Late night stop for sweet treats. Always crowded sweets are always fresh and a ton of choices. I like the fruit tart and my hubs likes the red velvet cheesecake. I always bring family from out of town here because it's an experience and every one should go at least once. Almost forgot the spinach pie is amazing. Service fast and precise. Free parking in back for customers.
(4)
Sarah H.
Hellas Bakery is my go-to place for a good cappuccino. No bitter burned milk here (like a certain corporate store or two). Always perfect! Add cinnamon on top for a Greek flare. My boyfriend and I have become regulars here, and we're always greeted with a smile. Our favorite girl even gave us a surprise icing-decorated dessert for our anniversary. A note on protocol for first-timers: There is real no line to order. If you want to be served swiftly, scan the sweets as quickly as you can and make eye contact with the closest available associate to put in your order. First to speak, first served. ;)
(4)
Bill S.
Hellas Bakery is connected to Hellas Restaurant, you can view all of the yummy cakes and pastries from your seat. I walked into the bakery to plan out my dessert. They sell Greek breads and cookies here. Just a heads up, the cookies aren't too sweet. Think of a Stella d'oro margarite cookie but less sweeter. (I love them but not today) They serve a funky Baklava cheesecake but today I want something with walnuts, honey and topped with shredded wheat. I see Kataifi in my future. Made oh so perfectly and drenched in honey, its the perfect ending to my meal.
(4)
Tori B.
Late night stop for sweet treats. Always crowded sweets are always fresh and a ton of choices. I like the fruit tart and my hubs likes the red velvet cheesecake. I always bring family from out of town here because it's an experience and every one should go at least once. Almost forgot the spinach pie is amazing. Service fast and precise. Free parking in back for customers.
(4)
Tiffany H.
I think I'm the only one not in love with Hella's Bakery. I made the stop here after lunch in the attached restaurant to check it out. The case was full of stuff that looked delicious but it was hard to get a solid look as other people just absentmindedly walk in front of you doing the exact same thing. There's no real sense of order, just some workers behind the counter asking if you're ready to get something. Being I'm not a huge fan of Greek style baklava (sorry guys, Turkish/Middle Eastern/Iranian is miles ahead), I had my eyes on a few things and asked for an opinion from the older lady between the 3 I was stuck on. Just for reference they were a small fruit tart, some kind of a white cake filled with a whipped cream, and the baklava cake that is cut from a giant cake log. She said the last one was the best, so that's what I got. It got put on a styrofoam plate, and then on a plastic tray, and I sat down with my friend (who ordered some chocolate mousse thing in the shape of a mouse.. yes it was cute). I got over the feeling of being in a crappy cafeteria and dug my plastic fork into this multilayer cake. I can't express the amount of disappointment I had. The layers of cake were very soft. The fluffy cream layers were very soft. The little decorative phyllo on top was sort of soft. There was exactly zero texture besides soft and mushy. And even though it looked like the cream was mixed with cinnamon, it didn't really taste like anything besides cream. I'm not sure how this is anywhere near baklava. I think there were some walnuts scattered in there somewhere. I was regretting not getting one of my other options. I think the lady just said this was the best of the 3 because it was the last one on my list and she couldn't remember what others I listed. If it really was the best of the 3, I would hate to see what the other options were like. So yeah, super bummed out about it. Tarpon Springs is a bit of a drive for me, and Hella's won't be on the list when I come back.
(2)
Matt F.
Bakery is worth the trip to Tarpon Springs. The cakes and pastries are epic. The wait staff is pleasant and helpful and willing to answer questions they've undoubtedly heard a million times. The fruit tarts are awesome. Always an impressive sight to see the giant display cases full of goodies.
(4)
Steve E.
I was wandering around the streets of Tarpon Springs to walk off my lunch at Mama's, when the incredible scent of intoxicating Greek pastries seemed to draw me into the bakery at Hella's. The place was full of tourists on a Sunday afternoon, and I passed the time by trying not to drool as I looked up and down the glass display cases and imagining which dessert I would attack first. I resisted the urge to order one of everything in the left-hand display case followed by two or three of everything else - their pastries are seriously that good! In the end I got a little sampler box with four different pastries - an amazing-looking fruit tart, a Greek cannoli, strawberry cheesecake, and somethiung resembling Death by Greek Chocolate. Since I knew I'd never make it back to Tampa without ripping the top off that box and inhaling everything inside, I took a seat and ordered a piece of baklava and a strong Greek coffee. Hella good pastires, and worth the short drive from Tampa!
(4)
John S.
The best tiramisu ever!!! Worth the trip just to get some!!!
(4)
Mitch L.
Wow what a bakery!!!! There is more here to delight the eye and the tummy than I have ever seen. I had a Greek Cannoli. I hope I spelled that right. It was delicious. The girls that work there and very friendly and answered a zillion questions I had on all the bakery items they have. What a way to top off a great dinner!!!!!
(5)
Wei H.
Good and delicious
(4)
Kisha J.
Awesome bakery.....need not say more. PROs Very much like one of those uberfabulous bakeries in NYC, where you wait in long lines and its worth it. Baklava, perfect as to not being not too sweet and not too sticky The Italian Cannoli is a mouthwatering perfect combination of textures with the mini choco chips mixed in and the flavor profile is not to sweet or bland cheesey. Pink boxes! Absolutely adorable pink boxes envelope tiny pieces of heaven. Only in the movies had I seen pink bakery boxes! CONs The lines, but like I said......WORTH IT! The chaos at the counter, but once you squeeze your way up to the counter and flag down the attention of one of the ladies behind the counter you are in for a treat. The parking in Tarpon Springs is terrible on a good day, best bet drive down with someone riding shotgun, slip him your order and $20 and throw him out the door as you slowly drive by. Swing back around and pick him up!!! BOTTOM LINE You could be in serious trouble if you lived within a 20 mile radius. Eat plently and Live Happy
(5)
Penelopy T.
CAUTION: Although the bakery serves up wonderful delicacies BEWARE of the tricky parking situation. HELLAS cleverly cloaks a rebate on a $3.00 parking ticket BUT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE BAKERY Only to the restaurant and there again - I encountered unnecessary haggling. The Tarpon Sponge Docks are committing suicide in turning this wonderful historical haunt into a PARKING NIGHTMARE full of scams! It is self inflicted so don't feel a twinge of remorse it is due to their own GREED! BEWARE Parking at the Sponge Docks is tricky! Shame on the Hellas Restaurant for fostering something so misleading! The hostess actually had the audacity to barter with me over the ambiguity of the parking issue! How low can you go?????????????????????????? Pathetic!
(1)
Nichole C.
Hellas bakery was beyond packed today (on a very rainy day when the rest of Tarpon's Greek district seemed pretty empty) and now I know why! There were rows and cases of delish looking desserts that did not disappoint! I ordered their Italian canoli. I'm not a huge sweets person but this was seriously the most amazing treat I have ever had. I also ordered an eclair, but have yet to eat it (still on my food buzz from that canoli!). My husband ordered a few pieces of baklava to take home and he has enjoyed it as well. The staff was very attentive and helpful. We also ordered Greek coffee and one of the girls at the counter explained that you must sip Greek coffee as the grounds are at the bottom. It was way too bitter for me but I like weak coffee (LOL) and more frou frou drinks, however my husband loved it. Next time I feel like going into a diabetic coma (jusssst kidding), I will be sure to visit Hellas!
(5)
ryan w.
Everything was good, but I was expecting an experience that you could only find here. I'm pretty sure I could find everything in this bakery at a different location at the same quality.
(4)
Deke K.
Hella's Bakery is next to Hella's Restaurant and deserves a separate write-up. They have a huge long glass counter full of EVERY Greek pastry imaginable. You can point and eat to your heart's content. I love the kataifi (straw-like baklava) but I drool over anything in there. I drive 60 miles every New Year's for the sweet round bread with a lucky coin in it (and hope I get that slice for extra luck in the year). They make a great purple and green mardi gras bread. You can order these pastries for dessert when you eat in the restaurant and they'll fetch it for you. You don't pay extra for the authentic Greek conversations by its patrons. :) A stop here sweetens any day in Tarpon Springs.
(5)
Tiff B.
Legit and authentic bakery. We had baklava and it was one of most amazing pieces I've ever had. This is coming from a family with Palestinian roots. Would definitely recommend to stop in here when you're in Tarpon Springs.
(5)
Bill S.
Hellas Bakery is connected to Hellas Restaurant, you can view all of the yummy cakes and pastries from your seat. I walked into the bakery to plan out my dessert. They sell Greek breads and cookies here. Just a heads up, the cookies aren't too sweet. Think of a Stella d'oro margarite cookie but less sweeter. (I love them but not today) They serve a funky Baklava cheesecake but today I want something with walnuts, honey and topped with shredded wheat. I see Kataifi in my future. Made oh so perfectly and drenched in honey, its the perfect ending to my meal.
(4)
Sarah H.
Hellas Bakery is my go-to place for a good cappuccino. No bitter burned milk here (like a certain corporate store or two). Always perfect! Add cinnamon on top for a Greek flare. My boyfriend and I have become regulars here, and we're always greeted with a smile. Our favorite girl even gave us a surprise icing-decorated dessert for our anniversary. A note on protocol for first-timers: There is real no line to order. If you want to be served swiftly, scan the sweets as quickly as you can and make eye contact with the closest available associate to put in your order. First to speak, first served. ;)
(4)
Alena W.
Hellas is nothing short of a dream bakery for me. Every time I visit the sponge docks we stop in for a coffee (Greek) and that darned rice pudding. No, not baklava or any of the other awesome things my other family members get, it's the rice pudding for me. I love it. Great air conditioned spot to relax and have cold drink and little bite to eat after getting off of a site seeing boat, or a day of shopping.
(5)
Amy Z.
Cappuccino was great as were baklava tiramisu and cannoli. There are so many delicious looking choices. They are also open 365 days a year.
(5)
Dave O.
Hellas Bakery is connected to Hellas Restaurant so you can enter the bakery from inside of the restaurant and they also have an entrance from the street no matter which way you chose be prepared for a wait the bakery case is filled with a little of everything but the ordering process is not so organized the severs randomly ask customers what they want and completely ignore the line once you place your order they direct you to a register to pay numbered one through four. Looks like a lot of these reviews including mind are focused on the ordering process not the treats (that's the problem here and my reasoning for the three stars). The offerings are plentiful and the Italian Cannoli and Baklava were just okay I think the shear volume takes away from the quality. I see most people were ordering take out but there are a number of tables and chairs. The service is plastic and self service and you bus your own table all of this was a little disappointing.
(3)
Kathryn J.
They have this baklava cheesecake to die for it's a little bit of Greek with a little bit of American and it's absolutely wonderful and delectable
(5)
Matt E.
I may be in the minority here but Greek dessert is pretty horrible, even if it's done well. Just drenching everything in honey and butter and calling it a dessert really isn't my cup of tea. Sprinking some pistacios on it doesn't change the fact that Greeks just don't do dessert well, very surprising given their proximity to Italy. Hellas is aware of this and that's why the majorty of their dessert options are Italian and French based. Hellas Bakery is by in large an Italian dessert and cafe location connected to a Greek restaurant. Living in Brooklyn and being somewhat obsessed with dessert I'm a bit spoiled. NYC has some of the best food in the world, especially when it comes to dessert, Italian dessert in particular. With that as a measuring stick I wasn't impressed with the quality from Hellas. I'm sure it's one of the best options in the Tampa area and there was certainly nothing that looked bad. The space was very clean, the prices were reasonable, and the service was good. I forgot the exact dessert me and my girlfriend shared but one was supposed to have custard and it was more of a frosting and the other was a chocolate mouse with less flavor than I was expecting. Again neither was horrible, just not worthy of a 4 or 5 star review.
(3)
Kelleigh M.
Chaos? Yes. Lots of people gazing at the display counters trying to decide what to get? Yes. But trust me, the wait is worth it. A Tarpon staple, that's attached to their restaurant (skip the restaurant), Hellas is a sugar lovers dream. After dinner, my man friend and I walked down Dodecanese Blvd, taking in the sights that Tarpon has to offer. After making the loop, we stopped in for some to go goodies. You've got to get a triangle of their baklava. To die for. I also ordered some cookies called melomakarona. Think the same ingredients as baklava, but more of a cookie consistency. I had them once at a Greek christening and loved them. When in the area, stop and get yourself some goodies. This is the best in Tarpon.
(5)
Minna S.
I will never in my life return to this bakery again! I understand that the place was crowded when I went. The older woman behind the counter acknowledged that I was waiting to be helped before this other older woman (who was Greek) but she helped the Greek woman before me! I mean how do you do something like that? I understand that they were both Greek, and she did have a big order, but come on! I ended up having to wait another five minutes to be helped. I complained to the manager about this incident but he did not even apologize. Really? I would rather go to a smaller family owned bakery, where service to them is their number one priority as well as delicious pastries. This place is overrated and packed with nothing but tourists. If it weren't for the out of towners, this place would be dead.
(1)
Dollyann M.
Pure Desert Heaven! There was nothing there that I did not want to try. Such an amazing Greek Bakery. They have from bread to ice cream and pastries, coffee, shakes. You name it they have it. We were having lunch at Hellas restaurant next door and you can order from the Bakery. But we wanted to go and see for ourselves the pastries and pick what we wanted. We were not disappointed at all. Worth trying and getting a to go box with your favorite sinful pleasure of sweets...
(5)
Danielle D.
More like 3 1/2. You walk in and it's like a fat girl paradise. The pastries look amazing. You Will be tempted to order one of everything. We've been here before and I was craving all the desserts. I resisted ordering everything and got a creme horn and my family ordered the eclair, moose cup, and baklava. I just wasn't overwhelmed by it. I feel like it looks way better than it tastes. Don't get me wrong, it's still good, just not over the top.
(3)
L Y.
Total of 2 visits. The first visit just a week ago, the Strawberry cheesecake was delicious!!! The Lemon Kok was good, the lemon flavor was very nicely sour and sweet. Baklava Tiramisu wasn't too good in my opinion. 2nd visit, just yesterday. Took a few people with me cause of the cheesecake! The Strawberry cheesecake this time was not as good as last weeks. The bottom layer of the cheesecake was more of a thin cake layer; not a thin layer of whatever the first time it was. Had a few of the different pasta flavors. Chocolate and vanilla pasta, Mickey pasta and coconut pasta. All three, the cake tasted extremely dry. Not sure if this is how they are supposed to be, but it pretty much tasted like very dry cake mix recipe that you buy at the grocery store. Had strawberry pasta for a friend's kid, which she ate with no problem. No complaints from her, cake is cake. Lastly the Tiramisu cake, without the lady fingers. It was decent. I will try the cheesecake again, but the other 4, nope.
(3)
Gene D.
What a huge disappointment! Really expensive and nothing was worth writing home about. We spent almost $40 on a few desserts and when I went back to get a refill on a soda I was very rudely told we don't do that by an extremely nasty Asian woman. The first soda was almost all ice! What a joke! Save your money and go to the publix bakery. You'll thank me.
(1)
Chris D.
We spent a chilly day on the sponge dock and stopped for a coffee and pastry before heading back. Baklava was fantastic and Chocolate raspberry pasta was really good. Coffee was fresh and hot. The selection is large and it's hard to decide when you can only have one! Very clean and service was great. Highly recommend.
(4)
Katie H.
These cookies are so good you can literally taste the love put into every bite. I wandered into this little bakery while on vacation in Florida. It's located in this small village called Tarpon Springs. (aka the sponge capital of the world) The village is chock full of Greek restaurants and other establishments. It's half bakery, half restaurant. I'll be reviewing the baked goods part. There were so many delicious options to choose from but I decided on the Greek wedding cookies and the Kataifi. Kataifi: If you don't know what's in this pastry... there's what's similar to shredded wheat wrapped on the outside, with a walnut/honey-soaked filling on the inside. It's super sweet with a playful mix of textures. Soft on the inside with a bit of crunch from the nuts and from the shredded wheat on the outside. Wedding Cookies: (Kourambiedes) This is a butter cookie with small pieces of nuts inside... doused in powdered sugar. It's actually not overly sweet considering the cookie is more of a shortbread. These were especially delicious. If you're ever in the area, stop by Hellas and grab a cookie. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Richard R.
Hella's Bakery is one of those places you simply must visit when in the area. My wife has a serious sweet tooth and just couldn't resist stepping inside to peruse the offerings. Shamefully we walked in just to see what all the fuss was about (it was wall to wall packed) and walked out with a bag full of goodies. What I liked most (besides our bag of goodies) was the efficient way they manage to handle the crowds. We never felt rushed and there were plenty of girls behind the counter to help. The staff here was ok with lots of questions and offering recommendations. There's so much to choose from that it can be overwhelming, but they handle you with great care. I really appreciated the service. Yelp100 [24]
(4)
Duane D.
We stopped my here for dessert after dinner. The selection of pastries and such was fantastic, and the prices were very good. Only down side -- the place was slammed busy! Definitely worth a stop for dessert. I would like to try dinner sometime too.
(4)
FL B.
Best Greek bakery in Florida! Whenever we have out-of-towners visiting, we always stroll the sponge docks & pick up some fantastic sweet treats from Hellas. The baklava is out of the world, and there's so much to choose from in the quaint old-fashioned atmosphere.
(5)
Andrea H.
Came down here for the sponges and ended up here when we smelled baklava as someone was exiting. Cute little place with a couple other legit Greek restaurants in this area. Very good good and great staff!
(5)
Paul M.
I make a special trip here whenever I'm in the Tampa Bay area just for their Italian Cannoli. Not too sweet, not too sour: Firm yet yielding. Chock full of delectable chocolate chips. I always eat half right away and then the other half later in the evening so as to prolong the ecstasy. Their other desserts and their Greek coffees are really great too.
(5)
Christina S.
Every time I'm in Tarpon Springs I have to stop by for a frappe and chocolate vanilla swirl koulouris. Don't be fooled by frappe and think it's the Starbucks kind, this is a Greek frappe that froths together instant coffee, milk and sugar. You tell them how sweet you want it and they blend it right up for you. If you're used to moderately sweet coffee drinks, you may want yours extra sweet. I like the taste of coffee so I get mine with just a little. The koulouris are twisted cookie delights. They're butter dough based and delicious. They are very light tasting and not overly sweet. Their baklava is amazing as well. It's flaky and filled with honey and nuts as it should be. They have a very large variety of desserts as shown in the photos others have posted, all of which you can see the care put into making them. Each time I've been there it's busy, which is always a good sign of a place. But there's never a long wait as they have many lovely ladies waiting to take your order as often times people are standing by the cases trying to decide on what goodies to get.
(5)
Kathy A.
Fun, lively atmosphere and plenty of sweets to chose from. Be sure to have your order ready when you approach the counter. The staff is used to moving at a fast pace to accommodate the crowds. Always a must when in Tarpon.
(5)
Michelle M.
If you want a sweet treat in Tarpon Springs you must stop by Hellas Bakery! As soon as I stepped in I was overwhelmed by the incredible smells of fresh baked bread and sugary, sweet pastries and desserts. We almost went to the wrong bakery. Apparently the other bakery on Dodecanese stocks baked goods from Hellas. Luckily we realized we were in the wrong bakery and found the "real" Hellas further down the same road. We tried the Greek Cannoli, Strawberry Cheesecake and the Baklava. All excellent!!! It took all of my willpower not to take a loaf of bread home as well as every dessert that contained baklava. I cannot wait to try more of the Greek treats on my next visit!
(5)
Ana-Christina R.
The staff was very rude, do not walk in when they are ready to close. They treat their customers poorly, the girls with the lip piercing was specially rude. Very sad
(1)
Kelly Q.
Hellas is a BIG WIN in my book. I've only ever tried the bakery, but everything was divine. And I'm super picky about my baklava. A definite must go to if you're on the hunt in Tarpon for some authentic Greek. I definitely want to go back to check out the restaurant.
(5)
Nathan T.
Wow what an amazing display of Greek baked goods. The Baclava was the best I have ever had. The Greek coffee was super thick and tasty not overly bitter...it was like a taking a jog without leaving my seat, heart thumping good.
(5)
Niki A.
Well, if you have had the original greek recipes of these sweets, I'm afraid the ones at Hellas do not live up to expectations. The baklava is not bad, but most cream based sweets that I tried were quite disappointing. The fruit tart, for example, is supposed to have a thick hard shell (reminds me of a dense short bread cookie); this one was thin and flaky. Also, the cream is supposed to be more like a custard, while this one was pretty much whipped cream. Similar disappointment with the Eclair... The Serano "pasta" (i.e. cake) I tried (which is a chocolate cake in thin layers with a light mushy chocolate cream) was also more like chocolate flavored whipped cream, but it was definitely better than the other two examples. The butter cookies looked way too yellow to resemble anything I knew from Greece, but I didn't know how to ask politely what they decided to put in the recipe to give them that color; didn't look appetizing enough to try. The "chocolate baklava cheesecake" was not a good idea at all, I'm afraid; too many of a good thing put together didn't turn out well at all. I wish they would improve some of their quality and fidelity to the way things are supposed to be (as the prices certainly justify it) because these sweets are so good when they are done well! Such a shame ... :(
(2)
Rachel I.
Since I already reviewed the restaurant on their other Yelp page, I will stick to discussing the bakery in this review. We stopped in the bakery for dessert after the meal, and the service was just as fast and friendly. They have something for everyone; you can't possibly leave without finding something for you. This would've been a great stop even if we hadn't are at the restaurant beforehand, so if you find yourself wanting something small and sweet while you're at the sponge docks, definitely stop in here for a bite.
(5)
Ashley B.
I went to Hella's for dessert with a group of girls the night before my sister's wedding. My expectations were super low, but WOW did Hella's create a night to remember. The staff went above and beyond to create a memorable experience for our group. Everyone enjoyed the greek desserts and my vanilla cappuccino was amazing! But what stood out the most was our server. Once he learned it was a bachelorette party, he went above and beyond. Each time he visited our table it seemed like he had a new joke for the bride and he had the whole group laughing! We really appreciated the extra effort he gave to make our night memorable. If you're looking for a restaurant that values the customer and goes out of their way to make the experience great, check out Hellas in Tarpon Springs!
(5)
Elana L.
Seriously the BEST chicken kabob I have EVER eaten, and I have eaten many of them! With one entree you get so much food, I couldn't finish. My husband ordered a Gyro and it was good but the kabob was so much better! Instead of ordering dessert at your table, walk into the bakery and gaze at all the choices! There has to be at least 50 different bakery items to choose from. I don't recommend their coffee though, it tastes burnt and way to strong. **BY far the busiest place on the sponge docks. That's a good thing, right!?! :)
(5)
Elizabeth K.
it will be 50 degrees outside and they will somehow manage to make it colder inside. why
(1)
M R.
We loved the food at Hellas!! The spanakopita was delicious and we had a combination platter with dolmades, gyro meat, pastitio, moussaka and tsatsiki sauce!! We also had kalamari. And for dessert we had baklava at the bakery. Soula, our server was very nice and the place was PACKED, which is always a good sign. She apologized for taking some time because the place was full and her customer service was very professional. She even turned down the ac when it got cold. If you are nice to them, they are very accomodating! Delicious food and authentic Greek atmosphere with typical blue and white decor!
(5)
Lisa B.
Wonderful bakery and restaurant in this unique Greek fishing village. I'm going to start by saying it is best to go here on the days before the end of the New Year... when they offer sweet Greek New Year bread... yet there are theoretically no calories at the end of the year (or you can go with the theory that your odometer restarts with the new year so 'run your calories to the fullest' by Jan 31st). The display of options are amazing. You'll want one of everything. Descriptions are on the desserts so you know what it all is - and you will crave it even more. We had eaten at Rusty Bellies Seafood up the road (see my great review of that restaurant) and then here for dessert. Being out of town visitors, we brought four desserts back to our hotel (chocolate ganache, lemon kok, raspberry mousse and Greek cookies) because we were so full from dinner... But only an hour went by before we had to dig in and each of the four of us shared each of the four desserts because they were all that good. Finished them with no problem. And so we go back again tomorrow... New Years Eve... Before the calorie clock starts working. ;-). Enjoy!
(5)
Jose P.
Friendly staff, cool place, and wonderful treats.
(4)
J H.
Super professional service, and all food here are so nice.
(4)
Dianna B.
The heart of the Tarpon Springs sponge docks holds Hellas' bakery and Restaurant. It's a great place to dine, to people watch and to grab a cup of coffee and a slab of bakalava. There really isn't anything better to do on a Saturday afternoon, than sit at one of the outside tables, sipping your java and licking honey off your finger tips. The food is fantastic! Opa!
(5)
Jennifer H.
Heard so much about this so we tried it. Weve lived in Tarpon for a while now and although good, its overrated. If you want good portions and consistant quality, try Yianni's across the road
(3)
Carlos H.
When I first got to the Sponge Docks, my friend was uber excited to go to Hellas Bakery...however I didn't understand her excitement until we finally got there at the end of our travels there. My god, the place is dessert heaven. There is so many options and all of them look amazing. I had the hardest time choosing what dessert to get. After staring for awhile I finally went with their Tiramisu cake. Hands down the best Tiramisu I have ever had. Rich and full of perfect balance. Each bite left me longing for more. I sampled the Baklava as well which was equally good. The presentation of the cake was also spectacular, a true work of art with even a small white chocolate name plate on the cake. I left here wishing I could come here everyday. Too bad I haven't found something like this in my hometown.
(5)
Brett K.
Delicious Greek coffee and desserts. We did not done in the restaurant because it was insanely crowded, but I suppose that's a good sign. Great final stop after you've eaten your way down the street.
(4)
Michelle N.
Ladies ringing out at bakery were not focused and ignoring customers. Lady ringing had to keep asking someone else how to ring something. Then after not paying attention I signed the receipt myself since it wasn't handed to me and then she accused me of not paying for one of my drinks - I showed her the receipt that she did ring it up and says " it's ok " please don't accuse me of stealing something you handed to me in front of a line of people! Will NOT be returning here!
(1)
Steve M.
Bakery is sooo good with great variety of Greek and Italian offerings. Plenty of seating inside and good coffee to go with your sweet samplings. You'll be taking a box home as well, trust me.
(4)
Christopher S.
Yasou! My opinion? Hellas Bakery and Restaurant should be graded the same. I just bought $20 worth of bakery items after I took my time with the delicious lamb shank and spaghetti. Here's the other review link for Hellas. yelp.com/biz/hellas-rest…
(4)
Meaghan H.
Hellas Bakery has the BEST Italian cannolis I've ever eaten, and I try them anywhere they're sold. The cannolis are my personal favorite and my husband swears by their chocolate pudding. We have sampled many of the bakery items and they are always delicious, fresh and keep us coming back for more. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because they really need to update their cash-out system. They use old machines and more than once I have had to stand around waiting for the clerk to change the paper roll manually or have to start the entire purchase over again due to hitting a wrong button. Other than that, its awesome!
(4)
Jennifer R.
Amazing desserts. So many choices. The baklava was excellent. Can't wait for next trip by there.
(5)
Alexei R.
Took the family for lunch before hitting the beach. Our server (Gia) was very friendly and did a good job. The food was very reasonably priced and portions were quite generous. I had the grilled octopus and it was fantastic. Others had the gyros (very good), spanokopita (excellent), and a Greek salad (just ok; wilted iceberg lettuce wi too much dressing; go for the other salad instead). We then hit the Bakery and got a couple of items to go. The fresh baklava was outstanding. The butter cookies and apricot filled cookies were fantastic. We ran into a problem at the bakery with payment for the purchase: they had just installed a new POS system and were still working out the kinks. This caused a bit of a delay but the manager stepped in and got it squared away and gave us a gift box for our troubles, which was not necessary but much appreciated. Overall great customer service and food.
(4)
Frank S.
It was sooo good I felt like I had done something naughty that should have ended with a cigarette. Excellent in every aspect. There must have been 40 waiters tending to the customers with lickety split snap-snap service like you get on a cruise line. Great food. We visited bakery next door and left with a dozen doo dads we munched on for next 3 days. Almond cookies. Baklava, walnut thingies - you name it. FANTASTIC!
(5)
Ming Z.
I stared at my Baklava and wondered whether should I order a double espresso to go with. I had a single! It doesn't seems firm enough to battle this piece of honey down. I am not a fan of sweets, but once a while, I will surrender to let my curiosity take over. Once a while, I got lucky. Hellas Bakery is a family-run bakery & restaurant since 1970. It locates at the center of Sponge Dock of Tarpon Spring. Both local and tourists are all very fond of this place. The bakery makes all kinds of deserts, ice cream and home made bread. I think they have at least 40 different sweets display on the counter. Casher will help you pick deserts that you like and you order drinks or coffee to go with. It is a clean shop with simple family style deco. Good for kids and ice cream fans. We ordered 1 Baklava, 1 piece of chocolate cake, 1 cappuccino and 1 espresso single. Total is 19 dollar. Baklava is a traditional greek desert. It's a flaky, Filo dough with ground walnuts & honey. It is little heavy for my taste though but hubby seems enjoyed it very much. Chocolate cake is not sweet, a little on the firm side. Coffee are great. People surround us are all locals. A lots of them speak greek. We both are very happy to have this bakery closeby our home. It feels like you are accepted into a bigger family.
(3)
Richard F.
You must try the Baclava. It is the most scrumptious ever. But, then everything they sell is wonderful.
(5)
Mike P.
Very simple concerning Bakery. Go there you will not be disappointed. High quality desserts without the over abundance of processed sugar but just the right amount of sweetness. The only problem is you cant stop eating the stuff. This place is As good as it gets and deserves the high rating it has.
(5)
Cara B.
OMG! I want 1 of EVERYTHING. Their baklava is excellent, as to be expected. There are so many wonderful-looking treats here that it's really difficult to choose. I must walked up and down the row of display cases for 20 minutes, just staring and drooling. The last time I was there, my sister got the chocolate kok and I got the pourlakia, both of which were DELICIOUS! The pourlakia is the like best Swiss cake roll you've ever had. You may have just eaten an enormous gyro, but trust me... there's room for a baked good in there. Do it!
(5)
Christopher M.
Bring tissues...because the baklava napolean WILL MAKE YOU WEEP!!! So good! One of my top spots in TS!
(4)
Robert O.
Hella's Bakery is a staple whenever I visit. My wife is a huge fan of this place too. After dinner we stopped here for dessert. This place was mobbed as I have never seen it in my dozen previous visits. We waited and waited. Tonight was the first time I had something I didn't care for. I decided on an elephant ear. It wasn't sweet. Everyone else enjoyed their treats. I always have before and I know I will next time too.
(4)
constantconsumer c.
The cream horn was amazing, the best I ever had. The egg cream didnt taste too eggy it was firm and fluffy at the same time. The domino pasta (chocolate cake) was good. The baklava was really good.
(5)
Laura F.
Very good food! The bakery is AMAZING! Get the baklava!
(4)
David H.
Large selection of Greek and Italian baked goods, be sure to check out the cannolis.
(4)
R. M.
We always stop at Hellas Bakery for something to take home. There are so few real Bakery's on the Sun Coast of Florida, it's a real shame. Hellas Bakery & Restaurant has always been a great place to meet in Tarpon Springs.
(5)
Nina S.
If you're visiting Tarpon Springs this place is a MUST experience, the food and deserts are great
(4)
Katy M.
My girlfriends and I had a girl's weekend in Tampa. We heard Tarpons Springs Sponge Docks was a great place to visit. We love Greek food and was really looking forward to trying something new. We had already checked out Dimitri's on the Water and were ready for dessert. Hellas Bakery had the best reviews so we decided to check it out. The place was busy but they have a LARGE selection. So large it was difficult to decide what we wanted. There were three in our party so each of us got something different and shared. I got the Greek Cannoli, one girlfriend got the baklava cheesecake, and my other girlfriend got Hellas Pasta chocolate cake, all DELICIOUS!!!!. You have to check this place out. Be prepared to want out of there in a sugar coma but it's worth it!!!
(5)
Thomas B.
When the locals talk about this place you know it's worth a look-see! And it was. Baclava was just as good ( or even better ) as I remember it being made back in the day from an authentic Greek family home.
(5)
Bob Z.
The best / watch those calories.
(5)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :785 Dodecanese Blvd
Tarpon Springs, FL, 34689
Tori B.
Late night stop for sweet treats. Always crowded sweets are always fresh and a ton of choices. I like the fruit tart and my hubs likes the red velvet cheesecake. I always bring family from out of town here because it's an experience and every one should go at least once. Almost forgot the spinach pie is amazing. Service fast and precise. Free parking in back for customers.
(4)Sarah H.
Hellas Bakery is my go-to place for a good cappuccino. No bitter burned milk here (like a certain corporate store or two). Always perfect! Add cinnamon on top for a Greek flare. My boyfriend and I have become regulars here, and we're always greeted with a smile. Our favorite girl even gave us a surprise icing-decorated dessert for our anniversary. A note on protocol for first-timers: There is real no line to order. If you want to be served swiftly, scan the sweets as quickly as you can and make eye contact with the closest available associate to put in your order. First to speak, first served. ;)
(4)Bill S.
Hellas Bakery is connected to Hellas Restaurant, you can view all of the yummy cakes and pastries from your seat. I walked into the bakery to plan out my dessert. They sell Greek breads and cookies here. Just a heads up, the cookies aren't too sweet. Think of a Stella d'oro margarite cookie but less sweeter. (I love them but not today) They serve a funky Baklava cheesecake but today I want something with walnuts, honey and topped with shredded wheat. I see Kataifi in my future. Made oh so perfectly and drenched in honey, its the perfect ending to my meal.
(4)Tori B.
Late night stop for sweet treats. Always crowded sweets are always fresh and a ton of choices. I like the fruit tart and my hubs likes the red velvet cheesecake. I always bring family from out of town here because it's an experience and every one should go at least once. Almost forgot the spinach pie is amazing. Service fast and precise. Free parking in back for customers.
(4)Tiffany H.
I think I'm the only one not in love with Hella's Bakery. I made the stop here after lunch in the attached restaurant to check it out. The case was full of stuff that looked delicious but it was hard to get a solid look as other people just absentmindedly walk in front of you doing the exact same thing. There's no real sense of order, just some workers behind the counter asking if you're ready to get something. Being I'm not a huge fan of Greek style baklava (sorry guys, Turkish/Middle Eastern/Iranian is miles ahead), I had my eyes on a few things and asked for an opinion from the older lady between the 3 I was stuck on. Just for reference they were a small fruit tart, some kind of a white cake filled with a whipped cream, and the baklava cake that is cut from a giant cake log. She said the last one was the best, so that's what I got. It got put on a styrofoam plate, and then on a plastic tray, and I sat down with my friend (who ordered some chocolate mousse thing in the shape of a mouse.. yes it was cute). I got over the feeling of being in a crappy cafeteria and dug my plastic fork into this multilayer cake. I can't express the amount of disappointment I had. The layers of cake were very soft. The fluffy cream layers were very soft. The little decorative phyllo on top was sort of soft. There was exactly zero texture besides soft and mushy. And even though it looked like the cream was mixed with cinnamon, it didn't really taste like anything besides cream. I'm not sure how this is anywhere near baklava. I think there were some walnuts scattered in there somewhere. I was regretting not getting one of my other options. I think the lady just said this was the best of the 3 because it was the last one on my list and she couldn't remember what others I listed. If it really was the best of the 3, I would hate to see what the other options were like. So yeah, super bummed out about it. Tarpon Springs is a bit of a drive for me, and Hella's won't be on the list when I come back.
(2)Matt F.
Bakery is worth the trip to Tarpon Springs. The cakes and pastries are epic. The wait staff is pleasant and helpful and willing to answer questions they've undoubtedly heard a million times. The fruit tarts are awesome. Always an impressive sight to see the giant display cases full of goodies.
(4)Steve E.
I was wandering around the streets of Tarpon Springs to walk off my lunch at Mama's, when the incredible scent of intoxicating Greek pastries seemed to draw me into the bakery at Hella's. The place was full of tourists on a Sunday afternoon, and I passed the time by trying not to drool as I looked up and down the glass display cases and imagining which dessert I would attack first. I resisted the urge to order one of everything in the left-hand display case followed by two or three of everything else - their pastries are seriously that good! In the end I got a little sampler box with four different pastries - an amazing-looking fruit tart, a Greek cannoli, strawberry cheesecake, and somethiung resembling Death by Greek Chocolate. Since I knew I'd never make it back to Tampa without ripping the top off that box and inhaling everything inside, I took a seat and ordered a piece of baklava and a strong Greek coffee. Hella good pastires, and worth the short drive from Tampa!
(4)John S.
The best tiramisu ever!!! Worth the trip just to get some!!!
(4)Mitch L.
Wow what a bakery!!!! There is more here to delight the eye and the tummy than I have ever seen. I had a Greek Cannoli. I hope I spelled that right. It was delicious. The girls that work there and very friendly and answered a zillion questions I had on all the bakery items they have. What a way to top off a great dinner!!!!!
(5)Wei H.
Good and delicious
(4)Kisha J.
Awesome bakery.....need not say more. PROs Very much like one of those uberfabulous bakeries in NYC, where you wait in long lines and its worth it. Baklava, perfect as to not being not too sweet and not too sticky The Italian Cannoli is a mouthwatering perfect combination of textures with the mini choco chips mixed in and the flavor profile is not to sweet or bland cheesey. Pink boxes! Absolutely adorable pink boxes envelope tiny pieces of heaven. Only in the movies had I seen pink bakery boxes! CONs The lines, but like I said......WORTH IT! The chaos at the counter, but once you squeeze your way up to the counter and flag down the attention of one of the ladies behind the counter you are in for a treat. The parking in Tarpon Springs is terrible on a good day, best bet drive down with someone riding shotgun, slip him your order and $20 and throw him out the door as you slowly drive by. Swing back around and pick him up!!! BOTTOM LINE You could be in serious trouble if you lived within a 20 mile radius. Eat plently and Live Happy
(5)Penelopy T.
CAUTION: Although the bakery serves up wonderful delicacies BEWARE of the tricky parking situation. HELLAS cleverly cloaks a rebate on a $3.00 parking ticket BUT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE BAKERY Only to the restaurant and there again - I encountered unnecessary haggling. The Tarpon Sponge Docks are committing suicide in turning this wonderful historical haunt into a PARKING NIGHTMARE full of scams! It is self inflicted so don't feel a twinge of remorse it is due to their own GREED! BEWARE Parking at the Sponge Docks is tricky! Shame on the Hellas Restaurant for fostering something so misleading! The hostess actually had the audacity to barter with me over the ambiguity of the parking issue! How low can you go?????????????????????????? Pathetic!
(1)Nichole C.
Hellas bakery was beyond packed today (on a very rainy day when the rest of Tarpon's Greek district seemed pretty empty) and now I know why! There were rows and cases of delish looking desserts that did not disappoint! I ordered their Italian canoli. I'm not a huge sweets person but this was seriously the most amazing treat I have ever had. I also ordered an eclair, but have yet to eat it (still on my food buzz from that canoli!). My husband ordered a few pieces of baklava to take home and he has enjoyed it as well. The staff was very attentive and helpful. We also ordered Greek coffee and one of the girls at the counter explained that you must sip Greek coffee as the grounds are at the bottom. It was way too bitter for me but I like weak coffee (LOL) and more frou frou drinks, however my husband loved it. Next time I feel like going into a diabetic coma (jusssst kidding), I will be sure to visit Hellas!
(5)ryan w.
Everything was good, but I was expecting an experience that you could only find here. I'm pretty sure I could find everything in this bakery at a different location at the same quality.
(4)Deke K.
Hella's Bakery is next to Hella's Restaurant and deserves a separate write-up. They have a huge long glass counter full of EVERY Greek pastry imaginable. You can point and eat to your heart's content. I love the kataifi (straw-like baklava) but I drool over anything in there. I drive 60 miles every New Year's for the sweet round bread with a lucky coin in it (and hope I get that slice for extra luck in the year). They make a great purple and green mardi gras bread. You can order these pastries for dessert when you eat in the restaurant and they'll fetch it for you. You don't pay extra for the authentic Greek conversations by its patrons. :) A stop here sweetens any day in Tarpon Springs.
(5)Tiff B.
Legit and authentic bakery. We had baklava and it was one of most amazing pieces I've ever had. This is coming from a family with Palestinian roots. Would definitely recommend to stop in here when you're in Tarpon Springs.
(5)Bill S.
Hellas Bakery is connected to Hellas Restaurant, you can view all of the yummy cakes and pastries from your seat. I walked into the bakery to plan out my dessert. They sell Greek breads and cookies here. Just a heads up, the cookies aren't too sweet. Think of a Stella d'oro margarite cookie but less sweeter. (I love them but not today) They serve a funky Baklava cheesecake but today I want something with walnuts, honey and topped with shredded wheat. I see Kataifi in my future. Made oh so perfectly and drenched in honey, its the perfect ending to my meal.
(4)Sarah H.
Hellas Bakery is my go-to place for a good cappuccino. No bitter burned milk here (like a certain corporate store or two). Always perfect! Add cinnamon on top for a Greek flare. My boyfriend and I have become regulars here, and we're always greeted with a smile. Our favorite girl even gave us a surprise icing-decorated dessert for our anniversary. A note on protocol for first-timers: There is real no line to order. If you want to be served swiftly, scan the sweets as quickly as you can and make eye contact with the closest available associate to put in your order. First to speak, first served. ;)
(4)Alena W.
Hellas is nothing short of a dream bakery for me. Every time I visit the sponge docks we stop in for a coffee (Greek) and that darned rice pudding. No, not baklava or any of the other awesome things my other family members get, it's the rice pudding for me. I love it. Great air conditioned spot to relax and have cold drink and little bite to eat after getting off of a site seeing boat, or a day of shopping.
(5)Amy Z.
Cappuccino was great as were baklava tiramisu and cannoli. There are so many delicious looking choices. They are also open 365 days a year.
(5)Dave O.
Hellas Bakery is connected to Hellas Restaurant so you can enter the bakery from inside of the restaurant and they also have an entrance from the street no matter which way you chose be prepared for a wait the bakery case is filled with a little of everything but the ordering process is not so organized the severs randomly ask customers what they want and completely ignore the line once you place your order they direct you to a register to pay numbered one through four. Looks like a lot of these reviews including mind are focused on the ordering process not the treats (that's the problem here and my reasoning for the three stars). The offerings are plentiful and the Italian Cannoli and Baklava were just okay I think the shear volume takes away from the quality. I see most people were ordering take out but there are a number of tables and chairs. The service is plastic and self service and you bus your own table all of this was a little disappointing.
(3)Kathryn J.
They have this baklava cheesecake to die for it's a little bit of Greek with a little bit of American and it's absolutely wonderful and delectable
(5)Matt E.
I may be in the minority here but Greek dessert is pretty horrible, even if it's done well. Just drenching everything in honey and butter and calling it a dessert really isn't my cup of tea. Sprinking some pistacios on it doesn't change the fact that Greeks just don't do dessert well, very surprising given their proximity to Italy. Hellas is aware of this and that's why the majorty of their dessert options are Italian and French based. Hellas Bakery is by in large an Italian dessert and cafe location connected to a Greek restaurant. Living in Brooklyn and being somewhat obsessed with dessert I'm a bit spoiled. NYC has some of the best food in the world, especially when it comes to dessert, Italian dessert in particular. With that as a measuring stick I wasn't impressed with the quality from Hellas. I'm sure it's one of the best options in the Tampa area and there was certainly nothing that looked bad. The space was very clean, the prices were reasonable, and the service was good. I forgot the exact dessert me and my girlfriend shared but one was supposed to have custard and it was more of a frosting and the other was a chocolate mouse with less flavor than I was expecting. Again neither was horrible, just not worthy of a 4 or 5 star review.
(3)Kelleigh M.
Chaos? Yes. Lots of people gazing at the display counters trying to decide what to get? Yes. But trust me, the wait is worth it. A Tarpon staple, that's attached to their restaurant (skip the restaurant), Hellas is a sugar lovers dream. After dinner, my man friend and I walked down Dodecanese Blvd, taking in the sights that Tarpon has to offer. After making the loop, we stopped in for some to go goodies. You've got to get a triangle of their baklava. To die for. I also ordered some cookies called melomakarona. Think the same ingredients as baklava, but more of a cookie consistency. I had them once at a Greek christening and loved them. When in the area, stop and get yourself some goodies. This is the best in Tarpon.
(5)Minna S.
I will never in my life return to this bakery again! I understand that the place was crowded when I went. The older woman behind the counter acknowledged that I was waiting to be helped before this other older woman (who was Greek) but she helped the Greek woman before me! I mean how do you do something like that? I understand that they were both Greek, and she did have a big order, but come on! I ended up having to wait another five minutes to be helped. I complained to the manager about this incident but he did not even apologize. Really? I would rather go to a smaller family owned bakery, where service to them is their number one priority as well as delicious pastries. This place is overrated and packed with nothing but tourists. If it weren't for the out of towners, this place would be dead.
(1)Dollyann M.
Pure Desert Heaven! There was nothing there that I did not want to try. Such an amazing Greek Bakery. They have from bread to ice cream and pastries, coffee, shakes. You name it they have it. We were having lunch at Hellas restaurant next door and you can order from the Bakery. But we wanted to go and see for ourselves the pastries and pick what we wanted. We were not disappointed at all. Worth trying and getting a to go box with your favorite sinful pleasure of sweets...
(5)Danielle D.
More like 3 1/2. You walk in and it's like a fat girl paradise. The pastries look amazing. You Will be tempted to order one of everything. We've been here before and I was craving all the desserts. I resisted ordering everything and got a creme horn and my family ordered the eclair, moose cup, and baklava. I just wasn't overwhelmed by it. I feel like it looks way better than it tastes. Don't get me wrong, it's still good, just not over the top.
(3)L Y.
Total of 2 visits. The first visit just a week ago, the Strawberry cheesecake was delicious!!! The Lemon Kok was good, the lemon flavor was very nicely sour and sweet. Baklava Tiramisu wasn't too good in my opinion. 2nd visit, just yesterday. Took a few people with me cause of the cheesecake! The Strawberry cheesecake this time was not as good as last weeks. The bottom layer of the cheesecake was more of a thin cake layer; not a thin layer of whatever the first time it was. Had a few of the different pasta flavors. Chocolate and vanilla pasta, Mickey pasta and coconut pasta. All three, the cake tasted extremely dry. Not sure if this is how they are supposed to be, but it pretty much tasted like very dry cake mix recipe that you buy at the grocery store. Had strawberry pasta for a friend's kid, which she ate with no problem. No complaints from her, cake is cake. Lastly the Tiramisu cake, without the lady fingers. It was decent. I will try the cheesecake again, but the other 4, nope.
(3)Gene D.
What a huge disappointment! Really expensive and nothing was worth writing home about. We spent almost $40 on a few desserts and when I went back to get a refill on a soda I was very rudely told we don't do that by an extremely nasty Asian woman. The first soda was almost all ice! What a joke! Save your money and go to the publix bakery. You'll thank me.
(1)Chris D.
We spent a chilly day on the sponge dock and stopped for a coffee and pastry before heading back. Baklava was fantastic and Chocolate raspberry pasta was really good. Coffee was fresh and hot. The selection is large and it's hard to decide when you can only have one! Very clean and service was great. Highly recommend.
(4)Katie H.
These cookies are so good you can literally taste the love put into every bite. I wandered into this little bakery while on vacation in Florida. It's located in this small village called Tarpon Springs. (aka the sponge capital of the world) The village is chock full of Greek restaurants and other establishments. It's half bakery, half restaurant. I'll be reviewing the baked goods part. There were so many delicious options to choose from but I decided on the Greek wedding cookies and the Kataifi. Kataifi: If you don't know what's in this pastry... there's what's similar to shredded wheat wrapped on the outside, with a walnut/honey-soaked filling on the inside. It's super sweet with a playful mix of textures. Soft on the inside with a bit of crunch from the nuts and from the shredded wheat on the outside. Wedding Cookies: (Kourambiedes) This is a butter cookie with small pieces of nuts inside... doused in powdered sugar. It's actually not overly sweet considering the cookie is more of a shortbread. These were especially delicious. If you're ever in the area, stop by Hellas and grab a cookie. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Richard R.
Hella's Bakery is one of those places you simply must visit when in the area. My wife has a serious sweet tooth and just couldn't resist stepping inside to peruse the offerings. Shamefully we walked in just to see what all the fuss was about (it was wall to wall packed) and walked out with a bag full of goodies. What I liked most (besides our bag of goodies) was the efficient way they manage to handle the crowds. We never felt rushed and there were plenty of girls behind the counter to help. The staff here was ok with lots of questions and offering recommendations. There's so much to choose from that it can be overwhelming, but they handle you with great care. I really appreciated the service. Yelp100 [24]
(4)Duane D.
We stopped my here for dessert after dinner. The selection of pastries and such was fantastic, and the prices were very good. Only down side -- the place was slammed busy! Definitely worth a stop for dessert. I would like to try dinner sometime too.
(4)FL B.
Best Greek bakery in Florida! Whenever we have out-of-towners visiting, we always stroll the sponge docks & pick up some fantastic sweet treats from Hellas. The baklava is out of the world, and there's so much to choose from in the quaint old-fashioned atmosphere.
(5)Andrea H.
Came down here for the sponges and ended up here when we smelled baklava as someone was exiting. Cute little place with a couple other legit Greek restaurants in this area. Very good good and great staff!
(5)Paul M.
I make a special trip here whenever I'm in the Tampa Bay area just for their Italian Cannoli. Not too sweet, not too sour: Firm yet yielding. Chock full of delectable chocolate chips. I always eat half right away and then the other half later in the evening so as to prolong the ecstasy. Their other desserts and their Greek coffees are really great too.
(5)Christina S.
Every time I'm in Tarpon Springs I have to stop by for a frappe and chocolate vanilla swirl koulouris. Don't be fooled by frappe and think it's the Starbucks kind, this is a Greek frappe that froths together instant coffee, milk and sugar. You tell them how sweet you want it and they blend it right up for you. If you're used to moderately sweet coffee drinks, you may want yours extra sweet. I like the taste of coffee so I get mine with just a little. The koulouris are twisted cookie delights. They're butter dough based and delicious. They are very light tasting and not overly sweet. Their baklava is amazing as well. It's flaky and filled with honey and nuts as it should be. They have a very large variety of desserts as shown in the photos others have posted, all of which you can see the care put into making them. Each time I've been there it's busy, which is always a good sign of a place. But there's never a long wait as they have many lovely ladies waiting to take your order as often times people are standing by the cases trying to decide on what goodies to get.
(5)Kathy A.
Fun, lively atmosphere and plenty of sweets to chose from. Be sure to have your order ready when you approach the counter. The staff is used to moving at a fast pace to accommodate the crowds. Always a must when in Tarpon.
(5)Michelle M.
If you want a sweet treat in Tarpon Springs you must stop by Hellas Bakery! As soon as I stepped in I was overwhelmed by the incredible smells of fresh baked bread and sugary, sweet pastries and desserts. We almost went to the wrong bakery. Apparently the other bakery on Dodecanese stocks baked goods from Hellas. Luckily we realized we were in the wrong bakery and found the "real" Hellas further down the same road. We tried the Greek Cannoli, Strawberry Cheesecake and the Baklava. All excellent!!! It took all of my willpower not to take a loaf of bread home as well as every dessert that contained baklava. I cannot wait to try more of the Greek treats on my next visit!
(5)Ana-Christina R.
The staff was very rude, do not walk in when they are ready to close. They treat their customers poorly, the girls with the lip piercing was specially rude. Very sad
(1)Kelly Q.
Hellas is a BIG WIN in my book. I've only ever tried the bakery, but everything was divine. And I'm super picky about my baklava. A definite must go to if you're on the hunt in Tarpon for some authentic Greek. I definitely want to go back to check out the restaurant.
(5)Nathan T.
Wow what an amazing display of Greek baked goods. The Baclava was the best I have ever had. The Greek coffee was super thick and tasty not overly bitter...it was like a taking a jog without leaving my seat, heart thumping good.
(5)Niki A.
Well, if you have had the original greek recipes of these sweets, I'm afraid the ones at Hellas do not live up to expectations. The baklava is not bad, but most cream based sweets that I tried were quite disappointing. The fruit tart, for example, is supposed to have a thick hard shell (reminds me of a dense short bread cookie); this one was thin and flaky. Also, the cream is supposed to be more like a custard, while this one was pretty much whipped cream. Similar disappointment with the Eclair... The Serano "pasta" (i.e. cake) I tried (which is a chocolate cake in thin layers with a light mushy chocolate cream) was also more like chocolate flavored whipped cream, but it was definitely better than the other two examples. The butter cookies looked way too yellow to resemble anything I knew from Greece, but I didn't know how to ask politely what they decided to put in the recipe to give them that color; didn't look appetizing enough to try. The "chocolate baklava cheesecake" was not a good idea at all, I'm afraid; too many of a good thing put together didn't turn out well at all. I wish they would improve some of their quality and fidelity to the way things are supposed to be (as the prices certainly justify it) because these sweets are so good when they are done well! Such a shame ... :(
(2)Rachel I.
Since I already reviewed the restaurant on their other Yelp page, I will stick to discussing the bakery in this review. We stopped in the bakery for dessert after the meal, and the service was just as fast and friendly. They have something for everyone; you can't possibly leave without finding something for you. This would've been a great stop even if we hadn't are at the restaurant beforehand, so if you find yourself wanting something small and sweet while you're at the sponge docks, definitely stop in here for a bite.
(5)Ashley B.
I went to Hella's for dessert with a group of girls the night before my sister's wedding. My expectations were super low, but WOW did Hella's create a night to remember. The staff went above and beyond to create a memorable experience for our group. Everyone enjoyed the greek desserts and my vanilla cappuccino was amazing! But what stood out the most was our server. Once he learned it was a bachelorette party, he went above and beyond. Each time he visited our table it seemed like he had a new joke for the bride and he had the whole group laughing! We really appreciated the extra effort he gave to make our night memorable. If you're looking for a restaurant that values the customer and goes out of their way to make the experience great, check out Hellas in Tarpon Springs!
(5)Elana L.
Seriously the BEST chicken kabob I have EVER eaten, and I have eaten many of them! With one entree you get so much food, I couldn't finish. My husband ordered a Gyro and it was good but the kabob was so much better! Instead of ordering dessert at your table, walk into the bakery and gaze at all the choices! There has to be at least 50 different bakery items to choose from. I don't recommend their coffee though, it tastes burnt and way to strong. **BY far the busiest place on the sponge docks. That's a good thing, right!?! :)
(5)Elizabeth K.
it will be 50 degrees outside and they will somehow manage to make it colder inside. why
(1)M R.
We loved the food at Hellas!! The spanakopita was delicious and we had a combination platter with dolmades, gyro meat, pastitio, moussaka and tsatsiki sauce!! We also had kalamari. And for dessert we had baklava at the bakery. Soula, our server was very nice and the place was PACKED, which is always a good sign. She apologized for taking some time because the place was full and her customer service was very professional. She even turned down the ac when it got cold. If you are nice to them, they are very accomodating! Delicious food and authentic Greek atmosphere with typical blue and white decor!
(5)Lisa B.
Wonderful bakery and restaurant in this unique Greek fishing village. I'm going to start by saying it is best to go here on the days before the end of the New Year... when they offer sweet Greek New Year bread... yet there are theoretically no calories at the end of the year (or you can go with the theory that your odometer restarts with the new year so 'run your calories to the fullest' by Jan 31st). The display of options are amazing. You'll want one of everything. Descriptions are on the desserts so you know what it all is - and you will crave it even more. We had eaten at Rusty Bellies Seafood up the road (see my great review of that restaurant) and then here for dessert. Being out of town visitors, we brought four desserts back to our hotel (chocolate ganache, lemon kok, raspberry mousse and Greek cookies) because we were so full from dinner... But only an hour went by before we had to dig in and each of the four of us shared each of the four desserts because they were all that good. Finished them with no problem. And so we go back again tomorrow... New Years Eve... Before the calorie clock starts working. ;-). Enjoy!
(5)Jose P.
Friendly staff, cool place, and wonderful treats.
(4)J H.
Super professional service, and all food here are so nice.
(4)Dianna B.
The heart of the Tarpon Springs sponge docks holds Hellas' bakery and Restaurant. It's a great place to dine, to people watch and to grab a cup of coffee and a slab of bakalava. There really isn't anything better to do on a Saturday afternoon, than sit at one of the outside tables, sipping your java and licking honey off your finger tips. The food is fantastic! Opa!
(5)Jennifer H.
Heard so much about this so we tried it. Weve lived in Tarpon for a while now and although good, its overrated. If you want good portions and consistant quality, try Yianni's across the road
(3)Carlos H.
When I first got to the Sponge Docks, my friend was uber excited to go to Hellas Bakery...however I didn't understand her excitement until we finally got there at the end of our travels there. My god, the place is dessert heaven. There is so many options and all of them look amazing. I had the hardest time choosing what dessert to get. After staring for awhile I finally went with their Tiramisu cake. Hands down the best Tiramisu I have ever had. Rich and full of perfect balance. Each bite left me longing for more. I sampled the Baklava as well which was equally good. The presentation of the cake was also spectacular, a true work of art with even a small white chocolate name plate on the cake. I left here wishing I could come here everyday. Too bad I haven't found something like this in my hometown.
(5)Brett K.
Delicious Greek coffee and desserts. We did not done in the restaurant because it was insanely crowded, but I suppose that's a good sign. Great final stop after you've eaten your way down the street.
(4)Michelle N.
Ladies ringing out at bakery were not focused and ignoring customers. Lady ringing had to keep asking someone else how to ring something. Then after not paying attention I signed the receipt myself since it wasn't handed to me and then she accused me of not paying for one of my drinks - I showed her the receipt that she did ring it up and says " it's ok " please don't accuse me of stealing something you handed to me in front of a line of people! Will NOT be returning here!
(1)Steve M.
Bakery is sooo good with great variety of Greek and Italian offerings. Plenty of seating inside and good coffee to go with your sweet samplings. You'll be taking a box home as well, trust me.
(4)Christopher S.
Yasou! My opinion? Hellas Bakery and Restaurant should be graded the same. I just bought $20 worth of bakery items after I took my time with the delicious lamb shank and spaghetti. Here's the other review link for Hellas. yelp.com/biz/hellas-rest…
(4)Meaghan H.
Hellas Bakery has the BEST Italian cannolis I've ever eaten, and I try them anywhere they're sold. The cannolis are my personal favorite and my husband swears by their chocolate pudding. We have sampled many of the bakery items and they are always delicious, fresh and keep us coming back for more. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because they really need to update their cash-out system. They use old machines and more than once I have had to stand around waiting for the clerk to change the paper roll manually or have to start the entire purchase over again due to hitting a wrong button. Other than that, its awesome!
(4)Jennifer R.
Amazing desserts. So many choices. The baklava was excellent. Can't wait for next trip by there.
(5)Alexei R.
Took the family for lunch before hitting the beach. Our server (Gia) was very friendly and did a good job. The food was very reasonably priced and portions were quite generous. I had the grilled octopus and it was fantastic. Others had the gyros (very good), spanokopita (excellent), and a Greek salad (just ok; wilted iceberg lettuce wi too much dressing; go for the other salad instead). We then hit the Bakery and got a couple of items to go. The fresh baklava was outstanding. The butter cookies and apricot filled cookies were fantastic. We ran into a problem at the bakery with payment for the purchase: they had just installed a new POS system and were still working out the kinks. This caused a bit of a delay but the manager stepped in and got it squared away and gave us a gift box for our troubles, which was not necessary but much appreciated. Overall great customer service and food.
(4)Frank S.
It was sooo good I felt like I had done something naughty that should have ended with a cigarette. Excellent in every aspect. There must have been 40 waiters tending to the customers with lickety split snap-snap service like you get on a cruise line. Great food. We visited bakery next door and left with a dozen doo dads we munched on for next 3 days. Almond cookies. Baklava, walnut thingies - you name it. FANTASTIC!
(5)Ming Z.
I stared at my Baklava and wondered whether should I order a double espresso to go with. I had a single! It doesn't seems firm enough to battle this piece of honey down. I am not a fan of sweets, but once a while, I will surrender to let my curiosity take over. Once a while, I got lucky. Hellas Bakery is a family-run bakery & restaurant since 1970. It locates at the center of Sponge Dock of Tarpon Spring. Both local and tourists are all very fond of this place. The bakery makes all kinds of deserts, ice cream and home made bread. I think they have at least 40 different sweets display on the counter. Casher will help you pick deserts that you like and you order drinks or coffee to go with. It is a clean shop with simple family style deco. Good for kids and ice cream fans. We ordered 1 Baklava, 1 piece of chocolate cake, 1 cappuccino and 1 espresso single. Total is 19 dollar. Baklava is a traditional greek desert. It's a flaky, Filo dough with ground walnuts & honey. It is little heavy for my taste though but hubby seems enjoyed it very much. Chocolate cake is not sweet, a little on the firm side. Coffee are great. People surround us are all locals. A lots of them speak greek. We both are very happy to have this bakery closeby our home. It feels like you are accepted into a bigger family.
(3)Richard F.
You must try the Baclava. It is the most scrumptious ever. But, then everything they sell is wonderful.
(5)Mike P.
Very simple concerning Bakery. Go there you will not be disappointed. High quality desserts without the over abundance of processed sugar but just the right amount of sweetness. The only problem is you cant stop eating the stuff. This place is As good as it gets and deserves the high rating it has.
(5)Cara B.
OMG! I want 1 of EVERYTHING. Their baklava is excellent, as to be expected. There are so many wonderful-looking treats here that it's really difficult to choose. I must walked up and down the row of display cases for 20 minutes, just staring and drooling. The last time I was there, my sister got the chocolate kok and I got the pourlakia, both of which were DELICIOUS! The pourlakia is the like best Swiss cake roll you've ever had. You may have just eaten an enormous gyro, but trust me... there's room for a baked good in there. Do it!
(5)Christopher M.
Bring tissues...because the baklava napolean WILL MAKE YOU WEEP!!! So good! One of my top spots in TS!
(4)Robert O.
Hella's Bakery is a staple whenever I visit. My wife is a huge fan of this place too. After dinner we stopped here for dessert. This place was mobbed as I have never seen it in my dozen previous visits. We waited and waited. Tonight was the first time I had something I didn't care for. I decided on an elephant ear. It wasn't sweet. Everyone else enjoyed their treats. I always have before and I know I will next time too.
(4)constantconsumer c.
The cream horn was amazing, the best I ever had. The egg cream didnt taste too eggy it was firm and fluffy at the same time. The domino pasta (chocolate cake) was good. The baklava was really good.
(5)Laura F.
Very good food! The bakery is AMAZING! Get the baklava!
(4)David H.
Large selection of Greek and Italian baked goods, be sure to check out the cannolis.
(4)R. M.
We always stop at Hellas Bakery for something to take home. There are so few real Bakery's on the Sun Coast of Florida, it's a real shame. Hellas Bakery & Restaurant has always been a great place to meet in Tarpon Springs.
(5)Nina S.
If you're visiting Tarpon Springs this place is a MUST experience, the food and deserts are great
(4)Katy M.
My girlfriends and I had a girl's weekend in Tampa. We heard Tarpons Springs Sponge Docks was a great place to visit. We love Greek food and was really looking forward to trying something new. We had already checked out Dimitri's on the Water and were ready for dessert. Hellas Bakery had the best reviews so we decided to check it out. The place was busy but they have a LARGE selection. So large it was difficult to decide what we wanted. There were three in our party so each of us got something different and shared. I got the Greek Cannoli, one girlfriend got the baklava cheesecake, and my other girlfriend got Hellas Pasta chocolate cake, all DELICIOUS!!!!. You have to check this place out. Be prepared to want out of there in a sugar coma but it's worth it!!!
(5)Thomas B.
When the locals talk about this place you know it's worth a look-see! And it was. Baclava was just as good ( or even better ) as I remember it being made back in the day from an authentic Greek family home.
(5)Bob Z.
The best / watch those calories.
(5)