Hungarian Pastry Shop

I keep trying this place because it is convenient, and it is such an institution, I figure I must be ordering wrong. Well, I give up. Every single pastry I have had here has been awful. They are far too sweet, though I admit this seems to be true in general in NYC. The pastry is usually dry and tough. Last night I had a cherry-​and-​cheese thing (I can’t say what exactly, because they don’t label anything, and the accents are impenetrable.) The cheese was a thick slab of cream cheese, hard as a rock. The cherries were a very thin layer under that. The whole was wrapped in filo pastry that managed to be so tough, I had to cut it with a knife. There was no flavor of any kind. This was typical.
The coffee is good, but no one has ever offered a refill. The seating is miserable, hard chairs at tiny tables. You usually have to climb over other patrons to get to a chair. The place is run-​down and dirty. And they don’t take anything but cash! Come on, in this century? I run into this quite often in NYC. Why? I have been told it is because it costs them every time they run a card, but so what? That is just part of the cost of doing business; you figure it into your pricing. If you are going to make things that difficult for your customers, then have an ATM in your business, don’t send them to another restaurant down the street!
The place is absurdly overpriced, but that is life in NYC. It only becomes aggravating when what you get for the money is lousy, as it is here.
My quest for a decent bakery in NYC goes on.

One flourless chocolate cake, one cherry pastry, 2 watered down Americanos, rude service and dirty tables = not coming back.

Stopped by here on a Saturday morning for a quick meal/​pick-​me-​up to start the day. Simple interior with pastries sprawled on display and a chalkboard menu up top and to the side.
Between two people: two large Hungarian coffees, a croissant, and a spinach pie ($ 12ish altogether). The coffee isn’t milky (the way I like it), but has enough strength and added cinnamon to make for a balanced drink. The croissant was fluffy, yet not as buttery/​flaky as other places I’ve been to. The spinach pie was lukewarm, which took away from the flavor. Everything tasted better with the coffee, giving it that warm kick that was needed.
Cash only establishment, good turnaround time, not too crowded. Would come by again to try the sweets.

I love the Hungarian Pastry Shop. It’s such a great neighborhood establishment that continuously offers excellent service and delicious food. My go-​to is the lemon cake (with a delicious coconut crust) with a cappuccino. Additionally, the almond croissant, linzar tart and cherry danish are all excellent. You really can’t go wrong with anything here!

Charming spot but packed to the brim on any winter weekend afternoon, such that it was terrifically hard to squeeze into a table if you’re wearing a puffy winter jacket. It’s hard to fault even the roaches of Hungarian Pastry Shop, because the place is so soaked in Columbia lore and any mutter of, «It’s not that gr-​,» is usually confronted with finger snaps.
That said, my hot chocolate was bizarrely watered down. It was brown water with the barest hint of cocoa. I kept trying to drink through the foam and reach that promised hit of sugar but no dice. The mocha Napoleon was much, much better: thick layer of creamy custard on top of puffy, flaky phyllo, though the hard shell of brown sugar right on top was unnecessary.
Cash only. You pay at the counter when you’re finished.
NEXT TIME: baklava, Russian coffee (espresso, whipped cream, hot chocolate), dobos torte, pumpkin spice cheesecake

Amazing Hungarian coffee
Great pastries
My favorite coffee shop in New York!!!

So charming! A short walk outside Columbia’s (beautiful) campus and a place of repose from the biting cold this January. Came here for a cup of Hungarian coffee (no whipped cream for me, but I’m sure it was great in it) and an almond horn (absolutely delicious, crackly almonds encrusted on slightly sweet pastry with a perfectly toasty crust!!), as well as hot chocolate and biscotti. Service is quick, atmosphere is homey, and the eclectic art on the walls adds to the feeling that you’re in someone’s kitchen… as does the limited seating.
No wifi but I think that adds to the lovely atmosphere… this is a wonderful place to catch up and for a conversation.
According to my mentor, it’s been around for decades! Tried and true. :)

Absolutely fantastic shoppe with delicious pastries. They have a beautiful selection and wonderful seating area. The perfect place to catchup with a friend or get some reading done.
Important to note it’s impressive bathroom, one of the best I’ve seen.

One word: roaches.
Went in today and left disgusted by the site of roaches. One fellow tried to shake one off himself after the roach made itself comfortable in his attire. Yuck!

A friend and I like to come here for a late night slice of the lemon cake and a coffee. I’m a creature of habit and if there’s something I like, I stick to it. The last time I was there, the lemon cake wasn’t up to the usual standards but it was still enjoyable (I’ve been there many times and I think this was just a one-​off). I like the décor and staff. It reminds me so much of the places I used to frequent back in Europe, where I’m from.
Note that this place will close earlier than advertised if it’s not busy and I don’t blame them. So don’t ‘expect’ them to be open if you’re spontaneously in need of a cake and coffee at 10:45pm. Give them a call first.

There’s no pretense here, and quite possibly the best croissant I have ever had was found here. I am surprised it isn’t reviewed higher. The place is very down to Earth, there is no WiFi, there is no rush. You order, the waitress calls out your name, your coffee and sweets come and you sit. you consume… you take it all in. Just like how a coffee shop should be. The walls are adorned by post modern art, the bathroom is filled with revolutionary quotes. It is a Bohemian paradise.

I love this place. Everything I’ve had was great. Too many to list, but the pumpkin cheesecake is divine. I bring friends here often. Cash only makes it easier to control spending and over eating.

This place is a hidden gem. I guess not so hidden anymore since I found it! The Baklava is one of my favorite items on the menu. It is so nutty, so flaky, so sweet and so so so moist. It’s one of the post amazing things and this place is one of the most amazing places that New York has to offer. It has been around for years and I’m so glad it’s still thriving. It is a great spot to just sit and study or read a book. There are a bunch of tables and each table has a personal light. It’s so cute and everyone who works there is very friendly. Come! ¹⁰⁄₁₀ Baklavas.

The sad reality is that if these folks had any reason to step up their baking game, this place would be a can’t-miss. They don’t though, the place is always packed. As it is, go here to sip a black coffee and contemplate your long-​abandoned goal to read Heidegger, not relish a flavorful and moist slice of dobos torte. Their baked goods look great, but are consistently dry and flavorless.
I always come when I’m in the neighborhood though, as it really is Columbia central, packed with students and professors reading and writing (few laptops in sight, I guess they don’t have wifi). It reminds me of college in a good way. Cash only.

I adore this place. It’s cash only and can get stuffed to the brim crowded, but it’s still very cozy. They have the best rainbow cookies I’ve ever had, and their other pastries are divine. I know some students gripe about the lack of wifi, but I find it refreshing. Means less computers and more serenity to divine into a perfectly traditional Eastern European pastry.

Cute place that has a lot of history in the neighborhood. I got the flourless chocolate cake and a latte. The latte was great but the cake was a little lacking. The décor is very artsy bohemian. Definitively a place worth checking out if you’re looking for some average pastries, good coffee, and low key relaxing environment.

Crazy crowded. But the desserts and Java were fantastic. So, that’s why it’s so jammed packed! Across the street from St John the Divine Cathedral makes it a great spot to stop before or after a service or Evensong on Sundays. I highly recommend making this the place to stop when you’re in the Morning Heights area.
Őrült zsúfolt. De a desszertek és Java fantasztikusak voltak. Szóval, ez az, amiért ez annyira elakadt csomagolt! Az utca túloldalán St John the Divine székesegyház teszi, hogy egy nagyszerű hely, hogy hagyja abba előtt vagy után egy szolgáltatás vagy Evensong vasárnap. Én nagyon ajánlom, hogy ezt a helyet, hogy hagyja abba, ha éppen a Morning Heights területén.

I enjoyed my dobos torte, not so much my bf’s strudels: cherry and sesame – too heavy for my liking. Service was practically nonexistent, but at this point the Hungarian Pastry Shop is a legend unto itself and I almost feel that food is beside the point. It’s more about soaking in the atmosphere and appreciating that a place like this still exists in NY. As long as it continues to serve decent sweets and doesn’t become another victim to NYC’s crazy rent increase, long may it thrive!
Prices were good: 3 desserts plus 1 ice coffee = about $ 14.

Almond Coffee and Lemon anything — I’m in!!!
I’ve been meaning to come here awhile, but often worked too late and it was closed. From the outside it looks like a small storefront with sidewalk seating to admire the Cathedral, but the inside is surprisingly big with plenty of seating. It’s old, with the original woodwork and cash register too. Is it me, or does anyone else notice that «cash only» places often have those old manual cash registers?
They don’t seem to have a big menu, coffee and desserts on display. The staff was friendly, knowledgable and efficient. Semi table service, you go up to the counter, order and they bring your food to the table along with your check, you pay when you leave.
I enjoyed the Hungarian Coffee great almond flavor, but the actual coffee was a very dark roast, strong and slightly bitter, I was bad and ate all the whipped cream first, I should have mixed it in to cut the coffee a bit, not a problem — I asked for a little cream. I’m guessing the cappuccino is amazing with this strong coffee.
The Lemon Mascarpone cake is a gem, lemony and creamy, not overly sweet; it had a graham cracker and coconut crust.
Prices are fair for Manhattan, I paid $ 7.50 for my items. A great place to sit down, take a little coffee and treat break!

Definitely come here for the desserts. The coffee is $ 4 for to stay and it’s unlimited. I have yet to try the Hungarian coffee.
However the pastries are absolutely delightful. I think each are roughly $ 4, and you can get the slices packed to go. I got the pumpkin spice cheesecake and the chocolate mousse with raspberries. I think $ 4 is pretty cheap by the way.
What I adore about the pastries is that it is not sweet at all. You taste the ingredients of the pastries and only a subtle hint of tart or sweetness.
Setting wise, it’s cramped as hell. And when the Columbia kids roll on, you can almost feel the stress.
I just wish they accepted card :(. I’ll definitely be back to try more pastries.
Pumpkin spice; just imagine you’re eating a thick creamy rich pie
Chocolate mousse: subtle decadence, creamy and rich, there are actual raspberries on the bottom that add a nice sour/​tart complement to the otherwise creamy texture.

Gleich schräg gegenüber von der Kathedrale of St. Johns liegt dieses nette privat geführte Café. Hier gibt es verschiedene Kaffeespezialitäten wie z.B. Wiener Kaffee.
Auch die Backwaren sehen nicht amerikanisch aus. Laut dem Namen ist ja alles ungarisch angehaucht. Die Besitzer sind sehr nett.
Man kann auch gut draussen vor dem Café an den Tischen sitzen und die Sonne genießen.