Ashland Baking Co — Restaurant in Ashland

While planning my wife's and I anniversary trip for the summer of '15, we did as much research as we could about where to go, what to eat and what to see. The one place that consistently came out on top in the area (in regards to food, anyway) was Ashland Baking Company. We made sure to add it to the list and we got a chance to get some bakery the second day of our trip. I could easily write one thing about this place and leave it at that.

Their danishes (danishi? I'm not sure of the plural) are the BEST I have had in my life and you're reading a review for a guy who has eaten a lot of danish in his life.

The best.

I could leave it there, but I won't. The danish was unique in that it had a "crispy" dough, what I'd guess is some kind of filo dough. It reminded me more of a crispy pie crust than anything else. The doughy part always wasn't all that sweet, it had more of a buttery flavor and I liked that more than I thought I would. The filling in the middle (we had both blueberry and raspberry) was just as good as the crispy part around it. I literally (and I hate to use the word literally) stood outside and ate my first danish, turned around to walk back in and get the last two they had. Apologies to people who were looking for danish that day, I don't get up to Ashland very often.

We also got a few loaves of bread for the road and a few cookies. All of those things were fantastic as well, but I have dreams about those danish. If you're in the area, stop and get something because I don't think you can leave here with a purchase and be disappointed. I don't care if it takes 6 hours to get there,...

I don't give up five stars very easily. You have to be exceptional, not just good. Ashland Baking is definitely exceptional. We only sampled a couple of things on Sunday morning. The Danish was fruity and sweet without being gooey, the croissants were possibly the best I've ever had, including from boulangeries that are considered top ranked. We did not try the bread - this trip, but will be back for that! And then there was the quiche. I love quiche. It's good cold, it's good warm, you can fix it a number of ways, and if it's good, it's really good. If it's lukewarm on a soggy crust - not worth the eggs and flour that were sacrificed. This was beyond good. Part of that is that the Black Cat (across the street) had warmed it to perfection. The crust was still flakey, the pie was uniformly warmed, and the cheese on top just caramelized. The texture and taste were sublime. Salty feta, spinach that did not come from a freezer, perfectly seasoned, and delicious. There is a part of me quite happy I don't live in Ashland - I'd spend entirely too much supporting this outstanding...

Ashland Baking Company is hands down the best bakery I’ve ever been to…in the world. No joke.

Flaky, buttery layers adorn the croissants and the fruit spreads that bask in the center of each danish appear to have been made from fruits picked at peak harvest.

I drive to Ashland just for a flaky, perfectly baked cinnamon roll or a beautiful French baguette. The pecan rolls are so amazing and the sweetness is always balanced so perfectly.

I am so impressed with the talents of these bakers and this bakery. It’s rare to find a gem like this one. I travel all over searching for baked goods half as decadent as these. I love that the sugar cookies are actually baked and not those doughy-flour-tasting-clumps with excessive too-sweet frosting all over them.

I just left there and I got: 3 cinnamon rolls, 1 pecan roll, a brandy fruit coffee cake, 4 sugar cookies and zero afternoon plans.

Highest recommendation of...