I was in town this weekend with Family and we initially were in the mood for Paul- the French…read morepastry shop that has several locations in the area. Unfortunately, the location in DC has permanently closed and we were still very much in the mood for some pastries... my cousin who is French has previously sang the praises of this Lil French pastry shop, so of course I had to give it a try. I am so happy that I did because I truly believe that I have stumbled upon my new favorite pastry shop in the area! Upon walking in the smell of croissants and almonds and sweet, sweet delicacies filled my nostrils. I basically became the human version of Remy from ratatouille inhaling a delicious bouillabaisse simmering on the stove top for hours....seeing colors and flavors so bright and intoxicating I simply had to have it I walked in and my eyes were instantly attracted to so many delicious options from classics like Palmiers and Napoleons to some unique flavor combos I've never tried before combined like raspberry and pistachio. Of course, I decided to grab a little bit of everything to make an accurate assessment as a YELP Elite should!! My favorite hands-down was the Berry Millefuille. The way the pastry crumbled in my mouth with every bite, combined with the tart, fresh raspberries, and thick flavorful custard.... Was worth every penny. Honorable mentions go to the peach rosemary tart, which was so unique with the added botanical of rosemary with some fresh sweet peach slices on top and a very crunchy tart base. We all enjoyed everything we purchased! I also ordered one of their seasonal specialties, the rosemary latte with skim milk and iced. The flavors were so uniquely crafted to where you could taste everything but everything combined together for the perfect sip. The ladies who greeted us at the cash register were so patient, so kind, and so understanding of my excitement and difficulty deciding and they even helped me add on a little chocolate happy birthday rectangle to the pastry I purchased for my husband! Without a doubt, this is only the first of the many times I will visit the establishment. It was so authentic, so delicious and passed all the vibe checks even from the French side of the family. I was told I have to return when they first open to have a fresh croissant and a fresh baguette that is on par with what you would have in Paris. Even the items in the fridge were made in France and were delicious fruit nectars that were very unique- we purchased a passionfruit nectar that didn't even make it past the doors before we had completely inhaled it and purchased a lychee nectar for later. I am so excited to have learned about this establishment and believe me when I say you must run, not walk, to experience it for yourself. Note- The dine in area inside the establishment is limited to a couple small tables. Definitely not equipped for large parties and a couple outdoor seatings right outside.

It was time for an overdue coffee catch up with one of my girlfriends - and what better place to…read morehang out than Dupont Circle? It was a beautiful summer afternoon in the DMV area - the low-humidity and happy-sunshine type of day when your hair doesn't frizz, and you would be just as happy sitting indoors or outdoors because the weather was perfectly cooperative. We found ourselves at Un Je Ne Sais Quoi, which was teeming with people - line out of the door, small space, tiny tables, indoor and outdoor seating, first come first served. We snagged seating indoors and soaked in the laid back European vibes. We had our delicious coffees - mercifully served in proper ceramic cups and some sweet treats. Would definitely be back - perhaps in the morning because I hear that the croissants are supposed to be on point!

Yum, if you are in Georgetown you definitely have to stop in here for cupcakes. Cute little shop on…read morea side street with some seating inside and out front. My daughter and I split the Something Bitchin' and the Razmanian Devil. The Something Bitchin' was moist chocolate cupcake with peanut butter icing. The Razmanian Devil was a moist lemon flavored cupcake with raspberry filling and a lemon flavored cream cheese icing. Very yummy

Sweet tooth??? Well this place definitely will satisfy that…read morecraving. They're cupcakes are flavorful, rich and big! They also offer drinks and other sweet treats. Service was super friendly and kind and the ambience is very relaxed.

I got the scallion croissant with egg and cheese and for drink a flat white. The scallion croissant…read morewas buttery and flakey just as a croissant should be. The egg, was flavorful without overwhelming the croissant. If I can put an image in your head: it felt like a synchronized symphony in your mouth. The coffee was strong, for artificial sweetener this place doesn't have sucralose or similar to it. They have stevia in Splenda packets. For sugar they have regular packets honey, brown sugar and regular sugar. The service was quick for the time we went. Staff responded to my questions about their other pastries. Ambience it feels perfect to catch up with an old friend.

I absolutely adore Rose Ave Bakery. First and foremost: their Vietnamese iced coffee is, in my…read moreopinion, the best in DC. I would go for that alone, but unfortunately for me, everything else is also amazing. I live in Adams Morgan, so I have another neighborhood bakery that I frequent simply because it's closer. Rose Ave is still fairly close, and I go pretty regularly, but somehow I had never taken my parents there. On their most recent visit, we happened to be nearby and stopped in. My mom was genuinely annoyed with me. Not actually angry, obviously, but after trying everything she basically wanted to know why, if Rose Ave was this close to where I live, I had been taking her to the other bakery all these years. Apparently I had been depriving her of what she now considers the best bakery she's been to in DC. (For the record, I refuse to pit two excellent bakeries against each other. There is room in my life for both.) I've tried the breakfast sandwiches, several of the filled pastries, and plenty of the more elaborate creations, and everything is fantastic. But oddly enough, one of my absolute favorites is their simple vanilla donut. There is something perfect about it. It isn't overwhelmingly sugary, but it's still sweet, soft, delicate, and just feels like the perfect little treat. Conveniently, my doctor's office is also nearby, so I have developed a very mature healthcare system in which I schedule morning appointments and reward myself afterward with Rose Ave. I'm pretty sure doing responsible grown-up things for my health cancels out the sugar. I have not asked my doctor to confirm this.

Dear reader, Three…read moreFifty Bakery and Coffee Bar was an absolute delight and quite the lovely little find. I got an iced mocha and a blueberry muffin, and both were excellent. The mocha was delicious, and the muffin truly stole the show. It was incredibly soft, rich, and perfectly tender, the sort of baked good that makes you pause mid-bite just to appreciate it properly. I was genuinely blown away. The staff was also very nice, the place was clean, and the location is great. A further point in its favour: there is tons of outdoor seating, which makes it very easy to settle in and stay awhile.

I was pleasantly surprised from this cafe! Came on a Saturday afternoon and it was rather packed,…read moreso can see people kind of fighting for a spot. Cozy spot though with fast service. I got the orange scone - I loved its buttery flavour alongside the orange hints which weren't too overpowering. The crisp and crumbles of the scone really made it tasty. I also got a white chocolate latte which was standard but good too.

This bakery is where it's at!…read more This spot is a wheat based bakery which I thought was unique and their flour is milled in the house. The interior is small but cozy- there's also some seats/tables outside. I ordered the savory scone and a chocolate croissant and they were both delicious. The scone had cheese, mushroom, and chives which all worked nicely together. The texture on the croissant is peak. Perfectly crunchy/buttery exterior with satisfying soft chew in the middle. The chocolate in the middle was the perfect amount and wasn't too sweet either. For drinks, their syrups are also made in the house too! I ordered the Chai and at first I asked for half the syrup because I'm not a fan of drinks that are too sweet, but the person who took my order assured me that it's not too sweet to begin with and she was right! The spices in the syrup were delicious Nice ambiance, friendly service, and delicious baked goods! Overall, one of my favorite bakeries I've ever been to. If you're in the area, definitely check it out!

Hmm, I had high hopes for this place, but I did not have the best experience here. The highlight…read morewas the cinnamon bun, it was tasty and you could tell it was a healthy version. It was also one of the only feasible options to order as the majority of the pastries were terribly burnt. I really wanted to try the monkey bread, but all of them looked completely burnt so I passed on ordering that. The lattes were just plain bad. My first order was not drinkable as the espresso was completely burnt. I switched it for another latte and that one was at tolerable at best but I found myself struggling to finish it (it was also still slightly burnt). My friend had the same experience with their latte, completely not drinkable. Theirs tasted absolutely horrid, I didn't realize drinks could taste that bad... they had to switch it out, again for another subpar but actually drinkable drink. Terrible experience, likely my first and last time coming here.

I was visiting DC, went to this place 2 days in a row for breakfast:…read moreOrdered egg in a whole House breakfast plate House Tatte latte (best ever, you have to give it a try), I've never had anything like this Prices were reasonable Service and ambiance were excellent

Corn & Spinach Shakshuka... DIVINE. TBH, I had no idea what I was ordering, so when it was…read moredelivered to my table Iookin' like my poached eggs were swimming in a bright yellow soup, I passed some judgment It's described as "Poached eggs in a creamy corn sauce, with baby spinach and zucchini, topped with heirloom cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, zhoug, Aleppo chili oil, and parsley. Served with housemade sourdough," but I didn't see any of the veggies and barely saw the eggs. And, again.. it looked like soup. Little did I know I was about to ingest the equivalent of culinary SUNSHINE! Guys, I don't even know how to describe the flavor... It was a little bit sweet from the corn, but then also a bit creamy. It was one of the best dishes I've ever had. Who knew a popular place known for their baked goods would deliver such a gastronomical delight? If you go and see this on the menu... give it a try... hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did.

I recently had time to explore a little while in DC, and a charming PINK building caught my eye…read morewhile taking a walk. I had absolutely no plans on buying or eating cake that day, but as a cake lover stuff happens. It was such a cute building the pastries had to be everything! It turned out to be the perfect stop. 1. The looks The building itself is so cute on the outside, and being a fan of the color pink, it instantly caught my attention. Inside, it feels less like a fast, high volume bakery and more like an intimate cake boutique. It gives small town where the owners know you by your first name. You can feel that real love was put into the space and the baking. Tasted like every ingredient was hand mixed, every cake hand frosted, and every cookie carefully hand scooped. They even served my slice of coconut cake on a real plate, which was such a cute, bourgeois touch that I loved. 2. Service The hospitality here is top-notch. On my first visit, yes you heard me! Lol! The gentleman Eric who rang me up was incredibly knowledgeable about all the different cookie and cake flavors. I ended up returning the very next day, and although he wasn't there, the other two staff members working which included Mikaela were absolutely delightful and so kind. The young lady told me her daughter loves the carrot cake as well and Mikaela said they started working there because they loved the patties so much! 3. The Cakes -Coconut Cake: This slice was so delicious, fluffy, and airy that it instantly reminded me of being a kid at holiday family meals with a fresh coconut cake on the table. -Carrot Cake: It was everything you want a carrot cake to be. It was nice and dense yet soft, with a pleasant texture from the added fruits. Definitely noticed pineapple bits! The cream cheese frosting wasn't overly thick and was so good you could eat it completely by itself. -Strawberry Cupcakes: I stole a small bite of my son's. unfortunately, this one was my least favorite. The frosting had a little chemical taste to it but it was a super cute cupcake. To answer your question, will I return? Absolutely! If you are in the DC area or planning a trip there soon, check this spot out. It truly feels like a mom and pop or pop and pop boutique. Not a bakery but a BOUTIQUE! Check them out! Tell them Anisha from Milwaukee sent you! (Not that they'd remember it just sounds cute!)

The cupcakes here are seriously good. I tried four different flavors, and every single one was…read moreconsistently delicious. I'd say they're just as good as the famous cupcakes in Georgetown--if not better. This place feels much more like a neighborhood gem: local, mom-and-pop, and very community-oriented. My only regret is that I didn't try it sooner! I moved to DC ten years ago and used to come to Adams Morgan all the time, yet somehow I kept passing this place by. If you're visiting DC and find yourself in Adams Morgan, definitely stop by for a cupcake. There's a nice air-conditioned seating area upstairs, there was no long line when we visited, and the cashier was friendly and gave us great recommendations. The Cakeroom easily has some of the best cupcakes in DC proper. Highly recommend!

I stumbled across Caspian Crust's Brunch with Strangers on Eventbrite, and I genuinely hope more…read morerestaurants 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.

We had a great first visit to Caspian Crust - would recommend for breakfast or pastries and coffee!…read moreThe 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.

Ran across this place while looking for the UPS store. I was in the mood for some sort of pastry…read moreso, I popped in. This is a very small bakery but, there were many ppl in line so I figured it would be pretty good. I went in for something sweet as it was about 8 in the morning but, there were scones, fresh out of the oven that I had to try. I got the cheddar and chive scones. OmG. So warm and good. Crisp edges and soft and fluffy everywhere else. I ate it in minutes. This would go amazing with a side of pasta. My goodness. 10 out of 10. When I am back in the area, I'll try a warm Blueberry scone.

We were finally able to make it to Nino's after having it on our list for a long time. We went on a…read moreweekday somewhat after the morning rush, and even then it was still busy! We were lucky enough to snag some goodies and got a bit of everything, we just weren't patient enough to wait to photograph everything. We did the Za'atar Gruyère Croissant, chocolate croissant, the cheese biscuit item they had (don't remember exact name) and the sfogliatelle. I'm in search of the best croissant in DC, so I regret not getting the regular croissant on this visit, but the chocolate croissant gave me an idea of what to expect. Buttery, flaky, crispy, with just the perfect amount of sweetness. The typical chocolate croissant was my personal favorite. When we asked what the most popular items were, we were surprised it wasn't the more classic bakery items, but we enjoyed what we tried. We want to go back soon to try some other items as well. My friend got a coffee and also enjoyed that! This is the perfect place to stop by for a treat if you make it in time!

Regret not visiting sooner but glad they've now expanded their menu beyond honey cake and…read moreshakarbura to include savory breakfast and lunch dishes. Atmosphere is homey and cafe like, walls are dotted with Azerbaijani crafts and geography. Glad to see a family run business (niece at the counter and aunt cooking inside) running things smoothly. Vegetarian Gutab 5/5-freshly made crepe like flatbread stuffed with greens and served with Labneh. Lightly dusted on the outside with a sumac like herb, the greens inside were fresh. Mushroom filled pastry 5/5-uses their signature flaky dough similar but lighter than a borek dough. Filled end to end, no empty pockets which is a good sign! Cheese Khachapuri-5/5-Not to be confused with the Georgian flatbread khachapuri, this uses the same borek like flaky dough, stuffed with cheese. Cheese is milder than feta, again a good thing! Mixed Greens filled pastry 5/5--same as above, greens and cheese instead of mushrooms. Shakarbura-5/5-delightful moon crescents like the north indian Gujiya, stuffed with nuts yet not overly sweet like baklava. Honey Cake--5/5-worth the hype, layers are gorgeously thin with tender honey and cream. Not too creamy or sweet. Apricot cake--4/5-could do with less preserves and cream, even then on the drier side. Would love to be back to try breakfast items.

Super cute Azerbaijan cafe in AdMo. The interior is really lovely with a lot of seating and then a…read moredisplay case filled with lots of beautiful pastries. Rounding up as they are the loveliest small owned store. They serve a really strong Turkish coffee and have other café items like lattes and they also do a full breakfast menu where you can sit down and eat with utensil so it's a little bit of a café/bakery. I was underwhelmed by the pastries. The mushroom filled pastry was overcooked and chewy. However, I did love the baklava that comes gratis with the Turkish coffee. The stuff was really friendly and it is a full service spot.