Went back and this time in the late morning. So glad I did! Had cookie butter latte from their…read morewinter series and also NOVA from non breakfasts item. Both were soo good. Not overly crowded but good amount of ppl. Service was friendly, ambiance is giving the cool cafe vibes. Plenty outdoor seatings available up front and on the sides by entrance. I know I'll be coming back to enjoy outdoor with pup. Also, dog treats available by the counter.

A small shop tucked on a side street off Wilson Blvd. My friend and I were walking in the area (we…read morehad first stopped at Eclairons down the street and parked there) and made our way over to Simona. The cafe itself is pretty small with only a few indoor tables but more outdoor seating available. My friend said they make their own focaccia bread and we each decided to get a Fancy Grilled Cheese. The bread was indeed amazing and flavorful. What made the grilled cheese unique was that they added a tomato-based jam/salsa of some kind that really added a nice fresh acidity to balance out the cheese. I believe they used two kinds of cheese, including brie which is my fav. The cheese was creamy and melty. The food came out pretty quickly and the staff was friendly. Definitely a nice stop if you're walking around the area although there was no shortage of food options!

Went on a coffee date. Quick service. Delicious latte. No complaints. Great experience…read more I'd love to come back in the AM and try a dessert.

Prior to opening, years ago, they were promoting themselves on the street. My friend and i…read moreapproached so excited that a bar was opening on this side of town The owner literally laughed in our face and told us that in Italy everything is a bar. And that was the first of many rude experiences we had. Months later we decided to check it out but we literally were told to not come inside because they were taking photos. Not asked. Told. We tried again. Stood inside and were completely ignored. It wasn't busy. I'm not sure who they cater to but, it's not me. I'd never try to go here or to their restaurant next door. Absolutely rude.

Cute, minimalistic, and cozy cafe! It's at the Bethesda metro station, two escalator trips right…read moreabove the station underground. The lattes here are sweeter than savory but delicious, topped with thick whipped cream... I think it is homemade whipped cream, but whatever they do, they definitely aced it very well. - Habibi latte: very scrumptious! It is a must-get, although it's a seasonal drink, so it may not always be available...alas! Pretty sweet and almost like eating some Dubai chocolate as you drink it... worth the adventure! - The Bear Necessities: I was very impressed with this latte. I had low expectations, as most cafes can't perfect the dark art of latte for every latte drink on the menu, especially the seasonal drinks... But girl, I was proven wrong and I enjoyed this drink so much! It came with thick whipped cream topped with one graham cracker bear and crumbled graham crackers... The flavors were cinnamon and honey and reminded me of cinnamon crunch cereal in some ways, but of course, it wasn't too sweet though! I was tempted to order another one... The sandwiches (1 roast beef and 1 grilled turkey) were just average if you ask me to compare these with other sandwich specialty shops... next time, I'd try something else! Overall, no complaints as I'm impressed with the coffee options, especially the seasonal drinks! Service was good and quick. The employee behind the counter was super friendly and very accommodating to ensure she got our orders right. Plenty of seating on a Saturday late morning which was surprising. Lots of seating at the outdoor patio as well! Very spacious.

5 stars for coffee, 4 stars for food. This cafe is conveniently located at the Bethesda metro…read morestation, on ground level right above the metro gates. Great for a post-(long) run meal before I hop on the metro back to DC! The lattes are on the sweet side but delicious, thick, creamy, and very innovative--worth it. The food? Not so much, but still decent. I tried the following: - Habibi latte (hot with oat milk) - delicious!! Definitely a must-get. It was quite sweet but really reminded me of Dubai chocolate. Really amazing how they nailed down the flavors. Perfect for chocolate lovers and very unique and innovative. Presentation was also excellent, with a generous amount of whipped cream. - The bear necessities - equally delicious latte and really cute presentation too, with a graham bear cracker on top! I'm not a big fan of cinnamon-flavored drinks, but this one was more subtle. It was so thick and richly flavored that the cinnamon wasn't overpowering for me. I was very impressed. - Roast beef sandwich - meh okay. It was supposed to come with ciabatta bread (which I think would've tasted way better), but apparently, there was none that day, so I got it with sourdough bread. - Turkey sandwich - I got it served hot with sourdough bread, and my partner and I enjoyed this one more than the roast beef sandwich. The roasted red peppers were a nice addition to the sandwich. The accompanying salad with the sandwiches was fine, nothing special. Service was good and quick. Plenty of seating on a Saturday late morning, and the outdoor patio was cute and spacious.

We had their warm oatmeal and shakshuka. You order at the register and they bring the menu items to…read moreyour table. It was REALLY busy on a Saturday afternoon--we were lucky to snag a table while the kids were at a birthday party next door. The food was ok--I've had other menu items there that I like better. Wishing I had snagged dessert and coffee instead!

This is a new brunch, bakery in Westbard Bethesda, it's where the old Giant used to be…read more The Ambiance is quite relaxing, it's bright, spacious and inviting. Lots of seating inside and some outside for when the weather gets nice. The pastries look so delicious and appealing. I got the GF Passionfruit Krembo pastry for $7.50, it is made with coconut base and the top was a passion fruit mousse. Quite delicious. I also got the Matcha latte $5.00 hot drink. The bathrooms are clean, which is expected since it's a new place. There's a large selection of GF items and big selection of drinks too. I will definitely come back to try their salads and to have a nice fresh brewed coffee. The young lady who took my order was pretty friendly and explained the ingredients and patiently answered my questions.

Such a great place to sit and relax with a nice cup of tomato basil soup with a grilled cheese…read moresandwich! Service was nice and quick. They give you a number if you're dining in and bring your food and drinks to you. Love having a view of the Cathedral!

This spot is ADORABLE! I have never seen anything like it and regards to ambiance it's def 5…read morestars. My latte was underwhelming as was the biscuit and ham. Jam was watery, and biscuit lacked something. I'm hoping that if i go back, I'd have a better experience with food and beverage. My friends liked their food and some liked their drinks. Their was some miscommunication about orders (staying versus to go, on a biscuit not on a bagel, and needing a knife for when jam was on the side), but other than that, we enjoyed sitting on the patio and the spot seemed popular!

I religiously patronize the Spring Valley Compass Coffee every morning. I mean EVERY morning!…read more...and it's by far NOT the closest coffee shop from my home! Of course, I've tried the 4 others that are closer and on the way. But the atmosphere at others? lacking. My 4-shot-extra-dry-almond-milk-macchiato? Meh.. at the other places. But I think it's the people and community that really tip the scales. As soon as the Com-Coff door is ajar, Morgan (one of Compass Coffee's finest) or any of the other baristas greet me by name. Other regular customers I meet there have identical sentiments. The staff is efficient, quick and work with grace; and sometimes with a bit of wit ... even despite recent the occasion(s) when there less a barista or two. :)

For those unfamiliar, Compass Coffee is like the local version of Starbucks. Out of all the local…read morecoffee shops, it's home to the most locations across the D.C. area. Started by two veterans, Compass has weathered some bumpy roads over the last few years with leadership, splits, and unions. That said, this location is quite large. Ironically, it's close to a Starbucks in Spring Valley in Northwest D.C. Walk inside and order a pastry or one of their many coffees. Their almond butter latte is among my favorites. The actual space is large with plenty of seats from tables, booth seating, to high top tables. There are plenty of outlets and strong free WiFi. Restrooms are in the very back.

I had heard good things about this place from a coworker and decided to come here for a quick lunch…read morebefore work. In all honesty I was a little bit skeptical because my limited experiences with healthy food spots have usually been not so great because either the prices are too expensive or the food ends up tasting like cardboard. I'm very happy to say this wasn't the case here. This is more of a grab and go type of place but they have one or two spots to sit at if you need a minute to chill and the decor is very clean and bright. Everyone was super nice and answered any questions I had so you can tell they are very knowledgeable about the menu. I also liked that there were quite a few different gluten free, dairy free, and vegan options to choose from. I originally wanted to try a bunch of different things but I didn't have that kind of time so I ordered an iced decaf s'mores latte as my drink and chose the Dilly Dilly chicken salad for my food item. I absolutely loved my latte! It wasn't overly sweet and you can actually taste the coffee which you don't really find at a lot of coffee places anymore. It was topped with whipped cream and had a graham cracker and chocolate crumble sprinkled on top which really complimented the flavor of the coffee perfectly. Apart from one latte that I had on a trip to Philadelphia I would say that it's the best iced latte I have ever had. I will have to try it hot next time. The chicken salad surprised me in a good way. Normally when you order chicken salad it's practically drowning in mayo and dressing but thankfully that wasn't the case here. While it was well dressed and you can taste it in every bite it wasn't drowning and it didn't overwhelm the natural taste of the chicken which was a refreshing change. The dill flavor was definitely present but it wasn't overwhelming and it was very fresh. My whole order came out to under $20.00 which is affordable compared to other similar places in the area. It's located in the downtown Bethesda area around the corner from Bethesda Row which is within walking distance from the Bethesda Metro Station so it's very easy to get to with public transportation. There are also a couple of parking garages close by although I personally don't drive so I'm not exactly sure about the rates that the garages charge. This is definitely going to be my new normal lunch spot and I can't wait to try the other things on the menu!

Delicious and nutritious food and coffee. Staff were very welcoming. The store is very cozy and…read moreclean. Food is displayed with informative labels. I got a flat white which came out piping out. I had a stegadoodle protein cookie which was soft and the perfect balance of not being overly sweet. Looking forward to coming back and grabbing some quick nutritious bites!

Wow...where do I even start? Whether you're looking for a cozy café with great coffee / pastries,…read morean intimate restaurant serving some of the best New American cooking, or just a place that has some of the friendliest, most inviting staff to ever grace the DC restaurant scene, Elle has you covered. They operate a cute little coffee counter in the day, which includes some of their amazing scones, croissants, and other goodies, as well as outstanding espresso drinks. There isn't a ton of seating in the café section so it ends up being quite crowded, but if you're lucky enough to snag a seat, it's super cozy and the perfect place to read or just hang out. The café area is confined to two mini counters in a small corner next to the front window, so it always gets plenty of natural light and is a great place to people watch. I dropped by on a Sunday morning to grab an americano and their maple pecan scone; the americano was phenomenal, and the scone was such a delightful ode to autumn flavors. It was quite large, super buttery and rich, and packed with maple and pecan flavor without being overly sweet. Come back in the evening and you'll stroll into what feels like a completely different restaurant. The coffee bar is transformed into a standard bar, and the ambient lighting, dark wooden furniture, and brick walls make the space feel incredibly cozy and intimate. Their dinner menu is quite pricey, but it's genuinely worth every penny. My friend promised that Elle had the "best vegetable he's ever tasted," and they absolutely delivered -- the roasted broccoli with sardines and parmesan was delightful. It was super simple, but I appreciated how well it let the natural flavor of each ingredient shine, and each component had plenty of its own flavor, with the parmesan and sardines offering a hit of salt, umami, and sight funkiness. We also got the grilled cucumber which, at first glance, seemed like such an odd menu item. After giving it a try, however, I'm now questioning why we don't always grill our cucumbers -- the cucumber was beautifully charred on the outside, and heat helped to bring out some of the vegetable's natural sweetness to counterbalance the smokiness from the grill. It was served on top of a bed of savory, tangy yogurt and with chopped hazelnuts, which offered a great crunch. I was most impressed by the skate; this fish is a rare find in DC, but they prepared with perfectly. It was super tender, which contrasted beautifully against the crispy, crunchy fried outer shell. The skate was topped with crispy onions and a savory, slightly spicy sauce, as well as swimming in a rich, incredibly umami broth. The skate may have been the single best thing I put in my mouth all year -- I'm going to be devastated when it falls out of season and rotates of the menu, but I'm also super excited to come back and sample Elle's next season of items.

Elle is a great spot for breakfast, especially if you are looking for somewhere comfortable to…read morespend a bit of time. The space is open and inviting, and they are very accommodating if you plan to sit and work for a while. The food and drinks really deliver. Their matcha was delightful, and the egg sandwich is an absolute must. It comes on a house-made potato roll that makes the whole thing feel extra comforting. I would highly recommend adding brisket. It takes the sandwich to another level. Service was friendly and attentive throughout. Even though it is a bit out of the way from downtown DC, I would definitely make the trip back.

After reading the reviews I was so scared that I had precooked their afternoon tea, but wow, what a…read moretreat! The table scape was beautiful, sandwiches were delicious, and just a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon! You don't necessarily have a dedicated server which is nice since you can ask anyone for refills. We went for Cherry Blossom tea and it was perfectly seasonal! We will be back in the fall for sure for that themed tea! Definitely one of the best and most beautiful (but not fancy) teas I've done! Do note, you DO need to purchase admission to Hillwood for entry. Luckily one of us is a member, but this should be better laid out when booking!

Really good lunch the other day in this busy, busy museum cafe. We had a reservation (a good idea!)…read moreand got right in - even though we were 30mins early. We shared a Waldorf chicken salad sandwich. The curry was great; the croissant buttery and good. It was fairly small, so we were happy not to over-eat. I got a hot apple cider and my friend the hot chocolate. Both were flavorful. A nice lunch, even though our server was really rushed off her feet (she seemed pretty new). We'll be back!