Mara Bakery - Bakery and Cake Shop in Elizabeth - 501 Elizabeth Ave, USA

The journey to getting our perfect wedding cake wasn’t an easy one. We wanted to make sure the dessert for our big day was able to tell a story of who we are as people and where we come from. It also had to be delicious. We decided that it would be based on my late father in law’s favorite dessert: coffee crumb cake wedding cake. A fairly unorthodox concept. Our ideas were outright refused by two bakeries who didn’t want to attempt it and then a third bakery made it pretty clear they didn’t want to work with a nontraditional couple. It was months of talking with different bakeries who were either trying to guide us towards a mottre standard (and frankly boring tasting) cake or ones who didn’t want to work with us. Then we got in contact with Mara bakery and we were assured that our wedding would be complete with our dream cake. The consultation appointment was as much a collaborative effort of our ideas as it was the owners shaping them with their years of expertise in the pastry field. They assured us that not only were ideas possible but made amazing suggestions regarding on the best ways to accentuate the flavor and texture of the classic crumb cake into the larger form of a wedding cake as well as how to structure it so it would keep well until the end of the night. What resulted was delicious and everyone at the wedding either asked outright or sent us messages for the name of the bakery to request similar in the future. The price point was affordable, the delivery was prompt and didn’t need much more coordination than telling them the date and venue. It was an incredible experience to work with Mara bakery and we will definitely be going back to them for every major event in our future.

Great sandwiches and the empanada were filled with no air pockets! and a soft shell. Definitely going back for a CUBAN sandwich! Can't wait to try their pastries they looked amazing. They also bake cakes for occasions. The service wasn't too friendly though not many smiles just serious faces. I would go again because the sandwiches are made fresh with fresh bread.

Cuban bread was tasty. However, other items we tried such as guava cheese pastry, chocolate chip cookies, churros and chicken empanadas were meh.

Best Cuban sandwiches .. they are so big and they even come with a bag of chips .. together is amazing. The custard cups are so good as well.

Mara bakery was just renovated. Good style may be Cuban but not authentic. Pastelitos de carne was very soggy.Cuban bread with butter rating 3.5 bread was great but the drenched with butter took 5 napkins to stop the bleeding. Need to change the cook the meat in the pastelitos was very salty.

I love everything about this place BUT THE Service its horrible service You have to spell it out to these women or they act stupid to get you out of the way

I went to buy BREAD with my niece and the girl brought me the bread and went to prepare a coffee. I was looking at what sweet I was going to buy and I saw 2 flies on top of some sweet breads, when I told her, she just wiped them away with a cleaning cloth but did not remove the sweet breads. and to complete the bread that I bought was overheated and I had to throw it away. I have never bought anything from that place again. I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE. 

Very good people and the coffee great