Baked Goods
Hot Oven Bakery (The Kingsway)
Hot Oven Bakery opened its third location in at Bloor Street West and Royal York Road about a year and a half ago, and business is already booming. So much so, that you have to take a number when you walk in.
I had almost forgotten what those old, red ticket dispensers looked like until a woman swooped around me to pull a paper slip out of the end. But those are the things you need to do if you want to snag a prized loaf from Hot Oven's wall of breads. By 2 p.m. it seems its already half empty, with a few stray cracked pepper breads and challah loafs sitting lonely on the shelf. The ones that will make it past 6 p.m. will be sold for $2 each, so that's something to look forward to.
In the meantime, I seem to be awkwardly holding up the rush as I scan Hot Oven's endless chalkboards of hot drinks, lunch food and bakery treats. From the entrance towards the back, the shop seems to evolve from cakes and pastries, to breads and loafs, to meal options and take-home dinners. It's a lot of food for what seems like a small space, but then again, the door never seems to stay closed.
"There's tons of variety," a regular tells me. "I work in the area and I always stop by for something, and still, I don't think I've tried everything." All of Hot Oven's products are either made onsite or at one of the other locations in Toronto. Its cookies, especially its chocolate chip, oatmeal shortbread, and peanut butter and jam cookies ($0.50 each), seem to fly off the shelves, as well as its cinnamon split buns ($1.25), which I found had that authentic, homemade taste--sweet and fresh, with just the right amount of cinnamon.
Other big hits at the bakery are the cakes, notably the orange chiffon cake ($10), which are intricately decorated with professional-looking designs. And for lunch, there's an assortment of pot pies (beef $3.25) quiches (broccoli and cheese $3.25) and items that can be ordered of the menu, including meatball subs made with Hot Oven's fresh bread ($4.99) or a bowl of chili ($4.99). Finally, if you don't feel like making dinner, you can pick up a whole lasagna (12.95) or homemade perogies stored in Ziploc bags ($6.50/dozen). Just remember to take a number.
Photos by Dennis Marciniak
Discussion
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Any WiFi? I agree with Jen, you need to post the hours.
Looks very inviting and I do plan to go. Thanks.
Any WiFi? I agree with Jen, you need to post the hours.
Looks very inviting and I do plan to go. Thanks.
Any WiFi? I agree with Jen, you need to post the hours.
Looks very inviting and I do plan to go. Thanks.
As for the Hot Oven Bakery, I walk past it every day on my way to work but I've only stepped inside once. Nothing stood out to me so I ended up with a scone. It tasted salty with not much else flavour-wise. I haven't been back since. To each his own I suppose.
How on earth would you know? According to your comment you've only eaten one scone from Hot Oven Bakery.
By the way all I did was give my opinion from my experience of going there. Also, have you been back to a place numerous times when you didn't enjoy it or feel it was necessary to try anything else after your first experience? Just a question... If I don’t enjoy my first and only experience why would I go back? I’ll go to a place I enjoyed the first time.
If you’ve been to both or just Hot Oven Bakery and you enjoyed it, that’s great. To each his own!
Instead of the usual semi-solid filling like many butter tarts, the ones from the Hot Oven are runny, so be careful of drips when you bite into one! They also have raisins in them as fair warning for those strange anti-raisin people out there.
The Hot Oven's goods are really great in general. Other favourites of mine include the turkey and chicken pies, the macaroni and cheese, the nanaimo bars, the cookies with jam inside, among others. I've never had something bad from any of the locations and I highly recommend it.
With regard to the scones, we heard you and have changed our recipe! Come in and try them! When you are in the store ask for me, I would love to meet you. I am most happy to answer any of your questions or concerns. Happy shopping! Laura