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Cafe Besalu

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5909 24th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107

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(206) 789-1463
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Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Reviews
( 41 )
( 7 )
( 0 )
( 0 )
( 4 )

Best
Yum

Love their Pain au chocolate and fruity pastries.

Worst

This morning I went and ordered an americano and a pastry ($6). Normally this buys you the food and drink AND a place to relax or read or work or whatever. I brought my laptop. ...

Perfect in every respect 10/22/2005

What a high class establishment. Everything about this place is top-notch! more
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Excuse us, we're busy selling pastries 10/12/2005

This morning I went and ordered an americano and a pastry ($6). Normally this buys you the food and drink AND a place to relax or read or work or whatever. I brought my laptop. It wasnt crowded. After an hour, the owner came around cleaning tables. He cleaned my table and took the opportunity to mention (rather than saying hello, or thanks-for-coming-in) that there were a lot of people coming through and that some of them were leaving because of a lack of tables. He asked that I be more conscious of that issue and make my table available for sharing. I really wouldn't have had any problem sharing my table. No one ever asked. A sign might help. But his personal message to me made me feel unwelcome. Good pastries, but I think I'll take my coffee/pastry money elsewhere. Pros: good pastries Cons: wrong attitude more
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Be more truthful newmomabc 9/20/2005

To correct a few things about newmomabc's review. I arrived at the cafe to the sounds of her baby. I do not know how long she had been there, but their plates were empty. Well, for the next 2 hours, she and her friends sat chatting with the baby continuously crying. I must say, a few of us customers were exchaning glances of annoyance. Correction 1: you were NOT on your way out the door, nor were you putting on her poncho. You were in no way showing any sign of leaving. Correction 2: The employee was not going on about you leaving. You could tell this person did not wish to hurt your feelings, but had to take into consideration the other customers. Correction 3: Incredible insensitivy? I could say the same thing about you. You think just because you have a baby you are immune to common courtesy? Pros: Great Patstries, Great Coffee more
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Delicious 9/10/2005

Cafe Besalu is a gem. The best pain au chocolat outside of Paris. Wonderful pastries, quiches, coffee, and more. more
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NOT KID FRIENDLY!!! 9/9/2005

Wow - don't go here if you have a baby!!! My seven month old and I were there to enjoy a cup of coffee with friends and after a while, she became fussy. I was on my way out of the door - just putting on her poncho and gathering up our bag when one of the employees came over and asked us to leave. I have never been asked to leave an establishment prior to this experience. When I told him I was leaving already he kept going on about it. I was humiliated and hurt by their treatment. I refuse to apologize for my daughter - she is a baby and she cries. The incredible insensitivity of this place is beyond appalling. I will never return and if you have a baby, I'd recommend trying someplace else. Cafe Besalu is most definitely NOT kid friendly. Cons: Expensive, Crowded, Not Kid Friendly more
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Kid-friendly? NOT! 9/8/2005

Featuring: French pastries with a side of French attitude. On the Friday that we visited Cafe Besalu, parents with babies were coming and going. Our babies were chatting and enjoying each other's company while we moms caught up. My friend's daughter started crying, and they decided to leave. As she was putting on her baby's jacket, a staff person came up and told her she had to leave!! We were shocked. With the open door and loud music, this is NOT a quiet cafe. She was embarrassed and said she WAS leaving, as apparently he had no observation skills. He kept at her! Hello? Customer service? He made his point, but he kept badgering! At this point, we left and won't be returning. I told a mom who was out front what had happened. She won't be going back. Parents, avoid! Why patronize your local cafes when you're treated poorly? Pros: Rich pastries Cons: Kid-hostile, Hard chairs, Snooty service more
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Great danish! 8/24/2005

Stopped by for a pastry at about 7:15 am. Everything was just coming out of the oven. I had the blueberry danish- it was amazing! Buttery, flaky crust, ripe blueberries. Croissants were not ready yet or I would have gotten one of them as well. Worth the trek up from Market Street. Service was friendly. more
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Expensive Snobby Mediocrity 6/1/2005

I was greeted with instant smirks by the 3 middle aged yuppie couples in attendance (who never stopped staring the entire time I was there, I guess young people aren't welcome), and greeted with total silence and frowns from the staff, who in fact never once bothered to say hello. I have no clue why people like this place. They have one microscopic pastry case with tiny, laughably expensive fare. The only thing that didn't look like they got it from a box or bag at QFC down the street was the strawberry danishes, which were barely bite sized and $3 each. The largest espresso drink they sell is a double grande, which goes for just as much as a triple vente from anywhere else. If you like this place please leave Seattle and make room for people with taste. Cons: Expensive, Snobby, Laughable more
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Yay for Cafe Besalu! 7/26/2004

My biggest fear of going to new places to eat is that the staff and the clientele there will not be nice, and I will leave disappointed and feeling kind of uncomfortable, like I had walked into their house and orderd some food. This is exactly the opposite of what happens at Cafe Besalu. My fiance and I stopped in last Sunday to try these famed ginger biscuits (which, by the way, are to die for...we are now considering having a morning wedding and serving them to our guests!)...it was fabulous! The food was delicious (we had a ginger biscuit each, a piece of the spinach quiche and a piece of the quiche lorraine ), the coffee was VERY good (I am not a fan of Starbucks coffee, so this was so nice to find), and the staff was VERY kind! We will be going back every chance we get. Pros: Coffee/Food, Staff, Prices more
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the best croissants... 7/15/2003

...in Seattle, hands down. flakey, buttery, a combo of crispy and soft they are OUTSTANDING. Every bite brings ecstasy. Experience the bliss! And don't forget to try the ginger biscuit. Fabulous. Pros: coffee is great, friendly, YUM more
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It's all good 6/30/2003

Cafe Besalu is fantastic! The pastries are the best you'll get anywhere in the city and the Mochas are made with real melted Belgian chocolate. After a couple of visits, the staff knows you and remembers your ""regular"" order. It's a great place to meet friends, grab a quick lunch, or take your family. Go to Cafe Besalu. You'll never go anyplace else for coffee or pastries again. Pros: Great Food, Great Coffee, Great Service more
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Delightful!! 6/1/2003

My ham and cheese pastry was pure and utter ambrosia!! Wanted to sample each and every quiche, pastry, biscuit and cookie. Will make it my quest to do just that. more
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There is no comparison 4/10/2003

Your search ends here! Cafe Besalu is worth the trip no matter where you are coming from. more
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Lucky to Live Near It 10/3/2002

A perfect neighborhood coffee shop that should make the rents go up for all Ballard residents within walking distance. You feel good giving this place your money.... and if they ever start giving Nobel Prizes in Pastry.... more
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It's alllllll good! 9/8/2002

What an amazing bakery. You just can't go wrong here...whether it's something sweet or a snack on the savory side, you've got to give this place a go. Even though I live in a different part of the city, it's worth going the extra mile for this gem. Pros: authentically French Cons: limited seating more
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might be the best in the city 5/20/2002

I love this place, and I don't know if it's the warm greeting that I get from the person at the counter or the warm buttery croissants....I love the families with dogs that stop in, and I love watching the chef forming croissants while I wait for my coffee. more
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Menu for Cafe Besalu


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Editorial

  • In Short
    North End residents, newspaper in hand, park themselves at this friendly bakery's shabby-chic assortment of tables on weekend mornings, taking in the aroma of fresh pastries and...

  • 7/20/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Ballard, Adams
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