French Bakery & Delicatessen

This place is incredible. I ordered a pastrami sandwich it was literally the size of my head, and it was only half a sandwich! Food here is phenomenal cannot be beat. The entire place looks like it was frozen in time from the early 1900s there is a beer cooler with an old style bottle opener attached to it. The guy at the counter told me that this place has been here for 100 years and surprisingly has not changed at all. Literally the most authentic sandwich shop I have ever been to it is the epitome of a hole in the wall, I have been searching for a place like this and I have finally found it. Love this place.

They sell commercial cakes from an offsite bakery that taste and smell like refrigerator. Not sure what they are baking there but it isn’t cakes. I ordered a cake for my son’s birthday, it was awful and awfully expensive. They act as if they make the desserts from scratch. They don’t. The cake was awful and overpriced. Avoid. Really. Avoid.

Horrible pastry, artificial whipped cream, inedible and stale mousse cake at $ 10.50 per slice. Éclair was just 3 inches long, dry, stale icky per my Mom who was born and raised in France.
Rum balls were too hard, did have run flavor. But not worth my effort. I was so disgusted that I took the remains of the pastry we bought and next day, asked for a refund. That was the only decent thing there, the fact that they refunded my payment.
Strongly consider going ANYWhere else.

Eli was very nice. The desserts looked amazing! We got the cream horn and the chocolate mousse cake. Both delicious! I got the chicken salad, which I thought was just ok. My wife got the steak and cheese, which I liked. Both the breads for the sandwiches were delicious. Will probably be back, but only when I have the money. This place was kind of pricey.

This place is a trip. I bought two bowls (small bowls) of chile for like $ 28 dollars. I don’t know why. It was almost like going to watch Starwars 1. You know it’s awful but you feel you owe it to the franchise. I believe he latches on to every person that walks through the door to make his rent every month. He no doubt makes up the prices on the spot, but for some reason I feel this place is a relic. I enjoy hearing people’s experiences for entertainment value. I mean, he doesn’t lie! We actually pay it. We’re just amazed that we paid it in hindsight. I mean, that guy’s got a gift!

We love the French Bakery. The pastrami sandwich is absolutely THE BEST. Any & all their pastries and desserts are beyond words g.r.e.a.t !!! And, don’t miss their coffee. You must have their coffee!

Super overprice. Would not recommend unless you have a lot of $$$ to give away for mediocre food and service

Just fabulous! Get the medium pastrami and prepare yourself. Food with actual taste!!! Don’t expect anything fancy, but for a beer and a really great sandwich, come here!

Pastrami was good but everything was crazy overpriced. It was $ 46 for 2 small sandwiches, 2 waters and 2 pastries.

The food here is Great!!! I live in Virginia Beach and try to make the trip for a sandwich at least every other month. I have looked at the other reviews on here and they are correct that the place is expensive; however it is well worth the price. The thought that Route 58 Deli is better is a Joke. I can almost walk to the Route 58 Deli and it’s not even wroth it. So yes if you want a good meal then you better be prepared to pay for it. You will not get a better sandwich in Hampton Roads I have been going for the last 15 years and it is never bad!!!

This place is a total joke. Don’t care if the pastrami is better than sex, dude tried to charge me $ 7 for a cappuccino that wasn’t actually a cappuccino, just a mediocre drink made on a crap machine. I had ordered to go. He had no lids. Hey dude, cappuccino + car — lid = dangerous. Threw him $ 8 and walked out with nothing. Worst place I’ve ever walked into. Big mistake. Stay away.

I remember I was driving by and I say the big sign that said French Bakery and I literally did a U-​turn. The staff was amazingly knowledgeable, plenty of locals stopping by. The food was simply perfect ! I had a coffee as well, was blown away. I definitely recommend everyone to stop by, oh yeah come hungry!

This establishment is a step back in time. Love all the pastries and pastrami. I wish I could give the place a complete makeover but there is something nostalgic about its current décor and appearance. Only thing modern is the prices… will come back.

I have wanted to try this place for some time and I finally I did. I will not be back. The prices are astronomical for what you get. We split a pastrami for $ 23.98 and it was just okay. I was surprised to find rounds of processed lunch meat in with the pastrami. It also had tomatoes, onions and mustard. Some of these things I do not want on a pastrami sandwich. To make matters worse it was on French bread or some other white loaf instead of rye. We thought we were paying $ 12.99 for a double which we could split but instead it was $!2.98 each. To make a long story short, the sandwich two bottles of soft drink and one smallish chocolate éclair split in two cost a total of $ 47.54.
If you want good NY style pastrami sandwich Hwy. 58 Deli in Virginia Beach is a much, much better place.

First time here, the guy suggested I try the pastrami sandwich. I did not regret taking him up on his suggestion. I would say it was a bit pricy if it wasn’t for the fact that the sandwich was almost bigger than my head. Anything less just doesn’t come close. The only other time I’ve ever had a pastrami sandwich was at Subway and they used some kind of doodoo meat because it tasted awful. The pastrami sandwich here was quite possibly the best tasting sandwich I’ve ever had, and piled so high I had to squish it down to fit it in my mouth. Nice place. Good food. Great service. Might be a bit up there in price but its well worth it. All I can say is come hungry. I need a nap now.

I make a point to try and stop by here anytime I’m in town great sandwich ! I recommend the ½ a large pastrami worth every penny ! Not a cheap place, you get what you pay for.

I’m sorry, but this place is way overpriced. An apple turnover for $ 7? A tiny rum ball for $ 4? I get the prices if it’s really unique or delicious – but the pastry was stale and the rum ball was drying out like it had been there for awhile. While the service was friendly, I don’t believe that I will be back.

The pastrami is the best in the country. Definitely start with a medium. The portions are HUGE! A little pricey but honestly, it’s worth it!

I’m a little bit obsessed with this place and it shocks me that they only have 2.5 stars. I went in last week with a coworker for lunch. She ordered the homemade pastrami (they actually make it in the store) and I ordered the turkey sandwich. Both were DELICIOUS. Love love love! Next we were sold on dessert, which was absolutely fabulous.
I am originally from New York City (down here in Norfolk for work for a few weeks) and I spoke to the owner about the latest «Cronut» sensation — essentially a combination of a croissant and a donut. He said he would make them for me on Saturday morning. Stopped by yesterday and oh my gosh, I cannot put into words how ridiculously amazing they were. Go next Saturday between 10:30am and 11 and ask for a cronut. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.

So, I stopped by thinking the french bakery would have croissants. Apparently not. I asked the owner (I think, he was sitting at a table on his laptop) if they made them, he said «on occasion.»
Maybe I was spoiled back home, but I assumed they were a french staple and were made on the regular. I then get a voice from behind the counter (I have no idea where the guy was) suggesting the turnovers. Honestly, they didn’t look appetizing. The whole ambiance of the place is unappetizing. I’m wondering if the people who go in there just get a sandwich and leave. Am I missing something?
The owner (?) wasn’t very friendly, and made me feel like I was inconveniencing him by asking him questions about the pastries there. After I asked if they took credit cards, he said «yes,» but then said I had to spend at least 10 dollars. I, nicely, told him, I’ll be back when I have cash.
I may give it a try again, just for the sandwiches, but DEF DON“T COME HERE LOOKING FOR FRENCH PASTRIES.