After eating cake, scones, and peanut butter bars at Baked, we needed to work up an appetite for our next stop on the Brooklyn Bakery tour, Sweet Melissa Patisserie. We walked 1.6 miles between the two locations, taking us from the slightly rundown area of Red Hook into the more wealthy and established area of Caroll Gardens. It was a beautiful day, and the walk was a nice way to see the neighborhoods and get a sense of how Brooklyn is connected. Once at Sweet Melissa’s, we were rewarded with plenty of sweets to replenish, and exceed, any calories burned.
The details:
What we bought:
No visit to Sweet Melissa’s is complete without having their signature item, the Bee Sting - a custard filled bun that is dipped in honey-caramel and topped with sliced almonds. It is a beautifully simple, delicious dessert and makes me want to dip everything I eat in honey.
Elisabeth ordered a banana creme pie which tasted freshly made and perfectly rich and creamy.
Lara had the Palmier which was very crispy, buttery and everything a Palmier should be. The pastries were all excellent.
Cost: Bee Sting $3.25, Palmier $2.25, Large Banana Cream Pie $18
Wait: 5 minutes. The narrow entryway and lines to pay can make it difficult to view the full selection of tarts, cakes, pies and pastries available.
Atmosphere: Just past the register there is a seating area blocked from view by a fabric panel decorated with a tea pot and plate pattern, giving the shop an old-fashioned, antique feel. Be warned - the tables in the back are for waiter service only. If you order at the front counter, expect to take it to go. The shop was also unusually quiet. No music was playing.
Uniqueness: I haven’t seen the “Bee Sting” anywhere else, but the rest of the experience was typical of a tea shop or bakery.
Clientele: Brooklyn families out for a treat and 30+ women having afternoon tea.
Location: A popular shopping street in the Caroll Gardens area of Brooklyn, convenient to the F and G subways.
Staff: The waitress let us eat our “to-go” items at the tables without any hassle.
Final Verdict: Grab and go. The pastries are wonderful, but the atmosphere was a bit quiet and old-fashioned for my taste.
Sweet Melissa Patisserie
276 Court Street
Brooklyn, New York 11231
F or G subway to Bergen or Carroll Street
(718) 855-3410
www.sweetmelissapatisserie.com
You also can see more pictures and details about the Brooklyn Bakery tour at Triptie.com >
They also just opened a branch on 7th Avenue in Park Slope. It seems a little roomier.
Is that you in the picture?
They have a Manhattan branch too, which is also small and probably best for take out. I’ll have to make it out to Park Slope one day…
No, Kristin, it’s not me. It’s Lara - an Amai baker. I love that purse she has.
The palmier is making me drool….but making them is such a pain!
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