Gran Forno Bakery

East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Dining on Las Olas

Big City Tavern
Boulevard Cafe
Cafe Europa
Cafe le Bonne Crepe
Cathode Ray Club
Golden Lyon Bar
Grill Room on Las Olas
Indigo Restaurant
Johnny Vs
Las Olas Cafe
Le Cafe de Paris
Louie Louie Bistro
Mancini's Italian Restaurant
Mangos Restaurant & Lounge
Mark's on Las Olas
Noodles Panini
O'Hara's Jazz Club
Samba Room
Shizen
Stork's Bakery
The Grape
Timpano Italian Chophouse

Gran Forno Bakery
1235 East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

CITYLINK wrote:

What can we say that we haven't said about Gran Forno in the past eight Best Of issues? In 2003, we raved, "The great panetterias of Italy have nothing on Gran Forno." Still true. And in 1998 we wrote, "Whoever said man cannot live by bread alone has never been to Gran Forno." True, that would be a high-carb diet but well-worth the added pounds. In 2001, we couldn't stop ourselves: "Ever since the first loaf of ciabatta came out of the ovens [in 1995], Gran Forno has filled local breadbaskets with delicious oversize muffins, miniature pecan pies, custard-filled fruit tarts, lemon cakes, chocolate fudge brownies, whole loaves of crusty breads, herb-flavored focaccias, cookies, creamy tiramisu and the best sandwiches on Las Olas Boulevard." We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Go there because our readers deserve only the best.

NEW TIMES wrote:

To find Gran Forno, you could look for the storefront window that displays bakers at work, or you could simply close your eyes (mind your step) and follow your nose. The smell of bread, savory with rosemary, wafts to the street. On weekends Gran Forno is crowded and clubby. Regulars gather in tennis togs to consult maps for their upcoming trip to Tuscany while the owners chime in with advice. Not surprisingly the focaccia, pastries, and biscotti are all excellent, but the best thing about this authentic, family-owned bakery is the way it continually pulls off the unexpected. At Thanksgiving, for example, Gran Forno's beautiful pumpkin pies no doubt upstage many a turkey. And this being Florida, the bakery also makes a key lime tartlet that, while generous, might still be a tad too small (and too delicious) to share.

Breads, Sandwiches and Desserts - Indoor and outdoor cafe tables