Diotima Bakehouse, an amazingly delicious bakery, is located off of Los Alisos and Jeronimo in the…read morecity of Mission Viejo. I've heard all the buzz about this place and I have had it bookmarked since owner and chef Kian Moltaji first opened. I am happy to say that I finally had a chance to go. I am literally kicking myself for not having gone sooner because of ALL the bakeries I have been to...I can honestly say that this is by far my absolute favorite. They are open Wednesday through Sunday only so keep that in mind. Chef Kian, offers French pastries that will have you wanting more with the very first bite. The bakery not only smells amazing but it's clean inside and decorated with some pretty live plants. I mean, the bakery made me smile just walking in. Don't know. There are several small tables that line two side walls, just perfect for some coffee and chill with a friend. What I ordered. 1) almond & raspberry danish 5/5 - OMG. I love almond desserts and pastries but I am always so hesitant to take the first bite because they're usually crazy sweet. Not this. This was crispy, flaky, moist, tasty and perfectly sweetened. 2) caramelized almond croissant 5/5 - another super good almond pastry. You'd think being that it is caramelized that this would be cavity inducing but it is far from that. Just the right sweetness. 3) guava cheese 5/5 - really good. What I liked was the soft sweetness of the cheese which usually overpowers cheese pasties everywhere else. 4) chocolate croissant - I didn't get to try this. The kids devoured it so quickly I didn't even have a chance. They did enjoy it very much and had to split the two between them since it's a fairly large pastry. They asked for me to buy more of it, so I'm guessing it must've been a 5/5 for them too. The kids are already bugging about going as soon as they open again to which I will happily oblige. I need to snag me some of the pistachio pastries next time. I hear those are amazing. So happy to have them so close to home.

I'd give Diotima a 3.5 and have to sadly report that I am not as impressed as everyone else. I have…read morebeen three different times this past year, and most recently had the choccolate croissant, the eclair and the butterscotch chocolate chip cookie. The first two times, I focused on the laminated pastries - almond croissant, kouign amman (filled with pastry cream) and a guava pastry. Sadly, this is where I don't think Diotima does that well - my chocolate croissant was on the doughier side - think a more bready Costco croissant. I thought the kouign amman was really dense, as was the almond croissant. I love my laminated pastries and found them dense, as if the dough got too warm. However, the bright spots are the cookies and the eclair. I actually thought the cookie was one of the best I've ever tasted - great chewy texture, even when cold, delicious complex flavor, with salty bits running through it. Actually really fabulous. The eclair was also good - I do find that based on the eclair and filled kouign amman, I find the pastry cream too thick and sticky - it just has a very sticky mouthfeel. I haven't tried any of the drinks, but I think I'll stick to Diotima's cookies, cakes and refrigerated desserts. For laminated pastries, I think Chaupain does a fine job.

The staff here are so nice! They have a good selection of mouthwatering pastries to choose from…read more I came here after lunch during the weekend and they still had a decent variety to choose from. Their Mille fuelle is delicious, just wish part of the pastry wasn't overcooked a bit. But overall yummy! Kougn amanns were decent as were the!other pastries. 10/10 would come here on a regular basis if I didn't live 45 min away!

Picked up a pistachio croissant and took it to go and it was absolutely delicious. The outer layer…read morehad a very nice crisp to it, the pistachios complement very well, and overall this was absolutely satisfying to eat. It had the perfect level of crunch and flakiness to it while maintaining a consistent pistachio filling. Best part is that the pistachio wasn't overwhelming and did not overtake the whole croissant. The workers were nice and friendly and the experience overall was great! Will be coming back when I'm in the area.

We had an amazing brunch after a long hike here The…read moreingredients were fresh and the breakfast wrap was delicious The staff are super nice and the ambiance is so welcoming will be back soon

The pastries here are so delicious! Everything I've had here is absolutely divine…read more Friendly service, too.

I used to manage the Chipotle right next door, so I stopped by this bakery quite often. The owners…read moreand their son have always been incredibly kind, welcoming, and appreciative of the neighboring businesses. Their son in particular is phenomenal and always made every interaction pleasant. The baked goods are fresh, delicious, and clearly made with care. While there was one interaction in the past that felt a little more business-focused than hospitality-focused regarding a mall discount, it was far from enough to take away from the overall experience this bakery consistently provides. Manager ( not the owners ) was upset I wasn't able to offer a mall discount when they were able too. Came to the point she would verbally say we wouldn't ( myself and crew members) wouldn't be receiving it. Personally not a big deal. Most I'd spend was 5-7$ and discount was less than a dollar. Still a phenomenal bakery At the end of the day, great ownership, great products, and great people. Small businesses like this deserve support, and I'm always happy to recommend them.

Fantastic food and drinks -- just plan ahead on busy mornings…read more Pandor Artisan Bakery and Café is a true local gem, especially if you love well-made drinks, crepes, and pastries done right. We visited on a Saturday morning around 9:30am, and while the place was very busy and lively, it's easy to see why it's so popular. Drinks: The honey lavender latte was excellent -- smooth, lightly floral, and not overly sweet. The Nutella cortado is also a standout and a great choice if you like something rich but balanced. Food: The chicken and mushroom crepe had great flavor and was very satisfying. The Romeo and Juliette crepe was absolutely delicious and easily one of the highlights of the visit. Pastries: The almond croissant and peach danish were my favorites -- flaky, fresh, and exactly what you hope for at a bakery like this. Because it was a peak Saturday morning, there was about a 15-minute wait to find a table, and ordering took another 20 minutes. My food came out fairly quickly, but my husband's order was unfortunately missed and didn't arrive until about 40 minutes later. That said, the woman running the place was an absolute sweetheart -- incredibly kind, apologetic, and genuinely attentive. She even offered us a free dessert to make up for the delay, which we really appreciated. The rest of the staff was also friendly and helpful despite how crowded it was. The space does get noisy when it's full, so it's not the most relaxing dine-in experience during peak hours. My advice: order online and take it to go -- this would be perfect for a picnic or a relaxed breakfast elsewhere. The food and drinks are absolutely worth it, and with a little planning, you'll have a great experience.

One of our favorite local bakeries! Lots of parking and outdoor seating. It's very clean and neatly…read moreorganized. All real ingredients and not overly priced. Went in to buy some cookies and also ended up with sourdough bread and granola. The young lady who assisted us was very sweet and offered to slice the bread for us too! Their cookies and pastries are really tasty. Hoping to try their breakfast soon. Til next time! Sourdough bread $5.95 Granola $5.95

What is all the hype? I've been wanting to try this place for a while now…read more Prepare for a wait, it takes a while. Of the $100 dollars I spent getting a variety of goodies, here's my breakdown: The ding dong things- way too chocolatey rich with minimal cream filling, never again The Chicago bran muffin delicious, sticky with nuts and raisins I think The cinnamon rolls, meh, never again, dry not expected The buns, made hamburgers at home they were actually better than expected! Soft light The cream puffs they tasted decent but left an afterfilm of the full fat cream in the center so never again The strawberry custard croissants were my favorite, this outshined them all! If am ever in the area I would get those for sure. But for the prices being so much, not sure why people frequent this place.

I finally got a chance to visit this place and I am so happy that I did…read more I was going to visit my 99 year old grandmother and wanted to get her some sweets on my way there. When I walked in, a kind lady greeted me and asked me what I would like to get. I told her that I am visiting my grandmother and what she recommends that are not too sweet and easy to chew for an elder. Everything that she recommended was delicious! She even gave couple of pastries on the house for my grandma to try which was so sweet and kind. When I got to my grandma's house, she tried a little bit of everything and enjoyed it! I could see if from the smile on her face. That day was the last day I saw my grandma well before she went to hospital 5 days later and passed away 3 days after that. But I am so happy that this bakery and especially the kind owner, gave me a chance to see my grandma enjoying the pastries and being all happy. I will never forget that day and I owe it to this bakery. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Step inside to the sweet aroma of freshly baked treats. Your eyes can't help but dance across the…read moredisplay of scones, cookies, and croissants, each labeled with charming handwritten tags. The menu has plenty of choices to explore! Just note that prices aren't listed, so you'll need to check with the staff. Fluffy, flaky chocolate croissants are served on a paper plate. Cannolis (mini size of 3 inches) are made to order at $4 each; plain or chocolate chip. I'm a fan of their spicy chai latte. They have substitutions of oat milk and almond milk. Frequent customers get the royal treatment of the adorable owners bringing your order to your table. For your first time, pick up at the counter. Savour Bakery is a nice local spot with half a dozen tables stuffed inside. They allow dogs inside.

I cannot say enough amazing things about Bahar Bakery! Even though I've been living in California…read morefor over a decade and have tried some of the best bakeries across Southern California, the Bay Area, and San Francisco, I have honestly never had a cake with this level of quality and deliciousness. The birthday cake they made for me was absolutely stunning -- the design was flawless, detailed, and beautifully executed. It looked like a true piece of art. But even more impressive was the taste. The cake was incredibly fresh, perfectly moist, and so flavorful without being overly sweet. Every single guest kept asking where it was from! Bahar Bakery truly exceeded all my expectations. Their craftsmanship, attention to detail, and flavor are unmatched. I highly, highly recommend them to anyone looking for a custom cake that is both breathtakingly beautiful and unbelievably delicious. Thank you for making my celebration so special!

Banana, walnut Mocha cake…read more I had a wonderful experience ordering a birthday cake from Bahar Bakery,The cake was beautifully made and tasted delicious. The customer service was exceptional-- Mrs. Farzane was very kind, patient, and attentive to every detail. She made sure everything turned out exactly the way I wanted. Highly recommended, thanks again dear Farzane

5 stars for the goma matcha latte and milk bread with crunchy pearls!…read more The goma matcha latte 5/5 had a black sesame paste that was like the black sesame version of smooth peanut butter! One could probably eat it by the spoonful! Such a complex flavor complement to the matcha latte. The matcha latte (4/5) felt fairly strong (I estimate 4g at least), and the mango puree tasted real/ fresh but was nothing special. However, I did like that it was not too sweet. Caveat: I am partial to mango/coconut milk or mango sticky rice matcha lattes. The goma matcha was worth the $8 pricetag. Tip: Matcha Mondays=10% off matcha drinks! The mango one maybe was worth it due to the amount of matcha, but I do feel like I could make it at home. The milk bread ($5.50) was soft, with a delightful bursting sweet cream filling topped with those shite pearly crunchies-- unique and delicious. I also loved the kinako an pan (sweet bread with red bean filling, $5.50) because of the nostalgic flavors, but also because the azuki bean had a nice crunchy sugar quality. It was on the drier side the day after purchase, but I enjoyed it. Service was cheerful and speedy. The space is pretty large with probably as much outdoor seating as indoor, and there were a few open spots at 1:30 on a Monday. Parking was plentiful in the shared plaza lot with some shady spots. I would drive back just for that goma matcha latte!! Also to try a few other breads or for a nice friend date spot to sit outside.

Super delicious spot! It's located inside a plaza with plenty of parking. There's a good amount of…read moretables inside and outside. You order at the register and they'll bring your order to you when it's ready. I got the hojicha latte and added sweetener. The flavor was really good but it was all ice and not fully filled the cup. Felt like without ice it would have filled a shot glass. I got the chicken pesto which was delicious. Had great flavor and portion and I enjoyed the salad it came with. The mango cream bread had a good amount of cream and the filling was delicious. The chocolate cookie was good but so hefty. I ordered the matcha cheesecake and original cheesecake thinking it was the soft and fluffy texture but it had a thick consistency. The matcha was good with a very strong matcha flavor and the original had a slight lemon flavor. I enjoyed all the food and sweets here, but a bit disappointed with their drink portion.