Natas Pastries (A Portuguese Bakery) in Sherman Oaks - Really Delicious!
This bakery is named for its Natas, which are Portuguese pastry cups that are filled with a delicious egg custard that is quite like a creme brulee...heavenly! The server told me that this is their special item and customers come from all over the city to buy these. I tell you this because I suspect that they might run out occasionally; this is, however, their signature item worth the chase! First bite and you will know that no fine ingredients are spared or corners cut in their creation.
Many other items in the case called my name equally loudly, but I will have to return to try them another time...and I can't wait!
I know that many of you would have to travel far to this destination, but it is well worth the effort.
Natas Pastries
Fatima Marques, Owner
13317 Ventura Boulevard, Suite D
Sherman Oaks, CA #818.788-8050
T-Sat: 7am-9pm
Sun: 9am-6pm
Closed Mondays
They are in a small, nondescript mini-mall.
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sharkgirl88
Oct 22, 2006 04:04 AM
Finally tried their goodies tonight and we had the following:
Natas -- Good and custardy. I am not a big fan of egg custard but these were just right and the pastry was flaky and worth the raves on this thread.
Malasadas -- One bite and I was immediately transported back to my childhood. Back in Manila, we would have these for merienda (afternoon snack) and we would get them, still warm in a brown paper bag from the corner bakery. We do not call them malasadas though but instead, it is considered a plainer version of our ensaymada (a pastry that is close to the brioche here).
What took me aback was the price -- $1.75 for a malasada. This, in my opinion, is too steep a price for a pastry which is almost considered as street food in other countries. It is fried dough rolled in sugar, plain and simple. I'm not one to quibble about prices, but this one, although good, left me wondering why it would merit such a price.
Pyramid -- Now this was good. It is a chewy, moist brownie, shaped into a pyramid, with nuts and marzipan mixed in. The whole chocolate cone is bathed in Belgian chocolate and the result is a piece of chocolate nirvana. No flavor is overpowering the other and considering the amount of chocolate involved, the whole dessert is not cloyingly sweet. This is the dessert I will go back to Nata's for.
As for the donut filled with pastry cream, it is called Bola de Berlin. I did not try it for fear of sliiping into a sugar coma, but the good thing about living (and eating!) is there's always a next time.
Enjoy :)
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re: yum
Das Ubergeek
Oct 12, 2006 03:03 PM
I believe they do not, unfortunately -- nothing in the display case looked like a malasada anyway.
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re: yum
They supposedly have malasadas available on Saturday mornings. Call first and check, though. I drove over from the Westside one Saturday morning only to find that there were none available. Apparently, they couldn't procure one of the necessary ingredients that particular day - I swear they said it was "pumpkin". I'm sure that traditional malasadas don't contain pumpkin, but maybe they were making some sort of seasonal offering. As I recall, this was in October.
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re: yum
liu
Oct 12, 2006 03:46 PM
They were written up in the LA Times many months ago, and the article, I believe, DID mention malasadas.
I just called (#818.788-8050) and was told that they DO make them. She said they did not have them today, but that they would have them tomorrow - regular kind, no pumpkin or other flavors. I think it best to call ahead to be sure, or they will make them upon request as well.
I missed them in Maui (they were featured at a bakery near where we were staying) -- we were too busy eating other things -- so, I am very interested in trying the ones from Natas Bakery.
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tried this place today. got a NATAS which was excellent. they sprinkle cinnamon and sugar before they serve it. i also tried a couple of the almond biscotti filled with chocolate ganache. they were decent, but not as fab as the natas. the other item that was highly recommended by other customers in the store is the "donut" filled with pastry cream, i can't remember what it is called but i'm definately trying it the next time. i so appreciate recomendations for places in sherman oaks/studio city/van nuys, so keep sharing! thank you.
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re: adamgoodjunk
liu
Oct 12, 2006 02:04 AM
Mmmmm...adamgoodjunk, please do tell me more about the "donut filled with pastry cream." Did you see one? Will I miss it, or is it the only one of its kind?
Although, the problem is: how do you get to try anything when you can't get past the natas?!! I guess you have to visit so many times until the natas become a little bland, and then you are ready to move on!
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re: liu
i went again today, tried the donut filled with pastry cream. it is not called a cream danish, it has a portuguese name, which i forget of course. it was very good... but the natas are better. i especially like the MINI NATAS because there is a greater ratio of crunch to custard. also, the tops of the mini ones seem to get a bit more caramelized then the big ones.
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In a mini-mall located immediately west of Casa Vega on Ventura at Fulton Avenue, near the boundary of Studio City and Sherman Oaks.
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re: liu
Das Ubergeek
Oct 9, 2006 05:09 AM
I'm not carter, but I've been several times. If you can get them, the pasteis de bacalhau are really, really good; the chocolate and cream danishes are outstanding.
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re: Das Ubergeek
liu
Oct 9, 2006 05:31 AM
Das Ubergeek -- I hear your pain! Although it was near closing time last night when we landed there, there were quite a few items still in the cases. EVERYTHING looked good, but for a first-timer, the natas took center stage! In fact, the server advised us in that direction because he only had a couple left. Next time I will try the pasteis de bacalhau, as you recommend. I do think there was a space for them in the case, but they were out. I believe the server also raved about them as one of their best items.
I was also eyeing something else that was multi-layered with pastry and cream. There was ALSO a very good looking pineapple pastry (it looked very goooooey) that I will try another time.
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