VG Pâtisserie — Attraction in Paris

Highly disappointing experience. Being very conscientious about what I eat, I asked to see a list of ingredients before ordering. By law, if I am not mistaken, this should be available to customers.

The staff appeared surprised by my request and asked if I had allergies. I politely explained that I wanted to know what ingredients they use in their pastries and cakes. They seemed confused, and when I inquired about the types of vegetable oils they use, they became visibly annoyed, particularly the girl with a small tattoo on her face.

They did not provide a list of ingredients, which, if I am not mistaken, is legally required. They informed me that they use non-organic margarine for their pastries. When I asked for specifics about the margarine so I could check the oils, they refused to tell me, which seemed unnecessarily secretive. They mentioned the margarine contains coconut oil and rapeseed oil, but most non-organic margarines contain more than these two oils and are highly refined or even hydrogenated. The staff did not understand what hydrogenated oil means. For the cakes, they said they use organic oils.

Eventually, they asked if I was going to make a purchase, clearly irritated by my questions. Honestly, I am surprised by all the positive reviews.

I ordered a pain au chocolat, which I found insipid and couldn’t finish; a pistachio macaron that was excessively sweet and tasted mostly of sugar; a praline tropezienne that was okay but nothing exceptional; a baba au rhum that tasted like pure sugar, which I also couldn’t finish; and a golden almond latte, which was okay.

While tastes can differ, it is unacceptable not to provide a list of ingredients and to exhibit such a lack of transparency. The staff's attitude towards a customer trying to make an informed decision based on ingredients was equally disappointing.

Edit:

In France, the requirement for food businesses, including patisseries, to provide the full list of ingredients for their products is outlined in European Union Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers. This regulation, often referred to as the Food Information Regulation (FIR), mandates that food labels must include the list of ingredients, including any allergens, in a clear and comprehensible manner.

Specifically, Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 states that the list of ingredients must be provided on the label of pre-packaged food. Additionally, Article 21 requires food businesses to make the same information available for non-prepackaged food, such as products sold in patisseries, either through labeling or by providing it...

One big problem with this place……is that it now makes any other vegan cake selling establishments seem boring in comparison, and almost redundant! I’m never going to be able to walk in to any vegan cafe again without comparing it to VG patisserie! 🫤

Honestly guys, in nearly 19 years of being vegan, this is hands down the BEST vegan place I have EVER been to, in any country I’ve visited.

If you are a vegan visiting Paris, it is now law that you get yourself over to Boulevard Voltaire and get stuffing your face in here! 😋

We tried a fair few of the offerings, if I had to choose a favourite I would possibly have to go for the Paris-Brest. But ask me again tomorrow and I might say the chocolate almond pain au chocolat. Or the vanilla flan. You get the gist! 😂

A word of warning if you go on a Saturday, it does get busy so may struggle to get a seat indoors as it’s only...

Was shocked about the attitude of staff here. I took a seat and my wife was ordering. For my surprise one of staff told us that we need to order first then take a seat because a couple ahead of us complained. There were plenty of seats elsewhere but the staff asked us to move which i find it very very rude. The staff could have asked the other couple to use the other seat. I felt bad that the way we were treated - because we are foreigners! This is the only place in France which we received this kind of treatment. We have been to so many cafe and patisserie, took out seat first then order, not a single place asked us to move even more busier the VG Patisserie. This is a shame for a Vegan place to treat clients this way. All the cake has refined sugar. Regarding the sugar, there are other places in France that use coconut sugar instead of refined sugar. Won’t...