The Pastry Box

“A bit out of the way, but the cookies are delicious, and service is friendly, and it's reliably stocked up, unlike another popular bakery close by (red gate). I got the sea salt chocolate chip cookie as well as the brown butter cookies. Both were delicious! I tend to feel like other places get a bit too heavy handed on the salt on cookies; but the salt and sweet here are well balanced. I'll be back!”

“It kinda blows my mind when people go to an establishment that has gone viral on social media and then complain that there was a line, the place was busy, and the product wasn't immediately available. Like, of course it's busy: everyone is there for the same reason as you--because everyone saw the same sexy videos of a giant salted molten chocolate chip cookie tantalizingly being pulled apart online and wanted it. This was the second weekend that I stopped by to try this famed cookie--when I went last weekend, I was politely informed that it would be 15 minutes until the next fresh batch. I didn't have time to wait, so I came back this weekend when I had more time like a grownup instead of whining about how everything that I wanted wasn't immediately available to me when I wanted it to be. This is NYC: if you walk around this area, which is a bit of a foodie hotspot, you will see a bunch of establishments that have gone viral on social media where there are lines down the block. I don't know why anyone would think it would be a different circumstance here. If you claim that it matters to you that this is a Black-owned business single-handedly fighting back against the gentrification of the neighborhood businesses, then maybe stop holding them to a different standard as every other popular establishment that has received well-deserved recognition and the accompanying crowded doorway. Despite their popularity, I was served in a timely manner (less than 5 minutes) and I think they have a good system in place to get their goodies to people efficiently. Most importantly, the cookie was well worth the wait. Honestly, I'm not sure how the texture can exist--even when the cookie is cool, the inside remain that molten, semi-solid texture that you'd expect from partially cooked dough (if you're like me and bake cookie dough for 1/2 the time because you like that hot, melty, gooey batter texture, you know what I mean). The inside somehow preserves this soft texture while the cookie exterior maintains a crispness and firmness that not only allows the cookie to retain its shape, but also gives incredible texture variation compared to the soft inside. The way this cookie falls apart as you eat it is heavenly, and the salt on top just pushes it over the edge to become the most satisfying chocolate chip in the city. 10/10 will be returning to try their other goods.”

“The chocolate chip cookie is very very good. A little thinner than I usually like, but the flavor is deep and rich. Really nice. My friend had the carrot cake and she didn't enjoy it as much. I tasted it and it was a little heavy and dry. Stick with the chocolate chip cookie. It's very good. Service was lovely and decor is simple. A little difficult to figure out what's on offer. More a takeout place than a park yourself type place.”