Le Bus Bakery

Love their apple cherry walnut bagels; a must try. Also the best brioche and golden wheat buns. Other breads and muffins are just OK.

Stopped by here yesterday to pick up some bread. They have a pretty good selection for having a small stand. I usually go for their «day old» bread to save a few $$. Their sign says they sell it for 30% off, but I’ve definitely gotten it for $ 2 a loaf before (which is more like 50% or more off). I’ve tried a bunch of the varieties but my favorites are the pumpkin seed and wheat loaves. This location is a little out of the way for me, but if I’m already here picking up a bunch of groceries at Iovine’s, it’s convenient to stop by on my way out of RTM.

I still like their bread and cookies after all these years, although Metropolitan is still better. The problem and reason for 2 stars is their counter people during a visit today. It was 2 young guys — and the ongoing conversation they were having was more important than helping assist customers and move the line speedily. They’re laughing and talking — and pausing while getting different baked goods for customers, because they couldn’t carry on while also talking to customers and filling their requests, so their conversation took priority. Lame. Time for management to refine their training.

Like Flam sez it’s just ok.
The only reason why I would ever shop here is because their challah is known to be parve. With metropolitan a few steps away, or the amish, or the fair food farm stand walk around a bit before you buy!
I’m surprised they are still in the RTM…

I’m convinced that Le Bus has the best baguette in Philadelphia, and I consider myself to be a baguette conoisseur. Why not 5 stars? $ 2.99 is pretty pricey for a baguette… even Whole Foods is $ 1.99! But it’s so delicious it’s impossible not to «splurge» whenever I make my way to RTM

Excellent bagels but avoid the muffins unless u enjoy stale pastry.

The unfortunate truth, friends, is that the only reason I buy any bread from Le Bus and not Metropolitan is because Le Bus sells day-​old stuff at a discount. So if I’m using it as part of a larger recipe, I can save a few quid, and I don’t think my croissant french toast, for example, is made less tasty by using a day-​old croissants. But if I’m going to eat that croissant straight-​up, I’ll buy it from Metropolitan.

In fairness to Le Bus, I have only tried their baguettes so my opinion is based solely on baguettes. However, nothing about their baguettes makes me want to try anything else from them. If a bakery can’t make a decent baguette, I don’t think it deserves to cal itself a bakery. Their baguette holds none of the qualities required for a good baguette. The texture just wasn’t there. Try Metropolitan instead. Or go to Whole Foods. Both places have far superior baguettes.

It’s OK. Just OK. I grabbed a quick low-​fat banana berry muffin ($ 2.00 including tax) and the lady heated it up in the microwave for me.
With so many other goodies in RTM — this might be OK if you need BREAD — but for sammies or treats I’d go elsewhere (Like Flying Monkey for treats or Olympia Gyro).
But I guess that’s not an apples to apples comparisson.
It may be intangible, but I was never thrilled with le Bus. Very 1989.

Hop on the bus Gus, don’t need to discuss much, just keep on going.
I only have one bakery in my area and it is a good drive, but so worth it. I was delighted to find several bakeries inside the Reading Terminal Market.
Le Bus has their name, because they started off selling their breads and pasties from a school bus twenty five years ago. The Four Seasons and Salad Works uses their products, talk about from one end of the spectrum to the other.
I decided to grab a few things to take home, for the first and last time.
On top of their counter, they make it easy to have just one thick slice of glazed lemon bundt cake and various thick slices of pound cake. I bought six different slices, already individually wrapped and looked so moist and delicious. Each slice was two dollars, which I did not think was bad, but if they were day old, they should have informed me, because they were as dry as a bone and had virtually no flavor.
I also bought a half dozen of bagels, which come in a huge variety of flavors, like sundried tomato, apple cherry walnut, cinnamon raisin. I asked the friendly counter girl to mix them up. They were just okay, I can get better elsewhere for sure and I would not buy them again.
Since our children are grown and have left the coop, I have learned to freeze bread products and take them out as I need them, refreezing what I have not used that day.
Finding a good Challah is not always easy and this was a must buy. I also bought one long baguette, one garlic stirato for panini’s, a white bread with garlic, cured olives, basil and cilantro and one loaf of an onion tomato mozzarella with basil. Hey, I like funky bread.
Hubby is a meat and potato kind of guy and he is not into funky bread. Neither of us have been impressed with the breads that we have tried so far. They were dry, which totally kills it and is only good toasted or grilled at that point. The flavors were nothing that you would expect from a good bakery.
I can honestly get better Artisan breads at Acme. I’ll use the rest up, slowly, I wonder if they would make a good stuffing.
Le Bus Bakery, your bread is for the birds!

The only good thing Le Bus bakes is their brioche rolls, which are great for serving burgers or grilled portobello caps.
The scone I had here was one of the worst I have eaten.
For the prices they charge, you are better off going to Metropolitan for bread, which is higher quality and truly artisan.