"VERY hole-in-the-wall Middle Eastern patisserie" This gives hole-in-the-wall new meaning. The location is in a strip-mall that's set back a ways from 55, so it's not really visible from the street at all. However, it's weirder than that-- you have to drive AROUND the strip mall to the back, past the various loading docks for other stores, and they you see this place is open just from the BACK of the strip mall. I heard the owner is Algerian, but there are many Palestinian references and flags around the shop, so if that's triggering, then know this in advance before coming in. Still, the place is brightly lit and airy, with tables to eat. They do custom cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts, but we just wanted to sample some sweets. Hours are funny-- just midday Friday through Sunday. We ordered a pecan brownie and a pistachio chocolate dish with kunafa (shredded Middle Eastern pastry), as well as a mocha coffee. The mocha coffee was rich and delicious, as expected. The pistachio chocolate dish with kunafa was to-die-for... SO delicious. Super thick and messy, as you'd hope it would be. And of course the pecan brownie was amazing. I will say the pastries are not "cheap". I got a single tahini chocolate chip cookie to go for a friend, and that was $4.50 for a modest sized cookie. The other dishes above were in the $6 range. But these are unusual custom-made dishes, so it's fair. read more

Finally got to try La Recette Patisserie, a Middle Eastern-French bakery in South Durham! We got a bunch of pastries (Apricot gateau, Opera cake, Tahini majesty, Makroud, Ghriba, Mchewek), all of which were delicious. To drink, we got the Sahlab (only comes warm)- this was so delicious (milky and perfectly floral, very comforting). This spot has a very unassuming exterior, but the inside is pretty cute and spacious with lots of seating (you actually need to walk to the back of the building to find the entrance). Would be a great spot to hang out and do work at. Service was fast and friendly. 9/10 would recommend! read more

La Recette Patisserie - Sahlab - Custom Cakes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I don't speak French, but trying to find this place left me wondering if the name means "receded" or something like that, because it is hidden away. in the back of a shopping center. Both the atmosphere and the menu are a mix of French and Arabic, so I got a cherry-infused chocolate cake and some sort of cheese and za'atar savory bun, along with a cardamom chai. The chai flavor was interesting, but not altogether strong, while the cake was as delicious as it looked. My cheese pastry was strongly salty, for better or for worse. The price reflects the quality of the food more than the location, let's say, but I was glad I went. read more

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I've been a long-time customer of La Recette (since their home baking days thanks to my husband who discovered them on Instagram) so trust me when I say La Recette is run by some of the loveliest people (as are the staff) and have some of the tastiest pastries! They are located at the back of the building, which can be confusing on your first visit, but you can drive straight back there since they have ample parking spots. There is plenty of seating with assortment of small tables and some bench seating. They recently started opening Friday hours in addition to Saturday and Sundays which was a much welcome addition for me. They have WiFi so it could be a good wfh spot! read more

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The fact that this place is literally in the back of a shopping center really emphasizes the "hidden" in hidden gem. You walk in and the place is super cute and airy. I had the cardamom bun, lime cruffin, and some kind of savory Danish. All delicious! I look forward to coming back and trying more pastries. read more

La Recette Patisserie - Pastries... Cruffin, cardamom bun, savory danish - Custom Cakes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This is truly a hidden gem! We were so blown away by how delicious the pastries, cakes, and brownies we tried were. Staff were kind and it was a cozy and calm atmosphere. A must try! read more

Adorable little bakery. We got quite a few pastries. They had a potato gratin one (amazing), orange crème brûlée (nice wish there was more orange), almond croissant, chai, and a few others I can't remember. Their pastry list is unique and all delicious. The woman behind the counter was kind and helpful. 1000% would recommend. The cafe itself is cute and peaceful read more

La Recette Patisserie - Custom Cakes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place was absolutely beautiful. Staff was very friendly and patient. All the desserts were unique and cute. Seemed like they had desserts from different cuisines, all high quality. Cannot remember the ones pictured but they were delicious and not dry (which i feel like is always hard). The sahlab drink was probably one of the best drinks i've ever had! Prices were pretty high but it was worth it. This is a place i'd come back to for special occasions. read more

La Recette Patisserie - Custom Cakes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

i come here everytime i come see my family in Durham. A hidden gem behind a small shopping center in the parkwood area, the place is an adorable comfortable friendly bakery with delicious pastries and cakes. And the coffee is wonderful. There's someone baking all the time and the owners seem happy and proud of their space. They should be. read more

Yummy food! We enjoyed the couple things we had. Friendly service and clean. Will be back!!

It was very good! Service was a little slow, but that's ok! Very esthetic inside, but very weird to get to. It was delicious and such a hidden gem! read more

La Recette Patisserie - BEAUTIFUL - Custom Cakes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Made our monthly pilgrimage to this wonderful, family-run bakery with the most flavorful breakfast pastries, and a wide variety of enticing bakery desserts -- not to mention delicious and expertly prepared espresso drinks. Our favorite is their savory pastry w/ fried egg yolk -- but all feature this incredibly flaky, perfect pastry crust. Open Saturdays and Sundays, it's a perfect weekend morning treat! Ps. Having company? They cater and can make a custom spread for you, too! And, coming soon, a gelateria right next door! read more

La Recette Patisserie - Two of their signature lattes, plus our boxed pastry haul to go! - Custom Cakes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Lovely start to the weekend. This bakery is only open Saturdays and Sundays. I am glad we were there when it opened so we had all the options, I bet they sell out. My friend and I bought some treats to take home and I bought a Sahlab to have while we chatted. It was one of the best drinks I have had. Very smooth and delicious. It does not have caffeine which is a plus. Every baked item I had was delicious, the opera cake, the croissants, the apple tart. You can't go wrong with anything here. I will definitely be back! read more

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Very cute pastry and coffee place. The decorations are cute, making it a perfect place to work on the weekends - there's a lot of comfortable chair options. The pastry options also all look amazing. The location is slightly tucked away in a strip mall - google maps sent me to the other side. There are signs around so make sure to follow the signs there. read more

La Recette Patisserie - a cup of cappuccino - Custom Cakes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Excellent dessert options. They make them during the week and then sell them on the weekend. Kind of hard to find (back of the complex) but so good. Not too sweet. Service is quick. Place super clean! read more

La Recette Patisserie - A pistachio strawberry tart, coffee can - Custom Cakes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

OMG!!! The only problem with this place is that they are not opened more often, but again... that I s probably for the best, because I would put up a lot of pounds, if they were. This charming little bakery is hidden in the back of an unassuming mall, once you open the front door you are transported! They have a great variety of baked goods from all over the world, and the pastries are to die for! If you are lucky and early enough to get a pistachio bar, buy as many as you can afford! They also have hot drinks. Besides the amazing food and ambiance, the owners are also very supportive of progressive causes. These are the types of places that are easy to support! Also, it doesn't hurt that the place next door is also a hidden gem, so you get to support 2 amazing local business in one trip! read more

The pastries were good! The service was okay, didn't really greet me and just kept staring. Super cute Ambiance and smells really nice. However, the drinks were okay. I got the rose latte and I couldn't really taste the rose water at all. Just tasted like a regular latte. read more

The most delicious pastries, perfect croissants, and friendly staff. Great coffee too.

Wonderful French pastries, it was hard to choose. The coffee was excellent too. Staff were lovely and friendly. We will be coming back.

The bakery out did themselves! You have just got to try the Sahlab! Walking inside the area is super clean and organized, and you smell a beautiful mix of cinnamon and fresh pastry. Calm atmosphere and can help you focus if you want to work on something. Heads-up the location is hidden behind a strip mall. Totally recommend 5 stars! read more

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Loved this patisserie on the back side of the shopping center. Unique blend of flavors. I loved the Mango Cruffin. read more

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Some of the best savory pastries out there. So many options with unique flavors. Staff is friendly and there are good seating options. I cant wait to go back and try more of their unique flavors read more

A number of places will brag "we have the best croissants" and then disappoint you with below grocery store chain quality examples. This place doesn't say anything other than "what are you in the mood for?" and if you happen to pick croissant (or any other of their delicious, but understated pastries), you win. You add an espresso drink like a Biscoff or Rose Cardamom latte, and you're being served a really great weekend. The ambiance is minimal given the business park location, but the service is top notch. read more

I've been following La Recette on instagram for a while and watched their journey of opening their shop. I waited patiently for their opening date and I finally had a chance to stop by recently. The storefront is only open on the weekends right now. I knew the store was behind some other businesses in the area. But there is a sign out front that tells you to drive around the back of the building. There are a few parking spots in the back. If that's all full, there's parking spots in the front. You would never know there's a bakery back there. I showed up around 2pm on a Sunday and they were already sold out of a lot of desserts. The owner is so nice! I asked what her favorite items were and she happily pointed some things out for me. I can't remember what they all were. She told me I should come back another day when the case is not as empty. And I definitely will go back! I went with the al barakeh, a raspberry macaron, opera cake and the labneh and zaatar danish. The raspberry macaron was just perfection! Probably the best I've had in the triangle. The macaron is perfectly crisp on the outside and light and chewy on the inside. The opera cake was delicious and wasn't too sweet. If you prefer savory desserts, you can't go wrong with the al barakeh and labneh and zaatar danish. She did tell me that they taste better heated up in the oven for 5 minutes. The al barakeh has a croissant dough with Turkish Feta cheese, honey and and sesame seeds. I think the danish also had Turkish Feta cheese. I can't wait to go back and try some other desserts/pastries! I hope there are more macaron flavors next time! I do like that she features new desserts each month. read more

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Beautifully made French pastries and desserts presented with a middle-Eastern touch. The location is hidden away in an obscure strip mall but it's worth your while to find. read more

I've been following Djamila's journey for several years. I was so happy when I heard that they finally opened their retail space & had been trying to find time to go indulge in some goodies. The shop is a bit off the beaten path but is definitely worth making it your destination. It is bright & cheerful...a good place for a coffee break or to meet some friends. There was a lot of pastries, croissants and cookies to choose from. We brought a selection to take home & share. The pastries quality and taste reminded me so much of the classic French bakeries in NY. This is a hidden gem. It's so wonderful to see a dream come into fruition. read more

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Love going to this bakery! The owners and staff are so pleasant and they always have such a variety of unique baked goods and such beautiful desserts! Their rose cardamom coffee is also amazing! read more

The bakery is brand new, decorated bright and modern. Hopefully a little more seating will be available soon. The owner and staff are very kind and pleasant to chat with. My recommendation is the labneh croissant. It was unique; savory, pleasantly sour from the cheese, buttery yet flakey and honestly just the best croissant I've ever had... and I have worked in multiple bakeries in my life! The few desserts we have tried so far were very good; aesthetically pleasing with a rich taste yet light texture. We also have had their house coffee and vanilla oat milk latte which both pair well with the croissant. The location is a bit difficult to find, but worth it! Just drive all the way to the end of the church parking lot (in the direction toward the McDonald's lot) and take a right behind the church buildings. After turning, you will see the building entrance on your right with plenty of parking. read more

La Recette Patisserie - pumpkin cheesecake and harvest cake - Custom Cakes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I came to La Recette's grand opening today, and will definitely come back!! I got the labneh zatar danish, which was amazing. The base was super flaky like a croissant. And I love labneh, zatar, and flaky croissant-like dough so I feel like this was made just for me. Overall they have a unique selection of pastries and desserts, like a biscoff croissant or pecan pie brownie. The staff was friendly, and I met one of the owners when I paid. She was so nice, and happy to have so many people for the grand opening. Keep in mind the entrance is in the back of the shopping center! read more

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Absolutely, hands down,the best pastries I've ever had! The staff is incredibly kind.

We have been aware of this baker from when her goods were available at a local tea shop. Now that she's opened up her own place (limited to just Saturday and Sunday for now), we've been there a few times and have not been disappointed. We've had both sweet and savory offerings, coffee, mint tea, and spiced hot chocolate, and everything was delicious. The staff was super friendly, and we've been amazed at some of the cake designs they have posted on Instagram. Happy to support this local woman-owned business in Durham. read more

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I don't remember the names of everything we purchased but it was all good . The tea, the sweets, the savory items, all amazing. Beautiful atmosphere and lovely space to sit and read a book or work for a while. The staff were attentive and kind. I loved my visit here. read more

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I worked with La Recette for a dessert table for my wedding. We went with mini lemon tarts, cake pops, and macarons. They were so incredible to work with and helped me decide on the perfect number for our guest count. And the desserts themselves were beautiful!! read more

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Hands down: best pastries in Durham. Owned by a lovely family. Going here is always such a treat!!

The food is always perfect! The team is very pleasant and never makes you feel rushed to decide. Inside is so calm and great to just sit with your pastries. Totally worth coming to and literally getting anything. Every item tastes amazing. read more

One of the best Patisserie's in the triangle area. The Baklava cheesecake and date almond tart were so so good. Algerian mint tea is so subtle but so refreshing. They have a vast assortment of pastries that looks as beautiful as they taste. Will definitely be frequenting La Recette to try all of their baked goods and drinks. Highly recommend if you're looking for delicious baked goods! read more

Amazing hidden gem! We almost did not find it because is literally in the back-end of a strip mall. Amazing French pastries with Middle Eastern influence (e.g., Baklava cheesecake and Kunaffeh Danish!!!). Great service. Tables to sit. Great decor and ambiance. Must visit!!! read more

Have been two more times and it keeps getting better and better. The chocolate mousse cloud was fantastic and the rose tea cake was the only rose-flavored baked good I've actually liked. It was extraordinary. Love this place! read more

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This place is a must. Its a little difficult to find because its behind the building. Turn at Papa Johns and Cook Out off 55 drive straight till you have to turn and go around that building. It is modern and stylishly decorated. The owners are so nice and they explained how they make all their pastries. Mind you the pastries and desserts are stunning. My daughter got the chocolate croissant. I tried a piece and it was so flaky and delish. It also is large. She loved it too. I got the Hot Peppermint Latte with Oat milk. It was gorgeous with a nice beautifully decorated froth on top. It was so good and not overly sweet like other places. We will definitely be back. Come support this small business. read more

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Probably the best bakery I've ever been to in the US. I just wish they were open during weekdays :(