Semifreddi's Bakery

Adorable! Old school, great baked breads, good pastries🥐🥖 The morning bun flavor was amazing, but it was dense and too hard-chewy. No way I was going to get a plastic knife through it to cut in half in my car… I’ll definitely be steaming and then crisping it at home to make it as enjoyable as it should be😊 The chocolate croissant🥐 was good, but it was all soft…Had to also crisp that in the toaster oven at home. Plus the dark chocolate was a little overly sweet compared to most higher level chocolate croissants. Staff is suuuper friendly, clearly regulars come and love this place for good reason… It’s charming and very worth coming to 👏

Such a cute little bakery shop!! The morning buns, pastry, and coffees were amazing. Staff was super friendly.

Delicious coffee and bakery!!! I’ve been here about 6 days in a row now for a half cafe latte with whole milk. Great flavors and prices! You might see some of their fresh baked bread in grocery stores as well!

Perfect food gift for sourdough lovers - local, lightweight, and long lasting! So excited to discover these semifreddi crostini in bags. For lunch had a tasty grab and go chicken muffaletta sandwich and I love knowing it's on Semifreddi bread made in Alameda.

Very tasty bread no matter what location you pic it up plus the pastry are awesome too. This location seems to make hot sandwiches too seems very popular.small shop with with not a whole Lotta selection. I’ll have to try a hot sandwiches next time. I’m in the neighborhood.

Love the bread from Semifreddi. Didn't know they had a bakery located in Kensington, an area that is closed to Berkeley. At this location, they also make sandwiches, breakfast as well as scones, muffins, turnovers and a lot more variety of breads. They are also cheaper here than buying from Safeway or Whole Food or other grocery stores that carries the bread. The counter person was very friendly and was familiar with the local clientele. My daughter loves muffaletta. When I told him that she was sick with a sore throat, he was considerate enough to suggest that they won't put it in the bread presser so long to make it too crispy for her. Now, that's what I call excellent customer service! I would definitely come back again to buy the bread and partake in their kind and wonderful service!!

We were visiting friends in Berkeley and we were introduced to Semifreddi’s Bakery’s biscotti that were so delicious that we begged our friends to please bring us to their bakery! We needed to bring their chocolate dipped biscotti back to New York City!

Great bakery. Best seeded, sourdough baguette you can buy.

I've eaten their bread and croutons many times, but this is my first visit to the bakery. The public area in the front is rather small. If you're still COVID paranoid, this isn't a good spot. The people working were very nice and helpful. I asked for the sourest bread they had. I thought it was the rustic sour, but no, they recommended the sourdough batard. Bread was excellent, but still not sour enough for me. Then again, nobody makes sourdough sour enough for me.

Decades ago my oldest daughter wed a Frenchman and I wound up in a wedding in the French countryside. there, and since elsewhere in France, I discovered the bliss of a good baguette -- the crisp crust, the soft interior, the chewiness and slightly nutty flavor. Returning to the US after each visit, I searched in vain for that baguette. It's such a simple combination of ingredient. But although I moved from D.C. to NYC to Boston I could find nothing that measured up. Until, that is, we came to retire in the Bay Area. First I found Equator Coffees's excellent espresso (the Thomas Keller blend. Then I found Semifreddi's sweet baguettes at our local market! Now virtually every day starts with a double espresso and baguette, toasted with butter or marmalade or (yum) with peach jam. And now I can never move away.

Quick Summary: - Favorite bakeries in the Bay Area - They also sell their breads and pastries at some of the grocery stores - Crispy but gentle on teeth kind of crust, even gentler when it's toasted - Serves coffee and sandwiches - Coffee is not sour - No seats inside; a table and chair outside I first saw this bakery name a couple of years ago in a restaurant called Gergorie in Berkeley. I recall waiting for my order and in the kitchen I see bags of bread loafs with the Semifreddi logo. It was a great discovery and since then I became a fan of this bakery. Over the years I bought Semifreddi bread from grocery stores that also sell local ingredients. Although I had thoughts of going to the main bakery store, the chance was hard to align. Finally, when brainstorming with the family on where to eat, this was listed, so off we went. The bakery is situated in a small neighborhood of little shops. Walking there, it felt like a great streets to do a morning stroll down this lane and pick up a loaf or two on the way home. The bakery is cozy small, inside up to 3 guests could stand around, but there is a risk of blocking the view of the bakery shelves. On the busier hour, the line was out of the door. Along with their breads, there were also some pastries and a sandwich menu. For today, we ordered a cafe au lait and a chicken sandwich. Once I ordered the coffee, the staff gestured over to the coffee station, where there were two types of coffee: French roast or decaf. For cafe au lait, we can choose whichever size we wanted, and after filling up to a favorite amount, we took the cup back to the staff to fill it up with the warm frothy milk. Happily, the coffee was piping hot and it wasn't sour. After a few minutes, the sandwich was ready and we ate it outside at one of the provided tables and chairs. The sandwich was cut in half, so it was easy to share with the family. Just as I imagined with the Semifreddi bread, when it's toasted the crust becomes lighter but very crispy. It is very easy to bite into it. It also kept the fillings inside in place and no liquid sauce leaked out either. The texture and how well the bread holds the sandwich together is a great slice of bread. I got the sandwich with the chicken and basil paste, and that was really good! I ate half of the sandwich, so for breakfast it is light (for me), so I also ate their breakfast buns. This was a nice flaky and fluffy bun, another one of my favorite pastries to eat.

Got the toasted grilled chicken sandwich - it was fine, about a 5-10 min wait, liked the use of the panini press to warm up the bread but the chicken pieces were dry and could use more flavor. My friend likes the coffee here.

Semifreddis will always hold a nostalgic place in my heart. Back in high school, my best friend and I would walk here during lunch period to get a chai latte and a pastry. It was a tradition for us but since graduating I haven't made an effort to come back. Semifreddi's Bakery has been around the Bay Area for decades. This is their original location where it's homey, locally operated, with a neighborhood vibe to it. But their production line is huge, with a factory in Alameda, and high-quality bread found all throughout the area. They freshly bake and sell various baked goods--from their well-known sourdough, buttery pastries, and different breads. Plus flavorful drinks to pair such as coffees and teas. The bakery is small with lines out the door. It's more of a grab-and-go but a few benches around the area. I'm a huge fan of Semifreddi's baguettes often eating them as a snack as a child. In high school my go-to was their chai lattes and various pastries. I've tried their croissant, chocolate croissant, almond croissant, and morning bun (almond is my favorite)! Their pastries are flaky, chewy, and buttery. Today, I had to get my hands on their Iced Chai Latte with Soy Milk. Their iced drinks come in one size and are affordable. The taste of chai wasn't too strong, the drink was milky, and it was lightly spiced. Are their drinks and pastries the best I've had? No. But, it's good for what it's worth if you're in the area. I say go for their bread, versus the former. If you're in the Albany, Kensington, or El Cerrito area and want to get your hands on baked goods check out Semifreddi's! You can find their breads in grocery stores but if you want drinks or pastries then check out their small bakery. The items are affordable, the service is efficient, and it's always good to support locals. Parking is free throughout the neighborhood. This place will always be special to me.

Came here twice for pastries and coffee, but each time, the croissants were stale! I was surprised because it's a bakery and I would expect it to be fresh. Semifreddi's has good bread, but I wouldn't recommend their pastries.

Love the morning buns, and the best tasting sweet baguette. I highly recommend this bakery.

Pretty decent espresso. Baked goods are ok, but not as good as Acme. Staff can be hit and miss--sometimes friendly sometimes useless.

I love Semifreddi's. Have been coming here for 35 years to the Kensington site. Love their baked goods. Sure wish they would lengthen their hours. It's really a drag to get there at 3:00 and find them closed.

Still a favorite. My go-to is the morning bun, always better from here straight from the store. I wish the Danish would come back. I recommend the biscotti for later, perfect with morning coffee.

Handcrafted drinks, quality pastries, freshly baked bread, and homemade sandwiches are the order of the day at Semifreddi's Bakery. Located on a small roundabout street in the tony town of Kensington, California, Semifreddi's Bakery has been baking up a storm since 1984. Started by married spouses, and one of their siblings who originated in nearby Berkeley, but brought their love of all things baked goods to a tiny storefront on Colusa Avenue, where they still reside, but have moved their huge baking operations to a warehouse in Alameda, California, which enables them to serve wholesale orders from stores such as Costco, where they can give bread lovers around the region their own samples of quality baked goods. I have come to Semifreddi's Bakery for many years now looking for my next great sandwich and to get my cookie fixation satisfied, although it has been a while since I last came. But upon a recent visit to Semifreddi's Bakery, I had such a wonderful experience that I knew that a second more immediate visit was in order. I came on an early Saturday morning and parking along Colusa Avenue was plentiful but not immediate so after a minor walk, I was already at their front door ready to enter as their small storefront doesn't really accommodate larger crowds. Although I had arrived early on a weekend morning, I had arrived late enough in the day to potentially order one of their signature sandwiches. Currently the sandwich menu at Semifreddi's Bakery only has about four sandwiches two which were muffulettas, one with chicken and one with veggies and two turkey sandwiches, with one served on a baguette and one on focaccia. When I asked their barista/ cashier if this is all they served he did say that at this moment in time due to certain issues this was all they were able to provide. Hopefully the day in which more protein filled sandwiches with a variety of breads is on the way soon! One of my fondest memories of the breads at Semifreddi's Bakery is of their focaccia topped with sauce and veggies, which almost made it a pizza-like meal, but alas currently all they have is their rosemary focaccia bread which is sold by the loaf but really didn't appeal to me as I had to get my sweet tooth satiated. Semifreddi's Bakery is also well known for their Morning Buns, of which they have two kinds one with just sugar and one with Cinnamon, I've had them before and they are amazing with just the right amount of sweetness. But on this day I decided to order their Chocolate Croissant, along with two of their cookies, their Ginger Cookie and their Snickerdoodle, in addition to a beverage, a small Mocha which I received with whole milk topped with whipped cream. All of the pastries they sell at Semifreddi's Bakery are sold for $2.80, with the sole exception of their Almond Croissant which is sold at $3.10, which in this day in age is truly remarkable. All told, my total bill was less than 12 dollars before tip, which was very affordable considering I received three sweets and a coffee drink, in other words the perfect breakfast. It didn't take long for my drink to be carefully handcrafted by their barista and presented in due time. As I sipped on my drink as I headed back to my car I knew I was drinking something special as it was equal parts coffee, milk and chocolate. Talk about the perfect drink! Upon my return home, I dove into my pastries and although my Chocolate Croissant was a decent pastry, my cookies were the real star as they were the perfectly baked sweets. In fact, as I type this I am feasting on my Ginger Cookie and honestly it is the best I have ever had so rich and plentiful of flavor without going overboard on the sweetness level. It's no doubt because Semifreddi's Bakery searches the world for the finest ingredients for their baked goods, such as fennel from India, poppy seeds from Australia and the Netherlands, cinnamon from Indonesia, vanilla from Madagascar, and even flour milled in nearby Oakland (as it should be)! I can't wait to return to Semifreddi's Bakery to get my baked goods cravings satisfied, especially my cookie fix, especially when paired with their amazingly crafted coffee drinks. They had an abundance of bread products for sale at Semifreddi's Bakery and they donate the leftovers to food banks which is very considerate of them. Here's to the continued success of Semifreddi's Bakery as they are providing locals with some of the best bread products in the area, may you bring us even more of our favorite baked creations for another four decades!

The cookies damnit, the COOKIES!!! Do yourself a favor and get them NOW! LAWD Geezus Christ. These cookies are so friggin' delicious! I know that this bakery is known for their bread but... I haven't yet tried their bread. To be honest, I'm lightweight afraid too. Because if their bread tastes as good as their cookies, we about to be havin' some problems up in here! Shayla needs no more addictions. NO MORE. None. Zip. Zilch. Okay fine, I'll keep the cookie addiction... but everything else must go. Oatmeal raisin for the win. I swear it was melting in my mouth like chocolate. Softer than a baby's bottom. Buttery and sweet. One bite made my eyes roll to the back of my head. It was at that point that I knew... I would never be able to resist cookies from Semifreddi's. NEVA eva eva! Don't even get me started on their chocolate chip. Man. These folks are trying to cause ya girl to have a heart attack. All I can say is that these bad boys were fresher than fresh, and absolutely sensational. The softest most delectable cookies! Apparently they have a location in Alameda too, but I'm not even sure where it is. In any event, I would have NO problems coming to this shop in Kensington for more of these addictive cookies! At some point, I DO plan on actually trying some other things here too but um.... yeah. For now, I'll be sticking to those cookies. Puh-lease and thank you! (Wink wink).

This is the place for the best morning bun. I'm obsessed. Thanks to my neighbor, she told me where to find them. I usually pick up a box (contains 4) from Whole Foods. But now, I can get it straight from the source. Trust me. Every bite melts in your mouth. It's heavenly delicious. I noticed people walked up and placed their order curve side pick-up. No store traffic following Covid guidelines. There's a couple of seating outside as well. Next time I'll try their sandwiches & coffee. Only street parking. Staff are very friendly.

Delicious sandwiches, quaint location and building, kind and helpful service. I have come here for years.

** The following review reflects my takeout experience DURING the shelter-in-place order currently in effect. ** Everybody knows Semifreddi's breads. Their artisan loaves are in lots of the more upscale corner markets and grocery stores as well as the better sandwich shops throughout the Bay Area. Even though their main bakery and wholesale operation are in Alameda, their one retail shop is right off Colusa Circle in Kensington. It took a pandemic for Jamie W. and me to finally try it because we're both carb averse, except when possible viral mortality is involved. In that case, we made an exception and went up to the front door where they set up an order window to minimize human contact. We shared a $2.45 Butter Croissant to go (photo: https://bit.ly/3cIna8a). We actually just walked a few yards to a tiny plaza where an empty bench was awaiting. We split a large, flaky croissant and devoured it in short order. We'll try to be good and not become regulars, but those Blueberry Cream Cheese Danishes, Apple Turnovers, and Cinnamon Morning Buns looked awfully enticing. We may be in trouble. BAKED GOODS - 4 stars...a buttery, flaky croissant even if it wasn't fresh out of the oven AMBIANCE - n/a...shelter-in-place is a bummer SERVICE - 4 stars...fast and unobtrusive TOTAL - 4 stars...Semifreddi doesn't mean semi-good RELATED - Looking for eats in this part of the East Bay? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18

I had stopped going here because my favorite morning buns weren't fresh, but I have been back and my goodness! They are back to the freshness that I knew. The staff were busy and friendly. Recommend feeding your fix for fresh baked bread and Pastries.

Always heard great things about Semifreddi's and never realized how close I was to the bakery until a few months ago. Finally decided to try it out and it did not disappoint! I decided to buy a loaf of sourdough, a couple rolls for some sammies at home, an original morningbun and a Chai Iced Latte. First off the recommendation for the morning bun was spot on, it was fluffy but not dry and was very tasty. It was paired perfectly with an excellently brewed Chai Iced Latte. I have tried many Chai Iced Lattes and for being a place known fkmor their baked goods, I very much loved their coffee and will be back for more. The bread was fresh and tasty and I'm excited to have discovered this place within walking distance.

I wasn't aware that there was a Semifreddi's bakery close to work until one of my co-workers brought some morning buns to work on a Friday. Since I do intermittent fasting during the week I couldn't have morning buns that day. So on a Saturday, I drove to Semifreddi's and got some pastries- cinnamon morning bun, original morning bun (recommended that morning), a sweet baguette and a pecan roll. Everything was so fresh and so good, I ate 75% of the pastries, because I am savage on the weekend after depriving myself of yummy goodness through the week. During shelter in place, Semifreddi's had a line outside and sold their pastries from the door. Pictures of their pastries are posted on the window, you order, and receive your pastries for the day! Awesome find!

Great to have a local bakery in the neighborhood. I love the pastries, but not crazy about the $10 sandwiches. I don't mind paying $10 dollars for a sandwich if it's a $10 dollar sandwich. BB

Love the pastries that our church (Gracepoint) ordered from them for our morning breakfast before our service. Oh, the chocolate croissant is amazing - perfect in butter, chocolate and crispness.

Delicious sandwiches, but make sure to come early enough for the hot version. Don't forget the bread for later

Love your bread. Thank you for making it. It brings me memories of the one back home in my country. You guys are a home away from home. I especially like the ciabatta crispy on the outside and tender on the inside! Yum! My kid and I sit and eat half in one sitting. Bag "warns" of addiction and we are joining the "recovery group". You have my business as long as I live. Many Hugs.

4 stars for the olive bread. 3.5 stars for the cookies. 2 stars for the sandwiches. The other reviewers are right that the sandwiches here are overpriced. For about $10, we got a small, pre packed cold sandwich that tasted average at best. It tasted like a pre packed cold sandwich that I could pick up from a school or hospital cafeteria. I would skip the sandwiches for sure next time. The cookies are decent. Nothing really wowed us. Comparable to cookies that we could get at places around the area. The olive bread loaf was good. The olive flavor stood out in a good way and the bread has a good texture. I will explore the other fresh bread options and skip the sandwiches and cookies next time.

Everything I have tried there is amazing! Bread, cookies, morning buns, and coffee. The staff is very helpful

I basically just come here for the sweet batard to eat with olive oil or make into garlic bread. Delicious both ways. The focaccia is also fantastic, makes for quick and easy sandwiches. I'd pass on the pastries but just about any loaf of bread is guaranteed to be good.

Their bread uses enriched wheat which makes it disgusting and spongey. Unfortunately this place will probably stay in businesses for a long time considering that a majority of their clientele lost their ability to taste decades ago. Its funny how so many mediocre businesses will stay afloat so long as they are convenient to the horde of old people.

Fresh bread! Who can resist? I can't. I am a fan of Semifreddi's baguettes, olive bread, cinnamon twist and morning buns. I get my Semifreddi's at the supermarkets and always wanted to visit the only bakery store located in Kensington. I heard that this store, which was where Semifreddi's started, sells all the varieties of breads and pastries that it bakes. I was in the area with my walking group and we made the point to stop by. The store is small with a counter display case full of pastries, such as croissants, turnovers, Danishes, morning buns, muffins and scones. On the displays shelves, they have all their loaves of breads, croutons and biscotti. The store also sells coffee and tea and sandwiches. Their menu lists special sandwiches, custom ones where you create your own and vegetarian options as well. It's mainly a takeout place, but there are two little tables out front. Service was efficient and friendly. You can taste the quality of Semifreddi's artisan bakery products from their use of the finest ingredients. All the bread and pastries it sells here and at the supermarkets are delivered fresh on a daily basis. You can tell baking is their passion. A local business at its finest. I live in Alameda and we're happy to have Semifreddi's headquarters and bakery plant in our City. I wish that they decide to open a shop like this in Alameda. I would be in heaven!

Pass on the pastries....Sunday morning they taste stale...chewy and flavorless....but hey at least they're less than $3.... The breads are the only way to go unfortunately

Yummy, to die for! My dad used to work at the emeryville loacation near Pixar when I was a child -- he would bring the cinnamon twist bread and biscottis home all the time. After many years of baking there he found a new job which meant no more weekly semifreddi's. Since he was there for so long he had created long lasting friendships with his coworkers so he would sometimes visit and they'd send him home with bread and treats. I love that this location exists as it gives me access to good quality bread and childhood memories. If you haven't tried the cinnamon twist bread please do! My fav way to eat it is by eating what's on the inside as the cinnamon swirls are so delicious.

Yes for bread and limited bread only Used to be a five Had great sandwiches on their rolls Now only have four types. Purchased vegetable yesterday not great anymore tiny amount of olive tapenade, no cucumber, so little mushroom, could barely taste No condiments like mustard or mayonnaise Had to fix up myself at home said two kinds of cheese but didn't get any feta. Love the bread but don't call this a deli anymore This used to be a five and if they reconstructed their shop post-Covid then it could be a five again

Solid!! Love love this bakery since they opened! Love all of their sandwich bread loaves. So glad they will slice it for you. So many bakeries don't have slicing service. Takes time, I get it (ie: ACME). Thank you for that extra service Semifreddi's! Always very nice young folks working in the shop. IVM

Literally the best sourdoughs ever!! I've had my fair share of sourdoughs and got to say these are the best!! The shelf life is pretty long and my Mom buys A LOT because we don't get them out here in Fairfield.

This review is solely based off the sandwiches they make here. They have a ton of delicious bread and other goodies I just don't get them that often. I go here every so often for a sandwich. They make great hot pressed pannini sando's that I've been eating since high school. This actually used to be the go-to spot for me and my boys in high school when we were taking a girl out to lunch LOL I always get the southwest turkey pannini. Great flavors and they put on just the right amount. If you have yet to get a sandwich from here you should definitely try one! yummy!

I've been here a couple of times and have never been disappointed. The service is quick and friendly, little shop packed with goodness in every corner. It was fun to learn that this was the original shop. We've had a quick lunch in the afternoon while visiting the farmers market and also have run in to pick up a loaf of challah. This time I made a hefty purchase, getting challah buns for burgers and dogs, a few blue berry cheese danish and a couple of everything but the kitchen sink baguettes. Everything is so good and again, really quick service. Parking can be a pain, but even if you have to walk a little, it's worth it.

We have been fans of Semifreddi's bread ever since it opened in 1984. I can still remember the first loaf of sourdough I bought and how deliciously fresh it was and how it stood out among products from other bakeries. I have been buying Semifreddi's ever since and my family loves their bread. It doesn't taste fake like the ones you find in the regular grocery store. Our favorite is the sour bâtard with the nice thin crust on the outside and soft sourdough goodness on the inside. Friends in other parts of the country often request we bring them Semifreddi's sourdough. Semifreddi's also makes an irresistible morning bun bursting with nice cinnamon-y goodness. I usually get their deli multi grain bread for my sandwiches and hubby likes the Dutch crunch and French rolls for his. One tip: when buying their deli sandwich loaves you can get them sliced and when doing so be sure to ask them to check for large air bubbles (holes in the bread) which often happens due to the food chemistry in bread baking. It seems to happen a lot with the deli multigrain but then their bread is so made-from-scratch wholesome and delicious that I can tolerate this minor annoyance. I did talk with the owner once about this problem and he immediately made it right by sending me a certificate to compensate. The company is well run and the owner really cares.

Semifreddi's has made it's way onto my weekly schedule. The weekend doesn't start til I have a veggie baguette on sourdough or Dutch Crunch, and at least one Feta Herb pastry. Must bring a loaf or something home, 7 days is getting to be too long a wait for my weekly excellent bread fix. Parking can be nutty on Colusa (so many people refuse to use turn signals on the roundabout!), but you can usually park out front or across the street, luckily it's a stroll away from home for me. Parking and wait times can be a little harder on Sunday's due to the farmer's market. Still worth the wait. My only wish is that they opened a half hour earlier so I could grab something to eat before hopping on my transbay bus in the morning.

The best ginger cookie I've ever had. They don't have cream cheese danishes at the moment but they're making sandwiches and have other pastries and breads.

I've lived near SemiFreddi's for the past 32 years! My go to place for just about anything bread or cookie oriented - I think their sourdough baguettes are the best around and definitely beat Acme or Cheeseboard and I love them too! Their challah, both traditional Sabbath challah and their cinnamon laced challah ( a dessert for me) are pure delights. Oatmeal, snickerdoodles or chocolate chip cookies are all weaknesses of mine! Thank goodness I'm a lifetime member of Weight Watchers or I'd be there daily for ALL! Pam

BEST DARN BAKERY IN THE BAY AREA! ...drool. pause. Slap own face...take a bite... Yaaas, you heard me, best dang bakery in the bay area. The deep, glorrrious flavor their sourdough has is noteworhty. The crust on the sourdough batard is chewy and the middle just delicious. I grew uo in El Cerrito so this bread was always a staple at my home. Their baguette is fab, all three varieties. The wheat bread is great, olive bread divine, croutons like whoa addicting. I stopped biying them bc I eat them as if they were a bag of funyons. Coffee is fab, prepared sandos yummy...but hit the pause button. The pastry...dear gooodness. Happy dance off the charts fab. Support local enjoy the best.

The best croissants ever, amazing customer service! Nick, Miles and Beth, you guys rock it!

Delicious toasted sandwiches, fresh crunchy bread loaves, and scrumptious baked goods - I love! I've gone here several times to stop for breakfast before school or work. The ginger cookie or a toasted sandwich with ciabatta bread (so much better than regular bread!) are my go-to's. My only complaint is that the croissants - both the regular one and the chocolate one - taste a bit rubbery and simply cannot be enjoyed at room temperature. Without them being toasted, they taste like from a grocery store. The drinks at Semifreddi's, are expectedly generic and taste at best average. The chai latte tasted a bit watery, and the one time I ordered a mocha, the size did not justify the price of it. However, their scrumptious desserts could pair very well with a warm drink, despite their mediocrity.

Really ADORE this bakery, especially during pandemic mode. They are so responsive and careful and sell so many things at this walk-up window in the Colusa Circle. In addition morning buns, olive a d challah bread, we are huge fans of the biscotti!! Prices are very reasonable too. Thx!

Home of the Bay Area's last latte under $3, this is the bakery making those delicious Dutch Crunch rolls used by sandwich makers far and wide. The space is compact at both this and the Claremont location, but they're definitely producing high volumes of great baked goods for such a small bakery: the morning buns and the blueberry cheese danish being my favorites, though a good chocolate chip cookie is sometimes all I need. Also, if you haven't tried their cinnamon twist bread toasted with cream cheese, what are you waiting for exactly?

First time that my order was wrong. I got home and discovered the two choc chip cookies i ordered were missing, bot there were two choc croissants instead. With covid masks and clear plastic barriers, we didn't understand each other. Maybe next time i will write my order.

Just made the most amazing brioche French toast, using their Cinnamon twist bread loaf... Eggs, milk, butter, grated nutmeg, Mexican vanilla, powdered sugar...voilá!!!

We moved out of CA to Nevada. I MISS MY SEMIFREDDI's BREAD :( Waaahhhhhh My father was a baker, I'm picky. It's THE BEST sour dough on our planet. Enjoy Californians.

Love the bread from Semifreddi. Didn't know they had a bakery located in Kensington, an area that is closed to Berkeley. At this location, they also make sandwiches, breakfast as well as scones, muffins, turnovers and a lot more variety of breads. They are also cheaper here than buying from Safeway or Whole Food or other grocery stores that carries the bread. The counter person was very friendly and was familiar with the local clientele. My daughter loves muffaletta. When I told him that she was sick with a sore throat, he was considerate enough to suggest that they won't put it in the bread presser so long to make it too crispy for her. Now, that's what I call excellent customer service! I would definitely come back again to buy the bread and partake in their kind and wonderful service!!

This is my favorite coffee shop in the area. They have amazing chocolate chip cookies and a good selection of other pastries and breads. I mostly only go here for the cookies and the drinks so i can't say much about the bread. The cookies are usually on point - but they do run out often if you go too late in the day. However, you can always call them in the morning and have them set aside some cookies for you. And i can never go wrong with an iced vanilla latte.

SemiFreddi's on Colusa Circle in Kensington is the type of place to go to for morning pastries, breakfast sandwiches or lunch if "fast food" just won't do it, but there is a craving for fast-ish food that is a cut above. SemiFreddi's has been at that location easily for 30 years. It is a very small, walk-in counter surrounded by luscious breads, rolls and buns. A small counter on the right holds a very small coffee bar. The ambience is a nothing fancy neighborhood place simply filled with delicious delights. It gets busy at lunchtime and since it only takes about three people to make a line out the door (literally), the staff is polite, but not overly friendly in order to keep things moving. As mentioned as a cut above fast food, there will be a little longer wait (well worth it), than the standard fast food restaurant. On the menu is sandwiches, panini's, and other delicacies surrounded by their delicious breads and rolls, which serves as the star of every meal. My personal favorite is anything on their flakey, oversized, buttery croissant. If I'm lucky, for lunch, I can order a breakfast croissant if there are any left over. Accompaniments are a simple bag of chips and Italian sodas featuring Perrier fizzy water. Because the breads and pastries are so good and the other ingredients used are fresh, you just can't lose if you want a delicious something-something for breakfast or lunch. The only seating at the store is outside at a pair of tables outside. There are also some benches and in a pinch, a bus stop bench close by. Prices are not cheap, but not super expensive. A sandwich, bag of chips, Italian water and possibly a cookie for dessert is somewhere in the area of $9-$11, but it the payoff is a much better than fast food meal that can be enjoyed outdoors or transported anywhere for a business meeting, or family lunch. Picking up that loaf of bread or dinner rolls is also an added convenience - they have a bread slicer! Yay! Looking for a satisfying meal that is a cut above? Stop by SemiFreddi's. They are a Kensington institution that knows how to get it done.

Who can resist Semifreddi's delectable bread? The pasties are delicious and the sourdough is to die for! You won't be able to resist their fresh baked bread. The Bay Area is lucky to have this establishment in our own backyard. If you think one loaf is enough, grab two...you'll want more after you taste it, trust us!