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 !

Alyssa made a birthday cake for my granddaughter who was 6 on Thanksgiving. We needed a vegan cake…read more the cake we got was awesome! It was decorated with mermaid scales and I added figures to the top. It tasted wonderful! Best of all is my granddaughter was thrilled to get a big, fancy cake for her birthday. I'm grateful that I found Wicked Sweets by Alyssa and I plan on ordering another vegan cake for my other granddaughter in December. Alyssa was very cheerful and helpful. I highly recommend Wicked Sweets

Awesome awesome macaroons! Our favorites were the berry, pumpkin, and strawberry..but let's be real…read morethey all are good...and they were gone in minutes!

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.

I placed an online order on March 23 for a special event and was charged immediately. Over the…read morefollowing weeks, I contacted the bakery multiple times and was repeatedly told the order had been made and shipped. Despite those assurances, I never received any shipping confirmation or tracking information--and the order never arrived. Because of this, we had to scramble at the last minute to replace the items for our event, which was both stressful and avoidable. The most concerning part of this experience was not just the failure to deliver, but the repeated claims that the order had shipped when it clearly had not, combined with a lack of ownership throughout the process. Multiple messages and calls went unanswered or unresolved, and no one proactively followed up. I also reached out directly to ownership and received no response. After nearly a month, a refund was finally issued--but only after continued persistence on my end. Polite interactions aside, the overall experience showed a serious breakdown in communication, accountability, and basic customer service. I would strongly encourage others to proceed with caution.

Superb, Authentic Flavors & Aromas Await The True Italy…read moreLovers at The Florentine Pastry Shop in Utica, New York. You will not find this quality anywhere outside Italy, including All over NYC which simply cannot match the authenticity & flavor of their SUPERB Rum Cake, Paticceria "Pusties" & The Utterly Exquisite Italian Almond Paste Cookies That Were A Favorite Of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Thestaff are professional, Pleasant & Courteous. Some have training at prestigious the C.I.A., Culinary Institute of America.

I drove all the way from Albany to Utica to get my boyfriend a rum cake for his birthday. They are…read morehis favorite. When I called to order this the young lady was extremely helpful and informative. So the ordering was very easy. However, I was shocked they didn't take a deposit over the phone. When I arrived I was shocked this was the Florentines everyone spoke so highly about. It's a very old small bakery in the heart of Utica. Walking in there were little to no pastries. I wanted to buy some but then again I am glad that I didn't have to indulge in too many sweets. The end result - the cake was worth the drive. It was amazing! Extremely moist and tons of flavor. The kiddos did not like it bc it wasn't sweet enough for them but perfect for us adults.

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

Based on its popularity, I was eager to try Utica Bread. One day I stopped in at around 1PM, and…read morethere were hardly any pastries left. Having learned my lesson, I arrived before 10AM on a second visit and was able to score an almond croissant. At $4.25, it was definitely on the higher end. I was disappointed to find that the almond croissant didn't have very much almond paste, and worse, it was not very laminated. Overall the dough texture was completely off as it was too soft and flaccid. Without sufficient frangipane and a somewhat tasteless dough, this was a bit of a chore to finish. The composition was just puzzling. I would not buy this particular pastry item again from Utica Bread. Almond croissant ($4.25)

Still one of my favorite places for a perfectly sized treat. Wish traffic at the shopping center…read morewas better but don't really mind when a sugary treat is involved. Staff are always friendly and helpful. Shop always has some of the cutest decor or items to pick up with your treat. Cake is the right size and I love the fact that it is not swimming in frosting. This is on my self care list where I go for a pick me up. Highly Recommend !!!!

The cakes are out of this world. Delicious. The service is always friendly…read more They have many different flavors and it is very relaxed. You can ask question. They are super accommodating

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!!!

Under the radar local cash only bakery that makes the freshest pastries you can imagine…read more Hypes : - cakes and cupcakes - soft , solid flavor, soft , and a great buttercream - danishes - the raspberry and cherry and popular and sell out by 10am, the nut ones are also delicious - almond or walnut - Their black and white cookie is probably the best in the area -soft with a delicious frosting on top - They're glazed donut is also one of my favorites in the area - Their snowflake rolls are extremely popular for dinners and Thanksgiving - they have great seasonal pies and goodies! Gripes: - i wish the interior was a little nicer so you can sit nicely and enjoy your coffee and pastry there - if they accepted cards it would save me a lot of trips to the atm!

This is the second time I've visited, and I've never had trouble finding a seat…read more I got the Cafe Latte with Hazelnut, and it came quickly. Both I and my partner got paninis, which took about 15 minutes, which felt like a bit too long for a counter service place, though I understand that paninis take time. The BLT panini was a bit greasy, but overall the flavor was good. The Chick-fil-a panini was not as greasy, but overall underwhelming. It was served in a classic American basket with chips, which felt out of place for a Cafe inspired by Italy. They primarily serve pastries, but I have never tried any of them. The coffee was very good... on Google this is the first place that pops up if you search for affogato in the area but they do NOT serve affogato, which I knew coming in due to having been here before, but just putting this in here in case anyone else is looking for an affogato spot! The Cafe is located in a shopping center with plenty of parking... doesn't feel very pedestrian friendly but there is a beautiful terrace for customers which adds to the European vibe.

Good place to study as the tables have outlets in them. Quiet in the morning but busier in the…read moreafternoon. Spacious. My Thanksgiving sandwich was pretty good; the cranberry was the perfect touch. Bathrooms are clean. They have tons of pastries including peach cookies and tiramisu!