Eating Melbourne

In which I eat the best almond croissant ever, when I eventually find somewhere to sit.

Parisian Patisserie, 19 Keilor Road, North Essendon. (03) 9379 3815

On a frosty Saturday morning, J and I took his mum out for breakfast. She lives in Strathmore, so we decided to visit the new(ish) patisserie on Keilor Rd that my friend Andrea had been telling us about recently.

Parisian Patisserie is owned by Le Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef Neil McKenzie and his wife Majella, who spent some time living in Paris; they previously owned a couple of other Melbourne patisseries, St Germain in Essendon and French Quarter in North Melbourne.

Apparently the McKenzies’ plan was to “create a portal to Paris in the suburbs” – and sure enough, it does look très Francais. It’s all white decor with black chairs, a counter laden with pretty pastries, lots of petit round tables pour deux lined up along the wall with a banquette on one side.

Looks gorgeous – but you’ll find it hard to get a seat for a party of more than two. The tables are small and close together, so not much space for moving chairs around. There’s a bit more seating out the back down the hallway, but it’s not exactly atmospheric.

Anyway, the food. I had an almond croissant, which I think may well be the best one I’ve ever had. Sooo rich though! Struggled to get through it!

J had a toasted ham and cheese croissant, and his mum had an escargot. Both were very nice, but not quite in the same rock-your-world league as the almond croissant.

Coffee was average. Drinkable, but not great. My latte came in a cup instead of a glass. I’m pretty sure that makes it a flat white, but whatever.

I’d be keen to come back here and try more of the other pastries; the beignets looked good, as did the pains-au-chocolat.

Who am I kidding, I’ll probably just get the almond croissant again. But next time I think I’ll take away rather than eat in.