This is a tragedy. And that is not a word I use lightly either…read more What kind of person buys a gem like Mrs. London's and doesn't take the time to learn the recipes, master the craft, and maintain the standards of what was once arguably the best boulangerie and patisserie in America? Seriously, there is someone here to blame. What is their name? I want to know. Sure, it's not a civil or criminal offense. But it's a crime against food. It's a crime against the people of Saratoga Springs. And it's just plane offensive. I regret if anyone was driven to try Mrs. London's based on my previous glowing reviews. I am so sorry. I had no idea. But I was just there this morning. I gazed into the pastry case at the croissants, and my heart sank. I felt sick. The croissants looked like something you would see in an airport. I think the croissants at Costco might be better. These were flat, flabby, and pale things. Far from the perfect, golden, flaky, structured, glistening beauties of the past. And this isn't about fond recollections. I have receipts. Photos from the past and pictures of the present. It's night and day. If the new owners aren't going to preserve Mrs. London's food, they should have the decency to put someone else's name on the joint. I too asked about the breads, and was told "their baker retired". Fortunately, Michael London taught other people to bake amazing artisan bread, and his legacy lives on elsewhere. Unfortunately, nobody at the shop bearing his name bothered to pick up the torch. What a shame. It is so sad. I am literally heart broken. This was one of my favorite bakeries in the country. I went out of my way to make a special stop in my limited time passing through the region. But I suppose nothing lasts forever, and this is a valuable reminder of that unfortunate fact. My days visiting Mrs. London's are over. I can no longer recommend it in good conscience. Perhaps the hot chocolate is still good, and the decor is still lovely. However, if you look closely at the glowing reviews, they all point back to a time that has now sadly passed.

This was a 3.5 star experience. Yelp needs to get with the program here. Let's start with the…read moreambience, it's super cute inside! I loved it! Both the pecan pastry and the raspberry cheese danish were great! No complaints! Where this place falls right off the cliff is service. It's cold and rude. No if's ands or but's about it. And after my experience, I went and read all the reviews. This is a thing apparently. And to make it worse, the owner, instead of apologizing with humility and concern to the guests that keep him in business instead writes entitled zero accountability messages back to patrons after leaving bad reviews. Honestly that's immature and short sighted. The good will of the public doesn't last forever. But on the other hand, if you desperately miss the rudeness of Europe then this is truly the place for you!

Wow, just wow. Run, don't walk to Shandaken Bake. This is a very special place. It's a one man…read moreshop. The owner, Craig, bakes everything fresh and he really knows what he's doing. Everything we tried was so phenomenal that we came and waited in line for 20+ minutes the following day. He even remembered us! It's a small shop but they have a few tables so if you can get a table, it'd be a comfortable place to sit and enjoy. Cream biscuit- simple and perfect. We were all fighting over this one. If you ask he'll give you jam and butter too. Chive and cheddar biscuit- deliciously cheesy and a real winner. Chubby squirrel- if you like fruit filled coffee cake, you'll be a fan of this one! It wasn't my favorite. Banana crumble cake- this was a definite favorite! The cake wasn't too sweet and the crumb added a nice sweetness. Apple tart- this was well received by our group! I liked it. All in all, this bakery is amazing! I wish I could eat the banana crumble cake for breakfast every morning.

I love me a good local bakery, and Shandaken did not disappoint!…read more We were in town for a wedding and this little small business was recommended to us. The owner/baker is a one-man show and he is so so nice and friendly! The clothbound cheddar & chive biscuit was divine, it was flakey and buttery and the perfect amount of cheesy. I came back the next day for a second one! The roasted butternut crumble muffin had all the cozy fall flavors, not too sweet. Not a ton of drink options here, but just the basics, brewed hot coffee and a hot tea. Arrive early, as items can sell out, but you can't go wrong with anything he has available!

I ABSOLUTELY recommend if you want yummy goodness and pleasant memories…read more And the Peanut Butter cookies she made for me?

I've gotten cupcakes, cookies and scones from the Shire Cottage Bakery and they have all been…read morebeautiful and so delicious! I would really recommend checking out their menu or contacting the owner if you need dessert, muffins, croissants, etc. for a gift or special event because everything I've gotten has been beautifully presented. If you follow the bakery on Instagram or Facebook, they often post new specials and specialty items for holidays.

I've been to The Placid Baker a couple of times over the years (a Troy farmers market fav, iykyk)…read more Today, I could smell the fresh baking bread from way down the block and thought to myself I need to go in there again how do I pass that up? This place is really cool. You're able to see all the baking happening behind the counter. The staff is so friendly. Fresh made pizzas are made multiple times daily, and the pastry assortment is great. A true staple establishment of Downtown Troy!

Oh my this gem of a place is delightful! Filled with individuals who have laminated like bakers of…read moreyesterday! The pizza for the superbowl was worth the cost indeed. There are so many delicious offerings...service is outstanding! Intimate setting, the goodness is tremendous!! Check out the pictures...

We came back to one of my favorite bakery cafés while browsing the shops in Stockbridge. I…read morediscovered this gem on our last visit to the Berkshires and couldn't resist stopping by again! This time, I picked up two chocolate croissants, a butter croissant, a blueberry scone, and an oatmeal cranberry cookie. I haven't tried them yet, but I'm sure they'll be just as delicious as everything I had here last time! There were many more customers sitting outside this time, and there was a short line inside, but it moved quickly with more staff working behind the counter. Definitely coming back again!

So good we had to come back twice…read more First day we ordered coffee and bacon,egg & cheese sandwiches on croissant and on gluten-free brioche bun. The second time we ordered prosciutto, mustard and lettuce on baguette and gf brioche buns. The gf blueberry lemon scone and the gf choc pistachio cupcake. Almost any sandwich you want, they offer them on gluten free brioche buns also. And half their baked goods selections are gluten free! I don't have a gluten allergy but if you do this is a great place to get gf food and pastries! Inside is small, mostly a to-go cafe although there are a few table and chairs outside the cafe to sit on. The staff is really nice.

Love this place the drink was good and mandy was so kind and patient with me 10/10 def recommendread more

Really such a sweet coffee shop and dessert place! Service was helpful. Shi was so nice, even…read morebrought out the pudding mix so I can read the ingredients. This is an adorable place at the top floor of the Colonie mall. There's a lot of parking. I ordered a strawberry chiffon cake and basque cream cheesecake. Both were very delicate and nice. You'll feel like a kid again here. Highly recommend!

I recently visited Le Banh Patisserie for the second time, and once again found myself overwhelmed…read moreby the quality of the baked goods within. I find that most bakeries drown their flavors in sugar, glazes, and frosting, while the pastries offered at Le Banh Patisserie deliver the perfect balance of taste and texture without being cloyingly sweet. If you are a fan of crossaints, you owe it to yourself to give these a try - they are golden and flaky on the outside with an incredibly buttery and airy center, and baked to perfection. Whether you choose the almond, chocolate, or classic butter, I guarantee you won't be disappointed, and will likely feel as if you just stepped out of a Parisian café. The scones are equally delightful with a crisp exterior while remaining soft and moist in the middle, and abounding in flavor. Also, be sure to grab a Doodle cookie (or two) before you go, and give the Vietnamese coffee a try - you'll be glad you did. Above all else, the owner/baker is one of the friendliest and most personable people you are likely to meet, and I could have spent the entire afternoon talking with her. After complimenting her on the quality of her treats and contemplating the lack of decent bakeries in the area, she was generous enough to recommend other establishments which she thought would be worth trying. In addition, after telling her I would love to possess her skill, she encouraged me to give it a try and even gave me a few resources with which to begin my baking journey. Overall, I can highly recommend this hidden gem as perhaps the finest confectionary I have ever had the good fortune to stumble across, and would honestly suggest to anyone that they would be doing themselves an incredible disservice by failing to stop in one afternoon and give Le Banh Patisserie a try​

I have been wanting to come here for such a long time!! I can't believe I haven't been!! Both the…read moreoutside and inside are so cute. There are tables inside too. I missed the morning rush and came closer to lunch time. There wasn't a lot left, but I was SO excited there was one sandwich left with the focaccia bread that was Made the night before! It was so delicious!! I also tried the salted lemonade and it was a Different taste for me, but so good! Kim, the owner, was there and it was so nice to meet her and get to know her. I look forward to going back!!

I buy our cakes elsewhere. Every time I bought things I was disappointed in the taste of them…read more Then the man was really rude to me so I. I won't go back

I brought a few kids with special needs (my daughter & her friends) to the bakery to order ANYTHING…read morethey wanted to celebrate a birthday! They were so excited! Every item was absolutely delicious! Some couldn't decide so I said, get both items! lol It was fun for me watching each place their own order to learn independence. We went back home & made coffee & teas to make it a real party! Thanks to MELTAWAY BAKERY, we celebrate regular days just to have Cheese Danish, Chocolate Croissants & Coffee Cakes (our favorites). Robin Bird

Black Cat Coffee opened very recently on Main Street in Chatham, adding to the local coffeehouse…read morescene in this small village. The place has a relaxed atmosphere with the order counter towards the back, potted plants, framed pictures on the walls, mounted buffalo head, and a few toys (Kidrobot, rubiks cube, stuffed plush toys) high up on a wall shelf. There's long "conference" table with chairs in the center of the room, soft sofa with coffee tables, and stool seating along the front window. They also offer free wifi access too. The drink menu is straightforward offering hot & iced drinks including coffee, espresso, cappuccino, machiatos, lattes, tea (cup or pot to stay), iced tea and cold brew (coming soon at the time of posting). They also have a few baked goods for sale to go with your drink. I stopped by Black Cat Coffee recently for coffee. I got a Medium 12 oz Hot Coffee ($3 plus tax) which was very very hot and definitely needed a cardboard hot drink sleeve from the creamer & sweetener station. The service here was prompt. The coffee was brewed just right and no bitter taste, even drinking it black. I took advantage of the free wifi to catch up on news while enjoying my hot breakfast food I picked up from another cafe with my hot coffee.

Really enjoyed my experience here! Serene atmosphere, good lattes and friendly staff. Really…read moreenjoyed the decor and the large plants in the window. A great place for a quick coffee pickup or to stay and hang/work.

If you're looking for the best "Coney Island" style hot dogs in the area, look no further than…read moreNewest Lunch. I have been loving this place for 40 years. Although they have a full menu for breakfast and lunch, I never bother just order "two with everything" or more frequently "with everything but onions" and a side of fries. The meat sauce is reminiscent of Cincinnati Skyline Chili if you're familiar with that. The "everything" includes mustard, meat sauce and chopped raw onions. A side of French fries are always hot, and cooojed to perfect crispy outside and fluffy inside. A side order is a generous helping (enough to share). The decor hasn't changed in 40+ years of going here. The same wooden booths with vinyl seats (some patched with matching tape), at the counter are the old style vinyl diner counter spinning stools you expect in a 1950's diner. It's not winning any awards for trendy decor but the staff are friendly and the food is what you're there for. The whole experience is a bit of a throwback to simpler times When I moved out of town for college, I would always make sure I fit in a trip to Newest to sate my craving for their dogs. I would even buy sauce to take home. It was never quite as good as when I could eat there, but could keep the withdrawal at bay while I was living out of state.

If you get meat sauce don't pass on onions. I think they are essential to adding some flavor. I…read morewould go back for breakfast. Great vibe. Love the counter and the booths.