Elite Event: Once Upon a Tart

I am so happy that I was able to visit Once Upon a Tart with Unilocal!Not only was the food very unique and delicious, but it was a great chance to learn about a great small business with amazing food and coffee. Even the slush puddles couldn’t deter us from coming to the event.
We walked in to a super friendly server that offered us wine and to take our jackets. While I didn’t partake in the wine (dang sinus infection), I did love all of the food I sampled. There were so many options for us. Sweet and savory tarts filled the tables and countertops. The savory to start. They offered a spinach and egg tart which was delightful. The pork was definitely a savory experience. I loved the flavor and you could taste the delicious delicious buttery crust in every bite. As for the dessert tarts, I loved everything I sampled. The apple cranberry tart was divine. The sea salt and chocolate tart was delicious. Perfect amounts of filling (although, I’d have eaten the filling straight).
Thank you to the exceptional and friendly staff and owners. They were fantastic to interact with and you could tell how much they were enjoying the event experience. I definitely want to return for a coffee and pastry when in the neighborhood. Thanks to Ruggy, Unilocal and the guys over at Once Upon a Tart for having us and treating us so well!

This is so very late, but late is better than never. It’s actually cooler, too.
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to Ruggy, Chef Alicia and her husband Michael for putting together this beautiful, intimate gathering. The pastries were outstanding– both savory and sweet! It was also fabulous to meet some other beautiful, elite city dwellers.
1. Pork Confit Tartlet – this was incredibly yummy, but I would’ve liked more pork and less pastry.
2. Whitefish Tartlet– also delicious and a great savory + protein option for any pescetarians in the room.
3. Spinach-​Mushroom tart with fresh over-​easy egg – yes, more! This was light and tasty. Can’t go wrong with this combination of ingredients.
4. Chocolate ganache tarlet with sea salt and caramel – This kind of sells itself just in name, but let me tell you this was everything I’ve ever wanted in a bite-​sized dessert! The chocolate was so rich and the sea salt is always great to help really bring out the other flavors present– caramel, in this case. MMMMM
5. I also tried the lemon tart which was perfectly done. Oh, it also had candied blood oranges and pomegranate seeds. Altogether these flavors really jived well with my taste buds.
6. The caramel apple was my personal least favorite. But (don’t shoot me) I’m not really a fan of apple pies in general. I think Alicia is extremely talented.
I have two regrets about this event: 1) I left at 7:45 p.m. and therefore missed the delicious biscotti boxes for us to take home. 2) I am attempting to return to my once-​healthy lifestyle and so I couldn’t inhale every single thing on the tables. However, I did get to have a bite of just about everything, less the apple cranberry tarts.
Overall, this was a great time, as usual. Oh, and there was wine and coffee/​espresso. Serious thank-​you. Once Upon A Tart is a great, little spot and a true hidden gem. Highly recommend!

My first elite event this year. This was an interesting spot. Lots of sweet and savory things to eat. It would be a good spot for a date night or some quick dessert.
They owner/​chef gave us a run down of the place and the multiple things to eat. I stuck to the sweet stuff and it was all great!
It was nice to see a bunch of Unilocalers i haven’t seen in a while, good start to the year!

Nestled on a quiet block in Soho sits this little pastry shop called Once upon a Tart.
Arriving just after Six, I found the place already packed with Eliters. I eyed Ruggy at the door & he scanned my invite. Then I grabbed a glass of Red wine.
Walking around, I bumped into lots of familiar faces & said hellos. The tables were covered with sweet & savory pastries alike. I snagged a squash croissant. It was a small one which was perfect because I wasn’t terribly hungry. It hit the spot. I’ve never had any but a chocolate croissant & this is a great new twist.
Shortly thereafter, the owners introduced themselves, and explained how they were new owners bringing a flair to a long standing spot here in Soho. As Valentines day is coming up, they had some events scheduled for that day. What a great idea. :)
Before long we were serenaded by some Piano playing which sort of capped off the night as a memorable one.
Thanks again Ruggy for a good one. Looking forward to more in 2016!

POP TARTS maybe CRAZY GOOD (i’d know!)! however the tarts of Once Upon A Tart (OUT) are in a class of its own – like first class on a Lufthansa (baller).
while SoHo’s longtime neighbor café might be small in size, it definitely will KICKSTART YOUR TART! seewhatididthere
quick checkin in w/​Ruggy. always smooth and organized. tagged myself (name). and my eyes FEASTED upon Once Upon A Tart via iphone camera: must have taken at least 60 pics.
while i paparazzi’ed through. i was directed by the owners (Mike and Alicia) to a glass of red (mebbe Cote Du Rhone) that i warmly greeted. Mike and Alicia were affable, sweet, and possess taste… woven and DNAed throughout OUT. the vino was DELICIOUS, and there was endless pour by OUT’s hustling, yet graceful staff. there was also a white wine option (did not partake) as well as cappuccino later on in the evening.
eats: every savory tart i inhaled hit the spot. it was a serve yourself of pork confit mini-​tarts; mini-​me tarts filled with whitefish; delicately flaky turnovers served w/​crème fraîche (so good. so fresh!); and spinach n mushroom tarts topped with beautifully fragile sunny-​side up egg w/​its runny #yolkporn look. hit the spot. dead center. bullseye – gluttony.
mo’ eats you say? yeah, we’ve just gotten ‘tarted! seewhatididthere. lol
in addition to the savory there definitely stood a avalanche of various sweet treats in tart form to be devoured by eye and mouth. piles upon piles of chocolate ganache mini tarts (YUM squared). a delicious bite-​let of cranberry + tart: tasty. the giganto apple tart was heaven. the lemon tart was very tart – definitely not for the faint of tart. muhahaha pun-​ishment!
beyond the wine – we got to warm up and cut through the carby eats with some finely brewed coffee and arty cappuccino from next door, a business also owned by Mike and Alicia, called Once Upon A Coffee.
the space? softly lit. cozy. cool. not trying to be trendy, but not overly casual – classy. perfectly dressed interior with subtle nuance and a lil eclectic flair. mixes of light & medium woods. marble finishes on the bar and table tops. a piano in the corner. not a sprawling eatery but not cramped and cluttered either. definitely cozy, but lively. it’s like the parlour or den of your great aunt from France who is rich and batty who throws boozy shindigs w/​fine eats where it’s all about the experience than one modular aspect of a soirée.
the staff. great. friendly. hardworking. patient to explain the different dishes.
the owners. fully vested. super attentive. all smiles genuine. and very welcoming.
on top of all that, we got gift boxes of various eats (they let us stuff our gift boxes) and we also got a reminder of Once Upon A Tart’s Valentine dinner for two. ladies, gents… you won’t go wrong spending your Hallmark holiday here bc Once Upon a Tart will make it excellent without burning a hole in your pocket.
Once Upon A Tart works for dinner dates/​date night, brunch/​lunch, solo eats, or close group of friend’s catch-​up. BELIEVE!
A HUGE thank you to Ruggy for pulling off this masterful orchestra of eats, drinks, lively chatter, and Unilocaling! no mean feat indeed.
drops mic bc this much sugar got me crashin’.
i out.
zzzz

I’m all about desserts and pastries. So when I saw there was an event at Once Upon a Tart I was super excited. I had walked by frequently, but I had never ventured in.
The restaurant itself could only be described as charming. There were vintage books everywhere, with soft lighting and plates upon plates of tarts everywhere. My favorites were the pork tarts and the apple. Wait, actually it was squash tart with the cheese. Yes, that was the best. Seriously, though I think I managed to sample all of them and all were delicious. What really stood out aside from the sheer multitude of different types of tarts, was how attentive the staff was. The space was pretty tightly packed and they were constantly moving about refilling tart trays and water bottles. I was almost sorry I had eaten before I came.
I’m normally not a fan of red wines, but the wine I tried was very good.
The hosts, Alice and Mark were incredibly welcoming and you could tell they truly care about their guests. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this place. Thanks for the hosts and Ruggy for a fantastic evening!

I’ve been passing this place for years living nearby in Greenwich Village, and in the past four years had only sampled the Coffee shop adjacent to the main restaurant, well now i know to continue to door number 2 after have an awesome time at this intimate elite only event.
Upon entering I was greeted with some red wine and tables spread with different tarts, both with meat and desert entrees. Most were different flavored tarts, its hard to pinpoint the best as there were so many! I really enjoyed the chocolate ganache and caramel tarts. I could have eaten the whole tray easily. The pork confit tart was also quite tasty.
I appreciate that about half way into the event not only did someone begin playing the piano, but they started graciously giving out delicious cappuchinos, despite it being 7 pm i delved into the caffeinated beverage with no regret ;0.
Extra props for them handing out a box at the end with a take-​away gift treat.
I love at these elite only events it forces you to be more social with other Unilocalers and not just your usual +1, its a great way to meet other Unilocal eliters and catch up with ones you have met already.
Special thanks to the owner Mike, who was very friendly and was telling me about how they recently changed to a dinner menu, I will be sure to pass by here in the future and now know that they serve more then just pastries. And as always to Ruggy for putting together another fun and memorable night.

This event was spectartcular!
I didn’t know what to expect really. So many questions! Would this event be more savory or sweet? Would I be cutting it close to making it on time? Who let the dogs out?
Two out of three I got solved.
I arrived on time with some major assists. A) The aftermath of winter storm Jonas let my bosses letting everyone out at 2:40 instead of 3:55. B) With the Metrocard machine not in service, a good samaritan swiped me in. C) While making a mad dash for the C on a long platform, a dude who was exiting out his arm out thus allowing me to make it. Thank you everyone.
Once inside I was greeted by the very warm, both emotionally and physically (it was a cold night), staff. Each person that came around had a big smile on their face.
I feel the white wine was there just for me as most people opted for the red. It was good. Not too sweet, and complimented several dishes perfectly. I was a fan.
Where to start? Two of my favorites of the night were the whitefish and the pork confit tarts. Both went great with the white, but if I had to pick the whitefish was the better of the two. The best dish of the night I was eyeing the second I got there even before it was topped with something even better. There was a spinach and mushroom tart sitting on the ya me I was waiting for someone to cut. Luckily the same dish was brought out m, but this time with runny egg. It was amazing!
Towards the end I switched over to red. Wanted to change it up as I got to experience the sweet after the savory. It also complimented what I had for dessert. I had the mini chocolate tart, lemon tart, and that caramel tart. My favorite dessert being the chocolate one.
Owners Mike and Alicia were wonderful hosts. The environment they provide is authentic. Some lovely live piano music, a kind staff, and gift boxes as we leave!
What a wonderful event to help us stay upbeat after a snowy weekend. Thanks so much to everyone from Once Upon a Tart, and to Ruggy for organizing a tremendous event.

First event in my new (well… new again) borough! I was almost hesitant to RSVP for this event, as I’m not the biggest dessert guy in the world. I figured why not try something new so I clicked the little red button, which turned out to be a good call (as it almost always is).
You have to love this neighborhood, it oozes quintessential west village charm. Even the trek through slushmageddon to get to Once Upon A Tart was gorgeous… don’t’ get me wrong, it was arduous, but lovely at the same time. Walking in we found a charming, pâtisserie filled with the most amazing little dishes, friendly Unilocal faces, and a few bottles of wine. In other words, amazingness. The Chief and Owner Alice filled the intimate space with the most delicious pastries I’ve had is a long while. Her skills also alleviated my biggest concern; namely that this would be a dessert only event. Absolutely not the case. Alice rolled out, broccoli rabe, pork, and white fish dishes that were amazing. The crust in her flaky pastry dishes was to die for. There was of course sweet pastries too, of which the chocolate was my favorite (it was unbelievably well made). We schmoozed the night away talking with the each other and drinking wine. They brought on a piano player that added to the already fantastic atmosphere (apparently they have live music on Thursdays, which is officially on my to-​do list). The to-​go box was totally unexpected, and the nicest surprise I think I’ve ever seen at a Unilocal event. Thoughtful, elegant, classy, these are all way’s I’ll think about Once Upon A Tart from now on; I honestly can’t wait come back.
What a way to kick 2016 off; HUGE shout out to Mark and Alice for hosting such an intimate event, and of course to Ruggy and Unilocal NYC for opening this amazing door for us.

Being the lazy New Yorker that I am, I was beyond thrilled to get into an elite event 2 blocks from my apartment. I have actually been to the once upon a tart coffee shop next door to the restaurant/​bakery. I always enjoy the Elite only events the best, as it really forces you to meet new people.
The staff here were very well prepared for our arrival. I felt like Charlie in the Chocolate (tart?) factory upon entering, surrounded by many different types of treats. I helped myself to a little red wine, although I eventually switched to the fantastic cappucino they happily brewed upon request.
The food was delicious. I loved the chocolate-​sea salt caramel tart. The butternut turnovers were yummy as well, filled with apple. The spinach ricotta and fried egg was a treat and actually made me feel like it was ALMOST a healthy meal… Well maybe not.
Hats off to the employees and the owner for taking the time to explain their offerings. We even got goodie bags to go, which I don’t recall ever having at a Unilocal event. Nice to chat with some of the regulars (Mitch, Vivian and Ingrid) as well as some new friends. Thanks a lot Ruggy.

Keys to a perfect YEE: Tarts, red wine, made-​to-​order cappuccinos, cozy and charming ambiance, and warm hospitality. What a wonderful evening we all had at Once Upon A Tart!
Upon entering at 6, I took a cursory scan of the area; there were gorgeous small marble tables adorned with decorative books, flowers, and tarts of all sorts. It was all so beautiful; Ruggy came over to me at one point and reminded me that it was okay to eat the tarts. (Ha!) As the evening went on, I had a chance to converse with other Unilocalers, old and new, while taking in so many tart options. Honestly, though I’m aware savory tarts exist, I always think of classic lemon or apple ones when I think of «tart». We were treated to pork confit mini-​tarts, whitefish mini-​tarts, and freshly made hot tarts with meats, vegetables, and runny eggs (#yolkporn). When it came to the sweet tarts, apple tarts were enhanced with cranberries and caramel, respectively. The quintessential lemon tart was speckled with pomegranate arils and thinly sliced persimmon; this was my favorite tart, and I’m a pretty hardcore apple dessert lover! By the end of the evening, cappuccinos were being carted over fresh from their café area next door; I am not a coffee drinker (…when I mentioned that to Chuck, I thought he was going to keel over!), but I grabbed one (…when in Rome…), and it was very creamy and comforting, decorated with top-​notch latte art.
The owners, Michael and Alicia, were beyond hospitable. Michael was friendly and was able to tell us stories of the incarnations of Once Upon a Tart from the past. Alicia hustled fast from the kitchen with tarts, a smile constantly on her face. You can tell she takes pride in her work, and it definitely shows. I loved every single tart I tried. The two other women working the room and behind the bar were lovely as well!
Oh, and live piano music? YES! That was the icing on the cake, or, perhaps, the whipped cream on the tart.
(Too much? Haaa.)
Finally, at the end of the event, we were all graciously gifted with a box of biscotti and mints, which was so incredibly kind of the staff. They also encouraged us to take leftovers; my beau enjoyed his mini cranberry-​apple tarts a few hours later, just for the record. Haha.
I left this event feeling very content and eager to come back to visit; in fact, two friends and I are planning a brunch date there in a few weeks after I told them how awesome this place it. Score!
Thanks to Ruggy, Unilocal,and the staff of Once Upon A Tart for an exemplary evening out! It was worth dodging post-​Jonas snowbanks and slush puddles of indeterminate depth for. ;-)

Sometimes when I’m nervous at solo Unilocal events I get into some heavy text conversations: Me: «I’ve met someone. We’re having a pretty intimate conversation right now. His name is Eggward.» (Sends photo of dripping golden egg on top of spinach, cheese, mushroom tart to Steph. Steph retaliates by sending me a photo of cheesy eggs.) Steph: «Mine was named Eggwardo he’s Latino. You can tell by the adobo and paprika.» Me: «Our eggs can be friends.» Trust me in that that’s not where the conversation ended.
Eventually I tried to talk to physical people at the event and noshed on some other delectable delights. The red wine was pretty decent. Better than the white, which had a musky piney after-​taste. Favorite of the foods was the flaky pastry that looked like a mini croissant and was layered inside with a thin film of a sweet cheese and accompanied with crème fraîche and pomegranate seeds. That stuff is BOMB. (Words I never utter) I could eat the entire tray. Second favorite were the sweet chocolate ganache and salted caramel drizzle mini tarts. YUM. As noted by someone else, I thought some of the tart crusts were a little thick and too dense for me. Like it went well with the chocolate but with the smoked whitefish I wanted something more delicate. The pulled pork pie was the perfect right consistency. Also tried the apple tart — it was okay but a little bland.
At the end I believe they were serving up espressos and cappuccinos but coffee makes me hyper late at night. Probably not credible at all with my personality. Then we were given little cute gift boxes to go which I totally missed because Battlestar Galactica was waiting for me at home and I was getting sleepy from all the delicious carbs and wine accompanied by that delightful piano music. Thanks Ruggy for a cool event and introducing me to a neat new spot!

What a great intimate elite only event tonight. Situated in Soho it was a great event to catch up with old elites and meet new. The owners were wonderful hosts and hostesses. Explaining the history of the brunch/​bakery shop as they now have both the coffee shop next door and the existing sit down café/​brunch establishment. You’ll definitely get a french décor feel to the place and tonights tarts were displayed wonderfully on tart pedestals. Quite a presentation.
Highlights for me were the chocolate/​ganache/​sea salt/​caramel tart. A buttery flakey tart with a rich chocolate ganache that matched well with the sea salt and caramel. Very yummy. Also the pork tart which packed in flavor into such a mouth sized piece. Finally the butternut turnovers were also quite good. The spinach ricotta and fried runny egg was great on the eyes as well as the stomach. Wonderful strong coffee was served as well towards the end and it’s one of the best cup of jo’s in the city.
Definitely a great event to be introduced to this establishment with a valentines pre fixe that is available next month. Thanks Ruggy and Unilocal,the owners of once upon a tart for setting up such a great event.

Have you ever seen Woody Allen’s «Midnight in Paris?» Well, if you have not, I recommend it. But, on the other hand, if you don’t have two hours to spare, then I suggest you visit Once Upon a Tart to get that Parisian feel (they have a piano and unique art on the walls).
Elite only events are always intimate and I feel like I can have a «heart-​to-​heart» with my Elite Unilocal friends. When the +1 is there, I tend to get distracted and miss out on the great, quality conversations… I almost met my quota of meeting 5 new Unilocalers (and Elite too) at an event!
I never knew this place existed, but now it is on the Veedar (thanks to Unilocal Elite squad). The place is just absolutely adorable, there are fresh flowers and books on all the tables. Mike, husband of the owner, told me the books are not just for décor, but they also use them (many of the books are recipe and cook books). That is attention to detail, This place has been around for over two decades and recently within the last year, ownership has changed hands when chef Alicia Walter and her husband, Michael Stern bought the place. It seems they have also been in a broil over their liquor license.
OK, I digressed. Back to the food and drinks on hand. They were serving up endless glasses of Cote Du Rhone and there were just tons and tons of every imaginable tart and tartlet you can think of. If you are a tart lover, this is your heaven. There were savory and sweet options, including chocolate ganache, Alsatian apple, smoked whitefish, spinach and mushroom, kabocha squash, pork confit and a few mysterious others which did not have accompanying labels. For me, the winner of the evening was definitely the spinach/​mushroom tart (reminded of quiche more so), topped with a juicy runny egg. It was a most beautiful plate of green and yellow.
Halfway through the event, the owners started offering up their coffee, which is served next door at Once Upon a Coffee. Wow, so nice of them to showcase more of what they had to offer. And what was insane is that everyone went home with a gift box that had biscotti and mints packaged in beautifully. I also managed to fill my gift box up with many many leftover tartlets (sweet, I have breakfast and lunch for next day).
There is also live music here, so call them up, find out which nights they have live music and bring a date here. Your date will be most impressed with your romantic choice.
Things of note: they now have alcohol (see above link), they serve up breakfast, lunch and dinner, they do have catering, they have coffee next door.
Thank you so much to Ruggy and the staff (Alice and Mike were there ready for a friendly chat and answered questions with big smiles) for making this a truly wonderful and unforgettable event. This Unilocaler had all her senses satiated for the evening.

If you are suffering from the winter doldrums, the boyfriend doldrums, the boyfriendless doldrums, or any doldrums, then Once Upon a Tart is where you want to be. If you are happy, then Once Upon a Tart is where you should be. Hospitality and warmth greet you as soon as you enter. The people who work here grace you with genuine smiles and exude a joy that’s real. And why shouldn’t they be. They are surrounded with delicious pastries that make people happy. The Unilocal Event at Once Upon a Tart delighted with an impressive array of tarts, presented all around the restaurant. There were sweet tarts: an apple that had a caramel drizzle and one without, lemon blood orange with an intense citrus flavor, and salted chocolate ganache mini tarts that were exceptional. The cranberry mini tart was the first I had, a blend of tang and crunch. My only critique may be that the crust on the mini tarts were too thick in relation to the filling but I believe the mini tarts were only for the Unilocal event as the crusts on the larger tarts were flaky, crumbly and all a tart crust should be and taste like. I also had a marscapone tart with crème fraîche that was a joy on the tongue. On the savory end, there was a pork confit tart that I didn’t taste but heard was amazing, a very delicious smoked whitefish tart and a spinach/​cheese quiche that came with an egg on top, sunny side up. The latter even made me forgo my ban on eating eggs outside after a bout of food poisoning years ago. It was scrumptious. The space is as beautiful as the tarts, with small marble tables, wooden benches, tinned decorations, blue and white floral plates. You feel as if you have entered the home of a French friend. It’s comfortable, intimate, romantic but not cloying… it’s a place you want to linger in once you are there. Water was served in wine bottles, a nice touch, and there was even red wine. Oohlala, yes it’s the French way. The new owners of Once Upon a Tart were generous enough to let us know we could ask for coffee, latte, cappuccino etc from their baristas. The decaf latte I had was done just right. Allison (?) one of the co-​owners, gave us a background on how they became new owners and changed up the menu to include dinner and an actual dining space serving French inspired food. Mike, the other co-​owner, let us know they had a special Valentine’s menu (yes, this is a perfect spot), and that they were going to have music there every Thursday, which made me sigh about working very late Thursday nights. The Elite event was wonderful to spend some time there and sample the food, listen to Phil the Unilocaler who is a talent on the piano for a few, and a joy to meet my Unilocal friend, Chloe, in person finally (super yay) and some old and new Unilocalers.
I used to pass by the this place and stopped in only once, as on the weekends it always seemed hustle and bustle, with people there just for brunch or breakfast. The change to having a restaurant with a dinner menu was smart. Adding a changing music performance every Thursday is smarter and enticing. I already knew I would be back for a visit with friends before I left.
My gratitude to Ruggy and the owners and staff of Once Upon a Tart for the experience.

Entering «Once Upon a Tart» is like entering a mystical land of whimsy and deliciousness. The whole place has such a warm and friendly vibe from the moment you walk in the door– increased exponentially by the owners who couldn’t have been more general and downright cool. We were all welcomed with wine upon arrival, and given free reign to select from a beautiful spread of tarts, both sweet and savory.
You know that feeling you get when you walk into Anthropologie and you simultaneously get the warm fuzzies and also want one of everything? That’s what this place does to you. Every detail is impeccably chosen, from the dainty and adorable plates and servingware to the clever book centerpieces on the table.
As the evening wore on, we were offered beautifully crafted coffee beverages as well, and were treated to live piano accompaniment. To top it all off, we each got sent home with a goodie box at the end of the evening.
The hospitality experienced tonight was truly top-​notch. Can’t think of a better way to spend a winter’s evening tucked away from the slushy post-​blizzard mess that’s currently taken over the city. Huge thanks to Ruggy and the amazing Once Upon a Tart team. I’m so thrilled this spot is in my neighborhood, and I will be back again soon!

The Quick: Perfect combination of sweet and savory, exposed brick, and excellent elite company. Will absolutely return.
The Details: What a great event! The variety of tarts were plentiful and paired excellently with red wine or perfectly crafted cappuccinos. The crowd was very social, and the spot was charming and beautiful. Plus, it’s in the West Village, which we all know is the best Village.
The Damage: Thank you so much Ruggy, you rock! Plus the restaurant owners, chef, and staff were extremely accommodating and friendly.