85 Water St., 718-797-5026, almondinebakery.com 
Want to nibble on one of Almondine's split-croissant sandwiches? Arrive around 11am, to be on the safe side. After that, you may have to "settle" for delectably thick cuts of quiche with ham and cheese, roasted red pepper or broccoli. As exquisite as these savory treats are, this small French bakery (seating consists of a few stools and five tables along an exposed-brick wall), co-owned by Hervé Poussot and Jacques Torres, is really renowned for its criminally sumptuous pastries: glazed apricot tarts, strawberry shortcake and dainty cakes topped with blackberries and strawberries. When the winter winds whip off the East River, stop in for hot chocolate and holiday specials of hot pumpkin tarte tatin with crème fraîche or a "bûche de Noël" Christmas loaf.

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