Breadbox Cafe

Visiting a friend in Long Island City, I stumbled upon the Breadbox, a bright and airy bakery/cafe that's an unexpected oasis in the neighborhood. Converted from an auto body shop, it's stocked with delicious desserts like this banana cupcake with strawberry frosting & filling.

There's also an extensive list of sandwiches and salads. The ham and gruyere came with super-spicy mustard and a side of salad.

The cappuccino was a perfect ending to a unexpected find!

Cafe Pedlar

I could get used to weekend afternoons at Cafe Pedlar on the Lower East Side. This americano was perfect - strong but not too bitter and complimented nicely by the pretzel roll, one of several baked goods provided by the Frankie's 17 next door. On the weekends there's a brunch menu in addition to the many tasty pastries, including olive oil cake, french toast and stout cake.