Butter Block

Exteriour of the historic Devenish Building

Opened: February 2018
Address: Suite 111, 908 17th Avenue SW
Kid Friendly: It is Take-Away only
Brunch: Could be, I won’t judge, could be dinner
Website: https://butterblockyyc.com/
Google Pics: Link

I heard about Butter Block a few months back in Avenue Magazine. On my first visit it was late in the day with limited selection, this past week I rectified that.

There are in three entrances off 17th Ave to the building

Inside the Devenish is home to many unique shops, Butter Block is located on the first floor

Butter Block is located in the Devenish building and is what I’m going to call Bakery Forward. Meaning it is a bakery first and foremost, not a coffee shop, not a bookstore, not a place to hang out at, it is focused on exquisitely baked goods.

I made my way over on a Thursday morning around eight, with it being about a half hour after opening I figured I’d have my pick of anything. I found that that morning they did not yet have their display case stocked, but was told many fresh items were ready.

I picked up four croissants, two each of the Almond and Roasted Double Sesame, both were promptly packed up for me and I didn’t see them. I walked home having paid $18 dollars for the four croissants. I thought about how I enjoy coffees and croissants at Analog, while paying less and enjoying a popular place to relax and people watch. I decided that it was nice to support someone locale pursuing their dream but that it was a bit too expensive, after all, Analog is local too.

These are the Almond and Roasted Double Sesame Croissants

At home, I put on the coffee and told my wife I had picked us up some croissants for breakfast. I told her wife how I felt they were a bit expensive but I was looking forward to trying them. Then I took them out of the bag, and was impressed, next I took a bite. In an instant my opinion completely changed!

Butter Block’s Menu. I must try the Spicy Cheese Knot!

These were not overpriced in the slightest, it was excellent. (Mental note I simply can’t ever get a croissant from Tim Hortons again, for those are sad excuses.) The croissant from Butter Block exceeded my expectations and any previous. They are light, flaky and the Almond one was generously filled. If the croissant itself had been poor I’d be saying that there was too much almond paste filling, however there was still a lot of flaky pastry to balance things out. The filling itself wasn’t excessively sweet, the almonds on the outside were nicely toasted.

Now I must return and try more of their creations.

(My wife’s own endorsement was that, Butter Block should charge $4.50 for the first one and $6 for every one after, as it would still be worth it.)