The Bread Workshop

I was here on Easter Sunday so points for being open. Burger took a bit longer than was reasonable. Also I ordered it medium and it was well-​done. The ketchup was awful, some kind of boutiquey spicy thing. Heinz will do, thank you. Salad was ok. On the whole it was Overpriced. I haven’t tried the bread or pastries. 2 stars plus a bonus for convenience, i.e., walking distance from my house.

The Bread Workshop is my neighborhood bakery, and I’m grateful to have one. That said, there is nothing inspirational going on here.
BREAD
I’ve tried a variety of loaves here and they are all decent, but none stand out. The baguettes lack density and a developed crust. The other varieties have a «sameness» about them that quickly killed my interest in them.
PASTRIES
There isn’t a pastry here that I haven’t tried. Most of them are disappointing. The trend with the pastries is the overuse of fats in the recipes. I’m not a health nut, by a longshot, so when I say that the turnovers, Danishes and croissants are all way too oily, I’m not nitpicking. The oil literally oozes out of the crust of the turnovers as you bite into them. Typically, the crust is my favorite part of a turnover, but I tend to discard the ends of these. You don’t even have to eat one to see the ridiculous amount of oil involved. Just leave it in the paper bag for a few minutes and you’ll see grease stains growing anywhere the paper touches pastry.
Because of the oil issue, I started focusing more on their scones. The scones often have inventive ingredients, but the basics properties that make a scone a scone are lost. The closest I’ve seen to a decent scone are the simple, strawberry scones, the others tend to be chewy and dry inside. In fact that seems to be a running theme with all of the breads here: They inexplicably all seem heavy and dry, even while being oily.
Even the pastries I find myself craving, the cinnamon buns, are too heavy and oily to be properly enjoyable. I think my preference for them is due to the excessive sweetness of the icing, which helps to mask the flaws. After eating one I feel leaden. I would rather eat a Cinnabon if I’m going to feel that guilty afterwards anyway.
That leaves the pretzels, the one product at the Bread Workshop I can’t do without. My daughter loves these pretzels and prefers them to any of the pastries. I love them too, and used to slice them in half and slather them with butter, the way I ate them in Germany as an exchange student (so you know I don’t have a problem with fat in general, just oily-​tasting pastry).
KITCHEN
Back when the Bread Workshop stayed open later, I would often stop in here to grab a take-​out hamburger or roast chicken for a quick, tasty dinner. Their burgers were very good (I use the past tense because, even though they may still serve them, I’ll never eat another as I don’t get home from San Francisco before 5pm). I had problems with consistency in my orders. I always asked for ketchup and mayo on the side, but often found one, or both, missing when I got home. Sometimes there were delicious chopped olives or croutons on my side salad, sometimes not. I felt like I was more often disappointed than happy. Whether things have improved is irrelevant to me because, as I mentioned, the new closing time of 5pm means I’m still sitting in an office in San Francisco when the metal shutters are coming down on the Bread Workshop’s entrance.
SERVICE
The service is tolerable. At least, it was reasonably tolerable for a number of years. The only time I go in anymore is weekend mornings, to pick up bread for breakfast. Currently, the place seems understaffed, with one person handling the ordering, pastry bagging and barista duties. And that person doesn’t move very quickly, but rather seems constantly overwhelmed by the tasks at hand.
The Bread Workshop reminds me a lot of the Andronico’s grocery store that used to be across the street. It’s convenient, if disappointing. The management can’t seem to find good help. And the hours have been reduced in a misguided effort to increase margins, rather than making changes to the service and product that would increase business.
If the Bread Workshop does close the doors on it’s café, I’ll be sad for my daughter, who will miss the fresh pretzels in the morning, but I won’t be too put out.

I really like Bread Workshop. We used to go here once or twice a week for Bread, and about once every 2 or 3 weeks for a meal.
But now they are only open 9 to 5 — how can a working person get a loaf of bread on their way home from a hard day at the office?
I know I live in a college town, but this has been the impact of new development down here in the flatlands — not more places to eat and drink, just more places FOR ONLY STUDENTS to eat and drink.

We came here to study on a sunny Sunday morning. It did get a little loud, and the tables seemed to shift with every one of our movements, but there was great lighting! Also, the table next to us was hosting some kind of poetry club, so it was fun to listen in on that. I guess it’s that kind of place.
Atmosphere aside, the food and drinks were of great quality. For drinks, we ordered a Latte and a Chai, and both were surprisingly served in tall glasses. Very chic. Best part was a very thick and creamy foam, bravo to the barista! For food, one of us ordered the Tuna Sandwich paired with a side salad with blue cheese dressing. The other ordered the Veggie Sandwich, salad, and mustard dressing. Our favorite part of the meal was, well, the dressing. Delicious! There was nothing spectacular about the sandwiches, but they are cold café sandwiches, so there’s no reason to expect anything out of the ordinary. Great drinks and very low-​key, we would visit again!

«Meh» is about all I can say about Bread Workshop. I’ve given it enough chances and will not be returning again.
Sandwiches are meh. Admittedly, I have only had the veggie sandwiches, so perhaps the meaty ones are amazing.
Soup was meh. I’ve drank tastier soup from a Tetra-​Pak box.
Bread is meh. Their bread is uniformly of the fluffy, soft variety (including their «baguettes»), so if Wonderbread is your thing, you might like it.
Service is the pits. I’d have to struggle to find people less enthused to be working at a place that has the word «workshop» in its name. From their demeanor, you’d think it was a labor camp and not a «Bread Workshop.» The last time I was there, the guy at the counter literally ignored me for a full minute while he stared at a scrap of paper before acknowledging my presence. (I was the only person in line.)
Perhaps the reason their food is so mediocre is because it is seasoned with the ennui of its employees.
To add insult to injury, their prices are a couple bucks too high for what you get, in my opinion. You can get better food elsewhere for less.

I’ve tried their muffins a few times and they were really good. They were blueberry and the other was banana.
The staff was okay. Not really friendly, but not rude either except the first time I went in, the lady working ignored me and I had to stand and wait by the register while she was cleaning.

You can literally smell their freshly made bread miles away – it’s heavenly and their pastries are always savory. Pretty decent prices, they recently raised their coffee by ten cents but still good quality and always a great way to brighten your day.
You now need a password to use their Wi-​Fi which is ok but it’s even slower and choppier than before. Fades in and out frequently and disconnects a lot which is really annoying.
Good service on the plus side :)

Bread: Delicious! I love their baguettes. Get there semi-​early or they might be out for the day. Tragic.
Everything else: Pretty good. On the expensive side and might leave you hungry.
I wouldn’t seek this place out, but I absolutely don’t mind going. It’s often very convenient, and the staff is rather friendly. I’d say hit it up at least once.

A few weeks ago I was visiting Berkeley and as I walked down the street a bakery closed for the day caught my eye. About 20 feet along the sidewalk I was assaulted by two bakery carts of cooling loaves sitting in an open double doorway. OMG! I almost melted right there.
Next day I woke up early and walked over. Had some organic free trade coffee (Full disclosure: I don’t actually care, but it’s what they had on tap) that was delicious and perfect for the chilly morning. Also purchased a bear claw (of the pastry variety – not a donut) that was AMAZING! Never got back for a slice of the ginger pear apple pie, but it’s definitely on my list for next time.

I am a dessert snob. Anyone who knows me would completely agree. I am a slight person, but have been known to order 2 — 3 desserts (for myself) at a restaurant. I stay small because, being a dessert snob, if the dessert does not meet my expectations, it is only tasted. However, my most favorite sweets come from laminated douges (croissants and such).
I have been known to go out of the way /​take special trips just to try the croissants somewhere. The Bread Workshop’s croissants (and all other pastries … less the muffins) are the best I have tasted at a bakery … better than Tartine and every other place I have tried in San Francisco and Berkeley. Go early in the morning just after they have been baked. You will be in for a treat.
Oh, they always have one vegetarian soup, which I have always enjoyed. They also have fresh squeezed orange juice, but tend to run out after the breakfast crowd. They may be a little slow in the kitchen, but everyone is super friendly.

Sorry Bread Workshop.
You are the straw that broke the camel’s back – what aided my decision to open a Unilocal account.
First of all, Pros:
The prices are fair. Good price for good quality, local, sustainable, healthy food. I always appreciate anyone jumping on the slow-​food movement train.
However—
Being a slow-​food movement advocate isn’t an excuse to be rude to your customers or have poor communication skills. If and when you are out of a food item it is important to communicate that to the public. Also, why take the time to ask what kind of bread you prefer for your sandwich when it comes out with whatever bread is available/​the cook feels like slapping your meat on? I would have chosen a different food item if I would have known.
My time is important and these little details are what will make a business flourish or flop in these difficult economic times.
Thanks for listening.

Decent coffee, delicious french toast and pot pie… blissful extravagance. Like others have mentioned, they are kinda slow but I don’t mind it. The people are nice, the place is comfortable, and they have prominently displayed recycling which is a welcome change of pace.
Check it out if you get the chance.

HORRIBLE SERVICE!!!
The small brown haired girl with glasses is slow beyond slow. in mind and body. I ordered a veggie burger. after waiting almost ½hr, I saw the cook putting a beef burger together. I asked if that was my order and he said yes, he said that he had told the cashier girl that they were out and she decided of her own will that a beef burger would be an okay substitute!!! It didn’t even occur to her to tell me that they were out of veggie burgers! I told her flat out that I do not eat beef or bird of any kind. she continued to offer me the turkey burger. IDIOT. I watched her mess up the girls order that was behind me too! Get rid of that girl or I will not come in again.

GREAT bread and food. Great service.
Weird clientelle… groups of wacky nerdy old and young folks who think it’s perfectly fine to: (a) yell indoors across the room at someone outside on the other side of the window who can’t hear them; (b) leave a huge gap of about 5 – 6 pepole between them and the person infront of them (even when the line is going out the door); © keep asking the cash attendent the same question… 4 TIMES (at least; stopped counting after 4^th time); (d) drop litter and trash and the floor without guilt; (e) ask if they can pay with used playing cards and dice; (f) bop up and down to a silent boom box; and (f) not bathe.

The service was tooooooo slow
I had to wait to order 15 minutes even though there were only five people in front of me. Finally, it was my turn to order but I found a bug in the display.
I told the cashier that there was a bug on the chocolate croissant, she just said «OK» and didn’t do anything… She didn’t care at all
GROSS!!!
I had to leave right away.
I hope I can give zero star for this.

When I first moved to the neighborhood I was excited to check this place out. The first thing I had was the pot pie which was awesome. Their coffee is also good and they have free wifi. However, after a few more visits I became more and more disappointed. Now I’m finally getting around to writing a review. It seems like they just don’t take any care in making the food. It isn’t a great value either. For example, I just got the turkey sandwich for $ 9. It has two slices of turkey, no side, and looks pathetic. Finally, the staff just doesn’t seem to care. They always seem to be asleep at the register.
Fortunately Café Yesterday recently opened down the street.
I hope the Bread Workshop can get their act together because they seem to be on the same decline as the Andronico’s next door.

Came in here while looking for a different Café. It smells good and the breakfast offerings seem reasonable and interesting.
S and I were not here to eat however, just to chat. We got 2 coffees, a sweet apple cheese danish, and a savory olive cheese danish.
The coffees actually are self-​pour from a carafe and unfortunately mine didn’t go well with the apple danish (that I picked) and S’s didn’t go well with her olive one. Both danishes were cold and although the pastry part was good, the apple/​cream cheese part tasted almost overly sweet and lemony and the olive danish, while good, kind of tasted like a pizza (it had tomato sauce in it).
Good conversation, nice area, nice people, but bleh. I guess I’d come back for a place to chat — not for food or drink…

Yummy coffee, dependable wi-​fi. Nice joint to get work done.

I was really looking forward to trying the bread and baked goods here. I’ve had some of their goods at Andronico’s and found the pretzels to be pretty good.
I ordered the ham and cheese croissant and two small loaves of bread, rye and whole wheat. There wasn’t much of a selection when I was there at noon on a Sunday but I was happy to see that they had the breads I prefer.
The breads are okay. Nothing outstanding, but nothing bad either. Good crust with a soft and chewy interior and good flavor. The croissant, however, is another matter. It was flat, soft and heavy. Nothing crisp, light or airy about it. Nothing crunched when I bit into it or tore off a piece. I was bummed, to put it mildly. It was almost like eating a refrigerated crescent roll with some boiled ham inside. I could taste the cheese but couldn’t really see it. I couldn’t even eat half of it, and this was to be my lunch!
Given how many good bakeries there are in Berkeley I expected something outstanding.

I think they should just be a bread place and no food. Because the food is nothing special and it is sooo little !!! and too expensive.
Look at the picture of my burger!!! it is tiny!
So i will not eat here, but may get my bread from here is I can’t get to ACME.