Toni Patisserie and Café – French Delights in The Loop
By Josephine Layug
Do you ever dream about being in sitting in a French café and enjoying delectable treats? Well, dream no more, Chicagoans, because Pastry Chef and owner Toni Marie Cox has brought the pleasure of a French cafe here to our great city! The fantastic Toni Patisserie and Cafe here in Chicago located on the South-West corner of N. Garland Ct. and E. Washington St. is a total delight! This boutique French Patisserie will absolutely cause you to embark on your own French adventure right here in the city. This quaint loop cafe offers a cute and intimate for anyone in search of a great sandwich on a true French Baguette, an awesome Barista crafted coffee, or a (possibly many) delicious French pastries and chocolate treats.
My friend and I dove into our afternoon with the Passion Fruit and Double Chocolate Macaroons. These divine sweets were incredible! Once we had our first taste, we couldn’t stop. We decided to indulge in the Cheesecake next, and it was to die for. This classic sweet lover’s go-to was light, delicious and had the perfect level of sweetness. After our blood sugar returned to normal levels, we had some well-crafted Americano coffees. My favorite sweet treat of our afternoon was the Carmel Chocolate Bar. This was perfection in a way I can’t really explain in words. The hand-crafted caramel wasn’t bitter like some overcooked caramel treats are. This treat really helped me understand the level of skill and attention to detail this establishment puts forth into every item they offer!
Toni Patisserie and Cafe isn’t just a sweets and coffee shop, it’s a great place to grab breakfast or lunch as well. The breakfast menu offers a variety of European classics such as Eggs Benedict with real homemade Hollandaise Sauce, Eggs Florentine, French Toast and a Nutella Waffle. The lunch menu offers a variety of options including salads, sandwiches both hot and cold, a sour du jour and a variety of other classically French savory dishes, including two of our favorites: Le Boeuf – a cold Roast Beef sandwich with Horseradish, Mayo, Tomato, Red Onion and Seasonal Greens all served on a Baquette and Croque Monsieur – an insanely delicious hot Ham and Cheese Sandwich with the smoothest Béchamel I have ever tasted. In addition to the food being so ridiculously good, the presentation of each dish and dessert was well executed and looked both simple and beautiful. Oh, and if you like Crépes then this is the place for them! There is no substitution for a paper-thin delicious crépes, and Toni, the former French-dwelling expat, does it like the motherland. From the delectable pastries to the cocktails for happy hour, there is something for everyone. Go enjoy a cup of coffee and a decadent treat from Toni’s Patisserie and Cafe in the Loop!
Toni Patisserie and Café holds happy hours Monday through Friday from 4pm-7pm, where you can enjoy cocktails, wine and sweet and savory offerings. Regular hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.