Mah-ze-dahr - New York

I've had the pleasure of trying the savory scones, honey cake, olive oil tea cake, chocolate explosion cookie, vanilla choux pastries, jelly-filled doughnuts, brioche doughnuts, and chocolate matzah crunch, and I can confidently say that everything is of top-notch quality. Each item is rich and bursting with flavors from natural, fresh ingredients. The renowned heavenly cheesecake is lighter than the typical dense cheesecake, offering a more complex taste. Meanwhile, the Devil in Ganache chocolate cake is exceptionally rich and moist, with a delightful dark chocolate flavor. The staff is always very friendly and helpful, adding to the overall wonderful experience.

Not ever hyped. The service really adds to the quality of the baked goods. Camila JD were soo sweet in making every moment right, along with their recommendations. The olive oil cake was a pass for me, a bit dry. But the cheesecake.....a MUST. Indulgent, but not like you're eating a block of cream cheese; super buttery. Honestly though, the surprise star was the vanilla choux. Insane

I was honestly not very impressed with this place. The cheesecake was just average; I believe there are better options in NYC. The only standout feature was the crust, which I would rate as above average, but the filling was pretty ordinary. I also tried their mah ze dar bar, and it was just okay. Overall, I felt this restaurant was a bit overhyped.

So the very friendly server informed me that the Chocolate Explosion Cookie had been rated the best cookie in the New York Times for two years (don't know the two years but I took his word for it) and this tactic was the hook that got me to buy to try. It looks like it used to be a cookie rolled in sugar powder, then baked resulting in a cracked formation look. It was chewy and was what I was going for.Compared to Levain's it is an anorexic cookie, but it's also less than half the price for what a Levain cookie will cost you.I could taste the bitter sweet chocolate dough, but no chocolate pieces that oozed out with a bite. What I did like about it was that it wasn't too sweet. The interior of this place was like the cookie, dainty and refined.Will I go back? Sure, but I don't think I would have a hankering for it like the City Chip Cookie.Both places are about the only cookie spots in the area opened past 6pm on a Saturday.

The croissants were perfectly layered, buttery, and flaky, making for a delightful pairing with the nutty coffee. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the delicious croissants—they might just be some of the best I've had in the city. I can’t wait to return and sample their enticing chocolate cake and other baked treats!