ZUbakery: Experience Award-Winning Croissants and Artisan Breads in Portland, ME

This wonderful bakery is the essence of good and pure work and the fruits of that work. Walk into this working bakery and watch flour being ground and loaves being shaped. Have a cup of coffee and a chocolate croissant and your day will be made. This is your happy place.

Truly excellent bakery - the James Beard is well deserved. Not only are their pastries excellent (we got one of every croissant and the ham and cheese was a little less flaky than the others, which I guess is to be expected from the extra moisture, but not a single miss), but their breads are top notch as well. Would highly recommend coming back at 1:30ish for their focaccia. Because the reviews all warn of them running out of pastries very early in the morning, we got here at around 8:45 on Saturday morning and there was already a party in front of us, and by the time 9 rolled around, the line behind us was already quite long, so make sure you plan accordingly.

These are the best croissants I've ever had, including the ones I've had in France. It's always worth it to get there 15 minutes before they open.

These are the best croissants I’ve ever had. There is no way to improve them - this is the perfect croissant. I had no idea how much better croissants could taste. They are so crispy on the outside but every soft of the inside. Can’t wait until we can have again. Keep up the good work

One of my favorite croissants that I have eaten. Really delicious flavour and flaky exterior. The inside was chewy and things were good. The almond croissant was also amazing and different from others I have had. It was like a snail with almond paste. I enjoyed that it wasn't super sweet and heavy like the twice-baked almond croissants soaked in simple syrup that i am used to. The rustic loaf that I have been slowly working through is also amazing. When I am in Portland again I will certainly be returning to try other breads and pastry. The server was very helpful and friendly which made the whole experience pleasant. The smell of fresh bread and pastry inside the bakery is intoxicating.

Line forms up fast and early so if you’re not in line by 10 you’re probably gonna be out of luck. The pasties here are good but don’t think I would come back just for the many variations the croissant they serve here. The pizzetta was very nice and flavorful and the bread is also very good.

Line forms up fast and early so if you’re not in line by 10 you’re probably gonna be out of luck. The pasties here are good but don’t think I would come back just for the many variations the croissant they serve here. The pizzetta was very nice and flavorful and the bread is also very good.

One of my favorite croissants that I have eaten. Really delicious flavour and flaky exterior. The inside was chewy and things were good. The almond croissant was also amazing and different from others I have had. It was like a snail with almond paste. I enjoyed that it wasn't super sweet and heavy like the twice-baked almond croissants soaked in simple syrup that i am used to. The rustic loaf that I have been slowly working through is also amazing. When I am in Portland again I will certainly be returning to try other breads and pastry. The server was very helpful and friendly which made the whole experience pleasant. The smell of fresh bread and pastry inside the bakery is intoxicating.

We wanted to check out both the new James Beard award winners while we were in Portland so after making it through the line at Norimoto we headed over to Zu. We got in line at 10:30 on a Saturday morning and made it to the front of the line in under 15 minutes. That was the good news, the bad news was that the only items available for purchase at that time were a brioche roll, a brownie, granola and a few wheat loafs. We purchased a brioche loaf and a bag of granola. Both were quite tasty but I was disappointed that there wasn't more on offer. They said that there would be scones and focaccia available in the next 20-45 minutes so it seems our timing was just bad. Street parking was easy to find and everyone working there was very friendly. Would happily give it another go if I lived in the area.

I love pain au raisins, they probably my favorite dessert of all time. The ones I had in Paris blew my mind. And the pain au raisins at ZU blow the ones at Paris out of the water. They are unbelievably airy and the sugar from the golden raisins melts down to make a caramelized sugar crust like that of crème brûlée. I’ve had them on numerous occasions now and they are each time an experience.