Craving a pillowy soft croissant? How about some cafe au lait or a fluffy quiche? Grab a little taste of France at one of these French bakeries, bistros or cafes outside the Perimeter. C’est bon!
Douceur de France
Not far from Marietta Square, this place serves authentic French fare for breakfast and lunch (there's also a Roswell location). The eatery usually is jam-packed on weekends, with patrons lined up to order desserts and pastries to go at the front counter, and diners eagerly waiting to be seated while they're tantalized by the display case of cakes, pies and other sweet masterpieces. Don't let the crowds deter you — it's worth the wait. Try one of the tartines (open-faced sandwiches), the quiche du jour, pain perdu (French toast) or a buttery egg croissant sandwich. And, you can grab a side order of hash brown à la Française (shredded potatoes with scallions and parmesan cheese). Or, you might try the panini végétal du jour, which on a recent visit featured a nice blend of sweet tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto warmly pressed. Finish the meal off with a pastry from the bakery counter, or a simple but delightful dessert crepe filled with Nutella.
277 S. Marietta Parkway SW, Marietta. 770-425-5050; 1173 Alpharetta St., Roswell. 770-650-1173, douceurdefrance.com.
Credit: Jessie Dowd
Credit: Jessie Dowd
Collet French Pastry & Cafe
In Alpharetta, check out this casual eatery offering French foods, including croissants and pastries (like the name suggests), as well as a variety of sandwiches, salads and other classic treats. You can sip on European coffee or tea while enjoying breakfast, lunch or a mid-afternoon snack. You also can grab an almond croissant for breakfast on-the-go, or pop in for a croque monsieur or chicken pot pie for lunch. Don’t forget to nab some of the pretty and colorful macarons while you’re at it.
2225 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta. 678-770-6066, facebook.com/Collet-French-Pastry-1407332132851379.
La Petite Maison Bistro
The original owners of this cafe in Sandy Springs had a restaurant in Nice, on the coast of France, where the cuisine boasts a wider variety of fish dishes than is typical in Paris. The menu here reflects this, with several fish and seafood options on both the lunch and dinner menus (think salade niçoise, mussels, scallops and more). For lunch, you can opt for one of the croque sandwiches — in addition to the traditional croque monsieur with ham, they make a poulet (chicken), madame (with melted cheese and a fried egg) and even a croque végétarien, with eggplant, goat cheese, onion compote, tomatoes and pesto. Traditional French items offer a classic dining journey, with dishes like ratatouille, frog legs, steak frites, roasted duck and escargots, among others. For dessert, try the pistachio crème brulée or the tarte tatin (a caramelized apple tart served upside down with ice cream).
6510 Roswell Road NE, Atlanta. 404-303-6600, lapetitemaisonbistro.com.
Georgia French Bakery & Cafe
Get here early in the day to avoid missing out on the delectable desserts and sandwiches — once they're out for the day, that's it! Located off Satellite Boulevard in Duluth, the laid-back bakery offers a plethora of indulgent pastries, from pain au chocolat to a cheese Danish to a cinnamon roll. Not much of a sweet tooth? No worries, items such as a ham and cheese quiche, chicken pot pie pocket, croissant breakfast sandwich and paninis are great savory alternatives to the sweet treats. Wash it all down with a creamy cafe au lait.
3512 Satellite Blvd., Duluth. 770-622-2682, facebook.com/pages/GA-French-Bakery/287735341248242.
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