For a bit of Paris morning, at Trinity Park.

In the morning locals go for croissants and steamy bowls of cafe au lait, hearing French spoken (from the kitchen), reading newspapers supplied to customers. Sit back and relax. Croissants are the big draw at Clafouti for good reason: They’re fresh (made that very morning), made by pros ( Parisian pastry chef Boris Dosne) and painstakingly perfect (most of the time).

Croissants, herby roast chicken, olive bread with garlic and clafouti (more on this later) are all specialties of this cute-as-a-button French bistro, owned by brothers Boris Dosne and brother Olivier Jansen-Reynaud’s. With its rustic cottage-y interior (wouldn’t it be great to have a fireplace here), this is what café-bakeries should look like.

Clafouti opened its little doors across from Trinity park in January, and every so slowly it has captured the heart of - not just the Bellwoods neighbourhood - but the hungry Toronto masses. Pastry Chef Boris Dosne and brother Olivier Jansen-Reynaud’s menu is a crash course in classic French bistro fare, stocked with French bistro staples such as Croque Monsieur, Croque Madame and of course, croissants. Other than the croissants, you won't find anything groundbreaking here - just simple, expertly prepared food at reasonable prices.

Lunch features salads, a sandwich selection that include the likes of chicken breast, and roast beef, and a refreshingly fresh take on a garlic-spiked lasagna (perfectly cooked outside and in -- the parmesan cheese, basil, tomatoes and meat sauce dispersed throughout), basically well-prepared foods. Again, it's casual, feels French, and the pastry selection alone is worth the drive. Owner and employees speak French and English. Service isn't always perfect, but it's fine. The best part: it's relatively cheap. No entree costs more than $10.

The pastry department includes a selection of clafout - a fruit-filled French dessert. Dosne prepares his clafouti as a fruit-filled tart. Several freshly baked varieties - sour cherry, lychee - in a smooth custard, baked in a buttery crust.

Clafouti is located in a tiny spot across from Trinity Bellwoods Park, a relatively untraveled part of town - until now. Dosne and frere have taken the best of the former storefront setting - namely the tidy dark wood-accented interior - and combined it with food worthy of the setting. The interior, sectioned in half, giving an unusually large kitchen, is more attractive than you might imagine from the nondescript exterior. With consistent buttery, crispy and simultaneously chewy croissants rolling out each morning, Clafouti gets my vote for Toronto’s best little secret.

Upshot: It's relaxed, a place to linger. Dogs are often attached to chairs outside..

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Reader Reviews

Wonderful little bakery
Karen Andersen Toronto
May 24, 2003
I just discovered this little French bakery /cafe , CLAFOUTI, two weeks ago, even though it opened in February. They make great sandwiches (my favourite is Curry Chicken with walnuts and mango) and pastries (Almond Brioche is yummy), and good coffee - take out or to stay. They have 4 small cafe tables inside and a bench outside. All the breads and pastries are baked onsite and the cafe has that wonderful bakery scent It is a wonderful little bakery and is another example of what makes Toronto a great city to live in!