We stopped by Love Croissants on opening day at their new Heights location, and overall I was really impressed. It's a small, very polished, high-end pastry shop just off Durham on 16th, with both a drive-through and the option to walk inside and see what they have coming out of the ovens.
The pastries are definitely the reason to come here. I always like to ask what is freshest or just came out of the oven, because that's when croissants are at their best. I got the chocolate croissant, and it was excellent, flaky, buttery, and fresh. We also tried a strawberry-guava tart that was delicious. The crust was made with that same flaky, croissant-like pastry, which was a really nice touch and kept it true to the whole Love Croissants theme. The strawberry and guava combination was a little unusual, but it worked really well.
It is definitely on the more expensive side compared with some other bakeries, but that also isn't too surprising once you walk in. Everything about the shop feels high-end, from the space itself to the presentation and the pastries they're making. You can tell they're going for something a little more elevated than your average neighborhood bakery, and the pricing reflects that.
We also got a matcha latte and a vanilla latte. The coffee side still seemed like it was getting its footing on opening day. My matcha was okay, but they had to ask the owner how to make it, so I don't think everyone had been fully trained on that drink yet. The vanilla latte was pretty average, although better than the coffee we've had at their Midtown location. I probably wouldn't come here specifically for the coffee, but it's perfectly fine alongside a pastry.
The shop itself is pretty small, with maybe two or three tables inside and a few outside. It doesn't really feel like a place designed for hanging out for hours. Honestly, the drive-through feels a little unusual for the concept. I'd rather hop out, walk inside, see everything in the case, and see what's coming out fresh.
The staff was very friendly, and especially considering it was opening day, everyone seemed to be working hard and doing a great job. Having this right in the neighborhood is extremely convenient, and based on the pastries we tried, I'll definitely be back. The croissants and tarts are the star here. read more