Arsicault Bakery

Cuisine	French, Café / Bakery
Price	$ (under 15)
Rating	8/10
Last Visit	Oct. 9, 2023
Location	SFBA: San Francisco: West

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General Notes

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Arsicault Bakery is widely regarded as one of the best French bakeries in San Francisco. They're particularly well-known for their kouign-amann. For good reason -- their kouign-amann is hands down one of the best pastries I've ever had. The menu is small but each item is executed with perfection. I never thought I would like scones but these were truly delightful. My two favorite items are their kouign-amann and ham and cheese croissant -- get one of each for yourself for a perfect sweet / savory combination. Get some coffee / tea and enjoy the pastries at the outdoor seating or in nearby Rossi Park.

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Positives

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> They make their pastries relatively fresh. The first time I came, there was a sticker on "kouign-amann" on the menu that one would need to wait to get it. When I got to the front of the line, sticker was taken off. I ended up getting kouign-amann, freshly made less than 30 minutes ago! You can tell from the temperature and taste of their pastries that they're freshly made.
> What stands out most is definitely the butter and the ethereal texture of the pastry. The sugar is relatively subtle and used at a perfect amount to accentuate the butter and texture.

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Negatives

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> Lines can be very long, stretching along Arguello. Expect a wait. Thankfully, the line moves surprisingly quickly. I came at around 10:45 on a Saturday and waited for ~30 minutes.

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Dishes Tasted

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• ★★★★ Cranberry + Coconut Scone -- Pretty similar in flavor to the currant scone. Buttery, perfect level of sweetness, wonderful texture. Have it with some earl grey and it's the best thing ever.
• ★★★★ Savory Scone -- Bacon, onion, cheese, and some miscellaneous ingredients. Like the currant scone, I was delightfully surprised. The scone was tender, buttery, and super flavorful.
• ★★★★ Ham and Cheese Croissant -- Lovely buttery + crisp texture. Good quality ham and cheese, and the proportions were perfect.
• ★★★★ Currant Scone -- I honestly never thought I'd like scones this much. Soft buttery interior with a lightly crispy exterior. Again, the currants and sugar level is perfect to emphasize the ethereal texture and buttery flavor of the pastry.
• ★★★★ Kouign-Amann -- Hands down the best pastry I've ever had. Fluffy, buttery interior. Crisp, flaky exterior. And the caramelized top is absolutely wonderful. It is obviously very rich (which gives it a delightful texture/flavor) but doesn't feel heavy at all. The amount of sugar is perfect to highlight the texture and butter of the pastry.