Cocotte | Huntersville

Description: A family-owned French bakery and café specializing in artisan breads, buttery croissants, macarons, éclairs, and other traditional French pastries made with imported French flour. The menu also features baguette sandwiches, quiches, charcuterie, specialty espresso drinks, and French teas. The Parisian bistro-inspired interior offers a warm neighborhood café atmosphere with a dedicated children's corner, combining traditional French baking with a family-friendly gathering space.

Comments: Airy, in the sense that the ceiling is very high which makes you feel like the place has a lot of space, but it's actually kind of small seating wise. And yet, it doesn't feel cramped at all, so it's cool how they did that, making a small space feel bigger. There's outdoor seating as well which adds to the seating options. Overall, the aesthetic is very French countryside, a mix of elegance and earthiness in both the colors and the decorations. Respectably understated, is what I'd call it.

Most of the seating is 4-top tables in the center of the layout, but there's some booth style seating running along a wall, with good access to outlets, that serve as solid spots for feeling more snug. I've already seen the remote work crowd hangout here on weekdays, myself among them, while weekends are dominated by families and friends enjoying the space. There's a small kids play area in a corner with some children's books.

Parking is in a lot behind the building, but there's also a free parking garage from the city right next to it. It's not obvious from the road, but there's a small road leading to it past the business headed towards the light. Oh, and they have cinnamon rolls, pricey but plenty large and good for a French bakery. Cinnamon rolls aren't a traditional French pastry, so the fact that they have them, and that they're good, is a testament to the quality of this business. And the food, Croque Monsieur sandwich is 10/10.