Labriola Baking Company

I’ve heard rave reviews about your pretzel slider buns, so I was super excited when I saw them at costco tonight. They were even better than I imagined! And my family loved them as well! Thank you!

This is a beautiful little spot to have a cup of amazing coffee or to split a sweet treat with your sweetie.
I went there with a (clears throat) companion this past Tuesday for lunch around 3:00pm.
The place had some customers but was not overwhelmingly busy. We had no wait.
So you go-​order food-​take your number and seat yourself wherever you like.
We got the Richie Burger and the Bread Salad.
Richie Burger-​looks better in pictures. Not sure if it was an off day? The meat was great-​cooked medium and flavorful. Everything else about the burger though was meh. The cheese and grilled onions were undetectable and the bread needed to be warmed or something. It was not as soft as it looked online and was really a let down.
Bread salad– we added chicken. It was a full breast. The salad was pretty darn good. It comes with pieces of quality bread drizzled with olive oil and balsamic. Mmm! The salad also includes chunks of fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and olives. I would prefer a bit less olives just because they were the salty kind-​eek!
For dessert…
Whoopie Pie– (uck– didn’t like the super sweet frosting inside)
Pistachio Macaroon** (great! Ordered two more to go!)
Dark chocolate nut cluster (delicious with coffee… not too sweet or rich)
Intelligentsia coffee (delicious! The regular is boldly flavored)
The atmosphere is great. Desserts are endless. Go get romantic. I saw some people who ordered the pizza there and that’s what I would try next time!
Bonus: Homemade flavored teas available… I believe there were three different kinds + lemonade.
Ample parking. Friendly service. Candlelit dinners.

Labriola distributes bread throughout Chicago. I get mine at Caputo’s Market (in burbs). This is Chicago’s best mass-​market (albeit a limited distribution) bread.

I can’t officially rate this shop since I’ve never been there, but I’ve been fortunate enough to try a lot of what Rich Labriola has to offer and can say without a doubt that this is the best bakery in Chicagoland. I rate any bakery by its baguette and Rich’s baguette simply cannot be beat. The pretzel bread is to die! The gelato, cheeseburger (!) and so much more. If you want to drive me to Alsip, I’ll treat.

I was amazed when my gf took me here… she orders bread from here a lot for her work and mentioned we should stop by… glad we did!
Breads are amazing, but I got the boneless short ribs, garlic mashed, and green-​beans ‘special’ and it was *amazing*! Likely one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time considering how inexpensive it was. A bit on the salty side but perfect otherwise.
Highly recommended… oh and their gelato is spot-​on as well.

Ohhhh, Labriola’s! How I love thee! Listen, I won’t mince words: they are my favorite stop at any and all farmers’ markets. I know everyone has raved about the pretzel bread, and it’s not unfounded: that stuff is seriously amazing.

pretzel bread! pretzel bread! pretzel bread!!!

I am addicted to La Briola’s pretzel bread. Every week at the Daley Plaza farmers market, I buy at least one loaf (usually two). This week I also bought a chocolate chip espresso cookie. Crazy good.
This is one of the best bakeries by far. And the people at the farmers market are great — super nice and very helpful. And they remember you the next week.

Just an FYI for your Near NW-​siders: you can now get LaBriola Breads at Harvestime, at Talman and Lawrence. They have a great selection from baguettes to the best sourdough you’ve ever had, and nice un-​sliced artisan loaves with rosemary or kalamata olives.

Hello again, its the food snob. I remember vacationing in Italy of the 5 times I have been there. I remember walking with my Aunt down the street to the local in home bakery. Thats right. There was a home with a Brick Oven in the back of the home. Every morning the neighborhood women would be there with towels they brought from home so they can handle the Hot Bread. Labriola is the closest I have had. There long baugetes and ciabata breads are real rustic Italian.

Seriously good bread and the good news for those of us up north — it’s available at Wild Oats Markets (there I finally said something nice about the place.)

The absolute best bread you can find anywhere in Chicago. Rustic Italian and French breads, sourdough (the multigrain is outstanding), pretzel rolls, and the most perfect ciabatta. Theirs puts everyone else’s to shame. Available at markets and delis all over the city and surrounding suburbs.