Megan's Remarks:
On Saturday, we ventured to Dinkel's Bakery, an adorable bakery that has been warming the hearts and bellies of Lakeview Chicagoans since 1922. Dinkel's is known for its old-fashioned donuts, cakes, and extremely friendly staff, so naturally Caitlin and I had to check it out.
The exterior is that of a classic bakery and immediately draws you in. When we first walked in, it was extremely busy with families coming in to place their orders for Paczki Day and get their weekly Saturday morning donuts. I definitely got the vibe that the majority of the people in the bakery are regulars, and one woman even gave Caitlin and I some suggestions while we were waiting in line. "Now that you've come here once, you're going to be hooked! There's no turning back now!"
The display case wrapped around the shop and was filled with enough delightful treats to satisfy even the sweetest of teeth. I was tempted by the cannolis and chocolate chip cookies, but I ultimately decided to get an old-fashioned sour cream donut and Dinkel's homemade hot chocolate. Because of my Polish heritage, I should note that I do feel guilty for not ordering paczki, especially so close to Paczki Day! However, despite the fact that I am obsessed with food and will pretty much eat anything and everything I possibly can, I'm not actually the biggest fan of jelly-filled or cream filled donuts. The old-fashioned donut on the other hand...that is something I will never turn down.
The hot chocolate was rich and creamy. You could definitely tell that it was homemade and not from a box of powder. The only thing that would have topped it off nicely is some whipped cream! The sour cream donut was by far one of the best donuts I have ever had. The cake was hearty but not too dense and there was the perfect amount of sour cream glaze to make it sweet but not overpowering. For those of you who like to dunk your donuts in your coffee, this would be the perfect contender. It was so good that I finished the entire thing while Caitlin was waiting for her breakfast sandwich in the cafe section! Also, as a college student I have to give a shout out to the fact that this donut was only $1.11. Most city bakeries would charge at least $2.50 for a donut of this size and quality, so it's a miracle that I didn't buy two dozen of them! All in all, Dinkel's was an extremely delicious and charming experience, and the woman who we spoke to in line was right: I'm hooked. -Megan
Veggie Baker's Sunrise, Yezzzz paaleeaase
Caitlin Comments:
Megan told me about Dinkel's and it's history, from there I knew we had to go. After we grabbed our numbers to be called we anxiously waited to put in our orders. Thank goodness for the heaping pile of their famous chocolate chip butter cookies which Megan and I inhaled, they were so delicious. Not only could you tell they used quality chocolate but man, those little guys, packed a ton on flavor! Not the chewy-gooey kind of cookie but needless to say it was one the would make you want to eat at least a dozen. The cute older women at the counter was very sweet and helped me decide on what to order. Having heard that they just recently added breakfast sandwiches to their menu I could not resist. I ordered the Veggie Baker's Sunrise. Unfortunately I inhaled it to fast to snap a picture, but I kid you not it looked exactly like the picture in this article taken by TimeOut Magazine. The Veggie Baker's Sunrise is made with avocado, scrambled eggs, spinach, cheddar cheese, and pesto smeared on their house-made root bread. These ingredients worked together perfectly, but the real highlight was the root bread. It was hot and slightly toasted from the panini press with a fluffy inside that was the perfect thinness to soak up the herby pesto and melting cheddar cheese. O yeah and it's only $5.49! A steal for the quality of the food.
Also, how could I forget the service. Waiting at the sandwich prep station, which is open to the public so you can see the kind gentlemen prepare your sandwich, one of those kind gentlemen behind the bar greeted me and asked me about my experience at Dinkel's. Having told him it was my first time in, he told me about their passion for local ingredients as well as his own passion for the food industry. Catching his excitement similar to mine about food, I told him the Megan and I were thinking about starting a blog and sure enough, he recommended what he called a "foodie-hotspot" known as Chilam Balam. (You can count on a blog post from Megan and I soon about our experience once we dine there!)
Megan and Caitlin's Overall Review of Dinkel's Bakery:
Atmosphere: 5/5 stars
The ambience at Dinkel's is charming and family friendly. Even though it was very busy, everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming.
Service: 5/5 stars
All of the employees that we spoke to were extremely friendly and welcoming, especially since this was our first trip to Dinkel's. One of them even recommended another restaurant for us to blog about!
Food: 5/5 stars
From our experience, both their pastries and deli sandwiches are positively divine. You can't seem to go wrong with anything on the menu...but good luck picking from the vast selection!
Pricing: $
This place is extremely college-budget friendly, with better donut and cafe sandwich prices than you see at most bakeries.
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