I would give zero stars if I could. I was very excited to find a French bakery; having lived in France for years, one thing I miss most is French baked goods. I went to Boulanger Français with my French wife and we bought three different cakes, including an eclair, and two chocolate croissants. Honestly, they were simply terrible. Not compared to French pastries or anything, just terrible. I've had better croissants at Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and I would even wager that week-old croissants from ghetto gas stations would be better. Same with the eclair, and I barely have the courage to try the other cakes. The advice I would give the owner is to please change the name of the establishment. Calling yourself a French bakery is akin to Tim Hortons calling itself an Italian delicatessen. The only somewhat interesting thing about this place is that the guy behind the counter tries to mimic the old stereotypical nose-in-the-air French attitude. But that simply does not work in Ottawa, or anywhere nowadays for that matter.

Magnifique! A great bakery whose staples reflect just how great they are. It is unfortunate I had a bad tart a couple times, but I will return - that is how good their quality of staples are. Baguette (Traditional) 4.5 stars: - crisp crust - excellent color - well risen (nice variation of holes) - nice flavor from fermentation Croissant 4 stars: - very crisp exterior - good aroma and taste of butter Tarts 3.5 stars: - excellent crust - crisp, light, buttery, and excellent mouth-feel (overall) - lemon: sweet, tart, and very good lemon flavor - choose this if available - fruit/frangipane (apple/pear/almond): excellent frangipane with great texture, well rounded almond flavor - tart crust can vary. I had a tart crust that was over baked and it is unfortunate that it was still placed in the display case for purchase - 5 star tart otherwise

These Croissants are unique in colour, texture and taste than any other Croissants in the city. Their Almond Croissant is equally good and not too sweet. I ended up trying their Brioche because they sold out of Croissants the day that I arrived to grab one with a quick cup of coffee. The Brioche is delicious and their coffee is excellent (Illy brand). We have tried their Espresso, Americano (Espresso shot with hot water). The seating is limited with a bar set up along the wall near the entryway. We have only ever been served by either the young man or woman. They were both very friendly and the older man was always in the back baking. While we were there, we noticed the Benny's Bistro menu (which looks very intreguing) and we look forward to trying it out.

This place is adorable and delicious! They carry breads, pastries, coffee, and cookies. They are peanut free but not nut free so if you are allergic to peanuts this place is amazing (but not if you are allergic to almonds or other nuts). I have tried their cinnamon bun - it’s made with croissant dough so it’s super flaky - and their chocolate espresso cake. Both were great. Note that their breakfast pastries such as croissants are usually sold out by lunch time so if you would like a chocolate croissant go early or call ahead! If you go in the afternoon they will still have their selection of yummy desserts but no or few breakfast pastries.

I had the pleasure of discovering The French Baker right before Christmas; having grown up in Montreal (home of La Patisserie Belge, which is sadly no longer in business), I was looking to pass on my childhood Christmas morning tradition of oven-warmed almond croissants and Chocolatines to my own family. I placed my order several days in advance and can honestly say that the quality surpassed my (high) expectations. And a special thanks to Scott for going above & beyond the call of duty to ensure I was delighted with the pastries. And now that my family is gleefully addicted, I will definitely be back next Christmas (and possibly sooner).

We got Almond Croissants, Éclairs and Pear Tarts. The Almond Croissants were delicious but were either overcooked or stale as the dough was dry and hard. The filling on the inside is perfect and I loved that they filled it up all the way! The toasted almonds on top were also amazingly fragrant and flavorful. The only problem was that the overall experience was dry. Éclairs also had the same problem. Even though the dough looked white, they were hard and dry. The Pear Tart was perfect! Very flavorful! Maybe I'm imagining this part but the base had a great flavor and odor of almonds as well.

I tried it for pastries, typically french, and was not disappointed at all! The prices are quite fair for the quality. The croissants are Amazing! Fresh and tasting real butter. I'm really happy to know I have a good bakery next to my place. I'll definitly Come again fore these and try something else as well. The only thing that was already mentionned in other comments is that there are no prices tag, so that's a surprise until the bill. Not really fan if this concept. Other than that, I definitly recomand the place!

Adore this bakery! For a treat once in a while, it's a definite must visit in Ottawa. A gem of a French bakery. Anyone who appreciates high quality authentic croissants, pains au chocolat (chocolatines) or chocolate will need to pay a visit to this bakery. If you feel especially indulgent, peruse the glass display case replete with tartelettes, mini cakes and slices of cake. This is the only French bakery in Ottawa that reminds me of my favourite one when I resided in Lyon. Staff are generally friendly and quick.

The best! The pastries are beautiful and absolutely delicious. The sourdough bread was fantastic; chewy and tender with a good crust. It was just the right amount of sour. We enjoyed all the chocolate desserts. Crusts were crispy, chocolate was smooth, meringues were chewy-crisp. The glazes were lightly sweet. The only dessert I didn't enjoy was a preserved fruit tart. I like fruitcake, so I thought I would like this one but it's just not to my taste - no fault of the baker!

Really great boulangerie, the almond croissant was fantastic. I was reluctant to give this place a try due to all the bad reviews but I will definitely be going back. Also got to try the bread from here since it was served at Benny's Bistro and it was fantastic. Excellent crust, flavour, and the perfect texture. The service was fine too, the man who served me definitely would have been more comfortable speaking in French but I found him to be perfectly amiable.

It’s sad that with such a great location in the market and the potential, all you get is old dry pastries. You know you have the option of baking fresh in the morning that would make the day for people who feel like walking to the bakery to pick up fresh baked goods, but you choose to serve dry old ones.. but why?? today I lost hope in your store.. we are obviously not in Paris, but you can try??

Small bakery just a couple of streets away from the bustling Byward Market. They have a variety of French pastries that are made fresh on site and it smelled amazing. We ended up grabbing breakfast pastries and coffee here twice on our trip to Ottawa, service was very friendly, pastries were delicious and safety protocols were in place. Will definitely visit again next time we come to Ottawa.

Have been here a few times recently. The tarts and eclairs are good, but the service is lacking. Staff doesn't seem very friendly or inviting, makes you feel bad that you bothered them for a croissant and some coffee. Also the traditional french vienoisseries are doughy - the flour is too dense and they are missing that lovely light, airy, crispness that you would expect from a french bakery.

Not impressed by the bakery items- either bread/ baguette or eclair. Stopped at the bistro on the back for branch on weekend. I had tuna, and other person had French toast. Both were good, however it was not what we wanted to order. We wanted wild mushrooms dumplings and bacon potato. They run out of it. Well we came earlier next day, but surprisingly they out of it again. Was it even there?

The fraisier was stellat, as usual!! The service on the phone very pleasant, helpful & accommodating . Unfortunately, the young server in the front of the store was very cool & brusque. Not what I expected when I picked up my order & wanted to purchase some other baked goods.Some more customer service training might be in order. However, I would reorder le fraisier in a hot second!!

By far the best and most traditional French bakery I have found in ottawa. The croissants are amazing, the baguettes are lovely and all the breads are delicious and extremely fresh, also the pastries and coffee are amazing.The store is very tidy and clean and the staff are amazing. I have been coming here since I was little with my mother. This place is truly a jem.

The best French pastry shop in Ottawa, period! Their croissants, almond croissants and baguettes are our favourites and so fresh and delicious. Last January for the Epiphany we ordered the specialty only made once a year ‘ Galette des Rois ‘ and our French visiting friends swore it was the best they ever had. Vive Le Boulanger Français!!! Robert et Rachel

The bakery is small and has more of a get your pastries to go vibe, but that's okay! The selection of breads and sweet treats was good. But the taste and quality of the food was all there, I wished I had seconds. My cake and tart were both fresh and tasty. It is a bit pricey but nothing out of the ordinary for a French bakery. It's definitely worth it.

My almond tart wasn't fresh. Wanted a croissant but could tell they weren't the flaky style I like. The guy at cash was super nice. However when I had just opened my box, some guy who probably worked in the kitchen strode up to me and rudely asked if I needed my box. Twice. Excuse me? What were you planning to do, reuse it?! Absolutely appalled.

Very good croissant and breads. As several have mentioned, the service isn't the best and the man at the cash makes yo you feel like you're inconveniencing him. I haven't tried the pastries, but their croissants and breads are very good. I've been coming here for years, and if you can get over the mediocre service, you'll enjoy the baked goods.

From the moment I walked in the smell of the bakery reminded me of being in the bakery in Venezuela a similar French bakery the eclairs were delicious the bread was delicious everything is homemade and doesn't get any better than that I highly recommend this place to anyone who's looking for true French bakery in Canada's capital.

I was frustrated the other day because the French Baker messed up and forgot my order on Mother's Day, but Scott, the owner, called me back quite quickly after my negative review and personally delivered a dozen croissants to my house. Scott, you have a happy customer again. Thank you for making the effort to make it right.

Drove by several times always meaning to drop in and just happened to be open today so today was the day. Picked up chocolate eclairs and they were delicious ! The quaint shop brought back memories of my childhood when I lived in Belgium. So happy to have found the boulanger . Will definitely be back for the croissants!

The bakery shop is tidy and neat. The food I bought were good, but nothing outstanding. They were all something I have tasted elsewhere. They tasted a bit old and dry. The chocolate cookie was a bit mushy where there was chocolate, while I expected the cookie to be crispy thoroughly. The server was kind and friendly.

This place is a jewel. I love all the bread and coffee in this store. last day of 2020, I bought chocolate cake, croissant, cinnamon roll, Eclair, and mousse cake.!!!! I drove for 40 minutes to buy these, but it's worth it. The staff were super kind (Always) and brought me a box of cakes to my car. See you soon!

Best croissants in Ottawa! Lots of other yummy pastries, and good service as well, in English or French. I don't understand the negative reviews. I have been a customer for years. They NEVER have stale croissants because they are sold out out every day. The service is efficient, but never rude.

Love the croissant! By far the best in Ottawa!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Almond Croissant, French Pastries, Croissant and Pear Tart, Regular Croissants, Cookie

Quality and freshness has been going downhill lately, Very disappointing I have had better croissant in Mumbai, India! Stale, over baked and lacking layers - and that’s not a one off thing, that’s the third batch I get over the last 6 months One would expect much more out of a $5 croissant

Suddenly had a craving for almond croissant. Luckily they were willing to put some aside for me this morning (as they were sold out within 2 hours yesterday)! The almond croissants did not disappoint. They were so buttery, flaky on the outside and soft on the inside. Absolutely delicious.

It's hard to find really good bread and cakes in this area, but The French Baker excels at everything they serve. Breads, cakes, pastries, cooked meals like Pot au Feu. I recently tried their " Lumberjack bread". Oh my. Dense, flavourful, multigrain, dark bread. A real treat for Ottawa .

There is no menu. I asked for 1. Iced coffee 2. Mocha they had neither and the guy explained it was a european menu. Not sure what that means but ended up getting an Americano and a croissant. Would help if they had a posted menu especially in such a touristy area. Croissant was decent.

Omg disgusting ! They is nothing French in this place. It looks third world bakery . Everything was old when we complained they were rude, that’s it.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$60–70
Food: 1
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1

We really liked the lemon tarts we got, but the eclairs were... well, not eclairs. The chocolate on top and pastry was fine, but the filling was literal chocolate pudding. Not even vanilla, or a creme, but chocolate pudding. Id suggest going with a more traditional filling next time.

Excellent gem we found in Ottawa while touring the city. We tried 3 treats-tartelette aux fruits, mille feuille, and an opera. Everything was tasty and staff explained the treats to us, helping us make our choices. Reasonable prices. I would grab treats again next time in the area.

Low quality products. Pain au chocolat was like regular bread with some chocolate inside - way too dense, and not at all like a proper croissant. Baguette lacked flavour. Bottom line : there are many better bread and pastry bakeries in Ottawa, so don't waste your money here.

On the outskirts of the byward market, this bakery stands out as the place that locals frequent for fresh breads and pastries, vs the touristy bakeries which are more central. Wonderful friendly staff and beautiful and tasty baked goods, definitely check this one out!

This is a place to go for quality baked products. Their desserts are flavorful with just the right amount of sweetness as their desserts are not factory produced and overladen with sugar and additives to increase their shelf life. Pricey? Yes, but it is worth it.

Pretty good almond croissants with a great pastry to paste ratio! Only complaint is the lack of pricing to be found anywhere or tags to indicate the type of pastry or bread. Would be nice to not have to constantly ask questions for the type of pastry and prices.

Very disappointed bough sour loaf and a Mille Feuille this morning- neither was fresh, they could not have been made this morning. I live in the neighbourhood and will not be back. Unfortunately you have not been the original owner for 27 years and it shows.

Classic French bakery. Amazing sandwiches with that hard-as-rock baguette bread, amazing pastries, really really good caramel tarts. The baked goods are really top notch. I've been to Paris, this place is typical Paris. An absolute gem downtown Ottawa.

The man at the cash was a little grumpy, but he did kindly tell me about the different tarts they had. I went for the pecan chocolate and it was amazing. Don’t think I’ve ever had anything like it - fresh, tasty, and a nice mix of soft and crunchy.

Make sure you look at what they give you if they go to the back for your baked goods! We got a bunch of burnt croissants, but didn’t find out until we opened our bag at home. Normally these are excellent, but this was a disappointment :(

Stubbled upon this place by accident with a friend. It is kind of hidden behind the main area that is considered the Byward Market but definitely worth the visit. The bake goods are amazing! The selection and quality of breads are great.

Amazing croissants, the almond croissant is perfect. The Illy coffee is great too. We got a lemon pound cake, and cinnamon rolls. All perfect and fresh. The staff are amazing too. Don’t go here and be in a rush this isn’t Starbucks. Get

I went there for the first time to buy their galette des rois and the old man at the cash was extremely rude. I called 20 mins before arriving at their store to ask if they had any galette de rois left and he told me he had two left, I

I can appreciate that the shop opens early compared to other pastry stores in the market and around this area. But, unfortunately, the baked goods (croissant, scone…) selection was quite limited and both croissants I ordered were stale

I used to go to Boulanger Français often during the period that Jérôme Mantel, original owner was there. I just purchased Opera pastry - it was dry, not fresh and some croissants - they were also dry and not edible. Will never go back !

They don't slice bread!! Why ever not? Just odd. Overhyped on the 'authentic' french.... their pastries are average at best. Far from being authentically french. In a city that is lacking good bakers, it's just hyped and over priced.

Quite an expensive shop for what you get. The croissants and other confections seem to be made with “rough puff” pastry instead of traditional puff pastry. They’re buttery and passable, but a little bit tougher than they should be.

One of the most slowest establishment I have ever came across It doesn’t make sense that it takes somebody five minutes to make a simple coffee and the lack of awareness knowing that your customers are in a hurry is incredible.

The staff was nice but overall we were disappointed. We tried a whole range of products but the croissants, the pains au chocolat, and the chaussons aux pommes etc. were not particularly amazing. The baguette was good though.

Very good croissants! variety of options and good price. The only negative thing is that they say they offer delivery on Google, but when we called them they say that they don't provide that service.

Order two croissants (plain and chocolate) for $6.80. The outside was crisp (and no crumbs when teared), while the inside had a bread texture (something to bite into) and slightly dry but filling.

Best Boulanger in Ottawa! It's been a family favourite since we moved here in 2006. The very best cinnamon rolls, sour dough bread and croissants. It's a place we take every visitor to Ottawa.

My husband and I bought two pastries here early on a Sunday morning and they were so dry and stale we could barely eat them! The espresso however was pretty good and the service was friendly.

This place is a gem .Even though it's not fancy but the quality of their baked goods is impeccable and impressive. I travel 35 min to get their almond croissants. Everything is super tasty.

Still relatively better than the alternatives in Ottawa, but the quality of the croissants has sadly significantly decreased since the pandemic (they now taste a bit dry). Friendly staff.

Agree with another review, nice food, nothing particularly outstanding yet but I only tried 3 things. The mini lemon cakes are very nice though, will definitely be buying more of them.

Great little bakery with some delicious treats. The croissants were light, fluffy, but a little dry. The other treats looked amazing but I ran away before I got myself into trouble!

Very happy to have a proper French bakery nearby. Classic style, if you want croissants and baguette as if you're in France, this is the best place to go in the area, hands down.

Not that good; incomparable with real French bakeries Croissant is almost as bad as what you'll find in a grocery store. Flavor is only ok, and the texture is like white bread.

Prompt and friendly service. We had the almond croissant and an apple tart. Both were good and fresh. Don't forget to spare some time to try the amazing brunch at the back.

Really unimpressive. Chewy baguette, pain au raisin not flaky at all, croissant and pain au chocolat the same. Really nothing special at all. There’s far better than this.

Amazing French bakery with delicious pastries! Their croissants were sold out but I tried their French candies and a chocolate biscuit pastry that were really good!

It smells soooo good here. Super kind and friendly customer care. Delicious bread!!! Traditional French bakery at very reasonable prices. Simply a gem. #localguide

One of my favorite bakeries in Ottawa! Everything I’ve gotten there is amazing quality and they also have great espresso-based coffees and imported & local treats

My partner and I go to this fantastic bakery most weeks - amazing place and amazing products! Bread, cakes and almond croissant - fantastic. Staff v.helpful too!

So happy the French Baker is open again! I love heading up Murray Street to work with my treat for the day. Always such great quality whether pastry or savoury.

Delicious traditional French baked goods and patisserie. Butter involved! Always try to stop in while in Ottawa. Great sweets, cakes, fresh breads and coffee.

They have good desserts, but they are highly overpriced. The quality is just standard, but the price is three times higher than you expect. Not recommended.

I bought a chocolate croissant and almond croissant. The almond croissant was amazing!I tried some in Ottawa.This is the best almond croissant !Must try.

I visit this place occasionally and I am always pleased with the service. A few days ago, I entered the bakery to purchase items, there was a worket

Always a treat to visit. Lots of pastries and specialty French groceries. Butter croissants are to die for but can sell out so go earlier in the day.

My family and I have been going here for many years because the quality of the baked goods is outstanding and the customer service is equally good.

The almond croissants are delicious. The bread always fresh. Perfect spot for a coffee and a treat in the morning. Fantastic service as well.

Best bakery in the area. The staff is very friendly and they offer a wide selection of fresh, high-quality products. Highly recommended!

ZOMG the BEST eclair we ever had with chocolate custard. The chocolate and almond pastry was excellent as well. Worth the ride downtown

This bakery has became my favourite spot to get my lunch from. The sandwiches are simply amazing, this is my new fixation food!

Not bad for mouse cake... A little too sweet. If this place could reduce sugar in cake and pastries would be very nice.

Very good french bread, pastries and baked goods, really delicious and worth the price along with great fresh coffee.

Worth a visit. Be sure to preorder sandwiches ahead of time if you're in need of one, they sell out very quickly.

Better than Moulin de Province by a long shot. Fresh delicious pastries with lovely service. And no wasps!

A must stop when visiting Ottawa. Amazing French pastries, sandwiches and friendly customer service.

Very fresh croissant and delicious cappuccino thanks guys for great services bad cozy store …

Best bread in town, I know because I lived in France lol their rouleau à la cannelle is amazing !

Best bakery in Ottawa, hands down. Definitely a must-try if you are in the Ottawa region.

Great quality baked goods with very friendly staff. I love their mille-feuilles!

Great bakery, fresh pastry and a lot of options for the French pastry lovers!

Awesome bread and deserts. The people are very pleasant.

Super yummy! And very cute!! It's like artwork!!