On the Go
8 years ago by
So even though my goal in life is to cook more, and I love the nicer restaurants I recommend to you somewhat often here on the blog, sometimes I’m alone and running between two appointments and at those times, there are three places you can find all over New York that I think are absolutely wonderful.
They’re not fast food, but almost—they’re simple, fast, and well, I figured I could go without being a snob for two seconds and go ahead and recommend them to you.
I’m completely a fan of Le Pain Quotidien, and I have been for a million years, ever since I discovered the franchise when I was living in Aix-en-Provence.
And I love Le Pain even more here because, well, there’s good bread here, and lots of simple, plant-based options. They even do soft-boiled eggs (with organic eggs!), which is almost non-existent in the US.
Plus, it’s relaxed, you can sit wherever you want and you can work there on your laptop for hours – there’s WiFi. I don’t know, I just love it.
Here’s what I order every time:
In the summer, the gazpacho is amazing, plus two soft-boiled eggs. I also love the Watermelon cooler, a house-made drink with fresh watermelon. So good.
I love it. They got me hooked with their delicious pain au chocolat, which I discovered in London, and then I gradually started tasting other things on the menu and honestly, I’m rarely disappointed. It’s even faster than Le Pain (no table service, you buy your salad at the counter and take it to sit down) but it’s just as fresh and well-thought out. This is where I stop before getting on the road because they have lots of healthy, delicious, perfectly packaged snacks.
Here’s what I order every time:
In the summer, the lobster salad, which is delicious, and the split pea soup. And in the winter, I get the lentil soup which is just perfect.
3) Chipotle
Okay, Chipotle is a whole concept because as a French person, I had absolutely zero understanding of Mexican food, but of course, like everyone else, I ended up loving it.
Chipotle is the least classy of the three, and the menu is so simple you can’t eat there often, otherwise you would end up getting the same thing every time, but even so, it’s great. First of all, it’s a place Chris and I both like (as you can imagine, when I suggest going to Le Pain or Prêt-à-Manger to eat salad, he wants to throw Five Guys burgers at me) because he can eat an enormous burrito if he wants, and I can order a quick, yummy and satisfying dish for me.
Here’s what I order every time:
A “naked burrito” (the burrito without the tortilla, basically) in a burrito bowl with rice (they even have brown rice!! But my favorite is the white rice with lime, so good), veggies and guacamole. One burrito bowl is enough for two meals for me because they put so much in them, but honestly, I love it!!!
Do you have any quasi-fast food places like that you love to go to on busy days?
Translated by Andrea Perdue
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Le Pain Quotidien is a big love <3
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curly fries… i love curly fries… :D
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hello , finalement c’est pareil en France ..
quand je suis dans ma panpa provençale , vive le pain quotidien d’aix
quand je suis en rdv à Paris, un petit tour à Pret à manger gare de Lyon avant de redescendre sur Marseille et mon autre spot c’est le M&S food à emporter leurs bols de fruits ou leur resto dans leurs boutiques tradi avec un plat indien en 3mn ….
À Bruxelles (où j’habite), il y a aussi le pain quotidien et une autre franchise pas mal qui s’appelle exki (aussi bio). A Paris, j’aimais bien la franchise cojean (cher mais c’était près de mon travail). Sinon il y a 2 libanais à bxl où j’aime m’arrêter pour manger sur le pouce. Et dans le concept fast food, il y a king kong (péruvien).
Oh, oh, oh, let me tell you. Certain times of the month, a Carl’s Jr. (Hardee’s) jalapeno burger seems like the best thing ever invented. The rest of the month, I don’t even think about it. I’m not sure if its on their menu anymore but if you ask for it, they’ll make it.
Great post dear!
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When I lived in Brussels (home of le Pain Quotidien), I regularly got their giant tartines, eating half for lunch and the rest for supper. My favorites were boeuf basilic (carpaccio of beef with parmesan and pesto) and mozzarella tomato–not on the menu but that’s what a regular I was that they made it for me anyway.
My favorite bakery in Carcassonne, Noez, does a delicious sandwich with roasted vegetables on a chewy olive baguette, and I like to grab one if I am in town.
Moi j’adore Exki, c’est trop bon !
I used to hate gazpacho, it made no sense to me that someone would want to eat a bowl of salsa, then I tried it at Le Pain Quo and was an instant convert. I spent a while searching the internet trying to figure out what makes it so amazing. I couldn’t find a recipe, but I think the secret is to add a little bit of something sweet, like a ripe peach or a bit of mango.
I am also a huge fan of Pret. I think their coffee is delicious (way better than Starbucks), and the staff (at least in DC) is universally friendly. I think they treat their staff well, and I also really like that they donate leftover food to the homeless.
I’m a very impatient woman and I’m always on the go so I like fast meals. Thanks for this, Garance. Also, love the bit about Chipotle and Give Guys lmao
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I LOVE Chipotle and I’m now very hungry! x
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Prêt-à-Manger: toujours quand je suis à Londres et Le Pain Quotidien partout (Belgique (où j’habite), etc).
C’est drôle, j”ai découvert ces trois endroits quand je suis allée pour la première fois à New-York début Avril, et pour tout vous dire Garance quand j’y étais, j’aurais aimé vous rencontrer, je me suis même dit que j’aurais aimé avoir eu assez de courage pour aller jusqu’à votre Studio (en sachant quand même que je n’ai aucune idée d’où il est situé)! Bon je me contenterais du fait que peut être j’ai mangé dans les mêmes endroits!
à Strasbourg, où j’habite, j’aime bien aller chez Pur etc. (ils sont aussi présents à Paris). ils font des petits plats à emporter (ou à manger sur place) à base de produits de saison et achetés chez des producteurs locaux. c’est beau, bon et sain. j’aime beaucoup leur taboulé marocain au quinoa, leurs quiches aux légumes sont délicieuses et, en dessert, leur carré chocolat-avoine est une tuerie.
You should try num pang Sandwich shop http://www.numpangnyc.com/. I LOVE num pang. Their sandwiches totally rock and they have “healthier” quinoa bread. Also their seasonal veggie brown rice bowl is heaven.
In the Washington DC area, I recently discovered Mezeh. Same concept as Chipotle, a little upper scale, a bread (pita), rice, or salad base. Grilled chicken, lamb, or vegetables and a zillion topping options, tomatoes, chick peas, eggplant, hummus. I hope they expand.
LOVE Le Pain Quotidien, in Newport Beach CA; my fav…….Pieology, Irvine, CA……….yumooooooo; foodie friendly and healthy……
Thank god all those are present in France and England, I’m a big fan x
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Chipotle c’est mon go-to quand je suis à nyc , j’adore leur burrito bowl vegan ! Du parfait tex mex !
J’adore le pain quotidien à Paris, surtout leur pot au feu au quinoa ! Pratique pour une végane comme moi!
xxx
Irène
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Great Memories :).
J’adore le Pain et Chipotle ! Par contre, dans la communauté française à Washington, on a tous subi le service extrêmement leeeeeeent du Pain Quotidien… Alors quand tu dis que c’est fast, tu me fais rire ! J’ai fait l’erreur d’aller y prendre un Earl Grey (en travaillant sur mon ordi) alors que je n’avais qu’une petite heure, et ils ont pris trois quart d’heure pour me l’apporter… Et tout autant pour l’addition. Par contre, si le service est lent, comme tous les restaurants aux US on vient toutes les trois minutes à ta table te demander si tout va bien (façon pas si subtile que ça de te dire de te grouiller !).
Peut-être que c’est différent à New York !
Je ne sais pas si vous avez La Madeleine, mais ça alors je ne te conseille pas du tout !
Dos Toros! (Like Chipotle in concept but just tastes much better to me.)
Dig Inn! Super simple and tasty home-cooked food in NYC with local and seasonal ingredients.
Such fresh, good plates of barley, veggies and meats…. hard to believe it’s a chain just in New York -possibly they will expand soon.