Le French Dad Boulangerie: Authentic French Breads and Pastries in Montclair, NJ

Le French Dad Boulangerie Introduce

Introduction / Overview: Bringing a Taste of France to Montclair, New Jersey

For residents across New Jersey who cherish the authentic taste of freshly baked French goods, Le French Dad Boulangerie offers a daily escape to the heart of Paris right in downtown Montclair. Located on the highly sought-after Church Street, this bakery has built a reputation for its deep commitment to traditional French baking techniques, specializing in rustic breads and exquisite pastries. The business, which proudly identifies as women-owned, is founded on the principle that the finest baked goods should be hand-crafted daily using natural, high-quality ingredients.

The founding spirit of Le French Dad Boulangerie is rooted in a passion for authentic French bread-making, focusing on naturally leavened doughs that result in the perfect crust and crumb. From the classic, crusty baguette to the layered, buttery perfection of a croissant, the mission is to provide the Montclair community and visitors from neighboring North Jersey towns with the same quality found in a small French village. The bakery positions itself as a central part of the community, where customers can seamlessly pick up a baguette for dinner, a croissant for breakfast, or a delightful pastry for a mid-day indulgence.

While the atmosphere and operational details have seen recent changes, the fundamental offering remains the same: a dedication to artisanal French baking. It maintains a welcoming environment, identifying as both LGBTQ+ friendly and a Transgender safespace, ensuring that all members of the New Jersey community feel welcome. The Montclair location, in one of the area’s most vibrant and walkable centers, makes it a favored spot for a quick and rewarding visit. The essence of this neighborhood gem lies in its core products—the dedication to bread, viennoiseries, and pastries made with care, precision, and passion.

Location and Accessibility in Montclair, NJ

Le French Dad Boulangerie is centrally situated at 10 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042, USA. This address is in the bustling Montclair Center, a prime destination in Essex County known for its distinctive local businesses, cultural attractions, and dynamic food scene. Church Street is a hub for pedestrian traffic, making the bakery an easy and attractive stop for shoppers, local office workers, and residents enjoying the town's lively atmosphere.

Accessibility is geared toward convenience and speed, catering to those making a Quick visit. While seating may be limited, the focus is on efficient service to get customers their fresh goods quickly. Payment methods are modern and convenient, accepting major Credit cards, Debit cards, and NFC mobile payments for a smooth transaction process. For those driving into Montclair Center, paid street parking is generally available throughout the area, typical of this popular commercial district. The location’s walkability makes it a natural stop for anyone exploring the heart of Montclair.

Services Offered

In-Store Shopping: Customers can come in to select their favorite breads, pastries, and desserts directly from the display.
In-Store Pickup: Convenient for those who wish to place an order ahead of time and collect it quickly from the store.
Curbside Pickup: A helpful option for busy customers to receive their order without leaving their vehicle, maximizing convenience in the Montclair area.
Takeout: All items are available for takeout, allowing you to enjoy the fresh French goods at home or as you stroll through Church Street.
Coffee Service: Offers fresh Coffee to pair perfectly with their selection of viennoiseries, making it an ideal morning or afternoon stop.

Features / Highlights

Authentic French Baking: The core identity is the meticulous craft of traditional French breads and pastries, focusing on naturally leavened doughs and high-quality, natural ingredients.
Specialization in Breads and Viennoiseries: The primary focus is on rustic French breads (such as Baguettes and Campagne) and classic French breakfast pastries (Viennoiseries) like the essential Croissant and Pain Au Chocolat.
French Desserts & Macarons: Beyond breads, the bakery features a selection of traditional French desserts, notably including French macarons and other sweet delights.
Women-Owned Local Business: A proud women-owned operation contributing to the diversity and entrepreneurship within the Montclair local business community.
Grab and Go Options: Offers light savory items and quick snacks, perfect for a fast, delicious meal or accompaniment to a local gathering.
Community Focused Vibe: Despite any changes, the business maintains a focus on being a warm, welcoming, and inclusive space, identifying as LGBTQ+ friendly and a Transgender safespace.

Contact Information

Address: 10 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042, USA

Phone: (973) 746-0288

What is Worth Choosing: The Daily Essentials of French Cuisine

For any New Jersey local, Le French Dad Boulangerie should be the go-to source for the daily bread and essential French pastries. What sets this Montclair establishment apart is the dedication to products that are often difficult to find locally with true, authentic quality.

The Baguette is arguably the most worthy choice. In French tradition, the quality of a meal is often judged by the bread that accompanies it, and the boulangerie’s focus on naturally leavened and rustic baking ensures a baguette with the perfect, crackling crust and an airy, flavorful interior. This is the ultimate accompaniment for a local New Jersey dinner, pairing beautifully with cheeses, charcuterie, or simply butter.

Equally essential are the Viennoiseries—the collective term for breakfast pastries. The Croissant is a must-try. Customers consistently praise the buttery perfection and flaky layers, the hallmark of a properly proofed and baked French croissant. Whether you choose the plain variety, the Pain Au Chocolat, or the rich Almond Croissant, these items define the ideal morning treat when paired with a fresh coffee from the shop.

Beyond these staples, the more unique selections are also highly recommended. Items like the Macarons offer a delicate, colorful sweetness for a gift or dessert, while rustic bread varieties such as the Campagne (whole wheat) or the Olive Bread provide heartier, complex flavor profiles for the discerning bread lover. Though service experiences may vary, the high quality of the foundational baked goods—a result of genuine French technique—remains the key draw, making Le French Dad Boulangerie an essential stop for a taste of Parisian baking culture right in the heart of Montclair, NJ.

Le French Dad Boulangerie Details

From the business
Identifies as women-owned

Service options
Curbside pickup
In-store pickup
In-store shopping
Takeout
Delivery
Dine-in

Offerings
Coffee

Amenities
Restroom

Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safespace

Planning
Quick visit

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Le French Dad Boulangerie Photos

Le French Dad Boulangerie Location

Le French Dad Boulangerie

New Jersey Essex County Montclair Church Street

10 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042, USA

Le French Dad Boulangerie Reviews

An average rating of ★4.6 from 220 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Le French Dad Boulangerie is such a gem in Montclair! The moment you walk in, the smell of fresh bread and pastries makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a little corner of Paris. The croissants are buttery perfection, the baguettes have that perfect crunch, and the desserts are always a delight. The staff is kind, welcoming, and clearly passionate about what they do. This bakery has quickly become one of my favorite spots in town!
September 17 · Hector Garcia
If you asked me before August 25th about Le French Dad Boulangerie, I would write an outstanding review, starting with the ambiance of the shop, the warm and welcoming staff, who pretty much call all the customers by name, to the overflowing amount of deliciousness of bread, pastries, desserts, grab and go items. Then, they closed for vacation. When they reopened they renovated it, so it is a bright sterile looking environment, nothing in the dessert case except some macarons and one croissant cube. The charm of the original store is gone. The first thing you see are donuts from Montclair Bread. The selection of breads, and limited pastries are arranged haphazard with no indication of what anything is. There are a ton of pictures hung up of various colorful drinks which looks out of place. The staff is entirely new, made up of disinterested teens. I've come back a second time since the remodeling and the experience got worse. This past Saturday morning, there were 2 people a head of me. Both staff members were emptying trays of breads into the display case. One finally saw a woman standing there and decided to help her. The line had grown to 8 people some, with children. The other girl would look around, empty a tray and not look in our direction. I asked politely if she could help the next person, as there is a line. She responded very nasty that how do we expect her to walk back there if she didn't empty the trays. She proceeded to slam the tray, shift around something by the coffee machine and huffed to the back of the store. The other girl responded that she is the only one at the register. She made no attempt to work any harder, had no organizational skills, nor a system and was not very pleasant. The two people ahead of me had to wait a very long time for their items. They each had a total of 2 items. I had a bit more items, and I observed how she squeezed three items into a small bag. When I got home, pretty much all of the icing was on the bag on not the danish. When I asked where Sara and the other woman was who works there, I was told they don't work here anymore. It took a long time to get what I asked for. Upon leaving, I checked my watch and I was in the store for almost 20 minutes. This was 8:15 a.m.Did something happen that Arben no longer owns Le French Dad? Their Instagram page hasn't been updated, and it is usually up to date with new items, which I usually go and buy after they post. The customers in line were all wondering the same thing, and had the same opinion about the new store. It is no longer a special place. On their website, it says: Who We AreWhether you are in the city of lights or in a small village in Provence, France wouldn't be France without its boulangeries. Every day, boulanger(è)s and pâtissier(è)s hand craft breads, viennoiseries and pastries for their community. As a Frenchman and baker taught in the French way, this is what I wanted to bring to Montclair; a community bakery where you can pick up a baguette for tonight's dinner, grab a croissant for your breakfast or snack. This is not the case anymore. The grab and go days are over, unless you have at least a half an hour or more to wait. I spend roughly between $75 - $100 a month here. If the quality of service remains as it is, I am sure you will lose a lot of customers. Be honest with your customers and let them know what is going on.
September 26 · Cindy Swabsin
This is a wonderful French bakery with truly authentic French breads and pastries. I got a couple of loaves of fig and walnut bread that were discounted, and almond croissant that another customer convinced me to get, a turkey Brie and apple sandwich and I had actually ordered two croissants but for some reason they didn’t make it in my bag. I think there was a misunderstanding with the other customer; no matter, an excuse to return! The sandwich bread (a mini French baguette) was surprisingly crisp on the outside and didn’t at all get soft when I returned home 1.5 hrs later to enjoy it. Everything just looks and smells good. I look forward to returning.
April 22 · Elena Yee
Le French Dad Boulangerie brings true artisanal baking to Montclair. The attention to detail is obvious in every bite — from their perfectly laminated croissants to their rustic sourdough loaves, everything is crafted with care and skill. I especially appreciate the balance of authenticity and creativity on the menu, with classic French staples alongside unique seasonal offerings. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it the ideal place to grab a morning pastry, a fresh baguette for dinner, or simply enjoy a quiet coffee break. It’s more than a bakery — it’s an experience.
September 17 · LLD RoadSide Services LLC
Lovely selection of breads, pastries, and sandwiches with super friendly service. The passion roll is a fun mix of textures with nice flavor, and the turkey, brie, and apple baguette was just what I needed for a satisfying lunch on the go. It's a shame they close at 5pm, because I'd love to come by for an after-work treat.
May 08 · Kyle DeMartazzi
Zero stars for this place that I visited this morning at around 10 am and although they did not have any customers at all, the two available employees never cared to answer me! There was a tall big man who was busy cleaning the table and a lady busy with her phone! I stood by the counter and I said "good morning, do you have chocolate cake"?the man looked at me then looked away without saying anything. The lady behind the counter was so into her phone, she didn't even see me!!! I felt extremely humiliated with such negligence, disrespect and unprofessionalism so i headed towards the door to leave when i finally heard the lady saying: hello you need help?SERIOUSLY??!You help the customers at your own best timing when you are done texting and finally free? Well, thank you.. keep your mismanagement to yourself.I regret stepping into this miserable big failure bakery.MY ONLY RECOMMENDATION IS STAYYYY AWAYYYY FROM THIS PLACE. RUN.
September 26 · M M