Vécu (formerly Bistro Barberet & Bakery)

The quiche was awesome and all the pastries look so good. There's indoor seating and outdoor seating area to sit with you pooch if you bring them along. Coffee, teas, jams, prepared meals and salads for a quick grab and go as well. Has breads like baguettes and croissants as well. The line moves fast.

This is my new favorite restaurant. Everything was excellent. The food, the service, and the atmosphere. I love French pastries, and this is the first place I have found which lets you order an assortment of pastries directly from the bakery. Most of the staples were there: a chocolate croissant (my favorite), a butter croissant (you can turn it into a kind of chocolate croissant with the accompanying chocolate sauce), and a baguette (perfect with the accompanying French butter and berry jam). I was surprised there was no brioche, but the raisin roll did not disappoint, even though I am not a big fan of raisins. The croque monsieur was cheesy and crunchy and I liked it better without jam. The truffle fries were subtle but delicious and only were not finished because the pastries alone were enough for two people. The coffee was simple yet flavorful, as is the French way. The tap water was ice cold and the server refilled our glasses regularly. Bottled flat and sparkling water are also available for those who prefer the true French experience. The dining room was on an upper floor and was reminiscent of a jazz club. The quiet covers of popular songs playing on the speakers were pleasant and the temperature was comfortably cold during a hot day. If we had gone for dinner and skipped the pastry assortment, we would have picked up dessert from the bakery on our way out. I cannot wait for next time!

I had high expectations on this place because of all the reviews I read online but I was pretty disappointed. We had croissant and a pastry - both of them tasted bad and didn’t seem fresh. Coffee was good.

My husband and I come to the bakery every time we're in Lancaster for incredible pastries and have had great experiences in the bistro for dinner. Most recently, we had our wedding rehearsal dinner in the bistro. We had the best time - the whole night was incredible from the food and drinks to the friendly service. We also ordered baguette sandwiches and desserts for our wedding day lunch and our bridal party loved it. Highly recommend Barberet for all things - breakfast, dinner, dessert, catering, or hosting an event!

Review for the BISTRO: Fantastic food! We shared the delicious escargot as our appetizer served in a garlicky-butter sauce that was absolutely delicious. We soaked up the sauce with our bread because we have no self-control! The escargot came already "plucked" (?), lol, not sure of the term. I was a bit disappointed I didn't get to recreate the scene from "Pretty Woman" - and maybe that's why. Haha. They truly taste like a small perfectly cooked button mushroom. Same texture. Try them!! For dinner we had the beef tartar and fancy Mac and cheese with creamy béchamel sauce. Has a slight tang to it - really top notch. My friend had their special La piece du Boucher (meat of the month, apparently?) which was a tender ribeye with a garlic butter sauce on top. To end the evening we had their Moelleux au Chocolat (espresso coffee ice cream) and Crème Brulée. Phenomenal! Yes, prices lean toward the splurge-y side, but honestly? The portions were shockingly generous for a fine dining spot. I probably could’ve gotten two meals out of it... if I had even a whisper of self-control. Which I don't... Heads up: as of July 2025, they’re transitioning between dining spaces, so the ambiance wasn’t quite at its full glory. And service was a little slow (likely due to staffing issues like everywhere else) but we didn’t mind lingering over great food and even better conversation. Highly recommend if you're looking for something upscale with bold flavors and a Euro flair!

The desserts look great here, but the important part is that they taste just as good! I liked everything I’ve tried here, but I would personally recommend getting the Azure if you’re a chocolate fan or the Coco Bomb if you like fruity flavors. There are sandwiches too, but I don’t think they’re as good as the pastries. I look forward to coming here all the time and I’m always happy when I do.

My husband and I make it a priority to try to stop in here when passing through the Lancaster area. Their pastries are unbelievably good, and haunt my dreams, lol. The green apple one is the favorite for both of us, and we feel that their fruit based pastries are their best, but you really can’t go wrong. Solid cup of coffee, too

Both the bakery and bistro are exceptional -- best desserts in the city by far. My family has tried everything in the bakery by now, and nothing has disappointed; the fruit tart, Snickers dessert, and Azure are perennial favorites. The bistro is a lovely fine dining option if you have the time; a streamlined but authentic French menu. Service is always spectacular, and the ambiance is very refined yet inviting. Again, everything I've tried has been stellar (Get the bouillabaisse if it's available!). The bistro is ideal place for a special occasion, while the bakery is worth a visit any time, for any reason.

I had dinner here. My complaint about Lancaster as only living here for three years, is there are good restaurants but no great restaurants just good restaurants that charge great restaurant prices. This was true until I had dinner here. A truly rememberable meal, a delectable meal I cannot say enough good about the meal. It was wonderful. Service was on point, and the ambience was lovely. They get a five out of five from me.

Okay so I wanted to try something different and my friend and I tried this place because we never had French cuisine. It was good the rib steak special was a bit too salty for me but everything else was good. I don't think I would go back though the menu was a bit bland for me. I like a variety of things though, but give it a shot. We tried the maccaorones and they were okay.

We had a great experience here but were disappointed to learn that the folks who opened this bistro 10 y ago are no longer part of the group currently running the place as of March, 2025. In any case, we had a mostly great experience here.... With full disclosures out of the way, here is my review The draw here is it's a bistro in the back of the house and a bakery up front. What is not to like? First the bakery. We bought take home a baguette, fig bread, several donuts, a piece of the opera and a Black Forest cakes. All great. Why would we pay $8 for a donut? Because it's the best one you will ever eat and they are large. Crème brûlée donut had a crème brûlée filling and a shattering sugar top. The pistachio donut was filled with a delicious pistachio cream and enrobed in chocolate. The third donut was filled with a chocolate hazelnut cream (!not the kind from a jar) and also covered with chocolate. As for the bistro there were plenty of successes here. Superior quality; Appetizers ordered Foie gras Escargot Nova style salmon Quiche The burger was good but not over the top. The glorified steak sandwich was delicious. The mussels were disappoint because unlike the online menu where the preparation was with wine, this preparation was with beer instead. This left a bitter taste but this might be a personal preference. For dessert (they're different from what is offered at the bakery) we shared a strawberry tres leches. This was also a hit and I ordered a coffee with it. The coffee came from the bakery area and unfortunately was tepid and not fresh. This was the only real fail through what was a delicious meal. As far as atmosphere, it was odd that bakery patrons passed through the restaurant in a pretty steady stream in what appeared to be a walk to the restroom in the rear. Street metered parking is much cheaper than a garage spot but meter monitors are omnipresent, so beware. Service was excellent. Attentive without being obsequious. Worth a detour

A rare occurrence where every portion of the meal, from cocktails to bread to entree was outstanding. Meredith, our server, was exceptional. A new favorite!

We had dinner here tonight. Our server was Kayla. Missed the gentleman who bartended prior to us being seated, but he made a mean French 75 Appetizers we went for the Quinelle. Dinner, Bouillabaisse and Coq au Vin. Both were delish. The sauces did it, and you know what they say about Chefs being assessed by their ability to make a Great sauce. This chef wins! What an amazing night and amazing service. This was a quick get-away weekend. We would come back to town just for this bistro.

Stop here on a work trip and my coworkers were really impressed. I needed help picking what I wanted because everything looked so good. I was happy I got to take my team here, they were impressed. I enjoyed my treats from the bakery in my hotel room.

Always a pleasure stopping by here after lunch, dinner or afternoon errands (bakery, have not tried the restaurant). The staff is very friendly and helpful. Many options to choose from, including coffee, espresso drinks, sandwiches toasted to perfection, and of course the delicious French pastries and desserts. Not too sweets, delicately made and gorgeous to look at. We're never disappointed with what we receive here. Definitely not a sit down place for big or small groups. Better to get to go and eat at your hotel, to spoil colleagues or family or just sit by their limited seating against the wall. It's a very small shop. Have had their sandwiches before, very tasty, and definitely something to try for a quick lunch if you're on the go. They also have fresh fruit juice available or pure fruit juices in bottles various sizes. Highly recommend to drop by if you're in the area. They do have a restaurant in the back which I have yet to try. I often group around at odd hours and it's always empty. Will have to investigate another time.

Great front of house staff helped us and were supremely competent and friendly from reservation to service. The dining room afforded a quiet intimate experience to share our night out with friends from out of town. That is where the positives here end. Have you ever wanted to see the expressions of friends and family who are forcing their way through a meal in an attempt to show appreciation? This was captured by my dinner companions young and old. The quality of my plate made this clear. The worst were the burgers. Confirmed with a bite from my wife's; it was nothing but salt and vinegar. The good bread and caramelized onions did nothing to blunt that sole driving flavor. A teen boy left it on his plate longer than eating it. One was cut in half and saved for later. Maybe for eating or maybe to use the white vinegar for cleaning the kitchen...who knows? My scallops were marginally better. They took $35 worth of ingredients, started something ok, and then completely botched the scallop center piece. Two of my four arrived with a barely any browning, just the opaque hue of scallop with hardly a tan. The other two might have had what the menu called a 'sear' on one side. None were hot or even really warm. The brussels sprouts, ham, and sweet potato puree had a good flavor profile but couldn't lift the blandest scallops I've ever had. The hangar steak was said to be good. That's my expectation for the price and cut. One plate wasn't even finished and no to go requested. I tried elevating us from a rowdy chain experience only to leave imagining my friends will never opt out of a safe national brand experience. Also, we thought the that providing a massive marijuana tainted zone outside when leaving thanks to the club next door was a bold but questionable move with two under 21s in the group. Not the restaurant's fault but all the more reason to stay away from a repeat.

Everything in this store is soooo pretty ! The store is quite small and gets full fast. My daughter only wanted the Macaroons . Will definitely go again!

I cannot get enough of the Citron! One of my favorites from Barberet. The gelee has a nice bouncy texture and the balance of tartness and sweetness is on point and leaves you wanting more. The service is typically always great.

We popped in to grab some dessert to go after having some beers across the street. Barberet has been on my list for sweets for some time. I chose the Coco Bomb because the ingredients reminded me of something I used to eat during my work in the Caribbean. This was delicious and explosive with flavor. My only complaint is that the space in the bakery is a bit tight during a busy Saturday afternoon, and it felt a little unclear of where the line was, where to stand, etc. I hope to come back for a full meal but I would definitely come back for more treats!

Still an absolute gem. Now have ate here 10+ times. Tried the lamb tonight for the first time and it was a home run. You don't get overwhelmed by any mushroom flavors despite it being in the description multiple times. Lamb was cooked perfect. The macaroni gratin is still an A+ and the desserts are light and so flavorful. My top spot in all of Lancaster county

There are a few restaurants downtown that offer a decent dessert. But I always suggest skipping it and just coming to Bistro Barberet instead. You'll be overwhelmed by the range of choices, flavors, and beautifully crafted treats, but don't fear -- there are literally no wrong choices, no bad options. Macarons, chocolate truffles, fruit tarts (the lemon is my absolute favorite), eclairs, tortes, flans, caramels, honeys, cookies -- they have a little of everything. The space is small, with two entrances that seem to be default entrance and exits, and though there's a restaurant attached, I've never eaten back there. There are usually 2-4 folks behind the counter to box up your selections, make your drink orders and ring you up. They move fast, are friendly and have wonderful suggestions, but because most people take time deciding what they want, it can take a while -- no fault of the staff, just us customers who are convincing ourselves we don't need one of everything in the bakery. Bonus: If you're looking for gifts for friends and family with sweet tooth's, this is definitely the place to get them -- the packaging is so pretty -- pink boxes and gift paper and green bows -- a nice touch.

Awful coffee, awful tea. Staff should at least know how to get these right. Staff was brief and seemed annoyed to help customers.

Great service, food and ambiance! It's all covered! Bon Appetite! I especially like the steamed mussels, soup and of course the macaroons!!

We had an excellent pre-theater dinner in the Bistro. The experience was impeccable from the greeting by the host to the service of the waitress. We shared a plate of steak frites. We will certainly have a bigger meal the next time we visit Lancaster.

Just adding the pictures as Barberet is the best!!!! Please read my first review where I said everything I wanted. In one word this is a quality NOT Quantity!!!

Wow! How did we not know they were here! Perfect Quiche, dreamy pastries, great staff. We need to have a restaurant meal there - menu looks wonderful.

We happened upon this place by accident and what a great accident it was! We just got some desserts to go, but I must admit that they are definitely worth the asking price, which is very fair. Most are around 6 bucks. The individual desserts are works of art, and they actually taste better than they look. The 7 layer chocolate was so rich, but light, it was heavenly. I have yet to eat the Flan Tart & the Azure, but I expect them to be just as delicious. The desserts were packaged very securely with tape, to avoid crashing into each other during transit, a definite plus for me. I thank the employee for doing so now. Next visit, I'll have to investigate the rest of the establishment further. I highly recommend this establishment for any sweet tooth! Can't wait to go back.

This was a surprising find on our recent trip to Lancaster. We dropped in late night and ordered salads and desserts. The restaurant is located at the back of the bakery (don't skip on the bakery). The ambiance is nice and the service was attentive. The salads were nicely prepared. The Ceasar included anchovies, which was nice but didn't taste anchovy paste in the dressing, which is a personal preference. The Lyonnaise was topped with a generous amount of lardons and a perfectly poached egg. Desserts were highly anticipated as everything looked beautifully made in the counter up front. And surely we were not disappointed. Overall, it was the perfect late night supper and we are happy we didn't skip this restaurant.

I was brought here for my birthday. We started with the French Onion Soup. It's authentically French, really delicious. We then had the special, steaks with potato puffs and a vegetable. We asked for the steaks to be cooked medium well. They came out medium to medium rare. My steak was 1/4 gristle. For a $225 dinner, the steak was exceptionally disappointing.

My loved ones and I enjoy indulging in Barberet for special occasions. This time around, we picked up desserts because it was my birthday, and we ordered a variety of desserts to try. Immediately upon entry, the green apple dessert caught my mom and my eyes. We decided to go with the pink macaroon, because we hadn't really enjoyed the texture from our experience last time. While the color does look really artificial, the tasteful layers makes up for the eyesore of color. We had also ordered a hazelnut, chocolate, and custard dessert. My parents, partner, and I tried a little bit of each dessert and had determined that all were uniquely delicious and comparing each creation would be like comparing apples and oranges. It's truly hard to go wrong with any of the desserts; however, after trying all of them, it was too much sugar for me. Ultimately the green apple caught my eye, but I can't exactly say if I have a favorite. Thank you Barberet for being part of my birthday :)

Wonderful French bakery with so many options. We came here on a rainy Sunday and ordered lots of things to go and also stayed for a coffee and breakfast. The croque monsieur was much too cheesy in my opinion, but had good flavor nonetheless. I wish this was a freshly made option and not one to go that you have to re-heat. The pain au chocolate was OUTstanding! My other wish is that they would add cozier seating. A hallway with broken-in stools just didn't make me want to stay as long.

My favorite go-to place in downtown Lancaster to get sweets. They have all the treats on display, and there's always a couple people behind the counter to help you get your order quickly. They're very pleasant, and friendly. Sweets are a little more expensive, but 1000% worth it!

Gorgeous looking desserts. Partner & I dined nearby & swung by to grab some to take home. We had to stop ourselves at 4. My favorite was the round one in my picture, forget the name. Upside down snickers (their best seller) was good too- I just didn't eat the dark chocolate. Partner enjoyed the tiramisu; I did not. The raspberry was good as well. Staff polite, cute little place with bistro in back, although bistro menu looked small & mostly sandwiches, not somewhere I would go for dinner. Only downside was I saw (after purchasing) the one owner used to work at Mar-a-Lago for Trump, but based on dates appears it was well before election & presidency. Had he continued to work there during that time, I wouldn't spend another penny. Will likely return (unless I find out differently) to try a few other items.

Okay come on how can this place be so dam good! Came to visit for my daughters bb tournament and we decide to have brunch and dinner this past Sat. Let's start with brunch: We had the muscles and the foie and fries and man just wow! The most amazing brunch I have had in a very long time! Service was on point! Our server had a raspy, soft cool voice and she was cute lol! Dinner: Beef tartar Seafood special Rack of lamb! There are magicians in the kitchen! The cook, the seasoning, the presentation! Highly impressed and the price was so crazy affordable! You are a fool to not try this place. Just walk through the front door and you are greeted with the most amazing works of art that are edible! Thank you for such amazing food experiences while staying in Lancaster!

Yes yes yes!!! French pastries and desserts to go. Sit down French bistro and bar behind. Excellent mussels and drinks. Recommend this spot, plus reservations (unless doing pickup from the bakery).

Service great but food not as good as it has been in the past. The bakery desserts were yummy. Restaurants bit noisy

An initial walk-in to Bistro Barberet and you're taken aback; at least I was. It's quite a spectacular site. So many beautiful pastries, intricate, precisely decorated, dainty, appealing - your eyes bounce around the room, from the colorful macaroons, over to the fancy array of pastries, to some fancy, fruity beverages. It's just all too pretty to eat. Dare I? Of course! I'll take a Costa Rica, one L'opera and an Apple Turnover. I was wowed by sight, but not by taste, unfortunately. The mousse was super light and flavors of chocolate and vanilla creme brulee, were not as pronounced as I had hoped they would be. Nothing especially stood out for me, regarding to the apple turnover.

Lovely place in Lancaster. We stopped in for a bite to eat. The restaurant was closed and wasn't going to open again until 5pm, but we got food from the bakery. My wife and I had croissants: a leek and Parmesan and a spinach and cheese. Really tasty and satisfying. We also had a giant macaron with raspberries that was to die for! Also, an eclair with 71% dark chocolate cream, glazed with fondant. Just wow. Recommended.

It's not what you would expect when visiting a French restaurant, the ambience is terrible and the choice of music is terrible for the digestion system, who thinks of playing Spanish rap in a French restaurant. The service was pretty good but jeans and t shirts is not what you expect in a fine dining restaurant. The only tasty item were the escargot. It's not worth a second visit.

All good. Repeat diner. Have come here several times over the years before Fulton Theatre performances, and always pleased with the food and attentive service by staff determined to get us to the show on time.

Pastries. Baguettes. I love all the French infused dishes of this "bistro". Great service all around.

We went to the bakery and wow what beautiful pastries and desserts Everything we tried tasted absolutely amazing. We ate too fast to even take pictures.

A bit disappointed with this one. I have been recommended by a few people to give Barberet & Bakery a try so I did for dinner. The service was not good at all. A few times I even thought maybe our waitress was drunk. She was very unattentive- not keeping an eye on our drinks and didn't offer a dessert menu..its a bakery. For the price point of this restaurant I expected much better service The food was just OK..nothing special which same goes for the dessert. I did appreciate the presentation of some desserts ordered at the table but that's about it. Not somewhere I would return to.

I recently was in Lancaster for a wedding at the downtown Marriott. While there, I made two trips to the Barberet bakery. Thankfully it's only a block away. Everything inside the bakery looks beautiful. Sadly I only got the chance to try their macaroons, they were AMAZING. My daughter and I both loved the blackberry ones. The staff was beyond friendly and ready to help as soon as customers walked through the door. If you're in town, Barberet is worth a stop for a special treat!

The food here is incredible. The modern bar is also super fun to grab a cocktail from. I definitely recommend reservations as it's an intimate dining room. Service is friendly and had great recommendations. Highlight though is the pastry chef. Desserts are 10/10!!!

We had a wonderful brunch at Bistro Barberet when we were visiting Lancaster for the weekend. The bistro has a bakery in the front and bistro in the back, with a nice bar. Mike greeted us at our table and pleasant throughout. I love French food and everything hit the spot right - frisée salad, Caesar salad, eggs Benedict, steak sandwich and lobster bisque. We enjoyed everything- a great spot in Lancaster!

Perfection! My fiancé and I hopped around to different restaurants while in Lancaster. We stumbled upon this gem and stopped for some afternoon snacks and a drink. I had the French martini which was absolutely delicious! We also had the escargot, beef tartare, and the Charcuterie board (called the degustation on the menu). It was all amazing and a job well done on execution of French fair. This was my favorite restaurant in Lancaster!

One of the most impressive pastry shops I have ever been to! The shop is clean, the staff was very engaging and knowledgeable, and the pastries were exquisite. I had the Snickers Upside Down dessert. It was described as "peanut butter mousse, salted caramel center, hazelnut dacquoise and milk chocolate whipped cream". Far and away the most delicate and delicious pastry I have ever tasted. I made the mistake of driving over an hour home before I tasted it, and I regret not purchasing anything else. I absolutely cannot wait to go back, and hopefully get to the bistro for lunch or dinner.

I came here because a friend recommended it and what really drew me in was the owner was Trump's chef once upon a time so that was a huge draw. Everything was wonderful. One negative was the fish was Atlantic/farm raised. Please start serving wild caught.

My fiancé and I recently made our first trip to the bistro and we are lost for words. The restaurant is so romantic. We got escargot, clam linguini, and lamb and pork belly meatballs. They were all absolutely incredible. The escargot brought me immediately back to France - they were so good. The linguini was a perfect portion, and the sauce was incredible. Lastly, the show stopper was the meatballs. They were absolutely fantastic. Hands down the best food we've had in Lancaster. The drinks were also incredible. Our server, Rosie, was so responsive, attentive, informative, and kind. We absolutely will return soon as this has become our favorite spot in Lancaster.

Lots of fancy sweets. Highly recommend this place for a date, there is a coffee shop right next door. Good service too

We discovered this true gem years ago when they first opened, and they remain amazing. We mainly indulge in the bakery section but the bistro is delicious as well. When visiting Paris and Normandy, we expected Cedric quality pastries and croissants on every corner. However, we were sorely disappointed. The best French patisserie is in Lancaster, PA.

Had dinner for the first time at Bistro Barbaret last night. Accolades first. The food was spot on, I had house beet cured salmon (exceptional), steak frites (cooked as ordered with a perfect peppercorn sauce) and for desert a Floating Island which is a wonderfully soft merengue on a sea of crème anglaise garnished with spun gold sugar (delightful). Now for the disappointments, keep in mind the restaurant just received the designation (and a bronze plaque prominently displayed at the entry) as a bastion of French cuisine abroad. Nothing about the service, the decor or anything else was in the same category as the food. The waiter was nice enough, but we could have been in any mid level US restaurant. The paneled walls are accented by insipid generic black and white photos hung pin the tail on the donkey style. No table cloths, and, and, printed in bold red at the upper left of the menu..."second bread service $2 per person", DC prices. Will we return? Yes, because the food was that good.

Love this place! The food, service, and atmosphere are lovely. This is my go to place when I'm craving dessert. There are so many options. The donuts are (pricey but worth it) phenomenal! I've had dinner a couple times too and both without reservation got seated right away. The salmon ceasar salad was so perfect. Another time I had the cheese plate with the best, salty stilted ever!

Turned away at 905 when the listing says 10 o clock across Google and yelp. Staff lied about closing time and selectively decides which clientele is worth serving. If you don't wanna do your job fine. But don't lie to me about closing times when it's clearly disclosed in every online domain.

A night of appetizers and desserts. We came not wanting a heavy meal and decided to share a bunch of appetizers and desserts. They let us order some desserts from the bakery to accompany the ones we ordered from the menu. Everything was delicious and fun to eat. The desserts were unique and not overly sweet. We had a beautiful night and will definitely by returning.

Interesting menu and they have an early bird special the food was too salty. Great location.