Christina M.
Yelp
Updated review: I just travelled Europe for 3 weeks (5 countries), returned home and wanted to do 2 things- ride my bike and get pastries. It's just the habit I was in during my trip. And I'll say this about Chaconne Patisserie- this place can match the quality and taste of any of the delicious and amazing bakeries I visited abroad. Yes, it is that good.
The only thing it simply can't match is the prices. I've read some 2-3 star reviews by others and their main gripe is it's expensive (it is!) or it's not fresh enough. Here's my response to that- at 7am when the bakery opens everything is fresh as possible. That's when I was there yesterday. So, try to go early if possible, when looking for maximum freshness. And to the cost- we live in America....
I hate to break it to you, but it's so expensive here for food and beverages. I've travelled to Japan and Europe in the past 2 years and I've been blown away by how the food quality is better and many times cheaper or similarly price in other countries. I don't think people realize how expensive things are here, compared to other places in the world that we have historically said are overpriced. I used to hear about how expensive Japan is, when I was there, the food was cheaper many times (and so much better quality). Americans are used to feeling like things are "better" here... well not regarding food, beverage, and service costs, and other things too. But that's a different convo.
So, the pickle is, how to rate a place that costs A LOT for what seems basic and simple? For me, I'm doing it based on my experience of the food itself because I know this place is legit. Bakeries in Europe were cheaper by $1-3 per item, however there are fancy bakeries on every corner there. They have to compete for market share. Here in Phx, this is one of the best bakeries I've tasted and they don't have as much competition for quality. And it is a smaller, local bakery, so it's not like Panera prices. (Which might be high also, I haven't been there in a while).
If it's too expensive, don't come here. But don't say it's not good, cause it truly is high quality stuff. There are breads and pastries at the grocery store bakery, they are not as good technically, but they are more affordable. Like I can't come here all the time, I got 3 things yesterday and spent just under $20. That's steep. But they were amazingly good and gave me just one more day of feeling "European pastry bliss". I'll pay for that :)