Villa Italia

4.1 (230 reviews)

ModerateBakeries, Desserts

Closed • 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

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Villa Italia - Tiramisu - Bakeries Near Me - Schenectady, New York

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Villa Italia - 8" Tiramisu cake - Bakeries Near Me - Schenectady, New York

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Olie G.

This is the go to bakery for Italian desserts, pastries and cakes everything is so good and you'll find this place packed pretty much any day of the week. Love ordering cakes here for birthdays and special occasions. Located in downtown Schenectady it's a gem.

Cara M.

Lovely place. I've always loved it here. Great staff. Amazing cakes. Delicious pastries.

Henry B.

Best Sweets in Schenectady a delicious and iconic Downtown gem. Customer service is amazing as well, smiling faces and helpful

Ashlee D.

I've been in the past to grab a small pastry here and there and was always pleased. But this week I was gifted a Cassata cake and it was perfect. You could taste that it was rum soaked as promised but not too heavy. I will 100% return to buy this cake again!

Roy H.

Exceptional looking and tasting cupcakes! I attended a child's 7th birthday party today at The Littles Play Cafe. The host and hostess purchased your chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with "Hello Kitty" plastic rings on top of the cupcakes with a smattering of glitter. I asked the hosts whether the cupcakes came from a supermarket or a bakery. They quickly said that the cupcakes came from your bakery, their "favorite" bakery. Since I live near New York City and love bakeries, I had to try your chocolate cupcake. It was the most tasty cupcake I have ever eaten. The frosting was perfectly placed on top of the cupcake and not overly sweet. Perfect consistency, and taste. Then, I enjoyed the cake part of the cupcake, it was heaven on earth. Of course, I had to have a second cupcake and enjoyed it as well. If I am in your area again, I will surely be a customer of yours. I recommend anyone who is interested in quality family-style based bakery items...they go directly to your shop. Highly recommended without any reservation. Thank you and your bakers for a job well done.

Andy V.

This place is amazing. Every pastry is fully loaded with cream. The eclair was perfectly baked and full of cream, it was not soggy but baked to perfection. The lobster tail again fully loaded with cream with a crust that was super crispy. I haven't found a bakery that doesn't skimp on the fillings. Now you want to talk about tiramisu, man oh man was it delicious. Service was outstanding. Mostly everything is sold by the pound. They have cookies for days. Pastries for days and you have to try them all. They do custom cakes for all your needs. I love this place and will be frequenting quite often. You come here once and I guarantee you'll get something that makes you come back over and over. You been warned.

Noor H.

Cute pastry with tons of options to choose from!! It was pretty busy the day I went but they are very organized. When you walk in they ask you to grab a number and will call it out when it's your turn. They have cakes , cookies , coffee , cheese cake and all types of pastries to choose from. They sell them by pound but you can mix and match. Some of the pastries were a little too sweet but overall but had. It's a little on the expensive side but the quality and service is great ! I recommend getting your sweet cravings or pastries for events from here !

Crème puffs, lemon cookie, and general yumminess

Jessica P.

We went on a whim because another bakery in Schenectady was closed--& boy am I glad we did. The lobster tail I got was so crispy and filled with cream I was in heaven. The rainbow cookie, while good, was definitely not the best and could have used more jam. The rest of the pastries look and taste great and I will certainly return when I get to Schenectady. The counter staff was harried but polite and I had nothing bad to report. One star off because the cannoli wasn't filled all the way through, and it was a pretty small cannoli. Nothing worse than a hollow cannoli!!!

Sarah G.

We ordered a cake for my child's birthday. We have never ordered a cake from here before. We went in on a Saturday early morning and the woman taking down our order helped guide us through. My child wanted as much color and glitter and fun as possible. It was NYE so they had some cakes on display. We highlighted to the woman what we wanted based on their display cakes. They delivered perfectly. On pickup day they were timely, the cake was fresh, delicious, and fed exactly how many people we needed. I will be using them again for custom cakes.

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Amanda G.

17 years ago

Yum. Good sandwiches (LOVE the fresh mozzarella and pesto) and the gelato. You have to just know that they serve salads (which are great), and the soups are hit and miss. Their cakes are good too - probably the best I have had since the Vanilla Bean closed shop (sniff). But you do have to be aware that their standard frosting is a non-dairy buttercream. I'm going with don't ask, don't tell on the ingredients because if I'll have to avoid them if I know they use a trans-fat shortening. read more

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Colette R.

11 years ago

The best Italian pastries you can imagine. The service and food is unmatched. I highly recommend the chocolate mice.

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Amanda C.

10 years ago

WOW!! I am from East Greenbush area and I usually buy cakes closer to home but wow this place was terrific! I wanted a frozen fever cake and I looked up designs online and it seems like they could be hit or miss and when I decorate the cake is usually the main thing so I was nervous and the staff was just amazing they were so nice and patient! And the cake was so moist and delicious and absolutely beautiful!!!! Will order here again!!! read more

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Erin S.

18 years ago

I got my wedding cake from Villa Italia. Delicious! Let me start with the tasting. Ok, so it costs $30 which isn't exactly fun but you get to try all the cake you want in all these different combinations. There's 4 cake flavors and about a dozen different fillings. So there are many, many permutations. There were tons of delicous options but we finally picked one. Then it was on to the style. We went with whipped cream frosting on the outside. They swore they could get it as smooth as fondant and they did. The design looked exactly as I imagined it and it was absolutely beautiful. Highly recommended! read more

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Rick B.

13 years ago

Cannoli cannoli cannoli cannoli cannoli cannoli cannoli!!!! I'll be honest, I only pick up a cannoli or two, or three when I come here but they are the best I've ever had! Great service, and a nice little patio if the weather is right. Great after a movie or after a Proctors event. They also have a lunch menu and coffee and I've heard the gelato was excellent. read more

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Amber Z.

1086

11 years ago

Great place to get Italian pastries and a coffee. The ambiance is very clean and bright.

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Gail M.

16 years ago

We got our wedding cake at Villa Italia. The tasting was fun. The cakes we tasted were all delicious, moist, and tempting. In fact, we could not decide between two flavors and ended up getting two cakes! They arrived on time, and just as we expected. There was just one small problem. The fondant had cracked right down the side of the top tier. I can't say it left the bakery that way, as it did have to be delivered and set up, but it was just a smidge disappointing to have a cracked cake. Luckily it was so tasty I got over it quickly. As for the in store stuff, when they're on they are ON. The cookies and pastries are awesome. But when they're off...well...not so much. They are on occasion stale. The cake gets a big thumbs up (despite the fussy fondant) but the pastries and cookies get a maybe. read more

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Kiki W.

13 years ago

2 STARS FOR sandwiches Their pastries are delicious. I ordered an 8.00 roast beef on ciabatta. The bread was good, but the roast beef was not. One thin piece of lettuce, and some Russian dressing did not cut it. The beef was pink and not warmed ( I didn't know) and it tasted undercooked. Most roast beefs I have taste much better ( more flavor) even if they are not fully cooked beef. Definitely not worth 8.00. read more

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Wendy K.

Elite 23

196

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15 years ago

I love this place. It has a wide selection of italian pastry. Best cream puff ever! They're also inexpensive and very very good quality. Stopping here for some snacks before hopping in to Bow Tie for a movie is a perfect routine for a Saturday afternoon. I also love to just bring a book and spend some time here. Simply perfect. read more

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John M.

17 years ago

Awesome, you really need to check this place out. We tried several different desserts here and loved every single one. I had a sandwich and she had soup, both of which were delicious. We will definitely go back when we're in the area !! read more

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Darwen V.

15 years ago

The pastries are to die for. The cakes (especially their cassata cake) are out of this world. A bit pricey. However, when you spend $160 for a half sheet of cake for your moms 60th birthday. It makes the cake priceless in the end. The cakes can make a party. Totally worth it. read more

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Adam M.

12 years ago

Chocolate cannoli is fantastic. Chocolate sicilian is fantastic. The fact that this place is so close to my house? Not fantastic. Just what I needed. Another reason to get fatter. I wanted to lose 20 lbs this summer. I only have 25 lbs to go. Oy vey. read more

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lindsay t.

14 years ago

Everything I've ever had from Villa Italia is to die for. The pastries are amazing, the gelato is delicious. The antipasto salad is GREAT ... just get the dressing on the side! Staff is friendly and welcoming ... and warns you if the police are outside giving parking tickets (thank you!). read more

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Dayton S.

175

10 years ago

Very disappointing. No, we never got to eat there but Sunday we just wanted a slice cake. We went there and they will not sell slices. I guess if you eat lunch there and want a piece of cake for dessert you will have to buy a whole cake. Gave it a 3 star as the girl who waited on us at the counter was not rude or anything and very pleasant. read more

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Christine S.

138

13 years ago

Best bakery in the whole area! I've had alot of the items here, they're always delicious, I love how they price by weight and not by piece. Everything is always fresh, customer service is always nice, they also have good fresh baked breads and the gelato is delicious as well, if you're in the area you need to stop here, it's amazing! read more

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Mandy H.

17 years ago

Delicious pastries and wonderful service. Makes downtown shine a bit...if you're lookin for a coffee date it's a comfy setting with a nice lounge inside or litte patio outside. read more

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Nancy S.

Elite 19

239

224

135

11 years ago

Would give 4.5 stars if it was an option, but I absolutely LOVE it here. My father is from Italy, so I have been exposed to pastries and delicious desserts for my entire life. Villa Italia is authentic and gets it right every time. Everything they have is delicious - my one very small gripe is that they can be a bit pricey, BUT you get what you pay for...and its deliciousness!! read more

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Karrie R.

7 years ago

Received a buy one get one offer for willy Wonka got the chocolate chocolate chocolate cupcake had to get 2 of same with offer would have liked to try a different chocolate item. The chocolate cake was delicious and chocolate frosting was not overly sweet. We enjoyed our chocolate chocolate chocolate cupcakes. Only negative was they were served on a styrofoam meat tray. read more

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Edward J.

Elite 23

137

401

14 years ago

The sfogliatelle is outstanding- when fresh, clearly the best in the area. It's also a great looking space and the gelato is excellent. The gelato cakes are also dope as hell. read more

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Doug K.

403

13 years ago

I'll need to reach for that fifth star with a future visit, but I think Villa Italia will be worth it with more visits. Villa Italia is a pastry shop, but it also serves paninis, soups and other food as well. However, I went there for pastries from their Italian bakery. I really enjoyed their rainbow cookies and cream puff pastries. It was really tasty. I'll come back here if I want to pick up desserts for visitors to my home, or sometimes even to treat myself. read more

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Juan C.

13 years ago

Long wait... Servers didn't know much of what they are selling but the banana gelato was amazing...!!!!

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Maryrose B.

12 years ago

We have tried this bakery 3 times and it really is below average. It looks beautiful and has a great variety of choices. But, the desserts are all very dry. We found this each time. read more

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AM B.

10 years ago

Villa Italia saved the day! I ordered biscotti from etsy.com and they arrived damaged, all broken. I needed them for a bridal shower, and Villa Italia was able to dip 100 biscotti in pink chocolate in less than 24 hours (more like 15!). They looked even better than the ones I was ordering online and tasted amazing too! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! read more

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Colassi L.

9 years ago

Great baked goods and delicious cakes. My only qualm with this bakery is that the baker doesn't always follow what you ask for even if you give detailed information and a photo. I don't have a huge issue with it, because they do come out elegant and pretty, but if I'm taking the time out to give detailed information and paying for the cake, I expect it to be done just so. Recently I had a custom cake made that required fondant (they would not pipe on the cake for my design), and upon receiving the cake my fondant pieces were like flat rock pieces of sugar, that I ended up taking off the cake and throwing away. Fondant should be edible and it was gross. read more

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Malini C.

8 years ago

I absolutely love their pastries, especially their eclairs, cream puffs, chocolate mice and cannoli. Gelato is great too, especially the chocolate and strawberry flavors. The fruit tarts are my family's go-to if we need to bring a dessert to a party, but I've never tried any of their other cakes. I wish they would make some gelato flavors like the strawberry permanent since you're not sure which flavors will be available on any given day until you get there, and I have been disappointed by the selection before. read more

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Hanako A.

15 years ago

the fruit tart is delicious. Chicken panini is cold but taste good. German coffee great.

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Joan K.

315

14 years ago

Wow, never thought we'd find a place like this in Schenectady! The cannoli at 8:30pm on a Friday night were super crispy! The seashell dessert blew my wife's mind. read more

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Jon G.

144

14 years ago

I brought some employees here for a lunch while traveling and they have some very good sandwiches. I like the Italian here but the ordering system here is pretty slow and the line organization leaves a bit to be desired. read more

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CC W.

11 years ago

I hope that heaven smells like Villa Italia The salads are good for a quick lunch. I always get a coffee too. I can't have the cookies but I love the gelato. read more

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Jenn B.

10 years ago

Only place I go to for cakes for myself and my kids their cakes are the best around as well as their pastries love villa Italian

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Timothy N.

483

13 years ago

Wow, bright, fancy, very courteous staff, great pastry selection and coffee.

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Jose A.

13 years ago

Great pastries. Try the Chocolate Mousse Mice. Coffee (espresso drinks) prepared with love and care. Pastries are sold by weight - grab a big assortment of them and share with friends or bring to a house gathering. They serve lunch but I haven't tried it. Casual seating with about 15 four person tables. Close to Proctors theatre. Clean bathrooms. read more

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TE C.

11 years ago

Great service. Phenomenon dessert. Will definitely receive. My business again. Looking forward to visiting again. My only complaint is i need more locations. read more

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M M.

6 years ago

Sometimes just having a good product doesn't make up for customer service. Unfortunately this isn't the first negative customer experience I have had with them and continued to patronage this co. I ordered a cake and asked it to be ready for 9 am. Gave the girl the name and they have to make you pay before going back to look for the cake after 2 trips back and forth asking questions, she engaged the help of other employees all the while the clock is ticking. I was on my way to work. Then finally she came out and said they were putting finishing touches on it. I witnessed customers come in after me with similar order and it came right out. This leads me to believe they hadn't done the order and searched make one up when I got there. All of this cost me time and money from work not to mention the cost of the cake. And never an apology or let me offer you even 1 cookie. Very poor business practice. read more

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Taylor F.

16 years ago

A stunningly beautiful bakery. So nice, it feels out place in Schenectady. When we have company, we always load up on desserts from Villa. I'm a huge ice cream addict, and their gelato is the best I've ever had. A tad pricey, but well worth the money. read more

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John W.

15 years ago

This is a great bakery. If you want awesome Italian sweets, this is the best place in the area.

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Claire H.

13 years ago

Tasty desserts, in a nice environment for eating them. Great as an after-theater destination, and I love that the wide range of selection means that there is someone for everyone, even if you all want something pretty different! read more

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nicole y.

17 years ago

Love this place! Food is delish.... Went there for lunch a few times- may go today for brunch!!!! read more

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David B.

131

10 years ago

Villa Italia has lost some of its touch, When they were located on Hamburg St. Their food was made fresh daily and a good size,but now almost all of there pastry's are frozen and thawed and much smaller in size. They just don't have that soft fresh taste anymore, but if you happen go on the day the pastry was made you will be in good shape. read more

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Emmie H.

8 years ago

The chocolate mice are delicious and adorable. The lattes are also great! Very cute atmosphere!

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Page 5 of 6

226 Broadway
Schenectady, NY 12308
Directions
(518) 355-1144
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.villaitaliabakery.com/

Full menu

Hours

What time does Villa Italia open?

Villa Italia opens at 7:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Villa Italia opens at 8:30 AM on Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Villa Italia close?

Villa Italia closes at 6:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Villa Italia closes at 2:00 PM on Sunday.

Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 6:00 PMSat 8:30 AM - 6:00 PMSun 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Villa Italia take credit cards?

Yes, Villa Italia takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Villa Italia have catering options?

Yes, Villa Italia does have catering options.

Indoor Amenities

Does Villa Italia allow dogs?

Yes, Villa Italia allows dogs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Villa Italia have bike parking?

Yes, Villa Italia has bike parking.

Does Villa Italia have parking?

Yes, Villa Italia has parking options. Street Parking

More Info

Health Score

Villa Italia Reviews in Other Languages

Italian
1 Review

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Is there non-meter parking available?

Nope not in this area

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yes you can, only cookies though!

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Fat Boys

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Great ice cream in a bunch of flavors you don't ever see plus mini golf. What else do you need?read more

My husband and I love there soft serve Ice Cream. Can't wait to go back there next summer.read more

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Blue Ribbon Restaurant & Bakery

All was good. The creamed delicious. And yes please. Chicken and with stuffing, so tasty!read more

Went to the Blue Ribbon on a Saturday, late morning for brunch. It wasn't too busy and the food…read morecame out SO fast. There wasn't a single thing that we didn't enjoy. The ham wasn't too thick and had a lot of flavor. The hashbrowns were crispy and the eggs were cooked to my satisfaction. The staff were attentive and friendly. We will be back!

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Carrot cake.

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Nocturnal Cookies

2.6

(12 reviews)

1.5 mi

I order from here more often than I would like to admit and they're decent cookies but 9/10 times…read morethey get our order wrong.

If you are up at night and feel like going out and grabbing something sweet to eat, this is it!…read more Though they call themselves nocturnal, they are not open all the way till early am. Most of the locations close at ~1am. This is my 2nd vist there, the first visit they had jo cookies and they asked us to wait 20 mins as they had to bake it. I wasnt going to wait 20 mins, for a cookie!! This time around, they did have some.

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The Grandstand

The Grandstand is a Summer must. Food is delicious as is the ice cream. Tables with umbrellas and…read morea nice small playground for kids. They even have rest room !

employees are extremely kind, and has some of the best onion rings, highlight of my year when they…read moreopen for the season

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Pistachio nuts and banana creme pie

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Whisky Business Bakery

4.4

(24 reviews)

2.1 mi

Union Street in Schenectady, NY is honored to be home to this excellent bakery known for its French…read moremacarons. It also has blondies, brownies, and cupcakes with unique flavors like crème brûlée and bourbon. Bri Larsen, a pastry chef with a Culinary Arts degree from Schenectady County Community College is the creative owner. She offers options for custom cakes and macaron towers. The bakery also offers in-store pickup and online ordering. Specialties: --French Macarons: A wide variety of flavors, including gluten-free options. --Blondies & Brownies: Includes unique options like "the local blondie" with Saratoga Potato Chips. --Cupcakes: A selection of flavors like caramel, cotton candy, and confetti. --Cakes: Custom-order cakes in various sizes. I am not a Macaron lover, so I bought a key lime blondie, a lemon bar, a caramel drizzle cupcake, and a gluten free raspberry drizzle cupcake. I found the blondie to be rather flavorless, but the lemon bar made up for it by being exactly what I think of when it comes to a good lemon bar. Slightly tart, a nice crust, and just a touch of sweetness on top. The gluten free cupcake was enjoyed by my friend who said it was exceptional. The other cupcake is a treat for my husband. Overall, the beautiful variety of macaroons are the breadwinner for this bakery. Not many bakeries make or sell them. Service was great--welcoming, helpful, and patient. I will definitely return. Prices are moderate considering the expertise required and the quality of the ingredients used.

I miss when they were right in Rotterdam, but I've never tried anything from here that I didn't…read morelike. Everyone was always really friendly as well.

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Guess which one is gluten-free.

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Civitello's Italian Pastry Shoppe

Lovely Italian bakery in Schenectady's Little Italy neighborhood. Delicious pastries, an excellent…read moretomato pie, soups, sandwiches, salads. I had an excellent time browsing all the desserts, I wanted them all! I ended up with a great choice for Cinco De Mayo, a chocolate "taco" of cake folded around butter cream topped with M&Ms

Can't wait to go back for a meal, stopped in for cookies by the weight. Beautiful assortments,…read moredelicious. Love the scales and vintage charm. Adorable.

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NibblexNosh

4.5

(12 reviews)

1.3 mi

This is a cute little bakery that offers some different confections than what I typically come…read moreacross at other bakeries. They also have a warm, homey looking backroom that calls out to sit down, relax, and enjoy a cup of coffee with your purchase. The display cases were filled with cookies, muffins, and bars that were very attractive and delicious looking. I decided to try a peanut butter muffin ($4) and a rum coffee bar ($3.50). The chocolate muffin with mini chocolate chips throughout was topped with coarse sugar crystals and injected and topped with a sizeable amount of peanut butter mousse. It was not overly sweet and a nice alternative to a cup cake. The rum coffee bar was the sweeter of the two confections that I bought and while being much denser it was equally satisfying and delicious. The coffee flavor was apparent, but I didn't notice a rum flavor. Service was friendly, warm, and welcoming. I asked about their cinnamon rolls and was informed that they are only available on Saturday. It was suggested that an early Saturday arrival, close to their 10 AM opening, was recommended if I wanted to ensure that I could purchase cinnamon rolls before they sold out.

I don't even want to admit how many times I have stood outside waiting for some cinnamon rolls…read morebright and early Saturday morning but if you haven't tried them already just know it's 100% worth it.

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Rum Coffee Bar & Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffin. Delicious!

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Sallie's - with strawberry jam!

Eggcellent

4.7

(38 reviews)

9.8 mi

Wow! I waited over a week to visit this place because they were sold out of most of the desserts…read more They're so popular, and the owners take their time making new desserts. They have tea, but I wanted cheesecake. The cheesecake was excellent! You order online or at their kiosk inside. It's best to keep checking online to see if the desserts you want are in stock yet, if they aren't, they're listed as sold out. The ube cheesecake was creamy, sweet, with cream. The triple matcha cheesecake was very good, tasted like matcha, and best if you don't like dessert too sweet. Each piece of cake was around $10-11 would be nice if it was bigger, but it's great as it is because it's dense. It's so cute inside! Service is fast! Highly recommend!

Loved Eggcellent so much we visited twice on our trip in the Albany area! The options are fresh and…read moredifferent from what I am used to having when grabbing a milk or fruit tea. First up, I ordered the Jasmine Tea with Matcha foam and coconut water. This was a super refreshing drink and I am already wanting to have it again. Second we grabbed the Ube Milk Tea float which was a super pleasant taste, ordered with 0 percent sugar which kept it at a perfect level of sweetness. The ube milk tea float comes with a scoop of delicious ube ice cream on top. The service was super friendly and inviting, and the inside was really cutely designed.

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Cheese tart

Mango pomelo, so delicious!

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Perreca's Bakery

We have supported this bakery for over 40 years, and it is time to offer a review…read more This Jay Street icon in Schenectady has the best Italian bread. It comes in round or loaf shapes and in one or two pound sizes. It is available in many local stores including the Niskayuna Co-op. True story: Jack Nicholson was filming in the area and found out about the delicious bread from his driver. He got the bread several times and thought it was great. He had it mailed to him. Photos of Nicholson and a related newspaper article are on display. The bread, rolls, and Tomato pie are baked in a coal fired brick oven from Italy. Besides the bread, there are other outstanding offerings including: Rolls! Breadsticks made at the bakery Bread Crumbs for cutlets and meatballs Tomato Pie -- so popular it often sells out Panini Sandwiches made fresh daily for grab & go. Italian olives and cheeses in the case. Italian cookies Parking in front and in a side lot shared with Cornell's Restaurant.

Perrecca's Bakery + More Perrecca's = Schenectady royalty…read more First things first: full disclosure -- my son is a server here. Yes, I'm biased. But also... facts are facts and the facts are DELICIOUS. It was a full-on snowstorm, the weird dead zone after Christmas where everyone else is like "nah, we're closing early," and Perrecca's was like: "We ride." Just me and the wife, snow coming down sideways, and this place is warm, welcoming, and absolutely cranking out hot food. And I mean HOT hot -- not "restaurant hot," but "careful-that-plate-is-trying-to-burn-your fingerprints-off" hot. Love to see it. Food? Super tasty. No notes. Service? Solid across the board. Bathrooms? Clean enough to eat off of (I didn't, but I could've). Parking? Plenty of off-street, no parallel parking Olympics required. Now let's talk about the hostess -- because WOW. She works the room like she personally built the place brick by brick. Touches every table, warm, friendly, checking in -- you'd swear her name was on the sign out front. Absolute pro. Hospitality Hall of Fame behavior. Between the legendary bakery, the attached restaurant, and the fact that they stayed open when the weather said "stay home," this place is a must-see Schenectady institution. Come hungry. Leave happy. Possibly leave with extra bread you didn't plan on buying but somehow needed. Would go back in a blizzard. Would go back tomorrow. Would go back just for the vibes.

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Soup bread - perfection

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Curry Freeze

A really solid place for ice cream! Definitely one of those classic places to go to in the summer…read morewith easy parking and shaded picnic tables. They have many different place options for hard and soft serve ice cream and sundaes. The workers at the window were really efficient and nice. It's a fun stop if you're looking for ice cream in the area.

Their ice cream is okay, but there are other ice cream places I would rather go to in the arearead more

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Take Two Cafe

4.6

(55 reviews)

0.1 mi

best vegan food in the city, super nice people!! no bathroom isn't something in their control nor…read moreis it honestly that unheard of so i'm not going to factor that into my review like everyone seems to... shout out to the guy at the counter for being so pleasant!! i love take two cafe

Delicious food & drinks in a small but cute and clean place. Service was quick. All vegan which…read moremade it nice to order anything off the menu.

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Mural

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100% the right balance in this ArnPalm

Ambition Coffee & Eatery

This place makes amazing sandwiches. The pretzel bread sets some of them off real nice. Im allergic…read moreto nuts and they're always great about if i ask for a sandwich to not mess with the nuts. I cant believe Mark the cook is such a skinny dude because he knows how to make a hell of a sandwich. Especially the specials. Always worth checking on the specials when ordering a sammie. The coffee is pretty good too. I grab an iced coffee from time to time. Not really a baked good kind of guy so I cant tell you there.

what a great place with a cool vibe. obviously great coffee choices but their sandwiches were very…read moreunique. fresh highly recommend this has a lunch spot. if weather permits sitting outside is great. staff is very friendly when ordering.

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Simone's Kitchen

Noticeably spotless! The staff all smile and really seem to love being there. Very upbeat and super…read morefriendly. I did not realize there were several locations in the capital district. There is one closer to me so I think I will be visiting there real soon. I got a toasty Big Chicken Shawarma wrap. It was stuffed full of fresh ingredients. Every single ingredient complimented the other I can't even describe it. It was a nice size and I ate it all. Absolutely delicious. I don't think I've had a toastier wrap ever. It was perfect. Pics included! A nice relaxed atmosphere with apparently several locations. I would encourage you to try one!

Staff are very welcoming and pleasant. Food very good…read more Tomato soup excellent. Shawarma bowls very good with fresh quality ingredients. Rice and pita bread very good. Fair pricing. Quality utensils. Quick service. Place and bathrooms are clean. Management/owner doing a fabulous job! Will always return! And will try the desserts next time.

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Awesome staff! Kitchen/workspace is spotless.

Big Chicken Shawarma

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Schwarma bowl

Bagels & Bakes

You can never go wrong with bagels and bakes- their breakfast sandwiches are great as are their…read morepastries and the girls that work there are quick and efficient with the orders. I can go there before work in a rush and know they will get me in and out.

They're ok but I'm used to NYC style and these weren't that. I wish they had vegan butter or cream…read morecheese too lol. It's 2025, cmon ppl.

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Sausage, egg, & cheese on a sesame bagel along with assorted bagels and coffee.

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Everything bagels

Wolf Hollow Brewing Company

Been a fan of Wolf Hollow for many years great beer great people!…read moreMidnight dreary is the black ipa. My favorite!

My first thought here was, "What, they stopped doing flights? No way, -1 Star immediately." But…read moreafter a few minutes here, it became, "No way I could do that, the beer, the ambiance, it's just way too good to do that!" Wolf Hollow does it right. They have the beers (16 on tap tonight), the events, the food trucks, the atmosphere. Everything here is exactly what I look for in a brewery. My only disappointment is that they discontinued flights, but they're always willing to let you sample brews, and for me, that's a great alternative and a great opportunity to try their brews. They do so much, including special events, trivia, etc.. Well done, Wolf Hollow!

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Bar

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THIS! This is what breweries do to be relevant and great!

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22 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Eric H.

14 years ago

Mehhhh, this is a fancy appointed place with a big ego, stalish pastries and very good coffee. Over priced considering the big tooo-doooo over the famous name. Having several banquet halls in the region leads me to think this company takes the old pastries off the banquet tables at the end of the night and brings them back here to sell the next day... Also when I initially bought these for clients at Christmas time- the customers I gave them to complained they were freezer burned. The Cannoli is SOGGGGGYYYYYY- uggghhh... I gave it two more tries but still I was disappointed. I notice they have a royal crest on the truck parked out back like they are royalty or upper class= turn off. Someone else said it best: style over substance. It is like a Mecca for third generation Italo-Americans who want to feel like the hobknobed with a faux celebrity (awards and pics on the wall of B actors and such) It JUST doesn't live up to the name. A lot of 20-somethings seem to be intrigued with this place, but for the real deal you need to travel to Latham and see Bella Napoli for fresh and authentic Italian Pastry. A lot of the people that think this is awesome think Sara Lee is great too. I am sorry I can't say better things. If you miss going here, you will not have missed much but I recommend their very good coffee if you need a caffeine boost when you are in Downtown Schenectady and want to stay alert to your surroundings. The area is a little sketchy. read more

A L.

129

273

16 years ago

Villa Italia is probably the best Italian bakery in the Capital District. Large assortment of products (from pastries, to rolls, to sandwiches, gelato, and coffee. Inside, the cafe is very cozy, yet chic and you can get a bite to eat and have it there. I make it a point to go for gelato and an espresso along with a chocolate cannoli whenever I'm in the area or at a show at Proctor's. Dolci used to be year round, but now are only seasonal for Christmas time. This year they were a little bit of a disappointment as they were a little dried out and the cake fell apart from the cream and didn't taste moist and the cream tasted old. However, everything else is always a plus. Once had a lovely cake made for my cousin's bridal shower that got tons of compliments. Was a golden cake w/ strawberries centers and whipped cream topping and metled chocolate to write out, "Congratulations Ralph and Kelly" and it was delicious and beautiful. My favorite are the chocolate cannolis and I highly recommend them. My second favorite are the tri-colored cakes which are always moist and have a nice fruit filling in between the cake layers. My next favorite are the chocolate covered macaroons. A trip to Parecca's for lunch and then off to Villa Italia for dessert and you're all set! It doesn't get much better than this. read more

Mar F.

14 years ago

No, I cannot say that I was impressed. The decor is great and so is the design work, which I believe was paid for by the tax dollars of the Metroplex and the State. That is no secret. However, the service is rushed, i could hear yelling from behind in the back room as if the boss had a tantrum on his workers but ultimately the saddest thing was that the actual pastries tasted freezer burnt as if they were made weeks before or re-heated. I prefer the much better product and more old fashioned (sorry- no fancy scmancy design) at Bella Napoli. Also I compared it to the STELLAR Italian cookies at Civitellos and there is truly no comparison. Civitellos and Bella Napoli BOTH blow this place away. As another review said "Style over substance." read more

Donald R.

5 years ago

I do not begrudge any bakery its success, but am mystified ass to why this place has crowds out the door. The cakes appear to be frozen and then thawed for sale (cream topping and filling taste just like that). The process for handling customers is little short of atrocious. I waited an hour outside for an order I had called in. When I finally got into the store, there was another hour wait looming for the pickup counter, but if I bought one single thing over the counter, I would get my pickup immediately. Ridiculous planning on the part of the owner. I will not darken their door again. read more

Farrah N. A.

18 years ago

Indeed a great addition to Schenectady's scene regarding italian pastries and incredible coffee drinks, but their service is unpredictable and sometimes borders even rude. I tend to go when it's slower and get a gelato and my coffee for the week, but they do not seem to take the restaurant side of their business as seriously as their baking and storefront. Overall though, a good place. Farrah N. Ashline read more

Kaytee M.

10 years ago

very satisfied when I come in. My family has been buying cakes from Villa Italia for years and they've always been some of the best cakes I've ever had. Lunch is always a great idea, they offer small paninis and soups which again, are always great! Pastries are wonderful. And the staff is always very accommodating and cheerful. Definitely a great establishment for anybody all ages! my personal favorite. read more

Jordan F.

12 years ago

great pastries and lovely atmosphere. A little on the expensive side, but definitely worth a visit if you're in the Capital Region area. Right across the street from the NY Lottery building. There's also plenty of parking. The place is meticulously clean and the staff is friendly and quick to serve. I would definitely recommend. read more

Charlie M.

9 years ago

This place make fantastical creations. However, they failed their latest health department inspection, BADLY. See the article at http://www.timesunion.com on 1/18/2018 http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Restaurant-inspection-violations-in-Albany-12504553.php#photo-14773833 read more

Stan J.

14 years ago

Hi, I am from Milwaukee, Wi. And my Brother-in-Law took us here. I want to tell everyone that this place has my far the BEST Cannoli and Gelato I have ever eaten.. And the place is so clean and fantastic it is the Best ! ! Stan read more

Nadia R.

3 years ago

On hamburg street wonderful n sons ruined it going downtown plus they way overcharge n cakes ordered awful so I go to Bella Napoli where I'm never disappointed n this place never again read more

Thomas J.

15 years ago

This is an excellent place to go after the shows at Proctor's. Wonderful tasting desserts, especially those mini chocolate petit fors' and fresh brewed dark roasted bean coffee. read more

Dom C.

8 years ago

This has to be the best bakery in the capital district. Everything is fresh and good. Their gelato is creamy and delicious. Their pastries are up to par with NYC bakeries. read more

Paul G.

10 years ago

what can i say i love this place excellent bakery love the bread an the cupcakes omg ! pricey but what isnt these days ! an if it goods it worth it read more

Chelsea C.

103

5 years ago

Best desserts you will ever find. The coffee is amazing too. Some of the desserts are on the pricier side, but extremely good value nonetheless. read more