This post is a paid partnership with Colleen’s. As always, our opinions are our own. All pictures were photographed prior to a proposed mask mandate in St. Louis county.

Nestled along busy Forsyth Boulevard and connecting the business-focused downtown Clayton with the academic world of Washington University is one of our favorite spots for breakfast and lunch: Colleen’s. Originally known as “Colleen’s Cookies,” this adorable bakery and restaurant has grown over the last decade to include not only sweet treats but savory options as well. Owner Colleen Thompson graciously hosted us to share some of their favorite dishes and tell a little more about how Colleen’s came to be.

Colleen grew up in Colorado and her passion for the culinary world came from time with her family in the kitchen. Her grandmothers were both bakers, one sweets, the other, breads. Her family owned a restaurant that also had an impact on her passion, as well. Life took Colleen down several different career paths. She met her husband in San Diego, where they married and soon after their sons were born, he was transferred to St. Louis with Rawlings Sporting Goods. St. Louis is where they raised a family.

Her cookie journey, however, began long after their move to St. Louis. Colleen made cookies for a Mom Prom for one of the private high schools here in town. People liked the cookies and began calling.  As the business grew, she needed a larger space and retail outlet to service the growing customer base. When the space next door to Colleen’s came available, they added on the coffee bar and the café serving coffee, breakfast, brunch, lunch, and sweets.

Everything at Colleen’s is made from scratch. Their very talented team takes pride in creating everything from scratch. That includes each of their dressings, biscuits, soups, jam, pastries, etc. Here are some of the menu items that caught our eye:

Sweet Potato Hash. This classic breakfast dish features roasted sweet potatoes, bacon, caramelized onions, pepper jack cheese, and two eggs on top.

Breakfast Biscuit. Two eggs with your choice of spinach tomato chutney, cheddar, or cheddar and bacon, sausage, vegetarian sausage, or ham. The biscuit sandwich also came with sweet strawberry jam.

Quiche Lorraine. You can order these by the slice or take a whole quiche home and warm it there for your family. Look at this gorgeous crust!

Monte Cristo. Ham, turkey, gruyere, strawberry jam, sourdough french toast, powdered sugar, maple syrup. I don’t seen too many monte cristos on menus in St. Louis, so I’m always willing to try it. This one did not disappoint, and held up surprisingly well as a to-go item, too.

Kale Salad. Fresh kale, quinoa, blueberries, avocado, pecorino cheese, toasted sliced almonds, lemon vinaigrette, served with focaccia. This is one of the most beautiful salads we’ve seen in a long time.

Of course, Colleen’s is known for their sweet treats. Other pastries you might find in their case include macarons, seasonal scones, muffins, cookies, blondies, cheesecake slices, bars, croissants and more.

Look at this gorgeous brownie! We love the extra touch of gold glitter they added. These treats are perfect for a special celebration or just when you’ve had one of those days and need to TREAT yourself.

Not too long ago I hosted a virtual baby shower for my dear friend, who is a teacher. We mailed storybook themed cookies to the guests, and they were blown away with how adorable the cookies were AND how amazing they tasted. You never know with shortbread cookies, right? Well, these were winners.

Our toddler especially loved seeing a Corduroy cookie! You can place custom shortbread cookie or cookie cake orders by calling the shop. Check out their gallery of custom creations on their website here.

Speaking of cookies, unique sweet treat that knocked our socks off from Colleen’s were the ice cream sandwiches. These babies are collecting awards and have become a local favorite. Come for lunch, but don’t leave without one of these. They travel well and will hold up in your home freezer until you just can’t stand it anymore (okay, it was about one day at our house before we devoured ours) and need a sweet treat.

The ice cream and the cookies are both are made in house, they’re soft, and they have creative and seasonal flavor combos. They have flavors such as gooey butter, double chocolate chip, and more.

Colleen’s has a full coffee program, featuring Intelligentsia Coffee beans. They also boast an impressive list of London and Kilogram teas, as well as non-coffee offerings such as hot chocolate and smoothies.

We tried the cold brew and the latte and both were delicious. You can always walk in and grab your food and coffee to-go, or stay a while. With free wifi and ample sunlight pouring through the windows facing both Forsyth and Lindell, it’s a bright and cheery spot to stay a while and get some work done.

They’re doing so many things right at Colleen’s. It’s really the perfect place to grab brunch with your friends, coffee to-go, or a working lunch. Sit inside and watch the world go by through the windows, or snag a seat on their patio. Just look for the polka dots and green umbrellas when you’re driving along Forsyth and you’ll know you’re in the right place. We always have a positive experience at Colleen’s. With delicious food, a fun atmosphere, and such friendly staff, it’s hard not to. Next time you’re looking for breakfast or lunch in St. Louis, we hope you’ll consider Colleen’s.