ZipPicks Awards
Best French in Forest Hills
Master Critic Review
La Boulangerie de François
8.4
A French bakery-café that wins on laminated pastry craft and a deep bench of savory-and-sweet staples, with the open-kitchen setup reinforcing that this is production-first, not vibes-first. Come with a focused order—one croissant, one éclair, and one baguette item—so everything stays crisp, warm, and properly buttery.
Must-Try Dishes:
Almond croissant, Pistachio éclair, Fresh baguette sandwich
Scores:
Value: 7.9
Service: 7.7
Consistency: 8.7
Food Quality: 8.9
Atmosphere: 7.6
Cultural Relevance: 8.1
What makes it special: A production-driven French bakery with serious pastry and bread execution.
Who should go: Pastry people and brunch grazers
When to visit: Morning for peak pastry freshness
What to order: Almond croissant, pistachio éclair, baguette sandwich
Insider tip: Buy the pastry first, then add savory—lines move faster that way.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking only; manageable in the early morning, increasingly difficult late morning through midday on weekends.
Dress code: Casual — anything from athleisure to jeans and a sweater fits right in.
Noise level: Moderate — active counter and espresso noise, but still easy to hold a conversation.
Weekend wait: Not applicable — daytime bakery-café with no dinner service.
Weekday lunch: 5–10 minutes typical; brief lines during peak late-morning pastry rush.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — many pastries and several savory items are vegetarian.
Vegan options: Very limited — some bread items may qualify, but most pastries contain butter and dairy.
Gluten-free options: No — this is a flour-forward bakery with no gluten-free program.
Best For
Better for: Superior croissant lamination, classic French pastry technique, and grab-and-go bakery execution compared to more café-driven brunch spots.
Skip if: Skip if you want a long, table-service brunch, strong vegan or gluten-free options, or a destination café atmosphere over pure pastry quality.