L’Opera Bakery Bistro — Restaurant in Florida

I came to this bakery with my husband and our service dog (not an emotional support animal, which is still protected) at 1:30 pm (they close at 2:00 pm). Although I know I have the right to enter a place that serves food with my service animal without asking first, I am always kind enough to ask if it is okay to bring the service dog inside. I am willing to respect an establishments request to eat outside instead of inside, even though I am legally entitled to service inside.

When I arrived at 1:30 pm, my husband remained outside in the doorway with our service dog who walked in about two feet into the bakery, while I went inside to ask if we could eat inside with our service dog. There was a woman and a man (owner) who were behind the counter. The woman was willing to serve us, but the owner came out telling us he will not serve us because he does not allow dogs inside. At this point, the woman went in back.

I asked the owner if he understands that our dog is a "service dog," but he said it does not matter, he will not serve us with a dog inside. He said we can be served outside. I told him, that that is okay, we can sit outside, but the tables and chairs were stacked outside. He said, he already stacked them because they close at 2:00 pm and he will not serve us. I let him know that it is 1:30 pm, they close at 2:00 pm, and that by not serving us inside with a service dog and not serving us outside, he is denying service to us on the basis that we have a service dog. This conversation repeated about three times as the owner argued that he is not denying service to us, but we can be served outside, but he does not care that there is no table and chairs available and he said he does not have time to discuss this with us.

So essentially, the owner was playing games with us and refused to serve us with our service animal inside, which we were okay with, but also refused to unstack a table and two chairs to serve us 30 minutes before closing.

We were saddened by how rude and disrespectful he was to us and that he is so hostile to people with service dogs. We laughed this off and left, but thought we would post this review so others know that the owner does not respect people with service dogs and is actively...

I have never written a Google review before, but then, my family has never had a food experience as special and wonderful as we've had at L'Opera Bakery and Bistro. To eat there is to be transported from a tiny strip mall in Sarasota to a quaint streetside cafe in the heart of Paris.

The talented Cherki family who own and run L'Opera are there every single day pouring their hearts into creating and serving outstanding French pastries and cuisine. The pastries are exquisite. The bread and baguettes are divine. Everything on the menu is cooked from scratch and absolutely delicious.

Let's talk for a moment about L'Opera's cakes! When we celebrated my mother's hundredth birthday, we threw a big party and they created THE MOST spectacular cake EVER for the event. Then, when my mom turned 101, they created another edible work of art. The Bushe de Noel we had for Christmas was spectacular!

Adding to the amazing food is the warm, welcoming, and friendly atmosphere of the L'Opera. The Cherki Family works tirelessly to make magic happen for their guests every day. L'Opera is truly our family's favorite restaurant in Sarasota!...

I cannot express how utterly delighted I am with my experience at L’Opera Bakery Bistro! From the moment I walked in, the aroma of freshly baked croissants and rich coffee enveloped me in pure bliss. This place is a hidden gem in Sarasota, and it deserves every bit of praise it gets—and more! The croissants are hands down the best I’ve ever tasted—flaky, buttery perfection with a golden crust that melts in your mouth. Paired with their exquisite coffee, it’s a match made in heaven. The entire menu is a masterpiece; every dish I tried was crafted with such love and attention to detail that it felt like a warm hug from a French chef. The ambiance, with its charming decor and inviting atmosphere, only added to the joy of savoring each bite. The staff’s warmth and genuine care made me feel like a cherished guest, not just a customer. To the team at L’Opera—thank you for creating such a magical experience. This is not just a bakery; it’s a sanctuary of flavor and hospitality. I’ll be back weekly, if not daily, and I’m already telling everyone I know to visit. You’ve set a new standard for what breakfast should be—absolutely...