clafoutis

god bless the french!  as my most recent review had stated, i had pretty much given up on finding a good breakfast in santa fe.

i had stopped here a few weeks back, but they were on 'spring break' and closed for a week. 

as i drove by today, even though it was packed, i decided to exercise my patient side and hope for the best.

the luck of the irish came through via a french vessel, known as clafoutis.

i decided to go à la carte and ordered the waffle, a side of scrambled eggs and bacon.

the waffle was baked perfectly, drizzled with chocolate syrup, and presented with a single raspberry on top.

the bacon was spot on and some of the best i have had eating out.  it was only $2, so i actually had (2) sides.

eggs were fluffy and flavorful.  the service was excellent, despite the packed house and the french roast was a very full-bodied, good coffee.

i will visit once more before departing santafein a couple weeks.

update:  june 18'

unexpected to be back in santafeduring summer, but the best part is being able to enjoy clafoutis a few more times.  little did i know, they serve hash browns!  they are very flavorful, buttered perfectly and my new favorite!

wonderful to sit on the patio in the early hours, before the heat gets too intense.  the owners are so nice and they pour their heart and soul into this place.  the mother/daughter team handles the front end and the father comes in each morning at 1am to make all the delectable pastries, in true french tradition.

don't miss this gem.  super busy, limited parking.  the only knock, if there is one, is the consistency of waitstaff.  super nice, but sometimes the language barrier results in sending an item back.  enjoy!

disappointed in santa fe. this once very charming and well staffed little cafe has become another of those "once upon a time" restaurants. i have eaten here so many times when the wait staff was very accommodating and courteous and the food was really worth the extra price. however, they have hired wait staff that not only lacks any resemblance of being courteous but absolutely will not or maybe, cannot wait on the customer. i ordered a breakfast. the bacon was burned to a crisp. the hash browns were in a puddle of grease and the coffee was barely warm. i asked my waiter for another cup of coffee but was never given a fresh cup. i drank the cold coffee and asked for a warm-up but never got that either. i then asked if i could get a glass of water, but to my dismay, that didn't happen either. the check did come quickly, however! this is one of those wonderful little restaurants that was once a charming and delightful place to eat but that has gone away. there are many restaurants and cafes in santafethat have maintained that special charm and are still attentive to the customer. don't waste your time on this one. i have recommended this little cafe to so many people but it is not the same that it use to be. not only that, the parking is so limited that you will have to park illegally in another merchant's parking place with the risk of being towed.

wonderful!. luckily this review isn't about the parking. i suggest you walk there but however you choose to go, just get there. the food is amazing. i had quiche and my aunt had a sandwich. portions were huge. the pastries were to die for! we leave santafetomorrow but before we go i'm stopping by clafoutis to bring some treats home to the family. they'll love me forever!

it’s disconcerting in santafeto be greeted with “bonjour, monsieur.” but at *clafoutis, i’m truly entering a french cafe and all the excellence and attention to detail that brings. it’s a world where baker/co-owner philippe ligier turns out mouth-watering brioche, tartine (like a little pizza), tarte au fromage and chewy baguettes, along with fruit tarts to die for.

excellent bakery. me and my wife who were visiting santafeon vacation went to clafoutis after a morning of hiking. i had read other reviews and thought we should try it. we absolutely loved it!! i had salami sandwich and cup of onion soup that were both to die for. my wife had chicken salad sandwich with homemade potato chips. the french bread was perfect!! great place for santafeor for any part of the united states!! i wish there were more places like this around the country

traditional french bistro in nm!. spectacular array of traditional french pastries! all the dishes are prepared wonderfully and the portions are huge! the $5 eggs and croissant is the size of my head. *get there before or after the breakfast/lunch rush - you will wait 30 mins for a table (but not for your food!) ive eaten here a dozen times during my trips to santafeand have never had a bad meal, pastry, or service!

best french toast i've ever had. what a great place! it looks small from the outside but quite large (and busy) inside. i recommend making a point of getting out of the old city center and visiting this place for breakfast/brunch. the best meal i had during a 3 day santafestay.
parking is very limited immediately in front but you can park across the street in the parking island between guadalupe and paseo de peralta.

our go to breakfast place. we discovered clafoutis, an unpretentious, local french-with-santafeflair restaurant in an unfashionable part of town next to a lota-burger and a dry cleaner. we have never had to wait for a table. the coffee is excellent. the waiters have been friendly and engaged. clafoutis make their own bread and pasteries. one superb item is the croiassant with egg, cheese and green chile for a pittance. the ham and cheese crepe, a tiny bit more than a pittance, is also excellent. the owner is always visable at the cash register, getting people take home baked goods and ringing up receipts with her cheerful and melodic french and english greetings. we leave french-satisfied and not american-stuffed.


-----23 may, 2009-----

great breakfast and lunch. a little bit of france in santa fe