Besalu

Small, neighborhood bakery. There is usually a line outside the door, but it goes quickly. There are benches outside for waiting and for eating, and a few tables inside as well. Their croissants are some of the best in Seattle. They're buttery and flaky and have beautiful layers. We also tried the onion gruyere croissant. It was chocked full of flavor-- the onions were perfectly caramelized and the cheese was slightly crispy on top.

A tiny cute bakery. There are small round tables inside, outside has benchs, a few tables and stools. Parking may little tricky since they locates on a big road. Small celections but they keep baking so that they restock their products pretty often. We were there on Sunday around 10 am. Busy and already a line of people. We got 2 quiche, 2 pastries and a cup of chai. Cardamom pretzel was amazing. Quiches were ok. We would like to try their other pastries for next time.

"Oh snap!" is all I can say. Had a croissant with bacon and it's a good thing I was sitting down. Buttery? Check! Flaky? Check! Light and fluffy? Check! Check! My day was done after eating this bit of heaven. Do yourself a favor if in Ballard and get a bunch of these to share with friends.

Googled coffeshop and Besalu popped up.. I mentioned they had great reviews and this was my first time in. I ordered a beautiful machinations and the Barista gave me a chocolate croissant on the house! I highly recommend this place . Great customer service and coffee and awesome customer service!

Worth the wait! They have a large selection of unique, delicious pastries that are well priced. I had the pistachio croissant and it was fantastic! There’s indoor and outdoor seating and the food is packaged nicely for take-away, as well. You can buy whole bean coffee in addition to your typical coffee drinks. A must visit and conveniently located near the farmer’s market!

I came here on a cloudy Sunday and ordered a Pain au Chocolat after a few minutes of waiting. I like the slight bitterness of the chocolate with the crispy layers of the croissant. Worth waiting in a line for this.

A little bit disappointed after reading all the rave reviews. As of now, they will only accept orders via the online system, which is fine and all. However, it takes about 25 minutes for the order to be ready after placing it online. I arrived at the store unknowingly and placed the order online; I had to wait 25 minutes before the order was ready even though there were no lines at the store and there were two other smaller orders being prepped while I was there. All I ordered was one croissant, two slices of lemon bread, and one muffin - which were all already present at the glass display. I'm not sure why it took 25 minutes with 3 employees at the front. Moreover, a lot of the pastries were sold out by 12 PM. The process was so inefficient that I saw other customers leave after seeing that they had to wait so long. Furthermore, only the croissant was decent. The other pastries I ordered were not memorable and the taste was subpar (lemon bread and blueberry/lemon muffin thing) - quite bland, to be honest. For the inconvenient wait time and inefficient ordering system, you can have better pastries elsewhere within a couple steps away.

This place is pretty close to my place and it seems very recommended. So I gave it a try and it was really pleasant visit. I really like the quiche and the sweet pastry too. Would like to make another visit to try the other menu here :)

My Ballard friend and I were gushing about our love of bread when she mentioned Tall Grass Bakery. I slept on her recommendation for a few months and finally went today. Do not be like me. Do not wait to go here. We arrived a little after 9 to see a few people in front of us. We got inside and there's barely room for two people to stand and see what's available. They were stocked with breads of all kinds and some breakfast items. I was expecting a little table to eat outside, but they didn't have one. Honestly I'm fine with it, they can stay focused on making delicious bread. The muffins had the perfect texture and taste while being light and airy. There was a ginger coconut scone which hit the flavors exactly as I wanted. THE REAL WINNER - the baguette. Crack this open and add some salty butter and there's nothing else you'll want of life. This is the best baguette I've ever had and the reason I'll be returning.

Great little bakery in Ballard that we tried for the first time. The bakery itself is super small, with room for only 2-3 people inside. It's a no frills type of place so this isn't somewhere to come and sit and have a pastry as there is no seating area, but the baked goods themselves were delicious. We tried the cinnamon roll with raisins, walnut sticky bun, pretzel bun and chocolate ginger scone. All were delicious. The prices were also very reasonable with most small items costing $5 or less. The staff was friendly, and although the line was multiple people out the door, it goes fast. The selection of pastries/sweets was decent, but their selection of loaves and bread types was impressive and the star of this place. If we lived closer, I would likely being buying weekly loaves there.

I love this little local bakery! Their breads are made fresh daily and feature a a variety of whole grains and ancient grains. They also make rotating types of pastries which are yummy. The staff are always very friendly and service is quick. Unfortunately it is just a grab and go place, there is no room to sit down inside. It is easy to miss this little place tucked away on busy 24th Ave, but if you are in Ballard be sure to pop in! They also sell some other products like granola.

I stopped by during a walk in the area. I was drawn in by the delicious-looking items inside. And they lived up to their looks! I got a walnut pecan sticky bun, cinnamon roll, and the oat and honey loaf. Everything was extremely tasty. It's a small shop but there are tons of options. I was there late in the afternoon and there were still a lot of items on the shelves (see photo). I'll be back to try some other items soon!

Bought a seeded baguette here for my mom she loved it! I think there was a hint of sourdough flour which made it taste better. Goes really well with a nice butter.

Looking for morning coffee and saw this basket that has great ratings on Yelp. The ginger coconut scone I got was really great. I love the texture of the coconut and candied ginger. Loved it. We also got the salted pretzel. Enjoyed that this bakery offered unique choices not found at other bakeries. Wish they had coffee, but maybe in the near future.

A plus vegan scones! Worlds best muffins! Sliced loafs Okay! One cookie per day keeps the doctor away!

My friend is a regular at this neighborhood bakery and always raves about their bread, and I can see why. We decided to try their vegan plum scone, and it definitely lived up to the hype. A delightful treat in a charming bakery!

I almost don't want to write about them, because I don't want more people to know about them. LOL. Located a bit away from the core of downtown Ballard, we didn't discover them until only recently. Immediately, I felt it was different. Think old school bakery where you can see the action in the back; ovens, inventory, tables, tools are all in view. I loved it immediately! Loafs and loafs of ancient grain looking type of breads are on display. I was lucky that the cashier that day is the owner, and she happily told me about all her organic flours and traditional baking methods. I am in love. If only I can handle more carbohydrates. We walked away with a pumpernickel loaf and our now die-hard-favorite - the fougasse pretzel. Love! We have since tried other items, but our heart belongs to the fougasse.

We got the: chocolate brioche $4 ginger coconut scone $4 Salt and seed pretzel $4 (chewy and not bad) challah $8 Overall the baked goods were okay. The challah was a little too burned on the top.

Delicious bread!!! Loved it. Fast service despite the line. Bakery ambiance :) you can see you bread baking

Love love love this neighborhood bakery. Guaranteed you'll wait in line on the weekend but cannot emphasize how worth the wait is! The people who work here are also incredibly friendly and patient bunch. Their baguette is next to none in the city and it is my go-to to make my banh mi. Their various boules are beyond words! I especially crave the cherry and walnut loaf - I get the half loaf and it is the perfect amount for a small family for a few days. Best yet, after you get your breads for the week, you can popover next door (Besalu) to get your breakfast pastries for the day!

Great Bakery for the best local made bread and homemade-low sugar granola. I go here all the time to pick up something to go with soup night dinner.

Family and friends are new this neighborhood. I thought gift cards from this bakery would be great gifts. I emailed 3 different times, and called four different times before I finally reached someone. She said come into the store. I said I live out-of-state. She hung up. I've tried this sporadically for maybe 1.5 years. Yes, I'm patient and wanted to buy from their local businesses. Finally went elsewhere. One star because I can't give zero.

Can't believe I haven't written a review about Tall Grass my go to neighborhood bakery for bread. Learned the hard way to always make sure and call reserve loafs for Christmas. Should've picked my baguettes up in the morning cause the line was a little long at 11:30am. Serving is always friendly and baked goods are fresh! Added a sticky bun and cinnamon roll for Christmas eve dessert with dad. For those that don't like raisins there is that option as well.

Tried to walk in and a customer closed the door in our face. We opened the door and asked why he slammed the door in our faces. He said, in the snottiest way, for my safety can you wait outside. The cashier tried to back track for him and say it was because of COVID. Well why wasn't he wearing a mask then? He just didn't like the way we looked apparently. I guess a pregnant woman and her husband are a threat. I have never been treated so poorly by a mean customer and let it happen by staff. I will NEVER give them my business.

Always great service and quality bread. Especially the potato bread for lunch sandwiches'

Picked up some sourdough which was delicious. Helpful staff answered my questions, I appreciated the longer hours than expected. Nothing to complain about. It was refreshing to not be asked for a tip on the credit card machine. I hope they raise prices slightly in lieu of that so they get some tips.

Tall Grass Bakery is a Seattle institution that has been serving up some of the city's most exceptional baked goods. From the moment you step into this unassuming bakery, you know that you're in for a treat. The aroma of fresh bread fills the air, and the cases are lined with a mouth-watering selection of pastries and breads. The bakery is committed to using only the highest-quality ingredients, resulting in bread that is crusty and chewy and pastries that are flaky and buttery. But Tall Grass Bakery isn't just about the food - it's also about the experience. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, always ready to offer recommendations or answer any questions. The bakery has a warm and inviting atmosphere. If you're a fan of exceptional baked goods, then you owe it to yourself to visit Tall Grass Bakery.

We're particularly fond of their cherry pumpernickel -- it's not always available, and for two people, a half loaf is plenty -- it's a heavy bread and a little goes a long way. We like several of their other breads, and are also fond of some of their scones - the ginger scones in particular. We originally discovered them at the Madrona Farmer's Market, but in recent times with COVID, we've had to make the trek to Ballard to the bakery. They have limited days and hours, and can have a line, so check that out (and order in advance if you know what you want) before going.

There are a few requirements for great bread. It has umami from long fermentation and excellent ingredients. The crust has to be crispy, chewy, but not tough. The crumb (the insides or the body) will be different depending on the type of bread it is. But it must always be substantial even when very open, and it must be chewy and tasty. Tall Grass Bakery makes IMHO the best bread in town. It's a bakery, not a cafe, so don't expect seating or service. You come in, buy a loaf, or two, or three, and enjoy them at home. Unfortunately, the last time I visited, the oven was down for the count. So, no bread..... but the baker gave me a free loaf of Pain au Levain for the trip. It was all they had..... and it was delicious!!

If you like rustic and delicious bread, this is the place. Their baguettes are some of the best in town; nice and crunchy exterior, fragrant and light interior. Small storefront, no seating. The sturdy arms on the bakers reflect hauling bags of flour and heavily laden trays, not from lifting dense bread. Easy pandemic-resistant access.

Tall Grass Bakery's claim to fame? Best baguette in Seattle. I have studied and worked in France, and travelled extensively throughout the Hexagon since my first trip there in 1979 as a high school exchange student. And whenever I was in France, there were two things that I ate each day: cheese and bread. So you can trust me when I say that of all the baguettes that I've had in the Emerald City in the past 40 years, it's the Tall Grass version that is the best and most French of all. While lunching at a restaurant near Pike Place Market years ago, I was astonished to bite into a chunk of baguette that I was certain had been flown in from either Chez Paul or Boulangerie Châtelet (my personal faves) from the Rive Droite in Paris. Nope, that magic wand of beautiful bread came from none other than the Tall Grass Bakery. I've been a devoted fan ever since. They offer many other delicious breads and rolls, like the Fougasse, but nothing comes close to the goodness of that baguette. Crunchy outside with an airy, moist, and tender mie inside, this loaf is the Northwest's gold standard, in my opinion. Pick one up from the shop on 24th, pull off one end to nibble on as you head home, and imagine yourself living life just as millions of French people do every day. The beret is optional.

Photo includes both tall grass and the next door bakery pastries in the back. I loved tall grass chocolate brioche!!! They were so chewy and sweet, everything about it was perfect, I can eat a dozen of them at once tbh

Found a new love for this local bakery thanks to the dinner rolls with poppyseeds and baguettes!

I am confused by the 5 star ratings for this bakery. I went there today and bought a half loaf of Desem Sourdough for $16. It was okay but not great. I bake whole grain Sourdough and belong to groups that bake Wholegrain Sourdough and this bread was not up to my standards. I mill my own organic Wholegrain to make Sourdough bread and get better gluten structure and rise than this loaf. I am disappointed in what this bakery has to offer. For folks who don't bake they provide healthy breads.

Tall Grass has consistently amazing breads and baked sweets. I've been here about 15 times at this point and have had nothing but delightful experiences and amazing baked goods. Currently, they're open Wed-Sun 9-6 and usually plan well such that you'll still have some options even if you stop by late (though as with any bakery, earlier is better). If you're not sure what to get, I'd recommend the seeded baguette and a chocolate brioche. Highly recommend.

The quality of the bread sold in this bakery is the absolute BEST! There's always a large selection (I always get the same thing). The Compagnon loaf and classic Baguette. Although today I ventured out of my comfort zone and am attempting the Pullman sliced loaf (same dough as the Compagnon! There is a bread here that is savory and heavenly called Olive and Herb Fougasse (it's great as a loaf - my preference is in the pretzel shape). It's also an added bonus to see the bakers working in the background rolling, dusting and shaping future bakes. I wish they would offer bread baking courses in the future!

This review is for their german pretzel knots--INCREDIBLE! I was looking for a place that made them fresh for our annual Oktoberfest celebration and these did not disappoint! Large, fresh, crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. I did order in advance because they sell out of their baked goods throughout the day. We also got an oatmeal raisin cookie--also perfect consistency, softness, and had some spices that gave it something extra. Definitely recommended!

Not the warmest staff, but the breads and pastries are excellent. Best sourdough in seattle, and the cinnamon rolls are addictive. 4 stars.

Seattle has a lot of great bakeries, and this one is the best in town. My favorite is the seeded baguette - the crust is chewy but not hard, it's got medium dense crumb but remains soft in the center and has so much wholesome bread flavor. I don't know if this will make sense but it's the most bread tasting bread that ever breaded, in the best of ways. I cannot speak to the French-ness of Tallgrass baguette, having never lived in France, but the bread here is easily on par with the German and Swiss bakeries I've loved living in Europe. Bonus shoutout to the Bavarian pretzels and pretzel rolls - these are very authentic (yes this means they're a bit chewier than the super soft version you get at pubs) and we just eat them plain with butter. Finale note: I don't even like olives and I have enjoyed the olive herb fougasse - it's a great party bread to put next to some charcuterie plate. If anyone from Tallgrass is reading this, PLEASE could you add a non-olive fougasse to your menu? Pretty please? Maybe sundried tomato and rosemary? I would buy one every time I go.

This is one of my favorite bakeries when visiting the Seattle area. It's a very small shop and sometimes there is a line that can go out the door depending on the day just because the store front itself is small. On the weekends, they make homemade cinnamon rolls which are amazing. They aren't too sweet, but the frosting sets it apart from other cinnamon rolls that I have had before. I also got a loaf of their olive bread. It's a bit pricey, but they make some very excellent baked goods. If you're in the Seattle area and near the bakery, give this place a go. It is fantastic.

1. Some of consistently best organic breads in Seattle. They even grind their own flour. It's fun to watch the bakers at work while you order. 2. We really dig their baguette, which is the right combo of crispy crust and soft inside. They have a good variety breads. I especially like their Pain au Levain, Pullman and Hominy bread. If you are into granola they make that in house too and it's amazing. 3. If you are a regular like we have become get a prepaid bread card. You pay 20 buck upfront and get 25 bucks of credit. It's a great deal.

This is my favorite bread bakery in Seattle. Reason #1: Their bread tastes great. Reason #2: They're organic. Reason #3: Their prices are very reasonable considering #1 and #2. If you go often, make sure to buy their bakery credit. For $20 down, you receive $25 in credit. They record each purchase for you and deduct it from your credit. They write it on these little cards that they keep in the shop. Pretty sweet deal.

Their olive bread is everything. So delicious with an garlic olive oil dip or to eat with a rich pasta. Every time I'm in Ballard or the farmer's market in u-district, I snatch this up real quick! Certainly the best local bakery I've been to so far in the Seattle area near my home. They have a fair selection of assorted breads (the standards such as sourdough, rye, baguettes, etc.), with a couple of baked sweets as well. I've tried their raisin cinnamon roll so far and it's the perfect treat without it being heavy from cream cheese or anything. The staff is always so nice and friendly! If you go to the Ballard location, it's street parking but there are plenty of spaces. The u-district farmer's market is a gamble, I would try finding a parking spot over on 15th. If you're in search for a local bread bakery, make a stop here. It most definitely is mine at the moment!

Excellent whole grain breads- have been buying here for years. Perfect loaves for sandwiches , baguettes for soups, and crusty loaves for every purpose

We recently moved to Seattle and have tried various bakeries in search of the perfect baguette. We tried Tall Grass Bakery this morning. Fabulous fresh out of the oven baguette! We certainly plan to be regular customers

I got their baguette twice now from a local market they supply and it was burnt both times and hard as a rock, only the middle part was edible. I wish someone would check the product before it goes out to stores, it does leave an impression and I will not buy it again and I'm hesitant trying something else. Its too much money if you get inferior product, they might sell the good ones at their local shop, since everyone else seems to be happy?

Tall Grass Bakery stands above all the other bakeries in the area and not just because it has the word "Tall" in its name. As someone who bakes their own bread and follows family recipes handed down from generation to generation I am always on the lookout for great bread and pastries. Tall Grass Bakery not only bakes some incredibly tasty breads but also creates wonderful granola, cookies, muffins and scones. All of the baked goods at Tall Grass Bakery are hand crafted and the breads and granola are all organic. Instead of using machine ground flour, Tall Grass uses stone ground organic whole grains every day. They really go a step above most other bakeries to make sure we are getting high quality and tasty products. I had the opportunity to speak with the night baker, Mckayla and she was awesome. She explained so much about the bakery to me as well as a lot about the different types of products. As a big fan of rye breads, I was enthusiastic about trying some of the different rye breads, especially the ones with seeds. A good rye bread is something I could eat all by itself. Mckayla also explained that all of this bread comes out of an 800 square food kitchen. That is amazing considering during weekdays they produce about one thousand loaves of bread, two thousand loaves on the weekend and for Christmas Eve they produce about three thousand! ***BREADS*** Compagnon - French bread that is hand formed and has an open crumb. Pumpernickel Rye - a wonderful dense dark rye topped with caraway and anise seeds and kosher salt. Pullman - a classic French bread with an even crumb that is baked in a pan so it is easy to square slice Marbled Rye -made from a mix of their Sourdough Rye and Pumpernickel and caraway seeds. Classic Baguette - a traditional French Baguette with an open crumb. You can get baguettes with the traditional tapered or non-traditional blunt ends. Hominy - made with a mix of stone-milled corn and organic wheat flour. This bread is soft on the inside with a chewy crust. Pain au Levain - a mix of oganic wheat, whole wheat and sourdough Baker St. Sourdough - A San Francisco style open crumb white sourdough. Sourdough Rye - an open crust without caraway seeds. Oat and Honey - made with whole stone milled oats and wheat flour with a soft crumb top and rolled oats on the crust. Whole Wheat and Honey - soft crush and even crumb made from 0ne hundred percent organic whole wheat flour. Cherry Pumpernickel - their pumpernickel bread with dried sour cherries added. Walnut Pain au Levain - Their Pain Au Levain dough with organic walnuts added. Rolls - use the traditional baguette dough and come in different sizes. Buns - made from wheat flour with milk added and are soft crusted We tried both the Hominy Loaf and the Pain Au Levain. Bother were delicious and fresh. The hominy was great because unlike most cord bread mixes, the taste of corn was not overpowering. It seems they have the balance down perfectly. It was also so good I did not even need to put anything on it, although I do think it would pair well with some cheeses as well as figs. The Pain Au Levain is a french country style sourdough bread. I liked that the sourdough flavour was not too overpowering. It was at just the right amount to give you the taste but not overwhelm the taste buds. They have three types of Granola. There is a coconut almond, raisin pecan and apricot cherry. I tried the apricot cherry granola and it was very good. I liked the mix of pumpkin and sunflower added to the oats and I do believe there is a bit of honey in it as well. I would definitely get this again. Finally they have daily specials. On Fridays they have Challah bread as well as an olive and herb fougasse. On Saturday and Sunday they have cinnamon buns and spelt bread. You've got to stop in to Tall Grass Bakery and try some of the best breads Seattle has to offer. Make sure to take several loaves home with you.

It's a bakery and their bread is fantastic. What more do you need? Prices are great for this small batch bakery operation, the baguettes aren't as crusty as say- Grand Central Bakery. However, there's something about these baguettes. They smell breadier. They taste... breadier. It's breadier in a good way. Oh, they also have this olive thing. Hold on, let me check the website... "Olive and Herb Fougasse". It's dangerously good. I always try to buy one to take home and eat over a few days but no- Half of it is missing when I get home. The other half is gone by the end of the night. Truly a magic trick... and it can be repeated! It's already happened like 5 times. They should rename this place to The Vanishing Fougasse.

Normally I wouldn't review a bakery unless I've visited often to see how consistent they are but I picked up half a loaf of bread the other day and I am in love. I came in after visiting Café Besalu next door and impulsively bought what I thought would be a basic loaf of bread to use for sandwhiches for the work week. The nice lady offered to slice the bread for me which was nice but I actually prefer to cut it at home so I can make nice thick pieces of toast for breakfast. I toast my bread in a regular toaster and it always comes out perfectly toasty on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. I can't wait to come back and try some of the other baked goods. If you're wondering why I didn't rate this spot 5 stars... I definitely want to try some of the other items before giving them a solid 5 star rating and the price for a half loaf of bread was expensive! $7 for a full loaf or $3.75 for half a loaf is not ideal for my income on a regular basis.

Bought a baguette here from the U-District market and it was burned over the entire bottom. 3 stars because we still ate it but it's so disappointing that no one is checking these before heading to market. Next time we'll just stick with Sea Wolf.

We love love love this spot! Our go to bakery for the most delicious baguette. This is one of our favorite weekend rituals to pick up their warm and fresh baguettes! Tall Grass Bakery bread is served at restaurants all over Seattle for 3x the cost ...so why not enjoy your own baguette at home straight out of the oven from the true source ? :0) Most of all, I love their card system where you can pay in advance and leave your name on file. Adds a level of authenticity, care and drives me to my next visit. Tall Grass Bakery, you are true gem and made our time living right across the street just perfect.

Such a hidden gem in Ballard. I loooooove the grandma style bakery vibes and taste. I usually prefer the chewy bread and the oat and honey was awesome. Will definitely try more!

Outstanding, amazing, unspeakably toothsome. I've been going to farmers' markets around Seattle for years, and every time, Tall Grass and their incredible fougasse are the first thing I head for. A local treasure of bread. They also have very good sourdough, rye, and other treats (as well as granola!) but holy hell you gotta try this fougasse. On top of that, I've always found their staff to be informative, helpful, and patient. Wonderful local business. Keep an eye out for them!

Perfection! Service and baked goods are always great. Good place to try new breads because you won't go wrong. Their hours might be different during COVID times so I would call before you head over.

Wow, what an awesome place to have in Ballard. Hole in the wall with friendly service and reasonable prices for homemade goods. Nothing super buttery like croissants etc. but mostly artisan breads, scones, cinnamon roles and such. This is exactly the type of bakery I love and I'll be trying all their breads. The one I had the other day was the Hominy -- a perfect cross between an artisan bread loaf and corn bread. Wow.

This review is long due. When it comes to bread, Tall Grass remains THE BEST....THE NUMBER ONE in Seattle. BREAD HEAVEN OU LA LA! ORGANIC, FLAVORFUL and TASTY. Nice crust on the outside and moist on the inside. YUMMY ADDICTIVE! No other bakeries are able to bring this kind of MOIST to their bread. I LOOOOOOVE every single piece of bread I bought here. Currently my favorites are: Homini bread, TO DIE FOR Fougasse and HEAVENLY Brioche! AMAZING BREAD worth going out of the way. I get them at farmers markets as well whenever they're there. Wish I could give more stars!

Yes, I want to roll in the tall grass with a freshly baked raisin bun and tell it secrets and make it my best friend and sit in the sun and then after frolicking I will grow hungry and CHOMP IT DOWN IN SECONDS. I can't get over how delectable and sumptuous and fragrant their breads are. I love them, and that is all.