When you’re visiting one of New York’s premier shopping destinations, you’ll need to take a breaks between stops at Comptoir des Cottoniers, Cotélac and A.P.C. to recharge. As it is quite possible to spend the entire day in SoHo, given its never-ending expanse of shops and restaurants, sampling some of the area’s finest French fare for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late-afternoon snack is a must.
Breakfast / Petit dejeuner
Start out at Ceci Cela on Spring Street between Mulberry and Lafayette. Take a seat at one of a few tables in the back of this patisserie and order some of the best croissants in the city. Pair your choice of Viennoiserie with a café au lait or other boisson chaud. French breakfasts are famously light, so as to save room for indulgences later on in the day. Good thing you can start as early as 7:00 AM (8.a.m on Sundays) at Ceci Cela, to leave room not only for lots of shopping, but more scrumptious French food!
Lunch / Dejeuner
For lunch, head to L’Orange Bleue on the corner of Broome and Crosby. The restaurant’s cheery, blue façade is hard to miss. Inside, you will find a menu just as enticing as the pretty exterior, featuring a mix of French, Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisines. In the evenings at L’Orange Bleue, you may encounter belly dancers and live music from around the world, but the vibe is more peaceful at lunchtime. During warmer months, try to sit outside on the restaurant’s sidewalk terrace and enjoy your midday meal while people watching.
Snack / Goûter
Dominique Ansel Bakery on Spring near Thompson Street became the latest addition to Soho’s French food scene at the beginning of November. The menu from the former Daniel pastry chef includes breakfast and lunch items in addition to a large selection of pastries and Viennoiserie. Go for the signature pastries like the DKA (Dominique’s Kouign Amman) or the Paris-New York, Ansel’s take on a Paris-Brest, which features dark chocolate and peanut butter-caramel cream in place of whipped cream at the center.
Dinner / Dîner
Follow up a brand new French culinary destination with an old neighborhood standby. Make a reservation at Balthazar (on Spring Street at Crosby Street) for traditional, yet excellent, French bistro food in a convivial atmosphere. Among Balthazar’s many draws are its raw seafood bar, extensive wine list, plus breads and pastries from the Balthazar bakery next door. Finish your day with Balthazar’s dinner or their late night menu and you will find yourself easily imagining that you have been transported to a bustling, Parisian brasserie.
Article by Monica Burton
