La Boulange de Lafayette

They are now closed
How sad!
Just drove by and they were all boarded up
Wow

This place is consistent… consistently filthy. And the customer service is atrocious.
Take a look at the photos– they speak for themself. It wasn’t even a busy day…

I’m giving them 2 stars because when they get your food right its pretty good – but sadly that wasn’t my most recent experience. I got married a few weeks ago and decided to have a bridesmaid pick up a prepaid order before heading to our hotel room for hair and makeup. I had assumed the pickup would go smoothly and we’d be able to enjoy our food before the madness of the day began, but that didn’t happen. The order was delayed 15 mins because they were busy. Mind you we placed the order over a week in advance so it wasn’t like we gave it to them morning of. Then they didn’t give us the full order we purchased causing another delay. The delays cost us precious time we couldn’t afford to give up on such a big day. Two of my bridesmaids were 45 minutes late to the hotel room because of the order issues which caused us to fall behind on hair and makeup. But more upsetting, because the order was delayed girls were already getting their hair and makeup done which meant they were unable to eat their food and it went to waste. Had I know this would be such a headache I would have just ordered hotel room service and paid the premium to get our orders right and on time. It really threw off the whole morning and caused some extra stress-​especially with two pregnant bridesmaids that need to eat! I wouldn’t use this store again for a catering order. If you can’t get your orders done on time or correct, you shouldn’t be in business. Simple as that!

The food is your typical Starbucks grade quickly made pastry, but the service is truly abysmal. The counter staff is poorly trained if trained at all, no offense to them, they seem sweet. The rest of the staff is horrid. Three times I experienced this, and I will not set foot a fourth.

This is the best coffee shop in Lafayette. They have good coffee choices, real cups, the nicest pastry choices. Love the chocolate hazelnut croissant, heated. Staff is friendly and this is the best place to stop for a coffee after a good walk around the reservoir. Heard they are closing in September and that doesn’t make any sense. It is the meeting place on the weekends and always busy on the weekend. Starbucks should reconsider this closing!

I really struggled between 3 and 4 stars for this bakery. But in the end I chose 4 because I reminded myself it’s a bakery and not a café. (Still, I wish Unilocal had half stars!)
Came here on a Thursday morning after a meeting in downtown Lafayette. Found metered parking about a block down. Huge location! I’m used to the Walnut Creek location which is slightly smaller, imo. The girl who took my order was so friendly and nice, even though I’m the kind of person that always asks 5 million questions. Ordered a cappuccino in a mug (they actually use bowls!) and a lemon poppy seed muffin.
My cappuccino was horrible. Bitter espresso shots and the teeny layer of foam I had on top was in no way creamy and thick like it’s supposed to be. Sorry, I’m kind of a snob when it comes to coffee. you have all these great espresso machines and don’t know how to use em. But again, still 4 stars because it’s a BAKERY, not café.
I’d still come back and try another drink.
Lemon poppyseed muffin was delish, no complaints here. I’ve also had a couple sandwiches and their macarons from another location and have always enjoyed them.
Overall… Service and size really boosted this location. Every employee I encountered was friendly and personable, good job! I was able to find a corner to snuggle into and read my book for a few hours while the place was somewhat crowded.

They need way better ventilation in this café. My eyes were burning within a couple of minutes so badly that I had to leave and it’s about 80 degrees in Lafayette today. They are clearly burning food or have food burned on their grills that they aren’t cleaning well. Half of the tables weren’t cleared inside and I had to clean mine. It’s also 2pm on a Thursday so not incredibly busy. Love this café, but the smoke in the air is suffocating in here.

Pastries are a mixed bag. Tarts and quiches are good. Croissants are ok for a French patisserie. Brioche French toast is not good.
Coffee is decent.

Came here for breakfast. Didn’t expect this to be fine dinning, but hoped it would at least have fresh baked goods. We ordered the chocolate croissant, cheese Danish, omelette and a scramble. The egg dishes were okay but nothing fantastic. Potatoes serviced with the eggs were undercooked but the greens were fresh though under dressed.
Chocolate croissant and cheese Danish were stale. It didn’t have the flakiness or crispness of fresh baked pastries. I use Montclair baking or La Farine as a standard for my baked goods.
This does not sound like the restaurant that the other reviewers describe… perhaps new ownership?

Home away from home. I was sooo happy to find LB right next to my work place. I thought they’re only in the city *SF* and since this is my fav. palce for a croissant and hot chocolate, I am glad to find u here. :) Super friendly staff and definitely much nicer than city as they have a fancy outdoor seating. No loud traffic like SF so this is definitely my happy place.

Food is a bit pricey but by coming here, you are definitely supporting a local business. The open faced sandwiches and the soups are very good. The outdoor seating facing downtown makes this place all the better.

First of all make sure you annunciate every syllable of your order or you won’t get the right food/​drink. The potatoes were so overly seasoned, the fruit bowl was all melon, with a couple berries on top, the expresso was very below average. First time here, last time here.

First time ever I actually walked out just by the looks and sounds that came out of the cashier. Not sure if it was male or female
Some bone between the nose hair poofed up and a voice that squeaked.
I guess the the employee pool must be awfully small when that’s the best you can do. Didn’t want this person to touch anything I would eat. Maybe change the name to Freak Show Treats. Then no one would be shocked

If you want to support a small/​local business, hit up Papillon in La Fiesta Square. But if you’re not fussed about the Starbucks buy out, you’ll be happy to know that Starbucks hasn’t ruined La Boulange yet. My favorites are the fruit and cheese Danishes and the croque madame! The lox are too die for too. Here’s the best free coffee double dip score ever… You can pay with a registered Starbucks gift card and earn points for a free coffee AND get punches on you La Boulange punch card… this earns you free coffees twice as fast. Is my Scottish showing? Yeah, I’m ch-​ch-​cheap.
Sadly the two comfy leather seats are almost ALWAYS taken. I really wish there were at least another set of these chairs at the front of the store as well. Or a couch! I would love a coffee shop with a couch in Lafayette. Is that too «Friends»?

I used to come here when it was under its original ownership and it was a great place to get French mini sandwiches and pastries. Unfortunately it was bought by Starbucks a while ago and the corporate food mentality trickled down to La Boulange. The bread is soft and chewy while some pastries are good (apple tart), others taste of mass produced quality and that’s just the sad beginning.
Time to go to a smaller ventures that puts their heart in their food!

Very nice and friendly service…
The macaroons are amazingly delicious. Nice to sit outside and enjoy the view.

We decided to support a local coffee shop rather than a main name place. Once we ordered, the owner told us that they are not any longer a mom/​pap shop but a starbucks. OMG. Well, the coffee and pastries were good, what can I say. Good quality.

As I entered, and upon first glance, I wanted to try all the fancy good looking pastries behind the glass casing. Then, «OMG, shoo fly go away!» That’s pretty much the impression I got when seeing a fly hop along from pastry to pastry, ugh! Still hungry, I passed on the pastries and went straight for the macarons. At least they’re refrigerated behind glass. I believe this place has blowers at the entrance so little flying critters won’t fly trough. I guess that didn’t really help.
Service was no issue, although the girl behind the counter apparently didn’t care about shoo’ing anything away. I know she sees it flying around.
So didn’t care about trying their pastries, but two stars for the macaroons. We ordered some coffee and a Macarons De Paris Box ($ 24.50):
~ Liked the passion fruit, strawberry, pistachio, and vanilla.
~ Loved the coffee, chocolate, and caramel!
Not my all-​time favorite place to grab macarons, but not the worst either. They hold up quite well, versus some that crumble after one bite (shame shame on you Shaad Zee Bakery. That’s why you’re closed for good). Good sweet flavor, but nothing that had a good second kick (Tout Sweet Patisserie does). So, this place serves an average macaron at best.
If I choose to go to another La Boulange, it will be at either the Walnut Creek or Danville location. I’ll pass on this place for good.

Yet the dear Starfuck (you know the great coffe mogul) got this under its wing. And if I could tolerate no WiFi under its being just a bakery — not now:/
Coffee was not the same (not sure if they have started selling its father’s coffee yet)
All bowls were chipped and seemed pretty worn out
Granola bowl was okay, but all fruits were tasteless (majority of which was just cantaloupe)
So… if you are in the mood to try — you might still like it. But for me its lost its originality as soon as it’s layed under big corporate

PROS:
— cute little café setting
— seating inside & outside
— nice employees
— plenty of choices to choose from
— order at the register & food is brought to your table
CONS:
— parking is hrs to find around the place
— tables inside are too close to each other
— food quality & taste aren’t anything special — taste like everything else
— salads are saggy — no special taste
— sandwiches are ok, a little cold when you get them
— drinks are over priced
— pastries & desserts are nothing special & are too over priced

Fantastic croissants and other baked goods. As others have noted, great that there is a La Boulange in Lafayette, the East Bay! I am reserving my 5 star for La Farine in Berkeley that makes nearly a perfect truly French croissant. Le Boulange is just a hair less in that it needs a bit more butter (and no, I’m not a butter fanatic (-) and slightly harder shell. But it is otherwise authentic and delicious and one of my three or four favorites, Masse’s on Shattuck in Berkeley is good. Acme’s for some reason is not up to snuff and that’s strange, given their great bread that I wait in line for. That’s probably why while Café Fanny next door uses Acme bread they bake their own croissants. Interesting. Fanny’s is almost too perfect. Very buttery and oh so flaky. Same verdict as Acme for Semifreddi’s. Had a few at one of my fav places, Farley’s in Emeryville and Oakland, Tartine also makes an awesome croissant IMHO. Nearly forgot… La Boulange makes a fantastic whole wheat croissant that they magically get to feel and taste as good as their regular one. Sesame seeds on top and delicious, so I’ve taken to buying them often. Haven’t seen this item at La Farine but perhaps they want to stay more authentic although I’m guessing whole wheat croissants now exist in France where I have not been for quite a few years? Ok, so it’s not a purist’s item but damn, the ones at La Boulange are good.