Opens early. Often get the baguets and crossants right off the oven trays. Consistently high quality. Family requires i bring bakery home every sunday– and sometimes in the middle of the week. Great find quite a few years ago and still going whenever we are in town. Nice patio for small children to explore.
Lindsey M.
Place rating: 5 Vista, CA
Talk about quaint! Sweet little café in a quiet shopping center bordering the town of RSF(so fancy, but without the pretentiousness!) I’ve come to really like stopping here for a quick coffee while I’m in the area. Indeed, it is a very small café, 5 tiny, circular tables line the walls inside, but it has a lot of character!(And plenty of places to sit and eat/drink just outside) Drinks are made quick and to perfection. Might I suggest the Dark Chocolate Mocha?! It resonates as coffee but has that level of sweetness you’d want of something containing chocolate! What I love most about Champaign French Bakery is how personable and attentive the staff is! They clearly build rapport with their customers and create regulars with ease! They invite dialogue, as I learned on my first trip here when I needed a setting to finish writing a painstaking final paper, overhearing the girl behind the counter making connections with everyone that came through the door. Talk about eats! I can’t wait to go back to try one of their tasty-looking treats that tease passerby from the safety of their encasing!
Cyrielle H.
Place rating: 4 Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego, CA
This is my favourite bakery in San Diego! The pastries and desserts are really well made and you can taste the amazing quality of ingredients. They are pretty close, though not identical or perfectly authentic, to real French pastries. Their food menu is also very good. This particular location is great as it has a large outside sitting area and an inside café, though the inside café seating is very noisy and the kitchen is in the same area contributing to the noise. Overall a great place to eat any meal.
David P.
Place rating: 1 Mira Mesa, San Diego, CA
Order a to-go sandwich for lunch today. The salad is spoiled and smells really bad. When I was waiting for my order, I saw a lady was picking up something from the salad bag. I was wondering why they were doing that rather than tossing the whole bag. I didn’t realize they were making the salad for me. When I got back to office and opened the lunch box, the smell of rotten vegetables really hit me! Will never buy any thing from them. They are not honest people.
Joe D.
Place rating: 4 Encinitas, CA
Cafes and dessert places are tucked all throughout Encinitas but far and away, the CFBC is my fave. First, it oozes chill. Inside is cozy(meaning not a ton of room) but you don’t come here to sit inside — the CFBC is all about the patio outside. My dogs and I love coming here to relax and enjoy a break in the day– ample seating outside with little shady alcoves for cooling off on a hot day, or you can drag your chair into the sun to soak up some vitamin D while you wait for your order. Breakfast-wise, the offerings are simple, elegant and scrumptious. The highlight is the Brioche French Toast, which comes topped with perfectly-toasted almonds and sweet, fresh strawberries. As a vegetarian, I usually skip the bacon that comes with it but if my dogs are in tow, the bacon goes to them. I’ve also had the croissant sandwich, that comes with potatoes and the crispy caramel oatmeal, which is flavorful and filling. The desserts are pretty awesome though admittedly, you’ll occasionally scoop one up only to find that the presentation is flashier than the actual taste. The mousse cakes are, across the board, insane. As in they’re so good, somebody should lock them up and throw away the key so they don’t fall into the hands of the wrong people. But until that happens, you cannot go wrong with the Cappuccino Mousse Cake, the Strawberry White Chocolate Mousse or the signature dessert, the Three Layer Chocolate Mousse Cake. I’m not a tart man and never have been and therefore I can’t comment on the wide selection of fruity tarts glistening in the case, but my friends who have tried them have uniformly enjoyed them immensely. Coffee drinks are standard and while some dessert prices might be a teensy-weensy bit higher than other places, the flavors, ambiance and relaxation factor more than compensate. Let’s face it– if you’re looking for a quick and cheap sugar-and-caffeine fix, there’s a donut shop on every block. But if you’re looking for something different, with a wide selection of tasty breakfast, lunch and/or dessert options and you’ve got some time to kill, this is your place.
Krys L.
Place rating: 5 Makawao, HI
A hidden gem which I can’t get enough of. I love coming to the Champagne French Bakery Café. I get the same thing every time too. I’ve tried other things off friend’s plates but I absolutely love what I get. It’s healthy, filling, and packed with many flavors — like all their other dishes. No matter how busy they are, their service is still topnotch.(I try not to be a regular, but I think it’s heading that way. I wish they delivered across the street for lunch). I’ve always taken my food to go but the one time I did eat there under the trees, it was all still excellent. ps. the three layer chocolate mousse cake is sublime.
Jeremy S.
Place rating: 4 Carlsbad, CA
Champagne is a cool little dessert spot with a location near Rancho Santa Fe and another near Del Mar. This particular location is great and has a fantastic selection along with a ton of dog friendly outdoor seating options. The food and dessert here are great but I have to give a shout out to the Pear Lemonade and the lemon cookies, they are freaking delicious! Overall, a great option for desserts etc… Pros– Location Pet friendly outdoor seating Selection Menu Service Tons of parking Cons– A bit pricey Limited dining options
Lyndsey C.
Place rating: 5 Rancho Santa Fe, CA
My favorite here is the albacore tuna sandwich, so delicious every time. I’ve never been disappointed with food or service. The yellow curry salad dressing is amazing, a must try. The sweet treats are yummy, and everything I’ve ever ordered here been very tastes.
Dan N.
Place rating: 5 Encinitas, CA
Wonderful! I arrived early and am enjoying a great breakfast on the patio. The young man that served me was friendly and on the ball. My omelet was delicious! For you worker-types, they don’t have WiFi, so enjoy the tasty food, friendly service, pleasant plaza with its fountain.
Eric M.
Place rating: 5 Buena Park, CA
So good! My girlfriend and I love coming to this place for breakfast. The Brioche French Toast is AMAZING and the service is always great. We’ve never come here and not enjoyed our meal, and we’ll keep on coming back for a long time. 10⁄10
Lynn A.
Place rating: 2 San Diego, CA
What a disappointment. Went to have breakfast with a friend here this morning. I asked if the chocolate croissants were bake fresh this morning. I was assured that they were. I thought the guy had a funny look in his eye as he spoke. As a food professional, I can assure you that one bite confirmed my suspicions: definitely NOT freshly baked. I would guess that it was probably at least a day old. I took one bite and politely returned it to the counter saying«This is NOT fresh.» It was a beautiful morning and I did not wish to make a scene, but foolishly either expected they would bring me one that WAS fresh, or would offer to refund my $ 5. Nada. Nothing at all. No apology. No explanation. Nothing. If you’d like to throw your money away, go here.
Dotty B.
Place rating: 5 Carlsbad, CA
What a treat: great almond croissants, crêpe breakfast, and delicious cappocino. A small space that feels intimate. But if you want a larger area, the outdoor piazza is ideal. Bring your dog. Congenial service and good food. Charming.
Amanda M.
Place rating: 5 Fullerton, CA
I really love going to this place when I am home. Even after being away for a month, the staff still knows my coffee order and makes it the second I walk in the door. They are just so great and friendly and such exceptional service. The chocolate croissants and Jesuits are great. For lunch I love the chicken pesto sandwich and tomato basil soup. But everything here is great, I’ve tried it all. This place is also great to bring your dogs too. They have a great outdoor seating area where you can eat with your doggie companion!
Jane P.
Place rating: 5 Rancho Santa Fe, CA
My fave french bakery! Soups and sandwiches are divine. And don’t get me started with their cakes and pastries!
Tinie T.
Place rating: 5 San Marcos, CA
Absolutely love this place! I think the food here is amazing. The service is super friendly and helpful. I think this place is even better than St. Tropez Bakery and Isabelle Brien’s Bakery, two other French bakeries in Encinitas that I’ve frequented as well. I had the Turkey Florentine Panini(Turkey Breast, Creamed Spinach, Red Onion, Roasted Red Peppers, Tomatoes and Swiss Cheese on a Grilled Baguette) with a side of pesto pasta. It was awesome. I also had a delicious sugar cookie in the shape of a snowflake and decorated with festive green sprinkles. There’s indoor and outdoor seating. The ambiance is charming, cozy and upscale.
Mateo M.
Place rating: 2 Kihei, HI
Meh. Used to live in the area long ago so I dropped in looking for a few desserts before heading to a dinner party nearby. Picked up a variety of decadent looking treats at ~$ 5 each. Unfortunately the party guests and I agreed that they all tasted a tad average except for the one that was almost entirely mousse. The cake used in all the others was only so so and not as moist as I would have expected. NBD since they weren’t unbelievably expensive, but I’ll keep looking for my favorite after dinner treats.
Lisa N.
Place rating: 5 Sydney, Australia
Walking in, I felt like I was somewhere in Europe. It’s a bit classier than the typical bakery in California. It’s pleasant with a few tables inside, but the best seating is all of the outside tables, in a nice courtyard under some trees. It’s a pretty quiet area despite being in the middle of a bunch of stores. While unfortunately I have the curse of gluten intolerance so I haven’t had their baked goods, I hear they are excellent! Their chocolate mousse cup is the best I have ever had and I literally have to stop myself from driving over there every day to get it. I’ve had their omelets, which look small but are surprisingly very filling. Their true excellence(besides my beloved mousse cup) is in the Goat Cheese Salad — try this! The goat cheese, the strawberries — it’s just a great combination. Light yet satisfying. I would love to try other things, but what I have had is so great it will be hard!
Naaz M.
Place rating: 1 Vista, CA
Out of all of the locations of the Champagne Bakery, this one is my least favorite. This particular day I took a friend to this location RAVING about how decadent the deserts are… but they did not live up to its reputation. I ordered a slice of princess cake and my friend ordered a slice of the 3 layer mouse cake and they were melting before we had even reached a table! Maybe someone left the freezer open or there was a malfunction? I was so disappointed.
Milan B.
Place rating: 4 Rancho Santa Fe, CA
These guys are popping up everywhere in Southern California from Costa Mesa to Del Mar, but there was once a day where there was only one: this one. And this is still the best location of all. Nestled in an upscale shopping center that takes a cue from a themed rather than commercial design playbook, the bakery is tucked away inside a quiet courtyard, complete with trickling courtyard, aged stonework, and sweeping, multi-level terraces with clocktower. Though more evocative of Spanish-Moorish architecture than French, the illusion of globe-trotting is complete once one settles into a wicker chair with croissant and espresso in hand. Champagne is a counterpoint to Thyme in the Ranch. The latter’s rustic, delicious boldness executed in simplistic restraint is replaced with elegant, almost daintily decorated desserts of the variety that are so pretty that you hate to eat them. Indeed, they are complimentary to the point where I have used selections from both to cater several parties. The quiches and canapes from Champagne, in particular, are a wonderful crowd pleaser. The black-forest cake, with its deep rich chocolates and crème de-fraiche, is quite possibly their best. The smattering of meringue cookies and(only begun to be overpriced in recent times) macarons, as well as raspberry sandwich cookies dipped in a silky chocolate coat are all quite good though they must necessarily be enjoyed in the form of an adventuresome nibble. The breakfast menu is rather extensive and decidedly European, with the savory scrambled egg and tomato crêpe being one of my favorites. When enjoyed on a crisp morning with hot chocolate or other beverage in hand you can very easily imagine yourself transported into a more endearingly romantic existence — where instead of heading off to work you are quietly and contemplatively awaiting the inspiration for your first three-volume novel or concerto for oboe and strings. The drink menu has begun to take aim at chain coffee shops, though«espresso art» has yet to make an appearance here. Caffe lattes and capuccinos meet iced counterparts in addition to a selection of lemon and lime-ade inspired beverages during the summertime. The tiny café itself is decorated in french cottage nouveau style, homey yet elegant, with low light and warm, earthy colors. The staff is extremely attentive and runs about ensuring everything is to your liking, though being a counter service establishment they will quickly disappear after serving your order to your table. Perhaps its the childhood memories of stopping in here for dessert after dinner at Firenze or Marie Callender’s(which was admittedly a very fancy one… and allegedly the one where the Heaven’s Gate cult had their last meal before their mass suicide) that colors my impressions, but even the rise of the organic and«healthy» bakeries of Encinitas has not dimmed the luster of this tiny jewel one bit. In spite of its bubbly name and sudden corporate explosion, this particular bakery maintains a certain understated beauty and culinary and pastry mastery that is commiserate with its location at the gates of the Ranch.
Nicole K.
Place rating: 4 Los Angeles, CA
Hard to find but worth the search! Loved the décor, the food, outside patio seating and everything right down to the French background music! The only thing that I didn’t like was that it took the kitchen way too long to make my $ 6 «to go» breakfast sandwich. It was just some scrambled egg + avocado +tomato + cream cheese so I don’t know why it took so long, but the guy apologized for the wait which was nice. My friend and I sat outside by the fountain to enjoy our hot teas and food. Everyone was sitting outside in the patio pretty much. There’s only 2 small tables inside and it’s kind of cramped in there, but I always like to sit outside anyway :) Next time if I have a sweet craving I’d like to try one of their beautiful desserts!