Basket of Bread

What is Basket of Bread? Perched along Lake Shore Boulevard West in South Etobicoke, Basket of Bread is a humble, family-run Polish bakeshop devoted to old-country baking traditions. The space operates strictly as a compact grab-and-go counter, where shelves of crusty hearth loaves and glass cases laden with dusted pastries leave no room for seating.

Basket of Bread Menu & What to Order While neighbourhood regulars rely on the bakery for crusty buttermilk rye and fragrant onion loaves, the primary calling card is the pączki. These traditional Polish yeast doughnuts are fried to a deep golden brown, rolled in sugar, and generously stuffed with fillings like spiced plum jam, delicate rose, and rich custard. Balance the fry box with a dense slice of poppy seed strudel or a square of rustic Polish apple cake, which lean pleasantly tart rather than overly sweet.

Know Before You Go This is entirely a walk-in, takeout shop, and the most coveted pączki varieties routinely sell out before early afternoon on Saturdays. The bakery shuts down on Sundays and Mondays, so plan your pickup midweek or early on the weekend. The 501 Queen streetcar stops steps from the front door, with metered street parking available on Lake Shore.