Calabria Bakery — Restaurant in Markham

Perfect espresso! Best americano in the GTA so far.

I never review anything but I felt compelled to tell this story. I was passing by unionville because I was looking for a quick coffee. Upon arriving, the street was so crowded it took a while to find parking. Once parked, I strolled through a back alleyway where there happened to be an RWB Porsche 993 named ADAMAE having a photoshoot and I decided to join in the fun too, hey why not?

Anyways, I entered Calabria and ordered an americano. Asked the server, she said 2 shots of espresso in the large one. Ordered the large.

I've been chronically disappointed by americanos past and present. Always too watered down or the shot was not fine tuned by a maestro for optimali pressure.

Didn't take a sip from it until shortly after, not expecting anything spectacular at all.

Then boom! This was just like home! Calabria must use a legit italiano espresso roast, that's got to be Kimbo.

I am extremely picky about how my espresso and americano tastes. I use a moka pot at home and have played with it 10 years to find the perfect bean (kimbo) and perfect grinding. So it does take a lot to impress me but I really only set out to get a quick coffee is all.

Blown away. This is the place to get an americano. You're wasting your time elsewhere.

PS: the large americano came...

When I looked at the photos, this is very, very misleading. We’ve been there twice to pick up some dessert. Both times, there were literally only 4 donuts in the display cabinet…nothing else for dessert. There was a hot dish (lasagna?), but not much selection. I really don’t know why you have a large part of your store setup to sell various kinds of pasta and other items. It would be so nice if you had tables and chairs where people could buy a dessert or food, and then sit down to enjoy it. After all, we can’t take your food across the street to Starbucks and eat it there. Your store on Hwy 7 near Markham Road, was nicely arranged so people could eat food there. Plus they had a much broader selection of desserts, sandwiches and hot food to choose from. Even though there is a new condo behind your store, I don’t think you should devote such a large area to selling pasta, oil, etc. I think someone needs to rearrange the interior to make it more suitable...

Returning to Calabria Bakery, was a sort of homecoming, as I had previously worked at the Scarborough location many years ago. But nothing could prepare me for the sheer beauty of the new Unionville location. This is quite literally the most beautiful Italian bakery this side of Italy (and there are lots of other beautiful Italian-Canadian/-American bakeries). The selection of tavola calda (hot table food items), coffee, pastries, infused olive oils, Sanpellegrino sodas, pasta / dry goods, and their presentation created the atmosphere of being in a banquet hall, not just a regular bakery. The shining crystal chandelier and the words "Mangiamo Insieme" ("Let's Eat Together") emblazoned on the main wall perfectly summarize the love and friendship that food represents - not only in Italian culture, but all around the world.

Words fail to express the sheer beauty of the Unionville Calabria Bakery location. Pictures can best speak where words fail,...