Beard Papa’s

Came in today to this little location off the beaten path right by my house. Tasha was working and made my experience pretty incredible. As a thanks for being a new customer I received my drinks for free. She created a custom mango/​ice cream smoothie for me, gave me extra pastries and hooked up the baked potatoes I came in for. I got the sweet corn baked potato and the chicken carbonara — both were fantastic. It was a really enjoyable experience, I’m hoping more people start coming in to this great little spot. And the cream puffs were to die for — so good I bought a dozen. Thanks, Tasha.

Beard Papa’s is a French cream puff shop that originated from Osaka, Japan. They’ve earned the title «World’s Best Cream Puffs» due to their amazing treats. What makes their puffs unique is a shell made up of two layers: an inner layer of French choux and an outer layer inspired by pie-​crust. It makes for a fluffy and crunchy texture that knocks your socks off; paired with their whipped cream custard (or their various other flavors), and you’ve got yourself a masterpiece. The best part? It’s interactive — pick your shell and filling, and they’ll fill it in front of you.
My first encounter with the Beard Papa’s brand actually occurred in New York. I LOVED them (see my review for full details), and when I saw their truck at one of the Food Truck Bazaars, I knew I had to find out where they were.
Honestly, I wish they were in a better location. Their newest location isn’t a bad place, it’s just very rural and a little out of the way. It doesn’t seem like the road gets a lot of traffic/​business either. This is actually their third time moving. Originally, they had a shop at the Premium Outlet, then they moved to Sanford, and now, they’ve settled in Longwood.
Walking in, the familiar scent of choux filled their air. Tasha, the woman behind the counter, welcomed me right away and made me feel at home. The working area behind the counter was massive — there was more than enough space for baking and preparing the treats, but their seating area seems a bit limited. With only four or five tables available, it can seem a little cramped.
Their shell selection seemed very basic: Paris Brest, Éclair, Original, Elcair, or Cookie. For their fillings, they only had the standard Vanilla Bean Custard along with a Special Flavor of the Day. I chose the Original and the Paris Brest, both filled with the Vanilla Bean Custard since I actually came when they first opened and the other flavor hadn’t been prepared yet. Because of that, Tasha actually threw in a complimentary puff! I also ordered a Buffalo Chicken Wrap… more on that later.
The puffs were immensely tasty as they’re prepared either the night before or the day of. Because they lack preservatives, they’re best if eaten right away, but storing them in the refrigerator will keep them fresh too. My only tiff about the puffs were how soggy the Paris Brest seemed. I think this was due to the condensed milk drizzled on top though. Other products they have are: ice cream, waffles, boba (bubble) tea, and coffee.
Now, I bet you’re wondering how the Buffalo Chicken Wrap factors in. That’s because the shop also doubles as a Spud U Crave. –_​_​_​– I actually don’t know how I feel about that. While I understand and commend their spirit in trying to reach new markets, I do think it can come off a little divided and confused. It’s like they’re trying to be the Jack of All Trades and Master of None. Spud U Crave specializes in potatoes, sandwiches, wraps, and salads — lunch foods basically. However, that’s another review entirely.
All in all, I definitely recommend them if you’re close by or willing to make the drive. Personally, I’ll just wait for their food truck to come around.
TIP: They deliver. Just give them a ring.