Flour Bakery is such a find I'm reluctant to share it. Founded by Joanne Chang (former pastry chef at Rialto in Cambridge), this tiny South End bakery and cafe offers literally the best cookies, pastries and sandwiches I've found. Better yet, it's on a part of Washington Street (right near Mass Ave) that gets low enough traffic that you can often find a place to park right out front.
While its handful of tables fill up quickly at lunch, Flour makes a perfect meeting spot for a mid-morning snack or late afternoon latte. Their cookies are the best I've tasted; their brownies convinced me that it was possible to make something to-die-for without adding chocolate chips or frosting. At breakfast, favorite choices include ginger scones and Flour's very grown up version of a pop tart -- layers of puff pastry, fruit filling, frosted with glaze on top. At lunch, homemade soups, salads, gourmet personal pizzas and sandwiches like Roasted Lamb with Tomato Chutney and Goat Cheese or Roast Chicken, Avocado & Jicama on home-baked bread raise the bar.
Whatever you do, make sure you save room for dessert.
more