257409 Mon Apr 08 21:04:24 -0700 2002 27 21 The Best 0 1362392 Just moved to NY from next door to an incredible bakery in Boston (Clear Flour Bread in Brookline, worth a trip to Boston in itself) -- and I am already missing their light as a feather croissants. Where are the best freshly baked croissants (and other morning pastries, and french breads...) in NY (downtown and the village especially)? Thanks-- Mon Apr 08 21:04:24 -0700 2002 0 Del 1 1362393 They have a decent chocolate croissant at Balthazars take out. Right next to the restaurant on Spring St. near Crosby. Their other breads are also good. Around the corner, at Dean and Delucca you will find a good bread selection too. In addition to the many breads they have, they carry Tom Cat, which is my favorite bread. Tue Apr 09 07:23:27 -0700 2002 1362392 0 Michele Cindy 2 1362439 I think Whole Foods in Chelsea 7 av at 24st has the best chocolate croissants. Very natural,buttery, and light. One should really heat them gently in a toaster oven though -- do not burn! Also, try their decadent espresso brownie with frosting and natural buttercream. Awesome!! Thu Apr 18 21:03:24 -0700 2002 1362393 0 Jim 3 1362996 O.K. I' went to Paris and ate 1-3 croissants every day I was there. I was blown away. They tasted like no other croissant I had ever had and I was in eating heaven. While I believe that a decent croissant may be found in NY, I still have not had to this day a croissant that tasted like an authentic french one. An important reason for this is that the butter in France contains a higher percentage of butterfat than it does here and has an entirely different flavor (better!). For croissants this is crucial since they get their characteristic flakiness and lightness directly from the butter. Croissants are made by layering dough and butter. In the oven the butterfat releases steam causing the dough to rise. The extra fat in french butter is what makes french pastries so damn good. But still there are some places that do approach the ones I tasted in France. I do like the croissants at Ceci Cela and I suspect they are using a french butter, but I still find that they aren't quite flaky enough. I had an even better one during a Bastille Day celebration on 168-170 Orchard street that was made by Épicerie Café Charbon. The woman handing them out said that they had served them for brunch that day. I'm not sure if they sell them apart from a brunch menu yet. (They got a glowing review in the Times a few weeks ago. The food is quite good-- their gazpacho is phenomenal-- but the reviewer didn't point out that they have annoyingly miniscule portions there.). Thu Sep 05 20:17:22 -0700 2002 1362439 0 Ros 1 1362394 Ceci Cela on Spring Street just east of Broadway and Patisserie Claude on West 4th Street just west of 6th Avenue both have excellent croissants. Tue Apr 09 09:48:54 -0700 2002 1362392 0 Caitlin Wheeler 1 1362395 The croissants at le pain quotidien are unsurpassed. The grease doesn't ooze out and there are no lumpy knots like in patisserie claude or any of the other undeservedly touted places Tue Apr 09 13:26:58 -0700 2002 1362392 0 inae 2 1362407 I agree. The pain au chocolate from Le Pain Quotidien is the closest I've found yet to my fondly remembered first experience with this treat in southern France in 1972. Not greasy, not too much chocolate. Just right. Thu Apr 11 01:04:21 -0700 2002 1362395 0 Cloudy 3 1362436 Plus Pain Quotidian has those cute little pots of raspberry jam that you can spoon onto your croissant, as if it needs to be more decacent! Thu Apr 18 16:11:02 -0700 2002 1362407 0 JessicaSophia 1 1362397 There's a relatively new bakery on the southside of 13th between 1st and 2nd with great pain au chocolat. Another breadier version is available at Union Square Market through Bread Alone. Tue Apr 09 14:26:41 -0700 2002 1362392 0 Hunter Moore 1 1362400 ok...heres the lowdown Claude (w.4th 7-8) does an amazing regulaqr croissant...his choclate either hit or misss....it has on occasion hit great..but.... City Bakery probably most consistent pain au chocloat(18th/5th) my vote on any random day...also sold at whole foods and at the coffee bar on 12th/8av Ceci-Cela..a little too doughy, sometimes burnt chocolate...not bad but not impressive... Balthazar never liked....too much choc, too burnt...lousy often/..altho only tried maybe 4 times... The place on 1st av/10th st...okay choc, esp in morning, but i dont love em...good italian style croissants (lighter, less butter, no choc) used to be a french joint on the upper east side that did a good job...bonte? long gone.... maybe payard, but i cant remeber how it was...been too long.. Tue Apr 09 18:28:00 -0700 2002 1362392 0 fusilli 2 1362415 Patisserie Claude is on the north side of W. 4th St. between 6th and 7th, not 7th and 8th (assuming I interpreted fusilli's address correctly). It is two door from the east end of the southern "wing" of Sheridan Square. Fri Apr 12 21:48:35 -0700 2002 1362400 0 Timowitz 2 1362598 His pear tarts are simply perfect IMHO Sun Jun 02 12:39:28 -0700 2002 1362400 0 rebeccahodgson 1 1362414 Jim Leff not long ago called the croissants at Jacques Torres Chocolate in DUMBO, Brooklyn, "probably the best in the city." I've certainly had none better--and the pain du chocolat is particularly good. Fri Apr 12 16:59:48 -0700 2002 1362392 0 Tom Philpott 2 1362418 The new Petrossian bakery gives them a run for their money, though. Gotta do a taste-off (I'll just hock my trombone for a few weeks to afford it). I had a pain du chocolat at Petrossian a few weeks that was flawless. ciao Sat Apr 13 14:37:20 -0700 2002 1362414 0 Jim Leff 3 1362419 I question you calling the Petrossian bakery "new." They've been open at least one year, and I've posted about them numerous times. Sun Apr 14 00:12:33 -0700 2002 1362418 0 Peter Cuce 4 1362420 No personal affront to your postings intended, Peter. In any case, "new" is, of course, a relative term. Sun Apr 14 16:24:39 -0700 2002 1362419 0 Jim Leff 5 1362423 Try the chocolate croissants at Pain Quotidein (Daily Bread)84th & madison. They are flaky and butter rich. They have another location in Manhattan. The Levain Bakery (74 & Amsterdam) has the most elemental pain au chocolat in the city, simple crusty light rolls with a dense choc morsel inside. Mon Apr 15 12:11:57 -0700 2002 1362420 0 Al Key 6 1362604 I came to chow hound looking for some croissant sources. I'm having a lot of trouble finding a really fabulous croissant. By fabulous I want: a crisp exterior that shatters when you bit into it, a strong butter taste (not flour, not bread--butter), and a very soft inside. The best I've had so far I purchased at the Grand Central Market. Their source is La Tropezienne at 110th and 1st. Has anyone tried these? How do they compare with the places you are mentioning? Mon Jun 03 12:19:00 -0700 2002 1362423 0 LC 7 1362606 I think it is great you described what you consider to be the essence of a great croissant. I find that there are distinct differences on this subject, i.e. I prefer little exterior crumbliness whereas you require it. But another important ingredient is the elasticity level - what do you think about that? I like them quite elastic - enough to require a tug to separate portions but not so much that you have to use two hands or teeth. Overly elasticized frustrates me, they are too difficult to eat - especially when juggling a newspaper and coffee. And when too elastic and too crusty, I make an enormous crumbly mess. Mon Jun 03 13:37:58 -0700 2002 1362604 0 rebeccahodgson 1 1362416 There's a fairly new (about 1 year old) bakery on the corner of W 105th & Broadway, Silver Moon Bakery. Their croissonts excellent (as is everything else there... try the cider house bread). Fri Apr 12 23:31:46 -0700 2002 1362392 0 mike 1 1362437 My vote for breakfast pastries always goes to the Antique Cafe, 25th Street just west of Sixth Ave. They have delicious croissants, bear claws and scones. And their cafe au lait is the best. Just don't go on the weekend-- they're packed because of the flea market. Thu Apr 18 16:12:09 -0700 2002 1362392 0 JessicaSophia 2 1362597 Ceci Cela on Spring. The Best! Sun Jun 02 11:46:56 -0700 2002 1362437 0 Jeff F. 1 1362862 a little late coming to this discussion, but i'll add my two cents worth...   without a doubt in my mind (and confirmed by recent trips to france as well as some fussy french visitors) the best croissants & chocolate croissant i've had in this city are made by marquet patisserie (cobble hill, greenwich village, and fort greene) buttery, flaky and crisp, with just the right amount of elasticity and sweetness... he even makes mini-me versions for restaurants in the area (brooklyn at least) no better deal than brunch at banania on smith street and getting a basket of fresh marquet croissants and pain au chocolat! anyway...fantastic tarts, cakes, simple breads...oh, and great burgers (!) at the gv location (lunch only, i think) Sat Aug 03 08:20:15 -0700 2002 1362392 0 bothrops_asper 2 1362866 Are they better even than Payard's ? I thought those were the best I've had (even better than some of the ones I had in France!). Sat Aug 03 20:07:08 -0700 2002 1362862 0 ju 1 1362938 I know I'm coming late to this discussion--but I really like the pain au chocolat at La Bergamote on 9th at 20th. Very authentic, I think. The baguettes are not worth the flour they're baked with, and the croissants can be hit or miss, turning into soggy buttery goo or being flaky and on the money--but I haven't missed yet with the pain au chocolat. By the by, we asked the baker once to make us a Gateau StHonore--and it was about the best I've had in years and years. Not on the usual rotation of cakes, apparently--but he did a bang-up job. Fri Aug 23 13:07:06 -0700 2002 1362392 0 mark 1 1729387 yes, i second la bergamote and must make special note about the almond croissant there, which is amazing. i have heard the croissants from bouchon bakery are very good, too, though i have (unfortunately) not tried them yet. thanks for the marquet patisserie recommendation. we have been trying to think of a good place in brooklyn for this weekend and may go there! Thu Jul 06 16:12:14 -0700 2006 1362392 13070 raybird 2 1731540 Marquet Patisserie is amazing! And the almond ones are great too! Fri Jul 07 16:26:42 -0700 2006 1729387 13838 gaucho25 2 1736631 I went to Bouchon Bakery one evening hoping to get a croissant, but I was told that they stop selling them at 3pm (or possibly 2pm, I can't remember exactly). I'm assuming that this is so that no one gets a croissant and assumes that the rest are bad. In any case, it was disappointing but I wasn't in the mood to press the issue. I like Patisserie Claude. Mon Jul 10 20:37:18 -0700 2006 1729387 17392 JennS