I stopped in to buy birthday cupcakes for a friend, but ended up getting brownies and chocolate croissants and lots of bread. I try to stop in here once a week for my bread now. They have a lovely selection of breads, from walnut raisin to ciabatta. So far, I'm not a fan of the chocolate croissants, but the breads are scrumptious. The employees there are really nice and make helpful suggestions. The prices are pretty good. The same kind of bread is the same price at Giant Eagle (about $4-5), but I think the one at Allegro is fresher. Plus, I like the idea of supporting a local bakery that makes small-batch breads. There is also a shelf by the door that has day old bread for 40% off. I got one once and it still tasted pretty fresh. read more

Allegro - Chocolate chocolate cake for my birthday! - Bakeries Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

They're more bread-centric than pastries. Really good, moist, flavorful breads. Croissants, french bread, etc were all amazing. I did order cupcakes here once- they're like run of the mill cupcakes. Good, but not as special and extraordinary as their breads. Love coming here, and wish I didn't move so far away from it:( read more

Since moving here in October, I find myself consistently coming back to Allegro Hearth for their raisin walnut bread and brie that always tastes better than what I get anywhere else. Also recommend the cupcakes- mmmgood! read more

I haven't lived or been to Pittsburgh in years but I still think about and feel compelled to review Allegro anyway. I feel like there are very few bakeries that focus on fresh, homemade bead, and that's just a travesty. All the breads I've had at Allegro were delicious, my favorites being the cinnamon swirl and country white. I also like that they have a loyalty card and you have the option of having them slice the bread for you there as well. The staff is always really friendly and can definitely help you out if you're feeling overwhelmed with all the bread options. I've also had the pumpkin square here around fall time and it is amazing. It essentially tastes like a mini slice of pumpkin pie but, in my opinion, better!! The one thing that's disappointed me here was the cake- I brought home a chocolate cake once for a birthday and was pretty disappointed especially in how artificial the frosting tasted, given the high quality of all the other things I've tried here. I'm willing to look past that though, as I'm clearly still reminiscing of stopping by and picking up fresh loaves of bread here!! read more

They bake tasty European style breads and they're really good. Priced at the same level or cheaper than premium breads that you'll find at the nearby Giant Eagle. Day-olds are still very good and I prefer that to fresh since I toast everything. Wide selection of breads for breakfast, lunch or dinner. A real treat is to get white or cracked wheat and get some fresh meat from the deli's nearby and make sandwiches. They also have cheese and some milk products. Lots of sweets in their counters. Big cookies, Jewish hammataschen, and cupcakes (better than Dozen in my opinion). Crossiants are big and fluffy. My one complaint is their emphasis on ryes and their scant whole wheat options. read more

Every time I get a loaf of their bread, I come home, cut a slice, and eat it right at the counter. And then I cut another slice, and another. Until I realize that I'm standing in the middle of the kitchen just eating bread. Their bread is amazing, and look at ingredients - my kalamata olive loaf had 5 total and I knew them all (water, flour, etc) I don't get the bread sliced at the store and haven't had the moldy problem yet. If I know I won't eat it quickly, I put the bread in a fridge. But it does taste best on the day it's baked. I haven't tried their pastries but I noticed Turner's milk products in a small fridge and some cheeses in a cooler. Giant Eagle across the street doesn't carry Turner's and East End Coop is a bit far to go for just milk. This place might save you some driving if you need just the basics. read more

This is painful because I have been going to this bakery for almost 20 years. It's not good anymore. I don't understand why you would mess with a proven business, but I guess that's what the owner felt they needed to do. The staples I am used to and have eaten for years (russian rye, rugelach, brownies, cookies, etc.) are gone and lesser (not even close) replacements available on an annoying limited basis. I was driving from the South Hills because I haven't lived on the East End since college to go to this place but can't do it anymore. Sorry Allegro Hearth. RIP best brownies in the city. read more

this bakery is conveniently within walking distance from my apartment, which naturally puts it as a frequent stop on my way home. their beautiful breads are baked on stone hearth and vary from crusty shelled ciabattas to soft eggy challah bread. not only do they offer breads, but their front cases are filled with baked goods, including muffins, brownies, cakes, cupcakes, croissants, and so much more! their staff are very familiar all the items, so don't afraid to ask questions, especially about serving suggestions about the bread :) also, don't forget to ask for a bread punchcard... buy 9 get 1 free! read more

This place is AMAZING!!! I literally stopped buying bread at giant eagle because it was sheer crap compared to Allegro. Bread is baked fresh DAILY and they have all sorts to choose from. The french bread is always good...if you're looking for something for sandwiches, I'm always for the ciabatta (or ciabatinis), sourdough, or traditional rye (i think this is better than the russian rye). Italian is good too, and they can slice it thick for some monster sandwiches. Of course, their challah is DELICIOUS, and they make a ton of it around the Jewish holidays. Be sure to grab a bread card and get it stamped! I think it was buy 8 loaves get one free...something like that. I filled up a fair share of bread cards while I was living in Squirrel Hill. If you live around the area, walk past around 9 or 10 while they're baking...my girlfriend says it smells just like France. read more

Walking by this store at night and early in the morning is heavenly. Beyond the smells, the baked goods at Allegro taste great. I like their baguettes, Italian loaf, and sourdoughs. Haven't tried their rye loaves because while I'll eat a sandwich on rye once in a while, I don't love rye enough to buy an entire loaf. My favorite cupcakes here are the carrot cake ones (and I'm usually a choco-freak). The pumpkin pie bars that Allegro has in the fall are pretty good, though I'm a big fan of cinnamon and other spices and I found the spice factor in the bars lacking. read more

Though it is not far from where I live and I've heard good things about the place, it never occurred to me to visit this place until this year. Pastry: I like their brownies a lot. It's crispy and crunchy outside, and moist inside. Another item I like is the snowball. The chocolate cake and coconut flakes work well together. I've tried another few things too, but these two are my favorite so far. Bread: I feel like it's a good place for me to know European style breads better. I used to prefer Asian breads with lots of fat and sugar, but they are more like "dessert" for me now. I plan to try all of their bread :) The only problem is that it takes too long to finish one. The staff are really friendly. Huh, I drove pass the bakery once around midnight, and it smelt heavenly! read more

My boyfriend stopped by here a few weeks ago and surprised me with some delicious pastries. I gobbled them up, and I wanted more. Unfortunately, he forgot the exact name of the bakery. He knew where it was though, and when we passed by today, we decided to stop. Walking in feels so right. They have racks of fresh bread with minimal preservatives. The options range from kalamata-olive loaves to sourdough and so much more. It smells like a delicious carb heaven in here. The real beauties are in the display case in front of you though. Cupcakes, cookies, cakes, pastries and all kinds of things. A lot of them are pastries I have never heard of, so I assume they are Jewish pastries. Correct me if I am wrong, though. I picked out a brownie with walnuts and a cherry-cheese shortbread-type cookie. My boyfriend got a lemon bar, the very last of something delicious and hard to pronounce and a blueberry shortbread-type cookie. I apologize for not knowing the names of these, but you'll know what I am talking about if you visit! I absolutely adore this place. The staff is super friendly and willing to help you, and they are patient. The prices are so affordable. We walked out with a bag full of yummies for under $7. You can't beat that, considering most pastry and bread shops charge a small fortune. Skip the Starbucks cookie tomorrow morning, and come here instead! You won't regret it. read more

I haven't visited many bakeries in Pittsburgh. Of the few bakeries I have been to, Allegro is the best so far. The bakery smells great when you walk in. If there was a cafe area with tables and chairs, then I bet some folks would never leave because of the smell. We picked up a box of five pastries, and I was very satisfied with all of them. I split the pastries with a friend so that we could try a greater variety. First, we tried the carrot cake. It was very balanced. It was moist and fluffy yet had a nice crunch. The icing was pleasantly sweet too. Second, we tried the Chocolate Petit Four. It was quite buttery, and one of the most compact chocolate desserts I've ever had. I'm perplexed as to how the bakers fit so much chocolate flavor into one pastry. Third, we tried the chocolate snowball which was lighter than the Petit Four and had a nice balance of chocolate and coconut flavors. Fourth, we had the chocolate walnut bar which, like the snowball, paired chocolate well with another ingredient: crushed walnuts. It was a bit drier than the other pastries, but I felt it added a nice contrast to all the butter and moist pastries we had eaten so far. Last, we had the chocolate macaroon brownie. I felt that the brownie or the carrot cupcake were the best stand alone desserts in that they were well balanced. They both featured contrasts in texture and flavors which I liked. I will admit that the brownie was my favorite of the pastries, yet I wouldn't dissuade anyone from trying any of the pastries which I mentioned above. AHB is certainly deserving of four-and-a-half stars. read more

I'll definitely be popping in here whenever I am going through Squirrel Hill! The prices are extremely reasonable. Most of the pastries were around $2 each which makes them cheaper and I'm sure more delicious than anything you could waste your money on at a Starbucks. The bread and cheese that I got was delicious. They have a small cooler with just about every type of cheese I could ever want. I got a great little wheel of sharp provolone for $3. The girl working the counter was sweet as could be and chatted me up a bit. I'm always looking for bread options other than generic grocery store loaves. Looking forward to trying some different bread next time. read more

This morning I opened some windows and remembered what it was like to breath in the aroma of fresh baked bread in the morning at Allegro Hearth. Its been a couple of years since I've been in Pittsburgh, but I thought I would drop a glowing review for one of the best bakeries in the world. The artisan breads at Allegro are always perfect. Their selection is fantastic. The atmosphere is inviting. This bakery is a good thing. When I patronized it, it was owned by Omar, who had bought it from Joe. Omar didn't change much, but did want to introduce vegan desserts, and did a few times. But he didn't change much and had purchased a fantastic store and bakery as a whole. Allegro sells baked goods in addition to bread. Cookies, brownies, rugelach, hamentashen, croissants, thumbprint cookies, lemon bars, mariannes, carrot cake bars, etc. Also, walnut raisin rolls, cracked wheat rolls. Just go and CHECK IT OUT!! A fantastic store, a daily staple, a treat, a gem. (Not 5 stars because I might as well save that for old world bakeries that have pilgrims journeying to them from afar.) read more

I have had four items since I've been in Pittsburgh this time around. My other half and I got some rolls to eat with smoked salmon. We ate on the bench across the street and induced carb comas. Yum. They were fluffy. Next I had a craving for a cookie but was homebound at the time. My sister mentioned a variety of Asian bakeries, macarons, and a mediocre chain coffee shop I said, no offense, but I want an American cookie, and I want a good one. She found the cookie my heart (and stomach) desired at Allegro. It had chocolate and lots of nuts and probably whole wheat in it. It was amazing. I have also gotten a challah here. It was a 4 star challah because it is way better than the grocery store but it is not the best I've had, or even the best in town. But it's the best in the neighborhood. read more

We have a weekly ongoing order sourdough pick up and it's awesome but you know what's not so awesome after the initial awesomeness wears off? Their fucking baked goodies that are fucking delicious, that's what. We wind up dropping an additional 15 or so bucks weekly on treats that stockpile somewhere on my body, somewhere. I immediately feel guilty after scarfing up said treats, swear it's the last time, convincing myself that next week bread pick up will be different, planning a get on the right track eating and exercise plan and come Wednesday, the cycle repeats. Actually, your like sugar pushers and I'm just another addict in denial. See you next Wednesday!!!! read more

My regular bakery. The loafs are typically very good, and they rarely disappoint. I can recommend the seedless rye (what's wrong with people to like sesame seeds in their bread? overpowering!), but other loafs are very good too. Their Challah loaf, brioche (particularly with raisin), and cinnamon loaf are all excellent, and make for delicious breakfasts. Prices are reasonable. Cooking varies from time to time, and the bread crust can be more or less cooked... A letdown: their croissants are not great. read more

Picked up a loaf of raisin walnut bread, and have been eating it as a snack. They don't skimp on the raisins or the walnuts. Also tried a large chocolate chip cookie...decent, but not the best I've had. My boyfriend had a walnut brownie which he enjoyed. read more

I've found that many bakeries in Pittsburgh tend to have a good selection of cakes, pies, cookies, pastries, etc. but don't have a good handle on whole grain, crusty/rustic breads. Allegro Hearth fills that void with a well-balanced daily selection of farmer's bread, rye, whole wheat, honey wheat, and breads with raisins and nuts or olives, and baguettes. These are well baked loaves, and the quality and simplicity of ingredients comes through well. You aren't going to get super soft, dough-conditioned "fake" bread here. Good job Allegro. As far as the sweets go, it's more of a mixed bag. The rugelach are very good, as is the apple pie (excellent, buttery crust). However, the cupcakes and eclairs that I've tried aren't on the same level. read more

This is an excellent bakery. Allegro Hearth is so good that it was a major factor in my decision to move to Squirrel Hill. Allegro Hearth makes a wide variety of crusty breads, which are tantalizingly laid out on wooden racks. The loaves generate a haunting aroma that seeps out into the street; I get swept into the shop like an ant mindlessly following a pheromone trail. I tend to either get the sourdough, their multigrain or their dark caraway rye depending on my mood. The sourdough is probably my favorite; it has a wonderful thick crust and a tangy open crumb. The rye has a nice strong caraway flavor. I once got their cinnamon swirl bread, but consumed it at such an alarming rate that I will never again purchase it. It is worryingly delicious. I cannot trust myself around it. I can also recommend their baguettes and batards. Allegro has a modest selection of bread accompaniments. They have a small selection of nice cheeses and tubs of a small green olive that I like. Their other baked treats are also excellent. I've purchased a few of their delicious cakes. Their eclairs are also good, but I'd recommend purchasing them earlier in the day. Later in the day the filling makes the pastry a little soggier than I like. read more

(4.5 stars, but that rates a full 5 for Pittsburgh - I'm still holding out for a mindblowingly incredible bakery here) Can't believe I hadn't reviewed them - used to live 3 blocks away. I never picked up a bad loaf from them, and the selection was always good. Their bread's the best in town. (Sweets are good, too, but there's plenty of other places in town to get those.) ...Now if I could only get them to open a location Lawrenceville so I could have good bread in walking distance. read more

I have a go-to fresh bread joint that I hit up whenever I'm home in San Francisco, but since I'm more than a hop and skip away, I was determined to find a bakery to fulfill my bread-eating desires. I came rather late in the day so most of their breads were sold out. But, I read many reviews on Allegro's italian bread so I HAD to try it. The lady behind the counter was nice enough to explain the difference between their sourdough (which is what I wanted to try) and italian bread. To make things even better, they sold cheese (my love!) and olives there! What perfection, since I couldn't seem to find a stand-alone cheese shop anywhere in Pittsburgh. I bought some brie to go with my bread, brought it home, chopped up some garlic and made some tasty garlic bread. It was de-lish. Since the loaf was huge, I'll be eating it for a month (thanks, freezer!). read more

Vegan cupcakes for some reason have a stereotype associated with them that they're dry and flavorless. Absolutely not the case with the ones from here! I couldn't believe my chocolate and carrot cake cupcakes were vegan! The chocolate ones weren't too sweet and very moist, but the carrot cake ones were super sweet and had a weird after taste, almost like they didn't use cane sugar. Either way, exceeded my expectations and I'll be buying more cakes from here in the future! read more

Having not yet been to any of the bakeries in PIT, I have only Arizmendi and all those hippy slow foods California bakeries to compare it to. It's a wonderful bakery to have nearby! Being able to swing by and have fresh bread with dinner is amazing. All the loaves I have tried thus far are de-lish. The only one I found a little lacking was the Left Coast sourdough. It had the perfect texture, and its hard to argue with freshly baked, but the flavor wasn't nearly as tangy as I would have liked. I am excited to work my way through the seasonal selections as the year goes on. Bonus points for the well curated and well priced cheese selection. If you are looking for something a little more special than what the GEagle offers but don't feel like making the trek to the Macaroni Company in the strip. read more

It's not often I find myself on Murray Ave, but i was meeting a friend over at BRGR for lunch and took the long way. I was at a red light when I noticed a parking spot near this bakery. Not too often you can get a spot on Murray right near the place you're going to, so I took it as a sign. I'd been here before, the first time was late on a Sunday afternoon, when I walked in just about everything was sold out, I had my mouth watering for texas toast made with Allegro's 12 grain whole wheat bread. Damn Like Seinfeld, someone ahead of me got the last loaf. I settled for a regular whole wheat. I really enjoyed it. This time I was lucky and got the 12 grain I wanted. This bread is pretty amazing with lightly browned smoked tofu, charred arugula, peppered greek olives, and veganaise. No vegan restaurant makes a sandwich like that.(Thanks Deb! She's my dietician) I need to get my butt out of bed early one day and get up there when I have the entire bakery at my whim! read more

THE bakery. Their prices are excellent and the food is always great. I've never bought a bad loaf of bread here and always get a brioce roll when I am in. Also the sweets are always really great. Cookies are wonderful. The staffa re also really nice nad they have great hours. read more

I just wanted to comment on here that the baguettes at Allegro Hearth are really good. I'm not sure if they changed something in their recipe while they were closed, but I absolutely love them. I am happy to see them open again and looking forward to trying some of the sandwiches. read more

I love their breads, pastries and their service. Price is very affordable. Recommend their choux cream. It's like a French/Japanese Cream Puff with custard cream inside. They are for take out. Normally, I take something from there before going into Chaya Restaurant, so I guarantee a delicious dessert for myself. read more

I'm giving them one star based on the poor service I received tonight. The person waiting on us had a major attitude. I asked for a frequent buyer punch card and she practically threw it at me as if I was bothering her. Then I asked for a receipt from my transaction and got an eyeball roll. It's a shame because their bread is fantastic but based on that experience, I'm going to take my business elsewhere. read more

Really wonderful bread. The challah was perfect, and the french baguette a close second. The cupcakes were not great--maybe a bit stale? But I forgive them. I will be back soon for more challah! read more

There are no words for their chocolate cake - seriously, just a little piece of heaven. Love their fresh ingredients and attention to detail. Highly recommended!! read more

I love their rye bread! And their baguettes are better and cheaper than G-eagle. They also have a bread card so frequent customers can get a free loaf. read more

Allegro is one of the better bakeries in town, but it doesn't at all come close to Mediterra for bread. The owner apparently has little imagination, and the bread selection has not changed in years. If you check Artisan bakeries around the country you will find blueberry cornbread, cranberry walnut, cinnamon walnut, cherry nut, beer, and many other interesting types of loafs offered. Why can't Allegro do that too? Not to mention that the greasy chocolate chip cookies, and oatmeal raisin cookies, do not have walnuts or pecans. What's the problem with adding nuts to cookies? Mark R. Pittsburgh read more

I live about 3 blocks from this bakery and it takes a stronger woman than I to resist the earthy, sweet smells that slip out Allegro Hearth's door everyday. Omar, the owner, has such a generous heart and passion for serving the community through his love of all things bread. If you happen to spot an apple crumb pie there this fall, you must take one home! It is perfectly spiced and sweetened, and the apple slices stacked densely inside should hold their heads up high- to the soggy apple pies of the world, just say, "No!" Their traditional Ciabatta and mild West Coast sourdough loaves are great for sandwiches. And even when harvest vegetables are at their peak and I cook up a pot of fresh stew, their fresh bread tends to steal some of the spotlight. read more

Taste: 5/5 The pastries here are wonderful. Not too sweet aka Americanized. Very european. The popular ones always run out. I spend about 20 dollars worth of pastries each time I go, so I wish they had a "pastry punch card" since I buy sweets more than bread. Breads are good too, but the challah is not as wonderful as I had expected. Challah was not as soft and sweet as I wanted. The other breads are delish too. Cake: the cupcakes are good. Very basic, no crazy flavors. I wish they did wedding cakes. Price: all the price are excellent. More than grocery, but definitely affordable, usually 3-6 dollars per loaf depending on how fancy. read more

Everything they sell is good and the owner seems really nice however, the people that work the store front act like they are on something. I am amazed that they can comprehend an order. I could careless what they look like and they're nice enough, but I really think that there really needs to be an added level of professionalism. read more

I went to this bakery today and ordered a chocolate eclair and it was SO GOOD!!!! I was interested in all the variety of bread they had and that they slice all of it too, I will be back here again soon!! read more

I tried them out with a Google offer, which incidentally "forced" me to try a variety of their goods. I got a loaf of French Peasant bread and Raisin Walnut bread, as well as a Lemon Bar and Raspberry Crisp. The peasant bread is so good! I almost don't want to use it for sandwiches, because it's perfect on its own, with a piece of cheese, or with a simple butter spread. Very flavorful; a nice crust on the outside and chewy on the inside. I could probably finish the entire loaf by myself in a few days. The raisin walnut wasn't as sweet as I'd expected, but makes for a hearty breakfast/snack bread. As for the cookies: normally I don't go for bar cookies, but they looked so good I had to try them. They're yummy, but I like the breads the best. The regular price (~$4/loaf) is a bit higher than I'd normally pay for bread. But I like it enough that I'll be sure to stop by again. I didn't notice until after selecting my items that they have a Sun-dried Tomato bread. I definitely have to try that sometime! read more

Allegro Hearth has consistently provided the most positive experience I have ever had in an establishment. Even if you have no money, I'd recommend going there just for the smell! All of their bread is wonderful and fresh daily. The owner is absolutely wonderful and seems dedicated in providing only quality ingredients and products to his customers. Not only is the bread amazing, but the pastries and desserts are heavenly! Because the staff is so small you're left with a warm and personal experience. They are also very down to earth and go the extra mile to answer questions. There is one guy that always seems to be there who's really cool and helpful. The store is well kept and has great aesthetics (not to mention the gorgeous blonde who works there). If you're going to buy bread, Allegro Hearth is the place to go for superb quality and great service :) read more