Melinda's Gluten Free Bakery
$$ • Bakery
Reported to be dedicated gluten-free
Most Recent Reviews
The pastries with jam were so flaky and delicious! Agreed the donuts are cakes but still tasty!
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Pastries, Bagels, Cakes, Croissants & more
Other
- — Good for dairy-free
Great to have a dedicated GF bakery to visit! Beautiful pastries and cookies savory items available! We bought a couple things and our favorites were the donuts and chocolate chip cookies!!!! The Danish type item with cheese and strawberries was super yummy but the pastry had hardened by the time we got there (later in the day) Sounds like it’s best to get there first thing in the morning to enjoy croissant type offerings as they seem to get drier as the day goes on. Takeaway, if you get there later in the day, you can’t go wrong with cookies and donuts, if you want cinnamon rolls or croissant type items get there early to enjoy at their best!
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Pastries, Cinnamon Rolls, Donuts
Really had high hopes for this place based on reviews. The pastries were rock hard and the muffins had a strange unappealing taste to them… kind of savory/salty? My partner had one of the hot pastries in the heated cabinet and said it was pretty good, so maybe if you get them super fresh they would be better.
Dedicated GF
Photos
More Reviews
Cute shop, but the cinnamon roll and purple donut were not good. Went in the am and the cinnamon roll was very hard (like crunchy!) and really yeasty tasting (beside that, no real flavor besides cinnamon). The donut was super soft, but not very good. I appreciate that it's dedicated GF, but disappointed by our selection. Maybe the other stuff is better, but for the price, I'm going to pass on another possible disappointment.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Cinnamon Rolls, Donuts
I love this place! The staff is always friendly and willing to answer questions. They tend to sell out during the morning, so it’s best to go early! They have vegan, and soy free options.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Breakfast Sandwiches, Sandwiches, Pastries, Baguettes & more
Other
- — Takeout
- — Good for dairy-free
- — Good for breakfast
I love this place! Come early. I buy to pack my freezer and since I travel from the other side of coastal range, I call ahead. I bought take and bake crescent rolls for holiday dinner. My favs are bear claws and the baguettes. Not cheap but so worth it.
Dedicated GF
I don’t like to write negative reviews about businesses, but I also don’t like throwing money away. I got something similar to a chocolate croissant and I spit it out. Kind of like eating gf noodles that have sat out drying. I tried getting around the more stale outside, but the middle still was not edible. I have other food sensitivities that are not as bad as my gluten and dairy sensitivities but nonetheless will cause some more mild joint pain and fatigue and eating this would not be worth those at all. I have come before over a year ago when the food was less stale and it was still so dense. I decided to try again because it was my birthday recently, but still sadly not worth it.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Pastries, Croissants
SOOO GOOD!!! My family and I are visiting from southern California and when I saw the reviews and pictures of the goodies at Melinda's, I had to try! We ended up getting many items (puff pastry sandwich, doughnuts, and bear claws) and all of them were delicious. I highly recommend! Next time I'm in town I will be visiting again.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Breakfast Sandwiches, Sandwiches, Pastries, Cakes & more
Other
- — Takeout
Amazing place. Donuts. Pastries. A dream bakery.
Dedicated GF
This place is a dedicated gluten free bakery. You don’t have to have that fear and worry we all get before looking at food or ordering. They really understand everything with celiac. The ladies were so nice and the guy was so nice!! I got the fluffy cinnamon roll, and a sandwich for alter, they were both amazing!!! Thank you!!!!!
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Breakfast Sandwiches, Sandwiches, Cakes, Cookies & more
The best gluten free doughnuts I’ve ever had in my entire life, maybe the best doughnuts ever including gluten ones! Would HIGHLY recommend it’s always my must stop when in Santa Cruz.
Dedicated GF
Not the best GF bakery I’ve been to. Had a bite of the cinnamon roll an hour after buying and it was rock hard. Couldn’t eat it. The ham and bacon sandwich was pretty good.
Dedicated GF
I had the ham and bacon cheese sandwich, absolutely delicious! The cookies, donuts and coffee are great too. I can’t wait to try the sourdough round later. I am very sensitive and did not have any reaction. I will definitely return next time I am in the area!
Dedicated GF
We got there about 1pm looking for some lunch. Very disappointed that all they had was ham croissant. No sandwiches or salads like their website said. Bought a loaf of bread that was just ok but cost $10. Also got an almond croissant and strawberry tart. The croissant had a nice flavor but very heavy dough, the tart was terrible.
Dedicated GF
Love the savory options and that they gave us them warmed up! Ham and cheese croissant and the pizza roll come recommended. The chocolate donut wasn’t really worth it, it was more like a cake in donut shape. Definitely worth the trip.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Breakfast Sandwiches, Sandwiches, Cakes, Bread/Buns & more
Other
- — Good for dairy-free
Had a turkey sandwich and latte to go. Not a ton of options later I the day, but the sandwich was delicious!
Dedicated GF
I loved my experience at Melinda’s! The food was amazing and the people working were so nice! Melinda even gave me recommendations on other celiac-safe restaurants to eat at in the area. I highly recommend this spot!
Dedicated GF
My daughter and I are gluten intolerant. We had donuts, a cupcake , the cinnamon roll and savory pastries. Everything was delicious. The pastries were buttery and flaky. I wish we had this bakery back home!
Dedicated GF
Absolutely divine chocolate croissant and donuts. By far some of the best gluten free baked goods I’ve ever had in terms of both flavor and texture!
Dedicated GF
SO DELICIOUS! I bought so many things and they were all delicious but my favorite was the almond bear claw. Absolutely fantastic! Highly recommend stopping by, very delicious food and super kind and helpful staff
Dedicated GF
We always stop at Melinda's when visiting the Santa Cruz area. The bakery is pretty good for most items, but some of the items such as the croissants don't taste very fresh and are a bit hard later in the day. Service is always friendly.
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Takeout
I arrived, but only open Fri-Sunday 8am-3pm
Dedicated GF
The gf croissants are the real deal! They shatter just like a croissant with gluten would!
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Takeout
- — Good for dairy-free
The BEST GF croissants! I always go for their savory croissant sandwiches and sweet croissants (bear claw & chocolate) all of which are super flaky, butter and absolutely delicious. Melinda’s will always be worth the drive!! Highly recommend to everyone
Dedicated GF
The absolute BEST GF pastries I have ever had! She has mastered it and I am willing to travel to pick up her goodies.
Dedicated GF
Found through the “Find Me Gluten Free” app — love this gem of a bakery in Santa Cruz. The team here was very kind — appreciated the samples of the cinnamon roll and brownie available to visitors. The hot sandwich options were a lovely surprise — tried the Turkey with havarti and the vegan veggie (contradictory selections for sure). Also grabbed some puff pastry goodies (bear claw, chocolate croissant, and morning glory muffin). The team member recommended some of the vegan versions of these selections — it was a welcome perspective. Overall, the creations are delicious — very surprised by the crunchy outside texture and the chewy/moist centers. The brownies were a bit too dense for my taste and the cinnamon roll a bit too chewy, but it is definitely worth the visit. Prices felt a bit high, but understand that cost to create gluten free treats is rising — just don’t expect this to be an inexpensive outing.
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Good for kids
- — Vegetarian options
- — Takeout
- — Good for dairy-free
Absolutely amazing sandwiches and desserts. Completely gluten free, well aware of celiac and also good with peanut allergies and nut allergies. So glad I found this place!
Dedicated GF
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Good for kids
- — Takeout
- — Breakfast/Brunch
Third visit and always fabulous choices! My entire family loved everything we tried. From a ham, bacon and cheese hot sandwich to chocolate donuts and croissants! Our only complaint was that they were closed two of the days we were visiting 😂 closed Mondays and Tuesdays weekly. We got there about three hours before they closed for the day and after we walked in about five more people walked in behind us, and got in line. They were busy the entire time we were there. Definitely a stop every time we are in the area ♥
Dedicated GF
Amazing!! Dedictaes GF bakery. Everything I have had is great.
Dedicated GF
I haven’t tried all of the goodies yet, but they certainly look delicious. Just now I enjoyed a piece of the sourdough boule— fantastic! I’m even eating the end piece and it tastes good! My daughter ate one of the cream puffs and thought it was really good.
Dedicated GF
This place is pretty good. The sandwiches are extremely oily/heavy, but still have a nice flavor. The pastries are solid, not out-of-this-world. Just being a gluten free bakery makes it worth a trip though.
Dedicated GF
Wonderful cream puffs! Flaky with cream filling and chocolate coating. My nonGF family ate one and liked it, too.
Dedicated GF
Holy bear claw! It’s 100% dedicated GF kitchen and so worth it! The cinnamon bun wasn’t my fav, but mostly because I just want Cinnabon again hahaha. I’d say, just buy more bear claws or donuts. They were so good. I ate too many! As a celiac, there aren’t many delicious options out there… these are delicious!
Dedicated GF
The best gf bakery ever, we’ve been coming here for years and we look forward to coming every week. Many vegan options as well and such a great variety of yummy treats!! They also do custom cakes and pies!
Dedicated GF
My husband and I were excited to try the bakery and bought a cookie, chocolate croissants, donuts and a muffin but I hate to leave this note but we did not like them at all. The cookie was not mixed well and taste salty. The muffin does has doughy.
Dedicated GF
BEST GF BAKERY EVER! It’s the first bakery I’ve been to that is actually good! You can’t even tell it’s gluten free. I got a croissant sandwich that was bomb, donuts that were actually soft, and stuffed croissants 😄 The honey tea latte (cherry blossom tea) was THE BEST. Anyways it was really good, you should go there lol
Dedicated GF
Such a wonderful dedicated GF bakery! We really enjoyed the cinnamon rolls, I had the savory monkey bread with full olives and artichokes baked in. Such a treat to be worry free and able to eat ANYTHING they offer. We come back every time we’re in the area!
Dedicated GF
Sooo good!! Such a large (and delicious) variety of gluten free AND vegan options. My family and I (including two young picky eaters) LOVED everything we got here! My favorite was the cinnamon roll
Dedicated GF
Wonderful! I stop here every time I'm in town. They have tons of vegan options and everything is gluten free. I love their berry danishes, the crust is so flaky and tasty! Also love the cinnamon rolls, bacon & cheese rolls, avocado toast... My kids love the donuts, muffins & cupcakes. Service is fast, always a line, but moves along quickly. The staff is knowledgable and friendly. You can tell they enjoy working there. I love this place!
Dedicated GF
Many vegan option. Almond and chocolate pastry. Yummmm, friendly and helpful.
Dedicated GF
Many dairy free, gluten free options. My favorite was the veggie "sandwich" that was really a savory veggie tart with vegan cheese, kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts inside. The crust was so flaky and buttery that I wondered if it was actually vegan. The desserts were a little too sweet for my liking but I loved the maple glazed donut and iced sugar cookie. I will return for the vegan savory tarts and if I have a sweet craving when I'm in the Santa Cruz area. Nice staff, too!
Dedicated GF
First of all 3 bake goods and a chai latte should not cost 29.00 bucks. First of all the chai was so cold and horrible. The bake goods did not taste good at all. Wish I could give them no stars. Every gluten free bakery I have been to very expensive.
Dedicated GF
They have so many options! It's made fresh. I was really impressed that they make croissants gf! Tasty food, I'm very happy I went.
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Breakfast/Brunch
Really disappointed. None of the food in the case was labeled, and I had to get someone to describe the various pastries and their allergens. The chocolate chip cookie was below average, and the donuts were gummy and lacked flavor.
Dedicated GF
Very delicious gluten free pastries, I am in love with the bacon and cheddar pastry
Dedicated GF
My family and I went a little costal trip and it was nice to feel included in the donuts and coffee activities! The pastries are amazing here:)
Dedicated GF
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