- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
- Nearest Transit:
-
High St (A, C)
York St (F)
Clark St (2, 3)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 7 am - 7 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
154 reviews for Almondine Bakery
Review Highlights
-
"Their almond croissant is absolutely to die for." In 22 reviews -
"excellent pastries, sandwiches and soup." In 34 reviews -
"I bring home a box of macarons." In 21 reviews
Loading...
153 reviews in English
-
Review from Marcia P.
4/3/2012
The almond croissant was incredible. I have no idea how people here are calling it "light;" it was one of the butteriest, densest, hugest, most calorie-laden pastries I've ever tried. It's like three croissants put together, with ground almonds, almond paste, 2 lbs. of butter and lots of sugar. As I began eating, I swooned, then told myself to save half for another day since I knew it was a nutritional bomb. But it was so goddamn good, I couldn't stop. Didn't get hungry again for about 6 hours. Seriously.
-
Review from Lauren B.
New York, NY
4/17/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I tried the almond croissant because other Yelpers raved on about how good they are, but they were so greasy and heavy I felt sick after. Also, it's obvious you guys use cheap butter in your pastries because there is a weird aftertaste in even the plain crossants.
On another note, don't bother trying the coffee either. It's disgusting.
I had high hopes because this place always smells delicious when I walk by, but truth of the matter is, you are no real french pastry shop. Maybe you need to take a trip there to learn a thing or two about how a real boulangerie functions and seriously, use higher quality ingredients. It makes all the difference. -
Review from Jackie L.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 2/13/2012
Took my girl friends for dessert here n we just all loved their Almondine and Chocolate trio minicakes!
I was actually hesitant to come back here again since d last time i was here the latte was not up to par. Tasted like water but it was waaay touristy crowded then, that couldve affected my drink.
Yesterday it was an hour before closing so we had a table to enjoy r chai lattes n mini cakes.
Youve redeemed urself Almondine n i'll definitely be coming back ;)Listed in: My Go-to Cafes when My Kitchen…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/24/2010
My husband and I came in here to try their coffee since we hear a lot of buzz about this bakery and… Read more »
-
-
Review from Peggy Z.
Brooklyn, NY
1/1/2012
Those cravings when you had something soo good the first time.. you just have to.. have to(!) make another trip back(even if it takes you an entire hour to get there?) THIS is that type of french bakery..
I've been her several times just for their croissants!
Chocolate Almond Croissant: $2.75
Almond Croissant: $2.40
Jacques Torres is right across the block.. but little do most know that this bakery is also owned by "Mr.Chocolate" himself. Now you can only imagine how darn(and I mean DARN!!) delicious the chocolate almond croissant must be at this point..
When you bite into this croissant, it is crunchy and flaky on the outside and soo smooth and moist on the inside.. The bitter sweet chocolate (& just the right amount of it) doesn't take away from the almond but rather compliments it.. (some of it melted through the baking process but most of the chocolate is still in its original pieces) in fact.. the almond extract has moisten the bread which you'll notice throughout the croissant.
I'll get another one ..another one.. and another one within a heart beat! A must try!
No seriously.. I WILL be first on line for this(next time!) because today was a bit too risky! (I nearly didn't get my croissants!!!) I snatched the FINAL 3 chocolate almond croissants 2 hrs into opening.. see? they clearly go FAST!!!
Now.. if your lucky, you'll even get some free samplers! Today? I got myself an ENTIRE macaroon for FREE. that's saving me $1.75! But.. unfortunately.. I wouldn't recommend the macaroons from here.. but hey, I'm not complaining ;) -
Review from Susie H.
Brooklyn, NY
5/18/2012
Three words: It's 2012, Almondine!! Please install a debit/credit card machine! The cash-only policy drives me insane, especially as I always end up wanting to bring home more stuff than I originally planned for, but - guess what - not enough cash to pay for it all. Until you fast forward into the new century, I'll be over at One Girl Cookies with their fancy iPad credit card readers, stocking up on cookies and pastries based on whimsical desires, not on the amount of cash in my wallet...
As far as the goodies, we go in strictly for the creme brulee -- absolute perfection!
p.s. you really could use friendlier staff, too! -
Review from Edmundas D.
Ridgewood, NY
11/13/2011
I was walking around Dumbo with my brother and we saw this place. It passed inspection with a letter A so we decided to go in. The space looked good, nothing special, and there was a weird smell as I walked in. After a minute I got used to it and it didn't bother me. Now the espresso was pretty good and so was the giant chocolate chip cookie, after they warmed it up. However, what I liked the most was the turkey sandwich. It was great. Perfect amount of onions and what seemed like fresh vegetables. The bread was phenomenal.
In over all, the food was great but the decor could use a little makeover. Awesome place and I highly recommend it. -
Review from Jenn E.
11/8/2011 11 Check-ins Here
I want to give this place 4 stars, I really do but the devil's in the details for me reducing my rating to 3. Came here today to pick up sandwiches and dessert with co-workers. There was a decent line at 12:30pm but there was still a lot of selection, sandwich-wise.
My turkey and havarti sandwich ($7.25) on a wheat mini-baguette was pretty delicious; thin slices of onion and tomato as well as lettuce were nice compliments and there was a generous portion of shaved turkey. I would have liked a little more mayo/mustard as the baguette was pretty dry for some of my bites.
The major disappointment for me is the macarons ($1.75 each). I love macarons and was looking forward to trying them here; I ordered a raspberry and a coffee. Unfortunately, I am turned off by both the texture and flavor of the fillings - too much filling to cookie ratio and the flavor, especially of the coffee one, is really artificial tasting. The cookie itself is ok but nothing great either. I'd really rather pay more for a better tasting macaron than less for these.
My colleague had a raspberry tart which was fine but again nothing super exciting.
Note - this is a cash ONLY venue and menu is apt to change daily (example - the owner only makes Croque Monsiuers when he "feels like it") -
Review from Tiffany S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/21/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Food:
My boss comes here like everyday for a "chocolate yum yum" and a coffee.
I must say, I can see why she is hooked. This bakery is outstanding and the "yum yums" are so delicious. Get the chocolate croissant or a raspberry muffin. MMM so delicious in the morning.
Decor:
I love the outside, the inside...mmm... not so much. They definitely can do with a make-over. -
Review from anna z.
Manhattan, NY
2/11/2012
The peach flan was amazing!!! You have got to try it, it was sweet but not overly so, and every bite was heaven. However, the orange juice left much to be desired (tasted weird), go with coffee.
-
Review from Judy P.
Brooklyn, NY
2/9/2012
I come here almost everyday not because I love it but because it's convenient and not as over crowded as Starbucks or some of the other places in DUMBO.
The service is hit or miss, usually miss. The one blonde woman is impatient and comes off as rude. The other woman working in the afternoons is nicer. While most of the pastries here are delicious, stay away from the macaroons and espresso beverages. They always over steam the milk making it impossible to drink for a good 15 minutes. No one here knows how to make a proper latte but after all, they're a bakery not coffee shop. The quiches are good but their oven is so slow. Anything that needs to be heated up or toasted takes an extra 10 minutes if you want it done right. (I had to ask to reheat mine again and it was still cold in some places.) Their soups are good, too, but on the pricer side. The only plus is that they come with a complimentary piece of bread, typically unheard of in DUMBO.
The main hits pastry-wise are:
Napoleons
Berry Eclairs
Strawberry or raspberry tarts
Chocolate Eclairs
Tiramisu -
Review from Lindsey J.
Brooklyn, NY
1/23/2012
A Croissant is supposed to be light and flakey. Not Crunchy/ deep fried on the outside and mushy on the inside. Euwww.
-
Review from Allyson B.
New York, NY
7/14/2011
I want to love this place, but my moldy fruit cup and curdled milk in my cafe au laut this morning was just too much for me to take. I paid $6.05 for a fruit cup where half the fruit was sour and not fully ripe and the other half was molded. I also ordered a non-fat cafe au laut. I bring it up to the office, take a sip, and my milk was curdled and chunky. I immediately threw it out, but should have brought it back to the bakery to show them for a refund.
I've been here 4 times now and every time I go I think, this time will be better. The woman behind the counter in the mornings is not a lovable, or even likeable person. You think, here's a cute bakery, quoted to have some of the best pastries in the city, I can't wait to try it! And then the woman rudely serves you as if you're wasting her time. Forget hearing "good morning" or "thank you" or "you're welcome" or anything friendly from her.
I can deal with a few slips every now and then in food - fruit can be tricky and turn so quickly, I get it... but if I were greeted with a smile or even a "hi how are you" type of gig I could get past it. She's about as nice as my local Dunkin Donuts crew.... and that's not sayin much at all. -
Review from Velina L.
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not bad, but not great. The macarons had the optimal texture - some crunch, some softness, some chewiness, with a smooth center. The issue for me was the flavor, which tasted a little artificial. Too me,the pistachio macaron is the standard for comparison and this one fell short.
The chocolate chip cookie was large and looked deceptively delicious. Unfortunately, the flavor was just ok (I prefer City Bakery or Levain Bakery for chocolate chip cookies) and the texture felt a little stale and greasy. -
Review from Charles L.
Lexington, MA
7/3/2011 3 photos
Passion Fruit Macaroons were excellent --- top drawer. The filling was excellent, plenty of it, and plenty of flavor in them. The macaroon shells were well formed, well sized, and nicely sweetened.
That's all I had, but they were really good. I'd like to go back. -
Review from Ryna D.
Last Saturday my friend and I went on our 2nd bike marathon where we biked from Inwood to DUMBO and back. For our late lunch we decided to get some snacks here.
The sandwiches looked delicious albeit a tad expensive. My friend had the smoked salmon sandwich. Since I didn't want anything too heavy I had the tomato and mozarella quiche. Fairly standard good bakery fare. I also tried a couple macarons. The cranberry macaron was really good but the passion fruit one was amazing! The cakes on display looked amazing too!
One thing we didn't like: the service was slow even when it wasn't too busy.. -
Review from Brandon P.
Brooklyn, NY
9/8/2011 ROTD 5/20/2012
When I first moved to New York, I was depressed. The city was beautiful, the bright lights shone like a billion little stars overhead, and the architecture was breathtaking. However, all of this was not enough for me. I had a hunger that not even all of these elements could soothe. What was I hungry for? A baguette.
Back in Baltimore I was spoiled. I lived very close to a Panera Bread where the baguettes are delicious, bountiful, and cheaply priced. I knew that in the city there would be baguettes, but my head was ready to explode from the prospect of having to wade through all of the poorly crafted artisan breads to find the true breaded champion.
I began to frantically search through Google for what people considered New York's best baguette. After wading through pages of horse porn, penis enlargement ads, and infomercials trying to sell me Slap-Chops, I finally arrived at a "Best of Baguettes" list. I scoured the list, reading the descriptions of the doughy delights deciding which would be best for me.
You see, finding the right baguette is like adopting a child. It's an extremely important decision that isn't to be made under the influence of alcohol or other mind altering substances. You don't want to adopt your baguette from a bakery that looks like it hasn't been cleaned since the 1930's and is stocked with employees who don't truly care for the baguette crafting process. The decision is truly life-changing. In fact, Winston Churchill once said that the hardest decision that he had to make during World War II was which bakery would supply his morning baguette. Baguettes are the reason that Hitler conquered France. Why did the Senate stab Caesar on that sorry day in March? He'd imposed a new tax on baguettes. People take this shit seriously. Heed my warning here folks, baguettes are one of the most important things in life. Without a good baguette in your belly, you are NOTHING. I knew that I had to seek out my baguette or else all hope would be lost.
I saw it there on the list. Almondine Bakery. Could this be it? Could this be the baguette that I sought? I laced up my sneakers, pulled on my winter coat, and began my pilgrimage trekking over the Brooklyn Bridge into Dumbo. When I arrived at the bakery, the rich aroma of baking bread filled my olfactory. I closed my eyes and was encompassed by the smell, which had actually lifted me off of the ground. I began floating in mid air, a choir of angels being the only sound filling my ears. However, I was still skeptical. That is, until I bought the baguette and took a bite. Immediately, I was cured of the ebola virus that I had contracted while hiking in Ghana, I felt at one with the universe, and I miraculously grew to be a man (I had previously been a woman, I forgot to mention that). This was the baguette that I had been searching for.
If you would like a similar experience to happen to you, I recommend visiting Almondine Bakery. Your life will never be the same. -
Review from Will R.
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Incredible almond croissants. The best I've had in the city, by far. All the coffee drinks are amazing. Even though Jacques Torres may be down the block Almondine holds its own. I wish DUMBO was closer to my hood, because this would be my go to spot every morning. I've had other pastries here and they've been great, but the almond croissant is like a orgasm made of bread. I guess that's hyperbole but who cares when the croissants are this amazing. Go eat one of these, now.
-
Review from David E.
Brooklyn, NY
5/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Absolutely one of the best bakeries I've been to in NYC. Located right on Water St. In Dumbo, it's perfect for taking baked goods down to the park while enjoying the views of Lower Manhattan and its two bridges.
Everything I've tried here is mouth watering, but the creme brûlée and chocolate/passion fruit macaroons haunt me in my sleep. -
Review from Kirsten P.
Brooklyn, NY
4/2/2011
My friend ordered my birthday cake from Almondine and, although I am a huge fan of French bakeries, I was a bit skeptical.
He ordered the Apricot Hazelnut cake and, I have to say that it was the best birthday cake that I have had in years!
The pieces of apricot in the creme are to die for - he definitely did right on this one by ordering my birthday cake from there.
I am going to stop by this location there myself sometime this weekend and see what else they have (I have seen their online menu, but I would like to see the store and I have to visit Jacques Torres anyway). -
Review from Rich W.
4/22/2011
Almondine is located in the charming neighborhood of Dumbo. The location is great, as you can just grab what you want and go to the river and have yourself a wonderful afternoon picnic.
This place sells the best macarons in New York (which is not saying much, but still), and this includes institutions such as Bouchon, Macaron Cafe, and Maison du Chocolat. The shells are airy and plump, and fillings are flavorful but not too sweet. Not every flavor has the same consistency, hence the 4 star. But this is still by far the best macaron you are going to get in New York. Don't get ripped off at those Manhattan places - the price premium doesn't translate to quality. If you want good macarons, trust me just come here. It's cheaper and better. Period. -
Review from Kate B.
Brooklyn, NY
Whoah.
The bakers here are no joke. Whether the specific offerings are to your liking or not is a personal preference, but I think anyone who has done any baking or patisserie can appreciate the level of skill that it takes to perfect these goods.
Their croissants are astounding. The layers of the dough are buttery and pronounced, crisp on the outside, with some bite to the interior layers. They melt on the tongue. It's a sublime experience which I'd almost given up on in the city. I say that I don't care for croissants, but it's a lie -- I don't care for the middling offerings of most bakeries. THESE would be enough to turn me into a croissant lover if I hadn't been lying about disliking them. The almond chocolate variation is perfect. There is plenty of sweet almond paste, but not enough to make the pastry cloying, and the chocolate is rich and used in moderation so that it doesn't overwhelm the almond or the buttery dough. Every bite feels like one is ingesting the years of training that it took to perfect this product.
The Almondine baguette differs from the classic French baguette with the addition of 15% whole wheat flour. Each translucent, glutenous crag is speckled with almond colored wheat germ from the whole flour. The crust is chewy. I prefer the crispy crust that I get from baking my own baguettes & getting them fresh out of the oven. Although my interiors are quite good, the texture doesn't compare to the delicate interior texture of Almondine's baguette.
The macaron shells are a little chewier than I like (I prefer the slightly drier ones at Madeleine's on 23rd). But the moistness of these shells does tend to convey flavor better than a dry macaron. (Like the too-crumbly offerings at Financiers.) The flavors are limited, but classic. And that seems to be a standard at Almondine. They aren't trying to be everything to everyone, but they are clearly aiming for perfection in everything that they choose to do. -
Review from Jonathan G.
Verona, NJ
Maybe I overlooked you for too long. Maybe I knew you would disappoint me because I wanted more from you. I checked you out repeatedly as I walked on Water St. and you stood there, aloof. You missed my Missed Connections In Search of Pastries entries. Even with all this history (in my head), I finally decided to come and see you.
I know you thought it odd that I brought my son along while my daughter was at a birthday party, but look, the kid likes pastries. I am sorry you thought it an uncomfortable first encounter, you with your glistening rows of sugary goodness and me with my brood. Still, I became entranced with your macarons because they looked good and the flavors sounded excellent.
So we took home one of each kind of macaron, endeavoring to share these treats as all do, while watching Cartoon Network and building Legos. The flavors were bursting, but the overall product was a bit lacking and falling apart. I think it could be because we got the last couple of some of the flavors. I know you are better than these macarons even though they were good because while I was there I saw about 100 other things I wanted to eat, but I wanted to show restraint so you didn't think I was a sow. Huge cookies, mini-cheesecakes and other shapes of pastry will wait patiently in my head while I search for you, Almondine, online until our next interlude.Listed in: Stuffing sugar in your mouth, DUMBO
-
Review from PJ S.
New York, NY
6/2/2011
Ahhhh ...
Real croissants.
What a relief to know they are always available here. I am done with staring at the crescent-shaped, white bread at Starbucks and other cookie-cutter retailers of factory-made bakery products. -
Review from Joyce L.
New York, NY
9/1/2010
Deliciousness!
I came mid-week around noon, and it was very quiet (but could be because they are doing construction in the street). We ordered the ham & cheese quiche, the almond croissant, a vegetable soup, and a chai latte.... such a tasty comfort-food retreat from the rain outside.
I can never turn down a croissant (especially one with almond paste!) and it was as flaky and fresh as it looked. I'm a sucker for an extensive baked-goods board. The only downside was that the service was slow... but it probably wouldn't befit a cafe in DUMBO to go fast-food style anyhow. -
Review from Briana M.
6/17/2011
the berries eclair was incredible.
so was the dump i took in the bathroom.
thank you for not one, but two glorious experiences. -
Review from Matthew Y.
New York, NY
11/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
The cookie I got from this place was good but not great. The edges were a bit to hard, I don't want to say it was stale but it definitely didn't just come out of the oven either.
There was really any patrons when I was at this store. The one that came in got take out the clerk didn't seem especially friendly to each customer and just asked the blunt basics like 'to stay or to go?'
Not an especially large selection either. The tea was good though. -
Review from Peter D.
1/26/2009
I am not a sweet guy.
Let me rephrase: I am not a guy who likes sweets. OBVIOUSLY I'm a sweet guy.*
So when I accompanied a friend to Almondine on her mission for French macarons,** I was just along for the ride. Standing at that counter, casually looking at that beautiful display case, inhaling the heavenly aromas...I saw the pretzel bread. It was love at first sight.
They are just big, fluffy, salty, delicious balls of pretzel,*** overflowing with gruyere. And they are all mine.
I guess you could buy one if you wanted; but get me one too. Or at least give me a bite of yours. C'mon, it's just a bite! Geez. Had I known you were going to be this selfish, I wouldn't have told you about my delicious salty balls.
__________
*Just ask my girlfriend. She can count the times she's had to call the police on me on one hand. And she's never pressed charges; not once!
**Vastly superior to those disgusting coconut things.
***Not to be confused with Chef's chocolate salty balls. -
Review from Greg A.
Brooklyn, NY
4/8/2011
Almondine, easily one of my top three bakeries in the city. Usually come here anytime I'm down in DUMBO and they never seem to disappoint.
People always say the thing to get it the almond croissant if you come here and they are saying it for a reason. They are incredible! Light flaky, good almond flavor, cant go wrong with that. BUT NOTE: if you want them, you need to come there early because they go fast!!
All their other items are good too, the maroon's are great (Pistachio being my favorite), breads are fresh and the cakes are good not super sugary. If your in the area definitely make it a point to stop in! -
Review from Andy H.
Brooklyn, NY
11/2/2008
While walking around DUMBO one Saturday I came across Almondine Bakery. It is directly across the street from the very popular (and my usual dessert stop) Jacques Torres.
My original plan was to grab some pastries here and then get the hot chocolate from Mr Torres. But upon entering this little bakery, I was amazed at the crowd and their happy faces, that I decided to order both the pastries and the drink here.
I got the creme brule and a strawberry shortcake with a large hot chocolate.
The creme brule was outstanding. I have had this dessert so many times at restaurants, bakeries and even at home that I know a good one from a bad one. It was nearly perfect and cost about $4.
The strawberry shortcake was pretty damn good too. I enjoyed the fresh strawberries that were sliced and placed inside this cake. The cake was moist and full of great flavors. Definitely recommend it.
Now onto the bad news...the hot chocolate is well...not so good. I love hot chocolate and was looking forward to this places version, but it was just way too chocolaty (and I love it chocolaty). It was as if they took a chocolate bar, melted it down and poured it into a cup. It was so rich and thick...I felt like I was chugging some chocolate syrup.
After a few sips, I was able to add milk, but then that milk had made the hot chocolate more of a cool chocolate. Still the taste was not so good, and I could not finish it. So I chucked it in the garbage at nearby Brooklyn Bridge Park and wound up later getting a hot chocolate from Starbucks on my way home.
All in all a nice place, great decor, very cozy, cool staff and a decent dessert alternative to the french guy across the street. But I highly recommend getting your goodies here, and then sprinting across the cobble stoned road to Torres for the insanely good hot chocolate. -
Review from Atif I.
12/27/2006
When much respected yelper Stephanie B with the highly noteworthy Scrumptious blog strongly recommended Almondine to me, I was disappointed at slipping up. How did I miss up on this gem? Damn... Must be all the cupcakes I've been eating lately!
I am not a morning person. But my rediscovered fascination with Pain Au Chocolat necessitates that I reach Almondine early.
As I bite into the croissant, it flakes easily. Good sign, I think. It's not warm (Aaarghhh...). But, wait it's not greasy despite the buttery smell...yaay! It doesn't have a pronounced shatter effect, but still... very promising. But, wait... where's the chocolate? Searching. Searching... Still searching...Ah, there it is ... satellite pictures capture it hidden in the caves of Tora Bora. No, seriously: while the quality of the chocolate is very good, the quantum is wholly inadequate. I guess the intent is to keep the croissant light (it is), but it lacks the necessary punch an excellent Pain Au Chocolat must have (in my interpretation).
However, the cappuccino is one of the best I've had, at a bakery, in a long while. I decide to wander around in Dumbo and develop an appetite for lunch (Grimaldi's is nearby).
I come back in the afternoon to realize that Almondine too is guilty of doing an abysmal job of managing the line. There is only one staffer juggling various duties: managing the cash register, making the hot beverages and packing the orders. However, it allows those seated to smugly gloat upon the hapless hordes in the line. I admit that I did relish the fact that I was the only seated customer, of the 14 in the bakery!
I was there to research the chocolate chunk cookie --- which is also on the same lines as that of Bouchon. Exceptional texture! Crisp on the edges, chewy inside...with tasteful brown sugar. Buttery, without being greasy. Sadly, it also had the same deficiency as the croissant. The chocolate chunks (discs) serve more a ceremonial role and are decorative as opposed to substantial. A good chocolate chunk cookie must provide a taste of high quality chocolate in every single bite, but this is just not the case at Almondine. I make a mental note to lodge a protest at the toothless "Beast on the East River" (The U.N.) on the way back. Consequently, only three stars for the cookie.
I bring home a box of macarons. Almondine is reported to have some of the best macarons in the city. Which turns out to be hyperbole. But Almondine has good variety: lemon, orange, raspberry, chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, pistachio. The bigger issue with the macarons is the crumbly texture, which I suspect results from an effort to achieve the requisite melt-in-the-mouth consistency. However, the outer crust shatters easily, sometimes simply upon a light touch - even before the bite. To its credit Almondine's macarons have good filling. The macarons are presently baked on a weekly basis, and Saturday appears to be the best time to grab a whole box. The macarons are only available in small size - and in a box, not individually. (Macaron rating: 3 stars).
The bakery also stocks good quality pastries (e.g. Opera and Sacher), creme brulees, cupcakes, napoleons, and tarts --- A recent introduction that I've really liked is the passionfruit mousse with coconut and chocolate mousse pastry. Excellent blend of flavors and play on textures!
But by far the most exceptional item they carry is their bread. Their baguettes are exceptional looking and have wonderful crust and crumb --- no wonder they were rated best in the city a few years back.
On the whole, Almondine is a very good neighborhood bakery that spares knowledgeable foodies the trek to Manhattan to satisfy their cravings.
Updated: 2/15/07 -
Review from Aaron S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/14/2011
The staff is friendly and I do like the food and baked goods, but they can be a bit pricey, but it's DUMBO so I guess I should see that coming huh? If you can't find it, it's across the street from Jacques Torres! you can't miss it!
-
Review from Becca S.
Brooklyn, NY
12/17/2008
You know how sometimes you bake brownies or a cake and after you eat a slice you think to yourself, "hmmm....I think it would be ok if I had just a *teensy* bit more" so you cut off the tiniest sliver you can, but then after 5 minutes goes by you say to yourself, "you know, that sliver was SO tiny--I think I could have maybe one more and I wouldn't really be a bad person, plus I really should even out the ends here" so you go back and cut off another, and this process repeats until all of a sudden you've eaten 2/3 of your brownies/cake and can't help hating yourself a little bit?
This is what I'm doing right now with a loaf of multi-grain bread from Almondine. I did not expect this. I didn't know bread could taste so good! I just thought it would be nice to have some fresh bread for sandwiches today, since J's recent deli meats purchasing activity can only be described as "overzealous". But before making my sandwich I lopped off the end of the loaf, smeared some butter on it, and nearly cried out with joy at the delicious party in my mouth. There were whole sunflower, poppy, flax and sesame seeds, oats, and other multi-grain-y items all vying for my attention, and I was happy to give it to all.
Since finishing my excellent turkey and ham club, I've been going back to the kitchen on a 10-min interval schedule for more slices of bread and butter. Seriously, I can't stop.
OK, this is hardly a useful review, so here's a little more: the smell of butter croissants outside Almondine assaults you when you've still got 5 stairs to get to the door, and by the time you're inside, your olfactory epithelium is singing hymns of praise to your legs for carrying you there. Everything is fresh and beautiful-looking and it is incredibly difficult to decide what you want because it's all just so gorgeous. I haven't tried the sweet pastries, but if you went just for croissants and/or bread you'd have made a worthwhile trip to DUMBO.Listed in: Brooklyn, YES!, Heh. You said "dumb".
-
Review from N L.
New York, NY
4/4/2009
A bakery should be about baked goods. And the baked goods here are excellent.
I don't drink coffee. I don't know how their coffee is. Atmosphere? I sat at some tables. The tables were horizontal and held stuff. That was fine. There's some exposed brick and it's quiet enough to eat in, but not inspiration for redecorating my home. The prices are the same as everyone else in NYC. None of this matters, because the baked goods here are really quite good. If you're in the area and want a meal, go for it. If you're looking for a great bread to accompany a meal you're making, it's worth the trip.
Back In The Day, I was awarded a fellowship to study how bread is changing around the world due to changes in agricultural policy. I wandered for 14 months doing nothing but eat on someone else's dime. Included in my travels were apprenticeships in Parisian bakeries. In Paris alone I went to 80 bakeries. I kept spread sheets comparing their methods and results. In the big spread sheet of French baking, Almondine wouldn't be at the top of the list - but it is one of very few bakeries in the US that makes baked goods that not only resemble, but could be compared to the French originals.
The sourdough boulle here is light and airy (a bit too much so for my taste) but still moist. The peasant loaf has a good weight to it - though flavor could be much richer. The baguettes are really nice - pretty crumb, rich and mild taste.
The pastries are good. Croissants come in a variety of flavors - and though a bit too flaky (they shouldn't shatter quite so much) they are clearly made with some love and care. Buttery without being overwhelming. Depending on the day and the good - I have had a number of other sweets that went from amazing to mediocre - but never anything bad.
The sandwiches are great. Solid, a wide variety, and always changing. They highlight the bread while using a good range of fresh components. A single sandwich will fill me up without making me overfull.
In sum, it's a good bakery. Finally. -
Review from Ed C.
New York, NY
11/8/2011
I went here because of all the rave reviews from Yelp. I brought 2 almond croissants to take home. What I got were two almond croissants that were way over done. One was brunt around the edges. It still tasted good and buttery but the brunt sections had to be broken off. I really don't think a pastry shop should ever sell anything that is brunt and is obviously overdone to paying customers. I agree with the other Yelpers that the Almondine staff acts like they would rather be working someplace else.
The almond croissants at Cannelle Patisserie is better, it has more almond flavor and is never overdone or brunt. Yelp Cannelle Patisserie and the picture of the almond croissant is pure perfection. -
Review from Hideki K.
3/18/2010
When in DUMBO, forget that guy named Jacque or the BK Ice Cream Factory.
Don't stop at GO, keep going and head straight to Almondine!
I first came to Almondine after spending a day in DUMBO back in 2003. But then I forgot about it. Well, thanks to the Sunday Brooklyn Flea and the DUMBO Arts Festival, I stumbled upon it again. This time with the Squab.
I remembered to order the eclair and macarons (ordered the pistachio, chocolate, lemon, and blackberry). I liked the pistachio the best, but all are noteworthy. The macarons here are even better than those at Bouchon, and are my favorite in NYC thus far (I still need to try more places though).
This delicious bakery / patisserie is well-worth an excuse to jog across the bridges to BK. Be a Bridge Runner for a day - traverse the East River, gorge on some treats, and burn them off on your trip back to Manhattan Island.Listed in: Yelpwide - Best Dessert Places, NYC - Mad for Macarons
-
Review from Sadie S.
Brooklyn, NY
3/26/2008
I remember this one time I was talking with an old-timer at d'Amico, and I asked him, "so, what did you call DUMBO before it was DUMBO?" He looked at me like I was crazy. "What do you mean, what did we call it?" he said. "We didn't call it anything! No one went there!"
Sometimes I think of that when I'm surrounded by all the perfectly-groomed little dogs, art book stores, and beautiful young families who make up DUMBO today. And especially when I'm at Almondine - for my money as good a French bakery as you'll find in NYC. (Technically a terrible segue. But I wanted to tell that anecdote.)
Anyway: the pastries are wholly authentic here; they even give you a little wax-paper bag like the ones you'd find in Paris. Unlike a real French place, Almondine is both a boulangerie (bread bakerie) and patisserie, but it manages to do both well. The baguettes are delicious. The quiche is tied with Bouchon as my favorite in the Apple - dense and creamy with a delicate, savory crust. Sandwiches and soups, while pricey, are excellent; I've never had a bad one, although the selection rotates.
My favorite is breakfast: croissants, while a touch salty to vie for the crown, are flaky and good, and all their viennoiserie permutations are delicious. I especially like their "French donut," a briochey sphere absolutely bursting with raspberry jam. Coffee is strong and good.
There are always lots of French people here, which I take as a good sign (although in general I think the 'look-for-native-customers' rule is sort of silly; would you trust just any old American in another country?) Overall,, though, I find the layout and the atmosphere somewhat lacking; it's a pretty uninviting space, and in cold weather there's not really any nearby spot for snacking. I wish they could annex the next-door space for tables - but then, it really is a takeout bakery, and it does that absolutely brilliantly. I often make the trip from Greenpoint!Listed in: Top Restaurants
-
Review from Scott S.
Las Vegas, NV
10/25/2008
There are leg men and there are breast men. I'm a bread man.
I love bread. Not Wonder Bread or anything that comes in a plastic bag at the supermarket. I'm talking hard-crust, well-crafted fresh bread with rich, flavorful dough. I eat it at breakfast, I eat it at lunch, I eat at dinner.
So, with some sense of self-possessed authority, I am going out on a limb to say that the best bread I've found in all of this crazy city was right here at little Almondine in DUMBO. The multi-grain loaf is a bread-lover's delight. The crust is just right--crisp without being rock hard. And the dough, oh the dough! Full of flavor, thick and chewy. It blows away Balthazar or Amy's (both of which I like very much).
Add to this a wonderful selection of deserts and an atmosphere bursting with the eclectic energy that is DUMBO, and Almondine is a treasure. -
Review from Krissy G.
Brooklyn, NY
6/1/2008
Common knowledge: Almondine's flaky almond croissant will make you swoon. And the cookies? Buttery perfection. The sandwiches? Delicious.
Secret: If you are lucky enough to live somewhat near-ish to Almondine, this little gem of a bakery will deliver, on weekends, "room service" to your front door.
That's right, my pastry loving friends: A little taste of France can now be had from the comfort of your own home. -
Review from Jeff C.
9/29/2008 1 Check-in Here
Ate lunch here during the DUMBO Arts Festival. Croissants ($2.65) are pricey but everything else like Iced Coffee ($2.50) is reasonable. They sell homemade beignets, big choco macaroons, etc. The Turkey sandwich w/ cheese bread looked awesome but was sold out when we went back...gotta go back gotta go back for them!
Ordered:
-Smoked Salmon in Focaccia ($7.25) - Lots of bread here, salmon was very fresh and not too salty, very good!Listed in: Dessert Sh*t, Tea & Coffee Sh*t, Sammich Sh*t, Bakery Sh*t
-
Review from Matthew P.
Brooklyn, NY
12/3/2008 27 Check-ins Here
Hands down, the best croissant in the World. Not just New York, not just the Western Hemisphere, but the World (including France).
Many times have I picked up two croissants (one plain, one almond), a cup of their coffee, and chilled in DUMBO Park enjoying the crunchy, buttery, flakey goodness, while enjoying general mental drift and observing the Brooklyn Bridge span lower Manhattan.
This is truly what life is about. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.
Read more reviews for this business:
French (1)
