Paris is the heart of France, where street cafes meet blooming flowers, and love is hovering in the air. The picturesque avenues and charming architecture are enticing to many tourists, although distance prevents frequent visits. Paris Baguette brought the culture to the United States when it first opened in 2005, but was prevalent in South Korea before when it was introduced by Hur Young-in. Their mission revolves around four core values: heart, community, joy and accountability that come together to bring their vision of serving high-quality baked and brewed goods in a cozy neighborhood cafe. With almost 1,000 locations, Paris Baguette has found a wide range of customers all over the world, finding its way to residents of Allen, Texas.
Appearance:
The restaurant itself was charming, exuding a modern European market vibe. Chill jazz played in the background, providing an ambience separate from the hustle and bustle of life. A natural chatter came from the many people dining, giving it a friendly atmosphere, but not one for studying.
The restaurant had an open layout, with the dining area to the left of the entryway, the counter straight back, and the selection of treats on the right. Navy tile wrapped around the right wall, with wood-backed recessed shelves interrupting the pattern. The bakery’s mottos, “Freshly made to make your day,” and “Market fresh,” were emblazoned in ivory above. Glass containers displayed with pastries rested on the marble countertops and detached island, able to slide open for convenient access. The stark white ceiling contrasted and added a brightness to the restaurant with its French-inspired panels.
One of the most eye-catching features was the black and white geometric floor. Most of the restaurant was dotted with black flowers, but a stripe of black diamonds outlined the wooden dining area. This contrasted the light brown stands surrounding featuring pre-packaged loaves, cookies, merchandise and coffee. A large midnight blue mural hung above tan padded benches and black metal chairs to the far left, depicting the Allen Premium Outlets, the Allen Eagles football stadium, and a park, blending the different parts of the area. The other seating option were chevron patterned wicker chairs featuring the same salt and pepper look as the geometric floor. They were surprisingly comfortable and provided an appropriate height next to the white marble tables.
Serving Method:
Paris Baguette utilized a self-serve cafe method. Upon entering, customers grab a platter and tongs from a stack near the door. After they decide which bakery items they would like to try, they slide open the glass doors of the displays and grab their food using the tongs. Once they have grabbed their food, they take the platters to the cashier’s counter to pay. Customerscan then eat their food at one of the tables in the shop or take their food to go and stack their platters and tongs to be cleaned. This method was efficient for both the customers and the workers because the customers got to pick exactly what they wanted, and the lines at the cashier were short even when the bakery was busy. The one downside to this, however, was that the bakery items cooled while sitting in the glass cases. Luckily, Paris Baguette had microwaves available to reheat the items, but it’s an extra step for the customer and doesn’t quite match the joy of a warm, freshly baked treat.
Customer Service:
One result of Paris Baguette’s serving method is that the employees had little interaction with the customers. Despite this, the cashiers at the counter were very friendly to us and helpful when we requested a cup of water. Customers also had an opportunity to witness other Paris Baguette employees at work in the back right corner of the shop. Through a large window, bakers could be seen making more sweet treats to keep the cases throughout the store well stocked.
Food:
Paris Baguette, true to their name, offered breads and pastries in a wide assortment of croissants, brownies, cookies, muffins, cakes, breads and donuts. Quiches, croquettes and meat pastries provide savory options for breakfast, and if dining in the afternoon, sandwiches, salads and wraps were available. They also provided pre-packaged loaves, roll cakes or cheesecakes and brewed hot and iced coffees, frozen frappes, smoothies and hot chocolates to compliment the dishes.
Although every option was tantalizing, we ended up choosing five items: a quiche lorraine, crab croquette, croissant, blueberry cream cheese pastry, and a matcha mochi donut.
The Quiche Lorraine: A classic French quiche made with bacon, heavy cream, eggs and a blend of cheeses
- Ardyn’s Rating (8/10): The Quiche Lorraine had the perfect balance of flaky crust to egg, with plenty of cheese and bacon for flavor. My only complaint was the temperature, as I wish it would have been warm instead of room temperature.
- Julianna’s Rating (9.5/10): The Quiche Loraine had a moist pastry shell with a rich, creamy filling and chunks of bacon. It was delicious and had a great balance between pastry and filling.
The Crab Croquette: Crispy panko donut filled with imitation crab, potato, and vegetables
- Ardyn’s Rating (9.5/10): The crab croquette was crunchy, featuring an imitation crab filling. I had my doubts whether or not it would taste fresh and flavorful, but it proved me wrong. It was delicious; the breading paired perfectly with the cold crab, and it had a touch of sweetness.
- Julianna’s Rating (9/10): This menu item was composed of a creamy crab filling surrounded by a thick breading. It tasted very fresh and a little rich. The Crab Croquette ended up being one of my favorite items that I tried.
Croissant: Flaky yeast-based pastry
- Ardyn’s Rating (5/10): The croissant fell short of my expectations. It was ginormous, easily taking up a fourth of the plate. It made up for the lack of butter with excess flakiness, which ended up in my hair and on my lap despite my caution. For a bakery staple, it should’ve been executed better, as it had little to no flavor, inadequate to its fellow menu items.
- Julianna’s Rating (6/10): Paris Baguette’s croissant was dry, excessively flaky and slightly sweet. Contrary to the bakery’s other options, I was very disappointed with this item. I would not recommend it for those who enjoy a buttery croissant. For such a classic bakery item, it was bland and poorly done.
Blueberry Cream Cheese Pastry: Pastry with blueberry and cream cheese filling
- Ardyn’s Rating (9.5/10): The blueberry cream cheese pastry was quite the opposite, with a creme brulee glaze over woven dough. Cream cheese and blueberry jam peeked through teardrop holes on opposite sides of the pastry. They complemented each other nicely, and my only request was additional filling.
- Julianna’s Rating (7/10): The pastry itself was thin but moist with a sweet glaze on top. There was blueberry filling on one half and cream cheese filling on the other. While it was enjoyable, it would have benefitted from more filling.
Matcha Mochi Donut: Mochi donut topped with a matcha-flavored icing
- Ardyn’s Rating (9/10): The matcha flavored mochi donut was one of my favorites due to its unique ring shape. Similar to flower petals, doughnut bulges made up the circle and were glazed with chewy sage matcha icing. Not only was it delectable, but exclusive to Paris Baguette alone.
- Julianna’s Rating (8/10): Made up of six connected chewy spheres with a thin layer of green icing on top, the Matcha Mochi Donut was one of Paris Baguette’s most unique bakery items. This treat was tasty, however, the icing was a little too sweet for my liking and only tasted vaguely of matcha.
Paris Baguette’s busy, family-friendly atmosphere fostered a pleasant environment for customers looking to try a delicious variety of both classic and unique bakery items. Between its unusual serving methods and fun bakery items, the shop had a distinctly different ambience compared to many other bakeries as a result of the blend with its South Korean roots, European vibe and local Allen culture. Overall, Paris Baguette is a must-try for any pastry or sweet treat lovers looking for a new experience!
