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Located across the street of a parking garage, in a roadside "strip mall", and around a cluster of software company buildings where SF looks like it tries to be downtown San Jose. Chef and namesake co-proprietor, Philippe Delarue, of Le Mans, France, makes some serious French pastries - including Macarons and meringues of pastel colors. They also serve salads, croissants, and cookies. The walls are covered with color photos of pastries and framed mirrors. A few nice wood and black marble café tables line along a long window. There are (faux) flowers and, of course, the obligatory large café au lait bowls. Using a two-group E-91 Ambassador Faema supplied by Mr. Espresso (they also use their beans), they produce a rather delicate espresso with a thinner layer of darker brown crema. It has a sweet aroma, a good body from its appropriate size, and there's a little bite at the end of the finish from a cup that has a robust spice and herbal pungency to its flavor. Served in a short, cylindrical demitasse. This is no French espresso: it's actually decent. Trouble is that it can be inconsistent: they don't grind to order, and on revisits the shot has had an ashier aroma and a less delicate flavor.
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