L’Artisan Cafe & Bakery

I’ve only been here once and it was for a hot sandwich on the fly. I clearly must try other things or dine in because the reviews were far from my experience. I thought the bread was okay, but it seemed to have a whole lot of nothing on the egg and cheese sandwich, and for the price, a bit of a slap in the face. I will go back one more time and edit my review as I have to know what the fuss is about. I may need to order recommended dishes to give it a fair shake. *left scratching my head*
UPDATE: I went back. Decent hot latte, enjoyed the chicken salad wrap (traditional, basic chicken salad) and tomato/​mozzarella side. This place is a cozier version of au Bön pan. Can grab food pre-​packaged from store like cooler, order at their food/​sides deli counter area. I like the outdoor bistro like seating and staff seemed very nice.

I stopped in for a latte and almond croissant on a Monday mid-​morning. As people noted, the people watching is fantastic. Whether you want to type away on a laptop or read in a comfortable chair, it’s comfortable for you.
The latte was solid. As noted in another comment, they use Illy. Having lived through the horror of 80’s coffee, I have no qualms with the flavor of it. Illy compared with anything else in the 80’s was like a good Rhone wine to a bottle of Ripple.
The last good croissant (anywhere) was Les Petits Fours in Providence. I’ve had them in Paris and Quebec’s old city: nothing compared to Les Petits Fours. Having tried the almond croissant here, nothing still does. But… the croissant is good. It’s flaky. It doesn’t leave the film on the roof of your mouth that always signals shortening. And the almond paste is fairly pure and not overly sweet.
This is a good spot that I’m looking forward to trying again.

I decided to stop by L’Artisan Café & Bakery this morning after dropping off something at the UPS store across the street in the morning and before walking down to Whole Foods to get groceries. It was 9:30am on a cloudy, somewhat discouraging day (in terms of the weather); I wasn’t particularly hungry, but I wanted to get something in my stomach before starting my day.
I’m absolutely awful at deciding what to get, especially when there is an array of pastries in front of me and a large blackboard menu full of delicious-​sounding items. I ended up going with what they call a Croque Martin (egg, bacon, and Swiss cheese on a Portuguese sweet roll), a small cappuccino, as well as their chocolate chip cookie.
The cappuccino was nothing special. I don’t think I would purchase it again unless I was in the neighborhood and really, really needed caffeine — and even then, I probably would have just gone with a cup of black coffee or maybe another espresso drink. It tasted like it was watered down, and I could barely taste the coffee.
The Croque Martins wasn’t very good either. It wasn’t particularly satisfying, there wasn’t much bacon, and the proportions of the individual ingredients just didn’t work for me. It seemed like a sandwich that was just thrown together, and I don’t think I could have differentiated it from a breakfast sandwich that you could get at some multinational coffee shop or breakfast chain. It came with a few pieces of fruit, none of which tasted particularly fresh.
The chocolate chip cookie was exceptionally underwhelming and disappointing. It was greasy, and not in the good, buttery, delicious way. The whole cookie tasted artificial, from the dough to the chocolate chips. There was no depth of flavor or dimension to it at all, and the texture was uniform throughout — everything was «meh» about it.
The general atmosphere and vibe of the café also wasn’t quite for me me. There was something rather chaotic about it, and the servers/​baristas/​cooks behind the counter seemed somewhat rushed. There was just a general feeling of hurriedness in the café which I didn’t particularly appreciate; I tend to prefer cafes which are laid-​back and provide a respite from the chaos of routine and daily life. I’m not putting this as something explicitly negative about the place, because different people enjoy different environments, so this is more of a neutral observation than anything else.
All in all, when I go to non-​chain/​local café, bakery, or coffee shop, I expect the food, drinks, everything, really — to be done with a higher degree of care than in chain stores such as, for example, Starbucks. Everything here seemed to be poorly put together. The food sat on a plate without any dignity, because it didn’t look like anyone put particular care into making it palatable or presentable, and it was extremely unsatisfying. My visit was a disappointment, especially since I was expecting better food, service, and atmosphere considering the previous reviews and ratings of this place. I might give it another shot and explore the lunch menu, but it will probably be a while until then.

My landlord mentioned that this place is a neighborhood staple. Craving a hot cup of tea and a good pastry, I decided to try it. I ordered the carrot cake and was satisfied.
Upon my second visit with a group of friends, things were not so good. I chose the tiramisu (recommended to me by the barista) and it tasted stale! You know the way things that have been in the freezer for too long smell? It was that. Another friend had chosen the cheesecake and he took one bite before he wrote it off as bad.
All in all, I’d say make sure what you order either 1) looks really good or 2) is just being pulled out of the oven. The ambiance is nice — quite nice, even, for a café. They have a decent selection of prepared food and imports but I haven’t tried those.

This is my favorite coffee shop in Providence. It is within walking distance from my house and i must admit… I have spent many afternoons on their outdoor patio this past summer. It is in the best location, the staff is friendly, they have an amazing selection of in-​house made lunch options and pastries, and make a KILLER LATTE… there is just something special about getting a latte that is too beautiful to drink… This is the perfect spot to grab a quick lunch, hang out with friends, do some work, or just pass time…

Great to find a café (or bodega in my mind) like the ones in my old Brooklyn neighborhood. Specifically their easy cary out dishes. I was excited to see that they had Lebanese spinach pies! And while, I didn’t particularly care for them (where’s the lemon guys?) it a great go to spot in wayland for your sunday coffee/​tea. Friendly staff! Only three stars for now because none of the food has blown me away. But with the way I’m making my way through the menu who knows that might change.

A nice café, reasonably priced with lots of seating. It does get pretty crowded on weekends though.
I couldn’t seem to find a basic breakfast sandwich on the menu, but when I asked they made me a bacon, egg, and cheese on a plain bagel. It came piping hot and not overloaded with bacon and cheese. The egg is like an egg patty, not a fried egg, but it was browned on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Service was a little curt, but I can forgive that because of how busy they were. I wasn’t in need of any prepared food or imported snacks but their selection looked amazing, so I’ll definitely be back!

I like it, but I’m not sure that I love it. The sandwiches and the salads are ok. The pastries are good, but there are many bakeries that surpass them. The patio is fun for people watching. I agree with others, it is a bit pricey for what they serve.

Just had their coffee here and it was average. It’s the same price as starbucks for a hot coffee and tasted about the same to me. There is plenty of seating for eating though and they have an outside area as well for nice days. The dessert selection wasn’t bad. I’d estimate about 15 different desserts, most of which looked good and varied from chocolate cake to cookies to fruit tart (looked old). My party bought some wraps and they said it tasted ok. Workers were friendly. Overall, I’d try some place else for lunch.

My family and I had a delicious breakfast here during our short visit. The coffee is very tasty and the breakfast croissants with egg are excellent as well! Very friendly and efficient staff, quick service! They have a very wide selection of pastries and the ambiance is very nice and cozy.

This is a great little place to enjoy a panini and the outdoor seating. It’s situated in a perfect spot for a breezy afternoon lunch. I was not a huge fan of their espresso drinks. It was overpriced and didn’t taste great. My sandwich was good, but it’s all premade in the case which did make me wonder when it was actually made.

Supurb neighborhood walk to restaurant! Lunch, breakfast pastries, beverages. Deserts are fabulous! Many patrons stop as they drive through Wayland Square!
Always and predictably great quality.

This café is around the corner so I’ve stopped in a few times. It’s ok, but that’s about all that can be said. The food is okay the coffee is okay, the atmosphere almost bumps it up another star because the outside patio is great in the summer and I can bring my pup with me. It’s a nice café, but nothing screams to me «come back». All in all a Decent stop for coffee with a little bit of an overpriced menu (I get that it’s wayland square, but not all of us make a lo5 of money…) and a slightly pretentious feel. I’d go back but I wouldn’t rave about it.

I used to find the food so great here, and loved sitting inside for hours while doing work on my laptop, but the past two times I’ve gone, I’ve found mold on their food. Two times in a row.
Gross. Step it up, L’Artisan, and I’ll consider raising my review to the level it should be at, but I’ll do that after you check over your food storage policies.

Food is nothing mind blowing, just regular paninis and cold dishes (chiken salad, etc). Their coffee drinks are illy, not bad, but nothing extraordinary again.
The inside of the café is very nice, warm and elegant, but the real price winner is their patio. Perfect to catch up with friends or do some quiet work. The owners/​employees take great care of their garden, and it shows.
Edit: okay, I liked the patio so much I came a lot more. Their food is actually better than what I said earlier. Breakfast menu early, freshly baked pastries, and alcoholic drinks like beer to chill. They can have my 5 stars.

Not a huge fan even though I wanted to be.
From the outset, the place looks awesome. The wall of food and window display are impressive: tons of wraps and sandwiches and salads to choose from, as well as delicious-​looking desserts and bakery items. But I don’t think it delivers the homemade, fresh quality I’m looking for.
I ordered a hot chocolate (surprise surprise), but before I could even ask if they have almond or soy milk, I saw they’d already poured whole milk into the canister and were steaming it… and I didn’t want to say anything because it’s not life or death, but it was disappointing. (if you’re lactose intolerant, however, be sure to clearly state your option before ordering) On the plus side, they are efficient at producing orders.
As for food, earlier that day I’d been craving a croissant, but nothing lived up to the Seven Stars variety, so I went with something that looked like a cinnamon…“What is this?” I asked the guy behind the counter. He smiled and said, «Cinnamon,» but he seemed confused, which confused me, so I ordered it without further clarification. (It turns out it was a coffee cake.) They warmed it in the microwave, which I thought was nice, but that didn’t mask the fact that it tasted stale, or something akin to what airplanes give out at cruising altitude.
The barista did a nice job with my friend’s latte art, but the drinks were just okay.
Overall, it’s fine if you’re in the area, but with all the excellent coffee shop options in Providence, I wouldn’t make it my top choice.

Plenty of outside seating! I have visited a couple of times in the past week. The service is friendly & quick. I tried the cold bean salad & a chai on my first trip, both a hit, sat inside. I took a Cranberry turkey sandwich to travel for my daughter, be warned it has mayo. I forgot to ask.
People watching, sunshine & another yummy chai with a grilled falafel wrap happened for today’s lunch. I liked the bean salad more. The choices from salads. wraps & delicious sweets will keep me happy and coming back. I am reminded of a café in NYC every time I am inside, which café, the name escapes me.
I took a half dozen muffins to travel for the family, the red velvet muffin had me at «hello» lol

It really says something about a coffee shop when most of its compliments are about the outdoor patio and the fact they serve wine.
In my case, I will speak to the coffee … I believe the brew they serve is still allowed to be called coffee despite the very weak flavor. I tried adding espresso shots but that just made it bitter.
So in review; as a patio bar this is the place to be but if you a looking for a good brew, keep on walking, seven stars is a nice walk.

The service was really weird. It was 10am on a Sunday and the staff seemed to be bickering. A guy making a latte looked at me waiting at the cashier, looks towards the back room and goes «well I guess I am by myself». He then proceeds to go back to making a latte.
A person who had been clearing dishes comes out of the back and he mildly accosts her «how many people are back there» her: «I’m supposed to be clearing.» She then manages a smile, I order an iced tea. She overfills a cup with ice and I have to ask her to dump about half of it. She then asks me where the iced tea is when I «normally come there» while standing in front of a large brewing machine labeled «iced tea.» I explained I don’t normally go there (and am unlikely to now) and pointed to the large «iced tea» sign.
The pastry was also a little stale. Disappointing. Too bad they have the monopoly on outdoor table space.

This place is just awesome. Open tables, lively energy, amazing food and great coffee. I had been looking around providence for a perfect place to hang out and study for a few hours and I have finally found it! (I also found a a comfy chair in the corner that is ideal.) They have an amazing food selection, very impressive. Staff is also very nice and friendly. One of the best cafés I’ve ever been too!
… And I can’t wait to come back for their 6−9pm special– cappuccino and dessert $ 5.99 :)

Este es mi café favorito y el único en toda la ciudad de Providencia que se asemeja a los verdaderos cafés europeos o sudamericanos.
¡Perfecto para una tertulia vespertina con los amigos!