Mille-Feuille

Pierre Herm acolyte Olivier Dessyn, who fell in love with New York City during a vacation here, moved from Paris and opened this humble shop in Greenwich Village last May. Inspired by NYU's Elmer Holmes Bobst Library across the street, Dessyn named his patisserie after the mille-feuille, a layered dessert ($3.90) that reminded the toque of a book on its side. The baked goods are all traditional French—macarons ($2.10), cheese brioche ($2.90) and chocolate sables ($2.50)—but the real standout is Dessyn's croissant ($2.25). The iconic crescent-shaped delicacy ranks among the city's best: The crisp, dark-brown shell shatters on the first bite, revealing stretchable layers of silky, buttery pastry.

Browse and sign up for classes at Mille–Feuille