Radio Bakery — Restaurant in New York

I was super excited to hear that Radio Bakery was opening up on what is normally my very quiet street. I was a little less excited when I saw that the line (at least this first week of being open) wraps half way down a long block, turns the corner, and proceeds to extend another block.

After waiting in line for an hour and a half (8:00 AM - 9:30 AM) I get to the counter, and there is basically a selection of 4 items. I am aware that everything is first come first serve, but I also wonder if maybe there can be an adjustment to the # of popular goods being baked so that everyone gets a chance to try the most popular items. The service was great, the smells were awesome, but baked goods were just OK. Maybe I have become used to baked goods being exceptional in NYC, but I was just not sure why the line was so long when 7 blocks north is another Bakery called Otway, with equally unique baked goods and like a line 1/30th the size.

I was told by the staff that if you don't want to wait in line that long, you should start getting lined up at like 7:00AM.

I also never wait in line for these hyped places in NYC, but after a week of walking past a line wrapping basically two blocks for an entire week while walking to the subway, I just had to try.

I am glad I did, I enjoyed what I got, but I don't think I will ever wait in line for that again. I am also not sure how so many people have so much time during rush hour to wait in line for over an hour. NYC is an odd place.

Overall, I recommend, but don't make it a habit of coming here unless somehow you have hours of your day to spend waiting in line.

Also fair warning, since people are waiting so long, they are buying a lot at once. Like 4 boxes of pastries at a time.

Also if the line was this long during a cold morning in March, I fear for what the line will become on a warm sunny weekend day...

Back at Radio Bakery for the fourth time—this time at their new location in Prospect Heights, before I head to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for cherry blossoms.

Even on a Friday morning at 10am, the line stretched down the block. It took 45 minutes from joining the line to receiving my order. Was it worth the wait? 100% well worth every minute.

＊Sausage and Chive Foccacia $8 * This was the clear winner among all the pastries we tried! I’ve always been a fan of their focaccia, but the addition of chive cream cheese and sausage took it to the next level. The bread was pillowy with a slight crisp on the crust—absolute perfection.

＊French Onion Soup Croissant $7 * Their savory pastries completely won me over this time. This one is exactly what it sounds like: French onion soup in croissant form. The pastry was incredibly flaky, filled with caramelized onions and a rich gruyère cheese custard. It’s the most brilliant reimagination of one of my favorite french dishes.

＊Pistachio Croissant $8 * After trying pistachio croissants from places like Librae, Frenchette, and L’appartement 4F, I can confidently say the one from Radio Bakery is my top pick. It had just the right amount of pistachio ganache and crushed pistachios, all wrapped in a flaky laminated pastry. It wasn’t too greasy or heavy, and midway through, a subtle citrus note from the orange juice and orange blossom water really shone through.

＊Matcha Morning Bun $6.5 Unfortunately, this was the only miss in the lineup. I had high hopes for it, especially since their Earl Grey Morning Bun from the Greenpoint location used to be my favorite. But the matcha flavor was too faint, and the sugar coating didn’t blend well with the matcha powder. The crumbly, sugary texture felt off and didn’t quite...

Been to this location almost 5 times now. Lines are long and sometimes can be a pain at this location and the other on India Street. Which is fine, and understandable.

However for paying such a premium price per pastry/food item mixed with waiting in line for a long time, the service isn't the best. Not usually the one to comment on this stuff, as I can understand having a bad day and etc. But a few times the staff just seems annoyed/bothered when I ask nicely for a "fresh" piece of the shakshuka focaccia slice. Justified as a few times I've got it myself and with a co-worker, and we both agreed it tasted like it had been sitting for some time. Which more than likely it had, based off the looks of it too. However the workers refuse to give a different piece , and are adamant on that they are all baked around the same time and etc. Which can be true. But if one item isn't selling as fast as the others, the tray isn't replaced until they are all sold. Meaning some items do get cold and lose taste.

The cherry on top, the last time I asked for a "fresh piece," I was told that I could go home and heat it up to my liking by an employee. Like I get that the place is busy and can be stressful, but like come on.

Final comment, if your in the store at 10:58AM, and ask to buy a sand-which that they start selling at 11:00AM they will deny you and tell you to go back to the end of the line. I understand rules must be followed, but that just seems a bit crazy. After waiting a whole 40 minutes to get into the store, I have to go back outside and wait another 30 minutes just to pay to buy a sandwich? At that point you have to calculate the line wait time, and try and time it perfect just to be able to buy a sand-which, which with all due respect...