Both Milk Bar and Levain Bakery offer unique and desirable treats. Milk Bar stands out for its innovative flavor combinations and broader dessert selection, while Levain Bakery excels in delivering exceptional cookies with high-quality ingredients. The choice depends on individual preferences for dessert types and ingredient priorities.
| Attribute | Milk Bar | Levain Bakery |
|---|---|---|
| Signature dessert quality | Known for familiar yet unexpected desserts, especially the Milk Bar Pie with its gooey, sticky, buttery, and salty-sweet flavor and oat cookie crust. | Best known for its signature mega-cookies, considered some of the best cookies in the world. |
| Cookie texture (crispy vs. chewy) | Offers a variety of textures: Compost Cookie (crispy edges, chewy center), soft cookies (birthday cake flavor), and crunchy cookies (brown butter chocolate chip). | Crispy edges with a molten, gooey center. The outside is crusty, while the inside remains soft and rich. |
| Cake flavor variety | Offers a variety of cakes, including Birthday Cake, Chocolate Birthday Cake, Strawberry Shortcake Cake, Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake, and Pancake Cake. Known for layer cakes with unfrosted sides. | Offers over 15 varieties of cakes with different flavors. |
| Bread selection and quality | Not available | Offers a variety of freshly baked breads daily, including baguette, whole wheat, raisin walnut, and country bread. |
| Pastry freshness | Some reviews mention inconsistent product freshness. Flash-freezes treats for peak quality. | Baked goods are made fresh daily. Recommended to eat cookies within a few hours of purchase. |
| Ingredient quality | Uses quality ingredients; high-quality butter is recommended for the Milk Bar Pie. Some products contain genetically engineered ingredients and are considered ultra-processed. | Uses high-quality ingredients like European butter, unbleached flour, and premium chocolate chunks. No preservatives or artificial ingredients. |
| Price range | 6" Cakes: Around $62-$71.50, Cake slices: $7.70 - $14.30, Cookies: $9.35 for 3, Milk Bar Pie: $7.70 (slice), $55 (whole), Cake Truffles: $8.80 for a 3-pack, Soft Serve: $7.70 (cup), $14.30 (pint) | $4 to $6 per cookie. Free standard shipping on orders over $100. |
| Store ambiance and design | Stores often feature a neon pink "Milk" sign. | Limited standing and ordering space. The open bakery design allows customers to see the baking process. |
| Customer service quality | Mixed opinions, with some praising unique flavors, while others criticize the customer service. Some customers have reported issues with delivery and unresponsive customer service. | Staff members are generally friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about the products. |
| Wait times during peak hours | Can be long lines, especially during peak hours. | Expect lines, especially during peak hours. Visiting locations further away from the main store may have shorter lines. |
| Online ordering and delivery options | Offers nationwide delivery. Can select a delivery date up to 30 days in advance. Ships via FedEx, UPS, CDL, OnTrac, and AxelHire. Available via DoorDash, GrubHub, and Uber Eats. | Online ordering for local delivery or pickup through their website. Delivery via DoorDash, Caviar, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Seamless. Cookie gift boxes can be shipped nationwide in 2 days. |
| Dietary options (gluten-free, vegan) | Offers some gluten-free options, including a gluten-free Birthday Cake and B'Day Truffles. The Chocolate PB Crunch Pie is accidentally vegan and gluten-free. All products are made in a facility that processes major allergens. | Offers a vegan and gluten-free version of their Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie. These cookies are baked on shared equipment, so they may contain traces of gluten or other allergens. |