Service and ambiance was amazing. The food and pastries were underwhelming. Sort of nasty.

I live in the neighborhood and am loath to leave anything other than a strong review but this place often underwhelms. The atmosphere is great but it falls short on service and food quality, especially relative to the prices they charge. I would recommend it for coffee and a pleasant space for reading the newspaper or having a conversation. I wouldn't recommend it highly for food. Service quality is uneven - not to belabor the point, but it's basic stuff like the servers bringing food, no utensils, not being able to differentiate between food orders (one burrito with bacon, one without), etc. On the one hand, you could excuse that as part and parcel of a hipster coffee house, but I expect better service for the prices they charge. read more

Excellent food, lovely ambiance, friendly staff, in a great location. What more could one ask for?

Elizabeth was amazing and super helpful. It was a very nice and spacious cafe! The pictures upstairs were epic

I met up with my son and some of his buddies at the Bear when I was in DC last week. I was there from 11:00 to 2:00 on the terrace under the grape vines and umbrellas. (There's plenty of street parking but I had to move my car after two hours.) As a senior citizen, I had to get written permission from my son and show it to the barista before I could take a seat. Only kidding, but I was the oldest person there by about three decades. My son and his droogies hang out at the Bear every Wednesday.And I know why. The coffee was excellent, the service friendly, and the lunch food was way better than I would have guessed. Among the six of us we had various sandwiches. My falafel was terrific. If I lived nearby and could get a Big Bear hall pass, I'd hang out there too. Extra points: The next day my son told me his friends thought I was ok for someone my age. I gotta admit I couldn't stop myself from asking them way too many parent-like questions. read more

Big Bear Cafe - The Big Bear regulars. - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nice neighborhood find for walk in DC. Short menu but with all you'd need with great coffee choices. Great food, quick service. Obviously good neighborhood vibe read more

So I felt conflicted writing this review and here's why. I LOVE Big Bear Cafe to grab coffee with a friend, because they have a great, chill outdoor area, and a nice cozy interior that is perfect for meeting up with a friend. If I was just reviewing the space, coffee and pastries, it would be 5/5. HOWEVER, I recently finally decided to try the food here and was disappointed. I ordered a breakfast burrito that was extremely bland, and much worse than anything I could make (I'm not even a great cook!). I thought maybe it could be salvaged with hot sauce, but they didn't even have any hot sauce available, which honestly seems like a crime in Washington DC. 1/5 for their food. So long story short, this is a wonderful spot for a coffee and pastry, but skip the food. read more

Big Bear Cafe - Breakfast burrito -- very disappointing - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Our Airbnb Hostess told us about this place so I knew I had to check it out! This cafe is definitely Portland-esq. So is the neighborhood. Lots of greenery, farmer's market across the street, and a wooden bear watching you from above. It wasn't too crowded inside and we didn't have to wait too long for our food. We planned on eating at The Waffle House (don't judge me!) later on so we had a light breakfast of chocolate croissants, mocha, and tea. Nice ambience, good music playing in the background and plenty of seats inside. Their 'fixins' stand wasn't in the best location, but hey, as long as I can get some honey for my tea, I'm happy. Totally would love to explore this neighborhood and come back to this cafe again, especially to try their other food items and drinks on the menu! Don't forget to take a photo with the bear! read more

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The vibes here are good and so are their pastries. It's kind of unnecessarily expensive and the food is not great. I've had the farro bowl and the falafel wrap. read more

If you want a truly local coffee shop, go to Big Bear Cafe in Bloomingdale. Even though it's on a corner of a busy street, Big Bear Cafe is a respite. It has indoor seating and outdoor seating with a rustic vibe. The outdoor seating is in a patio garden with hanging plants and ivy decorating the side of the building. The inside is rustic/wood feel to it. The staff are helpful and the menu diverse offering coffee, snacks, and even a dinner menu (The mac and cheese is amazing!). On a weekend, Big Bear is always full, but if you can snag a seat, stay for a few hours and enjoy their free wifi. They also host private events. One of the coolest DC weddings I've been to was at Big Bear Cafe! read more

Expensive sandwiches, limited sauces only spicy, no O sugar optional, very soggy french fries, pastrami sliced incorrectly, fried chicken was good. read more

I came here on a Sunday afternoon and it was ridiculously packed inside. There was plenty of outdoor seating available, but it was too chilly to be sitting outside. I only purchased a hot chocolate so I cannot speak on the food, but the drink was delicious (you can't really mess up hot chocolate though!) The area to prepare your drink, grab a lid, condiments, napkins, utensils, etc. is pretty tight which is really my only complaint about this place. The staff were polite and friendly here. I definitely plan on coming back, maybe when it is warmer so I can take advantage of the cute outdoor seating area :) read more

Big Bear Cafe - Food/ Drink Prep Station - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The latte I had was a five. It had an artful presentation and a really great flavor. The fried chicken sandwich was okay, but was overly priced. I'd say it was a three. So this is splitting the difference. The outside patio was also really lovely, but I don't think I would eat here again read more

Big Bear Cafe - Latte - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I rarely give out review like this - out of everything, including bagels, butters, and plus their extremely terrible attitude. No wifi on weekends (allegedly), and very shitty to my service dog after I told them his service :) sooooo highly recommend obv, for whoever wants to get a shitty weekend started here read more

It's breezy, beautiful, rustic, and damn hipster. I hate how much I love the wood here. SIGH. I came at an awkward time in the middle of the day because the brunchin' crowd had left. That worked well for me. The food and service were all quite mediocre to me, and the prices were a bit much for the neighborhood and for what I was eating. But again, go back to sentence one, particularly the phrase "damn hipster." You won't get the best food or service here BUT they can rock their aesthetic so hard that you'll still want to come back. ;) read more

I had driven by this cute cafe so many times; from the street looking in it seems fun and trendy! I decided to go on my birthday and... what a let down. This place is way over priced; yes, I get it it's DC and things are expensive but when you receive subpar service, it took longer to make a latte than it did a warm breakfast sandwich... appeared to be intentional. What do I mean by subpar service? I walk up to the counter and as the girl gives me an annoyed look and doesn't even speak to me... whatevs, some people are just not "Day" people, right?! I'm smiling; come on it's my birthday and I'm at this super cool cafe with my man... it's a perfect day! I ask her how her day is going and she just looks at me, no response ... I ask her what she recommends and she said a sandwich... ha, ok... got it! I order a breakfast sandwich and a latte, and my bf orders and we sit. We wait for about 10 min and our food is at the counter... a few minutes later (minutes, not moments) we receive our coffee drinks. The other girls behind the counter seemed to be nice but the girl that took our order sucked. The decor in the cafe shouts "equality" which is great but this person definitely didn't represent that...It least that was my perception ... am I right? Who knows, but it left a bad taste in my mouth and I'll never go back, nor would I recommend it to any of my friends from the human race. The food and coffee were ok; Starbucks has better service, cheaper items, food/coffee is just as good if not better, the options at BigBear weren't great, parking was a hassle and the seating was so tight, we had to wait for a place to sit. Sorry folks! read more

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Good service and the breakfast burrito is amazing. However, for God's sake, please fix the squeaky door to the patio on First Street. For years now, that door has made an absolutely offensive and jarring screech every time it closes. Given that the whole cafe is not especially wheelchair-friendly, you could at least make the joint more accessible for people with other disabilities, like autism and sensory processing disorder. read more

I'll support any local coffee shop over Starbucks and Big Bear is a great option for the Eckington and Truxton Circle neighborhoods. Inside there are larger tables that are perfect for groups, small tables that can fit one person and a laptop or two people comfortably, and counter space at the bar. There is also plenty of outside seating when the weather is nice. The full bar serves drinks at night and breakfast cocktails on the weekend starting at 10am. Big Bear serves a full range of coffees, lattes, and loose leaf teas as well. You can order a cup to go or an entire pot of tea which is fantastic! The food was okay, but I don't think it will be what draws me back. I ordered the breakfast bagel with avocado. The sandwich wasn't cut all the way through so I had to take it apart before I could start eating. It made a bit of a mess and I was just your average sandwich. I did really like my tea and will come back here on a quieter day to work and read. They are open until 7:30pm so I am interested to try their dinner options. The space is cool and works really hard to be hipster. The music is loud and the space is small so don't come here if you require library reading room silence to get your work done. Big Bear is a great spot to bring your laptop or book and hunker down for a while. There is no table service so you will not rushed. There is a no screens policy on the weekends because it gets so busy. read more

Big Bear Cafe - Breakfast Bagel - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Typically love this place as it's our neighborhood go-to for breakfast and coffee, but was left completely ignored today at the pickup window by the same brunette girl in a green sweater twice, who avoided eye contact and didn't acknowledge me at all despite the fact that I had a dog and could not enter. After 10 minutes, I had to shout over to the counter and ask if anyone was manning the pickup window before a very sweet guy came to help me and even threw in a free pastry bc of my 20+ min wait for an advance coffee order. All that's to say - some of the people here are lovely and the service is usually good, but maybe the newer employees need better training or...manners? read more

Man, did this place go downhill after 2020. The hours are insane. The warmth and communal atmosphere are gone. The patio is still beautiful, but much less enjoyable than it was. The service was hit or miss pre-2020, but now it's consistently awful. There's taking precautions during a pandemic, then there's completely hollowing out your business. Big Bear has chosen the latter. read more

Quaint outdoor cafe on a sweeet little corner in Shaw. High recommend for a morning weekend stroll. Also great evening atmosphere with hanging lights in the tree. Love their chai tee coffee and pastry morning options read more

* The condiment stand was in a dark cranny. So dark, I couldn't find the item I was looking for without using my phone screen light. * The bathroom smelled like someone spayed urine from floor to ceiling. I've seen cleaner bathrooms at Mexican truckstops. A little air freshener could go a long way. * The espresso machine was turned off. I'm not sure why or if this is normal. I had to get drip coffee. The reason I gave this place four stars despite the issues listed: * It was SUPERIOR coffee. So good...especially once I blindly felt around and found the half and half. * It has heart. It may reek of hipster (and urine in the corner), but it's authentic hipster. Crowded in a warm, friendly way. Smelly in a real way. And, it's set in a neighborhood and not packed into some strip mall. I love that. * The person at the counter was so nice. His friendliness was a sweet reprieve from the shitty traffic and bad weather. read more

Big Bear Cafe - The entry and patio area. - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Solid, neighborhood market, coffee shop, event space, and breakfast/lunch spot. They have an amazingly cute patio with a bunch of beautiful vines and other plants, like a little apple tree on the corner, that give the patio a very rustic and garden feel to it. They also have a limited, but solid food selection. I have tried their breakfast burrito and have to say it is one of the better ones I have had in the DC area to help cure an early morning hangover. I have yet to try some of their local produce, but after looking at their website, they look like they have a solid selection from fresh, local sources. read more

Really good breakfast burrito and drinks. Plenty of seating and comfortable. Also decent service.

Great hipster coffee shop. The food was delicious! My morning breakfast/coffee craving was satisfied! Although the outside patio might look a little abandoned, I believe it is all part of the aesthetic. Great place to take IG pictures. read more

Big Bear Cafe - Outside patio - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Food was okay and employees were condescending at best. I got the chicken sandwich and it was crunchy. My partner got the falafel wrap, and the falafel was soft. We originally sat outside but there were dozens of flies, so we moved inside. Still a few flies inside. I wouldn't come back. read more

First time at Big Bear Cafe, I would return but only for a to-go order. I stopped at Big Bear for a quick breakfast on my way to the airport. I ordered the breakfast burrito, and it tasted great, however I don't like the fact that we had to go to the register to order instead of having a waitress come to our table to take the order. I also didn't like the fact that not all of the coffee's were offered in every size, this was inconvenient. Overall though, not a bad place and I would recommend it to anyone in the area who is looking for a cafe meal. read more

Such a great little brunch spot! 4 of us came for brunch on a Sunday around 1. It was pretty crowded, but we were able to sit almost immediately. Between the 4 of us, we had 2 farro bowls, the breakfast burrito, and the quiche! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals (maybe the best quiche I have ever tried) and the atmosphere was great. read more

Great space and coffee but don't stay for the food. They rush things out, meaning eggs are cooked in advance (and cold), cheese not melted and ingredients missing (no onions). The coffee is ceremony and good so I'd recommend coming here for coffee and bringing a snack or not staying for lunch. Very cute space though and huge patio. read more

Food was good - the grilled cheese yummy! It is self service for the most part, but they did bring my food over to me because I use a cane and I thought that was sweet. The music was loud inside, not sure about upstairs as we stayed on the first floor read more

It's a beautiful spot but their ordering is a mess - we ordered for pickup online and waited 50 minutes as we heard other orders called for those in front of us and others in our party before being told that we should have checked in with them (which no one else had to) - that the cinnamon rolls were out of stock and has been for several hours. This is something that should've been made clear on the online ordering platform, or we should've received a call telling us they weren't available and a refund was on the way. Otherwise, don't have an online ordering system? We also ordered two plain bagels with nothing on them and received two plain bagels with cream cheese on them. The sweet kid at the window then told me they had only one plain bagel left, and offered me an everything bagel to replace the second (which I didn't want but didn't have much choice). When they gave these bagels the everything had nothing, but the very last plain bagel still had cream cheese on it. At that point I asked for a refund, but was given another everything bagel (which I still didn't really want) and offered pastries (which I appreciated). The very kind kid at the counter had no control over these things and had way too much to deal with, but a ridiculous wait time for food incorrect orders or no food at all, without even an apology, is pretty unbelievable. Those of us that did get food thought it was fine but in no way worth the wait, and the chance you might not get it at all. read more

I love big bear cafe! In DC going out to grab breakfast or brunch can be a big production including wearing the latest trend, getting a reservation weeks in advance and inviting the perfect crew. Big bear is a casual spot where you don't need to worry about reservations, if you put on makeup or what you are wearing. You can come here with a group, or dine on the patio alone. Though it's more of a casual spot, don't worry... the food is delicious! The menu is short, but their bagels are yummy and the grilled cheese in on point. They also have delicious and fresh coffee, and their baristas will listen to you to make you your desired perfect cup! Thanks for creating such a warm and inviting environment. Looking forward to strolling into Big Bear soon! read more

Big Bear Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Oh big bear cafe. If I were blonde, English, and inclined to stumble into strangers' homes and eat their porridge- I would say that this cafe does it "just right." The staff is beyond friendly, and I love that they go the extra mile to spell your name right on your mug. (You wouldn't believe how many times I've had my named modified to Christina. Or Christinith. But I'm sure that's a joke...) Nonetheless, the latte art is on pointe! I thought the cafe had peaked already, but they recently switched from counter culture to ceremony coffee (way to represent, ANNAPOLIS), so the already high caliber of their caffeinated drinks has skyrocketed to a new level! And their BREAKFAST bagel. Oh my god. The finely grated cheddar and the arugula on an everything bagel. It was perfection. I found the breakfast burrito to be lacking in flavor. Not so, the bagel. I could probably eat that thing everyday. Yeah. I would definitely eat it everyday cause the baristas and staff here are entirely too nice to judge me for it. （・・）/~~~ read more

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This was one of the most disappointing breakfast burritos I've ever had. It was basically just flavorless eggs and mushy pepper. There was no chorizo which advertised as a part of it. The sauce that came with it was just as flavorless, a watery tomato sauce. I would definitely NOT waste the $12 + tip and tax on this. read more

If your an average hipster then this is the place for you... they have wifi and sticky benches broken chairs and poor power outlet locations (the kind where trip hazards are made). If you are looking for a quick, decent breakfast and good coffee from a coffee shop (good coffee at a coffee shop - no kidding... really?) then you will not find that here. I highly recommend going to comparable alternatives like McDonald's, Starbucks, or caribou where you will recieve average coffee and reliable food. I won't be coming back here, as I waited over 20 minutes for my burnt 12oz black coffee and luke-warm breakfast burrito. read more

Big Bear Cafe - Breakfast burrito. Black coffee - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'll start with that the coffee is exxxxcellent!!!!!! If you come for that and leave, then you're golden. BUT!! About the coffee, and it's a very funny thing. They offer only random sizes for different things. Want a 12 oz Cappuccino? No! Only an 8oz. But a 12oz Latte? SURE! Strange! I was hoping for a breakfast sandwich on an English muffin which I understand they didn't have, not everyone carries what I'm thinking about. But I looked in the pastry case and saw a croissant and asked if I could get a breakfast sandwich on a croissant and she said no. LOL! I was like. Oooooookkkkkk. This place is getting more hipster the longer I stay here!! I just accept it for the new generation of "service" (which we all really know is not service at all) that is the new norm. Then as I get the option to sign for my card and tip I thought in my head, "for what?!?!" I was actually disappointed in myself when I did tip. In the end, I paid $33 for fabulous coffee and an ok breakfast burrito and breakfast sandwich. read more

sad that there are dairy free options for bagels, and it is labeled vegan friendly . so disappointing in dc in 2024 to bot have safe allergy friendly options in a big educated city ... at an EXPENSIVE coffee shop ... go to any other shop and you will be taken care of ! read more

In 140 characters or less: As much as I want to like this place - it's a beautiful Bloomingdale cafe with substantial outdoor seating-- the quality of the food, coffee, and service & the prices make it difficult. Decent place to work or catch up with a friend for coffee. Coffee: We've all begrudgingly accepted that we live in a world where coffee will run us $5. For that price, the coffee here should be better. The espresso has consistently had that burnt taste (which isn't difficult to prevent). Food: Don't bother unless it's a pastry Service wise: Inexperienced baristas and servers. Most recently they gave my food to the wrong table and then once they took it back left it on a random counter for 20 mins - mistakes happen, but then don't give me the same food cold when I finally ask where it is. read more

Big Bear hosted my family for dinner here the night of my wedding on 12/28 (10 people total), and it couldn't have gone any better. Big Bear was extremely easy to work with in getting everything set up, they were great at communicating options and working with me to ensure everything went as planned. We essentially rented out the entire cafe for the night (which wasn't cheap, but it was totally worth it). It was a simple set up, just one long table with a few candles, custom printed menus (nice touch!), but it was perfect. We wanted quality and something "special," but not too fancy. This fit the bill exactly. The food was AMAZING, very high quality, family-style, and I have never heard so many people rave about skillet mac-n-cheese (my personal favorite). Everything went super smoothly and the service was excellent. The servers did a good job at being attentive but not overly so which made the experience with my family intimate and lovely. I really loved having my wedding dinner here and would 100% choose Big Bear Cafe again for any other special event! read more

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What is a café? Certainly, it is a place to acquire good food and drink, a place where one may sit with friends to discuss a myriad of topics. It may also be a place where one simply sits alone, unadorned and uncompromised, to people watch, to stare away blankly, or smile pensively at what may be either lofty or mundane. At Big Bear Café, along with all of the other patrons who are either sitting with a friend or alone tapping away at their laptops, I sit too (incidentally eating and drinking). However, there is no need to sit with any agenda, to come with a problem to solve, or a path to set, for the thoughts, as the minutes and moments pass, will come of their own accord and scratch whatever mental itch that should suddenly arise. As I listen to the surrounding music (with its brittle and metallic notes), I hear my heart. As I take a bite of my food (which I cannot taste), I hear a voice. As I take a delicate sip of my coffee (which I enjoy), I laugh at a joke. As I take a lingering stare out of the window, (which is embraced by a passing cloud), I find a moment of peace. I acknowledge my strengths and weaknesses. I answer a question with a question. And, then, I leave. read more

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