06/07/08

A Taste of Paris!

by reeniem54

If you want to experience Paris but can't afford the airfare just stop by Boulangerie. Everything I have tasted including breads, pastries, cookies and cakes are to die for!

I especially like the croissants, baguettes, fruit pasteries and cannelles. You can view the cooks at work and it appears very clean. The food is fresh and many of the staff have French accents!

08/14/06

Small town feel, quick service, good Almond Crossaint

by solarstorm

We were on vacation from NJ and tried them out as one of the best in SF. Nice little shop with quick service. Was hoping for more actual pastry selection, as opposed to tarts. Worth the visit, but not for breakfast,necessarily. Owners cautioned us against photos (could only take 1--hey what do you want, we were tourists!:)).

• Pros: Quick service
• Cons: Small selection vs some bakers in Philly, NY, for example

06/28/06

BEST BAGUETTES!!! BEST SAMPLES!!!

by christinavincent

The folks at Bay Bread on Pine are not just bakers...they are truly masters of the craft.

They've perfected the components of texture and taste in everything I've tried from their menu. The GOATCHEESE & BERRY TART is magnificent! A delicious blend of sweet, a hint of savory, always crisp berries that actually taste like berries should.

The breads...where to start? Any bread afficiando knows that the crust can make or break the experience. And Bay Breads has their recipes down to perfection. Plus, so many varieties to choose from. I highly recommend the WALNUT & SCALLION BAGUETTE, PISTACHIO & FIG DEMI BAGUETTE, and the GRUYERE & FETA ROLL.

Three other major pluses:

1) THE PRICES-Totally affordable, even for a student's budget

2) THE STAFF-they know their stuff...and they keep the lines moving.

3) THE FREE SAMPLES-always something yummy out on the counter to whet the appetite. And not just the usual. They happily pass out the finer delicacies too!

Lastly, haven't tried their coffee, so I cannot comment on that point. But there's a plethora of coffee shops in the area to get your fix.

• Pros: VARIETY, prices, and sheer taste!
• Cons: Closed Mondays, No Seating

04/03/06

Too good to past up!

by bellecombe

WOW, What a beautiful sight. Just to see all those beautiful pastries, bread, cookies and more in display is to die for. I get the Chocolate croissant and oh boy, what a delicious rush. The staff is great. I appreciated their wonderful knowledge and joy in describing it. The famous canneles de bordeaux, the delicious and testy madeleine, I got several bags of it. The gorgeous fruit tart that you can't leave without it, and of course the bread. The variety of the bread is amazing and I bought a wonderful large round bread call a peasant and the epi baguette. Once reviewing the wonderful selection of lunch items, we decide to get the small quiche lorraine and salmon, the french pate cornichon, and their latest french hotdog. Lots of calories, I know but why not... The variety of macaroons is incredible. I will be back!

• Pros: Organic Product, lots of choices, Great Service
• Cons: Parking, crowded sometime

03/07/06

Overall good bakery

by kittyeat

My review is of the pastries...haven't tried the breads or quiches yet. My favorite: Almond Croissant is heavenly. Chocolate croissant is good. Canelles are ok. Baba au Rhum is so-so.Good tarts. Overwhelming presentation in nice small shop. The bad part? The madeleines are APPALLINGLY BAD, for a 'french' bakery. They are bland, dry, and cakey. Not the way they should be. Starbucks and NM (when they used to have a bakery) are much better. For something as simple as madeleines, they were pathetic coming from the place. Sure they have the domes and look yummy, but don't be fooled. Pricey, but ok on occasion. The other bad thing...the service. Unfriendly, no smiles...the lady behind the counter acted as if I should be grateful to be there, and she was somewhat impatient and made me feel hurried and stupid when I couldn't pronounce something in french.

• Pros: lots of choices
• Cons: lots of choices, haughty service

12/21/05

Croissants to die for!

by wrldtrvlr8374

A few years ago, I spent some quality time finding the perfect chocolate croissant in San Francisco bakeries and Bay Bread Boulangerie was my top choice! However, as my family always chose the almond croissant, I had to give it a go...and now, I'm a converted almond croissant girl. Yum yum! Unfortunately, I don't always make it there in the mornings, which of course, means they will be sold out. But when I do get my hands on one of those, the sweetness of the almond paste is divine! The toasted almonds on the top are just crisp and the texture of the overall croissant is just lovely. Not a bad way to spend $2.25.

• Pros: croissants, fresh baked goods, good variety
• Cons: no dining area, parking, crowded

12/07/05

Wondermatic is nuts!

by gennlynn

This place is phenomonal. The pain au chocolat? The tarts (the potato and pancetta or goat cheese and vegetable are to die for)? The bread? The gateau?

Yum!

YUM!!!!

• Pros: The food, The staff, The service
• Cons: No dining area

11/12/05

Ugh, once great but now clearly coasting...

by wondermatic

I have loved this place for years, adoring nearly everything and going 1-2 times a week...but in the past 6-12 months the quality has taken a huge nosedive. Where should I start? Croissants with the texture of bread rolls. Soggy macaroons. Canelle that are just barely OK. It's such a disappointment. I keep trying, hoping things will improve, but as of this afternoon, no deal.

Rustic French breads and pastries bring a slice of French life to the Fillmore shopping district.

by Contributor

In Short
Huge, crusty loaves of pain au levain share space behind the counter with classic baguettes, rye-and-wheat breads and a rotating assortment of breakfast breads. The pastries are more grandmere than grand cuisine: deep-dish fruit tarts look (and taste) like they've just emerged from a French country kitchen. Chewy almond-scented macaroons and jumbo madeleines are a house favorite, as are the house specialty: small, dark-brown, butter-rich cannelles.

10/09/04

Spectacular and reasonable

by danielwill

Don't have time for a trip to Paris? Never mind, just get over to Pine, Polk or Cole, and experience baked goods as good as the best in Paris. Fantastic crusty breads, hearty yet delicate desserts, everything is superb and the prices are extremely reasonable, with desserts costing between $3 and $4.5.

A real lunch bargain is their $4 Croque Monsieur, not any old grilled cheese with ham, but their own bread, several kinds of cheese (and lots of it--including the entire top covered in it), plus lean ham and a delictable white cheese sauce.

Baked goods just don't get any better than this!

• Pros: Delicious, Hand-made, Quality