Carma's Cafe is NOT CLOSED!! The location has just changed. I don't know exactly what happened with the renovations at their old location, but at some point Carma's moved inside the Space Telescope Science Institute (which says "Steven Muller Building" out front) on the Johns Hopkins campus: 3700 San Martin Drive. Basically, when you enter the building through the main entrance, you walk past security and keep turning right until you end up in a cafeteria--and in there you'll find the new Carma's. It's basically just a campus eatery now, as it's deep in this campus building and there isn't a lot of publicly accessible parking nearby. The cozy vibes of the original spot are nowhere to be found, unfortunately. But it's the same kitchen and bakery as before! The menu has changed a lot, but certain staples remain. I used to frequent Carma's all the time as a JHU student and then occasionally returned for a good meal and hit of nostalgia as a recent grad, before the pandemic started. I visited recently and ordered the same grilled cheese and tomato soup that was my comfort meal back in the day, and the same hot chai that brought me warmth in so many chilly Baltimore winters. So if you loved Carma's before, just know it's still there to visit. It's hard to recommend as a meeting place for anyone who's not a JHU student/employee/alumnus seeking nostalgia, due to the new location. But I know many people have been asking what happened to Carma's and this is your answer: it's still around! (I uploaded some photos for guidance including the new menu, but they're not showing up as attached to my review currently. If you go to the photos section of the Yelp page and sort by Newest, you should be able to see them) read more

Carma's is over the top for drinks and food. They source from local farms and make great sandwiches, breakfasts and coffees. A must visit when in Baltimore near John's Hopkins main campus. read more

I've only stopped by here two times now. I thought it sounded nice that they bake some of their own pastries like scones-- it's just overpriced. Instead, I opted for their egg, cheese on a bagel which was very basic for ~$5. Actually I made the mistake of asking for a multigrain bagel (which they will charge you EXTRA for) and had to ask for that $1 upgrade back since it will come on a plain bagel. The quality of the bagelwich was really bad. Reminded me of a comparable version at Dunkin. The egg part definitely was microwaved/re-heated since it was rubbery and dry. The plain bagel was as expected- plain, standard grocery-store quality, and bland... Really lackluster and not an enjoyable bfast item. Had a hard time finishing it. It also took an oddly long amount of time for me to get the order. I wish I could say the bagel place down the street is better, but it's really not. read more

Carma's Café - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I am absolutely blown away! I bookmarked this place over 2 months ago to visit from Yelp and I am so glad that I visited today! Call me crazy but, this place is almost directly across the street from a Starbucks and I am thinking about visiting this place more than that Starbucks across the street... and I have stock in Starbucks! It's not the most appealing place on the inside but it's the cutest place on the outside. The inside perks include, fantastic customer service, a nice variety, and plenty of seating for individuals, intimates, and small groups! This place has so much character that I can't wait to come back and visit again! And you guys all know that I love handwritten things! They have boards that are written on with special markers to advertise the daily specials and other items. Dahlia was there to greet me as I entered and answered all of my questions no matter how tedious they were! I definitely appreciate versatile and fantastic customer service when I see it and I am looking forward for the opportunity to receive it again very soon!! read more

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First, I encourage them to just up their PR game even so slightly: no updated website or FB page doesn't exactly drum up new business. I was delighted to learn they'd moved to the Space Telescope Institute building on JHU's campus. Food is solid plus, does the job with coffee too. Fairly priced. Love the dining area: wide open, plenty of space, great work tables. I come here often to enjoy a sandwich, cup of joe, and get some work done. Please at least put up a rudimentary website with menu and hours. Bonus: the security people at the front desk are some of the nicest folks you'll talk to. read more

Location/the physical store itself = 0/5 Food = 3.5/5 Service = 5/5 Value = 2/5 Total = 2.5 stars Carma's café is a small café that has become a Charles Village institution over the years beloved by many Hopkins students and local residents. As others have pointed out, the atmosphere at Carma's is very basement-y: it is in the basement portion of a larger of building. The sitting area inside is tiny, with only 4 small tables available. To be honest, the place is a little dingy. With such a small space, it can get quite loud in there and is not a good place to stay to get some work done. Because of this, they have many tables and a picnic table outside of the store, most of which are covered by a canopy. Due to the limited seating inside the store, they have blankets available for the outdoor seating in case you get cold. While that's thoughtful and cute, this is just not for me. I don't want to share blankets with strangers. I'd not mind sitting outside when the weather is nice. Now onto the food part! Carma's serves some good food that's fresh and yummy. Cold noodle salad, avocado toast, gluten-free baked goods, and weekend brunch waffles are classic. The staff members are nice and sweet. They bring the food to you outside when they're ready. As others have pointed out, the wait for food really varies. I appreciate the fact that they use real plates and utensils. Prices are a little high for my taste and the portions are small for a grown, muscular man like me. On average, you spend about $10-15/person. Pro tip: Carma's has their daily specials listed on their website at carmascafe.com, their Facebook page, and on the board outside the store. They're updated daily so be sure to see what kind of yummy sandwiches they have for that day before you go in! read more

Carma's Café - Peach Cobbler Waffles ($10) = pretty tasty; taken on Oct 07, 2018 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Carma's is a staple for Hopkins students. In the mornings, the little cafe is quiet and a good place to read. In the afternoons, it becomes more of a social spot for people to get lunch and dinner. The grilled cheese and tomato soup is a favorite, although their turkey, cranberry, and Brie panini is another contender. They also have the best veggie cream cheese I can find in the area. In regard to drinks, the Twiggy tea latte, the Mayan chocolate mocha; and the caramel cloud are all good no matter who makes them. I give this place 3 stars because of the lack of space, the awful take out time (they always take forever), and the inconsistent service. Sometimes the food will come out quickly, other times you will wait 45 minutes and nothing. That being said, roll the dice. read more

Carma's Café - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I'm a fan of Carma's! My favorites include the cold noodles (SOOO GOOD!) and avocado toast! The tea selection is perfect for me, and I've taken coffee drinkers there who have enjoyed it as well. I haven't been disappointed by their sandwich selection either! I also very much enjoyed a daily special wrap, that included jalapeno jam. I'm hoping for the day it makes it's way back on to the menu! The in door space is small, yet cozy, and there are several outdoor tables. I would suggest only going as a small group though! I also visited one morning to pick up a bag of biscotti as a gift, which went over very well! So, all in all - visit if you are thirsty, hungry, or need a treat for someone else... all is good! :) read more

Just letting folks know Carma has moved to the Steven Muller Building in the Hopkins campus. They are priced fairly with a lovely selection of bakery and sandwiches. They have provided great breakfast and lunch options for me at work. read more

Carma's is a small underground cafe that reminds me of the hipster cafes I used to frequent in Oregon. The seating area inside is tiny, with about 5 or 6 small tables, and gets quite loud given the small space. Because the cafe is so small, Carma's has picnic tables outside with blankets, in case you are cold. While this is a nice thought, sharing blankets with strangers isn't my cup of tea. FOOD: I've been here several times and have enjoyed their cold sesame noodles and San Pedro sandwich, a vegan sandwich with coconut bacon, avocado, sprouts, and vegannaise. Generally, their salads and sandwiches are quite standard. DRINKS: Terrible. I've given this place many second chances because I have heard this place is good for coffee, but I've been disappointed each time. The London Fog and Latte taste like sweetened syrupy milk, and I even lifted the lid of my coffee cup to check the color of the drink to see if I were drinking milk. PRICES: high for the portions you get. Expect to spend around $10-15 and close to $20 if you choose to get a drink. SERVICE: friendly but expect to wait around 45 minutes to get your food during peak hours All in all, Carma's is a cozy/dingy/small café that is a staple for Hopkins students, given it's close proximity to the Hopkins campus. It serves tasty vegetarian options but is a bit overpriced, and the coffees are questionable. read more

Impression: Came here for breakfast and brunch since I was itching for a breakfast kind of place after eating a lot of Chinese foods and bakeries for desserts. This place serves your omelette, frittata, rockets, sandwiches, paninis, and coffees. It is reasonably priced. Everything was less than 10$. My only tip is that they take a very very long time to prepare foods- that's good! At least all from scratch- but if you're looking for a "quick" breakfast place and you're in a hurry, then this may not be the best place. However if you're wanting to catch up with friends and hang out over a relaxed weekend brunch, this is a great joint! They even provide blankets to cover yourself on cooler mornings since the sun won't get to them until afternoon so it may be chilly if you sit outside on a spring/fall day. Portions were enough for 1 person, so if you're thinking about splitting 1 dish, It may not be enough. Sides include sesame noodles and salads. I would give this place a 3.5/5- good breakfast options- nothing super stellar but still a solid place to go with good prices, overall satisfactory taste, and there are blankets!!! What we ordered i.Meatball Rocket Meatballs were pretty large and well flavored, juicy and tender and came with tomato sauce. Large white roll that you can stuff your meatballs in. 2. Meat Frittata Good for one person unless you order many dishes and you can sample with friends. It's an egg dish with ham, sausage, and something else in it- goes well with a salad i think 3. Virginian Ham Sandwich This reminded me of a Cuban sandwich! Flattened bread with ham slices inside with mozzarella/provolone cheese. This is definitely a filling dish if you're super hungry. I recommend asking for the salad for the side for this one. Sides- We got the sesame noodles and the salad. I thought the sesame noodles were ok- they used spaghetti pasta and flavored lightly with sesame oil and maybe salt. I think this was kind of a weaker dish on their end- A little unflavorful and plain if you're already getting a sandwich as your main entrée. Salad is the better choice- comes with olives and peppers. read more

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The grilled sandwich was absolutely AMAZING, with a Dijon vinaigrette dressing that perfectly complimented the melted cheese. The soup was okay. However, the wait was very long (more than 45 minutes), so definitely not a good idea for a quick brunch. Not a super pretty interior, but, if you're into that hole-in-the-wall coffee shop vibe, this is the place for you. read more

Carma's Café - Grilled Ham and Brie with Bean & Chicken Chipotle Soup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Really nice cafe with good espresso drinks and sandwiches. Their daily egg frittata is my favourite. They also often have some samples near the counter for customers to try. Cute and warm setting though there aren't too many seats inside. They do have outdoor seating and they even brought out blankets for us. Their avocado toast is also really good! read more

Carma's Café - Avocado toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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We stopped by for lunch and they helped us even though they were technically closed. So, so friendly and absolutely delicious! We'll definitely be coming again soon read more

One of my favorite spots to eat at near the Homewood campus! The food definitely grows on you. I only came to love this place last fall, after being here for three years. The grilled cheese with the side of tomato soup is to die for. To die for. They also have different variations of the sandwich throughout the week. The Brussels sprout one is great. At first I was deterred by the blue cheese in it, but you can barely taste it! The garlic aioli ones are pretty good too! And you can add avocado for $1 to any sand which! Instead of the tomato soup, I sometimes go for the sesame noodles, one of their specialties. The TCB sandwich is my go-to. It's the perfect version of a grilled cheese with protein! And it's great for all those with sweet tooths! The Xander is another good one if you're looking for a more dessert-y taste. When it comes to dessert, you must try the Pink Dalmatian! Although I am a true chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, my loyalties lie with the Pink Dalmatian. The chocolate chip cookies are a bit too healthy-tasting for me with the nuts. Ooh a second favorite is the molasses cookie! To be honest, it kind of tastes like a gingerbread cookie. But it works. Super cozy environment! Definitely come here! And it's BYOB!! Bonus, they also offer almond milk with their drinks. read more

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Met friends here for a little chat and some tea. The atmosphere is very "basement"--- as it is in the basement portion of a larger of building. It can get quite loud in here and is not a good place for reading or working. It worked for a girls meet and chat though. The drinks? I got a chai latte, and it had a very funny taste. The price was cheap, but the drink was just subpar. They have a small selection of pastries that I didn't try. Overall, I might come again if I'm in the area, but I'm not raving about this place. read more

Carma's Café - Chai! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Surprisingly, there aren't a lot of breakfast/brunch options in the area. This place was decent. I had a latte, with the frittata with tri-color pepper and provolone. I picked this because I thought it would be a healthy option, but it was not. The frittata slice was large, dense with a layer of greasy provolone on the top. I normally like provolone, but it didn't go well with the frittata and I ended up eating around it. It came with one slice of toast and homemade jam (I picked the 3-bees, which was yummy). The latte was good. My friend had the San Pedro sandwich, a vegan sandwich with coconut bacon, avocado, sprouts, and vegannaise, which she loved, along with orange juice, which she also thought was delish. Prices are moderate and they do take credit card. read more

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When I order sirloin, I expect delicate shaved meat that's crispy, salty and euphoria-inducing. What Carma's calls sirloin is actually ground hamburger meat that tastes heat-shocked from frozen. The sandwich was bland and unexciting. The side of cold sesame noodles was good. The noodles had a pleasant bouncy bite and finished on the palette with notes of toasted sesame and peanut sauce. Do yourself a favor and find another place to grab a sandwich. Carma's doesn't extend well beyond it's hot drink selection. read more

A staple during my time at Hopkins. TCB's are the ultimate comfort food. The ginger cookies remind me of home and Christmas. The Irish Oats were a favorite Sunday morning tradition - make sure to get the fruit with it. Waits for to go can be long, but I recommend grabbing friends and shooting the breeze eating at their picnic tables. There's usually even blankets to keep you warm at night. Go to Carma's to feel cozy and content. read more

Carma's Café - Irish oats with fruit (and part of an iced mocha) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I often pass by this lil underground cafe on my walk to the BMA and I'm so glad that I finally decided to enter. The shop inside is very quaint so thank goodness they have a good seating outside of the shop.the interior design and atmosphere was really cute. The cashier was very kind and patient with the newbie I was and made great recommendations. I saw chai and vanilla ice latte so I was excited. But unfortunately the taste and flavor was lacking. I think it just needed a lot more pumps of vanilla and chai flavoring because the milk and ice just really drowned away any taste. As for the food, I got a vegan veggie sandwich and it was very filling and delicious. There was caramelized onions, avo, lettuce, and a jam that really harmonized with the food. The sandwich has cool ingredients on the inside with a warm toasted bread so it is great for the summer. It is hard to hear your name called out for your order from the outside for drinks. But I'm glad they give a spoon number pager for food and delivered to you at your table. Great overall experience ! read more

Carma's Café - Vegan sandwich with stuffed ingredients - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Wanted to clarify: I think their meals are overpriced and not too amazing. Just A-OK But their desserts/snacks.. Spot on. Solid 4-5 stars. Great price, they don't make me feel disgusting. This past weekend on my way to go study, I had their chocolate cranberry scone. Size was slightly small. It was $3, but the quality made up for it. Not dry at all, but not overly buttery. Instead of making me want to fall asleep, it gave me a nice flavor and sugar buzz to study. read more

I got their sandwich here, albacore tuna with artichoke on French bread. It was a nice, hearty sandwich with a good, generous portion of sesame noodles on the side. The noodles were good, but I was a bit disappointed with the sandwich. I felt like I was eating mostly bread, since the stuffing inside was barely there. If they were more generous with the stuffing, I would have been a happy camper! Overall, their cookies and baked goods are good. read more

Very bad experience with the coffee. I heard this place is really good for coffee, so i went with my husband and we ordered one latte and one decaf Americano. We stood there for 15 mins for just two coffees. When we finally got them, Latte completely tastes like milk (as shown in the pic), Americano tastes like water (I threw away on the way back). It seems that people who make coffee there really don't know what they are doing. Won't go back anymore. read more

Carma's Café - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Coffee, cookies, pastries, get five stars. Food menu gets three stars. I love grabbing coffee, cookies, and pastry here, but the regular food items leave a lot to be desired, unless you are looking for grilled cheese and tomato soup (which are pretty good). The salads - a new item - are a bit overpriced. The sandwiches are okay. Egg dishes seem to be baked and later microwaved, and I hate the taste of egg that's been microwaved; also the frittata tends to be bland. The yogurt is made there and is pretty good, especially with granola or fruit compote. They are making more of an attempt to cater to people with dietary restrictions, which is nice. There are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options available. The short of it: great for grabbing coffee and a snack, especially when you can take advantage of the patio. read more

Let me tell you, Carma's Café was actually epic. I was extremely surprised I never noticed it. San Pedro Sandwich was terrific, I really loved all of their food. Service was excellent and every one working here was very nice and helpful. Carma's Café, I will definitely be back, and maybe, often. read more

Super great place for breakfast or brunch. I tried the egg sandwich and egg bagel, they were very carefully baked and looked very nice. Also, they tasted good! That's the importance thing! read more

Carma's Café - The egg sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Cute, small, coffee shop tucked into a the basement of an apartment building in Charles Village. They offer a variety of choices for breakfast and lunch, from bagels, to sandwiches and soups. The full assortment of drinks, from smoothies to coffee, and baked goods, to tempt the eye. The staff are incredibly friendly, making Carma's an enjoyable place to go eat, and read the provided news papers and magazines they provide near the door. read more

This was my go to coffee place near the office until I saw a bug crawling around in the pastry case. Now that I can never unsee it I can't drink coffee here again. In my mind I want to say "but everything else is clean" haha! I am going to miss the caramel cloud which is seriously like drinking caramel flavored heaven.. Hot or iced that drink is a freaking dream! Then there is the chai lattes.. They have flavors and each flavor makes me want to go back for more. Oh and the grilled cheese is amazing!! I am sooooo sad that now I have to be subjected to chains! Ugh maybe I'll start doing the more responsible thing and make my coffee at home. read more

I was wandering around my neighborhood and at first glance, I noticed a restaurant that was packed with people chatting and sitting outside. I desired some coffee and thought this would be the place. I immediately loved the ambience of the place once I went inside. Typical coffee shop type feel... tables and benches for customers and space for people to sip coffee and work on their laptops. The decor consisted of decorated plates that had the specials of the day listed and designed on the plates. I ordered a large whole milk vanilla latte with 2 extra espresso shots and found myself a table. My latte came in a large mug with a little leaf design which is one of my favorite things about getting coffees from true authentic coffee shops. The flavor of vanilla was just enough and perfectly complimented the espresso shots. I didn't have to add more sugar and it was the right amount of bitter taste that I was looking for. I wish I had an appetite to get food because the food that people had ordered looked quite tasty. I sat in contentment as I sipped my coffee and mentally noted to myself that I would come back. A few things to note is at times the staff seemed short-staff. The 2 baristas/workers were running around making drinks leaving the line to grow longer since no one was manning the register the whole time. I also noticed, the place lacked in space. I had to weave around people in line to get to my table and or avoid the waitress running outside to bring out food. Overall, I still had a great experience and hope to spend more time there. read more

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A latte is only 2.25?? Really????? What. (brooklyn price adjustment:$3.75). And the Icelandic yogurt with granola was damn good. I usually by the skyr from whole foods, but this was a whopping portion, sweeter but not artificially so, and a little more liquidy. The chicken salad was pretty great too. The head honcho here was a little intense though. I think he should relax a bit so his waitstaff won't look so miserable. ...just sayin'. read more

Well, sir, where do I begin? I've tried their coffee a few times. Nothing about it sets it apart from Seattle's Best (the worst commercial coffee I can think of). It is scalding hot, though. That's a thing. Their bagels are on par with the store-bought brands that come in bags, 8 in a package. They'd make good dog toys. The other pastries I've tried, seem decent enough, but again, nothing that seems superior to anything Dunkin Donuts can offer. The staff seem friendly enough, provided you give them a 10-second buffer to respond to your orders and questions - being high does that, I suppose. The shop itself reminded me of a Dungeons & Dragons player's basement dwelling, with a few drips from the ceiling, stains on the floor, and an overall humid, damp feeling. But there was an industrial fan to keep air moving through, and provided a wonderful industrial ambiance to the restaurant. The woman who owns the place, who I assume must be Carma herself, could care less if you enjoy your stay, it seems. I'd tend to think that if I owned a restaurant, and I make an appearance, I should put on my best front. But then, I guess Daniel Snyder has never hidden the fact that he tries to gouge Redskins fans, so, if they're already in the store, why bother? Maybe it's just me. A lot of folks in the area really enjoy Carma's. Maybe I caught the hemp-smoking cashier after a bad batch. Perhaps that wasn't Carma, but her evil twin sister, Zarma, who attempts to shoo away potential customers with looks of disdain and bumping into customers. I have little incentive to try again, but who knows what the future may bring. Carma's funny that way. I mean karma. read more

I used to come here almost everyday for lunch when I was in college. I always got a cup of soup, a sandwich with a side salad, and cookies. The soups here are always delicious as are the sandwiches. My favorite was the portabello panini which always came out warm with deliciously crunchy bread. The daily specials are also always worth a try. However, the highlight for me was definitely the cookies. I loved the chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, molasses (which are seasonal), white chocolate chip.. Mm. You'll definitely buy her cookies in bags. When I think back to college I definitely think of Carma's. Although the space is small, if you can get a seat, it's a nice place to study. One quip is that once when I ordered the Icelandic yogurt I found a hair in it! Oh well, I guess it happens... read more

This review will be THE ONLY REVIEW YOU NEED FOR CARMAS! Simply put, there are only THREE things I come here for. I've had pretty much everything here, and its a decent place, but there are THREE-- i repeat 3-- things to get here. 1. First if you're looking for a good bite, go with their breakfast sandwich with local eggs, cheddar, and local meat. I opt for the egg, cheese, and bacon sandwich. Now while the eggs and meat are both wonderful, what is the deal MAKER is the bread. Their special health bread, specifically used for this breakfast sandwich, is brought in fresh from [EDIT: Stonemill Bakery]. Usually they'll cut the crust, but ask them to leave it on. TRUST me. When i DO stop in for food, this is the only thing i will get. 2. Second, in terms of libations, i'm kind of a coffee snob, so i'm not a huge fan of their coffee. That being said, their chai is levels above anything else i've had around here. Their chai isn't all sugary and artificial tasting like Starbucks. They use actual black tea and spices. It's solid. Get their Vanilla Chai if you like vanilla. 3. Finally, if you're looking for dessert or something quick to have with your drink, they have this Pumpkin Oatmeal cookie that is pretty amazing. Seriously, i'm pretty particular about having anything "pumpkin" seasonally so i usually ONLY get these during the fall and winter, but they have them year round. Try them and you'll be hooked. It may seem a bit pricey at a dollar a cookie, but i mean that's what Starbucks will charge for a cookie they mass produce and it isn't nearly half as tasty. read more

Carma's Café - a red awning on the side of a building - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Over the years, Carma's has become a sad place. While some of the food is decent, I stopped going here because they treat their employees like shit. Seriously, they yell and belittle their employees all the time - even in front of customers. So Lame. I used to enjoy the menu offerings (especially the yogurt) and went there quite frequently, but now the menu seems just tired and uninspired. It used to feel cozy, but now just feels like a sad, dingy basement. Read a self-help book. read more

Tempting though it may be to wander into the shiny new Starbucks on St. Paul (or the one in the Barnes & Noble *across the street*), skip the chains and go to Carma's. The coffee is great, the breakfasts are yummy (Icelandic yogurt is the way to go) and the lunch options are all fabulous (my favorite is the tarragon chicken salad). They make all their baked goods on the premises, and the soups are homemade, too. I worked in a basement and I still came here for lunch all the time even though it's also in a basement. That should tell you something. read more

Carma's is one of my favorite places to grab a coffee and lunch around campus. Trying to sit inside (or outside in nice weather) during peak hours can be a little stressful, but if you're there on a slow afternoon... enjoy it. The homemade Icelandic yogurt is jaw dropping good (although I'd hate to see a nutritional write up). The cookies are definitely worth it as well. When I go for lunch I'll generally pick something from the daily specials (written on plates to the right of the counter) and I've never been disappointed. Carma is generally very accommodating (as long as you aren't lingering too long at a table during a crowded lunch). She let me interview her for an "interview an entrepreneur" assignment for an intro to business class I was in a few years ago and generally goes the extra mile when it comes to being connected to the Baltimore community. I've actually gone to a graduation party here before. My friend rented out the restaurant (not generally open for dinner) and Carma provided the food. It turned out really well. Try it! read more

This place serves some good food that's fresh and yummy. The staff members are nice and sweet. What makes me extremely upset is the conditions those people work in. The sink next to their main coffee machine is broken and doesn't function at all. So the employees put a big bucket underneath the sink that collects all the water and then the same employees have to carry that heavy bucket to the back room to empty it. The other day I saw a very petite young girl emptying that bucket - it was extremely heavy for her, so she had to split the dirty water in half and make a few trips to the back room. If the bucket gets overfilled and the liquid spills over, the employees have to clean the floor. They do not do it after work but every hour or so, as soon as the bucket gets filled. Moreover, there are several grills in the back room, but only two of them function properly, and because of that the wait for your order in any rush hour could be around 35 minutes. The place itself is worn out and needs some renovation. I bet if the employees put a jar with a sign "donations to re-paint this room", they would have the money to buy enough paint in a few days. What makes me even more upset is that the owner of this cafe hasn't done anything to fix any of the problems I've mentioned here. I asked people who worked there why the owner wouldn't do anything. They said his response was "It would be too much work". I go to this place almost every day, because they serve good food, but the conditions inside and how much its employees struggle to keep this place running make me shocked and disappointed. No people deserve to work in such conditions. read more

Stayed at an Airbnb in this neighborhood and really lucked out finding this coffee shop! Went there every morning (so glad I found it on the first day) for the Mocha - tried both hot and iced - and it was PERFECTION. If you don't like your mocha sickeningly sweet, this one is for you. They MAKE THEIR OWN CHOCOLATE you guys. I also tried an egg croissant with ghost pepper cheese that almost burned my face off (spicy) in the best way. Atmosphere cozy and definitely frequented by the college kids - it's practically on campus. They even provide blankets on the chairs in the outdoor seating area to make sure you're comfy. Will make sure to stay in Charles Village again next time just to make sure this place is walking distance for me. read more

I've been here several times, and I usually walk out happy. The food's good. I really like the Icelandic yogurt with fruit and granola. The portobello sandwich is excellent, and I always get a side of their cold sesame noodles. I don't drink coffee, but my friends are a fan of the coffee here. The chai is especially good. My only hangup is that the service is either hit or miss, mostly because of just one rude fellow - it might be the owner, because he is usually sitting there with his laptop. I was mistaken and didn't know they didn't allow outside food in there (it's a cafe and there's no waiter service, so I just assumed it'd be ok). Instead of just letting me know nicely, I was told in a stern voice to "never bring outside food in here ever again." I was a bit taken aback. I would have happily obliged, had he put it more tactly. He might've been having a bad day, but there were a couple of other questionable instances on separate occasions. The other people who work here are super friendly, though. read more

Their steak sandwich is as good as it gets. Spiced steak drizzled with garlic aioli, melted cheese, two hearty slices of french bread served with a side of cold sesame noodle. Portions are sizeable and I almost always have leftovers. This place is great for an weekend brunch when the weather is nice because they have an outdoor seating area. Service can be a bit slow though, so go when you have lots of time on your hand! My favorite restaurant in Charles Village. read more