This year, CT and I took the plunge and became partial season ticket holders for the NY Yankees and bought the Saturday plan. Therefore, if the Yankees are home at a Saturday, you can find us in the Bronx. For a 1 pm game, we decided to grab lunch on the way rather than getting something at the stadium. We decided to check out Le Pain Quotidien, which opened up a location near us recently. I had never been to one before so was interested to try it out.
They had waiter service or take-away. Since we just wanted a quick lunch, we did take-away but they have a nice seating area for those who still want to eat there.
We both decided to get “Lemonade Iced Tea” or the more common name, Arnold Palmer. CT got hers with some fresh mint. They were $3.50 each. Not cheap, but I could taste they were made in-house. Super tart from real lemon juice, no mixes.
They had a selection of tarts, quiches and sandwiches. We decided to share a couple of sandwiches.
Chicken & Smoked Mozzarella with arugula & basil pesto ($11.75). It came in a nice box that would have been good for traveling, if we weren’t staying in. Quite a long sandwich with a hearty bread. Eventhough there was only a thin layer of chicken and cheese, it was a long layer so it was enough fillings. The mozzarella had a subtle amount of smoke that I liked. I wish they used a little more of the basil pesto since the bread parched my mouth quite quickly. There were also some cucumber slices in the sandwich to add a fresh crunch.
Roasted Turkey & Avocado with whole grain mustard and tomato vinaigrette ($11.75). Another long sandwich made with the same bread. They put the avocado on the side, maybe so it travels better? The mustard was the real star of the show. Tangy and spicy, but again there could have been more to add more moisture to the sandwich.
All in all, it was a nice quick and light lunch before heading up for the game. It was pretty expensive but the ingredients were of a pretty high quality to warrant the price. I might try the waiter service another time to see what it is like, but I don’t see myself returning anytime soon.
T.C. says
HAHA. I just had a Chicken Curry tartine yesterday. Too dry though even with the harisaa-cranberry chutney.
LPQ has a good selection. It used to be in my weekly rotation for lunches. Esp their baguette sandwiches.
Goats says
SKC or nothing!
CT says
What’s SKC?
BeerBoor says
Sal, Kris, and Charlie’s Deli, in Astoria. Goats is in luuuuuv with the enormous sandwiches they create.
I’ve got a LPQ around the corner from home, and another fairly close to work. While I agree with your assessments — kinda dry, kinda expensive — I wouldn’t come to the conclusion that it was a “nice” lunch when I’ve been there. I felt overcharged for what I was getting, even when dining in. Better ingredients than your usual chain sandwich place, but (as you say) not somewhere I need to go again any time soon.
CT says
Thanks! That does ring a bell now that you mention it. 🙂
T.C. says
Yet to go. Still don’t feel like I’m missing out on it. Maybe a stop one day in the near future.
hungry says
Are these pre-made? Do you to choose the bread and fillings?
CT says
No, they’re made to order. They were just put into those boxes because we asked for take-out, which I actually appreciated because it nicely prevented things from shifting.
I’ve eaten here before for eat-in (different locations), and it was pretty good. I agree that it’s a bit expensive, but I don’t think it’s outrageous and the ingredients were fresh. It was nice for a casual brunch, but definitely not a place to frequent on a regular basis.
I Just Want To Eat! says
Great post! I love Le Pain Quotidien, not only for brunch but also breakfast. They have delicious croissants, chocolate croissants and brioche. Otherwise, their cheese plate is very good. Good address to know!
Ttrockwood says
LPQ is mostly organic, so that helps explain the price- their asian tofu salad is awesome, and the hazelnut butter they sell is mind- blowing. Never tried the sandwiches, but sandwich moisture and traveling is a tricky thing to get right!