Aromas Boutique Bakery

Jo-​Ann and her team were fantastic!!! We came by her shop and had a tasting and went over the cake details with her. She wrote down everything and listened to us regarding exactly what we wanted. The strawberry cake with strawberry french buttercream we got was delicious! And the wedding cake itself was absolutely beautiful. I also reached out to her privately to add a little topper in the form of a rabbit and a monkey on the cake as a surprise for my husband. She got every single detail we discussed correct! The cake was also delivered promptly on time. I’m so happy with our decision to use Aromas Boutique Bakery! Thank you guys!

Aroma is wonderful! I called from the Midwest, seeking help with a sort of odd request — a cake that would have either pink or blue icing in the middle to reveal the gender of my baby to my parents (who live in NYC). The staff at Aroma were so kind and helpful. They were ready to take my call right after the doctor’s appointment and delivered the cake to my parents very quickly. Skyping with them as they cut into the cake and found out the gender is a moment my husband and I will never forget. Also, my parents said the cake was delicious!

Since my last review, we chose Aromas to make our wedding cake and it was a wonderful experience all around! Several months before the wedding, we had an awesome tasting experience with Jo-​Ann and her sister Eileen. They presented us with a variety of samples — all of which were delicious — like rose, lemon, pumpkin, and of course the traditional vanilla and chocolate. But we wanted a mallomar-​inspired cake, so the Aromas ladies whipped up custom samples of marshmallow icing right then and there, letting us taste different samples straight from the kitchen (it felt like sitting in a friend’s kitchen… if that friend is a professional baker). Everything Eileen gave us to sample was delicious (the same goes for all of her baked goods in general, by the way), and Jo-​Ann really impressed us. She was so professional and transparent with the whole cake-​designing process, including delivery logistics. She took the design we wanted and ran with it, even creating a beautiful edible cake-​topper. The price for the cake was very reasonable — I honestly don’t think you’ll find a better value anywhere in NYC given the taste, presentation, and the love that clearly went into making it. Everything about the cake was perfect on our wedding day. Now I find myself looking for reasons to have Aromas make me another cake!

First timer and the reviews are true. The French toast muffin was sooo good and their little sampler ($ 5) comes with a little bit of the most popular goodies for the first timers or if you’re indecisive… I’m both.

My fiancé and I were looking for a new bakery for treats and came across this little spot just a short ride from the bronx … We were greeted by the owner herself and given samples … I don’t know what I liked better the sugar free raspberry cake, the pumpkin cake, the gluten free lemon cake were all to die for … We walked away with a chocolate passion fruit butter cream cupcake, raspberry chocolate cake, and an all natural ginger ale :)!!! Prices were very reasonable will surely be going back for more !

Cool people, family owned and they serve mac n’ cheese for lunch! I like their pumpkin bread the most :)

Love this place and I wish I could visit more
often. But when I am in the area, I love picking up one of their delightful sweets. Great sandwiches, coffee and there’s always a tasty baked treat I can pick from if I don’t want to get a whole slice of cake or something. And awesome customer service.

A neighborhood gem and a great place to stop by for a snack and coffee on a Saturday afternoon.
I heartily recommend trying any layer cake they have on offer. The slices are reasonably priced, and the cake is moist and flavorful but not too sweet.

I’m visiting from San Francisco and am so happy I found this place!
ERMAHGADD! THEIR PUMPKIN CAKE! This is truly the best! Perfect texture, perfect mix of spices and just a light drizzle of cream cheese frosting. I was greeted by the friendliest pastry chef Joann who owns the place with her sister. Got recommendations but I was sold on the pumpkin cake. I grabbed a tres leches bread pudding as well which I have yet to eat. Took everything to go and stuffed my face with the pumpkin cake as soon as I got back to my apt. I ate it cold but it was AMAZING! Prices are your usual gourmet pastry places but is it worth it? YES, TAKE MY MONEY! I will be back to buy the whole cake. :)

Ever walk into someone’s home for the first time, take a seat in that super plush couch that simply envelopes you like billows of clouds, and immediately feel like you’re at home? No? Then you need new friends. If you have then you can relate to my experience stepping inside this bakery/​café in East Harlem a.k.a. El Barrio. The first impression you get walking in is that somehow you’ve walked into the employee-​only section of someone’s culinary laboratory but that’s quickly diffused by the pastry-​centric charms scattered all around the place in the form of canvas paintings, jars full of goodies, and other cute oddities.
This place is indeed a curious fusion between your traditional sit-​down coffee shop and an old school bakery with glass refrigerators displaying pastries and sandwiches. In true foreshadowing fashion it should be said up front that what you see pales in comparison to what you’re about to taste… in a good way. The ladies at helm are Jo-​Ann and Eileen, two sisters who you will immediately become enamored with upon the first five minutes of conversation. They are the warmest, most welcoming people you will meet; the heart and soul of Aromas. They’re customer service and rapport go way above the bar of excellence usually reserved for the Apple store employees. You can tell that this business is a true labor of love and can’t help become personally invested in their success after only one encounter.
Now to the nitty gritty. The coffee is strong and definitely priced fairly. Their cannolis, stuffed to order, are DIVINE! The cream is not as puffy as you might expect but the taste is BAM BAM BAM! The shell is perfectly flaky. The pumpkin cake which they have dubbed ‘the world’s best’ might actually live up to its claim. I recommend you let it sit for 10 minutes first before doing your best not to swallow it along side a cup of coffee. I also bought a small container of the ‘Aroma Sampler’ which contained a mini red velvet cupcake, mini pumpkin cupcake, small piece of blonde brownie, and chocolatey ganache cupcake. All were exceptionally tasty and miles ahead of anything ‘baked by Melissa’, ‘Crumbs’, or ‘Brooklyn Cupcake’ can offer and priced much better. You should also know that they have one of the widest arrays of gluten-​free and sugar free offerings I have seen in a while. They have worked hard to make sure tastiness has not been sacrificed at the altar of health consciousness.
Last but not least this is a proper bakery as well. They have a portfolio of amazing and impossible looking creations which can ordered for any special occasions. I have yet to taste any of their sandwich offerings but based on what I have sampled so far I will venture to say that it will be awesome. I need to come back soon. These ladies have brought some super quality offerings to East Harlem. I hope the neighborhood can appreciate and rally around this amazing effort. I only pray they can open a second location in Hamilton Heights.[WINK]

So happy to have found this really great place. Good strong coffee. Had a really yummy «French Toast» muffin. Fresh, warm and delicious. Lovely people own the place and nice folks hanging out. Will definitely be back to try more of their menu.

This is my new favorite place in East Harlem. This is the place to stop in and get anything from ice/​hot cup of coffee to a variety of, cupcakes, muffins, sandwiches and there is so much more especially the cakes… oh the cakes are to die for. The owners have been at this location for months now but they have been doing my childrens b’day cakes for years. The cakes are sooo moist they melt in ur mouth. The girls are very helpfull and talented at what they do. They help invision what you want and they make it come alive on a cake. They have created a wow wow wubbzy cake which was the highlight of the party, Monster truck crushing a car, spider man swinging in between two buildings. With yummy fondant and dif flavored buttercreams, and filling this is the place to make ur special day perfect with an artistic center piece u can eat. I cant wait to start working on my kids bday cakes this summer. So if u have time to stop in try anything and or everything its soooo worth it. Some of my faves are carrot cake, lemon loaf, omg gluten free brownie, blondie, chocalate cake w/​chapagne buttercream omg i could be here forever. point blank stop and treat urself to something soooo yum u will definatly find urself back there.

The worse cake ever. We ordered a cake for shower we payed 350.00 when the girls got the cake the cake was pretty but not what was asked for. The cake was an hour late and we checked in the morning they said it would be done. The cake was smaller then anticipated and anywhere else would have cost 100 – 125 dollars. The fondant was mediocre and the filling was ok but the cake itself was dry and semi hard. Only one part of the design came out as expected. They certainly ripped us off and we will not be using their services again I would rather use little Debbie.

Gluten-​free pumpkin cake!
Upon their opening my husband and I balked a bit at the $ 2.25 coffee price tag, but prices seem to have tempered and the ladies behind the counter are lovely. The space grows a little more magical as time goes on: countertops lined with jars full of swirling sugar; warm loaves reflected in chrome; the shine of crystalized sweet and charm. It’s like Willy Wonka at a sleepover.
I truly wish them the best. And my version of best: many more strong espressos and gluten-​free treats to come…

I live in the neighborhood and have been in here several times. I love cheesecake and have had both their pumpkin and regular cheesecakes and they are both delicious. The owners are very friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend this place.

I’ve been waiting for Aromas to open up for a while now, and I can’t tell you how excited I am about it. I stopped in to grab a couple small things to bring to a breakfast and so I picked up the Cheddar and Chive Biscuit and Best Pumpkin Cake In The World (hard to forget name!). The Cheddar and Chive biscuits, although scone shaped, were beautifully made and incredibly tasty, and I felt the price was very reasonable ($ 2.50), while the Pumpkin Cake ($ 3 for a small slice) was moist and spiced perfectly.
I think they’re still getting things together like mark c. mentioned, but the ladies in the shop were friendly and very welcoming.
In this neighborhood, there’s Evelyn’s as well, but here there is seating and the space is fantastic. I really hope more Unilocalers come check it out (stop by on your way to or from Costco/​Target!), because it definitely has potential to be a great neighborhood hangout. I’ll update the review as I continue to try more of their menu items.

Aromas finally opened so I had to check them out. I got their bourbon hazelnut sticky buns and their French toast muffin which was both very tasty. Jo-​Ann is very helpful, friendly and open to suggestions. They just opened so they’re still trying to get things set up which is completely understandable. Aromas is definitely a great addition to the neighborhood and I look forward to coming here on a regular basis.