Thorough Bread & Pastry — Restaurant in San Francisco

I have honestly given this some thought before deciding to post because I prefer posting positive reviews over negative ones. I have visited this bakery/café a few times since my stay in San Francisco began, and I have not had a single experience stand out enough to post a positive review, sadly. But yesterday was enough to push me over the edge to post something in hopes that management sees it. Consistently, my visits to this bakery have been mediocre at best as far as friendliness, smiles and warm with greetings service, etc. That has never stopped me from going in and getting a latte and sitting in the back and enjoying the lovely garden area. Nor has it stopped me from going in every couple of weeks and picking up their beautiful sandwich style sourdough bread, taking it home and slicing it myself and enjoying it with my coffee every morning. Yesterday was my day to go do such. A loaf of this bread comes to about eight dollars and change and as I typically do, I hand them $10 and tell them to put the balance in the tip jar. I went home and a couple of hours later began to slice the loaf and to my disappointment the loaf was hollow all the way through large gaping holes were in every single slice. I considered not doing or saying anything about it, but I realized I had spent $10 including the tip on this loaf that I was, looking forward to and I do in fact, eat one slice every single morning without fail with my cup of coffee. And it is just a small part, no actually, it’s a large part of my day and I decided seeing as I had spent the money and I know how much enjoyment I get out of it every day I should go back and get another loaf. I also wanted to take this loaf to show the bakery what had happened during the proofing process for their info. San Francisco’s currently experiencing a heat wave and I thought this might be helpful for them to know. ( I Fully intended on buying myself a brand new loaf . I did not expect them to replace the loaf for free, I even put the money in my pocket and did not take my purse and I added extra in my pocket for a drink!) When I got to the bakery, they were out of the loaves that I usually get so I got a different style of sourdough bread and I showed the young man who was helping me , he went and got the manager. WELL, she Immediately looked like she’s been sucking on a lemon and was defensive, but I did not let the smile leave my face. I instantly told her I planned on buying myself a new loaf, but just wanted her to see the other loaf for her info, in case it helped. She scowled at me and walked away. I proceeded with my purchase and ordered a latte. Another one of her staff members came over and finished my transaction, with apologies, while the young man who was helping me made my latte.I tipped AGAIN 😂 I told the young lady helping me that she was much sweeter than her manager…( I said this quietly… very quietly) Smiled, left with my drink my new loaf of bread…. Went home sliced my new loaf of bread. It’s completely hollow … chucked in the garbage… All in all yesterday cost me about $25. lol!!! And by the way, on my way out of the bakery, I had to walk right by the manager who was frosting cinnamon buns and she didn’t so much as even say thank you or goodbye or have a nice day. Maybe that’s just something we do...

Too full from brunch at Kitchen Story, but in need of a place to chill, my friend and I decided to check out Thorough, if not just to scratch off another one of my bookmarks. Whoddathunk I'd end up buying so many pastries?! (Okay I had just the slightest inkling I would, but anyway...)

I ended up picking up some cream puffs, a rustic fruit tart, almond croissant, bacon scone, and blueberry scone. Not even halfway through the batch yet, but I have a feeling this will still thoroughly cover my thoughts either way:

Cream Puffs - Their take on this classic, with some chocolate drizzle and sugar crystals on the outside, is divine, and probably among the tastiest ones I've had to date. I was super tempted to pick up another dozen of these before I left, but, the resistance was strong in this one.

Almond Croissant - Filled with frangipane of course, and also quite tasty. Not quite as stellar as some of the ones I've had in Seattle, but up there for the Bay Area, and gives the ones are Tartine a run for their money: choose Thorough's if you like yours slightly less sweet. And either eat it fresh here, or take it home and toast for some extra goodness.

Blueberry Scone - I still don't know if authentic scones are supposed to be soft and fluffy, or harder biscuit like things, but theirs is more the former than the latter (a la Arizmendi). Not bad on its own, but would probably be far more delicious when warm, and served with some salted butter.

A solid 3.5, and a place I'll come back to, if not just for those cream puffs...

Accessibility Info

Venue - A decent sized bakery/cafe, mostly filled with two tops to the side, and the pastry displays to the right. Fairly accessible when the place isn't packed, but I suspect getting back to the front door when there's a line might be a little difficult, as there's really only enough width for 1.5 people. As for the tables themselves, the two tops are small enough, with large enough feet, that you might not be able to scoot in as much as you'd like. It's not the worst, but it could be better.

Bathroom -...

Brown butter chocolate chip cookie! I judge bakeries by their chocolate chip cookie. It’s a cookie the vast majority of people have had and know in their mind what it’s supposed to taste like. Thorough Bread’s brown butter chocolate chip cookie brings back memories of playing outside all day, being a kid and using your imagination, getting dirty, then coming home and there were cookies magically on the counter. That first bite of the fresh cookie when you’re little kid hungry. The feel of still melted but room temp chocolate chips. The melted butter cookie grease (grease in all the good ways of homemade baked goods) hitting your tongue. Yep, Thorough Bread’s cookie is that good. But to make it even better, they use brown butter. If you don’t know what brown butter is, it’s slightly cooked butter. It takes on a richer, slightly nutty taste. And them using it in the cookies means they put even more hours of work in to these cookies. So, yep, I’m a fan of this cookie. I have yet to get anything bad at this spot. Everything with fruit actually tastes like the fruit. They don’t skimp on any filling or flavors. The sandwiches are fresh and on their delicious breads. If it’s nice out, there’s a cute courtyard out back. I’m happy that the bread school has this spot. It is a shinning testimonial to the amazing quality and caliber of the teaching and students...