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    Semifreddi's Bakery

    4.3 (149 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 3:00 pm

    Semifreddi's Bakery Photos

    SEMIFREDDI'S BAKERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Semifreddi's Bakery

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    Hot Chocolate with lots and lots of whipped cream and powdered chocolate.
    Chiara A.

    Remember when buying whole loaves, remember to ask them to have them slice it for you before leaving the store. Unfortunately, I forgot when I bought two bloody loaves of bread. I went back a couple of hours later to see if they could slice it for me. The attendant had to check with management on the phone. Unfortunately, they could not honor the request since I was bringing back product. I had bought same day. And once it leaves the store, that's it. Needless to say, I'm pretty angry about it. It'll be a long bloody while before I step foot into this place again.

    Sold at Costco now!

    This review is for the tour and I hope to make it to this location soon!! I had the absolute pleasure of going on a tour at Semifreddies, and it was such a special experience! From start to finish, the team made me feel so welcome and gave me a true behind-the-scenes look at what makes this bakery so beloved. Huge kudos to Cary, Sean, and Mike--they were warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about sharing their craft. It was also such an honor to meet TJ, the head baker, who was on his way out after many years of dedication. Hearing about his journey and seeing the heart he poured into the bakery was inspiring. The bread here is everything you could want--local, artisan, fresh, and baked with love. You can really taste the care and tradition behind every loaf. What impressed me just as much as the bread was the people: everyone I met was kind-hearted, down-to-earth, and clearly proud of what they do. Semifreddies isn't just a bakery--it's a community gem. If you haven't tried their bread yet, you're missing out on something truly special.

    Chai Latte (Soy Milk)
    Kyra K.

    Semifreddis will always hold a nostalgic place in my heart. Back in high school, my best friend and I would walk here during lunch period to get a chai latte and a pastry. It was a tradition for us but since graduating I haven't made an effort to come back. Semifreddi's Bakery has been around the Bay Area for decades. This is their original location where it's homey, locally operated, with a neighborhood vibe to it. But their production line is huge, with a factory in Alameda, and high-quality bread found all throughout the area. They freshly bake and sell various baked goods--from their well-known sourdough, buttery pastries, and different breads. Plus flavorful drinks to pair such as coffees and teas. The bakery is small with lines out the door. It's more of a grab-and-go but a few benches around the area. I'm a huge fan of Semifreddi's baguettes often eating them as a snack as a child. In high school my go-to was their chai lattes and various pastries. I've tried their croissant, chocolate croissant, almond croissant, and morning bun (almond is my favorite)! Their pastries are flaky, chewy, and buttery. Today, I had to get my hands on their Iced Chai Latte with Soy Milk. Their iced drinks come in one size and are affordable. The taste of chai wasn't too strong, the drink was milky, and it was lightly spiced. Are their drinks and pastries the best I've had? No. But, it's good for what it's worth if you're in the area. I say go for their bread, versus the former. If you're in the Albany, Kensington, or El Cerrito area and want to get your hands on baked goods check out Semifreddi's! You can find their breads in grocery stores but if you want drinks or pastries then check out their small bakery. The items are affordable, the service is efficient, and it's always good to support locals. Parking is free throughout the neighborhood. This place will always be special to me.

    chicken sandwich
    Mito I.

    Quick Summary: - Favorite bakeries in the Bay Area - They also sell their breads and pastries at some of the grocery stores - Crispy but gentle on teeth kind of crust, even gentler when it's toasted - Serves coffee and sandwiches - Coffee is not sour - No seats inside; a table and chair outside I first saw this bakery name a couple of years ago in a restaurant called Gergorie in Berkeley. I recall waiting for my order and in the kitchen I see bags of bread loafs with the Semifreddi logo. It was a great discovery and since then I became a fan of this bakery. Over the years I bought Semifreddi bread from grocery stores that also sell local ingredients. Although I had thoughts of going to the main bakery store, the chance was hard to align. Finally, when brainstorming with the family on where to eat, this was listed, so off we went. The bakery is situated in a small neighborhood of little shops. Walking there, it felt like a great streets to do a morning stroll down this lane and pick up a loaf or two on the way home. The bakery is cozy small, inside up to 3 guests could stand around, but there is a risk of blocking the view of the bakery shelves. On the busier hour, the line was out of the door. Along with their breads, there were also some pastries and a sandwich menu. For today, we ordered a cafe au lait and a chicken sandwich. Once I ordered the coffee, the staff gestured over to the coffee station, where there were two types of coffee: French roast or decaf. For cafe au lait, we can choose whichever size we wanted, and after filling up to a favorite amount, we took the cup back to the staff to fill it up with the warm frothy milk. Happily, the coffee was piping hot and it wasn't sour. After a few minutes, the sandwich was ready and we ate it outside at one of the provided tables and chairs. The sandwich was cut in half, so it was easy to share with the family. Just as I imagined with the Semifreddi bread, when it's toasted the crust becomes lighter but very crispy. It is very easy to bite into it. It also kept the fillings inside in place and no liquid sauce leaked out either. The texture and how well the bread holds the sandwich together is a great slice of bread. I got the sandwich with the chicken and basil paste, and that was really good! I ate half of the sandwich, so for breakfast it is light (for me), so I also ate their breakfast buns. This was a nice flaky and fluffy bun, another one of my favorite pastries to eat.

    Grilled chicken sandwich
    Chris W.

    Got the toasted grilled chicken sandwich - it was fine, about a 5-10 min wait, liked the use of the panini press to warm up the bread but the chicken pieces were dry and could use more flavor. My friend likes the coffee here.

    We ate in our car on this chilly morning!
    Donni U.

    Great experience with super nice Staff!! They happily served us up and even offered me hot water to add to my cup of their excellent cup of French Roast. Of course the neighborhood feel, the puppy in the line and the lovely fellow customers added to our very positive experience! So great to frequent small local venues!!

    So good!!!
    Shayla B.

    The cookies damnit, the COOKIES!!! Do yourself a favor and get them NOW! LAWD Geezus Christ. These cookies are so friggin' delicious! I know that this bakery is known for their bread but... I haven't yet tried their bread. To be honest, I'm lightweight afraid too. Because if their bread tastes as good as their cookies, we about to be havin' some problems up in here! Shayla needs no more addictions. NO MORE. None. Zip. Zilch. Okay fine, I'll keep the cookie addiction... but everything else must go. Oatmeal raisin for the win. I swear it was melting in my mouth like chocolate. Softer than a baby's bottom. Buttery and sweet. One bite made my eyes roll to the back of my head. It was at that point that I knew... I would never be able to resist cookies from Semifreddi's. NEVA eva eva! Don't even get me started on their chocolate chip. Man. These folks are trying to cause ya girl to have a heart attack. All I can say is that these bad boys were fresher than fresh, and absolutely sensational. The softest most delectable cookies! Apparently they have a location in Alameda too, but I'm not even sure where it is. In any event, I would have NO problems coming to this shop in Kensington for more of these addictive cookies! At some point, I DO plan on actually trying some other things here too but um.... yeah. For now, I'll be sticking to those cookies. Puh-lease and thank you! (Wink wink).

    Montage of images from Semifreddi's Bakery
    Ed U.

    ** The following review reflects my takeout experience DURING the shelter-in-place order currently in effect. ** Everybody knows Semifreddi's breads. Their artisan loaves are in lots of the more upscale corner markets and grocery stores as well as the better sandwich shops throughout the Bay Area. Even though their main bakery and wholesale operation are in Alameda, their one retail shop is right off Colusa Circle in Kensington. It took a pandemic for Jamie W. and me to finally try it because we're both carb averse, except when possible viral mortality is involved. In that case, we made an exception and went up to the front door where they set up an order window to minimize human contact. We shared a $2.45 Butter Croissant to go (photo: https://bit.ly/3cIna8a). We actually just walked a few yards to a tiny plaza where an empty bench was awaiting. We split a large, flaky croissant and devoured it in short order. We'll try to be good and not become regulars, but those Blueberry Cream Cheese Danishes, Apple Turnovers, and Cinnamon Morning Buns looked awfully enticing. We may be in trouble. BAKED GOODS - 4 stars...a buttery, flaky croissant even if it wasn't fresh out of the oven AMBIANCE - n/a...shelter-in-place is a bummer SERVICE - 4 stars...fast and unobtrusive TOTAL - 4 stars...Semifreddi doesn't mean semi-good RELATED - Looking for eats in this part of the East Bay? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18

    Exterior of Semifreddi's Bakery in Kensington.

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    6 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Nice place love their sandwiches & pastries but the staff members are very unfriendly and makes me feel like they don't want to be there :/

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    3 months ago

    This is my go to for coffee, it's great every time and the baristas are so nice and helpful!

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    8 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Friendly environment with the best sour dough bread! We travel 45 miles to pick up our bread.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Always enjoyable and affordable pastries. Love the Danish and morning bun. Be sure to get a package of biscotti for later.

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The challah and biscotti. Were better than I even remembered. That's saying a lot. Nice staff.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great people, solid choices on items (limited as they are a small show) and reasonable prices.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Love the morning buns, and the best tasting sweet baguette. I highly recommend this bakery.

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    2 years ago

    Pretty decent espresso. Baked goods are ok, but not as good as Acme. Staff can be hit and miss--sometimes friendly sometimes useless.

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    3 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Mike And Cary M.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Delicious sandwiches, but make sure to come early enough for the hot version. Don't forget the bread for later

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