H.
I really enjoyed my visit to BitterSweet, but the desserts where just okay and a bit pricey. For presentation, I give them 5 stars. Everything was beautifully crafted. I spent 10 minutes walking back and forth in front of the goodies trying to decide which ones to try (while drooling just a little bit). I finally settled on the mini crème brulee pastry, a lemon macaroon, an almond macaroon, a ginger shortbread cookie, and a molasses cookie. My reviews of these items are listed below: 1) Crème Brulee pastry: I told the server that I could not have any chocolate or caffeine. I had given up caffeine 4 days prior to my visit and did not want to have a relapse. She recommended the mini crème brulee pastry. Image my surprise when I discovered a thin layer of chocolate sauce separating the crème from the crust. Not good! They replaced this item with a raspberry topped pastry that was good. All 6-7 raspberries on top of it were sweet. The pastry underneath was well sweetened, but it didn't taste like anything other than a sugar paste. I'm a big fan of both sugar and butter, which is why I have well-padded hips, but I need to taste a little something extra like vanilla or almonds or something more than just sweetness. 2) Lemon Macaroon: It's was so cute I almost didn't want to eat it. It smelled as if it had been made with fresh lemons. The texture was perfect. Sadly, the lemon flavoring was very mild and easy to miss if you did not chew this dessert very, very slowly. 3) Almond Macaroon: This dessert smelled like almonds and had a crème filling sandwiched between two macaroon cookies. The texture was a bit gummy as if the cookies were not quite done. Also, the taste was high on sugar and low on almond flavoring. 4) Ginger Shortbread Cookie: I could not smell or taste the ginger in this cookie so either she brought me the wrong one or the ginger flavoring was overpowered by the sugar. If it was the latter, skip this version of the shortbread cookie unless you need to consume extra ginger for medicinal purposes. 5) Molasses Cookie: This one was actually my favorite of all of the desserts mostly because I could actually taste the molasses. This cookie was the only one that was big enough to hold with all 5 fingers unlike the other cookies which were only 2-fingers big. The texture can best be described as crun-chewy, which is the state of existence between crunchy and chewy. If this cookie had been a tiny bit sweeter, it would have been great. I would not make a special trip to Bitter Sweet, but if I were in the neighborhood and my sweet tooth flared up I would definitely stop by for another molasses cookie or two.
(3)LJ S.
I stopped in today because I was in the area and the snooty service at Bittersweet, is just that, Bittersweet. The person who handled my order was annoyed that I had questions, uh..... perhaps you need not work with people if their mundane questions seem foolish to you. The decor and trinkets are very cute, my mini creme bruele tarts were sub par; it's like they filled vanilla pudding in mini pie shells and adorned them with strawberries-----with the green foliage still attached. These folks don't have to worry about me returning, with all 5000 bakeries in Chicago, I will stick to the places that treat customers with respect and courtesy.
(2)Ali H.
Came in here with a groupon last week and got a bunch of treats to go. I won't say that I was pleased with 100% of the stuff, but probably a solid 70%. We got a slice of a peanut butter torte, a slice of a pear torte, a little bitty lemon meringue torte, a little bitty chocolate raspberry torte, a latte, and some ice cream (raspberry choco chip I think). The slices of the tortes seemed small for the money, only a few bites, but the choco peanut butter one was delish. The pear was only ok, actually I didn't like it too much. Bland crust and overly sweet filling. The mini tortes were both yummy. The latte was super bland and overly milky. Why is it so hard for some people to make a decent espresso drink? The cutest thing ever is their ice cream containers (chinese take-out boxes with a chocolate lining). I wish they had better flavors of ice cream. Everything was pretty standard and boring. If I hadn't wanted the cute take out box I would never have ordered ice cream. Everything in their little store is adorable and priced about 30% higher than if you get it elsewhere (especially the teas and honey). I'd maybe stop here again, maybe not. For exciting and delicious desserts, Julius Meinl is a consistent win in my book, and with First Slice and Angel Food nearby, I don't think I'd go out of my way to come here.
(4)Roseann M.
My sister and I had lunch at Bittersweet today. Thanks to reviews from other Yelp'ers, I told my sister that it was possible the cafe would be packed and, if so, we would be eating somewhere else. We arrived right about 3:00pm, and there were 3 tables available. Other customers were an elderly couple, two moms and their toddlers, a single woman, and two tables of two women. A couple more tables were occupied, but they were behind me. Hey, out of sight is out of mind! It was not a loud crowd. The babies were happy and not crying or being obnoxious. We checked out the lunch menu on the chalk board, and saw that there were vegetarian items available. It took about 2 minutes before a server gave us our water, but that was okay. I ordered the soup and sandwich deal - carrot/coriander soup and grilled veggie sandwich. My sister ordered the tomato basil quiche. I stuck with water, and she had a berry lemonade, which she liked very much. The soup was delicious. It was a full-size bowl, which was surprising - I thought I'd get a cup of soup. My sister tried it, too, and she also liked it. It came with a small piece of bread. The server asked if I wanted butter, and I said no. The sandwich was very good. I had a selection for the side, and I chose the cold beet salad. It was all very good. My sister really enjoyed her quiche. While we were eating, the restaurant cleared out. By the time we were done, there were only two other tables occupied. That was why I was surprised it took us a little while to get the check. We were really full, and did not order any dessert. This, despite sitting next to the "day-old items", which looked pretty darn good. All in all, it was a good experience. It encouraged me to go again. It didn't blow me away; I did not have a food orgasm, but we enjoyed. As long as the place isn't crowded, I'd encourage people to come. I definitely wouldn't stand in line for a meal there, though. But I don't believe in standing in lines anyway. The last time I stood in line was for Star Wars, and that was a transcendent experience.
(3)Jill P.
NO! NO!! NO!!! Bittersweet Bakery did our wedding cake in 1993. What a fantastic find back then. A small storefront business churning out some of the best Special O. cakes in Chicago. To the owner(s): Why oh why didn't you stick to your orignal concept??? Fast forward... I ordered an Italian Almond cake for my husband's birthday. Bittersweet stated they didn't know what I was talking about. In fact, the woman said, they had to Google my request but came up empty. You had to what my request??? We eventually settled on an almond coffee cake (I asked for marzipan and was informed they only use almond paste. Okay fine.) baked as a one layer cake. No icing. Only powdered sugar and candied slivered almonds pressed onto the outside. What we ended up with was a round incredibly inedible mixture of flour and something. The almonds were stale and on top, the cake was as dry as the desert and had not one ounce of almond paste. Absolutely horrible. While walking over to pick up the cake we decided to have a bite to eat. Forget about it. My brioche was dry and Mr. Man's potato cheddar quiche should have been called a potato and burnt crust pizza. Yeech. Oh and could the staff have been any LESS welcoming??? What the *%$# is up with your collective attitude??? The worst part of my saga, it was apparent the customers who had been seated at an adjacent table had spilled water, food, whatever. Water was everywhere, the tabletop full of crumbs and old food. Wouldn't ya' think that mess might have been swiftly removed as 1. It was a slip hazard and 2. The area looked plain filthy? Bittersweet is a text book example of "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Ditch the cafe concept and stick to coffee, tea, and sweets. Ditch the waitstaff/cashiers pronto or, send them to charm school. Reconfigure your mess of a floor plan. I can help you. I can really really help you. Really! You are in dire need of a major makeover. Call me. Gordon Ramsey.
(1)Mike H.
I can only speak to my birthday red velvet cupcakes that my lovely and dear friend Maureen got me from here. I am a baker, and I am picky about anything red velvet because it is a cake I do from scratch and do very well. Bittersweet does a damn good red velvet cupcake, and thereby they get a review for those alone. Great ending to a great birthday. Thanks Bittersweet!
(4)Donna B.
I Love this little place!!!! I went back for breakfast two weeks in a row while visiting Chicago just for the chocolate croissants and scones! It reminds me of the simple breakfasts we had in France. We also tried the French macaroons which were good but not like the ones at Vanille Patisserie down the street. Their sweet treats and cakes looked good and smelled heavenly!
(3)Ngoc T.
If you want a place that takes you back to Paris, come here. Atmosphere was very European, classy and elegant. Pastries truly have reputations and everything in there is VERY well made, crafted, designed and cared for. I'm a poor college student, so I only ordered 3 lemon bars. But it was the best lemon bars I have ever tried in my life. And that's just lemon bars! What about the rest of the pastry shop??? I have to admit. It is pricey. But considering it is located in Lakeview, and just how classy and elegant this place is, it is not surprising. But I'm a college student, so I'm sure you can figure something out to afford 3 lemon bars :)
(5)Pam N.
Worst macarons ever. My man brought me some. I had to dump him! Thanks, Bittersweet-- thanks a fucking lot.
(1)S. S.
I came in today to use my Groupon. Yes it's the last day and yes I shouldn't have waited but the staff were not very friendly and never once smiled. The pastries are nicely decorated but they tasted OK, (ie: chocolate macaroons were dry not as moist as I've had at other places). Also they seemed stressed out. I felt bad for a couple customers who were dining in, they had to wait in line and grab a ticket just to get their checks! I don't think it's worth the trek or to buy another groupon from here unless you live within walking distance of the place and want a place to pick up a few pastries. Overall it was ok but I think there are a lot better cafes/pastry shops in the Chicago.
(2)Laura K.
Bittersweet is not at all bitter and very sweet! I had the half sandwich/soup deal combo for dinner last night. The celery soup was hearty and the turkey/havarti/carmelized onion sandwich was bursting with flavor. I had the red velvet cupcake for dessert and got a 2-for-1 deal - sweet! My husband had the raspberry chocolate chip ice cream, and it was just wonderful. And its such a lovely little shop that reminds me of Europe.
(5)Hallie L.
Happened upon this place while wandering around Lakeview with a friend after a late lunch. We were searching for dessert, and oh boy, we found it! The place is perfectly charming, classy but unpretentious, just as a bakery/cafe should be. I loved checking out the section of the cafe where there's chocolate, mugs, stationary, random things for sale. Very cute. I found some French lollipops, which made me squeal with delight. My friend and I both got kid-sized ice creams (only $1.50!). When we both asked for cups, the woman showed us the 'cup' and said, "It's lined with chocolate on the inside. Is that alright?" Was that alright?! More squeals of delight. The cup, by the way, was a Chinese take out carton. ADORABLE. After I finished the ice cream, I feverishly scraped at the sides of the carton, chipping away at the chocolate. They have some lovely flavours of both ice cream and sorbet. I had the coconut while my friend had something with star anise in it? There was also strawberry rhubarb. After we had our ice creams, we browsed around the pastry section for a little while. MACARONS!?! Third squeal of delight. Having tasted Pierre Herme macarons (the Holy Grail of macarons, IMHO) in London a few months ago, I've been dying to find macarons in the US that would match the Parisian ones in taste and quality. It's been a no-go so far, even in Manhattan. So the quest continues. I asked for one of each flavour (almond, chocolate, raspberry, and lemon). Each one cost around $1.50, I believe? The almond and chocolate ones were priced by weight, which was weird, but I believe they came out to a similar price. So far, so good - much cheaper than the ones in NYC, which weren't fabulous enough to warrant the $2.50 price tag anyways. Of the four flavours that I tried, I'd say I enjoyed the lemon and the chocolate the most. The raspberry got a little bit crushed during my commute on the CTA (tears!). I really, really liked the fresh taste of the lemon. The almond macaron I had was a bit stale and mediocre. My general thoughts? Pretty decent for the price! All in all, I thought this was a lovely bakery. There were cupcake samples at the door, and they were delicious! I'm looking forward to revisiting and trying more baked delights!
(4)Mandi G.
Half-price day old bread! Great cafe but sloooooooow service. Still worth going in.
(3)Amanda S.
tarts, cakes, loaves, cookies, and enough goodies to keep both kiddies and adults satiated. i've gotten every kind of milestone cake from bittersweet:: the graduation cake, the religious-occasion celebration cake, countless birthday cakes, and who knows, maybe one day..a wedding cake. nothing is ever too sweet and the cakes are fluffy and hold up days after your event. the staff is professional and the shop is utterly adorable. the tablespace in the cafe can get a little crowded and noisy, and it's a little annoying when tons of kids are moving about as it's a fairly small space, but the free samples and novelty gifts keep your mind off that while you wait to be helped or for your finished product to emerge from the kitchen. if you're looking for a cake that's sure to please (almost) everyone at your celebration, i promise you can't go wrong with bittersweet.
(4)Alison S.
Great selection of desserts and gifts! Nice mix of European pastries (macarons, croissants) and sugary American classics (frosted cookies, chocolate cupcakes, Rice Krispie treats). Great place to pick up something to bring to the office or a party. Delicious coffee as well.
(4)Amy L.
Please note this review is based only on my to-go selections..maybe I just had bad luck..but onto the review: First off, DO NOT buy their boxed cookies. I picked up a box to give as a gift, because it was already wrapped prettily and looked amazing. I asked the girl behind the counter if they were boxed that same day- she told me no (thank you for the honesty), but she also said that they are boxed earlier but are just as fresh as the cookies behind the counter. Oh man, was she wrong. When I got to my destination and my friend opened it to try it (she's like me and can't see sweets without eating them) she had it and I tried one-and they were ROCK HARD-mind you this cookie was a macaron, so it should have a crispy shell and then be chewy and delicious. Nope. Hard all the way through until you reached the filling, which was sweet (duh). and then the other half was rock solid too. Let me say, it's a good thing this is a particularly close friend of mine, otherwise I'd be pretty freaking embarrassed for having given this box of duds. I do want to note that their samples by the door were amazing! The lemon square and the mini cupcake-thing were both very soft and luscious-exactly what I was expecting from the rest of their goods. Sadly that was not the case. I assume that's what is generally the case (otherwise it would not have such great reviews) but I don't plan on risking it again to find out.
(2)Jennifer H.
We got our wedding cake here, and it was very beautiful, tasty, and all around a hit at our wedding. The tasting was nice and flexible, we left full of cake and they even gave us some soup to round out our "dinner"... they were very flexible with our changing numbers, and delivered the cake on time. It was on beautiful display when I arrived at the venue, and it tasted great! We picked out hazelnut cake with vanilla creme brulee filling and fresh strawberries--everyone loved it! The only bummer was in the hustle my cake topper was forgotten, but it didn't ruin my day or my happy tastebuds.
(5)Lindsay A.
As far as pastries go, this place is pretty decent! However, the atmosphere almost always is enough to make me steer clear. I know part of what makes lakeview so lovely is that is a family neighborhood but really moms? Do you HAVE to bring those obnoxious strollers and 3 year old EVERYWHERE? Because of the lack of space at this bakery, the sit down area for eating is cramped and often overcrowded with annoying kids who's moms would rather sit tea with their gal pals then discipline the kids that are running past your table and bumping your plates. I guess that's not bittersweet's fault though is it? Overall: food grade- A Atmosphere C-
(3)Erika G.
I wish I liked sweets more, this would definitely be Nirvana. What it is, is a cute, charming European style cafe. The salads looked delicious and HUGE - would definitely be worth going back for that. The desserts . . . works of art. What was weird, was the servers were sort of tentative, awkward and shy. Esp. about putting plates on small, overloaded tables. Seems if they're going to work in a place like this, they should be facile with this sort of thing.
(4)Dallas F.
Yesterday I attempted to have lunch at Bittersweet, but they were super busy. There was no way to make a distinction between customers who wanted to sit at a table to dine and customers who were there to order pastries. While waiting for someone to help us we nibbled on a few of the samples offered on a table. Whatever these little one bite treats were, they were amazing! We were finally told there would be a significant wait to sit and eat so we opted to head somewhere else. When walking back I really started craving more sweets since I had the tiniest of nibbles before. I stopped back in and ordered a few things. I ordered the cupcake of the day which was Caramel Apple, few apricot linzer cookies, a Halloween sugar cookie, and two of "yesterdays cupcake" which I don't remember what the name of it was, but I do know it had a gummy worm sticking out of the middle. The Caramel Apple cupcake, the actual cake part, was very good and had baked apples in the center.The frosting however was disgusting. The consistency was weird, almost butter but almost light like whipped cream and it had absolutely no flavor and possibly no sugar. That made me sad . The apricot linzer was A-Ok, but Ive had better. The "yesterday's cupcake", which were two for the price of one, were probably the best but I only had a sampling (but I did steal the gummy worms from both of them before giving them to my friends, so they had a cupcake with a hole in the middle). They were dark chocolate with a chocolate frosting and some dark chocolate shavings on top. Super decadent and sugar was definitely in that frosting. After tasting a very small bite, I went into sugar overdrive. I did not have the Halloween sugar cookies so I cant comment on the taste but they were well decorated. So overall, it was not bad and not too expensive. I just wish my Caramel Apple cupcake came through with the caramel part in the frosting.
(3)Rinko E.
We ordered our awesome wedding cake from Bittersweet. Ms. Sue Anne was super professional and reliable. (The cake looked awesome and tasted awesome) I love their little tarts- my favorite was Espresso. I sometimes have a light lunch here too. Their soup, sandwiches, and coffee are all awesomely European (I have never been to Europe so I am just using my imagination). When I am at Bittersweet, I think time goes by so slowly and nicely. An ultimate neighborhood gem. I hope they will stay in business for a long time. :)
(5)Anna G.
This little bakery is so cute! All the stuff looks delicious! I tried the pink princess cupcakes which were not that great! However, I did love the salted caramel macaroons and lemon bars! I will be back!
(4)Emily W.
15 of my guilty pleasures can be found at Bittersweet. 1. Mini pecan pie 2. Chocolate covered strawberries (thick coat of chocolate too) 3. Caramel dipped in chocolate on a stick 4. Cute selection of toys and little knick knacks (I got a mini donut eraser!) 5. Ceramic Painted Cupcakes (bought one to put my rings in!) 6. ADORABLE greeting cards (got one that say Hey there cupcake and one that said Hello with a little sketch of a cupcake) 7. Birthday candles (all different types, including those little ballerina ones that were always on my birthday cakes as a kid) 8. Baby t shirts 9. Harney & Sons tea tins 10. Lollipops 11. Stationery 12. Free samples near the door 13. Mexican coca cola 14. Perrier 15. Baking cookbooks 16. Vanilla ice cream Love this place. Just love it!! All you people with a sweet tooth need to get off the computer and go here now! And then come back here again next time with your family when they come to visit. You'll spend about 20 minutes picking out a treat because they all look delicious. Their gifts and goody selection is just adorable too. There's trinkets, toys, cooking supplies, cookbooks, stationery, books, games, mugs, tea, ETC. I want to go stand outside and be first in line when they open tomorrow!
(5)Triana O.
I love Bittersweet not only for their tasty treats, but I really enjoy the "french bistro" vibe inside. I love that you can sit in the cute little cafe area and have a server bring your tea and sweets. They have a tempting array of goodies, and I also love that they have a small area of adorable little stationary and various cute little items to browse besides the sweets. I agree with some reviewers that the employees are hit or miss at times... somedays I get one that's nice as pie, other days they are a bit blah. But it has never spoiled my visit so far. I really like bringing friends from out of town here to chill out and have some tea and sweets before a day of sightseeing/shopping. I'm a big fan of cupcakes but I like that Bittersweet has those plus so much more to try. The parking is somewhat sparse but I usually find a spot nearby with no problem, depending what time of day I go there. All in all a definite winner for me.
(5)Carolynne M.
Oh...Bittersweet...what a completely appropriate name to describe my experience at my cake tasting. I was convinced - CONVINCED that this was the place that was going to be making my wedding cake. No ifs, ands, or buts, I had always had stellar service and the most delicious offerings from them in the past...why should I think otherwise? But at the tasting we were presented with quite possibly the most vile and horrific buttercream I have ever had the misfortune to put in my mouth. It was so bad my maid of honor and I were giving each other looks and whispering "do you think it was a mistake? did someone forget the sugar?" Had I been given a scoop of straight Crisco I dont think I could have told you the difference between the two. Cake flavours and fillings were good...but those were all masked by the tragedy that was the frosting. I cant serve this to my guests! Plus the quote for the cake design was the highest - by far - of any other bakery, which made me sad. Oh Bittersweet, so disappointed! (sad face here)
(2)Shianne P.
Bittersweet made the most amazingly delicious wedding cake for us! It was three layers of banana cake with vanilla creme brulee filling and fresh strawberries. As someone who doesn't always like cake, this was one I was looking forward to for months - I think I bragged about it to anyone who would listen after our tasting - and I'm sad I didn't get to eat more on the day. Now I have to wait a whole year to eat the topper! In regards to the process, Bittersweet was wonderful to work with. We actually had this tasting immediately after our other option (not totally recommended...that's a lot of sugar), which was Amy Beck Cakes. Amy Beck was sweet, but the flavour combination we came upon at Bittersweet decided it for us. Our coordinator at Bittersweet was Amy C., who took the time to talk through design options and sketch out a cake that we would not have thought to consider otherwise. This was awesome, because we really felt like we were getting a unique cake, just for us. She only laughed a little when we gave her our Lego people topper; her emails and calls were always quick and on time; and, best of all, she worked out a great solution to get the cake we wanted within our price range.
(5)Jenni B.
This place is cute and quaint if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth or pop in for a nice sandwich for lunch and such. it is a typical cafe/booked goods/ cake store. It has everything you want in a pastry shop. i've had their samples by the door which are good. The only thing ive gotten there was their ice cream which is 1.50 for a kids scoop. They have only like 6 flavors, and the ice cream sometimes tastes like refrigeration, so eh. Go here though just to try it, its nice.
(3)Patrick L.
Everything I've ever eaten at Bittersweet - quiche, creme brulee custard, mushroom soup, even a just ham sandwich - has been heavenly. They have a huge selection of pastries, all of which look amazing. The prices are really reasonable for what you get, too. You won't be disappointed; this is one of the best bakeries I've ever been to!
(4)Anahit G.
Simply put, one of my favorite cafes in Chicago. The macaroons are absolutely decadent, and they brew a great cup of coffee. I live their mini store, as well.
(5)Emann B.
I've enjoyed Bittersweet ever since it opened, and have great memories of heartfelt special occasions that always included a Bittersweet cake. My "old reliable" is almond cake with creme brulee filling, fresh berries, and vanilla buttercream. A mocha filled cake with milk chocolate buttercream is a very close second.
(4)Vivian S.
Bittersweet did our wedding cake through its relationship with the W Hotel on Lakeshore. Many of our guests gave us compliments on the cake! They all seemed surprised that wedding cake could taste THAT good. From the tastings to design to delivery, it all went really smoothly. They were even able to execute on our "skyline" design perfectly. They were very accommodating, and they seemed to take all of our input to heart.
(4)Michael S.
3.5 stars in the face of Julius Meinl, but still it's great for a coffee drink and, of course, something sweet. Still, I'm usually pretty let down by their lunch offerings, which are limited to a quiche offering, salads, soups, and sandwiches. Thus, stick to the KISS rule (at least for me), and it's good stuff. Note... their flowerless chocolate cake is exceptional, and makes for a great cake to take home for entertaining, or whatever. Seriously, if I were to take a single piece home, it would last me for days it's so darn chocolaty. Depending on their desert of the day, I have either been enthralled, or utterly disappointed (like I was the last time with the strawberry rhubarb crumble, which was missing everything but crumble). However, if you stick to the sweets (at least in my case), there is most always something you will discover to enjoy.
(4)Jennifer B.
I came to this sweet little bakery in search of a cupcake. I had heard that Bittersweet was THE place for cupcakes, so imagine my surprise when they only had 2 flavors available!! No biggie, I decided to go with the Strawberry Shortcake. I mean, I can count that as a fruit, right?!? But onto the review of the cupcake itself....oooh la la. Aces. In a city in which the icing of the cupcake is always far superior to the cake itself, Bittersweet is the lone pioneer of the "moist cake!" Finally, a fresh, moist, dense cake, as opposed to the dried out, crumbly cake at those other places. Thanks Bittersweet for the fresh cupcake!
(4)Kelli C.
I love their chocolate sugar cookies. So...MUCH!
(5)Hannah H.
I recently moved into the neighborhood and being a sweet/desert lover I was excited to try out Bittersweet after reading good reviews here on Yelp. Man, was I disappointed! I bought an assortment of cookies and 2 small cupcakes to share with my boyfriend. I took my first bite and literally thought I chipped a tooth! ALL of our cookies were as hard as a rock. If I'm paying $10 for a few cookies, they'd better at least be semi-soft. Not only were they hard but they were also very bland. While the shop and cafe look adorable and friendly, looks can definitely be decieving.
(2)Karen S.
Even though the counter staff weren't the friendliest bunch of ladies I've ever encountered, I will go back to Bittersweet for the tarts. I have been craving them since I went there a couple of weeks ago. I used a Groupon to try a variety of tarts, all of which I would eat again. I also got a small chocolate mousse and hot chocolate. Delish! The tarts and mousse were all priced at just around $4 each. The lesson here? You pay a premium for exceptional desserts.
(4)Jennifer T.
My husband went here on Sunday morning and bought a blueberry scone and a carrot cake muffin. The scone was bland. The carrot cake muffin, though really moist even after a day, is kind of bland as well. It doesn't have a sweet taste to it at all. I'd be willing to try this place again but not anytime in the near future.
(2)Miss M.
They are expensive. But.... their stuff is the DA BOMB!!! Especially their lemonbars and macaroons and cakes! Their food is soo decadent!
(5)Laura S.
I cannot say enough nice things about Bittersweet. They were our wedding bakery for our cake and other sweets, and they knocked it out of the park! We had originally gone with Sweet Mandy B's until I realized that THEY DON'T DELIVER. The thought of having to get someone to pick up our wedding cake and get it to the venue safely was just too much to deal with. So I set up a tasting at Bittersweet, and realized I should have gone with them to begin with. Nothing against Sweet Mandy B's, but their cake and frosting is EXTREMELY sweet--as in you eat half a cupcake and think you might throw up or become a diabetic. Bittersweet is dessert for a more grown-up palate, with sweet and savory all in one. Our tasting was truly special, everything was so nicely presented by Amy Crumrine. The different types of cakes were in little rectangular stripes on one long plate, with another small plate holding tiny square ceramic containers of different fillings and frostings. She gave us guidance on "pairings" and we were HOOKED. Our top two tiers of our wedding cake were chocolate fudge cake (OH MY GOD, so moist and delicious) with creme brulee filling. The bottom tier was yellow cake with lemon filling, and the whole thing was in vanilla buttercream with the most beautiful mehndi design on it (my husband--then-groom--is half Indian and we want ed to honor that). Amy and her bakers were amazingly well organized, everything was confirmed via email, etc. You can see the kitchen through the glass in the cafe and it is IMMACULATE. We have had brunch there a few times since the wedding and it is delicious--their quiche is to die for! And they always have some sort of free sample out of something delicious, not to mention cupcakes from the day before at half price. I'm glad I don;t live closer or I'd weigh a ton! Bittersweet also did a dozen cupcakes for us, a groom's cake with a custom Redskins logo on top, cheesecake squares, and a few pies. Everything was AMAZING. We kep the top tier of our cake but instead of freezing it, we ate away at it over the course of the next four days while we stayed at the hotel. It was STILL FRESH TASTING four days later, with no preservatives and in a mostly open cake box (no tupperware). Anyway, you won;t regret picking Bittersweet for your wedding cake, they were amazing, everything was delicious and delivered in the promised two hour time frame, and now we have a place we can go get our cake from on our anniversary every year! I will be using Bittersweet for all our family's birthdays from now on! Thank you Amy!
(5)John H.
I WANT to love this place! I really want to. Last month, I ordered a birthday cake for my boyfriend's birthday. Since it was just going to be the 2 of us, I ordered the smallest cake they had (6"). $24.00! I thought that was a bit exorbitant, but a.) He's my guy & he's worth it and b.) I had a $20.00 Groupon. I chose a chocolate chip cake, with a white chocolate mousse filling and a caramel butttercream frosting. It LOOKED fantastic...very simple (I chose the polka-dot motif), GREAT writing on top, and very high. LOVED the look of it. Too bad the taste was a HUGE let down. In a nutshell: The cake? Dry. Not moist at all. The chocolate chips tasted good, but the rest of the cake itself didn't have much flavor. The filling? Tasteless. Really didn't have much flavor. Maybe another filling choice would have been better, but this tasted like sugar and nothing else. The icing? ODDLY tasting. Very "fake" and an aftertaste of alcohol (I'm assuming maybe they use a caramel extract 'flavoring'???). As I said, I REALLY want to love this higher-end bakery, but I will not be going back.
(2)Stephanie S.
The only reason this place is getting an A-Ok is the fact that the desserts are amazing! However, the service is disappointing to say the least. My husband and I went on a Sunday so it was fairly busy, we had to wait for the waiter to clear 3 tables before even letting us sit down. After that, it took ages to even get the waiter's attention and bring two glasses of water, one of which smelt like dirty dish water. We ordered four pastries and when the waiter brought them to the table, two were not what I asked for (totally different, like bringing a cookie instead of a raspberry tart). I usually wouldn't address the problem, but I really wanted the tart, so I politely asked if I could switch it. The waiter obliged, but he still brought the incorrect order the second time. I'm glad it was good, but I didn't get what I wanted (nor did husband). When I saw the check, I was charged for the tart instead of the cookie, which was double the price. They had no problem correcting this issue at the counter when we paid, but we will likely not go back unless we just go to the counter. The table service really killed the experience. This is really unfortunate considering the place is charming and has a wonderful variety of delicious pastries, chocolate, and coffee items.
(3)kevin c.
Bittersweet Pastry makes one kick-ass flourless chocolate cake. The silky, dense chocolate has a great texture, not to mention a super rich chocolatey flavor. The simple presentation allows the cake to shine as the star attraction (no distracting sauces or garnishes to take away from it). Their tarts are really good, too. On a Friday night binge, I picked up a creme brûlée tart with strawberries on top, another custard tart with raspberries on top, a gingerbread cupcake filled with cream and the flourless chocolate cake (when I go out, I go ALL out). The mini desserts did not dissapoint! Just watch out for the cocoa powder on the chocolate cake -- you might choke on it if you're sprawled on your futon, swaddled in blankets, scarfing down one dessert after the other ... not that I would know.
(4)Izzy N.
Have you ever been somewhere where they served pastries or cakes so delicious you wanted to steal a piece for home by disguising it as an ugly baby? or maybe putting it down your pants? and then tell anyone who asks that you're just really happy to see them? How about putting it in your prison pocket? ok then what about pulling the fire alarm and while everyone is panicking you jack that shit and bounce!! yeah.. neither have I. and if you are too busy recalling past instances of theft by going: hmmmmmm... welll... ummm...... errr.. you should really be ashamed of yourselves. but you guys, I was at this get together and a wondrous chocolate cake was served from here that made me think --oh wow and I think what would make nice, good people think of committing heinous acts such as cake theft. You thought I was going to say something like cannibalism didn't you.. you really are sick people. It's time you go crack open a Bible to cure your wicked ways. And by wicked, I don't mean super cool. Back to my point, I paid a visit to the bakery though because they make french macarons. GASP. My favorrrrrrite..! The macrons are legit and that is how you spell it spelling police. Everything in here is so pretty, especially their decorated cookies. I would come here again for the macarons and to try out their other pastries but the main draw for me are the french macarons. hmmmph! So hard to ignore. Love it.
(4)Michelle D.
I made a special trip to walk over here because I was told they have a wonderful selection of macarons. Well the selection is there is mediocre at best since they had a total of four flavors, two of which were vanilla and chocolate. I decided to try one of the "special" flavors (cranberry) and I wish I hadn't wasted my money. The taste of the cookie was fairly flavorless with a only a slight artificial cranberry flavor, but the cookie itself was a total mess. They were hard (I purchased two), hollow, and shattered into stale little pieces when I bit into them. There was also hardly any filling at all. The service here was also miserable, with workers chatting, long lines, and seemingly random service (the 'take a number' system did not appear to mean anything) I would avoid this place as there are far better bakeries in Chiacgo
(1)Vanessa R.
I emailed a pic of an owl that was the theme for my daughter's first birthday to ask if they could make a cake like this. They said yes:). They made the design out of gum paste (not sure if that is fondant). They were great with following up with me by phone after emailing them. Very professional. On the day of my daughter's birthday, everyone was in love with the cake! I had a few guests say that it was too pretty to cut. I felt the same way! But then I tasted the cake and... Yummmm...we cut the rest of the cake:) We will have all of our special occasion cakes from them now!
(5)J T.
I have to give 5 stars to judy and the wedding cake maker for my 9-17 wedding at Golden Triangle. This the most beautiful wedding cake I have ever seen. Judy helped me to design the cake into a curvy blue/white porcelain vase and it is so well done that everyone at the wedding kept taking pics with the cake. The price was very seasonable too, probably the best value product I purchased for the wedding. Judy is an artist, and whoever the cake maker is, did a very good job. The blue patterns on the vase is so detail oriented! It looks like a 4 digits priced cake by a super star artist, but I only paid over $500 for the cake.
(5)Kristi K.
After reading a few mixed reviews, I'm compelled to write my own. Great sweets. Good size portions (but not obnoxious). Wonderfully helpful. I had an apple tart with the most amazing real whipped cream, Great experience...and it's cute!
(5)Araceli R.
delicius just the best'' yummy :)
(5)Hannah H.
A cute little cafe off of Belmont, my friend and I came in here for some desserts. We tried out their Strawberry Rhubarb tart, their Strawberry Creme Brulee (both okay), and their iced Hot Chocolate. I absolutely enjoyed their iced Hot Chocolate as it had a great flavor, not too sweet, and had that bittersweet action going on. The whipped cream was also not too overpowering, and it came in a nice frosty glass mug with a straw. I would definitely come back here solely for that beverage! They also had some blueberry samples by the entrance as well as a case of Cookies n' Cream cupcakes for those who check-in/give shout outs on Facebook! Service was great and friendly, and they also had a little store of cupcake-decor novelty items (cupcake toppers, invitation cards, cupcake-shaped lip balm, etc.). Metered parking is available up along Belmont. Definitely a cute little dessert place! +iced Hot Chocolate :D
(4)Justine M.
Love this place! It's so adorable. They have well made bakery items and their store is so nicely displayed. They also have a little corner that sells stationary items/gift items/cards, etc. Another section has tables where you can have a nice quiet lunch and then there's the beautiful display of pastries along the front. A friend and I purchased a bag of "mess up" cookies, macaroons, biscotti, bread, etc. for $3! So you can get a variety of things in one little bag. We also got the three macaroons (chocolate $.80, almond $.80 and raspberry - $1.50) and a individual sized raspberry cheesecake ($3). A total of $10. They were all DELICIOUS. My favorite was the raspberry macaroon. It was made with the PERFECT texture. Melted in your mouth. I plan to come back and take all my visitors here to have a cute lunch and buy some goodies :). I also love that they had samples of mini cakes by the door!
(5)Shelly A.
This place immediately won me over because of its great interior look and vibe. It reminds me of places in my old neighborhood in Manhattan, and for some reason you don't see places like this too much around Chicago. It has a very different look compared to the more modern bakeries and coffeeshops. I feel like Bittersweet is less gimmicky and more classic. We tried a few bakery items, and they were just average. The macarons were fine, but I've definitely had better. However, many of their other bakery items are also sold at my local Whole Foods, so I can totally vouch for them. Many of the cookies - my favorite are the thumbprints! - are super popular at Whole Foods and tend to be a bakery staple. The drinks were great, I especially liked my Italian Soda which wasn't too sweet and had a great flavor. I'd probably come back only if I was intending to dine-in, considering the physical space was my favorite part. It looks like others have liked their special-order cakes, so it's definitely a place to keep in mind for that, too!
(3)Hanan V.
I went to Bittersweet for a small, simple wedding cake after an experience with Alliance Bakery went sour (my husband and I loved both cakes but Alliance tried to screw us over by charging us extra because I dropped the word "wedding"). Anyway, the cake we had tasted was the red velvet with cream cheese and it was lovely and rich and not too sweet. So we ordered a 12 inch cake for 45 guests, which the lady assured me would be plenty, because they make FOUR LAYER CAKES. And she was right. The cake was perfect and beautiful and everyone was satisfied with a rich, thick slice of cake. The 12 inch round cake cost 70 (a similar size cake from Alliance would have put us back 190) The decorations were beautiful, I requested a smooth, simple design (which worked well because they top red velvet cakes with buttercream), and they put fresh flowers as a decoration on top (they gave me the choice between fresh flowers, sprinkles, chocolate shavings or one other thing...I think it was confetti). I was very satisfied with my experience and will definitely come back if I ever need a cake for a special occasion.
(5)Leslie K.
We ordered a birthday cake (first time ordering from this bakery) for our soon to be 5 year old & it was FANTASTIC! We picked up the cake this afternoon, street parking was easy enough. The bakery is very cute but elegant. They balance the offerings very well & all of it was tasty. We ordered the pinkberry cake with milk chocolate& fudge frosting. We ordered an 8" round & they wrote the HBD message very nicely. We also purchased a variety of items from the case and those were excellent! I had a nutty buddy cupcake (AWESOME!), other items were: almond biscotti, homemade Oreo cookie, gingerbread heart, decorated apple cookie, and a raspberry linzer - all excellent!!! The staff member who assisted us was very helpful & patient as we gawked at the case trying to figure out what we wanted. We paid (very reasonable - the Mr. was pleased) and loaded up in our car to head home. We didn't make it out of our parking spot before we began handing out the goods. EVERYONE was pleased! Someone even saved a bite of the homemade Oreo to enjoy with milk! Now that says a lot (for us dessert fanatics anyway). We had part 1 of the birthday celebration today & the cake was super tasty! Thank you Bittersweet! Our experience was all sweet & no bitter! We will be back for more (of everything!)!!! :-)
(5)Em K.
My wife and I used Bittersweet for our wedding cakes (1 gluten free and 1 gluten full) and they did a wonderful job. It was so good that my wife decided she wanted a replica of the GF wedding cake for her birthday. I called and scheduled the cake for pick up 2 weeks early. Called again the morning I picked it up to make sure it was all good and to ensure it was GF, i was assured. Got there at 5pm to pick it up, and it wasn't GF. It was my wife's birthday and she had been craving this sucker for weeks now. Needless to say i was really upset. They had no GF cakes in the shop, so i would be coming home with nothing on my wife's birthday. After venting for about 5 minutes, a woman who appeared to be the manager or owner came to my aid. She offered to make a macaroon cake for us for today and make the cake the next day...both free of charge. When I first found out the cake was not GF there was no question in mu mind I would never return. But with the way they handled it, I will not only return but will recommend this place to others. This is how a successful business makes up for their mistakes and keeps their customers loyal.
(5)Deborah T.
I have been going to Bittersweet Bakery for many years...got my wedding cake there 13 years ago. And this year bought my brother his wedding cake there..recently, I had an opportunity to speak with the owner..she was helpful, gracious and generous! After our conversation she had her driver send me wonderful pastries as a gift! What a warm gesture..this will be always remembered sweetly..
(5)SK R.
We have ordered two cakes from here, one for our baby shower and the other for our baby's three month birthday. Both times, they were extremely good with customer service and the cake was amazing! We got the fudge cake with bittersweet ganache and they added some decorations for free! Not anything super fancy, but cute and thoughtful. We will definitely be goon back here for special occasion cakes. Their space is very nice and they have an amazing selection of desserts and beverages.
(5)LIDA A.
Ok - still no cake cutters - but this time I ordered the Lemon cake with buttercream frosting and fresh fruit filling - it was PHENOMENAL I highly recommend it for the summer! Absolutely delicious and refreshing. Keep up the great baking!!!
(5)Jim P.
My wife and I purchased our wedding cakes (yes cakes) from Bittersweet. Nancy was great to work with and the cakes were amazing! 100% worth a look for your wedding or event.
(5)Ali C.
Their pastries are simply out of this world - crazy good. We received two boxes as presents from a friend and our whole office fought over who would get which piece. The closest I have had to experiencing this level of quality was in Europe. Well done!
(5)Sandra H.
I have been a loyal customer of Bittersweet for many years, and over the years I have tried a huge variety of Bittersweet baked goods. Everything I have tried has been excellent. In fact, my mother, who is a very accomplished baker in her own right, can always tell when I serve something from Bittersweet. This past week I ordered two Bittersweet birthday cakes. The cakes were decorated so beautifully and were so delicious that I decided to write this review (my first ever yelp review). The birthday party was held downstate, so I had to drive the cakes a long distance. The staff at Bittersweet helped me choose cakes that would survive the road trip and even provided me with a styrofoam cooler big enough to transport the cakes on ice. With the help of the staff, I decided to order a torte with lemon sabyon filling and a carrot cake. They were big hits and survived the drive beautifully! I am so grateful to Bittersweet for helping to make the birthday party a big success!
(5)Tara P.
Scones are so delicious, large and fluffy and not overly sweet. Each one has a different shape. If you order a blueberry scone which I did this morning, it is full of blueberries. Raisin, full of raisins. Chocolate, full of chocolate chips. They do not skimp on their ingredients, and I have tried all their other varieties. Your able to taste the amazing taste of the scone along with the added ingredients. The perfect balanced taste. Amazing with their hot chocolate or tea. Their hot chocolate has a unique flavor, with an amazing after taste. It's not your typical hot chocolate and is served in a beautiful white pot which keeps the hot chocolate hot. Yes, their pasties and cookies and cupcakes are delicious too, but this review is mainly for their scones. They need to improve on their service. I was sitting quite a while before someone came over, and I had to flag them down. I always serve their scones when I have company and my guests love them. It's a change from serving cookies and cake and the presentation looks beautiful on my table.
(4)Bonnie A.
I have walked past this bakery a few times and decided to stop in there to get something. It was so worth it! Their pastries, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, macarons, and tarts are all worth trying! My favorite is their passion fruit macaron. Nothing seems to beat that for me. I would come here and buy 10 passion fruit macarons and devour them. One time I had a fresh out of the oven apple turnover and it was ridiculously good...I love the decor of this place too.
(5)Stacey M.
I have fond memories of Bittersweet Bakery from birthday cake celebrations in college with my friends! Because of this, I knew they would be the perfect place to go for our wedding cake and sweets table. Nancy was so easy and lovely to work with! She helped us design the perfect cutting cake to match our ceramic bird toppers. The tasting was delicious and beautiful - we tried every flavor cake and filling (this is standard) as well as all of the bite-sized sweets for our sweets table. We ordered more sweets for the table than we thought we would need but they were so delicious and such a hit that we ended up with barely any leftover! You better believe we have those leftovers tucked away in the freezer and cannot wait for our first year anniversary to enjoy them again. My husband and I highly recommend Bittersweet! We will absolutely be going back for any cake/sweets needs in the future.
(5)Leigh J.
Every soup that comes out of the kitchen at Bittersweet is spectacular. It seems like they must start with a variation of the same delicious base before adding and adapting for the flavour du jour. There seems to be some cream or butter involved - though not enough to call it a "cream of" - because not many things that don't have butter taste like this soup does. The top is sprinkled with some very tasty homemade croutons that disintegrate ever so slightly while maintaining their buttery crunchiness, and you get a soft slice of fresh bread on the side for dipping. Best of all, you can order it paired with a half sandwich or half salad. Bittersweet uses quality ingredients and I have liked most everything I have tried from their menu board, which changes every day. And as long the soup is involved somewhere in your order, you really can't go wrong. The only reason they don't get five stars from me is because I haven't really loved all of the their pastries--though some have been good. I'm usually too full for dessert anyhow. The savory food is what keeps me going back.
(4)Emily S.
We got the most delicious cake from here for our wedding!!! It was sooooo good, we received so many compliments! We worked with Nancy and was very helpful. We wanted a small tiered cake just for pictures and then had them make larger sheet cake for the remainder of the guests- our small cake was still beautiful and the sheet tasted just as good. We've gotten a few cakes from here before and will definitely continue to go to them in the future!
(5)Jose C.
Bittersweet is consistently one of, if not the best bakery in Chicago. I have been eating here for years and can rave about everything from their fruit tarts to cakes, to even their amazing home made ice cream (cappuccino is awesome). They have a limited menu everyday with quiche a soup and a sandwich, as well as a few salads. It is hard to pick a favorite, but their carrot soup & potato quiche are my personal loves. Another must try is their hot chocolate. This is a must visit.
(5)Lily S.
I live nearby and come here often. The food is normally really fresh and delicious, bakery items and coffee are all generally good as well. I wish I could give this place 5 stars, but the service is just really bad. There are maybe one or two employees there who are great, but more often then not it seems to be someone who has no idea what is going on. Incredibly slow table service and unable to answer questions. I keep going because its close, but the bad service is making it harder and harder. I also wish they would let you pay from your table if you eat in, the pay at the counter system is confusing and most of the staff are too timid to keep the line moving correctly.
(3)Amanda P.
We had so much fun at our cake tasting here! The staff could not have been nicer and the cakes & fillings were Excellent! So moist & flavorful! I brought a few people along with me and they made us feel so welcome the whole time we were there. Waiting on pricing now but I have no doubt that they would do a spectacular job for our wedding!
(5)Ruth G.
Beautiful cakes that taste even better than they look (and they looked great)! I needed a special occasion cake and the restaurant that was hosting my party recommended Bittersweet. Even though I was calling with short notice (3-4 days in this case), they were able to accommodate two 14-inch cakes given 48-hour notice. I'm not sure how they measure, because these cakes were huge! Maybe the measure is the radius instead of the diameter. The person who answered the phone took the time to answer all my questions and walk me through their Facebook page where I was able to see an album of choices and be guided through which decorations involved an up-charge and which were included in the pricing. We ended up with two cakes (not their largest) and it was more than enough for 100+ guests, many of who could not resist a second slice. We chose fudge-fudge-caramel and carrot cake, both of which were fantastic. They helped me coordinate the decorations so that they were different but coordinated. A lovely presentation! I would definitely use them again for a special event!
(5)michele b.
addicted to their hot chocolate. it's not sweet, it has some subtle spices. it's rich and rewarding in a deep spiritual way. their sausage quiche is amazing. so light and fluffy and well....you just have to try it.
(5)Melissa M.
I did not have a good experience here. This place is huge, and seems almost like a tourist gift shop in an airport than an independently owned bakery. First, the service was incredibly slow. And rude. We waited about 20 minutes just to place our order, and 10 more minutes just to have them take our croissants from the bins and place them on a plate for us. The food itself was also meh - nothing special at all. I also had an almond macaron, which was terrible. It was horribly constructed and also tasted terrible. Won't be returning.
(1)Adam J.
Today was my first experience and I absolutely fell in love! The moment you step in the door you feel like you are in a mom and pop store yet it has the look of sheer elegance. The precision to detail with the food in presentation is flawless and the taste is just as amazing. I am a new loyal customer to Bittersweet! My only suggestion would be more cupcakes!!! Will not be my last visit.
(5)Larissa A.
I have eaten a lot of scones. I've had every flavor you could imagine and have tested every recipe at home, but I have never had a scone this good. I took a bite, expecting mediocrity and could not get enough. I took another bite. It had just the right about of sugar, the right about of flakiness, the right texture and the best flavor. This is the best scone I have ever tasted.
(5)Karen T.
Needing a place to read and eat for an hour or two on a Saturday morning, I checked out Bittersweet for the first time - and fell in love. Researchers recommend a piece of dark chocolate a day because it's packed with heart-healthy flavonoids. Well, I'll take Bittersweet any day over flavonoids - just as soothing for me and warmth-inducing on a cold wintry Chicago morning as a mug of hot chocolate. And you can get hot chocolate at this lovely little French-inspired café. You can also indulge in my current obsession right now - quiche. I know it may not be a set-your-soul-on-fire, quiver-in-your-boots sort of word to you, but one meal of quiche at Bittersweet and you will be converted. The portion size is generous, and even though it's got a price tag to match, it blows all competition in the area out of the water, unless you happen to live with a French lady who bakes fresh quiches every morning. (if you do, let me know, because I have been craving some baguettes in a serious way). But honestly - the Quiche Lorraine at Fox and Obel Café couldn't begin to touch Bittersweet Quiches. For starters, it's more expensive and smaller. I've always been a quality over quantity sort of girl, but luckily, I don't have to make that sort of compromise here. The crust is the perfect thickness, the filling is rich and heavenly, and the top is perfectly browned, a la crème brûlée. Yes, they're a patisserie, and their desserts rock (death by chocolate cupcakes, anyone?), but one of the most underrated enjoyments at this Belmont locale is the quiche - you won't be sorry you tried it, and I daresay you could even split it with a friend as a snack. Also, their espresso is wonderful. I had a skim cappuccino that was absolutely fantastic. If you happen to stop in on a Saturday morning and see an Asian girl bent over a book, stirring an Illy cup with an empty plate that's covered in quiche crumbs, that's not me at all, I swear.
(4)Alice J.
The good: I enjoyed my hot chocolate which had hints of orange to it and was served on a plate with a cup, a pot for the drink, and a little container for the whipped cream. It was a very cute presentation. I enjoyed my salted macaron which had a good texture and was flavored well. I also enjoyed the little shop area with cute baking supplies, cookbooks, etc. The bad: The hazelnut cupcake I had was mediocre. The prices for some of their baked items seemed really high and the staff was quite unfriendly.
(3)Jon D.
I really do want to like this place, it's down the street and incredibly freaking convenient. It's clean, has a cute little cafe, and a friendly staff. Unfortunately, that ends the collection of "yays" about this place. I've had two experiences, which doesn't seem like a lot, but was enough to turn me off all together. One was a birthday cake which was fancy, but not super fancy, as in it was appropriately iced in an even layer, not glopped on. The flavors were a bit blah, and the whole experience left me wanting more. We stopped by again this weekend to pick up some cookies for a party. Every single cookie was rock hard. I get that some folks enjoy a crispy cookie, although crispy cookies aren't generally this thick. Bittersweet makes the kind where you feel you MAY chip a tooth. This was the experience over 6 varieties. A bit over priced for what you get.
(2)Traci G.
Finally made a visit here in July and was thoroughly pleased with everything!
(5)Bethami M.
Since Phoebe's cupcakes closed, I needed a new place nearby to get my cupcake fix. After partaking in ample yelp research, I came across Bittersweet. What a better first time to try out pastries than Valentine's Day? I decided I wouldn't write this review until I tried every single thing in my box. When walking into the shop, I realized the space is a little crowded, around 1pm. This was probably just part of the Valentine's Day busier crowd. You pull a number (like at grocery stores) and you wait for your turn to get called. As a first time customer, I didn't realize the whole number-scheme, and my friend and I were a little late on pulling our numbers. Anyway I ended up not even getting a cupcake. I got three different macaroons, the passionfruit tart (heart-shaped), and the mini chocolate red velvet cake thing. There was NOTHING that wasn't above and beyond amazing. I'm normally not the hugest fan of macaroons, but that salted caramel flavored one absolutely blew me away. The passionfruit tart was also super fabulous. There wasn't an overabundance of meringue, and there was actually chocolate on the bottom of the tart. So delicious, and I ate it over four sittings--it's huge! Can't wait to go back again, and hopefully in the near future.
(5)Mary R.
I was assigned with the task of ordering a cake for the bridal shower of a coworker in the office, and had no idea where to start. I stumbled upon Bittersweet and saw that they could deliver to the Loop and that they had good reviews, so I decided to go for it. I ordered it on a Tuesday to be delivered on a Friday, and called to confirm on a Thursday. Everything went smoothly and without a hitch. The cake was beautiful and tasted great--everybody loved it! It was nice because it was a cake large enough to feed 40 people, but still looked nice and neat. It was a round cake, which I found wasn't a common option with the amount of people I needed to feed (I think the round looked nicer than a sheet cake). The price was also very good for the high quality $70 for a 12" round, with a $20 delivery fee. Everyone, especially the bride to be, was very happy, and now I'm afraid I'll be the designated cake orderer. Bittersweet will get our business again!
(5)Linda T.
omg. i was cheap and decided to get the one day old pastries that's half price. ate the raisin scone and man....it was still delicious! now i want to go back and try their fresh scones....in addition to their cakes and pecan rolls!
(4)Tal C.
5 stars for their lunch fare+3 stars for pastries=4 stars overall I used to live right around the corner from this place, and stopped by often for lunch. They always have 2-3 sandwiches (I believe always at least one vegetarian), 2-3 salads, a couple soups, and a quiche. I love the Mediterranean salad that they have often, and the grilled cheese and turkey/brie sandwiches. The quiche is also good. It's a really cute place to sit down and have a coffee/lunch, but also a good option for carrying out as they're usually pretty quick. I don't love their pastries- I've tried some of the cookies and cupcakes and they always taste kind of superficial to me. They're good, but they don't taste homemade like some bakeries' pastries do. They do have day old breads though, which are dirt cheap and always worth buying because they're definitely still good.
(4)elibbybet r.
The coffee is terrific. The food is delicious. The pastries are divine. If you're looking for a place to have lunch, coffee, or a sweet...this is your place. Hands down. If I had only been a walk-in customer, this place would have five stars. So, why only four stars? Well, we ordered our wedding cake here. The tasting was AMAZING. We couldn't decide, so we got two flavors, banana with passionfruit filling and hazelnut with mocha filling. Both flavors were delicious. Then came time to design the cake. We had a very unusual design in mind, unfortunately, and I think we didn't explain ourselves very well. Well, they did their best. It was a rather odd looking cake. But it tasted GREAT. Moist and flavorful. Really spectacular. So...my suggestion to brides wanting a cake from here? GO TRADITIONAL WITH THESE GUYS. Don't try to take them out of their element, design-wise. Believe me. The taste will win anyone over.
(4)Carolyn L.
What a darling little shop on Belmont! I noticed this place while I've been riding the bus every day and decided to stop in today to pick up a cake for my mom's birthday. I chose a small flourless chocolate cake and it was MIGHTY GOOD. Rich, creamy, decadent, and moist. There was nothing I could improve on it! So happy I have leftovers so I can eat it for dessert during the week. I also picked up some vanilla extract, a cookie cutter in the shape of the Eiffel Tower (I'm obsessed with everything French!), and a mini Vosges chocolate bacon bar for my mom. It really is such a sweet place. I'd love to go back and try some of their macarons! A bit pricey, but the chocolatey goodness made it worth it.
(4)Marjorie F.
My friend and I, both having recently traveled to Paris, were in search of a real French macaroon (not like Au Bon Pain - but those are really good too). In order to "deserve" a sweet treat, we trekked 3 miles from my apartment up to Bittersweet. Was it worth it? You betcha! We sat down in the cafe for lunch. My friend H had some kind of quiche - which she loved. I had a tuna melt which was OK - a little different. I'm not used to capers in my tuna salad. I don't think I would order it next time. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to sandwiches. The best part, by far, was the dessert. I had the chocolate souffle cake. Ooh la la!!! It was reminiscent of my trip to Paris when I had a hazelnut souffle that made me want to cry. OK, so I didn't really cry, but I was speechless for a while... After our meal, we bought some macaroons. The selection was limited to cranberry and nutella. Of course, we purchased both! They were very expensive at $2 per piece. We made sure to enjoy every morsel. Overall, I left fully satiated with dreams of a future rendevous with another piece of chocolate souffle cake.
(4)Mary J.
Chocaholics, go here! That's not all that they have, but that's what I've eaten from here. My SIL got us not one, but two treats for dinner last night and boy were they yummy. The smoothness and intensity of the dark chocolate helped me ignore the terrible storm outside. We had a turtle brownie tort and some chocolate, fudgey, raspberry thing. Sorry, there was no label on the box and I was just catching a buzz from the great chocolate taste. Run, do not walk here!
(5)Julia R.
This is a LOVELY bakery. Although I've not been to France (yet) this is what I imagine a french bakery would be like. Classy with unbelievably good pastries. This is a great place to sit on a Sunday morning with a newspaper. The first time I visited Bittersweet I am quite sure we were served by the owner. She was kind and helpful and even threw in a few of "her favorites" for free! I have quite an obsession with croissants and eat them at absolutely every chance I get. They require a lot of TLC to make and so I figure it's a good way to rate a bakery (as a novice baker I have tried to make them many times - even with Julia Child's recipe - and have ended up with not-so-good-results). The croissants at Bittersweet are awesome! Whether you're looking for quiche, baguette, cookies or scones, Bittersweet is the BEST.
(5)Katy O.
My brother and his wife discovered Bittersweet maybe 8 years ago when they were living nearby. They started buying pastries, tarts and cakes to bring to parties and everyone always enjoyed them. Two years ago Bittersweet was on our short-list for wedding cakes. We had such a fun time at our cake tasting here and everything was delicious but we stuck with our (somewhat cheaper) favorite bakery (SMB). The wedding cake coordinator (that may or not be her actual title) was so helpful and accommodating. You should definitely check this place out if you are getting married. I have never eaten in the cafe, but all of their baked goods are delicious and I have tried a wide selection. This is a very cute shop and a cozy place to grab a cup of coffee or a sandwich.
(4)Lizz M.
Not sure how I could've forgotten to review these guys, they're amazing! Their pastries are so detailed and gorgeous, and are absolutely delicious. What put them over the edge for me and why they get five stars, though? CAKE! I ordered a birthday cake from them last May for a joint birthday, and they did NOT disappoint! You get to build your own cake. I chose vanilla cake with lemon curd, and they made me lemon frosting at my request. The cake was decorated beautifully, and tasted AMAZING! Not too sweet, and not overly frosted, perfection. Even though the cake was small it lasted a long time because the cake was so rich and filling. Do recommend!
(5)Stephanie H.
Bittersweet's Flourless Chocolate cake is best in the world. I've not tried anything better (at least not on 3 continents). If you are a connoisseur, this is a must. The deep chocolate is to the dark-chocolate lovers' delight. It is creamy inside and a little goes a long way. This is a taste to savor. It is a thick texture and the cocoa powder exterior really complements the melting (ganache?) of the inside. This is like the sophisticated grown-up child of brownies and pudding. A very fine cake to savor in good company. Very reasonably priced too. Yelper Kevin C. says, "The simple presentation allows the cake to shine as the star attraction (no distracting sauces or garnishes to take away from it)." I agree. Simple presentation, abundant flavor. I'm impressed. Seriously, I've had this cake about 3 times in my life and I can remember every occasion. This is a quality creation, I'd love to meet whoever is putting the love behind this one.
(5)Kristine L.
Bittersweet prepared our wedding cake (and grooms cake) for our August 2011 wedding. We hosted our wedding reception at the Mid-America Club, which works exclusively with Bittersweet. I had enjoyed Bittersweet cakes and pastries previously, so was excited that our wedding cake would be prepared by Bittersweet. Our cake tasting appointment with Judy was great. She spent time discussing with us what we were looking for (both aesthetics and flavors). She asked us what our favorite desserts were and then went in the back and whipped up some amazing filling and cake flavors for us to sample. We ended up choosing two flavors for our cake: chocolate fudge cake with peanut butter mousse and chocolate filling and almond cake with creme brulee filling and apricot preserves. Our cake design came out great! The colors were not identical to our wedding colors, but they did great working from a copy of our invite to incorporate our style and certain design elements. Our cake tasted great. The only issue we had (this didn't bother me, but really bothered my husband), was that we had requested that the cake tier we cut into during our reception be the chocolate/PB cake and it wasn't. I secretly worked with Bittersweet to design a surprise grooms cake for my husband. It turned out terrific! He is a serious runner/marathoner, and Bittersweet designed a cake that mimicked his running shoe and had a marathon medal laying across it (I sent them pics to go off of). They also made this cake any flavor I wanted (I opted for chocolate with chocolate filling). Bittersweet did a great job of executing this and keeping it a secret! One of the greatest things about Bittersweet is that they say they will bake you a small cake to eat on your one year anniversary (so long as you send them a picture of your cake) so that you don't have to freeze your top tier for a year. I am really looking forward to that (and my husband is really looking forward to having his chocolate/PB cake!!).
(4)Timo R.
I had a friend who would often bring cupcakes from Bittersweet to me... so, those pretty-much solidified my appreciation of them before even having visited the cafe itself. I also, eventually, had lunch there... and it was quiet, sophisticated... and just as sweet (although in a different way).
(5)Nick G.
Very pleased with our wedding cake! Many guests said it was the best cake they had ever tasted. Very easy to work with - worth the price.
(5)Yesy D.
If you go in here I recommend the Elvis. It is the best tasting cupcake I have ever had! It is a banana bread with peanut butter and light whipped cream. It was definitely yummy goodness. I want to go back and try other things.
(4)Secky B.
We used Bittersweet Bakery for our July Chicago wedding. My mother in law had gotten us both cakes (birthday and shower) from Bittersweet and we fell in love before we even want in for our tasting. When we did have it.. we were set up by Nancy F., who brought all their different cakes and frosting for us to sample, as well as their sweet table. We got cupcakes for our guests with a cutting cake... and it was SO beautiful. All the guest loved them.... unfortunately we were so busy at the wedding we didnt get a chance to eat any... but our caterer made sure to box a few up for us to enjoy the nexy day. I'm a Chicagoan, so I have had long standing loyalties to my neighborhood bakeries... but Bittersweet won me over. The presentation and quality is better than I've seen anywhere, and the customer service was flawless. They were more expensive than some, less expensive than others.. but worth every penny. Thank you!!!
(5)April P.
Site #2 of great Chicago macaron test. Yelp pointed me to the direction of this bakery upon the name search, but not too much information on variety. Well, I am here to tell you that Bittersweet has macarons, but only about 4 different flavors available! Disappointing and pale in comparison to Vanille's in categories of taste, variety, and flavors. Also they cost about $0.25 more than Vanille's batch. I also purchased a crème brule that a friend of mine pointed out wasn't even "brulee'd" or torched. Ahhh, slight mishap there....but made the world of a difference with the dessert. Not so appealing anymore, completely killed the texture factor Their cookies are really good, but if I were to base this review on the macaroons and brule alone, it's a 3.
(3)Bernice D.
I love Bittersweet! I recently was here looking for treats to bring for a halloween party. We really particularly enjoyed the smores cupcakes (marshmallow frosting, chocolate mouse in the middle with a gram-cracker cake like bottom). You really can't go wrong with anything here. I also like that you can sit down and get a sandwich or drink while you are there.
(4)Kelly S.
Solid! The place was a zoo and a bit disorganized with no one sure where to stand to get a table for lunch vs. line for bakery goods. But, when we finally got a spot, I had the most delicious broccoli basil soup. REALLY good. That in combination with the grilled ham and cheese and beet salad side made for a perfect lunch. Very small menu - just one soup, a couple sandwiches and a few sides plus quiche but quality ingredients.
(3)Stella A.
I was introduced to Bittersweet Pastry Shop at a bridal show I went to last year. Bittersweet, among several venders, was sampling an assortment of mini cupcakes. Each Bittersweet cupcake I tried was better than the one before. They were wonderfully flavored and so damn cute too. I couldn't wait to go and try out the actual bakery. Fast forward a year (what?! I was super focused on my diet, I didn't want any temptation!). I met up with some friends here recently (finally!). I was so flipping excited to see what other amazingness Bittersweet had to offer. First off, the bakery itself is very cute. It had sort of a vintagey feel to it. One half of the place was a little store that displayed gifts and little knick knacks for sale. The gift area was divided by theme. They had a wedding section, which had really cute cookies you can give as favors. There was a baby section with cookies shaped as teddy bears in blue and pink. Everything was really cute. The other half of Bittersweet is a cafe where you can grab a bite to eat. It was a smallish area with maybe 12-15 tables. The front counter was impressive. They had a plethora of different kinds of cookies, bars, and other sweets to chose from. Some were elaborately decorated (i.e. a sugar cookie in the shape of a hot pink glittery poodle) and other were very simple. Everything looked great. Everything tasted great too. I decided to get their peanut butter chocolate ganache cake. It was awesome of course. As was the raspberry cake my friend ordered. I was really happy with their sweets. Their service, on the other hand, was not impressive. At the time I arrived, while the cafe half of Bittersweet was busy, the counter was not. In fact they didn't have any customers at the counter or in the gift area, except for my friend who arrived before I did. The staff behind the counter-I counted two- didn't even greet me. My friend arrived early and had been waiting there for awhile and wasn't greeted or acknowledged by the staff behind the counter. I asked her if she let someone know that we wanted a table. She said that she told the sole waiter and he told her in a not so friendly way that it was first come first serve. I understand that working a full cafe all on your own can be super stressful, but the least he could have done was told her about the sign in sheet so that we could be next in line for an open table. He didn't do that. Nor did the people behind the counter (I counted 3 at this point) even though they had seen my friend waiting around the gift area for awhile. It was when I asked one of the girls behind the counter about getting a table when we were finally told about the sign in sheet. The 3 behind the counter didn't seem to care about basic customer service since none of them cracked a smile or even tried to be pleasant. The waiter did get better when we finally sat down and ordered. However, the overall experience was not good enough for me to want to return. Disappointing.
(2)Sawyer L.
This is the best little place in East Lakeview west of the Belmont Red Line station to have a light and healthy lunch or a quick business meeting over lunch. Every daily special includes some side salad. On one occasion, I had a hearty tuna sandwich with a cold lentil salad and still had plenty of room for a chocolate-carmel tart.
(5)Deena D.
I pre-ordered a King's Cake at Bittersweet and it was a huge hit at the office. I've stopped in here many times before and just note 1) not open on Mondays 2) pretty busy on weekends. As soon as you walk in I would look for the number counter and grab one as you decide on what you want to kill your waistline with ;) There is a small seated area where you can sit and have cawfee talk / eat some grub / etc. This would be a nice alternative to your usual cafe for work or studying. They had a wide array of bakery items and it looked liked the have specials for yesterdays cupcakes. They have a select amount of lunch items as well as ice cream and coffee in addition - yay everyone can find something they want! PS They also had some cute gift items, cards, etc. hence making it a nice one stop shop before you're headed to any parties bearing gifts.
(4)Kristen D.
Only bought one of the day old foccacia breads and it was pretty tasty. This shop has a whole slew of things, ranging from bakery treats, to a handful of lunch menu items, to favors for showers and mini toys and trinkets. Very cute little place!
(3)Victoria R.
Ugh, it actually sucks to write this review because my fiancée and I used to come here every weekend! In the last year or so the cupcakes have gone from moist and delicate to dry bricks, so we stopped getting them. The savory meals (sandwiches, salads, etc) have gotten bland and terribly inconsistent. It makes me think that they must have an ENTIRELY new baking/ cooking staff???! But, we pressed on and went back. Now, the part that really sucks....the service has gone from friendly and helpful to non existent. The last 5 x's we've gone, we have had to beg for the check, and usually end up going to the counter and asking for it. Waters aren't getting refilled, orders are not getting taken....To me, poor service is understandable in a cafe when it's swamped--NOT when you are two of three guests. Just stinks. :(
(2)Courtney W.
Fantastic brunch/lunch spot! So adorable! I left lunch with several little goodies for friends and co-workers :) Your mouth will drool as soon as you walk in and are immediately drawn to the pastry bar! Mmmmmm....
(5)Allison V.
ran in for a sandwich to go with a friend. the sandwich was awesome. a little pricey and took a long time to make, but well worth it. service was friendly and prompt. bike parking out front on the street. i would go here again and try something on the sweet side. everything look delish.
(4)Lim K.
My daughter ordered an almond strawberry brûlée cake for my birthday from Bittersweet Bakery. It was so delicious. I also tried their colorful macaroons....each had its own unique flavor and they were very good. I have been looking for a good bakery and now I know where to go.
(5)Christine C.
Our wedding cake came from Bittersweet a few weeks ago. It was elegant, beautiful, and most importantly, delicious. They have a wonderful selection, and the process was the easiest part of planning our wedding. I wish I had gotten to eat more cake on our wedding night, but what I did have was delish! Thank you, Nancy, for making such a beautiful and scrumptious cake for our biggest day :-)
(5)Jessica V.
Recently the owner reached out to me to offer a couple of free cupcakes so I can retry them. Although I will respectfully decline because I no longer live in the area, I sincerely appreciate when owners respond to reviews and do so in a respectful way as opposed to getting defensive. That says a lot about not only the owner but the business in general and perhaps I had a bad experience or my picky tendencies over shadowed they're delicious treats. I will be back to try again knowing I am giving business to a company that does appreciate their customers.
(4)FoodLover Z.
I've had a mixed experience at Bittersweet. There were pastries I've tried here that were great, but most of the others were just about ok. It's a cute little place and the people are nice, so I'd go here again, but there are better patisseries in town.
(3)gerard n.
Bittersweet is a wonderful place to pick up a wonderful pastry or for breakfast/lunch. Staff is helpful and prompt. had mushroom quiche for breakfast - nice presentation with fruit (grapes, kiwi, pineapple) could not resist a scone for the road - raisin, was delicious. of course, you must, must try the chocolate truffles!
(5)Patricia R.
Overall the pastries and daily soups, sandwiches and salads are excellent. I would have given them 5 stars but find the only thing they need to improve on is their service. Primarily when eating there they can be slow at times.
(4)Niti B.
Not sure why it has taken me so long to come here but so glad I did! I was like a kid in a candy store! Wasn't sure what to try and and what to pass up. Walking in the place is so cute and I love that they serve lunch and have a shop as well! I had the sundae cupcake, hazelnut hazenult cupcake, chocolate dipped coconut macaroons, red velvet cakepops, chocolate banana cakepops, passion fruit macaroon, mocha chocolate tart, and espresso chocolate tart!! Of course I shared everything with my girls!! Can't say anything was a disappointment. I think that the prices are average and the variety is amazing. Will never hesitate to go back and try more!
(4)Bri B.
I HATED CUPCAKES, and then I met Bittersweet. That red velvet cupcake with the cream cheese icing is to die for! I loved that the icing isn't too sweet. I loved that the cupcake was moist. I bought the cupcakes for my best friend's birthday because she loves cupcakes, and I ended up eating all of that girl's cupcakes! We also went another time before my amazing cupcake day and ordered a few pastries. I don't remember their names. The small chocolate pastry was delicious. I wasn't crazy about the tart or the creme brulee cheesecakey one? Not sure what that was...so that's the only reason there aren't 5 stars on here, but those cupcakes...WOAH!!!
(4)Alison Y.
Since discovering this place a little less than a month ago, I've been here at least once every week because EVERYTHING I've had has been so delicious! My favorites: white chocolate mousse, creme brulee tarts, and their flourless chocolate cake is THE BEST THING ON EARTH! Also their bittersweet hot chocolate is to die for - they describe it as French style which means it's pretty thick and decadent but made with dark chocolate so it's not overly sweet. I couldnt' drink it all on one sitting but it was just as good refrigerated overnight and microwaved the next day. Lemon bars are nice and sweet with a bit of tang but not too much that brings tears to your eyes! Blueberry pie cream tart was nice and tasted of fruit but was definitely a bit more dense...not sure where the cream part came into play on this one though. I've tried their basic buttercream cupcake and the cake was wonderfully moist and their buttercream frosting is like air. I love it when I eat a cupcake and I don't feel like a fat cow afterwards and Bittersweet's is perfect! I can't wait to try everything on the menu...and if it keeps drawing me back every week like it has so far...I will...
(5)Megan M.
Feeling a bit of a sweet tooth on my walk home, I stopped in and grabbed a couple of tarts - mostly chocolate. They did not disappoint! I will certainly be back to try a few more items.
(4)John G.
My favorite bakery in all of Chicago! Judy & staff do a fantastic job. They did my wedding cake last year it was one of a kind,very memorable. Love the key lime pie, chocolate souffle cake, all the fresh fruit tarts. They also have small brunch/ lunch menu that is well executed, simple fresh flavor profiles. Return anytime I'm in the area.
(5)Puja L.
Disclaimer: rating has NOTHING to do with the quality of their food!!! That said - their use of space in the cafe is terrible. I walked in here, curious about their confections...and my time in there began with me having to hold the door for a few minutes to keep from smacking others with it. There were maybe 4-5 people near the display case and I kept getting bumped from all sides as I tried to look. The cafe tables leave only a small pathway in front of the display case for customers not dining there. I walked out irritated without purchasing anything because it was just too cramped in there, and there weren't even that many customers!
(1)Nat M.
Their tarts are delicious, especially the passion fruit one. The cupcakes are good, although not their specialty.
(4)Jen R.
I LOVE & MISS this place...use to go here all the time to get cakes & whatnot for holidays & birthday;s while living in Chicago. I'm glad to be moving back...they also serve food & coffee too. There are so, so many things to look at & pick out..just wow..sometimes parking can be a hassle, but its worth it & everything always looks perfect! Check them out!
(4)Amanda B.
In short: delicious but overhyped. Lives up to its name. I have purchased and enjoyed several things from Bittersweet over the past eight years I have lived in Chicago, and my family has special ordered cakes and pastries and had a good experience. I've come in a couple times for a leisurely brunch, and the service has been less than attentive... but hey, I did say "leisurely," so I don't mind much. Cute shop, always awesome samples available to nibble, and delicious buttercream. Personally, I am not a fan of sugary, thick frostings, and prefer a lighter, creamier variety. But this brings me to my (underwhelmed) reason for posting. Having recently gone 90% gluten and dairy free, the cupcakes I once loved are few and far between. So on a whim, I stopped by today with my Mister to pick up a treat and noticed two cupcakes of interest. One was called a "Black and Tan," the other a "Birthday Cupcake." As I'm familiar with the boozier definition of a Black and Tan, and the BDay Cupcake was obscured by a layer of sprinkles, I asked what was in each. "The Black and Tan is yellow cake with a milk chocolate buttercream." (Okay, confusing name choice, I thought-- but no worries, still delish.) "And the Birthday Cupcake is yellow cake with fudge icing." So I ask a clarifying (admittedly redundant) question, "So...the frostings are different then, yeah?" Snarky McGee (I apologize. I didn't catch her real name.) behind the counter retorts tersely, "Well, the fudge is fudge and the buttercream is buttercream." Okay, so today is not my day for outstanding customer service. Fine, I carry on and order the Black and Tan. And a cookie to give to a friend. Ms. McGee proceeds to wrap both of these items together, at which point I request nicely, "Oh, I'm sorry, could you please wrap the cookie separately?" With a look of exasperation, she obliges. I pay my money and go, a bit peeved, but I can deal. Now, I have saved my cupcake for a few hours and am ready to dig in, defying the grumbly tummy I am about to face with my food intolerances. But no matter, I love their buttercream and I'm excited. I open the box...aaaaand it's the other cupcake. Not the one I ordered. Which is just kind of a letdown...and the catalyst to my writing this review. Everyone has their bad days. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone is Snarky McGee from time to time. (I believe I am worthy of that title myself with this review. Whoa, meta.) But after this experience, eh, I'm over it. Bittersweet has some damn yummy goods. But for me, it will just remain another Chicago shop to get cupcakes, and I have no plans to count on any great service.
(3)Mai D.
Bittersweet Bakery made a gorgeous three-tier white gumpaste ruffled cake for my Sept. 22, 2012 wedding and it tasted just as delicious as it looked. I chose a coconut cake with creme brulee custard filing and fresh strawberries. We had a slight snafu at the tasting as the bakery did not secure coconut cake before hand but Amy went above and beyond, cutting into a pre-made cake for us to taste. She then followed up with a small cake we picked up at a later date made with our chosen ingredients. My sister, who planned our wedding, pre-delivered a cake stand she embellished with chandelier crystals. Bittersweet was very specific with cake stand requirements, which helped my sister know what to create; Bittersweet used her custom design without a hitch. On the wedding day, the bakery gave us a five-hour window for delivery to the venue. I believe that worked out fine for the caterer and florist, who decorated the cake with fresh flowers. As for the amount of cake, I also had a dessert buffet which resulted in leftover cake. In addition to the three-tiers (10-inch, 8-inch, 6-inch rounds), I ordered two 10-inch side cakes that would be served but not put on display. Both of the side cakes were not eaten at the reception but we served them the next day at our Sunday brunch. I had a total of 127 guests so I would recommend no side cakes if you are also having a dessert bar.
(5)Melanie S.
I've been going to Bittersweet pretty much since it opened, +/- 15 years ago. It was literally heaven on earth for me. Back then it was one of the few places I could indulge my love of all things sugary, buttery, and sweet. I'm the kind of person who looks at the dessert menu at a restaurant first as it will impact my entree selection and I need to make sure I save room accordingly. Desserts have always been my raison d'etre. Maybe I've matured, maybe my palate has, maybe because there are so many bakeries now, but Bittersweet no longer holds the same allure for me. It's still good, and high quality, but nothing wows me any more. I went here yesterday with a friend intending to get a sugar fix after our efforts were thwarted by Sweet Mandy's B's being closed. We just wanted to sit someplace and enjoy something sweet while we conversed. I ordered a hot chocolate as I've had it many times and it's always been good. It's thick, has a slight orange undertone, and comes with a side of whipped cream. I was hard-pressed to find anything I wanted to go with it, but settled on a raspberry macaron. It was decent, but nothing to write home about. I've always loved Bittersweet for their savory selections of soup, sandwiches and quiche. On any given day, you can find something along the lines of a carrot thyme soup or a proscuitto and gruyere panini. Their food is well-prepared and the soup and half sandwich combo is one of the best cheap eats in the city. Hearty and satisfying. Warm and delicious. So ironically, I may not come back to a place known for desserts because I think there are better places, but I will continue to visit for their food.
(4)Zen-s-asia N.
I love this place!
(5)Keney C.
Top of the line bakery! My husband and I got our wedding cake from this bakery and it was amazing. Not only are the cakes and pastries delicious, but the service there is exceptional as well. They did a full cake tasting for us and it was great. Very helpful and attentive. Definitely one of the best, and my fav bakery esp since it has a special place in our hearts! :)
(5)Johnny R.
In short, tasty enough for a man but made for a women. :) Like many places on the North side, I've been here a few times but have not posted a review. The lady and I had lunch (or was it brunch dunno) this past Saturday. Had the Lentil Spinach soup which was very good, and a half sammy. The sandwich was turkey + harvarti cheese + caramelized onions panini style with I believe rye bread. Very good ladies. I think the sandwich would have been perfect with a little less turkey, so not really a negative for most, it was a little overstuffed and as I've been on a diet for 7 months I'm starting to get an attitude. :) Had a tort to finish up. Excellent of course. I think it was called a tort, it was a chocolate cup with raspberries in it. Service was a bit draggy but 90% of the tables were in slow dawdle mode anyway except for me of course. Go eat and proper!
(4)Dalissa B.
Someone recommended this place and I'm glad they did! The pastries are amazing and it's a really nice atmosphere. The food is good too! And their coffee.
(5)Joe A.
Sandwiches, soups and salads are unbelievable. Service is fabulous. My family came in once in the most horrid of moods. we left convinced that this is most likely the best bakery and pastry shop in the city. We've been back many times since then. Judy Contino has garnered dozens of awards over the years, and you can see, taste, sense exactly why. Thank you so much Judy and the Bittersweet team for supporting your West Coast Chicago Marathoners.
(5)Anne T.
I was blown away by the level of quality and care that was put into everything that is made at Bittersweet. The pastry shop reminds of a place in Europe. Its quality is incomparable in Chicago. Their serving size is fairly small, but it is perfect it you are looking for fine quality food that you plan to eat slowly for flavor. Bittersweet is all about enjoying refined high quality desserts in small quantities. Everything has just the right amount of cream. I absolutely hate places that try to mask quality with more cream or more sugar. Not so at Bittersweet! They truly make use of fine flavors through wonderful ingredients. I absolutely love this place!
(5)Kelly C.
This bakery has the most delectable treats with the option to take away, or enjoy at one of the french marble top tables in the store. The cakes and cupcakes have the smoothest and yummiest buttercream frosting that makes you melt inside its so good. If we had decided to do a full-on wedding cake this is the place we would have gone with. We felt they had experience and good service, with fantastic flavors to mix and match (I recommend the passionfruit filling, almond cake, and vanilla buttercream frosting). The hot chocolate here is also the real thing - imagine melted chocolate with warm milk poured over it and mixed together. Very rich, very basic, and very good.
(5)Mandy A.
I stopped in here while I was out walking around taking pictures, saw the awning and remembered a coworker told me I needed to try this place out. Continuing on my hunt for amazing cupcakes, I ventured in. First off, it's a bakery, not a cupcakery. If that's a thing. They seem to focus on all desserts here, not just cupcakes which is totally fine and good. They only had one flavor of cupcake out so I just got it, plain vanilla. I took it to go and ate it in the car while I was stuck in traffic. When I took it out of the box the top looked a little overdone but when I bit in it was surprisingly moist and not dry at all. The frosting was reaaaally sweet, it may have been the only time I took some frosting off and DID NOT EAT IT. Overall, a cute place and a pleasant cupcake but not the one I'm still looking for.
(3)Caroline A.
Holy Bananas.... Four Layer Chocolate Cake with Tiramisu filling. This might be the best thing I've ever put in my mouth. *Instantly Happy*
(5)Yaeko M.
I love this place. I stand in front of the display glass case, smiling, being indecisive which one to eat. I love small size tarts and cakes and variety.
(4)Mary T.
One hour before close all bread items are 2 for 1! 2 chocolate croissants for the price of one? There is a God and she is righteous!
(5)Hua X.
Fantastic sandwiches. Coconut macaroons are sumptuous. What pushes the place to five stars for me is the venue itself. The classical music, the clean table surfaces, and the decor combine to make Bittersweet a great place to catch up on your latest magazines.
(5)Mat M.
I've been in Bittersweet twice now and one experience was better than the other. Pros: Nicely Decorated Good Location Seating Area Mocha's Hot Chocolate and Tea Service Cons: Service is terrible, talk about bittersweet. I've experienced better cupcakes . . esp at Swedish Bakery Well I have experienced better service by far. I witnessed two people get awful service when trying to order a cake. They were seated and given books next to our table and told allegedly that someone would be by in a couple to help them. Nobody every came; so they flagged down our waitress. She told them that you have to place your order at the counter which contradicted what they were told in the beginning. A woman behind the counter came to their table and told them that she was told that they refused to come to the counter. Even if this had happened, not a professional thing to say to a customer; even more inappropriate given the fact that that was never said. Needless to say . . . The girls left without placing an order. When my party of 7 was leaving, we saw the girls again . . they were deadset to order their cake there; because they had, had good cakes there before. They were going to ask for the manager. Why the drama? There are lots of good bakeries. Go somewhere else!
(2)Jessica K.
I want to live in here. Just so you know, I am doing all of my sister's Christmas Present shopping here. Not that you care about what I'm getting my sister, but if you know someone who loves baked goods and baked good-related things, do some shopping here for them! I went here for lunch the other day, and it was pretty bangin. For a bakery, they certainly have some amazing non-bakery food. The tomato/cabbage soup was "I want the recipe" worthy, and I really liked the fresh fruit option. I thought it was a classy touch, instead of being like HERE IS A COOKIE WE ARE A BAKERY. I will be going back, not only for my sister's presents, but for a ridic amount of pastries and cookies so that I can gain back the five pounds I just lost, just in time for January 1st's "I'm totally going on a diet omg" resolution...as per everyone's usual.
(4)Cameron H.
After driving around a bit trying to find a bakery for my b-day cake, we came across Bittersweet. My partner has been here before and thought we might have luck with a cake here. So, we ended up with a yellow cake, with almond filling in between the layers and a white chocolate frosting. The cake was quite tasty and liked by all. However, the one complaint was that it was very dense. It was almost too rich for me but tasty nonetheless. Not that this matters, but when the cake was ordered, we told the person ringing up the cake the name to go on it. She said "how do you spell her name again?" We said, "the cake is for a guy." So from the time we told her that to the time she went to the back to have someone write on the cake (which was 2 minutes) we ended up with a cake with pink writing on it and pink and yellow flowers.
(3)Valerie R.
Extraordinary customer service and the most luscious & richest chocolate mousse cake all in one day! Here I was, a Last Minute Lucy to use a Groupon on expiration day and could only pick it up right about their closing time. The staff from Bittersweet blew me away with their graciousness by taking my order and payment over the phone, regardless of the fact that I wasn't the only Last Minute Groupon Lucy in town and they were swamped. About the chocolate mousse cake..it was packaged with their flagship decorations of gold-swirled chocolate panels and chewy chocolate straws, which I set aside for my birthday girl's presentation this evening. She's my best friend and will completely understand why there's already a slice missing. Love you, Kathy B.
(5)Dennis S.
Everything we bought was as good as it gets. I guess that's 5 stars! Michelle E. told me that Bittersweet Bakery has the best lemon tarts in Chicago. So when in the neighborhood, we stopped in and loaded up. It took two days to eat everything, and it was all great. Yes, the lemon tart was awesome - strong lemon tartness, perfect sticky meringue. We also bought pecan tarts, fruit tarts, and cookies. The crusts were excellent - something rare these days. The fillings were rich and wonderful. We weren't there for lunch or coffee - we were there for the bakery products. And they were fabulous. To comment on Chris J.'s first and only Yelp review, posted several days ago, about the racist owner of Bittersweet: I suggest there is some misunderstanding. The owner of Bittersweet is a "she," not a "he." Your review referred to "he" and "his." So whatever man chased you away was not the owner. I agree that racist store owners should not be supported. But please be sure of your facts before making such casual but destructive comments. As for me, I'll be looking for excuses to be on Belmont and try more of the huge selection of pastries Bittersweet offers.
(5)Star L.
After a very filling Indian lunch, I came here for dessert. I walked past Bittersweet when I was out with a friend a few weeks ago, and made a mental note to check it out as I was going to be in the area. For some reason, I thought they would have cake slices, but that wasn't the case. No problem: I am a pastry whore and wanted some sugary goodness no matter what! There's a variety of different items around the store (cookies, biscotti, tortes, etc.) and they also serve food (such as soup, salad, and sandwiches), but it felt cramped inside, especially with the people dining in (I was there on a Saturday afternoon). Not a lot of tables are inside, so don't make plans to go there with a big group unless you get there early. I ordered the banana cream pie cupcake, which cost $3.25 and was the size of a tennis ball (it is considered a signature cupcake). I took a bite and initially thought it would be that cold, hard frosting that has a medicine taste, but it was actually buttery and fairly light. Not too sweet, but not bland. The cake had a banana nut bread taste to it, and the middle of the cake had real bananas (which I usually don't eat because of it's texture, but found it to be quite tasty). There is a cupcake schedule: 3 different ones on sale everyday (NOTE: they're closed on Mondays). All in all, it wasn't the best cupcake in the world, but it wasn't terrible. It's a short walking distance from the Belmont Red Line, so if you're in the area and craving a sweet, check them out.
(3)Erica L.
We used Bittersweet for our wedding cake back in May. We met Judy at the tasting back in December. She was very friendly and patient with us as we tasted the different flavors and frostings. She gave great recommendations on flavor combinations. When we told her we loved salted caramel, she was able to incorporate that flavor into our cake. The final product was a delicious 4-tier cake of alternating layers of almond and fudge cake with caramel sauce and salted caramel buttercream frosting. Also, since my husband and I share a love for zombies, we asked her if it would be possible to make a zombie decorated cake. Judy and her team were able to deliver - customizing our cake to have 4 characters (my husband and I wielding a chainsaw and baseball bat respectively) on the top layer and the maid of honor and best man as zombies trying to climb up the other layers of cake. They were even able to match characters' outfits/dresses to our own. We were able to order a tasting cake a few weeks before the wedding to taste the combinations and make adjustments. Judy was very receptive and flexible with the changes we wanted to make. Our wedding cake was moist, delicious, and just the way we envisioned it would taste and look. My only comment would be I felt we were the ones who had to reach out to them in the week(s) leading up to our wedding. They had some difficulty via email sending us the contract several times. When we ordered the tasting cake, they said someone would contact us a week before the wedding to finalize the details. Judy called us a few days before the wedding. They also forgot to take the price of the tasting cake off the total as promised. Instead they gave us credit. Little things aside, we were happy with how our cake turned out and plan to order another one for our first-year anniversary...using our credit!
(4)Jennie T.
First of all, I'm not a fan of desserts. The first time I came here, it was on a date -- I have to say though that I was pretty amused that the guy wanted to come here. The moment I walked inside, I was hit with nostalgia of my trip to Paris. The place reminds me of this bakery I used to go to with my aunt to buy our daily bread. It has a cute and delicate atmosphere. Very quaint. I like it. The coffee comes in this huge round bowl-like mug on little coffee plates with a little coffee spoon. You could order your desserts and they'd bring it out to you on these little plates. The service, as you can imagine, is great. I'm not exactly a fan of their actual baked goods though. Yeah, they're pretty and cute. But it's just mediocre. There's nothing in this bakery that really blows me away. Still, it's a nice place to go to have cookies and coffee. Bring a book or something to read. Sit and act as though you're escaping to somewhere in Paris (or anywhere in Europe for that matter).
(4)Danielle T.
To preface, the star rating is based on the customer service received only. I ordered the Red Velvet cake and it was absolutely delicious. If it weren't for the extremely poor customer experience - I would definitely visit again and recommend to others. However, please read below.... I purchased the Bittersweet Groupon several months ago and recently ordered a cake. After I printed the deal, I noticed that twice on the form it lists delivery is included (copy/pasted below). I placed the order 48 hours in advance and then the day of noticed the delivery comments on the print out. I called there and just inquired if there the delivery was included, in which I was abruptly told no it was not and the Groupon was incorrect. After reading the associate, Amy, the info below, I was put on hold and then told in a very rude tone to "Take it up with Groupon". This was to my surprise as I wasn't expecting such a curt response. (Side note: I called the same day I was picking up the order, I didn't mention this part on the phone and just asked about the deal first... clearly would have understood if it was just not allowed on a same day pick-up). When I went into the store, I spoke to the manager who informed me they've had numerous issues with the Groupon deal and the way it was featured online. I explained what happened on the phone and mentioned how I didn't appreciate the lack of customer service received, especially being a new customer. She apologized but that was it. From a merchant's perspective, if your company was not featured the way that you negotiated and approved your contract - then you should probably take that up with Groupon and not suggest your customer does. Also, as stated above I purchased this offer months ago - if you've experienced issues numerous times, this should be addressed. It's unfortunate because the product produced is top of the line, but the combination of the defensive reaction received with the customer service has shied me away from giving repeat business. GROUPON READS AS FOLLOWS: Fine Print: Limit 3 per person. Limit 1 per visit, limit 1 per order. Not valid for dining in cafe. New customers only. Must purchase 1 food item. Must use in 1 visit. Tax and gratuity not included. Not valid with other offers. Delivery fee included. How to use this: 1. Print Groupon (or pull it up with our mobile app). 2. Call (773) 929-1100 for delivery order, mention Groupon.
(2)Angela G.
This is a message to Angela, I heart you. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to head over to Bittersweet. My friend and I decided to stop at Bittersweet because we couldn't find a place to have lunch. Then I remembered I had a groupon for $20. The groupon was for baked goods only, which was fine with me. A great little sweet shop. Very clean and cute. I love the big display cases so your able to see all the products. We went at a time when they wasn't too crowded. They were a little busy but it wasn't that bad. I think people were mostly having lunch in the little cafe area. This was my first time in this shop and I wasn't really familiar with their products. This is where the sweet fairy Angela comes in. She answered every question I had, explained some of the ingredients used in the products and made some great recommendations. I was about to buy 3 regular shortbread cookies when they had chocolate dipped heart shaped shortbread cookies for half off. Did I mention they were delicious? She really knew the products and was very friendly. We talked like we were old friends. She took her time with us and didn't rush us to finish our purchase. It's a big plus also that we have the same name. Everything I purchased was delicious. Never had that happen before. One or two things is usually nasty. I had shortbread cookies, an individual cheesecake and angel food cake. My girl had a brownie and sugar cookies. She said it was so good and it must have been because she devoured it. I can't wait to go back and try something new. I hope Angela is working that day.
(5)Kwoky L.
I have always been a fan of this bakery since my friend shared their delicious cheesecake with us. So, when I needed a cake for a surprise birthday party, I placed an order with them. They gave me a list of choices for the cake flavors, fillings, finishes and any additional garnishes, fruits etc. There's plenty to choose from but I ended up with a coconut cake with passion fruit curd filling and vanilla buttercream. I honestly have no idea what to expect because I have such bad experiences with sheet cakes and layer cakes elsewhere. But the cake was delicious! The cake was not soft and crumbly but it was firm enough to my liking. The flavor combination was excellent (I chose it, lol) and the overall sweetness was perfect! An 8 inch cake for $30 fed at least 16 people with some leftover. Couldn't ask for a better cake. The staff were very helpful but don't seem very friendly. It's great that they are serious with what they are doing but I don't think they like to smile at all. I'll be back, nevertheless, to try other pastry creations like their flourless chocolate mousse cake. I make a pretty mean version but I am curious to see how theirs tastes like.
(4)Annie Y.
Adorable little bakery we stumbled upon after Pride. They have a lovely little display case of cookies and tortes. They've also got ice cream and sorbet which they give to you in a container lined with chocolate. I got the flourless chocolate cake, and it was probably one of the best I've ever had. It wasn't heavy or overly sweet, and the crunchiness inside the cake made for an interesting eating experience. I also got a couple of shortbread cookies, which were just okay -- a little brand and dry. My friend's red velvet cupcake was delicious, though. Prices are very fair (cupcakes are 2 for the price of 1!).
(4)Linda C.
The shop itself is very cute, immaculately clean, & the folks that work there are really really nice. I know they offer other baked goods, but i am usually blinded by the cupcakes to even take note of what's there. How can you not love a place that has a cupcake flavor of the day? The last one I happened to have was a s'mores cupcake: a little handful of heavenly chocolate cake with marshmallow filling and a graham cracker frosting. The sounds I made after the first bite were nearly pornographic. I really had to tone it down because I was at work and that can be really embarrassing...not to mention a little unprofessional (well, at least in my industry). Today, I got a cake for a friend's birthday that i work with. They had a decent selection and personalized & decorated it really quickly. It was a chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and vanilla butter cream. If that sounds good to you, trust me it tastes even better. It was really a pretty cake before we all destroyed it at work. And this time I wasn't the only one being unprofessional in my enjoyment.
(4)Becky K.
Bittersweet only gets two stars from me because a) their cake was pretty decent and b) the girl at the counter was pleasant. Aside from that, I have to say our cake tasting experience was underwhelming if not disappointing. We were on time for our appointment and waited for about 30 min for someone to come to meet with us. The woman with whom we spoke to constantly was looking at her watch and looked annoyed that we were even there. My friend (who was late to the tasting, but we had started without her) had a nut allergy and they couldn't even tell us if the carrot cake had nuts in it or not. To make matters worse, they told us that they likely cut the cakes with the same knife, so there was likely to be 'cross contamination' from the cake with nuts to the non-nut cakes. At the end of our appointment we were told, "ok, I have to go, I have guests at my house" and were ushered out the door. I understand that we were at the end of the day but this time slot was offered to us and WE were on time. After hearing such wonderful things about this bakery we left with a feeling of disappointment and discontent about the service and product we would have gotten. Perhaps we will give it another chance since it is in our neighborhood, but it will not be for a wedding cake.
(2)Jimmy B.
This place seems to be more of a catering business masquerading as a sit & eat restaurant. The food was good, the service could use some help. Words for the owners, "if the lunch menu is about to be made available, don't make your patrons order from the breakfast menu while telling them you are out of half the items."
(3)alicia g.
I finally walked inside Bittersweet for the first time this Wednesday and it was great! The only problem I have at this place is deciding what to get-I want it all. After deciding on the cupcake of the day I was VERY satisfied, and my boyfriend loved them as well. This place is going to be a permanent pitstop when I'm in the neighborhood.
(5)Purnima M.
This is what chocolate mousse cakes dream of being when they grow up. Absolutely delicious. The cheery, stylish store front and tasty salad/sandwich options make waiting for dessert more bearable. Wish this place were closer to home!
(4)Maysem H.
Best bakery in Chicago without a doubt!!! And I've tried a lot of places! I've been going to Bittersweet for about 7 years. A friend had introduced me to it. She had ordered a celebration cake...AMAZING!!!! So since then Bittersweet has become my fave bakery! I live in the suburbs...about a 40/45 min drive for me...so worth it!! Each time I go there I try something different....and so far no disappointments. At times I've had their lunches...their soups are amazing!!! Last weekend I went and tried one of their cupcakes for the first time...I have no idea what took me this long to try a cupcake. It was the chocolate covered strawberry (strawberry cake with chocolate ganache frosting)...Exceptional! I'm going to make sure to get a different cupcake each time:D Fave celebration cake to get is hazelnut cake with creme brulee and fresh strawberries..and covered in chocolate glaze. Be sure to also try their macarons...my fave is the chocolate.
(5)Martha-Victoria D.
It pains me to give two stars but I had to do it. All their stuff is awesome by the way, the cakes and cookies are delicious. The small tarts are my absolute favorite...the strawberry custard tart is sex on a plate. I give it two stars because the service is TERRIBLE. The last time i was there was to get a small birthday cake. It took almost an hour. I walk in there and they have numbers you take but no one acknowledges your presence. Not even eye contact. At least say, "Hey, I'll be right with you." Lie to me, it makes me feel better. Or at least smile and nod....do something. And when you do finally get to people, say something like, "Sorry for the grueling one hour wait." Instead, they leisurely walk around like there isn't a herd of people waiting to be serviced. It's incredibly rude. It's to the point that although their cakes would be my first choice, i CANNOT STAND the idea of having to put up with the horrible, slow, rude service for a $40 six inch cake. The pricing wouldn't be so painful if the service was better. I had always dreamt of a wedding cake from here but I'm so peeved about the service I wouldn't want to give them the business. Next cake I need, I'm praying Dinkel's is open.
(2)Candace M.
This is one of my favorite bakeries...the tarts are wonderful, the cakes are delicious and Suanne is great! I would recommend this bakery to anyone having a special event!
(5)s s.
We ordered our wedding cake and 90% of our dessert table from Bittersweet this past May and it definitely made for some great food memories of our big day. Everything from our tasting with Judy, to the actual final deliverables of the cake and desserts were handled with care and resulted in the most magical wedding cake I had ever tasted. Honestly. Not only was it beautiful, it tasted every bit as good as it looked. My plan is to order a mini-version of the cake on our anniversary every year and relive the good times. The only thing I wish were different was that I thought I ordered mini raspberry fruit tarts for the dessert table but was surprised that I received raspberry macarons instead. It was an honest mistake - but no worries - they were gobbled up just the same. Thank you Judy and crew!
(5)Misse D.
What an amazing pastry shop. The desserts are delicious! This is a great place to stop in and get something. I wouldn't recommend the cafe for lunch though. It was difficult to get a table and the seats are sort of uncomfortable. And, if you order a sandwich, speciality drink, and dessert, the bill quickly adds up.
(4)P W.
Uh oh, why didn't I have a heavenly experience here?!?! I popped in on Sunday to pick up holiday cookies for friends coming over last night. My favorite holiday cookies are the crazy decorated sugar cookies with icing or sprinkly sugar on top. Well, I zipped out w/ one dozen cookies to the tune of $36 dollars (hello?) and that same night, we bit into these ROCK HARD cookies. They were not even pleasant to eat, my friends and I were wiggling our teef w/ our tongues all night to make sure none of our choppers broke off and the rest of the cookies are going in the garbage. For $36 dollars a dozen, please make the cookies edible. I won't go back, if they cannot get a basic/staple like sugar cookies right. Part One of "The Nightmare Before Xmas - Cookie Style".
(2)Beau C.
their flourless chocolate cake is the BEST!!
(5)Stephanie H.
I picked up desserts for a Saturday evening get together. I can't wait to have an excuse to go back to this place. The desserts were great! I spent about $25, (5 girls)...I had 6 tarts (they were sooo good!), lemon bar and truffles. It was enough...I served with Strawberries. I went first thing Saturday morning. I highly recommend for pickup desserts!
(5)Carol B.
In all my years living in Chicago, I never found a better bakery than Bittersweet. It's always great. Consistently great and a real French Patisserie.
(5)Lise P.
ginger-peach scones are delicious! great coffee, hot chocolate the frosted cookies are so darn cute!
(4)Parker L.
My first experience with Bittersweet, was last christmas when I was given a large tin of their cookies from a Vendor of mine at work. They were so cute, and tasted great. Since I have ordered a tart and pie, and have not been dissappointed. Very crowded in there sometimes. But worth the visit.
(4)Retired B.
They have TONS of cookies, moreso than pastries. I had the french sable, linzer, thumbprint and shortbread. All were really tasty. I also tasted a tart, and the cream or curd was very flavorful. Too bad the sizes weren't that generous. The shop also has plenty of tables as well as cutesy non-food things to look at/buy.
(4)Laila K.
This place is beautiful, very French inspired, marble floors and tables. small cafe tables, classical music playing (not too loud that it interrupts conversation). They carry Harney & Sons tea, which I love. They also sell lucious baked goods. The quiche is maybe the best I've ever had, with the most absolutely perfect crust hearty buttery crisp but not overdone. the vanilla cake with creme anglaise was equally wonderful, the cake wasn't too sweet and the anglaise had a slight lemony tang which complimented perfectly. don't even get me started about the flourless chocolate souffle. the service is good too, not pretentious, definitely more cafe/deli style than full service restaurant, they bring you your food and leave you in peace to enjoy the ambience.
(5)Whitney B.
After always walking past this place when it's closed, I happened to go by when it was open and had to go inside. I ordered a keylime cupcake and a raspberry scone. The cupcake was like eating a slice of key lime pie. I wasn't expecting much from it, but it surprised me with how good it was! and the scone was delicious. Reminded me of the scones that my grandma used to make me. The inside of this place was not what I was expecting, especially after going to cupcake places like Bleeding Heart and Sweet Mandy B's. It's very nice and somewhat fancy inside. Reminded me more of place you'd take your mom and grandma to for tea than somewhere you'd go with your friends for a snack. It was a nice, but unexpected change in bakery scenery for me. Reminded me of a french cafe sort of. The service here was nothing to write home about, but it wasn't terrible. The girls just seemed very unhappy to be dealing with anyone trying to give them business. Maybe it was a long day. Either way, I'd definitely go back for a scone or two, and maybe to try one of the lemon bars. They looked quite delicious when i was in.
(3)R P.
I ordered a cake for my father's birthday party this past weekend, and I have to say it was just fabulous. I ordered a Black Walnut cake with cream cheese filling and frosting with apricot preserves! The cake was absolutely stunning and it couldn't have tasted better! Everyone at the event was raving about how delicious it was, which normally doesn't happen in my group. It was a great cake and as always, Bittersweet didn't disappoint!
(4)Natalie S.
I first visited this place 8 1/2 months pregnant and wanting chocolate and lots of it. A woman next to me in line, whom I now refer to as "that brilliant goddess at Bittersweet last February" suggested the raspberry ganche tart and OH MY GOD. I will always love that woman. Everything I have ever had from this place was 5-star. Oh, and their Halooween coffin cookies are a horror nerd-slash- pastry weirdo's dream come true.
(5)Jaclyn D.
We chose Bittersweet to make our wedding cake and it came out beautiful! It sure was delicious too! We had two flavors and both of them were outstanding. My husband even asks if we can get a taster cake each month. We loved it! We worked with Sue Anne and she was so nice and helpful. We were so happy with our wedding cake!
(5)Candace T.
Best cakes ever! We've ordered two for special occasions in the last year, and they are the hit of the party. This past time we had banana cake, creme brulee and fresh raspberry filling, and chocolate glaze icing. AAAh-mazing!!!
(5)Kristina F.
Bittersweet has a broad and gorgeous collection of truly delicious baked goods. They are the only bakery in Chicago that I have seen who's fondant artist rivals Alliance. My last birthday cake (chocolate filled with raspberry and some sort of vanilla creme, covered with dark chocolate ganache) was from here- It was gigantic, pretty and full of chocolatey goodness. They also have a selection of great gifts and candies.
(5)Brad C.
This place is the perfect combination of atmosphere, service, and fare! We have not had an even mediocre treat from Bittersweet. Everything we've eaten there-cookies, bars, cakes, cupcakes, and brownies-has been spectacular. The staff provides outstanding service, always going the extra step to insure a delightful experience. Last night, we picked up my wife's birthday cake and decided to enjoy a slice at the cafe. The server decorated our plates meticulously; she removed the birthday wishes that were mounted on piece of chocolate atop the cake and placed the piece instead on my wife's plate with whipped cream and fruit glaze. Another server spent a good 10 minutes helping a tourist couple with recommendations and directions on a map. They are always incredibly accommodating and friendly, even at closing time. With an exposed brick interior painted white, the atmosphere has a very European feel. We actually schedule our dinner selections and reservations around Bittersweet's location, hours, and offerings.
(5)Simone G.
walked in, walked out. Don't go if you're into vanilla, because you will have nothing available.
(1)Stephanie B.
I cannot begin to say enough good things about Bittersweet. We used them for a sweets table last week for my wedding and we could not have been happier. My mom worked as a dessert caterer for years and between her tastes and my opinions, we pretty much walked into Bittersweet for our sweets table tasting with our own agenda of what we wanted to see made. Though I'm sure this threw Bittersweet off a bit, they took our list and created each dessert as we envisioned it. They were open to our ideas and recommended some of theirs that would compliment it and the whole display and taste of every dessert was wonderful looking and tasted great. We couldn't be happier with how it turned out, and we received more compliments than we could possibly count about the desserts. It seems the majority of our guests could not stop at one plateful of the desserts and we're so happy everyone enjoyed it as much as we did. I would highly recommend using Bittersweet if you're looking for a selection of different, fun, and wonderful tasting sweets! I'm still craving the miniature pumpkin whoopie pies they created for our big day :):
(5)L N.
never disappoints and the most beautiful, exquisite cakes....
(5)Joyce B.
I recently sampled a few things from this shop. I used to pass it all the time on the way home, and even stopped in once before to buy some brioche for making french toast. Unforch, they didn't have any. BUT this time, I tried a chocolate-caramel truffle lollipop, an apricot thumbprint, and a hazelnut ball cookie. The two cookies were just ok, they were a bit dry and made me really need a glass of water. No delicious buttery melt-in-your-mouth taste, just dry dough. The truffle was better, though. It was slightly larger than a regular one, and the chocolate and caramel were so combined that I actually had to stare at it to find out what crazy flavorness was going on in there. I would get that again.
(2)Ross F.
The flourless chocolate cake is so good you might fall into a cocoa-induced coma. The staff is a little pretentious but who cares when you're talking about seriously great dessert.
(5)Gail T.
very nice counter ladies.. lovely pastries. ordered two cakes for loved ones there! they were both beautifully finished with buttercream with a nice neat look. you can create your own cake: pick your own buttercream (fondant is optional), cake filling: creme brulee custard to chocolate mouse, cake flavor: chocolate, to fruitcake with optional ingrediants within the filling like my favorite rasberry!! never seen anything like it. better of all you can choose the size which is a good price factor. the cheapest you could get is for four people $25. I usually get mine for $40 and they feed up to 12 people which i believe is a great deal. street parking but there is a loading spot rite in front of the store.
(5)Daria Z.
Although this place is obviously a great bakery, they also serve as a mini-cafe. They have all sorts of lunch specials and the smells here are awesome. The pastry shop is award-winning and has been featured on WTTW's "Check, Please."
(4)Chris S.
Super little cafe and bakery in Lakeview. Great pastries. Everything that comes out of the oven here is amazing, from cookies to wedding cakes. Small lunch menu with excellent food on it as well.
(5)a w.
Bittersweet is a great bakery, probably the best in town. They have really tasty deserts, and they all look as good as they taste. This bakery also has a little cafe inside where you can sit and enjoy some coffee and desert. They also take orders for weddings and other events. Don't miss out on this great little bakery!
(5)Liliana S.
FANTASTIC pastry shop. I just got to indulge in the wonderful world of pastries and chocolates from Bittersweet last week and my oh my was it ever so good. I definitely will be going back for more goodies!
(5)ashley r.
i walked past this place and just couldnt resist! it looked yummy from the outside! my coffee and cookie hit my craving for an afternoon snack. good crowd and the free cake samples are fun too!
(4)Brian L.
I am about to move to the Belmont/Clark area, so I have been sampling several of the neighborhood hotspots. My girlfriend and I went to Bittersweet for lunch and both of us loved our meals! She had a grilled cheese & mushroom sandwich. I had a slice of ham & cheese quiche - very big and buttery. We split a couple of sweets from the case because they looked too good to resist. The food was fabulous, the staff was friendly, and the place was spacious and clean. 5 stars!
(5)G G.
It's overwhelming- every detail on every pastry is artistically designed- from poodle cookies to fanned fruit tarts. A definite treat.
(5)Julia B.
Awesome Bakery! The Cakes are amazing and the cookies are to die for. If you are looking for a large portion of bakery goods I would suggest stopping in here!
(3)Yesy D.
If you go in here I recommend the Elvis. It is the best tasting cupcake I have ever had! It is a banana bread with peanut butter and light whipped cream. It was definitely yummy goodness. I want to go back and try other things.
(4)Secky B.
We used Bittersweet Bakery for our July Chicago wedding. My mother in law had gotten us both cakes (birthday and shower) from Bittersweet and we fell in love before we even want in for our tasting. When we did have it.. we were set up by Nancy F., who brought all their different cakes and frosting for us to sample, as well as their sweet table. We got cupcakes for our guests with a cutting cake... and it was SO beautiful. All the guest loved them.... unfortunately we were so busy at the wedding we didnt get a chance to eat any... but our caterer made sure to box a few up for us to enjoy the nexy day. I'm a Chicagoan, so I have had long standing loyalties to my neighborhood bakeries... but Bittersweet won me over. The presentation and quality is better than I've seen anywhere, and the customer service was flawless. They were more expensive than some, less expensive than others.. but worth every penny. Thank you!!!
(5)April P.
Site #2 of great Chicago macaron test. Yelp pointed me to the direction of this bakery upon the name search, but not too much information on variety. Well, I am here to tell you that Bittersweet has macarons, but only about 4 different flavors available! Disappointing and pale in comparison to Vanille's in categories of taste, variety, and flavors. Also they cost about $0.25 more than Vanille's batch. I also purchased a crème brule that a friend of mine pointed out wasn't even "brulee'd" or torched. Ahhh, slight mishap there....but made the world of a difference with the dessert. Not so appealing anymore, completely killed the texture factor Their cookies are really good, but if I were to base this review on the macaroons and brule alone, it's a 3.
(3)Bernice D.
I love Bittersweet! I recently was here looking for treats to bring for a halloween party. We really particularly enjoyed the smores cupcakes (marshmallow frosting, chocolate mouse in the middle with a gram-cracker cake like bottom). You really can't go wrong with anything here. I also like that you can sit down and get a sandwich or drink while you are there.
(4)Kelly S.
Solid! The place was a zoo and a bit disorganized with no one sure where to stand to get a table for lunch vs. line for bakery goods. But, when we finally got a spot, I had the most delicious broccoli basil soup. REALLY good. That in combination with the grilled ham and cheese and beet salad side made for a perfect lunch. Very small menu - just one soup, a couple sandwiches and a few sides plus quiche but quality ingredients.
(3)Stella A.
I was introduced to Bittersweet Pastry Shop at a bridal show I went to last year. Bittersweet, among several venders, was sampling an assortment of mini cupcakes. Each Bittersweet cupcake I tried was better than the one before. They were wonderfully flavored and so damn cute too. I couldn't wait to go and try out the actual bakery. Fast forward a year (what?! I was super focused on my diet, I didn't want any temptation!). I met up with some friends here recently (finally!). I was so flipping excited to see what other amazingness Bittersweet had to offer. First off, the bakery itself is very cute. It had sort of a vintagey feel to it. One half of the place was a little store that displayed gifts and little knick knacks for sale. The gift area was divided by theme. They had a wedding section, which had really cute cookies you can give as favors. There was a baby section with cookies shaped as teddy bears in blue and pink. Everything was really cute. The other half of Bittersweet is a cafe where you can grab a bite to eat. It was a smallish area with maybe 12-15 tables. The front counter was impressive. They had a plethora of different kinds of cookies, bars, and other sweets to chose from. Some were elaborately decorated (i.e. a sugar cookie in the shape of a hot pink glittery poodle) and other were very simple. Everything looked great. Everything tasted great too. I decided to get their peanut butter chocolate ganache cake. It was awesome of course. As was the raspberry cake my friend ordered. I was really happy with their sweets. Their service, on the other hand, was not impressive. At the time I arrived, while the cafe half of Bittersweet was busy, the counter was not. In fact they didn't have any customers at the counter or in the gift area, except for my friend who arrived before I did. The staff behind the counter-I counted two- didn't even greet me. My friend arrived early and had been waiting there for awhile and wasn't greeted or acknowledged by the staff behind the counter. I asked her if she let someone know that we wanted a table. She said that she told the sole waiter and he told her in a not so friendly way that it was first come first serve. I understand that working a full cafe all on your own can be super stressful, but the least he could have done was told her about the sign in sheet so that we could be next in line for an open table. He didn't do that. Nor did the people behind the counter (I counted 3 at this point) even though they had seen my friend waiting around the gift area for awhile. It was when I asked one of the girls behind the counter about getting a table when we were finally told about the sign in sheet. The 3 behind the counter didn't seem to care about basic customer service since none of them cracked a smile or even tried to be pleasant. The waiter did get better when we finally sat down and ordered. However, the overall experience was not good enough for me to want to return. Disappointing.
(2)Sawyer L.
This is the best little place in East Lakeview west of the Belmont Red Line station to have a light and healthy lunch or a quick business meeting over lunch. Every daily special includes some side salad. On one occasion, I had a hearty tuna sandwich with a cold lentil salad and still had plenty of room for a chocolate-carmel tart.
(5)Deena D.
I pre-ordered a King's Cake at Bittersweet and it was a huge hit at the office. I've stopped in here many times before and just note 1) not open on Mondays 2) pretty busy on weekends. As soon as you walk in I would look for the number counter and grab one as you decide on what you want to kill your waistline with ;) There is a small seated area where you can sit and have cawfee talk / eat some grub / etc. This would be a nice alternative to your usual cafe for work or studying. They had a wide array of bakery items and it looked liked the have specials for yesterdays cupcakes. They have a select amount of lunch items as well as ice cream and coffee in addition - yay everyone can find something they want! PS They also had some cute gift items, cards, etc. hence making it a nice one stop shop before you're headed to any parties bearing gifts.
(4)Kristen D.
Only bought one of the day old foccacia breads and it was pretty tasty. This shop has a whole slew of things, ranging from bakery treats, to a handful of lunch menu items, to favors for showers and mini toys and trinkets. Very cute little place!
(3)Victoria R.
Ugh, it actually sucks to write this review because my fiancée and I used to come here every weekend! In the last year or so the cupcakes have gone from moist and delicate to dry bricks, so we stopped getting them. The savory meals (sandwiches, salads, etc) have gotten bland and terribly inconsistent. It makes me think that they must have an ENTIRELY new baking/ cooking staff???! But, we pressed on and went back. Now, the part that really sucks....the service has gone from friendly and helpful to non existent. The last 5 x's we've gone, we have had to beg for the check, and usually end up going to the counter and asking for it. Waters aren't getting refilled, orders are not getting taken....To me, poor service is understandable in a cafe when it's swamped--NOT when you are two of three guests. Just stinks. :(
(2)Courtney W.
Fantastic brunch/lunch spot! So adorable! I left lunch with several little goodies for friends and co-workers :) Your mouth will drool as soon as you walk in and are immediately drawn to the pastry bar! Mmmmmm....
(5)Puja L.
Disclaimer: rating has NOTHING to do with the quality of their food!!! That said - their use of space in the cafe is terrible. I walked in here, curious about their confections...and my time in there began with me having to hold the door for a few minutes to keep from smacking others with it. There were maybe 4-5 people near the display case and I kept getting bumped from all sides as I tried to look. The cafe tables leave only a small pathway in front of the display case for customers not dining there. I walked out irritated without purchasing anything because it was just too cramped in there, and there weren't even that many customers!
(1)Nat M.
Their tarts are delicious, especially the passion fruit one. The cupcakes are good, although not their specialty.
(4)Jen R.
I LOVE & MISS this place...use to go here all the time to get cakes & whatnot for holidays & birthday;s while living in Chicago. I'm glad to be moving back...they also serve food & coffee too. There are so, so many things to look at & pick out..just wow..sometimes parking can be a hassle, but its worth it & everything always looks perfect! Check them out!
(4)Allison V.
ran in for a sandwich to go with a friend. the sandwich was awesome. a little pricey and took a long time to make, but well worth it. service was friendly and prompt. bike parking out front on the street. i would go here again and try something on the sweet side. everything look delish.
(4)Amanda B.
In short: delicious but overhyped. Lives up to its name. I have purchased and enjoyed several things from Bittersweet over the past eight years I have lived in Chicago, and my family has special ordered cakes and pastries and had a good experience. I've come in a couple times for a leisurely brunch, and the service has been less than attentive... but hey, I did say "leisurely," so I don't mind much. Cute shop, always awesome samples available to nibble, and delicious buttercream. Personally, I am not a fan of sugary, thick frostings, and prefer a lighter, creamier variety. But this brings me to my (underwhelmed) reason for posting. Having recently gone 90% gluten and dairy free, the cupcakes I once loved are few and far between. So on a whim, I stopped by today with my Mister to pick up a treat and noticed two cupcakes of interest. One was called a "Black and Tan," the other a "Birthday Cupcake." As I'm familiar with the boozier definition of a Black and Tan, and the BDay Cupcake was obscured by a layer of sprinkles, I asked what was in each. "The Black and Tan is yellow cake with a milk chocolate buttercream." (Okay, confusing name choice, I thought-- but no worries, still delish.) "And the Birthday Cupcake is yellow cake with fudge icing." So I ask a clarifying (admittedly redundant) question, "So...the frostings are different then, yeah?" Snarky McGee (I apologize. I didn't catch her real name.) behind the counter retorts tersely, "Well, the fudge is fudge and the buttercream is buttercream." Okay, so today is not my day for outstanding customer service. Fine, I carry on and order the Black and Tan. And a cookie to give to a friend. Ms. McGee proceeds to wrap both of these items together, at which point I request nicely, "Oh, I'm sorry, could you please wrap the cookie separately?" With a look of exasperation, she obliges. I pay my money and go, a bit peeved, but I can deal. Now, I have saved my cupcake for a few hours and am ready to dig in, defying the grumbly tummy I am about to face with my food intolerances. But no matter, I love their buttercream and I'm excited. I open the box...aaaaand it's the other cupcake. Not the one I ordered. Which is just kind of a letdown...and the catalyst to my writing this review. Everyone has their bad days. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone is Snarky McGee from time to time. (I believe I am worthy of that title myself with this review. Whoa, meta.) But after this experience, eh, I'm over it. Bittersweet has some damn yummy goods. But for me, it will just remain another Chicago shop to get cupcakes, and I have no plans to count on any great service.
(3)Mai D.
Bittersweet Bakery made a gorgeous three-tier white gumpaste ruffled cake for my Sept. 22, 2012 wedding and it tasted just as delicious as it looked. I chose a coconut cake with creme brulee custard filing and fresh strawberries. We had a slight snafu at the tasting as the bakery did not secure coconut cake before hand but Amy went above and beyond, cutting into a pre-made cake for us to taste. She then followed up with a small cake we picked up at a later date made with our chosen ingredients. My sister, who planned our wedding, pre-delivered a cake stand she embellished with chandelier crystals. Bittersweet was very specific with cake stand requirements, which helped my sister know what to create; Bittersweet used her custom design without a hitch. On the wedding day, the bakery gave us a five-hour window for delivery to the venue. I believe that worked out fine for the caterer and florist, who decorated the cake with fresh flowers. As for the amount of cake, I also had a dessert buffet which resulted in leftover cake. In addition to the three-tiers (10-inch, 8-inch, 6-inch rounds), I ordered two 10-inch side cakes that would be served but not put on display. Both of the side cakes were not eaten at the reception but we served them the next day at our Sunday brunch. I had a total of 127 guests so I would recommend no side cakes if you are also having a dessert bar.
(5)Melanie S.
I've been going to Bittersweet pretty much since it opened, +/- 15 years ago. It was literally heaven on earth for me. Back then it was one of the few places I could indulge my love of all things sugary, buttery, and sweet. I'm the kind of person who looks at the dessert menu at a restaurant first as it will impact my entree selection and I need to make sure I save room accordingly. Desserts have always been my raison d'etre. Maybe I've matured, maybe my palate has, maybe because there are so many bakeries now, but Bittersweet no longer holds the same allure for me. It's still good, and high quality, but nothing wows me any more. I went here yesterday with a friend intending to get a sugar fix after our efforts were thwarted by Sweet Mandy's B's being closed. We just wanted to sit someplace and enjoy something sweet while we conversed. I ordered a hot chocolate as I've had it many times and it's always been good. It's thick, has a slight orange undertone, and comes with a side of whipped cream. I was hard-pressed to find anything I wanted to go with it, but settled on a raspberry macaron. It was decent, but nothing to write home about. I've always loved Bittersweet for their savory selections of soup, sandwiches and quiche. On any given day, you can find something along the lines of a carrot thyme soup or a proscuitto and gruyere panini. Their food is well-prepared and the soup and half sandwich combo is one of the best cheap eats in the city. Hearty and satisfying. Warm and delicious. So ironically, I may not come back to a place known for desserts because I think there are better places, but I will continue to visit for their food.
(4)Zen-s-asia N.
I love this place!
(5)Keney C.
Top of the line bakery! My husband and I got our wedding cake from this bakery and it was amazing. Not only are the cakes and pastries delicious, but the service there is exceptional as well. They did a full cake tasting for us and it was great. Very helpful and attentive. Definitely one of the best, and my fav bakery esp since it has a special place in our hearts! :)
(5)Jen P.
I cannot say enough about Bittersweet and the process of choosing our wedding cake! First, the tasting itself is the most fun you'll have eating cake. We tried countless cakes, filling and icings and it was delightful!! We decided to a do a bunch of smaller six in cakes all decorated differently which allowed us to choose three different flavors. The Red Velvet with cream cheese filling/frosting was amazing but my favorite was the Almond Cake with a Mocha filling. If you love coffee, this is your cake. We also did a few cakes in a chocolate cake with white chocolate filling which was delightful and really not as rich as you'd think. I left the decorating up to the professionals after giving them ideas on what I liked. The cakes were delivered to the to the reception during the ceremony so I didn't get to see the cakes before the guest. As soon as I arrived, guests were coming up to me telling how beautiful the display looked. I was pleasantly surprised when I finally saw the end results... it was prefect!! The best part of this whole experience was how attentive and nice the staff was during the process! And pricing was much less than I planned. I would highly recommend any bride to work with this bakery.
(5)Emy F.
Bittersweet, I used to really love you. I actually used to commute an hour from my old neighborhood just for you...almost every time I'm in Lakeview I visit you hopefully you have regained what I once loved so much and I've finally decided this is not the case. Your service has never been the best, and about a year ago I noticed your quality really started to suffer. As of lately I haven't enjoyed any of your products as much as I used to, and it's not like I found another bakery that I love. You're just not memorable or worth a trip anymore. I may still come in for a visit only when I'm in the area (if I haven' found a replacement of course), but otherwise so long.
(3)Danielle F.
Not impressed. We came across Bittersweet while walking through the neighborhood and decided to stop and pick up a few treats. So we waited about 10 minutes to be helped, which should've been a good sign. I ordered a variety of treats, from cookies to tarts to macaroons, all of them lacked significant flavor. Honestly I was shocked, I thought I was in for the desserts of my life after reading the reviews on yelp (which I did while waiting in line). Sadly, I was let down. Oh well, maybe I burned a few calories while waiting in that sauna of a bakery!
(2)Pat S.
Bittersweet cakes speak for themselves. Excellent and yummy! Wanted to share info about Nancy in this review. Nancy is the coordinator for wedding cakes and we were so impressed with her. She gave great info over the phone and we set up our wedding cake tasting. Unfortunately due to a medical situation the tasting was interrupted but Nancy was gracious and professional, acting in the best interest of the parties involved in the situation. She offered to call 911 and get the medical attention necessary despite it meaning the tasting was canceled. Then she followed up to make sure the concerned party was okay. That is a consummate professional! Thank you, Nancy!
(5)Johnny R.
In short, tasty enough for a man but made for a women. :) Like many places on the North side, I've been here a few times but have not posted a review. The lady and I had lunch (or was it brunch dunno) this past Saturday. Had the Lentil Spinach soup which was very good, and a half sammy. The sandwich was turkey + harvarti cheese + caramelized onions panini style with I believe rye bread. Very good ladies. I think the sandwich would have been perfect with a little less turkey, so not really a negative for most, it was a little overstuffed and as I've been on a diet for 7 months I'm starting to get an attitude. :) Had a tort to finish up. Excellent of course. I think it was called a tort, it was a chocolate cup with raspberries in it. Service was a bit draggy but 90% of the tables were in slow dawdle mode anyway except for me of course. Go eat and proper!
(4)Dalissa B.
Someone recommended this place and I'm glad they did! The pastries are amazing and it's a really nice atmosphere. The food is good too! And their coffee.
(5)Joe A.
Sandwiches, soups and salads are unbelievable. Service is fabulous. My family came in once in the most horrid of moods. we left convinced that this is most likely the best bakery and pastry shop in the city. We've been back many times since then. Judy Contino has garnered dozens of awards over the years, and you can see, taste, sense exactly why. Thank you so much Judy and the Bittersweet team for supporting your West Coast Chicago Marathoners.
(5)Anne T.
I was blown away by the level of quality and care that was put into everything that is made at Bittersweet. The pastry shop reminds of a place in Europe. Its quality is incomparable in Chicago. Their serving size is fairly small, but it is perfect it you are looking for fine quality food that you plan to eat slowly for flavor. Bittersweet is all about enjoying refined high quality desserts in small quantities. Everything has just the right amount of cream. I absolutely hate places that try to mask quality with more cream or more sugar. Not so at Bittersweet! They truly make use of fine flavors through wonderful ingredients. I absolutely love this place!
(5)Kelly C.
This bakery has the most delectable treats with the option to take away, or enjoy at one of the french marble top tables in the store. The cakes and cupcakes have the smoothest and yummiest buttercream frosting that makes you melt inside its so good. If we had decided to do a full-on wedding cake this is the place we would have gone with. We felt they had experience and good service, with fantastic flavors to mix and match (I recommend the passionfruit filling, almond cake, and vanilla buttercream frosting). The hot chocolate here is also the real thing - imagine melted chocolate with warm milk poured over it and mixed together. Very rich, very basic, and very good.
(5)Erin W.
Delicious cake! We, too, got married at the Mid-America Club at the top of the Aon Building. Bittersweet made our wedding cake and it was absolutely delicious! Before the wedding, we bought wedding cake take-away boxes and much to my surprise, our cake was completely gone!! The cake was so good that even our 200 guests couldn't get enough. We selected carrot cake with cream cheese dressing, and chocolate cake with mocha mouse filling. Both were moist and delicious. Incredibly well-made. If you are looking for a bakery to make a *delicious* and unique wedding cake, look no further.
(4)Debbie L.
Absolutely LOVED the brunch here - a short menu but tasty! we got the quiche of the day and a ham/gruyere sandwich w beet salad and sweets to go. very inexpensive! This place is so charming and has bakery samples when you walk in. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)Mandy A.
I stopped in here while I was out walking around taking pictures, saw the awning and remembered a coworker told me I needed to try this place out. Continuing on my hunt for amazing cupcakes, I ventured in. First off, it's a bakery, not a cupcakery. If that's a thing. They seem to focus on all desserts here, not just cupcakes which is totally fine and good. They only had one flavor of cupcake out so I just got it, plain vanilla. I took it to go and ate it in the car while I was stuck in traffic. When I took it out of the box the top looked a little overdone but when I bit in it was surprisingly moist and not dry at all. The frosting was reaaaally sweet, it may have been the only time I took some frosting off and DID NOT EAT IT. Overall, a cute place and a pleasant cupcake but not the one I'm still looking for.
(3)Caroline A.
Holy Bananas.... Four Layer Chocolate Cake with Tiramisu filling. This might be the best thing I've ever put in my mouth. *Instantly Happy*
(5)Yaeko M.
I love this place. I stand in front of the display glass case, smiling, being indecisive which one to eat. I love small size tarts and cakes and variety.
(4)Mary T.
One hour before close all bread items are 2 for 1! 2 chocolate croissants for the price of one? There is a God and she is righteous!
(5)Hua X.
Fantastic sandwiches. Coconut macaroons are sumptuous. What pushes the place to five stars for me is the venue itself. The classical music, the clean table surfaces, and the decor combine to make Bittersweet a great place to catch up on your latest magazines.
(5)Mat M.
I've been in Bittersweet twice now and one experience was better than the other. Pros: Nicely Decorated Good Location Seating Area Mocha's Hot Chocolate and Tea Service Cons: Service is terrible, talk about bittersweet. I've experienced better cupcakes . . esp at Swedish Bakery Well I have experienced better service by far. I witnessed two people get awful service when trying to order a cake. They were seated and given books next to our table and told allegedly that someone would be by in a couple to help them. Nobody every came; so they flagged down our waitress. She told them that you have to place your order at the counter which contradicted what they were told in the beginning. A woman behind the counter came to their table and told them that she was told that they refused to come to the counter. Even if this had happened, not a professional thing to say to a customer; even more inappropriate given the fact that that was never said. Needless to say . . . The girls left without placing an order. When my party of 7 was leaving, we saw the girls again . . they were deadset to order their cake there; because they had, had good cakes there before. They were going to ask for the manager. Why the drama? There are lots of good bakeries. Go somewhere else!
(2)Jessica K.
I want to live in here. Just so you know, I am doing all of my sister's Christmas Present shopping here. Not that you care about what I'm getting my sister, but if you know someone who loves baked goods and baked good-related things, do some shopping here for them! I went here for lunch the other day, and it was pretty bangin. For a bakery, they certainly have some amazing non-bakery food. The tomato/cabbage soup was "I want the recipe" worthy, and I really liked the fresh fruit option. I thought it was a classy touch, instead of being like HERE IS A COOKIE WE ARE A BAKERY. I will be going back, not only for my sister's presents, but for a ridic amount of pastries and cookies so that I can gain back the five pounds I just lost, just in time for January 1st's "I'm totally going on a diet omg" resolution...as per everyone's usual.
(4)Cameron H.
After driving around a bit trying to find a bakery for my b-day cake, we came across Bittersweet. My partner has been here before and thought we might have luck with a cake here. So, we ended up with a yellow cake, with almond filling in between the layers and a white chocolate frosting. The cake was quite tasty and liked by all. However, the one complaint was that it was very dense. It was almost too rich for me but tasty nonetheless. Not that this matters, but when the cake was ordered, we told the person ringing up the cake the name to go on it. She said "how do you spell her name again?" We said, "the cake is for a guy." So from the time we told her that to the time she went to the back to have someone write on the cake (which was 2 minutes) we ended up with a cake with pink writing on it and pink and yellow flowers.
(3)Valerie R.
Extraordinary customer service and the most luscious & richest chocolate mousse cake all in one day! Here I was, a Last Minute Lucy to use a Groupon on expiration day and could only pick it up right about their closing time. The staff from Bittersweet blew me away with their graciousness by taking my order and payment over the phone, regardless of the fact that I wasn't the only Last Minute Groupon Lucy in town and they were swamped. About the chocolate mousse cake..it was packaged with their flagship decorations of gold-swirled chocolate panels and chewy chocolate straws, which I set aside for my birthday girl's presentation this evening. She's my best friend and will completely understand why there's already a slice missing. Love you, Kathy B.
(5)Dennis S.
Everything we bought was as good as it gets. I guess that's 5 stars! Michelle E. told me that Bittersweet Bakery has the best lemon tarts in Chicago. So when in the neighborhood, we stopped in and loaded up. It took two days to eat everything, and it was all great. Yes, the lemon tart was awesome - strong lemon tartness, perfect sticky meringue. We also bought pecan tarts, fruit tarts, and cookies. The crusts were excellent - something rare these days. The fillings were rich and wonderful. We weren't there for lunch or coffee - we were there for the bakery products. And they were fabulous. To comment on Chris J.'s first and only Yelp review, posted several days ago, about the racist owner of Bittersweet: I suggest there is some misunderstanding. The owner of Bittersweet is a "she," not a "he." Your review referred to "he" and "his." So whatever man chased you away was not the owner. I agree that racist store owners should not be supported. But please be sure of your facts before making such casual but destructive comments. As for me, I'll be looking for excuses to be on Belmont and try more of the huge selection of pastries Bittersweet offers.
(5)Star L.
After a very filling Indian lunch, I came here for dessert. I walked past Bittersweet when I was out with a friend a few weeks ago, and made a mental note to check it out as I was going to be in the area. For some reason, I thought they would have cake slices, but that wasn't the case. No problem: I am a pastry whore and wanted some sugary goodness no matter what! There's a variety of different items around the store (cookies, biscotti, tortes, etc.) and they also serve food (such as soup, salad, and sandwiches), but it felt cramped inside, especially with the people dining in (I was there on a Saturday afternoon). Not a lot of tables are inside, so don't make plans to go there with a big group unless you get there early. I ordered the banana cream pie cupcake, which cost $3.25 and was the size of a tennis ball (it is considered a signature cupcake). I took a bite and initially thought it would be that cold, hard frosting that has a medicine taste, but it was actually buttery and fairly light. Not too sweet, but not bland. The cake had a banana nut bread taste to it, and the middle of the cake had real bananas (which I usually don't eat because of it's texture, but found it to be quite tasty). There is a cupcake schedule: 3 different ones on sale everyday (NOTE: they're closed on Mondays). All in all, it wasn't the best cupcake in the world, but it wasn't terrible. It's a short walking distance from the Belmont Red Line, so if you're in the area and craving a sweet, check them out.
(3)Erica L.
We used Bittersweet for our wedding cake back in May. We met Judy at the tasting back in December. She was very friendly and patient with us as we tasted the different flavors and frostings. She gave great recommendations on flavor combinations. When we told her we loved salted caramel, she was able to incorporate that flavor into our cake. The final product was a delicious 4-tier cake of alternating layers of almond and fudge cake with caramel sauce and salted caramel buttercream frosting. Also, since my husband and I share a love for zombies, we asked her if it would be possible to make a zombie decorated cake. Judy and her team were able to deliver - customizing our cake to have 4 characters (my husband and I wielding a chainsaw and baseball bat respectively) on the top layer and the maid of honor and best man as zombies trying to climb up the other layers of cake. They were even able to match characters' outfits/dresses to our own. We were able to order a tasting cake a few weeks before the wedding to taste the combinations and make adjustments. Judy was very receptive and flexible with the changes we wanted to make. Our wedding cake was moist, delicious, and just the way we envisioned it would taste and look. My only comment would be I felt we were the ones who had to reach out to them in the week(s) leading up to our wedding. They had some difficulty via email sending us the contract several times. When we ordered the tasting cake, they said someone would contact us a week before the wedding to finalize the details. Judy called us a few days before the wedding. They also forgot to take the price of the tasting cake off the total as promised. Instead they gave us credit. Little things aside, we were happy with how our cake turned out and plan to order another one for our first-year anniversary...using our credit!
(4)Matthew G.
I've been coming here for pastries and cookies for 15+ years. The food remains excellent as always. However the staff has become more and more clueless over the years. Today's experience included two people who could not figure out the credit card machine. Also, no AmEx - as a small business owner myself I realize that they charge more, but you need to make it easy for your customer to pay, and today Bittersweet made it as hard as possible.
(3)Jennie T.
First of all, I'm not a fan of desserts. The first time I came here, it was on a date -- I have to say though that I was pretty amused that the guy wanted to come here. The moment I walked inside, I was hit with nostalgia of my trip to Paris. The place reminds me of this bakery I used to go to with my aunt to buy our daily bread. It has a cute and delicate atmosphere. Very quaint. I like it. The coffee comes in this huge round bowl-like mug on little coffee plates with a little coffee spoon. You could order your desserts and they'd bring it out to you on these little plates. The service, as you can imagine, is great. I'm not exactly a fan of their actual baked goods though. Yeah, they're pretty and cute. But it's just mediocre. There's nothing in this bakery that really blows me away. Still, it's a nice place to go to have cookies and coffee. Bring a book or something to read. Sit and act as though you're escaping to somewhere in Paris (or anywhere in Europe for that matter).
(4)Danielle T.
To preface, the star rating is based on the customer service received only. I ordered the Red Velvet cake and it was absolutely delicious. If it weren't for the extremely poor customer experience - I would definitely visit again and recommend to others. However, please read below.... I purchased the Bittersweet Groupon several months ago and recently ordered a cake. After I printed the deal, I noticed that twice on the form it lists delivery is included (copy/pasted below). I placed the order 48 hours in advance and then the day of noticed the delivery comments on the print out. I called there and just inquired if there the delivery was included, in which I was abruptly told no it was not and the Groupon was incorrect. After reading the associate, Amy, the info below, I was put on hold and then told in a very rude tone to "Take it up with Groupon". This was to my surprise as I wasn't expecting such a curt response. (Side note: I called the same day I was picking up the order, I didn't mention this part on the phone and just asked about the deal first... clearly would have understood if it was just not allowed on a same day pick-up). When I went into the store, I spoke to the manager who informed me they've had numerous issues with the Groupon deal and the way it was featured online. I explained what happened on the phone and mentioned how I didn't appreciate the lack of customer service received, especially being a new customer. She apologized but that was it. From a merchant's perspective, if your company was not featured the way that you negotiated and approved your contract - then you should probably take that up with Groupon and not suggest your customer does. Also, as stated above I purchased this offer months ago - if you've experienced issues numerous times, this should be addressed. It's unfortunate because the product produced is top of the line, but the combination of the defensive reaction received with the customer service has shied me away from giving repeat business. GROUPON READS AS FOLLOWS: Fine Print: Limit 3 per person. Limit 1 per visit, limit 1 per order. Not valid for dining in cafe. New customers only. Must purchase 1 food item. Must use in 1 visit. Tax and gratuity not included. Not valid with other offers. Delivery fee included. How to use this: 1. Print Groupon (or pull it up with our mobile app). 2. Call (773) 929-1100 for delivery order, mention Groupon.
(2)Lisa S.
I was in the area and stopped by for some pastries to go this weekend. YUM! This places has great desserts and a cute, small cafe. Like most great bakeries, it is kind of pricey, but oh so worth it once in awhile. One thing I need to note, when I ordered a "medium" coffee to go, it was more like a size "small." Plus, when the worker asked me if I wanted room for cream, I didn't think she would leave THAT much room. I was done with that medium coffee in like 2 minutes. They do also have a section of cards and gifts. This place is very quaint and charming.
(4)Angela G.
This is a message to Angela, I heart you. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to head over to Bittersweet. My friend and I decided to stop at Bittersweet because we couldn't find a place to have lunch. Then I remembered I had a groupon for $20. The groupon was for baked goods only, which was fine with me. A great little sweet shop. Very clean and cute. I love the big display cases so your able to see all the products. We went at a time when they wasn't too crowded. They were a little busy but it wasn't that bad. I think people were mostly having lunch in the little cafe area. This was my first time in this shop and I wasn't really familiar with their products. This is where the sweet fairy Angela comes in. She answered every question I had, explained some of the ingredients used in the products and made some great recommendations. I was about to buy 3 regular shortbread cookies when they had chocolate dipped heart shaped shortbread cookies for half off. Did I mention they were delicious? She really knew the products and was very friendly. We talked like we were old friends. She took her time with us and didn't rush us to finish our purchase. It's a big plus also that we have the same name. Everything I purchased was delicious. Never had that happen before. One or two things is usually nasty. I had shortbread cookies, an individual cheesecake and angel food cake. My girl had a brownie and sugar cookies. She said it was so good and it must have been because she devoured it. I can't wait to go back and try something new. I hope Angela is working that day.
(5)Kwoky L.
I have always been a fan of this bakery since my friend shared their delicious cheesecake with us. So, when I needed a cake for a surprise birthday party, I placed an order with them. They gave me a list of choices for the cake flavors, fillings, finishes and any additional garnishes, fruits etc. There's plenty to choose from but I ended up with a coconut cake with passion fruit curd filling and vanilla buttercream. I honestly have no idea what to expect because I have such bad experiences with sheet cakes and layer cakes elsewhere. But the cake was delicious! The cake was not soft and crumbly but it was firm enough to my liking. The flavor combination was excellent (I chose it, lol) and the overall sweetness was perfect! An 8 inch cake for $30 fed at least 16 people with some leftover. Couldn't ask for a better cake. The staff were very helpful but don't seem very friendly. It's great that they are serious with what they are doing but I don't think they like to smile at all. I'll be back, nevertheless, to try other pastry creations like their flourless chocolate mousse cake. I make a pretty mean version but I am curious to see how theirs tastes like.
(4)Annie Y.
Adorable little bakery we stumbled upon after Pride. They have a lovely little display case of cookies and tortes. They've also got ice cream and sorbet which they give to you in a container lined with chocolate. I got the flourless chocolate cake, and it was probably one of the best I've ever had. It wasn't heavy or overly sweet, and the crunchiness inside the cake made for an interesting eating experience. I also got a couple of shortbread cookies, which were just okay -- a little brand and dry. My friend's red velvet cupcake was delicious, though. Prices are very fair (cupcakes are 2 for the price of 1!).
(4)Ms C.
I just had my wedding a few days ago and I got my cake from Bittersweet. The cake was amazing! Not only did they make it look like I wanted it to look (Chicago Skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge on each of two tiers) but it so good! Everybody was very helpful every step of the way. Amy was also able to put in an order (at the last minute) for my mother-in-law--it was her birthday the same day as out wedding. Needless to say, the service was phenomenal and the cakes taste just as good!
(5)Julie C.
Cute little bakery & cafe. They even have a section with cute food-related gift items. Great selection of pastries & baked items. Can't say enough about their macaroons! If you're in the area give Bittersweet a try, you won't be disappointed.
(4)christine j.
Cute place, okay food, rude fat lady. Service was horrible. Will not go back.
(1)Angela W.
Seriously, my FAVORITE place in the whole world. I'm going to keep this sweet and simple 1) Get the flourless chocolate mouse cake. It is to die for. 2) One of the best cheesecakes I have ever tasted (about the same caliber as Junior's) 3) Their mini tarts are just so pretty... not to mention delicious 4) Try their lunch sometime, the soup is really good 5) Repeat Donzo
(5)Linda C.
The shop itself is very cute, immaculately clean, & the folks that work there are really really nice. I know they offer other baked goods, but i am usually blinded by the cupcakes to even take note of what's there. How can you not love a place that has a cupcake flavor of the day? The last one I happened to have was a s'mores cupcake: a little handful of heavenly chocolate cake with marshmallow filling and a graham cracker frosting. The sounds I made after the first bite were nearly pornographic. I really had to tone it down because I was at work and that can be really embarrassing...not to mention a little unprofessional (well, at least in my industry). Today, I got a cake for a friend's birthday that i work with. They had a decent selection and personalized & decorated it really quickly. It was a chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and vanilla butter cream. If that sounds good to you, trust me it tastes even better. It was really a pretty cake before we all destroyed it at work. And this time I wasn't the only one being unprofessional in my enjoyment.
(4)Becky K.
Bittersweet only gets two stars from me because a) their cake was pretty decent and b) the girl at the counter was pleasant. Aside from that, I have to say our cake tasting experience was underwhelming if not disappointing. We were on time for our appointment and waited for about 30 min for someone to come to meet with us. The woman with whom we spoke to constantly was looking at her watch and looked annoyed that we were even there. My friend (who was late to the tasting, but we had started without her) had a nut allergy and they couldn't even tell us if the carrot cake had nuts in it or not. To make matters worse, they told us that they likely cut the cakes with the same knife, so there was likely to be 'cross contamination' from the cake with nuts to the non-nut cakes. At the end of our appointment we were told, "ok, I have to go, I have guests at my house" and were ushered out the door. I understand that we were at the end of the day but this time slot was offered to us and WE were on time. After hearing such wonderful things about this bakery we left with a feeling of disappointment and discontent about the service and product we would have gotten. Perhaps we will give it another chance since it is in our neighborhood, but it will not be for a wedding cake.
(2)Jimmy B.
This place seems to be more of a catering business masquerading as a sit & eat restaurant. The food was good, the service could use some help. Words for the owners, "if the lunch menu is about to be made available, don't make your patrons order from the breakfast menu while telling them you are out of half the items."
(3)alicia g.
I finally walked inside Bittersweet for the first time this Wednesday and it was great! The only problem I have at this place is deciding what to get-I want it all. After deciding on the cupcake of the day I was VERY satisfied, and my boyfriend loved them as well. This place is going to be a permanent pitstop when I'm in the neighborhood.
(5)Purnima M.
This is what chocolate mousse cakes dream of being when they grow up. Absolutely delicious. The cheery, stylish store front and tasty salad/sandwich options make waiting for dessert more bearable. Wish this place were closer to home!
(4)Philip S.
Having frequented Bittersweet for several years, we knew this is who we wanted to make our Wedding cake. After going to the bakery and sampling several cake flavors and fillings, we opted for tiramisu cream with a hazelnut cake. When we walked into the reception, the cake that we had designed with the Bittersweet staff, looked spectacular. The taste was unbelievable. I might be biased but the combination of tiramisu cream filling and hazelnut cake created a tremendously flavorful and moist cake. Our Wedding guests all complimented us about the cake for several days after the reception. The cake was still delicious and moist three months after the event!
(5)J T.
I have to give 5 stars to judy and the wedding cake maker for my 9-17 wedding at Golden Triangle. This the most beautiful wedding cake I have ever seen. Judy helped me to design the cake into a curvy blue/white porcelain vase and it is so well done that everyone at the wedding kept taking pics with the cake. The price was very seasonable too, probably the best value product I purchased for the wedding. Judy is an artist, and whoever the cake maker is, did a very good job. The blue patterns on the vase is so detail oriented! It looks like a 4 digits priced cake by a super star artist, but I only paid over $500 for the cake.
(5)Kristi K.
After reading a few mixed reviews, I'm compelled to write my own. Great sweets. Good size portions (but not obnoxious). Wonderfully helpful. I had an apple tart with the most amazing real whipped cream, Great experience...and it's cute!
(5)Araceli R.
delicius just the best'' yummy :)
(5)Melissa H.
Our cake did not turn out the way we wanted. The major upset was that it was supposed to have writing on it........oh it had writing but it was in WHITE on a WHITE cake. Ummm....do I really need to explain what's wrong with that? Thank God my hubby knows Photoshop is all I got to say.
(1)Martin C.
Came here just for some sweets, but I love the ambiance. Classical music playing, great coffee and some ridiculously sinful truffles. The atmosphere is a refreshing detour from the other intimate places where a visitor is too often made to feel like an intrusion. I feel very sorry for the individual who has to clean the glass displays as apparently many parents feel it's ok to allow their kids free reign to touch everything. The owners are there every day and the character of this place is a definite reflection of their warmth. Bravo. (I would definitely walk there as you'll need to burn a few calories afterward! It's too good!!!)
(4)Vinifer D.
This place would be rated 5 stars, if it weren't for their prices! OUCH! The cakes, pastries, and small treats are wonderful. However, I'm not a big fan of their truffles. I've had (and made) better truffles at a much lower cost. I ordered 2 mini tartlets and 2 truffles, and the total came to over $15!
(3)Maysem H.
Best bakery in Chicago without a doubt!!! And I've tried a lot of places! I've been going to Bittersweet for about 7 years. A friend had introduced me to it. She had ordered a celebration cake...AMAZING!!!! So since then Bittersweet has become my fave bakery! I live in the suburbs...about a 40/45 min drive for me...so worth it!! Each time I go there I try something different....and so far no disappointments. At times I've had their lunches...their soups are amazing!!! Last weekend I went and tried one of their cupcakes for the first time...I have no idea what took me this long to try a cupcake. It was the chocolate covered strawberry (strawberry cake with chocolate ganache frosting)...Exceptional! I'm going to make sure to get a different cupcake each time:D Fave celebration cake to get is hazelnut cake with creme brulee and fresh strawberries..and covered in chocolate glaze. Be sure to also try their macarons...my fave is the chocolate.
(5)Martha-Victoria D.
It pains me to give two stars but I had to do it. All their stuff is awesome by the way, the cakes and cookies are delicious. The small tarts are my absolute favorite...the strawberry custard tart is sex on a plate. I give it two stars because the service is TERRIBLE. The last time i was there was to get a small birthday cake. It took almost an hour. I walk in there and they have numbers you take but no one acknowledges your presence. Not even eye contact. At least say, "Hey, I'll be right with you." Lie to me, it makes me feel better. Or at least smile and nod....do something. And when you do finally get to people, say something like, "Sorry for the grueling one hour wait." Instead, they leisurely walk around like there isn't a herd of people waiting to be serviced. It's incredibly rude. It's to the point that although their cakes would be my first choice, i CANNOT STAND the idea of having to put up with the horrible, slow, rude service for a $40 six inch cake. The pricing wouldn't be so painful if the service was better. I had always dreamt of a wedding cake from here but I'm so peeved about the service I wouldn't want to give them the business. Next cake I need, I'm praying Dinkel's is open.
(2)Candace M.
This is one of my favorite bakeries...the tarts are wonderful, the cakes are delicious and Suanne is great! I would recommend this bakery to anyone having a special event!
(5)s s.
We ordered our wedding cake and 90% of our dessert table from Bittersweet this past May and it definitely made for some great food memories of our big day. Everything from our tasting with Judy, to the actual final deliverables of the cake and desserts were handled with care and resulted in the most magical wedding cake I had ever tasted. Honestly. Not only was it beautiful, it tasted every bit as good as it looked. My plan is to order a mini-version of the cake on our anniversary every year and relive the good times. The only thing I wish were different was that I thought I ordered mini raspberry fruit tarts for the dessert table but was surprised that I received raspberry macarons instead. It was an honest mistake - but no worries - they were gobbled up just the same. Thank you Judy and crew!
(5)Misse D.
What an amazing pastry shop. The desserts are delicious! This is a great place to stop in and get something. I wouldn't recommend the cafe for lunch though. It was difficult to get a table and the seats are sort of uncomfortable. And, if you order a sandwich, speciality drink, and dessert, the bill quickly adds up.
(4)Melissa K.
I went to Bittersweet for a special dessert tasting for an event we were doing at the InterContinental. The lunch we had was good, the desserts we tried were outstanding and the service was great. I'm not quite sure if I would go back for real food, but I'll definitely go back for the desserts and there coffee drinks.
(4)Melissa R.
Bittersweet is one of my favorites of the city. It's sweet and quaint, with both their food/drinks and decor. It's a perfect place for lunch or dessert and coffee with girlfriends. The menu is limited to a couple options for sandwiches, salads, soup, and quiches but they are all delicious and reasonably priced. Also, their berry lemonade is amazing!
(5)Jay R.
I haven't been to Zurich in a while (per the other review), but I consider a lot of their food to be top caliber. They serve some, if not THE best tortes in the city!
(5)Isa B.
Very pretty place, good sandwiches, great desserts. The chocolate chip cookies are super crispy and delicious. I heard the soups are good too.
(4)Ellen M.
They did the desert table for my wedding and it brought joy into the lives of all who attended. I thought it was seeing us married, but it was the chocolate-dipped strawberries and pastries in the shape of swans that caused the real bliss.
(5)James J.
Bittersweet by far has the best baguettes in the city. FANTASTIC. I just wish there staff was more helpful. Sometimes there will be three people behind the counter all not helping me - and i am standing there alone. Also, you ask for ingredients ("Does this brownie have nuts?") and you get an answer like "I don't know." Come on.
(3)Gfiddy F.
The food is very good, and in particular the savory pastries are excellent. Saved a lot of work cooking for all those people.
(5)Laura P.
Went here with some friends after seeing a show downtown. I wasn't sure if it would measure up to the Swedish Bakery, but I was pleasantly surprised! There is a cute seating area that is great to sit and relax while you eat your goodies. The sweets were very good, I even ended up taking home a box full of truffles & cookies to enjoy later. I would definitely recommend this place - especially if you need a fun, low key place to hang out, chat, and enjoy some sweets!
(4)Rob C.
Should be on everyone's list when visiting Chicago. Pretty much, you'll probably find something that you like.
(4)P W.
Uh oh, why didn't I have a heavenly experience here?!?! I popped in on Sunday to pick up holiday cookies for friends coming over last night. My favorite holiday cookies are the crazy decorated sugar cookies with icing or sprinkly sugar on top. Well, I zipped out w/ one dozen cookies to the tune of $36 dollars (hello?) and that same night, we bit into these ROCK HARD cookies. They were not even pleasant to eat, my friends and I were wiggling our teef w/ our tongues all night to make sure none of our choppers broke off and the rest of the cookies are going in the garbage. For $36 dollars a dozen, please make the cookies edible. I won't go back, if they cannot get a basic/staple like sugar cookies right. Part One of "The Nightmare Before Xmas - Cookie Style".
(2)Beau C.
their flourless chocolate cake is the BEST!!
(5)Stephanie H.
I picked up desserts for a Saturday evening get together. I can't wait to have an excuse to go back to this place. The desserts were great! I spent about $25, (5 girls)...I had 6 tarts (they were sooo good!), lemon bar and truffles. It was enough...I served with Strawberries. I went first thing Saturday morning. I highly recommend for pickup desserts!
(5)Carol B.
In all my years living in Chicago, I never found a better bakery than Bittersweet. It's always great. Consistently great and a real French Patisserie.
(5)Lise P.
ginger-peach scones are delicious! great coffee, hot chocolate the frosted cookies are so darn cute!
(4)Parker L.
My first experience with Bittersweet, was last christmas when I was given a large tin of their cookies from a Vendor of mine at work. They were so cute, and tasted great. Since I have ordered a tart and pie, and have not been dissappointed. Very crowded in there sometimes. But worth the visit.
(4)Retired B.
They have TONS of cookies, moreso than pastries. I had the french sable, linzer, thumbprint and shortbread. All were really tasty. I also tasted a tart, and the cream or curd was very flavorful. Too bad the sizes weren't that generous. The shop also has plenty of tables as well as cutesy non-food things to look at/buy.
(4)Laila K.
This place is beautiful, very French inspired, marble floors and tables. small cafe tables, classical music playing (not too loud that it interrupts conversation). They carry Harney & Sons tea, which I love. They also sell lucious baked goods. The quiche is maybe the best I've ever had, with the most absolutely perfect crust hearty buttery crisp but not overdone. the vanilla cake with creme anglaise was equally wonderful, the cake wasn't too sweet and the anglaise had a slight lemony tang which complimented perfectly. don't even get me started about the flourless chocolate souffle. the service is good too, not pretentious, definitely more cafe/deli style than full service restaurant, they bring you your food and leave you in peace to enjoy the ambience.
(5)Dee W.
I love Bittersweet's cakes - one of my friends even ordered her wedding cake from Bittersweet - there's just something about them that just melts in your mouth and you feel like you're in heaven - not too thick or sweet but just perfect.
(4)Johnny B.
Our lamb cake for Easter sucked. It was VERY dry. I will give them the benefit of the doubt, because I'm sure they had to bake these in advance to have enough ready, but it still sucked.
(2)A.S. V.
When your woman nearly bites your head off because it's that time of the month, you know it's time to visit Bittersweet and make an offering to appease the bitch goddess. Flourless chocolate cakes, fancy truffles, ice cream, they have it all. I never tried the pastries, because I prefer the chocolate goodies. Theres's also a pretty nice seating area to enjoy your dessert with some tea. Jolly good.
(5)Harry S.
Ordered 2 cakes yesterday for my girlfriend's birthday on a recommendation from a friend and was very pleased. Judging by the amount of people asking me where I got the cake from, they were a definite hit.
(5)Christian R.
This is why people live in large cities, for small place like this. it has a rotating lunch menu, delicious food, inexpensive and AMAZZING pastries and desserts. mmmm yummy! stop in for some free samples! Try the carrot jalapeo soup if they have it ! Its a small place though as far as seating so get there early!
(5)Pamela S.
An excellent place for really great Mexican style hot chocolate. This stuff is what I grew up on in Texas, Hot Chocaolate with some spice to it, maybe they'll start serving Horchata in the summer time? One can only hope.
(5)Nana H.
Bittersweet is way more sweet, then bitter. After seeing it on Check Please, I went in and had a sandwich, a tart and a cookie. They were all very good,but i do think for the price the cookie should of been at least 25% larger. The cafe area feels slightly frenchie- and they sometimes have samples of things for you try! If you walk around back to the bathroom you can see all the pastry chefs and etc working, in the flour and the big machines.
(4)Whitney B.
After always walking past this place when it's closed, I happened to go by when it was open and had to go inside. I ordered a keylime cupcake and a raspberry scone. The cupcake was like eating a slice of key lime pie. I wasn't expecting much from it, but it surprised me with how good it was! and the scone was delicious. Reminded me of the scones that my grandma used to make me. The inside of this place was not what I was expecting, especially after going to cupcake places like Bleeding Heart and Sweet Mandy B's. It's very nice and somewhat fancy inside. Reminded me more of place you'd take your mom and grandma to for tea than somewhere you'd go with your friends for a snack. It was a nice, but unexpected change in bakery scenery for me. Reminded me of a french cafe sort of. The service here was nothing to write home about, but it wasn't terrible. The girls just seemed very unhappy to be dealing with anyone trying to give them business. Maybe it was a long day. Either way, I'd definitely go back for a scone or two, and maybe to try one of the lemon bars. They looked quite delicious when i was in.
(3)R P.
I ordered a cake for my father's birthday party this past weekend, and I have to say it was just fabulous. I ordered a Black Walnut cake with cream cheese filling and frosting with apricot preserves! The cake was absolutely stunning and it couldn't have tasted better! Everyone at the event was raving about how delicious it was, which normally doesn't happen in my group. It was a great cake and as always, Bittersweet didn't disappoint!
(4)Natalie S.
I first visited this place 8 1/2 months pregnant and wanting chocolate and lots of it. A woman next to me in line, whom I now refer to as "that brilliant goddess at Bittersweet last February" suggested the raspberry ganche tart and OH MY GOD. I will always love that woman. Everything I have ever had from this place was 5-star. Oh, and their Halooween coffin cookies are a horror nerd-slash- pastry weirdo's dream come true.
(5)Jaclyn D.
We chose Bittersweet to make our wedding cake and it came out beautiful! It sure was delicious too! We had two flavors and both of them were outstanding. My husband even asks if we can get a taster cake each month. We loved it! We worked with Sue Anne and she was so nice and helpful. We were so happy with our wedding cake!
(5)Candace T.
Best cakes ever! We've ordered two for special occasions in the last year, and they are the hit of the party. This past time we had banana cake, creme brulee and fresh raspberry filling, and chocolate glaze icing. AAAh-mazing!!!
(5)Kristina F.
Bittersweet has a broad and gorgeous collection of truly delicious baked goods. They are the only bakery in Chicago that I have seen who's fondant artist rivals Alliance. My last birthday cake (chocolate filled with raspberry and some sort of vanilla creme, covered with dark chocolate ganache) was from here- It was gigantic, pretty and full of chocolatey goodness. They also have a selection of great gifts and candies.
(5)Alejandra P.
Today was my little boy's birthday party. He had a Thomas the Train cake (original, I know) yet this cake was different. It was elegant, not gaudy, and it was delicious. We got a huge cake (for 35 peeps). It was vanilla (we usually get almond, but were afraid of kids allergies) with creme brule center and strawberries. DELICIOUS, not too sweet, just right. My little boy was so happy to see his favorite engine on his cake. Truly priceless!!
(5)Tara T.
Everything I've had from Bittersweet has been amazing. The cake I ordered for my bf's law school graduation tasted as good as it looked. The fun, summer-themed cookies I brought to a kids' party were a huge hit. The cafe is a great place to go for a quiet breakfast/lunch. The only problem with Bittersweet is that I'm tempted to go there too frequently!
(5)Pilsen C.
Never enough seating. Please, do not rush eating here, but dont take your "sweet" time either. It's Bittersweet when you do so....because then i have to take my food to go...
(2)Jennifer P.
The word to describe this place is "civilized." Take your mom there on Mother's Day, or have a breakfast meeting over their beautiful bowl of hot chocolate with whipped cream. Staff is friendly, sweet things are delicious, atmosphere is pretty.
(4)Blah B.
Now this bakery is over priced and the goods aren't so good!! Yes they are perfectly decorated almost to perfect to say the least. I purchased a cake for my sister's baby shower and yes it looked so beautiful but it just wasn't that great and it was so pricey. It tasted like something I could have gotten at Costco but sadly I paid bout 9 times the value!!! Wouldn't go back unless I need a cake as a decoration!!!
(1)Lisa A.
Stopped into Bittersweet with some time to kill (and a hungry tummy to fill) before a dance concert at the Theater Building Chicago down the street. I chose an incredible white chocolate tart, lined with dark chocolate, filled with mild white chocolate cream and topped with a raspberry and three ridiculously thick and enormous white chocolate curls. The pleasant gal behind the counter wrapped up my treat in a slick white box, complete with chocolate-hued ribbon. Too bad I ripped it right off and devoured the unsuspecting tart as soon as I got to the bench outside. A semi-pricey treat at $3 a pop, but definitely delicious and artfully done.
(4)Marie L.
Everything I've tried here so far was tasty but why the attitude, counter ladies? It's like I have to woo you just to get you to take my money for your overpriced albeit delectable baked goods.
(3)michael b.
place is amazing. almost as good as paris with similar service if you know what i mean
(5)Leah B.
Great place to decompress with your friends. good food and great location. You can make a day of it just wandering around Belmont.
(4)Brad C.
This place is the perfect combination of atmosphere, service, and fare! We have not had an even mediocre treat from Bittersweet. Everything we've eaten there-cookies, bars, cakes, cupcakes, and brownies-has been spectacular. The staff provides outstanding service, always going the extra step to insure a delightful experience. Last night, we picked up my wife's birthday cake and decided to enjoy a slice at the cafe. The server decorated our plates meticulously; she removed the birthday wishes that were mounted on piece of chocolate atop the cake and placed the piece instead on my wife's plate with whipped cream and fruit glaze. Another server spent a good 10 minutes helping a tourist couple with recommendations and directions on a map. They are always incredibly accommodating and friendly, even at closing time. With an exposed brick interior painted white, the atmosphere has a very European feel. We actually schedule our dinner selections and reservations around Bittersweet's location, hours, and offerings.
(5)Simone G.
walked in, walked out. Don't go if you're into vanilla, because you will have nothing available.
(1)Stephanie B.
I cannot begin to say enough good things about Bittersweet. We used them for a sweets table last week for my wedding and we could not have been happier. My mom worked as a dessert caterer for years and between her tastes and my opinions, we pretty much walked into Bittersweet for our sweets table tasting with our own agenda of what we wanted to see made. Though I'm sure this threw Bittersweet off a bit, they took our list and created each dessert as we envisioned it. They were open to our ideas and recommended some of theirs that would compliment it and the whole display and taste of every dessert was wonderful looking and tasted great. We couldn't be happier with how it turned out, and we received more compliments than we could possibly count about the desserts. It seems the majority of our guests could not stop at one plateful of the desserts and we're so happy everyone enjoyed it as much as we did. I would highly recommend using Bittersweet if you're looking for a selection of different, fun, and wonderful tasting sweets! I'm still craving the miniature pumpkin whoopie pies they created for our big day :):
(5)L N.
never disappoints and the most beautiful, exquisite cakes....
(5)Joyce B.
I recently sampled a few things from this shop. I used to pass it all the time on the way home, and even stopped in once before to buy some brioche for making french toast. Unforch, they didn't have any. BUT this time, I tried a chocolate-caramel truffle lollipop, an apricot thumbprint, and a hazelnut ball cookie. The two cookies were just ok, they were a bit dry and made me really need a glass of water. No delicious buttery melt-in-your-mouth taste, just dry dough. The truffle was better, though. It was slightly larger than a regular one, and the chocolate and caramel were so combined that I actually had to stare at it to find out what crazy flavorness was going on in there. I would get that again.
(2)Ross F.
The flourless chocolate cake is so good you might fall into a cocoa-induced coma. The staff is a little pretentious but who cares when you're talking about seriously great dessert.
(5)Katie P.
the cupcakes weren't bad, a little too moist even maybe. but what i can't stand is the rudeness. we waited for 15-20 minutes for someone - and we had an appointment. not only was she curt during our meeting, but she seemed truly disinterested. no problem, i'll take my money elsewhere.
(2)penny h.
I just have one word for the bakery ... HEAVEN :)
(5)Andrew H.
This place is overrated. I went in there with the hopes of enjoying a piece of chocolate cake or a chocolate cupcake. I was surprised that neither could be found in the display. Ordering is confusing -- there are no prices anywhere and the staff will just stare at you instead of asking if you need help. I settled for a couple strawberry cupcakes and two chocolate cookies. It was almost ten bucks. I was disappointed.
(2)Mary Kate R.
oh my gosh i love bittersweet so much. it helps me get through the day. i go there for a coffee, but am way more excited about seeing which sample they have out. it always smells so amazing in there, and i havent tried something that i didnt end up loving yet. the cookies are so delicious. really good espresso drinks too. i want to get married tomorrow purely for the cake tasting....
(5)Shmerpy S.
i could pitch a tent here and live at the pastry display, intermittently stealing heavenly bits of short bread and tarts to remain alive. such a good shop and the brunch menu, while not extensive, always leaves you with delicious or on the other hand delicious options. i recommend eating here and sampling as many amazing deserts as possible afterwards. i have loved every soup ive ever had here and the quiche is not too shabby either. all around YUM!
(5)Chris G.
Bought our wedding cake from here and absolutely loved the entire experience! Tasting was calm, easy and Sue Ann was very friendly. Even at the tasting, with these small bites of cake and ramekins of frostings and fillings, I knew the cake was going to be superb, and it was. Excellent price point, delivery and setup was never an issue to a venue 40 miles out of the city, and we even went back to add takeaway breakfast cakes for our guests which they were able to provide beautifully wrapped and ready to go on relatively short notice. (It helped that the other table there for a tasting at the same time as us was full of awful people who demanded cake to take home to the fiancee and were very bossy, while we went together and tried our best to be patient and happy. I mean, we were engaged for goodness sake) I highly recommend them for wedding cakes and takeaways, and yes, their macaroons are also awesome!
(4)Lee C.
Every pastry I've had at Bittersweet was excellent, though I wasn't impressed with the chocolate cake I ordered there. Definitely frequent this place for coffee and tarts though. And their quiche is great too. It's just two blocks from the Belmont Red Line stop.
(5)Gail T.
very nice counter ladies.. lovely pastries. ordered two cakes for loved ones there! they were both beautifully finished with buttercream with a nice neat look. you can create your own cake: pick your own buttercream (fondant is optional), cake filling: creme brulee custard to chocolate mouse, cake flavor: chocolate, to fruitcake with optional ingrediants within the filling like my favorite rasberry!! never seen anything like it. better of all you can choose the size which is a good price factor. the cheapest you could get is for four people $25. I usually get mine for $40 and they feed up to 12 people which i believe is a great deal. street parking but there is a loading spot rite in front of the store.
(5)Daria Z.
Although this place is obviously a great bakery, they also serve as a mini-cafe. They have all sorts of lunch specials and the smells here are awesome. The pastry shop is award-winning and has been featured on WTTW's "Check, Please."
(4)Chris S.
Super little cafe and bakery in Lakeview. Great pastries. Everything that comes out of the oven here is amazing, from cookies to wedding cakes. Small lunch menu with excellent food on it as well.
(5)a w.
Bittersweet is a great bakery, probably the best in town. They have really tasty deserts, and they all look as good as they taste. This bakery also has a little cafe inside where you can sit and enjoy some coffee and desert. They also take orders for weddings and other events. Don't miss out on this great little bakery!
(5)Liliana S.
FANTASTIC pastry shop. I just got to indulge in the wonderful world of pastries and chocolates from Bittersweet last week and my oh my was it ever so good. I definitely will be going back for more goodies!
(5)ashley r.
i walked past this place and just couldnt resist! it looked yummy from the outside! my coffee and cookie hit my craving for an afternoon snack. good crowd and the free cake samples are fun too!
(4)Brian L.
I am about to move to the Belmont/Clark area, so I have been sampling several of the neighborhood hotspots. My girlfriend and I went to Bittersweet for lunch and both of us loved our meals! She had a grilled cheese & mushroom sandwich. I had a slice of ham & cheese quiche - very big and buttery. We split a couple of sweets from the case because they looked too good to resist. The food was fabulous, the staff was friendly, and the place was spacious and clean. 5 stars!
(5)G G.
It's overwhelming- every detail on every pastry is artistically designed- from poodle cookies to fanned fruit tarts. A definite treat.
(5)Julia B.
Awesome Bakery! The Cakes are amazing and the cookies are to die for. If you are looking for a large portion of bakery goods I would suggest stopping in here!
(3)Hannah H.
A cute little cafe off of Belmont, my friend and I came in here for some desserts. We tried out their Strawberry Rhubarb tart, their Strawberry Creme Brulee (both okay), and their iced Hot Chocolate. I absolutely enjoyed their iced Hot Chocolate as it had a great flavor, not too sweet, and had that bittersweet action going on. The whipped cream was also not too overpowering, and it came in a nice frosty glass mug with a straw. I would definitely come back here solely for that beverage! They also had some blueberry samples by the entrance as well as a case of Cookies n' Cream cupcakes for those who check-in/give shout outs on Facebook! Service was great and friendly, and they also had a little store of cupcake-decor novelty items (cupcake toppers, invitation cards, cupcake-shaped lip balm, etc.). Metered parking is available up along Belmont. Definitely a cute little dessert place! +iced Hot Chocolate :D
(4)Justine M.
Love this place! It's so adorable. They have well made bakery items and their store is so nicely displayed. They also have a little corner that sells stationary items/gift items/cards, etc. Another section has tables where you can have a nice quiet lunch and then there's the beautiful display of pastries along the front. A friend and I purchased a bag of "mess up" cookies, macaroons, biscotti, bread, etc. for $3! So you can get a variety of things in one little bag. We also got the three macaroons (chocolate $.80, almond $.80 and raspberry - $1.50) and a individual sized raspberry cheesecake ($3). A total of $10. They were all DELICIOUS. My favorite was the raspberry macaroon. It was made with the PERFECT texture. Melted in your mouth. I plan to come back and take all my visitors here to have a cute lunch and buy some goodies :). I also love that they had samples of mini cakes by the door!
(5)Shelly A.
This place immediately won me over because of its great interior look and vibe. It reminds me of places in my old neighborhood in Manhattan, and for some reason you don't see places like this too much around Chicago. It has a very different look compared to the more modern bakeries and coffeeshops. I feel like Bittersweet is less gimmicky and more classic. We tried a few bakery items, and they were just average. The macarons were fine, but I've definitely had better. However, many of their other bakery items are also sold at my local Whole Foods, so I can totally vouch for them. Many of the cookies - my favorite are the thumbprints! - are super popular at Whole Foods and tend to be a bakery staple. The drinks were great, I especially liked my Italian Soda which wasn't too sweet and had a great flavor. I'd probably come back only if I was intending to dine-in, considering the physical space was my favorite part. It looks like others have liked their special-order cakes, so it's definitely a place to keep in mind for that, too!
(3)Hanan V.
I went to Bittersweet for a small, simple wedding cake after an experience with Alliance Bakery went sour (my husband and I loved both cakes but Alliance tried to screw us over by charging us extra because I dropped the word "wedding"). Anyway, the cake we had tasted was the red velvet with cream cheese and it was lovely and rich and not too sweet. So we ordered a 12 inch cake for 45 guests, which the lady assured me would be plenty, because they make FOUR LAYER CAKES. And she was right. The cake was perfect and beautiful and everyone was satisfied with a rich, thick slice of cake. The 12 inch round cake cost 70 (a similar size cake from Alliance would have put us back 190) The decorations were beautiful, I requested a smooth, simple design (which worked well because they top red velvet cakes with buttercream), and they put fresh flowers as a decoration on top (they gave me the choice between fresh flowers, sprinkles, chocolate shavings or one other thing...I think it was confetti). I was very satisfied with my experience and will definitely come back if I ever need a cake for a special occasion.
(5)Leslie K.
We ordered a birthday cake (first time ordering from this bakery) for our soon to be 5 year old & it was FANTASTIC! We picked up the cake this afternoon, street parking was easy enough. The bakery is very cute but elegant. They balance the offerings very well & all of it was tasty. We ordered the pinkberry cake with milk chocolate& fudge frosting. We ordered an 8" round & they wrote the HBD message very nicely. We also purchased a variety of items from the case and those were excellent! I had a nutty buddy cupcake (AWESOME!), other items were: almond biscotti, homemade Oreo cookie, gingerbread heart, decorated apple cookie, and a raspberry linzer - all excellent!!! The staff member who assisted us was very helpful & patient as we gawked at the case trying to figure out what we wanted. We paid (very reasonable - the Mr. was pleased) and loaded up in our car to head home. We didn't make it out of our parking spot before we began handing out the goods. EVERYONE was pleased! Someone even saved a bite of the homemade Oreo to enjoy with milk! Now that says a lot (for us dessert fanatics anyway). We had part 1 of the birthday celebration today & the cake was super tasty! Thank you Bittersweet! Our experience was all sweet & no bitter! We will be back for more (of everything!)!!! :-)
(5)Vesuvi T.
I was so in the mood for a burger... but Indie Burger had closed down... so I wandered west until I found Bittersweet. I got a salad, which was good. I then tried some of the cupcakes and truffles. Now, I might've given this place the highest rating... but a couple of years ago, when visiting my brother, I went to a bakery (on Broadway, now closed) which was even better. So, although everything was good here... it suffers (slightly) from comparison. But it should also be noted that they sells gifts as well as food and treats.
(4)Maria L.
A beautiful shop with pastries that dazzle the eye and palate. I placed a large order of cookies to give as gifts, all packaged so lovely and delicious, as well as sauces for ice cream or fruit...mmmmmmmmm. Have enjoyed breakfast and lunch on many occasions. Everything just wonderful, quiches, scones, soups, salads, sandwiches. Last summer, our daughters wedding cake - perfect! This is the place to go for beautiful pastires to impress guests or treat yourself.
(5)Bri B.
I HATED CUPCAKES, and then I met Bittersweet. That red velvet cupcake with the cream cheese icing is to die for! I loved that the icing isn't too sweet. I loved that the cupcake was moist. I bought the cupcakes for my best friend's birthday because she loves cupcakes, and I ended up eating all of that girl's cupcakes! We also went another time before my amazing cupcake day and ordered a few pastries. I don't remember their names. The small chocolate pastry was delicious. I wasn't crazy about the tart or the creme brulee cheesecakey one? Not sure what that was...so that's the only reason there aren't 5 stars on here, but those cupcakes...WOAH!!!
(4)Em K.
My wife and I used Bittersweet for our wedding cakes (1 gluten free and 1 gluten full) and they did a wonderful job. It was so good that my wife decided she wanted a replica of the GF wedding cake for her birthday. I called and scheduled the cake for pick up 2 weeks early. Called again the morning I picked it up to make sure it was all good and to ensure it was GF, i was assured. Got there at 5pm to pick it up, and it wasn't GF. It was my wife's birthday and she had been craving this sucker for weeks now. Needless to say i was really upset. They had no GF cakes in the shop, so i would be coming home with nothing on my wife's birthday. After venting for about 5 minutes, a woman who appeared to be the manager or owner came to my aid. She offered to make a macaroon cake for us for today and make the cake the next day...both free of charge. When I first found out the cake was not GF there was no question in mu mind I would never return. But with the way they handled it, I will not only return but will recommend this place to others. This is how a successful business makes up for their mistakes and keeps their customers loyal.
(5)Deborah T.
I have been going to Bittersweet Bakery for many years...got my wedding cake there 13 years ago. And this year bought my brother his wedding cake there..recently, I had an opportunity to speak with the owner..she was helpful, gracious and generous! After our conversation she had her driver send me wonderful pastries as a gift! What a warm gesture..this will be always remembered sweetly..
(5)SK R.
We have ordered two cakes from here, one for our baby shower and the other for our baby's three month birthday. Both times, they were extremely good with customer service and the cake was amazing! We got the fudge cake with bittersweet ganache and they added some decorations for free! Not anything super fancy, but cute and thoughtful. We will definitely be goon back here for special occasion cakes. Their space is very nice and they have an amazing selection of desserts and beverages.
(5)LIDA A.
Ok - still no cake cutters - but this time I ordered the Lemon cake with buttercream frosting and fresh fruit filling - it was PHENOMENAL I highly recommend it for the summer! Absolutely delicious and refreshing. Keep up the great baking!!!
(5)Jim P.
My wife and I purchased our wedding cakes (yes cakes) from Bittersweet. Nancy was great to work with and the cakes were amazing! 100% worth a look for your wedding or event.
(5)Ali C.
Their pastries are simply out of this world - crazy good. We received two boxes as presents from a friend and our whole office fought over who would get which piece. The closest I have had to experiencing this level of quality was in Europe. Well done!
(5)Niti B.
Not sure why it has taken me so long to come here but so glad I did! I was like a kid in a candy store! Wasn't sure what to try and and what to pass up. Walking in the place is so cute and I love that they serve lunch and have a shop as well! I had the sundae cupcake, hazelnut hazenult cupcake, chocolate dipped coconut macaroons, red velvet cakepops, chocolate banana cakepops, passion fruit macaroon, mocha chocolate tart, and espresso chocolate tart!! Of course I shared everything with my girls!! Can't say anything was a disappointment. I think that the prices are average and the variety is amazing. Will never hesitate to go back and try more!
(4)Laura L.
I love Bittersweet's brioche. Their spinach quiche. Their wedding cake!! We had an amazing tasting at Bittersweet that was presented so beautifully. All the cakes were so moist and tasty that we had a hard time choosing which ones to use. We ended up doing carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and almond cake with creme brulee and raspberry filling with fudge cake. So divine. The cake was gorgeous in all its 3 tiered beauty. Simple, elegant. I loved it. The staff at Bittersweet are always so kind and helpful it continues to me my go to spot for brunch or cookies. Love.
(5)Tricia D.
Things you should know about Bittersweet: - they have table service if you're planning on staying to eat your treats. - take a number by the door if you're gonna take it to go. - try the cheddar scone! - ice cream available! - the black and white cupcake was super fresh and moist and delectable. - I'll be back.
(4)Alicia K.
Holy croissant heaven! I started coming to this place because I was taking classes at Stage 773 for work. SO TASTY!! The assortment of baked goods is plentiful - no matter what hour of the day. I must try the fruit tarts over the summer. They look absolutely scrumptious!
(5)Sandra H.
I have been a loyal customer of Bittersweet for many years, and over the years I have tried a huge variety of Bittersweet baked goods. Everything I have tried has been excellent. In fact, my mother, who is a very accomplished baker in her own right, can always tell when I serve something from Bittersweet. This past week I ordered two Bittersweet birthday cakes. The cakes were decorated so beautifully and were so delicious that I decided to write this review (my first ever yelp review). The birthday party was held downstate, so I had to drive the cakes a long distance. The staff at Bittersweet helped me choose cakes that would survive the road trip and even provided me with a styrofoam cooler big enough to transport the cakes on ice. With the help of the staff, I decided to order a torte with lemon sabyon filling and a carrot cake. They were big hits and survived the drive beautifully! I am so grateful to Bittersweet for helping to make the birthday party a big success!
(5)Tara P.
Scones are so delicious, large and fluffy and not overly sweet. Each one has a different shape. If you order a blueberry scone which I did this morning, it is full of blueberries. Raisin, full of raisins. Chocolate, full of chocolate chips. They do not skimp on their ingredients, and I have tried all their other varieties. Your able to taste the amazing taste of the scone along with the added ingredients. The perfect balanced taste. Amazing with their hot chocolate or tea. Their hot chocolate has a unique flavor, with an amazing after taste. It's not your typical hot chocolate and is served in a beautiful white pot which keeps the hot chocolate hot. Yes, their pasties and cookies and cupcakes are delicious too, but this review is mainly for their scones. They need to improve on their service. I was sitting quite a while before someone came over, and I had to flag them down. I always serve their scones when I have company and my guests love them. It's a change from serving cookies and cake and the presentation looks beautiful on my table.
(4)Bonnie A.
I have walked past this bakery a few times and decided to stop in there to get something. It was so worth it! Their pastries, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, macarons, and tarts are all worth trying! My favorite is their passion fruit macaron. Nothing seems to beat that for me. I would come here and buy 10 passion fruit macarons and devour them. One time I had a fresh out of the oven apple turnover and it was ridiculously good...I love the decor of this place too.
(5)Stacey M.
I have fond memories of Bittersweet Bakery from birthday cake celebrations in college with my friends! Because of this, I knew they would be the perfect place to go for our wedding cake and sweets table. Nancy was so easy and lovely to work with! She helped us design the perfect cutting cake to match our ceramic bird toppers. The tasting was delicious and beautiful - we tried every flavor cake and filling (this is standard) as well as all of the bite-sized sweets for our sweets table. We ordered more sweets for the table than we thought we would need but they were so delicious and such a hit that we ended up with barely any leftover! You better believe we have those leftovers tucked away in the freezer and cannot wait for our first year anniversary to enjoy them again. My husband and I highly recommend Bittersweet! We will absolutely be going back for any cake/sweets needs in the future.
(5)Lim K.
My daughter ordered an almond strawberry brûlée cake for my birthday from Bittersweet Bakery. It was so delicious. I also tried their colorful macaroons....each had its own unique flavor and they were very good. I have been looking for a good bakery and now I know where to go.
(5)Christine C.
Our wedding cake came from Bittersweet a few weeks ago. It was elegant, beautiful, and most importantly, delicious. They have a wonderful selection, and the process was the easiest part of planning our wedding. I wish I had gotten to eat more cake on our wedding night, but what I did have was delish! Thank you, Nancy, for making such a beautiful and scrumptious cake for our biggest day :-)
(5)FoodLover Z.
I've had a mixed experience at Bittersweet. There were pastries I've tried here that were great, but most of the others were just about ok. It's a cute little place and the people are nice, so I'd go here again, but there are better patisseries in town.
(3)Leigh J.
Every soup that comes out of the kitchen at Bittersweet is spectacular. It seems like they must start with a variation of the same delicious base before adding and adapting for the flavour du jour. There seems to be some cream or butter involved - though not enough to call it a "cream of" - because not many things that don't have butter taste like this soup does. The top is sprinkled with some very tasty homemade croutons that disintegrate ever so slightly while maintaining their buttery crunchiness, and you get a soft slice of fresh bread on the side for dipping. Best of all, you can order it paired with a half sandwich or half salad. Bittersweet uses quality ingredients and I have liked most everything I have tried from their menu board, which changes every day. And as long the soup is involved somewhere in your order, you really can't go wrong. The only reason they don't get five stars from me is because I haven't really loved all of the their pastries--though some have been good. I'm usually too full for dessert anyhow. The savory food is what keeps me going back.
(4)Emily S.
We got the most delicious cake from here for our wedding!!! It was sooooo good, we received so many compliments! We worked with Nancy and was very helpful. We wanted a small tiered cake just for pictures and then had them make larger sheet cake for the remainder of the guests- our small cake was still beautiful and the sheet tasted just as good. We've gotten a few cakes from here before and will definitely continue to go to them in the future!
(5)Jose C.
Bittersweet is consistently one of, if not the best bakery in Chicago. I have been eating here for years and can rave about everything from their fruit tarts to cakes, to even their amazing home made ice cream (cappuccino is awesome). They have a limited menu everyday with quiche a soup and a sandwich, as well as a few salads. It is hard to pick a favorite, but their carrot soup & potato quiche are my personal loves. Another must try is their hot chocolate. This is a must visit.
(5)Lily S.
I live nearby and come here often. The food is normally really fresh and delicious, bakery items and coffee are all generally good as well. I wish I could give this place 5 stars, but the service is just really bad. There are maybe one or two employees there who are great, but more often then not it seems to be someone who has no idea what is going on. Incredibly slow table service and unable to answer questions. I keep going because its close, but the bad service is making it harder and harder. I also wish they would let you pay from your table if you eat in, the pay at the counter system is confusing and most of the staff are too timid to keep the line moving correctly.
(3)Amanda P.
We had so much fun at our cake tasting here! The staff could not have been nicer and the cakes & fillings were Excellent! So moist & flavorful! I brought a few people along with me and they made us feel so welcome the whole time we were there. Waiting on pricing now but I have no doubt that they would do a spectacular job for our wedding!
(5)Jessica V.
Recently the owner reached out to me to offer a couple of free cupcakes so I can retry them. Although I will respectfully decline because I no longer live in the area, I sincerely appreciate when owners respond to reviews and do so in a respectful way as opposed to getting defensive. That says a lot about not only the owner but the business in general and perhaps I had a bad experience or my picky tendencies over shadowed they're delicious treats. I will be back to try again knowing I am giving business to a company that does appreciate their customers.
(4)gerard n.
Bittersweet is a wonderful place to pick up a wonderful pastry or for breakfast/lunch. Staff is helpful and prompt. had mushroom quiche for breakfast - nice presentation with fruit (grapes, kiwi, pineapple) could not resist a scone for the road - raisin, was delicious. of course, you must, must try the chocolate truffles!
(5)Patricia R.
Overall the pastries and daily soups, sandwiches and salads are excellent. I would have given them 5 stars but find the only thing they need to improve on is their service. Primarily when eating there they can be slow at times.
(4)Ruth G.
Beautiful cakes that taste even better than they look (and they looked great)! I needed a special occasion cake and the restaurant that was hosting my party recommended Bittersweet. Even though I was calling with short notice (3-4 days in this case), they were able to accommodate two 14-inch cakes given 48-hour notice. I'm not sure how they measure, because these cakes were huge! Maybe the measure is the radius instead of the diameter. The person who answered the phone took the time to answer all my questions and walk me through their Facebook page where I was able to see an album of choices and be guided through which decorations involved an up-charge and which were included in the pricing. We ended up with two cakes (not their largest) and it was more than enough for 100+ guests, many of who could not resist a second slice. We chose fudge-fudge-caramel and carrot cake, both of which were fantastic. They helped me coordinate the decorations so that they were different but coordinated. A lovely presentation! I would definitely use them again for a special event!
(5)michele b.
addicted to their hot chocolate. it's not sweet, it has some subtle spices. it's rich and rewarding in a deep spiritual way. their sausage quiche is amazing. so light and fluffy and well....you just have to try it.
(5)Melissa M.
I did not have a good experience here. This place is huge, and seems almost like a tourist gift shop in an airport than an independently owned bakery. First, the service was incredibly slow. And rude. We waited about 20 minutes just to place our order, and 10 more minutes just to have them take our croissants from the bins and place them on a plate for us. The food itself was also meh - nothing special at all. I also had an almond macaron, which was terrible. It was horribly constructed and also tasted terrible. Won't be returning.
(1)Adam J.
Today was my first experience and I absolutely fell in love! The moment you step in the door you feel like you are in a mom and pop store yet it has the look of sheer elegance. The precision to detail with the food in presentation is flawless and the taste is just as amazing. I am a new loyal customer to Bittersweet! My only suggestion would be more cupcakes!!! Will not be my last visit.
(5)Larissa A.
I have eaten a lot of scones. I've had every flavor you could imagine and have tested every recipe at home, but I have never had a scone this good. I took a bite, expecting mediocrity and could not get enough. I took another bite. It had just the right about of sugar, the right about of flakiness, the right texture and the best flavor. This is the best scone I have ever tasted.
(5)Karen T.
Needing a place to read and eat for an hour or two on a Saturday morning, I checked out Bittersweet for the first time - and fell in love. Researchers recommend a piece of dark chocolate a day because it's packed with heart-healthy flavonoids. Well, I'll take Bittersweet any day over flavonoids - just as soothing for me and warmth-inducing on a cold wintry Chicago morning as a mug of hot chocolate. And you can get hot chocolate at this lovely little French-inspired café. You can also indulge in my current obsession right now - quiche. I know it may not be a set-your-soul-on-fire, quiver-in-your-boots sort of word to you, but one meal of quiche at Bittersweet and you will be converted. The portion size is generous, and even though it's got a price tag to match, it blows all competition in the area out of the water, unless you happen to live with a French lady who bakes fresh quiches every morning. (if you do, let me know, because I have been craving some baguettes in a serious way). But honestly - the Quiche Lorraine at Fox and Obel Café couldn't begin to touch Bittersweet Quiches. For starters, it's more expensive and smaller. I've always been a quality over quantity sort of girl, but luckily, I don't have to make that sort of compromise here. The crust is the perfect thickness, the filling is rich and heavenly, and the top is perfectly browned, a la crème brûlée. Yes, they're a patisserie, and their desserts rock (death by chocolate cupcakes, anyone?), but one of the most underrated enjoyments at this Belmont locale is the quiche - you won't be sorry you tried it, and I daresay you could even split it with a friend as a snack. Also, their espresso is wonderful. I had a skim cappuccino that was absolutely fantastic. If you happen to stop in on a Saturday morning and see an Asian girl bent over a book, stirring an Illy cup with an empty plate that's covered in quiche crumbs, that's not me at all, I swear.
(4)Alice J.
The good: I enjoyed my hot chocolate which had hints of orange to it and was served on a plate with a cup, a pot for the drink, and a little container for the whipped cream. It was a very cute presentation. I enjoyed my salted macaron which had a good texture and was flavored well. I also enjoyed the little shop area with cute baking supplies, cookbooks, etc. The bad: The hazelnut cupcake I had was mediocre. The prices for some of their baked items seemed really high and the staff was quite unfriendly.
(3)Jon D.
I really do want to like this place, it's down the street and incredibly freaking convenient. It's clean, has a cute little cafe, and a friendly staff. Unfortunately, that ends the collection of "yays" about this place. I've had two experiences, which doesn't seem like a lot, but was enough to turn me off all together. One was a birthday cake which was fancy, but not super fancy, as in it was appropriately iced in an even layer, not glopped on. The flavors were a bit blah, and the whole experience left me wanting more. We stopped by again this weekend to pick up some cookies for a party. Every single cookie was rock hard. I get that some folks enjoy a crispy cookie, although crispy cookies aren't generally this thick. Bittersweet makes the kind where you feel you MAY chip a tooth. This was the experience over 6 varieties. A bit over priced for what you get.
(2)Traci G.
Finally made a visit here in July and was thoroughly pleased with everything!
(5)Bethami M.
Since Phoebe's cupcakes closed, I needed a new place nearby to get my cupcake fix. After partaking in ample yelp research, I came across Bittersweet. What a better first time to try out pastries than Valentine's Day? I decided I wouldn't write this review until I tried every single thing in my box. When walking into the shop, I realized the space is a little crowded, around 1pm. This was probably just part of the Valentine's Day busier crowd. You pull a number (like at grocery stores) and you wait for your turn to get called. As a first time customer, I didn't realize the whole number-scheme, and my friend and I were a little late on pulling our numbers. Anyway I ended up not even getting a cupcake. I got three different macaroons, the passionfruit tart (heart-shaped), and the mini chocolate red velvet cake thing. There was NOTHING that wasn't above and beyond amazing. I'm normally not the hugest fan of macaroons, but that salted caramel flavored one absolutely blew me away. The passionfruit tart was also super fabulous. There wasn't an overabundance of meringue, and there was actually chocolate on the bottom of the tart. So delicious, and I ate it over four sittings--it's huge! Can't wait to go back again, and hopefully in the near future.
(5)Grace R.
Bittersweet's flavor is beyond compare. Many of our guests told us it was the best wedding cake they'd ever had! Bittersweet made us an amazing 3-tiered wedding cake (with 3 different flavors!) and also worked with us for additional sweets, including custom-colored macarons made just for us (they were delicious!) I would have preferred slightly more consultation on design aesthetic - unfortunately some messaging got lost in the cracks during a personnel change - but the outcome, though not what I'd originally envisioned, was still beautiful, and the taste was undeniably delicious!
(4)Karen Z.
I ordered a birthday cake from Bittersweets and I liked it a lot! They used dark chocolate for foster, which makes the cake tasty and not too sweet. I especially like the texture of the cake. Definitely recommend this place!
(4)Mary R.
I was assigned with the task of ordering a cake for the bridal shower of a coworker in the office, and had no idea where to start. I stumbled upon Bittersweet and saw that they could deliver to the Loop and that they had good reviews, so I decided to go for it. I ordered it on a Tuesday to be delivered on a Friday, and called to confirm on a Thursday. Everything went smoothly and without a hitch. The cake was beautiful and tasted great--everybody loved it! It was nice because it was a cake large enough to feed 40 people, but still looked nice and neat. It was a round cake, which I found wasn't a common option with the amount of people I needed to feed (I think the round looked nicer than a sheet cake). The price was also very good for the high quality $70 for a 12" round, with a $20 delivery fee. Everyone, especially the bride to be, was very happy, and now I'm afraid I'll be the designated cake orderer. Bittersweet will get our business again!
(5)Linda T.
omg. i was cheap and decided to get the one day old pastries that's half price. ate the raisin scone and man....it was still delicious! now i want to go back and try their fresh scones....in addition to their cakes and pecan rolls!
(4)Tal C.
5 stars for their lunch fare+3 stars for pastries=4 stars overall I used to live right around the corner from this place, and stopped by often for lunch. They always have 2-3 sandwiches (I believe always at least one vegetarian), 2-3 salads, a couple soups, and a quiche. I love the Mediterranean salad that they have often, and the grilled cheese and turkey/brie sandwiches. The quiche is also good. It's a really cute place to sit down and have a coffee/lunch, but also a good option for carrying out as they're usually pretty quick. I don't love their pastries- I've tried some of the cookies and cupcakes and they always taste kind of superficial to me. They're good, but they don't taste homemade like some bakeries' pastries do. They do have day old breads though, which are dirt cheap and always worth buying because they're definitely still good.
(4)elibbybet r.
The coffee is terrific. The food is delicious. The pastries are divine. If you're looking for a place to have lunch, coffee, or a sweet...this is your place. Hands down. If I had only been a walk-in customer, this place would have five stars. So, why only four stars? Well, we ordered our wedding cake here. The tasting was AMAZING. We couldn't decide, so we got two flavors, banana with passionfruit filling and hazelnut with mocha filling. Both flavors were delicious. Then came time to design the cake. We had a very unusual design in mind, unfortunately, and I think we didn't explain ourselves very well. Well, they did their best. It was a rather odd looking cake. But it tasted GREAT. Moist and flavorful. Really spectacular. So...my suggestion to brides wanting a cake from here? GO TRADITIONAL WITH THESE GUYS. Don't try to take them out of their element, design-wise. Believe me. The taste will win anyone over.
(4)Carolyn L.
What a darling little shop on Belmont! I noticed this place while I've been riding the bus every day and decided to stop in today to pick up a cake for my mom's birthday. I chose a small flourless chocolate cake and it was MIGHTY GOOD. Rich, creamy, decadent, and moist. There was nothing I could improve on it! So happy I have leftovers so I can eat it for dessert during the week. I also picked up some vanilla extract, a cookie cutter in the shape of the Eiffel Tower (I'm obsessed with everything French!), and a mini Vosges chocolate bacon bar for my mom. It really is such a sweet place. I'd love to go back and try some of their macarons! A bit pricey, but the chocolatey goodness made it worth it.
(4)Marjorie F.
My friend and I, both having recently traveled to Paris, were in search of a real French macaroon (not like Au Bon Pain - but those are really good too). In order to "deserve" a sweet treat, we trekked 3 miles from my apartment up to Bittersweet. Was it worth it? You betcha! We sat down in the cafe for lunch. My friend H had some kind of quiche - which she loved. I had a tuna melt which was OK - a little different. I'm not used to capers in my tuna salad. I don't think I would order it next time. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to sandwiches. The best part, by far, was the dessert. I had the chocolate souffle cake. Ooh la la!!! It was reminiscent of my trip to Paris when I had a hazelnut souffle that made me want to cry. OK, so I didn't really cry, but I was speechless for a while... After our meal, we bought some macaroons. The selection was limited to cranberry and nutella. Of course, we purchased both! They were very expensive at $2 per piece. We made sure to enjoy every morsel. Overall, I left fully satiated with dreams of a future rendevous with another piece of chocolate souffle cake.
(4)Mary J.
Chocaholics, go here! That's not all that they have, but that's what I've eaten from here. My SIL got us not one, but two treats for dinner last night and boy were they yummy. The smoothness and intensity of the dark chocolate helped me ignore the terrible storm outside. We had a turtle brownie tort and some chocolate, fudgey, raspberry thing. Sorry, there was no label on the box and I was just catching a buzz from the great chocolate taste. Run, do not walk here!
(5)Julia R.
This is a LOVELY bakery. Although I've not been to France (yet) this is what I imagine a french bakery would be like. Classy with unbelievably good pastries. This is a great place to sit on a Sunday morning with a newspaper. The first time I visited Bittersweet I am quite sure we were served by the owner. She was kind and helpful and even threw in a few of "her favorites" for free! I have quite an obsession with croissants and eat them at absolutely every chance I get. They require a lot of TLC to make and so I figure it's a good way to rate a bakery (as a novice baker I have tried to make them many times - even with Julia Child's recipe - and have ended up with not-so-good-results). The croissants at Bittersweet are awesome! Whether you're looking for quiche, baguette, cookies or scones, Bittersweet is the BEST.
(5)Vanessa R.
I emailed a pic of an owl that was the theme for my daughter's first birthday to ask if they could make a cake like this. They said yes:). They made the design out of gum paste (not sure if that is fondant). They were great with following up with me by phone after emailing them. Very professional. On the day of my daughter's birthday, everyone was in love with the cake! I had a few guests say that it was too pretty to cut. I felt the same way! But then I tasted the cake and... Yummmm...we cut the rest of the cake:) We will have all of our special occasion cakes from them now!
(5)Katy O.
My brother and his wife discovered Bittersweet maybe 8 years ago when they were living nearby. They started buying pastries, tarts and cakes to bring to parties and everyone always enjoyed them. Two years ago Bittersweet was on our short-list for wedding cakes. We had such a fun time at our cake tasting here and everything was delicious but we stuck with our (somewhat cheaper) favorite bakery (SMB). The wedding cake coordinator (that may or not be her actual title) was so helpful and accommodating. You should definitely check this place out if you are getting married. I have never eaten in the cafe, but all of their baked goods are delicious and I have tried a wide selection. This is a very cute shop and a cozy place to grab a cup of coffee or a sandwich.
(4)Lizz M.
Not sure how I could've forgotten to review these guys, they're amazing! Their pastries are so detailed and gorgeous, and are absolutely delicious. What put them over the edge for me and why they get five stars, though? CAKE! I ordered a birthday cake from them last May for a joint birthday, and they did NOT disappoint! You get to build your own cake. I chose vanilla cake with lemon curd, and they made me lemon frosting at my request. The cake was decorated beautifully, and tasted AMAZING! Not too sweet, and not overly frosted, perfection. Even though the cake was small it lasted a long time because the cake was so rich and filling. Do recommend!
(5)Stephanie H.
Bittersweet's Flourless Chocolate cake is best in the world. I've not tried anything better (at least not on 3 continents). If you are a connoisseur, this is a must. The deep chocolate is to the dark-chocolate lovers' delight. It is creamy inside and a little goes a long way. This is a taste to savor. It is a thick texture and the cocoa powder exterior really complements the melting (ganache?) of the inside. This is like the sophisticated grown-up child of brownies and pudding. A very fine cake to savor in good company. Very reasonably priced too. Yelper Kevin C. says, "The simple presentation allows the cake to shine as the star attraction (no distracting sauces or garnishes to take away from it)." I agree. Simple presentation, abundant flavor. I'm impressed. Seriously, I've had this cake about 3 times in my life and I can remember every occasion. This is a quality creation, I'd love to meet whoever is putting the love behind this one.
(5)Kristine L.
Bittersweet prepared our wedding cake (and grooms cake) for our August 2011 wedding. We hosted our wedding reception at the Mid-America Club, which works exclusively with Bittersweet. I had enjoyed Bittersweet cakes and pastries previously, so was excited that our wedding cake would be prepared by Bittersweet. Our cake tasting appointment with Judy was great. She spent time discussing with us what we were looking for (both aesthetics and flavors). She asked us what our favorite desserts were and then went in the back and whipped up some amazing filling and cake flavors for us to sample. We ended up choosing two flavors for our cake: chocolate fudge cake with peanut butter mousse and chocolate filling and almond cake with creme brulee filling and apricot preserves. Our cake design came out great! The colors were not identical to our wedding colors, but they did great working from a copy of our invite to incorporate our style and certain design elements. Our cake tasted great. The only issue we had (this didn't bother me, but really bothered my husband), was that we had requested that the cake tier we cut into during our reception be the chocolate/PB cake and it wasn't. I secretly worked with Bittersweet to design a surprise grooms cake for my husband. It turned out terrific! He is a serious runner/marathoner, and Bittersweet designed a cake that mimicked his running shoe and had a marathon medal laying across it (I sent them pics to go off of). They also made this cake any flavor I wanted (I opted for chocolate with chocolate filling). Bittersweet did a great job of executing this and keeping it a secret! One of the greatest things about Bittersweet is that they say they will bake you a small cake to eat on your one year anniversary (so long as you send them a picture of your cake) so that you don't have to freeze your top tier for a year. I am really looking forward to that (and my husband is really looking forward to having his chocolate/PB cake!!).
(4)Timo R.
I had a friend who would often bring cupcakes from Bittersweet to me... so, those pretty-much solidified my appreciation of them before even having visited the cafe itself. I also, eventually, had lunch there... and it was quiet, sophisticated... and just as sweet (although in a different way).
(5)Nick G.
Very pleased with our wedding cake! Many guests said it was the best cake they had ever tasted. Very easy to work with - worth the price.
(5)Li M.
We just celebrated our anniversary with the free cake that Bitter Sweet made for us. We ordered our wedding cake last year. We worked with Nancy and she is super helpful and professional to give us all recommendations. The cake they made was amazing. Not too sweet like most of the wedding cake. They told us last year that we do not need to save the top part of the cake， they will make us a fresh one this year. Their communication is super as well. Nancy replies emails with all the information you need right away.
(5)Hannah C.
After spending many many evenings walking down Belmont and thinking, "that place looks so cute," I finally made it in just before they closed. Great selection of cookies, chocolates, and cupcakes. Just before close, cupcakes are 2 for 1! Unfortunately, nothing I tried was that good. The cupcake cake was pretty dry (although chocolate cake ones were more moister than vanilla based cakes). And the frosting is a dull buttercream that tastes like cheap cannoli filling. If you're not looking for a rich frosting, the milk and cookies cupcake was cute and filled with different types of frosting. The mint chocolate chip at least had some flavor. My final morsel was a salted chocolate truffle, which sadly tasted only like baking cocoa. I probably won't be back, especially since they aren't open late enough for me to make bad decisions after a visit to Cheesie's.
(3)Jessi R.
Cakes and stuffs are good! They have the deal last hour of the day, buy 2 cup cakes for price of 1, and buy 2 breakfast muffin/ scone for the price of one! I normally get 1 cup cake and 1 muffin, they just charge me the one higher price One day, the lady said no, I have to buy 2 cup cake and 2 muffin,( which I don't need), I said, I ve come to the store for over 2 years and all the cashier let me mix and match! She said, whoever did so are wrong! I said can I talk to the manager ? She shout at me, I am one of them!!! I want to tell her how the hell kind of manager you are? Are u kidding me? If u are a " good" manager, U wouldn't shout and disrespect ur customer like that! And if u are a " good" manager: you would have trained your staffs not to do mix and match for the last years!! Finally, I tell her let me talk to your higher manager and she shut up and tell the girl to let me mix and match! I feel so bad for the store with good stuffs and good atmosphere, kind of high end, but some of the staffs are so mean and have no customer service skill! Especially the one" call" herself manager!
(2)Britta S.
We ordered our wedding cake with Nancy from Bittersweet. It was amazing! First off: the communication was fast and easy. Second: the tasting was so well organized and we could try really anything and any combination of flavor! After settling for two (multiple tier cake) different flavor combinations, we talked about the design and to our surprise, Nancy said that it would not be a problem at all and I should just leave the pictures with her and they will create something. And she didn't understate: the cake looked exactly like we wanted it! And we don't even need to talk about the taste: amazing! Our guests were impressed and loved it! Thank you, Nancy and Bittersweet, for making our day even more special!
(5)Nicole H.
I had the the tastiest chicken caesar sandwich! The brioche roll it was served on was sooo, sooo good. It was buttery and light and complemented the chicken very well. I also had a carrot muffin that was really delicious. When I eat here, the food is so good and tastes so well made that the price doesn't even bother me.
(4)Angela P.
The Strawberry-Rhubarb macaron was one of the best ones I've had. The strawberry-rhubarb center was part cream and a surprising part fruit jam. The Lavender macaron was just OK. I was a little surprised that the FIRST thing we encountered upon entering was a sign indicating that we should watch our belongings, because pick-pocketing has occurred here. Well, okay... The last thing we noticed were the samples by the front door. The sugar cookie was really good, and my friend raved about the white cake. The employees weren't the friendliest. They seemed in a hurry to get us to sit down at a table, but we wanted to look at the bakery case first. The dining room was cramped, and I didn't feel like having to wait to be seated. It was faster to just order our items and go, so we took our goodies to the coffee shop across the street.
(3)Tnon A.
Doesn't matter how you feel when you walked in, but I always walk out of here with a smile :D wonderful sweets that could lift up your soul with a great service from smiley staffs plus great ambience...
(5)Evie H.
Bittersweet is one of those places where you want to keep returning to even though you know deep down it's not good to do so. They have so many little dessert creations that it leaves me very conflicted on what to order each time I ignore my deep down feelings and pop in anyway. + easily walkable from the Belmont or Wellington 'L' stops! + samples! + such a cute and brightly lit store. Perfect for afternoon snacks. Macarons - The flavors are outstanding and really pop when you take a bite. My favorites are the salted caramel and the passion fruit. The one area that was lacking was the texture. It didn't have the chewiness that I like from macarons so each bite fell flat instead. Pecan tart - Excellent pecan flavor as well but the tart was too hard for me. I felt like I had to stab at it to take a bite. Flourless chocolate cake - Very rich and chocolately. They use quite a bit of cocoa powder making it a little bitter but it counters the sweetness so it makes for a good balance. Perfect for chocolate lovers. Vanilla cheesecake - Yummy! I love the sturdiness of the cheesecake. It holds up well and doesn't fall flat in your mouth.
(4)Asper K.
Today, I noticed a hole in the elbow of my fave Pacifico long sleeve T-shirt. The same shirt that I was wearing years ago when my Yelp profile pic was taken (resplendent in fake jewelry) at the Goat on Wells. The same shirt co-workers mocked me for wearing every Friday for years (Hey! must be Friday, you're wearing the Pacifico shirt). On this sad day, I'm reminded by the sage words of Monty Python's Eric Idle. Always look on the bright side of life. Even in bittersweet moments (unfathomable bitterness followed by a touch of sarcastic sweetness) you must always look on the bright side of life. youtube.com/watch?v=WlBi… This advice, sung at the end of the movie Life of Brian, was at one time the third most popular song played at British funerals and was in fact sung by the surviving members of the comedy troupe at Eric Idles' funeral. And by countless other cheerfully depressed Brits whilst dealing with impossible circumstances including the crew of HMS Sheffield while their ship was sinking after being struck by an Exocet missile in 1982 in the Falklands war. (thanks wikipedia) Yes, that must of have been quite a bittersweet moment. Your ship is sinking in some bullshit ocean because some trigger happy Argentinian ahole decides he's got a point to prove. Sure that's fair. You could be watching Tottenham Hotspur complete it's amazing run to FA Cup glory in your favorite pub, or else you know, sink off the coast of wherever. So bittersweet. It's times like this that you need a little pick me up. A small cake or two. A bit of coffee to lift your spirits. A delightful exchange with a counter person. Yay. Bittersweet (the store) does indeed strive to be such a place. You only need to see how many Yelpers say it's "really cute" to understand what's on offer. I had a gingerbread cookie (shaped like I forget like what) and another cookie. I remember them both as being mediocre. I also ordered an Americano which threw my very cheerful counterperson for a loop. After asking in the back, and realizing that an Americano is expresso (they have an expresso machine) + hot water she happily made my drink. Munching on my mediocre cookie and sipping my Americano, I was reminded of Cameron Frye. Sure Ferris Bueller's day off was fun. But now, looking into the abyss. Your dad's vintage Ferrari destroyed. You have to man up. You have to face facts. Uncomfortable facts. The present is bitter. But the future might be amazing. (I'll be at Target this weekend). youtube.com/watch?v=bWui… (I remember this as the actual ending)
(3)Hollina U.
I've given this place three chances now. First time, I had some macarons and cupcakes, of which the macarons were mediocre and the cupcakes were somewhat dry. Second time, I ordered a chocolate cake with hazelnut filling for my friend's birthday, of which the presentation was phenomenal since I requested for fresh fruit and flowers to be arranged on top. It was great presentation, but the taste was nothing special. Third time, I went to pick up an angel food cake that I specified multiple times on the phone that I wanted strawberries on top. What did I get when I went in to pick it up? No strawberries... Of which I was told it would be a 3 minute wait for them to add the strawberries... Which turned into a 10 minute wait, turning my total time in the bakery into a 17 minute debacle. I expected the most creative, beautiful strawberry display on the time it took them to slice 6 strawberries in half. Also, when the girl first brought out my strawberry less cake, she asked if I was going to eat it same day and that she had instructions for me on how to serve it. Well, she neglected to follow up with the instructions. I guess hand, cake, face. THANKS.
(2)Noomi J.
Review #300! 4.5 stars. I've been here twice, once for brunch, and I was very pleased with their friendly service & excellent food. Tbh, I fell in love with their apple custard French toast o.o As a bonus, they have full table service. The tables at brunch had fresh flowers, and there were several couples dining in. Lovely interior, peaceful vibe. Happy to have them in the neighborhood, and I definitely foresee future noms here, my stomach sez so xD
(4)Janie C.
We had cake tastings at three different bakeries and Bittersweet won hands down. Not only did their cakes taste amazing, but the price was reasonable, and they didn't have to use fondant to make it look pretty. We provided the cake topper and cake stand to them ahead of time and everything arrived perfect the day of the wedding. Sometimes the cake tasting process is overwhelming and you don't know where to start or what a "normal" cake/filling/icing combination is. But Nancy was super sweet and helpful, she gave us suggestions, gave us space to try things at our own pace, checked in on us, answered all our questions. It was such a fun experience and their cakes were just sooooo good. We ended up with two flavors: 1) banana cake with dark chocoolate mousse and salted caramel drizzle and 2) hazelnut cake with vanilla bean brulee and raspberry preserves. We got so many compliments on our cake during the wedding through now (weeks after the wedding). I'm already looking forward to our one year anniversary where we get to go back and get a complimentary cake from Bittersweet. No freezer burned cake top here! P.S. - Banana cake is a good density smooshable cake for anyone who plans on smashing cake on their loved one's face. I'm going to do it every year. Muhahahahaha!
(5)Andrea C.
We live right around the corner from Bittersweet and boy is it good. It's the perfect place to pop in if you're craving a sweet treat. They have a wide variety in offerings from macarons to cookies to cupcakes- and you can't really go wrong. I've never had anything other than deliciousness. The other nice thing is that they have a little cafe that serves food! Lots of lovely breakfast options as well as yummy lighter lunch fare. My only gripe and where they lose a star is that service tends to not be the best- not super attentive and can tend to be slow. However, it is worth it in the end because the food is delicious!
(4)Derrick T.
I remember coming here quite a few years back when they offered the tickets into the Gourmet Festival deal by going around town and eating at places, and getting your card punched. I had no idea that a few years later, I'd be walking into the same spot all over again... but just for a morning coffee and macaroon. Service here was exceptionally friendly. Smiles all around, happy to provide advice, even on my odd-ball questions on how busy the street gets at night (since I was checking out the area for a potential restaurant build out). From what I remember a few years back, the pastries were a huge hit in my office, much loved by all. But to be fair, I don't even remember what I got anymore, so I"ll just talk about the experience this time out: Macaroon was dead on delicious, crisp outer layer, softy chewy inside with just the right amount of filling to make it perfect. Espresso was brewed just right, with a good balance of bitterness and barely sweet. Just how I like my espresso. And the waitress even brought out some water while I took care of some e-mail on my phone while I sat there sipping and nibbling. It made an excellent morning. Lots of regulars who seem to come by for a pastry breakfast with their kids or by themselves, or significant others. Verdict: All in all, a great spot with excellent pastries and great service. Looking forward to visiting again for a nice breakfast to enjoy!
(4)Chelsea B.
The best pastries around. And ladies (or gentlemen...) grab a friend and head there for tea and treats. Makes a great lady date with your girlfriends.
(5)XTreats X.
They have the best lemon bar I've had. That lemon to crust ratio. Go here if you're looking for treats on the sweet side. Pies, macarons, cookies, tarts, etc. great location.
(4)Michael S.
3.5 stars in the face of Julius Meinl, but still it's great for a coffee drink and, of course, something sweet. Still, I'm usually pretty let down by their lunch offerings, which are limited to a quiche offering, salads, soups, and sandwiches. Thus, stick to the KISS rule (at least for me), and it's good stuff. Note... their flowerless chocolate cake is exceptional, and makes for a great cake to take home for entertaining, or whatever. Seriously, if I were to take a single piece home, it would last me for days it's so darn chocolaty. Depending on their desert of the day, I have either been enthralled, or utterly disappointed (like I was the last time with the strawberry rhubarb crumble, which was missing everything but crumble). However, if you stick to the sweets (at least in my case), there is most always something you will discover to enjoy.
(4)Jennifer B.
I came to this sweet little bakery in search of a cupcake. I had heard that Bittersweet was THE place for cupcakes, so imagine my surprise when they only had 2 flavors available!! No biggie, I decided to go with the Strawberry Shortcake. I mean, I can count that as a fruit, right?!? But onto the review of the cupcake itself....oooh la la. Aces. In a city in which the icing of the cupcake is always far superior to the cake itself, Bittersweet is the lone pioneer of the "moist cake!" Finally, a fresh, moist, dense cake, as opposed to the dried out, crumbly cake at those other places. Thanks Bittersweet for the fresh cupcake!
(4)Kelli C.
I love their chocolate sugar cookies. So...MUCH!
(5)Laura S.
I cannot say enough nice things about Bittersweet. They were our wedding bakery for our cake and other sweets, and they knocked it out of the park! We had originally gone with Sweet Mandy B's until I realized that THEY DON'T DELIVER. The thought of having to get someone to pick up our wedding cake and get it to the venue safely was just too much to deal with. So I set up a tasting at Bittersweet, and realized I should have gone with them to begin with. Nothing against Sweet Mandy B's, but their cake and frosting is EXTREMELY sweet--as in you eat half a cupcake and think you might throw up or become a diabetic. Bittersweet is dessert for a more grown-up palate, with sweet and savory all in one. Our tasting was truly special, everything was so nicely presented by Amy Crumrine. The different types of cakes were in little rectangular stripes on one long plate, with another small plate holding tiny square ceramic containers of different fillings and frostings. She gave us guidance on "pairings" and we were HOOKED. Our top two tiers of our wedding cake were chocolate fudge cake (OH MY GOD, so moist and delicious) with creme brulee filling. The bottom tier was yellow cake with lemon filling, and the whole thing was in vanilla buttercream with the most beautiful mehndi design on it (my husband--then-groom--is half Indian and we want ed to honor that). Amy and her bakers were amazingly well organized, everything was confirmed via email, etc. You can see the kitchen through the glass in the cafe and it is IMMACULATE. We have had brunch there a few times since the wedding and it is delicious--their quiche is to die for! And they always have some sort of free sample out of something delicious, not to mention cupcakes from the day before at half price. I'm glad I don;t live closer or I'd weigh a ton! Bittersweet also did a dozen cupcakes for us, a groom's cake with a custom Redskins logo on top, cheesecake squares, and a few pies. Everything was AMAZING. We kep the top tier of our cake but instead of freezing it, we ate away at it over the course of the next four days while we stayed at the hotel. It was STILL FRESH TASTING four days later, with no preservatives and in a mostly open cake box (no tupperware). Anyway, you won;t regret picking Bittersweet for your wedding cake, they were amazing, everything was delicious and delivered in the promised two hour time frame, and now we have a place we can go get our cake from on our anniversary every year! I will be using Bittersweet for all our family's birthdays from now on! Thank you Amy!
(5)John H.
I WANT to love this place! I really want to. Last month, I ordered a birthday cake for my boyfriend's birthday. Since it was just going to be the 2 of us, I ordered the smallest cake they had (6"). $24.00! I thought that was a bit exorbitant, but a.) He's my guy & he's worth it and b.) I had a $20.00 Groupon. I chose a chocolate chip cake, with a white chocolate mousse filling and a caramel butttercream frosting. It LOOKED fantastic...very simple (I chose the polka-dot motif), GREAT writing on top, and very high. LOVED the look of it. Too bad the taste was a HUGE let down. In a nutshell: The cake? Dry. Not moist at all. The chocolate chips tasted good, but the rest of the cake itself didn't have much flavor. The filling? Tasteless. Really didn't have much flavor. Maybe another filling choice would have been better, but this tasted like sugar and nothing else. The icing? ODDLY tasting. Very "fake" and an aftertaste of alcohol (I'm assuming maybe they use a caramel extract 'flavoring'???). As I said, I REALLY want to love this higher-end bakery, but I will not be going back.
(2)Hannah H.
I recently moved into the neighborhood and being a sweet/desert lover I was excited to try out Bittersweet after reading good reviews here on Yelp. Man, was I disappointed! I bought an assortment of cookies and 2 small cupcakes to share with my boyfriend. I took my first bite and literally thought I chipped a tooth! ALL of our cookies were as hard as a rock. If I'm paying $10 for a few cookies, they'd better at least be semi-soft. Not only were they hard but they were also very bland. While the shop and cafe look adorable and friendly, looks can definitely be decieving.
(2)Karen S.
Even though the counter staff weren't the friendliest bunch of ladies I've ever encountered, I will go back to Bittersweet for the tarts. I have been craving them since I went there a couple of weeks ago. I used a Groupon to try a variety of tarts, all of which I would eat again. I also got a small chocolate mousse and hot chocolate. Delish! The tarts and mousse were all priced at just around $4 each. The lesson here? You pay a premium for exceptional desserts.
(4)Stephanie S.
The only reason this place is getting an A-Ok is the fact that the desserts are amazing! However, the service is disappointing to say the least. My husband and I went on a Sunday so it was fairly busy, we had to wait for the waiter to clear 3 tables before even letting us sit down. After that, it took ages to even get the waiter's attention and bring two glasses of water, one of which smelt like dirty dish water. We ordered four pastries and when the waiter brought them to the table, two were not what I asked for (totally different, like bringing a cookie instead of a raspberry tart). I usually wouldn't address the problem, but I really wanted the tart, so I politely asked if I could switch it. The waiter obliged, but he still brought the incorrect order the second time. I'm glad it was good, but I didn't get what I wanted (nor did husband). When I saw the check, I was charged for the tart instead of the cookie, which was double the price. They had no problem correcting this issue at the counter when we paid, but we will likely not go back unless we just go to the counter. The table service really killed the experience. This is really unfortunate considering the place is charming and has a wonderful variety of delicious pastries, chocolate, and coffee items.
(3)kevin c.
Bittersweet Pastry makes one kick-ass flourless chocolate cake. The silky, dense chocolate has a great texture, not to mention a super rich chocolatey flavor. The simple presentation allows the cake to shine as the star attraction (no distracting sauces or garnishes to take away from it). Their tarts are really good, too. On a Friday night binge, I picked up a creme brûlée tart with strawberries on top, another custard tart with raspberries on top, a gingerbread cupcake filled with cream and the flourless chocolate cake (when I go out, I go ALL out). The mini desserts did not dissapoint! Just watch out for the cocoa powder on the chocolate cake -- you might choke on it if you're sprawled on your futon, swaddled in blankets, scarfing down one dessert after the other ... not that I would know.
(4)Izzy N.
Have you ever been somewhere where they served pastries or cakes so delicious you wanted to steal a piece for home by disguising it as an ugly baby? or maybe putting it down your pants? and then tell anyone who asks that you're just really happy to see them? How about putting it in your prison pocket? ok then what about pulling the fire alarm and while everyone is panicking you jack that shit and bounce!! yeah.. neither have I. and if you are too busy recalling past instances of theft by going: hmmmmmm... welll... ummm...... errr.. you should really be ashamed of yourselves. but you guys, I was at this get together and a wondrous chocolate cake was served from here that made me think --oh wow and I think what would make nice, good people think of committing heinous acts such as cake theft. You thought I was going to say something like cannibalism didn't you.. you really are sick people. It's time you go crack open a Bible to cure your wicked ways. And by wicked, I don't mean super cool. Back to my point, I paid a visit to the bakery though because they make french macarons. GASP. My favorrrrrrite..! The macrons are legit and that is how you spell it spelling police. Everything in here is so pretty, especially their decorated cookies. I would come here again for the macarons and to try out their other pastries but the main draw for me are the french macarons. hmmmph! So hard to ignore. Love it.
(4)Michelle D.
I made a special trip to walk over here because I was told they have a wonderful selection of macarons. Well the selection is there is mediocre at best since they had a total of four flavors, two of which were vanilla and chocolate. I decided to try one of the "special" flavors (cranberry) and I wish I hadn't wasted my money. The taste of the cookie was fairly flavorless with a only a slight artificial cranberry flavor, but the cookie itself was a total mess. They were hard (I purchased two), hollow, and shattered into stale little pieces when I bit into them. There was also hardly any filling at all. The service here was also miserable, with workers chatting, long lines, and seemingly random service (the 'take a number' system did not appear to mean anything) I would avoid this place as there are far better bakeries in Chiacgo
(1)Esther P.
I was looking for a special and unique venue to spend a milestone birthday. After much consideration, I remembered some one had hosted their birthday at Bittersweet, and I thought that would be the perfect venue! Judy, the owner was so wonderful when we were planning for my big birthday celebration. I decided to host a cocktail party for my birthday with about 25 friends. Judy and her staff transformed the cafe and bakery into such an elegant and beautiful setting. The hor d' ouvres, pastries and the birthday cake were all so delicious and presented beautifully!!! I just provided the wine and champagne which was great because I brought in what my guests and I liked to drink. Not only was I blown away, but every single one of my guests commented on the uniqueness of the venue and the amazing transformation of the bakery for a chic cocktail party. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Judy, her staff and of course all of their delicious food and pastries. I am looking forward to the next time I am able to host another big event at Bittersweet. If you are looking for a special venue for a big celebration, then look no further than Bittersweet!
(5)Julie W.
UPDATE! Oh. My. Goodness! My cake from Bittersweet for my grad party this past weekend was absolutely AMAZING. I had yellow cake, creme brulee custard filling, and vanilla buttercream frosting. The cake looked marvelous, so smooth and beautifully finished. Once the cake was cut, my entire family could not stop talking about how delicious the cake was! While everyone didn't have a slice, my 8 inch cake fed my party of 25 ppl, with 4 pieces still left over! Everything from my experience from the great service, presentation, to the overall taste...Bittersweet is my family's new go-to bakery!
(5)Vicki M.
BEST WEDDING CAKE TASTING!!!!! I am getting married this summer and have tried numerous bakery's in the Chicago area and hands down this place was the BEST!!!! I am a HUGE chocolate cake fan and its hard to meet my expectations but Bittersweet did! The fudge cake is out of this world! But then again so is every other cake they offer. Customer service is also outstanding! This place is a much try!
(5)Maria C.
All I have to say is *mouth salivating* Turtle fudge brownies.... This is the best brownie I've had, one of my employers used to buy a whole sheet of this and sell it at his restaurant, this was the popular dessert item... Every time I go there I just have that or cookies. I'm always in a hurry and it seems that everyone and their momma is in here.
(4)Mandi G.
Half-price day old bread! Great cafe but sloooooooow service. Still worth going in.
(3)Jennifer T.
My husband went here on Sunday morning and bought a blueberry scone and a carrot cake muffin. The scone was bland. The carrot cake muffin, though really moist even after a day, is kind of bland as well. It doesn't have a sweet taste to it at all. I'd be willing to try this place again but not anytime in the near future.
(2)Miss M.
They are expensive. But.... their stuff is the DA BOMB!!! Especially their lemonbars and macaroons and cakes! Their food is soo decadent!
(5)Peggy C.
I love the place, however we went in for a cake tasting for a wedding cake and met with quite possibly the rudest woman on the planet. When we arrived at our appointed time, we wandered around and noticed a woman staring at us. I approached and asked if she worked there. When she realized we were who she was meeting with, she sat us at a table and rolled her eyes to another table -- right in front of us. Enough said. The cake was delicious but her behavior soured the entire process and we're still looking for a cake designer. I guess we learned where the "bitter" in the name Bittersweet comes from.
(1)Laura G.
Staff makes one feel cheap for buying their day-old baked goods for 1/2 at the end of the day...and yes, those baked goods are sort of like marrying the brother of the hot guy. But so what?! I am the sort who ends up with the brother and relatively cheap, really good baked goods! Translation for folks who shop at Jewel (me) ...by "breakfast breads" they mean baked goods. k.
(4)Brian H.
Great service excellent atmosphere and the cake was to die for.
(5)David B.
We used bittersweet for our wedding cake and it was absolutely delicious. When we went to pick out our cake they gave us little pieces of all of their cakes, little cups with frosting/cream and fresh fruit for the cake filling. We then mixed and matched cakes and frosting until we found the perfect match! They also had tons of pictures to look at in order to get an idea of the type of cake you want. The bonus was that we had a cute wedding cookie waiting for us in our room after the reception! All around great!
(5)Blanca R.
I am lucky that, Bittersweet is just around the corner from me. While I am sure their pastries and sweets are great, I have really only gone hear for breakfast and lunch. Their menu is obviously limited, but you can taste the freshness in everything they make. I have tried their ham and cheese quiche...which is delicious. The crust is so flaky and buttery. When I am in a healthy mood, I go for their delicious oat meal. The presentation is impressive. You get your oatmeal with quality fresh berries, soy milk and almonds on the side. And a bonus...when you walk in or out you can help yourself to tiny pastry sample of their liking. I do have one complaint. When I have ordered to go, or really even to eat in, service is often times very slow. But I keep thinking to myself that it's because they are making it fresh, and that's why I keep going back. There are also a 1 or 2 employees that could use happiness training.
(4)Lauren H.
My roasted eggplant, goat cheese, and I cant remember what other vegetables sandwixh was one of the bext sandwiches I have ever had. Melted in my mouth and I can't wait to go back to t ry another. Also the fruit served with it was amazingly fresh and yummy (and I am not a big fruit eater) We had samples of some desserts--the carrot cake was amazing, the caramel apple something or other (custardy type thing), not so much. The chocolate dome I brought home, was good, but not great. I would give the desserts another try next time, though, and order something different. They also have a very nice selection of gifts.
(4)Babs H.
I have loved every single thing I've ever had from this place. Favorites include: PB & Strawberry Jam bars Pecan Sandie cookies Apple empanadas Pumpkin crème brulee (haven't seen this since Halloween) And a friend ordered their wedding cake from here and it was to die for. Almond cake with crème brulee custard and vanilla butter cream frosting! GAH
(5)Zac B.
BEST PECAN ROLLS IN THE WORLD!!! And for some reason I like that I was charged a quarter for my to-go cup of iced tap water. It seemed like a nod towards sustainable business practices, even if they made a few cents profit off that cup, ice, and Chicago's finest.
(5)Darlene L.
The environment here is beautifully tweaked to cause oohs and aahs immediately upon entering this den of sweets. Pastries are gorgeous and there is something for everyone. It is easy to run up a big bill for just a few treats. The ingredients are top quality from the fresh fruits to the chocolate. The little fruit tarts look great at a dinner party. There are also a few half price items from the previous day, but they are hit and miss.Skip the bread which is dry and tasteless. Service is efficient but can be cold and all business. All in all would try it again with friends lingering over coffee and conversation .
(4)Lois A.
I think this place is a little confusing but the food is really good. I don't like that the menu is placed right over the heads of people eating on the far end of the cafe. I was looking around for it for several minutes before we saw it. The dessert menu is also located in a place where you have to stare at people eating to see what you want. My boyfriend had the mushroom quiche for lunch today and I got the pesto chicken salad sandwich. His quiche was excellent but my sandwich could have used a little seasoning. A dash of salt would have made it A LOT better. I really liked the bread it was on. The coffee and all the little treats we tried were really good. Anything with lemon from here is excellent. The cream cheese brownies are pretty amazing. I would give them another star if the set up inside wasn't as chaotic.
(3)Claudia D.
Our family adores the dark chocolate torte cake for birthdays.
(5)Inna B.
After coming back from a European vacation, I was on a quest to find a croissant in Chicago that would come close to the ones I had abroad. Bittersweet is the closest I've come so far. I love coming here on weekend mornings for a coffee and a pastry. They also have really cute tarts and other desserts if you're heading to a dinner party.
(4)J M.
I LOVE the cakes and pastries here. However the customer service is horrid. I asked them to make a 40th birthday cake for my husband and from the start I wasnt impressed. She wanted me to send her a picture of what I wanted, when I told her I had no ideas and was hoping she could help me out since they are cake decorators she kind of blew me off. I made it very clear - NO FLOWERS - this is for a male (Happy Birthday John should've given it away). When I went to pick it up - black flowers everywhere!!!! I told the guy at the counter he needed to take them off and he looked at me like I had 3 heads. I asked for the manager and explained everything to her and they removed them and replaced with polka dots in grey and black. At this point it had been 30 min and I just wanted to leave. Dots are better than flowers so I was much happier. The manager didnt charge me for the cake and she even called me later that night to make sure it was OK. I appreciate that but probably will go somewhere else in the future.
(2)Lola L.
The fact that I can customize the cake to the flavors I want already has my attention. The fact that it's inexpensive and taste so darn good is the icing on the cake. Granted we ordered the cake over the phone so no one has set foot into the bakery, seen the people who run it or that if it's even a legit store. We were going on the slice of cake a that a friend shared with us. For the heck of it, we ordered an almond cake, chocolate crème brulee custard with strawberries and vanilla butter cream frosting. Let me tell you, that cake was out of this world! Soft and moist almond flavored cake with the chocolate crème brulee would have been done the job but add the strawberries and the airy vanilla butter cream, no not frosting but butter cream, and that cake was heaven! The woman behind the counter was super sweet and threw in a few cookies when we picked up the cake. The pastries also looked yummy although we didn't have time to look since we were in such a rush to get home and devour the cake. Don't worry I made a mental note to come back and try them all for the sake of yelp!
(4)Katrina M.
This bakery is adorable. There's a small section of the bakery for table service, and I managed to find a table for my friend and I to sit for dessert and coffee/tea. My friend had a raspberry torte, and I had a plain cupcake with a tall mound of frosting. They were okay..nothing out of this world. I would only go here if I was in the neighborhood. Customer service is wonderful though, and their prices are decent. My cupcake was 2.75, while my cup of joe was 1.75.
(3)Nicole A.
What a beautiful little shop. I was just blown away by the gorgeous pastries they offer (and frankly should be for 3.50 a pop). I intended to purchase nothing more than the cupcake of the day but the menu was just oh - so tempting. I choose the 1/2 sandwich 1/2 salad, a combo of grilled cheese with zucchini and roasted red pepper, spinach salad with blue cheese and lemon vinaigrette dressing and a side of perfectly flavored green beans. For dessert I gravitated towards this fabulous blueberry, cream cake like pastry as well as a raspberry "thumbprint"...and had no regrets. This spot is perfect to meet friends and pretend you are in Paris for the evening...just a great get-a-way in Chicago.
(4)Shan N.
I love Bittersweet. The treats are delicious and it is in a convenient location. I agree with others that it is a bit cramped at times, but I am happy to see a busy business--it usually means it is a good business. I do not like Bittersweet's website. It lacks the most basic information including hours and the daily rotation of cupcakes!
(4)Shari X.
There were so many people here that we just had to stop by. The cookies and cakes were super adorable, and we could see that it was freshly made. The concept of taking a number wasn't really clear, so we waited in line unnecessarily. When we decided to eat the espresso ganache and cranberry almond tart in the cafe, the service was super slow. The crust on both of these were too hard for the softness of the cake, so we didn't really like the complement. However, both fillings were delicious and rich. It was a cute find, but perhaps next time we'll just take it to go.
(3)C T.
First time I went I got coffee and a warmed up pecan roll. Pecan roll was delish, coffee was excellent. Since I drink my coffee black, I noticed it was just the right strength, not too bitter, not too thick. My bf likes his coffee thick and dark as tar, so it was nice not to drink a cup that didn't stick to the roof of my mowf. Second time, I got a little pre-pack bag of chocolate chip cookies and this little mocha mousse thing. I ordered them to go because they were closing in a half hour. Cookies were so-so, crispy, not too memorable, which is why this place gets 4 of 5 stars--I've been to many an establishment just to test out their chocolate chip cookies and have found that certain places excel at such a basic item. I guess they are good for dipping in milk, coffee, etc. The mocha mousse, though, let me tell you, was deeeelicious. I'm quite the fan of sweets. It had these thick creamy chocolate shavings garnished on top that tasted wonderful and the mousse was soft and rich and mocha-y. I LIKE. And you know what? I waited two days to eat it, it was sitting TWO DAYS in my fridge in the cute little Bittersweet box they package it in, and STILL on the 2nd or 3rd day, it was so very delightful and tasty. Service is always good, the people behind the counter smiling and happy to help. They have a good little ice cream selection. I will be back for the mousses. And coffee.
(4)Rose C.
i was so disappointed with the birthday cake i bought from bittersweet yesterday. it was my first time to the bakery and loved the looks of it when i stepped inside. looked so inviting and tasty things beckoned from every corner. but the cake! while i greatly appreciated the beautiful, festive confetti sprinkled on top and personalized writing, etc., i was SO underwhelmed by the interior! chocolate with creme brulee filling. sounds fancy and delicious, right? well, the chocolate was so dry and the filling tasted like regular vanilla filling---would never have distinguished it from a grocery store cake except for the multiple layers and the beautiful glaze on the outside. :( i was so, so sad. for a $30 6-inch cake, i would rather go somewhere that i know will taste delicious despite the high price tag (i.e. bombon). 3 stars for the yummy free samples.
(3)Jess J.
If you want the best cup of hot chocolate you have ever had, skip breakfast and/or lunch and come here. I say skip breakfast because this thing is so amazingly decadent and yet so delicious you cannot help yourself. One small sip means one cup later you will wonder who drank all your cocoa. The answer: you. They generally have a small daily menu, and my impression is that it may change by the day or the week. Features some sort of quiche, some soup options (maybe two), and a couple sandwich options. Though limited, everything I have tried has been great. If you're not looking to dine, they do great pastries (tartes, ganaches, the whole bit), yummy chocolates, and I am still looking for an excuse to get a custom made cake from them. Love love love. If you have an afternoon free in the week, I would suggest trying to come during a quiet time. Their seating area is small (thus it could be frantic during busy times), but it is worth it to enjoy some time there enjoying your food/drink/pastry if you have the chance to do so.
(5)H. A.
Awful service- not that it isn't super polite, just excruciatingly slow. The food blew my mind. The menu constantly changes, but I tried the corn coup (unbelievable), the ham sandwich (also unbelievable), and one of their salads with bleu cheese/dried crans/pecans/etc. (very delicious). I also bought a pound of their small cookies for $15, which is a great price for sharing. I have to say, many of the cookies didn't quite cut it. They were not soft, not one of them. The best ones were the linzer cookies, the thumbprint, and the hazelnut balls.
(4)Danita B.
A friend and I walked past Bittersweet this Saturday and we walked in "just to see". Yeah, seeing and then promptly devouring! As with other reviews "decadent" is definitely the word. I'm usually not a fan of frosted/iced cookies, but you really have to admire the absolutely obscene level of detail. There was a poodle cookie - complete with sparkling sugar for where the "poofs" of hair are on a poodle! And a fishnet-stockinged leg cookie with a piped garter! And yes, they tasted delicious. I also had a mini flourless chocolate cake. By far, my favorite was the chocolate macaroon. These were the flat disc type (french?) macaroons. You take two of them and sandwich them together with a bit of chocolate ganache. It was eyes-roll-back-into-your-head good. They just collapsed into chocolatey goodness in your mouth when you bit down.
(5)M M.
I was CRAVING a cupcake. Walking in the front door eyeballed the big sign for the cupcake of the day... SOLD OUT :-( The whole purpose of going to the shop was to get a cupcake...definitely bummed. I ended up getting something else chocolatey. I loved the presentation, the china dishes, marble tables. Adorable place...I just need to go back and have a cupcake there.
(4)S H.
This review is really about their food, not desserts. The homemade soups are OUT OF THIS WORLD. I stop by at least once a week for soup. I occasionally dine in for a meal, and for the quality of ingredients used, I think it is very affordable. I would eat here any day for lunch or a simple dinner. Cookies are hard - I prefer soft chewy ones. I've had a few desserts which have been good but not memorable. The day old baked goods section rocks - don't feel funny about buying them! I really like the atmosphere... feels like you are in a different city. The staff can be a little abrupt sometimes but you have to work with them. I've been going in for a couple of years now and know a few of them by sight. They're always friendly but very busy.
(5)Karyn K.
Finally made my way here. Very limited lunch menu selection (2 sandwiches, 1 quiche, 1 soup, and 3 salads). However, I had the Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwich, delicious and on homemade bread! Also, had the Raspberry Lemonade cupcake. It was puny but delicious. Next time I will spend more time perusing the cases with all the delicious looking baked goods. They seem to have a nice collection of gifts if you need something for a mother to be, a new mother, books on chocolate or nice paper.
(4)Claire Y.
I received a box of assorted chocolate truffles and too-pretty-to-eat ladybug cupcakes wrapped in Bittersweet's ribbons for Valentines' Day. Looks-wise, I was quite impressed with the amount of detail employed in decorating the cupcakes. The cupcakes were moist and not ooberly sweet - just perfectly delightful. I especially loved the surprise Boston cream-ish filling inside when i bit into one of the vanilla cupcakes. Normally, I don't care for frosting (and cupcakes in general), but I could not resist the creamy, fluffy frosting! The ladybugs sitting pretty atop were sugar cookies adorned in bright hues of pink and micro heart-shaped sprinkles. As for the truffles, they were the ultimate luxury. I particularly favored the dark chocolate/passion fruit flavor as it burst into a rich decadence of bittersweet chocolate with a touch of citrus. Mmmmm!!! I live a bit far from Bittersweet, but one of these days (when spring comes in Chicago) I will have to make a hike up north to explore its entirety.
(4)Amy H.
My experience was a little limited. I went in for a cup of coffee and muffin to waste some time before an appointment. The cafe au lait was good and served in a huge bowl (Yes, bowl. I was so wired!!) The muffin was delish. The couple next to me ordered some soup that smelled really good and quiche. I'll have to go back for that. The cookies, tarts, and candies in the front display counter looked divine. A very cute shop with a cute cafe and reasonable prices.
(4)Edwina B.
For years I have frequented this bakery to buy birthday cakes and holiday pastries. So when I got engaged, my heart was set on booking Bittersweet for the wedding cake. My wedding is over a year out, but is on New Year's Eve and when researching vendors discovered that many catering companies and bakeries are not open for NYE. I wanted to book my vendors asap so I would not have to worry about them - they could get their deposits early too! I scheduled a tasting by calling and speaking with a worker - they had early hours only for tastings - nothing after the workday and I don't think there was anything immediately available for the weekend. As we approached the tasting (I had scheduled a few other tastings to compare that week), the owner Judy calls and tells me that she noticed I was getting married next year and "they don't do tastings past 6 months out". I asked if this was an accounting issue but explained that I wanted to get some commitment to booking a wedding cake vendor well in advance since I had encountered some caterers not being open. Judy replies, "we are open on NYE but we won't do a tasting...I am canceling your appointment and you will have to call and re-schedule a tasting as it gets closer to your wedding date". She was very unpleasant to me - I was heartbroken since I had come into her shop MANY times to buy cakes. Luckily, everything worked out in the end as I was able to find a great vendor for my wedding cake but trust me, I will not be spending my hard earned cash here anymore after being treated so rudely.
(1)Jules D.
Sunday afternoon with kids in tow...no room to wedge yourself in with a shoehorn for an actual table, so we packed a nice assortment to go: iced cookies, choc. macaroons, brownies, cupcakes, parmesan biscuits, and a hazelnut cup. All were top notch! + Love the shop...lovely assortment, freshly made, tasted wonderful, etc. Really loved all the free wedding cakes samples, too. - Would have enjoyed a friendly sales girl that smiled, also a little room to breathe and maybe look at all the treats in the case. The line for a table is cumbersome and blocks a lot of the case. I am liking this more than most other pastry shops I have visited in the city.
(4)Lil'J R.
I love this place. The sweet treats are delicious (avoid the cookies and go for the extravagant) and there's always a big plate of samples by the door, not to mention the Day Old Section with great bread, scones, muffins etc. at half the regular price. The staff are friendly and my husbands eyes almost pop out his head when they slice your bread with their super amazing bread slicer thingy. Go in the morning before heading to Belmont harbor laden down with baked goodness! I recently went to lunch with a friend and we split a bowl of soup and a sandwich. The soup was really good but I have to say I was disappointed in the sandwich (mozzarella, tomato and basil). Not much flavor, much mozzarella, and served with very salty green beans. It was pretty pricey and I'm glad we split it. I'll stick with the sweet stuff.
(4)Emily Y.
A "ladies who lunch" sort of spot (although you can't get a martini, so I guess it falls a wee bit short). Upon walking in the door, you are hit with girlishness from floor to ceiling...to your right is a little shop filled with trinkets and beautifully decorated cookies (I salivated over the bridal ones just a leeetle bit) and to your left is the cafe. In front of you is a looming but beautiful pastry counter filled with heavenly goodness. We actually had to wait about ten minutes for a table to open up, which for a Thursday afternoon at 1:15 pm was a bit suprising. I would not venture there for a weekend lunch. To my dismay, there were lots of crying children/babies taking up much of the table space. So much for a civilized, sophisticated lunch. Luckily for me and my dining companion, most of the ill-behaved wee ones took off early into our lunch. The menu is quite limited, and posted on a chalkboard on the wall, giving the place a very European feel. Both my friend and I went for the quiche lorraine (the only other choices being a chicken liver sandwich and some sort of vegetarian sandwich; or salads). It was a very generous portion of quiche, as it should have been for $7.95. I thought the crust was to die for; my friend thought the quiche itself was a bit salty. I'm kind of a fan of salty, so I gobbled it right up. My cappucino was lovely but a bit too small for the price, I thought. My friend enjoyed her drip coffee and they were quick with the refills. Our water glasses never fell below half full (optimism, anyone?). Service was friendly and quick but didn't bug us when we wanted to sit and sip our coffees after we finished eating. I took home a little box full of mini cookies for myself and my fiance to devour that night, and we enjoyed all of them. I'd go back to try one of the tarts or cupcakes. But my bakery needs are satisfied by Swedish Bakery and the Sicilian bakery on Clark St. in A-ville...I see no need to venture south. Good place to take Mom or Grandma (or any other female relative over 40) when they come to visit. I don't think I would return for lunch on my own or with friends though...unless I was dying for some quiche, but I can't imagine that happening anytime soon.
(3)Mikki K.
After researching and reading reviews, I was really hoping to like this place. BUT BOY WAS I DISAPPOINTED. This was easily one of the worst cupcakes I've had in the city (maybe ever). I ordered the Death by Chocolate and the Red Velvet. The only thing deathly about the chocolate was the dry, flavorless cake and disgusting whipped topping "frosting" (i.e. over-dyed blue Kool Whip). Also, where was the chocolate??? Certainly not in the sad brown excuse they called chocolate cake. The Red Velvet's cream cheese frosting was slightly better, but ultimately could not make up for the crumbly, bland mess they claimed as "cake." On top of everything, the service was pretty terrible: unpleasant employees and a completely disorganized ordering system. I would NOT return to Bittersweet. Never again.
(1)Liz W.
This is such a cute bakery! After having dinner at Cuna's I was craving something sweet. Everything looked so good I didn't know what to get. I decided to get the mocha cupcake, sundae cupcake, and white chocolate torte. I didn't get a chance to eat the white chocolate tart =[ (long story) The sundae cupcake was awesome. The frosting was light and there was a fudge suprise in the middle. The mocha was ok. I'm not a coffee fan, but the coffee flavor wasn't overwhelming. If i'm ever in the neighborhood again I will definately be stopping there.
(4)Colleen C.
A very cute French-esque pastry shop when you walk inside. So far all I've had are the cakes, but they are seriously amazing! When I have a special occasion, the first place I think of for a cake in Chicago is Bittersweet. The chocolate chip cake in particular was a big hit with my family! The only complaint I have is that I've tried the iced sugar cookies, and when I had them, they were almost stale - kind of flavorless and hard. But I still need to go back and try more of their non-cake treats.
(5)J U.
LOVED this place. My husband and I couldn't attend a friend's birthday party, but wanted to make sure we at least dropped off a cake (you know, so when he sliced it, he'd think, "Awe, they're awesome!' lol). Anyway, we didn't call ahead, but it was no problem because Bittersweet already had a great assortment of small cakes to choose from. We chose a German Chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache icing... to DIE for. On top of that, the baker added a cute handwritten message for us and accented it with little edible pearls... it looked and tasted incredibly gourmet. Our friends still talk about this cake. I've since gone back several times to grab reward cupcakes for my staff... they are equally in love with this shop!
(5)Cathy L.
Bittersweet is a very apropos name for this shop - of the 2 girls at the register, one was sweet and the other was very very bitter. The raspberry and red velvet macarons are to die for but otherwise the sweets aren't that great and the variety of pastries (or breakfast breads as they call them here) is less than impressive. Don't know that it's worth coming back here solely for the $2 macarons.
(3)A C.
Bittersweet was recommended by another artist and I am very pleased with the service. I worked with a wonderful lady Zaida that worked with me from start to finish. Provided a photo and wow was I amazed at the results when I picked up the cake (it looked just like the photo and the details, wow). Oh, it also was delicious that I'll have to hit the gym:). Also, have to thank the designer. The recipient of the cake had a smile on his face from ear to ear. Thank you Zaida and the designer for making this event over the top.
(4)Javier Q.
Very good here. My friend had the rasberry white chocolate tart and I had chocolate cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Frosting alone is orgasmic mmm..but If u really want to focus on cupcakes Molly's cupcakes is the place to go!
(4)Michelle E.
Thanks, Bittersweet! Because of you, I looked like a thoughtful girlfriend who knows what she's doing! I was on a mission to find a lemon tart for my boyfriend's birthday that would hold up to his strict lemon tart standards. (What can I say--when it comes to pastries and women, he's partial to tarts!) He maintains that most lemon tarts out there do not actually have any lemon flavor at all. So like a good lil yelper, I searched and searched for a bakery that would do me proud. When I called to place my order, the woman who answered the phone was very helpful and informative. She explained to me the difference between the lemon meringue tart and the lemon sabayon tart, and confirmed size and pricing for me. Usually you need to place special orders 48 hours in advance, but she assured me that they would be able to make a tart for me for the next day. Also, when I realized the next day, a few hours before I had to pick up the tart, that I had forgotten to request a "Happy Birthday" message on the tart (oops), they were able to add that for me, with no problem. The verdict: The lemon sabayon was a bit of tarty, zesty, lemony deliciousness! The tart also looked very elegant, with thin lemon zest slivers on top. Mr Man totally loved it! The pastries in the case all looked amazing, and I would like to come back to try their cakes, cookies and macaroons!
(4)Mandy M.
My boyfriend's 30th birthday party was last night and I just have to write a review about his cake! I had such a lovely experience with Zaida - she was incredibly patient and helpful, offering me lots of ideas when I couldn't make up my mind with what I wanted. I ordred the almond cake w/ creme brulee and strawberry filling and turned out amazing. It was beautiful and just what I wanted.. and delicious! I will be coming back again!
(5)Leanne A.
Why haven't I written about Bittersweet yet?! Honestly, the first time I came here, I was so turned off by the name. Bitter repulses me, and the sweet just doesn't balance it out enough! However, the cafe is probably my favorite cafe in the city. The food is incredible. It's a different menu every day, and it's a very small selection. But I have not once had something non-incredible...gazpacho, turkey salad, eggplant soup. It seems expensive for cafe food, but it's so damn good. If it were by my work, I'd go at least twice a week. The cappuccino is incredible as well. I can't speak highly of the bakery. My deep affection for bakeries makes me a very good critic; I go to every one I've ever seen. This one doesn't measure up. It's fine, I guess. A lot of the tarts taste kind of pre-made to me. You know, like the crusts don't have that amazing homemade taste? The cookies are decent. But, the fruit scones are the best FREAKING scones I've EVER tasted. But that is the only baked item I fantasize about. Sometimes I walk here in the morning way out of my way to get two and arrive late to work. Don't waste your money on the other desserts, though.
(4)M T.
Awesome wedding cake created for the Husband and me for our reception. Judy (owner) asked questions about our favorite desserts and presented us with great options to review (cubes of cake, different fillings and frostings). It really made a difference that she went through this exercise. We ultimately had the BEST wedding cake ever. Cheesecake, raspberries, chocolate cake - who knew? Rave reviews at our reception.
(5)Sam S.
Follow this protocol as soon as you enter: - Turn left where the seating area is. - Scan the area. - If someone's already in line for a table: * Stand behind them. * Make yourself visible. * Stay alert. - If you're first in line: * Proceed to the middle of the seating area by the discount bread. * Stay alert. - As soon as someone gets up, gesture to get yourself noticed by: * Clearing your throat. * Taking a step forward. * Taking off your coat. * Twirling. * Combinations. When you're seated, ignore the line behind you and enjoy your space. And a hot chocolate. And quiche. And apple streusel tart. When you're done, pay at the counter, but by all means avoid eye contact with the hungry people in line.
(5)Amina D.
The is one of my first bad reviews, and I could think of nowhere where I had the nastiest cupcake of my life. I went here while looking for something sweet to eat, the woman at the front recommended the lavender cupcake, which should have been a red flag to me in the first place, lavender should not be a flavor for anything, it's for smelling not eating! Anyway, I bit into it, and it's the first time since I tried Spam that I split out food because it tasted so bad, it was the worse cupcake ever and the frosting was more like whipped cream than real frosting, I tried some samples of other cupcakes and they were bad too. Yuck!! I only had their cupcakes and haven't been back since, and I doubt I'll ever go back there either, sorry if you can't even do cupcakes right, then you don't deserve any one's business. I did get a cute cupcake journal there though, but it's not a bookstore it's a pastry shop.
(1)Laura H.
Excuse my french, this place is a clusterf'$# every single time I've tried to go. You have to grab a number and half the time you are being pushed around and half way out the door. Maybe it's the people that go there, the employees, or maybe I've gone at the wrong times, but no thanks. I'm over it. T
(1)Kyle C.
If you want a fancy treat, this is the place to eat. Decadent is the word for Bittersweet. This is the first place I turn to, when I want to indulge. Luckily, it is right across the street! With a wide range of pastries, as well as little upscale gifts, an ice cream counter, and a little cafe, this place is warm and classy. Upon entry I go directly to the tarts displayed at the far west end of the store (okay, okay, I snag some free samples by the door first). These are my favorite! Everything from the Brown Butter Custard to the Crème brûlée, to the Espresso ganache is sublime. Many of them have huge fresh berries piled on top. They also have bigger cakes and tarts if you want to get one for a special occasion - I recommend the great chocolate souffle. They also have a cupcake of the day, which is always good. They pile them high with rich buttercream! I have had a couple of friends who weren't a big fan of this ("it tastes like I'm eating butter") but I have a sweet tooth and I adore it. While the store is a bit pricey, they do have a couple of great deals you should know of - 1) They always have delicious and reasonable day old bread and pastries for purchase and 2) Every day between 6 PM and 7PM they have a buy one, get one free sale on remaining breakfast pastries (muffins, croissants, scones, etc.) One of the few things I'm not a big fan of is the lunch at their little cafe a couple of times. The menu is always very limited, and they specialize in quiche, of which I am not a huge fan. If you are looking for a treat for a holiday or a special occasion, this is a good place to get it - they always have themed cookies (and you can special order from a large variety of different designs at any time) and they also have special menus for all different holidays! Bon Appetit!
(5)Courtney B.
Affordable, delicious coffee and subliminal desserts. I get all of my bread from here too; yesterday's is half off!
(5)Dave S.
I havn't had much of the baked goods, but the biscotti was fantastic. It was not too sweet, more like a well-made sconed than a cookie. The amount of anise seed they put in the biscotti is perfect. Also, try the egg salad sandwhich.
(4)Michele A.
I had heard from a few different people that this place was very good. However, when I took family from out of town to this bakery, in hopes of wowing them with pastry delights, I was really shocked at how unexciting the food was. The pastry spread is visually stunning and they certainly have a beautiful space set up for their customers... but after ordering a huge selection of pastries (not just one or two cookies), we found nothing that tasted very good. How could this be?!!! I can think of 4 different bakeries off of the top of my head that would kick the crap out of this place. I am sad to report that this was an expensive disappointment. :(
(1)Nicole B.
Good thing I got there early to beat the lunch rush - there was quite the line when I was leaving at 1 pm. I love the feel of the place, very cute. The coffee was hot and tasty and frequently refilled. The spinach salad with lemon vinaigrette was light, needed a few more pieces of crumbly blue though. The half turkey sandwich with Havarti cheese and caramelized onion was great, especially since the bread was so fresh. I would get chicken on your salad if you were to order it as a meal - give it a little more bulk. My "treat" for the day was a white chocolate dipped rice crispie treat - oh my god I love rice crispie treats! It was soft marshmallowy goodness.
(4)David W.
It's tough for me to give such a non-manly place a 5. How do I explain it to my guy friends that the carrot soup was creamy yet light. And the quiche...... not too filling and yet satisfying. The wife loves the macaroons. She would kill for the macaroons. I've contemplated working there just to find out how to make the macaroons so that I can bake macaroons instead of spending 10 bucks on macaroons every other week. We get cakes there three times a year. One for my birthday, one for her birthday, and one for our anniversary. Buttercream cake from Bittersweet?? Elegant, not obnoxious.. taste wonderful, but make sure to let the cake get to room temp first... The buttercream tastes even better.
(5)Leslie R.
The staff knows what they're doing, although during rushes they do get a little testy - however, understandably so. I love this place, though. So clean, bright, and delicious! The pastries and desserts are to die for, and they have great brunch options as well as italian sodas, coffee, and the Bittersweet hot chocolate - it's to die for. Huge display case to show off all the tasty - and gorgeous - sweets!
(5)Margaret C.
Anywhere that can make me equally excited about a spinach salad (the lemon dressing is inexplicably delightful) and a homemade oreo cookie deserves nothing less than 5 stars.
(5)Rico T.
I recently received a box of chocolate covered strawberries & custard filled chocolate cups. The custard cups were so cute...they looked like little tuxedo bodies, but they were just okay. Same for the strawberries. To be fair, I've never been to the bakeshop. Also, I've heard really good things about this place. I will make time in the near future to stop in, check it out, make my own selections & post a follow-up review. I'm willing to bet that I just got a bad batch or my tastebuds were in the fritz...
(2)RJ H.
Bittersweet really is one of my favorite lunchtime destinations in the city. I quite often find their savory dishes to be better than their pastries, which sometimes lack in either flavor, desirable texture, or moisture. I do like their tarts, however, so I stick with those. Lunchtime here gets pretty busy, so if you can swing it, I recommend holding back until things slow down around 2:00 p.m. or so. The servers will be less frantic then (as the usually are, for whatever reason), your wait will be shorter, and you'll feel less rushed. The menu rotates daily, more or less, and is kept fairly simple. It almost always consists of two sandwich choices, salads, soups, some fruit and other sides, in addition to three or four prepared desserts. You can also order pastries from the counter, if you like. Nothing too adventurous is served here. Bittersweet is just as its name suggests: a pastry shop and café offering well put together, safe mid-day flavor combinations. Good coffee, teas, cold drinks, bottled options to go, and so on. The product in their dishes is always of good quality; the portion sizes are very appropriate. I always leave feeling satisfied and never gorged. No burgers and heavy fried items here. Big eaters should probably order more than one item, or at least a side. They also have a small shop with slightly rare, occasionally desirable yuppie retail items, where I've been known to make a good find, from time to time. There's not a lot of seating, so it's not a good choice for people in group. Great spot for solo dining, though, or meetings of two to four.
(4)Yvette P.
We ordered our wedding cake from Bittersweet and Sue Anne was super professional and reliable. Our cake looked exactly like the picture I showed them, and they don't use fondant...it's buttercream which thrilled me b/c I'm not a fan of fondant. We had a green polka dots and got a lot more cake than we originally thought. Their prices were the lowest we had encountered, the quality was top notch, and the service was excellent. I asked for 5 dozen mini cupcakes a week or 2 before the wedding, and they accommodated me with no problems! And since we sent them a picture of our cake for their photo book, we get an anniversary cake! So if you see a white cake w/ green polka dots and black piping, with weebles for cake toppers, that's ours :) We've ended up ordering a few birthday cakes from them since our wedding too...we love Bittersweet! (here's a pic of our cake bit.ly/jJ5iWS )
(5)cakemouth c.
Being a pastry chef, I appreciate walking into somewhere and feeling as though I'm in the safe, tasty hands of competence. This place is solid in their menu, recipes and execution. The only drawback is there's very few veg options for lunch. But everything else MORE than makes up for that. If I could marry a pastry shop, it would be this one. :)
(5)Tony D.
The pastries are hit or miss; we loved the lemon meringue pastries but some of the other fare lacked that certain flavor that makes a pastry melt in your mouth but linger in your mouth with flavor afterwards. Why I gave it one star was the rudeness of the service--especially a large woman with orange hair. My wife was trying pick pastries to bring to our son and the counter person made a face of utter contempt at my wife who called her out at her rudeness. The counterperson felt my wife wasn't worthy of service. We're guaranteed never to come back and making sure to spread the word about the utter rudeness of the young staff who work there who obviously feel servicing you is an inconvenience to them.
(1)Sarah L.
I enjoyed a lovely cupcake from a friend (it was her birthday treat). The lovely cupcake came from Bittersweet. The cupcake reminded me of a cupcake you bring to your classroom when you're a kid. Yellow moist cake and rich chocolate frosting with rainbow sprinkles! The cupcakes were on the smallish side but it was the perfect amount. I will definitely give Bittersweet Pastry Shop a try in the near future!
(4)Stacy Y.
The little tarts they serve are ridiculously delicious! I've tried various items from the case, but I now stick with my regular: those tasty little tarts. The white chocolate is definitely my favorite - but any of the other varieties are just as good. The mousse is so light with white chocolate shavings, a fresh raspberry in a buttery little crust. mmm... I was not at all impressed with the cookies and once I found moldy bread here. This place can become uncomfortably packed making it hard to navigate and place your order. Maybe they could reconfigure their seating arrangement?
(3)Char Y.
We had the raspberry tart and the pear tart, and both were excellent. The store itself is clean and beautiful, a great space for relaxation.
(4)Kimberly L.
Ordered a cake here ages ago for my friend's bridal shower. It was so lovely I gasped when I picked it up. Beautiful and elegant design...and guess what? It actually tasted good too! Good thing I don't live near this establishment because I'd end up being one of those people who needs to be transported via a crane and a team of firemen.
(5)Amanda M.
How can you not love this place...they make the most incredible cakes...seriously!! My personal favorite is the almond cake, creme brulee and raspberry filing, vanilla icing and mounds of fresh fruit on top. It's sinful... can't go wrong with their pastries, cookies and other goodies either but must try the cake!!!
(5)Julie T.
Okay, since wedding season is approaching, I have to stop procrastinating and share with all future brides my lovely experience with Bittersweet. I had a very specific cake design in mind and Bitterweet delivered exactly to my expectations! And, it was YUMMY...absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!! I also ordered several small pastries for my dessert table...they looked beautiful, but taste was just ok. I would have given Bittersweet 5 stars had it not been for the fact that they somehow had my credit card number wrong (even though they charged the same card the deposit months back) and called the day of the wedding to say that my card wasn't working...next time, please process the payment a few days before the wedding to avoid potential bridal panick attacks :-) That small hiccup aside, I would totally recommend Bittersweet to anyone for an absolutely delish and beautiful cake!!! Now, I will try to post a pic :-)
(4)Puneh K.
Consistently great moist cake with a variety of options. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because they could use a better decoater. Although every cake I've gotten from there has tasted amazing, it's always looked pretty plain no matter how much I paid for decorations. It would be nice to have someone with ideas consult with you on the decorations. Other than that, a great place!
(4)Philip B.
This place made me quit going to starbucks. The cappuccinos are REAL and way cheaper. The way a good espresso drink should be. Beautiful pastries and good looking food. I haven't had any of their lunch items, but I'm sure they are as good as I expect.
(5)Tina B.
My husband and I were married out of state and had a chocolate mousse cake as a wedding cake. For our anniversary, I wanted to get a cake similar to what we had at our wedding. I found Bittersweet based on a Google search for the best chocolate mousse cake in Chicago. I called ahead of time to see if the cake was similar to what I was expecting. The lady on the phone was exceedingly nice and explained the cake in great detail. When I went to pick it up, I was delightfully surprised. It's completely charming shop and I was tempted to buy much more than just my cake. My husband thought this cake was actually better than what we had at our wedding. I will absolutely return to this place for desserts and I'm very excited to try to their lunch/brunch options as well.
(5)Elizabeth N.
Amazing cakes!!!!!!! Everything else is okay. Be prepared for slow service but it is all with it.
(4)Laura P.
Going into Bittersweet always brings on an ADHD attack, much like going into Costco, but better. There are just too many sweets to look out- from baseball and snake shaped cookies, to macaroons, half a dozen different scones, key lime pie, tarts of all flavors and sizes, gelato, peanut butter and jelly bars, cupcakes. You name it. This ADHD attack has only gotten worse since they've expanded, but we only get here about once a year so it is manageable. Bittersweet isn't just about the pastries and they serve a very nice breakfast and brunch. Their quiche is my gold standard, with a substantial pastry crust, a deep egg filling, and a sprinkling of cheese on top. It is a hefty slice and you get a choice of mixed green salad or fruit. The fruit is a kabob of small slices of kiwi, pineapple, strawberry, and cantaloupe so if you want something more, go for the salad. The guy behind us was raving about their soups, which we didn't get on a super hot Chicago day. They did have a cool cucumber soup that looked amazing. If you order a pastry you'll get it with a huge white quenelle- don't be fooled because it isn't gelato. It's a big, egg-shaped side of lightly flavored whipped cream which set off our plum with almond cream tart nicely. Getting the bill wasn't outrageous- about $30 for two drinks, entrees, and the split dessert. Waiting for their one restroom was a drag though, but you get to peek into their huge almost-industrial kitchen and watch while you wait.
(4)Eric S.
It's Saturday morning, you've slept until 11, and your head is pounding. A "one-drink-and-home" evening turned into an epic romp through bars, clubs and possibly a White Castle. The wee hours are fuzzy. So now you need some peace, some coffee, and food that will make your weary body happy. Well, friend, Bittersweet is the place for you. You may have to wait a little while for a table, as this place has become quite popular with couples, hipsters with visiting parents, book clubs, new parents, on and on. So, spend some time admiring the pastry case and make notes on what you'll buy on the way out. Then look right of the entrance and grab a cake and/or cookie sample - it will be delicious. Next look to the far wall past the tables for the short list of menu options. There will be a soup, a quiche, salad and sandwich. Everything I've ever had there has been good, and their sides of green beans are especially tasty. I'd also recommend their bowl of cafe au lait - I'm not a coffee drinker and yet this still is one of my favorite morning beverages. Now, watch the passers-by on Belmont Ave, enjoy the sun through the windows, order a pastry as a breakfast dessert, and feel yourself revive and get ready for the day.
(5)Jamie G.
This charming, little bakery is a nice place to find relief in the city. They have great-tasting macarons and cute holiday sugar cookies. The reason for four stars, and not five? I attempted to create a gift box with their holiday sugar cookies, and I left the cafe with an over-sized box and no bow. :(
(4)Anne L.
A beautiful and tasteful creation! Last week was our 25th wedding anniversary; I had placed an order with another bakery I had used for 23 years. Saturday morning that bakery called and said they had dropped the cake and wouldn't be able to replace it. I called my son, Eric, whose girlfriend Lisa, uses Bittersweet frequently. He made a 3 way conference call to the owner who promised that by 5PM I would have an anniversary cake. She created a beautiful cake, fresh spray of flowers adorned the top. The cake was chocolate, with creme brulee filling and white butter cream frosting. Our anniversary dinner was aboard the dinner cruise ship the Odyssey at Navy Pier. Our dinner guests and those seated near by ooh'd and aaahh'd as the cake was wheeled to the table. The cake was not only beautiful, but the flavors blended beautifully as well, truly a taste sensation not to be forgotten. I want to thank the owner and staff for personally rescuing our anniversary dinner party. Without you it would have just been dinner. Thank you again for your hard work; you are the best of the best. Pamela Krause Glenview, IL
(5)Jen S.
Crazy wonderful treats and such a cozy and comfortable bit of Europe here in Chicago. And of course the pastries are to die for but the daily quiches,soups and sandwiches are to die for! Great for everything to a wedding cake to a lunch or light snack!
(5)L. R.
I'm so glad I got to discover this place! I am not a sweet's type of person, but who can resist... just take a look at the raspberrie thingies, at the strawberries, drink a coffee along, and oh... My dad's restaurant takes orders from this place and my dad tells me people love the banana bread and the muffins from this place. I love their pastries.
(5)Marie B.
Fantastic pasteries. They have great cookie designs. From classic birthday and weddings, to local favorites: cubs and sox. Also the cookie designs change based on the season: gotta love the Bears cookies. Also the cakes are delicious. Custom ordering makes it even better and they only need two days notice!
(4)Kyung P.
Wonderful pecan buns!!! Best ever. Melt in your mouth delicious. Heaven in your mouth. Flakey and caramelized. A little messy, but deal with it. I've had a lot of their breakfast pastries, but have never tried their cakes. They have a beautiful holiday cookie assortment - not sure how they taste though. Their scones looks good too. I heart bakeries.
(4)Melissa B.
I lived very close to this place for over two years and never stopped in. I wish I had. The ambiance is very cute (although a tad cramped in the seating area) and I really wished I had more time to look around. All I got was a few mini cupcakes to go (I'm on a mission to find my wedding cupcakes), but I can say the service was friendly, and the place was very inviting. Perhaps I'll stop in again sometime. As to the cupcakes, one word comes to mind: forgettable. I finished mine not 30 minutes ago, and I honestly don't know what to write right now. Mine wasn't that bad, I guess. I asked the boy if he liked his creme brulee cupcake, and all he said was "meh." I may have to rewrite my review some other time, since all those cookies and pastries looked AWESOME. I'll have to stop by again, but not for cupcakes.
(3)JK B.
This is a good place to go if you are in the mood for some European-style treats (e.g., rather than the American bakery style offerings) and you are in the Lakeview area. I think the fruit based tortes are better than the other choices (the non-fruit offerings can be rather cloying). I think there are better choices in the Chicago area (Fritz pastry, Vanille Patisserie), but this is pretty good.
(3)Amy S.
I always walk by this place and have heard many good things about it, so I decided to stop in on a Saturday morning to pick up something for my mom's birthday. It was very busy, with people eating brunch/breakfast and then with other customers waiting to order or pick up cakes. It browsed around the shop and saw cute stationary products intermingled with decorated cookies to match the occasions (i.e. birthdays, baby shower, thank you, etc.) which is a really cute idea. The cookies also give you ideas on designs you might want on a cake. They had cheesecakes in the glass case, so I decided to purchase one of those. To my surprise, the woman who took my order didn't just pull out the one in the case (like they do at many bakeries), instead she said it would be just a couple minutes while they put the fresh berries on top. While I was waiting I sampled a piece of brownie that they had out, and drooled over the delicious looking bakery cookies. I will definitly come back here to order a cake for other occasions. I have tried a banana cream cake also, that a co-worker brought in, and it was good.
(4)May S.
I wanted to surprise my fiance with a groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner. I called a few places and was shocked at the cost! I wanted a red velvet cake in the shape of a Bears jersey. Neither of the more expensive places told me that red velvet dries out as a sheet cake (I heard this from another bakery), they just told me the $300 price tag. Someone on theknot boards recommended Bittersweet and I called them. It was less than $100. It came as a round layer cake with red velvet and white chocolate frosting. On the top, they created a dark blue Bears jersey in what looked like fondant with his last name and our number - from far away, it looked like a real jersey! It was incredible! And it tasted awesome too!
(5)Natalie F.
After being in Zurich for two weeks and being spoiled with Spruenglie there, I was craving pastry.....I went to Bittersweet and gave them a shot. Nope...and I don't say this to be mean. They have some wonderful pieces and selections in their shop that does remind me of Europe, however, the pastry's no. I had ordered what I thought was an apple tart but it was Pear. wonderful! I love Pear to. When I bit into it, I would have had no idea it was Pear though. They had so much glaze on it, they didn't allow for the sweet fruit flavor to come out. Which is really sad. Pastry's are delicate and full of flavor. We as Americans make the mistake that sweet is whats its all about, it should only be a little sweet with loads of natural flavor to it. The crust is sweet to. To much is sometimes to much. It was ok. Had I not known better I would have liked it more.
(2)Nicole V.
I have had only good experiences with the baked goods, cakes and pastries I have purchased here. They have the cutest little cookies and treats! You always make an impression when you show up at a get together with some fun little sweets from here. They have some really unique alternatives to your standard icing on the cake. I bought a flour-less cake for my mom's b-day and they added an iridescent candy plate with a personalized happy birthday message written in metallic. So unique and fun....and the cake was delicious. The only reason they don't get full stars is because at times it gets extremely congested in there and they tend to not be very organized. I don't mind a wait if there is a line, but standing in a mass of people who are all in a hurry gets a little trying at times.
(4)Mandi B.
Chef Celeste makes the best macaroons! The Passionfruit is a must, don't dare leave Bittersweet without one!
(5)Greta P.
Um... I saw the employee drop 2 croissants on the floor. She slyly put them back with the others when she thought no one was watching. No way, man. No way!
(1)Cali G.
Can you say yum? Lovely place to hang out and have lunch with a friend or desserts. They have great dessert ideas for you or can customize cakes according your event. Every time I come for lunch here I have their tomato soup and half a sandwich. It is so good.... They might have about 6 tables, so at times it might be a little hard to stay and enjoy what they have to offer. They have a great staff as well.. Very nice place if you have never been
(5)Edie B.
This place has some of the best cakes, tortes, mousses, and pastries I have ever had in my life -- and that is saying something. As far as the service is concerned, let me say this: I worked at this place for a week back in 05 or '06, and its a fucking miracle they can keep any help. The owner is a tyrant who makes her managers paranoid, uptight and miserable, and the general employees spend their time feeling incompetent and terrified that they will be suddenly unemployed with no cause or warning or made the center of some teary and painful spectacle. Poor things. Anyway, I have no idea why this shop pretends at being a cafe. Go for the cakes, stay if you *must*, but, if you do, just order some hot chocolate to pass the time, and cut those kids some slack!
(5)Sarah Z.
I recently down graded Bittersweet from four to two stars. I have ordered a few cakes here over the years, and the reviews went like this: Birthday cake for boyfriend in '01 - Excellent! Everyone loved it. Cake for Mothers Day in '05 and '06 - Pretty good. Birthday cake for Nephew in '07 - Two BIG thumbs down. Literally. Two children under the age of 10 would not eat this. I've eaten brunch/lunch here several times and the food is healthy and well proportioned (nothing supersized). The space is quaint and pretty. I used to really like this place, but the sweets just aren't that spectacular anymore.
(2)Pamela K.
I like the pastry there. I went there many times for cakes, cupcakes, maccaroons, maccarons, brownies, cheesecakes, and more. I agree that the price is expensive. One small easter rabit cookie can cost you $4 a piece. However, I gave this four-star only to pastry but not to their service. I agee with other reviews that staff there is sweet but one is bitter! They were not quite helpful and lacked of the pastry knowledge. When I asked about the specific pastry or the basic differences between them, they could not answer my questions. They should have the proper knowledge about the product they sell. Plus, they always missed the quantity I ordered, for example, I ordered four and they gave me two.
(4)John H.
There are some very high quality items here--the apple strudel muffins are fantastic--but I always felt like Bittersweet put a little bit too much emphasis on presentation. It was hard to leave feeling full without dropping ten bucks. I'd echo Jimmy B's comment on that note--feels more like a catering business than a bakery. A good option for the higher end cookies and cakes customers, but not the best spot for the more economical muffin/cup of coffee crowd.
(3)Jisha A.
I ordered a birthday cake from here a few weeks back - the praises I got for it made me want to take credit for it :) Chocolate mousse with strawberries with a dark chocolate glazing. They may seem pricey but I think the cake was well worth it. They even added chocolate ribbons 'n strawberries for decor. It looked as awesome as it tasted. Really impressed. I tried one of her home speciality cookies as well, twas great ! I'll be back to see what else this place has to offer, without feeling guilty about the calories, i hope !
(5)dottie m.
There is NOTHING bad here! The little tarts with the vanilla bean custard and strawberries are sublime, and there's nowhere else I go for fancy cakes (a PERFECT place when you have to "bring dessert"). I'll admit, I've only eaten dessert here (they have a lunch menu as well), but you can pretty much close your eyes and point to anything in the bake case, and you'll go home happy.
(5)Kate W.
Best. Desserts. Ever. A friend gave me a slice of cake and said "you have to try this!" It was the greatest cake ever... EVER!
(5)Andria M.
I will preface this with: "I am very picky about baked goods" This place is in my neighborhood and thought I should give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised with the ambiance upon entering; it looks like what I would expect a patisserie in France to look like (albeit, I have never been to a patisserie in France...). I ordered a pear ginger scone and a cream cheese carrot cake muffin, everything else was a little too foo foo for me. I was looking more for what another reviewer was looking for (bear claw, cinnamon roll..I guess that's not very French, though). The scone had no flavor resembling it's description, actually it really just had no flavor at all and the center was gummy. In the trash that went after 2 bites (had to be sure it wasn't worth it). So onto the cream cheese carrot muffin! That was an improvement (only had 1/2, trying to save for later); I'm still on the fence as to whether the center is gummy or just moist. All in all, I wasn't overwhelmed, but I might give them another chance...maybe for their lunch menu.
(2)Randal B.
This is one of those joints where you take your mom or out-of-town friends for Sunday brunch. Top atmosphere, some of the best quiche in town, and some of the best coffee in town, too (and I don't say that lightly). I can't fail to mention the great pastries and sweets (be sure to check out the half-price leftovers on the left side of the counter). The only reason I don't give Bittersweet five stars is that they have the absolute worst check-out system in Chicago. Hands down, paying this place the slowest and biggest pain-in-the-butt for any place we eat. If Bittersweet would pony up for a standard credit-card system (for crissake, allow tips on cards and take Amex) and allow you to pay at your table (check-out involves taking a number or butting in line to just get your table bill) they'd probably get five stars out of me.
(4)Amy L.
Went there this past Saturday afternoon with the hubby. It was pretty rowdy in there. We ended up just getting our dessert to go. It was wow. It has like an aroma to it when you eat it that made me want more. It was a small little tart type dessert with a strawberry on top. Good stuff. About 3 bucks each too so not the cheapest dessert..
(3)Lori M.
Bittersweet is one of those places that I've been going to regularly since moving back from Italy in '98. I just adore their sunny savory & sweet treats, and am always thrilled with everything in their shop. For every year since, I've ordered my kids birthday cakes (Julian's favorite: Almond Cake with a Tiramisu w/ Espresso soaked Lady Fingers filling, and a Dark Chocolate Glaze) (Benjamin's favorite: Red Velvet cake with a Crème Brulee Custard, strawberries and Vanilla Buttercream frosting) from Bittersweet, and they're all very memorable. Recently, for Fat Tuesday, I stopped in and picked up King Cakes for the office - that rich brioche dough, garnished with sliced almonds and purple, green, and yellow sugar---ohhhh, what a hit. They were gone in minutes. I love to stop in to the cafe for a nice quiet lunch by myself once in a while, and ADORE their peach ginger scones in the a.m. with coffee... oh, who am I kidding, I love EVERYTHING about Bittersweet. If you like tarts and cute baker girls as much as I - be sure to stop in and try their lemon sabayon - it's to die for. Take some hot cross buns or pecan sticky rolls home for your sweety if you're in the dog house. I wish this place was open late!
(5)Jerry M.
Good place to go to for brunch on Sat/Sun, if you don't mind the small selection of food, but I've always liked what they have (just one entree, soup, and salad). I had the spinach salad with blue cheese and can I say YUMMY?! The desserts are plentiful and yummy, but I'll admit that I'm more of a cupcake girl with tons of frosting, and they really don't have anything like this here - more like pies and cookies. But still good!
(4)Jeanette S.
This place has some yummy and beautifully decorated treats! It's not the best in town, but certainly worth a visit.
(3)Sue K.
Best cakes of the chocolate variety. Get one for a birthday or special occasion. Lunch cafe is also very nice and charming.
(5)Cynthia N.
I just ordered cookies from Bittersweet for a new biz presentation for work. I am always amazed at the quality of work. I sent them a jpeg logo and they drew it on a cookie. They
(4)Heather S.
Ack!! I can't believe I forgot to review this place! This was my dream wedding cake bakery and boy did they live up to my expectations. We had an extremely simple almond cake w/ lemon curd filling and buttercream frosting. It was and is the best wedding cake I have ever tasted. 2 years later, I ordered the same cake in a mini version for our anniversary. The shop is cute and small and has gorgeous baked goods. The cutest cookies and most beautiful tarts, etc. I have not eaten here for lunch, however.
(5)Virginia T.
I haven't been to Bittersweet in a while....but when I was there I was very impressed. I've had coffee, cake, gelato, salad, pastries, and cookies and was not disappointed. In fact....I was so impressed that we chose Bittersweet to make our wedding cake. It was AMAZING. Lightly almond flavored cake filled with creme brulee and fresh sliced strawberries! Beautiful design, fresh flowers on top...gorgeous and delicious-albiet pricey!
(5)ER S.
The cakes & cookies are terrific if a bit pricey. Lunch is great too... though they really don't put their heart into in on the weekends (same menu over and over and over). Checkout could be better... slow and painful at busy times.
(4)Rachel G.
I have never been here....but I had tasted one of their wedding cakes and it was delicious. I am talking so delicious that the wedding was almost 3 years ago and I still remember how it tasted!! I guess I better get my rear in here and start tasting some of their other goodies!!
(5)faith b.
I love coming here and getting a little treat for myself. My old boss bought me their macaroons and I was hooked! Sometimes I pick some up to give to my friends as little gifts. The packaging that they come in is very cute. I came here once to pick up my boss's birthday cake for her daughter. It looked so perfect and yummy... I just wanted to paw at it and shove it in my mouth. The only thing that would make these visits sweeter is if they hired friendlier people. I don't know why they always look so grumpy... maybe it's because they're tortured by all the yummy treats that they're not allowed to eat.
(4)Michelle R.
I can only speak about the cakes, the beautiful yummy cakes! They just make pretty pretty cakes! the lemon curd is amazing!
(5)Jeremy T.
Even a hot chocolate at Bittersweet is not "just a hot chocolate", it is THE hot chocolate. I don't think I even need to say anything about the dessert..
(5)Melanie M.
Raspberry lemonade cupcakes from Bittersweet. Whenever they have it, I will drop all things to eat them. The lemon pastry I had was divine. I haven't done in a while and I should probably change that.
(4)Penny C.
Like most of the less than stellar reviews, it isn't the food. I've been spending a few hundred dollars a year at Bittersweet for about 8 years because they have delicious interesting baked goods. I called first thing this morning to see if I could order mini scones for tomorrow afternoon. The woman on the phone was short and a little too pleased to tell me they needed 48 hours. I understand they are busy and yes, I should have called sooner, apparently 30 hours just isn't enough notice. She wasn't friendly and she didn't offer any suggestions, like "we have regular sized scones or a great cookie selection." She just didn't care. I called Bon Bon and Vanille - very helpful and friendly. Bittersweet won't miss my money, it isn't much, but the other bakeries will appreciate it.
(2)Kimberly C.
Ooooh! Bittersweet! How could I have possibly left you off the list? This was the site of the prequel to the infamous cupcake crawl. Ms. E and I had lunch here the day before our grand day out and sampled a bit of the cake too. I have to say that the lunch I had was utterly fantastic. And the staff was wonderfully helpful and answered all of our questions about cake, cupcakes, and different flavor combinations to try. Although they only made cupcakes on the weekends, we tried one of their cake slices. The cake itself was divine. It was moist and flavorful, if not a little sweet. The mocha filling was near perfection. Unfortunately, I hated the icing. It literally tasted like butter and nothing else. The cake was visually beautiful, though. I'd be happy to go back and try some of the other icing combos with the cake and I am sure I could come up with one that worked for me. Overall they are doing desserts proud and pricewise ($1.75 w/o filling, $2.25 with filling) these cupcakes were high on the list. On a side note, they usually have bite-sized samples of cakes for walk-in customers. The carrot cake sample I tried was literally the best carrot cake I have ever had.
(4)Erin C.
I hate this place and it's a bakery! I love bakeries! The cookies I've had here are bland and greasy. The pastries were tasteless though they looked pretty. I'm a pretty good baker myself, so i know an overuse of lard when i taste it. blech! The positives: it's cute and everything here looks very pretty. Go somewhere else if you actually want to eat something.
(1)Sixto M.
still a great place to eat! I always want to make it here for lunch, but never get there in time: it's always packed by 12pm. Today, I went for a late lunch and had a delicious shrimp salad sandwhich. I'm glad to see their menus change, and they have a breakfast menu, then a seperate lunch menu. I didn't buy any pastries or cookies when I went, but I sure did have some of their samples (which were vanilla and chocolate cakes with buttercream, choc chip cookies, and "holiday" fudge).
(4)Jerica W.
My friend and I were just walking down Belmont one afternoon and stumbled across this place. We decided to stop in for a cup of coffee. I had a cappuccino and a little blueberry tart and my friend had a bowl of their chilled cucumber soup. My cappuccino was great, as was my friend's soup. My tart was a little on the dry side. We went back this afternoon and each had a cup of coffee and a smore cupcake. The cupcakes were great!! We had the same server both times and she was friendly. Be advised... if you are paying with a card there is no where on the receipt to add tip, so make sure you have a few dollars with you to leave for tip. If you are looking for a cute place for a cup of coffee with a friend, I would recommend it.
(4)Alice B.
I used Bittersweet for my wedding cake and pastries. My husband and I met with a very nice lady who guided us towards a cake we loved that was within our budget! She didn't pressure us and made us feel very comfortable. Day of the wedding, even though my reception site was quite far from the city and practically in the middle of nowhere, they delivered it on time. It was exactly what I wanted, not to mention delicious! I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Karen L.
Cute bakery/cafe that is a great place for lunch! I will have to say, though, that the menu is pretty limited. There were a couple of sandwiches and salads and soup. I ordered a half sandwich and bowl of soup. The soup changes daily, I believe, and I went when it was a carrot jalapeno. I am not usually a fan of carrot, but this was amazing! It had a really nice flavor and kick to it! The sandwich, however, was just okay. One thing was it came cold. And, looking at other tables', we noticed that their sandwiches had been "panini-ed". I would have enjoyed it way more if it was warm! It was nice that you also get a choice of a side item. My friend ordered the hot chocolate and she said it was wonderful! And, of course, I always hear the baked goods are pretty good so I would definitely go back if I had a craving for cookies or desserts.
(3)Kat H.
wonderful pastries. I got a variety of things for a mani/pedi party i had and everybody loved what what i got. they also had good coffee and we helpful when i needed to know if there were walnuts (allergy) in any of the pastries.
(4)Matthew T.
I went here for the first time on a whim and was pleasantly surprised by the expansive selection of items available. I had a fresh brioche and an ice coffee and was very satisfied with the quality and the price. I will have to return for the ice cream sometime seeing as they post great deals for the ice cream and other items on twitter where they can be followed at bttrswtpstryshp. I will be returning soon =)
(4)Chelsea G.
The cupcakes range from OK to pretty good. I had a cream cheese tart once, which i think is my favorite so far. Great scones and truffles. I agree with a previous comment that the website is not very useful. I go about once a week because it's about thirty seconds from my apartment, and I always try something new (variety is definitely apparent). I like taking advantage of the samples as well, especially during Thanksgiving. Overall, nice but not the best.
(3)Megan T.
So happy that I chose Bittersweet for my wedding cake! I highly recommend them for weddings and any sweet occasion you may have! From day one they were on top of my wedding and were so organized! They did not bug me for more than what was necessary and never asked me the same question twice! When you are a bride that is a huge relief to know you hired someone reliable. Sue Anne contacted me two weeks before the wedding and reviewed everything with me and sure enough come wedding day the cake was there more beautiful than ever! I was a very picky bride and before everyone arrived at the reception went into the room to make sure everything was just as I had laid out, I inspected the cake and there was NOT ONE bubble in the fondu it! It looked fabulous. Even more important the hazelnut cake with vanilla creme brule filling was phenomenal! I even have a special request about 3 days prior to the event for them to deliver a cupcake of the day with my cake so we could sing happy birthday to my new niece as it was her birthday that same day! As expected it was there perfect as could be! I can not say enough about this place and would even give it a extra star if it was possible! bottom line don't be disappointed....book bittersweet for your special occasion!
(5)Katie H.
For being the only place in Chicago that carries macaroons (not the coconut kind but the delicious French kind) I give this place 5 stars. I happened to walk by while apartment hunting and squealed with delight when I saw my beloved cookies. After becoming addicted to these cookies at a French bakery in Pike Place Market, I had been searching Chicago for them. The almond and chocolate macaroons did not dissapoint. Judging from the lines, I would assume everything else is just as good. I will be back to try more.
(5)Kurt O.
One of the nicest bakeries in town. Their chocolate and macaroons remind me of my Grandmother's baking....and she owned a Swedish bakery. I've tried to enjoy lunch there because the food is so good....but the tables are small and rather unstable and close together....it does not feel comfortable....so I usually avoid sitting and just get takeout.
(4)Connie W.
Stopped in for the first time today. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The coffee and oatmeal raisin cookie were delicious! Looking forward to returning for lunch and more sweet treats!
(5)Alli L.
This review is not really for eating in. We picked up a gorgeous, decadent, death-by-chocolate chocolate fudge mousse heart-shaped cake here, and it was amazing. I'm not even a huge sweets or chocolate person! (I mean, I am, but not the way some people are...) I have also heard on good authority (from someone who really knows her scones) that they have really good scones here.
(5)Bianca J.
The white chocolate tartlet I ate here was so good I actually had a dream about it later. I don't even like white chocolate that much, but damn. Perfect buttery crust and smooth, creamy filling. They also have New Mexico style biscochitos- anise seed cookies, which were a pleasant surprise. I was also a devotee to the chocolate and orange zest flavore Cafe Chocolat- but the last time I ordered it the girl just squirted chocolate syrup in my coffee- what changed?!!
(4)H. K.
LOVE IT!!! Apart from wonderful and elegant desserts, a very nice place for lunch (more of a grownup version). I went there with my mom, and another time with a friend, and they loved it. Really good soups and elegant salads in a very nice, kind of English tearoom setting. Their cakes are also exquisite. Wish they had more than one location (I live in the suburbs, but always try to stop by when I'm in Chicago).
(5)Isabella W.
I was disappointed the second time back to Bittersweet. The latte was ok (despite the fact that they use Illy coffee - one of my favs). The latte just came out very lukewarm, not hot... at the very least they should have microwaved my latte if they didn't want to steam it. Also, the fruit tart while delicious was extremely difficult to eat due to its extremely hard crust. It was so messy that I lost my appetite halfway through eating the small tart. I do give it 1 star for the espresso tart (with a chocolate covered espresso bean on top) and another one for a free coupon due to an error in the specials (which said it was an orange cheesecake, but acutally had coconut). I'll probably come back if I'm craving a tart, but would prefer Bombon over this.
(2)Lindley E.
[review is specific to cake] Worst birthday cake I've ever had. Dry, bland...heartbreaking. You get one birthday a year...the cake should be perfect. This was about as soul-less and empty as it comes. I brought my cake to work and no one went for seconds...and the folks I work with have never met a baked good they didn't like. I have tried other things there, and to my palate they have all been unremarkable. Pretty to look at, terrible to eat. Oh yeah, but the coffee was okay.
(1)Eileen O.
Bittersweet made my wedding cake, which wasn't a cake but a croquembouche (I think I spelled that wrong). It's a french wedding cake made of many cream puffs stuck together with caramelized sugar. It was incredibly good. One of the great things about bittersweet was that I was able to order everything on the phone (with Sue Anne) and through email. I sent them photos of what I wanted it to look like and they made it gorgeous. Not having to go into the store was one less thing that I had to worry about. I also appreciate that the day before the wedding they called me and said "it's going to be 100 degrees out tomorrow... do you mind if we make two smaller ones instead of a huge pyramid since transporting that will not go well in the heat?" Honesty is so important! I'd rather have two perfect cakes than one big one that's falling apart It was more affordable than any other cake and all of my guests were falling over themselves to get more because it was so tasty! Thanks for making my wedding ever better!!
(5)Matt R.
I really want to love Bittersweet. However, I find myself comparing many of their items to other bakeries and Bittersweet's never seem up to par. Mind you, I have never had anything bad. I also have never had anything out of this world. Still, Bittersweet is a cute place just to drop by for coffee and a snack.
(3)Mary S.
Amazing macaroons. Passionfruit was THE best macaroon I've ever had. Everything at Bittersweet is yummy!
(5)Paul F.
The pastries are great and the food is wonderful. But what really makes me love the place is the wait staff. My date has issues with onions and onion like things, so she ordered her sandwich with no onions, Well the darling waitress came back and told us that the artichokes in the sandwich had been marinated with onions and that where shallots in another part of my dates order, she then suggested something else. Paying this much attention is just wonderful I will be going back again, soon and often!!!
(5)Stephanie T.
I remember coming here a few months ago, and I just fell in love with this place. I ordered 2 chocolate cupcakes that were a day old but still were good. I sat down with a friend of mine's and we couldn't help but admire the essence of Bittersweet. They offer samples of their baked goods and even bring a cup of water to your table. The staff was very quick and friendly and were kind to show me around since it was my first time going there. I love this bakery and would recommend it to anyone in the neighborhood.
(5)Larry B.
one of, if not the best pastry shop in Chitown. wonderful desserts, cakes, breads and more. Judy the owner is a little anal, but in a good way. Not to be missed if you love sweets.
(5)Jason D.
I don't think I'll be able to walk by this bakery any longer without stopping in for brioche. The counter staff is friendly and helpful, which helps as well. Also, croissants are supposed to be crispy and flaky on the outside. If you aren't aware of this please proceed to Bittersweet immediately.
(4)K L.
Wonderful food in a pleasant setting. My only complaint is that the servers do not take your check. You have to wait in the (extremely long!!) cashier line, behind everyone buying cakes and pastries. It is a very frustrating way to end such a nice experience.
(4)Y V.
This is my favorite place to get French macaroons. They offer several flavors, but I love their chocolate with ganache filling, almond with apricot buttercream, and pistachio with buttercream. I also recommend their creme brulee and mocha mousse tart. You can't go wrong with a classic dessert like creme brulee. I used to go to Bittersweet before they expanded to a cafe, so I still have to try their savory items. But I'll definitely be back to try their new menu.
(4)Midori G.
I stumbled upon this bakery when I decided to walk West on Belmont, where I had never before ventured. The cute window display appealed to both my utterly girlie side and my sweet tooth. It was almost closing time, so everything was half off, but I don't think I would have paid full price anyway. None of the three cookies I had were incredible, but I would come back to try more when I'm in the neighborhood. Note: The bakery is technically on the North SIDE of Belmont, in case anyone was confused.
(3)Angie T.
not wanting to venture far from home for brunch - now that the weather cooled and there were errands to run - we opted for bittersweet, just down the road. i had been in there only once before a few years ago, but never sat for a meal. boy have we been missing out! i had a bowl of roasted red pepper and potato soup and an amazing slice of ham and cheese quiche. just wow. the desserts all looked delicious too - the macaroons, the cupcakes, cookies etc, etc. even the day old half price bread and muffins looked worth giving a try. anxious to go back and try out more of their menu soon.
(4)Tiffany K.
What a cute place! Cakes and pastries are reasonably priced and sooooo pretty. They have regular food, too, like sandwiches. Not too expensive and not just pastries and cakes! Great place.
(4)Tricia G.
This is my favorite bakery! There cakes are AMAZING! They have these to die for Macaroons! Try them if you like something sweet! We always get our birthday cakes from here! We get the banana cake filled with vanilla creme brulee, fresh bananas and finished with a dark chocolate glaze. YUMMO! I've always wanted my wedding cake from here, but we are on a budget so I tried another bakery to save some money. We had a horrible experience with them that I ended up going back to our original choice... BITTERSWEET! Tonight we met with the cake coordinator, Sue Ann. We were about 10 minutes late because of traffic and they were still so accommodating! The nice girl first offered us coffee or tea in addition to the water they already gave us. Then we met Sue Ann and she had offered it to us again. She was very professional and didn't mind we were late. Remind you we stared with her about 6:15 and they close at 7:00. We both had our own plate with cakes and all these assortments of different options. She explained each one patiently, gave us the time we needed and checked on us a few times in between. She LISTENED TO ME! Not like the other bakery we went to. We ended up selecting a BEAUTIFUL 4 tiered cake (Butter cream) but there butter cream looks like fondant but doesn't taste like it! It's sooo smooth, does it get any better than that!?!? Sue Ann had such great pictures of there beautiful work that had our ideas going. When we were done she went over our cakes that she had asked us to mark. She asked us what was it that we liked about each cake and then she got her drawing paper out and sketched our dream cake! I have to say that this was the same price that the other bakery was! Compared to the other place, BITTERSWEET hands down won! Their professionalism, patience, listening skills has exceeding our expectations! She really got it and we can't wait for our dream cake! We have all the trust in them that it will turn out beautiful! I was searching for a very long time with all the other bakeries. No I haven't been to many others but I can tell you that Bittersweets pricing for their wedding cakes is a lot lower than some of these other places! Trust me, save yourself time!! Check them out if you haven't. You'll see what I'm talking about! We got a BEAUTIFUL cake with tax and delivery for UNDER $500! WOW! For some reason I thought it would have been a lot more for what we got! Thank you Sue Ann! Thank you!
(5)Kimberly E.
Amazing pastries, but service needs to be clearer. We were told to sit down if eating in, but we had to take a number and get in the to-go line to even get our bill. Wish it was order at the counter and sit instead of being frustrated (French style?). On the other hand, the croissant, ham and cheese croissant, raspberry brioche, and pecan roll (made w croissant dough) are really great. Coffee is ok. Cute gift ideas as well.
(4)Brandon W.
Really cute place with tons of pastries. I wish I could eat more of them but alas since I'm not one of you normal folk, I cannot. My wife loves this place, so I'm sure it's great. Tip: get the hot chocolate! It is insanely good and the main reason I stop by. Recommended
(3)E M B.
Wedding Cake Review: Bittersweet was the preferred bakery of our wedding venue and we were familiar with their tasty cakes so we were happy we didn't have to search through the endless bakeries in Chicago for our wedding cake! I showed them a more intricate lace design that they had not done before and they did a beautiful job! My only complaint is that while there are so many cake/filling options, I wish there were some more innovative flavors. Regardless they were great to work with and the cake was beautiful and tasty.
(4)Brittney B.
My boyfriend decided to bring me home some cupcakes after I mentioned I was craving a cupcake on Twitter (points for him). He stopped here because it was close to the L and to home. I was surprised with a yellow cake cupcake with chocolate frosting and covered in sprinkles. I wasn't that impressed. The frosting was good, but the cake tasted like it was from your standard grocery store box mix. Nothing to write home about. Maybe it's because they were bought shortly before closing? I'd be up to giving them another shot and I'll update with another review when I do. Until then, not the best, not the worst.
(3)R.A. H.
I found the selection and visual appeal of this place to be highly appreciated, but what I ordered lacked a certain something. I tried three of their shortbread cookies. The cinnamon lacked any serious cinnamon flavor. In fact, again while still a decent cookie, I had a hard time telling the difference between the chocolate and cinnamon ones. The chocolate slivers one was better and more distinctive and nicely done. I also sampled their homemade hot chocolate. The temperature was perfect but I found it to be a smidge too bitter and not smooth enough for my personal liking. I think I enjoy more of a semi sweet or milk chocolate flavor cocoa. Very much personal preference. The slightly dry aftertaste however made me hesitant to finish the drink. A fine establishment for those who truly prefer the bitter side of chocolate. My only real suggestion is to make the prices on your various display choices a little more evident.
(4)janet t.
i was delighted that bittersweet would make cookies with my logo for a party. they were adorable! delicious, too.
(5)Rachel B.
I'm about to move away from Lakeview and I think the one thing I'll miss the most is Bittersweet. I go in regularly for a coffee and a muffin to go, and I love this place's cute ambiance and the free samples. Muffins are great too, especially the apple muffin and sour cherry. The lunch menu is small, but consistently good. I also love that they have a selection of boxes of truffles, macaroons, holiday themed sweets, etc - perfect for bringing to someone's home for a dinner gift. The only feedback I'd give to them is they should offer a sort of "gift wrap" option where if you buy some of their unpackaged baked goods, you can have them packaged into a cute box - even for a small charge. If they did that, I'd buy their cupcakes, cookies, etc as gifts more often. Anyway, thanks Bittersweet for brightening up more mornings than I can count!
(5)Michelangelo V.
Honest review first off dont trust all the positive reviews the food is not that good the portions are small n very expensive service is bad trust me u will be very dissappointed u can get better stuff at a corner bakery
(1)Green B.
I was lucky enough to stop by right before they were closing. They have an amazing hot chocolate. The pastries were okay. It's a must try. I did not like that they were rushing us out of there. I would of rather not gone in, in the first place, if I cant enjoy what I bought.
(4)Alexandra K.
Driving up, I was like oh please let this be the place because the beautiful cakes are so inviting. Walking in, I immediately thought I was back in Europe. It's part patisserie, part café and part gift shop. The gift shop has very cute holiday gifts, ornaments, baking goods, etc... It's worth taking a peek at. The display case is huge and filled with beautiful cakes, cookies, cupcakes--anything your little heart could desire. Free Samples (spend an hour and a half here and you won't even have to buy a treat with the amount of GENEROUS samples they put out (I mean half-cookies!)) -Apple Muffin: maybe because it's a sample it's dry but it does have a good mix of apple and cinnamon. -Old Fashioned Sugar Cookie: mmm it's more like shortbread with great sugar crystals. Nice DRY cookie. -Chocolate Cookie: it's just like the sugar cookie, but in chocolate form. -Chocolate Chip Cookie: it's got a glaze of chocolate on the top and bottom and lots of chocolate chips within but I like my chocolate chip cookies gooey, and this is just too shortbread-y for me. Lunch (their lunch menu rotates on the daily but here's what we were able to dip into) -Spinach Ricotta Quiche: the spinach is a bit too mushy so it doesn't make the quiche taste as fresh as it should. It could also be creamier considering the ricotta. It's a bit too salty. Not my favorite--but a good portion. -Cauliflower Kale Soup: it's delicious. Good consistency. The cauliflower has a good taste and you get a slight hint of kale. -Chicken Pesto Sandwich: mmm! The pesto is so fresh and the chicken nicely shredded. The chicken could have been slightly cooler in temperature though to make it more refreshing. Desserts -Hot Chocolate: it's extremely creamy. And it has somewhat of a spice to it. It's absolutely INCREDIBLE. Tastes like Christmas. -Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte: the crust is like a crunchy pretzel/nut that has a bit of a malt consistency (and I don't like malt but it's GOOD). The two layers of chocolate are so rich (yes!), and mixed with the salty-and-not sweet caramel sauce on the side, it's really divine. -Lemon Meringue Pie: mmm the lemon is just like that in a lemon bar. Although I don't like meringue, I would recommend this for a refreshing snack (you barely taste the meringue). FINAL VERDICT: I really enjoyed my time here and if I lived in the area I would come back more often for a nice, European lunch.
(4)Erin F.
We tried so many gluten free wedding cakes in the city and suburbs, and Bittersweet blew them all out of the water. Not even a scintilla of competition. They were prompt in responding, polite, helpful, and delicious. Cake tasting was the best part of getting married, but do yourself a favor and put this on your short list right now.
(5)Brandon B.
Stopped by for lunch after finding another place closed. A little west of the main strip of dining locations but just a short walk from the El on Belmont. Small lunch menu for sandwiches but very well done and quick efficient service. The potato artichoke soup and reuben sandwich were filling and just the right size, and not overpriced. Surprisingly not too busy for a Saturday at noon in this neighborhood, but it is fairly small for dining. Massive displays of sweets of all kinds and generous sampling: the peppered glazed pecans left a kick for a while after I left! Half price bakery fragments from the day before which are a deal.
(4)Anh N.
Was recommended by a few co-workers to try this place and even with all the hype, I was not disappointed! Bittersweet is a cute bakery on Belmont near Sheffield that also serves lunch foods and has tables inside to enjoy a meal or coffee. They have a great range of desserts, from cakes to freshly baked breads. They had cake samples out the day we came and those were absolutely delicious. I'm not a big cake fan, but their cakes are moist and the icing is light; not too sweet as well. The way to order is by taking a number and waiting for your turn. The service is a bit slow, so just be patient, especially when they're busy. If you decide to sit down, it's even slower...but if you're coming in for a leisurely visit, it's not a big deal. The staff is still gracious. A group of us tried the shortbread cookies, chocolate brioche, chocolate and almond croissant, lemon meringue tart, creme brulee tart, and hazelnut balls, which are like tea cakes with powdered sugar. Everything was great - highly recommend the chocolate brioche. Check 'em out!
(5)Amber M.
I have finally gotten around to writing this review, even though my wedding was in November, 2013! Nancy was communicative, nice and easy to work with in selecting my wedding cake/design and it turned out beautifully. The cake was delivered all the way to Glen Ellyn on time and without any hitches. Since I am already a HUGE fan of the Almond cake here, that was my go-to, but I was able to taste and select some other layers to add. I've tasted Almond cakes at other bakeries and they do not even compare. You won't find that owerpowering flavor of almond extract, just a not too light and not too dense flavorful cake, they use real ground almonds which gives it not only the light flavor but real texture as well, never dry! For the main layer, I selected the Almond cake with raspberry preserves and creme brulee filling (my fav) second layer was a hazelnut cake with chocolate mousse filling and the last layer was a fudge cake with mocha mousse filling. Everyone at my reception was raving about the cake (as they should, cmon it's Bittersweet). It was expensive I will say (compared to other bakeries including the one included in my wedding package that was FREE but subpar) but worth every penny! I feel like some of the desserts and cookies here are hit or miss, but the cake, the cake NEVER disappoints!!!!
(5)Van D.
Went in recently to buy a birthday cake for my son. It was a weekday morning so not very busy. Good selection of desserts on display and all looked good. Initially, a couple of college aged employees were working the front and they were friendly. A manager looking person eventually came out to help us. She did not seem overly enthusiastic to help us out and injected a few condescending comments while getting our desserts. During the checkout process, she continued to seem bothered when we added another pre-packaged item to our order. Quality of the desserts were good but definitely on the pricey side. Lots of friendly, quality, and cheaper bakeries in Chicago. Definitely don't need bakeries with attitude
(2)Natalie Q.
This isn't quite the place I expected when looking for a bakery so this review is based on the bakery side of it. Bittersweet is a lot of things actually. It's a cafe, gift shop, and bakery. They have a wide selection of items, but sadly I haven't found what they specialize in I think. I bought a little bit of everything. Some bread, cookies, macarons, muffins, and cupcakes. None of these were amazing, just kind of typical. I think they must focus more on cakes, which did look pretty good. The macarons were probably the best but none of them were filled with any kind of jam or jelly, just a simple flavored cream filling. The cupcakes were okay and your standard sized cupcake. Just everything was okay. Nothing in the baked goods turned out to be great enough to make me go back for those items. I might go back and try some other stuff but for the price it's not one of my top options for a local bakery.
(3)Lauren R.
My husband and I met with multiple wedding cake designers for our May 2014 wedding and Bittersweet was by far the most delicious, creative and paid the most attention to detail. We worked with Nancy, she was easy to get in contact with and provided us with honest feedback (ex: letting me know gold fondant would look too dark against rock candy). Bittersweet did an amazing job on our cake, the design was flawless. Even better, the cake tasted phenomenal! It was moist and the fruit layers contained a substantial amount of filling. I would highly recommend them! I can't wait until our anniversary so I can eat it again :)
(5)Monique B.
Bittersweet made my amazing wedding cake. First, Nancy was great to work with. My wedding was a destination wedding and she was so accommodating for me. They offer an amazing cake tasting. Everyone at my wedding could not stop raving about how good the cake was!! They are also very reasonably priced!! I would highly recommend Bittersweet to every bride to be!
(5)Laurie N.
Freaking loved this place, theres nothing I haven't liked. I still need to come here and try their food but their pastries are awesome!
(5)Rachel N.
I have a lot of emotions abt Bittersweet, which, I guess is appropriate given its moniker. I've had lovely, luscious things from here - a flourless chocolate cake so rich it made me wish for an expandable stomach and an absent consciousness so that I could eat the entire thing in one solo sitting (serves 10-15p, clearly) - as well as a chocolate walnut torte that managed to be both airy and decadent - but, on the whole, I feel a bit like Bittersweet is an old Chicago grand dame in need of a facelift before heading to Palm Springs for the winter. It currently posits itself as a cafe/bakery - yes, you can sit and get table, but there isn't any real service. No menus, just a chalkboard - fine, I can read distance if my glasses happen to be on my face - but more problematically, no explanation that there was a chalkboard at which we should look. It's also awkward b/c you have to get up to survey the pastry selection - an activity that is worth your while, but makes for a strange coffee date if everyone is constantly popping up and down to scope out the goods. In terms of foodstuffs, obviously it's dessert centric, but the savory offerings are simple and well prepared (cauli soup, quiche, chicken pesto sando, grilled cheese, etc - the menu changes regularly) - so if you feel like easing into heavy cream and pounds of butter, it's possible to delay the inevitable w a proper meal. The real sin, aside from the service, is that they changed their macaron recipe - and let me tell you, what they just attempted to sell me as a macaron was a chocolate colored sham of a pastry - truly an abomination to my tastebuds and an assault to the fine French people who initially decided to whip almonds + egg whites + sugar into a cookie and bring Heaven to Earth. Having experienced BS macarons before, I was excited for a repeat adventure into the soft, chewy cookies sandwiching a proper buttercream or ganache filling, but the things they serve now are horribly hard and flavorless. As many of you have gathered by now, I have a lot of obstacles to overcome in my life - and I can safely say that recovering from the heartbreak of trying to bite into a presumed pillowy macaron only to have to retreat and ask for a knife is one that will take hours of therapy to undo. That said, on the whole, it remains a good place to say "eff you" to being paleo or vegan or whatever. To appreciate Bittersweet at its finest, your best bet is to hit it and quit it, rather than bother w sitting and savoring in the actual store. I've honestly never paid for myself here, but I think that whole cakes are $30+, cookies are around $2, sandwiches are under $10, and pastries are all $3-7? If you go at an off time, street parking in easy. Oh, for all you sample sluts - they give away their goods in bountiful quantities as soon as you enter. Bring your game face.
(3)Alison Y.
Since discovering this place a little less than a month ago, I've been here at least once every week because EVERYTHING I've had has been so delicious! My favorites: white chocolate mousse, creme brulee tarts, and their flourless chocolate cake is THE BEST THING ON EARTH! Also their bittersweet hot chocolate is to die for - they describe it as French style which means it's pretty thick and decadent but made with dark chocolate so it's not overly sweet. I couldnt' drink it all on one sitting but it was just as good refrigerated overnight and microwaved the next day. Lemon bars are nice and sweet with a bit of tang but not too much that brings tears to your eyes! Blueberry pie cream tart was nice and tasted of fruit but was definitely a bit more dense...not sure where the cream part came into play on this one though. I've tried their basic buttercream cupcake and the cake was wonderfully moist and their buttercream frosting is like air. I love it when I eat a cupcake and I don't feel like a fat cow afterwards and Bittersweet's is perfect! I can't wait to try everything on the menu...and if it keeps drawing me back every week like it has so far...I will...
(5)Megan M.
Feeling a bit of a sweet tooth on my walk home, I stopped in and grabbed a couple of tarts - mostly chocolate. They did not disappoint! I will certainly be back to try a few more items.
(4)John G.
My favorite bakery in all of Chicago! Judy & staff do a fantastic job. They did my wedding cake last year it was one of a kind,very memorable. Love the key lime pie, chocolate souffle cake, all the fresh fruit tarts. They also have small brunch/ lunch menu that is well executed, simple fresh flavor profiles. Return anytime I'm in the area.
(5)Annie M.
I'm a huge fan of this place - but I don't like everything necessarily here. What I think they do really well are the breads, croissants, scones, flourless chocolate cakes and tarts. PLUS their dine in lunch options are nice as well. My husband introduced me to Bittersweet as he could eat one chocolate croissant after another. He compares all other chocolate croissants to Bittersweet's... and I basically stop attempting to try them elsewhere. I'm not a cookie person so I can't really rate theirs. Definitely check this place out...
(5)Brad L.
Service was non-existent. After waiting 5 minutes for the people ahead of us in line to be taken care of, we reached the counter and said that we would like to sit a table. They said go ahead and sit anywhere. I told them the tables needed to be cleaned, the girl started walking out like she was going to clean one and then never did!! Another few minutes later another person asked us to have a seat, I again informed the staff that there were no clean tables. This time they finally cleaned the table, but they left a big couple of crumbs in the middle of the table!! After sitting there for another 5 minutes without anyone saying a word to us, bringing water, or anything else, we left. No one seemed to notice and I'm sure they wouldn't have cared. The baked goods looked great. It's a shame they don't have a better staff. I doubt I'll go back. There is an abundance of comparable little shops in the area and I will be giving my business to friendlier and better organized shops.
(2)Katie M.
This review is based on customer service, not based on food. I called Bittersweet a few days early to pick up some macarons for a friend. The lady on the other end of the phone was hard to understand and wasn't very pleasant. I felt she "barked" a few times at me, and seemed exasperated. When I picked up my macarons, it was the same type of service. The macarons were lovely looking (I didn't try one), but the service was lacking.
(2)S H.
WOW, this Bakery should receive 1000 stars. 1) Their customer service is so good, they are super polite, classy and attentive. 2) Their flourless chocolate cake is SOOOOOO good, it's the best I have ever had and I have had LOTS of chocolate cakes 3) They have unique desserts that you don't see at other places 4) They always have samples that are delicious 5) They have this salmon sandwich that is SOOO good, and their Mushroom soup is beyond tasty. I LOVE this place
(5)Joseph D.
I had walked by this place a few times as I live in the area and had a small pastry or two and thought they were pretty darn good. So when it came time to get something to bring to a friend's house for Thanksgiving, I thought of this place. Purchased a Chocolate Walnut Tort for Thanksgiving and it was a big hit. Covered in a rich chocolate ganache and filled with a delicate chocolate and walnut creamy dreamy filling, this is the kind of desert you want to keep eating but you know better as you will get a belly ache it's that good. At $36 it is a bit on the pricy side but to be honest, given that my wife bakes, we know what goes into making something a delicious as this so it is worth every penny. The price sheet claims is feeds 10 but I can tell you a small slice of this is more than enough so I'd guess it feeds more like 15 or 20 making it a good value even at $36. I had ordered in advance and told them when I was coming to get it. Thankfully it was ready as promised (that would have been a buzz kill) and the staff despite it being a huge rush, was pleasant and worked quickly to serve the 20 people in there. And for those who forgot to call ahead, they also had plenty of cakes and pies to select from that you could walk out with right there on the spot - smart move. Safe to say when I need to bring a desert somewhere and make a big impression, Bittersweet will be my go to bakery. Skip the nonsense you get a the supermarket and go for the real deal. It's worth every penny.
(4)Suzanne P.
Bittersweet Bakery made our wedding cake, and I could not be more thrilled!! From start to finish, Nancy was a delight to work with. Our tasting was such fun, and we were so excited about what we picked out. So happy, in fact, that we used them for my Chicago Shower AND Rehearsal Dinner. All three events had our guests raving about the cakes. When I saw my wedding cake at the wedding, I was thrilled with how it came out. It was just gorgeous. And delicious to boot! I would highly recommend this to anyone throwing any sort of event. You will be well taken care of and your guests will rave!
(5)Vineet S.
ordered a birthday cake for the first time from here. Great in quality, perfect amount of sweetness...it wasnt high on sweetness...nice soft sponge. Overall....great experience. Will definitely make this my default cake bakery. They should have better options for candles...if you're selling birthday cakes....candles are a given!
(4)Francisco F.
Dear Bittersweet, You are like the flour to my cake and the lettuce to my salad. You're important and needed in my life. Bittersweet is perfect that it deserves 4 exclamation points!!!! Lattes are never too hot or cold when they serve it to you.The French toast is perfect; sweet and buttery is all you could ask for in the morning. I've had the grilled cheese sandwich with tomato and spinach; a lentil salad as a side dish. A vegetarian couldn't be happier. You get the vitamin A-filled sandwich with a side of protein. Ding! The sandwich is cheesy and the tomato makes it a little tangy--in a good way. The lentil salad provides a fresh and light feeling to your meal. Don't miss out on the flourless chocolate soufflé cake. Mixed with the whipped cream, it will satisfy your chocolate cravings for a week. It has for me. A tip: show up a little early to your breakfast/brunch/lunch date. There are no reservations and sometimes one or two people can grab tables meant for four.
(5)Anthony N.
The desserts are sweet, but the staff is bitter and misanthropic. Every time I walk in, I walk out regretting giving them another chance. Do they realize that people can notice them sneering, rolling their eyes and sighing after you ask a question?
(1)Mike B.
I love this place! It's kinda spendy, but their flourless chocolate cake is awesome! Lemon bars are fantastic too. It's maybe the only thing that I've purchased from a bakery that my family went crazy over!
(5)Shradha A.
Everything here was so amazing! They have samples out weekend mornings (at least) and their scone-like bread with jam, the pastries, coffee and the reason we were actually there - the cake were all really good! I'd love to return and just stock up for another party!
(5)Jessica P.
I enjoyed my treats at Bittersweet but I wasn't blown away. I had a lemon meringue tart which was good, but nothing out of the ordinary as well as a couple of orange shortbread cookies that were dry and bland to me. They have such a nice selection of treats to choose from so I will go back and hopefully my next trip will be more satisfying than my previous.
(3)Belle L.
A fan since 2002 (or earlier) through the recommendation of a host from then-prominent restaurant. Taste best when consumed immediately. I hand carried 2 dozen of its refrigerated version to Edmonton, Canada. Bittersweet will gladly freeze when you plan ahead. Refrigerated or partially frozen, The Tarts still get adulation and compliments. I also give The Tarts as business gifts. How I wish Bittersweet is able to ship at a reasonable price. Sister loved their salads and still reminiscences about it. Bro loved the multi-sensory kiddie grilled cheese. I always indulge in the quiche of the day. A Judy Contino siting is cherished. It's exhilarating to see a neighborhood pastry shop grow from half a store into its present size. The marble tables are a treat. Service is always great. The chocolate drink has evolved throughout the years. From a cup, to a process (like the Traditional Japanese Green Tea). NOTE: Join the email list! Menu, bakery sale galore etc.
(5)Jonathan W.
the flourless chocolate mousse cake was really good. I recommend getting the cake slices - they write the available flavors on a board. French toast (not on the board but I asked for it) was good but I wasn't wowed. Comes with pecan or apple bread. The pecan version was more of a spongy bread/cake with syrup on the side. not really what I was looking for in French toast overall shop is a bit confusing. there are lunch and cake items on chalkboards, but no menus. takes a while to get your bearings their samples aren't as good as their actual food
(4)Michael M.
The menu is incredibly delicious, particularly the variety of croissants and scones. I highly recommend anything with chocolate chips. The service, however, leaves a bit to be desired. We waited about 20 minutes before anyone approached our table to take our order. And that was only after I walked over and told the waitress we were ready to order.
(4)Karen M.
Bittersweet made our wedding cake. Everyone at the bakery was very nice, and the cake was awesome. We went with layers of red velvet with cream cheese frosting and vanilla with lemon sabayon. Both were amazing. We had a small number of guests with gluten allergies, and Bittersweet could not have been more accommodating. We ended up ordering another small gluten free cake at a very reasonable cost, and our gluten free guests were absolutely blown away at the quality -- all of them agreed that Bittersweet's gluten free cake was the best that they ever had.
(5)R S B F.
In spite of having no previous experience with Bittersweet we took a gamble and went with many friends' recommendations that this was the place to order our wedding cake. Every member of the staff we dealt with during the process was more than helpful and the cake itself was . . . well, we couldn't possibly have hoped for anything better. Excellent presentation and superb taste. Scrumptious doesn't even begin to describe it.
(5)Stephanie H.
I really wanted to like this place more. The location is great and some of their items are really tasty, but the service and prices are not. It's almost in a way... bittersweet. My first experience here was about a year and a half ago when a friend and I went for tea. The people working the counter completely ignored as and then showed us a table. Some time later a person who acted like she hated life came by with the teas (they serve Harney & Sons), teacups, saucers and hot water. When we were finished we looked for her again so we could pay. After a long wait we asked another server who said 'get your bill at the counter'. Apparently the woman who brought us tea had finished her shift and had left. We went to the counter again and after another wait were given our bill. We left the exact amount with no tip as our server had already left and no one else really helped us at all. I went by today to check out the cookies, etc as I plan to host a tea party later this fall. I tried the shortbread (ouch watch your teeth!) and then a macaroon. The salted caramel macaroon was delicious, but for $1.91 (inc. tax) each is just crazy. The macaroons at Argo Tea are $1. I might come back another time but there are other places nearby that probably treat you and your wallet better.
(3)Katharine F.
My only complaint is that they do not have wifi. If they offered wifi, I'd probably be here every day because their food and desserts are THAT good.
(4)Kirsten A.
Met a friend here for dishing and discussing and it was a great environment! We sat for two hours and enjoyed our yummy, warm cheddar cheese scones and tea, which was served on a gorgeously chic silver tray in tiny white pots with real tea cups! Love. And that's not to mention the tons of feet of pastry cases full of colorful, scrumptious looking treats. I just couldn't decide what looked best...the cake pops, chocolate truffles, sugar cookies, cupcakes, cakes, and mini tarts... This place is definitely a must stop if you're on Belmont!
(4)Ben D.
Large variety and reasonable prices, great for coffee and something sweet. Creme Brulee Tart was my favorite
(4)MG J.
I purchased 3 cakes yesterday. (All 3 totaled $107.) One gluten-free red velvet with "cream cheese" frosting. One gluten-free chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. One regular chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. The gluten-free red velvet cake with "cream cheese" frosting was both bad and ok. The red cake layers tasted like they made it 2 weeks in advance and just left them out on the counter. They were the most DRY crumbly cake layers that I've ever eaten in my entire life! Although on the other hand, even though the "cream cheese" frosting didn't taste like real cream cheese frosting - it was very light and very good. The chocolate frosting that was used on the gluten-free chocolate cake was the most heaviest, overly sugared/overly sweet frosting that I've ever had. It was gross! I don't understand HOW this happened since I explained to Susan that I wanted only very light frosting/filling and that I didn't want anything like heavy butter cream or heavily sugared frosting on any of my cakes. Hmmmmm.... Since I only tasted a piece of one of the cakes and the gluten-free chocolate frosting (off of that gluten-free cake) that I purchased I'll mostly judge Bittersweet on that. Gluten-free red velvet cake - ZERO stars - Horrible! Go elsewhere for something like this! Gluten-free chocolate frosting - ZERO stars! Loaf of bread for myself - 2 stars Decorations and the looks on the outside of all 3 cakes - 5 stars Customer Service over the phone (Susan) - 4 and 1/2 stars Customer Service in person when picking up the cakes - 2 stars I used Bittersweet in the past - about 10 years ago and I remember absolutely loving their cake! (Although it was a regular yellow cake and not a gluten-free cake.) I might give them another chance in the future if I just wanted to pick up a cup cake for only myself one day. But if I had to purchase 3 cakes ever again - I would definitely go to Swedish Bakery on Clark instead. Also, I had a gluten-free banana cupcake from Swirlz Cupcakes on Belden over the weekend and I do have to say THAT gluten-free item was absolutely delicious!
(2)Mike D.
Sometimes I have to bring breakfast to work, and I always pick up a breakfast cake here when I do. I'm not the biggest sweets fan, but everyone else seems to love it. However, what I do love about this place is their sandwiches. Their "non-sweets" menu is very limited, but they serve really good food. Very fresh bread and sandwiches that taste like your mom made them. I highly recommend.
(5)Sarah W.
We used Bittersweet Bakery for our wedding cake, and we loved it! I needed a gluten free cake, and Bittersweet has several options that are delicious - you can't even tell their cake is gluten free. We had a tasting that was really fun - we tried different combinations of cake flavors and fillings, and ultimately settled on two cakes - a small gluten free one for me and a large, regular cake for my husband and our guests. Both cakes were delicious! We requested a simple cake with just textured buttercream frosting - no fondant or anything like that. We brought some flowers to the bakery the day before the wedding, and they decorated the cake with those. It was simple, elegant and beautiful - and most important, it was exactly what we asked for. I would highly recommend Bittersweet!
(5)Sally D.
I ordered cookies from Bittersweet for a party. They were very helpful over the phone with my order and very patient even though it was close to closing time. I picked up my order and took it to my party, only to discover that the one type cookie that I specifically requested to be included (I asked for a mix) was not included. I was close by but couldn't leave to go back to the bakery. I called Bittersweet to let them know that they didn't get my order right. They brought me 6 of cookies that didn't get included in the mix. THAT IS CUSTOMER SERVICE! I will be back for all my bakery needs. The cookies were a big hit and of course I told everyone what they did and everyone was very impressed with their customer service. The cookies were very yummy! They have a huge selection. The rest of the bakery items looked amazing. I can't wait to try something else on my next visit.
(5)Kim R.
I loveeeee this place. Im a fan of choc cake and this place deserves five star. The decor is cute. The atmosphere is great. I havent try their coffee yet but def will.
(5)Gabriel C.
We have been here quite a few times. The food is delicious and the desserts are just heavenly. We even had our wedding cake from here and it was great. Judy helped us through the whole process and she and her team created a gorgeous cake. The cake was more like a faux cake but the actual cake itself for the wedding was just fantastic. Thanks you bittersweet for making the a special day even better.
(5)Mae B.
Free tasting for wedding cake!:) Nancy was friendly and approachable. Their cakes are a little expensive though. i had 2 layers for $195. I had red velvet cake with simple design. They work with Spiaggia, my wedding reception venue. Sweet!
(4)Miss A.
They have the best French macaroons. They are so soft and fresh, passion fruit is my favorite, but they are all good. Their mini lemonmerengue tarts and little pecan tarts are delicious. My husband likes the coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate. You can taste that they use quality ingredients. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Ms B.
Amazing custom birthday cake! Excellent care and communication for my very specific request, from the moment I stepped in to the shop for the first time, for the cake tasting to the extra special birthday event day!! Nancy was a dream to work with, fabulous cake and fill flavor options, and gorgeous decorating! I truly loved the cake team's visionary craftsmanship! I will certainly be using them for all of my future cake needs :)
(5)Priscila D.
Yum. Quaint spot. perfect for anytime... alone or on a date. I'm here today having tea time with my 5 year old. great time.
(5)Rebecca C.
THE best flourless chocolate cake I've ever tasted anywhere. From five continents and tasting different varieties of flourless chocolate cakes in each, Bittersweet wins hands down! As a hostess gift, a Birthday cake, a holiday dessert, or for a staged celebration of something to nothing, the flourless chocolate cake wins the prize, and has won in my family for the past 10 or so years.
(5)Racquel D.
I'm glad my sister found this place on one of her trips to Chicago. She was on a search for macaroons in Lakeview, and she hit the jackpot. The macaroons are delicious! They also have tons of dessert and coffees. Cupcakes are pretty good, too. I know they have other food there, but I haven't tried them before. I come back here when I want to take macaroons back home to Houston. The staff is also super friendly! The space itself is really cute. It's a good place to just sit and relax.
(5)Antaash U.
My friend and I needed to kill some time before heading over to the Theater Wit. When we walked in, it was dessert overload (if there is such a thing). The glass cases were filled with pastries, cookies, cupcakes galore! They happened to have a buy one red velvet cupcake, get one free deal....SCORE!!! So, that was a definite yes. But how could we go in and just get one cupcake? We chose this peanut butter chocolate piece of heaven (ok, so I'm forgetting what exactly it was), but imagine a resees peanut butter cup but a more sophisticated and refined version, and that's what we had. We also had vanilla lattes that were very good. Bittersweet has a comfy vibe that welcomes you to sit down and take a load off. If you're going to enjoy their creations in house, servers will gladly bring your order to the table and continuously check on you to make sure you're not in need of anything. Everything from the sweet treats to the service was wonderful. Now, if it was just a little closer to the West Loop...
(4)Truth I.
I had some graduation cake that was from here and it was the best cake ive had in my entire 39 years of life. It seems as red velvet.
(5)Lauren S.
I love cake more than most things in life. I never spent any time fantasizing about dresses and flowers and all that jazz as a little girl, but I did dream about my wedding cake. We went into Bittersweet with high expectations, and we were not disappointed. Working with Nancy was a wonderful experience, and the cake tasting was definitely my favorite part of wedding planning. I wanted a simple cake that would still make a statement. No ribbons, no fondant, no 4 tier sculpture, just good cake.They gave us everything we asked for. Our guests ended up loving the cake, and we were a very happy couple.
(5)Elise K.
This place is YUMMY! I bought breads, scones and cookies. The breads are very reasonably priced and fresh. I purchased a loaf of sourdough and a loaf of sandwich bread. Both I was pleased with. They offer to slice it for you, but if you can do it yourself as you go the bread stays fresher longer. I also recommend keeping it sealed and in the fridge. The scones and cookies were a little bit more expensive. I bought two of the cranberry-orange scones and was delighted by the flavors! I didn't like the cookies as much, I felt they were too salty and average. They sell beautiful cookies and cakes that look so good I'd be afraid to eat them. When it warms up, I'll certainly make the walk to get some fresh goodies!
(3)Samantha K.
I stopped in here to get a small cake for a friends birthday. They were more than happy to help me pick the perfect 6" cake! Not to mention it was AH-Mazing!!!!!! It made her day and didn't cost me an arm and a leg. I look forward to the next birthday, and I'll be ordering cupcakes!
(4)Ninihada C.
I really love their baked goods, but when we went in on a saturday morning to be seated for brunch, we were completely ignored and other people on the list took seats before we could sit. We ended up leaving and going someplace else. They should develop a better system for seating.
(3)Jeremy W.
Nice place, classy, solid customer service, good presentation. Enjoyed the reasonable priced pastries but thought the coffee I ordered could've been better. Otherwise I'd recommend a visit if you're in the area.
(4)F N.
Another nice time at Bittersweet this morning. Bittersweet was my mother in law's favorite place in Chicago and I know why...we always have a pleasant time at Bittersweet. One disappointing note today was seeing that white marble tabletops were gone.
(5)Katie H.
Bittersweet is the perfect place to eat lunch or breakfast and if my wallet or waistline could afford to go here everyday, I WOULD!! in a heartbeat. Not that it's super pricey or anything. You can usually have a delicious light meal for $20 per couple or so, including a cappuccino or hot chocolate (both of which are unparalleled in this city). What's good on the menu? Uhhh... everything. They only have a few items per day and we've taken to calling ahead to see what's on the day's menu, but I've never ordered anything bad here. My favorites so far are the tomato lemon soup, the spinach salad with blue cheese and lemon vinaigrette (it sounds so simple, but believe me it's delicious), the smoked salmon sandwich with dill and capers, and the turkey sandwich with artichokes on ciabatta. For dessert, grab a chocolate macaroon to go (soooo rich, I'm satisfied by just 1 small cookie) or, if you're feeling decadent, a raspberry chocolate ganache or lemon custard tart. Their cookies, cheesecakes and pecan rolls are also great, and good for parties where you need to serve something fancy but didn't have time to bake. Bittersweet also made our wedding cake and all my family and friends still talk about it. I've ordered smaller replicas for anniversaries and graduation parties, and will keep doing so. Chocolate mousse + dark chocolate cake + fresh raspberries = best. cake. ever. Thanks Bittersweet! We'll be back!
(5)Catherine W.
I was in Chicago for MLK weekend-oh, sub-freezing windchills, how I've missed you-and spent 50% of my time eating, or in transit to somewhere else to resume eating. All in all, an awesome time. We went to a bunch of amazing Chicago restaurants, including Portillo's (which I wish I could pack in a carry-on suitcase and take back to San Diego with me), but the most notable was Bittersweet Cafe in Lakeview. We were on our way to Theater Wit for Sketchfest and, shivering and in search of a bite, we stumbled upon this little place. Not having heard of the pastry shop before, we went in with no expectations and ended up more than pleasantly surprised. While primarily recognized for their outstanding pastries, Bittersweet's regular food was very tasty as well and served as a fantastic light dinner. (That day alone we'd eaten both a sizeable breakfast at OHOP followed immediately by a brunch of huge proportions at Bongo Room.) The Mexican hot chocolate was spicy in just the right amount, and the toasty carrot dill soup was smooth and comforting. My friend ordered a clafoutis which was deliciously moist and may very well be the New Scone in my book. My absolute favorite part: they ran out of the banana cream cupcake I'd ordered (OK, not this part), so instead, the lady gave me a Grasshopper cupcake from the next day's batch. And then she stored it for me in a makeshift cupcake holder: one of those large clear plastic drink cups with flat lids, turned upside down. Brilliant. Sprinkles better hurry up and open in SD so I can start taking my cupcakes to go.
(4)Sandy N.
Went here for a second time, so it's about time to write a review. Both times I sat down in the cafe area for food, and left satisfied. This latest time, I ordered the vegetable fritatta panini. The fritatta was super fluffy. I also had the hot chocolate over ice, soft of a fancy chocolate milk. They add cinnamon and orange to it--definitely a fan. The pastries are beautiful in presentation, but I limited myself to a chocolate covered heart-shaped red velvet cake pastry (last time I wasn't so careful--everything tasted as good as it looked). Great for breakfast or lunch if you're in the Belmont area, wonderful pastries. Recommend!
(4)Lorelei C.
So, Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! My Friends are Cooking,Taking Care of all the Big Stuff, so I am in Charge of Bringing Dessert! I Ventured in to Bittersweet Bakery/Cafe this Morning- How Nice that was! The Minute I went inside this Lovely Cafe/Bakery it was a Great Experience, Warm, Cozy and Inviting! Lovely Place, On one side they have a Cafe Area where one could sit and enjoy a Meal or a Pastry- The other side was a Small General Store type area where you could purchase Items, Loved this part of Bittersweet, It reminded me of the General Stores out in Indiana and Michigan where I have Family- They have a Lovely Glass Case full of Cakes and Pies and other decadent Items, it was really hard for me to choose so I opted for 2 Different Items for Tomorrow, a Lemon Mousse Torte and a Flourless Chocolate Cake which I was told by the Most Helpful Bittersweet Employee was To Die For! Hey, I don't think I want to go that Far, I am 49! But, I think my Friends will be pleased and thats what matters to me. The Visual Image of the Case with the Cakes, Pies,Cookies and other things I should not have was lovely- They also have various Bread Items as well, Scones, Muffins- I saw a Chocolate Croissant that I really wanted but I did not buy-Props to me! Saving for Tomorrow! Bittersweet was a Positive Experience from Start to Finish, Customer Service, could'nt be any better, Helpful, Knowledgeable Expect to spend some Money Here, Bittersweet is not Cheap! But, to me it was worth what I paid out- Lovely, Warm, Quaint Place- I would definitely go Back to Bittersweet-
(4)Maram K.
Came here for lunch since I needed to order a cake for my sister's birthday. Lunch was decent, and the service was incredibly friendly. Nothing more to really say about that. Ordered the cake and they have the largest selection of unique cakes, fillings and topping I've ever seen. I ordered a chocolate cake with creme brulee filling and a chocolate ganache topping for my sister, who is a super chocoholic. The filling was incredible and the cake was a bit dry. The uniqueness of it had me forgive the dryness for the most part. For a tiny cake, we spent a pretty penny.
(3)Elissa B.
The epitome of adorable & delicious.
(5)Majid M.
i went there yesterday to buy a couple cakes for my nieces birthday. we had around 15 kids and 7-8 adults. ended up buying 3 cakes cost me $80. cheese cake was good. peanutbutter cake was ok. third cake was custard cake that was ok as well. for the money i had better cakes in wholefood. i wouldn't buy any cake from here again. nothing special
(3)Jennifer T.
We worked with Bittersweet for our Sept 2013 wedding. The cake was divine. And so totally edible. They were great to work with, and created not only a beautiful cake, but a very tasty one as well.
(5)ButtaflyPoet P.
Hmm, well... this is an over indulgent sweets palace! The customers are not very considerate of other customers and they insist on making it a meeting spot like its a happy hour bar!! Kids, babies, snooty mommies and pish posh parents ordering for their next schmooze party! The staff seems to blend right in with this aura and practically ignore the common person with a simple yet curious sweet tooth. Walking into this place gave me an immediate anxiety attack. I could NOT believe the atmosphere, like rush hour on Magnificent Mile at lunch. Ridiculously unnecessarily chaotic!! All this for a sugar rush??? Hell no!! You are NOT important unless you are ordering cakes and/or dozens of bite size treats. Me ordering one piece of that and one piece of the other got me a glare, stare and a nasty look as if I was a waste of time. Well, I looked right back as if to say "kiss my entire a**" ...it's just as sweet as your selections. I have not stepped into this place since the second time. The first time was with an associate, the second time was to indulge the associate's child!! I was hoping the second time would make the first seem odd timing. NOT!! I proudly say Never...to stepping into this establishment again!!
(1)Elaine W.
Wow. This place is really, REALLY good! Cute and cozy inside and they have truly delicious food. I'd highly recommend trying the clafoutis. Bittersweet's rendition of this classic French pastry has now converted me from a die-hard scone fan to a clafoutis lover! Now I just need to find places closer to me that have pastries as moist and delicious as those here... The food is quite excellent -- the salads are quite tasty, and the soup is notable as well. Also the Mexican hot chocolate really is the perfect drink for a cold blustery day in the city. What really sealed the deal for me here is that they're incredibly thoughtful, which you definitely don't find everywhere -- for example, we were there until pretty late, and though they were readying the place to close down, they made sure to leave just enough chocolate cake samples by the door for us each to grab one for the road!
(4)Chad M.
great pastries obviously. excellent lunch sandwiches and soups as well. warm and friendly staff. Gets a bit crazy trying to pay at the register since its a tiny place and people are sometimes in a sugar high frenzy of cupcake purchasing... or maybe that was just me.
(4)Lucy B.
I have visited Bittersweet many times an am always very pleased with the food, atmosphere, and servers. The shop and cafe area are sunny and clean, and very sweetly decorated. There are always fresh flowers on the tables and the menu (which changes daily) displayed on a cute chalkboard on the wall. on the other end of the space is a small retail area which offers adorable gifts, particularly for kids, and there are always some samples to try (!). I particularly like their quiche and salads for a yummy, healthy lunch, and think their day-old bread is fantastic.
(5)Tracey H.
I really enjoyed my visit to BitterSweet, but the desserts where just okay and a bit pricey. For presentation, I give them 5 stars. Everything was beautifully crafted. I spent 10 minutes walking back and forth in front of the goodies trying to decide which ones to try (while drooling just a little bit). I finally settled on the mini crème brulee pastry, a lemon macaroon, an almond macaroon, a ginger shortbread cookie, and a molasses cookie. My reviews of these items are listed below: 1) Crème Brulee pastry: I told the server that I could not have any chocolate or caffeine. I had given up caffeine 4 days prior to my visit and did not want to have a relapse. She recommended the mini crème brulee pastry. Image my surprise when I discovered a thin layer of chocolate sauce separating the crème from the crust. Not good! They replaced this item with a raspberry topped pastry that was good. All 6-7 raspberries on top of it were sweet. The pastry underneath was well sweetened, but it didn't taste like anything other than a sugar paste. I'm a big fan of both sugar and butter, which is why I have well-padded hips, but I need to taste a little something extra like vanilla or almonds or something more than just sweetness. 2) Lemon Macaroon: It's was so cute I almost didn't want to eat it. It smelled as if it had been made with fresh lemons. The texture was perfect. Sadly, the lemon flavoring was very mild and easy to miss if you did not chew this dessert very, very slowly. 3) Almond Macaroon: This dessert smelled like almonds and had a crème filling sandwiched between two macaroon cookies. The texture was a bit gummy as if the cookies were not quite done. Also, the taste was high on sugar and low on almond flavoring. 4) Ginger Shortbread Cookie: I could not smell or taste the ginger in this cookie so either she brought me the wrong one or the ginger flavoring was overpowered by the sugar. If it was the latter, skip this version of the shortbread cookie unless you need to consume extra ginger for medicinal purposes. 5) Molasses Cookie: This one was actually my favorite of all of the desserts mostly because I could actually taste the molasses. This cookie was the only one that was big enough to hold with all 5 fingers unlike the other cookies which were only 2-fingers big. The texture can best be described as crun-chewy, which is the state of existence between crunchy and chewy. If this cookie had been a tiny bit sweeter, it would have been great. I would not make a special trip to Bitter Sweet, but if I were in the neighborhood and my sweet tooth flared up I would definitely stop by for another molasses cookie or two.
(3)LJ S.
I stopped in today because I was in the area and the snooty service at Bittersweet, is just that, Bittersweet. The person who handled my order was annoyed that I had questions, uh..... perhaps you need not work with people if their mundane questions seem foolish to you. The decor and trinkets are very cute, my mini creme bruele tarts were sub par; it's like they filled vanilla pudding in mini pie shells and adorned them with strawberries-----with the green foliage still attached. These folks don't have to worry about me returning, with all 5000 bakeries in Chicago, I will stick to the places that treat customers with respect and courtesy.
(2)David C.
I've used Bittersweet a few times to bring something "stand-out" as a guest at someone's home or party. The fruit tarts are always a big hit. So, if you need to make a good impression, go here. It's not cheap but it's justified. Their products are works of art. It's hard to decide what to buy when gazing at the great choices in their display case. They also have nice boxes/ribbon which helps with the presentation. The store is "cute" and I'd recommend it as an option for a guy looking for a casual date spot. But to be fair, there are often little kids typically there with Mom. So, factor that in.
(5)Ashley M.
My boyfriend and I were taking a stroll and came across Bittersweet. It was crowded, but we really wanted to try some sweets. We made our made inside and boy were we happy we didn't let the crowds lead us otherwise! My boyfriend wanted to try a few different desserts. However, our favorite was the home-made Oreo cookie! It was to die for! The cream wasn't too sweet and the chocolate cookie part wasn't too crispy, but just right. We also had a chocolate chip cookie; now I wouldn't usually get a staple at a bakery, but this cookie just tasted better than others I've had! We also got a demi baguette that was crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside. We will definately make a return trip!
(4)Ali H.
Came in here with a groupon last week and got a bunch of treats to go. I won't say that I was pleased with 100% of the stuff, but probably a solid 70%. We got a slice of a peanut butter torte, a slice of a pear torte, a little bitty lemon meringue torte, a little bitty chocolate raspberry torte, a latte, and some ice cream (raspberry choco chip I think). The slices of the tortes seemed small for the money, only a few bites, but the choco peanut butter one was delish. The pear was only ok, actually I didn't like it too much. Bland crust and overly sweet filling. The mini tortes were both yummy. The latte was super bland and overly milky. Why is it so hard for some people to make a decent espresso drink? The cutest thing ever is their ice cream containers (chinese take-out boxes with a chocolate lining). I wish they had better flavors of ice cream. Everything was pretty standard and boring. If I hadn't wanted the cute take out box I would never have ordered ice cream. Everything in their little store is adorable and priced about 30% higher than if you get it elsewhere (especially the teas and honey). I'd maybe stop here again, maybe not. For exciting and delicious desserts, Julius Meinl is a consistent win in my book, and with First Slice and Angel Food nearby, I don't think I'd go out of my way to come here.
(4)Roseann M.
My sister and I had lunch at Bittersweet today. Thanks to reviews from other Yelp'ers, I told my sister that it was possible the cafe would be packed and, if so, we would be eating somewhere else. We arrived right about 3:00pm, and there were 3 tables available. Other customers were an elderly couple, two moms and their toddlers, a single woman, and two tables of two women. A couple more tables were occupied, but they were behind me. Hey, out of sight is out of mind! It was not a loud crowd. The babies were happy and not crying or being obnoxious. We checked out the lunch menu on the chalk board, and saw that there were vegetarian items available. It took about 2 minutes before a server gave us our water, but that was okay. I ordered the soup and sandwich deal - carrot/coriander soup and grilled veggie sandwich. My sister ordered the tomato basil quiche. I stuck with water, and she had a berry lemonade, which she liked very much. The soup was delicious. It was a full-size bowl, which was surprising - I thought I'd get a cup of soup. My sister tried it, too, and she also liked it. It came with a small piece of bread. The server asked if I wanted butter, and I said no. The sandwich was very good. I had a selection for the side, and I chose the cold beet salad. It was all very good. My sister really enjoyed her quiche. While we were eating, the restaurant cleared out. By the time we were done, there were only two other tables occupied. That was why I was surprised it took us a little while to get the check. We were really full, and did not order any dessert. This, despite sitting next to the "day-old items", which looked pretty darn good. All in all, it was a good experience. It encouraged me to go again. It didn't blow me away; I did not have a food orgasm, but we enjoyed. As long as the place isn't crowded, I'd encourage people to come. I definitely wouldn't stand in line for a meal there, though. But I don't believe in standing in lines anyway. The last time I stood in line was for Star Wars, and that was a transcendent experience.
(3)Jill P.
NO! NO!! NO!!! Bittersweet Bakery did our wedding cake in 1993. What a fantastic find back then. A small storefront business churning out some of the best Special O. cakes in Chicago. To the owner(s): Why oh why didn't you stick to your orignal concept??? Fast forward... I ordered an Italian Almond cake for my husband's birthday. Bittersweet stated they didn't know what I was talking about. In fact, the woman said, they had to Google my request but came up empty. You had to what my request??? We eventually settled on an almond coffee cake (I asked for marzipan and was informed they only use almond paste. Okay fine.) baked as a one layer cake. No icing. Only powdered sugar and candied slivered almonds pressed onto the outside. What we ended up with was a round incredibly inedible mixture of flour and something. The almonds were stale and on top, the cake was as dry as the desert and had not one ounce of almond paste. Absolutely horrible. While walking over to pick up the cake we decided to have a bite to eat. Forget about it. My brioche was dry and Mr. Man's potato cheddar quiche should have been called a potato and burnt crust pizza. Yeech. Oh and could the staff have been any LESS welcoming??? What the *%$# is up with your collective attitude??? The worst part of my saga, it was apparent the customers who had been seated at an adjacent table had spilled water, food, whatever. Water was everywhere, the tabletop full of crumbs and old food. Wouldn't ya' think that mess might have been swiftly removed as 1. It was a slip hazard and 2. The area looked plain filthy? Bittersweet is a text book example of "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Ditch the cafe concept and stick to coffee, tea, and sweets. Ditch the waitstaff/cashiers pronto or, send them to charm school. Reconfigure your mess of a floor plan. I can help you. I can really really help you. Really! You are in dire need of a major makeover. Call me. Gordon Ramsey.
(1)Mike H.
I can only speak to my birthday red velvet cupcakes that my lovely and dear friend Maureen got me from here. I am a baker, and I am picky about anything red velvet because it is a cake I do from scratch and do very well. Bittersweet does a damn good red velvet cupcake, and thereby they get a review for those alone. Great ending to a great birthday. Thanks Bittersweet!
(4)Donna B.
I Love this little place!!!! I went back for breakfast two weeks in a row while visiting Chicago just for the chocolate croissants and scones! It reminds me of the simple breakfasts we had in France. We also tried the French macaroons which were good but not like the ones at Vanille Patisserie down the street. Their sweet treats and cakes looked good and smelled heavenly!
(3)Ngoc T.
If you want a place that takes you back to Paris, come here. Atmosphere was very European, classy and elegant. Pastries truly have reputations and everything in there is VERY well made, crafted, designed and cared for. I'm a poor college student, so I only ordered 3 lemon bars. But it was the best lemon bars I have ever tried in my life. And that's just lemon bars! What about the rest of the pastry shop??? I have to admit. It is pricey. But considering it is located in Lakeview, and just how classy and elegant this place is, it is not surprising. But I'm a college student, so I'm sure you can figure something out to afford 3 lemon bars :)
(5)Pam N.
Worst macarons ever. My man brought me some. I had to dump him! Thanks, Bittersweet-- thanks a fucking lot.
(1)Collin M.
Absolutely incredible desserts. Whether it's cookies, cupcakes, or dessert cakes, Bittersweet does a phenomenal job. It's a nice spot to have a quick bite and a coffee for lunch too. They have good sandwiches and salads. The service is very friendly as well.
(5)S. S.
I came in today to use my Groupon. Yes it's the last day and yes I shouldn't have waited but the staff were not very friendly and never once smiled. The pastries are nicely decorated but they tasted OK, (ie: chocolate macaroons were dry not as moist as I've had at other places). Also they seemed stressed out. I felt bad for a couple customers who were dining in, they had to wait in line and grab a ticket just to get their checks! I don't think it's worth the trek or to buy another groupon from here unless you live within walking distance of the place and want a place to pick up a few pastries. Overall it was ok but I think there are a lot better cafes/pastry shops in the Chicago.
(2)Laura K.
Bittersweet is not at all bitter and very sweet! I had the half sandwich/soup deal combo for dinner last night. The celery soup was hearty and the turkey/havarti/carmelized onion sandwich was bursting with flavor. I had the red velvet cupcake for dessert and got a 2-for-1 deal - sweet! My husband had the raspberry chocolate chip ice cream, and it was just wonderful. And its such a lovely little shop that reminds me of Europe.
(5)Hallie L.
Happened upon this place while wandering around Lakeview with a friend after a late lunch. We were searching for dessert, and oh boy, we found it! The place is perfectly charming, classy but unpretentious, just as a bakery/cafe should be. I loved checking out the section of the cafe where there's chocolate, mugs, stationary, random things for sale. Very cute. I found some French lollipops, which made me squeal with delight. My friend and I both got kid-sized ice creams (only $1.50!). When we both asked for cups, the woman showed us the 'cup' and said, "It's lined with chocolate on the inside. Is that alright?" Was that alright?! More squeals of delight. The cup, by the way, was a Chinese take out carton. ADORABLE. After I finished the ice cream, I feverishly scraped at the sides of the carton, chipping away at the chocolate. They have some lovely flavours of both ice cream and sorbet. I had the coconut while my friend had something with star anise in it? There was also strawberry rhubarb. After we had our ice creams, we browsed around the pastry section for a little while. MACARONS!?! Third squeal of delight. Having tasted Pierre Herme macarons (the Holy Grail of macarons, IMHO) in London a few months ago, I've been dying to find macarons in the US that would match the Parisian ones in taste and quality. It's been a no-go so far, even in Manhattan. So the quest continues. I asked for one of each flavour (almond, chocolate, raspberry, and lemon). Each one cost around $1.50, I believe? The almond and chocolate ones were priced by weight, which was weird, but I believe they came out to a similar price. So far, so good - much cheaper than the ones in NYC, which weren't fabulous enough to warrant the $2.50 price tag anyways. Of the four flavours that I tried, I'd say I enjoyed the lemon and the chocolate the most. The raspberry got a little bit crushed during my commute on the CTA (tears!). I really, really liked the fresh taste of the lemon. The almond macaron I had was a bit stale and mediocre. My general thoughts? Pretty decent for the price! All in all, I thought this was a lovely bakery. There were cupcake samples at the door, and they were delicious! I'm looking forward to revisiting and trying more baked delights!
(4)Amanda S.
tarts, cakes, loaves, cookies, and enough goodies to keep both kiddies and adults satiated. i've gotten every kind of milestone cake from bittersweet:: the graduation cake, the religious-occasion celebration cake, countless birthday cakes, and who knows, maybe one day..a wedding cake. nothing is ever too sweet and the cakes are fluffy and hold up days after your event. the staff is professional and the shop is utterly adorable. the tablespace in the cafe can get a little crowded and noisy, and it's a little annoying when tons of kids are moving about as it's a fairly small space, but the free samples and novelty gifts keep your mind off that while you wait to be helped or for your finished product to emerge from the kitchen. if you're looking for a cake that's sure to please (almost) everyone at your celebration, i promise you can't go wrong with bittersweet.
(4)Alison S.
Great selection of desserts and gifts! Nice mix of European pastries (macarons, croissants) and sugary American classics (frosted cookies, chocolate cupcakes, Rice Krispie treats). Great place to pick up something to bring to the office or a party. Delicious coffee as well.
(4)Amy L.
Please note this review is based only on my to-go selections..maybe I just had bad luck..but onto the review: First off, DO NOT buy their boxed cookies. I picked up a box to give as a gift, because it was already wrapped prettily and looked amazing. I asked the girl behind the counter if they were boxed that same day- she told me no (thank you for the honesty), but she also said that they are boxed earlier but are just as fresh as the cookies behind the counter. Oh man, was she wrong. When I got to my destination and my friend opened it to try it (she's like me and can't see sweets without eating them) she had it and I tried one-and they were ROCK HARD-mind you this cookie was a macaron, so it should have a crispy shell and then be chewy and delicious. Nope. Hard all the way through until you reached the filling, which was sweet (duh). and then the other half was rock solid too. Let me say, it's a good thing this is a particularly close friend of mine, otherwise I'd be pretty freaking embarrassed for having given this box of duds. I do want to note that their samples by the door were amazing! The lemon square and the mini cupcake-thing were both very soft and luscious-exactly what I was expecting from the rest of their goods. Sadly that was not the case. I assume that's what is generally the case (otherwise it would not have such great reviews) but I don't plan on risking it again to find out.
(2)Jennifer H.
We got our wedding cake here, and it was very beautiful, tasty, and all around a hit at our wedding. The tasting was nice and flexible, we left full of cake and they even gave us some soup to round out our "dinner"... they were very flexible with our changing numbers, and delivered the cake on time. It was on beautiful display when I arrived at the venue, and it tasted great! We picked out hazelnut cake with vanilla creme brulee filling and fresh strawberries--everyone loved it! The only bummer was in the hustle my cake topper was forgotten, but it didn't ruin my day or my happy tastebuds.
(5)Lindsay A.
As far as pastries go, this place is pretty decent! However, the atmosphere almost always is enough to make me steer clear. I know part of what makes lakeview so lovely is that is a family neighborhood but really moms? Do you HAVE to bring those obnoxious strollers and 3 year old EVERYWHERE? Because of the lack of space at this bakery, the sit down area for eating is cramped and often overcrowded with annoying kids who's moms would rather sit tea with their gal pals then discipline the kids that are running past your table and bumping your plates. I guess that's not bittersweet's fault though is it? Overall: food grade- A Atmosphere C-
(3)Erika G.
I wish I liked sweets more, this would definitely be Nirvana. What it is, is a cute, charming European style cafe. The salads looked delicious and HUGE - would definitely be worth going back for that. The desserts . . . works of art. What was weird, was the servers were sort of tentative, awkward and shy. Esp. about putting plates on small, overloaded tables. Seems if they're going to work in a place like this, they should be facile with this sort of thing.
(4)Dallas F.
Yesterday I attempted to have lunch at Bittersweet, but they were super busy. There was no way to make a distinction between customers who wanted to sit at a table to dine and customers who were there to order pastries. While waiting for someone to help us we nibbled on a few of the samples offered on a table. Whatever these little one bite treats were, they were amazing! We were finally told there would be a significant wait to sit and eat so we opted to head somewhere else. When walking back I really started craving more sweets since I had the tiniest of nibbles before. I stopped back in and ordered a few things. I ordered the cupcake of the day which was Caramel Apple, few apricot linzer cookies, a Halloween sugar cookie, and two of "yesterdays cupcake" which I don't remember what the name of it was, but I do know it had a gummy worm sticking out of the middle. The Caramel Apple cupcake, the actual cake part, was very good and had baked apples in the center.The frosting however was disgusting. The consistency was weird, almost butter but almost light like whipped cream and it had absolutely no flavor and possibly no sugar. That made me sad . The apricot linzer was A-Ok, but Ive had better. The "yesterday's cupcake", which were two for the price of one, were probably the best but I only had a sampling (but I did steal the gummy worms from both of them before giving them to my friends, so they had a cupcake with a hole in the middle). They were dark chocolate with a chocolate frosting and some dark chocolate shavings on top. Super decadent and sugar was definitely in that frosting. After tasting a very small bite, I went into sugar overdrive. I did not have the Halloween sugar cookies so I cant comment on the taste but they were well decorated. So overall, it was not bad and not too expensive. I just wish my Caramel Apple cupcake came through with the caramel part in the frosting.
(3)Rinko E.
We ordered our awesome wedding cake from Bittersweet. Ms. Sue Anne was super professional and reliable. (The cake looked awesome and tasted awesome) I love their little tarts- my favorite was Espresso. I sometimes have a light lunch here too. Their soup, sandwiches, and coffee are all awesomely European (I have never been to Europe so I am just using my imagination). When I am at Bittersweet, I think time goes by so slowly and nicely. An ultimate neighborhood gem. I hope they will stay in business for a long time. :)
(5)Anna G.
This little bakery is so cute! All the stuff looks delicious! I tried the pink princess cupcakes which were not that great! However, I did love the salted caramel macaroons and lemon bars! I will be back!
(4)Emily W.
15 of my guilty pleasures can be found at Bittersweet. 1. Mini pecan pie 2. Chocolate covered strawberries (thick coat of chocolate too) 3. Caramel dipped in chocolate on a stick 4. Cute selection of toys and little knick knacks (I got a mini donut eraser!) 5. Ceramic Painted Cupcakes (bought one to put my rings in!) 6. ADORABLE greeting cards (got one that say Hey there cupcake and one that said Hello with a little sketch of a cupcake) 7. Birthday candles (all different types, including those little ballerina ones that were always on my birthday cakes as a kid) 8. Baby t shirts 9. Harney & Sons tea tins 10. Lollipops 11. Stationery 12. Free samples near the door 13. Mexican coca cola 14. Perrier 15. Baking cookbooks 16. Vanilla ice cream Love this place. Just love it!! All you people with a sweet tooth need to get off the computer and go here now! And then come back here again next time with your family when they come to visit. You'll spend about 20 minutes picking out a treat because they all look delicious. Their gifts and goody selection is just adorable too. There's trinkets, toys, cooking supplies, cookbooks, stationery, books, games, mugs, tea, ETC. I want to go stand outside and be first in line when they open tomorrow!
(5)Triana O.
I love Bittersweet not only for their tasty treats, but I really enjoy the "french bistro" vibe inside. I love that you can sit in the cute little cafe area and have a server bring your tea and sweets. They have a tempting array of goodies, and I also love that they have a small area of adorable little stationary and various cute little items to browse besides the sweets. I agree with some reviewers that the employees are hit or miss at times... somedays I get one that's nice as pie, other days they are a bit blah. But it has never spoiled my visit so far. I really like bringing friends from out of town here to chill out and have some tea and sweets before a day of sightseeing/shopping. I'm a big fan of cupcakes but I like that Bittersweet has those plus so much more to try. The parking is somewhat sparse but I usually find a spot nearby with no problem, depending what time of day I go there. All in all a definite winner for me.
(5)Carolynne M.
Oh...Bittersweet...what a completely appropriate name to describe my experience at my cake tasting. I was convinced - CONVINCED that this was the place that was going to be making my wedding cake. No ifs, ands, or buts, I had always had stellar service and the most delicious offerings from them in the past...why should I think otherwise? But at the tasting we were presented with quite possibly the most vile and horrific buttercream I have ever had the misfortune to put in my mouth. It was so bad my maid of honor and I were giving each other looks and whispering "do you think it was a mistake? did someone forget the sugar?" Had I been given a scoop of straight Crisco I dont think I could have told you the difference between the two. Cake flavours and fillings were good...but those were all masked by the tragedy that was the frosting. I cant serve this to my guests! Plus the quote for the cake design was the highest - by far - of any other bakery, which made me sad. Oh Bittersweet, so disappointed! (sad face here)
(2)Shianne P.
Bittersweet made the most amazingly delicious wedding cake for us! It was three layers of banana cake with vanilla creme brulee filling and fresh strawberries. As someone who doesn't always like cake, this was one I was looking forward to for months - I think I bragged about it to anyone who would listen after our tasting - and I'm sad I didn't get to eat more on the day. Now I have to wait a whole year to eat the topper! In regards to the process, Bittersweet was wonderful to work with. We actually had this tasting immediately after our other option (not totally recommended...that's a lot of sugar), which was Amy Beck Cakes. Amy Beck was sweet, but the flavour combination we came upon at Bittersweet decided it for us. Our coordinator at Bittersweet was Amy C., who took the time to talk through design options and sketch out a cake that we would not have thought to consider otherwise. This was awesome, because we really felt like we were getting a unique cake, just for us. She only laughed a little when we gave her our Lego people topper; her emails and calls were always quick and on time; and, best of all, she worked out a great solution to get the cake we wanted within our price range.
(5)Jenni B.
This place is cute and quaint if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth or pop in for a nice sandwich for lunch and such. it is a typical cafe/booked goods/ cake store. It has everything you want in a pastry shop. i've had their samples by the door which are good. The only thing ive gotten there was their ice cream which is 1.50 for a kids scoop. They have only like 6 flavors, and the ice cream sometimes tastes like refrigeration, so eh. Go here though just to try it, its nice.
(3)Patrick L.
Everything I've ever eaten at Bittersweet - quiche, creme brulee custard, mushroom soup, even a just ham sandwich - has been heavenly. They have a huge selection of pastries, all of which look amazing. The prices are really reasonable for what you get, too. You won't be disappointed; this is one of the best bakeries I've ever been to!
(4)Anahit G.
Simply put, one of my favorite cafes in Chicago. The macaroons are absolutely decadent, and they brew a great cup of coffee. I live their mini store, as well.
(5)Emann B.
I've enjoyed Bittersweet ever since it opened, and have great memories of heartfelt special occasions that always included a Bittersweet cake. My "old reliable" is almond cake with creme brulee filling, fresh berries, and vanilla buttercream. A mocha filled cake with milk chocolate buttercream is a very close second.
(4)Vivian S.
Bittersweet did our wedding cake through its relationship with the W Hotel on Lakeshore. Many of our guests gave us compliments on the cake! They all seemed surprised that wedding cake could taste THAT good. From the tastings to design to delivery, it all went really smoothly. They were even able to execute on our "skyline" design perfectly. They were very accommodating, and they seemed to take all of our input to heart.
(4)