Barking Mad Cafe
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The food here is always deliciously fresh and and done with care, I have never had a bad meal here. The atmosphere can be very noisy but it is manageable, they do play a weird mix of music sometimes so be prepared: D The service however can often be inattentive and food timing can be inconsistent. All in all a good brunch experience in the Germantown/Gaithersburg area!
Barking Mad is a great place to stop by for coffee or a nice lunch. There's plenty of seating, both inside and out. Parking is easy, too. In the morning you can grab coffee from the cafe section and find a seat. Or, you can wait until 11 for lunch. I've visited with a large group (8 people) a few times, both in the morning and afternoon. Service in the afternoon is always great. They have fantastic drink options (and alcohol, if you like), and great food options, too. There are enough vegetarian options to keep me happy. The veggie tacos are among my favorites. Oh, if you dine in and choose the large option for coffee beverage, you will not be disappointed by the size!
Very solid place! Stopped in while waiting for my mom to be done with a nearby appointment and was not disappointed. There is counter service and the food and drink came out quickly. The interior has plenty of seating and was very cozy with lots of natural light. The breakfast bowl I had was delicious and the latte was good! I felt the price point was a bit expensive but not enough to discourage me from returning.
Ordered delivery a couple times recently and it always hits the spot! Solid burgers, pizzas and salads. Not pictured the bang bang shrimp--great flavors.
For starters, we were able to find parking right outside of the place on a Saturday! It looked pretty packed when we entered, but had reservations and was seated right away. Now - the place is cute from the inside but this is one the places where maybe more was invested in aesthetics than food. Our drinks - the cappuccino and freshly squeezed orange juice were the best things of this meal. We ordered the crab cake Benedict and chicken and waffles. It seemed like almost everything must have been premade/prepackaged/frozen. Chicken and waffles were dry. Also if you have crab cakes on your menu in MARYLAND - there is an expectation set. These definitely came out a box. In all, I probably wouldn't come here again unless I need a coffee. Recommend you looking elsewhere if you want GOOD brunch food. The service was okay too no compliments but also didn't feel super attended.
The food was okay, but the crab cakes were a little too over-fried. I also wasn't informed that my eggs would come as a sandwich. I only finished my meal because I was really hungry. The iced coffee was very bad, and the wait time was unacceptable. I ordered a sangria that took about 15-20 minutes to arrive by the time it came out, I had already finished eating. I mentioned to the manager, Jason, that the drink didn't taste good, and he kindly took it off the bill. Maybe they were just busy that day, but overall, I felt like the service could've been better
Hey friends! I met up with family here for a birthday brunch. I've been here a few times before so I was excited to return. I've only been here for brunch. Barking Mad offers typical American-fare brunch. I was disappointed to see that their brunch menu shrunk since my last visit. One of my favorites was their breakfast pizza, which they no longer offer. I decided on the chicken and waffles ($18). I won't decide on it again. Chicken was juicy but the skin was undercooked, appeared to be reheated. The waffle was bland and tough. Service was fast and friendly. Restrooms were clean and stocked. Parking is limited, free 2-hour street parking is available. Prices are average. I was disappointed that a favorite restaurant of mine went downhill. Hopefully it was just an off day. Hope you enjoy! With love, The Picky Pescatarian
Have to Barking Mad a few times and never managed to write a review. I have been a repeat customer. It offers American fare and do it fairly well. It has an appealing location where there is a nice square with live music in the summer months - perfect to enjoy a pre or post meal entertainment in a less crowded environment. This most recent visit, our party enjoyed chicken Parm, steak, salmon bowl and wood fired pizza. Service was good, parking was easy. It has ample indoor and patio seatings for a relaxing summer meal.
I came here for a brunch date and we were seated outside so I did not get to see the inside. It was cold and windy and the table was not clean which made the dining experience unfavorable. Everything was just blowing off the table. I ordered a mimosa and the crab cake Benedict which was just okay. Based on my review combined with my friend's review, I probably will not be returning.
Great spot for brunch, coffee, and drinks! Recommend the huevos rancheros, had great balance of flavor and spice! Highly recommend the Clark Classic and the Shaken Espresso for coffees: both are sweet and delicious!
Yay! My first review of 2025. This review is based around the service. I arrived shortly after their breakfast time, so my review is referring to the lunch menu. The menu had great options. I ended up starting off with their Clark classic, which is a coffee, it was good! It was hard for me to decide what to order because I really wanted breakfast food but once I finally figured out what I wanted (mind you this didn't take long to do) I was going to order their BLT sandwich, but unfortunately I never got a chance to, which leads me to the service. The service was so slow like extremely slow! I initially wasn't ready to order but not checking in for longer than 20mins is insane to me. What was also interesting about all this is the waitress kept on walking past me without saying anything to me....like very weird behavior, it made me uncomfortable which is disappointing because I took time out of my busy day to come here. After being ignored for about 20minutes the waitress finally acknowledged me and asked me if I was ready now... like what... no I no longer want to eat here. I told her I no longer felt comfortable eating here and explained why I felt that way, she then tried to gaslight me about how she didn't know if I wanted to eat here or not because I didn't know what I wanted to order.... like why was that even an assumption. As she continued justifying why she ignored me for 20 minutes she made it very clear she had a slew of "assumptions about me" this was so wild to me. So aside from the service the atmosphere was cozy to me. The only thing that was throwing me off was the Christmas music playing and they still had all the Christmas decor up. The interior decor was lovely I loved the tiles and textiles patterns throughout, definitely added a nice artistic touch. Overall I am so sad about this experience because I was really excited to come here and try their food.
11.15.24 Food: -Super Bowl: Very good especially the crispy tofu, but I should have asked for more sauce. -Affogato Al Caffe Gelato - I would have liked it to be a thicker consistency and sweeter. -Belgian Chocolate Pudding: Loved this especially with the salted caramel. This was my favorite of everything I had. -Margherita Pizza - It was a bit bland and I would have wanted more cheese and sauce. I should have asked and added salt, black and crushed pepper. Ambiance: Modern and elegant especially the restroom. I loved the wallpaper with roses on it. Service: Our server was personable and friendly. The server who brought our food out could have been more attentive. I asked for small plates and a spoon, but apparently he must have not heard me so I had to go up and request it. Two staff members did come around to fill my water even though it was still full. Other helpful info: -Located in Spectrum. -They have happy hour. -There is a bar in the back. -Communal patio is available in the center. -Street parking is available to the side of the restaurant.
The inside is cute but very vanilla when it comes to decor. Playing it safe with simple and unoriginal. But the menu really shined. It was hard decing what to try and I'm convinced I'll have to come back. I should withhold my judgement until after we get our meal though. What we got: Crispy cauliflower with spicy avocado - 4* the crispy cauliflower was delightful! I didn't think the spicy avocado was all that spicy. I also wished there was more of it. By the time we were eating the 5th & 6th of the 8 bites we were out. Lomo Saltado - 3* at first taste I liked it. The meat seemed marinated in soy sauce. I liked the onions too. But on second taste it had lost its appeal. Especially compared to the pizza it didn't have a chance. My partner, on the other hand, regretted this choice pretty quick. Didn't like the rice, thought the meat was overcooked, and didn't like the sauce. We both agreed the fries weren't anything special. Pancetta + Fig pizza - 5* hands down delicious. I would order this again and again and again. There were occasionally bites where the sauce was on the salty side but mostly this piece just delighted all of my taste buds. Arugula is the perfect pizza topper and the sweet fig jam paired so well with the pancetta and cheese. Try it!
18 hours ago
9/27/2026 around 1p: It was our first time visiting and will definitely be back. The space is unique with an open kitchen and the bar is in the back. It was a little noisy because of the brunch rush, but we did not have to wait for our table, so that was good. The restrooms were super clean and well appointed. They have wonderful happy hour options as well and the website is super easy to navigate website with a current menu. I was in a party of three and I got the pancetta and fig pizza and the other two got the Ranchorita bowl. Very large portions and the food came out exactly as ordered. Incredibly good flavor and you can tell they use high-quality ingredients. Our server was fantastic and attentive and made great suggestions. I ordered the cranberry margarita and my friend had the mimosa flight, and some pumpkin coffee drink, all very delicious. We will definitely come back to check out BMC again and explore more of the menu. What a nice find! read more
23 days ago
I write this review as I sit here on the patio, 16 minutes after we were seated for our reservation. I am thirsty. There is no water. There also appears to be no server. My husband has just gone inside to see if there will ever be a server. Update: the server eventually showed up, took our order, and dropped it off. I think not having a server was better than the food and drinks that were delivered. The "mimosa" (didn't even go for bottomless, so this is even more disappointing) was just orange juice. Check the color in the photo. $10ish for a glass of orange juice hurts my soul. Also, the pizza was soggier than my armpits on a summer day in Louisiana. But wait, there's more! We tried to get a glass of prosecco so I could mix it with my orange juice. My husband wound up going inside, ordering it and paying for it at the bar, all because the server was (once again) missing! Absolutely wild that it's faster to bypass the server when you have a table, and the place isn't even busy. Two stars because we were here another time and the server wasn't dreadful that time. read more
Great spot for a neighborhood brunch! Just make sure to come early enough to enjoy the bottomless option since the last round is served at 2:30 PM. The service is excellent whether you're seated inside or outside. The staff is friendly, attentive, and helps create a welcoming atmosphere. Bonus: it's dog-friendly, making it a great spot to bring your pup along. Highly recommend! read more
The food here is always deliciously fresh and and done with care, I have never had a bad meal here. The atmosphere can be very noisy but it is manageable, they do play a weird mix of music sometimes so be prepared: D The service however can often be inattentive and food timing can be inconsistent. All in all a good brunch experience in the Germantown/Gaithersburg area! read more
11 months ago
Barking Mad is a great place to stop by for coffee or a nice lunch. There's plenty of seating, both inside and out. Parking is easy, too. In the morning you can grab coffee from the cafe section and find a seat. Or, you can wait until 11 for lunch. I've visited with a large group (8 people) a few times, both in the morning and afternoon. Service in the afternoon is always great. They have fantastic drink options (and alcohol, if you like), and great food options, too. There are enough vegetarian options to keep me happy. The veggie tacos are among my favorites. Oh, if you dine in and choose the large option for coffee beverage, you will not be disappointed by the size! read more
Very solid place! Stopped in while waiting for my mom to be done with a nearby appointment and was not disappointed. There is counter service and the food and drink came out quickly. The interior has plenty of seating and was very cozy with lots of natural light. The breakfast bowl I had was delicious and the latte was good! I felt the price point was a bit expensive but not enough to discourage me from returning. read more
For starters, we were able to find parking right outside of the place on a Saturday! It looked pretty packed when we entered, but had reservations and was seated right away. Now - the place is cute from the inside but this is one the places where maybe more was invested in aesthetics than food. Our drinks - the cappuccino and freshly squeezed orange juice were the best things of this meal. We ordered the crab cake Benedict and chicken and waffles. It seemed like almost everything must have been premade/prepackaged/frozen. Chicken and waffles were dry. Also if you have crab cakes on your menu in MARYLAND - there is an expectation set. These definitely came out a box. In all, I probably wouldn't come here again unless I need a coffee. Recommend you looking elsewhere if you want GOOD brunch food. The service was okay too no compliments but also didn't feel super attended. read more
The food was okay, but the crab cakes were a little too over-fried. I also wasn't informed that my eggs would come as a sandwich. I only finished my meal because I was really hungry. The iced coffee was very bad, and the wait time was unacceptable. I ordered a sangria that took about 15-20 minutes to arrive by the time it came out, I had already finished eating. I mentioned to the manager, Jason, that the drink didn't taste good, and he kindly took it off the bill. Maybe they were just busy that day, but overall, I felt like the service could've been better read more
Hey friends! I met up with family here for a birthday brunch. I've been here a few times before so I was excited to return. I've only been here for brunch. Barking Mad offers typical American-fare brunch. I was disappointed to see that their brunch menu shrunk since my last visit. One of my favorites was their breakfast pizza, which they no longer offer. I decided on the chicken and waffles ($18). I won't decide on it again. Chicken was juicy but the skin was undercooked, appeared to be reheated. The waffle was bland and tough. Service was fast and friendly. Restrooms were clean and stocked. Parking is limited, free 2-hour street parking is available. Prices are average. I was disappointed that a favorite restaurant of mine went downhill. Hopefully it was just an off day. Hope you enjoy! With love, The Picky Pescatarian read more
Have to Barking Mad a few times and never managed to write a review. I have been a repeat customer. It offers American fare and do it fairly well. It has an appealing location where there is a nice square with live music in the summer months - perfect to enjoy a pre or post meal entertainment in a less crowded environment. This most recent visit, our party enjoyed chicken Parm, steak, salmon bowl and wood fired pizza. Service was good, parking was easy. It has ample indoor and patio seatings for a relaxing summer meal. read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
I came here for a brunch date and we were seated outside so I did not get to see the inside. It was cold and windy and the table was not clean which made the dining experience unfavorable. Everything was just blowing off the table. I ordered a mimosa and the crab cake Benedict which was just okay. Based on my review combined with my friend's review, I probably will not be returning. read more
3 months ago
Yay! My first review of 2025. This review is based around the service. I arrived shortly after their breakfast time, so my review is referring to the lunch menu. The menu had great options. I ended up starting off with their Clark classic, which is a coffee, it was good! It was hard for me to decide what to order because I really wanted breakfast food but once I finally figured out what I wanted (mind you this didn't take long to do) I was going to order their BLT sandwich, but unfortunately I never got a chance to, which leads me to the service. The service was so slow like extremely slow! I initially wasn't ready to order but not checking in for longer than 20mins is insane to me. What was also interesting about all this is the waitress kept on walking past me without saying anything to me....like very weird behavior, it made me uncomfortable which is disappointing because I took time out of my busy day to come here. After being ignored for about 20minutes the waitress finally acknowledged me and asked me if I was ready now... like what... no I no longer want to eat here. I told her I no longer felt comfortable eating here and explained why I felt that way, she then tried to gaslight me about how she didn't know if I wanted to eat here or not because I didn't know what I wanted to order.... like why was that even an assumption. As she continued justifying why she ignored me for 20 minutes she made it very clear she had a slew of "assumptions about me" this was so wild to me. So aside from the service the atmosphere was cozy to me. The only thing that was throwing me off was the Christmas music playing and they still had all the Christmas decor up. The interior decor was lovely I loved the tiles and textiles patterns throughout, definitely added a nice artistic touch. Overall I am so sad about this experience because I was really excited to come here and try their food. read more
2 years ago
11.15.24 Food: -Super Bowl: Very good especially the crispy tofu, but I should have asked for more sauce. -Affogato Al Caffe Gelato - I would have liked it to be a thicker consistency and sweeter. -Belgian Chocolate Pudding: Loved this especially with the salted caramel. This was my favorite of everything I had. -Margherita Pizza - It was a bit bland and I would have wanted more cheese and sauce. I should have asked and added salt, black and crushed pepper. Ambiance: Modern and elegant especially the restroom. I loved the wallpaper with roses on it. Service: Our server was personable and friendly. The server who brought our food out could have been more attentive. I asked for small plates and a spoon, but apparently he must have not heard me so I had to go up and request it. Two staff members did come around to fill my water even though it was still full. Other helpful info: -Located in Spectrum. -They have happy hour. -There is a bar in the back. -Communal patio is available in the center. -Street parking is available to the side of the restaurant. read more
The inside is cute but very vanilla when it comes to decor. Playing it safe with simple and unoriginal. But the menu really shined. It was hard decing what to try and I'm convinced I'll have to come back. I should withhold my judgement until after we get our meal though. What we got: Crispy cauliflower with spicy avocado - 4* the crispy cauliflower was delightful! I didn't think the spicy avocado was all that spicy. I also wished there was more of it. By the time we were eating the 5th & 6th of the 8 bites we were out. Lomo Saltado - 3* at first taste I liked it. The meat seemed marinated in soy sauce. I liked the onions too. But on second taste it had lost its appeal. Especially compared to the pizza it didn't have a chance. My partner, on the other hand, regretted this choice pretty quick. Didn't like the rice, thought the meat was overcooked, and didn't like the sauce. We both agreed the fries weren't anything special. Pancetta + Fig pizza - 5* hands down delicious. I would order this again and again and again. There were occasionally bites where the sauce was on the salty side but mostly this piece just delighted all of my taste buds. Arugula is the perfect pizza topper and the sweet fig jam paired so well with the pancetta and cheese. Try it! read more
My daughter and I went to have brunch. I did not have reservations, but we were seated quickly. The atmosphere is beautiful. They have seats inside and outside. We decided to stay inside because it was hot. We went ahead and ordered cucumber juice. My daughter likes The classic breakfast sandwich. I had the all American, The food was delicious. We ate it all up the waiter kept coming back just to check in on us, which was great. I've been coming to Barking Mad café for a couple of years now and I recommended to all my friends and family. read more
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Found this little spot on a whim. The food selection is simple and good. The staff is attentive and food came out quick. read more
2 years ago
GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879 / AMERICAN / 07-06-24 / BRUNCH, Party of 6 +Customer service was okay. -The Chicken and Waffles was a disappointment; the chicken looked like two filets from a bag of Tyson or Perdue. -The coffee was a little watered down. -The little ones enjoyed their pancakes. -A bit noisy. -Limited parking, but luckily it wasn't too busy. read more
10 months ago
Excellent chicken and waffles! They are pricey and often crowded but I've been there twice and thoroughly enjoyed the food and atmosphere both times. read more
2 years ago
My first experience with Barking Mad makes me happy. This is a trendy cute clever place. It's counter service with a large dining area that is bright and comfortable. It's got a hipness to it that makes you feel relaxed while staying focused on amping up for your day. The young lady behind the counter was fast friendly and efficient. Anna is an attribute to this place. Her service skills are impeccable. The menu is uncluttered and covers all your basic breakfast needs. I got the breakfast burrito with chorizo and it was not bad. It was small and obviously premade since it wasn't hot, more like room temperature but I ate it and enjoyed it. The coffee is banging!!! I'm grabbing a piece of banana bread for the road. read more
2 months ago
Sunday 5/19/2024 I had always known of this brunch spot but didn't decide to go until my friend recommended it. I spent $40.28 on takeout and got the chicken & waffles (buttermilk waffle with syrup & spicy bourbon sauce) $17, French toast $13, and beignets $8. - Chicken & waffles * this was the best item I had but even then it was just decent. Personally, The taste and size of the food isn't justified by the price point at all. * I never got the spicy bourbon sauce I ordered. - French toast * below average and overpriced. The French toast reminded me of hotel or buffet French toast which isn't a good sign. * paying $13 for below average French toast and mixed fruit isn't worth it at all. You're much better off going to BLT grill for better taste & value. - beignets * these were okay at best and the creamy sauce they give you didn't really do much for me. * the beignets looked pretty filling based on appearance but that's just cause it has a lot more air than I would've expected. In short, the brunch was overpriced, average, and left me unimpressed & disappointed. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Perle H.
Hi Craig,…
What a lovely surprise!! Friend and I were running errands in the area and decided to make a stop for brunch. Looked at Yelp and found Barking Mad Cafe just a few minutes down the street so away we went. We got there around 10:30 AM and it was already pretty packed! Luckily, they have a bunch of seats so we only had a 10-minute wait. I ordered the Crab Cake Benedict which hit the spot. The crab cakes were solid and the eggs cooked just the right amount. The muffin was a bit overdone and hard, which make it difficult to cut up, but all in all it was a nice surprise, especially given the seemingly random location. Service was friendly and decently fast considering how busy they were. Parking can be a bit of a pain but if you drive around you should be able to find a spot. Super glad we discovered Barking Mad Cafe and can't wait to come back! read more
3 months ago
This is one of the first restaurants my husband and I have revisited since moving to the DMV. We enjoy ourselves a brunch with bottomless mimosas (warning: they're strong IMO). This place can get very busy, so I'd advise you make a reservation. However, service is quick and the employees are kind. The modern decor and busy ambiance create a positive and fun vibe, especially on a warm, sunny day. We have enjoyed the ranchito plate, but I do wish there was more meat to beans ratio. The potatoes were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Paired with a runny egg yolk...I'm salivating just thinking of it. The cheese pizza was tasty for a cheese pizza, probably because of the thin, buttery, and crispy crust which complimented the sharpness of the cheese. We'd never had beignets and these were good, but the sauce that comes on the side makes the dish. It's a creamy, citrusy, and sweet that I wish I could buy separately. On a separate occasion, we had the eggs Benedict and French toast. The eggs were perfection. I can't speak to the French toast because I modified it too much, but it was cooked well crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside, and not overly sweet. read more
1 year ago
We have tried to give this place a second and third chance but unfortunately we were again disappointed - We ordered the Chicken Sandwich and Mushroom ravioli for the meals and Spinach artichoke as an app. The sandwich was okay - nothing special but the fries that came with it tasted like they were cooked or reheated in old cooking oil. The Ravioli was the same - tasted like they were frozen. The Spinach Artichoke was very bland. The worst part of the whole experience was the disorganized and lack of service overall. We were very patient but they just seem to avoid or not really look at us. They served us with dirty glasses and cutlery, which just turned us off on the place. They do serve coffee and its okay, again nothing special. it used to be better, and the bread were better as well but now its burnt and the taste is way different. There is a Starbucks right across the street, might as well just go there. sorry, not coming back nor recommending this place. read more
3 years ago
When we walked up there were people waiting outside for a table so we knew we chose a food spot. We did not have a restaurant reservation but were sat within 10minutes. Service- everyone we interacted with was friendly and helpful. Shoutout to our server David and Host/manager Jojo. Y'all really made our meal special. Vibes- the inside decor is pretty. The restaurant and decor don't quite match but it was super cute. Nice mix of high and low tops, booths, etc. lots of talking abc laughing and organized chaos. Food/drinks- the tea beverage with the lavender was lovely. We also got the American breakfast, breakfast sandwich, and crab cake Benedict. All a good portion size and flavorful. read more
5 months ago
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More info about Barking Mad Cafe
239 Spectrum Ave
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
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(240) 690-7003
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http://www.barkingmadcafe.com
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Ask the Community - Barking Mad Cafe
Is the patio covered?
We have a beautiful patio outside. Most of the tables are covered by umbrellas. Feel free to contact…
Is this the type of cafe where you can laptop lounge?(If you buy something of course) If I want to work and eat brunch is that looked down upon?
This is the perfect place to do some work with your laptop! I've actually bought an entree while doing some homework and they're totally chill about it.
Are dogs allowed?
Hi Melissa, I can't say that they are "officially," however when I was there we ate outside and there were 2 people also sitting outside with small dogs and they were being…
Ok great I have over 20 yrs in this field so do I need to come in a fill out Application and if so what time and days can I come?
You can come any time to fill out the application.
Does anyone know about the bar happy hour specials or menu?
Bar Happy Hour Hours Tuesday - Saturday 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Hope to see you soon.
How are the vegetarian options?
There are at least two vegetarian options available for each menu (brunch, lunch, dinner). My favorite vegetarian dish is the Avocado Toast for brunch! It's light and refreshing.
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