Levain Bakery — Restaurant in New York

I finally made my way over to Levain Bakery in New York City, and like most people, I was curious to see what all the hype was about. I decided to try two of their most popular cookies: the oatmeal raisin and the original walnut chocolate chip. Both were undeniably delicious and lived up to their reputation. The texture was exactly what you want in a cookie crispy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside. The oatmeal raisin had just the right amount of chew with plump raisins that didn’t overpower the dough, while the walnut chocolate chip had that perfect balance of rich chocolate chunks and crunchy walnuts. They’re definitely indulgent and satisfying, especially if you’ve got a serious sweet tooth.

That being said, the one drawback for me is the price. The cookies are really expensive compared to what you’d expect for a bakery treat. Sure, they’re massive in size and heavy enough to share, but at the end of the day it’s still just a cookie. Honestly, if you’re someone who enjoys baking, you could probably recreate something similar at home for a fraction of the cost. But if you’re like me and don’t always want to go through the hassle of baking or if you just want to treat yourself without the effort Levain makes it worth the splurge every now and then.

The shop itself had a cozy, bustling vibe, with plenty of people stopping in and out, which added to the overall experience. The staff moved quickly, keeping the line going, which I appreciated.

In short, Levain is worth trying at least once. The cookies are unique, delicious, and definitely hit the spot, but the price keeps it from being an everyday indulgence. If you’re lazy or just visiting NYC, this is the place to grab a cookie that feels a little over-the top in the best...

Ok, it’s my turn to talk about how legendary Levain is. First off, my first time having their cookies were only in 2020, during the pandemic. I’ve heard about them from everyone and everywhere, and it was time for me to see if they lived up to the hype.

Their silent rival, Chip NYC, was my favorite at the time. In fact, I bought some cookies from both Chip AND Levain on the same day, to see who in fact, made the better cookie. I remember I got Levain’s OG chocolate chip walnut flavor, as well as their double chocolate chip cookie. I went to Chip and got their chocolate chip, as well as their chocolate peanut butter cookie. I tried Levain first, as it was my first time, and my saliva had begun running down my face at the sight of their cookies. It was time. I tried their OG flavor first, and I instantly drifted into the clouds. The butter that you could literally see oozing from this cookie is enough to make you a believer. So needless to say, it was moist, soft, fresh, crunchy yet chewy, chocolatey….just all the right things. I then bit into their double chocolate chip cookie and couldn’t believe my taste buds. To me, this one was better than the OG flavor. It tasted like a brookie (brownie/cookie). It was just beautifully done, moist, sexy, and all the good things. It was in that moment, that I realized exactly why everyone raves about these cookies. It’s because they are actually LIFE-CHANGING! They lived beyond the hype! I then tasted the Chip NYC cookies afterwards. Though I’ve tried them before, and enjoyed them, they were NO match for Levain. The difference in taste, texture, etc. is night and day. No shade to Chip. Levain is legendary. They really got this recipe down! They hold that crown, man. I’m just...

So this is an extension of their West Side location, and it's much larger. There's more space inside overall and more space to sit. It's very modern and bright. When my friend and I arrived, there was a little line but it moved very quickly. I guess that was both good and bad, because we felt quite rushed. It was also hard to see the products with people in line covering the display, and we had to weave around them to see what the cookies looked like. All while the cashiers were staring at us like we should hurry up.

We ordered one Walnut Chocolate Chip cookie each to have at the store, I got an iced coffee, and my friend got the Oatmeal Cookie as well as a Dark Chocolate cookie. The Walnut Chocolate Chip was just as fantastic as I remembered it to be! I'd keep coming back for this one. However, the Oatmeal Cookie was a bit of a let down. It was missing that special something that you usually get in an Oatmeal Cookie.. The warmth? Cinnamon? Some sort of spice? I really don't know. It was fine, just wasn't a knock-out. The iced coffee was just alright as well, nothing to write home about but nothing to complain about either. I also really liked their sip lids that help avoid using straws. You have to be extra careful with these, but they're worth it.

Overall, it's worth a try. Go for the Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookie if you can, I think that's their main attraction. It's pricey at $4.00 a cookie, but they're large and filling. They also offer some sort of chocolate chip buns or banana bread or something of that sort, but I've never tried them. So if cookies aren't your thing, you might find something else here...