Photo by Roberto Rodriguez
Comet Coffee & Microbakery
When Comet Coffee & Microbakery opened in 2012, it first gained attention for being part of St. Louis’ move into the so-called “third wave” (i.e., higher quality) of coffee. Soon, though, visitors to this small storefront in the city’s Cheltenham neighborhood discovered that, its “micro” prefix aside, Comet’s bakery was no afterthought. Co-owner and pastry chef Stephanie Fischer serves delicious pastries both sweet and savory, both familiar (muffins, croissants) and unique (the otherworldly Lithuanian bacon bun: brioche with bacon and Swiss cheese). Warning: I’ll fight you for the day’s last lemon-poppyseed scone.