Le Pain Quotidien

Le Pain Quotidien

1131 Madison Avenue
bet. 84th & 85th
New York, NY 10028
212.327.4900
lepainquotidien.com

The rustic dining room at this Belgian bakery café features communal dining tables and a relaxed neighborhood bonhomie. The baguettes are perfect--crisp and airy--and the sandwiches such as the sweet-flavored shrimp salad and the Paris Ham with three mustards are served open-faced on slabs of Quotidien's signature wheat loaves. The creamy café au lait served in an XL mug epitomizes the comfort and buzz this café generates. We happen to think that no one should be allowed to leave without having a cocque Suisse, the fluffy country cousin to a cinnamon bun. Everything is available for transport and it's hard to resist bringing this simple fare home.