Black Walnut Bakery
Bakery · Carag ·
Upscale pastries, cakes, sandwiches in a bright, modern cafe
Upscale pastries, cakes, sandwiches in a bright, modern cafe
"It’s not just the vaunted kouign amann — buttery with an armor of caramelized gloss — that makes Black Walnut so iconic. Everything on its menu lures us back. There’s a cassis vanilla Bavarian cake, layered with an airy chiffon sponge and an intense ganache. There are radiant lemon tarts and, of course, croissants, which are consistently flaky across both sweet and savory offerings. Custom-order cakes, sized up to nine inches, are recommended for special occasions." - Stacy Brooks
"Chef Sarah Botcher serves her breakfast sandwich on two thick slices of her buttery croissant loaf, which is exactly what it sounds like: croissant dough baked into bread form. Cradling ham and custardy eggs, this sandwich is finished with gruyère and a smear of tangy herb chèvre, then grilled in a panini press. Leave the ham out to make it vegetarian." - Joy Summers
"Black Walnut Bakery’s cakes are beautiful in their simplicity — the pineapple coconut meringue cake, for example, is adorned with golden-brown peaks of meringue and toasted coconut flakes; another favorite layers a chiffon sponge with vanilla Bavarian cream and cassis preserves. Chocolate aficionados should opt for the chocolate lux or carmella cakes. Cakes range from $45 to $75." - Stacy Brooks
"Sunny Black Walnut is a lovely spot to kick off the day. Pair an espresso with a crispy pastry — the paper-thin sheets of glossy, laminated dough that will no doubt shower your lap in crumbs are well worth it for the decadent, buttery flavors. Fruit tarts crowned with edible flowers, hot-pressed sandwiches, tarts, pies, puddings, cookies, and loaves of bread round out Black Walnut’s menu." - Natalia Mendez
"I found their patio is currently open with tables sometimes placed on existing patios, in parking lots, or on sidewalks; guests are asked to wear masks and all staff will be masked, with precautions in place—check with the restaurant for individual days and hours. Studies suggest lower exposure risk when dining outdoors, but that benefit depends on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines." - Joy Summers