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One of my NYC favorites, and go to spot whenever I am in town. The salad bar, although pricey, is beautiful and always full of really delicious and interesting things to choose from, well worth the price. The food here, to me, shows real passion for freshness and flavor. I don't know where else in town you can get the selection of lunch food they offer every day. I say bravo to whoever is behind the stoves there. I have not tried anything from the hot breakfast bar, so cannot comment on that. I am a pretzel croissant fan too!

City Bakery's resting on their laurels and the bygone days of cameos on Sex and the City. Went for breakfast and made the error of thinking they could handle hot breakfast. The hardened french toast was so cloyingly sweet and tasted as if it had been sitting out all morning. If you're going to serve something that hard, at least provide metal flatware. While the pretzel croissant was everything its reputaton says, the rest was subpar and the place needs to focus on their hot breakfast, if they offer it.

Since when are cookies seasonal? Someone at City Bakery has chosen to deny its clientelle the best cookie in NYC for months now...the Melted Chocolate Cookie. Not only is it their best seller (it sells out pretty much every day, I work a block away trust me) but it is also their most expensive cookie. It is absurd to me that they would stop making this cookie because it's "seasonal". Not only are you losing clientelle (I haven't purchased a crumb there since the cookie went away) but you've got to be losing money as well. Bring back the melted chocolate cookie!!

If nothing else, go for the chocolate chip cookies. These are the best in the City. The West Village, Birdbath Bakery location, also has them. The cookies are divine. The other items are good too, but definitely go for the cookies.

I am very big on chocolate and I have very high standards for it. Thus, when you read my title, take it seriously. This is literally the best place for hot chocolate in New York. There is a reviewer below who complained that it was bitter, well that is because it's REAL chocolate, if you want Swiss Miss I suggest you go to Max Brenner, where the quality of the chocolate is so low I wouldn't clean my floors with it. Besides if you really want more sweetness to it, although the hot chocolate isn't bitter at all, ask for them to add one of their organic marshmallows that melt in the hot chocolate and give it an even better flavor. I also highly recommend their pretzel croissant, which is delicious. If you have friends or relatives visiting in the winter, this is a great place to come and rest after a day of sightseeing or shopping. Definitely have the hot chocolate, you will not be disappointed, but be prepared because it is very rich.

Cold salad bar was good. However, the desserts weren't that great for a "bakery". Had their freshly baked chocolate cookies at $4 each and thought they were so-so. I'd go elsewhere for dessert.

Yes, this place can get pricey very quickly. But what the other reviewers have to realize is that this place isn't your average salad bar. Nowhere else will you find this quality of ingredients. I could make a lunch just out of the vegetables they are so good. All of the vegetables are fresh, never canned, and fresh ingredients from the nearby greenmarket are used whenever possible. While I steer clear of the hot food, which looks a little greasy to me, I pile my plate with a lot of the fresh leafy greens, and then choose small portions of meat and heartier vegetables. Yes, the food is expensive and no, you do not get a lot for your money, but you should go here to savor the exotic dishes, not to stuff yourself. When you choose wisely, and stick to reasonable portion sizes, you can have a fast, satisfying, healthy, restaurant-quality meal without spending money on tips.