Ovenbird Bakery — Restaurant in Baltimore

On a Saturday morning looking for breakfast I found this little spot. It’s small on the inside with a few workers behind the counter. I was not greeted even though one of the people behind the counter looked me right in the eye but didn’t say a word to me. I perused the items in the display case as the same employee stood and watched. When I asked for the mushroom, spinach and gruyere quiche another employee stepped to the register to take my order. She asked if I would like anything else. I then inquired about the morning glory muffin. She told me what was in the muffin and I joked “You had me until bran” as I looked at the display again. Neither of the two employees at the counter offered any suggestions, though I clearly was interested in getting an additional item. A third employee, nice young lady with glasses and a nose ring, who was farther back from the counter said she really likes the crostatas, which was what I looking at. I took her advice and ordered one of those as well, plum and ginger. I paid and received the crostata and said thank you. I didn’t get a “you’re welcome” or a “thank you”. I perused the community bulletin board as I waited for my quiche to be toasted. They offer free water from a dispenser (a nice touch) and I refilled my cup of water. When my name was called for my quiche I received it from a fourth employee. I said thank you and again I didn’t get a “you’re welcome” or a “thank you”. The quiche was delicious, though maybe a shorter time toasting and it would have been perfect. The crostata was delicious as well. I try to support small businesses as much as possible and I chose this place as opposed to Starbucks, which is closer to my new job. I’m very big on customer service. Employee number three made it a four star experience. A simple greeting or a “thank you” would have made...

What an incredible spot! Okay, here we go:

Let's talk wait time -- the other reviews say to go early to avoid lines and I'd absolutely agree with that. But we were lazy this morning. We got there around 11am on a Sunday and it took 20-30 min to get to the counter to order. The efficiency once you get there? Above par. They have a person on hand that only handles the items in the pastry display. Then you order any other items from the person handling the POS. Once we ordered, it took less than 5 min to get our two drinks and two bagel sandwiches!

Drinks -- I ordered the Cinnamon Pear London Fog and my boyfriend got the drip coffee with pumpkin spice and a splash of milk. I don't think I have ever finished a drink as fast as I finished that London Fog. My goodness, it was delicious. My boyfriend is often hesitant to get pumpkin flavored coffee drinks but he says it's the perfect ratio of pumpkin to coffee. I allowed him only one sip of my London Fog....no more.

Savory Food -- I got the everything bagel sandwich with sausage, egg, and cheese while my bf got the same thing with bacon. We both agree that the everything bagel sandwiches are EVERYTHING. Even after the ~8 min walk back to his apartment, the sandwiches were still warm and soft and incredible. Beautifully baked bagels. Wonderfully seasoned.

Sweet Food -- We ordered the very last toffee pistachio white chocolate cookie and the honey pound cake. I can absolutely see why there was only one cookie left because wow, was it good! It had some salt flakes on top... chef's kiss! The honey pound cake was perfectly sweet. Not too much! I don't love pound cake but it spoke to me and it was certainly worth it.

Last words -- anyone that gives this place anything less than 5 stars is crazy and you shouldn't listen to...

I go to ovenbird weekly. Their beads and baked goods are outstanding.

The breads are rustic and full bodied. They have an assortment of sourdough. Wile I try to eat them quickly, they do last. After a couple of days in a PAPER bag they just need refreshing in a toaster oven. If you keep them in the plastic bag they usually put the breads, the crust loses its crunch. The focaccia is superb but only stays fresh overnight at most. But even stale, just heat it in the oven and pour tomato or pasta sauce over it.

Their baked goods are uniformly outstanding quality. Their quiches are delicious, my favorite being the mushroom over the spinach. Cookies are dense and rich. The mosaic cake is crazy good and one slice is enough to put 2 people in a stupor.

Not all is perfection but that is mostly my taste. The rye is too heavy and the scones, while yummy, are not very scone like. I was not a fan of the meatballs.

They pull a mean cappuccino. And their bagel and lox sandwich is great.

Super...