West End Bakery

West End has a few Vietnamese bakeries but WEB has set itself apart, making fine, French style bakery products at a pinch of the price of a well known French bakery across town.
I don’t want to say too much, because then I’ll have to line up behind YOU! to buy my delicious almond croissants, baguettes and sour dough bread.
Friendly warm staff!

I stopped in here recently for a quick Saturday morning breakfast on the way to an appointment hoping for a quick and tasty breakfast. The establishment relatively recently came under new management. It was previously one of West End’s numerous Vietnamese bakeries, and while it remains a bakery the new owners seem to be going for more of an up-​market French boulangerie vibe.
I ordered a filled baguette and a takeaway Di Bella coffee. The delivery of the baguette was instantaneous and while I waited for my coffee I didn’t stand on ceremony, biting into the baguette and assessing their work. The bread itself was quite good, with a slight glaze to the crust and a pleasantly chewy inner. The toppings — chicken and avocado — fairly well-​executed for a simple combination.
The coffee however took too long to arrive, causing me concern about whether I’d be late for my appointment. What should for an experienced barista take 1 – 2 minutes tops took more like 4 – 5. Even worse, when the coffee arrived, it was insipid and milky, leading me to think the maker either didn’t dose enough coffee into the group-​head or used an insufficient one-​shot for the large cup. Either way, it was a deflating first coffee for the day.
The price also seemed a bit excessive at close to $ 12 for the coffee and baguette. Considering I could get a tasty roll significantly cheaper at one of the several Vietnamese bakeries in the neighbourhood, if I go back here it will probably be to buy bread for home use.