Lea French Cafe — Restaurant in Oak Park

Breakfast croissant sandwiches and the Croque Monsieur were immediate draws for our brunch choice at Léa, and they didn't disappoint.

Le LaFayette is an elevated egg/cheese/bacon (or veg) delight on a buttery, flaky croissant. I was impressed by the care in seasoning the omelet and the contrasting texture of the crispy bacon.

Speaking of that bacon, it's prominently featured on the Croque Monsieur. My husband complimented the bechamel, which was herby and not overly cloying. Paired with the saltiness of that lovely bacon, his sandwich was perfect for me to sample. It's certainly rich, as one expects, and it was more my speed sharing it rather than committing to the whole plate. Bags of chips were nice, just not a standout among the rest of our meal.

Our drinks were a well balanced lavender lemonade and a gingery Rishi Masala iced chai latte.

The pastry case and plentiful baguettes were entirely tempting, and several takeaway customers were there just for bread. Our Apple Tartlette was the right size for dessert. Glossy lattice pastry was the star, just salted enough and very tender. We would have loved a bit more apple filling to be on par with the pastry.

Seating inside was comfortable and overall we got a pretty chill vibe from this spot, though I could imagine a rush particularly in the morning. If it hadn't been sprinkling, the small storefront patio tables also looked pleasant since the street was surprisingly not chaotic either.

Order kiosks at the entrance were easy to navigate and pay. It wasn't busy and we could have approached the counter but I suspect the staff appreciates the kiosks, as they also seemed to be continually prepping online orders.

Our mid-morning Léa stop was perfect to fuel up before back-to-back Frank Lloyd Wright...

Update: I still love their food, but their level of service has gone down tremendously. Every time I’ve been in the last few months, usually in the morning, the staff behind the line & counter are always just standing around on their phones. The last time I was in, the barista who also works the register with the gauges and short hair couldn’t be bothered to stop texting while taking my order, after begrudgingly taking my order in the first place. …Fast forward to today, Saturday 6/8 right before noon, I’m updating my review because I walk in and it’s literally the same thing: all FOH staff on their phones. I get perhaps the staff is young. But I’ve managed in food service in fast casual concepts before and I know it would be awful for a health inspector to walk in and see that. I would think there would be a shift lead with a more professional presence to change this first impression upon walking in and ordering. Today was the first time I ever used the kiosk versus having them take my order bc I simply can’t stand the service any more. HOWEVER: FOOD IS still SO TASTY!!!! 🫶🏼 go for food, not for service. They updated their “look” inside so that’s nice I guess but service went downhill :(

Love this place! Just moved to the area and I have been three times, and each time it’s a great experience. I literally crave their baguettes! The coffee is also good. For those negative reviews about everything is to-go- who cares? It’s fast casual not fine dining, and the food industry post-covid is still trying to do their best. The service is always friendly and I’ve never had to wait more than what’s expected for everything made fresh to order even on a...

My standards for French street food may sound high as I've studied in Paris, and spent subsequent trips in the city. I love it, possibly more than the fancier stuff French cuisine is known for, and part of that love is the fairly consistent expectation you can have for quality even if you aren't spending much more than 6 euro. The atmosphere is nice enough, though it is a more contemporary take on American French tourism kitsch. You know it--tons of pictures of Eiffel Towers, prints of old French ads which may or may not have anything to do with that they sell, etc. etc. If you like it you like it, if you don't you don't. The sandwiches hold up to their French cousins they pay homage to. The bread is crusty and fresh, the ingredients on the sandwich are so similar to what I'm used to getting in Paris that if I close my eyes I could forget where I bought it. The big difference is price--the exact same quality sandwich nearly everywhere in the city (bar a few tourist hellholes designed to price-gouge) I'm paying almost double compared to what I'm accustomed. But, I challenge you to find that here. Maybe I'm just shouting at the clouds on this one. I tried an almond croissant there, and I really would recommend just crossing the street for those. It was dry and over-sized. Same with the pain au chocolat--too much pastry, not enough chocolate, and not as buttery as one would expect. Not high in the rotation, but I'll probably still eat there on occasion when the urge to have a jambon-beurre...