Here's a polished review that keeps your warm, honest style while making it easy to read and…read morehelpful for Yelp readers. --- Finally got to try **Tadaima Japanese Bakery** in Industry City (Building 5, 2nd floor), and I can see why people line up! They have limited hours and tend to sell out quickly, so on a Saturday I arrived around **11:40 AM**, about 20 minutes before opening, and was one of the first three customers inside (their maximum occupancy). This isn't a place to grab a quick coffee. The owner carefully prepares each drink by hand, so expect to wait about **30-60 minutes** if there's a line. I waited around 10-15 minutes after ordering, but honestly didn't mind because the space is so calm and peaceful. While waiting, I enjoyed browsing the aroma mists, smelling the candles, and just soaking in the serene atmosphere. It's the perfect spot if you're looking for a quiet moment by yourself. For drinks, I really enjoyed the **Black Sesame Latte**. It has espresso and was smooth, light, and well-balanced. I also tried the **Matcha Maple Latte**. The matcha itself tasted like excellent quality, but next time I'd skip the maple syrup since I prefer my drinks less sweet. We also sampled several pastries: * **Hojicha Cookie** - Soft and moist with melty chocolate chips. One of my favorites. * **Coffee Caramel Cookie** - Great if you love coffee. It had a rich, bold coffee flavor. * **Black Sesame Madeleine** - Nice black sesame flavor, though I would have loved a little more butter to make it even more moist. * **Yuzu Cake** - Beautifully decorated with an edible flower and packed with bright yuzu flavor. The cake was on the drier side though. * **Chocolate Cake** - Wonderfully moist and satisfying. The drinks were around **$8.50** each, and the cookies were about **$4** each, so it's definitely on the pricier side. For my Asian palate, most of the pastries leaned a bit sweeter than I prefer, but the drinks were excellent and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. Overall, this is a lovely place to treat yourself once in a while. Come for the peaceful atmosphere, thoughtfully crafted drinks, and beautiful pastries.

I tried their Japanese style cold brew & it was one of the best! I tried my sister's lavender latte…read more& it was so fragrant + soothing to drink. Love their desserts as always - fav is the yuzu cupcake. Super nice staff. This time we came when it wasn't busy so got to sit inside & the decor is really nice.

Great high quality snacks. Nice staff…read more And the space is very very old school Brooklyn. I wonder what it was before. You can see they kept the original walls,ceilings, floors, and bar that was here. All original items are rare nowadays. Hidden gem. Only thing is that they seem to have no AC. Even have fans on the ceiling but they aren't on.

GET THE NUT C00KIE!!!…read more and of course, an americano negro cool spot; will def go back

I am SO DELIGHTED there is a gorgeous physical location to purchase Karl's Ube cookies (which are…read moremore like soft brownies). If you are an Ube lover like me, you know there are only a tiny handful of places that can make Ube cookies so well. This cafe is one of them and well worth the trip! Can't say enough about the Ube cookies but they also have other delicious goodies, Dubai chocolate brownies, chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies not to mention their specialty drinks menu!! Hoijicha, Ube latte, Matcha Calamansi just to name a few. The barista is super sweet and can whip up some yummy drinks. This cafe is a hidden gem and I will definitely be back again in the Spring and Summer. You can't beat the stunning views of Lady Liberty.

Delicious little gem in red hook! They make FLAVORED cold foam, something I never knew was missing…read morein my life and now can't get enough of. Great coffee, nice people, highly recommend.

Excellent, excellent food, and often very good service. If only the pretty bar was till there. They…read moretook it out to accommodate more seats, but I think that was a mistake. It gave the tiny place character and was a very sweet, more private place to eat, especially for a solo diner. The garden is a very nice addition, though. Favorites include the plump shrimp with generous relish and mayo for dipping, the burger (probably one of the best we've eaten), and outstanding fries.

Café Kestrel is an intimate European-leaning bistro in Red Hook that opened in June 2024. Helmed by…read morechef Dennis Spina (formerly of River Styx and Metrograph) alongside partner Amanda McMillan, the restaurant quickly earned a recommendation in the Michelin Guide. The space is small and cozy, with only a handful of tables and a four-seat bar. The menu is tightly edited, focused, and unpretentious: Bread & Normandy Butter: Fresh, crusty bread served with rich Normandy butter. Scallops: Prepared simply with balanced seasonal flavors, highlighting the quality and fresh sear of the seafood. Salmon: Delicately cooked, moist, and neatly plated with light, savory accompaniments. Side of Mac and Cheese: Made with large, curved pasta tossed in a smooth, creamy béchamel--a distinct, comforting side item on an otherwise classic bistro menu. Service is attentive and polite. Reservations are highly recommended due to the limited seating. A great neighborhood spot in Red Hook worth visiting.

I will forever hate and love my sister for introducing Poppy's to me. They have very well executed…read moresandwiches and pastry items that are consistent with NYC cost plus inflation. The scones are crunchy and soft with seasonal variations like rhubarb currently. It is 6 dollar a piece. My favorite passionfruit cookie is 4.50. I love a good sour fruit curd in between two soft buttery cookies. I also tried a few of their sandwiches with my favorite being roast beef farmed somewhere in upstate new year and tabled in Brooklyn with a horseradish sauce on a good baked bread. Now I have to fight the urge to stop by weekly.

I didn't try enough to give a full five but I gotta say we loved what we tried. The biscuit was my…read more#1, though, even with the sticker shock. Wish I tried it as a sandwich, but next time! The Lemmon poppy loaf was dense but the flavor was delicious. Coffee was also well brewed and a good morning fix. Staff is friendly and the vibes are chill.

When loyal customers are still waiting to line up at their local coffee shop, you know there's…read moresomething special about the place. Maybe it's the vast options on the menu or maybe it's that extra oomph from the staff remembering your name & order from being a regular. Regardless, the line was popping out the door, even til late morning. And even though it was busy, the owner came out to greet his regulars and I think THAT speaks volumes. I ordered a black sesame oat latte to go - perfect for the brisk autumn day. The service was quick... Within a few mins, I was able to enjoy my latte with epic views of the water & FiDi walking along the waterfront. I mean, tell me not that's not the perfect way to enjoy the fall in NYC on a weekend?!

A cute local coffee shop with a great view of the waterfront and skyline. The coffee is excellent,…read moreand the space feels cozy, but seating is limited and there's no bathroom, so it's not really a spot to sit and relax. It's more of a grab-and-go place for your morning commute or walk. The service was quick and friendly, and there's a lovely walking trail nearby. I'll definitely stop by again!

Wow! What a nice place. We were pleasantly surprised by the vegan croissants. They were delicious…read more The staff member was extremely knowledgable and friendly. The coffee was on point - nothing like a good iced cortado on a hot summer day. The location is good - near trendy Carroll Gardens and not far from the BQE. You can't go wrong here.

Tried out this little coffee shop on Saturday and picked up drinks for my work team. I really…read moreenjoyed it. I got an iced decaf almond milk latte and it was delicious. Whatever brand they use for almond milk was good. I feel like it's hit or miss with alternative milks depending on the quality of product they're using. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their drinks as well. Cute little coffee shop. I didn't get to try any of the food because we were just there for drinks. Gave me total Portland vibes so I felt at home there. I would definitely go back.

After a cross country flight and landing in snowy New York. I wanted to get food that would re…read moreenergize me. And caffeine me up! This place hit both. I ordered seasoned fries, chicken sandwich, and a coffee. It hit the spot! Portions were large and the service was fast. The staff is also warm especially because it is snowing outside!

Emma's Torch in Carroll Gardens is a neighborhood cafe serving coffee, breakfast and lunch fare…read morewhile providing impact to the refugee community in the form of culinary training aimed to help refugees secure jobs in the food industry. We went for brunch and enjoyed a brown sugar latte and hawaij mocha alongside a omelette sandwich made with caramelized onions, potato and spicy mayo as well as the waffle breakfast sandwich topped with egg, candied bacon, cheese and seasonal preserve. This is one of our favorite neighborhood cafes we have added to our rotation and we appreciate the mission Emma's Torch just as much as the food