Panes Bread Cafe

Have yet to have anything bad here. My boyfriend and I eat here about 3 times/​week because it’s so good! Cute little place and the staff is great.

Honestly, it can’t get much better for the price and quality. This place is family owned and it shows when you’re there, and I mean that in a good way.
Panes is a great example of what a small family owned joint brings you. Unique food at a great price, and that includes their brunch menu as well. Some top lunch/​dinner recommendations are the El Diablo, Super Pannes and Sunny California.
Now. if you are a hipster, only shop at Nordstroms, or consistently watch the TV show «Girls», please just stay away. I don’t need you ruining it.

There need to be more places like Panes.
I’m saddened it took me so long to discover Panes despite living a couple blocks away.
I say there need to be more places like Panes because it’s very reasonably priced everything and perfect for that lunch when you don’t know what you want. They’ve got about a dozen sandwich options most of which come on some of the best tomato focaccia type bread you’ll ever have. And a lot of the sandwiches are creative. I had the spicy philly which was kinda like a cheese steak with a bit of chipotle mayo thrown in there. It was absolutely incredible. and despite only costing about $ 7.50, I got two meals out of it (admittedly had an appetizer to start with).
Great, quaint atmosphere with a bit of random everything, but again perfect for when you’re not sure what you want. The pizzas look quite good and they have salad and even pasta options.
Only downside is that it’s cash only which is a pain if you don’t realize.
But can’t wait to go back!

We live across the street which can be very dangerous. We get panes ones a week and it never disappoints. High quality tasty sandwiches for a great price. Highly recommend!

I *LOVED* this place. This year I have the goal of visiting new restaurants –out of the ones I already know and love. Today I found this little gem through Unilocal.What an amazing find!
I had the green chilaquiles which were absolutely awesome. I’d rather have them be spicier (that’s just me), but they were really good. A generous plate of chicken, scrambled eggs and tortillas with green tomatillo sauce + cream and queso fresco. Sided with breakfast red potatoes, this was a real winner. My kids had the mac & cheese which was made from scratch and really good.
A highlight of this breakfast was the banana bread –which is made from scratch and baked in-​house! This tasted gloriously while sipping my coffee before my chilaquiles came.
Really good service, very clean and priced right. I cannot say enough good things about this place. Oh, it’s cash only, so bring those crisp bills with you.
I’ll go back for sure and try the sandwiches and other breakfast dishes.

Very good sandwiches and solid soups. I would recommend the Turkey Turkey sandwich (it’s what I usually get), but the other sandwiches are generally good as well. The bread tastes fresh and the spreads are tasty.

Panes is really nothing special.
I came here for lunch after reading a lot of good reviews. I ordered a chicken sandwich with tomatoes and pesto. It was adequate for the meal, honestly totally forgettable in terms of taste and quality. The pesto lacked flavor that I end up adding a lot of table salt and pepper to the sandwich. The side chips were stale. My main gripe was that a sandwich made in a bakery should have really fresh, delicious bread. However, this sandwich’s bread was totally average.
I don’t think I’ll be back to Panes. It is fine for an average lunch if you are in the area.

Best sandwiches I’ve ever had! The super panes is so good… Their sauces are top notch.
Warning: cash only

I was really excited to try this place because my friend had told me that it was good here. I decided to go in one day around 4:30pm to give it a try. I looked at the menu for a bit and ended up ordering their «The Popular» sandwich. It was decent I should say. It wasn’t like «omgsh this is the best sandwich I have ever had». It was kind of dry and not the best with flavor. I give 3 stars because it was okay and their tomato bread that the sandwich came on, was good.

The super panes sandwich is amazing. Warm bread with butter and fresh ingredients. Price is solid too!

Having recently moved to Chicago with my partner, who is a Chicago native, he introduced me to Panes Bread Café, a Chicago staple since 1994! This place is amazing! The place is really cute, and the food is just delicious! My partner ordered the Super Panes, which he last had about 10 years ago, and he said it was just like it was when he had it last and it brought back great memories! I selected the Spicy Philly, and it was truly delectable! The bread was very fresh, and the sandwich was made up of the best quality of ingredients, and ample sized as well!
They also have a various selection of desserts, which we did not order on this visit, but all of them look so good, a must on the next visit!
This will be a go to for us on many occasions, so glad I was able to experience such a great establishment!

Timing was on our side today common here. We were able to park across the street directly across from the restaurant. You order your food at the little bakery counter, part for it, then sit and wait for it to be brought out to you.
The bread from our sandwiches was made right there. It tasted fresh, but had a little thyme or rosemary in it, which i don’t care for. I had chicken with bacon and cheese. They have us chips, but i didn’t eat them.
What i really enjoyed was the little do-​it-​yourself filtered water setup. You can refill it as much as you wanted. It was a small, family owned, quant place.

Stopped by Panes Bread Café on an urgent bread craving — ordered two sandwiches (Super Panes and Roast Beef) Okay amount of deli meat, great portions and sauces. the bread was fantastic: q Perfectly chewy and toasty, would eat again just for the bread.
The space is large! We sat outside in the sidewalk area but the inside has ample seating. Cash only though. Overall, wouldn’t go out of my way but would definitely come back if I’m in the neighborhood for reasonably priced sandwiches!

Where do I start? Panes has been a top favorite of mine for almost 8 years now. And by favorite, I mean favorite restaurant of all time. I guess I must mention that sandwiches are one of my favorite foods, so this place is my heaven.
Homemade bread, fresh ingredients, and a variety of options. Their soups, salads and pasta’s are also very delicious; my favorite being the mac n cheese. Their monster cookie is a must try.
My favorite sandwich is the Roast Beef. I love that all the sandwiches come with a side of Lay’s chips. It’s a perfect meal. The prices have been hiking up more than I’d like in the last few years, but even so it’s still very affordable.
Anyway, I love Panes. So good. They have a cute patio and it’s BYOB.
CASH ONLY!

Experience: ⁵⁄₅
I went to Panes for the first time last year and was only able to come back this Tuesday at 11:30 am. This place is amazing! Located near the Wellington Brown Line stop and Advocate Illinois Masonic hospital, this is a great place to come for breakfast or lunch. The café is very pleasant, comfortable, and just a great overall atmosphere.
Food: ⁵⁄₅
It is so hard to not want to try one of everything. You walk in and behind the counter is a wall lined with fresh baked bread. I ended up getting a 10″ BBQ Chicken pizza. It was delicious (see photo) and inexpensive (only $ 6.50)! It was more than enough food for one person. You can tell they really put a lot of effort and heart into their food. I tried the peanut butter balls for dessert. They are really rich, but sooo good.
Service: ⁵⁄₅
Staff has always been great. The ladies are incredibly sweet and will help you with any questions you might have. Excellent service with minimal wait time. If you are in a rush, feel free to call ahead.
Price: $
Very very reasonable.
Overall: ⁵⁄₅
I’ll be at Illinois Masonic for the next year. I plan on being at Panes on multiple occasions. More photos and updates to come!
*Update 07/​13/​15*
I had the BBQ Chicken pizza again, and it was like they used a different crust or something. It didn’t taste like the original one. I was saddened :(. It was still okay, but not nearly as good as before. Time to mix is up next time I go back.

The Pollo Diablo sandwich made on their fresh baked Tomato Bread is something to write home about. When it comes to dining out, I never choose chicken because nothing compares to the tender, juicy beer-​can chicken off the grill at home. But Unilocalers convinced me to try this Pollo Diablo sandwich here at Panes, and I am so glad I did. Juicy, delicious and sooooooo tender! This sandwich is described on the menu to have some kick to it, but I never discern such. I think they dilute the sriracha with too much mayo.
FYI, when I ask for onions added to any of their sandwiches, all they have to offer are sweet caramelized onion. I like happen to enjoy these onions, but some people probably wouldn’t –they are super sweet! They are so sweet in fact, I had to inquire about their preparation. And the answer is yes, the onions are caramelized with sugar.
Stuffed mushrooms are well executed, and the surrounding marinara sauce is a great touch, but… $ 3.75 for 4 small ‘shrooms is steep.
Taking home fresh loaves of bread is always a win. They are super delicious and very reasonably priced. I like the country white for homemade grilled cheese.
I love how they roast the vegetables for the sandwiches, rather than putting them on an oily grill. I am usually afraid to order Portabella sandwiches at any restaurant, because I know that mushroom is a sponge for oil. Panes takes the danger out of ordering mushrooms; their roasting process is spot on!
Go to Panes and order off their menu freely. I’m quite certain everything is a win. They just know how to create tasty stuff. But with that said, whatever you choose, do not order a monster cookie! I repeat: Do NOT order a monster cookie. They are too good and I want them all to myself. #cookiemonsterindisguise

Pollo diablo was really good. The sandwich is pretty big so was going to only eat half but it was to good! 8 bucks for a sandwich and chips not bad. Got the BBQ sauce on the side and it was super salty but warm and good. Def will be coming here a lot during my lunch breaks. Bring cash!
Update– came here again and ordered the pompanzo or whatever. The last sandwich on the menu. Super good!!! How do they get the chicken so juicy? Yum! Had to give the BBQ sauce one more shot but it was extremely salty and pretty unbearable! Never ordering that again. Also not that big of a deal but prices online are different from the actual place. All the sandwiches are around 8 – 9 $ bucks. Can’t wait to try something else here!
Turkey turkey isn’t horrible but not the best thing here. If anything just get the tomato bread cause that was the best thing about the sandwich. Everything else was average!

This place is CASH ONLY (personal checks are accepted here as well).
My intention was to get a sandwich or soup, but with $ 2, it didn’t get me far enough for have a real meal.
They have an ATM on site though, but it was out of order. How did I know that? My husband was assigned to fix the machine, and that was why I was here. Make sense now?
Anyways, I got myself a mint chocolate cookie for $ 1.75. I’m assuming the tax was included because the price was what exactly listed on the menu. It was delicious and not too tiny. Everyone seemed to be friendly and was not too crowed like other café places in Lakeview neighborhood. I wish I wasn’t «poor» so that I could try their food. Other patrons were dining in there and they did look appetizing… oh bummer!
They do have wifi available… and a nice patio!

I distinctly recall visiting here during a Chicago visit circa 2007. Seven years later, Panes was remembered fondly. I sought this place out again upon returning to Chicago in March 2014 because what ever better to do on a winter evening of a blustery –15 degrees than to walk two miles for a sandwich and a tiny buckeye. Slipping on ice works up an appetite.
For less than the price of the generically vapid and unvaried chain deli lunchtime sandwich, you can support a lovely little local deli with fresh bread and giant sandwiches made to order. My favorite is the Pollo Diablo. It’s not that spicy if you’re a spicy lover. The sandwiches are hearty and huge. See pics; they’re totally instragram worthy.
I love taking friends here for lunch. They love it and they love the prices. It’s cute and no frills and a hidden gem.

Panes is especially for those days when you realize you’re spending way too much on eating out but you also just happened to not bring a lunch. They have delicious, huge sandwiches at a very reasonable price. I got the special written on the chalkboard which was a steak sandwich with mushroom & pepper jack. The bread is crispy on the outside and warm and toasty on the inside. All the ingredients are fresh and very hearty. I can easily split the sandwich into two meals.
Come here if you have 45 minutes to spare and relax. It is one of the best places for lunch if you want something quick.
Bonus! Sometimes they have bread out on the front counter to sample.