The French Lettuce
237 Nicholson St, Carlton, Victoria, 3053
“Melbourne's Premier Cake and Bakery Specialist | Carlton - Richmond”
Known for
Why Choose The French Lettuce?
The French Lettuce delivers standout custom cakes and pastries, with their vanilla slice and croquembouche earning particular praise for quality and artistry. The team, led by Hudson, handles custom orders with warmth and attention, making it a strong choice for celebration cakes or a quality pastry fix in Carlton.
About The French Lettuce
Carlton's French Lettuce is a family-owned patisserie and bakery that has been trading since 1984, and cakes are what one customer makes the trip for. The wedding work gets particular praise: one couple described a croquembouche that became the talking point of their day, with toffee that had a proper crunch without being hard. One person talks about the warm, patient way tastings are handled, and custom cakes, from lemon chantilly to the charlotte meringue, tend to arrive beautifully decorated.
It isn't only a cake shop, though. The vanilla slice is the one most often singled out, and people also come back for the danishes, donuts, baked cheesecake, mille feuille and black forest. There are savoury pies too, and one regular makes a cross-town run for office birthday cakes and grabs a few beef pies to freeze for quick dinners.
For a sit-down, there's dine-in with a few stools and tables inside, outdoor seating, and coffee and breakfast on the menu. Takeaway, kerbside pickup and delivery are all offered, and they also do catering. Free street parking nearby helps, and the counter staff are described as friendly and helpful when you can't decide between everything in the cabinet.
One customer felt a charlotte meringue was light on strawberries, and another would have liked more sponge in a chantilly cake. What we hear, though, includes warm moments, including a story of a delivery sorted out kindly after a mix-up.
Prices are generally described as reasonable for the size of the cakes. The bakery is closed one day a week, so check the hours before you head in.
Location
What Customers Say on Google
“We were absolutely blown away by our croquembouche wedding cake. It looked incredible and honestly became such a talking point at the wedding.”
“Come for the fresh and delicious danish pastry and their signature vanilla slice.”
“Hudson and the team at The French Lettuce are truly exceptional. They created the most magnificent croquembouche for our wedding, a cake I had dreamed about for years, and seeing it brought to life so beautifully was incredibly special.”
Source: Google Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions About The French Lettuce
This Carlton patisserie and bakery is best known for its custom cakes and celebration work, especially croquembouche wedding cakes, lemon chantilly and charlotte meringue cakes that arrive beautifully decorated. It's also loved for its vanilla slice, often called one of the best in Melbourne, along with danish pastries, sausage rolls, cheesecake and savoury pies.
Yes, custom cake orders including croquembouche wedding cakes are a highlight. Couples describe the croquembouche becoming a talking point at their wedding, with toffee that holds a proper crunch, and praise the patient, warm approach to cake tastings and consultations offered by the team, including staff member Hudson.
Beyond cakes, the Carlton bakery offers dine-in, takeaway, delivery and catering, with coffee, breakfast and a range of pastries, donuts, baguette sandwiches and savoury pies alongside its famous vanilla slice. There's indoor bar-stool seating plus outdoor tables, and free street parking nearby.
Many visitors call it reasonably priced and friendly, though a few note the vanilla slice sits on the pricier side for the quality on offer. Staff are regularly described as friendly and helpful in choosing sweets. For current prices on cakes, pies or catering orders, it's best to ask the bakery directly.
Yes, custom cakes are a specialty, with flavours like lemon chantilly, charlotte meringue and chocolate chantilly made for birthdays, milestones and weddings. Ordering and collection are generally described as straightforward, and the bakery also offers delivery, which has been used for occasions like celebrating after a hospital stay.
Contact Details
- Phone
- +61 3 9347 7105
- Address
- 237 Nicholson St, Carlton, Victoria, 3053
How The French Lettuce Compares
in Carlton
More reviews than 84% of bakeries in Carlton
Known for Pies: 1 of 6 in Carlton
Custom Cakes: 1 of 6 in Carlton
Opening Hours
- Monday
- 7am-2pm
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- 7am-2pm
- Thursday
- 7am-2pm
- Friday
- 7am-2pm
- Saturday
- 7am-2pm
- Sunday
- 7am-2pm
Business Details
- Service Options
- Takeaway, Delivery, Dine-in, Kerbside pickup, In-store pick-up, In-store shopping
- Payment Methods
- Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments
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Community Comments
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