I've been going to Central Ave Bakery since I was born--almost 50 years! I love that the tradition has continued within their family. Everything they offer is fantastic, from their prepared foods to their desserts. No matter who is behind the counter, they always treat me with kindness and respect. Wishing the entire family continued success with their wonderful business, and many more years of serving us our beloved Portuguese goodies! read more

Great selection of fresh breads and delicious treats. Brought a few boxes of goodies to. Cookout and everyone asked where I bought the treats. Brownies, apple treats and cakes slices were a big hit. A busy bakery, but with lots of staff to help fill the orders. Also a small section with some Goya and other grocery items and refrigerated beverages and items. Nice little seating area as well. Very good, great prices. read more

Central Ave Bakery - Great pastries all around $2 - Bakeries Near Me - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

I stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and stood in front of the dessert counter for a minute before being helped. I got a mini cheesecake, red velvet cupcake, and a pastel de nata to go. I was really unimpressed with all three but I thought the red velvet cupcake was the worst as it was dry and pretty flavorless. The cheesecake had a gelatin on it I did not enjoy and the pastel de nata was underdone for my taste having more of a pudding consistency. I probably would not get any of the desserts again but would return to try their bread, grocery, and prepared savory foods. I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the store/bakery, it's a shame the desserts were just mediocre. read more

Central Ave Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

The FOOD is Really Good and Fresh! The Desserts are Fresh and Delicious, after you eat one you just wanna try them all! The Ambience is Good too but the Ladies working behind the Counter and the one that Helped Us directly is just a Sweetie, really Friendly and very Helpful! The Owner is an Angel, very patient answers all your questions and is always willing to do his best to accommodate you when placing your Orders at times very complexed ones! LOVED everything about this Place! I Honestly Recommend it! read more

I've had my ups and down with this bakery. I started going back a few months ago. I've left a few times while waiting in line, the people behind the counter like to talk too much. Today I went in around noon. Not a long line but again the counter help are all talking to one customer. I place my order carefully because the woman waiting on me, messed it up the last time. Several times I said lemon pastry and she put turnovers into the box. She blamed it in me and I said nothing back. She then went off on me in Portuguese. Last time going here. To add, her English was fine. read more

Nice variety of desserts and pastries. What really surprised me is how affordable it is for the size of the food. I got I think what's called an Eckel cookie and it was only $2. It was huge, pretty heavy and had an amazing raisin type filling in the middle. However, the bottom of the cookie has flaky layers like a croissant. I also got a yellow, maybe lemon, long john shape dessert ($1.75). It was large but too light for me, very airy. There wasn't much taste to it. They have everything from danishes, cheesecakes, brownie squares cakes and their Portuguese breads look legit. read more

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Delicious meat pies pleasant staff m Get your money's worth loves the pastries caked and cookies read more

Totally agree with the most recent review before me. Big selection of beautiful yummy pastries but they're not labeled! They were helpful when we asked what everything was, but I would have definitely have liked labels so I could decide a little more on my own. Definitely recommend supporting this small business! It's yummy and has a lot of options. read more

I've been here a few times, and I think this last one was it for me. They are rude and I have observed them be rude to other customers. They are impatient and are very condescending if you ask a question. I am not Portuguese so maybe they are nicer to their brethren but every time I go I am rushed and made to feel a fool if I ask where by something is. The bread is great, but plenty of other bakeries around where I don't need to deal with this for a roll. The pastries used to be much better but lately just fall flat. read more

This place has everything at great prices. If you can't find what you want, you just got there too late and someone else has it.

This was a chance meeting of finding this restaurant/ bakery. I was on my way to an appointment in East Providence that was canceled as I got just around the corner from this bakery so I took a right hand turn and then was putting the GPS on so I could find the next stop I had to make I went to the end of the street and took a left-hand turn and then got stuck in traffic trying to cross onto Central Avenue Pawtucket. In front of me at 1 o'clock was this wonderful bakery. At the time I did not know how wonderful it was going to be until I went inside. I parked, went in to check it out because I love bakeries in other towns. End up having to call my honey and to have coffee and a pastry. It was amazing. The variety of pastry and food was out of this world. We got like, a coconut tart. We got a lemon turnover a pineapple turnover, a cinnamon roll with raisins. We got a cherry star danish we got like two or three other things. And we got a coffee and I got a juice. We stayed there to eat because when you're eating some thing it's someplace you bought it from its best to eat it while you're still in the store. Then you can tell the people how good it was and how much you enjoyed it. The service at the counter with very nice. They also has a hot food counter that has like different kinds of Portuguese, like hot turnovers and sandwiches and stuff. They also sold on the other side sandwiches, made to order calzones see a fresh, homemade loaves of bread up on the back row of different kinds of bread. like I said again everything was wonderful out of this world fresh, as could be looking forward to going back there again, and maybe meeting friends for coffee as well. I was so amazed at the taste and stuff of the food. I was also truly amazed at the cost with everything that we bought approximately eight pastries of coffee and the juice it cost us around $10. Plus, we left a tip. Look forward to going there again and spreading the worst of the others know what beautiful hidden Jewel there is in the middle of Pawtucket. read more

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It may not look like much on the outside but the inside is very nice with a lot of freshly baked pastries, bread, and food. I ordered three pastries ($1.50 each) and 3 empanadas ($1.75 each). There was one pastry with a custard inside and topped with almonds. The stick was really good, it was almost like a cinnamon roll twist, and lastly an apple filled pastry with frosting on top. They weren't too sweet. I did think the beef in the empanadas could use a little more flavor but I did like the texture of the shell. The staff was friendly and there's plenty of street parking. They do have tables inside if you did want to sit down, relax and eat there. They also have prepared food like soups. read more

Central Ave Bakery - a pastry and a pastry stick - Bakeries Near Me - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

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A nice, woman run bakery! Very nice to to have in Pawtucket (and down the road from me) you walk in to a little shop like atmosphere. To your right is a diner like style setup to sit and drink/eat your delicious baked goods. Walking past freezers on both sides to bagels baked goods (breads, bagels, wine crackers ect...) you're then greeted by loaves of all different kinds of breads (see photo) to your left will be a hot station of fried goodies, rice, calamari (whatever the special is that day) and to your right is heaven (or why I'd imagine it to be) lit up shelves of ALL the pastries you could think of! Zeppoles, cheesecakes, custards, pretzels, danishes (see photo because the list goes on & on) it's just such a sweet surprise walking in this bakery! The boxes are adorable and gives that special touch! Things that I think would HELP get this to 5 stars is... 1. Faster service 2. LABELS on what is what (being able to tell what the fried foods, the pastries are ect) 3. A big plaque or framed photo telling the story of this bakery and the people behind it (near the registers or near the wall of breads) People LOVE to know the background and the hard work it took to get here. It'd be a wonderful touch & give people something to read as they wait... also making them HAPPY to wait reading something so nice & humble. 4. A bit better customer service. The couple times I've been, I had workers walking right past me or they were just chitchatting while myself and others waited behind me. 5. Maybe a bit more to offer in the "shopping area" of the store. read more

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Fire Portuguese pastries. Only place within 20 miles where you can get pretty much every Portuguese pastry that are this good IMO

Came here today, Saturday just after noon, and there was a long line, the place was busy until we left. Came in originally only to get some fresh crushed red peppers, and noticed they have some new things going on here, since the last time i was here a few years prior. Tried a few savory pastries and a few other things, all good in their own way. Had a meat pie and a chicken enpanada. Tried the portuguse custard cupcake, the standard pastry for any Portuguese bakery, called the pastel de nata, it was good. Had a galao, a portuguese cappuccino. Also had a ham and cheese panini on Portuguese bread. Service was friendly. read more

Central Ave Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Fantastic Portuguese bakery...and the lines out the door on a Sunday Morning validates that fact!! Friendly neighborhood bakery with excellent products, friendly service, and great selection of pantry products, too. The Malasadas are always hot and the perfect balance of sweetness, crispy edges, and chewy insides. The selection of Portuguese breads is impressive....large loaves, small loaves, rolls, etc...crusty outside, soft on the inside...perfection! There's a large assortment of delicious pastries and they have several savory items, too...Cod Fish cakes and Linguica Rolls are my faves!!!! I will visit this bakery every visit that make back to Pawtucket and I will gladly wait in line on a Sunday morning to enjoy their wonderful baked goods! read more

Central Ave Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

This place is right up there with some of the best providers of Portuguese bread, pastries, and snacks. The queijadas are tasty, and there's a good variety to choose from. The chouriço empanadas were the best I've ever had; mini meat pies were adorable and surprisingly perfect in texture and seasoning. One annoying thing was the fact that the counter woman didn't seem all too friendly and didn't know what some of the items were when I asked. I got some queijadas de feijão, or so I was told. I got home and realized they were coconut. I hate coconut. That was discouraging. Otherwise, I love the place! Great local business. read more

Service is very friendly. There are many options for lunch too. I did get cupcakes but they were very dry and the kids didnt eat any of them. read more

Just left this bakery. Stopped there for lunch because my husband loved their chicken cutlet sandwiches. These other reviews are SO OFF compared to what I just experienced. I sampled a little of this, a little of that and OMG it was all awful. I hate having to say this too because I support small businesses first and foremost. Im a foodie, so I know good food, and I love almost everything. The red velvet cupcakes were so stale. The custard had a layer of peel on the top (not supposed to be there if you know what you're doing) it's over cooked or baked at too high of a temp. And the cannoli filling?! I can't even explain it but it was unpalatable. That's 3 things I didn't like!! And the lady waiting on us seemed annoyed by our questions. I'm not Portuguese!! But I know good food. This wasn't it. read more

Stopped in passing through the area. Service was good, cases were full of pastry and looked good. Bought 4 pieces. The chocolate layer cake was so dry and mousse was used for frosting. The eclair was hard, the filling was good. I won't be stopping here again, nothing to make me go back. I'm surprised the reviews were fairly high. read more

Best bakery in the area! The cod fish balls were amazing. The pastries looked phenomenal, will have to try some when I come back. Worth the drive for some fresh bread!! read more

I think.there amazing was there this morning got rolls hot peppers egg custard (the best) apple and blueberry squares meat pies (the best ) exiles my husbands favorite generally always try something different some we like some we don't each person has likes an dislikes I like their food and will keep going back read more

I am not much of a bakery person but I can say what I noticed here. Staff was courteous. Service was quick. They seem to serve alot of fish. I actually went in thinking it was a standard bakery. I was looking for cinnamon rolls but that is not their style. What I did grab was a portuguese dough boy. My girlfriend knows the name of them. They were gross. I actually spit it out. Turns out you are not supposed to make these in oil, but some sort of butter concoction. So if the product is bad I give two stars. read more

Excellent portuguese bakery for cheeses, portuguese products, fresh bread and pastries

The prices are great the staff is very friendly always the custard cups are great everything is always fresh

The Portuguese sweet bread is the best I have ever had from a bakery. We live two hours away but yet drive back for sweet bread two or three times a year. It freezes beautifully! read more

The pastries here are Portuguese perfection. Food is great too. Don't miss this place!

Kind of disappointed as it was highly recommended. First off very clean and immaculate, which you can expect from just about any straight up Portuguese place. I went looking for some meat pies and they were good. I also ordered a rice and meat dish that was ok but not great. The real disappointment was with their pastry. They had this INCREDIBLE assortment of baked goods that looked sooooo good. Perfect! But I ordered tiramisu and was EXTREMELY disappointed. It tasted nothing like any I have had before and also did not taste fresh. I don't know if it was. I mean it was not bad as in totally not fresh, but just did not taste fresh made. But even if it was fresh, the taste was just really weird due to the recipe itself. (You have to try the tiramisu from Dave's market!) I also ordered a crème filled pastry and they gave me the wrong product. I did not realize till I sat down to eat and finished my rice and meat dish then opened the pastry box. At that point I did not feel like getting up, telling the server and getting the right product. So I decided to just eat it. The pastry part seemed just completely STALE and the rest of it was terrible. I only ate the whipped cream from the top which was not even that good. I did attempt a second try there a couple days later. This time got meat pies and two other different pastries (this time getting the cream pastry I wanted the first time as well as a turnover). Once again, the pastries looked AMAZING, but seriously lacked in taste and also the dough did not seem fresh made. I just do not get it. They have such an assortment and everything looked SOOO beautiful and perfect. Maybe it's a good thing the flavor was lacking as I might make it a regular stop and be eating too much pastry. I will not rule out visiting again for some meat pies and of course will most likely give it a go for some more pastry. I'd say sure, go ahead and visit as it is a nice experience and they have many specialty items as well as lots of fresh bread and bread products. Never know you may find what you like. I'm curious if they will have pumpkin pies. Will be checking for that around thanksgiving. Oh I had a cup of coffee too and thankfully it was good. read more

Custard cups are the best around, and the date nut squares ( when I get there early enough ) are outstanding. Sweet bread, cant beat it. Great prices read more

Great food but need to staff better on holidays.. waiting 1 1/2 already and only half way to counter to pick up a pre ordered order. This has been the norm, would think the owners would have a better system or have more help on! read more

Actually the food is good, but the service stinks, slow, can't speak english, I see so many people trying to get things correct with the unwilling staff. I shall never return. read more

The very best ,freshest and reasonable prices on everything their rolls are the best in town. and we've never gotten a bad pastry, their taramasu when available is great and the mini meat pies monday,Thursday and Saturday can't be beat 5 STARS read more