Lulla's Bakery - Grand Café & Cocktails — Restaurant in New York

We went in with high expectations after watching a couple of interviews with the owner of Lulla’s Brooklyn (@ivodiaznyc). It seemed like a great bakery with an interesting concept. I’m not Venezuelan, but my Venezuelan friends brought me to try some of their traditional food. There were six of us.

The space itself is nice, but unfortunately, our experience didn’t quite live up to what we expected. Service was a bit off, and the food had its highs and lows.

What we ordered:

We got two matchas, three coffees (Americano, one with milk, and a drip), and a toddy (which was very sweet but fine). For food, we had two fried arepas (beef and chicken), two grilled arepas, a cachapa, four ham and cheese cachitos, a canilla sandwich, a campesino sandwich, the Lulla’s Club, and French toast.

Service:

The ordering process could have been smoother. The staff seemed a bit disengaged, and at times, it felt like they weren’t really paying attention. It made things a little uncomfortable, but we still left 20% tip on a $187 bill, hoping the food would make up for it.

Food: • The fried arepas arrived cold, which was disappointing. The grilled ones were much better, so I’d recommend those instead. • The cachapa was way too salty, which overpowered everything else. • The canilla sandwich lacked flavor, and the cheese inside was unevenly cut, which made it feel a bit carelessly prepared. • The campesino sandwich had too much mustard, very little chicharrón, and barely any pineapple—so the mustard ended up being the dominant flavor. • The cachitos were decent, nothing particularly special.

At this point, nothing really stood out, but then we had to wait 45 minutes for the French toast and the Lulla’s Club. • The French toast was good, but honestly, waiting 45 minutes for it just didn’t make sense. • The Lulla’s Club sandwich came with cold fries and was already dry when it got to the table. When we asked for it to be reheated, it was warmed up in a microwave, which unfortunately made the bread rubbery, the lettuce wilted, and the egg overcooked.

Final Thoughts:

We were really looking forward to trying this place, but the experience didn’t match the expectations. The flavors weren’t quite there, the timing of the dishes was off, and for the price, we expected a bit more. That being said, it’s a nice spot with potential, so hopefully, with some improvements in service and consistency, it can live up to...

Yes, Lulla’s is worth checking out. After months of delays, this Venezuelan café, bakery, and cocktail bar has finally opened, and despite a few early hiccups, it’s already showing signs of being a real neighborhood staple. The coffee is some of the best in the area, the ham cachito is a must-try, and the space is beautifully designed—though not without some quirks.

For those unfamiliar, a cachito is a Venezuelan pastry, somewhat similar to a croissant but denser and typically stuffed with ham. The one at Lulla’s was perfectly warm and fresh, exactly what you want with a cup of coffee. And speaking of coffee, their black drip brew is on another level—deep, rich, and balanced, with subtle notes of chocolate and berries. It’s the kind of coffee that makes you believe they actually tasted it before serving, which, unfortunately, isn’t always the case at new spots. If you’re a fan of a good drip, this might be the best one in the area—almost as good as a fresh pour-over.

The space itself is modern, spacious, and inviting, though first impressions are a little unexpected. For a place that’s marketed itself as a bakery, the ordering counter and pastry case are surprisingly small. It’s a little underwhelming given the anticipation, but once you settle in, the atmosphere makes up for it. That said, there’s a bit of a split personality here—while it’s technically a café and bakery, the sleek interior and cocktail bar setup make it feel a little more formal than you’d expect for a casual coffee stop.

They’ve only been open a few days, and it shows. The staff is still working out some kinks—I overheard some confusion over whether their promo for a free pastry or coffee was still valid. Minor growing pains, nothing that won’t smooth out with time.

The neighborhood really needed a spot like this, and Lulla’s is off to a promising start. It’s a welcome contrast to the always-busy Win Son Bakery down the block, and while the vibe might not be for everyone, it’s nice to have a fresh alternative. If they can tighten things up and lean into their strengths, they’ve got a real shot at becoming a...

If this spot is aiming to be a Venezuelan bakery, they absolutely nail it with the food—but they seriously miss the mark when it comes to operations. I get the concept: they’re trying to offer a more elevated experience (especially considering their sister restaurant is Michelin-recognized), but unfortunately, it’s not an experience I’d rush back for.

Now, let’s be clear—the food? Fantastic. My husband’s family, who are from Puerto Rico, devoured the cachitos, the mixed empanadas, and the tequeños, all of which were a hit. I had the vegan empanadas, and I can confidently say everything was a 10/10. That’s exactly why it feels worth pointing out that the issues here are fixable.

First off, I do wish there were more vegan options. Having only empanadas filled with Impossible meat and black beans feels like a bit of a joke, honestly. Plus, why do I have to commit to ordering four? What if I only want one or two? On top of that, there was a big mix-up with my order. I specifically asked for vegan empanadas, but one came filled with plantains and cheese. The server mentioned a vegan combo, but that’s not what I ordered, nor what’s listed on the menu. And no one clarified if the cheese was vegan (spoiler: it wasn’t).

With my background working in restaurant operations, I have to say—Lullas needs servers and a host. Expecting one person to handle the register, manage orders, and troubleshoot issues is just too much, and it ends up being extra work for the customer if anything goes wrong or they want to order more. It’s not a sustainable system.

All in all, the food and drinks are excellent, and the service itself was kind, but the overall experience could be much smoother if the team had stronger knowledge of the menu—especially the vegan options—and if they brought in more front-of-house support like servers and a host to create a more personal, organized dining experience. There’s so much potential here, and with a few tweaks, it could easily match the quality of the food they’re serving.

PD: i was so overwhelmed with the food order I only took a picture of my coffee :( it was really...