Other branches of Baker and Spice in London:
Belgravia, Chelsea
Jan Moir's review of Baker and Spice (The Telegraph)
Baker and Spice reviews
Decided to try it out today for a quick lunch. We ordered fishcakes and some chicken burgers with Greek salad. First it took me around 5 minutes to explain to the girl behind the counter that I would like a Greek salad instead of the one which comes on the side with my orders. After that time I just gave up. Well no big deal, just got it separately, still looking forward to the meal.
Unfortunately this was the biggest disappointment. Nothing was fresh, the burgers were tough and the fishcakes didn't taste like fish at all. Generally everything was low quality and tasted like your ready frozen meal from a supermarket, if not worse. We ordered some pastries as well but these were tasteless, so we just ended up getting almond croissants from the Tesco's opposite (which are, btw, amazing!).
Oh, and don't let their apparently low prices fool you. These are per 50 or 100g, so you don’t really know how much your food is going to cost. We ended up spending around £30 for a lunch for 2. Moreover, it gave me a bad stomachache for the rest of the day.
The place tries to appear healthy and modern but it’s just another tasteless fast food joint. Not for those who like their food to come with flavour.
by monikaa, 29 Jul 2009
Unfortunately this was the biggest disappointment. Nothing was fresh, the burgers were tough and the fishcakes didn't taste like fish at all. Generally everything was low quality and tasted like your ready frozen meal from a supermarket, if not worse. We ordered some pastries as well but these were tasteless, so we just ended up getting almond croissants from the Tesco's opposite (which are, btw, amazing!).
Oh, and don't let their apparently low prices fool you. These are per 50 or 100g, so you don’t really know how much your food is going to cost. We ended up spending around £30 for a lunch for 2. Moreover, it gave me a bad stomachache for the rest of the day.
The place tries to appear healthy and modern but it’s just another tasteless fast food joint. Not for those who like their food to come with flavour.
by monikaa, 29 Jul 2009
Very nice and fresh bread and food. Yes, a little bit pricey but not a surprise for London. There are certainly many other businesses around that charge the same for poorer quality.
by thomas.lord (3 reviews), 13 Oct 2008
by thomas.lord (3 reviews), 13 Oct 2008
For the top prices this place is charging, I would expect fresh food served by great, helpful staff, that know about the food they're selling. I am more than happy to pay a premium for this. However, at Baker and Spice you get average food (some left over from the day before), served up by surly, generally pretty clueless staff. As a whole, there is no way this place can justify their prices.
by harrylove, 07 Sep 2008
by harrylove, 07 Sep 2008
Rather bad experience. I pointed out some bread I wanted. When the lady couldn't find a tool to handle it into the bag, I offered my own - seeing as I was the one going to eat it. Little did I know until I got to paying that it was £16! I knew the place was pricey but I am utterly disgusted by the cost and think it is very bad not to price things when you are charging that amount. I'm not short of money but that is robbery!
by harbour, 09 Mar 2008
by harbour, 09 Mar 2008
I am a Baker and Spice regular. More often than not, the food is fresh, distinctive and enjoyable. Occasionally, however, their dishes seem like yesterday's leftovers, which is not at all justified given the high prices. My main complaint is that the place seems horribly understaffed, particularly on weekends, resulting in unfriendly sales staff who struggle to keep up with demand. I always look for a sales supervisor named Otto who can be counted on for service with a smile. Best to go off-peak hours for the optimal experience. And much as I have tried to find other places in Northwest that I might enjoy even half as much as Baker and Spice, I have yet to do so.
by Sean Jacobs, 21 Feb 2008
by Sean Jacobs, 21 Feb 2008
I used to excuse the obscenely overpriced items here, as I thought it was a lovely addition to the area. However, this has now changed. I went in with a colleague from work to have a tea and some cakes at 6:25pm, only to be asked by the unbelievably rude member of staff if I would like it to take away. When I said I would like to have it inside, he told me that this may not be possible as they were closing at 7:00pm. I told him that we only wanted to drink a tea, he repeated that they were closing at 7:00. He then asked me to wait while he asked someone out the back, by which time I told him to leave it and went to Starbucks. Such a shame that certain individual businesses take themselves too seriously.
by Cessi, 20 Feb 2008
by Cessi, 20 Feb 2008
Baker and Spice in Queens Park is a nice stop to pick up something to eat. But if you fancy a casual lunch at weekends, beware! It seems that all the families in the area with young children insist on eating there, although the seating area inside (a large singe table) is not well suited for such gatherings. Your food is in constant danger of being attacked from a neighbouring seat! This, combined with stingy parents who do not think to offer you a replacement for a dish/bread/spilled drink, can spoil your easy-lunching experience.
by Tick2, 27 Oct 2007
by Tick2, 27 Oct 2007
Their pricing is beyond bizarre - £4.80 for a piece of cheesecake, that actually wasn't that good. They mix per slice and per 100g with abandon - READ THE LABELS WITH CARE! Unfriendly, unhelpful and rather overrated. I only go once every 6 months, as it takes me that long to forget the last bad experience!
by jonnyp42, 05 Oct 2007
by jonnyp42, 05 Oct 2007
As many have commented, the prices are ridiculous. Lovely coffee and cakes, but as for the savoury food - which is largely simple yet creative - I would much rather recreate it at home than pay the huge prices they ask!
by kaaatie, 05 Sep 2007
by kaaatie, 05 Sep 2007
You must be kidding! £15 for a small tub of tasteless salad? You will not be seeing me again. Tesco would be a better bet.
by Anonymous, 05 May 2007
by Anonymous, 05 May 2007
Cakes and biscuits are nice, the salads and meats are average. On the whole, definitely too expensive for the quality of the product.
by Anonymous, 09 Apr 2007
by Anonymous, 09 Apr 2007
Great food but stupidly expensive. Just not worth returning on that basis. Shame.
by Anonymous, 25 Mar 2007
by Anonymous, 25 Mar 2007
Unbelievably expensive - they charge per 100g, not per plate or per slice. Bread must have gold leaf in it, as it costs about £5 per loaf. And unfriendly to boot! You'd be better off crossing the road and visiting the Salusbury or, even better, the cafe in the middle of Queen's Park.
by Medulla, 10 Feb 2007
by Medulla, 10 Feb 2007
A new one has just opened in our neighbourhood of Maida Vale. The staff were unhelpful and slow (one seeming overwhelmed at the prospect of describing the contents of one of their salads) and the prices were ridiculously high. Why pay £12 for a small tub of tabouleh and a slice of roast beef to take away?? Better to stick with Raoul's down the road.
by saladeater, 01 Feb 2007
by saladeater, 01 Feb 2007
Great food, bread, cakes - generally great everything. I visit the place every day and the people who work there are lovely (except for the new manager, who's extremely rude).
by Stell_ar, 20 Dec 2006
by Stell_ar, 20 Dec 2006
Nice display of fresh food and bread. Shame the place is laughably expensive and the owner so rude!
by finbar (3 reviews), 22 Mar 2006
by finbar (3 reviews), 22 Mar 2006
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