Goddess and the Baker, 44 E Grand — Restaurant in Chicago

We wanted to like this place… but it was hard. The food was OK - but the atmosphere was like a competitive bus station. You walk in and order - they don’t let you go grab seats. After you order, you get a number - but it’s a number on a buzzer device - the kind most places give you when you go pick up your food. But it’s not that kind of buzzer. It’s so they can find you to bring your food to you - and they will yell at you if you walk around with it. (Dear restaurant - just get table signs with numbers.) If you are a party of 3 and sit at a table that has four chairs, they will tell you that you can’t sit there. They directed us to a large communal table that had spots open - but it was in front of a wide open window and door (I get that 50 degrees is warm in Chicago, but it’s not for everyone.) When we asked to not sit in the open window/door, we were greeted with something a lot like hostility - eventually they told us there was a table for two, but by the time we walked the 16 feet to get there, others facing the same situation had swooped in - no blame to the diners, but we were left like the last ones standing in a game of musical chairs. The staff tried to tell them they had to move, which was also awkward. It all felt weird and hunger games-y - the poor families with kids trying to stake out tables looked absolutely miserable. Eventually we were seated, huddling around a tiny table, and eventually the food came. My oatmeal was cold, there was no brown sugar, and the toast was cold, dry, and barely chewable. Coffee came without cream or sugar… we had to go ask for it, and were hand waved to the self-service station for takeaway and told to get packets and self-serve little things of cream. Cool, but then why not just give me the coffee in a paper cup instead of an elaborate carafe/wooden tray setup? Im not that picky - I’m really not. But I can’t remember the last time I felt quite so confused by and ordered-around in a restaurant. By trying to reinvent the service process/traffic flow, they’ve just made something awkward, loud and confrontational. Bright spots: chai was delicious and...

This place is a disorganized MESS. Avoid at all costs, except maybe for takeout.

The food was great. I ordered the smoked salmon plate with a bagel and it was really delicious!

I ordered a house coffee with my food. It didn’t come out with my food. I asked two different employees - one at the coffee bar and one walking around, 10 minutes apart - if they could help me with my coffee. They brushed me off and said “the coffee bar is backed up. I’m sure it’s coming.” All around me, other customers were given their coffee. But no coffee for me. Finally, I finished eating and took my buzzer back to the order counter and asked for a refund on the coffee. The cashier said, “oh…this was a cashier mistake. House coffee is self-serve so I guess the person who took your order forgot to give you a cup.” She then handed me a cup to self-serve coffee into, which was the missing link in my coffee equation. I’m writing this review as I finish the coffee and the coffee is mediocre.

Anyway, if they’d taken two seconds to actually try to listen and help me instead of brush me off, I could have gotten my coffee and they’d have gotten more stars from me.

They did not have enough tables for everyone, but they continued letting people order their food to stay. Their policy was “find a chair wherever you can.” As a solo diner, I was able to squeeze into a communal table with 3 or so other parties. Another customer dragged a window-counter chair to the waiting area and sat to wait for her takeout. She was rude to me when I asked her if I could use that seat to eat at the window counter per the chair’s original intent. They really need a better system for allocating...

This place is so neat! Love the vibe and the bright open clean environment. Friendly welcoming staff.... like super friendly....they werent even mean to the transient person trying to sell things to their patrons..... which is an uncomfortable situation to manage but they did it well .....

Started with a cold brew, black, very pleasant, not too acidic easy to drink and very refreshing. They partner with a local roastary and use a signature blend which is awesome and i love to see local business supporting one another. The baked goods display looked bountiful and my decision was not an easy one.

Feeling famished from a long night of drinking I decided on their breakfast sandwich which comes on a croissant. I got it to go and ate it while walking but had to stop every couple of steps just to acknowledge how tasty it was. Little bit of a kick but muted perfectly by the croissant and the egg and turkey bacon..... 10/10 would order again ....

I got an apricot filled croissant as well but was so full from the egg sammie I couldnt finish it.... the jam tasted nice but It was a little too sweet for my taste but I personally dont like sweet breakfast items so nothing against the pastry itself!! It was made perfectly and laminated beautifully.....

Will definitely be back to try more menu items next time I'm in town..... the bi color chocolate croissants are calling my name.

Loved this spot and the vibe, would recommend for lunch breakfast meetings coffee dates or even just a quick bite that you wont regret. I need to grab some swag...