Grand Central Bakeries started in Portland, Oregon, did you know? That's where I am originally from, so I was excited to see that they were up here too. Except, parking + weird street people make me nervous to go to the one in Pioneer Square . . . and parking is difficult in the Eastlake location too! Yes, I am a wuss. So I had not had a good fix for quite awhile, until work took me down to Burien. I was so glad I went! Parking is easy, the staff is welcoming and helpful, and I love being able to go to a place where everything is casual and laid back. No waitresses hovering over you to turn over the tables in their section; you bus your own. My favorite sandwich currently is the Mediterranean Tosti, which has Beecher's Cheese, Tomato Chutney on Kalamata Olive Bread. And I love getting the deli pickle with my sandwich. I took my parents here when they visited, for breakfast, and I had a breakfast biscuit with egg, cheese and sausage on it, SO GOOD! They did get my coffee order wrong, but I sort of didn't care, because the food was so good and they erred in my favor. read more

I love this bakery!! I love that it is so close to where we live, and their bread and pastries are so tasty! If you buy your bread in the last hour of the day, it is discounted. Sometimes I do this on purpose. They will also slice up any loaf for you if you like, which I always do for the sandwich style bread. I have never had a problem with service, but my boyfriend has been stuck with some staff that are not familiar with the product, and seem to be easily confused. I'm sure they were just new people, but they probably should have been more familiar with the products they sell before working the register. Here's what we buy regularly: Challah - the best for breakfast and French toast, only available on Fridays at Burien location. If I don't make it into French toast, I will eat it with butter, toasted or not, and it's hard to not eat half the loaf! Goldendale Wheat - soft but still dense and substantial. Perfect for a turkey sandwich, also good toasted with over easy eggs. Try this first if you are looking for sandwich bread. Decorated sugar cookies- holiday and season inspired, actually taste delicious. A very yummy treat to get when you are there getting bread to go with your dinner. Pie crust and fruit pies - like home made, the best pie crust and pie you can buy retail. If you like to bring pie for dessert, but don't have time to make one, you can totally pass these off as your own! Cheese Danish- perfect amount of crispy sweet pastry and sweet savory cheese, an awesome treat to go with your morning beverage. Multigrain Whole Wheat - hearty, great toasted with PB for a snack. Excellent for sandwiches. I love all the nuts and seeds. Sourdough- great warmed up and eaten with soup or saucy meals, or as toast with runny eggs. I also use this for home made stuffing if it goes stale. This has only happened a couple of times, because it is too good to not eat up in a matter of days. Como- the perfect bread to make garlic bread with, soft and chewy, crust not too chewy. Also the perfect bread to serve with soup or stew. I realize as I'm writing this review, that I have never gotten lunch here, so I will add to my review when I sample what's for lunch! read more

Yummy! A friend of mine suggested we stop here for lunch the other day. So glad she did. We waited in a quick moving line to place our orders, then we were given our numbers for the table and our drinks. We were lucky enough to nap a seat outside to enjoy the beautiful Seattle summer while we chatted and waited for the food. I ordered the turkey deluxe with honey mustard instead of dijon and my friend had the special of the day, which was a BLT. The sandwiches were delicious. Super fresh tasting and with quality ingredients. I only leave off the one star because of the price. I feel like they could maintain the quality at a slightly lower price point... My sandwich was $9.50 - But I am sure they could still profit off of $7.50. =) read more

I've been going here a while and I don't expect small companies have McDonald's like pricing. I ordered a breakfast sandwich (Bolo they call it) with bacon, cheese and a 12 oz latte. The grand total was $14 and change . I inquired about it, being shocked this small meal could ring up as such, and the employee stated the sandwich used to be priced with bacon. And it's the 'add ons' that get it there....and how McDonalds ruined it for everybody. News Flash: You can sit down at Country Kitchen nearby and feed two people w/ coffee and meals for similar money. read more

This is clearly a great place to visit, the friendly staff, and the great food, my favorite the vegi grinder, I am not a coffee lover, but the tea is excellent, if they are not swamped they bring your foo to your table. read more

Grand Central Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Burien, Washington

Third time's not the charm. I'm not sure why I keep going back. Perhaps I'm a glutton for punishment. Perhaps it's my optimistic side (I think I have one...) that's hopeful that a bread company can dole out delicious food. I'm giving them a two-star for multiple reasons. The turkey and chutney sandwich cost me about $9. So for a sandwich that costs that much I'm expecting something amazing. Instead, I got something meh. The mayo was slathered on thick and the sandwich was something I could have pulled together at home. The bread was great though. Then the service. The servers there always seem like they just don't want to be there. So the underwhelming sandwich, the price point, and the meh service lead to two stars. So help me if I return again, I have NO one to blame but myself. read more

Enjoyed my recent stop-in at the Grand Central Bakery in Burien. We were out-and-about on a Saturday and just needed a quick nosh. Stopped into the Grand Central Bakery and got a couple of pastries "for here." Pastries were yummy, as might be expected. But, really enjoyed the location. Large windows make for a sunny, light atmosphere. Tables are spaced so you don't feel like you are sitting on top of the person at the table next to yours. Very comfortable and relaxing. I would definitely stop in again if a trip to Burien and a need for nourishment were to again converge. read more

Terrible service. Took 20 minutes for them to ring up 5 people - only 2 of which had coffee or sandwich orders. Meanwhile we could see several employees standing around talking in the back. Great products but not worth the hassle read more

I've been going here for years! Both the amazing staff and their amazing product have kept me coming back. But lately, one person who works there has been very unpleasant. I'm not sure what her name is, but she's an older woman with dark hair. Everyone else is always very friendly but her unwelcoming manner has stood out to me recently. The last few times my husband and I have had any sort of interaction with her have been very uncomfortable.. her vibe is both angry and miserable and I feel like she doesn't fit in with the other employees at all. Normally I'm not the type to write reviews like this as I understand that everyone has bad days- but yesterday's interaction with her was too much. My husband and I went in for sandwiches yesterday morning. Whoever helped us at the register was welcoming and even suggested a few of their favorites for us since I was indecisive. We sat down while we were waiting for our sandwiches, and I saw that the older woman with dark hair was making them. She was yelling the names of numbers and customers (and NOT in a friendly tone). Soon she was yelling my name, too. I think she must have called it more than once (we were deep in conversation) because she was glaring at me by the time I got up to the counter. I told her thank you and she said "mhm" rudely but didn't look at me at all. I've never encountered anyone in customer service like her and if it wasn't for the other incredible employees who have helped me in the past and how great their food is I wouldn't come back. I will come back (the coffee cake is too good and my life revolves around it), but I'll be avoiding her. read more

I give this place four stars when you're not on a timetable. But listen well, friends, and be warned: if you're in a hurry, this is not a good place to grab a quick lunch. The service can be irritatingly slow and the line is often long. I work nearby and only get 30 minutes for lunch, so I've stormed out of GCB in a huff before because ordering and waiting for my lunch took 20 minutes. When's a girl supposed to eat? Now, if I've got all the time in the world, this is my favorite place in Burien to go for lunch. You can eat pretty healthy in an inviting space and the staff are nice and friendly. read more

I generally love GCB, and the food is great. This review is about the service at the Burien location. I don't expect the service to be super fast, but - don't know whether it's summer time, or new staff - but I was SO disappointed in how slow they were when I went this week. I ordered two sandwiches to go and waited for 10 minutes. Although there weren't many people in the place - maybe 15-20 - my order still wasn't ready after 10 min. Since it clearly was going to take a while, I - literally - went to a different restaurant 2 blocks away, ordered something for lunch the next day, got it to go, came back to GCB - and my order still wasn't ready. So, now at least 20 minutes in, I went up to the counter to see what the preparers were doing. One of my sandwiches looked done; the other looked like it was being made. Ok, took a while, but all good. Nope. The second sandwich (exactly the second one I'd ordered) was called out for another customer who clearly came in long after I originally ordered! (She wasn't there when I left to go to a second restaurant). At that point, I asked the preparers what was going on, since I'd been waiting at least 20 min., looked like my first sandwich was done, AND the second sandwich I ordered was the exact sandwich that they just gave to a person who came in after me. (Not sure why they didn't package it with my first sandwich and send me on my way). "We got really busy with backed up orders; yes, we have one of your sandwiches done; we're still making the other." OK, but then why did you not add the sandwich you just made to my order and close me out? Why did you give it to someone who came in after me? "Because you ordered two sandwiches, and she ordered one." HUH???!! Maybe I'll be back, but not for a while as they need a better system. A 30-minute plus wait for a to-go order with that kind of attitude isn't worth what is admittedly good quality food. read more

Again, my love-hate relationship with this place. Coffee is not great; people used to be friendlier; but I love those biscuits. Last time I was there I snapped a photo of their biscuit recipe from their recipe book and promised myself I would make a batch. That never happened. So my latest gripe: I was told not to expect them to sell me biscuits b/c they are for sandwiches. Man, just bake another biscuit. In reality the marginal profit of a $3 biscuit is probably just as much as the marginal profit on one of their breakfast sandwiches. . . and without the labor. I hope corporate sees this, . . because other GCB's are great, it is just this one. read more

We went to this bakery on a recommendation from a business associate. It's located on a Main Street with many eclectic businesses nearby. This is great if you'd like to sit outside in the sunshine on the picnic bench to people watch while enjoying your sandwich, bakery goods or quiche. As soon as you walk in there is a large case with many delicious bakery goods, the days sample to try and the wonderful warm smell of "something's cooking in the oven. You're greeted as soon as you walk inside by the person behind the counter. We had enjoyed delicious turkey sandwiches. The quality was excellent, fresh and generous. You can add a cookie and or chips to you order for a nominal cost. They have sandwiches, quiche, and even breakfast sandwiches (served all day on Sat. and Sun.). If you're looking for a great place that is casual, has both indoor and out seating with quality choices; this is your place. The only down side is that it is pricey but well worth it. I will be back to try something else on the board. Susan A. read more

Grand Central Bakery - Generous and quality portions - Bakeries Near Me - Burien, Washington

I found this bakery due to my allergies to preservatives. I enjoy their sourdough bread. The ginger cookies are delectable. My only problem is the rude employee who ruined my day with her disrespectful attitude. It was unbelievable. After I brought it to her attention, she didn't apologize. She justified her behavior. Let's see if her manager was able to adjust her attitude. I don't want to have to do it, and I would love to keep shopping there. read more

Bonus star given for quality Sandwich order was slow, but a delicious Reuben. Kale Salad was nice, dried berries popped with tartness, but it was small. Cookie was AWESOME. read more

I ate here after taking yoga down the street--you should go, Bikram Yoga Burien is a lovely studio. Someone had left behind some Sunday cartoons so I was able to eat my chicken entree salad and chuckle to myself. Instead of eating alone and staring into space... Though, that wouldn't be too bad because there's some good people watching to be had from this street corner. Plus the whole space has a nice bright vibe to it. The staff members all seem to enjoy working here and the patrons all seem like regulars who consider the cafe home. And even if not a regular, it's easy to settle in at Grand Central. read more

Delicious salads and iced coffee! A little bit of a wait as it can get busy around meal time so I would recommend ordering ahead.

Big fan of these guys! Every time I come in, they recognize me and ask me how things are going. FYI- I have probably only been in there 3-4 times. Now that's good customer service! They make me feel welcome and actually enjoy answering any questions that I may have. Thanks GCB for your great customer service. I wish other places around here would learn to follow in your footsteps. My fav's so far are the Como loaf, all the baguettes, and the Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookie. This cookie is SO amazing, people. I was a little timid at first because of the whole oatmeal thing... why I don't know? It was so good. My original plan was to save half of it for my wife because they are pretty large but once I was started in on it while driving home, the cookie was finito! read more

Place Is clean open & bright. Inviting outdoor space with umbrellas. Went in to check it out. The quiche sample by the door was ok and all the pastry/bread looked over baked so didn't buy. read more

This is the spot I go to with my daughter and granddaughter on Saturday mornings. They have a great range of pastries as well as breakfast offerings. Their espresso drinks are better than the average bakery. Their sandwiches are wonderful. There is a great community vibe to the place and we appreciate the coloring pages and crayons. read more

Great place to get a cup of coffee and pastry and for me to study. They lack man outlets however, so come fully charged up. There's this one particular pastry I absolutely love call the twiced baked holla (challah). Its great! They take phone orders too and I've found that useful as sometimes they are almost running out! Workers are nice and friendly and represent b-town well. read more

This is a great place to kill some time, meet for coffee, study, or grab a café style lunch. My choice today was a grab-n-go salami grinder and a dirty chai latte... Both excellent choices. Here's the thing, anywhere in pioneer square is going to fetch downtown pricing, so I wasn't terribly surprised at the $16 price tag, but I will say that there are more cost-effective options nearby, which is why this gets a 4-star rating. But in terms of ambience, you can't beat the brick and beam construction with arched doorways and social seating. Overall, I'll be back for more, but not a daily lunch option... More of a "show your friends a new spot" or "kill some time" type joint. read more

Thank you for doing a much better job on the following; 1 Air conditioner  2 Music 3 Menu Specials ( I would like to see pastrami sandwiches offered ) Thanks again! read more

Got their Ham & Swiss on Sour Rye sandwich, for $8.75. The menu correctly listed all of the toppings, including ham, Swiss, lettuce, honey mustard, and mayo, so I knew what to expect. What I didn't expect was a bare minimum of meat. Maybe 3 thin slices. I tasted more mustard and mayo than meat or cheese. Basically, the most bland, overpriced sandwich I can remember. If it weren't for the cookie I ordered, I'd give them a single star. Guess I'll stick to ordering their breakfasts and sweets. read more

Grand Central Bakery - This is not worth $8.75. - Bakeries Near Me - Burien, Washington

Positives: *They have FANTASTIC bread. Their ingredients taste ultra fresh and combinations are classic, sometimes with a twist. Negatives: *Service is absolutely terrible! The staff seem like they are patrons rather than employees. Their attitudes are lackadaisical and even a simple request seems like a burden to them. *They don't have bottled water (only sparkling water) so if you want water you have to drink from the tap (gross). They also do not have ketchup or avocado (at the time I'm writing). They had an item on the reader-board outside advertising a certain meal and when I came in to order it they said they had stopped serving it a while ago.... HELLO then why is the sign still out? *Everything is self-service. They require you to bus your own tables, get your own utensils, etc. For the price ($11 for a sandwich and chips) I'd a little expect more. Overall: The food was so good I couldn't give them less than 3 stars but if the review was based solely on service it would rate a 1. Because of the poor service and negative atmosphere of employees I won't be back anytime soon. read more

I absolutely say this is my favorite sandwich shop! Customer service is awesome! The combo bread is to die for and i try to order like 3-4 times a week from this amazing bakery. Only wish they were on Uber eats as when i can't order from them it's because i can't leave work. ( otherwise it would be 5 days a week) read more

I have been here many times, however this is my first review. Overall, pretty decent food. Because the food is mostly locally produced, you're paying a premium on these better ingredients. I'm ok with paying more for my food--especially if it's locally produced, but the less-than-great service gives me pause. As other reviewers have mentioned, the service is ridiculously slow at times. Surprisingly, today was a "better" day for them, with my food (and my sons) getting out relatively "fast." Other times, you wonder if they've actually gone behind the building to slaughter the turkey for my turkey chutney sandwich (which by the way is pretty darn good). I've been in there before where I was the second person in line. Considering the dining area wasn't that full, I thought I'd get my food pretty quick. Wrong. I seemed like it took a month of Sundays for what was eventually a delicious meal to arrive. That has pretty-much been the M.O. of this place since I started going there. Good food, but quirky and really slow service. Oh, and when the lunch time rush begins, they are seemingly UNABLE to work the line with any quickness. That's a must for a place like this. Another thing that is weird, is that the staff there isn't all that friendly. I mean there's no visible bad attitudes on display, but there's just something about the demeanor of the employees. It's almost kind of this odd general malaise/all not-that-happy-to-be-there kind of a thing going on. I don't know--I just can't put my finger on it. I don't what the deal is. I mean this place is pretty cool and it seems like it would be fun to work there--especially if you were the baker. C'mon folks--have fun at work! Again, overall the food is good, but the service is seriously lacking. read more

My favorite bread comes from this amazing bakery. I drive over the cascade mountains to get it! And- FYI it freezes very well.

Best sandwiches in town, by far!! Customer service is FLAWLESS!! GCB deserves a round of applause, ESPECIALLY with a having certain, fairly newer competitor move in not too far. KEEP IT UP, GCB, YOU'RE FABULOUS! read more

I love the busy/cozy energy of this place. I got a pear tarte thing and an 8 oz. breve for here. I was very pleased and happy with the sweet gals working. I am lucky enough to work down the street so I will be making this my coffee shop! read more

Grand Central Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Burien, Washington

This place is a little above average when it comes to bakeries. Overall, I guess we were a little disappointed with the experience, although some of our sample was quite delicious. I guess I would simply say some was good, some was not. The croissant was okay, the muffin was great. The grilled cheese was boring, the tempeh sandwich was awesome. The mocha was awesome, but some of the other drinks in our group were bland. Service was a little slow, but the atmoshpere was nice and casual. read more

Stopped in for pastries for breakfast while vacationing nearby. Everything was superb we ordered.

The staff is friendly, and the food is decent. I don't mind the high end premade-ness of the entire affair either. I really enjoyed the Moroccan chicken and lentil soup I had here the other day, and it's not a bad place to go and enjoy a book while having a quick bite to eat. I can't wait to come here when the sun is shining and it's warm enough to sit outside. Hopefully this location can shed some of its cookie cutter feel and develop into a great hang out bakery for all. read more

Grand central fits in well in Burien because it's low key but fresh and feels like a hometown bakery that you can grab a coffee and lunch without being rushed. Their soup menu almost always has a vegetarian option and their specials menu rotates but not often enough if you come here more than once a week. Like the rest of the Yelpers I agree the staff is friendly and pretty helpful and welcoming. But with their prices being on the higher side and having to order at the counter and buss your own table (as the signs on each table say) I get irritated tipping. I do so once and a while begrudgingly because I have to more than half of what a waiter would be doing and then tip someone else for it? Seems greedy. I understand they are not getting rich off the jar thats sitting at the counter but it's just off putting if you ask me. read more

Amazing breads! Our favorite is the Como. They also make a great salami grinder sandwich! Staff is super friendly and parking is usually easy to find. read more

Quick review. Was around the corner with time to kill and stumbled on this place by walking. Never would have seen it in my car. That said, I had lunch plans so I just got a cookie. I agree that the staff was friend and the place was pretty darn busy. I had a cookie and I wasn't overly impressed with it or the price, but I will return to try a sandwich. Judging from the reviews this place isn't going to change your life, but I would love to have one in my neighborhood. read more

First time here and visiting mid morning for a little breakfast. The croissant is delicious, flaky and the right amount of butter. a proper croissant I must say. I bought a couple loaves of bread and will review them later. The latte is ok. The baristas still have to do a little more training to create proper micro bubbles. There was a little too much foam in my latte for my taste...I'd say about 1/2 inch. I will order no foam next time. The quality of the latte is ok. It's far better than star**** although I would recommend the baristas adjust the temperature a little since there is a hint of burnt-grounds. Also, a little more training will be requires to properly steam milk to create proper micro bubbles. There was a little too much foam in my latte for my taste...I'd say about 3/4 inch total. I will order no foam next time. Overall quality is above average, so I can imagine this place getting busy during lunch time. A little tweaks here and there and this place can get a 5 star. read more

The lobby area is clean and quiet. Their bakeries are really good. The service was slower than I expected. They don't have a garbage bin, you have to keep your used napkins etc with the dishes you pick after you. I used to throwing those and putting my used plates etc. in organized way but you have to pretty much put everything on the bin. read more

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I love Grand Central Bakeries bread. It is super yummy. I do find that it is a little expensive. Stopped by to check out their bakery. I got their turkey & chutney sandwich (without the cranberry chutney) and my boyfriend got the French Ham sandwich. They were both great, bit $22.00 for 2 pretty simple sandwiches seems a bit high. Wouldn't steer anyone away from here but I feel like what you're getting you can make at home. Though their bread is yummy! read more

This place is absolutely yummy!!! I love going here for lunch, breakfast! Customer service is awesome and food do fresh and delicious !!!