One of the biggest challenges facing LEGO Fans who have been collecting for any significant period of time is one of storage and display space. I am excited to see that with the latest LEGO ICONS subtheme, Restaurants of the World, we are getting a detailed facade and streetscape, chock full of neat parts usage, yet limited to a depth of only 8 studs. I can smell the coffee from here.
The first set in the series 10362 French Cafe is due for release on March 1st 2025. It has 1101 pieces and will be priced at $AUD129.99/ USD79.99/79.99€/£69.99
Read on for more…
Delight in the elegance of a French café with this LEGO® Icons building set for adults. Capture the essence of a classic bistro with a picturesque facade, ornate seating and double doors that open to reveal a glimpse of a cozy interior with regal wallpaper and dark-wood furnishings. Enjoy a mindful journey as you craft each detail of this captivating tribute to French culinary artistry and tradition.
I love the fine details, and the colour palette in use with this set – we saw plenty of Nougat elements revitalised in the Tudor Corner, but this new set brings us some great pale nougat elements, as well as some exquisite details.
We have been running short of shelf space here at Rambling Brick HQ for a few years, and as such this low profile model has a bit of appeal for the Knoller in Chief and myself.
I’m excited by this set for so many reasons. One is the shelf space, but also the elements in new and rare colours. I am delighted by the details included on the footpath- both the paving and the furnishings, to say nothing of the construction of the building itself.
Then there are the implications of the theme: restaurants from around the world – particularly as cultures emigrate, the cuisine travels with them, often in a way that is generally familiar from land to land. Will this be an theme updated on an annual basis? Or more frequently?
I notice that the narrow profile has been taking off this year, also appearing in Harry Potter, with Malfoy Manor also being fairly limited in its depth.
I’m excited to look at this set, and will bring my review to you as soon as I am able.
Whats your first impression of this new set? What would you like to specifically know about it?
I’ll be putting my review together over the next few weeks, and I’d love to help answer you questions.
10362 French Cafe is due for release on March 1st 2025 will be priced at $AUD129.99/ USD79.99/79.99€/£69.99.
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Until Next Time,
Play Well!
This news delights my Francophile heart!
I know of at least one of my friends who will want this, her name is on one of the pieces! As an AFOL I appreciate all the ‘themes’ that LEGO come up with & I have no doubt there will be many more to come, but, it is becoming more difficult to decide what to collect when parting with the ‘coin’ involved in choosing & then purchasing said items. My Good Lady Wife absolutely loves the Botanical themes, so we ‘must’ have all of them, (groan), fortunately she restricted her, ‘Brick Headz’ collection to Christmas & Harry Potter! The ‘theme’ of restaurants begs the question, what do they classify as a, ‘restaurant’. Are McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Hungry Jacks, classified as restaurants? Will we see a Chinese restaurant, Italian, will the definition of a British restaurant be a pub? This theme is going to be interesting to say the least. The size of them does present an issue, (for me), as I collect the modulars & try to include all sorts of other ‘buildings’ into the display & the occasional restaurant would look good. Interesting times ahead.
Would prefer it kept the same style as the other “of the world sets” such as houses of the world and shops. This just doesn’t fit any niche unless it is trying to create it own. But there already was a good template. So what would have been a buy to fit with the others I have will certainly now be a skip.