Across France, bakeries are turning leftover loaves into acts of kindness. At the end of each day, unsold baguettes, croissants, and pastries are placed in public bread boxes free for anyone to take, no questions asked.
These simple wooden or glass boxes, kept clean and weather-protected, help fight both food waste and hunger. Locals take only what they need, and some even leave small gifts or notes in return. The practice runs on trust and it works beautifully.
It’s part of France’s wider anti-waste movement, which also bans supermarkets from throwing away unsold food. For bakers, it’s a way to give back; for communities, it’s a daily reminder that sharing sustains more than just bodies it nourishes dignity, compassion, and connection.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Talethia Brooks (The Queen)
Great pastry
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Greg Anliker
Donuts and muffins are top notch. Got the cinnamon bread last week and will definitely get again. Putting it in the toaster made it even better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Parker Ongena
The food is amazing! She got our order wrong, but she gave us a free cookie!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cookies
Sharon Drmolka
Wonderful old fashioned bakery. I went later in the day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Leslie Hopp
One of my favorite places to visit when in sycamore. They have a wide variety of baked goods including donuts, cookies, cupcakes, pies, cakes and more. Their cinnamon bread loaves are to die for too! Get there early if you want the best selection of donuts. They also offer day old sales and have coffee and other drinks too
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ashley Sewall
Love the donuts, but hours online say they are open until 5:30. I just went and the doors were locked and it was 4:55pm. Can you please update your hours to reflect the lock up time so that people are not confused and/or upset when hours say differently.
Jim Morton
Ok, this is the quintessential american bakery, untouched since 1963 feel. I love it. Great staff, good donuts and the cinnamon bread, I visit dubuque ia every few months and am told never to forget the bread. I usually have to pick up 6 loaves. Delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Natalie Gottlieb
No photos because donuts were devoured. So darn good!!!!!! Wow. Also price super affordable. Not sure if I can go anywhere else now. Thank u!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut
G T
We were told this was a great bakery and had to go here. Total dissapointment ! This place is way over rated. Old and outdated inside and pasteries and doughnuts average at best. FYI, no bathroom either. Best thing here was the coffee.
Great bakery. The cinnamon roll bread is amazing and the ladies are hilarious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cinnamon Roll Bread
Donna Letzter
Yum!!!! That's all you need to know. I recommend the eclairs
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Woodfin Billingsly
I love this bakery. The employees are always so nice, and the pastries and donuts are delicious. They never have apple fritters left when I get there and I'm so bummed because they are SO GOOD. SO GOOD. They're a favorite.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
MiXd DiPz
Love the cinnamon bread and Boston creme doughnut!
This is a great idea.
Across France, bakeries are turning leftover loaves into acts of kindness. At the end of each day, unsold baguettes, croissants, and pastries are placed in public bread boxes free for anyone to take, no questions asked.
These simple wooden or glass boxes, kept clean and weather-protected, help fight both food waste and hunger. Locals take only what they need, and some even leave small gifts or notes in return. The practice runs on trust and it works beautifully.
It’s part of France’s wider anti-waste movement, which also bans supermarkets from throwing away unsold food. For bakers, it’s a way to give back; for communities, it’s a daily reminder that sharing sustains more than just bodies it nourishes dignity, compassion, and connection.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great pastry
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Donuts and muffins are top notch. Got the cinnamon bread last week and will definitely get again. Putting it in the toaster made it even better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is amazing! She got our order wrong, but she gave us a free cookie!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cookies
Wonderful old fashioned bakery. I went later in the day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
One of my favorite places to visit when in sycamore. They have a wide variety of baked goods including donuts, cookies, cupcakes, pies, cakes and more. Their cinnamon bread loaves are to die for too! Get there early if you want the best selection of donuts. They also offer day old sales and have coffee and other drinks too
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love the donuts, but hours online say they are open until 5:30. I just went and the doors were locked and it was 4:55pm. Can you please update your hours to reflect the lock up time so that people are not confused and/or upset when hours say differently.
Ok, this is the quintessential american bakery, untouched since 1963 feel. I love it. Great staff, good donuts and the cinnamon bread, I visit dubuque ia every few months and am told never to forget the bread. I usually have to pick up 6 loaves. Delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
No photos because donuts were devoured. So darn good!!!!!! Wow. Also price super affordable. Not sure if I can go anywhere else now. Thank u!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut
We were told this was a great bakery and had to go here. Total dissapointment ! This place is way over rated. Old and outdated inside and pasteries and doughnuts average at best. FYI, no bathroom either. Best thing here was the coffee.
Restaurantji Recommends
Best chocolate long johns.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great bakery. The cinnamon roll bread is amazing and the ladies are hilarious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cinnamon Roll Bread
Yum!!!! That's all you need to know. I recommend the eclairs
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love this bakery. The employees are always so nice, and the pastries and donuts are delicious. They never have apple fritters left when I get there and I'm so bummed because they are SO GOOD. SO GOOD.
They're a favorite.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love the cinnamon bread and Boston creme doughnut!
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