So with Columbia City Bakery, Bakery Nouveau, Tall Grass, Macrina, who else would you put in that league? Besalu? Le Fournil? Grand Central? Best croissants I've had outside of Paris were in Montréal.

When my friend and I saw that the Paris Bakery & Deli had finally (FINALLY!) opened, we decided to have a croissant-off. We decided to taste-test croissants from both the Columbia City Bakery (we knew we already loved these) and the Paris Bakery. We were almost giddy with anticipation - who doesn't love a delicious pastry?

We purchased from CCB first and left with a plain and a chocolate croissant. Then we went to the Paris Bakery expecting to have ... options. There were none. Just the plain croissant and very few other pastries to choose from. I even asked if there were other varieties in the back. Nope.

Feeling undeterred, we moved forward with our taste test. After a bite or two of the Paris Bakery & Deli croissant, it was composted. It had a chemical aftertaste and I have a sneaking suspicion that it might have had a previous life as a member of a Costco twelve-pack.

The CCB croissants were pretty much perfect. No surprise there.

I'm waiting just a bit longer to let them get their shit together. I saw them open for the first time on Saturday.

Paris has been open, sort of, about 10 days. Their oven isn't installed yet, and they're bringing some stuff over from their other location down on Lucile St. One of the two pastry cases is completely empty.
I liked the pork banh mi I had; along with all the expected delights of a good Vietnamese sandwich, this one also had chopped fried peanuts. With tax, it was $5; a little more expensive than the delis at 12th & Jackson but still a good price for lunch.

@4:

Since when does 100% denote "a little" more expensive? Banh mi in Little Saigon go for $2.50.

For what it's worth, it is my understanding that the owners Paris Bakery supply many of the delis in Little Saigon and Uwajimaya with their baguettes. I think their bread is delicious and look forward to seeing what is in store once their fully up and running.

*they're*
damnit.

I too was incredibly disappointed to learn that the Paris Bakery and Cafe would more properly be called Vietnamese Restaurant. Not that I don't like Vietnamese, but it's like getting OJ when you were expecting milk. I picked up a baguette anyway, as that was what I came for. It was dry.