Hewn Bakery

I think they are one of the best bakeries in the area — their breads are phenomenal — my favorite is WHOLE WHEAT GRUYERE — excellent!
For a morning treat their pastries cannot be beat — their almond croissant is better than Bennison’s almond croissant

The best bread in Evanston and beyond. They also serve delicious coffee and pastries. Nice staff too. Honestly, this place is almost perfect. Keep in mind that I’m European and as such love and live off bread, so I’m slightly biased.

Best bakery ever! Bread and other baked goods made with natural ingredients. The staff is very helpful and knowledgable about their baked goods. Everything is made daily and don’t even get me started about the ginger molasses cookies which are the best in the world.

Don’t order potato bread thinking it’s made with potato flour. It’s bread with potato chunks in it. And tasteless
And don’t look for rosemary as advertised. Not a speck in it.

This place is so cute!
The store gives you a rustic feeling. The people who work here are really nice and I’m glad that they have a range of espresso drinks selection.
I got the chocolate croissant here and it’s flakey. Solid. Wish they put more chocolate in though coz some bites lack chocolate.

was so excited for my first visit. I have missed having a really good quality bakery in the neighborhood since I left Denver. I came here after driving by it the past couple of weeks. I was incredibly disappointed. The ham and cheese croissant was lacking in filing, the croissant was flaky, but it was clear the bakery skimped on the butter.
What was most disappointing, however, was the service. A shop like this cannot survive solely on quality because it’s price point is so cost prohibitive ($ 4.45 for a ham and cheese croissant) for most in the neighborhood. To survive, the service must also match the top quality product. Upon entering, I told them that I was visiting for the first time, but had two negative interactions in the five minutes I was there. First, after saying hi, another customer was helped even though I was clearly in the store first. Second, and probably the most surprising. I was asking about the herb dinner rolls and what kind of herbs were used. They said Herbes De Provence. I asked doe they us the typical blend that is found in the USA (which includes lavender) or is it the more traditional blend. Lucas at the register proceeded to tell me that the blend was standard and there were no variances in the blend. Without saying it, he was telling me I was an idiot for asking …
I’m fine with having a productive discussion about the product, but to simply tell me that I was wrong is outrageous.
I will not be going back.

I wanted to check this place out since Ive heard good things and it was ok… not great but ok. The place is super tiny so you wait in line half in half out of the establishment. The pastries and bread I got were alright but nothing to drool over.

I’ve stopped in occasionally for croissants — almond croissants and chocolate croissants are my favorites, and Hewn has a chocolate almond croissant — perfect combo. Today I also got a selection of other pastries — a savory croissant (sun dried tomato, feta, and dill), olive sumac brioche, and lemon ginger scone. They really have a handle on how to do bread — everything I’ve gotten is a perfect texture and melts in your mouth. They have a great variety of interesting flavors. The savory croissant was good without being overwhelming, and I could taste all the flavors in it, even though the filling was on the thin side. I didn’t really taste the olives or sumac in the brioche, but the brioche itself was amazing enough not to need anything on it. The scone completely filled my mouth with lemon and ginger and was perfect. These pastries are a little on the pricey end — $ 3-​$ 4, but that’s not too out of line for filled pastries, especially the savory ones which are practically lunch sandwiches. And their bread loaves look delicious, I’ll have to try one of those next time.

Incredible baked goods. Their espresso drinks are exquisite. I’d give them a 5 but their manual espresso machine means the drinks take forever, and well, who has that kind of time in the morning?

Three stars for the exquisite taste of the pastries. They are amazing!
The lack of two stars, however, is for the lack of friendliness and gaiety.
I have stopped in about 20 times for a croissant, a scone, or a cookie. I work in the neighborhood and I never get anything more than, ’”What may I get you?“‘
My smiles are always met with stern looks. It confuses me!
I wish that the workers would make customers feel genuinely welcome. I feel like all they are thinking of is the «next» customer, and that I am just a number waiting to be moved through the register.

Who doesn’t love homemade bread? They are as close as homemade! I also love their savory scones. Ellen are Julie are very sweet and personable. Keep up the good work, ladies!

The Bread
Hewn makes damn good bread. Texture of both crust and inside is fantastic, flavor is rich, and it’s hearty and keeps very well. Know that this is fermented bread, so it’s all sour, including baguettes. If you’re looking for a conventional baguette, this isn’t the place to get it.
The Pastries
This one depends on your frame of reference. If Bennison’s has long been your go to, then you’ll think Hewn’s pastries are damn good, too. But, if you’ve been getting your pastries from Bonjour in Hyde Park, or have recently returned from France, you’ll think you’ve had better.
Reviewers who totally diminish Hewn’s goods are almost certainly allowing their judgment to be colored by the service.
The Problems
Whole wheat bread is a staple in my house, and we’ve been going through three to four Hewn loaves a week. At $ 7/​loaf we spend a little more than $ 100 per month on their bread. BUT Hewn apparently doesn’t see a standard whole wheat loaf as a staple, and so they rotate their regular whole wheat with a seeded version and with an heirloom grain version. I don’t want seeds in my bread, and the heirloom is $ 9/​loaf. I don’t think there are many people who will treat $ 7 bread like a staple, but I will for an exceptional product. I won’t, however, at $ 9. Simply put, if you want to sell to me at the top of the market, you need to sell me exactly what I want.
So in trying to figure out when I can get my staple whole wheat loaves I’ve had a handful of conversations with the folks at Hewn. It’s always been a mystery to me how some businesses just attract employees who are warm and have good humor, and other businesses just don’t. I’ve always figured it must be a reflection of the owner. In any case, Hewn just doesn’t. I always leave feeling like I’m a hassle, and I’ve certainly never been greeted with anything like warmth. Perhaps the thought is that we customers ought to just be thankful for their existence, get in line, and shut up. Today was the last time doing that for me. I don’t stick around to be treated that way by people, and I certainly won’t stick around to be treated that way by a business. I don’t give a damn how good your bread is.

The smell of fresh baked bread brought me back to childhood the moment I walked in.
The bread here is so good, they make amazing beer from the leftovers. That says a lot.
I’ve had their «spent grain» bread with a beer, and believe me, it’s why butter exists.
I see Hewn Bakery truly as a «baker’s bakery». This is how it should be done. Small batches, a straightforward storefront, and a strong selection of hand-​crafted top-​tier artisan goods at very reasonable prices for the quality you’ll find here and not so easily elsewhere.
When I walked in, they had plenty of helpful knowledgeable staff with expert opinions about how to mix and match items into something that you know will be well placed at the table when you get home.
Look for the stickers on bread board — those are what’s currently in stock. Or, you can look at the bread on the shelves, (if you can see past the customers!).
While you wait for your bread to be hand-​wrapped in paper and string, they also have a full espresso setup, complete with a fine selection of flavors for your latte, cappuccino, or other favorite drink.
Be sure to check out the array of local exotic cheeses, (especially if you plan on wine later), and other odds and ends that may help supplement your next supper. Between goat, lamb, and cow cheeses, I’m sure you’ll find something to please even the pickiest relative from Wisconsin.
And don’t forget to Chew Slowly… It’s the good stuff!

If you go to Hewn, you MUST get their Monkey bread! If I had to describe their monkey bread it tastes like a pillow of buttery sweet heaven! Their bread is so soft and delicious its out of this world! The outer caramelized crust is braided and firm but as soon as you bite into it, the center is soft, pillowy and sweet to perfection! Loaves are small. (I’d recommend getting two for four people).
I’ve brought these to several events in the past and they’ve always been a huge hit with family and friends. Purchase these at the start of their opening hours otherwise you’ll miss out. If you cant reach the bakery early in the morning, you can always pre-​order (Order at least a day or two before) and pick it up later. Hewn does not have indoor seating but they have outdoor seating on their wood benches. Plenty of ample street parking along Dempster. Give it a try. You won’t be disappointed!

Delicious coffee and lattes. I have never had any of their food, because I am celiac, but I have purchased things for friends and family to bring them a treat. Everyone has loved all the baked goods. I think they even make sandwiches if you ask… I think I saw a woman get 2.
Do not expect to get out of there in a hurry, they take their time, but are not obnoxious about it. It is just more relaxed than other places you may grab a coffee. In the summers there is outdoor seating, which makes it a great place to meet a friend for a relaxing catch-​up.

I have popped-​in to Hewn a couple times in the last month and I must say it is great! Their employees are very helpful and kind and also patient when you are trying to make up your mind while perusing the baked good selection.
They have a variety of fresh made breads as well as baked goods which are all terrific. I really respect that they don’t make their sweets overly sugary, they let their baked goods speak for themselves. Overall my favorite thing is their lemon ginger scone. Not too sweet and packed with crystallized ginger. Definitely a nice pick me up on a Sunday morning. The cinnamon brioche was also quite good as were the almond and regular croissants. We also picked up a loaf of brioche for French toast. Can’t wait to see how it turns out tomorrow morning. Lastly, their iced Americano and reg mocha are delicious! I could really go for another mocha right now, seriously.
If you are in Evanston and looking for a fresh loaf of bread, breakfast sweet or coffee give Hewn a try!

Love this place. Love the décor. Love the bread. In fact, love it so much I’m ordering it specially to have at my wedding. I’ve had the scones and brioche as well; both are good. But mostly I am obsessed with the bread.

Who doesn’t love haikus? Here is one dedicated to Hewn.
Little place; short hours.
Specializing in bread loaves!
Full espresso bar
A little more detail without my counting my syllables: there’s no room for dining in here. It’s a stop in/​pick up type of bakery. In addition to the bread, there’s a selection of croissants, muffins, and scones. On my visit, I left with a savory (cheddar, chive, bacon) scone and Americano. Check in on Unilocal to get 15% off a loaf of bread! I’ve got my eyes on the nutella one.

Hands down the best croissant in Evanston.
I love their almond croissant, so fresh, and I love how flaky and buttery it is. Also appreciate that they don’t dust too much powder sugar on the croissant.
I also love the monkey bread and sugar pie… or just everything in the shop? It is a very small shop but it offers a great variety of breads and pastries.
I def can see myself going back to try more of their goodies in the future. It is a 10 min walk from Northwestern, right by Dempster EL station.

The first time I ever had Hewn’s bread was at Quince during restaurant week, and after that I made it a goal to visit the bakery and eat more of the delicious things they have here.
Everything I’ve had (and I’ve had quite a few pastries and loaves of bread) has been fantastic. The breakfast pastries are to die for, the Kouign Amanns revolutionized my world, and the bread is superb. If you’re in the neighborhood – or even if you’re not – , stop by and pick something up early before it’s gone!

I really, really like Hewn! The interior is lovely: gorgeous, rustic wood everywhere. The store is a bit small, but it’s very empty. There’s one shelf on the wall where you might be able to set your espresso and pastry, but no tables. They could easily fit a couple of small bistro tables inside, and I wish they would! There’s a bench in front of the store, but otherwise, this stretch of Dempster St. is sadly benchless.
I tried the chocolate croissant and the morning bun, and both were fantastic. Both were restrained: the chocolate croissant was not overflowing with chocolate, so you could really appreciate the buttery flakiness of the pastry itself. The morning bun was thoroughly cooked (not doughy at all), and the cinnamon sugar was lovely and caramelized on the bottom.
I will definitely be back to try other pastries and to pick up one of their delicious looking loaves of bread!