Flaky pastry layers, a chocolate-studded cookie, and a cup of coffee worth taking your time over. Maman plans to bring its French-inspired café and bakery to Southlake at 1161 E. Southlake Boulevard, adding a sweet new destination to the city’s dining scene.
The appeal goes beyond grabbing something on the way out. This is a concept built around the pleasures of a café visit: choosing a pastry, meeting a friend, and finding an excuse to linger over another sip. For Southlake, the planned arrival offers a little everyday indulgence with a story rooted in family kitchens.
Maman Makes the Cookie Part of the Story
Start with Maman’s nutty chocolate chip cookie. It helped turn a small New York bakery into a name that dessert lovers sought out, earning a place on Oprah’s Favorite Things list in 2017. With chocolate, a nutty crunch, and a soft center, it gives a familiar treat plenty of personality.
In a feature sharing the cookie’s recipe, the founders described how it became an unexpected breakout hit. Its combination of crisp edges and a gooey middle makes the draw easy to understand.
A cookie like that can be the whole reason for a visit. However, the bakery case invites a second look, too. Layered pastries bring a different kind of pleasure: delicate flakes, golden edges, and fillings that turn a coffee break into something worth remembering.
Coffee, Pastries, and Something Savory
Maman’s current offerings span coffee, tea, pastries, sandwiches, salads, and wraps. That range gives the café room to serve different cravings, whether the occasion calls for a sweet snack or a savory lunch.
For a sense of its creative approach, the existing fall menu features a Martha Stewart collaboration. Examples include a caramel cheesecake sugar bun and tomato soup paired with a three-cheese grilled cheese. These seasonal dishes illustrate the style of cooking; they are not a preview of Southlake’s opening menu.
The collaboration menu describes the sugar bun as a croissant bun with cream cheese mousseline and salted caramel. Meanwhile, the grilled cheese combines cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyère. Those details show how familiar comfort food can become a reason to plan a café date.
Two Family Kitchens Inspired Maman
Founders Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte opened their first café in New York’s SoHo neighborhood in October 2014. According to their story, childhood memories from southern France and North America shaped the idea. The name means “mother” in French, honoring the people and kitchens behind that inspiration.
That beginning gives the concept warmth beyond its pretty pastries. The founders wanted Maman to feel like home, and the café grew from that small starting point.
Today, Maman’s existing locations often feature rustic tables, floral touches, and blue-and-white china. Each setting has its own character. Southlake’s final interior details remain to be announced, but the wider café identity offers a sense of the atmosphere that has drawn customers elsewhere.
A New Café to Watch in Southlake
The planned Maman location will occupy approximately 2,517 square feet. Local reporting on the project places the estimated construction start in October 2026, with completion targeted for January 2027.
The state filing identifies the address as 1161 E. Southlake Boulevard and lists an estimated $400,000 finish-out. These are project estimates, not an announced opening date.
As Maman shares its local menu and opening plans, Southlake diners will have more details to savor. For now, the prospect of coffee, pastries, and a café rooted in family traditions gives the neighborhood something delicious to look forward to.