When a salesperson calls a lead out of the blue, it's a "Cold Call". The first part of an SNL episode is the "Cold Open". I think "Cold" in this context just means that it starts without a previous introduction. Today, I "Cold Visited" La Estrella when the bakery I planned to visit with my 8 year son wasn't open yet. I just did a quick Yelp search for bakery and La Estrella was the closest one. I'm glad I found it. La Estrella is a Portuguese Bakery. Our eyes went right to the Pastry case and as a result, I'm not sure I know everything they have to offer. The bakery wasn't crowded, but it felt vital and well-loved. We were welcomed and the service was very friendly and interactive. We ordered a custard, a cinnamon roll, a guava pastry, a creamed shrimp pastry and some Portuguese rolls. The custard was flaky like my favorite croissants and the filling was slightly warn, smooth and not overly sweet. My wife and I both liked it a lot. The guava pastry was very good and better than another I recently had in the area. I often think the guava filling comes from a jar, but I didn't think that today. My son said the cinnamon roll was a 9 out of 10, but could have used a touch more cinnamon. The creamy shrimp pastry was savory, delicious and light. I'm looking forward to using the rolls for sandwiches. I'll return again for the friendly service and great pastries and perhaps a new discovery or two. read more

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I stopped by for some quick desserts. Portueguese egg tart is their most popular item, but got sold out before I could get one. Sumol pineapple soda was a nice twist on soda with real fruit juice. Raspberry patty and cinnamon swirl bread were good. Cod fritter had some bones it, other than that it was good as well. read more

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One complaint, I live too far away. La Estrella has been, my entire families FAVORITE. No state in the USA can ever beat these pasteries. La Estrella needs a startup in Virginia!!! read more

Small cash-only bakery in hartford with basic treats and delicious coffee. A little seating inside. I got a muffin (which was fine), and a latte (which was delicious) 6.5 read more

Went today for some warm rolls and found this. I wish them well in their retirement but I am heartbroken. read more

La Estrella Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

We were having lunch at King and I Thai when we spied this bakery across the street and decided to walk in. What a nice visit we had here. The first thing you see is a giant pile of fresh Portuguese rolls. In the showcases are all sorts of baked goodies - cookies, pastries, croissants you name it. We were lucky to walk in on the weekend, when they offer Portugese egg tarts (pastel de natas). They were amazing, delicate and creamy and oh so fresh, sort of like a cross between a popover and cheesecake.. We also picked up a few simple coconut macaroons (not the foo foo macarons), but the coconut laden macaroons. They were huge in size with a ton of intense coconut flavor. read more

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Their coffee is smooth, hot and irrestible. The crew here is fun, friendly and really quick. Really fast turnaround when an order is placed! The tables all have sugar cannisters, as well as coffee stirrers. Very basic it works. I had lunch one day, and the tuna sandwich was simple but finger licking and I wanted a second sandwich! (Didn't though) read more

I love this little Portuguese bakery and have been going there for years. The service is very friendly and the bake goods couldn't be fresher. I ordered a macaroon with an espresso totaling $3, I doubt you'd find a better value with the same quality. The macaroon was loaded and I mean loaded with coconut and was the perfect late afternoon snack on my "food crawl" through Hartford. read more

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This review is strictly for the Portuguese Egg Tarts and the croquettes!! Both were amazing!! Very inexpensive! Growing up eating Hong Kong style egg tarts, this variation was just as good! Whichever tart you like, this one certainly is most outstanding! read more

I love a good Portuguese Bakery, and this one definitely fits the bill! I am very fussy about a true and authentic Portuguese white bread (my fave) and altho they were out at the time, I did buy some of their rolls which were made from the same dough. It was yummy, altho not the REAL taste and texture i have sought since moving away from Southeastern MA as a kid (we used to get bread and pastries almost every weekend from the numerous Port. bakeries in the area)... Back in the last 80's while on business i discovered a place in Ludlow, MA which is truly, TRULY a real full service Portuguese bakery, they make the best White bread (which is crusty/chewy on the outside, with a texture that will melt in your mouth inside). This bread was close, but also had a bit of Italian texture to it. I do love Italian Bread as well, but, it just was not "it' for me. As you know, local grocery stores around Hartford sell Portuguese bread there, and i was hoping to gte something better than what i can get at Shaw's, but as good as it was, it didn't bowl me over. However, the pastries were amazing, and cupcakes too! The service was wonderful, the woman recognized me as the woman who had called to inquire yesterday. We will definitely be going back to this bakery as well as the other one i reviewed (they are within 2 blocks of each other!). One sad note was they also do no make the traditional Malasadas, which are a wonderful Portuguese pastry that if you ever find it, you should try it! read more

Portuguese and Latin owned Bakery. There is a lot of that bread I always would get from an Italian bakery. It's white, crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and one person called it cotton bread, because it resembled and had the taste of that. Like cotton candy, minus the sweetness. I got a huge loaf, which basically came with two 12 inch in diameter connected loaves for only $2.50. I sat at their bar and got a coconut type pastry, and a prosciutto with cheese sandwich. Cheap food. The sandwiches and pastries did not tasty very quality. Cheap cuts of meat, and the pastry itself tasted a little stale. The staff were very, very, very sweet, however. read more

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Custard egg tarts and cod fish cakes were delicious. I've been to Portugal recently and La Estrella's cod fish cakes were better than many (most) I had over there. Their custard tarts were authentic and not too sweet. Really good. Worth the stop. read more

Alright my first time in Park Street little Portugal and i'm Portuguese living in Hartford I don't know what took me so long to explore this part of the city! There's an abundance of Portuguese bakeries but La Estrella was the first one I walked into on a Sunday morning. The line of people was right at the door and I could see and smell why. The bread, sandwiches, and pastries were so delicious. The bakery owner and daughter run it and they were balls full of energy. The bakery has tables and chairs set up alongside the windows that is nice to sit eat and do some people watching. I enjoyed my time there and will be going back soon! read more

The ONLY place around that sells pastel de natas (portuguese egg tarts). Friendly service, great pastries--a must try!

Best Portuguese rolls in town. True Portuguese crusty with a light airy inside, melt in your mouth and awesome espresso.

wow what a nice place you walk in and you feel the best of the best in character wise, smells delicious and it's like a family kitchen not just a business. Maria the owner cannot be nicer she knows peoples names and i love love the quality of the espresso as well as the pastries. The prices are reasonable and the place is clean, this is a hidden gem in Hartford's west end. I recommend this as a must stop in and grab a bite their Portuguese rolls tastes much better than others. I would have a latte with a buttered roll pressed like the panini wow now i am starving. You really can't go wrong stop in and be surprised at the natural treatment you the customer will receive. The quality of the frest items can't be beat, trust me read more

From what I understand, this is a mixed family. I believe the husband and wife that on the store are Cuban/Portuguese of descent. I tried a sampling of their Pastries, as they didn't have any sandwiches left. Most of their pastries are standard Hispanic bakery fair. The guava jam filled pastries are pretty good. Some of the others are a little less spectacular like the cream puffs. If you are going to visit the bakery, definitely go on a weekend morning. They make Portuguese pasteis de natal, which of the Portuguese custard pastries. I will say if you go late they will taste terrible but if you get a good one (or, frankly, a few ... Since they're quite good) early in the day that actually quite good. Obviously, definitely not level of pasteis de belem, but frankly I haven't had much better in the states. If I were you I would definitely come by on a weekend and get a few pasteis de natal And enjoy them soon while they're still fresh. Oh And their prices are very good. read more