We learned about this place from an email from Yelp that featured new places to try…read more Since we were planning to have dinner at a restaurant in the area, we figured that I would stop in after dinner and get some dessert to go. It's not easy to find. Their address is on Southbank Street, but it can be easy to miss it as it is behind Robek's. We were here on a Sunday around 5 p.m. The first thing I noticed was that they didn't have very many items left. The young man who was behind the counter was friendly and patient. I decided to order two lemon cupcakes and two birthday cupcakes. There were only two birthday cupcakes left, so I guess I timed it right. Four cupcakes ended up costing $18, which seems to be on the expensive side. As for the cupcakes, the lemon ones were for my husband. He thought the lemon flavoring could have been more prominent. We also noticed that the cupcakes were on the oily side. On the plus side, the cake part was very light in texture. This place is basically a take out set up, as it is small. We're not sure if we would return. If we did return, it would be for a meal in the area.

It's nice how there are options for both cupcakes and ice cream. They let me try a few samples…read morebefore picking the ice cream flavor and I opted with mango. It was thick, creamy, and delicious! The workers were nice and service was quick. There's a bunch of outdoor seating as well. The place inside is fairly small so definitely more of a takeout place. I would love to come back and try their cupcakes!

I would go back! I bought half a dozen cookies. It was PACKED! It's probably best to order online…read moreif you're ordering cookies. Especially if you want the fresh baked cookies it'll take around 25 mins. They're located in the soft serve ice cream spot. I have to go back on a chilly day and try their hot chocolate. Homemade whip cream 11/10 Cookies and cream was my absolute favorite cookie out of the batch! Next up was the chocolate chip cookie.

TLDR: very good cookies, especially the premium ones. It is inside the SoftSpot and doesn't have…read moreany branding on the outside. My wife really wanted cookies the other night so we decided on here because it was closest. It was a tad hard to find at first because it's inside the SoftSpot and doesn't have any signage or branding anywhere outside the building. It was super busy for a Saturday evening but they also serve fancy hot chocolate so it made sense why it was busy. The cookies themselves were very very good. We ordered the red velvet, cookies and cream, s'mores, triple chocolate, and one other basic cookie. The cookies and cream, red velvet, and s'mores were all premium cookies and much better than the normal ones. Highly recommend those 3. We wanted the Reese's cookie but they didn't have any already baked so we would have had to wait an additional 15 mins so we went with the red velvet instead. You can also order cookies to be fresh baked but it says it'll take about 20-25 mins for that. The service was super friendly and helpful. My wife also really just wanted a cup of the whipped cream and the employee was super kind and gave her one. The restaurant has a decent amount of seating but felt cramped due to the volume of people inside on Saturday night.

Sometimes you just want to reward yourself with something sweet and…read moredelicious.  That's why we decided to head on over to Twisted Sweets & Savory.  We had never had chimney cakes before - an omission that shall not be allowed to happen again because - Yum!  These are like if really sugary donuts were stretched out into long snakes of dough and then coiled up until it made a wonderful open tube to be coated with all sorts of great things. We chose to do the pistachella and the bounty.  They both featured Nutella and if that wasn't enough, one added crushed pistachios and the other coconut flakes.  They were very tasty but very rich and between the two of us, we had to admit defeat before finishing them both.  Happily, there are to go boxes to bring home any remainders.  The space is very clean and there are tables and lots of napkins (which you will need because these treats are both awesome and very messy).  The staff was very friendly and the parking is easy in the lot out front.  We will have to come back again to try some of the savory options to definitely be followed up by another dessert one. MMMMMM

Twisted Sweets and Savory had been on my radar for quite some time. Yet, it took us quite a while…read moreto give it a try. In part, that was us not quite able to figure out exactly where it was. Grant Street, it turns out, is disjointed. In other words, it's not like it's just a straight shot from one end to the other. We stopped in here on a Saturday around 4 p.m. The place closes at 6 p.m., and are closed on Sunday. At that time of day, they weren't at all busy. The young man at the counter took our orders, and someone working in the back made the sandwiches. We just ordered savory items, so we can't speak to how the sweet items are (although some of them sounded so good). I ordered the salmon sandwich, which consists of: "Choice of your chimney bread, spread with dill cream cheese, filled with smoked Atlantic salmon, spring mix, cucumber, and red onion." The bread choices are everything bagel, jalapeno, and cheesy. I chose the everything bagel and asked for no onion. I found this sandwich to be tasty, but I thought they could have gone lighter with the dill cream cheese. The bread had a nice crispness. My husband ordered the ham and Swiss sandwich, which consists of: "Choice of your chimney bread, spread with paprika mayo and filled with black forest ham, Swiss cheese, fresh romaine hearts, spring mix, sweet pepper, tomato, cucumber, and red onion". He wasn't happy with the paprika mayo, as he says mustard would have worked better. Nor did he care for the sweet peppers. Now he knows not to order the default setting for this sandwich but instead to customize the toppings. They work with DoorDash, which, when ordering online, gives the option to customize one's order. There are high tables, the type that are found in bars, for those who want to eat their sandwiches there. The place is kept very clean.

I actually went to Shilla for the first time 8 years ago so this review is way overdue…read more.. I took my daughters here to try bingsoo for the first time. Their menu had a decent list of bingsoo flavors but I will say I missed the tart flavor that they used to have. We chose strawberry and the man at the counter was very friendly. Inside the restaurant it was decently filled with plenty of tables to sit at. They had a variety of different pastries and desserts. One helpful thing to know is they actually have a very large selection of cakes compared to other local bakeries. Once our bingsoo was ready was took it to our table and it did not disappoint. I would say Shilla has the top bingsoo in the area. We had a great time and probably spent an hour there. Will definitely be coming back.

My friend and I were craving some bubble tea early during a weekday and this was one of the nearby…read moreplaces that was open. Their bubble tea selection was large although interestingly enough they automatically do bubble teas as smoothies unless you request it to be a milk tea. I ordered the Misutgaru (grain powder) smoothie with boba whilst my friend ordered the Taro milk tea with ice and jelly. We liked the taste of both drinks although I've never seen Misutgaru at other boba shops. The boba was a tad overcooked - mushy, soft texture with minimal chewiness. There is plenty of parking, seating, and space inside. It's potentially a good place to study as it wasn't too loud. The bakery items during the weekday didn't have a lot of variety, so be warned. There seemed to only be one person manning the cash register as well as preparing the orders. However, the wait time wasn't too long. Overall, this place was okay and good if I had a sudden craving and was not willing to travel far. However, this is not somewhere I would crave to go.

I always have an incredible experience at Call Your Mother! Whether i'm grabbing a quick breakfast…read morebefore taking little ones to school or enjoying a morning meet up with friends, the vibe (including the music is so energetic and bright). The bagels are always on point! I especially love their seasonal sandwiches. Current faves: the Edgewater, Sun City, and classics toasted with butter, cinnamon, and sugar for the little people. Even in the busiest times, the team is friendly, fast, and accommodating for special requests/variations. They also expanded outdoor seating, which is so nice for families and friends. Love love love this spot!

As a multiethnic New Yorker with both Jewish and Spanish roots, I feel qualified to comment. Sadly,…read moreI think I put too much anticipation into this place bc I was severely let down. - Totally here for the pan de queso bagel mashup bc I make this at home. And I do love the reimagining to a flat shape but these pancitos are VERY greasy and very seasoned when they shouldn't be. It left me feeling sick. -The lox is not great quality. It's that simple. If you know, you know. - The veggie cream cheese was fair. Not flavorful enough but at least it wasn't sweet, which is the common misstep I find outside of NY. - Bagels are meh. Not fab but not bad for outside NY. - The pickle! One of the worst offenders. It's called a full sour on the menu. It's not. It's a dill pickle. Sacrilege outside of the 5 boros. There was one bright shining star though. The latkes! I've never had a latke (potato pancake) that wasn't as heavy as a brick and soaked in grease. That's just how they are. Sometimes they are way too seasoned, too. But these majestic bites of heaven are light as a feather, not soaked in grease and not overly seasoned. And they are GF. Pair with sour cream and that heavenly apple jam. Yowza. I will come back for this, but nothing else. (Wished they bring this fínese to the pan de queso.) -

They make good sourdough bread. The Beef Patty was good as well. Other items looked tempting but…read morewatching what I eat.

I have not been to the Herndon location, but my wife and I met Grace last week at the Farmers…read moreMarket in Old Town Alexandria. We had two raspberry scones that were absolutely delicious! We hope Grace and her table of delicious pastries is there again this week.

Dough Market was one of the many vendors at the Asian Summer Festival this past weekend at Tysons…read moreCorner! I wanted a doughnut, but didn't want the whole thing for myself, so I lightly nudged my sweet tooth friend to split one with me. I knew he wasn't going to say no. It required very little to no convincing. Sadly, they were out of half of their options, but we tried the PANDAN CUSTARD DOUGHNUT (4.65) because we both like pandan. The custard was creamy with a strong pandan flavor. The donut was soft and chewy with a delicious sugar layer. I'm sure these have been sitting out for a few hours, so I'm impressed how well they hold up. I would definitely pay the price for these delicious doughnuts again.

I love Dough Market! I used to visit them at the Net Park farmer's market, and I miss having my…read moreThai tea custard donuts filled fresh in front of me. I hope they'll pop up at DC farmer's markets again some day! I was able to try their new hojicha cinnamon roll and the classic miso pumpkin donut this past weekend at a pop-up they attended, and it was delicious as always (but not as fresh as it used to be at the markets, of course). My friend also loved her black sesame kouign amann, and I've enjoyed their croissants I nthe past. It's just a really solid home bakery, and I was excited to hear they might be opening a storefront in Annandale soon. Definitely check them out if you see them!

Strawberry Shortcake lovers: get the Strawberry Cream cake here, pictured. I don't know that Paris…read moreBaguette uses short cake in any of their recipes, but the flavor profile of the Strawberry cake is similar, light and delightful. Asian-style cake lovers: you will love their light, fruity cakes here. These cakes are reminiscent of light, fruity desserts I've enjoyed at Chinese and Taiwanese bakeries in Queens and other Asian restaurants, in my travels. Paris Baguette originated in Korea, and offers many traditional bakery options. Once I had a bite of the cake and adjusted my expectations, to Asian-style lighter cakes, I really enjoyed them. We had a whipped-light icing on the Strawberry Soft Cream Cake. I really would like to try every flavor of cake here, as they have many. Really, very good. One odd thing, I had to ask 2 team members and a manager - on a later shift - before anyone could give us butter for our baguette. I literally had to ask each of them if they could please go and look further as this is a bakery, and butter for a baguette is a normal request. This is why I'm only giving 3 stars, since none of the staff seemed particularly adventurous about finding any. I was begging for butter. Finally, they brought me one tiny cup of butter. I was confounded, but just accepted it gratefully. Back to the cakes, The Blueberry Strawberry yogurt cake is light and refreshing. There is an entire case of cakes with at least 10 cake types to choose from. If you are a fan of Asian-baked cakes, this is the place. The cake texture is paper light. This style of cake is similar to the softest form of sponge cake you can imagine. The icing is whipped and mildly sweet vs. buttery and rich. Are these cakes less calories? Not sure, but I'm thinking yes. :)

Paris Baguette is a French-Korean bakery chain, known for their classic desserts and drinks. This…read morelocation is in Reston, VA, and it has opened relatively recently. There's a paid parking lot next to the location, but also 1 hour free parking at the town center if you're willing to walk 5 minutes. This location is a little smaller than other Paris Baguette's that I've been to, but there's definitely a lot of seating indoors and outdoors. The ambiance can be described as casual, but nice if you're looking for a cute cafe, good for groups no larger than 4 or for getting some work done. The bakery is self-service, similar to other locations - you pick up a plate, paper, and tongs and bring your food up to the front to pay. They had samples of the chocolate chiffon cake and a roll which was very cool. They're also doing their lemon blueberry and s'mores flavored dessert and drinks promotion for the summer. The prices are average for the area and were worth the quality of food. My boursin garlic cheese quiche was delicious - flavorful, seasoned well and a good size for the price. My blueberry lemonade was also refreshing and the perfect amount of sweet. I'd definitely go back to try other things here!