Overall Critic Rating: 8.5/10

In Fresh Meadows, a new modern Asian cafe and dessert bar named Fly Me To The Moon opened up, replacing what was previously a Red Mango location. This dessert spot is located on 188th Street, accessible to Harrisites via the Q88 or Q17 near Queens College. While the inside of the shop is quite small, its aesthetic makes up for the small size with cute seating and decorations centering around a space and moon theme. The location has also recently set up a kiosk for ordering, which helps speed up the process of orders since the shop is occasionally packed. I had visited the shop alone and prepared to do a take out order because at the time, many seats were occupied. The service was welcoming and the employees were quick to make my order. They prepare it right behind the register and sometimes have menu items prepared beforehand on display. Overall, they had a wide range of options to order from, including  acai bowls, frozen yogurt, soft serve, croffles, among others. 

Critic Rating: 6/10

First I ordered their frozen yogurt to see how it compares to the previous frozen yogurts from Red Mango. I got the strawberry flavor, Pink Venom, and their mango flavor, Lovesick Mango; I quite like these names as they’re different from other locations. However, the most disappointing part of all was that their machine wasn’t working properly so it wouldn’t let me order half mango and half strawberry. I was stuck with having a swirl of both flavors. The cost of one cup summed up to $7.57. I didn’t end up getting toppings, but you can imagine how they would have brought the total up to more than $8 since each topping is an additional $0.75. These flavors were a bit light and really creamy, which I love in frozen yogurt. The strawberry flavor didn’t stick out to me and tasted quite sweet, perfect for all of you sweet tooths. The mango, on the other hand, was refreshing, tart, and had a very prominent flavor profile. It did not taste that artificial. Overall, I would rate this frozen yogurt mix a 6/10 and would have to think about getting it again. 

Critic Rating: 8/10

Next, I wanted to try one of their famous topped croffles. A croffle is a mix between croissant and waffle, so it is supposed to be a bit flaky yet still hold a waffle texture and pattern. Fly Me To The Moon has many premade topped croffles to choose from, but also offers customers the option to customize one to their liking. I decided to order the strawberry nutella croffle which cost $5.95. It had some shaved almonds on top, so I would beware of any allergies when trying this. As you can see in the photo, the nutella was heavily spread and there were fresh sliced strawberries on top. The dessert had an adequate proportion of each topping and was not overbearing. However, when attempting to cut a piece to try, the croffle was a bit stiff and would not cut properly. I ended up using my hands, which I don’t usually mind, but it did get a bit messy and the strawberries kept sliding off. Despite the messy experience, the texture was pleasant and the flavor was impeccable. The sweet and nutty hazelnut spread mixed with the freshness of the strawberries is a delightful, tried and true combination that works great together. The almonds also added a little extra crunch. I really enjoyed this dessert since it was my first time trying a croffle, and it definitely satisfied my craving. I would rate the strawberry nutella croffle a 8/10 and would get it again with no hesitation. 

Critic Rating: 9.5/10

Finally, I wanted to try their soft serve to see how much justice a cafe does to ice cream. Personally, I’m not a matcha person and haven’t ever  had it properly, but I was intrigued by their matcha soft serve over any of the other flavors. I ordered a small cup and it cost $5.39, which I thought was a slightly unreasonable price for the amount I was getting. Anyways, while it was a little melted by the time I got to try it, it was still light, creamy, and had an incredibly smooth texture. I loved the matcha flavor in this as it wasn’t overly bitter. It was just the perfect amount of earthy flavor combined into a sweet ice cream. I loved this soft serve way more than I anticipated. When I put it on top of the strawberry nutella croffle, it paired heavenly. Overall, this soft serve surprised me a lot and it was the perfect cold treat, earning it a rating of 9.5/10. I would definitely recommend everyone to try this and have personally gotten  this multiple times since I first tried it.

In conclusion, Fly Me To The Moon had an overall positive atmosphere and their food was definitely out of this world. I highly recommend the topped croffle and matcha soft-serve, but would have to think twice about the frozen yogurt as it didn’t quite meet my expectations compared to the other items. Regardless, I would definitely suggest coming here for a little sweet treat or a pick-me-up, either alone or with friends anytime. Altogether, I would give Fly Me To The Moon a 8.5/10 and I definitely plan on coming back and trying even more items on their menu.