Knead Bakery Brings Knockout Bread and Pastries to Downtown San Diego | Eater San Diego

"As a new daytime cafe, I see it serving as a showcase for the pastry stylings of a veteran chef with 16 years in the industry: Adrian Mendoza, an Art Institute of California graduate with degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry who has held roles from lead pastry cook at Spago and assistant kitchen manager at Wayfarer Bread & Pastry to director of pastry for the Puffer-Malarkey Collective and pastry chef of the Urban Kitchen Group. Created in partnership with the University Club Atop Symphony Towers (the members-only club 34 floors above where Mendoza serves as executive pastry chef), the fast-casual spot is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a kitchen hand-shaping and baking baguettes, sourdough, bagels, and an array of croissants daily; the pastry case rotates seasonal baked goods—from gluten-free and vegan options to tarts and hand pies filled with local fruit. Morning offerings include breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches plus tea, coffee, and espresso drinks brewed with Talitha Coffee, a local roaster dedicated to supporting survivors of human trafficking, while later in the day Knead Bakery serves sandwiches like a BLTA on housemade broiche toast or turkey pesto on milk bread, along with salads and a seasonal soup of the day." - Candice Woo