Pain Perdu
736 St Clair Ave West 
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Phone: 416.656.7246
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Pain Perdu is small and quiet, adorned with flowers and French music and neat, unimpressive furniture. Regulars sit happily alone in a corner, or quietly chat in French with Yannick, one of the bakery owners. Like the taste of the bread and croissants and sweets, the atmosphere is understated, confident in subtlety.
The croissants ($1.80) are a delicate glory with tons of layers and a dense buttery centre. The almond variety has a hint of sweetness on top wrapping around a sweet custard filling that seeps into the inner layers.
The goat's cheese and spinach quiche ($5.95) tastes deceivingly light, with a discreet crust and airy filling. Like the croissants, it has a rich but subtle flavour rendering it immediately addictive.
The Croque Monsieur ($6.90) is enthusiastically recommended, a glorious invention of Swiss cheese baked over bread and black forest ham with bechamel sauce, garnished with a single split grape tomato. The sandwich is heavy and I can have more of it than I should in the presence of the pain perdu ($7.95), the best and most surprising dish ordered.
Pain Perdu translates as "lost bread," originates as an attempt to save the stale or hard. It varies all over France (all over the world i.e. the fried Dempsters sandwich bread with corn syrup I grew up on). Yannick boasts of his grandfather's recipe; a thick wedge of bread soaked in a milky creme anglaise sauce and stuffed with organic maple syrup and raisins. Small chunks of pineapple are scattered over the dish with berry coulis drizzled on top, balancing the sweetness of the eggy insides.
Photos by Alyssa Bistonath
Comments (13)
The quality of stuff is superb, but the prices have really crept up in the last few years, while the pastries have shrunk. :-(
I've enjoyed what I've bought there, but this summer I found it quite warm in Pain Perdu on a couple hot summers day. Those fans just don't cut it. Or is it just me?
after reading this, i do want to go to pain perdu, but i must say, i'm kind of shocked about the lack of editing - there are just so many spelling errors!
i hate being so damn picky, but you guys are better than this!
I wasnt really impressed this summer when i ordered a few croissants and a cookie and the total was over $11. I will stick with World Class.
I've been a fan since it opened, but I agree with the first poster. Over the years the prices have just gone up and up, and the sizes have shrunk.
It *is* damn tasty, but I can't justify almost $15 for a (small) slice of quiche, a few Boston lettuce leaves with dressing, and a coffee.
(And his name is Yannick, not Yarrick.)
I have gone here for at least 5 years or so for their chocolate croissants. I just went in today after not having gone in a while and I have to agree the croissants used to be a lot bigger, they have indeed shrunk. Still delicious though. Latte was really good and a good size.
I have to admit, I used to go there more often, especially when I was visiting clients, and wanted to take some goodies along; however, the goodies have SHRUNK and the prices have gone WAY UP and I can no longer justify going there. If you take a trip to Loblaws at Christie and Dupont, you can get some pretty good pastries at 1/10 of the price. No, they are not French, but they are huge and delicious and clients, or the lawyer's assistant, or your receptionist will still appreciate the gesture.
I live around the corner from Pain Perdu and I'm very disappointed that they are the most expensive shop in the area, making it impossible to go there on a regular basis.
I went out to this place because of the writeup. Six croissants, two small pastries and one slice of quiche came to over $30. The croissants were very small, dark brown and had a hard, flaky outside that was more like phyllo pastry. Inside was just ''bready.''
Thanks, but no thanks.
This place is heaven!!! The croissants are the best in the city. They happen to taste the way proper croissants are suppose to taste. The mushroom quiche is ridiculous. Soooo tasty! The pastries are numerous in variety and all delicious. And the ambiance is perfectly created by the subtle and spartan design choices that offer a real slice of old school French hospitality!
This place is a can't miss destination for those looking for
a moringing after cup of coffee with that special someone or
a quite place to read the paper and fritter away a weekday morning!
In regards to earlier comment: "I will stick with World Class"
I have bought bread there once, never again. Can`t stand them & don`t care much for their Breads. Plus, if you want fresh it is best to go early. Tre Mari, there`s a Portuguese place across *North side of St Clair*. They always have great bread. Centro Trattoria is great for bread too, if you go early enough.
I so Heart♥ Paini♥Perdu - I recall my Quiche, Goat Cheese & Spinach. The crust on this Quiche was to die for, "Sublime".
Light, Fluffy. I could never accomplish a Quiche like that on my own. I should of opted for the salad, too. But didn`t, the taste of the Vinaigrette, that I did sample on my "Cornichon" & "Tomato", was heavenly. The wait was worth it, seeing as how they didn`t use the ever so dreaded "microwave". Love the french radio in the background. Great Mosaic art from local artisans on display. And the staff ever so friendly. I met a man from "Basque" Region. In addition, I received free Macaroons, the classy french imported kind !
It`s best to go at a time when it is not busy, small space to begin with but oh so, quaint.
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