Kim G.
Yelp
Helen Bernhard is an old school bakery, the kind of bakery you remember from childhood. The smell of freshly baked bread and pastries greeting you as you enter, with the bell in the door chiming to announce your entry!
The cases are filled with beautifully decorated cakes, trays and trays of donuts, pastries, cinnamon buns, brownies, eclairs, cream puffs, apple strudel, tarts, turnovers, cupcakes, iced decorated cookies, and so much more! Loafs of different types of rolls, bread and bags of butter cookies are prepackaged on the displays against the wall.
How do you decide? It's seriously challenging!
Having lived in the neighborhood for many years, Helen Bernhard was the first bakery I discovered when I moved to Portland. Every Easter we would get hot cross buns which they sell all during Lent, one of the few bakeries that still make these.
For birthdays, the chocolate cake with the marshmallow merengue icing (also known as 7 minute icing) was always a winner! The light and fluffy icing the perfect compliment to the rich chocolate cake.
Bringing a dozen or so doughnuts to work always made me a hit with my employees, especially those who lived way out on the west side and had never experienced this goodness.
When I stopped in today after a 3 year absence, the challenge of choice still existed! I have to remind myself that the Bakery will be here again tomorrow, and next week, so it's ok to not get everything! The pandemic has created a fear of not having Access to my favorite foods! Haha.
The shortbread cookie, a slice of apple strudel and a 6-pack of Hot Cross buns came home with me on this visit. And since it's just between us, I'll admit that I couldn't wait to rip my off my mask and eat one of the Hot Cross buns as soon as I got in the car! Zero willpower.
Private parking lot on the side and street parking out front makes it convenient. Wonderful customer service. Delicious treats. Affordable prices. Great variety plus seasonal items. Sounds like 5 stars to me!