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Bakery La Brioche Café
- Nearest Transit:
-
Brighton Beach (B, Q)
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
10 reviews for Bakery La Brioche Café
10 reviews in English
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Review from Vic F.
Manhattan, NY
12/27/2011
We go out of our way to get pastries from this little gem. The "sweet" cheese pastries, which are square shaped parcels folded closed and topped with sugar crystals are AMAZING! They are the perfect balance between sweet and savory, and are unbelievably cheap. This time we also tried the savory version (looks the same, but no sugar on top) which was also good, but paled in comparison to the sweet ones.
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Review from Atif I.
6/25/2011
The Russians really had it in for Napoleon.
Not content simply with decimating his army and destroying his plans for world domination, they also decided to teach future French generations a lesson by adopting the Mille-Feuille, and butchering his name all over the world at regular intervals, all in the guise of baking art.
I kid, of course, but I do find the popularity of the Napoleon cake among the Russians and the former Soviet republics as interesting. Be it Uzbek, Georgian, Ukrainian, or Tajik, let alone Russian, you can be sure of finding the Napoleon cake at a Brighton Beach restaurant. Unlike the French version where the top of the layer cake is covered by patterned icing, the budget Russian version is topped with crumbled pastry and is often, but not necessarily, made with condensed milk cream. I don't think I've had a worse version of this cake than the one I bought at La Brioche, where nothing from the cream to the pastry worked. I stopped after two bites.
That said, La Brioche reminds you of the exotic bazaar that is one of the stops on the Orient Express. There are all kinds of baked goods: some familiar, some not; when your curiosity is piqued you can't even get an answer to your questions because of the language barrier (no one speaks any English); you're unsure of the quality as a glossy product is placed side-by-side with one that reflects amateur craftsmanship - yet you sense bargains all around you. Like a bazaar, it's primarily a retail outlet - also featuring cakes, rugelach, babka, and breads from popular Russian bakeries.
Four dollars. For the price of a large incompetent macaron at FPB, you can buy a fairly competent torte here. There are quite a few options: Smettanik (sour cream cake), Prune, Walnut, Korolevsky (my favorite), Odessa, and Bird Milk are the versions I've tried... I'm still praying that bird milk was just the name! The background is that in Slavic fairy tales princesses used to send their suitors to bring them an amazing delicacy that no one had ever tasted before: the Bird's milk. I've looked at the pictures of Ptichye Moloko cake, and this one looked nothing like that, but is still a competent marshmallow cake. All of these tortes have had a few welcome traits in common: simple, well executed, and light. I've come to respect those bakeries that resist the urge to be liberal in their use of sugar. For the $ 4 price, these are exceptional value. Also, one could easily attempt to pass off these cakes as credible, homemade versions at a Cookies and Booze UYE... shhh ;)
Ultimately it's the unpolished gems that shine brightest, should one overlook form in favor of substance. My two favorites being the chocolate balls (would be a stretch to call these rum balls, given only the hint of rum), and a soft meringue pastry that's literally falling apart as you lift it - but is addictive enough for you to keep nibbling at well beyond your daily calorie intake. There are 4 star experiences all over the shop, you just have to find them. -
Review from Sam B.
Brooklyn, NY
9/22/2011
GREAT selection for such a tiny little store. this place was featured on an episode of Best thing i ever ate on food network. since its int he neighborhood i HAD to try it, i cant remember which cake it was they mentioned on the food network...but so far whatever ive tried ive liked. last time i went, the guy working there was so helpful.
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Review from Ki G.
11/3/2008
So I came here with my friend (see first review) - I was told not to buy desserts along the way as we would be treated to cake by the pound.
And dude, they delivered. There was rugelach, braided brioche, babka (I got the last chocolate one, woohoo!), cheese cake, tarts, cream-filled concoctions, various and sundry breads and of course the rum balls (which I have been finding less and less of in local bakeries).
The decor is old school, with lots of wooden shelving and a manual cash register - perfect for a place that sells cake by the lb.
So I bought several lbs of cake and left a happy camper.
I also helped manage the store for 10-15 minutes. I can't speak Russian, but I could direct people to plastic bags and containers. -
Review from Susan N.
11/3/2008
Ever been to a bakery and dream of trying everything? At La Brioche, you can do just that because they serve cake by the lb.
Torn between the delicious looking cheesecake and the delectable looking cherry torte? Get both! You can use the bread knife to cut slivers of their cake. That means if you have tons of self-control (I don't) and just want to try a little, you can cut off a sliver and prevent your butt from getting as big as the GDP. And if you're like me, and know you're going in there for cake, and really want to sample it all, you can cut off a sliver of EVERYTHING. Or you can cut off huge chunks. With cake by the lb, it's really up to you.
In addition, they have different kinds of breads, other desserts such as rum balls, that are pay per piece, halvah, bready desserts and a variety of coffees. There's a little area in back where you can chill out and eat but it doesn't really feel very cafe-like, so I'd suggest to take it on the go.
Also, if you walk in and look like a nice person, as this happened to a couple of my friends and I last time we were here, the old lady who runs the place may ask you to manage the place for her for 5-10 minutes (in Russian, of course). So be prepared to kindly suggest to people that you don't really work there and that she'll be right back. Or eat your way through the store. Either or. -
Review from Taiyo O.
10/13/2009 4 photos
The whole apple wrapped in pie crust was only $1.50....??? I couldn't resist so I gabbled into the pie. Unfortunately it didn't deliver. I think it was the crust. It didn't have buttery flavor and need some more sugar sprinkles over the pie or something. Whole apple wrapped pie had good crust but the apple inside was too mild in flavor. I will not get that next time.
Apple strudel (they cut it for how much we want. I got about 3 inches cut) was good as any good place in the city minus price. The apple tasted sweet and tangy (good). The rolled poppy seeds pastry was good. A whole apple pie, apple strudel and poppy seeds pastry came to a total of $3.29.
I asked what those yummy looking things (see my images...) were but she only spoke Russian. This town makes me want to learn Russian.
This place was different and unique enough that I'm a fan (4 stars). -
Review from Pretti L.
Brooklyn, NY
8/18/2011
This was my first Yelp experience and i loved it except for the mandatory c.c. purchase!
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Review from Frankie D.
New York, NY
6/2/2010
This wonderful little place warmed my cold Soviet heart. Yeah, there are tons of cookies, cakes, pastries, baked goods, everything by the pound.
You read that right - COOKIES AND CAKE SLICES BY THE POUND!
Oh, and as soon as I saw a pile of fresh oreshki, I went crazy! I hadn't had them since I was a little mini evil one back in the old country. I know, I know, you amerikanski don't know what they are. It's ok, more for me.
Side note: no kartoshka, boo. -
Review from Kate O.
Flower Mound, TX
12/28/2009
This place is always super crowded and crazy when we go. It is a really narrow bakery, which makes it really squishy. But no place (M&I, Brighton Bazaar) matches the quality of baked good this place gives.
The coolest thing is that cakes are bought from the pound. Just get a container and cut a sliver of each cake to taste. The ones we had were all pretty good.
I haven't seen babka there, but I will be on the look out next time I go.
My mom picked out tons of cookies, and there were some winners. There was an acorn shaped cookie with a filling (hazelnut, maybe?) in between. Best cookie in Brighton Beach I have ever had!
We picked out some strudels and other baked goods, but the cakes and cookies were better. I cannot even remember everything we got!
There is so much stuff crammed in this place, and it seems really fresh because they keep coming out with more cakes and delicious looking treats from their kitchen! Take your time, and try not to let the crowd intimidate you!
The grocery stores are awesome (Brighton Bazaar, M&I) but go to an actual bakery in Brighton Beach (this one!) to get your Russian sweets. You won't regret it! -
Review from Matthew Y.
Brooklyn, NY
5/14/2010
This is a dreamy bakery politely tucked into this block in Brighton Beach. The space is narrow and the plates are stacked with goodies - it makes you feel like Hansel And Gretel if only briefly. Everything I've had from here has been delicious and the prices are really cheap. A definite treat before hopping back on the train. I'm learning our Russian brethren know a thing or two about quality of life. Bring a shopping bag & load up on produce at the fruit stands toward the train. The prices (16 oz. of blueberries for $1?) are criminal.
