Rudy's Pastry Shop — Restaurant in New York

After 17+ years of living in NYC, I am a bit embarrassed to say it's taken me this long to come to Ridgewood, and Rudy's specifically, but better late than never! Rudy's is an institution in Ridgewood and has been around since about 1934. They started out as a German bakery but do a whole array of different, delicious cakes and pastries. We came in for the cannoli and alfajores. I KNEW this would be a good spot for cannoli once I saw an entire glass case full of UNFILLED cannoli shells. YES, cannolis should be filled to order for freshness and for the shell to stay crisp! We got a large chocolate dipped one, which includes mini chocolate chips in the fresh ricotta filling. It was so delicious and tasted so fresh; the shell was super crisp and definitely perfect! We also got a large alfajor cookie to go.

They have a comfortable seating area towards the back of the bakery, and when we sat down to enjoy our cannoli, I was surprised when the owner came by and asked if my 3-year-old would like a mini cupcake piping lesson. She asked if my toddler would prefer vanilla or chocolate. With that, she came over to our table with a chocolate cupcake, a little piping bag already filled with fresh buttercream, a cup of rainbow sprinkles, and a to-go cupcake container. My 3-year-old had her very first cupcake/frosting piping lesson with this very sweet and kind owner. She was ECSTATIC. The owner was so sweet, showing her patiently how to pipe and control the tip, and it was totally on the house! My toddler was in heaven, and this really made her day.

I am grateful for the kindness and generosity of the owner; we've never had this type of hospitality in any establishment with my child to date, but this one truly takes the cake (literally)! When we're back in Ridgewood, we will most definitely be back here. I'd also love to come back and try their famous Black Forest cake, which seems to get...

Upon relocating to Ridgewood a decade ago from Manhattan, I discovered a handful of establishments that epitomized the essence of a quaint village, among them Rudy’s. From my inaugural weekend, where I purchased an abundant box of pastries for my then-girlfriend, now wife and mother of my child, Rudy’s became an integral part of my routine. Despite my demanding schedule managing multiple businesses, I’ve consistently frequented Rudy’s, procuring an array of delectable treats for various occasions, cementing its status as a village staple in my life.

Recently, I decided to treat my three-year-old son to the sensory wonderland that is Rudy’s. However, our visit was marred by an unfortunate encounter with a staff member who, instead of engaging with me as the customer, directed an unwarranted remark toward my son about his innocent exploration of the displays. Specifically she said “you’re putting your lil grubby hands on my glass?” He’s three and such behavior is simply unacceptable from a adult, especially in an establishment purveying confections, where one would expect a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Disheartened by this experience, despite being a loyal patron and a significant spender, I find myself compelled to explore alternative options like Grimaldis and Monreale, which undoubtedly value and respect their clientele. Farewell, “Rude Rudy’s” - your five-star status has...

Everything is usually great here, which is why I was shocked by this experience. I ordered a birthday cake a few days in advance, only to find it stored in the front fridge—where anyone could have opened it or touched it. When I asked why it was left out like that, the staff had no answer and took it to the back to “fix” it.

They did manage to smooth out the visible fingerprint, but when I got home and cut into it, the cake was very dry and didn’t taste fresh at all. I’m now left wondering how long it had been sitting out. Really disappointed, especially considering how reliable this place has been in the past.

*REPLY

When I picked up the cake, the person behind the counter told me, in her own words, that “a kid must have put his finger on it.” There was no mention of something falling on it at the time. I also did not see the owner take the cake to the back—only the counter staff did. From what I could tell, the cake was simply touched up, not remade.

It was a birthday cake, and unfortunately, the person it was for was disappointed and didn’t want to return it—they were upset and felt the moment had already been ruined. Once we cut into it, the cake was very dry and didn’t taste fresh, which added to the letdown. It honestly felt like it had been sitting out...