LEGO® Friends review & MOC: 41747 Heartlake City Community Kitchen

The June 2023 wave of LEGO® Friends releases continues to fly the flag for thoughtfully-designed sets in vibrant colours, and 41747 Heartlake City Community Kitchen is no exception. It includes four characters from the theme's reboot, plus everyone's favourite grumpy kitty, Churro, who all love hanging out in a community-run café.

 

The set features an interesting selection of new, recoloured and rare elements, so let's take a look at them to see what's cooking in the kitchen.

Products in this article were provided by LEGO®; the author's opinions are their own.
LEGO® Friends 41747 Heartlake City Community Kitchen
US$67.99/ £62.99/ 69.99€/ AU$104.99
695 parts
1 June 2023
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New moulds

The biggest and most obvious new element in the set is Brick Special 16x16x2/3 with 7 Recessed Edges, 8x8 Cutout in Medium Lavender (6446083 | 2612), which comes in a unique colour here. It also comes in White in 41748 Heartlake City Community Center and in Light Bluish Grey in 60363 Ice Cream Shop, both also released in June 2023. As the name suggests, it's 2 plates thick but it also has 1x4 areas along each edge which are 1 plate thick with a continuous recess on the inside cutout portion.

At first glance, it appears to be a classic POOP-element which could have been substituted with a combination of existing parts, such as Brick Special 8x8 with 1x4 Indentations and 1x4 Plate (15624) attached to Brick Special 8x16x2/3 with Six Recessed Edges (2629) - I only had the equivalent smooth road plate version (71772) to use for the photo here. And while it certainly shares their DNA, I don't think there would have been enough structural integrity for the L-shaped floor plan and roof they would be used for with just 4 studs securing them together. The roofs and floors of the Community Center, Kitchen and Ice Cream Shop are all meant to be removed, so I think it was the right decision, meaning that younger builders aren't handling overly delicate models when they play with them.

And now for something completely different but equally stirring! I was surprised to see a new variant of the humble spoon appear in this set, an update that none of us knew we needed: 

• 1x Equipment Cutlery - Spoon, Flat Bottom (6363148 | 80179) - additionally in Ice Cream Shop

The old version, Equipment Cutlery - Spoon, Rounded Bottom (34173) is seen on the left of the photo, while the new one is on the right. I'm not sure of the reasons behind the change, but I suppose the advantage is that its handle now has the potential to be inserted directly into hollow studs, perhaps giving us some new greebling opportunities which weren't possible with the old design.

Recolours 

All recolours are unique here unless otherwise stated:

• 3x 60596 Door Frame 1x4x6 Type 2 in Medium Lavender (6446087 | 40289) 
• 1x 32202 Axle Hose, Soft 16L in White (6446086 | 32202)
• 10x 38583 Brick Special Arch 1x2 Jumper in Flame Yellowish Orange/ Bright Light Orange (6445988 | 38583) 
• 2x Tile Round 1x1 with Hollow Bar in Bright Green (6400649 | 31561) - also in 43215 The Enchanted Treehouse and Heartlake City Community Center
• 1x Hair Swept Back Into Bun in Dark Stone Grey / Dark Bluish Gray (6447561 | 86336)
• 3x Container Box 2x2x2 - Top Opening in Bright Light Orange (6438813 | 61780) 
• 3x Brick Round 3x3x2 with Recessed Center with 2x2 Studs and Axle Hole in Medium Lilac/ Dark Purple (6446088 | 73111)
• 1x Tile 3x3 Curved, Macaroni in Medium Nougat (6438781 | 79393) - new in June 2023, also comes in Heartlake City Community Center

Rare elements

These elements have been seen in one other set: 

• 8x Newel-Step in Brick Yellow/Tan (646085 | 78131) - only in 4752 Professor Lupin's Classroom from 2004
• 1x Tile Round 1x1 in Dark Green/Green (6396247 | 35381) - just in 21332 The Globe

These elements have been seen in two other sets:

• 1x Wedge Plate 2x2 Cut Corner in Medium Lavender (6424858 | 26601) - also in 40618 Kingsley Shacklebolt & Nymphadora Tonks and 21339 BTS Dynamite
• 2x Ornament with Bar in White (6417971 | 28870) - also in 41748 Heartlake City Community Center and 10316 Lord of the Rings: Rivendell
• 1x Tile Round Corners 4x4x2/3 in Bright Light Orange (6316439 | 68869) - also in 60389 Custom Car Garage and 71398 Dorrie's Beachfront Expansion Set
• 2x Window 1x2x2 Flat Front in Bright Orange/Orange (6382736 | 79128) - also in 76422 Diagon Alley Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and 75978 Diagon Alley 

The following have been seen in three other sets: 

• 1x Minifig Head Plain [Vented Stud - 2 Holes] in Transparent Bright Green/Trans-Bright Green (6276022 | 28621)
• 1x Animal, Cat, Chubby with Orange Spots, Olive Green Eyes, Grumpy print in White (6435013 | 103320) - Churro, also in 3 sets from the January 2023 Friends wave
• 2x Plant, Fern 2x3x2 in Bright Yellowish Green/Lime (6438450 | 2682) - new in Lime in June 2023, also found in three other Friends releases
• 1x Plate Round Corner 3x3 in Lavender (6325970 | 30357) - in three other Friends sets 
• 1x Door 3x5 in Transparent/Trans-Clear (6424601 | 2657) - first appeared in January 2023
• 1x Cupboard 2x3x5 in Orange (6409779 | 2656) - in 3 other Friends sets

Printed pieces

We are treated to two new tasty food-related printed elements:

• 6x Tile Round 1x1 Quarter with Taco print in Tan (6435098 | 103347) - unique to this set
• 4x Tile Round 1x1 with Lime Wedge print in Bright Green (6435099 | 103348) - new in June 2023, also in 43215 The Enchanted Treehouse

Mini-dolls

The new or uncommon elements of each mini-doll are listed below the image.

Leo

Torso and legs have both been seen in 41730 Autumn's House.

• 1x Mini-doll Torso with Dark Azure Shirt, Coral Trim, Coral/Bright Light Yellow Squares print, Medium Nougat Arms and Hands in Medium Nougat (6448040 | 73161)
• 1x Mini-doll Hips and Cargo Pants with Nougat Legs, Medium Azure/White Shoes print [Thin Hinge] in Bright Yellow/Yellow (6430246 | 2268)

Alba

Head and micro-doll body were in 41729 Organic Grocery Store.

• 1x Hair Mid-Length Combed Behind Ear in Dark Brown (6223875 | 36037) - in 3 other sets
• 1x Mini-doll Head with Dark Brown Eyebrows, Brown Eyes, Reddish Brown Lips in Medium Nougat (6416462 | 101127)
• 1x Micro-doll Body Medium Lavender Short Dress, Olive Green Dinosaur print, Medium Nougat Arms and Legs in Medium Nougat (6416463 | 101128)

Abuelta

Hair is listed in Recolours above, all parts are unique to this set.

• 1x Mini-doll, Head, No. 400 in Nougat (6435094 | 103343)
• 1x Mini-doll Torso Woman with Magenta Sweater, Medium Azure/Yellow Shirt, Necklace print, Nougat Arms and Hands in Nougat (6447657 | 73152)
• 1x Mini-doll Hips and Skirt with Nougat Ankles, Magenta Shoes print in Bright Light Orange (6447670 | 59794)

Matilde

Head and torso have been in just one other set.

• 1x Mini-doll Head Dark Turquoise Eyes, Pink Lips print in Light Nougat (6416621 | 101227) - in 41733 Mobile Bubble Tea Shop
• 1x Mini-doll Torso Girl with Dark Red/Pink Flowers, Pearl Necklace print in Light Nougat (6449108 | 73141) - just in 41732 Downtown Flower and Design Stores 

The build

The finished model sits on a footprint of 28 modules by 22 modules, with a 4x8 cutout at the rear. This is made up from various large plates which are held together by the sidewalk tiles and a double-thickness foundation for the walls (more on that later). 

The build was fairly straightforward, although I did enjoy the SNOT technique to build the double sink and draining board, and the support for the spiral staircase which stops the treads from moving. The wide sidewalk out the front has room for a small table and a planter or two. 

I wasn't entirely convinced by the blue "doormat" in front of the corner doorway, which I felt may have been better in a less vibrant colour, although I guess it does match the window awnings and blue flowers on the attractive climber next to the stairs.

The open-backed L-shape allows for very easy access to pose and play with the mini-dolls. There is a register by the door where you can order food, a double-sink and worktop drainer with plenty of utensils on hooks above, though I'm not sure how the mini-dolls reach them as they do seem a little high up the wall! There is also a well-stocked set of shelves with ingredients, and a huge range to cook waffles, soup, stew and all sorts of tasty treats. 

You can slightly make out the 2x6 Technic bricks on the two outside corners in the above image - these are in the standard location for a whole range of LEGO Friends buildings, which means they can be attached together for stability if required, in a fashion similar to the Modular Buildings theme.

The box art suggests that you can also use this as the base for stacking floors from 41748 Heartlake City Community Center, while using the Community Center's base as a little park, but I confess that I didn't manage to try this before dismantling large parts of the set to use for my MOC!

Mini-dolls who wish to have a nice view across town while dining can choose to eat their lunch on the roof terrace. This can be accessed via the spiral staircase, although they must be mindful not to fall down the gaping hole onto the range below - ouch! The railings around the outside edge plus the greenery in the planters adds a nice Mediterranean feel to the scene and the string of lighting above means it can be used after dark too, of course.

I mentioned the building's footings earlier - and for me, this is one thing which really makes the model look unfinished. The Light Bluish Gray 2x8 bricks at the base of the walls serve to tie the two underlying plates together, so I understand why they are there. But leaving the studs showing, as you can see in the image above, was a bit of a disappointment. It's the same on the other side too, although maybe they are a bit better hidden by the table and chairs on the sidewalk. It would have been nice to thrown in a few extra tan tiles to just finish these bits off properly.

MOC inspired by sets 41747 Heartlake City Community Kitchen and 41757 Botanical Garden

There were several features which I liked about this design, and I wanted to keep as much a flavour of the original as possible. I had decided to adapt it to form the ground floor of a new build for my Ninjago District, so I did have to radically rethink a few bits. Also, my Ninjago District is populated by minifigures rather than mini-dolls, so I found a few characters from my collection to use here.

The angled doorway and window awnings were particularly nice features, so they had to stay. I also kept the big grey foundations even though they weren't technically necessary for this MOC. But I "planted" some nice flowers so they look like flower boxes in front of the windows. 

The tables migrated to a ground floor courtyard next to the kitchen itself because if I had kept it on the roof it would be covered by the street level above. 

I've had a couple of Cylinder Quarter 3 x 3 x 5 with 2 Arch Tops (60373) in my parts collection for ages and I had been wondering what to do with them. Their colour match was perfect to use as a pillar support for the upper floor, while the built-in arches provided a great location for some hanging plants.

I retained the railings and planters in the courtyard and replaced some of the lanterns with extra trans yellow minifigure heads which I got from a recent Pick A Brick haul.

I definitely had to keep that lovely spiral staircase, but it didn't reach quite as far up as needed to be level with the upper walkway, so I added a small landing at the old roof height with some corner stairs at the other end to finish the access. Two 6x6 large windows and a few lavender bricks and panels also enabled me to close in the whole structure.

I had to rearrange the interior slightly - the shelves which used to support the spiral staircase are now behind the counter opposite the doorway, and the range has moved closer to the wall. I also decided to give the room a nice tiled floor, but I was pleased that the basics all fit in with a bit of thought, despite the slightly reduced floor area I had to work with.

Here are a couple more images of some details - Ice Cream Dude has an iced lolly and looks happy, while some supplies are being delivered by barge at the back.

So that's what I made from 41747 Heartlake City Community Kitchen. But that is only the ground level of a Ninjago District MOC. I wanted to expand 41757 Botanical Garden which I reviewed a few weeks ago, but realised it probably needed a second copy to make a decent job of it, so I went and bought another one when I passed the LEGO store the other day. A few intensive building sessions later and the street level is now complete as well!

Having closed in all four sides of the main dome and added another wall to the conservatory which sticks out to the side, this model finally looks "finished". I know it originally had open backs to facilitate play but I mostly prefer fully enclosed buildings for my MOCs.

I think it makes a really nice complementary level to the Community Kitchen on the ground floor. And it looks great sitting between a couple of half-width Ninjago District MOCs I made previously.

My only problem now is having to have a bit of a shuffle around to find room for this new MOC in my layout - but I'm really pleased with how this has turned out, and think it will make a great addition to my Ninjago District - I'm sure the Kitchen and the Botanical Gardens will prove to be popular destinations for my tiny residents.

Conclusion

The Heartlake City Community Kitchen is an attractive model for fans of the theme, and sits in the mid-range of prices for 2023 LEGO Friends releases, however the price-per-part value is a bit on the high side. The open-back dollhouse style gives excellent access for storytelling and play and another eatery in Heartlake City is always welcome! As a parts pack, it does offer a few interesting elements which fans of MOC building will appreciate, although they aren't present here in large quantities like in some other sets.

READ MORE: LEGO® DREAMZzz™ review: 71456 Mrs. Castillo's Turtle Van versus 71458 Crocodile Car

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