Italian Superior Bakery

Just to update the listing, the bakery is now closed down, unfortunately.

Yumm

I think this is a great place if you are in the neighborhood, and I like the neighborhood. The pizza crust and sauce is very satisfying. The muffaletta is good, although, if you are from New Orleans it isn’t quite right. The bread is good, the olive salad is good, and the cold cuts are good. But, no mortadella, anise on the bun instead of sesame, and more of a black olive mix than green olive mix.
Overall, don’t hesitate to stop. It is very good.

Easily the top spot anywhere on Taylor Street for a real lunch… keep heading West!!!
I know they’re famous for their bread, but I went with a friend today to try the daily special which on Thursdays is a homemade meatball sandwich served with gravy (homemade marinara) on the side and a cup of delicous garlic, olive oil, and brown sugar stewed carros. To start they brought us out a tomato and fresh mozz salad with heaping prosciutto and a kiss of oil and balsamic. Unreal.
Everything was fresh and 100% homemade and you could really taste it. I’ve been told the home made Prime Rib on Friday’s could be the best sandwich in Chicago (another sandwich aficionado friend of mine told me it makes an Al’s beef taste like a day old happy meal) and i love the idea of the neighborhood daily special– very old school. I’ll be back soon to try it.
Hung out with owner Jake and his Mom and from the second you walk in you are greeted with warmth and genuine pleasantry. It is clear they love what they do and we even got a quick tour of the old Masi’s bakery in the back where Italian Superior has been making bread for decades.
Really just so pleased with my experience and to find that a genuine, family-​owned, everything home made lunch spot/​bakery still exists on Taylor Street.

Went there on a quest for a muffuletta as seen on wgn tv9 chicago’s ‘best things to eat in Chicago ’ list. Got there about 11:20 on a Saturday morning, the business was closed and dark. An employee came to the door and asked if he could help us, we explained our reason for visiting.
This was the last day of June and he pointed to a sign on the door saying ‘new hours as of July 1^st’ Obviously a problem as it was not July 1^st. He then told us that additionally they didn’t even bake any bread for those sandwiches that day either!
We should add that we drove around almost 30 minutes prior looking f a spot and paid to park. Didn’t think to look to see if they were open as it was a very small storefront and the traffic was heavy. We went a total of over an hour off our route for this disappointment. He did offer some bread or pizza to buy but nothing more. It would have been nice if he had offered something to entice up to come back since by all rights they should have been open still and should have been able to get the sandwiches!
Not sure if we’ll ever try back, glad others enjoy the establishment however. He did explain that the sandwich sizes were changing and the prices. Ended up going to johnnies beef in Elwood park, great sandwich!

Came here this afternoon to see what all the fuss is about; any joint that outranks Alinea in star average merits a visit. Sadly, my experience was far from superior.
Maybe it’s just understocked because it’s the end of the week, but the first thing that was readily apparent was the lack of items available; five total slices of pizza, one sandwich option, and a few loaves of bread. Sausage pizza did not stand up to being served cold, because it was way oversauced. Muffalata sandwich was heinously oversalted, with not much else discernible in the flavor profile.
I’d ordinarily boot an experience like this into one star land and not look back, but the owner was very nice, and I can tell the place brings it better during the week. I’ll be back to see if that is the case, but if my experience is anything close to this bad, rest assured I will not be back.

This is a score! Family owned and they make you feel so welcomed. Great pizza for eating right away or popping in your freezer for that night when you don’t want to cook. It’s their freezer and deli case I’m getting seriously addicted to! Best homemade sauce, soups, meatballs to die for, lasagna… and in the deli case, the best potato salad just like you ma makes! Pasta salads and Southwestern bean salad is another tasty favorite… and I haven’t gotten to the bread yet! No squishy, chemical tasting bread but old-​fashioned bread for sandwiches and a loaf for dinner with good butter-​comfort food.
This family knows how to cook. Get over here-it’s so worth the drive.

ISB will make you feel right at home as they warmly greet you, spark up a conversation, and assure you the food you ordered is going to satisfy beyond expectation. The guys behind the counter are good people, your happy to give your cash and patronage to guys (and gal’s alike) with that kind of friendly nature.
I caught them just before they closed yesterday. I ordered a Muffuletta sandwich and a couple slices of their roasted red pepper pizza, or pizza bread.
They were out of their Muffuletta bread, which didn’t bother me in the slightest. It’s evident they carry great bread, so I planned on being happy with whatever they used.
ISB’s Muffuletta consisted of good quality Italian meats, along with equally sharp and rich Italian cheeses to complement the sandwich. The olive salad was good too. My only complaint was that it wasn’t too hot, I’m a fiend for heat. Perhaps they just forgot to use the hot olive spread. I also would have liked the oil to soak into the bread more. Muffulettas are traditionally made 24 hrs. in advance so you get that effect. Like I said though, they ran out of bread. So they very well might make theirs in advance. I’m a little critical of my Muffulettas after a trip to the birth of this righteous sandwich, New Orleans. Plus my girl makes em’ a couple times a year. Home made olive spread and all. ISB’s is a damn good substitute for a city that needs to grow its respect for this fantastic sandwich.
Da pizza? I was close to punching my steering wheel it was so good. Not sure why I felt like getting violent while maxing a slice down, driving home on 290, listening to, «Roxanne.» You can have full faith that any slice you get is going to be outstanding. The crust has a similar consistency and crunch to Lou Malnati’s pizza, but less buttery (a good thing). The cheese is perfectly browned to give it a rich and slightly crisp but also chewy finish. Their roasted red peppers were tucked underneath. They had that nice sweet flavor you get after a good roasting takes place. I love that they keep their slices in a deli style cooler. Best eaten as is, no heat needed. The flavors have all rested and are in perfect harmony. If you do heat, they tell you do not even think about using that microwave. Skillet or oven would be the only way to go with their expertly crafted pizza.
ISB is a solid bakery in tri Taylor (located just off the corner of Western and Taylor). They treat you better than your own friends or family probably do. The food will instantly make you a regular. They’ve even got a selection of homemade soups and pastas to take home, along with some cold sides, or Gelato that will make you smile and close your eyes as you think of swimming in the clouds. Yup, its like dat.

Amazing pizza bread! Its the tomato sauce that sticks out the most, fresh, not processed tasting, and not lacking in flavor.
Would love to give 5 stars but have to dock off a star for the ridiculous 3:00 closing time. I’ve wanted to come her for awhile, hell, had Italian Superior Bakery bookmarked since August 2010, but its hard to show up anywhere earlier than 3 when you have work and all. Not asking to operate til 9 or 10 at night, but at a reasonable hour, say 6, so that the 9 to 5ers can patronize your establishment.

I stopped by for breakfast on a Saturday. Upon entering, I was warmly greeted right away and everyone there was quite friendly. The bakery is decorated with a lot of it’s history on the walls.
Taking advantage of their Unilocal offer, I ordered two slices — a colossal dietary mistake, but an amazingly good deal. One slice alone is a good size meal. Their Bakery style square pizza is served cold. Being a bakery, the pizza is heavy on the (very tasty) bread. Yet, the cheese & toppings hold their own. It made for a delicious and quite filling meal. And, Italian Superior Bakery is overall the best bakery style slice I’ve ever had.

This place pizza is the real thing.
They really have an amazing pizza there, probably one of the best I ever had. It kind of reminded me the great pizza places in NYC or Brooklyn which I love so much. Great atmosphere (not fancy at all, just very nice and laid back), very nice staff, kind of down to earth. Any time I’m in Chicago I try to stop by this place.
Too bad I can’t take pizza ‘to go’ on the plane with me.

I finally had a chance to stop into Italian Superior Bakery and it definitely won’t be my last.
I had a slice of their Ricotta pizza and it was great! Real fresh ingredients, evenly spread out, chewy crust in the middle but nice and crispy edges. I also ordered their Mufuletta sandwich. It was my first time trying it and it did not disappoint! As soon as I opened the wrapper I was hit with a real fragrant smell that just drew in my appetite. (Might I mention that I was a little sick and could not really smell at the time). The sandwich was delicious. The meats were all imported from Italy and the bread was homemade. This sandwich was more than enough as well. It’s about the size of a frisbee… maybe a little smaller but you get what you pay for. I also got a loaf of bread to go for my ma and she loved it. Nice and chewy crust but the inside was soft as a pillow. We could not finish the whole thing so we put it into the freezer. Their bread is so good you can freeze it and when you pull it out of the freezer it won’t get all crumbly. It will be just as new. (the owner, Pam, informed me of this little tid bit)
Their gelato is bomb too! I found out from Pam that they get all their gelato from a place in Naperville called Gelati. Gelati so happens to be my favorite place for gelato in Naperville.
Great service and very friendly owner. Pam was really great to talk to and helpful with my food selections. I plan to go back on a Friday in the future because every Friday they offer special sandwiches or soups.
Keep up the good work!

This little bakery has the best bread around, hands down. Better than Labriola (although less variety). Better than any of the other little bakeries. It’s absolutely delicious & fresh. The french loaves make perfect garlic bread. The round loaves make perfect grilled cheese.
Come early in the morning for the best selection of breads, especially on Sundays when all the Italian families nearby stock up for Sunday dinner. The most popular loaves sell out early.
The pizza is good too, although I don’t love it room temperature. I like to get the slice to go & then crisp it up in the oven (7 minutes at 425 is enough to melt the cheese & just get a touch of crispness on the bottom).
Cash only, but the prices are very reasonable.

Eating is like flying. When it comes to travel, you have many options. But I guarantee you won’t regret choosing Italian Superior Bakery.
Put it this way: we had an item from our bucket list we badly wanted to scratch off. You know what it is because everybody who blows into the Windy City from elsewhere has the same singular mission: Chicago deep dish — what else?
Superior Bakery was just supposed to be breakfast. A quick bite, a loaf of bread. Save the big appetite for Giordano’s.
That was the plan. Boy, did things change once we stopped in here!
Some tastes are so indelible that you remember them forever. I have no doubt that the muffuletta sandwich I devoured will be emblazoned in my taste buds till I die.
It was literally one of the best meals I ever had. It consisted of a a variety of Italian deli meat on fresh-​baked bread, slathered in an an olive spread. OMG — my senses danced with joy!
We tasted their pizza too, finished the meal with a round of gelato and suddenly deep-​dish became a distant memory. Another time, another visit. We were too full, our experience too rich to want or need anything on top of it.
It wasn’t that we didn’t want to do deep-​dish. It’s just that Giordano’s is the Coliseum and we got to eat around the block at a homestyle place that filled our bellies and warmed our hearts. We couldn’t bear to invite memories that would interfere with that.
The people who run Superior couldn’t be more lovely. Fellow customers both local and from afar seem to savor the rarity of this experience. You get to chat, talk about where you’re from with people who really do seem to care.
On food channels they always talk about how you can taste the love that a good chef puts into the meal. Well, at Superior you bask in the glow of the emotions that are poured into everything they do. For once I could finally understand what all those chefs have been saying.
Italian Superior Bakery is a stop in Chicago I will never regret. In fact, I have said a prayer to Mother Mary on the proprietess’s behalf.
May they thrive and prosper!

Okay so now it’s official, I have finally tasted their pizza and was really amazed at the taste. I mean «other» places in the neighborhood try, but are not even close to the taste of theirs. They usually serve them at room temperature but will oblige if you would like it heated up a bit. I have to say the crust was just right. I know of «other» places around the neighborhood who try to serve this up like this, but they usually fail. I had the Fresh Ricotta cheese slice which consisted of tomato slices, Garlic, and Basil strips. And oh man was this a really nice taste. I of course, added some pepper flakes and it took it «there». Now, what I did want to mention was that I used my Unilocal check in and received my slice free! Yes, my friend paid for one and I got the other one free. I mean come on, how can you not pass up Unilocal in this situation.
The gentleman at the register was telling me on how his grandfather started the business and how he ended up taking it over later on. I personally think it was upgraded to the next level and I am so glad that they did.
Afterwords we decided to have Gelato. Of course, we both had the pistachio that they have imported straight from Naperville. Wow, what a mix of taste. Lets just say, I was very pleased and if I had issues before this venture, of course that all dissipated after Gelato.
They have a small dining area that has photos I believe of the grandfather and other people. There is something about Black and White photos that can take them to the next level.

This review is based solely on 2 cupcakes.
My coworker said the peanut butter chocolate cupcakes here were better than mine so I made her take me to this place. Upon walking in, I was surprised that this place was more than just a cupcake place and that it was an actual bakery with pizzas, breads cakes and other types of pastries. My coworker neglected to tell me this was carb heaven!
So I ordered the peanut butter and the Italian almaretto flavored cupcakes and they were ok, though I’m not sure that they were better than what I could do. The frostings were made of whipped cream which melted by the time I took them home, so I guess I did not get a true representation of what they were supposed to be like, but I got the gist of it. The peanut butter was way better than the Italian cupcake. The Italian cupcake was kinda dry and didn’t have very much flavor.
I would definitely come back to try everything else, especially the pizza as they looked delicious! Hopefully then the star rating on this place would go up a notch or two.

When people talk about hidden gems, they are referring to places like Italian Superior Bakery. Whether it’s your first time or hundredth time entering this bakery, you will receive a warm welcome from the staff. Everyone here is very kind, friendly and helpful, making every visit a great experience. There is a nice cozy little seating area where you can enjoy your food. Keep in mind, however, that they close pretty early, so if you are the type (like me) who does late lunches, you may miss out so if you want to try this place out you better make some plans.
From the pizza to the breads to the cookies, cupcakes and bundt cakes, everything here is top-​notch, super delicious and affordable. A «slice» of pizza is huge, served room temperature which is my preference (can be warmed if you ask). I love, love, love that there are many veggie pizza choices at Italian Superior Bakery because often times, when you go to places there are a bazillion types of meat pizzas and maybe only 2 types of veggie pizzas — if you count cheese pizza.
I almost hate to let the cat out of the bag, but here it is… another of Chicago’s best kept secrets… Italian Superior Bakery is not to be missed!

We’ve had the pizza and cupcakes. Both are excellent. I deeply mourn the year that my then girlfriend lived by around the corner but since we hadn’t heard about this place, we ate at Bacci’s. What a waste!
We can’t wait to try more: bread, sandwiches, cakes. Everything looked great, but they were about to close when we walked in so we ordered quickly.
The only thing that holds it back from that final star is that their hours are are pretty inconvenient. The only day that we can really go here is Saturday for lunch, but we can only dream of how awesome it would be to work by here!

This place is pretty cool. They have lots of pre-​made pizza squares availalble, along with an array of deserts. The boyfriend and I tried some pizza and the cannolis, which are filled to order. He would probably give it a 4 if he were reviewing, because this pizza style was right up his alley. The pizza slices are served room temperature, and they’re made with this soft, tasty, almost bread-​like dough. I personally like my pizza hot and cheesy, so this didn’t totally hit the spot for me. However, I brought half of mine (they give you a ridiculous 2 slices when you order 1) home with me and toasted it in the oven a bit, and it was very good.
The cannoli were a little disappointing, but maybe just cause I like mine with pistachios, which they don’t use.

I used to think there really wasn’t a lot of good bread in Chicago, I don’t think that anymore.
This place is great. I’m annoyed I’ve lived in Chicago for 4 years and never been until recently.
The people that work there are really nice, the bread and food is awesome, looking forward to trying some desserts next time. Prices are cheap: 8″ Pork Cutlet Sandwich on one of their rolls, 2 round half pound rolls & an Italian Soda = $ 11.80.
Check it out.