Baker & Commons

“ What a great local gem that's obviously one of the worst kept secrets. Great selection of your coffee drinks but the baked goods look fantastic! Also reasonably priced and service with a smile. ”

“ Baker and Commons is the kind of spot that earns its line out the door... and honestly, it's worth the wait. The buttermilk biscuits are a must, especially with the butter and daily jam (raspberry today which happens to be my favorite). As someone with UK family, I'll just say these are the closest thing to a proper scone I've had in California. I also had the shakshuka, which was rich and flavorful, though I do wish it came with more bread. The real star, though, was the mocha. Probably the best I've ever had... get the large if you're planning to stay awhile. Despite the crowd, the staff kept things moving and friendly. The space feels casual and cozy with that signature Berkeley buzz. Great prices, great food, great vibe. A no-brainer for brunch. ”

“ Yum! Whenever I am in Berkeley I try to stop by Baker and Commons. It gives small-town vibes in the best way possible with friendly staff and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. They have great mochas and delicious house-made biscuits. Their caesar salad is pretty good too. Highly recommend! ”

“ I only have great things to say about this place. I usually come for the freshly made baked goods, and I decided to come for the food. From the 2 dishes I got, I think I would still stick to their goodies at the counter. Going to try other dishes still though! Service is great, you order at the counter and take your name tag to the table and they bring the food out. Quaint spot but so lively with families and students. ”

“ Wow. Just wow. Best coffee I've had in ages. Excellent bitter kick. Ordered tiramisu and it was perfect. Well priced for college Ave as well. Though staff is nice, line was quite long -- expect to wait. Crowder and bustling but, for me, this made me feel more "part of it" than "too crowded." Would highly recommend. ”

“ Outstanding hours and interior spaces - good desserts and ok pricing. I love the hours of this bakery. I actually was looking to go to Nabolom but they close at 2pm on most days - this conveniently is right next door. I can't tell you how much I appreciate a place like this open late - its casual and perfect for visiting with friends. A bar area available too for mingling if your dining solo. Good desserts - but for almost every dessert I saw room for improvement. To start with mango pannacotta had 1/4'' of water on top. Probably wasn't too fresh and was way too sweet. I get these in Little Italy in SF and was shocked by how sweet it was. Owners need to try what they serve at Stellas - not saying its the more authentic way but this was super sweet. The chocolate cream pie had a delicious rich flavor and texture and the crust flavorfully toasty but the crust was soggy. On this dessert I would blind bake the crust add a thin layer of melted chocolate to the crust and then fill in the chocolate cream. Leave off the bits of chocolate on top - doesn't add anything the way a layer of chocolate between the layers would to keep things from getting soggy the next day. Blueberry bread pudding was ok - but it was one big clump like it always is. I hate to say it but this dessert could be so much better if it was two layers - one layer of bread and one layer of pudding - its so easy - I make better bread pudding at home myself and am a novice. The tiny $1 almond pastry was perfect. If I had a cup of coffee and a few of those it would be 10/10. Maybe if you got this far just do that. ”

“ We ordered pastrami sandwich and tiramisu. 11/10 for both. A bit pricy but it's worth it! Nice spot to catch up with friends or go on a little date. Quite busy so not great for studying or reading. Line moves quite fast. ”

“ The first time I passed by this shop with my son he explained that there is always a line outside. My wife and I came here for some breakfast and surprise... there was a line outside. Now I know why. Only one person taking orders and people deciding what they wanted when they got to the front of the line. My wife and I were no different. There was so much on display that we could not decide what we wanted to do. They have an extremely friendly team who walked us through the process of ordering, taking a seat and waiting for our food. I did get a cup of their excellent coffee to wait with. We found a comfortable seat and waited (just a few minutes for our food.) The egg sandwiches (see photos) were amazing... Fresh eggs with either fresh bacon or sausage on these incredible biscuits. These were truly delicious and a treat. My wife and I enjoyed it all so much. The cinnamon muffin was awesome. This is such a great spot for both the locals and visitors. A cozy spot to hang at with friends and enjoy some really good food [and coffee.] We are definitely looking forward to our next visit. KUDOs to the team at Baker & Commons. ”

“ This place is amazing!! Located in the heart of Elmwood, Baker & Commons is a neighborhood staple. Their coffees all come with two shots of espresso, and they have a rotating menu of baked goods that smell and look incredible. They also have a menu of food for their sit-down restaurant, including a soup of the day. The restaurant itself is on a corner lot. It gets great sun and has some outdoor seating. You can pick up a free postcard at the register with a beautiful watercolor painting of the restaurant on it (perfect to put up on your fridge!). The coffee is excellent. The double shot of espresso is tasty. I've had both iced and hot coffees from Baker & Commons, and I loved them both. The iced latte I had did not taste watered down, which is a huge plus. I also tried some baked goods: a slice of pear cake with a salted maple frosting, a savory scone with sun-dried tomato and herbs, and a slice of coconut almond cake. Genuinely so good! And I'm not even a dessert person! The people who work here are extremely friendly and will strike up a conversation with customers, regardless of the length of the line. The restaurant has a very homey feel. I'll definitely be returning! ”

“ Stopped in on a whim and they had one item in the bakery that's gluten free and vegan... it was a red berry (strawberry or raspberry jam bar, I was too excited and hungry lol. The bar was hands-down one of the best oat bars I've had. The crust and oat crumb was a perfect balance of juicy jam and streusel. Not overly sweet. I can't wait to go back. Helpful staff and a very large indoor dining room, come and plan to stay and visit with friends or get some work/studying done. ”