Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain

I really love this place. Their food is definitely on the expensive side- a sandwich and coffee can run you $20 with tip. That said- the space couldn't be more charming- they salvaged I think almost everything from vintage soda shops and you can tell (but it doesn't feel old or grimy- just lovely). The staff has always been friendly and efficient to a t. You will probably wait in line for a while, but it's worth it. Some notable favorites: the peach scone was unbelievable; the tuna melt has a solid classic diner feel, but at the same time, you can tell the quality is there; the cinnamon roll is massive and not too sweet. The coffee is solid. Overall- it's a can't-miss neighborhood joint!

I originally reviewed Spinning J seven years ago; then, like now, I think that Spinning J makes some of the best baked goods and milkshakes in the city, maybe even the best.But during a visit this past weekend--the fourth or fifth of its type over the last year or so--I was reminded that something has really changed at Spinning J: the service time. It's enough to make me pause now when attempting to stop in to grab a bite.Since Spinning J reopened post-COVID, the big hit was the hours. I used to stop by after dinner in the Before Times, but Spinning J is now a daytime-only shop. That may or may not mean anything to most people, but for me, it's turned it into a weekend-only establishment. I want to say that it used to be open Tuesday-Sunday, but now it's Wednesday to Sunday...and look, we all get that restaurant/eatery staffing has been a zoo since COVID, so this change was likely made to accommodate some of those difficulties.Over the last year, service time has been (for a customer typically standing in line with young children) a dumpster fire, and that has been on a "good" day. This past Sunday featured a typical situation. We got in line, stepping just inside the doorway to wait to order a chocolate chip cookie and a milkshake. Getting through this line of about ten parties (single customers and customers with a friend/family member or two) took 19 minutes. Seeing what many customers got, I was shocked that many of them ordered coffee or baked goods; in other words, items that should either move quickly or allow for other team members to prepare them while the cashier took more orders.But that wasn't the case. Part of the problem? The cashier was chatty, to the point where she began to get the "death stare" from my wife and other customers as we waited for this person to small talk everyone who got to the counter. On the one hand, I love friendly customer service. On the other hand, I want employees who can "read the room" and this person was doing the exact opposite. Do you NOT see the 20+ other people standing in line?This reached a comical fever pitch when a person who clearly knew the cashier or other staff members began an order, got a hug from someone behind the counter, and all three had a conversation after the order and after payment had been triggered for another couple minutes. People, come on!After we got to the counter and completed our order, we got our cookie and went outside to the secondary door used by Spinning J to bring out longer-prep items, like our milkshake. Thankfully, this only took about 5 minutes to get our shake...but the order was incomplete, so we had to wait another few minutes to finalize the right order. It was a nice day, so we enjoyed our shakes outside on the spot, and got to watch other customers wait 15 minutes or longer for the same items.There are some easy fixes to this, but I can't tell why these have not been implemented. A second register seems like a no-brainer. If space makes that difficult, taking to-go orders at the bar for baked goods only--similar to the "Shakes Only" line at Shake Shack locations--would squeeze more customers through the line faster. I used to call to make milkshake orders over the phone, so that I could just walk in and pick them up...that's not possible now, although online ordering is possible. (If there is an online-only order pick-up line, I have not seen it.)One final suggestion--staff that reads the room a bit better. Spinning J now reminds me of Hot Doug's from back in the day--I loved the food, but waiting in the massive line was always tied to the same issue: Doug worked the register, and he could talk your ear off. "Doug, do you realize there are like 50 people in line outside?" "Ah, that's OK, we'll get to them eventually. How's your day going?"I wish I had all the time in the world too, but that whole job/kids/scheduled activity thing really gets in the way sometimes. As it is, it's getting harder and harder to plan around the service time at Spinning J, which is pushing it a little further out of my rotation. It is tough watching customers leave a slow line in disgust, like they did on my last visit. How much business are you willing to lose?

This cute place is right by my work so it's great for working lunch meetings or to grab lunch to go. My favs are the Tuna Melt or Grilled Cheese sandwiches, but they also have quiche, soups, milkshakes, sodas, and THE BEST pies. Good ambiance and music, however, the dining space is tight and it's often hard to find somewhere to sit during lunch hours or the weekends. The staff don't seem to want you to be here too long so that others can have a seat, so not good for any meet ups longer than 30-45 minutes. Also I ordered takeout recently and I was asked to wait at the back door which is outside right off a sidewalk. I stood for a few minutes and then returned inside to wait because requesting that customers wait outside on a sidewalk on a hot day by an unmarked black door is really weird - especially when you could easily wait 15+ minutes on average for your order to be ready.

Awesome awesome Awesome neighborhood spot for pastries and coffee. That's three awesomes for those of you keeping track at home. It looks like a very old-school tavern that has been converted to a coffee shop. I had the Spinning J breakfast sandwich, which was really good. The English muffin was super tasty. Coffee was great. They have a variety of pastries to choose from. I can't wait to come back with my hottie of a wife and sample the other products they have to offer. They also sell packs of English muffins to go. Service was very friendly.

Superb cuisine and hipster ambience makes this a go to place. Bonus: it's Woman Owned!Favorite for breakfast and lunch. Highly recommended!!

I was in the area for a meeting and happened to stop by this cute shop.First off the decoration takes me back in time. I loved the antique style.My mom and I tried the dirty chair latte, and it was the perfect amount of sweet and spice.My dad tried the cortado - 3 shots of espresso with a small amount of milk. He loved it.Definitely coming back to try the food next time. It smelled delicious

One of the best bakeries in the city. Their sweet and savory selections are always on point. I particularly like their bialy and lox sandwich. Quick friendly service in this small dining room. Parking is sometimes difficult.

Stopped by Spinning J at lunchtime today. It's a local favorite and was pretty packed, but staff found us a spot at the bar pretty quickly. Amazing sandwiches and soda, great atmosphere and a great vibe. What an awesome place! Highly recommended

This place has a good selection and breakfast sandwiches were really good! The space isn't very big with much seating but we sat on the bar stools and enjoyed a great breakfast!

This place is overrated. When we walked in, we didn't see the sign up front about ordering there first and then they will seat you because a customer was standing in front of it. I went a couple feet past where the sign was and the cashier like scolded me. She was incredibly rude and just plain miserable this woman. While the milkshakes were good, the s'mores pie was underwhelming. They had a sign on the table pretty much telling you not to overstay your visit.