Colangelo’s Bakery

Having my breakfast today cooked by one of the owners (thanks Denise!) by far made it taste like home-​cooked love in each dish.
Get the beans & greens, plus a coffee or pastry (thank me later). Worth every bite and a visit to the strip district.

I generally try to stay away from fresh bakeries, I get so excited when I see one that I feel like sampling one of most everything on the menu. Bakeries which serve both sweet and savory stuff are the best, and Colangelo’s is a perfect example. Fresh and yummy, the bakery products are such a visual delight. No wonder, it was so crowded on a rainy Sunday morning that the staff and kitchen were barely able to keep up, especially with the savory items (read, frittatas, muffalettas, Sicilian pizzas, pepperoni rolls, etc.). I tried their chocolate croissant, cannoli, and egg and spinach frittata — they were all perfect. Even writing this review makes me crave their food again. sigh!

I have been going here for two years (about 6 – 8 times in that span, give or take) and every single time I get the Beans and Greens. My only regret is that I only went those 6 – 8 times. Beans and Greens all day.

I had the Raspberry Mele. It was freakin awesome. My wife had a chocolate
Macaroon cookie, but she was expecting a French style macaroon, and didn’t really care for it. This was our first stop on our food journey, so unfortunately we didn’t try more. I will say the place smelled great. I would like to go back and try more.

My family and I always go down to the strip on Saturdays to do some shopping. We always stopped at the Pittsburgh popcorn factory next to Colangelo’s. One time I said we needed to try Colangelo’s out because of smells that were coming out of the place… Plus of the few older gentlemen that were playing pinochle right outside which always reminded me of my uncles playing pinochle and my aunts cooking up some awesome sauce and pasta. So we went in and got a slice. It was fantastic! The next trip, I got a meatball hoagie. Awesome! My wife got a cannoli, she loved it.
So if your in the strip district shopping. Go to Colangelo’s. You’ll love it!

Seriously, raspberry mêlée, you are too good to be true.
This honestly might be my favorite spot to pick up a quick breakfast. The raspberry mêlée is amazing. The chocolate croissant makes me happy. The pepper and cheese slice is probably the best slice of pizza I’ve had in the city. Is there really anything better for breakfast than really good pizza at room temperature? The answer is yes, there is, and it’s a really good room temperature cheese and pepper pizza with a raspberry mêlée on the side.
I’ve never been disappointed by anything that I’ve gotten here, and it’s only made better because you can get one of the best cups of coffee in the city right next door.

So Colangelo’s and La Prima Espresso are connected, which confused me for a very long time. Luckily, I am a good-​little intern, and I have picked up lunch here many times for people (It’s a good way to get out of the office, ya know?)
The display cases here look delicious, and the help is really friendly. I’ve never had anything but pastries here. They have all been as light as air, delicious, and probably have 0 calories (Ok. One of those is wishful thinking). One was a croissant with chocolate, another a flaky almond type thing, and one had lemon or something. I love everything I have tried. The food is apparently really delicious too, and the prices are pretty reasonable!

Mele… Why you so good?

Colangelo’s is a treasure in the Strip District hidden amongst the other incredible food places. Sure, you might have to eat standing up huddled between the adorable elderly Italian men who frequent the joint, but it’s all part of the experience.
Colangelo’s boats a full roster of treats and meals. The pastry selection here includes muffins, cheese danishes, almond croissants (my favorite!), and all sorts of other breakfast goodness. I like to go early in the morning on a weekday, grab a croissant and cappuccino from la Prima next door and get my grocery shopping done while the Strip is deserted.
If I don’t make it in time for breakfast, lunch is just as fantastic. While I’m typically a hearty eater, I can’t stay away from Colangelo’s salads. The Tuscan salad is delicious and full of spring greens, feta, and artichoke hearts. The house made white balsamic is TO DIE FOR. Take it from me – I am not a salad eater by trade and I dream of this Tuscan salad night and day.
Colangelo’s also has a full pasta menu, with specials each day. I highly recommend the gnocchi when it’s on special, and the pesto is amazing as well. You can order pasta by the half order, which is a lifesaver when you want to cram both a salad and pasta in over a lunch break.
Believe it or not, there’s even more! I love the sandwich selection here, the chicken sandwich especially. I think what I’m trying to convey here is that you can’t make a wrong choice at this place. Colangelo’s knocks everything out of the park. It’s a great family owned place with even more enthusiastic patrons.
My only wish would be for more seating! In the winter you are limited to two standing tables inside. I recommend coming early or late for the lunch crowd. That being said, I would stand on one leg and eat this stuff! Never-​mind a standing table!

I stopped in here this past Sun. to pick up some baked goodies after visiting Wholey’s for lunch. After perusing the display case, I decided on the cheese danish, the cinnamon roll (last one!), and a chocolate cakey thing (they told me its name, but I forget). I ate the cheese danish immediately, and packed up the rest to take home for later consumption in the privacy of my lair.
The pastries ranged from very good to excellent in quality. The cinnamon roll was the least distinct/​exciting of the bunch – while tasty, it lacked any characteristics to set it apart from cinnamon rolls at any other bakeries. (I forgot to take a picture of it, since I was eager to consume it on Mon. morning, but it looked like a standard bakery cinnamon roll.) I’d suggest putting more cinnamon in it, since I felt that it was a bit light in this respect, and more cinnamon = better roll. The cheese danish was set apart from other cheese danishes by (1) its large size and (2) the contrast between the sweetness of the icing and the cheese filling, which was creamy and delicious but not as sweet as the fillings of Entenmann’s, which is the cheese danish I’m most familiar with. The chocolate cakey thing was my favorite, despite that I just consumed it today, 2.5 days after purchase. After a brief warming in the microwave, its middle became fudgy, contrasting with the crispness of the top. Although it was super-​rich and satisfying, it wasn’t cloyingly sweet – it had just enough sugar to bring out the chocolatey flavor. If you’re a dark chocolate lover, I highly recommend it!
Overall, a very solid collection of baked goods, and friendly service. If/​when I return, I’ll have to go earlier, so that there’s more left to choose from. I’ll also have to try their cannoli, which looked super-​tempting, as well as their savory goods (pizza and panini). Definitely worth a stop when you visit the Strip!
NOTE: They now accept credit cards. I’m not sure if there’s a minimum, though, since I paid with cash.

The food is always fantastic when we go in there. Some of the best pizza I have had since moving to pittsburgh! We’ll make special trips to the strip district just to get some of their food!!!

This little bakery is absolutely spectacular.
You need to quit reading this review and just go there! You walk in, and it’s basically straight up food porn. Feast for the eyes, and a party in your mouth. The spinach & cheese croissant is the stuff that dreams are made of – i get one every friday and on day’s that aren’t Friday, I think about the croissant like… all day.
The pizza and panini’s are next on my list to try. This bakery is a true gem, if you haven’t been there yet you must go!

Discovered this place when I went searching for some pastries for a morning meeting. Raspberry and almond croissants were excellent. Everything in the case looked inviting, and I liked that there were savory croissants as well. I’ll be back!

I don’t see Pittsburgh without Colangelo’s the best best for breakfast, lunch, and everything in between! Pizzas, pastas, frittatas, cupcakes, you name them, I eat them! @bigbenzaburgh

My review is not about their pastries since I never tried them before, but about their pizza and Panini’s. Went here on a rather hot day as a new stop for lunch. There are a few outdoor seating areas and I think maybe a table or so inside but I can’t recall for sure. I know we ate outside and the seating was very limited. That being said it was one of those nice gems you happily encounter on an adventure to try something new.
Me and my colleagues examined the menu for a bit. My one coworker went with a whole cheese pizza with Gorgonzola, and she ate the whole thing. I tried a bite and it was so yummy. I opted for the Tomato Mozzarella Panini, and was not disappointed. My other friend and fellow foodie got a meatball Panini. Fresh bread, small portion of mixed olives on the side, very very satisfying.
I can’t wait to go back and try some more items, really great stop in the Strip with fresh homemade ingredients, just don’t forget to bring the cash, no CC accepted…

After my brunch at Pamela’s, I was mesmerized and tempted by the sights and sounds of a Strip District weekday. Therefore, I felt no need to rush home and began scanning the immediate vicinity for treats to take back to the abode. Literally stumbling upon Colangelo’s, I smacked myself in the temple for not remembering to come here for lunch being that they supposedly specialize in extraordinary pizzas, but once I caught an eyeful of their brothel of pastries, the savory desires gave way to those of a sugary nature.
I would leave with some Lady Locks, chocolate macaroons, and two massive chocolate cookies.
The Lady Locks were a crispy/​chewy/​flaky daydream akin to a baklava spliced with cannoli and filled with what may have been the most luxurious and sweet buttercream I’ve ever tasted, one that was fit for a royal wedding cake.
The macaroons had a dark cocoa Arch-​Archway exterior that concealed a rich layer of caramelized coconut. It was as if a geode had been turned into a cookie via magic.
The Chocolate Cookies were encrusted with powdered sugar and paralleled the macaroons with their mouthfeel and flavor. Profoundly in lust with chocolate, each cookie’s crunchy hide contrasted decadently with its soft, seductive Devil’s food brownie interiors.
Colangelo’s should be renamed Caligula’s for an orgy of confection can be had here, which brings me to what happened later that day.
«Darren. Darrrennn. DARREN!!! Where are??? GASP!!! DARREN!!! Not again!!! First you fooled around with those… things from Moio’s and now… this???»
«But babe, we were gonna include you!»
«Aaaaaiieeeee!!!»
«They’re just… you mean them???»
P. S. I’ll have to try their pizzas since they looked to be heaven-​sent.
P. P. S. Seating is very sparse at Colangelo’s, so it was just as well I didn’t dine there. Prepare to do takeout.
P.P.P.S. My previous bakery indiscretion…

I’ve never had their pizza, but I have their pastries, and they are recommended. I especially recommend their macaroons, their lady locks, and their GIANT chocolate cookies. The macaroons are packed with coconut. The lady locks have a really good buttercream frosting inside.

My first encounter with Beans and Greens. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much, but Colangelo’s set a high bar for others to follow. The B&G were incredibly flavorful, felt relatively healthy (perhaps not the case?), and made for an all-​round satisfying dish.
The Mr. got the meatball sandwich, which he says was also delicious. He would have preferred smaller meatballs instead of one giant meatball, but that’s hardly something to complain about.
There seemed to be a few solid vegetarian options, which was great for having such a small menu.
Looking forward to coming back to try some of their pastries.

Raspberry meles. Enough said.

Mom and I ventured to Pittsburgh popcorn and walked by Colangelo’s. A couple was eating at one of the tables outside and their food smelled so amazing that we had to go in! The beans and greens are fantastic! I love that they add potatoes and sun dried tomatoes! Mom had a piece of pizza that she said was awesome as well! I just wish they were opened later as we very rarely make it to the strip during their hours!