BakeLab — Restaurant in Urbana

The little coffee shop is inside a hotel lobby but it's a hidden gem. I was a bit skeptical to be honest but as soon as I viewed the pastry display all my doubts faded away. The only hard part was what to order. I ordered a banofee croissant and a candied orange mocha iced coffee. My daughter had the same drink as I did and she had a fig croissant along with another savory croissant. We were very pleased with all our items. The croissants were soft and buttery and the flavors were amazing. My sweet treat was outstanding. I had we never had a banofee but after this I will be having more! Overall, the staff were attentive and helpful at helping us make our choices. The overall atmosphere of the shop was quaint and relaxing. I recommend going here if you are in Champaign you can't go wrong. The prices are fair and the quality of the food is well worth the cost. They offered season drinks which we can't wait to see what they offer for...

So glad Bakelab opened before I graduated! I passed the cafe a couple times going around campus and finally got to check them out (and then kept checking them out after my first visit haha). Bakelab’s pastry selection is a 11/10. You will not and can not find this selection elsewhere on campus or remotely near. Their pastries include the traditional French pastries but with a twist and they have an amazing selection of Asian buns. I love their matcha red bean bun, almond croissant, cream cheese croissant with cinnamon sugar (basically everything I tried I love)! Their cold brew is the same roast as BrewLab (sister company)—notable notes include smooth milk chocolate.

The only downside is that THEY SELL OUT FAST because their pastries are so good! I tried going in to try their matcha croissant but they were sold out by the time I went which was around 2pm (they probably sold out way before...

As a croissant lover, I couldn’t resist trying out this stylish bakery tucked away in the college town. They offered a variety of creative croissant and I was intrigued enough to give it a go. I ordered Caprese Pesto Croissant—a unique concept, for sure.

However, I couldn’t help but notice the price point was on the higher side, with individual savory pastries and croissant costing around $7-8. Perhaps it’s the lack of competition that allows such bold pricing.

While the idea behind the croissant was commendable, it was excessively greasy, with an overwhelming use of butter or oil. If priced more reasonably, I might have rated it higher, but paying over $7 for this level of quality didn’t quite sit right with me.

That said, I do think there’s potential here. If they can refine the greasiness, the croissant could turn into...