Sweet Melissa Pâtisserie & Cremerie
At Sweet Melissa, deciding what to order can be a challenge. Blogger Sugar Rush writes, "With a dessert case oozing picturesque possibilities of Sour Cherry Clafoutis, Sweet Almond Bread Pudding, and Banana Cream Pie, I've oft found myself hovering in front of the glass case for a solid fifteen minutes pondering over which to call my own. Cookies and madeleines have disappointed in the past, but you cannot go wrong with the Lemon Meringue Tart, a butter-rich pate sucrée crust filled with curd hovering a lush balance between puckery tart and sweet."
"Sweet Melissa’s built a solid rep as a pâtisserie... But don't miss the hearty soups and a surprisingly tasty chicken salad, along with other humble but filling lunch entrées like quiches, baguettes stuffed with thick slices of juicy filet mignon and sweet onion relish, and a Cobb-salad wrap brimming with chunks of fresh cucumber, tomato, and greens," writes Michael Y. Park for New York magazine.
To make more room for eat-in customers, Sweet Melissa's Cobble Hill location has expanded into the space next door, "adding a take-out ice cream stand and over 30 new seats. The full menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and quiche are still available in the retro-cute dining room and expansive garden, and the newly added ice cream counter serves frozen treats for dine-in or takeout, like waffle sundaes with toppings like Valrhona hot fudge or caramel," says Metromix. And Time Out New York says that owner Melissa Murphy "also plans to add a creamery annex to her Park Slope location." How would you rate this place?
Reviews (18)
cwbuecheler wrote a review on February 16, 2009 12:09 PM
I love Sweet Melissa. Their pastries are excellent, their coffee's tasty, and their meals are well-sized, well-priced and generally above average in taste. We've been there many times for coffee and snacks, and a few times for full meals. Never had a complaint about the service, and the ambience is fine for a cafe-style restaurant.
The talented Archana Rao, who makes all of their specialty cakes, made our wedding cake! It was delicious and very pretty. :)
Susan Elkins wrote a review on February 16, 2009 1:22 PM
The pastries are terrific, and the savories are good. I've enjoyed the place for years. Two requests: Please make a the chicken salad free-range, or offer other free-range, organic choices: and second, reopen the former garden which I found cozier than the new one.
Susan Elkins wrote a review on February 16, 2009 1:22 PM
The pastries are terrific, and the savories are good. I've enjoyed the place for years. Two requests: Please make a the chicken salad free-range, or offer other free-range, organic choices: and second, reopen the former garden which I found cozier than the new one.
Brenda from Flatbush wrote a review on February 16, 2009 1:28 PM
I haven't been to the 7th Avenue outpost yet, but several afternoon teas in the Court St. location were a turn-off due to the skanky and languorous service...not to mention the truly stratospheric prices. The best thing about Melissa is that seeing a zillion-dollar cake or pie inspires me to go home and make the same thing for anywhere from $3 to $8. Maybe not with fancy piped decoration, but at least I don't need a second mortgage for dessert baked with real butter.
jules wrote a review on February 16, 2009 1:46 PM
I honestly don't understand how this place has such a good reputation. I tried many different things from here when they opened on 7th Avenue and everything was stale. Like, way stale and thus not very good. On a sunny day, I noticed cupcakes in the window had melted icing -- the same cupcakes were there several days later when I walked by again. I was excited when they opened but have only been disappointed.
sam wrote a review on February 16, 2009 2:55 PM
i like the collapsed choco cake.
cute place
perfect for a get-to-know-you date (he wrote wistfully remembering the distant past)
traditionalmod wrote a review on February 16, 2009 3:15 PM
I don't see what the fuss is about either. Sweet Melissa's cakes just don't measure up for me especially at their prices. But it's a nice comfortable place to stop and have lunch or tea and sweets. I like their coconut chocolate macaroons when they're fresh and soft. Marquette in Carroll Gardens makes amazing cakes and a big crowd pleaser for parties is always Cakeman Raven's red velvet. Folks love it.
benson wrote a review on February 16, 2009 3:27 PM
I have to agree with Brenda from Flatbush. Everytime I go to this place, I feel like I've been ripped off, on account of both the high prices, and the uneven service. I agree that the stuff is somewhat yummy, but it's not worth the price.
jdoo wrote a review on February 16, 2009 3:51 PM
Sweet melissa is fun, but overpriced. I usually end up at Angry Wade's instead.
kbrown0804 wrote a review on February 16, 2009 5:18 PM
I agree with everyone that it's overpriced and disappointing. Was looking forward to trying the ice cream over the summer. Went in there and ordered two cones which had the tiniest scoops of ice cream for an outrageous price. To make it worse, the staff practically threw them at me. Don't bother!
SJ wrote a review on February 16, 2009 9:32 PM
I was also excited when they opened the 7th avenue location but everything I've had has been stale... croissants, baguette etc... Certainly not worth passing by Connecticut Muffin. Nonetheless, every time I've been in there, it's been crowded.
bowl of dicks wrote a review on February 16, 2009 10:49 PM
sit in the back garden and you will be forgotten about. they do have a delicious molten chocolate cake. can't speak for anything else on their menu. personally i prefer Marquette for the choc croissants and coffee.
Carol Gardens wrote a review on February 17, 2009 9:58 AM
I do love their chocolate covered graham crackers (when they have them) but I agree that they are very overpriced. I was particularly offended by the high price of their ice cream AND the small portions. I prefer Marquet for a dessert fix...or The Chocolate Room, for a splurge. I do occasionally buy a cake and they are generally yummy.
JoeBushwick wrote a review on February 17, 2009 2:06 PM
Funny, I stopped in on Sunday evening at the location on 7th and the staff was so amazingly rude that I walked out. They were basically out of everything since Valentines day and they were unwilling to cut any of the full size cakes to make individual servings. I've never been to an restaurant were they refused to serve food that was on display. When we asked why, they acted like we were being unreasonable and at that point we left.
parkedslope wrote a review on February 17, 2009 3:51 PM
I agree on the over-priced comments, but everything I've had from there [7th Ave location] was perfectly fresh & tasty.
I will say, however, that Trois Pommes down on 5th Ave @ Carrol Street is INFINITELY better - both value, quality & originality. It's hands-down the best pastry shop in PS.
geekspice wrote a review on February 17, 2009 3:54 PM
I've only been to the 7th street location. The pastries are OK and sometimes good, but not amazing. They always taste dry and stale. The Valentine's Day truffles were very uninspired.
Leucas wrote a review on November 16, 2009 11:52 AM
We tried the apple pie and also the brownie. Both were stale, but even so, you could tell they were very run-of-the-mill.
At the prices they charge ($6 for a tiny piece of pie) they should be transcendent. I really don't understand the fascination with this place, except their presentation is nice. I feel you'd be better off going to a plain diner and ordering pie.
pkslopebrian wrote a review on November 16, 2009 9:53 PM
consistently dry and overpriced pastries. so many better choices in the Slope. Trois Pommes blows this place away.
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