Le Pain Quotidien
Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Theater District922 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019 (212) 757-0775
- Nearest Transit:
57th St-7th Ave (N, Q, R, W)
59th St-Columbus Circle (1, A, C, B, D)
57th St-6th Ave (F)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
30 Reviews for Le Pain Quotidien
I enjoyed ma petite dejeuner. While it can't compare to the bakeries I used to frequent in Paris, it was quite satisfying. The bread basket is the best choice for two people as you get to sample all the different artisan breads and it comes with 3 different spreads. The hazelnut spread of course had my friend and I scraping for the last bit. Anything that comes close to the flavor of Nutella is a plus for me. A nice supplement to the bread basket was the organic yogurt with berries. Service was quite friendly and attentive. I'd stop by here again if I was in NYC, even though it's a chain.
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The food here was delicious, if a bit expensive for what you get. We had a short wait but it wasn't long enough to drive me to sell my soul for a bite to eat. I had a chicken and cheese thing on bread. Very good. I had a bit of a spread and a Belgian hot cocoa drink and they were nice, too. The service was fine, but I think our server got confused a couple as he looked at my empty place setting.
I will probably go back, but there are more restaurants to try in this small town.
Who knew that doing absolutely nothing in Central Park could work up an appetite? On a recent jaunt to the Park with my two lovelies, dear sis and Jess M, we sat absolutely starving for a snacky but needed to not gorge because we had dinner plans that same evening. The great idea of Le Pain Quotidien came up and was not too far in walking distance.
We could get bread! Such an odd snack but perfect in our minds. Simple but filling, we often judge places by the bread baskets they bestow upon us. I already knew this would be a winner with Jess M since she loves her bread. My sis and I had already test drove the bread snack at another location and it passed with winning colors. We sat and ordered 2 servings of organic baguette. I had suggested three because I was a little overly excited but thank goodness we only got two because two was plenty with the drinks we ordered (to have water with bread would be a little sad. bread and water = jail food).
The secret to this bread snack are the spreads it comes with- praline spread (if you love nutella, this is SO MUCH BETTER!) and berry and apricot jams. I think the jams taste like fruit roll-ups which is just as yummy as the praline stuff but the praline spread is hands down my favorite. If you want an alternate from those three, go for plain butter. This bread is so good with plain butter. This bread is pure indulgence!
For drinks we had coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. They served my hot chocolate in a soup bowl. I was given some warm milk in a bowl and in a separate silver cup some melted dark chocolate. Yum yum! I created my own hot chocolate when I mixed the two! It was great because earlier I was dreaming of some chocolate soup.
The service is kind of slow at Le Pain Quotidien but we got to relax. We got a nice window seat where we had a view of a sewer rat poking its head out and taking a view of what was going on at street level. Cute from afar and very NY but I pray that rat does not go all Ratatoouille on Le Pain. Leave the bread to us humans. I love it too much. It's simple and Le Pain Quotidien does it well which is why I will give it 4 stars.
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Don't get me wrong.
Hash browns, syrup, 7 egg monster omelettes, and fried fatty pork products are all favorites of mine.
But on occasion, I choose to have a day filled with serenity and peaceful reflection rather than one spent practically understanding the benefits of two ply extra soft toilet paper.
Too much info?
Meh.
That being said, Le Pain Quotidien is a place I choose to frequent.
On the "euro" style lighter side, Le Pain Quotidien serves dishes like cold cuts with cheeses and soft boiled eggs with artisan breads.
If you are looking for the rooty tootie fresh and fruity, look elsewhere.
If you like your coffee strong, your conversations condescending, and your cheese stinky, you've come to the right place.
Why condescending?
This place must be on every European NYC guidebook as it's filled with many quiet onlooking American judging European nationals.
I am pretty sure I offended most by my fourth F-bomb.
Red, white and blue baby.
Existentialism.
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Khara and I were thrilled to find a delightful breakfast spot that served hard-boiled eggs, bread-baskets with nutella and jam, and coffee for a reasonable price while we studied French in Aix-en-Provence. Upon returning to the States, we realized we'd been had; it's a chain. And the American version just does not compare.
As Starbucks ruined the definition of macchiato, Le Pain Quotidien is bent on ruining the definition of brioche. And the service I received last Sunday was comparable to an episode of Jerry Springer in its ability to make me feel embarrassed to be part of the human race.
I have something to say to you, Le Pain Quotidien de New York:
"Tu t'appalles 'Le Pain Quotidien'? T'es nul! Il n'est pas assez bon pour qu'un americain mange votre pain! Laisse-moi tranquille et va faire foutre!"
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Came here twice. The first time I came was an informal interview to get into a PhD program. The graduate chair, a Japanese American professor who writes about classical music and the glories of westernization brought me here. Seated at a great table, excellent service, delectable food. I felt oh so scholarly and on the ups. With all the attention and hanging loaves of bread it was like "Beauty and the Beast"-- be our guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test!
(and here it comes...)
Second time, I decided to bring a friend. He happens to be another very well-accomplished Anthropology professor who happens to not be Asian or white but African American. We were bypassed and ignored for other customers for at least 20 minutes and then got the shit table next to the door where tourists and the frump society of professors and classical musicians were banging at us to get in as if we worked there. We must have looked muffed because the servers got nervous and messed up our bill. It was a huge mistake to come, and I felt very ashamed for ushering my comrade into such an ill experience. So in conclusion, you'll love this place if they love you but for some of us, we ain't so welcome.
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"Ahhhhhaaaarrrggggghhhhahhhaaahhhhh, chep, chep, chep, chep."
That's the sound I make when someone wants to goto Le Pain Quotidien. It (the sound) is also called a "yawn."
Listen, it's great to go check it out a few times, but their food offerings get boring real fast. Their menu is limited and half the dish are just different versions of the same ingredients. Curry Chicken, Shrimp, some type of a Spread . . . you can have it in Salad format or on top of little pieces of Bread.
To their credit, they do have good Bread, Soup, Desserts, and Spreads. So, their food is good. Don't get me wrong. Their ingredients are fresh and I do like the atmosphere there. Bright and sunny, even if it's a cloudy/rainy day. Be my Umbrella, Ella, Ella, Ella, Ella, Eh, Eh, Eh, Eh . . . because . . .
But another knock on them in addition to the lack of variety/change in their menu is that the service is sllloooooowww.
If you plan on going, I'd recommend most of the Salads (minus the Shrimp Salad, since I thought it was pretty bland) over the Sandwiches. The Platters are pretty good, but it can get a bit monotonous.
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I had a really delicious fresh tomato soup here a few weeks ago. But when I ordered it, the pissy waiter said kind of sarcastically, "What else."
I didn't blame him after a while. This place seems to be packed at all times of the day and he looked like he wanted to go cry in the bathroom.
And I truly forgave him (or, really, forgot about him) once I tasted how fresh the soup was.
I only wish they'd stop serving their coffee and hot chocolate and other drinks in those huge bowls. Yes, it looks nice and kind of feels cool to wrap your hands around that huge bowl and pour it into your face. But when I order a hot drink, I want it to stay hot for more than two seconds. The bowl lets all the heat out instantly. And, let's face it, their coffee isn't that amazing to begin with so it should at least have HEAT going for it!
I will, however, recommend their granola. Kind of pricey but hearty. I think there might have been pumpkin seeds in it or something.
If you can bear the long lines to get in (do yourself a favor, go as a party of two at the most....you'll get in much quicker), the food is worth it.
We love the salads and sandwiches. My wife loves the granola bars as well. The spreads for the bread are really tasty as well.
I'm not one of those vile carb-knockers. I love 'em, I subsist off of them, a friend once asked me "what's so great about bread and water? That's what you get in prison." Well- sign me up for life!
Le Pain has great bread (and split pea soup, ripping off large chunks of dellicious bread and dipping them in a perfectly seasoned split pea soup is as close to heaven as I'm probably going to be getting). That mixed with their location makes it perfect for grabbing something and enjoying Central Park, but eating in is fun also, as they have large communal tables. I really fell in love with the place one day when a foxy euro-trash lookin lady a little down from me ordered desert and sent me one also!
Oh, New York...
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I thought it was a bit expensive until I remembered that they use organic ingredients... if this is important to you, then this place is not such a bad deal.
Nice atmosphere, big communal tables and small 2 tops fill up the big main dining area. The food headed out to the tables looks tasty, a menu built around bread and yummy things to spread on it can't be bad.
My coffee was not awesome. Patries look gorgeous, but the croissant I had was not so tender, I've had better many a time. I found the counter service slow and not so attentive. The granola parfait was decent, but it took forever to get it from the kitchen to me- and I'm over that.
I am going back to get a big boule of crusty bread though - they look fab displayed behind the counter just out of reach (at $7-9 a loaf, they better be!)
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The French Creme Donut at $3.95, is the most decadent pastry I've seen. My mouth dropped when they brought it to me. Look for yourself (see posted pic). My server was new and had no idea what an Americano is, but another server quickly stepped in and explained, right before I was about to. Coffee is good full bodied, and will keep you up, even though you got no sleep on the red-eye and did battle with your luggage up the subway stairs, and waiting for 4pm check-in. No, it's not cheap, what decent patisserie is?
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Although it's not the kind of food I'd have everyday, It's a great pick. The food is fresh and tasty. Service is fast. If you're into organic food and eating a little healthier than everyone in town, you should try it.
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I have to say they are impressive, with their inviting restaurants all over the city. But go there a lot and you will realize many of the pastries aren't great (my Korean deli has better croissants, I am not kidding) and they don't have hot food! Seems wierd for such a large restaurant. And the muffins aint great either. Go to Petrossian Cafe across the street instead (if you can get a seat). In any case, Le Pain Q seems very successful -- I think they target spaces in apartment buildings where the rent is cheaper
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Great Vego options!
I've never bothered with the pastries, I always gorge on the bread and open sandwiches. Great food, though it can get extremely busy.
Don't forget to try the praline spread... mmmmmmm..........
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Excellent healthy breakfast with a nice, light and airy ambience. I had the cheese plate which had some beautifully ripened cheeses - the Gruyere in particular was very tasty - served with a variety of interesting breads. The coffee was excellent served in huge cups without handles - amused my daughter. The Belgian hot chocolate was also excellent and you get to choose how much chocolate to put in. We will go there again - maybe today!
"The focal point of Le Pain Quotidien has always been the communal table. It has immediate appeal as it embraces customers - whether total strangers or close friends. It welcomes everybody, allowing everyone to relax and enjoy the unique atmosphere."
I like the philosophy and the atmosphere of Le Pain Quotidien. We stopped in after a stroll through Central Park, looking for brunch. I was really impressed with the food and the manner in which it was served - cool plates and just an overall rustic atmosphere.
I ordered a Cobb salad which was pretty good, with large portions of the typical Cobb salad toppings, and a slightly spicy dressing. Being that it is a bakery, bread was served on the side, and it was crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside, just the way it should be.
My only complaint is that it seemed a bit pricey. The communal, casual, atmosphere reminds me a lot of restaurants like Panera which are quite affordable. The prices at "Le Pain" were probably double Panera's. For four of us, brunch, with coffee, was something like $80. I guess it is a bit of a step up, and it is in new York City, but still, that's expensive! This location is only a block or so from my office, so perhaps I'll check it out again and see if I can find some better deals, on their great food.
A friend of mine, who also works in the neighborhood, said their Belgian brownie was so good that he insisted I try it. He even bought it. Mmmmmm, he wasn't kidding. I didn't stay, but the place looks cute enough. But who cares? That brownie... oh, man...
ETA- went for brunch- enjoyed it a lot. A great cup of their red fruit tea, a delicious egg salad sandwich. But the service was just awful! I know weekend brunch can get crazy, but still!
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This location is a little too close to tourist central, but it's also the largest, the most informal, and a nice place to hang out, read and/or people watch at communal tables. I think my favorite menu item was called the Tuscan platter -- ricotta cheese, sundried tomato spread and pesto to spread on chewy, crusty bread, with prosciutto, cheese, olives and a few salad greens. Otherwise you can order pastries and coffee drinks, and to go. I was a little shocked myself when I first learned this was a chain, but they do a great job putting together a french country bakery feel without getting too pretentious.
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Very fresh, not cheap, but you can taste the quality. My favorite place to go alone and just have something quick to eat.
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Nice Place, very similar to the same restaurants in Paris. There doesn't seem to be the ability to try a bunch of different preserves with your bread though like there is in the Paris LPQ I frequented. (Metro Bourse)
It's a good place to socialize, there's a long table where you can sit with a bunch of random people and talk. Waitstaff is polite, friendly and quick...very un-european.
I had the roast beef tartine, which was nice and flavorful. However, it might be a bit small for those who are super hungry. Finished the meal with the famous belgian brownie (basically a flourless chocolate cake of average tastyness)
The only downside to this place is that the coffee is a bit weak. If you are a hard core Starbucks/Peets person, get something else to drink.
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Ever have one of those moments where you're like, "oh my god, I found this great little place," and then you reveal what it is and the person you tell is like, "yeah, there are like a hundred of them all over the city." That was my first experience with Le Pain Quotidien, and while my "damn-the-man" desire to support non-chain restaurants is strong, that doesn't mean I don't love everything on the menu here. Especially the prosciutto, pesto, mozzarella tartine. Yum. I love the atmosphere too - they may be trying bit too hard to be THE answer to tres fabulous organic european-ness but again, I don't care, it's light, fresh, delicious food. Perfect for lunch, and a great great bakery.
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Ca a beau etre une chaine, c'est vraiment tres bon. Un super endroit pour combattre les petits coups de nostalgie du pays.
I'll do the rest in English, before the Yelp language police shuts me down :) The eponymous bread is the best I've had on this side of the pond. The setting is great, the staff helpful, the offerings creative and what more could you really want?
My suggestion is to get a couple of friends together some morning, order the bread basket and some bowls of cafe au lait or hot chocolate and dig into breakfast, French country style.
I love this place. It is very casusal but civilized and with the most fabulous nutella type stuff on every table! The food is very fresh and the tuscan platter is excellent.
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I had walked by this place a few times and I'm always interested in a place that has tons of delicious looking bread in the window. So I tried this place over the weekend and was (sort of) disappointed. The food was pretty good. I had a tuna sandwich. It was pretty good and even had mashed up olives spread over it. All of their sandwiches come open-faced which was interesting. My best gal, Chelsea J., had the egg salad which was so-so in my opinion although she liked it. I was envious of everyone getting breakfast though. It all looked so good! But this place was sort of pricey and for what I was paying, the wait staff didn't seem to care. Our waitress seemed to be hovering over every other table except for ours. That really got to me. Not once was I asked how my food was and she never offered us more of anything or asked if we wanted dessert. She finally saw me craning my neck to get her attention--I was two seconds away from having to light off fireworks just to catch her eye--and she came over and directly asked if I wanted the check. Nice.
So yeah, I really have no reason to ever go back there although I'm told the bakery is pretty sweet. We'll see.
EDIT: I have since been told that "mashed up olive spread" as I so beautifully put it, is also known as tapenade. Sue me. ;)
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BLACK BEAN HUMMUS: Unique and yummy -- the hummus comes pre-spread on thin pieces of bread. It is also topped with just the right amount of avocado.
"LIGHT" FINANCIER: This has no butter, no sugar, and no eggs. It was very good, though it was fairly greasy.
FRENCH CREME DONUT: Huge and delicious; we shared one among three people.
BEVERAGES: I like the green iced tea. The mint lemonade is also very, very good -- it is only lightly sweetened, which makes the lemon and mint shine through.
OVERALL: The atmosphere was casual, our waitress was genuinely nice, and the food was great (especially if you have a weakness for breads and/or pastries). Overall, I really like this place, even if it is a chain.
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I was really surprised to find that this place is part of a chain. The food surpasses all expectations of a chain store. I think the pastries are amazing and the "real food" is nicely put together at a great price.
This is one of the few places that it's perfectly comfortable to go on your own and not feel the need to have a book with you. The mint lemonade is so refreshing but gets finished way too fast. The salads are good with big chunks of cheese and gets served with bread which is a great dessert with the praline spread...yum! The open faced sandwiches always look so pretty and like it won't be enough food but it definitely fills you up.
I try to avoid walking by in the mornings on my way to work becauase if I do I know I'll stop in for an Organic Blueberry Muffin or a scone because honestly, they're just too good.
Lovely food, drink, music and service and ambiance.
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great healthy, organic lil sandwiches served on cutting boards. my latest fave is ricotta, honey and dried black figs! me and mish used to go to the one in bev hills when we lived in cali. we like the jamon with 3 mustards. and of course the hazelnut spread... so delicioius.
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