Dining and Restaurant Search

Cheerful Bistro Blossoms Under New Ownership

French Corner Café and Bakery near Target in Palm Desert’s Desert Crossing Center at Highway 111 and Fred Waring Drive has a fresh new look. One of the Valley’s unique, authentic French pastry café, French Corner Café won the Soroptimist’s Desert Dessert Derby Contest 2008 and offers a full menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. New owners, brothers Marc and Aimeric Davy, originally from France and Switzerland, have taken this charming café to new heights since last year.

Refreshed décor includes cheerful ocre walls on which picturesque French countryside paintings are exhibited for sale. Comfortable new woven rattan bistro and pub-height chairs, and freshly upholstered banquettes are accented by red droplights.

New curved-glass pastry cases are filled with Aimeric’s mouthwatering croissants, Brioche bread, berries tarts, crème brûlée, éclairs, lemon meringue, Napoleons, and delectable chocolate, fruit, or custard mousse cakes, as well as St. Honoré, Tiramisú, and Black Forest cake. Don’t forget the original French macaroons in their rainbow colors, the exquisite little petit four collection for your private parties. Enjoy a pastry with espresso, latte, or cappuccino any time in the bakery area at the counter or pub-height table.

Find moderately priced but authentic French bistro cuisine such as Parisians dine on every day. Luscious crêpes, omelettes and quiches, French-style salads such as Montrachet, Niçoise, and Duck Salad, plus a variety of croissant sandwiches, Croque Monsieur, BLTs, and even burgers are available all day.

Start dinner with a French onion gratinée soup or buttery escargots smothered in bleu cheese. Delectable steamed mussels in white wine, scallops, sautéed fillet of sole, grilled shrimps, roasted chicken, rack of lamb, and steaks with creamy pepper sauce are some of the dinner offerings. Take-out fresh-made soup and bread are also available.

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., breakfast is from 8 to 11 a.m.; lunch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Private parties are welcomed. French Corner Café and Bakery also provides desserts for parties, birthdays, weddings, and all special occasions.

“Authentic French cuisine and pastries made to order in a charming café setting with very affordable prices.”

Text by Pamela Bieri