Tartine Bakery

03/22/2008 Posted by foodielover

Finally got here early enough to find parking (9am) and walked 1 blk, lo & behold - no lines and an open table to boot. After purchasing a plain croissant (very crispy outside, flaky, moist inside), a chocolate croissant (it was ok), a cheese filled puff ball (delicious), a latte and regular coffee (free refills, self-serve), it came to a sticker shocking $16. A sm 4 in hazel nut tart costs $6. They have a sign stipulating that they've had to raise their prices by 30% in the past yr due to incurred costs. Can't see that regular folks in the neighborhood can afford to eat like this weekly, much less daily. Previous reviewers raved about the lemon curd bar. I thought it was way too tart & tasted as if made from bottled lemon juice. Should've listened to my spouse who told me not to buy it because my home made lemon bars taste better than this and I use fresh lemon juice. The cakes look delicious - coconut passion, chocolate, etc, in the display case. We bought 3 eclairs, a sm tart, lemon bar, 1 plain & 2 choc croissants to go & it came to $34 (that's almost $5 a piece). So, bring a lot of dough if you're paying by cash. The baked products are good, but prices are more reasonable at Noe Valley Bakery.

Pros: Delicious baked good, good coffee

Cons: More expensive than most bakeries, parking difficult, long lines

02/17/2008 Posted by KristinRozsa

Visiting Tartine for the first time, one would expect this well-known bakery to be quite easy to find when passing by. However, this isn't the case. When you "find" Tartine, you feel as iff you have found a treasure. The line may be long (at times), but the counter staff is well trained and keeps the line going at a quick, but not at all rushed pace. If you see a line, don't let that frighten you. It is well worth the short wait. Tartine has the most beautiful lemon meringue cake I have ever experienced. The four layers of cake are are very moist and the lemon curd filling has just the right amount of tartness. The meringue work is a delicious and rustic piece of work; it is pertectly browned and not overly sweet or dry. Besides the cake, we also had a buttermilk scone and a mozzarella tappenade pressed sandwich. All of which where wonderful. As a professional baker, I highly recommend Tartine.

Pros: No complaints here - friendly service and marvelous food.

Cons: Large tables are meant to be shared - some people don't "get it"

01/11/2008 Posted by johny_c

Everything is great except that it gets really busy sometimes. I guess you gotta do some work to get your treats.

Cons: long lines

07/03/2007 Posted by teekhe

We went for a late breakfast on a weekday and the line was around the corner. The selection of choices is limited, but excellent. Best cappuchino I've had in a while. The Brioche Bread Pudding and their croissants are to die for. This place is very popular and it's not always easy to get a seat. It is certainly not good for large groups due to this constraint. The service is efficient but friendly. If you have a question, they will answer it unlike some other places in town.

Pros: Great pastries, excellent coffee

Cons: Can be hard to get seating

06/23/2007 Posted by colerose2007

It amazes me that Tartine gets any bad reviews. I have been going there for over 2 years and never had a complaint. Yes, the line is long sometimes but its worth it. The set up isn't confusing if you have a brain that works and the service is great in my opinion.

Pros: food, service, coffee

Cons: parking

06/05/2007 Posted by patioduck

Drawn by the busy store front early Saturday evening (~7:00 pm), I squeezed into Tartine to catch a glimpse of their display case. As a pre-dinner morsel, I purchased one coco nib meringue for 40 cents. The girl behind the counter seemed a bit spaced out (I was lucky to only have to repeat my order once), but the line moved quickly and I was on my merry way within five minutes, coco nib meringue in hand. I was impressed with the meringue: it was clean, pleasantly sized (about the size of a chicken egg), and held its structure. The texture was perfect - stiff on the outside and chewy-but-not-wet inside. The coco nibs were an excellent and creative addition, since they added both a gritty chewiness and a strong cocoa taste that covers up the raw egg taste you sometimes get with meringues. The longer you chewed, the more flavor came from the coco nibs. This cookie has inspired a new affection for meringues! (And new ideas on what one can do with coco nibs!)

05/24/2007 Posted by dswijaya

Love this place. I don't mind the long line and waiting for open table. The Shitake Croque Monsieur is delicious---perfect combination of moist juicy mushroom and sweet sundried tomatoes. A big fan of the almond rocher ....light, crispy on the outside and gooey in the inside with tons of sliced almonds. Banana cream pie is always a crowd's favorite. Tartine's coffee is no sissy coffee either---strong flavorful coffee. Great place to relax and hang out with friends.

11/24/2006 Posted by kimtest72

The deserts here are amazing. Also, be sure to visit this place in the morning for the ham and cheese crossiants, morning buns and some of the best coffee you have ever tasted. You will have to stand in a line but it's worth it.

Pros: BEST desserts

Cons: There is a line and it's hard to get a table

11/21/2006 Posted by annamalsf

This place is so cute and delicious. Despite the long lines, it's worth the wait for a big latte bowl and a morning bun. Bread pudding is also amazing. I would avoid the chocolate eclair, a little dark for my taste.

Pros: ambiance, food, coffee

Cons: parking, line

11/05/2006 Posted by geminigrrl

J'adore Tartine! If there is a line out the door, it for good reason. I usually go in the morning (er ok afternoon) for breakfast. Props for the veggie quiche. I also picked up an olive bread for a picnic and it got rave reviews. I've had all their croissants - when they're good, they're very good but inexplicably I've been there when they were burned on top and ohhh what a letdown. The morning buns are cinnamon, sugar, orange infused deliciousness. They also have open faced sandwiches which look great and seductive looking desserts that I have yet to try. Seating is limited so usually I just get my goodies to go. Bon Appetit!

Pros: The food

Cons: Limited seating, Long lines on weekends