This is indeed a find that has been found. Everything looks great. From standard entrees to creative takes like an enchilada burger. I would eat in. Presentation is better and some small portions may not transfer well to take out containers. It's all good. Great menu. Give it a try!! read more

Gardenia's Cafe - Huevos Rancheros - $18 (small for the price but excellent flavor) - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I stopped by Gardenias Cafe in Gaithersburg for breakfast, and even though it was busy, the staff kept things moving and the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. We ordered the avocado quinoa salad, a breakfast burrito with chorizo, plus a side of home fries and bacon. The avocado quinoa salad was fresh and flavorful, and the home fries were crispy and well seasoned. Those were definitely my favorite parts of the meal. The breakfast burrito was decent, but it wasn't quite as memorable as I was hoping. My only real complaint was the bacon. It was good, but paying $7 for just three pieces felt a bit pricey. Overall, I'd come back to try more items from the menu since the cafe was clearly popular and had a great atmosphere. If you're in the Gaithersburg area looking for breakfast or brunch, it's worth checking out read more

Looking for a Brunch spot in the area, I brought this up as a choice and it is here, we arrived. Both my friend and I have been to this spot many times before. I decided to try something different and surprisingly I had never had this anywhere else either: Chicken & Waffles. You get 4 Belgian Waffle quarters and 2 nice sized pieces of chicken tenders and a little container of organic maple syrup. The chicken was seasoned well, juicy and had a slight crunch in parts of the pieces. I dipped a piece of the chicken and waffle and poured a little syrup on, and it was tasty. To wash it down I also got a cup of mango juice. I have had many mangoes (in fruit form) and this was not as sweet as I had hoped. My friend shared it could have been because it was fresh, but for me, the mango wasn't fully ripe yet (that was the taste I got). Towards the end of my drink, I decided to shake my cup up a little bit to shake up the juice and that helped a little. Two of my favorite staff members (Genesis and her mom, Maritza) were in-house and it was great to see them again. One of them shared that I should try the Blueberry Greek Yogurt Smoothie. I totally did not notice that on the chalkboard as I would have tried it. I always enjoy trying new things here. Until next time. read more

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Still one of the best food spots in Gaithersburg/Germantown in my opinion. Came for brunch and ordered the farmhouse sandwich while my wife got the huevos rancheros. Both were absolutely fantastic. My sandwich was filling, and the homemade turkey sausage was different in a good way. The picture doesn't look super appetizing but I enjoyed it thoroughly. My wife's entree also tasted great from the bite I took. Savory as can be. She also ordered a caramel macchiato which was okay, a little too sweet for her. The standout item for me was the sourdough cinnamon roll. Holy smokes. It was sweet, warm, soft, and slightly sour. So delicious. Other than the food, the inside is pretty cute, and the people working are still some of the nicest with great customer service. My wife made me promise to bring her back soon which I definitely will. read more

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Additional items tried: ** Cheddar Jalapeno "Sourdough" Bagels = (5) Excellent! Note: Pre-order their SourdoughBagels for the date you need them, b/c they are "Made-to-Order";) Currently they have Plain; Asiago Spinach; Everything; Cheddar Jalapeno & Cinnamon Raisin Bagels;) ** Cold Brew Coffee = (4.25) Very good ** Salvadoreno Tipico = (4.25) Very tasty ** Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes = (4.25) Very good read more

Good food made with passion and fresh ingredients. I got the huevos rancheros. Black button muffin good too. Service is good, despite short staff. Authentic Hispanic ambiance. Slightly expensive but well worth it. read more

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I wish we came this way more often because this place is top notch. The owner has an amazing memory because she said it had been a while since she'd seen us and that we'd lost weight. Both quite true but given I think it had been close to three years since we had been there, it is pretty impressive! I ordered the farmhouse sandwich on a biscuit, it was out of this world good. The potato cake had great flavor but subtle, went perfectly with the egg, savory turkey sausage and just the right amount of sour cream. Man oh man. I don't eat a big breakfast often but this is so good. We brought desserts home, the bread pudding we loved on our previous visit and the tres leches. Both spectacular. I seriously need to make excuses to come out here more often. This is "home cooking" at its finest. read more

Food is good definitely light and fresh. Was a little busy and warm inside on a Friday in summer. The staff is friendly, seem to know their regulars, but it took a good minute for someone to explain you order at a kiosk not at the table. Appreciated that they serve breakfast all day and the location is convenient. Would definitely make a to go stop for breakfast goodies after swinging by the nursery up the street next time. read more

Gardenia's Cafe - Iced Hibiscus tea, pancakes, bacon and eggs, add on of cheddar. - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Time for an updated review. On this occasion, I stopped in with my sister. Service was exceptional as always. This is a quaint little place great for dining in our carry-out. I ordered a simple grilled chicken sandwich but the chicken was cooked to perfection. My sister ordered a falafel wrap and she ate every bite of it. Everything was just wonderful. read more

Gardenia's Cafe - Grilled chicken sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Whew!! the 5 star reviews are true...the food here is absolutely delicious!! I finally made my way here after spontaneously wanting to try a different brunch place. I pulled up my trusty yelp, and my yelp buddy Gail's reviews convinced me that this was the place to try out. When walked in, I was warmly greeted and promptly recommended a variety of items to try out since this was my first visit. I opted for the breakfast sandwich (sub sourdough biscuit) which comes with egg and melted provolone cheese, and choice of protein (I opted for bacon). omg!!! this was theee best bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit I have ever had. So good that I forgot to take a yelp pic :) Of course, I had to order another brunch item on the menu, and I was told to try out the steak and egg benedict. Prime ribeye on a sourdough bread served with egg and fried potato cake. Very delicious as well. They also offer an assortment of desserts, that include gluten free and vegan items. And outside of brunch, they offer a variety of lunch and dinner dishes, coffee/lattes, and fresh fruit/veggies smoothie and juice options. This is a great place for vegetarians and anyone with dietary sensitivities, such as diary and gluten). I ordered my food to go, but as I waited for my order, I noticed this place is relatively small and quaint, but everything feels like one big family gathering. Parking is readily available right out front, but the parking lot gets packed. And the customer service is kind and inviting. Overall, I will definitely return, and I highly recommend!! read more

Gardenia's Cafe - Ribeye Benedict - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Wow. I visited family in the area and went here for breakfast. If this restaurant was near me, I would have to set aside an allowance because I would go ALL the time. Everything was 10/10 with flavor! This is such a cute spot as well - I love the decor and ambiance. My grandmother and I agreed this will now be our "spot" when I come visit. We had the sourdough biscuit, breakfast potatoes, turkey sausage, eggs with cheese, and the cheesecake pancakes with strawberries. The quality is perfect for foodies! read more

Amazing key lime pie and even nicer staff! They were very kind and treated me like family.

this is a very small little spot that we stopped by after a day of berry picking so we were tired and hungry. this is a very popular spot so it got packed pretty quickly so expect to arrive earlier and maybe share a table. we shared a table and had such good conversations with the other family there. all the food was really satisfying and we took home some key lime pies and pastries. would love to come back! read more

We were driving around the area and saw this place was opened early Sunday so decided to just pop in. At first we noticed a lot of people so we were intrigued and wanted to have coffee and brunch here. You order at the counter first and then you sit down and everyone here is so nice and friendly. I felt like I went back home to see my parents. They said almost everything they serve is made in house including the bread and the bread made a huge difference! It was soft and supple. Definitely elevated the dishes like the avocado toast and the Cobb salad. The dressing for the Cobb salad had signs it was made in house as it was bubbly and had signs it was just made and emulsified. The inside had plants and decor and it was bright. It's not a very large place, but it was busy from a lot of repeat customers. This is a good sign that a place is good. I recommend this place and will likely come back again. read more

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Gardenia is just what I needed for a relaxing and filling breakfast. I showed up for the Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes (and Chicken and Waffles), and was recommended to try their Pupusas. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Everyone greeted me with a kind and genuine smile. I could feel that everyone was proud to represent their amazing establishment, and cared immensely for the customer experience and quality of food. Also, the medium/dark coffee they served was outstanding and paired perfectly with both sweet and savory dishes. Thanks to everyone at Gardenia, I am excited to return again. read more

Two women introduced themselves and went over the specials. Both were very friendly! The second woman (Mom) told me that 90% of their menu is house made including the sour dough bread, mayo, ketchup, etc. The coffee is organic and self serve. They have a Central American and a Cuban roast today. The first sip of the Cuban roast was like a I got a defib to my body! You order and pay at the counter whether you're dining in or taking out. The business is Latina owned and run. Daughter is the baker, mom is the life of the party. Food was delicious and pastries are as yummy as they look! Benedicts are a special on the weekends. The english muffin that lines the benedict is made from the house-made sourdough I mentioned earlier. On top of the friendly, helpful staff and the delicious food I wanted to highlight that I just felt good being there. My whole experience was just a feel good experience. I live across the street so I will make it a goal of mine to go more often and bring friends! read more

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Amazing! How have I not stumbled on this place before!? We stopped in for lunch on the Friday after Christmas. It was just my mom and me. We were greeted by the nicest women who explained everything. My mom chose the vegan omelette and I had a breakfast sandwich on the homemade sourdough. We ordered coffee, so we selected cute mugs from the wall. While we waited, one of the women gave us a complimentary pastry, since it was our first time. It was almond pastry heaven. Everything was so good that I called my husband who was out and about with my girls and ordered them lunch to go. They chose the brunch burger, chicken and waffles, chicken Caesar salad, key lime pie and a chocolate chip cookie. It took a little while for the food, but glad I waited. My daughter said it was the best Caesar salad she's had. My other one compared the burger to another one she has recently and said this was much better! Her hands were messy from the juicy burger with a little runny egg, but in the best way. The only thing I didn't love was the key lime pie whipped cream had I think lavender in it. I wasn't a fan of that, but everything else was off the charts. read more

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Met a friend here for brunch this morning. The homemade sourdough biscuit was amazing, and I was able to order an egg sandwich on the biscuit. The cilantro lemonade was delicious and unique. It's family owned and operated and the service was top notch and friendly. I highly recommend and will go back for sure! read more

(5/5) Gardenia is one of those places that just feels warm and inviting the moment you walk in. Whether you're stopping by for a morning coffee, a fresh pastry, or a light meal, everything is made with care and tastes fantastic. Their baked goods are always fresh--flaky, buttery, and perfect with a cup of their rich coffee or tea. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and the cozy atmosphere makes it a great spot to relax or catch up with friends. I always leave satisfied and look forward to my next visit. If you haven't been yet, definitely check out Gardenia for a little everyday indulgence that feels special. read more

Gardenia's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Very friendly place, with lots of healthy options- including gluten free and sour dough baked goods. Almost everything is made on site. !

And in conclusion........ The food here is fantastic! The veggie burgers were so good, and so was the side. I don't remember the side, just that we loved everything. read more

They are getting too big for their britches.... We went in and ordered at register and then friend went to New kiosk.....they didn't have a system for the kiosk cuz they kept bringing food to different tables, not knowing who it belonged to. Friend's drink was not correct and corned beef hash was not as before. The tiramisu was dry and other worker said it was supposed to be that way. A very big disappointment. So sorry they are falling. Sad actually. Miss the ambiance. read more

Food was amazing!! Service was even better! Loved everything about this place! I would personally recommend the huevos rancheros. No one does it better! read more

Still amazing food and a wonderful place to enjoy the made from scratch food. Note to the owner, it isn't right that you are passing the credit card fee to your customers, I understand times are tough, but that is the cost of doing business. Most of your food is at a premium cost, a family of five is over $100. Over some time hope you reconsider passing this fee to your customers. read more

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The food here is so good the staff here is so nice they know so much about eating clean and healthy I love that they're so passionate about it I love it here highly recommend (: read more

Gardenia's Cafe - Grilled chicken sandwhich with potato wedges - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Delicious food. Great service. Cozy cafe ambiance. Love the rosemary lamb burger- well seasoned and cooked perfectly. Highly recommend.

AMAZING STAFF! We came here for a quick little coffee break together. But why the 3/5? LETS GET TO IT! Staff: AMMMAZING STAFF! They are the sweetest and most welcoming staff when it comes to service. I came with my boyfriend and the tables were all full. They asked if we want to share a table which were two girls. BUT it was uncomfortable how the lady was like "of course! Why wouldn't you guys not want to sit next to two beautiful ladies" It was kind of strange, because 1. I am with my boyfriend and even my boyfriend was like huh? Does it seem like I care if there's beautiful girls on my table. 2. Are you saying that I'm not beautiful? 3. The girls giggled and kept staring at my man ignoring I was even there? When we sat down the two girls kept checking out my boyfriend and kept looking at him NON STOP in front of me too. It was plain rude to check out another man in front of their gf. I understand, when I see somebody hot or gorgeous, I would take a look. But these girls kept staring at him with flirty eyes and STARING often every few minutes. It was a compliment that he's hot BUT why u staring like u want to take him lol. We both noticed and he said let's just go drink elsewhere. He didn't feel comfortable and when we left. He said he didn't like how the staff handled that by saying that comment. He also said, is this a club or something? I'm confused why the girls think this is a place to flirt or get a man's attention lol. Which made my day to see that's how I felt too Food: we were just here for drinks and desserts for a small little break. Coffee was great, maple cinnamon latte was plain and it cost $1 for oat milk. The crème brûlée was nice and light, I would get this again but the cookie was dry and generic. Nothing special. I would come back here for the crème brûlée! Price: a bit pricy for a small local business Interior: the walls are cute but it's nothing too crazy. Summary: staff is wonderful, but please keep in mind of what was said here from one of your staff and how it can turn out bad if it's sitting with the wrong "set of woman whose thirsty" Sorry, not sorry read more

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This is a wonderful local find. We eat here nearly every week and the family that runs it is warm, hospitable, but most importantly, fantastic cooks. Everything is made as healthy as possible using organic or fresh ingredients. Come for the local warmth, and stay for the food. read more

This place is an absolute gem. It's a little privately owned cafe-style place that makes really delicious coffees with all the care in the world put into making your drink of choice look elegant and delicious in its kitschy little ceramic mugs and cups. No, onto the food. The omelettes are elegant and simple. All of the ingredients and eggs are very fresh. It's sort of an elevated version of a classic omelette with absolutely no prétention. That may seem pretty straight forward and that's because it is. It's not trying to be anything it's not or seem "fancy" for the sake of "fancy". This isn't your roadside diner menu items...it's given more care and attention than that (no shade to roadside diners because they are exactly what they need to be and that's perfect). Now...my personal favorite, which speaks volumes of you were to know me, is the Strawberry Shortcake pancakes. I like pancakes as much as the next person but I usually don't order them because it's usually too "heavy" for me because it sends me into a euphoric carb-induced coma that has me wanting a nap. However...these have become my standard order. It's pancakes with tiny bits of strawberry and "shortcake" in the batter which comes out in the most perfect fluffy, light, pillowy discs you Could ask for. Describing the "strawberry shortcake" aspect is difficult but the best way I can think of is to imagine the outside of a strawberry shortcake Good Humor bar, reducing its sweetness a bit and if it was put into pancake batter. It's absolutely incredible. I'd eat these perfect saucer-shaped pillows every weekend if I could (my pants would hate me if I did. They aren't overly sweet AT ALL and don't have added textures to them or seem like throwing candy in a batter. It's just perfect and the best iteration of these in the decades of breakfast eating. The service is very warm and friendly. Each person has the familiarity of a mom or grandmother making you breakfast. The dining room is smaller (about 6-8 tables) and it is always busy (for good reason) but not to a degree of compromising quality. In the half a dozen times I've gone, the most I've had to wait was maybe 5min at most. If you like breakfast/brunch and to Leave feeling happy, satisfied, caffeinated and a feeling of home, make this your destination. You won't regret it. read more

First time here. The place is very vibrant, clean and the staff is extremely friendly. This garlic turkey burger is JUICY. They give you a great slice of avocado, onion, tomato and pickles with it along with a creamy sauce. Hands down the best turkey burger I have tried (why are they always so dry elsewhere?!) This was one is a standout for sure!The platanos y crema were a beautiful color and caramelized perfectly. I heavily enjoyed my experience and will be coming back. read more

Gardenia's Cafe - Garlic Turkey Burger with a side of Platanos y Crema :) - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Upon walking in, I wasn't expecting much because of its modest interior with bright colorful walls. I'm a fan of the smiley face mugs hung on the wall. I came here with two friends two Saturdays ago because this is a fan favorite in Gaithersburg. The menu has a pretty extensive brunch selection, ranging from sweet to savory options (waffles, sandwiches, toasts, omelettes, benedicts), variety of coffee and drinks as well as baked goods and desserts -- some options with a Latin twist. BELGIAN BERRY WAFFLE - 13 Not too sweet! The presentation was lovely with strawberry sauce on the side, a good amount of berries and some fresh whipped cream. The waffles themselves were fluffy and delicious on its own, and only enhanced wonderfully by all the toppings. If you have a sweet craving, we'd recommend this. CORNED BEEF HASH - 14 This was definitely my favorite. The potatoes were perfectly seasoned and crispy. The corned beef was nicely fatty and juicy -- lots of flavor. The two scrambled eggs on top were cooked perfectly. The toast on the side was great. Nothing to complain about. Would highly recommend. MAMA'S PASTELES - 14 Each order comes with three sizable empanadas and homemade tomato dipping sauce. The empanada shell/crust was so crispy and crunchy, filled with warm and fresh ground beef and potatoes. The seasoning added a lot of depth to the flavor, and initially, I didn't think I could finish one empanada since I was quite full, but because it was so good, I ate the whole thing without hesitation. For a more Latin option, we'd highly recommend this entree. Honestly, we liked everything we ordered and we don't think you can really go wrong here. Because it was the first time for two of us, they gave us a complimentary muffin that we all enjoyed. The service was nice and wonderful, and we'd highly recommend stopping by this wonderful cafe. read more

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Wonderful and friendly staff. Great food, good portions. Little place with not many tables, but well worth it!

Looking to get out of the cookie cutter, merry-go-round of restaurants? Try Gardenia's cafe in Gaithersburg. Happened to stop by on a whim, and left fully satisfied with wonderful tastes and textures. There is a wonderfully warm, welcoming family vibe as you enter. Cozy and bright, Gardenia's features all day favorites like omelettes but also inventive sandwiches like the Farmhouse - egg, turkey sausage, cheese, onion all on homemade sourdough bread. Don't forget to leave room for dessert from an epic array of baked goods like key lime tart. We were barely able to finish a chocolate soufflé after our main courses. A great Central American vibe with the friendliest of staff. Note the hours are daily 9-5, but worth your planning. read more

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One of my favorite local spots - everything I have gotten here is delicious and made with love. The service is top notch and I love the ambiance. Get hear early on the weekends if you want to dine in read more

Gardenia's Cafe - Homemade strawberry juice - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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This place was a fun surprise. We had papusas, which were really great, home made chicken pot pie, and they gifted us a chocolate muffin which was amazing! They don't have regular or diet soda. All their drinks are made on the premises. The food was really good. Can't wait to go back! read more

I stopped here for the second time on a Saturday morning and were greeted by every employee within sight. They are very friendly and accommodating. Love to chat and make the experience a great one for customers. We grabbed a comfty table by the door and ended up getting a bran muffin on the house. It was delicious!! I ordered the eggs Benedict and the poached egg was perfectly cooked. The hollandaise was creamy with a slight tang and I loved it. I can see why this place is top 10 in Yelp burbs. They deserve it! Keep up the great business and experience you give to customers read more

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One of my fave brunch places! The staff here are so kind. In your first visit they'll usually give you a little freebie, and I love that it feels like a home away from home. Always people here because you really get a sense of local community. read more

Gardenia's Cafe - Tex Mex Quesadilla - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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What a perfect little brunch spot! Stopped in spontaneously today and everything was so good! Everything cooked to order and homemade (including their sourdough), everything tasted so fresh and delicious. Their chicken and waffles were perfection and the berry Belgian waffles were SO good. Attentive service and the cutest little spot! Highly highly recommend. We will be back! read more

The ladies here have excellent service they even gave us bread pudding on the house for our first time being here

Sunday 1/21/2024 I had first tried this place back in early 2023 only for their bakery items. I got a black bottom muffin and their bread pudding. The black bottom muffin was very but the bread pudding was terrible and extremely disappointing. I decided to come back to try some of the ACTUAL food they make and I'm glad I did. The service was great and very friendly (like the last time I went). This time around I called in my order and they were very patient with me. Once I picked up my order they were very pleasant and welcoming which goes to show how much they care about their customers and their business. I got the chicken and waffles $14, Cajun chicken pasta $15, and a vegan/ gluten free choclate chip cookie $3. The chicken and waffles were pretty mediocre: the waffle had no consistency, kept falling apart, and it was dryer than you would expected. The chicken tenders were alright but nothing special or unique. Also 14$ for that is overpriced but that's just me. The vegan/gluten free chocolate chip cookie was a miss for me, I didn't like it at all but maybe its just not for me. Now we are saving the best for last with the Cajun chicken pasta which was delicious and looked amazing (presentation wise). The pasta would've been perfect for me IF the pasta had been cooked through a bit more so that it was softer but nonetheless this item was a HIT. Overall, I'm happy to say my opinion has changed for the better on gardenia cafe. Based on what I had it seems like they really go all in on lunch/dinner dishes more so than the breakfast dishes. I would definitely recommend and return. read more