Aby’s Bakery

Owner was very helpful helping me pick some deserts for a dinner. Apple Turnover and animal frosted cookies were delicious. The prices are very reasonable as well. This is not a place where you want to order a cake, but great for bringing home deserts or indulging yourself.

I just found Aby’s two weeks ago. What a pleasant surprise. When you first walk in you go through a screen door. That’s how I remember the bakeries fifty years ago. Unlike a big box store this bakery has real atmosphere from the old school ceilings to the Un commercialised tv free music free sitting area. This s a throw back to old school west Hartford before the big money came to town and it was a simpler time. The artistry in the display cases and each pastry I’ve tried is delicious. Have not bought more than pastry but if pastry is the business card of a culinary artist then this is a bakery whose selections I look forward to experience more of!

What a sweet lady! The caramel she makes will make your mouth water, and she fills cookies with the caramel, sooooo delicious!

Aby’s Argentine Bakery I have to admit I have a weak spot for great bakeries; and these days finding a great bakery is like finding a needle in a haystack since I’ve noticed bakeries have been on the decline, but I think slowly making a comeback. Try the Alfajor chocolate delicacies they melt in your mouth and not in your hand, and very addicting! It is really the main reason I go to Aby’s although there are other yummy pastries on hand of course! It’s a friendly family run business and don’t be shy asking Aby who is typically at the counter what is what she is helpful. There are some tables to sit down at and they also make cappuccinos and the such there so it’s a nice to have the option to eat and drink in.

1.) Just to warm you up:
This place had me at Argentina. Ah the memories I had. Top quality meat, sophisticated wines, and gorgeous women (which, apparently, this country pays one of the highest per capita in plastic surgery, or at least when I was there). The peso is nothing compared to the dollar, so you live like a king or queen, ordering an appetizer, entrée, dessert and alcoholic drink for about $ 10 bucks of the most quality food. Home of the machismo — men super aggressively hitting on women, and transvestites. The times of just living wild and not giving a f&$%. Ah, welcome to Argentina.
*record scratches*
Oops. I veered off the track of this review.
*straightens tie on suit, and resumes playing music on the record*
I always use to eye this place. As a matter of fact, I have eyed this place for about 5 years, and I always wanted to come here. Why didn’t I? Well today I did, and now I am a believer.
2.) What your eyes may see:
Kind of a small area for sitting in and eating stuff there. The area behind the counter, where they make the food, seems pretty long, with a lot of heavy duty baking machinery. At the front counter displays all the wonderful pastries. They also sell a few things like Dulce De Leche, box of cookies and a few other things. After looking a the pictures I took, they also have a small fridge, which is on the floor, behind the counter that serves Coconut Water, soda and other soft drinks.
3.) Food:
They make empanadillas, which since I am latino I know what they are, but to describe what an empanada or empanadILLA («ILLA» means smaller version) it reminds me of a Jamaican Beef patty. Same difference. But obviously they add a little spin on seasoning and how they may cut the meat into it. But it’s the same flakey, breaded idead. But this place displays more pastries than anything.
I was introduced to the «Alfajor.» If you look at the pictures I uploaded, the Alfajor is a butter cookie with Dulce de Leche in between, covered with Dutch Milk Chocolate. Crispy cookie, creamy dulce de leche, tasty Dutch Milk Chocolate. Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum. (sung in the «Men Men Men Men Men Men Men Men Men» jingle from the show 2 and a half men).
4.) Service:
The young guy told me he was surprised no one on Unilocal talked much about this place. I dunno. I see reviews from Emily, Paige, Frenchelle, Paul. I guess you’re right. There still needs to be more reviews on this place.
5.) Impressions:
Try out the wondeful Argentine goodness. They have shown me not only their meat, wine and females are quality… but their pastries are melt in your mouth successes!
;)

I will do an update once I go again, but stop by here for some real alfajores!
Sweet crumbly pastry dough filled with dulce de leche and lined with coconut flakes… the best kind of Oreo there is.
They have churros, speak Spanish and sell amazing alfajores for a decent price. They make a wonderful dinner gift and you can buy them in pre-​assembled packs. This is my type of bakery.
I’ll be back soon! The only issue– whenever I want to stop in– they’re closed!

5 stars if I am rating the fresh made sandwiches on that delicious bread! Other than the sandwiches, the owner is a real pleasure to deal with and the bakery items are always consistent and tasty. Cool little spot!

They make a nice braided raisin loaf and mini apple tarts. The half-​moon cookies arent really what I expected. They have a thin icing rather than a frosting, and it’s more like a crunchy cookie than a soft whoopie pie.
I’m going to try more. It’s good to support small bakeries otherwise all we’ll have is Shoprite, etc.

WOW. The churros here are just decadent. My boyfriend brought some home a few days ago (he went to Aby’s bright & early because they normally sell out by 8:30) and, as much as I hate to admit, I ate three in one sitting. Tasty fried dough coated with cinnamon & sugar — moist and light on the inside with a crispy exterior… it doesn’t get much better than that. While the bakery isn’t much to look at (I’ve been in about 5 times), the baked goods are pretty stellar — still a solid 4 stars overall.
Next stop — chocolate empanadas!

He gave it 3 stars because he didn’t try everything? So they’re only ok because you didn’t grace them with more of your business? Thats the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard. This place is the bomb.

I visited the bakery today and ordered a vanilla cupcake with rainbow shots. I’d read other reviews of this place and they were outstanding, it’s a short trip from my job so I decided to give them a go on my quest for Hartford/​Greater Hartford’s best bakery.
I have to say this was just okay for me. Although the place is clean and the people are friendly, the cupcake was just ok, the cake part was pretty good, the frosting, not really all that tasty and had a store-​bought flavor. However it was huge and reasonably priced. If I indulge in treats I like to go to do a gruesome workout afterwards to pay for it, but I really like when working out a little harder on any given day was worth it. This treat? Not worth it.
I wanted to venture out from the standard cupcake but nothing else really seemed that appetizing, I guess this could be blamed on the basic presentation and standard office building-​style lighting?
I haven’t written this place off because cupcakes are not what makes or breaks them as I hear their chocolate empenadas are really good. I’ll report back once I give them a try.

This place is good. I didn’t try everything by a long-​shot, but what I had I liked. I will probably give it more stars when I go back to try additional stuff.
It’s a small place, easily passed by on Farmington Avenue, but do stop in. The lady behind the counter is nice and friendly and the stuff is made right there. I had a churro, which is like a fried dough stick or a cruller doughnut. It’s denser than fried dough and drier than a cruller, but it’s delish. It came dusted with a little granular sugar.
I also tried a little, round chocolate covered pastry that I can’t remember the name of, but it’s bottom of the pastry case on the left. I can only describe it as a dulce de leche scooter pie. Talk about good!
Aby’s has fruit tarts and other familiar offerings too. They also have some sandwiches and coffee. A sign indicated you can buy cold-​cuts by the pound, but I can’t see a real need for that. I guess if they’re making sandwiches, they might as well.
So stay tuned. I’ll be blowing my diet and trying more things in the name of Unilocal thoroughness!