LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA – There are all kinds of fancy new pastry shops popping up around the 925.
But whenever we mention one of them, there’s always one store that locals immediately compare the new place to.
That store is La Châtaigne in Lafayette. It’s a deeply French, extremely tiny, very delicious shop in Fiesta Square.
It’s become a bit of a running joke here at the Bay Area Telegraph. The number of comments on our social media feeds and emails to the effect of “the spot is good, but I like La Châtaigne better” is astronomical!
So what do locals love about this tiny French pastry shop?
For one thing, it’s very authentic. If you’ve ever traveled to France, you know that the French are extremely fanatical about the quality of their food and coffee.
They’re less concerned about keeping consistent hours, fast service, or necessarily having a large number of the items they’re selling.
La Châtaigne feels like it fits into that mold splendidly. A little bakery makes as much of a given item as it feels like making; once that item sells out for the day, it’s done.
The hours can also seem inconsistent, and there can be longer closures at different parts of the season.
So far, so French! The good news is that La Châtaigne also follows the first part of that very French equation. The quality of everything there is excellent, even if the lines are generally long.
I stopped by recently and tried the financier, a dense little sweet pastry with raspberries on top.
It was excellent, and the burst of berries combined with the sweet glaze made for a surprisingly decadent couple of bites!
La Châtaigne is known for their croissants, particularly flavored croissants like their almond offerings.
These are excellent, flaky, buttery creations.
There are more savory items on offer, too. The last time I went, I visited with a group, and one person had a focaccia creation that filled an entire table!
Embedded with pieces of olive, it was easily enough bread to make a full meal.
In addition to baked goods, La Châtaigne also has a variety of authentic French products. I like their pâté, which are little jelly-style bites imported from France.
Jellies, butter, a small number of cheeses, and other offerings round out the menu.
Like many French eateries, La Châtaigne has a handful of small, metal outdoor tables where you can eat.
They also have lots of great coffee options—a practical necessity in France!
The store may not be flashy and does absolutely nothing to promote itself beyond simply existing (again, very French). But for years, it has remained the gold standard of pastry in the 925.
Drop by, grab a croissant and coffee, or get something more decadent for a party.
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