Model Bakery

I’m giving Model Bakery five stars based only on the coffee, cookies and atmosphere. I’ve been here twice so far and haven’t ordered any food items but will certainly do that the next time there. The bakery is well designed and it’s a comfortable place to visit. Plenty of seats and parking is available right across the street. The bakery is also right in the middle of downtown so this is a perfect place for a coffee break while out shopping. I’ll try to update my review once I’ve had the opportunity to try some of the food items beyond the cookies. Michael Delehanty Compass Real Estate

Really love the fact that they have a single option for the eggs benedict. Can never go wrong with their english muffins. I heard this Southern Sausage Eggs Benedict is a special to the Walnut Creek branch.

Thanks for bringing this bakery to our city. The quality, service and selections are close, if not very similar to the one in Napa. The atmosphere and ambience is good for both quick meals or just hanging out with friends after enjoying what the city offers.

Came here for brunch with my cousins and was told that the English muffin is one Oprah’s favorite things. The English muffin was pretty good. It’s very fluffy to eat. I had the mushroom sandwich which was good.

We were so excited when we learned Model Bakery was coming to WC, making it much easier to get their delicious English muffins. We’ve come for those, of course, and also enjoyed their breakfast sandwiches, croissants, scones, cookies and baked breads. All are delicious. My go to is the apricot pecan scone and the chocolate rad cookie. So rich and decadent. My husband loves the epi baguette, which we usually only get when in Napa. Staff are friendly and the lines have gotten shorter. We look forward to being customers for many years.

my colleague took me here and i am so excited to comeback soon to buy bread. the breakfast was amazing and the fries were so good.

I’ve visited Model Bakery several times for breakfast. Their breakfast burritos, both the tri-tip, and bacon are delicious. It’s a great spot to enjoy breakfast, fresh pastries, and a good cup of coffee. Check it out.

I’ll start by saying I thought I had fresh (English) muffins before visiting Model Bakery but apparently not as fresh as this. If you order a half dozen or more muffins to go and you eat them offsite, I highly recommend toasting, baking, pan frying, or air frying them for a few minutes. It leaves a crunchy and yet soft, chewy texture. If there was a term for texture like there is a term for flavor, umami, the muffin toasted onsite had umami texture. Gluten fiends are welcome there. Atmosphere felt pretty generic, though I’ve heard the atmosphere is different in the one in Napa versus the one here in Walnut Creek.

I am so happy I found this wonderful bakery. Their English Muffins and Cinnamon Raisin Bread (it may have a different name) are two of my favorite things. My daughter loves the gluten free apricot muffins and the gluten free wraps. I keep trying new things and so far I have LOVED them all.

Ordered pastries from here on a whim since we had lunch down the street and was just walking by. I've heard of this bakery before and had their English muffins before and they were delish! This time, we ordered the chocolate espresso brownie, oatmeal raisin cookie, walnut chocolate chip, and a baguette. Everything was so good! The espresso brownie was dense but still fluffy, very decadent. The oatmeal raisin cookie was thick but soft and chewy. The walnut chocolate chip was thin and I love that the walnuts were chopped into small pieces! Side note: I dont think people know how or where to go to order because there's an ordering tablet in the front when you enter and it crowds the door

Great service at the Walnut Creek location. We have been here a few times now, and customer service is always friendly, cheerful, and courteous. They have a large selections of bread, pastries, and other baked goods. They also serve a variety of sandwiches and salads as well as coffee and teas. I first learned about Model Bakery because their English muffins were on Oprah's Favorite Things for the holidays. Definitely a must try! Other recommendations include their walnut loaf and their salads. Seating inside is limited. There is a large "community table" to share for dining in.

I have picked up the famous English muffins before but finally decided to try to eat in for breakfast. We ordered the breakfast croissantwich and the avocado tartine (yeah, I had to look up what a tartine was). The croissantwich was a nice flaky croissant, with bacon, scrambled eggs, and cheese. The bacon was nice and crispy and the scrambled eggs were fluffy, indicating some care was used in cooking them. The avocado tartine was an excellent version of avocado toast. Built on a nice slice of griddled bread, it included an egg salad that may have had the smallest amount of mayonnaise, but was tossed with chunks of avocado and topped with greens and edible flower petals, as well as an Everything spice. The Everything spice allowed a bit of a flavor punch up of the egg salad/avocado mixture, which was not overly seasoned. I can see others complaining about how the pick-up area is on the way to some tables, the restrooms, and the dish busing station, but most people were courteous and not waiting at the counter for their order. I did notice that the place gets pretty loud with people trying to talk over others, but that seems to be a customer issue, not a restaurant issue.

When Oprah claimed that Model Bakery makes the best English muffin, I had to try it. The OG Model Bakery in Napa was sold out of everything during my last visit, so I was thrilled when they opened a location in Walnut Creek. On the morning of my visit, I was surprised but relieved that there were only a couple of people in line ahead of me to order...and you can even skip the line entirely by ordering at the kiosk. My mission was to try the English muffin, so I ordered a toasted English muffin with butter and a latte. This came out to about $9 and was ready in about 5 minutes. There were plenty of tables inside, and I was able to find a seat at a booth. The English muffin was toasted to perfection - it had a nice bite and was light and airy on the inside. I also liked the cornmeal on the outside for extra crispiness. While the English muffin was indeed better than those you could buy at the grocery store, it didn't blow me away. The latte was smooth and frothy, and I enjoyed sipping it out of a cute Model Bakery mug. My friend ordered the breakfast burrito and got back in line for a bear claw ("for dessert"). I tried a piece of the bear claw; while it was on the drier side, I liked that it had plenty of almond filling. While I may have set my expectations a little high, I'd consider returning to try some of Model Bakery's other pastries or sandwiches. The cute retro dining room was the perfect backdrop to enjoy a coffee and a pastry.

So incredibly happy to finally have this business close to home! The English muffins are worth the drive all by themself but the additional baked goods have all been excellent as well. We typically buy the 6 pack of english muffins and freeze half of them. They seem nearly as good as the fresh ones after a quick defrost and run thru the toaster. Service is always quick and friendly too!

Finally got to try their famous English muffin and I must say it's pretty good. I got the breakfast sandwich. Although a little greasy it was excellent. Staff are very nice. Got a matcha as-well, which seemed good quality. Color was robust green. They won't sweeten it unless you ask btw. Also ordered a chocolate croissant, they didn't warm it up so be sure to ask. Lines seem to be out of the door nonetheless worth the wait. Cute little spot to have a bite / coffee with a friend or loved one.

Finally got to try this spot after passing by way too many times. I believe it's a semi-new addition to downtown Walnut Creek, and I'm pretty sure it's part of a chain. Atmosphere The space is really nice and open, with plenty of seating if you want to sit down for a pastry and coffee or grab a light breakfast. It definitely has that cozy, neighborhood bakery vibe. There's also a big selection of baked goods, which makes it a little hard to choose what to get. What I Ordered Spinach and feta croissant Bearclaw Iced vanilla latte Experience Both pastries were solid. If you like the spinach feta wrap from Starbucks but want a flakier, more buttery version, this croissant is a great pick. The bearclaw was also really good, it had an almond filling, so it basically felt like an almond croissant in disguise. The iced vanilla latte was smooth and well-balanced. You can actually taste the coffee instead of just syrup, which I appreciate (for my Asians - not too sweet!). Final Thoughts A bit on the pricier side, but that's pretty typical for bakeries in the area. I'd come back if I was craving a pastry or meeting someone for a light breakfast. Overall, a good spot to have in downtown Walnut Creek. I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 and round up to 4 on Yelp.

Breakfast at Model Bakery in WC- the classic model breakfast sandwich made with egg whites. Their famous English muffins ( you have to get some to go!) with eggs, cheese, and ham! A killer combo on the best English muffin ever

Treated ourselves with a chocolate chip cookie and Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Sandwich with a bit spicy for us I was yummy. We wished it was cheesier. Chocolate chip was divine. Surface was fast, and servants were truly pleasant; place was super awesomely cute.

Ordered the Southern Sausage Benedict. The muffin was so good - crispy, buttery! The poached eggs weren't overcooked. The collared greens were yummy (I love collared greens), but a little salty for me. Overall I liked this benedict and would recommend it.

Had only been to their original spot in Napa for baked goods. Was surprised how full of a lunch menu they had (people in front of me ordered burgers and fries). I tried their soup of the day which was a Ukrainian borscht and it was delicious. The cashier who helped me was very friendly. Cute decor, but very limited seating inside - and 10 seats on their small patio (heads up: ceiling fans were running and no heaters in December). Worth coming by, especially for a quick shopping day lunch or to get baked goods to go.

The service here leaves something to be desired, especially given the price, even though the decor is cute. I stopped by with a friend and ordered a decaf almond milk latte. With a 15% tip, it came out to about $9.20, which is definitely on the pricey side. That would've been okay if the experience matched the cost, but unfortunately, it didn't. They forgot to ask me if I wanted my drink for here or to go, which is a forgivable slip. But when I mentioned I wanted it for here, instead of remaking it, the barista just poured it from the to-go cup into a mug right in front of me. That completely ruined the latte art and honestly felt pretty careless. Some might think that's a small thing, but for $9.20, those personal touches matter. The whole point of sitting in is to enjoy the drink as it's meant to be served, and I was left feeling like the attention to detail just wasn't there. On top of that, it can get a bit cramped and crowded, and there are definitely other places in town where the baristas are more attentive. Overall, the decor is cute, but the experience just didn't match the price, and next time I'll probably go somewhere else for my coffee date.

Nice and adequately priced. Lots of inside dining (communal). Good for people watching on their porche. A Also have grab and go items. Not extraordinary though

Busy place. Find a table and then order as you get a beeper and you have to scramble for a space. There are quieter time. My egg Benedict muffin was perfect so was the hollandaise sauce I should have read carefully as there are raw onions. Coffee is fine and reasonably priced

Model Bakery has the BEST English muffins, often copied but never duplicated. They have always been one of our stops when we visit Napa, so we were thrilled to see they opened in Walnut Creek. Located right on N. Main Street, parking can be challenging, and the lines can be long, but when you get your food, you'll know it was worth it. I ordered a mixed mushroom tartine and a dozen muffins, both to go. The tartine was delicious, lots of mushrooms, Straccitella, herbs, and a perfectly cooked egg. The English muffins freeze great, so that we can enjoy them between visits to Walnut Creek. A place worth checking out!

My girlfriends and I went out for breakfast at Model Bakery, and I ordered the Avocado Tartine-served on toasted pain levain with avocado, egg salad, microgreens, everything bagel seasoning, Maldon sea salt, and a drizzle of olive oil. It was so delicious, especially with an Americano. We also shared their world-famous English muffin with preserves, which was light and flavorful.

Excellent customer service from Yessica and Tim! The restaurant is so cute and tidy! I love the decor! Relaxed and inviting! Ordered a ton of cookies! Friendly service and delicious cookies!

So happy this location opened up! As a Model Bakery fan, yes I would travel to Napa just for their pastries, this location is amazing! I visited early on a Saturday morning and - and it was still busy, but the line moved fairly quickly. Service was great! All employees were helpful and kind. We needed up ordering to eat in, and once our order was ready we picked it up at the pick up area. Overall vibe was homey and chic. Lots to look at, very IG aesthetic for all of the pics! Food- OMG. So good! We ordered iced vanilla lattes with almond milk and each had an almond croissants. Quite honestly an ideal Saturday morning! Looking forward to coming back!!

Came here after grabbing some coffee on our way out to Long. Beach. We had no idea they opened a location in Walnut Creek- thanks to Yelp! I am very familiar with their breakfast menu since I used to coordinate meals for harvest when I worked at the winery. Came to what was once an Italian restaurant. Was immediately greeted by a smiling face. The customer service was top notch. We can see from the window an employee bagging up those yummy English muffins. We ordered a breakfast wrap and muffins. My husband and I shared because I can't eat a whole wrap. Every bite was filled with bacon, eggs, potatoes and chipotle aioli. So good!! For only being open a couple of months, they have their system dialed in for take out. Food was delicious, service was great and the restaurant and very comfortable. This location will do well and we will frequent this place.

Amazing selection, courteous service and delicious food! We ordered ham n cheese croissants, a bear claw, banana walnut muffins, apricot pecan scones, Asiago sourdough bread and bacon bread. So delicious! Can't wait to return again..

I went there to try out their English Muffins and I wasn't impressed. The jams are good but I could've just went to the store to buy Thomas English Muffins. The original breakfast sandwich is average. It's a good portion size which is great because it's $13.50 but there's nothing special about it.

I lucked out and got here before the lunch rush which is good because if I am somewhere new, ordering can be overwhelming. I knew going in I was going to get some English muffins to go. If Oprah raved about them, I need to find out why. I also picked up some muffins for our Saturday muffins and coffee tomorrow, as well as a morning bun. Once you place the order, you walk around to find a seat or wait for your order. There's a pickup line for beverages and for food. The person I ordered from was courteous and helpful. I was looking around the merchandise because I have never been here before and a staff person asked me if I need anything because I was taking my Yelp photos because it's a really cute place (I think he was annoyed by me taking photos). That would be my only knock getting questioned. Seriously, I would have impulsed bought more because of that. I got my sandwich to go. It's better to have it on site because it got soggy on the 20 minute drive. Overall, it was really good and I get why Oprah loves their English muffins.

The classic italian was SO good! The filling to bread ratio was perfect for a non bread lover like me. The edges of the bread were crispy which added a nice crunch to the sandwich. I ordered online and picked it up. It was nice and quick. It was bustling inside with people catching up or people working. I also ordered a pack of 6 english muffins and it was a huge hit for my family! They smell soooo good, like a donut. We added butter and jam to ours and had it as a sweet treat.

Model Bakery with their famous English muffins now have a location in the Downtown Walnut Creek area! I was in the area with family late 2023 and saw that they were working on the location and finally got to visit when I was in the area late 2024. For the amount of traffic rolling through, especially the holidays, I thought the service was very friendly and efficient. I actually ended up visiting this place twice during my last trip to the East Bay area. The first trip, they sold out of the muffins for the day, so I just ordered some foodstuffs to dine in with my niece and nephew - we got the egg salad sandwich, some pastries/cookies, hot chocolate and coffee. With the tip of ordering ahead of time, or I think you weren't able to because it was on a holiday, I just arrived early in the morning (and there was a line) to get some of their English muffins. After being successful on my second trip, I wanted to savor the experience by ordering a breakfast sandwich and a coffee before leaving. On both trips, I though the food and beverages were all great. And I have to say the English muffins are probably my favorite anywhere. Very buttery, but with a nice, slight crisp, I love having them with a little additional butter and jam. Sooo good. Before this location opened, I would get them once in a while through my brother. His in laws come down from the Napa/ Sonoma County area and they usually bring some for him and his fam. I am always excited to get them because I'm a fan of English muffins in general, but have to say these are my fave. If I'm able to, I will be coming back to grab a pack when I'm in the area.

Service was surprisingly quick for a Saturday brunch time meal. The line moved quickly and luckily the larger table was available by the time we placed our order. Staff cleared off areas promptly as patrons finished their meals. Everyone in my party loved their orders. Loved that have so many vegetarian options. I had the full order of smoked salmon Benedict. I never order eggs Benedict but saw some photos beforehand and gave it a try. The English muffin was toasted to perfection, the sauce wasn't too rich and the saltiness of the smoked salmon really rounded out all the flavors. We ordered muffins and an Asiago sourdough loaf to go. Everything was sooo yummy!

A line was forming out the door in the morning. Ordered at the cash register & pick up when your order is called. There are various pastries on display. I ordered the pastry with spinach and cheese & a latte. The order was ready quickly. The pastry tasted fresh. The froth on the drink had latte art. It was a perfect looking and tasting latte. Plenty of places to sit, place was decent, not fancy. Bus your own table. I'd go back again to try the other yummy looking pastries.

Stopped by to grab some little snacks for the road. As a first time customer I'd say the staff was friendly and it had a cute, comfy setting. I'm not sure if they have their own parking lot but I parked across the street as it was pretty close to the bakery. Ordered a morning bun, chocolate chip cookie and two oatmeal cookies. Along with a cup of Joe. Morning bun, very flavorful and extremely flaky 9/10 Chocolate chip cookie 8/10 Oatmeal cookies 9/10 Coffee 6/10 I'd come again if in the area.

The almond macaroon cookie was sensationally delicious! It was chewy and packed with almond flavor. Everything we ordered was so good! We also had lunch here and to my husband's surprise they have smash burgers on the menu. The people here are so nice and its ambiance is very welcoming. Love this place!

Met a long time friend there for a quick breakfast. We ordered at the counter and then food and coffee were brought to us. I had the Salmon Benedict. I liked the fact that I could ordered one or two slices since I wasn't that hungry. Great selection of food choices: breakfast wraps, breakfast sandwiches, tartines, Benedicts, burgers, cold/hot lunch sandwiches, and more! A quint little place with minimal indoor and outdoor seating.

Model Bakery has a name for itself coming from the Napa Valley. There are a couple of locations there. We've never been to those even with the number of days we have spent in Napa and surrounding area. For those locations I think it is more a wine country tourist stop. So that brings us to the Walnut Creek location. Not impressed. My partner and I with another friend all had some version of a breakfast sandwich which were good. My partner had a Momo and I tried to have a glass of prosecco or sparkling. Well that wasn't in the menu and the order person wasn't sure they could do that. Not sure of the problem here so I ordered a Momo and hold the OJ. Staff could not figure that out even when I asked about the it when I didn't get plain champs Clunky order system. Cramped. I don't know just wasn't impressed. There are way better places in DubC to drop my dimes.

the best english mufffins!!! i had the breakfast sandwhich and it's definitely pretty hefty and filling. they muffins were so good you can also just buy a bag of them too. plenty of seating inside and is always busy when i go!

The English muffins really are quite delicious!!! Crispy on the outside, soft in the inside. The texture of the muffin is perfection. Perfectly rewarms in the air fryer. The sourdough baguette was also very delicious. Probably one of the best ones in the Bay Area honestly. Excellent texture and flavor!

I started at the location in St. Helena and was super excited to find out I wouldn't have to drive that far anymore for my favorite english muffins. Came here for breakfast. Has the english muffin breakfast sandwich with bacon and coffee. My husband also had their honey bun. This location is bigger than their others, so there's lot of room to sit. I also did a pick up order (more honey buns) and it went very smoothly. Everyone here is very friendly. We live over the hill, on the water side, but we'll be back.

The eggs benedict was very good. It just took a while to come out. The pastries were ok Nothing special but that english muffin is the star.

Model Bakery and reinvented the perfected the English muffin, how ever insignificant that might sound it's only because you have not had one yet. Literally top tier of the culinary world. I love when you walk in the bakery it is so inviting and clean. The service is fast and the ordering easy. If you have not tried a breakfast sandwich yet it's time.

Quaint bakery with to-die-for english muffins! Model Bakery is well-known and I'm so glad there's a location in the East Bay. While we stopped by for a pack of english muffins, we got a breakfast sandwich. It was great; the sourdough bread was awesome and everything inside was so good together. I also got their sour cream muffin which was so fluffy and moist. This place is a must-try. The service is efficient given how busy they are, with a line out the door at all times.

A coworker brought a box of assorted pastries to work recently, which included a vanilla custard croissant, blueberry scone, cinnamon sour cream muffin, apple crumble danish, and snickerdoodle cookies. We shared the items we got so we could try them all. My faves were the crumbly and delicious blueberry scone and light and flaky croissant which wasn't too sweet. I haven't tried the many other appetizing menu items, but based on the quality and taste of the yummy treats we devoured, I'm a fan of this bakery.

Came here at 8:30am on a Saturday and there was already a line inside! The line moved at a decent pace. Long enough to decide what to get. Service was nice. We also saw the day old items after we ordered! It was $3 for 3 pastries which is a great deal! Wish we saw it before we ordered. Here is what we ordered: Original Breakfast sandwich: it was nice and warm . The muffin is quite oily! I had to use the napkins to soak off some oil. It has eggs, Canadian bacon (which is thin like ham) and cheese. It was very delicious. The muffin was very soft and moist (maybe from the oil) not the hard and dry kind you get from McD. The egg was not dry either. Overall, I like it a lot despite the extra oil! But $13 is a bit steep!! Other pastries were good. Saw a review saying their bear claw had more filling than the almond croissant and thought there was a mix up. So we order both and indeed the bear claw has more filling!! The place is not big for sit down. Maybe it was just too crowded. There is outdoor dining which was less crowded! Overall, it's a nice bakery to go once in a while. But because of the price, I wouldn't come regularly.

I'm so happy they opened up in downtown Walnut Creek! I love the interior decor with the green and gold finishes. It's like a modern twist on an old school bakery but with elegance. There's a nice seating area but come quick because they do fill up quick. I ordered two breakfast sandwiches: Croissant and the popular English muffin. Both were filled with egg, bacon, and cheese. They were delicious and buttery. It's pricey from about $11-$12 a sandwich but worth it. I also recommend ordering coffee with your breakfast; they make a great cortado! The addition of a touch screen order also helps when both registers are being used although I still think going to the cashier is much faster. Service is pretty quick and they clean tables fast. They shout your name for your drinks and food so be alert. I'd definitely come back again for a breakfast sandwiches and a pastry. I'll admit, I like the new feel of this location but I'm waiting for the long lines to die down a bit so that it isn't as stuffy.

I've been waiting to finally try this new bakery. I walked in with 4 people in front of me they have an order to go kiosk but it is not working yet. I bought a 6 pack of the English muffins. I wanted a croissant ham and cheese but the guy 3 ahead of me bought the last two. I then asked for two bear claws but they only had one left so I ordered 1 bear claw and 1 chocolate pain au chocolate. My son who is super picky about food said the bear claw was yummy. I heard that they run out of English muffins in the afternoon. So glad I was able to try the 6 pack arrived around 10AM.

During a recent trip to California, I made a stop at Model Bakery and picked up a custard danish and some English muffins to go. There was a line out the door but it moved pretty quick. The custard danish was a real treat. It was flaky, with layers. The custard filling was creamy and not overly sweet. The English muffins, however, were the true stars of the show. I used them to make breakfast sandwiches, The muffins had a wonderful flavor and were soft. I recommend stopping by Model Bakery if you're in the area.

Decent bakery with some rather good coffee. We came here to try some items and get some coffee and had a rather nice experience. I wasn't a huge fan of the English muffins, which people rave about. Thought they were rather bland. However, the croissant and bear claws were great. The coffee was very good and flavorful. Service was super friendly and helpful. The place isnt huge but there is a decent amount of indoor seating and some outdoor seating. Place does get crowded though so prepare to wait or takeout.

Usually I end with pro tips, but I'll make an exception: protip- if you come early, there is an entire section of "day old" bread loaves, scones and other delightful products at significantly reduced price to the far right of second register. Model Bakery has apparently been operating since 1908! I love that! They have a plethora of delicious baked goods and bread loaves. I got a cortado which was good. For the early birds, warm breakfasts are served after 7. This is also a woman owned business and family run who doesn't appreciate that? Nikki, one of the employees, super helpful, kind, and professional - providing me with information about the business. I'll definitely return.

Dropping in on their opening day we braved the line and enjoyed the gratis mini coffees the owner was passing out. Once inside the honey and I ordered a croissant, pecan apricot scone, a morning glory muffin, and a peanut butter chocolate cookie. We adored our treats! The scone was delicious, the croissant was so light and airy and the cookie was hearty and rich. The service was friendly and prompt and we will absolutely be returning!

Love Model bakery, picked up a couple of baguettes, focaccia bread, vegan chocolate bar, and a chocolate chip cookie. Was bummed because one of our baguettes was so burnt that it was impossible to eat. It was so hard. At the recommendation of the person at the counter, we got the vegan chocolate bar, and it was unbelievably good so decadent and full of chocolate. Also picked up a chocolate chip cookie that had a great homemade taste to it and focaccia bread that was so tasty. It did have a lot of olive oil at the base of the bread making it similar to eating fresh bread dipped in olive oil. While there we found they had a day old area with itemspriced 50% off and if you come the last hour between 2 to 3 PM, it's happy hour with 30% off!

Loved this place as a bakery. I've gone to their location in Napa, which was very, very small and honestly not that in inviting. The layout here gives you the restaurant feel but still gives you the ability to see the baked goods. The staff was very knowledgeable And would answer your questions in layman terms. They have a kiosk at the door so you don't have to wait in the line if you know what you want. Baked goods arereally good. I got a breakfast sandwich on a croissant, which was buttery. The sausage was also tasty and the cheese not overpowering. we shared a Cuban sandwich which was unique since it was also on a croissant which was pressed. A lot of flavor, but not the best Cuban sandwich although still very very hearty. The real winner was when my wife got, which was eggs Benedict on a freshly baked English muffin with creamy braise collard greens. That's the winner. Coffee selections are also above average.

It it is tough to live up to the hype before you open. I heard that the Model Bakery in Napa (that was recommended by Oprah Winfrey) was opening up a location in Walnut Creek. I have been waiting for the WC location for months. It finally opened and I fully expected long lines, the lines are fairly short even during the lunchtime peak. I stopped by and ordered a 6-pack of the highly recommended English Muffin, Almond Croissant, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookie and a Chocolate Chip with Walnuts cookie. I grew up on the Thomas type English muffins which get extra crunchy when toasted and more a dense bread. You need to approach the Model English muffins with an iron palette. It looks more like a bun but when toasted it dies get a little crispy, chewy and a nice flavor. Definitely a lighter English muffin but overall a good bread For me, a solid 4. Due to an error in my order, they gave me a Bear Claw which my wife liked. It had a nice almond paste, more dense than fluffy and the right amount of sweetness. The Bear Claw tasted more like an Almond Croissant than the Almond Croissant (which was a croissant with several almonds on top, no filling). It could have been a mistake. Both cookies had the right amount of sweetness, chewy towards the middle and a little bit of crisp along the edges. I liked both cookies. Overall, probably too overhyped because of the Oprah recommendation but good English muffins and pastries. Fairly priced, great staff and good breads, pastries and desserts. I will be back to try other items and get more English muffins.

Opening weekend (at least Saturday morning) went very smoothly. There was a line, but overall we waited around 35 minutes to get in & another 10 for our breakfast sandwiches. We were even offered coffee while waiting in line. When you first walk in you order any pastries from the first area then go around the corner to order ready to made items and English muffin packs. I'm so glad to have a Model Bakery in Walnut Creek's. They really have the best English muffins and that's all I really come for. I'm sure their other items are great as I saw others walking away with a variety of items. Staff were great and very helpful, and were constantly wiping down tables as people left. There are around 12 tables for indoor seating and a couple on the patio as well.