Red Hen Bread

I like this shop but stopped coming in due to their high prices. I wish their lunch options were more affordable for a salad or sandwich. The dining space is a little cold and not too comfortable and can be hard to do work here. It is better for a more casual meeting with a friend or business partner. Of all things here though, I recommend the soups which are a good price and can be taken to go with some of their bread.

This is a quaint little cafe serving mostly sandwiches and some salads. The sandwiches are all made to order, to you can be sure that everything is really fresh, piping hot when you get it. The menu is not vast, but they do have a good selection. I really like the fact that they also have a wide selection of artisan breads that you can choose to go with your sandwich. The food is really tasty, a little on the pricey side though. I love the bar seats by the windows, where you can just watch the world go by. A great way to spend a Saturday afternoon with a good book.

Went for a quick lunch. They gave my order to somebody. I got the "new veggie" sandwich - sounded good. Unfortunately, it was nothing great. Bread was very hard ( at least a day old). When they finally gave my order, they mentioned that they were throwing in the chips to make up for the mistake. But...I had paid for the chips. Great location. Need to improve quality and service.

A great little cafe that I am sad to learn is closing on February 17th, 2017. I have always enjoyed their coffees and baked goods (especially the cookies!) They had good soups and decent sandwiches. It really felt like a little community spot, with all the local artwork from nearby schools and such. I will miss you, Red Hen!

It was a pleasant surprise, clean, bright, friendly staff, nice street view of the park. I had the Med Veg sandwich & it was a million times better than Panera & near the same price. I may never go to Panera again. It would be even better if the chairs had cushions to comfort the derriere.

I just had the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had! The egg is baked it's thick and just so freaking good, the ham is great the bread is perfect for it. U really have to try it to know what I'm talking about!

Very nice little coffee and sandwich shop. Food is top notch. Service is good, not great. Highly recommend over chains.

Strong WiFi, delicious ice brewed coffee, and delectable brownies. Bright and spacious with good views of the park across the street.

Just stopped at this place and had a Horchata loca latte, it tasted great, especially on a cold winter day. It wasn't that busy on Sunday and it was easy to find a comfortable spot to sit for a while 剛好在這個地方停ㄧ下， 喝杯Horchata loca拿鐵，味道很好，尤其是在寒冷的冬日。 週日沒那麼忙，很容易找到一個舒適的地方坐一會兒。

Placed orders here in the past & made a note to substitute bacon for poultry sausage since I don't eat pork. A manager told me that substituting isn't a problem just make a note in the comments. So this particular day I do just that, arrived before my order was ready & spoke to a staff member. I asked about my order & reminded them of the substitution to poultry sausage. He acknowledged the change & i waited for my order. A few minutes later a lady sat my bag on the shelf & walked away. I later found out she's an owner named Jordan Instead of her speaking to me, she wrote a note on the receipt that she could not make the substitute. When I asked her why she wouldn't just talk to me since I literally just spoke to an employee. All she did was shrug her shoulders. She offered no apology but to replace the $5 side of bacon with avocado slices. When I asked why the manager told me it's no problem to substitute, Jordan shrugged her shoulders again So beware if you have any food allergies because with Jordan running things you may be poisoned.

Courageous Bakery & Cafe in Oak Park has a heartwarming origin story. It was started by sisters Laura Pekarik and Kathryn Chandler after Kathryn was diagnosed with cancer in 2010. While supporting her sister through treatment, Laura hosted bake sales to help raise money for medical bills. The cupcakes were such a hit that they decided to turn their passion into a business. Laura expanded from a food truck into brick-and-mortar locations, eventually opening the Oak Park cafe in 2017. Today, their bakery continues to honor that courageous journey, offering a variety of pastries, sandwiches, and beverages. The inside of the cafe highlights drawings from local kids, and features an eclectic collection of kitsch. During my visit, I tried their pistachio croissant and Horchata Loca latte. The latte was decent, but the croissant stood out, although it was denser than expected, feeling more like a pastry than a classic flaky croissant. The croissant still offered enjoyable flavors, which made up for the texture. Overall, the cafe's story and its mission to provide comforting baked goods make it a special place in the community. If you're in the area, it's worth a visit for their pastries and the uplifting story behind the business!

Delicious ice cream made with real fruit! Options between dairy and non-dairy making dietary restrictions a little easier. You order through a pick up window outside but the line moves quick.

It's a cheerful cafeteria feel and the sandwich was delish potatoes were not greasy a little dry but tasty. Coffee was good I'll be back.

The ambience is warm and welcoming, the staff is quite friendly, and the food is delish. Their pastries are the high point. Their menu items are pretty good. I will be back for sure.

I did not feel like cooking breakfast this morning so I decided to order a breakfast burrito from here and it was delicious! The burrito was full of all the healthy good stuff. Scrambled eggs, red peppers, mixed greens, avocado and black beans all wrapped in a flour tortilla. The burrito came with a side of home fries (potatoes). You can get the salsas, the green one and orange one with a little kick and they both complement the burrito and add such flavor. I truly enjoyed it. It was the perfect size and quite filling, especially adding the side of potatoes. I've passed this bakery so many times and you notice it because it's so colorful and put you in the mind of an ice cream shop because the outside is so colorful. I want to try other items on the menu because their breakfast burrito was really good.

They had a lot of treats to choose from. I felt like their donuts were just okay. I think I like firecakes more because it's fluffier. The cupcakes are better than Magnolia's. Service is professional. There are tons of seats and it's a nice place to study or get some work done.

Um, beautiful food, beautiful decor, atmosphere, beautiful PEOPLE! Love. Delicious. I love being here.

Do not get their Oreo cake unless you want to be stalked by it day and night. I'm not a "sweets" person. Aside from that, sugar makes me feel bad and chocolate gives me migraines so I wasn't worried about having this cake in my house. We ordered it for my son's birthday and about 1/2 was left after the party. Well I discovered that the cake part is perfectly mildly sweet and that the cookies n cream layer of frosting perfectly balances the sweetness and was TO DIE FOR. I couldn't let this cake go from my thoughts! It was eyeing me every time I went into the kitchen and I slowly but surely ate so much of it and I'll say it again I DONT EVEN CARE FOR SWEETS. My husband was struggling too and we had to throw it away to release its control over us. Anyway we'll definitely be getting it again. It is SO GOOD

Plenty of metered parking on the street. Fun place, nice music and happy people working there. The food has lots of flavor and they are nice to substitute to some of the food as they are able as we're vegetarian. Everything is fresh and tastes homemade. All sorts of cupcake flavors and other delicious pastries. Fun space inside and nice outside seating, with fun music.

I tried a cupcake, which was good. The interior of the bakery was quite lively, and I definitely wish I could have tried something else. A good spot to grab something while exploring Oak Park!

I have to tell you these donuts look wonderful but this was so dry. I honestly can't believe that this was on display for sale... First time visit. Not a good impression

Located near downtown oak park stands this bakery & cafe. I'm not sure how to feel about the cafe portion of the establishment but I know the pastries from their bakery are phenomenal. My boyfriend and I ordered the Pepper & Egg croissant dish as well as the Breakfast Tacos dish. First and foremost, we need need need them to use the salt and pepper when cooking the meals. It was tasteless. We ate to eat but our stomachs departed dissatisfied. Whatever the sauce on the side was, we needed a huge batch of. When we have returned, we have only indulged in their pastries and beverages.

I am moving into the area soon and looked up bakeries and this place popped up and has great reviews. The curb appeal is adorable and kitschy, right up my alley. I ordered online, never tasted any of the bakery and did not disappoint, I ordered the birthday chocolate cake, moist and delicious with selection of cupcakes which were also very good. The staff were very friendly and helpful. I will definitely be coming back with friends. Thank you

Really loved this bakery for a quick breakfast before exploring the city. After arriving in Chicago from an early flight, the first thing I wanted to do was find some good food. A quick search led me to Courageous Bakery. They have a large selection of coffees, sandwiches and pastries. I decided on the Lorraine sandwich and it was very tasty! What I loved most was the thick, not too sweet cuts of bacon and the fresh croissant. So good! There is table seating and bar seating that faces a window. Since I was solo, I chose a seat at the bar that overlooked a park across the street. If you're a big fan, they have lots of merch available to purchase.

I've been here many times, as their Oaxacan latte is fantastic. We also ordered an iced Horchata Latte and a cupcake. The horchata latte was a disappointment. If it was a blind taste test, I wouldn't have known what the flavor was in the cup. We were given the cupcake in a to go container, the Horchata Latte was in a plastic to go cup, yet the Oaxacan Latte came in a large mug. We were never asked if the order was for here or to go. The cupcake was supplied to go, so why would 1 of our 3 items be served for dining in? It was odd, but since the server was so nice, I didn't say anything. The main reason for this review, however, is not that we were served a latte in a mug nor a special latte with no horchata flavor. The biggest thing by far is the lack of cleanliness. They have these lovely wire baskets that act as pendant light cages. They hang over the register, the counter, the food. The dust and dirt on them is totally disgusting. Does no one ever look up? They are completely covered in muck. How can they not drop dirt and dust particles on the pastries below, on the customers paying at the register, etc? One of the two restrooms also had a faucet handle broken off. There was no way to turn on water to wash hands. How are workers washing their hands? The bathroom floors in both restrooms are also not clean - looks like a wet mop just sloppily was swished around. The bathroom corners look like they haven't seen a scrub in ages. There is also a brass handle missing on the main entrance door - the bar itself is gone. Not a huge deal but on top of the rest, I wonder why maintenance is being ignored. I honestly do not think we would ever return. When I think about the wire baskets and their filth in such a close proximity to the pastries, it makes me wonder what the kitchen looks like.

If you're looking for a good gluten free cupcake option, Courageous Bakery is your go to! I was excited to see the many options they had for gluten-free and dairy-free eaters. I went with the pumpkin spice flavor and I was not at all disappointed. Pricing was great, anything under $5 for a gluten-free cupcake is fair game to me. Timing was perfect, I was in and out of the bakery in less than 3 minutes. They also have a reward program and I even got an email for a free cupcake after my first purchase. I will definitely be back at Courageous Bakery to try a new flavor!

We were in Oak Park for the weekend and went to this cafe for breakfast on Saturday morning. I failed to take any pictures, but I had the avocado toast and a dirty chai, and got an almond croissant to go. The coffee and toast were very good- their avocado toast is more like guacamole toast, but I liked it. I didn't get around to trying the almond croissant for two days, so can't give it a fair review. One of my kids got a cinnamon roll to go, and OMG, it was so freaking good, even the next day when she ate it.

We came in for cupcake desserts post lunch on 8/8/2023. I have been following Courageous Bakery since the owner, Ms. Pekarik, was a contestant in "Cupcake Wars" in the Food Network Channel. I got some cupcakes from their food truck before, but this is my first time in her brick-and-mortar store. +Cute, fun, happy ambiance! +Friendly staff +Dining room and bathrooms were clean +Cupcakes were delish! +Found out that they serve breakfast, too! I will return to get some breakfast with family and friends someday. +I am not vegan but to my vegan friends, they have options here for you! +Cupcakes were aptly priced at $3.95 each (give or take a few cents depending on flavor) Will definitely come back!

The food was good not spectacular but I loved the fact you can be in & out. They give you 4 mini donuts when dining in. The portion size is perfect and they're outlets for charging your devices. The condiments silverware togo containers are out so you don't have to wait for server.

This place is pretty good. The decor and set up is very inviting, it has outdoor seating, and they have seating areas with charging stations. Overall, it is very cozy. I loved their hasbrowns! They are very well seasoned. I decided to get the California omelets with the Texas French toast. Only take away from the meal is that the cheese had settled in the crease of the omelets so it missed the mark for me. If it isn't evenly spread, it means you get one side like cheesy bread (only its egg) while the rest of your omelets is just the add ins. Speaking of the add ins, there are a lot of cherry tomatoes in tbe omelet. I probably wouldn't have mind had the cheese been there to compliment it more but it just seemed like it over powered the omelets as a whole there were so many. One if the servers that manned the register seemed like she didn't want to be there. Randomly passed me strawberry filling eventhough i didnt ask for it.... *shrugs shoulders*. I wanted to order some pastries, but told me I couldn't order from her register since I wanted to order a dish as well. I was thrown off by her energy that I completely forgot to order my muffin and cinnamon roll smh. Fortunately, the other girl at the register was a lot more welcoming and light spirited. Either way, it's a really nice place. I love their story! Love tge overall vibe.

I was in Oak Park and cannot pass up a coffee shop. I have been to the location in Elmhurst and had a wonderful experience, but was a bit disappointed with this location. It was a Sunday afternoon and crowded! We waited longer than we expected to order, but staff were nice. We ordered two lattes and a cupcake. The cupcake was small and pre-packaged, I wondered if it was fresh! I had the Horchata Loca Latte and my husband had the White Chocolate Coconut. The Horchata lacked cinnamon and vanilla was bitter. The entire experience fell short.

The food here is worth the price. This is a place that we bring guest that visit from out of town. Though they are know for their cup cakes we enjoy their breakfast food. It is southern inspired and very dense. The sitting area is very decorative and inviting. When ordering we got a free sample of their donut holes which made our day. The service is always bubbly and welcoming.

( Sigh. The service is kind of snobby, but I grew up in Oak Park being bullied by people with that voice... so maybe it's a bias. After a terrible experience, Laura (owner) contacted me to make it right. I insisted that I did not require compensation, but she insisted and emailed a $10 gift e-card. ) Finding myself with some time to kill waiting to pickup my parents from a doctor visit, I decided to stop in and grab a few pieces of gluten-free cake. The gluten-free selection is limited to two items: carrot cake and banana bread. The woman at the counter told me that they are also available as cupcakes and also added that they never have anything else that is gluten-free. I ordered 4 pieces of carrot cake (dessert for our family) My mom was instantly disappointed by the absence of frosting. I quickly saved the day with the addition of cardamom tea. Mom: it's good! I can taste the carrots! Frosting would make it too sweet. Dad: see. I cut it like this and enjoy it! There it is... I will put up with a little snobbiness in order to have this carrot cake! Please make more gluten-free options! Thank you Laura! My parents are sold on your carrot cake.

small and cute, in a great area to walk around especially during the summer. the service is wonderful as it's quick and efficient, the food was wonderful, and they have a quick coffee bar which is self serve which is amazing.

I live close to Oak Park and always see this cute bakery so we stopped by on a rainy day for a few cupcakes. Staff was friendly and the options looked nice but two of the cupcakes were a little dry and lacked flavor. Would love to try some of the other things on the menu though! This experience was 5/10.

One of my fav breakfast spots in Oak Park! I got the Lorraine Sammie and it was a huge croissant breakfast sandwich, bigger than I was expecting! I opted to add a side salad which wasn't pictured and it honestly reminded me of one of my fav French breakfast's I've had in the past. My husband got the traditional breakfast plate which he said was extremely filling! Now if you don't get anything else here you must get the biscuits!!! They're made from scratch and are sooo fluffy! I could quite literally inhale 2 or 3 they are just that good! The bacon is great quality and not that cheap bacon some restaurants charge you and arm and a leg for. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable on the menu, they're quick to offer great recommendations. There's indoor and outdoor seating and quite a few window seats where you can come work and enjoy a snack or meal while admiring the neighborhood. 10/10 recommend if you're looking for a hearty, inexpensive meal!

Great food and service and we had a family reunion there sitting at the table! Deliscious food and bakery delights like nowhere else.

Went to get a cake for a special friend... the bakery is big on the corner of the street . I wasn't expecting to see only 4 inch cakes and cupcakes . The 4 inch cakes cost a bomb $18 before taxes for my purchase of cupcakes and the mini cake it was close to $40 . Whoever tried the cake like it. Maybe quality is better than quantity??

So I passed by here a couple time. Never thought I would go in. Finally I got the chance. Mentally I was thinking why I should have came here earlier. Walking in the cashier has amazing eye shadow and I just love his personality. He ask friendly tone if I was dinning in or take out. He was super friendly and his energy is through the roof. Btw his eye Oh My God! amazing colors love it. Sat down, the girl in the pink top. She is super nice and friendly and very caring. Cassiy the waiter, she is fantastic. I told her it's my first time here and she told me the horchata coffee is amazing. No doubt about it is. Get it. The chocolate croissant was amazing. I would definitely order this again. Overall everything is fantastic and amazing cafe. If your the north side and looking for a cafe. Come here. The vibe is the same, it has positive energy and it's come. It's a great spot to check it out. *It is Vegetarian Friendly*

We visited Courageous recently for a late weekday breakfast. It was pleasant, everything was OK. The dining room was bright and lively, a bit noisy. It's a fast casual place -- order at the counter and they deliver to your table. Staff was generally congenial & helpful. Our breakfast burritos were, as expected, hefty. Two people with moderate appetites could probably share one. Ingredients were fresh and healthy. A bit too tough to cut gracefully with a table knife, and rather messy as a hand-held. Coffee was OK, but not distinguished. My favorite thing was the complementary small dish of beignets -- fresh & delicious! I'm not much of a go-out-for-breakfast type, but I might stop in again some time to try other menu items.

Courageous Bakery & Cafe is a local, family-friendly cafe with a bright and colorful decor. The menu consisted of simple but beautifully plated breakfast/lunch dishes and a variety of pastries and drinks too. The Pepper & Egg breakfast sandwich came with fluffy scrambled eggs paired with charred red and poblano peppers and Chihuahua cheese. The peppers had a sweet and mildly spicy flavor, offset by the unctuousness of the gooey, chewy melted cheese. I got the sandwich on a buttermilk biscuit, which was soft and fluffy and had a slight twang from the buttermilk. I also tried the Gouda Turkey sandwich, a simple sandwich of juicy roasted turkey breast slices, greens, plum tomatoes, mustard, and melted Gouda cheese. Overall, the atmosphere here was great for a relaxed, casual meal, and the service was super friendly too!

Their breakfast and lunch menus are good, and the coffee is also pretty good, but their cupcakes are very dry. I have had their cakes before, and the cakes are good and moist, but overpriced.

Lunch, breakfast, or grabbing pastries you cant go wrong here. They have my friend addicted to the funfetti donuts

Ginger Snappy Latte was delicious and Cassidy is the best!!! Get you @ss to Courageous Bakery!

No birthday cake for my kid with allergies. Again. 4th birthday, no cake. Oh, you're turning 5? Also no cake for you! 2 years in a row, no Vegan birthday cake despite ordering in advance. As in, I placed an order in 2022 & 2023, got no cake. I think I got my $ back the 1st year & I didn't get a receipt this year, but it looks like I didn't get charged. 2 years in a row, yeah, not getting your child's bday cake you special ordered bc regular cake would *kill her*, it is more than a slight inconvenience. The manager even said it was their fault, even after I noticed a mistake that I could have made. She said she had a baker on hand, and could make me a cake in 2 hours. Then later I get home, they refuse to make the cake I ordered & she started calling me "Ma'am" all of a sudden. Anyway, I tried. 4 different times I tried this place. See you next year!

We love Courageous and order delivery from here regularly. However, the experience is poor when ordering through their website. Twice now, items have been missing from an order. There's no recourse. On both occasions I called the restaurant--which entails five minutes in a phone tree listening to ads--and eventually spoke to someone who assured me of a partial refund. No refund ever appeared and we were charged the original amount. Order from Courageous, their food and drinks are fantastic. But order through a delivery service.

Love this place. Great ambiance. Yummy drinks. Convenient location. Nice place to write and catch up with a friend.

The food is good, maybe a little greasy, but the drinks are overpriced and there are no refills.

Love the service, bakery goods, coffee and brunch. I'm a sucker for anything with their sprinkles. I even bought a bottle to have at home.

Lovely cafe in the heart of oak park. Came here on a Sunday afternoon and while, it was a steady busy, it was not overwhelming. They have a variety of menu items ranging from delicious looking pastries (hello cupcakes!!) to breakfast and lunch items. I ordered the Gouda turkey sandwich and it was divine! It also came out quite quickly. The decor inside is vibrant and welcoming, with the staff adding to the kind vibes. Would definitely love to be back!

Courageous Bakery was recommended by a friend while visiting Chicago. We had the Chilaquiles bowl and the Choripapa bowl. One way to describe it "Lots of flavors". The staff is super friendly and the coffee it's good. What's not to like. Overall I am really happy with my visit to Outrageous. Good jobs guys.

I have been enjoying breakfasts at Courageous for years. The past few months, I've been visiting Courageous once every week or two - it's a great place to grab breakfast and work for a few hours during the week! I order the veggie omelet with a few substitutions and it's always correct and arrives quickly and hot. The staff are always friendly and accommodating!

Love this cafe. The service is fantastic with friendly staff who have great suggestions and fun quirky atmosphere. I had an excellent lunch and ordered pastries to go that I can't wait to share. Definitely recommend.

I usually love this place, but I have to give the mI'd ranking for their recent addition of ice cream. I was excited to try it, but when I ordered the orange, the flavor wasn't great and there were orange seeds and large pieces of pulp in my ice cream. It tasted so bitter I had to throw it away. my husband's ordered strawberry and the woman couldnt make it properly. she gave us a half filled cone and the rest in a cup half melted and still not mixed properly. I wanted to leave a comment not to bash, but to hopefully encourage a better product, because it was not worth the price at all.

Delivered and delicious!... those cup cakes are top notch delicious, pancakes are fluffy, cinnamon roll was soft and perfectly frosted, sandwiches were numz, definitely nothing negative about this place!

This place was pretty good. A friend and I had breakfast and tried one of their specialty coffee drinks (Gingersnapppy Latte). I ordered the breakfast tacos with all types of substitutions. They got my order correct. The latte was different but tasty. I'm only bummed that I did to try any of the sweets. Next time I will.

I've visited Courageous a few times in the past year - mostly for take out, but also for a cupcake catering order. First of all, their cupcakes are delicious - I especially like the strawberry one which has the cutest little freeze dried strawberry on top, wonderful frosting and a surprise of some preserves in the middle. I bought about 20 of these over the summer for a party and everyone loved them. We've also ordered breakfast a few times - everything had been fresh and delicious and they even called to let me know once when the delivery person forgot our orange juice (delivery person was from another company just picking up)... not only did they alert me, but they also found the delivery person and sent him back with it. Breakfast and lunch is a treat - familiar favorites and some fun items. But definitely do not leave without trying a cupcake - as they are well worth the calories and since they save pretty well - you can also bring a few home!