“Maman,” French for mom, is the perfect name for this new cozy café in Soho. Michelin-starred chef Armand Arnal, his friend – and hospitality vet – Benjamin Sormonte and event planner Elisa Marshall brought together their family-inspired recipes and opened Maman, a French to-go café/bakery.
Photo by Nina Weithorn
Maman offers a fresh, seasonal menu that changes daily and features simple dishes made with the best ingredients available at the market that morning. There are always a few farm salads ($6-13.5), such as spinach salad with roasted yellow and red beets and oranges, sandwiches like the croque “maman” with ham, Comté cheese and béchamel sauce on home-baked bread ($8.50) and open-face tartines ($6), such as the herbed goat cheese with honey grilled peaches and prosciutto. There are usually a few choices of quiches ($6), such as zucchini and mint, and an assorted variety of baked goods.
Photo by Nina Weithorn
The highlight among the fruit tarts and other baked goods is the chocolate chip cookie (featured on Grubstreet as “NYC’s Most Impressive New Chocolate-chip Cookie”). Crisp on the outside, it has a softer, melting core with plenty of chocolate and chopped nuts.
Photo by Nina Weithorn
Maman now serves breakfast and lunch in a takeaway style. It also recently started hosting private parties and serving dinner twice a month. There is a rustic-feel seating area at the back that is perfect for leisure reading and catching up with friends and families. This amazing space with delicious, fresh food is definitely worth visiting for anyone in the area.
Location: 239 Centre St (bet Broome and Grand)
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm, Sat 8am to 7pm, Sun 9am to 6pm