Le Bon Choix

Le Bon Choix is a French-style boulangerie and patisserie at Westfield North Lakes, and it's a handy stop if you're after a croissant, a pastry or something sweet to take home. The range covers freshly baked breads, cakes, pastries, macarons and sandwiches, with a coffee to go alongside. You can sit in or take away, and they do catering too.

The pastry cabinet is what people talk about. Locals rave about the almond croissant, and the apricot danish has a loyal fan or two. Macarons and the chilled dessert cabinet feature in the display, and a pistachio eclair and a pistachio cake have both had enthusiastic mentions. A savoury spinach pastry gets a nod for its thin, tasty pastry and generous filling. Fresh from the oven is the idea, and the brunch crowd seems happy with it, with one local calling the value good for a full meal and coffee.

Custom cakes are a big part of the offering. They take custom cake orders, and the website describes a pre-order model through the online shop with click-and-collect pickup, so it pays to plan ahead for anything special. Afternoon tea is another thing people come in for.

Staff come up as friendly and efficient, and Maribell behind the counter gets a warm mention. One local has grumbled about service lapses, another about croissant quality on one visit, and the setting inside a busy shopping centre isn't to everyone's taste. The cakes are also on the pricier side for one, though others say they're fair for what you get.

Practically, it's easy to get to, with free car parking, a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, and card and mobile payments accepted. It's open seven days, and it's worth checking the hours before you head in.

If you're in North Lakes and want French-style pastries or a special cake, this is a bakery worth knowing about.