Turtle Bread Company

I love the soups here. Chicken mushroom is halfway between creamy and brothy, with hunks of tender white meat chicken and sliced mushrooms. Chicken wild rice is similarly full of the good stuff. Mushroom barley too. Clam chowder is briny, creamy, not at all cloying. Everything tastes like mom’s homemade, except their famous and popular tomato basil, which is no different from the tinny reheated «premium» tomato basil offered at any chain sandwich shop.
The service can be exceptional. Once I got up to the counter just as the last clam chowder was being dished out to the customer before me. No more? No, sorry. I sadly placed my order for a different soup as the soup scooper guy quietly scraped out the clam chowder pot in the background. When I opened my bag of soup and bread, I saw that he had slipped in the remains of the clam chowder, a scant half cup, knowing I would appreciate the few mouthfuls. What kindness.

I thought it was very exspensive and uncomfortable seating… smells funny in there also…

This was my second visit. First time the gal at the register was huffy because I didn’t know where to order. This second time which is a few years later, It was still confusing! This time they were friendly but why does it have to be so unclear to a new person walking in? We ordered and waited and waited. We inquired and they brought a bowl of soup and again we waited and finally inquired. They had lost our order. The food is excellent however customer service is always number one so I won’t be back again. On a bright note, they refunded our money and gave us a gift certificate. Still…

Delicious bakery items as well as soups and lunch items. I don’t usually like quiche but here it is amazing!

I have been her a few times for their breakfast and brunch food. I find that this is a strange place with a strange atmosphere but decent food. This is not a place I would like to keep in mind all the time. However, it is not a horrible business.
The atmosphere here is not the greatest. I feel like this is a combination of a homeless shelter and a high school cafeteria. This is not the most comfortable area to sit and enjoy a good meal. I think there are a lot of improvements that should be done to appear more welcoming. Although, the employees there appear to do a good job at keeping everything organized.
I would rate the quality of food there between average and good. Their prices are a little high, considering the quality of food. The coffee and drinks there taste well. They do a good job at keeping the coffee fresh and hot. I like that I can grab for myself some of the food and drinks and then check out. The checking out reminds me of my old high school cafeteria.
Overall, this is not the best place, but it is not the worst. I may or may not return there. If I return, I would not expect the greatest.

I stopped in to grab something for dessert after my breakfast. The display cases all looked amazing! I am so indecisive but am always drawn to peanut butter. They had a gluten free peanut butter cheesecake and a peanut butter smores bar… hmmmm. There were many other things that looked awesome too, but all of it was kinda pricey! I’d rather pay less for a smaller dessert and possibly get a couple, than pay more for something huge and not finish it. So I went with the cheesecake. It was fine, but not amazing. Hard to believe, with the title being peanut butter cheesecake! But it was only okay. I ate about ¹⁄₆ of it and had enough. It was really dense and not very sweet. I would, however, come back and try something else, as there was a lot of stuff that looked delicious.

Tomato basil soup of my dreams and their jam is out of this world. The aesthetic is comfortable and laid back.

i must be relaxing my standards or the fondness that i have for tosca next door has been rubbing off on this place. the sandwiches were pretty decent last time we were here and the pie is redeeming when you want to have a dessert, but you don’t necessarily want that sugar hanging around the house.
people seem incapable of using the corner door in the cold weather and sparing everyone the blast of cold air. but i chalk that up to general minnesotan lack of situational awareness.

Love the cookies and fresh made sandwiches. Service can be a little chaotic and slow at times but being able to make a sandwich with what ever you want on it makes up for it. The horseradish mayo and pepper jelly are great. Plus they give a pickle spear with the sandwich as every sandwich place should.

the best i can say is: most of the soups are very good. the pastries are OK; quiches mediocre. won’t go out of my way to go there. the linden hills co-​op (only a couple blocks away) sells Rustica bakery items, which are far superior.
my biggest complaint about Turtle is the staff. trying to engage them in conversation is a waste of time. they act like they are doing you a favor by allowing you to make a purchase. and since they did some remodel work, the smell is very off-​putting. plug-​your-​nose smell. so, steer clear. many other good places from which to choose

I have lived in the area for ten years and when I first started going I thought it was very cute and somewhat quaint but not comfy to hang out. There used to be a true barista that worked there and I wish I could remember his name because he made the best latte’s that I have ever enjoyed (circa 2005ish! After he left the latte’s were barely okay and then consistently they became a nightmare experience. Never consistent and the person was not trained. I finally stopped going but was truly afraid that one day the place would be gone so I made the effort to contact two managers and maybe even the owner. I called and emailed several times because I really wanted to let them know that they had a consistent problem. I barely got a response and I did not even get an offer to please come in and let us make one for you! Nope… not even.
A few years went by and I stepped in and tried a latte to go. I actually had a few sips and threw it away. I contacted them again — same thing/​acknowledged but never offered an invite to allow them to correct the experience for me.
A few years later I was meeting a group there and they whole heartedly ate up the soups so I joined in — now I am HOOKED! :D I especially love the ARTICHOKE soup — it’s fabulous and addictive. I have had it several times and the chili is DELISH. I have enjoyed probably ten times consistent soup and chili. Love it! I also grab some from the freezer to keep at home. The salami sandwich and such is DELISH also! Really really good! I just have not any desire to risk another latte there but I might ask for a complimentary one so I can ck in with it but I do think the staff working is quite iffy. Sweet kids but it’s like they are there to get a payck and get out. It could be a really remarkable place that is busting at the seams with customers but it is what it is and that’s OKAY. I just don’t understand — where is the management?
One really big thing that I have noticed that NO ONE ever seems to say a word about (except me when I spoke to the management) — every single time when I step in the door I smell MOLDY ICK. Something smells yuky like mold but then you just adjust, but it’s noticeable as soon as you walk in. No other restaurant that I know of has «that» odor. Sorry, but it is true — I always wonder why no one seems to notice it/​it’s there!

Went here for breakfast this weekend and it was fantastic. It is so close to home we can walk here easily and they serve a full breakfast menu on the weekends. I had the Denver Omelette and my bf had the smoked apple wood bacon omelette. Both were delicious and maybe a bit cheesy but I loved it.
inexpensive and fast this is a great quick morning bite that you can hang out outside and watch all the bikers and pedestrians cruise by.

This past time I had the spicy lentil soup and it was pretty good but lacking the texture I had envisioned. It was puréed which is fine. The open face chicken sandwich with a salad I had the time before however was phenomenal! The salad dressing was unreal.
I will say though the downfall of this establishment is their staffing. The first time it was okay but not the friendliest. Second time the poor girl was running the show by herself and stressing out only to forget about us for 15 minutes until a friend went up to get our soup. They did comp us a free soup though! She apologized profusely but seriously hire more staff or something?
We will go back for a lunch that we have nowhere to be after.

We live a few blocks from the Longfellow location and it’s definitely a go-​to breakfast spot. We send out of town guests there often. We often get potato rolls and chocolate bread (unbelievable) to have at home.
It’s a dependable place for breakfast/​brunch — always enjoyed whatever menu items we’ve tried. Their quiche is very good. Customer service is minimal (order at counter, they deliver food, self serve condiments/​coffee/​tableware… no wait staff) but never problematic at all.
My one complaint — and it’s a big one — is their espresso service. They really need to step to up their game. What they serve is ill prepared and undrinkable. Why offer it if you’re not going to serve it well?

We live a few blocks from here and really want to love this place but we’re continually disappointed. The eggs at brunch are always either over or under cooked and the bread and pastries are stale and flavorless. I would take the short jaunt over to Rustica if you want a quality pastry/​bread/​cookie or Zumbro if you want a tasty brunch.

Not crazy about the salad dressing but the sandwiches are pretty fresh.
Customer service… URG. Had the worst experience both times with two different people behind the counter. Extremely rude and did not give me the price that was listed above the bread they were selling. Told her it said it was $ 2.99 and she said it was accidentally misplaced and still didn’t move it! I ended up paying $ 7.99 for the bread and was disappointed with how my mom and I were both treated.
They also are open and close at weird times and the people behind the counter will be sure to tell you that they will not be serving you even after you have been looking at the menu for a few minutes. SO rude.
Don’t think I’ll be going back anytime soon.

By far my favorite artisan bakery in the twin cities with a great variety of hearty breads and tasty pastries. I’m particularly found of the sourdough bread as well as the almond flavored breakfast pastry shaped like a pretzel (don’t even know what it’s called by you will recognize it by sight). I also find myself combing through the cheese case and like that they sell small chunks and spreads that are just enough for two. If you grab some bread and cheese you can head over to lake Harriet band shell for a small picnic and a great afternoon.
Prices are decent and the atmosphere is lively yet peaceful on a Sunday morning with lots of young families. There’s a modest parking lot directly across the street from the store if you can’t find a place on the street.

For what it purports to be, an incredible place. Peaceful when you need it, busy brunches when you don’t. Good value, cheap prices, and strangely, the best place to get humus – when they make it.
A great place for your family, to study, and probably the best bread (sorry Franklin Street).
Of note however, is they probably have the friendliest staff I’ve encountered: I’ve been given free ‘samplers,’ allowed to keep a ‘tab’ open at the counter. While in school, it was my home away from home.
For nomination as the best Bakery, Café, Place-​where-​they-​let-​Joe-​do-​whatever-​the-​hell-​he-​wants, 5 stars.

The place is adorable and spacious, but it’s also mismatched and, in some parts, cluttered.
The food is pretty good but nothing new or amazing.
I’m really big into bread that can stand on its own. Their bread tastes really good, but I don’t think I shouldn’t need oil, butter, jam, coffee, or soup to get through a slice or two. Turtle Bread’s bread, as good as it tastes, tends to be dry and begs for a moistening accompaniment. This may be perfect for some just not for me.
The cakes, pies, bars, sandwiches, and salads are on the homey side and over priced. They look and taste like what I make at home; what I make at home costs anywhere between ¹⁄₅ to ¹⁄₁₀ their price. That’s over priced.
I’ve yet to try the much talked about tomato soup, and since Turtle is near my bike path, I’m sure I’ll stop in for it one day. As for now, Turtle isn’t my cup of tea unless literally with a cup of tea.

I found this place via Unilocal as I needed a good breakfast near Lake Harriet.
We arrived around 10:30AM. It was a little confusing when it came to directions because it said the address belonged to a Pizza joint. I think the building is shared between the two, since it had both names on the door.
By the time we arrived, there was a good amount of senior citizens packing the dining area. It was a very… entrepreneurial environment. Handmade signs and all.
We ordered the french toast, side of potatoes, and chicken apple sausage. They all tasted very fresh. My fiancé exclaimed…“this potato taste so potatoey”. haha The french toast was a little to crusty and hard for my taste. If it was a tad softer, it wouldve been perfect. It was seasoned perfectly, where I could taste the vanilla. The chicken apple sausage did the job.
They were kind of expensive with a limited menu. Prob wont try again if im ever in the area.