Atlantic Baking Co.

Atlantic Baking Co. sits in Rockland turning out French-style pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and custom cakes from a small dining room. Most guests rave about the croissants, eclairs, and quiches. Prices run premium, and service can be uneven, but the pastry case alone makes it worth a stop if you're in town.

• Maple bacon croissants and eclairs with good chocolate balance.
• Custom cakes and quiches worth planning ahead for.
• Better pastry selection and quality than other coast bakeries.
• Staff can be warm and attentive when on.

Start with a maple bacon croissant or an eclair if the filling looks fresh. The quiches are substantial enough for breakfast or lunch. Grab a baguette, carrot cake, or cheesecake to take home. Chocolate chip and ginger molasses cookies travel well, and the coffee holds its own.

Small, straightforward dining room with a counter order setup. Casual and relaxed, though it reads as no-frills.

Regular visitors come back for the maple bacon croissants and chocolate eclairs. Birthday cakes and custom orders get genuine attention. A few recent guests noted slow or dismissive service, but the friendly staff members who show up usually more than make up for it.

One regular says he thinks about his birthday cake months later. Guests praise the pastry selection as better than other Maine coast bakeries. A few diners note the staff can be warm and attentive, though service inconsistency shows up in recent reviews. One guest described the eclair filling as perfectly balanced, the dark chocolate coating adding bitterness to cut the sweetness.