Stan L.
Yelp
A "batard" is French for "short loaf of bread having an oval or oblong shape" and not "born of parents not married to each other; illegitimate".
Okay, now that you know what a batard is, you can probably figure out what this joint specializes in. Their bread, pastries and cakes are baked fresh daily in the back of the store. Everything for sale is beautifully displayed on the front counter. You line up, select your items and pay. You can also order daily soups, sandwiches and entrees, although you will need to wait a while for them to be prepared. If you choose to eat in, it is advisable that you or your party find seats while or soon after you pay. Seating is limited, and a lot of guests will monopolize a table for hours. So, if a table opens up, quickly stake your claim.
Prices are quite steep, especially for some pastries. For example, for the price of one croissant, you can sometimes get a dozen at Superstore or Safeway. But, the pastries are fresh and lovingly crafted.
Soups are good; I quite like the carrot-ginger soup they have. And, my favorite two items are the orange cinnamon bun and breakfast sandwich. The breakfast sandwich is made in a rather interesting way: a slice of bread is covered with ham, cheese is arranged to form a little partition where a freshly-cracked egg is deposited. Everything is heated in an oven and the cheese and egg melts over the ham and bread to create a cheesy crust that tastes amazing.
They also serve coffees and teas, but the competition in this area is fierce, and there are much better coffee shops up the street. Come here for the pastries.
It's fun to say "batard". But, it's just as good to eat a batard.