I stumbled across Caspian Crust's Brunch with Strangers on Eventbrite, and I genuinely hope more restaurants start doing things like this. Instead of leaving the logistics to a third-party organizer, Caspian Crust hosts the experience themselves, and it works beautifully. Everyone shares one long Sultan Breakfast table, making it easy to meet new people over incredible food. If you see one of these events, book it. It's absolutely worth it. The Sultan Breakfast was outstanding and there was so much food. The value for the price is incredible. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared, and I especially appreciated that many of the traditional meat dishes use beef rather than pork. As someone who doesn't eat pork, that made it easy to enjoy nearly everything on the table. One of the unexpected highlights was learning more about the culture. Another guest at our table was from Türkiye, and she shared that breakfast is traditionally enjoyed before coffee. Once I knew that, it completely reset my expectations. Instead of wondering where the coffee was, I got to enjoy an amazing, leisurely breakfast first. There was a little confusion at the end about whether coffee was included with our event, but the staff quickly sorted it out, and we finished with Turkish coffee and a piece of Turkish delight. It ended up being the perfect ending to the meal. I also learned that the owners have family roots in Azerbaijan, which makes a lot of sense once you see the menu. While the restaurant describes itself as Mediterranean, the flavors and breakfast traditions are distinctly Turkish and Azerbaijani, and it is wonderfully authentic. read more

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We had a great first visit to Caspian Crust - would recommend for breakfast or pastries and coffee! The location in Georgetown is nice, with seating on two levels. The top level is for reservations only, from what I understand. I had the sujuk and eggs, which was just like I had in Turkey. My only complaint was I didn't love the bread that came with it - I would've preferred simit, but also was full enough I didn't need another bread. We also split the spinach and feta börek, which was delicious. I did feel like it could've been warmer. My husband had the beef melt panini - while not inherently Turkish, he enjoyed it. Finally, the honey cake was simple, flavorful, and not overwhelming for the 2 of us to split. read more

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Great cafe in Georgetown. I had the Ottoman latte, as well as Turkish delight. Although I personally think that some of the food items could be labeled better. The Turkish delight wasn't labeled with the price or flavor, as of this writing, so I didn't know what it was exactly. Luckily everything turned out to be great anyway, from the Ottoman latte to the Turkish delight flavors that I had. read more

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Had to check out the newly managed spot! Very cute local cafe with lots of Turkish goodies and coffee. We tried all of the available Turkish savory boreks and our favorite was the spinach and feta. The best thing we had was the chocolate eclair- so tasty! Unfortunately, service wasn't great and of the two speciality coffees we ordered, one was extremely bitter and the other was extremely sweet. For the price and the fact that our party was only one of 3 there, I wish there was more attention paid to our drinks/general check-ins with our table. I'll definitely be back to try some of their other desserts though! read more

Caspian Crust - Chocolate eclair, TURKISH SPINACH & FETA BOREK, TURKISH BEEF BOREK, TURKISH CHEESE BOREK - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I stopped by Caspian Crust in Georgetown for a coffee some pastries last weekend. The bakery is special because they specialize in Turkish and Azerbaijani baked goods: börek (with various fillings), pistachio croissant, açma (a soft, fluffy Turkish yeast pastry), qutab (an Azerbaijani/Turkish stuffed flatbread), simit, and so much more. I was so excited to try some of these harder to find pastries. I had a Turkish beef börek and a cheese finger börek. They warmed them up for me, but they still weren't very warm - I'd probably ask for them to warm them up twice next time. The beef börek was good; the cheese finger börek was good, too, if maybe a teensy bit dry. I also got one of their signature coffees. While these coffees sound interesting and delicious and creative, I wish there an option or two that weren't as sweet. I tried the Sultan's Velvet, which was just way too sweet for me. Next time, I'll stick to a classic coffee - an americano or a cappuccino - since they have it all. There's quite a bit of seating - some downstairs, some upstairs, and some outside. I sat down and read my book while I enjoyed my pastries. It's definitely the kind of place that is comfortable to sit and enjoy. The customer service was friendly and fast. Overall, I'm glad I stopped by Caspian Crust. Georgetown is lucky to have several pastry shops/bakeries, but Caspian Crust is different and stands out. Its focus on Turkish and Azerbaijani pastries means that there's something for everyone - some classics for those folks who like what they like with their coffee, more savory pastries with meat or cheese or olives, and some sweet but less common pastries as well. Great flavors and variety. It's also cozy, comfortable, and casual, with good customer service. I'd be happy to return. read more

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I liked this place right away. The staff is convivial, and a gracious spirit exists here. I was quite curious about the baked goods; the 2 guys who were taking orders and preparing food answered all my questions with kindness. I enjoyed the following: poaca mozerella; simit; shorgagal; and walnut baklava. All were fresh and tasty. The savory pastries are traditional, straight forward, not trying to be all things to all people with an overabundance of toppings. Also, the dessert offerings are not swimming in sugar, which I appreciate. The baklava was pretty darn small however, maybe 3 bites. Caspian Crust is a welcoming and pleasant bakery-cafe. It's just my speed, am planning a return soon. read more

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I love a unique spot for coffee, so I was interested to try a Turkish spot for coffee. The place felt very homey & seemed like a family business. I tried the rose empire & it was good. Flavor was good, not overpowering or anything. Next time I'll try the Turkish pastries. read more

Caspian Crust - THE ROSE EMPIRE - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was so excited for this cafe after seeing so many good reviews, but they ended up being false. The shorgogal was hard as a rock and completely inedible. I took it home and nothing could soften it up. It was so dry and stale and even the flavor was deeply unpleasant if you could get past the texture. I paid around $7 for this and it was so bad I threw it out, and I never throw out a pastry if I can possibly eat it. I am so sad to have wasted my money on this and so incredibly disappointed in the quality of these baked goods. I can't think of a single redeeming feature. Was this 5 days old? It should never have been served to anyone. What a sad afternoon. The man behind the counter was nice but I just can't get over such terrible food at such a high price. Maybe the coffee is good, but please don't make my mistake and waste your money on the baked goods. read more

Caspian Crust - Shorgogal (hard as a rock and completely inedible) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Was looking for a new coffee shop to get work done and Caspian Crust was a great space! It's very cozy. I really enjoyed their Turkish coffee with baklava. Parking can be hard to find, but on weekends there is street parking available behind the building. read more

We were excited to find a Turkish coffeeshop in Georgetown, but were left unconvinced with the experience. The Borek was not the best we had, the donuts tasted more like beignets, or maybe that's what they were supposed to be; they were ok. Most tragically, the baklava was of commercial quality; didn't taste good at all, I abandoned it after two bites. Coffee was good, they serve Julius Meinl, an excellent Vienna coffee brand. I won't return. read more

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Cute and cozy cafe! I stopped in here just for a quick treat and really enjoyed their cherry danish! I also ordered a vanilla latte which came out piping hot but was pretty good when it cooled down. There's not a ton of seating but it wasn't crowded so I was able to grab a table and just enjoy a cute place to sit! read more

Caspian Crust - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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For a more unique bakery experience in D.C., go to Caspian Crust, a small bakery and cafe opened by two business partners from Turkey and Azerbaijan. The moment you walk in, you'll see a spread of pastries made fresh every day. There's baklava, börek (cheese, spinach, and meat), honey cake, and more. They also serve dips with cheeses, sweet cherries, and more. They have a variety of tea from rose to mint. Their coffee is Julius Meinl from Austria and yes, Turkish coffee is on the menu! There are a few seats on the bottom floor and more upstairs. They also have Wi-Fi. (Password is written down near the register.) read more

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When other options fell through, I found this place open for a holiday. They purport to offer baked goods in Azerbaijani style (the second Azerbaijani cafe in DC that I am aware of). I took a recommendation on a lemon-filled donut that was delicious, and added a savory option which was some sort of bread twist with a lot of sesame seeds. They did not have the rosewater chai on the menu, and my generic big brand chai was fine but not especially worthwhile. There was enough indoor and outdoor seating here at the edge of Georgetown to hang around, and I was glad I found this place. read more

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Delicious coffee with wonderful looking pastries and yummy sandwiches. Staff was kind and remembered us as we returned several days in a row :) Limited seating but that is to be expected in small cafe. read more

Caspian Crust - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Wonderful little cafe in Georgetown that has delicious pastries and breakfasts with a Turkish flair and lots of choices for coffee and teas. Absolutely everything we tried was very good and very friendly service. And as a plus they allowed us in with our little pup! read more

Caspian Crust - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

What a gem of a spot. There's limited seating but the service and quality of baked goods make up for it. We came by after checking out the flea market across the street to try their different savory and sweet pastries. We weren't disappointed. You really can't go wrong with anything you order! read more

So, in reality 3 stars for first visit, but I do plan to come again! I came in one day 2 hours before closing- that's my bad. It is hard to judge how fresh the pastries are when you're coming in at the end of the day to pick up something vs before 3. The workers here are very polite. It looks like a nice place to come and eat as well one day. I was just getting take away. I got a few different things. The best thing was the Pistachio Milk Cake! So Good! I would get that again. Then, the Borek with meat was tasty when I heated it up! Now, the Borek with cheese was dry and I didn't care for it. And, the coconut doughnut was hard. I wasn't sure if it was suppose to be that way or a special style of Turkish doughnut. But, I like super soft doughnuts. It was also filled with something still hard even after I heated up the doughnut to make it soft? So overall first visit with 4 things I tried was okay. With loving 2 things and not loving 2 others. But, I plan to come one day before 3 when things will be fresher( cause if you come 2 hours before closing no bakery will have the freshest things) read more

I love this place. The whole vibe is so chill and charming, you can sit and catch up with a friend or work, and their pastries and coffee are delicious. I also love that they have a selection of Turkish sodas, jams, and snacks to buy - I have absolutely no knowledge about any of this type of food, so it's just fun and interesting to buy and discover new favorites with the kids. read more

Excellent pastries every Sunday! Good service, very fine coffees too! Recommend relaxing on the second floor and enjoy the view of upper Georgetown. read more

A very welcoming cafe with friendly service. The pistachio baklava is outstanding. I also recommend the spinach or cheese borek as a breakfast treat. read more

My 10th visit to this new neighborhood cafe. Good selection of tasty coffees & unique tasty pastries. my favorite is Avocado Toast with Salmon & Arugala balsamic dressing! Delicious read more

Terrific sweet and savory pastries. If you haven't tried Turkish and Azerbaijani pastry before, you're in for a treat. The cheese borek is especially good, and the people who run the place are really nice. Highly recommended. read more

Caspian Crust - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I used to know this place as Janti Cafe. It held a special place in me as it would be the spot me and my boyfriend would unwind at. Caspian Crust, the new branding, has enhanced that experience immediately. The ambiance is friendly and warm with delicious pastries they offer. The workers are incredibly kind. I've typically been dropping by to use it as a place to get some work done, and have been offered complimentary treats out of the warmth in their hearts. Excellent spot to have a nice relaxing morning. read more

The staff is very professional and friendly! They look happy to come to work. The coffee was delicious. The food was fresh and the atmosphere was chill. Great place to come chill with friends over coffee. read more

Caspian Crust - The bar area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have tried this place twice with similar experiences. I want to emphasize that the people running it are lovely. And it is clearly valued by locals. But I find the food and surroundings sub par. I tried four of the baked goods, and they were all either dry or greasy. The space is cluttered, dark, and in need of an upgrade. The pastries are all commercially sourced. Some are baked on site but others come straight from plastic bags, even though they are all displayed in pretty baskets and cases up front. The "Turkish bagel, ," in particular was so dry and tasteless I had to throw it away. They will warm up pastries on request, but mine was overcooked, making it greasy and the pastry like rubber. The coffee is good, but I cannot recommend a single thing I ate. I am sad to say you are probably better off with Fresh Baguette across the street or Tatte down the hill. read more

Caspian Crust is a really great cafe with a variety of different Azerbaijani and Turkish pastries and amazing coffee. It's coziness felt like a hug in the middle of a long day read more

We stopped by this morning with the whole family and absolutely loved everything we had! Each of us ordered something different--various pastries and coffees--and everything was fresh, delicious, and clearly made with care. The coffee was excellent too--smooth, rich, and just what we needed to start the day. We also had a lovely chat with the friendly owner, which made the experience even more special. We'll definitely be back! read more

New place opened up in Georgetown! Became my favorite and go to coffee shop and quick bites place. Service is exceptional, atmosphere is very welcoming. Food is simply amazing, the baklava and honey cake are to die for. read more