LuAnn’s Bakery & Café in Ellington has taken homemade taste and local ingredients to whip up a recipe for success. With the leadership of tea-shop entrepreneur Josh Virkler and some of the legacy recipes of Ellington native LuAnn herself, who had been serving up her delights for over 40 years, LuAnn’s Bakery has become a soul-(and stomach-)filling destination in North-Central Connecticut.
With one standalone location at 238 Somers Road and a drive thru opened expressly to serve the needs of customers during COVID at 140 West Road, LuAnn’s handily serves up something for everyone visiting Ellington. Whether you’re seeking breakfast on the go or a sit-down lunch meeting with friends, LuAnn’s can satisfy.
More than a Bakery
While LuAnn’s Bakery is ostensibly a bakery, and has been a mainstay at the beloved Ellington Farmer’s Market for years where you can still purchase delightful pies, muffins, sweet braided Swiss Wecka bread, and more, the shop has expanded to let you bring LuAnn’s tasty creations to every meal. Not only does the café open for dine-in (though this is subject to COVID regulations!) for full breakfast and lunch dining, but you can snag delicious “Take & Bake” premade meals every night of the week, soups to go, and pies and cakes to bring back to the fam. Just peep their large freezer in the front of the house and see what’s on offer! You can also see their Take & Bake menu for the month on their site, and even order them delivered direct to your door from another Ellington small business, The Modern Milkman.
LuAnn’s also rents out their entire facility for smaller events (up to 30 people), and will hook you up with the most beautiful cakes, pies, and cookies for any occasion. Just take a look at their instagram feed (link below)!
Committed to the Community
Like many small businesses, LuAnn’s has been sure to support and bolster other local companies. You can find LuAnn’s baked goods, breads, to-go meals, and more from other shops and vendors in the area, and their menu features locally grown produce.
What to Order
While we cannot say enough good things about their menu as a whole, there are some serious standouts. Of the many things to love about LuAnn’s Bakery is their fabulous dietary flexibility. LuAnn’s easily whipped up Judy’s very lengthy and complex coffee order (typically from that nationwide chain with the green mermaid *cough*) in addition to providing amazingly good gluten-free bread for her breakfast sandwich. The menu has staples and changing features, all customizable to vegan and gluten-free options so that everyone can find something to satisfy.
Check out LuAnn’s Bakery on Instagram
