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The Essential Baking Company
- Restaurants
- Seattle, WA
About this business
Our goals are to bake fresh, flavorful handcrafted bread; to use simple, high quality organic ingredients. Our pastries are created in the European tradition of time-honored, labor-intensive techniques and premium ingredients.Our desserts are a delectable mix of European-style technique and the finest Pacific Northwest ingredients available. "Nourish the body and soul of the community by providing the highest quality artisan baked goods"
Location details
1604 N 34th St, Seattle, WA, 98103, United States
Get directions| Weekday | Schedule | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Tue | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Wed | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Thu | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Fri | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Sat | Closed | |
| Sun | Closed |
Not quite as good as billed – Essential is an institution in Wallingford, and deservedly so. The breads are fresh, if not flavorful. The pastries are sweet, if not sublime. However, there is something I can't quite peg that isn't great about this place. It's not the workers, who are friendly and patient, but the lines are tiresome, and the quality of the breads are not worth the wait. The location is drop dead gorgeous, 1 block from Gasworks park - but they seem to have run in to some of the problems any successful and belov... read more
Don't Understand the Hype – The bread is good. I love the pizza bianca and the (expensive) little pastries. The lunch items are pricey given the portions, and sometimes the soups can be a bit iffy/too-experimental. I'm not a regular, but already a couple times the morning baristas have acted put-upon when I "interrupted" their conversations to order coffee... never had that problem with staff later in the day though.
favorite spot in seattle – Not meant for tourists and you need to know how to order. Stand in the first line, place your order, walk to the register and then pay. Sometimes the staff will bring you your food but more often they yell your name out. When it's really busy, it's hard to hear. It is entirely worth the effort though. So far, it has been the best coffee I've had in Seattle and it has turned me into a pastry lover. I take everybody to Essentials. Very fresh, all organic ingredients, and an eclectic mix of workers.
Stick to traditional sandwiches and soups for better flavors – My wife and I recently visited Essential for lunch and being inquistive decided to order the yam sandwich and the mole veggie soup. Both sounded interesting and were definitely new. Both unfortunately tasted...well..awful. The yams in the sandwich were semicooked and sorta crunchy but not in a good way. The mole soup tasted like some sort of food experiment gone awry. My recommendation for anyone going to Essential is to stick with the classic sandwiches and soup... read more
Forgot our order, bad customer service – We went to the Essential Bakery on N. 34th St. around 1:00pm on Sunday. We waited for about 40 minutes with our hungry kids and our lunch order never arrived. Apparently they forgot our order. The staff didn't care and we were not impressed with their customer service. We will not give them our business in the future.
Disappointing selection lately – Used to love this place. Brought everyone I knew here. Now the shelves are always empty. I am VERY UPSET that they no longer carry petit fours. I realize that we are in a supersize age, but petit fours are worth every overpriced cent as they satisfy the cravings without adding to the waistline. Also, why is the Fremont location the only one with a significant selection of chocolates? I NEED the PB &J chocolate almost as badly as petit fours in my favorite flavors. Please tell William Leaman t... read more
Neighborhood favorite – I've been going regularly -- that is, several times a week at least for just a latte -- to the Wallingford location of the Essential Baking Company. Always tasty, no matter what I get. Excellent ingredients, though you do pay more. If you want a cheap sandwich, go down the street to Subway. If paying $9 for a sandwich and a bottle of iced tea doesn't bother you, go to Essential. Creative combinations, friendly and casual staff (who know my name and my everyday latte order!) ... I don't even want to th... read more
Creative sandwiches, savory soups and handcrafted desserts help this neighborhood favorite achieve the promise of its name. – The Scene Its aromatic artisanal breads have lined the shelves of high-end local grocers for years, and now Essential has expanded its primary bakery to include a warmly charming cafe and lunch counter. Exposed-brick walls, high beamed ceilings and broad, sunny windows contribute to the casual, airy atmosphere. Sit at the knotty-pine lunch counters or soak up the sun on the front patio. The Food The s... read more
To Die For! – The Essential Baking Company simply never disappoints. I can go there for nothing more than an order of toast (which comes with a yummy blueberry spread) and walk away satisfied. Everything else that I have tried there--poppy seed bread, orange-chocolate marble bread, italian slippers, parisian macaroons, the winter vegetable sandwich, hot chocolate--has been absolutely stunning as well. Go!
Frequently asked questions about The Essential Baking Company
How is The Essential Baking Company rated?
The Essential Baking Company has a 4.3 star rating with 445 reviews.
When is The Essential Baking Company open?
The Essential Baking Company is closed now. It will open on Monday at 9:00 a.m.
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