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The French Baker / Le Boulanger Français
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 6:30 pm
Sat-Sun 7 am - 5:30 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
23 reviews for The French Baker / Le Boulanger Français
Review Highlights
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"I love the almond croissants." In 15 reviews -
"A must visit Byward Market destination." In 3 reviews -
"paired w/ an illy coffee, this made for a perfect treat." In 3 reviews
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23 reviews in English
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Review from Michael R.
3/17/2012
After sampling a few items at The French Baker, I was puzzled by some of the poor reviews. I stopped by shortly before closing, and ordered a croissant, and pain au chocolat, and a pear and almond tart. They all turned out to be bright spots in the often dull world of business travel and associated hotel stays.
I enjoyed the tart that evening for dessert, and it was incredible. Perfect pastry with filling and topping to match. Not to sweet, which I was thankful for. Most of our American pastries are far too sweet for my taste.
The next morning, I ate both the croissant and the pain au chocolat. Both were as good a version as I've ever had. Ottawa citizens must be lucky to have some outstanding bakeries if some reviewers really found fault with the ones here.
The pastries were still flaky and moist the next morning. Ahhh.
Wish I had time to sample the rest of their offerrings! -
Review from Kaitlin W.
Ottawa, ON
3/16/2012
Their service can be a bit curt at times, but overall it's a very pleasant atmosphere. I highly recommend heading here for a coffee and a pastry to start your day. Just promise to save me a scone -- they're the best in the city and the flavours change on a regular basis.
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Review from Joe H.
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
So while sitting here and waiting for a table at Benny's Bistro I decided to have a coffee and croissant here at the bakery. In all fairness I'm only going to comment on these two things.
As for the coffee they do serve illy coffee and I really do like the fact that they make it to order. (ie they put the milk and sugar in)
As for the croissant, ya it's really soft, but what it lacks is the crunchy exterior. In my opinion, the perfect croissant is flaky and wafer-like crispy on the outside and melts on the inside. This melts... But it isnt really crispy at all. Boo.
I'll try the bread next time. -
Review from Mochi M.
4/24/2011
The pastries are sooooo far from being French, it's pathetic they're trying to call themselves a true French from France bakery.
They may be well made if they're fresh, but they were never fresh when I dropped by.
They looked dried, were overpriced and the cashiers have their stereotypical French snobbery to go with the dried pastries.
Sadly, just because the pastries are fresher, Le Moulin de Provence did a better job of pastries. Try the religieuse (it's tasty..!), but avoid the galette de roi or the croissants. -
Review from Lisa K.
11/17/2011
So we went in right before closing and asked for a chocolate almond croissant, and then asked for it to be cut in half. The employee said it was easier for him to just give us two for the price of one, rather than cut it in half, which seemed good to us. He said when they close each day they donate the leftovers to a nearby womens shelter, so that also seemed good. The croissants themselves tasted stale, which was not shocking as it was the end of the day. However, the chocolate inside the croissants was pretty low quality and waxy. I wouldn't go back.
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Review from Amanda B.
Ottawa, ON
11/30/2010
This is one of those places that every bread-lover should visit. They have such a great selection of different gourmet breads, including baguettes, croissants, turnovers, and organic choices, as well as different flavors and textures. They also have rich cakes, pastries, and other desserts, and even specialty teas, coffees, jams, and chocolates. Their prices match their quality, so be prepared to spend a pretty penny.
My mom picked up a loaf of their olive bread and it's definitely one of the best I've ever had. It's made with garlic, herbs, and pieces of Kalamata olives, which are completely visible all throughout the bread, rather than hidden. It was crisp on the outside and soft doughy on the inside, made fresh and full of flavor, fantastic with butter. Phew, that's a lot of F's.
After looking at the pictures and reading the other reviews, I really want to go back and try the breakfast/lunch dishes in their Benny's Bistro area! Gourmet eggs and bacon? Yes, please!Listed in: Glutton, Cafes, Baked Goods, &…
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Review from Chloe P.
Ottawa, ON
4/27/2011
Illy coffee, first off so they are already in my good books.
Secondly, everyone must try their croissants and fresh baked bread. -
Review from Julia C.
8/16/2009
I'm crying having just reviewed a bakery in Mtl and now this. Why oh why must you torture me, thoughts of perfectly buttery and flaky croissants and those yummy dense Parisien baguettes!!! In addition to the bread stuff, you can buy great chocolate (Valrhona, etc.) and some other things such as olive tapenade for your delicious bread. Oh and they sell MACARONS! Maybe only 2 flavors but beggars can't be choosers and all that.
By far my fav bakery in Ottawa. Now with a new location in the Glebe as well, though it's not as large.
You also should try the bistro next door (Benny's) - excellent brunch though be prepared to wait if you come at the wrong time since there are no brunch reservations. Also, they may be out of some of the popular brunch items if you go too late. -
Review from Rafael R.
10/11/2009
Award winning croissants and "just ok" pain au chocolat, as well as a wide variety of baked breads, spreads, coffee and chocolate candy are offered at the Market District location of Le Boulanger Francais.
Customers can view daily preparations taking place behind a large glass wall, on one of my many visits, blocks of butter were ready to be sacrificed to be made into a delicious baked offering.
Staff often appears put off to assist customers with their selections, resulting in a lower rating for this merchant. -
Review from Barry Z.
Ottawa, ON
11/25/2008
An Ottawa institution, the French Baker makes excellent croissants. The best available in the city, and better than most I've had elsewhere. The "chausson aux pommes" is also a nice treat, but I would avoid the almond croissant.
Note: Croissants are BEST enjoyed as close as possible to the time they are made. To fully appreciate all that you are missing, you need to get up very early one day and make a trek to the French Baker on Murray St (original location) and find out what a croissant is truly all about.
Do yourself this favour.
If you are buying them more than 3 hours out, you won't get it. -
Review from Gizzie D.
5/6/2011
Cute little french bakery. They don't have a big selection. I bought some mini fruit tarts and chocolate hazelnut tart things. $5 CAD/piece. I sampled some from each and I luv luv luv. (I'll be going running by the river shortly... :D) Anyway, they also have bread, croissants and stuff. I will be baaaaack. (After my run. :P)
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Review from Amanda D.
Orleans, ON
5/13/2009
No question that these are the best croissants in Ottawa. Buttery and crusty on the outside and perfectly chewy on the inside. I love to grab one with a coffee before doing the market groceries! Great way to start the morning!
I've had the chocolate croissant and the apple ones too but the best is just a plain croissant! -
Review from Peter S.
Ottawa, ON
1/22/2009
Totally agree with Barry Z's review: the croissants are amazing, and les chaussons aux pommes are really good also. And now they've got a location on Bank St. in the Glebe too.
If I'm not mistaken, they supply the Bridgehead coffee shops around town with croissants also. -
Review from D J.
8/27/2009
This place is going to get amazing review over and over but I couldn't help echoing them again with my comments. This place is totally worth a visit.
If there is a line ... wait ... it's worth it.
If they're out of something you want ... come back tomorrow ... it's worth it.
If you think all pastries or bakeries are the same this business will change your life forever. -
Review from Ellen C.
3/16/2010
You have to try the pastries fresh. They are mouthwateringly, flakily, butterily (is that a word?) delicious. They used to just have only one store in the Byward Market that would sell out of croissants by 10 am on a weekend! Luckily, le boulanger français opened another store in the Glebe just a few blocks away from me which allowed me to get my pastry fix. I love the almond croissants. I know that Bridgehead used to sell their pastries in-house and I think this is still the case. Try the butter croissant there with their organic strawberry jam - yum!
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Review from Aaron B.
Wilberforce, ON
4/11/2010
Forever ruining all other croissants for my girlfriend and I, look no further for perfection. Crispy, buttery soft and flaky in all the right places. A must visit Byward Market destination.
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Review from Deanna W.
11/23/2008
You will find Ottawa's best croissants located in this bright and cheery Byward market bakery. They are best "got" in the morning when they are still relatively warm. Flaky, buttery (no skimping here) and not doughy at all -they are an excellent carb treat. You can also find some pastries here too though I really come for the croissants.
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Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
6/15/2009
I love coming here for the baked goods which are pretty good aside from France. Just a plain croissant with a latte and I'm good to go....also check out the bistro in behind....sooo hidden but soo delicious.
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Review from Jason D.
Ottawa, ON
11/13/2008 1 photo
My friend and I ran across this bakery one evening as we were bar-crawling our way down Bank Street - yes, French Bakery now has a location at 801 Bank Street. It is a cute place, if a little spartan - everything is white and the decor is a tad minimalist. But, the goods are pretty good. Each day the bakery specializes in a particular kind of bread, while offering a selection of other daily goodies (tarts, etc.). On Saturdays they offer four kinds of bread. I understand why they offer only a few types on certain days, but it is a bummer if I want a particular kind RIGHT NOW! This store is located in the heart of the Glebe, so parking is not too easy to find - just the street.
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Review from Sophie R.
Toronto, ON
3/7/2011
This bakery is so good! A must go!
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Review from Out of Towner R.
Kenora, ON
2/2/2010
I was here right at opening and there already was a couple ordering. Friendly service. Had the croissants and raisin scone (still warm from the oven). Heavenly. The scone had walnuts which were a yummy addition. The coffee was also fantastic. Would definitely come for early am visit again.
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Review from helen t.
8/16/2008
this place is super cute!! it closes early, so i suggest you go in early for a breakfast pastry. i took a jog from my hotel here and got a pain aux raisins which was delicious and not as buttery as a regular croissant. paired w/ an illy coffee, this made for a perfect treat. their croissants are supposedly to die for, tho, so i probably should have tried that as well. i will be back if i ever make my way to ottawa again!
Listed in: Baked Goods, oh canada
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Review from Nick M.
Gatineau, QC
2/16/2010
They're the only decent place in the area, and the prices reflect it, something like $2.50(!) per croissant or chocolatine. Way over-priced. Decent, but this place wouldn't survive in Mtl. Not much of a pastry/bakery culture in Ottawa, so locals are easily impressed by stores like this.
