Paillard operates as a high-volume bakery and café that specializes in traditional French artisanal techniques. The menu features an extensive selection of crusty baguettes, flaky croissants, and buttery pastries baked on-site throughout the day. Substantial sandwiches are crafted using house-made breads, frequently paired with hearty soups and crisp salads. The interior design emphasizes an industrial-chic aesthetic with high ceilings, exposed brick walls, and long communal tables designed for efficiency and rapid throughput. Guests order at a central counter where glass cases display an array of colorful macarons, tarts, and dense chocolate desserts. This establishment prioritizes the rapid production of quality wheat-based products within a bustling and utilitarian setting. It remains a central destination for those seeking authentic European-style baked goods served in a streamlined, self-service environment.
Paillard is widely recognized as a popular destination in Old Quebec for its extensive variety of fresh baked goods, including highly praised croissants, sandwiches, and assorted pastries. Many visitors appreciate the lively atmosphere, the ample seating, and the consistent quality of the food, making it a frequent stop for breakfast and lunch. While the bakery receives significant acclaim for its flavorful offerings and convenient location, opinions on the coffee and service are mixed. Some customers highlight friendly and efficient interactions, while others report occasional challenges with long wait times, busy crowds, and varying levels of staff attentiveness. Despite some concerns regarding pricing and service consistency, many guests consider the establishment an essential stop for anyone seeking an authentic bakery experience in the city.
Just enjoy how the pastries look on the shelves. They look amazing. We bought at least 6 different items ,- found the pastry to be low on flavor, not light & fluffy, but tough & difficult to bite & chew. Regret purchase rather than feeling good about indulgance. Bottle water was cold & refreshing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Paillard is an absolute gem & a must-visit for anyone in Quebec City! From the moment you walk in, you're greeted by the warm, inviting atmosphere & the aroma of freshly baked goods. Their pastries are nothing short of exceptional-crispy, flaky, & packed with flavor. Whether it's their buttery croissants or their decadent éclairs, everything tastes fresh & crafted with care. Paillard's menu offers something for everyone, from delicious sandwiches to gourmet coffees, making it a perfect spot for breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon treat. The quality of the ingredients shines through in every bite, & the attention to detail in both preparation & presentation is top-notch. The service is friendly & efficient, even during busy times. The staff is always eager to help with recommendations, & the overall experience is both welcoming & relaxed. Paillard combines quality, authenticity, & charm, making it a standout spot in the heart of the city. Whether you're a local or just visiting, Paillard is a place you'll want to return to again & again. Highly recommended for an unforgettable bakery & café experience!
The pastries are pretty good, but you need to reheat them first to soften that butter. If you eat them cold, it's super hard & dry. The drinks here are absolutely horrible. We tried 4 of them. The place is also super dirty, no one comes out to clean. Every table has crumbs & sticky stains all over, the garbage cans were overflowing with garbage, while there were constantly at least 2 employees behind the counter just chilling. Their washrooms are also super weird. You have to go up a set of stairs which probably leads you to another building. It's a super long walk.
Sep 11, 2024
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All pastries & croissants look amazing, had a cappuccino to enjoy with my butter croissant, highly recommend it. Service was fast & efficient/friendly. It is expensive, but your also buying great croissants. Came out of town had to try them again, bring a canvas bag if your taking out a paper bag is $3.30!
What ticked me off about this place was its overall "fast food" vibe. The quality of the pastries was okay-nothing special, but acceptable. However, they served the food on a tray without a plate, knife, or fork, & none were available in-house. Other reviewers suggested this café was authentically Parisian, & I respectfully disagree. I thought it was a less clean version of Panera Bread.
Spacious coffee shop, comfortable, mostly clean, mochaccino was so-so & reminded me of the stuff I got long ago from a coin operated coffee machine. It may have been instant coffee. Sandwich was 80% fluffy bread, looked better than it tasted. Salads, soups, pastries all looked good. Kind of pricey. Was able to charge my phone here.
The most delicious pastries you have ever tasted. The pastry was so flaky, custard layer delicious & fresh raspberries & blue berries on top. A party in my mouth haha. We sat on the patio & enjoyed the scenery as well.
The pastries were good & the service personnel are earnest & working hard to process the throngs of people waiting. Overall this was a nice place with one exception: they have two signs, one says "bread order" the other says "sandwich delivery". There are two cash registers between the two signs. I queued up with others to order a breakfast sandwich at the middle register & when I got to the front after about 10 minutes of waiting, the server seemed confused & said you order sandwiches at the "sandwich delivery" area. She also indicated that I should not have stood behind others at the register in the middle. I went over to the sandwich'delivery' area & waited a couple minutes & then was told at 1055 that they can't make breakfast sandwiches because the cut off was 11. Why not just make the big sign say'sandwich order' like the'bread order' sign? It simply looks like where you'd go to pick up an order not place one...
