Cafe Francais
2930 N Swan Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85712
Cafe Francais Menu
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Address :
2930 N Swan Rd
Tucson, AZ, 85712 - Phone (520) 326-1155
- Website https://www.cafefrancaistucson.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Brunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Lauren C.
FOR THE PASTRY CASE ONLY: Ok, so theirs are not *the* best pastries I've had, but after months and months of grocery store cakes and other cheap thrills (which have their time and place), the six pieces I tried were pretty damn good. I ordered the marzipan cake, the mocha buttercream cake, and the chocolate cake. And then later I bought the chocolate mousse (like the mocha mousse only chocolate), the lemon mousse (almost a meringue-y texture), and an Opera bar. Marzipan: I'm guessing the cake was some sort of nut batter, and over the cake was a chocolate ganache layer, then a layer of a lighter cream, and then more nut batter cake. The whole thing was enveloped in a generous layer of marzipan (more sugary than what I'm used to but still divine). Mocha buttercream: Butter. So much butter. Definitely forgot how much the French love their butter. It was good--basically white cake surrounded/swallowed/engulfed by a really buttery (did I mention it had a lot of butter?) mocha cream. I'd like it more if they dialed down the butter and gave it a stronger coffee taste. Good pastry for days when you already feel like crap about yourself. *Update: ok, so fatty me went back and bought another set about a week later, and I don't know if someone read my review or what, but this time, the mocha taste was much more prominent AND the marzipan was less sugary. :) Chocolate mousse cake: Chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, liquer something (I was too in love with the taste to figure out where the alcohol was coming from), all enrobed in dark chocolate ganache. Many layers and levels of chocolate aromas seducing your tastebuds. So much awesome in a cake that fits in the palm of your hand. Chocolate snobs, rejoice. Opera Bar: Tasted almost like a nut batter base, then a layer of chocolate cream, a lighter cream, and topper with ganache. Dunno what else to say except I loved it. Prices are completely reasonable, and those who think otherwise are delusional. A) they use much more sophisticated ingredients than your grocery store swill and B) at AJ's you pay the same price for very-pretty-looking-but-still crap. Yes, I love me some cheap Albertson's donuts, but they definitely don't share a category with Café Francais' pastries. Service was also pretty good, though I didn't see the supposedly grumpy French owners other reviewers mention. The girl at the counter was very friendly, and kept her smile on even after the fiftieth time I asked "What's that one."
(5)The T.
The owners here are the worst humans on the face of the earth. The crepes they use come out of a plastic container. They abuse employees. Every bad thing you read on the reviews doesn't even touch the surface of the horrible mess these people are. Nicole and Maurice are their names. They should be known in the community for the way they treat the employees. Please take this seriously before you decide to spend your money here.
(1)Sam N.
Really... spent $13.50 for a quiche and a Perrier on the patio, I just finished eating, been there for 6 min (there where only two people in the establishment) the waiter rudely asks me to move to a different table? It gets better ...I politely ask is it okay if I can sit inside (Restaurant still very empty) well... She pauses. Maybe ... ARE YOU SERIOUS. Food A Service -F
(1)Bianca A.
The extra star is for the employee that was very helpful when I stopped in. I have heard rave reviews for the food served at Cafe Francais and scalding reviews of the owners. For being a mom and pop shop I feel that a lot rides on your reputation and I cannot frequent a place that treats their employees and some customers as badly as they do. That being said I stopped in to grab a sweet just to try something and I was sorely disappointed. The macaroons were $3 A PIECE and after being warned by the counter lady I figured it had to be good at that price so I bought one. I don't mind paying more for homemade goods if the effort pays off in something truly delicious and sadly here it didn't. The macaroon was hard as a rock and essentially flavorless. I also purchased a very thin chocolate chip cookie that was also just blah. With Ghini's just down the street and even Something Sweet not too far off I can satisfy my sweet tooth elsewhere.
(2)Peg K.
i live in the neighborhood and thought i'd give it another chance after having had a cappucinno that was essentially coffee with milk. really? i looked at their menu online and was stunned and appalled at the prices. 44 dollars for dover sole? sad. plaza palomino desperately needs a fine coffee and dining establishment (vero amore is profoundly over-rated) and this supposed french cafe is a joke. too bad.
(1)Caroline T.
FAUX-French, in my experience. Having been to France and to French bakeries in New York City within the past year, I was shocked by this bakery's disregard for the croissant. Instead of flaky and buttery, it was soggy and tasteless. Makes me believe the costco theory mentioned by another reviewer. I have had BETTER croissants from Costco, crisped up in the oven first. I had to ask for butter and jam! In France, it was brought to the table with butter, jam, and nutella and left a thousand flakes on the plate. The scrambled eggs had no herbs, nothing. The potatoes were from the freezer.
(2)Maeve R.
So my friends and I were going to eat at the Italian restaurant in the same area, but it was packed. We went down to the Cafe Francais instead. OMG! What amazing food. Two of us had the cassoulet, which just melted in the mouth. The vegetables were perfect. The third person ordered the chicken breast with mushrooms. He said he didn't usually like mushrooms, but these were so good he ate them all. The bread was a little doughy and would have been better if it had been warm. The service was attentive, but not overdone. It was a lot pricier than I'd planned on, but the portions were generous and the food was excellent. My friend is saving her pennies so she and her husband can have their anniversary dinner there. We didn't order dessert because we were on our way to hear the Messiah at Catalina Foothills.
(5)John R.
SHORT REVIEW (SEE LONGER REVIEW BELOW): In all truthfulness, this is a 4.5 star restaurant, but the owners did an elegant gesture which elevates them to a 5 star for this visit. Cozy, quaint, accommodating, friendly, conveniently located, fresh ingredients, food served piping hot and tasty, moderately priced for lunch / slightly expensive for dinner (but worth it) and classy. Can't go wrong - now please read my longer review. LONG REVIEW: FOOD: 4.5 out of 5. Piping hot! Fresh (and high quality) ingredients, such as shallots, capers and saffron...I had the Bouilliabase, a bowl for $6.25 was absolutely unbeatable, even if it was slightly heavy on vegetables. The Duck was exquisite, at $27 it should be. It was crispy on the outside but delicate and not greasy on the inside. The orange sauce was divine and not overpowering. My friend started with the Escargot and the Lamb (he is an expert in both) and said that they were seasoned correctly and cooked perfectly throughout, neither overpowering nor underwhelming. The side dishes consist of a zucchini parmesan, a potato pancake (which could use a little salt in all honesty), rice, ratatouille, and haricots verts - just delightful as a montage of side items to accompany your main course. They make everything fresh, including the bread - the bread itself gets 5 stars. The dessert (of course home made) was exquisite - apple tart and chocolate mousse with orange liquor, both delicate, perfectly portioned, and not overwhelming in any one flavor - a perfect balance of sweet and savory. SERVICE: 4 out of 5. Very polite, timely, and accurate, but could use a bit more polishing. Granted, we went during lunch and our server admitted she did not know the dinner menu very well but she should take the time to learn it and taste the items so that her descriptions of the specials leave your mouth watering, rather than not impressed. She was still very good and will no doubt improve as she gets more comfortable. ATMOSPHERE: 4.25 out of 5. It is a café, I remind you. It is adorable and charming, yet small. Some of the tables are a little close together, and there is one table right near the doors to the kitchen that I would never want to be seated at. There is a shaded front patio, but not a lot of scenery out there. However, it is adorable and cozy and still enjoyable. MANAGEMENT: 5 out of 5. I mentioned that I had read on Yelp that someone scathed the Steak Tartare as greasy, inedible and bland. I asked for a sample. A SAMPLE. No - THEY SENT A COMPLETE COMPLIMENTARY ORDER TO MY TABLE! And whether I had paid for it or not, I would have come to the same 2 conclusions: 1) The dish was fantastic. Served with pumpernickel toast points, the meat was NOT GREASY, rather well seasoned with capers, shallots, a hint of chile flakes, eggs/mayonnaise, a dash of olive oil, and Dijon mustard. My friend and I agreed that the flavors were bursting, to the point that I forgot to ask if they use sirloin or tenderloin (I believe it is sirloin, but either way, a 5 star dish). 2) Arthur N., a fellow Yelp reviewer, is of course entitled to his opinion and should share his opinions proudly...but I strongly disagree with him, as though he had an arrogant axe to grind. In spite of his review, check this place out - it's worth it.
(5)Tina H.
I've only been there for breakfast, but I can say they food was always delicious! The servers have been consistently polite and attentive, even brining a small bowl for our tiny dog. The quality of the food justifies the price.
(4)John F.
Went again for fourth time as its in my 'hood and they have unique food products. I am giving them 5 stars as everything I wished that they would improve upon did improve. They exceeded my expectations. All staff were helpful and cross trained. The food remains top notch from restaurant to bakery. Well done and thank you for listening!
(5)Carlos S.
I'd heard the food is good but that the service is mediocre. I should've have just checked with Yelp, but I'm a sucker for French bakeries. There were only two other tables there for lunch which set off my Spidey sense. In fact, we came here because the Prep n Pastry parking lot was full. There were three people working the lunch room/bakery and the service was still awful. I had to get up and serve myself water- twice. The entrees are pricey, but I'd be okay with that if the service warranted it. My wife liked her omelette so I didn't give them 1 star. I expect this place to close down before the new year.
(2)Noushin D.
The rudest most inappropriate pastry counter help! They don't accept credit cards for less than $8 purchases and I just wanted to buy two brioches. I asked for an Almond Croissant and the price was $5.40! When I told her that I changed my mind and will pay cash, she had the rudest most obnoxious reaction since "she had already cashed out". It took her 2 seconds to reverse the charge. I am sorry but that is bad business! Obviously the owners didn't learn their lesson from running "Le Delice" to the ground. A month ago I went there for breakfast, even though the food was good, we had to wait a very long time. The waitress tried to make up for the fact that this place does not have any type of milk but FULL FAT! I am sorry, even in the villages of France they serve, Soy Milk, Almond Milk and Fat Free milk! I am sorry, no matter how good you are, you don't charge $5.40 for an Almond Croissant! If you guys like to stay in business, you better get with the plan, this is the United States and business survive by having great quality. Don't go to this place, go to Whole Foods, their pastry is healthier and tastier than "Cafe Francais".
(1)Teresa L.
I am really disappointed in this place. I've been hearing such good reviews from my friends and even tried to ignore the bad reviews on yelp about this place. But the bad reviews are so real. First off, I went here for lunch with my friend at 11am. There were only two other tables in the restaurant besides us and we were completely ignored. There were 3 waiters, one lady behind the counter on pastries, and the owner. It took them forever to get us seated, give us the correct menus (lunch not dinner), water, and take our order. After we ordered our meals we went to look at the desserts and pastries in the window. All of them looked amazing. Being starving girls, we decided to get one as a dessert before the meal ;) The lady behind the counter said she would have our server bring it out on a plate for us so we could eat it before the meal. We waited and waited and we didn't get anything. Either there was no communication or our waiter forgot. We flagged down another waiter to get us our pastry and we eventually got it when our meal came out 30 minutes later. Normally, I'm really understanding when small family restaurants are slow. But this is almost too unbearable. The food was just okay. Way too expensive for what I got. I ordered the Pacifica salad and the burger. The salad was so bland and plain. $13 for largely cut lettuce drizzled w vinaigrette is ridiculous. The burger was okay, nothing special. To be honest, I'm not even sure if the patty was beef. The patty was a dull grey- orange color. Maybe they got fancy and have me a veggie burger? Regardless, it was pretty disappointing. It came with a small side of unseasoned fries. I was not impressed. Pros: -desserts and pastries look beautiful and taste amazing Cons: -menued food could be better -price for the food you get -poor and slow service I would only come here to TAKE OUT pastries.
(1)Luis S.
Long story short, true French cuisine without pretension. There are things you miss about France once you vacation there. Obviously the art, architecture, cafes and sights. When you've lived there and left, you miss those things too...but as in most things, the beauty is in the details. Cafe Francais is everything that is good about the French dining experience. Servers that take pride in their craft (yes, Tucson...Serving IS a craft), the best of truly European ingredients and the ability to put them together properly. Quality and authenticity are respected here, and it shows. Oh...and in regards to another two reviews on here...if you can't even make it to the appetizer without stuffing your face with pastries...you lack etiquette.
(5)Mary J.
We had a ladies lunch there today and the food was good and so was the service. The owner came to our tables to make sure we were happy. The bread and pastries are the best
(4)Sue E.
So beautiful to see pride in a business !! Croissant is the best ever...... Including France. Love that QUALITY lives here I travel the world and this place strives for excellence . Coffee worth drinking Go here and enjoy clean classic, precise well thought out food experience Just one little suggestion to owners. White board for menu items not nice ( feels like business presentation). Please use classic CHALK BLACKBOARD ..... It suits your motif!
(5)Susy V.
We just tried out Cafe Francais for the first time. We had the rudest waiter that I have ever experienced. Perhaps the norm in Paris...not so much in Tucson. $24.75 for two mediocre croissants and an au lait and a latte. Really. When the waiter came by with a coffee pot and asked if we wanted any thing else, I asked him to warm up my latte. No. We don't do that. I told him to go ahead and charge me for the two inches of coffee. He did. $3.50 for two inches of coffee. When we left I asked for a coffee to go as I had paid $3..50 for it and I was loudly bitched out by a fat grey haired man who came out of the kitchen. After standing my ground, I did eventually get my cup of coffee to go. They of course only filled the small cup 3/4 full. What a ridiculous place. If you want french pastry, go to Le Buzz. Lovely staff and better bakers.
(1)Emily A.
This owner is by far the rudest person I have ever encountered in the service industry. We ordered a $100 cake, they messed up the order and didn't write Happy Birthday on the cake. When I asked the owner if she could fix it she started to yell at me and said we can either take the cake as is or leave. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Kwan L.
Overpriced, inconsistent, good Benedict, lousy Belgian waffle and incomprehensibly long wait for breakfast - 35 minutes to arrive Waitress was nice and tried to make up for the ludicrous wait.
(2)Nappy H.
Wow, I would be lying if I said I wasn't intimidated by the other reviews. The food was great and I didn't have any problems with the staff. Having spent a better part of a decade in Europe maybe I'm just used to it. If you love authentic euro feel and cuisine , give it a try!!
(4)Shauni S.
I've been wanting to try this place since it opened because I was eager to have an authentic French bakery closer to my house. There are three staples that I try when I go to a new one: baguette, ficelle and a Napoleon. I was eager and dug into the baguette as soon as I got home. It was hard to cut into even though the crust had initially sounded good and I saw a ring of dried bread around the edge that took up about half of the radius of the bread. I'm not sure how long it had been out but a very narrow portion was actually moist. It was chewy and it genuinely made my jaw tired. This concerned me because the ficelle are smaller and were probably in the same boat - which they were. The young lady at the counter had told me they were fresh baked but they had to have been sitting out for at least two days. Finally, the Napoleon genuinely tasted burnt. The layers were too thick, dense and the custard was far too sugary. In addition, the bakery I drive 30 minutes across town for is significantly less expensive and provides a quality product. The baguette at Cafe Francais was $2.50 while the one I usually get at my other spot is $1.75. I have no problem spending more money for gas to not have an achey jaw. I am disappointed that this place was a disappointment.
(1)Rosemary B.
I worked for this business for three days before I was fired. NOT customer oriented, in fact I found myself repeatedly apologizing to tables for the owner's demands. I was not allowed to warm up a croissant for someone, this customer subsequently got yelled at by an owner, cancelled their order and left... I was not allowed to re-fill an iced tea, once the customer had requested a to go cup. I was told to charge for another $3.25 iced tea. These owners treat their workers like dogs and are verbally abusive to their staff on a daily basis. Please if you dine here, tip your waiter well, they deserve it.
(1)Jessica H.
The lady behind the pastry counter was rude. The service was slow and our server got our drink order wrong. Granted, it was super complicated: one iced tea and one water. I had the French dip. It was ok, about the same quality I'd expect from Denny's. My mom had the reuben, which was better: the bread was nice and the slaw and dressing were good but the meat was weird and rubbery, like it might have come out of an Oscar Meyer plastic package, or that you might get at a hospital cafeteria. The server was slow getting the check to us. We won't be back. The pastries looked good but I don't want to support this place with my business.
(1)Scott K.
Stopped in for lunch and we were greeted by by smiling friendly staff. Sat on the really cute patio and had a lovely, delicious, well prepared french lunch. We will be back
(5)Saba B.
Cafe Francaise is a quaint little cafe located in Plaza Palomino, Tucson's most iconic strip mall, if that's not an oxymoron. A glittering pastry case greets you at the front door like a Tiffany's showcase. The pastries here are tortuously tantalizing. We sat on the intimate little patio as a huge party had booked inside. The service is attentive and old school. We both had quiche lorraine, warm and rich with bacon and mushrooms and accompanied by light, fresh greens. The lunch menu, including sandwiches on fresh-baked bread and steak tartare, is surprisingly reasonable. We had a healthy lunch, including wine, for less than $30. My partner was disappointed in the baguette served with lunch; they are crumbly, tough, and unwieldy. Cafe Francais is my new go-to stop for coffee and pastry in this neck of the woods.
(4)Inna A.
Worst customer service. We used to come to this okay often for brunch, but our most recent experience was very unpleasant. My fiancé went in to pick up a to go order. He ordered us both croissant sandwiches and asked for Swiss cheeses on top which they charged him for but did not do. When he got home half way through his sandwich he tasted something funny turns out the styrofoam box had melted into his sandwich. When I looked at mine it was the same thing. He went back to ask them for his money back and they refused to work with. They didn't even apologize. I'm sorry but when I spend $40 on two breakfast sandwiches I expect a much higher quality in my food. The owner was extremely rude as well as all the employees in there. For someone operating a local business that is not the way to run it. I will never recommend this business to anyone, but instead will warm people to stay away from terrible customer service.
(1)Dave S.
Outstanding homemade food & pastries. A hidden gem. We have been numerous times and never had a bad meal.
(5)S C.
This cafe does not deserve any stars. I had been wanting to try this place since it opened. It was 3:30 on a Saturday afternoon, I simply wanted a coffee. The owner asked if I wanted coffee to stay or go. There were 3 full pots on the back counter, an espresso machine and an empty restaurant. So I said "for here". She scowled and proceeded to yell at me. In a very rude manner she asked me "all you want is cafe? You can have coffee to go. You need to leave. We're setting up for dinner." I promptly walked out with nothing and will never return.
(1)Stephiee L.
Haven't had a bad experience here! All of the pastries are ranging from good to great! Stinks though if you are stoping in for pastries you need to have a transaction over$8 to use your card. Lunch is good but a little pricy!
(4)Del S.
Cafe Fancais is a great place to get fresh bread, deli items and pastry. A great deal of work goes into making things just right for you. As a native of Tucson and 1/2 european I feel my heritage and my palate loves it.
(5)Maureen S.
Looking for a good French restaurant? Avoid Café Francais. They lied about making a gluten free dish, and our friend was sick as a result. When I spoke to the owner, Nicole, she said that they spoke with the staff about gluten free food and said that they can tell people what will not have flour and that is their only criteria for avoiding gluten. she said other than this they don't know what gluten is. I asked her if there was a chef preparing the food, and she said yes, but he could not say for sure that a dish would be gluten free. If they hired a new chef, the food would not only be good, but it would also be safe. I hope they take peanut allergies more seriously.
(1)Jane L.
This is a wonderful little place with fabulous charm and delightful food. My friends and I had lunch there recently. When our salads arrived, they were a sight to behold! Fresh ingredients and beautifully presented. I remarked to one of my friends I had never seen a salad so gorgeous to look at. She assured me it was also delicious. The servers are helpful and the atmosphere, although not fancy, is cozy and intimate. The owner stopped at our table to say hello and she was quite charming. Loved her French accent! This was my first time at Cafe Francais and I will definitely return. It will be added to my list of Tucson favorite restaurants.
(5)Jessie N.
I stop in for the pastries or prosciutto. I haven't had pastries like these since I was in Italy. Love it! If you go you can't use your card for anything under $8, which that never is a problem for me. I can't speak of anything other those two items there. I haven't actually had lunch there. So far I've never had anything bad there.
(4)Josh F.
Let me start by saying I will give this place one more chance because the bakery looked good and Miss Keri did not have the same issues with her sandwich as I did... Now....with that said, we stopped into this little Frenchy Cafe and it looked nice enough for a quick lunch. We both got the French Dip....but two very different experiences. Both Dips were a little skimpy on the meat to bread ratio but the baguette was good and the au jus was actually pretty good too. Now the bad....my meat was almost inedible....it must have been an end piece or something because it was so gristly you could only eat about half of it....my fault for not sending it back but we were in a rush and really didn't have time. Miss Keri said hers was good but nothing real special. For now, I will probably give it 1 more shot just based on the bakery...but right now really missing Reilly Craft Pizza!
(2)Bev P.
NEVER - EVER visit this restaurant! The owner is a raging, antagonizing, & extremely disrespectful woman and the food was beyond disappointing. My friend & I went to brunch on Mother's Day. Never went there before & will NEVER go again. After placing our order we went to the bakery to get a sweet while waiting for our food. We were informed we could NOT get a pastry if we were seated, until after we finished our meal! Excuse me??? We were then told we could get it "to go" and had to eat it OUTSIDE and not at our table. We declined & returned to our table. The owner followed us and rudely explained that they have "rules" which MUST be followed. Sweets are allowed at the tables ONLY at the end of the meal. To top it off, the Lobster Benedict was tasteless and soggy. Avoid this place. Awful, awful, awful.
(1)Mike W.
My family and I ate here today and I had the same experience that Bev P had. We were treated very poorly by the woman behind the counter. I had assumed that because we were eating late (just before two and they close at three) that the staff were upset with us for seating so "late." But they were fairly nice to the man that ordered after us with the dog that barked incessantly. We had the same issue with the dessert and were told that the cookies could not be eaten in the store. When we finished our meal (one that didn't even come with napkins) at the table we ordered a cookie to go, but were told that the cookies could only be ordered by the quarter pound ($46 a pound). When we asked if we could just get one, she said "Absolutely not!" I disagree with Bev P however, I think you should totally go there for the experience! Where else can you go to feel like you are in a Seinfeld sketch and get some average tasting baked goods at the same time...right here, at the Cookie Nazi place!
(1)Victoria G.
I been at this restourant 3 times, every single one I had an amazing experience, my first one was dinner with a girlfriend,we had a fancy dinner with wine, we really enjoyed., today was lunch just sandwich and Te and a delicious desert, the atmosphere is relax and pleasant , prices are fair.
(5)Arthur N.
This cute little place, in Plaza Palomino, subjected me to one of the worst restaurant experiences of my life. The steak tartare I ordered was inedible--very greasy and completely bland. (I've lived in France and I know what steak tartare is supposed to taste like..) I sent it back and ordered a hamburger instead. One bite of that told me there was no way I was going to be able to choke that down either; the meat was just disgusting. At that point I gave up. (My dining companion's turkey sandwich was edible, but there wasn't much turkey in it; he said they'd sliced it razor-thin.) Even though I'd only taken one bite of each entrée I'd ordered, the extremely rude couple who run the restaurant (as chef and cashier) wanted to charge me for BOTH of them, telling me that the food was perfectly fine and the problem was with me. It took several minutes of arguing to get them to even take one item off the bill (they chose the cheapest one, of course). In a decent restaurant, the manager would have been appalled, comped both items and probably given me a coupon for a free meal at a later date. But no decent restaurant would serve food that tasted like this in the first place. My server was perfectly fine, and obviously embarrassed at having to work for people like this. I made sure to give her her tip in cash; if I'd put it on the charge card, I wouldn't trust that couple to give it to her. Café Français will no doubt fold very soon. Until it does, avoid it like the plague.
(1)David L.
I took a chance during the hectic morning business at the base and stopped in at the Cafe Francais in the Pplaza Palomino. What a delightful and very relaxing location and shop. I ordered a croissant and Italina coffee (it was what was brewing at the time). I chose to sit outside and the ambiance was delicious. The croissant floated above my table, it was that light. The coffee was perfecto...easy on the palatte and so complimentary. I highly recommend this place for those of you who seek solace during the day. It will gentle your restless spirits and renew your belief in Tucson and the small, intimate respites.
(5)Eric C.
I feel bad for the employees and customers; food is ok but the owners have already closed several shops and need some customer service training. I am French myself, and feel so bad such rude owners represent my country in Tucson. Learn how to put a smile on, put customers first, be nice to waiters, and maybe you will succeed.
(1)Haleigh M.
Went in on a Tuesday morning about 9:30. There were 2 gals working who were pleasant. The pastries were good but the selection was small. However the owner, an older woman, was so awful & rude not only to us but to her employees that I'd never go back. She hovered over the gal ringing us up & second guessed everything she did even though she was ringing us up correctly. It was very uncomfortable & then when I asked the owner for napkins she looked at me and just pointed & said "over there" very rudely. We took our pastries in the to go bags they had been put in & decided to sit outside the bakery to eat. My mom went back inside to ask for a glass of water & the owner told her that because we were eating our pasties on the restaurant property & not taking them to go that we should have been charged more! Who says that to a customer? It's sad, the pastries were good but I refuse to support any business that treats their employees & customers do poorly.
(1)Johanna L.
Horrible, horrible-don't waste your time, energy or $. Had been wanting to try this French Bakery with an expectation that it couldn't compare with the others in town that are superb...and I wasn't disappointed! Stopped in on a hot Sat aft to take home a sweet. Small place...there were 3 servers and no one acknowledged me entrance...and owner was sitting having a salad....after at least 5 minutes of standing at the counter, now feeling foolish, the owner got out of her chair and motioned to one of the servers who was on the phone to hang up and help the customers....I felt sorry for the customer on the other end of the phone wanting to make a dinner reservation,The owner didn't even acknowledge me even when I said "Merci"...she went back to her salad.....it was like I was invisible....I should have left jright them.. As I finally got helped I selected a couple of pastries and thought I"d try a Tuile and a couple of cookies....turns out you have to buy at least 12 mini cookies....and the Tuile were $2 each. So I passed. When I went to pay, my order was just over $5 and when I handed the credit card I was shown a sign on the register that said min cc purchase $8.......I had casually mentioned twice that it was my first time there......no way was I going to be pressured into buying $3 more of something so I left. What an absolute disappointment.....the server (young girl) was nice but she seemed to be caught between a rock and a hard place, especially since being reprimanded by the owner......she was embarrassed and I was so angry and disappointed.....you felt the arrogance and negative customer service once you walked into the place. Prices are totally unreasonable compared to other French Bakeries in town. I will NEVER go back there............Do NOT waste your time.............
(1)Mr. Foodey C.
Mz. F, Thinks. WoW! My son and I went there for breakfast. We saw two older people eating on this table out of the way (by the bathroom). We had to sit our self. Upon doing that we heard a LOUD Frenchman yeallng that a table is here. So a very slim guy came out and very rudely and gave us menus, and said COFFE? My son and I were taking back about that, and said sure. When he came back with the coffee, he said ready to order? My son and I looked at each other then said no, coffee is just fine. What a rude skinny man! We drank half the coffee. I thought to myself stale coffee.We got up to leave. Walking back by the pastry case, there was this old over weight woman glaring at us. She said something under her breath, told us you see any thing you want? well! by that time we had it! Said no thank you. And left. That's where the WoW comes in. Who are these Misfits? My son added. I said maybe we caught them at bad time. We still felt the after shock from going in there. While the A.C was getting chilled in the Benz I said to my son lets come back at another time. Maybe dinner? Maybe there is freash, and polite people at night. And a good manager as well. So stay tuned for further reports oh the Misfits at Café Francais
(1)Jacqueline S.
To start off if you loved the original Le Delice on Tanque Verde you will be ecstatic to know the original owners are back from France and have brought their amazing talent in bread and pasteries making with them. We went in about three weeks ago for Sunday breakfast and boy they did not disappoint. We started with the homemade bread basket and homemade jam (includes three different options of bread) and coffee :) they use Illy which has always been one of my favorites. we then had the croque monsieur with a fried egg on top, talk about heaven! The bread is perfectly crisped and the cheese all melted, the ham is freshly cut then the egg yolk pouring over is just a heavenly touch! As you can probably tell this is not the place for the carb-fearing person. Last week I bought a whole Quiche Lorraine for my neighbor (the large is only $19) and they raved non stop about how well it re-heated and was light and delicious! They also have mini ones too. One of my all-time favorites from Le Delice was the almond croissant; to my delight they have them still and are even better than I remembered. My dad and I kept telling my boyfriend how scrumptious they were and he was finally able to indulge this past weekend. No joke as you take your first bite it is quite out of this world. The only downfall I can say is that they sell out quickly of the specialty bread and the croissants; get there early if you want one. For as little time as they have been open the word is spreading quickly. Their loaves of bread range from $2-$3 and pastries are $3-$4 both worth every penny. Be patient with the service as it is new but they are getting on track!
(5)Vera Marie B.
I like the quiet atmosphere at their new location at Palomino Plaza. The no-nonsense look reminded me of France. Much nicer decor than when they were on the East Side with Le Delice. The French waiter adds a touch of class and good knowledge of the food. We went for Valentine's Day when they had some special menu items and combinations, but most of the entrees seemed overpriced. I had frog legs, which I haven't seen on a menu for quite a while and thought they were very well done. The food was not outstanding--more like country French, and the presentation was--well there wasn't any. But then it was time for dessert, and those were wonderful. Having walked past the pastry case on the way in, and then going back to take a closer look between courses, we had definitely worked up an appetite for lots of chocolate and sauce. I'll be back because I want them to succeed and I want to try several of their menu items. We were there pretty early in their development at the new place, and I'd like to see how they mature.
(3)Nicole W.
We deecided to head on over and try out Cafe Francais for Sunday breakfast. It is located in Plaza Palomino and has quite a few tables outside which provides a lovely atmosphere. Service was quick and friendly. The menu had a reasonable selection. We started with a French basket. It contained 3 types of bread and jam. The croissant was delicious. Then my husband had the Smoked Salmon plate and I ordered the croque madam. Both were okay. I guess that was the main problem, the food was good but not memorable. Plus for those 3 dishes and 1 cup of coffee, our bill came to $40.00. It just seems like a bit much for a breakfast that didnt "Wow" either of us. I would come back sometime and order a croissant or a pastry, those looked yummy!
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