By Samantha Fournier

The door to West Hartford’s La Petite France Bakery swung open with ease on this hot spring day. The dim lighting in the bakery and café offered relief from the scorching sun outside. Scaling the walls of the small space were black and white photos from the streets of Paris.

Past a few small tables filled with customers enjoying light lunches was the glass counter that illuminated a variety of French baked goods. The glass case is home to a variety of sweets from chocolate croissants to fruit tarts and madeleines. Each dessert will seem more enticing than the next.

But before you decide to enjoy dessert at this bakery a variety of French sandwiches are offered. The Marseille is served on a crunchy baguette filled with sun dried tomato pesto, fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced prosciutto, crisp lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes.

While the sandwich is not comparable to Subway size sandwiches, it is still filling and will satisfy your grumbling stomach. The Parisien is a little bit simpler but just as delicious. It consists of ham and cheese served on a baguette coated in butter. Sandwich prices range from six to seven dollars. The café also offers vegetarian sandwiches and was serving French onion soup.

You can enjoy your sandwich in the European style café surrounded by the sounds of French music playing in the background or take it to go.

Before leaving, make sure to give in to your sweet temptations by purchasing a French pastry. The chocolate croissant is perfectly crispy on the outside, but soft in the center, which is filled with rich softened dark chocolate pieces. La Petite France has 11 other sweet and savory croissants on the menu including a cheese croissant and a raspberry croissant.

The choco poire is the bakery’s signature tart. The crisp crust surrounds soft sweetened pears, crisp almonds, and areas of delicious dark chocolate.

Though it isn’t a bargain, this little bakery and café, which originated in Stafford Springs is a great addition to West Hartford Center. It attracts many customers with its quality dishes and sweet pastries baked fresh each day. Come experience the magic of a Parisian’s palette at La Petite France.

La Petite French Bakery

967 Farmington Avenue
West Hartford, Conn. 06107
Phone: 860-231-9255
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 7 a.m. –5 p.m.
Thursday 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. 5:00pm
Sunday  8am–4:00pm