Boule Pastry Shop - CLOSED

probably my favorite patisserie. this is a definite stop every time i am in the area. they have the best macaroons (even better than jin patisserie)...the lavender is heavenly. they also have a nice selection of gelees, a wide assortment of gourmet chocolates, mini cakes and fruit tarts, each created with a lot of attention to details and styling.\r Although I didn't try the sorbet, they looked good. The staff was so friendly and really helpful. It was a pleasure coming here. Cons: parking more

I agree with some of the previous comments about customer service, there's certainly an attitude there. I even think that the sale ladies judge a customer by the way they look, whether or not they 'deserve' their service. I bought a whole bunch of breads and pastries and they put them in a plain brown bag while other customers got the Boule blue bag. I must say that the quality of the breads are not that great, i could find equal, or better quality at the Bread Bar, M Cafe de Chaya, Literary Cafe, La Brea, Le Pain Quotidien ... The chocolates are not that exceptional either, considered Boule 'status' in Los Angeles, Xuan Chocolate is definitely much better, imho. Personally i never thought too highly of Boule's maccaroon after having them from Ladure in Paris. Thomas Keller's Bouchon Pastry shop is better, imho. The last time i came, about two months ago, the pastry section looked pretty pathetic, not a lot of choices. I didn't see the sable cookies or the tiger cake that i like. Cons: Poor customer service more

I stopped in here the other day after hearing about their macarons for a while. The inside is adorably decorated with a lovely blue and brown color scheme. I got a milk chocolate macaron and a meyer lemon, and the meyer lemon was delicious! It tastes like a lemon bar, but without the overly-gooeyness, and much more delicate. Some of the other reviewers say that it is going downhill, and the teenage cashiers did seem perhaps less than experts on the treats under the glass, but overall I'd say it definitely satisfies any macaron craving I could have, and the service was friendly enough, so I really can't complain. Overall, I'd recommend it, if even for the decor and my meyer lemon macaron alone! Pros: Meyer Lemon Macaron, Decor Cons: $4.50 for a baguette? Parking, hours more

I just stopped by today at 5 PM. The store has now moved from 420 to 408. There are no more lovely 'jewelry' display cases. The pastries are haphazardly flung on baking sheets under fluorescent lights.\r The teenaged employee couldn't understand my question of, ""What flavors do you have left?"" I managed to snag a vanilla, two raspberry, and three passionfruit macarons. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed him grabbing the pumpkin and told him I wanted passionfruit not pumpkin. I also bought a kouign aman and two fleur de sel caramels. \r The vanilla tasted like it was sitting next to a licorice one. No taste or hint of vanilla bean. (The employee even suggested I not buy vanilla because it was sickeningly sweet.)Thomas Keller is right; any macaron an inch or smaller loses its airiness to chewiness to crunchy shell ratio. The raspberry was awfully sweet. The 'preserves' were definitely mediocre bakery fare bought wholesale. The passionfruit turned out to be pumpkin! Unless Boule started adding cinnamon and nutmeg to passionfruit, I could have sworn he gave me pumpkin. At least they're $1.25 each.\r I am now nauseous after two bites of the caramels. I've had all kinds of fleur de sel caramels before such as from Cocobella but never something so crunchy and grainy from the salt. This is a health hazard! \r The kouign aman must be Michelle Myers' ""modern"" interpretation. This is not a kouign aman with its layers of butter, dough, and sugar. Her version is a stale sticky bun roll that's not even a brioche and probably made from margarine. \r I wonder if the ownership or baker has changed. Did Myers even graduate from LCB Paris?? After the sudden change of weather, I asked for a cup of chocolat chaud since Boule is also a - you know - chocolaterie. They don't have hot chocolate. I am SO disappointed and am considering writing a letter about the QC of the caramels. After driving all the way from Orange County, I'd rather trek seven hours back up to Yountville for Bouchon. Pros: Parking is along the alleys such as near Norm's, edible if you don't know any better Cons: Macarons, kouign amans, caramels more

I used to love Boule. The caramels were plentiful, the people were nice and the treats were outstanding. I've been going there for about 3 years now, and yesterday (10/22/07) I went in to treat myself to some goodies. The employees were surly, and my favorite macaroons (vanilla) were slapped together with waay too much (and too stiff) filling, so they'd lost they're delicacy. They don't produce my two favorite flavors anymore, Dulce de Leche or Lavender, but I guess that's due to a season change. I miss the old bright boule with friendly people behind the counter... Pros: Great bites, lovely decor Cons: Tricky parking, surly counter workers more

From the moment that I walked into this pale blue sugar heaven I was content. The smell of perfect pastry and sinful chocolates filled the air. The staff was as sweet as their confections; they helped me pick the perfect gift for my friend, a bountiful basket full of sweet and savory surprises. I fell in love with one of their newest additions, the Amele, a dark chocolate with strawberry pate de fruit, almonds, and a touch of rosemary. Too good! This is an exciting and innovative atmosphere perfect for a morning cup of tea or desert with the girls after work. I hear that you can even buyout the entire store for a private party... too tempting for words!\r \r This place is a must see for any refined palate a true homage to the traditional French patisserie with a modern twist sure to make your sweet tooth tingle!\r Pros: Great Ambience, Excellent Service, Serious Sweets Cons: None! more

I don't get it. With all the press (and hype) that it's been receiving, I was expecting to be wowed. I was underwhelmed and disappointed. The chocolate pieces were soooo tiny, and without any flavor. They have fancy names for flavors, without the flavor to go with them. And at $2.50 each!? The macaroons were pretty but also flavorless. It's too bad, since the store was simply and elegantly designed. Pros: Ambience, elegant packaging Cons: Pricey, Lacks flavor more

The chocolate cake is probably one of the best I have ever tasted and I am personally not very fond of chocolate treats. They have a very wide sele... more

I spent over $200 in chocolates from Boule LA, and found the chocolates mediocre at best. The champagne truffles tasted like they were not fresh, or had a sour taste. Called Boule to tell them about it, they said they would call back, but never did more

This place has no customer service what so ever. The staff is perhaps the rudest bunch of people I have ever dealt with. I placed a order via there web site to be shipped to Chicago. I called on four occasions trying to inquire about my order. They never answer there phone or return calls. I will never shop at Boule again. Pros: Great Food Cons: Poor Customer Service more

I went to Boule for the first time today and was both satisfied and pleasantly surprised! I expected such a beautiful bakery to be more pricey and snooty, but it was neither! The staff was helpful and kind and the desserts were even better. It all looked so good I had to get myself some and now I will be going back for seconds. Forget fancy cupcakes, for a really decadent treat I recommend giving this place a try. Pros: Scenery/ambience, location, nice staff Cons: metered parking more

I'm actually from paris. I always make fun of american dessert cause their are just full of sugar and not tasty at all and definivly without any delicacy. I qualified 'american desert' by all the desert place where the chef had taken 2 month program in cordon bleu school in france and pretends to know all about french patisserie.\r But at the end the result it just crapy. \r So i went to la boule and wasn't expecting anything good. But i was very well surprise the dessert are delicious and very close to what you can find in paris in place like la duree or fauchon, dalloyau etc.\r If you are looking for french desert in Southern california la boule is definitivly the place to go.\r more

Attention all you chocolate lovers. My daughter ordered my birthday cake here - a chocolate dome cake with cherry filling and chocolate mousse - there are no words to describe how beautiful and delicious it was. Although expensive - $60, it feed the entire party of 16 people as it is sinfully rich - a few bites goes along way. While waiting at the counter to have the cake packed we sampled the ice cream - out of control great - try the honey vanilla. Must go back to sample the eclairs, looked amazing!! Pros: Beautiful and delicious desserts more

As a personal assistant, I sometimes need to track down specific items for special events. My mission was to find the the source of the Tahitian Vanilla Ice Cream that was served at a dinner party... 3 phone calls later, I was introduced to Boule. That's where the love affair began. Not only did I find the source of the BEST Vanilla ice cream in this city... I also found a source for very inventive chocolates and exquisite desserts. At $2 per chocolate - they are expensive - but one bite is all you need. Recently i stopped in for some Candy Corn (one of their seasonal treats - i saw them featured on a show on the food network). I'm never eating the store bought candy corn ever again! Their version was amazing! Pros: Delicious treats in beautiful packaging Cons: prices are high more

tamanos adecuados, excelente balance entre sabor y la presentacion, con una combinacion gourmet frances muy buena\r altamente recomedable.\r Pros: service Cons: nada more

I love gourmet chocolates in L.A. bakeries. I can just taste the delicious treats right now and imagine myself in a romantic place with my true love as we feed each other chocolates one by one. It is so romantic and yet real. Was definitely a reality. I would highly recommend it. Pros: delicious treats make you want to come back for more. Cons: n/a more

Diminutive though Boule's treats may be, nothing you will find here is short on flavor. The delicate candies are inventive (rose caramel? curry chocolate??) and are not for the faint of tongue. Prices can be steep, but one tiny square alone will send you into a chocolate coma for sure. Do yourself a favor and pick up a fleur de sel caramel when you check out at the register, the way the Brittany sea salt offsets the butter creem is wonderful. Pros: Tasty tiny treats, helpful staff Cons: Somewhat expensive more

This is the best place to get dessert in L.A. From the moment you walk in, you feel as if you flew across the Atlantic to Paris or Florence! The desserts are all fantastic with unique chocolate, pastry, and icecream creations. The staff are all helpful, attentive, and friendly, unusual for such a place in LA. Pros: Quality of desserts, Attentive Service more

A synthesis of Tiffany's style, the jewel box pastry shops/chocolatiers of Paris, and flavors from around the globe, Boule is making some of the most inventive and delicious desserts in town. Pitch perfect croissants and canneles. Their rose eclair is as tasty as their coffee. Creamy, flavorful ice cream. Intense chocolates. My only regret is that their French macarons are a bit too dense for me. The staff is always friendly, helpful, and generous with samples. Don't forget to grab a salted caramel candy for the road! more

The candies and pastries were so fantastic-looking, I felt like I was in an art gallery. I had to pinch myself to believe these creations really are edible. Treat yourself and check this little place out -- it's worth a visit just for the assisted yoga stretch it'll give to your imagination. It's like nothing else, anywhere. And the people working there are down-to-earth and warmly friendly, not snobby at all. And their business card friggin' rules. It's fuzzy. Pros: Magical, Tasty, Calming more