Morning Birds Bakery

I’m visiting from out of town and had a pastry from a local coffee shop and had to come by in person. Such a great space if you need somewhere to work and have a great coffee/snack. Also definitely family friendly … lots of great books and space for kiddos. The pastries and cookies are to die for. Highly recommend. Next Time I’m here I need to get their bread.

This used to be my favorite bakery in town, especially when it was off Reserve, but I feel it’s gone a bit wayward lately. I haven’t been in a while but went in Sunday morning. I got my favorite kouign aman but it was very different than it used to be. So much custard and the pasty was kind of soggy/stale instead of nice and crisp and caramelized on the bottom. I had really hyped it to my friend who was with me and felt embarrassed. The croissants in the case looked extremely pale as well. I was super bummed. I’ll give it one more try and report back.

Let me start by saying that the food was fantastic. The breads and pastries were flavorful and fresh. The croissants were crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. The staff member we dealt with, however, left much to be desired. He was low energy, but I won’t fault a service worker for that. What I did have an issue with was when my mother was checking out he turned the machine for her to run her card and then just walked away. Like straight out the back. He didn’t thank us, didn’t wait to see if she wanted a receipt, nothing. We stood there for a minute wondering if he was coming back. The other worker finally came to the register and was pleasant and wrapped up the transaction. It was so strange! I actually regretted leaving him a tip on my order because of how he treated my mom. FWIW, it was a Saturday afternoon and we were the only 2 customers there.

I’ve lived in Missoula for over 12 years and will say Morning Birds is the best bakery/cafe/coffee shop in the city. Their pastries are as fabulous as any high quality bakery you’ll find in any city. Their authentic New York Style bagels are as delicious as any you would find at a NY deli. This is probably because they took over the space of the long-time bagel shop Broadway Bagels so they use their delicious recipes and technique making them. Their bread is awesome too. If they sell out of certain baked items for the day that’s because of their popularity and it’s the same for any other bakery in town you’ll find. There are delicious breakfast and lunch items on the menu along with all of the coffee options you could want. I love the espresso grind they use which makes delicious coffee drinks. Easy to find on Broadway Street right across from the Courthouse. Highly recommended.

The pastries here are off the charts delicious. I spent many years working in pastry, and I can confirm that the puff pastry here is done exceptionally well. The flakiness of the croissants and the layering of fillings is balanced and excellent to eat. They also serve house made soup, sandwiches, quiche and bagels. If you are thinking of trying this place out, stop reading this review and go do it.