"I walked in, the baker said everything was sold I found out…read moreshe saved me some sweet jelly roll Yes, the baker shop boogie" (Willie Nix) Since we're friends, let me ask you a personal question--so tell me this: what's your official dessert policy? Are you a "dessert is a human right" kind of person who enjoys something sweet every night after dinner? Do you ceremoniously pair your evening coffee with a treat like it's a sacred ritual? Or are you more of a free range snacker who grazes on cookies and pastries whenever the mood strikes? At our place, we've somehow drifted into the habit of having a bakery item most nights. Could be a cookie. Could be a pastry. Could be a slice of something. All this brings me to yesterday's visit to the Hartford Baking Company in South Windsor, where we are now pretty well stocked for a week's worth of upcoming desserts, and maybe a breakfast or two. They have four locations in the Greater Hartford area, all selling the same amazing product line of bread, ciabatta, and rolls. But for the sweet tooth fiends out there, well get psyched for their scones, muffins, Walnut Coffee Cake, Financiers (a French almond cookie), brownies and bars, cookies, biscotti, shortbreads, Danish, Cinnamon buns, Pecan-Walnut Sticky Buns, Brioche Pastries, fruit tarts, and quiches. We were running errands in South Windsor yesterday, popped into Hartford Baking, and walked out with a bounty of wonderful looking goodies- brownies, a croissant, a chocolate banana muffin, a rectangular Financier, and a slice of coffee cake. We should be set for a while in the dessert department. I had the Financier last night, and never having heard of the word before, I consulted the old Google machine for some research and found a very cool origin-story. In the late 1800's there was a pastry shop located near the Paris Stock Exchange. The shop sold very popular small almond cakes that were baked in small rectangular molds resembling gold bars. They were a hit with the busy bankers who frequented his shop. The name "financier" stuck because of both the clientele and the gold bar shape. I have to tell ya, that Financier was amazing. It was dense and delicious and overflowing with almond flavor. I loved it. I also had a teense of the Banana Muffin this morning, and it was excellent as well. Loved that banana flavor and those chocolate chips. OK, so file away "Hartford Bakery" on your short list of "must visit" dessert destinations, because I assure you that you'll walk out a satisfied customer.

Quick service, good quality food and coffee…read more Was trying to go to a new place that just opened up. They were not open, so came here for my breakfast. Inside is nice and spacious. Staff was nice but were in the midst of conversation when I approached the register. They quickly took my order then went directly back into conversation. Felt like fast food service, more a number than a guest. Food came out quick. Had to stage my pics a bit but easy enough. The double chocolate latte was chocolaty and creamy. Coffee was strong enough to punch through the sweet and was well balanced as a drink. The sandwich was plentiful on the pulled pork and the egg was cooked well. Bun was soft and buttery but not pillowy. Which is good because you want a breakfast sandwich to be structural enough to hold its shape after each bite. Price was about 20 for the sandwich and latte, which isn't too bad for the quality you get. Much better than your fast food chains, even if you get the same service. A great quick stop location, worth a try but not a trek.

My friend and I stopped by The Great Harvest Bread Company for a quick lunch. I had no idea this…read morewas a national chain, I have never heard of them before. This particular location is in a small shopping plaza in Vernon. The inside looks like an independent bakery. They have a huge assortment of breads, they can make sandwiches upon request or from the menu. Additionally they also make salads, cookies and coffee. I'll have to note, the two teenage girls working here weren't friendly, welcoming or capable of smiling, maybe they are new, but something needs to change. I got the Turkey Goddess sandwich on Wheat Seeded Bread. I also got an iced coffee. They serve Peet's coffee. This combo was only $13. This bread was very fresh, flavorful and covered in seeds. It was filled with tomato, onion, lettuce, Havarti cheese, avocado spread and turkey. It also came with a pickle, but it was way too salty for me. This sandwich was very filling, fresh and tasty. My friend got a similar one and she also enjoyed it.

We got the cranberry orange bread. Came home and made French toast with homemade cranberry orange…read morehoney butter. Delicious!!

I love this spot. Highly recommend, skip that lame Dunkies breakfast sandwich and support a small…read morebusiness like this instead!!

Great spot with great staff. My favorite is their Cuban sandwich. Definitely check this place out…read moreif you're looking for a great, authentic Puerto Rican bakery.

I can't begin to share how much I love this place! Kate is the best, I love the ambiance and it is…read morejust such a cozy and safe space. The food is INCREDIBLE and I'm not someone who typically eats gf.. and I will choose this every time. Don't get me started on the coffee!!!

Wow! I can't believe this place has been here this whole time! My friend and I were looking for a…read morespot that had good coffee and gluten-free options, and this was such a nice surprise. I was recently diagnosed with celiac, so when I realized everything was gluten free, I was honestly overwhelmed with excitement. I wanted to try everything. Since it was after 11, I decided on a chicken quesadilla--and wow. It was crispy, cheesy, and everything I've been missing about quesadillas. The coffee was delicious too. We split a peanut butter sandwich cookie, which was absolutely incredible. I also took a blueberry muffin to go because I knew I'd want it the next day--and I was blown away all over again when I enjoyed it with my coffee at home. This is definitely going to be a regular stop for me!

Peaceful little shop located on Pratt St. After my walk through Bushnell Park today I ventured over…read moreto Bloom for a bite and an iced coffee. Fresh floral arrangements, specialty niche gifts and goodies available for purchase and a quiet quaint refreshing atmosphere.

Yummy baked goods. Tried the espresso lemonade. Very interesting. Tart coffee. It's coffee no…read morelemonade. Richer than you would think. Begs to be tried.

Love the atmosphere, pastries and mission of this spot: "inclusive coffee café employing people…read morewith and without intellectual and developmental disabilities and demonstrates the possibilities in all of us." Their mission is imbued in their staff, products, how they set up their space, and how you order. We came here for breakfast on a weekday and had a lovely experience. They have breakfast and lunch cafe menus (+catering), yummy pastries (cookies, muffins and scones) and various coffees and drinks. We enjoyed the omelette (if you order more than 3 ingredients there's a charge) and the village breakfast which was eggs, potatoes (slightly blackened), sourdough toast (or wheat) and bacon. Prices are fairly standard ($11-14) and portions not very large. The panetonne, toasted coconut, and chocolate chip scones ($5 each) were all good and baked well. The honey latte and hot chocolate (most drinks are $4-8) were also very creamy and delicious, though slightly too sweet for our tastes (made it taste good though!) You order at the counter and then take a table and place a marker with nice words like "love" and then your food is brought to you. The actual space is very inviting, with lots of nooks and crannies (tables with chairs, couches, a fireplace). They also sell t-shirts ($30) and sweatshirts ($40-50?) which are pretty soft material, as well as ground coffee, cards, granola, etc. The other half of their space is their homemade pasta place so it's a unique layout and looked fun as well. There were plenty of customers cycling in and out, many sitting down with a warm drink and a pastry. Parking isn't huge but was not super super small but could be an issue if they got an influx of folks hanging out. Wouldn't blame them though because it's a comfortable place with free wifi. Looking forward to returning! Shopping like Whole Foods, walmart, and Shop Rite are all within a few miles.

Beanz Cafe is a Gold Medal winner, but in their new location Teamed with Pasta Co. this is a Double…read moreGold! A fantastic business concept that makes way for hardworking individuals opening new opportunities and pride in one's Self. The service is spectacular and the servers smile earns an even greater smile in return. On one half of the open and airy space is Beanz and on the other side Pasta Co. Each works in unison. Seating is abundant with open and tucked away spots. Some limited outside seats as well. We have purchased breakfast items and devilishly delicious snacks and beverages. Over at Pasta are fresh dishes for a relaxing bite. There are also take home coolers and freezers for enjoying at home.

Yea, I absolutely hated this place. Sorry, I was supposed to start with the positive. The ONLY…read morepositive was that the food was good! Bagel was a little dry, and paying $1.50 for cream cheese and only getting it on one side of the bagel, whack! Anyway, I tried Stevie's for the first time today and I was very optimistic. As soon as I walked in, I noticed three employees backstage (yes, backstage while I was waiting on someone to come centerstage and actually work, they were just prepping), not one of them was at the cash register, ready to take my order, and no one even greeted me as I stood there for almost a minute. Now granted, one girl was clearly making an order, there was a guy on the phone, so there was only one possible employee that could have been at the register.. instead she was walking back and forth behind the bagels doing nothing. I watched her scratch her head and pat her scarf like she had just rolled out of bed! She intentionally avoided even looking toward the register, and seeing as how there's a bell on the door, I'm sure she knew I was there! Anyway, she finally, but slowly saunters toward the front, but stops at the girl making a sandwich to ask, "is she waiting for something?" I'M WAITING FOR YOU, GIRL!!!! WTF!!! I started to leave right then, especially after she looked dead at me, before asking the other girl was I waiting for something! She walks up "are you ready to order?" I started to leave again, because who greets a customer like that?! I said, "HI. GOOD MORNING." She stared at me like "I already greeted you when I asked if you were ready to order." At this point, her sour demeanor and nasty unprofessionalism have taken my mood from pleasant to irritated. As I stared at the menu with no prices. I asked what types of cream cheese they had. The other girl from backstage happened to be walking by the cash register and she points to a print out. With all the thousands of overhead, up top, beneath, and side menus, text, words, fonts, and colors everywhere I had missed it. The girl standing there like I interrupted her nap, says "Yea it's right there, I didn't realize you couldn't see it." SMART ASS!!! I said, I'll get the garlic & herb on a spinach bagel. She rings it up. It says sun-dried tomato cream cheese on the small screen, I ask her if that's a mistake or if it rings up that way? (I am allergic to tomato, so I MUST ASK.) She says nothing, but instead prints out the ticket, where she shows me her note at the bottom, "sub garlic & herb" she then says "I heard what you said, you're right here, I just had to ring it up that way because there's no button for garlic&herb." I tell her that it didn't show her note on the payment screen, so I just wanted to make sure. Her attitude is literally making me sick!!! It's so unneccsarily sarcastic and nasty for no reason!! If I wasn't hungry and on a time crunch, I would've found another, cleaner, more pleasant and professional place to get a bagel. I spent over $10 on a meat-less bagel with less than a spoonful of cream cheese. smh. If I owned this place, I would do a complete renovation, deep clean, and fire the entire team and rehire people that will at least have some sense of customer service, professionalism, and sanitary food handling skills. I won't be back, which is a shame, because that was a damn good bagel.

First time visiting Steve's Bagels and I had a great experience…read more One thing to note: the in-store menu doesn't list prices, but everything was very reasonable. You can also check their menu online. I ordered the NY Classic and a homemade banana nut muffin; both tasted fresh and delicious. I also tried two frozen smoothies, passion fruit and mango piña colada, and they were very tasty. For pickle lovers, they currently have a Steve's Long Island pickle sandwich on the menu, which looked like a fun and unique option. They have a self-service coffee station and a full staff working the floor. Since it was my first time, the staff was very helpful and gave suggestions on things to try. Even though it was busy; with a mixed crowd dining in and phone orders constantly coming in; the line moved quickly and I didn't wait long at all. They even brought the food to where I was sitting. You can see straight into the kitchen, which looked very clean and organized. I also noticed they're active on social media, which is nice to see from a local business. Freshly made food, quick service, and great customer service. I'll definitely be back.

Been here quite a lot in the past, always had a great sandwich from this deli, the staff are very…read morefriendly and the place is clean!

I just went in for a simple roast beef sandwich. Tons of options for toppings and about 10 bread…read moreoptions. I went with the pumpernickel which was super soft and fantastic. They pile on the roast beef so you are not getting some skinny sandwich. If I lived in this area, I would be a regular and never go to other fast sandwich shops again. Super fast and friendly service and the restaurant is just a small basic deli but plenty of room for seating both indoors and out.