The Pastry Cupboard

I love this place ! I go to school nearby and I always go here to get coffee or a small pastry in the morning!
The staff are sweet and always up beat.
The cakes are delicious! The muffins, cupcakes, and bagels are always a yummy snack!

Panini sandwich was delicious. Only ate half of it.
Chocolate mousse cake was so good. Piece was huge and shared between two people. Happiness.
There’s a good vibe to the place and good choices foodwise for lunch. Service was friendly.

Please review the picture I took as well.
The Pastry Cupboard is closed on Sundays. When I passed by this Sunday, I managed to see this cart of pastries that we’re sitting in the middle of the bakery unwrapped, left to the open air and sitting next to dusty and uncleaned stools.
Proper storage techniques is to not only have food items like that wrapped or kept in proper storage containers but also dated. Instead, The Pastry Cupboard just left all this food sitting there to let contaminants get to. Not to mention that this pastry will be stale by the time they serve it to you Monday morning.
They also left this in front of open windows. So, if they are not shy about not following basic food handling guidelines in front of the pubic eye, what are they doing that I can’t see?

There’s a reason why my cupcakes were two for one. Although I can’t speak for the other baked goods (hence the extra star for the benefit of the doubt), if they taste anything like the cupcakes, then you’re not missing out on much. It’s quite a shame, because I saw this place for about a month and was itching to try their cupcakes, but it always seemed to be closed. But now I know that I was missing out on nothing. Or maybe this was just an «off» day (although you can’t have «off» days when you’re running a business, but I digress). I just hope they improve their recipes soon. This place is too centrally located and has too cute a name not to be good!
Likes:
–two for one specials after a certain hour (but caution: that doesn’t mean that you’re getting quality for quantity, but at least it’s a good gesture)
–centrally located near public transportation
–great aesthetics/​presentation (at least everything looks good)
–friendly customer service
Dislikes:
–cupcakes were way too dense with not much flavor (the icing was nothing to write home about, either)
–limited hours (they always seem to be closed when I would try to check them out)

Just ordered a half sheet of the Mocha cake. It was beautiful, moist and delicious. Hands down the
best cake ever.

I come to the Pastry Cupboard every morning when I am working in town. The coffee is on point, and the cookies are spectacular! Also, the Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuit is unbelievably good. You must try.
Now, with that said, you may wonder why I didn’t give five stars in my review, and that would be because of the cakes and cupcakes. I come from the east coast with roots in North Carolina — cakes and dessert are my thing, and one hallmark of a good cake is not just a moist sponge that is flavorful, but also a frosting that compliments it. Pastry Cupboard misses the mark here. And what’s even more alarming, is that for the price I paid for a cake, I was severely disappointed with the frosting of my red velvet — not for least that it wasn’t cream cheese frosting, but if you’re going to do a buttercream frosting, there should actually be cream there too. My guests and I who attempted to enjoy this cake, felt as though we were easting a stick of butter on top of the this beautifully moist, delicious red velvet cake.
If they can improve their frosting recipe this bakery could easily be the best in San Francisco!

Had a fantastic chicken salad croissant sand which-​super flaky and yum. All their cookies are great too-​especially the snicker doodle.

I had an amazing chocolate chip cookie experience here. It’s huge! Like a solid 5−6″ diameter of crispy, sugary, chocolatey goodness.
I came here at lunchtime on a Friday and it was a one woman show. More power to her, but it took a while to get service because she was making the drinks, serving the foods, ringing up the orders, and all the above.
It’s a bit pricey here, but all the pastries looked super mouthwatering! I’m sure it’s all made with detailed care and love.

Awesome little place to rest and munch. Their paninis are great: crunchy homemade foccacia with no true crusts and plenty of filling. Between the tomato mozzarella and the pastrami cheddar I don’t have a favorite. Charming staff who always have a great recommendation, and good coffee. They have daily pizza specials, always one vegetarian and one meat; smallish portions, but rather inexpensive for, and up to the standard of Hayes Valley. Great selection of pastries, cookies, pies, sandwiches, paninis, and daily soups and pizzas. What more is there to ask for, other than the cozy environment they already have?

I’ve given this place a few tries, but each time has been a huge disappointment. I ordered an egg sandwich once, and the egg was extremely runny, dripping all over my hands. The pastry it was on was hard and tasted like it was sitting under glass for ages. I couldn’t even eat it, so I threw it out.
So the next time I just ordered a coffee assuming they couldn’t get that wrong… But with every sip I took, I got a mouth full of coffee grounds.
It seems like location is the only thing keeping this place in business.

I dropped in here on my way home from Kipper Clothiers. The smell of the pastries lured me inside! I had a lovely cup of coffee and palmier cookie, as well as the special of the day, a brie sandwich with jam, greens and tomato on brioche (I think!). It was a reasonable $ 7 and change and more than met my expectations. I was surprised it was such a tasty and filling sandwich!
A cute and unexpected little stop on Market. Stop by for some great pastries and a light bite!

While it’s best to go into The Pastry Cupboard when you’re experiencing a major sweet tooth, it’s a good option for when you’re going a lighter, more savory route too. I met a pal for breakfast there one morning and though the rows of sweet and flaky pastries called to me, I decided to go for one of their quiches and I was very pleased! They offer regular and crustless quiches, though why anyone would eat a crustless quiche is beyond me!
Next time I can’t wait to get some pie or cake… it all looked so amazing. The gentleman helping us seemed to be the owner and he was super friendly and efficient.
The only downsides is that there isn’t too much seating, and it’s not really a place where you’d just hang out outside with your treats as it can be a pretty sketchy area on Market. Otherwise, it’s a cheerful little spot in an unexpected neighborhood and I recommend it!

Delicious coffee, a good selection of cookies cakes pastries pizza slices and pies all baked on site. Attentive person behind the counter. Nice and quiet yet busy with customers at the same time. A welcome respite from the parade of sketchezoids and nut cases in this «transitioning“neighborhood.

They make a decent jamon y queso croissant. They just need to a bit more jamon. Skimping on the proteins but it’s all good. The cinnamon roll is good too. If your strolling through market st stop by.

We’d walked past this place several times after a concert at the SF Conservatory of Music, always noting the delicious aroma of baking croissants. We finally stopped in Before a concert! The croissants are as tasty as they smelled.
The cookies are yummy (try the oatmeal medley, with cranberries and almonds, or the ginger honey). The pecan pie is not too sweet and not too sticky, just right. The blueberry buttermilk pie is tasty. SO far, we’ve liked everything we’ve tried.
The people behind the counter and pleasant and friendly and helpful in telling us what’s in the day’s danish or a particular cookie (we tried the oatmeal cookies after asking about them).
If you’re in the area, stop in for a treat.

Oh man! This place did not disappoint!
Found while searching for a place to use some good wi-​fi after Café La Vie closed and I saw this bakery was open late with free wi-​fi.
Hit it up and got assaulted with aromatic ecstasy before I even stepped in the door. Ended up buying an Ultimate Cookie (marshmallow, butterscotch, and… walnuts?) along with the carrot square cake and a box of energy bites.
Emilina, or was it Emiliana?, was super pleasant to talk to. I’m not big on chit-​chat normally if that gives you any context.
This will be my default spot to wait whenever I’m meeting someone at Van Ness Muni.

The Pastry Cupboard sits humbly on the beginning of Franklin and Page Street, where their savory foods are just as good as their sweet pastries. Staff is very sweet and helpful.
Soup: delicious, homemade, interesting and excellent flavors!
Pizza: flat and crispy handmade dough holds their flavorful sauce and toppings.
Cookies: good selection of flavors that come in huge, soft, chewy forms of goodness.
They cater, take special orders, and take pride in every small action they do!
They’ve won me!

Time: 1:17pm/71°F partly sunny
Purpose: Rolling through market street on my way to Castro for meeting. Notice this pinkish shop situated on a corner with busy traffic and foot traffic. Pull along side street to find parking. Becareful when raining see cars spun out of control, notorious intersection.
Ambiance: Inside 4 – 5 tables and counter top seating about 8 – 9, no outside seating. Display counter play host to various sweet dessert options. Feels like a Chinese shop with all those pink premade boxes. It’s nothing more than a bake shop with a few seatings facing Market/​Franklin street. Walls are pink/​lightish brown with paintings, menu boards in black and yellow, very eye catchy. Two pastries/​danish display counters and two cold ones keeping all things that needs refrigeration cold. Inner back coffee self pump after you pay for it.
Staff: Two girls late 20’s heavy make up can see powder on cheeks. Both not too engaged about serving people. They’ll give you that buy it or get the f**k out of here look. Since I came in and she took her time attending me, I felt bad so I made a purchase to see if attitude will change, no not at all. Another older girl with glasses maybe the main chef came out from the kitchen area saying «woo» hot need a cold icy drink. I’m thinking go and grab a gulp of what ever you want don’t have to say «woo» this and that, be courteous while I’m about to sign your paycheck, with greenbacks that is.
Cleanliness: Grade B-​, some crumbs and sticky tables from previous customers. I rest my arm on counter lift up to play with phone, then it hit me. Sticky honey molasses residue like coated my underarm. Went up to ask for a moist towel, gave me this rag that resemble snot cloth, shit you kidding me? The rag wasn’t even clean itself, gave it back without saying anything. Next I improvise using their napkins walk over to water dispenser douse it and wipe away. Repeated 3 – 4 times at this point I wanted to say something, didn’t want to raise suspicion knowing I would get you back on Unilocal.
Eats/​Drinks: A slice of banana nut bread $ 1.75 and a lemon pound cake $ 2.50. The banana nut is okay lots of walnut pieces embedded but banana tasted somewhat artificial flavor might be added, not sure. Turning your head back on the display, trying to match the word description on tag along with what’s in your mouth already. There was absolutely no hints of lemon only yellow cake with decorative icing design. The inside looks good before eating once you take a few bites you’ll be wondering what did I just got? Pound cake should be call California lemon law instead. Meaning after numerous taste if you can’t taste lemon is no good!
Products/​Services: Breakfast pastries/​danishes, bagels, grilled panini, sammies, salads/​soups, pot pies, pizza, pies, quiches, cupcakes, cheesecake, cookies, bars, hot/​cold drinks, cakes (whole, slices), quarter/​half, full sheet available, seasonal items, (GF) available. Catering, wholesale, special events.
Punch Lines: Corner shop, limited seatings, busy intersection, Market street noise level, parking on Franklin st only, bike rack/​lane, unhelpful staff, no knowledge of ingredients, pricey, breakfast danish not made in house, some items looks days old, self pump coffee, no pourovers. Deliver with minimum order of $ 100 or more. Wholesale prices with minimum met.
Tradeoffs: Safeway bakery version hidden in a disguise of cute color schemes with prices that rivals that of Tartine.
Final Thoughts: Just another SF bakery in a more heavily travel intersection. Nothing special about it, just basic all american standard sweets and desserts. Silver lining here is the savory items during lunch, at least the sammies/​quiches looks more appealing. Definitely skip the breakfast items here. Go for their listed menu lunch eats but nothing more than that, you’ll spend more than you have to and still be disappointed.

Nice little pastry shop close to Van Ness and Market. Everything is so pink inside!
There’s a counter with a lot of nice little pastries, and they all seem to be different. There is a big kitchen in the back where they made all those pastries from scratch. The waitress was also very friendly.
I only tried the coffee, which was ok. Unfortunately the wifi was down when I was there, so boo.
Overall, not a bad place to sit down and have a cup of joe, or a few pastries

This café is right next to Van Ness muni station and is open until 9pm on weeknights, which makes it convenient. The area gets a little sketchy at night, but it’s not too bad.
Their pizzas are eh, but their sandwiches are soo good. I’m not usually a sandwich person, so I was surprised by how much I liked them. They rotate their sandwich of the day, so I don’t remember exactly which ones I’ve had — just that they’ve all been good.