When I was in Paris, my social schedule unfortunately resulted in me and my friends getting to the cafe well after 11 a.m. What did this mean? It meant that all the true Parisians had already HAD their breakfast and the place was SOLD OUT. Yes, it's true! (It happened two days in a row!)
So, what did to I do when I got back to NYC and felt like I hadn't had my French pastry fix? I went to Balthazar at 8 a.m. on a weekday (this is when the neighborhood locals/regulars go) and I had a croissant and a cafe au lait before work. It was perfection.
It's a great spot to have lunch or have beers at night. Great for work lunches.