Bartholomew Bakery — Restaurant in Vaughan

I often stop by this spot as it is right beside my work - I always encourage my own customers waiting for their vehicles to be serviced to give this place a try and I always hear positive things.

From the moment one steps into Barthalmeow’s Bakery, it’s evident that service here is not merely a function but an experience. The staff operate with a rare blend of alacrity and precision, a symphony of efficiency that remains undeterred regardless of the throng of eager patrons crowding the counter. Even during peak hours, when the line snakes toward the door and the air hums with anticipation, the team maintains an unflappable professionalism. Orders are taken with a brisk yet courteous demeanor, executed with a meticulousness that ensures every request—no matter how particular—is met with exacting accuracy. It’s a marvel to witness such seamless orchestration, a testament to a crew that thrives under pressure without sacrificing an ounce of hospitality. This service sets the stage for the bakery’s culinary triumphs, chief among them the croissants. These are not mere pastries but edible sculptures—each a golden crescent of perfection, boasting a crisp, flaky exterior that yields to a tender, butter-laden core. The lamination is flawless, a delicate interplay of texture and richness that lingers on the palate, marking them as a benchmark for the craft. Equally compelling is the latte, a study in balance and refinement. The espresso cuts through with a bold, nuanced depth, tempered by steamed milk that achieves a silken consistency, its microfoam crown a subtle nod to the barista’s skill. Together, croissant and latte form a pairing so harmonious it feels almost predestined, a duo that elevates the morning ritual into a moment of quiet indulgence. Barthalmeow’s Bakery distinguishes itself not just through its offerings but through its unwavering commitment to excellence in every facet of the experience. The ambiance, though secondary to the food, carries a understated charm—clean lines and warm tones that invite lingering without distraction. Yet it’s the consistency that truly impresses; whether one visits at the crack of dawn or amidst the midday rush, the quality remains unassailable. This is a haven where speed and artistry coexist, where the hurried pace of modern life is met with a steadfast dedication to getting it right—every single time. For those who value precision as much as flavor, Barthalmeow’s is not just a bakery; it’s a...

Who would have thought that from an industrial area of Vaughan would originate such delicious bread and viennoisseries? Bartholomew Bakery has been baking bread, cookies and pastries as a wholesaler for other GTA cafés and businesses since before pandemic. During the pandemic they branched out into social media and contactless deliveries, which is how I first encountered them. Several months ago they closed that delivery side of their business and are firmly based now out of their brick and mortar bakery.

The bakery is fairly sizeable but the actual customer/retail space is small. With distancing observed, about 5-6 people can be accommodated in the space but there is no seating available.

We visited on a Saturday at 1:30pm. While they were sold out of loaves of bread, they still had a decent selection of their pastries including two kinds of caneles, a few savoury croissants, pain au chocolat, twice baked almond croissant, and a London Fog croissant. They also sell savoury and sweet pies. We purchased the three latter treats as well as a coffee canele and an americano with oat milk.

Americano: They use Demelo coffee. The americano was nice and strong but the flavours were rounded out by the oat milk.

Coffee canele: Enjoyed the caramelized exterior and soft interior, with a generous amount of coffee custard within the canele. Delicious!

Pain au chocolat: This was pretty sizeable. I appreciate the design of the pastry, and the presence of a not just one but a few pieces of dark chocolate.

Twice baked almond croissant: This is huge, and filled with a very generous amount of almond paste and sliced almonds on top! When warmed up gently in the oven, the exterior crisped up while enhancing the sweetness, nuttiness and butteriness of the croissant.Two thumbs up!

London Fog croissant: This was amazing! I really enjoyed the strong earl grey custard cream contained within the croissant. The rich cream topping the croissant had a sprinkle of either nutmeg or pumpkin spice and was not sweet, but IMO there was just too much of it. Highly recommend this!

Will definitely be back to try more of their breads and...

I forget how I initially learned of Bartholomew, but it's been closer to a year now that I've been trying (and failing) to make it out. Well, today was finally the day, and wow, I was blown away by all that I had. The classic croissant, which was what I was most eager to try (being something of a croissant connoisseur), was the perfect marriage of flakey, crispy, and doughy. So often with these artisanal/small batch spots, I've found the croissants lean too much in the direction of overly flakey/crispy... and while I certainly appreciate those traits, I definitely also want some doughiness/chew, and Bartholomew's croissant, again, achieves the perfect balance. Next time I'll be sure to try the double-baked almond and/or pistachio croissants, though I generally prefer a plain one (or a savoury cheese one, which I didn't see on offer). We also had the espresso croissant and apple crumble cheesecake, both of which were spectacular and not overly-sweet, which I really appreciated. I'm actually super keen to try the orange chocolate danish next time- as a fan of Terry's (chocolate oranges), that sounds right up my alley. Finally, the mortadella pistachio sandwich... wow, the star of the show for me (okay, tied with the classic croissant)... It's not necessarily a big bold flavour type sandwich, but is more about texture and subtlety, but of course still offers an array of great, complimentary, flavours. The bread was absolutely perfect, and the marriage of thin-sliced/shaved mortadella with the pistachios and the, not sure what it was, burrata? Man, what a dynamite combo- easily a new favourite sandwich of mine in the 416/905. Definitely looking forward to exploring other sandwiches here, but also more of their savoury items in general. Really glad to have finally made it over today, and await my next visit with baited breath- perhaps a sandwich + danish tomorrow, as I'm staying around the corner for the next little while. Brilliant spot, and (so far) much prefer it to the products at Amadeus, which were the nearest comparison by where I lived (though they also had a vast array of cakes and...