Jess Bakeshop — Restaurant in Garwood

I don't expect much from suburban bakeries in these parts. Aside from one or two decent ones in a 15 mile radius, it's mostly the same apathetic, rolled out mediocrity. If I really want some astonishing world class bake-manship, I'll just stop by one of my faves in NYC and bring it home. But then I tried Jess Bakeshop. At this humble little intersection smack dab at the Garwood/Cranford border you'll find a tiny little cubbyhole of perfection. Like a ray of God's heavenly light shined through a tiny hole in the clouds of "meh", right at this little spot and blessed us with unspeakably delicious baked goods. THIS: The Double Chocolate Babka cookie. WHAT THE HELL?! It was so good I almost wept. So perfectly balanced in texture and flavor. She brings a humbleness to what would otherwise be an overly sweetened monstrosity at any other bakery. How does she do this? The Butter Sourdough Loaf. HUH?! Is this even a thing? It sure as shit is now for me! My God. I've had me some heavenly artisanal loaves of bread but this made me practically get on my knees and grovel before it. AND THAT: The cinnamon scone cookie. Ermergerd! So perfectly balanced with savory and sweetness. Like a light, crumbly angelic biscuit. The chocolate chip cookie. FTW! The garlic sourdough loaf. Kind of everything else they serve I guess.

Ok, if I had one critique it would be the cupcakes. They were good but kinda crumbly and dry. Don't really belong with all the other incredible things.

Thank you Jess. You have given this area an...

In my travels, I always search for a bakery that uses real sourdough starter and I was delighted to come across this beauty.

Walking into this bakery felt like stepping into a little pocket of warmth and joy. The space itself is small but inviting, sparkling clean, and filled with the comforting aroma of fresh sourdough. What truly made the experience unforgettable, though, were the owners—Simon and Jess—whose genuine smiles and kindness wrapped around me like a cup of hot tea on a chilly day.

The offerings here are nothing short of extraordinary. The matcha cookies stood out immediately, not only for their vibrant color but also for their flavor—made with high-quality, organic ceremonial matcha that gave a deep, authentic taste. Their sandwiches are crafted with care, flavorful and satisfying, while the cinnamon rolls are breathtaking—huge, fluffy, and dripping with goodness. The croissants come in a variety of flavors, each buttery and perfectly layered. And, of course, the star of it all is the sourdough bread: real, naturally fermented, with that unmistakable tang and hearty texture you only get from a true starter.

This isn’t just a bakery—it’s an experience of craft, warmth, and care. A place you leave not only with a bag of treats, but with a smile that lingers long after. Looking forward to...

This bakery is very special. I'll start off by saying, that their food is excellent. Everything that I tried, from two different cookies (including a vegan one), to their sourdough, to their coffee offerings, and even to their sandwich offerings were absolutely top of the line.

Their cookies and sandwiches include well known classics such as chocolate chip and caprese, but also had creative options such as matcha cookies and an absolutely wonderful zucchini, cheese, pesto and pistachio sandwich (seriously, try it!).

That this store is a two-person owner-operator enterprise. They're wonderfully friendly people, and take real pride in their work. My experience with them was as good as their bread, a high bar.

I heard about this shop a year ago, and hadn't gone because I lived so far away. I happened by them due to having a destination nearby recently. This was my mistake. This bakeshop produces such good food that I would describe it as a destination in...