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Mindy's Bakery
ZipPicks Awards
Best Gluten-Free Restaurants in Bucktown & Logan Square
Best Bakery in Bucktown & Logan Square
Master Critic Review
Mindy's Bakery
8.4
Mindy’s Bakery is an award-winning Wicker Park bakery from James Beard–recognized pastry chef Mindy Segal, known for bagels, croissants, cakes, and rotating pastries with clearly labeled gluten-free options. It’s a grab-and-go operation more than a cafe, but celiac-aware guests find one of the city’s densest selections of gluten-free sweets and morning breads here.
Must-Try Dishes:
Twice-baked almond croissant, Cinnamon roll, Banana Butterscotch Au Lait
Scores:
Value: 7.8
Service: 7.4
Consistency: 8.6
Food Quality: 8.7
Atmosphere: 6.5
Cultural Relevance: 8.3
What makes it special: High-profile bakery where a deep pastry case includes multiple gluten-free options from a James Beard–level pastry team.
Who should go: Gluten-avoiding pastry lovers who don’t mind lines and takeaway.
When to visit: Early mornings, especially weekends, before the most popular gluten-free items sell out.
What to order: A gluten-free pastry of the day, a bagel with flavored cream cheese, hot chocolate or coffee.
Insider tip: If you’re strictly celiac, note their cross-contamination disclaimer and ask staff which items are best-suited for more sensitive guests that day.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking along Milwaukee Ave and nearby residential side streets; mostly metered and can be competitive on weekend mornings; no dedicated lot.
Dress code: Casual — bakery and grab-and-go environment; everyday wear is totally appropriate.
Noise level: Low to moderate — short bursts of counter noise during rushes, but generally easy to converse while waiting.
Weekend wait: Not applicable — the bakery closes before dinner; expect morning weekend lines of ~15–30 minutes for popular items.
Weekday lunch: Usually minimal wait — brief counter line, often under 5–10 minutes.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — most pastries and breads are vegetarian-friendly.
Vegan options: Limited — selection varies and may be 1–2 rotating items at most.
Gluten-free options: Yes — clearly labeled gluten-free pastries and baked goods, but produced in a shared kitchen with a cross-contamination disclaimer.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Better for a casual morning pastry date or quick grab-and-go stop than a seated, linger-friendly date — there’s limited seating and the experience is counter-service.
Can I get a table without a reservation? There are no reservations — it’s walk-up counter service, and any available seating is first-come and limited; plan to take pastries to go if it’s busy.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes for quick visits — families stop in for pastries, but there’s limited seating and no dedicated kid amenities; best for short, in-and-out stops.
Best For
Better for: One of the strongest gluten-free pastry selections in the area, backed by a high-level pastry program with clearly labeled options and rotating specialty items.
Skip if: You need full café seating or a long sit-down experience.