Welcome to Columbus Baking Company: A Culinary Gem in Syracuse

“ Love the hot bread. One loaf goes on the way home. Then go to Lombardi and get your Capitola and salami and pig out in the car ”

“ Been going here for 50 years. Best bread around. Always warm and fresh just the way I remembered with my dad ”

“ The best bread in America!!! It is located in a very old community and I was kind of nervous walking there (better drive). The guy heard that it is my first come, he introduced their bread to me and recommended some. He is so kind to let me bring the cash next time. I tried the bread as soon as I got home. It is so delicious and better than all the Italian bread I had in Beijing. It makes me feel lucky to study in Syracuse and being a foodie. ”

“ I stopped today, Easter morning. Needed a couple of loaves for dinner. It smells so good in there, bread was hot. I bought a 3rd loaf , went home, and immediately made italian toast. Great way to start the day. ”

“ Our family is from Syracuse, NY since late-1800's. Family first laid sewage pipes during the growth of this city, the rest worked trades in stone, plumbing, electrical and later in the Civil Services, all were WWII or Korea military service. You can not be more Syracuse NY then Columbus Bakery. There is honor in that family and a dedication. Never knew a table setting without Columbus ingredients surround us. ”

“ These folks are Number 1 Visited here on the strong advice from a friend and, after we found it (GPS takes you around the block), parked in front, walked inside an old school, old charm bakery with nothing but Italian loafs and flour everywhere. Nothing fancy here and that's ok because they have the best breads of all. Worth the drive, zero parking but out front works just fine. Highly recommended ”

“ Columbus Baking Company has been around for decades and is still a CNY institution! I get a bit nostalgic thinking about the countless trips my parents made to this bakery when I was a kid. From the Italian guys in the back to the aroma of fresh bread wafting through the store (and out the door), not much has changed. Ok, that's not true. A loaf will set you back $4 these days, but it's still worth every penny. Bring a few bucks. This place is still cash only! I've moved away since my days growing up here, but on a recent trip "back home", I stopped by to grab a "flat" (my Dad's favorite). Sadly, they had already run out, so I was out of luck. Fortunately, plenty of "sandwiches" were still available. This is one of those "Mom 'N Pop" places. They close pretty early; even earlier if they've sold out, so plan to arrive in the morning if you can. Once they're gone, they're gone! The Italian bread was just as I remembered it. Even the paper wrapping is the same! The crust was chewy, but not so overdone that was difficult to bite into. The inside was soft and fluffy. Can you slice it to build a sandwich? Sure! But if you're a carb lover, this bread is good enough as a standalone. This tiny bakery with the brick facade is recognizable to all CNYers. While not much has changed over the years, that's the way I like it. I think you will, too. ”

“ I was super excited to come here shortly after I moved back to Syracuse. I had friends at work who always raved about the food here. Unfortunately, I didn't make it in until after COVID, and they had stopped selling sandwiches and other food items. I thought it was a total loss, but bought some bread since I was there. And Columbus has been our go-to spot for Italian bread ever since. If I'm being honest, I've only ever tried Italian bread from a few other bakeries in town but they didn't even come close. Since COVID, they're a pretty simple place. Cash only. Bread in the front, and a cooler filled with pizza dough, pepperoni, mozzarella, pizza sauce, and meatballs. I got the meatballs once to recreate the meatball heel, they were pretty standard. I will say the pizza dough is noticeably better than what you'd buy from a grocery store. The dough is soft and airy, and it spread without a hassle over our whole large pan to make one of the best pizzas we've ever made at home. I don't really know how to describe why the bread is so much better than other Italian bread. It's just the right density - soft but doesn't smoosh when you slice or butter it. I'm sitting here asking myself, what does bread taste like? Whatever it is that makes it so enjoyable, perhaps the dopamine rush you get as it melts in your mouth and quickly converts straight into blood sugar. There's a noticeable spike in that particular experience eating this bread, and it towers over anything else I've tried. We're just finishing the loaf we bought and I'm sad to go back to the regular store-bought bread we have from before this. The last loaf we got, we used to make melts with at home. And I'll never have another melt any other way. I felt like I should emphasize that. ”

“ If you're a visitor to CNY (like I've been since family moved there), you've got to put Columbus Bakery on your list of must-visits. For an area that's dismissed by many as a rust-belt land that time forgot, Central New York has some true culinary "gems" you won't find anywhere else. In this case, that gem is a simple freshly baked loaf of bread. The price? $3, recently raised from $2. This loaf is big and will easily take care of let's say...2-4 people depending on hunger level and your love of carbs. Due to the high volume, you're assured a fresh loaf. It'll probably be hot and steam up the bag a little bit on the way home. You may me tempted to join the legions of locals who buy two loaves: one for the car, and another for later! You can really taste the heritage going back to 1890 in every bite. Their recipe is pure and simple, and that shows up in the taste. Nice crunch on the crust, with a deliciously soft and chewy inside. Pairs wonderfully with dinner, or in the morning with a cup of coffee. They have meatballs in a small fridge for $10 a container. I didn't count how many were in there, but they were nonna quality. Tasted like a mix of beef and pork, with notes of garlic. Could've used slightly more gravy, but the small amount allowed the meat to be the star of the show. For the price, I always grab at least 2 loaves. It freezes well and was especially appreciated by my parents. After all "they don't have bakeries like this in Florida." If this place were downstate they'd be charging triple the price and still have lines out the door. They'd also be featured on "food tours" and open up franchised locations in NY expat meccas like Florida and Arizona. But this is Syracuse. For all of its flaws: the accessible, affordable nature of the food scene is something I've come to appreciate in my visits here. Stop by Columbus Bakery in old "little Italy" and you will too. One nuisance shared with pretentious downstate establishments: they are cash only, so be prepared. At least parking on the street is a breeze here! ”