We finally stopped by the bakery in Duarte to sample their signature beverage and pan dulce. Their…read morecafe de olla, was served hot, a nice blend of cinnamon and sweetness. We bought an elote, tortuga and can't recall the third piece of pan, and alfajores. The elote was delicious, I love that you can see little specs of cinnamon, soft and tender and vanilla scent. The tortuga was a bit more spongy, fragrant, and nice balanced of sweetness. The alfajores were buttery, crisp and smeared with dulce de leche. I needed a bday cake and decided to order the strawberry shortcake, because it looked so pretty. The cake was a hit with the family. The frosting was super light, the filling is one layer of custard and the other of light whipped cream and berries. The sponge is moist, the cake is not sweet, but decadent in its creamy texture. The inside of the store is aesthetically appealing, traditional glass cases showcase the pan. I'm so glad to have a nearby bakery and cake shop!

Cafe De Olla Bakery is conveniently located next to Club Pilates, my workout spot. While I am very…read morehappy about this (I love Cafe de Olla in Monrovia), getting coffee and a pastry post-workout might very well become my routine if I don't exercise enough self-control! Like some of the reviews already mentioned, this location is more of a "grab and go" type of place. They have a solid selection of cakes, pastries, and drinks. If you are looking for their full breakfast menu, the Monrovia location down the street is where you would want to go! When I visited, they were celebrating their 1-year anniversary with an outside table of samplers. They had a balloon arch outside to signal to the community that they are celebrating something special as well. The lady out front shared with me what they had to offer, and she also mentioned that they do catering! I like my coffee strong but also on the sweet side. When I asked for the stronger option, I was recommended to get the cappucino rather than the latte and they can make the caffeine a little bit more concentrated without sacrificing the flavor. The cookies were a little dry for my taste but maybe it was because the samplers were sitting outside for a little too long. I would go back just to try the breakfast sandwich, but the experience of grabbing food was pretty fast and the food was flavorful enough! Excited to have a closer Cafe de Olla to me and wishing them so much success!

If it wasn't for the flapping signs outside the shop, I would have never known about this bakery…read more It's very easy to miss because it's tucked away a bit. However, once you enter it, you are instantly transported. The decorations, the feeling, the mood, it all screams enjoy to your hearts desire. They have so many variations of cupcakes, cookies, and even brookies. I ordered the cupcakes and brookies and I have to say it is some of the best stuff I've had in my life. Even better, the people here are super patient and helpful. Definitely a gem in the city of Duarte.

I called in a last minute order because our cake lady flaked. I called and there was a sweet voice…read moreover the phone taking my order, she was so friendly and helpful, come to find out she's the business owner! She was able to take on my order and then some. When I walked into the shop I was impressed with the displays and how clean it was. My order came in cool little brown boxes with the sweet nothings logo. All this, and the pastries were DELICIOUS! Thank you, thank you! I will definitely be back. I recommend if you're looking for someone to do a party order look no further!

Located in the heart of Old Town Monrovia on Myrtle near Lemon Ave, this Cuban gem offers…read moresandwiches, pastries, coffee, cakes, & more. Street parking can be tough during peak hours, but there are public lots nearby.  For the past 12 years, this has been our go-to spot, and their Guava Cake is the ultimate family favorite! This past Mother's Day, Mom wanted that exact cake. We stopped by in the morning to pick one up as usual. However, the lady at the counter informed us they would not have any ready until 2 PM and was quite dismissive and short with us. I was next in line, it was now the second person at the counter helping me, ( male ) once he knew I was looking for a guava cake, he immediately went to the back going out of his way to check and ensure we took a fresh guava cake home right then and there. He saved Mother's Day !!! I must also mention Danny and Lissette are amazing every time we order cakes for family events. It's always a great experience, and we'll definitely keep coming back for their goodies.

I ordered the chocolate ganache cake for Mother's Day based on the chocolate ganache cake I ordered…read morea few years ago from them for my Grandmother's Birthday. Something clearly changed between then and now because the version I ordered on Saturday was horrible. The cake was mostly dark chocolate, as described, but it had the thinnest layer of raspberry to the point where it was hardly noticeable - which is the main reason we ordered the cake (chocolatey but a fair amount of raspberry for a palatable contrast). The way the cake is made, it's hardly edible. The layer that is supposed to be chocolate cream is clearly just chocolate frosting! I've never had something so inedible. Plus the cake has non-edible decorations on it unbeknownst to us....on sight we assumed they were edible sugar crystals but they were not! Someone could've gotten hurt! We should've at least been forewarned! Lastly, we were scheduled to pick the cake up on Saturday afternoon at a specific time. And of course they were busy due to Mother's Day weekend but we stood in line for at least 15 minutes and received no help! The woman behind the register was counting out both registers without offering an explanation or speaking to any of the customers! Plus there were at least 5 employees standing around doing nothing! No one ever asked if anyone in line were here to just pick up a prepaid order. You don't need the register for that! We finally inquired what was going on and stated we had an appointment to pick up a prepaid order. A young woman employee caught an attitude but hustled our order which hadn't been boxed or bagged though it was past our pickup time. Very disappointed in Merengue. Not one employee offered an apology or an explanation. Just attitude and nonchalance. I work in retail and know how hard and frustrating it can be but this is a service industry and customer service is very important. I'm not asking for anyone to jump through hoops just respect as a customer. The terrible part is my mother was the one waiting patiently in line for 15 minutes and I had to jump in to ask the staff about their service because my mom and these other ladies were being ignored by Merengue's staff as though they weren't standing there. I DID NOT appreciate the treatment of my mother or myself once I spoke up about the crazy wait. No one treats my mom like she's just part of the furniture especially after we've spent money at this establishment. They certainly weren't giving anything away. My mom and the other ladies were being patient and nice. But I had to get to work and the cake was supposed to be picked up and out the door at 2pm....it was 230! It should've been waiting for us and the staff should've been inquiring with the line about prepaid orders. Instead there were 5 people standing behind the counter doing nothing while a line of people are wondering what's going on! I will not be ordering from Merengue again and will be taking my business down the street to the Paris Baguette Bakery where I should've gone in the first place.

A small hidden spot!…read more We came to get other things but stopped by for their huge cookie! For $4 we got the rocky road cookie. It was delicious, soft and chewy and crunchy outer border. They also had very fancy cakes and cake slices for sale.

Came by to pick some desserts from Milkstache…read more Walking in, the smell of their cookies is amazing. I actually ended up getting 4 cookies: Strawberry, Hong Kong Milk Tea, Black Sesame, and Pistachio. My favorite was the strawberry cookie!! The workers here are super nice and answered all my questions about the cookies.

From the moment we walked in, the experience was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was so calming…read moreand inviting--it made it the perfect place to relax and catch up with friends. The staff truly stood out. Everyone was incredibly friendly, respectful, and genuinely welcoming. They were patient, joyful, and made us feel completely at home, which made the whole experience even more special. As for the food--everything was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. You can really tell they care about quality. And the coffee? Perfectly made. Easily some of the best I've had! Overall, I couldn't have picked a better spot to spend quality time. I'll definitely be coming back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for great food, amazing service, and a relaxing atmosphere.

We walked in there for the first time, and we were welcomed with amazing customer service! The…read moreowner suggested so many different breads and introduced us to their new plum drink which was delicious! Overall, it was a great first time experience and if you're in Monrovia, you should definitely try Paris Baguette!

Let me begin by giving JUSTIN a whopping 5 stars and more!…read more The service was absolutely amazing! And let me tell you, the food is always top-notch. The strudels are my absolute favorite. I also wanted to mention that it's a real treat to get some goodies and enjoy them right there. You're truly the best of the best, and I'm so grateful for your great work! Keep up the fantastic job! Great ambience!!!!

Amazing service from Humberto. He took the time to recommend things and answered any questions that…read moreI had. 10/10 would come back again

4.5 Stars Great neighborhood bakery with large selection of…read morepastries to choose from. I personally find some of the pastries a little bit too heavy on the mayonnaise and custard. What I really enjoy about this place is actually their savory selection - I like to grab their steamed pork buns, sticky rice bento box, or stop by for a fresh egg pancake in the morning!

JJ Bakery is similar in concept to 85°C Bakery -- you grab the pastries you want as you walk…read morethrough a line and pay at the counter. The only thing is that JJ Bakery is MILES better as the food is so much more delicious and satisfying. My husband and I got their Curry Beef Pie and their Supreme Salted Rice Ball (with Chinese sausage, egg, and pork sung) for a quick breakfast. There was an explosion of flavors in the curry pie, and the light, flaky crust just elevated the pastry to a whole new level. The rice ball was the perfect combination of tastes and textures, from the crispy pork sung to the sweet and savory sausage to the fluffy, sticky rice. I couldn't decide which pastry was better :) Just note that this place is more grab-and-go (we ate in our car). Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

i recommend the blueberry matcha + cream top but it can be a bit pricey. but tbh matcha is usually…read morevery expensive especially in LA, so i dont think its a vice of the company itself, thats just how it is usually. i appreciate the convenience bcz theres not a lot of places around monrovia that serves such high quality matcha. i also like how they have a bigger size now too and the drinks came out fast. shoutout to my cashier who was very nice love u girl

Background On Visit: Walking with no purpose led me this shop…read more Credit Cards: They're accepted. Restrooms: There's no restrooms available at this shop. Location/Parking: Located on Lime Ave between Primrose Ave. and Myrtles Ave.. Across from Library Park. Parking can be found along Lime, Myrtle, or in surrounding residential streets. Ambiance/Decor: Not much ambiance, but the euro pass through window is nice to look at. This shop is a to-go type of shop. There tables/chairs on the sidewalk to enjoy your drink, but you can walk across the street and enjoy them at the park. Service: Service good good and the baristas were friendly and informational about the shop. My drink didn't take long to make. Drink Of Choice: They didn't have any drip coffee. So I decided on the next best thing, cold brew! The 24 hour cold brew went down the hatch quite nicely. Hideout Coffee For Thought: I wouldn't mind giving place another shot.

No notes! Everything is spot on…read more The pastries are consistently fresh and genuinely some of the best I've had locally. If I had to come up with a complaint, it would only be that things sell out fast but honestly, that just speaks to how good everything is. You learn pretty quickly that if you want your favorites, you have to get there early. It's the kind of place where you can't really go wrong with anything you order...breakfast, lunch, pastries, freshly baked sourdough loaves, coffee. I've even gone to them with special occasion orders and they kill it every time! Clearly made with care.

Came here for fruit pie but only chocolate cream pie was available. Got the bacon, arugula, Gouda…read morequiche instead. Looked on their menu for options for ordering pies but don't see that as an option. Wanted decaf drip coffee, the nice young man employee said they didn't have it but they could do a decaf americano for me. Nice ambiance- energetic chill music, small space with 2 tables inside, outdoor tables available

My go to 85° bakery! They keep it nice & clean every time I've been in!…read more I love to come in grab a Thai tea with boba or strawberry mango smoothie! They are both delicious (: The baked goods I grab are usually always stocked up & there when I need them! Love the Cheese dog if I'm looking for a quick lunch, Jalapeño cheese, ham & cheese, the blueberry tale & mango tale yummmm! Chocolate chip bowl once in awhile, marble taro, white chocolate strawberry, & the egg tarts! They do run out of NEW or seasonal items quickly! Like in October or November when they had those viral pumpkin shaped breads for fall lol I went at 7:50am & all gone! Crazy haha So that's a downfall. The parking lot at this one kinda sucks because there is very limited spots & it's always busy.

Came here on a Saturday afternoon around 10am…read more There was a lady who came in with her dog. Now, I know service animals are allowed. However, this dog did not have a service animal tag. Instead, the vest the dog was wearing stated "Best Friend" almost like the owner was trying to trick others into thinking it was a "Service Dog" vest. The dog was walking around the bread and even sniffing the bread. The owner saw and even tried to swat her dog away from some Strawberry Halfmoons that the dog was sniffing. As someone who is allergic to dogs, what if they are the person who touches that bread next? What if the allergy is very severe? I walked around the premises to check if there were signs on the windows/doors talking about no pets, only service dogs. Only one entrance had the signs stating this. The other doors did not. As someone who is allergic to dogs, I do not understand how someone can just bring their pet into an establishment that serves food. The dog even went up to some customers and was sniffing their shoes. I even watched the dog go up to a little girl and try to take her doll. **4/1/26 UPDATE** To Katherine (the business owner): Yes, I know you allow SERVICE DOGS. However, this lady's dog was not wearing a vest stating it was a service dog. Also, I think service dogs know better than to try stealing little girls' dolls. That lady's dog was NOT a service dog. She was trying to TRICK people into thinking it was with the FAKE vest it was wearing. Please put more signs up around the different entrance doors.