More than ten years ago I said:…read more Hopefully, I'll get another chance to come here and try more of their offerings. I can see a fifth star in their future. Well, I returned to Utica and came back to Florentine Pastry Shop as promised. But you know what? All I had eyes for were their Pasticciotti. So I ordered two "pusties". One vanilla and one chocolate. They are magnificent. Simple and humble to be sure. But crisp and tender pastry stuffed with plenty of creamy, custardy, true-to-flavor filling. I can't stop thinking about them. And there is absolutely no reason to deprive a bakery of a full five stars based solely on their specialty item and noting else. The pusties are so good, I'm going to ignore the fact that I saw a full sheet of pre-filled cannoli in the case. Florentine Pastry Shop is a regional gem and a historical treasure. It's well worth the detour from the highway should you find yourself driving past Utica.

Awesome traditional Italian baked goods. Love everything they make. A great and trusted part of…read morethis area for many years.

Caruso's is the place to go for authentic Italian pastries. Their selection is huge. Picked up…read moresome cucidati - a fig filled Italian pastry and some almond paste cookies. Service is super nice and very helpful - even when you can't pronounce what you're looking for! Good prices, great selection and helpful friendly service. What's not to like!

Very good Neapolitans. They said they do different cookies each day, so the variety of Italian…read morecookies may change day to day. If you order ahead, they will make a specific type you'd like to get.

Had to stop for the famous half moon cookies and they were yummy and fresh great prices too! Staff…read morewere friendly and loads of parking available. They also have a ton of other products including sandwiches, delicious cheese, lots of baked goods and drinks too! We really enjoyed the visit and our little time in Utica.

Utica Bread purchased Hemstrought's Bakeries. This location sells items from a cheese company…read morealong with Hemstrought cookies and half moons along with Utica Bread and Pastries. Love this location as it is larger and is the main bakery and they tend to have more of a selection. However, I got there early this morning and was shocked to see lot crowded with lots of out of state cars. Realized it was the Boilermaker weekend which brings in a large number of people. Can't complain as I got the loaf of bread I came in for. Love their italian bread.

We lived in this area and visited Holland Farms frequently. We moved downstate five years ago and…read moreit wasn't until we visited again yesterday that I truly appreciated what an absolute gem Holland Farms is. There's absolutely no place like it. Everything is so fresh and beautifully displayed. The employees are beyond friendly. The halfmoons are the epitome of deliciousness. Amazing tomato pie! The list goes on and on. Do yourself a favor and try a jelly bun! I promise you won't be disappointed. I may only get here once a year now, but it's definitely worth the 3.5 hour drive!

When you place a special order on half moon asking for buttercream frosting as the buttercream the…read morecakes are decorated in and open the box up at the funeral and they are all the sticky sweet frosting you get at the counter- what a REAL DISAPPOINTMENT I MUST SAY- You had 1-JOB #YouFAILED !

Very good prices here and excellent customer service. Tomato pie is great. There are 2 locations.read more

I went in to get my 91 year-old grandmother a doughnut and I love their donuts so I decided to grab…read moresix. The lady decided to put them in bags. I asked her can you please put them in a box she had such an attitude over a single box I told her to cancel my order very very rude so so rude in front of many customers, I will not be returning and a lot of my family won't either I've never been treated so rude in my life horrible customer service.

Our last trip to Utica brought us to Napoli's Bakery hoping to get yet another Tomato Pie slice (or…read moretwo). Our timing hasn't been great since I seem to get there and the last slice has just gone out the door. No problem. I'm game for a sub. Tried to order a small sub to be told there is just one size. ok. no problem. Ordered the large Italian sub. The sub is now my most favorite sub. The sub was on the freshest roll with freshly cut deli meats. The way the counter is you can't watch the staff make your sub so it's a surprise when you open it. I opted for the usual toppings of lettuce, tomato and onion. Asked for the oil and vinegar and the nice lady taking my order suggested mayo as well.....sure, let's give it a try. My first bite was hard to eat since it is so big was hard to shove into my mouth. Only ate the first half for lunch. My five stars comes from eating the second half. Usually after a few hours the bun gets so soggy that it's just not pleasant. No problem here. Thinking that the mayo/oil combo would make the bun mushy I was anticipating the worst. Again, there was no problem. The bun survived, the meats were still delicious just as wonderful a bite as the first half. Only problem I have is that it's out in Utica. Also purchased two containers of the Chicken Riggie's and two containers of the Utica Greens from the freezer. We have gotten to eat both since coming home. I am a big fan of the Chicken Riggie's. While I was told that the peppers are to be spicy, it appears to have used pepperoncini peppers. Left a bit of a tang to the sauce that becomes very addictive. I've tried other Utica Greens and there are usually more greens. That was disappointing. Go for the subs and the chicken riggie's.

I've been going to get tomato pie since I was a child with my Mom. For their own good their famous…read moretomato pie has been going downhill. I expressed it to the manager and he says it's that time of the year that the tomato pie rises too fast and that's why he takes this time for vacation. However his family before him ran the place and it never rose like that and they ran it that time of the year for many more days. I explained that the crust was way too thick and was dried up. With his excuse of it being too humid is just that an excuse. My third time in three weeks now has been this way . No I'm sorry or please try us again . Zero people skills. Looks like Napoli will be losing business and he could care less . Better be careful or your three day work week it will be no more....

I recently reached out to them via Messenger, because I was in a situation where I could not find…read moreanyone to make a small cake for my son's graduation. I was also looking for specifically a vanilla whipped type of frosting. I had tried a few places, and no one could help me. Not only were they extremely helpful and accommodating, they made exactly the cake that we were hoping for! They literally saved the day. It was one of the best cakes we've ever had. The frosting was so light and fluffy. I will definitely order from them again in the future.!!!

WOW! We had a birthday party for my son and I got an orange cake with the less sweet frosting and…read moreit was good to the point where people were asking to take a piece home with them. There was orange zest in the cake and it was absolutely perfect. They did a beautiful design and I was super happy. The pricing was good and I cannot recommend enough. Give them notice for a custom cake. Awesome service, good price, and incredible cake!!!

Your old school, no frills, looking bakery with tons of wooden shelves with glass display to look…read moreat the delicious baked goods. Smells so good in there that I was breathing deeply with every breath hahaha. We got the focaccia bread and snagged that last cinnamon bun. I'm super picky about my cinnamon buns because I feel like most places drench it with that sticky white frost to balance out the dried out bread. This was hands down the best cinnamon bun I've ever had. It was moist, a nice punch of cinnamon hugged the sides of the swirl, and it was perfectly sticky. It was so substantial that I had leftovers for the next day and it was such a treat.

So happy they expanded their days open. It was hard getting there and with limited hours I would…read morealways seem to miss them. Wish they would stay open past 2pm one a week but am happy they have moved from a five day week. Shop is so cute and like some of their others stores had a number of artisanal items. Left with a loaf of italian bread and a bagel. The bagel was awesome complete with french butter I had at home. I was so happy I final got the chance to try a bagel. Usually just leave with a loaf of bread. Highly recommend. Great place to buy items for a gourmet food basket

Came here with a small group on Labor Day, right after Kevin Bacon had visited so it was quite…read morebusy. We were able to find a nice table inside right away as there is plenty of seating. There was some nice tables outside too but it was a bit cold. The staff was seriously killing it for how busy it was and doing it with a smile. I started with a absolutely delicious iced apple butter latte. For my meal I was looking for a combo of sweet and savory not realizing how generously large the portions were for the price (which is amazing). Needless to say I took quite a bit home. I had the breakfast pizza with added vegetables and the "Made in Utica Crepe" which came with a whole freaking cannoli on top.... it was one of the favorite breakfasts I have ever had anywhere. My friends thoroughly enjoyed their meals and different coffees at well. If you are not looking to dine in you can order simple pastries from the vast case or coffees to go. I took home some cream puffs for my family which were delicious and large. Cant wait to come back here again and again when I am in town!

Initially discovered Knead to Eat Bakery & Cafe, located at 53 Franklin St in Utica, while ordering…read moreon DoorDash, and later visited in person because of the great food. The café is located right next to Nancy Ford Photography. It can be a bit difficult to spot due to limited visibility, but parking itself is not an issue. There are shared slanted parking spots in front with neighboring businesses, as well as additional parking available behind the restaurant, which is convenient once you know it is there. The interior is hip, bright, and welcoming. Seating is somewhat limited, but despite that, we were always able to find a place to sit without having to wait. The space feels modern and casual, suitable for a relaxed breakfast or brunch. The food was good overall and service was fast. We ordered the Pancake Board, Spin Art, and a veggie omelette. The Spin Art was my favorite. It was soft, flavorful, and melted in the mouth. The Pancake Board was extremely well executed and fun to share, and the veggie omelette was solid. Coffee, however, was not their strongest item. One nice touch is that water is free and self-serve, which is always appreciated. It can get crowded inside on Saturdays, and since there is no outdoor seating, the moderate ambient noise from other customers makes it less ideal for long conversations or quiet chats. Doug, the owner, was friendly and genuinely eager to help when I had an issue using my $5 off "cupcake points." Although he was not able to resolve it immediately, he did eventually figure it out, so I will be using the coupon on my next visit. Overall, this is a solid local spot with good food, efficient service, and a welcoming vibe. Recommended, especially if you plan ahead for peak weekend hours. Keep up the good work, Knead to Eat Bakery & Cafe.

This cafe and bakery is wonderful! The pastries we had (and brought home) were delicious!! The…read morepistachio baklava is easily the best baklava I've ever had. The atmosphere is cute and fun. It's ever so slightly reminiscent of the iconic Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, CA. The staff are very friendly. Grab someone or go alone - just make sure you go there. It's a Utica gem for sure.

They have a bunch of new offerings on their food menu. The Reuben was delicious. The churro waffles…read morewere also delicious!!