Delicate Hot Chocolate…read more I have long been an admirer of fine hot chocolate. Traditionally, I would visit Starbucks or a contemporary coffeehouse, only to receive what often felt like mocha syrup blended with steamed milk--pleasant, perhaps, but rarely memorable. This morning marked my first visit to Tatte Bakery & Café in Old Town Alexandria where the hot chocolate proved to be an unexpected delight. The associate explained that it was prepared with semisweet chocolate and warm milk. Intrigued, I ordered a small and chose to enjoy it outdoors. The price was refreshingly reasonable, while the bakery's bright interior and refined ambiance created an inviting first impression. My drink arrived within approximately five minutes, presented elegantly in a cup and saucer. The temperature was perfectly warm--comforting without being excessively hot--and the overall presentation was quietly sophisticated but has room for improvement. Then came the taste.... The texture was exceptionally silky and smooth, with no grainy residue, excessive sweetness, or bitter aftertaste. It was rich without being heavy and indulgent without becoming overwhelming. Even better, it left behind no awkward crown of foam. I have enjoyed hot chocolate in Sicily, where the experience was quite literally a cup of melted chocolate--decadent, dense, and almost dessert-like. Tatte's interpretation was more delicate and restrained, yet equally satisfying in its own way. Tatte has now earned first place in my personal ranking. There is, however, still an opportunity to elevate the service experience. A cloth napkin and small spoon presented alongside the drink would add a more polished touch, while a subtle soupçon of finely shaved chocolate would enhance both the visual presentation and the final sip. Overall, I award Tatte's hot chocolate an A-. I look forward to seeing whether it can achieve an even higher distinction upon my next visit.

Let's face it. I like Tatte a latte!…read more Beautiful pastry case, inviting treats, Parisian-style cafe. It's a bit inconvenient that you pay at the counter but pick up hot drinks at the bar. When it's crowded you can barely hear your name. We stopped in the late afternoon and it was cool and empty. I had a delicious matcha latte and some lovely baked treat. Thanks a latte, Tatte!

I know when I order from here, I'm getting my ZEN on. Every time I've had their PB Acai smoothie it…read morehas always been amazing, from the peanut drizzle that makes the cup look picture perfect, to the fresh flavor of the Acai. There's something about their peanut butter that's mildly addicting. I think it's homemade (need to verify this). The other day I decided to also try their "Zen rolls" since I saw this on the Uber Eats menu. Let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint! When I took the first bite, at first I noticed how refreshing it tasted, and how delicious the chili sauce was. As I was eating it the veggies tasted fresh, especially the peppers and the strawberry combined with the chili sauce was so good in the most surprising way. Who knew rice paper rolls could be THIS healthy? Despite being tired that day I ended up with renowned energy after eating those rolls. Like it felt super nourishing. These were definitely the most tasty veggie rolls I've had in a while. The sauce is just divine. I love that they really package their stuff so carefully and the box has such a cute aesthetic. Everything truly feels like it's made with love, and their cups have little fake stickers on them to really give your drink a personal touch, something I don't see at other smoothie or juice bars. Everything just has this niche personal feeling to it. If you want a healthy lunch or drink, this is your spot. It definitely feels like you are getting real good nourishment here and I am all for it. I will be back soon for my ACAI fix! Or maybe I'll try their other smoothies like the blue one with spirulina in it. Such a gem!

This was my first visit to Zen Press for brunch, and I ordered the Blue Moon smoothie as it comes…read moreon the menu. The smoothie was creamy, fruity, and visually one of the most striking drinks I've had in a while. The mango and banana gave it a naturally sweet flavor, while the coconut yogurt added a rich texture. I could still pick up some of the blue spirulina underneath everything, which kept it from tasting one-dimensional. The atmosphere was very calm and relaxing. It felt like a place where you could slow down for a few minutes instead of grabbing something and rushing back out the door. One thing I like about this smoothie is that it's easy to customize. After having it before, I've found that ordering it with light banana and no agave makes it taste lighter and lets the mango come through more. That said, the standard version was still enjoyable and is probably the best starting point if you've never tried it before. I'd definitely come back and try other drinks on the menu.

I order California sandwitch and the description has sprout but when I get my sandwich to go there…read moreis no sprout and the turkey slice is very little.

We came here from the train station and it was a good choice. I got a hot roast beef sandwich and…read moreit was just perfect. Fresh tasty roll wit just the right amount of veggies. My husband had a gyro which was just as good. I couldn't decide which I liked better. I also had a Latte Carmella in the advice of one of these reviewers and was not disappointed. Everyone was super nice and we sat by the very large windows on a chilly day. Just a perfect stop on our way to the airport.

Really cute coffee shop with plenty of seating, which makes it a great spot to sit and get some…read morework done. They had a really nice variety of food and drink options, and I was pleased with the service as well. My only complaint was the cleanliness. A lot of the tables were noticeably dirty and could have used a good wipe-down, especially since there were plenty of people coming in to sit and work. Overall though, I enjoyed the atmosphere and would definitely consider coming back!

I stopped at St. Elmo's to grab a muffin and coffee while I was in the area for a real estate…read moreconference. The place was busy, with a small wait, which I understood. Unfortunately, as I was taking out my wallet to pay, the cashier pulled the tip jar away from me as though I was going to steal it. I found that incredibly insulting and unnecessary. This location may be convenient because there aren't many other choices nearby, but I won't be returning. If you're in the area, I'd recommend going to Harris Teeter down the block instead. Customer service and treating people with basic respect matter, and this experience left a very bad impression.

I'm a big fan of Beeliner Diner!! We tried a little bit of everything from breakfast, to lunch to…read moredessert! Highlights from breakfast were the fluffy brioche French toast and garden omelette. Did you know they make their bread in house? That French toast was the thickest I've ever had. So delicious! Just wish they had real maple syrup to drown it in. Their Smashburger with a homemade bun was the standout for lunch. It had those amazing crispy edges, nice melty cheese and nicely toasted bun. Yum! And you cannot miss their giant chocolate cake for dessert. I have never seen a piece of cake this big! The whole table can enjoy it and still have leftovers. A chocolate lovers dream. I'll be back for sure!

Great Food, Vine & Customer Service!…read more I stopped in here for a quick bite with a friend before heading to an eye doctor appointment next door. I must say I really like the vibe of this place. Beeline Diner is one of diners that are retro-cool and has a neighborhood feel to it. It's very popular with the locals and folks that live around the area. I couldn't help but noticed how friendly the staff was and seemed to know their regular patrons. That's a great plus, in my book. The menu is loaded with lots of great options and your comfort food classics...including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. On this day, we tried the chicken & waffles and steak omelette. Both more delicious and was served fairly quick! The portions were great too definitely enough food to share. The check was tender, juicy and most of all.....seasoned!! lol The waffles were pretty standard on taste but I would say they fluffy and light. The steak omelette did not disappoint either. It was loaded with sirloin steak, cheese and onions! Every lift of my fork left me with bits of steak bites! My kind of meal for sure!!! The only negative about this dish is that the steak is not made to order or cooked to your preference (I.e. medium, medium rare, well done, etc.). Instead the steak it's already pre-cooked and I was told by the server that it is roughly around, medium-well. That might be okay for some, but I prefer my steak month medium side. Medium-well makes this dish and steak overcooked by the time it's delivered to you. This was the case for me. The sirloin steak was a bit on the tough side...as know as chewy. lol Other than this, I have nothing but great things to say about my first visit to this establishment. The customer service was on point and everyone was so friendly. This!...& the Chicken n' Waffles dish won me over. We left pretty full and satisfied....which was a little disappointing because the desserts in the display cases looked amazing and I really wanted to dive-in on one of them! In all, you can't go wrong with Beeline Diner. The food hits the spot and the price point is great too. I recommend and looking forward to coming back to try some of the other plethora of dishes they serve! :-)

First impressions. The Uptowner Cafe is tucked on the corner...reminds me of the little shop I used…read moreto go to as a kid to get candy. Music in the background is pleasant, six 2-person tables available and a couple of living room chairs. They offer an array of sandwiches named after the surrounding streets of Alexandria. I wan't here for the food, just the coffee. This would be my second cup for today...or at least the 2nd cup I bought. The first was a few blocks away at a place that shall remain nameless. It was that bad. So here we are with a "grande" latte with caramel. Promptly made and decidedly tasty. Prices are reasonable (especially if you are used to Starbucks). I also had to grab a blueberry crumb muffin...well worth the calories! The area seems to have a number of coffee shops, but finding a good one is the opportunity. Latte with caramel was

Rating only as a coffee shop, I was quite pleased with my cup of Joe, where it was full-bodied,…read moresmooth and with no harsh notes. Service was quick where I enjoyed my cup outside on one of their tables adjoining the business. Besides coffee, they would appear to serve the full assortment of drinks you would expect to see in a barista type operation as well as sandwiches where they serve breakfast and lunch during the course of the day. Nice! Overall, if you're looking for a quick cup of coffee that is not a chain coffee then this is an excellent option for you especially if you are in the area. The other key thing to note is this shop opens at 6 AM Monday through Friday so if you're an early riser like I am, keep that in mind.

I have no words to describe the pleasure I get from eating here. Chips, peach, jalapeño on a…read morebagel??? Heck yes! No idea if the bagels by themselves are good or not - too distracted by the toppings lol

Let this review be a reminder to Call Your Mother!…read more Call Your Mother started as a neighborhood bagel shop in DC in 2018 and has expanded to several locations, including this Old Town spot and I hear that one will be opening in Wicker Park, my Chicago peeps (if it hasn't opened already). My go-to of a toasted sesame bagel was just perfect, along with the garlic-herb cream cheese. My friend had a gleneagle bagel with candied salmon cream cheese and enjoyed it -- but it was stuffed and overflowing and a little hard to eat. This place is just so charmingly decorated, with friendly people, and nice portions of good deli food. It was also quite crowded (and we went early). Your mom will be happy to know that you're eating well. Call Your Mother!

I've been coming back recently in the evenings to meet up with friends for game night. It's also…read moregiving me the opportunity to try the dinner menu. So many good options! Burgers, chicken sandwiches but the wings and mac and cheese are my favorite. I love that you can get just protein options if you just want a grilled chicken breast or a couple of slices of bacon. The service is always great. I really wish they would bring back the ribs that were on the restaurant week specials, I'm still dreaming about them. One of the special things they do is make their own syrups for their coffee drinks, I'm pretty sure they make their own sauces and dressings too because the house dressing is amazing. One suggestion is to get better ventilation, I smell like a fast food restaurant when I leave however they do have an outdoor patio that is really nice.

This was a cute bistro that had a variety of baked goods and light brunch selections. By late…read moreafternoon most of their bakery items were sold out but they still had their brunch selection. I went with the breakfast chicken chorizo burrito and kale salad with the lavender latte. The burrito was good and very large, could easily be split between two people. However, I would recommend getting some hot sauce on the side if you want a little spice. The kale salad was very refreshing, it balanced out the burrito well. I wasn't a huge fan lavender latte, the lavender flavor wasn't that strong. Overall it was a decent place for a quick bite.