We came in on a Saturday afternoon for a treat for the ride back to Houston. My party ordered gelato and some pastries. The berry gelato was absolutely wonderful; fresh, super cold & very flavorful. I ate the bread pudding the next day and was fantastic, I liked seeing that as a pastry-like to-go item. I would eat here again and am eager to try their sandwiches. The only reason not five stars is the ordering procedure. I felt like I was in a crowded bar trying to get the bartender's attention. I didn't get coffee (although it smelled amazing) because it was so confusing as to which counter to go to and no one really reached out or cared so hubby got gelato from one person and I got pastries from another. Uncomfortable, tight inside. read more

Trying to find a great bakery while visiting my family in Beaumont. My mom suggested we go to Rao's Bakery. She said it was very popular in Beaumont and heard great things about it. I do have to say, the bakery was very cute and well organized. The gelatos looked fabulous along with all of their other desserts. I wanted one of everything but decided not to be a pig so I got the Tiramisu, one of my favorites. My mom picked out the red velvet cake, my sister the turtle cheesecake and we got my stepfather a apple tart. After dinner we couldn't wait to dig into our box of sweets. I'll just say, this was not a traditional Italian Tiramisu. It tasted like something you would buy at your local grocery store and never buy again. The apple tart my stepfather said was good but had better. My mom did enjoy her cake but said it was a little dry but not sure if it was because she didn't eat it until the next day. My sister said the cheesecake was lacking flavor and the topping was very sticky. I have a feeling this bakery is one you have to keep trying to get the right item. As for me, I'm not sure I'll be returning. read more

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This was once a great place to go to but their prices have gotten out of control$2 for one cookie is robbery. This place does have really good food but it ain't where it's what they're trying to charge. Today will definitely be the last time I ever step foot in this Bakery read more

i love rao's i go at least 3 times a week the gelato is superior great coffee my true love :) never disappoints read more

Ordered from this location and was expecting good service, but got the opposite. The man in the drive thru was rude & the cake I ordered was a 8" Italian cream cake, but I call it the bug cake because it was full of nates as soon as I open it. And for the price I paid the cake wasn't what I ordered for my mother-in-laws birthday party. Not happy at all!!! read more

Um, not so much. The coffee is NOT good, and the operation surrounding the coffee preparation is sloppy and untrained. In fact, at this location, the entire operation was a very clunky and hesitant machine when we visited...staff did not seem prepared to handle the crowd, even though there seemed to be enough of them. They get 2 stars for the selection and tastiness of baked goods, and the fact that it's the only place like it in the area, but otherwise, I'll pass... read more

This location is terrible. Absolutely terrible. Okay, now that's out of the way. I absolutely adore Rao's. I've traveled from Houston through Beaumont almost weekly for years now and always made it a point to stop at Rao's. Unfortunately, this location (Dowlen) has gone from acceptable to mediocre to just plain bad. In fact, on Tuesday I stopped at the Calder location (which is charming and warm with superior service in every way) and asked if they were open Sunday's which - sadly - they are not. I told the staff that I refused to go to this (the Dowlen) location because they the service was poor and the quality of their coffee drinks was abysmal. They apologized on behalf of the Dowlen team. Against my better judgement, I stopped in to the Dowlen location Sunday evening and was both disappointed with the service AND myself for going against my better judgement. The problems began when I placed my order - two coffee drinks, a sandwich combo and a muffin for the wife. As I presented my order ticket, the young man (S-v-n) blurted out "oh, I don't want this - I just do coffee". Fair enough young man. The young lady behind the counter proceeded to pick up where he left off. I paid (nearly $20 for the curious) and waited. And waited. And waited. After about five minutes I checked on my coffee. The 'barista' presented the milk portion of my cafe au lait and I happened to ask what kind of milk he used. "2%". I informed him that I preferred whole (I assumed that's what they used here as that is what I receive by default at the Calder location). His response - and I quote "I wish you had told me that before I made it." Now, I could have told him that before he took time to STEAM MILK and I could have volunteered the information. Nonetheless, his response was a bit flippant for my taste. While I waited for my new cup of steamed milk I decided to check on my sandwich. The young lady behind the counter (and were at ten minutes since I ordered AND it was not particularly busy) informed me that my sandwich was "almost done", checked the panini press and proceeded to ask one of the other three people behind the counter if anybody started the sandwich. Nope. So we went from "almost done" to "what sandwich" in less than 30 seconds. At this point, admittedly frustrated, I informed a third person that this was precisely why I avoid this location. She smiled and "apologized" in the same airport ticket agent indifferent manner that many a traveler has grown accustomed to. In summary: $20. "I wish you told me that before I made it". "Almost done". "What sandwich?". "I apologize" (smugly). 20 minutes start to finish to make a sandwich. Me mad at myself for giving this location yet another chance. This place is a disorganized and unprofessional mess and I'm embarrassed to be 'The Duke'. read more

Do not waste your time! Called and ordered a cake for a 65th Birthday. The employee who took the order acted as if he completely had better things to do. I just chalked it up to maybe being busy. I went the next day to pick up the cake at the appointed time and the employees could not find the cake. I got no apology, just an "I can't find it". I explained my experience with employee who took the order and was told, "we can't help if we have a problem employee". Do not waste your time or money! read more

Stopped in for coffee and a snack. It was steady but not overly crowded. I ordered a ham, egg, and cheese croissant but they were out of egg(?). Also when I tried to get the coffee I ordered there was none available. They brought out a Jamaican blend which none of the five people also waiting we're interested in trying. One man asked if there was going to be more house blend put out and a girl with a headset and glasses scoffed and said she guesses she will have to make more. 1) It's a COFFEE/cafe business. 2) Of course you will "have" to make more coffee because it's your job. They won't have to worry about the five people who waited or my business ever again. Good luck with that service. read more

They have good sugar cookies and coffee, but honestly the Pecan Pie could be better. The bottom and top was nice, but the filling was gooey and sugary. read more

Divinely warm setting. Great selection of teas ...friend is addicted to their croissant sandwich. A huge array of baked goods tempt dedication to the diet!! read more

I've basically had every cookie at Rao's cuz that was my company's go-to food choice to reward us for being good, and every cookie I have had has been excellent. Their cold sandwiches are also top notch, especially their tuscan tuna option and their chicken, bacon option. Service is also quick and friendly and the atmosphere of the bakery could easily be that of an establishment in a larger city. Rao's the only reason I'd stop in Beaumont. read more

Precious little bakery! Had a wonderful recap of my adventures in Ukraine with my mother here upon returning to the USA! We enjoyed the Al Pacino and Café Au Lait alone with a Bavarian Cream filled Cake topped with fresh fruit.. the place was festively decorated for Mardi Gras, the employees were cutely dressed, and the selection was huge! Very over priced but everything looked fresh and was tasty.. read more

I had high hopes for this place as we entered but they were soon buried by incompetent staff and average food. They had a gelato counter that was well stocked with sorbet as well as gelato which was a pleasant surprise for my fiancé who is lactose intolerant. We made a selection of sorbet for her, to which we were informed that it was not a flavor of the day. I went back to the counter and it had been removed (Strike 1). We ordered sweet tea and we were informed to go to the beverage counter, bring it back and we will sweeten it for you (Strike 2). The food arrived, one sausage kolache that was about the size of my thumb and a mediocre sandwich that was supposedly one of their headliners (Strike 3). Not to mention they forgot all about my soup, but I guess that was ok because they were all out of strikes at that point. Lol read more

OMG! If you're looking for that "kid in a candy store" sensation then Rao's has you covered. I was overwhelmed the moment I walked in. A gelato showcase (which I was offered to taste test them all if I wanted to), a case with whole cakes, another with pastries and single serve cakes and a muffin and cookie case. Where to start? I could clearly feel I was going to have an anxiety attack because I just couldn't decide. I even asked customers what their favorites were and was told I couldn't go wrong with anything. This didn't help my anxious feeling as I paced the pastry case like a vulture circling. Crême Bruleés straight out of Gourmet Magazine. Fruit Tarts. Chocolate covered strawberries. Everything was just looking too perfect. Was I dreaming? No. I had to decide. I decided on the Napoleon Heart. Light flakey pastry, smooth cream filling, sliced strawberries on top and then drizzled with white chocolate. Intensely satisfying. Back off! Get your own! And then give it to me! You really can't go wrong. Maybe in one lifetime I'll sample everything they have to offer. If only I could sway from my favorites. Feel free to pick up anything and bring it my way. read more

Raos Bakery Dowlen - Bakeries Near Me - Beaumont, Texas

we love Rao's - their Gelato, their pastries, tea and coffee, but today we got their croissant egg, bacon and cheese, the croissant tasted like it was bought from Walmart or Sam's there was very little bacon and hardly any cheese. we will return but we not purchase their croissant egg and bacon again. Plus mine tasted like it was microwaved too long. We were saddened that a company with "bakery" in their name would have this poor quality of croissant. read more

One of the worst bakery's. Very few things authentic Italian desserts. All the cakes are always too dry. Over priced for what it is. Wish Beaumont would get more bakeries. read more

No complaints here. Definitely worth the stop. Dirty chai was super good and great outdoor seating.

Rao's is a great place to go hang out with friends over some gelato or a tasty pastry and coffee. The staff is somewhat friendly and the coffee is excellent. Actually just about everything I've tried here has been good. Check out their daily selection of brewed coffee for some interesting flavors like Dancing goat, Jamaica me Crazy and Mardi Gras! read more

I have only come here for desserts and coffee. Rao's has a nice, relaxed coffee shop feel. Even when they are busy, the line usually goes quickly. You really can't go wrong with any of their desserts. The turtle chocolate cheesecake is heavenly. The German chocolate cake is delicious. The list goes on and on. I usually spend a couple of minutes standing at the counter trying to decide what delectable goodness I want. The coffee is good. I am not really a picky coffee drinker so it all tastes the same to me if you put enough flavors into it. The vanilla Italian cream soda can be a hit or miss. Sometimes they put a little too much half & half (or whatever) for my taste. The prices are a little steep, but since this is more of a treat place for us, we don't mind. read more

I ordered a cake for Christmas. It was supposed to be a Christmas cake and the box was taped all but an inch from the top so you could only see the top of the cake. The cake was only decorated around the edges of the top on 1/2 of it. it look like something was supposed to be written on it but wasn't. When I got it home and unboxed it I was shocked to see the bottom piping was pink. I don't know about you but pink is not Christmas color. Especially when it's Christmas red and green on top. I did not bring it to my family's event on Christmas Eve because it was so unattractive but I cut it up on Christmas day and served. To make matters worse the cake was over baked and very dry and it got thrown away. When I commented on Raos website that I was disappointed in the cake I was contacted by Sara from Rao's bakery. She asked me to send pictures of the cake and other questions like did I look at the cake before we excepted it. I explained to her that the cake was inside a taped box and you could barely see the top of it. I sent her the pictures along with the answers to her other questions and after a week I still had no response so I emailed her again and ask her if she received the pictures. I'm still waiting on a response. And as ugly as the cake was I'm more disappointed in the customer service. I can't believe Sara Couldn't take the time to tell me if she got the pictures or not. I order cakes from Raos for every birthday and special occasion. I will not go back. They have lost a very good customer in me. read more

Raos Bakery Dowlen - Bakeries Near Me - Beaumont, Texas

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My mom fell in love with this bakery the first time she went there. She told me it reminded her of a chain cafe, La Madeline, but way better - so of course I was excited to try it! I had the pecan pie gelato and DAMN. I love the way they display their food, too, and the customer service was ok. read more

I had the tuna sandwich for a quick bite, but what I enjoyed the most was there banana nut muffin with a coffee latte. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable to enjoy an evening. The staff was very attentive and polite. I would recommend you coming in for some good pastries and coffee latte to relax after a long days of work. read more

We really wanted to like Rao's. Everything looked fantastic and the staff were very friendly. But the desserts weren't very good. Didn't taste better than a grocery store bakery at twice price (at least). $2.50 for a shortbread cookie with fake icing? Come on. The coffee was the best part of the experience. What a disappointment. read more

Raos Bakery Dowlen - Bakeries Near Me - Beaumont, Texas

Stopped here at the beginning of a trip to Florida. What a great start! Excellent coffee and breakfast sandwiches. We bought a few cookies for the road as well. We will definitely remember Rao's the next time we are in the area. read more

The desserts and coffees are fantastic! Dining in is always great, but the drive thrus are inconsistent. I almost never use them since they take forever compared to just getting out of the car and ordering something to go. I write this as I've been sitting in line for a peppermint hot chocolate for over ten minutes now with only two cars ahead of me. I should have gone inside... read more

This café is honestly the best place to have a meeting with someone or to study because it's quiet.

Is there no one else to hire in this town???? Each time I go it's a confederacy of dunces in there. Today, I just wanted fresh cookies for a friend recovering from an aneurism and they were too lazy to walk in the back. I'm done with them. read more

I had a personal boycott of this place for a while because of something that doesn't even make sense now. Now that I have realized that, I love to get chocolatey/sugary snacks from here all the time. It's also hard to boycott since I live next to one and work next to the other. They've got gelato, cake, cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, and tons of other treats. I always go get a Texas Pecan Fudge Cake for any occasion that calls for dessert. This is the bigger location of the two in Beaumont, it's nice, but the Calder location has a little better feel to it. Always great morning, noon, or night. read more

Combine the quality of the Rao's on Calder with additional space and you have the Dowlen Road location. I use coffee shops throughout the DFW metroplex for business meetings and this location rivals any that I've been in. But ambiance can only get you so far. Their coffee and bakery quality is outstanding so it makes for a great setting to meet friends or clients. read more

Visiting Beaumont for an event and happened upon this quaint little bakery and Cafe. So amazing! Mardi Gras/New Orleans theme. The sugar cookies and coffee are to die for! If you haven't tried it, you will not be disappointed. read more

I'm in the area for work, and stopped by this place for a cup of coffee. Little did I know that I would become hooked on all the goodies this place has to offer! I tried two types of gelato, the caramel and the pistachio, and they were both great. The caramel was flavorful without being too sweet, and the pistachio also had plenty of flavor. Lots of sandwich, coffee, and tea options. Definitely worth a visit! read more

The mango gelato was a bit to sweet and watery for me and I think $1.89 for a tiny chocolate covered strawberry is over priced considering I can probably make one. But the napoleon heart was delicious. Definitely coming back for more read more

Love there cookies and cakes but the napoleon heart is amazing I have to stop by at least once a week to get something

I've came here may times and had a friend work here for awhile. As far a non chain coffee shops go their one of the good ones. Never had anything that I was disappointed about, minus the price, this is one of the more expansive coffee shop I have been to. read more

When in Beaumont for what ever reason I always stop in and get some goodies! I love everything ! My favorite cookie is the chocolate crisp!!' Great pistachio gelato too, love it so much! Now I want a freakin cookie but I'm in Africa! read more

Great local coffee shop. The pastries are always delicious, specifically their apple strudel and blueberry cream cheese muffins. Love coming here when I'm visiting my bf's family in Beaumont. read more

Horrible customer service. They catered Lamar's graduation and blocked off a pedestrian section of a public walking sector. Anthony wouldn't let me pass by even though he was blocking a public space. His manager or coworker started getting an attitude with me when i tried to go around even though i was not touching their material. Very unprofessional, cater from someone else if you need friendly staff. read more

This place was great, great desserts, great place to study, hang out, meet up with a friend or simply be alone and read a book or so, looking forward to coming back in the future, great selection in desserts too. read more

The staff is always nice and helpful. I've been here several times! I have never had a bad experience. If you can't stop by that's not a problem they have a drive-thru window so you can take it to go quickly. I recommend the gelato and sorbet, the tiramisu and fruit tarts and of course their famous Italian cream cake and their crème brûlée! It's never very crowded but it's a great place to hang out and a great and refreshing alternative to Starbucks. Once a year, I believe in August, they have a Kopi luwak tasting. It starts very early in the morning like five or six but it's well worth going to! It's the best coffee I've ever tasted and the world's most expensive too. read more