Operating downtown ballpark in East Village, Cafe de l’Opera. Used to be up around A Avenue. A French chef and antique dealer teamed up. It had such atmosphere, and the best croissants in town. Pastry chef Thierry Cahez offered a genuine French feeling and food, in a pâtisserie with exquisite dessert pastries, breakfast croissants, and Gallic lunches like mini-pizzas and croque monsieurs (toasted cheese sandwich with ham).

They relocated to East Village around 2015, but it still feels old-school European. They have a big salad section listed on their sidewalk menu. Like the vegan — and gluten-free — Green Goddess, packed with organic quinoa, hummus, avocado, cucumber, tomato, cranberries, pickled beets, hemp, pumpkin and sesame seeds, kale and mixed greens, and a basil-tahini vinaigrette. Costs $9.50.