During my trip to San Francisco last week, I asked three separate locals where I should go for the best dessert in town; the unanimous vote was the Tartine Bakery. A quick search on the Internet confirmed their “best bakery” status, and I set out to go there for lunch.
There is always a line at Tartine, giving you plenty of time to decide which one of the impressive desserts you want to take home. You’ll begin your wait next to a refrigerated glass display, housing several beautiful cakes (including Chocolate Soufflé, Devil’s Food, Coconut Passion Fruit Bavarian, and more), along with a selection of tarts, truffles, and puddings (served in individual ceramic mugs, just like Mom used to make). Although the servers are quick to get your order for you, do not be too hasty in deciding since a range of muffins, pastries, and my personal choice, the brioche bread pudding, don’t come into view until you are closer to the register.
You take your bakery selections immediately and hot food orders are brought out to your table when ready. To make my meal a “legitimate” lunch, I ordered a sandwich (paninis are made with their homemade bread) in addition to my enormous bowl of bread pudding. But as fate would have it, it was impossible to wait for the sandwich while this buttery, sugary mass of brioche and fruit was staring at me. If you can fend off the crowds eyeing your seat, this is a nice place to sip coffee (or wine), enjoy a European style atmosphere, and work up your appetite between courses.
Tartine is in the Mission district of San Francisco, a rapidly growing area known for its great Mexican food. While Tartine is crowded with young, trendy customers, the area within two blocks (in any direction) of the bakery can be a bit seedy, so take care when walking over from the BART station.
Tartine Bakery
www.tartinebakery.com
600 Guerrero Street @ 18th San Francisco, CA 94110
Hours:
Monday 8:00am-2:00pm (no cakes, tarts or bread)
Tuesday-Wednesday 7:30am-7:00pm
Thursday-Friday 7:30am-8:00pm
Saturday 8:00am-8:00pm
Sunday 9:00am-8:00pm
Bread is available after 4pm everyday except Monday and Tuesday.
Wow! That looks lucious…What did you have there, Kelli and how was it?
Oops…never mind (I must learn to click on the link…heheheh)
missed this place, damn. but went to citizen cake. yum.
[…] Two of my favorite things to do in the winter are 1) Eat pudding and 2) Get out of New York and visit California. It’s even better when I can combine these two wonderful things, like I did last year at Tartine Bakery in San Francisco. This neighborhood bakery specializes in classic French desserts, but what drew me in while I was there was the rich, colorful, buttery brioche bread pudding. I sat down in the warm weather and ate one of the largest bowls of pudding I have ever seen. The experience stuck in my mind, and I remembered Tartine when my mind turned to pudding this year. I mean that in every sense. This year my mind and energy level are taxed to the brink, and I actively search out things that will taste great and impress guests without requiring much effort. […]