Perhaps the most heartening aspect of this chain business (its reach is global, franchising more than 260 cafés across North America and 4,000 worldwide) is its Loved Baked In concept, combining its baked-goods-cafe identity with a mission deeply committed to charitable causes. Paris Baguette cafes also actively identify with the locales they have chosen. In this Strip/Lawrenceville neighbor, the huge dining-room wall announces its support of the Shadyside community with a mural of local scenes—at the center of which is a statement describing the mission of its Love Baked In program: “Giving Back Through Baking to Help Neighbors in Need. Being a neighborhood bakery cafe means truly caring about the Shadyside community and making a real impact on those around us. Love Baked In brings to life our commitment to serving others through various charitable programs and initiatives.”
Love Baked In currently partners with City Harvest, a food-rescue organization based in New York, and No Kid Hungry, benefitting children and families nationwide. Through its New York City cafes, Paris Baguette has donated more than half a million pounds of food, via City Harvest, since 2023. In a recent campaign with No Kid Hungry, the chain helped raise over $200,000 to provide millions of meals for children in need. The Shadyside location works charitably with local churches and mosques, and will soon be partnering with 412 Food Rescue.
But now it’s time to describe exactly what to expect, gastronomically speaking, when spending some time at the Shadyside Paris Baguette. The major store space is filled with comfortable table seating and glass-doored cases of dozens of possibilities (all clearly identified) to personally hand-select with a tong and add to a parchment-covered tray. You walk around salivating and trying to wisely choose a balanced selection of treats—and once satisfied, you visit the main counter to order coffee (LavAzza is featured), maybe select a slice of gourmet cake, perhaps warm up a savory item, and pay.
The fact that there are some un-Parisian delights—pastries such as a Sweet Rice Donut (a chewy rice donut rolled filled with sweet red bean paste), Walnut Cream Bread (a long bun filled with walnut buttercream, topped with almond cream and walnuts), and strawberry, matcha, and even Dubai-chocolate Mochi Donuts—may also provide a clue to the origins of the chain, for a Paris Baguette establishment can be described as a South Korean “French-inspired” bakery cafe.
This dual-culture sensibility has also resulted in a medley of interesting and mouth-watering French-style pastries, donuts, and tarts. Highlights include several varieties of a flaky Croissant Donut, the basic one filled with custard cream, topped with lemon icing; the Coffee Croissant Donut, filled with coffee custard cream and topped with coffee icing; and the tantalizing Chocolate Supreme version, which is a round croissant filled with chocolate custard cream, half-coated with chocolate and chocolate crisp pearls. Other temptations are the Tiramisu Tart, Pineapple Brulee Pastry, Raspberry Almond Croissant, and the Salted Caramel Pretzel King Cream Donut.
In addition, a savory lunch or breakfast can be had via hand-held items such as a Four-Cheese Quiche, Hash Brown Bread with Ham and Cheese, and the Ham and Cheese Pastry—a flaky croissant-like masterpiece. More “formal” desserts can include cake slices (Red Velvet, Chocolate, Blueberry Chiffon, Cappuccino) and fresh fruit tarts.
Paris Baguette’s Shadyside location is at 5514 Walnut Street (412-533-5334, parisbaguette.com; hours are Monday to Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) and there is currently a second Pittsburgh-area cafe on McKnight Road in Ross Township (with rumors of further expansion in our area). Paris Baguette has Corporate Office Headquarters in Moonachie, New Jersey.
Greg Suriano edits The Strip! with the idea of locating tasty experiences and promoting businesses with exemplary intentions.