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

This is what every sausage egg and cheese should be modeled after. The toasted English muffins are light and pillowy, perfectly soaking up the juices from the garlicky maple sausage and egg yolk. Each bite is sweet, savory, and has added richness from the melted cheese and herby mayo. Get this.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

Capicola Egg And Cheese

Just like the English muffin, the croissant in this sandwich is fantastic. It’s buttery, airy, and an ideal vehicle for the salty capicola, fried egg, and a creamy, molten blanket of muenster cheese. There’s a nice spread of fig mostarda to add a little bit of sweetness that balances out the savory components.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

Smoked Salmon

This open-faced sandwich has two pieces of crusty rye as the foundation, and loaded with smoky salmon, salty roe, herbaceous dill sesame cream cheese, and a refreshing mix of greens, cucumber, and pickled onions. It's a vibrant combination of flavors and textures.

The Bear Chocolate Cake

This chocolate cake was one of the stars of the Hulu show, The Bear, and unlike some celebrities, we also like it in real life. The chocolatey combination of soft cake, ganache, and frosting is rich and sweet, and even with its multiple layers, never feels too dense.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

BLT

At first glance the BLT looks simple—crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, tomato, and a creamy spread of mayo. But what makes this sandwich so special is the bread. The two slices that hold this together are embedded with cheddar and jalapeño, adding a little extra saltiness and spice with every bite.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

Pastries

While we love coming here for the sandwiches, we can’t forget about their fantastic pastries. Whether it’s one of their rotating fruity seasonal danishes, a nutty almond bear claw, or an oatmeal cookie, grab something from the pastry display before you leave.