Backhaus bakery in San Mateo is featured on social media as having long wait lines, etc., therefore, I figured they must be good, right? To me, the scones, croissants, and seeded rye bread they lacked flavor. House coffee was plain terrible. Service and overall experience was below average. I can't understand why this place received such good reviews. To me, bakeries are about good pastries, bread, and the overall experience. read more

Really cute place in the middle of downtown San Mateo. They had some unique and delicious pastries. The everything croissant bowl with cream cheese filling was fresh and flavorful but not too heavy. Everything would have been perfect if they had heated up our pastries. There's also lovely outdoor seating area in the back which is quiet and has a lot of space. We will definitely be back! read more

I have very high expectations for this place since I saw the great reviews and they alway have long line. I feel disappointed. The pastries are just ok. I got Kouign Amann, Morning Bun, strawberry kouign Amann, raspberry coffee cake and latte. Nothing stand out and I feel not worth it for the price. Oh well.. at least i have been there and tried once. read more

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Great food and drink. Fun, casual environment. Service was good. Moderate noise level.

No wonder they always have a line on the weekends; their bread is legit and fresh (even after a day or two) I ordered the following- Ham n cheese crois., pear n dark chocolate scone, almond crois., pistachio raspberry crois., apple turnover, apple n oat crumble croissant. Worth the $5/each! All of them are really good, but if I had to choose, I'd go with the pistachio raspberry croissant again. Tips: order online and just pick it up on the weekend. You won't miss out on any of the scrumptious pastries! read more

Backhaus - Ham n cheese crois., pear n dark chocolate scone, almond crois., pistachio raspberry crois., apple turnover, apple n oat crumble crostock - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Some of the best pastries this side of Paris! Always a line, super worth it! Kouign Amann haunts me, I LOVE these! read more

Overrated!!! Seriously I don't understand the long line. Their croissants are average and same for their baguettes. Trader Joe's croissants and baguette are way way better for quarter the price. What's also weird is that their croissant are not even hot so I had to heat them so not how how fresh they are read more

The backhaus has the most charming outdoor area. We really enjoyed having breakfast here and food was pretty good read more

Backhaus - Croissant, latte, americano, strawberry cream pasty and bread - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great spot when I'm craving San Francisco-esque bakery ambience and quality but I don't feel like hauling ass up north. The patio in the back is adorable (and usually sunny - take that, San Francisco!). Delicious pastries and coffees. The Cubano and speck-and-egg were great savories for brunch. We took home a country loaf that kept our breakfasts interesting for the next couple of days. read more

Backhaus - Cute menu and espresso bar - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My boyfriend & I came here on a whim because we love finding amazing coffee shops in new places! This is definitely one of the good ones! I loved trying all the pastries, we got two free ones just because it was our first time they were amazing & such cool flavors! The staff was friendly & I really loved the outdoor seating area in the back! You can enjoy the outdoors & get work done if you need to!! Or just read a book. I will be back soon! read more

Backhaus - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I have a terrible confession to make--I don't know if I fully appreciated Backhaus when it was still a part of Kitchentown. My wife, who is the baked goods connoisseur in our family, has been a true believer for many years, and has taken many opportunities to pick up a pretzel from their bakery prior to the opening of this brick and mortar location. Maybe it's the fact that I don't really like pretzels (which she loves) that colored my judgment, so when Mrs. Andy C dragged me out to their new location for opening weekend, I was somewhat skeptical. Perhaps the converted doubters make the best zealots--how my eyes have been opened! They do the classics brilliantly: the croissants are so amazing flaky on the outside, yet satisfyingly chewy inside. Their baguettes have such delightfully crispy crusts that I could abandon their interiors and be just as happy. The Cubano, a playful pastry take on cuban sandwich, is as charming on the palate as it is to look at. And this is before I've said anything about the secret back garden--there are few earthly pleasures akin to slowly inhaling Backhaus' yeasty treats while watching lazy dragonflies flutter around the sunny herb planters under a parasol. SF? Europe? Where am I? As much as I'd love to keep this location a secret, as a convert, I have no choice but to share the good news. And I'm going to say it: Backhaus holds its own with the best of the best City bakeries. Not only is it worth the wait, it is a must-visit for all mid-Peninsula residents! read more

Backhaus - Everything bagel croissant and Cubano - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I am so happy we finally have a European-like bakery as wonderful as Backhaus here in San Mateo. The Kouign amann, the almond croissant, and tear-and-share pretzels are all SO delicious! I also had bread service with the country loaf with butter + jam = THE perfect match! The lines can be quite long in the mornings, but the wait isn't too bad. I love when the lines go inside the store, so you get to see how the amazing bread is made through the big window. The team members who have taken my orders the past few weeks have all been so sweet and helpful in explaining what the different bread & pastry choices are. Truly a delightful in-store experience and even at-home when you bring your paper bags filled with pastries & eat them for breakfast/brunch/dinner :) "Wunderbar!" read more

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An absolutely wonderful European-style bakery with amazing coffee. Each pastry is a literal work of art. Fantastic bread. Everything you try is a new delight! Try the Cubano. Very creative. For coffee, try a cortado. It reminds me of Paris. Super-friendly staff. This has my highest recommendation! read more

I am so happy that there is a proper bakery, with an in-house baking kitchen, in San Mateo! It's not another run-of-the-mill coffee shop. Yes, they serve coffee (RITUAL COFFEE...a San Francisco winner)... but the baked goods at Backhaus are the real stars of the show. Fresh baked daily, the pastries and breads are flaky, buttery, not too rich or sweet. The customer service is also a winner, thanks to the friendly staff. If you want a slice of this deliciousness, arrive relatively early because seats are somewhat limited...which is understandable for a small shop on a crowded downtown main street, and baked goods sell out easily (once they run out for the day, they do not restock items). There is often a queue out the door, but turnover is fast and the line moves relatively quick. This is a great gem in the heart of downtown San Mateo... Well, there goes the parking! If you thought traffic was bad before...well... read more

Backhaus - Beautiful, simple, minimal decor at San Mateo's first craft coffee haus. - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Really, everything here is super fresh and delicious. You have to try the apple turnover, it makes this crunchy super fulfilling sound once you bite into it, and with each bite, you can taste the fluffiness of the bread. Exactly the crunchiness you want! They take baking seriously! The backyard patio is also super cute with large trees. Very insta-friendly. It just makes you feel happy sitting there sipping coffee. I highly recommend! read more

Backhaus - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Today I visited friends in San Mateo, while there stopped at Backhaus to see what's all the rave is about...their coffee drinks are good, however their pastries are heavenly, I had the raspberry, pistachio croissant and the coconut, passion fruit pastry, both where well baked, perfectly crisp, and the flavor profile are superb, their staff is way cool and the patio in the back makes a perfect spot to drink and eat the delicious pastries. Imo, definitely worth waiting in line...I meant to post pics, next time, cuz, "I'll be back" read more

Backhaus is a great addition to the downtown San Mateo area. They have such a nice selection of pastries! It's not the cheapest but I feel like pricing is pretty standard for the area, plus you're paying for the location and brick-and-motor storefront! I got the Speck & Egg, my friend got the Morning Bun, and we split the Peach Bostock. I paid $5 each for the Speck & Egg and the Peach Bostock. The Speck & Egg was a savory, flaky pastry with pork and an egg baked into it. The yolk broke when I cut my fork into it - amazing! The Peach Bostock was good too - the person behind the counter described it as a "croissant toast." It wasn't too sweet; and the top had almond frangipane, almonds, maybe oats??, and peaches. It was a decent size too, pretty hefty. It's a small storefront, but you can walk down the narrow hallway (past a window where you can see the magic happening in the kitchen!) to the back patio, where there are quite a few tables and chairs. It's the perfect place to enjoy a temperate summer morning! Over the past few years I have discovered and fallen in love with the multitude of delicious bakeries in SF/Berkeley and now that I've found Backhaus, treating myself to baked goods is much more accessible now (yikes @ my wallet and waist!!!). I can't wait to come back and try more! read more

Backhaus - Speck & Egg, Peach Bostock, Morning Bun - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

This place was so awesome! Stopped on my way from San Bruno to San Jose. It was very crowded, line out the door so be patient and get there early. The line moved quickly though. Had a pistachio croissant that I'm still thinking about. Also kouign Amann, which were the reason I went. Soooo good! Coffee was decent as well, I had a good iced coffee although the sizes were small-ish so it prevented me from downing my usual million ounces of iced coffee. Staff were friendly and efficient. Will def return on my next trip. read more

I've been a fan of Backhaus bread since I first tried their pastries at the CSM Farmer's market. I am thrilled to see the storefront receiving good business! I went in on a Sunday morning for a cappuccino and a raspberry pistachio croissant. Both were delicious! The staff is passionate about serving the best experience to all of their customers, even if the line grows long. I highly recommend Backhaus for their bread, pastries, coffee and friendly service. read more

Backhaus - Cappuccino, feat. pistachio raspberry croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here with a friend on a weekday afternoon. I only ordered sparkling lemonade, although the pastry and bread looked very nice too. We stayed at the backyard for a while until the store closes and it's a lovely area! So chill. read more

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Outstanding quality and unique pastries make this neighborhood bakery in downtown San Mateo hard to resist. My favorites are the savory everything croissant and the ham & cheese croissant. 30 seconds on soften in the microwave makes them even better. Breads: all are made with sourdough except the baguettes, which I love. The country loaves are a great everyday bread. I love the olive bread for a nice dinner bread. The line is long on weekend mornings. Get there by 8:30 for best selection. And don't forget to pay for parking -- meter police are out writing tickets right after 8:00. read more

The quality is great. I originally ordered a ham and cheese croissant, but they ran out last second. No problem, i ordered a pain au chocolat/chocolate croissant, which was a bit cheaper. They told me it's their policy to either refund or sub in the item. So for the pan au chocolat i chose, i got charged more for an item for no reason, unfortunately. That being said, the pastries here are great. The pan au chocolate was buttery and still slightly warm when i received it. I look forward to trying more of their goods as well as the coffee next time. read more

Update: The scones are always to die for and so artisinal. The line at 730-8am is so worth it because you get to choose from the full selection of pastry options. If you go at 9am you gonna miss out on some things. The prices are about $1/pasty more now but what can ya do with inflation. Wish salaries also matched inflation but if you can, remember to tip 15% to keep the deserving staff here happy and employed. Love love love Backhaus. I'm so glad they decided to open in San Mateo. And will always return when in need of a flaky croissant treat. read more

Exceptional customer service and friendly vibes! Very lively and welcoming all over. Been going every week for a fresh loaf of bread and I intend on going every week after that! The pastries all delicious too! read more

Backhaus - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Definitely a great place to pick up a pastry to-go, but not the best for coffee and not very reliable. There's a lovely patio but it's small and unfortunately it was totally full when I went (Saturday, 11AM). There are long lines until they run out of pastries; there were only 3 types left by 11AM and by 12:30 they were totally out. I had the chocolate croissant. It had a wonderful crunchy layer on the outside, a moist buttery interior (maybe even too buttery for some--not me!), and very high quality bittersweet chocolate which was slightly melty. A+! I also ordered a latte. The coffee and milk hadn't mixed properly; all the coffee flavor was sitting at the bottom. And the foam wasn't right; bigger bubbles which dissipated very quickly. I got the impression that the person who made it was new so I don't think this is usually the case here--but it's all I have to go off of... I would love to get another pastry here, but I wouldn't count on them having good coffee, seating, or even pastries at prime brunchtime hours. read more

Wonderful breakfast spot with amazing pastries (they have cool fruited and nut ones), incredible sourdough (definitely worth a visit if you like Bay Area sourdough), great coffee tonics, a pleasant outdoor space out back and friendly staff. The line can get pretty long so be prepared to wait. read more

I ordered the last morning bun today, and even said "I'll take the last morning bun". A guy who ordered AFTER me was accidentally given the last one and had already left. When that guy ordered, I noticed them asking each other if it was the last one, and i didnt want to be rude and say "oh no, that ones mine". I assumed that maybe they had extra in the back. I don't know if it's because the cashier was switching between two registers, or if it's because the guy packing the pastries just forgot to get my ticket, but I just want to make sure that Backhaus sees this so that this doesn't happen again to another person. Perhaps they need to rethink their order process? I'm adding a star because they did switch it out for extra chocolate pretzel bites, and the guy was really nice. But still, that should have never happened with an organized ordering process. Maybe they should get a digital tablet with all the orders? If I were them, I would have offered a full refund for my whole order (and not just the morning bun) , offered a gift card, or something along those lines. Mistakes like that are not really reversible, but the best way to apologize for bad mistakes like that (and make customers feel like you sympathize with them) is to go above and beyond. read more

OMG such original pastries!!! Best bread ever I used to get their tasty goodies at the Burlingame farmers market while they were finding & getting ready to open their first brick & mortar establishment. Husband and wife team they travel all over Europe to discover new tasty treats to share with us read more

Love love love the fruit scones and croissants from Backhaus. The flaky goodness in the almond and pistachio croissants are to die for! Worth the wait in line! This is my go to pastry spot. You will not be disappointed! read more

Absolutely the best Olive Bread ever. Take it from my 11 year old granddaughter Zoe. She is a connoisseur of breads, especially olive breads. She loves hers with Kerry's garlic butter. Delicious. My favorite is the olive read more

I'm a first time new customer and I told them that. Friendly service. But they must have a quality control problem because they gave me this burned loaf. Why am I standing in a long line and paying a premium so that when I get home and open the package they gave me I find burned bread?! :-(( read more

Backhaus - Burned loaf! :-(( - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

As a longtime fan of their baked goods stand at local farmer's markets, I'm very happy to see their storefront finally open in downtown San Mateo. Days are limited in their soft opening phase, but they're open from Wednesday - Sunday, 7:30-4:00 which will allow me to accommodate my cravings for their croissants and loaves of bread more frequently - my waistline isn't quite sure this is a positive thing. All their pastries are delicious and flaky - I'm looking forward to working my way through their menu. Both their savory and sweet item as are equally excellent. They have eating areas inside and outside the store with a nice patio area in the rear. This is as very welcome addition to downtown San Mateo. Edit: updated their weekly schedule. read more

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freaking fantastic. pro tip: Get there 7:20am on Saturday and Sunday. Don't freak out by the queue, once the doors open at 7:3am, the lines move very quickly. If you don't get there early, the good stuff goes quick and you are left with cookies - which are good, but not as good as the country sourdough boule, croissants or kouign amann. Amazing, freaking amazing. This is one of the top 3 bakeries in the SF area (Tartine, Neighbor Bakehouse) for sourdough boules. read more

Great people, great causes, out-of-this-world bread. There is something about the way they make their bread that makes it amazing. It is the best! Crunchy crust, super soft inside. I usually cut a slice to make avocado toast and it catapults a bland piece of toast to something artisan toast worthy. Their Kouign Amanns are also spectacular. It gives b.patisserie a run for its money. Other pastries are amazing as well. Fan favorite is the Raspberry Pistachio. read more

I was there at 10am on Tuesday. There was no line and variety of pastries were available. I ordered a latte and a lemon cake which was big and filling! I could finish only a half of it and had the rest for lunch. I can't wait to go back and try more sweets! read more

Backhaus - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Lined up on Saturday around 10:15 am and waited for approximately 15 min. They were definitely starting to sell out of pastries when I got in the door so will have to make sure to get there earlier. I got: 1) Crostock (cranberry + apple) - interesting as it's my first time having a crostock. Very flaky and the cranberry + apple is a good flavor combination. 2) Kouign Amann - good Bay Area bakeries quality. Don't need to travel to SF anymore to get this although for seasonal flavored ones, I wonder if they do those here. Otherwise, worth it to trek to b.patisserie for theirs. 3) Scone - solid (pun intended as it's very dense as expected). Typical scone quality representative of good Bay Area bakeries 4) Apple Turnover - amazing and would get again. Lovely apple is complemented by very buttery and flaky pastry. May be a tad too buttery for some. When reheating in the oven, the top flake may burn a bit so will need to take it off after reheating unless you eat it fresh. 5) Chocolate sourdough - very interesting. Heavy on the dark chocolate and almost no sourdough taste = perfect. It's not as big as the other loaves. Perfect for a sweet breakfast toast. I didn't finish my loaf due to competition from other breads in the house, but I would get this again to share. Paid parking along street meters or in garages. Definitely go early and enjoy the unique pastries they have here. read more

Great coffee/ bakery store hangout. I came in in a late Friday afternoon. Apparently they sold out the popular pastries. So I ordered a classic croissant and a classic latte. The croissant was crispy and fresh. And they have a very cool backyard you can enjoy sometime with your friends or yourself. read more

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Country loaf is overly chewy-- gumlike. A build-your-own bread board down to the salt. 2/10 bites had the right ratio-- so sad. Individual component ingredients were phenomenal, but I'm no cook :( At $10, not worth it to me. Latte was good. Nothing crazy or special. But, a decent latte at $5 is worth it to me on the weekend. Nice little outdoor space and dog friendly! Crowded, serve-yourself. Too much of a neo-American, in-n-out café. Maybe better during the week. read more

Backhaus - Outdoor seating and creepy dog - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Favorite bakery in town. My reason for waking up before 7 am to grab their baked goods before they sell out. Make sure to stop by before noon if you want to try them. A variety of fresh loaves! It's perfect for a charcuterie board, bringing over to family or friend homes. Service is quick. Place your order at the front of the counter based on what's available on the wall or pastry counter. Pay and then wait for them to pack up your items. read more

The unparalleled customer service! Jess generously gave me their personal loaf of chocolate hazelnut babka as the bakery was sold out and closing. Imagine the joy of the delicious moist bread. It was worth the drive from Oakland! read more

Backhaus - Chocolate Hazelnut Babka Bread - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California