Levain Bakery – Upper East Side, NYC Reviews Summary

Cookie Quality

Pros:

• "The cookies are crunchy on the inside, gooey on the inside, full of deep rich chocolate, and as big as a person's hand."
• "The two chip chocolate cookie was the best cookie I've had in my life."
• "The cookies are always warm and gooey and the taste is out of this world."
• "The best cookies ever! Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, the chocolate chips melt in the mouth it’s perfect."
• "These cookies really speak for themselves. The Chocolate Chip Walnut and the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip cookies are superb."
• "The chocolate chip walnut cookie was mouthwatering, too! MUST TRY!!"
• "Levain makes the best cookie I’ve ever had. The chocolate chip with walnut is seriously out of this world."

Cons:

• "The other baked goods do not impress as much."
• "I had very high expectations for the former, as it is what they are known for, but I found that it had very little flavor."
• "The Oatmeal Cookie was a bit of a let down."
• "Not as gooey on the inside and the flavor was a little off for me."
• "One of my over priced cookies (chocolate chip walnut) had a hair in it which was VERY alarming."
• "The cookie was dry and crumbled profusely."
• "Unfortunately, the two chip chocolate chip cookie we received was overbaked."

Customer Service

Pros:

• "The service is always superb feels like i’m in the small town country side in a movie having coffee and a cookie in a beautiful cafe!"
• "The employees are so friendly here."
• "The service at this location is always fast and they’re very nice!"
• "Such amazing cookies and helpful customer service!"
• "The staff was very friendly and efficient."
• "The Levain staff were just as great. Would definitely return just for the service alone!"
• "Always delicious! Friendly patient and efficient staff."

Cons:

• "I asked the young man at the counter, 'What kind of cookies do you have', he than points to the counter and says the 'cookies are here'. No mention of flavors available, no recommendations for my occasion."
• "The upper east side customer service is horrible."
• "Cookies were delicious (as always) but the staff and the main cashier specifically on the afternoon of Saturday, 8/8 were incredibly rude and hasty."
• "Some staff were a bit rude. They wanted the customers to line up in the oddest way possible."
• "Love the cookies but hate the employees that we encountered on 1/2/2024."
• "I ordered four cookies and 2 coffee. cookies were solid and hard to bite when i asked for it to be heated the employee said its “ cross contamination “ since i touched it!!"
• "Visited Levain today and was extremely disappointed. The prices on all of the cookies have increased however, the sizes of the cookies decreased."

Price and Value

Pros:

• "5 bucks a cookie is expensive but worth it."
• "Always fresh and warm too! Just wow!"
• "The choc chip cookie seemed expensive but once I saw the size of it and the decadence, it seemed like a reasonable price."
• "Because the cookies are HUGE, I couldn't finish it in one sitting but even after a few days, the cookies are still as moist inside and just as tasty."
• "The price is fair (as well as for cookies, breads and drinks)."
• "Price rating: 7/10, the price matches all the deliciousness! Not bad for all the goodness."
• "They’re 4$ but they’re huge so I think it’s worth it."

Cons:

• "I personally think they are a bit too sweet."
• "i cannot say wow on those cookies. but i can say that 5 usd for 1 Cookie is too much."
• "however it is on the pricer side with 5$ per cookie."
• "One star off because they don’t allow customers to use their own reusable mugs."
• "The cookies are large but quite pricey; $5.00 per cookie."
• "It’s also very expensive at $6.25."
• "It’s a $4 giant half-baked soft gooey a-bit-too-sweet cookie that makes me want to get a healthy salad right afterwards."

Ambience and Cleanliness

Pros:

• "The shop was really clean and tidy."
• "Levain Bakery located on 1484 3rd Avenue, NYC. Nice atmosphere and good location."
• "Love this place. Nice straightforward decoration. Clean and bright."
• "Levin Bakery in Upper East NYC is a true gem with the friendliest staff."
• "The place itself is gorgeous, there's a lovely mural on the wall."
• "The interior is spacious and clean so it's a nice location if you're looking to pick up some Levain."
• "Location was very clean and very cool inside."

Cons:

• "Very limited seating here so keep that in mind if you are looking for a place to rest your feet while enjoying your baked goods."
• "Nice ambience though during Covid you can’t eat indoor (understandably)"
• "Shop is small so if you want to dine in there is a high chance you have to wait for a spot."
• "The only thing I didn't like about this location is that there were people who weren't eating but, taking up all the seats."
• "Currently there is no indoor seating but there is a small bench outside that fits one party so you might be lucky."
• "Beware that you will not be allowed to eat your hot cookie inside, but outside on the street in freezing windy weather … Very unfriendly staff — paid your $4.50 for a cookie and basically get out… Horrible experience"
• "This isn't a cafe where you can order and work with your computer all day because the seats are limited."