TAMPA — In our house, one debate never ends — what makes the perfect dessert?
But who makes the perfect dessert? That’s settled.
Paris Baguette, the newly opened New Tampa café-bakery, serves up some of the tastiest treats around. From delicate pastries and hand-crafted cakes to fresh baguettes (of course) and gourmet sandwiches, there is enough variety to please almost any sweet or savory palette.
And what would delicious pastries be without coffee to wash it down? Paris Baguette serves Lavazza, an Italian coffee, in a multitude of varieties, from your regular cup of joe to lattes and espressos and pretty much everything in between, hot or cold.
I haven’t tried the Nutella Sweet Cream Cold Brew just yet, but let’s say it caught my attention.
Located off Bruce B. Downs in the former Orange Theory spot, right next to Cold Stone Creamery, Paris Baguette is a welcome addition to the area. While there are other café-bakeries around, Paris Baguette takes it to a new level.
And it’s not just me — the day I stopped by last week, the café sold more than 4,000 pastries.
The story
Paris Baguette, a South Korean bakery and café chain founded in 1988, is quickly expanding its footprint in the United States. It opened 50 cafes in the U.S. last year, and the New Tampa location is one of about 100 it expects to open in 2025. By 2030, the company aims to have 1,000 cafes across the U.S.
Despite its expansion, Paris Baguette strives to dispel the negativity that comes with being a chain and live up to its billing as “your neighborhood bakery café.” So far, it’s hitting that mark.
The pastries, breads and cakes are hand-crafted on site. The lead baker arrives at 1 a.m. to get that day’s offerings underway, while the rest of the crew rolls in during the ensuing hours to prepare for the 6 a.m. opening.
Customers are greeted by a large glass cabinet filled with pastries — just grab a tray, pick your favorites and pay at the counter.
On one side, tables invite patrons to nosh on their selections with friends and family, while the bustling bakery operates on the other.
The Goods
Back to our household dessert debate. My Vietnamese wife, who knows a little something about French- and Asian-inspired desserts, insists that American sweets are too, well, sweet; I’m on Team Buttercream Frosting.
Paris Baguette strikes the perfect balance on many of its offerings, which you could describe as refreshing.
Its hand-crafted cakes are light and delicate and just sweet enough. They aren’t your typical kid’s birthday cakes — the Chocolate Chiffon ($57.99), Strawberry Soft Cream ($53.99) and Red Velvet ($49.99) cater to a more refined palate.
Some standout pastries include the Chausson aux Pommes, a flaky apple-filled delight; the Pineapple Brulee Pastry, which is coated with crystal sugar and topped with caramelized pineapple; and the Very Berry Pastry, loaded with lemon cream, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. The strawberry lemon cream croissant?
Bonkers.
For Nutella lovers, the Pizzetta with Raspberry and Nutella is worth a try. While too sweet for my wife, the pizzetta dough baked with custard and topped with Nutella was right up my alley.
More savory options include tempting choices like chicken salad, turkey and avocado and the sourdough turkey melt.
You can also order a crab meat croquette, grilled cheese or sausage stick bread and you can toast it right there, along with the other sandwiches.
Pro Tip
Sign up for the rewards club ASAP. If you make a purchase before your birthday month, you’ll score a free slice of cake when your birthday rolls around. But wait too long to sign up, and you’ll miss out.
The Verdict
An upscale bakery offering high-quality, carefully crafted food and drinks with seating to enjoy it? A perfect, and some might say needed, fit for New Tampa. It’s not cheap, but it’s no pricier than certain coffee chains and bakery-cafes in the area. And quite honestly, it’s a better choice.
