Rila Bakery & Cafe — Restaurant in Lynnwood

An Honest Review (From My Perspective)

Rila Bakery & Cafe is a small business with a lot of potential. The business is known for its specialties, including croissants, scones, and cookies baked in-house each day, and special teas, notably milk tea and boba.

The store's general atmosphere is quaint and almost relaxing. I could definitely envision myself or anyone else I know enjoying a cup of coffee or tea before continuing to work later on, or as a gathering place for friends and family on the weekend.

Baked goods, as mentioned previously, are the store's pride and joy. Every day, before and after hours, the owner is in the back kitchen working hard on his various croissants and scones, and it appears to pay off. It's easy to see that, in each pastry, there is a labor of love at play. My only issue is less with the goods themselves and more with the fact that they aren't assumed to be heated up; That you must request yourself at the counter or register. Even something such as a ham and Swiss cheese croissant is given not heated, and though it can be eaten safely as such, a couple minutes in the oven would go a long way.

Let's talk coffee. Rila does offer various familiar espresso beverages, especially lattes, Americanos, and even caramel macchiatos. I happened to order the latter iced, and found it to be less sweet than expected, although I do not personally blame the barista. I believe Rila uses a different recipe than other cafes to get a more strong, coffee-centric taste with the caramel hitting dead last. This I was less than impressed by all the same. I also recall another time when an acquaintance of mine had ordered an Americano with heavy cream, and the cream happened to be somewhat curdled, though this could also have been a one-time occurrence. I am quite perplexed, however, by the lack of any sugar-free syrup options. Even a single bottle of sugar-free vanilla, a staple of any cafe, would certainly be a welcome addition.

Finally, I need to talk about the interpersonal human connection... and the lack thereof. On the part of those up front, especially baristas, the connection is very good and amiable! The barista(s) is/are quick with their beverages and even bring your items out to where you are seated, truly going the extra mile. On the part of the owner, however, I cannot say the same. I understand he is oftentimes concentrating on baking in the kitchen and overall running his business how he likes and feels necessary, but only occasionally have I heard a "Hello" or "Welcome" from where he stands. When I entered, he paid little attention or acknowledgement to me as a customer, which left an admittedly sour taste in my mouth. Another thing that leaves me wanting more is the fact that the customer's name is never asked, such as is the case at a major chain like Starbucks. Even regular customers seldom get first-name recognition, and none of the workers even wear nametags, making it difficult to develop a proper connection.

*I'd like to reiterate, this review is based entirely on my OWN personal experience as a customer, and as someone who knows the establishment inside and out. Others may not agree or have the same experience, but I felt it was only necessary to have my peace be known. Final verdict: 2 out of 5 stars, but I would vote 2.5 if I could.

Wishing everyone working at Rila the best of luck...

Finally.

I wonder often how any one coffee shop in the over-served Seattle coffee scene can differentiate itself from its many competitors. Just about the lot of them start with more similarities than differences: excellent and yummy coffee, tasty food and treats, plenty of comfortable seats (with tables to work on at length, should you choose to linger), and a friendly ambiance.

Rila Bakery & Cafe adds a new dimension, a startling design ethic that differs dramatically from other coffee houses; contemporary but with none of the 'chill' such style can provoke. Rila is warm and welcoming; open, bright, and inviting. I could, rather effortlessly, linger for hours.

Rila also is the type of cafe Edmonds needs, even yearned for, without perhaps having realized the lack. One visit should convince you to frequent Rila to enjoy its tasty goodies and ambiance. We shared an extraordinary coffee cake, very light on sugar which served to enhance its flavor -- and then fought over which of us would eat the crumbs that remained. Next visit we will order two...

Love the cozy, calm vibes of this place and the friendly, patient staff. I have a particular food allergy and they've always been accommodating with double checking whether anything I'm buying has that ingredient in it (because I've learned the hard way when I was younger that it can appear in even the most unexpected and unlikely foods :S - better safe than sorry!)

Their pastries are delicious - my favorites so far are their almond and pistachio croissants (not the flat ones, have yet to try those). The filling inside is sooooo good, and it's not cloyingly sweet either. I also like the mushroom gruyere, very flaky and savory. I haven't been too adventurous with my coffee choices but their iced lattes have never disappointed me.

And yes, as others have pointed out + typical with bakeries, if you're not going in the morning, you'll probably have fewer options to pick from with the more popular choices sold out for the day by then, even...