Glaze in Congress Park has been through many incarnations (three to be exact: a bakery, a bakery/sushi spot, and now a bakery/eatery); here’s hoping the current iteration is here to stay. The shop, while continuing to bake its spectacularly unique baum cakes, has moved in the direction of an Asian-inspired neighborhood cafe. That translates to dishes with a foundation of comfort food mixed with Asian flair.

Take chef Kris Padalino‘s riff on chicken and waffles (pictured): She fries sesame chicken until golden and then plates it alongside waffles tinged green with earthy, slightly sweet matcha tea. Honey-lemon butter and blackberry compote tilt the dish toward brunch but if you manage a bite of each element, the combination balances savory and sweet. (Glaze co-owner Heather Alcott says she could live off of this dish.)

Across the menu portions are generous and prices are reasonable. The chicken and waffles runs $11 and could easily be shared. Likewise, $7 buys you two superb, oversize pork belly buns and $12 nabs you a big-enough-for-two pork belly hash. Even the green-curry spiked lobster roll (which comes inside a baumkuchen pretzel roll made in Glaze’s famed Japanese oven) is a sensible $14.

Glaze’s third attempt is its best as it brings something entirely different to Congress Park while maintaining the ease and price point of a let’s-grab-lunch kind of place. For the moment, the spot is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, but watch for those hours to expand into dinner soon.

1160 Madison St., 720-387-7890

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Amanda M. Faison
Amanda M. Faison
Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor.