Fodor's Expert Review Maurice

Described by baker-owner Kristen Murray as a "modern pastry luncheonette," this dainty West End café with just a handful of wooden booth and counter seats and a minimalist-inspired white-on-white aesthetic serves exquisite French–Scandinavian pastries, cakes, and sandwiches, as well as a full gamut of drinks, including wine, beer, cocktails, teas, and coffee. There's always an interesting lefse (Norwegian flatbread) of the day, along with a delicious polenta clafouti with confit of chicken heart. Memorable sweets include lemon-soufflé pudding cake, chocolate fondant tarte with salted-butter ice cream, and a revelatory black-pepper cheesecake. Maurice closes at 7 pm, so it's better suited for late lunch than early dinner.