this review is not about the brick and mortar, just the baked goods sold around town. FANTASTIC! i buy a baguette everyday from elm city market and their croissants are the best in town for sure. -if you find yourself eating a stellar croissant around here, chances are bread & chocolate made it. i haven't actually had them, but I've baked them off, seen the quality, and heard from friends and family how great they are. the pies are good too I'm told. if not for the egg wash, they'd be vegan. an easy change if anybody at b&c is reading this... :) read more

The bread is what makes this place. There's just something about quality, fresh-baked bread that makes your sandwich, or whatever you're having with that bread, that much better. Bread & Chocolate is close to where I work, so if I want a good sandwich or salad for lunch, this is one of my first choices. In terms of sandwiches on the regular menu, the cold cut combo on paesano bread is great, and I really like the chicken salad on foccacia bread. The specials are excellent, and I check them online almost every day. Two of my favorites are the hummus panini special with roasted vegetables, jalapenos, and cheddar on sourdough bread and the roast beef special with cucumbers, arugula, and horseradish mayo on wheat bread. The salads are creative and include toppings like beets, barley, goat cheese, nuts, various fruits, quinoa, chickpeas, and so on, and they come with bread. The soups haven't been my favorite, but they're good on a cold day, and there are usually some interesting ones on the specials menu. If you can't decide what to get, the half-and-half combo is a great way to go because you can get a combination of half a sandwich with soup or salad, or half a salad with soup. The baked goods and coffee are wonderful, too, and if I feel like treating myself, I'll add a chocolate croissant, brownie, piece of cake, or fruit tart to my lunch. All of the dessert pastries are really, really good. Everything is made with quality ingredients, and you can tell that Bread & Chocolate puts a lot of thought and care into what they make. read more

See all

I have breakfast here with my husband every single Saturday. And we eat here every Saturday for a reason. It's THAT delicious. And you can't beat the owners who know everyone's names!! Some our best friends in the area we met here! Be prepared to ask what's in the case (no signs identifying anything) and that there's no "cooking" for breakfast- no eggs, bacon, toast, etc. They have a variety of danishes, croissants, baked goods, and their bread pudding is out of this world! Lunches are great and they are not open for dinner. Check out the daily specials and get a half-and-half because it's so hard to decide! They close at 4 on weekedays, 3 on Fridays, 11 on Saturdays, and are closed totally on Sundays. They bake everything in house and if you love the bread at a local New Haven area restaurant, odds are it's from here! Ali and Jaime are the owners- and are as sweet as can be! read more

Three stars for coconut cake only. Actually that gets 4 stars. It's excellent. Do not like the energy in here nor the parking situation. No wonder why I didn't stop for years. It's always packed though. It attracts plenty of people who like the vibe. I prefer simple little Sherman Heights Bakery. Sweet humble people with good clean energy. read more

Great breakfast and great lunch always. Very comfortable relaxed atmosphere. The food is also great to take out. This is a wonderful little family owned small business. They also deliver bread to the best restaurants in the area. A 5 star for this category this is in. read more

Went here for the first time this past weekend. My boyfriend and I both ordered sandwiches (he, a mix of his own and I got an egg sandwich). We split a cinnamon bun which was very good, though I still prefer IKEA's. Does that make me a bad person? When our sandwiches came, I had to send it back because it came with cheese (and 'egg on a roll' was a different order than 'egg with cheese on a roll.') I had no lactaid with me, so I wouldn't have been able to eat the cheese. The sandwich was pretty good, though ciabatta would not be my first pick for type of roll. I'd go with a kaiser roll or something a little softer to eat an egg. It was a bit hard to chew through at some points, just on the nature of how ciabatta is. My boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his sandwich and would go back again. I might go back to get one of those giant brownies I eyed when we got there. read more

Best Bread! Stopped by the other day and grabbed a brioche which made a great breakfast sandwich and an apple scone..which I am snacking on as I type. This place is legit. Not facncy, not pricey, just very good. read more

Great place for breakfast, lunch, or just a quick tea + to go! Awesome breads and pastries. Great sandwiches, homemade soups, and fresh salads. read more

Great place for lunch with a friend!... good variety of soup and sandwiches. Polite and friendly staff. Looks like the pop and mom luncheon atmosphere. read more

Love coming here for lunch, I usually order half sandwich & soup. Food is very gourmet and tasty! read more

Bread & Chocolate - Bakeries Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

I've been ordering from Bread & Chocolate a lot since I started working down the road. But it wasn't until a lunch date with my mom that I actually spent time inside. What a cute little spot for lunch! It has a coffee shop meets neighborhood deli vibe. Menu items range from unique and healthy to comforting and indulgent. I had the chicken salad which came on a crusty yet soft ciabatta. The crock of French onion soup was decent and comforting. I was expecting to see more bread and chocolates on display since the name suggests bakery and artisan chocolate shop combined. Maybe it's just me? They did have some decadent looking chocolate desserts and their bread was fresh and delicious. If it's your first time here you'll want to head to the counter for your menu, order, save a seat and then they call your name to pick it up. I hope that tip saves you from the awkward counter dance my mom and I were doing. read more

Very cute place! They have delicious chocolate croissants and breads! The iced coffee wasn't great though.

My grandparent used to take me here when i was little. Now, every once in a while i'll pop in for one of their amazing tuna melts. just tried the tomato grilled cheese and i highly recommend!!! read more

Super cute shop! I went here on a Sunday for ice coffee to feed my caffeine fix and grabbed a baguette and scone (per the boyfriend's request) along the way. Now, I generally dislike scones as I usually find them dry, but I ended up devouring the bf's scone to his dismay. They were not dry at all! Very rich and tasty! I also enjoyed the coffee ice cubes in my ice coffee as they kept the coffee from being diluted. Very nice shop and will definitely be back. The baguette didn't last long either! read more

This place is famous for their bread. From Ciabatta to Croissants they'll rival the best bread you've had. Great for breakfast and lunch. read more

My husband and I are bread people and we are truly obsessed with Bread and Chocolates's bread. Elm City grocery sells their bread...we go several times a week for the ciabatta they bring in fresh from the bakery every morning. It's perfection. read more

This spot has open indoor and outdoor seating, offers pastries and sandwiches as well as coffee and tea. The ciabatta bread breakfast sandwich was fantastic, and the service was quick and pleasant. They offer parking read more

Was in B& C yesterday. Very sorry to say still unbelievably RUDE service. Sad because the food is decent.

To start with the best things; Hot chocolate is amazing over here. I had the vegetable panini and the bread was burnt and flaky. Moreover the vegetables weren't cooked. And I waited over 20 mins to get a panini which was not worth the taste. read more

Love this place! Great coffee and great prices. Pastries are also very good. I have also gotten their egg and bacon breakfast and it was great. Most underrated place in Hamden. They have delicious lunch options as well. Their bread is also AMAZING!! read more

I had the half and half special with french onion soup and nicoise salad. Both were delicious and fresh, and it was great to have a nicoise salad with big, home-cooked pieces of tuna rather than the canned stuff. The bread was EXTRA delicious. The next time I need a delicious, fluffy, lightly salted loaf of bread, I am coming back here for sure. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE! We just moved to the area, so we are still exploring, but came here to pick up sandwiches for my husband and I while we were busily unpacking all of our stuff. Got the cuban sandwich for my husband, and I got the mozz, tomato, prosciutto, basil. I preferred mine, because the vinegar on it added an amazing tangy flavor. We also got the bread pudding to split later (sandwiches were huge, so splitting them would have been fine, and we were too full to eat the bread pudding until the next day), but omg! BEST BREAD PUDDING I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE! And I have tried lots, since it is one of my favs. Will be coming back here asap! read more

First time in here ... even though I live only about 3 minutes up the road from it. Now I feel like a fool for having missed out on it for so long! I noticed the big "OPEN" plaque on their sign as I glanced over while driving home from work this past Thursday while I was dying for something sweet and pulled right in. It was 3:45 .. almost closing time, so I wasn't sure what I would find .. but in the case, I found quite a selection. I did have to ask what things were, since they were not labeled, but the girl behind the counter was happy to recite for me. There were chocolate mousse mini cakes, some tres leches pineapple mini cakes, some big thick brownies (bought 3!), some mini carrot cakes (bought 3!), some plain croissants (bought 3!) and several delicious looking loaves of bread .. I bought a ciabatta loaf. The bread had a nicely salty, crisp crust and a chewy interior .. it was perfect. These were some of the best croissants I have ever tasted, too ... in fact, all of what I bought was thoroughly enjoyed. The brownies were rich and dense with just enough of a glaze drizzle atop .. the carrot cakes were ORGASMIC. Often, bakery carrot cakes taste artificial and have fake tasting cream cheese frosting ... well, not here. The carrot cake was excellent .. and the frosting was perfection .. not overly sweet, but ample and very generously dressed with chopped walnuts. I wasn't sure what to expect at the end of the day .. truthfully, I willing to take whatever was left. but I was more than happy and will be back again. And again. Uh-Oh .. might be pulling the fat clothes back out from the back of the closet! LOL read more

I had lunch here with a friend some time back, and I do recall that the food was VERY good. The place was teeming with The Pampered Wives Club of North Haven/Hamden all in their Tennis Whites. Ugh. But that has nothing to do with the quality of the restaurant. Again, the food was very good. My low-star rating is for the attitude I got a few days later when I tried to place an order for delivery. Please note....it DOES say delivery on their menu ($5 for a local delivery, free delivery for orders over $50). I'm VERY local. When I told the woman what I wanted (1 sandwich, 1 salad) she said I'd need to order at least $30 worth for delivery. When i questioned her on this, she said they were too busy for deliveries. THEN DON'T STATE THAT DELIVERY IS AN OPTION ON THE MENU. read more

The side salad portion was about two bites. The vegetarian French onion tastes like warmed up balsamic vinaigrette.

Only bad thing about this place is their hours, but this is because it is a family run restaurant. Their bread is outstanding! I've enjoyed each of their breads I've had the opportunity to try. I especially liked the chibatta. read more

If you feel the need to sit in a school cafeteria, with linoleum floors and bad lighting, then Bread & Chocolate is the place to go. If this place is going to last, it has to work on the atmosphere. Perfect walls for local artists to show their work. I ordered a breakfast sandwich on brioche, bread not totally fresh, but okay. Coffee is delicious, but is set up in the back near the bathrooms. Please befriend a gay man or someone with a sense of design to update your cafe. read more

Absolutely loved my lunch there today! Got the half soup/half sandwich of today's special! Italian Wedding Soup and Hummus Panini. Delicious!!!! read more

Bread & Chocolate - 2/24/2016 Special: Half soup, Half sandwich.. Italian Wedding Soup &Hummus Panini- Cheddar Cheese-Bacon-Zucchini-Caramelized Onions-Arugula - Bakeries Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

The various soups are deliciously prepared. The breakfast fare is always served piping hot. You might try the omelets for which you select your favorite ingredients. The French toast is exceptional, served with maple syrup. There are varied scones and muffins served toasted if desired. And the coffee s exceptional. Organic Colombian. A very bright and energetic staff completes those fine meals. A very social, yet intimate cafe. read more

I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS PLACE! Ok so, I've only been here once, but it's now my fave place to get this one cinnamon bun. This cinnamon bun is the best one I've ever had in my entire life. It's so flaky and crispy but it's also soft on the middle. It's like a croissant but not as buttery. There's sugar sprinkled all over it and it's crystallized on top of it giving you that first bite of pure bliss. It's so good. There was a light drizzle of frosting on it, but not much. The cinnamon sugar combo on it was amazing and it's so light and not heavy at all. It was more like a French pastry than something you buy at CinnaBon. I came here with my sister and her husband since this is their favorite breakfast place. Well, it's mostly just a bakery that happens to sell some breakfast food items. They're only open in the morning and on some days of the week. I wish I had those cinnamon buns here with me now in L.A., too bad I have to fly to Hamden, CT to get some more. The price for them is also pretty cheap. They have a breakfast sandwich with eggs, bacon and cheese with some fruit on the side for $7. The bread is super yummy, soft but chewy and freshly baked. If you have a chance to be in this area, look this place up and try the cinnamon bun and maybe the sticky bun because that one was good too. BUT the CINNAMON BUN is way better in my opinion. read more

I used to live right next door to this place, and I had the waistline and empty wallet to prove it. Hands down one of the best bakeries around, especially when it comes to their croissants and good variety of scones. Their sandwiches are also consistently pretty good too. One of my favorites is the veggie panini - lots of good veggies grilled with mozzarella cheese on homemade bread. It's also a great place to pick up a fresh loaf of bread. If the line is too long, just head over to Luizzi's, where they sell their bread as well. Like many reviewers already said, the service isn't the friendliest, but they are quick and make sure the line moves efficiently, especially because there's ALWAYS a long line here. They also do not let you use a credit card for purchases under $10, so make sure you have cash on hand or they'll make you buy a gift certificate to make up the difference (I've had to do this a number of times). Or I guess you could just buy more pastries! read more

This place is amazing. they have everything from breakfast food to lunch (salad, sandwiches & soup) every time i go it is packed because it's so popular! For lunch they half soup & half sandwich or salad for only $9.50!! so good i recommend their French Onion soup. read more

This place is a little odd but pretty good. I drove by a million times over the years and never thought much of it. I assumed they sold bread and chocolate but only the former is accurate. I think I bought a loaf of their bread at a local store and decided it was good and I should check the place out. It's in a small strip-mall kind of place with a parking lot that could be better but I'm usually able to get a spot. Inside it's pretty plain and basic. Not the kind of place you really want to hang out in. One Saturday morning they had young women playing a cello and I violin, which was interesting. But I normally just grab things to go. I recommend the bread. I normally get the the olive oil bread but the plain good too. I think it's like $3.25 a loaf. But be careful I showed up one Saturday about noon and they were out of bread. They don't have a huge selection of baked treats but the ones they have are pretty good. I would say definitely go for the almond croissant, as they are among the best I've had and I'm something of an almond croissant connoisseur. No it's not cheap. But more irritatingly it's not open on Sunday. As others have noted you can find their bread at other local stores, Liuzzi's and Whitneyville Food Market come to mind. I haven't had any of the sandwiches but if they are as good as the other stuff they're probably decent. read more

Their bread might be great, but I was treated with rude customer service. The counter person knew nothing about the bread's made there and when I asked if she did not know the bread types, another worker said rudely "She's only been here 3 weeks" instead of stepping in to answer my question about which bread to select. In my head, I'm thinking to myself how sad that after 3 weeks the person at the counter taking orders does not know the breads they make. LOL, there must not be any hands on training there. Anyway, living in New Haven, I made a stop at a bakery that knows what types of bread they make and could help me make the right selection. read more

This has long been a go-to place for me for weekend breakfast and lunches when I'm home. Their bread is phenomenal and is served in many nice restaurants in New Haven and Hamden. The soups and salads are delicious and imaginative. If only they were open for dinner! My one gripe is that they don't have a separate line for orders that were called in ahead - it's annoying waiting in line to pick up your food while a bunch of ladies ahead of you squabble over what kind of scone to order. read more

Amazing baked goods. I have not tried anything else; it will take me some time to work through the list of baked goods. The bread is amazing. Right now the scones are high on my list of must haves, especially the rasberry and chocolate and the rasberry and almond. read more

Was served my iced coffee with ice coffee chips. This place is hands down a 5 star. The staff is also super friendly and accommodating.

I used to enjoy going to Bread and Chocolate. Good food, BUT... Lately, service hasn't been at all what I would expect of a local coffee shop. At first I thought they were having a bad day, then a bad week, then a bad month... now it has gotten disturbing. When I order, their attitude has been as if I'm wasting their time, they look irritated. I've been going to B&C since they opened, over 15 years ago... they know me well, so I'm surprised they aren't friendly anymore. My friends have noticed as well. The straw that broke the camel's back was when a few weeks ago my aunt and I bought coffee. When we asked if we could have it in a regular cup instead of a to-go cup we were reprimanded, "Ladies, are you kidding me?! You didn't tell me it was for here!" And she refused. Her attitude was one of complete and utter annoyance and irritation. Sadly, because of the service, I will no longer be going to B&C. read more

We love the coffee here! Quite good. The items in the bakery car are decent. The service at the register was a bit abrupt and less than friendly. read more

Wonderful restaurant. Great omelets and French toast for breakfast. The soups are so good. Superb coffee, hot or iced. Divine sandwiches and the various oven fresh breads are the best around. Self-service. You order and in a few minutes your name is called. Very personable people, even when it's busy. Top of the mark. read more