Restaurants & Bars
French Bakery Opens In Danville
Maison Benoit on Railroad Avenue is run by a team of French natives and aims to emulate an authentic French pâtisserie.
DANVILLE, CA — Why travel to Damville, France for French pastries when you can now get them in Danville, California? Maison Benoit, an authentic French bakery, opened at the start of January at 402 Railroad Avenue, near Lunardi’s.
The bakery was opened by Lafayette resident and Paris native Benoit Viaille, who worked for Microsoft, then in fine wine, then at Sotheby’s, according to a Mercury News profile. The croissants, galettes, baguettes, and much more are prepared by a head chef from Paris and a pastry chef from Bordeaux.
In true French style, ample outdoor seating is available to leisurely enjoy coffee and authentic French food. The bakery also offers quiches, sandwiches, Ecuadorian coffee, and more.
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So far, Tri-Valley residents are impressed.
“Danville, a REAL french bakery has arrived. Real from the moment you walk in and see the beautiful industrial oven front and center, to the georgeios pastries, sandwiches and bread made right before your eyes. This place on Railroad [Avenue] will teleport you to Paris,” one reviewer wrote on Yelp.
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“The croissants were [the] best I've ever had, so flaky yet so fluffy inside. The [choquettes] were perfect - the cream inside was the perfect amount of sweetness and consistency,” wrote another. “The salmon quiche was flaky and so moist. Everything is simple but they perfected every pastry.”
“The place smells like a warm summer day in Danville. The crunch of the bread and the drip of the coffee... it makes all the gloom go away,” wrote a third.
Danville bakeries and cafés are developing something of a regional reputation. In January 2023, East Bay Bakery, which specializes in cupcakes and adds Indonesian elements, was named one of the Bay Area’s best new bakeries by The East Bay Times. In April 2023, Corner of Brazil was included in The Mercury News’s best new Bay Area coffee and tea houses. In October, Mercury News readers named Christy’s Donuts one of the 17 best bakeries in the Bay Area.
Maison Benoit is open Wednesday to Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit their Instagram page for more information.
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