We had a wonderful high tea experience at the Bakester. We made reservations ahead of time and notified them of our dietary restrictions (vegetarian) which they were able to easily accommodate. The cafe is really cute with lots of floral decorations. There's beautiful tea pots and lots of different teas to pick from. The food was delicious and ample, we couldn't get through all of it and left with a few boxes of treats. I enjoyed the sandwiches, scones and am eager to try some of the leftover dessert. read more

The Bakester - High tea food , vegetarian requested - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

An amazing High Tea and experience in NW Suburbs. We went there on a Sunday for a family Bday. Make sure you make reservations ahead of time as i don't think they do walk ins. We also asked for vegetarian options for the sandwiches which they honored and everything was so good. So good that you cannot try everything out in 1 go. We tried 3 different kind of teas. All were amazing. The decor in the restaurant was so cool. All flowery. There was Bridal shower going on there too. Definitely a place you should go. We tried Cucumber and cream cheese Turkey, havarti cheese, spinich and artichoke spread on croissant Smoked salmon, cream cheese, and dill sauce with spinach Avocado sandwiches Scones Served with Cream and Berry Preserve French Macarons and cookies read more

The Bakester - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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We did make reservations ahead of time, faster to just call instead of submitting on their website. We did the standard high tea that comes with unlimited tea. So we had tried four different teas for the first round and two different ones at the end. They have a large selection of teas to choose from. It was nice to read the ingredients on the containers and also smell them. The teas are in bags that the staff would put in the teapot for you. Staff are all very nice and helped pour the tea for the first cup. There are honey and sugar on the table. Milk is brought out by request. The sandwiches, scones, and desserts are all delicious, Each person gets 3 half sandwiches; Cucumber and cream cheese, turkey and cheese on a croissant, and smoked salmon. They were half sandwiches and not 1/4 of a sandwich. Scones are a lot bigger than expected. There were 3 scones; lavender, chocolate chip, and cranberry and walnut. (They have a few different kinds too in their display case by the front). There was whip butter and jam. They went well with all 3 scones. The top tier had the desserts; macaron, brownie, almond cookie, and cream puff. There was plenty of food and they provide take home boxes. If you don't want to do the high tea, then they have other items on their menu like crepes and other assortments of desserts in their front display case. The website also provides what is served for the standard high tea. Also, they have a sign by the cashier that they offer 5% discount if you pay in cash. Plenty of parking on Sunday. There is street parallel parking or parking lots right in front. read more

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Wow. Just WOW. The Bakester has done it again. This year, I went for two pies for Thanksgiving--an apple and a pumpkin--and they were nothing short of PHENOMENAL. Really and truthfully, these were the best apple and pumpkin pies I'VE EVER HAD. Both were absolutely unforgettable, but if I had to pick one the pumpkin pie stole the show. But then again, when it comes to the Bakester, this kind of excellence is to be expected. A Thanksgiving treat that sticks with you long after the leftovers are gone. These pies didn't just complete the meal--they elevated the entire holiday. By the time Thanksgiving was over, I'd already decided I'm ordering from the Bakester for Christmas. It's hard to imagine celebrating the holidays without them. read more

The Bakester - Pumpkin Pie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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We decided to check out a cafe that we hadn't been too for some coffee and pastries. The Bakester was a cute looking cafe with good reviews, so we dropped in. Initial impressions was that the place is nice, but empty. The pastry cabinet was half empty and the scone that my wife wanted was mislabeled and unavailable. There were to bins of mugs and dishes laying around, one on a table and one on the counter by the register. It almost seemed they do t show up early before opening to prep the store. The first lady just stared at us, didn't ask if we wanted help, no hello, nothing. We had to initiate the conversation. Then an older lady came but and was very nice and polite. Our orders were quick and we received the food fairly quick. I got a lemon scone, and my wife got a cranberry scone. We shared a latte. The coffee was light, but good. Both scones were moist and very tasty, but we did expect them to be harder being a scone. I would definitely recommend their food and coffee, but their customer service by the one lady was terrible. It almost made us feel like she didn't want to be bothered. They are worth checking out, but if we have a duplicate experience like our first, it will be our last. 4 stars for food, -1 stars for customer service. read more

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Been here twice now for high tea, and it is consistently delicious. The owner and her servers are all sweet and helpful--especially when we have little kids who want to partake in tea but don't need the caffeine. Lots of tea varieties to choose from. The sandwiches are just right--flavorful and filling without being stuffed with ingredients that fall out. They're perfectly constructed and the perfect portion. The sweets/desserts are so good. I don't know how she does it--nothing is overly sweet in any way. The whole place is bright and clean, with soft music so you can have a comfortable conversation. As a family dining in a nicer establishment (with fine china and breakable everything), we worried about our kids being too boisterous or damaging, but the staff were very accommodating by providing paper cups for water instead of glass, and never made us feel unwelcome or hurried. Couldn't recommend this place more! Just be sure to make a reservation if you want to do high tea. read more

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I'm afraid to let this little treasure out of the closet because it's so darn adorable and I'm afraid I won't ever get an open table after this rave review! The Bakester is THE MOST DARLING coffee/tea/pastry shop you may ever find in the northwest burbs! To begin with the shop isn't mega chain size, but big enough so that you can have nice conversations without the people at the next table hearing every work, but it's small enough to give that nice cozy, quaint feeling. The wall is lined with beautiful tea pots and cups, tiered crystal trays begging for pastries to be rested on them, and touches of flowers - but not so overly "feminine" to keep guys away. You place your order at the register and if you choose to dine in, they'll bring your order to you. It'll arrive in a pretty china cup with saucer. If you order something to eat, you'll get it on a real plate with silverware. Tea will be served with a teapot. It's all very elegant. The ladies working there are so patient and kind. The owner always has a bright smile on her face and she's such a delightful person to chat with. Everything is made there fresh in-house and you can smell the warm, baked smell as soon as you walk in. The bakery selection has something for everyone, including a quiche or two and there are also sandwiches made with their flakey, buttery croissants. They also offer High Tea which I can't wait to try! read more

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Checked out yet another offer shop in downtown Arlington Heights, one with a bit classy of an atmosphere. It means prices are kind of high too, but not as much as you may think because the quality is great. The Brewster specializes in French style coffee, paninis, and more. Also has tea if wanting another beverage. You can get one of those fancy tea times with the crumpets and whatever. After looking for a close by coffee shop, we came here. It turned out to be more fancy than we expected, but oh well it had some great stuff. The coffee is the main thing. It's about $4 for a regular cup. The Vegan Panini is more interesting. It's about $9 for a pretty big sandwich filled with everything. There was avocado and tomatoes. Maybe it wasn't a super creative one, but it was a filling one for brunch or lunch. The pastries include classic types of scones. Good place when looking for a French press or other fancy coffee. It also has a breakfast and lunch menu of food. There's a lot that's cheesy and meaty, but the Vegan Panini is a good one for plant based eaters and vegetarians. read more

The Bakester - Sweets - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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An absolutely LOVELY place to sip on a raspberry lemonade while admiring the silver teapots, vintage china, and gorgeous flowers! The owner is sooo sweet and accommodating- seriously one of the nicest ladies you'll ever meet. She throws high tea parties, which are so fun and very affordable compared to the ones in Chicago. For food, I enjoy the turkey & spinach artichoke croissant. So, so tasty! Also love the chocolate chip cookies and the macarons. read more

The Bakester - Turkey, Havarti, and Spinach-Artichoke Spread Croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Excellent spot! It's such a gem to have a fancy place like this for a tea party so close by. Came here with friends for a mini get together and baby sprinkle. Also had two kids with us who really enjoyed dressing up like a princess and sharing all the yummy goodies. $40 for adult, $30 child for the standard tea party. Premium is $10 more. There are also other menu or bakery items to order as well. Parking can be tough bc its street parking in DT Arlington Heights. Once you walk in you see the pastry displays, then it opens up to a beautiful eating area with fancy table set-ups and beautiful drapes and chandaliers through out the tea area. The quality of the teas are amazing, same with the sandwiches and pastries. Wait staff is pretty attentive and comes to check in and delivers the requested items fairly quick. Would highly recommend reservations, as they get pretty busy on the weekends. Great for ladies get togethers, showers, or small intimate parties. People do come dressed up in their dresses and nice hats :) I would only say its a great spot, except the $30 for young children is a pretty steep price as they don't eat as much as the adults or really drink tea since they are still young. Otherwise great experience. Would def do it again. read more

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Your place for high tea in Arlington Heights! Amazing service, fantastic tea selection and wonderful food (both sweet and savory). The owner and her staff are accommodating, welcoming and hospitable. I always have a great experience here. Highly recommended. Her soups are great too! read more

What a hidden gem! I've stopped in here a couple of times for a pastry to go, but didn't know until recently that they offer a high tea service. A couple of friends and I made a high tea reservation and had the best time. For $40 per person, we were served three kinds of sandwiches, three large scones, an assortment of desserts, and unlimited tea. We ended up trying several flavors of tea, and loved them all. The service was fast and beyond accommodating -- we were encouraged several times to take our time, and we ended up staying there for a few hours. By the end of our experience, which we scheduled during brunch hours, we were all happy and stuffed. The Bakester also offers a small breakfast and lunch menu, and I'll absolutely be back for breakfast or a panini or lunch. read more

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Thank you for the beautiful and delicious key lime pie you made for my husband's birthday this week. The ingredients were fresh and flavorful. I will order from this bakery again! read more

The Bakester - The most delicious key lime pie- created by The Bakester! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Had a lovely experience having afternoon tea at The Bakester this past week. Pretty space, friendly service, and delicious food and tea. You select your tea from the containers they have... it's all tea bags. They then bring you a silver pot of tea. You can have a second kind as well. Sandwiches are larger than most tea sandwiches but all were delicious so was happy for the bigger sizes. You also get two large scones (with jam and cream), a macaron and cookie, and generous slice of a European dessert. Definitely worth the visit! I'll be back! read more

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Attended a private event here recently. The high tea concept is well-executed. The various teas were delicious and so were the finger sandwiches & pastries. The way the food is served on tiered trays is also very cute as were the china tea cups & place settings. Our problem was with the service. We wanted to add another person to our table which totally shook our server. She appeared very unhappy with us & repeatedly tried to make us seat our extra person elsewhere. This shouldn't have been a big a deal as our server made it. Additionally, near the end of the event I was helping an elderly relative find the restroom. The same server was blocking the main area where the restrooms were & wouldn't let us pass, telling us to use the other restroom which was hidden away at the back of the private event area. We made our way back there & the door was locked (no one was in there). We made our way all the way back to the server at the front & told her it was locked. She rolled her eyes & looked exasperated with us for wanting to use the restroom. The owner came up & we explained we needed to use the restroom but it was locked. She said she'd have to go get a key. We again made our way to the back of the event area & the single restroom was finally unlocked for our elderly relative. The whole debacle made our relative nervous & all the walking back & forth was not easy for her. No apologies from staff; in fact we got the definite vibe we were inconveniencing them. We are always very polite to servers & staff & we were polite in this instance even though it was an unpleasant experience due to the attitude we received throughout the event. read more

Feels like I step in for afternoon tea. This place has a European vibe with the classy plates and decors. We got a few different choice for teas (unlimited) for the Duchess High Tea options. This included tomatoes soup, spinach and cheddar quiche, cucumber sandwiches, smoke salmon sandwich, turkey on a croissant, scones, pies and French macaroons. The pastries was delicious. The scones was definitely my favorite. It was nice and soft. The cream and berry persevere was delicious and accent the scones flavor perfectly. Our waiter was super nice and refilled our water glasses and tea cups without having us asking. It's definitely a cute place for afternoon tea with some girlfriends. read more

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We found this place by accident, and what a happy accident it was. We were driving around Arlington Heights and I turned into a street because I really liked the look of the old-fashioned buildings and castle-like look of this quaint downtown area. As I was driving, my wife spotted The Bakester. With a sweet tooth the size of an orca, it took no convincing for me to find a parking spot and dash in. As soon as we entered, there was a feeling of being in a fancy patisserie or cafe somewhere in Europe. We didn't really know how it worked or if it was table service only, but the young man at the counter was super friendly. We ordered coffee and dessert at the counter, took a seat at a table, and they brought the goods out. I ordered a cappuccino and my wife got a latte with vanilla. For my son we got a vanilla macaron. My wife and I also got a chocolate-pecan opera cake slice to share. They really knocked it out of the park with the foam on both drinks. And they included a spoon to make it easy to scoop out and enjoy the thick foam. The cake was rich and decadent; it looked like a small slice, but was perfect for us. The macaron was equally excellent; great vanilla flavor and nice texture. Pricing was fair for the quality and overall experience. Would love to come back. read more

The Bakester - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Absolutely love this place! So beautifully decorated and the service is fantastic. I came today with my daughter for tea time. The quality and portions of the food were also wonderful. Definitely want to visit here every time I'm home to visit family! read more

The Bakester - Desserts! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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The cutest bakery with lunch food, coffee, tea, and super yummy pastries and cakes! I came to The Bakester for the first time today with my sister. It was such a quaint bakery with a castle-feel to it. I felt like I was eating in France!! It's way bigger than it seems on the outside - there's plenty of seating inside. The young man at the counter who took our orders was so sweet and helpful. The service here was great. I got the blackberry cheesecake and my sister got the vanilla pastry and a chocolate chip cookie. We also both got cappuccinos. Everything was so fresh - the pastry was flaky, the cookie was gooey, and the cheesecake was so fluffy. The desserts here are truly phenomenal. I definitely will return and try more of their food items, I highly recommend The Bakester!! read more

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Delicious treats French pastries, teas, sandwiches , quiches Quiet , lovely atmosphere read more

Quite a cute place for a light Sunday brunch. As soon as you walk inside you are greeted by a pastry and quiche counter and a wall of fine dishes and serving ware. The staff all dress very professional and their service is calm and helpful. (Note: if you would like to leave a tip, let the attendant know before you pay, as they have to add it on to your bill manually) I ordered the spinach quiche, cappuccino, pumpkin pie slice, cherry/apricot/almond pastry, and a sharp cheddar panini. Everything's was reasonably priced and tasted homemade - rather than manufactured, the way many other cafes food tastes. This alone is a major selling point and a reason to try this place out. The ambiance is comfortable. Faux marble table tops, crystal chandeliers and soft lighting. Everything is served on a silver tray and plated very elegantly. Soft French music plays in the background. If the cafe is busy, do not expect speedy service as there seem to only be 1-3 people working. This is really the only minor downside I experienced. I am excited to come back and have another quiche, coffee, and pastry! Wifi password must be requested. But this read more

The Bakester - Seating - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Pretty inside. Food good. Young lady at front counter very unfriendly and gruff. Owner was pleasant. Quite a few fruitfulness which were annoying. read more

This place is so stinking cute. The ambiance feels like you're walking in to a British/Mediterranean tea party. The lady at the counter was very nice and let us take our time to look at all the delicious pastry and then gave us recommendations on what to try. Everything looked amazing. I got a latte and my friend got a scone. Everything was very fresh and delicious ! Definitely coming back here again! read more

The Bakester - a bakery counter with cakes on display - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Their website mentions scones with clotted cream so I picked one up to go. Either they have no idea what clotted cream is or they literally gave me sour cream with my order. 100% not clotted cream at all. read more

The Bakester - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

While ambiance and decor was elegant and stunning, the baked goods left a little to be desired. The macarons in the case were the sloppiest I've ever seen sold. They were intended to be lined up in neat rows, but some were instead toppled over and falling everywhere. Many of them had drastically mismatched in size tops and bottoms, which was not appealing to the eye at all. Having made macarons before, I can understand it's difficult to get perfectly matching cookies, but these looked like practice ones not fit for the show case. The lady tried to give me the smallest misshapen one, but I asked for another. Looks aside, the lavender tasted fresh, and the texture was crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside. I also left with a chocolate nut dessert, but it was overly sweet. Happy to have given them a try! read more

The Bakester - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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This place is adorable! The coffee was great and the quiche was good but I'd get something else next time. Such a relaxing place.

Absolute Garbage service. I took my 90 yr old mother out for what she hoped would be tea and some light fare, what we got was a disgrace. We arrived and were told by the kid behind the counter to go ahead and sit down and someone would see us in 5 minutes. FORTY minutes later, no one had come near us, no one acknowledged us, no one cared that we were in the room, despite a couple of employees bringing things out for others. Not a greeting, not an apology, not a simple glance in our direction. I, myself, am in the service industry and the "service" here or rather, lack of, is unacceptable. This is how you lose business. We will not return and we will be telling our friends and others read more

Selection of French Pastries, my first time there and very enjoyable. My apricot/almond tart was great and very fresh! The service is a little slow but I expect that (just like in France) at A French cafe! Overall the pastries and French style coffee were good and a very quaint spot. Great place to bring a casual date!! Really enhances Downtown Arlington Heights. read more

The Bakester - A GREAT selection of French pastries and coffees! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

TL; DR: great food and location for bridal shower, terrible service and responsiveness I shared this feedback with the shop multiple times without any response or I would not be sharing in this forum. We held a bridal shower for my daughter on a Sunday in June 2022. My attempts to get in touch with Sonia to set up the event and make arrangements were difficult. Even before arranging our event, I hadn't received a reply from both a phone call and an email. That should have been a warning. However, when I called the 2nd time, it was after hours and the phone was forwarded to her cell, which I took as a good sign, and we were able to connect. At the beginning of March, we aligned on a date. A 2pm start was recommended, I was told we could bring in champagne for mimosas, and they took my deposit. Note: We did not have a contract, which would have significantly helped align expectations. To confirm our details, I emailed them on 5/31 & 6/4 and left a voicemail, all with no response. Even for a small business person with a small staff, I expect more responsiveness.  I finally got ahold of the Bakester 2 weeks before our event. At that time, I was told they'd be providing the champagne at $30 per bottle & the orange juice would be complimentary. I was also informed there would be $1 per person charge for champagne glasses. While that wasn't what I'd originally understood, without argument, I agreed to both. I was told to provide final numbers the week of. We discussed room setup and final numbers in person the Wednesday before. I was told they'd be setting the room on Saturday, so I had no concerns about arriving close to 1 for our setup. We arrive on Sunday and the room is not yet set. In fact, it appears it's still being cleared from service in the morning. I was assured the room would be set in 10 minutes, but it was still being set at 2pm as guests were arriving. This made the welcoming of guests chaotic and was truly unfortunate. Also the room was never set the way we had discussed on Wednesday. There was no plan for the champagne and orange juice. I had to ask for both, open all bottles ourselves, no chilling for bottles, and the orange juice arrived around 2:30. Here are other observations: We didn't have water on the table or water glasses ( I think they may have been used for champagne.) I had to ask for water. The tea service was sporadic at best. I had two cups of tea the entire time and the second was poured cool. The young people serving were nice, but not at all attentive. Nor was mgt easily available to ask questions to or make requests. This made the request I received for a tip awkward. 3/4 of the tables had sandwiches right away, but not all, and there were no drinks on the tables to go with the food except the previously discussed champagne without orange juice. The room was warm from the beginning, enough so that several guests complained or asked for the air to be turned on.  There were cute little flower arrangements for the table, which were delightful, but I didn't know about, and we could have scaled back the flowers we brought in.  The bathroom trash can was overflowing with napkins, which I asked a young man to empty. He didn't return it, so I had to ask for it back. This is not what I expected to receive at 40 per person. The room is beautiful and the food is delicious, but the overall experience was terribly disappointing. I was not the only one to point out how haphazard the service was, which doesn't reflect well upon The Bakester. I'm even more appalled that I received no response to my request to be contacted. The potential for this as a shower venue is superb, but beware. You may not get what you're expecting. read more

What a lovely, welcoming place! The food was delicious and staff is attentive. Charming downtown Arlington Hts location.

In today for tea and lunch. Group of moms in there. Kids running around. Kids had a broom climbing up on chairs trying to hit the ceiling! Moms said nothing and let the kids just do whatever they wanted. Unfortunately no one from the wait staff ever comes out to check on customers or what is going on. read more

Made a reservation for Mother's Day A MONTH in advance. Our table got sat first, right when doors opened with no other guests inside. Our table, which was reserved for 9 guests had not one plate, glass, setting or anything set up. Mind you, all the other tables were. Our party sat patiently for AN HOUR AND HALF while tables came and went and never did we get service, WATER, an apology or eye contact? The lady who was the owner or manager was so rude and completely ignored our table. I never leave bad reviews because I understand restaurant staff can get overwhelmed or uncontrollable circumstances occur. But this was a direct reflection on the woman running the place, being rude to us from start, did not want to serve us for whatever reason I can't understand. We were patient, kind, and understanding until it was enough. Horrible experience. The Greek restaurant next door accommodated our party right away as it was Mother's Day/ birthday and we couldn't recommend them enough! read more

Sign said open till 5. I got their at 4:10pm and the door was locked while workers were behind the counter. Bad bad service.

Made an impromptu stop at this lovely bakery and was really surprised by how delicious the croissants were. There is truly one way for me to know if I'm in a good bakery or not and that is the "croissant". It is something so simple yet so many people mess it up. Some add to much dough or too much crisp or too much flake and the ending result is not the same. But the baker at Bakester have the essence of a traditional French "croissant" and "pain au chocolat" and the fact that they had "bûche de Noël" tells me that this baker know French bakery. So if you are nearby I highly recommend for you to stop there. Go early though because things run out fast it seems :) read more

I've been visiting "The Bakester" for years and frequently stop in for a quick slice of pie, cake, or a scone and coffee. The owner is the sweetest lady you'll ever meet and has an infectious smile. The quality and selection of food and beverage is excellent. The ambiance and music force you to relax and slow down. If you've never been here you are missing out on a wonderful experience. Truly the star of bustling downtown Arlington Heights. read more

Such a cute space for afternoon tea, the owner hand makes everything and is very attentive. All the baked goods are...delicious, scrumptious, etc. I've enjoyed morning scones, afternoon tea (she'll even package it to go, to enjoy at home) and have ordered the most amazing birthday cakes here. It's a must try! read more

I celebrated a special birthday on Sunday, Oct 15, at The Bakester with a High Tea Luncheon. I want to praise Sanya and her staff for outstanding tea, food, and service. It was wonderful. All my guests were in awe of the taste and amount of food presented. It is an adorable neighborhood gem and I would highly recommend going in there and treating yourself. Or even have a beautiful celebration with family and friends. Norma Kaplan read more

The dessert here is always exquisite. There isn't a bakery around that compares with it. We were in yesterday and for some reason they were understaffed. Being the holiday season, it was packed. I saw the review from the gentleman that was hoping for a great experience with his elderly mother and wasn't served. I know that the young man who was trying to serve the whole room, along with the customers coming to purchase things at the counter, was going as fast as he could and was unable to do the job that would have required at least 3 more people. It's unfortunate the gentleman wasn't able to enjoy the meal and desserts there, like I have many times. I have to say that the scene that man made as he was leaving and yelling at the young man behind the counter was over the top, especially for all of us who were there also. The Bakester does not disappoint in it's food and service at a normal staffing level. Just had to clarify since I witnessed this. read more

This is THE place to go for fresh pastries, macaroons and custom cakes. Their macaroons are excellent. The croissant and pain au chocolate buttery. They vary the selection day by day and always have beautiful desserts on display. If you need something to bring to a dinner party: this is the place. If you want a sweet treat in the afternoon: check them out. If you want to introduce friends and family to french patisserie: perfect. You might know me from Keto reviews and really nothing here is Keto but I love going to pick up things for neighbors, family and friends. Also, they recently expanded their space. Super cute and they offer high tea too which is a fun Mother Daughter experience read more

Went here for an afternoon tea. The food was great, it was served out of beautiful tea pots and beautiful dishes.