Visited here for the first time looking for some pastries to serve as my family"s meal dessert…read more Came late in the afternoon, so was shown what was left of their selections. Apparently, the mornings have a bunch of selections for all of their daily loyal customers. We tried their pumpkin bread and guava and pecan mini pies. Had them with ice cream at the house with nothing but smiles! I'll be looking to visit earlier in the day to try out their other delicious baked goods.

Grabbed some coffee and a snack with some friends after a workout…read more This former Starbucks has a small parking lot in the back and there were a few spaces open, so it was very easy to find parking. The service was friendly and quick. They were very patient while we explored all the various items they had on display. I got a bacon and egg empanada which they warmed up for me. It was nice, might've been even better with some kind of sauce too. My friends got the mushroom empanadas which looked really delicious. I wanted to order one to bring home only to find out they sold out! The cafe con lèche was quite strong but they do warn you about it before you order. Nice place to catch up with some friends. Good amount of small tables and it's clean.

In medieval Germany, Backhaus referred to a shared or communal village oven where residents brought…read moretheir dough to bake bread. Today it translates to "bakehouse" or "bakery." This place is always good, always busy, always quick. Maybe not "always" busy, but there always seems to be a line here in the morning. In our most recent visit, my wife and I got the last Olive Loaf left, and a Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant. Both were next next level. The Olive Loaf weighs as much as a football. Twenty two buckaroos. In our previous visit we got a different recommended loaf because the olive loaf was already sold out. So, you have to get here early if you have something specific you want.

My rating may not be accurate since I didn't actually order anything. Nothing looked appealing to…read moreme, so I just went in, took a look, took a few photos and went about my day. There's a couple areas to sit and the bakery items are all on display so it's easy to see what they have and don't. I liked the simplicity of the exterior design. No dogs, only service animals. Service felt a bit pushy for me to order & the other person standing at the cashier didn't seem too welcoming or friendly.

I love kaizen I try to go once a week. I think because…read morethey measure everything it always comes out uniform and wonderful. Staff is friendly and vibes are good. The line is worth it.

I haven't spent too much time checking out the coffee scene in San Mateo, but this wasn't a bad…read moreshop to visit. To my surprise, Kaizen has a steady line out the door. They aren't a roaster. Instead, they'll carry different roasters so you'll have a variety of options to choose from. My eyebrows popped when I saw that they were serving beans from Glitch on their pour over option. For a staggering $14 a cup, you can enjoy beans from one of the hottest roasters in Tokyo right now. Not a bad option if you're nearby and need third wave coffee fix.

The baked goods are chef's kiss. Crab cakes were AMAZING. As were the beef empanadas and guava…read morepastry. 100% positive experience.

$10.95 total: Guava Pastelito, Chocolate Croissant, and small House Drip Coffee. Overall, my…read morepalate was pleased, but not blown away... Guava Pastelito - The site promised a flaky pastry filled with sweet guava paste, offering a nice balance of fruity and buttery flavors. Here the guava flavor was a little subdued, so I think a more concentrated guava paste could be helpful. I also didn't get the buttery notes that are mentioned in the bakery's description. Chocolate Croissant - Described as a flaky, buttery pastry filled with rich, smooth chocolate, the chocolate here was definitely the star. It was so pronounced it felt like two chocolate pipes running through the center. While I missed the flaky, buttery, brittle crust, and the airy inner qualities that make a traditional croissant great, I was honestly okay with it feeling more like a rich chocolate bar sandwich. A little toasting would have easily brought it all together. House Drip Coffee (sm) - Unfortunately, this was more watery flavored than coffee flavored. I appreciate that Olympus is a locally sourced brand, so kudos for supporting local. However, the Olympus site describes its house blend as having notes of cocoa, brown sugar, and toasted walnut, with a full-bodied and satisfying finish. I didn't get much of that. A stronger brew was needed so perhaps a little more coffee grounds in the mix would go a long way. A few additional thoughts: everything is made and baked in-house, with the exception of the doughnuts. Those are made by the same owner just at a different location. I like that there's an emphasis on making things fresh and keeping production close to home. I will go deeper in their menu and try a Cubano next time but as for the bakery, do I think there's going to be a line of people waiting outside before they open? Sadly, no. Will I consider stopping here when the an other bakery I wanted to visit has a line? You bet. Did I enjoy my selections? Hell yeah! And will I go back? Absolutely.

Shru's Kitchen is amazing! I have ordered from her several times over the years, and every single…read moretime has been absolutely delicious. She is also a really sweet, kind, and communicative person to work with. I am so happy that a talented vegan baker offering authentic Indian flavors exists right here in the Bay Area. All my non-vegan friends love her treats, and several of them have become customers themselves! I especially love that her cakes are light, not too sweet and full of flavor! If you are looking for high-quality vegan desserts, I highly recommend checking her out!

I've been ordering from Shru's Kitchen for a while now, and the cakes have consistently been…read moreamazing. The flavours of india is my favorite (and we've tried every flavor she has) I highly recommend shru's kitchen for your next celebration, you will not be disappointed.

Very nice place good coffee and nice customer service. the…read moredonuts it's fresh I come here one a while when I'm in the area and never disappoint Very recommend!

No line on a Saturday afternoon. Can and ordered the donuts with no problems. Inside is just take…read moreout and doesn't feel the cleanest but gets the job done. The strawberry shortcake donut was delicious. The strawberries were a little too tart but the glazed donut was delicious. Mochi donuts were ok but I probably wouldn't get again. Tried a chocolate donut log with egg custard. Do not recommend the custard filling. It isn't done lengthwise and wasn't tasty. Donut itself was soft and fluffy. Overall, I'll come back for a sweet treat. I think service at this one was better than the other cause just less customers.

After seeing Dion Lim's feature on Claire, I knew immediately I had to try her famous crunch…read morecake...! Omg! It was everything I dreamed of and more! And Claire is such an incredible person-- it was an honor to meet a bay area legend! My partner placed an order over the phone. You may need to try a few times as her VM is full (popular for a reason :P ). But we were DETERMINED and got a hold of her after 3 calls. We scheduled a pickup date for our 7 year anniversary. The day rolls around and we drive to Claire's home bakery. Lots of street parking in this peaceful San Mateo neighborhood. You can easily find her business from the signage on the lawn. And meeting Claire in person was just lovely, she welcomed us as though we were family friends. STRAWBERRY CRUNCH CAKE (6inch): O M G this is the stuff of dreams. I absolutely love honey-flavored desserts and this tastes even better than I imagined... Fluffy yellow cake inside; crispy, airy, malty honeycomb outside-- all wrapped with a luscious whipped frosting. And fresh strawberries throughout. My bf and I both felt this was one of the best cakes we've had ;u; I would highly recommend...! This is such a special treat you can't find anywhere else in the bay.

I ordered an 8" strawberry crunch cake for $60 cash. Claire said it serves 12 people…read more 6" cake is $40 and served 8 people. I asked for crunch on the side, which I definitely recommend if you aren't going to eat the cake all in one sitting or right away. The crunch stays crispy and you can add as much or as little as you like. The strawberry cake itself was not too sweet. The cake is a little dense, and the whipped cream is light and also not overly sweet. The crunch is very sweet, so between the cake and the crunch you can adjust the sweetness to your liking! It was delicious, however I think i prefer my cakes a little lighter. I love that Claire uses fresh strawberries in the middle. I wish there were a few more. I didn't have any trouble getting through on the phone to order the cake and even had to adjust the pick up time the next day, which they were able to accommodate. Pick up was easy and they provided a happy birthday sign to place on the cake.

I've been on the hunt for good scones since I moved to the area, and I'm so glad I stumbled upon…read moreMade Out of Dough! They've got hands down, the best scones out I've had in a long time. I love how unique the flavors are and how they change every day. Portion sizes are generous, price is good, and best of all - the scones aren't overly sweet nor are they dry. They also have day old baked goods which imo taste as good as their fresh goods!! Service is always great and everyone here is friendly. I've been recommending this place to everyone!

The most amazing cinnamon rolls ever! Absolute monsters of deliciousness. The person helping me was…read morelovely and chatty. The scones should be sweeter IMO. Also, as Larry David would say: "These aren't scones, they are muffins". The are soft and easy to eat, but weren't my favorites. Overall, a great place with more things to try.

Hands down my absolute favorite place for bread! Everything here is fresh, high-quality, and…read moreartfully made. I haven't tried it yet, but I love that they offer a simple dine-in cafe menu with breakfast and lunch items that look fantastic. Country Loaf ($13.00): Literally my favorite bread around. It is so unbelievably good, soft, and fresh with the perfect sourdough texture. They also offer specialty versions of this (like olives/cheese, or cranberry/nut) Lemon Poppyseed Tea Cake ($6.00): I absolutely loved this! Perfectly moist, bright, and delicious. Would go great with coffee. Pastries & Croissants ($6.00 - $8.00): Every single pastry is beautifully crafted, super fresh, and incredibly flaky. They also feature fun, unique specialty creations like their mango croissants!

Oooh - my new favorite brunch lunch spot in downtown Redwood City!!…read more I love a place that has both good coffee and tons of food options. So many delicious fresh food options. We loved that each dish came with the freshest bread, you can see them making fresh bread in the open kitchen. The breakfast sandwich was perfect. You can get it with either bacon or avocado. The turkey sandwich was also excellent - that sun dried tomato jam that it came with was to die for, I wish I could bring a jar home to put on bread! I enjoyed migraine salad that came with kale, farro, squash, feta. Again loved the crisp fresh bread it had on the side too ! Granola bowl was great - with fruit and homemade Granola, personally I like that it wasn't too sweet like there wasn't a honey or sweetener drizzle. Coffee and espresso drinks were very good , will definitely be back to try more dishes ! There was a constant line to order, but from ordering to getting food wasn't too bad at around 20 minutes . Table seating indoor is limited with the amount of customers they have, but there is also some indoor bar top seating along the kitchen and more outdoor tables.

I've ordered many cakes for special occasions from this shop when I've wanted an extraordinary…read morefocal point cake. They never disappoint and the artistry is masterful. The cakes not only look wonderful but they taste good too. With so many cake flavor and filling combinations, you are bound to find something you like. My personal favorite is vanilla or vanilla/chocolate cake with mocha or salted caramel filling. The fondant is thick but that is needed for all the elaborate and detailed decorations I request. This time I wanted a tall cake so I ordered a 2 tier cake with 5" tall layers. The cake was stunning but it was so hard to cut! That was a mistake on my end. Overall, the cakes are excellent in design and taste. You can describe your vision with a few pictures and drawings and they will bring that vision to life.

My wife and wanted to support a local business instead of just go to the local grocery. She wanted…read moreto do a global or travel theme and sent the above pictures for inspiration for her birthday cake. What we received was very underwhelming sad to say with a bare minimum to no effort in design or to make her vision come true. They were not at all what we wanted. We could've used these exact toppers from Amazon and put them on for ourselves. We would've been better off buying from Costco or Safeway. There was also no preview of the final product which could have been my fault not following up but we trusted them and that was a huge mistake on our end. I also prepaid as I didn't want to deal with that upon pickups big mistake as well as what we received was definitely not worth the premium. They were expensive. On top of that, the cupcakes were very dry, bland and the frosting was oily and runny. At least if the cupcakes tasked good it would've saved this rant. The communication overall was ok minus the no preview of final product. I understand they are a smaller shop but this is not acceptable and we will never come here again. I wouldn't recommend this place to my friend, family, Or enemies.