La PanotiQ

Very nice and courteous staff. Sampled the opera cake. It was beautifully layered and tasted really smooth with all the layers and flavors melting together. Ended up getting a chocolate chunk cookie (too soft. It fell apart when I tried to pick it up) and the tiramisu. The tiramisu wasn’t too sweet but I should have gotten the opera cake instead.

Was a good place in the past to enjoy your coffee and sweets, but turns out it is getting worse:(Got a chocolate cake today with a dead raspberry on top. Very disappointed.

La Panotiq is one of the nicer downtown MV cafes. Nice atmosphere, good selection of pastries (to look at anyway) but just a few annoying issues… As someone already pointed, the line is confusing… Staff tend to engage you at the pastry counter (presumably to encourage you to buy something there) as opposed to the main counter a lot of the time, thus causing confusion as to where to queue. But the main issue is that they don’t provide single servings of milk or cream, meaning that you may be sitting outside on the patio, the server brings you your coffee, then you have to get straight up with that coffee, and follow the server right back in to get your cream/​milk, which is at the back of the café. I understand they want to minimize waste, but it’s frustrating. Also, often they forget to provide spoons to stir tea/​coffee, or silverware for food.
**Update June 2016
So unfortunately, have to drop another star… The advent of an alcohol license hasn’t improved service… After ordering a glass of wine, the underage server tells me she can’t serve me the glass of wine I just ordered. No elaboration, I just assume I should take a seat and wait. Her older colleague comes out, they talk, nothing. Another colleague arrives, no change. Ten minutes pass, nothing. Eventually I have to call out from my seat… Her colleague arrives with a (very) small glass of wine. Authentically crap French service, but, unlike in France, in America you have to pay for it… I encountered the same server a few days ago here, she was equally disinterested then… I really don’t look for much, just basic efficient service… It’s very hit and miss here. Shame.

We tried their hot chocolate, iced tea, chocolate temptation, chocolate tart and a berry sponge cake… 2 people and we ordered so many things because everything looked just so good. Super nice and friendly staff. We finished every single thing we ordered and we were totally high on sugar when we left. But absolutely loved every single thing.
Hot chocolate was nice and creamy and just super chocolatey.
Chocolate temptation was the best and it had a lil bit of crunch in the center which made it even more awesome.
Chocolate tart and curls on the tart. Yum yum yum.
The berry sponge cake was like an explosion of fruits in the mouth. Just amazing. It didn’t have that taste of fake fruits or preservatives like other bakeries. It tasted like fresh fruits and really nice and fluffy and light.

Cute little boutique style bakery on Castro. Been here a couple of times. I always feel that seating is less here, I have always managed to find something for me and my friends though. Desserts are good. Service is is good too, very friendly staff!
It is a good place to sit down and chat with your buddies, or get some work done on your laptop if that is what you are looking for.

Loved the macaroon. Enjoyed the ivory mango passion and the bacara. The iced tea was interestingly nice. Didn’t like the flan so much. Cute little café space.

Too cute! Definitely one of the most aesthetically pleasing LaPans I’ve been to, which is to be expected considering the area its in.
+ Order multiple desserts if you’re with people, and share. All their desserts are great and should be tasted
+ Try the tiramisu, it’s excellent
+ Parking is difficult, so try and get street parking in one of the nearby neighborhoods and walk over
I also ordered a latte, which was just what I needed after a long day in the MV area. Super tasty and went extremely well with the desserts we ordered.

3.5 — I had really high hopes but ²⁄₃ desserts we ordered fell short of expectations.
One mark I had against our visit is that the names of the pastries had no descriptions on them which is bad because our daughter has nut allergies and I had to ask about each item. It’s also nice just to be able to read what flavors are in each dessert. Now looking on Unilocal I see that the labels DO have descriptions so I’m not sure what happened. The girl helping us was reading descriptions of the desserts on the back of the cards so I think they must have had them flipped around for some odd reason. I recommend that they turn them back so we can read them for ourselves.
Pear Tart ³⁄₅ — This has an almond-​y custard underneath the pear. Believe it or not, Trader Joe’s has a really delicious French pear tart so I was looking forward to trying this locally baked version. However, I have to say that I actually think Trader Joe’s beats this slice of pear tart. The custard part does have a clear almond flavor but I would have liked a but more. The texture of it could have been better. For some reason it was kind of gritty; I believe that it might actually be finely ground almonds causing that texture but it would have been nice to have it smoother. The crust, while not soggy, was not that notable. It could have been more buttery and was a tad on the drier side… hence the need for more butter! The pear on top was good, firm and sweet and the tart was not too sweet but I’d go for Trader Joe’s version happily.
Crunchy Caramel Baccara ²⁄₅ — This one looked more impressive than it tasted. First of all the design on top and the description of this dessert as «crunchy» led me to believe that the top was a hard caramelized sugar layer similar to the top of crème brûlée. Boy, was I wrong… it was nothing but a shiny layer of… agar? Gelatin? No flavor, and it was only really to add shine to the top for presentation. I peeled it off and put it to the side. The caramel mousse was light and fluffy when I had expected it to be dense like cheesecake. Have you ever had a no bake jello cheesecake? The texture was exactly like that and definitely not what I expected. For the caramel-​y color of it I wasn’t really get much distinctive caramel flavor which was a disappointment. The bottom layer was some kind of crunchy chocolate biscuit I was told. It was very light and crispy and was the most interesting part of the dessert. I would pass on this in the future.
Chocolate Temptation ⁴⁄₅ — This one was deemed good by both my husband and I. Decently rich chocolate and the same crispy biscuit crumbles as the caramel baccara inside of it (feuillantine?). We did not know there were hazelnuts in it until we started eating and saw nuts, but it didn’t really contribute any flavor to the mix. From other photos I see the description says the chocolate mousse is supposed to have salted caramel but I wasn’t tasting any of that either. Overall, just a yummy dense, dark chocolate cake with yummy crunchy bits, but not as nuanced as the description would have you believe.
The place is set up really nice with plenty of small tables in and outside and lots of natural light. The desserts are nicely laid out. They have mini croissants offerings of their full-​sized options which was perfect for my daughter. One negative is that I spied 1 – 2 fruit flies hovering around the desserts. The croissant and cookie pastries were unfortunately open while the tarts and cakes were safely ensconced within a display case. I mentioned it to a guy and he at least tried to catch and shoo away one. I know it’s hard to control if a fly comes through the door so hopefully it’s not a regular occurrence.
It’s hard to find exceptional bakeries in the South Bay, and one can’t trek up to SF for Tartine on whim so I would like La Panotiq to stay up and running and I’d like to give some of their other offerings a try. I like what they are trying to do here, but feel there is room for improvement.

I love this place! It’s a great place to sit down, have some coffee and get some work done. The staff is friendly and welcoming (you would expect so since it’s in the nicest part of Mountain View) and I’ve never had a problem with them. There’s also outside seating which is a really nice option on a beautiful warm day. Inside the café can get a little chilly sometimes so if you’re planning on staying for a long period of time, bring a light jacket. It can get pretty busy and loud in the evenings so unless you’re coming in to have a nice chat with your friends, I wouldn’t recommend bringing in your work if you’re trying to focus; mornings and afternoons are great though!
I haven’t gotten any pastries here but I’m always ordering their drinks. My favorite drink is actually a seasonal drink: Pumpkin Spiced Latte. It’s perfect because it’s not too sweet or too bland. But since that’s not always around, you can never go wrong with their iced latte!

I can’t help but stop by here everytime I’m in Downtown Mountain View these days. I really like the layered chocolate hazelnut cake (Chocolat Feuillantine?) as well as the mango mousse (I think it’s called the Ivory Mango Passion). I’ve also tried the raspberry mousse (Madagascar Raspberry Cream Cake?) and the giant Caramel Runny Heart Macaron (this name I know is right because it’s so unique)!
I can’t wait to return and try some of their other yummy pastries and cakes. They also serve sandwiches and coffee drinks. I feel like their prices are much more reasonable than those at Alexander’s Bakery. Also, they always serve flavored spa water!
Additionally, they often have samples. So even if you’re not planning to buy, at least stop by and taste!

Solid place for brunch or breakfast. We ordered the Ham and Cheese Croissant as well as the French Toast. Both items were definitely on the expensive side of things, but considering it’s downtown Mountain View, I suppose prices were fairly normal.
The Ham and Cheese Croissant was very satisfying, but I felt that the croissant was a bit too buttery/​not as flaky and that there should have been more ham and cheese filling. The French Toast was also tasty, and the bread was very soft and pillowy though a bit thin compared to your standard french toast bread.
I was impressed by the selection of pastries and tarts that they had, so the next time I stop by, I’ll definitely have to try them. Overall, this place is definitely worth giving a shot, but I probably wouldn’t be able to eat here that frequently because of the prices.

Finished dinner and came in here for a look see. The place is pretty cozy and offers many tables for people to enjoy their desserts and sandwiches.
I ordered the mango passion cake and I thought it was pretty decent. Not too sweet and really creamy. I may not order out again or really crave it in particular but it’s pretty good and worth a try. I really loved the friendly service I got there though so will most likely go back to try other things in the future

I wasn’t suppose to come here. I was just walking past it, saw it was cute and ended up eating/​drinking way more sugar than I planned for that day. It was a cute little café with white tables and and bright purple flowers and I thought I’d say a while since I had a good book with me. I got a hot chocolate and a caramel shortbread.
The hot chocolate was creamy and rich in chocolate and perfect for a cold day. I hate when places make hot chocolate that cost $ 4 and taste like SwissMiss, but this place definitely a lot more classy than that. The shortbread cookie was really good as well. The caramel was not too sweet and was thick and chewy and the shortbread cookie was really good. Probably all that butter!
Overall, it’s a nice place to hang out, grab some coffee and hang out with friends. It’s a tad on the pricier side for my taste though, but the atmosphere and the quality make up for it.

I wish I could say that I would crave something bad enough that I would NEED to come here again. Nope. I can only wish.
The line is a little confusing, people just standing around thinking they’re cutting each other.
The hot chocolate… Tasted like watered down nestle.

High-​brow treats… for only four bucks or five, this and that. I come in wearing ratty tennis shoes, yet I already feel a little more sophisticated, a little je né sais quoi, just for having stepped in. And unlike the franchise location in Livermore, this progressive Mountain View location served my Tcho Hot Chocolate actually HOT! Really, Livermore hasn’t been able to handle it. As if the pastries weren’t already scrumptious, I can’t help but say even the working staff is attractive, too. I’m not going to say I find «La PanotiQ» quintessential in my life, I still have my soft spot for Vienna bakeries above all else, but I see myself stopping in here a few times a year for now on. #foodslut

This place is so cute!
I like to come here if I want a light brunch (w/​lots of dessert!!), this is the perfect place to go. It’s good for accommodating groups and when it’s warm out, the outside seating is great for people watching.
In my opinion, this is a superior, more affordable version of Alexander’s Patisserie. They have great desserts that are just the right size — big enough to be satisfying, but not too big that you feel like a complete pig when you’re done there.
For brunch, I like ordering the salmon puff pastry with a small side dessert. I recommend asking the waiter to heat it up for you! The puff pastry is warm and flakey and there is a good amount of salmon inside with a creamy dill sauce. It is about the size of an oversized poptart, so if you like a more substantial brunch/​lunch, this may not be for you… but then again that’s what dessert is for!

tldr: Sweet spot for morning pastries and desserts all day! Ask for the croissants to be warmed up! They are flakey perfection.
Tip: Treat yourself to the self-​serve fruit spa water so you can wash it all down.
Mini Pain Au Chocolat (⁵⁄₅): I love how this place does miniature croissants. They also have this in the plain and the raisin. When it’s warmed up the chocolate is slightly melted but the croissant still has an incredibly flakey light texture, not doughy at all like some other patisseries.
Madagascar raspberry cream cake (⁴⁄₅): It tasted similar to a raspberry flavored Napoleon. A bit flakey with the tartness of raspberry and blended together well with the slight sweetness of the cream. It’s also gorgeous like the rest of their desserts so you’ll start eating them with your eyes as you see them lined up in the glass display.
Liege waffle (²⁄₅): Not good at all. Definitely not one of their signature items. It tasted more cookie than waffle and maybe that’s the intended effect but it felt more stale than anything which surprised me since all their pastries are baked in house.

I only came here because Alexander’s is closed on Mondays. Popped in with family for coffee and desserts. Pastry case is well stocked and beautiful, but actual product flavor and execution are a bit inconsistent.
Two pour over coffees were tasty but unexpectedly took 20 minutes to receive, despite the fact that they weren’t very busy. There were two cashiers, and they were friendly, but all orders seemed to be made by a third person behind the counter who was getting backed up– not the best distribution of responsibilities.
We had a trois chocolat crisp and a lemon meringue tartlet, both of which went unfinished. The crisp had two kinds of chocolate, but flavors were not distinct and the mousse was rather hard instead of fluffy or creamy. It was more of a chocolate brick than a delicate, layered crisp. The lemon tart’s meringue was flavorless and the crust bit too thick, but the filling was bright and appropriately tart. With so many bakeries on the street, I’d rather go to another next time instead.

La PanotiQ broke my heart recently. Our last few experiences were honestly in the 1 – 2 star range, but my love for this place was at a 5 before that.
This café is the place I drag everyone to. Ask any of my friends and family — I agree to meet them at Starbucks, etc. only if we meet at La PanotiQ first AND they don’t like it (which never happened). My family liked it so much, that we went every day when they visited — even twice in one day.
So, what went wrong?
The service took a nose-​dive. I can ignore poor service if the food is really great, but this got to be too much; after repeated visits in a short timeframe, I could see it wasn’t a fluke. The staff seems to have switched out, and there is a general sense of apathy and disorganization now. Perhaps it’s the holidays… Either way, it’s disappointing. I will go back after Christmas, but I’m holding off until then.
Tip: Be careful with their current gift card offer. That was one of many things we had go wrong recently.

Transporting you back to Europe, this place has café style seating outside (perfect for the many beautiful Mountain View days) plus additional covers seating inside which can get a little louder but shelter you from any weather.
Aside from delicious breakfast and lunch options, the selection of pastries and desserts makes it very hard to choose (or say no as you pass by the counters).
I tried their tuna style salad (it had a special name) with the dressing on the side. Hearty, healthy, and delicious. Expect to pay a little more than normal (the salad was $ 15) but everything is crafted carefully and presented to you in a beautiful fashion.