Pantry by Marble — Restaurant in Gauteng

I desperately wanted Pantry to blow my mind, my honest thoughts are as follows; these thoughts are to hopefully build up the owners/management with some thoughts from an honest customer, who truly wishes to see this store thrive exponentially. I believe the idea of this bakery/cafe can be huge if it's managed "to the T".

▪︎ The grocery store part of the fuel station is phenomenal, and so many unique things even beat the fuel stations that have partnered with Woolworths. One can buy high-end cuts of meat here from Marble and even some delightful items from Babylonstoren. All around, the prices seem pretty fair, which is great to see. ▪︎ Now for the bakery side. If one cannot get the croissants right, then that is a big downfall; sure, the Swedish Cinnamon Muffin/Bun was delicious (the star of the day for me) but croissants were left wanting. Other than the below, I have attached a screenshot from Google about how the chocolate croissant should be.

1. The croissant dough/texture itself is a valiant effort, much better than 95% of other cafes, it needs to be a bit more flaky textured though, as one would find in a true French croissant, it currently has a very slight baguette texture. The chocolate croissant is not filled with chocolate paste. It has dashes of chocolate here and there(good quality chocolate), but the way it's placed is as one would see in a pain au chocolat. The chocolate is also not melted much. This results in quite a dry mouthful. Adding to the dryness is the unfortunate point which is, I highly doubt these croissants were baked this morning; we arrived at 9am, so we would expect if it was baked in the morning, they would definitely still be fresh. Croissants baked daily is a MUST and an expectation that we as consumers have for such a high-end bakery. I noticed other customers' reviews also stating that the pastries are not always fresh; possible that Pantry is trying to offer way too much variety in stead of focusing on fewer items but making those items irresistible and fresh.
2. My one chocolate croissant looked like it had been baked on a tray that had egg fluid on the bottom i.e., I had a layer of "scrambled egg" at the bottom of my chocolate croissant, which obviously wasn't very pleasant. This makes one wander if the QC control is at a pedantic level, which it should be, for such a celebrated bakery.
3. I am name-dropping here in order to provide ammunition for positive improvement. I would highly suggest that the owner purchase one of Woolworths' chocolate croissants in order to compare. Their filling is exceptional. Fournos would also be a suggestion to try and compare. ▪︎Staff - the staff at the coffee counter were great, the staff behind the serving tables seemed professional; my first interaction with a staff member near the baked goods in the middle isle was a little intimidating the member did not greet with a smile/no energy and didn't naturally suggest what their top sellers are or what they personally love (even when asked) this goes to show that they are not trained to entice customers to buy more than the customer was intending to buy. We should be so encouraged and amped up by the staff to buy, that we would even take out the credit card if necessary! I understand that the bakery staff keep close-by to perhaps avoid customers touching the baked goods but there is a fine line between being within a good distance to help a customer the moment they need it, to being intimidating and even possibly interrupting someone from buying. Visible kindness and happiness goes a long way. ▪︎ The coffee is pretty decent and strong, but not out of this world. Many folks seem to stop at the window to order their daily coffee which I guess is a good sign; however the coffee alone wouldn't entice me to visit again. ▪︎ There are many other baked goods here, even their pizza and bagels look positive. One can't try all the items at one sitting, but one would expect a fabulous croissant to draw you back a second time to try other things too, as the croissant should be a foundation item...

The world of modern retail is changing as we speak. Decades ago retailers had the power. Today it is consumers who have the power. The power to shop what we like, whenever we like, wherever we like, be it on our couches watching TV! Myself, together with my circle of family and friends visit stores for the experience. Being emotional shoppers, we are navigated by knowledgeable individuals who take the time to build and create deeper connections with us as shoppers. Many people do not realize that by turning customers into local advocates we end up paying more for the exceptional service and seamlessness. I am from Cape Town and visited your Pantry store a few days ago for the very first time. I was approached by Mohamed who im sure could tell by our body language that we were new and didn't know where to begin. He introduced himself as a Manager of the store and for our first time recommended what he called a "holistic Approach" to the store visit. Being an absolute master of the entire product range, right down to the ingredients, he started asking probing questions to enable him to make suitable offerings and recommendations. He started by taking us to the pasty section and gave us each a complimentary Lulu. He advised that this is one of the top iconic items of the store and customers buy these by the dozen. We were taken aback by the light fluffiness and ordered 12 of those. Next he took us to the Marble Foccacia and insisted we dipped it in your in-house lemon garlic butter and olive oil. Mohamed ensured the 2 we took were wrapped up properly in cling wrap. He even advised that because it has been sliced, it can be placed in zip lock bags and will be just as fresh when ready to use kn lightly toasting it. The pistacio croissants were up next and once again He insisted we had one on the house. He promised that these were the tastiest item on that table and truth be told, they really were. We took 6 of them! We asked about one or 2 other items and this is what awed me, Mohamed politely said "Ma'am , I haven't tasted that however I have noticed that customers tend to not purchase it as much or 'i have tired them, however I personally would rather go for something else. Authentic selling is a rare find in retail. And the significance of authentic selling is so underrated. We as customers trust, value and appreciate you more by selling with your heart. Mohamed is one such individual who sells with his heart. Not for any profitable gain, but for the pure enjoyment of the customer looking to be amazed and tantalized. He took us on a story telling of the wood fired pizza from the flour to the milling to the mozzarella and why its the most Italian tasting pizza you will taste in JHB. We were then brought small scoops of your famous Dubai icecream with the sauce which was the highlight of our visit. Mohamed insisted we take home a Tony's Chocolate and Hazelnut bar, of which he gave a money back guarantee , promising it was the best I would have tasted... all the way from Belgium. And indeed it was. These are the experiences I live for. The experiences that linger, the experiences Im excited to relate to others. Well Done Mohamed! You touched and captivated me like...

⭐ General Overview

If you’re ever in Rosebank and want to step into a space that feels like a curated Pinterest board come to life, Pantry by Marble is it. Located right at the Sasol Filling Station on Jan Smuts Ave, this spot is effortlessly chic, modern, and a total gem whether you’re grabbing something on the go or sitting down for a quick break.

They offer a wide variety of options, from fresh pastries and artisanal sandwiches to smoothies, milkshakes, and hot drinks. It’s a space that works for everyone — solo visits, coffee catch-ups, or quick family stops.

The only drawback is the parking — since it’s at a petrol station, parking is limited and can be tricky, especially during peak times. I didn’t drive on the day I visited, but I could see how finding a spot might take a bit of patience.

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🌿 Atmosphere

The atmosphere is one of the biggest highlights. It’s aesthetically beautiful — clean, curated, and designed with intention. Think minimalist elegance with warm, welcoming touches. It has a calm but stylish energy that makes it feel like an escape, even though it’s tucked inside a busy service station.

Whether you’re sitting inside or just browsing the shelves, it feels elevated. Definitely a space you’ll want to take pictures in — and maybe a few selfies while you’re at it.

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🍽️ Food & Drinks

The food selection is impressive for such a compact space. They’ve got: • Freshly made sandwiches and wraps • Pastries and baked goods • Ice cream for a sweet treat • Smoothies, milkshakes, and a selection of hot drinks

It’s ideal for a light bite, a coffee run, or even picking up something quick before hitting the road. Everything looked fresh and thoughtfully put together. Presentation is a big deal here — and they do it well.

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🤝 Service

Service was friendly and efficient. Despite the flow of people coming in and out, the staff handled things with ease. I felt welcomed, and even though it’s a “grab-and-go” type of setup, there’s a sense of calm and care in how everything’s run.

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👶🏽 Kid-Friendliness

Surprisingly kid-friendly! The ice cream counter alone makes it a hit with little ones, and the layout is easy to navigate even with a stroller or toddler in tow. It’s not a play space, but it’s inviting enough for a quick stop with kids — and the sweet treats don’t hurt either.

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🥛 Dietary Restrictions

One thing to note — they didn’t have non-dairy options available when I visited. This was a bit of a letdown, especially since so many people are either lactose-intolerant or dairy-free by choice these days. If you’re vegan or avoiding dairy, your drink options may be limited, so keep that in mind when planning a visit.

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Final Thoughts

Would I go back? Absolutely. Already planning my next visit. It’s a stylish, well-thought-out spot that brings a little luxury to everyday stops. Just be prepared for parking challenges and maybe call ahead to check on non-dairy options if that’s a need.

✔️ Aesthetic & beautiful ✔️ Variety of food and drink options ✔️ Ice cream = kid-approved ✖️ Parking is a challenge ✖️ No dairy-free milk...