Review: Bluestone Lane — Upper East Side, NYC Gluten‑Free Banana Bread with Pecans & Ricotta

There are some food moments that just stick with you, and for me, one of them is sitting inside Bluestone Lane on the Upper East Side, eating a slice of gluten‑free banana bread that honestly felt like it deserved its own spotlight. If you’ve never been, the café is tucked inside an old church, which automatically makes everything feel a little magical — like you’re having brunch in a place where someone might start singing in perfect harmony at any moment. The whole restaurant has this calm, cozy vibe with a sidewalk seating area that makes you forget you’re in New York City, where people usually walk like they’re late for something even when they’re not. But the real star of the morning was the banana bread.

First Impressions

The gluten‑free banana bread comes out looking like the kind of slice you’d see on a bakery Instagram account — thick, golden, and topped with crunchy pecans that make it look extra fancy without trying too hard. And then there’s the ricotta. I didn’t know ricotta on banana bread was a thing, but now I’m convinced it should be a requirement.

Flavor & Texture

The bread itself is moist (in the good way), perfectly sweet, and has that warm banana flavor that makes you feel like everything is right in the world. The pecans add the perfect crunch, and the ricotta is creamy and mild, almost like a cloud that somehow makes the whole slice taste richer without being heavy. It’s the kind of combination that makes you pause after the first bite, look around the table, and say, “Okay, wait, this is actually amazing.”

The Vibe

Eating something this good in a renovated church just adds to the whole experience. The high ceilings, the soft light, the calm atmosphere — it all makes the banana bread taste even better. It’s the kind of place where you want to sit for a while, sip something warm, and pretend you’re the main character in a cozy New York movie. We even saw a movie truck on site.

The banana bread at Bluestone Lane will always be a must stop when we are in New York (or you can visit the San Francisco location).