Librae Bakery
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Croissant is quite greasy Line goes quickly, they have a variety of pastries that are fun to try
I was intrigued by the concept of a Bahraini American bakery, so librae was a must visit on a recent nyc trip. Located around copper square the bakery has lots of light and a few tables (that fill up quickly). The menu options are very unique. I got the rose pistachios croissant which was delicious and perfect in its baked execution, the saffron cookie a very interesting chewy cookie with sesame and saffron, and a coffee. Service is quick. I'd like to come back to try more options!
One of my bakeries to hit on my list because what stood out was the pistachio rose croissant. That was my main reason for coming here.. I was dreaming of eating one lol Pistachio and rose combo, why not ? Two of my faves. The croissant was large, and we shared it amongst the two of us. It was halved and contained a generous amount of pistachio filling. The top had a drizzle of pistachio frosting and a few hints of rose petals. That's as far as the rose flavor went, very minimal. Also, decided to try their carrot cake scone. It was very dense, dry, and had an odd spice flavor. I didn't care for this one too much unfortunately. Friendly service, plenty of indoor seating, interesting unique bakery, little pricey.
The pistachio flavor was so good, and the croissant was super soft and flaky. The bread pudding was also amazing. No seats available inside or outside at 1ish on Sunday, so we just ate quickly near the bar area, but even that place was crowded with people waiting to pick up coffee.
I like to judge how good a place is based on their most basic item. In this case, it is the classic croissant. So I've been to Paris, I've tried the croissants over there. I have tried many croissants in my lifetime. However, this comes right next to the croissants I had in Paris. This was probably the second best croissant I ever had in my entire life. Maybe it was the time of day that I had it, maybe I just got lucky. I like a good, flaky, buttery croissant, a croissant where you can taste the butter. This croissant slapped. It was so buttery that the bottom part of the croissant caramelized a little and it was crunchy. It was also gigantic. I could not finish it in one sitting. When I bit into it, the top layer of the croissant flaked off and kept its shape as it lifted off the body. I was able to peel it off like it was a sheet of paper and continued to eat the croissant like that until I got to the delicious buttery core. It's been weeks since I had this croissant and I'm still thinking about it.
I came to this bakery pretty late in the day, so maybe my review is not a fair evaluation of what the experience could be. When I got there, the options were extremely limited. They did have the famous pistachio rose croissant. The presentation was beautiful! But I found the pistachio taste to be fairly bland and the croissant was bleeding butter/oil everywhere, which overshadowed the experience. I personally love rose flavor, and I did not feel like it came through strongly in the dessert. Lots of space and seating on the inside!
Another trendy bakery, another place that doesn't necessarily live up to the hype. Librae does have quite an eclectic assortment of pastries, think halva croissants, tahini chocolate chip cookies, savory breads and sandwiches amongst their assortment. Surprisingly when I went, there was barely a line, and figured a pistachio rose croissant was in order. Service was quick and efficient and walked out there fast. The croissant itself is quite huge. Plenty of sugary pistachios filled inside and on top. Not a lot of rose flavor sadly. But pistachio lovers will get a kick out of it. The croissant itself was almost candied, it had a very crisp, sugar lacquered exterior. But my gosh, it was so oily. Like I don't know if it was the nuts or the croissant, but a thin sheen of oil was prevalent on my hands while eating. Overall, I do think it's worth a visit if you don't wait in line. But just remember to bring napkins. And sanitizer. Because you'll be wiping your hands a bit!
Blending middle eastern tastes with French pastry, Librae Bakery serves up some creative baked goods! They have a lot of savory options as well with baked goods as well as sandwiches. But after two visits, I can say I'm happy I tried their goodies but I probably won't be returning unless a friend wants to go (or for the halva croissant on the weekends!). While expecting strong flavors based on the descriptions, I feel like the flavors are on the subtle side. - tahini chocolate chip cookie (4/5): a good cookie, with a little chew and lots of puddles of chocolate. I'd probably like it more chilled for a better chew but the flavor was nice-- not super nutty or pronounced on the tahini but the chocolate was nice. - pistachio rose chocolate croissant (3/5): their most viral bake was beautiful on presentation but surprisingly muted in flavor in comparison with how much syrup/oil was dripping off of it. Glad that it didn't taste like rose, but the pistachio part wasn't sweet. Probably great with a drink, but not a very indulgent treat by itself. - halva croissant (5/5): super sweet, creamy, and nutty! Only available on the weekends, and it's a hefty one. Might be a little sweet for most but it was a neat twist on an almond croissant. - espresso pain au chocolate (3/5): tempted by the allure of espresso, this one fell flat since I was expecting a stronger coffee flavor, and it was actually really subtle... had to imagine it, but it was an solid chocolate croissant. - honey cardamom bun (3/5): beautiful and large, but the bread was quite dry. It is plain and simple with cream inside, one to share with friends. I couldn't discern any cardamom :( Haven't tried the savory offerings, but this could be a spot that caters to the whole group easily with such a varied menu. The service was super friendly despite it being so busy both times I visited. There is a self serve water station + seating inside but it's usually full, so there's extra tables + a bench outside.
I'd had this spot on my list for a little while now and it was nice to finally check it out - it was great! The Pistachio Rose Croissant is one of their signature items and I can see why - a perfect croissant with very good servings of pistachios in every bite, while also tasting the subtle flavor of rose. The Tahini Chocolate Chip was a nice surprise with its soft texture, deep dark chocolate chips and the earthy tahini on top that actually works. They had a special Malted Hot Chocolate, which was phenomenal - so good, with very rich, thick and creamy chocolate accented with malt, which added some unique depth. The place is cute and slightly small, so expect take your baked goods elsewhere during popular times.
I have been craving an amazing viennoiserie so if anyone has recs in the city (not BK) plz lmk. I only got the chocolate espresso croissant bc I didn't wanna be obese and because the options didn't really look all that enticing. Normally when I walk into a bakery I walk out w like 3-5 pastries but here, none of them really inspired me. As far as the chocolate croissant I did really enjoy the flavor and the flakiness of the pastry. It was also chocolate heavy but not too sweet. Idk if I will go back but probs not. Still on the hunt for smthing like the Fondry in LA
With a line out the door, this definitely warrants a try. The smell exuding from this place is tremendous. The atmosphere is inviting and the line out the door sealed my fate. That's where the glazing stops. I ordered the Rose Pistachio Croissant and Dirty Chai Sticky Bun, which looked wonderful. The prices for each item are definitely not cheap. At almost $10 a piece, this had better knock my socks off. It is definitely overrated. Pause. It is definitely good, but for the wait and price I endured, it wasn't mind-blowing. The texture of the croissant is average. It is crunchy outside but not as fluffy as I'd imagined inside. Perhaps that is intentional? The sticky buns were sticky, but the bun was too much. The uneven balance left me desiring more of the glazing per bite, which ruined the experience. At least it's not overly sweet. Just ok for me.
Confounded by how bland the tahini chocolate chip cookie is. That's kinda all I have to say. I kept eating it, desperately searching for flavor, and literally scratching my head trying to understand how this is what such a hyped bakery is presenting us with...texture=cakey, flavor=unroasted sesame, depth=none to be found, heart + soul=empty.
Oh my GOD the Smoked Salmon Sandwich is to die for. That's it. That's the review. Go here. Get it. Enjoy it. And go back for more. Also - the pastries are insane and the croissants and Babkas are WOAH. 10/10.
2 years ago
The pistachio filling is rich, and the cafe's interior is beautiful. However, seating is limited, especially in the early morning. I arrived at 11 am on a summer day, and it was already crowded. The service was excellent and efficient read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
I got the pistachio rose croissant, lummi babka, and the artichoke/lemon focaccia. The croissant was my favorite, very crispy and lots of flavor and the rose is not overpowering at all (maybe could even afford to have a bit more rose). The lummi babka had more of a bread pudding/lemon curd custard layer on the bottom which was good but don't see myself getting this again. The black lime wasn't very distinctive as a flavor. The focaccia was a favorite of my friends, and I enjoyed it too but the croissant still beat the focaccia for me. read more
The pastries are amazing! The pistachio rose croissant was not only so beautiful, but tasty as well. It was very crispy and had so much filling. The pistachio and rose flavors were so good together and balanced. The feta dill scone had a great combination of flavors. read more
Always crowded, but was able to go on a weekday. Nice space to work or chat with friends if you have a table. The pistachio croissant was yummy but very sweet and impossible for me to finish alone (which is saying something considering I have a big sweet tooth). The coffee was okay, but i'm not a big coffee drinker. Rhubarb pastry was delicious. read more
2 years ago
Super flaky and flavorful pastries. The cinnamon roll had a lovely cardamom and tea flavor. And our favorite was the zaatar morning bun. Heaven! read more
I found this bakery through Instagram and decided to give this place a shot. It's Bahrian (middle eastern owned). I specifically came here for the breakfast sandwich - EGG SANDO (FRI, SAT, SUN ONLY) Baked Eggs, Roasted Mushrooms, Local Cheddar, Parmesan Crisp on Challah Note: The bakery opens up early, but the sandwich is not available until 9am which was something that isn't mentioned anywhere on social media. So I basically came here before 9am and had to wait to order the sandwich (lol). At least I copped a table. That being said, this sandwich is incredibly filling. I honestly believe it can be split four ways. I don't know why I thought I can eat one entire one on my own... if you share this sandwich, you're likely to savor the taste. The cappuccino was okay, nothing spectacular. I also purchased some of the bakery goods to go, but I believe they were a bit overrated. I would still recommend visiting this place, just for the vibe & sandwich. read more
When I got here there was a long line because they had literally run out of baked goods. I got here on Saturday morning at 11 AM, the wait was around 30 minutes and I would say it's worth it. I came here for the croissant, but what really left me impressed was there feta scone the layers and the texture were so well-made. I wish I could've tried more things, but most of it was sold out. I highly recommend trying this place out if you are a bakery foodie. read more
Came here on a Sunday around 12:30 and waited about 15-20 mins on line, not too bad. It seemed like they have everything available which was nice since most highly sought out bakery's only have half their selection left by 12:30. I tried the cappuccino which was in a very small cup (6-8oz I'm guessing) so not really worth $5.50 but if you have to have it then go for it. The pistachio rose croissant is totally worth all the hype. It was soooo buttery, moist, and packed with equal pistachio and rose flavor. MUST TRY! The loomi babka was a great flavor. The citrus flavor reminded me of yuzu. The texture was soft on the bottom and crisp/hard on the top; it's good if you get both textures in one bite. The salmon sando is a mess but totally worth it! They put plenty of labneh on it so the bread doesn't taste dry and a good amount of salmon and picked onions. A really good savory choice. The ambiance is nice, they have as much seating as they can for a small spot but beware, no bathroom! read more
If you are looking for the most heavenly bakery smell, this place has it. I came on a Sunday midday and it was busy and full but I was able to find a seat. I ordered the feta scone and the Jerusalem bagel with labne and smoked salmon, as well as a cappuccino. Easily the best thing I tasted was the feta scone - the layers and flavors of this are so, so delicious - 5/5 hands down don't miss this savory nugget of amazingness. I originally came here because I love Jerusalem bagels and was excited to try theirs, but to be honest I was a bit let down - it just wasn't as soft as they usually are and it wasn't heated up at all. The labne and smoked salmon were good. The cappuccino was also good but pretty standard. When I come back I'm getting a ton of those feta scones, and maybe try one of their great-looking focaccias. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Wait, what? How? I am amazed at how delicious the Pistachio rose croissant is! Ive tried pistachio croissant, but not any that has been bedazzled with rose. The outside is perfectly crispy, and the inside is perfectly soft and filled with flavorful filling. Which you can see from the picture, there's a generous amount. I was so amazed after 1 bite. Although the place as limited seating, it's fine just get the croissants to go, they will taste good anywhere. read more
3 years ago
I am not entirely sure how I feel about this place. The bakery, without a doubt, has high quality pastries. They are visually pleasing, and the rose pistachio croissant that I had was big, flaky, and delicious--just as good as the ones that you can find in a viennoiserie in France. Except that in France, you can get these "special" croissants for half of what you would pay for in NYC. I guess because of the popularity, getting a seat inside is pretty tricky. The indoor is very spacious and accommodates a full bakery kitchen in the back, but there aren't that many tables for seating. This is just my feel, but the layout isn't cozy or anything. It feels more appropriate to just dip in and dip out. When it comes to food, I can spend a lot and not feel guilty and not feel like I splurged too much. But here, I did not feel great spending $9.25 ($8.5 + tax excluding tip) on a sole croissant. I'm fine treating my visit here both as first and last, just for the experience. read more
Everything was so delicious. The havla croissant was my favorite because of the chocolate inside but the pistachio one was amazing as well and had a great, generous filling. The egg sandwich was super delicious. I loved the crisped cheese and the sauce. We came at 11:30ish and did not have to wait in line very long but we waited for probably 20-30 mins for a seat to open up so we were just holding our plates and waiting around for people to stop loitering which was unpleasant. I wish they had a different system of seating people that was more organized but it was still worth it. read more
4 years ago
The aroma coming from Librae Bakery entices you to go in as you walk by the store. I wanted to get all of the pastries but had to restrain myself to just getting a few. The seasonal focaccia was delicious. The bread was fluffy and had a crispy exterior. It was well seasoned and so satisfying. It could have been better if it was reheated though. My favorite item was the za'atar labneh morning bun. The spices were amazing, and I didn't want to stop eating it. It was buttery on the inside and flakey on the outside. The loomi babka bun was so buttery. Each layer was amazing. The citrus spread was a perfect compliment to the sweetness of the pastry. The espresso pain au chocolate had glazed sugar on top of the pastry. The acidity of the chocolate took me by surprise because I was expecting a darker roast coffee and darker chocolate. This was probably the only item, that I didn't really love. The rose pistachio croissant was good, but it wasn't my favorite just because I'm not a big fan of rose. However, my friend loved it. The pistachio and rose flavor were both really prominent and didn't mute out each other. They didn't taste artificial at all either. The pistachio crunch on top was a perfect contrast to the smooth spread in the middle. The croissant was beautifully baked as well. The tahini cardamom latte was great. It was a perfect mix of sweet and savory and washed down the pastries nicely. It was so good that I had to come back twice in a week. There are still so many things that I want to try. I'm excited to come back. read more
1 year ago
Came back and brought my mom and we were able to grab a table which is hard to come by! This time she got coffee and I got a cortado (good but I needed to get more coffee after, honestly) and we tried the focaccia (10/10 it was fluffy and delicious and had an egg baked into it with feta!) read more
This bakery was a solid 10/10 - I left there already thinking about when I should go back to try more things. I got the spinach artichoke danish which was not only flakey & baked to perfection, but also packed with flavor! For dessert I tried the tahini chocolate chip cookie, which was a delicious explosion of flavors & textures. - @nyconthetable read more
4 years ago
Librae is absolutely incredible. Someone had recommended it and I just happened to walk by so I had to stop in. The pastries all looked delightful. Apparently the almond croissant just sold out so I sprang for the rose pistachio croissant (layered with pistachio frangipane and preserved rose petals brought over from Bahrain). I don't always love florals because it can be taste like bath soap and/or a candle BUT this was perfect. Both the pistachio and rose were subtle but clearly there. The croissant itself was just buttery, flaky, delicious. Mmmm. Just to be fully transparent, I had a Dominique Ansel cronut right after I had Librae's croissant and DA couldn't even hold a light. It's a changing of the guard! I finished a bagel just as I walked up to Librae otherwise I would've tried the Jerusalem Bagel, which looks like an oblong sesame bagel & it's served with labne here. Anyways - it's a must stop in! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
I've been coming to Librae every week for their espresso-glazed pain au chocolat-- it's seriously one of my favorites in the city, and I eat A LOT of pain au chocolat. The dark chocolate and coffee flavors really complement each other and allow the pastry to shine. The glaze does make for a sticky and messy eat, but it doesn't flake as much so it's a fair trade-off. My other favorite includes their lumee babka, a sticky sweet-tart fluffy roll filled with a black lime and lemon curd. Lumee, black lime, is a spice that is used throughout the Middle East and the babka is such a creative and quintessentially New York vehicle to pay homage to the Bahranian and Persian roots of the owners. The Jerusalem bagel with labneh is also a great savory choice too. There is plenty of seating as well as a glass wall so you can watch the pastry magic happen in front of you. Perfect place to come, sit down, and enjoy some coffee with friends! read more
1 year ago
Just wow! Everything from here is incredible! No wonder there is usually a line out the door. My favorite is the class pistachio rose croissant. 10/10 recommend. Get there early as popular items sell out fast! read more
2 years ago
5 stars everyone. I've been here so many times are I'll keep coming back. The coffee is always good, the pastries even better. There will forever be a line but they move through it pretty quick usually, but good luck sitting down inside. They do fantastic croissants with their chocolate one being my favorite, their chocolate chip cookie is a miss for me but their other options are a hit. My favorite are their buttery, thick scones. They always do a really really good seasonal flavor. Their sticky bun flavors also rotate but can be a bit too big and sweet for me. read more
3 years ago
Incredible! I've been wanting to try for a while and am so happy I was able to. Got there around 11 am on a Friday morning and there was about a 10/15 minute line (it moves fast we started outside of the bakery). The espresso pan au chocolate and chocolate hazelnut sticky bun were amazing! I want to go back and try more. The coffee was very good too, we just got an almond milk cappuccino and an oat milk vanilla latte. They had some really interesting looking drinks that I would consider trying next time. Definitely check it out it's worth the hype! read more
Ay, ay, guys... this place was supposed to knock it out of the park! Very surprised at what my experience turned out to be here, actually, I'm disappointed. I'd already had a bagel sandwich over at Russ & Daughters this morning, so that eliminatied the option of a Jerusalem bagel for me. Wanted to try something here since I was in the neighborhood and Librae Bakery has been on my list to check out. I asked for a recommendation - "something savory with za'atar". The woman behind the counter recommended the Morning Bun. It's her place so I figured I couldn't go wrong. I went wrong. Undercooked, clumpy, lacking flavor are some things that come to mind. It's very rare that I won't finish a meal or anything I ordered. I ate less than half of this pastry. At $8 a pop, it should be outstanding! This was not anything close - beyond the exterior layer, it was undercooked, za'atar was clumped together, mushy and not distributed throughout the Morning Bun... the flavor was likely on summer vacation. Understood this is a newer establishment and they could very well still be working the kinks out, but if you have the buns to charge $8 for a pastry, it better be something special. I may or may not give this place another shot, but for now and until I do? It's a no. read more
Cute bakery with mouthwatering selection of baked goods. We ordered a latte, matcha latte, and focaccia bread. The focaccia bread was pretty good, but I do wish it had been warm. The matcha latte was also quite bland. I also wish the employees had been more attentive to bussing tables. All of the open tables were dirty with crumbs read more
3 years ago
Food is incredible, one of the best butter croissants I've had outside of Paris. Staff is super nice and welcoming. Will walk you through the intricacies of each item. Went on a cold fall day. Quiet, intimate setting inside. A few tables outside. You can see into the bakery itself in the back, too. One of the best parts is watching people struggle with the front door read more
I had the most delicious croissant I've ever had here. It wasn't overly crunchy but was soft on the inside. Wow it was so delicious. They had great coffee and overall aesthetic as well. They had some seats inside and right outside to sit but there's also benches across the street if you don't find something there. read more
Librae was all over instagram reels, so you know we had to try! Long line, but they go by super quick. I got the hot chocolate and the feta and dill scone I believe? The hot chocolate was mid and really had no flavor. The scone was so good and i'm excited to come back and try more! They had limited seating, but if you wait long enough you can snag yourself a table. Worth the hype, but their hot coco has room for improvement. read more
I was excited to try the pistachio croissant but I was a bit underwhelmed. It was a bit greasy for my liking but my sister loved it so I guess it's up to personal preference. I did get a specialty latte here that was pretty good! read more
I love how Librae Bakery incorporates Middle Eastern flavors into these pastries and am a big fan! I tried the summer tea, rose pistachio croissant, and za'atar labneh morning bun. The summer tea was a combination of lavender, hibiscus, and chamomile. It was very refreshing and great for a hot day! I'd definitely order the rose pistachio croissants and za'atar labneh morning bun again. They were both fairly pricey (about $8) but worth it. The croissant is sweet and rich, with a buttery and flaky outside and pistachio jam in the middle. The bun is savory and has just the right amount of herbal flavor. The texture of the pastry is great too. There are a couple of tables inside and outside, but because the bakery is very popular, they are rarely empty. There was a line when I went but it moves pretty fast because the service is quick. Also a great atmosphere! read more
I've been wanting to check this bakery out and finally had the opportunity to do so. I ordered the pistachio rose croissant since that was their bestseller. Some of the things I was interested in had cheese in it and I have a dairy allergy so I was very limited. The croissant was delectable BUT the pistachios on top were an overkill. The filling was a sweet buttery pistachio filling and even then I had to scrape some out. If you're obsessed with pistachios, you'd love it but I definitely had to take off a good amount to really enjoy it and when I did, it was great. Hopefully they add some dairy-free options in the near future. read more
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