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!

Another update because this is a must stop spot for me when I'm in Georgetown. Always friendly…read morestaff. Line goes quick as long as the person in front of you knows what they want by the time they get to the register (side eye) The Karen is my Go To and still has never disappointed. My husbands is The Devil (vanilla with chocolate icing) he swears by it where I often shy away from vanilla because it ends up tasting like a muffin. Not up in here! If you haven't tried the Homemade Marshmallows you are Crazy! And they make excellent gifts that last longer than a cupcake and you can eat them as is or make the best Oven s'mores of your life. The brownies are heavenly and my hubs is all about the rice crispy treats. So needless to say, I don't think you can go wrong. As a treat for yourself or another just go support this local gem.

This is a place that we wanted to like a lot better than we did. We tried it last weekend on a…read morerainy morning, and we went into the "Baked" storefront first, where we ordered quite a few items, assuming that that was the entire selection. The folks on this side were very sweet and helpful. When we went over to "Wired" to get our coffees, there were a bunch of *other* treats over there, which nobody told us about, so that was annoying because then we would have ordered way fewer items. So we got a couple more goodies here as well as our iced coffees and a hot cocoa for our kiddo. The folks on this side were unfriendly and uninterested in customer service ("Just checking in on our quiche...?";"Oh, we totally forgot. We'll put it in now."). We weren't impressed with most of our items though some were better than others. Unsurprisingly, the cupcakes were the best; we got the nutella and "unicorn" ones, and both were moist with excellent frostings. We especially appreciated the filling in the nutella. The chocolate chip cookie was terrible--our daughter, a cookie fiend, refused to have another bite of it. We liked the novelty of the "orange dream" shortcake. As for the other stuff, the spicy sausage biscuit was not spicy at all and had the consistency of rubber. The quiche that finally came out was too oily, but we all liked the decadent cinnamon roll. Bit of a mixed bag all around, so we're settling on three stars. We ourselves won't be back, but others might have a better experience on a different day.

I have been wanting to come here for years and it lived up to the hype. I came around noon on a…read moreSaturday and while there was a line out the door, I didn't wait more than 10 minutes from start to order. They have all the desserts out on display and they have you order there and order coffee at the register to be more efficient. Some indoor seating but no real outdoor seating, and one restroom. I went with the simple passion fruit donut and the ube latte. The donut was a perfect mix of sweet and sour, not overpoweringly so and the donut was so soft I practically inhaled it. The coffee was quite nice too, not too sweet or acidic tasting and was a perfect combination of flavors. I would love to come back and try some more pastries, as the crab rangoon pastry caught my eye. Friendly service- dont let the line deter you too much!

Mango matcha 3.8/5 Saigon Banana Latte 3.8/5…read more Mandarin Creamsicle Donut 5/5 Passion Fruit 5/5 Saigon cookie 4/5 Salted chocolate chip 5/5 Overall everything was good! Especially the desserts, the matcha was alright. I think the banana latte was better than the matcha. I think the matcha was lacking the mango flavor. The line was long, but the service went quickly! It's a small cafe with some seats inside and some outside. Not a ton of space.

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!

A whole wheat based bakery? Sign me up. Better yet, their grains are locally sources and they…read morecreate fresh milled sourdough. I'm on a kick with trying new whole grains, wheat berries, etc. so this bakery was calling my name. I also loved that they offered some unique pastries that I hadn't seen elsewhere. We ended up picking out four of their pastries and coffee drinks to have breakfast on-site as a family. In our typical tradition, we cut everything into fourths and the whole family tries every pastry (everyone wins... ;). We thoroughly enjoyed both the savory and sweet (chocolate) options. I could see how this would be an acquired taste for some. I loved being able to peak into the kitchen to see the big oven and where all the magic happens. I also appreciated their sweet neighborhood location and the big windows offering lots of natural light. Overall, a positive and tasty experience.

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!)

Placed order with Uber Eats Order never came…read more Emailed business manager as was told this happens often with Uber Eats And recommended that I come in to purchase instead of ordering through them. If Uber Eats is such a problem Why continue to deal with them. Won't recommend business

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.

Had to check out the newly managed spot! Very cute local cafe with lots of Turkish goodies and…read morecoffee. 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!

We ordered the chocolate chip walnut and pistachio raspberry cookie!…read moreI'd say the chocolate chip was a 9/10 and the pistachio a 8/10. We loved how thick the cookies were and the huge pieces of walnuts and pistachios. The next day we also tried the peanut butter chocolate one which is probably a 10/10!

The staff is friendly, and even when there's a crowd, the line moves fast. The cookies are always…read morefresh. I don't frequent the bakery too often because I don't eat many sweets these days, but whenever I want to treat myself, Levain is at the absolute top of my list. Highly recommend if you're in Georgetown and looking for a high-quality treat!