Cafe Besalu

05/21/2008 Posted by mountbaker

Look no more if you dig french pastries! I feel like I've died and gone to Heaven after having breakfast here! The pastries are so light and minimally sweet I feel like I'm floating on air. The coffee's ok, but definately check this place out for the best french treats I've EVER tried this side of the world!!! Great job, Cafe Besalu! I"m forever yours!!!

07/08/2007 Posted by rgeorgi

Every reviewer but a few grudge-bearers have given this five stars; believe the hype! This is the Emerald City's best place for a breakfast sweet with coffee, bar none. The first thing you'll notice on a morning visit is the constant bustle behind the cheery counter help. The display case is constantly being replenished with small, fresh-from-the-oven batches. As for their pastries, their puffed pastries (croissants, etc) have the best flaky consistency in town and the Pain au Chocolat has just the right amount of chocolate. As others have mentioned, the Danishes and Ginger Biscuit are wonderful; we'd mention more but we just haven't tried everything yet (it's a one-piece, once a week treat for us, keeps it special!) Finally, the ambiance is unassuming and cheery, and our usual Sunday barista is surreally friendly; it really is the ideal neighborhood bakery.

Pros: Freshest In Town, Good Coffee, Friendly Service

Cons: Small Seating Area, Parking may be a block or more (walk it off, fatty!)

07/07/2007 Posted by franciscomontalvo

The food is fantastic. My personal favorites are almond schneckens, strawberry crossaints and ham/cheese crossaints. Also noteworthy are the checkered shortbread cookies. I also found their coffee beverages to be very good. Their standard coffee is above average and their espresso drinks are fantastic - I recommend the capuccino. Parking can be a challenge at certain times but there is enough residential parking in Ballard that you can get within 200 yards at any time.

Pros: Superb quality pastries for $2-$4 each

Cons: Small indoor seating area

06/20/2007 Posted by allilang

Cafe Besalu offers the freshest and most tastiest breakfast treats. My family and I enjoy the plain croissants with their homemade jam. Sometimes they run out of them later in the morning because of their popularity. The croissants are very flakey and delicious. I can't have croissants anywhere else because I've been spoiled by these. The baristas are very nice and friendly. If you go on a weekend--expect to a long line. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and during some long weekends.

Pros: Croissants, pain au chocolat, chai

Cons: Open every day! Need another bakery!

06/18/2007 Posted by littlerabbit

I live right around the corner from Besalu (which, I think, increases the value of my apartment immensely!) It is my favorite place, both for pastries and for coffee. Delicious espresso and the most amazing pastries (danishes to die for, brilliant ginger biscuits, crumbly and buttery croissants.) And, the staff are some of the nicest people; they are incredibly patient with EVERYONE who comes in the door (and loyal to loyal customers too.) Though Besalu has been "discovered" and is difficult on weekends, think of how much patience and skill it takes to deal with groggy patrons and turn out delicious, home made pastries fast enough for the hungry kids who flock to this place! The Besalu staff (and the husband and wife team who make the pastries) are amazing!!!

Pros: Best pastries this side of the Seine; patient, kind service

Cons: None (except for people who reserve seats before they've ordered on the weekends!)

06/07/2007 Posted by yakiya_no_yatchan

What delightful food!! When I arrived at the place, there already was a 5-person-line at the counter. So I got to have enough time to difficult decision, i.e. what to order. Given the place was fully seated (It is a small place), I ordered to go Strawberry Danish, which was just brought out to the case and my favorite, and Quiche Lorraine, which many of the other patrons seemed had been enjoying). I brought them home and had them with my home brewed mediocre cup of coffee. What delight, the food was!! The Danish was warm, the sweetness of strawberry was just right, and crust crispy & flaky. As I sink my teeth into it, I hear the light crumpling sound of the crust and felt the perfect resistance on my teeth. 4 minutes of bliss. Then, I moved onto Quiche. Another delight!! The flavor of the bacon perfectly matched scallion. I only regretted getting just one of each.

03/03/2007 Posted by dodgethis

Went to Cafe Besalu to pick up coffee and pastries to go. The line was out the door on a Saturday morning at 9AM. Took about 10 minutes to make it to the front, which was a bit annoying because it seemed like no one knew what they wanted when they were up to order. The pain au chocolat was the best I've had outside of Paris. Warm, buttery, flakey with slightly melted cholocate and a melt in your mouth consistancy with every bite. A bit on the smaller side for the slightly inflated price. I also tried a ham and swiss pastry which had a great texture with just the right amount of topping. The price was reasonable. The drip coffee was standard and nothing special. The store front was very loud and had a cramped feeling with all the people standing in the center erratically waiting in line. Trying to find a place to sit here on a crowded weekend morning seems like a heroic task. The staff was appropriate and courteous.

Pros: Delicious sweet and savory pastries rival even those in France; courteous service

Cons: A bit over-priced for some items; relatively long wait and very cramped when busy; street parking only

09/02/2006 Posted by sconey_mccheese

i have read the reviews of Cafe Besalu and was sort of weary to go ..... WHY did i wait so long?!? this is one of the best bakeries i have ever been to! if you are looking for a PERFECT CROISSANT, or a delicious ginger biscuit... GO TO BESALU! the ginger biscuits make me want to have a child so i can pack a lunch and include one. .. the mochas are fabulous, but the HAM and swiss pastries are my favorite savory item.! i cant wait to make the trip from renton to ballard again!!!!!!! this is one talented baker.

Pros: food, atmosphere, reasonably priced.

Cons: parking

08/31/2006 Posted by spicey1

I agree about the laptops. There are plenty of bigger coffee shops around who want laptop users: Java Bean, Caffe Fiore, Herkimer's. Besalu is not big enough for every customer to hang out for an hour hogging the table. The only problem with Besalu is everyone knows about it now and the lines are incredible. I've never seen children and babies anything but fully welcomed. Sometimes if babies are crying the parents, who are doing their best to survive, don't realize how it's affecting others. Usually Besalu is a nice lively mix of younger and older people from all neighborhoods. That one dude who got stared at probably didn't realize he had a large marmot on his head.

Pros: All puff pastry made from scratch.

Cons: Long lines unless you go before 8 or after noon (or on a week day).

08/09/2006 Posted by heidiprochnau

I have been going to Besalu for the past six years. I have never once felt like the staff were inconsiderate or rude. The person who thinks that the food is QFC quality obviously has no taste whatsoever. Seriously - you're a moron. Do you know how long it takes to make an authentic croissant? DAYS! And you can't part with 2 bucks? I'm pleased that you're no longer coming because that will make the line that much shorter. Also, Besalu is not a laptop cafe. In such a tiny place, clear out after 1/2 hour. Be sensible. Go to the library.

Pros: Delectible pastries and strong coffee

Cons: becoming so popular that the line can be out the door