A favorite of my baby daughter & mine. We get our birthday treats from here too!
(4)
Josh W.
Rustic vibe. It's an annual tradition to go here in the fall for butternut squash soup and some good bread. Really like this place.
(5)
Mckenzie G.
The wonderful smell of freshly baked bread hits you as soon as you walk.in . I was looking for espresso to no avail, but the staff was nice enough to try to help me make a makeshift mocha from the coffee on hand. I love the eclectic assortment of tables and artwork for sale. A very casual and welcoming place. While the bathroom is not the best accommodations, getting to it allowed me to see first hand the bread making process in full effect. So, in case you were wondering, they make all their goods on site.
(4)
RoslindaMal E.
I really like Fornax and come here on a fairly consistent basis. Their homemade bread and breakfast/lunch sandwiches are really good & really fresh. I have been meaning to try their chicken potpies. The only drawback to Fornax is this place is on the small side, however the city just added parklet right besides Fornax on Cohasset Street so outdoor seating is now available. I am glad to have Fornax in Roslindale.
(4)
Ron H.
Wonderful bread, good wholesome salads, delicious and basic food. Love this place.
(5)
Anne A.
$5.25 half/$7.00 whole is too much for a sandwich, especially one that isn't all that big, and the cole slaw side isn't really cole slaw; the vegetables are cut up, but not shredded, and there isn't any dressing. Still, I do like their tuna melts, as well as the mismatched furniture and the photos on the walls - they're interesting and give the place a nice local feel.
(4)
Yelping Jabroni X.
4 1/2 You're not going to get better bread in the area, period. Spectacular pizza dough. Buy it, save on takeout forever. I can't count how many pizzas I've made with their dough. The confections range from okay to pretty darn good, but don't blow you away -their giant "oreo" is pretty good. The sandwiches and what-not get the job done. That being said, It's a bread bakery at its best. Best loaves around. Best English Muffins around. Best batard, baguette, pullman, peasant (by far!), etc, etc etc. I miss this place already.
(5)
Honor P.
Visiting Fornax on Monday mornings has become a tradition in only three weeks and each time I have visited Fornax for breakfast, the whole day has felt quaint and easy. I always feel like I am stepping into a vacation or the company of honest people, it just feels simple and good. The pastries are great (get them warmed up!) and they have soymilk in the fridge. We can't wait to return try their pizza dough!
(5)
Courtney R.
Their bread and sandwiches are delicious and the mid-century vintage decor is warm and cozy and cute.
(5)
s s.
How to sum up the Fornax? So homey, so cozy, so sweet and lovely and yummy. I always feel like I'm eating a sandwich in my great grandma's kitchen, one that has been prepared with love and delicious basic wholesome ingredients. It's a weekly lunch stop for me, coziest in the winter when you can be snug in a table in the back with half of a tuna melt, some outrageous rosemary carrots, and a steaming paper cup of butternut squash soup while you listen to WERS (!!!) and watch the cars go by outside. The staff could not be sweeter or any more accommodating. Plenty of highchairs, crayons, and plastic dinosaurs for the little guys. Iced coffee could be brewed stronger, but free soymilk makes up for that. This is where my baby had his first taste of solid food - and the rosemary carrots are still his fave. Superlative bread and baked goods. It's the absolute best part of Roslindale.
(5)
Linda B.
Fornax was one of the first "new" businesses to put down roots in Roslindale Village over 15 years ago. Not only is all their food prepared from "scratch", their bread (and you can smell it rising after hours -- such a fabulous aroma that emanates from their kitchen) is the only bakery bread I will eat when I decide to jump off the gluten-free wagon. No other bread is worth the belly-ache, in my opinion! In addition to feeding us with genuine food and warm hearts, owners Kim and Chris Fallon consistently donate food to neighborhood events and show up to support the community in other ways as well. I recommend the genoa, tomato and carmelized onion sandwich, the chicken vegetable soup whose broth is rich with pureed squash, and for sides, the mayo-free cole slaw and tender roasted potatoes. I'm proud to have a business like Fornax in my neighborhood -- a great place to meet with new clients, too (I'm a Realtor) to show them the best of what Rozzie has to offer.
(5)
Adam C.
I went here for lunch recently and was impressed with the place. It's a good spot for lunch. They have a good menu with various sandwich and salad selections. They have 4 soups available as well. I had the turkey asiago w/ tomato on semi-sourdough and it was pretty awesome actually. Anyway, I was surprised that this is a place where you can sit down and eat lunch; I thought maybe it was just a counter where you order bread and pastries (which you can certainly get there), but there are actually 5 or so tables where you can sit down and eat your meal.
(4)
Ju L.
AHMAZING pizza dough to make our own pizza at home. I've compared it to Trader Joe's and Fornax wins BY FAR.
(5)
Cecilia L.
Fornax has only been around since 1997, but in keeping with the Roslindale ethic, it looks straight out of 1955. The English muffins here are truly transcendent, so fragrant I sniffed them all the way home through the plastic bag. You'll never eat a supermarket hockey puck again. The sandwiches are great - try the salami and caramelized onion - and come with fresh and seasonal sides. The lemon meltaway cookie is superb and must be at least half butter (also sold at City Feed on Centre Street). Fornax is now a part of our weekend ritual.
(4)
Meg C.
Had to grab a baguette for that lovely cheese we had just purchased around the corner. So we came for Fornax, since it was close and radiated delicious smells. I sampled a vegan oatmeal cookie, which was surprisingly good. But the bread was just lovely- crusty and chewy. The bakery itself was obviously full of locals who knew each other. It is very charming and a great resource for the neighborhood.
(4)
Andrew S.
Was looking for a sandwich for lunch last Sunday, and my friend recommended Fornax with high regards. I decided to take the extended walk into town to give it a try. Excited for my sandwich, I walked in and began studying the menu board. After the lady finished talking to another customer, she walked towards me, said she saw me looking at the sandwich board, and told me that I shouldn't bother because the kitchen closed at 1:30pm. I looked at my phone which displayed 1:21pm. Normally, I wouldn't arrive at a restaurant near kitchen closing time, but it was still well enough beforehand that they should be serving their patrons. I tried clarifying with the woman that I was trying to give them my business, but she rudely reiterated the kitchen would be closing and would not accommodate me. She didn't even ASK the kitchen if they could, as if they were just trying to get out of there and enjoy their Sunday afternoons. Glancing back towards the kitchen, there were also two idle workers leaning against the window joking and laughing with each other . If I were a business owner and knew my employees were turning away customers like this, I wouldn't be too happy about it. This was my first attempt eating here, and I will never be back. Won't be recommending Fornax to any friends either. Very much a shame.
(1)
Laura S.
I happened upon Fornax and decided to go there for lunch. Thank goodness I found a place for great coffee, sandwiches and salads! It is small and can get crowded, but I really loved the salad, BLT and their french bread. I will definitely come back and try their breakfast sandwiches and other breads. I know City Feed carries their english muffins, and they are great. I will buy them here from now on.
(4)
Whitney R.
Fornax sandwiches = FRESH! The choices are few, but no matter what you get, it WILL be good. Their chicken sandwich actually contains a fillet of chicken, and you can taste every ingredient they place into their sandwiches. They also have an assortment of baked goods that I haven't had the pleasure of trying. I'd like to bring some of their bread home with me, too, but since I'm used to buying bread with lots of preservatives so I can eat it for weeks, I might find it to be a bit too fresh. Is that possible? I also love eating in at Fornax. It's a tiny place that is full of mis-matched furniture and old knickknacks. It has a unique aura of antiquity that gives the impression that it hasn't changed since it was first established. Very cool, and delicious.
(5)
Cheryl R.
The best sourdough. Awesome pizza dough. Tasty sandwiches. Pastries to die for. My kids beg for their pumpkin bread. Love love love!
(5)
Jules H.
OM NOM NOM. Finally checked this place out, one very tired and stressful afternoon, and the Boyf and I each had sammiches that made us feel SO MUCH BETTER. I had the pesto, he a ham and cheese, and the bred was fresh as can be, the pesto on mine was gorgeously bright, and it was just warm and toasty enough. Plus, each sammich comes with a side, making it a really reasonable price for the food you get. I've also bought a couple of baguettes here, and DAMN it's good -- it has that elusive crust with a soft middle, and I recommend picking up one of the blue flyers at the counter so you know which days they bake which loaves. As I write this, I am re-crisping mine according to their instructions, and last time I did this, the bread was as if I had baked it fresh myself!
(4)
Michelle L.
I stopped in here on my meander through Roslindale Open Studios. I'd never been before but remembered having seen the name before as a good bakery. Once I was inside, I was a goner: I was surrounded by fresh-baked bread, whole-wheat brownies (!), slices of pumpkin bread, ham and cheese croissants, everything in the world to tempt me. But as it happens, I had a bit of a sore throat, so I held back from baked goods, however delicious, as too dry to be swallowed easily, and I held back from the exciting sandwich menu, in favor of one of the daily soups: split pea with ham. Split pea with ham is one of my favorite soups, and I especially crave it on crisp autumn days. This was one of the better pea soups I've had; the lean, tender ham really made it. It came with two thin slices of multigrain bread. The bread was warm. I don't know why-- it was such a simple touch-- but this made me all but shiver with delight. The soup was exactly what I needed, and the bread was hearty and excellent for mopping up every last trace of the soup out of my bowl (which I'm hardly ever inclined to do, but here I HAD to). As a sponsor of Roslindale Open Studios, the walls were decorated with a local artist's mixed media pieces. This added an extra bit of charm to the homestyle, thrift-store ambience. Service was brisk and more friendly than I'm used to. I'm typically happy with the service I receive anywhere I go, but there was something extra here. I tipped generously. It was only as I was on my way out the door that I noticed the wide selection of cookies in jars behind the counter. Alas, some other day, perhaps...
(4)
Julie S.
While apartment hunting in Roslindale yesterday I decided to check out Fornax Bread Company for lunch. I was excited to find such a cute little sandwich place on an otherwise not so inviting block (my apologies to fans of Roslindale Village- maybe I just don't get it yet). I ordered the portobello mushroom and roasted red pepper sandwich. Not being very creative, I ordered it as it was designed, on a seeded roll. I thought perhaps it would be a bit weird since it was a pressed sandwich, but I went with it, because they're the bread people, not me. And yes, it was kind of weird. Also weird- they put lettuce or spinach or something on the sandwich which did not taste good pressed. It just tasted soggy. I picked it off. The mushrooms were not marinated in anything, so it was just a blah mushroom sandwich. Normally I love portobellos, but they really have to be marinated to taste like anything special. For $8 this sandwich was waaaay overpriced. I also bought some English muffins to take home and toasted them up this morning with some raspberry jam. My husband loved them. I could take it or leave it. I'll have to try another type of bread next time and reassess.
(3)
Jess H.
I wanted to like this place more than I did. I bought a loaf of challah and a buttermilk biscuit, even though I was eyeing their large offering of breads. I am going to give it another try, because I'm not sure if I just ordered the wrong thing. The challah was dry-ish and didn't have the honey, egg-y taste I am used to from other very good bakeries I've been. The biscuit was big, but dry and not at all buttery or flaky, like I like 'em. All this said, there were a lot more things to try, and I'll be back to give it another go.
(3)
Adam E.
I don't care if I'll always be fat, I'm never giving up carbs and this is why. Fornax bread is outrageous, so freaking good. It's also really reasonably priced and they'll slice it for you! They also have fantastic baked goods, I got this weird almond thing (I think they called it a Wale Twist?) and it was ungodly good. It was like a mix of an almond croissant and a raspberry danish. Their sandwiches sound great too, I've only tried the grilled cheese and tomato (which they accidentally gave me instead of ham & cheese, minus one star!). Still, it was pretty excellent. The staff is hit or miss. When I came for pastries at 7am, the teen was nicer to me than I deserved, especially when I said I had to run next door to the ATM. But I've been here in the afternoon when some surlier teens were working. But I give them a break, those years are tough. Oh, and they do accept cards, but it's a $10 minimum.
(4)
Katie R.
This place is great! I first had their soup at the Taste of Roslindale, and I swear, it was the best thing I had all night! Went to visit Fornax and found it to be a cute space with great selection of meals, tasty treats, and loaves of bread. Soup was just as delicious as it was at the Taste. Also, it is appreciate that they list all of the ingredients in their breads -- my mom has a bunch of food sensitivities and it's great to know what she can eat. My only complaint would be that they don't post their soups and quiches of the day on their website. I'd love to see this info made available so I knew if I should make the trek over -- but obviously -- this is just a teeny weeny complaint. Overall -- wonderful!
(4)
Daniel A.
Fornax bread is generally a great place to grab some great bread or a really good sanwich in the square. I usually get my sandwiches for take-out, but there are a few tables where you can sit and do some people watching as Fornax is almost always bustling and the people of Roslindale are an interesting bunch. My only beef with the place is that they forget to put requested onions on my sandwiches way too often.
(4)
JBird Z.
Absolutely one of the best bakeries I've yet to find in Greater Boston (Toretta's in Revere is another). Their signature bread is a boule which in my experience always has a nice crust which is not too thick and not too thin and the soft middle is perfectly chewy with a just-past-subtle sourdough flavor. The croissant I had once was AMAZING, but be prepared, while fluffy it was not light...very heavy on butter (which I love). I've also tried a few of their pastries and they too were just top notch. The stuff is just always fresh, always delicious. I have yet to try their sandwiches, soups etc. If I want a great sandwich, mmmmm give me two slices of Fornax' boule and put just about anything in the middle!
(4)
Dave E.
I've been buying bread here for months now and they have never let me down in that department. My latest discovery has been the rosemary bacci - just delicious. Pastry items continue to underwhelm though. The scones are really absurdly hard and dry, and very skimpy on the fruit. Sandwiches are also nothing special, Blue Star and Jimmies on the same street make much better.
(4)
Zac N.
Stopped in for some tea, which was great, and the breads looked awesome. Nice service, too.
(5)
Asta S.
The bakery is very homey and cute. There are a few bistro sized tables and nice big windows that make the space light and airy. The customer service was good and the scones are awesome. However, I was not blown away by the ham & cheese croissant or the English muffins. They were good, but not the best I've ever had. I did love the cinnamon twist I had. The whole grains made it more filling than most breakfast pastries and it added a nice cheery texture to it.
(3)
Katy N.
One of the best, simplest sandwiches I've ever had the pleasure of eating. I look forward to my next visit to Boston to have another.
(5)
Chuck K.
Fornax Bread Company is a great place to go if you want to pay extremely high prices for worse-than-average sandwiches. Let's face it, if you're in Roslindale, you're probably having a bad day. Maybe you're waiting on an endless line at the post office, being ritually tortured at the RMV or trying to recover from identity theft at the Social Security office. Maybe you hit the trifecta. Worst possibility of all is that your entire life has been messed up and now you actually LIVE in Roslindale. Where was I? Oh yeah, Roslindale. Trying to ameliorate your pain, you step into the Fornax Bread Company. This place looks nice. They're obviously trying to be fancy. Whoa, check out those high-ass prices! They *must* be serving good food here. No, I got the Pesto and Mozzarella sandwich on rye. Now, granted, I didn't throw up or get diarrhea or double-over in pain. That's the best thing I can say about the food. Everything was forgettable. The pesto may have been too salty. Or it may have been just right. Who can remember? Ditto the mozzarella. At least the bread had to be special, right? I mean, it's the Fornax *Bread* Company, for crying out loud. (What's the matter? "Bakery" isn't a fancy enough word?) No, the bread--rye in this case--was a complete non-starter. They tried to give it to me "toasted" but instead I got somewhere in between "burnt" and "practically on fire." So what's the worst part of spending $8 for a sandwich that I could make just as well while walking in my sleep? I gave 'em a credit card because, well, I wanted to. So it turns out that if you spend less than $10, they charge you a fee. They are violating their merchant agreement when they do that. mastercard.com/us/busine… Not only are they violating a contract, but they have the gall to complain that they're doing it because of "high merchant fees" imposed on "small businesses." This "small business" just charged me $8 for a sandwich. Now they're violating their merchant contract to charge me even more! So I politely informed the very nice lady behind the counter. All of a sudden, she copped a 'tude. "Yeah, yeah. We know we're violating the agreement. You're NOT the first person to tell us that." What. The. FUCK?!? They're *knowingly* breaking their contract to tack on extra charges onto an $8 sandwich? Honestly, if I weren't so honest I would complain about the several rat turds I saw on the floor at this place. But there's no need to lie. This is a place that makes worse-than-mediocre sandwiches and charges you as if they had a tip that you were a member of the Saudi royal family. Fornax Bread Company is run by the scum of the earth.
(1)
Scott P.
Fantastic bakery/sandwich shop - great selection of breads, muffins, cookies and the like. Favorite part - they sell cookie dough so you can bake them at home. Excellent sandwiches for breakfast and lunch - service can be slow at times, but the sandwiches are well worth the wait. There are a few small tables, but we usually take them home, or sit in Adams Park.
(5)
Shelly R.
We moved to Roslindale four months ago, and we get all of our bread and sweets from Fornax. (any sweet thing in loaf form is worth buying) The staff are fanastic. I wish they could configure the counter in a way that didn't create backup at the door, but, overall, we love stepping in here and think this place is one of the best things about Roslindale.
(5)
Doug M.
My whole family loves Fornax, from the large whole wheat loaves, small white loaves, buttermilk biscuits. I always have to buy an extra one because I'll have it eaten before I get home & my family would be mad.
(5)
Chris B.
my wife loves this place and I love their pizza dough. I have to give them credit where credit is due. I came here one day to buy some bread and the young lady who rang me up accidently overcharged me. She then told me she messed up and that she corrected it. So thinking I had that money in there i continued to run errands that day. the next day i find out that i was hit with overdraw fees due to the overcharge the day before. what had happen was she credited my account and that usually takes 1 week to process. I then called the manager of fornax and explained my situation. He was kind enough to work with me to resolve this situation. he even went up to the bank with me to try to cut a deal with my bank. in the end he return the money i was owed originally and replaced the money taking from my account with overdraw fees. This company is a great place with even better management. I am proud to say that even though that issued occurred, it will not prevent me from going back here. I felt the owner handled my situation very well and he definitely has pleased and made the best out of a screwed up situation. I will definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Shia G.
Great baked good, I had the sticky bun ($2.75+) which was a sweet croissant like roll perfect ratio of cinnamon-sugar and butter. Also I tried the walnut "something" bread ($2.50+) and the cinnamon twist ($2+). All pretty good and some great fresh bread/rolls. Prices are a bit steep for product but like everywhere in Boston.
(3)
Megan S.
The smell of this place is warm, yummy carbs. I usually just pick up my loaves of bread here, but when I'm feeling really bad I'll get one of their delicious cupcakes. Mmmmm . . .
(4)
Noah N.
Fornax is a pleasant little bakery, to tell the truth. We went right before closing time, but the lovely counter girl still served us some tea from their broad selection and gave us some free banana bread! Delish, as Rachel Ray would say. Or yumm-o, is it? I can't recall... Regardless, I strongly recommend the place, and hope you'll love it as much as I did. (^_^)
(5)
Catherine B.
The bread here is amazing, as are the desserts and treats (I have a serious weakness for their butterhorns) It's a great place to stop and have a quick soup and sandwhich (I've done this a dozen times and never been disappointed, ever) The holdback on 5 stars is the staff - I always feel like I'm bothering them somehow with my order. It's never bad enough to keep me away though.
(4)
Jonathan B.
The breads and pizza dough from here are fantastic. All of them. We've tried them all, I think. I haven't had lunch here, but the breakfast sandwiches are AWESOME and come with a side of potatoes which I don't really care for but my wife thinks are terrific. The pastries are a bit more hit or miss, but the sweet rolls are awesome when they have them - sadly, I haven't seen them in the last few months. Highly recommended if you are down in lovely Roslindale.
(4)
Dianna B.
Excellent local bread place in Rozzie Square. It's a great meeting place for the neighborhood as well. The breads, English muffins and sandwiches are great. The only downside is the service from the register staff -- who don't seem to take their job seriously and seem to be easily confused.
(4)
Magnus C.
What hookers and cocaine are to Charlie Sheen, bread is to me. So when I saw this place so highly ranked, I decided to stop on in. The place looked promising in that shabby chic way that says "there's home cooking happening in this place", and to make matters even better, on the radio Tom Petty was followed by Neil Young, who was then followed by Led Zeppelin. As my turn came to order food, I put in for a ham and cheese and retired to one of the back tables. Sadly, thirty minutes later I was still waiting for my food,while the stereo system got hijacked by one of the teeny bopper staffers who plugged her ipod in and "treated" everyone to the sounds of possessed raccoons (or maybe it was Miley Cyrus, I can never really tell) and all the air was let out of my proverbial souffle. I waited a few minutes more for my sandwich, and when it arrived I ate it and left in a hurry. It was a very good sandwich, but the potatoes which accompanied it were cold and far from multitudinous. And man... I was made to wait for it. 40 minutes doesn't seem like a lot of time for dining out, I suppose, but for a place that was nearly empty and considering it was just a sandwich, I expected better.
(3)
Ayelet R.
There's nothing like the smell of fresh bread and you can smell this one all the way down the block. You'll just be having your innocent little walk, checking out all the cute boutiques that this neighborhood has to offer when all of a sudden it will hit you and just like a siren's song you will be useless to resist that heavenly waft. All flowery metaphors aside, this place smells awesome, and upon walking in and seeing their giant kitchen constantly churning out fresh loaves, it's not hard to understand why. These days just finding a bakery that bakes its own bread in house is something of a rarity, and it makes all the difference here. The loaves themselves are very sensibly priced and some types offer half-loaves if you're not ready to commit to the whole thing. Plus, they offer quite the selection. We got the Boule, Rosemary Batard and Irish Soda Bread and all tasted as amazing as they smelled. This was my first time trying Irish Soda Bread and I can't wait to try some more. We froze the boule and were happy to find that it still tasted just as fresh a few days later when we defrosted it. I also took a baked cinnamon apple donut and was super impressed by it. Who knew you could bake a donut? It may have tasted more like a cake than a traditional donut, but it was still fresh and warm and delicious. The sandwiches looked awesome as well, and I can't wait to come back and try some, especially considering it means getting to try even more of their bread.
(4)
Ashley A.
This is my favorite go-to lunch spot in the Square. It's a small place with limited seating but I love the atmosphere! My personal favorite is half a roasted veggie sandwich on sour dough with a side of salad. It is very satisfying and very filling! (And also very inexpensive.) Their breads are freshly baked and their meals are made to order. Their baked goods are also very delicious. I love this place and I enjoy the food tremendously.
(4)
Karen K.
I've been craving fornax and last week we didn't have clinic so I couldn't get my fix. Today I got the Danish snail and it was too good! Cinnamon taste with raisins and walnuts amazing! Too bad i scarfed it down before I could take a pic!
(4)
Marc L.
3 Important Things That Haven't Been Said about Fornax: By way of quick intro let me say I am a former professional baker, and extremely food-fixated. I'm not so easy to please, so when I am happy others tend to agree. While I think there is better bread to be had (Clearflour) and pastry (Canto 6) these guys have some charmers in their repetoire (the cinnamon raisin bread, their take-off on the Oreo with it's sweet/salty combination, and a very buttery decadent bearclaw like item that's name is escaping me) 1. The lunch salads are excellent, abundant and well-priced. For example, the mesclun salad is organic greens, currants, pine-nuts, home-made croutons from their bread, plus a couple pieces of fresh bread. Add chicken for for an extra buck. These easily feeds two (or nice leftovers). 2. They only make one breakfast but it's delicious and hearty and also could feed two if you weren't completely famished. They make a "breakfast sandwich" of eggs, their own fresh brioche, and your choice of breakfast meat (the sausage pattie is homemade and has fennel in it) a big side of roasted potatoes. It shows you why a righteous joint like this is light years from a fast food breakfast. 3. The physical space is really charming--old pressed tin ceiling, wood floors. It feels hip in a homespun way.
(4)
Brian D.
I'm on a carb filled memory craze this morning thinking about where I've gotten amazing fresh baked bread that has knocked my socks off. Fornax jumps to the top of the list in Roslindale Village. This is a full on, extra hippie, stand up bread making operation that will not let you down. You can walk in and pick from the days creations, their regular loafs and rolls being my personal favorites. I really like the crunchy, almost hard crust that compliments a soft but not too mushy inner loaf. I've putsed around with making bread over the years and gotten quite familiar with the ingredients and complexity of baking and I really appreciate the work that they put into their breads. A few years back they also added a sit down menu with soups, salads etc that are all really stand up. It's not super cheap and I wouldn't expect to be in such a high rent area but it is worth every penny in my opinion. A few local stores carry their breads and a few restaurants as well so you may have had their stuff and not even known it.
(5)
Marcy L.
House of Pain (no, not a 50 Shades scenario - yes, a French culinary indulgence). A big thanks to my buddy, Brian, for leading me to this bready beauty! Saturday afternoon we made the venture; parking is difficult to find, table space is limited, but the quality is superb and would be the ideal local in-and-out breakfast hit spot. #1: sounds like a Seussical cafe #2: 16 breads baked daily, another number of other loaves on a rotating schedule, and ONLY place I've found Anadama south of NH (not as molassesy as I'd like, but still a pleasant surprise - and only $3.75!) #3: sandwiches, pizzettas, and salads will cost you about 7$ (the menu is small, but full of fantastic combinations featuring their own fresh bread). The breakfast sandwiches are highly recommended. #4: fabulous pastry selection (mini apple pie, giant brownies, croissants, tarts, oat cakes!). I can attest to the flavor splendor that is the Apricot Envelope ($2.75). #5: coffee situation: there are a few coffee canisters, and a hot water canister for tea (assortment above coffee). Did the trick for caffeine consumption, but not especially satisfying (then again, they're called the BREAD company, so the coffee station is more of a perk anyway). Loads of stir-in options (sugars, milks *including soy*, even marshmallows and whipped cream for their house-made hot cocoa!) are kept IN THE FRIDGE (other coffee spots forget that dairy require refrigeration). 6#: not a whole lot of space to move around, but the decor reminds me of my rural roots and the service is OUTSTANDING.
(5)
Shiny B.
First off, I do really appreciate this place. I just see room for improvement. For instance, I might like this place better if the girl working mornings could manage to care a little bit. All the other employees are nice, so what's the deal? Their egg and sausage sandwich is great. But avoid the generally overcooked and chewy scones. Say yes to the Oreos. Central cooling would totally improve the place for those hot and miserable days.
(3)
Hannah D.
Fornax for breakfast on Saturday mornings has become a tradition with the family. There is something for everyone! Most of the family decides on an egg sandwich. It is a great deal! You get a basket filled with the sandwich on GREAT bread and your choice of meat, along with a side of potatoes. Very tasty and at a great price. I always decide on the Vegan Apricot Scone...AMAZING!! It really hits the spot. Their coffee is also GREAT!! I am very picky when it comes to my coffee and I have to say Fornax really knows how to brew great coffee (hot and iced). Their iced tea is also great! The flavor changes daily. Fornax also has a wide range of breads that they can cut for you. It is great if you want something for dinner or even just to have in the house! They also have a wide range of bake goods and they have a little card that tells you exactly what is in the bake good. All in all Fornax is a great little bakery. Everything is always made fresh and they never disappoint. The service is also great. Walking in you feel right at home! Definitely stop by if you are in the area...you will not be disappointed!!
(5)
Andres V.
Coffe was not fresh even though I asked and the pastry was stale. It was a sunday at 3:30 pm anf the shelves were empty
(2)
Elise H.
so they didn't have honey mustard today, but i don't mind even a little because i usually go for coffee and scone, or pb on toasted mutligrain. this place is so affordable and so delicious with a nice down to earth staff. the jars of home-made oreos, macaroons, chocolate chip cookies line the back wall next to shelves of home-made bread ranging from batard, to soda bread, brioche, french baguettes...in the front cases there are various scones: raisin, ginger almond, cranberry oat, banana, along with buttermilk biscuits, sweet rolls, ham and cheese baguettes, and beautiful cup cakes. the walls change decorations--from children's designed tiles, to a display of antique-y lace and embroidery, to the most current frames of old album covers, and magazine adds and portraits. the architecture itself is also wonderful. the old building has funky details throughout--make sure to got to the bathroom just to check out how it grows into the kitchen and prep rooms. i go fairly frequently with by boyfriend, and i hope it stays that way for a while. also, i have never spent more than 12 dollars there. its one of those places you not only truly enjoy as a space to eat and drink, but also one you love to support.
(5)
Mairead N.
This place is right in the center of Roslindale Village. Opened in 1997 by a husband and wife team and they have been going strong in the village ever since. Their breads are so great! All made fresh on the premises. They have a really adorable seating area and it makes this place a great "local" bakery/cafe. The menu is wonderful and varied, sandwiches, made with their fresh bread, pizzettas, soups and pastries for dessert. Coffee/tea/hot chocolate and soft drinks are available also. The wait staff are attentive and know their breads/pastries etc. and on Saturday and Sunday mornings this place is hopping with people having brunch or getting some yummy fresh made bread! Thank you Fornax Bread Co!
(5)
Chris D.
Ok I'm not going to rehash what everybody else is saying. It's all true. The main reason for this review is a recent addition, well two recent additions if you include the Roslindale Main Streets "parklet" that just got installed outside. ** THEY HAVE AN ESPRESSO RIG NOW *** This is a huge deal given that the other coffeehouse in the village closed up months ago. You can get coffee at many places nearby but the espresso-based options are few and far between. Parklet, pop-tarts and espresso. Can't go wrong there.
(4)
Luis N.
We walked in with a group of 6 adults and felt like maybe we made a mistake. If the food was anything less than awesome, I believe it would've been. Somehow we scored a table in the corner that fit us all instead of splitting us up. We sat, kinda snug, but with enough space to eat. The ordering process was easy enough but since the location is REALLY small it does get kinda cramped at the front where you order. I ordered the turkey sandwich on Whole grain bread. The rest of us all ordered different sandwiches with different breads. The overall consensus is...the bread here is PHENOMENAL. It takes a regular meal to another level. We all loved it and thought it was great. I ordered the "FULL" version which honestly felt like two sandwiches. So the portions aren't too small. My complaint is of course the size and therefore the bathroom situation. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the tiny bathroom in the back. How do they fix this problem? No idea. Maybe don't offer a bathroom but then that wouldn't work either. It just seems people will leave the bathroom and get AWFULLY close to the food. Which can be dangerous. Awesome bread here..enough to come back one day.
(4)
Jessie M.
Delicious food with friendly service. I got a chicken sandwich with a side of slaw on a poppy bun and it was incredible! Slaw was not over powering and had a hint of sweetness. I will definitely go back for more lunchtime goodies!
(4)
Faraz S.
Love this place. Breakfast sandwich on english muffins are on point! I've never been a fan of what I thought were English muffins until I came to this place.. totally changed my perspective on bread done right. Very friendly behind the counter. This is currently my go-to for a quick breakfast.
(5)
Andrew P.
Wicked good breakfast sandwiches. Fresh and delicious. Atmosphere is great too. Has a very down to earth feeling. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a bite to eat at a quaint little bakery.
(4)
Gregory M.
Come on, Fornax! You get Boston's Best of award for bread so you're done trying? I ordered a Roasted Veggie sandwich with chicken on a baguette and it left a lot to be desired. Now, I can understand if the place was packed and the sandwich station was slammed with orders, but my girlfriend and myself were the only ones in there. What came out was a toasted baguette with sparse amounts of eggplant and peppers, with the saddest amount of hummus. No caramelized onions or chicken to be found, and I know with it costing $9.15 that I paid for the add-on. The baguette was good, I'll give that to you, so yes maybe your award was valid. But that's no excuse to overlook an order and serve a sparse sandwich. Until next time!
(3)
Melisa M.
I had stopped in previously a month ago and no one ever saw me or greeted me, i left. I just don't like having to track people down to help me, I work in customer service and you need to be seen and be available. customers shouldn't have to play "lets find someone to help us" but eh iI was willing to try again please to note i was in alone sans any date...so yeah whatever i give up on that I was looking to buy a few little cupcakes for a friend who is having a turkey birthday and I'm sure no one was baking them a cake so...... someone greeted me right away this time and I picked out a few cupcakes they keep them refrigerated which I guess is for the frosting but they were pretty hard even an hour later, v v disappointing and one of the frosting tops tasted of onion or something not normally found in vanilla buttercream frosting? when things take on the taste of other things they are refrigerated with...well methinks those cupcakes have been in there for too damn long dry and harder than a rock I was embarrassed to have presented them as a birthday cake substitute....the buttercream frosting may have saved them but alas the one i tasted had some sort of onion flavor in it...dis-pleasurable to say the least To think i avoided the grocery store in favor of a bakery...I would have probably gotten a better deal for the money and at least a better taste...I realize the day before thanksgiving is a busy time,but shouldn't that make the turnover rate of items in the case faster? idk. not impressed. "bread company" *snorts
(1)
Laura M.
There's a lot packed inside this tiny little bakery! The staff is helpful and friendly and the baked goods are delicious! All of the loaves I've tried have been great. I haven't tried the lunch sandwiches, but the breakfast sandwiches are dynamite! Don't forget to get a savory croissant or two to take home. I'm a big fan of their freshly baked English muffins- my toaster begs for them. The (self-serve) coffee is good too- look in the cooler for milk options. If you don't believe me, take the word of many local restaurants that serve bread from Fornax- this stuff is good. Tip: it's tiny, so I prefer to take out whenever possible but there is a make-shift patio area on the sidewalk for warmer days. Definitely a destination shop in Roslindale village.
(4)
April M.
Fornax has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. While I still live a solid mile away (not really walk-able unless I'm up for a hike), we make it here quite often. They've got a wonderful assortment of breads, pastries, sandwiches (breakfast and lunch options), salads and drinks. I usually get an iced coffee and their classic breakfast sandwich on house-made English muffins. Oh so good, and they come with a side of home fries (which I never finish, but whatever). I've also had their lunch sandwiches, which come with a side salad and they do not disappoint! They have this little tin of oat crackers next to the register which are AWESOME for the little ones - especially when they are teething and/or just starting on solid foods. They can just mouth the heck outta those crackers until they get soggy and turn into oat mush that you'll need to clean off of everything. But they love it, and it's so worth it for less than a dollar! While there is seating, it can be quite tight. Don't think about bringing a stroller in there...we barely crammed our car seat in there when interviewing a nanny once and the people around probably hated us for it. If you're bringing baby, best to park the stroller out front, or use your baby carrier (you are in Rozzie, afterall!). It is kid friendly, but because of the tight quarters, I wouldn't recommend trying to spend too much time in there with a kid. They're bound to knock something over, bump into someone, or just generally cause a scene which everybody in the ten foot radius around you will have no choice but to tolerate. PSA: the hot coffee and tea are self-serve at a station next to the register, but it is *not* free! I watched this couple walk in and see someone making up their coffee (that they had just paid for) and say "oh, wow! look, they have free coffee!" and they proceeded to help themselves to the drink station without ordering and paying for it...As a somewhat regular (and a Rozzie local) it was kind of painful to watch, but I'm not one to but into someone else's business...so it just kind of happened. I can see how it can be confusing, since everything you need is right there and there aren't any signs that tell you to pay first. But yeah. Pay for your drinks before making them. Pro tip: the milk/cream for coffee and tea is kept cold inside the mini fridge. Open it up and help yourself to it (after you pay for your drink, of course!). So happy to have a spot like Fornax in the Village, it's local places like it that make Rozzie an awesome place to call home!
(5)
Matt W.
There have been a number of reports to me about Fornax having the best sandwiches anywhere. Friends for years have been insisting that I go there for the tuna melt, or the roasted chicken, or breakfast sandwich, or a pastry, or whatever else they sell. This week, I went to see if this Roslindale bakery lived up to the hype. It didn't. But it was pretty good. I got a ham and cheese sandwich. The ham had a light, not unpleasant flavor, but a really heavy feel in my stomach. The sandwich also didn't come with any condiments, and was kind of dry. The tomatoes were very fresh. They give you a side with every sandwich, and I chose roasted potatoes. They were nice, but I'd have preferred a pasta salad or potato salad. Sadly, neither was an option. The coffee was really, really weak. Like splash of milk makes it grey weak. I had a bite of my wife's tuna melt. It was fantastic. We had some sweets, too. They sell Boland's soda, which is really tasty, and our baked choices included an apple turnover, which was bland at the corners, but lovely in the middle, and a good peanut butter cookie and home-made oreo cookie. I did genuinely enjoy Fornax, and I'll be back, but reviews were exaggerated.
(4)
Justo G.
I don't always eat bread but when I do, I buy it at Fornax! This company is great because of how local it is. One of (if not the) best bread company in this side of town. Their bread selection stretches pretty far and It sure beats any bread from the big name markets. Another reason that makes this place unique is their lunch menu, most of which are always accompanied by fresh and toasted house made bread.
(5)
lisa n.
We are a big fan of the food, coffee and bread. The quality of the food and the service are very good. However our only complaint is that we often cant get seating, we wonder why they have big tables rather then 2 person tables. With smaller furniture they would probably be able to fit more people and make it feel less cramped. This is the reason we dont dine in as much as we would like. Overall we are fans and enjoy the smell of the bakery from down the street!
(4)
Martin J.
Looks good, but the kitchen closes at 1:30 on Sundays in the summer, so don't get your hopes up for a late lunch.
(3)
Celeste M.
I am a fan of Fornax, I suppose. My bf still loves it. I have discovered the banana and nutella sandwich, which is pretty cool. Their roasted pototoes that come with sandwiches is pretty nice. And I like their flaxseed brownie - it makes me feel good about eating a brownie.
(4)
Peter E.
I live in Roslindale and feel very fortunate to have an artisan bakery this good in town. Not only is their bread incredible but they make great salads and sandwiches. The only negative is that service can be very slow. Probably because it is so small and they are popular.
(5)
Kimberly P.
This review is based on one experience. I most likely would return to Fornax if I am in the area but this establishment would not be a destination for me. I stopped in a few months back as I was wandering around Roslindale Square and the bakery looked quaint and inviting. When I stepped in, I thought I'd died and gone to baked goods heaven... everything looked and smelled delicious. I ordered their quiche special and a small vegan cupcake (yummy). I began to eat the quiche - I had high hopes (As I do with anything involving eggs, cheese and bacon) but the taste of the quiche did not live up to my expectations. I envisioned it to be a 5 star delight and it tasted more along the lines of 3 stars... which soon dropped to 1 star when I found a hair baked into the quiche. I've worked in the food service industry before - these things happen. I just found the reaction to be a bit odd to say the least. I discretely alerted one of the women behind the counter (the place was pretty busy and I didn't want to make a scene). I handed the quiche to her and showed her the hair... though she seemed shocked she didn't say anything and just took the quiche and ran into the back room. Then she came back out grabbed 2 or 3 employees and rushed them back into the kitchen. I could see them all whispering in a concerned fashion. Finally the owner (?) came out, apologized and offered a replacement quiche...after my discovery, the last thing I wanted was more quiche! I politely refused and requested my money back. All in all, I think it was great that they wanted to rectify the situation and refunded my money but the scurrying, whispering and involving a group of people seemed a bit odd ...especially seeing as how small the place was and everyone in the establishment was eyeballing me as it was painfully obvious that I was the cause of the weirdness.
(3)
Hannah D.
A friend and I came from north of the city to roam around Forest Hills Cemetery, about 10 minutes away from Fornax. I had checked out lunch places in the area, and this one was the one we decided to try first. It's little, but the decor is charming in a shabby chic way. We both had the soup and 1/2 sandwich special, butternut squash soup for me, lentil for my friend, and BLTs for both of us. With one coffee tossed in the whole bill came to $19.95. My meal was accompanied by green salad, hers with cole slaw. The portion size was very generous, and everything was wonderfully fresh. The multi grain bread had a nice texture and was delicious. Coffee was just fine. This next might not sound so great, but the rest room was accessed by going through the food prep area. It was actually a good experience seeing just how fresh the vegetables looked as they were being chopped and how neat and clean the area was kept. A delightful experience. Wish I lived closer.
(5)
Liliana C.
Say yes to an oreo and you won't be disappointed. Also enjoyed our (chicken) pizza, even if it could have used a little more flavor. Would buy pizza dough next time, no doubt!
(4)
Jonathan T.
About a month ago, on a Saturday, my wife asked me to pick up lunch for her and her bridesmaids while they assembled gift bags for our wedding. She placed the order, I picked it up. While I was at Fornax waiting for the order, there were two girls working behind the counter, they appeared to be college students, presumably working part-time. One of them was moving breads around on the rack using wax paper (standard kitchen protocol), while the other was snacking on a baked good and when finished licked her fingers, picked something out of her teeth with her finger and then proceeded to help move bread around barehanded. Needless to say, I will not be eating here again.
(1)
Laina P.
Seriously Great Sandwiches. Especially the breakfast sandwich (tip: get the breakfast sandwich without meat on brioche and add tomato and avocado for the most delicious vegetarian breakfast sandwich you'll ever eat in your life) Great bread, too, but that's not a surprise. I took a star off because their hours aren't consistent or accurately advertised (the website says the kitchen opens at 8 every day, but when I went in one day for an early breakfast I was told the kitchen opens at 8:30)
(4)
Dan D.
I have been going here for years now. I am friends with Kim and Chris who hire staff who work as hard as they do. And the bread? How good? Let's just say there is no other place in Boston like this place. Big Sourdough Boule is my favorite, but it's all fresh every day and there are no losers on this menu. They also serve lunch, which is a little dear for my pocket book and the place can get a little crowded and hectic, so for sit down it is not the best. Better to get the bread and DIY in your own kitchen .
(4)
Alexa M.
Probably the most ideal small-business out there. It's super cute and inviting inside with a friendly and helpful staff. The menu has a wide variety of options that are constantly being updated. Their soups and sandwiches definitely go above and beyond your local sub shop's. Plus, I think it's a really great alternative to the nationwide chain, Panera. I love their tuna melt with corn chowder (when available) and chips!!
(4)
Mags R.
Everything is freash! Pleasant staff! The wheat pizza dough was great to cook! Would like more flexible hours, asides from that they are great!
(4)
D M.
If you love some great bread, this is the place to get it. I went in before a party and ended up getting a lot of baguettes and some amazing homemade oreo cookies. Oreo cookies here are the size of your head, so be prepared to share or show self restraint. The ambiance is kind of old school, but in the most positive way. Love the decor, and the warm fuzzies it invokes. Also, bonus for being right around the corner from a cheese shop!
(4)
Mike O.
God! Why can't we give half stars??? To echo others before me, I really do like Fornax, and I'm even more supportive perhaps (hence the four star instead of three) because they are a locally owned and operated business, BUT I've got to tell you that their bread, and selection, leaves something to be desired. It's not the crowded, compact space - I couldn't care less about that, or how long it takes to get to the register on the weekends, or the lack of a more robust breakfast menu. I just want two things: an adequate selection to choose from and freshness. Let me touch on the latter first. The freshness has been there about 90% of the time, but there have been a few occurrences when I've wondered if what was sold to me was day old, or possibly over baked. I'm no expert on breads, by any means, but it's a fairly simple concept to wrap your head around and I know when something is off when it shouldn't be. It could very well be that once in a while, rather than discard something that is not perfect, it gets put on the rack to sell. The only problem you'd run into is this happening to the same person more than once and then your consistency goes out the window. At a premium you cannot afford to lose the appearance of consistency. The English Muffins have way too much bread to nook and cranny ratio, and I've had some loaves last over a week. I'd really like it if my bread started to rot after a few days; I'd be much more inclined to eat bread knowing it's not filled with preservatives. As far as the selection; it needs work. It is peculiar to me that there is no demand for Challah Bread in this neighborhood. No pita either... no wraps or tortillas. I've thought that maybe I just missed out by the time I got there, but these items are never in stock. The Boules, the Batards, the Baguettes, and loaves are all very good if you get a good batch. Fornax is the best option in the neighborhood but across town I'd have to rate them a possible third or fourth. If you're in Rosi and are questioning stopping in, give them a shot. Grab some cheese around the corner at Boston Cheese Cellar and slap that on that bread; wash it down with some vino from Solera and there you have a delectable little snack. I'd put money on you not being disappointed!
(4)
J C.
I go in for a loaf of bread. I come out with a whole lot more.
(5)
laura W.
i just ate the last bite of my roasted veggie (red bell peppers, portobellos) with chicken on a bed of mesclun greens with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing ($9 with chicken)... WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO MY MOUTH?! pure HEAVEN, that's what! i seriously was making my coworkers uncomfortable with all my grunts and groans of delight. ...i thought i didnt even like salads!
(5)
fred f.
Coming for Northern Suburbia, this bakery feels like it's at the other end of the world for me. But I love to go to Fornax on my rare trips to Rozzie. The baked goods are awesome, and i love the cozy storefront. The other day, I was looking for a cute little birthday cake for two. Although I had only had their breads and cookies in the past, I was inspired by great pastry reviews here on Yelp to try Fornax's cakes this go-round. The head baker spoke with me and took the time to discuss a bunch of options. She was very helpful, and so enthusiastic. At one point as i was trying to figure out what to get, she chimed in: "oh! how about a white cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream!!??" I went with that, and the next day, I drove by to pick up a true gem of a cake. They had cut the cake into three layers, and covered each with fresh cut berries. They then piped just enough whipped cream to make it look as decadent as it tasted The cake itself couldn't be more delicious, or fresher ( they had just finished cooling it, and were just arranging the berries an cream when i stopped by) ... and though the cake was supposed to be for two, it could easily have served 3-4 people with the generous portions of berries and cream they put on it..
(5)
chris d.
I like Fornax, I really do. I also enjoy having a real neighborhood bakery. However, in a bakery- there should never be a distinction between a loaf of bread that is cooked the appropriate amount of time and one that is "well done". Bread is never "well done". While I understand the terminology as an approach to put a positive spin on the fact that it's burnt- you and I both know that it's burnt. Perhaps you're hoping that maybe I will say to myself, "Oooh, well done bread- I can avoid the pesty doughiness". Yet, I won't. I don't want to buy burnt bread. While ingredients are expensive, and I see the vast amount of ingredients that you have unloaded during the week, burnt bread should not be the same price as bread which is cooked appropriately. It's kind of insulting. I'm smarter than that. Problems aside, I will remain a patron, because I enjoy the local flavor, and I can still decline the well-done bread.
(3)
Christine V.
I've been going here for a few years. The bread..Phenomenal! The sandwiches on the bread..even better. Meals made from scratch. Delicious!! The decorations inside, cozy and unique. Definitely not the decor of a chain restaurant. Makes you feel right at home. =) Prices are decent. Portion sizes are great.
(5)
Andrew S.
Was looking for a sandwich for lunch last Sunday, and my friend recommended Fornax with high regards. I decided to take the extended walk into town to give it a try. Excited for my sandwich, I walked in and began studying the menu board. After the lady finished talking to another customer, she walked towards me, said she saw me looking at the sandwich board, and told me that I shouldn't bother because the kitchen closed at 1:30pm. I looked at my phone which displayed 1:21pm. Normally, I wouldn't arrive at a restaurant near kitchen closing time, but it was still well enough beforehand that they should be serving their patrons. I tried clarifying with the woman that I was trying to give them my business, but she rudely reiterated the kitchen would be closing and would not accommodate me. She didn't even ASK the kitchen if they could, as if they were just trying to get out of there and enjoy their Sunday afternoons. Glancing back towards the kitchen, there were also two idle workers leaning against the window joking and laughing with each other . If I were a business owner and knew my employees were turning away customers like this, I wouldn't be too happy about it. This was my first attempt eating here, and I will never be back. Won't be recommending Fornax to any friends either. Very much a shame.
(1)
Laura S.
I happened upon Fornax and decided to go there for lunch. Thank goodness I found a place for great coffee, sandwiches and salads! It is small and can get crowded, but I really loved the salad, BLT and their french bread. I will definitely come back and try their breakfast sandwiches and other breads. I know City Feed carries their english muffins, and they are great. I will buy them here from now on.
(4)
Chris D.
Ok I'm not going to rehash what everybody else is saying. It's all true. The main reason for this review is a recent addition, well two recent additions if you include the Roslindale Main Streets "parklet" that just got installed outside. ** THEY HAVE AN ESPRESSO RIG NOW *** This is a huge deal given that the other coffeehouse in the village closed up months ago. You can get coffee at many places nearby but the espresso-based options are few and far between. Parklet, pop-tarts and espresso. Can't go wrong there.
(4)
April M.
Fornax has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. While I still live a solid mile away (not really walk-able unless I'm up for a hike), we make it here quite often. They've got a wonderful assortment of breads, pastries, sandwiches (breakfast and lunch options), salads and drinks. I usually get an iced coffee and their classic breakfast sandwich on house-made English muffins. Oh so good, and they come with a side of home fries (which I never finish, but whatever). I've also had their lunch sandwiches, which come with a side salad and they do not disappoint! They have this little tin of oat crackers next to the register which are AWESOME for the little ones - especially when they are teething and/or just starting on solid foods. They can just mouth the heck outta those crackers until they get soggy and turn into oat mush that you'll need to clean off of everything. But they love it, and it's so worth it for less than a dollar! While there is seating, it can be quite tight. Don't think about bringing a stroller in there...we barely crammed our car seat in there when interviewing a nanny once and the people around probably hated us for it. If you're bringing baby, best to park the stroller out front, or use your baby carrier (you are in Rozzie, afterall!). It is kid friendly, but because of the tight quarters, I wouldn't recommend trying to spend too much time in there with a kid. They're bound to knock something over, bump into someone, or just generally cause a scene which everybody in the ten foot radius around you will have no choice but to tolerate. PSA: the hot coffee and tea are self-serve at a station next to the register, but it is *not* free! I watched this couple walk in and see someone making up their coffee (that they had just paid for) and say "oh, wow! look, they have free coffee!" and they proceeded to help themselves to the drink station without ordering and paying for it...As a somewhat regular (and a Rozzie local) it was kind of painful to watch, but I'm not one to but into someone else's business...so it just kind of happened. I can see how it can be confusing, since everything you need is right there and there aren't any signs that tell you to pay first. But yeah. Pay for your drinks before making them. Pro tip: the milk/cream for coffee and tea is kept cold inside the mini fridge. Open it up and help yourself to it (after you pay for your drink, of course!). So happy to have a spot like Fornax in the Village, it's local places like it that make Rozzie an awesome place to call home!
(5)
Luis N.
We walked in with a group of 6 adults and felt like maybe we made a mistake. If the food was anything less than awesome, I believe it would've been. Somehow we scored a table in the corner that fit us all instead of splitting us up. We sat, kinda snug, but with enough space to eat. The ordering process was easy enough but since the location is REALLY small it does get kinda cramped at the front where you order. I ordered the turkey sandwich on Whole grain bread. The rest of us all ordered different sandwiches with different breads. The overall consensus is...the bread here is PHENOMENAL. It takes a regular meal to another level. We all loved it and thought it was great. I ordered the "FULL" version which honestly felt like two sandwiches. So the portions aren't too small. My complaint is of course the size and therefore the bathroom situation. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the tiny bathroom in the back. How do they fix this problem? No idea. Maybe don't offer a bathroom but then that wouldn't work either. It just seems people will leave the bathroom and get AWFULLY close to the food. Which can be dangerous. Awesome bread here..enough to come back one day.
(4)
Faraz S.
Love this place. Breakfast sandwich on english muffins are on point! I've never been a fan of what I thought were English muffins until I came to this place.. totally changed my perspective on bread done right. Very friendly behind the counter. This is currently my go-to for a quick breakfast.
(5)
Andrew P.
Wicked good breakfast sandwiches. Fresh and delicious. Atmosphere is great too. Has a very down to earth feeling. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a bite to eat at a quaint little bakery.
(4)
Jessie M.
Delicious food with friendly service. I got a chicken sandwich with a side of slaw on a poppy bun and it was incredible! Slaw was not over powering and had a hint of sweetness. I will definitely go back for more lunchtime goodies!
(4)
Gregory M.
Come on, Fornax! You get Boston's Best of award for bread so you're done trying? I ordered a Roasted Veggie sandwich with chicken on a baguette and it left a lot to be desired. Now, I can understand if the place was packed and the sandwich station was slammed with orders, but my girlfriend and myself were the only ones in there. What came out was a toasted baguette with sparse amounts of eggplant and peppers, with the saddest amount of hummus. No caramelized onions or chicken to be found, and I know with it costing $9.15 that I paid for the add-on. The baguette was good, I'll give that to you, so yes maybe your award was valid. But that's no excuse to overlook an order and serve a sparse sandwich. Until next time!
(3)
Melisa M.
I had stopped in previously a month ago and no one ever saw me or greeted me, i left. I just don't like having to track people down to help me, I work in customer service and you need to be seen and be available. customers shouldn't have to play "lets find someone to help us" but eh iI was willing to try again please to note i was in alone sans any date...so yeah whatever i give up on that I was looking to buy a few little cupcakes for a friend who is having a turkey birthday and I'm sure no one was baking them a cake so...... someone greeted me right away this time and I picked out a few cupcakes they keep them refrigerated which I guess is for the frosting but they were pretty hard even an hour later, v v disappointing and one of the frosting tops tasted of onion or something not normally found in vanilla buttercream frosting? when things take on the taste of other things they are refrigerated with...well methinks those cupcakes have been in there for too damn long dry and harder than a rock I was embarrassed to have presented them as a birthday cake substitute....the buttercream frosting may have saved them but alas the one i tasted had some sort of onion flavor in it...dis-pleasurable to say the least To think i avoided the grocery store in favor of a bakery...I would have probably gotten a better deal for the money and at least a better taste...I realize the day before thanksgiving is a busy time,but shouldn't that make the turnover rate of items in the case faster? idk. not impressed. "bread company" *snorts
(1)
Laura M.
There's a lot packed inside this tiny little bakery! The staff is helpful and friendly and the baked goods are delicious! All of the loaves I've tried have been great. I haven't tried the lunch sandwiches, but the breakfast sandwiches are dynamite! Don't forget to get a savory croissant or two to take home. I'm a big fan of their freshly baked English muffins- my toaster begs for them. The (self-serve) coffee is good too- look in the cooler for milk options. If you don't believe me, take the word of many local restaurants that serve bread from Fornax- this stuff is good. Tip: it's tiny, so I prefer to take out whenever possible but there is a make-shift patio area on the sidewalk for warmer days. Definitely a destination shop in Roslindale village.
(4)
Magnus C.
What hookers and cocaine are to Charlie Sheen, bread is to me. So when I saw this place so highly ranked, I decided to stop on in. The place looked promising in that shabby chic way that says "there's home cooking happening in this place", and to make matters even better, on the radio Tom Petty was followed by Neil Young, who was then followed by Led Zeppelin. As my turn came to order food, I put in for a ham and cheese and retired to one of the back tables. Sadly, thirty minutes later I was still waiting for my food,while the stereo system got hijacked by one of the teeny bopper staffers who plugged her ipod in and "treated" everyone to the sounds of possessed raccoons (or maybe it was Miley Cyrus, I can never really tell) and all the air was let out of my proverbial souffle. I waited a few minutes more for my sandwich, and when it arrived I ate it and left in a hurry. It was a very good sandwich, but the potatoes which accompanied it were cold and far from multitudinous. And man... I was made to wait for it. 40 minutes doesn't seem like a lot of time for dining out, I suppose, but for a place that was nearly empty and considering it was just a sandwich, I expected better.
(3)
Ayelet R.
There's nothing like the smell of fresh bread and you can smell this one all the way down the block. You'll just be having your innocent little walk, checking out all the cute boutiques that this neighborhood has to offer when all of a sudden it will hit you and just like a siren's song you will be useless to resist that heavenly waft. All flowery metaphors aside, this place smells awesome, and upon walking in and seeing their giant kitchen constantly churning out fresh loaves, it's not hard to understand why. These days just finding a bakery that bakes its own bread in house is something of a rarity, and it makes all the difference here. The loaves themselves are very sensibly priced and some types offer half-loaves if you're not ready to commit to the whole thing. Plus, they offer quite the selection. We got the Boule, Rosemary Batard and Irish Soda Bread and all tasted as amazing as they smelled. This was my first time trying Irish Soda Bread and I can't wait to try some more. We froze the boule and were happy to find that it still tasted just as fresh a few days later when we defrosted it. I also took a baked cinnamon apple donut and was super impressed by it. Who knew you could bake a donut? It may have tasted more like a cake than a traditional donut, but it was still fresh and warm and delicious. The sandwiches looked awesome as well, and I can't wait to come back and try some, especially considering it means getting to try even more of their bread.
(4)
Ashley A.
This is my favorite go-to lunch spot in the Square. It's a small place with limited seating but I love the atmosphere! My personal favorite is half a roasted veggie sandwich on sour dough with a side of salad. It is very satisfying and very filling! (And also very inexpensive.) Their breads are freshly baked and their meals are made to order. Their baked goods are also very delicious. I love this place and I enjoy the food tremendously.
(4)
Karen K.
I've been craving fornax and last week we didn't have clinic so I couldn't get my fix. Today I got the Danish snail and it was too good! Cinnamon taste with raisins and walnuts amazing! Too bad i scarfed it down before I could take a pic!
(4)
Mckenzie G.
The wonderful smell of freshly baked bread hits you as soon as you walk.in . I was looking for espresso to no avail, but the staff was nice enough to try to help me make a makeshift mocha from the coffee on hand. I love the eclectic assortment of tables and artwork for sale. A very casual and welcoming place. While the bathroom is not the best accommodations, getting to it allowed me to see first hand the bread making process in full effect. So, in case you were wondering, they make all their goods on site.
(4)
Linda B.
Fornax was one of the first "new" businesses to put down roots in Roslindale Village over 15 years ago. Not only is all their food prepared from "scratch", their bread (and you can smell it rising after hours -- such a fabulous aroma that emanates from their kitchen) is the only bakery bread I will eat when I decide to jump off the gluten-free wagon. No other bread is worth the belly-ache, in my opinion! In addition to feeding us with genuine food and warm hearts, owners Kim and Chris Fallon consistently donate food to neighborhood events and show up to support the community in other ways as well. I recommend the genoa, tomato and carmelized onion sandwich, the chicken vegetable soup whose broth is rich with pureed squash, and for sides, the mayo-free cole slaw and tender roasted potatoes. I'm proud to have a business like Fornax in my neighborhood -- a great place to meet with new clients, too (I'm a Realtor) to show them the best of what Rozzie has to offer.
(5)
Ju L.
AHMAZING pizza dough to make our own pizza at home. I've compared it to Trader Joe's and Fornax wins BY FAR.
(5)
Luis S.
A favorite of my baby daughter & mine. We get our birthday treats from here too!
(4)
Josh W.
Rustic vibe. It's an annual tradition to go here in the fall for butternut squash soup and some good bread. Really like this place.
(5)
RoslindaMal E.
I really like Fornax and come here on a fairly consistent basis. Their homemade bread and breakfast/lunch sandwiches are really good & really fresh. I have been meaning to try their chicken potpies. The only drawback to Fornax is this place is on the small side, however the city just added parklet right besides Fornax on Cohasset Street so outdoor seating is now available. I am glad to have Fornax in Roslindale.
(4)
Ron H.
Wonderful bread, good wholesome salads, delicious and basic food. Love this place.
(5)
Marcy L.
House of Pain (no, not a 50 Shades scenario - yes, a French culinary indulgence). A big thanks to my buddy, Brian, for leading me to this bready beauty! Saturday afternoon we made the venture; parking is difficult to find, table space is limited, but the quality is superb and would be the ideal local in-and-out breakfast hit spot. #1: sounds like a Seussical cafe #2: 16 breads baked daily, another number of other loaves on a rotating schedule, and ONLY place I've found Anadama south of NH (not as molassesy as I'd like, but still a pleasant surprise - and only $3.75!) #3: sandwiches, pizzettas, and salads will cost you about 7$ (the menu is small, but full of fantastic combinations featuring their own fresh bread). The breakfast sandwiches are highly recommended. #4: fabulous pastry selection (mini apple pie, giant brownies, croissants, tarts, oat cakes!). I can attest to the flavor splendor that is the Apricot Envelope ($2.75). #5: coffee situation: there are a few coffee canisters, and a hot water canister for tea (assortment above coffee). Did the trick for caffeine consumption, but not especially satisfying (then again, they're called the BREAD company, so the coffee station is more of a perk anyway). Loads of stir-in options (sugars, milks *including soy*, even marshmallows and whipped cream for their house-made hot cocoa!) are kept IN THE FRIDGE (other coffee spots forget that dairy require refrigeration). 6#: not a whole lot of space to move around, but the decor reminds me of my rural roots and the service is OUTSTANDING.
(5)
Shiny B.
First off, I do really appreciate this place. I just see room for improvement. For instance, I might like this place better if the girl working mornings could manage to care a little bit. All the other employees are nice, so what's the deal? Their egg and sausage sandwich is great. But avoid the generally overcooked and chewy scones. Say yes to the Oreos. Central cooling would totally improve the place for those hot and miserable days.
(3)
Justo G.
I don't always eat bread but when I do, I buy it at Fornax! This company is great because of how local it is. One of (if not the) best bread company in this side of town. Their bread selection stretches pretty far and It sure beats any bread from the big name markets. Another reason that makes this place unique is their lunch menu, most of which are always accompanied by fresh and toasted house made bread.
(5)
Hannah D.
Fornax for breakfast on Saturday mornings has become a tradition with the family. There is something for everyone! Most of the family decides on an egg sandwich. It is a great deal! You get a basket filled with the sandwich on GREAT bread and your choice of meat, along with a side of potatoes. Very tasty and at a great price. I always decide on the Vegan Apricot Scone...AMAZING!! It really hits the spot. Their coffee is also GREAT!! I am very picky when it comes to my coffee and I have to say Fornax really knows how to brew great coffee (hot and iced). Their iced tea is also great! The flavor changes daily. Fornax also has a wide range of breads that they can cut for you. It is great if you want something for dinner or even just to have in the house! They also have a wide range of bake goods and they have a little card that tells you exactly what is in the bake good. All in all Fornax is a great little bakery. Everything is always made fresh and they never disappoint. The service is also great. Walking in you feel right at home! Definitely stop by if you are in the area...you will not be disappointed!!
(5)
Andres V.
Coffe was not fresh even though I asked and the pastry was stale. It was a sunday at 3:30 pm anf the shelves were empty
(2)
Yelping Jabroni X.
4 1/2 You're not going to get better bread in the area, period. Spectacular pizza dough. Buy it, save on takeout forever. I can't count how many pizzas I've made with their dough. The confections range from okay to pretty darn good, but don't blow you away -their giant "oreo" is pretty good. The sandwiches and what-not get the job done. That being said, It's a bread bakery at its best. Best loaves around. Best English Muffins around. Best batard, baguette, pullman, peasant (by far!), etc, etc etc. I miss this place already.
(5)
Honor P.
Visiting Fornax on Monday mornings has become a tradition in only three weeks and each time I have visited Fornax for breakfast, the whole day has felt quaint and easy. I always feel like I am stepping into a vacation or the company of honest people, it just feels simple and good. The pastries are great (get them warmed up!) and they have soymilk in the fridge. We can't wait to return try their pizza dough!
(5)
Martin J.
Looks good, but the kitchen closes at 1:30 on Sundays in the summer, so don't get your hopes up for a late lunch.
(3)
laura W.
i just ate the last bite of my roasted veggie (red bell peppers, portobellos) with chicken on a bed of mesclun greens with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing ($9 with chicken)... WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO MY MOUTH?! pure HEAVEN, that's what! i seriously was making my coworkers uncomfortable with all my grunts and groans of delight. ...i thought i didnt even like salads!
(5)
Kimberly P.
This review is based on one experience. I most likely would return to Fornax if I am in the area but this establishment would not be a destination for me. I stopped in a few months back as I was wandering around Roslindale Square and the bakery looked quaint and inviting. When I stepped in, I thought I'd died and gone to baked goods heaven... everything looked and smelled delicious. I ordered their quiche special and a small vegan cupcake (yummy). I began to eat the quiche - I had high hopes (As I do with anything involving eggs, cheese and bacon) but the taste of the quiche did not live up to my expectations. I envisioned it to be a 5 star delight and it tasted more along the lines of 3 stars... which soon dropped to 1 star when I found a hair baked into the quiche. I've worked in the food service industry before - these things happen. I just found the reaction to be a bit odd to say the least. I discretely alerted one of the women behind the counter (the place was pretty busy and I didn't want to make a scene). I handed the quiche to her and showed her the hair... though she seemed shocked she didn't say anything and just took the quiche and ran into the back room. Then she came back out grabbed 2 or 3 employees and rushed them back into the kitchen. I could see them all whispering in a concerned fashion. Finally the owner (?) came out, apologized and offered a replacement quiche...after my discovery, the last thing I wanted was more quiche! I politely refused and requested my money back. All in all, I think it was great that they wanted to rectify the situation and refunded my money but the scurrying, whispering and involving a group of people seemed a bit odd ...especially seeing as how small the place was and everyone in the establishment was eyeballing me as it was painfully obvious that I was the cause of the weirdness.
(3)
lisa n.
We are a big fan of the food, coffee and bread. The quality of the food and the service are very good. However our only complaint is that we often cant get seating, we wonder why they have big tables rather then 2 person tables. With smaller furniture they would probably be able to fit more people and make it feel less cramped. This is the reason we dont dine in as much as we would like. Overall we are fans and enjoy the smell of the bakery from down the street!
(4)
Hannah D.
A friend and I came from north of the city to roam around Forest Hills Cemetery, about 10 minutes away from Fornax. I had checked out lunch places in the area, and this one was the one we decided to try first. It's little, but the decor is charming in a shabby chic way. We both had the soup and 1/2 sandwich special, butternut squash soup for me, lentil for my friend, and BLTs for both of us. With one coffee tossed in the whole bill came to $19.95. My meal was accompanied by green salad, hers with cole slaw. The portion size was very generous, and everything was wonderfully fresh. The multi grain bread had a nice texture and was delicious. Coffee was just fine. This next might not sound so great, but the rest room was accessed by going through the food prep area. It was actually a good experience seeing just how fresh the vegetables looked as they were being chopped and how neat and clean the area was kept. A delightful experience. Wish I lived closer.
(5)
Liliana C.
Say yes to an oreo and you won't be disappointed. Also enjoyed our (chicken) pizza, even if it could have used a little more flavor. Would buy pizza dough next time, no doubt!
(4)
Jonathan T.
About a month ago, on a Saturday, my wife asked me to pick up lunch for her and her bridesmaids while they assembled gift bags for our wedding. She placed the order, I picked it up. While I was at Fornax waiting for the order, there were two girls working behind the counter, they appeared to be college students, presumably working part-time. One of them was moving breads around on the rack using wax paper (standard kitchen protocol), while the other was snacking on a baked good and when finished licked her fingers, picked something out of her teeth with her finger and then proceeded to help move bread around barehanded. Needless to say, I will not be eating here again.
(1)
Laina P.
Seriously Great Sandwiches. Especially the breakfast sandwich (tip: get the breakfast sandwich without meat on brioche and add tomato and avocado for the most delicious vegetarian breakfast sandwich you'll ever eat in your life) Great bread, too, but that's not a surprise. I took a star off because their hours aren't consistent or accurately advertised (the website says the kitchen opens at 8 every day, but when I went in one day for an early breakfast I was told the kitchen opens at 8:30)
(4)
Dan D.
I have been going here for years now. I am friends with Kim and Chris who hire staff who work as hard as they do. And the bread? How good? Let's just say there is no other place in Boston like this place. Big Sourdough Boule is my favorite, but it's all fresh every day and there are no losers on this menu. They also serve lunch, which is a little dear for my pocket book and the place can get a little crowded and hectic, so for sit down it is not the best. Better to get the bread and DIY in your own kitchen .
(4)
Alexa M.
Probably the most ideal small-business out there. It's super cute and inviting inside with a friendly and helpful staff. The menu has a wide variety of options that are constantly being updated. Their soups and sandwiches definitely go above and beyond your local sub shop's. Plus, I think it's a really great alternative to the nationwide chain, Panera. I love their tuna melt with corn chowder (when available) and chips!!
(4)
Mags R.
Everything is freash! Pleasant staff! The wheat pizza dough was great to cook! Would like more flexible hours, asides from that they are great!
(4)
D M.
If you love some great bread, this is the place to get it. I went in before a party and ended up getting a lot of baguettes and some amazing homemade oreo cookies. Oreo cookies here are the size of your head, so be prepared to share or show self restraint. The ambiance is kind of old school, but in the most positive way. Love the decor, and the warm fuzzies it invokes. Also, bonus for being right around the corner from a cheese shop!
(4)
Mike O.
God! Why can't we give half stars??? To echo others before me, I really do like Fornax, and I'm even more supportive perhaps (hence the four star instead of three) because they are a locally owned and operated business, BUT I've got to tell you that their bread, and selection, leaves something to be desired. It's not the crowded, compact space - I couldn't care less about that, or how long it takes to get to the register on the weekends, or the lack of a more robust breakfast menu. I just want two things: an adequate selection to choose from and freshness. Let me touch on the latter first. The freshness has been there about 90% of the time, but there have been a few occurrences when I've wondered if what was sold to me was day old, or possibly over baked. I'm no expert on breads, by any means, but it's a fairly simple concept to wrap your head around and I know when something is off when it shouldn't be. It could very well be that once in a while, rather than discard something that is not perfect, it gets put on the rack to sell. The only problem you'd run into is this happening to the same person more than once and then your consistency goes out the window. At a premium you cannot afford to lose the appearance of consistency. The English Muffins have way too much bread to nook and cranny ratio, and I've had some loaves last over a week. I'd really like it if my bread started to rot after a few days; I'd be much more inclined to eat bread knowing it's not filled with preservatives. As far as the selection; it needs work. It is peculiar to me that there is no demand for Challah Bread in this neighborhood. No pita either... no wraps or tortillas. I've thought that maybe I just missed out by the time I got there, but these items are never in stock. The Boules, the Batards, the Baguettes, and loaves are all very good if you get a good batch. Fornax is the best option in the neighborhood but across town I'd have to rate them a possible third or fourth. If you're in Rosi and are questioning stopping in, give them a shot. Grab some cheese around the corner at Boston Cheese Cellar and slap that on that bread; wash it down with some vino from Solera and there you have a delectable little snack. I'd put money on you not being disappointed!
(4)
J C.
I go in for a loaf of bread. I come out with a whole lot more.
(5)
fred f.
Coming for Northern Suburbia, this bakery feels like it's at the other end of the world for me. But I love to go to Fornax on my rare trips to Rozzie. The baked goods are awesome, and i love the cozy storefront. The other day, I was looking for a cute little birthday cake for two. Although I had only had their breads and cookies in the past, I was inspired by great pastry reviews here on Yelp to try Fornax's cakes this go-round. The head baker spoke with me and took the time to discuss a bunch of options. She was very helpful, and so enthusiastic. At one point as i was trying to figure out what to get, she chimed in: "oh! how about a white cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream!!??" I went with that, and the next day, I drove by to pick up a true gem of a cake. They had cut the cake into three layers, and covered each with fresh cut berries. They then piped just enough whipped cream to make it look as decadent as it tasted The cake itself couldn't be more delicious, or fresher ( they had just finished cooling it, and were just arranging the berries an cream when i stopped by) ... and though the cake was supposed to be for two, it could easily have served 3-4 people with the generous portions of berries and cream they put on it..
(5)
chris d.
I like Fornax, I really do. I also enjoy having a real neighborhood bakery. However, in a bakery- there should never be a distinction between a loaf of bread that is cooked the appropriate amount of time and one that is "well done". Bread is never "well done". While I understand the terminology as an approach to put a positive spin on the fact that it's burnt- you and I both know that it's burnt. Perhaps you're hoping that maybe I will say to myself, "Oooh, well done bread- I can avoid the pesty doughiness". Yet, I won't. I don't want to buy burnt bread. While ingredients are expensive, and I see the vast amount of ingredients that you have unloaded during the week, burnt bread should not be the same price as bread which is cooked appropriately. It's kind of insulting. I'm smarter than that. Problems aside, I will remain a patron, because I enjoy the local flavor, and I can still decline the well-done bread.
(3)
Christine V.
I've been going here for a few years. The bread..Phenomenal! The sandwiches on the bread..even better. Meals made from scratch. Delicious!! The decorations inside, cozy and unique. Definitely not the decor of a chain restaurant. Makes you feel right at home. =) Prices are decent. Portion sizes are great.
(5)
Matt W.
There have been a number of reports to me about Fornax having the best sandwiches anywhere. Friends for years have been insisting that I go there for the tuna melt, or the roasted chicken, or breakfast sandwich, or a pastry, or whatever else they sell. This week, I went to see if this Roslindale bakery lived up to the hype. It didn't. But it was pretty good. I got a ham and cheese sandwich. The ham had a light, not unpleasant flavor, but a really heavy feel in my stomach. The sandwich also didn't come with any condiments, and was kind of dry. The tomatoes were very fresh. They give you a side with every sandwich, and I chose roasted potatoes. They were nice, but I'd have preferred a pasta salad or potato salad. Sadly, neither was an option. The coffee was really, really weak. Like splash of milk makes it grey weak. I had a bite of my wife's tuna melt. It was fantastic. We had some sweets, too. They sell Boland's soda, which is really tasty, and our baked choices included an apple turnover, which was bland at the corners, but lovely in the middle, and a good peanut butter cookie and home-made oreo cookie. I did genuinely enjoy Fornax, and I'll be back, but reviews were exaggerated.
(4)
Mairead N.
This place is right in the center of Roslindale Village. Opened in 1997 by a husband and wife team and they have been going strong in the village ever since. Their breads are so great! All made fresh on the premises. They have a really adorable seating area and it makes this place a great "local" bakery/cafe. The menu is wonderful and varied, sandwiches, made with their fresh bread, pizzettas, soups and pastries for dessert. Coffee/tea/hot chocolate and soft drinks are available also. The wait staff are attentive and know their breads/pastries etc. and on Saturday and Sunday mornings this place is hopping with people having brunch or getting some yummy fresh made bread! Thank you Fornax Bread Co!
(5)
Whitney R.
Fornax sandwiches = FRESH! The choices are few, but no matter what you get, it WILL be good. Their chicken sandwich actually contains a fillet of chicken, and you can taste every ingredient they place into their sandwiches. They also have an assortment of baked goods that I haven't had the pleasure of trying. I'd like to bring some of their bread home with me, too, but since I'm used to buying bread with lots of preservatives so I can eat it for weeks, I might find it to be a bit too fresh. Is that possible? I also love eating in at Fornax. It's a tiny place that is full of mis-matched furniture and old knickknacks. It has a unique aura of antiquity that gives the impression that it hasn't changed since it was first established. Very cool, and delicious.
(5)
Cheryl R.
The best sourdough. Awesome pizza dough. Tasty sandwiches. Pastries to die for. My kids beg for their pumpkin bread. Love love love!
(5)
Jules H.
OM NOM NOM. Finally checked this place out, one very tired and stressful afternoon, and the Boyf and I each had sammiches that made us feel SO MUCH BETTER. I had the pesto, he a ham and cheese, and the bred was fresh as can be, the pesto on mine was gorgeously bright, and it was just warm and toasty enough. Plus, each sammich comes with a side, making it a really reasonable price for the food you get. I've also bought a couple of baguettes here, and DAMN it's good -- it has that elusive crust with a soft middle, and I recommend picking up one of the blue flyers at the counter so you know which days they bake which loaves. As I write this, I am re-crisping mine according to their instructions, and last time I did this, the bread was as if I had baked it fresh myself!
(4)
Annie G.
On mornings when I know the day will be long and dreary, I stop at Fornax on the way to work. They have fantastic breakfast. I usually get the sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast...sandwich (it's in a little pastry pocket) and a coffee. The damage is minimal. The woman at the register is always very pleasant but sometimes kitchen gets a little slow. This is a no-frills neighborhood bakery. Don't expect fancy coffee drinks!
(3)
CL S.
Though the customer service leaves a good bit to be desired, the sandwiches and breads make up for it. I keep returning, despite knowing I'll be greeted with a scowl, just because I know that the bread is a slice of heaven (we form entire meals around what we can pair with a Fornax baguette) and the sandwiches are perfection (you *will* eat the whole thing, regardless of how hungry you are, I assure you).
(4)
Adeline E.
I haven't eaten there, so this is all about the bread! Best baguettes around. Eat your heart out, JP Blue Frog, which for some reason many local places -- even ones in Roslindale Square! -- seem to stock and serve. Great prices & good variety of breads. Friendly counter service. Avoid the coffee, though, even if you're in a bind.And the card fee is like a quarter or 50 cents, which doesn't bother me if I've forgotten to get cash.
(4)
Michelle L.
I stopped in here on my meander through Roslindale Open Studios. I'd never been before but remembered having seen the name before as a good bakery. Once I was inside, I was a goner: I was surrounded by fresh-baked bread, whole-wheat brownies (!), slices of pumpkin bread, ham and cheese croissants, everything in the world to tempt me. But as it happens, I had a bit of a sore throat, so I held back from baked goods, however delicious, as too dry to be swallowed easily, and I held back from the exciting sandwich menu, in favor of one of the daily soups: split pea with ham. Split pea with ham is one of my favorite soups, and I especially crave it on crisp autumn days. This was one of the better pea soups I've had; the lean, tender ham really made it. It came with two thin slices of multigrain bread. The bread was warm. I don't know why-- it was such a simple touch-- but this made me all but shiver with delight. The soup was exactly what I needed, and the bread was hearty and excellent for mopping up every last trace of the soup out of my bowl (which I'm hardly ever inclined to do, but here I HAD to). As a sponsor of Roslindale Open Studios, the walls were decorated with a local artist's mixed media pieces. This added an extra bit of charm to the homestyle, thrift-store ambience. Service was brisk and more friendly than I'm used to. I'm typically happy with the service I receive anywhere I go, but there was something extra here. I tipped generously. It was only as I was on my way out the door that I noticed the wide selection of cookies in jars behind the counter. Alas, some other day, perhaps...
(4)
Julie S.
While apartment hunting in Roslindale yesterday I decided to check out Fornax Bread Company for lunch. I was excited to find such a cute little sandwich place on an otherwise not so inviting block (my apologies to fans of Roslindale Village- maybe I just don't get it yet). I ordered the portobello mushroom and roasted red pepper sandwich. Not being very creative, I ordered it as it was designed, on a seeded roll. I thought perhaps it would be a bit weird since it was a pressed sandwich, but I went with it, because they're the bread people, not me. And yes, it was kind of weird. Also weird- they put lettuce or spinach or something on the sandwich which did not taste good pressed. It just tasted soggy. I picked it off. The mushrooms were not marinated in anything, so it was just a blah mushroom sandwich. Normally I love portobellos, but they really have to be marinated to taste like anything special. For $8 this sandwich was waaaay overpriced. I also bought some English muffins to take home and toasted them up this morning with some raspberry jam. My husband loved them. I could take it or leave it. I'll have to try another type of bread next time and reassess.
(3)
Jess H.
I wanted to like this place more than I did. I bought a loaf of challah and a buttermilk biscuit, even though I was eyeing their large offering of breads. I am going to give it another try, because I'm not sure if I just ordered the wrong thing. The challah was dry-ish and didn't have the honey, egg-y taste I am used to from other very good bakeries I've been. The biscuit was big, but dry and not at all buttery or flaky, like I like 'em. All this said, there were a lot more things to try, and I'll be back to give it another go.
(3)
Chuck K.
Fornax Bread Company is a great place to go if you want to pay extremely high prices for worse-than-average sandwiches. Let's face it, if you're in Roslindale, you're probably having a bad day. Maybe you're waiting on an endless line at the post office, being ritually tortured at the RMV or trying to recover from identity theft at the Social Security office. Maybe you hit the trifecta. Worst possibility of all is that your entire life has been messed up and now you actually LIVE in Roslindale. Where was I? Oh yeah, Roslindale. Trying to ameliorate your pain, you step into the Fornax Bread Company. This place looks nice. They're obviously trying to be fancy. Whoa, check out those high-ass prices! They *must* be serving good food here. No, I got the Pesto and Mozzarella sandwich on rye. Now, granted, I didn't throw up or get diarrhea or double-over in pain. That's the best thing I can say about the food. Everything was forgettable. The pesto may have been too salty. Or it may have been just right. Who can remember? Ditto the mozzarella. At least the bread had to be special, right? I mean, it's the Fornax *Bread* Company, for crying out loud. (What's the matter? "Bakery" isn't a fancy enough word?) No, the bread--rye in this case--was a complete non-starter. They tried to give it to me "toasted" but instead I got somewhere in between "burnt" and "practically on fire." So what's the worst part of spending $8 for a sandwich that I could make just as well while walking in my sleep? I gave 'em a credit card because, well, I wanted to. So it turns out that if you spend less than $10, they charge you a fee. They are violating their merchant agreement when they do that. mastercard.com/us/busine… Not only are they violating a contract, but they have the gall to complain that they're doing it because of "high merchant fees" imposed on "small businesses." This "small business" just charged me $8 for a sandwich. Now they're violating their merchant contract to charge me even more! So I politely informed the very nice lady behind the counter. All of a sudden, she copped a 'tude. "Yeah, yeah. We know we're violating the agreement. You're NOT the first person to tell us that." What. The. FUCK?!? They're *knowingly* breaking their contract to tack on extra charges onto an $8 sandwich? Honestly, if I weren't so honest I would complain about the several rat turds I saw on the floor at this place. But there's no need to lie. This is a place that makes worse-than-mediocre sandwiches and charges you as if they had a tip that you were a member of the Saudi royal family. Fornax Bread Company is run by the scum of the earth.
(1)
Scott P.
Fantastic bakery/sandwich shop - great selection of breads, muffins, cookies and the like. Favorite part - they sell cookie dough so you can bake them at home. Excellent sandwiches for breakfast and lunch - service can be slow at times, but the sandwiches are well worth the wait. There are a few small tables, but we usually take them home, or sit in Adams Park.
(5)
Shelly R.
We moved to Roslindale four months ago, and we get all of our bread and sweets from Fornax. (any sweet thing in loaf form is worth buying) The staff are fanastic. I wish they could configure the counter in a way that didn't create backup at the door, but, overall, we love stepping in here and think this place is one of the best things about Roslindale.
(5)
Chris B.
my wife loves this place and I love their pizza dough. I have to give them credit where credit is due. I came here one day to buy some bread and the young lady who rang me up accidently overcharged me. She then told me she messed up and that she corrected it. So thinking I had that money in there i continued to run errands that day. the next day i find out that i was hit with overdraw fees due to the overcharge the day before. what had happen was she credited my account and that usually takes 1 week to process. I then called the manager of fornax and explained my situation. He was kind enough to work with me to resolve this situation. he even went up to the bank with me to try to cut a deal with my bank. in the end he return the money i was owed originally and replaced the money taking from my account with overdraw fees. This company is a great place with even better management. I am proud to say that even though that issued occurred, it will not prevent me from going back here. I felt the owner handled my situation very well and he definitely has pleased and made the best out of a screwed up situation. I will definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Shia G.
Great baked good, I had the sticky bun ($2.75+) which was a sweet croissant like roll perfect ratio of cinnamon-sugar and butter. Also I tried the walnut "something" bread ($2.50+) and the cinnamon twist ($2+). All pretty good and some great fresh bread/rolls. Prices are a bit steep for product but like everywhere in Boston.
(3)
Megan S.
The smell of this place is warm, yummy carbs. I usually just pick up my loaves of bread here, but when I'm feeling really bad I'll get one of their delicious cupcakes. Mmmmm . . .
(4)
Noah N.
Fornax is a pleasant little bakery, to tell the truth. We went right before closing time, but the lovely counter girl still served us some tea from their broad selection and gave us some free banana bread! Delish, as Rachel Ray would say. Or yumm-o, is it? I can't recall... Regardless, I strongly recommend the place, and hope you'll love it as much as I did. (^_^)
(5)
Catherine B.
The bread here is amazing, as are the desserts and treats (I have a serious weakness for their butterhorns) It's a great place to stop and have a quick soup and sandwhich (I've done this a dozen times and never been disappointed, ever) The holdback on 5 stars is the staff - I always feel like I'm bothering them somehow with my order. It's never bad enough to keep me away though.
(4)
Jonathan B.
The breads and pizza dough from here are fantastic. All of them. We've tried them all, I think. I haven't had lunch here, but the breakfast sandwiches are AWESOME and come with a side of potatoes which I don't really care for but my wife thinks are terrific. The pastries are a bit more hit or miss, but the sweet rolls are awesome when they have them - sadly, I haven't seen them in the last few months. Highly recommended if you are down in lovely Roslindale.
(4)
Celeste M.
I am a fan of Fornax, I suppose. My bf still loves it. I have discovered the banana and nutella sandwich, which is pretty cool. Their roasted pototoes that come with sandwiches is pretty nice. And I like their flaxseed brownie - it makes me feel good about eating a brownie.
(4)
Peter E.
I live in Roslindale and feel very fortunate to have an artisan bakery this good in town. Not only is their bread incredible but they make great salads and sandwiches. The only negative is that service can be very slow. Probably because it is so small and they are popular.
(5)
Adam C.
I went here for lunch recently and was impressed with the place. It's a good spot for lunch. They have a good menu with various sandwich and salad selections. They have 4 soups available as well. I had the turkey asiago w/ tomato on semi-sourdough and it was pretty awesome actually. Anyway, I was surprised that this is a place where you can sit down and eat lunch; I thought maybe it was just a counter where you order bread and pastries (which you can certainly get there), but there are actually 5 or so tables where you can sit down and eat your meal.
(4)
Cecilia L.
Fornax has only been around since 1997, but in keeping with the Roslindale ethic, it looks straight out of 1955. The English muffins here are truly transcendent, so fragrant I sniffed them all the way home through the plastic bag. You'll never eat a supermarket hockey puck again. The sandwiches are great - try the salami and caramelized onion - and come with fresh and seasonal sides. The lemon meltaway cookie is superb and must be at least half butter (also sold at City Feed on Centre Street). Fornax is now a part of our weekend ritual.
(4)
Meg C.
Had to grab a baguette for that lovely cheese we had just purchased around the corner. So we came for Fornax, since it was close and radiated delicious smells. I sampled a vegan oatmeal cookie, which was surprisingly good. But the bread was just lovely- crusty and chewy. The bakery itself was obviously full of locals who knew each other. It is very charming and a great resource for the neighborhood.
(4)
Zac N.
Stopped in for some tea, which was great, and the breads looked awesome. Nice service, too.
(5)
Asta S.
The bakery is very homey and cute. There are a few bistro sized tables and nice big windows that make the space light and airy. The customer service was good and the scones are awesome. However, I was not blown away by the ham & cheese croissant or the English muffins. They were good, but not the best I've ever had. I did love the cinnamon twist I had. The whole grains made it more filling than most breakfast pastries and it added a nice cheery texture to it.
(3)
Katy N.
One of the best, simplest sandwiches I've ever had the pleasure of eating. I look forward to my next visit to Boston to have another.
(5)
Doug M.
My whole family loves Fornax, from the large whole wheat loaves, small white loaves, buttermilk biscuits. I always have to buy an extra one because I'll have it eaten before I get home & my family would be mad.
(5)
Marc L.
3 Important Things That Haven't Been Said about Fornax: By way of quick intro let me say I am a former professional baker, and extremely food-fixated. I'm not so easy to please, so when I am happy others tend to agree. While I think there is better bread to be had (Clearflour) and pastry (Canto 6) these guys have some charmers in their repetoire (the cinnamon raisin bread, their take-off on the Oreo with it's sweet/salty combination, and a very buttery decadent bearclaw like item that's name is escaping me) 1. The lunch salads are excellent, abundant and well-priced. For example, the mesclun salad is organic greens, currants, pine-nuts, home-made croutons from their bread, plus a couple pieces of fresh bread. Add chicken for for an extra buck. These easily feeds two (or nice leftovers). 2. They only make one breakfast but it's delicious and hearty and also could feed two if you weren't completely famished. They make a "breakfast sandwich" of eggs, their own fresh brioche, and your choice of breakfast meat (the sausage pattie is homemade and has fennel in it) a big side of roasted potatoes. It shows you why a righteous joint like this is light years from a fast food breakfast. 3. The physical space is really charming--old pressed tin ceiling, wood floors. It feels hip in a homespun way.
(4)
Brian D.
I'm on a carb filled memory craze this morning thinking about where I've gotten amazing fresh baked bread that has knocked my socks off. Fornax jumps to the top of the list in Roslindale Village. This is a full on, extra hippie, stand up bread making operation that will not let you down. You can walk in and pick from the days creations, their regular loafs and rolls being my personal favorites. I really like the crunchy, almost hard crust that compliments a soft but not too mushy inner loaf. I've putsed around with making bread over the years and gotten quite familiar with the ingredients and complexity of baking and I really appreciate the work that they put into their breads. A few years back they also added a sit down menu with soups, salads etc that are all really stand up. It's not super cheap and I wouldn't expect to be in such a high rent area but it is worth every penny in my opinion. A few local stores carry their breads and a few restaurants as well so you may have had their stuff and not even known it.
(5)
Courtney R.
Their bread and sandwiches are delicious and the mid-century vintage decor is warm and cozy and cute.
(5)
Judy H.
The owner/head baker seems to be a sweetheart. The goat cheese spinach turnovers are to die for. I have also had a spinach salad here and it was very good. But mt favorite are those spinach and goat cheese turnovers. I buy them every time I am in he shop.
(4)
s s.
How to sum up the Fornax? So homey, so cozy, so sweet and lovely and yummy. I always feel like I'm eating a sandwich in my great grandma's kitchen, one that has been prepared with love and delicious basic wholesome ingredients. It's a weekly lunch stop for me, coziest in the winter when you can be snug in a table in the back with half of a tuna melt, some outrageous rosemary carrots, and a steaming paper cup of butternut squash soup while you listen to WERS (!!!) and watch the cars go by outside. The staff could not be sweeter or any more accommodating. Plenty of highchairs, crayons, and plastic dinosaurs for the little guys. Iced coffee could be brewed stronger, but free soymilk makes up for that. This is where my baby had his first taste of solid food - and the rosemary carrots are still his fave. Superlative bread and baked goods. It's the absolute best part of Roslindale.
(5)
Adam E.
I don't care if I'll always be fat, I'm never giving up carbs and this is why. Fornax bread is outrageous, so freaking good. It's also really reasonably priced and they'll slice it for you! They also have fantastic baked goods, I got this weird almond thing (I think they called it a Wale Twist?) and it was ungodly good. It was like a mix of an almond croissant and a raspberry danish. Their sandwiches sound great too, I've only tried the grilled cheese and tomato (which they accidentally gave me instead of ham & cheese, minus one star!). Still, it was pretty excellent. The staff is hit or miss. When I came for pastries at 7am, the teen was nicer to me than I deserved, especially when I said I had to run next door to the ATM. But I've been here in the afternoon when some surlier teens were working. But I give them a break, those years are tough. Oh, and they do accept cards, but it's a $10 minimum.
(4)
Katie R.
This place is great! I first had their soup at the Taste of Roslindale, and I swear, it was the best thing I had all night! Went to visit Fornax and found it to be a cute space with great selection of meals, tasty treats, and loaves of bread. Soup was just as delicious as it was at the Taste. Also, it is appreciate that they list all of the ingredients in their breads -- my mom has a bunch of food sensitivities and it's great to know what she can eat. My only complaint would be that they don't post their soups and quiches of the day on their website. I'd love to see this info made available so I knew if I should make the trek over -- but obviously -- this is just a teeny weeny complaint. Overall -- wonderful!
(4)
Daniel A.
Fornax bread is generally a great place to grab some great bread or a really good sanwich in the square. I usually get my sandwiches for take-out, but there are a few tables where you can sit and do some people watching as Fornax is almost always bustling and the people of Roslindale are an interesting bunch. My only beef with the place is that they forget to put requested onions on my sandwiches way too often.
(4)
JBird Z.
Absolutely one of the best bakeries I've yet to find in Greater Boston (Toretta's in Revere is another). Their signature bread is a boule which in my experience always has a nice crust which is not too thick and not too thin and the soft middle is perfectly chewy with a just-past-subtle sourdough flavor. The croissant I had once was AMAZING, but be prepared, while fluffy it was not light...very heavy on butter (which I love). I've also tried a few of their pastries and they too were just top notch. The stuff is just always fresh, always delicious. I have yet to try their sandwiches, soups etc. If I want a great sandwich, mmmmm give me two slices of Fornax' boule and put just about anything in the middle!
(4)
Dave E.
I've been buying bread here for months now and they have never let me down in that department. My latest discovery has been the rosemary bacci - just delicious. Pastry items continue to underwhelm though. The scones are really absurdly hard and dry, and very skimpy on the fruit. Sandwiches are also nothing special, Blue Star and Jimmies on the same street make much better.
(4)
M. L.
Such an awesome spot!! The breads are all freshly made and so tasty. Reasonable prices and local charm make it worth walking or driving to. Try the squash soup when they have it avialable!
(5)
Ren P.
I dragged myself out of bed on Monday for a way-too-early trip to the laundromat. I didn't have time to make breakfast before I left, so I stopped in Fornax, enjoyed the cozy, well-decorated atmosphere, and ordered an egg and cheese sandwhich to go. It was amazing. Usually when I eat things I can make at home, I am disappointed because I could have done it better. This sandwhich -- I don't understand how they do it. It was fluffy yet filling, almost like a souffle on grilled bread. This may be the most outstanding breakfast item I have ever eaten out. And then there was a surprise of tasty home fries in my to go bag. The reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because I felt a little lost. No one told me, "The coffee is behind there," or "Your sandwhich will come out of the kitchen, that window right over there." Did I mention that it was early? I could've used some extra customer service. But the food made up for it.
(4)
Pete L.
I tried this bakery after the many rave reviews here. Unfortunately the standards of the reviewers must differ from mine. This place is very amateurish and lacks real knowledge of how bread should be. I suggest they go train with a real European bakery. Any average bakery in Belgium, Holland or France will beat them hands down. The oversized (why?) cinnamon swirl was chewy, so only half-baked. The croissants really do not deserve the name. 'Croissant' means 'crunchy', not soft, chewy, shapeless, halfbaked. 'They are pieces of dough with stuffing, not true croissants. Similarly the baguette was nothing of the kind. It was not fluffy, airy and crisp. It was instead tough from teh outside and thick, almost like a German type of bread. The two positives were: - that it was dirt cheap, so I did not feel like I lost a lot and - the piece of carrot cake (or carrot bread) my wife had was delicious, which is no surprise since that is a total different subject matter as compared to true bread and is typically well done here in the USA because it is so simple to make. Avoid if you can afford better.
(1)
kellan e.
Without a doubt the *best* bakery in Boston. The bacci rolls make the best sandwiches, the multi-grain boule is rich, moist, and substantial, and the North Italian sourdough has a great crust and subtle flavor. Boston suffers under a plague of so-called bakeries, which are really bad Italian patisseries with Bird's Custard yellow cream. But even the handful of real bakeries (Iggy's, Hi-Rise, Flour) can't hold a candle to this real, artisanal, old world bread. You can pick up their breads at Harvest and City Feed if you don't fancy the trek to Roslindale.
(5)
B R.
Great selection of breads and pastries. I had a breakfast sandwich, which was served on a freshly made english muffin. Excellent. I purchased two bags of them before I left. They also have a rotating selection of traditional and creative soups, sandwiches and salads. Coffee, sodas and teas are also available. The owners and employees were very helpful and seemed to be enjoying themselves which is a huge plus. I'll be back for the pizza dough soon.
(5)
Sami W.
Great Bakery, the sanwiches are delicious, but the seating area is very small, the tables are close to each other, that is the reason why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
(4)
Dianna B.
Excellent local bread place in Rozzie Square. It's a great meeting place for the neighborhood as well. The breads, English muffins and sandwiches are great. The only downside is the service from the register staff -- who don't seem to take their job seriously and seem to be easily confused.
(4)
Kelly A.
I havent been there is sooooooo long but every time I had gone in the past I enjoyed the sandwich I got 100%!
(4)
Glenn B.
Outstanding bread. Stop on Saturday morning for fresh english muffins, and pick up a sliced half-boule to make some special sandwiches for the work week.
(5)
Jane H.
Best bread in Boston. I still make a regular trip there even though its not down the street anymore. Their sandwiches should not be missed either. Get there early for a good selection.
(5)
Grace G.
I have been going since the bakery opened in 1997. Love the breads, love the lunches, love the store layout. Recently, they have started selling pizza dough. I am not a java junkie so i can not comment on the coffee. I only gave the place three stars because of the owners and counter staff. They are granola-crunchy snobs who are condecending towards working-class customers. When a yoga-mat toteing, j.jill - clad woman comes in, they are very personable and accomodating. When an over-weight joe six-pack lumbers in, they are terse and dismissive.
(3)
Kate B.
The bread is delicious, especially my favorite, the raisin pumpernickel. But the other baked goods are not so great. Good sandwiches and soup too, though they seem frazzled when they get more than one sandwich order at a time, so be prepared to wait.
(4)
Ben B.
I used go there all the time for a half-boule, sliced. Such good bread - they get five stars just for that. I also love the tuna melt and some of the pastry. Lousy coffee, but you know they put their focus on bread and that focus pays off.
(5)
Roy S.
Try the Butterhorns! They're filo/croissant rolls covered in crumbcake topping and glaze. They have great coffee too!
(4)
Tiana W.
I love Fornax. Their bread is amazing, their salads are so good and their croissants are to die for! I gave them 4 instead of 5 stars because I don't think their butternut squash is very good but besides that, I love them!
(4)
Karly M.
Fornax is a great place to get lunch. I love the chicken salad, which has interesting little tidbits in it, like currants and pine nuts. BIg fan of the boule as well.
(4)
Anne A.
$5.25 half/$7.00 whole is too much for a sandwich, especially one that isn't all that big, and the cole slaw side isn't really cole slaw; the vegetables are cut up, but not shredded, and there isn't any dressing. Still, I do like their tuna melts, as well as the mismatched furniture and the photos on the walls - they're interesting and give the place a nice local feel.
(4)
Elise H.
so they didn't have honey mustard today, but i don't mind even a little because i usually go for coffee and scone, or pb on toasted mutligrain. this place is so affordable and so delicious with a nice down to earth staff. the jars of home-made oreos, macaroons, chocolate chip cookies line the back wall next to shelves of home-made bread ranging from batard, to soda bread, brioche, french baguettes...in the front cases there are various scones: raisin, ginger almond, cranberry oat, banana, along with buttermilk biscuits, sweet rolls, ham and cheese baguettes, and beautiful cup cakes. the walls change decorations--from children's designed tiles, to a display of antique-y lace and embroidery, to the most current frames of old album covers, and magazine adds and portraits. the architecture itself is also wonderful. the old building has funky details throughout--make sure to got to the bathroom just to check out how it grows into the kitchen and prep rooms. i go fairly frequently with by boyfriend, and i hope it stays that way for a while. also, i have never spent more than 12 dollars there. its one of those places you not only truly enjoy as a space to eat and drink, but also one you love to support.
(5)
Kelly A.
I havent been there is sooooooo long but every time I had gone in the past I enjoyed the sandwich I got 100%!
(4)
Glenn B.
Outstanding bread. Stop on Saturday morning for fresh english muffins, and pick up a sliced half-boule to make some special sandwiches for the work week.
(5)
Jane H.
Best bread in Boston. I still make a regular trip there even though its not down the street anymore. Their sandwiches should not be missed either. Get there early for a good selection.
(5)
Pete L.
I tried this bakery after the many rave reviews here. Unfortunately the standards of the reviewers must differ from mine. This place is very amateurish and lacks real knowledge of how bread should be. I suggest they go train with a real European bakery. Any average bakery in Belgium, Holland or France will beat them hands down. The oversized (why?) cinnamon swirl was chewy, so only half-baked. The croissants really do not deserve the name. 'Croissant' means 'crunchy', not soft, chewy, shapeless, halfbaked. 'They are pieces of dough with stuffing, not true croissants. Similarly the baguette was nothing of the kind. It was not fluffy, airy and crisp. It was instead tough from teh outside and thick, almost like a German type of bread. The two positives were: - that it was dirt cheap, so I did not feel like I lost a lot and - the piece of carrot cake (or carrot bread) my wife had was delicious, which is no surprise since that is a total different subject matter as compared to true bread and is typically well done here in the USA because it is so simple to make. Avoid if you can afford better.
(1)
Judy H.
The owner/head baker seems to be a sweetheart. The goat cheese spinach turnovers are to die for. I have also had a spinach salad here and it was very good. But mt favorite are those spinach and goat cheese turnovers. I buy them every time I am in he shop.
(4)
kellan e.
Without a doubt the *best* bakery in Boston. The bacci rolls make the best sandwiches, the multi-grain boule is rich, moist, and substantial, and the North Italian sourdough has a great crust and subtle flavor. Boston suffers under a plague of so-called bakeries, which are really bad Italian patisseries with Bird's Custard yellow cream. But even the handful of real bakeries (Iggy's, Hi-Rise, Flour) can't hold a candle to this real, artisanal, old world bread. You can pick up their breads at Harvest and City Feed if you don't fancy the trek to Roslindale.
(5)
B R.
Great selection of breads and pastries. I had a breakfast sandwich, which was served on a freshly made english muffin. Excellent. I purchased two bags of them before I left. They also have a rotating selection of traditional and creative soups, sandwiches and salads. Coffee, sodas and teas are also available. The owners and employees were very helpful and seemed to be enjoying themselves which is a huge plus. I'll be back for the pizza dough soon.
(5)
Sami W.
Great Bakery, the sanwiches are delicious, but the seating area is very small, the tables are close to each other, that is the reason why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
(4)
Ren P.
I dragged myself out of bed on Monday for a way-too-early trip to the laundromat. I didn't have time to make breakfast before I left, so I stopped in Fornax, enjoyed the cozy, well-decorated atmosphere, and ordered an egg and cheese sandwhich to go. It was amazing. Usually when I eat things I can make at home, I am disappointed because I could have done it better. This sandwhich -- I don't understand how they do it. It was fluffy yet filling, almost like a souffle on grilled bread. This may be the most outstanding breakfast item I have ever eaten out. And then there was a surprise of tasty home fries in my to go bag. The reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because I felt a little lost. No one told me, "The coffee is behind there," or "Your sandwhich will come out of the kitchen, that window right over there." Did I mention that it was early? I could've used some extra customer service. But the food made up for it.
(4)
Jessie M.
Delicious food with friendly service. I got a chicken sandwich with a side of slaw on a poppy bun and it was incredible! Slaw was not over powering and had a hint of sweetness. I will definitely go back for more lunchtime goodies!
(4)
Gregory M.
Come on, Fornax! You get Boston's Best of award for bread so you're done trying? I ordered a Roasted Veggie sandwich with chicken on a baguette and it left a lot to be desired. Now, I can understand if the place was packed and the sandwich station was slammed with orders, but my girlfriend and myself were the only ones in there. What came out was a toasted baguette with sparse amounts of eggplant and peppers, with the saddest amount of hummus. No caramelized onions or chicken to be found, and I know with it costing $9.15 that I paid for the add-on. The baguette was good, I'll give that to you, so yes maybe your award was valid. But that's no excuse to overlook an order and serve a sparse sandwich. Until next time!
(3)
Luis S.
A favorite of my baby daughter & mine. We get our birthday treats from here too!
(4)
Josh W.
Rustic vibe. It's an annual tradition to go here in the fall for butternut squash soup and some good bread. Really like this place.
(5)
Faraz S.
Love this place. Breakfast sandwich on english muffins are on point! I've never been a fan of what I thought were English muffins until I came to this place.. totally changed my perspective on bread done right. Very friendly behind the counter. This is currently my go-to for a quick breakfast.
(5)
Andrew P.
Wicked good breakfast sandwiches. Fresh and delicious. Atmosphere is great too. Has a very down to earth feeling. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a bite to eat at a quaint little bakery.
(4)
April M.
Fornax has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. While I still live a solid mile away (not really walk-able unless I'm up for a hike), we make it here quite often. They've got a wonderful assortment of breads, pastries, sandwiches (breakfast and lunch options), salads and drinks. I usually get an iced coffee and their classic breakfast sandwich on house-made English muffins. Oh so good, and they come with a side of home fries (which I never finish, but whatever). I've also had their lunch sandwiches, which come with a side salad and they do not disappoint! They have this little tin of oat crackers next to the register which are AWESOME for the little ones - especially when they are teething and/or just starting on solid foods. They can just mouth the heck outta those crackers until they get soggy and turn into oat mush that you'll need to clean off of everything. But they love it, and it's so worth it for less than a dollar! While there is seating, it can be quite tight. Don't think about bringing a stroller in there...we barely crammed our car seat in there when interviewing a nanny once and the people around probably hated us for it. If you're bringing baby, best to park the stroller out front, or use your baby carrier (you are in Rozzie, afterall!). It is kid friendly, but because of the tight quarters, I wouldn't recommend trying to spend too much time in there with a kid. They're bound to knock something over, bump into someone, or just generally cause a scene which everybody in the ten foot radius around you will have no choice but to tolerate. PSA: the hot coffee and tea are self-serve at a station next to the register, but it is *not* free! I watched this couple walk in and see someone making up their coffee (that they had just paid for) and say "oh, wow! look, they have free coffee!" and they proceeded to help themselves to the drink station without ordering and paying for it...As a somewhat regular (and a Rozzie local) it was kind of painful to watch, but I'm not one to but into someone else's business...so it just kind of happened. I can see how it can be confusing, since everything you need is right there and there aren't any signs that tell you to pay first. But yeah. Pay for your drinks before making them. Pro tip: the milk/cream for coffee and tea is kept cold inside the mini fridge. Open it up and help yourself to it (after you pay for your drink, of course!). So happy to have a spot like Fornax in the Village, it's local places like it that make Rozzie an awesome place to call home!
(5)
Mckenzie G.
The wonderful smell of freshly baked bread hits you as soon as you walk.in . I was looking for espresso to no avail, but the staff was nice enough to try to help me make a makeshift mocha from the coffee on hand. I love the eclectic assortment of tables and artwork for sale. A very casual and welcoming place. While the bathroom is not the best accommodations, getting to it allowed me to see first hand the bread making process in full effect. So, in case you were wondering, they make all their goods on site.
(4)
RoslindaMal E.
I really like Fornax and come here on a fairly consistent basis. Their homemade bread and breakfast/lunch sandwiches are really good & really fresh. I have been meaning to try their chicken potpies. The only drawback to Fornax is this place is on the small side, however the city just added parklet right besides Fornax on Cohasset Street so outdoor seating is now available. I am glad to have Fornax in Roslindale.
(4)
Andrew S.
Was looking for a sandwich for lunch last Sunday, and my friend recommended Fornax with high regards. I decided to take the extended walk into town to give it a try. Excited for my sandwich, I walked in and began studying the menu board. After the lady finished talking to another customer, she walked towards me, said she saw me looking at the sandwich board, and told me that I shouldn't bother because the kitchen closed at 1:30pm. I looked at my phone which displayed 1:21pm. Normally, I wouldn't arrive at a restaurant near kitchen closing time, but it was still well enough beforehand that they should be serving their patrons. I tried clarifying with the woman that I was trying to give them my business, but she rudely reiterated the kitchen would be closing and would not accommodate me. She didn't even ASK the kitchen if they could, as if they were just trying to get out of there and enjoy their Sunday afternoons. Glancing back towards the kitchen, there were also two idle workers leaning against the window joking and laughing with each other . If I were a business owner and knew my employees were turning away customers like this, I wouldn't be too happy about it. This was my first attempt eating here, and I will never be back. Won't be recommending Fornax to any friends either. Very much a shame.
(1)
Laura S.
I happened upon Fornax and decided to go there for lunch. Thank goodness I found a place for great coffee, sandwiches and salads! It is small and can get crowded, but I really loved the salad, BLT and their french bread. I will definitely come back and try their breakfast sandwiches and other breads. I know City Feed carries their english muffins, and they are great. I will buy them here from now on.
(4)
Chris D.
Ok I'm not going to rehash what everybody else is saying. It's all true. The main reason for this review is a recent addition, well two recent additions if you include the Roslindale Main Streets "parklet" that just got installed outside. ** THEY HAVE AN ESPRESSO RIG NOW *** This is a huge deal given that the other coffeehouse in the village closed up months ago. You can get coffee at many places nearby but the espresso-based options are few and far between. Parklet, pop-tarts and espresso. Can't go wrong there.
(4)
Luis N.
We walked in with a group of 6 adults and felt like maybe we made a mistake. If the food was anything less than awesome, I believe it would've been. Somehow we scored a table in the corner that fit us all instead of splitting us up. We sat, kinda snug, but with enough space to eat. The ordering process was easy enough but since the location is REALLY small it does get kinda cramped at the front where you order. I ordered the turkey sandwich on Whole grain bread. The rest of us all ordered different sandwiches with different breads. The overall consensus is...the bread here is PHENOMENAL. It takes a regular meal to another level. We all loved it and thought it was great. I ordered the "FULL" version which honestly felt like two sandwiches. So the portions aren't too small. My complaint is of course the size and therefore the bathroom situation. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the tiny bathroom in the back. How do they fix this problem? No idea. Maybe don't offer a bathroom but then that wouldn't work either. It just seems people will leave the bathroom and get AWFULLY close to the food. Which can be dangerous. Awesome bread here..enough to come back one day.
(4)
Melisa M.
I had stopped in previously a month ago and no one ever saw me or greeted me, i left. I just don't like having to track people down to help me, I work in customer service and you need to be seen and be available. customers shouldn't have to play "lets find someone to help us" but eh iI was willing to try again please to note i was in alone sans any date...so yeah whatever i give up on that I was looking to buy a few little cupcakes for a friend who is having a turkey birthday and I'm sure no one was baking them a cake so...... someone greeted me right away this time and I picked out a few cupcakes they keep them refrigerated which I guess is for the frosting but they were pretty hard even an hour later, v v disappointing and one of the frosting tops tasted of onion or something not normally found in vanilla buttercream frosting? when things take on the taste of other things they are refrigerated with...well methinks those cupcakes have been in there for too damn long dry and harder than a rock I was embarrassed to have presented them as a birthday cake substitute....the buttercream frosting may have saved them but alas the one i tasted had some sort of onion flavor in it...dis-pleasurable to say the least To think i avoided the grocery store in favor of a bakery...I would have probably gotten a better deal for the money and at least a better taste...I realize the day before thanksgiving is a busy time,but shouldn't that make the turnover rate of items in the case faster? idk. not impressed. "bread company" *snorts
(1)
Laura M.
There's a lot packed inside this tiny little bakery! The staff is helpful and friendly and the baked goods are delicious! All of the loaves I've tried have been great. I haven't tried the lunch sandwiches, but the breakfast sandwiches are dynamite! Don't forget to get a savory croissant or two to take home. I'm a big fan of their freshly baked English muffins- my toaster begs for them. The (self-serve) coffee is good too- look in the cooler for milk options. If you don't believe me, take the word of many local restaurants that serve bread from Fornax- this stuff is good. Tip: it's tiny, so I prefer to take out whenever possible but there is a make-shift patio area on the sidewalk for warmer days. Definitely a destination shop in Roslindale village.
(4)
Magnus C.
What hookers and cocaine are to Charlie Sheen, bread is to me. So when I saw this place so highly ranked, I decided to stop on in. The place looked promising in that shabby chic way that says "there's home cooking happening in this place", and to make matters even better, on the radio Tom Petty was followed by Neil Young, who was then followed by Led Zeppelin. As my turn came to order food, I put in for a ham and cheese and retired to one of the back tables. Sadly, thirty minutes later I was still waiting for my food,while the stereo system got hijacked by one of the teeny bopper staffers who plugged her ipod in and "treated" everyone to the sounds of possessed raccoons (or maybe it was Miley Cyrus, I can never really tell) and all the air was let out of my proverbial souffle. I waited a few minutes more for my sandwich, and when it arrived I ate it and left in a hurry. It was a very good sandwich, but the potatoes which accompanied it were cold and far from multitudinous. And man... I was made to wait for it. 40 minutes doesn't seem like a lot of time for dining out, I suppose, but for a place that was nearly empty and considering it was just a sandwich, I expected better.
(3)
Ayelet R.
There's nothing like the smell of fresh bread and you can smell this one all the way down the block. You'll just be having your innocent little walk, checking out all the cute boutiques that this neighborhood has to offer when all of a sudden it will hit you and just like a siren's song you will be useless to resist that heavenly waft. All flowery metaphors aside, this place smells awesome, and upon walking in and seeing their giant kitchen constantly churning out fresh loaves, it's not hard to understand why. These days just finding a bakery that bakes its own bread in house is something of a rarity, and it makes all the difference here. The loaves themselves are very sensibly priced and some types offer half-loaves if you're not ready to commit to the whole thing. Plus, they offer quite the selection. We got the Boule, Rosemary Batard and Irish Soda Bread and all tasted as amazing as they smelled. This was my first time trying Irish Soda Bread and I can't wait to try some more. We froze the boule and were happy to find that it still tasted just as fresh a few days later when we defrosted it. I also took a baked cinnamon apple donut and was super impressed by it. Who knew you could bake a donut? It may have tasted more like a cake than a traditional donut, but it was still fresh and warm and delicious. The sandwiches looked awesome as well, and I can't wait to come back and try some, especially considering it means getting to try even more of their bread.
(4)
Ashley A.
This is my favorite go-to lunch spot in the Square. It's a small place with limited seating but I love the atmosphere! My personal favorite is half a roasted veggie sandwich on sour dough with a side of salad. It is very satisfying and very filling! (And also very inexpensive.) Their breads are freshly baked and their meals are made to order. Their baked goods are also very delicious. I love this place and I enjoy the food tremendously.
(4)
Karen K.
I've been craving fornax and last week we didn't have clinic so I couldn't get my fix. Today I got the Danish snail and it was too good! Cinnamon taste with raisins and walnuts amazing! Too bad i scarfed it down before I could take a pic!
(4)
Linda B.
Fornax was one of the first "new" businesses to put down roots in Roslindale Village over 15 years ago. Not only is all their food prepared from "scratch", their bread (and you can smell it rising after hours -- such a fabulous aroma that emanates from their kitchen) is the only bakery bread I will eat when I decide to jump off the gluten-free wagon. No other bread is worth the belly-ache, in my opinion! In addition to feeding us with genuine food and warm hearts, owners Kim and Chris Fallon consistently donate food to neighborhood events and show up to support the community in other ways as well. I recommend the genoa, tomato and carmelized onion sandwich, the chicken vegetable soup whose broth is rich with pureed squash, and for sides, the mayo-free cole slaw and tender roasted potatoes. I'm proud to have a business like Fornax in my neighborhood -- a great place to meet with new clients, too (I'm a Realtor) to show them the best of what Rozzie has to offer.
(5)
Ju L.
AHMAZING pizza dough to make our own pizza at home. I've compared it to Trader Joe's and Fornax wins BY FAR.
(5)
Ron H.
Wonderful bread, good wholesome salads, delicious and basic food. Love this place.
(5)
Marcy L.
House of Pain (no, not a 50 Shades scenario - yes, a French culinary indulgence). A big thanks to my buddy, Brian, for leading me to this bready beauty! Saturday afternoon we made the venture; parking is difficult to find, table space is limited, but the quality is superb and would be the ideal local in-and-out breakfast hit spot. #1: sounds like a Seussical cafe #2: 16 breads baked daily, another number of other loaves on a rotating schedule, and ONLY place I've found Anadama south of NH (not as molassesy as I'd like, but still a pleasant surprise - and only $3.75!) #3: sandwiches, pizzettas, and salads will cost you about 7$ (the menu is small, but full of fantastic combinations featuring their own fresh bread). The breakfast sandwiches are highly recommended. #4: fabulous pastry selection (mini apple pie, giant brownies, croissants, tarts, oat cakes!). I can attest to the flavor splendor that is the Apricot Envelope ($2.75). #5: coffee situation: there are a few coffee canisters, and a hot water canister for tea (assortment above coffee). Did the trick for caffeine consumption, but not especially satisfying (then again, they're called the BREAD company, so the coffee station is more of a perk anyway). Loads of stir-in options (sugars, milks *including soy*, even marshmallows and whipped cream for their house-made hot cocoa!) are kept IN THE FRIDGE (other coffee spots forget that dairy require refrigeration). 6#: not a whole lot of space to move around, but the decor reminds me of my rural roots and the service is OUTSTANDING.
(5)
Shiny B.
First off, I do really appreciate this place. I just see room for improvement. For instance, I might like this place better if the girl working mornings could manage to care a little bit. All the other employees are nice, so what's the deal? Their egg and sausage sandwich is great. But avoid the generally overcooked and chewy scones. Say yes to the Oreos. Central cooling would totally improve the place for those hot and miserable days.
(3)
Hannah D.
Fornax for breakfast on Saturday mornings has become a tradition with the family. There is something for everyone! Most of the family decides on an egg sandwich. It is a great deal! You get a basket filled with the sandwich on GREAT bread and your choice of meat, along with a side of potatoes. Very tasty and at a great price. I always decide on the Vegan Apricot Scone...AMAZING!! It really hits the spot. Their coffee is also GREAT!! I am very picky when it comes to my coffee and I have to say Fornax really knows how to brew great coffee (hot and iced). Their iced tea is also great! The flavor changes daily. Fornax also has a wide range of breads that they can cut for you. It is great if you want something for dinner or even just to have in the house! They also have a wide range of bake goods and they have a little card that tells you exactly what is in the bake good. All in all Fornax is a great little bakery. Everything is always made fresh and they never disappoint. The service is also great. Walking in you feel right at home! Definitely stop by if you are in the area...you will not be disappointed!!
(5)
Andres V.
Coffe was not fresh even though I asked and the pastry was stale. It was a sunday at 3:30 pm anf the shelves were empty
(2)
Yelping Jabroni X.
4 1/2 You're not going to get better bread in the area, period. Spectacular pizza dough. Buy it, save on takeout forever. I can't count how many pizzas I've made with their dough. The confections range from okay to pretty darn good, but don't blow you away -their giant "oreo" is pretty good. The sandwiches and what-not get the job done. That being said, It's a bread bakery at its best. Best loaves around. Best English Muffins around. Best batard, baguette, pullman, peasant (by far!), etc, etc etc. I miss this place already.
(5)
Honor P.
Visiting Fornax on Monday mornings has become a tradition in only three weeks and each time I have visited Fornax for breakfast, the whole day has felt quaint and easy. I always feel like I am stepping into a vacation or the company of honest people, it just feels simple and good. The pastries are great (get them warmed up!) and they have soymilk in the fridge. We can't wait to return try their pizza dough!
(5)
Martin J.
Looks good, but the kitchen closes at 1:30 on Sundays in the summer, so don't get your hopes up for a late lunch.
(3)
Kimberly P.
This review is based on one experience. I most likely would return to Fornax if I am in the area but this establishment would not be a destination for me. I stopped in a few months back as I was wandering around Roslindale Square and the bakery looked quaint and inviting. When I stepped in, I thought I'd died and gone to baked goods heaven... everything looked and smelled delicious. I ordered their quiche special and a small vegan cupcake (yummy). I began to eat the quiche - I had high hopes (As I do with anything involving eggs, cheese and bacon) but the taste of the quiche did not live up to my expectations. I envisioned it to be a 5 star delight and it tasted more along the lines of 3 stars... which soon dropped to 1 star when I found a hair baked into the quiche. I've worked in the food service industry before - these things happen. I just found the reaction to be a bit odd to say the least. I discretely alerted one of the women behind the counter (the place was pretty busy and I didn't want to make a scene). I handed the quiche to her and showed her the hair... though she seemed shocked she didn't say anything and just took the quiche and ran into the back room. Then she came back out grabbed 2 or 3 employees and rushed them back into the kitchen. I could see them all whispering in a concerned fashion. Finally the owner (?) came out, apologized and offered a replacement quiche...after my discovery, the last thing I wanted was more quiche! I politely refused and requested my money back. All in all, I think it was great that they wanted to rectify the situation and refunded my money but the scurrying, whispering and involving a group of people seemed a bit odd ...especially seeing as how small the place was and everyone in the establishment was eyeballing me as it was painfully obvious that I was the cause of the weirdness.
(3)
lisa n.
We are a big fan of the food, coffee and bread. The quality of the food and the service are very good. However our only complaint is that we often cant get seating, we wonder why they have big tables rather then 2 person tables. With smaller furniture they would probably be able to fit more people and make it feel less cramped. This is the reason we dont dine in as much as we would like. Overall we are fans and enjoy the smell of the bakery from down the street!
(4)
Hannah D.
A friend and I came from north of the city to roam around Forest Hills Cemetery, about 10 minutes away from Fornax. I had checked out lunch places in the area, and this one was the one we decided to try first. It's little, but the decor is charming in a shabby chic way. We both had the soup and 1/2 sandwich special, butternut squash soup for me, lentil for my friend, and BLTs for both of us. With one coffee tossed in the whole bill came to $19.95. My meal was accompanied by green salad, hers with cole slaw. The portion size was very generous, and everything was wonderfully fresh. The multi grain bread had a nice texture and was delicious. Coffee was just fine. This next might not sound so great, but the rest room was accessed by going through the food prep area. It was actually a good experience seeing just how fresh the vegetables looked as they were being chopped and how neat and clean the area was kept. A delightful experience. Wish I lived closer.
(5)
Liliana C.
Say yes to an oreo and you won't be disappointed. Also enjoyed our (chicken) pizza, even if it could have used a little more flavor. Would buy pizza dough next time, no doubt!
(4)
Justo G.
I don't always eat bread but when I do, I buy it at Fornax! This company is great because of how local it is. One of (if not the) best bread company in this side of town. Their bread selection stretches pretty far and It sure beats any bread from the big name markets. Another reason that makes this place unique is their lunch menu, most of which are always accompanied by fresh and toasted house made bread.
(5)
laura W.
i just ate the last bite of my roasted veggie (red bell peppers, portobellos) with chicken on a bed of mesclun greens with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing ($9 with chicken)... WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO MY MOUTH?! pure HEAVEN, that's what! i seriously was making my coworkers uncomfortable with all my grunts and groans of delight. ...i thought i didnt even like salads!
(5)
Jonathan T.
About a month ago, on a Saturday, my wife asked me to pick up lunch for her and her bridesmaids while they assembled gift bags for our wedding. She placed the order, I picked it up. While I was at Fornax waiting for the order, there were two girls working behind the counter, they appeared to be college students, presumably working part-time. One of them was moving breads around on the rack using wax paper (standard kitchen protocol), while the other was snacking on a baked good and when finished licked her fingers, picked something out of her teeth with her finger and then proceeded to help move bread around barehanded. Needless to say, I will not be eating here again.
(1)
Laina P.
Seriously Great Sandwiches. Especially the breakfast sandwich (tip: get the breakfast sandwich without meat on brioche and add tomato and avocado for the most delicious vegetarian breakfast sandwich you'll ever eat in your life) Great bread, too, but that's not a surprise. I took a star off because their hours aren't consistent or accurately advertised (the website says the kitchen opens at 8 every day, but when I went in one day for an early breakfast I was told the kitchen opens at 8:30)
(4)
Dan D.
I have been going here for years now. I am friends with Kim and Chris who hire staff who work as hard as they do. And the bread? How good? Let's just say there is no other place in Boston like this place. Big Sourdough Boule is my favorite, but it's all fresh every day and there are no losers on this menu. They also serve lunch, which is a little dear for my pocket book and the place can get a little crowded and hectic, so for sit down it is not the best. Better to get the bread and DIY in your own kitchen .
(4)
Mike O.
God! Why can't we give half stars??? To echo others before me, I really do like Fornax, and I'm even more supportive perhaps (hence the four star instead of three) because they are a locally owned and operated business, BUT I've got to tell you that their bread, and selection, leaves something to be desired. It's not the crowded, compact space - I couldn't care less about that, or how long it takes to get to the register on the weekends, or the lack of a more robust breakfast menu. I just want two things: an adequate selection to choose from and freshness. Let me touch on the latter first. The freshness has been there about 90% of the time, but there have been a few occurrences when I've wondered if what was sold to me was day old, or possibly over baked. I'm no expert on breads, by any means, but it's a fairly simple concept to wrap your head around and I know when something is off when it shouldn't be. It could very well be that once in a while, rather than discard something that is not perfect, it gets put on the rack to sell. The only problem you'd run into is this happening to the same person more than once and then your consistency goes out the window. At a premium you cannot afford to lose the appearance of consistency. The English Muffins have way too much bread to nook and cranny ratio, and I've had some loaves last over a week. I'd really like it if my bread started to rot after a few days; I'd be much more inclined to eat bread knowing it's not filled with preservatives. As far as the selection; it needs work. It is peculiar to me that there is no demand for Challah Bread in this neighborhood. No pita either... no wraps or tortillas. I've thought that maybe I just missed out by the time I got there, but these items are never in stock. The Boules, the Batards, the Baguettes, and loaves are all very good if you get a good batch. Fornax is the best option in the neighborhood but across town I'd have to rate them a possible third or fourth. If you're in Rosi and are questioning stopping in, give them a shot. Grab some cheese around the corner at Boston Cheese Cellar and slap that on that bread; wash it down with some vino from Solera and there you have a delectable little snack. I'd put money on you not being disappointed!
(4)
J C.
I go in for a loaf of bread. I come out with a whole lot more.
(5)
fred f.
Coming for Northern Suburbia, this bakery feels like it's at the other end of the world for me. But I love to go to Fornax on my rare trips to Rozzie. The baked goods are awesome, and i love the cozy storefront. The other day, I was looking for a cute little birthday cake for two. Although I had only had their breads and cookies in the past, I was inspired by great pastry reviews here on Yelp to try Fornax's cakes this go-round. The head baker spoke with me and took the time to discuss a bunch of options. She was very helpful, and so enthusiastic. At one point as i was trying to figure out what to get, she chimed in: "oh! how about a white cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream!!??" I went with that, and the next day, I drove by to pick up a true gem of a cake. They had cut the cake into three layers, and covered each with fresh cut berries. They then piped just enough whipped cream to make it look as decadent as it tasted The cake itself couldn't be more delicious, or fresher ( they had just finished cooling it, and were just arranging the berries an cream when i stopped by) ... and though the cake was supposed to be for two, it could easily have served 3-4 people with the generous portions of berries and cream they put on it..
(5)
chris d.
I like Fornax, I really do. I also enjoy having a real neighborhood bakery. However, in a bakery- there should never be a distinction between a loaf of bread that is cooked the appropriate amount of time and one that is "well done". Bread is never "well done". While I understand the terminology as an approach to put a positive spin on the fact that it's burnt- you and I both know that it's burnt. Perhaps you're hoping that maybe I will say to myself, "Oooh, well done bread- I can avoid the pesty doughiness". Yet, I won't. I don't want to buy burnt bread. While ingredients are expensive, and I see the vast amount of ingredients that you have unloaded during the week, burnt bread should not be the same price as bread which is cooked appropriately. It's kind of insulting. I'm smarter than that. Problems aside, I will remain a patron, because I enjoy the local flavor, and I can still decline the well-done bread.
(3)
Christine V.
I've been going here for a few years. The bread..Phenomenal! The sandwiches on the bread..even better. Meals made from scratch. Delicious!! The decorations inside, cozy and unique. Definitely not the decor of a chain restaurant. Makes you feel right at home. =) Prices are decent. Portion sizes are great.
(5)
Matt W.
There have been a number of reports to me about Fornax having the best sandwiches anywhere. Friends for years have been insisting that I go there for the tuna melt, or the roasted chicken, or breakfast sandwich, or a pastry, or whatever else they sell. This week, I went to see if this Roslindale bakery lived up to the hype. It didn't. But it was pretty good. I got a ham and cheese sandwich. The ham had a light, not unpleasant flavor, but a really heavy feel in my stomach. The sandwich also didn't come with any condiments, and was kind of dry. The tomatoes were very fresh. They give you a side with every sandwich, and I chose roasted potatoes. They were nice, but I'd have preferred a pasta salad or potato salad. Sadly, neither was an option. The coffee was really, really weak. Like splash of milk makes it grey weak. I had a bite of my wife's tuna melt. It was fantastic. We had some sweets, too. They sell Boland's soda, which is really tasty, and our baked choices included an apple turnover, which was bland at the corners, but lovely in the middle, and a good peanut butter cookie and home-made oreo cookie. I did genuinely enjoy Fornax, and I'll be back, but reviews were exaggerated.
(4)
Mairead N.
This place is right in the center of Roslindale Village. Opened in 1997 by a husband and wife team and they have been going strong in the village ever since. Their breads are so great! All made fresh on the premises. They have a really adorable seating area and it makes this place a great "local" bakery/cafe. The menu is wonderful and varied, sandwiches, made with their fresh bread, pizzettas, soups and pastries for dessert. Coffee/tea/hot chocolate and soft drinks are available also. The wait staff are attentive and know their breads/pastries etc. and on Saturday and Sunday mornings this place is hopping with people having brunch or getting some yummy fresh made bread! Thank you Fornax Bread Co!
(5)
Alexa M.
Probably the most ideal small-business out there. It's super cute and inviting inside with a friendly and helpful staff. The menu has a wide variety of options that are constantly being updated. Their soups and sandwiches definitely go above and beyond your local sub shop's. Plus, I think it's a really great alternative to the nationwide chain, Panera. I love their tuna melt with corn chowder (when available) and chips!!
(4)
Mags R.
Everything is freash! Pleasant staff! The wheat pizza dough was great to cook! Would like more flexible hours, asides from that they are great!
(4)
D M.
If you love some great bread, this is the place to get it. I went in before a party and ended up getting a lot of baguettes and some amazing homemade oreo cookies. Oreo cookies here are the size of your head, so be prepared to share or show self restraint. The ambiance is kind of old school, but in the most positive way. Love the decor, and the warm fuzzies it invokes. Also, bonus for being right around the corner from a cheese shop!
(4)
Whitney R.
Fornax sandwiches = FRESH! The choices are few, but no matter what you get, it WILL be good. Their chicken sandwich actually contains a fillet of chicken, and you can taste every ingredient they place into their sandwiches. They also have an assortment of baked goods that I haven't had the pleasure of trying. I'd like to bring some of their bread home with me, too, but since I'm used to buying bread with lots of preservatives so I can eat it for weeks, I might find it to be a bit too fresh. Is that possible? I also love eating in at Fornax. It's a tiny place that is full of mis-matched furniture and old knickknacks. It has a unique aura of antiquity that gives the impression that it hasn't changed since it was first established. Very cool, and delicious.
(5)
Cheryl R.
The best sourdough. Awesome pizza dough. Tasty sandwiches. Pastries to die for. My kids beg for their pumpkin bread. Love love love!
(5)
Jules H.
OM NOM NOM. Finally checked this place out, one very tired and stressful afternoon, and the Boyf and I each had sammiches that made us feel SO MUCH BETTER. I had the pesto, he a ham and cheese, and the bred was fresh as can be, the pesto on mine was gorgeously bright, and it was just warm and toasty enough. Plus, each sammich comes with a side, making it a really reasonable price for the food you get. I've also bought a couple of baguettes here, and DAMN it's good -- it has that elusive crust with a soft middle, and I recommend picking up one of the blue flyers at the counter so you know which days they bake which loaves. As I write this, I am re-crisping mine according to their instructions, and last time I did this, the bread was as if I had baked it fresh myself!
(4)
Annie G.
On mornings when I know the day will be long and dreary, I stop at Fornax on the way to work. They have fantastic breakfast. I usually get the sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast...sandwich (it's in a little pastry pocket) and a coffee. The damage is minimal. The woman at the register is always very pleasant but sometimes kitchen gets a little slow. This is a no-frills neighborhood bakery. Don't expect fancy coffee drinks!
(3)
CL S.
Though the customer service leaves a good bit to be desired, the sandwiches and breads make up for it. I keep returning, despite knowing I'll be greeted with a scowl, just because I know that the bread is a slice of heaven (we form entire meals around what we can pair with a Fornax baguette) and the sandwiches are perfection (you *will* eat the whole thing, regardless of how hungry you are, I assure you).
(4)
Adeline E.
I haven't eaten there, so this is all about the bread! Best baguettes around. Eat your heart out, JP Blue Frog, which for some reason many local places -- even ones in Roslindale Square! -- seem to stock and serve. Great prices & good variety of breads. Friendly counter service. Avoid the coffee, though, even if you're in a bind.And the card fee is like a quarter or 50 cents, which doesn't bother me if I've forgotten to get cash.
(4)
Michelle L.
I stopped in here on my meander through Roslindale Open Studios. I'd never been before but remembered having seen the name before as a good bakery. Once I was inside, I was a goner: I was surrounded by fresh-baked bread, whole-wheat brownies (!), slices of pumpkin bread, ham and cheese croissants, everything in the world to tempt me. But as it happens, I had a bit of a sore throat, so I held back from baked goods, however delicious, as too dry to be swallowed easily, and I held back from the exciting sandwich menu, in favor of one of the daily soups: split pea with ham. Split pea with ham is one of my favorite soups, and I especially crave it on crisp autumn days. This was one of the better pea soups I've had; the lean, tender ham really made it. It came with two thin slices of multigrain bread. The bread was warm. I don't know why-- it was such a simple touch-- but this made me all but shiver with delight. The soup was exactly what I needed, and the bread was hearty and excellent for mopping up every last trace of the soup out of my bowl (which I'm hardly ever inclined to do, but here I HAD to). As a sponsor of Roslindale Open Studios, the walls were decorated with a local artist's mixed media pieces. This added an extra bit of charm to the homestyle, thrift-store ambience. Service was brisk and more friendly than I'm used to. I'm typically happy with the service I receive anywhere I go, but there was something extra here. I tipped generously. It was only as I was on my way out the door that I noticed the wide selection of cookies in jars behind the counter. Alas, some other day, perhaps...
(4)
Julie S.
While apartment hunting in Roslindale yesterday I decided to check out Fornax Bread Company for lunch. I was excited to find such a cute little sandwich place on an otherwise not so inviting block (my apologies to fans of Roslindale Village- maybe I just don't get it yet). I ordered the portobello mushroom and roasted red pepper sandwich. Not being very creative, I ordered it as it was designed, on a seeded roll. I thought perhaps it would be a bit weird since it was a pressed sandwich, but I went with it, because they're the bread people, not me. And yes, it was kind of weird. Also weird- they put lettuce or spinach or something on the sandwich which did not taste good pressed. It just tasted soggy. I picked it off. The mushrooms were not marinated in anything, so it was just a blah mushroom sandwich. Normally I love portobellos, but they really have to be marinated to taste like anything special. For $8 this sandwich was waaaay overpriced. I also bought some English muffins to take home and toasted them up this morning with some raspberry jam. My husband loved them. I could take it or leave it. I'll have to try another type of bread next time and reassess.
(3)
Jess H.
I wanted to like this place more than I did. I bought a loaf of challah and a buttermilk biscuit, even though I was eyeing their large offering of breads. I am going to give it another try, because I'm not sure if I just ordered the wrong thing. The challah was dry-ish and didn't have the honey, egg-y taste I am used to from other very good bakeries I've been. The biscuit was big, but dry and not at all buttery or flaky, like I like 'em. All this said, there were a lot more things to try, and I'll be back to give it another go.
(3)
Chuck K.
Fornax Bread Company is a great place to go if you want to pay extremely high prices for worse-than-average sandwiches. Let's face it, if you're in Roslindale, you're probably having a bad day. Maybe you're waiting on an endless line at the post office, being ritually tortured at the RMV or trying to recover from identity theft at the Social Security office. Maybe you hit the trifecta. Worst possibility of all is that your entire life has been messed up and now you actually LIVE in Roslindale. Where was I? Oh yeah, Roslindale. Trying to ameliorate your pain, you step into the Fornax Bread Company. This place looks nice. They're obviously trying to be fancy. Whoa, check out those high-ass prices! They *must* be serving good food here. No, I got the Pesto and Mozzarella sandwich on rye. Now, granted, I didn't throw up or get diarrhea or double-over in pain. That's the best thing I can say about the food. Everything was forgettable. The pesto may have been too salty. Or it may have been just right. Who can remember? Ditto the mozzarella. At least the bread had to be special, right? I mean, it's the Fornax *Bread* Company, for crying out loud. (What's the matter? "Bakery" isn't a fancy enough word?) No, the bread--rye in this case--was a complete non-starter. They tried to give it to me "toasted" but instead I got somewhere in between "burnt" and "practically on fire." So what's the worst part of spending $8 for a sandwich that I could make just as well while walking in my sleep? I gave 'em a credit card because, well, I wanted to. So it turns out that if you spend less than $10, they charge you a fee. They are violating their merchant agreement when they do that. mastercard.com/us/busine… Not only are they violating a contract, but they have the gall to complain that they're doing it because of "high merchant fees" imposed on "small businesses." This "small business" just charged me $8 for a sandwich. Now they're violating their merchant contract to charge me even more! So I politely informed the very nice lady behind the counter. All of a sudden, she copped a 'tude. "Yeah, yeah. We know we're violating the agreement. You're NOT the first person to tell us that." What. The. FUCK?!? They're *knowingly* breaking their contract to tack on extra charges onto an $8 sandwich? Honestly, if I weren't so honest I would complain about the several rat turds I saw on the floor at this place. But there's no need to lie. This is a place that makes worse-than-mediocre sandwiches and charges you as if they had a tip that you were a member of the Saudi royal family. Fornax Bread Company is run by the scum of the earth.
(1)
Scott P.
Fantastic bakery/sandwich shop - great selection of breads, muffins, cookies and the like. Favorite part - they sell cookie dough so you can bake them at home. Excellent sandwiches for breakfast and lunch - service can be slow at times, but the sandwiches are well worth the wait. There are a few small tables, but we usually take them home, or sit in Adams Park.
(5)
Shelly R.
We moved to Roslindale four months ago, and we get all of our bread and sweets from Fornax. (any sweet thing in loaf form is worth buying) The staff are fanastic. I wish they could configure the counter in a way that didn't create backup at the door, but, overall, we love stepping in here and think this place is one of the best things about Roslindale.
(5)
Chris B.
my wife loves this place and I love their pizza dough. I have to give them credit where credit is due. I came here one day to buy some bread and the young lady who rang me up accidently overcharged me. She then told me she messed up and that she corrected it. So thinking I had that money in there i continued to run errands that day. the next day i find out that i was hit with overdraw fees due to the overcharge the day before. what had happen was she credited my account and that usually takes 1 week to process. I then called the manager of fornax and explained my situation. He was kind enough to work with me to resolve this situation. he even went up to the bank with me to try to cut a deal with my bank. in the end he return the money i was owed originally and replaced the money taking from my account with overdraw fees. This company is a great place with even better management. I am proud to say that even though that issued occurred, it will not prevent me from going back here. I felt the owner handled my situation very well and he definitely has pleased and made the best out of a screwed up situation. I will definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Shia G.
Great baked good, I had the sticky bun ($2.75+) which was a sweet croissant like roll perfect ratio of cinnamon-sugar and butter. Also I tried the walnut "something" bread ($2.50+) and the cinnamon twist ($2+). All pretty good and some great fresh bread/rolls. Prices are a bit steep for product but like everywhere in Boston.
(3)
Megan S.
The smell of this place is warm, yummy carbs. I usually just pick up my loaves of bread here, but when I'm feeling really bad I'll get one of their delicious cupcakes. Mmmmm . . .
(4)
Noah N.
Fornax is a pleasant little bakery, to tell the truth. We went right before closing time, but the lovely counter girl still served us some tea from their broad selection and gave us some free banana bread! Delish, as Rachel Ray would say. Or yumm-o, is it? I can't recall... Regardless, I strongly recommend the place, and hope you'll love it as much as I did. (^_^)
(5)
Catherine B.
The bread here is amazing, as are the desserts and treats (I have a serious weakness for their butterhorns) It's a great place to stop and have a quick soup and sandwhich (I've done this a dozen times and never been disappointed, ever) The holdback on 5 stars is the staff - I always feel like I'm bothering them somehow with my order. It's never bad enough to keep me away though.
(4)
Jonathan B.
The breads and pizza dough from here are fantastic. All of them. We've tried them all, I think. I haven't had lunch here, but the breakfast sandwiches are AWESOME and come with a side of potatoes which I don't really care for but my wife thinks are terrific. The pastries are a bit more hit or miss, but the sweet rolls are awesome when they have them - sadly, I haven't seen them in the last few months. Highly recommended if you are down in lovely Roslindale.
(4)
Celeste M.
I am a fan of Fornax, I suppose. My bf still loves it. I have discovered the banana and nutella sandwich, which is pretty cool. Their roasted pototoes that come with sandwiches is pretty nice. And I like their flaxseed brownie - it makes me feel good about eating a brownie.
(4)
Peter E.
I live in Roslindale and feel very fortunate to have an artisan bakery this good in town. Not only is their bread incredible but they make great salads and sandwiches. The only negative is that service can be very slow. Probably because it is so small and they are popular.
(5)
Adam C.
I went here for lunch recently and was impressed with the place. It's a good spot for lunch. They have a good menu with various sandwich and salad selections. They have 4 soups available as well. I had the turkey asiago w/ tomato on semi-sourdough and it was pretty awesome actually. Anyway, I was surprised that this is a place where you can sit down and eat lunch; I thought maybe it was just a counter where you order bread and pastries (which you can certainly get there), but there are actually 5 or so tables where you can sit down and eat your meal.
(4)
Cecilia L.
Fornax has only been around since 1997, but in keeping with the Roslindale ethic, it looks straight out of 1955. The English muffins here are truly transcendent, so fragrant I sniffed them all the way home through the plastic bag. You'll never eat a supermarket hockey puck again. The sandwiches are great - try the salami and caramelized onion - and come with fresh and seasonal sides. The lemon meltaway cookie is superb and must be at least half butter (also sold at City Feed on Centre Street). Fornax is now a part of our weekend ritual.
(4)
Meg C.
Had to grab a baguette for that lovely cheese we had just purchased around the corner. So we came for Fornax, since it was close and radiated delicious smells. I sampled a vegan oatmeal cookie, which was surprisingly good. But the bread was just lovely- crusty and chewy. The bakery itself was obviously full of locals who knew each other. It is very charming and a great resource for the neighborhood.
(4)
Zac N.
Stopped in for some tea, which was great, and the breads looked awesome. Nice service, too.
(5)
Asta S.
The bakery is very homey and cute. There are a few bistro sized tables and nice big windows that make the space light and airy. The customer service was good and the scones are awesome. However, I was not blown away by the ham & cheese croissant or the English muffins. They were good, but not the best I've ever had. I did love the cinnamon twist I had. The whole grains made it more filling than most breakfast pastries and it added a nice cheery texture to it.
(3)
Katy N.
One of the best, simplest sandwiches I've ever had the pleasure of eating. I look forward to my next visit to Boston to have another.
(5)
Doug M.
My whole family loves Fornax, from the large whole wheat loaves, small white loaves, buttermilk biscuits. I always have to buy an extra one because I'll have it eaten before I get home & my family would be mad.
(5)
Marc L.
3 Important Things That Haven't Been Said about Fornax: By way of quick intro let me say I am a former professional baker, and extremely food-fixated. I'm not so easy to please, so when I am happy others tend to agree. While I think there is better bread to be had (Clearflour) and pastry (Canto 6) these guys have some charmers in their repetoire (the cinnamon raisin bread, their take-off on the Oreo with it's sweet/salty combination, and a very buttery decadent bearclaw like item that's name is escaping me) 1. The lunch salads are excellent, abundant and well-priced. For example, the mesclun salad is organic greens, currants, pine-nuts, home-made croutons from their bread, plus a couple pieces of fresh bread. Add chicken for for an extra buck. These easily feeds two (or nice leftovers). 2. They only make one breakfast but it's delicious and hearty and also could feed two if you weren't completely famished. They make a "breakfast sandwich" of eggs, their own fresh brioche, and your choice of breakfast meat (the sausage pattie is homemade and has fennel in it) a big side of roasted potatoes. It shows you why a righteous joint like this is light years from a fast food breakfast. 3. The physical space is really charming--old pressed tin ceiling, wood floors. It feels hip in a homespun way.
(4)
Brian D.
I'm on a carb filled memory craze this morning thinking about where I've gotten amazing fresh baked bread that has knocked my socks off. Fornax jumps to the top of the list in Roslindale Village. This is a full on, extra hippie, stand up bread making operation that will not let you down. You can walk in and pick from the days creations, their regular loafs and rolls being my personal favorites. I really like the crunchy, almost hard crust that compliments a soft but not too mushy inner loaf. I've putsed around with making bread over the years and gotten quite familiar with the ingredients and complexity of baking and I really appreciate the work that they put into their breads. A few years back they also added a sit down menu with soups, salads etc that are all really stand up. It's not super cheap and I wouldn't expect to be in such a high rent area but it is worth every penny in my opinion. A few local stores carry their breads and a few restaurants as well so you may have had their stuff and not even known it.
(5)
Courtney R.
Their bread and sandwiches are delicious and the mid-century vintage decor is warm and cozy and cute.
(5)
Judy H.
The owner/head baker seems to be a sweetheart. The goat cheese spinach turnovers are to die for. I have also had a spinach salad here and it was very good. But mt favorite are those spinach and goat cheese turnovers. I buy them every time I am in he shop.
(4)
s s.
How to sum up the Fornax? So homey, so cozy, so sweet and lovely and yummy. I always feel like I'm eating a sandwich in my great grandma's kitchen, one that has been prepared with love and delicious basic wholesome ingredients. It's a weekly lunch stop for me, coziest in the winter when you can be snug in a table in the back with half of a tuna melt, some outrageous rosemary carrots, and a steaming paper cup of butternut squash soup while you listen to WERS (!!!) and watch the cars go by outside. The staff could not be sweeter or any more accommodating. Plenty of highchairs, crayons, and plastic dinosaurs for the little guys. Iced coffee could be brewed stronger, but free soymilk makes up for that. This is where my baby had his first taste of solid food - and the rosemary carrots are still his fave. Superlative bread and baked goods. It's the absolute best part of Roslindale.
(5)
Adam E.
I don't care if I'll always be fat, I'm never giving up carbs and this is why. Fornax bread is outrageous, so freaking good. It's also really reasonably priced and they'll slice it for you! They also have fantastic baked goods, I got this weird almond thing (I think they called it a Wale Twist?) and it was ungodly good. It was like a mix of an almond croissant and a raspberry danish. Their sandwiches sound great too, I've only tried the grilled cheese and tomato (which they accidentally gave me instead of ham & cheese, minus one star!). Still, it was pretty excellent. The staff is hit or miss. When I came for pastries at 7am, the teen was nicer to me than I deserved, especially when I said I had to run next door to the ATM. But I've been here in the afternoon when some surlier teens were working. But I give them a break, those years are tough. Oh, and they do accept cards, but it's a $10 minimum.
(4)
Katie R.
This place is great! I first had their soup at the Taste of Roslindale, and I swear, it was the best thing I had all night! Went to visit Fornax and found it to be a cute space with great selection of meals, tasty treats, and loaves of bread. Soup was just as delicious as it was at the Taste. Also, it is appreciate that they list all of the ingredients in their breads -- my mom has a bunch of food sensitivities and it's great to know what she can eat. My only complaint would be that they don't post their soups and quiches of the day on their website. I'd love to see this info made available so I knew if I should make the trek over -- but obviously -- this is just a teeny weeny complaint. Overall -- wonderful!
(4)
Daniel A.
Fornax bread is generally a great place to grab some great bread or a really good sanwich in the square. I usually get my sandwiches for take-out, but there are a few tables where you can sit and do some people watching as Fornax is almost always bustling and the people of Roslindale are an interesting bunch. My only beef with the place is that they forget to put requested onions on my sandwiches way too often.
(4)
JBird Z.
Absolutely one of the best bakeries I've yet to find in Greater Boston (Toretta's in Revere is another). Their signature bread is a boule which in my experience always has a nice crust which is not too thick and not too thin and the soft middle is perfectly chewy with a just-past-subtle sourdough flavor. The croissant I had once was AMAZING, but be prepared, while fluffy it was not light...very heavy on butter (which I love). I've also tried a few of their pastries and they too were just top notch. The stuff is just always fresh, always delicious. I have yet to try their sandwiches, soups etc. If I want a great sandwich, mmmmm give me two slices of Fornax' boule and put just about anything in the middle!
(4)
Dave E.
I've been buying bread here for months now and they have never let me down in that department. My latest discovery has been the rosemary bacci - just delicious. Pastry items continue to underwhelm though. The scones are really absurdly hard and dry, and very skimpy on the fruit. Sandwiches are also nothing special, Blue Star and Jimmies on the same street make much better.
(4)
M. L.
Such an awesome spot!! The breads are all freshly made and so tasty. Reasonable prices and local charm make it worth walking or driving to. Try the squash soup when they have it avialable!
(5)
Ren P.
I dragged myself out of bed on Monday for a way-too-early trip to the laundromat. I didn't have time to make breakfast before I left, so I stopped in Fornax, enjoyed the cozy, well-decorated atmosphere, and ordered an egg and cheese sandwhich to go. It was amazing. Usually when I eat things I can make at home, I am disappointed because I could have done it better. This sandwhich -- I don't understand how they do it. It was fluffy yet filling, almost like a souffle on grilled bread. This may be the most outstanding breakfast item I have ever eaten out. And then there was a surprise of tasty home fries in my to go bag. The reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because I felt a little lost. No one told me, "The coffee is behind there," or "Your sandwhich will come out of the kitchen, that window right over there." Did I mention that it was early? I could've used some extra customer service. But the food made up for it.
(4)
Pete L.
I tried this bakery after the many rave reviews here. Unfortunately the standards of the reviewers must differ from mine. This place is very amateurish and lacks real knowledge of how bread should be. I suggest they go train with a real European bakery. Any average bakery in Belgium, Holland or France will beat them hands down. The oversized (why?) cinnamon swirl was chewy, so only half-baked. The croissants really do not deserve the name. 'Croissant' means 'crunchy', not soft, chewy, shapeless, halfbaked. 'They are pieces of dough with stuffing, not true croissants. Similarly the baguette was nothing of the kind. It was not fluffy, airy and crisp. It was instead tough from teh outside and thick, almost like a German type of bread. The two positives were: - that it was dirt cheap, so I did not feel like I lost a lot and - the piece of carrot cake (or carrot bread) my wife had was delicious, which is no surprise since that is a total different subject matter as compared to true bread and is typically well done here in the USA because it is so simple to make. Avoid if you can afford better.
(1)
kellan e.
Without a doubt the *best* bakery in Boston. The bacci rolls make the best sandwiches, the multi-grain boule is rich, moist, and substantial, and the North Italian sourdough has a great crust and subtle flavor. Boston suffers under a plague of so-called bakeries, which are really bad Italian patisseries with Bird's Custard yellow cream. But even the handful of real bakeries (Iggy's, Hi-Rise, Flour) can't hold a candle to this real, artisanal, old world bread. You can pick up their breads at Harvest and City Feed if you don't fancy the trek to Roslindale.
(5)
B R.
Great selection of breads and pastries. I had a breakfast sandwich, which was served on a freshly made english muffin. Excellent. I purchased two bags of them before I left. They also have a rotating selection of traditional and creative soups, sandwiches and salads. Coffee, sodas and teas are also available. The owners and employees were very helpful and seemed to be enjoying themselves which is a huge plus. I'll be back for the pizza dough soon.
(5)
Sami W.
Great Bakery, the sanwiches are delicious, but the seating area is very small, the tables are close to each other, that is the reason why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
(4)
Dianna B.
Excellent local bread place in Rozzie Square. It's a great meeting place for the neighborhood as well. The breads, English muffins and sandwiches are great. The only downside is the service from the register staff -- who don't seem to take their job seriously and seem to be easily confused.
(4)
Kelly A.
I havent been there is sooooooo long but every time I had gone in the past I enjoyed the sandwich I got 100%!
(4)
Glenn B.
Outstanding bread. Stop on Saturday morning for fresh english muffins, and pick up a sliced half-boule to make some special sandwiches for the work week.
(5)
Jane H.
Best bread in Boston. I still make a regular trip there even though its not down the street anymore. Their sandwiches should not be missed either. Get there early for a good selection.
(5)
Grace G.
I have been going since the bakery opened in 1997. Love the breads, love the lunches, love the store layout. Recently, they have started selling pizza dough. I am not a java junkie so i can not comment on the coffee. I only gave the place three stars because of the owners and counter staff. They are granola-crunchy snobs who are condecending towards working-class customers. When a yoga-mat toteing, j.jill - clad woman comes in, they are very personable and accomodating. When an over-weight joe six-pack lumbers in, they are terse and dismissive.
(3)
Kate B.
The bread is delicious, especially my favorite, the raisin pumpernickel. But the other baked goods are not so great. Good sandwiches and soup too, though they seem frazzled when they get more than one sandwich order at a time, so be prepared to wait.
(4)
Ben B.
I used go there all the time for a half-boule, sliced. Such good bread - they get five stars just for that. I also love the tuna melt and some of the pastry. Lousy coffee, but you know they put their focus on bread and that focus pays off.
(5)
Roy S.
Try the Butterhorns! They're filo/croissant rolls covered in crumbcake topping and glaze. They have great coffee too!
(4)
Tiana W.
I love Fornax. Their bread is amazing, their salads are so good and their croissants are to die for! I gave them 4 instead of 5 stars because I don't think their butternut squash is very good but besides that, I love them!
(4)
Karly M.
Fornax is a great place to get lunch. I love the chicken salad, which has interesting little tidbits in it, like currants and pine nuts. BIg fan of the boule as well.
(4)
Anne A.
$5.25 half/$7.00 whole is too much for a sandwich, especially one that isn't all that big, and the cole slaw side isn't really cole slaw; the vegetables are cut up, but not shredded, and there isn't any dressing. Still, I do like their tuna melts, as well as the mismatched furniture and the photos on the walls - they're interesting and give the place a nice local feel.
(4)
Elise H.
so they didn't have honey mustard today, but i don't mind even a little because i usually go for coffee and scone, or pb on toasted mutligrain. this place is so affordable and so delicious with a nice down to earth staff. the jars of home-made oreos, macaroons, chocolate chip cookies line the back wall next to shelves of home-made bread ranging from batard, to soda bread, brioche, french baguettes...in the front cases there are various scones: raisin, ginger almond, cranberry oat, banana, along with buttermilk biscuits, sweet rolls, ham and cheese baguettes, and beautiful cup cakes. the walls change decorations--from children's designed tiles, to a display of antique-y lace and embroidery, to the most current frames of old album covers, and magazine adds and portraits. the architecture itself is also wonderful. the old building has funky details throughout--make sure to got to the bathroom just to check out how it grows into the kitchen and prep rooms. i go fairly frequently with by boyfriend, and i hope it stays that way for a while. also, i have never spent more than 12 dollars there. its one of those places you not only truly enjoy as a space to eat and drink, but also one you love to support.
(5)
Grace G.
I have been going since the bakery opened in 1997. Love the breads, love the lunches, love the store layout. Recently, they have started selling pizza dough. I am not a java junkie so i can not comment on the coffee. I only gave the place three stars because of the owners and counter staff. They are granola-crunchy snobs who are condecending towards working-class customers. When a yoga-mat toteing, j.jill - clad woman comes in, they are very personable and accomodating. When an over-weight joe six-pack lumbers in, they are terse and dismissive.
(3)
Kate B.
The bread is delicious, especially my favorite, the raisin pumpernickel. But the other baked goods are not so great. Good sandwiches and soup too, though they seem frazzled when they get more than one sandwich order at a time, so be prepared to wait.
(4)
Ben B.
I used go there all the time for a half-boule, sliced. Such good bread - they get five stars just for that. I also love the tuna melt and some of the pastry. Lousy coffee, but you know they put their focus on bread and that focus pays off.
(5)
M. L.
Such an awesome spot!! The breads are all freshly made and so tasty. Reasonable prices and local charm make it worth walking or driving to. Try the squash soup when they have it avialable!
(5)
Roy S.
Try the Butterhorns! They're filo/croissant rolls covered in crumbcake topping and glaze. They have great coffee too!
(4)
Tiana W.
I love Fornax. Their bread is amazing, their salads are so good and their croissants are to die for! I gave them 4 instead of 5 stars because I don't think their butternut squash is very good but besides that, I love them!
(4)
Karly M.
Fornax is a great place to get lunch. I love the chicken salad, which has interesting little tidbits in it, like currants and pine nuts. BIg fan of the boule as well.
(4)
Annie G.
On mornings when I know the day will be long and dreary, I stop at Fornax on the way to work. They have fantastic breakfast. I usually get the sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast...sandwich (it's in a little pastry pocket) and a coffee. The damage is minimal. The woman at the register is always very pleasant but sometimes kitchen gets a little slow. This is a no-frills neighborhood bakery. Don't expect fancy coffee drinks!
(3)
CL S.
Though the customer service leaves a good bit to be desired, the sandwiches and breads make up for it. I keep returning, despite knowing I'll be greeted with a scowl, just because I know that the bread is a slice of heaven (we form entire meals around what we can pair with a Fornax baguette) and the sandwiches are perfection (you *will* eat the whole thing, regardless of how hungry you are, I assure you).
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Luis S.
A favorite of my baby daughter & mine. We get our birthday treats from here too!
(4)Josh W.
Rustic vibe. It's an annual tradition to go here in the fall for butternut squash soup and some good bread. Really like this place.
(5)Mckenzie G.
The wonderful smell of freshly baked bread hits you as soon as you walk.in . I was looking for espresso to no avail, but the staff was nice enough to try to help me make a makeshift mocha from the coffee on hand. I love the eclectic assortment of tables and artwork for sale. A very casual and welcoming place. While the bathroom is not the best accommodations, getting to it allowed me to see first hand the bread making process in full effect. So, in case you were wondering, they make all their goods on site.
(4)RoslindaMal E.
I really like Fornax and come here on a fairly consistent basis. Their homemade bread and breakfast/lunch sandwiches are really good & really fresh. I have been meaning to try their chicken potpies. The only drawback to Fornax is this place is on the small side, however the city just added parklet right besides Fornax on Cohasset Street so outdoor seating is now available. I am glad to have Fornax in Roslindale.
(4)Ron H.
Wonderful bread, good wholesome salads, delicious and basic food. Love this place.
(5)Anne A.
$5.25 half/$7.00 whole is too much for a sandwich, especially one that isn't all that big, and the cole slaw side isn't really cole slaw; the vegetables are cut up, but not shredded, and there isn't any dressing. Still, I do like their tuna melts, as well as the mismatched furniture and the photos on the walls - they're interesting and give the place a nice local feel.
(4)Yelping Jabroni X.
4 1/2 You're not going to get better bread in the area, period. Spectacular pizza dough. Buy it, save on takeout forever. I can't count how many pizzas I've made with their dough. The confections range from okay to pretty darn good, but don't blow you away -their giant "oreo" is pretty good. The sandwiches and what-not get the job done. That being said, It's a bread bakery at its best. Best loaves around. Best English Muffins around. Best batard, baguette, pullman, peasant (by far!), etc, etc etc. I miss this place already.
(5)Honor P.
Visiting Fornax on Monday mornings has become a tradition in only three weeks and each time I have visited Fornax for breakfast, the whole day has felt quaint and easy. I always feel like I am stepping into a vacation or the company of honest people, it just feels simple and good. The pastries are great (get them warmed up!) and they have soymilk in the fridge. We can't wait to return try their pizza dough!
(5)Courtney R.
Their bread and sandwiches are delicious and the mid-century vintage decor is warm and cozy and cute.
(5)s s.
How to sum up the Fornax? So homey, so cozy, so sweet and lovely and yummy. I always feel like I'm eating a sandwich in my great grandma's kitchen, one that has been prepared with love and delicious basic wholesome ingredients. It's a weekly lunch stop for me, coziest in the winter when you can be snug in a table in the back with half of a tuna melt, some outrageous rosemary carrots, and a steaming paper cup of butternut squash soup while you listen to WERS (!!!) and watch the cars go by outside. The staff could not be sweeter or any more accommodating. Plenty of highchairs, crayons, and plastic dinosaurs for the little guys. Iced coffee could be brewed stronger, but free soymilk makes up for that. This is where my baby had his first taste of solid food - and the rosemary carrots are still his fave. Superlative bread and baked goods. It's the absolute best part of Roslindale.
(5)Linda B.
Fornax was one of the first "new" businesses to put down roots in Roslindale Village over 15 years ago. Not only is all their food prepared from "scratch", their bread (and you can smell it rising after hours -- such a fabulous aroma that emanates from their kitchen) is the only bakery bread I will eat when I decide to jump off the gluten-free wagon. No other bread is worth the belly-ache, in my opinion! In addition to feeding us with genuine food and warm hearts, owners Kim and Chris Fallon consistently donate food to neighborhood events and show up to support the community in other ways as well. I recommend the genoa, tomato and carmelized onion sandwich, the chicken vegetable soup whose broth is rich with pureed squash, and for sides, the mayo-free cole slaw and tender roasted potatoes. I'm proud to have a business like Fornax in my neighborhood -- a great place to meet with new clients, too (I'm a Realtor) to show them the best of what Rozzie has to offer.
(5)Adam C.
I went here for lunch recently and was impressed with the place. It's a good spot for lunch. They have a good menu with various sandwich and salad selections. They have 4 soups available as well. I had the turkey asiago w/ tomato on semi-sourdough and it was pretty awesome actually. Anyway, I was surprised that this is a place where you can sit down and eat lunch; I thought maybe it was just a counter where you order bread and pastries (which you can certainly get there), but there are actually 5 or so tables where you can sit down and eat your meal.
(4)Ju L.
AHMAZING pizza dough to make our own pizza at home. I've compared it to Trader Joe's and Fornax wins BY FAR.
(5)Cecilia L.
Fornax has only been around since 1997, but in keeping with the Roslindale ethic, it looks straight out of 1955. The English muffins here are truly transcendent, so fragrant I sniffed them all the way home through the plastic bag. You'll never eat a supermarket hockey puck again. The sandwiches are great - try the salami and caramelized onion - and come with fresh and seasonal sides. The lemon meltaway cookie is superb and must be at least half butter (also sold at City Feed on Centre Street). Fornax is now a part of our weekend ritual.
(4)Meg C.
Had to grab a baguette for that lovely cheese we had just purchased around the corner. So we came for Fornax, since it was close and radiated delicious smells. I sampled a vegan oatmeal cookie, which was surprisingly good. But the bread was just lovely- crusty and chewy. The bakery itself was obviously full of locals who knew each other. It is very charming and a great resource for the neighborhood.
(4)Andrew S.
Was looking for a sandwich for lunch last Sunday, and my friend recommended Fornax with high regards. I decided to take the extended walk into town to give it a try. Excited for my sandwich, I walked in and began studying the menu board. After the lady finished talking to another customer, she walked towards me, said she saw me looking at the sandwich board, and told me that I shouldn't bother because the kitchen closed at 1:30pm. I looked at my phone which displayed 1:21pm. Normally, I wouldn't arrive at a restaurant near kitchen closing time, but it was still well enough beforehand that they should be serving their patrons. I tried clarifying with the woman that I was trying to give them my business, but she rudely reiterated the kitchen would be closing and would not accommodate me. She didn't even ASK the kitchen if they could, as if they were just trying to get out of there and enjoy their Sunday afternoons. Glancing back towards the kitchen, there were also two idle workers leaning against the window joking and laughing with each other . If I were a business owner and knew my employees were turning away customers like this, I wouldn't be too happy about it. This was my first attempt eating here, and I will never be back. Won't be recommending Fornax to any friends either. Very much a shame.
(1)Laura S.
I happened upon Fornax and decided to go there for lunch. Thank goodness I found a place for great coffee, sandwiches and salads! It is small and can get crowded, but I really loved the salad, BLT and their french bread. I will definitely come back and try their breakfast sandwiches and other breads. I know City Feed carries their english muffins, and they are great. I will buy them here from now on.
(4)Whitney R.
Fornax sandwiches = FRESH! The choices are few, but no matter what you get, it WILL be good. Their chicken sandwich actually contains a fillet of chicken, and you can taste every ingredient they place into their sandwiches. They also have an assortment of baked goods that I haven't had the pleasure of trying. I'd like to bring some of their bread home with me, too, but since I'm used to buying bread with lots of preservatives so I can eat it for weeks, I might find it to be a bit too fresh. Is that possible? I also love eating in at Fornax. It's a tiny place that is full of mis-matched furniture and old knickknacks. It has a unique aura of antiquity that gives the impression that it hasn't changed since it was first established. Very cool, and delicious.
(5)Cheryl R.
The best sourdough. Awesome pizza dough. Tasty sandwiches. Pastries to die for. My kids beg for their pumpkin bread. Love love love!
(5)Jules H.
OM NOM NOM. Finally checked this place out, one very tired and stressful afternoon, and the Boyf and I each had sammiches that made us feel SO MUCH BETTER. I had the pesto, he a ham and cheese, and the bred was fresh as can be, the pesto on mine was gorgeously bright, and it was just warm and toasty enough. Plus, each sammich comes with a side, making it a really reasonable price for the food you get. I've also bought a couple of baguettes here, and DAMN it's good -- it has that elusive crust with a soft middle, and I recommend picking up one of the blue flyers at the counter so you know which days they bake which loaves. As I write this, I am re-crisping mine according to their instructions, and last time I did this, the bread was as if I had baked it fresh myself!
(4)Michelle L.
I stopped in here on my meander through Roslindale Open Studios. I'd never been before but remembered having seen the name before as a good bakery. Once I was inside, I was a goner: I was surrounded by fresh-baked bread, whole-wheat brownies (!), slices of pumpkin bread, ham and cheese croissants, everything in the world to tempt me. But as it happens, I had a bit of a sore throat, so I held back from baked goods, however delicious, as too dry to be swallowed easily, and I held back from the exciting sandwich menu, in favor of one of the daily soups: split pea with ham. Split pea with ham is one of my favorite soups, and I especially crave it on crisp autumn days. This was one of the better pea soups I've had; the lean, tender ham really made it. It came with two thin slices of multigrain bread. The bread was warm. I don't know why-- it was such a simple touch-- but this made me all but shiver with delight. The soup was exactly what I needed, and the bread was hearty and excellent for mopping up every last trace of the soup out of my bowl (which I'm hardly ever inclined to do, but here I HAD to). As a sponsor of Roslindale Open Studios, the walls were decorated with a local artist's mixed media pieces. This added an extra bit of charm to the homestyle, thrift-store ambience. Service was brisk and more friendly than I'm used to. I'm typically happy with the service I receive anywhere I go, but there was something extra here. I tipped generously. It was only as I was on my way out the door that I noticed the wide selection of cookies in jars behind the counter. Alas, some other day, perhaps...
(4)Julie S.
While apartment hunting in Roslindale yesterday I decided to check out Fornax Bread Company for lunch. I was excited to find such a cute little sandwich place on an otherwise not so inviting block (my apologies to fans of Roslindale Village- maybe I just don't get it yet). I ordered the portobello mushroom and roasted red pepper sandwich. Not being very creative, I ordered it as it was designed, on a seeded roll. I thought perhaps it would be a bit weird since it was a pressed sandwich, but I went with it, because they're the bread people, not me. And yes, it was kind of weird. Also weird- they put lettuce or spinach or something on the sandwich which did not taste good pressed. It just tasted soggy. I picked it off. The mushrooms were not marinated in anything, so it was just a blah mushroom sandwich. Normally I love portobellos, but they really have to be marinated to taste like anything special. For $8 this sandwich was waaaay overpriced. I also bought some English muffins to take home and toasted them up this morning with some raspberry jam. My husband loved them. I could take it or leave it. I'll have to try another type of bread next time and reassess.
(3)Jess H.
I wanted to like this place more than I did. I bought a loaf of challah and a buttermilk biscuit, even though I was eyeing their large offering of breads. I am going to give it another try, because I'm not sure if I just ordered the wrong thing. The challah was dry-ish and didn't have the honey, egg-y taste I am used to from other very good bakeries I've been. The biscuit was big, but dry and not at all buttery or flaky, like I like 'em. All this said, there were a lot more things to try, and I'll be back to give it another go.
(3)Adam E.
I don't care if I'll always be fat, I'm never giving up carbs and this is why. Fornax bread is outrageous, so freaking good. It's also really reasonably priced and they'll slice it for you! They also have fantastic baked goods, I got this weird almond thing (I think they called it a Wale Twist?) and it was ungodly good. It was like a mix of an almond croissant and a raspberry danish. Their sandwiches sound great too, I've only tried the grilled cheese and tomato (which they accidentally gave me instead of ham & cheese, minus one star!). Still, it was pretty excellent. The staff is hit or miss. When I came for pastries at 7am, the teen was nicer to me than I deserved, especially when I said I had to run next door to the ATM. But I've been here in the afternoon when some surlier teens were working. But I give them a break, those years are tough. Oh, and they do accept cards, but it's a $10 minimum.
(4)Katie R.
This place is great! I first had their soup at the Taste of Roslindale, and I swear, it was the best thing I had all night! Went to visit Fornax and found it to be a cute space with great selection of meals, tasty treats, and loaves of bread. Soup was just as delicious as it was at the Taste. Also, it is appreciate that they list all of the ingredients in their breads -- my mom has a bunch of food sensitivities and it's great to know what she can eat. My only complaint would be that they don't post their soups and quiches of the day on their website. I'd love to see this info made available so I knew if I should make the trek over -- but obviously -- this is just a teeny weeny complaint. Overall -- wonderful!
(4)Daniel A.
Fornax bread is generally a great place to grab some great bread or a really good sanwich in the square. I usually get my sandwiches for take-out, but there are a few tables where you can sit and do some people watching as Fornax is almost always bustling and the people of Roslindale are an interesting bunch. My only beef with the place is that they forget to put requested onions on my sandwiches way too often.
(4)JBird Z.
Absolutely one of the best bakeries I've yet to find in Greater Boston (Toretta's in Revere is another). Their signature bread is a boule which in my experience always has a nice crust which is not too thick and not too thin and the soft middle is perfectly chewy with a just-past-subtle sourdough flavor. The croissant I had once was AMAZING, but be prepared, while fluffy it was not light...very heavy on butter (which I love). I've also tried a few of their pastries and they too were just top notch. The stuff is just always fresh, always delicious. I have yet to try their sandwiches, soups etc. If I want a great sandwich, mmmmm give me two slices of Fornax' boule and put just about anything in the middle!
(4)Dave E.
I've been buying bread here for months now and they have never let me down in that department. My latest discovery has been the rosemary bacci - just delicious. Pastry items continue to underwhelm though. The scones are really absurdly hard and dry, and very skimpy on the fruit. Sandwiches are also nothing special, Blue Star and Jimmies on the same street make much better.
(4)Zac N.
Stopped in for some tea, which was great, and the breads looked awesome. Nice service, too.
(5)Asta S.
The bakery is very homey and cute. There are a few bistro sized tables and nice big windows that make the space light and airy. The customer service was good and the scones are awesome. However, I was not blown away by the ham & cheese croissant or the English muffins. They were good, but not the best I've ever had. I did love the cinnamon twist I had. The whole grains made it more filling than most breakfast pastries and it added a nice cheery texture to it.
(3)Katy N.
One of the best, simplest sandwiches I've ever had the pleasure of eating. I look forward to my next visit to Boston to have another.
(5)Chuck K.
Fornax Bread Company is a great place to go if you want to pay extremely high prices for worse-than-average sandwiches. Let's face it, if you're in Roslindale, you're probably having a bad day. Maybe you're waiting on an endless line at the post office, being ritually tortured at the RMV or trying to recover from identity theft at the Social Security office. Maybe you hit the trifecta. Worst possibility of all is that your entire life has been messed up and now you actually LIVE in Roslindale. Where was I? Oh yeah, Roslindale. Trying to ameliorate your pain, you step into the Fornax Bread Company. This place looks nice. They're obviously trying to be fancy. Whoa, check out those high-ass prices! They *must* be serving good food here. No, I got the Pesto and Mozzarella sandwich on rye. Now, granted, I didn't throw up or get diarrhea or double-over in pain. That's the best thing I can say about the food. Everything was forgettable. The pesto may have been too salty. Or it may have been just right. Who can remember? Ditto the mozzarella. At least the bread had to be special, right? I mean, it's the Fornax *Bread* Company, for crying out loud. (What's the matter? "Bakery" isn't a fancy enough word?) No, the bread--rye in this case--was a complete non-starter. They tried to give it to me "toasted" but instead I got somewhere in between "burnt" and "practically on fire." So what's the worst part of spending $8 for a sandwich that I could make just as well while walking in my sleep? I gave 'em a credit card because, well, I wanted to. So it turns out that if you spend less than $10, they charge you a fee. They are violating their merchant agreement when they do that. mastercard.com/us/busine… Not only are they violating a contract, but they have the gall to complain that they're doing it because of "high merchant fees" imposed on "small businesses." This "small business" just charged me $8 for a sandwich. Now they're violating their merchant contract to charge me even more! So I politely informed the very nice lady behind the counter. All of a sudden, she copped a 'tude. "Yeah, yeah. We know we're violating the agreement. You're NOT the first person to tell us that." What. The. FUCK?!? They're *knowingly* breaking their contract to tack on extra charges onto an $8 sandwich? Honestly, if I weren't so honest I would complain about the several rat turds I saw on the floor at this place. But there's no need to lie. This is a place that makes worse-than-mediocre sandwiches and charges you as if they had a tip that you were a member of the Saudi royal family. Fornax Bread Company is run by the scum of the earth.
(1)Scott P.
Fantastic bakery/sandwich shop - great selection of breads, muffins, cookies and the like. Favorite part - they sell cookie dough so you can bake them at home. Excellent sandwiches for breakfast and lunch - service can be slow at times, but the sandwiches are well worth the wait. There are a few small tables, but we usually take them home, or sit in Adams Park.
(5)Shelly R.
We moved to Roslindale four months ago, and we get all of our bread and sweets from Fornax. (any sweet thing in loaf form is worth buying) The staff are fanastic. I wish they could configure the counter in a way that didn't create backup at the door, but, overall, we love stepping in here and think this place is one of the best things about Roslindale.
(5)Doug M.
My whole family loves Fornax, from the large whole wheat loaves, small white loaves, buttermilk biscuits. I always have to buy an extra one because I'll have it eaten before I get home & my family would be mad.
(5)Chris B.
my wife loves this place and I love their pizza dough. I have to give them credit where credit is due. I came here one day to buy some bread and the young lady who rang me up accidently overcharged me. She then told me she messed up and that she corrected it. So thinking I had that money in there i continued to run errands that day. the next day i find out that i was hit with overdraw fees due to the overcharge the day before. what had happen was she credited my account and that usually takes 1 week to process. I then called the manager of fornax and explained my situation. He was kind enough to work with me to resolve this situation. he even went up to the bank with me to try to cut a deal with my bank. in the end he return the money i was owed originally and replaced the money taking from my account with overdraw fees. This company is a great place with even better management. I am proud to say that even though that issued occurred, it will not prevent me from going back here. I felt the owner handled my situation very well and he definitely has pleased and made the best out of a screwed up situation. I will definitely recommend this place.
(4)Shia G.
Great baked good, I had the sticky bun ($2.75+) which was a sweet croissant like roll perfect ratio of cinnamon-sugar and butter. Also I tried the walnut "something" bread ($2.50+) and the cinnamon twist ($2+). All pretty good and some great fresh bread/rolls. Prices are a bit steep for product but like everywhere in Boston.
(3)Megan S.
The smell of this place is warm, yummy carbs. I usually just pick up my loaves of bread here, but when I'm feeling really bad I'll get one of their delicious cupcakes. Mmmmm . . .
(4)Noah N.
Fornax is a pleasant little bakery, to tell the truth. We went right before closing time, but the lovely counter girl still served us some tea from their broad selection and gave us some free banana bread! Delish, as Rachel Ray would say. Or yumm-o, is it? I can't recall... Regardless, I strongly recommend the place, and hope you'll love it as much as I did. (^_^)
(5)Catherine B.
The bread here is amazing, as are the desserts and treats (I have a serious weakness for their butterhorns) It's a great place to stop and have a quick soup and sandwhich (I've done this a dozen times and never been disappointed, ever) The holdback on 5 stars is the staff - I always feel like I'm bothering them somehow with my order. It's never bad enough to keep me away though.
(4)Jonathan B.
The breads and pizza dough from here are fantastic. All of them. We've tried them all, I think. I haven't had lunch here, but the breakfast sandwiches are AWESOME and come with a side of potatoes which I don't really care for but my wife thinks are terrific. The pastries are a bit more hit or miss, but the sweet rolls are awesome when they have them - sadly, I haven't seen them in the last few months. Highly recommended if you are down in lovely Roslindale.
(4)Dianna B.
Excellent local bread place in Rozzie Square. It's a great meeting place for the neighborhood as well. The breads, English muffins and sandwiches are great. The only downside is the service from the register staff -- who don't seem to take their job seriously and seem to be easily confused.
(4)Magnus C.
What hookers and cocaine are to Charlie Sheen, bread is to me. So when I saw this place so highly ranked, I decided to stop on in. The place looked promising in that shabby chic way that says "there's home cooking happening in this place", and to make matters even better, on the radio Tom Petty was followed by Neil Young, who was then followed by Led Zeppelin. As my turn came to order food, I put in for a ham and cheese and retired to one of the back tables. Sadly, thirty minutes later I was still waiting for my food,while the stereo system got hijacked by one of the teeny bopper staffers who plugged her ipod in and "treated" everyone to the sounds of possessed raccoons (or maybe it was Miley Cyrus, I can never really tell) and all the air was let out of my proverbial souffle. I waited a few minutes more for my sandwich, and when it arrived I ate it and left in a hurry. It was a very good sandwich, but the potatoes which accompanied it were cold and far from multitudinous. And man... I was made to wait for it. 40 minutes doesn't seem like a lot of time for dining out, I suppose, but for a place that was nearly empty and considering it was just a sandwich, I expected better.
(3)Ayelet R.
There's nothing like the smell of fresh bread and you can smell this one all the way down the block. You'll just be having your innocent little walk, checking out all the cute boutiques that this neighborhood has to offer when all of a sudden it will hit you and just like a siren's song you will be useless to resist that heavenly waft. All flowery metaphors aside, this place smells awesome, and upon walking in and seeing their giant kitchen constantly churning out fresh loaves, it's not hard to understand why. These days just finding a bakery that bakes its own bread in house is something of a rarity, and it makes all the difference here. The loaves themselves are very sensibly priced and some types offer half-loaves if you're not ready to commit to the whole thing. Plus, they offer quite the selection. We got the Boule, Rosemary Batard and Irish Soda Bread and all tasted as amazing as they smelled. This was my first time trying Irish Soda Bread and I can't wait to try some more. We froze the boule and were happy to find that it still tasted just as fresh a few days later when we defrosted it. I also took a baked cinnamon apple donut and was super impressed by it. Who knew you could bake a donut? It may have tasted more like a cake than a traditional donut, but it was still fresh and warm and delicious. The sandwiches looked awesome as well, and I can't wait to come back and try some, especially considering it means getting to try even more of their bread.
(4)Ashley A.
This is my favorite go-to lunch spot in the Square. It's a small place with limited seating but I love the atmosphere! My personal favorite is half a roasted veggie sandwich on sour dough with a side of salad. It is very satisfying and very filling! (And also very inexpensive.) Their breads are freshly baked and their meals are made to order. Their baked goods are also very delicious. I love this place and I enjoy the food tremendously.
(4)Karen K.
I've been craving fornax and last week we didn't have clinic so I couldn't get my fix. Today I got the Danish snail and it was too good! Cinnamon taste with raisins and walnuts amazing! Too bad i scarfed it down before I could take a pic!
(4)Marc L.
3 Important Things That Haven't Been Said about Fornax: By way of quick intro let me say I am a former professional baker, and extremely food-fixated. I'm not so easy to please, so when I am happy others tend to agree. While I think there is better bread to be had (Clearflour) and pastry (Canto 6) these guys have some charmers in their repetoire (the cinnamon raisin bread, their take-off on the Oreo with it's sweet/salty combination, and a very buttery decadent bearclaw like item that's name is escaping me) 1. The lunch salads are excellent, abundant and well-priced. For example, the mesclun salad is organic greens, currants, pine-nuts, home-made croutons from their bread, plus a couple pieces of fresh bread. Add chicken for for an extra buck. These easily feeds two (or nice leftovers). 2. They only make one breakfast but it's delicious and hearty and also could feed two if you weren't completely famished. They make a "breakfast sandwich" of eggs, their own fresh brioche, and your choice of breakfast meat (the sausage pattie is homemade and has fennel in it) a big side of roasted potatoes. It shows you why a righteous joint like this is light years from a fast food breakfast. 3. The physical space is really charming--old pressed tin ceiling, wood floors. It feels hip in a homespun way.
(4)Brian D.
I'm on a carb filled memory craze this morning thinking about where I've gotten amazing fresh baked bread that has knocked my socks off. Fornax jumps to the top of the list in Roslindale Village. This is a full on, extra hippie, stand up bread making operation that will not let you down. You can walk in and pick from the days creations, their regular loafs and rolls being my personal favorites. I really like the crunchy, almost hard crust that compliments a soft but not too mushy inner loaf. I've putsed around with making bread over the years and gotten quite familiar with the ingredients and complexity of baking and I really appreciate the work that they put into their breads. A few years back they also added a sit down menu with soups, salads etc that are all really stand up. It's not super cheap and I wouldn't expect to be in such a high rent area but it is worth every penny in my opinion. A few local stores carry their breads and a few restaurants as well so you may have had their stuff and not even known it.
(5)Marcy L.
House of Pain (no, not a 50 Shades scenario - yes, a French culinary indulgence). A big thanks to my buddy, Brian, for leading me to this bready beauty! Saturday afternoon we made the venture; parking is difficult to find, table space is limited, but the quality is superb and would be the ideal local in-and-out breakfast hit spot. #1: sounds like a Seussical cafe #2: 16 breads baked daily, another number of other loaves on a rotating schedule, and ONLY place I've found Anadama south of NH (not as molassesy as I'd like, but still a pleasant surprise - and only $3.75!) #3: sandwiches, pizzettas, and salads will cost you about 7$ (the menu is small, but full of fantastic combinations featuring their own fresh bread). The breakfast sandwiches are highly recommended. #4: fabulous pastry selection (mini apple pie, giant brownies, croissants, tarts, oat cakes!). I can attest to the flavor splendor that is the Apricot Envelope ($2.75). #5: coffee situation: there are a few coffee canisters, and a hot water canister for tea (assortment above coffee). Did the trick for caffeine consumption, but not especially satisfying (then again, they're called the BREAD company, so the coffee station is more of a perk anyway). Loads of stir-in options (sugars, milks *including soy*, even marshmallows and whipped cream for their house-made hot cocoa!) are kept IN THE FRIDGE (other coffee spots forget that dairy require refrigeration). 6#: not a whole lot of space to move around, but the decor reminds me of my rural roots and the service is OUTSTANDING.
(5)Shiny B.
First off, I do really appreciate this place. I just see room for improvement. For instance, I might like this place better if the girl working mornings could manage to care a little bit. All the other employees are nice, so what's the deal? Their egg and sausage sandwich is great. But avoid the generally overcooked and chewy scones. Say yes to the Oreos. Central cooling would totally improve the place for those hot and miserable days.
(3)Hannah D.
Fornax for breakfast on Saturday mornings has become a tradition with the family. There is something for everyone! Most of the family decides on an egg sandwich. It is a great deal! You get a basket filled with the sandwich on GREAT bread and your choice of meat, along with a side of potatoes. Very tasty and at a great price. I always decide on the Vegan Apricot Scone...AMAZING!! It really hits the spot. Their coffee is also GREAT!! I am very picky when it comes to my coffee and I have to say Fornax really knows how to brew great coffee (hot and iced). Their iced tea is also great! The flavor changes daily. Fornax also has a wide range of breads that they can cut for you. It is great if you want something for dinner or even just to have in the house! They also have a wide range of bake goods and they have a little card that tells you exactly what is in the bake good. All in all Fornax is a great little bakery. Everything is always made fresh and they never disappoint. The service is also great. Walking in you feel right at home! Definitely stop by if you are in the area...you will not be disappointed!!
(5)Andres V.
Coffe was not fresh even though I asked and the pastry was stale. It was a sunday at 3:30 pm anf the shelves were empty
(2)Elise H.
so they didn't have honey mustard today, but i don't mind even a little because i usually go for coffee and scone, or pb on toasted mutligrain. this place is so affordable and so delicious with a nice down to earth staff. the jars of home-made oreos, macaroons, chocolate chip cookies line the back wall next to shelves of home-made bread ranging from batard, to soda bread, brioche, french baguettes...in the front cases there are various scones: raisin, ginger almond, cranberry oat, banana, along with buttermilk biscuits, sweet rolls, ham and cheese baguettes, and beautiful cup cakes. the walls change decorations--from children's designed tiles, to a display of antique-y lace and embroidery, to the most current frames of old album covers, and magazine adds and portraits. the architecture itself is also wonderful. the old building has funky details throughout--make sure to got to the bathroom just to check out how it grows into the kitchen and prep rooms. i go fairly frequently with by boyfriend, and i hope it stays that way for a while. also, i have never spent more than 12 dollars there. its one of those places you not only truly enjoy as a space to eat and drink, but also one you love to support.
(5)Mairead N.
This place is right in the center of Roslindale Village. Opened in 1997 by a husband and wife team and they have been going strong in the village ever since. Their breads are so great! All made fresh on the premises. They have a really adorable seating area and it makes this place a great "local" bakery/cafe. The menu is wonderful and varied, sandwiches, made with their fresh bread, pizzettas, soups and pastries for dessert. Coffee/tea/hot chocolate and soft drinks are available also. The wait staff are attentive and know their breads/pastries etc. and on Saturday and Sunday mornings this place is hopping with people having brunch or getting some yummy fresh made bread! Thank you Fornax Bread Co!
(5)Chris D.
Ok I'm not going to rehash what everybody else is saying. It's all true. The main reason for this review is a recent addition, well two recent additions if you include the Roslindale Main Streets "parklet" that just got installed outside. ** THEY HAVE AN ESPRESSO RIG NOW *** This is a huge deal given that the other coffeehouse in the village closed up months ago. You can get coffee at many places nearby but the espresso-based options are few and far between. Parklet, pop-tarts and espresso. Can't go wrong there.
(4)Luis N.
We walked in with a group of 6 adults and felt like maybe we made a mistake. If the food was anything less than awesome, I believe it would've been. Somehow we scored a table in the corner that fit us all instead of splitting us up. We sat, kinda snug, but with enough space to eat. The ordering process was easy enough but since the location is REALLY small it does get kinda cramped at the front where you order. I ordered the turkey sandwich on Whole grain bread. The rest of us all ordered different sandwiches with different breads. The overall consensus is...the bread here is PHENOMENAL. It takes a regular meal to another level. We all loved it and thought it was great. I ordered the "FULL" version which honestly felt like two sandwiches. So the portions aren't too small. My complaint is of course the size and therefore the bathroom situation. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the tiny bathroom in the back. How do they fix this problem? No idea. Maybe don't offer a bathroom but then that wouldn't work either. It just seems people will leave the bathroom and get AWFULLY close to the food. Which can be dangerous. Awesome bread here..enough to come back one day.
(4)Jessie M.
Delicious food with friendly service. I got a chicken sandwich with a side of slaw on a poppy bun and it was incredible! Slaw was not over powering and had a hint of sweetness. I will definitely go back for more lunchtime goodies!
(4)Faraz S.
Love this place. Breakfast sandwich on english muffins are on point! I've never been a fan of what I thought were English muffins until I came to this place.. totally changed my perspective on bread done right. Very friendly behind the counter. This is currently my go-to for a quick breakfast.
(5)Andrew P.
Wicked good breakfast sandwiches. Fresh and delicious. Atmosphere is great too. Has a very down to earth feeling. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a bite to eat at a quaint little bakery.
(4)Gregory M.
Come on, Fornax! You get Boston's Best of award for bread so you're done trying? I ordered a Roasted Veggie sandwich with chicken on a baguette and it left a lot to be desired. Now, I can understand if the place was packed and the sandwich station was slammed with orders, but my girlfriend and myself were the only ones in there. What came out was a toasted baguette with sparse amounts of eggplant and peppers, with the saddest amount of hummus. No caramelized onions or chicken to be found, and I know with it costing $9.15 that I paid for the add-on. The baguette was good, I'll give that to you, so yes maybe your award was valid. But that's no excuse to overlook an order and serve a sparse sandwich. Until next time!
(3)Melisa M.
I had stopped in previously a month ago and no one ever saw me or greeted me, i left. I just don't like having to track people down to help me, I work in customer service and you need to be seen and be available. customers shouldn't have to play "lets find someone to help us" but eh iI was willing to try again please to note i was in alone sans any date...so yeah whatever i give up on that I was looking to buy a few little cupcakes for a friend who is having a turkey birthday and I'm sure no one was baking them a cake so...... someone greeted me right away this time and I picked out a few cupcakes they keep them refrigerated which I guess is for the frosting but they were pretty hard even an hour later, v v disappointing and one of the frosting tops tasted of onion or something not normally found in vanilla buttercream frosting? when things take on the taste of other things they are refrigerated with...well methinks those cupcakes have been in there for too damn long dry and harder than a rock I was embarrassed to have presented them as a birthday cake substitute....the buttercream frosting may have saved them but alas the one i tasted had some sort of onion flavor in it...dis-pleasurable to say the least To think i avoided the grocery store in favor of a bakery...I would have probably gotten a better deal for the money and at least a better taste...I realize the day before thanksgiving is a busy time,but shouldn't that make the turnover rate of items in the case faster? idk. not impressed. "bread company" *snorts
(1)Laura M.
There's a lot packed inside this tiny little bakery! The staff is helpful and friendly and the baked goods are delicious! All of the loaves I've tried have been great. I haven't tried the lunch sandwiches, but the breakfast sandwiches are dynamite! Don't forget to get a savory croissant or two to take home. I'm a big fan of their freshly baked English muffins- my toaster begs for them. The (self-serve) coffee is good too- look in the cooler for milk options. If you don't believe me, take the word of many local restaurants that serve bread from Fornax- this stuff is good. Tip: it's tiny, so I prefer to take out whenever possible but there is a make-shift patio area on the sidewalk for warmer days. Definitely a destination shop in Roslindale village.
(4)April M.
Fornax has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. While I still live a solid mile away (not really walk-able unless I'm up for a hike), we make it here quite often. They've got a wonderful assortment of breads, pastries, sandwiches (breakfast and lunch options), salads and drinks. I usually get an iced coffee and their classic breakfast sandwich on house-made English muffins. Oh so good, and they come with a side of home fries (which I never finish, but whatever). I've also had their lunch sandwiches, which come with a side salad and they do not disappoint! They have this little tin of oat crackers next to the register which are AWESOME for the little ones - especially when they are teething and/or just starting on solid foods. They can just mouth the heck outta those crackers until they get soggy and turn into oat mush that you'll need to clean off of everything. But they love it, and it's so worth it for less than a dollar! While there is seating, it can be quite tight. Don't think about bringing a stroller in there...we barely crammed our car seat in there when interviewing a nanny once and the people around probably hated us for it. If you're bringing baby, best to park the stroller out front, or use your baby carrier (you are in Rozzie, afterall!). It is kid friendly, but because of the tight quarters, I wouldn't recommend trying to spend too much time in there with a kid. They're bound to knock something over, bump into someone, or just generally cause a scene which everybody in the ten foot radius around you will have no choice but to tolerate. PSA: the hot coffee and tea are self-serve at a station next to the register, but it is *not* free! I watched this couple walk in and see someone making up their coffee (that they had just paid for) and say "oh, wow! look, they have free coffee!" and they proceeded to help themselves to the drink station without ordering and paying for it...As a somewhat regular (and a Rozzie local) it was kind of painful to watch, but I'm not one to but into someone else's business...so it just kind of happened. I can see how it can be confusing, since everything you need is right there and there aren't any signs that tell you to pay first. But yeah. Pay for your drinks before making them. Pro tip: the milk/cream for coffee and tea is kept cold inside the mini fridge. Open it up and help yourself to it (after you pay for your drink, of course!). So happy to have a spot like Fornax in the Village, it's local places like it that make Rozzie an awesome place to call home!
(5)Matt W.
There have been a number of reports to me about Fornax having the best sandwiches anywhere. Friends for years have been insisting that I go there for the tuna melt, or the roasted chicken, or breakfast sandwich, or a pastry, or whatever else they sell. This week, I went to see if this Roslindale bakery lived up to the hype. It didn't. But it was pretty good. I got a ham and cheese sandwich. The ham had a light, not unpleasant flavor, but a really heavy feel in my stomach. The sandwich also didn't come with any condiments, and was kind of dry. The tomatoes were very fresh. They give you a side with every sandwich, and I chose roasted potatoes. They were nice, but I'd have preferred a pasta salad or potato salad. Sadly, neither was an option. The coffee was really, really weak. Like splash of milk makes it grey weak. I had a bite of my wife's tuna melt. It was fantastic. We had some sweets, too. They sell Boland's soda, which is really tasty, and our baked choices included an apple turnover, which was bland at the corners, but lovely in the middle, and a good peanut butter cookie and home-made oreo cookie. I did genuinely enjoy Fornax, and I'll be back, but reviews were exaggerated.
(4)Justo G.
I don't always eat bread but when I do, I buy it at Fornax! This company is great because of how local it is. One of (if not the) best bread company in this side of town. Their bread selection stretches pretty far and It sure beats any bread from the big name markets. Another reason that makes this place unique is their lunch menu, most of which are always accompanied by fresh and toasted house made bread.
(5)lisa n.
We are a big fan of the food, coffee and bread. The quality of the food and the service are very good. However our only complaint is that we often cant get seating, we wonder why they have big tables rather then 2 person tables. With smaller furniture they would probably be able to fit more people and make it feel less cramped. This is the reason we dont dine in as much as we would like. Overall we are fans and enjoy the smell of the bakery from down the street!
(4)Martin J.
Looks good, but the kitchen closes at 1:30 on Sundays in the summer, so don't get your hopes up for a late lunch.
(3)Celeste M.
I am a fan of Fornax, I suppose. My bf still loves it. I have discovered the banana and nutella sandwich, which is pretty cool. Their roasted pototoes that come with sandwiches is pretty nice. And I like their flaxseed brownie - it makes me feel good about eating a brownie.
(4)Peter E.
I live in Roslindale and feel very fortunate to have an artisan bakery this good in town. Not only is their bread incredible but they make great salads and sandwiches. The only negative is that service can be very slow. Probably because it is so small and they are popular.
(5)Kimberly P.
This review is based on one experience. I most likely would return to Fornax if I am in the area but this establishment would not be a destination for me. I stopped in a few months back as I was wandering around Roslindale Square and the bakery looked quaint and inviting. When I stepped in, I thought I'd died and gone to baked goods heaven... everything looked and smelled delicious. I ordered their quiche special and a small vegan cupcake (yummy). I began to eat the quiche - I had high hopes (As I do with anything involving eggs, cheese and bacon) but the taste of the quiche did not live up to my expectations. I envisioned it to be a 5 star delight and it tasted more along the lines of 3 stars... which soon dropped to 1 star when I found a hair baked into the quiche. I've worked in the food service industry before - these things happen. I just found the reaction to be a bit odd to say the least. I discretely alerted one of the women behind the counter (the place was pretty busy and I didn't want to make a scene). I handed the quiche to her and showed her the hair... though she seemed shocked she didn't say anything and just took the quiche and ran into the back room. Then she came back out grabbed 2 or 3 employees and rushed them back into the kitchen. I could see them all whispering in a concerned fashion. Finally the owner (?) came out, apologized and offered a replacement quiche...after my discovery, the last thing I wanted was more quiche! I politely refused and requested my money back. All in all, I think it was great that they wanted to rectify the situation and refunded my money but the scurrying, whispering and involving a group of people seemed a bit odd ...especially seeing as how small the place was and everyone in the establishment was eyeballing me as it was painfully obvious that I was the cause of the weirdness.
(3)Hannah D.
A friend and I came from north of the city to roam around Forest Hills Cemetery, about 10 minutes away from Fornax. I had checked out lunch places in the area, and this one was the one we decided to try first. It's little, but the decor is charming in a shabby chic way. We both had the soup and 1/2 sandwich special, butternut squash soup for me, lentil for my friend, and BLTs for both of us. With one coffee tossed in the whole bill came to $19.95. My meal was accompanied by green salad, hers with cole slaw. The portion size was very generous, and everything was wonderfully fresh. The multi grain bread had a nice texture and was delicious. Coffee was just fine. This next might not sound so great, but the rest room was accessed by going through the food prep area. It was actually a good experience seeing just how fresh the vegetables looked as they were being chopped and how neat and clean the area was kept. A delightful experience. Wish I lived closer.
(5)Liliana C.
Say yes to an oreo and you won't be disappointed. Also enjoyed our (chicken) pizza, even if it could have used a little more flavor. Would buy pizza dough next time, no doubt!
(4)Jonathan T.
About a month ago, on a Saturday, my wife asked me to pick up lunch for her and her bridesmaids while they assembled gift bags for our wedding. She placed the order, I picked it up. While I was at Fornax waiting for the order, there were two girls working behind the counter, they appeared to be college students, presumably working part-time. One of them was moving breads around on the rack using wax paper (standard kitchen protocol), while the other was snacking on a baked good and when finished licked her fingers, picked something out of her teeth with her finger and then proceeded to help move bread around barehanded. Needless to say, I will not be eating here again.
(1)Laina P.
Seriously Great Sandwiches. Especially the breakfast sandwich (tip: get the breakfast sandwich without meat on brioche and add tomato and avocado for the most delicious vegetarian breakfast sandwich you'll ever eat in your life) Great bread, too, but that's not a surprise. I took a star off because their hours aren't consistent or accurately advertised (the website says the kitchen opens at 8 every day, but when I went in one day for an early breakfast I was told the kitchen opens at 8:30)
(4)Dan D.
I have been going here for years now. I am friends with Kim and Chris who hire staff who work as hard as they do. And the bread? How good? Let's just say there is no other place in Boston like this place. Big Sourdough Boule is my favorite, but it's all fresh every day and there are no losers on this menu. They also serve lunch, which is a little dear for my pocket book and the place can get a little crowded and hectic, so for sit down it is not the best. Better to get the bread and DIY in your own kitchen .
(4)Alexa M.
Probably the most ideal small-business out there. It's super cute and inviting inside with a friendly and helpful staff. The menu has a wide variety of options that are constantly being updated. Their soups and sandwiches definitely go above and beyond your local sub shop's. Plus, I think it's a really great alternative to the nationwide chain, Panera. I love their tuna melt with corn chowder (when available) and chips!!
(4)Mags R.
Everything is freash! Pleasant staff! The wheat pizza dough was great to cook! Would like more flexible hours, asides from that they are great!
(4)D M.
If you love some great bread, this is the place to get it. I went in before a party and ended up getting a lot of baguettes and some amazing homemade oreo cookies. Oreo cookies here are the size of your head, so be prepared to share or show self restraint. The ambiance is kind of old school, but in the most positive way. Love the decor, and the warm fuzzies it invokes. Also, bonus for being right around the corner from a cheese shop!
(4)Mike O.
God! Why can't we give half stars??? To echo others before me, I really do like Fornax, and I'm even more supportive perhaps (hence the four star instead of three) because they are a locally owned and operated business, BUT I've got to tell you that their bread, and selection, leaves something to be desired. It's not the crowded, compact space - I couldn't care less about that, or how long it takes to get to the register on the weekends, or the lack of a more robust breakfast menu. I just want two things: an adequate selection to choose from and freshness. Let me touch on the latter first. The freshness has been there about 90% of the time, but there have been a few occurrences when I've wondered if what was sold to me was day old, or possibly over baked. I'm no expert on breads, by any means, but it's a fairly simple concept to wrap your head around and I know when something is off when it shouldn't be. It could very well be that once in a while, rather than discard something that is not perfect, it gets put on the rack to sell. The only problem you'd run into is this happening to the same person more than once and then your consistency goes out the window. At a premium you cannot afford to lose the appearance of consistency. The English Muffins have way too much bread to nook and cranny ratio, and I've had some loaves last over a week. I'd really like it if my bread started to rot after a few days; I'd be much more inclined to eat bread knowing it's not filled with preservatives. As far as the selection; it needs work. It is peculiar to me that there is no demand for Challah Bread in this neighborhood. No pita either... no wraps or tortillas. I've thought that maybe I just missed out by the time I got there, but these items are never in stock. The Boules, the Batards, the Baguettes, and loaves are all very good if you get a good batch. Fornax is the best option in the neighborhood but across town I'd have to rate them a possible third or fourth. If you're in Rosi and are questioning stopping in, give them a shot. Grab some cheese around the corner at Boston Cheese Cellar and slap that on that bread; wash it down with some vino from Solera and there you have a delectable little snack. I'd put money on you not being disappointed!
(4)J C.
I go in for a loaf of bread. I come out with a whole lot more.
(5)laura W.
i just ate the last bite of my roasted veggie (red bell peppers, portobellos) with chicken on a bed of mesclun greens with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing ($9 with chicken)... WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO MY MOUTH?! pure HEAVEN, that's what! i seriously was making my coworkers uncomfortable with all my grunts and groans of delight. ...i thought i didnt even like salads!
(5)fred f.
Coming for Northern Suburbia, this bakery feels like it's at the other end of the world for me. But I love to go to Fornax on my rare trips to Rozzie. The baked goods are awesome, and i love the cozy storefront. The other day, I was looking for a cute little birthday cake for two. Although I had only had their breads and cookies in the past, I was inspired by great pastry reviews here on Yelp to try Fornax's cakes this go-round. The head baker spoke with me and took the time to discuss a bunch of options. She was very helpful, and so enthusiastic. At one point as i was trying to figure out what to get, she chimed in: "oh! how about a white cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream!!??" I went with that, and the next day, I drove by to pick up a true gem of a cake. They had cut the cake into three layers, and covered each with fresh cut berries. They then piped just enough whipped cream to make it look as decadent as it tasted The cake itself couldn't be more delicious, or fresher ( they had just finished cooling it, and were just arranging the berries an cream when i stopped by) ... and though the cake was supposed to be for two, it could easily have served 3-4 people with the generous portions of berries and cream they put on it..
(5)chris d.
I like Fornax, I really do. I also enjoy having a real neighborhood bakery. However, in a bakery- there should never be a distinction between a loaf of bread that is cooked the appropriate amount of time and one that is "well done". Bread is never "well done". While I understand the terminology as an approach to put a positive spin on the fact that it's burnt- you and I both know that it's burnt. Perhaps you're hoping that maybe I will say to myself, "Oooh, well done bread- I can avoid the pesty doughiness". Yet, I won't. I don't want to buy burnt bread. While ingredients are expensive, and I see the vast amount of ingredients that you have unloaded during the week, burnt bread should not be the same price as bread which is cooked appropriately. It's kind of insulting. I'm smarter than that. Problems aside, I will remain a patron, because I enjoy the local flavor, and I can still decline the well-done bread.
(3)Christine V.
I've been going here for a few years. The bread..Phenomenal! The sandwiches on the bread..even better. Meals made from scratch. Delicious!! The decorations inside, cozy and unique. Definitely not the decor of a chain restaurant. Makes you feel right at home. =) Prices are decent. Portion sizes are great.
(5)Andrew S.
Was looking for a sandwich for lunch last Sunday, and my friend recommended Fornax with high regards. I decided to take the extended walk into town to give it a try. Excited for my sandwich, I walked in and began studying the menu board. After the lady finished talking to another customer, she walked towards me, said she saw me looking at the sandwich board, and told me that I shouldn't bother because the kitchen closed at 1:30pm. I looked at my phone which displayed 1:21pm. Normally, I wouldn't arrive at a restaurant near kitchen closing time, but it was still well enough beforehand that they should be serving their patrons. I tried clarifying with the woman that I was trying to give them my business, but she rudely reiterated the kitchen would be closing and would not accommodate me. She didn't even ASK the kitchen if they could, as if they were just trying to get out of there and enjoy their Sunday afternoons. Glancing back towards the kitchen, there were also two idle workers leaning against the window joking and laughing with each other . If I were a business owner and knew my employees were turning away customers like this, I wouldn't be too happy about it. This was my first attempt eating here, and I will never be back. Won't be recommending Fornax to any friends either. Very much a shame.
(1)Laura S.
I happened upon Fornax and decided to go there for lunch. Thank goodness I found a place for great coffee, sandwiches and salads! It is small and can get crowded, but I really loved the salad, BLT and their french bread. I will definitely come back and try their breakfast sandwiches and other breads. I know City Feed carries their english muffins, and they are great. I will buy them here from now on.
(4)Chris D.
Ok I'm not going to rehash what everybody else is saying. It's all true. The main reason for this review is a recent addition, well two recent additions if you include the Roslindale Main Streets "parklet" that just got installed outside. ** THEY HAVE AN ESPRESSO RIG NOW *** This is a huge deal given that the other coffeehouse in the village closed up months ago. You can get coffee at many places nearby but the espresso-based options are few and far between. Parklet, pop-tarts and espresso. Can't go wrong there.
(4)April M.
Fornax has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. While I still live a solid mile away (not really walk-able unless I'm up for a hike), we make it here quite often. They've got a wonderful assortment of breads, pastries, sandwiches (breakfast and lunch options), salads and drinks. I usually get an iced coffee and their classic breakfast sandwich on house-made English muffins. Oh so good, and they come with a side of home fries (which I never finish, but whatever). I've also had their lunch sandwiches, which come with a side salad and they do not disappoint! They have this little tin of oat crackers next to the register which are AWESOME for the little ones - especially when they are teething and/or just starting on solid foods. They can just mouth the heck outta those crackers until they get soggy and turn into oat mush that you'll need to clean off of everything. But they love it, and it's so worth it for less than a dollar! While there is seating, it can be quite tight. Don't think about bringing a stroller in there...we barely crammed our car seat in there when interviewing a nanny once and the people around probably hated us for it. If you're bringing baby, best to park the stroller out front, or use your baby carrier (you are in Rozzie, afterall!). It is kid friendly, but because of the tight quarters, I wouldn't recommend trying to spend too much time in there with a kid. They're bound to knock something over, bump into someone, or just generally cause a scene which everybody in the ten foot radius around you will have no choice but to tolerate. PSA: the hot coffee and tea are self-serve at a station next to the register, but it is *not* free! I watched this couple walk in and see someone making up their coffee (that they had just paid for) and say "oh, wow! look, they have free coffee!" and they proceeded to help themselves to the drink station without ordering and paying for it...As a somewhat regular (and a Rozzie local) it was kind of painful to watch, but I'm not one to but into someone else's business...so it just kind of happened. I can see how it can be confusing, since everything you need is right there and there aren't any signs that tell you to pay first. But yeah. Pay for your drinks before making them. Pro tip: the milk/cream for coffee and tea is kept cold inside the mini fridge. Open it up and help yourself to it (after you pay for your drink, of course!). So happy to have a spot like Fornax in the Village, it's local places like it that make Rozzie an awesome place to call home!
(5)Luis N.
We walked in with a group of 6 adults and felt like maybe we made a mistake. If the food was anything less than awesome, I believe it would've been. Somehow we scored a table in the corner that fit us all instead of splitting us up. We sat, kinda snug, but with enough space to eat. The ordering process was easy enough but since the location is REALLY small it does get kinda cramped at the front where you order. I ordered the turkey sandwich on Whole grain bread. The rest of us all ordered different sandwiches with different breads. The overall consensus is...the bread here is PHENOMENAL. It takes a regular meal to another level. We all loved it and thought it was great. I ordered the "FULL" version which honestly felt like two sandwiches. So the portions aren't too small. My complaint is of course the size and therefore the bathroom situation. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the tiny bathroom in the back. How do they fix this problem? No idea. Maybe don't offer a bathroom but then that wouldn't work either. It just seems people will leave the bathroom and get AWFULLY close to the food. Which can be dangerous. Awesome bread here..enough to come back one day.
(4)Faraz S.
Love this place. Breakfast sandwich on english muffins are on point! I've never been a fan of what I thought were English muffins until I came to this place.. totally changed my perspective on bread done right. Very friendly behind the counter. This is currently my go-to for a quick breakfast.
(5)Andrew P.
Wicked good breakfast sandwiches. Fresh and delicious. Atmosphere is great too. Has a very down to earth feeling. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a bite to eat at a quaint little bakery.
(4)Jessie M.
Delicious food with friendly service. I got a chicken sandwich with a side of slaw on a poppy bun and it was incredible! Slaw was not over powering and had a hint of sweetness. I will definitely go back for more lunchtime goodies!
(4)Gregory M.
Come on, Fornax! You get Boston's Best of award for bread so you're done trying? I ordered a Roasted Veggie sandwich with chicken on a baguette and it left a lot to be desired. Now, I can understand if the place was packed and the sandwich station was slammed with orders, but my girlfriend and myself were the only ones in there. What came out was a toasted baguette with sparse amounts of eggplant and peppers, with the saddest amount of hummus. No caramelized onions or chicken to be found, and I know with it costing $9.15 that I paid for the add-on. The baguette was good, I'll give that to you, so yes maybe your award was valid. But that's no excuse to overlook an order and serve a sparse sandwich. Until next time!
(3)Melisa M.
I had stopped in previously a month ago and no one ever saw me or greeted me, i left. I just don't like having to track people down to help me, I work in customer service and you need to be seen and be available. customers shouldn't have to play "lets find someone to help us" but eh iI was willing to try again please to note i was in alone sans any date...so yeah whatever i give up on that I was looking to buy a few little cupcakes for a friend who is having a turkey birthday and I'm sure no one was baking them a cake so...... someone greeted me right away this time and I picked out a few cupcakes they keep them refrigerated which I guess is for the frosting but they were pretty hard even an hour later, v v disappointing and one of the frosting tops tasted of onion or something not normally found in vanilla buttercream frosting? when things take on the taste of other things they are refrigerated with...well methinks those cupcakes have been in there for too damn long dry and harder than a rock I was embarrassed to have presented them as a birthday cake substitute....the buttercream frosting may have saved them but alas the one i tasted had some sort of onion flavor in it...dis-pleasurable to say the least To think i avoided the grocery store in favor of a bakery...I would have probably gotten a better deal for the money and at least a better taste...I realize the day before thanksgiving is a busy time,but shouldn't that make the turnover rate of items in the case faster? idk. not impressed. "bread company" *snorts
(1)Laura M.
There's a lot packed inside this tiny little bakery! The staff is helpful and friendly and the baked goods are delicious! All of the loaves I've tried have been great. I haven't tried the lunch sandwiches, but the breakfast sandwiches are dynamite! Don't forget to get a savory croissant or two to take home. I'm a big fan of their freshly baked English muffins- my toaster begs for them. The (self-serve) coffee is good too- look in the cooler for milk options. If you don't believe me, take the word of many local restaurants that serve bread from Fornax- this stuff is good. Tip: it's tiny, so I prefer to take out whenever possible but there is a make-shift patio area on the sidewalk for warmer days. Definitely a destination shop in Roslindale village.
(4)Magnus C.
What hookers and cocaine are to Charlie Sheen, bread is to me. So when I saw this place so highly ranked, I decided to stop on in. The place looked promising in that shabby chic way that says "there's home cooking happening in this place", and to make matters even better, on the radio Tom Petty was followed by Neil Young, who was then followed by Led Zeppelin. As my turn came to order food, I put in for a ham and cheese and retired to one of the back tables. Sadly, thirty minutes later I was still waiting for my food,while the stereo system got hijacked by one of the teeny bopper staffers who plugged her ipod in and "treated" everyone to the sounds of possessed raccoons (or maybe it was Miley Cyrus, I can never really tell) and all the air was let out of my proverbial souffle. I waited a few minutes more for my sandwich, and when it arrived I ate it and left in a hurry. It was a very good sandwich, but the potatoes which accompanied it were cold and far from multitudinous. And man... I was made to wait for it. 40 minutes doesn't seem like a lot of time for dining out, I suppose, but for a place that was nearly empty and considering it was just a sandwich, I expected better.
(3)Ayelet R.
There's nothing like the smell of fresh bread and you can smell this one all the way down the block. You'll just be having your innocent little walk, checking out all the cute boutiques that this neighborhood has to offer when all of a sudden it will hit you and just like a siren's song you will be useless to resist that heavenly waft. All flowery metaphors aside, this place smells awesome, and upon walking in and seeing their giant kitchen constantly churning out fresh loaves, it's not hard to understand why. These days just finding a bakery that bakes its own bread in house is something of a rarity, and it makes all the difference here. The loaves themselves are very sensibly priced and some types offer half-loaves if you're not ready to commit to the whole thing. Plus, they offer quite the selection. We got the Boule, Rosemary Batard and Irish Soda Bread and all tasted as amazing as they smelled. This was my first time trying Irish Soda Bread and I can't wait to try some more. We froze the boule and were happy to find that it still tasted just as fresh a few days later when we defrosted it. I also took a baked cinnamon apple donut and was super impressed by it. Who knew you could bake a donut? It may have tasted more like a cake than a traditional donut, but it was still fresh and warm and delicious. The sandwiches looked awesome as well, and I can't wait to come back and try some, especially considering it means getting to try even more of their bread.
(4)Ashley A.
This is my favorite go-to lunch spot in the Square. It's a small place with limited seating but I love the atmosphere! My personal favorite is half a roasted veggie sandwich on sour dough with a side of salad. It is very satisfying and very filling! (And also very inexpensive.) Their breads are freshly baked and their meals are made to order. Their baked goods are also very delicious. I love this place and I enjoy the food tremendously.
(4)Karen K.
I've been craving fornax and last week we didn't have clinic so I couldn't get my fix. Today I got the Danish snail and it was too good! Cinnamon taste with raisins and walnuts amazing! Too bad i scarfed it down before I could take a pic!
(4)Mckenzie G.
The wonderful smell of freshly baked bread hits you as soon as you walk.in . I was looking for espresso to no avail, but the staff was nice enough to try to help me make a makeshift mocha from the coffee on hand. I love the eclectic assortment of tables and artwork for sale. A very casual and welcoming place. While the bathroom is not the best accommodations, getting to it allowed me to see first hand the bread making process in full effect. So, in case you were wondering, they make all their goods on site.
(4)Linda B.
Fornax was one of the first "new" businesses to put down roots in Roslindale Village over 15 years ago. Not only is all their food prepared from "scratch", their bread (and you can smell it rising after hours -- such a fabulous aroma that emanates from their kitchen) is the only bakery bread I will eat when I decide to jump off the gluten-free wagon. No other bread is worth the belly-ache, in my opinion! In addition to feeding us with genuine food and warm hearts, owners Kim and Chris Fallon consistently donate food to neighborhood events and show up to support the community in other ways as well. I recommend the genoa, tomato and carmelized onion sandwich, the chicken vegetable soup whose broth is rich with pureed squash, and for sides, the mayo-free cole slaw and tender roasted potatoes. I'm proud to have a business like Fornax in my neighborhood -- a great place to meet with new clients, too (I'm a Realtor) to show them the best of what Rozzie has to offer.
(5)Ju L.
AHMAZING pizza dough to make our own pizza at home. I've compared it to Trader Joe's and Fornax wins BY FAR.
(5)Luis S.
A favorite of my baby daughter & mine. We get our birthday treats from here too!
(4)Josh W.
Rustic vibe. It's an annual tradition to go here in the fall for butternut squash soup and some good bread. Really like this place.
(5)RoslindaMal E.
I really like Fornax and come here on a fairly consistent basis. Their homemade bread and breakfast/lunch sandwiches are really good & really fresh. I have been meaning to try their chicken potpies. The only drawback to Fornax is this place is on the small side, however the city just added parklet right besides Fornax on Cohasset Street so outdoor seating is now available. I am glad to have Fornax in Roslindale.
(4)Ron H.
Wonderful bread, good wholesome salads, delicious and basic food. Love this place.
(5)Marcy L.
House of Pain (no, not a 50 Shades scenario - yes, a French culinary indulgence). A big thanks to my buddy, Brian, for leading me to this bready beauty! Saturday afternoon we made the venture; parking is difficult to find, table space is limited, but the quality is superb and would be the ideal local in-and-out breakfast hit spot. #1: sounds like a Seussical cafe #2: 16 breads baked daily, another number of other loaves on a rotating schedule, and ONLY place I've found Anadama south of NH (not as molassesy as I'd like, but still a pleasant surprise - and only $3.75!) #3: sandwiches, pizzettas, and salads will cost you about 7$ (the menu is small, but full of fantastic combinations featuring their own fresh bread). The breakfast sandwiches are highly recommended. #4: fabulous pastry selection (mini apple pie, giant brownies, croissants, tarts, oat cakes!). I can attest to the flavor splendor that is the Apricot Envelope ($2.75). #5: coffee situation: there are a few coffee canisters, and a hot water canister for tea (assortment above coffee). Did the trick for caffeine consumption, but not especially satisfying (then again, they're called the BREAD company, so the coffee station is more of a perk anyway). Loads of stir-in options (sugars, milks *including soy*, even marshmallows and whipped cream for their house-made hot cocoa!) are kept IN THE FRIDGE (other coffee spots forget that dairy require refrigeration). 6#: not a whole lot of space to move around, but the decor reminds me of my rural roots and the service is OUTSTANDING.
(5)Shiny B.
First off, I do really appreciate this place. I just see room for improvement. For instance, I might like this place better if the girl working mornings could manage to care a little bit. All the other employees are nice, so what's the deal? Their egg and sausage sandwich is great. But avoid the generally overcooked and chewy scones. Say yes to the Oreos. Central cooling would totally improve the place for those hot and miserable days.
(3)Justo G.
I don't always eat bread but when I do, I buy it at Fornax! This company is great because of how local it is. One of (if not the) best bread company in this side of town. Their bread selection stretches pretty far and It sure beats any bread from the big name markets. Another reason that makes this place unique is their lunch menu, most of which are always accompanied by fresh and toasted house made bread.
(5)Hannah D.
Fornax for breakfast on Saturday mornings has become a tradition with the family. There is something for everyone! Most of the family decides on an egg sandwich. It is a great deal! You get a basket filled with the sandwich on GREAT bread and your choice of meat, along with a side of potatoes. Very tasty and at a great price. I always decide on the Vegan Apricot Scone...AMAZING!! It really hits the spot. Their coffee is also GREAT!! I am very picky when it comes to my coffee and I have to say Fornax really knows how to brew great coffee (hot and iced). Their iced tea is also great! The flavor changes daily. Fornax also has a wide range of breads that they can cut for you. It is great if you want something for dinner or even just to have in the house! They also have a wide range of bake goods and they have a little card that tells you exactly what is in the bake good. All in all Fornax is a great little bakery. Everything is always made fresh and they never disappoint. The service is also great. Walking in you feel right at home! Definitely stop by if you are in the area...you will not be disappointed!!
(5)Andres V.
Coffe was not fresh even though I asked and the pastry was stale. It was a sunday at 3:30 pm anf the shelves were empty
(2)Yelping Jabroni X.
4 1/2 You're not going to get better bread in the area, period. Spectacular pizza dough. Buy it, save on takeout forever. I can't count how many pizzas I've made with their dough. The confections range from okay to pretty darn good, but don't blow you away -their giant "oreo" is pretty good. The sandwiches and what-not get the job done. That being said, It's a bread bakery at its best. Best loaves around. Best English Muffins around. Best batard, baguette, pullman, peasant (by far!), etc, etc etc. I miss this place already.
(5)Honor P.
Visiting Fornax on Monday mornings has become a tradition in only three weeks and each time I have visited Fornax for breakfast, the whole day has felt quaint and easy. I always feel like I am stepping into a vacation or the company of honest people, it just feels simple and good. The pastries are great (get them warmed up!) and they have soymilk in the fridge. We can't wait to return try their pizza dough!
(5)Martin J.
Looks good, but the kitchen closes at 1:30 on Sundays in the summer, so don't get your hopes up for a late lunch.
(3)laura W.
i just ate the last bite of my roasted veggie (red bell peppers, portobellos) with chicken on a bed of mesclun greens with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing ($9 with chicken)... WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO MY MOUTH?! pure HEAVEN, that's what! i seriously was making my coworkers uncomfortable with all my grunts and groans of delight. ...i thought i didnt even like salads!
(5)Kimberly P.
This review is based on one experience. I most likely would return to Fornax if I am in the area but this establishment would not be a destination for me. I stopped in a few months back as I was wandering around Roslindale Square and the bakery looked quaint and inviting. When I stepped in, I thought I'd died and gone to baked goods heaven... everything looked and smelled delicious. I ordered their quiche special and a small vegan cupcake (yummy). I began to eat the quiche - I had high hopes (As I do with anything involving eggs, cheese and bacon) but the taste of the quiche did not live up to my expectations. I envisioned it to be a 5 star delight and it tasted more along the lines of 3 stars... which soon dropped to 1 star when I found a hair baked into the quiche. I've worked in the food service industry before - these things happen. I just found the reaction to be a bit odd to say the least. I discretely alerted one of the women behind the counter (the place was pretty busy and I didn't want to make a scene). I handed the quiche to her and showed her the hair... though she seemed shocked she didn't say anything and just took the quiche and ran into the back room. Then she came back out grabbed 2 or 3 employees and rushed them back into the kitchen. I could see them all whispering in a concerned fashion. Finally the owner (?) came out, apologized and offered a replacement quiche...after my discovery, the last thing I wanted was more quiche! I politely refused and requested my money back. All in all, I think it was great that they wanted to rectify the situation and refunded my money but the scurrying, whispering and involving a group of people seemed a bit odd ...especially seeing as how small the place was and everyone in the establishment was eyeballing me as it was painfully obvious that I was the cause of the weirdness.
(3)lisa n.
We are a big fan of the food, coffee and bread. The quality of the food and the service are very good. However our only complaint is that we often cant get seating, we wonder why they have big tables rather then 2 person tables. With smaller furniture they would probably be able to fit more people and make it feel less cramped. This is the reason we dont dine in as much as we would like. Overall we are fans and enjoy the smell of the bakery from down the street!
(4)Hannah D.
A friend and I came from north of the city to roam around Forest Hills Cemetery, about 10 minutes away from Fornax. I had checked out lunch places in the area, and this one was the one we decided to try first. It's little, but the decor is charming in a shabby chic way. We both had the soup and 1/2 sandwich special, butternut squash soup for me, lentil for my friend, and BLTs for both of us. With one coffee tossed in the whole bill came to $19.95. My meal was accompanied by green salad, hers with cole slaw. The portion size was very generous, and everything was wonderfully fresh. The multi grain bread had a nice texture and was delicious. Coffee was just fine. This next might not sound so great, but the rest room was accessed by going through the food prep area. It was actually a good experience seeing just how fresh the vegetables looked as they were being chopped and how neat and clean the area was kept. A delightful experience. Wish I lived closer.
(5)Liliana C.
Say yes to an oreo and you won't be disappointed. Also enjoyed our (chicken) pizza, even if it could have used a little more flavor. Would buy pizza dough next time, no doubt!
(4)Jonathan T.
About a month ago, on a Saturday, my wife asked me to pick up lunch for her and her bridesmaids while they assembled gift bags for our wedding. She placed the order, I picked it up. While I was at Fornax waiting for the order, there were two girls working behind the counter, they appeared to be college students, presumably working part-time. One of them was moving breads around on the rack using wax paper (standard kitchen protocol), while the other was snacking on a baked good and when finished licked her fingers, picked something out of her teeth with her finger and then proceeded to help move bread around barehanded. Needless to say, I will not be eating here again.
(1)Laina P.
Seriously Great Sandwiches. Especially the breakfast sandwich (tip: get the breakfast sandwich without meat on brioche and add tomato and avocado for the most delicious vegetarian breakfast sandwich you'll ever eat in your life) Great bread, too, but that's not a surprise. I took a star off because their hours aren't consistent or accurately advertised (the website says the kitchen opens at 8 every day, but when I went in one day for an early breakfast I was told the kitchen opens at 8:30)
(4)Dan D.
I have been going here for years now. I am friends with Kim and Chris who hire staff who work as hard as they do. And the bread? How good? Let's just say there is no other place in Boston like this place. Big Sourdough Boule is my favorite, but it's all fresh every day and there are no losers on this menu. They also serve lunch, which is a little dear for my pocket book and the place can get a little crowded and hectic, so for sit down it is not the best. Better to get the bread and DIY in your own kitchen .
(4)Alexa M.
Probably the most ideal small-business out there. It's super cute and inviting inside with a friendly and helpful staff. The menu has a wide variety of options that are constantly being updated. Their soups and sandwiches definitely go above and beyond your local sub shop's. Plus, I think it's a really great alternative to the nationwide chain, Panera. I love their tuna melt with corn chowder (when available) and chips!!
(4)Mags R.
Everything is freash! Pleasant staff! The wheat pizza dough was great to cook! Would like more flexible hours, asides from that they are great!
(4)D M.
If you love some great bread, this is the place to get it. I went in before a party and ended up getting a lot of baguettes and some amazing homemade oreo cookies. Oreo cookies here are the size of your head, so be prepared to share or show self restraint. The ambiance is kind of old school, but in the most positive way. Love the decor, and the warm fuzzies it invokes. Also, bonus for being right around the corner from a cheese shop!
(4)Mike O.
God! Why can't we give half stars??? To echo others before me, I really do like Fornax, and I'm even more supportive perhaps (hence the four star instead of three) because they are a locally owned and operated business, BUT I've got to tell you that their bread, and selection, leaves something to be desired. It's not the crowded, compact space - I couldn't care less about that, or how long it takes to get to the register on the weekends, or the lack of a more robust breakfast menu. I just want two things: an adequate selection to choose from and freshness. Let me touch on the latter first. The freshness has been there about 90% of the time, but there have been a few occurrences when I've wondered if what was sold to me was day old, or possibly over baked. I'm no expert on breads, by any means, but it's a fairly simple concept to wrap your head around and I know when something is off when it shouldn't be. It could very well be that once in a while, rather than discard something that is not perfect, it gets put on the rack to sell. The only problem you'd run into is this happening to the same person more than once and then your consistency goes out the window. At a premium you cannot afford to lose the appearance of consistency. The English Muffins have way too much bread to nook and cranny ratio, and I've had some loaves last over a week. I'd really like it if my bread started to rot after a few days; I'd be much more inclined to eat bread knowing it's not filled with preservatives. As far as the selection; it needs work. It is peculiar to me that there is no demand for Challah Bread in this neighborhood. No pita either... no wraps or tortillas. I've thought that maybe I just missed out by the time I got there, but these items are never in stock. The Boules, the Batards, the Baguettes, and loaves are all very good if you get a good batch. Fornax is the best option in the neighborhood but across town I'd have to rate them a possible third or fourth. If you're in Rosi and are questioning stopping in, give them a shot. Grab some cheese around the corner at Boston Cheese Cellar and slap that on that bread; wash it down with some vino from Solera and there you have a delectable little snack. I'd put money on you not being disappointed!
(4)J C.
I go in for a loaf of bread. I come out with a whole lot more.
(5)fred f.
Coming for Northern Suburbia, this bakery feels like it's at the other end of the world for me. But I love to go to Fornax on my rare trips to Rozzie. The baked goods are awesome, and i love the cozy storefront. The other day, I was looking for a cute little birthday cake for two. Although I had only had their breads and cookies in the past, I was inspired by great pastry reviews here on Yelp to try Fornax's cakes this go-round. The head baker spoke with me and took the time to discuss a bunch of options. She was very helpful, and so enthusiastic. At one point as i was trying to figure out what to get, she chimed in: "oh! how about a white cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream!!??" I went with that, and the next day, I drove by to pick up a true gem of a cake. They had cut the cake into three layers, and covered each with fresh cut berries. They then piped just enough whipped cream to make it look as decadent as it tasted The cake itself couldn't be more delicious, or fresher ( they had just finished cooling it, and were just arranging the berries an cream when i stopped by) ... and though the cake was supposed to be for two, it could easily have served 3-4 people with the generous portions of berries and cream they put on it..
(5)chris d.
I like Fornax, I really do. I also enjoy having a real neighborhood bakery. However, in a bakery- there should never be a distinction between a loaf of bread that is cooked the appropriate amount of time and one that is "well done". Bread is never "well done". While I understand the terminology as an approach to put a positive spin on the fact that it's burnt- you and I both know that it's burnt. Perhaps you're hoping that maybe I will say to myself, "Oooh, well done bread- I can avoid the pesty doughiness". Yet, I won't. I don't want to buy burnt bread. While ingredients are expensive, and I see the vast amount of ingredients that you have unloaded during the week, burnt bread should not be the same price as bread which is cooked appropriately. It's kind of insulting. I'm smarter than that. Problems aside, I will remain a patron, because I enjoy the local flavor, and I can still decline the well-done bread.
(3)Christine V.
I've been going here for a few years. The bread..Phenomenal! The sandwiches on the bread..even better. Meals made from scratch. Delicious!! The decorations inside, cozy and unique. Definitely not the decor of a chain restaurant. Makes you feel right at home. =) Prices are decent. Portion sizes are great.
(5)Matt W.
There have been a number of reports to me about Fornax having the best sandwiches anywhere. Friends for years have been insisting that I go there for the tuna melt, or the roasted chicken, or breakfast sandwich, or a pastry, or whatever else they sell. This week, I went to see if this Roslindale bakery lived up to the hype. It didn't. But it was pretty good. I got a ham and cheese sandwich. The ham had a light, not unpleasant flavor, but a really heavy feel in my stomach. The sandwich also didn't come with any condiments, and was kind of dry. The tomatoes were very fresh. They give you a side with every sandwich, and I chose roasted potatoes. They were nice, but I'd have preferred a pasta salad or potato salad. Sadly, neither was an option. The coffee was really, really weak. Like splash of milk makes it grey weak. I had a bite of my wife's tuna melt. It was fantastic. We had some sweets, too. They sell Boland's soda, which is really tasty, and our baked choices included an apple turnover, which was bland at the corners, but lovely in the middle, and a good peanut butter cookie and home-made oreo cookie. I did genuinely enjoy Fornax, and I'll be back, but reviews were exaggerated.
(4)Mairead N.
This place is right in the center of Roslindale Village. Opened in 1997 by a husband and wife team and they have been going strong in the village ever since. Their breads are so great! All made fresh on the premises. They have a really adorable seating area and it makes this place a great "local" bakery/cafe. The menu is wonderful and varied, sandwiches, made with their fresh bread, pizzettas, soups and pastries for dessert. Coffee/tea/hot chocolate and soft drinks are available also. The wait staff are attentive and know their breads/pastries etc. and on Saturday and Sunday mornings this place is hopping with people having brunch or getting some yummy fresh made bread! Thank you Fornax Bread Co!
(5)Whitney R.
Fornax sandwiches = FRESH! The choices are few, but no matter what you get, it WILL be good. Their chicken sandwich actually contains a fillet of chicken, and you can taste every ingredient they place into their sandwiches. They also have an assortment of baked goods that I haven't had the pleasure of trying. I'd like to bring some of their bread home with me, too, but since I'm used to buying bread with lots of preservatives so I can eat it for weeks, I might find it to be a bit too fresh. Is that possible? I also love eating in at Fornax. It's a tiny place that is full of mis-matched furniture and old knickknacks. It has a unique aura of antiquity that gives the impression that it hasn't changed since it was first established. Very cool, and delicious.
(5)Cheryl R.
The best sourdough. Awesome pizza dough. Tasty sandwiches. Pastries to die for. My kids beg for their pumpkin bread. Love love love!
(5)Jules H.
OM NOM NOM. Finally checked this place out, one very tired and stressful afternoon, and the Boyf and I each had sammiches that made us feel SO MUCH BETTER. I had the pesto, he a ham and cheese, and the bred was fresh as can be, the pesto on mine was gorgeously bright, and it was just warm and toasty enough. Plus, each sammich comes with a side, making it a really reasonable price for the food you get. I've also bought a couple of baguettes here, and DAMN it's good -- it has that elusive crust with a soft middle, and I recommend picking up one of the blue flyers at the counter so you know which days they bake which loaves. As I write this, I am re-crisping mine according to their instructions, and last time I did this, the bread was as if I had baked it fresh myself!
(4)Annie G.
On mornings when I know the day will be long and dreary, I stop at Fornax on the way to work. They have fantastic breakfast. I usually get the sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast...sandwich (it's in a little pastry pocket) and a coffee. The damage is minimal. The woman at the register is always very pleasant but sometimes kitchen gets a little slow. This is a no-frills neighborhood bakery. Don't expect fancy coffee drinks!
(3)CL S.
Though the customer service leaves a good bit to be desired, the sandwiches and breads make up for it. I keep returning, despite knowing I'll be greeted with a scowl, just because I know that the bread is a slice of heaven (we form entire meals around what we can pair with a Fornax baguette) and the sandwiches are perfection (you *will* eat the whole thing, regardless of how hungry you are, I assure you).
(4)Adeline E.
I haven't eaten there, so this is all about the bread! Best baguettes around. Eat your heart out, JP Blue Frog, which for some reason many local places -- even ones in Roslindale Square! -- seem to stock and serve. Great prices & good variety of breads. Friendly counter service. Avoid the coffee, though, even if you're in a bind.And the card fee is like a quarter or 50 cents, which doesn't bother me if I've forgotten to get cash.
(4)Michelle L.
I stopped in here on my meander through Roslindale Open Studios. I'd never been before but remembered having seen the name before as a good bakery. Once I was inside, I was a goner: I was surrounded by fresh-baked bread, whole-wheat brownies (!), slices of pumpkin bread, ham and cheese croissants, everything in the world to tempt me. But as it happens, I had a bit of a sore throat, so I held back from baked goods, however delicious, as too dry to be swallowed easily, and I held back from the exciting sandwich menu, in favor of one of the daily soups: split pea with ham. Split pea with ham is one of my favorite soups, and I especially crave it on crisp autumn days. This was one of the better pea soups I've had; the lean, tender ham really made it. It came with two thin slices of multigrain bread. The bread was warm. I don't know why-- it was such a simple touch-- but this made me all but shiver with delight. The soup was exactly what I needed, and the bread was hearty and excellent for mopping up every last trace of the soup out of my bowl (which I'm hardly ever inclined to do, but here I HAD to). As a sponsor of Roslindale Open Studios, the walls were decorated with a local artist's mixed media pieces. This added an extra bit of charm to the homestyle, thrift-store ambience. Service was brisk and more friendly than I'm used to. I'm typically happy with the service I receive anywhere I go, but there was something extra here. I tipped generously. It was only as I was on my way out the door that I noticed the wide selection of cookies in jars behind the counter. Alas, some other day, perhaps...
(4)Julie S.
While apartment hunting in Roslindale yesterday I decided to check out Fornax Bread Company for lunch. I was excited to find such a cute little sandwich place on an otherwise not so inviting block (my apologies to fans of Roslindale Village- maybe I just don't get it yet). I ordered the portobello mushroom and roasted red pepper sandwich. Not being very creative, I ordered it as it was designed, on a seeded roll. I thought perhaps it would be a bit weird since it was a pressed sandwich, but I went with it, because they're the bread people, not me. And yes, it was kind of weird. Also weird- they put lettuce or spinach or something on the sandwich which did not taste good pressed. It just tasted soggy. I picked it off. The mushrooms were not marinated in anything, so it was just a blah mushroom sandwich. Normally I love portobellos, but they really have to be marinated to taste like anything special. For $8 this sandwich was waaaay overpriced. I also bought some English muffins to take home and toasted them up this morning with some raspberry jam. My husband loved them. I could take it or leave it. I'll have to try another type of bread next time and reassess.
(3)Jess H.
I wanted to like this place more than I did. I bought a loaf of challah and a buttermilk biscuit, even though I was eyeing their large offering of breads. I am going to give it another try, because I'm not sure if I just ordered the wrong thing. The challah was dry-ish and didn't have the honey, egg-y taste I am used to from other very good bakeries I've been. The biscuit was big, but dry and not at all buttery or flaky, like I like 'em. All this said, there were a lot more things to try, and I'll be back to give it another go.
(3)Chuck K.
Fornax Bread Company is a great place to go if you want to pay extremely high prices for worse-than-average sandwiches. Let's face it, if you're in Roslindale, you're probably having a bad day. Maybe you're waiting on an endless line at the post office, being ritually tortured at the RMV or trying to recover from identity theft at the Social Security office. Maybe you hit the trifecta. Worst possibility of all is that your entire life has been messed up and now you actually LIVE in Roslindale. Where was I? Oh yeah, Roslindale. Trying to ameliorate your pain, you step into the Fornax Bread Company. This place looks nice. They're obviously trying to be fancy. Whoa, check out those high-ass prices! They *must* be serving good food here. No, I got the Pesto and Mozzarella sandwich on rye. Now, granted, I didn't throw up or get diarrhea or double-over in pain. That's the best thing I can say about the food. Everything was forgettable. The pesto may have been too salty. Or it may have been just right. Who can remember? Ditto the mozzarella. At least the bread had to be special, right? I mean, it's the Fornax *Bread* Company, for crying out loud. (What's the matter? "Bakery" isn't a fancy enough word?) No, the bread--rye in this case--was a complete non-starter. They tried to give it to me "toasted" but instead I got somewhere in between "burnt" and "practically on fire." So what's the worst part of spending $8 for a sandwich that I could make just as well while walking in my sleep? I gave 'em a credit card because, well, I wanted to. So it turns out that if you spend less than $10, they charge you a fee. They are violating their merchant agreement when they do that. mastercard.com/us/busine… Not only are they violating a contract, but they have the gall to complain that they're doing it because of "high merchant fees" imposed on "small businesses." This "small business" just charged me $8 for a sandwich. Now they're violating their merchant contract to charge me even more! So I politely informed the very nice lady behind the counter. All of a sudden, she copped a 'tude. "Yeah, yeah. We know we're violating the agreement. You're NOT the first person to tell us that." What. The. FUCK?!? They're *knowingly* breaking their contract to tack on extra charges onto an $8 sandwich? Honestly, if I weren't so honest I would complain about the several rat turds I saw on the floor at this place. But there's no need to lie. This is a place that makes worse-than-mediocre sandwiches and charges you as if they had a tip that you were a member of the Saudi royal family. Fornax Bread Company is run by the scum of the earth.
(1)Scott P.
Fantastic bakery/sandwich shop - great selection of breads, muffins, cookies and the like. Favorite part - they sell cookie dough so you can bake them at home. Excellent sandwiches for breakfast and lunch - service can be slow at times, but the sandwiches are well worth the wait. There are a few small tables, but we usually take them home, or sit in Adams Park.
(5)Shelly R.
We moved to Roslindale four months ago, and we get all of our bread and sweets from Fornax. (any sweet thing in loaf form is worth buying) The staff are fanastic. I wish they could configure the counter in a way that didn't create backup at the door, but, overall, we love stepping in here and think this place is one of the best things about Roslindale.
(5)Chris B.
my wife loves this place and I love their pizza dough. I have to give them credit where credit is due. I came here one day to buy some bread and the young lady who rang me up accidently overcharged me. She then told me she messed up and that she corrected it. So thinking I had that money in there i continued to run errands that day. the next day i find out that i was hit with overdraw fees due to the overcharge the day before. what had happen was she credited my account and that usually takes 1 week to process. I then called the manager of fornax and explained my situation. He was kind enough to work with me to resolve this situation. he even went up to the bank with me to try to cut a deal with my bank. in the end he return the money i was owed originally and replaced the money taking from my account with overdraw fees. This company is a great place with even better management. I am proud to say that even though that issued occurred, it will not prevent me from going back here. I felt the owner handled my situation very well and he definitely has pleased and made the best out of a screwed up situation. I will definitely recommend this place.
(4)Shia G.
Great baked good, I had the sticky bun ($2.75+) which was a sweet croissant like roll perfect ratio of cinnamon-sugar and butter. Also I tried the walnut "something" bread ($2.50+) and the cinnamon twist ($2+). All pretty good and some great fresh bread/rolls. Prices are a bit steep for product but like everywhere in Boston.
(3)Megan S.
The smell of this place is warm, yummy carbs. I usually just pick up my loaves of bread here, but when I'm feeling really bad I'll get one of their delicious cupcakes. Mmmmm . . .
(4)Noah N.
Fornax is a pleasant little bakery, to tell the truth. We went right before closing time, but the lovely counter girl still served us some tea from their broad selection and gave us some free banana bread! Delish, as Rachel Ray would say. Or yumm-o, is it? I can't recall... Regardless, I strongly recommend the place, and hope you'll love it as much as I did. (^_^)
(5)Catherine B.
The bread here is amazing, as are the desserts and treats (I have a serious weakness for their butterhorns) It's a great place to stop and have a quick soup and sandwhich (I've done this a dozen times and never been disappointed, ever) The holdback on 5 stars is the staff - I always feel like I'm bothering them somehow with my order. It's never bad enough to keep me away though.
(4)Jonathan B.
The breads and pizza dough from here are fantastic. All of them. We've tried them all, I think. I haven't had lunch here, but the breakfast sandwiches are AWESOME and come with a side of potatoes which I don't really care for but my wife thinks are terrific. The pastries are a bit more hit or miss, but the sweet rolls are awesome when they have them - sadly, I haven't seen them in the last few months. Highly recommended if you are down in lovely Roslindale.
(4)Celeste M.
I am a fan of Fornax, I suppose. My bf still loves it. I have discovered the banana and nutella sandwich, which is pretty cool. Their roasted pototoes that come with sandwiches is pretty nice. And I like their flaxseed brownie - it makes me feel good about eating a brownie.
(4)Peter E.
I live in Roslindale and feel very fortunate to have an artisan bakery this good in town. Not only is their bread incredible but they make great salads and sandwiches. The only negative is that service can be very slow. Probably because it is so small and they are popular.
(5)Adam C.
I went here for lunch recently and was impressed with the place. It's a good spot for lunch. They have a good menu with various sandwich and salad selections. They have 4 soups available as well. I had the turkey asiago w/ tomato on semi-sourdough and it was pretty awesome actually. Anyway, I was surprised that this is a place where you can sit down and eat lunch; I thought maybe it was just a counter where you order bread and pastries (which you can certainly get there), but there are actually 5 or so tables where you can sit down and eat your meal.
(4)Cecilia L.
Fornax has only been around since 1997, but in keeping with the Roslindale ethic, it looks straight out of 1955. The English muffins here are truly transcendent, so fragrant I sniffed them all the way home through the plastic bag. You'll never eat a supermarket hockey puck again. The sandwiches are great - try the salami and caramelized onion - and come with fresh and seasonal sides. The lemon meltaway cookie is superb and must be at least half butter (also sold at City Feed on Centre Street). Fornax is now a part of our weekend ritual.
(4)Meg C.
Had to grab a baguette for that lovely cheese we had just purchased around the corner. So we came for Fornax, since it was close and radiated delicious smells. I sampled a vegan oatmeal cookie, which was surprisingly good. But the bread was just lovely- crusty and chewy. The bakery itself was obviously full of locals who knew each other. It is very charming and a great resource for the neighborhood.
(4)Zac N.
Stopped in for some tea, which was great, and the breads looked awesome. Nice service, too.
(5)Asta S.
The bakery is very homey and cute. There are a few bistro sized tables and nice big windows that make the space light and airy. The customer service was good and the scones are awesome. However, I was not blown away by the ham & cheese croissant or the English muffins. They were good, but not the best I've ever had. I did love the cinnamon twist I had. The whole grains made it more filling than most breakfast pastries and it added a nice cheery texture to it.
(3)Katy N.
One of the best, simplest sandwiches I've ever had the pleasure of eating. I look forward to my next visit to Boston to have another.
(5)Doug M.
My whole family loves Fornax, from the large whole wheat loaves, small white loaves, buttermilk biscuits. I always have to buy an extra one because I'll have it eaten before I get home & my family would be mad.
(5)Marc L.
3 Important Things That Haven't Been Said about Fornax: By way of quick intro let me say I am a former professional baker, and extremely food-fixated. I'm not so easy to please, so when I am happy others tend to agree. While I think there is better bread to be had (Clearflour) and pastry (Canto 6) these guys have some charmers in their repetoire (the cinnamon raisin bread, their take-off on the Oreo with it's sweet/salty combination, and a very buttery decadent bearclaw like item that's name is escaping me) 1. The lunch salads are excellent, abundant and well-priced. For example, the mesclun salad is organic greens, currants, pine-nuts, home-made croutons from their bread, plus a couple pieces of fresh bread. Add chicken for for an extra buck. These easily feeds two (or nice leftovers). 2. They only make one breakfast but it's delicious and hearty and also could feed two if you weren't completely famished. They make a "breakfast sandwich" of eggs, their own fresh brioche, and your choice of breakfast meat (the sausage pattie is homemade and has fennel in it) a big side of roasted potatoes. It shows you why a righteous joint like this is light years from a fast food breakfast. 3. The physical space is really charming--old pressed tin ceiling, wood floors. It feels hip in a homespun way.
(4)Brian D.
I'm on a carb filled memory craze this morning thinking about where I've gotten amazing fresh baked bread that has knocked my socks off. Fornax jumps to the top of the list in Roslindale Village. This is a full on, extra hippie, stand up bread making operation that will not let you down. You can walk in and pick from the days creations, their regular loafs and rolls being my personal favorites. I really like the crunchy, almost hard crust that compliments a soft but not too mushy inner loaf. I've putsed around with making bread over the years and gotten quite familiar with the ingredients and complexity of baking and I really appreciate the work that they put into their breads. A few years back they also added a sit down menu with soups, salads etc that are all really stand up. It's not super cheap and I wouldn't expect to be in such a high rent area but it is worth every penny in my opinion. A few local stores carry their breads and a few restaurants as well so you may have had their stuff and not even known it.
(5)Courtney R.
Their bread and sandwiches are delicious and the mid-century vintage decor is warm and cozy and cute.
(5)Judy H.
The owner/head baker seems to be a sweetheart. The goat cheese spinach turnovers are to die for. I have also had a spinach salad here and it was very good. But mt favorite are those spinach and goat cheese turnovers. I buy them every time I am in he shop.
(4)s s.
How to sum up the Fornax? So homey, so cozy, so sweet and lovely and yummy. I always feel like I'm eating a sandwich in my great grandma's kitchen, one that has been prepared with love and delicious basic wholesome ingredients. It's a weekly lunch stop for me, coziest in the winter when you can be snug in a table in the back with half of a tuna melt, some outrageous rosemary carrots, and a steaming paper cup of butternut squash soup while you listen to WERS (!!!) and watch the cars go by outside. The staff could not be sweeter or any more accommodating. Plenty of highchairs, crayons, and plastic dinosaurs for the little guys. Iced coffee could be brewed stronger, but free soymilk makes up for that. This is where my baby had his first taste of solid food - and the rosemary carrots are still his fave. Superlative bread and baked goods. It's the absolute best part of Roslindale.
(5)Adam E.
I don't care if I'll always be fat, I'm never giving up carbs and this is why. Fornax bread is outrageous, so freaking good. It's also really reasonably priced and they'll slice it for you! They also have fantastic baked goods, I got this weird almond thing (I think they called it a Wale Twist?) and it was ungodly good. It was like a mix of an almond croissant and a raspberry danish. Their sandwiches sound great too, I've only tried the grilled cheese and tomato (which they accidentally gave me instead of ham & cheese, minus one star!). Still, it was pretty excellent. The staff is hit or miss. When I came for pastries at 7am, the teen was nicer to me than I deserved, especially when I said I had to run next door to the ATM. But I've been here in the afternoon when some surlier teens were working. But I give them a break, those years are tough. Oh, and they do accept cards, but it's a $10 minimum.
(4)Katie R.
This place is great! I first had their soup at the Taste of Roslindale, and I swear, it was the best thing I had all night! Went to visit Fornax and found it to be a cute space with great selection of meals, tasty treats, and loaves of bread. Soup was just as delicious as it was at the Taste. Also, it is appreciate that they list all of the ingredients in their breads -- my mom has a bunch of food sensitivities and it's great to know what she can eat. My only complaint would be that they don't post their soups and quiches of the day on their website. I'd love to see this info made available so I knew if I should make the trek over -- but obviously -- this is just a teeny weeny complaint. Overall -- wonderful!
(4)Daniel A.
Fornax bread is generally a great place to grab some great bread or a really good sanwich in the square. I usually get my sandwiches for take-out, but there are a few tables where you can sit and do some people watching as Fornax is almost always bustling and the people of Roslindale are an interesting bunch. My only beef with the place is that they forget to put requested onions on my sandwiches way too often.
(4)JBird Z.
Absolutely one of the best bakeries I've yet to find in Greater Boston (Toretta's in Revere is another). Their signature bread is a boule which in my experience always has a nice crust which is not too thick and not too thin and the soft middle is perfectly chewy with a just-past-subtle sourdough flavor. The croissant I had once was AMAZING, but be prepared, while fluffy it was not light...very heavy on butter (which I love). I've also tried a few of their pastries and they too were just top notch. The stuff is just always fresh, always delicious. I have yet to try their sandwiches, soups etc. If I want a great sandwich, mmmmm give me two slices of Fornax' boule and put just about anything in the middle!
(4)Dave E.
I've been buying bread here for months now and they have never let me down in that department. My latest discovery has been the rosemary bacci - just delicious. Pastry items continue to underwhelm though. The scones are really absurdly hard and dry, and very skimpy on the fruit. Sandwiches are also nothing special, Blue Star and Jimmies on the same street make much better.
(4)M. L.
Such an awesome spot!! The breads are all freshly made and so tasty. Reasonable prices and local charm make it worth walking or driving to. Try the squash soup when they have it avialable!
(5)Ren P.
I dragged myself out of bed on Monday for a way-too-early trip to the laundromat. I didn't have time to make breakfast before I left, so I stopped in Fornax, enjoyed the cozy, well-decorated atmosphere, and ordered an egg and cheese sandwhich to go. It was amazing. Usually when I eat things I can make at home, I am disappointed because I could have done it better. This sandwhich -- I don't understand how they do it. It was fluffy yet filling, almost like a souffle on grilled bread. This may be the most outstanding breakfast item I have ever eaten out. And then there was a surprise of tasty home fries in my to go bag. The reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because I felt a little lost. No one told me, "The coffee is behind there," or "Your sandwhich will come out of the kitchen, that window right over there." Did I mention that it was early? I could've used some extra customer service. But the food made up for it.
(4)Pete L.
I tried this bakery after the many rave reviews here. Unfortunately the standards of the reviewers must differ from mine. This place is very amateurish and lacks real knowledge of how bread should be. I suggest they go train with a real European bakery. Any average bakery in Belgium, Holland or France will beat them hands down. The oversized (why?) cinnamon swirl was chewy, so only half-baked. The croissants really do not deserve the name. 'Croissant' means 'crunchy', not soft, chewy, shapeless, halfbaked. 'They are pieces of dough with stuffing, not true croissants. Similarly the baguette was nothing of the kind. It was not fluffy, airy and crisp. It was instead tough from teh outside and thick, almost like a German type of bread. The two positives were: - that it was dirt cheap, so I did not feel like I lost a lot and - the piece of carrot cake (or carrot bread) my wife had was delicious, which is no surprise since that is a total different subject matter as compared to true bread and is typically well done here in the USA because it is so simple to make. Avoid if you can afford better.
(1)kellan e.
Without a doubt the *best* bakery in Boston. The bacci rolls make the best sandwiches, the multi-grain boule is rich, moist, and substantial, and the North Italian sourdough has a great crust and subtle flavor. Boston suffers under a plague of so-called bakeries, which are really bad Italian patisseries with Bird's Custard yellow cream. But even the handful of real bakeries (Iggy's, Hi-Rise, Flour) can't hold a candle to this real, artisanal, old world bread. You can pick up their breads at Harvest and City Feed if you don't fancy the trek to Roslindale.
(5)B R.
Great selection of breads and pastries. I had a breakfast sandwich, which was served on a freshly made english muffin. Excellent. I purchased two bags of them before I left. They also have a rotating selection of traditional and creative soups, sandwiches and salads. Coffee, sodas and teas are also available. The owners and employees were very helpful and seemed to be enjoying themselves which is a huge plus. I'll be back for the pizza dough soon.
(5)Sami W.
Great Bakery, the sanwiches are delicious, but the seating area is very small, the tables are close to each other, that is the reason why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
(4)Dianna B.
Excellent local bread place in Rozzie Square. It's a great meeting place for the neighborhood as well. The breads, English muffins and sandwiches are great. The only downside is the service from the register staff -- who don't seem to take their job seriously and seem to be easily confused.
(4)Kelly A.
I havent been there is sooooooo long but every time I had gone in the past I enjoyed the sandwich I got 100%!
(4)Glenn B.
Outstanding bread. Stop on Saturday morning for fresh english muffins, and pick up a sliced half-boule to make some special sandwiches for the work week.
(5)Jane H.
Best bread in Boston. I still make a regular trip there even though its not down the street anymore. Their sandwiches should not be missed either. Get there early for a good selection.
(5)Grace G.
I have been going since the bakery opened in 1997. Love the breads, love the lunches, love the store layout. Recently, they have started selling pizza dough. I am not a java junkie so i can not comment on the coffee. I only gave the place three stars because of the owners and counter staff. They are granola-crunchy snobs who are condecending towards working-class customers. When a yoga-mat toteing, j.jill - clad woman comes in, they are very personable and accomodating. When an over-weight joe six-pack lumbers in, they are terse and dismissive.
(3)Kate B.
The bread is delicious, especially my favorite, the raisin pumpernickel. But the other baked goods are not so great. Good sandwiches and soup too, though they seem frazzled when they get more than one sandwich order at a time, so be prepared to wait.
(4)Ben B.
I used go there all the time for a half-boule, sliced. Such good bread - they get five stars just for that. I also love the tuna melt and some of the pastry. Lousy coffee, but you know they put their focus on bread and that focus pays off.
(5)Roy S.
Try the Butterhorns! They're filo/croissant rolls covered in crumbcake topping and glaze. They have great coffee too!
(4)Tiana W.
I love Fornax. Their bread is amazing, their salads are so good and their croissants are to die for! I gave them 4 instead of 5 stars because I don't think their butternut squash is very good but besides that, I love them!
(4)Karly M.
Fornax is a great place to get lunch. I love the chicken salad, which has interesting little tidbits in it, like currants and pine nuts. BIg fan of the boule as well.
(4)Anne A.
$5.25 half/$7.00 whole is too much for a sandwich, especially one that isn't all that big, and the cole slaw side isn't really cole slaw; the vegetables are cut up, but not shredded, and there isn't any dressing. Still, I do like their tuna melts, as well as the mismatched furniture and the photos on the walls - they're interesting and give the place a nice local feel.
(4)Elise H.
so they didn't have honey mustard today, but i don't mind even a little because i usually go for coffee and scone, or pb on toasted mutligrain. this place is so affordable and so delicious with a nice down to earth staff. the jars of home-made oreos, macaroons, chocolate chip cookies line the back wall next to shelves of home-made bread ranging from batard, to soda bread, brioche, french baguettes...in the front cases there are various scones: raisin, ginger almond, cranberry oat, banana, along with buttermilk biscuits, sweet rolls, ham and cheese baguettes, and beautiful cup cakes. the walls change decorations--from children's designed tiles, to a display of antique-y lace and embroidery, to the most current frames of old album covers, and magazine adds and portraits. the architecture itself is also wonderful. the old building has funky details throughout--make sure to got to the bathroom just to check out how it grows into the kitchen and prep rooms. i go fairly frequently with by boyfriend, and i hope it stays that way for a while. also, i have never spent more than 12 dollars there. its one of those places you not only truly enjoy as a space to eat and drink, but also one you love to support.
(5)Kelly A.
I havent been there is sooooooo long but every time I had gone in the past I enjoyed the sandwich I got 100%!
(4)Glenn B.
Outstanding bread. Stop on Saturday morning for fresh english muffins, and pick up a sliced half-boule to make some special sandwiches for the work week.
(5)Jane H.
Best bread in Boston. I still make a regular trip there even though its not down the street anymore. Their sandwiches should not be missed either. Get there early for a good selection.
(5)Pete L.
I tried this bakery after the many rave reviews here. Unfortunately the standards of the reviewers must differ from mine. This place is very amateurish and lacks real knowledge of how bread should be. I suggest they go train with a real European bakery. Any average bakery in Belgium, Holland or France will beat them hands down. The oversized (why?) cinnamon swirl was chewy, so only half-baked. The croissants really do not deserve the name. 'Croissant' means 'crunchy', not soft, chewy, shapeless, halfbaked. 'They are pieces of dough with stuffing, not true croissants. Similarly the baguette was nothing of the kind. It was not fluffy, airy and crisp. It was instead tough from teh outside and thick, almost like a German type of bread. The two positives were: - that it was dirt cheap, so I did not feel like I lost a lot and - the piece of carrot cake (or carrot bread) my wife had was delicious, which is no surprise since that is a total different subject matter as compared to true bread and is typically well done here in the USA because it is so simple to make. Avoid if you can afford better.
(1)Judy H.
The owner/head baker seems to be a sweetheart. The goat cheese spinach turnovers are to die for. I have also had a spinach salad here and it was very good. But mt favorite are those spinach and goat cheese turnovers. I buy them every time I am in he shop.
(4)kellan e.
Without a doubt the *best* bakery in Boston. The bacci rolls make the best sandwiches, the multi-grain boule is rich, moist, and substantial, and the North Italian sourdough has a great crust and subtle flavor. Boston suffers under a plague of so-called bakeries, which are really bad Italian patisseries with Bird's Custard yellow cream. But even the handful of real bakeries (Iggy's, Hi-Rise, Flour) can't hold a candle to this real, artisanal, old world bread. You can pick up their breads at Harvest and City Feed if you don't fancy the trek to Roslindale.
(5)B R.
Great selection of breads and pastries. I had a breakfast sandwich, which was served on a freshly made english muffin. Excellent. I purchased two bags of them before I left. They also have a rotating selection of traditional and creative soups, sandwiches and salads. Coffee, sodas and teas are also available. The owners and employees were very helpful and seemed to be enjoying themselves which is a huge plus. I'll be back for the pizza dough soon.
(5)Sami W.
Great Bakery, the sanwiches are delicious, but the seating area is very small, the tables are close to each other, that is the reason why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
(4)Ren P.
I dragged myself out of bed on Monday for a way-too-early trip to the laundromat. I didn't have time to make breakfast before I left, so I stopped in Fornax, enjoyed the cozy, well-decorated atmosphere, and ordered an egg and cheese sandwhich to go. It was amazing. Usually when I eat things I can make at home, I am disappointed because I could have done it better. This sandwhich -- I don't understand how they do it. It was fluffy yet filling, almost like a souffle on grilled bread. This may be the most outstanding breakfast item I have ever eaten out. And then there was a surprise of tasty home fries in my to go bag. The reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because I felt a little lost. No one told me, "The coffee is behind there," or "Your sandwhich will come out of the kitchen, that window right over there." Did I mention that it was early? I could've used some extra customer service. But the food made up for it.
(4)Jessie M.
Delicious food with friendly service. I got a chicken sandwich with a side of slaw on a poppy bun and it was incredible! Slaw was not over powering and had a hint of sweetness. I will definitely go back for more lunchtime goodies!
(4)Gregory M.
Come on, Fornax! You get Boston's Best of award for bread so you're done trying? I ordered a Roasted Veggie sandwich with chicken on a baguette and it left a lot to be desired. Now, I can understand if the place was packed and the sandwich station was slammed with orders, but my girlfriend and myself were the only ones in there. What came out was a toasted baguette with sparse amounts of eggplant and peppers, with the saddest amount of hummus. No caramelized onions or chicken to be found, and I know with it costing $9.15 that I paid for the add-on. The baguette was good, I'll give that to you, so yes maybe your award was valid. But that's no excuse to overlook an order and serve a sparse sandwich. Until next time!
(3)Luis S.
A favorite of my baby daughter & mine. We get our birthday treats from here too!
(4)Josh W.
Rustic vibe. It's an annual tradition to go here in the fall for butternut squash soup and some good bread. Really like this place.
(5)Faraz S.
Love this place. Breakfast sandwich on english muffins are on point! I've never been a fan of what I thought were English muffins until I came to this place.. totally changed my perspective on bread done right. Very friendly behind the counter. This is currently my go-to for a quick breakfast.
(5)Andrew P.
Wicked good breakfast sandwiches. Fresh and delicious. Atmosphere is great too. Has a very down to earth feeling. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a bite to eat at a quaint little bakery.
(4)April M.
Fornax has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. While I still live a solid mile away (not really walk-able unless I'm up for a hike), we make it here quite often. They've got a wonderful assortment of breads, pastries, sandwiches (breakfast and lunch options), salads and drinks. I usually get an iced coffee and their classic breakfast sandwich on house-made English muffins. Oh so good, and they come with a side of home fries (which I never finish, but whatever). I've also had their lunch sandwiches, which come with a side salad and they do not disappoint! They have this little tin of oat crackers next to the register which are AWESOME for the little ones - especially when they are teething and/or just starting on solid foods. They can just mouth the heck outta those crackers until they get soggy and turn into oat mush that you'll need to clean off of everything. But they love it, and it's so worth it for less than a dollar! While there is seating, it can be quite tight. Don't think about bringing a stroller in there...we barely crammed our car seat in there when interviewing a nanny once and the people around probably hated us for it. If you're bringing baby, best to park the stroller out front, or use your baby carrier (you are in Rozzie, afterall!). It is kid friendly, but because of the tight quarters, I wouldn't recommend trying to spend too much time in there with a kid. They're bound to knock something over, bump into someone, or just generally cause a scene which everybody in the ten foot radius around you will have no choice but to tolerate. PSA: the hot coffee and tea are self-serve at a station next to the register, but it is *not* free! I watched this couple walk in and see someone making up their coffee (that they had just paid for) and say "oh, wow! look, they have free coffee!" and they proceeded to help themselves to the drink station without ordering and paying for it...As a somewhat regular (and a Rozzie local) it was kind of painful to watch, but I'm not one to but into someone else's business...so it just kind of happened. I can see how it can be confusing, since everything you need is right there and there aren't any signs that tell you to pay first. But yeah. Pay for your drinks before making them. Pro tip: the milk/cream for coffee and tea is kept cold inside the mini fridge. Open it up and help yourself to it (after you pay for your drink, of course!). So happy to have a spot like Fornax in the Village, it's local places like it that make Rozzie an awesome place to call home!
(5)Mckenzie G.
The wonderful smell of freshly baked bread hits you as soon as you walk.in . I was looking for espresso to no avail, but the staff was nice enough to try to help me make a makeshift mocha from the coffee on hand. I love the eclectic assortment of tables and artwork for sale. A very casual and welcoming place. While the bathroom is not the best accommodations, getting to it allowed me to see first hand the bread making process in full effect. So, in case you were wondering, they make all their goods on site.
(4)RoslindaMal E.
I really like Fornax and come here on a fairly consistent basis. Their homemade bread and breakfast/lunch sandwiches are really good & really fresh. I have been meaning to try their chicken potpies. The only drawback to Fornax is this place is on the small side, however the city just added parklet right besides Fornax on Cohasset Street so outdoor seating is now available. I am glad to have Fornax in Roslindale.
(4)Andrew S.
Was looking for a sandwich for lunch last Sunday, and my friend recommended Fornax with high regards. I decided to take the extended walk into town to give it a try. Excited for my sandwich, I walked in and began studying the menu board. After the lady finished talking to another customer, she walked towards me, said she saw me looking at the sandwich board, and told me that I shouldn't bother because the kitchen closed at 1:30pm. I looked at my phone which displayed 1:21pm. Normally, I wouldn't arrive at a restaurant near kitchen closing time, but it was still well enough beforehand that they should be serving their patrons. I tried clarifying with the woman that I was trying to give them my business, but she rudely reiterated the kitchen would be closing and would not accommodate me. She didn't even ASK the kitchen if they could, as if they were just trying to get out of there and enjoy their Sunday afternoons. Glancing back towards the kitchen, there were also two idle workers leaning against the window joking and laughing with each other . If I were a business owner and knew my employees were turning away customers like this, I wouldn't be too happy about it. This was my first attempt eating here, and I will never be back. Won't be recommending Fornax to any friends either. Very much a shame.
(1)Laura S.
I happened upon Fornax and decided to go there for lunch. Thank goodness I found a place for great coffee, sandwiches and salads! It is small and can get crowded, but I really loved the salad, BLT and their french bread. I will definitely come back and try their breakfast sandwiches and other breads. I know City Feed carries their english muffins, and they are great. I will buy them here from now on.
(4)Chris D.
Ok I'm not going to rehash what everybody else is saying. It's all true. The main reason for this review is a recent addition, well two recent additions if you include the Roslindale Main Streets "parklet" that just got installed outside. ** THEY HAVE AN ESPRESSO RIG NOW *** This is a huge deal given that the other coffeehouse in the village closed up months ago. You can get coffee at many places nearby but the espresso-based options are few and far between. Parklet, pop-tarts and espresso. Can't go wrong there.
(4)Luis N.
We walked in with a group of 6 adults and felt like maybe we made a mistake. If the food was anything less than awesome, I believe it would've been. Somehow we scored a table in the corner that fit us all instead of splitting us up. We sat, kinda snug, but with enough space to eat. The ordering process was easy enough but since the location is REALLY small it does get kinda cramped at the front where you order. I ordered the turkey sandwich on Whole grain bread. The rest of us all ordered different sandwiches with different breads. The overall consensus is...the bread here is PHENOMENAL. It takes a regular meal to another level. We all loved it and thought it was great. I ordered the "FULL" version which honestly felt like two sandwiches. So the portions aren't too small. My complaint is of course the size and therefore the bathroom situation. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the tiny bathroom in the back. How do they fix this problem? No idea. Maybe don't offer a bathroom but then that wouldn't work either. It just seems people will leave the bathroom and get AWFULLY close to the food. Which can be dangerous. Awesome bread here..enough to come back one day.
(4)Melisa M.
I had stopped in previously a month ago and no one ever saw me or greeted me, i left. I just don't like having to track people down to help me, I work in customer service and you need to be seen and be available. customers shouldn't have to play "lets find someone to help us" but eh iI was willing to try again please to note i was in alone sans any date...so yeah whatever i give up on that I was looking to buy a few little cupcakes for a friend who is having a turkey birthday and I'm sure no one was baking them a cake so...... someone greeted me right away this time and I picked out a few cupcakes they keep them refrigerated which I guess is for the frosting but they were pretty hard even an hour later, v v disappointing and one of the frosting tops tasted of onion or something not normally found in vanilla buttercream frosting? when things take on the taste of other things they are refrigerated with...well methinks those cupcakes have been in there for too damn long dry and harder than a rock I was embarrassed to have presented them as a birthday cake substitute....the buttercream frosting may have saved them but alas the one i tasted had some sort of onion flavor in it...dis-pleasurable to say the least To think i avoided the grocery store in favor of a bakery...I would have probably gotten a better deal for the money and at least a better taste...I realize the day before thanksgiving is a busy time,but shouldn't that make the turnover rate of items in the case faster? idk. not impressed. "bread company" *snorts
(1)Laura M.
There's a lot packed inside this tiny little bakery! The staff is helpful and friendly and the baked goods are delicious! All of the loaves I've tried have been great. I haven't tried the lunch sandwiches, but the breakfast sandwiches are dynamite! Don't forget to get a savory croissant or two to take home. I'm a big fan of their freshly baked English muffins- my toaster begs for them. The (self-serve) coffee is good too- look in the cooler for milk options. If you don't believe me, take the word of many local restaurants that serve bread from Fornax- this stuff is good. Tip: it's tiny, so I prefer to take out whenever possible but there is a make-shift patio area on the sidewalk for warmer days. Definitely a destination shop in Roslindale village.
(4)Magnus C.
What hookers and cocaine are to Charlie Sheen, bread is to me. So when I saw this place so highly ranked, I decided to stop on in. The place looked promising in that shabby chic way that says "there's home cooking happening in this place", and to make matters even better, on the radio Tom Petty was followed by Neil Young, who was then followed by Led Zeppelin. As my turn came to order food, I put in for a ham and cheese and retired to one of the back tables. Sadly, thirty minutes later I was still waiting for my food,while the stereo system got hijacked by one of the teeny bopper staffers who plugged her ipod in and "treated" everyone to the sounds of possessed raccoons (or maybe it was Miley Cyrus, I can never really tell) and all the air was let out of my proverbial souffle. I waited a few minutes more for my sandwich, and when it arrived I ate it and left in a hurry. It was a very good sandwich, but the potatoes which accompanied it were cold and far from multitudinous. And man... I was made to wait for it. 40 minutes doesn't seem like a lot of time for dining out, I suppose, but for a place that was nearly empty and considering it was just a sandwich, I expected better.
(3)Ayelet R.
There's nothing like the smell of fresh bread and you can smell this one all the way down the block. You'll just be having your innocent little walk, checking out all the cute boutiques that this neighborhood has to offer when all of a sudden it will hit you and just like a siren's song you will be useless to resist that heavenly waft. All flowery metaphors aside, this place smells awesome, and upon walking in and seeing their giant kitchen constantly churning out fresh loaves, it's not hard to understand why. These days just finding a bakery that bakes its own bread in house is something of a rarity, and it makes all the difference here. The loaves themselves are very sensibly priced and some types offer half-loaves if you're not ready to commit to the whole thing. Plus, they offer quite the selection. We got the Boule, Rosemary Batard and Irish Soda Bread and all tasted as amazing as they smelled. This was my first time trying Irish Soda Bread and I can't wait to try some more. We froze the boule and were happy to find that it still tasted just as fresh a few days later when we defrosted it. I also took a baked cinnamon apple donut and was super impressed by it. Who knew you could bake a donut? It may have tasted more like a cake than a traditional donut, but it was still fresh and warm and delicious. The sandwiches looked awesome as well, and I can't wait to come back and try some, especially considering it means getting to try even more of their bread.
(4)Ashley A.
This is my favorite go-to lunch spot in the Square. It's a small place with limited seating but I love the atmosphere! My personal favorite is half a roasted veggie sandwich on sour dough with a side of salad. It is very satisfying and very filling! (And also very inexpensive.) Their breads are freshly baked and their meals are made to order. Their baked goods are also very delicious. I love this place and I enjoy the food tremendously.
(4)Karen K.
I've been craving fornax and last week we didn't have clinic so I couldn't get my fix. Today I got the Danish snail and it was too good! Cinnamon taste with raisins and walnuts amazing! Too bad i scarfed it down before I could take a pic!
(4)Linda B.
Fornax was one of the first "new" businesses to put down roots in Roslindale Village over 15 years ago. Not only is all their food prepared from "scratch", their bread (and you can smell it rising after hours -- such a fabulous aroma that emanates from their kitchen) is the only bakery bread I will eat when I decide to jump off the gluten-free wagon. No other bread is worth the belly-ache, in my opinion! In addition to feeding us with genuine food and warm hearts, owners Kim and Chris Fallon consistently donate food to neighborhood events and show up to support the community in other ways as well. I recommend the genoa, tomato and carmelized onion sandwich, the chicken vegetable soup whose broth is rich with pureed squash, and for sides, the mayo-free cole slaw and tender roasted potatoes. I'm proud to have a business like Fornax in my neighborhood -- a great place to meet with new clients, too (I'm a Realtor) to show them the best of what Rozzie has to offer.
(5)Ju L.
AHMAZING pizza dough to make our own pizza at home. I've compared it to Trader Joe's and Fornax wins BY FAR.
(5)Ron H.
Wonderful bread, good wholesome salads, delicious and basic food. Love this place.
(5)Marcy L.
House of Pain (no, not a 50 Shades scenario - yes, a French culinary indulgence). A big thanks to my buddy, Brian, for leading me to this bready beauty! Saturday afternoon we made the venture; parking is difficult to find, table space is limited, but the quality is superb and would be the ideal local in-and-out breakfast hit spot. #1: sounds like a Seussical cafe #2: 16 breads baked daily, another number of other loaves on a rotating schedule, and ONLY place I've found Anadama south of NH (not as molassesy as I'd like, but still a pleasant surprise - and only $3.75!) #3: sandwiches, pizzettas, and salads will cost you about 7$ (the menu is small, but full of fantastic combinations featuring their own fresh bread). The breakfast sandwiches are highly recommended. #4: fabulous pastry selection (mini apple pie, giant brownies, croissants, tarts, oat cakes!). I can attest to the flavor splendor that is the Apricot Envelope ($2.75). #5: coffee situation: there are a few coffee canisters, and a hot water canister for tea (assortment above coffee). Did the trick for caffeine consumption, but not especially satisfying (then again, they're called the BREAD company, so the coffee station is more of a perk anyway). Loads of stir-in options (sugars, milks *including soy*, even marshmallows and whipped cream for their house-made hot cocoa!) are kept IN THE FRIDGE (other coffee spots forget that dairy require refrigeration). 6#: not a whole lot of space to move around, but the decor reminds me of my rural roots and the service is OUTSTANDING.
(5)Shiny B.
First off, I do really appreciate this place. I just see room for improvement. For instance, I might like this place better if the girl working mornings could manage to care a little bit. All the other employees are nice, so what's the deal? Their egg and sausage sandwich is great. But avoid the generally overcooked and chewy scones. Say yes to the Oreos. Central cooling would totally improve the place for those hot and miserable days.
(3)Hannah D.
Fornax for breakfast on Saturday mornings has become a tradition with the family. There is something for everyone! Most of the family decides on an egg sandwich. It is a great deal! You get a basket filled with the sandwich on GREAT bread and your choice of meat, along with a side of potatoes. Very tasty and at a great price. I always decide on the Vegan Apricot Scone...AMAZING!! It really hits the spot. Their coffee is also GREAT!! I am very picky when it comes to my coffee and I have to say Fornax really knows how to brew great coffee (hot and iced). Their iced tea is also great! The flavor changes daily. Fornax also has a wide range of breads that they can cut for you. It is great if you want something for dinner or even just to have in the house! They also have a wide range of bake goods and they have a little card that tells you exactly what is in the bake good. All in all Fornax is a great little bakery. Everything is always made fresh and they never disappoint. The service is also great. Walking in you feel right at home! Definitely stop by if you are in the area...you will not be disappointed!!
(5)Andres V.
Coffe was not fresh even though I asked and the pastry was stale. It was a sunday at 3:30 pm anf the shelves were empty
(2)Yelping Jabroni X.
4 1/2 You're not going to get better bread in the area, period. Spectacular pizza dough. Buy it, save on takeout forever. I can't count how many pizzas I've made with their dough. The confections range from okay to pretty darn good, but don't blow you away -their giant "oreo" is pretty good. The sandwiches and what-not get the job done. That being said, It's a bread bakery at its best. Best loaves around. Best English Muffins around. Best batard, baguette, pullman, peasant (by far!), etc, etc etc. I miss this place already.
(5)Honor P.
Visiting Fornax on Monday mornings has become a tradition in only three weeks and each time I have visited Fornax for breakfast, the whole day has felt quaint and easy. I always feel like I am stepping into a vacation or the company of honest people, it just feels simple and good. The pastries are great (get them warmed up!) and they have soymilk in the fridge. We can't wait to return try their pizza dough!
(5)Martin J.
Looks good, but the kitchen closes at 1:30 on Sundays in the summer, so don't get your hopes up for a late lunch.
(3)Kimberly P.
This review is based on one experience. I most likely would return to Fornax if I am in the area but this establishment would not be a destination for me. I stopped in a few months back as I was wandering around Roslindale Square and the bakery looked quaint and inviting. When I stepped in, I thought I'd died and gone to baked goods heaven... everything looked and smelled delicious. I ordered their quiche special and a small vegan cupcake (yummy). I began to eat the quiche - I had high hopes (As I do with anything involving eggs, cheese and bacon) but the taste of the quiche did not live up to my expectations. I envisioned it to be a 5 star delight and it tasted more along the lines of 3 stars... which soon dropped to 1 star when I found a hair baked into the quiche. I've worked in the food service industry before - these things happen. I just found the reaction to be a bit odd to say the least. I discretely alerted one of the women behind the counter (the place was pretty busy and I didn't want to make a scene). I handed the quiche to her and showed her the hair... though she seemed shocked she didn't say anything and just took the quiche and ran into the back room. Then she came back out grabbed 2 or 3 employees and rushed them back into the kitchen. I could see them all whispering in a concerned fashion. Finally the owner (?) came out, apologized and offered a replacement quiche...after my discovery, the last thing I wanted was more quiche! I politely refused and requested my money back. All in all, I think it was great that they wanted to rectify the situation and refunded my money but the scurrying, whispering and involving a group of people seemed a bit odd ...especially seeing as how small the place was and everyone in the establishment was eyeballing me as it was painfully obvious that I was the cause of the weirdness.
(3)lisa n.
We are a big fan of the food, coffee and bread. The quality of the food and the service are very good. However our only complaint is that we often cant get seating, we wonder why they have big tables rather then 2 person tables. With smaller furniture they would probably be able to fit more people and make it feel less cramped. This is the reason we dont dine in as much as we would like. Overall we are fans and enjoy the smell of the bakery from down the street!
(4)Hannah D.
A friend and I came from north of the city to roam around Forest Hills Cemetery, about 10 minutes away from Fornax. I had checked out lunch places in the area, and this one was the one we decided to try first. It's little, but the decor is charming in a shabby chic way. We both had the soup and 1/2 sandwich special, butternut squash soup for me, lentil for my friend, and BLTs for both of us. With one coffee tossed in the whole bill came to $19.95. My meal was accompanied by green salad, hers with cole slaw. The portion size was very generous, and everything was wonderfully fresh. The multi grain bread had a nice texture and was delicious. Coffee was just fine. This next might not sound so great, but the rest room was accessed by going through the food prep area. It was actually a good experience seeing just how fresh the vegetables looked as they were being chopped and how neat and clean the area was kept. A delightful experience. Wish I lived closer.
(5)Liliana C.
Say yes to an oreo and you won't be disappointed. Also enjoyed our (chicken) pizza, even if it could have used a little more flavor. Would buy pizza dough next time, no doubt!
(4)Justo G.
I don't always eat bread but when I do, I buy it at Fornax! This company is great because of how local it is. One of (if not the) best bread company in this side of town. Their bread selection stretches pretty far and It sure beats any bread from the big name markets. Another reason that makes this place unique is their lunch menu, most of which are always accompanied by fresh and toasted house made bread.
(5)laura W.
i just ate the last bite of my roasted veggie (red bell peppers, portobellos) with chicken on a bed of mesclun greens with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing ($9 with chicken)... WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO MY MOUTH?! pure HEAVEN, that's what! i seriously was making my coworkers uncomfortable with all my grunts and groans of delight. ...i thought i didnt even like salads!
(5)Jonathan T.
About a month ago, on a Saturday, my wife asked me to pick up lunch for her and her bridesmaids while they assembled gift bags for our wedding. She placed the order, I picked it up. While I was at Fornax waiting for the order, there were two girls working behind the counter, they appeared to be college students, presumably working part-time. One of them was moving breads around on the rack using wax paper (standard kitchen protocol), while the other was snacking on a baked good and when finished licked her fingers, picked something out of her teeth with her finger and then proceeded to help move bread around barehanded. Needless to say, I will not be eating here again.
(1)Laina P.
Seriously Great Sandwiches. Especially the breakfast sandwich (tip: get the breakfast sandwich without meat on brioche and add tomato and avocado for the most delicious vegetarian breakfast sandwich you'll ever eat in your life) Great bread, too, but that's not a surprise. I took a star off because their hours aren't consistent or accurately advertised (the website says the kitchen opens at 8 every day, but when I went in one day for an early breakfast I was told the kitchen opens at 8:30)
(4)Dan D.
I have been going here for years now. I am friends with Kim and Chris who hire staff who work as hard as they do. And the bread? How good? Let's just say there is no other place in Boston like this place. Big Sourdough Boule is my favorite, but it's all fresh every day and there are no losers on this menu. They also serve lunch, which is a little dear for my pocket book and the place can get a little crowded and hectic, so for sit down it is not the best. Better to get the bread and DIY in your own kitchen .
(4)Mike O.
God! Why can't we give half stars??? To echo others before me, I really do like Fornax, and I'm even more supportive perhaps (hence the four star instead of three) because they are a locally owned and operated business, BUT I've got to tell you that their bread, and selection, leaves something to be desired. It's not the crowded, compact space - I couldn't care less about that, or how long it takes to get to the register on the weekends, or the lack of a more robust breakfast menu. I just want two things: an adequate selection to choose from and freshness. Let me touch on the latter first. The freshness has been there about 90% of the time, but there have been a few occurrences when I've wondered if what was sold to me was day old, or possibly over baked. I'm no expert on breads, by any means, but it's a fairly simple concept to wrap your head around and I know when something is off when it shouldn't be. It could very well be that once in a while, rather than discard something that is not perfect, it gets put on the rack to sell. The only problem you'd run into is this happening to the same person more than once and then your consistency goes out the window. At a premium you cannot afford to lose the appearance of consistency. The English Muffins have way too much bread to nook and cranny ratio, and I've had some loaves last over a week. I'd really like it if my bread started to rot after a few days; I'd be much more inclined to eat bread knowing it's not filled with preservatives. As far as the selection; it needs work. It is peculiar to me that there is no demand for Challah Bread in this neighborhood. No pita either... no wraps or tortillas. I've thought that maybe I just missed out by the time I got there, but these items are never in stock. The Boules, the Batards, the Baguettes, and loaves are all very good if you get a good batch. Fornax is the best option in the neighborhood but across town I'd have to rate them a possible third or fourth. If you're in Rosi and are questioning stopping in, give them a shot. Grab some cheese around the corner at Boston Cheese Cellar and slap that on that bread; wash it down with some vino from Solera and there you have a delectable little snack. I'd put money on you not being disappointed!
(4)J C.
I go in for a loaf of bread. I come out with a whole lot more.
(5)fred f.
Coming for Northern Suburbia, this bakery feels like it's at the other end of the world for me. But I love to go to Fornax on my rare trips to Rozzie. The baked goods are awesome, and i love the cozy storefront. The other day, I was looking for a cute little birthday cake for two. Although I had only had their breads and cookies in the past, I was inspired by great pastry reviews here on Yelp to try Fornax's cakes this go-round. The head baker spoke with me and took the time to discuss a bunch of options. She was very helpful, and so enthusiastic. At one point as i was trying to figure out what to get, she chimed in: "oh! how about a white cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream!!??" I went with that, and the next day, I drove by to pick up a true gem of a cake. They had cut the cake into three layers, and covered each with fresh cut berries. They then piped just enough whipped cream to make it look as decadent as it tasted The cake itself couldn't be more delicious, or fresher ( they had just finished cooling it, and were just arranging the berries an cream when i stopped by) ... and though the cake was supposed to be for two, it could easily have served 3-4 people with the generous portions of berries and cream they put on it..
(5)chris d.
I like Fornax, I really do. I also enjoy having a real neighborhood bakery. However, in a bakery- there should never be a distinction between a loaf of bread that is cooked the appropriate amount of time and one that is "well done". Bread is never "well done". While I understand the terminology as an approach to put a positive spin on the fact that it's burnt- you and I both know that it's burnt. Perhaps you're hoping that maybe I will say to myself, "Oooh, well done bread- I can avoid the pesty doughiness". Yet, I won't. I don't want to buy burnt bread. While ingredients are expensive, and I see the vast amount of ingredients that you have unloaded during the week, burnt bread should not be the same price as bread which is cooked appropriately. It's kind of insulting. I'm smarter than that. Problems aside, I will remain a patron, because I enjoy the local flavor, and I can still decline the well-done bread.
(3)Christine V.
I've been going here for a few years. The bread..Phenomenal! The sandwiches on the bread..even better. Meals made from scratch. Delicious!! The decorations inside, cozy and unique. Definitely not the decor of a chain restaurant. Makes you feel right at home. =) Prices are decent. Portion sizes are great.
(5)Matt W.
There have been a number of reports to me about Fornax having the best sandwiches anywhere. Friends for years have been insisting that I go there for the tuna melt, or the roasted chicken, or breakfast sandwich, or a pastry, or whatever else they sell. This week, I went to see if this Roslindale bakery lived up to the hype. It didn't. But it was pretty good. I got a ham and cheese sandwich. The ham had a light, not unpleasant flavor, but a really heavy feel in my stomach. The sandwich also didn't come with any condiments, and was kind of dry. The tomatoes were very fresh. They give you a side with every sandwich, and I chose roasted potatoes. They were nice, but I'd have preferred a pasta salad or potato salad. Sadly, neither was an option. The coffee was really, really weak. Like splash of milk makes it grey weak. I had a bite of my wife's tuna melt. It was fantastic. We had some sweets, too. They sell Boland's soda, which is really tasty, and our baked choices included an apple turnover, which was bland at the corners, but lovely in the middle, and a good peanut butter cookie and home-made oreo cookie. I did genuinely enjoy Fornax, and I'll be back, but reviews were exaggerated.
(4)Mairead N.
This place is right in the center of Roslindale Village. Opened in 1997 by a husband and wife team and they have been going strong in the village ever since. Their breads are so great! All made fresh on the premises. They have a really adorable seating area and it makes this place a great "local" bakery/cafe. The menu is wonderful and varied, sandwiches, made with their fresh bread, pizzettas, soups and pastries for dessert. Coffee/tea/hot chocolate and soft drinks are available also. The wait staff are attentive and know their breads/pastries etc. and on Saturday and Sunday mornings this place is hopping with people having brunch or getting some yummy fresh made bread! Thank you Fornax Bread Co!
(5)Alexa M.
Probably the most ideal small-business out there. It's super cute and inviting inside with a friendly and helpful staff. The menu has a wide variety of options that are constantly being updated. Their soups and sandwiches definitely go above and beyond your local sub shop's. Plus, I think it's a really great alternative to the nationwide chain, Panera. I love their tuna melt with corn chowder (when available) and chips!!
(4)Mags R.
Everything is freash! Pleasant staff! The wheat pizza dough was great to cook! Would like more flexible hours, asides from that they are great!
(4)D M.
If you love some great bread, this is the place to get it. I went in before a party and ended up getting a lot of baguettes and some amazing homemade oreo cookies. Oreo cookies here are the size of your head, so be prepared to share or show self restraint. The ambiance is kind of old school, but in the most positive way. Love the decor, and the warm fuzzies it invokes. Also, bonus for being right around the corner from a cheese shop!
(4)Whitney R.
Fornax sandwiches = FRESH! The choices are few, but no matter what you get, it WILL be good. Their chicken sandwich actually contains a fillet of chicken, and you can taste every ingredient they place into their sandwiches. They also have an assortment of baked goods that I haven't had the pleasure of trying. I'd like to bring some of their bread home with me, too, but since I'm used to buying bread with lots of preservatives so I can eat it for weeks, I might find it to be a bit too fresh. Is that possible? I also love eating in at Fornax. It's a tiny place that is full of mis-matched furniture and old knickknacks. It has a unique aura of antiquity that gives the impression that it hasn't changed since it was first established. Very cool, and delicious.
(5)Cheryl R.
The best sourdough. Awesome pizza dough. Tasty sandwiches. Pastries to die for. My kids beg for their pumpkin bread. Love love love!
(5)Jules H.
OM NOM NOM. Finally checked this place out, one very tired and stressful afternoon, and the Boyf and I each had sammiches that made us feel SO MUCH BETTER. I had the pesto, he a ham and cheese, and the bred was fresh as can be, the pesto on mine was gorgeously bright, and it was just warm and toasty enough. Plus, each sammich comes with a side, making it a really reasonable price for the food you get. I've also bought a couple of baguettes here, and DAMN it's good -- it has that elusive crust with a soft middle, and I recommend picking up one of the blue flyers at the counter so you know which days they bake which loaves. As I write this, I am re-crisping mine according to their instructions, and last time I did this, the bread was as if I had baked it fresh myself!
(4)Annie G.
On mornings when I know the day will be long and dreary, I stop at Fornax on the way to work. They have fantastic breakfast. I usually get the sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast...sandwich (it's in a little pastry pocket) and a coffee. The damage is minimal. The woman at the register is always very pleasant but sometimes kitchen gets a little slow. This is a no-frills neighborhood bakery. Don't expect fancy coffee drinks!
(3)CL S.
Though the customer service leaves a good bit to be desired, the sandwiches and breads make up for it. I keep returning, despite knowing I'll be greeted with a scowl, just because I know that the bread is a slice of heaven (we form entire meals around what we can pair with a Fornax baguette) and the sandwiches are perfection (you *will* eat the whole thing, regardless of how hungry you are, I assure you).
(4)Adeline E.
I haven't eaten there, so this is all about the bread! Best baguettes around. Eat your heart out, JP Blue Frog, which for some reason many local places -- even ones in Roslindale Square! -- seem to stock and serve. Great prices & good variety of breads. Friendly counter service. Avoid the coffee, though, even if you're in a bind.And the card fee is like a quarter or 50 cents, which doesn't bother me if I've forgotten to get cash.
(4)Michelle L.
I stopped in here on my meander through Roslindale Open Studios. I'd never been before but remembered having seen the name before as a good bakery. Once I was inside, I was a goner: I was surrounded by fresh-baked bread, whole-wheat brownies (!), slices of pumpkin bread, ham and cheese croissants, everything in the world to tempt me. But as it happens, I had a bit of a sore throat, so I held back from baked goods, however delicious, as too dry to be swallowed easily, and I held back from the exciting sandwich menu, in favor of one of the daily soups: split pea with ham. Split pea with ham is one of my favorite soups, and I especially crave it on crisp autumn days. This was one of the better pea soups I've had; the lean, tender ham really made it. It came with two thin slices of multigrain bread. The bread was warm. I don't know why-- it was such a simple touch-- but this made me all but shiver with delight. The soup was exactly what I needed, and the bread was hearty and excellent for mopping up every last trace of the soup out of my bowl (which I'm hardly ever inclined to do, but here I HAD to). As a sponsor of Roslindale Open Studios, the walls were decorated with a local artist's mixed media pieces. This added an extra bit of charm to the homestyle, thrift-store ambience. Service was brisk and more friendly than I'm used to. I'm typically happy with the service I receive anywhere I go, but there was something extra here. I tipped generously. It was only as I was on my way out the door that I noticed the wide selection of cookies in jars behind the counter. Alas, some other day, perhaps...
(4)Julie S.
While apartment hunting in Roslindale yesterday I decided to check out Fornax Bread Company for lunch. I was excited to find such a cute little sandwich place on an otherwise not so inviting block (my apologies to fans of Roslindale Village- maybe I just don't get it yet). I ordered the portobello mushroom and roasted red pepper sandwich. Not being very creative, I ordered it as it was designed, on a seeded roll. I thought perhaps it would be a bit weird since it was a pressed sandwich, but I went with it, because they're the bread people, not me. And yes, it was kind of weird. Also weird- they put lettuce or spinach or something on the sandwich which did not taste good pressed. It just tasted soggy. I picked it off. The mushrooms were not marinated in anything, so it was just a blah mushroom sandwich. Normally I love portobellos, but they really have to be marinated to taste like anything special. For $8 this sandwich was waaaay overpriced. I also bought some English muffins to take home and toasted them up this morning with some raspberry jam. My husband loved them. I could take it or leave it. I'll have to try another type of bread next time and reassess.
(3)Jess H.
I wanted to like this place more than I did. I bought a loaf of challah and a buttermilk biscuit, even though I was eyeing their large offering of breads. I am going to give it another try, because I'm not sure if I just ordered the wrong thing. The challah was dry-ish and didn't have the honey, egg-y taste I am used to from other very good bakeries I've been. The biscuit was big, but dry and not at all buttery or flaky, like I like 'em. All this said, there were a lot more things to try, and I'll be back to give it another go.
(3)Chuck K.
Fornax Bread Company is a great place to go if you want to pay extremely high prices for worse-than-average sandwiches. Let's face it, if you're in Roslindale, you're probably having a bad day. Maybe you're waiting on an endless line at the post office, being ritually tortured at the RMV or trying to recover from identity theft at the Social Security office. Maybe you hit the trifecta. Worst possibility of all is that your entire life has been messed up and now you actually LIVE in Roslindale. Where was I? Oh yeah, Roslindale. Trying to ameliorate your pain, you step into the Fornax Bread Company. This place looks nice. They're obviously trying to be fancy. Whoa, check out those high-ass prices! They *must* be serving good food here. No, I got the Pesto and Mozzarella sandwich on rye. Now, granted, I didn't throw up or get diarrhea or double-over in pain. That's the best thing I can say about the food. Everything was forgettable. The pesto may have been too salty. Or it may have been just right. Who can remember? Ditto the mozzarella. At least the bread had to be special, right? I mean, it's the Fornax *Bread* Company, for crying out loud. (What's the matter? "Bakery" isn't a fancy enough word?) No, the bread--rye in this case--was a complete non-starter. They tried to give it to me "toasted" but instead I got somewhere in between "burnt" and "practically on fire." So what's the worst part of spending $8 for a sandwich that I could make just as well while walking in my sleep? I gave 'em a credit card because, well, I wanted to. So it turns out that if you spend less than $10, they charge you a fee. They are violating their merchant agreement when they do that. mastercard.com/us/busine… Not only are they violating a contract, but they have the gall to complain that they're doing it because of "high merchant fees" imposed on "small businesses." This "small business" just charged me $8 for a sandwich. Now they're violating their merchant contract to charge me even more! So I politely informed the very nice lady behind the counter. All of a sudden, she copped a 'tude. "Yeah, yeah. We know we're violating the agreement. You're NOT the first person to tell us that." What. The. FUCK?!? They're *knowingly* breaking their contract to tack on extra charges onto an $8 sandwich? Honestly, if I weren't so honest I would complain about the several rat turds I saw on the floor at this place. But there's no need to lie. This is a place that makes worse-than-mediocre sandwiches and charges you as if they had a tip that you were a member of the Saudi royal family. Fornax Bread Company is run by the scum of the earth.
(1)Scott P.
Fantastic bakery/sandwich shop - great selection of breads, muffins, cookies and the like. Favorite part - they sell cookie dough so you can bake them at home. Excellent sandwiches for breakfast and lunch - service can be slow at times, but the sandwiches are well worth the wait. There are a few small tables, but we usually take them home, or sit in Adams Park.
(5)Shelly R.
We moved to Roslindale four months ago, and we get all of our bread and sweets from Fornax. (any sweet thing in loaf form is worth buying) The staff are fanastic. I wish they could configure the counter in a way that didn't create backup at the door, but, overall, we love stepping in here and think this place is one of the best things about Roslindale.
(5)Chris B.
my wife loves this place and I love their pizza dough. I have to give them credit where credit is due. I came here one day to buy some bread and the young lady who rang me up accidently overcharged me. She then told me she messed up and that she corrected it. So thinking I had that money in there i continued to run errands that day. the next day i find out that i was hit with overdraw fees due to the overcharge the day before. what had happen was she credited my account and that usually takes 1 week to process. I then called the manager of fornax and explained my situation. He was kind enough to work with me to resolve this situation. he even went up to the bank with me to try to cut a deal with my bank. in the end he return the money i was owed originally and replaced the money taking from my account with overdraw fees. This company is a great place with even better management. I am proud to say that even though that issued occurred, it will not prevent me from going back here. I felt the owner handled my situation very well and he definitely has pleased and made the best out of a screwed up situation. I will definitely recommend this place.
(4)Shia G.
Great baked good, I had the sticky bun ($2.75+) which was a sweet croissant like roll perfect ratio of cinnamon-sugar and butter. Also I tried the walnut "something" bread ($2.50+) and the cinnamon twist ($2+). All pretty good and some great fresh bread/rolls. Prices are a bit steep for product but like everywhere in Boston.
(3)Megan S.
The smell of this place is warm, yummy carbs. I usually just pick up my loaves of bread here, but when I'm feeling really bad I'll get one of their delicious cupcakes. Mmmmm . . .
(4)Noah N.
Fornax is a pleasant little bakery, to tell the truth. We went right before closing time, but the lovely counter girl still served us some tea from their broad selection and gave us some free banana bread! Delish, as Rachel Ray would say. Or yumm-o, is it? I can't recall... Regardless, I strongly recommend the place, and hope you'll love it as much as I did. (^_^)
(5)Catherine B.
The bread here is amazing, as are the desserts and treats (I have a serious weakness for their butterhorns) It's a great place to stop and have a quick soup and sandwhich (I've done this a dozen times and never been disappointed, ever) The holdback on 5 stars is the staff - I always feel like I'm bothering them somehow with my order. It's never bad enough to keep me away though.
(4)Jonathan B.
The breads and pizza dough from here are fantastic. All of them. We've tried them all, I think. I haven't had lunch here, but the breakfast sandwiches are AWESOME and come with a side of potatoes which I don't really care for but my wife thinks are terrific. The pastries are a bit more hit or miss, but the sweet rolls are awesome when they have them - sadly, I haven't seen them in the last few months. Highly recommended if you are down in lovely Roslindale.
(4)Celeste M.
I am a fan of Fornax, I suppose. My bf still loves it. I have discovered the banana and nutella sandwich, which is pretty cool. Their roasted pototoes that come with sandwiches is pretty nice. And I like their flaxseed brownie - it makes me feel good about eating a brownie.
(4)Peter E.
I live in Roslindale and feel very fortunate to have an artisan bakery this good in town. Not only is their bread incredible but they make great salads and sandwiches. The only negative is that service can be very slow. Probably because it is so small and they are popular.
(5)Adam C.
I went here for lunch recently and was impressed with the place. It's a good spot for lunch. They have a good menu with various sandwich and salad selections. They have 4 soups available as well. I had the turkey asiago w/ tomato on semi-sourdough and it was pretty awesome actually. Anyway, I was surprised that this is a place where you can sit down and eat lunch; I thought maybe it was just a counter where you order bread and pastries (which you can certainly get there), but there are actually 5 or so tables where you can sit down and eat your meal.
(4)Cecilia L.
Fornax has only been around since 1997, but in keeping with the Roslindale ethic, it looks straight out of 1955. The English muffins here are truly transcendent, so fragrant I sniffed them all the way home through the plastic bag. You'll never eat a supermarket hockey puck again. The sandwiches are great - try the salami and caramelized onion - and come with fresh and seasonal sides. The lemon meltaway cookie is superb and must be at least half butter (also sold at City Feed on Centre Street). Fornax is now a part of our weekend ritual.
(4)Meg C.
Had to grab a baguette for that lovely cheese we had just purchased around the corner. So we came for Fornax, since it was close and radiated delicious smells. I sampled a vegan oatmeal cookie, which was surprisingly good. But the bread was just lovely- crusty and chewy. The bakery itself was obviously full of locals who knew each other. It is very charming and a great resource for the neighborhood.
(4)Zac N.
Stopped in for some tea, which was great, and the breads looked awesome. Nice service, too.
(5)Asta S.
The bakery is very homey and cute. There are a few bistro sized tables and nice big windows that make the space light and airy. The customer service was good and the scones are awesome. However, I was not blown away by the ham & cheese croissant or the English muffins. They were good, but not the best I've ever had. I did love the cinnamon twist I had. The whole grains made it more filling than most breakfast pastries and it added a nice cheery texture to it.
(3)Katy N.
One of the best, simplest sandwiches I've ever had the pleasure of eating. I look forward to my next visit to Boston to have another.
(5)Doug M.
My whole family loves Fornax, from the large whole wheat loaves, small white loaves, buttermilk biscuits. I always have to buy an extra one because I'll have it eaten before I get home & my family would be mad.
(5)Marc L.
3 Important Things That Haven't Been Said about Fornax: By way of quick intro let me say I am a former professional baker, and extremely food-fixated. I'm not so easy to please, so when I am happy others tend to agree. While I think there is better bread to be had (Clearflour) and pastry (Canto 6) these guys have some charmers in their repetoire (the cinnamon raisin bread, their take-off on the Oreo with it's sweet/salty combination, and a very buttery decadent bearclaw like item that's name is escaping me) 1. The lunch salads are excellent, abundant and well-priced. For example, the mesclun salad is organic greens, currants, pine-nuts, home-made croutons from their bread, plus a couple pieces of fresh bread. Add chicken for for an extra buck. These easily feeds two (or nice leftovers). 2. They only make one breakfast but it's delicious and hearty and also could feed two if you weren't completely famished. They make a "breakfast sandwich" of eggs, their own fresh brioche, and your choice of breakfast meat (the sausage pattie is homemade and has fennel in it) a big side of roasted potatoes. It shows you why a righteous joint like this is light years from a fast food breakfast. 3. The physical space is really charming--old pressed tin ceiling, wood floors. It feels hip in a homespun way.
(4)Brian D.
I'm on a carb filled memory craze this morning thinking about where I've gotten amazing fresh baked bread that has knocked my socks off. Fornax jumps to the top of the list in Roslindale Village. This is a full on, extra hippie, stand up bread making operation that will not let you down. You can walk in and pick from the days creations, their regular loafs and rolls being my personal favorites. I really like the crunchy, almost hard crust that compliments a soft but not too mushy inner loaf. I've putsed around with making bread over the years and gotten quite familiar with the ingredients and complexity of baking and I really appreciate the work that they put into their breads. A few years back they also added a sit down menu with soups, salads etc that are all really stand up. It's not super cheap and I wouldn't expect to be in such a high rent area but it is worth every penny in my opinion. A few local stores carry their breads and a few restaurants as well so you may have had their stuff and not even known it.
(5)Courtney R.
Their bread and sandwiches are delicious and the mid-century vintage decor is warm and cozy and cute.
(5)Judy H.
The owner/head baker seems to be a sweetheart. The goat cheese spinach turnovers are to die for. I have also had a spinach salad here and it was very good. But mt favorite are those spinach and goat cheese turnovers. I buy them every time I am in he shop.
(4)s s.
How to sum up the Fornax? So homey, so cozy, so sweet and lovely and yummy. I always feel like I'm eating a sandwich in my great grandma's kitchen, one that has been prepared with love and delicious basic wholesome ingredients. It's a weekly lunch stop for me, coziest in the winter when you can be snug in a table in the back with half of a tuna melt, some outrageous rosemary carrots, and a steaming paper cup of butternut squash soup while you listen to WERS (!!!) and watch the cars go by outside. The staff could not be sweeter or any more accommodating. Plenty of highchairs, crayons, and plastic dinosaurs for the little guys. Iced coffee could be brewed stronger, but free soymilk makes up for that. This is where my baby had his first taste of solid food - and the rosemary carrots are still his fave. Superlative bread and baked goods. It's the absolute best part of Roslindale.
(5)Adam E.
I don't care if I'll always be fat, I'm never giving up carbs and this is why. Fornax bread is outrageous, so freaking good. It's also really reasonably priced and they'll slice it for you! They also have fantastic baked goods, I got this weird almond thing (I think they called it a Wale Twist?) and it was ungodly good. It was like a mix of an almond croissant and a raspberry danish. Their sandwiches sound great too, I've only tried the grilled cheese and tomato (which they accidentally gave me instead of ham & cheese, minus one star!). Still, it was pretty excellent. The staff is hit or miss. When I came for pastries at 7am, the teen was nicer to me than I deserved, especially when I said I had to run next door to the ATM. But I've been here in the afternoon when some surlier teens were working. But I give them a break, those years are tough. Oh, and they do accept cards, but it's a $10 minimum.
(4)Katie R.
This place is great! I first had their soup at the Taste of Roslindale, and I swear, it was the best thing I had all night! Went to visit Fornax and found it to be a cute space with great selection of meals, tasty treats, and loaves of bread. Soup was just as delicious as it was at the Taste. Also, it is appreciate that they list all of the ingredients in their breads -- my mom has a bunch of food sensitivities and it's great to know what she can eat. My only complaint would be that they don't post their soups and quiches of the day on their website. I'd love to see this info made available so I knew if I should make the trek over -- but obviously -- this is just a teeny weeny complaint. Overall -- wonderful!
(4)Daniel A.
Fornax bread is generally a great place to grab some great bread or a really good sanwich in the square. I usually get my sandwiches for take-out, but there are a few tables where you can sit and do some people watching as Fornax is almost always bustling and the people of Roslindale are an interesting bunch. My only beef with the place is that they forget to put requested onions on my sandwiches way too often.
(4)JBird Z.
Absolutely one of the best bakeries I've yet to find in Greater Boston (Toretta's in Revere is another). Their signature bread is a boule which in my experience always has a nice crust which is not too thick and not too thin and the soft middle is perfectly chewy with a just-past-subtle sourdough flavor. The croissant I had once was AMAZING, but be prepared, while fluffy it was not light...very heavy on butter (which I love). I've also tried a few of their pastries and they too were just top notch. The stuff is just always fresh, always delicious. I have yet to try their sandwiches, soups etc. If I want a great sandwich, mmmmm give me two slices of Fornax' boule and put just about anything in the middle!
(4)Dave E.
I've been buying bread here for months now and they have never let me down in that department. My latest discovery has been the rosemary bacci - just delicious. Pastry items continue to underwhelm though. The scones are really absurdly hard and dry, and very skimpy on the fruit. Sandwiches are also nothing special, Blue Star and Jimmies on the same street make much better.
(4)M. L.
Such an awesome spot!! The breads are all freshly made and so tasty. Reasonable prices and local charm make it worth walking or driving to. Try the squash soup when they have it avialable!
(5)Ren P.
I dragged myself out of bed on Monday for a way-too-early trip to the laundromat. I didn't have time to make breakfast before I left, so I stopped in Fornax, enjoyed the cozy, well-decorated atmosphere, and ordered an egg and cheese sandwhich to go. It was amazing. Usually when I eat things I can make at home, I am disappointed because I could have done it better. This sandwhich -- I don't understand how they do it. It was fluffy yet filling, almost like a souffle on grilled bread. This may be the most outstanding breakfast item I have ever eaten out. And then there was a surprise of tasty home fries in my to go bag. The reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because I felt a little lost. No one told me, "The coffee is behind there," or "Your sandwhich will come out of the kitchen, that window right over there." Did I mention that it was early? I could've used some extra customer service. But the food made up for it.
(4)Pete L.
I tried this bakery after the many rave reviews here. Unfortunately the standards of the reviewers must differ from mine. This place is very amateurish and lacks real knowledge of how bread should be. I suggest they go train with a real European bakery. Any average bakery in Belgium, Holland or France will beat them hands down. The oversized (why?) cinnamon swirl was chewy, so only half-baked. The croissants really do not deserve the name. 'Croissant' means 'crunchy', not soft, chewy, shapeless, halfbaked. 'They are pieces of dough with stuffing, not true croissants. Similarly the baguette was nothing of the kind. It was not fluffy, airy and crisp. It was instead tough from teh outside and thick, almost like a German type of bread. The two positives were: - that it was dirt cheap, so I did not feel like I lost a lot and - the piece of carrot cake (or carrot bread) my wife had was delicious, which is no surprise since that is a total different subject matter as compared to true bread and is typically well done here in the USA because it is so simple to make. Avoid if you can afford better.
(1)kellan e.
Without a doubt the *best* bakery in Boston. The bacci rolls make the best sandwiches, the multi-grain boule is rich, moist, and substantial, and the North Italian sourdough has a great crust and subtle flavor. Boston suffers under a plague of so-called bakeries, which are really bad Italian patisseries with Bird's Custard yellow cream. But even the handful of real bakeries (Iggy's, Hi-Rise, Flour) can't hold a candle to this real, artisanal, old world bread. You can pick up their breads at Harvest and City Feed if you don't fancy the trek to Roslindale.
(5)B R.
Great selection of breads and pastries. I had a breakfast sandwich, which was served on a freshly made english muffin. Excellent. I purchased two bags of them before I left. They also have a rotating selection of traditional and creative soups, sandwiches and salads. Coffee, sodas and teas are also available. The owners and employees were very helpful and seemed to be enjoying themselves which is a huge plus. I'll be back for the pizza dough soon.
(5)Sami W.
Great Bakery, the sanwiches are delicious, but the seating area is very small, the tables are close to each other, that is the reason why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
(4)Dianna B.
Excellent local bread place in Rozzie Square. It's a great meeting place for the neighborhood as well. The breads, English muffins and sandwiches are great. The only downside is the service from the register staff -- who don't seem to take their job seriously and seem to be easily confused.
(4)Kelly A.
I havent been there is sooooooo long but every time I had gone in the past I enjoyed the sandwich I got 100%!
(4)Glenn B.
Outstanding bread. Stop on Saturday morning for fresh english muffins, and pick up a sliced half-boule to make some special sandwiches for the work week.
(5)Jane H.
Best bread in Boston. I still make a regular trip there even though its not down the street anymore. Their sandwiches should not be missed either. Get there early for a good selection.
(5)Grace G.
I have been going since the bakery opened in 1997. Love the breads, love the lunches, love the store layout. Recently, they have started selling pizza dough. I am not a java junkie so i can not comment on the coffee. I only gave the place three stars because of the owners and counter staff. They are granola-crunchy snobs who are condecending towards working-class customers. When a yoga-mat toteing, j.jill - clad woman comes in, they are very personable and accomodating. When an over-weight joe six-pack lumbers in, they are terse and dismissive.
(3)Kate B.
The bread is delicious, especially my favorite, the raisin pumpernickel. But the other baked goods are not so great. Good sandwiches and soup too, though they seem frazzled when they get more than one sandwich order at a time, so be prepared to wait.
(4)Ben B.
I used go there all the time for a half-boule, sliced. Such good bread - they get five stars just for that. I also love the tuna melt and some of the pastry. Lousy coffee, but you know they put their focus on bread and that focus pays off.
(5)Roy S.
Try the Butterhorns! They're filo/croissant rolls covered in crumbcake topping and glaze. They have great coffee too!
(4)Tiana W.
I love Fornax. Their bread is amazing, their salads are so good and their croissants are to die for! I gave them 4 instead of 5 stars because I don't think their butternut squash is very good but besides that, I love them!
(4)Karly M.
Fornax is a great place to get lunch. I love the chicken salad, which has interesting little tidbits in it, like currants and pine nuts. BIg fan of the boule as well.
(4)Anne A.
$5.25 half/$7.00 whole is too much for a sandwich, especially one that isn't all that big, and the cole slaw side isn't really cole slaw; the vegetables are cut up, but not shredded, and there isn't any dressing. Still, I do like their tuna melts, as well as the mismatched furniture and the photos on the walls - they're interesting and give the place a nice local feel.
(4)Elise H.
so they didn't have honey mustard today, but i don't mind even a little because i usually go for coffee and scone, or pb on toasted mutligrain. this place is so affordable and so delicious with a nice down to earth staff. the jars of home-made oreos, macaroons, chocolate chip cookies line the back wall next to shelves of home-made bread ranging from batard, to soda bread, brioche, french baguettes...in the front cases there are various scones: raisin, ginger almond, cranberry oat, banana, along with buttermilk biscuits, sweet rolls, ham and cheese baguettes, and beautiful cup cakes. the walls change decorations--from children's designed tiles, to a display of antique-y lace and embroidery, to the most current frames of old album covers, and magazine adds and portraits. the architecture itself is also wonderful. the old building has funky details throughout--make sure to got to the bathroom just to check out how it grows into the kitchen and prep rooms. i go fairly frequently with by boyfriend, and i hope it stays that way for a while. also, i have never spent more than 12 dollars there. its one of those places you not only truly enjoy as a space to eat and drink, but also one you love to support.
(5)Grace G.
I have been going since the bakery opened in 1997. Love the breads, love the lunches, love the store layout. Recently, they have started selling pizza dough. I am not a java junkie so i can not comment on the coffee. I only gave the place three stars because of the owners and counter staff. They are granola-crunchy snobs who are condecending towards working-class customers. When a yoga-mat toteing, j.jill - clad woman comes in, they are very personable and accomodating. When an over-weight joe six-pack lumbers in, they are terse and dismissive.
(3)Kate B.
The bread is delicious, especially my favorite, the raisin pumpernickel. But the other baked goods are not so great. Good sandwiches and soup too, though they seem frazzled when they get more than one sandwich order at a time, so be prepared to wait.
(4)Ben B.
I used go there all the time for a half-boule, sliced. Such good bread - they get five stars just for that. I also love the tuna melt and some of the pastry. Lousy coffee, but you know they put their focus on bread and that focus pays off.
(5)M. L.
Such an awesome spot!! The breads are all freshly made and so tasty. Reasonable prices and local charm make it worth walking or driving to. Try the squash soup when they have it avialable!
(5)Roy S.
Try the Butterhorns! They're filo/croissant rolls covered in crumbcake topping and glaze. They have great coffee too!
(4)Tiana W.
I love Fornax. Their bread is amazing, their salads are so good and their croissants are to die for! I gave them 4 instead of 5 stars because I don't think their butternut squash is very good but besides that, I love them!
(4)Karly M.
Fornax is a great place to get lunch. I love the chicken salad, which has interesting little tidbits in it, like currants and pine nuts. BIg fan of the boule as well.
(4)Annie G.
On mornings when I know the day will be long and dreary, I stop at Fornax on the way to work. They have fantastic breakfast. I usually get the sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast...sandwich (it's in a little pastry pocket) and a coffee. The damage is minimal. The woman at the register is always very pleasant but sometimes kitchen gets a little slow. This is a no-frills neighborhood bakery. Don't expect fancy coffee drinks!
(3)CL S.
Though the customer service leaves a good bit to be desired, the sandwiches and breads make up for it. I keep returning, despite knowing I'll be greeted with a scowl, just because I know that the bread is a slice of heaven (we form entire meals around what we can pair with a Fornax baguette) and the sandwiches are perfection (you *will* eat the whole thing, regardless of how hungry you are, I assure you).
(4)