Morningfields

After 28 years in business, they finally closed their stores as of January 2014. They are no longer in business.

If there was a zero, they would get it. Dirty, empty and rude staff. If DAM was not in there, nobody would be! DAM-​Devon Ave. Meats

Morningfields is a quaint little neighborhood grocery store with a great little bakery and deli. It’s a great place to stop in and pick up your favorite imported goods, fresh produce, freshly baked bread, sweet desserts, or a sandwich, soup or salad for lunch.
Their daily lunch specials in the deli vary, but always offer a selection of wraps, sandwiches, salads, and soups. Personally, my favorites are the wraps … turkey — bacon — ranch in a spinach tortilla? Yes please.
In addition, Morningfields also provides a catering service for both breakfast and lunch. Having used them to cater meetings and lunch, they have always delivered orders on time, and with friendly and accommodating service.
The only downfall? I never have enough time to peruse all of the aisles of goods.

This place is nothing like it used to be 10+years ago. It used to be an upscale grocery alternative to Dominick’s and Jewel and now — yikes! We went in there the other day and I literally could not believe what I saw. The produce section was about 25% full and the items that were there should not have been. The bananas were all brown — no exaggeration at all — every inch of them was brown and rotten. The shelves are barely covered and nothing has a price tag on it or near it.
The only reason I am giving it 2 stars is for the meat section, which is owned/​operated independently. The meat there is very good and the only place to get prime cuts of beef in Park Ridge.

I’m incredibly delayed in getting this review posted, but better late than never, right?
Back in July, I worked with Morningfields on a custom cake order for my son’s 1^st birthday party. They were absolutely wonderful to work with– professional, flexible, prompt in responding to my questions, open to my ideas on the custom work, reasonably priced, and accommodating with our special requests (changes in the order, delivery of the cake, etc).
I will definitely go back to Morningfields and have recommended them to all my friends in the area. Not only did the cake look fantastic, as well as the custom smash cake and cupcakes, but the consensus at the party was that they tasted incredible, too.

Morningfields, what is going on? With each change in owners service and products go downhill. Your only saving grace is the meat market, thankfully still owned by the same great folks.
Your deli people can’t make a decent sandwich to save their lives. I used to crave the tuna and chicken salad, now they are pure cra*. Your produce looks like it came from a west side liquor store. I could buy better baked goods at a day old thrift store. Wake up folks, there are other places to shop.

I would say sometimes four stars and often two. We go here all the time as it is down the street from the office. Thing is they are often out of whatever they have posted on their site. The meals can be rushed and sub-​par or really out of this world. It’s real hit or miss. For the prices they really should always hit… at least it should be 3 stars. I only eat via the deli — I can’t speak to their other stuff like the bakery or meat counter.

This place used to be great until they let Devon Meat take over the meat counter.
I wouldn’t eat here even for free food.

Not just bad produce. Decaying, disgusting. «Where’s the health inspector?» produce.

hmm. not as good as it was in the past. I was very disappointed when it wasn’t as I remembered.
Definitely changed hands and have scaled back the goodies.

For me, this place comes with Schaumburg nostalgia. There was a time when I commuted there everyday for a job I really liked. Then, after 3 ½ years, I decided that a good engraving for my headstone would be: «At least I’m not commuting to Schaumburg every day,» and it was off to New York. But there were countless times I stopped here at Morningfield’s for my breakfast goodies, my stomach rumbling with hunger as I traveled from Andersonville. Now it serves as the great little stop to and from my O’Hare shuttles, or as a near-to-O’Hare rendezvous spot, as it was on this visit.
The place is a little like Gene’s Sausage Shop in Lincoln Square, but not as well organized. It’s organized like my mind, which is a frightening thought all round. I just wish they had arranged it to feature the meat case and deli upfront. It just makes me want to re-​arrange!
The deli sandwiches, salads and baked goods are still as all attractive and delicious. On this visit, I copped a nicely stuffed tuna salad on rye, a cole slaw side and a drink for about seven and a half bucks. While some think the place is pricey, I think not. Would have been a ten spot in the city. The seating area is a weird little triangular space with tables and booths, hidden, and overlooking Devon Ave. We sat outside on the «terrace,» to take in the parking lot exhaust. Again, somehow I wished it were all re-​arranged. But that’s just my closet interior designer talking.
Check out this spot if you meeting someone from the «land beyond «O’hare,» and you need a halfway point, or you are dropping that special person at «O’Hare and you need to have one of those Casablanca moments which is not on the tarmac, or when you pick someone up there, they are hungry, and you need a stop nearby. Unless, of course, they insist on stopping at Hooters on Higgins instead. For great dairy.

Once again Morningfield’s has apparently changed hands. I used to work in the burbs and would stop here several times a week. It used to be an adventure to shop here. I could pick up all kinds of wonderful things, and even though they were more expensive than most places, I could get really cool things. Their pre-​made meals were great and I loved their salads. You could even buy shabby chic home décor.
That was then … now…, well, I was shocked when I stopped here yesterday. It is like a skeletal version of what it once was. The meat market is still the same, but they are a separate company within the store. I really loved the old store, but there is nothing here that would entice me to come back anymore. Every time they change hands, they take away more and more of the charm that once was Morningfield’s. Very, very sad.

This is my go to place for petit fours. They are moist, almondy and incredible! The other things worth trying would be the apple bread and the fruit tarts made with a shortbread cookie crust. I usually buy cakes from here too– they are pretty crowd pleasers, but I think they are bland. Maybe friends, relatives, and coworkers aren’t saying anything to me because they assume it was as expensive as it looks (display cakes run about $ 30 for a standard size).
The bad: The pastries are consistently available. I can’t go into this place and expect to come out with something that i was looking forward to devouring. I wouldn’t recommend the coffee bar– they burned the coffee and the milk was also too hot.

They get one star from me for taking duck orders away! It’s not Thanksgiving with out the DUCK! WTF Morningfields??? Thanks for ruining my Thanksgiving!

Morningfield’s did our wedding cake and it was absolutely delicious. People raved about it. We opted for a semi-​complicated cake and filling flavor combo and it was perfect. This was two years ago, and there was a guy running the show then named Carlos, I think. We loved him. He was nice, helpful, and a great businessman! I think he was the bakery manager then. He has left, and my experience since then has been with people who are a little disorganized and jaded. However, we ordered a small replica of the cake for our anniversary and it was still tatsy!
We had a simple design and loved the way the cake looked, tasted, and was delivered and set up. Downtown delivery charge was inexpensive, also. All in all, great. I attribute a lot of this to Carlos, but I’d still suggest giving them a try.

Not your average grocer for sure. They have a lot of variety and higher prices.
Very tasty bakery items, large variety of merchandise but my rave is on the soup… my oh my, some of the best soup I have ever had. Cream of mushroom, chicken, cr spinach… it’s ALL GOOD! Two varieties in the colder months, one in summer. Check it out for yourself!

Cool neighborhood upscale supermarket. Goods are expensive.
Love the bakery, many of the freshly baked breads and cakes are rich and not expensive.
You can get excellent sandwiches, boar’s head variety. When I need a unique gift, say, teas, snacks, cakes, this is a place I think of first.
They’ve got a few racks of imported products, i.e., scones, Cadbury, etc.

My parents live nearby and I’ve been going here occasionally since 2003. Specialty but can be expensive in comparison now that Trader Joe’s is in town. Two things that sets Morningfields apart — #1 their meat selection and help that accompanies it. #2 their quiche. I order one whole quiche whenever I have company over for brunch or at the holidays for Christmas morning. The best is the Quiche Lorraine and the Veggie Quiche. It’s $ 25 and you only have to order one day in advance.

The coffee & pastries are definitely good here. However, the store is more like a boutique grocer than anything. Some of the same import items you can get for a lot less at Shop & Save in Niles. I’ve only been here once, since I don’t plan on sitting around a little grocery shop drinking coffee. I’d just be careful with the other things before over-​spending on them. But hey, if you’re the Lexus-​BMW type who has to have it now and could care less about the price, go ahead and come on in.

Morningfields is pretty much a mom & pop version of Whole Foods Market. In here you’ll find some of the freshes organic foods around, choice cut meats and seafoods (some prepped, stuffed, and/​or breaded for your convenience), and basically most of the things you’d expect from a decent grocery store.
In addition to the standard groceries, there’s an in-​house café brewing up fresh coffee, a bakery offering a wide variety of fresh pastries, cakes, breads, and chocolates (you’ll gain a few pounds just looking at it), and a deli that serves up some great sandwiches. This store is a staple lunch place for my office because they really don’t skimp on their sandwiches (wonderful pannini’s) and make tasty salads (I’m munching on one of their chopped salads as I’m typing this).
The staff here are friendly and courteous. You’ll enjoy shopping at Morningfields… pretty much all the freshness of Whole Foods with a smalltown feel.