Rosie's Italian Bakery & NY Style Deli — Restaurant in Daytona Beach

First, I don't know how people are giving this place anything above 1 star. I am from NJ, and had Italian grandparents...so I'm very familiar with what the taste of what Italian pastries, cookies, etc should taste like. We had heard of Rosie's forever, and finally got over to there this past weekend. Was really excited and looking forward to getting some Italian cookies and pastries. Unfortunately it was just a huge disappointment and waste of money (wouldn't care of cost if quality had been there). The area is honestly sketchy...but whatever. Sometimes it's the "hole in the wall" places that are best. We went in, place is super small and dark. No hello or anything when we came in. We passed a few small tables on the left and a couple racks of Italian products on the right (as well as some coolers/freezers with raviolis, etc against the walls on the right). Went straight to the counter where the cookies, etc were. There wasn't too much honestly, and some items were already grouped together in containers, which I believe were sold that way as a "set" (like the Italian Rainbow cookies). The Italian cookies were lined up on trays and were marked as either 99¢ EACH or $12 for a dozen (which is basically the same cost, if not a few cents MORE, got me...there were fancier cookies for additional cost as well). We got the regular dozen mixed up, and then got a black and white cookie as well as a crumb cake piece that I was SO looking forward to eating because that's a big deal in NJ bakeries. Left excited to have them back at home. Well, when we got home and went to try everything...that's where the excitement ended. My fiancé took a bite of his black and white (which that's something he frequently has from Publix bakery AND used to get when he lived in NY where he's from) and looked over at me and said it was horrible. He said the white part icing was also rock hard. Then I went to excitedly take a forkfull of my crumb cake and boy what a huge let down. That is NOT crumb cake. The thickness appears to be, and the crumbs on top make it look good...but that's where it ends. The cake part literally is yellow cake mix. I didn't say anything to my fiancé and just said please try this and tell me what you taste. He took a bite of the cake part only and immediately said it tastes like Duncan Hines cake. The NJ/NY crumb cakes have a very distinctive taste, with notes of cream cheese...and the crumbs...ugh makes me salivate just thinking. This was NOT anything even remotely close. The crumbs had no real flavor and were hard also. Then the Italian cookies, oh boy. Like others have said on here and the owner then tried to deny...they were rock hard (which the Italian cookies should melt in your mouth basically), and had a very odd taste. My best guess, simply stale. Honestly they were so bad we tried a couple bites of a couple cookies, and threw away the rest, awful. Extremely over priced, and terrible. Had high hopes, but have to agree with other reviews that said they're over-priced, tasteless, etc. If you click on the lowest reviews, you not only see a pattern...but you can see how many others "liked" and agreed with the comments. Maybe this place has good sandwiches...can't comment on that because have no idea...but the cookies, etc...no way. We got there on a Saturday afternoon and maybe they wind down and that's the last of their batch...but sorry selling what we got is NOT ok and at the least let people know they're bottom of the barrel. Might I add the staff was not at all friendly, again something others comment on as well, and by the response of the owner on several of the poor reviews, makes sense. Sorry, you at least apologize and own up when you're products are not good. We will not be back, and will forewarn others. Someone said they feel it's just a local, overpriced tourist trap. I would have to agree. I'm sure I'll get a lovely response from the owner too. Sorry, had really high hopes and excitement...but definitely won't be back. My advice, read the lowest reviews...

This is my own experience, and what a terrible one it was. My mom and I loved coming here, until yesterday. We will never be back. We overlooked the expensive prices and not so pleasant tone of one of the women working there because we appreciated the overall experience and food quality. Yesterday, 3 boys came in asking if there was any extra work they could do for a couple of dollars. Back in the day, this was a normal thing for kids to do- then they’d go back home before dark. I heard the lady at the counter dismiss them quickly, and right as they were leaving through the door, I myself told them I don’t have any extra work but had a couple of dollars. It’s thanksgiving, they were nice and well mannered. It wasn’t impacting the owner’s business, it was just a kind gesture, nothing more or less. That was met by the owner coming right to our table saying “kids come in here looking for money to hand their parents drugs. Don’t give them money”. We were completely shocked, we asked “those children?” wondering where he heard this information and why he would say that about a couple of kids. They were black children, also. I assured the owner that “they didn’t ask me or anyone else for anything, I was asking them” and that was met with “don’t give them money in my restaurant, if you disobey my orders, you won’t be allowed back”. I tried to explain that my mom and I were getting up to leave their place of business so I could give those kids a couple of bucks off of their property and we understood where he was coming from on a business standpoint. We tried to explain that times are very tough, its the holiday season, and that we shouldn’t automatically think drugs has something to do with a couple of kids looking for a quick side job. He continued to tell the the boys to leave, and us to leave, or he was calling the police. We threw our stuff away ($80 dollars for two sandwiches and desserts plus a $10 dollar tip), and explained several times we were going to step out of his place of business to respect his ‘perspective’ but that wasn’t enough. In my opinion, it felt racially targeted and just completely sad, and unnecessary. These were just boys, not pandering or bothering customers- I initiated the conversation to them. We were already out of the restaurant not on their property, talking to the boys and making sure they were okay. The owner came out and took a picture of my 71 year old mother’s license plate, like we did anything wrong in the situation except come and spend our money here. It was extremely uncomfortable as a white woman to see this come from the owner, and on top of that to be treated this way as a customer and overall citizen. We only stopped here before handing out thanksgiving baskets for people in need this holiday season. It was a memory we’ll never forget, but I’m glad I was there to witness such a lack...

Called ahead to see when the kitchen closes and I am told 3 is the last time to put in an order. I call back at 2:45 to place an order for pizzas. I’m told they need to check if the kitchen is still open… it is. The young lady who answered the phone is very nice and helpful and I am told 35 minutes until my order is ready. I arrive and the parking situation is so odd. There’s parallel parking in front of the restaurant but a car has parked in it as though it’s angled parking. The lot immediately next to the restaurant is apartment parking and then there is some angled parking a little ways down and across the street but there’s definitely no obvious parking at the restaurant besides a space or two for parallel parking. I go inside and the place is very cute. Has a side for dining and a little grocery side with some cute Italian food items. I go to the counter and I’m waiting to be acknowledged by a woman who’s apparently in no hurry to greet me as she’s sitting in the corner on her phone. Finally she does and I say I’m there to pick up my order and I’m told it’s not ready but I can have a seat while I wait. Okay no problem. I order two cannolis to go and look through the grocery section and then sit down to wait. Finally the pizzas are ready and I’m missing a pizza. So I mention that. And of course the kitchen can’t make another one because they already shut off the oven. But, Rosie offers me a prepared meal to take in place of one of the pizzas, at full price of course as if it’s my fault that the order wasn’t correctly written down. I decline. My to-go order is already $80 and I have a gift certificate for less than $10 which has no expiration date written on it but was “too old” in her opinion. How should a patron guess when it’s too old if you don’t write expiration dates on it? Also my food was ready almost 30 minutes later than I was told! Anyway, just the culmination of this experience has soured my view of this place and I won’t be returning. I’ll update you on the food/cannolis, maybe. But, I definitely get a greedy/ never wrong owner vibe. Don’t get the vibe they really want to take care of their customers and make sure they’re happy. What a shame for a place that’s a small business.

Update* attaching photos to show the time stamps since I’m being accused of being inaccurate. 😁 in case someone doesn’t know how to read military time, 13:28 is 1:28 pm, 14:48 is 2:48 pm, 15:30 (3:30pm) I’m still sitting and waiting and 15:45 (3:45 pm) I’m back at my car texting the person waiting for me with our food because it’s...