Lafayette Grand Cafe & Bakery - NYC

On a warm Sunday morning in early October, Lafayette's front patio is filled with New Yorkers brunching en plein air, hanging onto summer as long as possible. Inside the French cafe and bakery's front doors is a pastry lovers dream come true.  Fresh baked croissants line the countertops along with every tart, danish, muffin, macaron and cake imaginable.

    

Over on the other side of the restaurant chef and owner Andrew Carmellini sits in one of Lafayette's cushy banquettes eating one of his croissant sandwiches filled with thickly sliced french ham, gruyere and a fried egg.  It's only one of the must order items on his brunch menu. 

Wanting to over order at one of Mr. Carmellini's restaurants isn't something new.  If you've been to Locande Verde and The Dutch, you'll understand. Now at his third restaurant in New York in four years, he's bringing his style of French country cooking to the masses.  

Back at brunch other tables feast on the Brussels style waffles with homemade nutella and banana, the squash omelettte du jour, and overflowing baskets of the perfectly crispy and salty shoe string fries. 

A perfect Sunday if you ask us.