Basque Boulangerie Cafe
460 First St. East (on the Square), Sonoma, CA
Review date:  May 2010

Basque Cafe illustrates the weakness of the Internet. Although I regularly contribute to Zagat and OpenTable reviews, only Yelp offers more comprehensive coverage of smaller places that the aforementioned sites aren't interested in. But you are always at the mercy of whether the reviewers actually know what they're talking about - and in many cases, they really don't.

Basque has gotten some rave reviews for its baked goods and coffees. Since we missed going back to Bouchon Bakery before leaving Napa, we decided to drive into Sonoma Plaza  for coffee and a pastry to start the next morning - Sonoma Creek Inn where we're staying doesn't offer any coffee or breakfast in the morning.

This place isn't bad, but it isn't especially great, either. Maybe their breads are better, but Carlos tried the filled Florentine cookie and I tried a cherry-custard Danish. Both were toothachingly sweet, just like Midwestern pastries when I was growing up. The coffee wasn't bad, and the soy decaf double cappuccino I ordered was very good - also quite large - so if you need something to give you that caffeine jolt, Basque will certainly do. But save your pastry cravings for Bouchon in Yountville.