The tiny but cozy Meet Point Patisserie is home to two round tables and a display case full of pastries. Outside, the aesthetically pleasing sign and greenery surround the patisserie and create the illusion of a rom-com set from a TV series.
The Meet Point Patisserie, on 3 Kendall St., is a hidden gem off of Cypress St. that makes different Turkish pastries and foods. I’ve lived by the patisserie for much of my life, but I had never gone to visit it before. Meet Point Patisserie is not like the other bakeries or patisseries in the area because it sells more cultural dishes. I was excited to dine on foods I had never tried before.
I prepared dutifully for my food journey, bringing my unlimited credit card (my mother) so I could eat as much as I possibly could. Entering, we were greeted by the cashier and then spent a few minutes discussing what we should get. I wanted to try food I had never found in other patisseries and bakeries.
First, I ordered a drink called Salep, a traditional Turkish beverage. It consists of powdered tubers of orchids mixed with hot milk and topped with cinnamon. For avid milk lovers, this drink is a must. It mainly tastes like sweet milk with a hint of cinnamon (if you mix it in, of course). While I did like this drink, I wish there were other additions so it could have a bit more flavor. I was expecting the drink to have a more unique taste.
Next, I tried the Shakshuka sandwich, which had a mix of tomato, green pepper, egg and mozzarella cheese between a sliced croissant. I devoured this dish. The croissant was perfectly flakey, and I was able to retain all the different flavors of the sandwich. I would definitely return to eat this again.
After that, I went to dessert. I first tasted the salted caramel cake, which was delicious but incredibly dense. Consisting of ganache-like frosting in between chocolate layers, the cake made me feel like I was eating a brownie. For something named salted caramel cake, the only part that actually had caramel was one small layer covering the bottom of the desert coated with rice krispies. I did like the cake, but it was very sweet and hard to finish.
Finally, I tried each of the four different flavors of Baklava available: tahini, walnut, pistachio and chocolate. The tahini Baklava was sweet and tasted similar to the walnut one, so much so that at first I couldn’t tell which was which! Once I tasted the walnut Baklava, I noted the only difference was the walnut had a much stronger flavor, but it was just as sweet. The pistachio Baklava was very crunchy and chewy, and it was the least sweet out of all four. I had a harder time cutting into it than the others. Finally, the chocolate Baklava. Similar to a croissant, it had a flaky, light top, with a chocolate bottom. It wasn’t too sweet, just the right amount. Of the four, I liked the tahini Baklava the most.
Overall, I enjoyed everything I ate at Meet Point Patisserie, and I will definitely be visiting again soon. If you’re interested in Turkish cuisine and love trying new things, you should definitely try the Meet Point Patisserie.
