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

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

Carma's is great. Their coffee is so yummy (and very customizable- take that Starbucks!). I absolutely love their noodles and their grilled cheese is amazing. Their cookies are to die for. However, I must deduct a star because it doesn't really have a coffee shop atmosphere. It's more of a place where you sit for lunch, but it's not really great if you want to go and work on an essay or homework (as they have a limit to the amount of time you can spend there). Fun people work there too! TL;DR: Great food for lunch or take out, but not a great place to write the Great American Novel. read more

Came here for lunch a couple days ago with a group of friends. My boss had told me good things about their soups so I came to check it out. I didn't get soup though :\ Looking back, I probably should have. Carma's is very cute inside, and their counter of baked goods looks delicious. To start things off, I ordered a honey cappuccino and got some yogurt to go (because Yelp seems to love that stuff). The cappuccino was delicious! I think I have to start taking all my coffee with honey from now on. To eat, I had the TCB (turkey cranberry brie) sandwich with the cold sesame noodles on the side. The noodles were also very delicious and the perfect sort of Asian fusion. Didn't love the sandwich at all though. Perhaps the flavor combination is just not for me, but I felt like the cranberry and brie were not well spread and there was too much of it in some places and not enough in others. But oh, the yogurt! Perfectly sweet and creamy, with more than enough granola to go with it. If I come back, it will be for the yogurt. Maybe this time I'd try the soup. read more

Great coffee and good food, but I've been on multiple occasions and seen roaches. I've seen a roach trying to split a meal on a table, and a roach climbing up the wall. Ill give them a break with 2 stars since they are in the basement, but I still don't think that justifies all the roaches. read more

I came by for a salad on my lunch hour. I'd been several times before and had great sandwiches and coffee. I waited about 10 minutes for my salad, to go. The real problem was the greens. They were old and slimy. I had to eat around them which is unfortunate since a salad is primarily greens and it was $9. Next time I am back to sandwiches and coffee. read more

I'm a neighborhood grown-up. I love Carma's as a locally owned and operated place in my hood with an organic and local-foods speciality. I usually have breakfast. The Icelandic-style yogurt is sensational. I have a colleague who will only agree to an early morning meeting if I agree to bring her some. It is unique and delicious. I also recommend the egg dishes. Always good! The baked goods are excellent. I cannot buy one snicker-doodle--I usually buy a whole bag. They are that good. When I do have lunch I love the sirloin panino with a well-dressed house salad. OK, so I'm a creature of habit, and I always get the same things that I love . . . got no dissent. On a personal note: Lighten up. I don't get the hating on Carma. She is there working--damn hard work--all the time. read more

Did I just get a custom latte and a deliciously warm vegan oatmeal pumpkin cookie in my tummy for under $5? Yes. Yes, I did. Carma's is right there in the heart of Charles Village, an adorable hole in the wall (literally) at the bottom of a building. I've been in several times at different hours of the day always to find this tiny place bustling with customers. Now when I say tiny, I do mean that it is a bit cozy down there, but it adds to the charm. My recent visit in the early evening included previously stated custom latte and vegan oatmeal pumpkin cookie, comfortably nestled in a padded booth seat - right there by an outlet to hook up my laptop to grind out some papers. Don't get too excited though, unfortunately Carma's doesn't have it all - to include WiFi. So sad, but so true. Though I'd imagine WiFi in this popular spot would be trouble because then I'm sure customers (me included) would never want to leave! Now, they did a killer job with that cookie and making my soy sugar-free hazelnut latte but it looks like that's not all they're good at! Everyone around me was ordering food. From sandwiches and baked mac & cheese to dishing out all day breakfast items, Carma's menu definitely seemed to be something worth trying out. Pleasing to my taste buds and pleasing to my wallet - Carma's is doing the cafe business right. read more

The sandwiches are decent. The drinks are great, however, with their spicy apple cider being one of my favorites. If you're choosing a side, definitely choose the sesame noodles. Don't order the frittata. Might just be my experience, but it tasted bland and has the consistency of soft plastic. read more

These guys do not play when it comes to coffee. The house espresso is always delicious and balanced. In summer they make the iced espresso drinks with a heavenly homemade cold brew. For non-coffee drinkers, the tea lattes are a wonderful treat and more creative than the offerings at other area coffee houses. The food is delicious too, though the prices are often a deterrent for me. not that they charge too much, it is you'd expect for a small business like this one to survive. Have heard from more than one source that the owners are verbally abusive to the staff. I'd like to see this beloved local business be as committed to their workers as they are to their customers. read more

Carmas café is a great local coffee shop with great pastries and I really enjoyed my muesli. I would have liked more muesli but that's probably on me. I could have ordered more muesli but I didn't - I'm not sure why. read more

Road side cafe in between Charles and St Paul's street. Usual chat and drink place for Hopkins students. Not much to talk about other than that. read more

As a tip, always check out www.carmascafe.com for their daily specials before ordering! Sometimes the specials are amazing. If it's around Thanksgiving and you see The Gobbler, GET IT. It's basically Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich with a gravy dipping sauce. SO AMAZING. This time, I ordered the Rosemary white bean grilled sandwich which had sauteed mushrooms, onions and vegan coconut bacon on toasted sourdough, which sounded really good, but it ended up just being okay. I think it could have been more toasted overall. Also vegan coconut bacon is just not my thing--I think it's a texture thing, but something about it just doesn't float my boat. While this wasn't their best, I do absolutely love some of their other sandwiches a lot. The veggie rocket with extra sauce is one of my favorites and never disappoints. read more

I absolutely loved this place. It's not the easiest to get a seat at lunch time, or the greatest atmosphere - but the food we ordered was excellent. I had the vegetarian meatball sub and my friend had the hummus/sprout sandwich - and we both really enjoyed our food. So much so, I woke up this morning bummed out that I am not in the city to go eat there again! The guy who took my order, remembered my name an hour later as we were leaving and I always love personal touches like that. Will definitely be back. read more

A super cute little cafe that has really great breakfast/brunch options. I really enjoy the ham, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich, but it's quite filling. Also try their cookies, they're pretty unique. read more

Carma's Café - a menu and a clock - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I like Carma's coffee and atmosphere a lot more than the two Starbucks in the area. When it's not cold, raining, or ungodly hot, the outdoor seating is very pleasant. Unfortunately, the spotty vegetarian options keep me from coming in more than a few times a month. A few months back they extended their hours into the evening (7 or 9?), however, they're still not open on Sundays. read more

My friend and I came to Carma's Cafe for second breakfast Sunday, and it is a cute little spot! I ordered the Diablo, which is steamed egg with spicy cheese on an everything bagel, and it was tasty. She ordered the hummus sandwich, which came with a side of peanut noodles, and we shared an iced coffee. The weather was beautiful, so we sat outside to enjoy our fare. read more

An absolutely amazing lunch spot. Although it's very small it has a lot of options for great meals and incredible coffee. We were in town for our niece's graduation from Johns Hopkins University. She recommended it and treated us to a great great lunch. I'm a vegetarian and had the special that was on the wall (plate) which was an avacado tomato pesto grilled cheese. My husband had bratwurst grilled cheese and loved it. The coffee was also incredible and love the big mugs. They only have about 5 tables inside but about 6 tables outside (it was cold and raining so we waited for a table inside) we ordered our meals at the counter and as soon as it was ready they were able to seat us. (They had to ask a party of 4 if they would kindly give us their table since they were just sitting and talking at the table) Everything was great and we loved it. read more

Carma's Café - Great big mugs of delicious coffee. These were caramel almond milk coffees! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I LOVE Carma's Cafe! This has recently become a favorite spot for my roomie and I to grab lunch and chat. WE can't get enough. The food is delicious and atmosphere is great. Each time I go, I have the tomato soup, (a random sandwich) and a Vanilla Chai with a marshmallow added. Def would recommend to anyone! read more

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

Being a local native to Charles Village, I can safely say that this is the best place for a cup of coffee or espresso drink. Also one of the better places for a breakfast bagel sandwich. Their frittata is also delicious. This place is popular, so it's recommended to get here relatively earlier in the morning to avoid any long lines. Outdoor seating is available which is beautiful during the warmer months, or even on a sunny winter day. read more

Great little place to sit outside and enjoy a lite lunch. The beverage are enormous and definitely the best thing to get. My only complaint is that the portions are a little small. I got a half salad and cup of soup for $10 and I was hungry an hour later. The tomato basil soup was amazing though! I have gotten that every time I've been read more

Stopped here today looking for some breakfast after searching yelp while passing through town on a multi-city tour. Well first off, I think Brunch & Breakfast is a stretch. Its a small coffe shop that serves 2 egg dishes and a couple of sandwiches. I was dissapointed that when I asked for my eggs over easy I was told that the eggs were pre-made. But practacally starving and having no time to look elswhere, I gave it a shot. The sandwich looked fairly appetizing when served but it was pretty much like an Egg McMuffin on multigrain bread (with the crusts cut off?). But with far less flavor.... I'm not a coffee fanatic by any means but I thought it was decent. Good flavor and not too weak (I prefer mine a little strong). I am an OJ fanatic though, and the fresh squeezed OJ was really good. That being said, I would give this place a 3 out of 5. Although I'm going to have to subtract a full star for the hygine of the person behind the counter. It was apparent that it was his first day (or close to it), but dude - when you're handling people's food you gotta cut or at least clean your fingernails! I don't mean to be rude, but that kinda stuff really skeeves me out! Especially when putting the lid on someone's coffee and touching the exact area where I'm going to put my mouth... For that, I have to go with 2 out of 5. read more

New favorite. If only I lived in Baltimore. My friend and I shared the bagel w apple honey and cream cheese and the lemon ricotta waffles. They were both delicious; I was happily surprised by the bagel (I'm a bagel snob from NY). My other friends got the homemade granola and yogurt which I would also recommend! Also super impressed that they have a whole section of their menu dedicated to chai! I'm surprised this place isn't rated higher. read more

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I don't live nearby, but stop here for carryout whenever I see a matinee at The Charles Theatre. They have the BEST tomato basil soup I have ever eaten. (Please don't ever change the recipe.) The staff are delightful and friendly young people. They have helped me carry my bags to the car when I have a large order. Try the homemade jellies. I hate seeing the proliferation of chain restaurants moving into the neighborhood. Eat local !! Love Carma's. read more

Great take-out cappuccino to help me cope with a rainy day. Friendly barista and quick service.

Carmas is a cute cafe that is beloved by Hopkins students for its charm and homey feel. They have great cookies, sandwiches and salads. I have always enjoyed the Icelandic yogurt with granola, and the grilled cheese and housemade tomato soup is soul quenching on cold Baltimore days. If you come at a busy time, be prepared to have a substantial wait for your food or even to order at the register. The actual space is tiny so if it's winter and too cold to sit outside, you can pretty much bet you won't get a seat inside. The salads and sandwiches here apart from the grilled cheese are pretty standard. Today I ordered the ham and Brie salad, and it came with too much Brie and not quite enough dressing. I appreciated the hefty portion of ham though! read more

This place is a frequent for Hopkins students for either lunch or brunch on the weekends. There are a small number of tables available on the inside, but the temperature seems to be quite warm in the summer. Outside, there are metal tables complete with blankets to use for either seating cushions or cold nights. Overall, the food is great quality and I have frequently enjoyed the Apple Alexander (a panini of brie, green apples, and honey) as well as the TCB (a panini with turkey slices, cranberry, and brie). In the past, they used to offer bagels and lox but that has since been taken off the menu with their most recent update. Instead for breakfast, I would suggest their steel cut oats. Carma's receives a 3/5 due to the limited spacing inside, the slow time for carryout, and the variable menu changes. At one point with the last menu change, TCB (a student favorite) was even taken off the menu but then put back on as per student request but at a higher price. read more

Visited a friend at Johns Hopkins today and she took me to Carma's Cafe for dinner. A solid 4 out of 5 stars especially since the slightly surly dude at the cash register forgot to make my coffee and gave me a larger size to make up for it (first part bad, second part is YAY!). Food: Portabello Panino with cold sesame noodles Polynesian with cold sesame noodles Yum! The portabello panino was delicious for a panini without meat! As a meat eater, I must say my stomach is unhappy because I am eating less and less meat. On the other hand, portabellos are are wonderfully delicious way to make up for that. Especially this sandwich which was yum yum yum in my tum tum tum. My friend usually gets the Polynesian or the TCB, so I'm assuming she loves them enough to always get them. Service: Meh, it's a coffee shop. sometimes slightly surly cashier/barista is to be expected especially when I'm being a grumpy pants. I saw him be perfectly civil to other customers some of which he knew and some of which he did not, so I figure I was giving him the grumpy face. People don't like my grumpy face. Plus, he gave me the bigger size because he accidentally forgot to make my snowjoe (which are really good btw). So all in all, 4 out of 5 stars. read more

Fan of Carma's Cafe! I love its homey and welcoming aura. When my family comes to visit, we usually dine here since it's super close to campus. I highly recommend the sirloin panino with a side of cold sesame noodles! The panini is savory but has a hint of sweetness, making it absolutely delicious. I normally wouldn't order a panini with noodles on the side, but I am a sucker for Carma's peanut butter noodles! My friends rave about the grilled cheese with the side of tomato soup so i'll have to try that soon. Also, if you have a HUGE sweet tooth like me, I really recommend the pink dalmatian cookie for dessert. You won't regret it! read more

What a delightful little cafe. Reminds me of Brooklyn. Delicious coffee, very friendly staff. They even have blankets outside if you want to use the outdoor tables despite the cold. Very cozy interior. Don't let the location fool you, this place is great. read more

Update: the last two times I've been here have left me disappointed. Maybe new cooks and cashiers... But the man who served me today kept pacing around an empty cafe, didn't give me a side salad with my quiche (I didn't even bother correcting him), he was rude and awkward and made the cafe environment so strange and unlike its usual charming spot. I also have noticed a decrease in quality of their quiches. They're less fluffy, savory, and delicious in general. I'll still come here b/c the food and menu are good. But they need to hire better front-of-house staff. read more

I've been getting to explore Baltimore lately, and this cafe was suggested. It's a cute little place and there are definitely some pros and cons. If it's busy, be prepared to become close and intimate with the people next to you in line. I wish the cashier area was set up a little different. I know it's complicated because the cafe is so small. The pumpkin coffee I had was tasty. Mmm... Pumpkin... However, there weren't too many gluten free food options. I really hope they get more in the future. If you can't find room to eat inside, you can try to find a spot outside. They don't clean up fast enough once customers leave so it can be confusing if the table is still taken or not. When I was there, I ate outside, and they had blankets out for people to freely use. That was a nice plus! They also seem to be very dog friendly. All in all, this place is good. Just wish they had more gluten free restaurants and made the sitting down to eat situation a little easier. read more

Busy, Hopkins-heavy cafe with solid everything and much more preferable than the Starbucks nearby unless it is closed. It's not the kind of place where one sits for work [though one can] just ideal for a coffee date, a small lunch or a quick pit stop. read more

I've forgotten how busy coffee shops can be in the middle of the day - especially when they serve food this good. There was a long line to order which gave me plenty of time to check out the menu. They have a lot more choices than what is written on the wall of ceramic plates. It's laminated and in a magazine holder near the cash register. When they are busy, please take a look at it. The barista was very happy with me when I knew exactly what I wanted and I was happy for the compliment. :-) I went for the chicken salad sammich with the sesame noodle salad. The baguette had a fresh crunch and was filled full with a hearty chicken salad with grapes, celery and some baby greens. I loved the grapes in the chicken salad - adding great texture and brightness. This was so much food, especially when paired with their noodle salad. I usually go the side salad when I eat in because I like their tangy house dressing - but the sesame noodle salad travels a little better. I am not a huge fan of sesame noodles in general; It is not normal go to. But, it sure is at Carma's. The cold noodles are lightly dressed with your classic sesame sauce. This one is lighter on the peanut flavor - which highlights the sesame, chili and green onions. These guys are great and don't get nearly enough attention with some of the bigger chains nearby. The cafe inside is on the smaller side, so it fills up quickly, but they have tons of outdoor seating for when the weather is nice. Remind me to go here next time when I am in a rush - they hade twice the number of folks in line and I was in and out in less than half the time of some other cafes. read more

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

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Excellent espresso. I had the caramel latte and it was very well done. The sesame rice noodles are good and pretty heavy. The portion is quiet large for $3-something. The corn chowder was a fail (it wasn't thick, it was thin broth) but its ok, it still tasted homemade and wasn't that bad. The atmosphere here sucks, it's so bad I had to deduct a star because I expect a cafe to be a place I'd like to hang out and it's not. I wouldn't go to dine-in, just to take out. It's bare and boring, no decorations and kinda dingy. Very friendly service. read more

Don't let the steep stairs and stony decor fool you. Carma's is a very cozy place to eat, study, or just chill. I had the TCB and an Ice Joe (the one with just coffee and cream). The TCB (Turkey-Cranberry-Brie) was a nice mixture of flavors. Reminded me of thanksgiving. The bread put it all together -- crispy with a slight grainy texture, so you know it's healthy! The Ice Joe was very coffee-y, just how I like it. read more

Love this eclectic little spot. Everything was excellent on our visit: hot chocolate, chai, frittata, mac n' cheese, ruebenesque pannini, chocolate chip cookie. I'm getting hungry again just writing this review. read more

I really enjoyed the food and the lattes. The outdoor sitting area was great as well! The staff are friendly, which is always a plus at a store. read more