Hungry Ghost Bread
62 State St, Northampton, MA, 01060
Hungry Ghost Bread Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Northampton for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
62 State St
Northampton, MA, 01060 - Phone (413) 582-9009
- Website https://hungryghostbread.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :9:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Larry T.
Have been here countless times over the past few years. I've had the potato, kamut, country, rye, olive, and some other breads. All very good. Nice cripsy crust and with nice texture in the middle. I've also had the crackers and the savoury pies. very good. Anytime I'm in Northampton, I stop by to get some bread. You can't go wrong. I would love to try the pizza, but unfortuantely I ahven't been there after 5pm when they start the pizza. And if you are worried if bread will be there, you can call ahead and they'll hold one for you.
(5)Valentina D.
This is one of the best bakeries I've ever been to. It's as good as it gets. I don't eat bread (carbs, all that) too often but when I do, I like it to be GOOD. and every time I went to Hungry Ghost, I was blown away. Everything they made was delicious. Get... everything!
(5)Julie L.
Amazing! The potato thyme fougasse was the star of our order. However, all their bread was absolutely fantastic. This is what every bakery should strive for - beautiful hand-crafted bread.
(5)Kyle C.
Friendly service.... No. Great bread.... Yes. And if you leave without a delicious large cookie, you'll regret it.
(3)Jaclyn P.
If you're looking for a legit bakery that's doing great things with flour, water and yeast then a stop into Hungry Ghost is a must. They use flours local to Massachusetts and the spelt sourdough was a perfect hydration. The Molasses Chew and Oatmeal Raisin cookies were BIG, delicious and cheap! It's a bare bones. Cash only, a tiny little area for waiting in line and then you can move along outside to sit on the wall and eat your leavened goodness.
(5)Michael D.
Wow is all I can say. Some of the best bread in Massachusetts. Wood fired oven. Great staff Great selection. Get a schedule of the breads so you can come on the days they have your favorite loaf.
(5)Sophie G.
Very hipster, meh service but hella good food! Got vegan pizza and cookies and wow. I was blown away! Good prices too
(4)Elis L.
Goodness, I used to come here a lot back when I was at Smith. I always got their French loaf bread which was $5 for a huge loaf of bread. It lasted me two days. The bakery is good. But make sure you reserve yours if you think you can't make it in the morning or all of the bread will be gone by 3 pm. I've tried their pizza once and it was good. I just couldn't afford to add so much calories to my diet so I stopped consuming pizza but I wish I could have eaten more when I was at Smith. They also have really good buttermilk biscuits. I wasn't a big fan of their cookies though. Definitely one of the best bread bakeries I've been to! I'd stop by here everytime I was around Northampton.
(4)Kagura M.
They carry quite a lot of good quality bread selection here! So far I have been sticking to the "bâtard". Pretty funny that they chose that name for thAt bread as it means "bastard" in French, yeah the insult! :-) The workers are really nice people, and really helpful if you don't know what to choose from, or need more description in taste on some of their other breads. The next time that I come in, I definitely need to try one of their pizza!
(5)Cal F.
Loaves always burnt and the customer service could not be any worse! What a rude person.
(1)Danielle P.
I'd give this place 4.5 stars, if I could! Today was my first time at Hungry Ghost and it was a great experience. I can't speak to the people who said that the employees were rude, as the woman behind the counter spoke to me knowledgeably about the types of bread they sold and didn't make me feel pressured into a purchase. (She didn't try to make small talk and be my best friend, but that's not the reason I went there.) I bought a loaf of double wheat, a buttermilk biscuit, and 2 cookies. The -1/2 star is because they don't slice loaves on the premises, but that's not too bid of a problem. The outside of the bread is crunchy, while the inside remains springy and light. The biscuit was a light and buttery, without feeling too heavy and the cookies? WOW. I consider myself something of a cookie snob and the cookies at Hungry Ghost exceeded all of my expectations. I'd recommend this place for anyone who is serious about their bread and where it comes from and can afford to pay the $6 a loaf. It's pricey, but WELL worth it.
(4)Kym F.
The bread is so good it's ....... scary. ( yes, that was a pun intended). Seriously, this place makes the best bread on the East Coast. If you're traveling in town, pick up a loaf, get some hummus and go to Provisions for wine and you will feel like you just has a day in the South of France. The bread is a masterpiece!
(5)Vittoria B.
I would move to Northampton to get bread from here regularly. The loaf I got was a wheat I had never heard of, but the employee described it as tasting like bread that was already buttered. She was spot on and it was absolutely delicious. I was hoping to get pizza but they don't have a place to eat inside during the winter (just a patio for the summer). Next time, for sure.
(5)Joe S.
Amazing pizza but made to order so takes ~20 minutes and there's no where to sit inside. So just be sure to call in advance and pick up when it's ready. Friendly staff, ok cookies, but the pizza and bread are absolutely top notch. Iron man pizza rules. Will be sure to visit every time I'm in the area
(5)Ayelet R.
This bread will change your life. (especially the Potato Fougasse and Kamut, but basically all of them.) (Oh, and their pretzels too. And all their baked goods. But mostly the breads.)
(5)Joe C.
Very nice bread. It's a little pricey but I suppose you get what you pay for. Back home in New Haven, we have Chabaso Bakery which makes very similar bread: hard on the outside and very chewy on the inside. It's the type of bread that is great for dunking into a hot pot of tomato sauce. Just add a bit of butter and mmmmm oh so good. This bakery is located a couple blocks away from Main Street. It's right on the edge of the Smith Campus. To be honest, I was a little afraid to step inside because I heard stories about the "bread nazi's" working inside. But my experience went very well.
(4)Jenny J.
These folks know what they're doing when it comes to quality bread. I've never had a loaf I didn't love, and with the prices of the better-branded supermarket breads on the rise, the cost differential makes Hungry Ghost less of a splurge these days...but rest assured, a loaf from here still feels very much like a treat. We're currently working through a loaf of spelt which we just tried for the first time on the recommendation of one of the bakers. It's sweet and nutty with a perfectly crispy crust and a soft, flavorful interior. Highly recommend it. The French batards are consistently perfect. I haven't had their pizza yet, but the other non-bread baked goods I've tried have been eh...I would recommend Woodstar or Shelburne Falls Coffee for scones and cookies, and 40 Green Street for croissants (they are straight-up phenomenal). Unlike some others, I have actually found the staff to be really friendly, helpful, and thoughtful about their recommendations.
(5)Daniel S.
oh no THAT YOUNG PERSON HAD VAGUELY ODD HAIR AND DIDN'T SMILE AND MAKE SMALL TALK WITH ME they must be one of those hipsters i've heard so much about as someone who was buying an onion pizza for one on a friday night, i give five stars to both the quick and silent service and the predictably excellent crust man i don't trust take-out places that have overly friendly workers anyway; what are they hiding behind those fake twisted grins? go to this place if you want to exchange your money for some wonderful bread if you want a friendly face and a chat call up one of your friends, maybe they'll bake you something
(5)Sean O.
3 for excellent bread. -2 for lazy rude customer service. They do great work by the ovens but front of house is a disaster and not very business savvy. I'd say not even energetic enough to be rude. Disengaged sad people who run out of stuff a lot, and don't seem to care. The shoulder shrug personified. It's a shame that such incredibly good bread is just not as tasty when served up by a sulky pseudo-hipster. Basic rule...when someone hands you money for something, it's a serious business no matter where. The second you put up a sign looking to sell, then the customer deserves some basic respect. That said if you want to blow off some steam and get some good bread, it's a 5-star experience :)
(3)P B.
The pizza is scrumptious and you will eat it all, including the crust. Don't skip dessert and be sure to pick up one of their fresh baked cookies! Best pizza in Western Mass- I vote yes.
(5)Sam E.
I've been wanting to go to Hungry Ghost Bread since I moved to the Northampton/Amherst area, and needless to say it didn't disappoint. The bread is fresh with nice crunchy crust and fluffy, decadent bread on the inside. The place itself has a cool atmosphere - it's tiny, but has that big oven and flour all over the floor. When I went the people were flipping pizzas in the air, classic-style. I tried the rosemary bread and the french bread, and both were delicious. I haven't tried the pizza yet, but I want to in the future because it looked delicious going into that big brick oven. The workers weren't overly friendly, but they weren't rude as some suggested either. They seemed tired and frazzled, which makes sense since they had been making bread all day.
(5)Ann V.
French bread = amazing. love the fresh bakery vibe inside. YUM!
(5)Kasey B.
This place has really great breads, cookies, etc. We stopped by here on our way home from New Hampshire after reading all the amazing reviews, especially about their pizza. Unfortunately, we arrived too early to get the pizza. We stopped in and grabbed an "Egg in a Basket," a loaf of bread and a cookie. We ate the "Egg in a Basket" outside. It was basically an amazing biscuit baked with an egg inside and some cheese on top to cover the little pocket the egg was nested in. It was so good that we promptly ran back across the street and purchased two more loaves of bread and some scones. The scones were just as good as the little egg treat, but I felt that the breads were only alright. It is quite possible, though, that my opinion is influenced by the fact that the loaves my boyfriend picked weren't really my favorite types. I do look forward to trying again.
(3)Andrew F.
This is tied for the best bread in Massachusetts (the tie being with Clear Flour in Brookline). If anyone reviews the bread as being less than just amazing, there's a good chance they are an imbecile. It's not really opinion anymore when it's this good. In addition, every dessert I've tried from here has been amazing as well. And the granola is good (if not a bit pricey - everything's a bit pricey, but most everything they make is worth it). Now, they aren't perfect. The pizza is pretty average but it's not Hungry Ghost Pizza so I don't care. I'll take a Greek pizza shop with an $8 pizza any day over this - but I can't think of a single place I'd rather go for bread. It's just wonderful.
(5)Jed V.
Disclaimer: I only tried the items available in the display case and did not take home a pizza or loaf of bread, so this review is based on that experience. Fun spot set back from the road in bustling Northampton. Walking in is a feast for the eyes, and there is lots of great looking loafs on display in every direction. I just wanted something on the run on a Sunday, however, so I got an egg-biscut - a huge biscuit with an egg cooked into the middle of it, and some cheese - and a couple of different kinds of cookies. Unfortunately, the results were a bit underwhelming. Everything might have been amazing had it been fresher, but it tasted at least a day old, rigid and chewy in bad ways. An offense to biscuits and cookies. I'll have to go back for the bread or pizza and see how that goes.
(2)Ronald S.
i love this place, but .. i don't know what to say. every time someone walks in it is like you are causing a major hassle for the people behind the counter. yah they have great bread, but it's like they arent happy to be here or appreciate that you are paying a lot for their fine baked goods. but really, this is one of my favorite bread bakers on the east coast.
(4)spencer R.
The James Beard-nominated bread is great. What else can you say about it... What's more surprising is the pizza. When they expanded at the end of 2011, they started making wood-fired pizza of the gourmet variety. I'm the fourth generation of my family to be raised on New Haven pizza and HG is the closest thing to that. In fact, with the recent expansion of the Frank Pepe's franchise and its decline in consistency, HG pizza gives Pepe's a run for its money. One doesn't think to go to a bakery to get decent pizza. But made with fresh ingredients, HG pizza is more flavorful than at many other places in the area--which is surprising, given the plethora of restaurant choices. And crust, which makes or breaks a pizza, is from HGs The one downside is, due to HG's size, there's no dine-in option for those evenings where you want to get out of the house. It's cash-only--I made the mistake one Saturday of forgetting my cash and the aforementioned "put-off hipster" was extremely nice in letting me delay an immediate search for an ATM and giving me an IOU instead. They were closed until the following Tuesday, so I came back and paid for my pizzas then.
(5)Shane G.
Okay, ignore the put-off hipster behind the counter. Ask lots of questions and if you get rude answers be rude back. Fight for your bread, because if you won't fight for something this good then you don't f@#$ing deserve it. I would skip the cookies. Who wants cookies that were kiln fired? Not me. Stick to the bread. The two big obstacles to making delicious bread are crumb and crust. The flavor can be tweaked any number of ways, but if the outside and inside texture aren't just right it won't matter. The crust must be crispy. Crispy to the point of flaky. You need a crust that crumbles and snaps when you bite it. The inside has to be be fluffy too. No sound-minded foodie wants to eat a brick; only crunchy people and folks who can't poop do that. Both textures here are just right and the bread is divine.
(5)My N.
I'm a Northampton resident and this is my favorite place to get pizza in town (I've tried them all too: Joe's, Roberto's, Paradiso, etc). Pros: - When made correctly, the pizza is outstanding. Nice sourdough crust and interesting, fresh toppings (my fave is the Sausage and Broccoli Raab) - Excellent pastries. They make great gingerbread and shortbread as well as an outstanding banana cream tart - Great bread with an interesting daily selection Cons: - When made incorrectly, the pizza is not good. I've had pizzas turn out too greasy with undercooked Broccoli Raab (not pleasant!), but overall they are usually capable of cooking a great pizza - The hipsters behind the counter are totally on something. All the times I've been in, I've never been greeted or offered help by the trippy girl behind the counter. She always just appears, wide-eyed, and stares at me like she has no idea why I'm there. It's not a big deal though, so I'm not taking off too many points. - The space is really cramped. If there are more than 2 people in there, you won't be able to fit I will continue to go to them for the best pizza and pastries, even if I get treated like an alien.
(4)Lisa K.
I think this bakery is as great as any I've eaten in Europe! . So worth the visit just for the Cookies, never mind the bread - yum. Love the vibes the old chamber building brings to the area. A best bet is the Levain
(5)D. F.
Really amazing bread! Don't be scared off by the fact that they act a bit like "the Soup Nazi" from Seinfeld. I don't think I know anyone who hasn't been abused by the people at the Hungry Ghost, but we all keep going back because the BREAD IS SO GOOD; It is worth the abuse.
(4)John R.
This past week 3 friends & I decided to go to the top pastry shops in Northampton, in hunt of a potential haunt! We each ordered something, split it 4 ways then compared notes. Our opinions were somewhat unanimous, but since we're friends maybe our "tastes" are alike, that's a for a sociology major! Admittedly, we went at 3 pm in the afternoon, perhaps this changes things in the world of pastries/breads. I still think things should hold-up though so I'm not looking the other way on the timing issue, besides they serve Pizza after 5. We ordered 2 stuffed bread-like tarts (like mini calzones), an individual chocolate-banana cream pie and an oatmeal cookie. Both bread/tarts were very tasty, bursting with flavor and seasoning. However, the down side was both could have used a lot more filling and the crust was very (think dragging your feet) heavy. If they doubled the filling and went easy on the dough they would have been a perfect 10+, but that was the fantasy more filling less dough. In eager anticipation, I rushed my friends to eat the later ...I couldn't wait to dive into the chocolate-banana cream pie. Whaaaa what a disappointment!! I am sure I looked like I bit into a lemon, and in a way I did. It looked Amazing (!!!) however it was all (ALL) whipped cream and very little flavor. A thin layer of chocolate on the bottom 3-4 slices of banana and 5 inches piled high "All Whipped Cream". What a downer! The oatmeal cookie was very good, we all agreed; perfect size, texture and flavor. Maybe the Pizza's/Bread's are better ??? Maybe one day ??? But I won't be fooled by a piled high pie again! We all agreed Hungry Ghost wasn't going to be haunting us to visit again anytime soon!
(3)Steven H.
Slightly off the beaten path in downtown Northampton, this is a tiny eclectic bakery primarily known for their roughly 8 different breads, including spelt, rye, eight grain, sour dough and others. A small number of other offerings, including some delicious cookies, rounds out the bakery appellation. When we visited, they were in the midst of their first season of growing spelt and barley on the roof. Hard to imagine they'll get much flour out of such a small plot, but to each his own. We bought a loaf of the eight grain, which was hearty and delicious, along with some wonderfully decadent cookies. The place has that angelic fresh bread bakery aroma that makes one want to linger.
(5)Chris M.
Baked goods and pastries are looking great this year. However their paper bags aren't very convenient for carrying bread.
(4)S A.
Vegan pizza! Yes Hungry Ghost Bread makes a killer vegan pizza. Super tasty homemade vegan cheese and plenty of vegan friendly toppings. The brick oven crust is perfect. After moving here from Philly, which is fast becoming the most vegan friendly city in the country, I was totally amazed to find such a great vegan pizza.
(5)Moe B.
Love the bread. Can do without the 'Tude.
(3)Janell B.
M and I had walked past the inviting scents and quaint screen door of Hungry Ghost Bread many times on our way home from downtown, but didn't stop in until one day last week. We picked the rosemary loaf, but unfortunately neither of us had any cash or checks, and they don't take plastic. We were told that there is an ATM across the street, but after a moment of hesitation, and calculating the likelihood that the fees alone would be as much as the delicious looking and smelling loaf of bread the young gentleman behind the counter offered to write us an IOU. An IOU? I found the suggestion not only helpful, but utterly charming. He wrote M's first name on a scrap of paper along with "$5", and we were on our way. The service alone would make me a repeat customer, but the bread sealed the deal. Between the two of us, M and I ate almost the entire loaf that night, and polished off the little bit that was left the next day. With the perfectly chewy crust, and the pillowy rosemary-seasoned interior, it was irresistible. I went back a couple of days ago to pay our IOU. The woman who helped me asked if the person who took the IOU had written my name down. I said he had, and she told me that they "don't keep track of those things too well" and that I was all settled up when I handed her the $5 for the original loaf of bread, and $6 for the loaf I bought that day. I was expecting to get the rosemary again, but they hadn't baked any that day. As some of the other reviewers noted, they bake on a schedule with only one or two kinds of bread a day. I got the kamut loaf, which has pumpkin seeds in it. Delicious. This is truly versatile bread, suited for sandwiches, toast, to be spread with butter or dipped in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, or just eaten plain! The service is odd in the best possible way, and most importantly, these people really know their way around an oven.
(5)Heidi C.
My husband and I don't get all the hate for hungry ghost. It is a bit ridiculous to be a hipster in a small town like Northampton, but the bread is absolutely superb and we can't get enough. So the the haters? Go cry about it some more.
(5)Aina B.
Small, no-frills, dedicated bakery that opened years ago in a cozy brick building that was formerly the office of a chiropractor. The breads are expertly crafted, fresh, crusty, tasty, sometimes including traditional or unusual ingredients like leeks or figs or currants. I love their philosophy, the sign handpainted by the couple's children that announces with a bold "YES!" that the they are open and the day's bread is for sale, and is taken down at whatever hour the bread is sold out, be it 2pm or 6pm. Other baked goods on offer are superb and are a wonderful treat. Excellent community bakery with warmth and heart.
(5)George M.
Amazing artisan bread and they now serve pizza (including vegan options) that rules too!
(5)Taylor C.
The Hungry Ghost has such a whimsical name, and it's a bit of a whimsical place. When you walk in the floor is covered in flour, the smell of bread baking and the warmth of the small room take over your senses and you get a good feeling. The kind of good that comes from finding a local specialty store with great products- which is becoming a rare oddity these days. I like to walk to the HG on nights when I'm making soup, because it compliments it greatly. It's also great for making tasty sandwiches. Their selection changes because it is all made fresh, and they update on the site as well as provide a guide of their general selection calender in the store. Besides large loaves of things like French bread, etc, they also make delicious cookies, crackers, and little savory pie creations with meats, cheeses and veggies. This is not an eat-in establishment. You walk in to a very small reception spot where the products of the day are on display, buy, and leave. Everything is also priced very fairly. For a semi recent graduate on a budget, I can still 'break the bank' to go by every once in a while. Overall: It's a great little place where the chefs have a passion for their trade that comes through in the final product. I'll probably be stopping by on the way home!
(5)En P.
Mostly fab -- but what's going on with the challah? No egg, no oil, no honey. It's basically white bread wearing a braid. Not bad, but not real challah. And this in a town with a solid population who knows the difference. No wonder there were so many challahs left, even late on a Friday.....
(3)Michele L.
Walking near Hungry Ghost always made me hungry! I've never had their bread, but their cookies are okay. I only remember that they were open during that hurricane last year, which was great!
(3)Josh K.
Friendly space and staff. Gave me a quick tour and was happy to answer a bunch of questions about both the bread and business. I came on a Friday and bought their caraway rye, french, and multigrain. My friend got their complete. It's what bread should be. Simple ingredients. Overnight levain fermentation. Strong bakes. These guys and gals are having fun and making an honest product. No experience with their pastry or pizza. Give them a try.
(5)Ashley H.
I went to college in the area, and would often buy a loaf despite a generous meal plan and a steep hill. And eat it all by myself in a day and a half. I've visited since graduating/the renovation, and only loved it more. There's more options (cookies! crackers! savory pies! pretzels! chilled baked goods! sometimes all at the same times!) oh, and Pizza. I have driven to Northampton, from Boston, where I had maybe 2-3 things planned for the trip, and Pizza here is always one of them. The cheese is good, but so is the Vegan cheese. We've particularly loved the eggplant parm and the sausage. Yes, meat, real meat. I was shocked to see it on the menu. Hints: If you forget cash, go across the street to Serios if you don't want to walk all the way into town, there's both an ATM and the option for cashback. All the bread is good, so don't get obsessed with one kind of loaf. But If you are obsessed anyway, call ahead and reserve. Either eat the pizza immediately, or give it a while. There's a strange middle place where it's not bad, but not as good as piping hot or room temp.
(5)Margaret S.
My experience with this place has not been good. I've found their breads to be very hard (and they refuse "on principle" to slice them for you) and the one time I bought a chocolate chip cookie from them, I nearly broke my teeth on it. There are many better bakeries in Northampton, particularly Bread Euphoria and La Fiorentina.
(2)Greg H.
The hours stink. They don't take plastic. They don't always have the type of bread you think you want. But... What they do have... Is amazing. Simply some of the best bread I've had that I haven't made myself. (I'm still getting the hang of the texture.) Frequently still warm from the oven. The help has gotten dings but I've never had that issue. they've always been nice, if a bit frazzled or stressed.
(5)Austin J. A.
Sourdough. Delicious. My absolute favorite. Dare I say better than the sourdough in San Francisco? (Okay, okay, but it's at least as good as Bakery Boudin...happy compromise.) These people are as wonderful as can be. They bake incredible edibles, and they even want to start a local grain collective, in order that local bakers can use local flours.
(5)Heather S.
Chewy, perfectly textured, perfectly seasoned bread is an art form, a craft. At Hungry Ghost Bread, you won't go hungry if you partake of their incredible loaves! It's the kind of bread you tear off in luscious chunks rather than slice and butter. We loved their Olive & Semolina Fougasse with a fluffy, moist chewy center, and just-right toughness outside to create the perfect mouthful. The olives were salty and ohh so good! I can't rave enough about their bread (which is baked on a schedule -- go to their website), or their way of baking it -- in a large, wood fired oven. This is the best bread EVER. The cookies, on the other hand, were not as good. We had the ginger cookie, which was beautifully adorned with chunks of crystallized ginger, but it wasn't quite flavorful enough for me, despite its luxuriously tender texture. Oh, well. But, the bread, oh, my! It's amazing.
(4)Michael B.
Yummity yum yum. I've never tried the pizza, so I can't speak to that, however, the bread and the cookies are delicious. The bread is flavorful and there's plenty of variety to choose from. The same goes for the cookies, which are massive. This place is a treat, and is worth the old-fashioned notion of visiting different stores for different provisions. We always go out of our way to get bread at Hungry Ghost. Also a good place to remember when there's a blackout - they cook with a fire, so they'll still be functional (what more could you want?) Cash only.
(5)Su-Yee L.
Best pizza I've had here in the Pioneer Valley. The sausage, pepper, and onion pie was wonderfully smoky with a delicious crust. The veggie one we had was loaded with broccoli, basil pesto, mushrooms, onions and peppers. The price for the pies was pretty reasonable: two smalls fed three people. Yes, it's a tiny space and you have to wait 20 minutes for the pizza but definitely worth it on a warm Friday night when your friends have just come from Boston to visit and all you want is some delicious pizza in your belly.
(4)melinda c.
Thought the bread good, however have never been back as the staff was really pretty rude....given that, there are plenty of other good places to get bread locally, so I shop elsewhere. Bread was good however.
(3)Tuan-pi T.
Go here. Get three items. One of them will astound you. The other two will please you. I've never been displeased by anything I've had from this awesome bakery/kitchen. From cookies to personal snack-sized savory pies to full loaves of bread to nibble on - this hungry ghost will, in fact, leave you sated to the extent that you'll develop the attachment that causes the spawning of hungry ghosts in the first place. I've visited several times. The staff is always friendly and ready to answer my many questions. They even tried to remember my name despite the infrequency of my appearances. Be sure to ask about the daily specials. Take a schedule once you've nailed down a couple favorite items; hunt them down. If you don't see something you like, I bet the bakers are open to suggestions. My favorite is the quinoa cornbret. YUM.
(5)Charlotte S.
You can't go wrong with Hungry Ghost bread. Their pizzas are also amazing, and they make the best pecan bars! All are cooked in their awesome central oven.
(5)Hazie W.
I'm confused by the high ratings for this place. Though I've heard so many great things about this place (from both friends and fellow Yelpers), I really did NOT enjoy it. The people working here were so pretentious and had such a bad attitude, I felt like I did something wrong by just walking into the store! As a patron of your business, I should not be feeling this way! With no help from the worker, I went for a loaf of sourdough bread. The bread itself was also nothing special. The crust was teeth-shattering hard and the texture of the inside was not much better. The flavor was unmemorable. I haven't gone back since, and don't plan on returning.
(1)Hrishikesh H.
Liked their pesto pretzel. They even warmed it for us in their gigantic oven. Rosemary loaf had hard crust (which I like but will be difficult to get consensus on). I thought it had overpowering taste of rosemary.
(4)Nina G.
Amazing bread. Even the flour tastes especially good. The rosemary is my personal favorite. I loaf is usually just $5 and is more than worth it.
(5)Stephen P.
Grab a bottle of your favorite wine... plus your favorite someone or favorite book... Go to Hungry Ghost and buy as much of their bread as you can carry... Walk across the street and buy a hunk of cheese at State Street... Go to Look Park... Sit under a tree... Uncork the wine, break your bread and nibble on cheese... Know joy...
(5)Shalin D.
Flour strewn across the floor. The heady scent of yeast. And the thwack-thwack of bread boards shoved into the oven to extract perfect loaves of sourdough. Hungry Ghost: you are bread heaven. I came here on accident with a friend. I was searching for a grocery store to get some picnic items but found this place instead. Man, am I glad! I picked up a crusty sourdough and a kitchen sink cookie (called 'The Cowboy'). I then wandered across the street to a grocery store to pick up some Vermont brie and hard cider. It was simple but the best picnic I have ever had. Mostly due to the bread. Warm and chewy on the inside and crusty hard on the outside. Perfect texture, perfect taste. Probably the best sourdough I have ever had.
(5)Lillith B.
Soo good, it will make all of your cavities hurt!
(5)Jess W.
Hideous pizza. Here's an excerpted review from my website: To some Northamptonites, this review will strike the wrong chord. They will place it in the same shock category as a "Nobama" bumper sticker. The Hungry Ghost, a two-time James Beard semifinalist, is a small town staple atop a small hill in the center of town, flanked by office buildings and groceries just off the main drag. When I first came here for school, it was all everyone spoke about. "Oh, you must try the Ghost- they only bake one kind of specialty bread a day and don't bake any more when they run out! The owner wrote a ballad about the bakery! They have a schedule for their bread." Handwritten menus and a shabby workspace pass for status indicators in this area, I noticed. In fact, I entered the bakery twice prior to their late 2011 renovation and left before ordering as I was appalled with the putrid state of conditions there. Formerly a dusty, dank bakery, albeit one with lovely smells, the reviews of The Hungry Ghost's bread range from passionate to pallid. But it was their recent renovation and switch to pizza that piqued my curiosity one evening, prompted by an October 2011 review by Serious Eats writer Liz Bomze, when the bakery had first branched out to pizza. Informed that the pizza would take twenty minutes to cook, a strangely long time in a brand new Llopis wood-fire oven, we were told to come back. We perused a local deli and returned only to be informed that the bakery was cash-only. No signage alerted us to this fact, nor did our server choose to capitalize on our twenty minute wait by offering up this fact. Thus, our pizza was delayed another ten minutes as we found an ATM per her vague directions and went on our way. That ten minutes made no difference at all. In fact, I doubt ten seconds would have made a difference, because this pizza was abhorrent both hot and cold. For starters, the composition. A margherita pizza is retardedly simple: tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and a little extra virgin olive oil. Our pizza had rivulets of grease pocking its surface and running down the sides and into the crust and was sparse in the basil department. Apparently there's a shortage of skimpy, free-range basil leaves in the region. Fresh tomatoes were replaced with what tasted like canned tomato sauce, and the cheese was barely browned. I'm not sure if the owners got an upcycled oven or if it was left on the curb and posted on freecycle, but it yielded a flaccid, soggy crust with a gummy interior, each piece collapsing on itself, saturated and glistening with more oil than a male model and shedding dandruffy flakes of cornmeal and flour when moved from box to plate. The first few bites of each slice were wet, thick, and slimy, the result of the copious amounts oil migrating to the center of the pie. $13 bought an extremely bland, oversweetened twelve inch pizza that left a sheen on our lips and carried a pervasively annoying sourdough tang. I've had heartburn with more flavor. Our server was insipid and rude and ruined our day by ignoring us while she spoke to a friend. We had structured our day around getting this pizza tonight. I'm just pleased that we didn't go "full pizza" and snag more than one pie or even upgrade to a larger size. This was so unappetizing that we didn't even bother to sit down at the table with it, much less open the bottle of Mondavi we'd left chilling for the occasion. From the many Bret Easton Ellis novels and old issues of the New Yorker I've perused, I gather that high-end restaurants of the 80's were proud of being stingy and standoffish, cultivating the type of clientele who would know better than to question the difference between ceviche and cilantro. I don't, however, understand why this snobby "value" is superimposed onto the more mediocre examples of fine dining I've seen in small towns. It seems like a certain strain of naive people equate this attitude with quality dining, and it unfortunately causes restaurants like this to thrive where they can be king of the college pizza scene. Hungry Ghost comes across as a ludicrously arrogant big fish in a small pond. The hype is not deserved. Ultimate suckage.
(1)lauren u.
Holy *&$*#&@#&$ this place is so good. The 9-grain (8? 9? I think it was 9) bread is so, so delicious and I can't even believe how much I love the vegan cowboy cookie. I hate peanut butter and I love the cowboy cookie. I am at this very moment deeply regretting that we did not pick up more of each and a few of some others before heading back to RI. All the more reason for another western Mass trip. By the way, the space itself and the oven are just so cool. And I love Liz B.'s description of the staff, I think it's right on.
(5)Matthew Z.
Like many establishments here in Northampton, Hungry Ghost is delicious but esoterically expensive. And once I learned how to bake my own bread, I stopped buying from bakeries, this one included. Their hours stink, but again, this bread is pretty damn good and very fresh (minutes old, not hours) . It merited multiple mentions in the New York Times for a reason.
(4)Jam S.
The poor customer service at "The Ghost" overshadows the artisanal breads and other baked goodies. Upon entering, you're usually greeted with a blank, disaffected glare, as though you had horns on your head. Most around town (and here on yelp) would say you have to look past that, and just take the bread with the bad. But with Woodstar around the corner, and their far superior service, it's just not worth going to Hungry Ghost. Suggested alternative names for Hungry Ghost: "Don't Need your Business Ghost" "Indifferent Ghost" "Too cool for School Ghost" "Ambivalent Ghost"
(2)Louis T.
The best bread anywhere. Or at least anywhere I've been. When friends come down to Philly, I make them bring down bread from the Ghost. It's really that good. Whatever secret techniques they have, the combination of crusty bread that's still chewy and moist inside is unstoppable. My only caveat is that the pastries aren't on the same level. Go to Woodstar or Bakery Normand instead.
(5)Fran H.
The bread at Hungry Ghost is nothing short of amazing. Most loaves are of the round, crusty sourdough variety. My go-to everyday standard is the eight-grain, but I love the new chewy, sour integral, and the French batard as well. The integral, which I picked up for the first time yesterday, reminds me of Pain Poilâne in Paris. The staff are friendly but not chatty. This isn't a place to hang out, just to get the best bread this side of the Atlantic. At $5-6 a loaf, it's not cheap, but it's well worth it.
(5)Taylor S.
Super fantastic tasty bread. The cookies and pastries are great too. I've also been impressed by the fact that they tend to stay open through all kinds of weird New England weather situations. And the customer service is just fine, people. I buy cookies and bread here embarrassingly often and, while the employees are not over-the-top cheerful, they've always been perfectly helpful and nice.
(5)David P.
Hungry Ghost has some of the best bread in town, but don't go for the service -- it will be bizarre and weird -- but that's part of the fun. Any of the breads will be fantastic, and just about anything else you try will be also. The rugalach are excellent.
(5)Jennifer B.
The French Batard and Savory Fold breads are lovely. The Multigrain is covered in awful stalky crap, which looks charming, but I found totally inedible. I love the Cowboy Cookie more than almost anything, but the other cookies are so-so, and my husband and I prefer Woodstar's. The service is always a little weird, but I'm a little weird, so it's cool.
(4)Judith M.
As an ex- pat San Franciscan doing penance in the "happy valley" I think I can speak to sour dough- this place is the shiz, down to the earnest, taciturn stinky hippy monks who serve the yeast gods, laboring ceaselessly before the roaring bread kiln. You will be happy to pay the artisanal prices. Go.
(5)Joseph S.
certainly the best bread anywhere in the world! just BEYOND!
(5)Alison P.
This bread is so good that I would sit and eat cheese and wine with it, dipping the bread in olive oil, and call it dinner. Eventually, the bread would expand and my belly would be overfull. It was actually pretty painful, but it was always worth it. Thus the frequency of this occurrence... Northampton is such a lovely place, full of delicious. Definitely use up the bread day of, as it has nothing to preserve it, and will stale in a day. But do go there, its more than worth the cost of the organic flour it takes to make such a wonderful loaf.
(4)Peter E.
Best bakery I've ever encountered. I really appreciate people who take pride in their craft. The brick oven show commitment. I can even forgive the blatant and shameless hippiedom!
(5)Ali B.
Yes please. Worth the walk, even just to smell.
(3)Jay O.
This IS what a bakery is all about. Perfect bread and slightly sweet treats such as coffee cakes.... A true unique town stop! Reminds me of visiting ruins in Italy, in Pompeii... it's a bakery where you got your baked goods and moved on... it's not a coffee shop, not a hangout... take your goods and be on your way.. and LOVE it!
(5)Jenn X.
My wife went to pick up a pizza and when she arrived the Hungry Ghost felt the pie that was prepared was not up to their standards. They had started another just before she arrived and offered her a slice while she waited. When she came home it was delicious. I am a carnivore, but would definitely recommend going with vegetables here to enjoy the sauce, cheese and crust to its full potential. That being said the pepperoni was great. I am truly excited to try more offerings from the Hungry Ghost bakery.
(5)A. B.
I heard some good reviews about the bread here so decided to check it out today. As soon as I walked in I felt the burning eyes of the hipster girl behind the counter and the staring did not cease even when I explained that I needed to figure out what I wanted. I was pretty turned off by her rudeness and eventually walked out. The bread looked good but there wasn't much for the selection. Don't know if I'll be going back to give it a second chance.
(3)Lauren R.
The perfect loaf of bread comes from Hungry Ghost's ovens. If you get there early enough in the day, you have a great selection though the really popular flavors (the rosemary bread goes fantastically with a small wheel of brie) go fast. Don't forget to peer behind the tiny counter to see what cookies they've got that day. They make the cookies and brownies as a sort of aside and don't really openly market them but they're delicious. Be wary. This is VERY crusty bread. You can always cut the crust off, but it's a rustic style. enjoy it! Hungry Ghost also scores mucho points for supporting the community by hosting a number of little farmer-market like sales on their lawns.
(5)Bumble B.
Everything is still amazing and now they have a small cooler that carries tarts and other delicious things. One thing I am sad about is now their cookies are all so crunchy! This is a new thing. I like mine softer.
(5)Cordelia N.
Hungry ghost bread is a staple of my diet. They make some of the best bread I have ever tasted. I'm serious: I've been all over western Europe, including France. This bread is better. On Sunday, you can get the potato-thyme fougasse, which recently earned a spot as one of the best loaves in the country, and just consume the entire yeasty, crusty thing before getting home. Sometimes, I just sit on the ground and eat half a loaf by myself. Sometimes I make my friends go and get a loaf and stuff to spread on it and we have a picnic. There is nothing negative I can say about this bread.
(5)Nikki M.
Their bread is good and fresh, and it's really convenient if you're a Smith student. However, their bread is only good if you're a sourdough fan. I heard their challah on Fridays was delicious, so I finally ran down there to get a loaf...it was sourdough. That's not how you make challah.
(3)Joanna C.
The bread is wonderful, and the oven formidable. However, there's not much else to it - with about 4 feet of standing room for customers, it's definitely a takeout place! Plus, all the employees seemed absolutely miserable; maybe something was going wrong that day, but it sort of stressed me out. Beyond their bread and their absolutely perfect name, I respect Hungry Ghost more than I love it.
(4)Kristen F.
This place is amazing!!! My friend and I actually arrived after they had already closed, but the door was open and we thought we take our chances and ask if we could still get any bread. Sure enough, the two women inside welcomed us right in! We didn't remember it was cash only, so on top of arriving after close, we didn't even have enough money to buy the bread. You might think these two would have been irritated or impatient...nope...not even slightly...in fact exactly the opposite!!! These women were so sweet!!! They tucked some bread in a bag and wouldn't take no for an answer, sending us out the door with a loaf of some amazing kamut bread! WOW! You don't see many stand up companies and people like this anymore! Needless to say, I cannot recommend them enough...not only are they amazing people that I will continue to support, but their bread is phenomenal!!! PLEASE support this company!!!! :)
(5)estelle s.
I love this place, and i love what they do. they are about the love and care that goes into their food, and that is the most important ingredient. you honestly couldn't ask for anything more. slightly standoffish at the counter, but i think that only adds charm! p.s. they use the best of the best of ingredients. organic and healthy!
(5)Jennifer B.
Good bread! I mean you have to try it at least once in your life because it is amazing. Go on the weekends and get a savory turnover while you get some bread because those too are amazing. Highly recommended and just what a good bakery should be!
(5)James D.
Great bread and they do pizza too after 5pm, which is good not amazing but decent. I have yet to try out all the sweet baked goods they have.
(3)Kit S.
I love Hungry Ghost. This used to be a chiropractor's office, but about two years ago Hungry Ghost moved in and I have not been able to stomach bad bread ever since. I have not had a single loaf that I did not enjoy here, but my favorites are the challah and the rosemary, both of which are only made on certain days of the week. Grab a flier with the weekly schedule next time you are there so you can plan ahead; both these breads are in fairly high demand.
(5)Darci M.
We ventured to this part of Northampton yesterday in search of bread, cheese and wine for our picnic. The bread at this place really takes the prize but I have to say I found the people who sold me this bread to be disappointment. I'm really keen on the intimate exchange between me (the buyer) and person selling me the food (whether that person be a farmer, a chef, a bread maker, a barista, etc). The gal that waited on us could not recommend "her favorite bread", "a yummy bread to go with brie" or "any loaf she was excited about." I mean really, come on. It was good bread and we enjoyed the 8-grain thanks to a suggestion from our friends on yelp. But I can also get yummy bread from our local farmer's market. The key difference being that the person there who passes me the loaf will also share with me some experience or suggestion that I will appreciate. I value and support local when that local values and supports me.
(1)Andy T.
A truly world class bakery in the the Pioneer Valley. Another reviewer's comparison to Wild Flour in Sebastapol, CA is an apt one. While this is not a Parisian Boulangerie, they are really excellent at what they do, wholesome brick oven breads with well developed flavors and simple ingredients. I try to stop in for bread pretty much every time I am in Northampton.
(5)mick m.
Hungry Ghost bread is #1
(5)Arielle F.
Perfect bread. Love the sourdough when I can get it. Crusty and crispy on the outside, chewy and delicious on the inside...'scuse me, i need to go make some toast...
(5)Beth S.
Hungry Ghost bread has ruined me for life; they literally make the best bread I've ever had. Never again can I accept an uncrisp crust or a gluey crumb. Inferior breads just make me sigh and reflect on their loaves with longing. Their batarde is really perfection as far as I'm concerned, especially when it's still warm from their gigantic brick oven. If they could ship it to New York in said state, I would sign up for a weekly subscription in a heartbeat.
(5)Arwen O.
A truly incredible bakery (matched only by Wild Flour in Freestone, CA). Jonathan and his wife (whose name I have forgotten) run a truly unique operation: housed in a tiny historical building, Hungry Ghost is a one-room bread store occupied almost entirely by a huge, gorgeous, $20,000 imported french brick oven. They make wonderful sourdoughs, raisin breads, spelt loaves, fougasses (bread with cheese baked in), and one day I was there, they had sticky almond chocolate brownie bars. Yummmmmmmm......
(5)Joshua M.
You pay for the quality but really the stuff is delicious. You can taste every lovingly baked grain. I wish that I made it here more often.
(5)