Claude Bakery (NYC) — Restaurant in New York

I'd been wanting to go to Patisserie Claude for over a week after seeing it had the highest positive google ratings in the city. I had watched a Buzzfeed episode of Worth It about croissants, an Alex French Guy Cooking episode on youtube about making croissants, and City Bakery's documentary of their pretzel croissant process. After going to the Union Square market Saturday, I passed Breads Bakery's 16th st store. City bakery is near by and Mah Ze Dahr is on the way to Claude so I thought I'd buy one from each and compare them. The photos show the three standard croissants and the City Bakery pretzel croissant. The pretzel is an oddball, and I've loved it for that reason, but it's salty and has sesame seeds, so it's not a good comparison for best French croissant. I was informed by the server that Ma Ze Dahr uses sour dough in their croissant so it has a bit of tang. When I arrived at Claude with the three other croissants in my bag, the whole place smelled of melted butter and the maillard aroma. The lady who greeted me had a hat with an embroidered croissant that resembled the classics I had purchased from City Bakery and Breads Bakery. Their actual croissant, however, did not look so good. It was pale, and appeared under-proofed. No matter, I was doing a comparison, and sometimes looks can be deceiving. I sliced the three standard croissants to see the laminations. Claude's was doughy and under baked as the crust indicated that it might be. I will give it another chance when I'm near by for Murray's Cheese Shop or Joe's Pizza, but I don't think I'll make a special trip for this croissant again. We ate the other three croissants, tasted the belly and ear of the Claude croissant, and unfortunately threw away the remainder of the Claude. The price point can add to an item's favorability here on Google, so do consider that for the price, this place is properly rated, and the neighborhood adores this joint. Just don't expect mind-blowing pastry perfection and you'll enjoy this lovely...

Tucked away in a quiet corner, this bakery was the perfect post-Jummah stop for my friends and me on a Friday afternoon. The moment we stepped in, we were greeted by the scent of freshly baked pastries and a warm, inviting space. The interior had a minimalist yet cozy charm—soft lighting, sleek wooden accents, and a well-curated display of pastries that made it impossible not to linger. The atmosphere was relaxed but lively, with the gentle hum of conversation and the occasional clatter of plates adding to the comforting ambiance.

We started with their most famous item—the chocolate cake. While it had a rich, decadent texture, it didn’t quite live up to the hype for us. It was good, but not something we’d rush back for. But then came the crème brûlée cruffin, and that was a whole different story. A flaky, buttery masterpiece filled with smooth, caramelized custard, it had the perfect balance of crisp and creamy.

The real standouts, though, were the vanilla cream custard and the lemon meringue. Both were absolutely exquisite—light yet indulgent, with a texture that melted effortlessly. The vanilla custard had a luxurious, velvety richness, while the lemon meringue struck that perfect harmony between tart and sweet, with a beautifully airy finish. If there’s one thing I’d go back for in a heartbeat, it’s that.

As for the coffee? It was okay—not bad, but not necessarily something I’d recommend over other spots in the area. But when it comes to the cruffin and the meringue? A definite yes.

The staff were friendly and efficient, welcoming us with a smile and patiently walking us through their recommendations. It was clear they took pride in their pastries, and their enthusiasm made the experience even more enjoyable.

There’s something about a bakery that gets the small details right—the balance of flavors, the texture of the pastries, the simple joy of a well-made dessert. This place had that. It’s the kind of spot that makes you want to linger just a little longer, savoring...

good but very overpriced. i understand that new york is expensive and if this was the best chocolate cake or tiramisu i’ve ever had i would say it’s worth the $10 price tags for each but neither is the best. for my tiramisu i like a 10:90 ratio of lady fingers to cream and this was pretty 50:50 so that is definitely swaying the review of the tiramisu. overall it had a nice flavor, the cream was good and there was a strong coffee taste but it didn’t blow me away. the best tiramisu is new york goes to roscioli or la pecora bianca (this one is a 3 person job). the chocolate cake also wasn’t my favorite. the frosting was insane but they don’t give enough. the cake itself had good flavor but was a little dry. the best chocolate cake has to go to little cupcake bakeshop, nobody does it better. they are a bit pricier but the slice is bigger and the quality is better. i do think this is a good one to try because different people have different taste buds but personally i found both items to be anticlimactic and the quality did not...