If Golden Rise Bakery's organic loaves of tomato basil bread, giant eclairs and fruit-packed cream puffs don't have you seeing the world through gold-colored glasses, something's wrong with you. But you can easily mend your ailment: take one raspberry jelly-dabbed macaroon (the biggest you'll ever see) and return for more in the morning.

After spending the good part of a Sunday afternoon eating cherry-studded ice cream and a peaches and cream tart at the metaphor-inducing spot, I was happy as a clam…and try as I might, it's hard to find fault with this sunny bakery, painted in warm creams and accented with paper lanterns. The breads are organic (in flavors as tempting as Russian dill rye and banana walnut at $4 a loaf), the picture-perfect cakes and pies start at a reasonable $12; and that indelible Logan Square spirit manifests itself through a long communal-style table and a quirky painting behind the counter of the "Customer of the Day"—position yourself in front of it, and you'll see your (afro-sporting) reflection.

A family-run business owned by pastry chef David Chundy, Golden Rise's baked goods might be the star, but they don't stand alone. It brews organic coffee by Caffe Umbria, scoops hefty servings of the oh-so-creamy Ashby's ice cream and serves gourmet salads and sandwiches like the Farmer's Basket Grilled Cheese—gouda, muenster and cheddar cheeses, fresh Granny Smith apples and bacon on homemade sourdough.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Kate Schwartz