What an awesome place! We rented the back patio for a gathering of family & friends the morning after a wedding celebration. It was so pleasant working out the details with owner Julie ahead of time. All their pastries were yummy (you gotta try the ham & cheese croissant in addition to the corn & cheddar scone!) & various coffees tasty. The staff was friendly & the atmosphere out back made it special. We received many comments from our guests regarding how much they enjoyed it everything. Thank you to Julie, Katherine & their staff for an exceptional time! When in the city, we will visit again. read more

I feel like this is the cutest patio in town, just the perfect place to read a few chapters and munch on yummy treats. just wish it wasn't so hard to find a table to enjoy it! I love the pastries here too. Sandwiches are big/filling and affordable. Overall a great little bakery in the neighborhood. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - tuna sammy - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

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FAV ; Sundays morning thing ? Try the J Church early thought the tunnel witnessing the expansive west bound views over Dolores Park. That's when excitement builds of what goddess awaits at Church and Market St. it's a great shop, relaxed and I like the open feelings read more

Love this place! Very good pastries without long lines. A find in SF if you ask me! I usually always get the coffee mocha and almond croissant. Tried out there potato and leek soup special of the day which was sooo delicious. I would def get that again. It came with a side of their fresh baked sourdough bread which was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Def go there! read more

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I was looking for a pastry place nearby as my husband was craving dessert. Came across this place with pretty good reviews so decided to try it out. They are right in the middle of the busy Castro district. We went pretty late in the day so they were out of most of their deserts but still had the chocolate cake remaining so we decided to try it out. I was a bit hungry too and decided to go for a bowl of tomato soup. Service was very quick and friendly. The chocolate cake was dense and sweet. Pretty decent. Soup came in generous portion size and also came with plenty of bread. Definitely will come back to try more stuff. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Chocolate Cake - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

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After lunch with my gal pals, we came to this cafe and were a bit disappointed that most of their fruit tarts and other desserts were sold out so I ordered an oatmeal raisin cookie with coffee and the cookie was very tasty! Unfortunately, I had to wait for 5-10 minutes for my coffee has they ran out and had to make more. They apologized for the wait. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Oatmeal raisin - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was stopping by in SF, craving some pastries, and saw this store right next to where I was parked! Make sure to go earlier than I did (at around 2-3 in the afternoon), because by the time I was there almost all of their pastries were sold out. Still really enjoyed the selection I ended up with though! I always enjoy chocolate croissants, and this wasn't an exception. The dough was flaky and crispy with a nice chew. The chocolate was also quite rich, which I really enjoyed with the buttery dough. I felt like it wasn't the freshest though; there was something about the dough, maybe it was a little too chewy? Honestly wouldn't blame the bakery though as they were closing shop; wouldn't make sense to have fresh out of the oven croissants! I also got a chocolate cookie that was very chocolatey and thick in consistency. I would not recommend if you don't enjoy chocolate, but as someone who does, it was very yummy. There's a nice generous sprinkle of sea salt, which is also welcome! I wish I had a cup of milk to wash it down, but would definitely get again. The coconut macaroon was nothing special; maybe I just don't like them that much in general, but it tasted like every other macaroon I've had. read more

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I need to give this spot another try because I don't think I made the right choices this time around. I ordered a quiche, and maybe because I didn't specify I was eating it there, they didn't heat it up. The result was a very gummy tasting, overly salty quiche. I did try my friend's turnover, and that was flaky and pretty good, but for the price I wish I had a better experience. The Christmas display here was quite impressive though. Was that a whole tree made of bread?? read more

This is my new favourite Castro-area bakery. Prices are average for SF, espresso shots are pulled well and my latte was excellent, pastries are whimsical yet substantial, and the ambiance can't be beat. I got the spinach and artichoke turnover, with a wonderfully flakey pastry casing that was nearly a croissant, and just the right amount of savory filling. The raspberry croissant also looked delectable. Don't miss the Eden-like back patio if the weather is good! Finally, the personable and positive cashier really made my Sunday morning. Thanks Thorough--I'll be back! read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Latte and spinach and artichoke turnover - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love their lunch sandwiches, loafs, and pastries. However, I do wish they gave you a different chip brand other than Lays with the sandwiches. I have gone here twice already, it is so good and the workers are patient and polite. read more

Happy Hallerween! So today I decided to try this bakery that I had not purchased from ever. I had walked by on Church near Market at least a year ago. I decided to try something and it was the rustic tart with apple. It was an apple tartlet--you know like those Trader Joe's tartlets that you defrost in the microwave. Haha that's why we get fresh at the bakery. However, it was pricey at like $5 and some change..maybe try a quiche or some other French pastries. This spot has been open for like 9-10 years and has some seating to hang out and do the internet cafe thing and laptop life. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Rustic tart - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

Beat a slight rush around 9 AM on a Sunday. Only 2 parties were allowed inside at a time for social distancing. There were so many lovely options (almost chose the mushroom ricotta pastry), and I ended up getting a raspberry almond croissant. There was a jug of hand sanitizer at the cash register, which I pumped a generous amount to share with my partner who was waiting at one of the many tables outside with our dog. The croissant was a joy with ample jam inside, although I would have preferred it warmed up. My partner and I split it while watching the line grow to three parties outside and then I returned the plate to someone inside as specified on the laminated notices taped to most of the tables. Had a good experience with solid social distancing procedures set up. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Raspberry almond croissant - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

The brown butter cookie was amazing, definitely want to try some of their other pastries, and prices were reasonable. The cappuccino was just ok though and unfortunately it was overly crowded so nowhere to sit. read more

Yikes! Thorough bread has always been a go to on my list for delicious pastries, but this weekend's almond croissant was terrible. Stale (probably a day or two old) with barely any almond paste inside. It was a pretty sad experience from thorough bread. Always love their back patio but might reconsider getting pastries from there again. read more

One of my favourite bakeries in SF. Very good pastries, excellent sandwiches (in my opinion better on ciabatta than on baguettes,) decent though not exceptional espresso coffee, friendly staff. Love their fruit rustic tart, double chocolate cookies and cakes. Back patio space (under tall trees and largely protected from wind) is an underrated gem in SF. Make sure you check their hours before you go. They close relatively early in the day and are off certain days of the week. They have a tried and true set of baked goods. Would like to see a little more variety. read more

There are coffee shops and more coffee shops to caffeinate your soul. This place does not serve the best coffee. It serves great coffee and has baked goods, a great mocha and great service. But that's not what earns it 5 stars. From the outside, you are likely to miss it. If not for Yelp, I would not have found it. And it took us some walking around to find the entrance. Imagine my surprise when we tried to find a place to sit and talk about singularity and how humans may be a simulation, when we discovered the back patio. It's wonderful. Open, tree-lined, between 3 buildings, a classic San Francisco experience. Tip: Ask for extra hot if you are getting a mocha or a latte. And while you are at it, try one of their delicious baked goods. Then spend hours in the backyard reading a book, working on your mechanical turk top lap or simply having the best conversation of your life in an expansive space. read more

It's true - the best almond croissants you're likely to find! (3/5 green stars) I've had some very good almond croissants in the bay area - Firebrand and La Farine, for example - but I think Thorough Bread gets the prize. I also had a savory turnover (spinach and feta I think, perhaps) and a choc chip cookie. Just $8 for all three seemed very reasonable, especially considering the location. The space is very attractive - especially the patio out back. If I lived nearby I'd definitely come here regularly to relax on the patio or just to pick up pastries. I'm giving them 3/5 "green stars" for social and environmental impact for now, mainly due to lack of information. Hopefully someone will get back to me with some answers. When I was in there I asked what kind of flour they used - nobody could answer the question. So I didn't bother asking any more complex questions, like are the eggs pasture-raised, etc. The website has no info and when I emailed them I received no response. So with a lack of information to base this on (other than the fact that they serve Sightglass coffee) I'm giving a neutral rating that I'll update if I hear back. It's a pity because they are the bakery outlet for the SF Baking Institute - transparency on ingredients should be part of what they teach. Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, contact me! (greenstarsproject) read more

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Ham and cheese croissant was extremely rich and tasty. It's got a shabby homey feel - but that doesn't necessarily take away from the food

I avoid getting any hot beverages, but now I come here all the time. The pastries are good.

Thorough Bread is the perfect neighborhood bakery: a good variety of yummy baked goods, reasonable prices (considering the neighborhood), and adorable, secret (not really, but it's not visible from the street!) courtyard in the back. The hilarious sandwich boards are just a bonus. I've been coming to Thorough Bread for 6+ years, and everything I've had there has been consistently great: almond croissants, scones, quiche, cookies. My personal go-tos are the cookies, which are the perfect mid-day pick-me-ups; they're just the right size and only $2 apiece. I've tried both the brown butter chocolate chip cookie and the oatmeal raisin, and both are delicious, and even better heated up--just ask (yes, even the latter, oatmeal raisin haters!). There's no Wi-Fi, so depending on what you need, it may not be a great place to get your work done, but it's a lovely spot to enjoy a book or catch-up with a pastry (or two. Or three). It's also very easily accessible for Duboce Triangle, Mission, and Castro residents, and even if you're coming from elsewhere, it's right outside of Church Station. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Brown butter chocolate chip cookie & oatmeal raisin cookie, best enjoyed heated up and devoured in the courtyard. :) - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

wow! what an amazing and cute bakery off of the church station and near dolores park. me and my friend were off to go on a picnic at dolores park, and we hadn't had any food yet, so we decided to stop by this bakery. as expected of a sunday morning, this bakery was definitely busy. you can tell it's a well loved bakery in the neighborhood, and i have to agree. walking in, we were met with a big variety of pastries, from classic croissants to fresh baked breads. me and my friend order a sour cherry croissant, which, to be frank, i was nervous about because i didn't know how the sour cherry would taste like. but the first bite did me in! what a wonderful combination of flavors in a single pastry, all while remaining flaky and warm and toasty. the slight cherry flavor mingled well with the nutty and buttery notes of the croissant. i look forward to coming here every time i go to dolores park. definitely a place worth going to, either for the ambience or their amazing bread and pastries. read more

Pretty big cafe with lots of seating, even in the back - complete with nature (and sometimes bugs). Other than that, I enjoyed everything I ordered. I got a latte with almond milk, an almond croissant, an eclair and a spinach and mushroom quiche as a snack for later. Coffee was decent and a little on the light side - not as strong as I'd like it. The almond croissant was delicious! Great light, flaky texture and just enough almond filling. The quiche was also very, very good, and they give you a pretty sizable portion, which I appreciated. The one thing I didn't like (read: really, really disliked) was the eclair. Not good. It tasted like it had been frozen, brought to room temperature, and then refrigerated. Blech. But Thorough Bread is everything you'd expect from, and want in, an SF coffee shop - bustling but quiet ambiance, decent pastries and a pretty good cup o' joe. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Almond croissant - YES! Spinach & mushroom quiche - YAY! Eclair - Hard PASS - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The pastries here are quite yummy! I've tried the pineapple mango almond croissant, strawberry choc almond croissant, Cream puff, chocolate apple monkey bread, chocolate croissant and herb bread. I think the most unique items are the first two almond croissants I mentioned and they are very large and tasty. The fillings are all quite light in the croissants, I wish there was a bit more. For the price I would say the Apple chocolate monkey bread is kind of underwhelming, the cream puff is pretty good, and the herb bread is good but not incredible. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Delicious coffee and bread. I wish my scone would have been warmed up... but it was still delicious

Hands down my favorite almond croissants- and I've only had them here today for the first time. I asked my brother, a San Francisco local foodie, "where do they have the best almond croissants?" He said probably here. He was beyond right. The bakery as soon as you walk in smelled amazing. There were lines to order and all the seats were taken. I wanted everything! (Savory turnovers and bread puddings. What!!). But I got what I came for and the result was beyond expected. As soon as you bite into the croissant, there's this incredible crunch and crisp as you bite deeper into each level. The middle is a little more saturated with the almond paste but the flavors are perfect. It's not very sweet and not at all bland- it just leaves you wanting more. For me, a good croissant entails of a good crisp (but not the crispy type that leaves your mouth hurting) and a good amount of sugar. I will so return for this bakery in the future. I've had my share of bakeries in San Francisco (bakery heaven?!?) but this is by far my favorite. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Almond croissant - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Possibly the best croissants in San Francisco. So flaky and messy in their buttery, well, flakiness. Yum. The almond and chocolate ones are good too but I love the plain ones. Cakes are tasty. Cookies are good. Really nothing is bad. Have yet to sample a salad or sandwich though I always intend I do so -- next time. I'm in love with their mochas. But today I went with a plain old cafe au lait. And it is exceptional in its creaminess. read more

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I think you are truly one of the best bakers in the city. Today I had a repeat of a very disconcerting situation. Again, one of your staff members over packed a small white bag with two croissants (in the bottom) two scones (in the middle ) and crammed a loaf of bread of chocolate bread at the top. Needless to say the croissants were crushed and the scones broken into pieces. Then his attitude was so unfriendly. It felt like he hated his job and was completely bothered by my presence. There was no one behind me. No excuses. As tasty as all your offerings are , I think we deserve better care for them. He needs a schooling. And for that, tips are requested at check out. I'm sad. read more

Delicious bakery items from pastries - croissants, scones and cookies to breads and desserts- all so good! If you're in SF, do not miss this place! read more

Desserts: 3/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Overall: id come back if I were in the area. The extended review... Desserts: Apple galette - standard in taste and a good layer of apple on the pastry. Rustic Berry tart - a standard tart. Crispy pastry and a good filling. Service: friendly and attentive staff. Ambiance: it's a nice neighborhood spot where people come to work and chat. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

Seems like things really improved around here from when I last wrote a review - the workers were still kind and patient with everyone in line and the last few times I have come back in, they just generally seemed happier, lots more (genuine-appearing) smiling, the food was looking good, the place smelled good, what I tried was moist and flavorful. Love the back patio option still. So relieved! read more

Lovely spot for pastries and baked goods. They have a cute and quiet little garden area in the back where you can enjoy your treats in a peaceful area, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Love their almond croissants paired with a cappuccino. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Tomato basil sandwich and cappuccino - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

Nice backyard. Croissant is just ok. I would go for the ambiance. Nothing wrong with the food, but there are better options out there.

My husband gets a loaf of fresh bread wherever he can and this was his favorite loaf of bread ever, including what we've gotten at farmer's markets, acme, whole foods, etc. It's surprising this place doesn't have more of a wait since we waited in line on the same day at Tartine forever and thought the pastries and bread here were much better! They have a cute little cafe garden in the back too. read more

CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA CROISSANT. 100/10!! Everything is fresh baked and so delicious. I wish I lived next to this bakery because I would literally come here every day if I could. The wedding cake cookies, raspberry croissant, chocolate bread, and quiches are to die for. Such a nice variety and crispness to all their pastries. Bakeries are so underrated and I absolutely love this one! read more

Ok, I just read this one review before I'm starting my own review of this place & I'm unpleasantly surprised to learn that they use day old croissants to make their almond croissants? Why? I've visited this place twice while I'm currently working in the area, and I think both visits were good. The pastries that I got were pretty yummy. 1st time I got the Almond Croissant & The Rustic in which I liked the Rustic more. Then 2nd time I got a Mocha, The Rustic, and Apple Frittata (?) in which I liked the Apple one more because it reminds me kinda like an apple pie. Overall this place is pretty rusticly cute, and it's cool they have a patio/backyard area for people to enjoy their pastry & coffee. read more

Many weeks later, I'm still dreaming of the savory scone I spontaneously got at Thorough Bread. You see, I usually find scones dry and tasteless, but there was something about this one that called my name. It made me want to give more scones a chance. (Or maybe I should continue to eat Thorough Bread scones only.) The space inside is pleasant. It's nice to be able to sit close to where the magic happens, and the display of breads and pastries is very inviting. There's an outside patio in the back that has almost as much seating as inside. It feels like a nice oasis in the middle of SF. read more

Nice coffee shop with a cute back patio! I stopped in here because their branding is so interesting (their sign looks like it was drawn by a four year old). I had a ham and cheese croissant, and my friend had a blueberry muffin. The baristas are really nice, and the coffee was good. I liked my croissant, and they even warmed it up for me. All the blueberries sank to the bottom of the muffin, but it was an otherwise tasty muffin. All in all, if you ever need a coffee and a pastry on Church Street, it's a good place to stop. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Ham and Ham & Cheese Croissant - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

The woman behind the counter was friendly and patient with my ordering since I just stood there in front of the cashier STARING at the pastries on display for the looongest time. Some of the staff at this bakery are students from the San Francisco Baking Institute. They have classic pastries and bread options as well as delicate looking miniature cake slices. I had the sun dried tomato and goat cheese scone which had a nice texture and good balance of flavors.Their gougeres are great too, but not cheesy enough for me. (the best ones I've had in SF is at La Folie Lounge) But the obvious standout here is their almond croissant: a light croissant that's big enough to satisfy your craving; topped with powdered sugar and sliced almonds. The generous layer of marzipan inside is a nice surprise! I wish it was more flakier, more butter next time please! I also tried their coffee which is served in a huge cup, full bodied and gave me the added caffeine jolt that I needed. I'd been here twice already and can't wait to come back to hang out in their back patio. However, don't EVER ask me to do the Paleo diet with you. I'll fail in an hour. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Almond croissant - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

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When I came into this pristine establishment, I feel like I should be banging two coconut halves like the gallant knights in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". But I guess they mean thorough breads, not thoroughbreds. Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop... Whoa!...Good horsey. I've been wanting to come in here for a while because it looks so inviting. But alas, they close at 7pm, just when I happen to be perusing Church Street for a nibble. Food...I mean food. Y'see, I had a bad Friday as I skipped lunch entirely due to a stressful work schedule. It was the kind of day where I needed a dessert before I had dinner...and then another dessert after dinner. Anyway, Jamie W. had the great idea of coming here after work before they closed. There weren't many baked selections left, but what was left looked good. We shared a $2.75 slice of Lemon Pound Cake that was effortlessly moist and not too lemony. We took it outside in the small patio in back. It was empty so we could hear the wind rustling through the leaves on top of the tall tree in the middle. It was only later that I found out the students of the San Francisco Baking Institute make all the goodies, so that explains the attention to detail and the flavorful results. The warm decor also helps with the Tuscan-and-brick walls and well spaced tables. I'll be back if I can get there before it closes, but I have to saddle up now. Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.... FOOD - 4 stars...superior baked goods, need to come back for their hearty-looking sandwiches AMBIANCE - 4 stars...warm, lofty appeal with a nice patio in the back SERVICE - 4 stars...ah youth...friendly, attentive students on staff TOTAL - 4 stars...a worthwhile stop on your way to Dolores Park...or if you had as bad a day as I had... read more

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I wanted to like this place! Really I did! Mainly because everyone else seemed to love it and I got super excited about coming here. But as it turned out, I was disappointed instead =( But Marti, they have good looking desserts! Yes, I agree. And they have good looking pastries as well. Unfortunately, no WOW factor for this girl. They all looked very typical. My friend and I each had the Pulled Pork sandwich. Something different. And we both enjoyed it. Ciabatta bread, pulled pork with tangy bbq sauce, mayo and pickles. Yes, pickles! The ciabatta bread was a good choice since it retained all the juice from pork, giving the sandwich a nice contrast of textures. Soft/soggy interior, crunchy exterior. Messy! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MTIqLOBdISaon4G22qb5Lg?select=1pzuaADgDzHd5cRd8KbTcQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MTIqLOBdISaon4G22qb5Lg?select=jyiRTGSQv3KNtCXHpi9_BA Simple green salad on the side. Nice! Drenched in balsamic vinegar dressing. Not nice! Ah. Time for dessert. Lemon Pound Cake. I've heard much about it. Also failed to impress me. My critique? Too much glaze. Too little lemon. It felt store bought. Very generic. Nothing spectacular. A hint of spice, or lemon zest would've made it so much better =( http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MTIqLOBdISaon4G22qb5Lg?select=hk-hZWdH7NGvc7Le1LHnzw read more

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