Critic Rating: 8/10
The Loft Studio Cafe is a cozy, artisan café that serves a variety of baked goods, desserts, and drinks in Bayside, Queens. It is located on Northern Boulevard and is accessible from Townsend via the Q44 and Q13 buses. It’s a convenient spot for Townsend Harris students to study or catch up with friends. The café boasts a simple, modern aesthetic and features a plethora of natural light. In fact, the secluded back of the cafe includes skylights and plants, giving it a true warm, welcoming feeling. You can really get a sense of the serene atmosphere through the relaxing music, providing a perfect ambience to study.
Cookies and Cream Cake
Critic Rating: 8.5/10
The first item we tried was the Cookies and Cream Cake slice. It was frosted in a plain whipped mousse, alternating between layers of spongy chocolate cake, chocolate frosting with cookie chunks, and a sweet vanilla cream. Garnished with an Oreo cookie and crumbs, the aesthetics were very pleasing, radiating chocolatey goodness. While the outer mousse had a bland flavor, the cake itself was extremely decadent. The chocolate sponge cake layer was sweet, moist, and melted in my mouth, blending nicely with the near-flavorless mousse. The chocolate and vanilla cream layers, on the other hand, were quite sugary. Though the first few bites were delicious, it became difficult to finish, as each bite felt like it was becoming increasingly sweet. While those with sweet tooths may find this cake enjoyable, people who prefer a more mellow taste should opt for a different flavor.
Nutella Croissant
Critic Rating: 8/10
This croissant was stuffed with decadent, rich Nutella and topped with powdered sugar. The dessert was crunchy, flaky, and airy, which helped balance out the denseness of the cream. I was pleased that the croissant was not overly buttery or oily, as this often drowns out secondary flavors. Moreover, the cream filled the whole croissant, essentially making it into a sandwich. The Nutella cream itself was light and not overly whipped, which made it more easily palatable. While I enjoyed the deep chocolate flavor, both the croissant itself and the Nutella were too sugary for my liking.
Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie
Critic Rating: 6.7/10
The third item we tried was the Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie. Initially, the layered look made it aesthetically appealing. However, after trying it, the layers caused the smoothie to taste inconsistent. Because the ingredients had not been blended evenly, each sip contained a different balance of flavors. Some sips were overly concentrated with yogurt, while others were mostly strawberry. This uneven distribution disrupted the overall balance of the drink and made it less enjoyable to consume. After mixing it, it tasted significantly better and was much more enjoyable to drink. The strawberry and well-mixed parts were really refreshing. I enjoyed drinking it after the additional mixing, however the initial imbalance between the ingredients made the experience less consistent than expected. Ultimately, I wouldn’t order this smoothie again.
Overall, The Loft Studio Cafe was an amazing experience, not just because of the food, but also the high ceilings and wide, industrial look provided a nice change in atmosphere. The cakes were fluffy and sweet, while the croissants were perfectly flaky and airy, bringing the perfect crunch with every bite. Though we wouldn’t particularly recommend their smoothies, they offer bottled refreshments and more pastries on display. If you happen to be around Northern Boulevard, I highly suggest giving the Loft Studio Cafe a try.
