Le Pain Quotidien — Restaurant in New York

Dear readers, I hope this review finds you love, light, and life. Almost like the light and life my old friend Cornelius and I felt upon or entrance into Pain Quotidian. Yet, this sorry takes a turn, for it was not just love and light that we felt, but a presence, though small, of disappointment. After paying the expenses of a smooth and enticing looking chocolate mousse cake and a decorated but flattened almond croissant, my old friend Cornelius was overwhelmed with a cloying sweet taste. It happened to be that the mousse did not, in fact, hit the spot. Though he did enjoy the pleasant surprise of a coconut yogurt chia pudding, which did hit spot, though the overripe and soppy banana resting at bottom indeed, did not. He was again, disappointed. With $16 spent and a heavy heart, he again made the journey to the counter, to purchase “tea,” which was, in reality, leaves floating in murky deep green water. Though sipping at this sea through an old paper cup provided some comfort to Cornelius’ startled stomach, it did not reach the full satisfaction of true, life-altering TEA. It was not TEA, it was just T. It is not worthy of any more letters or space on this review. I shall exit the tea description now. And finally, my croissant. Let’s talk about my croissant. As if it could no longer stand exist me, the crossing flopped, unable to hold itself up, as it made a journey from the cashier’s hand into an old paper bag. It slid out of the bag into my hand in a similar manner, unable to contain any joy, any life force. As I placed it upon my tastebuds, they revolted, screaming at a sensation of grainy tastelessness. I was equally devastated as Cornelius. Our spirits lifted a bit as we noticed the mildly nice atmosphere, a places decked in old woods and tiled floors. Though atrocious, the pastries added a nice look to the place, their delicate bready layers lightly glazed under a warmly lit glass case. Now, as I gaze over at the crossaint’s confetti and lines of unfinished mousse upon a golden paper plate, I enter a place of profound confusion and deep loss. Dear friends, my heart yearns to search for the café that nourishes every twist and turn of my intensities, allow my neuron synapses to fuse and fire, bring my psyche to the forefront, and allow me to truly, finally, feel at rest. Please, good friends, people of this fragmented online community, join me, as i continue to embark on a journey of seeking for this cafe. In the past, I have visited Bel Ami, and in the present, I am in Pain (pun intended) Quotidian. Future expeditions include: Patis Bakery, Ole and Steen, and more. Let’s...

I love Le Pain Quotidien, but the friendliness and considerate customer service, at least in this location, is lacking. I ordered two pastries and coffee at the counter- one of the pastries was being heated up in the back, so I sat down. As soon as I picked a spot near the window, one of the servers approached me and said that I could not sit in the area since it was reserved for those dining in, vaguely pointing to the other side of the restaurant as being the area permissible for me to sit. Mind you- this specific area use is not communicated at the counter as you're ordering food, nor are there any sign in the restaurant enforcing this policy. I picked up my things and sat down at the other end of the restaurant, barely having a moment to settle in when the same server approached me, only this time his tone was much ruder and confrontational. He said I needed to pick a spot at the communal table if I wanted to stay, adding that "some people come in here, order a coffee and then stay for three hours." The restaurant was 80% empty, and my intention was just to enjoy breakfast there, for ten minutes at best. I felt that his tone was completely inappropriate. I spent at least $20 on my items and left a 20% tip, and did not deserve to be treated this way. A word of advice, maybe have employees at the checkout counter ask if it's " to stay or to go" so that this doesn't happen, even though I think it's silly not to let paying customers use your space to eat what...

Originally, my sister and I were going to sit down and have a quick pastry and a refreshing drink after our 13 mile walk. We then decided that we would just grab something to go. At the counter, after waiting for five minutes while they chatted amongst themselves, I asked for a cherry limeade with, and I stressed, VERY LITTLE ICE. I even went as far as saying, " like two pieces would suffice." Then ordered 2 brownie bites. The limeade took some time and he came back with a cup practically full of ice. Someone else asked what the problem was since the guy who took my order walked away. I explained, and she said there is only a little, the cup was 3/4 full of ice. Then she had the audacity to say, "I am sorry that you are having such a horrible experience here" with such contempt and then offered me a third brownie bite "on the house," after swiping my card without telling me the total for my order. I said no thank you, took my brownie bites and my limeade, went to the garbage, emptied out the ice that was still too much and tried the brownie and the drink...after that awful experience, how disappointed I was to find out that even the drink and brownie were awful. Well, I know where I will never be going again. Poor service, bad food & drink, guess it's true what they say about the French, just didn't expect that in a French bakery...