Little T
The first time I made the pilgrimage to Little T American Baker’s Division Street bakery, I drove by three times without spotting it, even though it’s in plain sight, at the corner of SE Division and SE 26th Avenue. I suspect there are two reasons for this: one, I’m not always that observant, and two, Little T doesn’t really look like your typical bakery.
…and cupcakes that make you wish it was your birthday everyday so you’d have an excuse for eating 365 of them a year.
Anchoring the NW corner of the modern new Clinton Condominiums building, Little T is all concrete and glass and metal and sleek modern design, it looks more like a Design Within Reach showroom at first glance, until you take a deep breath of air filled with the smell of baking bread and a peek into the stylishly austere pastry case, which is most definitely the property of a bakery, and an exceptional one at that.
Soft chewy molasses cookies covered in giant sugar crystals a la Pepperidge Farm gingerbread men, flaky ginger scones, deep dark brownies and Stumptown mocha chews, moist buttermilk crumb cake, fantastic chocolate praline croissants, and cupcakes that make you wish it was your birthday everyday so you’d have an excuse for eating 365 of them a year.
Little T takes the bakery breakfast to a whole new level with the fried-egg studded cowgirl toast layered with thick slabs of bacon, ham and cheese on fresh baked pretzels, and smoked salmon on spelt, and lunch options include savory housemade soups, salads, and sandwiches made on Little T’s eye-wideningly good breads (owner/head baker Tim Healea is formerly of Pearl Bakery).
The beverages roster includes all manner of coffee drinks (Stumptown), teas (Foxfire), and juices (Columbia Gorge organics), and offers up local beers and wines as well. With its contemporary good looks and exceptional edibles, Little T might just be the hippest and tastiest bakery around…and I’m so glad I finally found it.
Details
Cuisine: Bakery
Executive Chef: Tim Healea
Atmosphere: Sleek, urban bakery in a sleek urban condo building, in a nonsleek urban neighborhood
Outdoor seating: No
Best Seat: In the window bar
Noise Level: Normal - Energetic
Dress Code: Casual
Bring the Kids: Yes
Bathrooms: Yes, to the left of the register area
Parking: Free and plentiful on surrounding side streets
Cocktails: No
Beer: Yes
Teetotalers: Full array of Columbia Gorge organic juices, complimentary cucumber infused water
Coffee: Stumptown
Tea: Foxfire
Ideal Meal: Chocolate praline croissant, chicken noodle soup, house cured Coho lox on spelt, lemon tart, Stumptown Chew
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Vegan Friendly: Yes
Good for the following occasions: Dining Solo, Out with Friends, Pastry Fix
Group/Private Party Details: The communal table can fit a group of about 12.
Reservations: No
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: No