Bread

One blistery winter evening I thought rather than primping for a date and rushing all over town, I would stay in my Nolita hood and explore some places I hadn’t been in a while. Cafe Habana, La Esquina, Mexican Radio, Papatzul (are you sensing a theme here?) are places I frequent, so I had my friend meet me at Bread, a tiny Italianesque spot on the southside of Spring Street.

Despite the metal tables and chairs, the dim candle lighting and narrow space is Euro coziness. “I was actually here three years ago, and if things haven’t changed, then the waitstaff might be lackadaisical,” I cautioned. And…drumroll, please…I was right! Duh. However, everything was delicious – the Balthazar bread paninis, perfectly seasoned bruschetta, crispy, flavorful wild mushroom polenta and pesto linguine. I left my camera at home, so I lack pics to prove. Just trust me. I actually read that someone complained about the sandwiches or paninis or whatever they’re calling themselves these days being too small for $8. Too small? It’s $8! Um, maybe you should dust off your Foreman and stay home.

Note: Although there are fresh salads and some meat and cheese plates, carborexics lacking willpower may want to steer clear.

Maybe because I was mentally prepared or because I was busy chit chatting, but the snail-style service didn’t bother me so much. Bread is the kind of place that if you enter with a European state-of-mind, you’ll be fine. And spa-spa-speaking of fine, there are a variety of scrumptious looking opposite sexies wandering in and out of there. Slightly hipster, but pleasantly handsome/beautiful. It could’ve been the lighting, but as far as I could tell there wasn’t a sad looking soul to speak of.

And that’s the real reason why at Bread, I feel right at home.

Bread
20 Spring Street, between Mott and Elizabeth; 212-334-1015; Open daily 10:30-midnight