Lutz Bakery

My Oma came here when I was little and would get us treats. Now that I’m 22 I come to remember her. May her soul rest in peace. This place is classic, timeless, and delicious.

LUTZ Bakery impresses with its delectable cakes that boast a perfect balance of sweetness and texture. The variety of flavors caters to diverse palates, and the freshness of ingredients is evident in every bite. From classic options to innovative creations, LUTZ excels in delivering a delightful culinary experience for cake enthusiasts.

Ordered the strawberry whipped cream cake and it was delicious. The customer service however was terrible. Communication was poor and there were multiple bumps that ended up being a bigger deal than they needed to be.

We have been ordering birthday cakes here since the late 90s. They got the best cakes in the city. Never disappointed us. A little story about me that I've never once stepped foot inside the shop as I'm always the driver, parking outside and waiting. Today was my lucky day. There was a parking spot in front of the shop and I went in with my wife. Took some pictures for the review 😆

Beautiful selection of cakes, pastries, cookies and coffees. A fun spot to get after dinner dessert and coffee. They have a lot of cupcakes, strawberry layer cake, some fruit tarts and other goodies. There’s a few tables to sit at as well.

Cinnamon Roll and Cappuccino was delicious. The pastry on the apple strudel wasn't flakey enough. They helpfully changed my coffee when I wanted it stronger.

Lovely bakery in the neighborhood! I am so happy that I stopped by at Lutz bakery today. All the cookies were amazingly delicious and literally melted in my mouth. The staff was super friendly and the owner showed amazing hospitality and generosity also. Will definitely return. They make very cute cakes here also!

Lutz is great to have in the neighborhood, the staff are attentive, and the owner, Howard, has always been friendly and welcoming to me and my friends. Unfortunately my birthday cake order from last week was less than ideal. The cake was beautifully decorated and tasted delicious, but there were some unfortunate gaps in communication that caused some stress on the day of my party. I had told the person who took my order that I would pick up the cake at 10 a.m., but when I stopped by last Saturday at noon to pick up my cake, I was told that the decorator had just begun to work on it and it would take about 20 minutes (more like 45). When I said that I had placed the order for a 10 a.m. pick up, I was told that there was no note of that. So, how was I supposed to know when the cake would be ready? If I were the cake decorator and I received an order slip that did not have a pick up time, I would probably wonder, "By when do I need to have this finished?" There might also be a manager who reviews all the orders and checks to make sure that all pertinent details are listed. It feels like management could be tightened up a bit. (A lesser offense: I was asked if I wanted trim on the cake. I said yes. When I picked up the cake I was told, "The decorator decided not to do trim because she thought it would ruin the design." I was the one who provided the design and I was the one who ordered the trim, so I'm really very confused about why the decorator would have an opinion on the matter. Perhaps it was that she didn't have time because she knew I was waiting, in which case, I would have rather been told the truth.) If you order a custom cake, I recommend that you call a couple days before your event to confirm that they have all the details they need to ensure a smooth pick up.

This update has been years in the making. Back in 2017, I was so disappointed at the craftsmanship on a cake I ordered from them and dropped them down to three stars. Well since that issue, Lutz's has lived up to the reputation that I had come to know them for. Yes in my 2017 review, I broke up with them and took a time out, but for the past 4 years, I started going back to them. There is no denying the quality of the cakes and pastries made there, which can be a very dangerous thing. I am not a big dessert eater, but man when I go in there, I have easily spent over a $100 on slices of cakes and pastries and tried to consume them all once I got home. This has been my go to place when I entertain from home and don't want to make desserts myself or when taking dessert to someone else's home for a dinner party. I am glad that we have become friends again....I missed you.

I came here to pick up a 6" cake (a chocolate ganache) for a birthday celebration. We don't normally come here for cakes as it is now out of the way, but boy, back in the day (and I mean 40 years back lol) when we lived in Skokie this was our go-to place for premium quality cakes. It's really nice and nostalgic to see them still at it, as they have been through thick and thin since 1948. Like us, their customers like premium quality and don't mind paying for it. This place has always been pricey, and our 6" cake went for $39.95 pre-tax ($40.85 after taxes), but it was tall and also tip-top delicious and we've decided we will be returning at the next opportunity. On a Saturday mid-morning, we were only 1 of 2 customers, and all of their business now looks to be carryout. We pre-ordered the cake to make sure it was available. They only have 3 little tables for dining in anymore and they're right near the entrance and across from the pastry displays, so in other words, dining in is not an attractive option. They used to have a more typical dining room towards the back and it used to be big business. There was a steady stream of pick-up customers though during our 10 minute stay. I'll take the opportunity to share a true story and I remember it well. I came here one Saturday morning from Skokie to pick up a holiday cake and the date was December 24, 1983. Coming here for special occasion cakes was routine for us as mentioned, but if you look up this date, you will find that it is Chicago's coldest day on record, and yes it was exactly -25F when I drove here for cake. The morale of the story - when you're young and stupid, you don't let things get in the way of your holiday, lol! And Lutz didn't disappoint either. ps - Lutz doesn't honor the Yelp check-in offer of a Cubs sugar cookie anymore. The attendant said they have removed that offer several times, but Yelp keeps putting it back lol. He did give me a little bag of 4 sugar cookies though as a gift. Thank you Lutz for providing north siders with premium quality products all these years! And despite the distance, we've just added you back into our celebration cake rotation!

We make the hour long trip from the west suburbs to Lutz for their amazing cakes, but mostly for their Napoleon cake/slices. First few times trying their napoleon was truly special and well made, crispy wafer and with delicious filling.

Came here after we got pizza at Spacca Napoli and boy were we in for a treat!! We came almost close to closing time and even then, the person who helped us with our selection was soooo patient and friendly!! I'm sad I don't remember his name but he did such a great job. We ended up getting the Marzipan cake and a chocolate cake with apricot filling. Both were so delicious, literally dreaming of when I can come back and get these cakes again. The marzipan cake is probably the best cake I've had in my whole life. We will definitely be coming back!

I highly recommend Lutz's cakes. For my birthday, I don't like buying a whole cake, since I don't want that much, but Lutz sells cake by the slice, which solves that problem. Better yet, if you're an indecisive b*tch like me, you can pick a slice from more than one cake instead of only being able to eat one type of cake. It's the sh*t. I have yet to get bad cake from them, and I'm a fan of their Sachertorte. The chocolate is glorious and the apricot preserves in the middle are perfect. I've had Sachertorte from a few other bakeries in the Chicagoland area and Lutz is my favorite. I also tried their hazelnut mousse cake and I was shocked at how even the mousse part tastes like hazelnut! Huge fan I got the cake slices delivered so the pics aren't as pretty as normal, but still just as delicious!

I used to think this was the most charming place to bring a special guest. Today I realized that we were nearby with our 2 granddaughters who were suddenly and predictably hungry after ice skating. I was sorry to discover the restaurant part is closed, for good apparently. The white tablecloths and all the niceties that went along with the experience are gone. Just 4 tiny tables sharing space with the backs of people in the line. Paper cups and plastic forks. Jeez! I suppose the pastry is good as ever, but it was hard to taste through the bitterness of disappointment.

Spent about $50. Some items were dried out, some were much too sweet. Some had odd tastes. I bought a bag of coffee and frankly, it's not very good tasting. Nothing like the bakeries from the 60's and 70's. Some may love this place, but it's just not for me. very disappointed.

I usually love supporting small businesses who have been around for decades. However, the clerk irked me in the wrong way. The time this youngish curly haired lady spent correcting me with no greeting made my trip brief. Hence, I walked out of the door with only one item rather than a sampling of their goods. I had the strawberry cream cake, not the "strawberry shortcake", which people post about. Yes it was good but my dear, I've had better. It is light with sponge cake layers. I am not one for too sweet but this one could have used more. The strawberries weren't in their prime and the filling could be more jammy. Priced right. No parking lot. Aldi is across the street.

I stopped in today because I wanted to get some cake for dessert, and thought of the delicious strawberry whipped cream cake here. And it's been at least 7-10 years since I've been to Lutz so I thing out if stop in. They didn't have any of the cake, unfortunately. It was about an hour before close so I can see how that makes sense. Although when I was paying I saw a bunch in the cooler toward the north side of the building?... maybe those were orders, who knows. Anyway I got a slice of Black Forest cake and chocolate mousse cake. The Black Forest was well liked by the person I bought it for, so that's great. The chocolate mousse, though... it was disappointing. I also would have preferred a more chocolate-y flavor. I would probably not get it again.

Lutz has an amazing assortment of incredible cakes, mostly sold by slice. They are always friendly and efficient. Brandon is an amazing young man who always greets with a smile and personable service. My favorite cake is Marsapan. It is an amazing cake and it is decadent. I am so glad they are still in business after such a difficult pandemic.

Was in the neighborhood today and needed to travel back into time and step into a shop that I have not set foot in for almost 30 years. Nostalgia at its finest, this bakery, established in 1941, is still serving classic treats and pastries, custom cakes and cookies, the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Sharing some of their favorites, they even offered us a free sample of the turtle cookie to try. Not too sweet and the perfect bite to satisfy your craving. Take a drive or if you are local, stop in and treat yourself to something special!

I picked up a chocolate ganache cake for my sister's birthday. I ordered it well in advance of the 48 hours notice for special cakes. I was very disappointed in the appearance of the cake. This cake was for a special occasion and did not live up to that standard. It did not have the rose decoration that is shown on the website and the writing on the cake was not very attractive and looked like it was done at the last minute, not like something that had been ordered well in advance. I was also disappointed in the service that I received. I set a pick up time of 5 pm so that the person picking up the cake for me around 7 pm would not have to spend any time waiting for the cake. I know that your shop closes at 8 pm. Someone from your bakery called me at 7 pm to ask if someone was coming to pick up the cake. I assured them that someone was on the way to get the cake and would be there soon. However, when my brother in law arrived at the bakery shortly after that the cake was not ready for him and he had to wait some time for it. He said that it looked like you were still finishing the cake. I feel that I did not get the special cake that was advertised on your website.

Great service and amazing bakery items! Very cool inside and so many wonderful options in a beautiful display.

Nice bakery and nice pastries/cakes but be aware they do not honor the Yelp check in free sugar cookie. I had told my grandson he would get a free cookie but it was not to be--he did get a cookie that I ended up paying for along with the cake we came to get and the cookie was delicious but know that the yelp check in offer is not honored.

The cakes are still a draw although a lot of the finesse -- the delicateness and refinement -- of fine European pastry has diminished. Sometimes the cakes seem stodgy and clunky. In its early days, I would walk in and the confections would transport me to Germany. Now it feels like a midwestern bakery that makes lovely looking European-style cakes. It feels like the bakery counter at Whole Foods. Also, I wish that it still offered coffee service. That was a nice treat.

Their cheesecake is amazing, every time I have an event I want to take something I always get a cheesecake, it's always a hit. The chocolate chip has chocolate covered strawberries on top!

Great little German bakery with various pastries and cakes that've been fresh every time I've gone. My favorites are the apple strudel and black forest cake. Coming from someone who used to live in Germany, they're (really close to) the real deal. The chocolate ganache cake is also a winner. Highly recommend!

11/11/20 - I went to Lutz Bakery to pick up a cake for my Aunts 96th birthday. As I mentioned before Lutz is consistently one of the best bakeries that I have been to. It's become a family go to. My aunt is very particular about her food. I guess at her age you have developed certain tastes. As before we ordered a yellow cake w/whipped cream & strawberries as that is her preferred choice. I have to say that it is delicious. Well of course I had to get myself something. I got a dark chocolate croissant. I have to say this was probably the best one I ever had. The dark chocolate was very rich and the croissant had a light crispy flakey crust. Ohhh I savored that croissant and as I ate it I was thinking I should have bought 2 of them. Oh well next time. Try Lutz's Bakery I don't think you will be disappointed. They aren't the cheapest but they certainly are one of the best (completely unbiased of course)

It's been years since I've been to Lutz's Bakery and it didn't disappoint. We started with each a slice of their Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake. It was full of fresh strawberries and tasty whipped cream. We had their house coffee with the cake. There are only 3 2-chaired tables inside the bakery, no outdoor cafe for obvious reasons.

A friend brought me to this marvelous pastry shop after picking me up at O'hare. The iced latte and pastries were exactly what I needed after traveling from Texas. Howard, the owner, was charming, friendly, and generous. He shared how the pastries were meticulously created. Everything we tasted was phenomenal! We went home with many boxes. I'll definitely stop back in before returning home. Lutz's is a new must stop for my future Chicago visits.

Simply the best!!! . My family has been buying cakes since early 90's . We come all the way from the south side , just for their cakes!!!!!

Amazing cafe! The items are always fresh, there hasn't been a time that I got anything that was not fresh. If you looking for light desserts I recommended coming here. The strawberry cake and the chocolate cake are light in sweetness and flovor when I tried chocolate I was shocked to how it taste, normal chocolate not my favorite but Lutz. Chocolate cake is like moose .

Had a late(ish) night craving for some cheesecake and saw that this bakery was opened until 9pm so we had to stop in! The staff was so sweet and there were so many options even while nearing closing time. Really cute place and the desserts were great!

Prices are ridiculous!!Was there on 5/13/23 Quality is not there any longer! Bought ONE vanilla cupcake/raspberry frosting for FIVE DOLLARS!! and it was terrible!! DRY and the frosting tasted like it had alot of artificial crap in it!!! Never again!!!!!

I've been getting birthday cakes from here for the past couple years and every time I tell myself I'll pre-order a cake instead of just going in the day of to pick one. Luckily for me, Lutz always has a good selection of pre-made cakes so I can pop in easily, pick one, and go. I've tried many varieties of cakes and they're all delicious. My favorite is the mocha one. I don't know the actual name of it but it's really delicious. Reminds me a tiramisu cake.

Very nice place. Apparently a staple here in Chicago. Came with my good friend Mary how is from Chicago and it was a birthday tradition to receive Lutz cakes. She was elated to be here. Glad I got to experience it with her and her husband, Nate. Can't wait to get back to Indianapolis and try out all of the goodies I purchased.

Place never fails on the pastries! My go to whenever I'm in the area for sure. This place has been here for a long time. I do miss the lunch menu though.

SERIOUSLY DELICIOUS! You must try the raspberry lemon cupcake, fruit tart, and mandarin orange roll. My boyfriend and I just DoorDashed on a whim and everything was AMAZING! I headed right to yelp to show my appreciation. You will not be disappointed!! They have wonderful bakers here!

The workers were so nice and everything looked so delicious. Such an inviting place. I will definitely be coming back for my holiday pastry needs

This bakery has very good cakes and pastries to take home. They also have a small cafe area with coffee, which is nice if you want to buy coffee and taste things before buying a take home cake or other treats.

The orange roll is AMAZING. I tried 4 cakes and none of them disappointed. I love this place

I ordered a golf themed 10 inch German chocolate cake for my brother's birthday. I was very happy with the decoration considering the price was super reasonable. The cake was three layers with two generous layers of German chocolate filling. It tasted fantastic just as you'd expect from Lutz and all the guests raved. Thank you so much!

Tasty tasty pastries! And very friendly staff. Unique desserts that you will not see in other bakeries. Super grateful I stopped by for a box of sweet treats!

I was amazed to find that Lutz Bakery still makes old world German Baumkuchen. It is the only place in the USA that makes an authentic version. I have been looking for years and when it arrived and I tasted it, I went straight to my aunt's kitchen or the rare Cafe in Vienna. It was incredible and just as I remember it. Thank you for keeping this recipe alive. Just spectacular.

This bakery has been around for years . We've always gone here for birthday cakes and pastries. Some of my favorite selections include the turtle cookies and the strawberry whipped cream cake. This is our family go to bakery every time and it never disappoints.

This bakery is amazing and understandably why it makes one of Chicago's best! We drove from Indiana to this bakery just to try it out and we had no regrets. We tried their donuts (not a very large selection) but what we tried were a cinnamon and a strawberry Boston cream and they may be some of the best donuts we ever tried. As for their cakes, down rite amazing! ~Well worth the trip!

Picked up an adorable and delicious pumpkin cheesecake from Lutz! We all loved it! Perfect fall party treat!

Probably the best overall legacy bakery on Chicago's North Side now that the Swedish Bakery is closed. Perfectly executed sponges, chocolate ganache cake that's not too sweet and toweringly tall. A wonderful gift or party addition. Their marzipan items are really worth trying, as are their strudels. A must-visit for those near the Lincoln Square area, but it's a bit of a walk from the train.

Thank you Lutz's for the beautiful complimentary Anniversary cake you provided for my son and his wife! It was visually stunning! The wedding cake was so delicious, we knew this would be outstanding also! Here's to many more years offering your delectable treats !

I ordered a 10" black-forest cake and the chocolate cream was hard As a rock and crumbly !! When you charge $60 for a cake it better be fresh not out of the freezer so disappointed we're been ordering cake from lutz Bakeary go over 20 years. It's time to find another bakery for us.

The pastries from here were interesting and very diverse! The mandarían roll was incredibly soft and creamy. It had subtle flavors and wasn't too sweet. The carrot cake cupcake was my favorite. The cream was so tasty and sweet and the cake part was moist and thick. The moca moose cake had a strong coffee flavor that was too overpowering for me. Overall, definitely a quality bakeshop!

It was hard to rate this place... service, is underwhelming but even bad service shouldn't take away from the quality of the product. We dined in for dessert to wait for traffic to pass. As for esthetics... it's kinda dark and old looking inside. I guess product 5, service and dining experience a 3... Strawberry whip cream... amazing and consistent threw the years. I haven't been here in a long time but theirs is probably one of the best. Chocolate ganache... delicious and sweet. Chocolate mouse cupcake, sweet and moist! If we come back, it would be picking up our cakes to go...

Been here many times over the last 25 years and can't believe we hadn't yet reviewed it. Since we have been going for so many years, we think we have watched the management/ownership change a few times - and you can notice the change but it is still a neat place. We used to sit either in the little restaurant on the side or in the outside garden and enjoy a cup of their Viennese coffee service (5 star stuff) with a pastry from out front - like a slice of Hazelnut Torte (my 5 star favorite with delicate layers and a light Hazelnut creme) or a Napoleon. Always a relaxing event. The pastry shop out front is really very nice. Having watched the neighborhood change over the years and the pastry shop with it, they have done a nice job just staying in business. Now this is a pastry shop and not really a bakery ... and there is a difference. This really isn't the kind of place you visit to get 2 loaves of bread and a glazed doughnut - they don't really specialize in those kind of bakery goods. Rather, if you are looking for a slice of a Hazelnut Torte or some brownies or some delicate cookies - this is your place. This is an old-world German/Austrian kind of pastry shop and their tortes and cakes are very nice. Our favorite always was the Pressburger - sort of an Austrian/Slovakian almond crescent kind of thing ... but that description doesn't do the delicacy any justice. The Pressburger is from the former Pressburg - current day Bratislava, Slovakia ... which is hard by the countries of Austria and Hungary. This pastry can be filled with walnut, poppy seed, almond paste and a host of other divine tastes. Today at Lutz's - since the preparation is so time consuming - you can only get the Pressburgers if you order ahead of time ... but do so someday so you can taste a European delight. Give Lutz's a try.

This cute bakery is on the Montrose avenue right opposite Aldi. We walked in close to their closing time(7pm) wanting to eat cake and we weren't disappointed! My husband and I ordered their chocolate mousse cake and red velvet cupcake. Both of them were fresh , tasty and perfect! Not too sweet, just the way we like it. They have friendly staff . They offer a variety of celebration cakes, pastries and savouries . I'd love to go back and try their other varieties soon! When the sugar craving kicks in I'd rather run here and get a slice of cake than buy a whole cake from any of the supermarkets that were made God knows when with a ton of preservatives!

Hey their pastries are awesome! As a child I remember going to the cafe, it was so fancy and always packed back then. Lutz in it's heyday was the place to go. They've managed to stay in business for so long too considering seeing treasured bakeries and restaurants close down. The reason for my 2-star review is being charged $1.35 for writing on a cake when I said I did not want any. It wasn't until I got home and I took the receipt out of the bag that I saw the charge. It could have been an honest mistake on their part or not. I hope Lutz sees this review so it doesn't happen again. I had a craving for their strawberry whipped cream cake which is their best one. My birthday was in July and I never got a cake. Let this not deter you from going there, just check your order and your receipts twice. The rest of their pastries are wonderful. I was especially enamored with their Vanilla Dulce tiramisu-type cake. Not sure of the name but for me, it's a tasty alternate of tiramisu.

I frequent this place a lot - I'm a cake lover. I live very close and this place calls my name every month or so. They offer custom cakes, individual serving pieces, pre-made cakes, chocolates, cookies, coffee and much more. The cakes are decadent and very rich. I would give them a five star rating based on flavor alone. I am reduced to give them a 4 star (I am really trying to be fair) because their customer service is lacking. Not every time, but more often than not, the staff always seem a little unhappy that a customer has arrived and seem to show annoyance if you have questions or need a minute to make a decision. That being said, don't let that hold you back from trying these wonderful cakes!!!

Ordered on DoorDash and picked it up in the store. The cake is very good and deserves five stars. Lutz cakes have been my family's all time favorites. We like their marzipans too. My reasons to be hesitant for going in again have to do with my prior experience of having to figure out some icons on the website that does not work properly at the time of trying to place an online order and inconvenient parking near the store.

Decent but not worth what they charge for in my opinion... just too expensive for what you get and their backed goods are average good... service is below average ... not necessarily good experience. May be I will go their in a pinch but won't intentionally seek them out.

Just love this bakery. They have the best cakes made with real butter, some swedish style. I just love everything about it including the family business and their old fashioned owner. The marzipan torte is Rich and scrumptious beyond belief. My personal favorite is the lemon torte with butter cream coated with a rich chocolate covering on the ends. Jus decadent beyond belief.

Great customer care and delicious birthday cake! Their pastry showcases make you feel like a kid in a candy store. Need I say more .