Does anyone have a recommendation for a good bakery in Chicago? I am looking to order a cake with custard filling for my niece's birthday.

many thanks for your help.

jude

Our office orders from here. Absolutely decadent!

http://bakeforme.com/

Dinkels has the best yellow cake w/ fudge icing!! I am sure their custard is great, too.
Deerfields Bakery is also great, but might be too far...
http://www.dinkels.com/
http://www.deerfieldsbakery.com/ (in the northern suburbs)

I lived in Deerfield for almost 20 years and wouldn't recommend the bakery for cake. Their cake was WAY too sweet, the coffee cakes and donuts are OK> If you are in the city (North Side), I would go with Lutz's. Nothing comparable, but be aware it is European style, not sickly sweet.

Dinkels and Lutz's are excellent for cakes and I'd go with either. Sweet Mandy B's is my other favorite. Those are some of the top bakeries in the entire city. Oh, also Roeser's - another very popular one that's been around forever.

On the North Side, I'd recommend Bittersweet on Belmont (near the brown/red line stop) and Swedish Bakery on Clark St. in Andersonville. Bittersweet is more like a French cafe/pastry shop. It's expensive but very good, especially the chocolate mousse cake. Swedish bakery is kind of an old world-type place and not as expensive -- but very good.