Patch Picks: 4 Great Bakeries In Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — It's hard to imagine a more heart-warming feeling than walking into a bakery and immediately being hit with the aroma of fresh-baked bread or homemade pastries.

Whether picking up an early morning treat, a sweet afternoon pick-me-up or something to snack on later in the evening, a quality bakery typically offers something that will satisfy a customer's craving for something tasty. (To sign up for Stamford breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

With this in mind, Patch reached out to four different bakeries in Stamford we consider to be top-notch, with a variety of delicious products to offer.

While these places are certainly high-quality and well-deserving of their place on this list, it should be noted this is not a definitive ranking of the best bakeries in town. If you think your favorite place got snubbed, please let us know by commenting and we may add it to the list or include them in a future updated list.

It also should be noted these are not ranked in order; they are simply a sampling of our current favorite bakeries in Stamford.

With that said, let the feast begin!

DiMare Pastry Shop

12 Largo Drive South

Website: www.dimarepastry.com

A classic family-run bakery in every sense of the word, DiMare Pastry Shop opened its original shop in the Riverside area of Greenwich in 1976. In 1997, the DiMare family opened a second location in Stamford.

According to co-owner Maria DiMare McGrath, some of the bakery's most popular items are their cannolis and cannoli nachos, as well as cakes for special occasion. Their most popular of those cake flavors are chocolate mousse and strawberry shortcake.

"[With] the cannolis, people love the richness of the cream and the crunch of the shell in one bite," McGrath said. "The cakes are moist and a delicious bite."

The bakery also offers a number of delicious gluten-free products that customers enjoy.

"I feel people like our bakery," McGrath said. "We have an awesome product. We treat our clients like family, our product is baked by our family for your family, and we are always introducing new flavors."

McGrath thanked the store's loyal customers, in both Stamford and Greenwich, on behalf of the DiMare family for all their support, especially during the past year.

"We appreciate everyone who has walked through our doors," McGrath said. "We could not be who we are with out all of you. We appreciate your patronage, as well as your kindness. We hope, as a family, we have put smiles on your faces and helped you make special memories."

COBS Bread

1057 High Ridge Road

Website: www.cobsbread.com

According to co-owner Rob Hyden, COBS Bread is a "bread-focused" business that offers an extensive menu filled with a variety of breads and other baked goods, but not some other traditional bakery items like bagels, muffins or cookies.

COBS is a franchise that was founded in Australia and has hundreds of locations across the globe. In 2015, Hyden helped open the chain's first U.S. location on High Ridge Road, where his team has been serving up delicious bread-based products ever since.

"COBS strives to have an extensive variety of fresh baked products made from scratch daily using the best and most natural ingredients possible," Hyden said. "An extensive range, including a number of products unique to COBS, mixes well with an intense focus on customer service from a knowledgable staff. We use no preservatives or sweeteners in any of our regular bread products, and our flour is GMO-free."

According to Hyden, the Stamford bakery's sourdough breads, including their plain and sunflower flax varieties, are some of the store's most popular items due to their "beautiful, fluffy crumb contrasting a delicious outer crisp crust." He also noted the lemon and blueberry scones are a popular grab-and-go item in Stamford.

"Our scone varieties are all moist," Hyden said, "and this product is deeply flavored by blueberries, white chocolate chips and lemon curd, topped by a tasty lemon icing."

He also recommended customers try the store's "amazing" Turkish breads and higher fiber white breads, the latter of which are great for sandwiches, as well as their "apricot delight log," a type of fruit bread.

"COBS Bread is an Australian concept, but our breads and treats bring product from all around the world," Hyden said. "Each location tailors its range and service offer to meet the tastes and needs of its local community. We are owned and operated by local community members who know their customers, local businesses and support local charitable organizations."

Beldotti Bakery

605 Newfield Avenue

Website: www.facebook.com/beldottibakery

A family-run operation, Beldotti Bakery is a "scratch bakery" that offers baked goods such as cakes, pies, mini pastries, fancy cookies, donuts and more, according to the store's Facebook page.

Lisa Beldotti, a bakery spokesperson, said customers love the experience of picking up food at Beldotti Bakery because everyone who enters the store is treated like family.

"We work very hard to put out a product that we are proud of, and I think that resonates and shows," Beldotti said. "The bakery has a wide variety of products from delicious cookies to beautifully decorated cakes and Italian pastries, plus our bread is just to die for."

According to Beldotti, the bakery's most popular item is most likely their Tuscan bread, formerly referred to as their "hard-crusted Italian" bread.

"Mike Beldotti has perfected an age old recipe that was given to him by an award-winning baker way back when," Lisa Beldotti said. "He has taken it in and made it his own. That crunchy crust and soft pillowy inside will appeal to anyone. It is perfect for everything from toasts to sandwiches, or just a plain old snack."

When it comes to other items on the menu, Beldotti said it is difficult to recommend just one other menu item as the bakery is always pumping out new and exciting products.

"For example, in April we will be making fresh donuts daily via our brand new fryer," Beldotti said. "Trust us, we have been taste-testing some specialty flavors and these are going to be something you'll want to try. But we always love hearing our customer's favorite items, which range from...Russenzopf, a Swiss cinnamon hazelnut bread, to our hot coffee and a croissant."

She also thanked the bakery's loyal customers for their continued support over the years, especially this past year.

"The amount of endless support we have received during this past difficult year is more than we could've ever hoped for," Beldotti said. "We will be forever grateful and amazed at how wonderful this community is...we appreciate every customer that walks through our door and chooses to shop small and shop family-owned. This family cares, and we are very thankful."

Nothing Bundt Cakes

838 High Ridge Road

Website: www.nothingbundtcakes.com

Nothing Bundt Cakes, a bakery specializing in moist cakes topped with signature cream cheese frosting, opened in Stamford over the summer and has already built up a loyal customer base.

The bakery is part of a franchise with hundreds of locations across the country, however the Stamford shop is the chain's first location in Connecticut.

According to Ann Folger, the owner of the Stamford location, customers love the store's high-quality cakes that are baked in-house daily, as well as the friendly service they receive.

"They also love that we can provide them with any of our products, such as bundtinis, bundtlets and 8-inch and 10-inch cakes within a 20 minute time period," Folger said. "Our customers can order online, call the bakery or simply walk in to place an order."

She also cited the "joy" their products bring to any celebration or occasion as another appealing quality.

Of the bakery's 10 cake flavors, the Stamford store's best-seller is currently the "chocolate chocolate chip," however Folger also recommends customers try the store's "feature flavor," which changes seasonally.

"We are offering a brand new salted caramel flavor until March 14," Folger said. "On March 15, we will begin selling our strawberries and cream flavored cakes, which are a nationwide fan favorite."

Folger also emphasized that Nothing Bundt Cakes can act as a one-stop shop for most special occasions, something customers appreciate.

"They can pick up a decorated cake for a special occasion," Folger said, "along with a serving package, balloons, candles, greeting cards or a gift item ranging from mugs to serving plates and platters. We like to create the perfect experience for every moment, big or small."