La Renaissance Patisserie Francais, The Rocks, Sydney

La Renaissance Patisserie Francais, The Rocks, Sydney
Thursday 1 December, 2005

This place is a major find, so much so I'm reluctant to write about it. On the corner of George & Argyle Sts in The Rocks, Costi Seafood cafe has just opened, just a few doors up Argyle St is La Renaissance.

From the street it looks like a shop front only. Walk in and join the hordes of people admiring the amazing pastries and cakes on display - Chocolate Granache, Black Forest, Raspberry Charlotte Mousse, Mixed Fruit Flan - the list is extensive. What most people don't realise is that the shop front leads out to a courtyard cafe.

Lunch offerings are sausage rolls, pies, quiches & a variety of gourmet rolls - small enough that you can easily justify an individual cake serving to follow. Select and pay for your food in the shop front and take it out to the courtyard.

On my first visit I enjoyed a sausage roll with delightfully thin flaky pastry and a delicious creme brulee. The courtyard cafe out the back is a sensational space set amongst the gorgeous cobbled laneways of the surroundings pubs and restaurants. There's adequate shade in this sunny space and the best part is it's not crowded.

I'll be back next week.

La Renaissance Patisserie Francais - 47 Argyle Street, The Rocks, Sydney - (02) 92414878

http://www.larenaissance.com.au/