Riga European Bakery and Cafe

:’(
Riga bakery on The Alameda shuts doors

This place has some of the best sticky buns I have ever had. But be prepared to share because they are really really rich and nice and big! Their turnovers are also nice and flaky and delightful, who would ask for more from a turnover?
I came here way too early on a Saturday to meet my friend Lulu for an exam that we were both taking and we got there right as they were opening. We got both of our items and shared them, and had leftovers to take to the test and snack on… not that a sticky bun is really the ideal mid exam snack, but it tastes wonderful all the same =P.
This place made me really want to travel to Europe to go and sit at an outdoor café all day and sip coffee and nibble on different pastry. That’s just the kind of ambiance this place has, very laid back and very awesome.

:’-(
I’m very sorry to report that Riga Bakery has gone out of business. I went over there for lunch today and found the sign on their door. Let’s just take a moment to remember the great deserts we got there.
The best alternative I know of for Riga is The Prolific Oven in Santa Clara. If anyone knows another good pastry sandwich place that’s a little closer, drop me a message.
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Riga’s gets 5 stars for the pastries & 4 stars for the sandwiches.
If you want a good honest sandwich and you happen to be in the neighborhood, you’ll do fine here. I particularly like the chicken sandwich and the roast beef. For the bagel sandwiches, they need to find better bagels.
The deserts on the other hand are worth driving across town for. They are fantastic. I don’t know the name of most of the deserts I get there and it doesn’t matter. Just cover your eyes and randomly point. It doesn’t matter what you pick, it will be good.
I miss the former owners though. They were actually from Riga and brought an East European flair to the place. With the new owners, the food is the same but the ambiance really changed.

Riga’s is a great little bakery. New management took over about a year ago and they have kept the same menu and feel to the place.
My favorite items to order are their sandwiches. They are really fresh, hearty and tasty. However sometimes the wait can be very long during lunch and some sandwiches take long to make so I would recommend calling ahead and placing your order over the phone.

Mmmm… I can never decide what yummy pastry to get. At lunch, the lines are out the door. I’m not sure why. Their sandwiches are huge but not great, and I think there was just one choice for vegetarians like me. Still, I’ll be back again and again for the cookies, pastries, and other sweet stuff.
Check out the art on the walls, too. You can find interesting prints and paintings by local artists.
Bonus: Free wifi!

Haven’t been here in awhile but always loved their Chicken Sandwich with Avocado (I don’t that was the exact name. I used to go there so much they knew my order. I also liked the thin cookies in the shape of a tire (sorry I can’t remember the names!) with pecans on top. I’ve tried other menu items like the filled croissants and enjoyed those too! I really need to go back when I am in the area!
If I had to choose between this place and Greenlee’s, it would really depend on what I am craving. If I felt like a sandwich and something sweet it would be Riga’s for sure…
I love Greenlee’s Eclairs and haven’t tried Riga’s so I can’t really compare.

My review is just for their sandwich, although the pastries looked amazing and I probably should’ve tried one. I’ll edit my review upon trying a pastry.
I ordered the Turkey and cheese on sourdough. The sourdough wasn’t very sour at all and lacked taste. However, the bread was fresh. The turkey and cheese on the other hand looked like the stuff you bought in bulk at Costco and wasn’t very appetizing at all. The sandwich was accompanied by Kirkland tortilla strip chips, not at all pleasing in my opinion.
Two stars for the fresh bread, friendly service and cleanliness of the place.

Just like Henry L. I am doing my first review from my iPhone in the establishment of choice. Riga has delicious pastries and sandwiches. I had the turkey and cheese croissant with poppy seeds on the top and it was amazing. The owners were super pleasant and very helpful in helping us pick out great tasting baked goods.
If you are ever in the area I’d recommend making a stop here.

I like their ham and cheese croissant for weekend breakfast. I like buying one to go and take it across the street to Peet’s.
They also make nice wedding cookies (sugar covered almond cookies).

First, make sure you get in the «right» door. There are doors, then there are doors that actually open!
Nice little place, with some seating outside. Service, as someone else mentioned, is a bit slow. But the lady was friendly, and careful with the somewhat picky order I made.
The street though, could do with a few other eating choices.

This place just rocks!
The best white bread I have tasted so far!
The french sweet things are dam fine also.
Nice people, good place to people trip, will make many trips there I can see.

Been coming and going to Riga European Bakery and Caf for the past year since it’s within walking distance of the GF’s Apartment. Riga European Bakery and Caf is what you expect from a European Bakery. The dcor definitely has that feel of European Sophistication and all the yummy baked goods to match.
The primary reason why I come here is to pick up breakfast and newspaper for those lazy Sunday Mornings. In the past I have tried some of the breakfast treats, the #1 reason I come here is for their croissants. They bake them fresh every morning and come with different fillings. Usually I go for the Ham & Cheese and the GF gets the Spinach and Feta Croissant. They come out nice and warm and a bit on the gooey side. Just nothing better than a Sunday morning reading the paper, having a glass of OJ, and eating a Riga’s Croissant.
Overall this a pretty good place, a true 3.5 stars bakery. Looking forward to many many more Sunday’s here.

Great place for breakfast pastries and lunch!
The homemade bread is fantastic on their sandwiches. I’d come here everyday if it was closer to work. Try it, you’ll like it.

Update on ⁹⁄₂₀₀₇: The place changed owners and is now quite a good lunch spot. The sandwiches are tasty. The bread is baked right there and all ingredients are fresh. I would recommend it now that it has new owners.
This place is gross. The bathroom is worse than a gas station bathroom (yes you have to ask for the key) and once inside it gave me the creeps to think that the employees use the restroom and then make food and serve you! Gross, Gross, Gross!
I had the ham and cheese croissant and well it was a croissant with a slice of ham and a Kraft Single. Yes the processed pre-​wrapped pieces of cheese you loved as a kid. The croissant was greasy and tasted blan. My boyfriend who raved about this place was even disappointed with his croissant. He does enjoy the sandwich for lunch. I will not even think of going back to this place. I rather starve or eat dog food from the pet store.

Solid Deli food. Good pastries.
Ate there this Sunday for lunch. No line at 1pm, but a handful of customers, and some traffic throughout our visit. I had a club sandwich, which comes with some corn chips and a pickle. For desert, my wife and I split a napolean.
The sandwich was very good, but hey, it’s a sandwich.
The napolean was nice and creamy, and not too sweet.
It’s a little far away, but I’d repeat if I was in the neighborhood.

i just had this neapolitan pastry… soooo good. you should try it! Although this bakery have a new owner now. their pastries are still the bomb!

3.5 stars
This is a review by a vegetarian
I only had an almond chocolate horseshoe ($ 1.69) towards the end of the day but it was really good for something not made in the last 10 hours. Everything looked really delicious. If I’m ever there in the morning I’m going to try one of the ji-​bootus turnovers.
Clean & comfortable

Amazing pastries, if they’re open when you go by ;)
Quaint little mom and pop shop, looks like I need to try their sandwiches sometime.

I hate to say it but the service is slooow. I feel guilt as I make that statement because the women there are very polite and sweet. I haven’t had any of the sweets at Riga but it’s a very short walk from my apartment so I have gone twice for bagels. The cookies all look really good and it”s nice that it is open on Sundays. It seems that everything on that block is closed on Sunday (Greenlee’s, Rosalena’s…)
I like the proximity to my apartment and the variety. Will have to go back for cookies.

Havent had their coffee. My usual routine is to, once or twice a month, go By Peets Coffee at around noon and across the street to Riga for a sammie. I usually get a BLT, or turkey. the sourdough is bomb and with tortilla chips n a couple pickle spears, it really gives me home-​made, genuine feel.
The Mr. & Mrs. are very nice and always greet you warmly. Kinda a rush sometimes, but is to be expected. A really quaint neighborhood deli.