Reviews & Ratings for Arizmendi Bakery

Citysearch Editorial Review

by Chelsea Lin at Citysearch

In a city overflowing with cafes and bakeries, this Inner Sunset co-op is among the best of the best--with the lines of hungry customers to prove it. Perhaps because the tiny, mostly take-out neighborhood bakery is worker-owned, there's a palpable sense of care and customer service that's almost a throwback to times past, where employees know regulars' names and treat even the purchase of a single scone with smiles. Each day brings a new batch of baked goods--some breakfast-y items like bran muffins and pecan rolls are always available, while breads ranging from multi-grain to challah, soda bread to pumpernickel are made according to a weekly schedule. The secret to Arizmendi's success, however, may lie in their pizza: a simple sourdough crust topped with a daily-changing assortment of vegetarian toppings available by the piece or whole pie. Spend a few minutes waiting in that ever-present line and you'll see nearly everyone walks out with a slice or two.

10/02/08

A Bakery for Everyone

by MaxPower11 at Citysearch

Most bakeries, especially in SF, are populated by two kinds of people.

Tourists, or college kids in letters scribbling notes for their medical exams.

This place however, is different. It's a co-op, which means everyone makes money if the bakery does.

Not always the best system, but in this case it works great. This place makes the best baked goods around; even the pizza is awe-inspiring.

My girlfriend is a scone connoisseur; I've bought her those little floury, fruit filled, tea toddies from here to Hong Kong; literally. And by far, her favorites are from this bakery.

My only complaint would be the people on bicycles who make this their terminus after a trip through the park. Seriously people, you are hot, sweaty, and some of you just should NOT be wearing skin tight garments around the general public. That aside, if you manage to make it early enough, they have a great selection, and some chairs outside to scarf down all kinds of cool stuff while you sample coffee from the shop next door, along with "Sunset" culture. If I should leave you with any parting words, it would be these: don't eat the pizza on a date; or at least make sure your SO partakes as well. Nothing like going in for a good-bye smooch with lethal garlic-olive oil pizza breath. Ewww.

But seriously...totally great place. Go for it; you won't be disappointed.

• Pros: They make flour, water, and aborted chicken fetuses into pure gastornomic goodness
• Cons: Sweaty bicycle riders trying to jam the front door for that "totally necessary Carbo load"

01/24/07

Best bakery in San Francisco!!

by baychick at Citysearch

This is hands-down my favorite bakery in San Francisco. The breads and pastries are delicious and fresh, and never sickeningly sweet or heavy. The pumpkin muffin, corn-cherry scone, brioche knot, and pecan roll are my favorites. It's almost unbelievable - every single thing they make is good! The thin-crust pizza is very tasty, light and not too cheesy - it can be a little on the oily side however. Arizmendi is usually crowded and the seats are all taken, and parking is pretty bad - still, the addicting baked goods are totally worth it.

• Pros: Baked goods, pizza
• Cons: Seating, parking

08/28/06

Great baked goods and pizza!

by fizzlesnit at Citysearch

Arizmendi is the best bakery in the area. Their scones, muffins, and cookies are delicious, but make sure to try their pizza above all else! The staff of this co-op is friendly and helpful.

• Pros: freshly made, natural ingredients, friendly staff

08/13/06

Bakery goods are made on the premises

by nighttripper at Citysearch

I live in the neighborhood but yesterday was my first time into Arizmendi. The breads and pastries are all fresh and I ended up buying over $30 worth of goods. I recommend the bakery for their tasty goods. However, I took off a lot of points because the checkout clerk became so surly when I, in my ignorance, set all the bags full of goods I wanted to buy on the counter all at once instead of one at time--I was supposed to put just one bag on the counter, wait while she weighed, rang up and did whatever else and only then set down the next bag. I had 5 bags full of bakery goods plus bags from other stores and had never shopped Arizmendi before so didn't know their oddball checkout protocols (every other store I've ever shopped in you can put all the things you want to pay for on the counter simultaneously). The checkout girl took on such an offensive attitude at my egregious offense that I wanted to cancel my purchases and walk out--who needs that type of attitude when you're trying to support local small businesses? Arizmendi would be well served to train their hired help better in customer service.

• Pros: Healthy ingredients, delicious breads and pastries made on site
• Cons: Notably poor customer service

08/03/06

FANTASTIC

by f8d at Citysearch

Everything is fresh, scrumptious & addicting!! The only downside is they are closed on Mondays. :)

• Pros: everything
• Cons: closed Mondays

07/27/06

Arguably the city's best pizza, bread and breakfast treats--all in the same place.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
There's one bench and a couple of chairs for pizza eaters to perch on while munching, but this is really a takeout sort of place. Thin-crusted sourdough pizza is crammed with different toppings daily. While the bakery makes a variety of breads each day, the sourdough bread is good enough to come back for. Rolls, cheese, yogurt and pastries--including chocolate cake--are available to make the start of your day a little sweeter.

• Pros: awesome takeout pizzaexcellent breads

07/03/06

Probably better in the a.m.

by jomia at Citysearch

...when the goods are freshly baked. stopped by in the afternoon to try after reading many rave reviews. Brioche was pretty good, a little dry. Challah roll was decent but, again, a little dry. Strawberry Foccacia was really hard and chewy and not as flavorful as it appeared to be. Will try the pizza next time.

• Pros: co-op
• Cons: kinda dry

09/18/05

Scones, Cookies, Pizzas, Breads- they do it all!

by kiki94110 at Citysearch

Arizmendi is the BEST in town- everything is FRESH, served with a smile, and their food is the BEST to be had in the neighborhood! Their scones are de-lectable (slightly crumbly but moist and a little salty) and their pizzas of the day always make my mouth water! Everything is made fresh daily and their breads are the best in town! It's worth the long waits on weekends and even one some weekdays- get there well before afternoon for the best selection! They have 'half baked' pizzas that you can take home and 'cook' yourself- yum! Always a treat, and the best food in the area!

• Pros: Fresh ingredients, Excellent food, YUM!
• Cons: parking, $2/scone, small seating space

05/06/05

Delicious!

by haikusue at Citysearch

It's clear why the line at Arizmendi is always out the door, the bread is fantastic and the pizzas are to die for. ( rhyme not intended) This fun neighborhood place is one of the "jewels" of the inner sunset.

• Pros: Great Food, good prices