Breadworks is one of those rare bakeries that feels both thoughtfully designed and deeply…read moreauthentic. The space itself is beautiful--clean, intentional, and unique--with visual nods to milling and baking traditions. You can see elements of the mill and wheat motifs in the background, which adds a quiet sense of craftsmanship and history without feeling staged. The pastries are exceptional. Their croissants are perfectly flaky and buttery, the sourdough is deeply flavorful, and the morning buns strike that ideal balance of richness and warmth. The baguette is crisp on the outside, tender inside--everything you want it to be. Every item feels carefully made, never rushed. What stands out most is the consistency and care. Breadworks manages to feel elevated yet welcoming--refined without being pretentious. It's clear they take pride in both their craft and their process, and it shows in every bite. A true standout in Birmingham and absolutely worth returning to.

Birmingham has some very nice bakeries now. A marked improvement over a decade ago. I rarely…read morefrequent these places because I am on a perpetual diet. However, I made an exception this last Saturday. I am so happy I did. They improved some of the breakfast choices. One in particular is the now have "REAL" bagels. Folks I know Bagels and this was the BEST bagel I have ever gotten in Birmingham. I could not believe it. I always liked Birmingham Breadworks but now, even more. Eat Well, Drink Well and Stay Healthy.

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!

I often enjoy getting a pastry and a coffee here. I had a not so good experience last time but…read morewanted to try again. I was never greeted. More customers came in. The young girl making the coffee was loudly talking about someone who messed up their coffee order this morning and how frustrated she was. The only other employee was occupied with what seemed a large order of bread etc. When she finished what she was doing she looked at the now five customers, claustrophobically waiting, and said I'll be right back and disappeared. Leaving the one guy serving the one customer. It was 11:30 am on a rainy day. Figured I could do without a cream cheese croissant and coffee and left. Had already waited 5 as the only other person in there and did not want to wait another undetermined amount of time. I know one of the bakers. It's a shame the front has been so bad these last two times.

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.

Oh my heavenly stars! The cake slices and cupcakes are divine! We all ordered something different…read moreso we could share and the light, fluffy texture and amazing flavors made us want to run back for more. The atmosphere and service were next level. I mean, next level! We are all foodies. We cater from scratch so we are super picky. Thank you for blowing us away and putting huge smiles on our faces. It was my birthday and we wanted to relax and we couldn't be happier that we celebrated with your delicious creations.

My coworker and I had an amazing time at K&J's! First off, the sweet pink café ambience is right on…read morepoint with the concept. I ordered a Double Cookie Sundae and two cupcakes for tomorrow. The sundae was fantastic! Warmed cookies, incredible ice cream, chocolate, drizzle, whipped cream, crunchy cookie pieces. Everything my little heart desired! As for the proverbial "cherry on top", I can't remember when I've had a better service. Everyone in there was so genuinely kind and friendly and seemed so happy to be there. It felt like coming into someone's family kitchen. I could not recommend K&J's enough.

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!

Great food! Great service! You just have to get here earlier enough to have more of a selection to…read moretry.

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.

I'm a fan. Service was really nice and I liked the array of flavors. No complaints!!!!read more

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!

Fantastic coffee shop right on the circle in 5 Points South! I had the horchata iced latte, which…read morewas outstanding. The staff is super nice, the music they were playing was very good. There's tons of seating inside and several tables outside. I believe I heard the owners are gearing up to open a food spot right next door. I'll be a regular if there's a breakfast burrito involved. Fun vibe, great natural light, pastry selection, good coffee. Bandido is certainly a great option for all UAB people.

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.

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!

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 got cake batter for the second time in a row (brownie batter was a close second during sampling…read morebut I couldn't help myself!) Hubby got cookies and cream (not pictured) and said it was very tasty. His palette is not as forgiving as mine and has specific places he enjoys as far as sweets, so that says a lot. The cashiers were very helpful and gave ample sampling portions. Plus, always love a good neon sign/backdrop for pictures, a clean atmosphere, and other options like cotton candy buckets and smoothies!

NOT allergy friendly. They don't have any idea what's in anything they sell. One of our party has a…read moremild egg allergy, which is normally super easy to accommodate at ice cream places. The ice cream itself was pretty middle of the road. Employees were neither overtly rude, nor especially friendly/helpful. If you're already at the food hall and craving something sweet, it might be worth it just for convenience (assuming you don't care to know anything about the ingredients), otherwise I'd skip it in favor of pretty much any other local ice cream place.