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Gourmandise, the Bakery has been serving French pastries, baked goods and cafe cuisine in a cozy, relaxed atmosphere for almost 20 years. The main attraction at Gourmandise is the stunning bakery case, but the restaurant offers a full menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner items.

The restaurant's interior got an appealing update in 2013, with lots of white paint plus updated furniture and lighting.

The menu was revamped as well with the addition of small plates and new wine and beer pairings.

Highlights of the breakfast menu include the yogurt maison, creme brulee oatmeal, quiche of the day and specialty coffees. The creamy, homemade yogurt maison is one of the best things I've had for breakfast in a long time. It's served plain or with a number of different toppings, but I tried it with jam, berries, and sugar-glazed toasted almonds. The yogurt itself is not sweetened, so the jam, fruit and nuts add a welcome sweetness. Fresh berries and sugar-glazed almonds also top Gourmandise's creme brulee oatmeal, a decadent creation featuring Christine & Rob's brand oats with a caramelized brulee crust and whipped cream.

Gourmandise is usually packed at lunch, and customer favorites include the quiche, entree salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and soups. Overall, the salads at Gourmandise seem to be better than the soups, especially the raspberry and walnut salad with goat cheese and the Greek salad.

Small plates are served beginning at 5 p.m. You can combine a few small plates, carefully selected wine or beer pairings, and Gourmandise's French pastries for a truly enjoyable dinner. From the small plates menu, I recommend the roasted tri-tip, four-cheese au gratin potatoes, or vegetable risotto.

Dessert, of course, is where Gourmandise really shines. There aren't many places in the Salt Lake area making good quality French pastries, and the gorgeous bakery case at Gourmandise, with its rows and rows of fabulous pastries, cakes and tarts, is a dessert lover's dream come true. Of the bakery items I've tried, my favorites are the marzipan slice, a sponge cake with a delicate raspberry filling wrapped in strongly almond flavored marzipan, and the raisin scroll, a buttery breakfast pastry filled with custard and raisins. Try the strawberry millefeuille - fresh strawberries with a light custard cream layered with flaky pastry. It's a customer favorite and a lovely way to end a meal.

The ambience at Gourmandise is both chic and cozy, although things get hectic at lunch. Executive Chef Jean-Jaques Grossi grew up and received his training in France but has been cooking in the Salt Lake area for more than 20 years. Many of the staff have been working at the bakery since it opened, lending the place a familial atmosphere. Gourmandise is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It's closed on Sunday.

Gourmandise, the Bakery
250 S. 300 E.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
801-328-3330

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