Lots of half-shaven guys who think it's cool to keep their knit hats on while eating. And another one who is drawing in his sketch book while a copy of HG Wells' Invisible Man sits on the table. Gypsy women and purple puff-sleeved mod 25-year olds sipping $5 Voltaire tea. The communal seating area is a little smaller than the kitchen. They don't rush to clear tables. That's okay, I don't mind busing dishes in order to get a chance to sit down. Don't bother getting off your phone to clean the surface, ask what we'd like to eat, or compliment the knitting wife has pulled out to bide the (extended) waiting time. Menu is pretty limited, but the croissants are good. Very hearty bread with creamy butter. Of course, that was most of the entire entree, along with some salad greens, so don't come too hungry!
(3)
Derrick P.
Great experience. 1. Extremely nice, no pressure, professional staff, 2. Decent coffee, 3. Quiche- amazing. I suggest to try to know what I'm talking about. Delicate and creamy. Just Great.
(5)
David E.
Absolutely beautiful food -- a great place to go for a loaf of bread, coffee and pastries, or a proper breakfast or lunch. And if you can make it to one of their monthly dinners you are in for a real treat. The best bread in Chicago. Really. Try it. Buy a loaf, if one is available. I'm serious about bread, having tried all of the main places in Chicago and making it myself. The vegetables are not just local and fresh -- which is important -- but the dishes are designed to highlights the vegetables themselves. The dishes taste fresh and feels healthy and delicious. This style of cooking is not common in Chicago and is incredibly refreshing. The coffee is good on its own and pairs well with the pastries, which are fantastic and seem to be improving just week after week. The proprietors couldn't be friendlier.
(5)
M B.
First time to eat at Cellar Door Provisions. The staff is extremely pleasant. Opened with the Chocolate Croissant and great coffee. Then had the Shallot and garlic quiche. The macaroons are amazing. Took home some of their signature morning buns to go for our house guest. The morning buns are sweet rolls made with croissant dough. They make their own kefir, sourdough starter and Kombucha.
(5)
Nathaniel P.
Stopped by for brunch and it was great. Clean tasting, fresh food that's very pretty to look at. Coffee was great too.
(4)
Stephanie S.
It's really hard for me to separate the pretentiousness and clientele of this place with the actual restaurant and food. I agree with the reviewer who said this place is out of Portlandia. And the people who were there when I visited were insufferable (parents who act like their toddler is God's gift to humanity, hipster girls on a lady date, middle-aged "I'm still cool" people who want to talk knowingly about artisan bread). But the food is real good. The quiche I had was custard-y deliciousness, and the bread and butter is great. It's a great place for a pastry or light lunch. It was crowded just before noon, and we had to wait for some space at the table. I wouldn't come here if I was super hungry--hard to get really full on some bread and dressed greens. There was also no meat on the menu--is this place vegetarian? It's no wonder this place draws a crowd in Logan.
(4)
Steven N.
Definitely a win for Logan Square. The menu changes every day so the couple of items off the menu I was able to taste might not be available. I ordered the omelet. There had white miso, kombu, wilted kale and smoked maitake in it. The combination of all these flavors made is incredibly tasty.The omelette also came with a side of toast, which was phenomenal - definitely homemade and definitely worth the 2$ for a side of it. Service was great, even though is was busy staff had the patience to take us through our several questions about the various items on the menu. Two minor downsides I'll star with are the seating area is a bit small, in fact we waited for about ten minute(after ordering our food) before we got a seat. This seemed to be pretty typical but everyone was able to sit down before they got their food.
(5)
Phill C.
Its nice to have a new breakfast joint pop up in the neighborhood and a good one at that. Cellar Door is easy to miss, as you wouldn't think it was a restaurant just walking by at night. Inside its very bare bones in decor and the only signage they have is "CDP" stamped on the window. I can see why their decor is bare bones, as the main focus here is on the food, especially their wonderful breads and pastries. I've had a fantastic Multi-grain Scone and Financier. Just delicious. They have their menu written out on butcher paper by the counter, which varies each day. You'll find dishes such as quiches, soups, salads, and sausages. I'll definitely be back for some more delicious pastries and coffee.
(5)
Anar I.
Super great tasting food. So glad we found this place. Quiche is absolutely amazing. Tastes like nothing else I've had before.
(5)
Jenny C.
The food is divine. I have not been this happy with a series of meals in a very long time.
The pastries are the big win here; between a croissant, the pound cake and a decent chocolate brownie, I didn't mind overpaying for these small delicacies. (Special kudos to the staff here; like some of the pictures I'm seeing by other users, the presentation at Cellar Door is excellent, bordering on artistic.) But the breakfast, and the overall value proposition, is where Cellar Door missed for me. The Staff Meal ($11 for a soft-boiled egg, greens and an oversized piece of bread with butter) was not nearly enough to feed anyone in my party nor the staff that was actually working last weekend. Like, for this price, I expect a bit more substance. Strangely, an order of the bread and butter on its own is only $3...so, for $8, I'm getting an egg and a f*&^ing small pile of greens??? The quiche was savory as promised, but for its price (I believe this was $10) and the side of greens, I was looking for more. The taste of the quiche was actually a better fit for a smaller serving, if that makes sense, so while I might get it again I'd almost want to split it with someone rather than savory it up with that much quiche at the same time. I had my a la card discount to use for this meal, so the $24 hit for all of this food was easier to stomach than if I had to pay full price ($34). But the value prop is way off here, so I'm not sure I would come back.
(3)
David C.
Hipster Haven... Heaven?... Haven?... Both. Whatever, just shut up and get your best lumbersexual flannel or flowy artist shirt and ride your 1980s road bike here. Brunch here is like going to an edible art gallery. The offerings not only provide an amazing visual, but they taste great, too. The only downside is you end up paying for the craft and NOT the portions- so coming crazy hungry is not recommended. ::LENTILS:: The mixture of lentils, spinach, beets, and soft-boiled egg has a nice balance in mellow, delicate flavors. It's almost as if Kenny G reincarnated to a meal. You like it, but you don't want to admit it. There is also a good progression of texture from firm to soft - lentils:beets:egg. The texture along with the visual plating keeps the dish appealing throughout the meal. ::MUSHROOM TART:: All I could think while eating this is "Deez Shrooms On Point." Not only would it succeed as a sick rap album, but I'd definitely eat it again. The medley of sauteed mushrooms has a pronounced saltiness that complements the foundation of crusty, flaky, tart. The lump of cream and small side of greens adds more visually than to the actual flavor. But those shrooms... YUP. EXTRA CREDIT: For those of you that need a review for the Hipster Establishment Test (HET), here is the 4-step cheat sheet: 1. The signage out front refuses to write the entire name of the place. (It will use either some abstract art, initials, a clever nickname, or no sign at all.) 2. The decor has some eclectic flavor. (Like putting new bike chain and handle grips on your aforementioned road bike.) 3. Menus or receipts explore different vehicles. (Whether they deliver the receipt via handwritten parchment in a mason jar... or the menu is on a ceiling mounted chalkboard. Your standard laminated menu won't make it here.) 4. Sketchbooks will appear out of nowhere... nowhere.
(4)
Tiffany L.
Cellar Door Provisions is like eating at a friend's place if your friend had an amazing farm in their backyard and your friend is like the most talented French baker ever. There's a large communal table and then a couple of two-tops, seating around a total of 20 people. A limited breakfast menu is served starting at 8am and then a lunch menu at 11am. If you want your prime pick of pastries though, come early -- by 10am they were out of kouign amanns on a Saturday. Also, no caneles temporarily so they can focus on their laminated pastries, which seem to vary daily. I remember having a delicious sticky brioche roll with pecans and homemade strawberry jam. I've been here for brunch a couple times. Besides the pastries, the dishes I've had have been really beautifully presented and take advantage of what's in season but I can't say I loved everything. I like simple flavors, but the flavors in some of the dishes are almost too simple. What I did love was their quiche - it is so perfectly baked and still slightly jiggly. And those pastries. You know they take their baking seriously when literally everyone in the kitchen is doing something baking-related.
(4)
Evelina L.
Ok, my husband dubbed this place "the best breakfast that he has had in years". YEARS! We are brunch people. We go out at least once a weekend for it, so that's an impactfull statement. We actually ordered the staff meal and quiche for that experience, the simplest thing on the menu - so that would be my recommendation for any first timers. We've since been back and have already tasted about 6 different pastries, which are all delicious, especially straight out of the oven. You just can't miss with this place! Can't wait to try them for lunch. My only gripe - I wanted to purchase a loaf of bread from them, since they are magically lined up almost within reach from the register.... But, you are supposed to order them at least 1 day in advance. Of course, will have to do it the next weekend. I will overlook the inconvenience for good food.
(5)
Tiffany L.
Amazing brunch and pastry options. I love the casual, minimalistic feel of the place. Sticky brioche roll: Perfectly sweetened and light. I could probably inhale twenty of these in one sitting. Plum tea cake: Well executed, but I personally wasn't a fan of the flavors. I was expecting more of a sweet plum rather than the slightly vinegar-y taste of japanese plums. I liked how moist and dense the cake was, and the brown sugar coating on top brought a nice touch of sweet. Blueberry danish: Another amazing pastry--the pastry itself was buttery and flaky without being overwhelming so. I wish there was a tad more blueberry flavor in the cream cheese, but overall this was delicious. Pistachio beignet: I thought this was a little disappointing, to be honest. I tasted little, if any, pistachio in here despite it being in the name. I did like the textues of the beignet with the peach and the yogurt, however. Quiche: I can't get over how good this quiche was. There was no fluff--no spinach, no vegetables, no extra ingredients. Just the wonderfully light texture of well beaten eggs complemented by a buttery, flaky crust. I loved how the richness of the quiche itself was balanced out with the shiso salad and edible flowers. Absolutely delicious and probably the best quiche I've ever had. Overall, the pastries were solid, but the quiche was out of this world. I'd come back time and time again for that quiche.
(4)
Zorin D.
To begin I have to say that the quiche is probably one of the best I've ever had. It delivers in being particularly light and fluffy eggs. It almost tasted as though you were biting into little individual clouds. This eggy masterpiece is one that cannot be matched in any reasonable sense. All of the dishes I tried were quite tasty. Everything had a bit of a light and healthy feel to it. Though the dishes feel a bit minimalistic they capitalize on expert use of a limited number of ingredients in order to delivier great flavor. If you're looking for a meal that will keep you light on your feet and won't weigh you down for a busy day you have found it here. I would also be remiss to not reccomend getting a delicous cup of local cider. This place is truely a gem.
(4)
Stephanie L.
Yum this place is good! A friend moved to the hood so we ended up here for 'brunch.' Its not your typical brunch place. They have a brown paper hand written list of the menu for the day in Sharpie marker. Order at the counter and they bring it out to you. Everything kind of just came out when it was ready...there was no order to it. All of the food was delicious. The portions were perfect, juuussst right...just like Goldilocks... It was all fantastically fresh. It was pretty reasonably priced.
(4)
Tim H.
Good casual brunch option. They have a large shared table and a couple other tables all with full view of the option kitchen. Everything we had for brunch here was good and I would come back. I had a quiche infused with lavender flavor that was the bounciest egg dish I have ever seen. I also tried the berry tartine which is a couple of thick pieces of tasty toast with berries, greens, and some other stuff. Never had something like that before and it was good. From their bakery, we tried the chocolate Madeleine which I thought was a bit dry. I initially came here to try the Kouign-amann. It was good, but a bit denser than I prefer.
(4)
Michelle M.
The food here is just delicious. I've been here about 5 times and am always impressed by the quality and simplicity of the meals. The bread and pastries are the best I have had in the city with the perfect flakiness. I've never had a wait for a table and the staff are always quite friendly. This is truly a gem!
(5)
Chris C.
$12 for a small bowl of parsnip soup. 12 for a small beet salad. No kidding. Food was good but nothing special and way overpriced.
(2)
David S.
There are about 15 pastry items on the menu, including the morning bun which has received rave reviews. The restaurant opens at 8. I arrived at 8:10 specifically to get a morning bun. Not only were morning buns "at least 30 minutes" from being ready -- they were not even in the oven yet -- but only two of the 15 pastry items were available. There was no apology for this from the otherwise friendly staff. I got a scone and a muffin which were good. I don't know why a place would open at 8am if 87% of its breakfast menu won't be ready until 8:45am.
(2)
Stacy S.
Amazing croissants!! I had the morning bun croissant and some sour dough bread and both were unbelievable. Not in my neighborhood, but planning on going back as soon as possible!
(5)
Jackie M.
Located about 5 minutes from 90/94 Diversey exit. There's no sign on the store and can be easily overlooked. Th pastry menu is quite limited, but that should provide more quality food right? It's a open kitchen/bakery and everything seems to be fresh made in house. I came here at 1pm on a very cold Thursday and scored the last 2 morning bun and got one crossiant. Unfortunately the Kourig Amann were all sold out. I was told that the kourig is usually sold out by 12pm... BOO! My very first kourig Amann was from Dominique Ansel Bakery in NY and was known as the DKA. I'm very excited to find a place in Chicago that serves this. Crossaint - Flaky and not all buttered up. I can eat without guilt and it was really good! Morning Bun - It's made from the leftover batter of the crossaint. It's soft and flaky on the inside with bit of cinnamon and sweetness. Overall, i will definitely return for the morning bun and hopefully can score the kourig amann!! This place reminds me of the famous Tartine bakery in San Fran. Good Job!!
(5)
Kelsey S.
Cellar Door Provisions feels like it belongs in a Portlandia episode. From the menus written on long sheets of brown paper that hang on the walls to the communal tables in the middle of the shop, CDP doesn't approach its restaurant the way others do. But I like that. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to order bread and butter here. We dined for brunch and ordered the day's quiche and Staff Meal - greens, a soft-cooked egg and, of course, bread and butter. The quiche was silky, almost like a custard pie. But the bread and butter was the standout: two generous pieces of perfectly chewy bread are topped with a heaping scoop of butter and just a sprinkle of salt. When you dunk it in the yolky eggs, it tastes even better. Seating is limited and fills quickly. If you can't land a seat, though, at least you can still grab a perfectly flaky kouign amann, croissant or morning bun to take away. Bread, butter and pastries are the bread and butter of CDP.
(4)
Steve L.
Not that they need another great yelp review but I just have to contribute. Everything about Cellar Door Provisions, from the large communal table, to the friendly chefs that come out to chat with you, to the ridiculously reasonable prices, or the peculiarly large kitchen-to-dining area ratio, screams out how much these people care more about food and community than about anything else. The staff are all super friendly and easy to talk to. You can tell every one of them is passionate about food. GO THERE AND EAT THINGS.
(5)
Raymond S.
Stopped by on a Saturday morning for the canele and decided to try a number of the pastries. I haven't had many croissants in my time but the one I got was a gummy in the middle. Not bad aside from that issue. The kouign aman was good, but the bottom was a little too burned. So much in fact that I peeled off the bottom layer in order to enjoy the rest of the pastry. The canele was great it's just as good as the rest in the city but smaller and more expensive. I spotted some of the food items. They looked very well plated, but the portions look like they were made for toddlers. Embarrassingly small. I would be funny as a business owner serving these portions at these prices. The quality of the products warrants another visit but the prices hinder that idea.
(3)
Kimberly P.
Lovely little restaurant. Their bread is delicious and their ingredients are extremely fresh. Limited seating and the word is out that the food is great, so go at on off time or you will be waiting. It's worth it, though.
(5)
Saar H.
Well, My wife came in. She had the beet salad. Roughly $1.5 worth of boring beets. Very boring and very small. She wanted to make a scene. I had the buckwheat pancakes. They were dry. The sauce they gave was very little so all in all it tasted 80% dry. There were 3 .5inch size strawberries and a few berries. I gave them one star since I got a pastry there that tasted very good. All in all, I won't be going back. I can cook better blindfolded.
(2)
Charlotte B.
2 slices bread & butter. 1" slice melon , grilled or baked??? Potato salad 2 T greens w 1 over cooked egg on top, 1/2 c broth w odd unappetizing textured dumplings = $44.00. Underwhelming to say the least & way over priced. Don't come hungry.
(1)
Joe M.
This place is ridiculous. We have never had a bad meal and come once a week to see what new creations they have. It's also the prettiest food you've ever seen! The staff is super friendly and awesome. See you in a few days!
(5)
Jim M.
The ambiance at Cellar Door is pleasant. The storefront is very unobtrusive, but not excessively so, if that makes sense. Inside is one long communal table and two or three tables for two, the interior of the kitchen is visible from the dining area. They definitely do a good job creating a nice communal vibe without pretension. The food is solid, but overpriced, at least what I had was. A breakfast crepe with a few sauteed vegetables that did not come close to filling me up, it wasn't bad at all but 12$ was too much for it. I went back and forth on whether this should be a three or four star rating because the place is pleasant and the food is nice but ultimately I think it is a little overpriced. I mean, a La Croix sparkling water costs 2$.... C'mon man, its 3.99$ for a twelve pack at the supermarket and I assume it is even less when you buy it in bulk. Definitely a place worth checking out but they need to either increase portion sizes slightly or reduce the prices slightly for me to be a regular customer.
(3)
Michael U.
Items Selected: Kouign Amann Ricotta Peach Muffin Canele Located in Logan Square, with a wall mounted menu that is rewritten daily, Cellar Door Provisions can best be described as a labor of love; a collaboration of three friends who've honed their skills in kitchens near and far focused on making great food "worth gathering around." Locally sourced and open five-days a week for breakfast and lunch it was just after the small store's 8:00am opening that our party of three arrived and with items still emerging slowly from the ovens our sampling was somewhat limited, the friendly servers quickly procuring a pair of each warm item and delivering them tableside as a light soundtrack played overhead. Clearly attuned to recent trends in regional French pastry with the oft-praised croissants still thirty minutes from ready it was instead in the creamy canele beneath a golden-brown shell that our tasting began and although a bit sweeter than I've come to expect the texture was spot-on, a similar bit of praise befitting a Kouign Amann whose still-molten core of butter ran down my wrist as laminated layers shattered and showered the table. Appropriately impressed though slightly short of 'wowed' to this point it was last-but-certainly-not-least that we turned to the cheesecake textured muffin and featuring a deft balance of juicy ripe peaches juxtaposing pockets of creamy ricotta each bite provided a beautiful balance of sweet and savory, a touch of streusel topping tilting the balance ever so slightly towards the former and placing it amongst the best muffins I've experienced in recent memory.
(3)
Monica B.
Shared the Quiche and Morning Bun. Both were phenomenal. The quiche was rich and creamy and I absolutely loved the chunks of seasonal veggies. The morning bun was super buttery and flaky with a slight hint of sweetness - perfect pastry to accompany the quiche. The space is adorable and the staff is friendly. Need to check out their lunch menu next time.
(4)
Ursula S.
This place has fantastic food. The croissants and pastries are everything everyone else has raved about. Good coffee, and I love the sane portions, flavor combinations, and delicate plating with attention to color, composition, proportion, and flavors. It's a bougie gem in my less-than-glamorous neighborhood. I'd love to give them a better review, but there was one serious flaw in my visit: the person who handled the money was bare-handed grabbing the pastries to serve them. I had to stop her, and ask her to use the tongs that were right there, hanging from a peg in the display case. She looked incredulously at me, as if I'd just peed on her grandma. But, seriously, the croissants are almost worth getting hepatitis for.
(3)
Sam F.
What a great new addition to Logan Square! The food was so artfully presented and everything we ate was super fresh and tasty. The ingredients were allowed to speak for themselves without being overpowered. And even the delicious pastries weren't dripping in grease or butter. To put it simply, everything tasted very clean. The decor also matches the food perfectly... Tasteful, artful, creative, and clean. CDP is also owned and run by a few people who seem to genuinely care about the community and where their food comes from. Aside from nearly everything coming from local farms and sources, these guys make their own butter, yogurt, cheese, and of course bread/baked goods in-house. And they make their baked goods throughout the day, so they're always coming out fresh instead of everything being baked first thing in the morning. The guy working the register (Tony) seemed like a really nice/genuine person when I placed my order and helped talk me through the options. Turns out he's one of the owners. He came over and chatted with my wife and I for awhile after we finished eating and was super cool. We could really tell from speaking with him how much these guys care about what they're doing and about having a positive impact on the neighborhood (and planet for that matter). They all met while working at a local food co op and it seems like that same philosophy has carried over into this new venture. I definitely recommend checking this place out... I don't think you'll be disappointed!
(5)
Ariel L.
Its very easy to miss this place this place. Its on an unassuming corner and its not close to much. And when you walk in, it has very minimalist feel. They also have a very limited menu. But what they do have is quite outstanding. Their croissant is probably the best croissant in the city. It is buttery, light, flaky and amazing. I would travel miles for it. Their prices aren't cheap, and the portions aren't large, but you get what you pay for, and I will go back. Great addition to the neighborhood.
(4)
Rebekah R.
I love croissants. You know, *real* croissants, not some weird donut-croissant hybrid, or some gummy Pillsbury crescent roll masquerading as pastry. This croissant was fluffy, flaky and buttery. Simply perfect!
(5)
Kateryna G.
I paid $10 for one croissant and a buttermilk tart, and both were underwhelming. The croissant wasn't as flaky in the center as I would've liked, and it definitely didn't blow me away at the price I paid. The buttermilk tart was simply mediocre. While the buttermilk topping was nice and light, it was also completely tasteless. Overall: doesn't warrant another trip to Avondale. There are better options at more reasonable prices in the city.
(2)
Chris M.
Top notch coffee. Incredible pastries. Awesome interior. Great staff. Great establishment, everything very carefully considered and executed. Haven't had a chance to sit and eat yet but frequently stop in for a morning coffee (and usually a pastry) to go. Im a tough judge on coffee and they never disappoint. The baked goods are great too. Everything made with great attention to detail, you can tell everyone working there is really happy to be there. I love the craft paper menus that hang on the wall. Menus change weekly.
(4)
Eva M.
Just ate there on Sunday for a fun dinner - 6 course pre-fixe dinner $65. The restaurant will be open February 5th Wednesday - Saturday 9am - 4pm. The dinner last night was amazing. If this gives you a glimpse of what they will be serving for breakfast and lunch it will be amazing. The pre-fixe 6 course menu consisted of the following: A custard of dried chanterelles, leeks Celeriac, cladonia lichens, sprouted rye berries, kefir Country rye bread with Breslin whole wheat Smoked beets with lavender oil, pickled shallots, malabar blossoms Sunchokes, reconstituted figs, anise seed, brown butter Braised breast of pork, shaved turnips, garlic confit, mustard seed Applewood smoked cheese, whole roasted apple Buckwheat tart, honey and acacia flower cream, salad of snapdragons and candied buckwheat groats. It was a great space with some fun items from the rebuilding exchange as decor. The smoked beets were so good and different because of the smoky taste. The pork was like butter, it melted in your mouth. I've never had snapdragons - they were a little bitter but overall an interesting desert. I can't wait for them to open for breakfast and lunch! Here's their menu for their opening: riends, We are so close to the finish! Here is our opening menu for next Wednesday February 5th: Pastries Croissant-$4 Morning Bun-$5 Canale-$3 Multi-grain apple Scone-$3.50 Buckwheat tart-$4 Beet Tea Cake-$3 Oat and Mulberry cookie-$1.50 Morning- 9-11am Quiche-black garlic, leeks with winter greens and pickled shallot-$7 Bread Plate- 2 slices with house butter, ricotta, and lavender honey-$7 Lunch- 11am-4pm Tartine-elderflower kiefer, charred onion, and shaved carrot-$8 Salads- -Smoked beets, shaved red onion, sprouted rye, and crispy kale-$9 -Werp farm greens and house pickles-$5 -Roasted sunchokes, sunflower sprouts and seeds, brown butter, and flowers-$9 -Bread and house butter -$2 Soup- -Lamb leg and Breslin bean-$8 -Carrot, turmeric, and fromage-$6 Main-$14 -House sausage, malted mustard, barley, and shaved turnip -Farmers cheese dumplings, bluefoot oyster mushrooms, shaved celery root, and malabar blossoms
(5)
Fabrizio C.
So... I have been on the fence about writing this review. I know one of the people who run this place and I was afraid I couldn't write it objectively. But I can: a few months have passed since its opening and I keep coming back, in fact I take trips from downtown/west loop just to eat here). I come here for: - locally sourced vegetable-centric but not necessarily vegetarian food. Their style is a nod to California cuisine that it's not easy to find in Chicago - out-of-this-world sourdough bread (when possible I buy a loaf to take away as well). - great pastries I like that there is plenty of street parking and that I always end up surprised I spent less money than I expected.
(5)
Chelsea B.
The bread and butter was delicious and my quiche was to die for. It's a very small space so I wouldn't recommend coming during the weekend or bringing a large party. Definitely worth trying though.
(4)
Grace C.
um, YUM!!! I definitely had a dramatic single tear shedding moment as I took a bite into a kouign amman and had a sip of their coffee. It took me back to the delicious bakeries in San Francisco and Portland. Then, I gathered myself and saw that they served food too and a group of us ordered a few different items (the staff meal, omelette, beets, and pork confit) which were all super flavorful and delicious. They even sell you whole loaves of bread (but they do tend to run out), and I love that their menu changes everyday and sometimes the same day if they run out of certain ingredients. I even ordered a pastry to go to share more Cellar Door Provisions love with a friend! I can't wait to go back, and I'm so excited that I finally go to check this place out.
(5)
Mili E.
Best canneles in Chicago, and believe me I have trying them all. In addition to their magnificent treats, we tried their salads and the staff meal, delicious!. Worth the drive for sure!
(5)
Dylan F.
I love this place. Wonderful pastries, great fresh food and great energy. Tony and the guys are so warm and welcoming to everyone that comes through the doors. The fare is a nice change of pace from all the whiskey and meat places in Chicago. Very lucky to have them in our neighborhood.
(5)
Sara J.
Fantastic! Great coffee and great pastries. I stopped by here on a Saturday at 10:15am and all morning buns were already sold out, slightly disappointing. I opted for the rosewater filled croissant and scone. Both were perfectly executed and the coffee was perfect. I look forward to visiting again soon for lunch. My only complaint would be the hours of operation. It's hard to visit for your 9-5 customers! Hopefully that will change soon. Overall great experience. Cheers!
(5)
ethan a.
This place is legit. It's like Tartine bakery in SF picked up shop and moved it to Chicago. The morning bun and croissants are best you will find anywhere in Chicago.
(5)
Michael B.
Some earlier reviews have mentioned their lack of preparedness or product and another took issue with the amount of condiments provided. I, too, had a problem with product availability, but I chalked it up to "opening day jitters". I gave them another chance today. There's still an issue with product availability but I got my hands on a croissant. It was worth the wait!!! I've gone around the city trying croissants and they rank with my all-time favorites; past and present. Hope they get the product availability issue worked out.
(4)
Jason S.
Each and everyone one of the team at Cellar Door are so very friendly and knowledgeable about their food. It's great to see the excitement in their eyes when they answer questions or tell you about new menu possibilities. The prices are very reasonable and the food is just great. Simple and great. If you don't have Justin's bread, you're doing yourself a disservice. Remember to get their early to enjoy their amazing pastries, they sell out quick!
(5)
Alya A.
I had high hopes for Cellar Door's breakfast based on early buzz. And there were some things about our meal that were very good -- the croissants and whole wheat sourdough (??) type bread that was served with the ham and eggs were delicious, and I enjoyed my sunchoke soup. The coffee was quite good, and the overall vibe of the place is refreshing. Some things, however, definitely need to be rethought as they get their legs. Our party of 5 ordered a scone, croissant, and brioche to share at the table, and each was served on a plate, bare. No offer of butter or jam on the menu or on the table, and when I asked for butter was given a tiny scrape of butter in a jar for a significant portion of baked goods. The croissant was delicious on its own. The brioche was good, but eaten plain was just not interesting enough. The scone was very tasty but parts were undercooked to the point of tasting like dough. And the "ham and eggs", which my father and husband both ordered, seemed like a joke. We were told the ham was actually going to be pork belly, which, yum, but what arrived at the table was a huge portion of bread, a lovely poached egg with accoutrement, and maybe 3, 3-inch long, shaved-thin slices of limp fat with a tiny bit of pork attached. Smaller than bacon slices and half as thin. For $12, an egg, 3 big hunks of bread, some greens, and perhaps a half oz portion of pork belly. This was a silly presentation and I strongly recommend they rethink serving a dish called ham and eggs when the "ham" looks like garnish on the plate. There are plenty of other places in town that source from local farms and can actually feed you (not just load you up on bread) a significant amount of protein for $12.
(3)
Beth G.
Shared the quiche (creamy and delicious) and the house made sausage with poached egg and THE BREAD. Everything was delicious. Also- the coffee is very good - strong and not bitter. Eyed the pastries but was too full. Will return for those, as well as to test the lunch menu.
(5)
Jamie D.
The place was staffed with super friendly people. It was super neat and clean. Loved how there were community tables and single 2tops. Not everyone digs the community table all the time. The menu was simple, not overwhelming with options. Not simple as in the food was regular. There were very different unique menu items. The food was spot on, which will happen when there are just a few items to be done well. Looking forward to my next visit:) great addition to the neighborhood
(5)
Julie O.
I never got to try anything because I left after standing in line listening to the cashier flirt with 2 girls for several minutes while ignoring me. How rude!
(1)
Daniel H.
The presentation and aesthetic is great. The baked goods are second to none. And the people working there are great. It's a low-key place where you get gourmet food without the pretension. For all the foodies out there, put it on your list. My dad said: "I've never had quiche like this in my whole life. It's simply amazing. Do they sell whole ones to take home?"
This place has truly wonderful pastry. It's quite clear that a lot of care goes into everything they do, and it definitely pays off. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Julia H.
Their morning bun + coffee is going to be my new Saturday addiction. LOVE! Clean, small and friendly. A great addition to Logan Square. I hope they expand their menu to include some type of sandwiches. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
J P.
holy cow batman - that was the best quiche i've ever ever had! the coffee was delicious too. it's a little on the pricey side, but well worth it.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Benjamin T.
Lots of half-shaven guys who think it's cool to keep their knit hats on while eating. And another one who is drawing in his sketch book while a copy of HG Wells' Invisible Man sits on the table. Gypsy women and purple puff-sleeved mod 25-year olds sipping $5 Voltaire tea. The communal seating area is a little smaller than the kitchen. They don't rush to clear tables. That's okay, I don't mind busing dishes in order to get a chance to sit down. Don't bother getting off your phone to clean the surface, ask what we'd like to eat, or compliment the knitting wife has pulled out to bide the (extended) waiting time. Menu is pretty limited, but the croissants are good. Very hearty bread with creamy butter. Of course, that was most of the entire entree, along with some salad greens, so don't come too hungry!
(3)Derrick P.
Great experience. 1. Extremely nice, no pressure, professional staff, 2. Decent coffee, 3. Quiche- amazing. I suggest to try to know what I'm talking about. Delicate and creamy. Just Great.
(5)David E.
Absolutely beautiful food -- a great place to go for a loaf of bread, coffee and pastries, or a proper breakfast or lunch. And if you can make it to one of their monthly dinners you are in for a real treat. The best bread in Chicago. Really. Try it. Buy a loaf, if one is available. I'm serious about bread, having tried all of the main places in Chicago and making it myself. The vegetables are not just local and fresh -- which is important -- but the dishes are designed to highlights the vegetables themselves. The dishes taste fresh and feels healthy and delicious. This style of cooking is not common in Chicago and is incredibly refreshing. The coffee is good on its own and pairs well with the pastries, which are fantastic and seem to be improving just week after week. The proprietors couldn't be friendlier.
(5)M B.
First time to eat at Cellar Door Provisions. The staff is extremely pleasant. Opened with the Chocolate Croissant and great coffee. Then had the Shallot and garlic quiche. The macaroons are amazing. Took home some of their signature morning buns to go for our house guest. The morning buns are sweet rolls made with croissant dough. They make their own kefir, sourdough starter and Kombucha.
(5)Nathaniel P.
Stopped by for brunch and it was great. Clean tasting, fresh food that's very pretty to look at. Coffee was great too.
(4)Stephanie S.
It's really hard for me to separate the pretentiousness and clientele of this place with the actual restaurant and food. I agree with the reviewer who said this place is out of Portlandia. And the people who were there when I visited were insufferable (parents who act like their toddler is God's gift to humanity, hipster girls on a lady date, middle-aged "I'm still cool" people who want to talk knowingly about artisan bread). But the food is real good. The quiche I had was custard-y deliciousness, and the bread and butter is great. It's a great place for a pastry or light lunch. It was crowded just before noon, and we had to wait for some space at the table. I wouldn't come here if I was super hungry--hard to get really full on some bread and dressed greens. There was also no meat on the menu--is this place vegetarian? It's no wonder this place draws a crowd in Logan.
(4)Steven N.
Definitely a win for Logan Square. The menu changes every day so the couple of items off the menu I was able to taste might not be available. I ordered the omelet. There had white miso, kombu, wilted kale and smoked maitake in it. The combination of all these flavors made is incredibly tasty.The omelette also came with a side of toast, which was phenomenal - definitely homemade and definitely worth the 2$ for a side of it. Service was great, even though is was busy staff had the patience to take us through our several questions about the various items on the menu. Two minor downsides I'll star with are the seating area is a bit small, in fact we waited for about ten minute(after ordering our food) before we got a seat. This seemed to be pretty typical but everyone was able to sit down before they got their food.
(5)Phill C.
Its nice to have a new breakfast joint pop up in the neighborhood and a good one at that. Cellar Door is easy to miss, as you wouldn't think it was a restaurant just walking by at night. Inside its very bare bones in decor and the only signage they have is "CDP" stamped on the window. I can see why their decor is bare bones, as the main focus here is on the food, especially their wonderful breads and pastries. I've had a fantastic Multi-grain Scone and Financier. Just delicious. They have their menu written out on butcher paper by the counter, which varies each day. You'll find dishes such as quiches, soups, salads, and sausages. I'll definitely be back for some more delicious pastries and coffee.
(5)Anar I.
Super great tasting food. So glad we found this place. Quiche is absolutely amazing. Tastes like nothing else I've had before.
(5)Jenny C.
The food is divine. I have not been this happy with a series of meals in a very long time.
(5)Brianna B.
I'd come back for the pastries but not the breakfast entree items. I had the "Staff Meal": 2 thick slices of bread, butter, a soft-boiled egg, and a small salad of greens. My partner had a slice of potato quiche which also came with some greens. Both were good but not remarkable. I thought the custard in the quiche was spot-on, but the crust wasn't flaky enough (well short of the quiche at Floriole). The bread in my meal was very good, but nothing in this small meal seemed worth the $10 price tag. But the pastries were worth the visit: we had a kouign-amann, cannelé, and a caraway pound cake. First time trying a kouign-amann or a cannelé, but we were impressed by the texture combinations and subtle sweetness of each (although slightly distracted by the orange blossom water in the kouign-amann). The caraway pound cake had an great sweet-savory profile and tender texture. The space is also very airy and bright, which I appreciate in a breakfast spot.
(4)Justin B.
The pastries are the big win here; between a croissant, the pound cake and a decent chocolate brownie, I didn't mind overpaying for these small delicacies. (Special kudos to the staff here; like some of the pictures I'm seeing by other users, the presentation at Cellar Door is excellent, bordering on artistic.) But the breakfast, and the overall value proposition, is where Cellar Door missed for me. The Staff Meal ($11 for a soft-boiled egg, greens and an oversized piece of bread with butter) was not nearly enough to feed anyone in my party nor the staff that was actually working last weekend. Like, for this price, I expect a bit more substance. Strangely, an order of the bread and butter on its own is only $3...so, for $8, I'm getting an egg and a f*&^ing small pile of greens??? The quiche was savory as promised, but for its price (I believe this was $10) and the side of greens, I was looking for more. The taste of the quiche was actually a better fit for a smaller serving, if that makes sense, so while I might get it again I'd almost want to split it with someone rather than savory it up with that much quiche at the same time. I had my a la card discount to use for this meal, so the $24 hit for all of this food was easier to stomach than if I had to pay full price ($34). But the value prop is way off here, so I'm not sure I would come back.
(3)David C.
Hipster Haven... Heaven?... Haven?... Both. Whatever, just shut up and get your best lumbersexual flannel or flowy artist shirt and ride your 1980s road bike here. Brunch here is like going to an edible art gallery. The offerings not only provide an amazing visual, but they taste great, too. The only downside is you end up paying for the craft and NOT the portions- so coming crazy hungry is not recommended. ::LENTILS:: The mixture of lentils, spinach, beets, and soft-boiled egg has a nice balance in mellow, delicate flavors. It's almost as if Kenny G reincarnated to a meal. You like it, but you don't want to admit it. There is also a good progression of texture from firm to soft - lentils:beets:egg. The texture along with the visual plating keeps the dish appealing throughout the meal. ::MUSHROOM TART:: All I could think while eating this is "Deez Shrooms On Point." Not only would it succeed as a sick rap album, but I'd definitely eat it again. The medley of sauteed mushrooms has a pronounced saltiness that complements the foundation of crusty, flaky, tart. The lump of cream and small side of greens adds more visually than to the actual flavor. But those shrooms... YUP. EXTRA CREDIT: For those of you that need a review for the Hipster Establishment Test (HET), here is the 4-step cheat sheet: 1. The signage out front refuses to write the entire name of the place. (It will use either some abstract art, initials, a clever nickname, or no sign at all.) 2. The decor has some eclectic flavor. (Like putting new bike chain and handle grips on your aforementioned road bike.) 3. Menus or receipts explore different vehicles. (Whether they deliver the receipt via handwritten parchment in a mason jar... or the menu is on a ceiling mounted chalkboard. Your standard laminated menu won't make it here.) 4. Sketchbooks will appear out of nowhere... nowhere.
(4)Tiffany L.
Cellar Door Provisions is like eating at a friend's place if your friend had an amazing farm in their backyard and your friend is like the most talented French baker ever. There's a large communal table and then a couple of two-tops, seating around a total of 20 people. A limited breakfast menu is served starting at 8am and then a lunch menu at 11am. If you want your prime pick of pastries though, come early -- by 10am they were out of kouign amanns on a Saturday. Also, no caneles temporarily so they can focus on their laminated pastries, which seem to vary daily. I remember having a delicious sticky brioche roll with pecans and homemade strawberry jam. I've been here for brunch a couple times. Besides the pastries, the dishes I've had have been really beautifully presented and take advantage of what's in season but I can't say I loved everything. I like simple flavors, but the flavors in some of the dishes are almost too simple. What I did love was their quiche - it is so perfectly baked and still slightly jiggly. And those pastries. You know they take their baking seriously when literally everyone in the kitchen is doing something baking-related.
(4)Evelina L.
Ok, my husband dubbed this place "the best breakfast that he has had in years". YEARS! We are brunch people. We go out at least once a weekend for it, so that's an impactfull statement. We actually ordered the staff meal and quiche for that experience, the simplest thing on the menu - so that would be my recommendation for any first timers. We've since been back and have already tasted about 6 different pastries, which are all delicious, especially straight out of the oven. You just can't miss with this place! Can't wait to try them for lunch. My only gripe - I wanted to purchase a loaf of bread from them, since they are magically lined up almost within reach from the register.... But, you are supposed to order them at least 1 day in advance. Of course, will have to do it the next weekend. I will overlook the inconvenience for good food.
(5)Tiffany L.
Amazing brunch and pastry options. I love the casual, minimalistic feel of the place. Sticky brioche roll: Perfectly sweetened and light. I could probably inhale twenty of these in one sitting. Plum tea cake: Well executed, but I personally wasn't a fan of the flavors. I was expecting more of a sweet plum rather than the slightly vinegar-y taste of japanese plums. I liked how moist and dense the cake was, and the brown sugar coating on top brought a nice touch of sweet. Blueberry danish: Another amazing pastry--the pastry itself was buttery and flaky without being overwhelming so. I wish there was a tad more blueberry flavor in the cream cheese, but overall this was delicious. Pistachio beignet: I thought this was a little disappointing, to be honest. I tasted little, if any, pistachio in here despite it being in the name. I did like the textues of the beignet with the peach and the yogurt, however. Quiche: I can't get over how good this quiche was. There was no fluff--no spinach, no vegetables, no extra ingredients. Just the wonderfully light texture of well beaten eggs complemented by a buttery, flaky crust. I loved how the richness of the quiche itself was balanced out with the shiso salad and edible flowers. Absolutely delicious and probably the best quiche I've ever had. Overall, the pastries were solid, but the quiche was out of this world. I'd come back time and time again for that quiche.
(4)Zorin D.
To begin I have to say that the quiche is probably one of the best I've ever had. It delivers in being particularly light and fluffy eggs. It almost tasted as though you were biting into little individual clouds. This eggy masterpiece is one that cannot be matched in any reasonable sense. All of the dishes I tried were quite tasty. Everything had a bit of a light and healthy feel to it. Though the dishes feel a bit minimalistic they capitalize on expert use of a limited number of ingredients in order to delivier great flavor. If you're looking for a meal that will keep you light on your feet and won't weigh you down for a busy day you have found it here. I would also be remiss to not reccomend getting a delicous cup of local cider. This place is truely a gem.
(4)Stephanie L.
Yum this place is good! A friend moved to the hood so we ended up here for 'brunch.' Its not your typical brunch place. They have a brown paper hand written list of the menu for the day in Sharpie marker. Order at the counter and they bring it out to you. Everything kind of just came out when it was ready...there was no order to it. All of the food was delicious. The portions were perfect, juuussst right...just like Goldilocks... It was all fantastically fresh. It was pretty reasonably priced.
(4)Tim H.
Good casual brunch option. They have a large shared table and a couple other tables all with full view of the option kitchen. Everything we had for brunch here was good and I would come back. I had a quiche infused with lavender flavor that was the bounciest egg dish I have ever seen. I also tried the berry tartine which is a couple of thick pieces of tasty toast with berries, greens, and some other stuff. Never had something like that before and it was good. From their bakery, we tried the chocolate Madeleine which I thought was a bit dry. I initially came here to try the Kouign-amann. It was good, but a bit denser than I prefer.
(4)Michelle M.
The food here is just delicious. I've been here about 5 times and am always impressed by the quality and simplicity of the meals. The bread and pastries are the best I have had in the city with the perfect flakiness. I've never had a wait for a table and the staff are always quite friendly. This is truly a gem!
(5)Chris C.
$12 for a small bowl of parsnip soup. 12 for a small beet salad. No kidding. Food was good but nothing special and way overpriced.
(2)David S.
There are about 15 pastry items on the menu, including the morning bun which has received rave reviews. The restaurant opens at 8. I arrived at 8:10 specifically to get a morning bun. Not only were morning buns "at least 30 minutes" from being ready -- they were not even in the oven yet -- but only two of the 15 pastry items were available. There was no apology for this from the otherwise friendly staff. I got a scone and a muffin which were good. I don't know why a place would open at 8am if 87% of its breakfast menu won't be ready until 8:45am.
(2)Stacy S.
Amazing croissants!! I had the morning bun croissant and some sour dough bread and both were unbelievable. Not in my neighborhood, but planning on going back as soon as possible!
(5)Jackie M.
Located about 5 minutes from 90/94 Diversey exit. There's no sign on the store and can be easily overlooked. Th pastry menu is quite limited, but that should provide more quality food right? It's a open kitchen/bakery and everything seems to be fresh made in house. I came here at 1pm on a very cold Thursday and scored the last 2 morning bun and got one crossiant. Unfortunately the Kourig Amann were all sold out. I was told that the kourig is usually sold out by 12pm... BOO! My very first kourig Amann was from Dominique Ansel Bakery in NY and was known as the DKA. I'm very excited to find a place in Chicago that serves this. Crossaint - Flaky and not all buttered up. I can eat without guilt and it was really good! Morning Bun - It's made from the leftover batter of the crossaint. It's soft and flaky on the inside with bit of cinnamon and sweetness. Overall, i will definitely return for the morning bun and hopefully can score the kourig amann!! This place reminds me of the famous Tartine bakery in San Fran. Good Job!!
(5)Kelsey S.
Cellar Door Provisions feels like it belongs in a Portlandia episode. From the menus written on long sheets of brown paper that hang on the walls to the communal tables in the middle of the shop, CDP doesn't approach its restaurant the way others do. But I like that. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to order bread and butter here. We dined for brunch and ordered the day's quiche and Staff Meal - greens, a soft-cooked egg and, of course, bread and butter. The quiche was silky, almost like a custard pie. But the bread and butter was the standout: two generous pieces of perfectly chewy bread are topped with a heaping scoop of butter and just a sprinkle of salt. When you dunk it in the yolky eggs, it tastes even better. Seating is limited and fills quickly. If you can't land a seat, though, at least you can still grab a perfectly flaky kouign amann, croissant or morning bun to take away. Bread, butter and pastries are the bread and butter of CDP.
(4)Steve L.
Not that they need another great yelp review but I just have to contribute. Everything about Cellar Door Provisions, from the large communal table, to the friendly chefs that come out to chat with you, to the ridiculously reasonable prices, or the peculiarly large kitchen-to-dining area ratio, screams out how much these people care more about food and community than about anything else. The staff are all super friendly and easy to talk to. You can tell every one of them is passionate about food. GO THERE AND EAT THINGS.
(5)Raymond S.
Stopped by on a Saturday morning for the canele and decided to try a number of the pastries. I haven't had many croissants in my time but the one I got was a gummy in the middle. Not bad aside from that issue. The kouign aman was good, but the bottom was a little too burned. So much in fact that I peeled off the bottom layer in order to enjoy the rest of the pastry. The canele was great it's just as good as the rest in the city but smaller and more expensive. I spotted some of the food items. They looked very well plated, but the portions look like they were made for toddlers. Embarrassingly small. I would be funny as a business owner serving these portions at these prices. The quality of the products warrants another visit but the prices hinder that idea.
(3)Kimberly P.
Lovely little restaurant. Their bread is delicious and their ingredients are extremely fresh. Limited seating and the word is out that the food is great, so go at on off time or you will be waiting. It's worth it, though.
(5)Saar H.
Well, My wife came in. She had the beet salad. Roughly $1.5 worth of boring beets. Very boring and very small. She wanted to make a scene. I had the buckwheat pancakes. They were dry. The sauce they gave was very little so all in all it tasted 80% dry. There were 3 .5inch size strawberries and a few berries. I gave them one star since I got a pastry there that tasted very good. All in all, I won't be going back. I can cook better blindfolded.
(2)Charlotte B.
2 slices bread & butter. 1" slice melon , grilled or baked??? Potato salad 2 T greens w 1 over cooked egg on top, 1/2 c broth w odd unappetizing textured dumplings = $44.00. Underwhelming to say the least & way over priced. Don't come hungry.
(1)Joe M.
This place is ridiculous. We have never had a bad meal and come once a week to see what new creations they have. It's also the prettiest food you've ever seen! The staff is super friendly and awesome. See you in a few days!
(5)Jim M.
The ambiance at Cellar Door is pleasant. The storefront is very unobtrusive, but not excessively so, if that makes sense. Inside is one long communal table and two or three tables for two, the interior of the kitchen is visible from the dining area. They definitely do a good job creating a nice communal vibe without pretension. The food is solid, but overpriced, at least what I had was. A breakfast crepe with a few sauteed vegetables that did not come close to filling me up, it wasn't bad at all but 12$ was too much for it. I went back and forth on whether this should be a three or four star rating because the place is pleasant and the food is nice but ultimately I think it is a little overpriced. I mean, a La Croix sparkling water costs 2$.... C'mon man, its 3.99$ for a twelve pack at the supermarket and I assume it is even less when you buy it in bulk. Definitely a place worth checking out but they need to either increase portion sizes slightly or reduce the prices slightly for me to be a regular customer.
(3)Michael U.
Items Selected: Kouign Amann Ricotta Peach Muffin Canele Located in Logan Square, with a wall mounted menu that is rewritten daily, Cellar Door Provisions can best be described as a labor of love; a collaboration of three friends who've honed their skills in kitchens near and far focused on making great food "worth gathering around." Locally sourced and open five-days a week for breakfast and lunch it was just after the small store's 8:00am opening that our party of three arrived and with items still emerging slowly from the ovens our sampling was somewhat limited, the friendly servers quickly procuring a pair of each warm item and delivering them tableside as a light soundtrack played overhead. Clearly attuned to recent trends in regional French pastry with the oft-praised croissants still thirty minutes from ready it was instead in the creamy canele beneath a golden-brown shell that our tasting began and although a bit sweeter than I've come to expect the texture was spot-on, a similar bit of praise befitting a Kouign Amann whose still-molten core of butter ran down my wrist as laminated layers shattered and showered the table. Appropriately impressed though slightly short of 'wowed' to this point it was last-but-certainly-not-least that we turned to the cheesecake textured muffin and featuring a deft balance of juicy ripe peaches juxtaposing pockets of creamy ricotta each bite provided a beautiful balance of sweet and savory, a touch of streusel topping tilting the balance ever so slightly towards the former and placing it amongst the best muffins I've experienced in recent memory.
(3)Monica B.
Shared the Quiche and Morning Bun. Both were phenomenal. The quiche was rich and creamy and I absolutely loved the chunks of seasonal veggies. The morning bun was super buttery and flaky with a slight hint of sweetness - perfect pastry to accompany the quiche. The space is adorable and the staff is friendly. Need to check out their lunch menu next time.
(4)Ursula S.
This place has fantastic food. The croissants and pastries are everything everyone else has raved about. Good coffee, and I love the sane portions, flavor combinations, and delicate plating with attention to color, composition, proportion, and flavors. It's a bougie gem in my less-than-glamorous neighborhood. I'd love to give them a better review, but there was one serious flaw in my visit: the person who handled the money was bare-handed grabbing the pastries to serve them. I had to stop her, and ask her to use the tongs that were right there, hanging from a peg in the display case. She looked incredulously at me, as if I'd just peed on her grandma. But, seriously, the croissants are almost worth getting hepatitis for.
(3)Sam F.
What a great new addition to Logan Square! The food was so artfully presented and everything we ate was super fresh and tasty. The ingredients were allowed to speak for themselves without being overpowered. And even the delicious pastries weren't dripping in grease or butter. To put it simply, everything tasted very clean. The decor also matches the food perfectly... Tasteful, artful, creative, and clean. CDP is also owned and run by a few people who seem to genuinely care about the community and where their food comes from. Aside from nearly everything coming from local farms and sources, these guys make their own butter, yogurt, cheese, and of course bread/baked goods in-house. And they make their baked goods throughout the day, so they're always coming out fresh instead of everything being baked first thing in the morning. The guy working the register (Tony) seemed like a really nice/genuine person when I placed my order and helped talk me through the options. Turns out he's one of the owners. He came over and chatted with my wife and I for awhile after we finished eating and was super cool. We could really tell from speaking with him how much these guys care about what they're doing and about having a positive impact on the neighborhood (and planet for that matter). They all met while working at a local food co op and it seems like that same philosophy has carried over into this new venture. I definitely recommend checking this place out... I don't think you'll be disappointed!
(5)Ariel L.
Its very easy to miss this place this place. Its on an unassuming corner and its not close to much. And when you walk in, it has very minimalist feel. They also have a very limited menu. But what they do have is quite outstanding. Their croissant is probably the best croissant in the city. It is buttery, light, flaky and amazing. I would travel miles for it. Their prices aren't cheap, and the portions aren't large, but you get what you pay for, and I will go back. Great addition to the neighborhood.
(4)Rebekah R.
I love croissants. You know, *real* croissants, not some weird donut-croissant hybrid, or some gummy Pillsbury crescent roll masquerading as pastry. This croissant was fluffy, flaky and buttery. Simply perfect!
(5)Kateryna G.
I paid $10 for one croissant and a buttermilk tart, and both were underwhelming. The croissant wasn't as flaky in the center as I would've liked, and it definitely didn't blow me away at the price I paid. The buttermilk tart was simply mediocre. While the buttermilk topping was nice and light, it was also completely tasteless. Overall: doesn't warrant another trip to Avondale. There are better options at more reasonable prices in the city.
(2)Chris M.
Top notch coffee. Incredible pastries. Awesome interior. Great staff. Great establishment, everything very carefully considered and executed. Haven't had a chance to sit and eat yet but frequently stop in for a morning coffee (and usually a pastry) to go. Im a tough judge on coffee and they never disappoint. The baked goods are great too. Everything made with great attention to detail, you can tell everyone working there is really happy to be there. I love the craft paper menus that hang on the wall. Menus change weekly.
(4)Eva M.
Just ate there on Sunday for a fun dinner - 6 course pre-fixe dinner $65. The restaurant will be open February 5th Wednesday - Saturday 9am - 4pm. The dinner last night was amazing. If this gives you a glimpse of what they will be serving for breakfast and lunch it will be amazing. The pre-fixe 6 course menu consisted of the following: A custard of dried chanterelles, leeks Celeriac, cladonia lichens, sprouted rye berries, kefir Country rye bread with Breslin whole wheat Smoked beets with lavender oil, pickled shallots, malabar blossoms Sunchokes, reconstituted figs, anise seed, brown butter Braised breast of pork, shaved turnips, garlic confit, mustard seed Applewood smoked cheese, whole roasted apple Buckwheat tart, honey and acacia flower cream, salad of snapdragons and candied buckwheat groats. It was a great space with some fun items from the rebuilding exchange as decor. The smoked beets were so good and different because of the smoky taste. The pork was like butter, it melted in your mouth. I've never had snapdragons - they were a little bitter but overall an interesting desert. I can't wait for them to open for breakfast and lunch! Here's their menu for their opening: riends, We are so close to the finish! Here is our opening menu for next Wednesday February 5th: Pastries Croissant-$4 Morning Bun-$5 Canale-$3 Multi-grain apple Scone-$3.50 Buckwheat tart-$4 Beet Tea Cake-$3 Oat and Mulberry cookie-$1.50 Morning- 9-11am Quiche-black garlic, leeks with winter greens and pickled shallot-$7 Bread Plate- 2 slices with house butter, ricotta, and lavender honey-$7 Lunch- 11am-4pm Tartine-elderflower kiefer, charred onion, and shaved carrot-$8 Salads- -Smoked beets, shaved red onion, sprouted rye, and crispy kale-$9 -Werp farm greens and house pickles-$5 -Roasted sunchokes, sunflower sprouts and seeds, brown butter, and flowers-$9 -Bread and house butter -$2 Soup- -Lamb leg and Breslin bean-$8 -Carrot, turmeric, and fromage-$6 Main-$14 -House sausage, malted mustard, barley, and shaved turnip -Farmers cheese dumplings, bluefoot oyster mushrooms, shaved celery root, and malabar blossoms
(5)Fabrizio C.
So... I have been on the fence about writing this review. I know one of the people who run this place and I was afraid I couldn't write it objectively. But I can: a few months have passed since its opening and I keep coming back, in fact I take trips from downtown/west loop just to eat here). I come here for: - locally sourced vegetable-centric but not necessarily vegetarian food. Their style is a nod to California cuisine that it's not easy to find in Chicago - out-of-this-world sourdough bread (when possible I buy a loaf to take away as well). - great pastries I like that there is plenty of street parking and that I always end up surprised I spent less money than I expected.
(5)Chelsea B.
The bread and butter was delicious and my quiche was to die for. It's a very small space so I wouldn't recommend coming during the weekend or bringing a large party. Definitely worth trying though.
(4)Grace C.
um, YUM!!! I definitely had a dramatic single tear shedding moment as I took a bite into a kouign amman and had a sip of their coffee. It took me back to the delicious bakeries in San Francisco and Portland. Then, I gathered myself and saw that they served food too and a group of us ordered a few different items (the staff meal, omelette, beets, and pork confit) which were all super flavorful and delicious. They even sell you whole loaves of bread (but they do tend to run out), and I love that their menu changes everyday and sometimes the same day if they run out of certain ingredients. I even ordered a pastry to go to share more Cellar Door Provisions love with a friend! I can't wait to go back, and I'm so excited that I finally go to check this place out.
(5)Mili E.
Best canneles in Chicago, and believe me I have trying them all. In addition to their magnificent treats, we tried their salads and the staff meal, delicious!. Worth the drive for sure!
(5)Dylan F.
I love this place. Wonderful pastries, great fresh food and great energy. Tony and the guys are so warm and welcoming to everyone that comes through the doors. The fare is a nice change of pace from all the whiskey and meat places in Chicago. Very lucky to have them in our neighborhood.
(5)Sara J.
Fantastic! Great coffee and great pastries. I stopped by here on a Saturday at 10:15am and all morning buns were already sold out, slightly disappointing. I opted for the rosewater filled croissant and scone. Both were perfectly executed and the coffee was perfect. I look forward to visiting again soon for lunch. My only complaint would be the hours of operation. It's hard to visit for your 9-5 customers! Hopefully that will change soon. Overall great experience. Cheers!
(5)ethan a.
This place is legit. It's like Tartine bakery in SF picked up shop and moved it to Chicago. The morning bun and croissants are best you will find anywhere in Chicago.
(5)Michael B.
Some earlier reviews have mentioned their lack of preparedness or product and another took issue with the amount of condiments provided. I, too, had a problem with product availability, but I chalked it up to "opening day jitters". I gave them another chance today. There's still an issue with product availability but I got my hands on a croissant. It was worth the wait!!! I've gone around the city trying croissants and they rank with my all-time favorites; past and present. Hope they get the product availability issue worked out.
(4)Jason S.
Each and everyone one of the team at Cellar Door are so very friendly and knowledgeable about their food. It's great to see the excitement in their eyes when they answer questions or tell you about new menu possibilities. The prices are very reasonable and the food is just great. Simple and great. If you don't have Justin's bread, you're doing yourself a disservice. Remember to get their early to enjoy their amazing pastries, they sell out quick!
(5)Alya A.
I had high hopes for Cellar Door's breakfast based on early buzz. And there were some things about our meal that were very good -- the croissants and whole wheat sourdough (??) type bread that was served with the ham and eggs were delicious, and I enjoyed my sunchoke soup. The coffee was quite good, and the overall vibe of the place is refreshing. Some things, however, definitely need to be rethought as they get their legs. Our party of 5 ordered a scone, croissant, and brioche to share at the table, and each was served on a plate, bare. No offer of butter or jam on the menu or on the table, and when I asked for butter was given a tiny scrape of butter in a jar for a significant portion of baked goods. The croissant was delicious on its own. The brioche was good, but eaten plain was just not interesting enough. The scone was very tasty but parts were undercooked to the point of tasting like dough. And the "ham and eggs", which my father and husband both ordered, seemed like a joke. We were told the ham was actually going to be pork belly, which, yum, but what arrived at the table was a huge portion of bread, a lovely poached egg with accoutrement, and maybe 3, 3-inch long, shaved-thin slices of limp fat with a tiny bit of pork attached. Smaller than bacon slices and half as thin. For $12, an egg, 3 big hunks of bread, some greens, and perhaps a half oz portion of pork belly. This was a silly presentation and I strongly recommend they rethink serving a dish called ham and eggs when the "ham" looks like garnish on the plate. There are plenty of other places in town that source from local farms and can actually feed you (not just load you up on bread) a significant amount of protein for $12.
(3)Beth G.
Shared the quiche (creamy and delicious) and the house made sausage with poached egg and THE BREAD. Everything was delicious. Also- the coffee is very good - strong and not bitter. Eyed the pastries but was too full. Will return for those, as well as to test the lunch menu.
(5)Jamie D.
The place was staffed with super friendly people. It was super neat and clean. Loved how there were community tables and single 2tops. Not everyone digs the community table all the time. The menu was simple, not overwhelming with options. Not simple as in the food was regular. There were very different unique menu items. The food was spot on, which will happen when there are just a few items to be done well. Looking forward to my next visit:) great addition to the neighborhood
(5)Julie O.
I never got to try anything because I left after standing in line listening to the cashier flirt with 2 girls for several minutes while ignoring me. How rude!
(1)Daniel H.
The presentation and aesthetic is great. The baked goods are second to none. And the people working there are great. It's a low-key place where you get gourmet food without the pretension. For all the foodies out there, put it on your list. My dad said: "I've never had quiche like this in my whole life. It's simply amazing. Do they sell whole ones to take home?"
(5)Karen K.
Absolutely unbelievably good. I bought as close to all of the pastries as I could, and have now sampled the croissant, the pain au chocolat (a.k.a. chocolate croissant), and the morning bun. Still to come -- the macaron, the multi-grain scone, and the canelé. A few other decadent options I managed to resist (I can't imagine how much butter and sugar this place goes through on any given day!!) and oh yes, I have also had the INCREDIBLE sourdough bread which a friend was kind enough to give me, and it is so so so good. My kids loved it as well. (I mean obviously they're going to love the pastries, but you might not assume a 7-year-old would love whole grain sourdough bread. But she does.) ANYWAY, this place is perfect. Friendly, professional, intelligent service, a beautiful bright clean simple space, and absolutely delicious food. #worththetripfromOakPark, that's for sure. I am tagging this as good for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, but it's not a typical omelette-for-breakfast with hash browns type place. Not a criticism, just information. We took our pastries and ran, so I can't comment on the quiche and so on. The menu is very short and to the point -- not a ton of options, but again, this is mere fact and not criticism. So bottom line -- I highly recommend Cellar Door Provisions in every way. Mmmm...
(5)Jaime P.
This place has truly wonderful pastry. It's quite clear that a lot of care goes into everything they do, and it definitely pays off. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Julia H.
Their morning bun + coffee is going to be my new Saturday addiction. LOVE! Clean, small and friendly. A great addition to Logan Square. I hope they expand their menu to include some type of sandwiches. Can't wait to go back.
(5)J P.
holy cow batman - that was the best quiche i've ever ever had! the coffee was delicious too. it's a little on the pricey side, but well worth it.
(5)