They Named the Cafe 'A Little Happiness.' Closes at 2:30.

The name is Au P'tit Bonheur. It means "a little happiness." It is at 312 12th St. W. in downtown Bradenton. Owners Fanette Maquet and her husband Maq opened after a three-month reno, and the cafe is already approved for outdoor seating. I do not need a second pitch.

Fanette is from Brittany. Maq is from Guadeloupe and spent 21 years in the French army's marine troops. They came via French Guiana, tried Miami for about a month with five kids, then landed here. They nearly opened as a Merci Cafe franchisee and chose independent instead. Family recipes. Not a corporate butter rollout.

Order the happiness, then the crumbs

Per the Bradenton Herald write-up (via Yahoo), the counter runs French classics: Croque Monsieur, Quiche Lorraine, Sandwich Parisien, croissants. Pastry case: almond croissants, pain au chocolat, crepes, madeleines, macarons from French company Franck Deville. Pastries mostly $4 to $7. Mains $9 to $16, each with a house salad.

Drinks cover house coffee, espresso, cappuccino and lattes. Specials include the Breton Latte — espresso, milk, caramel and cookie syrups, caramel sauce, shortbread crumbs on top — and the Antillas Latte with banana and coconut syrups, chocolate drizzle and coconut flakes. One is Brittany. One is the islands. Both are on 12th Street. I respect the range.

The clock is not joking

Hours are daily, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.. That is not brunch forever. That is a deadline with butter. Their Facebook page is live if you want the day's specials before you park.

I am not saying you have to rearrange your morning for a croque and a crumb-dusted latte. I am saying if a place literally named a little happiness closes at 2:30, showing up at 2:45 is a personality choice. If you miss the window, Happy Manatee on Anna Maria keeps the juice flowing until 4 — different vibe, same commitment to a ridiculous name.

— Marina