LaSalle Bakery
Corn Muffin
Carrot Cake Muffin
Torrone
Cream Cheese Danish
Lobster Tail
Sfogliatelle
With two locations in Providence and an enormous array of options LaSalle Bakery is one of those places that falters for trying, its selection as “2011 National Retail Bakery of the Year” by Modern Baking still prominently displayed in literature but apparently creating an “everything to everyone” culture where quantity outranks quality both in terms of portion size and sheer volume of choices.
Named after the educational institution across Smith Street, the second storefront not far off at 685 Admiral, it is immediately upon entering the brightly lit Café that the corporate feel hangs heavy, a cluster of seats up front and polished “welcome to LaSalle Bakery” coming from a youthful staff tucked behind Pastry cases.
Owned by a second generation of Michael Manni at this time, Senior having purchased LaSalle from its owner in 1975, first time guests will need a moment to peruse before making decisions, the focus Italian but additionally including oversized Muffins, Croissants, Scones and Bagels.
Visually appealing but higher priced than the likes of Silver Star, DeLuise or The Original Italian Bakery, an Elmhurst address producing clientele quite different from the ethnic cohort seen at the others, it was beginning with a $2.49 Corn Muffin that disappointment arrived fast, the crumb dry and mealy without flavor while Carrot Cake inexplicably followed suit despite a good amount of Raisins.
Partially improving henceforth, housemade Torrone a rare treat stateside and at LaSalle setting a high standard for lightness amidst flavors of Almond and Citrus, those seeking another signature should feast their eyes upon Manni’s “Lobster Tail” stuffed end-to-end with Pastry Cream, though Sfogliatelle fares less well thanks to filling that wets the Pastry and stands in direct contrast to an insipid Cream Cheese Danish featuring less than a tablespoon of its most important ingredient.
www.lasallebakery.net
