Proof Bakery — Restaurant in Los Angeles

WHAT DID I GET: A slice of the chocolate espresso cake, a slice of the vanilla passionfruit cake, and a cornmeal thumbprint cookie.

HOW WAS IT: Incredibly delicious! The cake at this place is what you eat when it's your birthday, or you just got that promotion, or if you just need something to make you smile.

The vanilla passionfruit cake had a great balance between sweetness and acidity, and the passionfruit gave it a really pleasant, but not over-powering, tanginess that gave the cake a really vibrant flavor.

The chocolate espresso cake had such deep and complex layers of flavors, and you can really taste all of the ingredients that went into this cake. It was rich, decadent and sophisticated.

The cornmeal thumbprint was truly a unique cookie; I'd never had a cornmeal cookie before. But this one was really good! It was kind of a soft-chew, which I liked, and it was moist but not to the point where it just turned into bread. It had a really pleasant texture, and the taste was simple, delicious, and very satisfying; biting into this cookie felt like going to visit your grandparents on the weekend when you were a kid...it just made you feel really happy and safe and warm.

HOW MUCH DID IT COST: All together, it was a little under $16.

WOULD I COME BACK/RECOMMEND THIS PLACE: Absolutely to both! This is one of the best bakeries/cafes that I've been to in a while, and the food here is great and the service is very friendly. Next time, though, I'll also have to check out their drink menu. The only criticism of this place is that the seating is pretty limited, but that's also partly because it's a pretty...

I like Proof Bakery. These are the crispiest croissants ever. My fave is the chocolate croissant (3.75). I've tried the almond and didn't like it as much. Just go for the chocolate or plain.

Ham sandwich 8 - tiny and pricy! It's worth trying and is extremely delicious but 8!? The bread has big chunks of sea salt on top. It's more pretzel than baguette. Really chewy and salted. It's so good!! But so expensive!

Rugelach 1.5 - this is a tiny crispy croissant with nuts and sugar inside. Kinda like a french baklava. Two bites and it's gone. Kinda pricy but interesting.

Ginger molasses cookies 2 - kinda dry. Not as chewy as I wanted it to be. Crisp on the edges. Shortening cookie so it scares me a little bit.

Chocolate chip 2 - prob the best chocolate chip cookie I've ever had. Crisp edges, chewy center. Chocolate throughout the cookie. Flat and wide. Not too sweet but sprinkled with sea salt anyway to make it even tastier. Dear god my mouth is watering as I write this. I've got to get one tomorrow. Do not leave without buying a chocolate chip cookie. It's the iconic chocolate chip cookie done well.

Gougeres 2 - gooood. These are cream puffs mixed with cheese and black pepper. So gooood. Crisp on the outside, eggy and soft in the center. Soooooo gooooood. Get 2 cuz I bought one then went back for another because gluttony.

Street metered parking but if pull into the neighborhood...

Pistachio Raspberry Cake - 5 🌟! Almond Financier - 5 🌟! Chocolate Chip Cookie - 5 🌟!

One visit to Proof Bakery was all it took to make me a lifelong fan. It was incredible!

I had stopped somewhere else for lunch, not realizing they had deli sandwiches serve French Bakery style (wrapped in wax paper and ready to eat). So I will be back for one of those tasty looking sandwiches soon.

Instead, I focused on their baked goods, and I can honestly say that the three items I had were some of the best baked goods I have ever had, and that is not hyperbole.

The pistachio raspberry cake was perfection in a cake slice. The layers all had their own distinct flavors. The icing was sweet but not overpowering. Combined, it was a beautiful blend of tastes and textures. I think I know where I'll be getting a birthday cake this year...

Then I tried the almond financier, and my tastebuds were in heaven. I love a good creme based desert, and this one features a sweet, fluffy almond creme inside a light and flaky almond pastry.

I finished things off with a chocolate chip cookie. It was amazing as well.

It is going to be dangerous for me with a bakery this amazing this close to my home. Also, my dad will love that it is a co op, worker owned place. The world needs a lot more...