Delicious, fresh bread, sandwiches, and pastries. The line is worth the wait! Repeat customer;)

My husband and i LOVE their butter croissants here! Their croissants are soooo light, flaky and buttery. WARNING- DO NOT EAT IT IN YOUR CAR! you will make a big mess! (lesson learned lol) They usually have a line in the morning so try to get there early to avoid waiting too long and to be able to get the pastries you want, since they only have a limited amount everyday. The bakery itself is very small. You just go in, order your pastries and get out. Lol. There's a couple tables and chairs outside where you can enjoy them. This bakery is located in a small plaza that gets pretty busy. Parking can be difficult on the weekends and its all parking meter so be prepared to pay a couple bucks for parking. Unless, you get lucky parking at a spot that still has time remaining :) We will keep coming back! read more

I come in all the time because they have the best pastries and coffee, hands down. This is a tough area to run a business, I got to see today how absolutely entitled people in this area are. It was raining, there were 2 customers inside, I have an 18 month old I was carrying, I walked in and stood to the right toward the fridge, to keep baby out of the rain. One of the women waiting pushed my baby and I out of the way when going towards the counter, I said, "I'm sorry, I know it's your turn, I was just trying to get the baby out of the rain." She looked at me spilled something sarcastic and just kept on going. The people at the counter remained professional, served her, when I approached crying they were empathetic and sweet. It must be SO hard to remain professional with an entitled, rude crowd like this. People forget their humanity at home when they go out in this area, maybe they're too rich to carry it. If you weed out the reviews where people just weren't served on a golden platter, this is THE best place to get pastries. Sorry you'll have to deal with some of the snobby crowd that lives in this area read more

Very high quality French bakery. With many plusses and some minuses. The croissants (the regular and the ones made with imported butter) are super. Didn't have better in France. And their bostock pastry is delish indeed. But the coug aman (sp) are pretty sweet, too much so for me. And I had their lemon tart today that's raved about by some. Both my wife and I were very underwhelmed. Certainly won't be getting it again. Their almond and almond chocolate croissants are large and in charge. As in - large! Lotta calories. But lotsa flavor as well. I'm including a pic of the croissant, tart and bostock. The hours aren't wonderful if you don't live in Lafayette. During the day to get there early for breakfast means fighting commute traffic. A non-starter. And on the weekends they officially open at 9, which makes it a late breakfast. Very small and if it's warm out it'd be nice to sit on the outside tables. Otherwise it's really "to go" as there's barely room for customers and the table they have on the inside so it's not going to be a relaxing way to eat. read more

La Châtaigne - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Lafayette, California

What a gem of a bakery. Cute little tarts and candies. And European drinks. A nice break from the sunshine at the street fair! The mini lemon tart was the best I have ever had. The crust was buttery and the lemon was slightly tart and just perfect. Can I eat a dozen more? read more

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I'm sorry to give that difficult review but I went today and although I can understand that the shop runs out of products, it does not justify such a poor treatment of customer. Very disappointing. I'm sad to say this is far from the French elegance we may expect with a shop/bakery selling that promise. read more

5 star snackies. Other reviews mentioned 1-2 star for service. Look, this place is really really busy. They're also only open 4 days a week and severely under-staffed, so if you're so entitled and can't wait in line (or come earlier before things sell out) then...it's on you that they ran out of your favorite pastries. Anyway, 5 star for the pastries. SO. GOOD. read more

Tasty quiche and yummy canelé (which is hard to find)! Small shop but worth the wait in line.

Was in downtown Lafayette and happened to have some extra time to kill (thank you, hour-minimum parking meters!) and spotted this quaint little gem in the corner. I decided to pop in, and was greeted by the cutest space with an array of pastries. I opted for a butter croissant, and not only was it fairly priced ($2.95), but it was very yummy! SO flaky and fresh, despite me coming in at around 2pm on a Friday! I enjoyed grabbing my croissant to go and strolling around eating it. If you can't go to France, might as well bring France to you! La Chataigne have coffee available, which I must try, and I'm hearing their kouign aman is amazing so all signs are pointing towards my return! Til next time :-) read more

La Châtaigne - Butter Croissant - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Lafayette, California

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Caffè Americano and an incredibly flaky croissant are divine. The bread and quiches are not to be missed.

Update: still great! Wonderful, authentic French pastries. Espresso coffee. Nice calm atmosphere except for the occasional breakfast rush. Their French butter croissants are as good or better than those I had while living in France. So glad to have this place in lafayette! read more

OH MY GOSH! So I read the reviews and I was like hmmm Lafayette does have some older particular folks.... but the older women at the front is SO RUDE. This was my first and last time here. I have a Service animal she wouldn't let me in. I could not purchase a croissant. The gentleman in front of me who already purchased his items offered to watch my dog on his leash outside while I stepped two steps into the little bakery. Now mind you there is only 5 feet between the front door of the shop and the cash register. She was terribly rude to me. You wonder why they have a SIGN IN THE FRONT that says don't argue with the staff. Darlings! It is not a customer problem it is the owners poor behavior and communication skills. Perhaps she makes a good croissant but there is nothing else nice about this establishment. They are plain mean and the community should think twice about supporting these kind of people. read more

La Châtaigne - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Lafayette, California

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This is hands down the best boulangerie/patisserie in the east bay area. It is SO authentic and absolutely divine. I am so grateful that the owners brought this magnifique experience to us! I live part time in Paris and this is just as good as my favorite spots over there. I am blown away by this quality! I am absolutely floored that people have the gall to come here and write a negative review. Note the only negative reviews have to do with long lines and not enough inventory. This is an independent bakery that is so good it can't keep anything in stock. If you're expecting Starbucks level operations, then take those expectations and go and get a Starbucks croissant. Cannot recommend this place enough - go early for pastries and right at 11:35 for baguettes/sandwiches read more

The French butter croissants are divine and crunchy on the outside. The people are frank and the service is quick, unless you come after 8:30am on a Sunday. long lines for a good reason. The reason I have not given it a 5-star is because none of their items list any ingredients and nor do we get any helpful information from the website. My parents informed the staff that we are vegetarians 3 times and they still gave them 2 pizzas that had anchovies. When I called them to check if I should return it, the person on the line was not willing to budge until I mentioned allergies. She also was not sorry until the allergies came up. For some of us, vegetarianism is part of our religious beliefs and having to only listen to allergies is disrespectful in 2023. I will still continue to buy the croissants from there but now will hope they start using a green/red label or share ingredients. read more

Love their coffee and croissant. Bought a bunch of chocolate cookies for book group and they were gobbled up immediately. I'm going back and pretend I'm in Provence. read more

The food isn't quite as good as it used to be here and the staff can be a little rude if you don't know their system. The layout of the shop isn't set up the most efficiently which leads to an awkward rushed experience. It must be uncomfortable for those behind the counter as well. read more

This absence of this place might be my number one pain point in no longer having gluten in my life. Their baked goods are phenomenal, as in really and truly over the top good. I used to frequent them twice a week and it hurts like being dumped by a significant other. I see a couple negative reviews about the service but while I dont know the individual experience another had, I have seen several irrational demands from customers in there including not wearing masks and demanding service, demanding that they be allowed to basically buy half the display case, and also eating half an item then wanting a refund because they didn't really like it. There could be better communication on certain things but this isnt a Target and Im not looking for a friend. You stay golden little chestnut and keep making society better one bostock at a time. read more

A restaurant only survives because of its customers and this bakery doesn't seem to care and take customers for granted. While they do provide yummy baked goods, customer service is seriously lacking and borderline rude (as several reviews have mentioned) and basically makes this place a waste of a visit for me. read more

Their pastries and baked goods are awesome and freshly baked everyday. Service is good as well. The place is quite small so there is no place to eat inside, however they do have a few tables outside where you can sit and enjoy their pastries and coffee. The only drawback is you are allowed to buy four of each item max. This is my go to bakery for baked French pastries. read more

Needed an afternoon boost and stumbled upon this place. Coffee is generally only a treat for me but I had an Americano which was perfectly bold. At 3pm the croissants were fresh, moist and not too buttery.. def a little slice of Europe going on here! read more

Note that they can't heat up their food, so I had to choke down an ice cold quiche on such a cold and windy day. Not impressed at all, won't be back. read more

This is my favorite bakery. Everything they make is delicious. All of their baked goods are made with precision and care. I especially love the canelé--it's not easy to find good ones. The quiche are always delicious for a savory bite and I love the fougasse. So happy to have an authentic French bakery! read more

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The croissants here were so buttery and flakey! We came at the right time when their chocolate croissants came out of the oven and it was heaven in your mouth. We found a new bakery in town and will not spend our money at any other chain bakeries. Strongly recommend if you're ever in Lafayette! read more

The croissant is one of the best with chocolate. Worth going out of the way for and they have excellent coffee too.

I'm updating my review - five stars for the food, it's the best, but like 1 1/2 star for the people who work there. The fact that they had to print a sign out that says "no arguing" says a lot - it would be one thing if everyone in Lafayette was super argumentative but I really don't think people roll up to their local bakery with the intent to start a verbal sparring match on a Tuesday morning. That being said, I have seen the guy who runs this place get into more arguments with people over almond croissants and quiches (these seem to be the biggest problem) than he should. Also noticed there are a lot of presumably arbitrary rules to this place - no quiches made to order unless you're there on Thursday at 3:14pm, you can order a half of an almond croissant when it's sunny... I exaggerate but you take my meaning. Everyone here needs to chill. Seriously. Just be nice to people frequenting your business!! Even the people at the counter seem to be angry. Like I said, food is great, and if you come just once for something quick in the case you may not have any problems, but locals beware because apparently you might get into an argument if you start frequenting the place. read more

The most amazing croissants in our area, so good, go try them immediately. Better than Tartine in SF. The shop is small and a little cramped, but nicely decorated. The baked goods selection is actually pretty diverse and they seem to produce a lot in this small space. I've been thinking about trying them for a long time and now can't believe I wasted so much time! read more

This place is hands down the best French bakery ever! Their croissants rival what you would find in a Paris boulangerie, perfectly flaky and buttery they just melt in your mouth. Their morning buns are the best I have every had, sugary and crusty on the outside, light and flaky on the inside! And the kouign amanns are heavenly! If you want something savory their quiches are out of this world. Get there early because everything sells out fast and be prepared to stand in line. This place is a delight! read more

Amazing baked goods and the bread is out of this world. The ambiance and their coffee. They carry wonderful jams too.

First of all, I personally think this is the best French style bakery in town and possibly this side of the Tunnel in the East Bay. That said, I wanted to offer some constructive feedback based on my experience in the last couple months: 1. The staff needs to be trained up on what each thing on the menu is. The last few times, I've ordered Chocolat Chaud, I've received blank stares. I've then had to explain that it's Hot Chocolate and it's on the menu right behind her. 2. One of the best things on the menu, the quiche used to have a delicate pastry crust. Over the last couple months, the crust of the quiche has gotten thicker and heavier. Writing this review so that the owner and chef takes notice as I know they are both amazing people and want to provide the best. Thanks!! read more

How not to grow your business? 1. Treat your customers as a piece of ..... 2. Rude is the name of the game. 3. Customers service is not in the vocabulary. 4. Limit 4, maybe in other places but not in the USA. 5. Let your customers figure what is available, why to batter they will come back anyway. 6. Don't treat yourself as you treat your customers because of your "blue blood". 7. My way or no way. 8. Producing excellent products but who cares about the rest "I am t h e chef". 9. Time is money in my case so customer take and keep take. 10. This kid my business and my life so let me do what I want and maybe one day I will get wiser. I don't care about your opinions and I will never take any kind of comments so I want to keep myself small and smaller as possible, including my brain and heart. PS the owner should not reply here. It's just tooooo much! read more

Wonderful flaky, buttery and crispy French butter croissants in a quaint cozy bakery shop. The outdoor bistro table/chairs is perfect spot to enjoy the freshly baked pastries & coffee and imagine being in France! read more

NOT COVID SAFE. I approached the line today to order. There was a white guy in his mid-twenties not wearing a mask at the back of the line. I asked him if he could mask up and he refused. Of course it escalated. He called me a Nazi and threatened to "slap the shit out of" me and my partner. He talked on the phone, he yelled, he even spit once. Got in our faces. He refused to socially distance or mask up even within 6' of the cafe counter. Cafe staff did not intervene and still served him. I've made a formal Covid complaint with the state of California and will be getting a Covid test next week. If that test comes back positive, I will be pursuing my complaint so that this business faces the appropriate repercussions. Just because a business operates in an extremely white and affluent area, doesn't give them the right to jeopardize their customers' health or safety. Very disappointed. read more

This place has the bet croissants in the Bay Area. Not kidding! Ask for the butter croissants (they make it with a special butter from France) its slightly more expensive than their regular croissants but its so so good. I literally talk about their croissants to every visitor I get. Be warned, so they are fair, they do have a limit of number of croissants you can order (I think its 2 per person) as they so sell out early of their croissants. read more

Delicious croissants and friendly service. A++ I would recommend going here. Very small area to sit outside, but great if you are taking on the go. read more

Came on a Sunday afternoon. I was expecting an empty case and a long line, but neither were an issue. Best ciabatta bread I've had, texture and taste were outstanding. Definitely would come back when I'm in town again. read more

Great pastries and quiche and the staff is nice. A few tables inside and out. Haven't seen anyone arguing with the staff. Love this place, but all the signs I see posted on the internet turn me off. Glad I never saw the the January closure sign - my first reaction was that they are too full of themselves or under so much stress, that they snapped. Not great customer relations! Can't believe that many customers would argue - I have never seen any. French pastries usually make most people happy. Especially good ones like these. Reminds me of an episode from the Seinfeld Show. read more

Generally, my preference is to support small businesses but after being to this place 4 times in person on weekdays when there are no more than 2-3 customers ordering I'm severely underwhelmed. The croissant and pastries are good but not life changing as these overly profuse and easily satisfied positive yelp reviews and self proclaimed foodies claim it to be. They are good pastries. But, the white boys and girls that work there have attitude issues, can't crack a smile, or answer any simple questions with an ounce of kindness such as "what's in this bread?" Finally, my mom was in town and while I'm at work (I'm a frontline healthcare worker) she asked me if there's a pastry and coffee shop near home. So I sent her here. She stopped by on a weekday around 10 am and they said they had no croissants in the middle of the week and told her to come back in an hour. We were having friends over so she wanted to pick up about 6 croissants and they would only sell her 2!!! Wtf. Who do you think you are? Want French pastries? Make the trip to B patisserie in SF or Acme bread in Berkeley for fresh pastries and smiling kind employees. And the staff has the audacity to ask me if I'd be willing to leave a tip...really? read more

Amazing French bakery with no seating and limited selection. We ordered an Americana, mushroom quiche, chocolate croissant, almond croissant and other goodies. Everything is freshly made and perfect. If you are looking for a French bakery in Moraga/Lafayette area, I highly recommend La Chataigne. COVID-note: in Sept 2020, full social distancing in effect. read more

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Great product but uneven service. The pastries (especially the croissants) are terrific - I would say world class (i.e., 5 stars). However, the customer service is uneven (i.e., 2 stars). Some staff members are pleasant and professional. Others are curt and rude - making you feel like you are bothering them. This is especially attenuated by the fact that they don't have a menu board and often run out of pastries. This leaves customers asking questions about what is available and seemingly enraging some staff members. If you go in, go in understanding that you may be treated with hostility but will walk away with some terrific baked goods. read more

The pastries are definitely good, wait is very long but my review is for the two strands of grey/blonde hair we found in our croissants this past Saturday. Quite disgusting and disturbing. The workers also aren't all wearing appropriate hair covers so it makes sense that we bit into our croissant to pull out a long nasty strand of hair. We have come so many times but this put us off and we won't be coming back if their health and cleanliness is lacking. We'll have to find a new weekend pastry shop now to visit. read more