Jen's Pastries — Restaurant in Portland

I was so excited to try this place after a food blogger raved about it. I got there at 9am (time of opening) and there was already a line of people. You do not come inside since the place is too small. You wait outside, order outside and wait for your order outside too I ordered a lot since I wanted to try many items and see if I should come back: I ordered 4 different croissants: roasted pumpkin, almond, raspberry and crufdin. All were 4 out of 10. The worst was pumpkin (I love pumpkin so ordered anything that has pumpkin) and goat cheese one. You can tell it was made a while back, super dry, tasteless pumpkin filling seating on top of the croissant layers. Almond one has an ok paste inside but the outer shell is super dry. The freshest one was the cream cheese croissant. I ordered 3 different donuts: lemon raspberry, chocolate Earl grey, and pumpkin one. Again, pumpkin is the worst. It's quite doughy and tasteless. Lemon raspberry being the best. Earl grey one I ate a tiny piece but I wouldn't order again. Overall donuts are 5 out of 10. I ordered 2 different cookies: lemon Earl grey and strawberry and creme. All cookies are ok and remind me more of rae cake dough. I would say 3 out of 10. I got 2 different cakes: white chocolate pistachio and honey raspberry lavender. Pistachio one is sickly sweet and the best item was honey lavender cake. Cakes I tried 7 out of 10. My whole family tried it with me and no one at the end said they want to go back. My impression is that anything that is suppose to have taste is tasteless and oversweetn. Disappointed. I really hoped it will...

We went to Jen’s after seeing them featured in an Instagram food account and it was so worth it. We went midday and they had all of their vegan options left, which was great because my hubby is lactose intolerant. We got the strawberry matcha scone and the following cookies: oatmeal, snickerdoodle and the most amazing molasses ginger cookie I’ve ever had. It was so good. Moist, spicy and sweet. I love a more cake like, dense cookie and this sucker was hefty in all the best ways. The snickerdoodle was also divine. My husband loved the strawberry matcha scone and oatmeal cookie (and the snickerdoodle as well). The only thing he didn’t love was the molasses ginger because he doesn’t like that spicy type of cookie, so, fair.

The people working there were kind, gracious and so thankful for our patience. I could tell they’d been working hard and were grateful for the business. Even though there was a rather large line they didn’t make us feel rushed when ordering. I think they handled the insane uptick that happens when featured on a social media outlet very well. They updated their stories on Instagram throughout the day so you could tell what was sold out.

Logistics: all to go ordering. Easy street parking. You walk up to a baker at a table, she takes your order and name, you pay and two mins later another baker appears with your box of goodies. Off you go. Dog & kid...

I had my first taste of Jen's Pastries at a coffee shop, and it was so good it got my introverted self the courage to ask where the pastries were sourced. I immediately started following Jen's on instagram and became low key obsessed with finding a reason to get a custom cake made by the shop. Cut to my son's first birthday party and I finally had a reason!

The shop was easy to communicate with, and when I picked up the cake it was Stun. Ning. So beautiful, and the flavor was unreal (passion fruit curd, poppy seed cake, mango buttercream). You could taste the real fruit, none of that artificial flavor here. Pick up was quick and simple, and gave me a reason to snag a couple pastries while I was there.

Everything is truly top notch quality, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. Now I just need to find another reason to buy a...