Carlsbad French Bakery Cafe, Casual and Delicious

A busy person need balance – and a place where they can go enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee, read the paper, and take a deep breath. European style bakeries and cafes tend to offer that experience.

Have a sweet tooth needing to be satisfied? Craving French style comfort foods like a quiche or ham and swiss on a baguette? Then go to the Carlsbad French Bakery Café, an authentic French café owned by two Frenchmen Eric and Olivier. The café started in 1986 and has a regular local following. This is not a Starbucks, it’s a neighborhood cafe with funding and improvements all done by the owners.

The outside is nothing to write home about – under a simple blue awning with dollar and thrift store on one side and hardware and grocery store on the other. Yet, once inside you’ll forget all about what’s outside when trying to pick what delectable pastry you want to devour. Many people order tarts and cakes in advance for pickup, so there might be a line to order, especially on weekends and around the noon or dinner time, but it moves fast with two or more staff usually at the register.

The decor inside is mostly blues, yellow and orange with flowers on the tables and a large mural along one wall. While it can get crowded, I frequent here with my Dad, and we have always managed to find a table immediately. This place is popular for it’s delicious treats, but not as muh for it’s patio, with just a few tables looking out to the strip mall and parking lot. Still, it’s nice to know you can bring your dog and enjoy a pastry outside when the weather is warm.

If flashy, glitzy, and elegant are what you are looking for then skip this place. If casual, comfortable, relaxed café, with good food and friendly service, is what you are seek, then Carlsbad French Bakery Cafe is the right choice. Located right off I-5 freeway – it’s easy to get find.

1005 Carlsbad Village Dr., Carlsbad CA 92008  760-729-2241

All photos taken by Lisa Bruhn in January 2013 using her iphone