Patisserie Tomoko
“My friends had the black sesame creme brûlée with sake ice cream, green tea cheesecake, green tea mochi and chocolate mochi.”
“The sesame creme brûlée was really tasty (even for someone like me that don't usually enjoy sesame desserts).”
“Delicate rose and green tea macarons paired with green tea chocolate (phenomenal) and mochi, all washed down with the perfect mint lavender tea.”
Patisserie Tomoko
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range Moderate
8 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Cha-An Teahouse was one of my favorite Japanese dessert places; I was super excited to read that the owner of this patisserie was the original owner of Cha-An. The interior is very cute: typical white, minimal decor with hung lights and plant adornments.
While looking for a new spot for special occasion cakes, I saw the many options offered on their website. The Green Tea Mousse Cake(6"- $35) is a sure favorite and rightfully so. The mousse was whipped to an airy delight, and those who love matcha & mousse will surely love this. It was almost all cream, but still retained lightness. If it had more green tea cake batter, it would have been perfect.
The second time I came for a Mother's Day cake, I decided to try something different: the Black Sesame Dacquoise Cake(6"- $40). I'll be honest in admitting that beyond googling the pictures, I had no idea what this would taste or look like. When the cake was revealed, I thought it was a pretty cake, but that the word 'cake' was perhaps inappropriately applied. It didn't look substantial, more like cream sandwiched between sugar cookie pastries. Keep in mind that its shape will not hold up when being sliced. Whereas the mousse cake was perfectly balanced in sweetness, the dacquoise cake was not. The meringue was so sweet, terribly lacking in black sesame flavor. No one wanted seconds.
When picking up this cake, I had their black sesame ice cream on a waffle cone. The waffle cone was impressive- thick, made in-house & lightly sweetened. Their ice cream did not measure up because although there were visible groupings of black sesame, it did not have a black sesame flavor.
A return trip is contingent on if I'm in the area to try their dessert tasting menu. Being a couple of blocks away from McCarren park, takeout would not be a bad option either.
I need to thank my Yelper friend Virginia Y. for reviewing and in turn letting know about this Patisserie Tomoko which is now my top spot for desserts that combine both European and Japanese style and favoring. The shop is in Williamsburg Brooklyn in a neighborhood going through mass gentrification. The modern clean style shop has a U shaped counter with about ten stools were you sit surrounding the chefs and watch them while they prepare desserts except on the side where they have a small display case. It's almost like a small dinner except that in stead of ham and eggs they serve up Cherry cream millefeuille with pear sorbet.
Chef Tomoko Kato was present along with two assistant chefs preparing dessert for customers and custom orders.. You can order desserts and eat them here or order to go. You can also request custom cakes or other specialty items to be made.
I knew from Virginia Y. review about the 2 and 3 course Prix Fixe Menu and went with the 3 course premium with a Cappuccino on the side, but you can pair your desert with wine if you chose to do so. You get one choice of desert with Pettis Fours (four different cookies) for the 2 course at $12 and a have the Starter of the day with the 3 course at $16. I went with 3 course to maximize my experience here since I never venture to Brooklyn till now just for this place. I picked from the menu of 4 items the Ricotta Cheese Cake with Rosemarry Orange Grapefuruit Confiture and Yuzu Sorbet. And yes that is only one dessert. They rotate the items on the Prix Fixe Menu buy I don't know the frequency.
The Cappuccino was good but this is not there mainstay so it's the not better than some of the coffee shops.but it is above average.
We began with the Mascarpone ice cream with mixed berry. Now this did not blow me out of my seat, but that is good and it's meant to be not too over powering, they want you to be able to taste all the different berries and not be masked by the sweetness or the flavor of the Mascarpone.
Then came a dessert that was like a mini tower of the different parts that made up the dessert. it was Ricotta Cheese Cake with Rosemary Orange Grapefuruit Confiture and Yuzu Sorbet with a the additions of a meringue top cap and a sugar crystal in the shape and color of a orange slice on top of the meringue cap. It was a beautiful dessert that was being prepared on the side while I ate the berry dessert. Next time I will sit at the end so I can get a close up of them making the desserts. Now this was really delicious, and again not overly to sweet or any one part of the dessert over powering in flavor which on it own was good or exceptional and enjoy the full complexity of the creation in front of me. I could taste each component and apprecheate the different textures of what I was having. I would have gone to Brooklyn just for this one dessert, and I know I will again.
I finished up with the Pettis Fours, which were four different cookies. I could not pick up the names the chef all spoke in soft low tones and I did want to ask them to repeat themselves too much since I'm getting old anyway and my hearing may be getting bad. The cookies for the most part were a coconut cookie, hazelnut lace cookie, matcha cream cookie sandwich, and chestnut cookie square. The coconut, and hazelnut lace cookie were good and I decided I should head back to the office and I ask them to box the other two cookies. The matcha was a strong flavor between to mild short bread cookies. And the chestnut cookie square is a perfect coffee companion.
I could not go back to the office and tell my buddies about all the great desserts I had empty handed. So I went to the display case were they have a every few deserts. So I guess because the display case is small that they put only one of each that is available and replenish them when needed.
So I ask for a Zuzu Mousse cake and what could be decibel as a Salted Caramel version of a Pecan tart. We shared these back at the office the Zuzu was very pleasant light Yuzu flavor. and paired really nicely with the light fluffy cake base. The Salted Caramel version of a Pecan tart left us craving for more and the pecan on top had a crunchy crystallize coating holding it together. Combine that with the caramel and the rich, gooey filling in your mouth and you one step from heaven, It was so yummy.
I need to go back again to Patisserie Tomoko and next time sit by the end so I can get a close up of them making the deserts. They also use a kitchen that is out of view so you will not see them do everything, and of course the cookies were already made but it will be fun to watch.
I was debating on 4 or 5 stars and I settle on four only because I wish that they had tables or booth too and not a communal counter then the place would be good to get cozy with your date or to have private conversation between friends. I came on a weekday and there were only 4 other customers so I assume that on weekend this place should be more bu
On a breezy Sunday afternoon I ventured into the north side of Williamsburg, where you see sleek buildings and new real estate projects rising, modern restaurants and boutiques as well as art stores, Patisserie Tomoko sits on Union behind glass doors, you could miss it if you pass by the pediatric/dentistry offices.
Once you are inside, it's a modern yet simple wooden bar with wooden high stools around an open bakery/kitchen. Luckily I was the only one in the space when the last three customers just paid their bill, I really wanted some matcha flavored ice cream, all the flavors are housemade here, very impressive!
They have a prix dessert tasting menu from $12 to a VIP menu at $16, great deal! They include petite fours and a main course and more. I'm waiting to bring my hubby so we could try both. They serve unique Japanese desserts with a western influence. Their drink menu isn't the most extensive but it seems like everything goes with their signature desserts. Besides the freshly made dessert courses, they also sell pre-made cakes and sweets at a glass display, check those out.
Order ahead for any birthday cake!
This place had pretty good ice cream. The scoops are small but the flavors are more on the unique side. I tried a bit of the berry rosewater ice cream and the yuzu ice cream. The rose flavor was really nice and delicate. Loved it! Yuzu was pretty good but I've never been a big fan of the citrus fruit. The place has twelve stool seats and unfortunately, it was smorgasburg weekend nearby so the seats all got taken by 1 group of people post smorgasburg shenanigans. I would've loved to sit in and try their petit fours. Perhaps next time. The atmosphere is also clean and modern and staff members were friendly.
After dinner at Lilia, we pondered into this lovely cafe just right across the street. It was a Friday night and surprisingly empty. At first, we thought it was closed since we didn't see anyone in sight through the window. However, we saw an open sign and decided to wander in.
The decor was very cute. They have minimal sitting about 10 seats around the bar. They offer dessert courses that are served only at the bar and a variety of other al carte desserts that you can buy to go. The al carte items might be a bit misleading as those items aren't on the dine in menu. You can order those al carte items when you eat at the bar too. You just have to check out their dessert showcase next to the cash register to see what they have.
We ordered a 2 course dessert tasting to share since we were quite full from dinner (but still had a curious appetite). We got the sesame creme brûlée with sake ice cream (first course) and an assortment of cookies and a green tea macaroon (second course). The sesame creme brûlée was really tasty (even for someone like me that don't usually enjoy sesame desserts). The sake ice cream was light and not too bitter or sweet. I highly recommend this pick if you like Asian desserts, though I'm sure the other options are just as tasty. It all depends on what your cup of tea is.
I think this spot is date-friendly. Although you might not be able to sit and dine for hours, the dessert bar is suitable for small groups and provides an unique dessert eating experience that isn't the typical chocolate cake or vanilla ice cream.
The staff is also really nice and informative. You get them see them plate your dessert together and are open to questions about what they are making/doing.
Coffee, tea and sake are all available. Sake pairings are also offered with your dessert tasting.
Venue – Cute dessert bar with comfortable seating.
Desserts – Both prix-fixe and a la carte. Everything is semi-sweet, Asian-inspired, and delicious. They also serve tea and coffee.
Service – Very friendly. Sitting at the bar, you can see them prepare your dessert and ask questions. They even gave us some free samples and ice cream!
Absolutely amazing space to try the beautiful creations by Chef Tomoko.
My siblings and I went early spring and each had her dessert prix fixe which comes with an amuse bouche, dessert of your choice and petits fours.
Everything we had was delicious and perfectly made. We also had a cup of coffee.
I loved the cookies that were not to sweet, complex in flavor and had great texture.
There is also a case filled with ready to go desserts to take out or enjoy in the restaurant.
Highly recommend to go if you love dessert.
I dedicate my 600th Yelp review to one of my favorite dessert bars in NYC: Patisserie Tomoko!
PT is an inconspicuous dessert bar opened by Chef Tomoko in Williamsburg after she helped set up the popular Cha-An in East Village. All of the seats are at the bar but they never get filled to maximum capacity. The resulting ambience is cozy and relaxing. The hooks underneath the counter are very helpful.
The matcha milk cocktail is my FAVORITE. It's frothy, smooth, and the milk perfectly blends two of my most favorite flavors together: sake and matcha. It's the perfect drink for sake or matcha (lactose-tolerant) lovers.
Asides from their matcha milk, the other highlight of this patisserie is the prix fixe menu. They offer 2 and 3 dessert courses ($12 and $16, respectively). The extra course is a starter that changes frequently. Both courses include one main dessert and pettis fours. We had the black sesame creme brulee both times. It's a little watery but if you love black sesame ice cream (like from Cha-An), you will definitely love it in creme brulee form! The pettis fours vary from macarons to small cookies with interesting flavors and textures.
One night we noticed them making cream puffs for an order and we also ordered 2. We were willing to wait 20+ minutes for them. Best decision that night. It was Beard Papa's quality (minus the excess powdered sugar).