Le Petit Prince
124 W 14 Mile Rd, Birmingham, MI, 48009
Le Petit Prince Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Birmingham for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Birmingham for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Birmingham for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
124 W 14 Mile Rd
Birmingham, MI, 48009 - Phone (248) 644-7114
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Dessert
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Christina G.
Such a treat to have a fantastic place like this close to home. Croissants are delicious. Chocolates are creamy milk. A little pricy but for $20 I have a full bag of treats for easter and the breakfast pastry. Will be back!!
(5)Matt W.
They seem to have gone out of business. Arrived at 9 and they don't look like they have been open for a while. Someone mentioned to me that they go on vacation for a month. Would have been nice to have a note on the door or something.
(1)Elizabeth L.
I should have came here on a day that was not national donut day. All I wanted was a donut. What I did get was good but I was hoping to find something else. The pictures that others post look so good. I'll be coming back to try something else
(4)Sara B.
Based on the reviews I went in here for the first time today to pick up a few goodies for some coworkers, and oh my... The place is a little dated and dingy, but it kind of feels like walking back in time in to a bakery your Grandma would take you to. I got a few of the grand marnier ganache as well as the coffee, palmier, chocolate meringue, as well as a couple others I don't remember the names for. Everything I tried was absolutely delicious, and normally I don't like really sugary things. I'd love to go back and try some of their bread or quiche!!
(5)Eric J.
Everyone has already mentioned the wonderful almond croissants, the pain au chocolat, the delightful little seasonal cookies. And they're right, le Petit Prince has the sweet baked goodies market well and truly covered. What I'd like to speak about is their loaves of pain de mie. These small loaves of white bread are what I think of most when I head to le Petit Prince. Sweet, airy, with a chewy hint of crust that doesn't distract from the whole. Their understated elegance lies in their simplicity. Sliced thin, a bit of pain de mie pairs perfectly with just about everything, from soups and sandwiches, to chocolates and cheeses. It's almost a perfect mirror of the bakery itself. Small, beautiful, and brimming with quality and craft. Bread and sweets can be found anywhere. The best pain de mie is found only here, at le Petit Prince.
(5)Barbie M.
A lady once told me about her love for Le Petit and said when she dies she wanted her head stone to be shaped like a big cake with the words "butter cream and fat here's where she's at" with an arrow pointing at the ground. She said this was because she would drive from Cass Corridor several times a week to get something amazing from the Prince. I could not agree with her more. Over the holidays I made a promise to my sweet BF I would get him Bouche de Noel since he had never tired it. Yes, I did get one from another bakery in Birmingham, BUT I got 2 from Le Petit! Let's just say the other one was forgotten when we sunk our forks into that perfect cake! I have had many many things from Le Petit and never once felt like I could find it anywhere else. They make all of their treats exactly the way they are supposed to be made, with love, and great ingredients!!! Je t'aime Petit Prince!
(5)Alexandra W.
This is the best bit of France I've had since I left. Every pastry is delicious. They're wonderful people, and they are particularly excited if you can order in French. My only qualm is the poor hours. They aren't open Sundays and Mondays, but sometimes on sporadic other days. It can be extremely frusterating.
(4)Mary P.
Tiny little bakeshop out of the way of the usual traffic to Downtown Birmingham but with a better vibe. I came in the afternoon and noticed a lot of school girls in uniforms coming to pick up a treat or two in white paper bags. That was kind of endearing and I decided to walk in. Then I noticed they were cash/check only so I went back to the atm and drove back (I love dessert). Not only can you get good, light, European style dessert here, but you can get savory items such as the cheesy balls (not sure what they were called specifically, perhaps they were really cheese balls?) and brioche. I love non-American style desserts because they don't smack you in the face with fat/sugar overload. Its deceptive actually. Between this place and the Chinese bakery on the other side of town, I'm set on my desserts.
(4)Sarah C.
Despite it's obscure, strip mall location, this is the best French bakery in Michigan. Their pastries are authentic and absolutely delicious. As such, they're certainly not 50¢ items!! But they're worth the extra coin now & again for a tasty treat. I've brought goodies from here to get-togethers and they're a hit. Oh!! And the family that runs the place are WONDERFUL. They close for a couple months during summer. Opening again in September. Those are sad summer days. :)
(5)Lily G.
Two words: almond croissant. That is all. If you come here and don't have to force yourself to leave before you select every dessert they have, there is something seriously wrong with you. The family is wonderful too.
(5)Jordan N.
Great pastries. And if this was 1986, I'd give it five stars. That is my guess as to the last time the owners cleaned the place, offered anything new, or changed any fixtures or signage. Half the shelf space is perennially empty. I once suggested they offer baguette sandwiches, and the owner scoffed "but that'd be too much work." Seems that they're trying to not have much business. I get the feeling that they don't much care about anything...and that is never a good feeling when entering any kind of food establishment. If you want a chocolate croissant, you could bear the somewhat depressing in-store experience and emerge with something tasty. But the fact that they do have good pastries makes it all the more frustrating that this is not the inviting neighborhood French bakery you'd hope it would be.
(3)C J.
Great bakery! It has been a long time since we lived near a great bakery. You can taste the love. The French bread is even better than my hometown of New Orleans...and it should be. Everything is outstanding.
(5)Aron B.
About the only thing I could criticize is the fact that the place is small, and there's no onsite seating in which to enjoy their absolutely wonderful pastries. The absolute high bar of pain au chocolat can be found here, and only here. My girlfriend loves their almond pastries. I've been coming here for over 25 years, and I've tried other French bakeries in the area. The only other one that I find good is Give Thanks in Rochester. LPP is the tops, though GT would be a *very* solid second place...and not second by much.
(5)Alex D.
This is only Five Stars because I'm currently on a no-sugar Lent mission but I'm sure it'll be five stars in a few weeks because I've asked my hubs to buy all my Easter sweet treats from here. It's an exquisite torture to venture inside this tiny baking grotto when you can't buy even a tiny morsel of goodness. Luckily their bread is fab (the sort of bread that is made specifically for being artfully perched in the whicker basket of a Pashley bicycle next to a bunch of daffodils, taken to a river bank and devoured with a wedge of cheese before some mysterious off-duty banker turns up and makes love to you right there in nature). That's right -Tis the stuff of dreams! If I had to buy just one thing at Le Petit Prince, it would have to be the pain au chocolat. Pretty much the best French pastry I've eaten outside of France and with a character all of it's own - half pastry, half-macaron in texture, it really is a thing to be savoured, and unfortunately for the Prince, it renders the croissants a little pedestrian. Looking forward to those chocolate cockerels (and pretty much anything else on sale) after Easter nom nom!
(4)Greg N.
I've experienced this place on two different occasions. Once was a few months ago, when my wife surprised me with one of their pastries upon coming home from California, and the other was just about an hour ago, on a random pastry craving. I can tell you that both times, I was completely blown away with their offerings made me feel. I'm not kidding. These pastries will change the way you look at baked goods, and set a level to which will rarely be seen in most other bakeries. On both occasions, I had the exact same pastry, which is a called a pointu, which seemed kind of like a stuffed danish, but with far more flavor, and decadence. It's not something easily explainable, you simply have to go in, and see for yourself. It's also relevant to note that these amazing goods are surprisingly affordable, but they simply do not cut corners, like you might think. I guess I'm at a loss from here. Just go in, if you have questions, the friendly staff will gladly answer them. Cheers!
(5)Matt W.
My high school French class came here. We were supposed to order in French but this one kid said "gimme some of dat bread". The teacher was all "en francais" so the kid said, "je voudrais some of dat bread". The French teacher later had a nervous breakdown or something I'm not sure and had to quit and the substitute looked like Ma'am from Webster.
(3)Saffron D.
Amazing & Authentic!
(5)Reem E.
For the taste buds that enjoy real butter, less sugar, and handmade pastries/cookies/cake, this place is to satisfy them. Authentic, fresh, and delicious, soon you will find your favorite bunch that will bring you back for more. Highly recommend for the lovers of baked-goods.
(5)Joe B.
Sorry to say but for all the hype that had raised my expectations for the Little Prince bakery I was hugely let down to the point of 2.5 stars. One reviewer said the shoppe was dark and a little dingy and unfortunately I'd be inclined to agree. I came in for the baguette, which I had heard was the best in Metro Detroit. I also picked up a pain de mie loaf and a bag of 7 ganache macaron. The baguette was nice but very thin, really soft and more akin to an Italian bread. It was missing that crusty exterior and a bubbly crumb I look for in a superb baguette. The pain de mie was very very light as if it had over risen and it was a little dry. The macaron were, well, not what I've come to expect from a Parisian macaron. The meringues were peaked and crumbly dry and while I liked the ganache center the cookie was a big let down for me. To be fair I did come later in the day which could have contributed to the dry loaf and a more limited selection to choose from but for all the praise I've heard of this place it was really disappointing. If you really enjoy this bakery then you need to try Cannelle Patisserie down the road...I think you'll be blown away. That said, the prices here are reasonable and I should give them another shot earlier in the day.
(3)Alice C.
I actually tried to avoid this place, because every time I come here I always get way too much delicious baked goods. That being said, I can never resist coming here when I'm in the area. There croissants are buttery and flaky, absolutely delicious. Something you must try that I haven't seen other places as a croissant filled with almond paste and chocolate, it's chocolate heaven every single bite. Like I said, it's an addictive place for sure, if you're in the area definitely don't miss out on it
(5)Chelsea H.
These are the most amazing croissants I've had outside of France. The almond is so delicious that I always eat it in tiny bites to make it last as long as possible. Perhaps the folks who don't have great things to say about Le Petit don't appreciate the subtle flavors and variations in texture of a perfect croissant? The couple that owns the bakery are very sweet and friendly and make you feel welcome. Sure, the hours are slightly inconvenient and the decor is a bit dated, but I feel like it only adds to the special-ness and charm of the place. If they were open past 6pm, I might be driving up to Birmingham after work to eat a platter of almond croissants for dinner... Also: When I was a kid, my dad gave me a hand-made chocolate squirrel from Le Petit Prince that was so pretty I couldn't eat it. They make really lovely little custom-order chocolates and I once tried a wedding cake from here (lemon cake with raspberry jam and lemon buttercream) that was the best wedding cake I've ever had.
(5)Katelyn G.
The greatest bakery in the area, my only single complaint is they close for the summer when they visit France. Their eclairs are to die for
(5)Anthony Z.
Very small place and closed for a short time during the summer but a slice of France here in Michigan... The croissants are so good and the pastries are to die for...
(5)Kate B.
Take Southfield Road north to 14 Mile and take a right. Le Petit Prince is in a small strip mall on the north side of the street in a residential subdivision just before Pierce St. The inside is very plain and nondescript, filled with old-fashioned wooden cases, but the delicacies inside are a expatriate's dream. Flaky croissants, meringues, hand-dipped chocolates, and buttery cookies are on one side of the bakery. The other side has refrigerated cases filled with tortes, quiches, and cream tarts. All are wonderful, especially the cookies which are flavored with almonds, hazelnuts, chocolates and liqueur. A box of assorted cookies will run $20 and make a lovely hostess gift. The chocolates are hand made and consist of molded items for the holidays, such as Santas and rabbits in season( they use unusual European molds that you don't see everywhere). The chocolate pieces have almond, caramel, and liqueur fillings and are beautiful ,with a European flavor and flair. The bakery is open six days a week, closing on Monday to replenish.They close the bakery each summer and reopen after Labor Day, bringing back with them rustic French tablecloths and woodwork.
(5)Hanna S.
Yummy pastries! I bought bread and cookies before. Bread...Yum! Decent price. Cookies...Ok taste, and a little overpriced.
(4)Libby F.
The pastries I bought from Le Petit Prince were the best air freshener my car has ever had! After stopping here and then running several more errands the aroma of my pain au chocolate and raisin brioche filled my car with their heavenly scent. This place is one of my old stomping grounds from my Seaholm days. My friend lived nearby so I always passed this place on my way to her house. It is very modest inside and out. Don't let the grungy exterior deter you. What waits inside is a myriad of truly French delicacies. What could be better than a pastry or gateau from someone who has been baking here for over 25 years (and who knows how long back in France)? Nothing could be better, that's what.
(5)Charlene R.
I love love love LOVE this place. They have this hazelnut cake that is amazing!! I love the cookies with the fruit spread inside too! This is hands down my favorite dessert spot in michigan.
(5)Randy G.
Le Petite Prince is truly a gem on multiple levels. First and foremost, their pastries. Every level of their showcase has real French pastries with labels also in French. Can this shop get anymore French? No, because there's more to convince you. How about the French daily made bread behind the counter? Want more evidence? Lastly, when the owners come out from the back room speaking French, that should do it. You can practice your French, which I try to do, but they probably just laugh at my terrible accent, grab some freshly baked bread, but whatever you do, do not leave without an almond croissant. I have tried them at so many places after here and none of them compare. They are perfectly flaky on the outside, has thinly sliced almonds on the outside that have been slightly toasted from the oven, and the inside is heaven. It is soft, moist, wonderful almond paste that isn't strong at all, but has enough flavor to remind you its there. The paste is delicate and the rest of the pastry finishes with that same delicate flavor. Make sure you go early enough because they'll sell out later in the day. If you go, please save one for me! ***CASH ONLY
(5)QuietGirl A.
By far my favorite family-owned French bakery! The owners are always welcoming and friendly. I love their hand-crafted meringues, croissants, blueberry/raspberry custard pastries, and other items! They sell cakes and breads too. I'll pay $3 for a good-quality dessert. They're all about quality and presentation and that's why I'm a loyal customer. They don't accept visa, cash only. I've been looking for decent bakery and this bakery definitely deserves 5 stars.
(5)Michael S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Outstanding and delicious desserts, cookies and breads. The petit fours are always a HUGE HIT at my parties. Everything is so well done - and very special. A must have - for your holiday parties! Your guests will be so impressed!
(5)Amy B.
Quite shocked that I've not written anything about the best bakery I know of before now. It's a real French bakery, as in closed during August authentic. There are a lot of good things and you'll have your favorite. Mine are the turn overs. I'm a sucker for anything with cherries, or currents. Which is why I also love the...oh I don't know what they call them because I just point...butter pastries with currents throughout rolled in granulated sugar while hot. Then there's the pain au chocolat...oh my.
(5)Melanie S.
Local bakeries have gone the way of mass food production, but not at Le Petit Prince. For the holidays I stopped in to pick up baguettes for d'ordurves and I was not disappointed. Most recently I had been buying my baguettes at a local up scale grocer-but no more. I will return to Le Petit Prince for the best baguettes this side of France. For treats we will pick up an almond croissants and they are also a made in heaven. Support your local bakery so we can continue to enhance our life with fresh made baked goods. Viva La France!
(5)Heather J.
J'adore Le Petit Prince. Anyone who ever visited the streets of Paris and feasted upon the fresh-baked goods of their patisseries will revere the cultured French atmosphere inside this quintessential French bakery hidden in a small strip mall on the border of Birmingham and Beverly Hills. Something as good as Le Petit Prince should be found a stone's throw from Campus Martius, racking up as many reviews as Redcoat Tavern or Alinea or other Midwest hotspots. Simple, delightful recipes deliver a hint of the romantic French countryside a bit cheaper than a flight to Paris. Leaving without a bag of beautifully frosted cookies, a few of the tarts, and a selection of sumptuous pastries is an act of will, and worthy of praise. The croissants put anything in the bakery case in this city to shame, whipping them home with one tender bite and a hint of citrus, almond, or chocolate if you go for a flavoured option. One baguette fresh from the oven for $3 stole my breath, and the Mistral pastry with its incomparable balance of sweet, savory, and flaky buttery goodness won my heart. The chocolate eclairs are filled with a slightly sweet, decadent mousse that transported me straight into nirvana -- and I'm not a sweet tooth by any means. A single bite melted the confectionery into a rapturous blend of cocoa, cream, and God knows what else; it's the equivalent of an atom bomb detonated at ground zero. Try not to get your first bite while driving. In the surest act of love, my better half got his half. I continually share the eclairs we get with him, and he understands he is cherished. The lovely owners are definitely charming, native French who bring their zest and love for their art to the city. They smile at my attempts to parlay 12 years of Quebecois French into something comprehensible, and I earned a genuine laugh of delight (I hope) when I summoned up a Provencal greeting. They are patient and generous with the crush of eager souls, many of whom I suspect make weekly stops. My beau and I stop in once a month to buy a baguette for dinner, a chocolate eclair, and whatever happens to lead us into mouthwatering temptation. The decorated cookies are extremely pricey ($5/each) but little pieces of art, like beautiful scarlet poinsettias with immaculate attention to detail. Smaller cookies sell for $20 per pound, and those meringues and cocoa puffs go a long way. Macaroons made properly are worth their weight in gold and then some. Le Petit Prince is a small, dark shop often packed on weekend mornings when our pilgrimages begin. Their gems are contained on the trays, and the beautiful arrangements will make you wish you earned a Birmingham paycheque if you already don't. Flavours are rich, presentation wonderful, and tastes spot on for the nostalgic and poignant memories of my childhood. I agree with Michelle about wanting more for my money, but this is truly worth the stop. ** CASH ONLY. **
(4)Mambru P.
Totally disappointed with the cake we bought yesterday for a dinner. A beauty to look at with edible flowers and leaves but it had way more ganache frosting and feeling than cake. Our guests picked at the cake and mostly gave up on it leaving plates full of pink sugar frosting. We got the yellow grand marnier cake. We buy bread and rolls here all the time, we love their pain de mie and the pains moyens but will not buy any cakes here. I am going to throw away half of the cake, it is inedible. Such a shame.
(4)Elly L.
J'aime cette patisserie! I have been coming here all 18 years of my life and each time I walk in the doors, I can't help but reminisce on the countless years I have savoured their croissants. The owners are quite delightful --if you speak some French, have a conversation! Coming here in my early years of French class really helped me learn to love the language. I am a pastry aficionado, and this place really takes the cake (no pun intended)! Their almond croissants and pain au chocolat are to die for, and I love their chocolate frogs, too!
(5)Brenda M.
When a business has mostly glowing reviews, I don't usually find the need to add my two cents unless something out of the ordinary happens. Today, something out of the ordinary happened. I walked in to Le Petit Prince, and I started to cry. Not because of anything bad, but because it reminded me of the little bakeries owned by sweet French couples in Germany. They were homey, and you just felt good when you walked in. The family behind the counter were so personable, and very willing to give me instructions on heating up the croissants. I am not an expert on French pastries, but I do know that whenever I am in this part of town, I will stop by for some apple and cherry turnovers, a loaf of bread, and heavenly pain au chocolate. A family business that is so warm and friendly, with quality products is something that is lacking in my neck of the woods. Note-I paid cash. There were no Visa/MC stickers on the door or cash register, and they do take personal checks.
(4)Eric P.
Le Petit Prince has always been a homerun for me. They are the best place to get authentic French/Euro fare for a reasonable price, and everything I've ever had from there has been delicious. I'm not exaggerating - it has. Even the quiche I've had was great! Most definitely worth a try. Cash or check only, though, so plan accordingly.
(5)Nick B.
I cannot say enough good things about this place. They make hands down the best croissants I have had this side of the Atlantic. They are flaky on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Their baguettes are top notch too but get their early as they go by the afternoon. Looking for a treat, get a bunch of butter cookies for your next meeting. They have an amazing flavor and go great with coffee. They even have some tasty quick lunch options that are perfect for running to an event. The stuff croissants and quiches are so good. To top it off, the owner will even speak french with you, if you can remember any from High School.
(5)Tamara F.
Their French Macrons are barely "okay". Just not what you'd expect. They only had 3 flavors. Caramel Creme, Coffee and Chocolate. I got a variety pack of 5 and the flavor was "Meh". I wouldn't get them again. On the plus side, the chocolate croissant was amazing. it truly reminded me of eating one in Paris!
(3)Jared H.
I cannot eat baked goods right now due to digestive issues, so this review is based on my wife's input. We stopped in this last Saturday morning around 10 or 11am. From the outside, it doesn't look like that nice of a place as it's in a tiny old strip mall type building. As others said, look for the red canopy when you're going down 14 mile and it's easy enough to find. The baked goods all looked and smelled delicious. They also had small meringue decorated in various ways such as you'd expect to see in a chocolate store (but meringue, not chocolate). My wife had the cherry turnover and was very pleased with it. They are baked a little longer than most turnovers you'd find around here and less sweet. The filling was whole cherries which were sweetened, but again not too sweet. It was not the jelly like filling you'd usually find in a turnover. Prices were higher than a supermarket bakery, but seemed very reasonable for a shop of this type. The turnover was $2.75 which we found reasonable for an occasional treat. They only accept cash, but the owners are very friendly. We did not have cash on us, so they happily accepted eleven quarters as payment. The owners were clearly French and had pictures of their town in southern France up on the walls. Overall it seemed like a very good bakery but I am giving four stars instead of five due to being cash only and because I have not actually tasted the baked goods yet.
(4)Tony K.
Got two dozen french pastries for my wife and her 4 girlfriends. I understand these are not as sweet as many american sweets, but nor did they or I find anything extraordinary in tastes, creativity, textures, etc. They were about what I would expect for price at $20/dozen from a "high end" shop, but was very underwhelmed by the product. Haven't tried the baked goods or chocolates, but quite frankly wasn't inspiring enough to have me back. Staff was very friendly, shop was "quaint"/a little run down, and pretty shocked that someplace in Birmingham doesn't take credit cards. Won't be back - I might not be sophisticated enough for their product.
(2)Mia K.
Fine, Quality, French Baking!!! NW corner of 14 Mile road and Pierce (look for red awning). Over 25 years of experience at this location!!! They owned a similar shop in the south of France (just so you know.) Family owned and operated (The Didierjeans...still very French.) How flour, butter, sugar, milk/cream, fruits, spices, liqueurs, nuts, sweets, etc., etc. could be fashioned into such delightful treats is beyond me. I mean...NO WAY is this mass production. Here...here take a bite! Told ya! Mrs D. tells me, her husband is up in the wee hours of the morning to get an early start on blowing our senses. Try not to get there too late because they may run out of something as its all made fresh daily. You should see me act like a brat if there is no bostok..."non, non c'est pas possible"...hee...hee... . The cakes...OMG...magnificent. You don't need to get someone a gift also when you give them one of these cakes...they are absolutely divine. The "gateaux de soiree," which are small tasty pastries, are excellent for taking to private little dinner parties with a bottle of wine. I ask for butter and start eating my baguette right there in the shop before I leave...lol. I know its ghetto...but I can't help it...hahahahaha! I love french butter too...not too salty. Mini quiche, croissants (filled with meats, chocolate or plain) all delectable! They also make seasonal cookies and chocolates. They are sooooooooo cute and well crafted that you almost don't wanna eat them. Seems cruel to break that bunny's neck...but do it...you won't regret it...yummyyyyyyyyyy!!! If you're not a connoisseur of French patisseries...be aware that some items are not toooooooooo sweet...however delicious all the same. Allows your taste buds to experience all the other ingredients...mmmmmmmm! The Didierjean boys help out in the shop and are able bakers but they are also artists in their own right. They each have their own style and display their photographs, paintings and other pieces on the bakery walls for sale. Unfortunately they are not open on Mondays and they do close the shop for 2 months every summer...usually July and August. During this time, they go back home to the south of France to see family, friends and vacation. I know...I know...it sucks but there is a plus to this though. They always come back refreshed, with re-defined skills and techniques to lavish upon us and wow our senses once again. Merci...Merci.
(4)Michelle I.
"One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." -Chapter XXI, The Little Prince Le Petit Prince is one of my favorite books. I don't often share this fact, mainly because it seems trite. But this book has always had special significance to me because of the "romantic" message. And I consider the book even more meaningful to me because my mom would always tell me that she fell for my dad because he would always reference this book while they were dating. So essentially, I may have not existed if it wasn't for the wonders of The Little Prince, and the wisdom the book imparts. So when Yelp let me on the existence of this little bakery in Birmingham, I knew I had to try it one day. So I finally found an afternoon where I could stroll in here to try what all these Yelpers are raving about. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I walked in....maybe a big mural of the Little Prince, Amelie sitting next to the cartoon alligator from her namesake film and little girls running around in red berets. I think I was expecting more of a cutesy, cafe/bakery shop (think Pinwheel but french); I think I expected all this cuteness because of the cute name. I expected too much. The actual bakery is small, kind of dark and the selection was fair, not extensive as I imagined but good enough. I picked up some fresh bread and some cookies...mmm, butter cookies... I'm not sure I why I skipped the croissants, but now I wish I picked up some of those too. The cookies were fantastic, the hazelnut meringue was heavenly but the bread fell short in my opinion. I'll stick to the italian bakeries for my bread needs, me thinks. Le Petit Prince will solely be a destination for buttery, sweet treats from now on. So why did I include the above quote? Because, at first I was unimpressed by this bakery. Looks wise, I think I expected more. Price-wise, I wish I got more for my buck. But taste wise, it was just right. So in this case, I needed to see clearly with my heart, as the essentials of the bakery is actually invisible to the eyes. I almost gave a rating of three stars, but after "looking with the heart," (eh, I mean stomach) I bumped them up to four because the real love, and the real passion in the food is beyond seeing.
(4)Kalyn M.
Excellent baked goods. Nothing like what American bakeries make. Nothing is overly sweet. You can tell it's homemade and a lot of time was put into crafting it perfectly. Reasonably priced. You will not be disappointed with anything you get here. A warning though: the pastries are so good, people are willing to be jerks to get them.
(5)Christa L.
I discovered Le Petit Prince just a few days ago on my way to work. Yes, it's a bit hidden and traffic was slow when I saw it, but what a find! I've been there twice in 3 days on the way home. FANTASTIC. Gougere, apple turnovers, croissant, quiche, leek tart. I tried one of the small butter cream cakes but found those too sweet. The cakes are gorgeous to look at. And then the colorful table cloths on the wall, along with the beautifully framed photographs. What a nice store. I've got to support it for my own good.
(5)Eric P.
I love Le Petit Prince. If I was rich I would shop here all the time. But i'm not, so the Prince can only count on me calling once every full moon or so. I love their pastries! Pan au chocolat, Almond Crossiant, Escargot Rolls (kind of like Cinnamon rolls) with Michigan Cherries, and the Chocolate Merange (its SO rich, it must have a ton of calories) are just a few of my favorite items. There are so many pastries, cookies, and breads here it would take me years to try them all! The bagette to me is just alright, but I just discovered a method to make great artisan bread easily ( youtube.com/watch?v=13Ah… ), so I know there's more options out there. Their other more egg-intensive bread items like the Brioche and Gougere are great though. A French family run the place so everything found here is pretty authentic and delicious. Their service and their attitude are great. I always like to ask questions when I'm in unfamiliar surroundings, and they always answer my, sometimes inane, questions cordially (ex. What's a gougere? and, How do you pronouce that?). Its disappointing that they are closed over the summer, but with so few other Authentic European, especially French, pastry shops in the area, I'm definitely willing to suffer through a few months of their absence. As long as they promise to return!
(5)I. F.
If you like French cookies and pastries, then this is the place for you. I was looking for more tartlets, tarts, cakes, torte, but saw mostly cookie-like things and rolls like gougère and brioche. They offer a HUGE selection of cookies. I bought about a half dozen different items. They were good, but they seemed a little flavorless. I realize a review based on only 6 items isn't sufficient, but this is what I experienced. Their almond croissant was a little flavorless and hard, not flaky, having the almond paste on the outside. I didn't see any sablé. The customers seemed so happy and knew the owners by first name. Parking is bad: when they're busy, parking in front isn't possible, but there is a little lot in back belonging to another business, so if you're sneaky, you can park there. Small: they don't have a single chair or table, so it is take away only. No credit cards: cash only.
(3)Ani B.
I was not impressed. The shoppe is dark and dingy, and even a tad dirty. The little cakes were not good, cake tasteless and icing about the same. Assorted cookies were possibly made with part shortening because true butter cookies have flavor and more body. Would guess they were not extremely fresh either. The good thing I can say is that the country white bread was decent. Tho just as good bread can be found in many other places in the metro area. At 1 pm on a Friday they had run out of baguettes. After spending $30 and being so disappointed, I would not go back.
(2)Silvia R.
I agree with all the reviews it is a great authentic French bakery and pastry shop, the one thing I'd like to mention that I think they should work on is: 1.Cash only: Really? On this day and age when you can pay for stuff using your iphone you guys are cash only? 2. Hours: They close at 6:00 PM so if I want to get my French bread on time for dinner I have to rush from work at 5PM and pray that I have cash on my wallet and that traffic doesn't stop me from getting there before 6. Also they are closed for a good part of the summer (As many businesses do in France) Other than that, it is a gem, great bread and sweet treats and it definitely doesn't get any more authentic French than that in Metro Detroit!
(3)Lara B.
Drool worthy! My mom first bought me here when I was one yr. old. and I am still a customer at 30. I can still remember the smell! AMAZING french treats! I always take their pastries as a hostess gift. The owner is as sweet as can be, lovely family business! You can also get other goodies such as: aprons, art, and cutting boards from France. I recommend the almond and chocolate croissant. Note: CASH ONLY & closed portion of summer for their yearly trip back to France.
(5)Pickles T.
I love Le Petit Prince! I've been going to this family owned and run bakery since I was a little kid, and my parents and their friends always use them for birthdays and holiday parties. Their pastries are AMAZING (especially the almond croissants) and they are super easy to work with for custom orders. I'm getting married this Saturday and they're making a croque-en-bouche for me (it's a traditional French wedding dessert served instead of a cake). They have been so accommodating making the decorations in the colors of the theme of my wedding, even buying special dye to try to get the exact colors I want. Also the son of the owners makes some really cool art that he sometimes sells at the shop.
(5)Parisa K.
Great little French bakery in Birmingham. It's not quite downtown. I've this place for many years. A family friend used to work there, and so I've had all sort of tasty delights from this place. I remember when I was growing up, I loved the chocolate croissants and the swan cream puffs. Everything is handmade, and you get a sense of the personal touch that goes into every item. You can almost taste the love (okay I had to get a bit cheesy for a moment) in every bite. Overall, this is still one of my favorite bakeries. If I could eat to my heart's desire without the consequences, I would be a weekly visitor!
(5)Tom N.
This is a perfect bakery. Perfect. Not close to perfect, not sorta perfect. It is perfect in every way, even in the little imperfections.
(5)Otis M.
Simply awesome. Delicious pain du chocolat, croissants, baguettes, bread, pastry and cookies. Authentically baked, value priced, OPEN on Sunday mornings... I love this place!
(5)Frank W.
This small bakery specializes in the kind of cookies and biscuits you usually find in expensive cookie boxes and tins imported from Holland, England or France. They also have some of the standard cookies you see in Italian-American bakeries. Of course the cookies here are fresher than those imported cookies you're used to eating, and they are a cut above your neighborhood Italian bakery. Hint: the secret ingredient is butter. The cookies from Le Petit Prince may seem slight and delicate, but every bit should be savored. Unusually, that for something you savor as you eat, you will likely find it difficult to stop eating these cookies. They are quite delicious, and that's a good thing because Le Petit Prince charges much more per pound for their cookies (close to $20) than a typical bakery. In addition to the tea cookies and biscuits are some of the most delicious meringues you will ever have. I have been a fan of meringues since they came with my ice cream at a department store tea room when I was a child. The ones here are really great. Christmas cookies currently take up much of the space in Le Petit Prince's display case. They are meticulously decorated and among the prettiest Christmas cookies I've seen, especially their Santa cookies. They're rather small, though, and nearly 4 bucks a pop, so you might want to buy your cookies for that big Christmas party somewhere else. Though the cookies here are pricey, the sweet rolls are quite cheap with quite a few options under 2 bucks. The bread is also reasonably priced. 4.5 stars rounded down to four.
(4)Mike D.
Was told about this place by a friend who knew my love of French Pastry, and it bugged me that I dont live far from this place and never knew about it. Its so unassuming when you drive by cause its not something you think about at the corner of Pierce and 14 Mile. I walked in the door and the first thing that hit me was the smell of fresh baked pastries, not that crappy donut smell you get from Dunkin Donuts, but the rich smell of butter and sugar waifing through the air. I talked with the owner for a while, she was a very nice woman and talked about French pastry chefs and other things. She showed me what they had and what they could do even for a special order, which I thought was nice in case you want something they dont normally carry. I picked up a few things to try them out and everything I had was great, it was addicting like crack, but crack that will make you fat :) They had very intricately designed Easter cookies out at the time for $3 a pop, but I know what goes into making that and its well worth the price, since Easter only comes around once a year. Im looking forward to going back and trying some more things, this is local and its a mom and pop run type business.. you need to support these places cause they are a dying breed of business these days. Nothing corporate or mass produced about this at all, and thats a good thing. Go here if you read this, you wont regret it.
(5)Alfred K.
I was excited to try this place but was a little disappointed with the cookies. When I think of French baking, I imagine light and fluffy with sophistication. Instead I thought the cookies tasted like they came from a box except with sticks of butter mixed in and some icing/chocolate splattered on top. Ugh - not my thing. Maybe the cakes are better? I don't know. I did try some 5-10 different cookies and they were all disappointing. C'est dommage. And could the store be any darker inside? Chacun a son gout, I suppose.
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