Breads Bakery

"Chocolate babka hogs the spotlight at this bakery, but there’s lots more to explore beyond those rightfully famous chocolate-streaked loaves. The cafe in the back is stocked with vegetarian- and pescetarian-friendly salads, sandwiches, and soups, including the sabich (eggplant and hard-boiled eggs), two varieties of cauliflower salads, and shakshuka. Stock up on Gruyere-spackled cheese straws, olive breadsticks, and seeded loaves for snacking at home." - Robert Sietsema, Eater Staff

"Breads’ babka has become a pastry icon in a city full of black-and-white cookies and wedges of cheesecake. Each braided slice contains layers of dark chocolate and crispy sugar. But the shop also puts out yeasted loaves, cakes, and pastries each day, with a knack for combining Middle Eastern flavors and European technique. Croissant dough gets twisted into pretzels and showered in poppy and sesame seeds; challah gets studded with everything from pockets of gouda to cranberries; and even the signature babka sometimes gets an NY cheesecake filling. There are other locations, too." - Eater Staff

"An institution in the neighborhood for breakfast or lunch." - Nancy DePalma

"With multiple locations, bakery favorite Breads offers potato latkes, one for $3, five for $13, and 12 for $30, served with sour cream and house-made apple sauce. Pillowy sufganiyot are also available in vanilla, tiramisu, chocolate and strawberry. One is $3.75; a dozen is $37." - Eater Staff

"Breads is very much of the current bake-it-to-dark-brown school, and breads and pastries tend to come out that way, including its celebrated babka. These croissants are smaller than usual, and more flaky too, so they wouldn’t be a good choice for a sandwich. But for eating with a cup of strong dark coffee, it could be just the thing. $4.50." - Robert Sietsema, Eater Staff