La Cabra Bakery — Restaurant in New York

One of the few cafes that is always worth returning. Constantly crowded even on weekdays, but finding a table was easier than expected bc most of the ppl won't stay long or just grab and go.

＊ Semla Fat Tuesday is over, but my craving for semla never ends. Their semlor are exquisite and cute, sprinkled with almond chips and granulated sugar. Very photogenic, as delicate as a piece of art. The plain sweet bun was a bit dull, which made the semla lack of complexity. Yet I like their extra light vanilla whipped ganache, and the sweet-and-sour undertone from the raspberry compote. You can finish the whole bun all alone without guilt.

In short, I prefer the traditional almond semla by Fabrique, but La Cabra's semla is still an amazing pastry with lovely price ($6).

＊ Seasonal Choux The choux was made of milk chocolate ganache, espresso and hazelnut praline, and fudge sauce. I love how puffy it was. For my personal liking, it would be even better if it has a stronger espresso bitterness and the milk choco is replaced by dark choco (sounds like an adult flavor).

＊ Almond Croissant I don't usually order almond croissant, but I was surprised that this was right up my alley. The croissant had a crispy cookie-like crust and buttery interior layers. The almond paste was stunningly impressive - nutty, aromatic and not oversweet. It charges higher than other bakeries ($6.5), but its supreme quality explains itself.

＊ Cardamom Bun Repurchased their cardamom bun in my second visit. Compared to the legendary cardamom bun at Fabrique, La Cabra's cardamom spice is weaker, more bready and also lightly sweetened; while Fabrique's has a crispier, more caramelized and sweet outer. Don't ask me to choose, I love them both.

＊ Hot Chocolate, Flat White w/ Oat Milk You should def try their coffee. Their baristas are professional. The hot chocolate wasn't rich in flavor, so if you prefer a typical American sweet hot choco you may...

I came to La Cabra this past Saturday after having it on my list for a while. I was excited to try the croissants, cardamom buns, and pick up a fresh load of sourdough bread. Unfortunately, my experience was marred due to the extremely rude service we received. We patronize a lot of different bakeries and restaurants all across the city, and it’s rare that we encounter rude service ever.

The decor of the place is very minimalist; there are no boards that show what’s on the menu. They simply have two sets of menus at the front counter, one by the cashier and one on top of the glass pastry counter. I went to take one so my husband and I could decide what we wanted before we got to the front. A male worker came from behind the counter, snatched the menu right out of my hands as though I was a child, and simply said, “this menu is for customers at the front.” He didn’t apologize at all.

My husband was angered by this rude service, but I didn’t want to leave because we had already waited long enough in line, and I wasn’t going to leave empty handed due to time already spent waiting. What made this worse: two customers behind me, both white women, did the exact same thing i did and took a menu from the front to view while in line. This male worker saw it both times yet didn’t snatch the menu from either of them.

It’s extremely unfortunate and sad that in 2024, businesses cannot treat all customers equally and with respect. It doesn’t matter what the quality of the food here is — there are so many amazing food businesses in New York City that will get my hard earned dollars, and I’ll never come back here or recommend this place to anyone given the awful service. I already spent $20+ on pastries and bread here, and frankly, that was...

I recently visited Lacabra Coffee in NYC, and I have to say, it was an amazing experience! I went in the afternoon, and as expected, the coffee shop was packed, so be prepared for a busy vibe, especially considering the indoor seating space is quite small. It's a cozy spot, but don’t rely on staying there for long if you’re hoping to relax with your coffee and sweets, as the limited seating fills up quickly.

One of the main reasons I visited was to try their famous cardamom bun, but unfortunately, they were out of it when I arrived. It was a bit of a disappointment, but it’s a testament to how popular their baked goods are. That being said, I wasn’t left wanting for long, as I opted to try their canele and chocolate croissant instead, and I was very pleased.

The canele was absolutely divine! The exterior was perfectly caramelized and slightly crispy, while the inside was soft, custardy, and rich, with a wonderful vanilla and rum flavor that lingered just enough without being overpowering. The contrast between the firm crust and the tender inside made each bite a delicious treat.

The chocolate croissant was equally impressive. The layers of flaky pastry were light, buttery, and crisp, with each layer pulling apart effortlessly. The filling inside was indulgently rich and smooth, with just the right amount of chocolate—sweet but not overly so, balancing perfectly with the pastry’s buttery texture. It was easily one of the best chocolate croissants I’ve had in a while, with a satisfying crunch followed by a melt-in-your-mouth moment with the chocolate.

I can’t wait to come back to try the cardamom bun next time. Lacabra Coffee is definitely a hidden gem in NYC, offering incredible baked goods that are worth the wait....