If you are looking for free wifi and good coffee, this is a great spot. However if you are looking for good food then this is not the place. I ordered a half soup and sandwich. I couldn't eat either. I swear the soup came from a Campbell's canned soup and the sandwich was blah. I left totally disappointed. Will not buy food here again.
(1)
Sandra T.
OK, so I have sampled pretty much all of the sweets at this lovely business and my favorite is the Cherry Danish. I haven't tried the breads, sandwiches, and soups but, I will. They serve Intelligentsia, which makes me very happy. Also, they have some good looking tea suggestions. The workers are great and I run into some interesting patrons. Always a fun experience for me.
(4)
Aja G.
Despite a difficult parking situation this place is super cute. I had a work meeting at this location and after some debate picked a sandwich combo. The menu however didn't list all the ingredients. I discovered this after biting into a generous glob of mustard. mustard of course is my least favorite condiment and despite the work aspect of this lunch I spit it out. I went up to the counter and received an immediate apology. I was told the vendor who prints the menu made several errors and the menu incorrectly left mustard off the ingredient list. My sandwich was quickly remade! I was happy to see they were so apologetic and committed to customer service. I enjoyed the rest of my meal and the delicious ice tea!
(4)
Erin K.
The breakfast pastries and iced coffee were exactly we were looking for this morning! Everything was good, although the Apple Chutney Turnover and Cherry Danish were particularly yummy. Looking forward to going back and trying some of their sandwiches for lunch.
(5)
Rebekah P.
I was expected quite a bit more from the bakery. Based on the location an prices, I expected a higher quality of baked goods, atmosphere, and decor. I had a slide of apricot cake and a coffee. The coffee was decent, but the cake was very dry. The atmosphere is a little dingy with random baskets, children's toys, and mismatched furniture. There were only two outlets for those with laptops, which I think hinders the bakery's ability to attract more customers. I think there is great potential for this place, but there just is not enough effort going into it.
(2)
Sydney T.
I love Prairie Bread Kitchen! I can't believe I'm saying this, because it just looks like a Panera wannabe at first glance, but it's so much better! So different and so delicious. First things first, they serve Intelligentsia coffee. We know by now that this is my shiz. And even better, they serve it well. I'm pretty sure they drip brew it, but it still tastes almost as good as getting it at the Intelligentsia store. I've had delicious Intelligentsia coffee that has been brewed to imperfection, but this place certainly got it right. They have decaf too! Even better better? They sell 12-ounce bags of whole beans of their coffee. It's nice that I can grab some in Oak Park rather than trek all the way into the city. They even sell the Black Cat Espresso roast. Yumma. Second things second, their food and bread are so so so good. All of their sandwiches and salads look so good that I had a hard time choosing. I ended up getting a hot corned beef sandwich on sourdough that had Dijon mustard, lettuce, and pickles. Only complaint was that they put one quarter pickle spear on each side of the sandwich. If I had my way, it would be sliced up and distributed a bit more. But other than that, delicious combination of ingredients. I'd definitely recommend it. If you eat in, they give you a generous portion of Jay's original ruffly potato chips on the side. Hands down, best kind of chips ever. Move over no-ruffles crunchy baked chips, the real thing is here. On top of all of this greatness, it's reasonably priced (no more expensive than Panera), the staff has always been friendly, and it's right next to the Oak Park Metra station. I always sit in their outside seating area sipping on some coffee while waiting for my train to come. Really, you can't beat it.
(5)
Ava B.
I live on the north side, but happened to be in Oak Park when I stumbled upon this cute bakery. I can't resist baked goods, so I stopped in. I've often gotten an apple bread from the Great Harvest Bread Company that I love. They had a very similar-looking bread here, so I thought I'd try it. To my surprise, it was actually better than the Great Harvest bread. Less streusel topping (so less sugary), more butter flavor, and a lot more apples! Very fresh and home-made tasting. I also got a snack-size chocolate espresso muffin which was delicious too. Wish they had a north side location!
(5)
Michael C.
Prairie bread kitchen is my destination in oak park for baked goods and coffee. The scones and tarts here are out of this world. Each baked good I've had here had fresh flavor and was the perfect sweetness level. I've also had their chicken curry salad sandwich which is a pretty solid and healthy lunch option although it's a bit pricy. The chicken is dried and smothered in this curry sauce that is slightly sweet and very filling. My favorite parts about this shop are the atmosphere and the out of this world intelligentsia coffee. There is a homey feeling that comes with the wooden decor and it is quite cozy to sit here and have an afternoon chat. Can't wait to try the bread bowl and soup next time I'm here!
So this is my first time trying corn beef I had high hopes and was very DISAPPOINTED. It was $8.17 for a corn beef it taste like it was made by a local grocery store butcher. Just nasty it contrasting with everything sour dough bread, pickles, pepper jack cheese. I heard decent reviews the ambiance but the food is mediocre at best.
(1)
Christopher B.
I tried the Greek veggie sandwich today. Usually a vegetarian sandwich is too plain and simple, but this one was really good with complexity of multiple ingredients. Generous feta, hummus, Lettuce, grilled red peppers and squash, tomatoes and I'm not sure what else. Another great lunch.
(5)
Claire M.
Um, yum. How have I never eaten at this place before? This was another stop made while Mother Dearest was in town. She is a health food freak and only wanted a salad and/or soup so this was her first choice out of the other options. I don't know how the woman doesn't waste away into nothing, she barely eats anything. She built her own freaky sandwich (I don't even remember what it was) and a had some sort of greens salad and I had the half sandwich half soup thing. Greek veggie sandwich and butternut squash soup (see photo!). Sandwiches are quite hit and miss for me but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I'd totally go back for another one. I have incredibly sensitive teeth and have recurring nightmares about biting into a veggie sandwich and the veggies are so flipping cold that it's just murder on my senses. Fortunately, that did not happen with this one. The soup was very good too - and it was like 80 degrees that day. I suppose it's never too hot for me to eat soup. It took us like an hour to decide where to eat so when first we ventured by, the place was packed (right at the lunchtime rush) but an hour later, there were only a couple other people in there.
(4)
Scott D.
It's ok. Couldn't really think of another word to describe it. I've been there several times since it's in my backyard and each visit was inconsistent with the previous. The sourdough bread is like hard white bread (I seriously thought they gave me the wrong thing), but their pastries are usually pretty tasty. Lower prices would definitely make me come back more often.
(2)
Regina D.
Stopped by PBK this morning before catching my train to work. Bought a loaf of Zucchini Bread. When I got to work, my co-workers swarmed the loaf and it was ALL GONE in record time. They "Ooooo'd and Ahhhhh'd" over the quality and taste of the bread, which they thought I made at home. I probably should have lied and said, "yes, I slaved over a hot oven" (lol), but I wouldn't want to steal PBK's thunder. Anyway, it was the most moist and tastiest sweet bread I have EVER tasted. I'm so happy to have them in my neighborhood.
(5)
Michelle S.
Called in an order, and was told to pick it up in 15 minutes 3 sandwiches and a soup. We arrived to pick it up yesterday and still waited an additional 20 plus minutes. The food is good but when you're on your lunch and only have a specific time allotted it's not acceptable. They really need to hire more people. The three young men didn't seem to be stepping it up to get the orders out. An older gentleman showed up and got everyone moving. Maybe the owner? Manager? I'm not sure but one more shot and that will be the deciding factor of additional visits or finding somewhere new.
(2)
Henry C.
Where do I start? Called the shop --- spoke with Miguel. Need banana bread for over 100. Can you do it. Let me check. Within minutes - he calls me back. We can do it. OK -- let me taste test. Serviced by Dana - a true professional. YUM! Let's order. Picked up: Beautifully displayed. Delicious, Best Service. What else can I ask for? Support this business. Hands down ----- best darn bakery in western suburbs.
(5)
Lucy W.
My favorite kind of chicken noodle soup is available here, with the very thick noodles! I also tried half a curry chicken salad sandwich on 7-grain bread, to make it a combo. Couldn't resist a gingerbread cookie, which was delicious! They also have lots of tea and Intelligista coffee beverage options. You order at the counter, and there are tables, high tops, and counters that you can sit at to enjoy your lunch. There's a metered parking lot across the street. I had picked this lunch meeting place for work on a complete whim, based on location...very pleasant surprise!
(4)
Anne L.
Great sandwich shop in Oak Park. Not out there often, but when I am at internship I love to stop by here for lunch, especially for the Cajun chicken sandwich and/or the Turkey salad. Both are so delicious and easily fill you up. Plus the prices aren't terrible either and the breads are made there at the shop leaving them much softer and easily much better than something from the grocery store. The atmosphere inside the restaurant as well is very laid back and the staff is very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend!
(4)
Laura M.
Places like this I have to be careful not to go insane buying everything to try (breads, pastries, coffee...) since it looks so good and fresh. I only stopped by for a coffee (Intelligista) binge and ended up with the apricot rugelach and sour dough bread. Friendly staff and atmosphere to hang out. Nice.
(4)
Andrew W.
Told there was no Wifi, even though numerous reviews say it exist. Felt like outsiders as they looked aggravated we didn't know what we wanted. Just a poor vibe from the staff and uncomfortable seating arrangements.
(3)
Matt M.
How could you not give this place 5 stars? Every little detail was fresh, delicious, and inviting. Its a comfortable place to sit down and try an interesting, unique sandwich that WORKS. So many places try to be "different" and just fall flat on their face. But I tried the curry chicken sandwich and was absolutely floored by how well they incorporated and featured the curry. Their baked items are flawless and you could easily sit down at a table and force yourself into type II diabetes and have no regrets.
(5)
Shauna G.
Good stop for breakfast but there are at least two places nearby that are better. I'd probably stop in for an afternoon cup of coffee or tea again.
(3)
Esther G.
What a nice sandwich shop! It's reminiscent of Panera Bread for its sandwiches, soups, coffees and bakery. If I lived around these parts, I'd go to Praire Bread every time over the other. I was impressed by the quality of ingredients, the flavors and my friendliness of the workers here. In order to try more than one item, I had a half-sandwich and soup combo to warm me up on a nippy day. I had the curry chicken salad sandwich: apple-ginger chutney, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce on 7 grain -- not too sweet but a nice balance of all the flavors. I was mad I didn't just get the entire sandwich. And on the suggestion of the cashier, I paired that with the butternut squash soup. It was like a chilly, October day in my mouth. The soups rotate daily, and I had asked what the most popular one was, and it really was the best one to have with the sandwich. There are high-top tables and also a long row facing the window for seating, but it's not that big of a place.
(4)
Noomi J.
I've been here twice, and have had their chicken gumbo, cajun chicken sandwich, and Intelligentsia coffee. Their soups come with some bread, which you can select, and their full-sized sandwiches come with a bag of chips. Their chicken gumbo was okay, and so was the sandwich. Nothing spectacular. Calm, pleasant ambiance. Not a 4 star for me though because I don't see myself driving out of my way to go here or seeking this place out.
(3)
Melissah L.
I dragged my boyfriend all over Oak Park and Chicago, begging him to take me to try all these different foods and see different sites. This is one we agreed was a must-try-- Prairie Bread Kitchen was rated well, and I have to say the Yelpers were right once again :). We split an apple chutney turnover and a coffee, and it was just a wonderful afternoon snack! As a baker, I always appreciate subtle twists on traditional recipes-- and the extra spice in the turnover was a pleasant surprise. I wish I had been able to try the cherry tart as well, maybe next time I'm in Oak Park! (I will definitely be back).
(5)
Sara B.
We didn't stay long. The food was decent and the coffee was not too bad. The bummer is that it is a huge "coffee shop" like place but no Wifi. Not the most organized place either. 2 cashiers but no flow of traffic. Odd. Intelligentsia coffee is a bonus and probably what keeps this place up!
(3)
K. E.
One day a week, I have a funny schedule, and I stop in here about 10:30 and get a sandwich to take to the office and eat later. It seems like a lot of money for a sandwich (about $8), but what a sandwich. This week I had the roast beef. It was very pink, incredibly tender, and just to die for. The wrapping lasted particularly well this week also (sometimes it leaks just a bit - no plastic wrap, just wax paper, that's ok with me). I like to order all the veggies, plus the pickled peppers, so it's kind of like a salad piled on meat on bread. The bread is excellent. The 7-grain is delicious, so I don't feel like I am compromising taste for the extra healthy ingredients. At that time of the morning, the service is very fast, and there is always a sample plate with tastes of sweets which are irresistible. From reading the other reviews, I can tell that there is a fuller lunch menu available later, but so far I don't feel deprived! This week I was running late for my train so I called ahead. This worked out perfectly. I only gave them about five minutes, but the sandwich was wrapped and ready to go, and I got to my train on time. If I have more time, I have a latte. They make them perfectly and you can ask for half skim/half whole milk if you want. I also like the smaller sized cookies. I have been buying bread and coffee here for years, but only recently tried the sandwiches. I am so glad I did. It's a great treat for me since there is no good food available for lunch where I work - I have to brown-bag every day.
(4)
Twila Y.
They catered my festival of 500 people and were able to keep up! The food is wonderful and the staff is always willing to help. Doran is patient and willing to make custom orders to cater to food allergies. They were kind to my volunteers and event attendees. Excited to have them at Greater Chicagoland Pagan Pride again this year!
(5)
Pieter W.
So I was in the mood for something simple like a good ole' sandwich, so I popped into Prarie Bread one day to try it out. Ordered the hot corned beef. I waited for 10 or 15 minutes, mentally salivating while thinking about a piled-high corned beef sandwich, piping hot served on delicious homemade bread! I was immediately disappointed when the sandwich came. Instead of being piled high, the corned beef consisted of three measly thinly sliced scraps of corned beef. Seriously, the pickle in the sandwich had more density, and actually overwhelmed the taste of the corned beef. Fortunately, the homemade sourdough was very tasty and probably saved the sandwich. Still, I left the place feeling hungry, having spent $8 bucks on a measly sandwich with a small handful of chips. I don't expect huge proportions, but I felt that for the money the sandwich should have had more substance. Oh well, I guess this place is for Oak Parkers who for the most have a lot more disposable income than I do. I'll probably come back sometime and pick up a loaf of bread though, it was really good bread, I'll give them that!
(3)
Cat C.
I stop here for breakfast when I'm early for the metra. The pastries are always delicious, and the mango smoothie I had last time was amazing! I always mean to buy a loaf of bread when I'm there, the prices are SO low, and it smells fantastic.
(5)
Cintya P.
I've grown to really like this place. Not for their coffee or sandwiches to be exact, but just for the fact that's a comforting spot to grab some lunch with friends. I just came back from Prairie Bread Kitchen and remembered I've been forgetting to write a review. I got a cup of their chili and a latte. Mind I say, the latte had a perfect foamy top to it! I was very pleased that the barista was able to make 2% milk for me because I really did not want skim or whole milk. Also, the chili was hearty and seasoned just right and was the perfect serving and piping hot! Every time I come here I get the best service! This place is really a great asset to the neighborhood, especially if you tire of Panera.
(4)
Trisha N.
On a recent visit the staff was swamped at lunch time. Somehow the line system wasn't working and someone who arrived after me was served before me. The counter staff noticed this as they were serving me and bought me a latte on them to make up for it! Then they apologized 2-3 times. I wasn't bothered by the line cut, but was more than happy with their reaction.
(5)
Sarah S.
I tried out prairie bread kitchen after seeing the great reviews here. I wasn't disappointed. I had the turkey sandwich, which was delicious and fresh. There was a nice surprise of thin-sliced cucumber inside the sandwich- something you don't get every day. The bread was fantastic. The menu was fairly limited, but had plenty to choose from. Sandwiches and salads ran around $7. Service was pretty slow. The space is nice and bright. If you get a window seat you can do some quality people watching. I didn't try any of the cookies but they looked delicious.
(4)
Octavio T.
Good coffee, good sandwiches, good background music and nice customer service.
(4)
Brie S.
I love this place! It is in a stellar location in Oak Park--right by the CTA and the Metra, and just off of Lake Street. The atmosphere is cute and farm-like. The staff is always polite. They serve homemade breads, cookies and Intelligentsia coffee. There is always enough seating when I go in, even though it is small inside. Y
(4)
Tristan C.
Food was ok. Seating was awkward. Staff had weird vibe, menu was a slightly bizarre. Probably OK if you don't have to sit inside and just want a sandwich.
(2)
Vanessa S.
I came in here to get a mocha. The mocha was okay. It was a litte on the sweet side for me. I also got their banana bread. I thought that was also okay. It was good, but I don't like to taste butter in what I eat. So obviously, there was too much better in the banana bread for me.
(3)
Anna J.
Great baked goods, Intelligentsia coffee at a decent price, and genuine, friendly staff.
(5)
Renita M.
Monday, 4:30 pm. I had last eaten around noon -- a banana -- and my tummy was rumbling. I also wanted a place to sit and chill for a little while. Thanks to Yelp, I knew Prairie Bread Kitchen wasn't too far from where I'd parked. Onward! It's a pretty simple place -- counter, tables, bar seating facing out to Marion St., with the fresh smell of bread in the air and bread-related quotes on the wall. I had a cafe au lait and the Greek veggie sandwich. The cafe au lait was made with Intelligensia -- awesome. The sandwich bread was soft and fresh and the veggies were just right. They did fall out kind of easily but I guess that's the downside of a veggie sandwich. It came with Ruffles. That's one tiny nitpick ... if I'm going to eat potato chips I'd rather have good ones (say, Kettle or popchips). The space is light, bright, smells awesome and is right next to the Metra/El tracks ... can't get much better than that. Just a note, though ... I don't care how awesome your perfectly roasted coffee beans from your hipster coffee company are, dude, you are preventing a customer from ordering with your blather so stop trying to persuade the poor barista/register lady to switch companies. At least wait until I've ordered. Sheesh.
(4)
Flora L.
I got the butternut squash soup in a bread bowl. The soup was very good and creamy and butternut squashy and the sourdough bread bowl was delicious! The guys helping me, Brian, was very friendly and brought me samples of the soup. The sandwiches, salads, and pastries all looked very good too, ill definitely be back to try more of the menu!
(5)
Ali Z.
Prairie Bread is a great all around bakery and cafe. I like to drop by here whenever I'm in the area and need a quick pick me up. Everything from sandwiches to coffee, bread, and sweets is very tasty. I've only tried a couple of sandwiches here but I remember the tuna and swiss being excellent. They also have a build your own sandwich option too. Much better than Panera or the Potbelly's down the street. The bread loaves are rustic and fresh. The sourdough and country white are my personal favorites here. When it comes to pastries, they have some serious competition from Sugar Fixe next door but more than manage to hold their own. They have a larger selection of different pastries and tea time treats all of which are extremely delicious. The standouts for me were the lemon bars (best ever) and chocolate rugelach. Paired with their fresh roasted coffee, it make the perfect midday snack.
(4)
M W.
Hands down the best bread in town!! Great sandwiches, baked goods and smoothies as well. The service is always great. The people behind the counter are super friendly, helpful and warm.
(5)
Tamar D.
We stopped in here, which is at the base of the Red Line in Oak Park. The baked goods were yummo; we enjoyed the oat bar, and the mini muffins. I tried the quiche in the morning, which was fairly bland, but it hit the I-need-something-warm breakfast spot. The folks in there are super nice and there were a number of regulars that showed up during both of our visits. They also keep out samples to taste, and I have to say the cherry danish was delicious. Warmed, and next to coffee in your mouth, and it would be divine.
(3)
Don B.
Intelligentsia coffee? Perhaps, mixed with dishwater. I ordered a latte, which was awfully weak. Ordered another shot. No improvement. Ordered a dark coffee. Terribly weak! Total indifference by the staff. My wife's salad came pre-made in a plastic box. My smoked turkey sandwich had meat from a package. Tasteless. The bread was good. Ruffles for chips. Train station food, but more expensive!
(1)
Abigail M.
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.. or at least one person does. THAT is Prairie Bread Kitchen! Seriously, my husband and I really appreciate they know him and I by name when we come in - and not in a creep way. The staff is incredible!!! Especially Dana, Abby, Jack and Miguel!!! I would love to write a negative review of PBK, because honestly, I want to keep it to myself. They've got the best coffee in town - Intelligentsia! Their lunch and dinner menu is great as well - hearty sandwiches, filling salads, all that good stuff. Of course, it's even worth just stopping by to grab one of their fresh baked loaves of bread (they've got some amazing bakers on staff also)! You cannot go wrong at this place.
(5)
Becky P.
Amazing. I was walking past and decided to pop in for some bread. Not only did it smell glorious in there, but their prices were reasonable, it was clean, and counter staff was friendly. I brought home 2 loaves, wish I would have bought more! Yum place to grab a cup of coffee and some goodies to go!
(5)
Amanda J.
Awesome! Best treats and atmosphere in Oak Park. Great place to take the kids or to grab a cup of coffee before heading out in the train. Also, I get their 7 grain bread weekly for lunch sandwiches and toast...so much better than store bought.
(5)
Michael G.
Prairie Bread Kitchen makes the best cookie in town! By 'town', I mean Chicagoland. It's their Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie. It is a buttery-sweet-soft-chewy-melty-toothsome incredible thing. They need to post cookie photos on their site. Their other cookies are also excellent, but make sure you try an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip. Their breads are always good, but I do prefer crusty(almost burnt) crusts on the savory yeast breads; the breads could take a little more 'burning' to achieve a Maillard reaction which would impart just a bit more flavor and texture to the loaves. Their quick breads are very good; I had a Thyme-Orange one recently. It was cakey and delicious. Their muffins are always moist and fluffy and really delicious; the scones are also very good, but I can never pass up a cookie and a muffin. Their coffee is Intelligentsia; always hot and delicious. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and keeps things moving; it can get a little backed-up at times. Marion Street in Oak Park should be visited by everyone! They've done great things on Marion Street recently, and it's attracted more great food spots and other shops. There are various parking options in the area. Drive around the neighborhood until you find a place to park; there are some free spots, and the parking garage at Harlem/Ontario/Marion is free for the first hour. The CTA Green Line train stops right there, as does the Metra Union Pacific West line. Prairie Bread Kitchen is a great place within a great neighborhood.
(5)
Jelena Z.
Oooh, Prairie Bread Kitchen, I like you! Very clean, bright (lots of natural light with windows facing the street) and sparkly coffee shop/bakery. They do sandwiches, soups, a variety of baked goods including muffins and cookies and of course, fresh baked breads! I only had a regular latte but the cookies were definitely begging for adoption by my tempted stomach! They serve Intelligentsia coffee (my fave!) and the counter staff is a delight. Free wi-fi, too!
(4)
Jeremy W.
Gladly will I circle the block multiple times in search of a park just so I can indulge in the Lemon Bars from this place. D to the A to the M to the N are these things good. Think I'm kidding? Try'em - you'll be hooked! Just do it.
(4)
Elizabeth G.
A good coffee shop for eating and socializing--questionable for socializing. Coffee-- Above average, but not great. Use intelligencia beans, could be better with more experienced baristas Food - pretty good, though muffins are a bit heavy. Wireless - DOESN'T WORK. They said it does, but the signal is too weak to pull up a single webpage. Another customer verified that it doesn't work for her either. The manager seemed confused, stating that ATT had just been in and added a password. She admitted that she didn't understand the set-up, and that the wireless router is in back, which I believe would explain the non-existant signal for customers.
(3)
Mary Ann C.
Super friendly service... and always fast. We love the bread (my husband is a big fan of the elemental), and the cookies are amazing! I love the peanut butter version, but the other day I had a double chocolate cookie that was a show stopper! Soups are great here too!!!
(4)
E C.
Really terrible service and slow. They lost track of my order and had to order again. The chicken panini I ordered was cold and when I took it back, they argued with me it couldn't be!
(1)
Rhonda G.
No breakfast, the next meal is hours away...help! Stopped in here for a quick little snack to get my energy levels back to normal. One Apple walnut muffin and steaming cup of java later and i'm back to normal. well, my version of normal. Need a boost before you hop on the el? get it here.
(4)
Jenny Z.
The atmosphere here is great-clean, bright, cozy and warm with nice bread quotes along the top of the ceiling. The bread is lovely, I will give it that! However, the actual food and service leaves something to be desired. I came here for lunch a few days ago and ordered the veggie soup with bread. The bread was nice but the veggie soup was literally tomato broth with frozen veggies added...for around $5 that's not cool! The service was....fine. No one was overly friendly or welcoming. I wish I could say differently!! I will probably try this place again, just to see if my experience was a fluke-I hope so!
(2)
Janet V.
YUM YUM YUM!! FRESH!! Everything here is soooo good! We come here every week for lunch! Salad, soup, sandwich, pastry...can't go wrong! Cafe is great too! Very affordable prices! Very friendly service! Def our favorite spot for lunch in OP!!
(5)
Cher M.
This is the place that keeps me upright most mornings. They serve Intelligentsia Coffee, and a LARGE one of those (dark, no sugar, no cream) combined with a scone (pretty much any kind is delicious, although I'm thinking of adopting the Cherry Almond one as my own and bringing it -and all of its relatives- to my home...and then devouring them) and my morning is off to a pretty good start for $4.34 Service is QUICK even when the line in almost out the door. I've never (knock on wood) been late for my train even when I'm cutting it super close, i.e. 3 minutes or less. The staff starts to recognize you after a few days, and most mornings I don't even have to say what I want, they have it for me before I can even ask. I've never had lunch here, but I drag every single person who visits me here for breakfast. Much better coffee than Starbucks (down the street) and more convenient for people like me who can't remember to set up their coffee maker at night *sigh*
(5)
Kristin S.
Pretty consistent with being good. I usually get a turkey sandwich, very plain, but good. Of course the bread is fresh and delicious. This time I had the tomato basil soup in a bread bowl (sourdough) and it was wonderful! Highly recommended-- it has a bit of cream in it, which makes it rather yummy!
(3)
Aly H.
Quaint, cozy, and cute :) stopped in here for coffee with my boyfriend and we each got a slice of blue cheese and chives bread- yum! Staff was a little expectant, as if they thought we would know the procedure for things- but otherwise great!
(4)
mister b.
Best cafe in Oak Park. Their coffee and products are great- affordable and delicious. The customer service is as expected. Only downfall is the wi-fi isn't consistent....
(4)
Sherry Y.
Adore this place. On a corner location, super homey feel. You can see into the kitchen from the front counter to watch them bake bread. They even have a little library for the kiddies, to keep them busy during lunch play dates. Decoration is very cutesy and its a nice place to take kids if you're a parent. Intelligentsia coffee served here. Love the sourdough soup bowls and their signature chili for a late fall lunch. Everything in the bakery is top notch, though, especially the lemon bars. Try out everything, you'll be rewarded. ^ ^
(5)
Yubari W.
I have been going to Prairie Bread for over 3 years now. I love the variety and freshness of the breads. The staff is always friendly and helpful. I have yet to have a bad experience there.
(5)
April P.
I love the Prairie Bread Kitchen. It is open and light and cheerful. The great big windows are a nice touch. I'm used to coffee houses having a dark atmosphere which is cozy in the wintertime, but not what I'm looking for in the summer. Also, they have wireless. That is always a huge plus : )
(5)
Hung T.
The Cherry Almond Scone here is delicious! I know nothing else of this place, but the scone is really enough for me to give a 4 star rating. Yum!
(4)
Janet E.
I've only tried two items from here and both were delicious! I had the chocolate expresso cupcake (no frosting for those that like cupcakes). The cake was very moist and kept its moisture, despite sitting in my bag for almost the entire day half eaten. I also bought an entire loaf of banana bread. They offer to slice the bread for you, but in my opinion, the bread dries out faster if you have it pre-sliced. The bread was delicious! Very moist. Prices here are very reasonably cheap and staff was very willing to help. Just an FYI, they do not take AMEX here.
(4)
A D.
Intelligentsia coffee is the upside. I go several times a month yet I never feel as if I'm welcomed by the staff. The vibe is kinda not friendly. They seem to greet some regulars with open arms and know their names. I'm not expecting them to know my name, but it'd be nice to feel like my presence wasn't an annoyance of some sort. The seating is not welcoming either. Maybe because they don't want ya to stay, lol!
(2)
William B.
Just ran in to grab a loaf of their sourdough. Decided to grab a cookie, too. The cashier recommended the double-chocolate pecan. Excellent choice. The sourdough is rustic. Very good.
(4)
Katherine K.
Are there state laws governing the closing time of soup and sandwich places? (ie like liquor laws?) My family and I walked in at 5:15 (closing time is 5:30 on Saturdays, I believe) and I could not believe how the employees acted towards us... I ordered a potato soup (it was wonderful) and was given my choice of bread (natch) however when I opened the bag, the bread was wrong, but I was tired and wanted my hot soup and didn't want to deal with going back to the counter and standing in line for the right slice of bread. The others I was with ordered bottled drinks and 2 sandwiches (one being a simple PB&J). The staff then started making snarky comments about making sandwiches at closing time. Huh? The door was not locked when we arrived, so what did you think we were coming in for? At 5:30 out rolled the vacuum cleaner, and Bob Marley at a very high volume! Much like a bar that might turn it's lights on and music off to lure you out, these girls wanted us out!!! I get that it's closing time, but this type of service makes one never want to return. C'mon management, have a talk with your staff!
(2)
Peter B.
Good soups, tasty and well-seasoned. The portions are really small, though. Their bowls are more on the order of cups. How about making those cups a bit bigger, PBK? Maybe they have? I haven't been in a few months, and I see that they are under new management? Hopefully they have not changed the recipe for their Lemon Pound Cake. It is awesome. The icing tastes like pure lemon. Wonderful! The girls who work at the counter are very friendly and will remember you if you visit more than once or twice. It feels like a nice, small town, homey place.
(4)
Liz W.
Another great lunch spot in Oak Park. They don't have a crazy huge menu, just some simple sandwiches and soups that rotate daily. I've tried their cajun chicken panini. It was super cheesy and kind of reminded me of a grilled cheese sandwich. Ive also had their smoked turkey sandwich and chilli. The chilli was awesome. Filled with flavor and not huge chunks of pepper and onions. You can get half a sandwich with soup for about $7, but if you get a full sandwich with soup it can easily cost over $10. My office also orders their pastries and cookies. Everything I've tried has been delicious.
(4)
Lindsey A.
The most amazing, soft, buttery, sweet, delicious cookies this mouth has ever tasted. Bread freshly baked by the loaf or slice. Homemade soups and chowders served with or without A-OK sandwiches (that are better if dunked in said soup) or even greater! -- get it in a bread bowl and trim the edges off for dunking purposes. Love the coffee in the morning with a pecan roll. There's not a bad word to be had about this place.
(5)
Andrea B.
My mom and I went here to get cinnamon rolls. They were absolutely delicious. Very tasty and soft, best I've ever had. Really nice atmosphere and very friendly staff.
(4)
H T.
The tuna sandwiches are good here. The food and service are consistently good.
(4)
Kelly S.
We stopped in here today for a late lunch. The place was really quiet and 45 minutes til closing. The girls at the counter were friendly enough though not overly welcoming. It was obviously near the end of their shift. We both ordered the soup and sandwich combos. Approx $7.00 each. 1/2 Sandwich and a Bowl of Soup. Real turkey here boys and girls! Not the slimey perfectly round stuff ya find at other sandwich joints. And the bread... 7 grain baked fresh on site. Lots of veggie topping options to chose from. All making for the PERFECT sandwich. The soups were both excellent as well. Mushroom Barley Beef... real beef chunks and loaded with veggies. Tomato Bisque... creamy tomato goodness. One very large peanut butter cookie to end this sweet meal. Glorious texture and flavor. The perfect marriage of chewy and crunchy. Unfortunately, it was raining this afternoon or we would have enjoyed the outdoor seating. * Now serving Intelligentsia coffee! ** Free WiFi.
(4)
Tim G.
Tasty sandwiches, great muffins, good coffee, and quick service. I typically come here when I want a quick breakfast out. The coffee never disappoints, but isn't the best I've ever had (Cafe Velite/Cupcake Royale in Seattle). The cinnamon rolls are interesting. My wife's not a fan, but I am. They seem to have quite a bit of honey in them and some of it is carmelized. They're not overly sweet like most. They're different and I like it. The muffins are also worth mention. The zucchini muffin is a favorite, but chocolate and the others are good too. Sandwiches are whatever you want them to be. They can be bland and boring, or tasty and complex. It's like making a sandwich at home, but having a much wider variety of ingredients available. Pair them with a hot cup of soup for a nice wintertime lunch.
(4)
James T.
Ham and cheese scone all the way! Great bread and great service. The staff gets you in and out. Best bakery in Oak Park for breakfast.
(5)
Kirsten A.
This place is super lame. The menu was hard to find, the sandwiches totally over priced, and the staff super slow. I ordered a three cheese sandwich and was given it five minutes later, untoasted with one piece of bread and the other piece of butt bread. You know the piece of bread at the end of the loaf that you don't make sandwiches with? I asked if they could toast it and they said no, we don't do that. So let me get this right, I just paid $4.45 for a piece of bread, a piece of butt bread, and three slices of cheese slapped together? And it took you five minutes to do this? I think not.
(1)
Cristina T.
I love this place! Been here a few times for salads/sandwiches or just for a cup of coffee. They serve Intelligentsia, which I love. The pastry case is to die for as is the bread. A nice place to hang out and relax-not once have I felt rushed. Service is friendly and fast. Will be back here many times to come!
(4)
Jacob G.
I stop in just about every weekend for a coffee and a slice of bread and have never been disappointed. Service is quick, coffee is tasty - good place.
(4)
Laine K.
So I can't speak to the bread part of this business, however, the service, the coffee and a good amount of the sweet goods are fantastic. That's right people I'm writing another "fantastic" heavy review. I love the service. They are always patient with my indecisiveness and make great suggestions. One day I flip-flopped back and forth on what level of creaminess my latte should be and the response was priceless: "Just go all in and get the whole milk; it's Sunday! Live a little!" So I love the apricot biscotti and the crispy little short-breads! They have saved me from my growling tummy on more that one occasion. I need to head back and try the bread. There's not an extensive selection though. The only problem i have with this place is that it is a long ways from my current home....... I need to move. :)
(4)
Jean S.
Don't buy bread on the weekend. I made that mistake and bought a loaf of brioche and it was so stale.
(1)
Sarah R.
Great for: coffee, bread, cookies, sandwiches. Have never really been impressed by their soups. I'm not sure what it is about my luck, but I've never received the poor service other reviewers have mentioned. Maybe it's because I don't show up at closing time?
(4)
Joan K.
Bread... Yes.... Pastries... Yes, Soups... Yes.... Sandwich, ummm... Naw. Roast beef sandwich, the beef was that awful stuff that Arby's pass off as beef. Yuk. The chives and blue cheese bread was wonderful. I wanted a loaf to go, but understandably, they were sold out. Italian bread was wonderful. Squash soup was good as well. Stick with the breads/pastries..you'll be happy.
You can Count on these folks for a good sandwich. Maybe the best sandwich shop in oak park right now. We go here a few times a year. Great menu, fresh bread, friendly staff, great location, clean. Today I had their roast beef with horseradish mustard and blue cheese with purple onion. It was perfect. Wife had turkey sand and daughter had pbj. They were very happy too. Chips were fresh and tasty.
(5)
Tina M.
Had a latte that tasted like water with a little bit of chocolate. I was really disappointed.
(2)
Tracey M.
The first four stars is for the food and service I received. The fifth is for the extra thought the person helping me had by offering to wrap-up half my sandwich for later since I had mentioned I really just hungry enough for half a sandwich. I'm a big fan of sourdough bread and theirs passed with flying colors. I will definitely go back for another sandwich - or maybe possibly one of their many baked goods and a smoothie!
(5)
John G.
A leader in its genre.
(4)
Tina C.
This place doesn't even deserve my review. The staff is soooooo RUDE. The coffee was really horrible. It's small, and the menu is nothing to brag about. Please don't waste your time going here.....
(1)
Sam S.
Really good scones, esp in the morning when they're fresh out of the oven (what isn't!). They close at 3:30 on Sunday but the owner let us stay till 4 without throwing us strange looks at all. Wish they stayed open later. They don't make baguette which is a shame!
(4)
Scott H.
I was in town for some spices at Penzey's and found this little shop near the el. A brick paced street takes you back to the days of neighborhood bakeries. I stopped in for an iced coffee. The Inelligentsia coffee was good. That is high praise from someone who roasts their own coffee beans.
(4)
Noel K.
We visit them at least twice a month to stock up on breakfast. We love the muffins (choco expresso & blueberry) and icing topped cookies. I get the bread bowl for my veggi soups during the cold months. I love their soy lattes!!
(4)
Ted N.
You really can't write one review for this place. There is a bakery and a restaurant/cafe. What they do best is bread. Our personal favorite is the sunflower millet but several other breads rate well. I wouldn't waste my time on the italian as there are so many better options in the area. The sweet baked items are competent but hardly extraordinary. In the spirit of full disclosure I haven't tried all their sweet goods but what I have had has been OK except for the scones which are very sub-par. The restaurant/cafe is good but nothing special. I do agree that the service can be snarky. Some of the servers seem to be doing you a favor while others can be genuinely friendly. It is a bit of a crap shoot. The owners would do themselves a favor if they were more selective on the type of person they hire.
(3)
Jennifer S.
The soups are quite salty and very thick. The service has gone down in the past few months with the people behind the counter getting things wrong. Honey Mustard is NOT a substitute for Dijon. You need to be too specific when you order. When you ask for soup and sandwich to go, I often get soup and HALF a sandwich. Either someone behind the counter is getting rude and trying to make a comment or they just don't pay attention to what you want. I say go 1 block south and eat at the Cheese Market!
(2)
Colleen B.
I go there almost every week to get a cup of soup for lunch. Super cheap, very tasty, and comes with a big piece of the best bread I've ever had. Their cookies and pound cake and such rules, too. The staff is very friendly, but sometimes things are a little slow. I've told my whole office about this place and now they go there too. yum yum.
(4)
Emily C.
Great breads, yummy Intelligentsia coffee and fabulous soups. Am a huge fan of the chocolate espresso muffin, although it will add to your total caffeine intake.
(5)
Jamey M.
Real Bread Bakers - In house daily baked bread Intelligentsia Coffee Fresh Pastries Good parking -nuff said-
(5)
Cynthia G.
This place has great coffee (Intelligentsia) and the baked goods are delicious. My friends and I had the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and the chocolate espresso muffin, and they were both ooeey gooey goodness. We'll definitely be back to try more baked goodies!
(4)
Becky S.
Love this place. Everything is delicious, and it's not outrageously priced (although it's not cheap, either). I wish they had a bit more variety, but better to do a few things very well than a lot of things mediocre-ly.
(4)
B. L.
They have a great selection of fresh breads of all shapes and sizes and a good selection of pastrys. You can also get a cup of tea or coffee and take it on their outdoor patio, and take in the sights and the breeze. There are alot of shops and things to do right in this area.
(4)
Edward H.
If only this place was closer to home or work! Prairie has some mucho tasty goodies all freshly baked, coffee done right, and various soups and sandwiches that can put Panera to shame. I'm completely hooked on the crack cocaine that they label as apple bread.
(4)
Emily C.
Prairie Bread Kitchen on sunny but slightly chilly fall day is just perfect. I got their tomato basil soup. It has teeny little ricotta cheese stuffed raviolis in it. I've really never had anything quite like it; it kicked Chef Boyardee's butt into oblivion. I had a slice of 7 grain bread to dip in it, which was delicious in flavor. Unfortunately, the bread sits out on a board for display, and the ends, as is bound to happen, get stale. They cut right off the end and that's the slice I got. I wish they'd toss that slice out and give me a soft one, but that's my only beef whatsoever. Oh yeah speaking of beef, my friend had a roast beef sandwich that looked awesome-the beef was sliced nice and thick and was slightly rare; it looked pretty tasty. For dessert, I had the chocolate espresso one and it was, for all intents and purposes, like eating a huge hunk of bittersweet chocolate cake. All in all, a lovely meal.
(4)
Linda S.
Really yummy pecan rolls and one of the best banana breads in the Chicagoland area. I've tried the soups here and they're not too impressive here. Go here for the bakery goods and the fresh breads.
(5)
Gary K.
We've gone here before to grab a sandwich before a movie and they were pretty good. The bread is obviously very fresh and all the toppings were freshly cut as well. I got a turkey sandwich and some clam chowder for soup, it was really good. They have nice outdoor seating where we could enjoy the outdoors too.
(4)
Erin K.
The breakfast pastries and iced coffee were exactly we were looking for this morning! Everything was good, although the Apple Chutney Turnover and Cherry Danish were particularly yummy. Looking forward to going back and trying some of their sandwiches for lunch.
(5)
Sandra T.
OK, so I have sampled pretty much all of the sweets at this lovely business and my favorite is the Cherry Danish. I haven't tried the breads, sandwiches, and soups but, I will. They serve Intelligentsia, which makes me very happy. Also, they have some good looking tea suggestions. The workers are great and I run into some interesting patrons. Always a fun experience for me.
(4)
Aja G.
Despite a difficult parking situation this place is super cute. I had a work meeting at this location and after some debate picked a sandwich combo. The menu however didn't list all the ingredients. I discovered this after biting into a generous glob of mustard. mustard of course is my least favorite condiment and despite the work aspect of this lunch I spit it out. I went up to the counter and received an immediate apology. I was told the vendor who prints the menu made several errors and the menu incorrectly left mustard off the ingredient list. My sandwich was quickly remade! I was happy to see they were so apologetic and committed to customer service. I enjoyed the rest of my meal and the delicious ice tea!
(4)
Rebecca W.
My favorite coffee and breakfast spot in Oak park. So conveniently located right by train.
(5)
Rebekah P.
I was expected quite a bit more from the bakery. Based on the location an prices, I expected a higher quality of baked goods, atmosphere, and decor. I had a slide of apricot cake and a coffee. The coffee was decent, but the cake was very dry. The atmosphere is a little dingy with random baskets, children's toys, and mismatched furniture. There were only two outlets for those with laptops, which I think hinders the bakery's ability to attract more customers. I think there is great potential for this place, but there just is not enough effort going into it.
(2)
Nixa B.
If you are looking for free wifi and good coffee, this is a great spot. However if you are looking for good food then this is not the place. I ordered a half soup and sandwich. I couldn't eat either. I swear the soup came from a Campbell's canned soup and the sandwich was blah. I left totally disappointed. Will not buy food here again.
(1)
Sydney T.
I love Prairie Bread Kitchen! I can't believe I'm saying this, because it just looks like a Panera wannabe at first glance, but it's so much better! So different and so delicious. First things first, they serve Intelligentsia coffee. We know by now that this is my shiz. And even better, they serve it well. I'm pretty sure they drip brew it, but it still tastes almost as good as getting it at the Intelligentsia store. I've had delicious Intelligentsia coffee that has been brewed to imperfection, but this place certainly got it right. They have decaf too! Even better better? They sell 12-ounce bags of whole beans of their coffee. It's nice that I can grab some in Oak Park rather than trek all the way into the city. They even sell the Black Cat Espresso roast. Yumma. Second things second, their food and bread are so so so good. All of their sandwiches and salads look so good that I had a hard time choosing. I ended up getting a hot corned beef sandwich on sourdough that had Dijon mustard, lettuce, and pickles. Only complaint was that they put one quarter pickle spear on each side of the sandwich. If I had my way, it would be sliced up and distributed a bit more. But other than that, delicious combination of ingredients. I'd definitely recommend it. If you eat in, they give you a generous portion of Jay's original ruffly potato chips on the side. Hands down, best kind of chips ever. Move over no-ruffles crunchy baked chips, the real thing is here. On top of all of this greatness, it's reasonably priced (no more expensive than Panera), the staff has always been friendly, and it's right next to the Oak Park Metra station. I always sit in their outside seating area sipping on some coffee while waiting for my train to come. Really, you can't beat it.
(5)
Ava B.
I live on the north side, but happened to be in Oak Park when I stumbled upon this cute bakery. I can't resist baked goods, so I stopped in. I've often gotten an apple bread from the Great Harvest Bread Company that I love. They had a very similar-looking bread here, so I thought I'd try it. To my surprise, it was actually better than the Great Harvest bread. Less streusel topping (so less sugary), more butter flavor, and a lot more apples! Very fresh and home-made tasting. I also got a snack-size chocolate espresso muffin which was delicious too. Wish they had a north side location!
(5)
Michael C.
Prairie bread kitchen is my destination in oak park for baked goods and coffee. The scones and tarts here are out of this world. Each baked good I've had here had fresh flavor and was the perfect sweetness level. I've also had their chicken curry salad sandwich which is a pretty solid and healthy lunch option although it's a bit pricy. The chicken is dried and smothered in this curry sauce that is slightly sweet and very filling. My favorite parts about this shop are the atmosphere and the out of this world intelligentsia coffee. There is a homey feeling that comes with the wooden decor and it is quite cozy to sit here and have an afternoon chat. Can't wait to try the bread bowl and soup next time I'm here!
(4)
Sharde Dior B.
So this is my first time trying corn beef I had high hopes and was very DISAPPOINTED. It was $8.17 for a corn beef it taste like it was made by a local grocery store butcher. Just nasty it contrasting with everything sour dough bread, pickles, pepper jack cheese. I heard decent reviews the ambiance but the food is mediocre at best.
I tried the Greek veggie sandwich today. Usually a vegetarian sandwich is too plain and simple, but this one was really good with complexity of multiple ingredients. Generous feta, hummus, Lettuce, grilled red peppers and squash, tomatoes and I'm not sure what else. Another great lunch.
(5)
Claire M.
Um, yum. How have I never eaten at this place before? This was another stop made while Mother Dearest was in town. She is a health food freak and only wanted a salad and/or soup so this was her first choice out of the other options. I don't know how the woman doesn't waste away into nothing, she barely eats anything. She built her own freaky sandwich (I don't even remember what it was) and a had some sort of greens salad and I had the half sandwich half soup thing. Greek veggie sandwich and butternut squash soup (see photo!). Sandwiches are quite hit and miss for me but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I'd totally go back for another one. I have incredibly sensitive teeth and have recurring nightmares about biting into a veggie sandwich and the veggies are so flipping cold that it's just murder on my senses. Fortunately, that did not happen with this one. The soup was very good too - and it was like 80 degrees that day. I suppose it's never too hot for me to eat soup. It took us like an hour to decide where to eat so when first we ventured by, the place was packed (right at the lunchtime rush) but an hour later, there were only a couple other people in there.
(4)
Scott D.
It's ok. Couldn't really think of another word to describe it. I've been there several times since it's in my backyard and each visit was inconsistent with the previous. The sourdough bread is like hard white bread (I seriously thought they gave me the wrong thing), but their pastries are usually pretty tasty. Lower prices would definitely make me come back more often.
(2)
Regina D.
Stopped by PBK this morning before catching my train to work. Bought a loaf of Zucchini Bread. When I got to work, my co-workers swarmed the loaf and it was ALL GONE in record time. They "Ooooo'd and Ahhhhh'd" over the quality and taste of the bread, which they thought I made at home. I probably should have lied and said, "yes, I slaved over a hot oven" (lol), but I wouldn't want to steal PBK's thunder. Anyway, it was the most moist and tastiest sweet bread I have EVER tasted. I'm so happy to have them in my neighborhood.
(5)
Michelle S.
Called in an order, and was told to pick it up in 15 minutes 3 sandwiches and a soup. We arrived to pick it up yesterday and still waited an additional 20 plus minutes. The food is good but when you're on your lunch and only have a specific time allotted it's not acceptable. They really need to hire more people. The three young men didn't seem to be stepping it up to get the orders out. An older gentleman showed up and got everyone moving. Maybe the owner? Manager? I'm not sure but one more shot and that will be the deciding factor of additional visits or finding somewhere new.
(2)
Henry C.
Where do I start? Called the shop --- spoke with Miguel. Need banana bread for over 100. Can you do it. Let me check. Within minutes - he calls me back. We can do it. OK -- let me taste test. Serviced by Dana - a true professional. YUM! Let's order. Picked up: Beautifully displayed. Delicious, Best Service. What else can I ask for? Support this business. Hands down ----- best darn bakery in western suburbs.
(5)
Lucy W.
My favorite kind of chicken noodle soup is available here, with the very thick noodles! I also tried half a curry chicken salad sandwich on 7-grain bread, to make it a combo. Couldn't resist a gingerbread cookie, which was delicious! They also have lots of tea and Intelligista coffee beverage options. You order at the counter, and there are tables, high tops, and counters that you can sit at to enjoy your lunch. There's a metered parking lot across the street. I had picked this lunch meeting place for work on a complete whim, based on location...very pleasant surprise!
(4)
Anne L.
Great sandwich shop in Oak Park. Not out there often, but when I am at internship I love to stop by here for lunch, especially for the Cajun chicken sandwich and/or the Turkey salad. Both are so delicious and easily fill you up. Plus the prices aren't terrible either and the breads are made there at the shop leaving them much softer and easily much better than something from the grocery store. The atmosphere inside the restaurant as well is very laid back and the staff is very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend!
(4)
Laura M.
Places like this I have to be careful not to go insane buying everything to try (breads, pastries, coffee...) since it looks so good and fresh. I only stopped by for a coffee (Intelligista) binge and ended up with the apricot rugelach and sour dough bread. Friendly staff and atmosphere to hang out. Nice.
(4)
Andrew W.
Told there was no Wifi, even though numerous reviews say it exist. Felt like outsiders as they looked aggravated we didn't know what we wanted. Just a poor vibe from the staff and uncomfortable seating arrangements.
(3)
Matt M.
How could you not give this place 5 stars? Every little detail was fresh, delicious, and inviting. Its a comfortable place to sit down and try an interesting, unique sandwich that WORKS. So many places try to be "different" and just fall flat on their face. But I tried the curry chicken sandwich and was absolutely floored by how well they incorporated and featured the curry. Their baked items are flawless and you could easily sit down at a table and force yourself into type II diabetes and have no regrets.
(5)
Shauna G.
Good stop for breakfast but there are at least two places nearby that are better. I'd probably stop in for an afternoon cup of coffee or tea again.
(3)
Esther G.
What a nice sandwich shop! It's reminiscent of Panera Bread for its sandwiches, soups, coffees and bakery. If I lived around these parts, I'd go to Praire Bread every time over the other. I was impressed by the quality of ingredients, the flavors and my friendliness of the workers here. In order to try more than one item, I had a half-sandwich and soup combo to warm me up on a nippy day. I had the curry chicken salad sandwich: apple-ginger chutney, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce on 7 grain -- not too sweet but a nice balance of all the flavors. I was mad I didn't just get the entire sandwich. And on the suggestion of the cashier, I paired that with the butternut squash soup. It was like a chilly, October day in my mouth. The soups rotate daily, and I had asked what the most popular one was, and it really was the best one to have with the sandwich. There are high-top tables and also a long row facing the window for seating, but it's not that big of a place.
(4)
Noomi J.
I've been here twice, and have had their chicken gumbo, cajun chicken sandwich, and Intelligentsia coffee. Their soups come with some bread, which you can select, and their full-sized sandwiches come with a bag of chips. Their chicken gumbo was okay, and so was the sandwich. Nothing spectacular. Calm, pleasant ambiance. Not a 4 star for me though because I don't see myself driving out of my way to go here or seeking this place out.
(3)
Melissah L.
I dragged my boyfriend all over Oak Park and Chicago, begging him to take me to try all these different foods and see different sites. This is one we agreed was a must-try-- Prairie Bread Kitchen was rated well, and I have to say the Yelpers were right once again :). We split an apple chutney turnover and a coffee, and it was just a wonderful afternoon snack! As a baker, I always appreciate subtle twists on traditional recipes-- and the extra spice in the turnover was a pleasant surprise. I wish I had been able to try the cherry tart as well, maybe next time I'm in Oak Park! (I will definitely be back).
(5)
Sara B.
We didn't stay long. The food was decent and the coffee was not too bad. The bummer is that it is a huge "coffee shop" like place but no Wifi. Not the most organized place either. 2 cashiers but no flow of traffic. Odd. Intelligentsia coffee is a bonus and probably what keeps this place up!
(3)
K. E.
One day a week, I have a funny schedule, and I stop in here about 10:30 and get a sandwich to take to the office and eat later. It seems like a lot of money for a sandwich (about $8), but what a sandwich. This week I had the roast beef. It was very pink, incredibly tender, and just to die for. The wrapping lasted particularly well this week also (sometimes it leaks just a bit - no plastic wrap, just wax paper, that's ok with me). I like to order all the veggies, plus the pickled peppers, so it's kind of like a salad piled on meat on bread. The bread is excellent. The 7-grain is delicious, so I don't feel like I am compromising taste for the extra healthy ingredients. At that time of the morning, the service is very fast, and there is always a sample plate with tastes of sweets which are irresistible. From reading the other reviews, I can tell that there is a fuller lunch menu available later, but so far I don't feel deprived! This week I was running late for my train so I called ahead. This worked out perfectly. I only gave them about five minutes, but the sandwich was wrapped and ready to go, and I got to my train on time. If I have more time, I have a latte. They make them perfectly and you can ask for half skim/half whole milk if you want. I also like the smaller sized cookies. I have been buying bread and coffee here for years, but only recently tried the sandwiches. I am so glad I did. It's a great treat for me since there is no good food available for lunch where I work - I have to brown-bag every day.
(4)
Twila Y.
They catered my festival of 500 people and were able to keep up! The food is wonderful and the staff is always willing to help. Doran is patient and willing to make custom orders to cater to food allergies. They were kind to my volunteers and event attendees. Excited to have them at Greater Chicagoland Pagan Pride again this year!
(5)
Pieter W.
So I was in the mood for something simple like a good ole' sandwich, so I popped into Prarie Bread one day to try it out. Ordered the hot corned beef. I waited for 10 or 15 minutes, mentally salivating while thinking about a piled-high corned beef sandwich, piping hot served on delicious homemade bread! I was immediately disappointed when the sandwich came. Instead of being piled high, the corned beef consisted of three measly thinly sliced scraps of corned beef. Seriously, the pickle in the sandwich had more density, and actually overwhelmed the taste of the corned beef. Fortunately, the homemade sourdough was very tasty and probably saved the sandwich. Still, I left the place feeling hungry, having spent $8 bucks on a measly sandwich with a small handful of chips. I don't expect huge proportions, but I felt that for the money the sandwich should have had more substance. Oh well, I guess this place is for Oak Parkers who for the most have a lot more disposable income than I do. I'll probably come back sometime and pick up a loaf of bread though, it was really good bread, I'll give them that!
(3)
Cat C.
I stop here for breakfast when I'm early for the metra. The pastries are always delicious, and the mango smoothie I had last time was amazing! I always mean to buy a loaf of bread when I'm there, the prices are SO low, and it smells fantastic.
(5)
Cintya P.
I've grown to really like this place. Not for their coffee or sandwiches to be exact, but just for the fact that's a comforting spot to grab some lunch with friends. I just came back from Prairie Bread Kitchen and remembered I've been forgetting to write a review. I got a cup of their chili and a latte. Mind I say, the latte had a perfect foamy top to it! I was very pleased that the barista was able to make 2% milk for me because I really did not want skim or whole milk. Also, the chili was hearty and seasoned just right and was the perfect serving and piping hot! Every time I come here I get the best service! This place is really a great asset to the neighborhood, especially if you tire of Panera.
(4)
Trisha N.
On a recent visit the staff was swamped at lunch time. Somehow the line system wasn't working and someone who arrived after me was served before me. The counter staff noticed this as they were serving me and bought me a latte on them to make up for it! Then they apologized 2-3 times. I wasn't bothered by the line cut, but was more than happy with their reaction.
(5)
Sarah S.
I tried out prairie bread kitchen after seeing the great reviews here. I wasn't disappointed. I had the turkey sandwich, which was delicious and fresh. There was a nice surprise of thin-sliced cucumber inside the sandwich- something you don't get every day. The bread was fantastic. The menu was fairly limited, but had plenty to choose from. Sandwiches and salads ran around $7. Service was pretty slow. The space is nice and bright. If you get a window seat you can do some quality people watching. I didn't try any of the cookies but they looked delicious.
(4)
Octavio T.
Good coffee, good sandwiches, good background music and nice customer service.
(4)
Brie S.
I love this place! It is in a stellar location in Oak Park--right by the CTA and the Metra, and just off of Lake Street. The atmosphere is cute and farm-like. The staff is always polite. They serve homemade breads, cookies and Intelligentsia coffee. There is always enough seating when I go in, even though it is small inside. Y
(4)
Tristan C.
Food was ok. Seating was awkward. Staff had weird vibe, menu was a slightly bizarre. Probably OK if you don't have to sit inside and just want a sandwich.
(2)
Vanessa S.
I came in here to get a mocha. The mocha was okay. It was a litte on the sweet side for me. I also got their banana bread. I thought that was also okay. It was good, but I don't like to taste butter in what I eat. So obviously, there was too much better in the banana bread for me.
(3)
Anna J.
Great baked goods, Intelligentsia coffee at a decent price, and genuine, friendly staff.
(5)
Renita M.
Monday, 4:30 pm. I had last eaten around noon -- a banana -- and my tummy was rumbling. I also wanted a place to sit and chill for a little while. Thanks to Yelp, I knew Prairie Bread Kitchen wasn't too far from where I'd parked. Onward! It's a pretty simple place -- counter, tables, bar seating facing out to Marion St., with the fresh smell of bread in the air and bread-related quotes on the wall. I had a cafe au lait and the Greek veggie sandwich. The cafe au lait was made with Intelligensia -- awesome. The sandwich bread was soft and fresh and the veggies were just right. They did fall out kind of easily but I guess that's the downside of a veggie sandwich. It came with Ruffles. That's one tiny nitpick ... if I'm going to eat potato chips I'd rather have good ones (say, Kettle or popchips). The space is light, bright, smells awesome and is right next to the Metra/El tracks ... can't get much better than that. Just a note, though ... I don't care how awesome your perfectly roasted coffee beans from your hipster coffee company are, dude, you are preventing a customer from ordering with your blather so stop trying to persuade the poor barista/register lady to switch companies. At least wait until I've ordered. Sheesh.
(4)
Flora L.
I got the butternut squash soup in a bread bowl. The soup was very good and creamy and butternut squashy and the sourdough bread bowl was delicious! The guys helping me, Brian, was very friendly and brought me samples of the soup. The sandwiches, salads, and pastries all looked very good too, ill definitely be back to try more of the menu!
(5)
Ali Z.
Prairie Bread is a great all around bakery and cafe. I like to drop by here whenever I'm in the area and need a quick pick me up. Everything from sandwiches to coffee, bread, and sweets is very tasty. I've only tried a couple of sandwiches here but I remember the tuna and swiss being excellent. They also have a build your own sandwich option too. Much better than Panera or the Potbelly's down the street. The bread loaves are rustic and fresh. The sourdough and country white are my personal favorites here. When it comes to pastries, they have some serious competition from Sugar Fixe next door but more than manage to hold their own. They have a larger selection of different pastries and tea time treats all of which are extremely delicious. The standouts for me were the lemon bars (best ever) and chocolate rugelach. Paired with their fresh roasted coffee, it make the perfect midday snack.
(4)
M W.
Hands down the best bread in town!! Great sandwiches, baked goods and smoothies as well. The service is always great. The people behind the counter are super friendly, helpful and warm.
(5)
Tamar D.
We stopped in here, which is at the base of the Red Line in Oak Park. The baked goods were yummo; we enjoyed the oat bar, and the mini muffins. I tried the quiche in the morning, which was fairly bland, but it hit the I-need-something-warm breakfast spot. The folks in there are super nice and there were a number of regulars that showed up during both of our visits. They also keep out samples to taste, and I have to say the cherry danish was delicious. Warmed, and next to coffee in your mouth, and it would be divine.
(3)
Don B.
Intelligentsia coffee? Perhaps, mixed with dishwater. I ordered a latte, which was awfully weak. Ordered another shot. No improvement. Ordered a dark coffee. Terribly weak! Total indifference by the staff. My wife's salad came pre-made in a plastic box. My smoked turkey sandwich had meat from a package. Tasteless. The bread was good. Ruffles for chips. Train station food, but more expensive!
(1)
Abigail M.
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.. or at least one person does. THAT is Prairie Bread Kitchen! Seriously, my husband and I really appreciate they know him and I by name when we come in - and not in a creep way. The staff is incredible!!! Especially Dana, Abby, Jack and Miguel!!! I would love to write a negative review of PBK, because honestly, I want to keep it to myself. They've got the best coffee in town - Intelligentsia! Their lunch and dinner menu is great as well - hearty sandwiches, filling salads, all that good stuff. Of course, it's even worth just stopping by to grab one of their fresh baked loaves of bread (they've got some amazing bakers on staff also)! You cannot go wrong at this place.
(5)
Becky P.
Amazing. I was walking past and decided to pop in for some bread. Not only did it smell glorious in there, but their prices were reasonable, it was clean, and counter staff was friendly. I brought home 2 loaves, wish I would have bought more! Yum place to grab a cup of coffee and some goodies to go!
(5)
Amanda J.
Awesome! Best treats and atmosphere in Oak Park. Great place to take the kids or to grab a cup of coffee before heading out in the train. Also, I get their 7 grain bread weekly for lunch sandwiches and toast...so much better than store bought.
(5)
Michael G.
Prairie Bread Kitchen makes the best cookie in town! By 'town', I mean Chicagoland. It's their Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie. It is a buttery-sweet-soft-chewy-melty-toothsome incredible thing. They need to post cookie photos on their site. Their other cookies are also excellent, but make sure you try an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip. Their breads are always good, but I do prefer crusty(almost burnt) crusts on the savory yeast breads; the breads could take a little more 'burning' to achieve a Maillard reaction which would impart just a bit more flavor and texture to the loaves. Their quick breads are very good; I had a Thyme-Orange one recently. It was cakey and delicious. Their muffins are always moist and fluffy and really delicious; the scones are also very good, but I can never pass up a cookie and a muffin. Their coffee is Intelligentsia; always hot and delicious. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and keeps things moving; it can get a little backed-up at times. Marion Street in Oak Park should be visited by everyone! They've done great things on Marion Street recently, and it's attracted more great food spots and other shops. There are various parking options in the area. Drive around the neighborhood until you find a place to park; there are some free spots, and the parking garage at Harlem/Ontario/Marion is free for the first hour. The CTA Green Line train stops right there, as does the Metra Union Pacific West line. Prairie Bread Kitchen is a great place within a great neighborhood.
(5)
Jelena Z.
Oooh, Prairie Bread Kitchen, I like you! Very clean, bright (lots of natural light with windows facing the street) and sparkly coffee shop/bakery. They do sandwiches, soups, a variety of baked goods including muffins and cookies and of course, fresh baked breads! I only had a regular latte but the cookies were definitely begging for adoption by my tempted stomach! They serve Intelligentsia coffee (my fave!) and the counter staff is a delight. Free wi-fi, too!
(4)
Jeremy W.
Gladly will I circle the block multiple times in search of a park just so I can indulge in the Lemon Bars from this place. D to the A to the M to the N are these things good. Think I'm kidding? Try'em - you'll be hooked! Just do it.
(4)
Elizabeth G.
A good coffee shop for eating and socializing--questionable for socializing. Coffee-- Above average, but not great. Use intelligencia beans, could be better with more experienced baristas Food - pretty good, though muffins are a bit heavy. Wireless - DOESN'T WORK. They said it does, but the signal is too weak to pull up a single webpage. Another customer verified that it doesn't work for her either. The manager seemed confused, stating that ATT had just been in and added a password. She admitted that she didn't understand the set-up, and that the wireless router is in back, which I believe would explain the non-existant signal for customers.
(3)
Mary Ann C.
Super friendly service... and always fast. We love the bread (my husband is a big fan of the elemental), and the cookies are amazing! I love the peanut butter version, but the other day I had a double chocolate cookie that was a show stopper! Soups are great here too!!!
(4)
E C.
Really terrible service and slow. They lost track of my order and had to order again. The chicken panini I ordered was cold and when I took it back, they argued with me it couldn't be!
(1)
Rhonda G.
No breakfast, the next meal is hours away...help! Stopped in here for a quick little snack to get my energy levels back to normal. One Apple walnut muffin and steaming cup of java later and i'm back to normal. well, my version of normal. Need a boost before you hop on the el? get it here.
(4)
Jenny Z.
The atmosphere here is great-clean, bright, cozy and warm with nice bread quotes along the top of the ceiling. The bread is lovely, I will give it that! However, the actual food and service leaves something to be desired. I came here for lunch a few days ago and ordered the veggie soup with bread. The bread was nice but the veggie soup was literally tomato broth with frozen veggies added...for around $5 that's not cool! The service was....fine. No one was overly friendly or welcoming. I wish I could say differently!! I will probably try this place again, just to see if my experience was a fluke-I hope so!
(2)
Janet V.
YUM YUM YUM!! FRESH!! Everything here is soooo good! We come here every week for lunch! Salad, soup, sandwich, pastry...can't go wrong! Cafe is great too! Very affordable prices! Very friendly service! Def our favorite spot for lunch in OP!!
(5)
Cher M.
This is the place that keeps me upright most mornings. They serve Intelligentsia Coffee, and a LARGE one of those (dark, no sugar, no cream) combined with a scone (pretty much any kind is delicious, although I'm thinking of adopting the Cherry Almond one as my own and bringing it -and all of its relatives- to my home...and then devouring them) and my morning is off to a pretty good start for $4.34 Service is QUICK even when the line in almost out the door. I've never (knock on wood) been late for my train even when I'm cutting it super close, i.e. 3 minutes or less. The staff starts to recognize you after a few days, and most mornings I don't even have to say what I want, they have it for me before I can even ask. I've never had lunch here, but I drag every single person who visits me here for breakfast. Much better coffee than Starbucks (down the street) and more convenient for people like me who can't remember to set up their coffee maker at night *sigh*
(5)
Kristin S.
Pretty consistent with being good. I usually get a turkey sandwich, very plain, but good. Of course the bread is fresh and delicious. This time I had the tomato basil soup in a bread bowl (sourdough) and it was wonderful! Highly recommended-- it has a bit of cream in it, which makes it rather yummy!
(3)
Aly H.
Quaint, cozy, and cute :) stopped in here for coffee with my boyfriend and we each got a slice of blue cheese and chives bread- yum! Staff was a little expectant, as if they thought we would know the procedure for things- but otherwise great!
(4)
mister b.
Best cafe in Oak Park. Their coffee and products are great- affordable and delicious. The customer service is as expected. Only downfall is the wi-fi isn't consistent....
(4)
Sherry Y.
Adore this place. On a corner location, super homey feel. You can see into the kitchen from the front counter to watch them bake bread. They even have a little library for the kiddies, to keep them busy during lunch play dates. Decoration is very cutesy and its a nice place to take kids if you're a parent. Intelligentsia coffee served here. Love the sourdough soup bowls and their signature chili for a late fall lunch. Everything in the bakery is top notch, though, especially the lemon bars. Try out everything, you'll be rewarded. ^ ^
(5)
Yubari W.
I have been going to Prairie Bread for over 3 years now. I love the variety and freshness of the breads. The staff is always friendly and helpful. I have yet to have a bad experience there.
(5)
April P.
I love the Prairie Bread Kitchen. It is open and light and cheerful. The great big windows are a nice touch. I'm used to coffee houses having a dark atmosphere which is cozy in the wintertime, but not what I'm looking for in the summer. Also, they have wireless. That is always a huge plus : )
(5)
Hung T.
The Cherry Almond Scone here is delicious! I know nothing else of this place, but the scone is really enough for me to give a 4 star rating. Yum!
(4)
Janet E.
I've only tried two items from here and both were delicious! I had the chocolate expresso cupcake (no frosting for those that like cupcakes). The cake was very moist and kept its moisture, despite sitting in my bag for almost the entire day half eaten. I also bought an entire loaf of banana bread. They offer to slice the bread for you, but in my opinion, the bread dries out faster if you have it pre-sliced. The bread was delicious! Very moist. Prices here are very reasonably cheap and staff was very willing to help. Just an FYI, they do not take AMEX here.
(4)
A D.
Intelligentsia coffee is the upside. I go several times a month yet I never feel as if I'm welcomed by the staff. The vibe is kinda not friendly. They seem to greet some regulars with open arms and know their names. I'm not expecting them to know my name, but it'd be nice to feel like my presence wasn't an annoyance of some sort. The seating is not welcoming either. Maybe because they don't want ya to stay, lol!
(2)
William B.
Just ran in to grab a loaf of their sourdough. Decided to grab a cookie, too. The cashier recommended the double-chocolate pecan. Excellent choice. The sourdough is rustic. Very good.
(4)
Katherine K.
Are there state laws governing the closing time of soup and sandwich places? (ie like liquor laws?) My family and I walked in at 5:15 (closing time is 5:30 on Saturdays, I believe) and I could not believe how the employees acted towards us... I ordered a potato soup (it was wonderful) and was given my choice of bread (natch) however when I opened the bag, the bread was wrong, but I was tired and wanted my hot soup and didn't want to deal with going back to the counter and standing in line for the right slice of bread. The others I was with ordered bottled drinks and 2 sandwiches (one being a simple PB&J). The staff then started making snarky comments about making sandwiches at closing time. Huh? The door was not locked when we arrived, so what did you think we were coming in for? At 5:30 out rolled the vacuum cleaner, and Bob Marley at a very high volume! Much like a bar that might turn it's lights on and music off to lure you out, these girls wanted us out!!! I get that it's closing time, but this type of service makes one never want to return. C'mon management, have a talk with your staff!
(2)
Peter B.
Good soups, tasty and well-seasoned. The portions are really small, though. Their bowls are more on the order of cups. How about making those cups a bit bigger, PBK? Maybe they have? I haven't been in a few months, and I see that they are under new management? Hopefully they have not changed the recipe for their Lemon Pound Cake. It is awesome. The icing tastes like pure lemon. Wonderful! The girls who work at the counter are very friendly and will remember you if you visit more than once or twice. It feels like a nice, small town, homey place.
(4)
Liz W.
Another great lunch spot in Oak Park. They don't have a crazy huge menu, just some simple sandwiches and soups that rotate daily. I've tried their cajun chicken panini. It was super cheesy and kind of reminded me of a grilled cheese sandwich. Ive also had their smoked turkey sandwich and chilli. The chilli was awesome. Filled with flavor and not huge chunks of pepper and onions. You can get half a sandwich with soup for about $7, but if you get a full sandwich with soup it can easily cost over $10. My office also orders their pastries and cookies. Everything I've tried has been delicious.
(4)
Lindsey A.
The most amazing, soft, buttery, sweet, delicious cookies this mouth has ever tasted. Bread freshly baked by the loaf or slice. Homemade soups and chowders served with or without A-OK sandwiches (that are better if dunked in said soup) or even greater! -- get it in a bread bowl and trim the edges off for dunking purposes. Love the coffee in the morning with a pecan roll. There's not a bad word to be had about this place.
(5)
Andrea B.
My mom and I went here to get cinnamon rolls. They were absolutely delicious. Very tasty and soft, best I've ever had. Really nice atmosphere and very friendly staff.
(4)
H T.
The tuna sandwiches are good here. The food and service are consistently good.
(4)
Kelly S.
We stopped in here today for a late lunch. The place was really quiet and 45 minutes til closing. The girls at the counter were friendly enough though not overly welcoming. It was obviously near the end of their shift. We both ordered the soup and sandwich combos. Approx $7.00 each. 1/2 Sandwich and a Bowl of Soup. Real turkey here boys and girls! Not the slimey perfectly round stuff ya find at other sandwich joints. And the bread... 7 grain baked fresh on site. Lots of veggie topping options to chose from. All making for the PERFECT sandwich. The soups were both excellent as well. Mushroom Barley Beef... real beef chunks and loaded with veggies. Tomato Bisque... creamy tomato goodness. One very large peanut butter cookie to end this sweet meal. Glorious texture and flavor. The perfect marriage of chewy and crunchy. Unfortunately, it was raining this afternoon or we would have enjoyed the outdoor seating. * Now serving Intelligentsia coffee! ** Free WiFi.
(4)
Tim G.
Tasty sandwiches, great muffins, good coffee, and quick service. I typically come here when I want a quick breakfast out. The coffee never disappoints, but isn't the best I've ever had (Cafe Velite/Cupcake Royale in Seattle). The cinnamon rolls are interesting. My wife's not a fan, but I am. They seem to have quite a bit of honey in them and some of it is carmelized. They're not overly sweet like most. They're different and I like it. The muffins are also worth mention. The zucchini muffin is a favorite, but chocolate and the others are good too. Sandwiches are whatever you want them to be. They can be bland and boring, or tasty and complex. It's like making a sandwich at home, but having a much wider variety of ingredients available. Pair them with a hot cup of soup for a nice wintertime lunch.
(4)
James T.
Ham and cheese scone all the way! Great bread and great service. The staff gets you in and out. Best bakery in Oak Park for breakfast.
(5)
Kirsten A.
This place is super lame. The menu was hard to find, the sandwiches totally over priced, and the staff super slow. I ordered a three cheese sandwich and was given it five minutes later, untoasted with one piece of bread and the other piece of butt bread. You know the piece of bread at the end of the loaf that you don't make sandwiches with? I asked if they could toast it and they said no, we don't do that. So let me get this right, I just paid $4.45 for a piece of bread, a piece of butt bread, and three slices of cheese slapped together? And it took you five minutes to do this? I think not.
(1)
Cristina T.
I love this place! Been here a few times for salads/sandwiches or just for a cup of coffee. They serve Intelligentsia, which I love. The pastry case is to die for as is the bread. A nice place to hang out and relax-not once have I felt rushed. Service is friendly and fast. Will be back here many times to come!
(4)
Jacob G.
I stop in just about every weekend for a coffee and a slice of bread and have never been disappointed. Service is quick, coffee is tasty - good place.
(4)
Laine K.
So I can't speak to the bread part of this business, however, the service, the coffee and a good amount of the sweet goods are fantastic. That's right people I'm writing another "fantastic" heavy review. I love the service. They are always patient with my indecisiveness and make great suggestions. One day I flip-flopped back and forth on what level of creaminess my latte should be and the response was priceless: "Just go all in and get the whole milk; it's Sunday! Live a little!" So I love the apricot biscotti and the crispy little short-breads! They have saved me from my growling tummy on more that one occasion. I need to head back and try the bread. There's not an extensive selection though. The only problem i have with this place is that it is a long ways from my current home....... I need to move. :)
(4)
Jean S.
Don't buy bread on the weekend. I made that mistake and bought a loaf of brioche and it was so stale.
(1)
Sarah R.
Great for: coffee, bread, cookies, sandwiches. Have never really been impressed by their soups. I'm not sure what it is about my luck, but I've never received the poor service other reviewers have mentioned. Maybe it's because I don't show up at closing time?
(4)
Joan K.
Bread... Yes.... Pastries... Yes, Soups... Yes.... Sandwich, ummm... Naw. Roast beef sandwich, the beef was that awful stuff that Arby's pass off as beef. Yuk. The chives and blue cheese bread was wonderful. I wanted a loaf to go, but understandably, they were sold out. Italian bread was wonderful. Squash soup was good as well. Stick with the breads/pastries..you'll be happy.
You can Count on these folks for a good sandwich. Maybe the best sandwich shop in oak park right now. We go here a few times a year. Great menu, fresh bread, friendly staff, great location, clean. Today I had their roast beef with horseradish mustard and blue cheese with purple onion. It was perfect. Wife had turkey sand and daughter had pbj. They were very happy too. Chips were fresh and tasty.
(5)
Tina M.
Had a latte that tasted like water with a little bit of chocolate. I was really disappointed.
(2)
Tracey M.
The first four stars is for the food and service I received. The fifth is for the extra thought the person helping me had by offering to wrap-up half my sandwich for later since I had mentioned I really just hungry enough for half a sandwich. I'm a big fan of sourdough bread and theirs passed with flying colors. I will definitely go back for another sandwich - or maybe possibly one of their many baked goods and a smoothie!
(5)
John G.
A leader in its genre.
(4)
Tina C.
This place doesn't even deserve my review. The staff is soooooo RUDE. The coffee was really horrible. It's small, and the menu is nothing to brag about. Please don't waste your time going here.....
(1)
Sam S.
Really good scones, esp in the morning when they're fresh out of the oven (what isn't!). They close at 3:30 on Sunday but the owner let us stay till 4 without throwing us strange looks at all. Wish they stayed open later. They don't make baguette which is a shame!
(4)
Scott H.
I was in town for some spices at Penzey's and found this little shop near the el. A brick paced street takes you back to the days of neighborhood bakeries. I stopped in for an iced coffee. The Inelligentsia coffee was good. That is high praise from someone who roasts their own coffee beans.
(4)
Noel K.
We visit them at least twice a month to stock up on breakfast. We love the muffins (choco expresso & blueberry) and icing topped cookies. I get the bread bowl for my veggi soups during the cold months. I love their soy lattes!!
(4)
Ted N.
You really can't write one review for this place. There is a bakery and a restaurant/cafe. What they do best is bread. Our personal favorite is the sunflower millet but several other breads rate well. I wouldn't waste my time on the italian as there are so many better options in the area. The sweet baked items are competent but hardly extraordinary. In the spirit of full disclosure I haven't tried all their sweet goods but what I have had has been OK except for the scones which are very sub-par. The restaurant/cafe is good but nothing special. I do agree that the service can be snarky. Some of the servers seem to be doing you a favor while others can be genuinely friendly. It is a bit of a crap shoot. The owners would do themselves a favor if they were more selective on the type of person they hire.
(3)
Jennifer S.
The soups are quite salty and very thick. The service has gone down in the past few months with the people behind the counter getting things wrong. Honey Mustard is NOT a substitute for Dijon. You need to be too specific when you order. When you ask for soup and sandwich to go, I often get soup and HALF a sandwich. Either someone behind the counter is getting rude and trying to make a comment or they just don't pay attention to what you want. I say go 1 block south and eat at the Cheese Market!
(2)
Colleen B.
I go there almost every week to get a cup of soup for lunch. Super cheap, very tasty, and comes with a big piece of the best bread I've ever had. Their cookies and pound cake and such rules, too. The staff is very friendly, but sometimes things are a little slow. I've told my whole office about this place and now they go there too. yum yum.
(4)
Emily C.
Great breads, yummy Intelligentsia coffee and fabulous soups. Am a huge fan of the chocolate espresso muffin, although it will add to your total caffeine intake.
(5)
Jamey M.
Real Bread Bakers - In house daily baked bread Intelligentsia Coffee Fresh Pastries Good parking -nuff said-
(5)
Cynthia G.
This place has great coffee (Intelligentsia) and the baked goods are delicious. My friends and I had the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and the chocolate espresso muffin, and they were both ooeey gooey goodness. We'll definitely be back to try more baked goodies!
(4)
Becky S.
Love this place. Everything is delicious, and it's not outrageously priced (although it's not cheap, either). I wish they had a bit more variety, but better to do a few things very well than a lot of things mediocre-ly.
(4)
B. L.
They have a great selection of fresh breads of all shapes and sizes and a good selection of pastrys. You can also get a cup of tea or coffee and take it on their outdoor patio, and take in the sights and the breeze. There are alot of shops and things to do right in this area.
(4)
Edward H.
If only this place was closer to home or work! Prairie has some mucho tasty goodies all freshly baked, coffee done right, and various soups and sandwiches that can put Panera to shame. I'm completely hooked on the crack cocaine that they label as apple bread.
(4)
Emily C.
Prairie Bread Kitchen on sunny but slightly chilly fall day is just perfect. I got their tomato basil soup. It has teeny little ricotta cheese stuffed raviolis in it. I've really never had anything quite like it; it kicked Chef Boyardee's butt into oblivion. I had a slice of 7 grain bread to dip in it, which was delicious in flavor. Unfortunately, the bread sits out on a board for display, and the ends, as is bound to happen, get stale. They cut right off the end and that's the slice I got. I wish they'd toss that slice out and give me a soft one, but that's my only beef whatsoever. Oh yeah speaking of beef, my friend had a roast beef sandwich that looked awesome-the beef was sliced nice and thick and was slightly rare; it looked pretty tasty. For dessert, I had the chocolate espresso one and it was, for all intents and purposes, like eating a huge hunk of bittersweet chocolate cake. All in all, a lovely meal.
(4)
Linda S.
Really yummy pecan rolls and one of the best banana breads in the Chicagoland area. I've tried the soups here and they're not too impressive here. Go here for the bakery goods and the fresh breads.
(5)
Gary K.
We've gone here before to grab a sandwich before a movie and they were pretty good. The bread is obviously very fresh and all the toppings were freshly cut as well. I got a turkey sandwich and some clam chowder for soup, it was really good. They have nice outdoor seating where we could enjoy the outdoors too.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Nixa B.
If you are looking for free wifi and good coffee, this is a great spot. However if you are looking for good food then this is not the place. I ordered a half soup and sandwich. I couldn't eat either. I swear the soup came from a Campbell's canned soup and the sandwich was blah. I left totally disappointed. Will not buy food here again.
(1)Sandra T.
OK, so I have sampled pretty much all of the sweets at this lovely business and my favorite is the Cherry Danish. I haven't tried the breads, sandwiches, and soups but, I will. They serve Intelligentsia, which makes me very happy. Also, they have some good looking tea suggestions. The workers are great and I run into some interesting patrons. Always a fun experience for me.
(4)Aja G.
Despite a difficult parking situation this place is super cute. I had a work meeting at this location and after some debate picked a sandwich combo. The menu however didn't list all the ingredients. I discovered this after biting into a generous glob of mustard. mustard of course is my least favorite condiment and despite the work aspect of this lunch I spit it out. I went up to the counter and received an immediate apology. I was told the vendor who prints the menu made several errors and the menu incorrectly left mustard off the ingredient list. My sandwich was quickly remade! I was happy to see they were so apologetic and committed to customer service. I enjoyed the rest of my meal and the delicious ice tea!
(4)Erin K.
The breakfast pastries and iced coffee were exactly we were looking for this morning! Everything was good, although the Apple Chutney Turnover and Cherry Danish were particularly yummy. Looking forward to going back and trying some of their sandwiches for lunch.
(5)Rebekah P.
I was expected quite a bit more from the bakery. Based on the location an prices, I expected a higher quality of baked goods, atmosphere, and decor. I had a slide of apricot cake and a coffee. The coffee was decent, but the cake was very dry. The atmosphere is a little dingy with random baskets, children's toys, and mismatched furniture. There were only two outlets for those with laptops, which I think hinders the bakery's ability to attract more customers. I think there is great potential for this place, but there just is not enough effort going into it.
(2)Sydney T.
I love Prairie Bread Kitchen! I can't believe I'm saying this, because it just looks like a Panera wannabe at first glance, but it's so much better! So different and so delicious. First things first, they serve Intelligentsia coffee. We know by now that this is my shiz. And even better, they serve it well. I'm pretty sure they drip brew it, but it still tastes almost as good as getting it at the Intelligentsia store. I've had delicious Intelligentsia coffee that has been brewed to imperfection, but this place certainly got it right. They have decaf too! Even better better? They sell 12-ounce bags of whole beans of their coffee. It's nice that I can grab some in Oak Park rather than trek all the way into the city. They even sell the Black Cat Espresso roast. Yumma. Second things second, their food and bread are so so so good. All of their sandwiches and salads look so good that I had a hard time choosing. I ended up getting a hot corned beef sandwich on sourdough that had Dijon mustard, lettuce, and pickles. Only complaint was that they put one quarter pickle spear on each side of the sandwich. If I had my way, it would be sliced up and distributed a bit more. But other than that, delicious combination of ingredients. I'd definitely recommend it. If you eat in, they give you a generous portion of Jay's original ruffly potato chips on the side. Hands down, best kind of chips ever. Move over no-ruffles crunchy baked chips, the real thing is here. On top of all of this greatness, it's reasonably priced (no more expensive than Panera), the staff has always been friendly, and it's right next to the Oak Park Metra station. I always sit in their outside seating area sipping on some coffee while waiting for my train to come. Really, you can't beat it.
(5)Ava B.
I live on the north side, but happened to be in Oak Park when I stumbled upon this cute bakery. I can't resist baked goods, so I stopped in. I've often gotten an apple bread from the Great Harvest Bread Company that I love. They had a very similar-looking bread here, so I thought I'd try it. To my surprise, it was actually better than the Great Harvest bread. Less streusel topping (so less sugary), more butter flavor, and a lot more apples! Very fresh and home-made tasting. I also got a snack-size chocolate espresso muffin which was delicious too. Wish they had a north side location!
(5)Michael C.
Prairie bread kitchen is my destination in oak park for baked goods and coffee. The scones and tarts here are out of this world. Each baked good I've had here had fresh flavor and was the perfect sweetness level. I've also had their chicken curry salad sandwich which is a pretty solid and healthy lunch option although it's a bit pricy. The chicken is dried and smothered in this curry sauce that is slightly sweet and very filling. My favorite parts about this shop are the atmosphere and the out of this world intelligentsia coffee. There is a homey feeling that comes with the wooden decor and it is quite cozy to sit here and have an afternoon chat. Can't wait to try the bread bowl and soup next time I'm here!
(4)Cait C.
My fiancé and I have been loyal customers for years now. We always get our typical iced vanilla latte whether it's hot or cold outside. Well, today may have been the last. The woman who made my latte today charged me $6.16 for one drink. I come in here nearly everyday - most of the guys recognize us and know the order ahead of time. When my fiancé said, 'that seems high for one latte. We come here a lot and its usually $4.75'. She immediately dismissed what we said and kept it at $6.16. I wish I would have asked the male working with her if she was right. He would have said absolutely not. This is how you lose a customer.
(1)Sharde Dior B.
So this is my first time trying corn beef I had high hopes and was very DISAPPOINTED. It was $8.17 for a corn beef it taste like it was made by a local grocery store butcher. Just nasty it contrasting with everything sour dough bread, pickles, pepper jack cheese. I heard decent reviews the ambiance but the food is mediocre at best.
(1)Christopher B.
I tried the Greek veggie sandwich today. Usually a vegetarian sandwich is too plain and simple, but this one was really good with complexity of multiple ingredients. Generous feta, hummus, Lettuce, grilled red peppers and squash, tomatoes and I'm not sure what else. Another great lunch.
(5)Claire M.
Um, yum. How have I never eaten at this place before? This was another stop made while Mother Dearest was in town. She is a health food freak and only wanted a salad and/or soup so this was her first choice out of the other options. I don't know how the woman doesn't waste away into nothing, she barely eats anything. She built her own freaky sandwich (I don't even remember what it was) and a had some sort of greens salad and I had the half sandwich half soup thing. Greek veggie sandwich and butternut squash soup (see photo!). Sandwiches are quite hit and miss for me but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I'd totally go back for another one. I have incredibly sensitive teeth and have recurring nightmares about biting into a veggie sandwich and the veggies are so flipping cold that it's just murder on my senses. Fortunately, that did not happen with this one. The soup was very good too - and it was like 80 degrees that day. I suppose it's never too hot for me to eat soup. It took us like an hour to decide where to eat so when first we ventured by, the place was packed (right at the lunchtime rush) but an hour later, there were only a couple other people in there.
(4)Scott D.
It's ok. Couldn't really think of another word to describe it. I've been there several times since it's in my backyard and each visit was inconsistent with the previous. The sourdough bread is like hard white bread (I seriously thought they gave me the wrong thing), but their pastries are usually pretty tasty. Lower prices would definitely make me come back more often.
(2)Regina D.
Stopped by PBK this morning before catching my train to work. Bought a loaf of Zucchini Bread. When I got to work, my co-workers swarmed the loaf and it was ALL GONE in record time. They "Ooooo'd and Ahhhhh'd" over the quality and taste of the bread, which they thought I made at home. I probably should have lied and said, "yes, I slaved over a hot oven" (lol), but I wouldn't want to steal PBK's thunder. Anyway, it was the most moist and tastiest sweet bread I have EVER tasted. I'm so happy to have them in my neighborhood.
(5)Michelle S.
Called in an order, and was told to pick it up in 15 minutes 3 sandwiches and a soup. We arrived to pick it up yesterday and still waited an additional 20 plus minutes. The food is good but when you're on your lunch and only have a specific time allotted it's not acceptable. They really need to hire more people. The three young men didn't seem to be stepping it up to get the orders out. An older gentleman showed up and got everyone moving. Maybe the owner? Manager? I'm not sure but one more shot and that will be the deciding factor of additional visits or finding somewhere new.
(2)Henry C.
Where do I start? Called the shop --- spoke with Miguel. Need banana bread for over 100. Can you do it. Let me check. Within minutes - he calls me back. We can do it. OK -- let me taste test. Serviced by Dana - a true professional. YUM! Let's order. Picked up: Beautifully displayed. Delicious, Best Service. What else can I ask for? Support this business. Hands down ----- best darn bakery in western suburbs.
(5)Lucy W.
My favorite kind of chicken noodle soup is available here, with the very thick noodles! I also tried half a curry chicken salad sandwich on 7-grain bread, to make it a combo. Couldn't resist a gingerbread cookie, which was delicious! They also have lots of tea and Intelligista coffee beverage options. You order at the counter, and there are tables, high tops, and counters that you can sit at to enjoy your lunch. There's a metered parking lot across the street. I had picked this lunch meeting place for work on a complete whim, based on location...very pleasant surprise!
(4)Anne L.
Great sandwich shop in Oak Park. Not out there often, but when I am at internship I love to stop by here for lunch, especially for the Cajun chicken sandwich and/or the Turkey salad. Both are so delicious and easily fill you up. Plus the prices aren't terrible either and the breads are made there at the shop leaving them much softer and easily much better than something from the grocery store. The atmosphere inside the restaurant as well is very laid back and the staff is very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend!
(4)Laura M.
Places like this I have to be careful not to go insane buying everything to try (breads, pastries, coffee...) since it looks so good and fresh. I only stopped by for a coffee (Intelligista) binge and ended up with the apricot rugelach and sour dough bread. Friendly staff and atmosphere to hang out. Nice.
(4)Andrew W.
Told there was no Wifi, even though numerous reviews say it exist. Felt like outsiders as they looked aggravated we didn't know what we wanted. Just a poor vibe from the staff and uncomfortable seating arrangements.
(3)Matt M.
How could you not give this place 5 stars? Every little detail was fresh, delicious, and inviting. Its a comfortable place to sit down and try an interesting, unique sandwich that WORKS. So many places try to be "different" and just fall flat on their face. But I tried the curry chicken sandwich and was absolutely floored by how well they incorporated and featured the curry. Their baked items are flawless and you could easily sit down at a table and force yourself into type II diabetes and have no regrets.
(5)Shauna G.
Good stop for breakfast but there are at least two places nearby that are better. I'd probably stop in for an afternoon cup of coffee or tea again.
(3)Esther G.
What a nice sandwich shop! It's reminiscent of Panera Bread for its sandwiches, soups, coffees and bakery. If I lived around these parts, I'd go to Praire Bread every time over the other. I was impressed by the quality of ingredients, the flavors and my friendliness of the workers here. In order to try more than one item, I had a half-sandwich and soup combo to warm me up on a nippy day. I had the curry chicken salad sandwich: apple-ginger chutney, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce on 7 grain -- not too sweet but a nice balance of all the flavors. I was mad I didn't just get the entire sandwich. And on the suggestion of the cashier, I paired that with the butternut squash soup. It was like a chilly, October day in my mouth. The soups rotate daily, and I had asked what the most popular one was, and it really was the best one to have with the sandwich. There are high-top tables and also a long row facing the window for seating, but it's not that big of a place.
(4)Noomi J.
I've been here twice, and have had their chicken gumbo, cajun chicken sandwich, and Intelligentsia coffee. Their soups come with some bread, which you can select, and their full-sized sandwiches come with a bag of chips. Their chicken gumbo was okay, and so was the sandwich. Nothing spectacular. Calm, pleasant ambiance. Not a 4 star for me though because I don't see myself driving out of my way to go here or seeking this place out.
(3)Melissah L.
I dragged my boyfriend all over Oak Park and Chicago, begging him to take me to try all these different foods and see different sites. This is one we agreed was a must-try-- Prairie Bread Kitchen was rated well, and I have to say the Yelpers were right once again :). We split an apple chutney turnover and a coffee, and it was just a wonderful afternoon snack! As a baker, I always appreciate subtle twists on traditional recipes-- and the extra spice in the turnover was a pleasant surprise. I wish I had been able to try the cherry tart as well, maybe next time I'm in Oak Park! (I will definitely be back).
(5)Sara B.
We didn't stay long. The food was decent and the coffee was not too bad. The bummer is that it is a huge "coffee shop" like place but no Wifi. Not the most organized place either. 2 cashiers but no flow of traffic. Odd. Intelligentsia coffee is a bonus and probably what keeps this place up!
(3)K. E.
One day a week, I have a funny schedule, and I stop in here about 10:30 and get a sandwich to take to the office and eat later. It seems like a lot of money for a sandwich (about $8), but what a sandwich. This week I had the roast beef. It was very pink, incredibly tender, and just to die for. The wrapping lasted particularly well this week also (sometimes it leaks just a bit - no plastic wrap, just wax paper, that's ok with me). I like to order all the veggies, plus the pickled peppers, so it's kind of like a salad piled on meat on bread. The bread is excellent. The 7-grain is delicious, so I don't feel like I am compromising taste for the extra healthy ingredients. At that time of the morning, the service is very fast, and there is always a sample plate with tastes of sweets which are irresistible. From reading the other reviews, I can tell that there is a fuller lunch menu available later, but so far I don't feel deprived! This week I was running late for my train so I called ahead. This worked out perfectly. I only gave them about five minutes, but the sandwich was wrapped and ready to go, and I got to my train on time. If I have more time, I have a latte. They make them perfectly and you can ask for half skim/half whole milk if you want. I also like the smaller sized cookies. I have been buying bread and coffee here for years, but only recently tried the sandwiches. I am so glad I did. It's a great treat for me since there is no good food available for lunch where I work - I have to brown-bag every day.
(4)Twila Y.
They catered my festival of 500 people and were able to keep up! The food is wonderful and the staff is always willing to help. Doran is patient and willing to make custom orders to cater to food allergies. They were kind to my volunteers and event attendees. Excited to have them at Greater Chicagoland Pagan Pride again this year!
(5)Pieter W.
So I was in the mood for something simple like a good ole' sandwich, so I popped into Prarie Bread one day to try it out. Ordered the hot corned beef. I waited for 10 or 15 minutes, mentally salivating while thinking about a piled-high corned beef sandwich, piping hot served on delicious homemade bread! I was immediately disappointed when the sandwich came. Instead of being piled high, the corned beef consisted of three measly thinly sliced scraps of corned beef. Seriously, the pickle in the sandwich had more density, and actually overwhelmed the taste of the corned beef. Fortunately, the homemade sourdough was very tasty and probably saved the sandwich. Still, I left the place feeling hungry, having spent $8 bucks on a measly sandwich with a small handful of chips. I don't expect huge proportions, but I felt that for the money the sandwich should have had more substance. Oh well, I guess this place is for Oak Parkers who for the most have a lot more disposable income than I do. I'll probably come back sometime and pick up a loaf of bread though, it was really good bread, I'll give them that!
(3)Cat C.
I stop here for breakfast when I'm early for the metra. The pastries are always delicious, and the mango smoothie I had last time was amazing! I always mean to buy a loaf of bread when I'm there, the prices are SO low, and it smells fantastic.
(5)Cintya P.
I've grown to really like this place. Not for their coffee or sandwiches to be exact, but just for the fact that's a comforting spot to grab some lunch with friends. I just came back from Prairie Bread Kitchen and remembered I've been forgetting to write a review. I got a cup of their chili and a latte. Mind I say, the latte had a perfect foamy top to it! I was very pleased that the barista was able to make 2% milk for me because I really did not want skim or whole milk. Also, the chili was hearty and seasoned just right and was the perfect serving and piping hot! Every time I come here I get the best service! This place is really a great asset to the neighborhood, especially if you tire of Panera.
(4)Trisha N.
On a recent visit the staff was swamped at lunch time. Somehow the line system wasn't working and someone who arrived after me was served before me. The counter staff noticed this as they were serving me and bought me a latte on them to make up for it! Then they apologized 2-3 times. I wasn't bothered by the line cut, but was more than happy with their reaction.
(5)Sarah S.
I tried out prairie bread kitchen after seeing the great reviews here. I wasn't disappointed. I had the turkey sandwich, which was delicious and fresh. There was a nice surprise of thin-sliced cucumber inside the sandwich- something you don't get every day. The bread was fantastic. The menu was fairly limited, but had plenty to choose from. Sandwiches and salads ran around $7. Service was pretty slow. The space is nice and bright. If you get a window seat you can do some quality people watching. I didn't try any of the cookies but they looked delicious.
(4)Octavio T.
Good coffee, good sandwiches, good background music and nice customer service.
(4)Brie S.
I love this place! It is in a stellar location in Oak Park--right by the CTA and the Metra, and just off of Lake Street. The atmosphere is cute and farm-like. The staff is always polite. They serve homemade breads, cookies and Intelligentsia coffee. There is always enough seating when I go in, even though it is small inside. Y
(4)Tristan C.
Food was ok. Seating was awkward. Staff had weird vibe, menu was a slightly bizarre. Probably OK if you don't have to sit inside and just want a sandwich.
(2)Vanessa S.
I came in here to get a mocha. The mocha was okay. It was a litte on the sweet side for me. I also got their banana bread. I thought that was also okay. It was good, but I don't like to taste butter in what I eat. So obviously, there was too much better in the banana bread for me.
(3)Anna J.
Great baked goods, Intelligentsia coffee at a decent price, and genuine, friendly staff.
(5)Renita M.
Monday, 4:30 pm. I had last eaten around noon -- a banana -- and my tummy was rumbling. I also wanted a place to sit and chill for a little while. Thanks to Yelp, I knew Prairie Bread Kitchen wasn't too far from where I'd parked. Onward! It's a pretty simple place -- counter, tables, bar seating facing out to Marion St., with the fresh smell of bread in the air and bread-related quotes on the wall. I had a cafe au lait and the Greek veggie sandwich. The cafe au lait was made with Intelligensia -- awesome. The sandwich bread was soft and fresh and the veggies were just right. They did fall out kind of easily but I guess that's the downside of a veggie sandwich. It came with Ruffles. That's one tiny nitpick ... if I'm going to eat potato chips I'd rather have good ones (say, Kettle or popchips). The space is light, bright, smells awesome and is right next to the Metra/El tracks ... can't get much better than that. Just a note, though ... I don't care how awesome your perfectly roasted coffee beans from your hipster coffee company are, dude, you are preventing a customer from ordering with your blather so stop trying to persuade the poor barista/register lady to switch companies. At least wait until I've ordered. Sheesh.
(4)Flora L.
I got the butternut squash soup in a bread bowl. The soup was very good and creamy and butternut squashy and the sourdough bread bowl was delicious! The guys helping me, Brian, was very friendly and brought me samples of the soup. The sandwiches, salads, and pastries all looked very good too, ill definitely be back to try more of the menu!
(5)Ali Z.
Prairie Bread is a great all around bakery and cafe. I like to drop by here whenever I'm in the area and need a quick pick me up. Everything from sandwiches to coffee, bread, and sweets is very tasty. I've only tried a couple of sandwiches here but I remember the tuna and swiss being excellent. They also have a build your own sandwich option too. Much better than Panera or the Potbelly's down the street. The bread loaves are rustic and fresh. The sourdough and country white are my personal favorites here. When it comes to pastries, they have some serious competition from Sugar Fixe next door but more than manage to hold their own. They have a larger selection of different pastries and tea time treats all of which are extremely delicious. The standouts for me were the lemon bars (best ever) and chocolate rugelach. Paired with their fresh roasted coffee, it make the perfect midday snack.
(4)M W.
Hands down the best bread in town!! Great sandwiches, baked goods and smoothies as well. The service is always great. The people behind the counter are super friendly, helpful and warm.
(5)Tamar D.
We stopped in here, which is at the base of the Red Line in Oak Park. The baked goods were yummo; we enjoyed the oat bar, and the mini muffins. I tried the quiche in the morning, which was fairly bland, but it hit the I-need-something-warm breakfast spot. The folks in there are super nice and there were a number of regulars that showed up during both of our visits. They also keep out samples to taste, and I have to say the cherry danish was delicious. Warmed, and next to coffee in your mouth, and it would be divine.
(3)Don B.
Intelligentsia coffee? Perhaps, mixed with dishwater. I ordered a latte, which was awfully weak. Ordered another shot. No improvement. Ordered a dark coffee. Terribly weak! Total indifference by the staff. My wife's salad came pre-made in a plastic box. My smoked turkey sandwich had meat from a package. Tasteless. The bread was good. Ruffles for chips. Train station food, but more expensive!
(1)Abigail M.
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.. or at least one person does. THAT is Prairie Bread Kitchen! Seriously, my husband and I really appreciate they know him and I by name when we come in - and not in a creep way. The staff is incredible!!! Especially Dana, Abby, Jack and Miguel!!! I would love to write a negative review of PBK, because honestly, I want to keep it to myself. They've got the best coffee in town - Intelligentsia! Their lunch and dinner menu is great as well - hearty sandwiches, filling salads, all that good stuff. Of course, it's even worth just stopping by to grab one of their fresh baked loaves of bread (they've got some amazing bakers on staff also)! You cannot go wrong at this place.
(5)Becky P.
Amazing. I was walking past and decided to pop in for some bread. Not only did it smell glorious in there, but their prices were reasonable, it was clean, and counter staff was friendly. I brought home 2 loaves, wish I would have bought more! Yum place to grab a cup of coffee and some goodies to go!
(5)Amanda J.
Awesome! Best treats and atmosphere in Oak Park. Great place to take the kids or to grab a cup of coffee before heading out in the train. Also, I get their 7 grain bread weekly for lunch sandwiches and toast...so much better than store bought.
(5)Michael G.
Prairie Bread Kitchen makes the best cookie in town! By 'town', I mean Chicagoland. It's their Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie. It is a buttery-sweet-soft-chewy-melty-toothsome incredible thing. They need to post cookie photos on their site. Their other cookies are also excellent, but make sure you try an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip. Their breads are always good, but I do prefer crusty(almost burnt) crusts on the savory yeast breads; the breads could take a little more 'burning' to achieve a Maillard reaction which would impart just a bit more flavor and texture to the loaves. Their quick breads are very good; I had a Thyme-Orange one recently. It was cakey and delicious. Their muffins are always moist and fluffy and really delicious; the scones are also very good, but I can never pass up a cookie and a muffin. Their coffee is Intelligentsia; always hot and delicious. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and keeps things moving; it can get a little backed-up at times. Marion Street in Oak Park should be visited by everyone! They've done great things on Marion Street recently, and it's attracted more great food spots and other shops. There are various parking options in the area. Drive around the neighborhood until you find a place to park; there are some free spots, and the parking garage at Harlem/Ontario/Marion is free for the first hour. The CTA Green Line train stops right there, as does the Metra Union Pacific West line. Prairie Bread Kitchen is a great place within a great neighborhood.
(5)Jelena Z.
Oooh, Prairie Bread Kitchen, I like you! Very clean, bright (lots of natural light with windows facing the street) and sparkly coffee shop/bakery. They do sandwiches, soups, a variety of baked goods including muffins and cookies and of course, fresh baked breads! I only had a regular latte but the cookies were definitely begging for adoption by my tempted stomach! They serve Intelligentsia coffee (my fave!) and the counter staff is a delight. Free wi-fi, too!
(4)Jeremy W.
Gladly will I circle the block multiple times in search of a park just so I can indulge in the Lemon Bars from this place. D to the A to the M to the N are these things good. Think I'm kidding? Try'em - you'll be hooked! Just do it.
(4)Elizabeth G.
A good coffee shop for eating and socializing--questionable for socializing. Coffee-- Above average, but not great. Use intelligencia beans, could be better with more experienced baristas Food - pretty good, though muffins are a bit heavy. Wireless - DOESN'T WORK. They said it does, but the signal is too weak to pull up a single webpage. Another customer verified that it doesn't work for her either. The manager seemed confused, stating that ATT had just been in and added a password. She admitted that she didn't understand the set-up, and that the wireless router is in back, which I believe would explain the non-existant signal for customers.
(3)Mary Ann C.
Super friendly service... and always fast. We love the bread (my husband is a big fan of the elemental), and the cookies are amazing! I love the peanut butter version, but the other day I had a double chocolate cookie that was a show stopper! Soups are great here too!!!
(4)E C.
Really terrible service and slow. They lost track of my order and had to order again. The chicken panini I ordered was cold and when I took it back, they argued with me it couldn't be!
(1)Rhonda G.
No breakfast, the next meal is hours away...help! Stopped in here for a quick little snack to get my energy levels back to normal. One Apple walnut muffin and steaming cup of java later and i'm back to normal. well, my version of normal. Need a boost before you hop on the el? get it here.
(4)Jenny Z.
The atmosphere here is great-clean, bright, cozy and warm with nice bread quotes along the top of the ceiling. The bread is lovely, I will give it that! However, the actual food and service leaves something to be desired. I came here for lunch a few days ago and ordered the veggie soup with bread. The bread was nice but the veggie soup was literally tomato broth with frozen veggies added...for around $5 that's not cool! The service was....fine. No one was overly friendly or welcoming. I wish I could say differently!! I will probably try this place again, just to see if my experience was a fluke-I hope so!
(2)Janet V.
YUM YUM YUM!! FRESH!! Everything here is soooo good! We come here every week for lunch! Salad, soup, sandwich, pastry...can't go wrong! Cafe is great too! Very affordable prices! Very friendly service! Def our favorite spot for lunch in OP!!
(5)Cher M.
This is the place that keeps me upright most mornings. They serve Intelligentsia Coffee, and a LARGE one of those (dark, no sugar, no cream) combined with a scone (pretty much any kind is delicious, although I'm thinking of adopting the Cherry Almond one as my own and bringing it -and all of its relatives- to my home...and then devouring them) and my morning is off to a pretty good start for $4.34 Service is QUICK even when the line in almost out the door. I've never (knock on wood) been late for my train even when I'm cutting it super close, i.e. 3 minutes or less. The staff starts to recognize you after a few days, and most mornings I don't even have to say what I want, they have it for me before I can even ask. I've never had lunch here, but I drag every single person who visits me here for breakfast. Much better coffee than Starbucks (down the street) and more convenient for people like me who can't remember to set up their coffee maker at night *sigh*
(5)Kristin S.
Pretty consistent with being good. I usually get a turkey sandwich, very plain, but good. Of course the bread is fresh and delicious. This time I had the tomato basil soup in a bread bowl (sourdough) and it was wonderful! Highly recommended-- it has a bit of cream in it, which makes it rather yummy!
(3)Aly H.
Quaint, cozy, and cute :) stopped in here for coffee with my boyfriend and we each got a slice of blue cheese and chives bread- yum! Staff was a little expectant, as if they thought we would know the procedure for things- but otherwise great!
(4)mister b.
Best cafe in Oak Park. Their coffee and products are great- affordable and delicious. The customer service is as expected. Only downfall is the wi-fi isn't consistent....
(4)Sherry Y.
Adore this place. On a corner location, super homey feel. You can see into the kitchen from the front counter to watch them bake bread. They even have a little library for the kiddies, to keep them busy during lunch play dates. Decoration is very cutesy and its a nice place to take kids if you're a parent. Intelligentsia coffee served here. Love the sourdough soup bowls and their signature chili for a late fall lunch. Everything in the bakery is top notch, though, especially the lemon bars. Try out everything, you'll be rewarded. ^ ^
(5)Yubari W.
I have been going to Prairie Bread for over 3 years now. I love the variety and freshness of the breads. The staff is always friendly and helpful. I have yet to have a bad experience there.
(5)April P.
I love the Prairie Bread Kitchen. It is open and light and cheerful. The great big windows are a nice touch. I'm used to coffee houses having a dark atmosphere which is cozy in the wintertime, but not what I'm looking for in the summer. Also, they have wireless. That is always a huge plus : )
(5)Hung T.
The Cherry Almond Scone here is delicious! I know nothing else of this place, but the scone is really enough for me to give a 4 star rating. Yum!
(4)Janet E.
I've only tried two items from here and both were delicious! I had the chocolate expresso cupcake (no frosting for those that like cupcakes). The cake was very moist and kept its moisture, despite sitting in my bag for almost the entire day half eaten. I also bought an entire loaf of banana bread. They offer to slice the bread for you, but in my opinion, the bread dries out faster if you have it pre-sliced. The bread was delicious! Very moist. Prices here are very reasonably cheap and staff was very willing to help. Just an FYI, they do not take AMEX here.
(4)A D.
Intelligentsia coffee is the upside. I go several times a month yet I never feel as if I'm welcomed by the staff. The vibe is kinda not friendly. They seem to greet some regulars with open arms and know their names. I'm not expecting them to know my name, but it'd be nice to feel like my presence wasn't an annoyance of some sort. The seating is not welcoming either. Maybe because they don't want ya to stay, lol!
(2)William B.
Just ran in to grab a loaf of their sourdough. Decided to grab a cookie, too. The cashier recommended the double-chocolate pecan. Excellent choice. The sourdough is rustic. Very good.
(4)Katherine K.
Are there state laws governing the closing time of soup and sandwich places? (ie like liquor laws?) My family and I walked in at 5:15 (closing time is 5:30 on Saturdays, I believe) and I could not believe how the employees acted towards us... I ordered a potato soup (it was wonderful) and was given my choice of bread (natch) however when I opened the bag, the bread was wrong, but I was tired and wanted my hot soup and didn't want to deal with going back to the counter and standing in line for the right slice of bread. The others I was with ordered bottled drinks and 2 sandwiches (one being a simple PB&J). The staff then started making snarky comments about making sandwiches at closing time. Huh? The door was not locked when we arrived, so what did you think we were coming in for? At 5:30 out rolled the vacuum cleaner, and Bob Marley at a very high volume! Much like a bar that might turn it's lights on and music off to lure you out, these girls wanted us out!!! I get that it's closing time, but this type of service makes one never want to return. C'mon management, have a talk with your staff!
(2)Peter B.
Good soups, tasty and well-seasoned. The portions are really small, though. Their bowls are more on the order of cups. How about making those cups a bit bigger, PBK? Maybe they have? I haven't been in a few months, and I see that they are under new management? Hopefully they have not changed the recipe for their Lemon Pound Cake. It is awesome. The icing tastes like pure lemon. Wonderful! The girls who work at the counter are very friendly and will remember you if you visit more than once or twice. It feels like a nice, small town, homey place.
(4)Liz W.
Another great lunch spot in Oak Park. They don't have a crazy huge menu, just some simple sandwiches and soups that rotate daily. I've tried their cajun chicken panini. It was super cheesy and kind of reminded me of a grilled cheese sandwich. Ive also had their smoked turkey sandwich and chilli. The chilli was awesome. Filled with flavor and not huge chunks of pepper and onions. You can get half a sandwich with soup for about $7, but if you get a full sandwich with soup it can easily cost over $10. My office also orders their pastries and cookies. Everything I've tried has been delicious.
(4)Lindsey A.
The most amazing, soft, buttery, sweet, delicious cookies this mouth has ever tasted. Bread freshly baked by the loaf or slice. Homemade soups and chowders served with or without A-OK sandwiches (that are better if dunked in said soup) or even greater! -- get it in a bread bowl and trim the edges off for dunking purposes. Love the coffee in the morning with a pecan roll. There's not a bad word to be had about this place.
(5)Andrea B.
My mom and I went here to get cinnamon rolls. They were absolutely delicious. Very tasty and soft, best I've ever had. Really nice atmosphere and very friendly staff.
(4)H T.
The tuna sandwiches are good here. The food and service are consistently good.
(4)Kelly S.
We stopped in here today for a late lunch. The place was really quiet and 45 minutes til closing. The girls at the counter were friendly enough though not overly welcoming. It was obviously near the end of their shift. We both ordered the soup and sandwich combos. Approx $7.00 each. 1/2 Sandwich and a Bowl of Soup. Real turkey here boys and girls! Not the slimey perfectly round stuff ya find at other sandwich joints. And the bread... 7 grain baked fresh on site. Lots of veggie topping options to chose from. All making for the PERFECT sandwich. The soups were both excellent as well. Mushroom Barley Beef... real beef chunks and loaded with veggies. Tomato Bisque... creamy tomato goodness. One very large peanut butter cookie to end this sweet meal. Glorious texture and flavor. The perfect marriage of chewy and crunchy. Unfortunately, it was raining this afternoon or we would have enjoyed the outdoor seating. * Now serving Intelligentsia coffee! ** Free WiFi.
(4)Tim G.
Tasty sandwiches, great muffins, good coffee, and quick service. I typically come here when I want a quick breakfast out. The coffee never disappoints, but isn't the best I've ever had (Cafe Velite/Cupcake Royale in Seattle). The cinnamon rolls are interesting. My wife's not a fan, but I am. They seem to have quite a bit of honey in them and some of it is carmelized. They're not overly sweet like most. They're different and I like it. The muffins are also worth mention. The zucchini muffin is a favorite, but chocolate and the others are good too. Sandwiches are whatever you want them to be. They can be bland and boring, or tasty and complex. It's like making a sandwich at home, but having a much wider variety of ingredients available. Pair them with a hot cup of soup for a nice wintertime lunch.
(4)James T.
Ham and cheese scone all the way! Great bread and great service. The staff gets you in and out. Best bakery in Oak Park for breakfast.
(5)Kirsten A.
This place is super lame. The menu was hard to find, the sandwiches totally over priced, and the staff super slow. I ordered a three cheese sandwich and was given it five minutes later, untoasted with one piece of bread and the other piece of butt bread. You know the piece of bread at the end of the loaf that you don't make sandwiches with? I asked if they could toast it and they said no, we don't do that. So let me get this right, I just paid $4.45 for a piece of bread, a piece of butt bread, and three slices of cheese slapped together? And it took you five minutes to do this? I think not.
(1)Cristina T.
I love this place! Been here a few times for salads/sandwiches or just for a cup of coffee. They serve Intelligentsia, which I love. The pastry case is to die for as is the bread. A nice place to hang out and relax-not once have I felt rushed. Service is friendly and fast. Will be back here many times to come!
(4)Jacob G.
I stop in just about every weekend for a coffee and a slice of bread and have never been disappointed. Service is quick, coffee is tasty - good place.
(4)Laine K.
So I can't speak to the bread part of this business, however, the service, the coffee and a good amount of the sweet goods are fantastic. That's right people I'm writing another "fantastic" heavy review. I love the service. They are always patient with my indecisiveness and make great suggestions. One day I flip-flopped back and forth on what level of creaminess my latte should be and the response was priceless: "Just go all in and get the whole milk; it's Sunday! Live a little!" So I love the apricot biscotti and the crispy little short-breads! They have saved me from my growling tummy on more that one occasion. I need to head back and try the bread. There's not an extensive selection though. The only problem i have with this place is that it is a long ways from my current home....... I need to move. :)
(4)Jean S.
Don't buy bread on the weekend. I made that mistake and bought a loaf of brioche and it was so stale.
(1)Sarah R.
Great for: coffee, bread, cookies, sandwiches. Have never really been impressed by their soups. I'm not sure what it is about my luck, but I've never received the poor service other reviewers have mentioned. Maybe it's because I don't show up at closing time?
(4)Joan K.
Bread... Yes.... Pastries... Yes, Soups... Yes.... Sandwich, ummm... Naw. Roast beef sandwich, the beef was that awful stuff that Arby's pass off as beef. Yuk. The chives and blue cheese bread was wonderful. I wanted a loaf to go, but understandably, they were sold out. Italian bread was wonderful. Squash soup was good as well. Stick with the breads/pastries..you'll be happy.
(4)Tim C.
The food, cookies, pastries, and of course the bread are all top notch. The location is great and the interior is warm and inviting. However, the best feature of Prairie Bread is the service! In particular if you are fortunate enough to meet Dana and Abby you are in for a treat. In fact, I became a daily customer after Dana started working here (I followed her here after Lido's Café closed) Try the Tomato Herb bread and the Espresso and Cappuccinos' are great too.
(5)Ron D.
You can Count on these folks for a good sandwich. Maybe the best sandwich shop in oak park right now. We go here a few times a year. Great menu, fresh bread, friendly staff, great location, clean. Today I had their roast beef with horseradish mustard and blue cheese with purple onion. It was perfect. Wife had turkey sand and daughter had pbj. They were very happy too. Chips were fresh and tasty.
(5)Tina M.
Had a latte that tasted like water with a little bit of chocolate. I was really disappointed.
(2)Tracey M.
The first four stars is for the food and service I received. The fifth is for the extra thought the person helping me had by offering to wrap-up half my sandwich for later since I had mentioned I really just hungry enough for half a sandwich. I'm a big fan of sourdough bread and theirs passed with flying colors. I will definitely go back for another sandwich - or maybe possibly one of their many baked goods and a smoothie!
(5)John G.
A leader in its genre.
(4)Tina C.
This place doesn't even deserve my review. The staff is soooooo RUDE. The coffee was really horrible. It's small, and the menu is nothing to brag about. Please don't waste your time going here.....
(1)Sam S.
Really good scones, esp in the morning when they're fresh out of the oven (what isn't!). They close at 3:30 on Sunday but the owner let us stay till 4 without throwing us strange looks at all. Wish they stayed open later. They don't make baguette which is a shame!
(4)Scott H.
I was in town for some spices at Penzey's and found this little shop near the el. A brick paced street takes you back to the days of neighborhood bakeries. I stopped in for an iced coffee. The Inelligentsia coffee was good. That is high praise from someone who roasts their own coffee beans.
(4)Noel K.
We visit them at least twice a month to stock up on breakfast. We love the muffins (choco expresso & blueberry) and icing topped cookies. I get the bread bowl for my veggi soups during the cold months. I love their soy lattes!!
(4)Ted N.
You really can't write one review for this place. There is a bakery and a restaurant/cafe. What they do best is bread. Our personal favorite is the sunflower millet but several other breads rate well. I wouldn't waste my time on the italian as there are so many better options in the area. The sweet baked items are competent but hardly extraordinary. In the spirit of full disclosure I haven't tried all their sweet goods but what I have had has been OK except for the scones which are very sub-par. The restaurant/cafe is good but nothing special. I do agree that the service can be snarky. Some of the servers seem to be doing you a favor while others can be genuinely friendly. It is a bit of a crap shoot. The owners would do themselves a favor if they were more selective on the type of person they hire.
(3)Jennifer S.
The soups are quite salty and very thick. The service has gone down in the past few months with the people behind the counter getting things wrong. Honey Mustard is NOT a substitute for Dijon. You need to be too specific when you order. When you ask for soup and sandwich to go, I often get soup and HALF a sandwich. Either someone behind the counter is getting rude and trying to make a comment or they just don't pay attention to what you want. I say go 1 block south and eat at the Cheese Market!
(2)Colleen B.
I go there almost every week to get a cup of soup for lunch. Super cheap, very tasty, and comes with a big piece of the best bread I've ever had. Their cookies and pound cake and such rules, too. The staff is very friendly, but sometimes things are a little slow. I've told my whole office about this place and now they go there too. yum yum.
(4)Emily C.
Great breads, yummy Intelligentsia coffee and fabulous soups. Am a huge fan of the chocolate espresso muffin, although it will add to your total caffeine intake.
(5)Jamey M.
Real Bread Bakers - In house daily baked bread Intelligentsia Coffee Fresh Pastries Good parking -nuff said-
(5)Cynthia G.
This place has great coffee (Intelligentsia) and the baked goods are delicious. My friends and I had the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and the chocolate espresso muffin, and they were both ooeey gooey goodness. We'll definitely be back to try more baked goodies!
(4)Becky S.
Love this place. Everything is delicious, and it's not outrageously priced (although it's not cheap, either). I wish they had a bit more variety, but better to do a few things very well than a lot of things mediocre-ly.
(4)B. L.
They have a great selection of fresh breads of all shapes and sizes and a good selection of pastrys. You can also get a cup of tea or coffee and take it on their outdoor patio, and take in the sights and the breeze. There are alot of shops and things to do right in this area.
(4)Edward H.
If only this place was closer to home or work! Prairie has some mucho tasty goodies all freshly baked, coffee done right, and various soups and sandwiches that can put Panera to shame. I'm completely hooked on the crack cocaine that they label as apple bread.
(4)Emily C.
Prairie Bread Kitchen on sunny but slightly chilly fall day is just perfect. I got their tomato basil soup. It has teeny little ricotta cheese stuffed raviolis in it. I've really never had anything quite like it; it kicked Chef Boyardee's butt into oblivion. I had a slice of 7 grain bread to dip in it, which was delicious in flavor. Unfortunately, the bread sits out on a board for display, and the ends, as is bound to happen, get stale. They cut right off the end and that's the slice I got. I wish they'd toss that slice out and give me a soft one, but that's my only beef whatsoever. Oh yeah speaking of beef, my friend had a roast beef sandwich that looked awesome-the beef was sliced nice and thick and was slightly rare; it looked pretty tasty. For dessert, I had the chocolate espresso one and it was, for all intents and purposes, like eating a huge hunk of bittersweet chocolate cake. All in all, a lovely meal.
(4)Linda S.
Really yummy pecan rolls and one of the best banana breads in the Chicagoland area. I've tried the soups here and they're not too impressive here. Go here for the bakery goods and the fresh breads.
(5)Gary K.
We've gone here before to grab a sandwich before a movie and they were pretty good. The bread is obviously very fresh and all the toppings were freshly cut as well. I got a turkey sandwich and some clam chowder for soup, it was really good. They have nice outdoor seating where we could enjoy the outdoors too.
(4)Erin K.
The breakfast pastries and iced coffee were exactly we were looking for this morning! Everything was good, although the Apple Chutney Turnover and Cherry Danish were particularly yummy. Looking forward to going back and trying some of their sandwiches for lunch.
(5)Sandra T.
OK, so I have sampled pretty much all of the sweets at this lovely business and my favorite is the Cherry Danish. I haven't tried the breads, sandwiches, and soups but, I will. They serve Intelligentsia, which makes me very happy. Also, they have some good looking tea suggestions. The workers are great and I run into some interesting patrons. Always a fun experience for me.
(4)Aja G.
Despite a difficult parking situation this place is super cute. I had a work meeting at this location and after some debate picked a sandwich combo. The menu however didn't list all the ingredients. I discovered this after biting into a generous glob of mustard. mustard of course is my least favorite condiment and despite the work aspect of this lunch I spit it out. I went up to the counter and received an immediate apology. I was told the vendor who prints the menu made several errors and the menu incorrectly left mustard off the ingredient list. My sandwich was quickly remade! I was happy to see they were so apologetic and committed to customer service. I enjoyed the rest of my meal and the delicious ice tea!
(4)Rebecca W.
My favorite coffee and breakfast spot in Oak park. So conveniently located right by train.
(5)Rebekah P.
I was expected quite a bit more from the bakery. Based on the location an prices, I expected a higher quality of baked goods, atmosphere, and decor. I had a slide of apricot cake and a coffee. The coffee was decent, but the cake was very dry. The atmosphere is a little dingy with random baskets, children's toys, and mismatched furniture. There were only two outlets for those with laptops, which I think hinders the bakery's ability to attract more customers. I think there is great potential for this place, but there just is not enough effort going into it.
(2)Nixa B.
If you are looking for free wifi and good coffee, this is a great spot. However if you are looking for good food then this is not the place. I ordered a half soup and sandwich. I couldn't eat either. I swear the soup came from a Campbell's canned soup and the sandwich was blah. I left totally disappointed. Will not buy food here again.
(1)Sydney T.
I love Prairie Bread Kitchen! I can't believe I'm saying this, because it just looks like a Panera wannabe at first glance, but it's so much better! So different and so delicious. First things first, they serve Intelligentsia coffee. We know by now that this is my shiz. And even better, they serve it well. I'm pretty sure they drip brew it, but it still tastes almost as good as getting it at the Intelligentsia store. I've had delicious Intelligentsia coffee that has been brewed to imperfection, but this place certainly got it right. They have decaf too! Even better better? They sell 12-ounce bags of whole beans of their coffee. It's nice that I can grab some in Oak Park rather than trek all the way into the city. They even sell the Black Cat Espresso roast. Yumma. Second things second, their food and bread are so so so good. All of their sandwiches and salads look so good that I had a hard time choosing. I ended up getting a hot corned beef sandwich on sourdough that had Dijon mustard, lettuce, and pickles. Only complaint was that they put one quarter pickle spear on each side of the sandwich. If I had my way, it would be sliced up and distributed a bit more. But other than that, delicious combination of ingredients. I'd definitely recommend it. If you eat in, they give you a generous portion of Jay's original ruffly potato chips on the side. Hands down, best kind of chips ever. Move over no-ruffles crunchy baked chips, the real thing is here. On top of all of this greatness, it's reasonably priced (no more expensive than Panera), the staff has always been friendly, and it's right next to the Oak Park Metra station. I always sit in their outside seating area sipping on some coffee while waiting for my train to come. Really, you can't beat it.
(5)Ava B.
I live on the north side, but happened to be in Oak Park when I stumbled upon this cute bakery. I can't resist baked goods, so I stopped in. I've often gotten an apple bread from the Great Harvest Bread Company that I love. They had a very similar-looking bread here, so I thought I'd try it. To my surprise, it was actually better than the Great Harvest bread. Less streusel topping (so less sugary), more butter flavor, and a lot more apples! Very fresh and home-made tasting. I also got a snack-size chocolate espresso muffin which was delicious too. Wish they had a north side location!
(5)Michael C.
Prairie bread kitchen is my destination in oak park for baked goods and coffee. The scones and tarts here are out of this world. Each baked good I've had here had fresh flavor and was the perfect sweetness level. I've also had their chicken curry salad sandwich which is a pretty solid and healthy lunch option although it's a bit pricy. The chicken is dried and smothered in this curry sauce that is slightly sweet and very filling. My favorite parts about this shop are the atmosphere and the out of this world intelligentsia coffee. There is a homey feeling that comes with the wooden decor and it is quite cozy to sit here and have an afternoon chat. Can't wait to try the bread bowl and soup next time I'm here!
(4)Sharde Dior B.
So this is my first time trying corn beef I had high hopes and was very DISAPPOINTED. It was $8.17 for a corn beef it taste like it was made by a local grocery store butcher. Just nasty it contrasting with everything sour dough bread, pickles, pepper jack cheese. I heard decent reviews the ambiance but the food is mediocre at best.
(1)Cait C.
My fiancé and I have been loyal customers for years now. We always get our typical iced vanilla latte whether it's hot or cold outside. Well, today may have been the last. The woman who made my latte today charged me $6.16 for one drink. I come in here nearly everyday - most of the guys recognize us and know the order ahead of time. When my fiancé said, 'that seems high for one latte. We come here a lot and its usually $4.75'. She immediately dismissed what we said and kept it at $6.16. I wish I would have asked the male working with her if she was right. He would have said absolutely not. This is how you lose a customer.
(1)Christopher B.
I tried the Greek veggie sandwich today. Usually a vegetarian sandwich is too plain and simple, but this one was really good with complexity of multiple ingredients. Generous feta, hummus, Lettuce, grilled red peppers and squash, tomatoes and I'm not sure what else. Another great lunch.
(5)Claire M.
Um, yum. How have I never eaten at this place before? This was another stop made while Mother Dearest was in town. She is a health food freak and only wanted a salad and/or soup so this was her first choice out of the other options. I don't know how the woman doesn't waste away into nothing, she barely eats anything. She built her own freaky sandwich (I don't even remember what it was) and a had some sort of greens salad and I had the half sandwich half soup thing. Greek veggie sandwich and butternut squash soup (see photo!). Sandwiches are quite hit and miss for me but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I'd totally go back for another one. I have incredibly sensitive teeth and have recurring nightmares about biting into a veggie sandwich and the veggies are so flipping cold that it's just murder on my senses. Fortunately, that did not happen with this one. The soup was very good too - and it was like 80 degrees that day. I suppose it's never too hot for me to eat soup. It took us like an hour to decide where to eat so when first we ventured by, the place was packed (right at the lunchtime rush) but an hour later, there were only a couple other people in there.
(4)Scott D.
It's ok. Couldn't really think of another word to describe it. I've been there several times since it's in my backyard and each visit was inconsistent with the previous. The sourdough bread is like hard white bread (I seriously thought they gave me the wrong thing), but their pastries are usually pretty tasty. Lower prices would definitely make me come back more often.
(2)Regina D.
Stopped by PBK this morning before catching my train to work. Bought a loaf of Zucchini Bread. When I got to work, my co-workers swarmed the loaf and it was ALL GONE in record time. They "Ooooo'd and Ahhhhh'd" over the quality and taste of the bread, which they thought I made at home. I probably should have lied and said, "yes, I slaved over a hot oven" (lol), but I wouldn't want to steal PBK's thunder. Anyway, it was the most moist and tastiest sweet bread I have EVER tasted. I'm so happy to have them in my neighborhood.
(5)Michelle S.
Called in an order, and was told to pick it up in 15 minutes 3 sandwiches and a soup. We arrived to pick it up yesterday and still waited an additional 20 plus minutes. The food is good but when you're on your lunch and only have a specific time allotted it's not acceptable. They really need to hire more people. The three young men didn't seem to be stepping it up to get the orders out. An older gentleman showed up and got everyone moving. Maybe the owner? Manager? I'm not sure but one more shot and that will be the deciding factor of additional visits or finding somewhere new.
(2)Henry C.
Where do I start? Called the shop --- spoke with Miguel. Need banana bread for over 100. Can you do it. Let me check. Within minutes - he calls me back. We can do it. OK -- let me taste test. Serviced by Dana - a true professional. YUM! Let's order. Picked up: Beautifully displayed. Delicious, Best Service. What else can I ask for? Support this business. Hands down ----- best darn bakery in western suburbs.
(5)Lucy W.
My favorite kind of chicken noodle soup is available here, with the very thick noodles! I also tried half a curry chicken salad sandwich on 7-grain bread, to make it a combo. Couldn't resist a gingerbread cookie, which was delicious! They also have lots of tea and Intelligista coffee beverage options. You order at the counter, and there are tables, high tops, and counters that you can sit at to enjoy your lunch. There's a metered parking lot across the street. I had picked this lunch meeting place for work on a complete whim, based on location...very pleasant surprise!
(4)Anne L.
Great sandwich shop in Oak Park. Not out there often, but when I am at internship I love to stop by here for lunch, especially for the Cajun chicken sandwich and/or the Turkey salad. Both are so delicious and easily fill you up. Plus the prices aren't terrible either and the breads are made there at the shop leaving them much softer and easily much better than something from the grocery store. The atmosphere inside the restaurant as well is very laid back and the staff is very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend!
(4)Laura M.
Places like this I have to be careful not to go insane buying everything to try (breads, pastries, coffee...) since it looks so good and fresh. I only stopped by for a coffee (Intelligista) binge and ended up with the apricot rugelach and sour dough bread. Friendly staff and atmosphere to hang out. Nice.
(4)Andrew W.
Told there was no Wifi, even though numerous reviews say it exist. Felt like outsiders as they looked aggravated we didn't know what we wanted. Just a poor vibe from the staff and uncomfortable seating arrangements.
(3)Matt M.
How could you not give this place 5 stars? Every little detail was fresh, delicious, and inviting. Its a comfortable place to sit down and try an interesting, unique sandwich that WORKS. So many places try to be "different" and just fall flat on their face. But I tried the curry chicken sandwich and was absolutely floored by how well they incorporated and featured the curry. Their baked items are flawless and you could easily sit down at a table and force yourself into type II diabetes and have no regrets.
(5)Shauna G.
Good stop for breakfast but there are at least two places nearby that are better. I'd probably stop in for an afternoon cup of coffee or tea again.
(3)Esther G.
What a nice sandwich shop! It's reminiscent of Panera Bread for its sandwiches, soups, coffees and bakery. If I lived around these parts, I'd go to Praire Bread every time over the other. I was impressed by the quality of ingredients, the flavors and my friendliness of the workers here. In order to try more than one item, I had a half-sandwich and soup combo to warm me up on a nippy day. I had the curry chicken salad sandwich: apple-ginger chutney, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce on 7 grain -- not too sweet but a nice balance of all the flavors. I was mad I didn't just get the entire sandwich. And on the suggestion of the cashier, I paired that with the butternut squash soup. It was like a chilly, October day in my mouth. The soups rotate daily, and I had asked what the most popular one was, and it really was the best one to have with the sandwich. There are high-top tables and also a long row facing the window for seating, but it's not that big of a place.
(4)Noomi J.
I've been here twice, and have had their chicken gumbo, cajun chicken sandwich, and Intelligentsia coffee. Their soups come with some bread, which you can select, and their full-sized sandwiches come with a bag of chips. Their chicken gumbo was okay, and so was the sandwich. Nothing spectacular. Calm, pleasant ambiance. Not a 4 star for me though because I don't see myself driving out of my way to go here or seeking this place out.
(3)Melissah L.
I dragged my boyfriend all over Oak Park and Chicago, begging him to take me to try all these different foods and see different sites. This is one we agreed was a must-try-- Prairie Bread Kitchen was rated well, and I have to say the Yelpers were right once again :). We split an apple chutney turnover and a coffee, and it was just a wonderful afternoon snack! As a baker, I always appreciate subtle twists on traditional recipes-- and the extra spice in the turnover was a pleasant surprise. I wish I had been able to try the cherry tart as well, maybe next time I'm in Oak Park! (I will definitely be back).
(5)Sara B.
We didn't stay long. The food was decent and the coffee was not too bad. The bummer is that it is a huge "coffee shop" like place but no Wifi. Not the most organized place either. 2 cashiers but no flow of traffic. Odd. Intelligentsia coffee is a bonus and probably what keeps this place up!
(3)K. E.
One day a week, I have a funny schedule, and I stop in here about 10:30 and get a sandwich to take to the office and eat later. It seems like a lot of money for a sandwich (about $8), but what a sandwich. This week I had the roast beef. It was very pink, incredibly tender, and just to die for. The wrapping lasted particularly well this week also (sometimes it leaks just a bit - no plastic wrap, just wax paper, that's ok with me). I like to order all the veggies, plus the pickled peppers, so it's kind of like a salad piled on meat on bread. The bread is excellent. The 7-grain is delicious, so I don't feel like I am compromising taste for the extra healthy ingredients. At that time of the morning, the service is very fast, and there is always a sample plate with tastes of sweets which are irresistible. From reading the other reviews, I can tell that there is a fuller lunch menu available later, but so far I don't feel deprived! This week I was running late for my train so I called ahead. This worked out perfectly. I only gave them about five minutes, but the sandwich was wrapped and ready to go, and I got to my train on time. If I have more time, I have a latte. They make them perfectly and you can ask for half skim/half whole milk if you want. I also like the smaller sized cookies. I have been buying bread and coffee here for years, but only recently tried the sandwiches. I am so glad I did. It's a great treat for me since there is no good food available for lunch where I work - I have to brown-bag every day.
(4)Twila Y.
They catered my festival of 500 people and were able to keep up! The food is wonderful and the staff is always willing to help. Doran is patient and willing to make custom orders to cater to food allergies. They were kind to my volunteers and event attendees. Excited to have them at Greater Chicagoland Pagan Pride again this year!
(5)Pieter W.
So I was in the mood for something simple like a good ole' sandwich, so I popped into Prarie Bread one day to try it out. Ordered the hot corned beef. I waited for 10 or 15 minutes, mentally salivating while thinking about a piled-high corned beef sandwich, piping hot served on delicious homemade bread! I was immediately disappointed when the sandwich came. Instead of being piled high, the corned beef consisted of three measly thinly sliced scraps of corned beef. Seriously, the pickle in the sandwich had more density, and actually overwhelmed the taste of the corned beef. Fortunately, the homemade sourdough was very tasty and probably saved the sandwich. Still, I left the place feeling hungry, having spent $8 bucks on a measly sandwich with a small handful of chips. I don't expect huge proportions, but I felt that for the money the sandwich should have had more substance. Oh well, I guess this place is for Oak Parkers who for the most have a lot more disposable income than I do. I'll probably come back sometime and pick up a loaf of bread though, it was really good bread, I'll give them that!
(3)Cat C.
I stop here for breakfast when I'm early for the metra. The pastries are always delicious, and the mango smoothie I had last time was amazing! I always mean to buy a loaf of bread when I'm there, the prices are SO low, and it smells fantastic.
(5)Cintya P.
I've grown to really like this place. Not for their coffee or sandwiches to be exact, but just for the fact that's a comforting spot to grab some lunch with friends. I just came back from Prairie Bread Kitchen and remembered I've been forgetting to write a review. I got a cup of their chili and a latte. Mind I say, the latte had a perfect foamy top to it! I was very pleased that the barista was able to make 2% milk for me because I really did not want skim or whole milk. Also, the chili was hearty and seasoned just right and was the perfect serving and piping hot! Every time I come here I get the best service! This place is really a great asset to the neighborhood, especially if you tire of Panera.
(4)Trisha N.
On a recent visit the staff was swamped at lunch time. Somehow the line system wasn't working and someone who arrived after me was served before me. The counter staff noticed this as they were serving me and bought me a latte on them to make up for it! Then they apologized 2-3 times. I wasn't bothered by the line cut, but was more than happy with their reaction.
(5)Sarah S.
I tried out prairie bread kitchen after seeing the great reviews here. I wasn't disappointed. I had the turkey sandwich, which was delicious and fresh. There was a nice surprise of thin-sliced cucumber inside the sandwich- something you don't get every day. The bread was fantastic. The menu was fairly limited, but had plenty to choose from. Sandwiches and salads ran around $7. Service was pretty slow. The space is nice and bright. If you get a window seat you can do some quality people watching. I didn't try any of the cookies but they looked delicious.
(4)Octavio T.
Good coffee, good sandwiches, good background music and nice customer service.
(4)Brie S.
I love this place! It is in a stellar location in Oak Park--right by the CTA and the Metra, and just off of Lake Street. The atmosphere is cute and farm-like. The staff is always polite. They serve homemade breads, cookies and Intelligentsia coffee. There is always enough seating when I go in, even though it is small inside. Y
(4)Tristan C.
Food was ok. Seating was awkward. Staff had weird vibe, menu was a slightly bizarre. Probably OK if you don't have to sit inside and just want a sandwich.
(2)Vanessa S.
I came in here to get a mocha. The mocha was okay. It was a litte on the sweet side for me. I also got their banana bread. I thought that was also okay. It was good, but I don't like to taste butter in what I eat. So obviously, there was too much better in the banana bread for me.
(3)Anna J.
Great baked goods, Intelligentsia coffee at a decent price, and genuine, friendly staff.
(5)Renita M.
Monday, 4:30 pm. I had last eaten around noon -- a banana -- and my tummy was rumbling. I also wanted a place to sit and chill for a little while. Thanks to Yelp, I knew Prairie Bread Kitchen wasn't too far from where I'd parked. Onward! It's a pretty simple place -- counter, tables, bar seating facing out to Marion St., with the fresh smell of bread in the air and bread-related quotes on the wall. I had a cafe au lait and the Greek veggie sandwich. The cafe au lait was made with Intelligensia -- awesome. The sandwich bread was soft and fresh and the veggies were just right. They did fall out kind of easily but I guess that's the downside of a veggie sandwich. It came with Ruffles. That's one tiny nitpick ... if I'm going to eat potato chips I'd rather have good ones (say, Kettle or popchips). The space is light, bright, smells awesome and is right next to the Metra/El tracks ... can't get much better than that. Just a note, though ... I don't care how awesome your perfectly roasted coffee beans from your hipster coffee company are, dude, you are preventing a customer from ordering with your blather so stop trying to persuade the poor barista/register lady to switch companies. At least wait until I've ordered. Sheesh.
(4)Flora L.
I got the butternut squash soup in a bread bowl. The soup was very good and creamy and butternut squashy and the sourdough bread bowl was delicious! The guys helping me, Brian, was very friendly and brought me samples of the soup. The sandwiches, salads, and pastries all looked very good too, ill definitely be back to try more of the menu!
(5)Ali Z.
Prairie Bread is a great all around bakery and cafe. I like to drop by here whenever I'm in the area and need a quick pick me up. Everything from sandwiches to coffee, bread, and sweets is very tasty. I've only tried a couple of sandwiches here but I remember the tuna and swiss being excellent. They also have a build your own sandwich option too. Much better than Panera or the Potbelly's down the street. The bread loaves are rustic and fresh. The sourdough and country white are my personal favorites here. When it comes to pastries, they have some serious competition from Sugar Fixe next door but more than manage to hold their own. They have a larger selection of different pastries and tea time treats all of which are extremely delicious. The standouts for me were the lemon bars (best ever) and chocolate rugelach. Paired with their fresh roasted coffee, it make the perfect midday snack.
(4)M W.
Hands down the best bread in town!! Great sandwiches, baked goods and smoothies as well. The service is always great. The people behind the counter are super friendly, helpful and warm.
(5)Tamar D.
We stopped in here, which is at the base of the Red Line in Oak Park. The baked goods were yummo; we enjoyed the oat bar, and the mini muffins. I tried the quiche in the morning, which was fairly bland, but it hit the I-need-something-warm breakfast spot. The folks in there are super nice and there were a number of regulars that showed up during both of our visits. They also keep out samples to taste, and I have to say the cherry danish was delicious. Warmed, and next to coffee in your mouth, and it would be divine.
(3)Don B.
Intelligentsia coffee? Perhaps, mixed with dishwater. I ordered a latte, which was awfully weak. Ordered another shot. No improvement. Ordered a dark coffee. Terribly weak! Total indifference by the staff. My wife's salad came pre-made in a plastic box. My smoked turkey sandwich had meat from a package. Tasteless. The bread was good. Ruffles for chips. Train station food, but more expensive!
(1)Abigail M.
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.. or at least one person does. THAT is Prairie Bread Kitchen! Seriously, my husband and I really appreciate they know him and I by name when we come in - and not in a creep way. The staff is incredible!!! Especially Dana, Abby, Jack and Miguel!!! I would love to write a negative review of PBK, because honestly, I want to keep it to myself. They've got the best coffee in town - Intelligentsia! Their lunch and dinner menu is great as well - hearty sandwiches, filling salads, all that good stuff. Of course, it's even worth just stopping by to grab one of their fresh baked loaves of bread (they've got some amazing bakers on staff also)! You cannot go wrong at this place.
(5)Becky P.
Amazing. I was walking past and decided to pop in for some bread. Not only did it smell glorious in there, but their prices were reasonable, it was clean, and counter staff was friendly. I brought home 2 loaves, wish I would have bought more! Yum place to grab a cup of coffee and some goodies to go!
(5)Amanda J.
Awesome! Best treats and atmosphere in Oak Park. Great place to take the kids or to grab a cup of coffee before heading out in the train. Also, I get their 7 grain bread weekly for lunch sandwiches and toast...so much better than store bought.
(5)Michael G.
Prairie Bread Kitchen makes the best cookie in town! By 'town', I mean Chicagoland. It's their Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie. It is a buttery-sweet-soft-chewy-melty-toothsome incredible thing. They need to post cookie photos on their site. Their other cookies are also excellent, but make sure you try an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip. Their breads are always good, but I do prefer crusty(almost burnt) crusts on the savory yeast breads; the breads could take a little more 'burning' to achieve a Maillard reaction which would impart just a bit more flavor and texture to the loaves. Their quick breads are very good; I had a Thyme-Orange one recently. It was cakey and delicious. Their muffins are always moist and fluffy and really delicious; the scones are also very good, but I can never pass up a cookie and a muffin. Their coffee is Intelligentsia; always hot and delicious. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and keeps things moving; it can get a little backed-up at times. Marion Street in Oak Park should be visited by everyone! They've done great things on Marion Street recently, and it's attracted more great food spots and other shops. There are various parking options in the area. Drive around the neighborhood until you find a place to park; there are some free spots, and the parking garage at Harlem/Ontario/Marion is free for the first hour. The CTA Green Line train stops right there, as does the Metra Union Pacific West line. Prairie Bread Kitchen is a great place within a great neighborhood.
(5)Jelena Z.
Oooh, Prairie Bread Kitchen, I like you! Very clean, bright (lots of natural light with windows facing the street) and sparkly coffee shop/bakery. They do sandwiches, soups, a variety of baked goods including muffins and cookies and of course, fresh baked breads! I only had a regular latte but the cookies were definitely begging for adoption by my tempted stomach! They serve Intelligentsia coffee (my fave!) and the counter staff is a delight. Free wi-fi, too!
(4)Jeremy W.
Gladly will I circle the block multiple times in search of a park just so I can indulge in the Lemon Bars from this place. D to the A to the M to the N are these things good. Think I'm kidding? Try'em - you'll be hooked! Just do it.
(4)Elizabeth G.
A good coffee shop for eating and socializing--questionable for socializing. Coffee-- Above average, but not great. Use intelligencia beans, could be better with more experienced baristas Food - pretty good, though muffins are a bit heavy. Wireless - DOESN'T WORK. They said it does, but the signal is too weak to pull up a single webpage. Another customer verified that it doesn't work for her either. The manager seemed confused, stating that ATT had just been in and added a password. She admitted that she didn't understand the set-up, and that the wireless router is in back, which I believe would explain the non-existant signal for customers.
(3)Mary Ann C.
Super friendly service... and always fast. We love the bread (my husband is a big fan of the elemental), and the cookies are amazing! I love the peanut butter version, but the other day I had a double chocolate cookie that was a show stopper! Soups are great here too!!!
(4)E C.
Really terrible service and slow. They lost track of my order and had to order again. The chicken panini I ordered was cold and when I took it back, they argued with me it couldn't be!
(1)Rhonda G.
No breakfast, the next meal is hours away...help! Stopped in here for a quick little snack to get my energy levels back to normal. One Apple walnut muffin and steaming cup of java later and i'm back to normal. well, my version of normal. Need a boost before you hop on the el? get it here.
(4)Jenny Z.
The atmosphere here is great-clean, bright, cozy and warm with nice bread quotes along the top of the ceiling. The bread is lovely, I will give it that! However, the actual food and service leaves something to be desired. I came here for lunch a few days ago and ordered the veggie soup with bread. The bread was nice but the veggie soup was literally tomato broth with frozen veggies added...for around $5 that's not cool! The service was....fine. No one was overly friendly or welcoming. I wish I could say differently!! I will probably try this place again, just to see if my experience was a fluke-I hope so!
(2)Janet V.
YUM YUM YUM!! FRESH!! Everything here is soooo good! We come here every week for lunch! Salad, soup, sandwich, pastry...can't go wrong! Cafe is great too! Very affordable prices! Very friendly service! Def our favorite spot for lunch in OP!!
(5)Cher M.
This is the place that keeps me upright most mornings. They serve Intelligentsia Coffee, and a LARGE one of those (dark, no sugar, no cream) combined with a scone (pretty much any kind is delicious, although I'm thinking of adopting the Cherry Almond one as my own and bringing it -and all of its relatives- to my home...and then devouring them) and my morning is off to a pretty good start for $4.34 Service is QUICK even when the line in almost out the door. I've never (knock on wood) been late for my train even when I'm cutting it super close, i.e. 3 minutes or less. The staff starts to recognize you after a few days, and most mornings I don't even have to say what I want, they have it for me before I can even ask. I've never had lunch here, but I drag every single person who visits me here for breakfast. Much better coffee than Starbucks (down the street) and more convenient for people like me who can't remember to set up their coffee maker at night *sigh*
(5)Kristin S.
Pretty consistent with being good. I usually get a turkey sandwich, very plain, but good. Of course the bread is fresh and delicious. This time I had the tomato basil soup in a bread bowl (sourdough) and it was wonderful! Highly recommended-- it has a bit of cream in it, which makes it rather yummy!
(3)Aly H.
Quaint, cozy, and cute :) stopped in here for coffee with my boyfriend and we each got a slice of blue cheese and chives bread- yum! Staff was a little expectant, as if they thought we would know the procedure for things- but otherwise great!
(4)mister b.
Best cafe in Oak Park. Their coffee and products are great- affordable and delicious. The customer service is as expected. Only downfall is the wi-fi isn't consistent....
(4)Sherry Y.
Adore this place. On a corner location, super homey feel. You can see into the kitchen from the front counter to watch them bake bread. They even have a little library for the kiddies, to keep them busy during lunch play dates. Decoration is very cutesy and its a nice place to take kids if you're a parent. Intelligentsia coffee served here. Love the sourdough soup bowls and their signature chili for a late fall lunch. Everything in the bakery is top notch, though, especially the lemon bars. Try out everything, you'll be rewarded. ^ ^
(5)Yubari W.
I have been going to Prairie Bread for over 3 years now. I love the variety and freshness of the breads. The staff is always friendly and helpful. I have yet to have a bad experience there.
(5)April P.
I love the Prairie Bread Kitchen. It is open and light and cheerful. The great big windows are a nice touch. I'm used to coffee houses having a dark atmosphere which is cozy in the wintertime, but not what I'm looking for in the summer. Also, they have wireless. That is always a huge plus : )
(5)Hung T.
The Cherry Almond Scone here is delicious! I know nothing else of this place, but the scone is really enough for me to give a 4 star rating. Yum!
(4)Janet E.
I've only tried two items from here and both were delicious! I had the chocolate expresso cupcake (no frosting for those that like cupcakes). The cake was very moist and kept its moisture, despite sitting in my bag for almost the entire day half eaten. I also bought an entire loaf of banana bread. They offer to slice the bread for you, but in my opinion, the bread dries out faster if you have it pre-sliced. The bread was delicious! Very moist. Prices here are very reasonably cheap and staff was very willing to help. Just an FYI, they do not take AMEX here.
(4)A D.
Intelligentsia coffee is the upside. I go several times a month yet I never feel as if I'm welcomed by the staff. The vibe is kinda not friendly. They seem to greet some regulars with open arms and know their names. I'm not expecting them to know my name, but it'd be nice to feel like my presence wasn't an annoyance of some sort. The seating is not welcoming either. Maybe because they don't want ya to stay, lol!
(2)William B.
Just ran in to grab a loaf of their sourdough. Decided to grab a cookie, too. The cashier recommended the double-chocolate pecan. Excellent choice. The sourdough is rustic. Very good.
(4)Katherine K.
Are there state laws governing the closing time of soup and sandwich places? (ie like liquor laws?) My family and I walked in at 5:15 (closing time is 5:30 on Saturdays, I believe) and I could not believe how the employees acted towards us... I ordered a potato soup (it was wonderful) and was given my choice of bread (natch) however when I opened the bag, the bread was wrong, but I was tired and wanted my hot soup and didn't want to deal with going back to the counter and standing in line for the right slice of bread. The others I was with ordered bottled drinks and 2 sandwiches (one being a simple PB&J). The staff then started making snarky comments about making sandwiches at closing time. Huh? The door was not locked when we arrived, so what did you think we were coming in for? At 5:30 out rolled the vacuum cleaner, and Bob Marley at a very high volume! Much like a bar that might turn it's lights on and music off to lure you out, these girls wanted us out!!! I get that it's closing time, but this type of service makes one never want to return. C'mon management, have a talk with your staff!
(2)Peter B.
Good soups, tasty and well-seasoned. The portions are really small, though. Their bowls are more on the order of cups. How about making those cups a bit bigger, PBK? Maybe they have? I haven't been in a few months, and I see that they are under new management? Hopefully they have not changed the recipe for their Lemon Pound Cake. It is awesome. The icing tastes like pure lemon. Wonderful! The girls who work at the counter are very friendly and will remember you if you visit more than once or twice. It feels like a nice, small town, homey place.
(4)Liz W.
Another great lunch spot in Oak Park. They don't have a crazy huge menu, just some simple sandwiches and soups that rotate daily. I've tried their cajun chicken panini. It was super cheesy and kind of reminded me of a grilled cheese sandwich. Ive also had their smoked turkey sandwich and chilli. The chilli was awesome. Filled with flavor and not huge chunks of pepper and onions. You can get half a sandwich with soup for about $7, but if you get a full sandwich with soup it can easily cost over $10. My office also orders their pastries and cookies. Everything I've tried has been delicious.
(4)Lindsey A.
The most amazing, soft, buttery, sweet, delicious cookies this mouth has ever tasted. Bread freshly baked by the loaf or slice. Homemade soups and chowders served with or without A-OK sandwiches (that are better if dunked in said soup) or even greater! -- get it in a bread bowl and trim the edges off for dunking purposes. Love the coffee in the morning with a pecan roll. There's not a bad word to be had about this place.
(5)Andrea B.
My mom and I went here to get cinnamon rolls. They were absolutely delicious. Very tasty and soft, best I've ever had. Really nice atmosphere and very friendly staff.
(4)H T.
The tuna sandwiches are good here. The food and service are consistently good.
(4)Kelly S.
We stopped in here today for a late lunch. The place was really quiet and 45 minutes til closing. The girls at the counter were friendly enough though not overly welcoming. It was obviously near the end of their shift. We both ordered the soup and sandwich combos. Approx $7.00 each. 1/2 Sandwich and a Bowl of Soup. Real turkey here boys and girls! Not the slimey perfectly round stuff ya find at other sandwich joints. And the bread... 7 grain baked fresh on site. Lots of veggie topping options to chose from. All making for the PERFECT sandwich. The soups were both excellent as well. Mushroom Barley Beef... real beef chunks and loaded with veggies. Tomato Bisque... creamy tomato goodness. One very large peanut butter cookie to end this sweet meal. Glorious texture and flavor. The perfect marriage of chewy and crunchy. Unfortunately, it was raining this afternoon or we would have enjoyed the outdoor seating. * Now serving Intelligentsia coffee! ** Free WiFi.
(4)Tim G.
Tasty sandwiches, great muffins, good coffee, and quick service. I typically come here when I want a quick breakfast out. The coffee never disappoints, but isn't the best I've ever had (Cafe Velite/Cupcake Royale in Seattle). The cinnamon rolls are interesting. My wife's not a fan, but I am. They seem to have quite a bit of honey in them and some of it is carmelized. They're not overly sweet like most. They're different and I like it. The muffins are also worth mention. The zucchini muffin is a favorite, but chocolate and the others are good too. Sandwiches are whatever you want them to be. They can be bland and boring, or tasty and complex. It's like making a sandwich at home, but having a much wider variety of ingredients available. Pair them with a hot cup of soup for a nice wintertime lunch.
(4)James T.
Ham and cheese scone all the way! Great bread and great service. The staff gets you in and out. Best bakery in Oak Park for breakfast.
(5)Kirsten A.
This place is super lame. The menu was hard to find, the sandwiches totally over priced, and the staff super slow. I ordered a three cheese sandwich and was given it five minutes later, untoasted with one piece of bread and the other piece of butt bread. You know the piece of bread at the end of the loaf that you don't make sandwiches with? I asked if they could toast it and they said no, we don't do that. So let me get this right, I just paid $4.45 for a piece of bread, a piece of butt bread, and three slices of cheese slapped together? And it took you five minutes to do this? I think not.
(1)Cristina T.
I love this place! Been here a few times for salads/sandwiches or just for a cup of coffee. They serve Intelligentsia, which I love. The pastry case is to die for as is the bread. A nice place to hang out and relax-not once have I felt rushed. Service is friendly and fast. Will be back here many times to come!
(4)Jacob G.
I stop in just about every weekend for a coffee and a slice of bread and have never been disappointed. Service is quick, coffee is tasty - good place.
(4)Laine K.
So I can't speak to the bread part of this business, however, the service, the coffee and a good amount of the sweet goods are fantastic. That's right people I'm writing another "fantastic" heavy review. I love the service. They are always patient with my indecisiveness and make great suggestions. One day I flip-flopped back and forth on what level of creaminess my latte should be and the response was priceless: "Just go all in and get the whole milk; it's Sunday! Live a little!" So I love the apricot biscotti and the crispy little short-breads! They have saved me from my growling tummy on more that one occasion. I need to head back and try the bread. There's not an extensive selection though. The only problem i have with this place is that it is a long ways from my current home....... I need to move. :)
(4)Jean S.
Don't buy bread on the weekend. I made that mistake and bought a loaf of brioche and it was so stale.
(1)Sarah R.
Great for: coffee, bread, cookies, sandwiches. Have never really been impressed by their soups. I'm not sure what it is about my luck, but I've never received the poor service other reviewers have mentioned. Maybe it's because I don't show up at closing time?
(4)Joan K.
Bread... Yes.... Pastries... Yes, Soups... Yes.... Sandwich, ummm... Naw. Roast beef sandwich, the beef was that awful stuff that Arby's pass off as beef. Yuk. The chives and blue cheese bread was wonderful. I wanted a loaf to go, but understandably, they were sold out. Italian bread was wonderful. Squash soup was good as well. Stick with the breads/pastries..you'll be happy.
(4)Tim C.
The food, cookies, pastries, and of course the bread are all top notch. The location is great and the interior is warm and inviting. However, the best feature of Prairie Bread is the service! In particular if you are fortunate enough to meet Dana and Abby you are in for a treat. In fact, I became a daily customer after Dana started working here (I followed her here after Lido's Café closed) Try the Tomato Herb bread and the Espresso and Cappuccinos' are great too.
(5)Ron D.
You can Count on these folks for a good sandwich. Maybe the best sandwich shop in oak park right now. We go here a few times a year. Great menu, fresh bread, friendly staff, great location, clean. Today I had their roast beef with horseradish mustard and blue cheese with purple onion. It was perfect. Wife had turkey sand and daughter had pbj. They were very happy too. Chips were fresh and tasty.
(5)Tina M.
Had a latte that tasted like water with a little bit of chocolate. I was really disappointed.
(2)Tracey M.
The first four stars is for the food and service I received. The fifth is for the extra thought the person helping me had by offering to wrap-up half my sandwich for later since I had mentioned I really just hungry enough for half a sandwich. I'm a big fan of sourdough bread and theirs passed with flying colors. I will definitely go back for another sandwich - or maybe possibly one of their many baked goods and a smoothie!
(5)John G.
A leader in its genre.
(4)Tina C.
This place doesn't even deserve my review. The staff is soooooo RUDE. The coffee was really horrible. It's small, and the menu is nothing to brag about. Please don't waste your time going here.....
(1)Sam S.
Really good scones, esp in the morning when they're fresh out of the oven (what isn't!). They close at 3:30 on Sunday but the owner let us stay till 4 without throwing us strange looks at all. Wish they stayed open later. They don't make baguette which is a shame!
(4)Scott H.
I was in town for some spices at Penzey's and found this little shop near the el. A brick paced street takes you back to the days of neighborhood bakeries. I stopped in for an iced coffee. The Inelligentsia coffee was good. That is high praise from someone who roasts their own coffee beans.
(4)Noel K.
We visit them at least twice a month to stock up on breakfast. We love the muffins (choco expresso & blueberry) and icing topped cookies. I get the bread bowl for my veggi soups during the cold months. I love their soy lattes!!
(4)Ted N.
You really can't write one review for this place. There is a bakery and a restaurant/cafe. What they do best is bread. Our personal favorite is the sunflower millet but several other breads rate well. I wouldn't waste my time on the italian as there are so many better options in the area. The sweet baked items are competent but hardly extraordinary. In the spirit of full disclosure I haven't tried all their sweet goods but what I have had has been OK except for the scones which are very sub-par. The restaurant/cafe is good but nothing special. I do agree that the service can be snarky. Some of the servers seem to be doing you a favor while others can be genuinely friendly. It is a bit of a crap shoot. The owners would do themselves a favor if they were more selective on the type of person they hire.
(3)Jennifer S.
The soups are quite salty and very thick. The service has gone down in the past few months with the people behind the counter getting things wrong. Honey Mustard is NOT a substitute for Dijon. You need to be too specific when you order. When you ask for soup and sandwich to go, I often get soup and HALF a sandwich. Either someone behind the counter is getting rude and trying to make a comment or they just don't pay attention to what you want. I say go 1 block south and eat at the Cheese Market!
(2)Colleen B.
I go there almost every week to get a cup of soup for lunch. Super cheap, very tasty, and comes with a big piece of the best bread I've ever had. Their cookies and pound cake and such rules, too. The staff is very friendly, but sometimes things are a little slow. I've told my whole office about this place and now they go there too. yum yum.
(4)Emily C.
Great breads, yummy Intelligentsia coffee and fabulous soups. Am a huge fan of the chocolate espresso muffin, although it will add to your total caffeine intake.
(5)Jamey M.
Real Bread Bakers - In house daily baked bread Intelligentsia Coffee Fresh Pastries Good parking -nuff said-
(5)Cynthia G.
This place has great coffee (Intelligentsia) and the baked goods are delicious. My friends and I had the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and the chocolate espresso muffin, and they were both ooeey gooey goodness. We'll definitely be back to try more baked goodies!
(4)Becky S.
Love this place. Everything is delicious, and it's not outrageously priced (although it's not cheap, either). I wish they had a bit more variety, but better to do a few things very well than a lot of things mediocre-ly.
(4)B. L.
They have a great selection of fresh breads of all shapes and sizes and a good selection of pastrys. You can also get a cup of tea or coffee and take it on their outdoor patio, and take in the sights and the breeze. There are alot of shops and things to do right in this area.
(4)Edward H.
If only this place was closer to home or work! Prairie has some mucho tasty goodies all freshly baked, coffee done right, and various soups and sandwiches that can put Panera to shame. I'm completely hooked on the crack cocaine that they label as apple bread.
(4)Emily C.
Prairie Bread Kitchen on sunny but slightly chilly fall day is just perfect. I got their tomato basil soup. It has teeny little ricotta cheese stuffed raviolis in it. I've really never had anything quite like it; it kicked Chef Boyardee's butt into oblivion. I had a slice of 7 grain bread to dip in it, which was delicious in flavor. Unfortunately, the bread sits out on a board for display, and the ends, as is bound to happen, get stale. They cut right off the end and that's the slice I got. I wish they'd toss that slice out and give me a soft one, but that's my only beef whatsoever. Oh yeah speaking of beef, my friend had a roast beef sandwich that looked awesome-the beef was sliced nice and thick and was slightly rare; it looked pretty tasty. For dessert, I had the chocolate espresso one and it was, for all intents and purposes, like eating a huge hunk of bittersweet chocolate cake. All in all, a lovely meal.
(4)Linda S.
Really yummy pecan rolls and one of the best banana breads in the Chicagoland area. I've tried the soups here and they're not too impressive here. Go here for the bakery goods and the fresh breads.
(5)Gary K.
We've gone here before to grab a sandwich before a movie and they were pretty good. The bread is obviously very fresh and all the toppings were freshly cut as well. I got a turkey sandwich and some clam chowder for soup, it was really good. They have nice outdoor seating where we could enjoy the outdoors too.
(4)