Le Pain Quotidien - Chelsea

If you like bread, you can't go wrong at Le Pain Quotidien. They have all kinds and it's always fresh. The French bread is truly special. The simplicity of it is its appeal. Good crust. Good texture. Wonderful smell. And the taste - Mmmmmm! You can eat in or take out. We do both. They have good coffee and hot chocolate. They offer simple breakfasts (you would call it Continental if you were a hotel). I just tried their granola "parfait" - a medley of crunch, tart yogurt and sweet berries served like an ice cream sundae. Their communal tables some how work, even in NYC. Prices are a little high but maybe. I'm just cheap. (Price being the reason for 4 and not 5 stars.) They have locations all over the City. We love the Madison Avenue store the best. Love bread? This is a place to visit. more

I absolutely LOVE Le Pain Quotidien. When I was there for a 6-week vacation, I spent most of my lunches in the cafe. The whole atmosphere is charming. I love the original tables and the beautiful classical music. If you need a place to relax, that's the place to go. I only wish they would spread out to other parts of the US. Specially to Washington DC, where I live! more

A great place to bring a friend visting NY. The atmosphere is comfortable and friendly but the food is fresh. There is nothing like going to a great breakfast place after a long night of drinking! Le Pain Quotidien has a great selection of fresh bread and delicious pastries. Although the food is fresh, it is still a little overpriced for breakfast. ...a good palce to eat out alone. more

Tucked away between the busy streets of Lexington Avenue and 63rd Street, taking a few steps down, this Belgian inspired café with its ecru honey distressed walls and rustic furniture lends air to old world charm. One takes in the eye-teasing and belly tempting feasts of savoury soups, well crafted open-faced sandwiches, generously piled and beautifully displayed salads, artisnal breads, thirst quenching drinks and decadent desserts. The light menus, stuck into hardened slabs of artisnal breads, contains a selection of specialties that includes Meditteraenean inspired meals too. One has a choice of sitting at the center of the room, a large wooden communal table, that easily seats over 15, where people rub elbows, eat hearty food and participate in engaging conversations. Or opt for one of the side tables for two or four. In the back, there is even a small greenhouse room. On this given day, we chose to share the Meditterranean platter and the Curry Chicken salad. The Meditteranean platter arrived served on a huge plate filled with bowlfuls of organic hummus, babaganoush, tabouleh surrounded by a sampling of their hearty, artisnal breads (walnut raisin, rye and wheat) and marinated olives. The Chicken Curry salad spread over small slabs of wheat bread, sides of cranberry chutney, greens and a cantaloupe arrived on its own small ceramic chopping board! Of course, one must wash the job down with fresh lemonades! We ordered their organic mint lemonade (lemony intense yet refreshing) and the oh so tart Cherry Lemonade. It was like biting into a fresh bottle of just preserved cherries! The portions are healthy and plenty. Don't leave without trying their cafe au lait. Served in cute bowls. Oh how European! They also serve Harney Teas here. Sure, this may be part of reknowned baker and chef, Alain Coumon's "franchise bakery," but don't let that get to you. The food, all scrumptious and eye-pleasing, is enough to bring you back time and time again. Of course, they sell fresh baked bread (displayed on wooden racks) here too. Staff are friendly and helpful. Moderately priced ($7-$18). One might stumble upon this casual spot for a quick meal but end up lingering over the luscious foods and ambiance; perhaps even imagining, for a brief moment, they are on some estate in the countryside of Belgium. more