Stick Boy Bread Company — Restaurant in Boone

I'd never visited the original Stick Boy (just the one other location found in Fuquay-Varina) so when I was planning a visit to Boone, had to make sure I stopped in the bakery first thing. I was warmly greeted by the smell of yeasty breads and indeed the bakery racks were filled with freshly baked loaves of many grains and various shapes. The bakery cases offered pastry treats and I had just a short wait in line before I could place my order, which worked out well since there were shelves of prepared foods (jams, honey, spreads, granola and the like and Raleigh-based Larry's Beans coffee!) I could peruse while waiting (I picked up a small bag of Stick Boy peanut brittle). When I reached the pastry case, I picked out a cream cheese covered cinnamon bun and ordered an eggnog latte, served in short time. The only draw back (for me) was that there was no seating inside, no place to sit and sip my eggnog latte and eat my ginormous cinnamon bun while taking in the Boone scenery. But I understand Stick Boy's opened a full service restaurant nearby... reason to go...

Overall good establishment. Employees are kind, efficient, and are eager to help out.

However, this place is a bread bakery, and I'm disappointed to say that they seem to have been paying much less attention to the bread quality in recent years. Yes, the bread is good, but no better than bread you could get from LaBrea at HT or Publix Bakery bread. This wasn't the case 2-3 years ago.

Stick boy bread was something special and unfortunately that special touch to the bread seems to be slipping away. If a bit more detail was paid in mind to the bread making, (possibly cut down on making a million other bakery items, maybe leave the novelty pastries and coffee to stick boy kitchen, and keep the cookies and bread/simple coffee brewing to the bread co.) I feel like that special "pizazz" would return soon.

However, that's just my take. I'm not a bread maker or a bread expert, this is just a pattern I've noticed as of late. I say this to be constructive, as I know the ownership cares greatly about the future of this establishment and...

I was visiting Boone for a week and stopped here on a whim. I was so pleased with the experience that I went back four more times during my vacation, including a stop on my way out of town that added 30mins to my drive home! Needless to say, I'm a big fan.

I got their seasonal gingerbread drink and an assortment of pastries each time. The chocolate hazelnut galette is so rich and satisfying (and huge! definitely shareable or a eat over 2 days endeavor).The scones were a less sweet, but just as delicious option. And the almond croissant was sold out on two of my visits, but I was lucky enough to snag it on my other two visits. The pastries were all fresh and clearly made with love.

The staff was friendly and helpful, and the store seemed to be covid compliant, only allowing 5 customers in at a time. They asked me to wait outside a couple times so they could keep things moving.

I will visit here every time I come to Boone and I recommend you...