Paulo Valdez Bakery Inc

06/13/09

End of an era

by ripfuel45 at Citysearch

My obsession with this bakery came to a screeching halt this morning. I've been a regular here for over a year. THEN ... Claude recently retired and evidently took with him everything that makes this place great. Went this morning and the croissants were hard and stale. I thought I had walked into the wrong place. AND, my girlfriend found a piece of hair inside one of the layers. When we tried showing it to the lady behind the counter (discreetly to save her the embarrassment), she quickly picked out the hair and raised her hands with the "what hair?" expression on her face. Did she actually think we didn't notice??? Just then another customer walked in and she apparantly didn't want to disclose we were discussing hair in the food so starts shouting, "there is no piece of paper in there." Unbelievable. I didn't want to deal with her so started to walk away but my gf said, "Look, there was a piece of HAIR in there, and now you're holding it in your right hand...see?" The lady couldn't play dumb anymore and just gave us a "Who cares? It's just hair" look. We walked out with more disappointment than anger as we have to find a new place for croissants.

Any suggestions?

• Pros: Used to be the best
• Cons: Not so much anymore

08/09/08

The croissants and quiches are scrumptious but everything is frequently served with a side portion of the owner's and cook's acidic grumpiness referred to by several other reviewers.

by Saltillo at Citysearch

Yes, enjoy the chocolate croissants, not as sickingly sweet as the American imitations; savor the quiche, visually exciting as well as tasty (albeit not up to the onion tarte of Rue Mouffetard), but take everything to go to Washington Square Park or even Abingdon Square Park so you combine the sweet visage of a sunny day with the food. That way you can purchase your favorite java, as one reviewer mentioned, and even some juice at the nearby supermarket and have a sweet family breakfast. Combine these various elements, with Claude's items at the center, into an edible collage of your own creation sans le visage "grumpy."

• Pros: Alluring onion tartes
• Cons: You need to concentrate on the food only.

08/05/08

Better than Paris!

by noelliiie at Citysearch

This is the most delicious food you will ever put in your mouth. Claude works so hard. I always seem him pulling fresh croissants, quiches, and cookies out of the oven. This is a VERY small place but serves the best food you will EVER eat. The croissants and quiche taste better than being in France and you are right in the West Village, NYC. This is an authentically French pattisserie with such a charm to it.

SO DELICIOUS. Worth trying or walking to on a weekend for a great goodies to take back home with you.

• Pros: Mini Spinach Quiche, Croissant au chocolat, Almond croissant, mini cookies
• Cons: NOTHING

06/17/08

The King is dead!!!!!!

by caninecop at Citysearch

All hail the mighty king is dead!!! Well....not really. He just retired to a sunny beach town in Columbia. Luckily for us his trusty apprentice Pablo will carry the torch for the congregation of the church of Claude. Hopefully with an extended lease we will be able to continue to indulge ourselves for years to come. A well deserved & happy retirement to you Claude!!!! I already miss that naughty little Frenchman..........

• Pros: A new lease and continued indulgence!
• Cons: Missing Claude insult the masses!!!!

06/17/08

His French pastries are out of this WORLD!!!

by RBev1 at Citysearch

What can I say about Claude....The only thing I can say is that he is the Gordon Ramsay of Pastries and you would be a fool to miss eating them. Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse cake, his Hazelnut cakes , Chocolate crescents they all our tops.........Wait a minute everything is tops there...Bon Appetit...

• Pros: Everything....
• Cons: Your waistline....

06/03/08

best bakery

by michymala at Citysearch

Claudes is the best bakery in the city, hands down. I have yet to find a better croisant outside of france. Yes Claude has a reputation of being grumpy but he makes a mean pastry...and if you are a nice young lady he will be much less grumpy towards you. The only thing I would say is that the croisants are best eaten fresh. They are often so fresh they are still warm from the oven. If you wait to long and travel with them they just do not hold up, so get them while they're hot!

• Pros: best pastries, great quality and value

04/18/08

Simply the best -outside of Bretagne

by virginiatessatom at Citysearch

I have been going to Claude's since he first opened up, his incredible chocolate cakes have been a part of every birthday and special occaision in my and my friends and families lives for the past 25 years

The best croissants, cookies, pain au chocolat and tarts you will find outside of Bretagne - Claude is one of the only original special places left on this stretch on W4TH st.

We love Claude

Virginia, Tom, and Tessa

• Pros: claude's grumpy but not without cause
• Cons: the best croissants and pastries in NYC

02/26/08

Best apricot and almond cake EVER!!!

by asianguy at Citysearch

Monsieur Claude is grumpy looking on the outside, working too many years in NYC and catering to picky NYC clienteles....but he is a GREAT BAKER of the old French dessert cookery with a heart in pleasing the customer. His storefront is small with about four tables hogged by his regulars.

He uses butter, butter and more butter to give his tarts, croissants and cakes the creamy texture that melts in your mouth.

I am from the outer borough of Flushing, Queens but do periodic sojourns into the Village since my daughter, Cathy, introduced me to Monsieur Claude. I love his apricot and almond cake and those flaky plain croissants. Prices are reasonable. Try some of your high school French on him and he'll smile.

• Pros: Everything nice and flaky and buttery - try the apricot - almond cake
• Cons: small, a few tables. This place is a bakery.

12/18/07

Best pastries ever in NY

by karo at Citysearch

I've been in NY over 15 yrs and haven't found any better place than this simple patisserie. Nothing really fancy or nouvelle like those at other pricy stores, but everything is true to the basic and genuinely good. Croissants, brioches, eclairs, apple pies, pear tarts, nut cookies.... everything I've tried is perfectly tasty.

To be honest, I'd rather like to keep this place secret. Many people might be feeling the same way, and that may be why this place has got only sereral reviews.

• Pros: Everything is simply tasty!
• Cons: The owner seems not so friendly at first, but he is actully nice.

A humble patisserie in Greenwich Village churns croissants, brioche and coffee.

by Aaron Barker at Citysearch

In Short
Confections like eclairs and meringue can be had at this nondescript Greenwich Village patisserie, but the freshly baked croissants and brioches are what fly from the glass display case. If the chocolate croissants have sold out--and they often do--Claude himself will peek out from the back kitchen to let you know when the next batch is arriving. Space is tight, but if there's room you can order in and join other French expats flecking their cheeks with buttery crumbs.