Guglhupf Bakery & Patisserie

The Guglhupf does not disappoint! I have been here a total of 3 times since I was first taken here by a good friend of mine. The first time I dined here, I didn’t know what to expect! I’ve actually never had German cuisine until the first time I ate here. Anyways, I had the lunch-​sized Wienerschnitzel (which is an oddly satisfying word to repeat to yourself when spoken in a german accent!), and it was pretty damn good if I do say so myself. Sadly, no picture of the delicious dish, but next time I show up here (and there will definitely be a next time, mark my words), I will update this review with a photograph!
The second time I came to the Guglhupf was to try out their famous pastries. I got the German Cheesecake and a Strawberry Streusel. While their dessert was pretty good, it wasn’t anything extraordinary. Also, considering the portion size I was given, I had a tough time justifying the $ 20+ dollars I had spent.
The third time I came by here was for breakfast! I had a Chai-​tea latte, a farmer’s omelette, and a Strawberry Panne Cotta. The Chai-​tea latte was good, but they don’t taste any better or different from the ones I make at home. The Farmers omelette was absolutely tasty, though! I might have been a little bummed that I finished it in about 5 or 6 bites. Then again, I was very hungry that day.
The main event, however, was the Strawberry Panne Cotta. It’s so good I had to dedicate a paragraph just for it! Seriously, it bums me out that the Panne Cotta isn’t available to buy every single day or else the staff would never be able to get rid of me. Give the freakin’ dessert a try. I’m pretty convinced that you won’t be disappointed!
4 stars from me for the Guglhupf! It’s not the greatest restaurant I’ve ever ate at, but it’s pretty close. If you’re in Durham, then this place should definitely be on your visit list.

Service — 1 star
Food — 5 stars
This was my second visit to Guglhupf in a few weeks. First visit was excellent but most recent dinner ruined by terrible service. It took at least 15 minutes to even be acknowledged by the server and then 30 minutes to get our drink order. Then waited another 45 minutes on the food. During these waiting times we were visited by our server only once. The only person who seemed to take note of our wait was the bread and water server and he was apologetic. I think this was a combination of understaffing as well as a server who knew her tip was already included in bill.
Will try again though as the food and atmosphere is that good.

This is one of my favorite places to eat at. The bread was amazing and so was the House-​Cut Noodles Tossed and the Vegan Meal. For Dessert we had the Strawberry-​Rhubarb Streusel Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream and we loved that one too.

Guglhupf is a lovely place to go for a weekend brunch in nice weather, as their outdoor space is lovely. You have to order at the counter and be aware that the later you arrive, the less likely there will be much variety left at the bakery (which is separate from the café).
I’m also a fan of their dinner menu, in the evening they get a bit more fancy. Their Weiner Schnitzel is my favorite!

Came here for dinner with hubby and my brother after a graduation ceremony close by. Loved the outdoor seating and décor but it was still pretty humid so we ate inside. Loved the upstairs seating with big windows and views of trees and patio. Love the candlelight tables. Full bar downstairs and authentic German menu, including desserts. I ordered the vegan dish which was amazing. Portion didn’t look huge like the other plates but I was stuffed! Fingerling potatoes had good flavor. Tempeh meatballs has good texture and the almond cream with capers was amazing! Presentation was wonderful. Side salad was fresh. Bread came out before the dinner and it was fresh, thick and crusty! Food came out nice and hot. Server was attentive and very knowledgable. Additional wait staff was very attentive as well. Restaurant was very clean and ambiance was intimate and rustic. Great spot for good German food.

Pork is way big in Germany… think of all the sausage. Yet this chef dared to take a traditional German dish and vegan-​ize it. Not only did he do so with style and skill, but he won some darn contest with the creation. Try it … called the Konigsberger klopse (all vegan dish for those into all that).
Now back to pigs and such: Portions are large. Had the Tiny Farm’s Greens for openers and it is a well portioned and tasty salad for starters.
Rib Eye was yummy (another in our party ordered that) but I opted for the Schnitzel w/​mushroom gravy. After indulging in the freshly made bread offerings that came to table; I had to take about ¹⁄₃ of my plate home as leftovers.
Came to about $ 24/​per person to dine and we only had water as our beverage. Skipped dessert as we were all stuffed. Will have to come back for dessert for sure. Our server was Lara, an energetic and happy waitress who knew her German menu inside and out.
SaleebScore: Value: ⁷⁄₁₀; Food: 9.5÷10; Ambiance: ⁸⁄₁₀ (dine inside or out); Service: ¹⁰⁄₁₀. We were doted on by Lara and her assistants all night.

This place is all that is good about dining out. Beautiful and relaxing outdoor patio, the best croissant I have had in years, affordable delicious food, great coffee and tea and truly wonderful pastries. The croissant sandwich with bacon was the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had. Toasted crossiant, egg and crispy thick bacon! So perfect. The frittata was good, not great. The kids breakfast options are affordable and good. A wonderful place to sit and enjoy the day!

The reuben sandwich is wonderful here and you should try the almond pastry – schenke? (that spelling is totally off, I know, but it’s not the almond croissant!), which was flaky and buttery, sweet, and wonderful. The almond flavor isn’t very strong in the pastry.
We came to Guglhupt for weekend brunch because we had a group of 6 and I knew that Guglhupt has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and there wouldn’t be much of a wait. On 10:30am on a Saturday we were pleasantly surprised to find enough parking spaces and we only had 2 people ahead of us in line! It was nice for the cashier to make sure all of our orders were on the same ticket number so that we were served at the same time, but it did take awhile to order our food.
As expected there were plenty of open tables inside and outside. I tried the shiitake mushroom omelette which comes with a small bowl of fruit and 2 baguette slices. I was slightly disappointed that there weren’t that many mushrooms in my omelette and the eggs were a tad overcooked, but the omelette was overall pretty tasty with a dollop of ketchup and gooey cheese (my favorite) inside. In terms of portion, it was about medium-​small — not overly filling but not too small. My husband tried the reuben sandwich with potato salad — huge chunks of meat, toasted bread, great sauerkraut and creamy sauce. I also tried the schnitzel – great flavor with a hint of citrus and very juicy!
We also shared the cheese plate — sheep, goat, and cow cheese. The goat blue cheese was pretty pungent and paired well with the strawberry jam, dried fig, honey, and sesame crackers. The sheep cheese is more mild and the cow cheese tasted similarly to gouda but not smoky.
Check out the bakery next door where the quiches, cream puffs, and bread looked amaaazing.

This is my fist visit and sadly I’m not impressed. So many people had praised this place that I was excites to try it. Well the cold, tasteless corn beef sandwich on over toasted rye bread was one of the worse I’ve had. The cucumber salad should be called yogurt dressing soup with chunks of cucumber because it was drowning the cucs, and there weren’t very many onions. The tea was me it’s tea. I did enjoy the cookie that I purchased. If we weren’t gluten free at home I’d say I’d be back for more but alas I must admit I won’t be coming back.

I’ve come here several times now for lunch or brunch, and my favorite is the turkey with brie and apple chutney. It’s a good mix of sweet and savory, and they’re very generous on the turkey, which isn’t too salty like a lot of deli places. Other than that though, I wasn’t a big fan of the other things like the schnitzel, muesli or the omelettes (which, by the way are on the small side portion-​wise and pricey, so skip the eggs and muesli if you’re hungry). The bread is great when grilled or toasted — crunch on the outside and soft on the inside.
The wait is always very long for some reason — when I go during the weekends, there are a lot of people and we always wait at least 30 – 45 minutes for our food. During the off times though, the wait is still just as long, and I really don’t understand why. Again, don’t go if you’re starving and need food stat.

I was visiting Durham from NYC and was a little worried there would be a dearth of eating options…
Thankfully my cousin took me to Guglhupf which I immediately fell in love with (their food and prices) and we went back AGAIN in a span of 24 hours. (Okay, maybe that was because aside from this place there actually isn’t much else around…)
I think the prices are great, though may be biased because I’m from Manhattan where 8 dollars may or may not get you an orange juice, much less a whole sandwich.
The food was also great. And the outdoor seating was great. And the people were lovely.
I even considered moving to Durham just because of this place. Jk. Kind of.

My favorite brunch/​bakery in Durham! Great selection of pastries, baked goods and brunch items. Come early during the weekend. I came here on a Saturday morning around 10AM, was amazed that all the seats were empty, only to discover that the line was 25 people deep!
Great outdoor seating area. Perfect for a lazy weekend :)
The bakery is right next to the restaurant. So, in case you want something to go or in a hurry, this might be a faster option.

Visited for breakfast on a Sunday morning. It was very busy and parking was limited. Luckily, we found parking on the street.
It was a beautiful sunny day so we dined outside. You can even bring your pup, as many people did.
We both had omelets — one was shiitake mushroom and the other was the farmers omelet (sausage, onions, and cheese). They came with fresh fruit and baguette. I had coffee and it was delicious (not too strong).
It was our first visit and we didn’t realize a few little things (i.e. you have to get your own silverware, there isn’t a hostess or table service, etc). We noticed some people heading to the bakery for coffee and sweet treats to eat while they waited in the 20 – 30 minute line to place their breakfast order. Next time…

Hubby and I ordered a few desserts for a dinner party and everything we ordered was outstanding.
Romantic ambiance and definitely date worthy, especially for dessert.
You can also pick up a dessert to go if you want to get a little something for your Lovey.
Not sure how the regular menu items rate but the desserts are a solid 5 stars.
Rock on, Guglhupf!

Guglhupf is one of the cutest cafes I’ve been to in the Triangle area, which is why I’d always suggest going when deciding on a quick brunch/​dessert place to go to. I love the casual but classy atmosphere inside, and if the weather permits, I’d definitely recommend sitting out on the patio to eat. The café was very busy and crowded the two times I went (around 1 PM during the weekend) but I still managed to find a table right away. However, it is quite aggravating to find a parking space, for there aren’t many, and I had to circle around the restaurant many times in order to find one.
The reason for me giving a rating of 3-​stars is for the food. Very mediocre. The first time I went, I got the Turkey, Brie and Apple Chutney sandwich, which was OK but nothing special. On my second visit, I got the Turkey, Pear, and Gorgonzola sandwich, which I found very bland and the turkey too dry to the point I could not finish it. I’d like to point out that this is my own personal opinion, and so while others may find these sandwiches appetizing, I would not order it again.
I did really enjoy their desserts though (however, a bit pricey). I got the fruit tart and would be willing to try the other pastries the next time I go.

I give it 4 stars based on what I ordered, which is market price special trout dish. The fish was tender, the sauce was flavorful, a bit on the saltier side, but I’m happy with it. However, my dining companions all had something to complain about their dish that night… overall is not like 3.5 stars.
The complains are: beef ribeye is very salty; the restaurant week entrée pierogis was literally three pieces of potato dumplings very small portion, and the dessert was not at the guglhupf standard we have expected, not bad, but not as good as we usually get.
I liked the before entrée bread basket, bread is always good here! I like their bakery a lot. Overall, I had a very good meal, too bad my companions didn’t enjoy their dinner as much as I did, but I’ll be back for brunch like I always do, maybe not as frequent for dinner.

I came to Guglhupf on a Thursday afternoon around 2 for the lunch menu so there wasn’t much of a wait (thank goodness). We got the reuben and schnitzel. Honestly, I felt that the reuben was okay. The sauerkraut overpowered the flavors of the corned beef and cheese, but the bread was good. The german potato salad side was pretty good too.
The schnitzel plate that we got was pretty good. The schnitzel was perfectly crispy and fried. While the shnitzel does taste pretty plain/doesn’t have much seasoning on it, for me, I thought adding some lemon juice on top gave it a bit more flavor.
The fruit tartlet. I’m just going to say that if you go to Guglhupf and you leave without getting the fruit tartlet, you are missing out. Not only is the fruit tartlet a work of art, it is also the perfect blend of fruitiness and sweetness. The whipped cream (?) on the inside is fluffy and sweet while the strawberries and blueberries that sit on top of the cream are just sour enough to balance out the sweetness. As someone who doesn’t like desserts that are overly sweet, this fruit tartlet was perfect. I would highly recommend going to Guglhupf, even if it is just to get this fruit tartlet at the bakery.

Tja. Wir sind das erstemal da um den Weihnachtsmarkt zu besuchen. $ 7 eine Tasse Gluehwein! Umgerechnet EUR 6.35. Tut mir Leid aber das Zahlt Mann auch nicht in die edelste Ecken von D.
Das war uns zu unverschaemt und wir sind prompt gegangen ohne sonnstwas gegessen zu haben.

Had lunch here once with my boyfriend and it is very fresh, tasty fare. Portions are light, so don’t come here if you’re starving. From what I remember, the lunch entrees all come with some sort of salad as your side, which I wasn’t really into (yeah, shame on me). I got the apple and brie sandwich which was more sweet than savory (obviously) and I like my food savory (no strawberries in my salad, thanks!) so I wouldn’t order that again.
Boyfriend got the french dip was a little flavorless.
Hey but the redeeming quality here? The desserts! Beautiful pastries and breads!
The huge elephant ear dipped in chocolate? yes yes yes

Went for brunch on a Saturday after checking out the reviews. It’s somewhere I have been wanting to go for years, and I was not disappointed! I had no idea they had such a large and welcoming outdoor patio! Perfect for a September morning.
Even though there were several people in line to order when we arrived, things moved quickly and we were able to snag a table on the patio. After going back and forth between breakfast or lunch, my boyfriend and I decided on the french dip and the Reuben with a bread basket to start with. The coffee was absolutely delicious and we enjoyed the different breads that came in the bread basket. Both of our sandwiches were great and I was surprised at how reasonably priced they were! We split them and still had some to take home after filling up on bread. The meat on both sandwiches was plentiful and cooked perfectly and needless to say the bread they were served on was delicious! I liked the taste of the potato salad, although I thought it would have been better served hot.
All in all can’t wait to go back!

Guglhupf Bakery & Patisserie is a restaurant & bakery in Durham where you can purchase fresh baked goods or enjoy a meal. The restaurant & bakery are two separate shops. This review will focus on the bakery side only.
My Overall Rating — 4 Stars (Atmosphere, Service, Food, Return)
Atmosphere — There’s a beautiful outdoor garden with some man made water features that will catch your attention. There’s also plenty of outdoor seating — but this is for the café, which opens at 8 AM. For our visit, we came at 7:30 and entered the bakery. Here you’ll find tons of artisan breads stacked on shelves in the back, then sweet pastries and amazing baked goods behind the counter begging you to buy them to eat. The bakery side is small though, so 4 or more customers would make it a bit crowded. ½ Star.
Service — There is a staff member/​baker behind the counter that will put together your order. Luckily for us we were the only ones in line, so we were able to browse & go slow. But I think if it ever gets crowded, you better know what you want so you don’t hold up the line. The good news is that they have a web site where you can browse and order online. 1 Star.
Food — I will admit that I love bakeries. I just love how a few simple ingredients (flour, water, egg, etc.) in the hands of a master baker can result in some outstanding baked items. We were not disappointed. I went with a nice cheese Danish, which was creamy & sweet on the inside and flaky on the outside. We also picked up some nice almond & chocolate croissants for the road. Everything (but the just ok coffee) was fantastic, and I have no doubt the rest of their baked items are just as good. 1 ½ Stars.
Will I Return? — Absolutely. There are too many reasons to come back. There are breads, cookies, and cakes that need to be tasted. And that’s only the bakery! I’m sure the café is also a great, unique experience as well. 1 Star.
My Unilocal Rating Scale (Sum of all parts):
1 Star — Atmosphere — Is it a cool dive? Perhaps an upscale place? No matter the type, atmosphere plays a big part and I’ll give a star if I like it or thinks it has great charm.
1 Star — Service — You can have a great meal with bad service. But that’s also what can make a five star joint drop to four. It’s important to the dining experience that service is great and on point.
2 Stars — Food — I’ll award up to two stars for the food, since this is the main reason we dine out. Sometimes the extra star is given for value, but it’s really all about the food.
1 Star — Will I come back? — If I know for a fact I’ll return, I’ll give this a star. A place has to make an impression for me to return.
Each Category can be given up to 1 star except food (2 stars) because I consider all these categories important to the overall dining experience. I will sum them up to provide my final Unilocal score.