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Alexander's Patisserie, Mountain View
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David Arnstein
Dec 31, 2014, 8:34:05 PM12/31/14
to
It is a pastry shop on Castro Street. It features a smallish collection
of heavy sweets as well as breads and brioches. Coffee too, of course.
I had a small orange/chocolate thingy and a double espresso. The pastry
might have been too gooey for some folks, but I enjoyed it very much.
Strong flavors and very dense. Perfect for cultivating heart disease
and diabetes, all in one sitting.
The espresso was delightful, although a bit stingy in size. I don't
remember what the prices were, but I do remember that I left a generous
tip at the counter (Sorry Tim) and thereby spent exactly $11.00.
Atmosphere was very nice. There are small tables in the middle of the
room, and small couches along the wall. My only complaint is the tables
facing the couches. They are about as high as my shins (watch it) which
makes it awkward to eat from a plate, which is exactly what I was doing.
The normal table-and-chairs were all occupied, and frankly I was happy
to have any place to sit at all. Most of the time I visit Castro Street,
I can't find an empty chair in any coffee shop.
I like this place. I will return.
--
David Arnstein (00)
arnstei...@pobox.com {{ }}
^^
of heavy sweets as well as breads and brioches. Coffee too, of course.
I had a small orange/chocolate thingy and a double espresso. The pastry
might have been too gooey for some folks, but I enjoyed it very much.
Strong flavors and very dense. Perfect for cultivating heart disease
and diabetes, all in one sitting.
The espresso was delightful, although a bit stingy in size. I don't
remember what the prices were, but I do remember that I left a generous
tip at the counter (Sorry Tim) and thereby spent exactly $11.00.
Atmosphere was very nice. There are small tables in the middle of the
room, and small couches along the wall. My only complaint is the tables
facing the couches. They are about as high as my shins (watch it) which
makes it awkward to eat from a plate, which is exactly what I was doing.
The normal table-and-chairs were all occupied, and frankly I was happy
to have any place to sit at all. Most of the time I visit Castro Street,
I can't find an empty chair in any coffee shop.
I like this place. I will return.
--
David Arnstein (00)
arnstei...@pobox.com {{ }}
^^
Todd Michel McComb
Jan 1, 2015, 3:30:25 PM1/1/15
to
In article <m8286c$cpo$1...@reader1.panix.com>,
David Arnstein <arnstei...@pobox.com> wrote:
>Atmosphere was very nice.
I'm not much of a dessert person, but I've taken to stopping in
here some evenings for a snack. They have some desserts that aren't
super sweet. They have some pretty amazing stuff actually.
But I think the atmosphere is ridiculous. I'm embarrassed to be
sitting there, it's so over-the-top faux elegant. Gack!
But the people are nice enough....
David Arnstein <arnstei...@pobox.com> wrote:
>Atmosphere was very nice.
I'm not much of a dessert person, but I've taken to stopping in
here some evenings for a snack. They have some desserts that aren't
super sweet. They have some pretty amazing stuff actually.
But I think the atmosphere is ridiculous. I'm embarrassed to be
sitting there, it's so over-the-top faux elegant. Gack!
But the people are nice enough....
sf
Jan 1, 2015, 6:59:19 PM1/1/15
to
On Thu, 1 Jan 2015 20:30:24 +0000 (UTC), mcc...@medieval.org (Todd
Michel McComb) wrote:
> But I think the atmosphere is ridiculous. I'm embarrassed to be
> sitting there, it's so over-the-top faux elegant. Gack!
To each his own. I had to Google for images, but not even Yelp showed
Michel McComb) wrote:
> But I think the atmosphere is ridiculous. I'm embarrassed to be
> sitting there, it's so over-the-top faux elegant. Gack!
much of the interior - so my guess is that customers agree with you.
I saw tufted faux leather seating and a hideous wallpaper. Gack is
right!
--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room
Peter Lawrence
Jan 1, 2015, 7:33:58 PM1/1/15
to
Blum's back in the day.
- Peter
Ciccio
Jan 1, 2015, 9:45:21 PM1/1/15
to
Blum's, was in the old "City of Paris" department store" it was called
"Normandy Lane." It was the real deal elegant cafe/patisserie frequented
by the SF old (for SF) money.
Ciccio
sf
Jan 3, 2015, 12:33:06 PM1/3/15
to
On Thu, 01 Jan 2015 16:33:56 -0800, Peter Lawrence <humm...@aol.com>
wrote:
It didn't remind me of Blum's, it reminded me of model homes aimed at
Middle Eastern (or old fashioned Italian) types: over the top gaudy.
Somebody must like it, but I'm not in the target audience.
wrote:
Middle Eastern (or old fashioned Italian) types: over the top gaudy.
Somebody must like it, but I'm not in the target audience.
sf
Jan 3, 2015, 12:34:03 PM1/3/15
to
Ciccio
Jan 3, 2015, 6:04:37 PM1/3/15
to
>> I've never been to, or even heard of, Alexander's, but a contemporary of
>> Blum's, was in the old "City of Paris" department store" it was called
>> "Normandy Lane." It was the real deal elegant cafe/patisserie frequented
>> by the SF old (for SF) money.
>>
>
> I loved Normandy Lane.
Sure, I know places always look better via nostalgia, especially places
>> Blum's, was in the old "City of Paris" department store" it was called
>> "Normandy Lane." It was the real deal elegant cafe/patisserie frequented
>> by the SF old (for SF) money.
>>
>
> I loved Normandy Lane.
San Francisco, but really, where in SF or anywhere in America, is there
anyplace like City of Paris's Normandy Lane. Certainly, not the
knockoffs like Macy's Cellar or Neiman Marcus's The Rotunda. Oh well,
that's how Willie Brown and his cohorts helped Willie's "client" Neiman
Marcus, and calling it "progress."
Ciccio
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