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168 St - Washington Hts (1)
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163 St - Amsterdam Av (A, C)
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- Wheelchair Accessible:
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Joanna B. said: "This bakery is as good as it gets! Everything is super fresh and homemade tasting.....if I continue to frequent this place I am afraid that my waistline will expand but at least I'll know that I am super happy lol. Here is a list of…" read more »
52 reviews for Carrot Top Pastries
Review Highlights
"I think I might have just found the best cake on earth."
(in 6 reviews)
"3) their carrot muffins are WONDERFUL."
(in 9 reviews)
"...heaven and they've covered it all in cream cheese frosting."
(in 6 reviews)
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51 reviews in English
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Review from BISTEDC B.
Manhattan, NY
8/19/2011
If Calorie Counting Isn't your Forte...then this is the Place for You.
Carrot Cake Melts in Your mouth. I love the Strong Coffee in the Morning too.
A place where everybody knows your name...I absolutely Love this Carrot cake and have to keep myself strapped into my home chair so I don't run out
and overeat it. -
Review from Scott L.
10/11/2011
The red velvet cake was dry, and the frosting tasted like it came out of a can. One star because it should taste like cream cheese - and it tasted like vanilla.
I guess the carrot cake is the only reason to go? -
Review from A B.
ROCKAWAY PARK, NY
2/6/2012
I ordered the crispy chicken salad (tomatoes, lettuce, croutons, a little sprinkled parmesan cheese) with french dressing. Too little tomatoes and had a hard time cutting and eating with my knife and fork. Please upgrade the quality of your eating utensils....NO BUENO!
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Review from Marjan H.
New York, NY
12/11/2011
The pastries are fine but the deli sucks. I should have known not to get a meatball sub from a place that specializes in carrot cake. The meatballs were were so old and had been frozen/thawed so many times that they were rock hard in the center. I felt like I was guest-starring on an episode of Kitchen Nightmares.
Two stars because my dessert was good. -
Review from Samantha S.
New York, NY
8/12/2011
This review is for the carrot cake. It's the best carrot cake in the universe, and I will schlep from the UES for it. The end.
Are you still there? Good, because there's more, but you have to be picky. Carrot Top is not the kind of place where everything is good. It's the kind of place where one or two things are EXQUISITE, and you have to stop there.
To wit: the chicken parm hero is served on a gigantic (and quite tasty) seeded roll and can feed (and has fed) three adults. No joke. If there's only one of you, don't despair. It tastes great after a day or two in the fridge. And the coffee is good.
The servers are pleasant when it's quiet. One of them explained that the neon sign reading "Priscilla" behind the counter is in honor of the owner's mother, which I thought was sweet. And there was what looked like a book club or writing group meeting in the side room. If you're driving, you will get a parking ticket at the hydrant out front (no matter how clear the coast seems), so place your order and let them bring it out to you. -
Review from Margaret M.
Manhattan, NY
1/6/2012
I just spent 30 minutes "on hold" waiting to order a carrot cake. Periodically someone would pick up the line and say "Hello, Carrot Top?" and I would have to explain again I was calling to order a cake. This happened three times, each time with them putting me back on hold. Finally, the last woman I spoke with told me to go to their website if I wanted information on their cakes, she was "too busy right now" to help me. Wha????
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Review from Kristin H.
New York, NY
9/24/2011
A gem in the culinary wasteland that surrounds New York Presbyterian. I actually have not tried the carrot cake... I'm not a carrot cake fan. But I love the grilled chicken caesar salad. And their muffins are fine too. Not amazing, but definitely good!
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Review from Constantine S.
Long Island City, NY
7/20/2011 2 photos
I work at Columbia University and happen to bump into this place. Best carrot cake ever!!! The icing was amazing, creamy and chilly, just how i like it.
I happen to see a chix parm. sandwich being served. It looked great, looking forward to order that next time I go. -
Review from Joanne O.
New York, NY
4/1/2011
Seeing as how this location is so far up Manhattan, I'm not going to lie; this is definitely not the place to trek out of your way for. Because while it's good, it's not that good. If you find yourself in The Heights though, and need a quick bite for breakfast, this is the place to go. A lot of its customers are a handful of locals, but the majority of us are employees at NYP and families of patients, according to my observations. It's a pretty run down place and the dining area is small and unimpressive, but the place is always neat and clean and its employees behind the counter attentive and friendly.
I am certainly not one to be able to afford a Starbucks latte every morning before work, so my saving grace is their coffee. I am not a fan of overwhelmingly strong coffee, so I'm kind of in love with their 95 cent French Vanilla or Hazelnut coffee light and sweet. On days where I want something a bit stronger, the "Spanish coffee" is also a good choice. Their plain coffee is just OK; but better than cart coffee and better than Cafe Jou Jou's, it's main competition.
On to their food. I don't even like carrot cake, but their carrot muffins are fabulous and HUGE. Get them in the morning when they are still fresh! The raisons and walnuts are a nice touch. The croissants are also huge, but not very good; seemed a bit dry to me everytime, and everytime I regret that I bought it. The bagels are pretty average but with cream cheese, it's decently priced at under $2. On days where I feel especially porky, I always opt for a bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll; A "sandwich" so huge I need to eat it in two sittings or share with a buddy.
On a side note, you can even order from your car if you sit out front; they bring your food to you when it's ready. -
Review from Shez K.
Manhattan, NY
12/13/2011
The pastries and cakes are good, the regular food is pretty decent. Nice place to come to for a quick lunch. Servings are big and prices are reasonable. The people working here are friendly and nice. Overall, it's good value. I prefer this location to the one further north, which was a disappointment.
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Review from Christina P.
Hackensack, NJ
Awful! Carrot cake, cookies and coffee roll were ALL stale! Seriously not even close to fresh! The coffee was gross too.
The icing on the carrot cake didn't even taste like cream cheese. It tasted like pillsbury vanilla icing out of a can that had been stuck in the fridge for a few days.
And there's a $10 minimum for credit cards. This was a total waste of money. More than half the stuff I bought went in the garbage. There were 2 things that actually seemed pretty fresh and tasted good: the carrot muffin and the chocolate dipped sugar cookie. You could tell the chocolate had just been put on and it was delicious.
They get 2 stars for being named Carrot Top and having the worst carrot cake I ever had. The only things that saved them were the muffin and fresh cookie. There's really no excuse for having such a lack of consistency in the quality of their baked goods. -
Review from Eugene K.
Bergen, NJ
11/18/2011 22 Check-ins Here
come here for breakfast, quick, simple, reliable. they've messed up my order twice though.. once really bad where they only gave me a lettuce and cheese on wheat bread but that was when their usual worker wasn't there.
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Review from Red R.
New York, NY
1/2/2011
The patries are really good. the service could be better. the staff is inexperienced and not really to friendly.
i gave it a 4 just for patries, but if i was factoring in customer service this place gets a 3. -
Review from Austin P.
Portland, OR
8/26/2011
The food is good, but as the name suggests, the carrot cake is where it's at. And the triple layer, specifically. I have no words; merely sound effects that go something like this: "Mmmm! Oh!" If you happen to speak during said experience, it's to turn to your friend/dining companion who didn't order the carrot cake to say, "Oh my God, you HAVE to try this!"
If you order food there, you're better off taking half of it home. -
Review from Jessenia N.
Manhattan, NY
11/23/2011
OMG!! I love this place!!! I been coming here for years!!! The best chocolate Mousse Cake in the world!! lol
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Review from Jeffrey B.
NY
1/14/2011
I'm not really sure how the food is there, but I've ordered breakfast for a large group from here twice. Once the bagels and pastries were really good, and the delivery guy came 5 minutes early. The coffee here, although not stellar, is one of the best options around this area, and they take credit cards! very important in a neighborhood where cash rules.
Second time, I went and picked up a small order. Delicious! Fast! Convenient!
Now, the third I ordered breakfast (this time again for delivery), the food was 45 MINUTES late. I called several times to ask about the order, and always got the same answer "he's on his way". The food consisted ONLY of pastries (although a mix of pastries and bagels was requested) and they were less than yummy. The delivery guy then asked me for a tip - "Don't come 45 minutes late" was my response as I wrote in a very ungenerous $5 tip. Not too tactful, but I was peed because I knew my boss would rip me a new one. Luckily, my boss was OK with it, and just said "No more carrot top". I'll go if I get a couple of small things, but I'll leave it at that... -
Review from c g.
New York, NY
11/16/2011
I have had the carrot cake which was too sweet for my liking, but THE CARROT MUFFINS are AMAZING!
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Review from Jen B.
Bergen County, NJ
3/27/2009
Alas, all good things must come to an end. You were the object of my love for so many years, o' sweet carrot cake. You filled my childhood with such glee. Ah, the memories of your moist self in my mouth.... But now, you've turned away and I don't know what to do. WHY ON EARTH are they trying to dominicanize you, carrot cake? Why on earth have they altered your PERFECT recipe?
A single tear is rolling down my face.....
FYI - they still have great NORMAL and non-dominicanized chocolate cake, good pastries and good coffee but I will never forgive them for changing their carrot cake recipe. The pain of losing you is more than I can bear... -
Review from Heather H.
New York, NY
9/9/2007
When the 1 randomly skipped from 135th to 168th today, I knew the food gods were letting me know that it was time to go to the Carrot Top. My friends had been telling me for ages that I needed to check this place out. We've had their carrot cake for office parties, but I hadn't stopped in until today.
This carrot cake is fabulous. I mean, it kind of has to at a place called "Carrot Top," no matter how unfortunate a name it is. Also delicious is the selection of danishes. We've had the pecan and cheese danishes.
This is an obvious addition to the "You are why I'm fat" list. -
Review from Allison C.
New York, NY
3/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
Chocolate Fudge Cake.
Chocolate Mousse Cake.
Chocolate Chocolate Mousse Cake.
...oops. Sorry. Drooled on my keyboard.
It's the go-to place for celebratory cakes for the Dept. of Infection Control at NY-Pres., that's for dern sure. I look forward to employee birthdays VERY much when I work uptown at my CUMC office. Haaa. :-)Listed in: If I Don't Bring Lunch to…
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Review from Amy D.
NY
3/17/2007
I haven't tried the pastries here, but I can tell you the lunch delivery is pretty darn good and cheap for the portions!
Try the veggie burger hero or the grilled chicken ceasar salad. Both are huge and taste awesome.
Delivery is fast. -
Review from Brian C.
New York, NY
Short and Sweet !
Triple Layer Carrot Cake
that's all I have to say. Bye
No but seriously. Dozens of cakes to choose from. Carrot, Red Velvet, Coconut, Flan, Chocolate Moose just to name a few. All type of cookies & other sweets. My favorite is definitely the triple layer Carrot Cake.
They also serve food. There grilled chicken wrap & grilled chicken salad are a fan favorite. They mass grill the chicken at lunch due to so many orders. The line is usually out the door. I also recommend the chicken parm.
The workers are wonderful. Super friendly and every single one is nice. They all know me on a first name basis and I do with them as well. Wait is sometimes a little long but it's worth it.
$10 minimum for debit cards -
Review from L C.
Westchester, NY
5/25/2008
I stopped in to sample one of their carrot muffins, which was a totally perfect start to my morning. Packed with walnuts and raisins, this was a moist yet ungreasy version. I liked it so much that I stopped by a few hours later to pick up one of their medium sized carrot cakes for a party, and chose the "special" version (about $28 with two layers of frosting in the middle-- the regular one has no filling) which was decorated with little carrots and flourishes.
The cake made it all the way to Binghamton with no shifting or melting, and it's honestly the best carrot cake I've tasted other than my own homemade. Carrot cake is a lot of work, and this one is a true winner. The cream cheese frosting is not too sweet or cloying, and the cake is flavorful without spice overload. The frosting in the middle of the special is just enough so you are guaranteed a bite with every cake.
Everyone who tasted it raved about it, and I would absolutely make a special trip to pick one of these up!
Note: Run in and tell them what you want, and they will deliver your order out to your car so that you don't get a ticket! -
Review from Jane C.
New York, NY
5/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
Desperate for a bunch-and-Sunday-NYT place in my new neighbourhood, I stumbled on Carrot Top a few blocks from my apartment and said "Meh, looks fine. This'll do." Tons of free tables and some yummy-looking pastries, fine.
The girl at the counter was snippy and brusque, and looked at me like I was crazy for asking if they had sourdough toast, so I was too scared to even think about asking if they could ice me a few shots of espresso. So, I ended up with a perfectly decent ham-and-Kraft-Singles omelet, some flaccid homefries, whole wheat toast, and a Snapple, served on a plastic cafeteria tray. The cutlery was plastic, the plates styrofoam, and the salt, pepper, and ketchup in sachet-form, so glamorous it ain't.
They certainly did have some delectable-looking pastries, so perhaps they're better with cakes and other dessert-y things than they are with brunch. The price was right, though, and as it wasn't crowded I was able to get through four sections of my Sunday Times, so I'll probably be back. I might just mack on a big ol' slice of carrot cake next time, though. -
Review from Craig G.
Elmhurst, NY
8/27/2010
I work at the Wendy's on the corner so I had to stop by Carrot Top and try one of the treats everyone is talking about!
I had a brownie topped with nuts and it was DELICIOUS!!
It's a cute place with a friendly staff... I will certainly be back! -
Review from Kim M.
New York, NY
4/1/2009
I waited with baited breath to take my first bite of carrot cake, expecting carrot cake transcendence - even my mom was excited for me to try this cake, having heard about it for decades. I was very surprised to find something less than paradise - just a mouthful of very ordinary, overly-sweet carrot cake.
Also, the turkey sandwich I had met the minimum sandwich requirements of meat, garnish and bread and wasn't newsworthy, generous or even that good.
The cafe is very run down and the staff seemed nonplussed by the guy wandering the place asking for change.
If the food were truly inedible, instead of vastly overrated, I would give it one star. But it was fairly cheap and I did get to tell my mom that I went. -
Review from TAIS R.
Sacramento, CA
8/8/2008
I recently went to Carrot Top on my last trip to NYC after seeing it featured on the food network, and it was everything that was said about it on TV. This is one of those places that a lot of natives know about, and tourist stop in to visit.
When I walked in I was surprised to find that the line met me at the door. I figured, "if all these people are in line, there must be something good about this place", and I am pleased to say that my hunch was right. In addition to the line, I also noticed a bunch of people stopping in to pick up whole cakes and phone orders.
I ordered the Chicken Finger meal which came with a HUMONGOUS size portion of light baked chicken strips and a plate of fries. The meal could have easily satisfied three people. I couldn't even get through all of it because I had to save room for dessert.
For dessert, I had the Yellow Cake with Chocolate Icing (this is my favorite). Yuuuummmm.... It tasted just like the kind my grandmom used to make back in the day. The cake was moist, and the icing was sweet!! I also had a few bites of the carrot cake, and I was amazed. I don't usually like carrot cake, but those few bites of heaven changed my mind quickly!! LOL
This is definitely a spot to drop by if you are in the neighborhood or if you need something catered with sugary goodness!!! -
Review from Michael C.
New York, NY
9/7/2008
I've had all forms of meals at Carrot Top, from breakfast to lunch to dessert. Yes, they have meals other than dessert-Carrot Top is like a bakery that does deli-type foods on the side. There's cold and hot sandwiches and even eggs and toast. The pastrami sandwich I had was packed with meat, so I can't begrudge them of their generosity. Still, there wasn't much done in the way of seasoning, and the bread wasn't too fresh. Breakfast isn't worth it at all here.
Bottom line, come to Carrot Top for its desserts only. The carrot cake (of course) easily fulfills my sweet tooth, and is made like homemade cake. I go with the "regular" carrot cake, the one without an extra layer of frosting, just so it doesn't taste that rich. I haven't ordered a cake from Carrot Top before, but look forward to reporting back when I do. -
Review from Pia D.
Long Island City, NY
8/21/2006
You can't possibly understand the essence of carrot cake until you've been here. It's like you've died and gone to heaven and they've covered it all in cream cheese frosting.
Their chocolate cake is also amazing and I've heard good things about the non-sweet food as well.Listed in: Oh, the sweet smell of baked…
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Review from Bobby D.
Jamaica, NY
1/26/2010
I-AM-FEELING-THIS-PLACE....
I'm saying that slowly, because I ate slowly there.
Not only did I get to see some fine women in Washington Heights, I was able to eat a very well prepared Carrot Cake there.
Look, it's a bakery. And they are not re-inventing the wheel, or should I say the cake...:insert comedic drum roll:
I had to come up here to meet someone up, stopped in, and the place was clean, and damn - did I mention the beautiful latino women up in this part of NYC?
DAMN! -
Review from NYC A.
New York, NY
7/25/2009
I love their carrot cake. Its moist....has crunchy nuts...its sweet but has a little bit of cinnamon spice to it...its just yummy (4 stars)
Its the standout....I've also had the chocolate cake (3 stars)
and the cheesecake (2 stars)
Honestly, the 4 stars comes from the great service. I bought a small cake a few weeks ago. Afterward, I went to the supermarket and just when I was about to reach for my purse, the cashier flipped the cake box over looking for a barcode to scan. The frosting was smuged and I was mortified. When I went back to Carrot Top they changed my cake for a fresh one--and didn't charge me a single penny. That was classy of them! -
Review from Michaela P.
New York, NY
1/12/2009
This place is good! But not the best..
'+ The sandwiches are HUGE. The chicken parm hero is magnificent.
+ The order of chicken fingers is actually large enough to be a meal.
+ I LOVE the Hello Kitty cupcakes!!
-They messed up my boyfriends order once, really badly.
- The red velvet cake was good, but NOT real red velvet cake at all. WTF icing?
Overall I really love this place and its so close to me! Its a great spot. -
Review from Dina L.
Manhattan, NY
12/27/2010
This place is one of Washington heights gem! I love everything on their menu from breakfast sandwiches, grilled chicken Cesar salad is awesome. Their desserts are the best i recommend their apple pie it is to die for. Love,love them.
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Review from Chris T.
5/12/2010
Despite being unable to erase my Pavlovian association (http://en.wikipedia.or...), Carrot Top has won me over with its the simple and scrumptious carrot cake and deliciously unique carrot muffins. Unlike many muffins that sport a soft top, these carrot muffins have a slightly crispy dome that easily gives way to a soft and moist center. Special thanks to fellow Yelper and friend Sarah L. for introducing me to these muffins (check out her excellent reviews, http://harmiih.yelp.com)!
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Review from Amy K.
San Diego, CA
1/1/2008
I've only been to the one in Inwood near 220th street. The carrot muffins are amazing, not at all healthy seeming, more like carrot cake w/o frosting. Super-flavorful. Also, the owner is this woman who was at Columbia Med school and then got in a car accident & got amnesia. She couldn't remember any of her carbon chains, but could remember carrot cake recipes so she dropped out of med school and started the bakery. Sort of crazy.
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Review from Steven S.
7/21/2010
Carrot Top is, evidently, a famous example of entrepreneurial ingenuity and assiduity. Their most famous item, and the one I go there for, is there cream cheese-frosted carrot cake muffin. I read somewhere that they make around a thousand a day. For $1.25 each, or whatever they cost, you might as well buy a dozen, inhale them on the sidewalk outside, and then immediately check yourself in to the hospital next door when the sugar shock kicks in.
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Review from kathleen c.
New York, NY
6/28/2008
what to say? i'm kind of conflicted about this place for several reasons..
the good:
1) some of their sandwiches are bigger than the size of your head. most of them are a pretty hefty size (if you get it on a hero). most notably, the italian hoagie comes with about 3 inches of meat and cheese and is EASILY 2 meals (if not three) wrapped in foil.
2) their desserts are tasty! i had the chocolate cheesecake. my friend got the strawberry cheesecake and because that slice fell apart, she got another slice for free. AWESOME.
3) their carrot muffins are WONDERFUL. they are moist and light and full of carroty walnutty goodness.
4) coffee is cheap and delicious. pairs well with the carrot muffins.
the bad:
1) not ALL their sandwiches are the size of your head. most notably (and regrettably) the pastrami sandwich was pitifully small.
2) the ambience can be a bit crazy. they just wander about and shout your order until you put up your hand to claim it. however, this is an excellent method of scoring free food, as a friend claimed some homeless french fries after the third call. score!
3) there isn't a lot of order in the store. the line is kind of vague and they haphazardly help people who aren't actually in line.
i have yet to try their carrot cake, which is supposed to be the crowning glory of carrot top.Listed in: Sweet Thang, The Heights
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Review from Sara M.
11/11/2008
My favorite cake from Carrot Top has to be the Chocolate Mousse Cake... it has strawberries on top... it's my families designated birthday cake. And with good reason it's delicious! The food is ok I guess, for me it's all about the dessert.
Listed in: Uptown baby!, Have some Sweets...
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Review from Neo G.
Queens, NY
9/24/2010
Ok, so I had a strawberry cheesecake from the place at a friend's party and it tasted pretty good. I go to school right round the corner and decided to stop in and grab a couple of tasty pastries. I bought a tiramisu ($3.75), carrot muffin ($1.40) and their famous choc mousse cake ($3.75).
The tiramisu does not taste like tiramisu should. It certainly does not taste anything like authentic Italian tiramisu- there was icing sugar mixed in with the cocoa on the top, no Amaretto flavor at all and definitely too sweet.
Here's the real kicker and it might be medically unsound to eat either the muffin or choc mousse cake too, or it might be just me:
Within 2 hrs of consuming the muffin, I felt really thirsty and my throat was parched and dry. I drank more than 6 glasses of water and there was no relief. I only have this reaction when I eat anything with lots of MSG.
I had eaten instant noodles after the muffin that night and figured it was the MSG from instant noodles that did me in- after all who puts MSG in their baked goods??
So, just an hour ago, I decided to eat the choc mousse cake as sort of an experiment to see if I would have the same physical reaction. Sure enough, within an hour of eating the cake, I felt the same parched, dryness in the throat and I felt like I had difficulty breathing. Still super thirsty right now and I'm on my 3rd glass of water- it's like the water's running through but not quenching my thirst.
I can't say for sure if it's MSG or something else, but that's how I feel after eating the cakes (it didn't happen with the cheesecake though). It could also be recall bias but I'm not eating another cake from there again.
The plus points: counter staff were helpful and friendly even though I asked many questions and there's a sign behind the counter saying they'll bring you your food if you're parked illegally because the cops will give you a ticket. -
Review from Meli R.
Brooklyn, NY
4/7/2009
I bought a cake from here that taste as though it sat in the fridge for a week. I wanna like you. But I can't.
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