Zeppole Baking Co

Was excited to go to Zeppole, heard a lot of good things. Finally found some parking downtown on a Saturday and get here. It's closed. No sign, no notice. Just nothing. I would expect a place that says it's open online and open on the hours sign in the window to actually be open. Pretty disappointing.

I went to the location on 8th street downtown. I loved breads I’ve purchased from the Farmers market in the past so I was really looking forward to it. Unfortunately there was no inventory to purchase at 8:30am other than a few brownies in the glass window and a couple loves of bread. Needless to say, I left. I see zero differentiation between the 5 loaves of bread Zeppole’s had shelf and what I can get at Albertsons. How disappointing.

The to-go goods are always great .... But I remember Zeppole being so much better than the last couple times I went there. I know they are trying to keep a lean staff, and hiring cannot be easy right now, but the sandwiches simply aren't like they used to be and the service is a little spotty. Hopefully things right themselves once we begin to get back to normal. Also, what is wrong with the exhaust fan? I really don't like getting food at 9am and still smelling like a greasy kitchen at lunchtime. That said.. Once again, the bread and baked items are as good as any place in the valley.

Love this place! Both Boise locations are excellent, we just go her now since it is closer. Wonderful bread as well as great sandwiches and soups and pastries in the cafe. My favorite bread is the Village Loaf, but the Kalamata Olive Ciabatta is something amazing and the Hot Cross Buns are a holiday treat!

Zeppole is a fantastic place to get some fresh, local baked goods. The Village Round is simply the best bread they offer and I can never seem to find anything like it. They have other fantastic breads and such and I would consider them one of the best bakeries in Boise. My only suggestion for improvement would be personable customer service. I go in there almost every week and am hardly met with a smiling face or acknowledgement that they’ve ever met me before that transaction.

People come here for the excellent foccacia, but my money is on the dense yet slightly crisp peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. I am going to say that these are the best PB cookies in Boise. Single cookies or a bag of 4 to share with friends out on the patio. Also, the service is great. Since my peanut butter cookie addiction has started, the same 2 employees have been nothing but friendly to me.

I have been going to Zeppole for about 20 years(Apple and downtown). Their lunch soup and sandwich used to be my go to quick lunch. The last 3 visits, their to-go pre-wrapped sandwiches are probably 2/3 the size, and 1/2 the content than the one shown in the case or how they used to be. I gave them the benefit of the doubt the first 2 times, but after the 3rd time I think it is just the new norm. It feels dirty to display a sandwich, and get something far less. At $9.50, there are many better lunch options downtown. I will no longer be going here for lunch, but only to get bread or other speciality products. Edit*: haha. Removing another star as there was a long black hair in my tiny sandwich. Sad that this place has gone so far down.