Paonia Bread Works

Jeremy Upton

2024-05

Such a great place to grab a quick bite! The staff was amazingly friendly and helpful. I'm more of a deep dish pie, or hand tossed (medium thickness crust) kind of pizza lover, yet their thin crust was delicious. The toppings were of outstanding quality, and their pesto was on point! They also had a bakery, which was what I expected, yet they have so much more. A great selection of local and organic drinks. I was pleasantly surprised by the scents as I walked in the door, and I'm so happy they're only one town away, I will be returning. Thank you, great job! 😃✌️

Dayana Gomez

2023-11

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April King

2023-06

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Ryan McClure

2024-06

Make frequent trips through Paonia for work and have tried this spot a couple of times now. The food is unquestionably great, but everything else about the experience leaves me regretting my choice.It’s extremely difficult to get a sense of what is available outside of the cooked food that is sitting out on the counter. Questions are rebuked with short one word answers and an attitude of, “you should know better, silly tourist, than to ask questions.”Prices seem to be determined whether the person at the counter likes you or not.Service priority is totally up in the air. I’ve been in and out after ordering a bagel and cream cheese in 5 minutes, other times I watch my bagel languish in the done part of the toaster until the person behind the counter decides they are ready to make it. Not to mention watching local folks jump you in priority while your food sits unfinished right in front of you.The best I can guess is the folks who work here love their locals and everyone else is just an inconvenience and a means to an end. I’ve worked in customer service both in food and otherwise for the last fifteen years and I’m not sure anywhere has made me feel like they want my business less.

Jennifer Kozicki

2024-04

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Daisy

2024-05

As someone who rarely writes reviews and actively supports local businesses, including being a local myself, it pains me to report my recent frustrating experience at Paonia Bread Works. I stopped in hoping to quickly pick up lunch for a 5-hour road trip, expecting a short wait for 2 pre-made pizza slices and a deli sandwich. Instead, what should have been a brief visit turned into a 30-minute ordeal. Despite the shop not being overly crowded—only one customer ahead of me when I placed my order and one behind—I found the service disappointingly slow and inattentive. The counter staff, though busy, did not acknowledge my presence at all, not even with a simple greeting, which could have eased my impatience significantly.What added to my frustration was the apparent disregard for the order queue. After placing and paying for my order, which is standard deli counter protocol, I watched as the staff member prioritized preparing and taking new orders from customers who arrived after me, leaving me waiting excessively. This was especially irksome as my order was quite substantial, nearing $40, contrasting with the less time-consuming and cheaper coffee orders that were being prioritized ahead of mine.The situation reached its peak of annoyance when, after driving 4 miles away, I discovered that my order had been incorrectly filled. This not only added to my dissatisfaction but also resulted in what was meant to be a quick lunch stop dragging on for nearly 45 minutes, significantly delaying my journey.

Jason Fortune

2024-03

I never had a chance to try the food. It seemed very good. I went in with my service dogs and was told to get out by one of the owners. A fairly despicable man that chewed with his mouth open and called me a jerk.There was a sign posted on the door that said dogs must be on a leash. My service animals were leashed, vested and trained for public service. The owner acknowledged that and told me to get out.I’d stay away. Seems mighty unwelcoming.

John Records

2018-06

Paonia Bread Works started, as the name implies, making and selling organic, artisan bread. I’ve particularly enjoyed their bagels, sold through local stores. Some deliveries are made by bicycle, although volume has required acquiring some vehicles.They just opened a retail outlet that sells bread products, as well as coffee and related items.I love the space. There is a high ceiling, two long tables for individuals and groups, and a corner with a big couch and chairs. One wall is covered with art, and pleasant music plays. This sounds like a zillion other coffee shops, but this is a particularly engaging space. I’ve uploaded several photos.The bread, bagels, muffins etc. are really good—handmade on site. The owner, Chris, tells me that the ingredients often are locally sourced. For instance, their hard boiled eggs are organic and local.The drip coffee is Ethiopian and Sumatran, from Rock Canyon coffee (Basalt, CO). It’s good coffee, enjoyed by many locals. They also have iced tea, espresso, macchiato, cappuccino latte.To give you an idea of prices, at this writing you can get a handmade toasted bagel with cream cheese and a cup of drip coffee for $4 (including tax). That’s a good deal.(Edit)Focaccia is a recent addition, and the menu changes daily.  In the photos, from the top down, today they are offering four kinds of focaccia with:Fresh raspberries, semi-sweet Ghiradelli chocolate, pine nutsPeaches, lemon, and cinnamonFresh raspberries, peaches and pine nutsFresh raspberriesThey also make rosemary focaccia, African olive with herbs, a breakfast focaccia with eggs sunnyside up and strips of bacon, triple cheese focaccia (gorgonzola, mozzarella, monchago).And there's more! Specialty pizzas are often available in the afternoons, gourmet quality, typically organic.(end edit)The staff is friendly, attentive, experienced and helpful. They’re fun to chat with.The owner Chris has been called “a master baker with an amazing feel for the bread and textures.” Chris’ vision is to have Paonia Bread Works be a “third space” in support of the community, a place that facilitates interaction.Consequently, there is no wifi at present although that could change. I discussed the lack of wifi with Chris, and indicated that I thought that could limit business. However, there are plenty of other places with wifi, such as the Paonia Library a couple of blocks away. So my impression is that the Paonia Bread Works is intended to be a place to disconnect from email and social media for a bit, and to enjoy good food, community awareness and conversation.At present it’s cash only—that reflects Chris’ vision of not getting caught up in technology.In summary, Paonia Bread Works is a special place, and worth visiting for the quality of the food and drink, the ambiance, and the human connection you can enjoy here. Highly recommended.

Bruno Albertazzi

2022-06

We are a couple of french and we stayed few days in crawford next to paonia.We stopped by bread works at Paonia and we loved it. The bread, toast and sandwich but also cookies are very delicious. The staff was very welcoming and kind. We will come back before we leave 🤗

Henry Kloepper

2023-06

Had a yummy turkey sandwich here after a bike ride into town. They were closing around 1pm most days when I was there (July 2022) due to staffing shortages, so go early enough unless you know they'll be open past 1pm. I bought a loaf of sourdough bread as well that was really good. We bought another loaf before we left the area to take home with us.

Morgan Hunsaker

2023-11

This is a great gem with homemade bakery goods. The bagels were amazing! Cash only!

Carol Warhurst

2024-03

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Olivia Valiante

2020-06

Every time I go in I leave happy. Great breads, great bagels, great sweets, good coffee, friendly people, good music. Just all around, good.

Dominic Frazzini

2021-06

Salted choco cookie was big and delicious, very balanced treat. But the show stopper was the bagel, everything bagel with cream cheese, my god, never had a bagel like that

Tamzen Karma

2020-06

A jewel. Must try their home made goods.I found chicken liver pate mousse here, cannot find that anywhere ♥️🙏Their pizza is outstanding. I will be regular, that's for sure.

Kelsey Woodmansee

2023-06

Absolutely horrible. The service was painfully slow (they were nice though). We waited 25 minutes…for two bagels! There was nobody in line when we got there, so why it took so long is beyond me. The bagels, sausage, and frittata were already cooked, sitting out on the counter on plates. I repeat, COOKED sausage sitting out not being held to temperature. Health code violation much?? Our bagels came out cold, not toasted, with WARM cream cheese. Apparently cream cheese also doesn’t need to be held at a proper temperature. The only positive was the iced tea was good.We were told they had the best bagels and that was by far the worst bagel I’ve ever taken a bite out of. We threw them away immediately. What a waste of $25 (obviously extremely over-priced as well). Shame on you for serving people this.

Julia Bair

2023-08

Pretty good food, too bad that the gentleman taking my order, handles money, and then turns right around and handles your food with no glove or washing of his hands. Addressing the issue to the same person, who is the manager doesn’t seem to make much difference he didn’t seem to care! Maybe that’s why when people eat out at restaurants they get sick duh

Aria Polglaze

2023-08

The bagels here are to die for! There was bacon and sausage on a plate left out like other reviews said, not really sure what was up with that but I’m sure they know what they are doing! The guy who helped us at the counter was very kind and chill, the barista was a little stand-offish but she was busy! Minus 1 star because they don’t have any flavor options for their coffee which kind of sucks. I got a dirty chai with oatmilk though and it was fine! It’s a little pricey, but it’s local and not any more than you’d pay at Panera and tastes way better. I will be daydreaming about those bagels until I visit again from the Nothern front range!

Lizzie King-Hall

2023-08

Big sign on the road said "OPEN." The old door felt stuck, not locked. When I pushed on it, I heard a voice inside shout, "Hey! Hey! HEY!! We're CLOSED!!" It was so rude, the diners still eating on the porch asked me if I was ok. They'd been closed for 7 minutes.

Lindsay Culkin

2023-08

We loved this adorable spot for delicious homemade bagels, breakfast and coffees! One of the only places open early in town, Barista isn’t very friendly unless you’re a local.. 🙃

erica

2022-06

This is a fabulous little spot with lots of character. We stopped in for coffee and bagel sandwiches - the bagels were so fresh and delicious! The space has tables as well as comfy couches where we sat and read for a bit. The staff was friendly!

T Smith

2023-12

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DeWitt Harrison

2022-06

We just stopped in to grab a bite of breakfast and some coffee before continuing our travels but ended up having a nice breakfast there and buying lunch food to go. What an amazing array of ready-to-eat foods including creative pizzas in addition to great baked goods and made to order sandwiches. Have you ever seen a breakfast pizza? Hint: it involves eggs sunny side up.

Casey Stankiewicz

2023-06

Their bagels are amazing! We got some traveling through. So sad I don’t live nearby to eat them more often. Great spot to chill! They had pizzas, pastries, coffee and more!

Karen Love

2023-06

So far the best food we’ve had on our road trip. Only stopped by to grab some sammies for lunch. Delicious crunchy sourdough bread, fresh ingredients, great atmosphere. Be prepared to pay with cash or check.

Kendall Puckett Vela

2022-06

The employees were VERY friendly and took the time to help me and my husband with choosing the best menu items. The coffee was probably the best I’ve ever had, and so was the bagel!! Will definitely be back here soon.

Connor

2023-09

I would avoid if possible unfortunately. There aren’t a lot of places to eat in this town so we ended up here for breakfast. The bagels were like dough balls. Food sitting out seemed unsanitary.

Brandon Kennedy

2020-06

Come here for a delicious breakfast. Has large tables for larger families, a comfortable seating area if you want to relax with a coffee and a book or newspaper, and looks like they host some live music at times. Prices are very reasonable and obvious this is all made in a scratch kitchen. Day old and two day old bagels are available for you to purchase and take home as well.

Alexander

2023-06

Really amazing food/drink, good service, and a really cool atmosphere.We chose this business to cater our wedding and we could not have been happier with the food they prepared. 6 stars if possible!

CJGTL

2023-08

The food was good, but it's a little concerning to see pizzas sitting on the counter at room temperature with no cover.