Nova Era Bakery

though i wish them sucess i was a regular at this place and rarely did i find help to be overly nice with a few exceptions a gentleman who works there but the women were never friendly and gave bare minimum service exchange. maybe because im asian and not portugese. never have i ever brought race as an issue but i dont know what it is, i get this impression of it being uncomfortable and ackward and thats so rare for me to experience, ive never felt out
before. its even strange for me to write this lol. at the end of the day for companies to be great, customer service should be up to par.
food was okay not a huge selection but i did enjoy their hot sandwhiches and desserts. probably wont go there as much since im out of the neighbourhood and only went there for comvience but who knows maybe id go back to meet a friend since its a casual place to hang out in mediocrity and really catch up on your girl talk without distractions.

Decent little bakery on St Clair near the community center and Earlscourt park. Since the gf and I got a new dog this has been our spot for coffee and pastries.
Very decent pastry selection and everything is labelled along with prices. Yum yum. One giant apple turnover, one big donut and two coffees was $ 7.
The place is always packed and has a certain Portuguese flair. If you want plain old drip coffee make sure to ask for it «Canadian»

Racism???
I grew up eating Nova Era pizza and tarts, even though it was another location. I’ve been to this location several times, as family members live nearby –recently I stopped going because of the poor service. Unfortunately, I was in a huge rush and had to stop there to get something. I approached the cash register and the cashier just finished cashing out someone and chit chatting (which is fine with me), the customer leaves and the cashier stood about a foot from the register and completely ignores me– mind you, I’m literally standing in front of the cash register.
So, my suspicions of racism arise yet again… for about 5 minutes I stand there waiting (I usually wouldn’t stay but I really needed to get something quickly). The lady who was cutting the meat had to take off her gloves, and stop cutting meat to come serve me, she was polite etc… guess what? As soon as she cashed me out, the other lady went back to the cash register. If Nova Era wants to serve Toronto communities, they are going to have to get used to serving people of colour. This saddens me, especially since I have fond memories of another location.

Went in to get a birthday cake and they had cakes that looked at least 2 weeks old each cake had cracks all over the cake. One crack is a indication it’s old. A dozen cracks says it’s really old. Definitely will never go back.

very good pastry but I was there near closing time and did not have much selection left. Must go back earlier

Well I’ve found another little gem and it’s not italian! This time around it’s of the Portugese persuasion!
First of all when you open the door you are hit in the face with the most wonderful odor of fresh bread being baked! You walk in and there is a fridge filled to capacity of all kinds of colds cuts and cheeses and to your left fresh baked bread to go oh so good with the cold cuts.
Above the cash register there is a sign «Best Coffee Served» and believe me that is 100% the absolute truth.
Lets move on to the desserts — a fridge full of mouth watering custard tarts (their trademark) — now usually I am not a fan of custard but this is no way something I can pass up on each visit.
I highly recommend a visit!

Took my mother-​in-​law (no jokes please she truly is a lovely lady!), to Nova Era yesterday mid-​afternoon. I needed a late lunch and she needed a nice pastry.
This location smells wonderful. Just that indicates how great the bread will taste and it indeed does. They also have a nice assortment of pastries. If you couple that with excellent coffee, you have a winning combination.
I had their Nova Era club sandwich, on a fresh ciabatta like bun. A well-​travelled friend, with whom I lunched in Lisbon, got me turned on to Portuguese style baking. He asserted that the bread in that country was the best in Europe. I harrumphed, being a Francophile, but was proven wrong. They do say that «the proof of the pudding is…».
This bakery just does that fantastic bread and nice interpretation of a club sandwich loaded with a breast of chicken. It was very delicious. My lunch companion had a ‘mutant’ chocolate croissant, with chocolate filling and drizzle. She took one half home as it was too much to finish.
She had an expresso which she said would «wake up the dead», and I had an Americano which was perfect. I have been there 3 times and its always consistent, simple and yummy!
They have a bunch of locations around town, and they have Epi and Cobs beaten cold. In the general realm only Nino D’Aversa comes close. They have far better servive than the competition.
Try it!