North Shore Boulangerie

4401 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood, WI

Even though I can’t touch what are probably very fine bakery items, bread and pastries, I visit this café frequently for lunch—which is excellent and reasonably priced. It’s also an extremely pleasant room—there’s a café, bakery, takeout side and dine-in breakfast and lunch side. If I lived in the neighborhood, I’d come here all the time and probably get acquainted with the regulars. I love the all-purpose nature of the place. I’m no expert on the French, but it feels like what I’d imagine are the best qualities of a French café. It feels simultaneously relaxed and unassuming, and high quality and kind of fancy—which is a nice thing to pull off. The coffee is excellent, of course, and I really like their salads. Someone else can fill me in on the bread.

4.5.23