Rila Bakery & Cafe

Ellie_Phoenix

An Honest Review (From My Perspective) Rila Bakery & Cafe is a small business with a lot of potential. The business is known for its specialties, including croissants, scones, and cookies baked in-house each day, and special teas, notably milk tea and boba. The store's general atmosphere is quaint and almost relaxing. I could definitely envision myself or anyone else I know enjoying a cup of coffee or tea before continuing to work later on, or as a gathering place for friends and family on the weekend. Baked goods, as mentioned previously, are the store's pride and joy. Every day, before and after hours, the owner is in the back kitchen working hard on his various croissants and scones, and it appears to pay off. It's easy to see that, in each pastry, there is a labor of love at play. My only issue is less with the goods themselves and more with the fact that they aren't assumed to be heated up; That you must request yourself at the counter or register. Even something such as a ham and Swiss cheese croissant is given not heated, and though it can be eaten safely as such, a couple minutes in the oven would go a long way. Let's talk coffee. Rila does offer various familiar espresso beverages, especially lattes, Americanos, and even caramel macchiatos. I happened to order the latter iced, and found it to be less sweet than expected, although I do not personally blame the barista. I believe Rila uses a different recipe than other cafes to get a more strong, coffee-centric taste with the caramel hitting dead last. This I was less than impressed by all the same. I also recall another time when an acquaintance of mine had ordered an Americano with heavy cream, and the cream happened to be somewhat curdled, though this could also have been a one-time occurrence. I am quite perplexed, however, by the lack of any sugar-free syrup options. Even a single bottle of sugar-free vanilla, a staple of any cafe, would certainly be a welcome addition. Finally, I need to talk about the interpersonal human connection... and the lack thereof. On the part of those up front, especially baristas, the connection is very good and amiable! The barista(s) is/are quick with their beverages and even bring your items out to where you are seated, truly going the extra mile. On the part of the owner, however, I cannot say the same. I understand he is oftentimes concentrating on baking in the kitchen and overall running his business how he likes and feels necessary, but only occasionally have I heard a "Hello" or "Welcome" from where he stands. When I entered, he paid little attention or acknowledgement to me as a customer, which left an admittedly sour taste in my mouth. Another thing that leaves me wanting more is the fact that the customer's name is never asked, such as is the case at a major chain like Starbucks. Even regular customers seldom get first-name recognition, and none of the workers even wear nametags, making it difficult to develop a proper connection. *I'd like to reiterate, this review is based entirely on my OWN personal experience as a customer, and as someone who knows the establishment inside and out. Others may not agree or have the same experience, but I felt it was only necessary to have my peace be known. Final verdict: 2 out of 5 stars, but I would vote 2.5 if I could. Wishing everyone working at Rila the best of luck going forward.

Anastasia Nikitina

I was right on time to get freshly baked croissants and they were DELICIOUS!! And the barista was so nice to combine matcha and chai for me (highly recommend this combo, I love it).

Rebekah (Beka)

They have great breakfast croissants and pretty good coffee! Pleasantly surprised they had Portuguese egg tarts as well! Which didn't have a traditional flavor but they were super creamy and delish! I needed a spot to have a quick work meeting and lunch and Rila’s was perfect!

Yü Wu

I had a croissant from Rila at Pilgrim Coffeehouse in Seattle and liked it so I came to check out the bakery in Lynnwood. Unfortunately they were out of sandwiches so I just had the croissant again. It is pretty decent, could be flakier, …