Nora’s Patisserie

over priced and out of business

For those of you that have never has the chance to taste Nora’s wonderful delights-I’m so sorry for your loss.
For all you regulars like me, I’m hurting in our loss of Nora’s Patisserie. I have no idea where I’ll be getting my cakes from for celebratory events now =(.
Friend her on FB though… hopefully she will be able to secure a new location and let us know where we can find her. Well that’s what the woman working the counter told me… kind of like how you have to tell a kid that Santa’s real…

Ack! Nora’s is closing. So sad! Enjoys the last days of fantastic treats while you can.
I will dearly miss Nora’s croissants! They ARE THE BEST on the Peninsula, and possibly in all of the bay area.
Communication today from Nora:
From: «Nora Tong»
To:
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2012 3:28:55 PM
Subject: Nora’s is closing Sept 29^th
Hello Everyone!
We are sad to have to tell you that we have lost our lease and will unfortunately
be closing our pastry shop at 29 San Pedro Road.
Our last day open will be September 29^th.
So please stop by and enjoy our beautiful shop and some delicious pastries while we are here.
We have greatly appreciated your patronage and hope that we will be a fond part
of your memories for years to come.
You are invited to join us October 6^th from 10am — 6pm to pick out your
pieces of patisserie memorabilia. Everything will be on sale and complimentary
pastries will be served.
Thank you again for your support and business!
We hope to see you again!
Cheers,
Nora
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nora’s Patisserie

I decided to stop by Nora’s a month ago to check out their pastries after seeing the great reviews on Unilocal.I thought their desserts were good, but nothing really wowed me. They have beignets available on the weekends, and we tried the one with raspberry filling (
). It was good, but it’s not a New Orleans style beignet. I would have preferred the plain vs. the raspberry filling.
We also tried a few of the smaller desserts like the raspberry square (
), lemon shortbread (
), mocha square, cocoa nib shortbread, and pistachio cookie (
). The pistachio and cocoa nib cookies were borderline stale, but the raspberry square and lemon shortbread were solid, with the mocha square being my favorite. We also purchased a lemon poppyseed cucpcake, which had a good lemon flavor, but the frosting was too sweet for me overall. I wish I had tried the tres leches cup or a slice of one of their cakes instead, but I guess there is always next time! There was plenty of street parking available when I stopped by, and the staff here is friendly. Nora’s is definitely worth stopping by if you have a sweet tooth!

Working in Daly City/​Colma area you will find that there are not a whole lot of options for food around. We needed a cake for a co-​workers birthday and another co-​worker recommended Nora’s. I have driven past this area a number of times and never noticed a bakery. This is my new litle hidden gem.
Upon parking out front I noticed the gorgous wedding cakes in the window. Who ever does the wedding cakes is extremely talented based on the examples in the window. Wish I would have known this a year ago. Oh well! When we entered we were greeted by a nice woman who was very helpful in explaining the different cake options to us. When she heard that we had never been there before she even gave us a few samples and a few cookies to go. Everything we tried was great. We settled on the Strawberry Chiffon cake and had them write on the top. It was a beautiful cake and they did a beautiful job on the writing. As for the cake-​AMAZING! I’m not much of a cake person but this one was very light with great flavor. This is definately my new go to shop! Friendly service & great cake for a non-​cake lover=success. Highly recommend the Strawberry Chiffon cake.

I did get there… several times. Nora and Camille are as sweet and helpful as can be!
The products are deeeelicious.
Recently, I ordered a custom box of cookies to give as favors. Glad I went in because Camille figured out something that everyone enjoyed.
So, when am i going again? Soon, I hope!

Wow — I LOVE THIS PLACE
So true with the red velvets… the cream cheese frosting is on point! Everyone on Unilocal likes to read stories — so here is mine.
I get stuff from here all the time… friends bring them to work all the time. so when a really good friend’s bday came up (we share the same bday) I came here to get her cake. I was chatting with the lovely lady behind the counter as I was placing a pretty large order (cake for my friend, cupcakes for other friends)…NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT i HAD TO GET A CUPCAKE FOR MYSELF and it was unreal… UNREAL!

I love this bakery! Everything, from the little treats to the pastries to the cakes, is delicious. So when I was searching around for a bakery for my wedding cake, I knew this was the spot. I didn’t have time to schedule a tasting appointment with my fiancé because we only had one month to plan the wedding, so I got the best recommendations from one of the ladies that work there: yellow cake with raspberry and cream filling with buttercream icing. It was delicious! They were flexible and even if I called in for a last minute change to the order, they were very accommodating and very friendly throughout the entire process.
Thank you again Nora!

I work nearby and drop into Nora’s now and then for some coffee and pastries. Favorites have included: fruit tarts, pecan cookies, mexican wedding cake cookies and lemon cake.
At the time of my visit, I wanted a scone or other pastry but did not see any out. So today, I tried their cannoli and caramel pecan bar.
The cannoli was just okay. It had a creamy filling with pistachios, chocolate chips and candied cherries. The filling reminded me of spumoni or pannetone? (I don’t really like the taste of either). The shell was not crispy and was rather bland. When it comes to cannolis, I prefer a more dense mascarpone filling and a crispy shell.
The caramel pecan bar, on the other hand, was great. It had a cookie like crust and lots of crunchy pecans. It was topped off with a caramel glaze. It definitely satisfies one’s sweet tooth.

Came here with the boy because we were in the area&I really wanted a cookie [story of my life]. We were unpleasantly surprised to see there was only metered parking, but we had some coins so it was all good.
The inside was really cute, and the pastries looked soooooo good, but I had to limit myself to two. Well, okay, I only came for a cookie, but I couldn’t resist a red velvet cupcake, too. Anyway, I decided on a pumpkin cookie, and the total came out to be $ 4. The lady behind the counter was really… well, loud. She didn’t really fit in with the «elegant» ambiance of the store, but it was cool. Until another girl working there came up to her&they started talking smack in front of me about their boss. Uh… not very professional in front of customers. Minus a star. [Oh, and she didn’t even put my box together right! Three-​four pieces of tape were definitely not necessary. Moving on.]
There wasn’t really anywhere to eat my cupcake, and the meter was on, so we just left and I ate my cupcake in the car, because I didn’t want the frosting to get all over the inside of the box. It was pretty good; I looooved the cream cheese frosting. Perfect amount of sweetness. The cake itself had a bit of a different taste, but I liked it all the same. I ate the cookie later on, and I couldn’t taste any pumpkin in it! Meh. Minus another star.
I might come back for a cupcake, if I’m in the area, but the cookie wasn’t really doin’ anything for me. And the staff. Eh.

Nora’s is such a cute little bakery shop but if you blink, you’ll miss it! If you’re in Daly City & craving for a sweet treat — def. Unilocal this place, you won’t regret it. I came in here twice in the past, today was my second day after a hiatus. I came here for the cookies! BUT my boyfriend went crazy & filled a cute little box with a chocolate cupcake, chocolate cake, & chocolate chip cookies.
Chocolate cupcake with mouse frosting on top, very moist not too sweet just right, & very filling. $ 2.50
Slice of chocolate cake — my boyfriends choice to me it was a tad bit on the dry side but overall, he enjoyed the filling, the texture, & the sweetness of the cake. $ 3.50
Chocolate chip cookies, if you like them thin, crispy on the outside, chewy in the middle, I suggest you get a few because they are delicious! $ 1 each.
– Overall, I’d go here if I was in the mood for sweets. The service is always 100% nothing to complain about & this place is a cute little shop.

Support the locals.
This place is more for special occasion pastry pick-​ups or cakes, etc. We stopped by for a nice breakfast treat and cup of coffee.
Apricot danish was just okay, and the coffee was super bitter. They have the self pump coffees… which is okay, but the coffee isn’t good. I loaded it up with milk and sugar (and usually don’t even touch sugar).
Also, nowhere really to sit besides one table in the middle of the shop… again, another reason it is more of a grab and go special occasion pastry shop. If I lived closer, I would definitely try it for those things… especially that the service was top-​notch and friendly.

3.5 — sometimes a girl needs a half.
Great looking pastries. Came in for breakfast, I had a apricot danish and it was great. Ate at the table there and had a coffee. Coffee could use some work, it was mighty bitter, but gave me the kick I needed to start my day.
One suggestion would be for them to offer a folk for folks who sit and eat in the bakery. Was weird trying to balance my danish with the apricot sliding off while shoving it in my mouth — not very lady like!
Anyway, I will come back for sure, their cookies and pastries looked incredible.
Loved the look of this place a cool mix of French Country and Vintage bakery stuff, oh, I love that old white scale at the front!
Friendly service!

I’ve been driving by this DIAMOND in the rough almost every weekend while with my GF, what a mistake. Finally had the «sweet tooth» and came her and it was one of the BEST decisions :)
Brief Summary
– Diamond in Daly City
– Fresh baked goods
– Blink and you’ll miss it
– ONLY street parking
– Friendly customer service
After grabbing some chipotle in westlake, I had an itching for something sweet. In my mind, a cookie from Tea Cake Bakeshop would have hit the spot. So I searched «cookie» on my Unilocal app and Nora’s was number 1.
The outside isn’t much of an «eye catcher.» Parking is only on the street and this area has a lot of traffic, so good luck!
My initial first impression after walking in was almost shock because from the outside, you wouldn’t even know how nice Nora’s is inside. It is a nice, clean and classic patisserie. We were greeted by a nice girl who was helping a couple. I liked that she acknowledged us as we looked around. She also offered a lot of information and even recommendations.
We ended up with a cute, small box filled with:
– Chocolate Caramel Mousse Cake (Name might be wrong)
Chocolate-​ly with a hint of caramel. It wasn’t overbearing or too sweet.
– Éclair
I’m not a big fan, but my GF loved it. The cream was fresh and tasty.
– Tres Leches
The GF’s Mom loved it. It was the «real deal», served in a cup with a fresh strawberry on top and coconut shavings. I tasted it and it was delicious. The cream and cake were the «right» amount of sweet.
– Ginger/​Molasses Cookie
It was a nice combination of flavors. Again, not too sweet. It could have been a little bit more soft. I prefer the Molasses soft cookies with a hint of ginger over the ginger snaps with a hint of Molasses.
I’m OFFICIALLY a fan of Nora’s and look forward to trying different items from here. I’m glad my Unilocal app pointed me here :)

Very friendly service and tasty sweet treats. The cookies have a light, airy texture that aren’t heavy at all. My daughter had this tiny key lime pie that she said tasted like lime sherbet with a crust. Unlike most bakeries this size where you can only buy and go, Nora’s has a little table where you can enjoy your dessert right there with a cup of tea or chocolate coffee if you like.
Along with the nice sweets, there is a quaint atmosphere of a little French patisserie along the Seine here, with all the cute bells and whistles. Unexpected, and unexpectedly wonderful. Highly recommended.

Nora, your Patisserie is exactly what Daly City needed! This place is my emergency bakery for last minute cakes and treats nearby. It’s also quite dangerous that this place opens so early and is near the Colma Bart station. I have passed by many times contemplating cake for breakfast!
They offer yummy treats– the lemon bars, profiteroles and orange tea cakes are my faves. A wide variety of cookies such as Chocolate Crinkles, Mexican Wedding cookies, Cocoa Nibs and shortbreads… yuuum! The strawberry shortcake or lemon cake are always a hit. The cupcakes don’t appeal to me, so I’ve never tried any. The staff is always friendly and I love that they will open on days they’re normally closed, like on Sunday’s for Mothers Day and Easter. It’s a shame that the long time Geneva Bakery is gone, but Nora’s was a damn good replacement!

Finally, a bakery worthy of comparison to the patisseries of Europe. Consider this a trans-​Atlantic trip without the plane ticket.
First of all, the place is as cute as a button (although the storefront doesn’t match the inside). A large diningroom table marks the entrance, giving it a homey feel. The counters are lined with beautifully packaged goodies — candied violets from France, tea cookies and petit fours in little sachels, crumb cake squares stacked in a neat little pyramid — it’s like a tea house and a European bakery had a baby!
My husband and I decided to go with these goodies, and they were all delicious!
— Cannolis ($ 2.50): crisp and flaky, filled with custard, chocolate shavings and a marachino cherry, sprinkled with powdered sugar. Super rich! The crisp cannoli holds up well and doesn’t crumble under pressure when you bite into it, so you don’t end up with a mess on your hands. The custard, chocolate and cherry flavors mesh well and provide a multi-​dimensional taste. (photo:
)
— Red velvet cupcakes ($ 2.25): topped with cool and slightly tart cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with crushed walnuts. These tied Auntie Ems for my favorite red velvet cupcakes. They are a bit pricier, but also a bit bigger. (photo:
)
— Blueberry crumble cake ($ 1.75 for a 3“x3″ square): the tanginess of the blueberries contrasted nicely against the mild sweetness of the cake.
— Lemon poppyseed cupcakes ($ 2.25): Light and fluffy — the frosting was a light, zesty lemon ship. topped with cute little orange flower made of sugar. (photo:
)
Next time, I’ll go for the tea cookies, the tres leches dessert cup, and the fruit tartes. They looked amazing! I’d also like to take home a jar of her cinnamon plum jam (photo:
). I made a mental note that this place makes cakes for special occasions. A cake from here is sure to impress. And, the service was as sweet as the treats.
I’ll be back!

Great pasteries!
The red velvet cupcake is heavenly
bought two boxes worth and only spent $ 16

Came here early morning to buy a red velvet cake for a bday celebration at work. The cake was okay, but I’ve had better. The cake wasn’t as red and as moist. The pecan gave that crunch. The frosting was good, but still missing something.
Place was cool though! I wanted to try all their pastries, but had to control myself to avoid adding pounds, heheh. I can see how the parking might be an issue in the weekends. I always pass by this place and weekday parking is okay, but weekend might be a challenge.

Nora’s is completely out of place on a run-​down looking block. Walk inside and be transported to sugar heaven with candy in glass jars, cupcakes, cream puffs, petite cookies, regular size cookies, coffee cake, cannoli, panna cotta, croissants, pies, tarts, cakes, Danish, dessert bars, gingerbread and foccacia. The choices seem endless and the prices quite reasonable.
Some of the items in the pastry cases are «for display only» which is somewhat odd. I asked for the lemon shortbread but they were completely out even though I could see some in the case.
The petite cookies (40 cents each) include cocoa nib cookies, Mexican wedding cookies, chocolate crinkles, coconut macaroons, mocha squares, etc. They had red velvet, carrot and chocolate cupcakes ($ 2.25 each). I spotted free samples of their cupcakes and candy.
* Chocolate cupcake: Moist chocolate cake with a very soft, whipped, light frosting and chocolate sprinkles. Not too sweet. It was good but could use a stronger chocolate flavor.
* Graham cracker bar: An interesting salty-​sweet, very buttery bar with a crumbly dry topping over a moist, chewy mixture of crushed graham crackers, butter, and walnuts. Somewhat plain.
* Chocolate crinkle mini cookie: Soft, moist, chewy, buttery and chocolaty, coated with powdered sugar
They took over the space from another bakery that used to sell foccacia and since people kept coming by asking for foccacia, they decided to carry it (but not make it themselves — it’s still made by the previous tenant).