Will This Brazilian Cheese Bread Become the New Bagel?

Pao de queijo might not be something a lot of Lower Manhattan diners are familiar with, but now is a great time to investigate what might become your new favorite snack. Also known as Brazilian cheese bread, it’s the signature treat at Cafe Patoro (223 Front Street), a cozy cafe that survived the pandemic and is back to full strength serving the neighborhood. 

The goal of the cafe — which also serves coffee, breakfast sandwiches, vegan quiche, truffles and more — is to elevate pao de queijo to the heights of the bagel and croissant in terms of becoming a New York staple. The cafe is run by a husband-and-wife duo, whose business began at the Hester Street Fair before opening on Front Street in 2015. They encourage you to make sure to grab the baked-on-site pao de queijo fresh out of the oven so you can appreciate the chewy crust, chewy crumb and cheesy aroma at its finest.

photos: Cafe Patoro