By Gretchen Webster

Only one day after it opened, Le Pain Quotidien, a new bakery and café at 635 Post Road East, was lively with about 20 customers at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Stephen Bartek, district manager for the New York-based company, said it was because many people in Westport are already familiar with the food and atmosphere of Le Pain Quotidien (translated as The Daily Bread) in the New York area and in Connecticut.

“It’s because of our reputation,” he said. “A lot of people in Westport know us because we are well known in New York City.”

Although the Westport café is the third in Connecticut, New Canaan and Greenwich being the other two, the Westport Le Pain Quotidien is the first to sport a more modern vibe, Bartek said. “What’s really exciting about this location is this brand-new prototype,” including additions to the menu, he said. Westport customers will be the first to experience the café’s new look and feel. “This is the first new opening we’ve had – anywhere – since 2018,” he said.

But the old favorites on the menu, such as the popular “tartines,” which are open-faced sandwiches, are still there, he said, including avocado toast with an egg or smoked salmon, a chicken and mozzarella melt, or a turkey, bacon and avocado tartine.

New starred items on the extensive menu include a chicken and mushroom “toastie,” a tarragon chicken salad croissant, and a scrambled eggs and Gruyere cheese croissant sandwich among other new additions.

The menu has many offerings for breakfast and brunch, including fruit, grains and yogurt in addition to traditional omelets and baked goods; and sandwiches, salads, quiches and soup for lunch or dinner. There are also many varieties of cold and hot beverages available on the menu, including organic coffee, which is one of the most popular offerings in all Le Pain Quotidien cafes, Bartek said. Everything served there is organic, and fresh, he added.

 “We have a following … It definitely helped,” he added, looking around at the many diners already enjoying the newly-opened Westport café.

Le Pain Quotidien is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Online ordering is available for both pickup and delivery. For more information, call 475 244-6407.

Gretchen Webster

^{_{Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist for many years, has reported for the daily Greenwich Time and Norwalk Hour, the weekly Westport News, Fairfield Citizen and Weston Forum. She was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman for ten years. She has won numerous journalism awards over the years, and taught journalism at New York University and Southern Connecticut State University.}}