I've never in my life had scones as moist and sweet as these! And the Apple Scrapple and Cinnamon Swirl are to die for! I work at the Three Crowns Park retirement community down the street and like to stop by in the mornings for a scone or a batch of cookies. In the afternoons, I'll often grab a loaf of bread as I head to the train station to go home. I can't wait for winters when Great Harvest serves up great hot soup! I love the beef barley; it's my favorite! I just wish they served it all year round. I've had the sandwiches. They're not bad but I'd rather walk down to Foodstuffs nearby for sandwiches.
(5)
Eric G.
Stopped by for the first time today. Though it would be like a panera, but definitely more focus on the breads. Big and open space with lots of fresh breads and bread-related treats. Had a turkey sandwich, but the flavor was really good - the turkey and veg were definitely fresh. Had it on popeye bread which was also very good. The guy behind the counter asked me if I wanted a sample of something, which I agreed too - I think had some type of zuchini or pumpkin bread - it was excellent. Pricing was a little more than I expected, more than tags, about equal to Benisons. I would give them another try for lunch in the future. They also have glutten free if you have such dietary needs.
(5)
Honor S.
If you're trying to watch your weight, then keep on walking!!...Though the aromas alone will be very satisfying!! But if you've decided to cast aside the calorie counting for the day, then by all means, do go inside this wonderful corner business and savor a sample or two before making your final decision. The people aim to please, and the wares are sure to please...just go for a good long walk afterwards!!
(4)
Dave K.
Prior to visiting this Great Harvest, scones to me were brick-like baked goods, only made edible after dipping them into hot chocolate. Scones at Great Harvest ($2/each) are different. They're BIG, moist, flavorful, and good. My favorites include raspberry, blueberry and the combination orange/cranberry--all made with real bits of fruit. I like to stop by on my way to the airport, since these scones travel well, and make great airplane snacks. The chocolate chip banana bread is drier than I normally like it, and best eaten the same day. When I went in late morning on Sunday, they had already sold out of many favorites. They usually have free bread samples laid out on the counter when you walk in, so take advantage!
(5)
Joyce M.
I love this place! Fantastic breads, scones, cookies, and sandwiches. It is a nice family, neighborhood hangout. The apple scrapple is to die for (I ate a loaf a week when pregnant!). It's great to be able to sample things and I always feel comfortable bringing the kids. This is a great place to buy a gift (they have nice baskets) or order rolls or breads for the holidays.
(5)
Heather C.
Great bakery on Central St. Scones, especially the blueberry Wildcat, are delicious and the bread is amazing.
(5)
Ryan F.
A little price but the bread is the best in the world! cant find better bread, or cookies. ANYONE WHO HASNT BEEN THERE, GO!!!!! just buy a loaf of white simple bread and you can taste the fresh sweet smell of perfection that the people who work there put into it. They eavan allow you to try any kind of bread, just ask and you can try. :) go wake up early buy a loaf, and just eat it at the park across the street fom the store! it is the best!!!!
(5)
Joe S.
I don't know enough about the owner/manager that everyone seems to be harping on. I also wasn't aware that this is a chain? I was all ready to give this place a gleaming review for the handful of times I've been in there. I've always thought the bread was great along with the soups and sandwiches for lunch. Might be a touch pricey but it's Evanston. Fancy pants area equals fancy pants prices. Liked the sample of 'stuffing bread' I tried. I'll reserve the two extra stars TBD after further visits but I honestly don't think it's as bad as most are making it out to be.
(3)
Joanne L.
It's worth making a separate stop to get your bread at this wonderful bread/bake shop! My favorite is the Dakota. They've got a great variety of breads and sweet things, some very healthy, some very 'sinful', and all are delicious. The oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are heavenly, and the scones are wonderful. For a sweet breakfast coffee cake alternative, check out the apple scrapple. And, the staff is very friendly!
(5)
Kristen W.
Oh my, what can I say about this fantastic bakery? Having years and years of experience in bakery-buying under my belt, I cannot tell you how surprised I was when I bit into the delectable scones from Great Harvest. They are the best!! and that's not to mention the bread! If you have to drive from a distance, this place is worth it. Be sure to grab a schedule of weekly bread/scone offerings because you are sure to find a favorite and you will want to come back to buy more. I love the concept of this place: wholesome, simple, consistent and hearty. The scones are HUGE, you can eat half and be full for both breakfast and lunch. The breads range from the chocolate babkas to the savory popeye-style loaves with spinach and cheddar. Did I mention the teacakes? So far, I've had lemon and orange. Imagine a petite loaf of light and fluffy orange or lemon cake coated with an almost crispy layer of white frosting. Believe me, you will finish the loaf before the day is through, if it even makes it into your home. Did I mention that I like this place? I only wish they had a location closer to me. But then again, maybe it's best that they don't. Yum.
(5)
Izzy A.
I've lived down the street from this place my whole life. And dont get me wrong, the bread is delicious. However, their service is appalling. When I went to the local middle school several years ago, the staff was very rude to the students who wanted free bread. This I semi-understood because a bunch of screeching teenagers can be aggravating. Today, however, I went in (as an adult, mind you) to try some bread as my mom wanted to buy a loaf later on but didn't know what kind. When I asked to try the bread, an older gentleman who was behind the counter was unbelievably rude to me. He was almost sarcastic and mocking and wouldnt answer any of my questions about what kind of bread was available. He just thrust the slice of bread at me and said 'thank you' in a crude manner. Growing up around here and getting free bread as a child and teenager they have always been rude to me, however I brushed that off as them seeing me as a freeloading teen. As an adult, I was shocked. If giving out free samples is such a burden for them they should stop offering. I will not be visiting this place again, which is a shame because they have great bread and I like to suppor local business. They really need to work on their service though..
(2)
CKay D.
I stopped in there because I saw a sign saying they had sandwiches and boy am I glad I did... This place blows Panera out of the water! It has a cute, home-y, Mayberry type feel to it in there, but that's not the best part of it.. The smell of bread in there is unbelievable. You can tell the food is good by that alone. I had the Popeye bread on my sandwich which was some sort of spinach and cheese concoction that the clerk recommended... Amazing! I've never tasted cheese like that in bread! It's not like the cheese that's just there to look pretty on Subway's bread. Will definitely be going back.. Prices were pretty good too
(5)
Midori G.
I love BREAD and I LOVE oatmeal chocolate chip cookies; they have them both here so I think it's a pretty swell place. I cannot explain how much better the bread is here than anywhere else and I strongly recommend you come here for some; but because it tastes so good out of the oven I don't recommend storing it in the fridge or freezer, thus buying a whole loaf for yourself probably isn't the best idea.
(5)
Kathy R.
Nothing compares to homemade bread, just out of the oven. Great Harvest is the next best thing. I came here recently after hitting up The Spice House down the street; I was drawn in by the smell of fresh bread wafting through the open doors. I used to go regularly to their former store in Arlington Heights, but it closed years ago. This is now the only outpost serving the north 'burbs. My favorite is the Honey Whole Wheat, although I've bought a handful of others (like Pumpkin Swirl, Focaccia-Italian Herb). What I love about this store is they offer samples; about six different slabs were laid out. The Honey Wheat is dense, and they will cut the loaf into slices (if you request). The bread is a meal unto itself! I don't often indulge, only because I don't refrigerate or freeze the bread (ruins the taste). If I don't eat it quickly, it'll go bad. So I eat it quickly. The bread runs around $5-$6/loaf, so it's reasonable. They also offer sandwiches (turkey, roast beef, PB&J and a couple more), which makes it a nice place to grab lunch. Dipping sauces and bread accompaniments are also sold here. Beware - I had a weird experience with one of the employees here. After another girl went to slice the bread for me, the other worker asked if I needed help. I told him no, and he literally stared me down! I mean locked eyes with me and wouldn't break eye contact. It was so uncomfortable I looked away. Looked back, and he was still staring. "What?," I asked him. "Nothing," he said, while continuing to stare. Dude, that's really rude.
(4)
Elmo G.
Ding ding ding! That's the sound of a review upgrade. I've been in here three times over the last few weeks and I have to say everyone behind the counter has been pleasant. The ornery sample guy has not been around any of the times I've been past. And the pastries are truly awesome (sandwiches are good, too). Seriously, it's amazing how much "how can I help you" and "have a nice day" can do. Smiles are great as well. Woo-hoo!
(4)
Jennifer W.
Amazing bread!
(5)
Wrigley F.
The good news: the bread is really good. Its homemade, natural ingredients, its fresh (most of the time). The bad news: you need to be careful, they sell bread that was made the day before and charge full price. That's especially the case on Sundays. The really bad news: the service seems to be getting worse and worse here. Its unfortunate, because its mostly little local stores and boutiques on Central St. and most have great service. Not at Great Harvest. The staff will ignore you. If you're not a regular, they will wait on their regulars and favorite customers first. (it really sucks when there is a line and they serve customers in haphazard order). The owner/manager (the guy) makes it known that he doesn't like customers to order 1 scone/cookie and its not worth his time. The other owner/manager (the woman) is actually very nice...and the staff are generally more helpful and polite when she is there. I often swear I'll never go back...but I then remember how good the bread is.
(2)
Sydney V.
I found two hairs in my scone this week. It wasn't my hair - they were baked in. Gross. This happened right after the rude guy at the cash register yelled at me for leaving crumbs on the table where I sat while eating a bit of the scone. I'll never go there again.
(1)
Becky N.
I am so happy I remembered this place was around!!! Best sandwich I have had in a LONG time. So fresh with the perfect amount of roast beef and cheddar, makes me want to slap my momma!!! Great goat cheese basil/arugula (?) focaccia!!!! I'm hooked and coming back for more soon. Thanks for being an Evanston business.
(5)
Karen R.
I went here for the first time two weeks ago and picked up a loaf of the superfood bread. It was expensive, but wow! It's hands-down the best sandwich bread I've ever had. It lasted on my counter for over a week, just as fresh as the day I bought it, and was delicious.
(4)
Tasha P.
The bread is local, fresh, about as healthy as bread can be! While you're here, you should pick up some of their delicious cinnamon or apple breads and pastries. They also offer cookies, scrumptious scones and brownies, gluten free breads and brownies, coffee and soups in the winter/fall. ICED CINNAMON ROLLS, MMMM..... Also a note on the texture/consistency of their bread: they don't make crusty breads. They're all soft crusts. Sandwiches are made to order also, with punch cards for sandwiches and breads. I ordered a sandwich once, which was meticulously (read: slowly) made and tasty, but a little overpriced in my opinion.
(4)
Ann Y.
Sure, the breads are a bit pricey, but they are amazing. I just tried the stuffing bread and I am in love. It would be the perfect bread for a turkey sandwich. What I love about Great Harvest is that they are fresh and different. I will be back. Oh, I noticed that they were great about giving samples to kids that were in there with their parents, so I am not sure what people were talking about.
(4)
J. K.
It's been over 20 years since I first walked through the door of GHB and gladly accepted a sample slice. Sadly, I moved across the country a few years back, and they are no longer a short drive away. Now, I am relegated to visiting when I am in town, or talking friends into picking up a loaf when they visit. It is still the standard to which I judge all bakers, they are that good. What I once thought was just a bunch of earthy people passing their time making munchies I now understand to be the way it should be: People who truly enjoy baking and putting that enjoyment into each loaf. Heck, I'd mail order it if I could! Don't miss: Apple Scrapple, Cinnamon Swirl, Cinnamon Raisin Walnut. Sourdough and Honey Whole Wheat are yummy staples that your belly will love you for. Yes, prices are more than what you'll pay at Jewel or Dominick's, but it's hand made locally - what do you expect?
(5)
Tom F.
Great Harvest bakery where you can see action and baking of the breads. It smells also really good. You can taste large free size samples with butter or honey. Their breads have some special taste and texture, way different than other craft breads in Chicago area. To me it looks like somebody is just throwing some ingredients together without using the right techniques. Their breads taste well only when fresh, warm from the oven.
(3)
Pamela P.
My husband is in love with their Chocolate Babka -- So much so that he dreams about it. With it's chocolate chips and buttery flaky goodness, it's just a whole lot of dessert. I adore their low-carb Dakota (really nutty, grainy and almost sweet) and other yum yums. The people are always super nice and charming and will let you sample whatever goodness you have your eye on! Highly, highly recommended
(5)
Tammy Q.
I walked in here and the sweet smell of bread filled my lungs immediately! There were all kinds of bread -- apple, cinnamon, low carb, whole grain -- so many to choose from. I chose a turkey and provolone sandwich on spinach and tomato bread (recommended by a friendly gal there). The bread is chewy -- just like how I love my bread. The turkey was a bit salty, but still yummy. They have this section of the counter where you can sample all of their sweets. This, I think, is a great marketing tactic. Let people try the product first before they invest in it. Everything is home made there. I had the chocolate babka which is shaped like a cinnamon roll, filled with tons of chocolate chips and probably the size of my head. I so wanted to get one -- but I just opted for the sample and called it a day. One day, I will come back and get that babka. To fulfill my sweet tooth, I got a mini tollhouse pie. It's a chocolate chip with a pie crust in a small foil container. This was love at first bite. You can totally taste the butter in this. I devoured that bad boy in 2 seconds.
(4)
Michelle P.
All the bread here is amazing. My favorite is the apple scrapple - huge chunks of apple baked into the dough, and covered with an layer of streusel that they could get away selling by itself. I'd easily buy a bag of that streusel. Asiago pesto is another standout. But their regular wheat bread is excellent too. Their cookies and scones are also top notch - and the scones are huge - enough to eat some now, some later, some later on. Definite 5 stars!
(5)
TheCriticizer S.
Avoid this place. The washroom is not clean, and has a dried out P-Trap under the floor drain which cause sewer gas to emit from it that smells so much you can smell it when you walk in the front door. The sink in the washroom has a two handle faucet and if a kid uses it and only turns on the hot side, they can be seriously burned because the temperature is set way above 130°F. At the front counter by the register there are trays of food for sale with sneeze guards, but only for some items. Other items are left unguarded by sneeze guards and the counter is low enough for kids to cough and sneeze on the food for sale. $9.31 for a small kids sandwich with a little meat and a piece of lettuce and a tiny bag of chips an no drink. It didn't taste like $9.31 |;~(
(1)
Margaret Z.
I was in the mood for a treat and decided to peruse the options on Central St. I started with Tag Bakery, then Linz and Vail, then Foodstuffs but none of them had anything that called to me. I ended with Great Harvest and was greeted with 7 or 8 loaves of bread that were cut into, and asked if I'd like to sample anything. I went with the apple scrapple and it was to die for. I immediately asked to buy a loaf. The bread is doughy and so delicious. The apple crumble topping was plentiful and addictive. I also decided to purchase a savannah bar, which was tart and sweet and massive (and also sooooo delicious). The more I looked, the more things I saw that I wanted to buy (I'm looking at you, Monkey Bread) but I decided to pace myself and leave a reason to come back :). I have found my new favorite bakery on the North Shore and will definitely, definitely be back.
(5)
Razi A.
Excellent fresh bread and baked goods. The apple scrapple and the Popeye bread are phenomenal. Pie meets bread meets pastry. The cinnamon bread is also very hearty. Snickerdoodle cookies are good as well. The staff was really nice to me, so I'm not sure where the previous comments come from. Apple scrapple is a divine concoction. Get it!
(4)
Rohan D.
The baked goods here are excellent, some very healthy choices, some very tasty choices, and some are both. The service on the other hand is a little inconsistent. In summer weather, the front end workers often suffer from heat exhaustion and dehydration, there's no air conditioning and it's a bakery after all, it's even hotter and more humid than outside. It's sometimes bad enough that I feel so sorry for the worn out teenagers on cash register duty, I promise myself to go elsewhere next time. That may happen, but on the other hand the location is just so convenient walking out of Ryan Field and whether the Wildcats disappoint me or thrill me, they always play in a way that takes a few years off my lifespan in stress, so I feel the need to go home with some high fiber bread and bran muffins.
(3)
Jesse F.
I'm sure a lot of people would say this is over priced. those people would also be wrong. anytime you can get three fist sized scones or muffins for 8 bucks is a good time. and anytime you can get three fist sized scones or muffins that are hand made from "scratch" is a GREAT time. just moved to the city yesterday and got on an early train so I'd have time to check out the local places. this is a fantastic first stop. excellent pastries, friendly staff, and a nice location. I'll be sure to check back in here to see what else they have to offer.
(5)
Kait S.
I love this bakery! Everything they have here is terrific! I live for the "Wildcat" (blueberry orange) scones and the pepperoni roll ups. The apple scrapple is delicious but absolutely huge. But hey, it's not much more than the individual sized one and it's breakfast for a week. Also lunch. Occasionally dinner. My beau and I got a chocolate babka for a Seinfeld marathon and it was one of the most magnificent things I've ever eaten! It was buttery and stuffed full of chocolate! Yum. Other things that are delicious and must be tried are, in no particular order -Asiago pest bread -Popeye bread -any scone (apple is 2nd to blueberry/orange) -banana bread -monkey bread Forget diamonds---carbohydrates are a girl's best friend!
(5)
Izzi B.
It may be one member of anchain, but Great Harvest quickly became a must stop for me when visiting Evanston. The bread doesn't have a spectacular crust, but it does have an extremely buttery interior. And with the option for hot and huge samples of at least three breads on any given visit, this proved much too hard to resist. The apple scrapple is almost an apple crumble in bread form, as it's filled with chunks of baked green apple with retain a bit of their tang, and topped with a large crumbed and butter and sugar-laden crumble topping. The chocokate babka is contrains threads of dark chocolate batter and chocolate chips, and the cinnamon swirl is an exemplar of the type. The scones are the size of large muffins and are the softer, crackly looking but more risen variety. The Asiago pesto bread contains knifefuls of real pesto and cheese, both inside and on top. The staff are generally friendly and helpful, always great for recommendations. It's a particularly great place to stop on a cold day when the weather feels neigh unbearable. The samples will warm your mouth and fill your belly. They also make custom birthday "drawers" that you can have delivered to friends and family. Keep in mind that said drawers are enormous, often containing 3-4 different kinds of bread.
(4)
lesley h.
This place looks incredibly dirty. To add to the unsanitary atmosphere, none of the employees wear gloves or hair nets for baking or just handling the merchandise. It is very unappetizing to see them touch the breads with their bare hands as well as the money. The breads are out on the counters with nothing protecting them from the customers right next to them. What an unappealing place.
(2)
Steve A.
The bread here is okay, but a lot of the other baked goods always seem like they needed a few more minutes to brown up, and a little bit more texture or crunch to make them interesting. But the real downside are the people behind the counter. I hate to criticize, but I've been here three times, and felt unwelcome on each visit, like my presence was inconveniencing them. I've spoken with others who agree, so it's not just me. As a result, I prefer to shop down the street.
(2)
Tracy H.
Love this place! Excellent scones. They are HUGE and so moist and fresh, love the pumpkin and mocha ones! Staff is very friendly and I enjoy all of the samples. The monkey bread is a treat and the apple scrapple is to die for. I have never been disappointed by their baked goods. Haven't tried the soups/sandwiches yet though.
(5)
K R.
Ever since we discovered this place, my fiance and I have been hooked! I'm always a fan of supporting local mom&pop shops, especially ones that seem to take such care in preparing their product. There hasn't been one thing that we've purchased here that we didn't like. From the scones, to the sliced breads, to the chocolate babka - we've loved every purchase. But over the last couple of years, the service has become a complete turn off. I'm thankful that getting attitude from the owner is not an isolated incident. The owner will be "okay" with me (not great, but will get the transaction done), but is nearly an all-out jerk to my fiance. He must not be hurting for money if he feels like he can treat patrons like they don't belong there. We may take our dollars somewhere else.
(2)
Humaira A.
It's a record - I never found what I was looking for here even in bread family! And the other record is the nasty attitude of sales people here every single time. I hope this shop moves out of my neighborhood. Never going back after today's experience when I went in to ask for something fresh out of the oven the sales person( owner) looked at me as if I was some riffraff then he said everything is fresh. I said I meant 'hot of the oven' and again he gave me a nasty look and pointed to a fresh bread. I asked if they had some salty scones instead of chocolate ones he said no. I asked about some scones that were in the distance and seemed salty. He said those were the same as in the front and pointed to them. I touched it by mistake to check if it was hot and he got so angry he removed it from the front and put it to the side which is fine I know I shouldn't have touched it but it is not the first time even when I didn't touch anything in this store their attitude was extremely unwelcoming- good riddance!
(1)
Asparagus S.
The scones are oversized, dense, balls of undercooked dough. I've had many from this location and have been disappointed every time. If you've ever had a great scone, you will know pretty quickly that Great Harvest's scones are not great. Not even good.
(1)
Jen M.
Worst.Customer.Service.Ever. This place is a disgrace. They bake great bread, but the customer service and the owner's attitude is abysmal. I've purchased bread in the past and received unfriendly service, and I've also brought my young kids there for a sample AND to purchase bread, and they are so incredibly awful that I wouldn't dare step foot in there again. I don't appreciate being made to feel badly for something as benign as purchasing bread (in one instance I merely asked what was in a particular bread and was given an eye roll and a rude response) and furthermore, I don't want my kids to be made to feel badly for having done absolutely nothing wrong. This place has terrible, negative energy that I don't plan to set foot in ever again.
(1)
Horace L.
Had some focaccia and a scone from these guys earlier this year. Both were huge and delicious. No problems with service. Couldn't get through more than a bite of their blueberry muffin though.
(4)
Mike D.
The baked goods are wonderful, but the owner is such a curmudgeon that I have not gone in there for the past year. His terrible personality is the complete opposite of the quality of the baked goods. He has a wonderful staff working for him. He should stay in the background or out of the store!
(3)
Christian M.
Have been coming to this great harvest for the past 15 years. This location is a settled establishment in the evanston neighborhood and will always be my go to place for fresh baked goods/ treats. The best time to pick fresh loaves of bread would be roughly around 11am. As many other people have already recommended, I would also recommend the apple scrapple and the cinnamon swirl. Your life will never be the same after you have tried these two.
(5)
Em S.
Walked in to check out a sample and the (I'm guessing) manager started yelling which I honestly thought he was being sarcastic at first til he changed tones. From what I remember as I was walking out the door, he called me and the other people with me "assholes" and that just did its for me. Talk about bad customer service. It's a downer because right when I walked in, the place smelled amazing and the goods looked great, but the vibes weren't doing it for me.
(1)
Raul G.
There is nothing like waking up early in the morning and heading out for some fresh bread. Unfortunately, no bread at this place when the doors open. If you are planning on making a special trip to Great Harvest before heading to work, then do what the baker does. Sleep in and find a different place that will have bread when the doors open.
(1)
Nicole P.
Went into harvest yesterday with my boyfriend and was SO pleasantly surprised!! I love olive bread and when I saw that they had fresh olive bread I was soooo excited! But this bread had two different kind of lives and was whole wheat so I was wondering if I'd like this bread as well.. I asked for a little sampling not knowing if they even did this and Phil (owner) gave us a huge dollop to sample :) much to my excitement it was outstanding! Scooped up a loaf of that good stuff and a lemon poppyseed scone for an instant gratification (which it was) ... Well I have now laid down the law that this is now a weekly stop we must make!! Hoping to make friendly with the owners as we have so much admiration for this place! Also, it's WELL worth the slightly higher prices that you would pay for "gourmet breads" at the supermarket!!!
(5)
Tree H.
This place produces excellent baked goods. The bread does feel little overpriced, but it is excellent. I've had odd experiences with the staff, as well. There was a guy, who I haven't seen there for months, who was just rude. I felt that his body language, tone, and overall presence was intimidating and negative. Something about it really concerned me. I stopped going there for a while due to that. Looks like other reviewers made similar choices. When I went back over the summer, he was gone. I've been back multiple times since and it seems fine.
(4)
Kaeley K.
Best orange blueberry scone I've ever had! Apple scrapple bread was also very delicious. Parking is a bit of a pain, but the employees were very helpful and offered samples.
(4)
Natalie B.
4 stars bc bread is wonderful and would be five stars but the owner? (who often works counter) is a jerk. I'm there fairly regularly and he is rude every time. But the Dakota bread is awesome and so are the " healthy" blueberry oat bran muffins.
(4)
Kristen S.
Get your gluten free baked goods here Mondays through Saturdays! My favorite is the gluten free cinnamon chip bread - you will not be disappointed. The staff is friendly, ingredients are high quality, and I've never had a problem with the safety. Gluten free breads will run you about $8-9 per loaf. Bon appetit!
(5)
Phill C.
Two of my favorite things whenever I come here is the smell of freshly baked bread and the samples. Just grab a piece of bread, spread on some butter, drizzle with some honey, and you'll soon be in flavor country. Yeehaw! This corner open kitchen style bakery serves up so awesome bread. My favorite is their Honey Whole Wheat, but they also carry a variety of other freshly baked goods. A loaf of bread is pricier then you're typical grocery store bread, but it's well worth the price. Only quality ingredients are used and you can definitely taste the difference.
(5)
Jason T.
* Great scones, get the maple bacon or cinnamon chip * Interesting hippie workers, great neighborhood bakery. Friends brought me here on a Sat morning on a road trip got the chocolate chip scone, maple bacon, and cinnamon chip. all three were pretty good without being too sweet. my fav was the maple bacon. The bakery also has a lot of local character, mostly bc of the people who go and the people who run it. The lady who helped us seemed very friendly and a little out of it. she took order for 3 things, but couldn't remember the third. Some of the freshly baked goods are laid on the counter with a small 6" glass covering the front. the customer in front of me reached forward and took some frosting off an empty tray and ate it. i couldn't help but laugh. he seemed like a regular, and that shit would not fly at other bakeries. The owner had a tye dye shirt on and while talking passionately about the blackhawks, some food came out of his mouth while walking. PLEASE do not take my review as a bad review. The breads that i've had are all hearty, wholesome, and delicious. The people here are unique and really make for a neighborhood fav spot. They'll remember your name, and relax when your'e there. I know some of the things seem "gross" but they really weren't violating any health codes at all, just being their hippie selves.
(5)
TC S.
The third star comes for the scones and the cute lady who works behind the counter on Sundays. Every thing else would get one star. The service is generally awful; there is no system about it. They should do numbers. It's a mess. Also, I went in for a sandwich last weekend and there was one person in front of me ordering four sandwiches. It took the girl TWENTY minutes to meticulously place turkey on each and cut them in half. I walked out twenty five minutes later with an okay sandwich and my husband announced, "We are never going there again!" Which is not true...I'll be back for the cinnamon scone....but seriously 25 minutes for a sandwich when you're second in line??? Ridiculous. The owner is hit and miss, sometimes in a great mood, sometimes rude and grumpy. If it weren't down the street, it would not be a go-to for me. But it is, and darn those samples are yummy....
(3)
Maria L.
I grew up with a Great Harvest in my home town and love it dearly. This place is NOTHING like it- service and ambiance-wise. The bread and other delights are delicious but I WILL NEVER give them my money again! These days I rarely write a review of places that are not great, but I haven't gotten shit on by people to whom I'm giving my money like this for a long, long time. GO ELSEWHERE! No bakery goodies are worth the rudeness, attitude and general bad vibe of this place that disgraces the Great Harvest name.
(2)
Robyn B.
The weekend ritual at my house is not complete without a big bag of Great Harvest's fabulous scones! And, I have never had anything from here that wasn't delicious - I'm kind of a connoisseur of their goods at this point and recommend everything from their cookies, lemon tea cake and apple scrapple to the soups and sandwiches they serve at lunch. Yum!!
(5)
Roseann M.
You know, I'd really like to give this place more stars - maybe a half star more? - but they seem to have problems with some basic things. First, the good stuff - the place smells fantastic, it seems to be clean, and they have variety. You can get a sandwich made to order in the back, which I've done a couple of times, and that was really good, albeit pricey. I mean, it's a sandwich, right? Why should it cost $6? I can get a really tasty sandwich at Subway down the block for a lot less than that. So, the price does hold me back. Second, I can only review the baked goods I've had. A few weeks ago they were giving out samples of the chocolate babka - yes, Seinfeld fans, chocolate babka. And I realized why Elaine Benes had to have chocolate babka, and chocolate babka only. This was a heavenly, sinful, silky version of warm, soft chocolate and yeasty bread. Just the sample was enough to fill me up, but we still wanted more. HOWEVER . . . I was in there Saturday (yesterday), and was reminded why I'm not that crazy about the place. The gentleman who I believe is the owner/patriarch offered me a sample of a chocolate cake/bread. It wasn't sweet at all. It was dark in color, but I really couldn't get much chocolate flavor out of it. And the cake was dark chocolate, with lots of chocolate icing. Where's the flavor? I went in the place really wanting a cookie, looked and looked, and, until I had already paid and was leaving, didn't notice the cookies displayed by the door. I had already bought a brownie for $2.50. Now, this brownie reminded me of the brownie I'd had 20 years ago while wandering the Covent Garden area of London. It was mid-afternoon, I wanted some kind of snack, and the restaurants seemed to be all closed. And I didn't really want a meal, just a munchie. So I found a bakery near Covent Garden and I bought a brownie. As I bit into that long-ago brownie, I thought, only the English could ruin a brownie. That was, until yesterday, when I bit into Great Harvest's brownie. It was dry - as if it had been sitting around for a few days, not sweet, and, while it looked chocolatey, didn't have much chocolate taste. I took 5 bites and ended up throwing it in the garbage. And let's talk about service. Young lady at the counter, would it kill you to even acknowledge my presence? You're taking money out of my hand - do you have to continue a conversation with another co-worker? Aren't you people in business to make money? Could you at least save "thank you?" Geez, I'm sorry I interrupted your day to support your business during a recession. I'd really really like to like this place, but despite my efforts, the uneven quality, high prices, and lack of staff interest deter me. After all, half the time I'm on Central Street, I'm looking for a decent place to have lunch without spending my rent money. But Great Harvest just ain't it. I talked to my co-workers about it when I got back, and they all said, go to Tag's Bakery for sweets, and just stick to the Subway for your sandwiches. Guess it's time to start listening to them.
(2)
Vanessa C.
Okay..... I get the appeal of Great Harvest, if you know anything about evanston you'll understand that much.....however, we ALL know the obnoxious rude ass, that is the manager or the owner. Either way the dude is a prick. It's a nice little corner bread shop that has samples, so WHAT's the harm in young children coming in after school for a bit of bread? My younger sister has told me, and i've witnesssed him, being rude and short when kids come in asking for samples. He makes enough buisness to afford the samples. If he wants to be selfish then I think he would do best to take away the samples....we can live without them.
(3)
Joshua N.
Really great place to grab a freshly made sandwich. The menu is very limited, but everything is fresh tasting and you get to choose from about six of their homemade breads. I had turkey on "popeye" (spinach and Parmesan) with sprouts, onions, lettuce, carrots, mustard, and mayo. They have a few tables that you can sit down and eat at, but it is mainly carry-out business. Tons of baked goods available to take home and they all looked amazing. My only complaint is that a lot of the treats, particularly the seductive monkey bread (like a cinnamon roll loaf made out of croissant dough) , are only available in full loaves. Too much for a snack and I really hate to keep large amounts of delicious baked goods in the house because I can't be trusted with sweets.
(5)
Twiddle N.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! I have gone in for a sandwich and loved it. I have taken home their apple strapple -thingy twice, and loved it! I just bought a loaf of the Dakota bread and it is phenomenal! I can't wait to try more varieties of the bread!
(5)
David K.
What a treat. They now make sandwiches which were great. Would have been nice to have it toasted and will ask next time. Just discovered a new favorite which is the Mocha Scone. Biscotti's are nice and big and they have at least 4 different kinds to choose from. All of the breads are fresh and hardy and with no preservatives. Lots of varieties to choose from.
(5)
Ngoc H.
Walked in here on a random Monday morning after dropping off my baby sister at the doctors and after got my Starbucks fix to stumble upon a very interesting place on the corner. I decided to stop in. There are gluten free choices but I ended up just getting a scone, and let me tell you... one of the best scones I have ever had in my life. I expected to break this lump of heaven in half and have crumbs all over my lap. It was, believe it or not, in tact after I dismantled it.. They even have a sandwich/coffee station and already preprepared quiche that you can take home to enjoy.The staff is nice and there is meter parking right across the street. I know I will be craving more of their goodies and will definitely be returning.
(4)
Jean C.
This place is actually sort of funny in a good way. We stopped in after a trip to The Spice House because Dawn wanted to see if they had any apple scrapple (they did) and I needed a loaf of bread because the ones in my fridge were so old that even at low temps they were going moldy. There was a line, and people kept on coming in, but oddly we never really waited for attention. The guys behind the counter were fast and efficient in spite of the fact that they had a running schtick about how they knew we wanted to order more than we had. However with a chocolate babka, an apple scrapple, some monkey bread and a couple of loaves of bread, we figured we had more than enough bakery goods for the week. Prices were excellent, too! So far we've tried the monkey bread and the babka, and both were excellent, but honestly the babka and scrapple are so large that I'm going to have to cut them up and freeze them in pieces (I was assured by one of the counter guys that everything freezes very well.) Oh and the guy with the eyelashes? Seriously cute.
(4)
Carolynne M.
Q) Is this some sort of swank, high-falutin Gold Coast bakery? A) Nope, look how down-to-earth and old timey the interior is. We are in Evanston! You can tell because there's an actual parking lot across the street with meters that dont charge 25 cents a minute and none of the women are wearing Louboutins. Q) OK, I don't get it. Whats the draw? Is there a singing baker or acrobatics or gold bouillons inside each loaf or something? Cuz $8 for a foccacia? $6 for a loaf of bread? $7 for a small bag of granola? What the hell is this place? A) No again! This is "fancy" bread which means they can charge an arm & a leg for "all-natural" and "crazy" ingredients like apples and spinach! Q) Hm, well, it tastes good, I'll give it that, but couldnt I just make this same thing at home for 1/16 the price? A) I guess in theory you could, silly, but we all know you and 90% of the population isnt going to fuss with making bread in the home in 2008! So this is marketing genius! Pump some yummy smells in the air and make a killing profit-wise! Q) So, before I shell out big bucks for this bread, can I at least get a sample first? A) Its a definite possibility. Almost like tracking snow leopards in the wild, you never know when you might happen upon an elusive bread sample. But dont ask if you dont see it! Lest you fall victim to a Soup-Nazi-esque spoof along the lines of "NO! NO samples today! No fancy bread for you!" Q) I'm sold! I'm going to place my order right now for 5 loaves. Anyone have a $50 on them? I'm totally good for it. A) Yeah as if! I need that $50 to go toward a new pair of Louboutins.
(3)
d a.
Mixed views. Their sandwiches and breads are creative and large but not incredibly awesome. the sandwiches are extremely pedestrian. You take the first bite and say there's nothing really interesting or wonderful about this-think cafeteria food. The muffins are so so. The blueberry grain muffin was awful. But the portions are great. You're paying for one muffin but getting a muffin that is size and a half so if you like it, it's a very good deal. If you like unrefined it is what it is food in large portions for moderate prices, this is your place. The people that work there are very very nice and passionate about what they do and put a lot of care into the business and their work. Parking is easy and it's metro accessible. the desserts are much better and again if this is a place you like you're going to really love because they put a lot of love into the product and it's a rare place where the sizes are much bigger than you think and about as big as you'll find anywhere.
(2)
Cody R.
Good, simple bakery... with samples (oh yeah!). The bread selection is super healthy (multi-grain is only the beginning). They have some pretty tasty sandwiches but little to no sweet selection. That's understandable considering it's a "bread company" but it would be nice to have a few pastries. Don't get me wrong, they do have a brownie or two. They also have this thing called a Savannah bar which is delightful. The verdict is that it's not bad for a bread shop. And if you're not sure, just ask for a sample.
(3)
Tom K.
The scones are great--especially the lemon poppyseed--but the guy who is a co-owner is such an asshat that I don't come here often.
Gerald F.
I've never in my life had scones as moist and sweet as these! And the Apple Scrapple and Cinnamon Swirl are to die for! I work at the Three Crowns Park retirement community down the street and like to stop by in the mornings for a scone or a batch of cookies. In the afternoons, I'll often grab a loaf of bread as I head to the train station to go home. I can't wait for winters when Great Harvest serves up great hot soup! I love the beef barley; it's my favorite! I just wish they served it all year round. I've had the sandwiches. They're not bad but I'd rather walk down to Foodstuffs nearby for sandwiches.
(5)Eric G.
Stopped by for the first time today. Though it would be like a panera, but definitely more focus on the breads. Big and open space with lots of fresh breads and bread-related treats. Had a turkey sandwich, but the flavor was really good - the turkey and veg were definitely fresh. Had it on popeye bread which was also very good. The guy behind the counter asked me if I wanted a sample of something, which I agreed too - I think had some type of zuchini or pumpkin bread - it was excellent. Pricing was a little more than I expected, more than tags, about equal to Benisons. I would give them another try for lunch in the future. They also have glutten free if you have such dietary needs.
(5)Honor S.
If you're trying to watch your weight, then keep on walking!!...Though the aromas alone will be very satisfying!! But if you've decided to cast aside the calorie counting for the day, then by all means, do go inside this wonderful corner business and savor a sample or two before making your final decision. The people aim to please, and the wares are sure to please...just go for a good long walk afterwards!!
(4)Dave K.
Prior to visiting this Great Harvest, scones to me were brick-like baked goods, only made edible after dipping them into hot chocolate. Scones at Great Harvest ($2/each) are different. They're BIG, moist, flavorful, and good. My favorites include raspberry, blueberry and the combination orange/cranberry--all made with real bits of fruit. I like to stop by on my way to the airport, since these scones travel well, and make great airplane snacks. The chocolate chip banana bread is drier than I normally like it, and best eaten the same day. When I went in late morning on Sunday, they had already sold out of many favorites. They usually have free bread samples laid out on the counter when you walk in, so take advantage!
(5)Joyce M.
I love this place! Fantastic breads, scones, cookies, and sandwiches. It is a nice family, neighborhood hangout. The apple scrapple is to die for (I ate a loaf a week when pregnant!). It's great to be able to sample things and I always feel comfortable bringing the kids. This is a great place to buy a gift (they have nice baskets) or order rolls or breads for the holidays.
(5)Heather C.
Great bakery on Central St. Scones, especially the blueberry Wildcat, are delicious and the bread is amazing.
(5)Ryan F.
A little price but the bread is the best in the world! cant find better bread, or cookies. ANYONE WHO HASNT BEEN THERE, GO!!!!! just buy a loaf of white simple bread and you can taste the fresh sweet smell of perfection that the people who work there put into it. They eavan allow you to try any kind of bread, just ask and you can try. :) go wake up early buy a loaf, and just eat it at the park across the street fom the store! it is the best!!!!
(5)Joe S.
I don't know enough about the owner/manager that everyone seems to be harping on. I also wasn't aware that this is a chain? I was all ready to give this place a gleaming review for the handful of times I've been in there. I've always thought the bread was great along with the soups and sandwiches for lunch. Might be a touch pricey but it's Evanston. Fancy pants area equals fancy pants prices. Liked the sample of 'stuffing bread' I tried. I'll reserve the two extra stars TBD after further visits but I honestly don't think it's as bad as most are making it out to be.
(3)Joanne L.
It's worth making a separate stop to get your bread at this wonderful bread/bake shop! My favorite is the Dakota. They've got a great variety of breads and sweet things, some very healthy, some very 'sinful', and all are delicious. The oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are heavenly, and the scones are wonderful. For a sweet breakfast coffee cake alternative, check out the apple scrapple. And, the staff is very friendly!
(5)Kristen W.
Oh my, what can I say about this fantastic bakery? Having years and years of experience in bakery-buying under my belt, I cannot tell you how surprised I was when I bit into the delectable scones from Great Harvest. They are the best!! and that's not to mention the bread! If you have to drive from a distance, this place is worth it. Be sure to grab a schedule of weekly bread/scone offerings because you are sure to find a favorite and you will want to come back to buy more. I love the concept of this place: wholesome, simple, consistent and hearty. The scones are HUGE, you can eat half and be full for both breakfast and lunch. The breads range from the chocolate babkas to the savory popeye-style loaves with spinach and cheddar. Did I mention the teacakes? So far, I've had lemon and orange. Imagine a petite loaf of light and fluffy orange or lemon cake coated with an almost crispy layer of white frosting. Believe me, you will finish the loaf before the day is through, if it even makes it into your home. Did I mention that I like this place? I only wish they had a location closer to me. But then again, maybe it's best that they don't. Yum.
(5)Izzy A.
I've lived down the street from this place my whole life. And dont get me wrong, the bread is delicious. However, their service is appalling. When I went to the local middle school several years ago, the staff was very rude to the students who wanted free bread. This I semi-understood because a bunch of screeching teenagers can be aggravating. Today, however, I went in (as an adult, mind you) to try some bread as my mom wanted to buy a loaf later on but didn't know what kind. When I asked to try the bread, an older gentleman who was behind the counter was unbelievably rude to me. He was almost sarcastic and mocking and wouldnt answer any of my questions about what kind of bread was available. He just thrust the slice of bread at me and said 'thank you' in a crude manner. Growing up around here and getting free bread as a child and teenager they have always been rude to me, however I brushed that off as them seeing me as a freeloading teen. As an adult, I was shocked. If giving out free samples is such a burden for them they should stop offering. I will not be visiting this place again, which is a shame because they have great bread and I like to suppor local business. They really need to work on their service though..
(2)CKay D.
I stopped in there because I saw a sign saying they had sandwiches and boy am I glad I did... This place blows Panera out of the water! It has a cute, home-y, Mayberry type feel to it in there, but that's not the best part of it.. The smell of bread in there is unbelievable. You can tell the food is good by that alone. I had the Popeye bread on my sandwich which was some sort of spinach and cheese concoction that the clerk recommended... Amazing! I've never tasted cheese like that in bread! It's not like the cheese that's just there to look pretty on Subway's bread. Will definitely be going back.. Prices were pretty good too
(5)Midori G.
I love BREAD and I LOVE oatmeal chocolate chip cookies; they have them both here so I think it's a pretty swell place. I cannot explain how much better the bread is here than anywhere else and I strongly recommend you come here for some; but because it tastes so good out of the oven I don't recommend storing it in the fridge or freezer, thus buying a whole loaf for yourself probably isn't the best idea.
(5)Kathy R.
Nothing compares to homemade bread, just out of the oven. Great Harvest is the next best thing. I came here recently after hitting up The Spice House down the street; I was drawn in by the smell of fresh bread wafting through the open doors. I used to go regularly to their former store in Arlington Heights, but it closed years ago. This is now the only outpost serving the north 'burbs. My favorite is the Honey Whole Wheat, although I've bought a handful of others (like Pumpkin Swirl, Focaccia-Italian Herb). What I love about this store is they offer samples; about six different slabs were laid out. The Honey Wheat is dense, and they will cut the loaf into slices (if you request). The bread is a meal unto itself! I don't often indulge, only because I don't refrigerate or freeze the bread (ruins the taste). If I don't eat it quickly, it'll go bad. So I eat it quickly. The bread runs around $5-$6/loaf, so it's reasonable. They also offer sandwiches (turkey, roast beef, PB&J and a couple more), which makes it a nice place to grab lunch. Dipping sauces and bread accompaniments are also sold here. Beware - I had a weird experience with one of the employees here. After another girl went to slice the bread for me, the other worker asked if I needed help. I told him no, and he literally stared me down! I mean locked eyes with me and wouldn't break eye contact. It was so uncomfortable I looked away. Looked back, and he was still staring. "What?," I asked him. "Nothing," he said, while continuing to stare. Dude, that's really rude.
(4)Elmo G.
Ding ding ding! That's the sound of a review upgrade. I've been in here three times over the last few weeks and I have to say everyone behind the counter has been pleasant. The ornery sample guy has not been around any of the times I've been past. And the pastries are truly awesome (sandwiches are good, too). Seriously, it's amazing how much "how can I help you" and "have a nice day" can do. Smiles are great as well. Woo-hoo!
(4)Jennifer W.
Amazing bread!
(5)Wrigley F.
The good news: the bread is really good. Its homemade, natural ingredients, its fresh (most of the time). The bad news: you need to be careful, they sell bread that was made the day before and charge full price. That's especially the case on Sundays. The really bad news: the service seems to be getting worse and worse here. Its unfortunate, because its mostly little local stores and boutiques on Central St. and most have great service. Not at Great Harvest. The staff will ignore you. If you're not a regular, they will wait on their regulars and favorite customers first. (it really sucks when there is a line and they serve customers in haphazard order). The owner/manager (the guy) makes it known that he doesn't like customers to order 1 scone/cookie and its not worth his time. The other owner/manager (the woman) is actually very nice...and the staff are generally more helpful and polite when she is there. I often swear I'll never go back...but I then remember how good the bread is.
(2)Sydney V.
I found two hairs in my scone this week. It wasn't my hair - they were baked in. Gross. This happened right after the rude guy at the cash register yelled at me for leaving crumbs on the table where I sat while eating a bit of the scone. I'll never go there again.
(1)Becky N.
I am so happy I remembered this place was around!!! Best sandwich I have had in a LONG time. So fresh with the perfect amount of roast beef and cheddar, makes me want to slap my momma!!! Great goat cheese basil/arugula (?) focaccia!!!! I'm hooked and coming back for more soon. Thanks for being an Evanston business.
(5)Karen R.
I went here for the first time two weeks ago and picked up a loaf of the superfood bread. It was expensive, but wow! It's hands-down the best sandwich bread I've ever had. It lasted on my counter for over a week, just as fresh as the day I bought it, and was delicious.
(4)Tasha P.
The bread is local, fresh, about as healthy as bread can be! While you're here, you should pick up some of their delicious cinnamon or apple breads and pastries. They also offer cookies, scrumptious scones and brownies, gluten free breads and brownies, coffee and soups in the winter/fall. ICED CINNAMON ROLLS, MMMM..... Also a note on the texture/consistency of their bread: they don't make crusty breads. They're all soft crusts. Sandwiches are made to order also, with punch cards for sandwiches and breads. I ordered a sandwich once, which was meticulously (read: slowly) made and tasty, but a little overpriced in my opinion.
(4)Ann Y.
Sure, the breads are a bit pricey, but they are amazing. I just tried the stuffing bread and I am in love. It would be the perfect bread for a turkey sandwich. What I love about Great Harvest is that they are fresh and different. I will be back. Oh, I noticed that they were great about giving samples to kids that were in there with their parents, so I am not sure what people were talking about.
(4)J. K.
It's been over 20 years since I first walked through the door of GHB and gladly accepted a sample slice. Sadly, I moved across the country a few years back, and they are no longer a short drive away. Now, I am relegated to visiting when I am in town, or talking friends into picking up a loaf when they visit. It is still the standard to which I judge all bakers, they are that good. What I once thought was just a bunch of earthy people passing their time making munchies I now understand to be the way it should be: People who truly enjoy baking and putting that enjoyment into each loaf. Heck, I'd mail order it if I could! Don't miss: Apple Scrapple, Cinnamon Swirl, Cinnamon Raisin Walnut. Sourdough and Honey Whole Wheat are yummy staples that your belly will love you for. Yes, prices are more than what you'll pay at Jewel or Dominick's, but it's hand made locally - what do you expect?
(5)Tom F.
Great Harvest bakery where you can see action and baking of the breads. It smells also really good. You can taste large free size samples with butter or honey. Their breads have some special taste and texture, way different than other craft breads in Chicago area. To me it looks like somebody is just throwing some ingredients together without using the right techniques. Their breads taste well only when fresh, warm from the oven.
(3)Pamela P.
My husband is in love with their Chocolate Babka -- So much so that he dreams about it. With it's chocolate chips and buttery flaky goodness, it's just a whole lot of dessert. I adore their low-carb Dakota (really nutty, grainy and almost sweet) and other yum yums. The people are always super nice and charming and will let you sample whatever goodness you have your eye on! Highly, highly recommended
(5)Tammy Q.
I walked in here and the sweet smell of bread filled my lungs immediately! There were all kinds of bread -- apple, cinnamon, low carb, whole grain -- so many to choose from. I chose a turkey and provolone sandwich on spinach and tomato bread (recommended by a friendly gal there). The bread is chewy -- just like how I love my bread. The turkey was a bit salty, but still yummy. They have this section of the counter where you can sample all of their sweets. This, I think, is a great marketing tactic. Let people try the product first before they invest in it. Everything is home made there. I had the chocolate babka which is shaped like a cinnamon roll, filled with tons of chocolate chips and probably the size of my head. I so wanted to get one -- but I just opted for the sample and called it a day. One day, I will come back and get that babka. To fulfill my sweet tooth, I got a mini tollhouse pie. It's a chocolate chip with a pie crust in a small foil container. This was love at first bite. You can totally taste the butter in this. I devoured that bad boy in 2 seconds.
(4)Michelle P.
All the bread here is amazing. My favorite is the apple scrapple - huge chunks of apple baked into the dough, and covered with an layer of streusel that they could get away selling by itself. I'd easily buy a bag of that streusel. Asiago pesto is another standout. But their regular wheat bread is excellent too. Their cookies and scones are also top notch - and the scones are huge - enough to eat some now, some later, some later on. Definite 5 stars!
(5)TheCriticizer S.
Avoid this place. The washroom is not clean, and has a dried out P-Trap under the floor drain which cause sewer gas to emit from it that smells so much you can smell it when you walk in the front door. The sink in the washroom has a two handle faucet and if a kid uses it and only turns on the hot side, they can be seriously burned because the temperature is set way above 130°F. At the front counter by the register there are trays of food for sale with sneeze guards, but only for some items. Other items are left unguarded by sneeze guards and the counter is low enough for kids to cough and sneeze on the food for sale. $9.31 for a small kids sandwich with a little meat and a piece of lettuce and a tiny bag of chips an no drink. It didn't taste like $9.31 |;~(
(1)Margaret Z.
I was in the mood for a treat and decided to peruse the options on Central St. I started with Tag Bakery, then Linz and Vail, then Foodstuffs but none of them had anything that called to me. I ended with Great Harvest and was greeted with 7 or 8 loaves of bread that were cut into, and asked if I'd like to sample anything. I went with the apple scrapple and it was to die for. I immediately asked to buy a loaf. The bread is doughy and so delicious. The apple crumble topping was plentiful and addictive. I also decided to purchase a savannah bar, which was tart and sweet and massive (and also sooooo delicious). The more I looked, the more things I saw that I wanted to buy (I'm looking at you, Monkey Bread) but I decided to pace myself and leave a reason to come back :). I have found my new favorite bakery on the North Shore and will definitely, definitely be back.
(5)Razi A.
Excellent fresh bread and baked goods. The apple scrapple and the Popeye bread are phenomenal. Pie meets bread meets pastry. The cinnamon bread is also very hearty. Snickerdoodle cookies are good as well. The staff was really nice to me, so I'm not sure where the previous comments come from. Apple scrapple is a divine concoction. Get it!
(4)Rohan D.
The baked goods here are excellent, some very healthy choices, some very tasty choices, and some are both. The service on the other hand is a little inconsistent. In summer weather, the front end workers often suffer from heat exhaustion and dehydration, there's no air conditioning and it's a bakery after all, it's even hotter and more humid than outside. It's sometimes bad enough that I feel so sorry for the worn out teenagers on cash register duty, I promise myself to go elsewhere next time. That may happen, but on the other hand the location is just so convenient walking out of Ryan Field and whether the Wildcats disappoint me or thrill me, they always play in a way that takes a few years off my lifespan in stress, so I feel the need to go home with some high fiber bread and bran muffins.
(3)Jesse F.
I'm sure a lot of people would say this is over priced. those people would also be wrong. anytime you can get three fist sized scones or muffins for 8 bucks is a good time. and anytime you can get three fist sized scones or muffins that are hand made from "scratch" is a GREAT time. just moved to the city yesterday and got on an early train so I'd have time to check out the local places. this is a fantastic first stop. excellent pastries, friendly staff, and a nice location. I'll be sure to check back in here to see what else they have to offer.
(5)Kait S.
I love this bakery! Everything they have here is terrific! I live for the "Wildcat" (blueberry orange) scones and the pepperoni roll ups. The apple scrapple is delicious but absolutely huge. But hey, it's not much more than the individual sized one and it's breakfast for a week. Also lunch. Occasionally dinner. My beau and I got a chocolate babka for a Seinfeld marathon and it was one of the most magnificent things I've ever eaten! It was buttery and stuffed full of chocolate! Yum. Other things that are delicious and must be tried are, in no particular order -Asiago pest bread -Popeye bread -any scone (apple is 2nd to blueberry/orange) -banana bread -monkey bread Forget diamonds---carbohydrates are a girl's best friend!
(5)Izzi B.
It may be one member of anchain, but Great Harvest quickly became a must stop for me when visiting Evanston. The bread doesn't have a spectacular crust, but it does have an extremely buttery interior. And with the option for hot and huge samples of at least three breads on any given visit, this proved much too hard to resist. The apple scrapple is almost an apple crumble in bread form, as it's filled with chunks of baked green apple with retain a bit of their tang, and topped with a large crumbed and butter and sugar-laden crumble topping. The chocokate babka is contrains threads of dark chocolate batter and chocolate chips, and the cinnamon swirl is an exemplar of the type. The scones are the size of large muffins and are the softer, crackly looking but more risen variety. The Asiago pesto bread contains knifefuls of real pesto and cheese, both inside and on top. The staff are generally friendly and helpful, always great for recommendations. It's a particularly great place to stop on a cold day when the weather feels neigh unbearable. The samples will warm your mouth and fill your belly. They also make custom birthday "drawers" that you can have delivered to friends and family. Keep in mind that said drawers are enormous, often containing 3-4 different kinds of bread.
(4)lesley h.
This place looks incredibly dirty. To add to the unsanitary atmosphere, none of the employees wear gloves or hair nets for baking or just handling the merchandise. It is very unappetizing to see them touch the breads with their bare hands as well as the money. The breads are out on the counters with nothing protecting them from the customers right next to them. What an unappealing place.
(2)Steve A.
The bread here is okay, but a lot of the other baked goods always seem like they needed a few more minutes to brown up, and a little bit more texture or crunch to make them interesting. But the real downside are the people behind the counter. I hate to criticize, but I've been here three times, and felt unwelcome on each visit, like my presence was inconveniencing them. I've spoken with others who agree, so it's not just me. As a result, I prefer to shop down the street.
(2)Tracy H.
Love this place! Excellent scones. They are HUGE and so moist and fresh, love the pumpkin and mocha ones! Staff is very friendly and I enjoy all of the samples. The monkey bread is a treat and the apple scrapple is to die for. I have never been disappointed by their baked goods. Haven't tried the soups/sandwiches yet though.
(5)K R.
Ever since we discovered this place, my fiance and I have been hooked! I'm always a fan of supporting local mom&pop shops, especially ones that seem to take such care in preparing their product. There hasn't been one thing that we've purchased here that we didn't like. From the scones, to the sliced breads, to the chocolate babka - we've loved every purchase. But over the last couple of years, the service has become a complete turn off. I'm thankful that getting attitude from the owner is not an isolated incident. The owner will be "okay" with me (not great, but will get the transaction done), but is nearly an all-out jerk to my fiance. He must not be hurting for money if he feels like he can treat patrons like they don't belong there. We may take our dollars somewhere else.
(2)Humaira A.
It's a record - I never found what I was looking for here even in bread family! And the other record is the nasty attitude of sales people here every single time. I hope this shop moves out of my neighborhood. Never going back after today's experience when I went in to ask for something fresh out of the oven the sales person( owner) looked at me as if I was some riffraff then he said everything is fresh. I said I meant 'hot of the oven' and again he gave me a nasty look and pointed to a fresh bread. I asked if they had some salty scones instead of chocolate ones he said no. I asked about some scones that were in the distance and seemed salty. He said those were the same as in the front and pointed to them. I touched it by mistake to check if it was hot and he got so angry he removed it from the front and put it to the side which is fine I know I shouldn't have touched it but it is not the first time even when I didn't touch anything in this store their attitude was extremely unwelcoming- good riddance!
(1)Asparagus S.
The scones are oversized, dense, balls of undercooked dough. I've had many from this location and have been disappointed every time. If you've ever had a great scone, you will know pretty quickly that Great Harvest's scones are not great. Not even good.
(1)Jen M.
Worst.Customer.Service.Ever. This place is a disgrace. They bake great bread, but the customer service and the owner's attitude is abysmal. I've purchased bread in the past and received unfriendly service, and I've also brought my young kids there for a sample AND to purchase bread, and they are so incredibly awful that I wouldn't dare step foot in there again. I don't appreciate being made to feel badly for something as benign as purchasing bread (in one instance I merely asked what was in a particular bread and was given an eye roll and a rude response) and furthermore, I don't want my kids to be made to feel badly for having done absolutely nothing wrong. This place has terrible, negative energy that I don't plan to set foot in ever again.
(1)Horace L.
Had some focaccia and a scone from these guys earlier this year. Both were huge and delicious. No problems with service. Couldn't get through more than a bite of their blueberry muffin though.
(4)Mike D.
The baked goods are wonderful, but the owner is such a curmudgeon that I have not gone in there for the past year. His terrible personality is the complete opposite of the quality of the baked goods. He has a wonderful staff working for him. He should stay in the background or out of the store!
(3)Christian M.
Have been coming to this great harvest for the past 15 years. This location is a settled establishment in the evanston neighborhood and will always be my go to place for fresh baked goods/ treats. The best time to pick fresh loaves of bread would be roughly around 11am. As many other people have already recommended, I would also recommend the apple scrapple and the cinnamon swirl. Your life will never be the same after you have tried these two.
(5)Em S.
Walked in to check out a sample and the (I'm guessing) manager started yelling which I honestly thought he was being sarcastic at first til he changed tones. From what I remember as I was walking out the door, he called me and the other people with me "assholes" and that just did its for me. Talk about bad customer service. It's a downer because right when I walked in, the place smelled amazing and the goods looked great, but the vibes weren't doing it for me.
(1)Raul G.
There is nothing like waking up early in the morning and heading out for some fresh bread. Unfortunately, no bread at this place when the doors open. If you are planning on making a special trip to Great Harvest before heading to work, then do what the baker does. Sleep in and find a different place that will have bread when the doors open.
(1)Nicole P.
Went into harvest yesterday with my boyfriend and was SO pleasantly surprised!! I love olive bread and when I saw that they had fresh olive bread I was soooo excited! But this bread had two different kind of lives and was whole wheat so I was wondering if I'd like this bread as well.. I asked for a little sampling not knowing if they even did this and Phil (owner) gave us a huge dollop to sample :) much to my excitement it was outstanding! Scooped up a loaf of that good stuff and a lemon poppyseed scone for an instant gratification (which it was) ... Well I have now laid down the law that this is now a weekly stop we must make!! Hoping to make friendly with the owners as we have so much admiration for this place! Also, it's WELL worth the slightly higher prices that you would pay for "gourmet breads" at the supermarket!!!
(5)Tree H.
This place produces excellent baked goods. The bread does feel little overpriced, but it is excellent. I've had odd experiences with the staff, as well. There was a guy, who I haven't seen there for months, who was just rude. I felt that his body language, tone, and overall presence was intimidating and negative. Something about it really concerned me. I stopped going there for a while due to that. Looks like other reviewers made similar choices. When I went back over the summer, he was gone. I've been back multiple times since and it seems fine.
(4)Kaeley K.
Best orange blueberry scone I've ever had! Apple scrapple bread was also very delicious. Parking is a bit of a pain, but the employees were very helpful and offered samples.
(4)Natalie B.
4 stars bc bread is wonderful and would be five stars but the owner? (who often works counter) is a jerk. I'm there fairly regularly and he is rude every time. But the Dakota bread is awesome and so are the " healthy" blueberry oat bran muffins.
(4)Kristen S.
Get your gluten free baked goods here Mondays through Saturdays! My favorite is the gluten free cinnamon chip bread - you will not be disappointed. The staff is friendly, ingredients are high quality, and I've never had a problem with the safety. Gluten free breads will run you about $8-9 per loaf. Bon appetit!
(5)Phill C.
Two of my favorite things whenever I come here is the smell of freshly baked bread and the samples. Just grab a piece of bread, spread on some butter, drizzle with some honey, and you'll soon be in flavor country. Yeehaw! This corner open kitchen style bakery serves up so awesome bread. My favorite is their Honey Whole Wheat, but they also carry a variety of other freshly baked goods. A loaf of bread is pricier then you're typical grocery store bread, but it's well worth the price. Only quality ingredients are used and you can definitely taste the difference.
(5)Jason T.
* Great scones, get the maple bacon or cinnamon chip * Interesting hippie workers, great neighborhood bakery. Friends brought me here on a Sat morning on a road trip got the chocolate chip scone, maple bacon, and cinnamon chip. all three were pretty good without being too sweet. my fav was the maple bacon. The bakery also has a lot of local character, mostly bc of the people who go and the people who run it. The lady who helped us seemed very friendly and a little out of it. she took order for 3 things, but couldn't remember the third. Some of the freshly baked goods are laid on the counter with a small 6" glass covering the front. the customer in front of me reached forward and took some frosting off an empty tray and ate it. i couldn't help but laugh. he seemed like a regular, and that shit would not fly at other bakeries. The owner had a tye dye shirt on and while talking passionately about the blackhawks, some food came out of his mouth while walking. PLEASE do not take my review as a bad review. The breads that i've had are all hearty, wholesome, and delicious. The people here are unique and really make for a neighborhood fav spot. They'll remember your name, and relax when your'e there. I know some of the things seem "gross" but they really weren't violating any health codes at all, just being their hippie selves.
(5)TC S.
The third star comes for the scones and the cute lady who works behind the counter on Sundays. Every thing else would get one star. The service is generally awful; there is no system about it. They should do numbers. It's a mess. Also, I went in for a sandwich last weekend and there was one person in front of me ordering four sandwiches. It took the girl TWENTY minutes to meticulously place turkey on each and cut them in half. I walked out twenty five minutes later with an okay sandwich and my husband announced, "We are never going there again!" Which is not true...I'll be back for the cinnamon scone....but seriously 25 minutes for a sandwich when you're second in line??? Ridiculous. The owner is hit and miss, sometimes in a great mood, sometimes rude and grumpy. If it weren't down the street, it would not be a go-to for me. But it is, and darn those samples are yummy....
(3)Maria L.
I grew up with a Great Harvest in my home town and love it dearly. This place is NOTHING like it- service and ambiance-wise. The bread and other delights are delicious but I WILL NEVER give them my money again! These days I rarely write a review of places that are not great, but I haven't gotten shit on by people to whom I'm giving my money like this for a long, long time. GO ELSEWHERE! No bakery goodies are worth the rudeness, attitude and general bad vibe of this place that disgraces the Great Harvest name.
(2)Robyn B.
The weekend ritual at my house is not complete without a big bag of Great Harvest's fabulous scones! And, I have never had anything from here that wasn't delicious - I'm kind of a connoisseur of their goods at this point and recommend everything from their cookies, lemon tea cake and apple scrapple to the soups and sandwiches they serve at lunch. Yum!!
(5)Roseann M.
You know, I'd really like to give this place more stars - maybe a half star more? - but they seem to have problems with some basic things. First, the good stuff - the place smells fantastic, it seems to be clean, and they have variety. You can get a sandwich made to order in the back, which I've done a couple of times, and that was really good, albeit pricey. I mean, it's a sandwich, right? Why should it cost $6? I can get a really tasty sandwich at Subway down the block for a lot less than that. So, the price does hold me back. Second, I can only review the baked goods I've had. A few weeks ago they were giving out samples of the chocolate babka - yes, Seinfeld fans, chocolate babka. And I realized why Elaine Benes had to have chocolate babka, and chocolate babka only. This was a heavenly, sinful, silky version of warm, soft chocolate and yeasty bread. Just the sample was enough to fill me up, but we still wanted more. HOWEVER . . . I was in there Saturday (yesterday), and was reminded why I'm not that crazy about the place. The gentleman who I believe is the owner/patriarch offered me a sample of a chocolate cake/bread. It wasn't sweet at all. It was dark in color, but I really couldn't get much chocolate flavor out of it. And the cake was dark chocolate, with lots of chocolate icing. Where's the flavor? I went in the place really wanting a cookie, looked and looked, and, until I had already paid and was leaving, didn't notice the cookies displayed by the door. I had already bought a brownie for $2.50. Now, this brownie reminded me of the brownie I'd had 20 years ago while wandering the Covent Garden area of London. It was mid-afternoon, I wanted some kind of snack, and the restaurants seemed to be all closed. And I didn't really want a meal, just a munchie. So I found a bakery near Covent Garden and I bought a brownie. As I bit into that long-ago brownie, I thought, only the English could ruin a brownie. That was, until yesterday, when I bit into Great Harvest's brownie. It was dry - as if it had been sitting around for a few days, not sweet, and, while it looked chocolatey, didn't have much chocolate taste. I took 5 bites and ended up throwing it in the garbage. And let's talk about service. Young lady at the counter, would it kill you to even acknowledge my presence? You're taking money out of my hand - do you have to continue a conversation with another co-worker? Aren't you people in business to make money? Could you at least save "thank you?" Geez, I'm sorry I interrupted your day to support your business during a recession. I'd really really like to like this place, but despite my efforts, the uneven quality, high prices, and lack of staff interest deter me. After all, half the time I'm on Central Street, I'm looking for a decent place to have lunch without spending my rent money. But Great Harvest just ain't it. I talked to my co-workers about it when I got back, and they all said, go to Tag's Bakery for sweets, and just stick to the Subway for your sandwiches. Guess it's time to start listening to them.
(2)Vanessa C.
Okay..... I get the appeal of Great Harvest, if you know anything about evanston you'll understand that much.....however, we ALL know the obnoxious rude ass, that is the manager or the owner. Either way the dude is a prick. It's a nice little corner bread shop that has samples, so WHAT's the harm in young children coming in after school for a bit of bread? My younger sister has told me, and i've witnesssed him, being rude and short when kids come in asking for samples. He makes enough buisness to afford the samples. If he wants to be selfish then I think he would do best to take away the samples....we can live without them.
(3)Joshua N.
Really great place to grab a freshly made sandwich. The menu is very limited, but everything is fresh tasting and you get to choose from about six of their homemade breads. I had turkey on "popeye" (spinach and Parmesan) with sprouts, onions, lettuce, carrots, mustard, and mayo. They have a few tables that you can sit down and eat at, but it is mainly carry-out business. Tons of baked goods available to take home and they all looked amazing. My only complaint is that a lot of the treats, particularly the seductive monkey bread (like a cinnamon roll loaf made out of croissant dough) , are only available in full loaves. Too much for a snack and I really hate to keep large amounts of delicious baked goods in the house because I can't be trusted with sweets.
(5)Twiddle N.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! I have gone in for a sandwich and loved it. I have taken home their apple strapple -thingy twice, and loved it! I just bought a loaf of the Dakota bread and it is phenomenal! I can't wait to try more varieties of the bread!
(5)David K.
What a treat. They now make sandwiches which were great. Would have been nice to have it toasted and will ask next time. Just discovered a new favorite which is the Mocha Scone. Biscotti's are nice and big and they have at least 4 different kinds to choose from. All of the breads are fresh and hardy and with no preservatives. Lots of varieties to choose from.
(5)Ngoc H.
Walked in here on a random Monday morning after dropping off my baby sister at the doctors and after got my Starbucks fix to stumble upon a very interesting place on the corner. I decided to stop in. There are gluten free choices but I ended up just getting a scone, and let me tell you... one of the best scones I have ever had in my life. I expected to break this lump of heaven in half and have crumbs all over my lap. It was, believe it or not, in tact after I dismantled it.. They even have a sandwich/coffee station and already preprepared quiche that you can take home to enjoy.The staff is nice and there is meter parking right across the street. I know I will be craving more of their goodies and will definitely be returning.
(4)Jean C.
This place is actually sort of funny in a good way. We stopped in after a trip to The Spice House because Dawn wanted to see if they had any apple scrapple (they did) and I needed a loaf of bread because the ones in my fridge were so old that even at low temps they were going moldy. There was a line, and people kept on coming in, but oddly we never really waited for attention. The guys behind the counter were fast and efficient in spite of the fact that they had a running schtick about how they knew we wanted to order more than we had. However with a chocolate babka, an apple scrapple, some monkey bread and a couple of loaves of bread, we figured we had more than enough bakery goods for the week. Prices were excellent, too! So far we've tried the monkey bread and the babka, and both were excellent, but honestly the babka and scrapple are so large that I'm going to have to cut them up and freeze them in pieces (I was assured by one of the counter guys that everything freezes very well.) Oh and the guy with the eyelashes? Seriously cute.
(4)Carolynne M.
Q) Is this some sort of swank, high-falutin Gold Coast bakery? A) Nope, look how down-to-earth and old timey the interior is. We are in Evanston! You can tell because there's an actual parking lot across the street with meters that dont charge 25 cents a minute and none of the women are wearing Louboutins. Q) OK, I don't get it. Whats the draw? Is there a singing baker or acrobatics or gold bouillons inside each loaf or something? Cuz $8 for a foccacia? $6 for a loaf of bread? $7 for a small bag of granola? What the hell is this place? A) No again! This is "fancy" bread which means they can charge an arm & a leg for "all-natural" and "crazy" ingredients like apples and spinach! Q) Hm, well, it tastes good, I'll give it that, but couldnt I just make this same thing at home for 1/16 the price? A) I guess in theory you could, silly, but we all know you and 90% of the population isnt going to fuss with making bread in the home in 2008! So this is marketing genius! Pump some yummy smells in the air and make a killing profit-wise! Q) So, before I shell out big bucks for this bread, can I at least get a sample first? A) Its a definite possibility. Almost like tracking snow leopards in the wild, you never know when you might happen upon an elusive bread sample. But dont ask if you dont see it! Lest you fall victim to a Soup-Nazi-esque spoof along the lines of "NO! NO samples today! No fancy bread for you!" Q) I'm sold! I'm going to place my order right now for 5 loaves. Anyone have a $50 on them? I'm totally good for it. A) Yeah as if! I need that $50 to go toward a new pair of Louboutins.
(3)d a.
Mixed views. Their sandwiches and breads are creative and large but not incredibly awesome. the sandwiches are extremely pedestrian. You take the first bite and say there's nothing really interesting or wonderful about this-think cafeteria food. The muffins are so so. The blueberry grain muffin was awful. But the portions are great. You're paying for one muffin but getting a muffin that is size and a half so if you like it, it's a very good deal. If you like unrefined it is what it is food in large portions for moderate prices, this is your place. The people that work there are very very nice and passionate about what they do and put a lot of care into the business and their work. Parking is easy and it's metro accessible. the desserts are much better and again if this is a place you like you're going to really love because they put a lot of love into the product and it's a rare place where the sizes are much bigger than you think and about as big as you'll find anywhere.
(2)Cody R.
Good, simple bakery... with samples (oh yeah!). The bread selection is super healthy (multi-grain is only the beginning). They have some pretty tasty sandwiches but little to no sweet selection. That's understandable considering it's a "bread company" but it would be nice to have a few pastries. Don't get me wrong, they do have a brownie or two. They also have this thing called a Savannah bar which is delightful. The verdict is that it's not bad for a bread shop. And if you're not sure, just ask for a sample.
(3)Tom K.
The scones are great--especially the lemon poppyseed--but the guy who is a co-owner is such an asshat that I don't come here often.
(3)