CHIReview
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Loaf Lounge
Included In
We appreciate a good morning routine. Maybe it’s singing in the shower. Or doomscrolling. Or whispering to your plants because you read that positive reinforcement helps them grow. And one thing that you should try to add is a visit to Loaf Lounge, a great cafe and bakery in Avondale. That's because this counter-service spot has some of the best baked goods and breakfast sandwiches in the city.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Loaf Lounge’s menu is short, with only a few sandwiches and a mix of pastries. And the sausage egg and cheese is what all promising young breakfast sandwiches dream of becoming when they grow up. It’s packed with a sweet and garlicky patty, a fried egg, melty American cheese, and in between what might be the fluffiest English muffins we’ve had.
And based on their immaculately crafted English muffins and other housemade breads, it’s no surprise that they also make fantastic pastries. If you’ve never had a crush on a baked good, you will after trying anything here—whether it’s a flaky bear claw topped with almonds or a fruit danish filled with rhubarb jam. And if you want to push the boundaries of what’s generally considered breakfast, definitely order their delicious chocolate cake. The large slices are a skillfully balanced combination of sweet and pleasantly bitter, and has a light airy texture.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Though you’ll often find people picking up loaves of bread and sandwiches to go, it’s just as common for Loaf Lounge’s tables to be packed. This means it can be hard to grab a seat when the cafe is buzzing with friends sharing pastries or parents chugging coffee to keep up with kids eating cake at 9am. But regardless of whether you eat there or enjoy your kouign amann in the car, you’ll want to make Loaf Lounge a regular part of your day—save the doomscrolling for later.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Sausage Egg And Cheese
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Capicola Egg And Cheese
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Smoked Salmon
The Bear Chocolate Cake
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
BLT
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Pastries