Maison Kayser Opens Today, Now Officially the Best Spot for a Jury Duty Lunch
photos by Jane Bruce
It’s cold comfort to our husband, who suffered chain restaurant lunches during jury duty last week—but with today’s official opening of Maison Kayser on Court Street, serving ones civic duty just got considerably more appetizing. Overseen by famed fourth-generation French baker, Eric Kayser, it’s the first Brooklyn outpost of the esteemed boulangerie, which already boasts 100 shops in over 20 different countries, including a chic octet in Manhattan.
As glossy and polished as a showroom—with the heady scent of dough comingling with the perfume of fresh tulips—the 4,500-square foot space commences with a counter lined with jewel-like mignardises (domed mont blanc, flavored with cassis; tiny yuzu tarts; pistachio-piped éclairs), as well as laminated viennoiserie (brioche, croissants, pain au chocolat), and of course, breads, such as a slender, tender baguette that’s considered by many to be the very best in the city.
A coffee bar holds court in the center, giving way to an expansive sit-down café serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch (featuring eggs en cocotte, crab and avocado tartine, croque-monsieur, and salade niçoise), all peering into the glass-enclosed kitchen, where you can watch a focused band of bakers crafting long-fermented, liquid levain-raised loaves, rolls, and boules, flavored with everything from cheese, nuts, figs and maple syrup to turmeric, rosemary, flaxseed, and olives.
So temper your dismay the next time you get a summons, as there’s a whole lot worse than cooling your heels in the courthouse, fortified with croissants, chouquettes, and petits pains fromage from Maison Kayser.
57 Court Street, Downtown Brooklyn
Eric Kayser with baguettes!
