Sandy’s Bakery

With great sadness, I am updating my review of Sandy’s… They no longer serve breakfast!
Hubby and I come up to this area once a year, and a breakfast at Sandy’s is always at the top of our must-​do list. So this year, as always, we jumped in the car and made the long, long drive to Great Valley, NY, to go to our favorite «restaurant in a garden shed.» I knew, the instant we arrived at 10am on a Friday and found an empty parking lot, that something was terribly, horribly wrong. The sign said «open,» but another sign said, «sorry, sold out.» Sweet Jesus, what!!!
Sandy and her husband were inside, and she informed me that they no longer serve breakfast, only the baked goods– which usually sell out by 8:30am. Swear to god, I could have cried right then and there. :’(
So as it stands, as of August 8^th, 2014, the venerable Sandy’s Bakery in Great Valley, NY, is only open on Thursdays and Fridays, and it is «bakery only,» no breakfast. I have died a little on the inside, having to write this…

5 Stars isn’t enough for Sandy’s. Hands down some of the best food you’ll ever get a hold of will be found here (and dirt cheap too)!
I don’t know where to begin… So I suppose I’ll start with the specialty: .50 cent freshly baked cinnamon buns the size of softballs. The doughnuts and brownies are great too, but dear God those cinnamon buns! Diabetes is worth taking a couple dozen of those bad boys home any time you find yourself in the Southern Tier.
Bring an appetite because the breakfast portions are huge and fantastic. The prices aren’t that far off to where they were 20 years ago and they were cheap then. I don’t recall off the top of my head, but expect to get a full stack of thick, texas style french toast for around $ 3; it’s the equivalent of 35% of a loaf of bread, and the bread is baked FRESH daily. You heard me right: they bake they’re own bread (which is also available for sale), cut into giant slices fresh and french toast it for you for about $ 3. In addition to the french toast, the ham, eggs, bacon, sausage and home fries will all knock your socks off as well. All are made with fresh, local ingredients too.
One time my friends and I got there a little late and they had either stopped serving breakfast or ran out of certain items, but serendipity as it would turn out, I wandered on to the discovery I had been seeking all my life. ALAS, MY QUEST FOR THE WORLD’S GREATEST BURGER HAS REACHED FRUITION! This burger was enormous. It must have been over a pound AFTER cooking. I had it with cheese and bacon. The bacon was thick-​sliced and perfectly fried, the cheese was a copious amount of mild colby-​jack melted evenly across the meat, the toppings were all fresh to include the bun and the burger was peppery and robust with flavor. In fact, I don’t think I could talk it up enough to where it would be a let-​down for you when you first sink your teeth into one. If you’re a burger lover than you need to make it your life’s goal to conduct a pilgrimage to this tiny eatery in Great Valley.
The only cons that this place throws your way: (1) it’s a tiny shack way out in the country. About an hour or so south of Buffalo, NY. (2) The hours are super limited and constantly changing (it was like 7am-​1pm Tue-​Fri, but I believe the hours might be only Thurs and Fri nowadays). (3) The restaurant closes for large track of time, to include YEARS sometimes. This last con is a biggie. If you want to see a grown, burly man not unlike myself cry like a baby, then watch as I pull into the parking lot expecting pure bliss and subsequently leaving with an empty stomach and cleaner arteries than expected.
I’m shocked this place has never been dug up to be featured on a Food Network or Travel Channel show yet, but I won’t be surprised when it is.
Two thumbs way up, huge smile and skipping down the street like a school boy.
NOTE: Don’t forget to order a dozen or so cinnamon buns to go. Best six bucks you’ll ever spend.

Absolutely, hands up, first class and even right down to the aromatic blast as you open the front door of a roadside eatery plus bakery. Not only is Sandy’s the best all around bargain for a morning «meal,» it was the quality, selection and steaming hot food in a totally unexpected buffet line. My first reaction was if I had brought my teenaged grand-​cihildren, they would have attacked the food like Pit Bulls going after fresh hamburger. Clearly, I think when our sever put our toast on the table, it sealed the deal as Sandy’s Bakery is THE WINNER for BREAKFAST IN WNY. To call the toast, «just toast,» is a disservice to the establishment. My raisin toast was thick, could be measured in square inches, literally shined with butter and tasted so good that you might call it a sweet roll.
I have visited all 50 states, lived in 15 states, driven more than one million miles either recreationally, commuting or trips for work over 58 years. Believe me, I have been in a thousand roadside restaurants and how nice it was at age 74 to open Sandy’s door and before I ever sat down at my table, I knew immediately that this day was getting off to a great start.
An earlier review mentioned less than friendly service. That day must have been an exception since our young server was excellent from all measures. Also, the other 4 – 5 full tables of customers all were very friendly and definitely enjoying their food.
Lastly, I have been eating breakfast in Ellicottville area restaurants since the 1970’s with the exception of the last 6 years while living in San Diego. This breakfast in was Number One in the Ellicottville area over all those years.
Way to go Sandy’s! Also, «High Five’s» to my very good friends from Hen Coop Hollow Rd. who suggested we dine at Sandy’s.
Please note, they are only open Wed. to Fri. from 7:00am to 1:00pm.

Scary, scuzzy, and the owners are less than friendly. But the food is amazing!
$ 3 for blueberry pancakes that cover a platter, $ 2.75 for the best biscuits and gravy I’ve ever had. Donuts so big and so fresh you have to use a knife and fork… There’s just not one thing wrong with anything that comes out of the kitchen.
We found this place on the last day of vacation. A group of eight people – all of whom have very different ideas – all wished we could have another day or two just to eat at Sandy’s!
Brave it – you’ll be glad you did.

A trip to Sandy’s is an essential component of any trip home to WNY and I’m sure there are many people who will agree with me. I can’t think of any other restaurant on earth that actually leaves me heartbroken if I don’t get to go. Since she’s only open Tuesday-​Friday from 7 – 1, I’ve actually rearranged my schedule to fit in a trip Sandy’s.
First of all, everything at Sandy’s is huge: the donuts have to be cut into sections to actually fit them into your mouth, the monstrous fish fry could feed a family of four and the roast beef sandwich is an entire pot roast on a buttery, grilled roll the size of your head. Second of all, everything is ridiculously cheap (I’m talking 1950’s cheap). Thirdly, it’s unbelievably delicious (I swear her brownies actually gave me an orgasm once).
If you go on Friday, she actually starts to run out of ingredients sometimes, so your options start to diminish the later it gets. I remember having to get really creative one time to try and piece together an actual meal at 12:45 on a Friday. It didn’t matter because it was still amazing.
I have no idea what the address is since it doesn’t appear to exist in cyberspace. You just kind of know where it is if you’re from the area. I can tell you it’s a little blue shack on the left, I think at Humphrey Rd and Raecher Rd if you’re heading out Humphrey Rd from Great Valley on the back way to Olean.