I don't know what it is about this chain that I like so much, but maybe its the carbs screaming at me when I walk in... although I do find this place to be overpriced, I can't help but loving the soup options and fresh baguettes or french rolls or pastries, or cookies, or you get the point... for a chain place, me like!
Review Source:I had a quick and delicious lunch at Au Bon Pain's small restaurant at Northwestern Memorial Hospital today. Because it was the noon hour, I thought it would take a long time to get my food, but the combination of someone taking my sandwich order, plus many containers of ready made delicious soup meant that I had my order in less that 5 minutes. The soup and sandwich was delicious.
The only reason I did not give ABP 5 stars is because their food is a bit pricey, and the area where you sit is pretty crowded and noisy. However, the excellent quality of their food and their fast service make this a place that's worthwhile for you to come in off the street!
It is 24/7 of glorious sustenance. Try as they may newly renamed hospital cafeteria, but who knows how long their fried items and greasy cheese pies have sat under their heat lamps.
On weekdays from 1030-1100p, most of their baked items are half off. By 4am, expect a lovely array of oven fresh goodies wafting throughout the second floor. If you want a breadstick to go with your soup or a piece of baguette, ask someone behind the counter. More than likely, they'll still have the same stale stuff sitting out. They'll get a fresh one from the oven. Â
What can I say, ABP has treated me well through months of vampirism on the night shift and I don't think I could've survived without it.
A convenient 24-hour ABP with Free Wi-Fi.
It's on the second floor of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the food court. I don't think anyone really mentioned that; I wandered around the first floor and only found a Starbucks until I asked a receptionist where ABP was.
The prices are a bit steeper here than some non-Airport ABPs, but all in all, are reasonable. If you're in the area and really just need some food or coffee in the middle of the night, this is a nice (and SAFE) location to stay at.
Restaurant review
The light at the end of the tunnel. As a resident we work long hours and are grateful that in the middle of the night or early morning Au Bon Pain is open for business. There food is expensive but the quality matches the price. There is a whole row of pastry items from cinnamon rolls to bagels to satify your carbohydrate desires. If you are hungry, you can get a toasted hot sandwich with parm, pesto, and chicken. On the healthier side, packaged salads and wraps are available as well. You can round out your experience with some froyo (but alas no toppings are available). And finally in the wee morning hours, you can treat yourself to some hazelnut coffee to finish that 30 hour shift.
Pro: open 24 hrs, wide selection of sweets, soups, sandwiches, and salad
Cons: the price of the food can add up quickly and is slightly more expensive than going to outside restaurant to eat
Hidden gem: 50% off for 1 hour after 10 pm on bakery items on weekdays only so load up on sweets. In the morning, 99 cent coffee any size with breakfast sandwich
I think it's a good alternative to the Spice of Life cafe at NMH. Â I like their soups, but much like their sandwiches and salads, I find them overpriced ... but I think their baked goods are much more reasonable. Â i especially enjoy the Bakery's cookies, pecan rolls, and jalapeno chedder bagel.
Review Source:Someone HAS to have a sense of humor when they add a restaurant in their hospital with the name "pain" in it. Â Sure, it's supposed to be roughly like a French bakery, but I get a laugh every time I eat in here. Â Sounds like "The Good Pain."
Anyway, if you've eaten at other Au Bon Pain locations, this one won't seem any better or worse than others, except this one is open 24 hours--an absolute godsend in a hospital as large as Northwestern Memorial and a good alternative to the Spice of Life Cafeteria, which closes at 2 am. Â I've always been able to get a tasty sandwich, drink and a yummy pastry here no mater what the time of day or night. Â There's plenty of seating, and their prices aren't any higher here than what you'd expect for this kind of sandwich/pastry restaurant.
Au Bon Pain used to have sumptuous chocolate croissants and pastries of all kinds. Â I loved hanging out for hours at the first one I ever went to back in 1991 - just across from Harvard Yard. Â Those were great days.
Nowdays, they're a shade of what they used to be. Â I'd really like to give them 2.5 stars, but what can you do. Â The flavors are either weak or average (I seem to enjoy the Chocolate Orange Pecan Scone a fair bit and the Mint Chocolate Chip Muffin a good deal), but I can't have more than about 10% of most of the baked goods, because of the sodium levels. Â I understand that salt is a way of life for most people, but in this case we're talking about a branch inside the premier hospital of Chicago; you'd think they'd try to get corporate to help them be a little more health conscious!
However, they have one new product that is an addictive little glass of heroin for me: the Frozen Watermelon Lemonade. Â After hours of appointments and lab tests, this is the perfect little treat to cheer me up.
NMH (Feinberg Pavilion) has two major food choices on the second floor: the AllSpice Cafe and Au Bon Pain. Â While the Cafe has a wider selection of choices, Au Bon Pain is open 24/7 (the Cafe closes for 3 1/2 hours each night) and is a safe, known quantity. Â Oh, and they have the Frozen Watermelon Lemonade, which is reason enough for me. Â I also noticed that when I was last in the hospital for a week, my companion most often would run down for a soup and pastry from Au Bon Pain, not the cafe. Â Since she will gravitate to the best quality food she can acquire at that moment, that's another vote for ABP.
Did I mention they have this amazing Frozen Watermelon Lemonade? ;-)
This little place is one of my favorite grab and go restaurants/cafés in the city and or suburb. The selections are small in number but all are delicious. An assortment of pastries, cookies, croissants and coffees are available at this little gem.
No seating, except for those chairs available in the lobby. Prices are quite reasonable. When in the area and tired of the Corner Bakery and the like in the neighborhood or you want to bring refreshing food when visiting the hospital, Au Bon Pain is your place.
Try the oatmeal raisin cookie - Damn!
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