La Petite Grignote is the little brother of La Grignote on Duval Street. Here, a block away from the main drag, a downsized version of the bakery offers a sense of quiet retreat and a spectacular array of French pastries, just-baked breads, eggs cooked to order, fresh-squeezed juice and smoothies, sandwiches, and salads.
“We make everything from scratch,” boasts the menu. Of that, there can be no doubt. The simplest slices of sourdough and multigrain bread to accompany eggs are soulfully delicious, even unadorned: crusty with muscular crumb and fetching yeasty savor. Danish pastries are nearly as fragile as mille-feuilles and croissants taste as much of butter as of bread. The croissant’s elegant fragility does suffer in its somewhat smothered ham & cheese variation, but house-made bechamel inside more than compensates.
Quiches — Lorraine, goat cheese, broccoli — are textbook-right. Eggs are nothing short of magnificent, baked in cups with gruyere or creme fraiche and/or bacon. Egg cocottes are cooked in little crockpots along with cheeses, vegetables, bacon, ham, or smoked salmon. And, of course, there are omelets — lovely enough to make Julia Child smile.
La Petite Grignote is a welcoming place where a coterie of regulars easily mixes with visitors at chest high counters inside or tables out on the sidewalk. If you get a pastry, service is instant; but anything that requires cooking or even mixing (such as the brilliant smoothies, hot chocolates, and cafes au lait) will take a while. Nothing at this place is slapdash. Everything is done with deliberation and presented with style.
Other Nearby Restaurants
-
Half Shell Raw Bar
Key West, FloridaA rowdy restaurant bar on Key West’s old waterfront, the Half Shell is great place to enjoy cracked conch, fresh oysters, and tropical libations.
-
FireFly
Key West, FloridaA “chef-driven restaurant” serving modern Southern cuisine, FireFly, in Key West’s Bahama Village, is a source of classic dishes with inventive twists.
-
Glazed Donuts
Key West, FloridaCreative, from-scratch donuts are big and intriguingly delicious at this simple Key West storefront shop. A breakfast must for sweet tooths.
-
Fritas Cuban Burger Cafe
Key West, FloridaCuban street food, traditional and wildly creative, is served in a colorful Key West shack. The Frita burger and Cuban sandwich variations are memorable.
-
Hurricane Hole
Key West, FloridaUtterly fresh seafood & clever cocktails served under sun by the water on a colorful marina make Hurricane Hole a dreamy destination at the edge of Key West.
-
Hogfish Bar & Grill
Key West, FloridaHogfish Bar & Grill offers a happy, casual, tropical-themed taste of Florida-Keys life, including superb local seafood and masterfully mixed cocktails.