The Place Bakery — Restaurant in Camden

The Place Is the Place (and Not Just Because My Mom Said So)

Let me be honest: when my mom first told me about “The Place,” I genuinely thought she was having a senior moment. “What place?” “The Place.” “…What place?” “The Place, Steve.”

We were one croissant away from full Abbott and Costello territory—until I realized The Place is actually the name of the bakery. And honestly? They could’ve called it Heaven’s Flakiest Gift to Earth and still underpromised.

My mom found out about this place right after it opened. She’s not one to chase trends—she chases craftsmanship. Pastries aren’t staples to her. They’re art. Growing up, my dad and I would scour bakeries around the world to find something worthy of bringing her for breakfast. It was tradition. It was love. It was a quest.

Now I live on the West Coast, but every Saturday morning I get a phone call with the enthusiasm of someone hitting the lottery: “I GOT THE KOUIGN-AMANN!!” The joy in her voice? Palpable. Like someone told her the Beatles were getting back together—and bringing pastries.

As she’s been adjusting to life without my dad, The Place became more than a bakery. It became a ritual. A bright spot. A little miracle wrapped in brown paper and laminated dough.

And when I visited recently—wow. She’d saved some of the pastries for me. Some were frozen (with care), others fresh. I’ve worked in restaurants, I’ve had my fair share of “good” pastries… but this? This was next level. One bite and I realized: I’ve been tastebud-deprived for years.

Chelsea and Chris aren’t just bakers—they’re emotional architects. What they make aren’t just pastries. They’re time machines. Love letters. Comfort food. Edible symphonies - wrapped in sugar and butter.

If you’re local, you already know you’re lucky. If you’re visiting? Cancel your other plans. Join the line. Wait patiently. Smile wide. You’re about to be handed something that’ll not only make your week—it’ll reset your pastry standards for life.

In a world that’s too fast, too filtered, and too fake… The Place is real. It’s personal. It’s extraordinary.

—Steve Linder (and one very, very happy...

Holy. Cow. The pastries here are some of the best I have ever had and I live down the street from Alon's, and often get to nibble at Bouchon in Yountville, CA. This is a tiny shop utilizing hyper local ingredients and is only open F, S, S from 9a until sold out. My group tried the ham and cheese croissant, almond croissant, passionfruit cruffin, greens & cheese croissant, croissant cinnamon bun, and blueberry hand pie. The coffee is robust and delicious with organic half and half offered (thank you for that!) Absolutely delicious. Be there at 9am because when they say "'til sold out" they mean it - everything was gone in and hour and a...

This review is superfluous because it seems as if everyone has already captured the perfection of The Place Bakery. My only fear is that one will drive by it as it is somewhat hidden from the road. But the pastries are sublime, crumble , crunch, melt in your mouth delights . The sweetness ratio reminds me of the best I ever had in France ( re: pan au chocolates, almond croissants, cookies …) . The breads , again, are that impossible to achieve balance of external crunch , moist interior with air/butter pockets surprising each bite. Yes, I said “moist”...