I visited ZuBakery 4 times in a row while visiting Portland this week. This bakery places a strong emphasis on the quality of the dough and their efforts are well reflected in the wonderful texture of the bread and sweet smell of yeast.
The apple galette is phenomenal. The apples on top are beautifully caramelized and not soggy (!). The crust is the best part and it is perfect; light and crunchy, but yet retains its structure and texture.
I had their ham and cheese croissant and it is excellent. This is not a butter heavy (I am sure a lot of butter goes in here, but you know what I mean) croissant where everything is impossibly buttery. And no, this is a not an airpocket filled croissant (horror) with a rockhard (or) sad droopy shell. The outer shell is light and crispy. The quality of the dough really shines in the inner layers of the croissant-- the flavor of the dough comes forward and it is so delightful. Ham and cheese are generously added, and they are of a good quality.
Currant scone.. wasn't my favorite. Too dry.
Challah (Fridays only) was very good. It is dense (as it should) and the texture is on point. Flavor-wise, it is not sweet at all. (Personally, I like slightly sweeter challah).
If I had more time in Portland, I would have tried out their fresh baguettes... maybe next time.
Lastly, what the other reviewers say is true. They sell out quickly.. within 30min of the bakery opening time, crowd favorites are gone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Croissants
R R
I’ve lived in Paris, I’ve lived in NYC, but this was by FAR the best pain au raisin and pain au chocolat I’ve ever had. I don’t even like pain au raisin—it just looked that good! I’ve been thinking about it everyday since… Everything is so unbelievably fresh, pulled right off the bakery cart and still warm. Cute little selection of wines too…
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Croissants, Bakery
Pete Souvall
Hands down worth the wait and a huge high point in our visit to Portland. Wonderful baked goods and customer service. Very smooth and quick line. Loved every second of the croissant and the scone so beautiful and simple but creative and rich. One of my favorite bakery experiences in the east coast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eric Ding
Truly excellent bakery - the James Beard is well deserved. Not only are their pastries excellent (we got one of every croissant and the ham and cheese was a little less flaky than the others, which I guess is to be expected from the extra moisture, but not a single miss), but their breads are top notch as well. Would highly recommend coming back at 1:30ish for their focaccia. Because the reviews all warn of them running out of pastries very early in the morning, we got here at around 8:45 on Saturday morning and there was already a party in front of us, and by the time 9 rolled around, the line behind us was already quite long, so make sure you plan accordingly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Croissants
Steve Goldberg
Picked up an apple tart and a loaf of bread for lunch. Loved it. It's the real deal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Croissants
Marielle Morris
stellar croissant!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Croissants
TS
My daughter recommended this bakery and she was spot on. The service was fantastic and the person at the counter did a wonderful job even though there was a line. He made the experience relaxed and enjoyable. One comment about other reviews complaining that some items were not available that is your fault. On the bakeries website they clearly state that they only make a certain amount and when they are gone they are gone. Thank you to the bakery for clearly providing that information. Now in to the important part the amazing breads and other treats made here. The croissants are fantastic and compare to ones sold at a place called Butter Bang in Rhode Island. Incredibly flaky and buttery The brioche rolls had great texture and flavor. My wife and I look forward to visiting again and enjoying the fantastic breads from this bakery.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paul Dudley
Small selection but high quality. Raisin croissant was a treat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Leah Frost
Arrived at 10:30 and there was already a line of about eight people. Get the croissants, they were delicious, so sad I was only able to try the regular and raisins. It's really the luck of the draw what croissants are available when you arrive. Pass on the brownies, the texture was wonderful but the aftertaste was weird.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Croissants
Ariel
Nicest people ever. All of the pastries were fresh out of the oven and just amazing. We were there at like 9:30 but there was already a huge line (rightfully so). You have to get there super early or else you'll miss all the good stuff. Prices were pretty reasonable as well.
We wanted to check out both the new James Beard award winners while we were in Portland so after making it through the line at Norimoto we headed over to Zu. We got in line at 10:30 on a Saturday morning and made it to the front of the line in under 15 minutes. That was the good news, the bad news was that the only items available for purchase at that time were a brioche roll, a brownie, granola and a few wheat loafs. We purchased a brioche loaf and a bag of granola. Both were quite tasty but I was disappointed that there wasn't more on offer. They said that there would be scones and focaccia available in the next 20-45 minutes so it seems our timing was just bad. Street parking was easy to find and everyone working there was very friendly. Would happily give it another go if I lived in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Dickie
Line forms up fast and early so if you’re not in line by 10 you’re probably gonna be out of luck.
The pasties here are good but don’t think I would come back just for the many variations the croissant they serve here.
The pizzetta was very nice and flavorful and the bread is also very good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Kellie Caron
I'm sure it really is fabulous...but if you wait in line for 45 minutes two different times and never actually get to eat anything --that's just awful customer service. I learned last time that they only make 26 loaves at a time -- so they just can only serve a certain amount of people. Plus, they don't remotely follow the information on their website. I chose a certain day and time and I was told, the 10:30 bread would come out at 12:30; and no - they don't have the advertised scones.
Pro tips for the bakery - you need to have a very easy sign to let people know when you've sold out of something. I feel bad for the people who work there - they are put in an impossible position. I think you can do a lot better.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Roberta Gibbons
Two words: Apple Gallette. Yes, you should stand in line.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
M Avi
Really friendly and attentive staff. Candied orange brioche roll was delicious fresh out of the oven. Rustic bread was also fantastic - made for great grilled cheese sandwiches, heirloom tomatoes with avocado, tomato mozzarella basil, and as a bread with an afternoon charcuterie board with wine. Come early and expect a line on weekends. They bake their bread fresh so make sure to check out the schedule on their website to know when to come by.
I visited ZuBakery 4 times in a row while visiting Portland this week. This bakery places a strong emphasis on the quality of the dough and their efforts are well reflected in the wonderful texture of the bread and sweet smell of yeast.
The apple galette is phenomenal. The apples on top are beautifully caramelized and not soggy (!). The crust is the best part and it is perfect; light and crunchy, but yet retains its structure and texture.
I had their ham and cheese croissant and it is excellent. This is not a butter heavy (I am sure a lot of butter goes in here, but you know what I mean) croissant where everything is impossibly buttery. And no, this is a not an airpocket filled croissant (horror) with a rockhard (or) sad droopy shell.
The outer shell is light and crispy. The quality of the dough really shines in the inner layers of the croissant-- the flavor of the dough comes forward and it is so delightful. Ham and cheese are generously added, and they are of a good quality.
Currant scone.. wasn't my favorite. Too dry.
Challah (Fridays only) was very good. It is dense (as it should) and the texture is on point. Flavor-wise, it is not sweet at all. (Personally, I like slightly sweeter challah).
If I had more time in Portland, I would have tried out their fresh baguettes... maybe next time.
Lastly, what the other reviewers say is true. They sell out quickly.. within 30min of the bakery opening time, crowd favorites are gone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Croissants
I’ve lived in Paris, I’ve lived in NYC, but this was by FAR the best pain au raisin and pain au chocolat I’ve ever had. I don’t even like pain au raisin—it just looked that good! I’ve been thinking about it everyday since… Everything is so unbelievably fresh, pulled right off the bakery cart and still warm. Cute little selection of wines too…
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Croissants, Bakery
Hands down worth the wait and a huge high point in our visit to Portland. Wonderful baked goods and customer service. Very smooth and quick line. Loved every second of the croissant and the scone so beautiful and simple but creative and rich. One of my favorite bakery experiences in the east coast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Truly excellent bakery - the James Beard is well deserved. Not only are their pastries excellent (we got one of every croissant and the ham and cheese was a little less flaky than the others, which I guess is to be expected from the extra moisture, but not a single miss), but their breads are top notch as well. Would highly recommend coming back at 1:30ish for their focaccia. Because the reviews all warn of them running out of pastries very early in the morning, we got here at around 8:45 on Saturday morning and there was already a party in front of us, and by the time 9 rolled around, the line behind us was already quite long, so make sure you plan accordingly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Croissants
Picked up an apple tart and a loaf of bread for lunch. Loved it.
It's the real deal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Croissants
stellar croissant!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Croissants
My daughter recommended this bakery and she was spot on. The service was fantastic and the person at the counter did a wonderful job even though there was a line. He made the experience relaxed and enjoyable. One comment about other reviews complaining that some items were not available that is your fault. On the bakeries website they clearly state that they only make a certain amount and when they are gone they are gone. Thank you to the bakery for clearly providing that information. Now in to the important part the amazing breads and other treats made here. The croissants are fantastic and compare to ones sold at a place called Butter Bang in Rhode Island. Incredibly flaky and buttery The brioche rolls had great texture and flavor. My wife and I look forward to visiting again and enjoying the fantastic breads from this bakery.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Small selection but high quality. Raisin croissant was a treat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arrived at 10:30 and there was already a line of about eight people. Get the croissants, they were delicious, so sad I was only able to try the regular and raisins. It's really the luck of the draw what croissants are available when you arrive. Pass on the brownies, the texture was wonderful but the aftertaste was weird.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Croissants
Nicest people ever. All of the pastries were fresh out of the oven and just amazing. We were there at like 9:30 but there was already a huge line (rightfully so). You have to get there super early or else you'll miss all the good stuff. Prices were pretty reasonable as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We wanted to check out both the new James Beard award winners while we were in Portland so after making it through the line at Norimoto we headed over to Zu. We got in line at 10:30 on a Saturday morning and made it to the front of the line in under 15 minutes. That was the good news, the bad news was that the only items available for purchase at that time were a brioche roll, a brownie, granola and a few wheat loafs. We purchased a brioche loaf and a bag of granola. Both were quite tasty but I was disappointed that there wasn't more on offer. They said that there would be scones and focaccia available in the next 20-45 minutes so it seems our timing was just bad. Street parking was easy to find and everyone working there was very friendly. Would happily give it another go if I lived in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Line forms up fast and early so if you’re not in line by 10 you’re probably gonna be out of luck.
The pasties here are good but don’t think I would come back just for the many variations the croissant they serve here.
The pizzetta was very nice and flavorful and the bread is also very good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
I'm sure it really is fabulous...but if you wait in line for 45 minutes two different times and never actually get to eat anything --that's just awful customer service. I learned last time that they only make 26 loaves at a time -- so they just can only serve a certain amount of people. Plus, they don't remotely follow the information on their website. I chose a certain day and time and I was told, the 10:30 bread would come out at 12:30; and no - they don't have the advertised scones.
Pro tips for the bakery - you need to have a very easy sign to let people know when you've sold out of something. I feel bad for the people who work there - they are put in an impossible position. I think you can do a lot better.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Two words: Apple Gallette. Yes, you should stand in line.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really friendly and attentive staff. Candied orange brioche roll was delicious fresh out of the oven. Rustic bread was also fantastic - made for great grilled cheese sandwiches, heirloom tomatoes with avocado, tomato mozzarella basil, and as a bread with an afternoon charcuterie board with wine. Come early and expect a line on weekends. They bake their bread fresh so make sure to check out the schedule on their website to know when to come by.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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