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The Adore - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Japanese Food Bakeries French, Japanese, Bakeries [Edit]
17 E 13th St(between 5th Ave & University Pl)
New York, NY 10003
Neighborhoods: Greenwich Village, Union Square
(212) 243-8742
- Nearest Transit:
-
Union Sq - 14 St (L)
14 St - Union Sq (N, Q, R)
14 St - Union Sq (4, 5, 6, 6X)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
93 reviews for The Adore
Review Highlights
"The potato leek soup is sooo good too."
(in 9 reviews)
"...around the mess that is Union Square and my very favorite..."
(in 11 reviews)
"The baguette was warm and lightly buttered."
(in 18 reviews)
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93 reviews in English
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Review from Jasmine T.
New York, NY
12/10/2011
CLOSED :(
I invited a friend for tea and the handwritten sign said "goodbye to our fans." There's a liquor permit plastered to gate.
This cozy place was my ace to escape the chaos of Union Square. Sad how something so adorable will be replaced with something expensive and lame. -
Review from jay c.
Honolulu, HI
12/3/2011
I think that this little neighborhood gem is closed for good. There's a little paper sign on the wall next to the gate. We were just there last weekend for brunch (we've been going every single weekend for many years) and it was open for business as usual but no one said anything. My kids had their last bowl of tasty cream of corn soup and the fabulous croque madames. I had my last made-from-scratch waffle, and my husband his last anchovy sandwich. We were happy for all the haters to stay away since we didn't want those who didn't really appreciate The Adore to come around and bring down the really special vibe this place had. It's really too sad as this neighborhood has been steadily losing all the small stores that make it really special. Our family is very sad.
As for the city's health ratings, I'd rather eat here, where the food is homemade and delicious, than any Starbucks with its A rating. If we had known it was closing, we'd have eaten there every day until the end. Goodbye, Dear Friend! -
Review from Kevin W.
11/6/2011
Fresh squeezed oj very good.
Almond crescent tasted burnt and shrunken - should be called a crescent shaped cookie it's so hard. Maybe dats the French way. I felt bad, but we sent it back. It looked like we got the leftover crescent that had fallen behind the oven somewhere and got overcooked to the point of being dry and hard. But I think that's how it's supposed to be.
Very cute place with dining upstairs. French Provençal is the word I'm looking for I think. I don't know what that means really, I just wanted to use that word.
Service pretty slow. -
Review from Mir D.
Newtonville, NY
2/3/2012
I'm so sad to see this is closed. It was one of my favorite places.
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Review from Cherie L.
New York, NY
Updated - 1/24/2012
:( so sad that this place closed :( :( :(
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/30/2011
it's quality, not quantity...
the toasty croissants lured me into this place while i was on my way… Read more »
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Review from Tiffany Y.
New York, NY
Updated - 1/13/2012
Oh my heart just broke. I can't believe they closed ='(
Listed in: For the Raging Sugarholic In…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/2/2011
I wandered in at around 6:30pm on a Friday evening, looking for a place to sit and chat with a… Read more »
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Review from Chantelle K.
New York, NY
10/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had no problems at Adore. My lunch companion and I came just after 1:30pm where there was no line and plenty of bread and pastries left. Their menu offered a great selection so I actually had a hard time picking, but in the end, I opted for the sandwich/soup lunch combo: white fish smoked baguette with cucumbers and horseradish with a side of creamed corn soup. For $10 in New York, I think that's a pretty good deal! He got one of the special sandwiches: sopressata with mozzarella.
We opted to take out because we both had a 2pm meeting. We sat outside on the provided chairs in about 5 minutes, our sandwiches were ready which they brought out to us.
As the other yelpers raved, the baguette was great. My sandwich had plenty of filling with just the right amount of heat from the horseradish and crunch from the cucumber. The soup was so-so: a bit on the watery side and not very well seasoned. I didn't finish it but was more than stuffed from my sandwich!
Definitely looking forward to going back and trying the other sandwich combos and picking up one of the delectable looking pastries! -
Review from Rachel W.
Manhattan, NY
1/6/2012
So sad it's closed. This was my favorite place for lunch downtown. I live and work in the neighborhood and absolutely loved coming here. Such a safe respite from the insanity of the city. I miss this place every day.
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Review from Dave L.
New York, NY
10/24/2011
Was looking for a lunch place near Union Square on a Saturday afternoon and found this little gem courtesy of Yelp. It's an unassuming hole in the wall type place removed from the hubbub of Union Square. The storefront is a little bakery with the kitchen in back, no chairs, and we weren't even sure there was seating inside until a lady sitting on the bench outside told us to go upstairs. So up the steep flight of stairs we went and sure enough, there are several wooden tables and chairs. Quaint, quiet and rustic.
This is a French bakery/restaurant owned by Japanese and many of the workers are Japanese. The French and Japanese share a passion for style, fashion and presentation and when applied to cuisine it results in delicious, fresh and attractive dishes in moderate portions. The menu is basically soups, salads and sandwiches, all prepared with fresh ingredients. Their baguettes are delivered daily from a well-known bakery and their deserts are baked on the premises every morning. If you are looking for big sandwiches emphasizing quantity you will not find them here. -
Review from Jane K.
12/1/2011
Closed today for lunch... gate down. Please open again?
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Review from Bonnie G.
Manhattan, NY
12/23/2011
Closed, very sadly. Had wonderful sandwiches and potato leek soup. Unfair bad health review (later changed) probably cost them a lot of business, but it was really a lovely place and will be missed.
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Review from Jess L.
7/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
** 2.5 stars **
I came here with a friend for lunch. We really liked the ambiance right away: very simple and rustic. The menu had a lot of sandwich options, but they were all pretty related to each other. My friend got the tuna with avocado, and I got the Hangarian salami with cheese and peppers. We also got the potato leek soup.
The soup was pretty light, but the potatoes tasted a little too hard, and it was pretty unexciting. My sandwich was fine but, in the end, seemed pretty steep for $8. Lastly, my friend's sandwich didn't have any semblance of avocado, so when she inquired, she was told the tuna and avocado were blended together. "But I don't taste any avocado. [That is the point.]" So, she got some extra slices (for 50 cents extra, which actually isn't a lot but symbolically was very strange).
So, in the end, not sure I'll come back. Maybe I'd check out one of their lovely-looking pastries but skip lunch. -
Review from Jim R.
Woodside, NY
11/25/2011
I was V.W.'s companion below. The Adore was one of the two worst dining experiences I ever had growing up in NYC (the other being a Dominican spot near Fordham Road & Third Avenue where the waitress literally threw silverware at us after we complained we didn't have any). All seemed well upon entering, but that quickly unraveled. The insistence that their food be made a specific way is one thing, but to insist that her taste preferences are wrong and outright refusal to exchange the dish is beyond offensive. We objected multiple times, and were shrugged off. I asked to speak to a manager, she refused. I got up to go downstairs to talk to the manager/chef, and only then was the sandwich brought upstairs the way it was ordered, with further scolding.
Secondly, we were asked by a different waitress to leave if we were not eating, while I still had a cup and a half of tea left in my pot, AND while two other tables had folks sitting there reading and talking and NOT eating or drinking. When we went downstairs to formally complain after we had enough, the second waitress came downstairs and sardonically got in our face saying "uh huh, uh huh, have a nice day, have a nice day, that's not what happened, have a nice day".
Its one thing to have a bad server, but its obviously the culture of the staff based on the peculiarities of the "chef" making subpar food. Much better options within a 5-minute walk. Decor does not make up for pure crap. -
Review from V. W.
Rego Park, NY
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came to Adore for the second time and received completely different service than I did previously when I was alone. First thing was I ordered a sopressata sandwich that had really bland mozzarella on a hard toasted French baguette. Because there wasn't too much flavor and the overall sandwich was dry I asked for mayo or mustard from the waitress. She proceeded to say that she wasn't going to give it to me because mustard is "supposed to be on roast beef..." or something to that effect. She told me the only thing I was allowed to have on this sandwich combination was olive oil. When I told her I still wanted the mustard she again refused where I proceeded to tell her that I no longer want the sandwich and to take it back and stated the fact that if I took the sandwich to go, they'd have no control over what I added to it.
I've dined in 5 star restaurants and have a friend who worked with Jean George and other high end restaurants who has never acted as snooty and condescending as she was to me and my guest.
The second issue I had was while we were eating we were also doing some work at the table (as were 2 other tables that arrived BEFORE us). While we were there (which was about an hour...not a long time for the amount of food we had: we had soup, an entree, drinks AND a dessert each!) we were approached by another rude waitress, while I still had dessert on my plate and we were basically told we couldn't do work there (in otherwards leave) because they needed tables for people waiting outside...we left less than 5 mins after and there was NO ONE waiting. The worst part of the whole ordeal is that they did not say the same remark to the table beside us (a table with 3 older white women with notebooks on their table). I was not dressed like a bum or am a penniless student...I am Chinese and my friend Caucasian, and all of the staff these young Japanese kids so I don't know why they are acting all high and mighty with their C!!!! HEALTH RATED shop (I must have missed that posting otherwise I wouldn't have stepped foot in there, but another yelper posted this helpful tidbit). Maybe they took the rating down or hid it somewhere. Anyway, to say the least I won't be returning and will tell anyone else the same. -
Review from Stephanie P.
Brooklyn, NY
11/28/2011
This is a teeny tiny cafe, a perfect haven in uber busy Union Square. Love having morning coffee dates here. Do to the size and the demand for tables (and the charming feel of it), this spot is not good for working, and definitely not a laptop kind of place.
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Review from Ricky K.
New York, NY
1/9/2012
I'm so sad that this place closed. I will miss the grumpy, moody, stubborn owner who kicks into super nice mode once in a while. I appreciate he wasnt fake, and kept it real. Also miss the cute girl who always wore a fedora.
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Review from Jens A.
New York, NY
8/4/2011
I'm a big francophile, so when I found this adorable (and well hidden) French restaurant, I absolutely had to go. I ordered the turkey sandwich, but unfortunately they were out, so I went with the always safe tomato & basil sandwich on a baguette. It came with a salad and I could not decide which dressing to get with it and the waiter fantastically suggested the dijon mustard which went perfectly with the already wonderful salad. The baguette had the fantastic crunch that every sandwich should have and I spent the time eating it looking outside the window - a charming view, hard to find in NYC (maybe not too hard in Greenwhich Village though). Once I was finished, I bothered the waiter once more to suggest a desert (since I had heard the pastries are to die for) and ended up with the most orgasmic apple tart I have ever had the delight to eat on my table within a few minutes.
I honestly cannot express my love for The Adore enough. The service was fantastic, although I will admit it would be nice if the delay between me finishing and getting my check was a bit shorter. The design of everything is so well thought out though, that I throughly enjoyed the extra time to take it all in. -
Review from JK y.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 1/11/2012
Adam (the The Adore baker) has hung out a shingle at Bak which is a few doors west of The Adore on the same block. He's making the sandwiches and some of the pastries and trying to make a go of it. Obviously the great ambiance of the old place is not there, but some of the food is!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/6/2011
From the fantastically prepared food to the owners purist approach to things, so glad to have known… Read more »
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Review from Jamie J.
Manhattan, NY
9/17/2011
Have gotten a couple of desserts, the apple tart and cheesecake, and both were delightful.
Yesterday, I went to get an iced tea and tried the "brown rice" flavored (not positive what the name was). Of course, I wanted a little honey with it, but to my surprise got yelled at and refused by the Japanese old man not to add any sugar to the tea. The young man explained that it will ruin the flavor. I left confused and tasted the tea. I think it should let the person decide if they wanted to add a sweetener to a drink. I agree the flavor is strong enough and could hold on its own, but when I added the honey (I snuck some from next door) it definitely enhanced it. -
Review from Herman L.
FOREST HILLS, NY
10/9/2011
I had chosen this place for the ambiance..typical French Bistro with the old rustic decor. Thank goodness though, as the food was barely passable. Their staple, the Potato Leek Soup, was very bland and bordering on Campbell soup. French BLT sandwich would have tasted better if the bacon wasn't so undercooked, almost bordering rare. Waitress was friendly, but it would have helped if she didn't have to repeat the specials almost three times. At least they had a good selection of teas. I'll pass on a return for this nom.
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Review from Jessica T.
7/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ordered an Apple Pie.
Helpful service, and yet the pie tasted just so-so. It's cold, maybe I should have told them to heat it.
I love the atmosphere and interior though! -
Review from Angela N.
New York, NY
1/22/2011 1 photo
I adore The Adore...ok, that was way to easy, and I'm sure someone already said that before.
Went there for a late lunch today. Only scanned the reviews via Yelp and upon seeing the words quaint, cute, French-Japanese and coffee...I was sold.
I, however, didn't realize that if you wanted to eat-in that I should've gone straight upstairs and not order via the counter on the lower-street level. Oops. The cashier, however, was very nice and simply sent me upstairs after informing the waitress above. Embarrassed.
Yes, so if you want to eat-in it's sit-down table service; for take-out, then order at the street level and you'll be on your way. Since I was a table for one, I had the sole table for one (i.e. an old-school classroom table n chair); kinda felt a little odd...like I was the student with the dunks cap...sitting in the (near) corner all by my wee self. Boo.
I got over it quite fast because space it tight upstairs (i.e. think narrow two level colonel home with 7 tables each sitting 1-3 max...it's tiny) and I was already in love with the place when I first walked in. I wasn't going anywhere.
I ended up ordering the soup/sandwich combo and a pot of tea:
Spicy Chicken w/ Caramelized Onions and Baguette - loved it; great spice, Italian sausage like taste;
Potato & Leek Soup - portion was a tad small but tasty (not cooked w/ cream as I expected...and it could've been lighter on the salt);
Soba-Cha - decaf Japanese buckwheat tea - yummy roasted flavor.
Thought the tea at $5.00 was a tad pricey but their drinks kinda are priced between $3-6. I didn't ask for the pot to be refilled but I'm sure they would've if you asked for more hot water.
Waitstaff was nice, friendly and attentive. Definitely will not be the last time I visit The Adore...next time I'll bring a buddy and sit for a while longer...that's what all the other parties did. -
Review from Harlan V.
Brooklyn, NY
1/21/2011
Eff all the haters. I'm giving this place a solid 5 stars. I go here about once a week for coffee or lunch. The coffee here is among the best I've ever had - and I've had a LOT of coffee in my day.
The pastries here are so nommy, with some really unusual variants. Prune scones? Delicious. Sounds weird, but so does a Japanese French place. And the madeilenes (sp?) have an almost cake consistency.
The leek soup - amazing. The bread they use on all the sandwiches - house baked and - yes, amazing. The coffee, again - amazing.
I've been coming here for nearly half a decade, and the staff has remained largely the same. They remember me, and are always very sweet and attentive.
Now, if you don't "get" the vibe here, you're not going to like it. They are very particular about how their food is served. The sandwiches are feng shui-ed to be visually as well as actually tasty. There are no substitutions. You can't order off the menu. They close whenever they want, and they only take cash. And they're closed on Sundays - business suicide in Manhattan. Whatever. I recommend popping in a quiet weekday mid-morning after all the yuppies have gone to work. Enjoy the rich woodwork, treehouse view, and warm service. And get the coffee for the love of god! (With sugarcubes!) -
Review from George D.
ASTORIA, NY
8/20/2011
I gotta admit that I venture here mainly for the atmosphere. The quaint little spot has me hooked with the heavy wooden tables and lunchtime snackery. But not to undersell the food. From the first bite of pretty much everything on the menu from the little kitchen downstairs, my first thought was "precision". It's obvious that a lot of thought went into the ingredients they introduce to each dish.
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Review from Alex G.
ASTORIA, NY
2/28/2011
What a pleasant surprise! The Adore is definitely one of those places you stumble during a stroll on a nice day in NYC.
The Adore offers a range of tea (Yuzu-cha is my favorite) sandwiches from scratch and delicious desserts! I had the smoked duck sandwich on 7 grain and it was delicious. The sandwich was a perfect size and the yuzu-cha complimented it perfectly.
For dessert I had their seasonal "chocolate apricot" pastry. Fresh and extremely tasty.
The Adore is a perfect lunch spot and a place where you just want to kill some time while enjoying some tea and/or dessert. The decor is a la small French cabin feel. Very cozy.
The staff are extremely friendly and it appeared to be Japanese owned so you'll be guaranteed great service :)
This is my new favorite spot especially on those spring days! -
Review from Tan N.
2/12/2011
The first thing I noticed when I walked into this place was the big fat C rating that the Health Police gave. I was really nervous about eating anything here, but then I noticed just how cute and homey the place and the owners (these old immigrant Asians) were, and I decided what the heck, let's just try it anyways. Hey, I never said I was the smartest person on yelp.
The macaroons and other pastries weren't that bad. Delicious, in fact. And 4 days later, I have yet to break into fever or chills, and my stool is still semi-sold and diarrhea free. This place can't be that un-sanitary. I'd give it 4 stars, but that C rating really gets to me. That's too bad- this place would be a really cute place to bring a date. -
Review from Lily H.
New York, NY
2/15/2011
This place was merely OKAY. If it wasn't for the lovely decor, this place would have been a 2 star for me. I had brunch here with a friend and the food was OKAY and kindly pricey. Service was OKAY.
Cash only. -
Review from Osaka A.
New York, NY
7/29/2010
Why do I keep going back when the food is a-ok? The Japanese style Viennese coffee that has whip cream on it, which is virtually impossible to find outside of Seoul and Japan. The 2nd floor space that overlooks 13th street. Something mysteriously very Japanese that reminds me of my many trips to Japan.
My brain says no, but my heart says yes.. -
Review from Preeti B.
Brooklyn, NY
1/19/2010
Konichiwa! Allow me to pour a neurotic secret into your cup: The French and Japanese cuisines intimidate me and I hence rarely visit places that feature either...nor do I prepare either in my own kitchen. Intimidation is not my best color, but I've been thinking to expand my (color) palate lately. So, it's like my more fashion forward friends urge...just wear it with confidence! I'm already pleasantly surprised as I'm eased upstairs into my favorite kind of cafe setting...rustic, minimalist and well-lit.
Sacre bleu! I took one look at the tea list and realized I was out of my league - I really had no idea what Mariage Frères was...a flavor? a type of tea? a region? The precious server advised that I rather understand that the list ranged in strength of taste. I chose something mild and delicate. Its arrival displayed the perfect blend of French and Japanese nuances; the tea came in a elegantly understated white pot with a wondrously functional teabag holder.
The winds of change have definitely pushed curiosity to start overpowering intimidation, I'm ready to be carried forward...
J'adore The Adore -
Review from Atif I.
7/28/2007
Those of you who have seen The Joy Luck club, can probably recall and chuckle at the scene where the culturally challenged boyfriend (Rich) asks for and liberally douses the dish with soy sauce as a horrified family looks on.
There is a lot to be said for pride in tradition. But, I also find it amusing when friends tell me that requests for a side of jam (with a brioche or scone) will be turned down at The Adore. As will those for mustard with the sandwich. The tea connoisseur Ameena G. has already written about the hazards of over/under brewing because of the lack of a second tea pot to strain the tea into. So, their rules can be both charming and exasperating.
The Adore is a cute little shop serving sandwiches, soups, coffee, and pastries. I used to like it more a few years back but both the quality and service have come down a notch. They do have a good Pain Au Chocolat - light, warm, with good quantity chocolate inside. Still, no shatter effect, limited flakiness, and I felt the texture of the chocolate thicker - more like a paste. Also, I am not a big fan of berry based desserts, and so can't attest to their credentials here.
As far as the cappuccino goes: Joe's is merely a few steps away, so why wouldn't you rather go there for coffee? Especially at an hour when the madding crowds haven't yet arrived!Listed in: Pain Au Chocolat and other…
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Review from Madhu R.
5/22/2011
Great pastries, tea, location, and the upstairs (perch) is great for people watching. Reminds me alot of the casual cafes in D.C. like Teaism in Dupont.
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Review from Tony L.
8/9/2007
If you've ever watched Kiki's Delivery Service, you'll understand the Japanese take on European culture at The Adore This is one of the coolest restaurants I've eaten at. They serve simple fare, sandwiches soup, coffee and tea, at a decent price.
If you're in the mood for some fresh baked bread and pastries, you can just stop at the little counter downstairs where you'll be served by the friendly all Japanese staff. Upstairs, you're greeted with a cottage-like, rustic dining room with a large window perfect for a warm afternoon.
The soup and sandwich combo $10. For soup, I had potato leek, seasoned just right, the leeks tender and flavorful, and a few cubes of sourdough bread dropped in for good measure. When it comes to soup, a lot of restaurants load you up on sodium, but this wasn't the case at The Adore. The taste was light and delicious.
For my sandwich, I had the Croque Mexican baguette, with Havarti, tomato, and a few thin slices of jalapeno, which added a touch of color to the presentation. The baguette was warm and lightly buttered. While the jalapeno was just a touch too spicy, I still found this restaurant to be a tasty experience.
If you're in the Union Square area and what a simple lunch with some character, check out The Adore. I'm definitely coming back.Listed in: Things to Do around Union…
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Review from Adam G.
New York, NY
3/29/2008
Can I be lame here for a second? It's really hard not to love life sitting in The Adore's tiny second floor dining room of a Saturday afternoon sipping some genmaicha and nibbling on a tasty little sandwich, with the sunlight streaming in through that big picture window.
I kind of want to kick my own oversensitive ass for writing that sentence, but heck if it ain't true. I had the smoked salmon sandwich this morning (avocado, cucumber, wasabi all on a crackly warm baguette) and it was just so right. -
Review from phil s.
New York, NY
12/23/2011
living in the neighborhood for 15+ years, the adore was one of my favorite places. i'm heartbroken that it's closed. i loved the delicious sandwiches and pastries, and the rustic peaceful environment. goodbye the adore :(
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Review from Ro N.
New York, NY
Updated - 5/28/2009
5 Stars for having my absolute favourite tea...
Mariage Frères Thé!
LOVES IT!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/28/2007
I haven't visited here for such a very long time.
Seeing this name brings back mixed memories.
I used… Read more »
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Review from Yvonne W.
New York, NY
Updated - 12/13/2009
I came here again for lunch on Tuesday and had a croque madame. I guess coming earlier (this time i was there around 12:30) meant finally getting my sandwich right. They had the usual white bread, which was really, REALLY thick, high quality white bread, and the ham in my sandwich was in a larger quantity than it was the last time. The runny egg on top was satisfying, too.
Service this time around was nicer, too. Maybe they just have their good and bad days?Listed in: Best Desserts
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/26/2009
I really wanted to like -- no, LOVE this place, especially after admiring it for so long and wanting… Read more »
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Review from Melissa Z.
New York, NY
4/23/2009 1 photo
I am a sucker for cute cafes. The small dining area, the petite and simple products, wooden tables and flowers in front of the giant window warm my heart. Not to mention the food is satisfying and the random shouts of Japanese remind me that I have not been transported to a side street in Europe.
There is a bit of a wait in the cramped downstairs area since the upstairs has limited seating. But the staff keep busy and the turnover is relatively quick without being too rushed. The only thing that keeps The Adore from being a 5-star place might be the service, but it really didn't bother me that much. They're a busy establishment, and our orders came out at a timely fashion.
My friend had the turkey sausage with onions on a baguette and a side of potato and leek soup, and I had the turkey breast with alfalfa, lettuce, and tomatoes on white and the asparagus puree soup. I didn't get a strong asparagus taste in the soup (if asparagus even has a strong flavor), but it was creamy and delicious. We both enjoyed our sandwiches. I normally don't give much attention to the bread on my sandwiches, but their white bread was so fluffy and had a nice crisp but not too hard crust that I happily devoured. I can't wait to come back here again and maybe have a cup of tea at the window table. -
Review from Cynthia F.
1/22/2010
One of THE worst dining experiences I have ever had. So amazingly bad, I am not sure where to start.
Basically, they offer overpriced, watery tea, sparse sandwiches and idiosyncratic, fussy service. I arrived with 2 companions. To our surprise, we were not allowed to see whether there was space available and were told to wait outside. There was no one else in the tiny hallway at the time, so I'm not sure why we couldn't take a look by ourselves instead of waiting in the cold outside. While we waited, other people who arrived were seated ahead of us. No, the place does not accept reservations...
While inside, another person joined my group, it caused another commotion: adding another chair to the table needed to be okayed by the server who seemed to be both reluctant and to not understand the request.
My darjeeling tea was thin even after steeping for many minutes and I was told it would be served without milk. No choice about it -- it was a statement, not a suggestion. At $5.50 for a pot of hot water containing a few leaves of tea, I think that kind of choice should be left to the customer. A companion ordered a sandwich, and it was as other Yelpers pointed out -- extremely thinly adorned, although the bread was admittedly crusty and good. Honestly, for a $7 sandwich, one expects more than crusty bread!
The "chef"/owner (unsure what his status is) cast an unfriendly and unblinking stare over everyone coming in -- he seemed to be the one running the show and telling staff how and what to do. A most unpleasant man who hovered around our table to pressure us to order more quickly. It was the middle of the day, and hardly busy. I can't imagine what he's like when it's more crowded.
One of the waitstaff was visibly irritated at one of my guests who wasn't sure about ordering rightaway. She disappeared, and when my guest wanted to order, my guest had to go back downstairs to get a menu, which prompted the server to send my guest back upstairs to the table, to wait until the server came back up with a menu. Incredibly tiresome and rude! Imagine! A paying customer being told to go back to their seat and to wait to be served!
Getting the bill was another wait, so I headed downstairs to the cash register, only to have the server behind the counter tell me to wait (once again) because she had to go upstairs to "check [my] table"(!!!!) Check it for what exactly, I have no idea.
I am surprised this business continues to operate given its incredibly rude customer service, and overpriced offerings. I suspect were it not for its location, this business would not survive more than a week. In this case, I would give negative stars, if I could. Incredibly bad experience. -
Review from Davi d.
Brooklyn, NY
11/20/2008
I tend to swing by here for a grab and go treat when i fail to brown bag it at school. Sammiches are great served on a baguette. If I had a choice, I'd select the ham and brie with everything (tomato/lettuce). The combination of healthy veg and melting cheese/meat contrasts with a crispy bread roll.
Pastries are ok, but i'll stick to the basics aka sandwich/coffee/soup.This place isnt recession friendly but I'll go here any day. -
Review from debora l.
9/3/2008
3 stars for cute/ quaint ambience despite location (cute Parisian cafe in the middle of Union Square...), excellent soups, and mildly impressive selection of French sandwiches with Japanese teas.
Minus 2 stars for cramped seating, mediocre-quality-and-quantity sandwiches, hard baguettes, and the oddly-tough texture of the pear tart I shared with my boyfriend. I had the vegetarian sandwich on sourdough-- not recommended-- and my boyfriend had one of the croque sandwiches that was certainly not impressive.
