Baker Miller Bakery & Dinette
Chocolate Chip Cookie
Oat Pecan Jammer Thumbprint Cookie
Buttercream Sandwich Cookie
Blueberry Oat Muffin
Cinnamon Toast Doughboy
Biscuit
Toast Plate
Migrated from Lincoln Square to 4655 North Lincoln Avenue after a lease dispute in 2018 Baker Miller is no stranger to turmoil, and amidst a global pandemic the concept from Megan Miller and husband David has resorted to take-out only from 8am until 3pm Thursday through Monday.
Officially titled Baker Miller Bakery & Dinette, a combination café and mill house from former Bang Bang Pie employees that debuted in 2014, much of the Miller’s early praise came from house-ground Grains, hand-milled Flour and Chicago’s first “Toast Bar,” while critiques of both price and inconsistency have also been commonplace.
Using online or walk-up ordering during COVID-19, staff appropriately donning PPE but inattentive-bordering-on-rude while waiting for two slices of Bread to be toasted, it was on a nearby bench that the Miller’s goods were eaten, buttered naturally-leavened Sourdough an immediate highlight thanks to both tanginess and crumb while a $3.75 Biscuit was arguably underbaked at the bottom but nonetheless enjoyable.
Trying hard not to focus on prices, David and Megan’s commitment to their craft most certainly commendable, it is hard not to raise an eyebrow at $3.50 for a two-bite Sandwich Cookie that tastes mostly like Sugar, a quarter more for double the amount of Chocolate Chips and perfectly baked Dough faring far better in terms of taste as well as value.
Also performing well with a toothsome Thumbprint Cookie, Strawberry Jam providing just enough sweetness to a blend of Nuts and Oats, those seeking a “signature” item will find it in Baker Miller’s “Doughboy,” the baked round far lighter than a Doughnut and currently dressed like Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal clocking in at $4.50 after tax – far better than the more expensive Blueberry Oat Muffin which finds Fruit in a clump at the center of an otherwise flavorless matrix.
www.eatbakermiller.com
