Tous Les Jours — Restaurant in New York

(Update) I was graced with the strange opportunity to go back there through a DoorDash order as I drive for the app when I have free time from school. I could only laugh as I walked back to my car at Lake Success, deciding that I could draw a conclusion by returning there one more time. Walking in there felt like showing up to someone's funeral after unaliving them. A polite male staff member with glasses greeted me but the hostility otherwise was palpable. I barely looked around the deserted cafe but I had the feeling the manager was sitting one of the tables, anticipating my typical weekend arrival. You would have thought I walked into to rob a bank, the tension was so thick. I assume the manager thought I was lying about the order pickup despite showing the staff member my app, and that I just came to steal drinks.... As I say thank you in a kind way to the kind staff member who helped me with the order, I hear witch-like laughter following me out the door. I had the feeling of being watched the entire time I walked back to my car, through the wraparound window of the cafe and CCTV in the back, as if I was about to commit a crime. A guy who was passing me as I exited the store seemed to change his mind about going in there and I swear someone was seated in their luxury sedan in a parking space, eating the food they had received. I have no way of knowing those two suspicious for sure, but I am completely certain that whatever consideration I had about going back to that store as a customer has been resolved by this act of providence as I am 100% certain the energy in there is incredibly hateful and racist. This is sadly very normal for Queens, where one would think residents might be able to interact in more healthy ways as a community full of diverse people with zero space to breathe and ample reasons to learn interdependence in a rotten, cesspool of a city.

--

I've been frequenting this location since last summer when I moved back to NY. I really enjoy the espresso based drinks at this location and generally enjoy going here for its proximity to Lake Success. Most of the employees are incredibly polite and good-natured and I like spending a few hours there at a time to focus on studying without distractions. However there is one employee there - possibly the assistant manager or shift lead of some sort - that always looks at me suspiciously even when I am a polite guest and tip reasonably/generously. Today I'm pretty sure she called the manager to inspect my behavior because it seems she finds note taking and occassionally thinking out loud to be disruptive in a consistently busy cafe with music always playing. If that was the concern, a quick "Please be mindful of other guests" would be fine. It's not unusual for other students to spend most of the day there and if the concern was I wasn't spending fresh money while sitting there, I think there's a different way to approach that. At no point was there zero available seating when I was there earlier today. But as 8pm creeps along, I turn to see the manager pretending he wasn't watching me take notes and watch YouTube videos on my phone...I've been a brown person long enough to recognize the gut feeling of a micro aggression when I experience one. It would be wise for the staff to consider that I can become a regular at another TLJ branch or different franchise altogether. It left me with a queasy feeling of discomfort and a desire to no longer spend money there to earn rewards on the app. It's unfortunate because most of the staff there is pleasant but racial profiling for behavior that isn't actually deviant or unsafe is a good reason for me to consider not going there for a while or maybe ever again. This is why adults have conversations expressing their needs respectfully...to avoid very immature and regrettable...

Tous Les Jours on Union Turnpike has quietly become one of my favorite neighborhood spots. It’s a beautiful Asian-style café with simple, elegant decor and a peaceful vibe that makes it perfect for solo coffee dates, quiet chats, or a relaxing moment away from the bustle. There’s always seating available whenever I go, which makes it even more of a gem.

Their drink menu is creative and fun—my daughter loves trying something new every time we visit and she hasn’t been disappointed yet. I’ve personally had mixed luck (the butter pecan latte wasn’t quite my thing, but she loved it), and the matcha lemonade was a bit too sweet for me. It tasted like Sprite with lemonade syrup. That said, drinks are all about personal taste. Clearly they’re doing something right because my daughter is a fan every single time.

Where Tous Les Jours shines for me is the pastries and cakes—consistently delicious, beautifully made, and a bit above what you find at most cafes. Everything I’ve tried has been a win, and I always find something new I want to taste.

The staff is another reason we keep coming back. They’re kind, approachable, and genuinely make an effort to be helpful and pleasant. It never feels rushed or chaotic here—just calm and welcoming.

There’s plenty of parking in the back, and the location is convenient, tucked near a little food strip. It’s perfect for breakfast or a dessert stop. While they do have a few savory pastries and sandwiches, I wouldn’t go there for lunch—but that’s just my preference.

The space is stroller-friendly, and kids are welcome. I don’t remember seeing high chairs, but there’s enough room to bring the little ones. Plus, if you park your stroller out front, you can keep an eye on it through the large front window.

If you’re nearby, give it a try! Whether you're into pastries, trying new drinks, or just need a quiet spot to unwind, this place is...

I love people that love their job. This was one of the few times I really liked the inscription on a cake. It was creative but unique, not just the plain old simple “Happy Birthday _”. I liked the small smiley face and the tiny figurine the young girl put in the inscription. I ordered the Tous les Jours' Mango Cloud cake for my mom’s birthday, and the cake was relatively good. Throughout the years, I started to see how every bakery has its own unique flavor and texture for their cakes. The Mango Cloud Cake itself had a light and airy sponge cake base. Their website states “…the new dessert is a light and soft sponge cake layered with mango-flavored whipped cream and fresh mango slices and topped with more mango slices and blueberries.” So that’s that. However, there are some small things I appreciated, that made a positive change in my experience. While most patisseries and bakeries provide candles, this store provided a small envelope which had a plastic knife, candles with an aluminum foil base and a few other small goodies that made sure I didn’t need to go my local CVS and buy those items. Also, the cake piping was melted chocolate and not a sugary icing like most other bakeries, so that was pretty chill. I went approximately thirty minutes before closing, and the service was quick and the workers seemed happy. Overall, I had a good experience and I would recommend this store for your next cake, or light pastry (if that’s what you’re...