Forget Paris
The fair city of Toronto now has an authentic French pastry palace to call its own. Situated across from Trinity-Bellwoods Park, Clafouti, named after the famous French cherry tart, offers a lip-smacking range of buttery, delicious items. Croissants are the main draw, especially on weekends. The staff rise early to bake hundreds of croissants for the masses. Line-ups are virtually guaranteed, so get there early! Plump, flaky crescents coated with a shellac of egg wash come in plain, almond, chocolate and fig-flavoured varieties.

Coffee and Croque Monsieur
Clafouti also has a limited number of seats at the café for those dining in. Enjoy a classic bistro lunch, with the traditional Croque Monsieur and Madame, or a herbed Provencal chicken sandwich. Absentmindedly sipping on a café au lait while reading the paper has never been better. Naturally, the namesake clafouti cherry tart is available here, as are some unusual variations, like the lychee-caramel tart. Although sweet is the name of the game at Clafouti, savoury tastes in the form of salads and sandwiches will also satisfy your cravings.

Early Bird Gets The Baguette
Seeing as how Clafouti gets rushed early on in the morning, it is important to arrive on time for the 8 a.m. opening. A limited amount of pastries are baked and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Be prepared for an unruly throng of babies, strollers and dogs waiting along with you.