1490 Clara St.
Columbus, Ohio 43211
614.294.2577
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Nestled in an unassuming industrial building near the bedpost Clintonville neighborhood north of Columbus, Auddino’s Italian Bakery does everything from scratch, and in the old fashioned way. Every day donuts, pastries and breads are baked here, some of which end up in other restaurants and businesses in the city, but many of which are also able to be sold from a little dining room on the front of the building. Locals pass through frequently, attracted to the sweets. Baked goods here aren’t made with preservatives, so when you buy them, you just have to enjoy them fresh.
The baked goodies are the star of the show here. Some of the great things I tried:
- Donuts: Sweet and easy finger food, they come in the traditional O shape but this spot also has a distinctive half-moon style pastry that people seem to love. An assorted dozen is a good call.
- Eclairs: Probably the best kind of dessert at this shop. These eclairs are served open-faced, as it were, with a line of Boston cream running through the middle. Like what you taste? Try the version topped with powdered sugar. It may be messy, but it’s worth the mess.
- Fritters: Probably a little bit messy but packed with flavor, and the apple cinnamon variety happens to be very much worth a sample. Not too heavy on the sugar though which is what makes it so perfect.
- Bread: Seven-grain bread is excellent, and the shop sells it here fresh and by the loaf. It’s got no preservatives in it, so refrigerate after two days!
The bakery is open early in the morning, we’re talking 6:30. And the baked goods, especially the doughnuts, attract a steady stream of people through the place over the course of the day. The bread is harder to say for certain, because it’s sort of ready while supplies last. Come in early!
An old-fashioned bakery, Auddino’s isn’t just about being cutesy, or having a boutique feel like the glitzier shops in the Short North. This is a place where people have been coming for a long while to get a variety of baked goods, and there’s a lot of substance to it. An old-school essential part of a mid-sized city like Columbus.
This out-of-the-way spot will not be apparent to the out-of-towner, but Columbus residents, especially those who have been here a long time, know and love this bakery. Amid changing times for Columbus, this is a staple that’s worth the local love.
Recommendations
- If you like fresh bread, this spot makes it bright and early in the morning. So the earlier you come in to retrieve it, the better.
- Consider a dozen donuts if you want to feed a group, but these are sticky, powdery, and messy! Plan accordingly.
- There is some space to dine in, but this really is a shop that’s more about taking goodies and going with them.
Another Food Critic 