Downtown Bakery & Creamery — Restaurant in Healdsburg

Confessions of a Pastry Fiend: My Downfall (and Triumph) at the Downtown Bakery & Creamery

Rain pattered outside, drumming a melody of comfort food cravings. Healdsburg Plaza beckoned, and nestled within its embrace, the Downtown Bakery & Creamery whispered sweet nothings (of pastry, naturally). We'd admired it from afar on past visits, but today, curiosity and rumbling stomachs took the lead.

I, in my infinite wisdom (or perhaps denial), thought a biscotti with my chamomile tea sufficed. Pistachio and cherry, it promised, and oh, how it delivered! One bite and I was Alice tumbling down a delicious rabbit hole, compelled to sample every sugary wonder within reach. Macarons that sang opera in my mouth! Almond tarts that waltzed on my taste buds! I was a pastry puppet, strings controlled by the friendly lady at the counter, who, bless her soul, kept whispering, "Just one more..."

But alas, even my bottomless pit of a stomach has limits (although, admittedly, those limits get blurry around macarons). I emerged victorious (mostly), vowing to return on a sunny day. Then, with a coffee in hand and a sugar-powered skip in my step, I'd conquer those park benches, one pastry sample at a time. Trust me, the crumbs tell a delicious tale.

So, dear reader, if you find yourself in Healdsburg, heed my warning: the Downtown Bakery & Creamery is a siren song of butter and sugar. Resist at your peril (but don't say I...

Nope, not a good experience for us, I would like to forgive them and remember it being a one-off simple basic mistake, but, being in the food industry ourselves, and expecting something exceptional for such a rated café, in HEALDSBURG, wow, not good, three mistakes. We needed to take away so we could get to a local baseball game, so we got a mocha and a tea and a sausage sandwich or something and a bagel with cream cheese and jelly. Arriving at the game, we eagerly settled into our meal. Wow, no cream cheese on my bagel and the fig jelly was just water, I had to put that aside, mistake 1. The sandwich had so much grease dripping off it we had to put that aside too, mistake 2. At least the drinks were fine, but obviously we went hungry. When the game was over, we returned to the store, explained to them the situation, at least we got our money back, but no apology, no sincere regret or embarrassment, mistake 3. Two stars because it is really a great place inside, there were many other satisfied patrons, our drinks were fine and we got our money back...

We've been coming here for years because their food is really tasty. Unfortunately, today was the last time we ever set foot in the place because they seem to have forgotten what customer service is all about. My wife and I came in for some breakfast, with our 2 year old son, only to be turned away because the line cook didn't feel like making one more breakfast order. The fella to my left had just ordered his and was waiting for what was to be the last order of the day. So we walked down to the Donut Shop a block away, which was happy to serve us a meal, was cheaper, and also delicious. I doubt this review will make the owners of this place reconsider their approach because tourists will continue to come in droves, at least so long as the economy remains on the up-swing and visitors continue to spend money. But what goes up must come down. It remains to be seen whether this place can weather another economic slump when the tourists stop coming, given that they obviously no longer care what their once-loyal...