PHlour is a charming, airy, exposed-brick bakery specializing in breads. The stylized, science-tinged name indicates their level of commitment, and it comes through in their wares. While their bread is enjoyable, their sandwiches are extraordinary. The McGreen is a wonderful concoction of green goddess dressing, avocado, mozzarella, tomato, cucumber, pickled red onion, and butter lettuce. The bread absorbs the moisture of the goodies while maintaining its structure.
My recommendation is that, if you are able, you try this sandwich immediately. It makes the perfect weeknight dinner. Indulge and enjoy it in a park!
My only complaint is the they currently close at five Mondays through Saturdays, and three on Sundays.
Food
pHlour
1138 West Bryn Mawr Avenue | Chicago, IL
Revival Bakery
125 South Clark Street | Chicago, IL
Plunked inside Revival Food Hall, Revival Bakery is the second restaurant child of Mindy Segal—known and loved for Wicker Park's Hot Chocolate. It seems the most at home of all the merchants in the silvery, slightly hazy labyrinth of fancy lunch and snack purveyors. The soundtrack throughout is Vampire Weekend, lo-fi Strokes, and "Ocean Breathes Salty" by Modest Mouse. The crowd is endless hordes of young professionals enveloped in smart jackets, geometric glasses, and the impassive joie de vivre of America's upper-middle classes.
While it's just too much sometimes, I know that Revival Bakery can be relied upon for masterful, tasty, and tasteful treats. It's Ingrid Bergman in a world of Scarlett Johanssons, circa 2006. Every morning, there are bagels and sweet loaves. For lunch, they offer thoughtful and inventive quiches, and are positively resplendent in cookies and bars during the late afternoon. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and has I-like-art-type-girl flair.
But enough with that. I'm about data, and I need to find the world's best bakery, so let's get on with it already. The golden algorithm (for now) continues, so the following: three edible items, a drip coffee, and heartstring factor.
Item 1: Everything Bagel Toasted with Plain Cream Cheese: $5.50
It has just the right density for quick and effective sustenance. It's a bit salty and commits to its flavors, unusual and welcome in a bagel. The texture is substantial and absorbent yet airy, and it takes in the perfect amount of cream cheese. I suspect it is an IoT bagel (aka smartbagel).
Rating: 9.6 out of 10
Item 2: Sour Cream Brown Sugar Streusel: $3.00
This one started out as my favorite. It's moist and you can taste all of the high quality ingredients (especially the butter and cinnamon/brown sugar). However, there are a few other items on the menu with a very similar taste, so it stopped being interesting and started being just too much. Sad when that happens.
Rating: 6.2 out of 10
Item 3: Gruyere, Butternut Squash & Thyme Quiche: $9.00
The heightened flavors play together perfectly. The crust is soft and very buttery, if a bit crumbly—but why would I care about that? I have eating utensils, after all. It's pricy for its small size. However, it still ends up being filling enough for a lunch.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Coffee (12 Ounces): $3.00
Revival serves La Colombe of Philadelphia. It's usually smooth, but needs to be stronger. And it sometimes has a rancorous zip.
Rating: 7.0
Heartstrings
I mean, yes. But I still have my wits about me.
Tug factor: 8.2 out of 10
Algorithm Score
88 (out of 100)
Lovely, Too
1138 West Bryn Mawr Avenue | Chicago, IL
I’m extremely lucky to call Lovely, Too my neighborhood bakery. It has a warm, relaxed vibe and pleasing variety of pastries and savory sandwiches. The vaulted and trussed ceilings, golden oak floors, terra cotta brick, and diligent Mac users make you feel like you live in a world that celebrates rigorous liberal arts education. The staff takes an earthy pride in both the quality of their goods and friendly, look-you-in-the-eye service—with a twist of irreverence and "Sorry” dancer stylings. It’s the place that I always wished were right around the corner. It's currently for sale, and I'm hoping the future owners retain its excellence and charm.
I’m going to apply my somewhat drippy affection for this place into a stone-cold (and likely evolving) algorithm in an effort to determine the world’s best bakery. As such, I will evaluate the following: three edible items, a drip coffee, and heartstring factor. This is big, bad Voodoo data at work.
Item 1: Sourdough Bread: $5.53
Its texture is pliant, but substantial. The taste is the right amount of salty and smooth. It’s equally delicious with a smattering of butter, as a sandwich base, or sopping up egg yolks.This is the best sourdough bread I’ve ever had. Unimpeachable. Perfect.
Rating: 10.0 out of 10
Item 2: Chocolate Chip & Walnut Blondie: $3.25
I selected this one with staff input. Butter-and-brown-sugar is the elixir of my gods, so I had high expectations that, I realize, were nobody’s fault but mine. I found that its sweetness dominated the taste, so it was missing out on a certain richness. And I found it a tad dry as well, even after a coffee dunk.
Rating: 5.2 out of 10
Item 3: Classic Glazed Donut: $2.50
The donut was weighty and moist, with a nice wave of vanilla extract. It’s divine on its own and makes for a highly absorbent coffee partner. I love a simple donut, and could not have been happier with this.
Rating: 10.0 out of 10
Coffee (12 Ounces): $2.15
Lovely, Too serves Ipsento, a Chicago-based roaster. I had a choice between decaf and Guatemala and chose the latter. It was flavorful and rich, but with an acidity that called for a little sugar.
Rating: 9.0 out of 10
Heartstrings
Oh, they are tugged. Especially since it’s for sale.
Tug factor: 9.4 out of 10
Algorithm Score
96 (out of 100)
Update
The doors have closed on Lovely, Too. As of April 2017, a new bakery called pHlour has opened in its place. Review is forthcoming.
