Baked Goods
La Boheme Cafe Patisserie
La Boheme Cafe Patisserie is sandwiched between the many shops and cafes along the Yonge and Eglinton strip. Opened for just a month and a half, this French inspired pastry cafe is WiFi enabled with light wooden floors, lots of overhead pot lights and scattered artwork. Owner Sha Taheri has been enjoying her new batch of regulars and seeing familiar faces everyday.
The coffee beans are from Te Aro. Regular options like a latte ($3.30) or an espresso ($2.15) are offered with (. $50) extra for specialty milk. I order a creamy cappuccino ($3.30) with a chocolate stuffed croissant ($2.00).
Buttery, flaky with a rich chocolate filling, I didn't want to share it with Cory but I wavered because keeping it to myself would be selfish. We also split a pear Danish ($4.25) and it was sweet and fresh with a delicious buttery pastry crust.
Everything is made in-house by French chef Marc Tournayre, who is the boyfriend of Taheri. He's also the head chef at Jules Patisserie on Mount Pleasant. His expertise in French pastry and cuisine is apparent in every edible item in the shop. From the baguettes ($2.50) to the quiche ($4.95) the Parisian panache is there.
Tournayre uses natural and fresh ingredients with no added chemicals or preservatives. Also, most desserts are reduced in sugar so they're not too heavy. A customer interrupted while I was chatting with Taheri to exclaim that the desserts here are amazing, and they are really good at what they do. "They're so light!" he exclaimed.
La Bohème also specializes in cakes for any occasion. Customers can order a cake and pick it up within 1-2 days. The glass windows are filled with interesting cake creations, and boxes of mini pastries to take home.
La Bohème Café Patisserie is open Monday to Saturday 8 a.m - 7 p.m and Sundays 9 a.m - 6 p.m.
Photos by Cory Vanderploeg
Discussion
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To you few naysayers: I think you've got it all wrong! I would encourage anyone reading this to try one of those pastries and tell me that its not incredible. The staff all seem very nice. I often see them bringing out meals to people despite the fact that (I don't think) they offer table service.
Plus, there is a cute Barista.
Today I had their salmon and leek quiche it was almost 100% leek and a wee bit of egg to hold it together. I took one bit and was turned off (even though I love leeks) and threw it out. I bought their 'freshly squeezed' juice and was disappointed to read that it isn't as such. I do like their pastries which consistently good and are as good as their competition.
The service is awful! The owner and staff really lack the customer service that you get at other neighbourhood bakeries. Agreed with above poster that their is always chaos at the counter. They hound you to order even when you are obviously still looking/deciding which is so annoying.
I far prefer Thobors Boulangerie (formerly Celestine's bakery) and Jules Patisserie both on Mount Pleasant for not only their food but service and atmosphere.
"I've been here at least a dozen times since opening and I think La Boheme is good...not great or awesome...just good."
followed by
"I far prefer Thobors Boulangerie (formerly Celestine's bakery) and Jules Patisserie both on Mount Pleasant for not only their food but service and atmosphere."
Who do you think supplies and bakes all of La Bohème’s food?
Jules would be the answer, so don't you think that takes a "bit" as you put it into the credibility of your post!
I have worked there for short while and I can tell you that all the juices are freshly squeezed, there's only butter used in EVERY SINGLE PASTRY and the owner might be spacey but she is hot and sexy; I would like to roll her in one of those buttery croissants and ..... yum yum,
Sorry I got side tracked there.... Yes, they might not have the best service on busy days or an occasional off day with the leek quiche but they have one of the best croissants not only in Toronto but probably in all of North America.
When you open your own cafe's and bakeries then please feel free to make an "intelligent" comment, until then please enjoy your coffee and donuts at Coffee Time because you are not even ready for Tim Horton's yet.
Vive La Boheme
Je suis Canadienne-Française, et j'ai eu le plaisir de rencontrer le Chef Marc qui m'a servi lui-même un croissant frais et délicieux. Quelle gentillesse! Et aussi quel talent!
But what is surprising (and amusing) is how I discovered this review! I communicate, through a blog, with a gentleman in Scotland, who travels and often puts photos of the different pastries he enjoys on his trips. We have become pen-pals. I told him about La Bohème, in Toronto. And this morning, he sent me this review, asking, "Is this the place you visit, Claude?" There you are! If any of you, working at La Bohème, read my comment, you will know that your courtesy, fresh pastries and incredible coffee are known all over the blogworld, and very specially in Scotland. À votre santé! Merci, and the best to all of you.
Also, I've been there a number of times, and each time the service was prompt and friendly.
Skip the nearby Starbucks and go here instead.
I agree the place across the street Jed's is quite nice and they do greet you once anyone walks in.
I like Te Aro coffee, but the cup (espresso) I had here was mediocre. With the competition that this place has, I would think that paying attention to that is a no brainer. Then again, and in fairness, that may simply not be the focus of the owner. And Andy can do little about what buyers of his excellent beans do with them.
The place doesn't have an indy coffee vibe at all. It's pleasant enough, but just not to my taste. If I'm with my mother, it's perfect. By myself... I'm by myself.
I did like the food items on offer. Beets? Awesome. I try to always have them when I see them. They're a veg you never buy (if you're a single guy cooking for himself), but which you may know is very good for you. They could bump it all up to organic and I'd be much more enthusiastic. Still, It's good.