Tartes - Has anyone been to this gem?

[shacke]

People can talk of Miel until blue in the face but there is a terrific stand alone bakery called Tartes at 212 Arch St. It is nestled 'tween 2 parking lots and I happened to stumble upon it last year by chance. Serendipity for sure!

It is a tiny establishment with a walk up window. It's got that drive in feel to it - you can't go in and the kitchen/sales area is all in one small room. Everything I have had there is pretty darn tasty but I must admit that I "think" of the chocolate creme brulee tart too often for my own good.

It remains pretty much a secret still to most but I wanted to know if anyone else has discovered it. I have not seen it spoken of much and I don't know why. I hope they stay around forever.

If you get the chance, stop by. Desserts are about, oh, $4 for tarts and pastries. Probably less for cookies. They also have standard size cakes and pies and do holiday orders as well.

Evan

[Andrew Fenton]

Yeah, I like their fruit tarts a lot, and they make a mean berry turnover. It's true that they fly somewhat under the radar: I have the sense that they don't do a lot of walk-up business, and mostly sell to restaurants.

[philadining]

Shinyboots hipped me to this place a while back, but I keep going at the wrong times... glad to know others like it too.

Minor Gourmandry - Tartes

[herbacidal]

It's under the radar mostly because it wants to be.

I don't believe they market themselves at all.

IIRC, the owner didn't really want to do retail, but people kept coming up and asking about the cakes and such (not suprising when your has big huge windows on it like that.)

She (?) probably should've got a smaller place to avoid that, but thems the breaks.

[katbert]

I *heart* Tartes and go pretty much every First Friday when they're open late (usually until 9pm). She (Teresa Walls?) usually has a fabulous chocolate hazelnut mousse mini cake, the mini pale yellow key lime pie is a lovely tart/sweet combination, a fruit combo tart (blueberry peach, apricot blueberry, pear+?+almond), the mini banana cream pie has a very thick vanilla bean flecked custard in a classic graham crumb crust with a thick layer of fresh whipped cream and a few caramelized bananas on top. There are some cookies and muffin/cupcakes also but since I can make those I go for the other mini cakes. mmmm. I'll try to post some pictures the next time I go.

[shinyboots]

Chocolate Creme Brulee Tart too much for ya?

Then this won't help...

[shacke]

Chocolate Creme Brulee Tart too much for ya?

Then this won't help...

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Hey no fair! That's the DOTC IMHO (dessert of the city)

Evan

[chowfun]

Do they have regular retail hours or do you just have to be lucky when you get there?

[shinyboots]

Although I won't swear on them, I believe these are the hours:

Noon-6pm, Tues-Sat.

(Best bet is Tuesday thru Friday at listed times, then you are guaranteed some Tartes bliss.)

[katbert]

Although I won't swear on them, I believe these are the hours:

Noon-6pm, Tues-Sat.

(Best bet is Tuesday thru Friday at listed times, then you are guaranteed some Tartes bliss.)

←

And First Fridays until 9pm. The pastry cream for the banana or coconut cream pie has vanilla bean flecks in it and the crust for the coconut cream pie contains toasted coconut too. mmmmmm.

kt

[Carlson1105]

Theresa Wall was the Pastry Chef at Susanna Foo for many years. This helps to explain why Tartes is so good.

[katbert]

Last First Friday, there was a Hummingbird cake, a triple layer spice cake with a cream cheese frosting, pecans (?) and pineapple inside. There was a cluster of tiny orange red berries on top, along with a little feather It just fit into the plastic container, and we barely finished it along with a chocolate something or other cake/torte. Mmm, dessert for dinner.