It’s only been a little over a year since Arsicault Bakery opened at 397 Arguello. But if you’ve stopped in for owner Armando Lacayo’s amazing French pastries, you won’t be surprised to learn that Arsicault was named Bakery of the Year by Bon Apetit magazine.
That’s not for San Francisco, that’s for the NATION. As in the entire United States. Way to go, Arsicault! Here’s what Bon Apetit had to say about Arsicault:
- What does it take to stand out in a city of sourdough savants? One, and only one, thing: a croissant that’s simultaneously so preposterously flaky it leaves you covered in crumbs, so impossibly tender and buttery on the inside that it tastes like brioche, and so deeply golden that the underside is nearly caramelized.
It’s already tough to get a hold of one of Arsicault’s amazing croissants because they sell out so fast every morning. Lacayo describes them as “a croissant you can listen to” due to their crunch and flakiness.
This is quite an honor for Lacayo, who is a first-time bakery owner. But anyone who has gotten to know him has seen how much time, passion and hours he puts into his craft. And you can taste it with every bite.
The bakery recently added a new item: Raisin Kouign. It’s a traditional French raisin roll (Pain aux raisins) that they bake like a kouign amann in order to get a nice caramelization. Delicious.
Congratulations to the whole Arsicault team! I hope they’re ready for the onslaught of pastry aficionados headed their way… 🙂
Sarah B.
Arsicault staff when they opened in April 2015. L to R: Lisa, employee #1, owner Armando Lacayo, Lacayo’s nephew Raphi
The Raisin Kouign at Arsicault Bakery
Wow, how exciting!
Congrats!
I may be gluten and dairy sensitive but I will have one of those croissants!
Congrats to Arsicault Bakery! We LOVE their almond croissants and their kouign amann is delicious.
This place has been our secret neighborhood gem. Every time I bite into the ham and cheese croissant my eyes roll in back of my head in ecstasy. The almond is equally scrumptious. So happy for Arsicault’s but a little sad our secret has been found. Line is down the steet now.
Oh god, I can feel my waistline expanding just looking at the pics…..
There was a line of about 40 people outside the bakery this morning around 9:30!!
Also one of our “secret stores”, but no longer. I think they deserve the accolades, but no way are we going to stand in the kind of line they had today. I went by at 915pam today out of curiosity, and counted 80 people. Nope nope nope. Bye bye Arsicault, we’re going to miss you :'(
We love you Ariscault. We really do. Thanks for keeping it fresh.
‘Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded’
Years back, we would gather in a small storefront in the Richmond. Blissful Bites had a fridge case filled with cupcakes and yellow walls with cartoon paintings. We punctuated our rides with red velvet and carrot. We ate their cakes in the park on sunny Sunday’s. We domestiqued them up Hawk for birthdays.
One day a sign posted they were closing. End of the run. They were tired. On to greener pastures. We were crestfallen.
We rode by for months. Felt like years. Brown paper on the windows, until one day we say activity. A bustle. A new shop, Ariscault.
Armando Lacayo’s pastries are delicious, no doubt. He works laminated dough like no one else in town. But the real key is his warm, generous, humble personality. He has welcomed us with flour dusted open arms, often greeting us on the street. Or pulling us in the back to talk about a new method for baking his prized kouign-amann, delight and childish joy in his eyes.
His lines have gotten longer this week, rightly so, but we will still ride up. Hoping our spots at the tables accommodate the friends, old and new, sharing stories and the warmth of company.
Here’s to you Armando! <3 Fat Cake Club – https://www.instagram.com/fatcakeclub/
the Bon Apetit article ruined it for us local regulars who go almost daily. Sorry, armando, but i cant wait 45 minutes for a croissant.
I would say this was never a “hidden gem” because it was always popular, but its now ridiculous lines
This morning at 6:30 AM – line half way down the block.
I wish there was a way to have a ‘neighbors’ line and an ‘everyone else line’!
Rachel seems a little elitist of you to want a neighbors line. I didn’t know that kind of people lived in the Richmond. Disappointing.
Jan – I was kidding!
i would like a neighbor’s line. im richmond elitist, which means elitists from other neighborhoods laugh at me. let me keep my simple title. dammit, i want to be served 1st at georgios
@Jimbo – How was it not a hidden gem? I was there the FIRST morning they opened and over once a week since then. Let me tell you, know one knew about it then, it was not popular yet. The question is more, how long was it a hidden gem before it was discovered? Not long. You come in here with quite an attitude and entitlement. What makes you so deserving over their baked goods over anyone else in the city? Sorry if your local bakery got blown up (mine too), but don’t act like you deserve premium service. We are all equals pal, we are all in this together.