Boniere Bakery

I am glad to see that Boniere Bakery has reopened in Oakland on Grand Avenue. My rating has just shot up from 2 stars to 4 stars, even though I haven’t been to the new site yet. From the photo on the front page of the Alameda Journal (9÷16÷2011 edition), Boniere looks inviting with the outdoor seating and definitely it deserves a visit to the bakery soon for the rugalas and the assortment of baked goods. What is our loss in Alameda is Oakland’s gain.
New location: 3249 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94 610

NOTE: I called Boniere this past Friday, and the person who answered said they will be opening back up in a couple of months, in a new location. Their rent was recently doubled, so they had to temporarily close down. I hope they’ll open up again.
I’ve been going to this bakery since it was Busch’s in San Leandro (about 35 years ago). I was a patron when it moved to Orinda, and recently when it moved again to Alameda. No one can make the same cut-​out cookies, and I will miss them this holiday season. Longer review to follow (if it opens back up)

This isn’t really a review, but I thought I’d let everyone know that I went by Boniere Bakery yesterday afternoon and it has gone out of business. The shelves were empty and there was a handwritten note on the window that said, «closed, out of business.»
Wasn’t this place declared a landmark bakery, or something to that effect? A friend confirmed that Sunday had been their last day. So Sad! I was VERY fond of their stuff.

We got our wedding cake from Boniere, and it was incredible. First we scheduled an appointment to look at styles and decorations for cakes. Then we tried over a dozen samples to determine which flavors we wanted for both the cake and the frosting. My wife and I are major chocoholics, so we got a three-​tiered chocolate cake with chocolate frosting on two of the tiers and mocha frosting on the third. We gave Boniere flowers two days before the wedding with which they decorated the cake, and it all looked perfect.
Holy hell that cake was amazing. The price was right, the customer service was excellent, and we received numerous compliments on the cake– a lot of our guests loved that we got a chocolate wedding cake, which apparently isn’t normal. What a dumb wedding trend. But I digress…
If you need a big, delicious cake for a major event, make an appointment and check out their selection. Tons of choices and design on flavors, and I guarantee you will love devouring the final product.

Cupcakes the way they ought to be, all dense and yummy. And the bacon and cheese croissants are Evil, in the best possible way. And I love that they actually make petit fours!
Darn, now I have to drive to Alameda. Cupcake time!

IMDRUNKANDNEEDACOOKIE.
So on Thursdays, my bestie and I go to Alamurder to get happy hour sloshed.
This results in being drunk in the middle of the day, which I am no stranger to.
Side note: She doesn’t drink, so I should say that she is a perfect lady and enjoys discounted appetizers, while I get happy hour sloshed.
So, we were wandering around, and after a few tries, I managed to type in ‘cookies in alamurder’ into Unilocal mobile (it was a lot harder to do than it should have been).
Bonaire popped up and didn’t look like our worst choice, so it was on.
The bakery itsself is very cute and home-​y.
Theres a wide array of cookies and lots of various pastries.
I got this berry cheesecake, which sat really heavy and was extremely filling, despite looking somewhat smaller than I had anticipated. It was pretty decent, but I was somewhat underwhelmed.

I’ve been in here several times, and everything I’ve had has been delicious.
Today was bacon and cheese croissants and morning buns, a few weeks ago I picked up some pretty cake/​mousse/​chocolate thing for a friend’s birthday.
I wish I had more occasions to need yummy baked goods, they have so many cookies and cakes and coffee cakes and donuts, I can’t wait to try them all.
Reserving a star for future bakey adventures.

I haven’t actually been to Boniere in years, but I was just passing by here on Unilocal and I thought I’d put in a few words. To wit: Boniere: very very bland. Chocolate, for example, is a precious substance, not to be put all willy-​nilly and helter-​skelter into one’s baking. Detecting that an item is «chocolate» is a task that deserves a look at the color of the item.
Two stars though because they take their work seriously. But if you need something sweet, the cookies at the Subway down the block are probably a better choice.

i’m just walking around and spotted this bakery and i remembers the favorable reviews on Unilocal.i spotted a chocolate mousee cake (30.95) and remarked it looked wonderful. the octogenarian gent/​owner? didn’t disagree when i remarked that merritt’s and neldam’s quality had gone done since their ownership change. he nodded in sympathy and implied their quality hadn’t changed.
i told him i wasn’t ready to buy yet (i’m not gonna eat the whole cake by myself though i could.) i had to wait till others was at home. (to eat the cake).
sampling:
–blueberry scone (1.80)
was informed by my so it tasted bitter and it did tasted that way to me also. was this scone outsourced and sold here? or is it really a slow seller?
–peach pie, slice (1.75)
nice flaky shell. but it is obvious that the «cling peaches» are canned.
nothing spectacular nor special here. pie just ok. probably same with the other pies as well.
leftovers
–cakes may be the main and only attraction here. disappointed in my other tastes. cake tasting in an update.
–caking making in plain view. (open kitchen).

Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! We’re getting a cake from Boniere! Better believe it, or you’re a fool!
Seriously– I’ve lived in Alameda my whole life and this is the BEST cake in town. Forget Safeway, forget Lucky’s, forget Costco. Do yourself a favor and go to a REAL bakery this year for your cake needs. Moist, chocolaty, delicious whipped cream frosting– This is what a cake should be! For around $ 20, you can sink your teeth into a bite of this (see the picture!)
They have all types of baked goods here, too. Cookies, pie, tarts, eclairs, cheesecake slices, bread… the usual.
To be honest, I can’t rave to much about anything else in particular here besides the cakes… I’ve tried so many things from Boniere, it’s all fine!
Keeping it Alameda– 4 stars for Boniere Bakery and their BOMB cakes!

For those who observe lent, yes, life can be hard!
But thank God for marsalada (?), or portuguese donuts – you’ll momentarily forget gluttony is a sin!
These delightful deep fried donuts, shaped like huge amorphous amoeba, are delicately coated in cinnamon sugar and only come out between ash wednesday and easter sunday, so GO GET THEM NOW!
Only 75 cents each too!
I also got a couple thumbprint cookies which were so buttery and crumbly, the epitome of «baked to perfection.»
I came in here, lured by the «hot cross buns» sign, while humming «hot cross buns, hot cross buns, one a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns!» That song was my childhood piano recital masterpiece. But came out without hot cross buns. Bummer.
The man behind the counter is so warm and friendly, and very patient too. We couldn’t make up our mind, but he waited on us. I also got a loaf of dutch crunch for $ 2.25. I could eat the whole loaf plain. Yes, very good.
I also ate a few samples of baked apple tarts that were sitting on the counter… exquisite. I love free food, even if it’s just a few morsels!

I was so young, idealistic and new to Alameda on 7÷6÷07 when I wrote:
I love the chocolate cupcakes at Boniere’s. They are so moist. One word of advice: Take your cupcake home to eat it. They keep them ice cold in the case. I am not a fan of cold baked goods.
I see they have wedding cakes here. If the cakes are anywhere near as tasty as the cupcakes, I will go here first!
Now I am delighted to add:
I placed an order for three dozen cupcakes: chocolate, red velvet and vanilla at Boniere’s for Unilocal’s softball game. Not only did they come through on relatively short notice (I placed my Saturday order very late on a Thursday), but the cupcakes were very affordable. Three dozen cupcakes cost me $ 45, a total steal compared to other bakeries I considered. The cupcakes were a major hit! Thank you, Boniere’s. Let’s pray the red velvet is a permanent fixture and not just a special for Valentine’s Day. They weren’t even on the menu in 2007 when I authored my initial review.

This is, by far, the most terrible bakery I’ve ever been to! This place was great when owned by its previous owner (who, if I remember correctly was Jewish), but now everything is so bland and tasteless. Its okay for the occasional cookie, but even then the texture is dry and just not what they should be, and as a baker, I should know. They even managed to make a bad apple pie. Its hard for someone who even has the most basic knowledge of baking to make a crappy apple pie.
Yesterday I gave them one last chance whilst in need of comfort food to remedy a seriously bad day, so I picked up myself a slice of cheesecake thinking that I have never had a bad cheesecake, so this must be OK. I was sooo wrong.
I can’t imagine how they managed to make a dry cheesecake. It was terrible. It was overly lemony, had freaking powder sugar on the top as a garnish which just made it more dry, and the crust was like crumbly cardboard.
Do not eat here. You’d be better of at the Safeway bakery! But, if you want a really good bakery experience in Alameda, the feel good bakery in the Market Place is DELICIOUS. THEY know how to make an éclair.
Boniere, you just plain suck.

I stopped in during the Festival. I tried a macaroon and New York cheese cake. IT SUCKS. the macaroon was hard and stale. The cheese cake was even WORST. NO CHEESE. It was on the dry side and tasted like lemon cake. IT was LEMON cake. The people were nice prices were very reasonable. BUT I rather spend more money on something GOOD Tasting. Not sure of the owners. Definitely not European trained. Go Nob hill or Merritt bakery or the BEST NELDAM on Telegraph in Oakland.
I will pass on this for a long time.

What’s a Petifore? Oh, a cute lil’ bite size cake… ah, lesson learned @ Alameda’s Boniere Bakery on Park Street.
LOCATION: While Las Vegas has «The Strip», the city of Alameda has «Park Street». Everything is on this main strip or just 1 block off it. Boniere Bakery on Park St btw Central St & Santa Clara St. Parking is on the street (good luck w/​that), or use of parking garage on other side of the block on Oak St btw Central St & Santa Clara St

BAKERY: Pretty window display of wedding cakes upon entrance, but have no clue how their cakes taste. 1 booth table & 2 small tables on the left side, while bakery glass display is lined around in front w/​cookies, pastries, cakes, & other bite size desserts. They have a wall of collector cookie jars displayed on wall shelves high above *neat*. FYI, credit cards accepted for purchases $ 5 or more.
TASTES: Stopped in here during our walk of the Alameda Art & Wine Festival this past Saturday to scope out the place… plus they sold bottled water for $ 1 (woo-​hoo)! Bite size items behind glass display caught my attention. «What are those?» I ask.“Those are Petifores” the employee lets me know. My cousin peeped my Peter Griffin gaze & answered the question in my cloud bubble to let me know Petifores are lil’ mini cakes. I learn something new everyday I tell ya. Petifore $ 1.10/ea, so I take a look @ their menu 1
& decide I’ll go for the «Pink w/​Yellow Flower» (strawberry buttercream, white cake). My sis takes a peak @ menu 2
& goes for the «Lavendar w/​Pink Bow» (truffle cream, chocolate cake). Our cousin tasted their bite size Rugelach. Petifores were sweet, moist, & good. Cute bite size treats gave a cute & delicateable satisfication

As much as I enjoy places Bread Garden, Acme, Cheeseboard, and the other next generation East Bay bakeries, I enjoy the more old fashioned and neighbourhood bakeries like Virginia and Boniere even more. For me this includes the huge selection of which you really can’t decide, the pink paper packages tied up in string, and of course a no-​nonsense, yet friendly matron who has forgotten more than you know about the neighbourhood.
I stopped in yesterday morning on the way to a parent-​teacher conference and settled on a nice pastry before walking down to Peet’s for coffee. I have no complaints about Peet’s own pastry selection. However, why would anyone even consider these, when Boniere is so close by?

I just read an earlier review of this place that hit the nail on the head: their food looks much better than it tastes. From a purely aesthetic point of view, this place is bank – pink and fluffy, like pastry should be. But the magic dies as soon as the first bite hits your mouth, and then you get that morning-​after look of dismay when the person beside you rolls over and reveals themself to be not-​so-​hot as they’d previously looked under all those red lights…

I’ve been here before (during the days of me working at Tomo’s — yes, that long ago) and I heard that they sold their business and stuff so I stopped going thereafter.
Last Friday, the boy and I stopped here to get some pastries and get coffee at Peet’s. It was early, right after we worked out (yes, ironic eh?) We both ordered 2 chocolate croissants and 1 apple turnover to go. We got home… I sat down and grubbed! Their chocolate croissant was still hot and they didn’t cheap out on chocolate either. It was pricey but heck, it’s better than getting it from Peet’s or Starbucks.
The boy was sold too. He kept talking about how we needed to get our next b-​day/​party cake their instead of Nob Hill to support local business. I just nodded and said yes. =)

When I was a kid, we never went into this place for more than a cookie.
However, when my sister got married, apparently this is the place to be.
When she said she wanted cakes for her wedding, they didn’t press on us about getting the typical wedding cake (Which would have cost MUCH more). But instead listened to her idea about having 5 different cakes, all of which they made great suggestions for.
All I have to say is that once the cakes were brought out at the reception, there was a stampede, and two minutes later, all traces of cake had disappeared.

We went in here and picked up some cookies… I forgot the name but they have the fruit jelly in the middle… they were soooo yummy! I’m not really a pastry kinda gal, but I will definetely be visiting this place when I am craving something sweet :)
Also, customer service was great!