Frangipane
The stretch of Dupont that Frangipane Patisserie occupies is a motley collection of businesses, restaurants and chiropractic clinics. The crooked sign looks fresh and bright on the grey street so it consistently tricks me into thinking, "what's that new place?" even though it's not new and I've walked passed it many times.
But not everyone plays this game, it seems. Frangipane is a well-frequented little place. A steady crowd of customers passes through the award-laden doors. Most of them know exactly what they want and are out in a second. Many customers want only coffee, which pleases me. I like a place with a solid coffee. One customer asks where the bread's at and is told, "we don't make bread anymore." But the customer is quickly distracted from his disappointment by the tart rack, "Oh. What's that?"
The pastry I purchased moments before has caught this man's eye; a sour cherry tart with almond frangipane ($4.95). It's expensive, yes, but gigantic. It's dense and almondy, really sweet, tart and a bit sour. The cherries are fresh and explosive. It satisfies two.
I'd preceded it with a Gruyere tart ($4.75) opting for pure cheese, though it also comes, enticingly, with onion and prosciutto. It has an overwhelming (good) amount of golden baked cheese, and a hint of black pepper that cuts through the greasy (good) richness.
At Frangipane's urging, I purchase a single Parisian macaron (not to be confused with macaroon) with pistachio ($1.75). This tiny green thing has a nutty, fresh crunch, and goes nice with a coffee ($1.75). Regrettably, I did not try the salted caramel Parisian macaron, a misstep. And I covet the most expensive little tart in the case, the one with a full pear poached in ice wine ($7.95).
I sat in Frangipane for a couple of hours with my laptop. The tall tables (two, only) do not invite this sort of loitering, but this is precisely what makes it a quiet place to work. The soothing sound of the CBC and joyful noises coming from the back kitchen make Frangipane a nice place to stick around in. 
Photos By Alyssa Bistonath
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Best biscotti in town!
Dontcha hate it when both a review and the place's website DOESN'T have the hours of operation listed?
Is it too inconvenient for you to simply ask someone for the hours, as their phone number is listed on the website? Let me save you any further exertion: (416) 926-0303
Fantastic review, Emily! The photos are beautiful as well. Keep it up!
Wow, what's the tartlet with the beautiful, flower-like meringue?
I go to George Brown, so I often treat myself to Frangipane. Almost all their stuff are incredibly yummy (gruyere tart is my favourite) with the exception of their coffee.
Maybe I'm just a picky coffee drinker (I only get my espressos from a few places), but their coffee taste stale and bitter and completely devoid of whatever nutty/chocolaty/floral taste that good fresh coffee should have... I personally find it undrinkable even during times when I desperately needed the caffeine to stay awake to finish my sewing.
I wish they could do something about it; bad coffee sells well on itself, but good coffee will sell better.
This place is, literally, 150 steps outside my front door and has fueled me and my boyfriend with innumerable morning cups of joe. The lemon shortbreads are one of my favourite things about this neighbourhood.
I love their chocolate cupcakes and lemon shortbread. Gruyere tart smells great but tastes a bit bland.
The only thing I don't like about this place is how they switch back and forth from calling parisian macarons, macaroons. Macarons are the light and airy delicate almond-based cookies with ganache sandwiched in between; macaroons are the dense coconut cookies.
Worst service I have ever experienced.
Not recommended... The food looks good but I would pass the experience.
Do not regards this review... It's written by the owner....