Amy's Bread
250 Bleecker Street
(between Cornelia St & Leroy St)
New York, NY 10014 (212) 675-7802
- Nearest Transit:
W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
Christopher St (1)
Christopher St (PATH)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
41 Reviews for Amy's Bread
My name's Amy and I love bread, it's a no-brainer. While I was visiting my bro' in NYC he took me to the fabulous Chelsea market and forced me to go to Amy's Bread. I am so glad that I am not currently a no-carbs asshole. Life is too short to not indulge in the staff of life.
For the love of All Things Holy get the chocolate cherry bread, toast it and slather some butter on that mother.
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I was given two of Amy's cupcakes by a friend. Upon first bite, I thought for a moment that my tastebuds must be comatose from the piece of gum I had just spit out and maybe the saccharine had to wear-off before the yumminess that is a cupcake could really sink into my cerebrum. I, however, was wrong.
My tastebuds were fully alive at that first bite. The real problem lay in the cupcake itself. I took several licks of icing, trying to track down the flavor. And actually, there was no flavor at all. It wasn't that the chocolate icing tasted bad, it's just that it really didn't taste like anything at all. I still can't figure out how someone could create an icing that tastes like air. I mean, really. And why haven't Amy's friends told her how tasteless the things are? Amy -- time to get new friends I think.
Then, the cake itself was so dense and stale and dry. No thank you! I prefer my cupcakes moist and light.
This is definitely not the place to find good cupcakes. I would rather pay the $2.00 to buy a box of Duncan Hines and bake the damn things myself. :)
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I'm a big fan of Amy's Breads - and, frankly, if you've decided to stalk me, this is a good place to start - I'll show up eventually and plop down for awhile with a coffee and some chocolate hazelnut biscotti - a snack to which I've become completely addicted!
They're best for their meatier breads, the breads with heavier grains, nuts etc... I love all of their rolls/dinner rolls. They are also quite famous for their chocolate cherry bread. For baguettes and more simple crusty breads, I tend to head for the Blue Ribbon Bakery, but they're just fine here as well.
The cakes are simple and wonderful and the cheese biscuit is one of my favorite things about Amy's. The almond brioche is very good, but please share it - no one should have that much buttery marzipan in one sitting. I would even suggest, on the lower cal options, the apple sauce donut and ginger cookies.
If you're planning to sit and stay awhile, this is not a great place for groups as the tables are a bit crowded and there aren't that many of them. There is no offered wifi (though sometimes it comes in from elsewhere). If you're alone or with a friend, it's a very cozy place to hang out and watch the people go by.
No question that I feel lucky to live so close to Amy's and I love that they are open late for a bakery and never chase away the reading, coffee drinking, biscotti addicted patrons who tend to linger a bit too long...
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why must you be so inconveniently far from me? but i guess walking off all that sugar and carbs is a positive thing.
the oatmeal scones are surprisingly addictive, although $2.95 is quite steep for a scone, the quality is worth every bite. it also changes every day, and runs out every day! raisin and walnut, banana pecan, pear and almonds, i've tried just about all of them and none disappoint - not greasy or dry, crispy edges, soft inside, just quality oats, fruits and nuts, amy's a genius!
the chocolate twists are heavenly too, get them on a warm day and watch the chocolate melt all over your fingers. lick away!
oh and if you want good coffee to pair with your pastry, walk across the street to sarah's bagels, they serve MUD!
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I tried the Challah Knot - moist and cinnamon-twisted!
Great place to just stop and stock up on calories and sweet happiness in the West Village.
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Ooh my god.. bad bad bad.. this is like when you think you're going on a diet, then you pass by this place and you're like.. okay maybe I'll start tomorrow. Unfortunately, I pass this place everyday and even though I tell myself NO, I see the specials like Chocolate Rolls with Bittersweet Chocolate chips and cherries or Cinnamon Challah knots.. I mean COME ON.. how can you refuse?
I love everything about it here, come in the morning though. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!
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I've been here twice on two different visits and both times I've had amazing cakes to go. First time I had some apple cake with a cream cheese frosting that I brought home on the plane to eat back in california (yes it made it) and it was fabulous! And this last March I purchased something called "Monkey cake" a banana cake with some kind of thick amazing sugary think frosting to die for....it took two nights to eat that one. So its always worth a stop for a goodie if your in the neighborhood. And even if your not and your in New York ( I think there are other locations) FIND THIS PLACE you won't be disappointed.
I LOVE this place! Ok, I first heard about it from someone elses review of great bakeries on here- he was right about this one. I got a slice of the vanilla cake with pink frosting and it was sooooo good! I paid $4.75 but it's worth it for the quality (and I'm cheap so it means a lot coming from me). You get a HUGE slice- not a "school slice". (A school slice is a little term I made up describing a small slice of whatever like what they used to give you as a kid in school when 30 kids had to share one pound cake or pie). Anyway, this bakery is top notch- I'm definately going back to try more stuff when I'm in the area!
btw- I have to take one star off because the frosting could be a little more creamy or buttery :)
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My favorite little neighborhood bakery. The baguettes from Amy's are delicious on the first day - so chewy, perfect consistency. After a day the baguette gets really hard - as all baguettes do - but it still tastes good! I like to eat it with bruschetta or cheese, even when its hard and crusty. I can keep a baguette for a week and it will still taste good, even if it is hard as a rock. Also good: the red velvet cake. It beats out Magnolia ANY DAY! The cake is not too sweet, tender and moist, and the frosting tastes perfect. Not so good - the carrot cake. I thought the frosting was too tart/sour-ish.
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there is a sense of soft fluffy breadiness that i finally got from bread when murray's cheese gave me a loaf of bread from amy's bread to take home for free! i got the one with fennel and raisins... wasn't a big fan of the yellow chunks of fruit cake like thing in it cuz it kinda reminded me of my mom's fruitcakes haha... but when i paired this sucker up with something super salty it complemented it quite well!
not sure if its cuz i got this particular type of bread instead of my usual sourdough... prices actually seemed normal for a fresh loaf of bread!
next time will try those italian twists plopped on the table...
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to be honest, amy's bread was nothing out of this world spectacular. It certainly wasn't bad - but it also wasn't something that was too memorable.
i got the veggie soup with a sourdough roll. The soup was good - if you've had the 10-vegetable soup at 'hale & hearty' - it tastes exactly the same (which is a good thing!) the roll did not taste like sourdough - it just tasted like a plain whatever roll.
The other breads looked really good and if i wasn't so afraid of carbs and what they do to my body, maybe i'd try them.
I got the nut-less brownie - it was good and just soft enough - and they warmed it up for me when i asked. again, it was good, no doubt about that - but it wasn't 'omg i'm totally coming back here again for this piece of chocolate heaven' good.
my lunch-mates got a sandwich and a quice respectively as well as a cupcake and a tapioca pudding - i think they felt the same away.
good - but not omg amazing. it reminded me of a typical sandwich/bakery shop in manhattan - so i don't know what the big deal is.
the location is definitely cute - there are very few seats and ppl are constantly coming in (so it's definitely popular) - we managed to snag 3 seats and enjoy are food.
one thing i may like to try if i ever go back is the hot chocolate with home-made marshmallows...but to be honest i doubt i'd be back unless i just happened to be passing by.
Oh man. I love bread. For basic, simple, homemade bread, you can't go wrong here.
Just too bad you don't have sourdough like we do out west. But you do have fucking amazing bagels and designer dogs.
Coupled with Murray's a couple of doors down, you have a nice meal with a view from your windows perched in the sky.
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Cranberry with white chocolate cookie was awesome! Red velvet cake also good - not as sweet and dense as Sylvia's or Magnolia. A good array of breads, cookies and cakes available (whole or by slice).
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The cake was OK....and enjoyable. It was so hot out that the frosting wasn't hard....because it had melted.
I have yet to find baked goods besides bread in this city that are consistently moist and delicious.
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Totally amazing! Most of the breads I've tried here are fantastic, the sandwiches are good, and their cakes are to die for! Very moist, rich, but not too sweet. I've heard the Chelsea one's even better so I'll have to stop by sometime!
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(3.5 stars)
Amy's bread is almost always bustling with energy. It's a very popular spot - and with good reason. They offer something for everyone: soups, sandwiches, bread, things to satisfy your sweet tooth, including cupcakes (of course! who's not going to jump onto that crazy bandwagon!)
Of the three locations that I know of (are there any more?), this one is the brightest and the nicest (although both Chelsea Market and HK have their own charm as well).
However, as far as bread is concerned, I have not been very lucky/happy. I've tried the whole wheat breads and also the organic miche and they taste totally homemade. While homemade cakes are (usually) good, homemade breads (usually) are not. I don't know, somehow, the bread is always too dense, as if it hasn't risen properly, and then goes stale far too quickly. Maybe I haven't tried the "right stuff" but I don't think I'm going to spend more money trying. And so, it gets only 3 stars becuase a place that's named "Amy's Bread" should make fabulous bread!
The lunch stuff is pretty good although nothing here has ever wowed me. Still, I highly recommend it for a healthy/quick lunch.
Most recently, I was there to try the red velvet cupcake. And, sadly, it was really not good. I should have written this review as I ate the cupcake (it's been a week) but I was undergoing Yelp rehab at the time so I was trying to get away (as you can see, I failed). Anyway, here's what I do remember: The cake was really really dense and not at all light and airy. It was with a buttercream frosting that didn't impress. The only good thing about it was the cute little red heart on the top. It wasn't baked in a traditional cupcake paper liner but instead had a brown wrapper around it so that it looked like a mini cake. Cute, but it took something away from the whole idea of a cupcake!
So, stick to Amy's bread as a reliable lunch spot or grab one of the cookies to satisfy a sweet craving, but as already expressed by others, definitely skip the cupcakes.
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I used to be a huge devotee of the Magnolia Bakery. Being a die-hard fan of Sex and the City, it's fame from the show only adds to the appeal.
But then I tried the cupcakes at Amy's Bread bakery. True, they can be on the pricey side but the red velvet cupcake is out of this world. This place has the only cupcakes I have ever found that are comparable to those of The Hummingbird Bakery in London, which are simply some of the best cupcakes on the planet. Plus, there's the added benefit that unlike Magnolia, you won't have to queue up 'round the block just to get a cupcake.
Even without comparison to Magnolia or any other well-reputed New York City bakery, you have to try the red velvet cupcakes here, they are little cups of heaven! Their breads and sandwiches are good too, and the atmosphere is light, cheery, and full of joy (to me at least). Only downside is the small amount of seating space, as is sadly common with many great little bakeries in New York City..
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I love bread. I love bread so much that my friend calls me Dr. Atkins' Evil Twin.
Joy = Amy's bread + cheese from Murray's Cave.
The sourdough is not to be missed.
Skip the cupcakes, however. The vanilla cake is dense & dry -- It has a consistency like cornbread. The frosting is tasty but a bit hard -- As if it's been sitting out too long.
Compare:
Amy's $2.25 - Dense cake / Hard frosting
Magnolia's $1.75 - Soft cake / Soft frosting
The store is bright & clean.
Pastries & breads are neatly presented.
Tables & chairs make the most use of the cozy space.
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I came here on a mission for cupcakes as part of my "3 Cupcake Birthday Tour 07" - and was rather disappointed.
There was only one kind of cupcake available (devil's food - although after we sat down they put out a tray of "black and white" - which I assume to be the same cake with white frosting) and this was the only cupcake of the day I didn't finish. It was way too rich, and the frosting tasted like that fudgey grocery-store cake frosting you get out in the 'burbs.
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Rosemary bread. Enough said. I fell in love at first taste and I'm sad I had to return to the West coast. The breads from this shop plus the cheeses for Murray's (2 doors down the street) was like being addicted to crack. So delicious.
Be aware the shop is small so it's often packed. I'd take to go rather than stick around for the noise.
So this is love mmmmmmm so this......is.........love.
I have a terrible weakness for baked goods. I'm on the All Carb Diet. I eat macaroni and cheese with a side of hashbrowns and garlic bread. And wash it down with hoppy beer. Mmmmm carbs.
I would really like to sit down to dinner with Amy and Dr. Adkins (but may he rest in peace).
Anyway, in short, Amy's is absolute Carboholic perfection.
Their breakfast pastries are delicious...and not too heavy. They all have a light, fluffy texture, but still satisfy. And the low fat applesauce donuts feed my Homer-esque need without expanding me arse. The cakes are also excellent...especially the yellow cake with chocolate icing, and the "monkey cake" which is essentially banana bread turned into a cake. Can't go wrong with that.
You can also get some great sandwiches for lunch... and there are plenty of vegetarian options. My favorite is the brie, apple, and watercress on walnut bread. I really have to pace myself in order to avoid cramming the whole thing in my mouth and asking for another while chewing.
The ONLY downside about Amy's is the lack of space. It's really hard to get a table at lunchtime. Other than that, Amy, I applaud your ability to keep my All Carb Diet easy to maintain.
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Bread.
The best. I come here all the time. A large selection of rolls, twists, sandwiches, etc.
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I was in town for the long weekend and during my strolls though town I happened across two of Amy's three locations! How about that! First, the Bleeker Street location. Cute little spot. I got suckered inside because it was super cold outside and I saw the sweetest little cupcakes in the window. Must. Eat. Cupcake. I was happy to see that it was made with Scharffenberger chocolate and came in a little Frenchy cupcake wrapper but it was a little dry and the frosting was a little dense for such a small treat. Would I eat another cupcake? No, but I will try the bread next time. Walk down the street to Magnolia's and get a vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting! That's cupycake perfection!
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Ok, their cupcakes are pretty darn good. Went there because Magnolia was closed (like Lisa T). I had wanted to go there initially, but my visiting Spanish friends wanted Magnolia, even though I think it is overhyped.
Anyway, they went in begrudgingly, and it was pretty packed. The cupcakes were incredible, and oh my, I am not even certain what red velvet is, but damn! The frosting was a little bit too too buttery, but still delicious. Couldn't even finish half a chocolate cupcake, and I love chocolate.
The reason for the mediocre rating? Well, before the Thanksgiving holiday, I went in there to order a chocolate cake to bring home, since my sister and 3 year old niece love chocolate even more than I do. Oddly, they told me I could not order any chocolate cake. Incredulously, I asked why...even more incredulously, I was informed, there is a chocolate cake shortage. Confused, I then said, well can I get a marble? NO CHOCOLATE CAKE! Uhm, okay, like do you mean to tell me their is a shortage of chocolate cake in the city??? I started to ask that, but realized, this guy was just an employee, and probably was confused himself. I sort of walked out of there in a daze, pondering the notion that NYC had run out of chocolate cake...beforeThanksgiving...because it is such a typical Thanksgiving dessert.
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I ducked in here with my sister after finding Magnolia Bakery closed for the holidays. We were after a cupcake fix and Amy's Bread did not disappoint. Located on a prime West Village corner, this tiny bakery was bustling with tourists and locals alike.
Oh, and the cupcakes? Deceptively small, but densely packed, with a thick icing top that gave my diabetic sister pause. Amy's Bread has satisfied my sweet tooth for a good long while.
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Absolute bread heaven.
I like to get a day old challah or brioche on discount ($2.50) for my Saturday morning french toast.
Their baguettes are simply divine, also. Great for homemade garlic bread.
YummO!
We need more bakeries (patisserie) in the city.
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Baguettes, cupcakes, cornbread, cookies Oh MY! Yummy and pretty-never a long wait.... Their hot chocolate is tasty too!
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nothing to rave about...but i do frequent the place to get my coffee fix after lunch....not that coffee here is fantastic, but just to deviate from starbucks from time to time.
i don't find their sandwich to be that good. their soups are really yummy though.
just as Lisa C. said in her review, "skip the cupcakes".
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Amy's does a tasty organic loaf, and a better-than-standard latte.
The ambiance is clean, bright, and fairly pretty, but it isn't the kind of place that makes you want to curl up for hours with a cup and read a book or anything romantic like that. Still, a reliable bakery. The slightly ouchy prices and the boho-hippie twinge remind me a little of San Francisco, which makes me think more highly of Amy's Bread than it probably deserves.
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Really great organic breads and specialty breads. This space is bright and clean, but the tables are a bit cramped. Yummy cookies and cakes - I was a little disappointed in their red velvet cake since the frosting was so sweet and the cake a bit dry. Good coffee.
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I think this place is "eh" at best. The breads are pretty good but i find most of their desserts to be lacking. It's also a little on the pricey side and in my opinion, not really worth it. There are far better places to get great sweets in the city.
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Good breads and sandwiches. Pleasant place, tho a bit small and tight.
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Delicious sweet baked goods and breads. I'm not all that enthusiastic about their cupcakes, which are on the small side, but the slice of cake is a great, economical choice when sharing a snack or planning to eat half now, half later, as you end up with a nice big portion.
This place knows how to make desserts... and there's so much more! Great location in the West Village on Bleecker Street with very friendly employees.
still don't see what the big deal is. i think new yorkers need better bakeries because magnolia is also very mediocre but gets long lines. maybe it's so rare to be near a decent bakery that anything halfway good gets rave reviews? dunno, but anyway, amy's is definitely tasty, but it wasn't the most exciting food experience.
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Part of me wants to go here every day just for the German Chocolate Cake. They also have great bread twists that I like to buy to dip in my pasta sauce at dinner but that's just me. They also have a nice array of brownies and sandwiches.
NICE STAFF! Delicious soups here are the perfect companion to the breads that will want to devouer. They tell you every single ingredient so you don't have to worry if you are allergic to anything or watching what you eat.
I like to sit at the counter and watch the folks on Bleecker.
Clean bathroom! Ask for the key at the counter.
The desserts are three-star at best, but combine Amy's Bread with the adjacent Murray's Cheese and you have a five-star marriage made in heaven.
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