Daniel B.
Yelp
This cafe is the very definition of cute.
Everything is dainty, from the signature macarons, to the plates upon which they are served, to the glasses of water. The clean white tones of the shop are the perfect backdrop for all your insta fantasies. And little touches like small vases of pink and white flowers on the table, complete the look.
While I may be a large man, I have to confess a love for little treats. And here, Le Bon Macaron delivers.
Now that the fall season is finally here, sipping chocolate is back on the menu. For those who don't know, this is like drinking a molten chocolate bar. Luckily, this decadent drink is served in a demitasse cup and saucer. There are even house made marshmallows, perfectly shaped to float on top and melt into the hot ganache.
I only wish that they had matching demitasse spoons to match. Mon Dieu. Still, for three bucks, I'd rather have one of these shots of chocolate than almost any espresso. Not only will it perk you up, but it will make you happier than you ever thought possible.
Still, the success of a macaron shop depends on the quality and perfection of its signature confection. And what is a macaron if not the embodiment of the pursuit of perfection.
Over the past few weeks I've tried a small handful of these little sandwich cookies, and they have been hit or miss. From a flavor perspective, the vanilla and rose have been the standouts. The flavors of raspberry rose were a little muddy, the jasmine didn't read "jasmine" on the palate, and the nougat tasted only of coconut extract.
But macarons are also all about texture. I do wish the display case kept the macarons a little bit warmer, because the temperature at which they are served is too cold. Those who can wait at least ten minutes will benefit from a much crisper exterior shell, and a better balance of textures overall.
The vanilla shells spent a little too much time in the oven and caught more color than they should have from the heat. And the rose shells were not only smaller than the Le Bon Macaron standard, but were also lacking their feet. Plus, there are other macarons in the case with lumpy shells, presumably from almond flour that wasn't thoroughly sifted before being added into the mixer.
These are nits to be sure. Will they prevent us from going back? Not at all. Nor do they decrease my daughter's enjoyment for these cute treats. But I do expect a little better from a place that specializes in these admittedly finicky morsels.