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French Gourmet Bakery and Cafe

MY REVIEW: This location, only, has closed. The Westheimer location is still thriving. Word has it, the landlord was going to raise their rent and they decided to call it quits for this place. H*unan Emperor, which is in the same strip center moved out earlier to be replaced by the U*nion Kitchen. Word has it they are seeking another location in West Houston. All of this is according to Houston Press website. I loved their baguettes and cakes.

NAME: nothing_but_the_facts
SUBMITTED: 3/9/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/2012
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: I definitely agree with the previosu reviewer. I was taken aback by the 10% that was added to my lunch bill without any notice. I even put a dollar in the tip jar and when I got outside noticed this charge. The food was ok, but nothing worth going out of your way for a visit. I do like their pastries but will avoid eating lunch there.

NAME: nothing_but_the_facts
SUBMITTED: 3/8/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/09
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: I have been here plenty of times, but not in a while. I, too, was surprised to find a 10% "service charge" added to my bill. (I didn't see a sign when ordering.) I asked what it was for, and she said it was like a tip. A tip? For what? Bringing my food to the table? For 10%, I feel I should have had my drink refilled at least once or asked if everything was okay. I got neither.

I don't agree with this policy of ripping off customers and not being up front about it, so I will not be back. Food was great, though.

NAME: ChrisK
SUBMITTED: 3/4/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 3/04/09
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: On my first visit I ordered a pastry and some cookies to go. (We ate them at home, and they were good. I wouldn't go back for the cookies, but the pastry was great.) Anyway, at the cash register, I noticed a sign that stated customers who stayed at the cafe would be charged an extra 10%. What?! I had already ordered my items to go, so I wasn't charged extra, but I think that's extremely rude. I won't be back. There are a half-dozen cafes and bakeries in the area with better atmosphere who appreciate my business - whether I stay or go!

NAME: Shocked by Extra Charges
SUBMITTED: 7/29/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: June 2008
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: i posted a nice review regarding their cookies. and i promised i would be back to tell you all how the cake turned out. well, i'll be sticking to their cookies. the italian cream cake that i ordered was very dry. i am not into icing, but since the cake itself was so dry, i found myself indulging in the icing to help out the dry cake. i am sure that their mouse cakes are good. but as far as batter cakes, i wouldn't go that way. either way, i hope everyone tries out this place and lets us know what they think.

NAME: foodiegirl
SUBMITTED: 5/4/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/2008
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: the cakes here are ok. i come here a few times a month just for their cookies. if cookies did not contain so much fat and sugar, i would come here every day!!!! they have the best chocolate chip cookies! they are moist, soft, not chewy and just melt in your mouth. my boyfriend raves about the cranberry pecan cookies. and he's not even a cookie guy. that's the only good thing i have to say about this place. i have noticed their cakes and will try out their italian cream cake for a coworker's birthday. i will be sure to come back and tell you guys what i think.

NAME: foodiegirl
SUBMITTED: 4/18/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/18/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: French Gourmet is one of the best place for cakes. Today is the president's b-day, and so the firm got him- Chocolate Moouse and boy, the cake is yummy in the tummy!!! I dont' know what everyone is talking about, because the icing was chocolate, and once you take a bite out of the cake, it just melts in your mouth. It also had some Amarreto inside the cake, which was also a plus+. I am definitely going to French Gourmet to get my father's day cake!!!

NAME: Jana
SUBMITTED: 6/13/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: June 13, 2006
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Every once in awhile I crave a chocolate croissant.I live very near the Memorial location so I pop in.Their pastries are ok,a bit oily,but ok.Their cakes.....pass them by.A added note,NEVER buy bread on a Saturday,altho it is delivered everyday,the bread on Saturday was baked the day before on Friday and with Houstons humidity,you can tell.The crust is gummy.I think it is deceptive selling day old bread as fresh.You will be much better off heading a few doors down to R*ce market.Their French bread is pretty good.At least it is baked daily and is crusty.Everything else borders on not so good to not bad.

NAME: Brindal
SUBMITTED: 3/12/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/05
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Extremely disappointed. I got my birthday cake from here and was really looking forward to it. My boyfriend warned me that he'd never liked anything he tried from here, but i didn't heed the warning. I had the chocolate rasberry cake. The cake was dry and you had to imagine the chocolate flavor, since it wasn't in the cake. It was filled with rasberry filling that was too sweet and completely lacking the tang of raspberry that makes chocolate and rasberry go so well together. The buttercream tasted like artificially butter flavored shortening. First time I can recall ever not finishing a piece of cake. I was extremely let down. Although my boyfriend was delighted, since...he told me so.

NAME: French Gourmet No More
SUBMITTED: 8/2/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: july 2004
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: They have very good cakes (not cheap).

Lunch portions are very small and high priced. The biggest disappointment is their desert included in lunch special. You expect from French bakery with good cakes, that it should be great, but all get a very cheap and tasteless very small piece of cake.

NAME: 
SUBMITTED: 10/3/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/1/03
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: This is the best kept secret in Houston - beyond excellence in taste, and great service. It is located in the River Oaks area. Anybody who wants to taste the best cakes/breads/cookies and "quick" lunch need to visit this wonderfully decorated bakery. You will be impressed.

NAME: loyal FGB client
SUBMITTED: 7/27/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: July 2003
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Murphy’s Law of Fine Food: When the food is great, the service isn’t.

I’ve been to this place dozens of times because my wife likes the pastries and one of my little boys likes the apple strudels. I usually just get the coffee, but sampling the strudels I’ve yet to find one that can match it. But anyway, the last time I was there, and I mean it’s the last time I’ll be there, the wait staff person, an elderly and seemingly good natured lady, took my order well enough, but then having brought it up to the cash register, proceeded to take the order of the loud mouthed jack*ss behind me. I thought that maybe someone else might be working the register so held my tongue, but sure enough she then proceeds to ring up his order before mine. I spoke up quickly enough while she was still tallying his pastries and before she had hit any buttons, informing her that I was here before him. She told me that his was to go so it would just be a moment. I had ordered six apple strudels and five slices of various cakes, so I think it was pretty obvious that my order was to go also. My wife and children were waiting in the car so I didn’t make a scene but just seethed in anger. You always in retrospect think of the right actions or words, such as, “If you ring his order up before mine, you don’t even have to bother because I’m not going to buy anything after being so insulted by the both of you.” And, “Hey buddy, you should tip over a thousand dollars here and now for cutting in front of me and for her letting you because that’s how much business this store is going to lose from me over the next couple of years.” Now I even wish I had just yelled at them both, especially that jack*ss, maybe even pulled my van around to block him in until I finished buying my food or standing in the doorway until my order was rung up. But I let it go. Guess I’ll just have to vent about their insult here.

I did drive down past the Galleria to the other location and the food is exactly the same, so I don’t know how much my little boycott is going to hurt the owner, but at least that wait staff at the Memorial location won’t get any more patronage or tips from me. It’s a bit of an inconvenience to drive out that much farther, but the once a week trip isn’t so bad I guess. I’m still shopping around for a good bakery and haven’t found one yet as good as this, taste wise, not service wise of course, according to my wife anyway. Some of the big chains are very good, including a prominent French eatery at 10001 Westheimer, but they don’t have exactly the same selection so although I go there a lot, and their service is great, my wife still likes a little more variety. So I’m still looking. I found the great recommendation for this location and I’m sure my wife would agree with it, just make sure you don’t take any abuse from butters and their wait staff enablers.

NAME: Ex Frequent Customer
SUBMITTED: 5/31/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 04-12-03 or so
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Best Italian Creme cake ever...it was so rich!

NAME: amanda
SUBMITTED: 3/18/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 3-13-03
FREQUENCY: Visited once

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