The Bertinet Bakery

I went here for a brownie and a cinnamon pastry. I think their pastries are their best seller as the brownie was just ok. I had a brownie here last year and I think it was better. All in all, definitely worth a visit for a morning pastry.

I don't write bad reviews but, I feel as if I have to make an exception here. I ordered a cappuccino with skimmed milk and a cappuccino with full fat milk. Our server brought over our drinks to the table, not in cups as I expected but, vegware cups, a cappuccino and a tea! Our food I ordered, a toasted cheese and mushroom sandwich, arrived and the bread was soft in the middle and hard at the edge. Almost as if the bread was stale. I couldn't even bite the crust it was so hard and inedible. The brioche roll filled with cheese, Parma ham and sundried tomatoes was a little better. The roll was very dry and awful but the little filling was tasty although the tomatoes looked sun blushed rather than sundried. Could only just about eat the bottom of the roll but not the dry top. The vault walls within the cafe are nice but, with a little thought on products and service, the bread loaves may be great but, preparation and leaving exposed too long can ruin even the best, this could have potential as it is in a prime location.

Newly arrived by train hungry, I headed straight to the Bertinet Bakery NEAR the railway station. Time was around 13:00 and there were very few pastries exposed without cover. I ordered a Cinnamon roll and coffee. The cinnamon roll was Not Baked through! When I pointed it out to a woman in charge, her response was we can not cut every pastry through to see if it is baked properly. I am sorry madam. (so I had to leave the wet bits on my plate). In a restaurant that evening they served Bertinet bread with great ceremony. The crust the bread were very soft the taste bland. It did not taste of sourdough despite the claim that it was sourdough.

I had seen good reviews so I thought I’d check it out but the environment was awful and there was this older guy who was bullying, for lack of a better word, some of his employees which made my experience very uncomfortable.. the coffee wasn’t bad but the atmosphere was really awkward as this employee was there all of the three times I went and was quite passive aggressive to his younger female employees. The pastries were nice but I don’t recommend to those who don’t want to support a business that doesn’t care for their employees

I must say, this was the best breakfast I had while visiting Bath. The takeaway coffee and pain au chocolat were excellent. I give it top marks.