Dominique Ansel has opened up a totally different kind of dessert shop not too far from his hit bakery.

At his new endeavor – Dominique Ansel Kitchen there are no “Cronuts” or “Milk and Cookie Shots”. The goal here is to serve pastries à la minute which means that about 70% of the menu is completed right as you order it. Time is treated as an essential ingredient here in serving the freshest, tastiest desserts and small plates possible.

The menu offers both signature savory and sweet items. We tried something called the “Egg-clipse” — a squid-ink brioche with garlic mashed potatoes, two confit egg yolks, and mushroom béchamel.

We also tried the “Mille Fuelle” – a huge, creamy production. To be honest I wasn’t blown away by anything I tried at Dominique Ansel Kitchen. The dishes look really fantastic and are presented beautifully but they just were not quite so tasty.

At Dominique Ansel Kitchen there is a dessert-only tasting menu, which is served upstairs in the prep kitchen called U.P., for “Unlimited Possibilities.” One has to buy tickets in advance for these tastings. Perhaps that is what I will try the next time I go.

Here is some of what we ate:

The Egg-Clipse

Mille Feuille