Howard L.
Yelp
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!