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Carroll St (F, G)
"One Girl is an incredible bakery. A friend of mine used to work here and told me time and again to come by, but I could never find the time…" read more »
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This place is ridiculously good. It's real, it's old, no fluff, just sugary Italian treats. I had my first cannoli here, after searching for the best in Manhattan and the Boroughs on Yelp. When I came in, I was enveloped by the sweet smell of pastries. I saw the case that ran the length of the store filled to the brim with trays of pastries. In the center case they had a whole bunch of sugar-free cookies of the same shapes as the regular ones. All the cookies are sold by the pound ($10, but the cookies are light!), except for their larger specialty pastries, like the little custard pies, cannolis, and lobster tails (flaky pastry filled with custard). My first trip there (I made two during my eleven day stay in Manhattan) I got the cannoli, of course, and the chocolate spice cookie. The cannoli was indescribable. Okay, well, maybe I can describe it. The shell was still crisp, even though the cannolis were pre-filled. The filings was creamy and sweet and rich. Like a frosting, but not fake tasting. Not just of sugar, it had more depth than that. Just good. The chocolate cookie was really good too. But the cannoli......ughhh.....My friends who were with me got the Savioardi (sp?), a light and soft-crispy madeleine like cookie, very good, and the lobster tail, which was massive! Literally the size of a lobster tail, and filled with tasty custard. And all of these goodies cost us less than they should have - I think the really nice teenage girls who were working there gave us a deal or something. It should've been more than $5.25.
I came back again, on my last day in NY. I again got the cannoli, and savored the decadence of this only-in-New York dessert. I also got a few other cookies to try: the seven-layer cake (aka rainbow cookie), which was alright (gooey, which I dig, but lemony, which I don't like). I also got the date-filled rolled cookie with rianbow sprinkles on top, and the chocolate hazelnut cookie, both of which I am sampling right now on my flight back to the West Coast. The chocolate one is alright, really dry and sweet, with chunks of hazelnuts; it would be good with a coffee, to dip or not dip into. The date cookie is really nice, but again a little lemony (though not too offensive to my tastes). The cookie texture is good, flaky and chewy and soft.
Overall, I love this place. the girls who work there are funny and really nice, and they make the place feel real and casual and like a family business. Plus, they have those sugar-free ones, so it's diabetic friendly!
What if you lived your whole life without knowing WHO you were?
Would it re-assure or annoy you to learn that everyone else saw you as someone else?
Why is it that everyone else can see what you can NOT, or what you merely acknowledge as an incomplete picture?
I came out of the shop and looked at the name, again, just to be sure. Yup, it did say Court Pastry Shop. But, almost everyone else on yelp can see it plainly - Court is a place for great Italian cookies.
Court had completely escaped my attention till a month back, when I came upon glowing reviews on yelp. Interestingly, it had been reviewed by both of yelp NY's first couple, and Vic and Snarky had gushed about the cookies. However, I was on a cannoli fix and so on Hallow's eve I stopped by to pick up some pastries.
It was crazy and the service was rushed, and inattentive. The exuberance over the costumes and parties to be attended by "the girls" resulted in only partial fulfillment of my order. By the time I checked the contents of the box, I was already a few blocks away. The cannoli did not impress me at all - the texture of the shell was crumbly (not just crisp) and even the ricotta filling was merely average. Having just been to Rocco's I was thankful for the fact that Court did not bombard the senses with Toll house quality chocolate chips. As neither the custard éclair nor the napoleon held my interest, I wondered about the Pastry credentials of the shop!
But, I had also gotten some cookies, and by the time I reached home I was re-assured that this place did have some merit. The chocolate spice cookie was very good as was the chocolate hazelnut, but the Regina did not hold up well (most of Court's cookies need to be kept in an airtight container to avoid later disappointment). And so, I debated whether Court was merely A-Ok... but, as the server had forgotten to include the famous seven layer cake in my box I decided to reserve judgment till another visit.
Discretion may or may not be the better part of valor, but Prudence is certainly a virtue. The seven layer cake popularly known as the rainbow cookie is absolutely fantastic. It has to be the best version I've had in the city, where a few hundred versions (mostly mediocre imitations on par with those at a deli) abound. Soft, moist, and with adequate apricot jam this almond based sponge cake will ensure rapture. I think I ate a quarter of a pound within minutes! Other cookies deserving special mention include the chocolate spice with fig, and the Savoiardi (lady's fingers).
As it is Fall, their famed Italian ices are no longer available, and so one would have to wait a few more months to pass judgment on those. Former yelper Fabian T ("the dude abides"), now reincarnated as Not-Fabian has praised them highly (how that review is still on the website, even when Fabian is now 'Not' is another of yelp's mysteries - perhaps due to the FTR status?) and so one should investigate their merits.
Between cookies and Italian ices, Court Not-Pastry Shop, let's focus on our strengths, shall we?
i could live on the seven layer cakes. LIVE ON THEM!
the other cookies are great too and i really like the lemon italian ice.
go for the seven layer cakes though!
I would say this place has the most authentic pastries and cakes and cookies and things from HEAVEN. I could not stop eating the 7 layer cake and cookies. The bite of the eclair my friend purchased was INCREDIBLE.
The lemon Italian ice was awesome. The staff was friendly and helpful. Can't wait to come back during my next visit to Brooklyn!
*IF TONY SOPRANO WROTE MY REVIEW OF COURT PASTRY SHOP*
Oh! What're you - stugots?? Marone! You ain't been ta court street? You gotta have your head examined. Look...not fuh nuthin but deez guys've been making da best cookies an' cannoli since back in da day.
So don' let me see you buying cookies from other places in the neighborhood or you an' me, we're gonna have a problem. And when I say we, I really mean YOU.
ITALIAN COOKIES!
mmmm
Bring these when you go to visit a friend! Do it because I said so. (Just practicing. hehee) These were the best Italian cookies I ever devoured. I live in the borough that is home to the most Italian Americans in the country. (I heard that somewhere recently and I was not surprised.) So that is a huge compliment to Court Pastry Shop, as I have had my fair share of Italian cookies :-P
Oh sweet pastry blissssssssss .... Court Pastry sold me the best eclair I've had in recent memory. It was other-worldly. The little sweets are nearly as delightful - the 7-layer cake being a favorite of other Court Pastry fans I know.
I tasted some of the italian ice, but they only had cherry and lemon left when we stopped in - the cherry isn't the greatest flavor, but the texture was perfect, and I'll be sure to try a different kind the next time.
I was a little sad to find that this bakery is cash-only .... seriously limiting my sweets-purchasing potential - probably for the best. I still managed to scrape together enough dollars to get a paper sack full of cookies. Joy!!
Court Pastry is legendary, in every sense of the word.
Since way back when I was a wee lad living in the Heights, and even when we moved away, I have been coming back to this phenomenal baking establishment.
The best word to describe it is simply SCRUMPTIOUS
Authentic homemade Italian pastries, cookies, and cakes.
But the real kicker is the Italian ice.....
I truly believe that there isn't a more luscious, more blissful cannoli in the tri-state. And the rainbow cookies! unbelievable.
This place truly should be historical status by now, and if it's not, I will be first on the petition for it!! AMAZING!!!
Another place that I can't believe hasn't been reviewed more. This is on a great stretch of Court Street that represents one of the best areas Brooklyn, or NYC, for that matter, has to offer.
Court Pastry would be phenomenal if they only offered their mix of classic Italian cookies and cannoli. Get a couple pounds and bring it to work. Next thing you know, you're getting a raise and everybody likes you. (I'm sure they like you already!)
But what catapults this place to legend status is the Italian ice. In warm weather, you can get it at the side window, small medium and large. Chocolate, pistachio, lemon, cremolata. Delicious, and the perfect treat any time of day. Get an ice and walk down Court and you feel like you're a kid in some old "our gang" movie. You feel like you're getting away with something, almost.
And while there, try some of the crazy old-school items, like the "bones of the dead" cookies. More creepy than tasty, but still worth the experience.
This place is legendary. Worthy of all the 5 star reviews, most definitely. It's been around for over 50 years, and people are willing to wait in line, around the block, in the rain during holiday-time. It's in a cute little Brooklyn neighborhood, and is known for being "the best." I tried for myself, and the cannoli was pretty much perfection. It's the absolute best I've ever tasted. When you ask the neighborhood businesses, they'll all tell you that, though there are other "Italian bakeries" in the neighborhood, this one, though being old, small, and a tad bit "weathered," is the one that has stood the test of time. There are no frills about this place, but I think it adds to the charm. The quality of the baked goods speak for themselves. You'll be amazed.
I'm sold on the cream puffs here and I liked the assortment of biscotti I got, too.
It's true, there are many Italian bakeries in the neighborhood to choose from...and I'm going to try them all eventually!
The service here was brisk and efficient (often there are a lot of people in the shop and they're trying to move everybody through); the cookies and cream puffs were fresh and good.
They have a very loyal following. You'll see people here who came back to visit the "old neighborhood," which is cool.
I'm not from the old neighborhood, myself, but I'm coming back...to try the cannoli.
The pastry and cookies are great. Most of the regular customers have their favorite items, for me it is the Regina biscuits. As far as iI can tell the serving size is one bag. No matter what size the bag, the serving size is one bag. They have all of the Italian favorites , canoli, anisette toast, tri-color cookies and . Sfogliatelle [ the Italian classic cheese pastry filled] . They have a cult following for the " lobster tails" that are available only on week ends -- they are flaky cream filled decadence. They are also famous for the [not always available ] apple turnovers.
They are also a gerat source for cookie trays for home or office parties
To get me to Brooklyn for a Sunday night dinner, my parents bribe me with this bakery. "Come to court street for a free dinner at Fragole and then we will buy you cookies". No, it is not the free dinner they offer, but the incredible cookies at Court Pastry shop that is my weakness.
You step inside this shop and travel back in time to childhood and anxiously waiting in the kitchen for grandma's freshly baked Christmas cookies.
I still can't pronounce the name of my favorite cookie, so I wont even attempt to spell it, but it has been described as the italian lady finger. A soft (unless stale) cream colored, egg white cookie that they usually feature in their front window. My mom and I buy 1/2 lb to share, but after the first bite I steal them all.
love this place and wish I could find something comparable in the city... all, but one of those pastry shops around little italy can't compare to the Court Pastry Shop.
The best Italian pastries ever made. The end! What else do you need to know?
As far as the pastries go, they are ok. I liked Monteleone's a lot better two blocks away. I also did not try the Ice's which the reviewer previously seemed to like. However, as far as the selection of cookies, canoli, etc. went, they didn't excite me all that much. They weren't bad by any means, and if you are diabetic or trying to cut down on your sugar intake for some reason, they do have a case of sugar free selections, but I wasn't all that impressed with this place.
However, on the up side, the people there were efficient, even if a little bit short with the customers who weren't familiar with their usual way of doing things.
I'd put this family-owned pastry and cookie shop up against any in NYC. The assorted cookies at the counter, the speciality cookies in the window -- are heaven for any kid at eye level. But, it's the pastries & assortment and sheer size of them, really, that makes you understand what its all about. The italian ices are great -- the only sad thing is, you order them outside and you're less tempted to try something & take home something you know will affect your waistline... but that's the fun of this. It's classic -- it's confection, and its been right there for generations of residents. We know, living nearby, what this place is -- and how special it gets, even amplified, when it comes time for the 'grain pie' around Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, even St. Joseph's Day, etc. etc. ...If there was ever a shop in NYC...say, that you'd had to wait in line for... and realized that it was worth more of your time (that you'd even waited longer) ... this is that place.
To be honest, I've never had a pastry here. So subtract a star from my rating if that bothers you. Otherwise, listen to me tell you about a lemon Italian ice that, dare I say it, could throw down with those Kings from Corona. Yeah, that good. The perfect blending of sweet and sour, made with fresh lemon juice. And if you're a fan of custard or pistachio ices, you can't go wrong there either. It's nice to know that even with the invasion of Uncle Louis G's and Pinkberry wannabes all over this borough, you can still get a simple and terrific Italian ice on a hot summer day.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but forget the gelato - go straight for the chocolate Italian ice. A small squeeze cup is an incredible $1.25, and more than enough to satisfy, even on a hot summer day in Brooklyn.
I have never tried any of the pastries here, but the lemon ice was outstanding. Judging from the reviews, other folks agree with me
There are many great bakeries in Carroll Gardens, the key is finding out which is best for what. This place makes THE BEST PISTACHIO / CUSTARD ICES you will ever have. You can get ices at many other places, but this stuff is golden. It's not even like a regular Italian ice, the consistency alone is different enough to give this place a whirl. How good is it...if their ices were liquor and you were Lindsey Lohan you'd be in jail by now. Did I mention THE BEST PISTACHIO / CUSTARD ICES you will ever have? Their baked good are great too, though I hardly ever make it pass the service window for the ices. Be a pro, don't go inside to ask for the ices, hit the window out front for the goods. Now... Go!
i've been coming here for 10+ years...pure heaven...especially the pistacio italian ice + cookies. this shop is worth the ride to bklyn alone...everyday. i heart court pastry shop.
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