Baked Goods
Jack's Bakery & Pastry
There is a lot going on in Jack's Bakery and Pastry: a bunch of guys are watching Portuguese news and eating cake with a guy in an apron, the radio is blaring some clubby top ten, a child is crying for some sweet bread... and the lottery counter appears to be quite popular. I watch one man purchase "the winning ticket" and wave it in the faces of everyone at his table (all of whom are vaguely disinterested) and tuck it into his wallet with preemptive triumph... Jack's is open 24 hours, and has adopted a few quirks accordingly.
The coffee ($1.43) tastes a bit burnt. In retrospect, I should have had an espresso drink. Because when I got my bill, I noticed my was brew dubbed "Canadian" which usually translates as "not the thing to order." So Jack's is the kind of place that serves good espresso and burnt drip coffee... I notice too late that the regulars are drinking lattes.
I have no reason to believe that the lone bagel flavour (sesame $0.45) will be the best choice given that Jack's is primarily a Portuguese bakery and there's lots of fine looking breads, buns, baguettes. But my mind's been on bagels, and I want some. I take two and they're pretty good. Not really dense or chewy enough, but fresh with a nice toasted sesame taste; definitely a solid bagel for a one-bagel shop. And you can't beat the price.
The mini corn bread buns look hearty ($0.75). They go down tough, a bit on the hard side. But they have that good corn bread texture that leaves me satisfied after a couple, toasted with some cheese and pepper. (I also like the charming hand-written sign someone made for them.)
My best (and most obvious) purchase was the custard tart ($1.00). I've never had a bad custard tart from a Portuguese bakery and this one is no exception. But still, I enjoy it more than most because it comes in a mini size... like the corn bread. I like this trend.
The service was excellent - really pleasant. I like all the minis and I like the quirks here. If I lived closer (or had a car) I'd totally come to Jack's for some midnight bread, a latte and a lottery ticket... the winning ticket, like the one that guy purchased.
Photos by Alyssa Bistonath.
Discussion
68 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
I agree about the custard tarts. They are great! (BTW, Macau was a Portuguese "colony" - not sure what the correct word is, but it was governed by Portugal up until 1999. One of the official languages is still Portuguese, so it makes sense that they share food and culture)
Finally, a bakery where you can go to with a group of friends and/or family members with exceptional service. Satisfy your sweet tooth with their endless assortment of pastries baked daily and fresh 24hrs - the custards are my favorite... among others :) Great ambiance with honest and friendly staff.
You have to see with your own eyes and taste those lovely cakes and sweets!!!
The owners are just FABULOUS!
Big cheers for them!
Real Portuguese Flavour with nice people and gentle Owners!!!
Saudations my friend!
Well, I say: see for yourself these magnificent pictures and decide what do you think about this fabulous bakery! The taste is even better...
I can say that the owners of this bakery are the most talented and friendly persons I´ve ever met.
With persons like this, it´s obvious that a quick stop at Jack´s Bakery can bring great things to a "regular day" of any person:)!
A qualquer hora do dia, a certeza de um agradável encontro com os segredos mais bem guardados da pastelaria tradicional portuguesa, para quem não tem medo de se perder: entre o lado mais doce da vida.
Um beijo enorme dos teus queridos Amigos Inês e Helder
Dépéchez vous d'y aller car c'est vraiment exceptionnel de trouver du bon pain comme ça de nos jours!
Jack's bakery&pastry... une vie entière douce et légère:))
The quality and freshness of the food (bread, pastries, etc) was remarkable.
I will definitely be going back.
Excited to learn that it is 24 hours.
P.S. The best? You have got be kidding!!!
Thank You
BUT INSIDE MOST DESERTS ARE SIMILAR TO COMMISO'S ITALIAN BAKERY.
VERY OVER PRICED AND OVER RATED.
IF YOU CANT TELL ALL THE REPLIES ON THIS SITE ARE FROM THE OWNERS
OF JACKS BAKERY,THEY ARE DESPERATE FOR BUSINESS, NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE GO THERE AND MOST LEAVE UNHAPPY.
JACK WILL JACK YOU OFF
SAVE TIME AND MONEY AND GO ELSEWHERE
THANKS IN ADVANCE
AND i AGREE, OVER PRICED. i THINK HE BUYS MOSTLY FROZEN
AND RESALES AT A MUCH HIGHER MARGIN.
DESPERATE FOR BUSINESS HE IS EVEN USING PUBLIC SIDE WALK SPACE
THINKING HE CAN MAKE A PATIO.
WE WILL SEE HOW LONG THAT LASTS.
JACK'S IS BECOMING REALLY FAMOUS IN TORONTO...
Thank You
If you want an amazing bakery in the area, go to St. Clair to either patachou or Pain Perdu. it's more expensive, but you won't throw anything in the garbage.
If you want Portuguese, go to St. clair & Caledonia, to the other Nova Era in the area.
If Jack's or the owners really cared about keeping their clientele, they would certainly throw out the stale sweets and breads, and sell ONLY FRESH, so customers aren't throwing money in the garbage every single day.
When owners don't want to know the truth, they don't care about their customes or their product.
Can't keep a fresh rack of anything, always check for mould and
get your money back,
one year in and gonna have to sell everything back,
cause that's JAck, your neibour hood crack.
Poetic Justice you have been served
So my message is .. keep up the good work Jacks .. and for the ones that like Jacks i am sure none of the negative messages here are going to change the way you feel
Have a happy 2010 all of you
God Bless.
Origin of Jack's Bakery name: It was thought on the purpose of being an English name to serve all the Multicultural Community. Which is what has been happening and we are proud for that.
For the first Anniversary we did a Customer Appreciation Month which started September 15 and ended October 15 2009. We gave out cupons for Baguettes, we gave out questionaries to know about the opinion of the customers and i was really surprised, which gave us even more strenght to continue. We offer custard tarts when it comes up to weekends, Families have been enjoying coming here and the groups are getting bigger and bigger, we support everything that is related with Human Causes, why? Because we think that we should give in order to receive and that will always be Jack's Bakery in the Present and in the Future.
So here is my challenge for all of you: I would like to get to know you personally and chat a little more. It's always a pleasure getting to know new people. I'm here pratically 7 days a week working on this project, you just have to ask for me and we will sit down and enjoy a coffee and a Jack's custard.
Thanks once again
Jason Carvalho
All of you out there go meet him, critisise him ,whatver in person.
Make it a better business for the neighbourhood anyway.
I eat there and will complain or praise the management on spot .
Give small business's a chance ,they dont have the mega bucks like Tim Hortons, Starbucks ,nor do they call you by name,
Independants in Toronto are coming back ,or do you want the franchises all over {same old boring menus ...]
A Bakery is a Bakery ,dont get all tripped up on the origins etc unless you like the smell of frozen pastries ,bread at the grocery stores..
Congratulations! The way you have exposed your thoughts to all the people that have left messages on this site only reveals your kind and humanitarian personal character. Strong values and excellent tools to live with personally and professionally. In deed you are a true business man. One with a profound knowledge of your clientele, community and the opportunities offered by being a respectful and humble person.
I know your products for years. I enjoy them. Every person I have introduced to Jack’s Bakery truly enjoy the service and the products.
I have read every single message on this great site. I have to say that I fell very sad by some of the wording and contents of some. Totally uncalled for. Just shows lack of respect and knowledge. Poor choice of words no doubt about it. Shows a very bad and jealous side of people. Very sad!
But on the other hand they can be quite useful to you Jason; by giving Jack’s Bakery free advertising and more motivation for Jack’s Bakery to continue the excellent work and community relations they have done so far.
I love to see any business growing in the community. I respect peoples hard work. I know that some are more successful, more giving than others. But at the end every business person (so I choose to believe) try to do their best. At least what they believe to be the best for the clientele and community they represent. There is enough clientele for every body to serve what they produce. The consumer chooses where to go. No silly messages on this site is going to change that.
I know Jack for almost 20 years. I have always respected him, his work ethics and his humanitarian side.
The community should be proud for having a decent business making Oakwood looking clean and decent to attract residents from all over the city and even from outside of Toronto.
Jason and Jack, please continue your dedication and good work. As we say in Portuguese… “Os cães ladram mas a caravana passa”!
All the best!
PS: I will be there this weekend to get a few “Broas” for me and my friend Ivana. They are the best in town.
Idalina
heaven...
my wife just went there to get the traditional (caseiro) and ask the server if it was fresh, at what she replied it was, when she got home we realized it was old bread.
this guy should be ashamed of doing this.
If you want to know there history, google "Fabrica de Pateis de belem em Lisboa".
Enjoy!
Best
Idalina
Try to go there on a saturday night... and u will see if is empty... or if what ur telling is just jelous......
I hate when people talk about what they dont know, just for fun or to see someone falling!!!!
Try to do best than them and then say if is easy or not...
p.s. my english sucks sorry, but i try writte without using any translator
Over this particular week my husband and i bought various pastries, including a large assortment of puddings, to offer our guests, what we got were barely touched desserts. I'd like to add as well that 4 of our desserts were placed with our order incorrectly, so, i had to stretch out 6 of the other individual desserts to present everyone the same, a large flan style pudding that wasn't infact freshly made, with an overwhelming citrus taste..,custard tarts, (120 that we purchased this past week), what i came to discover with the 50 bought last night, 2 of my guests thankfully took me aside to let me know that the tarts bottoms were burnt, cant imagine who'd fined this appealing. I'm ending this here, after $100.00's of dollars "overspent" at this establisment, I'm moving on, i've overlooked far to many mistakes, of every nature, my husband, myself and even my dear mom who had travelled from Paris, France this Christmas to spend with me and her only grandchild to be terribly embarrased for me not too mention herself.
P.S: Word of advice to what i believe was the owner of this establisment, you clearly saw me and my 2 year old child leaving your bakery with large boxes of "your goods" including bags, instead of helping us out your door, you turned away and sat down to resume tv viewing....help your customers or have other staff help patrons who may need assistance.....$158.00 not worthy of holding out the door?