If you are ever in Pittsburgh, PA, run (don't walk or you will miss the croissants) to the Five Points Artisan Bakeshop. We were in Pittsburgh recently and had dinner at Legume, very nice, great food, and super bread. Probably the best bread I have ever had in a restaurant in the US. I asked the server where they got the bread and he said "Five Points". The next morning we went there on our way out of town. Got there too late for the croissants, but soon enough for their wonderful sourdough, ciabatta, and a few other goodies.
The owner, Geof Comings, was really friendly and informative. He showed us his ovens, mixer, etc and talked bread for some time. He opened less than two years ago but is doing really well. Not surprising considering the quality of his breads. He said he spent a lot of time on this site before he decided to open Five Points.
Jim
Five Points Artisan Bakeshop | Family Owned and Operated Artisan Bakeshop in Pittsburgh, PA
We never (never) visit our son and his family in Pittsburgh without making at least one stop at Five Points Artisan Bakeshop in Squirrel Hill (or maybe Point Breeze, I’ve yet to get Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods down). There is nearly always a queue wending up the block when they open in the mornings—especially on weekends—but it moves quickly , and any way, it would be worth a wait.
Pretty much everything they make is excellent. Their pâte feuilletée is superb, croissants, pains au chocolat, seasonal Danishes, etc. Their muffins are also very popular with the family. Once you get past breakfast, their baguettes are a dream: crunchy croûtes, beautiful oreilles. We often stop again on our way out of town to pick up delicious sandwiches on demi-baguettes and another baguette that I will eat with some cheese as my reward when we’ve made it home at the end of our long drive. They also bake an excellent walnut-raisin sourdough, which also frequently accompanies us home.
The closest thing we have to a complaint is that my wife often finds their scones over baked. She bakes her own more crumbly, while theirs can actually be a bit towards the crunchy.
Originally, their retail counter was right in front of their bake house. But I guess business was really good because now they have expanded into the space next door. The original space is now entirely dedicated to production, and the new space handles the public with a sales counter and sizable café seating area.