Insider Pages Reviews for Lutz Continental Cafe & Pastry

5 Stars: Great Wedding Cake (by Danielle N.)

Danielle N. — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:43:00 GMT

My husband chose Lutz as he grew up in the neighborhood. I wanted a unique wedding cake. When I went there, they had some good cake but it was all very traditional. I wasn't sure about them and went to another bakery. I went back to Lutz and asked for red velvet and cream cheese icing. Their cream cheese had too much whipped cream in it for me and they agreed to make a recipe I provided. The cake turned out perfect - taste and looks!
Tip - be sure to ask for what you want.

4 Stars: Very nice outdoor garden (by Mark L.)

Mark L. — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:49:00 GMT

This place is old vintage Chicago style, Austrian coffee house.
They play sometimes classical music on weekends. Very nice
outdoor dining garden. Very cute service with dressed ladies service tea.
However, quality of food is not top notch. Pastries have too much look and taste of offerings from your local big chain stores.
For these prices we should expect better products nowadays.

5 Stars: Authentic German Pastry - Amazing Bakery! The Best! (by Jennifer K.)

Jennifer K. — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:40:00 GMT

If you are looking for an authentic pastry bakery this is it. These recipes have been brought over directly from a small village in Bavaria. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz have prided themselves on quality and did not skimp on anything to provide the best they can. Even bakers have been specifically brought from Bavaria to authenticate their pastries! You will not find grocery store quality but you will be blown away! This bakery has been our family's favorite since 1970.Although has recently changed hands and is not longer Lutz family owned, the quality and standards still remain. It is a beautiful shop and a quaint cafe! I will always have a special place in my heart for the Konditorei!

1 Stars: The letdown of a lifetime (by Piotr S.)

Piotr S. — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:14:00 GMT

Growing up, we always had Lutz pastries and cakes for special occasions, so, when it was time for my wedding, I talked my wife into getting a cake from Lutz. She was most pleased with their offer of a free top tier on the first wedding anniversary. Well, as usual, they made a spectacular cake for our wedding, but the problem arose when our first anniversary came about.

I called a week in advance for them to have the top tier ready, asking for a specific time for pickup. I figure this is more then enough time to prepare a cake. Come pickup time, my wife shows up, and they at first tell her the order was never put in. Then, after some back and forth with the rude cashier, they say it will be ready in about an hour. My wife, already upset, goes to wait in the car for the cake to be ready.

After an hour and fifteen minutes, she goes inside and they are just finishing up the cake. They show it to her and she tells them that it looks nothing like our wedding cake. Well, they proceed to tell her that it is what was ordered for our wedding. Odd that they know what our wedding cake looked like and we did not! (Looking at our order slip afterwards showed that it was nothing like what was written down) Furthermore, when she proceeded to protest, the cashier told her that it's not about the look of the cake for the anniversary, but the taste. I tried to go along with this, easing my wife, as she was very upset by the treatment she received at Lutz.

Well, when we finally sat down for a wonderful anniversary dinner, followed by a cake somewhat similar to our wedding cake, we were even more let down. The cake had the wrong filling!! To think, that their own argument about the taste being what mattered would backfire in their face! Suffice to say, I wrote two angry letters to Lutz, neither time getting a response. I guess they don't care about loosing a customer of the past 27 years. It's off to find another bakery that deserves my business...

I'm sorry to say, their customer service and overall attitude let me down...

5 Stars: Who'd have thought a pastry could be a work of art? (by Evelyn G.)

Evelyn G. — Sat, 13 May 2006 07:14:00 GMT

On weekend mornings Lutzs has a line outside the door. The reason? Delicious baked goods! Spend a few minutes looking through the window at the magnificent creations displayed there. The cakes are beautiful.

Once inside you'll find cakes, pastries, cookies, chocolates and marzipan. The cakes are excellent; not too sweet.

If you have the time, you can eat the the cafe. Salads, sandwiches, soups and, of course, a selection of sweets.

PROS: Utterly delicious.
CONS:

5 Stars: Very continental pastries (by Thea L.)

Thea L. — Thu, 11 May 2006 14:15:00 GMT

Since I grew up in this neighborhood, this was always a special treat. A pastry shop. Hand made cookies, chocolates, marzipan animals. Sit at a little round table and have a great light lunch and glass of wine, but save room for an extraordinary pastry.

PROS: If you're dieting, don't go.
CONS: No.

5 Stars: Best bakery (by ameen a.)

ameen a. — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 19:59:00 GMT

This is probably the best bakery in all of Chicago. When you walk into this little bakery, you will be very pleased with the nice aroma and the really pretty cakes and pastries. And they don't just look pretty, they taste great too! This place has goods that are always fresh and baked daily. I also love to go here for breakfast because you can buy stuff that has been freshly made, grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy your great little meal in their little cafe area. You can people watch too!

5 Stars: Incredible bakery (by Evelyn O.)

Evelyn O. — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 17:40:00 GMT

I absolutely love this bakery, their cakes and pastries are beautifully decorated and they taste even better. The atmosphere of this shop is warm and inviting, once you've tried their cakes you'll keep going back year after year.

5 Stars: Chicago Landmark (by by puguglies at Citysearch)

by puguglies at Citysearch — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I grew up a few blocks away from here. I would always get cakes from here for any occasion. I moved to the burbs', but make the trek back whenever I have the chance. The desserts are amazing. The quality is unsurpassed, so is the the service. The people are always friendly and give you their undivided attention. A true bakery!

5 Stars: Yes! (by by kleec at Citysearch)

by kleec at Citysearch — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Yum, yum and more yum..delicious coffee, delicious desserts. Regarding meals and such the menu's not big but the food's good. The only thing is, sometimes you get a waitress who also doesn't seem to worry to much about being quick with anything. But who can't forgive that in the presence of so many mouth-watering desserts? No matter what the sugar crystals floating upon the air will keep you happy enough. Compared with Selmarie there is something that's just more regal and majestic about their desserts and cakes. I wonder why dont people dont make the trek over there more often.

5 Stars: Lutz! (by by snoozepig at Citysearch)

by snoozepig at Citysearch — Mon, 07 Jun 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Although the entrees Lutz offers are not considered top notch, the strawberry tortes can make anyone cave in! Just walking into the shop makes me drool, and the cakes are just wonderful! If you have a birthday, anniversary, or a wedding to go to in the near future, anytime is a great time for Lutz! I love this place! Yummy in thy tummy!

5 Stars: The best (by by watercupcake at Citysearch)

by watercupcake at Citysearch — Fri, 21 Feb 2003 09:00:00 GMT

As a former Chicagoan who visits home far too seldom, Lutz is always near the top of the "must visit" list. Have been familiar with the place for about 40 years and it always maintains it's quality.

5 Stars: Instant childhood! (by by jewelrygirl at Citysearch)

by jewelrygirl at Citysearch — Mon, 20 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I have been a Wi. transplant for years now, but my family still lives in the city. My birthday cake when I was a child and when I'm visiting my parents at that time of year is the Schwartz Walde Kirchetorte (Black Forest Cake). It is the best, and I should know my father came from the edge of the Black Forest! There are some places that instantly transport you back to your childhood and Lutz's is that place for me!

5 Stars: best cake (by by popeyepopeye at Citysearch)

by popeyepopeye at Citysearch — Tue, 29 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Cafe Lutz is best described in a simple manner:

I've been to pastry shops in France, Germany, Austria and across the US. Cafe Lutz simply has my favorite cake, namely their marzipan torte. Absoultely brilliant.

For those who want to get fancy, the bake shop will accomodate special requests for variations.

3 Stars: Cafe feels like home (by by MauraYork_Citysearch at Citysearch)

by MauraYork_Citysearch at Citysearch — Thu, 23 May 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I pass this storefront often and love to look at the endearing characters and fascinating designs the baker has fashioned sugary confections into. I finally made it in for a meal one weeknight shortly before closing time -- my mistake, because I missed out on a delicious-sounding daily special. I got a chicken entree that was okay, but unremarkable. The decor really does make you feel like you are eating at someone's home, though it's not casual. I will give Lutz and another try -- and get there early enough to order the best-sounding dish.