It’s a good thing that there approximately 2,800 miles separating me and Levain Bakery. If Levain Bakery was in Los Angeles, I would hear its siren song, beckoning me to come eat its delicious goods.

There always seems to be a line here. Sometimes it moves pretty quickly, but on this particular visit, not so much. The couple in back of me started griping.

“Do your research before you come,” hissed the man.

“There won’t be anything left by the time we get there,” moaned the woman.

Their fears were all for naught. Levain continuously bakes off cookies, scones, etc., all day long in a  super tiny space.

I have to admit that if you haven’t been here before, it can be pretty daunting trying to figure out what to choose since everything looks delicious.

Levain makes a lovely brioche, which is also available in cinnamon or with chocolate chips. The brioche is about 8 inches or so in length, so eating one by yourself can be quite a challenge. An exercise in sheer decadence, melted chocolate flows out of the chocolate chip brioche with every bite.

If you like muffin tops, Levain’s muffins sport a disproportionately large muffin top, with a very small bottom.

Once you’ve made your purchase, there’s a tiny counter inside where you can immediately enjoy eating. To the right of the counter, a mounted offers a live feed.

Their true claim to fame are their cookies. If you like your cookies crisp and crunchy, look elsewhere. Here each cookie weights about 6 ounces and is melt-in-your-mouth soft in the middle.  At $4, they are well worth it. My daughter’s favorite cookie in the world is the dark chocolate chocolate cookie. I have to admit, it’s pretty spectacular. I’m partial to the chocolate chip walnut cookie, which nicely balances the chocolate chips with a rich buttery dough.

Levain Bakery slogan is “Your Little Piece of Cookie Heaven.” If this is what Heaven’s like, I’m going to be on my best behavior.

Location – 167 West 74th Street, New York 10023. Additional locations in Harlem and the Hamptons.
Website – http://www.levainbakery.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – No
Pesco-Vegetarian Friendly – Yes
Vegetarian Friendly – Yes. Vegan – No
Gluten-Free Options – No