I drove by Wild Love Bakehouse at least three times before I finally realized that it was right in front of my face.
The small brick structure sits squarely in front of Mid Mod Collective on Central Avenue in Happy Holler. Your GPS will probably tell you it is not that far down the street, but I promise if you go just a little farther, you will see the big blue sign facing the parking lot.
Outside (though it was still dusted in snow when I first went on Saturday), Wild Love had an extensive deck with stacked up tables and chairs and string lights — a soon-to-be hot spot when winter finally leaves.
Once inside, the clean, white interior was anything but cold. Maybe because it was a Saturday or maybe it was because watching people bake while you enjoy the finished product is such a weirdly relaxing experience, but Wild Love was warm and welcoming when I walked in that afternoon. The geometric room was packed with hipsters on their Macbooks and parents enjoying coffee while their kids smooshed giant brownies into their faces.
After taking it all in, I located my friend. She had saved me a spot at the bar in the side nook. Sitting on the bar chair, I could look out at an extension of Mid Mod Collective. To my left, I could see the register and the communal tables full of mouths laughing and sipping coffee. To my right, I could look through floor to ceiling windows and see the bakers topping and plating the bakery’s handcrafted baked goods. Right then, I knew Wild Love was created to inspire and house a community.
I had just gotten off work, and I was starving. My friend mentioned that the guy next to her had been eating some delicious looking sandwich with bacon, and we went up to the register to both find out what it was and to definitely buy one each. The cashier unfortunately informed us though that they were all out of those sandwiches and motioned to the glass cooler beside her to show us what was left. All that remained was an almond salad wrap, which was meant to mimic the texture of tuna salad. We hesitated, but she assured us that the wrap was “really good.” Satisfied by the endorsement, we each ordered one, and I also asked for a cold brewed ice coffee to go with it. It was a little expensive with my bill adding up to over $13 before I tipped. However, I figure I will rarely buy a full meal, normally just a coffee and pastry at most, so the splurge was worth it.
The vegetarian wrap was filling but refreshing, and my smooth iced coffee complemented my food. It was like they were meant to go together. We both enjoyed the wrap exponentially more than we expected to.
Though the place was packed, we did not feel rushed to leave. Instead, we stayed for a couple of hours, enjoying the space, the view of the melting snow and the conversation. While Wild Love Bakehouse is a bit of a trek away from campus, the handmade food and smooth coffee is worth making it a new favorite for an afternoon break.
Large picture windows and bar-height counters offer a view of Mid-Mod Collective across the street.
