Fat Peach Bakery - Bridgeport

Was in the neighborhood (Archer, near Loomis) and took advantage of a fairly short line (it was early, and, yes, expect a line). Wonderful baked goods. Really outstanding croissants (had the almond today as well as a chocolate hazelnut bar on croissant dough). Impossibly thin and flaky layers. Had a savory spinach roll, also delicious and a strawberry cream puff, ditto. Cinnamon roll was too squat so the inside/outside dough proportions were not what I hoped for although it was perfectly executed - and the glaze was great. Fancy banana cake was outstanding. They close when they run out, so get there early.

2907 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60608

A successful first trip to Fat Peach last weekend. Often I'd say first but not last, but the combination of the drive and the wait and the better options much closer to me likely means I won't go back any time soon. But that's not a condemnation of the place at all. It really is very good and, as far as I know, the best option within a few miles in every direction. If you're in the area anyhow, it's definitely worth checking out. Maybe combine it with a morning trip to Carnitas Uruapan?

Side note: this is a local couple that opened a place in a neighborhood with a need for something special. It's great that people are lining up for it every weekend and I hope they're able to keep it up and even grow. Right now, the owners say they're working 15 hours a day, 7 days a week just to be open Friday-Sunday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (or sold out). If they can reach the point where they can get more help (they only have one employee), I think they'll only get better.

Side side note: Apparently they're using a Faulds oven, which is pretty great. I've never heard of them being used for anything other than pizza.

Sweet

Savory

Overall impressions: 1) these are all picture perfect pastries, 2) some were outstanding, and 3) the croissants that are filled before baking weren't nearly as flaky as they looked.

The creamy leek and mushroom quiche was the best of the bunch. The strong flavors and textural contrasts make this a flawless breakfast pastry.

The strawberry milk croissant was another home run. The flaky croissant with two different strawberry fillings is another one I'd love to have again.

The hazelnut chocolate bar was also really great. Like all of the fillings, the chocolate hazelnut was clearly high quality. The crispy/almost crunchy base was also a winner.

Hang this chocolate croissant in a museum. Just gorgeous. We just didn't love the texture of this croissant. I don't know enough about baking to pinpoint what went wrong but it just didn't taste/feel as flaky as it looked. It's very possible the sexy visual unfairly raised expectations. The chocolate was top tier. I'd give this one another shot if I go back or, even better, if I know someone else is going and willing to bring it to me.

As you can see on the base of the almond croissant and a little above the filling, this one wasn't as airy as is ideal. The almond flavor was great and the the little almond cookie on top (disguised as part of the croissant) was sensational.

This mango white chocolate choux is, I believe, the first choux I've ever had so I have nothing to compare it to. It wasn't my choice since white chocolate is garbage but fortunately the white chocolate was very mild and the the mango flavor was really great. I'd absolutely get this again if it came in passionfruit (and preferably without any white chocolate).

Quick thoughts on the other items. The ham & cheese croissant had great cheese but mediocre ham; the "fancy banana bread" was very good banana bread but not appreciably better than much cheaper non-fancy options without the chocolate topping; and the spinach cheese roll had good flavor but, texturally, was pretty much just bread.

A data point on the waits. I was there last Sunday on a beautiful cool in the shade/warm in the sun morning. We got there at 7:25 and were 4th in line. By the time it opened, the line was 30+ and it was a few people longer when we left.

There are three small 2-person tables inside but they were unused while we were there. Prices range from $5 for the chocolate croissant to $12 for the quiche. There's a small coffee menu as well - drip, cappuccino, Americano, cold brew and latte.

Fat Peach Bakery
2907 S Archer Ave
Instagram
No website
No phone

We live quite close, and are pretty happy they're open--or rather, we will be, once the lines die down. I can't wait until they're "so crowded nobody goes anymore." We were among their very first customers in line the first couple weekends, but since it's just been too lengthy a wait with kids in tow.

I'm also one of those who sincerely lamented the loss of the bacon buns and other, Old World-ish treats of Bridgeport Bakery, but Fat Peach is as good as about any other croissant we've had in town. As indicated, for the Southside, that means a lot (although we are fond of Butterdough, too, which has sorta returned at a few places not terribly far away).

The food is good--worth the price--and I wish they'd bring back the sandwich they had opening day, it was awesome and huge. That said, go to your other neighborhood bakeries, so we can have this one, please-and-thank-you.

Also, if the line is too long for those outside the neighborhood, just keep going down Archer to 35th and hit Cadinho. Pastries are a bit smaller and not so laminated, but equally tasty and definitely less expensive. Coffee is great at both places.

To compare to the other two SW side newcomers, I think coffee and pastry are the best at Fat Peach and Cadinho, but Grano on 47th has solid espresso and decent Mexican bakery, and Cafe Consume sells the aforementioned Butterdough croissants, which are more straightforward but almost on the level of Fat Peach and without the lines (but they do sell out quick, both here and at Two Mile, their other big coffeeshop retail spot).

On top of the existing coffee culture in Bridgeport, it's a good time to be alive for fans of hot bean water and baked goods.

mtgl wrote:Fat Peach is as good as about any other croissant we've had in town

Have you had or seen them offer plain croissants or have they all been filled like they were on my visit?

I haven't seen plain yet, but I think I did see them on their Instagram once. Definitely not regular, and they do seem to rotate a lot of the menu frequently, with just a couple things appearing every weekend.