I picked up a half miche from Bien Cuit in Grand Central Terminal on my way home from New York to Seattle. I am a craft brewer, home baker, and lover of great bread. Bien Cuit is "tres bien" - one of the best breads that I have ever had. The crust is substantial, textured, hard to tear and chewy. The bread itself is perfection - moist, soft, and velvety, a lovely contrast to the crust. Once on the plane, I was the envy of my seatmates as I ate Miche sandwiches of fresh lobster tail and flavorful Teleggio at the perfect temperature. It was heavenly! read more

This place was hip just to be hip. Overpriced watery coffee, iced tea that was just iced tea, and an atmosphere that screamed Urban Outfitters and ironic mustaches. Pass on this one unless you are trying to impress someone who is very visual and whose taste buds are ambivalent. Mia's cafe nearby had better coffee and a nice patio out back that made for a romantic and intimate setting. I will say that they had run out of coffee and had to make us a fresh batch -- so maybe it hadn't steeped as long as necessary, or perhaps they were rushing. Either way, I'm moving onward and upward. read more

Great coffee, great pastries, and really nice people. The chocolate buckwheat cookies and sea salt and honey roule are my personal favorites, but the croissants are also great. Not usually too busy mid morning during the week, so it's a good place to meet people or work remote. read more

Bien Cuit - Bakeries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My new meet up spot in the area. Love everything about it. Great coffee and pastries. Will definitely be getting some work done here. read more

Location: Still, Another spot at Cobble Hill, where family can be together hanging out, cars are no longer too fast and time can be bit lazy compared to living in Manhattan Place has many seats for people to sit in and enjoy wifi. Most people here went for food But I do croissant So at 8 o'clock I found the croissant is bland, tasteless. I just wanna know: where's your cripsy layer, where's the chewy feeling where's the texture They are gone, they are gone Service: oops, They clearly do not want to be on the shift that day... kinda slow and rude... Overall: 2 .5 stars... read more

Bien Cuit in French means well done, and this place lives up to its name. Everything is way too overcooked. I know that might be how the French did it before the Revolution when the average Frenchman was on the struggle-bus and hungry. But France has changed alot in the past 250 years. People don't overcook their pastries anymore! Not even in the countryside. Bread doesn't have to be burnt. Also, what's up with New Yorkers paying so much for French stuff? Parisians overpay for 'American burgers' and 'brunch' so I guess it's universal to overcharge for foreign things, but $4 for a tiny pastry is a bit much. So for me, overpriced, overcooked, overhyped. That said, I used to love this place before I took my French friend and she made all the complaints I wrote about. I'm easily swayed. read more

TL;DR Little coffee shop with a great selection of fresh baked breads and pastries! So while visiting some old friends in downtown Brooklyn I came across this unassuming coffee shop. It had the typical new Brooklyn aesthetic with lots of exposed wood, brick, and steel. It had a decently long line with the usual commuter crowd, but I figured since I'm not in Brooklyn often, to grab a bunch of stuff and figure out what I really liked later. I got an americano, a champagne loaf (spoiler alert: the loaf was sour and tangy like a whole wheat sourdough), a pear eclair, and chocolate and orange eclair, and some cookies. The coffee was excellent, the eclairs were ok, but both the bread and the cookies were the stars! Bread is definitely their "thing" as they proudly had like 10 different loaves on display that were baked in house. I wouldn't necessarily travel out of my way, but would definitely stop by if I'm in the area again! read more

I hate doing this to a newcomer, but sometimes tough love is necessary. It took me an hour to get to Bien Cuit, but judging from the baked goods I consumed, I wasn't sure whether the translation meant "well cooked", or "well done". Judging from the appearance in real life, and in pictures posted in the virtual world, it appeared that the intent is to let the fire work its magic beyond what is considered acceptable to a normal distribution of palettes. I am being gentle. Much that I was looking forward to check out the breakfast pastries and tarts, I was disappointed by the regular croissant and the Cherry Chocolate Hazelnut brioche. While, I can only blame myself for showing up at 9 am (the bakery opens at 7) in terms of not finding any warmth in the pastry, I can fault the croissant for not having any shatter effect or even being crisp. I found the texture more bread-like than anything else. Quickly moving on to the Chocolate croissant, I found it to have better texture and layers of cavernous dough - however, with one problem: there was no chocolate. I raised this with the server who promptly replaced it with another one that did. It could well be teething problems only, for they did open for business yesterday. However, while I really liked the filling in the artichoke goat cheese croissant, I found the quantity inadequate. This was also the case with the Cherry Chocolate Hazelnut Brioche, which had minimal pastry cream, chocolate, and sundried cherry. The brioche did appear to be "well done" given the dark brown sheen to the exterior, as was also the case with the Palmier cookies that were far too crunchy for my liking (compared to those served in a w. village bakery that used to be a regular haunt). I have no doubt that the credentials of the chef are impressive (including a stint with the venerable Philly institution Le Bec Fin, now closed), and the different breads on display did point to that. But, I do think it's necessary to highlight that many items in the pastry menu need considerable attention. To end on a positive note: the iced coffee was excellent, there's ample space and natural lighting, and the service was both knowledgeable, and courteous. The latter being traits that were missing in the former occupant of this address. Ultimately, it's "What's on the inside that counts". Unless, you're only a tease. read more

Wow. Best croissants since Paris. Loved their veggie sandwich, plain croissant and ham and brie! We enjoyed every bite. Flaky, buttery perfection. read more

Most expensive almond croissant in New York. (4.25+tax? thats a freaking bahn mi.) Do you know why? Because if you dissect that croissant, you will see the most gorgeous innards that you have ever seen. The highlight is the excellent quality of the marzipan. Its rich yet not overly sweet with the almond flavoring not too overpowering. That stuff is like golden jizz, viscous and glossy and nothing like actual jizz. I approve. I also approve of that lady behind the counter. She's awesome. I just wish it was a tad more affordable. Maybe if I was richer, and had a gym membership I would frequent this place. read more

Probably my favorite bread spot in Brooklyn. I love the baguettes and the croissants are THE BEST. I come in all the time with my girlfriend. The workers are always pretty great. I missed the beignets this weekend but the guys there were all very great about it. The tall red head and the guy with long hair were very informative. great staff! I got and Almond Croissant instead which was AMAZING! My go tooo shop for all things good! read more

I wanted to love this place (what caffeine and carb addict wouldn't). They've definitely got the croissant thing going for them, and the shop is cozy and fairly quiet. I can't offer a rave review of the coffee; it was good, though not great. I was even less enthused by my server. After sitting and drinking two mugs of tea I asked where their restroom was located (figured ample seating and food service equaled facilities). The server/cashier looked at me funny, shrugged, and the following exchange ensued: Dude: "We don't have a restroom....but you can hop down the street to the one at Starbucks." Me: (laughing, thinking he's joking...did he just say "hop") "Are you serious?" Dude: "Yeah, we just send people down to their restroom. They're cool with it." Me: (in disbelief) "Uh, okay..." Look, if you're going to market your shop to a more upscale crowd (with upscale pricing), then at least have the decency to open your facilities to paying customers. It looks cheap when you send paying folks down the street to use the facilities at Starbucks. If you're in a bind for bread and can stand the prices and possibly surly attitude from some of the staff, then grab a croissant or the like...to go. read more

Poor service. Bread is often too hard, almost burnt. Bread is way overpriced. But the worst is the pretentious manager who lacks manners and has an attitude. If the owners were smart, they would fire the manager today! read more

Where to begin? This is the worst of Nouveau Brooklyn, over- and un-: overpriced, unremarkable, uncomfortable, and unpleasant. I have sampled croissants all over the city--they're simply one of my favorite things in life--and the croissants here were notably mediocre, and incredibly overpriced at $4 (and more) per croissant. To the reviewer who wrote, "the best croissants in America"--is that a joke? It's incredibly misleading, and so incorrect as to be frightful. This is the problem with Yelp--you can't trust most people, as they entirely lack taste and judgment. New York is a great croissant city, maybe the best in the US, but I've also had worthy croissants in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago (hard to believe, I know, but its true). In New York, the best croissants are to be found in the bakeries located within what I call the "croissant belt": the 60s-80s on either side of the Park, with a few satellites downtown (e.g. on Ninth in Chelsea, near Sheridan Square, etc.) who are also true artists. I could list bakeries, but wouldn't that spoil the delight you'll experience when you yourself, on your own, happen into these wonderful havens of croissant-dom? Do yourself a favor and avoid Bien Cuit--it is an impostor. This will be one of those New York purchases you instantly regret: "did I just spend almost $5 on a shitty croissant? What would my mother say? What was I thinking?" Etc. One additional note: never does service influence my reviews on Yelp: it just doesn't make sense! Who gives a fuck about the service? We're here for the food. I hate reading the reviews that say "Sure the food was delicious but I'm leaving the restaurant a star because of the service"--it's the damnedest, isn't it? And confusing, because it fuddles the star-ratings of a few excellent restaurants. When I review, I'm only concerned with the food. I will note, though, that this is the type of place that staffs and attracts unattractive, sullen, and impolite white people (ill-bred) on the verge of middle-aged-ness, slovenly when it comes to maintenance of personal appearance and hygiene. read more

Came here for a meeting yesterday. It was about 10 and the place was pretty full, that is to say there was only one table left. There is an average amount of seating so if you are going during a high traffic time you might want to plan to take things to go. The regular coffee is fantastic and also fantastically cheap. Very few times do I go to places like this and the coffee is less than 3 dollars. The chocolate croissant (brioche au chocolat) was 3:50, which is a pretty typical price. But it was absolutely delicious, perfectly flaky and crisp on the outside and soft and buttery on the inside. While the two things I got were enjoyable, the ambiance is pretty mediocre and the service was a little lack luster. I wanted a chai latte, and as I can't have dairy I asked for almond milk. They apparently had none, no soy milk either, which seemed like a huge lack of foresight on their behalf--No one noticed at closing the night before or at open that there wasn't enough almond and/or soy milk? It was 10 when I got there, some one could have fixed that pretty quickly since they'd already been open for a couple hours. Also, I had never been there before and it was raining outside and I had no umbrella so I was a little frazzled when I arrived and I didn't realize that you order at the front of the counter and then get your coffee order at the very narrow end of the counter. Instead of saying this to me when they saw me sitting at my table waiting for my coffee to appear where I ordered as my coffee got cold at the end of the counter, they just looked at me and whispered to each other which made me feel really uncomfortable. So even though the coffee was great and the croissant was delicious I would likely never come back because the service was poor and the atmosphere was just kind of stale, generic, and pretentious. read more

Just popped in today because I heard they had opened. I ordered a latte and asked for a recommendation on a pastry because they all looked so delicious. The girl behind the counter was really sweet (she even made a flower design in my latte) and suggested several of her favorite things. I got the muenster and raspberry pastry and it was so yummy. A perfect combo of savory and sweet and baked just right. She said they even visited the farm where the raspberries came from. Loved my first experience. I'll be back for sure. +Bonus: They have free wifi! read more

Cozy, dirty "French" bakery but people here don't know the difference between regular hot latte and extra hot. I always ask for a regular hot latte and I always receive it extra hot that I'm not able to drink for at least 15-20 minutes. I talked to them about it but they blame their steam machine, which is BS because you can warm up milk without burning it if you know how to do it. The problem is that the owner doesn't properly train the staff. Very disappointed and annoyed that I had to waste my time waiting for my latte to cool down. read more

I really wanted to like this place, but I have to disagree with d'N'L m. who compared this bakery favorably with Bay Area locations like Tartine. I was really hoping to be blown away, but I was totally underwhelmed and somewhat disgusted by my experience. I stopped here at the end of 10-mile run and the ordering process was totally fine and they treated me well despite the fact I was wearing sweaty running attire. I ordered the well-praised chocolate croissant and a half loaf of the raisin walnut bread. The price for the half loaf, at $6.50, was kind of shocking. I walked to the subway and ate the croissant while I was waiting for the F train. The croissant while gorgeous looking, though small, was just not that buttery or generally all that great. The chocolate filling was excellent. Tartine, Cafe Fanny, and Acme Bread in SF and Berkeley all have this place beat by a mile and Acme charges prices that are significantly more reasonable. Disturbingly, as I was about to discard the bag that had contained my croissant in the garbage, I felt something hard and dense in the bag when I crumpled it up. I found that there were two hunks of sausage in the bag. It appeared as if they had been removed from something and tossed in the bag to discard, but someone failed to throw out the bag. If I was a vegetarian or abided by certain religious dietary restrictions, this incident would have caused me significant distress. Mainly I was just weirded out and mildly disgusted. The raisin walnut was great (excellent walnuts, great texture, good sourdough flavor), but at those prices I likely won't be coming back. A number of the danishes looked quite appealing as well, but my sausage incident makes leaves me wary of ever returning to this establishment. read more

I feel a bit shameful. I live between two of the best streets in BK, Smith and Court. I feel most of us who live between these streets pick one as our favorite, like the houses of Montague and Capulet. I was a Court girl. All of my favorite groceries are on Court; my laundry place, my bagel place and even my route to the subway but, one thing I didn't care for were the coffee places on Court. I was basically choosing between the overpriced and under-seated Cafe Pedlar and the overpriced and over-commercialized Starbucks. But what could I do? Then one night, having had walked back from the G on Hoyt, I was forced down Smith in need of an IV pumping french-roasted caffeine (preferably in the form of a latte) STAT. When I passed by Bien Cuit. I was stumped. How long has this been here? I wondered. I stepped in and was joyfully welcomed by a nice barista and given a lovely latte and then I was handed an Ipad. I looked around quizzically, I nearly asked 'Are we now at the point that with every latte you get a free Ipad?" I mean it happened with Ipods, so why not Ipads? However he then told me to sign with my finger. Not only do they not have registers but, they have paper bags only and are ridiculously eco-friendly (which is saying something in this 'hood). The latte was silky smooth and the perfect ratio of espresso to milk. I have since had the bread (get the half, the whole is a bit too expensive and the half is more than enough) and their croissants and all that I have had I have loved. The icing on the cake though, for me, is the service. I sat for two hours, when I was the only patron, the barista let me be, like I was in my own private coffee house without being disturbed, pressed to buy another amazing cup or stared at to clear my table. Then when a line of people formed, he handled each customer with care and allowing them to take their time, while making sure the other customers were not antsy or feeling forgotten. I must say that, with such splendid service, delicious pastry and perfect lattes, I do not know if I can any longer be simply a Court girl. read more

Gosh where do I start with this little place. I first came across this bakery when my husband and I moved to brooklyn several years ago. It makes us both so very happy that they're doing so well. Their pastries are a bit pricey but they're absolutely delicious. It's nice to just sit, get some work done, enjoy a seasonal danish with a cup of coffee, and bask in the smell of fresh bread. I've gotten some of my best studying done here, before med school, during med school and now after med school--- I dont know what it is, it has to be the bread and the large sun-filled windows. The staff is always so helpful and welcoming. During the summer, there would occasionally be a homeless man that walks by the bakery asking for hot water and they'd always kindly offer, which I think is so sweet. They're a good bunch. I've never had the pleasure of meeting the owner but he seems like he's constantly making adjustments and expanding. When I first came by this place several years ago, they mostly had pastries and bread. Now, they've added sandwiches, gluten-free products, and even do deliveries? Always on the move. All to say, when I think of home in brooklyn, bien cuit comes to mind. I miss it when I'm away and can't wait to head back. read more

Excellent breads and pastries, quality sandwiches, friendly staff. Writer-types, be advised: Bien Cuit exhibits those rare-for-Brooklyn traits: (1) air conditioning, (2) wifi, (3) available seating, and (4) good food and coffee. The coffee isn't top-quality - if you want Stumptown, you'll need to walk another block or two. But if you're part of the nomadic writerly tribe, constantly trying to find a pleasant spot where you can stare in frustration at your laptop while sipping on something caffeinated, then Bien Cuit is a godsend. The loaves of bread are pricey but excellent (baked on site). I had the sunflower seed loaf over the weekend and was thrilled with it. read more

Maybe the best baguette I've ever had. The other breads are great too (try the miche!) Almond croissant is extraordinary. I love their salami sandwich and am eager to try the venison meatball 'wich they unveiled this winter. I've had one over-sweet tart (I think it was mango), and one underwhelming sandwich (turkey on croissant), but everything else I've tried has been first rate. If everything were a dollar less, I'd probably eat or shop here 4 or 5 days a week. It's more expensive than the nearby Italian-style bakeries but, really it's a whole different thing, so it's hard to compare. read more

Got a large loaf of the campagne bread. Was told it's a sourdough. Was rock hard, dry and over done. Will need a chainsaw to cut through this log of wood and douse with some good olive oils to drown out the flavorless sawdust taste. Given the $$$ paid, don't want to pitch it out. Not a sourdough. Burnt wood. Did I just get a bad one? Can I get a refund? Going back to Sullivan street bakery. read more

***Almond Croissant Review Only*** Returning from a recent trip to Brazil, I was graced with a 12 hour layover a la JFK. Scrounging up the warmest clothes I brought with me (jean jacket and thick-ish leggings), I took the MTA into Brooklyn, ignoring the Delta agent's recommendation "...go to Manhattan... (you poor Yankee doodle fool)..." As I got out of the metro all pumped with visions of East Coast hipsters, I passed only sad face homeless people shivering in the cold and the occasional scary man. Ducked into a Starbucks for some free electricity to calculate my next move: an almond croissant at Bien Cuit. Now, this croissant is twice baked with brandy, hence the extra brown exterior. Upon breaking through the easy-to-shatter exterior, the interior reviles air and buttery-ness. The almond filling is dense as it is generous, with a modest amount of sweetness that allowed for appreciation of the almond flavor. I am warm again! Bien Cuit's almond croissant is the real deal. They do it right. Go Brooklyn! read more

The latest bougie bakery to come to Cobble Hill, Bien Cuit is the place to fuel your ridiculously beautiful south Brooklyn weekend. Airy and well lit near the window, BC sustains light conversation on weekends and dead freelancer silence on weekdays, but it's not really a place to put down roots. They seem to be sending mixed signals in that they have free wifi but no bathrooms, so your work date will last only as long as your bladder can hold out. They brew French pressed Crop to Cup for prices which have become standard for the neighborhood but that doesn't mean you have to like it. Their bread and croissants are exceptional though, noticeably better than even the good rival cafes and bakeries. Sure you'll pay for it, but croissants are a decadent bourgeois luxury that will be first against the wall when the revolution comes anyway. A+ baked goods, A- people and dog-watching, B+ coffee, B- ambience. read more

No wifi on Saturdays. Really overpriced--the mini quiche, although tasty, was $7. Counterwoman was really belabored about toasting my quiche, and told me she didn't know how long it would take because "it's a new toaster." Then she forgot about it. When I went up to the counter to see about the quiche, she totally ignored me. I said, "is that my quiche?" (it was sitting on the side of the toaster). She said--"oh yeah, i thought you left." The staff doesn't have their act together. The place looks a bit empty in back. Latte was good--two shots standard. read more

Since it's opened I've had a regular croissant, ham and brie croissant (twice - I'm a sucker for this...) and today had a ham/turkey/bacon sandwich for lunch. I've also had a baguette which I used for a sandwich (I've had a lot of time to plan my meals - the bar exam is right around the corner!) All of the food was great, the staff is super friendly and attentive - and there are just so many different, freshly baked goods here you can't help but want to sit down and take it all in. Definitely worth checking out if you're around the neighborhood! read more

I would love to rave about bien cuit, the ambitious newish bakery on Smith Street. It smells right, the air heavy with the sweet smell of yeast and starter. The loaves look amazing, and, sometimes, they are pretty good - a really well developed crumb based on a long rise, a tasty crust, and good structure. The best thing I've had here is the miche - the loaf is so big that their problem with crusts (see below) is minimized. Unfortunately, the baguette is such a disaster that it ruins all this. The crust is way too thick, almost uncuttable even with my serrated bread knife. It's also so thick that none of my guests recently were able to eat their chicken salad sandwiches. And, this inedible baguette cost $4. Once burned, twice shy. I'll try the miche again. Everything else I'm happy to leave. read more

This is like having a really unhealthy relationship with someone who is rich and likes to spoil you once in a blue moon but otherwise treats you like crap because they know you'd just crawl back for more. For the life of me, I cannot understand the business model of making a small batch of food that regularly sells out early in the day and turning away customers from coming back. The service is horrendous - rude, apathetic, sullen. I've been passed over several times for the next in line for someone who's a regular. I am not that transparent, I assure you. When they do have food available though, it is pretty spot on - the croissants are very good - not the best for me - but they hit the spot. But the Tebirke is why I keep crawling back - holy mother of food that is some good stuff! Another favorite is the goat cheese and artichoke croissant - although the dough to filling ratio is sadly like 85 to 15 - not what one would hope for. Coffee is really good here as well. The breads are ok - but really overpriced for what you get. Actually the food here is expensive, period, more so than the majority of places in the city. I'd rather go to Amy's Bread for the dough. read more

Bien Cuit is just getting worse. Downgrading based on three things: 1. The croissants have gotten much worse. They used to be passable, better than many NYC croissants. Now they are mass produced garbage that somehow taste soapy. 2. The bakers rage when asked if they could select a bread for me that is a little less Bien Cuit. He begins to lecture me about what a true baguette is and how amazing his are. WTF?! I can go to the bagel shop and ask for a light or dark bagel! 3. The price. I need a 7-figure salary to shop here. read more

Allow me to comment again on what a wonderful place this is. It's truly special. We went there over break and had such a wonderful time. When I think about the bakery scene in NYC it's pretty lame. I remember going to San Fran and just being taken back by how much better their offerings are. Look at a place like Tartine out there, if placed in NYC it would have zero competition.. What do we have? City Bakery? Bouley Bakery? Sure there is Grand Daisy or Sullivan but, they are limited in their offerings and they are not like places you are going to hang out in.. Enter Bien Cuit, the best damn Croissants in NYC.. You can't get a decent croissant out here. I don't understand the shape that NYC has adopted.. They are not like the classic croissants, they look more like these rounded calzone pastries or something.. The croissants at Bien Cuit as amazing.. They are crispy and flaky on the outside and the almond filling is so delicious..But my favorite part is how they allow the almond on the outside to brown up to a perfect crunch.. In addition to the Almond Croissant we had a few other pastries and then ordered a bunch to go.. As well as their Pan Pugliese. Pan Pugliese is one of my favorite breads and this is by far my favorite version in NYC. I sliced them long and grilled them on my kitchen grill.. Served with vitello tonnato, served with carmalized onion and blue cheese, served with ricotta and prosciutto on a couple of different occasions.. Each person that tried it could not get over the bread.. It is just so good. We last night, I made a broccoli soup and served the soup over a toasted bruschetta and used the last of the bread for croutons on a salad.. I was sad to see it go.. read more

Their bread is probably the best I have eaten -- ever -- including in Italy and France. The miche and rye/sunflower are my favorites. It is sold fresh and still a bit warm (at least in the AM). I'm not a fan of baguettes in general so I'll leave that alone, but the sandwiches they make with them are mighty fine. Croissants of all kinds are spectacular. I find it comical that people complain about coffee and drinks, but the store could spare them the pain by not selling anything other than fabulously baked goods. read more

While every morning millions of Americans toast their monoglycerides- and soybean oil-infused food-like product that they think of as bread, I'm slicing into a wonderful loaf of Bien Cuit's campagne. This is bread, real bread. I sleep every night excited that the following morning I will be slathering a slice of that bread in some butter and eating it, with joy. Unlike Paris, you can't just walk out of your New York City apartment and find bread -- let alone good bread -- around your block. This is still New York, and you can find pretty much anything here. Bien Cuit is your answer to excellent bread. When you open the door to the bakery the scent of fresh bread engulfs you. You know you are in a little slice of bready heaven. While I'm there to pick up my bread I always end up getting the carrot and onion tartine. I also spend a few very happy minutes admiring the pastry display (and sometimes I eat one). Tip: as someone who lives by myself, I always get a half loaf of the campagne, which if you use consume thick slices of bread daily, will last you three days. Keep it any longer and the bread's no good. read more

You can't go wrong with an exceptional croissant and a Cafe Au Lait, now if you do this every morning, dig deep into your pockets. It will add up pretty quickly. For those of us, where money is no object, I say let it rip. However, Brooklyn is known for some exceptional bakeries. Caputos comes to mind at a third the cost. Their croissants aren't as pricey or as good, but their bread is outstanding. So, if your Porsche can handle a quarter mile drive or so, go to Court and Sacket St., you won't be disappointed. Cross my heart. XoXo read more

On the hunt for Paper at Paper Source, I walked passed this cute little front with a sign that said bakery and put it on my mental list of places to try. Little did I know that I would be walking into it a mere 20 minutes later with some time to spare before having to dash off. I walked in and immediately loved the space. The open layout, the seat at the window with a pillow so people can plop down. I loved that the bakery space is in the far back, but you can see what they're doing. I also loved the way their goods are displayed-sparse, but plenty. It also helped that the girl behind the counter immediately offered help and I was sold immediately. I ordered the salami baguette which has mustard and mini-pickled cucumbers on it. The baguette was awesome, too! It was brown and not too hard to bite into. The salami, mustard and pickles just added to the lightness and crunch. As I told the woman behind the counter, "because presentation is everything," I'll try that. The sandwich has ribbon wrapped around it. Maybe a bit on the girlie side for the men of Brooklyn, but so worth picking up! It is perfect and spot-on for someone who is hungry, but not starving. I also ordered an Americano which was really good and their mango mint lemonade that had pulp in it and was delicious. I could tell that the mango wasn't ripe, but I don't blame them at all, fruit is fruit and ripens on it's own schedule after all. Either way, I'd order it again and again and again. It was the perfect drink for yesterday's muggy day. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and can't wait to actually sit a bit longer there and maybe do some writing. Great addition to Smith Street! read more

Just stopped into Bien Cuit to buy a baguette for tonight's dinner. I left with a chocolate croissant in tow and munched on it while I walked down the street. There have been numerous times in my young life when I've ordered a chocolate croissant only to find that I've paid for a lump of hard dough with a dollop of old chocolate inside. Not this time, my friends. The pastry was soft and buttery and the chocolate was rich and just melty enough. In fact, I felt like there was extra chocolate in mine, which made me feel very special indeed. If my baguette turns out to be half as good as the croissant, I will be a happy Brooklynite. P.S. It's places like this that make dieting impossible. read more

CROISSANT. Croissant, croissant, croissant. I'm not going to be petty and dock this place a star just because it can't set up a conveyor belt into my mouth. I am reviewing this place as a bakery, rather than a café. The croissants are tender and buttery. You can mash them into your mouth and feel the flakiness slowly collapse, but not totally concede to the soft white insides. As for loaves, this is the only place in NYC where I may safely bring Old World natives to buy bread. read more

I was extremely excited to have another great addition to Smith street and am even more thrilled that its on the north end of the street as most of the better bars/restaurants tend to be towards the south end near Carrol Gardens. Bien Cuit is a little cafe with a small offering that is done well. I've purchased their basic baguette as well as a few pasties including their flatbread savory tart which was to die for. A welcomed addition to the neighborhood. read more

$3.25 for a burned, flavorless croissant. I know that bien cuit means well done, but this was a bit much. I had high hopes and am disappointed. Also, it was a Saturday morning and the place was packed, especially the seating area by the front window. I waited at the front of the bar for seven minutes before being told my brewed coffee was at the side of the bar. The counter service had ignored my presence until this point. Being an observant first time customer, I was watching, waiting to see where my coffee popped up and when I didn't see it quickly, was trying to catch any of the three staff's eyes. This was a definite service fail. Almondine in DUMBO is way better, in regards to good, french croissants and baguettes and friendly, fast service. If you can make it up to DUMBO, it's worth it. read more

Everybody knows bread is raw toast (even when it's expensive and hyped raw toast). I spotted the rustic sign hanging above Bien Cuit and entered to a distinct wheat scent, greated by a nice dude and not-so-nice prices. I'm the first to admit I've never been fond of french pastry; it's probably just too subtle (read: nuanced*) for me. Feeling as adventurous as this kind of venture can make you feel, I went for the hazelnut bostock for $4.08 ("A bostock has been described as a syrup-soaked, frangipane-topped, crispy-edged brioche that's an ode to breakfast glory"). While this item was certainly beautifully crafted and well-constructed AND structurally sound, it didn't hit me over the head (even if it shouldn't have, I wanted it to, and I'm the customer, so shove it) and didn't pack much in the way of distinct flavor, hazelnut or otherwise. *They almost taste too healthy in the way that it's not advantageous for something you know isn't nutritious to taste. read more

Bien Cuit - Bakeries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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