the system of ordering and getting a number and waiting for your food at a table did not seem to work well on the day i was here. all i wanted was a toasted bagel and i had to go sit somewhere and wait for it. i asked for no creme cheese and it came with it (luckily not on the bagel, but i hate to waste food). bagel was about as boring as a frozen grocery store one, barely toasted. coffee was ok. place was busy, so a lot of people must like bad food or like me have never been in to a corner bakery cafe. probably last time i will ever go to one.
(2)
Emily H.
Easy breakfast option, and Corner Bakery Cafes seem to be more plentiful than cabs or street musicians in Chicago. If you need one, you're never more than a block or two away. It seems like every time I'm in Chicago, I stop by one on my last morning in town. And while their meals aren't really anything too special, they're better than fast food. But almost just as quick.
(4)
Jim L.
Location, location, location the real estate advisors say. Corner bakery has that, right across the street from the wharf where the Chicago Architecture Foundation run their excellent boat tours. Having done the early tour, we thought we'd grab a late breakfast. Bad idea. Everything was lukewarm and bland. Next time we'll walk a few more minutes to find a better place.
(1)
Angel W.
This place was better than we thought it would be! We just stopped in for a quick bite thinking it would be like take it and go type of place. We ordered and were given a number to put on our table the our food was brought to us. Everyone loved their breakfast! I ordered the oatmeal and it was delicious! The manager was helpful and brought us other things after he dropped off our breakfast. He got me milk for my oatmeal and utensils for my friend. Above and beyond. I recommend this place for a quick, but delicious breakfast!
(5)
Chad M.
Let's start with the high points. I love that you get to order at the counter like a (Panera bread) but they bring the food to your table once it is ready and they are quick about it. We only waited 5 minutes for our food to be delivered. The staff was super friendly and really made it a point to help us out. Roby was our server and was very attentive and Rocio was our cashier and she didn't make us feel rushed and went out of her way to satisfy us. One bad point is everything except for one thing that we ordered was not available. It was in the building but the prep line must have been slow because they had no ice coffee or Swiss oatmeal ready for us. But again, the staff gave us subs and and made sure we were happy with what we received as the sub. I would recommend this to people who want quality food for the price you pay and fast wonderful service.
(4)
Eileen S.
I definitely didn't love this....got scrambled something and it came with a side of inedible home fries. Was looking forward to a nice breakfast so little disappointed. #shouldvegonetostarbucks
(1)
Sheryle I.
In need of some breakfast grub and a study spot, the corner bakery seemed like an appropriate solution. Saturday morning in the summer, the place was decently busy as one would assume. The service was quick and friendly. The ambience was sufficient for studying. Also, this place is pretty much on the corner of Michigan and Wacker. That's where all the "pros" end. The Anaheim scrambled eggs where mediocre at best. The toast was toasted (probably 5 days ago) and the avocado on top was somehow plastic-like. That's all I really have to say about that.
(2)
Emily M.
After agreeing that a wait at Wildberry just wasn't worth it, our group set out for something easy & quick instead. We landed here, snagged a table immediately and didn't have to wait long after ordering for our food. Decent place for grab & go food when everyone in the group is on the verge of a "hangry" attitude but otherwise wouldn't really be a place we'd set out to eat at.
(4)
Kathleen K.
So yummy! Love coming here each time I'm in town. I've tried many things on the menu and haven't been disappointed yet! The cinnamon coffee is to die for!! This location is the best in the city. Always clean, fast no matter how busy it is, and the staff is always friendly.
(4)
Troy H.
Corner Bakery Cafe, You are what Panera and Au bon Pain wish they could be. Why can't you branch out and broaden your horizons to say, the upstate NY area? I was in chicago on business and came here two mornings in a row and ordered the Anaheim scramble both times. So good, so filling, but not heavy. All the staff that work here are super friendly, there's no pretense, service was great. Will definitely frequent CBC whenever I'm traveling to a city that has one.
(5)
Beth W.
Disappointing overall. The food was lukewarm at best and quite bland. The service was okay but that did not make up for cold scrambled eggs and bacon. The view outside is very nice. We wi find another spot for breakfast next time we are in town.
(2)
Jenna C.
Somehow, I've never been here for breakfast even though it's near my office. I guess I'm more of a sleep-in-as-long-as-possible-grab-my-own-coffee-Âand-granola-bar-to-go kinda gal. But I have definitely been to this Corner Bakery many a times for lunch. If you're not doing their combo lunch special, you're probably not doing it right. Their cafe sized salad is quite literally almost as big as the full sized, so why wouldn't you add a cup of soup, half a sandwich, or pasta for basically the same price? So silly! I usually have to force myself to order something other than the tasty chopped salad and lemon orzo soup when I go, just to branch out and try more of their menu. Pro tip: if you don't prefer a lot of dressing on your salad, ask for it on the side. In addition, I must say, when I get up to the counter and see that display case full of sweets? It gets me every time! I have to satisfy my inner fat kid with an added baked good to my order. Their chocolate whoopie pie filled with buttercream does the trick. Pass on the maple pecan bar - it's not great, and also hard to eat. But the hand pies...you're next on my list! I'm comin for ya!
(4)
Susan S.
Convenient to Michigan avenue and the river tours. Good prices. The hot chocolate is great. Bathrooms are clean . Great place for a snack while touring .
(4)
Ken E.
Soggy over salted mush potatoes. Yelp wants me to make my review longer. The bacon was under cooked and the eggs were good.
(2)
Katie M.
I want to give this place four stars I really do but they have incorrectly made my breakfast food order (which doesn't change) too many times. It's even more of a headache to get a refund as I'm sitting there in my office just opened the container to my breakfast to find it was done incorrectly again and I can't make it over there (a mile away) to have it remade or refunded as I am in meetings all day and they won't assist me if its not corrected the same day before their manager leaves. I leave this review in hopes they coach their staff to correctly input the food order and read the printouts before making their dishes as their sister locations on Adams & Franklin rarely get my orders wrong. Thanks.
(3)
Ammu K.
On our way out of town, my friend and I popped in for a quick coffee after being recommended to hop in by another colleague. Coming in, it reminded me a bit of a Panera Bread spot. All I got was an iced coffee, which was fine. All in all, when strapped for time, it's an okay place to check out. I saw several locations around the city, so as far as chains go, it was fine.
(3)
David F.
This place was awesome, clean, quick, coffee was tremendous and food even better. We had breakfast panini and an Anaheim scrambled really good!
(5)
Eric S.
I'm a big Corner Bakery fan! Eat here often when in Chicago, DC, and Atlanta. Always get the Anaheim Scrambler. Last two visits to this Chicago location has been disappointing. Keeps getting smaller and smaller, and one tiny piece of avocado on top. Please tell the owners to raise the price a buck or two, and bring back the avacodo and portion size!!
(3)
Kevin C.
I had heard good things about the place during my short stay in the area and decided to drop in for breakfast while avoiding yet another bad hotel meal. I had the All American Scramble with potatoes. While a hearty serving, there were a variety of issues. The scrambled eggs were over cooked, bland and lukewarm at best. The three strips of bacon while suitably crispy were cold (not even lukewarm). The potatoes/home fries were soggy with not a crunchy surface to be found. They were also over salted and again cold. The toast while on tasty bread was not so much toasted as sat out on the counter for an hour or two. Not sure it was supposed to be toast or not to be honest. The service was good. Quick and polite. The atmosphere pleasant. Overall a disappointing breakfast
(1)
Kevin W.
My wife and I just stopped in for a little shopping break. We shared a bowl of tomato basil soup which was delicious and had a couple of bakery items. It was quiet and comfortable and in a great location!
(4)
Kory H.
Terrible service. Asked for a large iced coffee- they charged me for and gave me a thimble size. Barista was rude- literally SHOUTED drinks at people. Yes, it was the morning rush. Yes they were busy. I understand that. Mistakes happen. But, I repeated the size twice. I was polite. I expect reciprocity.
(1)
Greg H.
I've been in Chicago for three days, attending a conference at the Hyatt Regency. Hotel's nice (rooms are a bit dated), but the food is overpriced and very bland. Have walked a block every morning and at lunchtime to Corner Bakery. Good coffee, tasty food, reasonable prices....and a friendly attentive staff. Bustling, but I never waited for a table. Centrally located for the out-of-town visitor....at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, along the Chicago River.
(5)
Nina P.
I was so happy to find this cute little breakfast spot just a block away from my hotel when I was in Chicago for a conference. I ordered the Avocado & Spinach Power Panini Thin, which was smaller than I expected from the menu photo. Fortunately, the little sandwich satisfied my hunger for a good price.
(3)
Jackson A.
This place was great. You could tell they use fresh ingredients and most of which is healthy for you. I would come back.
(4)
Dan F.
I had a bad Americano and one sad excuse for a smoothie. I threw both out 1/4 of the way through. Sorry, ice and red gelatinous goo does not come close to what I'm looking for if ever not ordering savory in the morning. This place felt like it was trying to cover up that it's just like Au Bon Pain or Panera, though it looked like in a pinch you might do alright with some of their more substantive and cheaply priced menu items. They have multiple locations around downtown Chicago so there must be something redeeming about this place! Really slow service for it being after the morning rush and next time I'm in Chicago I'd happily wake up early, which says a lot, to walk 10 minutes out of the way for a better spot.
(2)
Sany N.
solid 3 stars: 4 Stars because my meal is what is expected from Corner Bakery Cafe.. I got the Panini Combo for $7.99. I choose a green side salad and chicken panini. The salad and panini tasted great. The salad was a bit over drenched with dressing but it was fine. For the price, i think it was quite reasonable. 2 Stars because I witnessed two customer complaints within the 45 minutes I was there.. One customer walked back to the kitchen to complain about how cold his soup was. They told him, they would bring it out to him, but he insisted he would wait until they made him a new one.. There was a lil rush, and rather then attending to him immediately, they had him wait till they finished the food in front of them.. the next customer complained about how their mac and cheese was cold, and the back staff just microwaved their plate. SMH!!! They should of whipped up a new one.. the female was in the person in between the kitchen and setting up the food to be brought out, she provided great service, however I was disappointed with the kitchen staff. I witnessed them joking around, laughing, and worse.. staring me down.
(3)
Danielle M.
I had gotten coffee here before but never sat down and ate. What a great experience! They have a great selection, and I ordered the chopped salad. The wait was a little long but they gave me a free coffee and I was happy:-)
(5)
Aaron H.
We came by here one morning on our way to the Chicago architectural boat tour. I had the Baked French Toast and an apple pie to go. My wife ordered the Anaheim Scrambler. My dish reminded me of the bread pudding from my youth in Aruba. It actually had the exact same texture and nearly identical flavor (if only Corner Bakery considered re-naming it "Aruban Bread Pudding"). This made me very nostalgic and happy to take on the rest of my day. My wife's eggs had great taste, but the dish as a whole was a little too much for her (I had to help her finish). The main caveats in coming here were the horrible wi-fi connection (they were under construction nearby, so that may have contributed to the poor signal) and the rather slow service. We sat and waited for nearly 20 minutes before our food came out, and it wasn't that busy. But hey, I can't say that it wasn't worth the wait.
(4)
N P.
Awsome. Get the Anaheim scrambler. I will get this every time I come to Chicago. 10 bucks with coffee.
(5)
Terry L.
I was craving some breakfast and have wanted to try this chain for awhile now. My first impression of this location is that it was very spacious and nicely decorated (warm). It was not busy at all and my food came out rather quickly. I had the Vanilla French Toast with eggs and bacon. The eggs and bacon were average but the french toast was fantastic, I'm going to go out on a limb and say this was the best french toast I ever had with the flavors involved. I also ordered a slice of lemon cake and cinnamon cake, I must say I did not like there cakes as visually they look appealing and soft but the cakes are actually pretty hard (not my style - maybe it's there recipe). Overall the food was just average.
(3)
Sonya A.
Don't want to wait in line at other brunch places? This place is a quick bite. You order at the counter and they bring your food out to you. We had breakfast paninis that were overly greasy, but at least my chai was pretty good. O well, it got the job done I suppose. "Meh. I've experienced better." is exactly right. Food: 1/5 Service: 4/5 Location: 5/5 - Outdoor seating is lovely.
(2)
Margaret D.
We got two American scrambled egg breakfast platters. My husband wanted oatmeal, but they were out. They gave us rye bread instead of wheat, and sausage patties instead of bacon; and the sausage patties were rock-hard. So why 3 stars? When we took the stuff back, the woman who brought it out was already remaking them completely. She said as soon as she put it down she could tell it was no bueno, so she went ahead and started redoing them. The eggs tasted more like egg beaters than real eggs. It wasn't my favorite meal ever, but I appreciated the woman remaking them and it was so filling I did not eat again until mid-evening.
(3)
Shradha A.
Really slow service so don't go in a hurry! Their parfait was fresh, and low-fat, with no syrups added. Their breakfast scrambles looked pretty good but I didn't have the time..!
(3)
John M.
We are visiting from Phoenix AZ and have spent the whole day walking around down town Chicago the group of us wanted desert, so we searched bakeries and this place came up as the closest. so we walk several blocks out of our way to get to them, but let me tell you they are not a bakery. Well not what i would call a bakery. they had a small case of about 10 deserts THAT's IT we choose 4 items. the snicker doodle was raw and flavorless, the fudge brownie had a bad taste and was not even sweet. the staff was unfriendly and seemed bother by our presents. dont waste your time on this one. Name doesn't represent what they are.
(1)
Alexandria T.
My boyfriend and I were looking for a place to have a quick breakfast that wasn't super packed. We went up to the counter and ordered, were given a number, and made our way to a table. The food came out pretty quickly. I ordered an Anaheim panini without bacon and a side of breakfast potatoes. The food itself was ok, but it came out barely room temperature. I know that it's fairly large place, so maybe they were wandering around looking for our number, but it made the food quality very low in my opinion.
(3)
Ryan B.
Great place for breakfast or a snack. They have healthy and tasty options. The cashiers get through the line quick. The staff brings your food to the table fast. The staff cleaning the tables is very courteous.
(4)
Tom B.
Visited from out of town and needed some good breakfast after a guys night out. I got the commuter's croissant with some black coffee, which was a divine and heavy brew, and seriously got my money's worth. Very efficient design inside where you order, take a number, then relax on the street and people view while your food is cooked up. And yes I do recommend eating outside because it is a great view. As for the food, it's just the pick me up needed. The potatoes were phenomenal as well. One of the best things, however, is the affordability. You get above average breakfast food for below average prices.
(4)
Tiffany L.
Easy and reliable place to grab a quick bite. I've had their grain bagel which was standard. Their cream cheese is light and fluffy. I also tried their Sante fe salad which was a decent size and flavorful. The chocolate bundt is extremely rich, be prepared to consume with tea or coffee. Overall food is food enough to return but nothing too exciting.
(3)
Amalia C.
I visited this place while on vacation in Chicago and ended up coming back! Good food (I had the Americano which was delicious and brought me back, I had the panini the second time which was average but still filled me up), excellent coffee and a relaxed ambience - I didn't feel rushed at all. The staff were attentive and polite, a great place to begin your day!
(4)
Eric M.
Place was ok. Good place to go for a small appetite for breakfast. Didn't have much more there so I can't comment on anything else.
(3)
Monika P.
This location is hit or miss. Not sure if the quality has gone down corporate-wide or it's just this particular spot, but I am typically disappointed with what I order. For instance, other locations serve the trio in separate small containers, but here they just throw everything into one box so the three different salad options spill all over each other. I also had to throw out the chili because it was too dense and salty. The tortilla soup, which is usually my favorite, also doesn't taste the same here. It's all mushed together. That may be a personal preference, but it just wasn't very appetizing.
(2)
Mike P.
Corner Bakery is among the favorites of the Fast Casual places out there....have been going to them for many years. This was my stop for dinner tonight (a Sunday evening) as I stopped downtown to check out something they were filming literally across the street along the river. Other places were closed in the area so this was my spot (without going to the more expensive sit down restaurants) and am glad I did go here. Generally speaking, their food is decent and tonight was no exception. I was pleasantly surprised to learn they have clam chowder soup on a regular basis so I got that along with a panini....thought I had got the half sandwich and soup but they made a full sandwich for me.....bonus! Sure it took a bit for them to make and bring out to me but it was nice and hot and fresh....tad bit on the pricey side too...but oh well considering where it is, I don't mind paying a little extra for it.
(4)
Steve A.
Horrible service. Ordered a cup of soup. Waited 10 min. Had to say something twice to get it
(1)
Dan S.
Oh, Corner Bakery! What happened to you? I used to love this place, but oy, what a mess. Service for lunch took FOREVER and the salad was so drenched in dressing as to render it barely edible. Air conditioning on the fritz, slow ordering, missed orders. Shall I go on? Corner Bakery, if you're listening, you used to be so much better than this. Get going.
(1)
Michael T.
Renalto, at this Corner Bakery makes the difference from the rest. Attentive, gets the orders right, He is the Manager and "B.G.S." love their thick sliced Apple wood Bacon. Need I say more!
(4)
Theresa V.
I'm a regular at corner bakery cafe. I love it. My favorites: For breakfast: the Anaheim scrambler. Lunch: uptown turkey. Their soaps are delish too!
(5)
Kailey S.
As usual, I only write about huge chains if I am truly unhappy with my experience. I love corner bakery back home in CA. This one was horrible. Both my mom and I got salads. The lettuce was so wilted and old. They even put some brown pieces in mine. They thought I wouldn't notice if they drenched it in Caesar dressing. I did notice. They even loaded the vinaigrette onto my mom's salad to cover up the fact that the lettuce sucked.
(1)
Lars F.
A lot of mixed reviews. I was hear really early on Sunday morning and it was peaceful and quiet. I ordered the thin panini breakfast with smoked bacon and a side of steel cut oatmeal and a coffee. All of it was great. The thin panini was almost too tiny to hold, but it was good. Came with a side of salsa.
(4)
Ali C.
An okay lunch and salad place - nothing out of the ordinary.
(3)
Matt S.
Sells overpriced stale old pastries. How lazy can you be to have bakery in your name and sell stale pastries.
(1)
Donna C.
I like the offerings of this chain restaurant, especially the cinnamon coffee cake and the bacon egg panini. BUT HEED MY WORD, visit another location because this one is begging to star in an episode of Undercover Boss. First of all, the people inside behind the counter were disorganized and not the friendliest. The outside patio was FILTHY, simply FILTHY. Pigeon droppings on the table, at least 6 pigeons walking around pecking at crumbs and they attacked our table when my husband went inside the building. Then we saw them attack another table where a young boy was sitting. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. When they do wipe down the tables, it is done with Lord know how clean it is cloth and considering pigeons are all over the tables, I'm guessing it's not the cleanest, in fact, I know it isn't. One of the two garbage cans was not even accessible, just left without a bag and the top propped open. The staff wander aimlessly with plates of what should be hot food, looking for the number, which in fairness, some people display visibly on their table. Words cannot express my disgust at this location. That manager needs to go and one who gives a sh** needs to be hired. From there, they need staff training, it if do not like to smile and EARN your paycheck, move over for someone who does. I only saw 2 people who even bothered to show a little life in their attitude. Hot water, bleach and a hose needs to be utilized on the patio and the bathroom, almost forgot about that. YUCK!!! Clean it for pity sakes, the corners are FILTHY. Be afraid, be very afraid of this location. There are other locations of this chain fairly close that you can choose from and have a much better experience. To all the people who visit from near and far, my apologies, this is a piss poor example of our hospitality and standards.
(1)
Linh N.
This place is a chain, but a "good" chain that originated in Chicago. It was conveniently located from our hotel, offering fresh, healthy sandwiches, soups, pasta, and breakfast (served all day), all reasonably priced. Service was prompt and polite. They offer free, working wi-fi. The gals' bathroom is cramped, with only two stalls, though not atrociously unclean. In my book, this Corner Bakery Cafe is winning! Duh!
(4)
Tina R.
Stopped in for a quick breakfast. Ordered a bacon and cheddar panini and hot chocolate. The guy said they didn't have any chocolate and then the manager says we don't have bacon, they forgot to put it in. It's breakfast time how do you forget to put bacon in the oven. Very disappointed, I've settled for chocolate milk since I know they have that.
(1)
Arlen K.
Since they are a breakfast restaurant, I guess I expected more than I received. Price-wise, it was as expected, but food quality-wise, meh. I got the french toast and eggs. Both were way over cooked. More like cafeteria food than restaurant food; I expected more than a fast-food experience -- I was wrong.
(2)
Kristin C.
I ate breakfast here every single morning that I was in Chicago. It has a great location right by the Chicago River at Michigan Avenue, so it was a great place to start our days. Plus, it is right in between my parents hotel(Swissotel) and the River/Club Quarters Hotel I stayed at, amongst others on Wacker Dr. Apparently, this place is a big chain. I saw several locations throughout the city. I live in Seattle though, so I had never heard of it. It's similar to a Panera. We only had breakfast and coffee here. We never had any complaints, our food was always good. I really like the bacon, egg and cheese breakfast panini on delicious grilled sourdough bread. They have lots of breakfast options, including breakfast plates that come with eggs, meat and potatoes, as well as pastries, and other healthy options like Yogurt parfaits(my moms favorite) and oatmeal. They also have a really yummy brioche french toast. The prices are really good, the food is good, lots of convenient locations, and they bring the food to you in a timely manner. Everyone was nice, and quick. Everyday we were here the place was packed, but the line usually only took 5 minutes, and it only took another 5 minutes to get our food. I also had one of their chocolate chip cookies, and it was very good!
(4)
Anthony F.
After being told by my hotel concierge that unless I wanted to wait 2 hours to get into the aquarium, I had better get there asap, I was left without a breakfast option. I was going to try out a restaurant with an all you can eat breakfast buffet next to my hotel, but passed on it on the insistance of said concierge. So what's a guy to do at 8:45am with a full day of exploring a (foreign) city ahead of him? Well, the Corner Bakery Cafe is a good starting option! As I was rushing to catch the bus to avoid painfully long lines to see fish, I came upon this cafe. What caught my eye was the deal offering a coffee and a muffin for $1.99! PERFECT! I grabbed a DELICIOUS pumpkin muffin and the coffee, dropped my $2 and was on the bus enjoying a quick breakfast before I knew it! Obviously it wasn't as amazing as the promise of endless breakfast, but it got me to lunch!
(4)
Jen T.
I have worked in same building as this Corner Bakery for 2 years. Today was the last straw when I found a bug (perhaps small spider?) in the salad. For breakfast and bakery items, this place is okay. But don't come for lunch or dinner. I have never had a salad that did not contain at least some rotten lettuce. At its worst, it has been up to 50% rotten lettuce. When I complained to corporate, they put me in touch with the store manager who asked that I schedule an appointment with her to discuss it. Um, what? This location is also slow. Expect a 5-10 minute wait for your food depending how busy they are, and that's after you've waited in line to place the order. There is another Corner Bakery location less than 5 minutes walk up Michigan Avenue. It's better.
(1)
Rhonda G.
Ah Corner Bakery. I never have any of the products that make you what you are (A bakery). Im only in it for the soup...cheddar broccoli to be exact. Pretty crowded during the lunch hour but you can still grab a window stool overlooking the street and creepily watch people walk by and eat soup like some sort of psycho. This is what I like to do.
(3)
Dia D.
I've been to other Corner Bakeries and this was the worst experience. We had the Poblano Fresco with Chicken and the Tomato Mozarella sandwiches. Both were very bland and tastless. They also didn't seem very fresh. The chips that accompanied them seemed stale and were tiny pieces as if we got the bottom of the barrel. They weren't particularly fast and the bathrooms were really dirty.
(1)
Kathryn R.
Went on a Sunday morning, they were quick, the food was fine, staff was polite. The food wasn't anything I'd go out of my way for, but it was pretty good AND it was fast. The coffee was good and they were well stocked on milk and cream. It was also easy to find a table, they have lots of them.
(3)
Hema K.
Other than the awesome view of the city you get while munching at Corner bakery cafe, not so great about the food and service over here. Went here around noon and there is a long line going up till entrance. You grab the menu card and order your food and get a placard with number. Patio is dining is great during good weather. Me and my friends ordered pasta, omelet/sausage breakfast and combo sandwich. Pretty cheap and portions are of decent size.
(3)
Angela B.
On our recent trip to Chicago, we ate brunch here just about every day. Reasonable prices and LOVED the Anaheim panini! Slightly busy around lunch/brunch on the week days, but not too crazy. The weekend was slightly busier. Although we pretty much did paninis every day, they had a pretty broad selection of lunch/breakfast stype stuff, pastries, soups/salads, coffee, etc. Also, free wi-fi, which we also appreciated. :)
(4)
Cheryl T.
Wonderful place for breakfast, lunch, or a warm-up coffee/soup/dessert! Prices are so fair, everything fresh, and variety to please everyone in your group. This location is particularly close to the Chicago River cruises, so makes for a nice place to wait for boarding after buying your tickets.
(4)
Jenny H.
OMG, I love this place. I wish we had Corner Bakery Cafe in Raleigh NC where I live. I was in Chicago for a conference at the Hyatt, staying at the River hotel/Club Quarters and my colleague and I ate here every single morning for breakfast. Delicious panini thins, with chicken apple sausage or bacon, awesome steel cut oatmeal, and fresh hot coffee! And as if the food weren't enough, every person working there made it their mission to make sure we had a great breakfast, from the smiling friendly girl at the counter to the coffee girl, to the nice man who got me an extra baby bundt cake just because. I really can't say enough good things about this place. Thank you!
(5)
Jojo L.
To be fair, I did not try any food besides the chai latte. The chai was pretty sweet,probably a bit too sweet for my liking. But I can understand how people would like it. The place is really cute, staff are very friendly. I am surprised that there aint many people reviewing it, considering how busy it was while i was there. But anyways,I think I will definitely make a order next time when I am in Chicago.
(3)
Russ E.
nothing outstanding. You can get coffee and other typical fare. decent not a destination.
(2)
Terral A.
I almost always eat breakfast at a Corner Bakery when in Chicago. This visit would be the same. Quick service, good food. No wait service, but it works when you are in a hurry. Good coffee.
(3)
Stephanie S.
More like Corner Burnery. They put a totally burnt panini on a plate and served it to me like nothing was wrong. No thanks. Also the bathroom smelled gross and the paper towel machine was empty.
(1)
V R.
Nice change from hotel food...nice service and fast. Good breakfast/lunch menus. I'm pretty picky, so they did mess up my order couple times (I was here a week), but I still kept coming back :) I wish I lived next to a Corner Bakery!
(4)
Elizabeth T.
I generally like Corner Bakery a ton. But this location is seriously lacking in service. I go to school around the corner, and seriously, after two years of bad customer service here, I absolutely WILL NOT be back. I've tried calling in my order to save time. Only to have to wait in line while the one person working the registers gets through the line. Despite the handful of workers standing around chatting with apparently nothing to do. I had initially gone to the "phone order" register to be totally ignored by the 5 people standing behind the counter. They were apparently on break. And when I finally got someone's attention, I was told to go stand in line like everyone else. Seriously? WTF? The last time I was here, I waited 25 minutes for my take out. I could have sat down at any sit down restaurant and not only have received my food, but EATEN it before I got my little salad here. And I probably would have at least gotten pleasant service. The utter lack of customer service in this place is atrocious, especially for a restaurant that is located in such a high-density tourist area. And I don't want to hear any excuses about being busy--I've been going to Corner Bakeries all over the Loop for YEARS. This is like a totally different restaurant. And certainly not in a good way. :(
(1)
Kelly G.
Perhaps the current staff is seasonal, but they have been poorly trained. Multiple botched orders, lost drinks, and the incapacity to ring in a featured menu item...all during a weekday breakfast rush? Disastrous, especially next door to a multiple downtown hotels slammed by summer tourism. Even the smallest hot dog cart takes pride in Chicago's food legacies. This company needs to get it together.
(1)
K B.
I was given the wrong sandwich and the wrong drink order. When I tried to correct it, I got a free large order of sass on the side. The woman behind the counter informed me "You think you ordered that but you didn't". Everyone I've talked to thinks their food is "meh" at best, and the service is terrible. In this part of town, you dont have to settle. Try one of the many other places around for a good meal. _
(1)
Mary B.
I love eating one of their yummy brownies and sipping on a tasty coffee drink while sitting outside on a warm, sunny day looking over the skyline & the river....
(5)
Jenna l.
I only come here for breakfast, but they have one of the best blueberry muffins I've had from a commercial bakery. One muffin is $1.99 or $2.19 w/ tax. I know because I've had them two days in a row. The muffin top is a crumble, and a little crunchy on the edges, and the blueberries are evenly spaced, and not too gigantic. I also like there lemonade. The coffee is nothing to get too excited about. If I were a visitor walking down Michigan and looking for a breakfast place, I'd really enjoy grabbing something to eat and sitting on their patio across from the river. Unfortunately, I usually have to rush off to work and don't have that luxury.
(4)
Matt V.
very nice menu tasty food, albeit a bit salty for me. friendly staff and a wonderful patio for a nice day!
(4)
Dane K.
I used to frequent CB, but after the Cultural Center location closed I kind of stopped going... Not because I was upset, but I always forget about this particular location. It's relatively close to my work, but there are 40 shops closer so I tend to remember those instead... What I like... I get a 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 soup combo. Which comes out to $7 and some change.. you can pick any sandwich and any soup/salad/etc. Unlike other sandwich shops, they also include a bag of chips and a pickle in their 1/2 combo. It works out to be a relative bargain. The grilled panini with turkey/white cheddar/bacon/tomato is one of my favorites, the panini I judge many other paninis against. their bavarian sandwich (ham or turkey on a pretzel roll, cheese, whole grain mustard) is pretty good. i prefer the pretzel bread form Hannah's Bretzel though.. I miss the days of old CB though... I really do. You used to walk up to a window that was full of sandwiches wrapped in a fancy cellophane, and you could really see what it was you're ordering. Their chips used to be homemade, and they'd sprinkle Parmesan on them or something. I can remember the exact taste... Now they're just ordinary bagged chips (a lot like Kettle chips, but they have their own logo on the bag). Their soups change by day of the week. I'm pretty convinced they buy them by the bag full too... They're good though. But the broccoli/cheddar looks and tastes exactly like the quiznos broccoli/cheddar soup (Monday-Tuesday I think). The loaded baked potato (Wed-Sunday) is pretty tasty. Their cheesecake brownie is something I love too. The employees here are EXTREMELY nice compared to similar shops.
(4)
Zoe V.
Fantastic food. Tried a pecan bar and was shocked how good it was. Loved the atmosphere and prevalence of locations.
(5)
Kat W.
I wanted breakfast, without getting totally gouged at my hotel. For $5.75, the Farmer's Scramble was a more than ample serving of scrambled eggs with assorted vegetables in it, breakfast potatoes and toast. My biggest complaint would have to be that the toast wasn't particularly "toasty" in color or texture. So really, it was like two slices of bread. Honestly, my favorite part of the whole thing was their Hazlenut Cream flavored coffee. I think it might make the world a better place.
(3)
Anthony P.
wow I normally don't care to write reviews about chains, since you *usually* get a pretty standard experience, but this location is an exception. Worst customer service ever - we came here and ordered 3 things: a coffee, and 2 of the oatmeals. The cashier asked a co-worker if they still had any; one of them went in back, seemingly to check, and came out and said "yes". So we paid, stood there, got the coffee, and sat down with our little number card. About 10 minutes goes by, with no sign of our food, and this is probably something that is prepared ahead of time and just needs to be scooped out. We ask about it, and now they are "going to check the basement" (okay...?). Another couple of minutes goes by with no sign of it, so I ask for a refund, and got no apology. This place needs some work...
(1)
Bill M.
This prominently located building at 360 North Michigan Avenue was originally the London Guarantee Building and then the Stone Container Building. It was designed by Alfred S. Alschuler in 1923. Its design incorporates many classical elements, which was not easy due to its irregularly-shaped site. The central arched entrance and the pavilion-like top are notable. The consistently tasty Corner Bakery occupies the space of the former Burger King, where one of my friend's former bosses (he was a vegetarian) asked him to order a Whopper without meat for him.
(4)
Ji-Won K.
I am tempted to give just 2 stars but it deserves one star for its proximity to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. I've been here two times, one for dinner (was starving and did not have the strength to walk/cta anywhere else) and the other for breakfast. Dinner: They close WAY too early at 7pm and the service sucked. The cashiers were not friendly at all, in fact they were came off a bit rude. I could tell they were very anxious to get outta there asap and did not want to "deal" with me. I ordered a chicken pesto sandwich...it was good. Breakfast: Okay, seriously....I paid about $10 for an Anaheim scramble(?) in egg whites, with fruit and toast. Oh I got coffee too. The scramble was cold...toast was very dry and cold...fruit was minimal. The coffee was only good. I think this was because the place was PACKED. It was so busy that the group sitting next to me threw away the previous customer's trash away and wiped down the table themselves. But you know what? I'm probably going to go back tomorrow because it is SO conveniently located. I'm anticipating chaos tomorrow. I'll opt for a bagel or muffin instead of ordering a dish because it will probably be as disappointing as todays.
(3)
Mopsie B.
So sad. Ever since Lettuce Entertain You sold this and Maggiano's to some Texas-based chain restaurant corporation, the quality on every level has deteriorated. I helped to open the original Corner Bakery (at Clark and Grand) after I got out of college and it was such a great place. Everything was fresh, made from scratch...Now? Not so much. Main qualms with this location in particular: 1) ENDLESS wait at lunch, even for simple to-go orders. 2) Fairly clueless and rude employees. I waited 10 minutes for my soup and salad and then had to go back twice- once for the extra bread I ordered and twice for plastic utensils (isn't this a "duh" thing to add to any to-go bag??) 3) When I said "thank you," the to-go person said "no problem." Really? It's no problem to do your job? I'm so relieved! 4) OMG, the food sucks now. Do you know what the sodium count on the cup of tomato soup is? Over 1,000mg. Come ON! 5) NO DRESSING was included or offered with my mixed greens. Oh, well. I guess that's one way to cut out the sodium I consumed with their soup! 6) They used to include freshly baked bread with soup. Now it's some hard, processed garbage rolls. Why bother calling it a bakery? It used to be a nice concept with good food. I guess I'm giving it two stars for nostalgic reasons. I probably won't be back, because if it weren't for my memories, it would only have one star.
(2)
Lauren E.
I was pleasantly surprised to walk into this place. I have gone twice in two days, once for breakfast and once for lunch. I got a tasty poblano veggie sandwich with avocado, which had delicious bread. For breakfast I had oatmeal with dried fruit and walnuts. There's plenty of indoor seating, and outdoor seating with a river view. They bring your food to you at the table after you order at the counter, and clear up your plate when you leave. Don't forget to grab your silverware and napkins before you sit down.
(4)
Alan J.
Can I give zero stars? I have no idea how the food is. The service was so absolutely terrible we walked out before we had a chance to order. I have *never* been treated so poorly. We walked in, there were maybe four staff behind the counter chatting. After about a minute one of them pointed to the cash register and said "you need to order there". So we went there, my wife gave the first part of her order, the guy yelled to someone "do we still have that soup?" At that juncture another staffer handed him something and they started a conversation, totally ignoring us. After a full 2 minutes, no joke, my wife said "I've had enough. We're out of here" and we walked out. The place was full of staff doing nothing so far as I could tell. I mean, I've been forgotten, but I've never had a server standing right in front of me stop in the middle of an order and then just ignore my presence like that. It was amazing.
(1)
Jon D.
Setting: Great location for a quick bite after a long walk along Chicago river. Everything is nice and clean, except that the restroom was rather hot for some weird reason. It was like 95 deg in there! I hope it was just a one time thing. Food: We just had quick eats...coffee, pastries. Not bad at all. Service: No complaints. Very friendly folks.
(3)
Hong T.
Food mediocre ; good location, music and service
(3)
Joe S.
Great food, but there is always a long wait and no seating during lunch hours. I usually get the Grilled Ham and Swiss Panini which is excellent. I also had the chance to stop in on a Saturday for lunch and it was less busy then during the work week and I was able to find a table, but I had to wait about 15-20 minutes for my food to come to the table.
(3)
Delia C.
yes, it's a chain. yes, sometimes the butter/oil/grease overload can be a bit much. but you know what? it's an incredibly busy location and the staff have consistently been friendly and efficient. i overheard one of their staff meetings and i think they work well together as a team. how many workplaces can say that? so, corner bakery, who now know my morning routine, you get 3 stars for being so darned nice to me.
(3)
Justin G.
While Bill M. told us of architecture and stuff, I will talk of the food. Actually I won't, I'll just ask why people go here as every Corner Bakery I've been too, this one included, just isn't that good and with all the choices surrounding this place I don't get why they go here.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Ronald S.
the system of ordering and getting a number and waiting for your food at a table did not seem to work well on the day i was here. all i wanted was a toasted bagel and i had to go sit somewhere and wait for it. i asked for no creme cheese and it came with it (luckily not on the bagel, but i hate to waste food). bagel was about as boring as a frozen grocery store one, barely toasted. coffee was ok. place was busy, so a lot of people must like bad food or like me have never been in to a corner bakery cafe. probably last time i will ever go to one.
(2)Emily H.
Easy breakfast option, and Corner Bakery Cafes seem to be more plentiful than cabs or street musicians in Chicago. If you need one, you're never more than a block or two away. It seems like every time I'm in Chicago, I stop by one on my last morning in town. And while their meals aren't really anything too special, they're better than fast food. But almost just as quick.
(4)Jim L.
Location, location, location the real estate advisors say. Corner bakery has that, right across the street from the wharf where the Chicago Architecture Foundation run their excellent boat tours. Having done the early tour, we thought we'd grab a late breakfast. Bad idea. Everything was lukewarm and bland. Next time we'll walk a few more minutes to find a better place.
(1)Angel W.
This place was better than we thought it would be! We just stopped in for a quick bite thinking it would be like take it and go type of place. We ordered and were given a number to put on our table the our food was brought to us. Everyone loved their breakfast! I ordered the oatmeal and it was delicious! The manager was helpful and brought us other things after he dropped off our breakfast. He got me milk for my oatmeal and utensils for my friend. Above and beyond. I recommend this place for a quick, but delicious breakfast!
(5)Chad M.
Let's start with the high points. I love that you get to order at the counter like a (Panera bread) but they bring the food to your table once it is ready and they are quick about it. We only waited 5 minutes for our food to be delivered. The staff was super friendly and really made it a point to help us out. Roby was our server and was very attentive and Rocio was our cashier and she didn't make us feel rushed and went out of her way to satisfy us. One bad point is everything except for one thing that we ordered was not available. It was in the building but the prep line must have been slow because they had no ice coffee or Swiss oatmeal ready for us. But again, the staff gave us subs and and made sure we were happy with what we received as the sub. I would recommend this to people who want quality food for the price you pay and fast wonderful service.
(4)Eileen S.
I definitely didn't love this....got scrambled something and it came with a side of inedible home fries. Was looking forward to a nice breakfast so little disappointed. #shouldvegonetostarbucks
(1)Sheryle I.
In need of some breakfast grub and a study spot, the corner bakery seemed like an appropriate solution. Saturday morning in the summer, the place was decently busy as one would assume. The service was quick and friendly. The ambience was sufficient for studying. Also, this place is pretty much on the corner of Michigan and Wacker. That's where all the "pros" end. The Anaheim scrambled eggs where mediocre at best. The toast was toasted (probably 5 days ago) and the avocado on top was somehow plastic-like. That's all I really have to say about that.
(2)Emily M.
After agreeing that a wait at Wildberry just wasn't worth it, our group set out for something easy & quick instead. We landed here, snagged a table immediately and didn't have to wait long after ordering for our food. Decent place for grab & go food when everyone in the group is on the verge of a "hangry" attitude but otherwise wouldn't really be a place we'd set out to eat at.
(4)Kathleen K.
So yummy! Love coming here each time I'm in town. I've tried many things on the menu and haven't been disappointed yet! The cinnamon coffee is to die for!! This location is the best in the city. Always clean, fast no matter how busy it is, and the staff is always friendly.
(4)Troy H.
Corner Bakery Cafe, You are what Panera and Au bon Pain wish they could be. Why can't you branch out and broaden your horizons to say, the upstate NY area? I was in chicago on business and came here two mornings in a row and ordered the Anaheim scramble both times. So good, so filling, but not heavy. All the staff that work here are super friendly, there's no pretense, service was great. Will definitely frequent CBC whenever I'm traveling to a city that has one.
(5)Beth W.
Disappointing overall. The food was lukewarm at best and quite bland. The service was okay but that did not make up for cold scrambled eggs and bacon. The view outside is very nice. We wi find another spot for breakfast next time we are in town.
(2)Jenna C.
Somehow, I've never been here for breakfast even though it's near my office. I guess I'm more of a sleep-in-as-long-as-possible-grab-my-own-coffee-Âand-granola-bar-to-go kinda gal. But I have definitely been to this Corner Bakery many a times for lunch. If you're not doing their combo lunch special, you're probably not doing it right. Their cafe sized salad is quite literally almost as big as the full sized, so why wouldn't you add a cup of soup, half a sandwich, or pasta for basically the same price? So silly! I usually have to force myself to order something other than the tasty chopped salad and lemon orzo soup when I go, just to branch out and try more of their menu. Pro tip: if you don't prefer a lot of dressing on your salad, ask for it on the side. In addition, I must say, when I get up to the counter and see that display case full of sweets? It gets me every time! I have to satisfy my inner fat kid with an added baked good to my order. Their chocolate whoopie pie filled with buttercream does the trick. Pass on the maple pecan bar - it's not great, and also hard to eat. But the hand pies...you're next on my list! I'm comin for ya!
(4)Susan S.
Convenient to Michigan avenue and the river tours. Good prices. The hot chocolate is great. Bathrooms are clean . Great place for a snack while touring .
(4)Ken E.
Soggy over salted mush potatoes. Yelp wants me to make my review longer. The bacon was under cooked and the eggs were good.
(2)Katie M.
I want to give this place four stars I really do but they have incorrectly made my breakfast food order (which doesn't change) too many times. It's even more of a headache to get a refund as I'm sitting there in my office just opened the container to my breakfast to find it was done incorrectly again and I can't make it over there (a mile away) to have it remade or refunded as I am in meetings all day and they won't assist me if its not corrected the same day before their manager leaves. I leave this review in hopes they coach their staff to correctly input the food order and read the printouts before making their dishes as their sister locations on Adams & Franklin rarely get my orders wrong. Thanks.
(3)Ammu K.
On our way out of town, my friend and I popped in for a quick coffee after being recommended to hop in by another colleague. Coming in, it reminded me a bit of a Panera Bread spot. All I got was an iced coffee, which was fine. All in all, when strapped for time, it's an okay place to check out. I saw several locations around the city, so as far as chains go, it was fine.
(3)David F.
This place was awesome, clean, quick, coffee was tremendous and food even better. We had breakfast panini and an Anaheim scrambled really good!
(5)Eric S.
I'm a big Corner Bakery fan! Eat here often when in Chicago, DC, and Atlanta. Always get the Anaheim Scrambler. Last two visits to this Chicago location has been disappointing. Keeps getting smaller and smaller, and one tiny piece of avocado on top. Please tell the owners to raise the price a buck or two, and bring back the avacodo and portion size!!
(3)Kevin C.
I had heard good things about the place during my short stay in the area and decided to drop in for breakfast while avoiding yet another bad hotel meal. I had the All American Scramble with potatoes. While a hearty serving, there were a variety of issues. The scrambled eggs were over cooked, bland and lukewarm at best. The three strips of bacon while suitably crispy were cold (not even lukewarm). The potatoes/home fries were soggy with not a crunchy surface to be found. They were also over salted and again cold. The toast while on tasty bread was not so much toasted as sat out on the counter for an hour or two. Not sure it was supposed to be toast or not to be honest. The service was good. Quick and polite. The atmosphere pleasant. Overall a disappointing breakfast
(1)Kevin W.
My wife and I just stopped in for a little shopping break. We shared a bowl of tomato basil soup which was delicious and had a couple of bakery items. It was quiet and comfortable and in a great location!
(4)Kory H.
Terrible service. Asked for a large iced coffee- they charged me for and gave me a thimble size. Barista was rude- literally SHOUTED drinks at people. Yes, it was the morning rush. Yes they were busy. I understand that. Mistakes happen. But, I repeated the size twice. I was polite. I expect reciprocity.
(1)Greg H.
I've been in Chicago for three days, attending a conference at the Hyatt Regency. Hotel's nice (rooms are a bit dated), but the food is overpriced and very bland. Have walked a block every morning and at lunchtime to Corner Bakery. Good coffee, tasty food, reasonable prices....and a friendly attentive staff. Bustling, but I never waited for a table. Centrally located for the out-of-town visitor....at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, along the Chicago River.
(5)Nina P.
I was so happy to find this cute little breakfast spot just a block away from my hotel when I was in Chicago for a conference. I ordered the Avocado & Spinach Power Panini Thin, which was smaller than I expected from the menu photo. Fortunately, the little sandwich satisfied my hunger for a good price.
(3)Jackson A.
This place was great. You could tell they use fresh ingredients and most of which is healthy for you. I would come back.
(4)Dan F.
I had a bad Americano and one sad excuse for a smoothie. I threw both out 1/4 of the way through. Sorry, ice and red gelatinous goo does not come close to what I'm looking for if ever not ordering savory in the morning. This place felt like it was trying to cover up that it's just like Au Bon Pain or Panera, though it looked like in a pinch you might do alright with some of their more substantive and cheaply priced menu items. They have multiple locations around downtown Chicago so there must be something redeeming about this place! Really slow service for it being after the morning rush and next time I'm in Chicago I'd happily wake up early, which says a lot, to walk 10 minutes out of the way for a better spot.
(2)Sany N.
solid 3 stars: 4 Stars because my meal is what is expected from Corner Bakery Cafe.. I got the Panini Combo for $7.99. I choose a green side salad and chicken panini. The salad and panini tasted great. The salad was a bit over drenched with dressing but it was fine. For the price, i think it was quite reasonable. 2 Stars because I witnessed two customer complaints within the 45 minutes I was there.. One customer walked back to the kitchen to complain about how cold his soup was. They told him, they would bring it out to him, but he insisted he would wait until they made him a new one.. There was a lil rush, and rather then attending to him immediately, they had him wait till they finished the food in front of them.. the next customer complained about how their mac and cheese was cold, and the back staff just microwaved their plate. SMH!!! They should of whipped up a new one.. the female was in the person in between the kitchen and setting up the food to be brought out, she provided great service, however I was disappointed with the kitchen staff. I witnessed them joking around, laughing, and worse.. staring me down.
(3)Danielle M.
I had gotten coffee here before but never sat down and ate. What a great experience! They have a great selection, and I ordered the chopped salad. The wait was a little long but they gave me a free coffee and I was happy:-)
(5)Aaron H.
We came by here one morning on our way to the Chicago architectural boat tour. I had the Baked French Toast and an apple pie to go. My wife ordered the Anaheim Scrambler. My dish reminded me of the bread pudding from my youth in Aruba. It actually had the exact same texture and nearly identical flavor (if only Corner Bakery considered re-naming it "Aruban Bread Pudding"). This made me very nostalgic and happy to take on the rest of my day. My wife's eggs had great taste, but the dish as a whole was a little too much for her (I had to help her finish). The main caveats in coming here were the horrible wi-fi connection (they were under construction nearby, so that may have contributed to the poor signal) and the rather slow service. We sat and waited for nearly 20 minutes before our food came out, and it wasn't that busy. But hey, I can't say that it wasn't worth the wait.
(4)N P.
Awsome. Get the Anaheim scrambler. I will get this every time I come to Chicago. 10 bucks with coffee.
(5)Terry L.
I was craving some breakfast and have wanted to try this chain for awhile now. My first impression of this location is that it was very spacious and nicely decorated (warm). It was not busy at all and my food came out rather quickly. I had the Vanilla French Toast with eggs and bacon. The eggs and bacon were average but the french toast was fantastic, I'm going to go out on a limb and say this was the best french toast I ever had with the flavors involved. I also ordered a slice of lemon cake and cinnamon cake, I must say I did not like there cakes as visually they look appealing and soft but the cakes are actually pretty hard (not my style - maybe it's there recipe). Overall the food was just average.
(3)Sonya A.
Don't want to wait in line at other brunch places? This place is a quick bite. You order at the counter and they bring your food out to you. We had breakfast paninis that were overly greasy, but at least my chai was pretty good. O well, it got the job done I suppose. "Meh. I've experienced better." is exactly right. Food: 1/5 Service: 4/5 Location: 5/5 - Outdoor seating is lovely.
(2)Margaret D.
We got two American scrambled egg breakfast platters. My husband wanted oatmeal, but they were out. They gave us rye bread instead of wheat, and sausage patties instead of bacon; and the sausage patties were rock-hard. So why 3 stars? When we took the stuff back, the woman who brought it out was already remaking them completely. She said as soon as she put it down she could tell it was no bueno, so she went ahead and started redoing them. The eggs tasted more like egg beaters than real eggs. It wasn't my favorite meal ever, but I appreciated the woman remaking them and it was so filling I did not eat again until mid-evening.
(3)Shradha A.
Really slow service so don't go in a hurry! Their parfait was fresh, and low-fat, with no syrups added. Their breakfast scrambles looked pretty good but I didn't have the time..!
(3)John M.
We are visiting from Phoenix AZ and have spent the whole day walking around down town Chicago the group of us wanted desert, so we searched bakeries and this place came up as the closest. so we walk several blocks out of our way to get to them, but let me tell you they are not a bakery. Well not what i would call a bakery. they had a small case of about 10 deserts THAT's IT we choose 4 items. the snicker doodle was raw and flavorless, the fudge brownie had a bad taste and was not even sweet. the staff was unfriendly and seemed bother by our presents. dont waste your time on this one. Name doesn't represent what they are.
(1)Alexandria T.
My boyfriend and I were looking for a place to have a quick breakfast that wasn't super packed. We went up to the counter and ordered, were given a number, and made our way to a table. The food came out pretty quickly. I ordered an Anaheim panini without bacon and a side of breakfast potatoes. The food itself was ok, but it came out barely room temperature. I know that it's fairly large place, so maybe they were wandering around looking for our number, but it made the food quality very low in my opinion.
(3)Ryan B.
Great place for breakfast or a snack. They have healthy and tasty options. The cashiers get through the line quick. The staff brings your food to the table fast. The staff cleaning the tables is very courteous.
(4)Tom B.
Visited from out of town and needed some good breakfast after a guys night out. I got the commuter's croissant with some black coffee, which was a divine and heavy brew, and seriously got my money's worth. Very efficient design inside where you order, take a number, then relax on the street and people view while your food is cooked up. And yes I do recommend eating outside because it is a great view. As for the food, it's just the pick me up needed. The potatoes were phenomenal as well. One of the best things, however, is the affordability. You get above average breakfast food for below average prices.
(4)Tiffany L.
Easy and reliable place to grab a quick bite. I've had their grain bagel which was standard. Their cream cheese is light and fluffy. I also tried their Sante fe salad which was a decent size and flavorful. The chocolate bundt is extremely rich, be prepared to consume with tea or coffee. Overall food is food enough to return but nothing too exciting.
(3)Amalia C.
I visited this place while on vacation in Chicago and ended up coming back! Good food (I had the Americano which was delicious and brought me back, I had the panini the second time which was average but still filled me up), excellent coffee and a relaxed ambience - I didn't feel rushed at all. The staff were attentive and polite, a great place to begin your day!
(4)Eric M.
Place was ok. Good place to go for a small appetite for breakfast. Didn't have much more there so I can't comment on anything else.
(3)Monika P.
This location is hit or miss. Not sure if the quality has gone down corporate-wide or it's just this particular spot, but I am typically disappointed with what I order. For instance, other locations serve the trio in separate small containers, but here they just throw everything into one box so the three different salad options spill all over each other. I also had to throw out the chili because it was too dense and salty. The tortilla soup, which is usually my favorite, also doesn't taste the same here. It's all mushed together. That may be a personal preference, but it just wasn't very appetizing.
(2)Mike P.
Corner Bakery is among the favorites of the Fast Casual places out there....have been going to them for many years. This was my stop for dinner tonight (a Sunday evening) as I stopped downtown to check out something they were filming literally across the street along the river. Other places were closed in the area so this was my spot (without going to the more expensive sit down restaurants) and am glad I did go here. Generally speaking, their food is decent and tonight was no exception. I was pleasantly surprised to learn they have clam chowder soup on a regular basis so I got that along with a panini....thought I had got the half sandwich and soup but they made a full sandwich for me.....bonus! Sure it took a bit for them to make and bring out to me but it was nice and hot and fresh....tad bit on the pricey side too...but oh well considering where it is, I don't mind paying a little extra for it.
(4)Steve A.
Horrible service. Ordered a cup of soup. Waited 10 min. Had to say something twice to get it
(1)Dan S.
Oh, Corner Bakery! What happened to you? I used to love this place, but oy, what a mess. Service for lunch took FOREVER and the salad was so drenched in dressing as to render it barely edible. Air conditioning on the fritz, slow ordering, missed orders. Shall I go on? Corner Bakery, if you're listening, you used to be so much better than this. Get going.
(1)Michael T.
Renalto, at this Corner Bakery makes the difference from the rest. Attentive, gets the orders right, He is the Manager and "B.G.S." love their thick sliced Apple wood Bacon. Need I say more!
(4)Theresa V.
I'm a regular at corner bakery cafe. I love it. My favorites: For breakfast: the Anaheim scrambler. Lunch: uptown turkey. Their soaps are delish too!
(5)Kailey S.
As usual, I only write about huge chains if I am truly unhappy with my experience. I love corner bakery back home in CA. This one was horrible. Both my mom and I got salads. The lettuce was so wilted and old. They even put some brown pieces in mine. They thought I wouldn't notice if they drenched it in Caesar dressing. I did notice. They even loaded the vinaigrette onto my mom's salad to cover up the fact that the lettuce sucked.
(1)Lars F.
A lot of mixed reviews. I was hear really early on Sunday morning and it was peaceful and quiet. I ordered the thin panini breakfast with smoked bacon and a side of steel cut oatmeal and a coffee. All of it was great. The thin panini was almost too tiny to hold, but it was good. Came with a side of salsa.
(4)Ali C.
An okay lunch and salad place - nothing out of the ordinary.
(3)Matt S.
Sells overpriced stale old pastries. How lazy can you be to have bakery in your name and sell stale pastries.
(1)Donna C.
I like the offerings of this chain restaurant, especially the cinnamon coffee cake and the bacon egg panini. BUT HEED MY WORD, visit another location because this one is begging to star in an episode of Undercover Boss. First of all, the people inside behind the counter were disorganized and not the friendliest. The outside patio was FILTHY, simply FILTHY. Pigeon droppings on the table, at least 6 pigeons walking around pecking at crumbs and they attacked our table when my husband went inside the building. Then we saw them attack another table where a young boy was sitting. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. When they do wipe down the tables, it is done with Lord know how clean it is cloth and considering pigeons are all over the tables, I'm guessing it's not the cleanest, in fact, I know it isn't. One of the two garbage cans was not even accessible, just left without a bag and the top propped open. The staff wander aimlessly with plates of what should be hot food, looking for the number, which in fairness, some people display visibly on their table. Words cannot express my disgust at this location. That manager needs to go and one who gives a sh** needs to be hired. From there, they need staff training, it if do not like to smile and EARN your paycheck, move over for someone who does. I only saw 2 people who even bothered to show a little life in their attitude. Hot water, bleach and a hose needs to be utilized on the patio and the bathroom, almost forgot about that. YUCK!!! Clean it for pity sakes, the corners are FILTHY. Be afraid, be very afraid of this location. There are other locations of this chain fairly close that you can choose from and have a much better experience. To all the people who visit from near and far, my apologies, this is a piss poor example of our hospitality and standards.
(1)Linh N.
This place is a chain, but a "good" chain that originated in Chicago. It was conveniently located from our hotel, offering fresh, healthy sandwiches, soups, pasta, and breakfast (served all day), all reasonably priced. Service was prompt and polite. They offer free, working wi-fi. The gals' bathroom is cramped, with only two stalls, though not atrociously unclean. In my book, this Corner Bakery Cafe is winning! Duh!
(4)Tina R.
Stopped in for a quick breakfast. Ordered a bacon and cheddar panini and hot chocolate. The guy said they didn't have any chocolate and then the manager says we don't have bacon, they forgot to put it in. It's breakfast time how do you forget to put bacon in the oven. Very disappointed, I've settled for chocolate milk since I know they have that.
(1)Arlen K.
Since they are a breakfast restaurant, I guess I expected more than I received. Price-wise, it was as expected, but food quality-wise, meh. I got the french toast and eggs. Both were way over cooked. More like cafeteria food than restaurant food; I expected more than a fast-food experience -- I was wrong.
(2)Kristin C.
I ate breakfast here every single morning that I was in Chicago. It has a great location right by the Chicago River at Michigan Avenue, so it was a great place to start our days. Plus, it is right in between my parents hotel(Swissotel) and the River/Club Quarters Hotel I stayed at, amongst others on Wacker Dr. Apparently, this place is a big chain. I saw several locations throughout the city. I live in Seattle though, so I had never heard of it. It's similar to a Panera. We only had breakfast and coffee here. We never had any complaints, our food was always good. I really like the bacon, egg and cheese breakfast panini on delicious grilled sourdough bread. They have lots of breakfast options, including breakfast plates that come with eggs, meat and potatoes, as well as pastries, and other healthy options like Yogurt parfaits(my moms favorite) and oatmeal. They also have a really yummy brioche french toast. The prices are really good, the food is good, lots of convenient locations, and they bring the food to you in a timely manner. Everyone was nice, and quick. Everyday we were here the place was packed, but the line usually only took 5 minutes, and it only took another 5 minutes to get our food. I also had one of their chocolate chip cookies, and it was very good!
(4)Anthony F.
After being told by my hotel concierge that unless I wanted to wait 2 hours to get into the aquarium, I had better get there asap, I was left without a breakfast option. I was going to try out a restaurant with an all you can eat breakfast buffet next to my hotel, but passed on it on the insistance of said concierge. So what's a guy to do at 8:45am with a full day of exploring a (foreign) city ahead of him? Well, the Corner Bakery Cafe is a good starting option! As I was rushing to catch the bus to avoid painfully long lines to see fish, I came upon this cafe. What caught my eye was the deal offering a coffee and a muffin for $1.99! PERFECT! I grabbed a DELICIOUS pumpkin muffin and the coffee, dropped my $2 and was on the bus enjoying a quick breakfast before I knew it! Obviously it wasn't as amazing as the promise of endless breakfast, but it got me to lunch!
(4)Jen T.
I have worked in same building as this Corner Bakery for 2 years. Today was the last straw when I found a bug (perhaps small spider?) in the salad. For breakfast and bakery items, this place is okay. But don't come for lunch or dinner. I have never had a salad that did not contain at least some rotten lettuce. At its worst, it has been up to 50% rotten lettuce. When I complained to corporate, they put me in touch with the store manager who asked that I schedule an appointment with her to discuss it. Um, what? This location is also slow. Expect a 5-10 minute wait for your food depending how busy they are, and that's after you've waited in line to place the order. There is another Corner Bakery location less than 5 minutes walk up Michigan Avenue. It's better.
(1)Rhonda G.
Ah Corner Bakery. I never have any of the products that make you what you are (A bakery). Im only in it for the soup...cheddar broccoli to be exact. Pretty crowded during the lunch hour but you can still grab a window stool overlooking the street and creepily watch people walk by and eat soup like some sort of psycho. This is what I like to do.
(3)Dia D.
I've been to other Corner Bakeries and this was the worst experience. We had the Poblano Fresco with Chicken and the Tomato Mozarella sandwiches. Both were very bland and tastless. They also didn't seem very fresh. The chips that accompanied them seemed stale and were tiny pieces as if we got the bottom of the barrel. They weren't particularly fast and the bathrooms were really dirty.
(1)Kathryn R.
Went on a Sunday morning, they were quick, the food was fine, staff was polite. The food wasn't anything I'd go out of my way for, but it was pretty good AND it was fast. The coffee was good and they were well stocked on milk and cream. It was also easy to find a table, they have lots of them.
(3)Hema K.
Other than the awesome view of the city you get while munching at Corner bakery cafe, not so great about the food and service over here. Went here around noon and there is a long line going up till entrance. You grab the menu card and order your food and get a placard with number. Patio is dining is great during good weather. Me and my friends ordered pasta, omelet/sausage breakfast and combo sandwich. Pretty cheap and portions are of decent size.
(3)Angela B.
On our recent trip to Chicago, we ate brunch here just about every day. Reasonable prices and LOVED the Anaheim panini! Slightly busy around lunch/brunch on the week days, but not too crazy. The weekend was slightly busier. Although we pretty much did paninis every day, they had a pretty broad selection of lunch/breakfast stype stuff, pastries, soups/salads, coffee, etc. Also, free wi-fi, which we also appreciated. :)
(4)Cheryl T.
Wonderful place for breakfast, lunch, or a warm-up coffee/soup/dessert! Prices are so fair, everything fresh, and variety to please everyone in your group. This location is particularly close to the Chicago River cruises, so makes for a nice place to wait for boarding after buying your tickets.
(4)Jenny H.
OMG, I love this place. I wish we had Corner Bakery Cafe in Raleigh NC where I live. I was in Chicago for a conference at the Hyatt, staying at the River hotel/Club Quarters and my colleague and I ate here every single morning for breakfast. Delicious panini thins, with chicken apple sausage or bacon, awesome steel cut oatmeal, and fresh hot coffee! And as if the food weren't enough, every person working there made it their mission to make sure we had a great breakfast, from the smiling friendly girl at the counter to the coffee girl, to the nice man who got me an extra baby bundt cake just because. I really can't say enough good things about this place. Thank you!
(5)Jojo L.
To be fair, I did not try any food besides the chai latte. The chai was pretty sweet,probably a bit too sweet for my liking. But I can understand how people would like it. The place is really cute, staff are very friendly. I am surprised that there aint many people reviewing it, considering how busy it was while i was there. But anyways,I think I will definitely make a order next time when I am in Chicago.
(3)Russ E.
nothing outstanding. You can get coffee and other typical fare. decent not a destination.
(2)Terral A.
I almost always eat breakfast at a Corner Bakery when in Chicago. This visit would be the same. Quick service, good food. No wait service, but it works when you are in a hurry. Good coffee.
(3)Stephanie S.
More like Corner Burnery. They put a totally burnt panini on a plate and served it to me like nothing was wrong. No thanks. Also the bathroom smelled gross and the paper towel machine was empty.
(1)V R.
Nice change from hotel food...nice service and fast. Good breakfast/lunch menus. I'm pretty picky, so they did mess up my order couple times (I was here a week), but I still kept coming back :) I wish I lived next to a Corner Bakery!
(4)Elizabeth T.
I generally like Corner Bakery a ton. But this location is seriously lacking in service. I go to school around the corner, and seriously, after two years of bad customer service here, I absolutely WILL NOT be back. I've tried calling in my order to save time. Only to have to wait in line while the one person working the registers gets through the line. Despite the handful of workers standing around chatting with apparently nothing to do. I had initially gone to the "phone order" register to be totally ignored by the 5 people standing behind the counter. They were apparently on break. And when I finally got someone's attention, I was told to go stand in line like everyone else. Seriously? WTF? The last time I was here, I waited 25 minutes for my take out. I could have sat down at any sit down restaurant and not only have received my food, but EATEN it before I got my little salad here. And I probably would have at least gotten pleasant service. The utter lack of customer service in this place is atrocious, especially for a restaurant that is located in such a high-density tourist area. And I don't want to hear any excuses about being busy--I've been going to Corner Bakeries all over the Loop for YEARS. This is like a totally different restaurant. And certainly not in a good way. :(
(1)Kelly G.
Perhaps the current staff is seasonal, but they have been poorly trained. Multiple botched orders, lost drinks, and the incapacity to ring in a featured menu item...all during a weekday breakfast rush? Disastrous, especially next door to a multiple downtown hotels slammed by summer tourism. Even the smallest hot dog cart takes pride in Chicago's food legacies. This company needs to get it together.
(1)K B.
I was given the wrong sandwich and the wrong drink order. When I tried to correct it, I got a free large order of sass on the side. The woman behind the counter informed me "You think you ordered that but you didn't". Everyone I've talked to thinks their food is "meh" at best, and the service is terrible. In this part of town, you dont have to settle. Try one of the many other places around for a good meal. _
(1)Mary B.
I love eating one of their yummy brownies and sipping on a tasty coffee drink while sitting outside on a warm, sunny day looking over the skyline & the river....
(5)Jenna l.
I only come here for breakfast, but they have one of the best blueberry muffins I've had from a commercial bakery. One muffin is $1.99 or $2.19 w/ tax. I know because I've had them two days in a row. The muffin top is a crumble, and a little crunchy on the edges, and the blueberries are evenly spaced, and not too gigantic. I also like there lemonade. The coffee is nothing to get too excited about. If I were a visitor walking down Michigan and looking for a breakfast place, I'd really enjoy grabbing something to eat and sitting on their patio across from the river. Unfortunately, I usually have to rush off to work and don't have that luxury.
(4)Matt V.
very nice menu tasty food, albeit a bit salty for me. friendly staff and a wonderful patio for a nice day!
(4)Dane K.
I used to frequent CB, but after the Cultural Center location closed I kind of stopped going... Not because I was upset, but I always forget about this particular location. It's relatively close to my work, but there are 40 shops closer so I tend to remember those instead... What I like... I get a 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 soup combo. Which comes out to $7 and some change.. you can pick any sandwich and any soup/salad/etc. Unlike other sandwich shops, they also include a bag of chips and a pickle in their 1/2 combo. It works out to be a relative bargain. The grilled panini with turkey/white cheddar/bacon/tomato is one of my favorites, the panini I judge many other paninis against. their bavarian sandwich (ham or turkey on a pretzel roll, cheese, whole grain mustard) is pretty good. i prefer the pretzel bread form Hannah's Bretzel though.. I miss the days of old CB though... I really do. You used to walk up to a window that was full of sandwiches wrapped in a fancy cellophane, and you could really see what it was you're ordering. Their chips used to be homemade, and they'd sprinkle Parmesan on them or something. I can remember the exact taste... Now they're just ordinary bagged chips (a lot like Kettle chips, but they have their own logo on the bag). Their soups change by day of the week. I'm pretty convinced they buy them by the bag full too... They're good though. But the broccoli/cheddar looks and tastes exactly like the quiznos broccoli/cheddar soup (Monday-Tuesday I think). The loaded baked potato (Wed-Sunday) is pretty tasty. Their cheesecake brownie is something I love too. The employees here are EXTREMELY nice compared to similar shops.
(4)Zoe V.
Fantastic food. Tried a pecan bar and was shocked how good it was. Loved the atmosphere and prevalence of locations.
(5)Kat W.
I wanted breakfast, without getting totally gouged at my hotel. For $5.75, the Farmer's Scramble was a more than ample serving of scrambled eggs with assorted vegetables in it, breakfast potatoes and toast. My biggest complaint would have to be that the toast wasn't particularly "toasty" in color or texture. So really, it was like two slices of bread. Honestly, my favorite part of the whole thing was their Hazlenut Cream flavored coffee. I think it might make the world a better place.
(3)Anthony P.
wow I normally don't care to write reviews about chains, since you *usually* get a pretty standard experience, but this location is an exception. Worst customer service ever - we came here and ordered 3 things: a coffee, and 2 of the oatmeals. The cashier asked a co-worker if they still had any; one of them went in back, seemingly to check, and came out and said "yes". So we paid, stood there, got the coffee, and sat down with our little number card. About 10 minutes goes by, with no sign of our food, and this is probably something that is prepared ahead of time and just needs to be scooped out. We ask about it, and now they are "going to check the basement" (okay...?). Another couple of minutes goes by with no sign of it, so I ask for a refund, and got no apology. This place needs some work...
(1)Bill M.
This prominently located building at 360 North Michigan Avenue was originally the London Guarantee Building and then the Stone Container Building. It was designed by Alfred S. Alschuler in 1923. Its design incorporates many classical elements, which was not easy due to its irregularly-shaped site. The central arched entrance and the pavilion-like top are notable. The consistently tasty Corner Bakery occupies the space of the former Burger King, where one of my friend's former bosses (he was a vegetarian) asked him to order a Whopper without meat for him.
(4)Ji-Won K.
I am tempted to give just 2 stars but it deserves one star for its proximity to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. I've been here two times, one for dinner (was starving and did not have the strength to walk/cta anywhere else) and the other for breakfast. Dinner: They close WAY too early at 7pm and the service sucked. The cashiers were not friendly at all, in fact they were came off a bit rude. I could tell they were very anxious to get outta there asap and did not want to "deal" with me. I ordered a chicken pesto sandwich...it was good. Breakfast: Okay, seriously....I paid about $10 for an Anaheim scramble(?) in egg whites, with fruit and toast. Oh I got coffee too. The scramble was cold...toast was very dry and cold...fruit was minimal. The coffee was only good. I think this was because the place was PACKED. It was so busy that the group sitting next to me threw away the previous customer's trash away and wiped down the table themselves. But you know what? I'm probably going to go back tomorrow because it is SO conveniently located. I'm anticipating chaos tomorrow. I'll opt for a bagel or muffin instead of ordering a dish because it will probably be as disappointing as todays.
(3)Mopsie B.
So sad. Ever since Lettuce Entertain You sold this and Maggiano's to some Texas-based chain restaurant corporation, the quality on every level has deteriorated. I helped to open the original Corner Bakery (at Clark and Grand) after I got out of college and it was such a great place. Everything was fresh, made from scratch...Now? Not so much. Main qualms with this location in particular: 1) ENDLESS wait at lunch, even for simple to-go orders. 2) Fairly clueless and rude employees. I waited 10 minutes for my soup and salad and then had to go back twice- once for the extra bread I ordered and twice for plastic utensils (isn't this a "duh" thing to add to any to-go bag??) 3) When I said "thank you," the to-go person said "no problem." Really? It's no problem to do your job? I'm so relieved! 4) OMG, the food sucks now. Do you know what the sodium count on the cup of tomato soup is? Over 1,000mg. Come ON! 5) NO DRESSING was included or offered with my mixed greens. Oh, well. I guess that's one way to cut out the sodium I consumed with their soup! 6) They used to include freshly baked bread with soup. Now it's some hard, processed garbage rolls. Why bother calling it a bakery? It used to be a nice concept with good food. I guess I'm giving it two stars for nostalgic reasons. I probably won't be back, because if it weren't for my memories, it would only have one star.
(2)Lauren E.
I was pleasantly surprised to walk into this place. I have gone twice in two days, once for breakfast and once for lunch. I got a tasty poblano veggie sandwich with avocado, which had delicious bread. For breakfast I had oatmeal with dried fruit and walnuts. There's plenty of indoor seating, and outdoor seating with a river view. They bring your food to you at the table after you order at the counter, and clear up your plate when you leave. Don't forget to grab your silverware and napkins before you sit down.
(4)Alan J.
Can I give zero stars? I have no idea how the food is. The service was so absolutely terrible we walked out before we had a chance to order. I have *never* been treated so poorly. We walked in, there were maybe four staff behind the counter chatting. After about a minute one of them pointed to the cash register and said "you need to order there". So we went there, my wife gave the first part of her order, the guy yelled to someone "do we still have that soup?" At that juncture another staffer handed him something and they started a conversation, totally ignoring us. After a full 2 minutes, no joke, my wife said "I've had enough. We're out of here" and we walked out. The place was full of staff doing nothing so far as I could tell. I mean, I've been forgotten, but I've never had a server standing right in front of me stop in the middle of an order and then just ignore my presence like that. It was amazing.
(1)Jon D.
Setting: Great location for a quick bite after a long walk along Chicago river. Everything is nice and clean, except that the restroom was rather hot for some weird reason. It was like 95 deg in there! I hope it was just a one time thing. Food: We just had quick eats...coffee, pastries. Not bad at all. Service: No complaints. Very friendly folks.
(3)Hong T.
Food mediocre ; good location, music and service
(3)Joe S.
Great food, but there is always a long wait and no seating during lunch hours. I usually get the Grilled Ham and Swiss Panini which is excellent. I also had the chance to stop in on a Saturday for lunch and it was less busy then during the work week and I was able to find a table, but I had to wait about 15-20 minutes for my food to come to the table.
(3)Delia C.
yes, it's a chain. yes, sometimes the butter/oil/grease overload can be a bit much. but you know what? it's an incredibly busy location and the staff have consistently been friendly and efficient. i overheard one of their staff meetings and i think they work well together as a team. how many workplaces can say that? so, corner bakery, who now know my morning routine, you get 3 stars for being so darned nice to me.
(3)Justin G.
While Bill M. told us of architecture and stuff, I will talk of the food. Actually I won't, I'll just ask why people go here as every Corner Bakery I've been too, this one included, just isn't that good and with all the choices surrounding this place I don't get why they go here.
(2)