A Taste of Perfection: Broken Tart Bakery in Oak Park
A Sweet Treat for Adults This Halloween
Halloween is just around the corner, and for kids, it’s all about trick-or-treating. But what about the adults? If you’re looking for a treat that’s a little more substantial, look no further than a two-year-old bakery in Oak Park, Broken Tart.
A Pair of Sisters Behind the Scenes
Cute and adorable usually describes kids, not cakes. But at Broken Tart, it’s a pair of sisters who are driving the decisions. Katie Mack, co-owner of Broken Tart, explains, "My sister Krissy is a pastry chef, she’s worked in kitchens all over the U.S., here in Chicago, in New York."
Decadent Treats and Savory Options
Mack is more front-of-the-house and marketing, but it doesn’t take an MBA to promote cakes this compelling. Not just decadent chocolate housing a seasonal blueberry compote, but also passionfruit chiffon and ricotta chip. Interestingly, their best-seller is a breakfast item usually taking a back seat to biscuits – the kale salad scone.
A Kale Salad Scone to Die For
The top-selling item, people come from all over to buy, is the kale salad scone, featuring aged cheddar, chopped kale, and golden raisins; a perfect blend of sweet and savory and crunchy. Don’t overlook the cornbread biscuits, either.
Sweet and Savory Options
"We always have a sweet option and a savory option. We do cheese and hot honey sometimes; we make house-made jams and whipped butter in the sweet version. We fold in the butter, so it’s a nice tall biscuit, and you’re gonna get a lot of flaky layers," she says.
Other Delicious Options
Cookies are stellar, especially the chocolate chip, finished with sea salt. The lemon pound cake manages to ride that fine line between sweet and tart. More beguiling is the olive oil cake, a creation rooted in Italy – moist on the inside, with a crunchy citrus glaze on the outside.
Tips for Visiting
Mack advises that most mornings are frenetic, with a fair amount of jockeying for seats, made even harder as the weather cools and forces you inside. She urges patience, "It moves quickly, so don’t give up hope if you come and there’s nowhere to sit. A table generally turns over pretty quickly."
Get in Touch with Broken Tart
- Address: 1108 Chicago Ave., Oak Park
- Phone: 708-434-5682
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best-selling item at Broken Tart?
A: The kale salad scone.
Q: What are the sweet and savory options at Broken Tart?
A: We always have a sweet option and a savory option. We do cheese and hot honey sometimes; we make house-made jams and whipped butter in the sweet version. We fold in the butter, so it’s a nice tall biscuit, and you’re gonna get a lot of flaky layers.
Q: Is the bakery busy?
A: Yes, most mornings are frenetic, but it moves quickly, so don’t give up hope if you come and there’s nowhere to sit. A table generally turns over pretty quickly.
