Conti's Pastry Shoppe — Restaurant in New York

I would like to start by saying I have worked at a bakery and can understand how stressful it is. I came to this bakery from word of mouth and came with an understanding perspective. This bakery looks so beautiful and clean on the outside. But due to how busy they are; their staff seems to lack communication. I called to place an order for a cake and the staff who took the call said that they did not take orders over the phone. I did not have a problem with that and said I would come the next day in person. I saw that they closed at 6 and I arrived at there establishment at 5:26pm. There was a line when I arrived and I patiently waited until it was my turn. It was 5:35pm when it was my turn and the staff informed me that the cutoff time to order a cake was 5:30pm. I was a little bothered only because when I called the day prior, there was no mention of a cutoff time for ordering or a minimum days notice to place an order for a cake. When I initially called I did ask if it would be a problem since I originally had 4 days to place an order for a cake. The staff saying the cutoff time was 5:30pm should have been the first red flag but I decided to give the benefit of the doubt. I mentioned what I wanted was a simple cake and they were being firm about their cutoff time being 5:30pm. I did mention that I had called a day prior and they did not mention a cutoff time or I would have shown up earlier. Since I saw that their place had great reviews I wanted to trust that it would work out in the end. I did not want to make it an issue so I happen to be free the next day earlier in the morning. Before I left, I made sure to ask that I would still be able to place a cake since now that I had to come in the next day, the cake would be for the following day (next day). The girl who attended me assured me that there would be no issues for a cake next day and confirmed that my design was do-able. I came the next day with a good outlook but then another girl on the staff told me that they have a 2 day notice for placing cake orders and that they are only able to offer me a display cake. Immediately frustrated, I am explaining what has happened so far with the service to the girl that is attending me. I told her that this situation is not her fault but if they could understand where I was coming from. It was not until I became physically overwhelmed with processing that I wont be able to have a cake for my event and that it was too late to order a custom cake anywhere else, did another staff member say that they would be able to make a cake for me. She was the only one who was clear and showed empathy towards how the staff has handled what was supposed to be a simple order. If it was not because of her showing empathy towards me and treating me how every paying customer should feel, appreciated and taken care of, I would rate this a 1 star. In the end, they were able to accommodate my order but I was not happy with the end result. The flavor was there just the cake was too dry. I also bought other ready to go cupcakes and a cheese puff and they actually tasted great. I believe this place can be great if there there was an understanding among the staff for what they will tell customers what...

Yesterday was my 2nd visit here. The first visit a couple of friends treated me to some of there pastries for my birthday. I loved it so much that 2 months later on Christmas Eve I decided to look up the address and go back there again.

I was not aware that so many people get pastries on Christmas Eve, there was a long line outside. So heads up, if you are going on a popular day expect long lines and have plenty of quarters for the parking meter, or better yet park on side streets were there are no meters. In addition make sure you grab a paper number, they will either call your number and they also have a digital red number in the inside so that you can see what number was called.

Let me start by saying, the place is nice looking, and you mostly see beautiful friendly women behind the counters, the pastries look beautiful and mouth watering as well :)

A little pricey but that’s expected for buying pastries, but they are slightly cheaper then the one I went to in Brooklyn I forgot the name of that store in Brooklyn and it wasn’t really that good so I stay away from the Brooklyn pastries.

The only issue I have with my second visit was with one of the pastries that made me sick to my stomach and nausea, I know it was the pastry because I haven’t eaten anything for about 4 hours before and I was fine until I ate it.

It was the pastry that had a strawberry on top, I know a few of the pastries have strawberry , maybe I go back again another time and just won’t buy any pastries with Strawberries on it, I don’t know if it was that shiny clear glaze that makes the strawberry look good and fresh or maybe another ingredient unknown to me, but I was sick on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day because of it.

If I do decide to one day go back, I will order pastry’s with no strawberries on it, and if I get sick again, I will update the review and ban myself from ever buying there again. I should of known better because strawberries spoil very quickly, and that shiny clear glaze they put on it is only making the appearance of the strawberry appealing it’s not actually maintaining the freshness of the strawberry it is just making it...

I don’t usually write reviews, but after what happened at Conti’s this Mother’s Day, I really felt like I had to.

The place was packed, the line was crazy long, and I was already a little stressed thinking it was gonna take forever. Then they called my number and I see the same girl who’s helped me so many times before. I never asked her name. So I finally did. Her name is Eva and honestly? She’s an absolute gem, like the kind of person every place wishes they had. I’m not even exaggerating. Even with everything going on around her, coworkers asking her stuff nonstop, she stayed totally calm, focused, and made me feel like I was the only one there. No rushing, no attitude. What really got me is that she remembered me from Christmas. CHRISTMAS!!! She asked if I liked the chocolate mousse cheesecake she had recommended months ago. And she even remembered that I’m picky about how the pastries go in the box. Like, come on—who remembers that? It made me feel really seen and appreciated, which is not something you get often. She was fast but still made sure everything was done perfectly, and before I left, she wished me a happy Mother’s Day in such a genuine way that it honestly made me smile. You can tell she really cares about her job and the people she’s helping. I’ve been served by other staff there and they’re all nice, but Eva is on another level. I also grabbed a Nutella iced latte and it was seriously one of the best coffees I’ve had in a long time.

So yeah do a favor to yourself and ask for Eva next time you go. Conti’s is lucky to have someone like her, she’s a big reason why I’ll keep...