New York City: Wine and bites at La Farine

Disclaimer: My visit was by invitation from La Farine. All opinions are my own.

The Upper West Side is full of cute little gems, and one of them is La Farine, a French cafe and patisserie that effortlessly transforms from a bustling daytime coffee-and-croissant spot into a chic evening hangout for wine and small plates. La Farine is the creation of Jonathan and Rica Hengal, a husband-and-wife duo with roots in Israel and Morocco. Together, they’ve built something truly special: a place where classic French pastries meet Mediterranean flavors, all wrapped up in an elegant, light-filled space.

Steve and I stopped by to check out the evening menu. We kicked things off with a bread basket served with three kinds of butter: pesto, red pepper, and gribiche (a creamy mix with dill, cornichons, and salmon roe). The gribiche butter stole the show, pairing perfectly with the rustic French country bread.

Next up was a bowl of mixed olives: Moroccan Beldi, Greek Kalamata, and Spanish Gordal. The giant green Gordal olives were my personal favorite. A minor detail: There were nowhere to put the olive pits, so I ended up transferring all the olives to the other serving plates on the table to free up the bowl for the pits. Problem solved.

We also shared the Mediterranean Spread Trio: olive tapenade, anchovy tapenade, and confit piquillo peppers. Everything was delicious, but the anchovy tapenade was my clear favorite (I’m all about the anchovies), while Steve leaned towards the sweet, intensely flavored peppers.

The cod fritters were a surprise hit. These little croquettes of salted cod were fried to golden perfection and served with a dipping sauce that had an unexpected kick to it. They were surprisingly filling too, making them perfect for sharing.

For dessert, we had the crème brûlée, and it was exactly how a crème brûlée should be: silky, cold custard made with real vanilla bean and topped with a thin, crisp caramel shell that shattered beautifully under the spoon.

The wine list at La Farine offers both bottles and glasses, and we took the staff’s recommendation and went with her favorite rosé. It was a good match for the meal, not too sweet, and paired nicely with the variety of flavors we had on the table.

La Farine opened last year, and while they’re still fairly new to the neighborhood, they already seem to have a loyal local fanbase. The bright French café setting gives the place an airy, inviting feel, and when we were there, the staff stroke the perfect balance between friendly and attentive. Even though we were seated upstairs, our waiter checked in regularly to make sure we had everything we needed. The portions were just right, the prices seem reasonable for the location, and everything flowed seamlessly for a relaxed evening out.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say that all the white tones make the space feel a bit bright, especially at night. Toward the end of our meal, they lit candles on the tables, which helped cozy things up. They also mentioned that outdoor seating is in the works for later this year, which will make La Farine an even better spot for a casual evening with wine and bites.

La Farine, 2394 Broadway, New York, NY 10024, United States