SLO County bakery serves ‘world class’ treats. Here’s what I got for under $15
Just off the Embarcadero in Morro Bay, a French bakery is serving up flaky pastries, iced cookies and hearty sandwiches at affordable prices for locals and tourists alike.
La Parisienne is at 1140 Front St. in a strip mall near the waterfront. A sign in front of the unassuming shop bears a single word in red capital letters: BAKERY.
Inside, there’s a smattering of tables and chairs, as well as a whiteboard featuring the day’s menu sketched in multi-colored markers. A miniature Eiffel Tower stands on the counter, a nod to owner Debra Mouret’s time in Paris decades ago.
The main reason people line up out the door at La Parisienne is stacked in the display cases.
Dozens of colorful cookies in the shapes of sharks, octopuses and other sea creatures sit behind the glass, along with croissants, cinnamon rolls and danishes. Another case is devoted to quiches and tarts piled high with strawberries, blueberries and kiwi.
Tribune reader Jeff Weidler asked me to visit the waterfront bakery and taste some of the treats for On a Budget, a new monthly series where Tribune reporters try reader-suggested foods, drinks and activities around San Luis Obispo County on a $25 budget.
La Parisienne has “excellent desserts and the cookies are world class, but their sandwiches, including a croissant breakfast sandwich, are so delicious,” Weidler told The Tribune. “Even their hot dogs are the best.”
Mouret and her staffers “work endless hours so you can enjoy some of the best treats in SLO County,” said Weidler, a San Luis Obispo County native.
As a fan of good bakeries who recently marked six months as a SLO County resident, I decided to follow Weidler’s advice and try a breakfast at La Parisienne.
Here’s what I got for less than $25:
What is La Parisienne in Morro Bay?
Location: 1140 Front St., Morro Bay
When I arrived at La Parisienne around 8:30 a.m. on a recent weekday morning, the shop was already bustling.
Small groups were seated by the windows, munching on pastries and admiring the gorgeous view of Morro Rock in the background, and a short line of people had already formed at the counter.
I had obviously landed in breakfast heaven.
I welcomed the wait as I attempted to harness my decision-making skills. I ultimately chose to order two items, vowing to return to try the other tasty-looking confections that were making my stomach grumble.
I turned to the woman working the counter for her opinion on the sweet pastries packed in the cabinet between us.
After asking abut my food preferences, she suggested four options: an almond brioche, an cinnamon twist, an almond croissant stuffed with plump apricots and a strawberry-filled cream cheese croissant.
I chose the strawberry croissant and the woman behind me in line praised my choice, saying that was one of her favorites as well.
I also took Weidler’s advice and ordered the breakfast croissant — a toasted plain croissant with egg, cheese and bacon — to maintain a balance of sweet and savory.
To wash it all down, I ordered a small drip coffee. The total came to $14.65.
How I spent my $25 budget at a local French bakery
I grabbed my sweet pastry and filled my cup at the coffee station with the house blend.
Then I took a seat at a round two-person table. with my coffee in hand and waited for my breakfast croissant to arrive.
Someone with more self control would have waited until the full meal was in front of them, but I am not that person.
I quickly bit into the plain croissant dusted with powdered sugar and stuffed with sweet cream cheese and strawberries.
The $4.95 croissant was fluffy, soft and full of flavor without being messy. I got a blend of whipped cream cheese with juicy red strawberries in every bite.
Within a couple minutes, I was served a very hot breakfast croissant, which cost $5.95.
I nearly burnt my tongue on the toasty baked good out of an abundance of impatience, but my taste buds were luckily spared.
As an easy breakfast on the go, it was perfect: a flaky croissant paired with a fried well-done egg, a thin layer of American cheese and crispy bacon, all wrapped in foil. The sandwich was salty, filling and tasty.
The $2.75 coffee was a no-frills cup of Joe, warm and filled with caffeine.
Is La Parisienne affordable? See menu prices
I got a breakfast sandwich, a hefty pastry and a coffee for less than $15.
Those on a stricter budget have plenty of menu options, too.
Cookies start at $1.25, while pastries cost $3.25 to $4.95. Soups cost $4.75 for a bowl, slices of quiche are $5.75 and that famous French hot dog is just $3.75.
Coffee and espresso drinks range in price from $2.75 to $4.25.
Slightly pricier items include the $8.75 breakfast sandwiches, $11.95 salads, $8.25 cold sandwiches, $9.45 hot sandwiches and $9.95 burgers.
When I asked Mouret about keeping her prices low amid inflation and sky-high egg prices, she said she’s always had a hard time charging more.
“I just don’t want to do it. I want us to be accessible to everybody,” Mouret told me over the phone.
That level of accessibility has been a recipe for success over the years.
It’s not just about the prices, Mouret added, noting that she knows most of her customers by name and what they like to eat.
“I’ve just been doing it for so long, they’re like my family,” Mouret said.
After my visit to La Parisienne, I feel fortunate to be in the know about this charming little bakery in Morro Bay. There’s no doubt I’ll be back to try more delicious treats.
What are La Parisienne open hours? Where can I park?
La Parisienne is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. The bakery is closed to customers on Tuesdays.
Mouret said La Parisienne is busy most of the time, with the line wrapping out the door on weekends. Come on a weekday if you want to skip the crowds.
You can pay with a credit card, but the bakery only accepts cash tips.
Free parking is available in the lot in front of the shop.
This story was originally published March 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "SLO County bakery serves ‘world class’ treats. Here’s what I got for under $15."
