Patisserie Valerie

Julesdit

Relaxed breakfast 31st October 2008

1 found this helpful

The sight of all the cakes and pastries that greats you when you enter this cafe is divine. Feeling slightly hungover from a fabulous night before, Patisserie Valerie was the perfect antidote and a great place for a relaxed sunday breakfast. If I didn't have a train to catch I would have loved to stay longer.

curlynewf

Nice mid-week lunch option 29th October 2008

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I'm not one for cakes and pastries, but I do love lunch and Patisserie Valerie on Old Compton street serves a nice one. (Well, the one I tried anyway.) I went on a Monday around noon and the scene was quiet and peaceful. There were a few other diners, most on their own, sipping coffees or reading the paper. Unhurried - I like!

The lunch menu offers a pretty decent choice of salads, sandwiches and soups - nothing particularly French I noticed, but still enough to choose from. The smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel I chose came with an unexpected pile of chips and a side salad. There's not a lot you can say about smoked salmon but when it's wrong it can be pretty awful so I'm happy to report it was just right. Fresh, soft and slightly smoky served with cucumbers for the all important crunch. The french fries were light and crispy and the salad, although a little soggy, was still good and had a lovely vinegarette.

It might be a totally different story on the weekend, but for a solo mid-week lunch it was a nice experience.

Natnat

Cake lovers' paradise 17th September 2008

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This is a positive haven for lovers of all things cakey and sinful. A peek in the window reveals a treasure trove of yummy and elaborate delicacies. Based in buzzy Soho, Patisserie Valerie is a great place to hook up with friends for something sweet, or take a book and wile away an hour with a cup of citron pressé or a chocolat viennois. With its late opening hours it’s an ideal place to spend an evening, and there are savoury things on the menu too! With new branches of PV opening all the time, it’s definitely a great spot to escape to.

mseckington

Not only cakes 11th September 2008

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I had passed this place a couple of times, but never thought too much of it. The cakes and pastries in the window looked divine, but I don't really have a sweet tooth. Much to my surprise though they also have some more "normal" lunch food.

I've been there now two times, and both times I loved the food. The first time I had a standard English breakfast with poached eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms and toast. And a delicious cappuccino. The second time I had the Eggs Benedict. This was served with salmon and toasted brioche: scrumptious! I had the Cafe Mocha and even this was done perfectly. Besides the good coffees, they also do a wide selection of teas for the tea lover.

I'm definitely going to go back to this place. It's in the middle of Soho, but never feels too busy or touristy. The staff have always been friendly and the food is served quite quickly.

CPaskell

Beautiful cakes 5th September 2008

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I think this may be the original Valeries - but it is definitely the best! I agree with some of the more negative reviews of other branches for this cafe, but trying this one on Old Compton Street is a must. The cakes and gateaux range is extensive with the most beautiful and tastey treats imaginable. These are not just cakes - baked on site, they are more masterpieces of confectionary and need to be tried to be believed. A large slice of chocolate gateaux with real strawberries is about £4 - but worth it. They have an extensive range of teas (darjeeling, oolong, ceylon etc) and lovely rich roasted coffee. On a busy saturday, this place is a haven as most shoppers and tourists choose the Starbucks/Neros options. They also do lovely breakfasts and lunch snacks and a huge fresh fruit salad. I have always found the staff to be friendly and helpful - but have also seen them being rude to customers who were rude to them first, so I think it helps to be smiley. I have often sat there for over an hour on saturday afternoons reading a book with one pot of tea, a cake and fruit salad and have never been made to feel I should leave or hurry up - so a good refuge.