Moishe’s Bake Shop
“Next time you're craving a black-and-white cookie or a killer loaf of bread, give Moishe's a try.”
“I was looking for a good chocolate babka (the lady behind the register recommended the chocolate cigars).”
“Being in this warm, old-fashioned kosher bakery felt just like coming home.”
Moishe’s Bake Shop
Take-out: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Inexpensive
8 reviews
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I came here solely because of the bakery's appearance. It looked like it had been around a long time and therefore was "authentic". And once I got close enough to see the shop window, I couldn't resist the delicious-looking pastries. I also saw there were customers in the shop even though it was a weekday afternoon (when presumably most people would be at work). One of the customers was wearing a yamaka, and the woman behind the counter was wearing a bonnet. I overheard another customer tell the woman behind the counter that she hates herself for coming here, but she just loves the desserts too much.
Fortunately, this turned out to be one of those situations where you can judge a book by its cover. There were many tempting options, including fresh challah bread, but I opted for an apricot hamantashen (triangular pastry filled with apricot jam). Although it was a bit pricey ($1.25 each, or $15 a pound), it was delicious. It was one of those close your eyes and smile kind of moments.
The woman behind the counter was also super sweet. She wasn't rude when I asked how much the pastries cost or paid for a single pastry with a $20 bill, and she showed genuine concern when I dropped one of the shopping bags I was carrying.
I can't wait for my next opportunity to return and try some of the other desserts.
After 40 years it's time to give some credit to Moishe's.
Pretty the shop is not.
Lines, numbers, service–not so much.
But what brings me back are three sweet treats, two of which involve poppy seeds — so there is a theme here. First is mohn cake, a loaf with a sweet poppy seed filling. They cut long strips to order. Delicious, moist and sweet. Next up are kichel–you might know them as bow-ties. Light, airy, fresh and crunchy, they are coated with sugar. You buy bags of them by weight. Have them with your coffee. Forget biscotti, these are better.
Finally there are hammentaschen — triangle shaped pastries filled with apricot, raspberry jam or poppy seeds–all are delicious, but the poppy seed are best. Hammentaschen here are the size and weight of door stops. They can be a meal by themselves. The pastry is thick and robust. I always try to break one in two and save half for later but I never succeed in waiting.
The service is not rude but old-style and ethnic, dare I say borscht belt. Here's how it went last time I was in for the couple ahead of me:
Customer, We'll take an apricot hammentaschen please.
Server, Why one, take two.
Customer, No we just want one. To share.
Server, You gonna fight over it. Take two.
And so it goes at Moishe's, the East Village's last Sabbath observing kosher bakery. Take it while it lasts–but never on Saturday or Jewish holidays (closed).
R. is in the building.
much bakin' here–no bacon here. or similar ingredients bc this is a kosher bakery.
the bake shop is a landmark local business of the east village.
old school set-up. not a fancy hipster spot. the ambience is retro natural–oldish decor. the pastries and other baked good are displayed in the front window and in glass cases within the bakery. Moishe's Bake Shop smells heavenly when the fresh baked goods are loaded in. we eat with our noo–not just with our eyes and mouth.
there's an endless variety of small and large sweet treats as well as your breads and such. i am a cookie monster and scoop up a most small sweet treats. i don't know the name of most things (i just point at them and the bakery folks grabs'em)…but I really like the crunchy cinnamon sugar laden twisty thangs, the chocolate cigars, and those clamshell cookies layered partially in chocolate…perfect bite with coffee black, no-sugar.
Moishe, the baker (and owner i assume) is super-kind and has moxie. he taks to–not–at customers. always cool to me, and represents the dying art of old school local biz hospitality. a few times i walked in there–and ordered a few things this past winter…and the folks here lowered the price on each baked good i bought bc they felt like the cold wether had toughened up some of the eats. but they were fine to me when i got home. aaaaand it's doing stuff like that…that has made me a fan of Moishe's–honesty, friendliness, and caring.
is it fancy? heck no. and rightfully so. no reason to be.
are you going to find artisanal baked goods with highfalutin ingredients that will be up-priced through the roof? no.
should you be supporting this local biz? YES!
what you will find is simple tasty baked goods, made and sold by a hard-working team.
drop mic, so i can go holla at some challah!
i out.
zzz
Late afternoon on a Friday had a sweet tooth that needed satiating before heavy drinking began. This little bake shop was empty and apparently about to close, so quickly went through the non labeled options for my fix.
Ended up getting a filled pastry and a large marble cookie ($9 together). Nowhere to sit down so chowed down while I was walking. When I ordered the pastry, I thought the outer layer was regular thick bread – in actuality it was a sugar coated flaky crust that enveloped a cream/jam base. Not bad, but after 2 big bites I couldn't have anymore of it. The cookie is very large and crumbly, making it very hard to keep off your body. Another item that's probably best shared.
Definitely a spot that you need to go a few times to figure out what you like there.
Moishe's Bake Shop has been around since '78 and offers kosher baked goods in the East Village area. They have pastries and cakes (apple streudels, donuts, sugar bow ties, babka, jelly cakes, eclairs, etc.), cookies (sugar kichels, chocolate chips, marble, etc.), Danishes (prune, cheese, cinnamon, etc.), and different types of breads/challahs (raisin, pumpernickel, rye, whole wheat, etc.). I tried their famous Black and White Cookie, and the hubs had a sugar cookie topped with rainbow sprinkles. The Black and White Cookie was sponge-like, and I wasn't really a fan of the texture; also, the black and white glaze didn't really taste much like anything. The sugar cookie was crunchy and had a nice crispy exterior – this was pretty yummy! I did appreciate both of the cookies' generous size! I'd love to come back and try out their famous Potato-nik, but those are only offered on Thursdays! Staff was super friendly, and it is cash only.
+sugar cookie
+cash only
I got a black & white cookie and a loaf of challah. Both were fantastic, fresh and reasonably priced. I'll be back!
In high school, my history teacher would host fundraisers with babka. I don't remember which bakery she ordered from in New York, but it wasn't this one.
I understand there's a rich history behind Moishe's, and I think I just caught them on an off day….or with a bad product. Their baked goods looked delicious in general, but I was on a budget so I went with my long-lost babka love. I requested a cinnamon one from the fairly surly cashier and handed over $12.
This was a total waste of money, unfortunately. When I brought it home and opened it that night, it was SO dry and bland. I had to throw it out, which just makes me so sad.
I'd give them another shot if I was in the East Village, but I'm not sure I'd order a babka from them again.
Really cool old time bake shop. All the people that work here are always really nice and super helpful. The price are a taaaaad high but you really don't mind it for the classic nyc bakery vibe. It's pretty hard to pass by this places window without grabbing something. This place is particularly good because of its location. After a early happy hour of hitting a few of the local bars this a easy drunkerdly decision.