Wheat's End Cafe & Bakery (NO DINE-IN) — Restaurant in Lake View Township

(tldr at the end) About a week ago, I ordered several items to try, with mixed results. In descending order from best to worst: The falafel? So good. The bread was so nice and chewy, and the falafel pieces themselves were almost perfect. Could have been fried just a bit longer, but so good. It came with fries, and they were nice and crispy (so rare to get with a wheat allergy). This was my favorite item. 4.75/5 Second, the lemon poppy seed pancakes: a nice big serving size, and the lemon glaze added a lot. However, and this is on me for not understanding from the description, but the pancakes themselves did not taste of lemon at all. There was supposed to be lemon zest on top, but I only tasted the lemon when I used the glaze. Still, very good. Almost perfect if the pancakes themselves had tasted more like lemon. 4.25/5 The pop over: Good with the honey butter, nothing special without it. Still nice and chewy/soft inside, but I wouldn't describe it as "custard-like." I ate it with some jam and the honey butter, and it still tasted really good, just might not order it again. 4/5 Blueberry muffin: A good muffin, but not what I was craving. I was hoping for one of those large blueberry muffins you can buy just about anywhere, but gluten free, and it was more the consistency of a cake doughnut. Perfectly fine, just not what I wanted. 3.5/5 Finally, the blueberry bagel: I didn't see anywhere that the bagel would be a bagel thin, but it was. It almost appeared to be the kind from the store. And it was Hard. Not crunchy, but vaguely chewy. Unpleasant and almost impossible to eat. I tried a few bites and heated it up to see if that would help, and it didn't. 0/5 Overall, everything would have been better fresh, but as it's all pickup or delivery, I'm not sure how that would work. I may see if there's a nearby park and eat it there next time.

TLDR: Falafel could have been cooked longer, still 4.75/5; pancakes not lemony enough, 4.25/5; pop over was not great, but it was good 4/5; muffin was fine, just cakey 3.5/5; blueberry bagel was actually a thin, super hard and bad chewy 0/5. Everything would have been better Fresh; will try new...

Wheats End is a true gem for anyone who’s gluten-free! It’s such a relief to have an all-gluten-free cafe where I can enjoy the foods I’ve missed, without worrying about cross-contamination. They offer fantastic breakfast options—whether it’s a bagel sandwich or something heartier, their breakfast menu is on point. The bagels, in particular, are a game changer: they’re fluffy on the inside and taste like the real deal, not the brittle, crumbly texture you usually find in gluten-free bagels (and they are available to purchase in packs).

For lunch, their sandwiches are equally impressive, with my favorites being the BLT and the spicy chicken and waffles. They also make an amazing grilled cheese that’s perfect for chilly days, paired with their delicious soups for that ultimate comfort meal.

I love that they offer both regular and sweet potato fries, and since everything is gluten-free, I never have to worry about cross-contamination or hidden wheat ingredients. Their baked goods are pretty good, though not the standout of the menu—but they’re definitely better than going without!

Plus, they offer plenty of dairy-free options, which is a huge perk for me as someone who avoids both gluten and dairy. Wheats End makes dining out easy and enjoyable, and I’d recommend it to anyone in Chicago looking for safe, delicious...

Headed over to Wheat's End today for brunch and was sadly disappointed. I want to start off by saying the food tasted great, and that is what makes it a two star review.

To start, our order of "Biscuits" and Gravy and Eggs Benedict took 45 minutes to come out to us. I had a view of the kitchen from where we sat, and I timed the rate of which the food was coming out. Not only was our order slow, but nothing came out of the kitchen for 10 minutes for the entire restaurant. Not one table around us received their dishes.

Second, my order of "biscuits" (it is parenthesized on their menu) is actually just one single, small biscuit, and a bowl of gravy. Really? for $14 you serve guests just one piece of bread? I understand it also comes with two eggs, but it was kinda comical to see this one little biscuit next to this bowl of gravy. Please change the menu from plural "Biscuits" to singular, since its rather shocking and false advertisement.

The side of breakfast potatoes and slaw that we had to accompany our brunch was fine, but again, the portions are strange. The bowl of slaw is huge, and the potatoes we bland and unseasoned.

I wanted to enjoy it more, but the time to get our food and the biscuits and gravy just didn't cut it for an...