Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Given that half the cookies in NYC seem to be baked below Union Sq, good luck!

I have no idea if it's the BEST, but you have to include Insomnia Cookies.
This bastion of cookies for the NYU crowd (and anyone else in a 3 mile radius), are delectable. And (I think) it's the only purveyor that does nothing BUT cookies. Whenever I brought them into work, it caused a scene like the bridal gown sale at Filene's.

When you get to the downtown edition, the chocolate chip cookies from Jack's Stir Brew coffee are a must-try. I go to the location on Front Street by the Seaport. They are crisp on the edges, have a ton of chocolate, are slightly underbaked to ensure a gooey center, and have a deep, almost, caramel-like, burnt suger / brown butter bass note to them. I keep begging the staff to give me the recipe, but rumor has it that only Jack's aunt knows the recipe. She makes the batter, delivers it to the store, and the staff only bakes off the cookies to keep the recipe secret.

I am eating a Pret cookie right now and it is good but needs some more salt. I think the success of this cookie resides on the fact it is in a heated case (though that doesn't explain that it is still good when it cools down after being brought to the SE office). CURSES! What have they done to this cooooooooooookie to make it good. And this thing is 300 calories too. I wish they hadn't told me.

Mmmm... just had a Pret Cookie, lush chocolate and slightly soft dough. It is durned good. Just slightly sweet and a crisp "crust."

On to City Bakery!

Not to be too harsh but I always thought City Bakery Chocolate Chip cookies tasted like stinky feet smell.

SO... against my better judgement...but following your lead.... I went over to Pret today. There must me some location specific magic happening because the cookie I got tasted no better than the toll house cookie rolls you buy at Gristedes and cook at home....right down to the slightly artificial preservative taste.

I'm still waiting for Jacques Torres to show up (Outer Borough I guess) and Le Pain Quotidien.

whoa this is a total scandal. i will have to try this pret cookie because i really can't believe that it would be particularly great.

Thanks for trying Times Square Hot Bagels. Totally unfortunate that they were stale. I admit, they tend to be that way when you get them at the store (which is how most people would think to get them). When they're catered, they're moist and chewy.

The Roasting plant!!! HELLO!!!!!! Greenwich st at west 10th right next to bone lIck park BBQ.....BEST choc chip inthe city....buttery, slightly chewy and tender...mmmmmm

I totally agree about the City Bakery cookies. The only one I tried had a horribly rancid taste, & I couldn't finish it. If only they'd bring back their delicious apple miso dessert ...

...the truth begins to unfold....

what an upset! i would love to see pret's choc chip cookie sales for today compared to the daily average. how many SE: NY readers returned from lunch today wiping chocolatey crumbs off of their face?