La Châtaigne — Restaurant in Lafayette

I have been a regular supporter in the past, but today’s experience has made me never want to return.

I was interested in the cheese croissants, but the girl at the register couldn’t even tell me what cheeses were in them (if you’re selling a product, your staff should be educated on the ingredients). After biting into one, I realized the one she gave me had ham in it. This could’ve been a really serious issue had I been a vegetarian or allergic. I immediately went back to the shop to let them know, and none of the staff remotely cared. Didn’t even get a semblance of an apology. I asked for a plain one in return and they made me wait over 5 minutes after I handed back the ham one (thought it was weird that they demanded it back when it would just go in the trash and kept me waiting so long in between). They also didnt even offer to refund me the difference when what I paid for was more expensive than what I got.

Croissants were underwhelming and service was atrocious. Take your...

Asked my wife to pick up half a dozen of croissants for the family. When she tried to purchase the croissants, she was told that four (4) is the most croissants she can buy at a time. This is the most bizarre shopping experience I have ever had in my 19 years in the US. I immediately remembered how my parents would send me to buy bread in the early nineties in Belarus and they would only sell one loaf per person, so I would buy one loaf and then line up at the end of the queue again in an attempt to buy the second loaf, but all the bread would usually be gone by the time my place in line would come up for the second time. So, I would normally go home with one loaf only and on rare lucky occasions I would get two loafs. Who would have thought I would have the same problem at a local Bay Area bakery 30 years...

Step into La Châtaigne, where pastries transcend mere confections to become edible works of art. Their creations are exquisite and sublime, each bite revealing a symmetry of taste layered in perfection. If Mozart were a pastry chef, his croissants would be his concerto - the delicate, butter-laden layers unfold like musical movements, each crisp, golden sheet whispering sweet harmonies. The flaky exterior shatters with a gentle touch, giving way to a tender, honeycomb interior that seems to dance on the tongue. These masterpieces aren't just baked; they're composed, with the same precision and passion that a virtuoso brings to the concert hall. Like a perfect cadence, each pastry resolves in a moment of pure...