Village Bakery & Café
Review of Village Bakery & Café
Village Bakery & Café is a charming and cozy establishment located at 268 E State St, Athens, Ohio. This local gem is a combination of a bakery, espresso bar, organic food store, vegetarian restaurant, and wine store, offering a delightful array of options for every taste and preference.
Step inside and be greeted by the warm and inviting atmosphere of Village Bakery & Café. The artisanal breads and pastries are baked in a wood-fired oven, filling the air with a mouthwatering aroma. Whether you're in the mood for a flaky croissant, a hearty sandwich, or a delectable dessert, this bakery has you covered.
The café at Village Bakery & Café is the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of coffee or espresso made with Ridge Runner Roasters coffee, roasted right on the premises. The knowledgeable and friendly staff is always ready to provide recommendations and share information about the menu items.
One of the standout features of Village Bakery & Café is its commitment to using organic and locally sourced ingredients. The focus on supporting local farms and using fresh produce and cheeses ensures that every bite is bursting with flavor and quality.
For those with dietary preferences or restrictions, Village Bakery & Café offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan options. From savory frittatas to flavorful sandwiches, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
In addition to the bakery and café, Village Bakery & Café also features a curated wine shop. Browse through a selection of wines and discover the perfect pairing for your meal or a bottle to take home and enjoy.
While some customers have mentioned occasional inconsistencies in portion sizes and service, the majority of reviews highlight the delicious food, friendly staff, and welcoming atmosphere of Village Bakery & Café. It's important to note that the establishment has a unique service model where they call out the food that was ordered instead of using names.
Visit Village Bakery & Café and experience the delightful combination of artisanal baked goods, gourmet groceries, and a warm, community-oriented atmosphere. Whether you're looking for a quick bite, a leisurely brunch, or a place to unwind with a glass of wine, this establishment has it all.
From the business
"Organic, Vegetarian and Vegan focused Bakery & Cafe restaurant with an attached Curated Wine shop. Focusing on local farms, produce and cheeses, featuring Ridge Runner Roasters coffee in our cafe, roasted right here on our campus. Wood fired oven breads and pizzas too!"
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- In-store pickup
- In-store shopping
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Adelaide Adair
I was cautiously optimistic about getting breakfast here, and while my family didn't like it, I was not on the same line as them.
This place is refreshingly basic. There isn't a whole lot going on, taste wise, just the simplistic flavors expected with the items served with them. Now this isn't to say their food is bland, I would say, back to basics. Instead of using sugar with their oats, it was maple syrup and on the side were nuts, fruits and not a pinch of salt that I could taste. This is just a taste of what you can expect. Don't expect to have a whirlwind of flavors, I think they did it right, leaving it simple.
The 3 stars is for the outrageous cost and markup on these basic dishes. I don't think I will return, when these are so basic a dish that a child could make them.
Still, was refreshing. I'm at a toss up. I give them a 3.5.
Aaron Cranford
I was recently back in Athens (born, raised, and lived in Athens for 28yrs) and I was glad to see Village Bakery is still thriving. I have always loved their quiche for a nice breakfast treat. It’s a nice, cozy atmosphere. They have a nice selection of wine and beer as well as other local grocery items. It’s an Athens staple that’s always worth a visit.
Matt
I love this place, but you gotta know what you're getting in for. They have pretty decent coffee, and sometimes great pastries. The staff here is always friendly & welcoming. We come here fairly regularly & it's always a great option.
All that being said, I feel like I would describe the atmosphere here as '(dis)organized chaos' at times, especially when they're a little busy. I think there isn't much of a defined structure on how to run the shop, and so a little busy rush & the employees get frazzled. I also think no one here has assigned positions to work, so often they're jumping between roles. Which ends up meaning that they lose track of customers & orders... I've had so many times that they give me a completely different drink than I ordered, or forget my order entirely. I'm not bothered by it, and honestly it's somewhat entertaining to watch most times. I usually just take whatever they give me, or gently remind them that I am still missing something. I don't think it's ever intentional, but they just have so much going on & they're stretched too thin.
Lauren Lemmon
Me and my sister both got the potato frittatas and coffee. They were ok. Kind of basic but the staff was nice and I'd still go back.
Daniel W
Pricey. Quiche was a bit over cooked and not very flavorful. Coffee was fantastic. Service model is a bit odd: not taking a name, calling out just the food that was ordered. Also no portion consistency despite how much we paid.
Ideologically overbearing. I can’t imagine anyone trying to combine political ideology and food to this level, content regardless, as if you have nothing else you find interesting about yourself.
Julie Garrett
An Athens gem. Delicious baked goods, sandwiches, etc plus art, crafts, wine, cheese and more for sale .... all locally produced and served by people making a living wage. A community hub. And a good place to shop for local treats/souvenirs. We came back a second time for breakfast. Excellent!!!!
Allison Batchelor
Great local bakery with delicious meals, sweets, coffee. Lots of good warm funky vibes!
Matthew Long
There's nothing not to love about this place. Top quality baking, super fresh and thoughtful menu, focus on sustainably sourced and local food, fine selection of beer and wine to go and a great little gift shop to boot. We stumbled on this shop on our way through town; it'll be worthwhile making the trip back to Athens just for lunch at the Village Bakery.
Courtney Burns
We decided to come down to Hocking Hills for our anniversary and since the weather was rather rainy, we ventured into Athens for the morning for breakfast and some antiquing. This little cafe came as a bit of a surprise! The food menu is great, especially for vegetarians. The coffee is great. The fudge brownie was phenomenal, french batard loaf beautiful, and they had quite the selection of wines for purchase. What they stand for is wonderful and right up our alley. Definitely worth a visit and we'll come back again the next time we're down that way.
Tony Wolfe
Wow! Just wow! So much flavor and great presentation