A Delight of France
126 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA, 92025
A Delight of France Menu
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Address :
126 W Grand Ave
Escondido, CA, 92025 - Phone (760) 746-2644
- Website https://www.adelightoffrance.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 3:00pm
- Mon : 8:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Robyn M.
This place is EXCELLENT but definitely a girls place--my husband was not as big of a fan. The almond croissants are THE BEST! I usually get one of these and a latte for breakfast. I've had their eggs and potatoes which are AMAZING but they are french style (with herbs) so they may not appeal to guys and the portions are smaller.
(5)Margaret F.
Went for Breakfast and it was fantastic! Truly one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. I don't know if I can communicate how droolworthy the food was - a huge light & flakey croissant , scrambled eggs with sausage MIXED in! Fried potato bites, soft and warm on the inside, with crispy outsides from being prepared a tasty flavored olive oil. And the coffee. You know, it's rare that the coffee you get at a breakfast place does more than wake you up a bit and entertain you until the meal comes. Not the coffee at this place - smooth, rich and totally free of the acid afterbite. The coffee was as much of a feature of the meal as the food here. This place is busy for a reason, but it's totally worth it.
(5)Celeste C.
I'm happy Escondido has this little place. Croissants= amazing. They won some kind of award. Crepes pretty darn good too. Keep in mind though, this is a place to sit and chat and relax. DO NOT GO if in a hurry (i.e., you want to finish in under an hour). Going in with the expectation that things might take awhile will keep it a stress-free experience. Just pretend like you are in France!
(4)J D.
Don't come to this place to eat unless you like waiting a really, really, really long time to get terrible service. Their staff is very absent-minded and not service oriented at all. The pastries are nice which has kept me coming back a couple of times, but after this last experience I am done with this place. I had to wait over 10 minutes to order and 30 minutes for my food and the place wasn't even crowded (Wed morning). The coffee tastes like dish soap and if you want ice water, you have to scoop it out of a igloo cooler yourself. Not a pleasant experience. I'd rather have breakfast/brunch somewhere else.
(1)Jaime G.
I failed to mention in my previous review that the prices are VERY reasonable. I returned recently for breakfast and enjoyed the food once again. Can you believe you can get a HIGH QUALITY french haute cuisine here for about the same price as one of those greasy spoon restaurants??
(5)J B.
As an Escondido resident, this is a frequently visited place for me. The baguettes are the absolute best I've had. Dinner is great food, but sort of lacking in ambiance. I recommend lunch, but it gets crowded around Noon, so try to get there are littler earlier.
(4)Jennie C.
Brunch was delicious! I had the Chef's Special and togo, I ordered the black forest cake and the strawberry tart pastry. Best pastry I've ever had. Super fresh and the strawberries were perfectly sweetened. The black forest was a little too rich for my taste; still yummy though! Definitely recommend!
(5)Carly D.
After living for a decade in Escondido, I had somehow managed to overlook this restaurant; I insisted it must be new because I could not possibly be that out of touch. Oops.... I ended up having both breakfast and dinner here in the same day; that evening the owner came up to our table and offered me the keys to lock up when I left because I had been there for a few hours in the morning and now was back again. Great personal vibe from the staff here. This place is packed out on Saturday mornings, but my friend and I had not problem finding a seat by the time we placed our orders. Lattes and a fruit tart, though the almond croissonts looked delightful as well. Mixed crowd of families, couples and groups of friends. Dinner is relatively expensive with entrees $20+ but they are definitely substantial enough to split for two (split fee applies). Tiger prawn appetizer was fantastic, followed by the duck entree with braised cabbage, potatoes and a delicious orange sauce. The salmon entree came with two hearty fillets. And, of course, they have excellent fruit tarts and pastries for dessert. Note: menu says that entrees come with vegetables and potatoes but this apparently is a misprint, though the waitress said she would honor it if we wanted. I am looking forward to going back for lunch.
(4)Allison C.
They have the best chicken salad sandwitch, they are a bit exoinsive, but great food, Good atmosphere, staff is nice. Last summer my husband and i went and had dinner during their cruzen grand nights, we had the BEST try tip sandwitch . If you are in town try it out
(4)Amy E.
Heather P. is so right. The croissants, the flakes, the sadness at the last bite, the finger-licking goodness of it all. This place was a little treasure that was perfect for breakfast before Day 2 at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Chris and I split one of the frittata, which was definitely too much food for one person - 4 eggs and tons of cheese! I wish I could have tried everything in the pastry case. The tarts (apple, apricot, blackberry) looked particularly delicious. Service was friendly and the place was very reasonably priced, especially since we split our entree. About $14 total for a lovely French breakfast.
(3)Therese F.
I agree with the other reviewers that the service leaves something to be desired. If you are not in a hurry, it is a nice place to go for lunch. The salad nicoise is AMAZING! I live in SD, so when I travel up to Escondido, I am always sure to stop in for this delicious salad. The croissants are very good - especially the almond croissant. And the Napoleans? Holy schnikes!! Out of this world!
(4)scott w.
I absolutely love this place. Goat cheese salad with grilled vegetables. add grilled chicken for an even heartier salad. Unbelievable. they do not disappoint with the goat cheese. yum. Excellent pastries. the pain au chocolat (chocolate croissants) are just like they are in france. very very authentic. if you have been france and want to go back for the food, and can't afford the flight, go here. best french cafe so far in n. county.
(5)Jenna R.
While not as good as a French bakery in France, this bakery is about as good as it gets for America. The almond croissant was amazing. Perfect flavors, good texture, and really, truly delicious. My friend's chocolate croissant was flaky, the chai was good, and the ambiance was wonderful. I totally would recommend this place to North County residents!
(5)Christine C.
I'm not ashamed to admit: I'm from Escondido. I's my old stomping ground and certain venues in the city make the 30 min drive well worth taking. For example, there is no other French bakery in San Diego County that impresses me more than the Escondido's Delight of France French cafe. The cafe is located in downtown Escondido --- a newly renovated area with a renewed sense of charm. The French Bakery's quaint atmosphere and excellent food make it one of the best places to sit down for quick lunch in Escondido's most metropolitan area. Weather it is the soup, salad, coffee or killer sweets, the Delight of France will be sure to satisfy your palate. All the pastries are baked daily, but if you are going to indulge yourself with a treat from the Delight of France, do so with an almond croissant --- it's better than sex. The restaurant is a bistro so food service is quick and casual, but I've yet to have had a dissapointing experience at the Delight of France. It's just one of the reasons I'm not ashamed to be from Escondido.
(4)Martin G.
I'm only reviewing the pastries and croissants. They are fantastic! and this place is so chic.
(5)Jennifer F.
I really really enjoyed this place a lot. The atmosphere is good. We sat on the patio for dinner. We didn't order up front like others said, the waiter took our order at the table and we paid at the end. We got the happy hour special which is a cheese and fruit plate with basket of baguette and two glasses of wine for $16.00. Great deal considering the glasses are $7/glass alone and cheese/fruit plate is $12 alone. Baguette was amazing! We ordered the chicken Marsala and it was to die for! The waiter split it for us and the portions were huge. He did not charge a split fee. I've been there before and had the Beef bourgeon and it was fantastic. I will definitely go back. Also, check the clipper buy1 get1 free magazine. They have coupons in there. Our server was nice and generous. The prices are medium. 150 Grand's prices next door are twice as much as this place and I think the food is about the same in taste... maybe a delight of France a little better and more generous portions.
(5)Cristina J.
Best French onion soup I've ever had. So delicious!
(4)Heather P.
I consider myself an expert when it comes to this place, I grew up in Escondido and worked at the French restaurant across the street when Delight of France was still just a pastry shop. Jacques and his wife did this amazing renovation and then sold it about a year ago. The new owners kept everything similar as far as I can tell, except the portions seem a bit smaller and they're open Sundays and longer hours. So, the croissants are incredible, like melt in your mouth super flaky and so disappointing when you're done that you eat the leftover flakes off your plate by licking your finger..just make sure to get it with their homemade jam (to die for). I have stuck with the French Scramble, its only $7 for a croissant, coffee, eggs, herb potatoes (delish), and fruit. It is sooooo good and such a deal. Make sure you have the Hawaiian Hazelnut coffee with it, its amazing with some cinnamon sprinkled on top. I moved recently and wish I lived closer, I crave this place every weekend!
(5)tina p.
it was pretty good. today i tried the napolean dessert and some cheesecake with fruit on top. check it out if you're in the area and in the mood for something sweet :)
(4)Shawn D.
I have to admit I am a bit of a francophile, so when I find a local french cafe I have to try it out. I have traveled all over France and this restaurant would fit well on any street in Paris. The food is excellent! I have had sandwiches, salads, and soups here. They are all good including their wonderful potato salad. Don't leave without getting a dessert. I highly recommend the "pain au chocolat" which is a croissant with dark chocolate in the center. The crock of french onion soup is delightful with Parmesan cheese on top baked to perfection. They also have a delicious vegetarian sandwich with marinated veggies which is simply amazing! The service can be a little slow on the weekends when it gets packed, but good things come to those who wait. One note if you have never been here you must go up to the counter and grab a menu and order your food at the register. They will give you a number and bring you your food. Make sure you have your complete order before they take the number off your table. It has happened two times at this restaurant where they took the number off my table and forgot parts of the order.
(5)Ricardo L.
Went here for breakfast. Great coffee and great breakfast menu items. Both the food and the coffee were delicious. The only reason I don't give this place 4 stars is that the staff at the counter, there were three of them, seemed to lack experience in service. After ordering, I was given a plate and two cups, which were awkward to hold, then I was handed a receipt to sign, which I could not even accept given that my hands were full. Friendly staff! Just lacking a bit in serving experience. I definitely recommend this cafe.
(4)Kira M.
I love the Tarte Au Puovre and the pastries. Yum! Also the sandwiches are great. I got a half size sandwich today (Still plenty!) and got out at $4.31. Made my day :) Lovely little french cafe!
(4)Stella R.
This is a family favorite! Love the atmosphere, the chef and the staff are so friendly and not to mention the food is amazing! The almond croissants are to die for. I have tried several and theirs are the best. The eggs benedict is one of the best I have ever had. Last but not least the French toast is really good too! You can't go wrong here! Must stop by and the coffee is worth it too!
(5)Allison W.
We came here for breakfast and found this little Bistro has nice seating, friendly service and good menu selection for pastries, coffees and other breakfast items like croissant sandwiches and omelettes. I liked their set up and their selection. The items their were fresh and everyone (we all ordered different things) really liked their choices - This is a nice place to go on a weekend morning
(4)Craig W.
The breakfast/brunch menu is very limited, but the croissants that come with the meal are to die for. In fact, they are made with so much butter that you might literally die after eating one. But they are great. The food is good and plentiful and well-made. The atmosphere is casual and the servers are friendly. And it's nice to be able to park almost directly outside the cafe on a street with no parking meters. The area has that small town feel, which is also nice.
(4)AJ G.
A cute little cafe that is fun and quaint. Not from Escondido so probably will not repeat but it is a great little place to have breakfast in escondido if you're not excited about the local mexican shops.
(3)Missy H.
I've only been here twice and I'm not sure if i want to come back here anymore. The first time I ordered a Mexican mocha to go, I waited about 15 minutes. A week later I went back to this place, ordered an almond croissant and a cup of peppermint latte; the almond croissant tasted good just like everyone says, but the coffee came in 20 minutes later. The services are way too slow.
(3)Scott M.
Super cute! Loved the staff, choices and portions! Went on a Saturday around 10ish and was seated quickly (maybe a bit chaotic but it wasn't too tough). Super tasty coffees and drinks as well as breakfast options, tasted homecooked but with restaurant flair! I thought the pricing was fair considering the quality and ambience...the seating arrangement could be improved, but it did remind me a bit of most european eateries, small space, great food!
(5)J J.
Staff/service isn't very helpful/intelligent? but the food makes up for it...big time. The eggplant croissant sandwich is to die for. Their croissants are THE best..not too greasy, not too flaky, just perfect. Their coffee is good and their pastries are DELICIOUS! Any of the pastries are delightful. Unfortunetly this place is in escondido...but..at least there's this place to look forward to when visiting the family.
(4)Redd K.
Good food, energy & service. Best of all, GREAT coffee! My only complaint is that I wish they had more (variety) and smaller pastries available earlier in the am. After all, it is a French bakery:-). Nevertheless, the pastries they have out look yummy!
(4)A. V.
Very popular with the locals. My latte and French Onion soup were great. Skip the spinach salad--it was not fresh, had lame diced tomatoes (not French at all) and dressing was uninspired. Pastries are ok. Would definitely return for breakfast. Service was great.
(3)Chrissie O.
This is one of the first places I found when I first moved to Escondido a few years a go. The pastries and desserts are delicious. My favorite is the croissants. Each bite is wonderful. I love getting the croissants and saving it to have for later. I could never get sick of it. The last time I went here was yesterday and I had a nice experience. After eating at Filippi's a few doors down I just stared in and was like dessert sounds good right now. So I went here with my cousin and introduced her. The man working, he seemed like the owner, was explaining each item to us because we were just staring and wanted everything. We ended up getting cheesecake and this other coffee hazlenut chocolate cake. Both were just perfect. Not too sweet and not terrible. I feel like they were just right and a good compliment to a good lunch. I didn't know what to drink so the man helping us suggested to surprise me with a drink. I was up for it and I need to try new things more often. He had me taste it before he told me what it was and it was really good as well. It was an Italian soda. I forgot what else he put in it but I really liked it. This place is nice, small, cozy, great atmosphere, prices are reasonable, and right in downtown escondido so it is easy to find.
(5)Lee W.
Wow. Great almond croissant and French scrambled eggs. Love coming here on occasion.
(4)Wendy K.
Came here for the baked goods. I got a cheesecake and hubby got an eclair. He said the eclair was good. The cheesecake was average. It had an oreo cookie type crust instead of the traditional graham cracker crust. The oreo crust was over powering, and took away most of the delicate flavor of the cheesecake. Not a good combination.
(3)M. H.
Nice french bistro in Escondido. Had the eggs benedict. Eggs were cooked perfectly (maybe slightly slightly overdone, but yolk was still oozey). Staff there was very courteous and the coffee there was pretty fresh and flavorful. Bathroom is in the way back though so be prepared to walk a little bit. Neat how they let you peek into the kitchen from the hall though.
(4)anna a.
Best damn onion soup I have ever had! Huge globs of melty effin' cheese! Om nom nom!!! It's a bit pricey, and a little weird how you serve yourself. Their pastries are to frickin' die for... Just fyi if you do not come here during Cruisin' Grand they close after 2pm, and that means no you cannot order a damn meal at 1:59pm you late mofo. Get there earlier. Also their service sucks, it's a very order-then-get-stuff-yourself-and-then-wait-for-Âfood kind of place. If you can get over not being waited on hands and feet, then you'll dig it. You'll wait in line forever for lunch. So if you get there at 1:30 and it takes you 30 min to get through the line, you won't get food, sorry. I swear if this place ever shut down, I'd think I'd commit onion soup death.
(5)Sara N.
Food was good, prices were not, service was even worse! 2 1/2 stars. I think I'm on the same page with most of the other reviews, but here's my take: So, I don't suggest you come here if you have anywhere else to be that day. We arrived knowing we would have about 40 minutes to order and eat - we ordered a pre-made quiche and a croissant sandwich. We figured the quiche would be heated up and the croissant would, you know, be cut open and filled with meat and junk. Five minutes, right? Nope - try 25 minutes. That's not to say the food wasn't done earlier - we saw a row of sandwiches and other plates that were just not going out. Once they were picked up to be brought to a table, they were walked around the entire place because (even though we all got numbers with our orders like at Carl's Jr), the guy had NO IDEA where anything went. He first offered my coffee to another woman before I ended up getting it, and it was like that with everything. It wasn't terribly busy, either, at 11:20 on a Monday. Having said that, my husband loved his sandwich, including the sides, and I thought the quiche was pretty good. He took a bite and said it was the best he'd ever had. I was excited that my quiche came with a salad, and it was a fresh, tasty one, but I'm pretty sure I got charged extra for it. We were there at lunch, and we paid $25. We agreed it was not worth the hassle. If we have company, we may stop and grab some of their gigantic croisssants, which are only $2. We hear the breakfast is better, so we'll give this place one more try then.
(3)Judy S.
No need to repeat all the other 4-Star comments, they are all correct. As for the slow service, one must have experienced European dining. They will sit for hours and enjoy their lunch. We are not used to this, so plan ahead! Thank you for being so close to my home!
(4)Denette T.
My husband and I took our 3 little kids here on Saturday. We were greeted by friendly smiles and hellos and wonderful smells! We sat out on the patio. My husband and I ordered Eggs Benedict and an Omelet with OJ and Cappuccino. Very delish the OJ was fresh and the dishes were tasty and filling! For the kiddos we ordered strawberry Crepes and hot chocolate. They loved it! To finish off our experience we had a strawberry layer cake and little fruit tarts, pretty and yummy!
(4)Escondido C.
This coffee shop has been one of Escondido's best kept secrets. Their pastries and bread is the best in San Diego county bar none! Their food has always been awesome but the service...not so much. Now that's all about to change. The new owners are totally committed to customer service. I went there with my wife this morning and witnessed the difference first hand. If you're going to try one thing, make it the almond croissant. If you're really hungry go for the Eggs Benedict.
(5)Tauna H.
Good food and a really nice staff
(4)Leslie B.
This is a really cute little bistro/bakery in downtown Escondido. The Persian Rugs and brightly painted fruits and vegetables created a comfortable and colorful atmosphere for brunch with the ladies. As we were going for "brunch", we were disappointe to find that the breakfast menu ended at 11. My egg and bechemel craving was not to be rewarded. I saw the savory "tartes" on the menu and inquired...they were basically mini pizzas. So, I decided on a panini and French onion soup. The panini was slightly on the heavy side, and the potion was huge. The soup was delicious, but may have been better with a bt more broth and a little less bread and cheese. The baguette was delicious...slightly sweet and crispy. I did find the prices to be a little high for the quality, especially in comparison to comparable bistros. The patisseries looked beautiful in the glass case, though with the large portions, I wasn't able to indulge. All in all a positive experience, though I probably would not make a special trip.
(3)Shannon C.
I am a HUGE fan and patron of Delight of France Bistro and Bakery!!!! The service is charming, the food is fresh and delicious, it is always hard to pick just one thing because I want several and their pastries melt in your mouth! They do great for take out orders too! I am super excited for them as they are now going to be serving wine, beer and champagne during brunch!!! Yay for them and YAYYYYY for us! I think I hear the Poulette Tart calling my name! I can be honest in saying that this is probably my favourite place to eat right now in the county! See you soon!
(5)Linda G.
Love going in for fresh baked items for breakfast
(4)Raechel S.
I haven't been here for lunch or dinner, so this review is solely for their almond and chocolate croissants. I came here once to peruse the town on a day off, and noticed that it was a French patisserie. I of course needed to try a croissant (gosh, they are delicious...I pretend they aren't super fattening because butter is considered a vegetable!) and at the employee's suggestion, tried the almond one. It's phenomenal....and since then, I haven't found anything in San Diego that compares. I was in the area again today, and hurriedly stopped in before they closed at 3 pm. Luckily, they had ONE last almond croissant so I took that as a sign. I also picked up a chocolate croissant one...EQUALLY as fabulous. I wish I didn't live so far away, otherwise this place might rob me of all my money!
(5)Vanessa M.
Glancing at the previous reviews, I see that I probably should have just kept things simple with an espresso and dessert. I ordered the grilled chicken breast sandwich, and my boyfriend ordered the pate sandwich. Being European, he said he was taken back to memories of when he was a kid, so I guess his had to be good. Meanwhile, mine was nothing special. I would recommend this place as a dessert destination instead of an actual meal.
(3)Cynthia D.
There was a lot to like about Delight of France, but just as much to not like. I'm a bit torn, actually. Liked - atmosphere, variety of menu, amount of food you get. Disliked - service, cleanliness, prices. Took my daughter there before the Nutcracker so the place was packed with girls in fancy dress and people on somewhat of a time frame. However, the bus people did not seem to be on any sort of schedule to clean tables and most customers were doing this on their own. We hovered around an empty table for awhile before someone finally came to clear it. This day was a very slow pace, and yeah, I get it that's that's French and all, but I also believe a restaurant should understand when local events are happening and adjust their service (and attitude) accordingly. No kids options so we went with the $7.75 ham and cheese croissant. Wildly overpriced and although the croissant was yummy, the ham and cheese were lumped in there so only about 3 bites had flavor. I had the chicken and pesto panini - quite good! The side salad was huge and loaded with veggies. Menu said soup and salad but I just got salad, with the wrong dressing. Still I liked it, but at 9.50 I would have preferred a smaller portion for less. Between the two juices and a cookie, it was a $30 lunch that was fun and fancy for us but not anything I would probably do again. And if you can't nail the ham and cheese croissant at a French bakery, you need to try a little harder. Sounds like breakfast may be a better option, and I definitely agree with other reviewers who say don't come if you want a relatively fast meal. Hopefully they can keep trying because downtown Escondido definitely needs some good options and you can only do Fillipi's so often!
(3)Foo F.
THE ORDER Goat cheese, ham, mushroom, omelet w herbed potatoes & croissant Napolien pastry (yes for breakfast - its the weekend, we are relaxing) Cheese Quiche (for snackies later) YYIIPPEEEE - Everything delicious Potatoes so good: my non-potatoe eating fiance kept stealing my darn potatoes. gggrrrrr! Your lucky i love you so much anyone else i'd stab w my fork. No i dont have anger issues. ggggrrrr Quiche we ate the next day and it warmed up wonderfully BBBOOO - Nothing FYI Don't sit down. Go up to the counter and order your food. Get your # & then sit down.
(5)Hannah M.
Love the food. I come here often for breakfast I love sitting outside. Service is OK could be better but the food makes up for it.
(4)Bernadette M.
Best almond croissants evaaaaa! 1) The almond croissants are reason enough to go---5 stars :-) The bakery offers an array of other appealing desserts I have yet to try, I do know the chocolate croissants are fabulous. 2) I've only eaten here for breakfast. While the menu is not extensive, the few dishes I did have were deelish- Eggs benedict, french toast, and omelets with potatoes. 3) The atmosphere is small but cute, there's also a patio. Seat yourself. 4) Basically, you walk in, order at the cashier, grab a number, and take a seat. They bring your food to you. Silverware is located in these wooden "dressers" to the side, yup serve yourself.
(5)Sas C.
My friend and I went here for brunch this morning at 11am. We did not get out of there until after 1pm. If you have the entire day to waste at this place, then go for it. Otherwise, I would choose something else because the food was okay but not worth the wait. We both ordered the Chef's Special (cream of spinach and poached eggs on a pastry). I ordered an iced latte, which they made for me right away. My friend ordered a regular latte and it took them 45 minutes to bring it to her (and only after she asked about it). The food took forever to arrive to our unclean table and we had to go get our silverware ourselves. The Chef's Special was just *okay*. I thought the cream of spinach was way too creamy and there was too much of it on the plate. The potatoes that came with it were good and the iced latte was fine. The desserts looked yummy but I didn't try one. I can see going to this place and ordering a pre-made dessert that requires little or no service. I will not be returning to this place for any type of meal because it just wasn't worth it.
(2)Elizabeth H.
For six months now, I've been looking for the perfect croissant after I got hooked on them overseas. Tonight I went on a date with my husband and we were delighted with this restaurant. Everybody there was very nice and smiling. One thing I told my husband: "Did you realize that the servers are not constantly asking us every 5 minutes if everything is ok? Something we really appreciated since spending time together was the meaning of our date. My husband ate Vol Au Vent, which he absolutely loved. I went exclusively for café au lait, and a croissant. All I wanted was to try to re-live the moment when we went to Paris. While my husband was eating his wonderful dinner, and I was enjoying my croissant with my excellent coffee, a French song started playing...for a second, I felt like telling my husband: "After this, can we walk to the Eiffel Tower? And then I "woke up." I wanted to keep holding that special moment, but reality set in. So next time I want to dream I am in Paris, I will just go to Delight of France, and enjoy a perfect croissant again with a perfect café au lait and I will close my eyes and dream of Paris.
(5)Amber H.
truly good breakfast and addicting croissants! good service and decent prices... it's nice to have a local breakfast place (it's hard to find a decent breakfast place in San Diego County)
(4)Stephanie H.
If you have eaten here in the past and been disappointed you will be happy to learn that "A Delight of France" is now under new management and the food is incredible! Everything we ordered was the perfect blend of flavors. The food is obviously fresh and homemade. The portions were generous and the prices are reasonable. The service was excellent. It is now my favorite restaurant.
(5)John L.
I'll have to admit that a French bakery wasn't on my list of good place to get breakfast, but when we finally decided to head on over one Sunday morning I am regretful of all the wasted weekends I've had without a meal at A Delight of France. I can't say much yet about anything but their breakfast, but it's the best all around breakfast I've ever had. From the croissant to start with, followed by a wonderful mocha (no chocolate syrup here so it's hard to even be satisfied by Starbucks anymore) and finally the Chef's special. This is a rich, fluffy and creamy item that obviously takes a skilled hand to craft which has encouraged me to redefine what hollandaise sauce should taste like.
(5)Dylan M.
Way too expensive. food is good but not worth it. Coffee is not good enough for the price. It has like an elitist Starbucks feel. If you like Panara Bread, Jamba Juice, Starbucks, you will probably love this place. They give you a giant styrafoam container for take-out; and if you go during a time when there are 'the regulars' there, you might feel like everyone is staring at you and judging you, because they are. absolutely hate places like this.
(1)Elyse B.
I LOVE THIS PLACE. My girlfriend and I used to go out to breakfast here every time I would come back from school. I am obsessed with their breakfast potatoes and their eggs with herbs (I'm not sure what kind). The pastries in the case always look delectable and their french baguettes are to die for. I also am a big fan of their tea selections. My favorite thing by far though, is the atmosphere. I love the small little wooden tables and the patio out front. Great place for a breakfast date the morning after.
(5)Brenda J.
What a find Delight of France is! I've been there in the past, when there was a previous owner, and it was good, but not fantastic. Each of us (there were 4) had something different, and each of us raved about our choices. The only thing that could lift this to a 5 star is a change in service. When eating such a wonderful meal it would be great if there was wait-staff. You have to grab your own place-settings, coffee is up at the front, and you have to kind of push your way in sometimes, we asked for Tapatio sauce from the young man who delivered our food, and ended up having to go to the counter and wait to get someone's attention to get the sauce. But the food is outstanding. The pastries are some of the best you can get outside of Provence. They also said they'll be getting a wine/beer license soon and will open for dinner! Can't wait!
(4)Marie M.
I love the decor and authentic food. I love the whole experience HOWEVER, please pay attention to the cleaniness of the silverare, mugs etc. I had to turn back two coffee mugs with lip stick marks and soap scum on it before I got a clean one.
(3)Leila L.
Eat Here. In Escondido for a hockey tournament and found this place through Yelp. We came to eat Saturday morning and came back for more Sunday. This place is a bakery and is set up like so. Walk-in. Order. Seat and Serve yourself. Both days we had the almond and chocolate croissants. Highly recommend. Goes great with your coffee or tea as you wait for your breakfast to come. What we ordered: Eggs Benedict on baked brioche with salmon Fantastic Frittata with spinach, mushroom, tomato, and bacon Gourmet Three Egg Omelet with baguette Scrambled Eggs with herb garlic potatoes Strawberry filled crepes Tea Coffee Orange juice (fresh squeezed) Champagne (made my own mimosa) All meals were made delicious. All members of the family were satisfied. Nothing left on the plates! The quality and flavor is well above average - it's very good! The portions and price were just right. The atmosphere is warm and friendly. Furnished with wooden tables and chairs. French decor certainly adds to the genuineness of the place.
(5)Sarah P.
Lovely place owned by a friendly local woman. Staffed by polite young people. I love getting the salad Nicoise, which is always fresh and bountiful. The chef is direct from France :). Quiet, quaint atmosphere. Nice selection of hot tea and French pastries.
(5)Hunter B.
My wife and I and sometimes kids and grandkids hit this place for breakfast. Hint; don't come here if you're in a hurry especially on the weekends. The pastries are all over the top and made right there in the kitchen, that almond croissant is decadent. The ordering queue system is really slow, you would think that after all these years and gazillions of complaints they would have figured it out. It's still the same as it was the day they opened. The eggs Benedict and French scrambled eggs are wonderful. The help is sometimes in a daze and you wonder how they got hired, but it is what it is. I'll go back the pastries and food are just to good not to.
(4)Mick G.
Unexpected jem. Yikes. My parents raved about this place, and that usually kinda scares me off because they have a penchant for kitchy places that are average. Here, though, this is a FIND! While somewhat awkward on seating and a little rough on the service (not as bad as it is made out to be in other reviews here ... at least when I went), the prices are reasonable, the portions generous, and the food quite delicious. We started with escargo, and it was prepared excellently and flavorfully. I also had the carrot ginger soup which was nothing amazing, but quite good. I hear the French Onion Soup is delicious as well. They have a nice selection of savory tarts (we had the Tomato, Spinach, Goat Cheese, Chicken one) and entrees (I also had the pistacio encrusted salmon with roast veggies and rissotto with spinach). Overall, wow wow wow. Hours are strange (but that is par for the course in downtown Escondido), so look ahead to be sure they are open. Give em a shot.
(4)Colby O.
Wow looking at all the reviews maybe I just had a bad experience. I came here with my friend because we were going to eat breakfast before going to class. I had strawberry crepes and some orange juice. The food is definitely good, but there are other comparable places with comparable quality and taste that have a more homely atmosphere. I feel like because I order before I eat, after the waitress served us our food, she had no more interest in us whatsoever. I had to go to the counter seriously like 5 or 6 times to keep asking for everything. I even had to tell them they ran out of forks, twice. The price, well let's just say it keeps me from going back. The poor service is something I can cope with if it's a place with really good food and good prices. But 14 dollars for like 4 crepes and a glass of orange juice (non-refillable) was a little ludacris to me. There are plenty of small bistros you can get the same quality of food, better service, and better prices. Even in Paris, the food is better along with the service and the prices are cheaper, believe it or not. It's a cute place if you're a baller
(3)Phillip W.
Nice folks, great food, reasonable prices. Who knew such a cool place was in Escondido?
(5)Carrie B.
Love this place for lunch. Super casual service and great food/snacks :) Perfect for a quick business lunch or after shopping on Grand.
(4)Quynh-An P.
I got a slice of strawberry tart here...and it was HUGE! I ate about half of it only. I probably would have eaten more, but I was desperately trying to be good (I was out with my best friend and meeting his girlfriend for the first time so wanted to make a good impression.) It has a nice feel to this place, and it just seems very relaxed and nice. Everyone was nice, although the waitress was a bit scatter-brained. My BF got the apricot slice and said it was like a hazlenutty tiramisu. It looked really fudgy and rich. His gf (who I like, yay!) got the chocolate croissant and she really seemed to enjoy it too. Overall a nice treat in Escondido.
(4)Kittiya S.
We ate here after visiting the Wild Animal Park. When we walked in it was dead. There wasn't a single customer there but we stayed anyway and the experience was much better than expected but I was definitely not delighted by this restaurant. Our waiter seems dazed or hung over or on drugs... but he was nice and tried to accommodate us as best as he could. I ordered the French Onion soup which wassuper cheesy for me but my friend loved it. I got Chicken Marsala because I have yet to find a french restaurant that can top my dad's home made Marsala. The dish was good but I really wish it's more flavorful because after taking a few bites I stopped because it was so bland. I proceed to eat off my bf's salmon which was over cooked and dry. (but he loved it) After the main course we got some desserts The waiter was nice and gave us extra desserts to try. They were yummy. Overall this cute restaurant is a strong 3 stars. If I ever go back to the area I'll definitely give it another try and hopefully I'll be delighted this time.
(3)Charlie L.
LOVED this place. Jess and I were wondering in lands far from home (at least from my home) in Escondido. Always prepared, Miss J. did her homework and navigated to the Delights of France for a quickie lunch. The food is amazingly yummy (although a bit slower than we'd hoped), with plenty of things on the menu I really really want to try... and very reasonably priced to boot. We had the ham and cheese quiche and Tuna wrap, which were both fabulous. And a fillet of salmon on the side that was so fresh, it was only seasoned with salt and pepper. Wayyyy yummy. And to top it off, we shared a strawberry eclair that way more heavenly than heaven itself. Makes me wish I lived in Escondido. Will find reasons to go back!
(5)Jessica B.
I stopped in here for a quick lunch and was pleasantly surprised--I ordered a chicken salad sandwich on a baguette per the cashier's recommendation. It had good flavor and the presentation was great. Excellent service with a smile, and wonderful pastries! I would highly recommend this cute and down to earth cafe.
(5)D I.
Caveat: I haven't eaten here since they allegedly changed owners. That said, when it was Jacques doing the cooking, everything was as good as pastries and baked goods can get in the states. Really just amazing. Seems like the new owners are carrying on his recipes well.
(5)Maya z.
Coming from San Francisco you usually do not expect much. But this place is defintly a little gem and great value for the money. Will become our favourite brunch spot for when we are down here:)
(4)Dave W.
Their almond croissants are to die for. Heavenly. Ditto their coffee. Excellent chicken panini too. All-in-all a wonderful lunch.
(5)Addy M.
Been here several times. Gets pretty crowded but they do a fairly good job. The food is tasty and the coffee is good. I particularly enjoy going here on Sundays for brunch.
(4)Angela Y.
Such a cute restaurant in the middle of Escondido. I lived in Esco for a couple of years and I regret not coming here before. We had breakfast here with my family on a Sunday. For some reason I thought it was going to be packed by 9am, so I made a reservation the night before. Once we got there, our table was set up, but to my surprise...I probably didn't even need a reservation because it wasn't crowded. HOWEVER....once the clock hit 10:30 a.m.....the place was packed!!! And I can see why.... Our server, he was GREAT...always on top of things and going above and beyond. We didn't have to go up to the counter to order our food..he took it down for us. He even gave my niece a cup of fruit and a little cream puff! As for the food....a couple of us had the eggs Benedict and I had the 2 scrambled eggs w/ garlic herbed potatoes and fruit w/ a croissant. They were all very good and VERY inexpensive for what I was expecting. The total bill for 5 of us was only $48. I want to come back for lunch to try out their sandwiches!! **As compared to St. Tropez....I like St. Tropez better...but this place comes in a close 2nd.
(4)Chelsea L.
Their food is so great that I gave them four stars, but that's really being nice because their customer service is seriously lacking. I haven't lived in Escondido that long so I've only been here about five times over the past few months and honestly the only reason why I keep going back is because their frittata is so yummy. My husband and I have only gone in the early morning before the rush but we've had to wait at the counter for a few minutes EVERY time before we were even acknowledged by the staff... even though they were just making coffee drinks right in front of us. I've worked in the restaurant industry before and I've worked at a coffee shop and I know they have enough time to at least look up to say hello and they'll be with us in a moment. I manage a busy massage clinic and the first thing I tell my front desk staff is that they need to greet every customer when they walk in the door and if they're too busy to help them they need to tell them someone will be with them shortly. But like I said, I keep going back because the food is delicious and I completely understand why they have such a loyal following.
(4)Anna D.
I would like to give this place four stars because their food is good but I thought the price for this place was a bit expensive. There's no way I can spend $14 for lunch everyday, even though I'd like to. I came here with two of my coworkers and I ordered their spinach salad, my coworkers tried their grilled chicken sandwiches. Everyone thought what they got was quite tasty and the food looks great when they serve it to you. My spinach salad was delicious topped with cranberries, goat cheese, and pistachios drizzled with light dressing. They have a variety of specialty salads and sandwiches and they are all fantastic. They also have all of your typical drinks that you'd find in a cafe or bistro. I work close to this restaurant and I would absolutely come back for a special occasion lunch.
(3)Lanie L.
The best eggs benedict I have ever had- which pairs nicely with the garlic herb potatoes. The French bread tastes freshly baked in the morning. I highly recommend for breakfast items. I have not third their lunch or dinner specials. I also recommend their hazelnut coffee. It does take a while on busy days to get your food but it's worth the wait!
(5)Sharon C.
My advice is to go for breakfast and avoid this place for dinner. Should have been tipped off by the sparse crowd, but decided to give it a try. Server was sweet, but far from experienced or professional. When asked how fresh the fish was, the reply was "Pretty fresh." Started with French onion soup. It was delicious and I was impressed until I found a piece of plastic in my cup! While the salmon was acceptable, the beef stew had very little flavor. Kept thinking about what could be added to wake it up. Had coffee after dinner and when I requested cream she brought over the Starbuck's type pitcher and proceeded to pour it into my cup. I would have much preferred adding my own cream from a proper serving piece. With so few customers, it would have been nice to have the chef come out to chat, but I guess he was smart to avoid it.
(1)Kim J.
This is one of my favorite places in Escondido. You don't find very many places like this around Esco. I love everything from the cute decor to the food. I'm a big fan of french pastries and they have some the best there from wonderful flaky croissants to amazing eclairs. I usually get the Croque Bechamel for breakfast which is a wonderful croissant w/ ham and this creamy cheese sauce. It's very decadent, but oh sooo good. Oh and they have iced tea for free as well so that's a nice plus. The decor is very cute with little tables everywhere and usually a plant or flowers on each table. I also like the outdoor seating on a nice day.
(5)Mike W.
Came for breakfast with my wife on a whim one Sunday (found the place on Yelp!) and wanted some eggs benedict. I got there at 9:00 and they said they sold out earlier in the morning. I got the French toast, and it was so sweet I couldn't keep eating it. The plate was literally full with syrup, even after clearing half the bread slices. We also ordered some of the dessert pastries, and they weren't anything to write home about. We head to Peterson's Donuts or Golden Egg Omelette House instead.
(2)J S.
A real treat in Escondido. We've only sampled their breakfast fare, but everything we've tried has been delicious. Quality of the food is a step up from your standard (American) breakfast cafe, and certainly much better than the food at Starbucks or similar. Croissants are stellar, most of the other baked treats we've tried were quite good as well. Another nice plus: breakfast is ordered and paid-for up-front at the counter, great for on-the-go folks or anyone with kids. Also, coffee is self serve (unlimited refills), which I prefer.
(4)JoJo B.
Awesome croissant! HUGE and flaky. Great chef's special and custom frittata. Great authentic French bakery.
(4)Allisoto P.
Baked Items = fantastic. The croissants and jam that come with your breakfast will knock your socks off. I got the frittata and my parents both ordered the egg scramble. My dad is picky and they were happy to prepare it without the herbs. The dining experience overall is really nice. You get a breakfast meal with croissant and coffee all for under $10 which is better than you might do at a dirtier, lower quality diner nearby. The ambience is charming, good light, high quality silverware and dishes, and it's very clean. A note: For breakfast, you order at the register and then seat yourself. They bring the food to your table. You retrieve your own silverware and coffee from the vanity type dresser set up at the rear, left corner of the dining room. I've been there for dinner as well. Get the Beef Bourguignon! Really, get it. The service at dinner was very attentive, and I ended up having a really nice time with my parents.
(4)Harmony D.
Service=slow Cleanliness=so so Length of time to get food=slow Quality/taste=so so Overall very disappointed with this place. We went for breakfast based on the reviews and will not be going back.
(2)Appolonia T.
The service has become boorish but the food! THE FOOD! It's just taken a nosedive. I went in for a cheese plate and they gave me swiss cheese slices that tasted like plastic. Really?? A French bistro serving crappy cheese? The people I went with were also disappointed. The place is bare now, it used to be kind of hot. A shame.
(1)PJ S.
Based on what others have written I went here just this past Sunday and it was certianly good. I don't know if I would agree that it was "better than sex" but hey I guess to some people a nice pastry really does the trick! I had the scrambled eggs and my friend had the frittata. By comparison my plate didn't have as much on it but as ugly Americans its time we scaled back on portion size before we all explode with obesity. The croissants were very good. I think the plain one was better than the almond one. I've had better almond ones at Bristol Farms. I'm not flipping out about the place but it will definitely get added to the list of places I would go when I'm in the area. The owner should be proud... he has a very nice place. I've never been to Paris because I'd rather not just go to see it... if I go there it will be because somehow I have the financial means to head over and live there for a couple of years to really experiance that lifestyle. That reminds me... I need to check my lotto numbers Au revoir Yelpers!
(4)Areli R.
I truelly love this place. We drive from Oceanside just to have breakfast.
(5)Maria T.
They have THE BEST almond croissants. On one of my early visits, if not my first, they only had frozen ones in the back, and they were even delicious after heating them up at home. I've ordered these a number of times to go as treats for friends and family. I've tried almond croissants at other places (St. Tropez, Champagne Bakery, Wired Bistro, Cafe 976, and others), and none have tasted better than those from Delight of France. We have enjoyed a fine breakfast here, but I'm all about the almond croissants... and this is weird for me because I love chocolate.
(4)Nicholas M.
Had a late (10:30am) breakfast with my fiance. Decided upon some place new and settled on the Delight of France in Escondido. Nearby area made for a quiet and peaceful Sunday morning meal, except for the group of motorcycles that interrupted conversation briefly to drive up to the bar across the street. As for the bakery, I found the service to be somewhat lacking but not any more so than any other French Bakery we've been to (such as St. Tropez in Encinitas). Typical wait in line at the register, order your food, take a number back to your seat. For starters we chose from a variety of your standard fare espresso drinks, settling on our typical single cappuccino (though a double is probably more "typical" for me) which I must admit was surprisingly good if not one of the most authentic-tasting cappuccinos I've had recently. For those who would prefer their breakfast tea, DoF provides a good selection of no less than a dozen quality teas for your sipping pleasure. As our breakfast choices, I ordered the featured Eggs Benedict and my fiance opted for their French Toast. There appeared to be a frequently changing list of specials which is usually a sign of a good chef in the kitchen! :) The Eggs Benedict turned out to be absolutely AMAZING! DoF differentiates itself from the standard-fare Eggs Benedict with not only quality ingredients but utilizing Brioche bread instead of the typical english muffin. The eggs were perfectly poached and their hollandaise sauce was likely the best I have ever tasted. The Ham slice was a well sized 1cm thickness and thankfully not overdone. All in all a beautiful symphony of flavor! Having had Eggs Benedict as several different locations in the region, I can safely say that I would gladly vote this dish at DoF to be the "Best in the Region". The EB dish was also served with a small but adequate portion of very flavorful garlic and herb potatoes, as well as a fruit cup. The fruit cup was probably the least impressive portion of the meal, as it consisted mostly of your basic melon along with small strawberry slices and pineapple. Not anywhere near as impressive as the fruit cups at Curbside Cafe in variety, but at least the fruit was fresh and it *did* compliment the meal well. My fiance's French Toast was very creatively tasty as well, with hints of orange zest in the maple syrup, fresh bread, Grand Marnier butter, light powered sugar, and a scattering of almonds to round out the flavor. For the price, some of the best French Toast you can buy! Other notes... The bakery selection was relatively small in comparison with St. Tropez, but the quality was clearly there. Small fresh bread selection, cash only self-service (take the bread you want, leave cash in the jar). Small selection may have been due to our timing so late in the morning, but that's a bit of a stretch. No smoking or dogs on the patio due to Escondido city ordinance, though you can still hook pooch up to the outside of the gate just as well. All said and done, I give this 4-stars though it has much potential of reaching 5 if the selection and service improves. One of the customers in line that I spoke to said that the place has already improved service quite a bit from previous ownership, so let's hope the future remains bright for further growth in these areas!
(4)J B.
We went here for breakfast earlier this week. There was a sign up saying it was changing ownership.... We went in after reading so much about it on yelp. I ordered a cup of Earl Grey tea (HUGE! mug) and my husband had a cup of coffee (free refills). I decided on the quiche of the day, spinach and mushroom and he got a small bowl of fruit. My quiche was only about 4" across, very dry, and cold. Not very good, nor filling. They tried to garnish my plate with a piece of lettuce and two slices of very yellow, unripe, nasty looking tomatoes. At the end of summer, with a wonderful farmers market outside their door every Tuesday, with glorious ripe and juicy tomatoes aplenty, this is completely unacceptable. I would be embarassed to put that on a plate. I would've rather not had any garnish at all! Ewwww.... His fruit was pretty good. Average. All in all it was a $14 breakfast I would rather forget. The woman behind the counter is very sweet, though. Maybe we'll return and try dinner. Breakfast again? Not so much.
(2)Jo-Ann P.
One of my favorite breakfast restaurants, croissants and their potatoes are amazing. Sometimes when they are busy, it seems understaffed and found the coffee pots empty. Overall, awesome and cute place for breakfast. A cute find in Esco!
(5)Melody D.
There just aren't enough great places to eat in Escondido. That's why I was so happy to stumble upon Delight of France. I work in this area and noticed the cute patio while driving by. I stopped in for a lunch and was impressed with the quaintness and warmth of the cafe. I have now eaten there a few times and can say there are 2 things that are very consistant. 1) The food is great! It is fresh and comforting. The entrees and the pastries are delicious! 2) Their service is not that great. There is only one person at the counter and it gets busy during lunch hour. Also they are slow to clean off tables and I've had to sit down at a dirty table. The last time my food came before the table had been bussed and I had to wipe it off myself. Even with that slight annoyance, I do recommend coming here for lunch if you're in the area.
(4)Andrea P.
breakfast/brunch here is always great, the two scrambled eggs is an easy choice, it comes with herbed potatoes, fruit, and choice of baguette or croissant, just a word of advice, go with the croissant, it is one of the most amazing flaky moist buttery creations you will ever eat. Lunches there are pleasant as well, though as before I recommend that if you get a sandwich, have it on the croissant. Overall the food is good, fresh, and it is nice to sit on the front patio and enjoy your meal. Though it is a bit pricey for the portion size, and the service is a bit shrewd. It is a nice place to visit when looking for a light enjoyable lunch or breakfast.
(3)John B.
We've gone for breakfast/brunch several times. The herbed scramble is my go to dish. I just wish that when I order it "loose" that it would not come out firm...maybe once?!? Coffee is delish, baked goods amazing, food delivered quick enough.
(3)T W.
Their website looks better than it actually is, so cudos to the graphic designer. anyway, wife & i went there last month. we waited like 40 minutes to get our food. don't know if they forgot or what. wasted so much of our time.
(3)sofia b.
Okay the croissants are amazing...the best I have ever had. and the french toast with orange liquer yummy. The only thing I definitly did not like was their quiche, I had the mushroom n spinach the other day and it was terrible. I should have just had a croissant.
(4)Queenie C.
Opera cake. It's my newfound obsession... but I will get back to that. So, my friends brought me here for breakfast on a recent visit as a consolation for not being able to take me to the The Original Pancake House anymore. =( I have to say that my breakfast here was tres delightful. My eggs benedict was well-made and the croissants are, indeed, deeelish. They were little rolls of melt-in-your-mouth goodness (ah, butter - gotta love it!). We came back later in the afternoon on the same day to pick up some desserts to indulge in after dinner. We got a rum cake, which was tasty but a little too sweet once we got to the bottom where the cake soaked up all of the syrup. The opera cake, however, was perfect and amazing. Soft and delicious cake layered with just the right amount of coffee, buttercream, and chocolate flavors... Mmmm, heaven!
(4)MaomingSweetiepie Z.
UPDATE: the last time i was there, i noticed the tables had been spaced much further apart. yay!! also, young children and chefs at heart will enjoy the windows in the long wall on the way to the bathrooms, that let you spy on the action in the kitchen. again, don't miss this neighborhood gem!
(5)Alex R.
what a cool place I've only been here for breakfast but the croissant sandwich was the best breakfast food i have ever tried in my life. Wow! The atmosphere was really authentic and the employees are very friendly. I'm dying to come for lunch or dinner!
(5)Anna A.
Cute restaurant/bakery. Only had croissants that where pretty good. BIG minus for the styrofoam box for takeaway. Little brown paper bag would be so much better. Anything would be so much better. Find some more earth friendly materials, plz!
(3)Katalin C.
Two words: Almond Croissants. Yummy!!! I love all of their pastries. I am of European descent and even worked in a Hungarian pastry shop in Montreal Canada many years ago. Although I have never ever encountered the same quality as that was, this bakery comes pretty darn close. Their pastries are outstanding and so are their sandwiches.
(4)Kaitlyn T.
If it were possible to give a -10 star review, I would do that. Although the food here isn't bad (the croissants are excellent), the service I had over this past weekend was so deplorable, only the specter of consequences is preventing me from fire-bombing the place. I've actually tried several times since then to get ahold of the owner via phone to give him a chance to address my Worst Dining Experience Ever, but he's never been in. Delight of France is a seat-yourself, order-at-the-counter type of place. You go in, place your order, are given a number, find a table, and eventually your food is brought to you. However, last Saturday, this apparently wasn't the case. Last Saturday, a surly, rude, obnoxious older man named Tom took it upon himself to kick us out of our table because some other people "had been sitting there". This, despite the fact that no one had actually been sitting there for 15+ minutes, there were no personal items, not even drinks, on the table at all. Tom brusquely moved us to another table, over my protests, without even the courtesy to ask us if we would mind moving (guess what? we would, and did). I'll leave off for the moment the absurdity of these people who claimed that we had taken their seats, first because they got up to order (newsflash: do that before claiming a table), then because Tom said they had gone to the bathroom (another newsflash: opposite sex couples don't go to the bathroom together, and also, people generally stay behind to save a table, or claim a table with a personal item if this is the case). After Tom's rude treatment, I had lost my appetite and didn't touch my food. I told the waitress I was unhappy, so upset by the rude man that I didn't feel like eating, and requested her to take it back and refund me. Tom came out again after this, screaming at me in public on their patio that he wouldn't refund my money. When I tried to argue, he said, "I'm not going to argue with you" and walked back inside. The man had no intentions of refunding me, and never did. If Delight of France wasn't a pre-pay and order place, I would have walked out on the bill and left the food with no qualms whatsoever. He showed a complete lack of regard for any wishes of a customer... The kind of customer who would go out and spend $30 on lunch for two in the middle of a recession, in Escondido, which doesn't seem like the kind of customer one would want to alienate. DON'T EAT HERE UNTIL THIS SON OF A BITCH IS FIRED. NOT RECOMMENDED. If you want surly service and excellent food, go to France. If you want to be abused and ripped off for mediocre food, go to Delight of France. Or don't. It would be doing the city a favor if this place went out of business and someone who values customers moved in.
(1)Paul B.
I've been coming here for several years and despite a couple of ownership changes, the experience has been constant: excellent food but service that is lacking. As for the food, the breads and pastries are excellent. My personal favorite is the lemon tart, but unfortunately they don't make it every day. I also love the brioche which is great with jam. The cooked breakfasts, sandwiches, and salads which I have tried are all good. As for the service, it seems to crawl when they get busy and the staff frequently forget parts of orders, etc. Yesterday I had to wait 15 minutes while they brewed more drip coffee which I think is unacceptable. In short, this is a unique gem of a place if you can put up with the service.
(4)Aqua V.
Just straight up done with this place ;( Their food is fine. But the service, is not! Too many times have we gone here, and have had to ask where our food is at...only to find out that it had been sitting in the kitchen for god only knows how long while the girl or girls at the front stand around. And they ALWAYS forget the drink orders. Our last visit included these two experiences as well as dirty tables and no clean silverware. I will not be back...I have given all the chances I have left in me to dine at this place. A GOOD manager might do the trick...
(2)Maria P.
Love coming here for breakfast...came once for lunch but it took quite awhile before our food came out and we haven't gone back since for lunch. This place closes up pretty early; just something to keep in mind if you're looking to just grab a pastry or dessert. I have to get a croissant when I come here...unfortunately it's not really for the croissant, it's for the strawberry jam that it comes with. It's soooo good all together with some butter. It might just be me, but every time I come here the croissants look like they were in the oven a bit longer than they were supposed to be in there. If you like mochas, it's worth ordering one from here. Eggs and potatoes are always well seasoned. Outdoor seating at the front is nice when the weather outside is warm enough...we've seen other couples bring their dogs with them and eat outside. Street parking isn't bad...sadly because it's old downtown Escondido in need of some revitilization.
(5)Frances L.
After a long night of drinking craft beers and getting acquainted with the SD County beer scene, Delight of France is a nice little local spot in Escondido to grab an easy, inexpensive breakfast. Located on a quaint stretch of town on Grand Avenue, Delight of France has a menu of a couple breakfast dishes as well as an array of pastries and other sugary confections. The atmosphere was cozy, but service was a tad slow.My latte did not arrive on my table until nearly the end of my meal, which is what brings this place down a bit star-wise for me. I'm a coffee fiend, and considering the gal behind the counter didn't seem all too busy, I was a little sad to see other tables (of people who were behind me in line) get their coffees before me. With that said, this place is still pretty good. The almond croissant was an absolute dream.
(3)Sarah W.
Wow! The food at this place is *amazing.* It seems like some reviewers had problems with customer service recently, but that was not my experience at all. They were prompt and professional. The FOOD, though! Oh my god. I lived in France for several months a few years ago and would sample pastries in Paris almost daily. When I bit into a napolean at A Delight of France, it took me back immediately. (I was actually so impressed that I asked one of the managers, and it turns out that their pastry chef is actually French.) You can't go wrong with any of their pastries - they are all out of this world. My friends and I had eclairs, napoleans, and a fruit tart and we were all speechless. I was equally impressed with their savory fare. Their salads are large and fresh. I got a panini that was absolutely delicious, and my friend got a yummy piece of quiche. We were just visiting the area, but if I lived near Escondido I'd visit this restaurant all the time!
(5)Tray T.
Turkey Club on croissant was amazing! All the flavors blended together perfectly and the croissant was light and flaky, but still held the sandwich together. Will definitely eat here again. Atmosphere was relaxed, and dining area was clean, tastefully decorated, and had plenty of seating. The only thing I didn't like was the self-serve water and ice. The ice was in an igloo cooler sitting on the hutch. Gave me heebeejeebees about how many people actually used the scoop, and when the last time the cooler was cleaned, etc. Don't think it would kill them to have the employee get you a cup of ice. Overall, great place, and I'll eat there again.
(4)Stacey R.
I went here for the first time since they changed names (Bakery Lafayette before). It seems that their menu is the same as before. Here are some highlights: 1) Croissant aux amandes (almond croissants) - DELIGHTFUL 2) Croissant aux chocolats (chocolate croissants) - always a good choice 3) Baguette - French bakery, duh 4) Tarte au poulet - kind of like a super-fancy pizza; spinach, pesto, walnuts, goat cheese, olive oil, and chicken 5) Quiche - both the spinach and mushrooms as well as the ham ones are awesome 6) Napoleon - flaky dessert with custard and strawberries and dusted with powdered sugar Lots of other stuff there are delicious. Those are just my favorites. Enjoy!
(5)