Best Chocolate Babka in New York City?

[hvk2001]

Hi there:
I am visiting New York CIty this weekend and would like to buy a great Chocolate Babka . I have given up on Babka since Gertel on Hester closed 2 years ago. In your opinion, is Russ & Daughters still the best in the city? Thanks in advance!

Mike

[BKLYNGIRLRD]

The search continues... so far Greens is the most edible, but still not Leon's Bakery quality.
Has anyone heard of Wall's Bakery in Hewlett, NY
Or
IDA's Chocolate Babka (http://www.chocolate.com/products/cho...)

[dmjuli]

Ostrovitsky on ave J makes a very good Chocolate Babka. It might be sold on Friday and Saturday only. Check it out.

[BKLYNGIRLRD]

On the advice of this message board I went to W Greenbergs. That was over two weeks ago... after one slice cut off of this Babka, I shoved it into the deep freeze... It tasted so damn strange.. The chocolate or is it also the cake... Had a funny taste to it. Well, I took it out of the deep freeze, thinking it can't possibly be that strange tasting... it is BABKA... grrrrrrr. Nope, that is not going to get on my tongue.. yeck. I wouldn't mind it is dry, if it tasted like top quality dry Babka... (Yes tasted dry since day one same day purchase). Shame I walked miles through NY to get to this bakery. Oh and it cost $17.00...but truth be I would pay more for EXCELLENT babka.. sigh. I miss Leon's Bakery in Brooklyn... but its been gone for years now.

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William Greenberg Jr. Desserts
1100 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028

[bobjbkln]

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/739765

[addictedtolunch]

Second your opinion re Greenbergs. Really was good once upon a time. then they seem to have changed the recipe (like Juniors did on their cheesecake). Greens, however (sold at and re-packaged for Zabars) is really good, though not classic babka. I actually like Zaros as a classic babka loaf, and it tastes fine.

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Zabar's
2245 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

[erica]

Does anyone know if Green's sells their babka retail in the Brooklyn bakery?

[BKLYNGIRLRD]

The Greens website will give you locations closest to you?

http://www.greensbabka.com/

[erica]

Yes, thanks, but I would like to know if they sell retail from their bakery in Brooklyn....

[Robert Deutsch]

Yes. Russ & Daughter's Chocolate Babka is still the best

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Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

[gutsofsteel]

Russ and Daughters doesn't make it - they sell Green's Babka. So does Zabar's. Other places too but I can't think of them off the top of my head. While not traditional, it's very delicious.

[daffyduck]

it's not??? where would i find a good traditional one?

[gutsofsteel]

Andre's although I don't think it's that good. Greenpoint is your best bet.

[daffyduck]

I've had Andre's babka, I liked it, it's like a croissant and the babka at Russ and Daughter's had a baby. I thought it wasn't traditional because they call it kugelhupf.

[gutsofsteel]

They're words for the same category of thing, just different languages.

[erica]

I just noticed this post during a search for Andre's. I must tell you that the chocolate babka of your childhood is still baked and sold at Wall's Bakery in Hewlett. I had some during thanksgiving and thought I had been whisked back a few decades. It was so good I may just drive out there to buy some soon.

[swerz]

Just bought a chocolate babka at Zabars and definitely not satisfied. Could be because it is parve (kosher, made without any dairy, so no butter). Has an odd taste and "artificial flavor" is one of the ingredients. I don't think I'll buy again.

[Jane A.]

I'm partial to the one at Andre's Café and Bakery on 2nd around 84-85th. Lovely old Hungarian pastry of my childhood. While you're shopping stop and have a bowl of real old-fashioned home-made soup. . .

[Dr.Faustus]

The East Broadway bakery on Grand street has incredible chocolate and cinnamon babka. It's what the baker calls old-fashioned. I call it super yummie!

[guttergourmet]

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/309324

[DarthEater]

The best chocolate babka is from Dean and DeLuca! Does anyone know who makes these? I believe its from a bakery in Brooklyn.

[BLover33]

second that! D and D's chocolate babka is one of the best

[Produce Addict]

Just noticed they sell the babka at the rock center location

[gurud]

sadly no more...i just called and they said to check with the NYT building location....rock center doesn't carry it

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Dean & DeLuca
620 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018

[apples]

Wiliam Greenberg's has incredible cinamon and choc babkai

[offthebeatenpath1]

hands down, greenbergs. It is always tough to judge the best of this or best of that, but I can say with 100% certaintity, that greenbergs has the best babka in the city- cinn or choc.

[City Kid]

Zabar's and Eli's have some good stuff. Have you ever tried the chocolate Russian coffee cake? IMO much better (though probably 10 times the fat and calories!).

[pbjluver]

my father loves it when I bring him Eli's choc Russian coffee cake

and at Eli's you do not have to buy a whole cake, they have pre-cut slices and chunks all wrapped to go.

[City Kid]

Yes, same at Zabar's and a little goes a long way -- very rich and worth every calorie and gram of fat!

[hvk2001]

Ok I am sold! Choc. Rissian Cofee Cake at Eli's and Babka at Wiliam Greenberg!
Thanks guys!:)))

Mike

[apples]

good Call!!!

[Deenso]

Not coming atcha with a whole lot of chocolate babka experience. That said, the stuff at the 2nd Ave. Deli is ambrosia.

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Second Avenue Deli
162 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016