Kakes NYC is a world-famous cafe and lounge, providing amazing food and incredible elevated experiences in a stunning location in Long Island City, Queens – less than 10 minutes from Midtown Manhattan and Williamsburg & Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Join us Wednesday through Sunday.
Enjoy your meal & drinks in our indoor lounge or take in the chill vibes of The Garden at Kakes - our outdoor space that’s open year round, under our retractable roof.
Enjoy comedy, movies, game nights, music and a variety of acts and entertainment. Indulge in our curated selections of items that will enhance your stay and truly make for a HIGH-end experience. At Kakes, we want you to have a night you’ll never forget (or barely remember--your choice!).
Karol Zapata
Co-Founder / Head Chef
Master Baker, Infusion Chemist, Patisserie Queen, Perfectionist.
Celebrated pastry chef Karol Zapata has carved a niche for herself in the heart of New York's culinary landscape, gracing the kitchens of esteemed venues like Jean-Georges, ABC/ABC V Kitchen, Great Northern Food Hall, Supermoon Bakehouse, and Patisserie Chanson.
Driven by an unwavering pursuit of perfection, Karol's dedication knows no bounds. From refining a lasagna recipe over six continuous months for her family to investing two years in perfecting her signature vanilla cake, her commitment to culinary excellence is unparalleled.
Amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, she ventured into crafting specialty treats that became the talk of the town, selling out at various pop-up events and venues across NYC. These gourmet delights not only satisfied but surpassed the desires of the most discerning aficionados, offering an unexpected twist to their usual experiences. At Kakes, Karol channels her fine dining prowess into her cherished dishes and desserts, showcasing that extraordinary taste can be achieved in the most unexpected ways.
Raymond Ricco Ruiz
Co-Founder
Serial Entrepreneur, Revenue Driver, Motivator, Connected, Gets Shit Done.
Ricco is a serial entrepreneur and a quintessential New York success story. His kinetic career has taken him from selling cologne and clothes out of the trunk of his car to overseeing the buildout of his own businesses and investing, overseeing and managing multi-million dollar developments and business projects. His previous business ventures run the gamut. Owning a barbershop, a clothing store, a gym, a print shop, and a recording studio.
Far from a Jack of All Trades, Ricco has been the “master” of all. He’s succeeded at everything he’s ever had a hand in building. From growing a multi-state real estate brokerage empire, that spread from coast-to-coast, to building teams of hundreds of people operating one of the most successful brands birthed out of New York City, Ricco is the ultimate rags-to-riches success story.
Always looking for ways to get into growing markets, Ricco was searching for the right opportunity to enter into the burgeoning specialty dining industry and leapt at the chance to team up with Karol Zapata to create Kakes NYC. Ricco now sets his eyes on his next venture - Kakes NYC, where he looks forward to being able to implement everything he's learned as a brand builder, into growing Kakes NYC into the gold standard in restaurant lounges.
Carlos Angelucci
Director of Operations
Entrepreneurial Executive, Strategist, Project Manager, System & Team Builder.
Carlos Angelucci is a high-level executive with a breadth of experience founding, managing, and growing businesses and teams, for over 15 years. He is an Executive Producer to the most watched fitness documentary on Amazon Prime Video of 2022. His strategic, visionary mindset has led the companies he’s started or managed to rapid growth and award-winning success.
Carlos is a pioneer in the real estate franchise industry, having launched the first rental-based brokerage model in franchising. Carlos has also been quoted as a contributor to various print publications and been on television and radio news programs. He has received recognition for his leadership, fast business growth and the work environment he provided to a very diverse workforce. Highlights of his accolades include awards for having one of the fastest growing privately owned companies in America and awards for being an innovator in his industry.
His experience in franchising and growing concepts, coupled with his passion for the food & service industry, has led him to serve in a consulting role to startup restauranteurs and emerging brands. Having worked on projects across the nation, Carlos brings a wealth of experience in infrastructure, digital marketing, project management, system and team building to the Kakes NYC team as the Director of Operations.
