Kelly's Bakery — Restaurant in City of Poughkeepsie

Mixed Experience: Delicious Food, Unwelcoming Owner, and Limited Comfort

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2 out of 5 stars)

I recently dined at a restaurant that left me with mixed feelings. While the food was undeniably delicious, there were several aspects of the experience that were disappointing. Allow me to share my thoughts on my visit.

Let's start with the positives—the food. The dishes served at this restaurant are delicious. However, one drawback worth mentioning is that some of the dishes were a bit too salty. Nonetheless, if you're a fan of flavor-packed meals, you'll likely find something to enjoy here.

Unfortunately, the positive culinary experience was overshadowed by the unwelcoming behavior of the owner. As a family, we were excited to reunite with our loved ones, and naturally, our two-year-old son was also thrilled to see his grandparents after a prolonged period of separation. Upon his arrival, he expressed his excitement by raising his voice. Rather than addressing the situation with understanding or politeness, the owner curtly told us to keep our son quiet.

While it's understandable that other patrons may prefer a peaceful dining environment, it's important to consider the age of our son and his eagerness to engage socially. It would have been more appropriate for the owner to approach us with empathy and explain the situation calmly. This abrupt interaction left our son confused about his innocent display of excitement, which has unfortunately affected his comfort in social settings since then.

Additionally, the overall atmosphere of the restaurant was not family-friendly. The loud music, which seemed to overpower our son's voice, made it difficult for us to engage in conversation and enjoy our time together. Moreover, the lack of sufficient seating made us feel rushed to finish our meal and leave promptly.

In conclusion, while the food at this restaurant was truly delightful, the unwelcoming behavior of the owner and the lack of consideration for families with young children left much to be desired. I would recommend that the owner could have better handled the situation by approaching us with understanding and empathy. Instead of immediately reprimanding us, they could have taken a moment to explain the need for a quieter atmosphere and offered possible solutions, such as providing a separate area for families with young children or suggesting ways to create a more inclusive dining experience. This customer-oriented approach would have fostered a sense of understanding and comfort for families visiting the restaurant. I hope that the management takes this feedback into account and works towards creating a more INCLUSIVE and comfortable environment for...

Overall, hubs and I had a very positive first visit. We had a very limited amount of time in a specific window, and many breakfast/brunch places are closed on Sundays or open at 11 or later. We arrived around 10:15 on a Sunday and were lucky to not find a line and to find a table for 2 easily. The café filled up considerably while we were there and after we left, there was a line out the door. All of the staff members were incredibly friendly and greeted us and offered helpful suggestions. I decided on the lox toast and hot caramel latte and hubs had regular coffee and BALT. I was surprised they served our coffee in to-go cups since we were dining in. The lox toast was phenomenal. The salmon was good quality and the herbed cream cheese paired perfectly. I just wished there was more. Hubs’ BALT was similarly tasty but could have benefited from more bacon and avocado. Both breads were the star. A side salad or even fries or something would have helped round out the plates. We ordered items to go (plain croissant, everything bagel croissant, chocolate croissant for our son, plus cheddar-jalapeño loaf). Since we were both half-satisfied, we ate our croissants. Husband said his croissant was delicious and I thought it was beautiful and flaky. I was not a fan of the everything bagel croissant. It appeared to be stuffed with mostly poppy and black sesame seeds, and I was missing the pops of salt, onion, and garlic. Also, the seeds seemed (to me) to be in a very rich butter or creamy substance, so eating the croissant meant taking mouthfuls of crumbly, unmelted butter, which was not pleasant. The delicacy of the croissant was lost in the filling. Overall the food was good, but a bit pricey. The breakfast items were well-made, but something else to round out the portions would make the meal seem less scant. We cut into the cheddar-jalapeño loaf later in the day and it did not disappoint. The area to order is right inside the front door, hence making it a bit difficult to get in and the coffee menu is off to the right so it’s a somewhat cramped set up. Overall, the breads here are wonderful and I would come back here in a heartbeat during off-hours to pick up bread, pastries, and coffee. I definitely would not bring my five-year-old here. It’s a lovely café and we enjoyed ourselves, but not a place I feel comfortable lingering once my food and coffees are done (and we finished well under the 90 minute limit noted on signs...

Hands down and without a doubt, Kelly's is the absolute best bakery in Poughkeepsie. I've been coming to this treasure for years for its delicious and innovative lattes (black sesame, lavender, floral, chai, and spicy to name a few), which are huge crowd pleasers for me and my family. The baked goods are amazing (my kids loves the earl gray cake, scones, and assorted pastries and croissants), but we mostly adore the hot breakfasts. Our family faves include the mushroom toast, shakshuka, avocado toast, smoked salmon, and egg sandwich, which are always prepared to perfection and beautifully presented. The bakery itself is stunning: high ceilings, huge windows and mid-century decor. Like I said, there's nothing like it in Poughkeepie (that I'm aware of) in terms of vibe or quality of food). The owners Kevin and Darren are just lovely; always welcoming and eager to chat. Kevin makes time to catch up even when it's super busy and the lines snake out the door. I know how much love, sweat, and tears went into creating this gem of a place. These guys work so hard, waking at dawn to bake and and prepare for the day. The staff is wonderful, and they're such a dedicated crew. People travel from all over, and that's why there's always a line to get in! This is a family-run business that loves its community. But it doesn't mean that it's owed by YOUR actual family! Kelly's is a restaurant! I do wish that customers would respect common courtesy and etiquette: that means to refrain from bringing outside food and drinks, not skipping the line, and staying for a max of 1.5 hours. I'm shocked that some people take off their shoes, put their feet on the coffee tables, and bring their own meals as if they were dining in their own homes. Thank goodness that the majority of customers have manners. But I can imagine how stressful it is to deal with those entitled few who have no clue about how to behave in public. I hope Kevin and Darren continue serving our community for many more years to come. Poughkeepsie is better for having a place like Kelly's, and I look forward to stopping by every...