Elysee Bakery & Cafe

You're wanting some fresh, French-baked goods. Well, don't come here for it. The only thing French about this place, is the name.

I didn't find anything here authentically French, and the service is not so good either.

It's an average bakery, with a deceiving name. If they change their name, maybe I'd give them 3 stars. The fact that they advertise that they're French, and don't deliver, equals one star.

This review is solely for the petit fours. I have never eaten a meal there but bought selection of mini pastries to go. There is a case dedicated for them. mini cookies covered in almonds, walnuts, small puff pastries filled with blueberry. I think there were 20 or more options. I opened the package and what a pleasant surprise. I had been transported to France.. Everything was perfect, buttery, the right texture and sweetness. They would make the perfect gift. I can't wait to go back and try other ones.

The two things I enjoy most about Elysee are the excellent music tastes of the early Saturday morning staff and the interior's authentic replication of a similar operation in Paris. Seriously. It's a real pleasure to listen to an entire Nina Simone album in a light, airy, brasserie/bakery-type setting and pretend I'm actually sitting somewhere in the lower 18th arrondissement.

That said, the fare is fair to middling and the coffee is just o.k. Sorry Elysee, I guess I just blew becoming your *featured review*.

I'm not sure how crowded this place gets during the day, but I can highly recommend it as a venue in which to enjoy a book or newspaper at 7:30 AM on a Saturday morning. (Always a good time of day to avoid crowds of any kind on a college campus ;-)

I'm sure many people like this place, but it isn't really for me. The place gets super packed with students, the tables are quite small, and not many power outlets (meaning all the eager-beaver students gun for them). The place is a bit dark and grungy, and doesn't elicit a delightful response as befitting of it's lovely name.

I was visiting a friend for a bit of work and a bit of chit-chat, and was able to taste a bit of their Tiramisu. Not bad, although not mind-blowing. Well, this place seems more like a cafe. I might be wrong, and maybe I tried the wrong cake, but I've had better in the LA area.

Sorry guys (especially the Westwood locals), but I'm not really a fan of this place. I'll pass...

First let me get this off my chest. Why do "some" UCLA students think it's okay to sit at a paying restaurant for 7 hours and not pay anything after the first hour. It's a restaurant and cafe combination. It's not a park bench or the student library you have to pay to be there. I read one review with a person saying they were upset that their pockets were lighter after they left this place "SEVEN"hours later. They also said they brought their own tea bags. WHAT!!!

Geeze louis ... they should be lighter. You're taking up room at a restaurant. The owners need money to keep the espresso machine on. And some other reviewer was upset that they tax on things. TAX is a state law. It's not a "lemonade stand" people you pay for a library at your college use it and pack a PB&J sandwich.

Okay now that my rant is out of the way, Elysee is a pretty great bakery if you're looking to buy a fancy birthday cake or want to get a plate of treats and drink an espresso. The dark chocolate raspberry cake is the best "bring home" birthday cake in the whole case.

They also have little individual desserts that are amazing. Here's my top three. The mini strawberry short cake, the 'Opera Cake' that may make you sing out of excitement and the tiramisu. YUM!

They also have actual meals and sandwiches like: the 'Caprese Sandwich' this comes on a crusty baguette roll with fresh mozzarella, basil, tomato and mayo and then grilled on a panini press.

The 'grilled vegetable sandwich' is also excellent. It has eggplant, squash, zucchini, carrots, spinach, tomato, mozzarella, garlic and a pesto mayo. This is also on crusty bread and grilled on a panini press.

If you want pasta the farfale (bowtie pasta) with shrimp and sun-dried tomato is super yummy.

And then, if you're looking for something warm and sugary, the sweet crepe with nutella is delicious. Anything with nutty, chocolately nutella spread is great in my book.

I really like this place. It's an upscale cafe, that's affordable "for most". If you're a college kid looking for "free" this isn't the place for you. Any place with a cash register probably isn't for you "Miss. Seven Hour Sitter"

For everyone else hope you enjoy!

First walked in
No body was behind the cashier there were hanging out and eating on the side
Ok hello I asked for couple questions
Than I walked back to sit
The food didn't arrived as cashier describe
Any way
Bacon 2 out of 5
Fries 1out of 5
Coffee 1out of 5 (0.50) charge for refill
Egg 4 out of 5
And cookies 3 of out 5
Mmmmm won't come back

I am a total brunch lover and Elysee looked like the perfect place to brunch it. As a brunch-lover, one of my favorite dishes is eggs benedict, which I promptly ordered.

So it was with extreme disappointment that when I cut open my egg, it was completely cooked through and not runny in the slightest. This kind of quality is sacrilegious. Fully cooked eggs. Atrocious. In hindsight, I should have sent it back, but I was in a rush.

The desserts do look rather delicious, but this experience has completely turned me off. Of the bazillion places where I've ordered eggs benedict - or some related derivation like eggs florentine - this is the only place that got it wrong.

There is no shortage of temptation at Elysee Bakery. Two glass cases are literally filled with cakes, pastries, and cookies. I've had a few sweets here and there and so far, have been pleased. This was a great place for studying - lots of tables and free wifi.

Minus 2 stars because the prices are hit or miss and the service isn't very good. Some things are reasonably priced and others are a rip off. None of the desserts have labels or descriptions and when you ask the servers for help, they'll describe them to you but not without a hint of annoyance.

The service was terrible. The girl who served me was on the phone the whole time. Then she decided on a whim to close early because it was Halloween. Then she went around to people's tables to remind them to basically get out.

Chocolate, richer based cakes are very good here, however other cakes like their new red velvet seem too sweet and dense. No smoothness or fluffiness like I've experienced at other places. I have yet to taste their bread (the baguettes *looked* good... have yet to try them... hopefully they're the "correct" kinds of baguettes: crispy on the outside and very fluffy and buttery on the inside). It seems like their food is better than their pastries and bread but I'll have to try more.

Staff is okay... I think some people have problems with them b/c they are noob. One French girl didn't know about the bread but the guy did apparently b/c she's new.

I'd give it 3.5 stars but obviously I can't... If their food turns out pretty good I'll upgrade it to 4.

Also there's WiFi available here and I like when they open the window on slightly warm or slightly cool days.