MR.BAKER — Restaurant in Riverside

My husband and I have frequented the Rancho Mr. Baker location for years. We go there often and love their coffee and pastries. We’ve tried almost everything and have always been more than satisfied.

We live in Riverside so when we heard about a second location opening much closer to us we were so excited!

I’ve been to the magnolia location twice now and I have to say something is off with the flavor profile on a lot of these pastries. The sweetness level and quality is not the same.

Mind you, this location has gained A LOT of foot traffic because of Tik Tok reviews and marketing so I feel like it’s safe to assume that the new staff is still getting into the swing of things. It’s also safe to assume that because it is so busy, that naturally such a high volume of customers is going to impact the quality of food.

Today we purchased two crème brûlées which is so something we ALWAYS get at the Rancho location, it’s our favorite thing and I’ve raved to others that it’s the best crème brûlée I’ve ever had. The one we tried at the magnolia location wasn’t even close to what we’ve experienced before. Sweetness and texture were both off. If you’ve had good crème brûlée before you know what it should taste like.

I will say on a positive note that the location did seem clean as expected and the pastries look good, but the flavor doesn’t match the aesthetic. The staff was also very friendly both times and whoever is playing music on the aux has great taste.

If I could give any final recommendations to this location I would say they could stand to put up some artwork. The place doesn’t feel as inviting as it could. Some local artwork, more plants, and some color added into the space would definitely make it feel more inviting and less cold.

I hope to have a different experience in the future as this place has so...

Stopped by midday on weekday, so maybe I avoided any line the reviewers mention? But a drink taking 10 minutes to make is understandable if there's one barista.

Got rung up by one cashier after another gathered my pastry, so efficient. The matcha cake has the flavor well & was a moist sponge. I noticed the pistachio cruffin is a beast of a bread that looks like it needs two hands to grasp. Not many types of French pastries for the Insta, but many varieties of cake, cheesecake, tarts, or bars if you want for events.

Now color me surprised that the espresso was the best thing in a bakery for me. I like the strong dark flavor, not the acidic or weak stuff overpowered by milk or syrups. The tiramisu latte had the best cold foam that was richly sweet & wasn't just for decoration. I imagine the lady finger included would be even better dunked in a hot version but this latte only comes in cold for the CF. Maybe my low expection is making me biased, but I went to two other cafes in the area same day & have to say this is in the top for me flavor & price wise.

The atmosphere was awesome in the afternoon. So much empty space in front of register & cake display I imagine for when long lines form but in afternoon place is half empty with plenty product out; four tables for studying in groups on 4-6 (one was being used for a podcast today; little seats scattered and a long bench against the wall for solitary sitting). Plenty...

I visited Mr Baker today and treated myself to a raspberry tart, strawberry croissant, raspberry crumble bar, coconut pineapple cake slice, and a mixed fruit Danish.

The raspberry tart, strawberry croissant, and fruit Danish were all delicious, fresh, flavorful, and beautifully balanced. The coconut pineapple cake was a standout. It was moist and fluffy with just the right touch of sweetness from the pineapple and coconut. I especially loved the coconut flakes on top and the frosting, which was light and airy. I am not usually a frosting person, but this one won me over.

The raspberry crumble bar was my least favorite. It wasn’t very sweet and had a bit of an odd taste to it, similar to plain oatmeal that lacks sweetness. This one definitely didn’t hit the mark for me.

Overall, everything tasted fresh and was presented beautifully. I will definitely be back to try more pastries soon.

Suggestion: It would be helpful to have a small order sheet with a golf pencil available near the entrance so customers can check off what they’d like to order while waiting in line. The line was long during my visit, and I made my list on my phone to be ready at the counter. Having a paper checklist would make the process even smoother, help the employees, and keep the line moving quickly. I can't wait to come back and try a bunch of other things that I...