My friend Carol lives opposite this patisserie and has wanted to try the delicacies she sees in the window each day for about a year! She suggested that we meet for a catch up there.
I should have had a coffee but we have a fantastic coffee maker at home. (Which has just prompted me to go and make my own before it cools too much. Splash of gingerbread syrup smells lush and makes me long for crisp autumn days...)
Look at my good intentions to finish off my juices from my detox too!
Doesn't quite work like that, does it!
So we met outside Patisserie Valerie at 3pm yesterday. I went straight to the counter to order only to receive strange looks. I realised that it must be table service and asked to confirm. Overall, the service was not good. Lack of smiles and friendliness was a let down.
This French café had a variety of items on the menu that did not scream French to me at all. The Patisserie section was small in comparison to the rest of foods they offer. Online menu
I ordered an peach ice tea which was overly priced at £2.50 a glass. It was good but didn't go very far.
My friend ordered a hot chocolate with cream, which did look good. When the waiter asked if she would like cream, she giggled in delight of being rebellious in ignoring calories. He did not look amused but gave a smirk as he walked away.
I ordered a black forest gateaux, having loved this 80s treat as a child. Carol ordered a double chocolate gateaux with a profiterole on top. She let me try some and she DEFINITELY made the better choice. The presentation of both gateaux were beautifully presented.
I put this on Facebook and it got a few "ooo"s and "ahhh"s from some girlfriends.
I was disappointed in the taste of my gateaux. It was all cream. And cream that had been put between the sponge a few hours (if not days) before and didn't taste fresh. The cherries were boozy - nothing wrong with that - but I wanted chocolate and cherries with some cream; not cream with some discreetly tasting chocolate sponge and a few cherries.
The overall cost for 2 pieces of cake and 2 drinks was almost £15. It was pricey. The café looks so lovely and I have wanted to gaze at their window display every time I take the bus past there.
I would go again but not have the same gateaux and I would have to wait for pay day...! Oh, and maybe not eat all day before I go.
Overall rating 6/10
Service - 5/10
Cleanliness - 8/10
Presentation - 9/10
Taste - 7/10
Authenticity - 7/10
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