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A Baker's Wife
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 6:30 am - 6 pm
Sun 6:30 am - 3 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
86 reviews for A Baker's Wife
Review Highlights
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"And the American Tea Cake." In 7 reviews -
"Lemon Bar: This was our favorite." In 8 reviews -
"Incredible pastries and an all around outstanding bakery." In 22 reviews
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86 reviews in English
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Review from Paul S.
Orland Park, IL
5/17/2012
OMG. 5 stars to be sure!
American Tea Cake - Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!
Donuts - Tasty, moist and scrumptious.
Our group of 7 all returned in a 5 star vote. Almost unheard of.
Way too bad that I live in Chicago. -
Review from Katie V.
Minneapolis, MN
5/14/2012
The smells alone are reason enough to visit this place.
Snickerdoodles are to die far.
Hamburger buns are big and bready and delicious.
I even like the chocolate croissants, which I'm typically not a fan of.
I'm afraid to buy donuts there because then I might really have a problem.. but they look PERFECT. -
Review from Michael G.
Maplewood, MN
3/8/2012
Though I'm in my 50s, I kinda remember in younger years my grandma bringing us kids to a bakery on or near this corner. What I specifically recall is the size of the cookies - they were definitely two-handers and I was not allowed to down a whole cookie at one time. I was feeling nostalgic, had time on my hands, and ventured over to see if I could find the bakery.
After much deliberation, and staff patiently answering my questions, I had a SnowBall and glass of milk and watched sidewalk traffic. Gosh, there's a lot of stuff on this one corner. Loved it! Of course I had to tote home a sack of cookies and a host of other things to try out. What a treat!
Easily the best bakery I've been to in years! A Baker's Wife rocks! -
Review from Diana G.
Minneapolis, MN
4/15/2012
So good!! Got two giant cookies, and they were gone pretty fast. I would like to go back and try more of their wide variety of goodies, it's a good and bad thing this place isn't in my neighborhood - I'd have to work out more! Just remember to bring cash to this mom and pop place.
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Review from Marsha L.
St Paul, MN
4/12/2012
I think the bakery items at Cub Foods are WAY better than what they have here. I got the doughnut holes and they were hard and stale. Very disappointed with this bakery. Also, the display case is impossible to view the items on the top shelf (where most of the stuff is).
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Review from Amy D.
Minneapolis, MN
4/1/2012
I make myself walk here just to ensure I don't visit every day... It's that good! Carmel cupcake is to die for along with tea cakes, apricot coffee cakes, and nut goodie bars from scratch. This place makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop all over.... So many choices, and updated pretty often!
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Review from Caroline N.
Minneapolis, MN
2/23/2012
Everything I've had at Baker's Wife has been excellent.
Especially recommend the lemon bars and ham & cheese croissants.
Buy your hamburger and hotdog buns here for your next cookout. -
Review from Amina O.
Minneapolis, MN
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place just makes me happy. Lots of different pastries! They are all huge and yummy. This place is not in the most convenient location but worth making a trip too, especially if you would like buy a variety pack for friends or even the office.
Try it. Trust me. -
Review from Steph F.
Minneapolis, MN
3/17/2012
Best Bakery in the Twin Cities my foot.
That place is the one and only Bread and Chocolate.
At Baker's Wife I tried:
-Chocolate Covered Bread Pudding:
Even though I split it with someone else, it was still a "brick" in my stomach that kept me fooded out for hours and hours. Taste was OK. Nothing special. Not worth the calories and the prolonged satiety.
-Cheese Cherry Danish:
good, not great. Jam tasted kinda cheap and the white frosting was hard as a rock. Dough was good - once again, not great.
Overall, the prices are extremely reasonable and the sizes of the pastries are a little... humongous. Buy one or bring a friend (or a plastic baggie). But I would go back and try more. I tried one of their gingerbread (I think) cookie samples and it was very good. Moist, rich and buttery. -
Review from Mark M.
St Paul, MN
4/23/2012
Absolutely spectacular., yet down-home and simple. The tea bread is to die for. And the prices are beyond reasonable. Don't plan on staying though, plan on taking it to-go.
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Review from Jim S.
Minneapolis, MN
2/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Only wish they were open on Mondays and took credit cards. But then again, I d be 20 lbs heavier if that were the case. American Tea Cakes are extraordinary, especially when still warm from the oven.
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Review from Jonathon Z.
Minneapolis, MN
2/9/2012 8 Check-ins Here
Hands down the best bakery in the Twin Cities. Cash only. Always a line, but well worth the wait. As someone who likes some savory with my sweets, the ham & cheese croissant is to die for. The donuts are too good. The American tea cake is a monster of a pastry. Crème brûlée Danish is my personal favorite, but the cherry Danish is a very close second. Go there now. Then go there again. Pretty soon you will be going every week and looking to buy a house in Corcoran neighborhood just to save on gas. Bakery's Wife 4 Life!
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Review from Gerry P.
Cary, NC
6/6/2011
I was in town for just a few days and wanted to bring my family a treat. Its too hard to find everyone a gift when I travel so I've started trying to find yummy food and bring it back. My family loves baked goods so I looked for a good bakery. Found it! I just got a variety of things, but everyone liked them a lot. The cherry danish was great (didn't make it home, people on the plane were probably jealous when they only had their tiny bag of pretzels to eat). I've never even heard of a tea cake, but had to try one and it was surprisingly really good. Didn't look like much, but it was great. Cookies were great also. And the prices were very reasonable. Oh, and I did drive across town at 7am and then had to lug everything I got home on an airplane. It was definitely worth it!
And like some other people wrote, cash or check only. -
Review from Lindsay K.
Minneapolis, MN
3/17/2011 ROTD 6/7/2011
Three items in particular that are the best of the best: The lemon bar, the cinnamon and sugar donuts, and the tea cake. If you've had them then you know. If you haven't then you're a masochist.
Last time I was in I saw a sign on the door stating that they're looking for a part-time bakers assistant. The fact that they have a handwritten sign rather than some stupid vague craigslist add is enough to charm me. My plan of action? Go to A Baker's Wife every day (no skin off my back, just the unfortunate addition of a few layers of back rolls I'm sure) charm them with my wit and friendly smile, and hope that eventually they'll find my dedication to this bakery so alluring that they'll forget about the minimum of 2 years experience required for the position altogether. They'll usher me into the kitchen, where an apple pie and cold glass of milk awaits my arrival. I'll learn how to bake their perfected pastries, and end up taking over the business one day and living happily ever-after.
That's how I feel about A Baker's Wife. -
Review from April G.
St Paul, MN
8/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Donuts weren't very good. They're also sitting out on trays in the back of the serving area behind the counter which makes it difficult to see them or know they are there when its busy. The woman helping us seemed friendly at first but when I asked to add on a donut to our order she acted like she was really put out. I thought this was rude seeing as how she hadn't even rung up the other stuff yet.
Cash only. -
Review from Matt Z.
Minneapolis, MN
6/7/2011
Nine Grain Bread, love it.
Sour Cherry Danish, love it.
Caramel Rolls bigger'n your head, co-workers love'em.
Super big Danish that is sold as a coffee cake, can't go wrong.
French Bread, love it.
Employees, love'em.. I'll elaborate: the owner is a pastry makin' super freak who'll check you out covered in flour wearing a smile you know he had to borrow from Goober Pyle's family. He rubs off on the rest of'em.
This is the kinda place that you refer people to and they come back and thank you, then you feel good about yourself. How many places are like that? How many places reward you even when you haven't been there in a week/month? I have customers I've referred there and they now bring goodies for my staff! (How's that for an exclamation point!)
MMmmmmmm, I love this place. I really miss living down the block and picking up the fresh pastries every Saturday morning, now I have to stop on my way to work if I have allowed myself time (too infrequent). -
Review from Anna J.
3/13/2011
Hello Cake!
I was on the hunt for a red velvet cake. I'm still new to the Twin cities (I grew up here but I have been gone for the last seven years) so I don't know all the bakeries in the twin cities. I had to some research on a good bakery but also a good price. I probably called ten places and this place was the only one that 1. that doesn't just do cupcakes (so annoying) 2. doesn't cost a fortune. I ordered a nine inch round red velvet cake and I was quoted 29.00 +/- dollars. Very reasonable price.
We get the cake. OMG. It was decorated soo cute. It was the hit of my party. I've never seen so many layers in a cake. I think I counted six!! Everyone loooved the red velvet and I will be getting a cake from here again.
Bad news...cash only but if that 's what keeps their cost down, I'm down with that!! -
Review from Timothy H.
Longfellow, Minneapolis, MN
12/23/2011
Everything I've had at Baker's Wife has been fantastic. The birthday cake is the best; people always rave about it. It's the hit of the birthday party!
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Review from Matt C.
Minneapolis, MN
3/28/2011
This is a place that I'll drive to across town early in the morning, before I've even had coffee, in order to pick up breakfast treats for loved ones. The croissants and chocolate croissants are just perfect. The pear tart and cherry danish are also favorites.
I usually go first thing in the morning, when everything is fresh and warm from the oven.
Remember - cash only. -
Review from R R.
Ramsey, MN
11/13/2011
Awesome cookies. HUGE! Thick and barely over a buck. Staff could be a tad friendlier, but acceptable for the 2 minutes I'm in the store. The Palmier cookie rocks.
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Review from Terry K.
Minneapolis, MN
3/3/2012
Best chocolate covered donuts ever!
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Review from Elizabeth H.
Saint Paul, MN
3/9/2011
Did you have a grandma that baked up a storm on weekends wonderful from-scratch homemade confections from tattered cookbooks filling the whole house with this thick haze of sugar sweet scented yumminess? The flavors of of the coffee cakes or donuts melded and melted ooey gooey yummy and you think to yourself, "Damn! No one bakes like this but you G-mama!!!"
Well, reality check, buddy. Baker's Wife's got her beat, and you don't need to deal with your Uncle Joey or a long drive to G-ma's house to enjoy the food. The donuts are out of this world amazing and at 50 cents a pop (what can you buy for 50cents these days?) you will be the most popular person in your office if you bring in a dozen for a TGIF celebration.
Thank heavens they don't take plastic. The limited cash I carry prevents me from buying out the place. -
Review from Dana H.
Minneapolis, MN
6/22/2011
The best cinnamon cake donut ever but the owner was quite aloof on a couple occasions and I can't support that. Too bad because they are in my hood.
I am torn about buying their stuff from the Angry Catfish nextdoor who happen to be great bike/coffee shop. -
Review from Llorona N.
Los Angeles, CA
3/10/2011
When I like people, I buy them a giant box of pastries from A Baker's Wife.
The best cinnamon rolls, donuts, cookies and general treats you can get anywhere in the city. Also amazing pies and breads!
The prices are so, so low for so much food!
I love, too, that this place kind of runs in my family. My father used to drive all the way from Rosemount to Minneapolis just for a Rocky Road (a literal BRICK of chocolate, nuts and marshmallows that will run you about $1.75) that my mother and I would hover over till he shared with us.
When I lived in Minneapolis, I'd frequently get treats and breakfast goodies, and my thanksgiving pies from A Baker's Wife. I'm not the greatest with baking, so why take a chance when such an affordable, delicious option is available? Plus supporting a very community-oriented shop and small business is important to keeping places like this alive.
Miss you, ABW. -
Review from Jenna R.
Minneapolis, MN
1/25/2011
I could write an entire chapter about the sour-cherry danish. It combines the best tastes and textures of the pastry world: sour, sweet, gooey, buttery. Complex, but so very simple.
Which is how I would describe the bakery itself. While fancy pants, pretty bakeries keep popping up all over the place, at A Baker's Wife, taste trumps looks.
Coffee over espresso (unless you want to get a dirty look from the long line). Cash over plastic. Cake donuts over salted caramel tarts.
Don't get me wrong. I love my Salty Tart. But this is my neighborhood bakery.
Tips: Closed on Mondays, busy most mornings, no credit cards, street parking only. Two doors down, the Angry Catfish serves Baker's Wife pastries, including donuts and that sour-cherry danish. -
Review from Christine S.
Minneapolis, MN
1/1/2011
I have a reputation as being a pretty "healthy" eater but I must admit a dirty little secret..... I love A Baker's Wife. I stumbled upon the tiny little bakery a few years ago, on a day where I was feeling indulgent and deserving of a sweet treat. It is a cash-only place, but prices so reasonable that I was able to find enough money in the crevices and compartments of my car to pick up a nostalgic treat: the sprinkled donut.
This is not just any donut. Like I said, I am not a typical donut eater. I'd rather not waste calories and fat on a mediocre treat, but this is IT.... Fresh, dense and cakey, covered in white icing that has dribbled down the sides of the warm donut.
When you are out and about sometime, I recommend just happening to "drive by" this place and try it for yourself. -
Review from Anne M.
10/16/2010
My sweet tooth was crying out for some satisfaction so I was debating between coming here and heading to St. Paul to try one of those famous croissants from Trung Nam. This place won out because it was closer. We tried the lemon bar, sour cherry cream cheese danish, the American tea cake, and a chocolate cupcake. The American tea cake was huge - as in I just couldn't finish it by myself. I like the outside of it, but the inside was a little too doughy for me. The sour cherry cream cheese danish lived up to all the positive reviews. I didn't have any of the chocolate cupcake so I don't know how that tasted. I'm not a fan of lemon-favored anything so I can't comment on that one either. The prices were very cheap considering the size of the pastries. The place was hopping busy, but the staff seemed very friendly and efficient.
This place is a bit out of the way for me, but the boys have already told me that they love this place and want to come back. -
Review from Beverly L.
South St. Paul, MN
I am not the type of person to say "oooh, I really want a lemon bar!" No. I am more likely to say "oooh, I want oodles of chocolate brownies swimming in a pool of chocolate mouse."
A Baker's wife has changed that for me, forever. I now *crave* their lemon bars. They are delicious and perfect. So damn sweet and sugary, that they carmelize on the edges. The best part? They are the size of your head and cost only $1.29 (I think).
That's not to say I don't enjoy their chocolate based treats- I do! They have a french silk pie that is to die for. And brownies to die for. Oh, and croissants (Chocolate and other) to die for. Did I mention all of these are cheap-ass too? They are!
Aside from the treats that will send me into a endocrinologic shock, they have delicious breads. But, I certainly don't go there for the bread. Did I mention their lemon bars?
A Baker's Wife is one of the best bakeries in the T.C. If you taste-test treat-for-treat with other places, you may find some treats you like better at another bake shop. But I can guarantee that bake shop charges at least twice as much as A Baker's Wife for the same things.
My one complaint about this bakery: they put powdered sugar on EVERYTHING. I can never pick a treat up and have a glutton-fest in the car because I will get powdered sugar all over me. -
Review from Molly C.
Minneapolis, MN
7/13/2011
They put frozen coffee ice cubes in your iced coffee!
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Review from Alison Y.
Madison, WI
1/5/2009
If you have ever wanted to have sex with a birthday cake, this is the place to go! My best friend's birthday cake was from A Baker's Wife, and it was ridiculously good. 5 layers, and so big the box wouldn't close over it. Plus it had pink m&m's on the side, a pug on the top, and weird little plastic decorations.
I'm pretty sure I ate there once before, and had a snowball which was also very good. -
Review from Annie W.
Minneapolis, MN
7/16/2008
I've been to A Baker's Wife twice this week, both trips were kind of failures (the trips themselves, not the bakery). On Monday I drove out here hoping to get some muffin action but it was totally closed! Despite seeing "We're Closed" sign, my one track mind couldn't help but notice the open door. And if there's a will there's a way. I strolled in and the owner was really apologetic about being closed (even though it was obviously my dumb illiterate ass that couldn't read the sign) but he still let me pick something out. I asked for a Blondie and he gave it to me for $1! Wee! Even though it was probably from Sunday, it was still DAMN GOOD. Like so good I only hate half of it in the car so I could put it in the freezer and eat it later (being today).
Today, I woke up resolved to bike there from St.Louis Park. And again, I failed at that because I took the wrong exit from the bike trail and somehow ended up at Triple Rock. After being lost for half an hour I gave up and biked home. Feeling pretty sorry for myself I drove there today and got a cinnamon sugar cake donut which was perfect. Not too sweet, a little crispy on the outside and wonderfully cakey on the inside. I also got a chocolate cupcake but it was on the dry side. I'd say stick to the danishes (I grabbed a bunch of free sample bits. I FELT LIKE A SAD SACK OKAY? Let me eat my emotions.) and the other breakfast items. All in all, totally awesome bakery.Listed in: Eating My Emotions
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Review from Dawn D.
Minneapolis, MN
11/5/2011
Gary makes THE BEST pastries! I totally love this place. I moved out of the neighborhood, so it's no longer in my regular loop....and I miss it a ton! Be sure to special order cakes here for birthdays or other special occasions.
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Review from Jaymi M.
Minneapolis, MN
Updated - 1/5/2009
An update is necessary because A Baker's Wife created the greatest cake ever for my birthday yesterday.
Turning 30 is bullshit, except when you get a 5 layer cake with raspberry filling, a buttercream pug face on the top, pink M&Ms and candy bones on the sides and tons of crazy, random plastic decorations all over the place (think a small dog with bones, a fire hydrant and a food bowl.) If you want any, I still have half of the cake in my fridge. There were 16 or so of us and there is STILL that much cake left over.
Apparently my boyfriend only had to supply a picture of a pug and the owner came up with the rest of the craziness himself. I love BOTH of them.
CAKE O' THE YEAR, not only because it looked and tasted good, but it made me forget that I'm an old lady now.Listed in: Good Nomin'
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/10/2008
I grew up half a block away from this bakery and I only recently tried it out. My mom has been… Read more »
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Review from Genevieve U.
Minneapolis, MN
10/31/2011
This is my favorite bakery of all time!
I have traveled all over the world and this place is in my top 5 to buy treats.
I have to say that I can NOT agree with the previous comment about the almond puff pastry, this is my favorite item! It is nutty and light, with just the right amount of sweetness, the flavors in this treat are not overwhelming, but subtle.
I love to go home with one of these, make a cup of earl grey and nibble on this little puff of heaven. -
Review from Nicole N.
Minneapolis, MN
4/28/2010 ROTD 1/26/2011
On the same day that I made the horrendous trip to Mel-O-Glaze I stopped at A Baker's Wife. The boyfriend was still asleep and wouldn't wake up for a couple hours. I wanted to check out some legit bakeries.
A Baker's Wife was the best. Mel-O-Glaze... err, not so much. I don't mind paying in cash. Big deal. Since I do my research before going to a new place I already knew to bring a couple bucks. Luckily, a couple bucks is all you need since everything is very cheap. The staff is prompt and not too sugary-sweet (lolz pun). The place is small and always busy/crowded, but that is how a person knows it's good, right?!
I got a couple of cake donuts (they were perfect), a caramel roll (ooey gooey ooooh baby!), and an almond croissanty thinger doodle. Very good. The boyfriend enjoyed them.
I will definitely go back when I have another active morning. Usually I just slump over in a corner until I have coffee to spill down my throat.
Bottom line? Thank god it's such a trek from my place... I'd be huge if it wasn't! -
Review from Mon P.
Minneapolis, MN
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
It smells sooooo goooood in here. Im actually not a huge fan of old-style danish pastries and cakes, so I just got a couple of scones. Man they were huge and had very good flavor. I would totally come back here again if in the area.
Listed in: Sweet tooth
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Review from Tony M.
Minneapolis, MN
2/17/2010
Oh yeah - time to walk around the neighborhood and see what 28th Avenue South and 42nd Street East had to offer. And with no exaggeration, I must say that like the threat given to the suitor-ette by Gill Hicks in Mallrats, my life would never be the same.
While waiting for the walk sign at the aforementioned corner, I saw a sign reading "BAKERY", yet violating appropriate letter proportion.
That's right - a freaking massive Y.
I was unsure how to take such an affront to the Consistency of Font Code that emerged from the Treaty of Versailles (perhaps the only good that came from the Ishtar and "Cop Rock" of political summits). The place called itself "A Baker's Wife", which also confused me - knowing that talents didn't often translate across spousal relations, I wondered if their bread would be the equivalent of a movie starring Merryl Streep's husband. Of course, I was wondering what happened to the Baker. Walking into the place added more intrigue. They religiously follow the "Uncle Moe's Family Feedbag" rule, making sure there is "whole lotta crazy crap on the walls".
Most pastry shops offer a few upscale fruit-bread concoctions, likely in the $3-$4 range. A Baker's Wife makes shortening bread out of these pretenders. A partial list of their items at the $2 range:
Blueberry Cream Cheese Turnover (an isosceles triangle of awesome, checking in at 10 square inches)
"Holy Sheepshit - Get That Outta My Face" American Tea Cake (a wild toffee-powdered sugar-crunchy sweet force of nature)
Crème Brulee Danish (when they expand the sweetly-burned creamy center to cover the entire Danish, it's over)
Cream Cheese-Frosted Cinnamon Roll
Caramel Roll
Brownies and Blondies
I could go on, but you have to see it to believe.
I may as well mention the multiple styles of cupcakes (which I philosophically oppose, but don't fault them for trying), and seasonal cookies (hearts that say Mother are the rage right now). Their homemade cakes and pies inspire reasonable people to channel their Inner Hefner (You are damn right that Yelp writers "work blue"). They also feature whole-wheat ciabatta; iced gingerbreak cookies; fruity, icing-laced coffee cakes; and simply fantastic cake donuts, available iced, covered in cinnamon, or completely naked.
Among the hand-drawn artwork within the store is a sign that asks "Do you serve anything low-fat, low-carb without butter?" And the inevitable answer is "Yeah, water!" As the anti-fat, anti-sugar Fun Police spread their margarine, aspartame and skim-milk horror around the country, it's refreshing to see that not everyone has been captured by their Gleemonex of Suck.
Also available is their coffee, which is somewhere between a 7 and 8 out of 10 on the Re-calibrated for America Coffee Scale, which is just fine. They could be serving Bulleit Bourbon and it would pale compared to the Holy Trinity atop the previous list. Did I mention that they offer several seats, and a not-tiny array of books to peruse while dining (of course, you'll be holding down the pages with your elbows, since the pastries require both hands). -
Review from Justin W.
Minneapolis, MN
10/26/2011
Baker's Wife is the king of pastry making. Their donuts are akin to the mini donuts you'll find at most fairs and the American Teacake is a giant chunk of awesomeness. Not overly sweet, but all kinds of delicious, this place is a weekly destination for me!
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Review from Liz W.
Minneapolis, MN
1/16/2011
There's nothing like actually feeling like you're walking into your grandma's house if you're seeking out dessert items. After being greeted by an extremely friendly crew and (literally) taking 20 minutes to decide what I wanted among the rows of deliciousness, I decided upon a "s'more" something or other -- homemade graham crackers, chocolate, whipped cream for marshmallows, and dusted with powdered sugar, this treat is definitely a recommendation.
The atmosphere is so happy and friendly. The couple who I presumed to be the owners were so sweet to everyone walked in; and let me just say, they have a LOT of regulars.
The coffee is ... quintessential "grandma's-house-ish"...steaming hot, neither great nor horrible, but you're just so glad to be where you are you don't really care what it tastes like.
My only gripe with this place is that there isn't a lot of room to sit since it's so overstuffed with antiques and other things; but isn't that how grandma's house should be? -
Review from Rachel G.
3/20/2009 2 Check-ins Here
No matter where you are in the Twin Cities - This is a destination bakery.
I've never liked cake doughnuts - until I tried these....*drool*
Cash or check only.
