Alessi Bakery is HORRIBLE! Like so many others here are saying why would anyone say they like this place...lol! Years ago when Alessi was on Howard Avenue they were awesome but since the son took over it's been just horrible!
(1)
Caroline C.
Today my family and I attended the Cuban Sandwich Festival in Ybor City. I wish I could review the event as a whole, because we were very disappointed overall, but we were not disappointed with Alessi. Basically, Alessi was the only vendor at the festival that was approachable without waiting in an insane (like 50+ people) line. The reason that Alessi did not have a line, I think, is that they only had cold Cubans, not pressed. We were there rather late for lunch and my kids were starving, so we decided to give the Alessi cold Cuban a try. We really wanted a Miami-style Cuban (no salami), but could not locate the only Miami-style Cuban vendor that was supposed to be there. So a Tampa-style Cuban (with salami) it was. The Cuban was very good, with fresh soft bread and tasty meats/cheese/pickle. The people at the kiosk were very friendly and happily cut the sandwich into four pieces for us all to share (my two kids, husband, and myself). We were expecting to have a wide variety of vendors to choose from, but that was not the case. We could have gotten a corn dog, chicken, rice and beans, all kinds of fried stuff...just not a big choice of Cubans. Thank you Alessi for actually having a Cuban sandwich to feed my hungry family at the Cuban Sandwich Festival.
(3)
Jessica E.
I had a corned beef sandwich, Husband had a breakfast sandwich (mojo pork with egg and veggies) and they were both AWESOME. I got a black and white cookie for later and it was probably the best one I've ever had.
(5)
Goose G.
This is one of my favorite places. I do not reside in Florida, but grew up visiting the area. My family and I have been stopping in at this place for years. My favorites are the eclairs, guava turnovers & schacatta. I always leave wishing they had a location in my state!
(5)
Ben V.
Alessi Bakery doesn't seem like it belongs where we found it. This is like old school New York/Philadelphia Italian bakery yet we found it in the heart of Tampa. That's pretty cool. The bakery was busy, clean, and the items laid out nicely behind open windows. On the left side when you walk in there's a sandwich section but we didn't bother. We were there on a mission- to raise our blood sugar to near comatose levels. We had heard of Alessi during the time we lived in Tampa but assumed it would never match up to the bakeries we were accustomed to so we didn't bother. That was a big mistake. Alessi has quality items- although some of what we ordered didn't fit the bill- such as the rainbow cookies. We found it to be drier than from our favorite bakery in New York- Pelham Bakery. Rainbow cookies do seem hard to come by outside of NYC, so the fact that Alessi offers them is welcomed- but to note- it lags just a bit. We also found their beef pastry to have a bit too much rosemary in it. It was good, however and tasted much like a meatball sub minus the Sarcone like roll and cheese. The winner was their glazed apple square. Think apple pie and strudel and thick, creamy doughnut glaze all wrapped into one brick of delight. That was the glazed apple square. I would walk from Philadelphia to Alessi just for this (you know I really wouldn't) but it was that stand alone good. We also tried their version of the guava pastry. We loved their guava spread but we hated the vehicle used. The guava spread was smooth and syrupy. It was sweet but truly had that trademark guava taste which is missing many times in guava pastries we've had elsewhere. The pastry shell it came in didn't look traditional to us. I wasn't sure if it was puff pastry either- but nonetheless it could have been worked on. Finally, the Key Lime tart was great- although it could have been a touch more limey (but again this is just preference for us since we're sour in nature).
(4)
Shannon H.
My friend brought me to Tampa to show me her hometown...this was one of our Mandatory stops and I completely understand why! Pizza-Theres no cheese on top of their sicilian pizzas but the way these things taste, DOESNT NEED ANY! they were so flavorful and meaty. Weird thought, I know but Trust me on this one! Cubans- The real reason we stopped, their cuban sandwiches are not only huge but they are the best I've ever had! fresh quality ingredients and the pickles added crunch and tang. Too mad I'll have to drive 2 hours away to get another one. Pastries- I tried the cinnamon roll and a ooey gooey butter cake. Both delicious but not as amazing as the pizza and cubans. Their bakery had hundreds of pastries that I could just spend hours tasting and devouring! Anything from cakes, pies, cookies, to bars, cupcakes, and puff creations I've never seen before! The bad: The bakery side of the restaurant had a bunch of flies landing and having their way with the food in the case. I don't know how they can prevent that from happening but it definitely prevented me from buying a whole lot more!
(4)
Brian T.
Tried this place recently to grab some breakfast. The breakfast sandwiches on Cuban bread were amazing! The selection in the bakery is awesome, make sure you go with an appetite. The only thing that was disappointing was the dining area but I think we will just get food to go from now on.
(4)
Kim And Linh H.
Service was very nice. The place itself is huge and filled with goodies whether it's a quick sweet snack or a meal with clubs and sandwiches. Their selection is very amazing and vast and there's so much to get! Ordered a Cuban for 7 dollars and for a drink and fries/chips it was an extra 2 dollars. It was our first time there so we were quite confused when they didn't give us our drinks from the sandwich side.. (it's split between the deli and the bakery) Will be back again!
(5)
Johanna C.
I gave it 3 because you have options in food(only). I use to come here when I was a child and the food you always remembered. Unfortunately, its not the same. I purchased a small size stuff potate "cold" and it was 3.99 and a small cafe con leche 2.95. I asked what kind of coffee they used and she didn't know. Nor did they know why the potatoes were so expensive. Clearly they are working there for a paycheck. Its like who's next move it move it. And only two people there were ahead of me. Anyhow, I'm sad to say I'm not going back. Its a shame that a great mom & pop place is so cold and over priced.
(3)
Katie H.
There's nowhere I've been in the States quite like Alessi. The scachatta is this interesting, room temperature pizza that's weirdly addictive. They have all these specialty Italian sweets like bomboloni and struffoli, but the main draw for me are the cookies. Oh my God, the rainbow cookies. You can't compare them to any you've had previously. It's a "must visit" for me every time I'm in Tampa.
(4)
Melody S.
The bakery section is pretty good. The deli section is bad! Just had a Cuban sandwich and the meat was cold, it was greasy, and the lettuce and tomatoes were wilted!
I will begin by saying that I'm no authority on Cuban sandwiches, Italian vs Tampa vs Philly vs NY bakeries, or any of that stuff. What I do know is that this place has an AMAZING tasting Cuban sandwich. I've had a few since I've been here, and this was by far the best. They've all had the same(or variations of) standard meats, cheese, and some type of sauce/spread, but the bread is what set this one apart for me. It was soft, but somewhat sweet and flaky like a croissant, and all the flavors from the aforementioned ingredients went really well together. They make a number of other sandwiches as well, plus there was breakfast served all day. They had samples of the Sicilian pizza to try, which led to me buying a small box of it as well. We also bought some cannolis, a mini cheesecake, meat pie(also amazing), and sausage rolls. There were tons more baked goods to choose from, to include custom cakes for any occasion. The damage came to around $27, and all of us agree it was money well spent. As for the facility, it was clean and well kept, and the staff were friendly and helpful. There isn't a thing I disliked about this place, so maybe I'll be ready to give it 5 stars after finishing the sweets and my next visit. Definitely go here!
(4)
Mike W.
Alessi's primary business i believe is as a wholesale bakery for caterers and food distributors (they have a whole factory in northwest Tampa). Many of their baked goods make their way into their retail location, but I'd say they're just "ok". On the other hand however, their sandwiches really deliver. Quite the selection to choose from, from cheesesteaks to Cubans, reubans to roast beef. My favorite is probably the Mr. Reuben with turkey instead of beef. Fries are fresh cut and seasoned with Old Bay. Yum! They offer daily specials that offer a real bang for your buck- last time, I had a Cuban, fries, deviled crab, and a drink for $9.50, and the deviled crab was loaded with real crab, not the imitation stuff. Some of the employees are a little stuck up at times, that'd be my only complaint.
(4)
Alecia S.
I have been coming here for years. Every time it's like the first. I have been craving red velvet cake lately and no one does it better in Tampa. Also if you have never had a scachatta this is the place to try it. Truly Sicilian. Love Alessi.
(5)
Geno K.
Gotta try the sandwiches people are raving about on here. I just happened to be driving by after lunch and wanted to check out the sweet stuff. Went with a lemon cake. Really good. Not the best I've had, but excellent. Easy in and out. Staff was nice. Smells wafting around the place were awesome. Will definitely be back and maybe add that 5th star.
(4)
Gwendolyn F.
We only come here for desert because they have fabulous desert. Eclairs, tri-color cookies, butter cookies and my husbands favorite the banana bread. Just to name a few. Quick service and friendly staff. Will continue to come here even during a hurricane which we did once and they were open.
(5)
Stephanie G.
Another family favorite. Great bakery, deviled crab, empanadas, scachatta, Cubans.... Outside seating only. We always stop in and take it to go. Great party food!
(5)
Sam Q.
The hunt for the best Cuban sandwich in Tampa Bay continues at Alessi's Bakery. Alessi's is a full blown bakery. It's huge! They have a specialty cakes section. If their cakes taste anything like their pastries, they must be yummy. This place is a nightmare for carbaholics. Or heaven. Depends on your point of view. The rows of baked goodies are amazing. They gave us a sample of something. Don't know what it was, only that is was sweet, seemed like bread, and it was delicious. Focus! Order the Cuban and step away from the register... We ordered the "special" Cuban. I didn't know you would be able to feed three people with one sandwich. Thankfully I had already decided to split one with a friend, otherwise I'd be hurting. The bread was amazing. I love it. You'd expect that from a bakery, but I am happy to confirm these guys know how to make great Cuban bread. The pork was thinly sliced but authentic. The problem was the sandwich was too thick and was cold inside. I don't like cold Cubans. Next time I need to have them press it longer. For $6 this was the best deal I've seen. Aside from being cold inside, this was a really good Cuban sandwich. Problem is there were sooooo many other goodies that I have to come back. The sign outside said 49 cent brownies, limit 6 per customer. I'm sad to say I can't comment on them as I didn't get any. But I did have a bite of their carrot cake, and it was outstanding. I'm a fan!
(4)
S W.
Outstanding Bakery! We used Alessi Bakery both for the Groom's Cake and the wedding cake and both were simply delectable! The groom's cake was an incredible replica of Michigan Stadium (The Big House), where both my Husband and I went to school. Every part was edible, including the very real looking scoreboard. Underneath the frosting was an absolutely delicious chocolate peanut butter cake (the Groom's favorite). The cake was truly a piece of art to look at, and was also extremely delicious to eat as well! The groom's cake set the bar very high, but it was not too high for the wedding cake to live up to. Often times, at weddings we've been to in the past, the wedding cake is overshadowed by other dessert options and we will have one or two bites and then the rest of the piece will go to waste. At our wedding, we figured if we are spending money on a wedding cake, we want it to be one that people will actually eat and enjoy. The cake that we got from Alessi far surpassed this bar. We had many people come up to us both at the wedding itself and afterwards tell us it was the best wedding cake they ever had. Several guests told us they requested even requested seconds! We were not surprised by this after having done the cake tasting, but it was so nice to hear that everyone at the wedding enjoyed the cake as much as we did. Overall, we highly recommend Alessi for any wedding or event you are having that requires a cake.
(5)
Meghan H.
I have always loved the treats that I have purchased from Alessi's; however, the flan that I purchased this week was not good. The flan looked delicious but upon taking our first bite, we tasted a sauce that was completely bitter. Im not sure how they did this, but I would guess that they left out the sugar. Horrible.
(2)
GT W.
Simply the best Cuban sandwiches on the planet and I've even had them in Cuba. Get the King Cuban and get ready for the experience. They also have a huge dessert selection and even pre-made Cuban sandwiches to go if you don't feel like waiting 5 minutes for yours to be made to order. Get it pressed. Go big or go home. You can also eat outside on their large covered patio.
(5)
Scott T.
They changed it all around!! they added and indoor eating area and have much less bakery show room space. My Cuban sandwich, for which I go was only OK this time and i have been coming here for over 35 years. They changed the bread and it was not as good. My wife thought it was better, but she goes for the guava tarts!
(3)
Tam D.
I went in here hoping to get a good sandwich from a local business. I ordered something with Cheddar cheese on it. To my dismay, once I bit into the sandwich, I realized that I was not given Cheddar, but American. American is not cheese, much less Cheddar cheese. After a few bites, it was nasty enough that I had to open up my sandwich and take the rest out. American belongs in 7-11 sandwiches that never expire, and at Wal-Mart. No reputable sandwich place (or restaurant, for that matter) should be passing that stuff off as Cheddar cheese. Needless to say, I won't be coming back here, and yes, I guess I am somewhat of a cheese snob.
(1)
Mike S.
I regard this the best, all-around bakery in town. Others may do well on a few items, like Cuban bread at La Segunda or Mauritzio Faedo, or a broader selection of pastries as at Florida Bakery or La Teresita, but the gold standard remains Alessi's Bakery. It retains its legacy as a primarily Italian bakery, but also does well on French, German, Latin and Anglo item....breads/rolls, sweet pasteries, sandwiches, prepared salads, deli items and hot items like chicken & yellow rice. Notable specialties are their warm-from-the-oven breads, italian wedding & other cookies (in nicely wrapped gift packs, chilled cannoli, sciacatta pizza in large sheets, and fine prepared salads. They also have regular 2-4-1 & other specials on items like zucchini bread & brownies. They are so good they get the elite from South Tampa to cross Kennedy Blvd to resupply. Conveniently located on Cypress, mostly providing to-go, but some tables available to squat & gobble.
(4)
Nellie L.
I do enjoy Alessi, and I've been going here for many years. They are the BEST compared to other bakeries in Tampa, though not the best I've ever had. If you need a special occasion cake, they are the one's to choose! I get my birthday cake here every year. Chocolate cake (always moist) with raspberry filling and iced with ganache. It is always perfect. Some of the pastries are so so, I do enjoy the seven layer cookies.
(4)
Julia C.
This review is only for the bakery side of the house, as I have never tried their sandwiches. I've been here a few times for pastries/desserts and have been disappointed on both occasions. I had tried their Strawberry Napoleon at the Florida State Fair and thought that was tasty, so I returned to the store looking for more sweets to enjoy but unfortunately all I got was uninspired, grocery-store-quality baked goods. Not to diss grocery stores but in general their bakery products don't wow me, and Alessi's cupcakes, cannolis, eclairs and tarts reminded me of what you would find at Sweetbay or Publix, maybe not even as good as Publix. The "gourmet cupcakes" looked really decadent and at $2.75 each I thought I was getting a great deal (compared to around $4 each at other local cupcake shops - Gigi's and Frostings, etc.) - that is, until I tasted it. The chocolate cake of the Oreo cupcake was dry and not even as good as a box cake mix, and the frosting just tasted sweet but without any flavor at all. Just totally lackluster. I was really pretty irritated I even wasted calories on it, actually. The cheesecake pop was just OK and not really worth mentioning. Did they use some sort of Jell-o No-Bake mix or something? Over the course of our two visits we also tasted their mini key lime pie (pre-made, store-bought crust), mini eclairs and mini cannolis in addition to several other cupcake flavors (carrot cake, chocolate peanut butter and maybe one other that I can't remember). Everything just seemed to be low quality, large-batch baked goods. Definitely not impressed. Maybe we didn't try the right items (?). The black and white cookies and the Italian cookies looked good, maybe they are worth a try. Although, then again the cupcakes looked good too. Two stars because the Strawberry Napoleon (not always available, as I realized upon visiting the bakery twice) is pretty good.
(2)
Bradley N.
I have lived in Tampa for 28 years and know that Alessi's is a Tampa favorite, however I don't get it. I have been there at least 10 times and never once had a good bakery item. They are always stale and bland. They remind me of cruise ship deserts, they look amazing and have no taste what so ever.
(2)
Aimee G.
A Tampa classic. I love to go in here just to gaze at the huge display of pastries and goodies. There are so many varieties of cookies, brownies, turnovers and every other kind of baked good imaginable. They also serve hot foods and sandwiches, the deviled crab is really good. Frequently they have BOGO specials, and the homemade lemonade is a treat. Service is always friendly and helpful, there are so many options at Alessi's but they are always glad to answer any questions you have.
(5)
Stale V.
Went for the deviled crab, should have gone for the cuban sandwich. The deviled crab was nothing more than mediocre, but the sandwich was very good. The fries were extremely oily so I did just eat a few and ended up tossing the rest. Also had a cinnamon bun from the bakery that was really good (probably the highlight), would go back, but only for the sandwich.
(3)
Jenny L.
Yelpers of Tampa please yelp more, but please don't abuse your privileges. If you have never been to a Cuban bakery in Miami then disregard this review. I was born and raised in Miami, so I was really looking for that home away from home place. This wasn't it. First of all I walked in and asked for a pastelito - a basic staple in any Cuban bakery. The girl had no idea what I was talking about. She looked at me like I was crazy, and had a bit of an attitude. There were no pastelitios, empandads, papa rellenas. This was more of an international bakery with a little Cuban flare, and some Italian hints. If you are expecting the real deal Cuban bakery this is not it. My cafe con leche was made with some type of gourmet espresso. It was a glorified bitter latte. It was not Pilon, La Llave, or Bustelo. No Bueno! My breakfast sandwich however was good. "Cuban" bread, eggs, and cheese. The bread was not typical Cuban bread. None the less it was good. This is the only reason I gave this places 2 stars. The bread they were selling was hard. It wasn't your typical soft hot out of the oven Cuban bread. The bakery did offer an assortment of pastries, however they were not Cuban pastries. They have pastries of all shapes, colors and sizes. As well as a full food menu. It is the assortment part that really bothered me. Again it was that international feel. If this place only classified themselves as a bakery that would be fine. But please don't present yourself as a Cuban place. I thought everything in general was mediocre at best. Nothing special or out of the ordinary. I highly doubt I will ever go back. It was worth the try.
(2)
Linh T.
I order my wedding cake from This bakery. The cake was absolutely beautiful. I loved the cake so much that for our 1 year anniversary I order a duplicate of the top layer. Everyone at the wedding asked us about the wedding cake. Melissa was very professional and designed the cake exactly the way we envisioned it. I highly recommend this place for wedding cake. They charge by # of guest at the wedding not by the design of the cake. Therefore, we were able to go all out on the cake design.
(5)
Philip C.
Anytime I am over near Kennedy I am looking to take friends to Alessi's Deli. The sandwiches are all exquisite. I had the ham and cheese and purposefully don't eat the whole thing that way I can save some for lunch the next day. If you don't get my point you just have to try it out for yourself. The deli is isn't like going to the Publix deli, it has flare and is unique to the rest of the delis in tampa.in my mind it is a must have in Tampa.
(5)
EJ P.
As a Cuban from Miami myself, it is simply not fair or accurate to call Alessi a Cuban bakery. It is not a Cuban bakery. It is more an Italian bakery of the style you would find in Philly or Brooklyn or Queens or Jersey City. Back in the 70s. But now, most of those places have closed because they are not profitable anymore due to food costs. Yet Alessi remains open. But really, Alessi is the Tampa version of a bakery. It has Cuban, Italian, Greek, influences. If you read about the history of Tampa you will realize that Tampa is not Miami. Tampa was settled by Italians, Cubans, Greeks, etc. And the food is heavily influenced by that. There are only a few Miami-style Cuban bakeries in the Tampa area, and Alessi is not one of them. If you e-mail me I can tell you where to find a Miami-style pastelito. Alessi is not that place. Alessi is a treasure because decent bakeries are hard to come by these days in ANY CITY, much less one the size of Tampa. It's very hard to make money with a bakery and run a bakery for 100 years, like Alessi has. Of course the stuff Alessi sells is not of the quality you would find in Europe, LA, NYC, San Fran, etc. but the food is damn good for Tampa. I am very proud that Tampa has an Alessi, plus many other bakeries. I moved here from DC, where I would have DIED to have an Alessi-style bakery. There were no historic, neighborhood bakeries in DC, and that metro area is like 5 times the size of Tampa. In DC, a "good" bakery is Panera!!!!!
(5)
William W.
I've only had the sandwiches which are pretty good, but you catch them moving slow every now and then and there doesn't seem to be a huge selection.
(3)
Jim B.
I've been eating Alessi Bakery goods since I was a little kid, and in my opinion, this place is as much a part of Tampa as UT, the Columbia and Bern's. It is these indigenous successes that help define Tampa as a unique and wonderful place to live (and eat!) You might just need a flan, or want a few pounds of those amazing Italian wedding cookies... they do catering and sandwiches and way more. The staff moves fast and the selection is always huge. I can't really point to any single item that I love most - I think I'm just glad that they continue to be all that they have been for decades, and hope that they are around at least as long as I am.
(5)
T. C.
I went only once, and I enjoyed myself--I would go again. There is a huge variety of sweets, and sandwiches. I hope you enjoy the photos I posted. I tried a guava/cheese pastry, which was outstanding. I'm from Miami, where that pastry is abundant, and the pastry at Alessi's was among the best I've had. An italian sandwich I had was also fantastic. I wasn't impressed with the Cuban Bread -- it didn't taste like they use lard, like Cuban bread should. It lacked flavor. However, it had a crisp crust, and soft inside, and made an outstanding garlic bread when I brought it home. The Cafe-con-leche (aka, cafe-late) was not very good.
(4)
Donald H.
Quality goods....great tastes....wonderful staff...! A legend in tampa and rightly so..!
(5)
Wayne M.
Not sure if we went at a bad time but the shelves were empty. We went looking for sweets and there was not much variety. We did try a cannoli, tri-color cookie, and one of those long cookies with raspberry filling. The cookies were good but the cannoli was lacking real cannoli cream and it had another flavor in it that is not authentic cannoli, maybe cinnamon or something. I also found that their cannoli's are ready made and sitting in the fridge. Real cannoli's are made to order so the shell doesn't soften or get soggy. Considering, the visit was okay and the customer service was good. We would try them again if in the area, we just hope they have more variety next time.
(3)
M. L.
My childhood bakery that I've been going to til this day, witnessing many renovations, Alessi still remains a favorite bakery & deli to go to. Sure, the prices has increased, parking is a pain, lines are long, but the sweets and deli food are what makes one forget everything else. Renovation took place a few years back changing the brick-old vintage style bakery to modern day interior design. That being said, spaces were open to more sweets and food to join Alessi. Their eclairs and banana bread has always been a popular choice. Lunch hours are packed with long lines; deli food of yellow rice, chicken, pasta, sandwiches, etc. You really can't leave Alessi empty handed, you'd be a fool if you do ... not really but it is tempting. They have amazing birthday cakes but remember to place order weeks ahead because they do get busy! Cupcakes are ... simply LOVE. Prices has gone up through the years but the great quality remains the same as well as service.
(4)
Cheryl M.
I brought tri-color cookies in for my colleagues, and the verdict was they are better than Modern Pastry in Boston's North End! I heart Alessi!
(5)
Maria C.
Best scachata ever...EVER!!!!!
(5)
S Z.
I always stop by Alessi's to grab a cuban, cafe con letche, and a yummy sweet with guava or mango in it every time I am in Tampa!
(4)
Steph G.
As a Tampa native, living just a few blocks from here,I grew up visiting Alessi bakery and have seen it go through many changes. Today I went to pick up some pastries for my grandpa for father's day. It had been about a year since I had visited and couldn't believe how run down and uninviting it looked! The last time I went cakes, fresh sandwiches and more filled the counters and coolers, inviting you to want to sample it all. Today it was sparse, dimly lit and almost looked like it wasn't even open! The pastry counter appeared dirty and rundown, and just didn't make me feel like I wanted to purchase anything. I ended up leaving with a few things for him, but I doubt I'll go back until I hear about some updates/changes. Even the outside sitting area was full of trash, and appeared very run down. What happened Alessi?? If you haven't been here in a while, check it out. I can't be the only one who's noticing these changes.
(2)
Shellie H.
Cutest cookies in the world! I love them!! :)
(5)
Lacey S.
Really a pretty good bakery. I have been coming here for years and it is so consistent. I still prefer a few other places instead, but they are really convenient for catering and such as they will deliver to your office..... Keep that in mind if you want a good working lunch during your next meeting!
(4)
ana l.
Great customer service at the bakery counter. My friend is a fan of the strawberry bread and after having a slice I could understand why. It's more like a cake, but it's moist, sweet, and light. I don't recall the name of it but its a fried dough covered with chocolate and sprinkles. REALLY sweet, but also very delicious. Several of the customers encouraged me to get it I was checking out. The only thing I wasn't a fan of were the mint cannolis.
(4)
Chris W.
My friend originally introduced me to Alessi's. Walking in was a bit intimidating as it has the atmosphere similar to Seinfelds 'Soup Kitchen'. Although, yes, it does kind of have the 'Soup Kitchen' mentality, it is so delicious! Whether you're stopping in for a quick lunch (everything you could dream up from yellow rice to lasagna) or going in for one of their wonderfully beautiful pastries, your experience is guaranteed GOOD!
(4)
Anthony P.
I really hate to leave them 1 star as I wanted to like them so bad since there aren't many Italian bakeries around the entire Tampa region (though I have latched on to a good 1 in Port Richey). Anyway, after reading the positive reviews (I should have scrolled down a little further to the negative ones and saved $40) I stopped by since I was in the area. First, I can't recall ever seeing sandwiches sold at any bakery back on Long Island-- that was odd. I didn't try any sandwiches though they sure did look tasty enough as I go to a bakery for baked goods and was dying for some great Semolina bread and Italian bread either of which this Italian bakery even sold! How weird is that?! I did get some pastries but none of them good enough to warrant another trip there. The Napoleon had the best layering I've seen since my days in NY and even though the filling was light it was too much like whipped cream for my taste. The Sfogliatelle looked of high quality and the shell felt like it would be a great pastry but the filling wasn't what I expected. For one, there was just way too much filling, for another the flavor was a bit odd. I've had Sfogliatelle from many different bakeries in my life and none tasted quite like this and I'm not saying that in a complimentary way. I do have to disagree slightly with some of the negative reviewers on the cannoli as they were better than I expected, at least after reading the reviews. Not to say they were perfect as the filling was just a little too thin for my liking but it was also very light such as what I've had in some exquisite Italian restaurants. I did get some cheesecake pops but haven't tried 1 yet as I got just enough for my kids and the pops are all gone so that may say something right there and same for the black and white cookies. Another huge negative-- don't go there expecting a huge assortment of Italian cookies as there were few to choose from. No pignoli cookies or pretty much any other cookie that every Italian bakery I've ever been in makes and sells. Besides the 1 star rating, if I had to use 1 word to describe the place I'd say Diasappointing would be it, at least for this Long Island Italian.
(1)
Caitlin W.
I love this place. Consistent, delicious food. Try their italian version of a pizza, or pick up a cuban (pressed, to go) with a deviled crab and thank me later.
(5)
Steve K.
Alessi is a Tampa institution. Every dessert item I have had there has been great....with the banana walnut bread being a particular favorite. Cuban sandwiches pretty good, but I am totally hooked on their Sicilian Focaccia sandwich. The roast pork is ok, but I've had better in Tampa. My experience has been that the guys working behind the deli counter are a bit edgy, but the check-out staff are always super friendly.
(4)
Deke K.
I accidentally stumbled across this bakery that is the size of a small strip mall while traversing across Tampa. Remembering its YELP reviews, I stopped in hoping to find a bakery treasury. It was about noon and I was surprised NOT to find much in the "Bread Family" for which I was looking, just some $5 zucchini bread that appeared very moist. The bakery was full of tantalizing cookies and desserts, but not being a sweets person, I passed. Many were in line waiting for deli lunches. I chose not to wait, though the food looked great and there were cafe tables outside with room to enjoy a meal. The windows were filled with cakes and cupcakes decorated to the hilt. A sign suggested "private appointments" for cake orders. I can't give it more than 3 stars without a taste test, and will save that taste test for when there are more non-sugary options. Wish I lived in the neighborhood!
(3)
Annie H.
The thing that sells Alessi is that it has been around for a long time and the sheer amount of variety. You will find something good. Although there is plenty there that is just ok. We had cupcakes there and out of the four flavors we tried only one was good. The rest were dry and the icing was too fakey sweet. The assorted mini cakes were decent with two really standing out among the 8 packaged: the one with a macadamia nut on top and the with a coffee bean on top. The sugar cookies, of which there are copious amounts lining the back wall, are really good. They have a hard icing and a crumbly buttery cookie. Their focaccia sandwiches are pretty good and the cuban bread is a nice treat.
(3)
Ashley R.
Tried Alessi for the first time today. What a beauty of a bakery. Beautiful displays of cupcakes, treats, danishes, etc. There are plenty of options for lunch and plenty of options of nice treats to take home. I had the regular Cuban sandwich, they also offer a hand carved option of meat in lieu of cold cuts, but the traditional was great and hearty in size! Also had some mini desserts, mini eclair, cream puff and cannoli. All very good!
(4)
Eli N.
Reach back to your childhood. Back to Charlotte's web when the rat Templeton was at the fair. This was a smorgasbord! Friend and I were so confused. We were surrounded by so many pasteries. This was sensory overload! We took our time looking at everything and the selection was so varied from cupcakes to cannolis, flan, cookies. Customer service was impeccable. Workers were so energetic and willing to help. It must be the sugar in the air. Everything tasted good to above average. Cannoli was average. Flan was meh, too eggy for my tastes. Tiramisu and cheese cupcake were very good, but not amazing. My take away is that this is a general bakery, jack of all trades. They dabble in everything, but don't really have a specialty or standout. In any case this was such an experience and we will be back to try more. Maybe they do have something exceptional waiting, the possibilities seem endless.
(4)
Billy H.
Today was a much worse experience after trying something else beside the Cuban... The $10 chicken philly sandwich we had was almost entirely made of bread... Certainly not justifiable of the $10 price tag of the sandwich! This may have been a case of large-scale skimping, or a new employee. Either way, it can ruin bussiness... Also, the $10 double burger was very good, unfortunately, very costly for something not Bison or Angus. In comparison, BURGER FI and Five Guys are considerably cheaper that that.
(2)
Ashley S.
#NAME?
(4)
Mike M.
Thank goodness this place is a 30 minute drive from our place: their goodies are absolutely dangerously habit-forming!! They have every shape, size, taste and color of hundreds of pastries, cakes, muffins, doughnuts and cookies, and cater all of the above as well as amazing wedding and event cakes that you have to see to believe. We took it easy today (kidding): a slab of apple bread pudding with creamy icing and an individual fudge cheesecake topped with crisp bacon. Both tasted obscenely wonderful, were excellently portioned and the prices are right on target. There is a dining area to lap up your purchase then sit to debate to return for another round, or force yourself to drive off while dreaming of the next visit. They also serve good-looking deli sandwiches, but we haven't tried them yet. Next time!
(5)
Ian S.
Finally tried this place out, and glad I did! They offer sandwiches at the deli counter, including 2 types of Cubans: the classic, and the carved. Not sure what the difference is, but I instinctively ordered the carved since it's a dollar more. It was delicious! One of the better Cubans I've had, and for 7 or 8 bucks well worth it. I also granted some cookies and they hit the spot too. I'll be back next time I'm in the area.
(4)
Anna M.
I do not cook. Alessi's is my usual go-to place to grab something quickly to bring to a potluck or impromptu events. Their scachatta (cold pizza) is delicious and is usually a staple at most Tampa parties. You can purchase a half or whole tray. The pieces are sliced bite-sized so they are quick and easy to eat. Their cookie platters come small or large and are both packed plentiful with delicious cookies. They also sell sandwiches, salads, pre-made meals, and lots of baked goods. They also make delicious and beautiful cakes. The staff is always friendly here and some of the employees have been here for many years. The scachatta trays and cookie platters sell out quickly on holidays and Gasparilla, so be sure to call in an order. I learned that the hard way when I embarrassingly showed up empty handed to my BFF's house one year for Halloween.
This is my favorite bakery in Tampa. Huge selection, especially if you love Italian goodies. I have never seen so many types of cannolis in my life. We tried their breakfast sandwich recently on a Cuban, and it was delicious. The cinnamon buns were the size of my head. The bakery itself has a ton of history. There is plenty of seating if you want to stop in for a bite too.
(5)
PJ S.
Disorganized. I get it. It's been around forever and there are people who love it, but: - they ignored me for 15 minutes at the counter where you order. I was the only customer standing there. Two staff shuffled around in front of me, playing pocket pool while I waited for them to decide it was time to serve me - they left my order sitting on a counter for 20 minutes while I sat in the next room with the numbered card display on a table, as instructed by the masters of pocket pool - the 'fresh squeezed lemon juice' is mostly tap water and sugar - the Cuban sandwich is a greasy mess that tastes like warm spackling and a non-descript pickle between bread All-in-all, that's an hour of my life I'll never get back! Did it once. No need to do it again. I learned my lesson.
(1)
Deanna F.
I'm so thrilled when I get to go to this bakery"only for bread"- cause I can look at the pastries - especially the ones that are buy one get one- yes - even at the oldest bakery in Tampa u get that hospitality! It's after the movies on a Wednesday afternoon and I really do need bread for supper. Got the bread and a few fruit pastries, cherry and blueberry also a guava cheese flakey pastry and a Cuban sandwich special. This bakery has fantastic pastry and cookies as well as hot food and a great place to dine in now as well as a front porch with tables and chairs . I wish that they had more breads- usually I get the Cuban long bread and a seeded plain white.they have egg bread rolls and do lots of catering with the great breads they bake here. Good selection of hot foods too! We have had the pulled pork dinner and it serves two. I'm guilty of stopping in by myself for coffee and a sweet bun if I need to wait out the traffic on Dake Mabry
(4)
Jason L.
A Tampa icon with extensive selection of Italian, Sicilian and Latin baked goods. Pastries, cookies, cakes and other daily goodies keep Alessi consistently busy.
(5)
Ivan B.
Alessi is an awesome bakery and food place in Tampa. During a lunch break a coworker took me here and I was amazed at all that was offered. Cakes, pastries, sandwiches, pies, cupcakes, bread, and more! An authentic place with good heart and soul. There were samples of so much and I fell in love with the pizza! A delicious sauce and for a good price as well. I ended up ordering a cuban sandwich though and it was alright. After sampling their strawberry cake I had to order a loaf of it. Super moist and that red color adds a fun twist to it. Great with the cuban coffee for a breakfast snack. One other thing I tried that surprised me was that they sell cronuts here. Those things are everywhere now! Overall I definitely recommend coming here if you want a nice treat. Its one of those that I know my mother would love.
(4)
Marc S.
This is a very good place...if only I had a good metabolism I would go here more often but an occasional splurge is good! If you have a sweet tooth or need desserts, cakes, pastries, etc for any occasion...I would recommend giving this place a try. Staff is always nice and helpful. They serve sandwiches and lunches which are very good but the desserts definitely get me in a good mood!!
(4)
Kelly A.
This bakery is a must stop anytime you are in the Tampa area. There is always plenty of customers inside. I usually stock up on the mixture Italian mini cookies, that are priced by the pound. Their mini cannolies are very tasty and they many varieties to choose from. The last visit I purchased a creme horn. This was very very yummy. I am use to getting them at a popular grocery chain.... so i wasn't sure how a real bakery one would taste, but I wasn't disappointed. Also, their Cuban bread is to die for! They are the only bakery that I have gotten a Cuban bread with a palm leave in it to keep the crease (I am guessing) in place. We usually purchase a couple of them because it goes so fast. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the employees aren't the happiest. Maybe i just have encountered the grouchier ones... they usually are helpful but with a attitude like you should have known that already.... It may be because they are usually busy and want to get everyone in and out... but they could perk that up a bit.
(4)
Joy D.
We accidentally found this place when we took Cypress St to avoid the traffic gridlock on Kennedy during some pretty bad flooding, and it was a real find! We don't really have an honest to goodness bakery in Orlando like this one. I haven't had the pleasure of going to one like this since living in my hometown of New Orleans, so it was a treat to go in and pick out all the awesome pastries and cookies and cakes. We spent about $35 on 4 cake pops, 2 pastries, 1 muffin and 4 cookies, but they didn't last long because they were SO GOOD! I recommend the chocolate almond Italian crescent cookie. It was THE BEST!!! We will definitely be back when we visit Tampa again!
(5)
Kate E.
I love this place. I've only had their cookies and cakes and other yummy baked things. Always tons of samples. Service is always helpful and polite. Cutest seasonal cookies I always give to our partners. There is a deli with sandwiches and breakfast items. Definitely will have to try!
(5)
Shawn N.
A historical landmark here in Tampa that has been around for a longggg time. Known for their sweets they also make hot food...I personally am not a fan of there hot dishes. The Cuban is not the best I've had but it's not bad...if you do get it, make sure to get the hand carved...it has real pork instead of just lunch meat.
(4)
Brooke K.
My husband and I stumbled upon this place completely by accident one day when we got lost. We went in and were really impressed by all of the amazing looking sweets. It took use a while to narrow our choices down to 3 each. We got them to go and I looked at the yelp reviews as my husband drove home. I was surprised to see such low reviews and joked that I hoped the food didn't look better than it tasted. Well, that's exactly the case. I got a brownie which was barely a step above a gas station brownie. It was barely any brownie and a bunch of chocolate frosting. I like a nice thick brownie. The abundance of frosting makes me think that the brownie itself probably isn't that good and needs something to spruce it up. I got a cheesecake cup because cheesecake is my favorite. It was disappointing. Definitely not cheesecake done right. The one thing I did like was my lemon cake pop. I had never had a cake pop before so I'm excited to try another one but I think that I will look somewhere else. The one thing this place does have going for it are the cheap prices. For 6 items we spent just over $8
(2)
Nick S.
There's a bakery and sandwich counter. They do breakfast sandwiches, Cuban sandwiches, and other deli meat style items on fresh breads. The chocolate chip cookie was a standout with rich chocolate chips. Other bakery items are good also. So many delicious items I want to try!!! I don't know where to begin. And not just desserts. The sandwiches, biscotti, and other baked goods look good too. Will definitely be back!!!!
(5)
Rob W.
Great place for all kinds of stuff. I love stopping by and picking up something to go. You can get so many things here besides standard Bakery items, it is just great.
(4)
H L.
I went here years ago and had a pastry and I remember it as a good experience. We went back here late one Saturday afternoon and ordered deli food and pastries. We were unfortunately less than impressed. AMBIANCE: It was a cluster, very disorganized. I'm not sure if this is a common thing Saturday afternoons, but there were kids all over the place "working". I was fine with the kid working the register but his 'trainer' left him alone to tend to an issue w/ the person in line behind us. So the process took a long time as he needed her help. There was another kid that kept hitting a Chinese gong that was hanging in the deli. There were two of them running in front of me, and one grabbing the other by the shirt and pulling on him, all while I was trying to walk past. There were kids handing us our food. Which I was initially fine with but as my boyfriend pointed out, where have those kids hands have been. (I would hope they would keep them washed as any employee would). Two employees were bickering. There were a lot more people working than patrons and it was disorganized. I couldn't imagine if there were more patrons. FOOD - DELI: First, as a vegetarian, the only thing at the deli for me was an egg and cheese on cuban bread (I guess not much of fresh veggies here,.. And the only other option for me was a nearly $10 greek salad in their "to go" section). The side options were chips or fries. I asked if they had potato salad and was told "chicken salad or tuna salad". So I went with the chips. The sandwich was bad, I couldn't eat it and threw it away It was covered in a brown glaze/grease. I assume the grill was very much needing cleaned and had 'meat grease' all over it. It tasted like I was eating a steak-umm. In addition, there wasn't even any mayo or anything on it, it just had the meat grease saturating into the bread. My boyfriend ordered a cuban sandwich and he wasn't too impressed with it. FOOD - BAKERY: We got the BOGO offer of mini almond cannolis and mini eclairs. Eh. The cannoli filling didn't taste like the traditional filling, it tasted more like a whip cream. The eclair was ok, but not spectacular. Honestly, I've had better at Publix. My boyfriend doesn't have any desire to go back. I would be open to going back and trying some of their other baked goods/pastries, but definitely never trying the deli again.
(2)
Lisa G.
I loooove this place!! Everything so fresh and delicious. I really can't tell you what's the best. - everything is good and better!!
(5)
T2 B.
Such a happy, yummy place. The bakery is simply massive with cakes, cookies, pastries, cheesecakes, and more--it would take months to try it all. The deli food is very high quality. The Cubans, burgers, ad handmade meat pies are delicious. Something is always on special and the staff is wonderfully friendly and helpful.
(5)
Desiree M.
Birthday Cupcakes! Cheesecake Pops! Scachatta Sicilian Pizza! Must Haves!
(5)
Maria C.
Insanely good pastries & cafe con leche! However, customer service/friendliness is seriously lacking at this place!! From sighing, eye rolling to trash talking (coworkers)...because of this I will not go out of my way to comeback when in Florida!!!!
(3)
Bryan B.
Let me preface the comment. I think places like Alessi are great for Tampa. This place has been around forever and the food is . However, the people cooking the food on the left side of the establishment kill me every time. Some of my good friends live down the street and subsequently I frequently visit. I try to not leave a bad comment but before we entered the other day I looked at my gf and said I bet there will be an issue before we leave (not in those words). And of course just like the last two times I got charged for two sammys and they only produced one. No one greets or asks "how are you doing." I try and go in and ask how are you doing only to receive "good, watcha want." That's cool, I understand people have good and bad days . It sucks because this place has been around FOREVER. Fire the cooks asap their unfriendly assholes or tell them to go to Publix to learn how to treat customers. I hope this gets to the owners because you guys really need to do something. Go else where for breakfast.
(2)
Laura S.
I've been here a few times, but the only things I really like are the fresh breads. The zuchinni bread and the pumpkin bread are pretty good, but nothing too special. This place is a cool hole in the wall to take you mom or grandma because it looks very alluring, but there's no need to really eat here. The desserts look incredible, but their flavors are less impressive. I'll continue to get bread here, and maybe a small something for my mother every so often, but that's about it.
(3)
Eric G.
HEAVEN! My only problem is deciding what dessert to get. I settled on the Salty Caramel Muffin. It was excellent. They also serve sandwiches and entrees to order. The Philly Cheese steak was on a cuban roll and was very good. The fries are fresh cut and not too greasy. now back to the bakery part which is really why I went. They had hundreds of options. Some classics like bannana nut bread, and tons of unique muffins, pies, and cookies. I will be back to try some other desserts and will update with specifics that are yummy.
(5)
Michele D.
Although they have a large selection. The desserts aren't that great. There is way better treats at other bakeries. (Moreano's bakery, wrights, publix) had the rum cake and was disappointed since Wrights makes such a perfect piece. If you wagged a custom cake go else where. Although it looks great the taste of colored frosting doesn't appeal to me
(3)
Kelleigh M.
I've tried to really love this place, but I can't. I know it's a Tampa legend and has been around for an incredibly long time. With that being said, the desserts I have ordered have been OK. Nothing phenomenal and nothing horrible. I do like their salt and pepper grinders that are featured at some of the local restaurants.
(3)
Manda B.
My first impression walking into Alessi Bakery wasn't the greatest. It all looked a little off, smelled a little weird. If you just have the name of this place, its deceiving. They have much more than just a bakery. When you walk in, to your left is a sandwich counter where they have cold and warm sandwiches and wraps. Straight back and the left is the bakery area. They have a wide selection of beautiful looking breads and pastries. In the middle of these two areas, there is an open island cooler with prepared foods. There wasn't much for selection left there in terms of cold sandwiches or salads, but I had came later in the day and expected. In the right corner, past the sandwich stations was the bathrooms. I have never encountered a more disgusting smelling bathroom inside a food establishment. It didn't appear to be TOO dirty, but smelled like a portapotty. Men's bathroom supposedly didn't smell as bad, but there was very poor lighting or broken lights. Off in a separate area past the sandwiches and bathrooms there was an eating area, with a few TVs. There was a window where you could watch a pastry chef decorating cakes, which was nice. All the food my group had ordered was average priced. I ordered the santa fe chicken wrap. Thoroughly enjoyed it, no complaints whatsoever. I tried a bite of the crab empenada, which was good other than being way over seasoned. Same with the fries. Cooked well, nice size, over seasoned. We also ordered a cuban, which I didn't taste but looked amazing. Hand carved meats, thick. We sampled five different cannolis. Original, irish cream, mango and amaretto were all very average, but the coconut one was exquisite. Also tried a slice of three sisters cake. Which was less than impressive. I only had one bite. Overly sweet and kind of bland. Overall it was an alright place.
(3)
Cindy P.
After being disappointed several times b/c they were sold out of scachatta, I called ahead to order some. A man named Phil told me they had plenty, and was even BOGO today. I said I'd like to reserve some or place an order so I'd be sure to go home with enough, hate to show up after work & find it sold out. He said no need, there would be plenty in all sizes. When I got there there was only two Large boxes & not the small size for the lower cost. I told the sales clerk about calling ahead, she said take it up with Phil. Turns out he owns the place. I reminded him of our conversation & me asking to reserve some small pkgs. He said first come first serve, I'd have to buy the big boxes or do without. Needless to say, with that poor view of a customer, I won't be back. And I'm a tampa native.
(1)
Ellie G.
Love this place! Awesome cubano sandwich. Get the fresh carved- so worth it!! We also had a mojo pork sandwich and it was so good. Gotta have it pressed and on the Cuban bread! Yum! I am absolutely obsessed with the guava Danish here- with a cafe con leche, so delicious!! If I lived around here it would be dangerous. Amazing bakery selection and breads. They have grab and go Sicilian pizzas too. They have a lot of prepared foods that you can grab as well- salads looked awesome and little party trays of sandwiches. They have a good variety of samples too- we tried their Cronut today- yum!
(5)
Jonathan T.
My first time trying Scachatta (cold pizza) and found it delicious. I've also tried their cannoli's which are very good. Great staff and awesome environment.
(5)
Lisa C.
Tampa. Staple. Where else can you find Fig bars, Struffoli, Cubans and Scachatta... Yes here. The prices are a bit steep but when I don't feel like baking for 12 hours, well, I know I can come here for my fix of Tampanian & Sicilian pastries. I always feel very welcome here when I pop in from over the bridge as I am not a regular. Pinellas does not have any good Tampa style bakeries. Probably best or my derriere would be 4 x's the size it is now. Luckily Alessi is a drive for me to get to ;) Venture out of your comfort zone and try the pastry recipes that have been around for over 100 years.
(4)
Felicia J.
I am new to the Tampa area & this place was referred to me, I brought a cake and cupcakes for an office party! Both were delicious & didn't last 2 hours. . Highly recommend..
(4)
Britt L.
After driving by last week and noticing the sign posted outside of Alessi reading "We have Cronutz", I had been wanting to try them out so bad! I have had a couple before at Piquant, yet more often than not, they will run out, and they're not very fresh there. The same can not be said for Alessi. The second your teeth sink into this delicious circle of doughy sweetness, you immediately taste the freshness, and you will not stop at just one bite!
(5)
Brittany C.
I was introduced to alessi a lil over a year ago and fell head over heels in love with the guava and cheese pastries/ quesitos... sadly the quality has diminished greatly. They are now 1/2 the size, with less than 1/2 the filling, usually a lil burnt yet still the same price. No thank you alessi.
(1)
Pete S.
So. Awesome. Bakery was great. Egg sandwich I got was fine, nothing special. Great atmosphere. Nice quiet place to sit with friends. They were giving out discounts too while I was there. You get to see them making the baked goods which is always fun. One of those things you should go to while you are in Tampa if you have the time.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Janet L.
Alessi Bakery is HORRIBLE! Like so many others here are saying why would anyone say they like this place...lol! Years ago when Alessi was on Howard Avenue they were awesome but since the son took over it's been just horrible!
(1)Caroline C.
Today my family and I attended the Cuban Sandwich Festival in Ybor City. I wish I could review the event as a whole, because we were very disappointed overall, but we were not disappointed with Alessi. Basically, Alessi was the only vendor at the festival that was approachable without waiting in an insane (like 50+ people) line. The reason that Alessi did not have a line, I think, is that they only had cold Cubans, not pressed. We were there rather late for lunch and my kids were starving, so we decided to give the Alessi cold Cuban a try. We really wanted a Miami-style Cuban (no salami), but could not locate the only Miami-style Cuban vendor that was supposed to be there. So a Tampa-style Cuban (with salami) it was. The Cuban was very good, with fresh soft bread and tasty meats/cheese/pickle. The people at the kiosk were very friendly and happily cut the sandwich into four pieces for us all to share (my two kids, husband, and myself). We were expecting to have a wide variety of vendors to choose from, but that was not the case. We could have gotten a corn dog, chicken, rice and beans, all kinds of fried stuff...just not a big choice of Cubans. Thank you Alessi for actually having a Cuban sandwich to feed my hungry family at the Cuban Sandwich Festival.
(3)Jessica E.
I had a corned beef sandwich, Husband had a breakfast sandwich (mojo pork with egg and veggies) and they were both AWESOME. I got a black and white cookie for later and it was probably the best one I've ever had.
(5)Goose G.
This is one of my favorite places. I do not reside in Florida, but grew up visiting the area. My family and I have been stopping in at this place for years. My favorites are the eclairs, guava turnovers & schacatta. I always leave wishing they had a location in my state!
(5)Ben V.
Alessi Bakery doesn't seem like it belongs where we found it. This is like old school New York/Philadelphia Italian bakery yet we found it in the heart of Tampa. That's pretty cool. The bakery was busy, clean, and the items laid out nicely behind open windows. On the left side when you walk in there's a sandwich section but we didn't bother. We were there on a mission- to raise our blood sugar to near comatose levels. We had heard of Alessi during the time we lived in Tampa but assumed it would never match up to the bakeries we were accustomed to so we didn't bother. That was a big mistake. Alessi has quality items- although some of what we ordered didn't fit the bill- such as the rainbow cookies. We found it to be drier than from our favorite bakery in New York- Pelham Bakery. Rainbow cookies do seem hard to come by outside of NYC, so the fact that Alessi offers them is welcomed- but to note- it lags just a bit. We also found their beef pastry to have a bit too much rosemary in it. It was good, however and tasted much like a meatball sub minus the Sarcone like roll and cheese. The winner was their glazed apple square. Think apple pie and strudel and thick, creamy doughnut glaze all wrapped into one brick of delight. That was the glazed apple square. I would walk from Philadelphia to Alessi just for this (you know I really wouldn't) but it was that stand alone good. We also tried their version of the guava pastry. We loved their guava spread but we hated the vehicle used. The guava spread was smooth and syrupy. It was sweet but truly had that trademark guava taste which is missing many times in guava pastries we've had elsewhere. The pastry shell it came in didn't look traditional to us. I wasn't sure if it was puff pastry either- but nonetheless it could have been worked on. Finally, the Key Lime tart was great- although it could have been a touch more limey (but again this is just preference for us since we're sour in nature).
(4)Shannon H.
My friend brought me to Tampa to show me her hometown...this was one of our Mandatory stops and I completely understand why! Pizza-Theres no cheese on top of their sicilian pizzas but the way these things taste, DOESNT NEED ANY! they were so flavorful and meaty. Weird thought, I know but Trust me on this one! Cubans- The real reason we stopped, their cuban sandwiches are not only huge but they are the best I've ever had! fresh quality ingredients and the pickles added crunch and tang. Too mad I'll have to drive 2 hours away to get another one. Pastries- I tried the cinnamon roll and a ooey gooey butter cake. Both delicious but not as amazing as the pizza and cubans. Their bakery had hundreds of pastries that I could just spend hours tasting and devouring! Anything from cakes, pies, cookies, to bars, cupcakes, and puff creations I've never seen before! The bad: The bakery side of the restaurant had a bunch of flies landing and having their way with the food in the case. I don't know how they can prevent that from happening but it definitely prevented me from buying a whole lot more!
(4)Brian T.
Tried this place recently to grab some breakfast. The breakfast sandwiches on Cuban bread were amazing! The selection in the bakery is awesome, make sure you go with an appetite. The only thing that was disappointing was the dining area but I think we will just get food to go from now on.
(4)Kim And Linh H.
Service was very nice. The place itself is huge and filled with goodies whether it's a quick sweet snack or a meal with clubs and sandwiches. Their selection is very amazing and vast and there's so much to get! Ordered a Cuban for 7 dollars and for a drink and fries/chips it was an extra 2 dollars. It was our first time there so we were quite confused when they didn't give us our drinks from the sandwich side.. (it's split between the deli and the bakery) Will be back again!
(5)Johanna C.
I gave it 3 because you have options in food(only). I use to come here when I was a child and the food you always remembered. Unfortunately, its not the same. I purchased a small size stuff potate "cold" and it was 3.99 and a small cafe con leche 2.95. I asked what kind of coffee they used and she didn't know. Nor did they know why the potatoes were so expensive. Clearly they are working there for a paycheck. Its like who's next move it move it. And only two people there were ahead of me. Anyhow, I'm sad to say I'm not going back. Its a shame that a great mom & pop place is so cold and over priced.
(3)Katie H.
There's nowhere I've been in the States quite like Alessi. The scachatta is this interesting, room temperature pizza that's weirdly addictive. They have all these specialty Italian sweets like bomboloni and struffoli, but the main draw for me are the cookies. Oh my God, the rainbow cookies. You can't compare them to any you've had previously. It's a "must visit" for me every time I'm in Tampa.
(4)Melody S.
The bakery section is pretty good. The deli section is bad! Just had a Cuban sandwich and the meat was cold, it was greasy, and the lettuce and tomatoes were wilted!
(2)Michelle M.
Alessi Bakery has been a staple of Tampa for over a century. In 1912 Nicola Alessi immigrated from Italy to Tampa and opened the first Alessi Bakery. The original bakery was located on Cherry Street, in the heart of Tampa, and the bread was delivered by horse and wagon. Nicola's knowledge in European baking and his strong work ethic quickly led Alessi Bakery to become the premier bakery in Tampa. Since 1912 the bakery, run by four generations of the Alessi family, has provided quality baked goods to the Tampa Bay area. Alessi Bakery carries a decadent selection of European treats as well as gourmet cookies, cakes, cupcakes and much more. The prices are super affordable. Most bakery treats start as low as $0.50 to $2. The éclairs and the chocolate covered strawberries are two of my favorite treats. Their award winning cake decorating skills makes this a popular spot for wedding cakes. Alessi Bakery also has a deli that provides soups, salads, hand-carved sandwiches, scachatta (Sicillian cold pizza), roast pork, chicken and yellow rice, and chicken marsala. All of these items are available for catered events as well. If you haven't done so already, check out this Alessi Bakery.
(3)Josh W.
I will begin by saying that I'm no authority on Cuban sandwiches, Italian vs Tampa vs Philly vs NY bakeries, or any of that stuff. What I do know is that this place has an AMAZING tasting Cuban sandwich. I've had a few since I've been here, and this was by far the best. They've all had the same(or variations of) standard meats, cheese, and some type of sauce/spread, but the bread is what set this one apart for me. It was soft, but somewhat sweet and flaky like a croissant, and all the flavors from the aforementioned ingredients went really well together. They make a number of other sandwiches as well, plus there was breakfast served all day. They had samples of the Sicilian pizza to try, which led to me buying a small box of it as well. We also bought some cannolis, a mini cheesecake, meat pie(also amazing), and sausage rolls. There were tons more baked goods to choose from, to include custom cakes for any occasion. The damage came to around $27, and all of us agree it was money well spent. As for the facility, it was clean and well kept, and the staff were friendly and helpful. There isn't a thing I disliked about this place, so maybe I'll be ready to give it 5 stars after finishing the sweets and my next visit. Definitely go here!
(4)Mike W.
Alessi's primary business i believe is as a wholesale bakery for caterers and food distributors (they have a whole factory in northwest Tampa). Many of their baked goods make their way into their retail location, but I'd say they're just "ok". On the other hand however, their sandwiches really deliver. Quite the selection to choose from, from cheesesteaks to Cubans, reubans to roast beef. My favorite is probably the Mr. Reuben with turkey instead of beef. Fries are fresh cut and seasoned with Old Bay. Yum! They offer daily specials that offer a real bang for your buck- last time, I had a Cuban, fries, deviled crab, and a drink for $9.50, and the deviled crab was loaded with real crab, not the imitation stuff. Some of the employees are a little stuck up at times, that'd be my only complaint.
(4)Alecia S.
I have been coming here for years. Every time it's like the first. I have been craving red velvet cake lately and no one does it better in Tampa. Also if you have never had a scachatta this is the place to try it. Truly Sicilian. Love Alessi.
(5)Geno K.
Gotta try the sandwiches people are raving about on here. I just happened to be driving by after lunch and wanted to check out the sweet stuff. Went with a lemon cake. Really good. Not the best I've had, but excellent. Easy in and out. Staff was nice. Smells wafting around the place were awesome. Will definitely be back and maybe add that 5th star.
(4)Gwendolyn F.
We only come here for desert because they have fabulous desert. Eclairs, tri-color cookies, butter cookies and my husbands favorite the banana bread. Just to name a few. Quick service and friendly staff. Will continue to come here even during a hurricane which we did once and they were open.
(5)Stephanie G.
Another family favorite. Great bakery, deviled crab, empanadas, scachatta, Cubans.... Outside seating only. We always stop in and take it to go. Great party food!
(5)Sam Q.
The hunt for the best Cuban sandwich in Tampa Bay continues at Alessi's Bakery. Alessi's is a full blown bakery. It's huge! They have a specialty cakes section. If their cakes taste anything like their pastries, they must be yummy. This place is a nightmare for carbaholics. Or heaven. Depends on your point of view. The rows of baked goodies are amazing. They gave us a sample of something. Don't know what it was, only that is was sweet, seemed like bread, and it was delicious. Focus! Order the Cuban and step away from the register... We ordered the "special" Cuban. I didn't know you would be able to feed three people with one sandwich. Thankfully I had already decided to split one with a friend, otherwise I'd be hurting. The bread was amazing. I love it. You'd expect that from a bakery, but I am happy to confirm these guys know how to make great Cuban bread. The pork was thinly sliced but authentic. The problem was the sandwich was too thick and was cold inside. I don't like cold Cubans. Next time I need to have them press it longer. For $6 this was the best deal I've seen. Aside from being cold inside, this was a really good Cuban sandwich. Problem is there were sooooo many other goodies that I have to come back. The sign outside said 49 cent brownies, limit 6 per customer. I'm sad to say I can't comment on them as I didn't get any. But I did have a bite of their carrot cake, and it was outstanding. I'm a fan!
(4)S W.
Outstanding Bakery! We used Alessi Bakery both for the Groom's Cake and the wedding cake and both were simply delectable! The groom's cake was an incredible replica of Michigan Stadium (The Big House), where both my Husband and I went to school. Every part was edible, including the very real looking scoreboard. Underneath the frosting was an absolutely delicious chocolate peanut butter cake (the Groom's favorite). The cake was truly a piece of art to look at, and was also extremely delicious to eat as well! The groom's cake set the bar very high, but it was not too high for the wedding cake to live up to. Often times, at weddings we've been to in the past, the wedding cake is overshadowed by other dessert options and we will have one or two bites and then the rest of the piece will go to waste. At our wedding, we figured if we are spending money on a wedding cake, we want it to be one that people will actually eat and enjoy. The cake that we got from Alessi far surpassed this bar. We had many people come up to us both at the wedding itself and afterwards tell us it was the best wedding cake they ever had. Several guests told us they requested even requested seconds! We were not surprised by this after having done the cake tasting, but it was so nice to hear that everyone at the wedding enjoyed the cake as much as we did. Overall, we highly recommend Alessi for any wedding or event you are having that requires a cake.
(5)Meghan H.
I have always loved the treats that I have purchased from Alessi's; however, the flan that I purchased this week was not good. The flan looked delicious but upon taking our first bite, we tasted a sauce that was completely bitter. Im not sure how they did this, but I would guess that they left out the sugar. Horrible.
(2)GT W.
Simply the best Cuban sandwiches on the planet and I've even had them in Cuba. Get the King Cuban and get ready for the experience. They also have a huge dessert selection and even pre-made Cuban sandwiches to go if you don't feel like waiting 5 minutes for yours to be made to order. Get it pressed. Go big or go home. You can also eat outside on their large covered patio.
(5)Scott T.
They changed it all around!! they added and indoor eating area and have much less bakery show room space. My Cuban sandwich, for which I go was only OK this time and i have been coming here for over 35 years. They changed the bread and it was not as good. My wife thought it was better, but she goes for the guava tarts!
(3)Tam D.
I went in here hoping to get a good sandwich from a local business. I ordered something with Cheddar cheese on it. To my dismay, once I bit into the sandwich, I realized that I was not given Cheddar, but American. American is not cheese, much less Cheddar cheese. After a few bites, it was nasty enough that I had to open up my sandwich and take the rest out. American belongs in 7-11 sandwiches that never expire, and at Wal-Mart. No reputable sandwich place (or restaurant, for that matter) should be passing that stuff off as Cheddar cheese. Needless to say, I won't be coming back here, and yes, I guess I am somewhat of a cheese snob.
(1)Mike S.
I regard this the best, all-around bakery in town. Others may do well on a few items, like Cuban bread at La Segunda or Mauritzio Faedo, or a broader selection of pastries as at Florida Bakery or La Teresita, but the gold standard remains Alessi's Bakery. It retains its legacy as a primarily Italian bakery, but also does well on French, German, Latin and Anglo item....breads/rolls, sweet pasteries, sandwiches, prepared salads, deli items and hot items like chicken & yellow rice. Notable specialties are their warm-from-the-oven breads, italian wedding & other cookies (in nicely wrapped gift packs, chilled cannoli, sciacatta pizza in large sheets, and fine prepared salads. They also have regular 2-4-1 & other specials on items like zucchini bread & brownies. They are so good they get the elite from South Tampa to cross Kennedy Blvd to resupply. Conveniently located on Cypress, mostly providing to-go, but some tables available to squat & gobble.
(4)Nellie L.
I do enjoy Alessi, and I've been going here for many years. They are the BEST compared to other bakeries in Tampa, though not the best I've ever had. If you need a special occasion cake, they are the one's to choose! I get my birthday cake here every year. Chocolate cake (always moist) with raspberry filling and iced with ganache. It is always perfect. Some of the pastries are so so, I do enjoy the seven layer cookies.
(4)Julia C.
This review is only for the bakery side of the house, as I have never tried their sandwiches. I've been here a few times for pastries/desserts and have been disappointed on both occasions. I had tried their Strawberry Napoleon at the Florida State Fair and thought that was tasty, so I returned to the store looking for more sweets to enjoy but unfortunately all I got was uninspired, grocery-store-quality baked goods. Not to diss grocery stores but in general their bakery products don't wow me, and Alessi's cupcakes, cannolis, eclairs and tarts reminded me of what you would find at Sweetbay or Publix, maybe not even as good as Publix. The "gourmet cupcakes" looked really decadent and at $2.75 each I thought I was getting a great deal (compared to around $4 each at other local cupcake shops - Gigi's and Frostings, etc.) - that is, until I tasted it. The chocolate cake of the Oreo cupcake was dry and not even as good as a box cake mix, and the frosting just tasted sweet but without any flavor at all. Just totally lackluster. I was really pretty irritated I even wasted calories on it, actually. The cheesecake pop was just OK and not really worth mentioning. Did they use some sort of Jell-o No-Bake mix or something? Over the course of our two visits we also tasted their mini key lime pie (pre-made, store-bought crust), mini eclairs and mini cannolis in addition to several other cupcake flavors (carrot cake, chocolate peanut butter and maybe one other that I can't remember). Everything just seemed to be low quality, large-batch baked goods. Definitely not impressed. Maybe we didn't try the right items (?). The black and white cookies and the Italian cookies looked good, maybe they are worth a try. Although, then again the cupcakes looked good too. Two stars because the Strawberry Napoleon (not always available, as I realized upon visiting the bakery twice) is pretty good.
(2)Bradley N.
I have lived in Tampa for 28 years and know that Alessi's is a Tampa favorite, however I don't get it. I have been there at least 10 times and never once had a good bakery item. They are always stale and bland. They remind me of cruise ship deserts, they look amazing and have no taste what so ever.
(2)Aimee G.
A Tampa classic. I love to go in here just to gaze at the huge display of pastries and goodies. There are so many varieties of cookies, brownies, turnovers and every other kind of baked good imaginable. They also serve hot foods and sandwiches, the deviled crab is really good. Frequently they have BOGO specials, and the homemade lemonade is a treat. Service is always friendly and helpful, there are so many options at Alessi's but they are always glad to answer any questions you have.
(5)Stale V.
Went for the deviled crab, should have gone for the cuban sandwich. The deviled crab was nothing more than mediocre, but the sandwich was very good. The fries were extremely oily so I did just eat a few and ended up tossing the rest. Also had a cinnamon bun from the bakery that was really good (probably the highlight), would go back, but only for the sandwich.
(3)Jenny L.
Yelpers of Tampa please yelp more, but please don't abuse your privileges. If you have never been to a Cuban bakery in Miami then disregard this review. I was born and raised in Miami, so I was really looking for that home away from home place. This wasn't it. First of all I walked in and asked for a pastelito - a basic staple in any Cuban bakery. The girl had no idea what I was talking about. She looked at me like I was crazy, and had a bit of an attitude. There were no pastelitios, empandads, papa rellenas. This was more of an international bakery with a little Cuban flare, and some Italian hints. If you are expecting the real deal Cuban bakery this is not it. My cafe con leche was made with some type of gourmet espresso. It was a glorified bitter latte. It was not Pilon, La Llave, or Bustelo. No Bueno! My breakfast sandwich however was good. "Cuban" bread, eggs, and cheese. The bread was not typical Cuban bread. None the less it was good. This is the only reason I gave this places 2 stars. The bread they were selling was hard. It wasn't your typical soft hot out of the oven Cuban bread. The bakery did offer an assortment of pastries, however they were not Cuban pastries. They have pastries of all shapes, colors and sizes. As well as a full food menu. It is the assortment part that really bothered me. Again it was that international feel. If this place only classified themselves as a bakery that would be fine. But please don't present yourself as a Cuban place. I thought everything in general was mediocre at best. Nothing special or out of the ordinary. I highly doubt I will ever go back. It was worth the try.
(2)Linh T.
I order my wedding cake from This bakery. The cake was absolutely beautiful. I loved the cake so much that for our 1 year anniversary I order a duplicate of the top layer. Everyone at the wedding asked us about the wedding cake. Melissa was very professional and designed the cake exactly the way we envisioned it. I highly recommend this place for wedding cake. They charge by # of guest at the wedding not by the design of the cake. Therefore, we were able to go all out on the cake design.
(5)Philip C.
Anytime I am over near Kennedy I am looking to take friends to Alessi's Deli. The sandwiches are all exquisite. I had the ham and cheese and purposefully don't eat the whole thing that way I can save some for lunch the next day. If you don't get my point you just have to try it out for yourself. The deli is isn't like going to the Publix deli, it has flare and is unique to the rest of the delis in tampa.in my mind it is a must have in Tampa.
(5)EJ P.
As a Cuban from Miami myself, it is simply not fair or accurate to call Alessi a Cuban bakery. It is not a Cuban bakery. It is more an Italian bakery of the style you would find in Philly or Brooklyn or Queens or Jersey City. Back in the 70s. But now, most of those places have closed because they are not profitable anymore due to food costs. Yet Alessi remains open. But really, Alessi is the Tampa version of a bakery. It has Cuban, Italian, Greek, influences. If you read about the history of Tampa you will realize that Tampa is not Miami. Tampa was settled by Italians, Cubans, Greeks, etc. And the food is heavily influenced by that. There are only a few Miami-style Cuban bakeries in the Tampa area, and Alessi is not one of them. If you e-mail me I can tell you where to find a Miami-style pastelito. Alessi is not that place. Alessi is a treasure because decent bakeries are hard to come by these days in ANY CITY, much less one the size of Tampa. It's very hard to make money with a bakery and run a bakery for 100 years, like Alessi has. Of course the stuff Alessi sells is not of the quality you would find in Europe, LA, NYC, San Fran, etc. but the food is damn good for Tampa. I am very proud that Tampa has an Alessi, plus many other bakeries. I moved here from DC, where I would have DIED to have an Alessi-style bakery. There were no historic, neighborhood bakeries in DC, and that metro area is like 5 times the size of Tampa. In DC, a "good" bakery is Panera!!!!!
(5)William W.
I've only had the sandwiches which are pretty good, but you catch them moving slow every now and then and there doesn't seem to be a huge selection.
(3)Jim B.
I've been eating Alessi Bakery goods since I was a little kid, and in my opinion, this place is as much a part of Tampa as UT, the Columbia and Bern's. It is these indigenous successes that help define Tampa as a unique and wonderful place to live (and eat!) You might just need a flan, or want a few pounds of those amazing Italian wedding cookies... they do catering and sandwiches and way more. The staff moves fast and the selection is always huge. I can't really point to any single item that I love most - I think I'm just glad that they continue to be all that they have been for decades, and hope that they are around at least as long as I am.
(5)T. C.
I went only once, and I enjoyed myself--I would go again. There is a huge variety of sweets, and sandwiches. I hope you enjoy the photos I posted. I tried a guava/cheese pastry, which was outstanding. I'm from Miami, where that pastry is abundant, and the pastry at Alessi's was among the best I've had. An italian sandwich I had was also fantastic. I wasn't impressed with the Cuban Bread -- it didn't taste like they use lard, like Cuban bread should. It lacked flavor. However, it had a crisp crust, and soft inside, and made an outstanding garlic bread when I brought it home. The Cafe-con-leche (aka, cafe-late) was not very good.
(4)Donald H.
Quality goods....great tastes....wonderful staff...! A legend in tampa and rightly so..!
(5)Wayne M.
Not sure if we went at a bad time but the shelves were empty. We went looking for sweets and there was not much variety. We did try a cannoli, tri-color cookie, and one of those long cookies with raspberry filling. The cookies were good but the cannoli was lacking real cannoli cream and it had another flavor in it that is not authentic cannoli, maybe cinnamon or something. I also found that their cannoli's are ready made and sitting in the fridge. Real cannoli's are made to order so the shell doesn't soften or get soggy. Considering, the visit was okay and the customer service was good. We would try them again if in the area, we just hope they have more variety next time.
(3)M. L.
My childhood bakery that I've been going to til this day, witnessing many renovations, Alessi still remains a favorite bakery & deli to go to. Sure, the prices has increased, parking is a pain, lines are long, but the sweets and deli food are what makes one forget everything else. Renovation took place a few years back changing the brick-old vintage style bakery to modern day interior design. That being said, spaces were open to more sweets and food to join Alessi. Their eclairs and banana bread has always been a popular choice. Lunch hours are packed with long lines; deli food of yellow rice, chicken, pasta, sandwiches, etc. You really can't leave Alessi empty handed, you'd be a fool if you do ... not really but it is tempting. They have amazing birthday cakes but remember to place order weeks ahead because they do get busy! Cupcakes are ... simply LOVE. Prices has gone up through the years but the great quality remains the same as well as service.
(4)Cheryl M.
I brought tri-color cookies in for my colleagues, and the verdict was they are better than Modern Pastry in Boston's North End! I heart Alessi!
(5)Maria C.
Best scachata ever...EVER!!!!!
(5)S Z.
I always stop by Alessi's to grab a cuban, cafe con letche, and a yummy sweet with guava or mango in it every time I am in Tampa!
(4)Steph G.
As a Tampa native, living just a few blocks from here,I grew up visiting Alessi bakery and have seen it go through many changes. Today I went to pick up some pastries for my grandpa for father's day. It had been about a year since I had visited and couldn't believe how run down and uninviting it looked! The last time I went cakes, fresh sandwiches and more filled the counters and coolers, inviting you to want to sample it all. Today it was sparse, dimly lit and almost looked like it wasn't even open! The pastry counter appeared dirty and rundown, and just didn't make me feel like I wanted to purchase anything. I ended up leaving with a few things for him, but I doubt I'll go back until I hear about some updates/changes. Even the outside sitting area was full of trash, and appeared very run down. What happened Alessi?? If you haven't been here in a while, check it out. I can't be the only one who's noticing these changes.
(2)Shellie H.
Cutest cookies in the world! I love them!! :)
(5)Lacey S.
Really a pretty good bakery. I have been coming here for years and it is so consistent. I still prefer a few other places instead, but they are really convenient for catering and such as they will deliver to your office..... Keep that in mind if you want a good working lunch during your next meeting!
(4)ana l.
Great customer service at the bakery counter. My friend is a fan of the strawberry bread and after having a slice I could understand why. It's more like a cake, but it's moist, sweet, and light. I don't recall the name of it but its a fried dough covered with chocolate and sprinkles. REALLY sweet, but also very delicious. Several of the customers encouraged me to get it I was checking out. The only thing I wasn't a fan of were the mint cannolis.
(4)Chris W.
My friend originally introduced me to Alessi's. Walking in was a bit intimidating as it has the atmosphere similar to Seinfelds 'Soup Kitchen'. Although, yes, it does kind of have the 'Soup Kitchen' mentality, it is so delicious! Whether you're stopping in for a quick lunch (everything you could dream up from yellow rice to lasagna) or going in for one of their wonderfully beautiful pastries, your experience is guaranteed GOOD!
(4)Anthony P.
I really hate to leave them 1 star as I wanted to like them so bad since there aren't many Italian bakeries around the entire Tampa region (though I have latched on to a good 1 in Port Richey). Anyway, after reading the positive reviews (I should have scrolled down a little further to the negative ones and saved $40) I stopped by since I was in the area. First, I can't recall ever seeing sandwiches sold at any bakery back on Long Island-- that was odd. I didn't try any sandwiches though they sure did look tasty enough as I go to a bakery for baked goods and was dying for some great Semolina bread and Italian bread either of which this Italian bakery even sold! How weird is that?! I did get some pastries but none of them good enough to warrant another trip there. The Napoleon had the best layering I've seen since my days in NY and even though the filling was light it was too much like whipped cream for my taste. The Sfogliatelle looked of high quality and the shell felt like it would be a great pastry but the filling wasn't what I expected. For one, there was just way too much filling, for another the flavor was a bit odd. I've had Sfogliatelle from many different bakeries in my life and none tasted quite like this and I'm not saying that in a complimentary way. I do have to disagree slightly with some of the negative reviewers on the cannoli as they were better than I expected, at least after reading the reviews. Not to say they were perfect as the filling was just a little too thin for my liking but it was also very light such as what I've had in some exquisite Italian restaurants. I did get some cheesecake pops but haven't tried 1 yet as I got just enough for my kids and the pops are all gone so that may say something right there and same for the black and white cookies. Another huge negative-- don't go there expecting a huge assortment of Italian cookies as there were few to choose from. No pignoli cookies or pretty much any other cookie that every Italian bakery I've ever been in makes and sells. Besides the 1 star rating, if I had to use 1 word to describe the place I'd say Diasappointing would be it, at least for this Long Island Italian.
(1)Caitlin W.
I love this place. Consistent, delicious food. Try their italian version of a pizza, or pick up a cuban (pressed, to go) with a deviled crab and thank me later.
(5)Steve K.
Alessi is a Tampa institution. Every dessert item I have had there has been great....with the banana walnut bread being a particular favorite. Cuban sandwiches pretty good, but I am totally hooked on their Sicilian Focaccia sandwich. The roast pork is ok, but I've had better in Tampa. My experience has been that the guys working behind the deli counter are a bit edgy, but the check-out staff are always super friendly.
(4)Deke K.
I accidentally stumbled across this bakery that is the size of a small strip mall while traversing across Tampa. Remembering its YELP reviews, I stopped in hoping to find a bakery treasury. It was about noon and I was surprised NOT to find much in the "Bread Family" for which I was looking, just some $5 zucchini bread that appeared very moist. The bakery was full of tantalizing cookies and desserts, but not being a sweets person, I passed. Many were in line waiting for deli lunches. I chose not to wait, though the food looked great and there were cafe tables outside with room to enjoy a meal. The windows were filled with cakes and cupcakes decorated to the hilt. A sign suggested "private appointments" for cake orders. I can't give it more than 3 stars without a taste test, and will save that taste test for when there are more non-sugary options. Wish I lived in the neighborhood!
(3)Annie H.
The thing that sells Alessi is that it has been around for a long time and the sheer amount of variety. You will find something good. Although there is plenty there that is just ok. We had cupcakes there and out of the four flavors we tried only one was good. The rest were dry and the icing was too fakey sweet. The assorted mini cakes were decent with two really standing out among the 8 packaged: the one with a macadamia nut on top and the with a coffee bean on top. The sugar cookies, of which there are copious amounts lining the back wall, are really good. They have a hard icing and a crumbly buttery cookie. Their focaccia sandwiches are pretty good and the cuban bread is a nice treat.
(3)Ashley R.
Tried Alessi for the first time today. What a beauty of a bakery. Beautiful displays of cupcakes, treats, danishes, etc. There are plenty of options for lunch and plenty of options of nice treats to take home. I had the regular Cuban sandwich, they also offer a hand carved option of meat in lieu of cold cuts, but the traditional was great and hearty in size! Also had some mini desserts, mini eclair, cream puff and cannoli. All very good!
(4)Eli N.
Reach back to your childhood. Back to Charlotte's web when the rat Templeton was at the fair. This was a smorgasbord! Friend and I were so confused. We were surrounded by so many pasteries. This was sensory overload! We took our time looking at everything and the selection was so varied from cupcakes to cannolis, flan, cookies. Customer service was impeccable. Workers were so energetic and willing to help. It must be the sugar in the air. Everything tasted good to above average. Cannoli was average. Flan was meh, too eggy for my tastes. Tiramisu and cheese cupcake were very good, but not amazing. My take away is that this is a general bakery, jack of all trades. They dabble in everything, but don't really have a specialty or standout. In any case this was such an experience and we will be back to try more. Maybe they do have something exceptional waiting, the possibilities seem endless.
(4)Billy H.
Today was a much worse experience after trying something else beside the Cuban... The $10 chicken philly sandwich we had was almost entirely made of bread... Certainly not justifiable of the $10 price tag of the sandwich! This may have been a case of large-scale skimping, or a new employee. Either way, it can ruin bussiness... Also, the $10 double burger was very good, unfortunately, very costly for something not Bison or Angus. In comparison, BURGER FI and Five Guys are considerably cheaper that that.
(2)Ashley S.
#NAME?
(4)Mike M.
Thank goodness this place is a 30 minute drive from our place: their goodies are absolutely dangerously habit-forming!! They have every shape, size, taste and color of hundreds of pastries, cakes, muffins, doughnuts and cookies, and cater all of the above as well as amazing wedding and event cakes that you have to see to believe. We took it easy today (kidding): a slab of apple bread pudding with creamy icing and an individual fudge cheesecake topped with crisp bacon. Both tasted obscenely wonderful, were excellently portioned and the prices are right on target. There is a dining area to lap up your purchase then sit to debate to return for another round, or force yourself to drive off while dreaming of the next visit. They also serve good-looking deli sandwiches, but we haven't tried them yet. Next time!
(5)Ian S.
Finally tried this place out, and glad I did! They offer sandwiches at the deli counter, including 2 types of Cubans: the classic, and the carved. Not sure what the difference is, but I instinctively ordered the carved since it's a dollar more. It was delicious! One of the better Cubans I've had, and for 7 or 8 bucks well worth it. I also granted some cookies and they hit the spot too. I'll be back next time I'm in the area.
(4)Anna M.
I do not cook. Alessi's is my usual go-to place to grab something quickly to bring to a potluck or impromptu events. Their scachatta (cold pizza) is delicious and is usually a staple at most Tampa parties. You can purchase a half or whole tray. The pieces are sliced bite-sized so they are quick and easy to eat. Their cookie platters come small or large and are both packed plentiful with delicious cookies. They also sell sandwiches, salads, pre-made meals, and lots of baked goods. They also make delicious and beautiful cakes. The staff is always friendly here and some of the employees have been here for many years. The scachatta trays and cookie platters sell out quickly on holidays and Gasparilla, so be sure to call in an order. I learned that the hard way when I embarrassingly showed up empty handed to my BFF's house one year for Halloween.
(4)Steve E.
Alessi Bakery is a real Tampa gem that was founded over 100 years ago by Italian immigrant, Nicolo Alessi. The business of baking and cake decorating has been passed down through the generations, and Mr. Phil Alessi is still operating the business today. You'll find Alessi's retail store on Cypress Street in between Armenia and MacDill. Watch for the big green roof, and the exterior signage in this busy area of town. This is where the beautiful wedding cakes and pastries are produced, and you can watch through the windows as the decorators do their jobs early in the morning. Alessi also has 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space in NW Tampa where they create many of their specialty items and custom orders. Inside the doors to the retail store, and you'll see the baked good cases lining the walls to your right and along the back of the store. On your left is the deli area where you'll find soups, salads, delicious deli sandwiches, scachatta (Sicillian cold pizza), and various hot entrées such as Cuban roast pork, arroz con pollo, and chicken marsala. There is a dining area behind the deli, and you can enjoy your breakfast, lunch, or baked goods treats while watching the cake decorators through the windows. Most folks are here for the pastries and baked goods, and you'll see that the cases are stocked with breads, cookies, exotic Italian and Cuban pastries, cakes, pies, and all sorts of diet busters. Fabulous treats just waiting to be boxed up and go home with you. (Sorry Blakely! I got you a Halloween pumpkin cookie, but I had to eat it, because it was calling out to me.) I've used Alessi's for a number of catered events, and they've always done a superb job with pastries and coffee in the mornings; or salads, sandwiches, and cupcakes at lunchtime; or full catered dinners in the evenings. If you like traditional brown bag lunch meetings at the office, then you should really consider their combo lunch specials which provide deli sandwiches or salads with a bag of chips or pretzels, and a cupcake. Yes, Hello.....your own cupcake! Alessi's is a great little spot that's open 7 days a week for your baked goods and catering needs.
(4)Amber D.
This is my favorite bakery in Tampa. Huge selection, especially if you love Italian goodies. I have never seen so many types of cannolis in my life. We tried their breakfast sandwich recently on a Cuban, and it was delicious. The cinnamon buns were the size of my head. The bakery itself has a ton of history. There is plenty of seating if you want to stop in for a bite too.
(5)PJ S.
Disorganized. I get it. It's been around forever and there are people who love it, but: - they ignored me for 15 minutes at the counter where you order. I was the only customer standing there. Two staff shuffled around in front of me, playing pocket pool while I waited for them to decide it was time to serve me - they left my order sitting on a counter for 20 minutes while I sat in the next room with the numbered card display on a table, as instructed by the masters of pocket pool - the 'fresh squeezed lemon juice' is mostly tap water and sugar - the Cuban sandwich is a greasy mess that tastes like warm spackling and a non-descript pickle between bread All-in-all, that's an hour of my life I'll never get back! Did it once. No need to do it again. I learned my lesson.
(1)Deanna F.
I'm so thrilled when I get to go to this bakery"only for bread"- cause I can look at the pastries - especially the ones that are buy one get one- yes - even at the oldest bakery in Tampa u get that hospitality! It's after the movies on a Wednesday afternoon and I really do need bread for supper. Got the bread and a few fruit pastries, cherry and blueberry also a guava cheese flakey pastry and a Cuban sandwich special. This bakery has fantastic pastry and cookies as well as hot food and a great place to dine in now as well as a front porch with tables and chairs . I wish that they had more breads- usually I get the Cuban long bread and a seeded plain white.they have egg bread rolls and do lots of catering with the great breads they bake here. Good selection of hot foods too! We have had the pulled pork dinner and it serves two. I'm guilty of stopping in by myself for coffee and a sweet bun if I need to wait out the traffic on Dake Mabry
(4)Jason L.
A Tampa icon with extensive selection of Italian, Sicilian and Latin baked goods. Pastries, cookies, cakes and other daily goodies keep Alessi consistently busy.
(5)Ivan B.
Alessi is an awesome bakery and food place in Tampa. During a lunch break a coworker took me here and I was amazed at all that was offered. Cakes, pastries, sandwiches, pies, cupcakes, bread, and more! An authentic place with good heart and soul. There were samples of so much and I fell in love with the pizza! A delicious sauce and for a good price as well. I ended up ordering a cuban sandwich though and it was alright. After sampling their strawberry cake I had to order a loaf of it. Super moist and that red color adds a fun twist to it. Great with the cuban coffee for a breakfast snack. One other thing I tried that surprised me was that they sell cronuts here. Those things are everywhere now! Overall I definitely recommend coming here if you want a nice treat. Its one of those that I know my mother would love.
(4)Marc S.
This is a very good place...if only I had a good metabolism I would go here more often but an occasional splurge is good! If you have a sweet tooth or need desserts, cakes, pastries, etc for any occasion...I would recommend giving this place a try. Staff is always nice and helpful. They serve sandwiches and lunches which are very good but the desserts definitely get me in a good mood!!
(4)Kelly A.
This bakery is a must stop anytime you are in the Tampa area. There is always plenty of customers inside. I usually stock up on the mixture Italian mini cookies, that are priced by the pound. Their mini cannolies are very tasty and they many varieties to choose from. The last visit I purchased a creme horn. This was very very yummy. I am use to getting them at a popular grocery chain.... so i wasn't sure how a real bakery one would taste, but I wasn't disappointed. Also, their Cuban bread is to die for! They are the only bakery that I have gotten a Cuban bread with a palm leave in it to keep the crease (I am guessing) in place. We usually purchase a couple of them because it goes so fast. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the employees aren't the happiest. Maybe i just have encountered the grouchier ones... they usually are helpful but with a attitude like you should have known that already.... It may be because they are usually busy and want to get everyone in and out... but they could perk that up a bit.
(4)Joy D.
We accidentally found this place when we took Cypress St to avoid the traffic gridlock on Kennedy during some pretty bad flooding, and it was a real find! We don't really have an honest to goodness bakery in Orlando like this one. I haven't had the pleasure of going to one like this since living in my hometown of New Orleans, so it was a treat to go in and pick out all the awesome pastries and cookies and cakes. We spent about $35 on 4 cake pops, 2 pastries, 1 muffin and 4 cookies, but they didn't last long because they were SO GOOD! I recommend the chocolate almond Italian crescent cookie. It was THE BEST!!! We will definitely be back when we visit Tampa again!
(5)Kate E.
I love this place. I've only had their cookies and cakes and other yummy baked things. Always tons of samples. Service is always helpful and polite. Cutest seasonal cookies I always give to our partners. There is a deli with sandwiches and breakfast items. Definitely will have to try!
(5)Shawn N.
A historical landmark here in Tampa that has been around for a longggg time. Known for their sweets they also make hot food...I personally am not a fan of there hot dishes. The Cuban is not the best I've had but it's not bad...if you do get it, make sure to get the hand carved...it has real pork instead of just lunch meat.
(4)Brooke K.
My husband and I stumbled upon this place completely by accident one day when we got lost. We went in and were really impressed by all of the amazing looking sweets. It took use a while to narrow our choices down to 3 each. We got them to go and I looked at the yelp reviews as my husband drove home. I was surprised to see such low reviews and joked that I hoped the food didn't look better than it tasted. Well, that's exactly the case. I got a brownie which was barely a step above a gas station brownie. It was barely any brownie and a bunch of chocolate frosting. I like a nice thick brownie. The abundance of frosting makes me think that the brownie itself probably isn't that good and needs something to spruce it up. I got a cheesecake cup because cheesecake is my favorite. It was disappointing. Definitely not cheesecake done right. The one thing I did like was my lemon cake pop. I had never had a cake pop before so I'm excited to try another one but I think that I will look somewhere else. The one thing this place does have going for it are the cheap prices. For 6 items we spent just over $8
(2)Nick S.
There's a bakery and sandwich counter. They do breakfast sandwiches, Cuban sandwiches, and other deli meat style items on fresh breads. The chocolate chip cookie was a standout with rich chocolate chips. Other bakery items are good also. So many delicious items I want to try!!! I don't know where to begin. And not just desserts. The sandwiches, biscotti, and other baked goods look good too. Will definitely be back!!!!
(5)Rob W.
Great place for all kinds of stuff. I love stopping by and picking up something to go. You can get so many things here besides standard Bakery items, it is just great.
(4)H L.
I went here years ago and had a pastry and I remember it as a good experience. We went back here late one Saturday afternoon and ordered deli food and pastries. We were unfortunately less than impressed. AMBIANCE: It was a cluster, very disorganized. I'm not sure if this is a common thing Saturday afternoons, but there were kids all over the place "working". I was fine with the kid working the register but his 'trainer' left him alone to tend to an issue w/ the person in line behind us. So the process took a long time as he needed her help. There was another kid that kept hitting a Chinese gong that was hanging in the deli. There were two of them running in front of me, and one grabbing the other by the shirt and pulling on him, all while I was trying to walk past. There were kids handing us our food. Which I was initially fine with but as my boyfriend pointed out, where have those kids hands have been. (I would hope they would keep them washed as any employee would). Two employees were bickering. There were a lot more people working than patrons and it was disorganized. I couldn't imagine if there were more patrons. FOOD - DELI: First, as a vegetarian, the only thing at the deli for me was an egg and cheese on cuban bread (I guess not much of fresh veggies here,.. And the only other option for me was a nearly $10 greek salad in their "to go" section). The side options were chips or fries. I asked if they had potato salad and was told "chicken salad or tuna salad". So I went with the chips. The sandwich was bad, I couldn't eat it and threw it away It was covered in a brown glaze/grease. I assume the grill was very much needing cleaned and had 'meat grease' all over it. It tasted like I was eating a steak-umm. In addition, there wasn't even any mayo or anything on it, it just had the meat grease saturating into the bread. My boyfriend ordered a cuban sandwich and he wasn't too impressed with it. FOOD - BAKERY: We got the BOGO offer of mini almond cannolis and mini eclairs. Eh. The cannoli filling didn't taste like the traditional filling, it tasted more like a whip cream. The eclair was ok, but not spectacular. Honestly, I've had better at Publix. My boyfriend doesn't have any desire to go back. I would be open to going back and trying some of their other baked goods/pastries, but definitely never trying the deli again.
(2)Lisa G.
I loooove this place!! Everything so fresh and delicious. I really can't tell you what's the best. - everything is good and better!!
(5)T2 B.
Such a happy, yummy place. The bakery is simply massive with cakes, cookies, pastries, cheesecakes, and more--it would take months to try it all. The deli food is very high quality. The Cubans, burgers, ad handmade meat pies are delicious. Something is always on special and the staff is wonderfully friendly and helpful.
(5)Desiree M.
Birthday Cupcakes! Cheesecake Pops! Scachatta Sicilian Pizza! Must Haves!
(5)Maria C.
Insanely good pastries & cafe con leche! However, customer service/friendliness is seriously lacking at this place!! From sighing, eye rolling to trash talking (coworkers)...because of this I will not go out of my way to comeback when in Florida!!!!
(3)Bryan B.
Let me preface the comment. I think places like Alessi are great for Tampa. This place has been around forever and the food is . However, the people cooking the food on the left side of the establishment kill me every time. Some of my good friends live down the street and subsequently I frequently visit. I try to not leave a bad comment but before we entered the other day I looked at my gf and said I bet there will be an issue before we leave (not in those words). And of course just like the last two times I got charged for two sammys and they only produced one. No one greets or asks "how are you doing." I try and go in and ask how are you doing only to receive "good, watcha want." That's cool, I understand people have good and bad days . It sucks because this place has been around FOREVER. Fire the cooks asap their unfriendly assholes or tell them to go to Publix to learn how to treat customers. I hope this gets to the owners because you guys really need to do something. Go else where for breakfast.
(2)Laura S.
I've been here a few times, but the only things I really like are the fresh breads. The zuchinni bread and the pumpkin bread are pretty good, but nothing too special. This place is a cool hole in the wall to take you mom or grandma because it looks very alluring, but there's no need to really eat here. The desserts look incredible, but their flavors are less impressive. I'll continue to get bread here, and maybe a small something for my mother every so often, but that's about it.
(3)Eric G.
HEAVEN! My only problem is deciding what dessert to get. I settled on the Salty Caramel Muffin. It was excellent. They also serve sandwiches and entrees to order. The Philly Cheese steak was on a cuban roll and was very good. The fries are fresh cut and not too greasy. now back to the bakery part which is really why I went. They had hundreds of options. Some classics like bannana nut bread, and tons of unique muffins, pies, and cookies. I will be back to try some other desserts and will update with specifics that are yummy.
(5)Michele D.
Although they have a large selection. The desserts aren't that great. There is way better treats at other bakeries. (Moreano's bakery, wrights, publix) had the rum cake and was disappointed since Wrights makes such a perfect piece. If you wagged a custom cake go else where. Although it looks great the taste of colored frosting doesn't appeal to me
(3)Kelleigh M.
I've tried to really love this place, but I can't. I know it's a Tampa legend and has been around for an incredibly long time. With that being said, the desserts I have ordered have been OK. Nothing phenomenal and nothing horrible. I do like their salt and pepper grinders that are featured at some of the local restaurants.
(3)Manda B.
My first impression walking into Alessi Bakery wasn't the greatest. It all looked a little off, smelled a little weird. If you just have the name of this place, its deceiving. They have much more than just a bakery. When you walk in, to your left is a sandwich counter where they have cold and warm sandwiches and wraps. Straight back and the left is the bakery area. They have a wide selection of beautiful looking breads and pastries. In the middle of these two areas, there is an open island cooler with prepared foods. There wasn't much for selection left there in terms of cold sandwiches or salads, but I had came later in the day and expected. In the right corner, past the sandwich stations was the bathrooms. I have never encountered a more disgusting smelling bathroom inside a food establishment. It didn't appear to be TOO dirty, but smelled like a portapotty. Men's bathroom supposedly didn't smell as bad, but there was very poor lighting or broken lights. Off in a separate area past the sandwiches and bathrooms there was an eating area, with a few TVs. There was a window where you could watch a pastry chef decorating cakes, which was nice. All the food my group had ordered was average priced. I ordered the santa fe chicken wrap. Thoroughly enjoyed it, no complaints whatsoever. I tried a bite of the crab empenada, which was good other than being way over seasoned. Same with the fries. Cooked well, nice size, over seasoned. We also ordered a cuban, which I didn't taste but looked amazing. Hand carved meats, thick. We sampled five different cannolis. Original, irish cream, mango and amaretto were all very average, but the coconut one was exquisite. Also tried a slice of three sisters cake. Which was less than impressive. I only had one bite. Overly sweet and kind of bland. Overall it was an alright place.
(3)Cindy P.
After being disappointed several times b/c they were sold out of scachatta, I called ahead to order some. A man named Phil told me they had plenty, and was even BOGO today. I said I'd like to reserve some or place an order so I'd be sure to go home with enough, hate to show up after work & find it sold out. He said no need, there would be plenty in all sizes. When I got there there was only two Large boxes & not the small size for the lower cost. I told the sales clerk about calling ahead, she said take it up with Phil. Turns out he owns the place. I reminded him of our conversation & me asking to reserve some small pkgs. He said first come first serve, I'd have to buy the big boxes or do without. Needless to say, with that poor view of a customer, I won't be back. And I'm a tampa native.
(1)Ellie G.
Love this place! Awesome cubano sandwich. Get the fresh carved- so worth it!! We also had a mojo pork sandwich and it was so good. Gotta have it pressed and on the Cuban bread! Yum! I am absolutely obsessed with the guava Danish here- with a cafe con leche, so delicious!! If I lived around here it would be dangerous. Amazing bakery selection and breads. They have grab and go Sicilian pizzas too. They have a lot of prepared foods that you can grab as well- salads looked awesome and little party trays of sandwiches. They have a good variety of samples too- we tried their Cronut today- yum!
(5)Jonathan T.
My first time trying Scachatta (cold pizza) and found it delicious. I've also tried their cannoli's which are very good. Great staff and awesome environment.
(5)Lisa C.
Tampa. Staple. Where else can you find Fig bars, Struffoli, Cubans and Scachatta... Yes here. The prices are a bit steep but when I don't feel like baking for 12 hours, well, I know I can come here for my fix of Tampanian & Sicilian pastries. I always feel very welcome here when I pop in from over the bridge as I am not a regular. Pinellas does not have any good Tampa style bakeries. Probably best or my derriere would be 4 x's the size it is now. Luckily Alessi is a drive for me to get to ;) Venture out of your comfort zone and try the pastry recipes that have been around for over 100 years.
(4)Felicia J.
I am new to the Tampa area & this place was referred to me, I brought a cake and cupcakes for an office party! Both were delicious & didn't last 2 hours. . Highly recommend..
(4)Britt L.
After driving by last week and noticing the sign posted outside of Alessi reading "We have Cronutz", I had been wanting to try them out so bad! I have had a couple before at Piquant, yet more often than not, they will run out, and they're not very fresh there. The same can not be said for Alessi. The second your teeth sink into this delicious circle of doughy sweetness, you immediately taste the freshness, and you will not stop at just one bite!
(5)Brittany C.
I was introduced to alessi a lil over a year ago and fell head over heels in love with the guava and cheese pastries/ quesitos... sadly the quality has diminished greatly. They are now 1/2 the size, with less than 1/2 the filling, usually a lil burnt yet still the same price. No thank you alessi.
(1)Pete S.
So. Awesome. Bakery was great. Egg sandwich I got was fine, nothing special. Great atmosphere. Nice quiet place to sit with friends. They were giving out discounts too while I was there. You get to see them making the baked goods which is always fun. One of those things you should go to while you are in Tampa if you have the time.
(5)