Laziza bakery in Astoria---highly recommended!!

[Serena]

A friend and I were here a couple of weeks ago (we hit it every time we are in Astoria)...this is one of the best bakeries in NYC, bar none, and the place was too quiet for a Saturday afternoon so we wanted to spread the word! This is a Middle Eastern (Jordanian, I think) family-run bakery that offers a large selection of the most deliciously sublime cookies and pastries. There is a delicacy and subtlety of taste and texture that transcend the overly sweet offerings that you find in other places. My favorites are the small filo birdnests filled with chopped pistachios, the thin crisp sesame cookies, the date or almond or walnut or pistachio filled "mamouls"...but it's all good.
Note, I am not affiliated in any way with the owners/business, just want to share a good thing with others whom I know would appreciate it!!

Serena

Laziza
25-78 Steinway
[phone]

[Ida Red]

That place is amazing.
Make sure to try the Kunafa.
I'm pretty sure they are Egyptian.

[Chorus Girl]

I thought they were Palestinian. And yes, the Kunafa has that great sweet-salty combination. I'm not sure I've seen it offered at any other Middle Eastern bakery.

[Ida Red]

For the record, I just spoke with the owner and he describes their pastries as Middle Eastern. They have specialties from Egypt, Jordan, etc... although he, the owner, is Palestinian.

[welle]

Half of Jordan is Palestines, so he could be both.

I love the baked cheese stuff if they have it (it's so popular it finishes fast).

[Marissa]

Yes - that cheese thing is amazing! There's a similar dessert there that subs cream for the cheese, which is almost as good. There's another one I really love, but I just don't know how to desrcibe it. The honey balls and other shapes are great as well.
And the guy is wonderful. He always makes conversation, and has hooked me up numerous times with free goodies or extra goodies. Chat him up; he's a nice guy.

[Rich]

I went there once a few years ago and the guy working there was indifferent and jerky. I don't know if this is typical but I never went back as a result.

[Eric Eto]

I also love the sweets at Laziza. I wouldn't worry so much that it was quiet on a Saturday. They do a good business at night from all the people going to/from the cafes along Steinway, not to mention people like me who go there for dessert after eating in the area. Here's a post from a while ago about the Kanafa. By the way, it seems that it's not cheese but semi-hardened cream that makes it that consistency.

Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[welle]

I wouldn't worry much for their business either - I don't think they only do retail: I've seen one guy buying up huge trays of assorted sweets and we asked if it was some kind of celebration, but he told us he was buying for his store.

[Dag]

It's been written about here before, but always glad to see reminders. Laziza's is great. The owner once told me, in response to my question about why his stuff was so much better than the crap you often get at Greek places in the 'hood, was that his secret ingredient was pomagranate molasses.