Bunny, the Micro Bakery

Went into Bunny a few weeks after they opened and picked up a couple donuts for my boyfriend and I. They were amazing. Earlier this week we went back and enjoyed their breakfast sandwiches and shared a biscuit. The sandwiches were fresh and super yummy. I opted for the sausage (lamb and spiced perfectly) on my sandwich and that was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The bread was light and airy and a perfect vessel for the hearty breakfast sandwich. Next time I go in, I’m definitely going to try one of their toasts and grab a bottle of cold brew.

the food here is very very pretty, fresh and really high quality. Egg sandwich was delicious, with house made sausage, jam on the toast is excellent, not too sweet. There is only one kind of donut available. it is a glazed donut unlike any other donut at the local specialty donut shops. A bit doughy and had that funnel cake –fried quality but lovely– just have to eat it fresh. The owner is very attentive to providing great service. That said, the wait for food was very long and this isn’t your big brunch spot– so as other Unilocalers say, it’s for a light breakfast at a high price point for what you get relative to portion sizes. I get it, the food is all fresh and higher end but it is pricey. Very limited seating so get there early.

Decent. The foie toast was overbearing and way overloaded with jam. The breakfast sandwich was good, bread was almost like a popover and I would definitely order again. Super cramped quarters. Would only do take out from now on

The number one tip I have about Bunny is to check their website/​twitter/​facebook before you visit them. They have a habit of being closed during their posted hours. For example, they are closed tomorrow, ⁴⁄₆ to «celebrate» their chef winning a best new chef award. Another time they were closed for renovations just a few weeks after they opened. They also close if they sell out of things, which is understandable. Luckily, I live close by, but I would hate to imagine someone travelling to visit this place to find it closed during posted operating hours.
Okay, now that I have that out of the way, I have to say their food is amazing! My friend and I tried the breakfast sandwich and the ricotta toast. Both blew us away. Seating is limited, but seems to open up pretty quickly as we waited 3 minutes for a spot. Otherwise, you can just take it to go and find a nice bench to use while you eat. It is a great place for vegetarians. I can’t wait to go back… if they would just be open when I tried to go…5^th times a charm?

Came in on a Saturday morning to have a light breakfast. It was quite the walk to get here, but totally worth it.
Mushroom Tea — Savory tea. Tastes like the mushroom broth my mom makes.
Foie Gras Toast — Freshly baked bread layered with a tangy jam and owl-​shaped foie gras. Beautiful presentation.
Salmon Poke — Favorite breakfast item here! Toast layered with thin slices of cucumber, bite-​sized salmon pieces, and egg yolk. Protein-​packed and super delicious.
Brioche donut with whiskey glaze — Got a batch that came straight out of the oven, and it was everything I’d hope it would be. Could definitely taste the whiskey.

Ample street parking. Sometimes the menu is posted on the facebook page. The doughnut is amazing. Lightly glazed, but not overly sweet to taste. Plump and moist. Although petite in size, one portion is enough. I hope to try the toast with the owl figurine of foie gras. Not much seating available, but plenty around 10am on the weekdays.

Bunny is simply amazing. The best donut in the city, surprisingly delicious acorn shortbread, the best biscuits, creative and delicious savory foods, etc. I could rave on and on, but that would just be tiresome.
Note that this is not the subtle, not-​too-​sweet refined kind of bakery that I normally like. This is the kind of bakery where somebody decided to take a cakey brioche, then put sugar on it and brulee it into an amazing crunchy carmamel coating, then decided THAT was still inadequate and smeared nutella on it. And you know what? It’s amazing. Probably the second best bakery in the city of Chicago.

Cute concept, friendly service, and definitely ‘gram worthy, but other than that it’s not anything I would particularly seek out again. I tried both the salmon poke toast and the foie gras toast, and while they were good, they didn’t leave any lasting impressions. In fact, I felt as if I could have easily made them in my own kitchen — an idea that shouldn’t even cross my mind when considering the prices I paid for both items.
If you do decide to check this place out, I would recommend visiting on a weekday. Coming in on a Thursday morning, my cousin and I were in and out within 30 minutes without any wait time and ample seating in the «tiniest bakery in town.»

If you’re excited about this place give it a try, don’t let this review stop you.
The food in all fairness is fine, if not great at times.
However this place has a very frustrating layout. (Don’t get me wrong it’s totally cute)
It’s a tiny «bakery» with 6 seats, so form should follow function, with 6 seats it should focus on take away food in theory, Sadly that’s not the practice. There were only 2 baked goods when I visited. Due to the line and lack of elbo room we asked the staff what was good for take away they suggested everything on the lunch menu was dine in. Which is fine. But when the whole resteraunt is 6 chairs and a line of people breathing down your neck, it’s hard to enjoy anything.
Dining in is nothing but issues: If you get a glass of water, they have a cute, but incredibly inefficent water cooler that takes forever to pour water out. Using it you take up the space for people to cream up their coffee, also, it puts you in the way of the line, which was not the nicest bunch of people. (Not the restaurants fault of course)
Silverware is not given with the meals so you have to get up and retrieve some, which is hard when you are sharing a bench with strangers and sandwiched by the line of people. As a tall guy I banged my knee on the table, which sent that loud clang of dishes and silver ware thru the whole shared table, keeping people from enjoying their food.
The kitchen is huge. For a place that claims to be a micro bakery, it’s kitchen is larger than Baker Miller’s, which is a full size bakery/​restaurant. If you wish to focus on food recommended for dine in, maybe sacrifice half the space of the kitchen and fit more seating in the dining area?
Back to what’s most important:
Food, it’s good, not all of it worth the price, sadly. We had fermented veggie gnocchi, raspberry cookies, buttered toast with jam, and a bread boule. Gnocchi was the stand out, very nice soft pillowy dumplings. Sharp veggies, and a very silky and briney broth. It really is a great dish and at $ 9 it’s well priced. Toast for $ 5 is not so great, it’s fine the bread was nothing exceptional. Cookie was nice, oaty with a nice patch of sour sweet fruit. Last was the flax bread boule. It’s an ok bread, small for a boule, and way to small for $ 10. I’m not cheap, but if you are going to charge high quality prices your food you best match that quality. There was a time you could buy a boule 2 – 3 times that size for $ 6 at Cellar Door and that’s one of the best breads in the city.
Suggestion?
Focus on more baked goods. It’s impossible to enjoy yourself dining in due to space restraints, Raise the shared table to counter height and ditch the chairs. encourage guests to eat there, but don’t set it up so it encourages people to stay longer than necessary.
Your food’s not bad, I just wish there was a way I could enjoy it more.

Wanted to love this place especially after the long wait to opening but was disappointed. This place is overpriced for what you get (see photo of business card-​sized toast that cost $ 4).
The brioche was fine but honestly I could’ve (should’ve) bought a whole loaf from Treasure Island that would’ve tasted pretty similarly.
The donut was equally small. While the texture was good, it tasted like it was fried in old oil. Do not get the hype.
I guess they are taking their status as «tiniest bakery in town» to heart by also providing tiny food.
Few boules are worth paying $ 10 and these didn’t look as if they were. It’s ironic that they had a copy of Tartine’s bread book on the shelf when these boules look like a pale comparison.
I suppose this place will manage to thrive because a lot of people in this city can’t seem to separate hype from reality. But I found it to be quite a disappointment.
As a side note we dined at Elizabeth for dinner the same night. That was actually an enjoyable experience and a steal in comparison for what you get.

Instagram worthy place, but super tiny. Only about 6 seats total.
Foie gras + jam toast — SO GOOD. And so cute with the owl shaped foie
Salmon tartare on toast with egg yolk-​UNREAL. Very fresh salmon. Great flavor. Still thinking about this one
Toad in a hole-​beef tartar with egg and garlic aoli amazing amazing amazing.
They also have earl grey caramels that are mouthwateringly delicious.
Can’t wait to go back and try everything else.

So happy Bunny finally opened! Had been super excited for this venue since news broke way back. Been twice already and this place is fantastic! Everything you’d expect from a whimsical, passionate, Michelin starred chef’s version of a bakery. In addition to the wonderful bakery items, what truly makes Bunny special is the amazing breakfast and lunch fare. Top notch ingredients that are perfectly executed and elevate standard brunch fare to a much higher level. My toad in the hole on sourdough bread topped with immensely flavorful beef tartare was truly incredible. The loaf of squid ink and blood bread was also fantastic. Highly recommend the mushroom tea; possibly the best tea I’ve consumed! Love the yuzu gummies and the salted caramels as a sweet finish.
If you visit on a weekend, definitely recommend arriving on the early side as it will likely be crowded. Since everything is made from scratch, items do begin to run out as the morning progresses. There is also limited seating (it is a tiny space — hence the name Micro Bakery); reportedly they are hopefully making an arrangement with a nearby coffee venue to be able to utilize their seating. Also some patience is needed on weekends, again since everything is made from scratch and the kitchen is small (the product is well worth the wait and there is a friendly, happy vibe making the wait more pleasant). This is a venue featuring quality over quantity; expect to pay a few bucks more than a run-​of-​the-​mill breakfast venue, but the quality will be readily apparent and is totally worth the cost. The cuisine is really special and it may just end up being the tastiest breakfast you’ve ever enjoyed.

Couldn’t wait for this place. I loved it. For the limited pastry there are, they were amazing. Best doughnut. I’m gougere fiend and this was one of my favorites.
The pickled fish sandwich is delicious.
I wish there were more seats but I didn’t wait long they also offered me to go to bow truss but the seats opened fast.
I managed to be there when they had a few pierogi order. Reason why it’s the best.

I went to the opening of sister restaurant/​bakery of Elizabeth last week. This place offers pastries, sandwiches and coffee. I would recommend the ricotta on toast. They also had cute little gummies shaped as owls.

OMG.
This place is making me religious.
To be honest, feeling is between spiritual and orgasmic.
The breads, so good make you laugh off some of Chicago’s so-​called best, and flip off WholeFoods bakery.
When i buy a loaf, i manage to eat the whole thing in the day.
Their breads remind me of a cross between my favorite bakeries in Tokyo and Vienna.
Y’all in the mood for burger? Goodbye Au Cheval.
In the last two weeks since their opening i have been there 5 or six times. Have tried all their breads and most their breakfast items. So good.
Wish it were closer to Bucktown.
Iliana Regan continues to impress me with her vision, and work ethics. I know she works late at Elizabeth every night, and then i see her at Bunny, at 8 a.m. working hard (certain she gets there a couple of hours earlier).
Environment: lovely. Real nice space.
Service: Fabulous, attentive, laid back.
My highest recommendation. Please support this place.

Cute, Wonderful, Warm Hospitality and SKILLS. To be so good within the first couple weeks of official opening is rare and I’m so happy Bunny the Micro Bakery, the bakery/​popup project of Elizabeth Restaurant has finally officially opened.
I very rarely review after a first visit, but after tasting foie that was even creamier and meltier than what I’ve had at some 2– and 3-​star Michelin restaurants I’ve been to around the world (seriously, how did you do that chef? YUM) and tasting one of the cleanest mushroom tea consommes you can ever hope to warm you up on a dreary Chicago winter’s day, I’m really looking forward to eating through the menu here, Lakeview nightmare parking situation be damned. One bit of advice: when I visited, there were only 4 stools and 4 milk crates to sit on and it’s a tight squeeze, so count on carry out when it’s busy.
I can’t wait to return. Probably later this week. With my nose pressed up against the glass.

I love this place.
Super cute. Tucked away. Homey feel just like Elizabeth. Chef regan was there, so nice and friendly like usual.
Tried the egg sandwich. Which was delicious — buttered toast with egg and melted cheddar.
Also tried one with wagu,
Which was a total treat
Now I just need to go there earlier, when they still here donuts left!

The food: ²⁄₅. Like everyone else, I was very excited for this place to open, and the owner seems to have her heart in the right place, as it’s a very cute space, but the pastries were not up to par. The whiskey donut was nice and light, but frankly it didn’t taste like anything special for $ 2.50. Now, the French pastries need a lot of work, as their texture is totally off, having an overbaked exterior and a soggy interior. The canele had an overcamerlized crust and a soggy interior. The gougere suffered the same fate. While it had a very nice cheesy flavor, again it was soggy on the inside and overbaked on the outside. Le Bouchon makes pretty darn good gruyère gougeres, I recommend checking those out for the right texture. There is a world of a difference between moist and soggy.
The service: ⁴⁄₅. We got there at 9 and the line was already about 10 people, most of the displayed pastries also appeared about gone. I recommend getting there early, as they only have about 5 chairs. The cashier could’ve been a lot more friendlier.
Overall: ³⁄₅. Love the idea, but the pastries don’t meet the expectations, unfortunately.

Killer! Beautiful space. Extremely courteous staff. And Tartare Toad in the Hole? Oh yeah. My new Breakfast of Champions. This is serious breakfast fare. My prediction? Lines out the door for the best breakfast in Chicago. It will change your entire dining schedule. Congratulations — this is Michelin star worthy.

My husband and I have been huge fans of Iliana Regan and her beautiful restaurant Elizabeth. I was super excited when Bunny, the Micro-​Bakery opened and with no surprise everything I tried was amazing, beyond my expectations!
I had the brûlée toast and ricotta with jam toast which were excellent. The bread is perfectly warm and toasty on the edges, soft, fluffy and chewy in the inside. Everything is made fresh and of course with precision, the plating is always beautiful!
I’m definitely going back this week to try a few more pastries, and the savory options as well. And I know I will not be disappointed. Bunny bakery is definitely a place to support, cherish, and love in Chicago, it’s a warm and sweet place!