Tartine (San Francisco)

I was introduced to Tartine by AL who lived right across the street from this bakery in his smartly decorated Mission District apartment. It's a "too busy to talk" New York yuppie type of bakery right in the heart of friendly SF. The shop is dressed in white and silver decor (with a hint of wood), where every cup, napkin and pastry is lined up neatly > everything in clean lines. Folks in business suits read the daily paper while sitting on high stools...and the rest wait in a long line (usually out the door) for scruptous scones, cookies and pastries. Their baked goods are fantastic.

I went there nearly everyday for a week, and it still remains my favorite SF morning stop.
http://www.tartinebakery.com/