pHlour Bakery & Cafe — Restaurant in Lake View Township

Service 0/5

I don’t write reviews, seriously. But I feel the need to warn others who might venture into this cute, modern bakery and coffee shop about the awful customer service. I first stopped in pHlour Bakery & Cafe a few years ago, just to see what they had and to support a local business, because why not! The process of ordering seemed odd, but our cashier was patient enough as we looked at their specific selections of coffee and breakfast. My husband and I decided to get coffee, which tasted weak, and a little watery, but we didn’t think much about it. The pastry was fine, a little dry. The second time we visited we were a little reluctant, but we were hopeful that our first visit was a fluke and that the coffee and food would be better. This time the food was better, but the service was awful. The cashier was rude and passive aggressive as we asked questions about some of the menu items. It was very off putting, but nothing to write a review about. Today I stopped by hoping to do some work and get some good food, less keen on their coffee, but willing. So, I step in and I look at the menu. I opted to get an iced latte, like I remember getting last time, but instead decide on an iced chai latte. I ask if there is espresso in their chai latte, because some places offer espresso in their chai latte, or you can ask for it. She basically gawked at me and said that they don’t have espresso. I thought that was odd for a cafe where they offer coffee drinks. I asked what they made lattes with, and she said they don’t have them. I guess I felt confused, but I was willing to figure something else out. But she was responded in a mocking tone and was incredibly snippy. I have never experienced such unprovoked meanness like this at a coffee shop, cafe, or restaurant. I was shocked.

I decided to leave after stating she could have been nicer to me, and I didn’t understand why she was so upset. She hollered something about me being the rude one as I walked out. I was genuinely curious about the menu options, but being treated like I was looking for trouble was upsetting and solidified my decision to never go here again. My husband also went recently with a friend and said that the service was bad. After each of our interactions with pHlour being riddled with horrible customer service and subpar food, I don’t recommend this place to anyone. Perhaps it appeals to a very specific demographic, but I don’t want to be...

My sister and I were at the Lincoln Park farmers market, planning on buying some of their pretzels.

This was our first time buying from them, and the line was long that day so their baked goods seemed promising.

When it was our turn next, one of the employees asked, turned to the people after us, “who is next?” Since she was turned away from us—I didn’t say anything immediately. None of the people after us said anything and the other two employees there catered to the people after them. my sister and I waited for someone to help us—hoping that at some point someone would notice us waiting in the same spot, in front of the cash register, the whole time after treating three people already. I even raised my hand and tried to get their attention when the other employees were asking who was next. my sister mentioned that when I raised my hand, one of the employees noticed me but didn’t say anything and went on to the next person.

They were then treating the fifth or fourth person in line after us it was then my sister said, “you know what, we should go.” it was only until she said that, an older lady finally came up to us and asked us what we wanted After purchasing two of the regulars and two of the cinnamons—we were disappointed even more because they weren’t that good (I don’t think they were fresh even) summary: bad service and experience that day. I wish people were polite enough to mention something about two girls who were waiting there for a while and were not being helped. Auntie Anne’s pretzels are SO...

Now under new management from the wonderful former Lovely Too, Phlour has remodeled a bit for a sleeker more modern design aesthetic. The music was nice, typical chill cafe ambiance. The staff seemed nice but a bit inexperienced and not knowledgeable enough about the products.

Unfortunately the pastries are not nearly as good as they were when Lovely Too was in this location. The croissants were not uniform in shape or color; this is not a sign of an excellent baker.

I wanted to test their plain crossiant, which was flakey enough on the outside but very dry on the inside. I wasn't surprised from the way it looked.

I will never understand why in most European cities you can find excellent parties at nearly every corner bakery, and yet in America 90% of pastries are bad in flavor, too soft, and lacking crisp layers.

Lovely Too was truly a neighborhood gem and the staff were welcoming and created a lovely atmosphere. Hopefully Phlour will improve with time (they haven't even been open a week). I would recommend a different pastry chef, though. I can only judge the plain croissant, which I found just slightly better than what one finds at Starbucks.

They are the only option in this neighborhood, though. Who knows what's going on with Baker and Nosh (supposed to have opened in spring 2016), but based on what I've had at their Wilson location, they're nothing...