I made a 9 a.m. reservation at La Baguette Bistro before we left the house, mostly because holiday weekends make me nervous and nobody wants to drag visiting family around Oklahoma City hungry.
At first, it felt like I had overplanned. The dining room had plenty of space when we walked in. By the time we were finishing breakfast, though, every table was full. That is about the right lesson for La Baguette on North May Avenue: you may not always need a reservation, but on a weekend or holiday, it is not a bad move.
My aunt and uncle were in town for the Fourth of July weekend, and we wanted a good breakfast before they headed south toward Lake Murray near Ardmore for fireworks. I wanted somewhere new to me, nice enough to feel a little special, but not so formal that breakfast turned into a production.
La Baguette Bistro hit that middle lane well.
The restaurant sits in a shopping center on North May Avenue, in the Nichols Hills side of Oklahoma City, and it is more than one room doing one thing. La Baguette has the French bistro, bakery, and neighboring market pieces that make the whole operation feel bigger than a standard breakfast stop. On this visit, we stayed in the bistro, but I already know I need to come back when I have more time to wander through the rest of it.
There were seven of us at the table, which turned out to be the best way to see the breakfast menu in action. Nobody’s plate looked the same. Across the table there were pancakes, eggs, smoked salmon, quiche, crepes, and a few other plates getting passed around and pointed at.
A small detail I liked: several plates came with a fresh strawberry tucked onto the side. Not a life-changing garnish, just a clean little touch that made the plates feel considered.
Before the main dishes came out, the staff brought sliced bread and jam for the table. That is such a simple way to start a meal, but it works. We also ordered a basket of bacon to share, which disappeared with the speed you would expect from a table of seven people who all understand the assignment.
I ordered the Crêpes Normandie, listed on the menu with apples, cinnamon, and a sweet cream-style filling. It was generous enough that I brought about half of it home, which is not usually how my breakfast plans go. The leftovers held up well enough that I kept sneaking bites later, which is probably the most honest review a crepe can get.
The coffee was also worth mentioning. La Baguette offers regular coffee along with several coffee drinks and brunch beverages, and mine fit the room: comfortable, polished, and not trying too hard.
That was the larger impression of the whole place. The dining room felt relaxed, but still nice enough that breakfast felt like a small occasion. It was not stiff. It was not loud in the way some brunch rooms get. Service was friendly, the table had plenty to talk about, and the food looked good before anybody picked up a fork.
On the way out, I noticed the bar area more than I did when we walked in. It has a darker, cozier look than the breakfast room, the kind of space that makes you immediately file it away for a future cocktail instead of another cup of coffee. La Baguette is easy to think of as a breakfast, brunch, or bakery stop, but the bar made a pretty good argument for coming back later in the day.
For our Fourth of July weekend, it was exactly the kind of start I was hoping for: a little nicer than the default breakfast run, still easygoing, and good for a family table with seven different appetites.
I went in looking for somewhere new. I left thinking La Baguette Bistro is one of those OKC places that rewards a slower visit, especially if you give yourself time for breakfast, the bakery case, and maybe that bar on another night.
Details
- Address: 7408 North May Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73116
- Phone: (405) 840-3047
- Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
- Website: https://labaguettebistro.com/
