What a charming bakery/coffee shop in a super cute almost European nook in town. If you're…read morevisiting, I definitely recommend taking a drive to this area. Progressive area - Seems to be... There wasn't line when we got there but the crowd usually follows us for some reason so by the time we left there was standing room only and a line out the door. The bakery items were very fresh and tasty. I loved the Swedish gingerbread cookies - light and crisp. The lemon bar was delicious. They also have sandwiches that liked really good. Coffee - I got a vanilla latte extra sweet (no lavender) and my daughter said it was one of the best. I thought it was pretty good. I would go again when back in Birmingham!

Any time I head out of town (Huntsville), I try to find a local pastry and/or coffee shop…read more Visiting Birmingham, I had all lot of options; Continental wound up being the call for pastries. Nestled in the Mountain Brook area, it's a little hard to see but is right next to Chez Lulu, which I think is a sister restaurant. Parking is a little tricky but manageable. I got there fairly late so the selection was a bit picked over, but I still got a good array of treats to bring home. Service was a touch slow but friendly. They were fairly busy. There's no room to eat inside or outside that I could discern; it's exclusively a take and go type of place. I got two pecan sandies to share with my parents, who were along for the ride, and then a cardamom bun and a peanut butter cookie for later. Sadly, I don't feel like any of the pastries really wowed. The pecan sandies were a little too dry (even as sandies go) and the pecans didn't taste toasted nor were they especially plentiful. The peanut butter cookie was the best thing, though it too was a little on the dry side - nice PB flavor though. I straight up didn't like the cardamom bun. The cardamom flavor was completely overwhelming, to the point it wasn't sweet at all, and instead tasted almost medicinal. The texture was nice but I couldn't finish it. Perhaps I arrived too late to order their specialties. I know they specialize in European goodies so if I return I'll make sure to try a croissant or something similar.

One of Birmingham's only true creameries, where they're making all the ice cream in house. I am a…read moreself proclaimed Ice Cream Snob, but Big Spoon checks all my boxes. Unique flavors, classic flavors, the smell of fresh waffle cones inside. Big Spoon does a ton of business, as they should. The location here in Avondale is great, but not super walkable from any really good restaurants. I would love to see them open another spot on 2nd Ave. I had the strawberry tres leches in a waffle cone and it was delicious. I appreciate the care and craft that went into making sure every bit down to the bottom of the cone had ice cream in it. 10/10.

The Sweet and the Absurd: A Birmingham Creamery's Baffling Economics…read moreTo step into Big Spoon Creamery in Birmingham is to subject oneself to a masterclass in both artisanal delight and bureaucratic absurdity. On my visits--a pilgrimage undertaken reliably every month and a half--the front-line staff have never been anything short of exemplary. They are the cheerful stewards of a deeply baffling system, executing their duties with a warmth that almost distracts you from the institutional quirks around them. I say "institutional" because the management themselves are entirely phantom. They are never seen on the floor. Perhaps this is a calculated evasion; if they were ever present, they would surely have to field a relentless, exasperated inquisition regarding the tragic and ongoing absence of their finest creation: the "Magic City." Why an ice cream parlor would willingly suppress its undisputed masterpiece remains an enduring mystery. Even if the economics of its ingredients demanded a premium surcharge, "Magic City" ought to be enshrined as an immovable staple on the menu. Instead, the menu is a restless, ever-shifting carousel. I concede that a relentless churn of novelty is a virtue to a certain type of customer, but the soul of a great neighborhood institution relies on the comforting reliability of a few anchor flavors. At Big Spoon, just as you develop an affection for a flavor, it vanishes into the ether. Then, we must examine the rewards program, an endeavor so poorly conceived it borders on the avant-garde. The mathematics are punishingly flat: one point per order, regardless of whether the patron spends a single dollar or one hundred. The rational response to such a broken incentive structure is, naturally, to weaponize the system. To extract any genuine value, the savvy customer is forced into a theatrical display of micro-transactions, paying for each scoop separately. It is a loophole that needlessly punishes the very staff who make the establishment shine, forcing them to run the register three or four times for a single family's dessert. Finally, there is the creamery's bizarre pricing taxonomy. A close study of the board reveals an accidental arbitrage opportunity: the customer is objectively better off purchasing two distinct pints of ice cream and two empty waffle cones to assemble on their own time, rather than engaging in the straightforward, intended transaction of ordering ice cream scooped directly into a cone. Whoever is pulling the levers behind the curtain at Big Spoon clearly fancies themselves a clever operator, disrupting the traditional ice cream parlor model with dynamic menus and gamified loyalty. But in their pursuit of perpetual novelty and labyrinthine economics, they have embodied the old proverb perfectly: they are entirely too clever by half.

Always a great choice to stop at K & J's! New cupcake selections made each day. If you miss the…read morestore hours, no worries. Just get something out of the vending machine! If you want to sit down and enjoy your treats, you'll enjoy all the beautiful pink decor and relaxed atmosphere.

Such a cuteeeee dessert lounge! The staff were extremely polite and helpful with me making a…read moredecision on what to try since they have an endless amount of variety options to choose from. This pastry lounge is really clean and the splash of pink everywhere is amazing! I will most definitely go back to try other items!

Really enjoyed this moment with coffee and a piece of quiche. Was greeted as soon as I came in an…read moreinformed what they had left. Good place. The coffee was hot, fresh and very flavorful.

Bandit Patisserie is serving up a slice of France right in the heart of downtown Birmingham. I love…read morethis bakery and the cozy vibe inside. My favorite pastry here is the almond croissant. It's soft and flakey and filled with almond filling. I enjoy their lattes, they are definitely not the sweetest so I'd recommend asking for extra syrup if you like yours sweet. They heat up your pastries and bring your food to you when it's ready. The perfect spot to study or catch up with a friend over drinks and a sweet treat!

I went to Insomnia Cookies specifically for the oatmeal chocolate chip walnut cookie, and when I…read moretell you it did NOT disappoint, I mean it! Insomnia is located downtown, and while the parking situation isn't the best, the moment you walk inside and smell those fresh cookies, it's all worth it. My cookies were warm, soft, and crispy all at the same time. Truly hit the spot!

Ordering ahead on the app was super easy. The staff were busy ensuring orders were brought out. The…read morearea was clean as well inside. My suggestion: It was slightly confusing figuring out where pick up and ordering for the first time was. I believe having a section of the counter reserved for pick up will allow the team at this location to make the pick up process smoother. I was waiting with others who had yet to order. The cookies and ice cream was soooo good! the package was perfect for travel back to my home. Just delicious 10/10.

One last stop before heading home from Bham! I'd had this spot bookmarked and it was a short drive…read morefrom where we ate, so we headed on over to get some dessert. This gelateria is tucked away in a cute area. The road is like...cobblestone? Or very uneven and narrow at least. Wasn't super friendly for our car. Probably better to walk from somewhere else nearby. The inside was super weirdly hot, which was unexpected. Fortunately we were getting our goodies to go. There's very limited seating inside but you could maybe grab a spot if you wanted to. I ordered a scoop of hazelnut gelato and husband got chocolate. The flavor selection is somewhat simple and limited but that's not necessarily a bad thing - product seems very high quality. Service was acceptable, quiet and matter of fact. The serving size was generous. Both gelatos were good, but my hazelnut was great! It was so pleasantly nutty and sweet, and the texture was amazing. I'd definitely order this treat again! Give them a try if you're a gelato fan. Yum!

Super kind staff. Very patient and let us try multiple flavors. It's always nice when people are…read morewilling to engage with you, ask you how your day was and learn more about you. The gelato has the perfect soft texture and isn't too heavy on your stomach. I felt refreshed and energized after eating it. The lemon lavender goat cheese ice cream had a delicious citrusy flavor. The goat cheese was subtle. The lavender flavor shined through. The blood orange is delicious, not too much of a bitterness or a bite to it. Perfectly balanced flavors. Loved sitting outside.

4.5 but rounding up because the vibe was sooooo perfect…read more Came here for caffeine before the drive back up to Huntsville. This is a GORGEOUS coffee shop with a lot of Latin flair. I will say parking was a bit of a pain. I cheated and parked at Chick fil a but I don't think that would've worked if I'd stayed for more than enough time to order and go. Fortunately I was in and out fairly quickly. That said, if I lived in the area, I'd love to hang out for a while. The atmosphere is just perfect. Cool, a tiny bit punk rock, great music, powerful air conditioning, fun stickers and stuff on the tables for local bands, breweries, and celebration of immigrants. Service was super sweet and working diligently. The barista who spoke with me answered my questions happily and made great recommendations. I ordered an iced horchata latte for myself, an iced chocolate Abuelita for my dad, and a chocolate concha to take home to my husband. Our drinks came out quickly and we were on our way. She warmed up the concha without asking, which wound up not being necessary but would've been appreciated had I eaten it immediately. My iced drink was a little over-full and did squeeze out some when I stuck a straw in. Sticky! No big deal, we had wet wipes in the car. The horchata latte was perfection. Sweet, creamy, strong cinnamon and coffee flavors. Exactly how I imagined it would be! My dad said he felt the chocolate Abuelita was a little light on coffee flavor but he rarely drinks iced coffee or "fancy coffee," so YMMV. The concha was tasty, subtly sweet, and soft when I got around to eating it later. Will definitely return on future trips to Birmingham. Thanks so much, Bandido!

Should I be judging a coffee shop on their matcha? I don't know. Maybe not. But I was pretty…read moreunimpressed. Only way I knew matcha was in there is bc it was green. I'm always willing to try again of course. They were also super busy ... but with the amount of people behind the counter, you'd think they could dole out 2 matcha lattes in less than 20mins. Maybe not. Who knows.

Nice place, great coffee. The service is friendly & the food is great. The menu has a little of…read moreeverything. The pastry selection is excellent.

I've been here a few times now and have always had a great experience. I loved the Autumn latte…read morespecials they had and have enjoyed sitting outside in the cool autumn weather. Service is good!