I got these cupcakes as a birthday gift back in July. The assortment is gorgeous. The variety of cupcakes they offer and flavors are amazing. It was super hard to pick which one to eat.update: Just went this past weekend and wow. The breakfast was amazing. The chilaquiles were so good. I was not expecting that since they are known for pastries. Highly recommend.
I just visited this bakery today 10/31/21 I was craving to eat cake but being in Oak Park in late afternoon I was looking for an open bakery and I found this one. The guy behind the counter was not very friendly or welcoming. The usual Hello, How can I help you? in a friendly voice did not happen to me. Your cupcakes are cute and delicious, I loved them! I would give a 5 star but customer service was lacking. I explained to him This is my first time in this bakery I asked for a menu to take, and he showed me the ones that are laminated. I said, No I mean the one menu you can take he said No, we dont have those but he said it in such unfriendly voice.While he was fixing the cupcakes I was able to read the story of the bakery and I thought to myself, all that sacrifice you went through to open up a bakery and to have such sad people behind the counter doesnt match. To me, bakeries are a happy place to go to, just like Ice cream parlors; colorful, happy, and people should be friendly. You make us happy with your beautiful creations but obviously that is not enough, we need to feel welcomed, and I did not have that feeling. I am not sure if I am going back but I just thought of letting you know my own experience. Thank you.
First time going. Im not going to lie. I ended up going here because Ihop was too crowded. I wanted French toast so badly and found it here at Courageous. The was so good. Its a very nice colorful setting there. I liked every bit of that place. I ordered Apple juice & Cinnamon roll french toast with bananas. I will definitely be back here. Thank you Courageous for the Awesome Service and Food ✊🏾
Such a cute shop! There are gluten-free options for cupcakes and the lattes are SOOOO delicious! You can find street parking close by and enjoy surrounding shops and restaurants. The shop is very clean and decorative, and you can sit along the window and just watch outside and relax. This is very fun yet relaxing place to visit, as well as super yummy!
Very spacious and open light with great seating options: a large variety of seating whether its small two person tables, a booth, bigger round tables, or window bar seat. Very comfortable atmosphere, friendly staff. I got a mocha and it as delicious and not too expensive ($4). Was a great experience, and its open late unlike a lot of other cafes on Lake ST!
We were in the area for a conference and wanted to try a local restaurant for brunch. We almost gave up because parking was a challenge, but we persevered. We were not disappointed. The food was excellent. The atmosphere was light and festive. Service was decent. We especially liked learning the story of the sisters who established the restaurant (its posted as a comic strip story near the bathrooms). I dont know if well be back in this area, but if we are well make it a point to stop here again.
I ordered cupcakes a day in advance for a party. I Called in the morning to confirm and set pick up time. The order wasn’t ready when I arrived. After about ten minutes of running around trying to find it, I learned the ticket for the order hadn’t ever been printed out. They are now shoving random cupcakes in a bag, which isn’t going to be easy to carry, or easy to present at the birthday party to which I’m headed—late, because of this setback.24 cupcakes for $70 from a store featured on tv, and this is the presentation.Unlikely to return or tell my friends.
Well curated, locally made pastry selection, always served courteously and efficiently. I will go back and you should consider doing the same. Cheers!
I absolutely love the cupcakes from here (I stop by almost weekly) and dislike I even have to write this review, but my rating/review is per my experience today at approx. 6:30P. While it is a VERY small amount of money, typically establishments honor prices as advertised. In my case, if mini cupcakes are in the display case advertised at $6.50, one would expect them to be $6.50 despite them ringing up at whatever price. Well, today’s cashier/server wouldn’t acknowledge the sign, stated the cupcakes are priced as they rung up on the register and thought it was best to overall dismiss me having pointed her in the direction of the display case with the “incorrect” price on the sign. It’s strictly the principle behind this which has me quite annoyed with the situation….Looks like I’ll be taking a break from getting my cupcakes.*Update* In response to the Owner: As I stated above, It is not about the dollar value, but about the principle - how your employee responded and her actions, the conversation with the adult employee present/ her dismissal of my statement too, etc..
Delicious breakfast sandwiches and sweet treats! Our server, Cassidy, was awesome too! Very kind and prompt service. My husband and I can’t wait to come back!
Such a cute find. Started bringing family there and trying different items on the menu - breakfast, different coffees and the cupcakes. Oh, those cupcakes. Good stuff.
I have been here two times and had great service both visits. The food is good and the people friendly. Maybe not the speediest but tasty when it arrives. A nice selection of breakfast and sandwiches. We will return for sure.
Tasty treats, breakfast and lunch. However, theres a long wait to receive your order.
Broo, no cap no cap, best pancakes and maple bacon I have ever had in my life, to this day! The French toast is also divine!
I used to love this place! Obviously, the pandemic has changed everything with staffing, etc., however, if orders can’t be produced timely and correctly they shouldn’t be served. Ordered takeout this morning with a “ready” time of 8:10a; my husband (who didn’t want to sit inside -hence, the takeout) waited until 8:35a for our order. Upon returning home, not only was our food cold, but the order was wrong. A sad ending to my patronage. Best of luck.
Last summer when restrictions started to lighten, we began having weekly outdoor brunch dates at courageous. Like most people we were so nervous and cautious about being out in public. The Oak Park farmers market and Courageous quickly became the highlight of our week. The staff is phenomenal! Even when the cafe was crazy busy with take outs/ pick up orders, they go above and beyond to make everyone feel seen. The savory menu options are delicious. We enjoy that the food is simple, healthy and super customizable. Picky eaters are very welcome here! 🙂The bakery items are amazing too. Everything tastes like it is made from scratch and with love.
I was looking for a charming place with tasty food. I was mislead by the reviews. Came in before brunch time I ordered the biscuits and gravy and the moment my plate arrive I knew it wasn’t going to be good. Sloppy serving and the taste of it was just awful. The biscuits were extremely dry.First and last time here. I do not recommend at all. My daughter had the kiddie combo and even the most simple breakfast plate they got wrong. Make yourself a favor and look somewhere else.
I love this place; it’s very down to earth. The staff is friendly and the food is really good. I brought one of my close friends (her first time), and she loves it too! Cassidy was our main server and was so friendly and kind!
Absolutely adorable & fabulous little spot w/ a delicious crossaint sandwich, tasty coffee & fantastic service! The waitress even went out of her way to make me a cafe mocha even though it wasnt on the menu. She was wonderful!!! In fact, all the gals that worked that day, were so welcoming & constantly checked in, while I was dining in!! You have won a regular customer. I look forward to trying their cupcakes on my next visit😁
We have to give a shout out to Cassidy!! Shes the sweetest, kindest, friendliest employee we have met in a long time. She kicks butt with service and always attentive! Shes a true blue customer service gal!!! Thanks again for a fabulous experience 🍪🍩
Good food, decent prices, along with a really nice wait staff and atmosphere. I like that it has the feel of a bakery but they are able to make other breakfast food too.
Cupcakes are delicious. Tried them for the first time last week and I have been thinking of them since. Cassidy was very helpful.
Great place to dine on a hot summer day. They have a welcoming atmosphere and a wide variety of great food. Always little long of a wait but 100% worth it. Would reccomend.
Food was good & plentiful but coffee was just ok. They seemed to be a bit understaffed. The poor girls were running around & they were quite busy. I bought some pasties for later so we will see how those are.
Cool place. Nice vibes. Good food and drink.
They have really good food and very friendly well manner waitress that work there
I really enjoyed the Lorraine egg and cheese croissant sandwich. I hope to go back soon.
You won’t find a place with friendlier staff. Any time I have had an issue with an order I just let them know and they make it right for me. Their cupcakes are so good and the restaurant is very cute. I am always happy when I get a chance to eat here.
Super friendly and welcoming staff! Each member offered a greeting when we entered! If we lived nearby, this would be a favorite place! Clean establishment, delicious coffee and bakery items.
Every cupcake I try becomes my new favorite
Saw this place on take out 25 page on fb decided to give it a try. The horchata coffee was amazing as for the food i ordered two orders of chilaquiles verdes and got chips with eggs, chicken and sore cream on top no salsa verde. Really disappointing since i was hoping to enjoy an amazing breakfast before work. Pretty disappointing.
Food is good if that’s the only criteria you’re interested in. Service was beyond slow and when our drinks finally did come, an entire medium hot chocolate was spilled all over my son and husband. After getting everyone cleaned up I went to the bathroom and that sealed the deal for me. Absolutely disgusting. Picture a gas station bathroom in the middle of nowhere. I’ve tried many times with Courageous but things have deteriorated beyond what I’m comfortable excusing anymore. Elmhurst location.
Chocolate hazelnut croissant was terrible. Maybe because it was in a plastic bag, but it was not flaky or light. It was oily for some reason. Gave 3 stars only because my cappuccino was ok. Charging $11 for coffee and awful croissant is insane.I probably should have tried something else, but now do not have much desire for it.
We hired Courageous Bakery & Cafe to cater our childs birthday party recently. They arrived as scheduled and was able to setup quickly. They were friendly to all our guests and answered any questions they had. Most of all, our guests loved their cupcakes. Chocolate pudding and Strawberry shortcake were the favorites. Not overly sweet and the cake was not dry at all.The little kids in the party loved the idea that they were able to order their own food from the truck. Overall, it was a fun experience and since it is 2020, this was a great way to have a party and remain socially distant.
The bakery is super cute and a very warm environment that is great for conversations with friends. The staff were friendly and helpful. The cupcake, scone, and tea that we ordered were all very good.
I was expecting a quality experience here but my drink was disappointing. The pastries were delicious but I was a little hesitant on their coffee but ordered anyways. First off, the server forgot to bring my cold brew to the table, so I had to go back in line and ask about it. But upon receiving it, it looked almost like an iced tea. Extremely watery. Probably not coming back for the coffee.
People and food are wonderful. Unfortunately due to under staffing, service was EXTREMELY slow. I understand the need for breaks but when youre super packed, NO ONE should be on a break. Especially at 10 AM
I ALWAYS enjoy the variety of non-typical lattes they have to offer. Pastries are also great as well.Fair in price for the area.Highly recommend, at lease once!
Great service and food! Easy gluten and dairy free options.
This is my second time ordering from Courageous Bakery and I am extremely fulfilled with my food. It’s tasty! Healthier than many other options and overall great service. I had a little issue with my order but the staff was very friendly and quick to respond. Highly recommend!
Best bakery and coffee shop in Chicago! Homeade syrups, breakfast sandwiches, waffles, pancakes, omelets, baked goods, cupcakes, and more! Their iced Americano was so smooth and fantastic. They had 3 different croissant options and we had the chocolate hazelnut and then also had the M & M cookie and maple bacon raised donut. Everything was fresh and homeade and the baristas were kind and fast making drinks and getting the orders. Plenty of seating available and free WiFi.
A great menu with great options, full of good things in each option. Fresh ingredients make all of their breakfast items delicious. Very courteous staff. Also great coffee.
Don’t know about the food but a friend of mine was looking for work and they had him come in to wash dishes for hours for free! Was supposed to be paid after the first hour but they never paid or gave a courtesy call to say anything;yea or nay... If they do that to every young semi naive person then they’d never have to wash a dish..., shady
My 1st time trying this cafe and bakery that opened up in Oak Park,IL (Did not know the 1st one is also in Elmhurst, IL) BUT I really liked their cupcakes. I had ordered a French Silk cupcake and a Banana whip cream one and they are both absolutely delicious! I would come back here again and dine in for breakfast to try their other cuisines but to give your business credit come here for their sweet and wholesome cupcakes. I will be back again to dine in for breakfast to try it out! They also had free samples of their croissant bread which was Yummy! Especially the almond croissant! They are pricey but it is worth it at $4 a cupcake. Sure beats other places I went to in Chicago where I am from.
I love the chilaquiles!!!Crispy and golden to perfection. Must try salsa verde on the chilaquiles.
The Horchata latte is the bomb! My daughter loves this place, its our new spot for a quick pick me up! I would give this place 10 stars if I could. Well be back soon.
The chicken pesto sandwich was very good, the atmosphere and staff were quite nice. Will be coming back!
It was always good before the pandemic, and its still good now! Weve gotten takeout and delivery from here several times and the food was fresh, delicious, and our orders were correct. I love the variety on the menu, from breakfast to dessert. All the different cupcakes I tried were good and all the meals Ive had were good as well. I appreciate being able to customize the dishes (change the kind of bread, add turkey, etc.) I also appreciate the containers being eco-friendly and that the business helps a worthy cause.Update: just tried to order through their online system and it wouldnt go through. I tried several times. I called and they said the only option was pickup in that case, which I really didnt want. So I had to order through Door Dash, which was annoying.
The cashier was pretty clueless. I asked for the BLTA ( which is how it is listed on the menu) and she had no idea what I meant. After 2 tries, I finally said ‘ a sandwich with bacon, lettuce and tomato’ and she got it. Then I ordered a cold chai tea. It was clearly a coffee drink that I got. I got up and asked her if there was coffee in my drink. She said yes expresso! I asked her if there was always expresso in a chai tea? She read off the ingredients from a sheet and there was clearly no expresso listed. Who is on first?!?! I wanted to get pastries to take home later, but I was afraid I’d end up with an elephant or something so I didn’t bother.
Happiness abounds here.
Love love loved!Ordered the chilaquiles and they were fireeeeeee.Co workers were a little jealous and put in an order too! 😹
This is my absolute favorite bakery/cafe to order breakfast from. The food is always fresh and delicious!!! Will definitely continue ordering from this place.
Breakfast sandwich was greasy af!!! Not a lot of variety (who doesnt carry American cheese?).
One of my fav locations for delicious Breakfast. Cool place to meet and catch up with coworkers. Looking forward to coming back with my friends. Prices that are reasonable.
Slow service due to them hiring kids. Took me 45 minutes past my delivery time to get my order
Slightly disappointing desserts. Today I went it about 6 o’clock and picked up a Vanilla Bean cupcake and a sprinkle donut and both were very dry. You could tell both had probably been out for a while. The staff was very friendly, though.
One of my favorites places in Oak Park.
Good food and great staff!
Great food every time!
Dirty floors, dirty plates, dirty tables. How can a restaurant think its acceptable to carry itself this way?
Wow. You have to try their family style quiche! Delicious! We ordered the spinach and red pepper one for our Easter brunch at home and were so glad we did! It comes with two sides: a tasty salad with tomatoes and onions (comes with a side of dressing) and the sweetest, freshest fruit salad weve had since winter started. Thank you, Courageous Bakery for staying open during these tough times!
One of my favorite places for Breakfast. Food with real quality ingredients. Ill return with my relatives. The place has a nice atmosphere.
I did NOT realize this place had a full menu. I thought they were, well: a bakery. They have a ton of great breakfast options in addition to the magical cupcakes. Im not a huge fan of the coffee, but Ill try it a few more times before I condemn it completely.Its also a nice spot to bring your laptop and take advantage of the Wi-Fi.
Really nice. Great breakfast options. The Biscuits and gravy are is amazing. The gravy is a little more seasoned than I’m used to but it’s really good! Also the chi is to die for.
Their cup cakes are tasty and they guy was really sweet
Hours are incorrect online and on their door. I was ignored while at the door during listed hours. A worker saw me try to enter and just walked in back as I tried to get her attention. I called the number and no voicemails accepted, no answer. I just wanted some gift cards from a local Oak Park business. I guess Ill go somewhere more accessible.
A yummy breakfast and delicious coffee! The staff was friendly, helpful and patient. Still able to eat outside the day I was there.
This is my family’s new favorite breakfast spot! The food was absolutely delicious, especially their english muffins and croissants. Even the picky eater in my family was fan so we will definitely be ordering again soon.
Laura and the team are exceptional! The love and care they take to prepare their meals and bake goods is incredible. The French toast is deliciously decadent! This is my favorite bakery, if you’re ever in the area do yourself a huge favor and stop by for a great treat!
Im so happy to be close to such a cozy and adorable cafe and bakery. Courageous has a wide array of different pastries, all so tasty with my personal favorite being the croissants. Their breakfast and lunch menus are great too! Ive had an omelette and a breakfast sandwich and both where an excellent portion and very fairly priced. Tuna melt is also delicious. The best part of this cafe is the friendly staff and the interesting drink creations. The London Fog drink is amazing, its my go to every time Im there. I cant wait to try their cupcakes soon too, which come in a variety of flavors. This is a fantastic local eatery that I love to frequent, and its definitely worth a stop in.
They have the best cupcakes!!! Get the ones with the fillings!Great breakfast options too and good service. Indoor/outdoor sitting. Highly recommended!
Great coffee and even greater cupcakes. Cant speak on other things on the menu but did make a drive out there for cupcakes. I regret nothing.
Great cupcakes the peanut butter chocolate is my favorite
I was super excited to find some local (semi local for me) almond croissants, but because (I think) they are cellophane, both were soggy. I mean I could even pick it up and eat it, it had to stay on the plate. I was very disappointed.
Nice inside, feels welcoming and it looks great. The breakfast items we tried were Choripapa and their corned beef skillets. Nothing amazing but a really solid, filling, simple breakfast.When I ordered I specified I was gluten free, asked if I needed to say anything for the dish to be prepared gluten free and was informed it was automatically, no need to specify. She didn’t seem too concerned with this and if it was an allergy. When she food was brought out it was brought with a piece of bread. I asked if this was gluten free, they said it was not gluten free and removed it with their hand after my dish was placed on table. If you have a serious gluten sensitivity I would be careful here.I asked for the coffee ‘for here’ assuming I would receive a ceramic coffee cup and was served with a disposable paper to-go cup.
Great place right in the center of Elmhurst. Great food and coffee. Super parking also. Go theRe all the time!
Carbs, delicious carbs
The wait was an hour longer than it was supposed to be. Food was decent.
Great place!
Most recent experience was extremely speedy, safe, and clean! Thanks for keeping us all healthy and well fed. :)
What a joyful bakery. They had a good selection of cupcakes- I tried the coconut and the french silk pie, and both were excellent. They also have a nice selection of coffee and espresso drinks, and a pretty big menu of sandwiches and other pastries. The atmosphere was so cute and fun. Very positive vibes!
