Syd's Bakery

The scents of sugar and spices waft from the doors of Syd’s Bakery, evoking in lucky passersby memories of childhood birthday parties and trips to Grandma’s house. This scrumptious perfume is the byproduct of recipes developed in the kitchens of Hungary, Russia, and Poland—recipes that continue to earn new fans with each bite of the bakery’s cookies, tea cakes, and coffee cakes. Sitting on racks beside their Old World brethren, more than a dozen styles of classic American cookies teem with mix-ins such as chocolate chunks, peanut butter, and coconut flakes. Hand-rolled raised donuts also line the shelves, their insides brimming with colorful jams but not a gram of trans fat.

The bakers flex their artistic muscles when constructing cakes, which range from 6-inch rounds to full sheets that serve up to 90 wedding or graduation-party guests. When customizing cakes for special occasions, customers may choose from six icings, 12 fillings, and more than 20 swirlable cake flavors, which range from milk chocolate to pink champagne. An edible image or hand-drawn greeting makes each cake both tasty and informative, like a pie chart made of real pie.