These 2 NYC Bakeries Ranked America's Best By New York Times

NEW YORK CITY — New York City may be known best for its restaurant scene — where getting a reservation is essentially a sport — but there are also quite a few bakeries where getting a coveted pastry is just as gratifying as finally getting a table at Carbone.

Two of these bakeries, known for their delectable treats and die-hard fans, have been ranked as some of the best in the nation by food editors at the New York Times.

The Times recently published "22 of the Best Bakeries Across the U.S. Right Now."

According to the piece, "a bakery renaissance is underway, fueled by a convergence of economics, post-Covid restaurant changes, diners’ tastes and the marketing power of social media."

Brian Gallagher for the Times said the baked goods gold rush is led by "former fine-dining pastry chefs and entrepreneurial hobbyists-turned-professionals alike."

Among these bakeries making waves in the food scene are Radio Bakery in Greenpoint, and Bánh By Lauren in Chinatown.

Radio Bakery

Radio Bakery, opened in 2023 by Kelly Mencin, regularly has long lines of people snaking down India Street in Greenpoint, hoping to get a sweet or savory treat before she sells out. Radio Bakery is an offshoot of the acclaimed Rolo's in Ridgewood, where Mencin was the pastry chef.

Here's what New York Times writer Nikita Richardson had to say about Radio:

Much about Radio Bakery is frustrating: That it’s located in the upper reaches of Greenpoint, Brooklyn. That there’s always a line down the block on weekends. That it routinely closes early because everything is sold out. But above all, that its baked goods are frustratingly delicious. Croissants in the shape of Danishes filled with seasonal delights — woody mushrooms with caramelized shallots one month, a perfect slice of a perfect heirloom tomato the next. The focaccia breakfast sandwiches stuffed with plush cream cheese, dill and smoked salmon. The perfect-for-later brown butter corn cake. Which is all to say that any frustration melts away once you’ve got one of their baked goods in hand.

Radio Bakery is located at 135 India Street in Brooklyn.

Bánh By Lauren

Bánh By Lauren, opened this summer in Chinatown by Lauren Tran, who used to bake for Gramercy Tavern, regularly sells out of its visually sensational multilayered chiffon cakes, macarons, fried sesame rice balls with sweet fillings and savory scones. Tran's Vietnamese heritage inspires her flavor profiles, which include swoon-worthy coconut and pandan.

Here's what New York Times writer Melissa Clark had to say about Bánh by Lauren:

During the pandemic, the ex-Gramercy Tavern pastry chef Lauren Tran, above, perfected her roster of Vietnamese American and French pastries at Bánh by Lauren, the hugely popular pop-up she ran with her husband, Garland Wong. Now her glorious confections — including chewy, bright green pandan honeycomb cakes, crisp macarons and airy chiffon cakes in flavors like pandan-coconut, Vietnamese coffee and Thai tea — are available at a brick-and-mortar bakery in the heart of Manhattan’s Chinatown. On the savory side, don’t miss her Chinese sausage, Cheddar and chive scones, which make for a salty, brawny counterbalance to all the sweet creaminess of the desserts.

Bánh By Lauren is located at 42 Market Street in Manhattan.

See the full list from the New York Times online here.

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.