We stopped into Bread & Chocolate shortly after noon on a Sunday knowing they were closing in under an hour. Most of their baked goods were sold out, which totally made sense because it was nearly closing time and the items that remained looked delicious. So we were sure that whatever had been sold before was more of the same. I ordered a hot latte and the kiddo ordered a raspberry tea. We also decided to order toasted sandwiches (grilled vegetables for me and grilled cheese for her) to enjoy in the shop. Enjoy we did! The latte was served with a foam smiley face. The espresso was strong and delicious and tempered nicely by the milk. Her tea was piping hot and fruity. The sandwiches were toasted but not blazing hot, for which we were thankful because we were very hungry. They also weren't greasy - an issue I have with other toasted sandwiches. As a side note - why do sandwich shops slather sandwiches in oil or butter when a simple iron sandwich press and a hot grill will suffice? Anyway, our sandwiches were great! They were filling but didn't leave us feeling lethargic (please refer back to the not greasy comment.) We were so happy to have a good meal and a seat after a long tour around the Quinnipiac campus. Bussing one's table is expected and the staff kept the tables spic and span in between patrons. Speaking of the staff, the young man who took our order and was servicing the dining area was kind and patient as we ordered. We made sure to leave fifteen minutes before closing because we didn't want to be THOSE people, namely the couple in the corner who'd setup their computer shop and looked to have no intention of leaving without a fight. We will definitely return to Bread & Chocolate if we find ourselves in the area again. read more

This place was extremely disappointing. I've had their bread at local restaurants and always thought it was excellent, which is what motivated me to visit in person. Over the past few months, I tried stopping by three separate times, twice they were already closed, and once they had completely sold out of bread. I finally made it there on a Sunday morning, and they had only one loaf left, and not a type I wanted. We decided to order two egg and cheese sandwiches (one with turkey bacon). Both were terrible. The rolls were soft, soggy, wet, and flavorless. Each sandwich had a single egg placed off-center, so half the roll barely had any egg at all. The turkey bacon was so bad we removed it and threw it out. Normally, I would have just moved on and not returned. But what really pushed me to write this review (which I never write) was the carrot cake we purchased. We took it home, refrigerated it, and tried it later that evening. It was, without question, the worst piece of carrot cake I've ever had. The frosting was hard, dry, stale, and completely lacking flavor, no sweetness at all. The cake itself was equally bad: dry, crumbly, and utterly tasteless. There was no hint of carrot, cinnamon, nutmeg, or any spice, just bland, dry crumbs. The cake was completely lacking sugar. After two bites, we threw it in the garbage. I don't say this lightly. I've been cooking and baking for decades, hold a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management, and spent over 20 years in the industry. I've traveled extensively and eaten outstanding food around the world. For me, someone who genuinely loves desserts, to throw cake away (which is rare) says everything. I understand it was a Sunday and that fresh baking may not be happening that day, but it's simply not acceptable to sell baked goods from prior days that are clearly stale. Even more concerning than the staleness however, was the complete lack of flavor in the product. The sandwiches were disappointing, but that cake was on another level. I won't be returning for sandwiches or desserts, but perhaps the bread. read more

My first time going there.did not like the food I ordered.but the front desk girl was the sweetest. Its a place I wouldn't probably visit again.it was just ok there ate better places to visit in the area read more

Stopped in and got a cappuccino and a Caprese sandwich. The cappuccino was quite tasty, just a solid coffee drink. Can't go wrong with that. Caprese was good. Plenty of cheese which I will never complain about but lacking enough basil. Truly just a couple sad leaves in there. Ultimately it was really more of a mozzarella sandwich. Service was very good and it's nice that you can sit outside at picnic tables. I did not have any of their pastries but wow they look incredible! I'll have to return for coffee and goodies! read more

I recently visited Bread and Chocolate for the first time. I had certain expectations based upon the fact that I've had their bread before, my understanding that they're an outstanding bread bakery and information on their website about their bread products. The store was quite different than I expected, and regardless of my expectations, my experience was just OK. We arrived around 10. I had planned to buy at least a couple of baguettes from their regular bread menu, and some other bread based upon what looked best. But they only had ciabatta bread. If a place is so popular that they have big lines early and they sell out a ton of products early, I get that and I can live with it. I really didn't get the sense that was the case. Their Instagram page doesn't have any "Sold Out for the day" messages like the crazy popular bakeries and in fact, they had no posts at all for years. They didn't have a big display area that was empty in a way suggesting they had recently sold out of a bunch of products. They were more of a casual cafe. The truth is, I wouldn't have driven out of my way to visit if their website and reputation didn't suggest a certain quantity and quality of bread offerings. Putting aside my expectations, I'll rate my actual experience. I ordered an SEC on their ciabatta bread, a black iced coffee, two chocolates and a loaf of ciabatta bread. My iced coffee was smooth, rich and good, and I liked that they had iced coffee ice cubes. Nice touch. The ciabatta was good, but a touch too floury for my tastes. The components of my sandwich were OK. The egg was a bit too puffy and not seasoned well. Also, I think it was actually egg, but I'm not 100 percent sure about that because it was uniformly yellow and had apparently been spread thin and then folded over. I prefer a fried egg with some white and good yolk. The cheese didn't really pop for me. The sausage was decent but not super tasty. While the ciabatta was good, it wasn't my favorite choice for a breakfast sandwich, at least as it was prepared. I put hot sauce on the sandwich, which is not something I would typically do, but it needed more flavor. My son did the same thing for his BEC. My sandwich was no better than average. The chocolate I had was a large hazelnut truffle. The aesthetics were below average. Kind of big and clunky looking. The chocolate seemed like it was good quality, but the filling wasn't that memorable. The people who helped me were nice, but they seemed a bit overwhelmed. When you order at a counter, places typically give you the parts of your order that are ready right away, but we didn't get the coffee, the chocolate or the bread until our sandwiches were ready about 15 minutes later. And even when the sandwiches were done, I had to remind them that they hadn't given me the other stuff yet. Based upon this experience, I wouldn't return to the Bread and Chocolate store. If I see their bread in other places, I would buy it though. 2.5 Stars read more

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I come here every weekend with friends for breakfast. The food is delicious, the bread is phenomenal. Drinks are really good, they use coffee ice cubes for their iced coffee. The service is great and fast. Lots of locals come here. Definitely recommend! read more

Bread & Chocolate - French Toast with Eggs and caramel apple cider - Bakeries Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

Ordered sandwiches two days in a row because we're staying in a hotel and there are no means of cooking. FOOD: Sandwich fillings are so scant. Guess that's why its name contains BREAD. (Caprese sandwich, Grilled chicken portobello and grilled veggie). SERVICE: good AMBIANCE: takeout read more

Bread & Chocolate - This was the Caprese. Mozz/tomato/basil/oil&vinegar. It literally had no seasoning nor flavor and basil was scarce. - Bakeries Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

Place has going down the drain Bad food and service Definitely not what it used to be. read more

The bread here is incredible! Service was relatively quick and kind. We tried both the regular coffee and a latte as well. This is a good spot for a quick bite to eat, and has a pretty large breakfast/lunch menu. The pastries looked great but we didn't get a chance to try any. read more

I was charged $2.00 for oat milk rather than regular milk for my coffee. I had a small salad and some onion soup, all for $22.28. That was quite expensive for the little food I ate. read more

4 Feb. 2025 I have given this cafe about four tries, ordering plain croissants -- my singular metric for anyplace selling French baked goods. A lot of people have raved about Bread and Chocolate Bakery Cafe. I still cannot figure out why. I was in search of a really excellent croissant (delicate, flaky on the outside, buttery, and soft and airy on the inside). Said croissant has been very elusive. Bread and Chocolate's plain croissant is big, doughy, insipid, and has nothing to do with a French croissant. I would say this is a very American adaptation. Too big. Too much flour. Too little butter. Too indelicate. (If the bakers at Bread and Chocolate want to know what an excellent croissant tastes and looks like, they might look to Patisserie Poupon in Washington, DC.) I have never tried the breads or pastries. The breads seem very popular. Part of the reason I have not tried the pastries is because almost all of them are visually unappealing. They look day-old and many suffer, again, from the American disease of being too big. I hope the bread and pastries are better than the plain croissants. I'll give it one more try, for the breads, but I have given up entirely on the croissants. read more

I stopped by for lunch for the first time today! I always thought this place was just a bakery or warehouse (lol) until today. I ordered a chicken salad sandwich and an M&M cookie. Let me tell you, the bread was so fresh and soft. The cookie was also delicious and big. The cashier was friendly and I noticed that she was very helpful to the guests in front of me. Ordering is "deli style" you order first at the counter + pay. You can order to go or sit inside (self-serve seating). Will be back soon! read more

Bread & Chocolate - Chicken salad sandwich on ciabatta - Bakeries Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

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The French toast was only $9. Bacon omelet was about $8.50 I think. They gave me a smiley face of whipped cream when I asked for some. The counter person was amazing! The food was kinda bland unfortunately. They had salt on the self serve cart but I didn't realize, so thats on me. The bacon was meh. But the French toast definitely could've used a lot more cinnamon and a little less soaking in the egg mixture cause it was pretty bland and soggy. The bread otherwise was good. The coffee was great. Even with a birthday party group it wasn't very loud. Nice place read more

Bread & Chocolate - French toast with eggs and fruit Omelet with bacon egg and cheese Ice black coffee - Bakeries Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

What a lovely story of the beginning of a sweet little spot! The baguettes are absolutely perfect! The SCONES are a real treat! Coffee is flavorful and steamed milk with every cup! Hard to choose, although the grilled veg on focaccia and tropical salad are my go to. I once had a Tuna Nicoise Baguette it's still one of my all time favorite sandwiches! Of course the Service is excellent! read more

The food was fresh and very delicious! Fast service as well. The ambience was comforting and casual. Will be coming back again and will definitely take some more bread to go. read more

Sweet little place! Lots of bread and chocolate, as well as delicious looking pastries. Highly recommend the dirty chai, and a nice sit down. read more

Bread & Chocolate - Coffee! - Bakeries Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

Worst service and food ever. The girl was rude and wanted to charge me extra because SHE heard my order wrong and gave me the wrong drink. Never seen a business deny a customer her correct drink. Went out of my way to try this place. Disappointing!!! Save yourself the money! Negative stars!!! read more

One of the most consistently good places around. Breakfast, coffee shop, bakery, lunch; all made with great care and delicious. On this visit I got a lunch sandwich for the first time. I had Special #3 without prosciutto. It was on choice of bread and had the mushroom baguette. (They called it ciabatta.). I posted a picture. It was very good but needed more Brie. I usually get a scone but it was almost closing time and they only had a scallion and goat cheese left- not for me, but their scones are great. I did get a chocolate chip cookie and it didn't disappoint. I've posted updated menus, too. read more

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Fresh baked bread very delicious for any occasion! They made great breakfast sandwiches and I have yet to try their lunches but I can imagine they are just as tasty! read more

We wanted to grab a quick lunch before getting back on the road and we found the perfect place. It's a cute little cafe that sells fresh bread and baked goods. The staff was nice and we got our food very fast. For lunch they had so many great options it took me so long to decide. I finally chose the special, it was the best sandwich I have ever had. You could tell how fresh the bread was and all the ingredients tasted amazing!! I had a great experience. read more

Bread & Chocolate - Today's Special: hummus, spinach, mozzarella cheese, cucumber, carrots on ciabatta bread - Bakeries Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

I am a sucker for scones so when I tried these at another restaurant I had to come to the source. The place was nearly empty when we got there (9:30) but people were coming and going. By the time we left, the crowds were showing up. Good sign. There was only one poor person handling the front but she was doing a great job. The display case had a great assortment of pastries including scones from jalapeño to chocolate chip. My husband had the chocolate chip muffin that was chock full of chips. My only suggestion is that they could warm or toast the scones and muffins however they were fresh and very good. We both had a breakfast sandwich on ciabatta rolls that were the best we've had. This is a self serve place. You place your order at the counter and pick up. Breakfast is only served until 11. read more

Very disappointing. My grilled vegtable sandwich on focacchio was all bread, with just a few mushrooms, peppers, zucchini and cheese, and was barely warm. This and a Snapple came to almost $13.00. The place has a no frills seating area with uncomfortable chairs. No charm or character and bad food. Such a misuse of the name! read more

Finally made it to this bakery and really was looking forward to an almond croissant. Order an almond and chocolate croissant and neither were worth the price. Very disappointed. The almond one just had almonds on the top and no almond flavor or almond paste inside of it at all. The chocolate one has 2 pieces of hard chocolate inside and and just didn't taste good. I truly was disappointed but maybe I can give them another try and get something else next time. read more

I've stopped by Bread and Chocolate a few times after hiking at Sleeping Giant and enjoyed my time there every time. They serve a solid egg and sausage breakfast sandwich at a very affordable price of under $6. Your sandwich also comes with some fruit. They also have coffee, teas, soups, salads, sandwiches, paninis, and a selection of baked goods. I haven't been able to really see their assortment of baked goods due to coming a little later in the day and most of it being sold out. The inside of the restaurant is pretty spacious with adequate seating . There is one unisex bathroom inside that was clean. It is a self-serve and self-clean place; you grab your own utensils and condiments and put your own dishes away. Every time I have come here all the guest were compliant with this rule, which was fabulous. I will definitely come back to try more items on their menu. read more

Great breakfast and great brioche rolls! The staff was fantastic with us and will be back regularly!

This coffee shop was one of my favorite places to go. It is under new management, and the owner is rude. I still like the workers there, but the new management style prevails. I am moving on to a friendly coffee shop. I go to nice coffee shops to feel relaxed, not feel other people's stress! read more

Good quality and flavorful food. Gourmet salads, soups, sandwiches. Fresh baked bread and pastries. Coffee, tea, and more. I've driven by hear 100s of times and kept meaning to try it out. Well, I finally did. There are quite a few tables, especially for a small local bakeshop. They seem to have kept it pretty well maintained also. Read their story on their website, it's very sweet! I would go here again. Try it for yourself! read more

I have lived in Hamden for 4 years and had never tried this place. FABULOUS. The service was excellent and efficient. I ordered the caprese sandwich, which is a cold sandwich. It was light, with excellent and fresh bread and mozzarella. Portion size was large for the good price. My mom has the black bean soup, which was a little on the brothier side of the soup front, but was very flavorful and light. The best part was by far, the carrot cake. It was how carrot cake should be, not too sweet, not too much icing. It was moist and delightful! Great place and will definitely be returning! read more

We came here on a Tuesday morning on the way to MA. We had two French toast with scrambled eggs, egg white omelette with Swiss cheese and mushrooms and spinach, and hot chocolate, coffee and a blueberry smoothie. The omelette came out excellent. All three dishes came with a fruit box. The wheat bread is so good we bought a baguette to go. read more

Bread & Chocolate - Display in dinning room - Bakeries Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

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Yummy food and Baked Goods ! And there Corn Muffins are Amazing make sure to try everything you can

Stopped in for a quick breakfast. Everything was delicious. Picked up a morning glory muffin, blueberry scone , and almond croissants to go. So happy I stumbled upon this bakery read more

Bread & Chocolate - Bakeries Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

The chocolate croissant are amazing! A hidden gem in Hamden. You will not be disappointed.

Love this place! Every time I work near there it's where I get my coffee! Strong and flavorful great way to start my day ! And omg the cheese danish is AMAZING!!! Scones are perfect- not to sweet. read more

I am completely obsessed with this place! I have not yet had an actual lunch or breakfast here off the menu but their scones and breads are amazing! Consistent and fresh every time. The bread is so good that it makes me not want to buy it anywhere else. The goat cheese scallion scones and chocolate chip scones will have you dreaming about the next time you stop in for one! Love this small business and the owners' story on their website. read more

With the name alone it should be epic, and it is! The cutest spot within walking distance of Hamden Town Hall on Whitney Ave. The menu is simple, and well executed! There are great breakfast, lunch, and coffee with a snack option. The layout is chic and is a fabulous place to take someone special. We had an omelet served with bacon and fresh fruit. An almond croissant and lattes. Coffee was fresh and full bodied. They allowed us to customize how much steamed milk which was perfect. The pastry was fresh, flaky, and full of almond flavor. The omelet was prepared quickly and was light and fluffy. No table service. Self serve, place your dishes in the barrel on the side type of establishment. Well worth a stop if your in the neighborhood. read more

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I would say this is an OK but not great coffee shop and bakery. I stopped in around 11 on a Saturday and it seemed like they had sold out most of their stock for the day. I was hoping for a Croissant but they were either out or didn't have any. The coffee was hot and pretty good, better than the chain places for sure. I settled on a chocolate chip muffin for the kids and a blueberry scone for my wife and I. The muffin was pretty good, the scone however was not great and we didn't finish it. I haven't tried any of the lunch food, so I'll have to try again. read more

My partner LOVES Bread & Chocolate. In fact the only way I can get him to eat a salad is to get dressing from them - and we live in Hartford. Today we stopped in after getting into New Haven's train station. He got a chicken sandwich and I got a tuna melt. He kind of did his own thing and got the chicken melt with mushrooms and arugula. My tuna melt had some great flavor and came on focaccia. The sandwiches also come with a small bag of Cape Cod chips. My partner also got an iced coffee. They serve Joes coffee and it's quite tasty. They also do coffee ice cubes so your coffee never tastes watered down. Finally, even though my partner used to be a regular, they still remember him and his name. I loved that - you don't get customer service like that anymore. read more

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This is a local yocal hole in the wall type of place. Decor is dated with no vibe whatsoever. I order two eggs over hard with toast. It took forever and the place wasn't full. The eggs were browned and tough because they were cooked to fast on high heat and the toast was two pathetic ends of baguette. Very poorly executed by someone who doesn't know how to cook. I was also trying to figure out where the chocolate came in the picture at the restaurant since there was none available. Definitely will not go again!! read more

I stopped in for breakfast. The sausage egg and cheese was great. A ton of eggs and very cheesy. It was on fresh baked bread which was pretty great. It's a small place and doesn't look like much from the outside but it's a gem. The staff was great and friendly. Even if service was a little slow but the cashier said it was their first day back from vacation so they were just getting back into the groove. read more

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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