Floriole Cafe & Bakery

The elusive and delectable kouign amann alone is enough to make this place special. This treasure features buttery, layers of sweet, but not-too-sweet heaven. It’s the pastry of the month so anyone looking to try it should get there right away!

Floriole started as a vendor at the Green City Market. It quickly became a favorite. And while it continues to be a vendor at Green City, it now exists for those of us who can’t manage to get up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday and get to their stall at the market. Floriole is everything you want your neighborhood café/bakery to be. It’s a gorgeous two-level space that welcomes kids and adults. It’s offerings span from house made yogurt and jam( shut-the front-door!), to croissants that shatter into delectable flaky pastry with distinct buttery layers, as well as delicious soups, pastries, sandwiches, salads, a variety of delicious breads, and yep even wine, tea, and good coffee. Floriole is a great place for the sweet lover and the savory lover to meet.

The dedicated thread for Floriole is here.

Floriole Cafe and Bakery
1220 W Webster Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 883-1313

I couldn't have said it better than pairs4life. Had I known it's close proximity to PAWS, I would've made weekly stops after puppy training classes two summers ago. Even after enjoying their tent at GCM on many occasions, I regret not visiting the brick and mortar bakery until earlier this month.

If I were to open up my dream bakery, I think Floriole would be it: intimate atmosphere, personable service, lots of natural lighting, viewing window into the kitchen, clean, simplified styling and decor, upper floor for private parties, and of course, the attention to detail put into their food. I was so thrilled when I didn't see a doughnut, cupcake or cake pop in their glass case. Instead, I saw lots of wonderful breads, flaky pasties like croissants, fruit galettes, tea cakes, and canelés. The glass case is an art showcase. The March pastry, kouign amann, will definitely have me returning at least once, if not twice more before month's end. It's a flakey, yeasted dough with layers of salted butter and sugar in between. On the outside is caramelized sugary goodness for a contrasting crunch. It sounds like a humble pastry, but it's so much more than that.

The menu is down-to-earth, but kicked up a notch. The BAD is a great example of their twist on a BLT: bacon, argula, and date almond spread with goat cheese on grilled yeasted corn bread. After enjoying this sweet and savory combination, I don't know if I can go back to any other BLT's.

Last Saturday we drove from Highland Park to Floriole for a croissant breakfast. Considering the price of gas, this clearly demonstrates our strong support for Floriole as a GNR.

Great nomination.

Their upstairs space (excellent natural lighting) is a fantastic spot to do a little midweek morning work, have a great pastry, and sip some respectable coffee. Their servers usually couldn't be any nicer too.

I happily endorse Floriole as a GNR.

I agree. Their lentil soup is also tasty. They were all out of the kouign aman but the grapefruit tart had a wonderful crust. I bought a loaf of sourdough and vanilla shortbread home for my father-in-law, and he loved them both. I wasn't in the mood for chocolate (I was ill) but I'm told the brownies are fantastic so I'm already planning a trip back.

I live 2 blocks away from Floriole and today I had the most amazing croissant I've had. Soft, buttery, melt in your mouth. Floriole is a great place for a leisurely weekend breakfast or even to grab something to go.

Their kouign amanns are good, but not as buttery and rich as the ones I've had in SF and Paris. But it is very good in its own right.

I heartily agree... Floriole = GNR

I will give a big thumbs up to this nomination as well. Went this past Saturday with two of my three kids in tow to pick some things up for breakfast at home, and was treated to a wonderful airy and open space (with the front wall of windows open onto the sidewalk) and excellent (if a bit slow) service. Very serene and family-friendly environment, drawing a stark contrast to the bars we had passed on the way over at Sheffield and Webster, where the St. Patrick's Day revelers were out in force at 8:30 a.m.(!).

Sadly, no kouign amann (they apparently were not yet ready for the day), which is half the reason I went in the first place, but the chocolate croissants, plain croissant, almond croissant and monkey bread we had were all outstanding. (My middle son is basically in a carbs-and-butter-only phase, and this place appears to be his idea of heaven.) Also a big fan of their tarts and the yeasted cornbread.

I have watched Sandra & Mathieu Holl operate a stand at Green City Market for 5 years before they opened Floriole and I've seen their growth as bakers and as business owners. During those 5 years my mother was still alive and every Saturday we'd go to Green City and enjoy one of their seasonal fruit galette's, often we'd bring a savoury one home for dinner. I marveled at the crust and the flavor she could get from fruit, an art only a very good baker can accomplish. Her cornmeal cookies were made for adults and her brioche bread is a marvel.

I was delighted when they opened their bakery, it's a beautiful airy space to sit and read, sip a coffee, eat a pastry, salad or sandwich. I too, love her yeasted corn bread, almond croissant and kouign amann, this is the closest you can get to a true Parisian bakery in Chicago and in fact Louisa Chu took David Lebovitz here on his last Chicago visit. GNR for sure.

I want to add my support of this nomination. I visited Floriole for the first time the other day and enjoyed everything I had. They are really running at a very high level and turning out French inspired baked goods unparalleled in the city.

Floriole; GNR=YES

Count me in as a supporter.
We sampled a number of items today.
These folks are the kings of custard, make some outstanding sandwiches, and are very friendly.

Oh yes and that unpronounceable pastry (queen aman?)

(later)
A bunch of pictures added to the main thread

Visited Floriole today with some other LTHFers. Loved it. I love the space and the light and the pastries were excellent. Not overly sweet and very well crafted. The kouign amman was amazing as was the almond croissant, the lemon tart, and the passion fruit tart. Highly recommend GNR.

I am in hearty support of this nomination. The pastries are wonderful and the atmosphere is light and easy.