Polka Dot Pound Cake Bakery takes over cafe in Old Westbury Gardens

A slice of Rockville Centre is now being served Old Westbury Gardens as Polka Dot Pound Cake Bakery takes over the operations of the gardens’ Cafe in the Woods.

Whether it’s sour cream lemon pound cake or chocolate chip banana bread, baker Lisa Gundersen-Umansky of Rockville Centre’s Polka Dot Pound Cake Bakery will offer an array of baked goods, coffee, tea and hot chocolate. She will also branch out with a small selection of salads and sandwiches. Pastries range from $3.75 a slice or a mini pound cake to $8.00 for a one pound cake.

Gundersen-Umansky said she landed the takeover of the cafe through old-fashioned networking, having participated in the gardens’ Halloween events for the past three years. The staff initially talked with her about baking scones and other items, then approached her about running the cafe. Gundersen-Umansky started out selling her cakes online, at craft shows and farmers markets. In 2012, she opened a Rockville Centre shop.

Cafe in the Woods is standing room only, with seating outside, weather permitting.

Old Westbury Gardens is open weekends only as of April 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and every day except Tuesday from April 25 through October 31 (no entry after 4 p.m.).

Old Westbury Gardens is at 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury, 516-333-0048, oldwestburygardens.org