The Ultimate Cookie

Called same day for a last minute order for my office and was lucky to score a half tray of cinnamon crumb cake and chocolate dipped coconut macaroon. These. Were. Incredible. The crumb cake is massive so would probably try something else next time that is easier to eat without a plate. The macaroons were the first to go. They kindly requested me to call at least a day in advance next time since they are primarily wholesale.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that this business was still around. I lived in the upper Haight in the late 1980s and they used to have a storefront there on the south west corner of Haight St @ Masonic (a shoe store is there today). My first roommate was an employee there and he would bring cookies home from time to time. I remember that they were delicious. It seems like they have gone completely wholesale these days, a lot like another former favorite of mine, Just Desserts, which at one time had store fronts all over the city, including the upper Haight a few doors down from where the I-Beam used to be. Times have certainly changed.

Ring their door bell to find out what they got. Great cookies, but they don't really do retail. Be prepared for them to not have any cookies for sale. Overall, great bakery and friendly staff.

I was worried I needed a secret password to get in here like at Bourbon & Branch. It kinda felt like Groucho trying to get past Chico at the door of the speakeasy in "Horsefeathers". The password was 'swordfish'. After all, it's a nondescript building on a haggard stretch of Folsom Street with no windows and an iron gate over the front door. There's a faded mural of cookie bakers at work to give you some indication that there may be a bakery somewhere in there (photo: http://bit.ly/2M6aOJG). Without any guidance, I pressed the doorbell wondering if I was at the right place. One of the workers answered the door after a couple of minutes, and feeling like I was doing something illegal, I diffidently asked him if he sold cookies. He nodded his head and let me know he had some in the back.Going in blind and not knowing the Oat Cakes were the popular item to get, I asked him if I could get a couple of their Snickerdoodles since I happen to catch them taking a tray of them out of the oven. He said the minimum order was six, so I ended up buying a half-dozen Snickerdoodles for $12 (photo: http://bit.ly/2NZAW9P). Whoa...Danger, Will Robinson! But then he gave me the humongous cookies already packaged in plastic and presumably refrigerated since they were cold. I walked over to Sextant Roasters and broke open the package to try one. Definitely needed to be warmed up or left alone to get to room temperature. You'll be happy to know the other five cookies went into other people's deserving stomachs. An eyebrow-raising experience overall.COOKIES - 3 stars...well made but not fresh out of the oven, needed to be warmed upAMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...it's s bakery alrightSERVICE - 3 stars...nice enough but I was unclear in the choices snd you get what they have on handTOTAL - 3 stars...lets just say it was an interesting experience for a first-timer, probably too fattening to consider making repeated visitsRELATED - Collection of bakeries and sweets shops I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2KaTJwA

This is the best kept cookie secret in SF. They are primarily a wholesale bakery, but I've heard you can call in and place a pickup order, and some people seem to have taken a chance and and just rung the small doorbell outside their locked gate. Best black bottom cupcakes, brownies, and NY crumb cake you can get here in SF.

I go to the bakery about twice a month to purchase their Oat Jacks cookie. It is chocked full of wonderfully chewy ingredients. I've also tried the coffee cake. The staff is very friendly in person and on the phone. The bakery does not have a retail section. When you get there you ring the bell and tell them what you want. Cash only and you have to buy in bulk.

Warning:This is a wholesale place. Trust me on this point: you cannot just walk in and buy stuff (well you can try but what you'll get is just too random). Your best bet is check out their website and order stuff.Why you really must order stuff from this place:They have the BEST Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cupcakes and Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes. I don't know how they keep the cream cheese from baking to the point of dried out grossness, but they do. If you ever get the chance to try either cupcake (ideally you'd have both), you must. It's so so good you'll be going to their SF HQ and try to buy some: again, trust me on this point.

You'll be able to locate this place by the smell. They were making oatmeal raisin cookies the morning we found our way to them. I love the fact that you have to go to backdoor and ring the bell, if they are super busy, they won't answer the door. Which means when you do get cookies...it's something special.They are a commercial whole sale business and they cater all the huge events in the city. You can't buy just one cookie, they sell them in half dozen and dozen lots.I've tried the Russian Tea Cookies and as the name suggests, they are fantastic with tea. The molasses madness, the chocolate chip, and the white chocolate macadamia nut. All amazing. Ofter hot from the oven.Cash only and small bills only. They run about $26 for a dozen and $13 for a half dozen.

(See pic)Review #1007.The door is usually closed and it's like a secret cookie factory, except the cinnamon and butter aroma is so strong that it pulls you there even if you are across the street!Cookie Monster would completely take over this place if he finds this place!They usually have cookies available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays if you do not want to call ahead and order.The cookies are very, very delicious and something to dream of before, during and after.Must come back for the cakes too.

Another adventure in wholesale land. Ultimate Cookie is, in fact, not famous for its cookies but its pumpkin cream cheese muffins and apricot oat cakes. But as they only sell them by the dozen (and you have to call ahead), I had to wait until I had a good excuse (in this case, Bay to Breakers). The verdict? The muffins are super-moist and taste just as good as they sound (and to me, they sound incredibly good). The oat cakes aren't nearly as sinfully appealing, but they pack enough oats to power a horse, and following Jen D's suggestion (heating, buttering, and jamming) will turn them into a drool-worthy delight as well. And hey, if you really don't want to wait, you could always just buy 12, eat 3, and surprise your 9 coworkers with fresh-baked goodness one morning.