Pain du Monde Bakery Café, a Beautiful Spot for Breakfast or Lunch

If you love a full breakfast or are just a coffee and pastry person, Pain du Monde Bakery and Café may be the perfect spot for you to get a bite and enjoy our gorgeous winter weather. It is located at 2 Ritz Carlton Dr., just across the street from the Ritz Carlton Hotel and is adjacent to Salt Creek Beach parking.

There is al fresco dining on the patio in front of the restaurant, as well as inside tables. The morning we visited, the patio was completely full. Inside, the restaurant is pretty and comfortable with dark wood, granite counters and a variety of photographs of surfers. Orders are placed at the counter and then brought to your table. You can also order everything to go.

There is an impressive display of breads and pastries at the counter, including scones, twists, bagels, croissants and muffins. All are made fresh each morning. I could not resist ordering a croissant along with the French omelet and a coffee. My daughter ordered the Santa Fe omelet and a latte. My coffee was hot and quite good. The croissant was large, buttery, delicious and served on a pretty plate.

Despite the restaurant being very busy, we did not have to wait long for the rest of our breakfasts. My omelet was beautifully presented with fresh grilled asparagus on top. Inside was fresh avocado, spinach and mushrooms, goat cheese, and sun-dried tomato. It was really good and so much better than I expected. It came with a little fruit cup and French bread toast, so clearly I did not need the croissant. After studying the menu, I realized I could have ordered the omelet made with only egg whites. I will probably do that in the future, since the omelet is made with so many flavorful ingredients, that I don’t think I would miss the egg yolks.

The Santa Fe Omelet came completely covered with sautéed cherry tomatoes and chipotle sauce. It also contained bacon, cheddar cheese and tri-colored Bell peppers. My daughter loves tomatoes, but could only eat about half of the tomatoes and bell peppers served. She also thought it was a little too spicy for her taste, but still said it was good.

Overall, Pain du Monde is a lovely spot for breakfast and lunch or just coffee drinks and smoothies. It could be the perfect conclusion to a long walk on the beach. The food is fresh and beautifully prepared. Meals are slightly expensive, with most egg dishes, salads and sandwiches running from $10-$12, but if you are looking for something delicious, I highly recommend it. It is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

I give Pain du Monde 4 out of 5 Patches.