Since the 1960s, the Buttercooky Bakery brand has served up the sweetest treats to the island, based on butter. The most popular of its delicious cakes, cookies and pastries are crafted with butter, something that is not entirely common, but the Borgognone family puts its name on faithfully at its three area bakeries in Floral Park, Huntington and at its newly renovated café in Manhasset.
Ben Borgognone started modestly in Floral Park and continues to manage operations at that location. His sons have joined the business and run the other two locations.
“Once we renovated the shop, we revamped the menu as well,” Borgognone’s son, Benny said. “We kept some of the classic items, but gave them a little boost; the overall menu has an ecletic feel, something more visually appealing with rich flavors like salmon tostadas and Oreo Nutella pancakes.”
The menu has a lot of nutritional and dietary variety, including vegetarian and gluten-free options.
One favorable option is an all-day, everyday brunch; enjoy quiche, oatmeal and omelets. The waffles, crepes and pancakes are generous portions and are seasoned and complemented with berries and spreads. The avocado toast is a fan-favorite; surprisingly chunky on a thick-cut slice of toast, topped with a poached egg.
Ready for lunch instead? Try the chicken pesto panini on Portuguese bread or an Asian Caesar salad with a punch of ginger and cashews.
The star of the show is the La Colombe brand drip coffee. If you have never tried La Colombe at its brand name coffee shops in the city, now you can pick up your fix in Manhasset.
“Bringing La Colombe was a huge thing for us when we renovated,” Benny said. “It’s an organic bean that comes from Colombia; the company prides itself in giving back to the community, that is something that is important to us.”
Aside from the traditional drip coffee, the other popular choices are La Colombe Cold Brew and the Oatmilk Draft Latte.
“It’s a creamy textured coffee,” Benny said. “It’s light and airy, it’s smooth.”
La Colombe is definitely a specialty experience.
“This is a coffee community here; coffee is habitual in Manhasset,” Benny said.
There is something for everyone on the menu. Choose from quesadillas, grilled cheese or chicken fingers for your pint-sized dining guests with more refined palates.
Save room for dessert. You must. Or be entirely prepared to take something to go for later. It is nearly impossible to choose between the pastries, cakes, pies, cookies and recently popular, the “Cruffin,” a fun combination of a croissant and muffin in traditional, but mouthwatering flavors like Banana Pudding and Lemon Meringue.
A lot of the inspiration for the remodeled café came from Benny. He was able to offer a lot of input in the style and aesthetics of the renovation.
“We wanted to stay true to our core values and not compromise our quality,” Benny said. “We wanted to create more of a comfortable vibe, something more natural that feels like community.”
He knows the family business well, having worked every holiday, every vacation day as a kid.
The bakery opened 19 years ago at its Manhasset location. Benny has run the Manhasset bakery for a little more than four years now.
There is plenty of on-street parking, considering its proximity to town hall and the train station.
Buttercooky Manhasset, located at 140 Plandome Rd., is open on weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Visit www.buttercookybakery.com/manhasset or call 516-627-1600 for more details, including information about the bakery’s Floral Park and Huntington locations.
