Red Bench Bakery - EXCELSIOR

The croissant sandwich for breakfast was delicious. Make sure to try it with the optional aioli.

The restaurant offers consistently delicious food, but the ham and cheese croissants stand out as a highlight.

Red Bench Bakery is an ideal drop-in place for breakfast, lunch, or a refreshing snack. It adds a lot to our downtown Excelsior, MN.It is a charming little café for dining in with a friend or neighbor; it also has a pleasant street-side patio for dining during warmer months. Often, it is easy to buy a scone and coffee and enjoy them on the bench just outside the door. Dogs on a lease are welcome on the patio.We’ve enjoyed several varieties of pastries, cookies, scones (my favorite is the Blueberry Scone), and cinnamon rolls – sometimes to go. Their selection of Artisan breads is the best around. Actually, they fill many pick-up orders for local families and businesses. Today, the daily offering of a filled brioche was raspberry. However, all the flavors are consistently delicious. The kids won’t miss having a donut, but I think the filled brioches are ideal for adults.I also recommend both the Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, Vegetable Quiche, and Ratatouille Quiche. The soups and salads taste just-made with the freshest ingredients. We always love the street baguette. For certain meals, the Cardamon Bread is flavorful and has an amazing crust! You’ll find an excellent range of coffee, tea, and cold beverages. And they have fantastic ice cream to go.The staff is friendly and kind, even when super busy. They always extend a warm welcome! It is a small space, but they really offer great products. The décor is warm natural tones and feels a bit like places we’ve enjoyed in Europe. It’s definitely worth a visit!

I tried a croissant that was wonderfully flaky and delicious! I might end up coming back for more.

Unreal tasty pastries, the cinnamon roll, and ham cheese croissant were awesome. Regret that we've been a few miles away for a few years and never stopped in. The kids loved it and so did I. The pastries make a mess, but the staff understand crumbly pastries kids crumbs. Will be back for sure.