Bordenave's Bakery — Restaurant in San Rafael

Great bread at times but rather inconsistent and THE worst service I have ever dealt with in my restaurant career. Below is a list of why Bordanaves needs serious new management. if you are looking for a bread supplier for your shop or simply a customer at a deli/market with bordenaves bread - I suggest you look at the list below:

they only delivery bread 3 days a week as of may 2020. as a deli that's open 7 days a week... that's flat out not acceptable for our customers and keep in mind Bordanaves is a HUGE supplier to delis/markets all around the bay. luckily we have a really good system in place that allows us to put out the best bread that is delivered to us.

80% of the time when we receive our bread the delivery man is so careless that on average 25% it is not useable due to careless handling leaving it deformed which could be avoided if it weren't stuffed in bags and instead put onto pallets.

their new wholesale online order platform is horribly designed and order cutoff times are too early (12pm.. used to be 3 pm). how are we suppose to know how much bread we need for the next day if you want us to order at 12pm when the lunch rush is just starting? This makes for a lot of extra bread usually, which Bordanaves used to buy back from you (bakery wholesale standards) but they don't now. So now it either gets thrown in the garbage or worse thrown in the freezer after sitting at room temperature all day just to be used the next day on customers.

the bread is horribly inconsistent... cook times vary resulting in either under-baked or over-baked a lot of the time. in recent months, we've realized our bread delivery on Monday is definitely from bread that is either baked on Saturday or worse, Friday... usually resulting and being stale and useable.

5.Now Bordenave's does offer some half baked bread that can be kept in the fridge for 5-7 days and when its come right out of your oven day of, it is truly a great product... but they only have that for their sourdough and sweet rolls - no Dutch Crunch or wheat rolls.

Lastly, I know working in baking/pastry wholesale supply is extremely tough... hard and constant hours, very little holidays... but that's how this industry is! and in this industry if you're staff doesn't take pride in what they do the product will replicate that lack of pride... case in point - Bordanaves. They have a storied history in the North Bay and their bread is arguably what makes a classic Bay Area sandwich separate itself from Deli's all around the USA... if only they could put together better and more...

Walking into Bordenave's Bakery feels like stepping back in time. In a world where speed and shortcuts dominate, this place is a gentle rebellion—a return to the slow, soulful rhythm of baking as it once was. The air is thick with the comforting aroma of flour, yeast, and time.

Their bread isn’t just fresh—it’s alive. Crusts are perfectly blistered, golden and crackling, with just enough resistance to give way to tender, flavorful interiors. You can tell it’s made with care, fermented slowly, and baked in a real oven—not rushed through a production line. Every loaf carries a story, a memory, a kind of ancestral echo of simpler days when bread was the heart of the table, not a side note.

The sourdough and the Marble Rye is a standout. Staff are as warm as the bread. They’re happy to talk about their process and recommend the perfect loaf for your meal. You feel like part of something here—like your daily bread...

I give Bordenave's five stars for their delectable dinner rolls, texas toast, sliced sourdough, brioche buns, English muffins, and the rest of the line-up. For their inviting atmosphere created by staff that welcomes those who step foot in their storefront. For management's ability to correct issues and concerns with swift actions. The strong work ethic of its employees and the flexibility and understanding offered to customers who may have forgotten their cash at home. Brodenaves is a staple in the community, and I can't wait to get back for more of their freshly...