Reviews That Touch Us: The Most Beautiful Messages From Our Clients

Running a family-owned bakery and specialty store is hard work, but it’s the words of our customers that keep us going. Every kind review, every thoughtful comment, and every story shared about a visit to Balkan Bakery reminds us why we wake up early, stay up late, and pour our hearts into every tray of burek and every slice of cake.

In between mixing dough, filling pastry cases, and helping guests choose their favorite treats, we sometimes pause to read your reviews. They make us smile, they make us emotional, and they remind us that what we do is about much more than food. It’s about people, memories, and the moments you choose to spend with us in the Chicagoland area.

This blog is our love letter back to you, highlighting some of the reviews that have truly touched us and sharing what they mean to a small Balkan bakery, dessert shop, and specialty store.

“What a sweet little bakery and shop.”

One guest described us as:

“What a sweet little bakery and shop. Delicious burek, gorgeous case of authentic cakes and cookies. Nice selection of savory food. Really nice provisions too, Serbian liquor, unique items. On our list of favorite Serbian bakeries/shops!”

For us, this review captures exactly what we hope people feel when they walk through our doors. We never wanted to be “just a bakery.” Our dream was to create a place where you can enjoy delicious burek, admire a case full of authentic Serbian cakes and cookies, and also discover a thoughtful selection of savory food, Serbian liquor, and unique European specialty items.

Being added to someone’s list of favorite Serbian bakeries and shops in Chicagoland is more than a compliment; it’s a responsibility. It pushes us to keep our standards high, to protect the authenticity of our recipes, and to make sure that every visit feels warm, welcoming, and worth the drive.

“I was extremely surprised when walking in…”

Another review that deeply touched us came from a guest who had been wanting to visit for a long time and finally stopped in with her mother. She wrote:

“I have been wanting to stop at these bakery for a long time and I finally did. My mother and I decided to stop and get something for breakfast. I was extremely surprised when walking in because I thought it was just a bakery. It is more like a small store. It has all sorts of items food, drinks, household items personal items, greeting cards etc.”

We love this because it tells the story of discovery. Many people first find us while searching online for a Serbian bakery near Chicago or a Balkan bakery in the suburbs. They imagine a small pastry counter, and then they walk in and realize it’s also a specialty store filled with European food, drinks, household goods, and little surprises like greeting cards.

The same guest went on to describe breakfast with her mom:

“My mother and I ordered the spinach and feta burek and I the mushroom burek… I also bought a slice of the orange and chocolate cake. This too was yummy! We will definitely go back and try a coffee and another dessert… The lady greeted us and was very helpful explaining the different flavors of items. Overall, I'm glad we stopped in and we will definitely go back.”

What moves us most here isn’t just the kind words about our spinach and feta burek, mushroom burek, or orange and chocolate cake, though we are very proud of them. It’s the image of a mother and daughter finally visiting a place they’ve been curious about, sharing breakfast together, and leaving with plans to return.

Balkan food can be new and unfamiliar to many people in the Chicagoland area. That’s why we take time to explain flavors, answer questions, and help guests choose something they’ll love. When someone says, “I’m glad we stopped in and we will definitely go back,” it tells us that effort matters.

“This is super good place for eating Balkan foods.”

Another review that always makes us smile is full of energy and enthusiasm:

“This is super good place for eating Balkan foods. That foods for everyone. My favorite is Burek I LOVE IT. It will never enough for you. Super cakes and pies with delicious flavors. They have excellent customer sevice and professional management. Kitchen and floor super clean. Inside and outside has dinnering places.”

We can feel the joy in every sentence. When someone writes, “My favorite is Burek I LOVE IT. It will never enough for you,” we can almost see them taking that first bite of warm, flaky pastry and deciding right then that they’ve found their spot.

We’re also incredibly grateful for the comments about cleanliness, customer service, and management. Behind the scenes, our team works hard to keep the kitchen and dining areas spotless, to greet guests with a smile, and to make sure every interaction feels respectful and kind. Those details might not be as eye-catching as a cake in the display case, but they matter just as much.

Hearing that guests notice a clean environment, friendly staff, and comfortable seating inside and outside means the world to us. It tells us that our Balkan bakery and dessert shop is not just a place to grab food, but a place where you can sit, relax, and enjoy a meal with friends and family.

Why These Reviews Matter So Much

As a small, family-owned Balkan bakery and specialty store in the Chicagoland area, we don’t have a big marketing department or national advertising campaigns. Most people find us through word of mouth, online searches for phrases like “Balkan bakery Chicagoland,” “Serbian bakery near Chicago,” or “Balkan dessert shop in the suburbs,” and honest reviews from real customers who share their experiences.

Every review helps someone else decide whether to visit us for the first time. When you mention our burek, our authentic Serbian cakes and cookies, our European specialty items, or our warm service, you’re not just giving us feedback—you’re guiding future guests to a place that might become special to them too.

These reviews touch us because they reflect what we care about most: creating a sweet, welcoming bakery and shop with authentic Balkan pastries, offering a small-store feel with unique provisions and Serbian liquor, providing friendly, helpful service that makes new guests feel comfortable, and maintaining a clean, inviting space for dine-in and take-out.

When customers remember specific details—like spinach and feta burek, mushroom burek, orange and chocolate cake, or the way we explain flavors—it reminds us that the little things truly matter.

Our Promise to the Guests Who Review Us

To everyone who has taken the time to leave a review, thank you. You may not realize how much your words mean to a small business like ours, but they truly make a difference.

Your feedback encourages us to keep perfecting our recipes and adding new Balkan desserts and savory dishes, to maintain a spotless kitchen and dining area, to continue greeting every guest with warmth and personal attention, and to stay true to our roots as a Serbian bakery while welcoming guests from all backgrounds.

We read your reviews, share them with our team, and sometimes even keep them as reminders on long days. On busy weekends, they give us energy. On challenging days, they give us strength.

An Invitation From Our Balkan Bakery in Chicagoland

If you’re discovering us for the first time—maybe while searching for a Serbian bakery near Chicago or a Balkan dessert shop in the Chicagoland area—we’d love to welcome you.

Come see what our reviewers are talking about. Try the burek that so many guests have fallen in love with. Explore our case of authentic Serbian cakes, cookies, and pastries. Browse our shelves of European food, Serbian liquor, and unique specialty items. Sit down for breakfast, coffee, or dessert and create your own memories here.

And if you’ve already visited Balkan Bakery and shared your experience online, please know how grateful we are. Your words help others discover a little corner of the Balkans right here in Chicagoland.

Visit Us

Ready to experience the bakery our customers are raving about? Visit Balkan Bakery in the Chicagoland area for authentic Balkan foods, delicious burek, Serbian cakes and cookies, and a cozy specialty store filled with unique European items. Dine in, grab something to go, or pick up treats for your next celebration—and if you love your visit, consider leaving a review to help others find us too.