I’ll admit that I’m a softee when it comes to rating locally-owned businesses. I tend to round up. But, if any local small business deserves a high rating it’s this place. I’ve seen the other 5 star Yelp reviews for Baguette Cafe and was really skeptical that a small place in an office park could be that good, but it is.
I’ve been there a few times in the last 2 weeks and the food I’ve tried ranged from good to excellent. What makes it so good are the fresh ingredients and the spreads and soups that are made from scratch. The prosciutto sandwich with mixed greens and walnuts had a home-made celery spread. I’ve had it twice and the first time it was very good, the second time the prosciutto was too thick and salty.
On another occasion I had the molé chicken sandwich which had a nice tangy and spicy spread. The two soups I’ve tasted, the carrot coconut soup and the onion soup, are both excellent. The three cheese panini is another delicious sandwich. It has gorgonzola, mozzarella, goat cheese, tomatoes, and basil and you can add chicken (which I did), turkey, or prosciutto to it. The chicken curry sandwich has a creamy yellow curry sauce with a little bit of heat. The key to any great sandwich is the bread and theirs is fabulous. A little thick and crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy inside. According to the owner the bread is baked daily from dough imported from France.
Portion sizes aren’t super-sized like most sandwich places these days. But, they are a size that I would consider to be normal and healthy. If you’re in a hurry, this may not be the best place to go because it does take a while to get your order. Which I attribute to a more laid back European culture than the fast-food mentality that most Americans have. But, the food is worth it. You can tell it’s meticulously and thoughtfully prepared. You can feel the care and love that the owner(s) put into this establishment. And, it doesn’t just stop with the food. The feel of the cafe is like a clean, modern, Starbucks-esque interior (with less merchandise and flair). It’s their attention to detail — from ingredients to plating — that make this place a hidden gem and the friendly staff make this a fantastic establishment. The only real negatives about this place are the difficult to find office park location and the fact that they’re not open late or on weekends.
4.5 Stars
— Updated below: 8/16/11 —
After eating here more than a dozen times, I can confidently say that this is one of my favorite spots in Las Vegas to eat. Yes, that includes all those high-end, Michelin starred Strip restaurants. The food here, due to their use of fresh ingredients and made-from-scratch sauces, spreads and soups, is consistently amazing.
Sandwiches and soups have amazing depths in flavor, pastries are so delicate and addictive, and muffins are fresh and light. The most amazing item may be their chocolate tart. It’s richness is perfectly balanced with the chocolate’s bitterness and is light enough to make you not regret the calories.
I feel fortunate to live so close and to have experienced their culinary brilliance. This modest cafe is truly one of Vegas’s greatest treasures and an absolute gem of a restaurant.
5 Stars
8359 W Sunset Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89113
(702) 269-4781
