Do you guys really like Momofuku Milk Bar?

[YummyInTheCity]

So I have gone to Milk Bar a couple of times - wanting to like the place as I was an early Chang follower. But, I have to say, I really don't like it. I find the desserts all either super salty or super oily - from the cookies to the pies...

What do you guys think? What does everyone like about it? What are the dishes to try? The corn cookies are super oily, the candy bar pie is super salty - the soft serves have been unamazing...tell me what I should be eating!

[steakrules85]

As an update they have revamped the menu...

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/636092#

[bigjeff]

nice thread here:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/636092

[Miss Needle]

It's not really my thing. I like salty desserts, but only if done with a delicate hand. I appreciate Tosi's creativity, but most of the execution is too heavy and clumsy for my taste. But if you are a dessert fiend, I do recommend trying it as you won't find a lot of this type of stuff anywhere else.

[Slob]

This is a good question because we've asked ourselves a few times why we've gone back. The corn cookies were good but incredibly heavy. We did like them.

I thought the jelly donut soft serve was gross. Couldn't eat it. We've had some other cookies that we didn't enjoy either. Did like the pork bun. I don't know if they still have the pistachio soft serve, but it was SUPER salty. Almost inedibly salty.

[windycity]

Agreed on the jelly donut and chocolate donut soft serve. The one thing that I've had that I would like more of was the pistachio. Otherwise, the crack pie and brownie pie were all too heavy and soaked in fat. The flavors aren't overpowering in the good way. If anything, I think a lighter hand on the crisco or whatever would allow the flavors to come through better.

[bigjeff]

the jelly doughnut is bad, but the plain old-fashioned donut is great (basically the same but without the jelly, I think. or maybe the chef did a yeast donut flavor vs a cake donut flavor. possible).

[alkapal]

is this place related to the "korova milk bar"? http://web.tiscali.it/silviodr/Korova...

[MMRuth]

No - it's one of David Chang's places - the "Momofuku" group.

[MMRuth]

I was there last night after a dinner at Ssam with friends, and really wasn't excited about it. We shared slices of the pistachio cake and dulce de leche cake, as well as the cinnamon bun pie. I thought the first two were far too heavy and sweet - the cake was practically leaden, and the icing not far behind. After a bite or two, we left the rest. I thought the cinnamon bun pie was pretty good - liked the streusel topping, and the cake (which I gather is some kind of cheese cake - though I couldn't tell) underneath it was a bit lighter. The place was jam packed. Could be that other things are better, but I'm not inclined to go back except for a quick pork bun fix.

[MMRuth]

Well, despite my saying I was unlikely to go back, we were at Ssam again this week, and, with a 13 year old in tow, how could we not try it again? Since I'd read here that the cookies were good, we ordered:

Crack Pie
cornflake-marshmallow-chocolate chip cookie
peanut butter cookie

We thought these were much better than what we'd had the previous time and, while the Crack Pie is incredibly sweet, it was oh so good. 13 year old asked if he could bring some things home to his family, so he got "another round" to go.

[scoopG]

Yeah, I wish they'd reduce the amount of sugar. Love the flavors but oh sooooo sweet!

[ellenost]

I love the crack pie, and my sister loves that cornflake-marshmallow-chocolate chip cookie. We both love the corn cookie. We were at Milk Bar last Saturday night after dinner at Ko.

[demigodh]

best cookies ever

[cjd260]

I've never been that big a fan of it for dessert, actually - like others, I've found the cakes entirely too sugary or oily on their own. But I fully believe that coffee tables in heaven all have centerpiece bowls filled with David Chang's pork buns, and a couple of times after my wedding (when I was really letting myself go/rewarding myself for being good all those months), I would have the deep-fried poached egg & pork bun and a milkshake as the most self-indulgent Sunday brunch I've ever dared. I defy anything to top it.

[eameyer]

I read on eater.com that they are closed today due to a Hep-A scare. I agree with previous posts that this place is more about the name than the food. A few bites is delicious, any more than that it's gross.

[shivohum]

I agree. I've tried several things here (crack pie, cake, a few different soft serve ice creams, compost cookie, chocolate chip cookie, candy bar pie, cereal milk, etc.) and haven't really liked anything much. Too heavy on the butter.

[iFat]

i hated it at first... the cookies are too cute. i don't need marshmallow and corn flakes in my chocolate chip cookie. the double chocolate chip cookie is too dry. the soft ice cream flavors are ridiculous. i don't believe that anyone seriously craves the fruity pebble soft ice cream. they just think they do because they like the idea of it. It wasn't until A) i had the pork and egg breakfast super-bun and B) i had the crack pie and brownie pie that i totally changed my stance. I'm now hooked. It's all about the pies.

-steinthal
www.immaculateinfatuation.com

[hungrycomposer]

I love the chocolate cookie, banana bread, banana cake, and the dulce de leche cake. I love the fact that there's a creative baker that uses good ingredients, maintains high standards, and comes up with unusual (and sometimes weird) ideas. After all, it is the East Village and we don't need one more cupcake joint.

[financialdistrictresident]

I had my series of shots years ago when I travelled overseas. Maybe it's finally time for me to check out the Milk Bar:

http://eater.com/archives/2009/06/mom...

[janethepain]

I interpret the whole idea of the Milk Bar to be an unapologetically (self-)indulgent outlet for Tosi (that's her name, right?) to dream up and experiment with desserts. So things are bound to be hit and miss, and we're willing test subjects. So maybe she makes everything suited to her personal taste, which goes heavy on the sugar and butter? That's my explanation for it, anyway. I feel like the appeal of the place is to try out what the next big idea is more than to be expecting to be knocked out by the goodness of a dessert.

I think it's ok, but just not my preference for dessert usually. The cookies are pretty good, but it is a little alarming to see the brown paper bag soaking in oil. And the ice creams have been just bleh, at least the ones I've tasted. I go more to try out interesting combos from time to time, not because I'm particularly drawn to any certain item (though I do like the cornflake marshmallow cookie and the Fruity Pebbles marshmallow cookie)

I think the place is good if your idea of a good time is eating cookies, brownies, Fruity Pebbles with chocolate chips, junk desserts, etc. If you're the type that likes, say, gourmet desserts or jasmine-flavored gelato, probably not.

[LeahBaila]

The first paragraph of your post is the best interpretation of Milk Bar I've heard (or could come up with myself). Very well said, Jane!

www.thelunchbelle.com

[YummyInTheCity]

Agreed - great summary Jane!~

[ellenost]

I really like the corn cookie and the crack pie.

[femmebot]

Ditto for me. Crack pie, corn cookie and banana cookie.

[kathryn]

This has been discussed many times before:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/606868
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/572637
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/608622
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/579001
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/572685

[bigjeff]

to throw my two cents in (on top of these extensive threads): ya, the place kicks butt. we often forgo dessert at nearby places knowing we can take a stroll to this joint (I love venue changes) and have some insane crazy dessert. sure, some of the layer cakes are kinda dry but its all original, all crazy, and the soft serves (old fashioned!) are amazing. it's all a great deal too. love this place.

[Da Vid]

I went with friends and we ordered cakes. I thought the cakes were okay. From what I've been reading about the place, I wanted to be wowed, but instead, I was underwhelmed. I thought the chocolate cake and the dulce de leche cake were forgettable. However, someone in the group loved the dulce de leche cake. The only thing that we agreed on that was interesting was the hand stamped silver peach on the box. If you walk two blocks south, Blackhound would be a better bet IMHO.

[sam1]

im actually rather anti-chang considering the amount of publicity he receives for what i consider to be rather mediocre dining establishments.

that said, i dont mind the milk bar...if there is no major wait, i go for dessert after some thai food at zabb city or sushi at kanoyama. the cookies and pies are ultra american-y bakery style...loads of sugar and butter...but theyre good.

im rather meh on the soft serve ice cream though.

[bolletje]

I haven't been going for a while because it's kind of expensive and fattening and I've been broke and feeling fat lately, lol. But I really like the Volcano and really really like the banana bread that they warm up for you with this interesting green curry butter. It's also one of the cheaper things they have. Cakes are above-average and interesting combos--I like the pistachio one.

[YummyInTheCity]

"it's kind of expensive and fattening and I've been broke and feeling fat lately"

I love it!!