You know those places where you can’t help but become a regular? For many people, one such place is Blackberry Market.
It’s where you end up between errands, at lunchtime because it’s your go-to spot, or after visiting the farmers market.
When you walk in, the bakery smell hits first, most likely their iconic cinnamon rolls. You can hear milk steaming behind the counter while people grab a quick bite on their work break or settle into a corner booth for a two-hour catch-up.
Blackberry Market checks a lot of boxes. It’s a restaurant, bakery, coffeehouse, and market. It sells food made with real ingredients that never feels like a compromise, including healthy pre-made dinners for when you just don’t feel like cooking, and it’s also everyone’s favorite place for holiday catering, from Easter treats to Thanksgiving sides.
The La Grange location is Blackberry’s second café (after Glen Ellyn), and it’s one of those places that feels like it’s been around as long as anyone can remember, a place that quickly becomes a part of your weekly routine.
Let’s take a look at the top reasons Blackberry Market is always worth a repeat visit.
#1: Scratch-Made Food, Designed for Real Life
All the food at Blackberry Market is handmade, fresh, and unprocessed. We’re talking biscuits baked in-house every morning and fresh salads tossed daily. You find foods that are both filling and nourishing, like the amazing pesto pasta salad, with wholesome ingredients and bright colors so that you’re eating a rainbow.
This is the kind of place designed to meet people where they’re at. You can grab something quickly, but it’s also a hub where people are encouraged to sit and enjoy a meal instead of treating food like another task to check off their list. Blackberry was built as a gathering spot where good food creates space for conversation and connection.
Calling it a fast-casual café and bakery is technically accurate, but it undersells the experience. Most regulars would tell you the quality puts it in a category of its own, and that commitment, plus consistency, keeps people coming back.
Click here to view the menu.
#2: Options for Every Kind of Eater
A lot of places say they’re flexible when it comes to dining options, but Blackberry really puts their money where their mouth is on this one.
All the menus are clearly marked, with options for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and nut-free eaters. There’s no complex decoding required, no awkward questions at the counter, and no having to ask for a million modifications to make sure there’s something you can eat. Just little letters displayed next to each dish that quietly say, “We thought about you.”
Plant-lovers have easy wins such as avocado toast and protein bowls that don’t feel like veggie scraps. There are also grain bowls built on quinoa, roasted veggie plates, and dishes where the sweet potato is the main character, plus options for fresh fruit on the side.
And if you have to be careful regarding food intolerances or allergies, this place has your back. There’s a reason reviews mention people with celiac disease feeling genuinely considered here: Blackberry’s celiac-free offerings include baked goods, so there are treats you can actually eat without crossing your fingers.
#3: The Grab-and-Go Case That Saves the Day
For those short on time or energy, the grab-and-go case at Blackberry Market has really earned its reputation.
Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner are all lined up and ready, which makes it easy to walk in without a plan and walk out with one. You’ll find overnight oats with toasted coconut for breakfast, options such as chicken salad sandwiches when lunch sneaks up on you, and glazed salmon when cooking at home isn’t happening tonight.
The selection goes beyond meals too. There are fresh juices, kombuchas, bakery items, and chocolate-chip energy bites. There’s even take-and-bake cookie dough for later that comes highly recommended.
Everything is clearly labeled and neatly stocked, making picking out what you need easy.
Our advice? Sit down and enjoy a meal when you have the time, then grab something from the case and check out on your way out. Because you never know when you’ll need a lunch or dinner backup plan.
#4: A Creative Menu and Amazing Specials
Sure, Blackberry Market covers the basics. Breakfast runs strong, whether you’re ordering biscuit sandwiches, croissants, or a full plate like the farmhouse breakfast with eggs, bacon, and potatoes. Lunch offers craveable comfort, with items such as chicken salad that people swear by.
However, the menu goes much deeper than those of most other cafés.
You’ll find options such as the chorizo breakfast wrap, featuring scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes, spinach, spiced chorizo, and cheddar, all finished with housemade tomato jam on the side. (You might want to ask for two!) Then there are lunch items like the caprese panini layered with fresh mozzarella, tomato, spinach, basil pesto, and tomato jam, and the bacon chopped salad that balances smoky, crisp, and fresh flavors.
There’s also a full menu for kids (called munchkins here), plus rotating daily soups and seasonal breakfast and lunch specials. One item never leaves the lineup, for good reason, is their Italian wedding soup. It’s savory, comforting, and consistently delicious.
#5: Bakery Treats People Genuinely Go Out of Their Way For
It’s easy to forget that Blackberry Market is also a bakery, until you see their case, brimming with scones, breads, cookies, muffins, croissants, biscuits, and seasonal pastries that tend to sell out before noon. You’ll find breakfast classics such as their iconic cinnamon rolls (they even give them out for free once a year!) and blackberry lemon scones that sit alongside bars (the blackberry bar and the Nutella bar both have fan followings), sugar cookies, and a rotating assortment of cupcakes.
Just as important, there are gluten-free and vegan bakery options that actually taste good. That alone makes Blackberry a go-to for a lot of people.
Sometimes you stop in for lunch. Sometimes you come just for a pastry. Both are good reasons.
#6: Drinks for Every Taste
The something-for-everyone approach isn’t just for the food. It shows up clearly on the drink menu as well. You’ll find strong drip coffee, well-balanced espresso drinks, iced coffees, and a solid lineup of tea and matcha options.
Whether you’re looking for caffeinated or decaf, classic milk or alternatives, there’s plenty of flexibility so you can get your drink exactly how you like it. You can sweeten things your way too, with honey and housemade syrups, including the signature blackberry syrup made with, you guessed it, fresh blackberries.
Seasonal drinks rotate in, with options like cherry almond lattes, fun matcha combinations, and refreshing summertime iced teas. When fall and winter roll around, pumpkin and peppermint classics show up right on cue.
#7: It’s an Unofficial La Grange Third Place
A third place is a spot that isn’t home and isn’t work but where you still spend a lot of time. It’s where you go to reset, meet someone, or just exist for a bit without being rushed out the door. And that’s exactly the role Blackberry Market plays for so many people.
The space hits a rare balance of being bright and modern without feeling unwelcoming. There’s room to spread out, whether you’re on a laptop, hanging out with a friend, or stopping in solo. Plus there’s free Wi-Fi. It’s a café run by people who truly understand what people come there for. It was built for people to become regulars.
Meet Us at Blackberry Market
What makes Blackberry Market work isn’t one big thing. It’s the combination of scratch-made food that’s consistently good, drinks that are done right, a friendly barista who remembers your order, and an ambiance that feels like you’re genuinely welcome.
If you’re near 36 South La Grange Road, you’ll see the sign. And once you’ve been, you’ll understand why so many people treat Blackberry Market as part of their routine, especially when the new year rolls around and you’re trying to eat better without giving up the things you love.
Some places become habits for a reason. This is one of them.