La Flor Bakery and Cafe
53-02 Roosevelt Ave
Woodside, NY 11377 (718) 426-8023
- Nearest Transit:
52nd St (7)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
24 Reviews for La Flor Bakery and Cafe
Been going here once every couple of months for about 6 years.
The food is always, always excellent, breakfast, lunch or dinner.
The options are always great -one can eat very modestly and still walk out satisfied.
Never had a bad experience with any meal with any group I have been with.
The service can be on the slow side.
Oddly enough, they seat you, get your order and serve you fairly quickly --but for some reason take forever when you ask for the check (you'd think they'd want to turn that table!)
Slow, often aloof service is on par with the good but unfulfilling desserts at this pleasant-looking cafe.
My friend went with the Kahlua tiramisu which didn't taste particularly boozy but had good coffee flavor. My banana bread pudding came doused in a think vanilla sauce and had the appearance of french toast, throwing off my expectations and leaving me craving real bread pudding.
The fruit salad that accompanies every dessert is a mirepoix of everything from canteloupe to apple. However, it's so...dicey that it becomes next to impossible to pick up with the forks provided, and can even clash with the flavors of the dessert itself.
Give this place a try if you're in the neighborhood, but don't go out of your way for it.
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I work around here but otherwise would have never tried or known of this diamond in the rough of a breakfast, lunch and dinner place. Everything I have had here has been incredible. The atmosphere is cute but unassuming. The small attentions to detail are nice like the mosaic of broken dish-ware. The food is top notch.
Breakfast:
Yogurt with fresh fruit and granola was incredible. They had figs in the fruit which won me over and the granola was homemade.
The baked good, muffins, sticky buns, scones, cookies on display behind a glass divider from the kitchen to the dining room all look like the best version of that baked good you have ever seen.
Huevos ranchos was delicious. I have not had many huevos ranchos so I cant compare it...but the beans were nice and not canned it was prepared perfectly.
Lunch:
The quesadilla are top notch. the best I have ever had actually. The green and red sauces drizzled on top only make them better.
The Portobello and goat cheese salad was absolutely amazing as was the spinach and chickpea salad.
Deserts:
All deserts are home made and delicious. The tres leche cake is amazing and the flan is just delicious.
I recommend anything and everything. I haven't eaten here for dinner yet but everything on that menu sounds equally delicious. I've been there in the evening for desert though. they had a great scene going on. The place was hopping but not to loud to hear yourself or your friends and they serve beer and wine.
They also had a guy sitting in the corner playing songs on his acoustic guitar. Jim Croche, Paul Simon. My group yelled out Elvis, and he gave us Elvis!!!!
Rock on La Flor!!!!
Stopped in here last night after a visit to Sririphai (because how often do I get to Woodside?!) and got two pieces of flan (I don't know why except that it was on the counter) and what they called 'tres leches' but was clearly cheesecake. Frankly, based on the look of the place, I didn't have very high expectations - seemed kinda all things to all people, which I find worrisome. But both were wonderful! In fact, my boyfriend pronounced the unusually light cheesecake the best he'd ever had, and declared his intention to go again the next day and get more. Don't know about that, but we'll certainly be back next time we ride the 7!
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Update:
With this update, I took one star off for the poor service, but still kept the high rating from my 4/9 visit because of the food.
So I came here again with some friends for my b-day on Sun 4/27. I made reservations, even though the staff said it wasn't necessary (I was expecting 14 guests). I didn't like the service at all...no one came to ask if we wanted to order appetizers, to order entrees, and very rarely did they come to check on us. Also, I wasn't crazy about the fact that they had guacamole but no chips! We went across the street to the deli to get a bag of Tostitos.
I understand that service might have been lacking because they might not have been prepared for so many of us (even though I let them know 2 days in advance).
All that being said, I will still come back here because the food is just that good. My reservations for 6:30 PM turned into a four-hour dinner because my friends were late, and so none of us actually ordered any food (appetizers or otherwise until 7:30 PM, at the earliest). The guitarist playing that night was very good, and I will go back and tip him, because we were too wrapped up in our festivities then.
Few of my friends ordered the same dishes and desserts, so I got to sample quite a few. Here are the round-ups:
Apps: Yummy- salmon tartare; crab cake.
So-so: Taco (reminded me of egg rolls; hard instead of crispy)
Entrees: Yummy- Steak quesadilla, BBQ pork ribs (spicy!), Mexican pizza
So-so: Grilled veggie pizza (not as good this time); pizza with salad, beans and anchovies (very weird)
Desserts: Yummy!- Cheesecake, chocolate cake, tres leches cake, chocolate souffl (much better that night),
So-so: Flan (too bitter), raisin bread (it was a substitute that night; too sweet)
The staff even threw in 2 free desserts. So, for about 6 appetizers, 14 entrees, and 6 desserts, it came out to about $27/person after tax and tip.
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i liked this place from start to finish. their huevos rancheros were great. the dessert my friend and i split was equally amazing.
We had brunch here recently and were completely charmed by this place. The interior is really homey, the service is friendly, and the baked goods are truly delicious (try the chocolate brioche). The coffee is also quite good.
We both felt that our brunch entrees were trying a little too hard to be cool. I got huevos rancheros, which had all the right elements, but in a fancy presentation that didn't feel as earthy (or as filling) as one thinks a dish by this name would be. My bf got pancakes with a blueberry reduction. They were pretty good, but drenched in the sauce -- to sweet for his tastes.
The food was by no means bad, just slightly over-conceived. We'll definitely be back to try dinner sometime and to poke around the brunch menu some more to see if there are any dishes for us.
The space, staff, and baked goods are all definitely 4 star, but for now the food itself is about 3.
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I've been twice with my now ex-girlfriend. Let's not talk about that though. This place was amazing, the food was great and it was the best experience I've ever had in a restaurant. The 2nd night we went there was a guy in the corner strumming the odd tune on a guitar, he even took requests. He didn't belt songs out he just was quietly strumming away in the background. It was just nice to chill, talk and listen to the music while eating wonderful unique food.
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This is a hidden gem in an otherwise drab neighborhood. It's tucked away under the elevated 7 train, right off the subway stop in Woodside. It's charming in a kitchy way. There is often a guitarist playing in the corner, and he's pretty good (i.e. not annoying). The food is really great -- it's like real home cooking, and the prices are right. The menu is a mix or Mexican and American food. There is a shrimp dish that's awesome. If you are lucky enough to get a corner table (that isn't near the front door), it can be a romantic date place.
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When I lived on 53 street and Roosevelt this place was a stones throw away. My roommates and I would go there for breakfast and lunch and it was never a bad experience. They have this mango salad that I loved. Baked goods were always fresh and a good size. The mosaic walls as soon as you enter the place was always interesting. I took one star off because even when it was slow in the afternoon you couldn't sit there and read.
I find that I keep returning to La Flor because it happens to be one of the few places near Jackson Heights that offers nice salads with homemade dressings not consisting of the dreaded iceberg lettuce. But La Flor is much more than that. It has menu items that appeal to most tastes. Try it for the breakfast options. Its Black Forest Ham and Brie omelet is fluffy. light and amazing and is served up with some creative home fries with veggies such as grilled zucchini. You'll also find a couple of slices of brioche on your plate, and given the time of year you stop by, you may also be served a nice wedge of melon to cleanse your palate. Their blueberry pancakes are accompanied by warm organic maple syrup...ask for it to be served on the side. The homemade granola is filling and a great choice on cold winter mornings. Go at dinner time and try their burgers, pastas or fish options. All are good and expertly and appealingly plated. Individual pizzas are also recommended, and don't forget to try the bread pudding. It's decadent! Good food, fair prices and live entertainment on occasion by local musicians. Meter parking is readily available and the 7 train runs right above along Roosevelt. Do give it a try!
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Best f'ing salad I've ever had!
During a recent visit to see my brother and sis-in-law, I was in need of a light meal before flying back to the West Coast. My S-I-L was certain that La Flor would be the right choice for my needs. And damn was she right. La Flor has a very quiet and unassuming atmosphere. At first glance I wasn't impressed, and assumed that I'd be disappointed. But after taking one taste of the Garbanzo & Spinach Salad, all of my assumptions were thrown out the window. It was a glorious concoction of chick peas, cooked spinach leaves, garlic, and lemon vinaigrette. Every ingredient was well matched, and fresh.
According to my S-I-L, all of their plates are as good as my salad. I look forward to flying into town for my next visit (now sooner rather than later) and heading straight to La Flor.
Seriously, its the best salad I've ever had.
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My girlfriend and I, decided to come to La Flor for a quick dinner, and I'm glad we did. We didn't order alot, she just got the shrimp quesadilla which looked amazing and tasted even better. I got a special, grilled atlantic salmon and yogurt dressing with sliced cucumbers, fantastic, and some wine. My portion was on the small side, but being it was soo delicious, it more than made up for it. Can't wait to try the breakfast everyone's raving about.
*Update*.....I went back 2 weeks later with 4 of my friends for brunch and it was friggin' delicous, everyone had something different. I had the smoked salmon omellete, saltier than the norm' but I like it like that, and love their thick toast. I didn't realize all I ordered was salmon....ok, no more salmon!
Who would have know a place like this existed on Roosevelt and 53rd st. Its definitely a hidden gem in Sunnyside.
After the meal our friendly waitress asked us if this was our first time here, and we acknowledged "yes", and I added that I'm going to give this place a 5 star rating on Yelp.........and a few minutes later she came back with dessert, on the house! Woo-hoo! Well, regardless of the freebie, it gets my 5 stars.
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very cozy place, interesting to see in queens, really good stuff to snack on, and great pastries...its a nice place for brunch, i cant exactly remember what i got, but i do remember i liked it...
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La Flor is a place with great food and homey ambiance.
My boyfriend and I had breakfast in La Flor. We had "breakfast pastry basket" - Less than $7 you get 2 different kinds (half) muffin, 3-4 half English muffins, rye bread and half croissant, all toasted. In addition, their cookies are one inch thick cookie with a diameter around five inch. Gigantic and nutty. We like their pastry items very much - tasty and not too greasy nor too sweet, it's just right! Coffee is not on the menu but they got all the basic coffee option covered.
My bf also had omelet Mexicana(?) with black bean, tomato, jalapeno, and soft taco. It's a little spicy but very tasty. The only drawback is they take cash only.
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Maybe I need to go there for brunch but I was really unimpressed with this place. I had the steak and fries and both were totally oversalted.. maybe it was just a busy day but I could hardly eat the thing.. then i ordered flan and it was really .. hard? I might have a misconception or misunderstanding as to what flan is supposed to be like (seeing as that im asian !) but yea.. not so yummy to me.. I was gonna get hot chocolate which people rave about but they were all out.. the tables are tiny and the service really slow.. atmosphere is nice i guess.. if you like dark places where you cant read the menu.. but its just not for me... i guess i AM a food snob afterall...!
Love this place; the food is great (especially breakfast...get the Puebla breakfast). I'm here every week, at least, and I can't get enough. They fancy everything up except for the prices. The place is kind of small and the service can be pretty terrible on Sunday or Saturday morning for breakfast.
oh! and the coffee is great.
i took off one star for the service...but, based on food, it's a five star
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My first experience with La Flor was only about a month and a half ago. I have come here many times since--once three times in four days. Now I frequent about once a week.
This place is cozy, softly colored, comfortable, intimate. The food is superb, well priced, exciting. I prefer the breakfast/brunch menu to the dinner, but everything I have tried is fantastic. I have had omelettes, pastry baskets, different kinds of salads, quesadillas, and tortas. Everything is carefully prepared with fresh ingredients.
The baked goods are very memorable, and reason alone to return.
La flor is perfect for a casual meal, but also classy enough for a more special occasion. It's easy on the wallet and situated very conveniently under the 7 track at 53rd street.
Just save room for dessert. There are countless options to choose from. My favorite is the fresh fruit tart.
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This place is incredible. For the price and the unbelievably tasty food, you cannot go wrong. It's in Woodside but very close to the border of Sunnyside, which seems to be a little more known for it's restaurant scene. It's on Roosevelt Avenue under the 7 train, so you're not really getting much in the way of atmosphere (at least as you walk in the door) but once you're inside, it's a much nicer experience. A friend and I had lunch after a day of shopping and split the steak and potato quesadilla (it has a much better name on the menu) and a fresh green salad with a citrus-y dressing. Perfect lunch. That quesadilla is my favorite on the menu, but everything else I've had here has been terrific as well. And make sure you get a brownie or cookie for dessert on the way out!
What can one say about a little jewel of a restaurant, tucked away underneath the rumbling 7 train, where the proprietor and crew make savory delights in a space smaller than a hedge fund manager's walk-in-closet? If only every block in NYC had little places like this, where the food is more than good and the prices are cheap, when it takes a line of credit and the patience to wait in line to eat at far larger, grander and sometimes disappointing places in Manhattan. Whether it's breakfast, lunch and dinner, something will be found to delight the senses, it's all comfort food, with a Southwestern fusion flourish. By all means, do not forgo the desserts!
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La Flor is a great find. On a pretty dingy block under the 7 train, it is a quaint and friendly place for lunch, dinner and especially breakfast. It's some kind of Mexican fusion restaraunt/bakery. The Mexican part is obvious, tacos, tortas quesedillas...but these are usually somewhat fancied up, for instance the Shrimp Quesedilla is amazing, a huge mound of tortilla, shrimp, potatoes, cheese, different salsas and god knows what else. But they also have all kinds of sandwhiches, wraps, pizza, salads etc. I haven't tried that much but I assume it's all good! For breakfast, I like the Puebla, which is eggs scrambled with sausage, potato and some peppers with tortilla chips. Ask for the salsa so it's not too dry, it's a nice starchy, hearty breakfast.
The tortas are unique and great as well, the "La Flor" is a bbq pork sandwhich that I'd recommend.
Deserts are recommended as well, chocolate bread heated up in the oven is amazing. And the hot chocolate, which they describe as a mix between mexican hot chocolate and the standard, was great.
UPDATE: While having countless lunches and brunches there, I'd only been for dinner once before, on valentines day. Went back tonight (a friday) for the second time. I had the BBQ Ribs. It was the best thing I've ever eaten. Spicy mexican coleslaw sitting on top a huge mound of ribs coated in chipolte bbq sauce sitting on top mashed potatoes. Don't know if it's always this good, but I highly recommend it.
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My wife and I can't get enough of this place. We lived in Sunnyside when they opened up and have been going there regularly for at least four years (I forget when they opened). Sunday breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, the coffee, the staff, I can't say a bad thing. It has a family feel to it. The Mexican is not typical Mexican. All the dishes have a spicy elegance and originality. You can't beat the price for the quality of food they serve. Portions are ample, not huge but definitely satisfying. Desserts are plentiful and fresh. Sometimes we'll stop by just to get a cake or fruit tart, etc. Wine selection is extensive and reasonably priced.
Recommendations: Mexican Pizza, Flautas de Pollo, Shrimp Quesadilla, the hamburger, blueberry muffin, Mexican breakfast.
We've only been there for dinner a few times but I remember having a fish entree that I enjoyed.
Also--children friendly. We take our toddler there often.
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the chef here is amazing. i usually get something that is a special for the night or my standby, the chicken and corn quesadilla. it's made with fresh thick tortillas, potatoes and corn with fresca cheese and sour cream. everything they make here is amazing. you can't go wrong and it all has a strong homemade touch. the desserts from the bakery are perfect. they have a glass display so you can pick out what you want. everything is so fresh here. definately worth the trip to queens and so special for you if you are a local! the price range is $10-$30 a person depending on how much you want to get. it's very reasonably priced.
i used to live up on 41st in sunnyside, and this was one of my favorite spots in the city. i went here so many times, and honestly never had anything that i didnt like. first, the desserts are awesome. we used to get an oatmeal raisin cookie and a double chocolate chip cookie to go, couldnt eat it right away because of all the delicious food we'd just eaten. also, the fruit tart is really fresh and good. if you like fruit tarts, which i do. dinner and lunch wise, you truly cant go wrong. the shrimp quesadillas are my favorite. the hamburger is also delicious, and the fries are a bonus. the sausage pizza is surprisingly good. the tacos carnitas with a lovely little side salad of greens were my old standby till i discovered that i could branch out because everything was awesome. also, i tried a lot of items on their specials menu--anytime there is a salad on there, check it out. they were always amazing. whenever i make it back to the city, this place is on my list. the best food in the city is in queens. so get out there and explore! and unlike a lot of queens, it is both delicious AND a cool spot to kill a few hours.
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