Midtown Lunch » Macchiato Espresso Bar

Macchiato’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Should Be Considered in Best Cookie Debate

Blondie — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:30:38 +0000

Oh, the chocolate chip cookie. One influential group of people have a taste-off declaring a winner, and the matter is settled? Not so fast! I’ve never bought into the supposed “best chocolate chip cookie” stand-bys in NYC. I’m not the biggest fan of Levain’s, City Bakery appeals to those who like their cookies crispy, and flatter, and Pret’s is pretty great thanks to a warming case keeping it gooey. But if you’re going to say “best cookie in Midtown” you should probably try all the chocolate chip cookies in Midtown, right? (Don’t mind if we do!) After all there are a lot of chocolate chip cookies in Midtown alone, and the half of them aren’t even given a fair chance. Like the chocolate chip from Macchiato Espresso Bar (on 44th btw 3rd+Lex), which definitely deserves a mention!

Not much has changed at the Macchiato Espresso since we last visited in ‘09, same sandwiches and salads, with a decent selection of freshly baked pastries. I had (look away my Joe baristas!) popped in for an afternoon latte, spotted their case of cookies, and gave into my sweet tooth. This cookie held a lot of promise. The dimensions are right for a $1.35 afternoon snack, and my first bite revealed gooey chunks made from some quality chocolate. The dough tasted more on the vanilla, white sugar side of the cookie spectrum, if that’s what you’re into. Trying to be all blogger-like, I cut my cookie in half to get a better photo.

Fooled! If the chocolate chunks had better distribution, this would be one good cookie, but who wants one half sugar cookie? Not I! I suppose it depends upon the batch as to whether this happens, hopefully it won’t be the case if they ever get picked for a “Best of” list.

Macchiato Espresso Bar Coming to Rock Center Area

Zach Brooks — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:15:03 +0000

Speaking of amazing Italian coffee spots, Macchiato Espresso Bar (on 44th btw. Lex+3rd) will be opening a second location on 52nd btw. 5+6th. This is not just great news for coffee lovers, but they also serve a nice menu of made to order sandwiches and salads that are step up from your average Midtown fare. No word on when the new location will open.

Macchiato Espresso Bar Revisited… For the First Time

Zach Brooks — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:45:33 +0000

It’s been almost three years since Macchiato Espresso Bar opened on 44th btw. Lex+3rd, selling their line of Italian coffee, sandwiches, salads, and pastries. When it first opened, I posted my first impression (meh) which drew the ire of the owner because I hadn’t actually eaten any of the food or tries the coffee. At the time I just wasn’t interested in trying another turkey and swiss sandwich for $9. So sue me. Well, it’s taken me almost three years… but I’ve finally gotten enough positive emails to warrant actually trying Macchiato Espresso Bar. Well not me, but our resident coffee and baked goods expert Kathy YL Chan (from A Passion For Food). I thought this place would be right up her alley, and asked her to check it out and report back. Here’s what she found…

Welcome to Macchiato Espresso Bar on 44th Street, the last thing you’d expect to discover in discover in midtown. Coming in from 3rd Avenue, the bright blue entrance looks like some sort of strange oasis. The Bar exudes a Euro-trash meets midtown business vibe. Music is energetic, and the counter service is knowledgeable, efficient. Prices are high, though quality justifies to a certain extent.

I was most excited to learn that they bake all pastries and bread in-house. However, house-baked is no guarantee of deliciousness, and you can rest in peace knowing that these sweets are not worth your money. Muffins are reminiscent of saran wrapped deli versions, and the croissants are limp and heavy. Chocolate cigars showed slight promise for potential, but failed with smothers of gritty chocolate wrapped between over-greasy layers of doughy filo. They seem to have good intention (it would be tons easier to outsource) but ought to find someone who knows they’re way around the pasty kitchen. Unless you have liquid chocolate in mind, venture elsewhere for dessert.

When you stand at the register to pay, look directly to the front and there you’ll see a glass contraption swirling hot chocolate with a creamy thickness akin to City Bakery. The chocolate is served hot, or over ice. If you have it cold, they swirl in a little whole milk to “thin” it out to drinking consistency. Wonderful cold on a summer day, and doubtlessly enough calories for lunch alone. Or breakfast, if you’d please. The chocolate is milk, sweet, very sweet. It’ll never be among my favourites, but like the espresso, it clearly stands above peers in midtown.

Espresso is bold but errs on the side of bitter, and while one is guaranteed to find better downtown cousins (think Abraco, Everyman, 9th Street), Macchiato pulls a fine, if not memorable version. For a jolt on the go, you might want to pick up a Pocket Coffee, previously blogged by Zach on Serious Eats.

What I enjoyed most, surprisingly enough, were the salads. I’m not a “salad person,” but I know a good thing when I see it, and for the price of a comparable dish at say, Just Salad, or one of those fancy midtown salad bars, Macchiato fares quite well. Pictured above is the avocado salad. Priced just under $10, it is definitely not cheap, but it is a very filling salad made from good ingredients. Half an avocado, hearts of palm, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and pine nuts, all tossed with baby arugula. I would advise opting for dressing on the side. I failed to do so, and ended up with a semi-gloppy mess towards the bottom.

Sandwiches are not much cheaper, running from $7.59 to $8.95. The Prosciutto is their best-seller, setting itself apart from the standard prosciutto sandwich with olive tapenade, and balsamic-dipped tomatoes. The sandwich forms a base with slices of (too thick) prosciutto de parma layered with fresh mozzarella, basil and avocado.

Both salads and sandwiches are made to order, which is more than what many spots offer at a similar price. Get it to stay, and make yourself comfortable (but not too comfortable) at one of the cafe tables or street facing seats. The design of the Macchiato Espresso Bar – from service to style, seems to declare, “enjoy yourself while you’re out of the office, but get back to work quick!”

Macchiato Espresso Bar, 141 E 44th St (btw. Lex+3rd), 212-867-6772

Photos and post by Kathy YL Chan.
See the rest of Kathy’s Midtown Lunch posts here.