I, too, was fooled by Instagram. We discovered this place the same way most people do -- through…read morethe cute, trendy desserts that look great online. I also wanted to support a local business. So my husband made the journey across town and brought home a few treats from Happy Cake, including a chocolate coffee dessert shaped like a Starbucks cup with a chocolate lid. When my daughter popped the chocolate lid off to eat it, we found mold growing inside the dessert. This is absolutely unacceptable for any food business -- I don't care if it's "my people" or not. For context, we bought the dessert on Sunday and discovered the mold on Monday. Fresh, properly stored desserts do not grow visible mold overnight. That means this item was already old, improperly stored, or handled without proper food safety standards. None of those possibilities are okay, especially when the dessert was meant for a child. We didn't bother driving all the way back to the store -- it's too far -- but we threw out that dessert and every other treat we bought immediately. I'm just grateful my daughter didn't take a bite first. I cannot trust the freshness or safety of their products and will not be buying anything from Happy Cake again. And if anyone thinks I'm exaggerating, I'm posting a photo so you can see exactly what we found.

I went with my book club and we had such an excellent time. The wait was long, but it was…read moreabsolutely worth it. From the moment we sat down, everything exceeded expectations. The drinks were delicious, the food was just as amazing, and everything was presented so beautifully. You can tell they really care about the details. Luis, our waiter, was incredible. He was attentive, thoughtful, and truly paid attention to every detail throughout our visit. We were celebrating our book club anniversary, and they surprised us with a lit pastry and a celebratory song. It was such a special touch and made the brunch even more memorable. The entire staff was kind, welcoming, and attentive. I will definitely be coming back to be served by Luis and to enjoy more sweet treats. I cannot wait to try more items on the menu. Highly recommend.

This is a well known bakery right in the heart of the South Bronx! (BX Stand Up!) I've brought the…read moresame cake from this place years ago. The customer service, the cake, & the taste was all the same as what it was before. AMAZING! I got the fresh strawberry shortcake with crackers all around for a friend's birthday. I was able to get the bakery to write on the cake and buy candles for the cake as well. They boxed it up for me nicely and safely so the cake wouldn't mess up. When I brought the cake to the party it was the main attraction at the end of the night. The cake was sliced and served. Once the guest had that first bite they were taken aback at how BOMB the cake was! They said it was the perfect kind of sweet. Not overly sweet like other cakes and how it tasted so fresh and delicious. Awww man I need you to experience it for yourself! This cake in particular has me in a chokehold! Their other pastries also look equally amazing on display. COME TO ARTUSO!

Stopped by Artuso after eating at a few stops on and around Arthur Ave., and was excited to satisfy…read morethe sweet tooth. As soon as you step inside, you're taken by how large and how clean Artuso is. It is very well lit, and all of these things make it very easy for you to focus on those glass cases full of sweets. Their selection is extremely large and contains all that you would expect (biscotti, rainbow cookies, b&w's, pignolis, etc) as well as Italian ice and various other treats. The line moved fast, and the workers were extremely helpful as we ordered our rainbow cookies and pignoli cookies with cannoli cream. The pignoli were great...they had that signature almond taste, just right. Very enjoyable. And the cannoli cream center was a nice touch, and very good as well. The rainbow cookies were ok. Admittedly, I have a very high bar for rainbows, so I hold them to a high standard...and they were good, just not as flavorful/almondy as I particularly prefer. In all, Artuso is a great stop. A perfect post lunch/dinner spot to grab a quick snack to cap off a meal. Definitely check it out.

I would recommend the tres leches cake it is super yummy! The service is also very good!read more

The coconut cake was fresh and subtle. The tres leche was not sponge cake, it was cake crumbs and…read morethe milk tastes expired. Very underwhelming experience for the price and wait time.

Cute, small new bakery in the area. However, its small space allows for more quality preparation of…read moretheir food, in particular the natural juices, which to me, are not overly sweet. The whole grain crackers are vegan, so there are some options for those vegans/vegetarians in the area. Their menu is my much smaller than Kenny Bakery, on Dyckman St., but they're are well made. They have guava turn overs, cakes, and other tropical goodies. Their "pastelitos" are not baked, however. They are fried. Regardless, hungry and in need of a small snack? drop on in!

They have a variety of bread and desserts to choose from. I tried their pastelito and it was just…read moreokay. The filling was tasty but was not even. The staff is the best thing here, they are friendly.

I love carrot cake with a passion. I was staying in the area for a few weeks while my mom was in…read morethe hospital, so decided to pop in for a pick me up. I got a small coffee with milk and a special carrot cake, which has layers of cream cheese frosting. Raisins - check, walnuts - check, layers of cream cheese frosting (though if you don't want too sweet, go for their regular not special as the extra 2 layers of cream cheese really makes it too sweet) - check, moist - not really. The cake was dry. I went first thing in the morning and was quite disappointed. It's still a carrot cake so it gets 3 stars, but didn't feel like it was worth the hype it got. Maybe go for the carrot cake sheets instead since there's less air exposure. On the other hand, coffee was good, they even steamed the milk so it almost felt like a latte. Yum!

Carrot Top is a cute neighborhood favorite in Washington Heights! Historically a neighborhood…read morefavorite, I was excited to finally check it out. They have a special carrot cake and a regular one. The special is the same cake but with two layers. the regular is just one layer. I wanted to love it, but sadly the cake was a little dry and tasted like a pretty standard carrot cake. I was expecting a bit more since they're known for their carrot cake. Still, it's a good spot to check out if you're in need of a quick celebration dessert or a sweet treat! The staff were also very friendly.

Lady who answered the phone is a rude bitch. I called at 9am asking for a plain birthday cake to…read morepick up at 12:30pm. This bitch answers "I'm by myself who's gonna make that by 12:30pm oh please" and hangs up. NO BUSINESS ETIQUETTE. I called other bakeries who were more proficient and professional who gladly said they can do the cake if I place the order in person. Stay away and find a more professional bakery to work with. I wouldn't be surprised if this miserable bitch isn't spitting in the cake batters.

I love their spinach burek and their strawberry shortcake is a custom for special occasions…read more Overall great pastries and friendly service.

I read the Yelps saying this is a hidden gem and whatnot. Apparently that was just about breakfast…read moreand lunch items? Walking in the door, I was greeted by cases of pastry. The slices of cake each looked so good, I was having a hard time deciding which to get. There is an old school style counter where one can eat their meal and I decided to have a piece of cake and some ice coffee to stay. I finally decided on a dulce slice. The sliver of caramel in the middle screamed to me louder than the guava, red velvet or chocolate. Alas, the cake taste horrible. I'm not sure what went wrong. I don't know if it was an old slice, because the cake itself was still moist and bouncy. But the filling was fairly rancid and the cream outside was dry (flat even). If the cake itself had any flavor I don't know because all I could taste was the nastiness of the middle. I wanted to mention it to the counter woman, but she let me know in the clearest English, that she does not in fact, speak English. Two stars because the coffee was good and strong.

Today I am so sad to say that my favorite Weekend treat, the yummiest chicken sandwich in the Bronx…read moreis not the usual yummm it usually is. It's a too salty and burned. I usually love this place is one of my favorite bakeries around, which is why I am so sad

This is the perfect breakfast place in upper Manhattan! I was quite pleased with my visit. The…read moreprices were very affordable, especially for NYC. There is ample seating if you are dining in. You can also order at the counter for coffee and pastries if you are on the go. The staff was very kind and helpful. My chai latte was one of the better ones I've had in the city. There are food options for everyone! The neighborhood is beautiful, with lots of shops to peruse after your meal. This was a 10/10 spot for me.

Stopped by in the morning a few times (around opening) and they have amazing baked goods,…read moreespecially scones! Sweet or savory, everything is fresh and delicious. Good fresh coffee too with plenty of variety. Polite staff, large sitting area, casual vibe. Next time I'll stay for a meal. Great local bakery spot.