Turtle Bread Co./Pizza Biga

11/29/08

Don't bother.

by pjeffrey

Surly service, and way WAY overpriced. I just picked up two pizzas. Their sausage fennel and white cheese. 28.00. There were 6 pieces (dime sized) of sausage on the sausage pizza and both pizzas were small to medium sized at best. It was Sat. night and the place was empty. Figure it out folks!

• Pros: Pizza crust is quite good.
• Cons: Horribly overpriced. 3.00 for a cupcake?

10/24/08

Lousy Service!

by averageMinneapolitan

Turtle Bread has a large staff, but few of them care to descend to the grubby duty of actually waiting on customers. The prices are high, and the food is pretty good, but one always has the impression that the staff is inconvenienced by your presence. Several times I've waited at the counter to buy something, while only a few away workers are having a conversation, not willing to suspend it a moment to make a sale. It is only through the extreme patience of customers that this place stays in business.

• Pros: Food is usually good.
• Cons: Very shabby customer service, indifferent staff

03/04/07

Informal atmosphere with a great selection of sweets

by joulez

The first few times we went to Turtle Bread Company at this Chicago location, it was during dinner time. Although their soups are pretty good and sandwiches are average, they have a nice selection of sweets. The pizza at Pizza Biga is above average. However, it is a little pricey as you may get a personal sized (I believe a 10") basic pizza for about 10 dollars. The crust was crispy and ingredients fresh. Then one day, we finally had time to enjoy weekend brunch there - now THIS is where Turtle Bread Company shines! They have an extensive hot breakfast menu - the salmon and spinach eggs benedict is absolutely divine. Their pies are also superb - the pumpkin pie is the best we've ever had, and the key lime pie is pretty darned good. Tie that into a bustling informal atmosphere (where our kids blend in perfectly!), and you have our favorite brunching spot by far.

• Pros: great brunch menu, extensive sweets selection
• Cons: no parking lot, ver y slim dinner selection

Bakery, deli, pizzeria and restaurant: It's all good at this food-savvy complex.

by Contributor

In Short
This spacious building, made up of a bakery and gourmet deli on one side and a pizzeria on the other, is brimming with aromas and plenty of action. On the bakery/deli side, neighborhood moms with kids watch bakers frosting cakes. Foodies pick up lattes and pastries and sit at tables by the street-side windows. Pizza Biga's gold-toned, trattoria-style dining room bustles with activity at dinnertime when the wood oven turns out chicken or crispy-crusted pizzas.

03/04/06

Needs some polish...

by redseven

I've never really understood why Turtle Bread has such good representation. I have tried the Chicago avenue location many times and continue to be disappointed. For the higher price point, I would expect a higher level of service and atmosphere. At its busiest time on weekend mornings, it is often staffed by underexperienced high-school girls who seem disinterested or unattentive. The restaurant itself if unpolished, with power cords dripping from POS stations, boxes of back stock supplies and taped up menu selections on pieces of paper. A simple black board and a little organization would go a long way. Being a little rough around the edges can be quite charming when it comes to bakeries and coffee shops, but at those prices, I expect a little more.

• Pros: homemade soups, gourmet cheeses
• Cons: service, high prices, atmosphere

07/14/03

Very Quick Meals!

by jillkendall

I have eaten at Pizza Biga several times and thoroughly enjoyed my visits! It's a bit chaotic and noisy at times, but all the better for my children, ages two and six, to blend in! They serve excellent pizzas, and the oven cakes are fabulous. You must stop by on a busy Saturday or Sunday to watch their oven "master" Harold work...he pumps out the orders at lightning speed. A real treat to watch!

• Pros: No waiting for food, Reasonable, Great to bring kids