Almondine Bakery Dumbo

Dumbo is maybe my favorite New York city neighborhood.  Its one of the few waterfront areas in New York that has undergone a rise in trendiness and price and still managed to retain a degree of original character (the opposite would be battery park).  For me a visit to Dumbo almost certainly means a visit to Almondine, located on Water st near main st.  Almondine is a French bakery without any attitude.  When I say Almondine has no attitude what I mean is the whole place feels welcoming and homely, not overly fancy and trendy like many other shops in this class.  The bakery is small and often crammed,adding a vibrant feel to the whole place.  Goods wise, you would be a fool to go to Almondine and get anything but an almond croissant.  Croissants are difficult to perfect.  They need to be buttery and have a crust so perfectly cooked that it weeps flakes when you bite into them but doesn't fall apart in your hands.  On this Almondine delivers, with croissants that achieve an almost perfect balance between a soft buttery inside and a flakey crispy outside.  The almond paste filling is very good as well.  Its no surprise that the chief baker is French, and the rest of the menu is French inspired as well, but the menu is willing to compromise and offer a little more then classic French baked goods,offering for example a soft pretzel roll drizzled with melted cheese.