次第花开 Flower and dessert — Restaurant in New York

次第花开: A Cool Oasis for Iced Delights

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Looking for a sweet escape from the city's hustle? Tucked away next to Tangram mall, 次第花开 (Cìdì Huākāi) is a charming flower and dessert shop that offers a welcome respite with its refreshing iced treats and peaceful ambiance.

Cool Calmness:

Tranquil Haven: Stepping into 次第花开 is like entering a serene garden. Soft lighting, delicate floral arrangements, and gentle music create a relaxing atmosphere perfect for unwinding after a busy day.

Not-So-Busy Bliss: Unlike many New York dessert spots, 次第花开 wasn't packed on the late evening I visited. Finding a comfortable table was easy, and the lack of crowds made it easy to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

Icy Delights:

Fruit Ice Fantasy: The star of the show for me was the fruit ice. I can't quite recall all the fruits, but there was definitely dragonfruit, and each bite was a burst of fresh, vibrant flavour. It was the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, making it incredibly refreshing.

Taro with Beans: The taro with beans was good, but compared to the fruit ice, it felt a bit tame. The taro flavour was mild, and the beans added a nice texture, but it didn't quite reach the same level of excitement.

Fantastic Staff:

The staff at 次第花开 deserves a special mention. They were incredibly friendly and helpful, patiently explaining the menu and offering recommendations. Their cheerful service added to the overall positive experience.

Final Bloom:

If you're looking for a unique and relaxing place to beat the heat and indulge in a refreshing iced dessert, 次第花开 is definitely worth a visit. The calming atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious fruit ice (seriously, don't miss it!) make it a hidden gem in the city. Just be aware that some menu items, like the taro with beans, might not be as memorable as others.

Tips:

Try the fruit ice! It's a refreshing and unique treat you won't find everywhere.

Don't hesitate to ask the staff for recommendations. They're happy to help.

Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and soak in the floral beauty.

次第花开 left me feeling cool, calm, and satisfied. I'll definitely be back to explore more of their iced dessert offerings and soak up the...

The entrance is very unassuming and you can easily walk by it without ever realizing you passed this gem. However, the inside is much deeper and larger than it looks from the outside. It’s also very clean, has a restroom, cute decorations, and ample seating for dine-in customers. In fact, there are call buttons on each table to call someone over to your table because the workers are in the front taking orders or making orders most of the time. In fact, after being seated, you place your order through your phone and when you are done eating, you pay in person in the front before leaving.

The menu itself is extensive and expensive. The cheapest item on the menu was $6ish and a bubble tea could cost you $8 or more. I only ordered one thing on the menu so I can only speak to the taste of that but if everything else on the menu is as good and filling as what I ordered, the price may actually be worth it.

I ordered the taro, mochi assortment, sago, purple rice, red bean, grass jelly, and tapioca mix in milk tea. The milk tea had a hint of sweetness and mixed deliciously with all the add-ins. The scoop of taro was fresh and fragrant. The mochi assortment was delightfully chewy. The sago was refreshing. The purple rice had a nice chew with the milk tea. The red bean was sweet and like a familiar favorite. The grass jelly had a typical black herbal flavor and there was a clear flavorless version of it in the dessert as well. The tapioca was classic and added well to the already full and diverse dessert.

I’m salivating writing this review and I think I must go back again soon to try something else.

Edit: I came back already within two months and tried their shaved ice. It was so good...

I came all the way from out of state to visit New York, and remembered this mochi spot was pretty good, so I decided to stop by again. I ordered a hot red date sweet soup, and when it came, I opened the lid and had no idea how I was supposed to drink it. The container didn’t look like a cup, and there wasn’t anything to pour it into either.

So I asked the staff, “Hey, how do I drink this? Do you have a cup or something?” The guy looked super annoyed and just said, “There’s a spoon.”

I looked at the plastic spoon he was talking about and honestly wasn’t sure if it was even okay to use that with hot sweet soup—it didn’t look great. Plus, the spoon was tiny. Am I supposed to drink the whole thing like soup with that? I really didn’t get it.

So I asked again, “Is there a cup or something I can pour this into?” And he gave me the same annoyed look, like I was dumb for not understanding. He was like, “Just use the spoon.”

I said, “But if there’s no cup, how am I supposed to drink it?” Then he said something like, “You can pour it into this bowl or use the spoon—whatever you want.”

I was honestly speechless. He made me feel like a complete idiot just because I didn’t know you’re supposed to sip hot sweet soup with a tiny plastic spoon. A little explanation would’ve gone a long way, seriously. Just because we speak Chinese doesn’t mean we all automatically know how to eat this.

I’m definitely not coming back, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone around Flushing either. Unless you wanna experience some rude, eye-rolling service—then by all means,...