10/03/07

Only one complaint

by spagirl80

My boyfriend and I have been coming here for years and we love the sandwiches, teas, and desserts. The service is wonderfully cheerful and quick. The rustic furniture and ambience can only be described by as adorable! The only complaint is that you can't alter ANYTHING on the menu. Don't expect the kitchen to change the bread your sandwich is served on. If you want really want that bread, pick a sandwich that's "supposed" to made with that bread. Despite this inability to accommodate food requests, eating here is an enjoyable experience!

• Pros: Food, Ambience, Service
• Cons: NO food alterations

09/06/06

policies are more important than the customer

by nyc_foodcritic

the place doesn't look like much from the outside, nor on the first floor, but it has a cute second floor. however, they have two prices for take-out and sit-in that they don't have any signs for at the outset. if you wanted to sit down with your take-out packaged tea after discovering the second floor, they will insist on recharging you for sitting down as a matter of policy no matter how empty the place is, and even though they didn't make you aware of the discrepancy at the outset.

with all the nice places in the area, including joe's down the street for great coffee, why would anyone come here for the abuse?

06/20/06

A Japanese bakery a la Paris!

by looneybin93

What a cute little place. This was our absolutely favorite place in 2003, when the baguettes were fresh and the delicious sandwich and soup offerings were unique. Since then, they've come down in quality and service, often times bringing everything out at the same time when an appetizer soup should've come out first. Still, it's a cute place for breakfast/brunch on a weekend. Be careful, it's getting too popular and, therefore, crowded.

• Pros: Ambience
• Cons: Service

02/28/03

Absolute Gem!!!

by mmdada

This place is one of my fave! Soooooo cozy and intimate, and they bake everything right there - including the bread used for sandwiches! :-) The staff are very friendly. No one really knows about this place but lunch time gets really busy. Try their apple pocket - it's THE best pastry I have ever tasted, and I am a baked goods freak. :-) Love this place!

• Pros: Food

02/28/03

Good but quirky

by 5tjap

What I liked - the food, the prices, the atmosphere.

The quirks - You may not have jam with your scones or mustard on your sandwich. My request for a second tea pot to strain the tea into so that it would not overbrew was denied. The waitress did bring me a second cup to strain into instead.

In short, the customer is not always right, but keeps coming back.

• Pros: Great sandwiches, Inexpensive, Warm atmoshphere
• Cons: Stubborn kitchen

12/18/02

great secret

by hedonist

this is like a little hidden jewel. the rustic ambience is made even more pleasant by the polite staff. it's quiet and never crowded - perfect for a brunch for a couple or 4 at the most. even though it's japanese-owned, someone in the kitchen must've trained in France at some point: the croissants & pain au chocolats are exactly what you'll get in Paris. the japanese element of the food has to do w/the polite service and the very small portions.

• Pros: authentic baked goods, rustic atmosphere, nice staff
• Cons: tiny portions