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Hopkins Street Bakery
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 7 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Amanda L. said: "I went to a party catered by El Burrito Express and was amazed at how fresh and delicious the food was! I've been to both locations and have always been impressed by EBX's healthy, fresh, and affordable choices...and the catering…" read more »
77 reviews for Hopkins Street Bakery
Review Highlights
"Their pan-au-lait is undeniably the best I've ever had."
(in 4 reviews)
"We had their cognac almond croissant."
(in 7 reviews)
"...nice cafe, next to a tea shop and close to Monterey market."
(in 6 reviews)
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77 reviews in English
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Review from Kirstin M.
Berkeley, CA
11/22/2011
After searching high and low, and meeting with several bakers and tasting cakes, my now husband and I chose Hopkins Street Bakery for our wedding cake.
They had the absolute best flavored cakes - we loved the princess cake and the chocolate orange cake was amazing. Even all of the high end, magazine award winning bakers we met (who charged ridiculously high amounts for their cakes) could not compete with the flavor of cakes at Hopkins.
My then fiance was given huge, full size cake slices from each of the flavors we requested and he brought them home so we could both try them.
When we met with the baker to discuss cake design, she immediately understood what we wanted - an elegant, traditional cake with real frosting (none of that clay-looking stuff for us) and was more than happy to try our unusual design choice with sugar crystals. (they do all sorts of frostings if that's what you want). Since she had never used sugar crystals, she made us a little sample cake with sugar crystals to see if we liked how it turned out - it was beautiful.
We got the best quote on price from them, and that was important. We wanted delicious wedding cake at a great price, and we got it.
They delivered the cake perfectly, we had no hassles, and all of our guests raved about the amazing cake and how delicious it was. Very happy bride and groom! Service was excellent, and we highly recommend them. -
Review from Debra C.
11/7/2011
My hands-down favorite item at Hopkins is the Bagatelle du Roi cookie. Biting into one is like biting into the love child of an excellent chocolate chocolate-chip cookie and a brownie. Heavenly when paired with milk.
For special occasions, I recommend their Chocolate Raspberry Mousse cake. Beautiful and delish!
This neighborhood bakery is as cute as a dimple! Pity I don't live in the neighborhood... -
Review from Tracy O.
Redwood City, CA
11/7/2011
First off, let me confess that I've never set foot in the bakery itself. But one of the perks of being friends with the owner's husband is that he will hand-deliver goodies to your home! And boy do these treats travel well.
The chocolate chip cookies were the perfect accompaniment to a bottle of mezcal and an intense game of Settlers of Catan: Cities & Knights. And the flaky chocolate croissants were the perfect consolation prize the next morning when we woke up suffering from a hangover and a crushing defeat. -
Review from Jessica L.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2012
The cakes are beautiful and the cookies are delicious! I wish there was a Hopkins in every city. Can't wait to go back!
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Review from Steph C.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011
Cranberry morning buns and scones are deelish! Even tasty the next day.
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Review from Cindy W.
San Mateo, CA
11/2/2011
Today marks a triumphant day in my yelp career. The restaurant that did not deserve serving any customer and yes, the one I wrote an awful Yelp review on closed. This is a victory for my fellow yelpers. Our voices count and we should vote with our wallet and our yelp account!! Oops, sorry, but I digress.
Okay, enough of an intro that's not relevant to my favorite bakery in the bay area. Hopkins Street Bakery, where should I start? I live about 40 minutes away from this neighborhood bakery. But every time I am in the vicinity, you bet I am stopping by to get their world-renowned oatmeal cookies. The chunkiness and butteriness reach a perfect harmonious balance which brings a party in my mouth in every bite. I also bought 1/4 sheet cakes for several company functions. My co-workers can't stop raving on how good their cakes are. Mango, tiramisu, chocolate, red velvet - pick your favorite and you can't go wrong. The staffs are always friendly when I am there and they are the best helpers if you are having your muffin vs cupcake, donut vs eclair dilemmas in front of the display case.
Conclusions: 1) vote with your wallet and your yelp account and 2) go get some baked goods from HSB now and you can thank me later :) -
Review from Ellen L.
San Francisco, CA
12/5/2011
The treats are amazing and the staff is as nice as it gets! If you're in the area, swing by. You won't be sorry!
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Review from tenzin b.
Santa Clara, CA
12/5/2011
It doesn't get better than this. The mister and I love this bakery and more importantly what comes out of this bakery :)
Our recommendations
DESSERTS
a)Custard Cream filled Eclairs- They are so good that i am guilty of eating one that was a week old.
(Sorry, it was too good to be discarded and yeah blame it on the orange juice carton for blocking it from my view!)
b) French Pear Tart- I recently tried it and loved it. I love pears and I love wine and this tart is simply put their marriage made in heaven.
c) Lemon tart- The mister squeals with delight when he sees one and sounds like a broken player when he keeps repeating "This is the best lemon tart everrrr"
d) Fruit tart- another perennial favorite.
CAKES
The mister got a Raspberry Mousse cake for his birthday and you should have seen the smile on his face. That said it all!! The cake was moist, rich(in a good way) and absolutely delish!!
I also love their breakfast buns. The croissants are soft and flaky.
All in all a wonderful establishment where you know the people behind it love what they do and put their heart and soul into it. Keep up the good work Hopkins Street Bakery !! -
Review from Mike Y.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2011
This place is dope. Whenever I'm in the mood for some sweetness and I'm in the Berkeley area, I think of HSB. The treats are all made fresh on a daily basis and the staff is cooler than the other side of the pillow. It is worth checking out.
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Review from gina O.
Contra Costa, CA
Its delicious! Fresh and staff is so nice!
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Review from Rob G.
Arlington, MA
11/2/2011
Delicious treats, great staff!
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Review from Betty C.
El Cerrito, CA
11/4/2011
I love this bakery! The pastries are amazing and the cookies are the real deal. My favorites are the Anzac cookies, the pudding (best flan I've ever had), and their strawberries & cream-layered cake. Oh, and the donuts! They make them like no other place in town--a little crispy on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside, with either a raspberry or lemon fruit filling. Unbelievably good.
I find myself returning here again and again despite adventuring out to other bakeries around the East Bay. Out of curiosity, I asked one of the owners what makes their baked goods taste so much better than the other bakeries around town. She assured me that there are no secret ingredients. Just that everything is made fresh daily. They get their fruits from the market across the street and make all their creams and custards on site, rather than getting it delivered like many other places. Plus, all the recipes are from the original owners even though the bakery has changed hands a few times in its lifetime.
I still remember buying my very first pan au lait baguette here when I moved to Berkeley 15 years ago. It started a little tradition of happiness. Even when I moved across the bridge to SF, I would still make sure I hit up this place when I came over to the East Bay. It's truly a neighborhood gem and I hope it stays around for a long, long time. -
Review from Rebecca M.
Berkeley, CA
11/2/2011
There are some yummies I feel I can only get here! I'm a huge fan of the savory and delicious Ham and Cheese Croissants. It's just perfect. The Chocolate Mocha cake is so wonderfully balanced and flavorful. It makes you mmm with each bite- and of course the carrot cake. Cream cheese frosting YUM. Those are my favorites, but my three year old loves the seasonal sugar cookies and the very friendly owner. She's so sweet to my daughter! I love the local feel to this store :-) Keep up the awesome, Hopkins Street Bakery!
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Review from Zazzy K.
Berkeley, CA
5/26/2011
The best pumpkin muffins and chocolate eclairs (I swear there's an entire high quality chocolate bar in there) I've ever had. The chocolate chip cookie should teach all the other chocolate chip cookies how to act.
Amazing jelly donuts and nice "baby buns" for my baby.
Friendly staff, special cake orders, good 1/2 off day olds, and decent coffee.
The only thing missing is exceptional regular bread (it's good, but not great). But I compare everything to Acme, which is just down the street and really hard to beat. -
Review from Stephanie W.
Arlington, VA
9/29/2010
On Saturday morning the boy and I came to Hopkins Street Bakery because we were too lazy to make breakfast at home. It was a warm day, and pastries with a cup of coffee sounded just right.
We ordered both a ham and cheese croissant and an almond croissant, but both were lackluster. There was not nearly enough filling in the almond croissant and the pastry itself lacked the flaky, rich, butter flavor that croissants should always have. I have had the cinnamon morning bun in the past, which is buttery and richly flavorful but also not the best morning bun I've ever tried.
The prices have increased compared to what other reviews have stated, and the price doesn't seem to fit with the quality of the goods offered. Perhaps I ordered the wrong thing, perhaps I should try their cookies or perhaps I should stick to items in the day old bin, but I found Hopkins Street Bakery just okay. I will probably be back, but I won't be making an extended effort. -
Review from Judy L.
Oakland, CA
8/16/2011
THE BEST mint chocolate chip cookie and SUGAR cookie EVERRRRRRRRRRRRR. Im not even sure if this is my 2nd yelp to them. But best sweets ever. Best.
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Review from C. H.
Mountain View, CA
Updated - 11/27/2011
This is such an excellent bakery! This Thanksgiving weekend I had their blueberry pie which was superb! Whole blueberries were juicy, plump, and in tact without that ooey gooey canned syrupy filling that spills all over the plate. I love this bakery! Their goods are just wonderful!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/2/2011
The ANZAC cookies are delicious, and the pumpkin chocolate chip muffin is moist and tasty! Their… Read more »
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Review from Lorissa W.
Hercules, CA
Updated - 10/8/2010
We had their cognac almond croissant. Imagine this...
A buttery twice baked giant horn of flaky goodness. Layers of pastry, soft and chewy in the middle and crispy on top and on the ends. Inside, hidden inside the soft moist folds lies a delicate almond paste and on top of the croissant is another layer of almond paste coating and crunchy slivered almonds.
Where has the Hopkins Street Bakery been all my life??? Yes, I've been to Criza Cakes and other high end bakeries but Hopkins Street Bakery is that perfect place in between gourmet and home-made that makes it special.
Sometimes I don't want to spend more than six dollars on a slice of cake in a box closed with a golden seal; Hopkins Street Bakery is the kind of neighborhood bakery that makes me think of those little bakeries in Paris where you go every morning for your daily fresh pastry and coffee. Quality pastries that comfort you and that you can afford daily. Now that's a deal!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/25/2010
The best stuffed custard doughnuts in town. Period.
One thing I hate about doughnuts is the chemical… Read more »
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Review from nicole m.
Hayward, CA
11/16/2011
For the past 3 or 4 years ive been getting my birthday cakes here. My two favorite are the Fruit Basket Cake, its delicious, light and the fruit is always fresh. My second favorite is the Italian Creme', its a coffee tasting cake but very good, the lady fingers are a nice touch and the even wrap a cute bow around the cake. Great service also!
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Review from Toni M.
7/21/2010
That's 3.49. This nice little bakery was Tam's and my next stop after the Country Cheese Coffee Market. There was a line out to the door when we entered. Tam grabbed a bottled water for me and a little round jar of apple juice for her. We looked at all the lovely pastries in the case on the right. She chose a ginger cookie and I chose a chocolate croissant. There was a mammoth almond croissant, big enough for two to share. I considered it for Alan and me sometime in the future. In the case on the left were the cakes and tarts. I saw a beautiful lemon tart, about 5" across. Too big for a little treat, but Tam spotted a tiny one on a lower shelf, maybe an inch or two across. That would make for a good dessert for me. All that was about $8. We kept checking to make sure they'd charged us for everything. The women behind the counter were friendly, patient and helpful.
Tam took a bite of her cookie as we drove away and wasn't impressed. I had the tartlet after dinner last night and it was excellent, better than the one at La Bedaine. The lemon flavor sang. It was as good as the one I make and a hell of a lot less work. I had the croissant this morning for breakfast. It wasn't bad, but it was a croissant in name only. It wasn't lightly layered as a croissant should be, but more bread-like. It tasted good, but was heavy. I'm not sure whether I will return for the almond croissant. If I do it will be w/ the expectation that it will be a roll, not a croissant. If I need to buy a cake I'll probably check out their offerings, but I don't see myself returning here regularly, because I don't often buy sweets. -
Review from Tam F.
8/2/2010
I came here by chance on as a little stop on Toni and my mom/daughter day. I can't remember why we came in, but all I remember now is that I was able to get Martinelli's apple juice (winner) and I got a molasses cookie that looked good but tasted kind of stale and very boring.
I picked up a little lemon tartlet and large chocolate croissant for Toni which as her review talks about but since this is a review from me, I won't be back for a cookie or much of anything else from here as there are much better bakeries not so far away.Listed in: Getting Baked
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Review from Michael c.
San Jose, CA
11/4/2011
This is by far my favorite bakery in the bay area. Just a great variety of baked goods. The quality is amazing. My favorite's are the tarts and ham and cheese croissants!!
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Review from Jen S.
7/15/2010
5 stars for their Fruit Basket cake!
White cake with light cream frosting and strawberries in between the layers, decorated with strawberries, mango, kiwi, and blueberries on top.
For a 6 in. cake, the cost came to $19.
The cake was for my grandma's 90th birthday and she absolutely loved it as did my husband who always passes up cake. -
Review from David B.
San Francisco, CA
11/2/2011
This place is fantastic!! Personal favs- lemon tarts, eclairs, ham-and-cheese croissants and the cream-filled donuts. That being said, I have not been disappointed with anything I have tried.
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Review from erica c.
6/22/2010
DE-licious! This tiny bakery is packed with all sorts of delectable delights from cookies to donuts to cakes. I am self-proclaimed carb addict but I won't just waste my calories on ANY carb so trust me when I say this place is GOOD!
I sampled at least 5 things here any everything was spot-on... perfect texture, not too sweet, and generously portioned. The custard filled donut is simply divine. Flaky on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside, with just the right amount and consistency of perfectly sweetened custard. -
Review from lisa c.
Berkeley, CA
11/9/2011
We love HSB--and we've sampled a large array of items: from muffins and pastries to cakes. When our niece Eden requested a chocolate birthday cake we ordered it from HSB and they didn't disappoint. It was the BEST CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE we've ever had! We were all thrilled. The portions are great and Emily is quick to help out with special requests. Do not miss any of the pumpkin items for this season. Thank you HSB for being our extraordinarily delicious local bakery!
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Review from Lisa T.
4/6/2010
See my review of Sweet Adeline to get an idea of what Hopkins Street Bakery is trying to do with its "Fruit Basket Cake":
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The two cakes are very similar. The problem with HSB is that their frosting is ... what's the word I'm looking for ... unctuous.
I recently got a chance to taste and compare the two cakes, and my whole family agrees that Sweet Adeline does a MUCH better job on the fruity cakes. -
Review from sunshine t.
West Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
7/31/2011
Hopkins Street Bakery is another Berkeley/Albany bakery that has passed through different hands over the decades while retaining the name. Its latest incarnation has owners not on the premises, though it looks nearly the same as it has for the past ten years. Typical glass-fronted bakery with pastries behind glass and clerks behind the glass displays. The bakery section is as huge as ever, easibly viewable behind the glass displays.
The pastries back in 2010 were wonderful, completely worth a trip to this bakery! Then the latest owner took over. Sadly, here's my verdict on the pastries ... They look gorgeous! They're about double the size that the pastries used to be! They're more expensive. BUT THEY TASTE MEDIOCRE!!! The taste and texture? Disappointing to say the least. The chocolate croissant, the almond croissant -- they have no idea that a croissant should have some crispness, some flakiness. Their croissants are too moist to even be considered boulangerie croissants. They're about SUPERMARKET LEVEL IN TASTE AND TEXTURE, though I think my local supermarket puts more chocolate in their chocolate croissants than this place.
I will not buy pastries here again ... until they change owners & staff. The almond croissant is one of the worst I've ever bought, with the almost paste mixed with a sugar syrup that over-moistens the croissant so that it loses any flakiness. The odd almond paste coating further subtracts from any possible flakiness that this croissant should normall have. I truly miss the cognac almond croissant that the last owner/baker made. Now those were worth it, as noted in the 10/8/2010 review. The new owner hired the wrong people, wrong bakers, unprofessional servers. I'll take my money elsewhere as there are lots of nicer folks to buy from then the rude servers at this bakery. They need new bakers, new recipes, too.
The servers, all female, were some of the rudest, most inconsiderate servers I've ever encountered in the East Bay. I almost felt like I was in NYC. ;-) First they ignored my daughter and me while about 3 female clerks gossiped. Then when they deigned to notice us, though I said I was ordering over a dozen pastries (family breakfast), the clerk readied one tiny bag suitable for one pastry. Then she got another tiny bag, though I asked for a box. By the time I had ordered 6 pastries, she finally dumped the tiny bags' contents into a pastry box, without treating the pastries carefully. Folks, most East Bay servers are professional, courteous, and considerate. Not here!Comment from Eric E. of Hopkins Street Bakery 8/2/2011
I'm one of the owners of the bakery, and would like to… More » -
Review from Jenny W.
Fremont, CA
11/3/2011
Their scones and cinnamon twists are delicious! We've ordered cakes from them the past two years and have always received rave reviews from our guests. Their mango mousse and chocolate cakes are divine. Great eats!
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Review from catherine b.
El Cerrito, CA
6/28/2009 ROTD 4/17/2010
Every week I have what I call a "free day" during which I can eat whatever I want: no guilt, remorse, excuses, or other psycho bullshit.
Yesterday I added to my usual Saturday repertoire of pizza and gigantic burgers with an impulsive baked good purchase from Hopkins Street Bakery.
I was in the neighborhood for Berkeley Horticulture when the bakery called me in with that intoxicating freshly-baked sugary smell. I asked the (fittingly) sweet girl behind the counter what to get and she pointed to freshly baked doughnuts filled with raspberry, lemon creme or vanilla custard, recommending the vanilla.
$1.75 later I was eating warm heaven on earth lightly dusted in sugar.
I was halfway through my plant shopping when Andrew said: "You have sugar all over your face" and wiped it off like I was a three-year old.
I love my free day. -
Review from Eric B.
11/16/2009
The Hopkins Street Bakery is a nice little establishment just down the street from the Monterey Market. It's close to home, yet I don't seem to remember to stop there, as I sometimes debate whether to go to Cheeseboard, Semifreddies, or La Farine for a supply of breakfast goodies. That may be partially due to the traffic congestion, parking difficulties, and attitude on this block, which even by Berkeley standards are often challenging.
My son and I stopped by last Saturday on the way back from North Berkeley BART and our day trip into the City. All he wanted to do was go home and I really didn't feel like dropping him off and heading out on a separate errand. I convinced him that the Hopkins Street Bakery was on the way home and that it would only be a "few minutes". So after finding my favourite "questionable" place to park, he pulled out his iphone, started the "stop watch", and warned me that I better keep my "promise". And of course when I returned, his only comment was that "it was about time!".
The on-time part was difficult due to 3 gossiping teenage girls who were blocking the display case, while blissfully ignorant to their surroundings. Then there was the chronophage ex-hippie who was happily expressing several concurrent opinions and questions while her order was being rung up. And if they weren't so busy, I would have ducked into Gioia Pizza for a couple or their tasty slices.
I had forgotten how much there was to choose from here and everything looked really good. I settled on a blueberry scone (for Gayle), an almond cognac croissant, and a pecan roll. All were delicious and I'll be back sooner than later to catch up on the other offerings. -
Review from Lolia S.
San Francisco, CA
10/31/2009 2 photos
This little bakery is filled with quality baked goodies including savory British pasties, loaves of bread, danish, cookies (including mini versions, full size cookies were $1.55 each), eclairs, donuts, scones, full size cakes, muffins, croissants, cupcakes, and morning buns. The morning buns are their signature pastry. They had two kinds of chocolate cupcakes. In the corner, they've marked down the day old items. It's hard not to fill up on pastries when there are so many tempting choices.
* Morning bun: I chose the cinnamon version which is like a grown up cinnamon bun minus the sticky white icing, rich and satisfying, nice size too, better than a cinnamon bun
* Pan au lait bread: Really nice when toasted, like a quality white bread
* Gingersnap cookie: soft, sweet, thick and chewy but it needs more ginger and spice
* Pumpkin muffin: this was okay, it didn't have that much pumpkin or spice flavor and the texture was on the chewy side, wouldn't get it again
* Chocolate cupcake with whipped cream. The whipped cream was soooo good - lightly sweetened. The cake was nice but a bit dry. It was topped with a delicious thin chocolate glaze and Halloween sprinkles.
They also had Halloween cookies (cute)!Listed in: Non-Asian European Bakeries
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Review from Rinky N.
East Bay
1/23/2009
I would give them 5 BIG stars just for the wonderful smells that greet you as you enter the store------oh yeah---butter! fresh bread!
mmmmmmmmmm
We had a gift certificate to spend. And even though I've live in the Berkeley area forever I have never been here. I think it's the dread of finding parking..
(We actually found parking around the corner)
Being newbies we had a hard time deciding what to pick.
The prices are so reasonable with our $25 certificate we got:
Two yummy curry turnovers
Two yummy and large blueberry scones
Two chocolate croissants
Two cornmeal blueberry muffins
A small fruit tart
A raisin roll
The counter person was super sweet. A couple of customers came in after us and weren't too pleased that we were pondering what to get.
Despite their impatience and grumpiness the counter person graciously helped them in between our questions and pondering,
So 5 stars all around.
Yummy pastries
Yummy ambiance
Excellent service
I scoped out some choices for my next visit.....
mmm those eclairs look tantalizing!
And I did see some great possibilities for my birthday cake......okay how about my half birthday in March? I can't wait till September!Listed in: B is for Bakeries and butter…
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Review from reina g.
New York, NY
Updated - 1/13/2010
So I recently discovered the pain au lait baguette. This thing is like carb crack. So buttery, it doesn't need butter, but oh no, you can't resist. Butter on butter is the sweetest taboo.
I've voiced by undying love for the bomboloni before, but now there are multiple flavors to choose from. I got a chocolate creme-filled bombolone (o?) and saw that they also offer a vanilla custard-filled, jam-filled, and lemon-creme. These things are a great deal $1.50 for a fancy doughnut the size of your fist (unless you're tragically endowed with baby hands).
And the almond cognac croissants? Ridiculously delicious. Bonus when they have leftovers and put them in the day-old cheapo bin. Better roll on through if you know what's good for you.Listed in: Mmm, doughnut
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/7/2009
Ewww. Their chocolate chip cookies are gross. They're all mealy and flavorless. They taste like… Read more »
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Review from D J.
Alameda, CA
7/6/2011
The baked goods are ok to good. What makes the place two instead of three stars is the service. I went in today and there were three people behind the counter who didn't even acknowledge me as I decided what I wanted. I ordered three items (a cookie, a cupcake and a fruit tart). Other than the exchange of money for goods, no other words were exchanged not even thanks or good bye. The folks there were just RUDE.
I was five blocks away in my car when I looked in the box to see that she gave me a cream puff instead of the tart. I would have kept driving but my 6 year old ordered the tart so I turned around double parked, ran in to exchange. When I told the salesclerk that she gave me the wrong item, she said "oh, you wanted the tart." Made the swap and handed the box back to me. She said nothing else. Not a "oops","sorry", "glad you noticed", "sorry you had to drive back","here's a cookie on the house for your trouble"....nothing. Unbelievably awful customer service. -
Review from Anon A.
Berkeley, CA
7/27/2010
Sreiously a great deal for price and quality. Mind your Ps and Qs!
Ive tried a cheese-blueberry danish and thier cinnamon roll type deal. It was so freakin good, I wasn't prepared for once being satisfyed and pleased and not feeling like I am getting raped in the ass by the price tag by a business in Berkeley.
Only problem if you go thier late, you may not be able to get a cinnamon roll type thing. They make one w/ cranberries, but that just turns me off.
But seriously, cheaper than the pastries at S-bux or Petes or anyother watering hole, but actually fresh and delicious. -
Review from Jessa B.
San Francisco, CA
3/26/2007
Do YOU know the muffin man? If you do, will you tell him that I would very much like to be his wife...even his woman on the side...anything for some tasty muffins!
Speaking of muffins, turns out that the Hopkins Street Bakery makes AWESOME muffins. My favorite is the Pumpkin Spice with chocolate chips. HUGE muffin-tops (and I am not talking about the ones that hang above ones low-rise jeans after eating too many muffins) and a moist cake-like bottom (wow, does anyone else think this sounds somewhat perverse - don't flag this please...I REALLY AM talking about muffins)! I like a dense muffin - if I want fluffy, I will have a cupcake. Can't wait to continue to sample the tops and bottoms at Hopkins St. Bakery ( I am durrrrrrrrrrty)! -
Review from Pam Z.
Albany, CA
6/11/2009
A disappointment. I got their pumpkin muffin and their Parmesan-dill bread and was just so let down. :( It was so promising!
Pumpkin muffin was spot-on in the flavor department but too wet. And not sticky-good wet like a delicious dessert, but wet and soggy like too much water went into the dough in the pre-bake stage and it just sat and sat in the post-bake stage, getting sadder and sadder and crying moist little muffin tears. :(
The flavor combination of the cheesiness (which really showed through) and the acidic-spicy component from the dill were also great tastewise and then...uggggh. A soft, doughy "crust" without any crackle or character. Same with the inner crumb--no lovely yeasty holes or slight chewiness, just boring SPONGE.
WHY? I love pumpkin, parmesan, and dill, but...WHY??Listed in: My local bakeries
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Review from Yan Biao B.
East Palo Alto, CA
5/27/2008
Some yelpers seem to be laboring under the misguided notion that this establishment deserves any less than 5 stars. I assert, contrary to their wayward opinions, that this oasis of culinary perfection does deserve 5 stars. I provide as proof the unassailable fact that the new owners are in fact my friends (and that should in no way or form affect the objectiveness of this review, even if I did have my way with a chicken pot pie and almond croissant. no, not like that you dirty-minded freak), and that they are taking a no-holds-barred, exhaustive approach to improving the quality of the pastries, and will undoubtedly listen to your suggestions for improving (although I fail to see how that might even be possible given that they are already at the zenith of their art). Also, they are really nice people.
Edit: Their cannolis come with ricotta cheese! None of that cream cheese BS. -
Review from Sylvia C.
Lafayette, CA
3/4/2010
Love the neighborhood feel, " where everybody knows your name." Pasteries are tasty and obviously made from fresh and real ingredients (vs artifical flavoring). I love how their cakes are not sickening sweet and the pastries are not greasy. I actually feel somewhat "healthy" eating their stuff as opposed to sweets from other places.
My favorites are: the custard filled donuts, mango mousse cake, and strawberry cupcake.
