Metropolitan Bakery

Real artisan output. The breads are beautiful. We usually get the French baguette, which is spectacular. All the sweets are excellent, as well. I’m particularly grateful for the lemon bars, which suffer the worst when made with fake ingredients, and these are NOT. You can taste the butter, real eggs, real cane sugar, and most importantly, real lemon juice, not fake flavoring. We are so lucky to have them here. N.B. You can buy their baguettes at DiBruno’s in Ardmore Farmers’ Market.

I get my Metropolitan fix by buying my baguettes at the Swarthmore co-​op. Having a full line to pick from was Metropolitan overload, but alas, I was too late for croissants. The two women behind the counter were deep into their personal conversation which is why they probably forgot to slice my brioche loaf. That and the baguette were delicious.

This Reading Terminal Market location for Metropolitan is a regular stop for me on my walks around Philadelphia. Great baguettes and traditional boules, as well as smaller pastries — cuz you are going to work up an appetite strolling through the Reading Terminal Market. Located conveniently near an Old City Coffee branch, you can get your java and a tasty treat to go with it!

Vegan Chocolate Cake-​Dense, rich, chocolaty, fun. Did not get allergic. Awesome that they had a vegan option.
They are located at the Reading Terminal Market and the only vegan desert that I found. Thanks guys!

Came here early Saturday and there was still a line for this place. I really wish I could find a bakery like this in Boston! They had a nice selection of breads and everything smelled so delicious! I ended up with a slice of honey cake and a loaf of multi grain bread to bring back to Boston. They slice bread for you so that’s good.
The honey cake had small pieces of jelly or something that made the cake somewhat sweet, but not too sweet. The bread was nice and soft and was perfect for my breakfast sandwiches! Sigh, wish I could find something like this closer to me!
They have a $ 10 min credit card charge. Just FYI!

They have tons of loaves, cakes, and pastries, and I couldn’t help but order a whole bunch…
— Bread pudding: good cinnamon flavor, but I think I would have liked more dimension to it (maybe some more vanilla?) I think I got one small piece of raisin in it. It’s less rich than standard bread pudding, and they slices it off the whole load after you order.
— Almond polenta cake: great almond flavor, slight hint of corn, good texture, very moist. I loved this cake. This was also sliced as a wedge after I ordered it.
— Grape and goat cheese focaccia: the flavor combination was unique and good, and I liked the subtle balsamic on it, but the focaccia texture itself was a bit tough
— Coffee chocolate granola: available in big bags, good for snacking
— Sour cherry with sea salt chocolate chip cookie: I love chocolate and sea salt, and the sour cherry helped cut the chocolate
Croissants and macarons didn’t look as great, so I didn’t try those.
$ 5 minimum for credit card use.
I love that they slice everything only after you order it, so the cakes and breads are less likely to dry out. My only complaint is that the little window opening where you order is super tiny, and people get pretty aggressive trying to shout their orders through that space.

I went in fully expecting a delightful treat but instead, I got two almond croissants that were going to shatter a window. I feel like I wasted six bucks.

Great selection of breads, but go early especially on the weekends as they usually run out of the most popular loaves pretty early in the day. I’ve never been disappointed with any of the breads that I’ve tried here. My go-​to is the wheat sandwich, it’s so versatile. For a simple but delicious snack, try it lightly toasted with some butter & jam — it’s perfect! Also, you can’t get a better baguette anywhere in this city. And, if you haven’t tried their chocolate cherry bread, make it a priority to do so! It’s so good by itself or warmed up with some ice cream — btw, it’s only available on the weekends. Their cakes and cookies are also pretty phenomenal.
The only thing that I think they need to improve on or eliminate from their offerings is their macaron selection. They’re not an item that’s available daily but I’ve tried them on numerous occasions and have always found them bland and way too chewy.
Overall, awesome bakery — highly recommend it!

The line moves really fast and the employees are a bit short and impatient with patrons who need a minute longer to decide what to order. Aside from that, I really enjoyed the apple walnut cherry bagel and the croissant and Danish assortments were a hit with my husband. Didn’t try the coffee but they do have loyal coffee customers who bypass the other coffee shop in the market and opt for this bakery’s brews instead.

Stopped by after lunch and grabbed a fig bar (full of jammy figs, topped with sugar for crunch), a metro cookie (something like an Oreo, with vanilla crème sandwiched between two chocolate wafer cookies), and a canele. I love caneles, and they’re difficult to find in Los Angeles. I saw at least two places with them at the Reading Terminal Market. And, this canele from Metropolitan was a fine specimen, indeed. Burnt, caramelized, and chewy on the outside, and perfectly tender and custardy on the outside. Plus, it was a steal at $ 1.75! I’ll be back for another tomorrow.

Love the chocolate sour cherry cookie, it is so good. I often get one or two other treats while there but the only thing I order every single time is that cookie. They have a $ 5 cc minimum (as does many of the RT places).

Their pumpernickel is the best! Also love the chocolate– cherry bread. All their other breads seem to have a sourdough base, even challah, which I really don’t care for. Had some good cakes by the slice, flourless chocolate, chocolate pound cake, and their cookies are terrific. Millet muffins are nice, if a bit tiny. Their prices are a kind high.

Sour cherry chocolate chip cookie, lightly covered in sea salt. The absolute best cookie I’ve ever had. Their chocolate chip and walnut cookie is fantastic. Vegetable focaccia is amazing.

For whatever reason, I didn’t think they had cakes here… atleast not a whole cake for sale. I had been to the Rittenhouse location and I only remember seeing breads and other non-​dessert goods. To my surprise, there was a plain brown box on the table at Thanksgiving. In it was an otherwise non-​descript chocolate cake. The one thing that did stand out was a decorative «M» overlaid in cocoa powder. All I was told was that it was a chocolate layer cake from Metropolitan Bakery in the Reading Terminal.
As soon as I had room for it I got down to business. It’s rare that we even have chocolate cakes. It was dense, moist, and rich. The icing seemed stiff at first… almost like a shell (ganache? fondant?), but looks were deceiving. It was actually quite smooth. Even after being frozen and thawed it still tasted great. I’m not sure if it’s dark chocolate… honestly… which I don’t particularly care for… but if it is then welcome me over to the dark side.
Now, I’d like to see how their breads measure up. They have some of the largest boules I’ve seen.

Now the non-​waiter is back. What gives? If you work there can’t you help the long line of customers rather than twiddling with a sign?

Go to place for baguettes (regular, sourdough and whole wheat are usually available). They also make great pastries, but more on the hearty rather than sugary side. Go to Termini Brothers (if at Reading Terminal Market) if that’s what you’re craving.

My go-​to location for breakfast any time I’m in Philly. Fine bread, and more than fine pastries.
My only complaint about Metropolitan Bakery is that it’s not in the city that I currently live in. But I guess that’s my problem, not Metropolitan’s.

I have three life changing words for you… are you ready?
Chocolate Cherry Bread.
Yes, dense delicious chocolate bread with chunks of dark chocolate and cherries. They offer it in loaf or mini bun size, and while you may be tempted by the adorable size of the buns, just go ahead and get the whole loaf. you will thank me later. My husband likes to slice the loaf and smear some cream cheese on it. (I prefer to viciously tear off hunks of deliciousness every time I pass by the bread which I leave in a convenient place… like my purse.)
They only serve this carbohydrate gift from the Gods on a limited basis (I want to say Fridays or Saturdays only, although I could be wrong here.) But no worries, there are plenty of other great options to satisfy you. I thoroughly enjoy their sourdough options, and the Triumph Beer carmel popcorn is delicious… though a little pricey. Actually, I honestly have never been let down by any of their pastry offerings.
By far, your best bet for bread and pastry in the Market.

This small shop is located in Reading Terminal market. I bought a muffin and an almond croissant, but I was unable to buy any water or juice because they don’t sell bottled liquids (so strange!). This is one of the few choices, believe it or not, in the market where you can quickly take breakfast to-​go (especially since there’s hardly a line) if you don’t want something overly sweet (like donuts). The muffin was a bit dry, and the almond croissant was good (but nothing spectacular). I would say my breakfast was about on par with what I would buy at Starbucks (so average). Will I return? Probably not. I think my money could be spent better elsewhere for mediocre food.

I tried the focaccia here because I heard that this bakery was the tops!
It was not. It was inedible, lacking in any olive oil, not chewy and a total disappointment.