- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Brendan's Bakery - CLOSED
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
21 reviews for Brendan's Bakery
Review Highlights
-
"I miss my whole wheat croissants." In 3 reviews -
"...a butterhorn danish - very buttery and flaky, not too sweet." In 3 reviews -
"The last time I was there I bought some bread for my Mom..." In 3 reviews
Loading...
21 reviews in English
-
Review from stacy c.
Oakland, CA
2/26/2009
pastries are to die for!
i bought a chocolate cake -- It wasn't too sweet and the frosting was perfect! My friend is super picky about cakes, and ended up loving this cake.. it was a great spongy texture and the frosting wasn't really fluffy-whipped so it was just fine.
the service wasn't that great though.. the guy not only didn't know what was in the cake, but charged me the wrong price too. Just for that.. I couldn't give it a perfect rating.
Parking is convenient, and it's right next to New Leaf, so you can go grocery shopping right next door. -
Review from Erika G.
4/7/2008
I have tried their baked goods before because they participate in Livermore's Farmer's Market but to actually go to their store was a treat.
I got a a butterhorn danish - very buttery and flaky, not too sweet.
I also got a macaroon - and it was excellent! Wish I got 2.
They also have the usual breads and other breakfast pasteries but they had sandwiches and those looked really good. -
Review from petra g.
Santa Cruz, CA
6/1/2007
Ok c'mon there is no@!#$*&+! way that nobody has talked about Beckmans by New Leaf on Mission. I just wanted to give them props for their kickass artichoke soup today. Oh daddy. But you guys have to know about their Foccacia and other shiznac! They even do graduation cake stuff UCSC what is up?????
Anyway now that I'm not so incredulous ...ya gotta go! coffee drinks are pretty badass when you get the right person behind the bar oh and DEja is nice -
Review from kristin e.
Portland, OR
8/6/2008
I love butter. Maybe not as much as Paula Deen but I sure do love butter.
As a kid, butter sandwiches with sugar on toasted bread were a popular snack (and not a very healthy one but hey, I turned out alright). I don't mess with margarine.
After some cheap Chinese eats at Tam's on my lunch break, we walked on over to nearby Beckmann's for some desserts and since it's summertime, I've been craving cherry pies and the closest thing to cherry pie that Beckmann's had was a cherry turnover.
The turnover was incredibly buttery and flaky and my fingers were greasy in no time. I ate part of it in the car ride back to work and ate the rest at my desk making sure I didn't get my greasy fingers all over the keyboards. The filling's like cherry pie filling and so I was happy. A ton of calories way over my daily limit, but I was happy.Listed in: Santa (i will never call it…
-
Review from Valerie S.
Campbell, CA
4/10/2008
ahh, Beckmann's - you must miss my money!
I used to come to Beckmann's every day when a wonderful employee named Michelle worked here and became the manager. She made some fantastic coffee drinks and the place had such a good vibe.
When she quit, we bought a coffeemaker for the office! Since her departure, it seems like the staff is always changing. The fru-fru coffee drinks I've gotten have for the most part been very disappointing. The staff just isn't being trained on how to make them, I think.
The best thing at Beckmann's is their breads. I really love their cheese sourdough. I find most things just ok - like their muffins, scones and cookies. The best deal in town is their toast. Can't beat breakfast for under $1! -
Review from Shanna K.
7/30/2006
Stopped here every day for a while when I lived on the West side. They have good coffee and, if you want to pretend you're eating something healthy, EXCELLENT whole wheat cinnamon rolls. Service can be pokey, but that's Santa Cruz for you.
I'm also a big fan of many of their breads, especially the honey whole wheat for everyday toast.
Beware the parking lot here though.. it's very tight and people don't pay attention. Best to park in front of the Domino's or something and walk across the lot. -
Review from Jess H.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 5/18/2010
I groggily walked in here around 7am on a Saturday morning and handed my tattered, beloved Beckmann's coffee card that I have been clinging to since my departure in June of '08. Two more java's to a free-bee... Man behind the counter just don't care - he ripped it in two (gasp! that was a lovely shade of maize with cute graphics, mind you) and pulled out a hospital green card and kindly offered to stamp a 1/3 in hopes that I'd be coming in 9 more times. (Sorry, I won't be.)
Every time the heating fan turned on, I went into a sneezing fury. Looking up, I noticed how filthy the vents were. Ew, gross. Floors, tables and pastry cases were noticeably in need of detail. Refills cost the same as your first cup. Light Rock station for the Sperry Topsider crew... none of which showed face.
Really nice (srsly - really nice) watercolor's for sale. $350 each.
I finished my emails, took my coffee and sat at Natural Bridges waiting for the Farmer's Market to open.
Brendan, you have a good location. Take a few notes from Beckmann's book and offer a bit more of a sanctuary in lieu of a mere pit stop. A deep cleaning and a good-eye to rehang the beautiful artwork would be a good start.
Good coffee. The almond and poppy seed muffin was, well, I picked the almonds out...1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/9/2008
One morning, the scones were not mixed and baked correctly so they set them out as samples. I tried… Read more »
-
-
Review from Steve N.
Pacifica, CA
6/15/2007
Every drive through Santa Cruz warrants a stop at Beckman's. The last time I was there I bought some bread for my Mom and now she's hooked too.The Foccacia is excellent.Great stuff.
5% discount if you ride in on a bike. Cool. -
Review from Brandon T.
Portland, OR
8/6/2008
Ew gross......
After a good lunch at Tam's I decided to cross the parking lot and come here for some dessert and boy was I disappointed. I ordered a lemon bar just got the bar....it was a sugary flavored bar with no hint of citrus at all......I am a fan of lemon bars and even find the slightly burnt homemade ones to be satisfying......HOW CAN YOU MESS UP A LEMON BAR?! My gf had a cherry tart thing which tasted decent (I've had better) because it actually had cherries in it!!!!
I don't want to come back here again if their lemon bars are any indication of their general baking ability and if they are not indicative then why on earth would they sell them for close to two bucks (or at all)!?
Someone has got to quality test their food before they put it out for sale or else you get a bad batch (benefit of the doubt here) being sold to someone willing to give a bad review.
grrrrrr. zero stars for the lemon bar and crushed dreams of a good dessert and two stars for the cherry tart and the kind workers. -
Review from Maggie P.
San Luis Obispo, CA
8/12/2008
Hmmm, lovely Sunday morning nosh.
Lovely assortment of pastries and croissants and beautiful breads. I couldn't resist the chocolate croissant and got to try the egg, ham and cheese one. I have very rarely seen a mocha chai offered, but there was a delicious one here.
The place is just a teeny bit dingy, but the bright colors and happy staff (especially that guy with the fantastic waxed mustache) served to brighten the place up so it was hardly noticeable.
By far the best thing about this place, Sunday morning jazz duo. I just love a stand up bass (so sexy)! -
Review from Will M.
Santa Cruz, CA
5/23/2006
This is my fav bakery... I love it !
I am prefer it to the one around the corner (which is not that well setup)... Great little breakfast bites, some really tasty cakes for birthdays. -
Review from lightsurf c.
Santa Cruz, CA
11/27/2007
Beckman's Bakery makes awesome sandwiches and soups. Killer pastries too! My problem is that they always seem to be understaffed. I've been there during the rush hour ordered a BLAT! and had to wait 20 minutes, No worries I was not in a hurry that day so it's cool. However, I've been there during the slow rush, and it still takes 20 minutes to get a BLAT! I'm not bashing on anybody there cause I can tell you guys are working hard!
Someone else mentioned that the coffee can be awesome at times.. I have to agree.. let's get all baristas on the same page,make some kind of template on how to make the consistent mocha.
Last thing would I would like to say.. is make it more affordable for students. -
Review from Toni M.
6/26/2008
These folks have been coming to the El Cerrito Farmers Market for a few years. I've never been to their store. Most of their goods seem to be sweet, which I don't buy, though they look good. My favorite things to buy from them are their cheese bread twists. They're 2 or 3 feet long and come in half packages of 3 or whole packages of 6. They come plain and w/ jalapeno. I buy the plain ones and freeze them so we can use them over time w/o them going stale. I notice they're now at the Kensington Farmers Market on Sundays and the last time I was there they had a new kind in addition to the two I mentioned, but I'm damned if I can remember what it was. I bought the cheese ones.
Listed in: Breads and Other Baked Goods
-
Review from Lee S.
San Luis Obispo, CA
10/7/2008
Great pre-made sandwiches that are prime for trips to the beach. Super hot coffee that you can taste, equally hot staff...open super early for dawn patrol coffee and pastry. Others have tried to infiltrate the area; I have sampled but they don't keep me from going to Beckmann's.
-
Review from Stephanie H.
Palo Alto, CA
Updated - 4/10/2010
No more Beckmann's. Waaaaaaah. It's okay. I miss my whole wheat croissants.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/30/2008
I have the best memories associated with this place! My dad would go surfing in SC, and bring back… Read more »
-
-
Review from Eladio S.
San Jose, CA
8/7/2009
Last Sunday I was in Santa Cruz for a Mtn Bike ride with some good friends. We stopped here at Brendan's for a quick bite. I ordered a club sandwich which was absolutely perfect. Good portions of meat and very fresh veggies. The Sourdough bread was a hit too, perfectly toasted. I'll have to stop by next time we ride Wilder Ranch.
-
Review from Boomer D.
Santa Cruz, CA
5/21/2007
This is an updated review; Beckmann's Bakery changed hands, and is now Brendan's. The new owner is a baker from Sacramento.
It's much the same as the old Beckmann's; the cookies are still too expensive, and they still carry Beckmann's bread. No strudel anymore, though. NO STRUDEL!
The new guy is more of a cake baker, so there are more cakes around. In my limited experience, the cakes are pretty good, not great. The cake prices were reasonable.
For Valentine's Day they did a bunch of small cakes for $3-$7 with Valentine's Day decorations on top; some had inscriptions, some were even heart-shaped. I though that was pretty slick: an edible Valentine! And the price wasn't all that much more than a fancy card. I wanted "Be Mine," written on mine, and they went ahead and did that at no charge.
The missus got all teary.
Some of the help is a leetle clueless, but means-well clueless. No attitude. Be patient. We'll see how it all shakes out. -
Review from Ryan D.
Santa Cruz, CA
8/8/2009
Beckmann's (will never switch names!) is a good, solid place for a morning coffee. My mocha is always a bit burnt, and the workers frequently forget to put the shots in the cup, but it's home.
I miss some of the old employees, but will continue to be a loyal customer until I move! -
Review from Stephany B.
Santa Cruz, CA
3/1/2010
ahhh, beckmann's is gone... so sad.. this place will never come close to the original..it tastes like Safeway stuff... ewwww
-
Review from Ian M.
San Jose, CA
6/25/2007
I have never actually been to the Bakery in Santa Cruz. I "USED" to get fresh bread and croissants form them at either the Japan Town or Los Gatos Farmers Markets. That was until one time I got a nice fresh loaf of Sourdough from the LG Farmers Market, went home for a nice sandwich for lunch and there was multiple pieces of hair throughout the loaf. I did not eat any of it. Straight to the trash. So, assuming this can happen anywhere accidentally I decided to give them a second chance at my business and went to get a chocolate croissant from my local farmers market in Japan Town. Got home to have my croissant and BAM!!! More hair!! This being the second time in a month that this happened to me and the farmers market is close to my house, I hopped on my cruiser and went back to show the dude that sold it to me. He said sorry...but didn't appear to care too much. I just left it with him and rode away (from that Bakery for the last time). My suggestion to Beckmann's is if you employ the Santa Cruz "hippy" type you might want to think about a hairnet policy.
-
Review from lauren h.
Davenport, CA
2/1/2008
please try this place....each thing i have tried has been superb...as someone who worked for gayles and thought i had found nirvana for bread and pastry....i must say...i dont even have a tiny poke to take myself all the way down to that chaotic end of town....
thanks all of you for making the yummiest egg salad sandwich!
and if you love cherry...try the cherry turnovers
