Clementine Bakery — Restaurant in New York

I stumbled upon an incredible bakery in Brooklyn called Clementine Bakery, thanks to the Too Good To Go: End Food Waste app. If you haven’t heard of this app yet, you’re seriously missing out! It’s a game-changer when it comes to fighting food waste and snagging delicious, eco-friendly meals at unbeatable prices. You can download it on your iPhone or Android, and trust me, it’s one of those apps you didn’t know you needed until you have it. It connects you with local restaurants and bakeries offering surprise bags filled with goodies that would otherwise go to waste, all at a fraction of the cost. I’ve been using it to discover new places around town, and Clementine Bakery has been one of the best finds so far!

Now, let’s talk about Clementine Bakery. This vegetarian café is an absolute gem in the heart of Brooklyn, and if you’re in the mood for plant-based goodness, you need to make this your next stop. They have a delicious menu that includes everything from perfectly cooked tapas to tofu dishes and comforting soups. But the real star of the show for me was their baked goods! Most people rave about their cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, and almond croissants, and after my experience, I can confirm they live up to the hype. You can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, but their pastries, in particular, are next-level.

The atmosphere here is just as amazing as the food. The exotic vibe, combined with fancy decor, makes it feel like you’ve found a hidden oasis in Brooklyn. It’s the perfect place to kick back, relax, and enjoy a little escape from the busy city streets. And the cherry on top? The staff is super friendly, especially the barista, who makes you feel welcome the moment you walk in. Whether you’re grabbing a coffee to go or planning to sit down for a while, their iced lattes, matcha, or cappuccinos are the perfect complement to their savory and sweet offerings.

Now, let me tell you about my surprise bag. I scored a sesame seed roll that was soft, fluffy, and had the perfect hint of sweetness. There was also a pastry with a fruity filling that reminded me of the best kind of croissant with a jam surprise inside—I’m pretty sure it was cherry or some kind of berry, and it was heavenly. And then, tucked away in the bag, was a chocolate croissant or puff pastry dusted with powdered sugar that was both rich and decadent without being too heavy. For just $5, I got a mix of flavors and textures that totally hit the spot. Honestly, I’m still amazed at the quality and variety for such a great price.

Clementine Bakery isn’t just a place to grab food; it’s an experience. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, this place is a must-go, especially if you’re into vegetarian cuisine or looking for a cozy spot to treat yourself. Plus, you’ll be doing a good deed by reducing food waste! I can’t recommend it enough.

If you haven’t downloaded the Too Good To Go app yet, do it now—you never know what hidden treasures like this you’ll find around the corner. And when you get to Clementine Bakery, be sure to try their famous baked goods. I’ll definitely be coming...

DO NOT CONSIDER PURCHASING AN ICE CREAM CAKE FROM THIS COMPANY. I placed an order for an ice cream cake through the Dreamery (sister store next door) website on 11/29/23, with the promise of it being available for pickup the next business day, Saturday 12/2/23, at 12 pm. Despite the Dreamery site indicating closure until Spring 2024, I assumed they were still accepting cake orders and allowing pickups on Saturdays, given the online payment option and the next available pickup date.

Upon arriving at the store at 12 pm on Saturday (12/2), I discovered that Dreamery was closed. After checking Clementines, the Dreamery, and texting with the baker, the employee informed me that the baker hadn't made the cake. Although they offered to have one ready by the next day, I couldn't wait as I was headed upstate to celebrate my birthday. Several employees assured me they would process a refund, but the manager intervened only after "overhearing" the conversation. It would have been more appropriate for him to intervene immediately, rather than the 20 minutes I was waiting for the girls to communicate with the bakers while they were dealing with a busy store.

The manager informed me that I should never have been allowed to place a cake order because the Dreamery store was closed for the season. He even said he had to close the section of the site that allows you to place orders. He claimed he would refund me within 15 minutes (once he "figured out how to do that"), but to my dismay, I never received the refund. Disheartened and frustrated by the entire situation, I chose not to engage with them further due to perceived incompetence.

Subsequently, I initiated a dispute with Afterpay, and Dreamery responded by asserting the validity of the charge. First, if they have been able to figure out how to counter my dispute, why haven't they figured out how to refund me? Secondly, if, indeed, Dreamery does not accept cake orders during their closed season, why did they counter the dispute? Upon checking their website today, I discovered that they hadn't removed the cake ordering option, contradicting the manager's claim. It appears the manager provided an excuse for their failure, and despite continuous disappointment, I have yet to receive the $81 refund.

After dedicating a significant amount of time to visit the store, dispute the charge, and now compose this review in the hope of a resolution, it's disheartening to have encountered such a disappointing experience. I have waited for seven years to find a vegan ice cream cake for my birthday, only to be met with this. What a shame. I hope I will not have to take time to go to the store to get...

The bakery is cute and in a good location. I was looking forward to trying it out after moving into the neighborhood earlier this winter.

Unfortunately, the several times I've stopped by its been underwhelming. The biggest gripe I have is with the service. I understand client facing service can be arduous and we can't demand servers coddle us as customers. But to be frank the energy is always sour. The workers seem like they're doing you a favor by handing you coffee and are often too busy chatting with each other to say hello or look at you while they ring you up.

That's a more minor point as some people don't care and this is probably management's fault rather than the servers just not wanting to be kind.

The second reason I take points off is because of the cost to quality ratio. Again, the prices aren't that far off from other modern bakeries in NYC and considering price inflation of food its somewhat understandable. That being said, the quality is just not commensurate with the prices. Take the coffee for example, it has a very flat and generic flavor like the coffee you get on an airplane or in a gas station off the highway. Just no smokiness, nuttiness, fruitiness or body to the coffee at all. Nothing that would make me savour it and go "hm that's a tasty cup of coffee". Despite this lackluster taste a small black drip coffee (the simplest thing you can get) is nearly $3.

The fried chicken sandwich is a chunk of fried chicken with a few slivers of what tastes like thick cut cabbage. The "Spicy mayo" tastes like low fat sour cream. Ultimately its flavorless and uninteresting, all for a premium price.

I'm fine with good food being expensive; i'm not interested in just ok food being expensive.

I get that we no longer demand a perky emotional labor heavy greeting and pat on the back from service workers. That's cool. But being greeted, having a friendly conversation and not feeling like you're intruding on a cool-girl's club meeting goes along way to having a positive experience.

Anyway, there are plenty of other places to go to instead and unlike this one most of them open well before your 2nd...