So when two ladies are standing on the streets of San Francisco with a puzzled look on their faces, a couple of things can happen. Fortunately the best thing happened... a local walked over and asked if he could help. We were wandering around the Castro district trying to decide what to do next since the shops were starting to peter out. So rather than ask for directions to a particular place, I said, "Is there a good bakery around here?" He suggested a few nearby, but his personal favorite was clear. Thorough Bread. It was just a block off Market and the minute we walked in the door we knew we had a winner. It started with the whimsical loaf of decorative bread (imprinted with cupid and hearts for Valentine's Day). Then we might have done a collective sigh as we saw the pastry case. One chocolate dipped macaroon and a Napoleon later and we were two very happy girls. Our blissful visit contined on the back patio which is a completely relaxing spot assuming you can find a table. This place isn't overly fancy and didn't have the long lines of some other cafes we passed, but it was pleasantly busy. I think it qualifies as a neighborhood gem. If you happen to live in a really cool neighborhood. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Happy Valentine's Day! - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's really difficult to get a great cold veggie sandwich and this is the best I've had in SF. The bread was great, the sandwich was light and refreshing but also super filling. My wife had the pulled pork sandwich and she loved it as well. Definitely excited to go back and try the other sandwiches they have. read more

I would be 10 pounds heavier if I lived in the Castro neighborhood because of thorough bread! I wish I could've tried multiple items on my visit here ---almond croissant: love how this croissant is light since some almond croissants are dauntingly sweet to finish! Yumm ---espresso with cold soy milk: they don't offer iced drinks here so this was the closest I could get! NOTE: super cute hidden garden/patio area out back but all the tables were taken when we came so we sat on the sidewalk out front read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Almond croissant https://instagram.com/p/73OP9RM9xT/ - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stopped by the other day and got a croissant, cookie, and turnover. Everything was delicious and can't wait to go back for more. Cookie was soft and not overly sweet and the croissant was nice and flaky. I only wish the turnover was heated as it was cold and not as enjoyable. Service was friendly and store is clean and cute. read more

Thorough Bread and Pastry has the best smell. There was an outdoor seating area in the back with lots of people enjoying an afternoon snack surrounded by jolly yellow walls. The service was quick and friendly... AND I finally got my hands on some sourdough. I bought two sourdough loaves and one multigrain, which I smuggled on my plane home. My husband and I have been hacking into them for days and they are still really pleasant. I just love knowing they are in our kitchen. The world seems very small to me when I know that there are bread loaves from 2,000 miles away in my kitchen. Excellent service. I definitely recommend coming here in addition to Tartine and Craftsman & Wolves. read more

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Not gonna lie, for the price, this place is pretty bad. Lot of better bakeries in SF. The croissants were pretty dry and just weren't that battery. The morning bun cream wasn't really overflowing or anything either. read more

Sometimes, I feel like my work location is some type of test to see how much I can avoid adding to my waistline with all the great, local restaurants/stores in my vicinity. Thorough Bread got onto my radar when I was walking on Church St one day, and I've enjoyed their delectable pastries ever since. From their almond croissants to their macaroons, I've never been disappointed in their baked goods. Their croissants have a wonderfully flaky texture, and my only regret is that I limit myself to one sweet item at a time when I visit. I've also tried their espresso-based drinks and thought their coffee was great. The only thing limiting me from giving this place a 5-star review is that when I tried one of their sandwiches (the turkey bacon club), I thought it was fine but not quite up to the excellent standards of their pastries. I'll have to try their lunch menu in the future and see if this is a consistent thing with their main food items or if I just ended up choosing a less than perfect option. In any case, Thorough Bread is definitely one of my go-to's when I'm looking for something sweet in the neighborhood! read more

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WOW, Thorough Bread positively hit ALL of my 5 senses. It's gonna be difficult fighting back the urge to come back every single day... I totally understand the stellar reviews, but the deliciousness of their food is an understatement! SIGHT: Right when you enter, you can see their collection of bread and pastries neatly lined up for you to purchase. Everything looked amazing... I wanted to order all of it!!! It's a lovely coffee shop/patisserie/sandwich place. The decor gives you that rustic and homey feel, taking you back to your mother's or grandmother's kitchen. SMELL: Don't even get me started on the smell. The smell of fresh bread lingering throughout my entire 30 minute existence at the place can't accurately be put into words. Seriously, I'm not even mad that I still smell like bread. TASTE: I ordered the gougeres (amazing deal by the way), ham & cheese croissant, and chicken melt sandwich. All super tasty. They all had the right amount of flakiness and crisp that makes you wonder HOW?! TOUCH: The items that I ordered were soft and heated at the right temperature. Not greasy or oily like most pastry places. HEARING: Gosh, I love the customer service. Quick, friendly, and gets the job done! Note: Unfortunately, this place is not in downtown SF, so I can't just walk outside my office and it'll magically appear. However, you can take the muni metro to Church Station and it's literally 2 minutes away (walking distance). read more

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An excellent pastry place! Will definitely be coming back. Very flavorful, and a cool outdoor space to eat and relax!! Downfall - no cold brew and read more

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

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I love coming here every Sunday morning before church. It's affordable, reliable, and delicious. The pastries are all delicious- just try a new one every time you come in. You can also buy sandwiches and quiches if you want something more substantial. Even if there is a line, it goes by pretty quickly, and you can usually find a seat inside or in the patio in the back. I recommend getting anything that has "almond" in the name and you can't go wrong with anything that has fruit in it. At least I like to tell myself that I'm a little bit healthier that way. 5 stars. read more

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I can always trust TBP to bake delicious, buttery pastries. I ordered the huge lemon blackberry mousse cake ($38) for Father's Day. It can serve 10-12 people. Trust me, the price is worth it for this beautiful cake! The fruit and cream were so fresh, and the cake was perfect in its tartness. My father, a man of few praises for food, absolutely loved the cake. Thank you to TBP for baking the best cake for such a special occasion. I had walked into the bakery expecting to just pick up the cake and leave. Lo and behold, my sister and I walked out with three delicious pastries (cause we can't help it)! We got the jalapeño corn muffin, the bacon scone (a must have), and a pear newton (the more expensive relative of the fig newton). We left with happy stomachs. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Lemon blackberry mousse cake ($38) serves 10-12 hungry folks - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

Bakery and coffee shop near Duboce. Almond croissant - 4/5 - On 2013 7x7 list. Crunchy, flaky. Good taste on the frangipane. Could have used just a little more filling. Very good when warmed up. One of the better versions of the almond croissant in SF. Blueberry scone - 3/5 Overall, solid bakery. "I'm a fan. " read more

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

Those that know me know that I like to frequent bakeries and that I like gougeres. A good friend at work lived near this bakery and once brought me a few gougeres from Thorough Bread. I had not heard of this place at that time, so I thought he had gone to a horse show. A few minutes passed, and I polished them off. I tried to savor all four, because they're small, but leave some carbs on my desk and you're asking them to disappear. So naturally I paid Thorough Bread & Pastry a visit after that taste... and a couple more times after that. The childlike crayon logo is very charming. Gougeres - 4 for $2? 12 for $4.50? I'll take 2 dozen please. I'll serve them proudly on a plate and pretend they are homemade. Just kidding...kind of. A gougere is a cheese puff. Given the price and inconspicuous appearance, you wouldn't think much of them, but I found them to be executed well. The dough was light and puffy, with many pockets of air. The cheese and chive flavor was savory and well-balanced. Chouquettes - 4 for $2 Basically the sweet version of puff pastry, topped with a few specks of pearl sugar Cream Puffs - 3 for $3.50 A rather light cream puff with chocolate drizzled on top, also with pearl sugar. delightful Danish - $2.00 I had a blueberry and a cheese danish. Both were delicious and flaky with a glaze. The blueberry could have used more fruit filling. The cheese danish was just creamy and smooth. Almond Croissant - $3.50 This is an excellent croissant, super flaky and airy with generous almond paste on top and lots of almond slivers. I think it rivals some of the best almond croissants in the city. Apple Galette - $2.50 Very good apple tart. Thinly sliced apples baked on top of flaky pastry. There was a shiny, sweet glaze on top that added sweetness and was probably a good glue to keep the apple slices in place Chocolate Bread - $3.50 I didn't have high hopes for chocolate bread. I thought it would be dry, but it was pillowy inside with a nice outer crust. The best part was it was loaded with chocolate chips. Chocolate Chip Cookie - $1.50 Thin, crunchy cookie, also with plenty of choc chips Basil Mozzarella Sandwich - $7 The bread on the sandwich was excellent of course. The tomatoes & mozzarella tasted fresh. I love a good simple caprese sandwich, but I would have preferred it toasted. It seemed like they had just finished serving their morning crowd and didn't bother to ask us if we wanted it toasted. Oh well. It also came with some mixed greens. Thorough Bread has a lot of variety - pastries, fresh bread, cakes, sandwiches, etc. Grabbing a few things to eat and hanging out in their outdoor patio in the back is a good way to spend a sunny afternoon. Good work, SF Baking Institute! read more

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Great pastries, tasty coffee and awesome service! First off, the people working here were so friendly and easy to talk to. I was so glad they weren't pushy about hurrying my order with the line to the door. I ordered two vanilla lattes, two Easter macarons, a cranberry muffin, coffee cake and blueberry scones. Total came out to be just under $30 which isn't bad considering how much we ordered. The latte, macaron and muffin were delicious! I loved the flavor to the muffins with the slight hint of fruit! It was even tasty the day after. My boyfriend literally said "Mmmmm" when he ate the colorful macaron filled with chocolate ganache. Great service and tasty treats! I'd definitely come back again if in the area. read more

The almond croissant is OK: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/thorough-bread-and-pastry-san-francisco?select=DjDChZV4nYIS0sTtS7gd7g#DjDChZV4nYIS0sTtS7gd7g The inside is a little too dense and mealy; I prefer a version that is light/flaky/crispy. It's a bit overhyped. read more

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

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No question. I am a pastry fiend. I will go to the ends of the earth to find and eat good pastry. I appreciate the talent involved in creating fine pastry. And I adore the finesse of how artisans decide how to assemble various ingredients that result in delicious pastry goodness. That said. I really like Thorough Bread's almond croissant. It's loaded with almond. Like literally, if I put it on a scale the scale would probably tip over. It's not overly sweet - which is annoying because in the morning on a fresh palate you don't want to go overboard and get sugared out so that you have a sugar drop quickly after you stop eating. Each bakery I like has certain high points which I will always come back for. For me, the almond croissant at TB is it. read more

SO cheap, and so delicious -- Here are my two favorites: 1. almond croissants: these ARE, in fact, to die for. pulled perfectly apart, you can see all the thin soft doughy layers, yet you can enjoy perfectly browned crusty outside corners of these tasty pastries. perfectly sweet, not overwhelmingly sugary. we got these warm, EXTRA points 2. olive bread: gigantic fresh meaty olives inside crusty bread. SO good. Highly recommended and my mouth is watering as I write this review, definitely DEFINITELY coming back. read more

Thorough Bread & Pastry - Almond croissant so good- flaky and perfectly buttery and fluffy - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

The quiche is good enough, and so are the gougere puffs. It's usually a second choice lunch spot, when other quiche options run out. Service is friendly but don't expect the extra mile here - they can't leave the register for long. There's a decent patio in the back, shaded by trees, but beware of the pigeons! They lurk. read more

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

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This update has been years in the making. Thorough Bread has become part of my routine during the pandemic, and having such friendly folks to see a few times a week meant a lot to me. Thanks, friends! Oh, and the Turkey Club is so delicious (try it on baguette) and they sell cookie dough now! read more

Great stuff.... super yummy offerings... super stop-off for a snack and a coffee to tie me over with all that walking in the Mission... The coffee I ordered came from a carafe hot air thingy, and when served me, it was tepid and obviously been in there for a while. I didn't have the heart (later I chastised myself, thinking, "You paid for it.. you could have had them brew a fresh pot!) Gougeres were nice, and the toasted bostock brioche was also done well. Nice little find as I made my way to Lower Haight. I think the folks here have a jewel of a cafe and bakery here! read more

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Came in here and purchased 4 pieces of the cheddar and chive gougeres for $2! It reminded me of profiteroles cause they were hollow inside and the same size if not smaller! A snicker doodle (delicious and my favorite of the 3 items) and double chocolate chip cookie $1.50 ea. I wouldn't drive all the way back here but if I'm in the area I would definitely come for another snicker doodle. read more

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Our go-to bakery and cafe. All the soups and sandwiches are amazing, and there's no words for the bread. Probably the best croissants in the American continent. read more

This is a very good coffee/bakery place. There's indoor and outdoor patio seating in the back. Staff is nice. There's a good selection of pastries and breads...cost seems to be around $4 for a pastry. From looking at the items in the display area, they may not seem that good, but they actually are. I tried the pumpkin pastry and a berry pastry. Both were extremely flaky, but in the good way...soft and fresh. The flavor wasn't the strongest, nor the sweetest, so sugar content shouldn't be much of a worry. The drip coffee was alright, nothing special. read more

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What a little gem! It's the kind of place where if you didn't already know it, you wouldn't just stop by - it has a slightly convoluted entrance and I've literally walked by dozens of times without realizing it's a pastry shop - that also has the cutest backyard... It has a really chill and neighborhoody vibe. On the afternoon when we went there, the entire backyard was filled with older people who've clearly been coming here for decades, playing chess, chatting with their friends. It was shaded and quiet, with lots of green, there were even a few tiny fruits dropping from the tree above us. My heart slowed down there. Oh also I, got one of the best almond croissants I've had there! Been back a few time already and hoping this pandemic can pass soon so I can come back and hang out in the backyard again. Highly recommend. read more

Went around 10am on a Saturday morning and it wasn't too busy! A few parties enjoying the outside dining area which was nice. We tried the chocolate banana almond croissant and the ham and cheese croissant. CBA croissant was delicious! I wish there were more chocolate but in the bites that had chocolate, it was very fulfilling. The ham and cheese was good/different. Everyone seems to rave about the almond croissant so we might add that to the list next time we go back! read more

Delicious pastries. Lovely patio. Plethora of savory coffees and teas, etc to chose from.

First of all, this place smells amazing. We arrived before 8:00am and there were already a few patrons waiting outside. We had a late dinner the previous night so I was really just wanting a cup of coffee. Once inside, I couldn't resist. I ordered a small Rustic Fruit Tart and J ordered a Stick Bun, which they warmed upon request. They also have a nice selection of cookies, sweets and rustic breads. Yum. To top it off, I had accidentally left my bag with wallet and phone handguns on my chair. We were on a morning walk and I didn't even miss it until we stopped in a store over an hour later. I called Thorough Bread and having seen I left it, placed it in the back office until I returned. Phew! Thank you!! read more

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

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Delicious fresh baked croissants. Unbelievably good. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. Vast variety of sweet and savory baked goods. Well worth a visit. Enjoy. read more

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An incredible.mix of old school and new school love. This is more than a bread shop, one stop plop! This place has greaaaaat breakfast and amazing coffee. The deserts are slap your mama good too! read more

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

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Exceptional pastries at more than reasonable prices. Plus their tip screen has 5% as one of the options, as opposed to the minimum $1.00 most places use. Sometimes you can get this huge chunk of chocolate bread for $5.00. I salute you, Thorough Bread & Pastry -- you have restored my faith in San Francisco cafes. read more

Great croissant. Good sandwich. Decent quiche... Service had a friendly face. I went in one day after coming in here a few times. I'd been heavy into the reading I was doing and this place was great for a savory bite and a coffee some mornings. The dude behind the counter, must have been 20 or so, just smirked at me contemptuously. I looked at him. He stared back with his mouth open. No greeting. I ordered my coffee, a quiche, and a croissant, all heated up. He arrived a minute later with the croissant and slammed it down on my table. He delivered the quiche in much the same fashion. The plate quite literally clattered and bounced off the table. Now, I sat there for the few minutes to register what had happened. There had been no communication except for my handing him the money. He all but threw quiche on the table. I wasn't hungry anymore. I had been mistreated by the service staff, for what reason I could only guess. Some people have bad days. When I leave my food behind without eating it I don't usually return. Maybe he's proud of himself in his little way. Sad case for me and this place. read more

I was going to an urban hike starting from Delores Park this Sunday morning (11/8/20), so I decided to do some research to explore a new bakery beforehand. This place was rated really high on Yelp, and I have never been, so I decided to try it. First of all, I arrived around 9:30 am, but there was already a line. I actually had to wait around 15 minutes outside. There were no 6-ft separation markers on the ground, but people did try to wait with sufficient separation from each other. Inside was quite large, but only 2 parties are allowed at a time. There was a separate "window" for pre-order pickup with no lines. I should probably look into that for next time - although it said you have to order 2 DAYS AHEAD of time... The food - OK, I think I got a little carried away in getting the pastries, but I rationalized it as buying things also for my lunch on Monday. :) I purchased: Almond Croissant, Chocolate Banana Croissant, Ham and Cheese Croissant, and Mushroom (and Garlic, I think) Danish. I was ambivalent about the Chocolate Banana Croissant. It was shaped more like a chocolate croissant, which I don't like too much because it tends to have the wrong ratio of croissant to chocolate (read: too little chocolate filling for the croissant). The server sold it by informing me that it has real sliced bananas inside. It was OK - not enough banana for my liking. The Almond Croissant was better in terms of the ratio, but drier. I noticed that this place actually slices the croissant to put the almond paste inside. I think it contributed to the drier overall texture. The Ham and Cheese Croissant was good and soft because it was just baked, but a little too heavy on cheese not enough ham for my taste. My favorite here, interestingly, was the Mushroom Danish. It was quite tasty with sufficient mushrooms and garlic "paste" underneath. The service - My server was friendly enough. She seemed pleased that this was my first visit to the place. She did not give me any recommendations on what to get, however - just said I have chosen all good stuff (I presume popular items). The Ham and Cheese Croissant shelf space was empty in the glass counter, but I asked her if there were any, and in fact there were - probably just baked. Although it was one of the last things I ordered, the Ham and Cheese was placed on the bottom of all the pastries for some reason. Well, the hike was very easy, so I didn't end up eating any of them on the hike. This meant I was carrying all from the beginning to the end in my backpack. When I got back home, I was dismayed to find that my Ham and Cheese Croissant made the bottom of the bag ooze with grease, and worse yet was all smushed by the weight of the pastries on top (see photo). This probably happened because it was still warm and therefore outside was not hard enough to withstand the weight. So sad... :( I just wished the server took care to place the warm croissant on top. Luckily, the taste wasn't affected too much, though. Oh, and one more complaint! I usually get iced coffee/cold brew for a hike, but this place had NO iced coffee! I had to stop at another store a couple of stores down to get it. read more

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Cute place with a great Garden!! Lovely selection of pastries. The almond croissant is very good (not overly sweet) and the baguette is just outstanding... it was all I could do, not to run to Whole Foods and grab some fresh cheese... I was disappointed by the ham and cheese croissant though maybe it's better when warm? read more

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Great to have strong totally delish coffee & scone with a ton of blueberries!!! Yay just what Sunday morning needed. Thank you and all super tasty. read more

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Chocolate banana almond croissant-- blew my mind. I usually stick to plain croissants because I don't love when the flavors are too sweet, but by some small miracle even though it was sweet it wasn't *too* sweet and still had enough classic buttery croissant goodness to just totally enchant me. Also got the brown sugar chocolate chip cookie which mostly fell apart in the bag... so that was a bummer and a total mess to eat. Flavor was fine, but not the best. Croissant over cookie in a heartbeat. read more

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This cafe is growing on me. I like walking here for a cup of Cafe au lait $3.00 and a delicious baked Rustic fruit tart or quiche in the morning before hitting the 24 hour fitness gym around the corner. This place brings in the crowd about 8:00 am but many of the patrons do not dine in so lots of tables to be had. The pastry selection on display will surely drive the dieters mad unless they have very good self control. I surely don't so I eat what I want, in moderation, of course. read more

ALMOND CROISSANT Wow, definitely haven't had a pastry this good in a while, the croissant was both crispy on the outside, yet lightly fluffy and buttery on the inside, not soggy with the oils at all! The almond paste an top was also lightly sweet and a little crisp on the outermost layer and coconut-paste-like (in a gaimeibao) right underneath. Definitely coming back if a want a quick pastry read more

Had the turkey club sandwich the other day and have contradictory feelings toward it. The bread was the highlight but there was too much of it. Like 60% of the sandwich was bread, making it unwieldy and a bit doughy. But the bread was very good! So you end up kinda picking some out to make the sandwich manageable and then eating the bread you picked out anyways. read more

Updated post Sept 21. Sad to report I stop by this morning and decided not to buy anything. The Almond Croissants looked over cooked, almost burnt. Why are they serving these?? The quiche was flat and looked watery in the middle. I didn't think of it, but I should have taken pictures. Might try again, not sure. Such a great place going down hill. If it closes, it will join the fate of other places because the food isn't good anymore. I really hope they can turn this around. We will miss them. Original post for Sept 15th. I really don't want to write this review. This place has been one of our favorite, regular Saturday and Sunday morning routines since they opened. Was a much better alternative to Tartine. But, these past few months something has gone terribly wrong. There is no consistency in the bakery. Almond croissants, which used to be awesome, are sometime over cooked and all dried out and other times soggy and overstuffed with the filling. The quiche lately has been flat and not browned. It's like the pastry chef isn't paying attention to things. The delicate balance of mixing the ingredients and cooking things with the timing just right just isn't there. There has been a lot of staff turnover. Only 2 women servers left that have been there for a while. We don't recognize the pastry chefs anymore. One women, who we thought might be one of the owners, was so good. You could tell she really cared. The new servers need some serious training. They use the prongs like vice grips. They grab the pastry with such force they smash the center, and they stuff them into the bag or box. No awareness on what they are doing nor what these will look like when we go to serve them. We really hope they can find themselves. We'll try again, but maybe only one more time. read more

Good pastries and very good bread and coffee. Also lunch sandwiches have been excellent. Service is always friendly and prices are reasonable for SF. Clientele seems to be mostly from the neighborhood and laid back. Hours could be longer especially during the weekends, and I would love to go in on Mondays that are holidays. But I understand people need their "weekend" off even if it was Mon-Tue! read more