Bandit Pâtisserie — Restaurant in Birmingham

Heard about, stopped to check it out, left without. Let me explain further as I hope to provide some influence so as to help out the owner by seeing this business from one customers eyes. I am not a chef, nor have I owned a restaurant, but I do love to eat and eat in comfort. Fortunately I travel every year to Europe for three week trips cycling around the mountains from Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Spain, etc. Stayed well over 100 different small villages with each village having wonderful bakeries, sometimes across the street from one another. Enough of my consumer background. Up till recently the only place in BHM I have found a Croissant to be equal to a mid level European baked croissant has been from Continental Bakery, their pretty close to a few of the best I have eaten and they are the (or were) the most expensive. Wake up 5am shower, go across the street and get a few treats before breakfast and a coffee. My best and worse experience was in Vassieux-en-Vercors France. My room was next the bakery so at 3:00 am I was awakened by whirring noises, banging and then later wonderful aromas, but by 6 am I was eating some wonderful bread, albeit tired from a 14 hour day of cycling and starting another one after breakfast. Okay back to Bandit, I pop in around 10am, 1 couple in line in front of me, three people behind the counter, no one says hello, and after standing there for 5 mins waiting on couple to order I happen to look up to see the price of the Croissants I want to order, 4/4.5 per. I thought a min about what I was doing, waiting to order a product I have not tried yet and paying 3.5 times more than I pay when I am cycling around the Mountains in Europe. I left and went up the street to HERO Doughnuts, prompt and friendly service as is usual, and I was a HERO when I arrived home with them for my wife. Hurrah! All customers want to be recognized, greeted, made to feel at home. Even if the food is marginal I will and most will return. Same thing applies to patients, most folk feel they have great care when their pillow gets fluffed, sheets are clean, room is clean and nurses have a smile and they give you a knowing look that says I am doing the best I can for you. When your not seen or recognized by the staff,,,,,,you feel like no one. The No ones stop buying your stuff or in my case never do or get a chance to because they leave. Likely will come back since my young cycling buds stop by and hope to get a better experience. Good Luck to the owners I hope to try again...

I very much enjoy this place and want it to succeed. The pastries are great. The pastries offered at other coffee shops around Birmingham don’t come close. They really do a fine job and I’m always pleased with the flavor and freshness of them. I don’t have much negative to talk about, but there are just a few tiny details I feel would make the Bandit more comfortable.

The place is very small, and I know there isn’t much they can do about that. However, more and more comfortable outdoor seating may be a worthy addition to bring customers in.

The pastries are big, which is nothing to complain about, but the paper plates provided are too small for them. Admittedly, a paper plate isn’t necessarily what I’d hope for and doesn’t really match the atmosphere, but I understand you’d like to keep tasks minimal for the employees, especially if you only have one working the counter. At the least, a slightly larger plate (paper or not) perhaps would save some employee time because there won’t be so many pastry crumbs on the table or on the floor.

I’m sad to see the espresso machine go. There isn’t much room for it, and I know there’s now more room for pastries which is likely more profitable, but nothing pairs with pastry like espresso. Drip coffee, cold brew, and matcha are good but for the quality I believe the Bandit is shooting for, espresso is imperative. It’s also tough for me to wrap my head around paying $3-4 for something like drip coffee when I’m aware of the minimal effort required and how insanely cheap it is to make, even more so than espresso. It’s a remainder on the menu that’s a sad placeholder for what once was espresso! Perhaps a machine in the back and a second employee could bring this back.

Again, I’m always pleased with the Bandit and I think it’s a great addition to downtown Birmingham. My trivial recommendations are easily forgotten with the first bite of any of their pastries. Please give the place...

We stopped by Bandit Patisserie and were immediately impressed by how immaculate the place was. The setting is clean, modern, and inviting..just the kind of atmosphere you want to enjoy a good pastry and coffee.

Ann Martin, who was behind the counter, greeted us with a warm smile and made some great suggestions. They were running a buy one pastry, get a drip coffee free special, which we gladly took advantage of. My brother asked if it applied to iced coffee, but it didn’t. No big deal.. we ordered, sat down, and enjoyed some truly incredible pastries. The savory Danish was perfect, and the homemade strawberry pop tart was simply fantastic.

What really made the experience memorable, though, was Ann Martin’s kindness. Later on, she came over with an iced coffee, explaining that she’d be tossing it out the next day and remembered my brother asking about it earlier. She offered it to him for free.. a small gesture that spoke volumes about how much they care about their customers and community. She didn’t have to do it, but she did, and it genuinely made our day.

It’s rare to find a place that not only serves amazing pastries but also leaves you feeling this welcomed and appreciated. Bandit Patisserie is a gem, and Ann Martin’s thoughtfulness is the perfect example of why this spot deserves every bit of praise it gets. Highly recommend stopping by,you won’t just leave with great pastries, you’ll leave...