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Faubourg
Categories: Food Bakeries Food Coffee & Tea Food Desserts Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Desserts [Edit]
2156 W 41st AveVancouver, BC V6M 1Z6
Neighbourhoods: Kerrisdale, Arbutus Ridge
(604) 266-2156
- Hours:
Mon 7 am - 6 pm
Tue-Sat 7 am - 7 pm
Sun 8 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
41 reviews for Faubourg
Review Highlights
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"I love my Croissants and Pain au Chocolat." In 3 reviews -
"The pastries/desserts esepcially are FABULOUS." In 10 reviews -
"...having my afternoon tea and an almont croissant here." In 6 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Janice F.
4/16/2012
It's really loud here - terrible acoustics, even though it wasn't fully packed.
I ended up sitting out on their few patio seats, enjoyed my grapefruit mousse tart. It was studded with sugar crystals, gave it a nice crunch. The tart crust was pretty difficult to break apart with a fork though.
The pistachio croissant was unique - similar to Persian desserts with rose flavours.
Overall, a nice place to take a break on a sunny afternoon. -
Review from Jo S.
Vancouver, BC
3/2/2012
Faubourg is definitely the best place for dessert on 41st street. Even if you're strict with your sweets intake like I am, you won't regret treating yourself here.
THE MUST HAVES:
Butter croissant (one of the best in Vancouver)
Baguette (PERFECT for sandwiches)
Canale de bordeaux (they're like portable versions of crème brûlée -- soo good)
Berry tart (the custard cream and crust are divine)
Caffe mocha (it has a hint of hazelnut flavor to it -- yum)
DONOTWANT:
Afternoon tea -everything was way too rich and sweet, especially the raspberry chocolate mousse. I felt a little nauseous afterwards. You can't really share portions either as everyone in your group is required to order a setting. -
Review from Michael U.
2/18/2012 12 photos
With a forgettable visit to the Blenz Coffee on Robson Street providing a quick caffeine fix on day three of Vancouver but the rest of the day focused on Chinese, Cambodian, and Indian cuisine our last pasty experience in Vancouver would be on the day of our departure - breakfast at Faubourg Paris, a small patisserie and cafe in Kerrisdale where unlike Thierry the ambiance truly is Parisian not just in looks but in service and style. Bright, modern, pleasant, and served up with lingering notes of butter in the air and servers (including the owner himself) sporting hefty French accents I knew on entry that Faubourg was going to be the sort of place that spoke to me - and that was before we even saw the pastry case.
Greeted by both the owner and a young woman at the counter as we browsed the selections - many having just come off the bakers rack - my family deferred to my selections and with most of the options familiar I selected the things I knew we all loved along with a couple of novel selections and two Americanos plus a tea that were all plated individually, placed on trays, and carried to our table by the owner (he would also not allow me to bus my own table later on insisting "non, non, non, go and enjoy the day.)
Beginning first with the coffee, again watered down espresso but vastly more subtle than that at Thierry or Thomas Haas, the blend at Faubourg certainly isn't going to win any awards but at the same time it was a nice morning cup that served its purpose and went well with the pastries - the first of which was a nicely crafted Pain aux Raisin with a soft and buttery crumb beneath a slightly crisp exterior flecked with large rocks of sugar and plump raisins - a nice changeup from the usual and particularly enjoyed by my aunt. Moving next to its tray-mate, my requisite order of an Almond Croissant would prove to be the first non-double-baked one of the trip but unfortunately it would also prove to be a bit uninspired with the exterior not quite crisp enough and the interior not quite wispy or open enough - almost as though it was undercooked, though I will say the taste was quite pleasant with butter and almond essence in good balance.
Moving next to the tray largely reserved for my mother and sister, the pairing of a Butter Croissant and a Pain au Chocolate would prove to be as classic as it gets and while the almond croissant did not meet my admittedly high standards both of these showed Faubourg's skill with aplomb as a crisp golden shell crackled with each bite while the interiors of each remained light, cavernous, and loaded with buttery notes. Generally underwhelmed by Pain Au Chocolate as many seem to lack enough ganache I will additionally note that the version at Faubourg stood out both for the quality and quantity of the chocolate - two separate cores providing plenty of flavor without overwhelming the subtleties of the pastry.
For the final plate of the morning and our last bites of Vancouver a tray featuring a "Chocolate Twist" and a Cannele would provide a fitting end to a great trip as the twist would feature a similar golden exterior and soft buttery crumb to the Pain aux Raisin but up the ante by adding a creamy custard woven in and dark chocolate chips opposing the crunchy flecks of sugar. Not quite a croissant, not quite a Danish, almost like a pretzel, and an absolute must order. Moving next to the Cannele, in a word, perfect - a crunchy golden shell, a moist custard interior, plenty of eggy flavor tinged with butter, and just a bit of sweetness...a contender for the top 5 all time and a reason to head to Kerrisdale bright and early as there were only a dozen available when we arrived. -
Review from Greg C.
North Vancouver, BC
4/25/2012
Faubourg (pronounced Foboor) is by far the best boulangerie et pâtisserie in Vancouver - close to that of Paul in Paris. The quaint space with clean lines give it a contemporary yet traditional feel (although some of the clients are pretentious and loud). The store front can be intimidating at first, however, the prices are reasonable for the quality and service. This is the place to be for a leisurely afternoon tea/coffee and light snack to which I travel across 2 bridges (from North Van) to get to on a weekly basis. With that said, I hope success is met with more by keeping attentive to the little things.
Atmosphere: Simple elegance, blatantly put. An clean and inviting store with high tables, bistro tables, and a counter (which is my favorite seating). The white walls and large mirror panelling make the room bright and feel larger, while the pastry counter would make ones mouth water. They also have a small formal room with a large chandelier and mural painting. This is a place that makes you want to sit and read, chat, or just enjoy yourself. One suggestion might be to fix the wobble on some of the tables.
Cleanliness: No complaints yet (coming from a guy who wipes everything before he eats). The staff are very attentive to clearing tables, even the owner will not let a client clear the table him/herself. Plates, utensils, and cups are superbly clean. The washrooms are quite clean as well.
Food quality: Best bread in town. Wether it is a baguette or sandwich loaf it exceeds any standards (especially when still warm)... Always consistent with the sound and feel of the firm crunch of the crust and the delicate soft tender center. That said, my favorite order is a small cafe latte and a pain au chocolat. When I'm hungry I will also take a chicken baguette sandwich. And to say that their lattes are also to die for with its creamy thick foam and mild, consistent taste. As for the pastries I usually order the mini tarts and macrons to take home for tea service.
Service: Happy and friendly. I'm always greeted with a smile and attentive service. The current staff make all the difference and I hope they stay for a while.
Although giving Faubourg a favorable review, I do have a few suggestions. First being that some plates have chips in them and should be retired. Second, wifi would be nice (the free one from Starbucks across the street is slow... just saying), and third, the Mariage Freres line should be extended to Darjeeling black, Assam, etc. other than the novelty blends. -
Review from Vicky L.
Vancouver, BC
4/3/2012
I was here over the weekend for the first time. It's a cute little cafe, and the decor did remind me of Europe. I had a butter croissant, and a box of 10 macarons to sample. The butter croissant was very very good. It's flaky and how a croissant should be. As of the macarons, I found them a little bit on the sweeter side. They do have pretty interesting flavour like the lime basil which I do enjoy the most and the salted caramel was good as well. As of the others regular flavours like Pistachio, Vanilla and Raspberry, I found Thierry's or Soirette's ones were better.
I think I'd only come back for croissant, but their pricing is a bit too high like few others have already commented. -
Review from Kalina M.
North Vancouver, BC
1/4/2012
Fabulous, Fantastic Faubourg
If you love Paris like I do, you'll love Faubourg! You feel like you were whisked away to a busy cafe in Paris. The decor is modern which I love with it's airy ceilings and beautiful marble wrapped walls and counters. Faubourg is truly a French Patisserie.
2 things give them my 5 stars:
1- They are one of the ONLY places in Vancouver to still serve and carry my favourite tea: Mariage Frères - from Paris. (MF tea is not only fragrant but actually backs up the scent with a perfectly balanced flavour. This is the only tea that I have found to be consistent whether its a black, green, white, red, fruit tisane or herbal blends.)
2- The Croissants are the best in the city - I had a Chocolate Croissant that was just melt in your mouth flaky. Seriously - the best I have had here in Vancouver.
We had great service and a fun conversation with the staff.
Save up for the week and then treat yourself to Faubourg! -
Review from Hipster C.
Vancouver, BC
12/31/2011
Such a pretty store, with such pretty pastries, but such indifferent customer service. The bigger male server did not smile or show any form of affect during our exchange. I had to ask for cutlery and when I informed them that they were also out of napkins, he just nonchalantly told me "oh, just turn the dispenser around". Arrghh!
As well, I found the line-up to be extremely inefficient, as the orders didn't take long, but there was no sensible space for the patrons to wait for their food & beverages, so they kept their place in the line! I really thought that I would dribble my expresso on other patrons' heads as I awkwardly navigated my way back to the table, as the tables were really crammed together.
Too bad because the pain au chocolate was very good, but just ain't worth the effort with such indifferent customer service and cramped seating area.
Unless they figure out how to accomodate sit-down customers properly, it won't be a destination spot for a coffee date. -
Review from Diiiriiik H.
North Vancouver, BC
I had croissant, blueberry tart, lemon tart, chicken sandwich, almond croissant n latte , vanilla latte. they make them no mistakes ... but the price is too much for such traditional taste ...
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Review from Reena M.
2/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Delicious coffee! Delicious Pain au Chocolat! Great place to meet a friend to chat. Not much space for a stroller though. However, no one seemed to grimace at the cute baby in it.
Listed in: Latte? Capuccino? Americano?…, Pain au Chocolat
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Review from Jason R.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2011
This place is out of control.
Hands down the best croissant in the city - and I have done a full on croissant quest!
Their breads are also superb. Check this place out...mind blowing baked goods. -
Review from Jenny L.
12/26/2011
The host/manager is awesome (main reason for the four star rating). Emailed my reservation but it didn't go through somehow but he still managed to conjure up a table for the party of four.
The tea is average... The earl grey was really weak (something I have never seen before) and the food took a while to come out which was a little frustrating. All in all, probably not worth the $30 we each put in for the larger tea set. -
Review from Nancy W.
12/4/2011
Faubourg French Patisserie specializes in authentic Parisian baked goods, pastries and desserts. Located on West 41st Avenue in the heart of Kerrisdale, Vancouver, Faubourg has interwoven the concept of tea house, café, bakery and bistro into one cute little package. Chocolaty exterior; bright and chic interior, this place is constantly busy.
With the tea craze in Vancouver, high-tea experience is never dull! Faubourg poses a stiff competition to the beloved Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (click), Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Café (click) Urban Tea Merchant (click), Secret Garden and the like.
http://www.faubourg.com
Cuisine: French, Bakery, Pastry, Dessert
Price/Entrée: $5-20
Out of 5... (1: Don't bother -- 5: Excellent)
Food: 3.5
Service: 4.0
Ambiance: 3.5
Overall: 3.5
Front of the restaurant caters to take-outs, walk-ins patrons who come in for a proper café au lait and some tasty treats: Lemon poppy seed scones (a light airy melts in your mouth scone), pain au chocolate (chocolaty rich buttery, slightly crispy with a golden-brown exterior) and signature lemon tarts (creamy tart lemon curd on top vanilla milk foam on a flaky tart shell). Counter service is always prompt and cheerful!
Faubourg features a large airy high-ceiling space and hardwood floors with marble counter tops. Back of the restaurant is a bistro for brunch and high-tea. High tea at Faubourg offers a selection of elegant treats, seasonal flavours and a selection of sandwiches and scones. While I may not fancy to drink my tea "pinky out" and I'm more caffeinated over coffee beans than Darjeeling I do enjoy the variety of petite bite size treats and a selection of teas.
Sample and inhale your tea selection prior to choosing the best contender. Sultane Ceylan, Vert Provence, Bourbon French Vanilla, etc. The selection of tea was not just your average Lipton tea bags. Selections carried came from Mariage Frères. The tea is fragrant and flavorful - creamy rich and not watered down (also served here click). There is something for everyone whether you are a green tea, red tea, or a herbal non-caffeinated lover.
Choose from Pink Afternoon Tea ($25.50) or Purple Afternoon Tea ($16) a petite set menu. Because we always love variety, Pink is the way to go.
Smoked Salmon and Wasabi Cream - Freshness of salmon with a slight kick or wasabi
Chicken and apple with country ranch herb dressing - Sweetness of apple lightens a plain tasting chicken.
Cucumber and Roast beef with coriander cream - A meaty twist of cucumber sandwich with savory taste of roast beef. I liked this one more than the regular cucumber stuff sandwiches.
Scones served with Devonshire Cream and jam - light buttery scones paired with Devonshire cream is delicious.
Fruit Soufflé: Blood Orange - Delish and sinful. Tart and light. I almost wanted to fight for my friend's also.
Mini lemon tart - a mini version of their signature dessert. Creamy tart lemon curd on top vanilla milk foam on a flaky tart shell
Mini Opéra - A rich decadent chocolate cake. Slightly overwhelming. Perhaps more suited for a coco lover.
Chocolate mousse - a smooth coco mousse. Pretty standard.
Parfait - A tart yogurt parfait with fresh berries and a granola crumble. It's a nice in between sweets palate cleanser
Chocolate Truffle - A rich bite size coco truffle. Don't underestimate the chocolaty richness because of its size.
Please always remember to make reservations, especially as it comes closing to the holiday season. Faubourg is busy and getting a seat is not always easy. I know next time I'm coming here for BRUNCH ... those benny's looked killer from the table next door!
French
Bakery, Pastries, Desserts, Café
Freshly baked bread and goods
High-tea
Parisian bistro -
Review from LA L.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2011 5 photos
I've been to Faubourg 4 times and mostly take out. i've dined in once just for coffee and patsries at the front of the store and not at the bistro area at the back. Their pastries are delicious. I had their Triple Chocolate Decadence which has 3 layers of chocolate mousse, dark, milk and whitechocolate and all dusted with cocoa. I also had their lemon tart which was nice and tart and smooth. I love how theri desserts are just the perfect balance of richness and sweetness. There's nothing I can't stand more than desserts that are cloyingly sweet.
Just the other day, I had their croissants. They were amazing! The exterior was golden brown and crisp but inside was soft, flaky and buttery! I had their palmiers as well. Quite expensive considering the size and portions of the cookies. They were nice and buttery as well but a bit on the tough side. I think the caramelized sugar was a bit hard. The palmiers woul've been good if it weren't for that.
I also ordered the Canale de Bordeaux. It had a crisp and bittersweet exterior but the inside was a nice soft, mildy sweet custard. The store just opened when I came by to purchase them and they were still slightly warm on the inside.
I am looking forward to going back to try their other pastries.
I found out the hard way a few months ago that to be able to actually get seated at lunch time in their bistro area is to have a reservation. My friend and I stood there just waiting for a table and there was one that opened up after about 30 minutes of waiting but no one came to us or gave us menus. The waiters kept walking past us. That went on for about 10 minutess or so and my friend and I just decided to leave.
That's why Im only giving them 3 starts today and also because their palmiers were tough.
I am though, willing to give the bistro area another try. The next time around, I'll be making reservations for sure. I'll have to stick to take out in the mean time. -
Review from eryn p.
Vancouver, BC
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Legitimately, their almond croissants and vanilla lattes have pushed me to working out three mornings a week before work. I'm not even joking.
This place is fantastic. Their breads are delicious, their pastries are buttery, flaky, and just the right amount of sweet, and their espresso is phenomenal. It's located right nextdoor to Cafe Artigiano and I would truthfully choose a Faubourg latte over Artigiano any day. Their baristas know what they are doing.
I work in the area, and htis is also our office's favourite afternoon pastry spot. On rough days our office manager comes in with huge boxes of their delicious vanilla custard tarts with fresh berries adn passion fruit glaze.
Yep. It's great. You should probably join a gym, too. -
Review from Katie C.
Vancouver, BC
3/30/2012
my french friends claim that all the products here are exactly the same quality as the ones in france (of course, not taking into the account the prices!)
i like the pain au chocolat, it's a bit small but the chocolate pieces were in a melted form when i took a bite (maybe they use a ganache?) so that was delicious. gone in 10 seconds maybe.
i would advise you all to NOT try the almond croissant, it was one of the worst things i've ever eaten! it was soggy, not flaky and the filling...oh the filling...i don't even know what it was! it was brown and speckly, and didn't taste like anything! i wish i could have asked for my money back.
faubourg je suis trop déçue !! -
Review from Minna E.
Vancouver, BC
11/27/2011
I went with a group of four girls in total, and we all had the Pink Afternoon tea (which is their "full service" afternoon tea). The selection of tea was small (and they had eitiher run out or discontinued one of the teas that was on the menu, which my friend had wanted to try).
The food was good, though I agree with another review that commented on some of the bread being stale (or there wasn't enough sauce on the sandwich) but it still tasted fine. I had a fish bone in my salmon sandwich, but again, nothing too horrific. They did serve a dessert that was "time" sensitive, a souffle that would deflate if you didn't eat it right away, which I thought kind of interrupted the normal flow of afternoon tea (savory then sweet), but the dessert was delicious anyway. For a place that's supposed to have amazing treats, I'm surprised they didn't include any of their famous items like the chocolate croissants.
I know one of the reviews made a comment about how boring the yogurt parfait was but I gotta say, I found it very refreshing with all the other strong flavors.
I'm giving this place only three stars because while everything was "good" nothing really stood out as "great" like some other places with afternoon teas that are at the same price range. -
Review from A T.
Burnaby, BC
10/31/2011
Their pain du chocolat rivals the best we've had in Paris - flakey, almost crispy exterior, with a truly light and fluffy interior just popping with flavour.
Their espresso is fantastic as well, although you may have to sip carefully as people may accidentally jostle you as they get to a seat in the cramped seating area.
There's also a very French restaurant-within-a-restaurant concept in the back room with more space though, although we didn't see a hostess when we walked by.
Perhaps the only negative is how they weren't able to import the same high level of service typically found in France. Perhaps it's just my over-sensitivity to hipster faux-derisiveness. Who knows? I'm just here for the food. -
Review from Joanne W.
7/12/2011 2 photos
Great coffee. The raspberry ganache tart was delicious as well.
HOWEVER, service was horrible. I don't know why, but the service was horrible. I don't know if it was the one barista, but she was just so rude to us. I was very unhappy with that. -
Review from Reza V.
Fairview Slopes, Vancouver, BC
12/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I come here almost 2-3 times a week! Great place, staff, and pastry.
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Review from Katie F.
4/16/2011
3.5 stars.
Gorgeous french bistro in Kerrisdale!
The owner is lovely... Faubourg is normally open during the day only for casual meals/coffee/brunch, but one of my colleagues convinced them to open for a private function and do dinner for us!
They put in amazing effort and the food was delicious. Presentation points galore! Fresh vaggies and fruity drinks during cocktails, then we had a series of 5 courses (mini-sized). Salad and bread (very fresh), funny little liquids/dips in cups, then a variety of skewers of prawns/veggies, ratatouille and veal, and finally a mini-dessert plate with lemon and chocolate tarts, eclairs, wafers, and more!!
The pastries/desserts esepcially are FABULOUS.
My only concerns are the TINY portion sizes (I was seriously still starving after dinner... the mini-sized multi-courses were cute but 2 pieces of veal per person was not enough!)
They're also new to serving dinner so there were definitely some kinks - drinks running low and food was definitely coming out slowly between the courses.
Anyway... my biggest complaint is the small portions... but this explains how French women stay thin in spite of a diet of wine and croissants ;) -
Review from K S.
Burnaby, BC
6/21/2011 1 photo
Everyone is saying high tea this, high tea that.
If you believe in tea tradition, stop referring low tea as high tea!
Dining area is clean and elegant, but way too cramped.
Pastries tastes so-so, needs more attention on presentation. -
Review from Cara P.
2/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was here for brunch recently and chose to sit in the back for table service. Bad idea. Other than the delicious croissant my food was overall disappointing. The Benny was only okay (lukewarm) but the potatoes accompanying it were terrible. Barely lukewarm and chewy. And when I asked for some ketchup to try and make them seem a bit more edible, the ketchup came straight out of the fridge and was ridiculously cold. We also waited and waited and waited for the waiter to bring us our bill - which was ultimately asked for.
I'd highly suggest sticking with the front pastry options and espresso drinks. So much more worthwhile. -
Review from Abi B.
5/19/2011
Stopped in here for a bit as Ajisai Sushi Bar (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) was already closed for the afternoon.
I had a pain au chocolat and a strawberry tart. The pain au chocolat was deliciously buttery and flaky and the chocolate inside was rich and not too sweet. The strawberry tart was in a buttery shortbread-like crust with creamy vanilla custard and perfectly ripe strawberries. Definitely the best I've had outside of France. Their brioche and baguettes are wonderful as well.
I'm not sure about the sandwiches; they don't appear to be very filling and are rather expensive (I believe it's $4.95 for half/$8.95 for a whole one).
It is pricey here (the pain au chocolat was $2.80 and the strawberry tart was $5.50) but they use quality ingredients making this place a worthwhile treat when you feel like indulging. -
Review from Suiki S.
Vancouver, BC
5/6/2011 2 photos
I love my Croissants and Pain au Chocolat. A good croissant should be Buttery, Flaky and Light that easily melts in your mouth. Prior to the opening of Faubourg in Kerrisdale on 41st and West Blvd, I have been satisfying my cravings at La Baguette et L'echalote at Granville Island for which I consider to have one of the best Parisian croissants in Vancouver.
Faubourg offers a refined and modern dining experience in a yet small storefront space with limited seating. They offer authentic French bread, pastries, macaroons, desserts, coffees and teas. In addition, Faubourg also has a tea room in the back of the store that offers daily afternoon tea service starting from 12 noon to 5pm at $25.5 per person.
Back to my Lovely Croissants - My new Love was found at Faubourg. Trust me - a bite of this croissant will send you to Cloud 9 - a fluffy one.
Buttery 4.5/5 - It's super buttery but not too heavy or overwhelming - it is light and melts in your mouth goodness.
Flaky 5/5 - The outside is super flaky while the inside is layers of soft and fluffy heaven baked to perfection.
Size 3/5 - The croissant is quite small - it is almost half the size of a regular croissant. I can easily down 2 of the Faubourg's.
Price 3/5 - You definitely pay for what you get. The croissant is definitely good but on the luxury end at $2.20 each ( remember they are small).
Overall - I prefer Fauboug's over La Baguette et L'echalote's for its butteriness and flakiness. But if you are looking for a big and satisfying croissant for breakfast/meal - I would recommend La Baguette et L'echalot - the size is much bigger. If you looking for a 3pm afternoon tea snack - then Faubourg has the perfect croissant for you. -
Review from David L.
1/15/2011 5 photos
If you've been to Paris, you would have passed through a lot of really nice French bakeries. Faubourg is a French bakery situated in Kerrisdale which tries to emulate a Parsian bakery. They've gone as far as adding the word Paris to its name.
The place was packed with people and there were long lineups. There was a small selection of baked good such as cakes, breads, and pastries. I liked their baguettes. It's chewy, a bit soft with a hint of buttery flavour. I didn't have to add butter and I still enjoyed eating it.
I didn't feel like I was in a Parisian bakery because the window displays were really empty and variety of pastries on display were on the low side. I came here during the afternoon and where were all the baked goods? I saw mostly premade sandwiches like what you see in Starbucks and a lot of overpriced croissants. A bonus is that there are a lot of chairs and tables. It's a great place to get some baguettes. I'd like to see more French pastries and Parisian style macaroons. -
Review from Stephen Y.
Richmond, BC
I walked by this sweet gem, looked in the window at the baked pastries and I was pulled in. The delectable aromas of fresh bread and viennoiseries (french breakfast pastries) filled my nose and I couldn't help but try a couple of the offerings, a chocolate croissant and pain aux raisins with a bit of parmesean. The place was bustling @ 12pm, but they had many people on staff and they quickly attended to my needs.
Both of them were brought from the bakery in the back, the croissant was great, with a good helping of chocolate but not too sweet. The bottom of it was a little too crunchy for my taste, but overall I would get one again. The raisin pastry was awesome! Just a bit of sugar and cheese on top of yeasted butter dough and raisins baked in...love it!
I wanted to try more pastries and their coffee, but my veins were already coursing with coffee today, and I want to have another reason to come back.
A swank little French bakery in Kerrisdale is just what this neighbourhood needs. It has the usual stop and drop-in seating up in the first half of the bakery and at the back, a served area if you want to have a little more quiet time with your friend.Listed in: Caffeinated bliss
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Review from Annie W.
5/28/2011
I really really wanted to love this place. All the pastries and sweets looked so beautiful and delicious, the smells coming from the kitchen were amazing, and most of the staff were lovely and trying so hard....
On the day I visited it was super packed and almost impossible to find a seat as most of them were being "reserved" for some political event. Luckily my friend snagged us a couple of window seats, and I went up and ordered for us - a nonfat latte & cappuccino, some sort of twisted pastry stick and a roast beef sandwich.
The barista was clearly overwhelmed. After I nicely informed her that there had been a mistake with my order, she snapped back "Are you sure that's what you ordered?" When we finally got the right drinks, they were both good. The twisted pastry was outstanding! However, the sandwich was basically two pieces of dried bread with a very hard chewy piece of roast beef inside.
I'm giving Faubourg 2* for now. However, I haven't completely given up on this place, and will re-evaluate once I've had the chance to sample their high-tea and croissants given some of the other rave reviews. -
Review from Dee B.
5/15/2011
I had high tea (Pink Tea $22.50) this afternoon.
Pretty good, pretty good. Everything is small and dainty just as tea should be.
Love: the tuxedo cake, strawberry souffle and the scone with whipping cream and apricot jam.
Needs Improvement: The sandwiches in general. They need more flavour and really, the sweet:savory is off. They need to include more sandwiches and less desserts. It's all about balance.
This is no Urban Tea Merchant, but was a lovely experience none the less. -
Review from Nina I.
Burnaby, BC
5/6/2011 3 photos
Lovely place for afternoon tea with the girls! If you want to sit in the dining area where it is a bit more private I'd reccomend a reservation. I've tried a couple other places for tea nearby and thought Faubourg was pretty good! So I've never been to Paris (yet) so I dont know how it compares to the real thing but my friends and I felt like we were in a fancy cafe say in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo.
We all got the afternoon tea $25.50 that comes with mini sandwiches, scones, and an assortment of desserts and of course your choice of tea. There was this delicious souffle that they served fresh out of the oven perfectly risen and delicious. The bread for the sandwiches were light and fresh! Perfect for just that -afternoon tea or a light lunch. They serve Mariage Freres tea which is high class tea. They do also have a lunch menu and you can mix it up at the table.
If you compre the price of afternoon tea with other locations it's a bit cheaper but the serving size is comparable to the price. Secret Garden and Adonia are more feminine in the decor, but I'd say if you're going with your man for an afternoon tea that Faubourg may be one that is more neutral with the chinaware (plain white with silver trim) and simple square plates.
The service I thought was fine. Our pots were refilled when we wanted them to be and we were there for some time and never felt rushed. There are other tea places that restrict your seat for a time slot (common for afternoon tea) but this place was pretty relaxed. I'd come back again! -
Review from Cam W.
Vancouver, BC
5/13/2011
To a Frenchman, it's all about the baguette, and this place does them very well. Best I've had since being in France, and best so far found in Vancouver...although the search for that ultimate crusty fluffy fresh loaf never ends.
Enjoy! -
Review from Jared D.
Vancouver, BC
11/23/2011
5 stars for the baguette with a perfect medium thin but crispy crust and perfect interior texture. Get it before they sell out!
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Review from Leah M.
Vancouver, BC
9/11/2011
Unbelievable, the best croissants I've ever had outside of Paris. Only problem is not enough seats. Would like to see a cafe au lait on the menu.
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Review from Priya T.
Vancouver, BC
11/1/2011
Faubourg arguably has the best authentic french baguette in the city. My family also loves their croissants.
I wish there were more seats. It was hard to find a place for us to stay in and eat. -
Review from Annie M.
Vancouver, BC
Awesome french cafe!! Their bakery was excellent and yummy.
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Review from Justin L.
11/29/2010
A delightful and welcome addition to the assortment of Kerrisdale cafes, Faubourg serves coffee and pastries all day in the main space, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch, and afternoon tea featured during certain times in the bistro section at the back.
Having taken over the Payless Shoes store space over the summer, Faubourg combines what we can't seem to get enough of in this neighborhood (coffee) with high-quality French bread and pastries (sorry, Cobbs Breads) in an elegant but bustling and energetic setting. The space exudes charm and potential: passersby stand gawking through the large glass windows; 90% of them go through the doors.
We were part of that majority the other day; since it was already quite late, Faubourg had sold all of their bread (good sign). We opted for a LEMON TART to go. The all-butter crust was superb and the lemon cream nicely balanced. Personally, I prefer a tarter tart filling, but this was still better than most.
I'm eager to see how this place moves forward. Right now, the window displays are rather impoverished; either they sell out of items as soon as they're displayed, or I've always walked by too late. I wish Faubourg the best success, because we need more quality spots in Kerrisdale. Not quality of the once-per-year variety, but precisely the kind which you can frequent on a regular basis: affordable, intimate, authentic, convenient; the kind which makes you feel lucky to live where you live, at this point in time, with the loved ones around you. -
Review from Amy P.
Vancouver, BC
3/17/2011
Attracted by the decoration and window display. Had ham and cheese sandwich with latte. Slightly disappointed with the sandwich. Ham and cheese was straight out from display cooler. It was then put on to a harden baguette. Latte came with artsy heart design. It was good. The seating area in the front was crowded may be because I went at noon. The back was fully booked.
Would not recommend to come for lunch. It would be a nice place for desserts and tea time if you make reservation in advanced. -
Review from Courtney M.
Vancouver, BC
2/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Warning, addictive! With my favorite clothing store, that I also work for, Courtney Boutique only a few doors down, this has become a problem. I have never tasted better croissants in my life. I would rate the almond #1, then chocolate. But you can't go wrong with plain either. Their sandwiches are really great too. The ones on their baguette are great, as their bread is top notch. Be careful around lunch time as thee lineups are out the door. It's worth the wait though ;)
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Review from porcelina v.
Vancouver, BC
7/18/2011
Had the worst "high tea" ever here. I'd made reservations the day before for the full high tea (I forget what they call it), and arrived a little early and ended up waiting for my friend. They gave me my tea first, and even though I steeped it for close to 10 minutes, it came out like water.
The proportions for the snacks were seriously wrong. Between the two of us, we had to share 3 microscopic sandwiches (3 halves each) that were stale and dry, a couple of tiny scones each, and what seemed like endless sugary desserts that made my stomach hurt. The worst part was, instead of devonshire cream to go with the scones, we got whipped cream in a cup???? By the time we'd finished our sandwiches and moved on to the scones, the whipped cream had already collapsed.
Their coffee is not very good, which has to do with the lower-quality machines they use and lack of training in steaming milk. Perhaps in a year they will have improved in that respect.
If you're looking for high tea in Kerrisdale, DEFINITELY go to Secret Garden on West Boulevard! Better tea, better snacks, and much better value for the money! -
Review from Sarah O.
1/29/2011
Really a lovely little refuge in the midst of 41st Ave chaos. The space is open, bright, warm and inviting. A few perfect pastries and fresh breads baked with love, presented in a clean glass display. In the back there is a dining area for breakfast, brunch and high tea. I found the prices to be a bit pricey but they really seem to go for quality. Everything tasted great. The worker who rang me up wasn't the friendliest person in the world but she had a chariming French accent that made me turn a blind eye. I enjoyed having my afternoon tea and an almont croissant here. Having said that, it could all turn into a very frustrating experience due to the lack of space in the seating area. Is it some sort of subliminal trick that is suppose to offer nostalgia of the times we wandered the streets of Paris, rubbing elbows with Parisians in small cafes? Hmm.. no, I think they just tried to cram everyone together to create more space, Kerrisdale style. I don't like that. Be nice to your customers, because you can be a delightful place I'd like to visit again!
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Review from eddy m.
Victoria, BC
8/11/2011
Tried the pain au chocolat, almond croissant and both types of baguette.
I think their pain au chocolat is on par with Thomas Haas': butttery, light, flaky, and rich. I was also very impressed by their baguette traditionnelle: airy with irregular air pockets (baguette trademark) and a nice rise, with a thin and crunchy crust. The inside was moist and slightly chewy. This is the best baguette I've had in Vancouver, hands-down.
To give you some context, I was born and raised in Paris on a baguette-a-day diet. I think I know my baked goods ;-)
The other two bakeries that have delivered excellent baguettes are on the Island in Victoria (Fol Epi) and Cowichan Bay (True Grain). I recommend both highly!
Service was good, but then I just ordered at the counter. And I don't care as much about service as I care about the quality of the food.
I will most defnitely go back. This would be a daily stop if I lived closer to Kerrisdale.
