Bonjour Patisserie
Almond Croissant
Bostock
Blueberry Financier
Canele
Chocolate and Coffee Éclair
Selected for early morning pastry due to its SoMA location combined with the fact that several of my San Francisco favorites are closed on Monday it was just after the break of day that I walked into Bonjour Patisserie and although a locally-owned business nothing about the décor or still service could shake the corporate feel of the Adobe-adjacent space. Small in size and still stocking the shelves as I entered it was presumably the owner and baker that I soon met and eyeing me suspiciously without even a hello as I perused the pastries a ‘can I help you?’ eventually emerged – three items for now with two taken to go my eventual order. Still impersonal as goods were packed and stared versus glared at as I snapped a few photos it was first in the croissant that I partook and although slightly over-sweetened the laminated layers gave way with good break to wispy insides perfumed with light frangipane, but not overly so. Moving next to more time-sensitive selections the sizeable canele would prove admirable in its springy custard despite a slightly soft shell while an espresso glazed éclair with rich chocolate cream showed Bonjour’s command of choux. At this point packing bags for a proper breakfast with more tasting to come at a conference break it was again without words until I said my “thanks” that I passed the counter and as much as I dislike passing praise onto such an inhospitable place I must say that both the toothsome financier and buttery bostock proved excellent nearly four hours later, though the later did make quite the mess of another Moscone Center table.
RECOMMENDED: Bostock and Financier.
AVOID: Decent, but trumped by several of San Francisco’s best, I’d pass on the canele and croissant unless focused solely on convenience.
TIP: Featuring soups and sandwiches later in the day along with some bagged grab-and-go options amidst an area somewhat devoid of better it came as no surprise that other patrons were obviously ‘regulars,’ yet even then service seemed strained to speak or smile – odd considering a name like Bonjour.