If you are looking for a bakery with authenticity, La Gourmandine is the place to go. The original cafe in Lawrenceville feels like it could be found on the streets of France. With all-natural ingredients, La Gourmandine strives to keep its bakery items simple but fresh. 

Owners Fabien and Lisanne Moreau run the store, who were both born and raised in France. When they moved to Pittsburgh, where Lisanne’s mother grew up, they decided to open am an authentic French bakery.

I went to the location in Lawrenceville and was surprised by how long the line was on a Sunday afternoon. While the shop may not be big, it manages to amass large crowds of people. You’ll see families, along with both the young and old, waiting outside the store hoping to get their favorite pastry before it sells out. 

Unfortunately for me, my favorite item ran out just as I approached the glass case which holds the fresh-made pastries. Even though I ordered at least six pastries, no matter how many I would have bought, my family would  manage to finish these delectable treats before the day was over.

The staff was extremely kind, even the employee who took my order that had to deal with me butchering every french word that I read. I ended up deciding on my order by pointing to something and saying “That one, wait no actually this one.” Of course, their friendly attitude complements the pleasant atmosphere of the shop. 

My order consisted of pain au chocolat, croissants, and tartelettes aux framboises. The pain au chocolat, which literally means chocolate bread, is a French staple. The tartelettes aux framboises are essentially fresh raspberries that lie on top of pastry cream. 

I don’t think words can explain how clear the flavors came across to me; the bittersweet chocolate and the flaky bits of the pastry meshed together as if they were a Tchaikovsky score. My mom usually doesn’t eat anything with chocolate or sweets, but she without a doubt ended up finishing the pastries without my permission.

I also ordered a baguette and a chicken tomato bisque soup. I’m usually not one for baguettes or anything like that, but I had already finished three-quarters of the baguette on the ride home from the shop. If that doesn’t convey the perfect essence of these French delicacies, then I don’t know what to tell you. Their tomato soup was amazing because it was more than just tomato puree and chicken. This soup was the whole nine yards, containing an assortment of savory vegetables and flavorful spices.

On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this place a 9.5, and not a perfect 10 simply because I don’t want to already set my standards for restaurant reviews too early. I will be keeping my eyes out for high-quality French bakeries in the Pittsburgh area that can compete with La Gourmandine, but I doubt I will find one. Considering the wonderful experiences I’ve had at La Gourmandine, finding a worthy adversary will not be one simple task.