French Desserts in Richmond — Tarts, Éclairs & Crêpes at Vogue Cafe

You want a proper French dessert without leaving Richmond. Vogue Cafe in Steveston Village makes its tarts and éclairs in-house, serves sweet crêpes to order, and keeps the espresso bar running until 8:30 pm. The dining room is deep-red walls and wood tables; the covered side patio has red-checkered cloths and a dog bowl by the door. Fully licensed, so you can finish with a Kir Royale or a Cognac highball if coffee isn't the mood.

What the pastry case holds

The dessert board lists five items at $10 each, all made on site. You'll see them displayed whole in the counter photos — tart shells glossy, choux pastry puffed, chocolate glaze set.

Caramel Chocolate Tart — dark ganache in a sweet shortcrust, finished with house-made caramel. The salt in the caramel cuts the richness so the last bite doesn't cloy.

Strawberry Tart — vanilla pastry cream, glazed berries, a chocolate "VOGUE CAFE" plaque on top. Light enough to follow a bourguignon.

Lemon Tart — sharp curd, crisp shell, no meringue. Classic bistro style: acid forward, butter backbone.

Éclair au Chocolat — pâte à choux piped long, filled with chocolate pastry cream, glazed dark. The shell should shatter, not sag.

Coffee Éclair — same choux, coffee pastry cream, coffee glaze. Pair with an espresso ($4) or a cappuccino ($6) and you've got a textbook goûter.

Sweet crêpes — thin, buttery, made to order

Six options at $14. The batter is wheat flour, butter, milk, eggs — no buckwheat here, so they stay tender and lace-edged rather than crisp like a galette.

• Nutella & Banana
• Chocolate Strawberry
• Sugar & Lemon — the simplest test of a crêpe: butter, granulated sugar, a squeeze of lemon
• Apple & House-made Caramel
• Sugar, Butter & Cinnamon
• Suzette — orange sauce, Grand Marnier, flamed tableside when the pan's hot. The alcohol burns off; the orange oil and cognac notes stay.

Crêpes come folded in quarters on a plate. One is a dessert; two is a statement.

How to pair them

Coffee first. Espresso $4, Americano $5, Latte or Cappuccino $6. Decaf available. The tarts and éclairs are sized to sit beside a demitasse, not drown in a 16 oz to-go cup.

After-dinner drinks. The cocktail list runs $13. A Kir Royale (crème de cassis, sparkling white wine) or a Paris Spritz (Grand Marnier) bridges dessert and digestif. Cognac Highball — St-Rémy, soda, orange twist — is low-proof, long, and dry enough to follow lemon tart.

Late-night licence. The liquor licence runs to midnight. Private bookings after 8:30 pm can be arranged by calling (604) 370-4444. If you're walking the boardwalk after sunset and want a quiet corner with a tart and a glass of La Vieille Ferme rosé ($11 / 6 oz), this is the room.

Where to sit

Dining room: deep-red walls, small bar, printed menu in the window. Covered side patio: greenery walls, red-checkered tablecloths, dog bowl by the door. Outdoor bar-height tables at the front windows catch the village foot traffic. Parking in the building's own lot.

What people ask

Are the desserts gluten-free or vegan?

No gluten-free or vegan claims on the menu. Call (604) 370-4444 and ask — the kitchen knows what's in each tart and éclair.

Can I get just a dessert and coffee without a reservation?

Yes. Walk-ins welcome any time 10:30 am–8:30 pm. The pastry case is stocked through service.

Do you sell whole tarts or boxes of éclairs?

Not listed on the menu. Call and ask; the team can tell you what's possible with notice.

Is the patio heated?

The covered side patio has greenery walls and cloths; no heaters are mentioned in the venue facts. The front bar-height tables are open to the air.

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Walk in at 12251 No 1 Rd #130, Steveston Village, or reserve online. Phone (604) 370-4444 confirms within two hours.