Remember your trip to Paris and that amazing patisserie that you loved? Well now you can recapture the memory without having to fly to France or put up with the French. Hereghty (pronounced harrah-tee) in Glenwood Village captures the sleek contemporary feel, charm, aromas, and of course the amazing tastes of a modern french patisserie. One trip and and you’ll harken back to a romantic stroll down the Champs-Elyses. OK, ok. I know its in a strip mall. A non-descript strip mall off Glenwood Avenue at that. However, I’m here to tell you that in a recent trip to Paris I could not find a better patisserie. It’s a bold statement, but absolutely true.
How did Raleigh get so lucky? Swiss brothers Brian and Chris Hereghty felt like Raleigh would be a great place to live and start a business. Chris is a french trained pastry chef and Brian is a former architect. Chris manages the baking and Brian runs the front of the house.
Hereghty serves excellent and well made coffees. You can pair your coffee with a quiche, scone, stuffed croissant, or a cinnamon roll. The hands down best is the cheese danish. It is so good it will make you want to smack your mama. Lunches feature daily soups and a variety of REALLY tasty paninis such as the prosciutto di parma. That case also includes their flourless chocolate chewies with walnuts, financiers (don’t make the mistake of calling them “mini muffins” as I might have done), croissants, and an assortment of cookies.
However, the real stars are the masterpieces in the dessert case. An inventory of the desserts evokes the same reaction out of women that perusing a fancy jewelry store does. It literally looks like a dazzling display at a modern art museum, but as good as they look, they taste even better. Chocolate lovers go nuts over the “Paris” with its layers of chocolate mousse and chocolate sponge cake. In the mood for something tropical? Try the Okinawa with mango, passion fruit, and chocolate mousse layers on a flourless coconut cake layer. You have to special order my personal favorite- the Frasier, but trust me its worth the effort. The fresh strawberry, pistachio cream cake is to die for.
Hereghty makes the perfect spot to end an evening and fills a major void since there are a real lack of places in town to go for just dessert. Wash down some seriously decadent desserts with a cappuccino or a night cap of Santa Julia dessert wine while live music filters through the air around you. Close your eyes and you just may find yourself drifting off to Paris.
Good review. The place is unbelievable. They make a mean wedding cake too!
Great atmosphere. They have some of the best coffee and the desserts are untouchable.
Great review! This place is fantastic. They have the best desserts! If you want to enjoy their wonderful desserts, due so Monday thru Saturday. They are closed on Sundays.
My wife and I first heard about this place from the owner of Saint-Jacques (ate there for the first time just last month). I’ve been dying to try it out but stupid me gave up sweets/desserts for Lent… what was I thinking?!
I was initially put-off by the atmosphere – a little too cold/impersonal and it’s in a shopping center. I think I was sad it isn’t more like Guggelhupf in Durham. But after just a few visits, everything else won me over, absolutely. The owners and employees couldn’t be nicer, the desserts are really amazing and they know how to make coffee. Delicious Panini and salads. I walk there from 5-points to justify the extreme caloric intake waiting at the destination.
I miss the old days before this place was undiscovered….when it was just me and my kids with the place all to ourselves. I knew it wouldn’t last!! This is also a great place to pick up something to take for a hostess gift for someone, or a potluck, etc. Every time I show up at anyone’s house with a bag of cookies, a cake or whatever from there everyone goes nuts. I am not one for those overly sweet, gummy chocolate desserts that they often have even at nicer restuarnats here, but these cakes are not like that. It is the quality chocolate flavor that comes through. Don’t get me wrong, they are very rich, just not cloyingly sweet. And I agree with the review…the best cheese danish EVER. I am glad to see this place written up here…does not seem to be getting a lot of press…mostly word of mouth…which has, apparently, worked!
They have hosted a number of small events I have attended and they have been on top of their game every time. I second your blessings and encourage your patronage!
Hereghty Heavenly Delicious is certainly a gem, when it comes to pastry shops. They serve fresh desserts, with no preservatives – to the best of my knowledge – and the service is excellent. I wish they would eventually open 1-2 more shops in Raleigh. Hopefully one on Fayetteville Street
As for the atmosphere, it is very similar to many European pastry shops. The best such place in North Carolina is Old Europe Cafe, in Asheville, but I am sure there are others I am not aware of. When it comes to Raleigh, though, Hereghty is THE place to go. I wish that the hours of operation would change. Frequently, I find myself craving a good pastry at 7pm, on a Sunday.
Thanks for the review.
FYI – I think HHD provides the pastries for Morning Times and know they provide them for V’s Teas and Treasures (the new tea shop at corner of Glenwood and Peace). So although there are not other HHD locations, there are other locations to get their pastries!
But do they have macaroons?
tsnow: I know you love a good macaroon.
I visited this place for the first time yesterday. All I can say is this place is definitely worthy of these comments listed above. I tried the cheese danish and chocolate croissant and they were awesome. I also got a dessert to go, the Berlin… WOW.
I second the positive thoughts in the above opinions – Hereghty’s delights brings me back to the fond memories of Europe, and the delectable pastries. Chris and Brian are absolutely wonderful – our wedding cake by them was one of the major stars of our wedding. We eagerly wait for them to open a new location closer to the Chapel Hill Durham area…
I went to visit this morning and waited over 25 minutes for a regular coffee. At times I was the ONLY customer waiting at the coffee counter and the staff did not acknowledged my presence or asked why I was waiting, even after making eye contact with the person who took my order on three different occasions.
Not a friendly experience, and the coffee was about as good as the new McDonald’s premium blend. The two croissants, almond and the ham and swiss were bland and uninspired. Raleigh’s bakeries have a long way to go before it can compete with places like Chicago’s Swedish Bakery or the Medici in Hyde Park. We need to set our standard higher.
^David: It sounds to me like you had a fluke of a bad experience that’s the exception not the norm. (We’ve all had one at one place or another.) Give them another chance if you can.
Last time I was there, it was after supper at the Glenwood Grill for some desserts to go. We were promptly waited on. The pastries we got were outstanding, and a good price for how rich & tasty they were. I’m glad I found this place.
This place has permanently closed, and it's a good thing! Very dry, overpriced pasty, yuck! It looks great in the case but dry and tasteless once you try it. Plus, at $6-$8 for one pastry, was too expensive. Glad it has closed down. I heard the owner couldn't pay his taxes or something.
This place has permanently closed, and it's a good thing! Very dry, overpriced pasty, yuck! It looks great in the case but dry and tasteless once you try it. Plus, at $6-$8 for one pastry, was too expensive. Glad it has closed down. I heard the owner couldn't pay his taxes or something.