Summary (scale of 1-10 with 10 being perfect)
Woodside Bakery, "The Gold Standard" - pro: still fairly good pastries despite recent decline, ceramic plates and mugs, decent coffee (usually), sufficient seating (with some exceptions); con: consistent chaos at cash register counter, bias against seating of bakery patrons. Jym's rating: 8. As of 2017 the Woodside Bakery has relocated to Sharon Heights. Some of pastries are similar to the former location, but less variety.
7/3/2011 Los Altos Bakery (Foothill Expry at Springer)- pro: efficient service/cash register, ceramic mugs, decent coffee, convenient to south Peninsula events; con: limited pastry choices, paper plates, plastic utensils, limited seating inside or out (more than 8 would be a serious problem). Jym's rating: 5.
7/10/2011 Palo Alto Baking Co. - pro: efficient service/cash register, ceramic plates, adequate seating inside; con: limited pastry choices, plastic utensils (but you can ask for metal); outdoor seating inadequate; nearest parking on Sunday mornings 2 blocks away due to Farmer's Market on California Ave. Jym's rating: 6
9/25/2011 Dianda's (Crystal Springs Shopping Center) - pro: not crowded (most customers seemed to be getting pastries to go), excellent Italian-type pastries that might be better than Woodside's, ceramic cups and plates, metal forks, excellent coffee, (most customers seemed to be getting pastries to go); con: small round cafe tables designed for 2 or 3, but can put several together (most customers seemed to be getting pastries to go), significant time hit since location is in wrong direction. Jym's rating: 7; Stu's rating: 8; Nat's rating: 6.
11/6/2011 Big Basin Cafe (Saratoga) - pro: great atmosphere, not crowded, efficient service, good coffee; con: really far away, limited pastry selection. Jym's rating: 5 (mainly driven by distance).
10/21/2012 Mayfield Bakery - pro: great coffee, especially the espresso drinks, some good pastries but limited variety; con: slow service, limited seating. Jym's rating: 6
12/8/2013 Prolific Oven - pro: good coffee, reasonable selection of pastries, efficient service, plenty of seating, warm and friendly atmosphere; con: inconvenient location. Jym's rating: 6
3/16/2014 Main Street Cafe (134 Main St, Los Altos) - pro: ceramic plates and mugs, utensils if you ask, convenient to south Peninsula events, ample seating at common table for group of up to about 16; con: very limited choice of pastries and the pastries not very good to boot, coffee just so-so. Jym's rating: 6
4/20/2014 Voyageur du Temps (First St, Los Altos) - located in the newly refurbished train station south of Main St, near Draeger's. Pro: delicious pastries and well made coffee, all served in or on attractive plates and cups with sturdy flatware, efficient cashier, espresso drinks brought to table, plenty of seating inside and out for large or small groups, the baking takes place behind glass panels, fun to watch; con: pastries a little pricier while size a little smaller than normal, limited parking out front. Group rating: 9!
1/31/2016 Konditerei (3130 Alpine Rd, Portola Valley) - pro: close to many of our favorite exercise areas, usually has seating available inside or out; con: very limited pastry selection, pastries mediocre at best. Jym and Chuck rate it a 5.
9/22/2016 Village Bakery & Cafe. Due to open about Thanksgiving, 2016. Owner: Tim Standard of the San Francisco-based restaurant group Bacchus Management. Ref: 1) http://www.almanacnews.com/print/story/2016/09/21/woodsides-new-bakery-cafe-25-percent-larger ; 2) tiny url.com/U58QS .
Other bakeries/coffee shops we've visited, evaluations pending:
Coffee Society (21265 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, across from De Anza College) Expired in 2017
Moonside Bakery (604 Main St, Half Moon Bay)
Starbucks (296 Main St, Los Altos)
Le Boulanger (301 Main St, Los Altos)
Copenhagen Bakery & Cafe (1216 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame)
Red Berry Coffee Bar (145 Main St, Los Altos)
Cocola in Stanford Shopping Center
Yet to visit:
Manresa Bread (271 State St, Los Altos)