Raab’s Bakery

Great local bakery — good bread and all fresh. The people who work here can be on the grumpy /​abrupt side, but in a homey kind of way if that makes sense. At the weekend there’s often a queue out the door (abrupt has it’s uses) and it is one of the many shops that serves to make this stretch of Essex Rd /​Angel feel like a proper neighbourhood.
Though the nutella donut is a bit much, even for me.

This is by far my favourite bakery. It more or less kicked me out of my three years of low-​carb commitment. Unlike most bakeries in London that are all about their artisan breads, croissants and pain au chocolats, these guys ALSO have an amazing range of traditional English baked goodies. All fresh in the morning. I’m talking scones, chelsea buns, hot cross buns, marble cake, bread pudding, pig in blanket, rock cake, lemon drizzle, pies… you name it.
I nearly always go for the granary rolls (which are great with the smoked salmon from the fish mongers further up the street) and their amazingly light yet crunchy scones (which are downright superior). It’s gotten to the point where I am surprised they don’t just say «scones?» when they see me in the doorway.
And the price? Oh it’s so darn cheap it’s almost not fair.

Get ready for Raab to rock your world!
First found this gem when I was hungover and dying for a sausage roll (pig in blanket). Found a review of Raabs online and booted my boyfriend out the door to go get one for me!
He came back with sausage rolls and only admitted later that he had also bought a made to order sandwich that was so delicious that he had wolfed the whole thing down on the short walk home. Didn’t feel like sharing obviously!
I’ve since called into Raabs myself and bought a loaf of freshly made bread. Such a treat to find home-​baking style food in London!
Staff member who served me was lovely and really helpful, prices are super cheap and they have loads of treats on sale too.

LOVE Raab’s. I generally tend to buy their granary brown bread, which is the best I have ever had, but will often splurge and get the walnut and apricot loaf.
The mini apple pies are a steal and not sickly sweet, the jammy donuts delish, the carrot cake super moist, and the brownies, well, brownies. Yum.
The line is often out the door and the help a bit surly but I don’t care! The goods are top notch. :)

This is a cracking little find of a bakery. I was out driving with a friend, we were both hungry so he navigated me towards this place, all the while describing how good the bread was and how he loved the crust. I’ve heard people raving about sandwich shops before, but usually it’s the fillings, not the bread!
We had a sandwich, drink and cream slice each and it came to £6.25 altogether. Can’t say fairer than that. In fact, I’d say they are undercharging. Let me say why (but sshhh, don’t tell them!).
The ladies here are proper London lasses who really know how to make a sandwich. They whack loads of filling between two slices of the most gorgeous bread in the world. Once I started eating, I had to admit to my mate that he was spot on about the bread. The crust has this weird but alluring quality of being both crunchy and chewy at the same time and the bread is soft and strong. Perfect.
They make all of their own breads and cakes and have a huge selection to choose from, all sorts of rolls, loaves, baps, doughnuts, slices, tarts, pies, and so much more. I must have been in there for 5 minutes and still not laid eyes on all their wares, and it’s a small shop! The cream slice was the best I’ve ever had, and you could taste the love that had gone into making it.
All of this goes a long way to explaining the queue snaking out of the door, and that the best choice you could make today is to join it.

I should really write a shocking review for Raab’s, in the attempt to prevent possibly the best bakery in the World, or at least the best bakery this side of the Dales, becoming too popular. I should discuss how their fantastic selection of breads — walnut, sundried tomoatoe, olive — at incredibly cheap prices, are just plain rubbish, and how their scrumptious cream cakes and hefty brownies are too no ones taste. However, this would be an injustive to Raab — whoever he may be — and an injustice to all loaf lovers out there. Raab’s is the best thing since sliced bread — which incidentally they offer for an extra 3p.

This is such a gorgeous bakery. I popped in this morning to find it packed with people who have ducked out of the cold to warm up and buy some freshly baked goodies. And goodies they have. Raab’s boasts a great range of breads — from sunflower seed loafs, to wholemeal rolls and olive bread.
They have a great range of old-​school cakes and muffins that the kiddies will love, with decorations and coloured frosting. The bakery also does freshly-​made sandwiches, pies and sausage rolls.
Great value, a warm and buzzing atmosphere and yummy yummy bakery goods. Worth a visit if you’re in the area!