Rhode Islanders looking for a taste of Europe don’t have to travel far.
Madrid European Bakery and Patisserie in Providence offers a host of traditional European confections by Madrid native, baker and co-owner Sergio Mendoza.
Mendoza and his wife, Hercilia Corona, opened the Wayland Square cafe in September. The couple, who previously owned a bakery by the same name in Massachusetts, fell in love with the open-air retail space and signed a lease prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
Starting a new business as the virus raged posed challenges but since the opening, Corona reported only positive experiences from a rapidly growing set of regular customers.
The experience and the food are intended to recreate the European experience: the former boasts large storefront windows leading out to the sidewalk, and an atmosphere in which regular customers become close friends. And the menu, although varied based on the season and culinary inspirations of Mendoza, incorporates local, all-natural ingredients into authentic recipes for Spanish almond flour cakes and Viennese croissants just the way Mendoza’s family made them in their own Spanish bakery.
Pastries cost around $4 each, with larger quantities and cakes available for preorder.
Nancy Lavin is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Lavin@PBN.com.