I will always Stan C'est La Vie in Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch. This location is always busy so get there early if you have your eyes on a specific pastry. Actually, just get there early anyway because the pastry items are fresher/better. There's indoor and outdoor seating. I typically skip trying to park next to it and just go to the garage and walk over. The service is more attentive than a typical French cafe overseas but not as on top of you as a typical place in the US. You can definitely order at the counter in French if you want to and I've had a waiter there flip between English, French, Spanish, and another language (maybe Romanian?) in one order. The sandwiches I've had were all lovely, and had a little side salad that could benefit from a better dressing (they serve an okay vinaigrette though). I've yet to encounter a single bad pastry - the elcairs, mousse cakes, and flaky pastries like chausson pommes are on par with the typical boulangerie/pattisserie in France and don't make me think US adaptation at all. Prices are reasonable. read more

We had a nice lunch here! Came with my parents, husband, and baby on a busy weekend brunch hour. We were luckily able to be sat inside right away in a tucked-in corner. I got the poularde crepe, wanting something savory. This was solid and tasty. Everyone else got nice little meals as well. I do feel like the portion and the quality is a little lacking for the price. That being said, I don't know that there are better French options in the area. I also got a palmier pastry and I should have gotten a croissant, the palmier tasted a little stale. The locale was adorable, with beautifully tiles tables really setting the scene. Overall, not terrible! Worthwhile if you're really feeling French. read more

C'est La Vie - Poularde crepe - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I've enjoyed C'est La Vie at another location and even recently purchased a whole quiche for a work celebration, so I expected a similar experience here. Since I was nearby, I decided to try the Main Street location for breakfast. I paid for parking specifically because I planned to dine in. As a first-time customer at this location, I wasn't sure how the ordering process worked, so I placed my order at the counter. A staff member brought my breakfast to me cold in a plastic to-go container. I explained that I intended to eat there and had never asked for my meal to be packaged to go. Rather than simply correcting the mistake, he seemed annoyed that it needed to be heated. When my meal was returned, it was still served in the same plastic takeout container. They request a tip but the service was rude and disrespectful!! The food wasn't the issue--it was the customer service. I left feeling as though I was inconveniencing the staff for wanting to dine in. I never expect perfection, but I do expect to be treated courteously. Unfortunately, this experience was disappointing and different from the service I've received at other C'est La Vie locations. read more

We went last Sunday and it was my very firsts time....I am French from origin and I was in delight when I took my first bite of my crepe forestière ....simply delicious ! And of course the natural friendly French "bistrot"ambiance was bringing me back home. I had the opportunity to also exchange a casual chat in my birth language. The service is great and everything is served in a timely manner. We will definitely return ! read more

If you want to be transported straight to a sidewalk café in Paris without leaving Sarasota, C'est La Vie is the place. It's a small, quaint spot with an amazing atmosphere, but definitely be prepared to wait if you're coming for brunch it's very popular for a reason! The wait was absolutely worth it, though. I started with a cappuccino, and it was perfection rich, smooth, and exactly what you need to wake up. For food, the savory crepe was outstanding. It had that perfect authentic texture slightly crisp on the edges and soft in the middle. I also tried the cauliflower soup, which was a surprising highlight. It was incredibly creamy and flavorful honestly, one of the best soups I've had in a long time. Highly recommend this gem if you're in the area! read more

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Excellent breakfast. Coffee, French pastry, Fresh fruit. Many of the customers seems to be regulars who meet there every day. Good service. Cozy ambience. Family owned. We'll be back. read more

Stopped in after the farmers market for a quick bite. We were greeted and was fortunate to have an outdoor seat on a beautiful morning. I ordered the ham and cheese croissant with potatoes. The food came out quick and looked amazing. The croissant was still flaky after being covered in the delicious cheese and over easy egg. Overall, it was a great breakfast to start the day! read more

C'est La Vie - Croissant au Jambon with potatoes - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

This place has been open forever and everything they have is delicious ---every bakery item and their coffee + more! If you sit outside in the cool weather, it is magical and the service is always great. Love this place! read more

What a gem! Adorable small and very French with wonderful charming servers and authentic French food. Definitely leave room for dessert...and the pastry counter! read more

Nice place, French style... too small for the traffic but good food and pastries. Service French way.. not super super but ok. The pate delicious, hogs presentation.. recommended. Just need more eating room.. read more

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Their pastures are to die for. Authentic French pastries. Their baristas? 1 out of 10. Scalding burnt milk and espresso. It's just easier to put an extra 5 mins into training your baristas and demanding they make drinks with pride. Get the pastries. Skip the espresso drinks. read more

Feels like Paris! French owners Good bakery Best to sit outside and order crepes of all kinds plus espresso. Wife prefers buckwheat crepes. read more

Looking for an awesome breakfast/lunch place with some of the best fresh pastries around. Then C' est La Vie is where you want to be. Everything and I mean everything is fresh, cooked perfectly and the service is fantastic. It is a small place inside but they also have a nice patio area with umbrella covered tables. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

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Great place for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Only been for breakfast and lunch though and imagine dinner is just as good. This place is reasonably priced for French food as well. Their pastries are always on point and the iced capp is good as well. You really can't go wong with anything you order but the croque madame is magic. This place is always busy so these servers are consistently hustling and they're friendly to boot. They have ample seating outdoors and indoors is cozy. Love coming here everytime I'm in town. read more

C'est La Vie - Paris baguette and soup of the day - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Pastries are still good but do not get a quiche. The worst anywhere and most expensive, definitely highway robbery. This place used to be great, years ago but quality has gone downhill, unfortunately. read more

Coffee was great! Pastries were amazing! The crepes were just ok but they're big so you can share with someone... small place but feels homey... the younger staff is nice! There is an older gentleman there that owns the place maybe and he kind of hovers which is a little uncomfortable and when I asked him for napkins he sent someone else which is kind of odd but other than that it's a nice spot. read more

C'est La Vie - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Lovely place for breakfast in the area. Lots of good French food options! We ordered a Normandy crepe, ham and Swiss baguette & croissant. Cafe au lait was divine and one of our top 5's. Pastries were all tasty. Croissant could be a bit more on the "crispy" side but delish nonetheless. Give this place a try! Service was decent despite how busy it was. read more

C'est La Vie - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Paola was our service and she was incredible!! So kind and fast! She made us all feel comfortable and I can tell she's a really hard worker. Give this gal a raise because she really adds to this experience. The food was delicious too and exactly what my family and I had in mind. Portions were very large as well. The entire restaurant is decorated very nicely. I would definitely come back if I lived in Florida. read more

Just like Europe, unless you call for service, our waitress pretty much forgot about ys. Food was good though. Womt be back again.

Pretty authentic French bistro. This was our second visit and our group enjoyed our meal. The savory crepe is light and delicious. The quiche was outstanding. Fluffy and tasty. Don't miss the bakery items- croissants are buttery and so so good- baked fresh daily. Hard to choose between all. Seating outside is enjoyable under the umbrella. If you're there early enough you can just walk up and sit down. read more

C'est La Vie - Outdoor seating - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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I wandered in here in search of gluten free pastries for my husband. Alas there were none but I eyed those gluten-full pastries and decided to come back (walking along Main Street we more or less struck out for gluten free) I'm so glad I did. I felt increasingly confident as I heard the French accent in the cashiers' speech. I snacked on the chocolate almond croissant pastry on our drive home and it was one of the best ones I've had! read more

I'm bumping my rating up to 5 stars for this place. It's become one of our favorites!! Yes, it gets busy & can be overcrowded at times & the waitresses can be rushed & a bit short but c'mon that's 100% the feel of an authentic French cafe!!! Once you enter you will feel like you've been transported to Paris!! While I haven't been to France in many years, when I eat here I do try brushing up on my French! :) Their pastries are decadent & we can't leave without a couple things to go. We've tried most everything on the menu from the soups to sandwiches, quiche, crepes, salads, paninis, ... everything is delicious. Can't say we have a favorite order but do enjoy their quiches very much as they're not available at many places. Great location. Parking is usually never a problem between the meters & lots. read more

C'est La Vie - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Absolutely lovely authentic French bakery/café/ restaurant with great downtown Sarasota views that offers both indoor and outdoor (recommended) seating. Came in to order takeout with a 10% discount coupon mailed to my mother who moved nearby recently. Seems family owned, friendly staff, and a wide selection on their menu! Known best for its extensive bakery options and breakfast and lunch, but also serves dinner. Excellent quiches and super rich soups. I plan to visit again for a leisurely sit for brunch outside with a savory crepe or panini. Beverage options are also very impressive! A little pricey, but expected for the area. The Croissant Sandwiches seem the best deal with sides included. Inexpensive metered parking available. read more

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Beautiful sunny day to eat brunch outside the restaurant. Staff was very friendly but our waiter wasn't really attentive with us. Didn't ask if we needed anything such as ketchup or water while other tables were serviced with such. Food was on par. My norveigan salmon crepe tasted kinda like a calzone still very good. Everything was cooked to perfection. Potatoes were cooked well also, not oily and very light to eat. read more

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The food is fantastic. We got crapes, king cake, croissant with egg and cheese and hot, fresh coffee. It s busy and sometimes hard to find a table. The service is good and it's just cute to have breakfast/brunch/lunch. There is indoor or outdoor seating. Parking is pay by meter and it's dog friendly if you are sitting out side. You can sit down or get things to go! read more

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This is an awesome French bakery & restaurant in downtown Sarasota. They have in door & outdoor seating-you can even dine with your dog outside! Excellent food no matter what you get! Staff is friendly & helpful. A delightful place. read more

Favorite place to go after going to Sarasota Farmer's Market. Love the food and of course their pastries!

A great find downtown! We stopped in during a busy time, Sunday after church for breakfast. The outside was packed they had lots of tables with umbrellas. We opted for the cooler indoor seating. They have an impressive pastry counter when you come inside. Overall the inside gives a more squished NYC feel but the food, pastries, and our waitress were all great. From the baguette sandwich, croissant sandwich, quiche & omelette, everyone at our table left happy! read more

C'est La Vie - Baguette sandwich - ham & cheese with soup of the day. - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

This review is based on Pastries- we wanted to purchase local for some special baked goods for a friend's dinner get together... Chefs kiss !! Amazing sampler plate I put together,. Staff was so helpful and everything looked delicious and a variety of pastries to choose from . Each one more delicious than the next, the lemon tart and soft triangle brownie personal faves but we will be back to try out their food next. I would order each pastry I purchased again they were delicious! read more

C'est La Vie - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Disappointing dinner outing. The place is very cute on the outside and had good reviews so we decided to try it out for dinner. Pros - cute exterior and outdoor seating. Friendly staff. Best food was the bread and butter. Cons - food came out cold. Usually I like my duck medium rare but this was cooked rare. The meat was cold and chewy. The potatoes were also cold. Could not finish the dish. May be a better place for breakfast than dinner. Food was cold and undercooked. Quite a disappointment. read more

C'est La Vie - Magret de canard aux myrtilles et vin rouge - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Very Royal Experience! I don't have to travel to France. This is France. The food was amazing. Good to the last bite. The service was outstanding. Christophe and Geraldine were Amazing. Always makes us feel like family. The restaurant was very clean and organized. It's actually the best coffee shop on the Block but they are a full restaurant as well. 5 Stars. Follow the Flavor ¡experiencia muy real! No tengo que viajar a Francia. Esta es Francia. La comida fue increíble. Bueno hasta el último bocado. El servicio fue excepcional. Christophe y Geraldine fueron increíbles. Siempre nos hace sentir como familia. El restaurante estaba muy limpio y organizado. En realidad, es la mejor cafetería de la cuadra, pero también es un restaurante completo. 5 estrellas. Sigue el Sabor read more

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Great spot. Food was ok, busy lunch. But the service was awful! (Young girl, dark straight hair) Had to ask for menus, then drinks. Server outside was indifferent. Never asked if we needed anything, how was meal, etc.. Dropped check on table without a word. Sorry, never going back. read more

My daughter and I were in the mood for a cute spot for breakfast and drove by this cafe and decided to try it out. Location and outside seating make this place very charming, however, the food was not very good. We ordered a croissant to share and the bread was tough and dry. I ordered a cappuccino which was just okay. For our main courses I ordered the Quiche Jambom et Champigons with a side of potatoes and my daughter ordered the Quiche Lorraine with a side salad. Both came out cold and mine seemed like it had been sitting since the evening before. The best part was the side salad that came with my daughter's dish. Wanted to love this place but won't be coming back. read more

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Great food, service and outdoor dining! We had a great meal - ham and cheese croissant, Paris Ham and Quiche Jambon et Champigons. read more

Don't skip this place if in Sarasota!! It is out of this world and we will definitely drive back from Tampa just for this.I had ordered the apricot flan and multi-fruit tart for my husband's birthday celebration and he said it was the best desserts he has ever had. He is not a fan of cakes so this as absolutely perfect and beautiful presentation. The man who helped me out at the front counter (I believe the baker and maybe owner) was so helpful and kind. What a great experience and I want to go back for crepe day! read more

Sometimes there is nothing better than a little French cafe with outdoor pretty seating options and all the menu options--from crepes to baguette sandwiches to croissants and baked goods. Plus wonderful coffee options. We visited for lunch on a sunny but cool Monday. My two friends went for savory crepes with salads or potatoes. They loved. I craved a sweet crepe and the lemon one was just what the doctor ordered. If French cafe-style comfort food is your idea of a nice brunch or lunch, perhaps you will enjoy too. read more

C'est La Vie - Lemon crepe - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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I was visiting the area, and I'm glad we found this place! There is a surprising amount of seating for a small storefront and a menu that makes it hard to decide what to order. Everything sounds great! They have a large selection of both sweet and savory crepes, sandwiches, quiche, and tasty-looking baked goods. I ordered a crepe with goat cheese, spinach, tomatoes, and walnuts in a buckwheat crepe, and the creamy goat cheese was incredible! The coffee was excellent as well, and the staff were friendly. If you're shopping in the area, i woud definitely recommend this place for brunch, a coffe, or a nice lunch. read more

C'est La Vie - Buckwheat crepe filled withgoat cheese, tomato, spinach, and walnuts - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

A nice breakfast I stopped in yesterday morning for breakfast. It was the day before a hurricane arrived so there were few diners, I assume most people preparing for the storm. The restaurant while open yesterday will be closed the next few days. As far as my visit went, I sat just inside. The restaurant has not changed over the years, bakery items available in a couple of display cases. The place looks kind of old. They also have seating outside along the sidewalk, a popular place to enjoy the fresh air and the morning. For breakfast I had their Croque Madame, a warm ham and Gruyere cheese sandwich with an egg on top, and boy was it good. The sandwich was large with lots of that delicious melted cheese. The hat, ie the egg on top, was way off to the side so plating wasn't that great, but the flavor was there. I was given the option of potatoes or a salad and chose potatoes. Seems like for a French dish it would have both, small colorful leaves in the corner of a plate a common thing. The potatoes were nothing special, just deep fried cubes. Service was friendly, attentive, and fine. This was a real plus for me, I have an outdated opinion that was not always the case. I did wish they piped in French music instead of what was being played. read more

C'est La Vie - Croque Madame - French Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

This was our 'go-to' place for breakfast in Sarasota. The food is awesome and the service is beyond expectations. We would sometimes make a 30 minute drive just to eat here - which speaks volumes, as we don't do this for any other place. Eat inside at least once so you can see the history, but also enjoy the street - as this is how we roll in FL. read more

Apricot croissant - MMMMM! SOOO delicious! Buttery, soft and flakey, wonderful apricot taste from bits of plump apricot chunks. Get it! Cappuccino - So good! French Onion Soup - Honestly? This rivals ANY I've had in France and easily the best I've had in years. It's difficult to make a GOOD version but these guys have done it! I'll be coming back again soon and ordering this for sure. Ribeye with peppercorn and fries - hmmm. This one is sadly mixed. The steak was prepared nicely (medium) and had the perfect buttery texture to expect, however it was charred so excessively the burnt taste superceded anything you could enjoy from the steak itself. Fries were tasty. Overall this place has fantastic ambiance and service was friendly and attentive. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes!! read more

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