This isn't just an Italian bakery. It is an Italian bakery for the Jolly Green Giant. The sheer…read moreSIZE of the pastries and treats here will make your eyes bulge. No exaggeration, the eclaires and bismarcks were double wide and at least 10" long. Three people could split an eclaire, oh my gosh. We bought an assortment of cookies, pastries, bread, and pizza. Everything was fresh and excellent. We took our pastries a few minutes away to the seashore and indulged in the comfort of our car for fear thise famous Revere seagulls (which are also giant) would swoop down and steal our sweets. A well-run, quality shop with ample selection for your sweet or savory craving. A local landmark for good reason, and worth the drive from anywhere in the region.

Glitzy shop on Broadway with shiny neon lights and mirrors that resemble a 1970s mall food court…read more Lengthy showcases of pastries of different types and ethnicities, from Italian to Jewish to Latin to pure Americana. Tiny tables-- a dozen or more for your dining pleasure, and they even have table service. Tiny toilet upstairs for your convenience. -- Blueberry Muffin: Nice dome with a well extended overhang, though on one side for lopsided amusement. Blueberries tiny but densely distributed. Everything very soft and spongey, even the dome. Flavor very sugary. Decent muffin. I've had far better. I've had far worse. -- Half Moon / Black and White Cookie: There's a lot of misunderstanding regarding this item-- which is really items (plural). A black & white cookie is more of a New York thing, with a firm cookie base and a thin, hard-shell glaze on top. A half moon I believe is a Boston thing, with a cakey bottom and a thick, soft frosting on top. What's served here is closer to half moon, although I found the base very dry and the frosting too thin. Definitely a frosting though. Not much flavor from the chocolate. Lemony notes from either the white half or the base. Much like the muffin, not the best. Not the worst, either, but a lot closer to worst than best. I liked the atmosphere, the iced coffee, the vibe, and the cheerfulness of the ladies behind the counter.

A perfect experience from start to finish A+…read more I stopped into Cupcake City and spoke with Jodi about ordering a large number of cupcakes for my niece's baby shower. She made me feel as though nothing mattered more than making my niece happy--true old-school customer service. We discussed several options, and then Keri joined us: the Picasso of cupcake baking and design. She was tremendous, and watching her sketch and talk through ideas was incredible. The cupcakes themselves were beyond delicious, with frosting that was absolutely outstanding. Jodi and Keri are an unbeatable team. Thank you so very much. Very grateful!

Really great local cupcake shop. I went in on a Saturday morning to get x6 for a gathering and my…read moreguest were very pleased. I got the lemon, hostess and margarita. Since it was right when they opened I had plenty of options. The cashier was helpful and answered my question about leaving them out of refrigeration. I paid about $25 for 6. There is plenty of parking spots. I would defintiely inquire if they did custom design.

Great friendly service and AMAZING creative muffins. They also have really cute themed things for…read moreEaster. They are busy but so worth it, I would recommend parking across the street.

I have visited the Winchester store many times. Muffins are all very good. The issues isn't the…read moremuffins ... The staff there are always nasty and owner must not care. I mention every visit that they should put a name tag in front of each muffin to speed up the ordering... I must waste my time and more importantly their time answering my inquires... what is that one , what is that muffin ? Does that have raisins on it ? Nuts? Dog shit in it? or whatever ? Wtf Or why are out of certain muffins ? Any In the back on racks? Put a sign up displaying a simple check mark of available muffins? One visit the nasty one at Winchester told me they were out yet I saw the muffin on a rack not yet ready to put out front? So this was my first visit to this Wakefield location ... same issues and staff nasty here too but a bit better as more mature employee? I ordered 6 muffins and wanted 2 in a separate box as a gift to someone and the other 4 in a different box...she puts the two in a bag... A bag ruins the gift look, damages frosting in muffins... they will not put any less than muffins in a box? I'll pay for the dam extra box? Or maybe a smart owner would have a small 2 muffin box? Asked for Boston cream ... out of them .. same as last visit to Winchester location where they were out of many options... Maybe if popular statistically ... then you bake more of them based on POS sales data ? Maybe seasonality affects the daily production forecasts? Maybe offer July 4th red white blue muffins, Halloween frosting, Thanksgiving? Christmas ? Then generate greater sales, The owner should hire a better manager of both locations and stick a dam name tag in display case for each muffin, train all employees in hospitality and importance to retain repeat customers? Owner probably now just mailing it in or letting the off spring to take or already took over ? Maybe sell just sell it off to a interested owner looking to expand, or Improve offerings , add high end croissants, pastries, quality cookies ... coffee and better options? Whatever... 4 years telling every visit to just put a f'n name tag in front of each muffin-so I don't need to ask.. especially for gluten free, nut free allergies conscience people... how about an ingredients sign for each muffin ? I give up

Amazing customer service!…read more I found this bakery through Instagram and had to stop by since it's local. As you enter, you're very warmly greeted by staff. The baker came out and explained all the assortment of goods they had (cake slices, cup cakes, cheesecake, etc.) We ended up getting a slice of cake. The cake had raspberry, pistachio and a white filling. It was personally a bit too sweet for my liking but they did tell me their pastries are sweet. I also got a chocolate brigadero which was great. Sweet and creamy inside and topped with chocolate sprinkles. The store is so beautifully decorated and smells great inside!!

I called them looking for a vegan cake (harder to find than you think). They weren't sure but took…read moremy contact info. 24 hours later they messaged me saying they had a recipe. They asked about any allergies and any additional decorations. I sent them a collage of my girlfriend from the last year (about 10 photos). When I picked up the cake they were super friendly, and had decorated the cake with the images like 10 flags planted on the cake. They used fruit on the top of the cake instead of frosting (pretty good vegan alternative, really) and a delicious fruit selection. 10 for 10 would order another and recommend.

Amazing pastry and sandwiches! Excellent quality and execution. Their staff are always, warm,…read morewelcoming, and super helpful with questions about their menu.

Amazing turkey sandwich! Total find - fresh quality ingredients. Highly recommend! Found it by…read moreaccident on Maps and really glad I did.

I have been visiting Elm St Bakery since the early 1980's as a child. All of our family celebration…read morecakes came from here. We love all of their items!! It is a clean and friendly ambience with so much color in the baked goods. Fast service and smiles. This bakery is always a definite stop whenever we go home to visit.

Been coming here for at least 30 years and the quality has gone done as the prices rise. Now as…read moreanyone knows when bread keeps having giant holes in it is not being handled properly by the baker before hand. 4 Why does my bread keep doing this? : r/Breadit To prevent large, unwanted air holes (or tunnels) in bread, bakers focus on proper fermentation, firm shaping, and degassing the dough. Key techniques include avoiding under-proofing, degassing the dough thoroughly after the first rise, using adequate gluten development, and creating tension during shaping to ensure a tight crumb. Key Techniques to Prevent Large Holes: Proper Fermentation (Avoid Under-proofing): Large, single cavities are often caused by under-proofed dough, which allows gases to expand unevenly during baking. Ensure the dough is fully proofed. Degassing and "Knocking Back": Gently but thoroughly deflate the dough after its first rise (bulk fermentation) to pop large gas bubbles, preventing them from becoming huge pockets. Firm Shaping & Surface Tension: When shaping loaves, make sure to fold and roll the dough tightly to eliminate gaps. Pop any visible surface air bubbles with a toothpick before the final proof. Proper Scoring: Score the loaf deeply enough. If the crust forms too fast and gas cannot escape, it can lead to "flying roof" or tunnels. Avoid Excessive Dusting Flour: Too much extra flour during folding can create, rather than prevent, big holes in the crumb. Check Dough Handling: Perform 3-4 gentle "coil folds" during bulk fermentation, rather than over-working it, to strengthen the structure

Stopped here on a whim and stocked up on a few items. The proprietress was friendly and helpful,…read moreand helped me understand what I was seeing for sale, since I'd never encountered Portuguese baked goods before. The prices were very low. I've been eating my way through my haul, and found the results decidedly mixed. The cannolli was solid, the elephant ear flaky and light. But the frosting on the black and white cookie was so thick and cloying that I fear it was from a can. The apple muffin was of that unfortunate angel-food style, as it turned out. I would return here, but I'd be more discriminating in my selections. For the price, the better items justify the trip.

Good brazilian bakery, not the best. The food is decent, and the service is ok. All the desserts…read moreare ok and the fried stuff is pretty good, but the brazilian bakeries in Everett and Somerville are much better! It's worth to check it out!

CLASSIC New England ice cream shop. Lots of fabulous flavors and toppings and seating to hang out…read more Very friendly and community oriented, and oddly enough, stocked with toys from the latest TikTok trends for you. A great place to get ice cream, with hours that expand as the summer gets hotter. Fun place.

Cute little candy shop find worthy of a large metro location but hidden in this small town. A true…read moregem that has a variety of ice cream and retro candy. Service is attentive.. just a find!