Best Bread In Tampa, The

Southern Living, Apr 2006 by Frazier, Jennifer McKenzie

Enjoy the Cuban treats at La Segunda Central Bakery for the most authentic flavors in town.

Three police cars and a fire engine. That's not what you want waiting for you in the parking lot of the place you're about to visit. Still, that's what I saw on my first trip to La Segunda Central Bakery.

But it wasn't an emergency that brought the men in blue to La Segunda. That is, unless lunch is considered an urgent situation.

"Pretty much everyone in town knows about us and comes here," says Raymond More, who owns La Segunda with his cousin, Anthony.

Authentic Flavors

People line up at this 90-year-old bakery for the Cuban bread and traditional sandwiches. Even if you haven't actually visited the bakery, you may have sampled its bread. That's because, according to Raymond, most of the bread around town is produced here. The 36-inch-long loaves are distributed locally, whereas frozen half-loaves are sent to stores all across the country.

Sweet Surprise

The 125 or so different pastries give another reason to visit this place. Choose from cheesecake, turnovers, pies, cookies, and éclairs. Still, it's the Cuban sandwiches, loaded with baked ham, Genoa salami, marinated pork, and cheese, that people clamor for every day.

When you visit, ask for a tour of the place. But don't plan on seeing the kitchen on a weekend-even if you're in uniform and driving a police car-because tours are offered only on weekdays.

-JENNIFER MCKENZIE FRAZIER

La Segunda Central Bakery: 2512 15th Street, Tampa, FL 33605; (813) 248-1531.