5/5: The rhum baba is excellent 2/5: The pistachio gelato is…read moreway too sweet. All I can taste is sugar. This might be ok for little kids who like super-sweet stuff, but it's cloyinging sweet for anyone over the age of 18. 2/5: The chocolate bomb uses very mild milk chocolate mousse. It is lacking the intense bitter chocolate flavor and complexity that I'm looking for.

We drove an hour to try this Pasticceria and we are glad we did and will be back. We felt like we…read morewere in Italy enjoying the best pastries, pizza and cafe late ever. The owners, two brothers from Italy are professional trained chefs. It is definitely a must visit cafe.

This is one of the lesser known local bakeries filled with awesomeness…read more Parking is street only. Sometimes there will be a spot open right on front, sometimes not but there is a pay lot more or less right in back of the building that always has room. It's not the largest space inside, but it does have a fair amount of table/booth combos should you chose to lounge on site. The window displays are pure old school European bakery and when the owner feels up to it can be quite creative. They do offer a limited lunch/breakfast menu which looks to be light fare-pasta, egg dishes, salads, sandwiches etc, but in reality is quite substantial. The portions are large, and are just stuffed with ingredients. They can be quite filling. While the food menu is pretty great I don't go to a bakery-which is what this business is-for a sammich, or soup. I go for the pastries, and occasionally when I feel lazy, the breads. The pastry here is outstanding. The baker/owner is an italian baker originally from Milan that got lured to this area and eventually decided that the only way he'd get the super awesome Italian pastries he loved was to open a bakery and do it himself. It goes without saying that any of the Italian stuff is entirely worth your time and expense. The croissants are buttery perfection and yeah if you wanted a rustic tuscan loaf, tiramisu, panetonne, sfogliatell or cannoli this is THE place. Just to mix things up they do some mean bear claws and almond filled thingys as well. The also do some coffee products-american style drip and of course espresso, but they are handicapped by being located right next to what is arguably the best coffee shop in the area. Regardless the coffee is a little bit cheaper and almost as good, and who doesn't want coffee with a bear claw? Pricing is on the higher side (other then the coffee, which is quite reasonable.) as this is very much an artisanal kind of bakery with lots of labor of love put into the product. Bare bones coffee and a sweet can be had for under ten bucks, but lunch/breakfast menu item can get into the ten-fifteen dollar range in a heartbeat. A loaf of bread and a couple of croissants will be in the ten ish range. Less for basic croissants, more if you go for the millionaire bacon stuffed option. Service is usually solid, but at times they have trouble getting good people for the front counter role which leads to new teen employee levels of confusion about the products. All in all this is an excellent lesser known bakery choice, very much worth the time, parking and expense for the sheer luxurious treats they offer.

I miss this store being open so much. It was such a community treasure. I'm hoping that they have…read morekept their yelp account active because they will open again.

Gayle's has some of my favorite things made of sugar and butter on the menu: quiches, key lime…read morepies, biscuits, tarts, and cookies. So many things looked good. I was pretty restrained. I got a number from the ticket machine. Holiday weekend, so bit of a wait but I think the system worked well. I am curious why it took so long since we had a dedicated worker bagging our stuff. But good things come to those who wait: Garlic twist. 5/5. Would get this again. Simple but amazing taste and texture. Could eat all day. Quiche. 4/5. Not the best quiche I've had ever had but solid. I appreciated it being on the small side since I had so many other things to try. I got tomato and spinach and wish the tomato taste came through a bit more. Would get again. Key lime pie. 4/5. Tasted fresh and had a smooth texture with the right amount of tartness. Strawberry shortcake cookie. 4/5. Like a soft scone. More intense strawberry flavor than expected. Banana tart. 4/5. Could be stronger banana flavor. Maybe if they brûléed a banana on it. Good crust texture. Impressive how everything I tried tasted good considering their extensive menu. Will try the masala chicken salad sandwich, cheddar biscuit, and chive scone next time. I loved how it was old school, well priced, well portioned, and not too precious. Staff make themselves available. There are first come first served tables to nab. Parking spots were not as easy to get when arriving but if you go straight for neighborhood parking you'll find something.

Was visiting family and wanted to buy a little something as a gift…read more Called Gayle's the morning of and ordered 4 of their pastries. The process was quick and easy. The menu is available online and they take same day orders via phone. Pickup was a little hectic as there were a lot of people in the bakery. I waited in line for a ticket and then waited for my number to be called, but found out that I could have just walked to the end of the bakery to pickup at the counter in the corner. I would probably add a sign to make it a little more obvious for those new to the bakery, nonetheless the pastries were amazing and nothing else matters. Everything was sweet but balanced with acidity or nuttiness. Great mix of textures and the crust does not fall apart even after a whole day in the fridge and being manhandled into cut portions. I'd highly recommend this place for out-of-towners, as those that live there already know it's the best.

Love this place -Amazong!! Fresh Delicious meals that…read moreartfully crafted and taste DELICIOUS! The Cupcakes are Delicious and Gigantic!!

This place was a true disappointment. For starters, everything is already super overpriced, and the…read morelunch options are very limited. I ordered a turkey sandwich, which seemed simple enough. The woman at the counter was bland and unwelcoming from the start. It honestly felt like we were bothering her just by being there. Customer service makes a big difference, and this was definitely lacking. When my food came out, the sandwich was literally falling apart because they loaded it with an excessive amount of mayo. It made it messy and unpleasant to eat. Overall, between the high prices, limited menu, poor service, and sloppy food, I won't be coming back.

I just ate a piece of Beckmanns Cherry Pie! OMG the Crust!!!…read more Its the best crust ive ever had. I love it and want everyone to know that they should give it a try. Yummy

Beckmann's pies are World class! I've eaten so many flavors, and I finally figured out my…read morefavorite: it's blueberry pie! It's not too sweet, and the whole blueberries inside are plump and juicy. Apple pie is great heated and à la mode, and pecan pie is FABULOUS during the Fall holidays (though a tad sweet, but soooo crunchy and the crust is buttery perfection). I also love the humor and friendliness of the man who is always at the Beckmann's stall at the farmer's markets! He is such a hoot. Once we were having such a good time hootin' and hollerin' that we garnered a crowd, and they didn't know what was going on. The crowd thought he must be doing a giveaway or performance or something -- haha! I wish I had photos to attach to this review, but no Beckmann's baked goods survives long enough for a photo.

Okay, I broke down and had to try the viral crunchy desserts. I went around 12:30 and there were…read moreonly 4 people ahead of me. They had all of the normal sized selection but had ran out of the minis. They said they made 75 mini cups and they all sold out in the first hour!! I didn't really know what to expect but they were really good. Pleasing to the eye, nice crunch and yummy inside sort of like mouse and jam. Definitely high quality and such a neat treat.

I like this little business in Capitol. The bakery looks cute. we try to support the small…read morebusinesses in Santa Cruz. I am a regular customer who buys macarons, honey cake, cookies. They no longer bake custom cakes. This surprised me just Well, since they state on their page that they make cakes for birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations... They took orders for cakes--or rather, you could place an order in advance. The service has become very meager. Prices High--above the level But the taste of the cake isn't the same anymore--it's not what it used to be. I am disappointed in this bakery.

Really cute storefront. There's a store to the side, and a great display of pastries. I can see why…read morethey draw a crowd. Got here right after opening and took a stroll around. They were in the middle of making sandwiches, which did look appetizing. Got in line at a perfect time because it quickly grew behind me. I always go with the basics... purchased a true French baguette, and a delicious looking chocolate chip cookie. Solid 4 stars for the French baguette. Great crispy crust, nice airy inside, not dense at all. Awesome for dipping in coffee. My only downside is the price. $6 for a French baguette... why? I'm waiting to see if it gives me any super powers. As for the chocolate chip cookie... perfect example of how looks can be deceiving. I know it's all preference, but it was just a basic cookie. No sea salt added for that something extra and no browned butter to be found. Just an ordinary, overly priced cookie. Sadly, does not win a spot for my top 5. Also, the gentleman at the counter was pretty frigid. Maybe a bad morning? Perhaps that's his personality. Who knows, but I wouldn't expect much at the counter as far as hospitality goes.

1 star because they add a 3% fee for using a credit card, and don't mention it anywhere…read more Food-wise: - 5/5: The morning bun (a sticky bun) is outstanding. Ultra-caramelized goodness. - 4/5: The thumbprint cooking is very respectable.

Donnie Darko!! This…read moreis what makes the surrounding towns/ Santa Cruz unique. Living in SF we wanted to find something different and unique. We appreciated this corner coffee shop and the vibes. We even came back the next day just for Donnie Darko - if you enjoy iced coffee this is it! One of the cons of this drink is it comes only in one size; apparently a specific formula or proportion of ingredients. Would come back to this town just for this amazing coffee!

An OK place to get coffee and a pastry here in the Santa Cruz area. Definitely a bit dingier and…read moredarker than most coffeeshops, with some concerns about cleanliness - tables were sticky and there was food and crumbs on the floor around my chair before I sat down. Coffee and pastries are decent, although the pastries are priced pretty expensive. Lots of activism and messaging by the coffeeshop, which can be a plus or minus depending on your proclivities.

This is a really cute little donut shop. We got there around 9:00ish on a Sunday, and they were out…read moreof a lot. I recommend going early!! They did still have both chocolate and maple bars so we got some of those. They were really good. My dad got a glazed donut and really liked it. They have a fridge with cans of Diet Coke which I loved! The service was really quick even though they were busy. Cash only but they do have an atm!

Sorry donut station, your donuts just aren't that moist and the chocolate not that great either. We…read moregot a butter milk bar and you couldn't taste any butter milk, which normally you can. However, the employees are very nice. Also a heads up, this is a cash only establishment, which makes it hard when most people never carry cash.

What a great spot!! We tried the smashed breakfast sandwich and it was so good!! Fresh homemade…read morecroissants, perfectly cooked egg, and fresh chimichurri sauce. The orange juice was also 10/10. Service was quick and friendly. Walked over to coffee conspiracy while we waited (in the old Starbucks location across from chilis). Lots of seating since it's in the mall food court! Very easy parking too!

I am so happy to have Dani O's bakery in a brick and mortar store on the East side of town! Her…read morebread and baked goods are beautiful and delicious (we have only been home for a few hours and this loaf is disappearing FAST). Not to mention she is truly breathing some life into the mall! It is an easy stop on your weekend grocery shopping - either a quick stop for bread or a break to sit and eat. Parking for the food court where Dani O is located is right across the street from Trader Joe's and around the corner from Target. I'll be back for some French toast soon!