Alex R.
Yelp
An apparent update to the traditional Cuban-American bakery, this place definitely has something going for it.
I've only had the café & pastelitos, but I strongly recommend a visit.
The decor is calm, but lively. Clearly there is an eye for design. I haven't been to too many bakeries that invite you to stay a while & enjoy your Cuban fast food in house. With clean tables & enough space, this could easily rival any Starbucks in the area.
The pastelitos here fit right in with my "update to the traditional" assessment. They are clearly the traditional offerings (guayaba, queso, etc.). But there are some details that let you know someone is paying attention in the kitchen. The bake on the phyllo dough is just a little more airy & crispy that I've gotten at other places. The portions are generous. And the outside sugar on the queso pastelitos is expert level. It's not so much that they are reinventing anything. It just feels like they are doing it right, but just up to a modern standard.
The service also impressed. The couple of times I've visited, the cashier has always retained that casual demeanor you would expect from a neighborhood bakery. But, there's a little something extra. The employees don't seem jaded, exhausted, or just over it like many bakeries (I get it, I know bakeries start at ungodly hours). Easy & helpful, the staff are attentive & responsive. As a lifelong Miami resident, this is the only place that asked me immediately as I ordered if I wanted my cafe con leche oscuro, claro, or termino medio .... con azúcar del cafe solamente o azúcar agregada! I usually have to place my order & then rush the specifications before they turn out the standard.
Miami bakeries are a dime a dozen, so when I come across a place doing something just a notch above what's needed, I'm impressed.