Some businesses chase trends. This one just keeps baking the same way it has for decades, and that’s exactly why people keep coming back. Auddino’s Italian Bakery sits near the Ohio State Fairgrounds on the near east side of Columbus, and while it looks unassuming from the outside, it’s been quietly supplying the city with sub buns, hamburger buns, dinner rolls and pastries since 1968.
What started as a 500 square foot shop on Cleveland Avenue has grown into a 20,000 square foot operation that now ships bread to roughly 300 customers a day, including restaurants and pizza shops across central Ohio and out to Dayton. Despite that scale, the retail storefront still feels like a neighborhood spot where you can grab a coffee, pick out a cannoli, and watch the whole thing run like clockwork.
What to Order
The cannoli here get mentioned more than almost anything else, and for good reason. The shells stay crunchy instead of soggy, the filling isn’t cloyingly sweet, and the chocolate chips taste like actual chocolate rather than an afterthought. If you’re new to the bakery, this is the item most people point you toward first.
The black and white cookies have built their own following, soft and cakey with that classic split of vanilla and chocolate icing. Auddino’s cronuts, sometimes listed as “dosants,” draw comparisons to the big donut chains and consistently come out ahead in that matchup, thanks to a laminated dough that stays flaky rather than greasy.
Since this is fundamentally a bread bakery first, don’t sleep on the Italian loaves, kaiser rolls, and brioche buns that supply half the sandwich shops in the area. Croissants and a rotating lineup of holiday specialties round things out, so it’s worth checking what’s seasonal before you go, since certain treats only show up around specific times of year.
Atmosphere & Décor
Don’t expect a polished cafe with curated interiors here. The space reads as functional and a little old-school, with display cases up front and the actual bakery humming away just behind them. It’s the kind of place where the smell of fresh bread hits you before you’re even through the door.
The vibe leans nostalgic rather than trendy, which is part of the charm. Seating is minimal since most people are in and out with a box of pastries or a bag of rolls, making this more of a grab-and-go stop than a sit-down cafe experience.
Other Considerations
What are the hours? Auddino’s is open Monday through Friday from 7am to 3pm and Saturday from 7am to 2pm. It’s closed on Sundays, so plan your visit accordingly.
Is it family owned? Yes, and that’s a big part of its story. Michele and Rosa Auddino, both originally from Italy’s Calabria region, started the business together, and the family still runs it today with the next generation involved in daily operations.
Can I get things to go for events or parties? Absolutely, since the bakery already handles high volume wholesale orders for restaurants and pizza shops daily, picking up a larger order of rolls, bread, or pastries for a gathering is well within what they’re set up to do.
Is parking easy? There’s a small lot on site, and since the bakery operates on the earlier side of the day, mornings tend to be the busiest window if you’re hoping to beat a line.
Auddino’s Italian Bakery
📍 1490 Clara St, Columbus, OH 43211
Website: https://www.facebook.com/auddinositalianbakery/
