Pinho's Bakery — Restaurant in Roselle

My 2 stars is based on the pastel de nata and my experience there. I didn't try anything else though it all looked great.

I purchased something nearby and the person told me about this bakery and how they claim to have the best custard cakes around... So I drove there and was excited when I arrived. Inside looked similar to the bakeries I grew up with in Portugal, blue and white ceramic tile on the walls, even a tiled picture of a wood burning oven stating made like in the olden days. It was Easter weekend and the place was packed.

Since there are various recipes for 'pastéis de nata' I thought of ordering only a few but being Easter weekend I ordered 3 half dozens on 3 separate boxes to give my friends and family. I asked the girl if she understood 'half dozen' since she was taking some time and using large boxes and in the end I walked out with 3 dozens and ended up paying $44!! I heard her say $14 something which seemed cheap for 18 custard cakes, so I gave the credit card. I signed while chatting and outside I realized the mistake... But whatever.... Good pastéis de nata never go to waste. I'll eat 2 for breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snack but... These have been the worst I've ever eaten. I apologize for my truth but I guess I have Newark, south river and Portugal bakeries to compare them to and didn't not like them. For me they leave a strong white sugar after taste. This happens to me when I try to make them but I'm not a baker. The shell is not thick crispy/flaky as they should be, but none that I've eaten in the states come out like that, usually they are soft but these felt over buttered, like croissant dough. If you don't know any better I guess these are good because they are still better than donuts or other baked goods that usually exist in super markets. I think I'm more annoyed that I ended up with 36 of these things which I'll donate to Co workers and paid over 40 but won't get to enjoy any.

But the cakes, deli, etc all looked good hence...

Everything in that bakery looks enticing and tastes amazing. Love this bakery. UPDATE. MY 2ND TIME AT THIS BAKERY. Not only did I go at the right time (seconds before their lunch rush), but again, the pastries did not disappoint. Everything tastes as good as it looks. Everything is nice and fresh. I love the fact that a lot of their pastries they have in mini and regular size. So if you are not sure if you would like something, go ahead, take a mini, and try it out. And the prices are not bad. I've been in bakeries the prices are the same or more and not a big selection and taste bad. If I can improve 1 thing is customer experience. In trying to serve customers as fast as possible, they are rushing and forgetting to be nice and / or have some kind of positive interaction. The person helping me rushed me through the whole thing. She would only say, what else? what else? are you done? Is that it? And not in a nice way. When you are new to that bakery, you don't know what they have, and you may need a minute to look. You don't know how they want things done. Like I kept moving in line, and when I said that was it, I stayed by the end of the counter waiting when suddenly the lady screamed across the room "Mam mam you need to pay here I have a line to move along" that was embarrassing. Why do they assume you know where to go to pay? Couldn't she tell me when I said that's it. If they want to move the line fast, they should have an express like for customers that know what they want amd only want a couple things. Also they can have some kind of kiosk where maybe you can place the orders like some delis have. Or maybe order ahead in a website. But customers' experience and interaction are as important as good products. This is a great bakery. Sure, you want...

I usually stop by this bakery on special occasions to purchase desserts for family members who are familiar with the bakery and enjoy the treats, but don’t live as close by as I do. I have never had an issue with anything I have ordered however, I do have an issue with the customer service. There is one younger girl with blonde hair who wears her hair up in a bun whom always has the most unpleasant permanent scowl on her face, and is very unwelcoming. The last 3 times I have been to this bakery she has unfortunately been the one to service me. I know I am not imagining her demeanor to be very rude , as today, another lady in the bakery waiting on her order walked clear across the room to say to me that she saw I asked the girl for a specific cake, and she gave me a different one( same cake , just different from the one I pointed out) which is not a big deal to me but knowing the history of her customer service , it makes me think it was done purposely. If anyone is reading this from the bakery, please talk to your staff about the way they interact with customers because this makes me think about never going back again. And to the young lady who serviced me, your attitude is so extremely NASTY to be so young . If you have this type of attitude working in a place that smells like sweets all day, God help you with your misery, it hasn’t even fully begun! Hopefully your face doesn’t get...