Le Pain Quotidien
1131 Madison Avenue
(between 84th St & 85th St)
New York, NY 10028 (212) 327-4900
- Nearest Transit:
86th St (4, 5, 6)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
16 Reviews for Le Pain Quotidien
I love this place. You could just go here and order bread and be happy.
I recommend just getting a side order of 5 grain bread (which is 3.50, it has nuts and rasins in it too) and just load up with the hazelnut spread and jams. its sooo good. I'm just a bit disappointed because they changed the hazelnut spread. The consistency is more like a jiffy/nutella instead of the grainy drippy one.
Might I also recommend their chocolate mousse cake? MY sister got it for me for my graduation and it was so deliciously light, sweet and not heavy at all.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
My friend lives in the hood and this is her staple eatery. I can see why. We stopped in yesterday afternoon for a late lunch and it was delicious.
We both had the Grilled Chicken Cobb salad. Sounds pretty boring, no? Let me tell you, that was one of the best salads I've ever had. If I lived here, I'd eat it every day. And sometimes? I'd eat it twice a day. The chicken is julliened along with avocado, blue cheese, bacon, tomato and beautiful greens (no egg for me since hard boiled egg is my most hated food on the whole planet). Everything is organic and beautifully fresh and crisp. The dressing was made from lapschong tea. Seriously, I want to go again. right now.
And the bread. Oh Lord the bread. Rustic, simple, hearty, and delicious with butter. This morning, my friend's husband ran over there to grab some pain au chocolat which looked delicious (I stuck with my plain ol' container of yogurt though).
Even though I'm only here for two days, I'll be back before I leave for sure.
Will Austin ever get some bakeries? Ever? I might have to move. Sheesh.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (1)
Cool (4)
We found this place while walking down Madison on our way back from the Guggenheim. It looked quaint, and smelled fantastic.
My husband had the Basil Pesto Chicken tartine with the cranberry chutney. He said the cranberry made all the difference. I ordered the quiche veggetarienne but I got the quiche lorraine instead. Despite the mix up, I decided to eat the lorraine anyways, since it smelled so good. This was one of the BEST quiches I've ever had, and I really like quiche. It was made fresh, as opposed to most places that make batches and then let them sit under a heat lamp. It was hot and fluffy and gooey and not too dense. So tasty!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
We were on the way to the Met - it was sunday, sunny & cold. At 2pm - it was our brunch time after rolling out of bed at 1pm.
We yelped some places that served a brunch in UES close to the Met and the first one listed was Le Pain Quotiden. We took the subway uptown and only had to wait a little while before we were conveniently seated by the window.
I love the communal dining table in the centre. The little cafe had a European sense about it. At some points, it didn't really feel like I was in NY. J and I were both overwhelmed by the menu - we hardly knew what to choose. He settled for a fantastic shrimp salad and I went for their chicken and mozzarella tartine. His salad was delicious! A little too delicious for my tartine - because it paled in comparison. Nevertheless, we had a yummy brunch, accompanied with a homemade lemonade and brussels breakfast tea.
At the communal table, there was a group who were devouring a yummy basket of organic, artisan bread served with praline, butter and jams! It looked very good. But they stop serving that at 2pm and I looked at my watch and it was 230pm. Damn. Next time I guess.
Thankfully, this chain has many locations so I'm coming back and stuffing myself with bread once more :D
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
This little bakery-cum-cafe is rather cute, and comes off as adequately French with a touch of rusticity without being twee. There's a counter for those after a baguette or a more sugary take-out, a couple of small tables and one very large communal table. The staff make sure you're being attended to (at least on the Sunday around lunchtime that I visited, when the wait was only a couple of minutes) and keep the place spic-and-span after each visitor.
The breads are pretty darned good (and organic), no doubt the pastries too however on this occasion I didn't try any. The Gazpacho was superb (and available in a cup or larger bowl), especially accompanied with some iced pomegranate tea. They have some lovely hummous, and the cheese board comes with Fourme d'Ambert (albeit not quite enough, likewise the olives!) but a little too much of some other boring cheddar-like cheese. Visiting Le Pain Quotidien is not unlike having a rather satisfying lunch in a French home after a trip to the local market, which is always an experience, although in this case you'll be surrounded with tourists, old ladies escaping their park-view apartments and comparing jewellery, and perhaps a few urbanites.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I really enjoyed the food here. The sandwiches are served open faced on a board-like plate (fun) and the tuna was delicious. We also got the chicken club salad, which was quite large and also yummy. Even though it is a chain, the restaurant had charm . I would definitely go back. I didn't try the pastries but they looked divine.
The service was a little slow.
I've had brunch here a few times at Le Pain Quotidien and it's a good staple around the UES. Great selection of brunch and lunch food, along with their bakery/bread counter. Just walking by the bakery portion of the restaurant makes me want to succumb to my inner most desire to eat bread and bread only. But alas, my low carb diet led me to organic soft boiled eggs and sides of Paris ham and gruyere. These are all items that could have come out of my refrigerator so I can't really comment a whole lot. Although, the gruyere was really good. And the eggs were really done well, which is a lot more than I can do. I was totally satisfied and full, when I was done with my meal, though. The tartines are the highlights at LPQ... the combinations of different deli meats and spread on toast is what stands out here. I had it last time so I do know what I'm missing!! The service is just so so today. Our waiter made me feel kinda bad about changing my order. (Originally planned on having the Chicken Cobb Salad.) He was brisk with his responses and I swear he rolled his eyes at me! Maybe he was having a bad day? Other than that, it's a great place to go for brunch.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
I wandered into this little French bakery/cafe off the subway and was very happy with my experience. I was surprised to later find it's a chain around the city. The restaurant has a rustic look with long wood tables encouraging communal eating. I got a ricotta, honey, and fig mix on a harvest grain bread that was really lovely - a subtle combination of sweet and soft cheese that was exactly what I was looking for. I enjoyed it so much I got another order of walnut bread that I enjoyed with their offerings of butters, jams, and a tremendous praline butter. The prices are reasonable, though definitely not cheap, and for some reason the drinks are all pretty pricey, with tea and coffee being around $3 each.
Have tried the open-faced smoked salmon sandwich ($12something). Delish, fresh and filling. Salmon, crisp cucumber and tomato slices, fresh dill...all on top of multi-grain bread. Squeeze some lemon juice on top and chow down!
Also tried their blueberry muffin ($2.35). Wonderful nutty grain taste. Crumb is surprisingly moist and fluffy for a grain muffin. Has enough blueberries distributed throughout. Only thing didn't like was the sugar crust top. Could see the sugar granules.
Still eyeing the hazelnut ficelle (want to try with Brie) and the fruit tart.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I go here for one reason and one reason only: the prepackaged granola. It has all sorts of goodies, cashews, coconuts, almonds, sunflower seeds etc. etc. and it's just undeniably good. I also like their hot chocolate - I like to taste the cocoa rather than five spoons of sugar. And their pumpkin pie around the holiday season (when they add a dash of retail love) tastes very clean.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
The waits on weekends are kind of annoying, but this place is great. I tried it for the first time in Paris & fell in love with my brunch. I generally steer clear of chains, but I love Le Pain Quotidien (it started in Belgium) for it's great food and its relaxed, rustic atmosphere.
The lattes are fantastic. All of the sandwiches are served open-faced in perfect portions, on fresh breads. My favorite is ricotta, fig & honey. "Brunette" the house-made praline spread, is absolutely to die for--I've had friends ship it across the country for me. It's something that everyone NEEDS to try, it's just that good.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
Wow, $10 for a loaf of bread...color me impressed....NOT!
The food deserves 5 stars, but the service is often slow (if you are seated; the counter is much more brisk).
At the counter you can buy terrific sweets that you won't find almost anywhere else. I used to buy these nut-laden dense squares called Beggar's Squares, but last time I was here over the holidays I didn't see them. There are also these things called French donuts filled with cream that often sell out. I've only managed to snag em a couple of times.
If you are sitting for lunch, they have good hearty soups, and beautiful sandwiches. These are not generic sandwiches in the least, but truly meals to relax over. Oh, and do get coffee and dessert at the end of the meal. They might be out of the French donuts, but they have delicious little fruit tarts and lemon tarts.
By the way, they are trying to go all organic, or as organic as possible in New York, with the ingredients. So, eat with confidence that the ingredients are fresh.
This is one of the few places near the Metropolitan Museum that is neither over-priced nor fussy while being delicious. I just wish they would beef up their staff a little.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
My aunt and I went to Le Pain Quotidien on Saturday for lunch and it was delicious. It's nice to find high-quality without a high price tag. I had the smoked mozzarella and chicken sandwich. It was quite delicious. I will definitely return (especially given that there are multiple locations).
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Really tasty eatery catering to health food. Seating can be a real pain, and if your party is large you can expect to wait forever. But the sandwiches and soups are tasty, and it's easy to eat vegan here. Their bread is fabulous (and should be, since their name means "daily bread").
tasty indeed!
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
My Muffin-High Craze
I've been on a muffin thing lately...seriously, I… -
I live for Weekend…
Whether it be the eggs benedict or deep fried… -
My Neighborhood
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Hot and New
- Ippudo Ramen
136 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village
- Death and Company
101 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village
- Caracas Arepa Bar
157 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village
- il laboratorio del gelato
80 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Lower East Side
- Nublu
24 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village
