Tartine "taste alike" in Oakland or Berkeley?

[jjlymn]

Planning a weekend away and looking for a "Tartine" in Oakland, Berkeley or close (ish). Thanks!

[Robert Lauriston]

Best croque I've had since Eccolo closed is at A Cote.

[Ruth Lafler]

Maybe the new Sweet Bar in uptown Oakland.

[dordogne]

The housemade loaf at Pizzaiolo in Oakland is very similar to the wonderful Tartine loaf and a generous portion is available during P's morning service, toasted, with butter and excellent preserves on the side. Other breakfast pastries also excellent and include savory options. Cafe Oliveto also has a fine pastry chef; the puff pastry they use for their sweet and savory items is among the best I've had (delicately flaky--neither crunchy like Tartine nor wimpy like La Farine has become of late).

[escargot3]

I haven't been to Cafe Oliveto in a while, but at least as of 6 months ago, they had a fab croissant and other savory kind of things.

[Robert Lauriston]

The only place I've had similar bread was at Manresa. Acme direct from San Pablo is the best in the Berkeley-Oakland area.

The best French-style pastries are at Crixa, La Bedaine, and La Farine. Some people like Masse's.

[Ruth Lafler]

Feel Good Bakery's pastries are better than both La Bedaine and La Farine.

[rubadubgdub]

Pastrywise I think La Farine is most similar. They have some savory offerings and a great baguette to boot.

[chocolatetartguy]

La Bedaine is having a pastry making class. I wasn't interested so didn't get the details, but worth investigating for the aspiring baker.

I am not a fan of their pastry crust, but I had their "brownie" for dessert this afternoon and it was great. Chewy and intensely chocolatey: 2 "cookies" sandwiched around chocolate hazlenut cream. Probably the best I have had since the Marin bakery that used to sell at the Tuesday Berkeley Market (I think the Tartine folk) made a batch of brownies with double the chocolate/cocoa. Chocolate heaven!

[Robert Lauriston]

Bay Village sold at the Berkeley Tuesday farmers market in the mid- to late 90s, when they were in Point Reyes Station. They moved to Mill Valley and then opened Tartine in 2002.

[lmnopm]

That brownie is delicious.

[chocolatetartguy]

The double chocolate brownie was an experiment that failed as impractical. It was half brownie and half pudding. It was great, but not easy to eat.

[milklady]

I think Tartine is one of a kind. That said there are fabulous bakeries in Oakland and Berkeley, depending on what you are seeking. Try Masse's Pastries, Crixa Cakes, the Cheeseboard,

[jjlymn]

:( I know, just hoping I am out of the loop "somehow" ! Not looking for sweets so much, croque monsieur .... but a fabulous bakery may have to do! Thx!

[Robert Lauriston]

Croques:

http://www.chow.com/search?query=Croq...