Laurel Bakery — Restaurant in New York

When Laurel first opened earlier this year, it quickly became my favorite bakery in New York, known for its exceptional pastries and the warm, intimate interaction with the baker. However, over time, my experience has unfortunately declined. The quality of the bread has diminished, and the extension of business hours seems to have affected its freshness, as the bread often sits too long.

Additionally, I have observed a noticeable decline in the friendliness of the cashier and barista, especially in comparison to other local bakeries. The coffee, an unusually sour and tangy flavor that does not pair well with the baked goods.

What was initially a highly anticipated and impressive establishment has become increasingly disappointing. The compromises made in quality and service have led me to reconsider my support...

I had high hopes for this bakery after hearing several local recommendations, but I left disappointed.

First, the pricing is surprisingly high: $8 for a small croissant, $6 for an iced drip coffee, and $6.50 for a cortado. For comparison, places like Hanis and Librae charge lower prices for much larger portions and higher quality.

Unfortunately, Laurel’s croissant didn’t justify the cost: the interior wasn’t soft enough, and the outer texture felt overly thick and coarse. The coffee was similarly underwhelming, leaving me questioning how these prices are set.

Overall, Laurel simply doesn’t deliver the quality to match its premium pricing. I won’t be returning, and I’d recommend exploring the many better and more affordable bakeries nearby in Brooklyn...

August update to original June post—the batard dough consistency has been better since June (and always delicious/craveworthy). Service still as slow as molasses, but I get it, for many customers it’s about the special experience and attention to detail rather than just picking up your favorites at a local bakery, it’s just that with one customer served at a time this creates a bottleneck at the checkout I like the bread generally, coffee is on point too, but for almost $11 you gotta sell me a batard without huge great holes in. And agree with the comments about the slow line and aloof staff but really hoping those are kinks the owners can work out. So much promise. The neighborhood could use a great bakery. I’m...