Bittersweet
“Had the best latte I've ever tasted here – very rich and light at the same time.”
“I do have to agree with the pervious commenter about the odd shape but I think it just adds to the vibe of the place.”
“Bittersweet is just down the street from my apartment and I absolutely adore it.”
Bittersweet
Take-out: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Working: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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As others have noted, I really wish they took cards. Also, I've gone there pretty early in the mornings and the staff has been a little surly and rude; maybe they're not morning people. But to get to the point, the coffee's amazing and the pasties and homemade granola are delicious. It's certainly worth a stop, even if you take your coffee to go.
I have to rate this place bc after my first visit, I am not impressed… Their homemade chai latte is probably much better warm but over ice, not tasty at all. All you taste is the spicy chai. Plus, they charge $1 for ice! Really?! Plus the doughnuts from Dough looked completely dried out.
(Prologue) … The holidays have been very good to me, as seen through my recent review tear of five star gems (check out the 4-5 reviews I have written before this one). Alas, even the mightiest of empires fall, and even the wildest of parties run out of booze… and like all good things that must come to an end, this (very generously given) three star review may very well be the last review of the year as written by yours truly; at the very least, on a smaller scale, this review marks the end of the terrific five star joints I've had to review the past few times.
And onto the review… following brunch between myself and a fellow Brooklyn Yelper, we decided to take a stroll in Dumbo, for cardiovascular purposes which would ultimately justify our collective desire to find & eat dessert (specifically donuts). Bittersweet was the first stop on our donut quest. I placed my trust in the heart of the cards (errr, I mean the Yelp reviews of this place), as well as my fellow Yelper/Brooklynite, to guide me to donuts.
Upon arriving at this joint we saw a donut list (specifically saying "donuts from -Dough-"). Unfortunately, no donuts were available, or bread pudding (also a menu item that seemed a mite promising), or anything particularly tantalizing that piqued our interests. Understandable, it was a Sunday, so perhaps the weekly stockpile for good things had been depleted (and judging by the amount of clients in the place, Sundays are a slow day at Bittersweet).
Backed into a corner, we opted for the only thing available… muffins. They came in a number of flavors, but we opted for lemon. It was super dense, super dry, more akin to a brick than actual food. To top it all off, it was wayy too sweet… no me gusta, and between two Yelpers strong, with indomitable wills and half-empty stomachs, we couldn't even finish half of this excuse of a sickeningly sweet packing peanut.
The Earl Grey tea wasn't bad though, but a toddler can prepare a satisfactory cup of tea with little effort. If I ever find myself back at this place, perhaps this joint could pull off a better score, but with such bare offerings and subpar (lemon) muffins, perhaps there is no real urgency to revisit this place… at the very least, I'll be sure to avoid it on Sundays.
Bittersweet is more sweet than bitter! Come to think of it, it's pretty sweet!
I use to work close to Fort Greene so I was a fan of popping in early in the am or cutting through the park during lunch for an afternoon caffeinated beverage. One day I ordered the lemon, almond and polenta muffins. These muffins are gluten free which is not a selling point for me. However, the words lemon and almond are definitely ingredients that make my mouth smile. Maybe in my former life I was Italian because I've always been drawn to the flavors of the Mediterranean. The addition of polenta reminded me of a Spanish touch to the muffin. The muffin is dense and can be portioned out in my book. I love the balance of sweet and savory. It's my favorite! I love it so much that all the other delicious desserts are left in the shadows. And it is made in house!
Recently I returned for said muffin and I noticed that the line was out the door and the new customers like to walk on all fours, drool and are covered in fur. Yes, you guessed it pups! Fort Greene Park is already a Mecca for dog walks that it only made sense to cool your jets at Bittersweet. The dogs all looked excited to see their friends. They normally have dog treats but not this day.
The line is pretty long as I mentioned because the register and display case are set up by the entrance instead of towards the back bringing the line in. There's a few spots to sit at by the bathroom and a couple at the end of the bar. They have wifi and a little outlet by the bathrooms so it was perfect to get a little juice for the phone and myself.
Highly recommend stopping here and especially with a furry friend!
Lines are too long for what they offer and the staff are not the nicest. Don't get snippy with me cause you don't have anything that's on your menu!
We got a mocha donut after they didn't have anything else that we wanted. It was good, which was lucky for them.
The coffee wasn't anything spectacular and I didn't see much else in their pastries that looked like I would come back. Also, you have to play twister with complete strangers if you want to add cream or milk to your coffee.
The set up of the place was tight and uncomfortable for people to get in and out of. To say all this, I really wanted to like this place more than just a 3-star rating.
I work close to Bittersweet and it is lifesaver for my coworkers and I. Most of us venture there a few times a week, while some of us make daily trips! It's a tiny little coffee shop with a handful of barstool seats in the rear. They have all sorts of coffees and teas, in addition to some incredible lemonade and hot chocolate! The croissants (chocolate, veggie, ham/cheese, and regular) are fresh and will make you feel as though you're in a cafe in France. I'm also a fan of the chocolate chip cookies (big and small sizes…always go for the big one!). Sometimes they are a little harder than I'd like depending on who's baking that day, but 10 seconds in the microwave will remedy this for you! They also have a small selection of pre made sandwiches and salads if you're in need of something a little heartier.
Tip: starting at 3 pm, food items are half off!
My first time here . It's small it's clean. I was served quickly . Nice menu, good staff. They were friendly to me .
Delicious cold brewed ice coffee. Sensible, artisan sandwiches. I enjoyed salami and butter. Friendly stop and hangout for dog owners.