Terrapin Bakery — Restaurant in Cleveland

The little bakery that could, punching well above its weight class amongst giants like Bigmouth, Goldie's, and Brewnuts. The humble storefront would be easy to miss despite being near a heavily trafficked intersection off highway 71, were it not for the DONUTS flag eagerly waving down passerby. To park, you can risk it on the street right in front of the entrance, or go behind the building where their small private lot is. There's some standing room and a few seats to sip your coffee and munch, but it's mostly a takeaway operation.

There's a reason why the donuts tend to run out early, and you'll be well-advised to show up before 10AM if you want your pick of whatever 10+ flavors they have on a given day. While they play around with seasonal flavors, the staples like vanilla, chocolate, and maple exist perennially. My favorite, lemon lavender, fortunately also does. What sets the dough apart is how substantive each bite is, without being too dense like Brewnuts or collapsing immediately like the big chains.

Breakfast sandos are another tasty treat, but I have not brought myself to fork over the cash to try their breakfast burritos yet. The rest of the bakery items are okay, their cinnamon rolls and cakes not having reached the same level of perfection as the donuts have. My friend had a custom carrot cake ordered and while tasty, it was pretty sweet and HEA-VY.

Nonetheless, it feels good shopping here because it feels homey, in the way that an old school donut shop should. Everyone is friendly, easygoing, and just wants to make...

You know how many egg/breakfast sandwiches are kinda messy, or possess overcooked dry eggs / too much bread, or are otherwise completely uninspired? THIS IS NOT THAT. Terrapin's various egg and cheese sandos are so obviously crafted with thought, skill and care that i nearly cried tears of joy. Beautiful, lofty, homemade golden brioche bun was exactly the right size for a perfect scramble of creamy eggs and cheese, and mine came with a nice tangy schmear of pesto. Both iced and hot coffees were expertly made and properly robust. But ALSO THESE COOKIES ARE INSANE. Impulse-bought an enormous oatmeal cookie whoopee pie (like a Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme, but SO. Much. Better.), the best dessert I've had in a long time. The staff and customers clearly have a real love for this place and this neighborhood, which imparts a very charming community sensibility that you want from your local coffee shop. Plus, an incredible mural in the restroom! This is a super...

Stayed the night in Cleveland on our way from Nashville to Rochester, NY. Wanted something good, local and quality for breakfast. Bingo. Terrapin—you gotta go here. Well, only if you like an amazing breakfast sandwich with homemade bun/brioche or the best damn cinnamon rolls and donuts this side of Alaska. Damn it. I already want more but there’s just no room left. Can you be satisfied and still want more? Terrapin will help you answer this question. Beside the high-quality, deliciousness at Terrapin, the customer service is personal. The owner made our coffee and he is just one of those guys that you want to own a bakery. He makes it seem easy but his heart and soul are in it big time. Super nice guy—not in a hurry, great hospitality and just a cool dude. The woman at the front counter is quirky and fun. She will get you what you want and lead you to the best options to meet your needs. Like I said, you gotta go here if you are...