A Baker's Wife

Citysearch Editorial Review

by Molly Priesmeyer at Citysearch

Mom and pop bakeries used to be a dime a (baker’s) dozen. But since back before every neighborhood corner bakery that catered to sweet tooths and sweet hearts was replaced by big chains or gas stations, A Baker’s Wife has been a destination spot for folks from all over the Twin Cities looking for a good cinnamon roll, powdered donut, cheese Danish, peanut butter cookie and all things mouth-watering. A Baker’s Wife still keeps it old-school: Signs are hand-written and posted all over the display cases; Post-It notes decorate the kitchen in plain view; the counter area, often filled with canisters and sprinkled treats and tacked-up notes, has accumulated years of recipes and ideas and collector’s items, like every good bakery should. And the small, charming space is almost always lined with sugar-dusted smiling faces.

11/13/09

So Rude

by customer29 at Citysearch

Despite the good pastries, I have never been made to feel so small by workers in a restaurant, on TWO separate occasions. These workers had no concept of customer service or even common courtesy, and I couldn't even get Gary--the owner to call my back about it. It's a shame I will never go back to that bakery. I will drive further and pay more to be treated with respect. And I encourage more people to speak up about bad customer service there. Maybe eventually Gary will fire the offenders and I can visit again.

• Pros: pastries
• Cons: customer service

11/13/09

Delicous!

by jhatler at Citysearch

The scones are excellent, huge, and inexpensive - especially compared to what is served at the coffee store chains.

Can't get enough of the cake donuts!

Friendly staff, good smells, warm environment

• Pros: high quality, reasonable cost
• Cons: we didn't know about it until recently

05/27/09

Most amazing...

by amstapp at Citysearch

I've been to the bakery a number of times and loved everything I ate. Seriously. HUGE cinnamon rolls, cookies, doughnuts. But life got better - I have the good fortune of working with someone who is good friends with Gary. We work in a bookstore and every Sunday, Gary brings us whatever is leftover from the day - whether it's cake donuts, holiday cookies, chocolate croissants, pecan pie, cherry cheese danishes, you name it. I can tell you that every single thing he's brought is delicious and amazing, even day old. The chocolate croissants had me and two other co-workers moaning, no joke.

• Pros: Chocolate croissants

02/10/09

Excellent Excellent Excellent!!

by cres00022 at Citysearch

We have hired Gary numerous times to make cakes for our wedding on other parties. Every time I am impressed by how moist and delicious they are! I would HIGHLY recommend a visit to meet this man who clearly loves his work and while you are there, try one of the many fresh pastries! You won't be disappointed!

• Pros: great food, fun staff, cozy atmosphere
• Cons: small store with limited seating

02/01/09

You can smell the deliciousness from the street!

by knutson5 at Citysearch

As soon as we got out of the car we could smell the yummy treats waiting for us. When we walked in we saw thick buttery frosting smothered on huge cinnamon rolls! The chocolate snowballs were the size of a softball and covered with smoothly shaved chocolate. We also saw the light and crispy shell of a chocolate croissant. There were about 20 items to choose from. The guy who helped us was super friendly, was great about answering our questions and making sure our frosting didn't get smudged in the bag. We tried five different things and they were all amazing... but the American Teacakes were addicting! They are a flaky, yet moist ,caramel-like treat like you've never had. This place is a gem.

• Pros: Quaint, friendly, gold standard baked goods
• Cons: Kind of a small place... no strudel

12/31/08

Inviting cozy bakery with a buttery delicate mouthwatering strudel

by Chublis at Citysearch

The delicate warm strudels will woo you for life and the teacakes are lovely. Once you have experienced their pastries you'll get that unreasonable giddy feeling walking through the door (or maybe it's just me), you know the kid in the candy store feel...... The Baker's Wife is warm, inviting, cozy, unpretentious and certainly worth the trip from any corner in the city.

12/23/08

The Perfect Bakery

by Coco135 at Citysearch

Absolutely the BEST chocolate mousse cake in the world. Everytime I have ever served one at a gathering it has been devoured with gusto. The rich creamy frosting, lovely moist layers and joyful (completely fun and over the top wonderful) decorations have everyone oohing and ahhing. If you love chocolate and want to have a fabulous indulgent memorable dessert, this cake is it! This is hands down one of the top three bakeries ever. It's quirky and unique interior, neighborhood feel and wonderful staff are an asset to the area and the city. The butter flake rolls are a holiday must and the breads are wonderful. The lemon bars and brownies are worth the calories. Go and enjoy and be glad they're not cookie cutter perfect. Viva La Bakers Wife!

• Pros: Delish, delightful, unique, quirky, one of a kind.

12/16/08

Why go anywhere else?

by MSPgal at Citysearch

Just walk by the front door and smell how wonderful this place is. Best part, when you order iced coffee - they have coffee ice cubes!

• Pros: Best Bakery in the Twin Cities
• Cons: They aren't open 24/7

12/08/08

let them eat their own cake 'cause i'm not gonna do it again

by surlymonkey at Citysearch

i thought i'd try this bakery, new to me, based on the rave reviews i found online. their pastries looked just fine and tasty, but cake seems to be something they cannot do. i ordered a basic 8" chocolate cake and what i got was something to behold. it seemed to be made up of (day+ old) scraps of cake that were put together with the filling used as an adhesive or mortar - think asymmetrical cake sculpture. the piping and miscellaneous candies stuck atop the cake smacked of a preschooler's baking project. i was optimistic that the taste would make up for the presentation, but sadly that was not the case. the chocolate had a strange aftertaste and the cake was quite dry. i was highly disappointed and still wonder how something so simple could go so awesomely wrong.