Full transparency, I've only had pastries from this little cafe so I can't comment on the dining experience. The croissants are quite good, but most of the other things I've tried haven't been impressive. I've tried the fruit tart, vanilla cake, and raspberry chocolate tart, and honestly I don't think any of them were better than what I could get at Wegmans for half the cost. Stick to the different types of croissants. read more

Charming French cafe and bakery in Clifton. Originally, we planned on getting some pastries. However, when we arrived in the morning they had lunch service before noon so we ordered lunch. The staff and service were really good overall. Cafe has a quaint setting and French decor inside and fresh herbs planted outside with a cute poem. Coffee, croissant and sweet pastry (financier) were really good; the croque madame and omelette uses fresh ingredients with a basic salad. Prices were on the high side however, it's worth a visit if you want a taste of France in Clifton. read more

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A nice and cozy ambiance, I can only assume this feels like a cafe in France would. I don't know much about french food, but the omelette, croissant, and pastries were of a higher quality than anything short of a michelin star reataurant and tasted simply amazing. The service, however, was not very good. Our waitress rarely returned to the table, only once refilling our small water glasses. They brought us the wrong side, and considering their menu is rather short and our order was quite simple, this didnt make much sense. They dont have much seating available, only about 10 tables total, and when we arrived 3 tables were already seated and dining. While others arrived and were seated after we had placed our order, they still took a long time for our food to be served, and considering they got 2 tjings wrong in our order we had to wait evwn longer for them to correct it. Finally, when leaving, I was completely ignored at the counter while waiting to order a few pastries to go. Being busy is understandable, but at least an aknowledgment would have gone a long way. read more

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Fresh ingredients, friendly service and charming ambiance We came Sunday around noon and there were several available tables. It is a tight space so if you have a big party, try to make a reservation. They have several outdoor cafe tables as well. Ratatouille tasted like it was fresh from the vegetable garden. The quiche was rich with a delicate crust. Pastries were delicious! The croissant muffin was my favorite. read more

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Lovely place, delicious food, great service, looking forward to my next visit. Personally I felt flavors, condiments etc are well balanced. Make sure to call ahead and reserve a table they get super busy read more

Everything is great! The ambience, the food, the service! Even the chefs would come out to check on you! Everything we ordered is scrumptious. Their wine selection is well picked. All pastries are delectable and yummy! It's a great lunch date area, a cute friend meet-up spot or a quaint coffee break in the Clifton location! read more

Motier - French Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

Highly recommend this simple and quaint cafe for a cozy meal with high quality ingredients and preparation. It's like dining at your fancy aunt's house. We purchased some items out of the pastry case (apple turnover, leek croissant, blueberry cream cheese croissant) and all were perfect in terms of texture and flavor. The entree items were all exceptional; full of flavor and prepared with precision. My only regret was that I came too early and would not be able to enjoy the lunch items such as coq au vin. I shall return :) read more

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Lovely place! We had an amazing experience with friendly service and delicious meal. We went there on a Saturday morning for a brunch menu and everything was tasty. We also got some pastries and cakes to go and it was one of the best cakes I've ever had! I would love to go back for their dinner menu as well. Reservations are recommended. read more

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Adorable quaint little place in lovely Clifton. Service was amazing. Salad dressing was delicious. Quiche was good. Only the onion soup was a little disappointing. Too much bread. Not enough onion and cheese. read more

Love this place. Great food and the hot chocolate is the best . Coming back to try more of their food. It's cute and cozy and impressed by it. read more

Authentic French cuisine! Service was excellent as well, we did not have reservations, but the friendly staff accommodated us quickly. The ambiance is a cute bistro and I can't wait for warmer weather to sit outside soon. We had theFrench onion soup, which was prepared in a lighter style and more authentic than the dark soups you ate probably use to in the US versions. Highly recommend coming here and grabbing a freshly made pastry. They go quickly! read more

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A bit a France nearby us. Outstanding selections. Pastries! Only lunch until Friday's dinners. read more

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I went with my Ladies Who Lunch group today (3/4/2026) all set on the Salade Nicious only to be told it was unavailable because the anchovies were out of season. I am lactose intolerant, so I settled for the ratatouille. Exceptionally disappointed that my only options were the salade vinegarette and ratatouille which I make at home daily ( the salad) and bi weekly for the roasted veg. You should at least indicate on your menu the tuna salade is not available until "the warm months" according to the server. I would gladly have had itwithout the anchovies in any case. $60 for a meal I make for under $10. Will not be returning; although the deserts were good. read more

Had lunch here on a Saturday -- cozy restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Our server was kind and polite. We also had the opportunity to meet the Chef! Very sweet and you can tell how much joy it brings him to see folks enjoying their meals. My friend and I shared 3 dishes together (captioned in picture). Everything was delicious but my favorite had to be the Croque Monsieur and the salad that came with it. It was so savory! We also had a cup of Cafe creme. Highly recommend and we'll definitely be back! read more

Motier - Onion Soup, Croque Monsieur, Traditional Ratatouille - French Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

Picked up different types of croissants and they were all fluffy and fresh. The restaurant is quaint and servers were very quick and nice to chat with. read more

Was looking for a cozy place for weekend breakfast. Found this little gem in Clifton. Environment is very nice. We sat next to the window. We ordered omlete and quiche Lorraine. Both dish were delicious. All servers are nice and attentive. We wrapped up with coffee and napoleon which brought us perfect experience in this restaurant. The restaurant is small so recommended to make reservation in advanced. read more

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Came here for a quick anniversary lunch date and it did not disappoint! It's tucked away in downtown Clifton, the drive was beautiful, the weather was great and we enjoyed lunch outside. The service was friendly and attentive... my only comment was I couldn't customize my order for no cheese, but it's not a dietary allergy just a preference and it was still incredibly tasty! And the chocolate croissant for desert was amazing! read more

This restaurant has so much untapped potential. For one, it is closed to the lunch crowds. Seemingly it is unaware of how well it would do. Today we stopped on our way to a reliable Italian restaurant around the corner and when we popped our heads inside all of the tables had "reservation" on them. We had expected this (happened before ) and as the server was telling us one thing someone else sat us. The food was wonderful and I would love to add this to my rotation but it's a long way to go in a niche area to not know whether they will accommodate you. That's the reason for the star deduction. As far as ambiance it's perfectly lovely for a small cafe. It was great to finally have a chance to eat here read more

Adorable little french cafe. We ordered the onion soup and quiche lorraine. Both amazing and flavorful. Service was quick, can't wait to go back to try their pastries. read more

Motier - French Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

Small cozy French bakery and restaurant in a cute town. Great food and pastry! Reserve a table if you want to dine in coz there aren't too many tables. read more

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I have been here a few times and it is always amazing!! The ambiance, service, food, everything really is what brings me back every time. This time we had the sea bass special, omelette, almond croissant, and the French onion soup (HAVE TO TRY). We went during brunch and everything was so tasty. We always get the French onion soup - it is the best I have ever had. It is so light, well balanced and extremely refreshing. We don't have a photo because we devoured that and the croissant immediately. The location is in a cute and cosy area that you can explore. We went hiking after as there are a few trails near by. Would recommend to anyone!! read more

Motier - Omelette - French Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

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A lovely French bakery in old town Clifton! It is a small bakery, but seating for both inside and outside. It makes me think of one having a tea party :) my family and I shared an almond croissant and ham and cheese croissant. Both were good, but I preferred the almond croissant. Prices for croissants were a little higher than what I'm used to, but they probably use quality ingredients and with inflation, I'm sure it all adds up. Highly recommend and plan to visit again! Customer service was fantastic as well! read more

Motier - French Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

We were at Motier for lunch and it was delicious! The staff was very attentive and sweet. I highly recommend this charming restaurant.

What a great place!! Great ambience, delicious food and beautiful decor!! It's a true French experience. You'll feel as if you're transported to Paris. Highly recommended!! read more

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Historic Clifton got 100x more charming (if you can believe it!) with the addition to Motier! I stopped in to pick up some picnic essentials before visiting Paradise Springs Winery and was immediately enthralled by their tiny patio, adorable window seating, and delicious smell of caramelized sugar wafting from the kitchen. I got a roasted chicken sandwich on a baguette, a few ham and cheese croissants, a chocolate croissant, and a few mini cannelés to share. The staff went above and beyond to customize my order (I'm a picky sandwich eater, what can I say), make a few suggestions, and just generally be friendly and grateful for our patronage. Everything we had was fresh, delicious, and made with quality ingredients. The shop is tiny but they have a few white linen tables that would be perfect for a solo coffee + book outing or a girls' lunch. This spot is a little bit off the Main Street drag, so don't sleep on it! read more

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This is a very quaint family owned restaurant in Clifton. We came here to try their baked goods and lunch. For lunch we ordered the french onion soup and ratatouille. All the ingredients were fresh, and the dishes were well seasoned. The owners and their son were working that day and we were able to chat a bit with them. They were all so nice and welcoming! Would definitely want to visit again in the future for their dinner. read more

Motier - Ratatouille - French Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

Tucked off of Chapel Road in Old Town Clifton, Motier is one of the BEST french bakeries I have ever been to in this area. It is super small and quaint, but there is a good amount of parking to access this area. You can also have sandwiches and lunch/dinner there as well. There are seasonal options, depending on how the chef feels, but the staff are super friendly and helpful with recommendations. I ordered their pain au chocolat, almond croissant, lemon meringue tart, as well as their dark chocolate raspberry tart. Every single one of them were SO GOOD. They are all crafted with love and care, and honestly, you can taste the difference vs. mass-produced pastries like that. PLEASE... if you ever are in the area and want french pastries... go here!! read more

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NOTE: They are CLOSED on MONDAYS! What a fantastic little gem located in the beautiful old town of Clifton. Such a quaint little spot full of charm. We heard about this petite pâtissier & bistro and had to come to check it out as there is nothing better than to support local small biz! They are only open for lunch and have fresh, homemade French pastries & sandwiches to-go or they have a small sit-down menu as well as coffees and wine, and you can dine both indoors & outdoors. The service was fantastic and Chef Ivar Motier was visiting each & every table and the locals were very happy, as we're we; he is such a delightfully warm and gracious host! He moved here from Paris & they have been open for about a month now. The lunch menu consisted of Coq au Vin, Salad, Ratatouille, French Onion Soup, or warm goat cheese over salad. We split a warm goat cheese & the salad, which came with a small cheese plate & bread, so we had double the salad & double the cheese ~ YUMMO! We also had some beautiful French wine to accompany our meal. The food was delicious and had the makings of a great flavor profile. I personally could have used a touch more of salt & pepper & I am not a salt person at all but I do love me some pepper hahaha. We grabbed some croissants to go & I am sooooo looking forward to those for breakfast tomorrow morning, especially excited to try his chocolate almond croissant & I got the last one, whoop whoop, so it must be good! This classically trained pastry chef moved here from France to open this dream bistro so go grab some yummies and support this local, small, amazing business. Bon appétit et cheers! read more

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our dinner last evening was an A+++from beginning to end! in this tiny eating space, we were tucked into the sweetest cove with low lighting and beautiful decor! our war staff was knowledgeable and gracious! our food was SUPBERB! from the delicious tomato basil soup, Coq au Vin, Beef Bourguignon was cooked to perfection! then came the most decadent dessert, The French Hot Chocolate, served with fresh whipped cream and a croissant was the pièce de résistance! Do yourself a favor...make a reservation at Motier and experience the love of good food and gracious hospitality! The owner and chef is to be commended for his artistry! read more

Stumbled upon this charming small bistro/cafe in Old Town Clifton-totally worth visiting, very charming. This cafe has excellent, true French style coffee choices as well as delicious baked goods. I had a long pour americano with heavy cream and a plain croissant. Best croissant I have had in years! The coffee was amazing as well. They serve a French lunch and of course wine. Was greeted immediately and my food came quickly. I loved she spoke to French to me. Highly recommend this cafe and the town for a short day trip with a light meal! Merci read more

Motier - Lunch menu for reference - French Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

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Motier is a favorite morning stop for coffee and pastry. Going for lunch is a truly special experience the poêlée de chèvre is something you will crave once you've tried it. read more

Chef cooking amazing meal. Come out and check our food. The taste was great and the service was also great. One comment: Do not order a coffee drink. Barista didn't have proper knowledge of using a machine, so the taste was super blended and not worth trying. read more

Love getting breakfast here and various pastries throughout the day. Kind staff always tries to accommodate you above and beyond. Delicious coffee too. Looking forward to trying their Prix-Fixe dinner on an upcoming Friday. read more

First time going to Motier. Small interior but the ambiance is what sets it apart. You feel like you're truly in a Parisian bakery. Went there with 3 adults and 1 child and the Motier team went above and beyond to make us comfortable as well as keep our toddler happy and full. The quiche Lorraine was incredible as was the almond milk latte! Would absolutely recommend this restaurant for anyone thinking of trying it! read more

Delicious food, great service, quiet ambiance, easy parking, two for lunch on 8/28/24!

Motier transports me back to France with every visit! And the owners are such a joy to chat with. I would go here everyday if I could as their food is just amazing. read more

Adorable little French cafe & cuisine. On a weekend morning, I was in the mood to have coffee and breakfast while reading a book. There outdoor seating was perfect for it. One note is that the lunch/brunch menu doesn't start until about midday. However I killed time and enjoyed a butter croissant and coffee. I then had the croquet madam with the side salad. Everything was lovely and yummy. The staff does a nice job and are very kind. They also made some great suggestions. My one nugget to why I didn't give it the fully 5 stars is because a big gust of wind cause their umbrella fall on me, bruising my arm. It happened so far and was scary. Two other guests helped me but the staff were inside and unaware. The umbrella could have also seriously hurt someone or fallen on the nice car behind it. I did go inside and mentioned it to the staff and encouraged them to put something on the base to weigh it down to prevent from happening again. I really hope they did. read more

Motier - Butter croissant - French Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

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Cute little French bakery & cafe in the heart of Clifton. It is hard not to order any sweet and savory pastries when you first walk inside. The interior is beautiful, as well as their bathroom. They serve illy coffee which is a plus. Their almond and chocolate croissants were good. They are so flaky , light, and the filling is mild. But I'm more impressed with their baguettes. It was sturdy, held its shape, with a soft taste and melts in my mouth. Both, the ham and chicken sandwiches were delicious because of the flavors and the star was the baguette. I also took home a baguette. I recommend posting their menu of other items, such as the French onion soup and ratatouille. We saw their menu online but didn't know they were serving those items for lunch until we saw a server bring the French onion soup to another diner. We would have ordered them! Otherwise, service was nice and a wonderful addition to the town of Clifton. read more

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I had the special sea bass and it was amazing. The white wine cream sauce was flavorful and the fish was fresh. The atmosphere was cozy. My friends and I had a great time. Service was excellent. read more

This is our go to place for authentic French pastries and food in Fairfax county. This place is a hidden gem in Clifton. I fell in love with chocolate almond croissants when I first had it in Pike Place Market in Seattle and haven't had it since until I stumbled upping this place and it was . After having traveled to Paris, my husband and I have been on the hunt for comparable French bistros and boulangeries in our area and we're glad we found this place. I love that they also added the Crookie which is the newest craze in Paris. read more