Okra W.
Yelp
Let me begin by saying that until very, very recently, I have been a huge fan of La Boulingerie. The pastries and breads are good, even very good. I have enjoyed having lunch there on many occasions for many years; I limit myself to the time-tested alf sandwich and soup combo, and my wife gets the half sandwich and salad. The turkey sandwich on the walnut bread is wonderful, always has been and always will be (I hope). Until recently, the French onion soup has been really good for this sort of place. French onion soup is an art, and usually, they nail i (for this type of establishment).
I am under the impression that the institution changed hands within the last few years. It appears to be largely unaltered, but I must comment on my most recent experience.
We ordered our usual lunches and received them very promptly. It was a little too cool to eat outside (which is normally very, very pleasant), so we found a table in the somewhat newer section that was added within the last few years. It was, very busy yet the atmosphere was pleasant.
The sandwich was, as always, wonderful. The French onion soup, however, it was very thin and approaching tastelessness. This made me very sad.
As usual, my wife had the fruity iced tea, and she reported that it was good, as always. I had regular iced tea, and there was a subtle, unpleasant taste that I couldn't identify. I couldn't even finish half of the serving. Most distressing.
However, I understand that things happen, so, while my wife went off to shop around a bit, I decided to get a cup of hot tea and, perhaps, a cookie or other treat. I stood at the counter for perhaps four minutes, while someone was busy preparing a number of specialty coffee drinks (or it seemed) and someone else was loading bread into the bread case. Again, no one so much as acknowledged my presence. I finally decided to give up--this is the second time in two visits that this has occurred-- and, the moment that I turned to step away, another customer walked up and stood beside me, and he was served immediately.
Now I recognize that this last incident is probably just bad luck, but having been ignored (at the hot drink station) twice in two visits at their drink counter is a little disturbing.
This will not put me off visiting La Bou, because it is my wife's favorite lunch spot in Fresno. But I must say that, in my opinion at least, they really need to turn things around to maintain my (occasional) custom.
