The lunch and desserts are good but too over priced and over hyped. I would certainly return to Nathaniel Reid but the are other outstanding bakeries and sandwich shops that are better in St. Louis read more

Located in Kirkwood, Nathaniel Reid Bakery is the eponymous home of a former Las Vegas Pastry Chef, and with Le Cordon Bleu training plus stints at The Ritz and Joel Robuchon on his resume the baked goods set a high standard that have even landed Chef Reid a James Beard Foundation Semifinalist nomination. Now a destination for St. Louisans for over three years, the Bakery's spot in a non-descript strip-mall seemingly out of place until one passes by the area's most luxurious shopping center en route, it was just after Reid's 7:00am opening that shelves were found half-stocked, a two day Thanksgiving break necessitating additional prep-work, though neither that fact nor heavy rains stopped a steady flow of traffic. Fairly basic in layout, a kitchen behind glass hard at work while clerks gathered and boxed customer orders, it was after perusing items including Chocolates and housemade Jam that an order was composed, five items tallying $19.80 and first bites of an "Apple Pie" Croissant more than justifying the cost with impressive layers of lamination surrounding Fruit and Streusel. Moving next to an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, simple but well crafted with a soft center and crispy rim, fans of Brittany's famous Butter Pastry will be happy to know Nathaniel Reid's Kouign Amann compares favorably to America's best while Monkey Bread termed "Pull Apart" and the Almond Croissant made with ground Nuts instead of Frangipane are both enjoyable, without being too sweet. read more

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Overall rating: 5/5 Wait: 4/5 Arrival time: Tuesday 9am Food: 5/5 Order: Kouign-amann, chocolate croissant, honey ricotta, ham and cheese Service: 4.5/5 Price: 4/5 Definitely coming back read more

This place is not convenient for us but it's worth the drive. I stopped in and got a smoked ham/cheese roll and raspberry jambon. We have been trying to lower carbs so this was a huge treat and did not disappoint. The pastry was extremely light and crisp. The jambon had a pistachio cake bottom, a center of cream with fresh raspberries on top. Each raspberry was dusted with sugar. You know those jewel-like desserts that don't live up to their appearance? Well this one was even better than it looked. Complex flavors that all complemented each other. Everyone in there was welcoming and make you feel special. read more

Pastries - Fabulous! Sandwiches - piled high and delicious! Quiche - best tasting I've ever had Coffee - they use Kaldi's - try the cappuccino - they have a high end cappuccino maker Service - fastest breakfast/lunch in town! Price - it's French pastries...not a bargain but worth every penny. read more

Nathaniel Reid Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Nathaniel Reid is a god, and he is the sole reason why I've gained 500 pounds upon moving to St. Louis last August. He is very welcoming and I fangirled for a minute when I met him (no shame). We saw him today, and he thanked us for coming in. Like, no. Thank you for making the best pastries ever. My boyfriend stumbled upon this hidden gem when he was hunting for a cake for my birthday. He surprised me with the Polynesia (coconut mousse, mango and banana cream, and almond cake). However, while delicious, the cakes aren't why I'm obsessed with this bakery. It's the almond croissants. If I could live off those things, I totally would. I swear, these croissants are even better than the ones in Paris. The almond croissants are flaky, topped with sliced almonds and powdered sugar, and has the perfect crunch when you bite into it. All that for the low, low price of $3.50. Isn't that a steal? The financier almond cakes are pretty good too ($3.25), as are the chocolate almond croissants ($3.75). I'm basically down for anything with almond in it. I'll definitely be back to try everything else, and highly recommend this place. read more

Nathaniel Reid Bakery - almond financier and an almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This place is great! The Kouign-amann, chocolate croissant, and Ruby were our 3 favorite items from here! Went on a Saturday morning and it was busy but they got us through the line very quickly. Will definitely be returning! read more

My first time here on Saturday afternoon. The staff are super nice and helpful and the taste of everything in this picture is DELICIOUS and not too sweet which is why I love it. Handsdown the best bakery in St. Louis! read more

Nathaniel Reid Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Nathaniel Reid brought a Parisian cafe straight to Kirkwood. The croissants and pastries here are some of the best I have ever had!! Savory, sweet, sandwiches, quiche, macarons, coffee, they've got it all!! They have a collection of jams that look great too! Reid is also a chocolatier and sells a variety of bars, including a carmelized white chocolate which I had never seen before! I split a piece of quiche and a kouign amann with a friend! The quiche crust is so flaky and the eggs are perfectly custardy! The kouign amann (pronounced queen a-mann) was the real star of the show! It's a pastry that is just layers of flaky dough with some carmelized sugar. It's easily one of the best things I've ever eaten! I got another kouign amann and a plain croissant to take home to my parents! Not much seating inside. There is a counter with seats, but this isn't really the type of place you would linger for a long time. read more

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The Guyana is absolutely to die for. I fought with my husband for crumbs. The Polynesia is delicious and fruity. I saved the chocolate croissants for breakfast and really enjoyed the delicious flaky chocolatey goodness. The service is great and the server helped me through various choices. The packaging was very carefully done and survived the 20 minute drive home,no problem. They have a holiday menu you could preorder and I am so looking forward to that. If I lived in a five mile radius of this bakery, I would put on 30 pounds per month and I am not entirely joking. I am looking forward to having the croissant sandwiches and the various breads that I could hear patrons raving about in the background. A very public hint to my husband- I have a birthday coming up soon. read more

This is the best bakery in the state. If not the country. The quality is unmatched. The pastries are beautiful. You can't go wrong with anything that you get here. You can tell everyone puts their heart and soul into their products.. read more

Nathaniel Reid Bakery delivers top-tier pastries! Their croissants are perfectly flaky and buttery, leaving a lasting impression. Highly recommended! read more

World-class pastries in an unassuming strip mall location. St. Louis is lucky to have Nathaniel Reid's bakery.

A friend of ours who visits France several times each year told us about the wares of this local bakery. She specifically mentioned the parallels of the baked goods she had found here with those at patisseries in Paris. Intrigued, and reminiscing over our own fond memories of the culinary delights in the Place de la Concorde (sigh...) we decided to visit before a drive through local parks. Despite a relatively humble venue in an unremarkable strip mall, Nathaniel Reid did not disappoint us. Although some items were already sold out by the time we arrived - as we would have expected at a fine bakery later in the day - the remaining selections were absolutely scrumptious! Even simple items such as the oatmeal raisin cookies, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate croissants, and brownies were shockingly delicious. Other, more delicate pastries layered with whipped creme, fresh raspberries, and other select fruit were better still, and we remarked that it seemed of little surprise that the bakery had received both considerable acclaim and formal recognition and award for their art. Certainly, we have many items left to sample in future visits...and we will be looking forward to the opportunity! read more

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It does not get any better than this. My favorite sandwich is the chicken salad on a croissant. I cannot choose from the desserts. There are just too many beautiful, delicious things to choose from. This is what talent and dedication produce. read more

Alright, I give in. I need to update my review from 4 to 5 stars. Chef Nathaniel Reid is amazing and his execution is flawless. If you want a delicious, beautiful editable art-piece that screams sophistication - come here for pastries, catering, etc. Things to note: 1) The best things are the cakes. They can make whole or minis. And they are seasonal. They did not have the pistachio cake all year, but there was this chocolate cake to die for (right texture and velvet chocolate). 2) If you have something in mind, I would call to see if they have it available or reserve it 3) Never leave without a croissant or a croissant sandwich. NEVER. 4) Although wonderful, I would pass on the macaroons over his other pastries. Not as noteworthy. 5) Kaldi's Coffee is available 6) Limited seating 7) Beautiful marketing/presentation This is the best french bakery in the metro STL area. He might be trained in NY and Paris with enough international Pastry awards to fill a wall, but Chef Reid is a hometown favorite from MO. Come here to support people that come back to MO to make it fantastic. read more

Nathaniel Reid Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Such a cute and wonderful bakery. You will definitely have to wait in line if you come on a weekend, but you can also order ahead. Some things are expensive but very worth it. I absolutely love the chocolate almond croissant. All the pastries I've tried are incredible. Quiche is also good but could have more filling. read more

This is a case where when expectations are incredibly high, its difficult to impress. Unfortunately they didn't live up to the hype. Rarely if ever is a place worth waiting outside for and Nathaniel Reid is not the exception. I'm not at all implying that it isn't quality. It is. When you claim to be the best, you better stand out. read more

This is the 360th review, and it is 5 stars just all of the others. Just delicious. Everything!!! read more

Nathaniel Reid Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

The service is always amazing and the food, well, everything I have eaten has been amazing! The latte is so special, reminds me of Italy!

Consistency is very disappointing that's why the 2 star review. I have been there 3 times the first time was great but the other two times quality seems too be much lower, very disappointing. Consistency is everything without that I have to reconsider my decision to spend my money here. read more

I had high expectations coming to this joint and it surely delivered. I ordered a pack of 6 macarons, the amber and the pavlova. I loved the poppy flower macaron and both cakes were delicious. The bakery was smaller than I thought it would be. The only seating available was alongside the window. Pick up a delicious treat for a special occasion or just splurge a little on dessert! read more

Nathaniel Reid Bakery - Amber and Pavlova - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Oh my, this is the real deal French style bakery and deli. This is how you win the James Beard award! I suspect there is butter in everything, so if you are dairy intolerant, this isn't your place. We know the pastry is world class, but the sandwiches are fantastic too. Here are my tips for first timers. Look for what you want, then go to the far left. If they are busy, they want you to choose from each case, starting on the left, heading to your right. This specialized shop is about as good as it gets. read more

I waited in line for 30 minutes on a beautiful Saturday afternoon for 3 delicious sandwiches and two outstanding deserts. I paid $40 and was too eager to eat the roast beef sandwich , so I devoured it in the car. My husband was pissed, when we stopped at a light and he got a bite, he understood why I couldn't wait. SO GOOD The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. A fellow customer insisted I get the Pavlova, God bless you sir, the desert changed my life(jk)! In a strip mall on Manchester like everything is in St Louis is, don't pass this place up. I am anxious to have another visit. read more

Nathaniel Reid Bakery - Pastries to die for! - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Wow now I know why this place was so hyped. First of all, the desserts are beautiful. Second, and more importantly, they taste delicious. My friend and I stuck with the little mousse desserts because the esthetics just drew us in. We got the lime caramel and dark chocolate. My favorite was the dark chocolate mousse. As a chocolate lover, it is everything you could ever want in a dessert. Silky smooth and very rich dark chocolate mousse with a crunchy (rice crispy maybe?) base. I didn't love the base but it was just a nice textural element. Super indulgent and probably shouldn't have eaten it in one sitting but I couldn't help myself. I would recommend sharing one because it is pretty sweet and I definitely crashed after a sugar high lol. They also have "real" food too if you want to stop in for a quick lunch or something. Their croissant sandwiches looked good!They only have like 6 chairs along the window so not really a sit down place unless there's no one else there. Also, very friendly service! read more

Nathaniel Reid Bakery - Beautiful desserts! - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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The desserts are generally fabulous. The other stuff, not so much. The quiche is perfectly unobjectionable: light and airy but lacking in oomph. The breads are ok (nothing like the divine breads at Union Loafers).The sandwiches are fine but not memorable. While the almond croissant is sublime (dessertish), the regular croissants are surprisingly flavorless and soft - closer to Joe's corner bakery than to the real French deal. Prices are pretty severe, so I would expect more. The seating is not great. Indoor only and looking out at the lovely parking lot. The staff is a weird mix of pretentious and clueless. You might think that, being at a French bakery, they could make a stab at pronouncing French. You might be wrong. A croissant is still a "krass-sant." If you ask questions about the food, there's just a 50% chance of a coherent answer. Still, the tarts and cakes and little sweets are really special. read more

I have stopped in here on several occassions. I had to see what all the rave was about. I experienced the phenomenon and kept coming back. I love this bakery!!!! It's closer than going to Pint Size Bakery and they're open later, until 6pm. I ususally get here at exactly 7am or before to be one of the first people. The bakery is simple and bright, they let the creations speak for them. And let me tell you, they are screaming bloody murder. I always order their latest creation that received a write-up and pick something I haven't tried. The workers are always friendly and helpful. My favorites soo far are the Apple Pie Croissant, The Turkey Sandwhich, Maple Cured Ham,Egg, Cheddar and Bacon Croissant and The Kouign-amann. Oh, I forgot to mention the Almond Cake w/ Raspberries. I picked up a Roast Beef Sandwich for the BF to try today while I snapped the Turkey. Everything I have tried here has been amazing!!! There sandwhiches are pretty large. I didn't get thru 1/2 my sandwhich today before getting full. His creations are not only visually stunning but also delicious!!!! They have a great variety of delicacies to tempt your fancy. So today I met Nathaniel Reid himself. He was taking boxes out to the trash and he stopped and had a coversation with me. He thanked me for coming and hoped to see me back. He is trully a nice man. I will definately be returning to pick up my faves and continue to try their other creations. read more

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It took me a very long time to try Nathaniel Reid but after the first time, I can truly say that I'm in love! The place is quite small so if you are planning on having lunch here, be prepared to either wait for a spot to open or just get your sandwich or salad (along with something sweet, of course) to go. When I arrived, there was an entire family celebrating a birthday so I immediately scratched my lunch plan and decided to eat at home instead. To make ordering easy, I started with the macaroon case which is located at the far left of the room. I got the 6-piece box consisting of 2 chocolates, 2 almonds, and 2 salted caramel. Yes, I've tried all 3 flavors already and yes, this place gets 2 thumbs up and a paw. My favorite would have to be the almond and the salted caramel. The chocolate was a little too sweet for me but the other 2 flavors were sinfully delectable. Even after 2 days, the macaroons are still soft in the middle with a hint of crunch at first bite. It's like sinking your teeth on a tiny piece of heaven. Next up was the food case with salads and sandwiches. I opted for the turkey croissant and it was perfect. The croissant was flaky and buttery and complimented the turkey so well. There was great croissant to turkey ratio. I had doubts about finishing the whole thing but it was so delicious, I couldn't leave parts of it uneaten. Oh yeah, my little lady had a very small bite of turkey and croissant as well and she approved! The next case consisted of the little cakes and I chose 2 sambava cakes. I haven't touched it yet and it's been 2 days but they look so beautiful. In fact, the whole case was filled with beautiful creations that looking at them made me think of something mystical and unworldly. The next case had croissants and cookies so of course, per Bonnie L's suggestion the previous night, I decided to get a chocolate almond croissant as well as a chocolate pecan cookie (not for me, as I still do hate cookies). Both items are yet to be devoured. I have no doubts that they will live up to and beyond expectations but I will be sure to update this review after enjoying these 2 other delicious Nathaniel Reid creations. Needless to say, my total came up to just slightly under $45 with tip because I did make her run around and make boxes for all the different things I got. The damage is a bit more than I expected but I have not had macaroons anywhere close to the ones I've had from Nathaniel Reid Bakery. This place is totally worth it and I can't wait to come back. Do yourself a delicious flavor and check this place out! UPDATE: The chocolate almond croissant was heavenly and perfect! The cookie, I was told was good but I can't speak to how good it was. read more

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So delicious. Expensive, but worth it. Try the almond croissant, and the "Queen-Aman" They are my FAVORITES.

We were in town and decided to stop in on a Saturday, as this bakery is garnering national attention. It was worth standing in line for 30 minutes to pick out a few pastries to go (although many who arrived walked away, grumbling about the crowd). These croissants are the real deal -- as good as any you'd find in a French bakery. We also grabbed a chocolate-enrobed treat and a piece of strawberry-rhubarb coffee cake. Everything was outstanding -- carve out some time and go. Worth the wait! read more

The pastries were amazing!! Highly recommend the focaccia. The coffee wasn't my favorite but definitely worth a visit for the food. read more

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After hearing Nathaniel Reid Bakery was nominated for a James Beard Award and knowing this is one of my best friend's from St. Louis's go to spot we were sure to have this on my go to list while on a recent trip to St. Louis. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon with a line almost out the door, for a good reason. While waiting I could not believe the amazing display of sandwiches and pastries they offered. Once we reached the counter we ordered several sandwiches to go, a few brownies and a few cookies and a box of macaroons. The staff is friendly and they seem to care about what they are doing and customer service. What a cute store and I was so happy that I was able to make it there. Nathanial Reid is a definite bookmark for anyone in St. Louis or making a trip there, looking for a good treat! read more

AMAZING PASTRIES AND SANDWICHES! Get there early, they do sell out of stuff! You will not be disappointed!

AMAZING! Best bakery in the Midwest, no question. Worth the wait if there's a line and everything is delicious! It's a bit expensive for STL, but again, worth it and a fair price for the quality of food. The staff is always really nice and every-time I've gone, Nathaniel has been there talking away to customers :) such a sweet guy! Go there and eat everything! read more

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Hands down the best croissant I have ever had. The chocolate almond croissant I could eat every day over and over and never tire of it, it wasn't even close in terms of being the best I've ever had. Sandwich wise they had some really interesting things, the meat is great, but obviously it's the bread and sauce they shine, so I'd happily try more next time, but man, I dream of the croissant. read more

Please note: I just LOVE this little place!!! Yes, they offer a variety of my favorite vice; dark chocolate however, I've had 2 consecutive visits strictly for the croissants. I am a total croissant snob which is why I typically stay away from them. Croissants have to be the perfect combination of fluff & crisp. I like for the shell to be so delicate that the mere touch of it cracks the outermost region. Yet the inside has to be soft, moist and airy without being thick, cakey or doughy. I also like them nuked for about 12 seconds and served with a tiny bit of marmalade. Sorry, I drifted off into croissant heaven for a moment there. Anyway, the Nathaniel Reid croissants are ahhhhhmazing!!! Nope, they aren't served with marmalade or anything but still extremely delicious. I also eyed the four cheese quiche which I had wrapped on day one. Unfortunately, as of this writing I still hadn't unwrapped it to try before I went back for croissant seconds today. I plan to eat the quiche within the next few days. for the purposes of this review, it looks very well made & delicious. Now on to the staff; nothing short of awesome! Walking in makes me smile because as soon as the ladies up front spot you there's a huge smile and hello coming your way. They are all very pleasant and hospitable; ready to answer questions. While your in brief distraction from the pastry case lookup for a sneak peak in the glassed kitchen area to see where all the magic is happening. Nathaniel himself is back there shuffling around, making goodies for your satisfaction. As I stated they offer an assortment of chocolates, macaroons, croissants, quiche, sandwiches, salads, coffee and petite pies as well as special orders. I have fallen completely in love with this place, even though it is totally out of my way, I'll be back sooner than later. I can just feel it in my bones. ~Christy read more

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The ebullient praise of friends like Steven B., Christy A., and Sarah S. convinced me to visit NRB when I was on that side of town. I'm glad I did. The pastries are beautiful and delicious, and I left with a sandwich for lunch and a cup of good coffee, too. My selections (most of which are pictured): *Croissants, chocolate and almond; *The Italian, basically a croissant sandwich; *Kaldi's Coffee, room for cream. The shop isn't fancy, but the service is great. And the pastries are really, really good. read more

Nathaniel Reid Bakery - Croissants, Chocolate and Almond. - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Nice service despite a decent group of customers crowding around the cases. There was a wide range of items from quiche to croissants, macarons to chicken sandwich. Everything LOOKS fabulous and my quiche was the best tasting thing that I got. The breakfast sandwich was just so-so and my kid said that they've had better flavor-combos in macarons. We also got a couple glossy domed creations that were pretty good. Perhaps my family is picky but we'll try this place again. read more

Nathaniel Reid Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Went to Nathaniel Reid today to grab some goodies for my family members coming in town for Christmas. I was ordering the items from the case and the worker helping me said, "Do you want anything else? When I go down to the other side of the case, I am not going back." I was appalled and embarrassed. The worst part is that one of the other workers did not say anything about the situation. read more

Great sandwiches, quiche, and almond chocolate croissants!!! Too bad it's so small! Wish they had tables and chairs for dining in. read more