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    Paramount Cafe

    4.8 (354 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    PARAMOUNT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Paramount Cafe

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    Beef sandwich

    We looked at pictures of the menu on Yelp and thought the options looked good. Turns out that is an old menu from previous owners. The menu is limited. Either a beef or pork sandwich and about a dozen Asian dishes. We opted for the sandwiches in both beef and pork. We were pleasantly surprised. They were good sized sandwiches and had great flavor. Service was great. Price was likely okay for this area.

    Chinese style box lunch (盒饭)with pork and cauliflower, egg and tomato stir fry, pork ribs, bok choy and egg soup and white rice
    David S.

    I've tried the Chinese pork burger 肉夹馍 and the box lunch 盒饭 and they are both excellent! I especially loved the box lunch, you get to sample a lot of different authentic Chinese food for only $12.99! I'm definitely goin back for more. The service is wonderful, the owners are very friendly! And the ambiance is very relaxing:) try them out!

    Tank G.

    This is a cute little café that doubles as a small convenience store. The café serves coffees, and sandwiches. They used to serve breakfast but has discontinued that for now. There is a small private parking lot in front of the café, but most of them are reserved for businesses in the strip mall that the café is co-located. They have coolers full of drinks, chips and random items such as bleach, paper towels, toilet paper, laundry shop, and paper cups. The place also looks like it is a pick-up spot for dry cleaning. Talk about your one-stop shopping. They have bar seating along the wall, in the front of the store and a few tables and chairs on the opposite side. The seating is very limited. There is music playing throughout the café. They had some Stevie Wonder playing while I was there. They have a wide selection of sandwiches. I was in an exotic mood, so I decided to go with the Thanksgiving Morning Sandwich. It is a one-person operation, so it took a little time for me to get my food. I would say about 15 minutes. The woman working there was extremely friendly though. I got a drink from the cooler and a bag of chips to go with my sandwich. The sandwich looked small at first glance, but was filling, fresh and delicious. It was packed with flavor. I really liked it. This little hole-in-the-wall café that you will find in a little duck-off, has some awesome food and top-notch service. I really enjoyed my meal here. I highly recommend checking this place out.

    the menu for the restaurant
    Esther S.

    Incredible cute little cafe! Smell of delicious food hit as soon as I walked in. They have a variety of different snacks and a beverage fridge. I got the #6 and it was delicious, wish I got 2 sandwiches. Will definitely be back.

    Roasted turkey BLT
    Mike B.

    I have no doubt in my mind why Paramount Cafe has 245 reviews and 5 solid stars. Well, there's several reasons. 1. The owner is one of the most welcoming, caring, and sweet individuals you'll ever meet. 2. The food is fresh and made with love. 3. It's pretty darn convenient. Especially if you live in the Paramount Apartments that sit atop the Paramount cafe. Or even if you're passing by in Pentagon City. They have a few dedicated parking spaces out front for the store, and it was a quick easy delicious meal. From the very moment I walked through the door, the owner of the cafe was treating me like family. "Hey there, how are you doing? What can I do for you? Are you here to have a sandwich?" I have to assume that her sandwiches are what's really bringing in people from far and wide. Sure there's a drink fridge with a variety of different bottles and canned beverages. Sure there's a mish mosh of common household goods like aluminum foil, plastic wrap, canned goods etc. I'd be willing to bet that her biggest revenue stream is from these loaded hearty sandwiches. They're just about 12-15 on the menu. She also does gyro sandwiches too. And right behind the counter there is a little conveyor belt oven that she uses to whip up a pretty darn tasty sandwich. She's an honest business owner (completely fine with me), the competition from the Whole Foods that opened a year ago down the street has definitely taken a big bite out of her business. But if you trust me at all, and I know there's a few of you out there that do, the sandwich that I got at Paramount Cafe stands on a different level than the super giant down the street. It's truly made with love. Is the bacon cooked perfectly? No. Is the bread artisan? No. Is the turkey handcarved fresh right there? No. I can't exactly tell you why, but like I said, trust me; it does. I ended up getting the Roasted Turkey BLT. She first roasts the turkey meat and puts it on a very sizable piece of marble rye. Second she makes sure I want the default horseradish sauce as the base. I opt for mayo, but get horseradish on the side. She then hand cuts avocado, piles on lettuce tomato and bacon, and throws it in a panini press. The result is a SOLID sandwich that I'd be happy to serve in my home. She tells me I can pay later and not to worry, just enjoy my sandwich and relax. She then comes to check-in JUST at the perfect time to make sure that everything is too my liking. "Do I need any more horseradish sauce?" I tried it, its delicious, but "No, I'm good for now." It just goes to show that Customer Service can be everything. From start to finish I felt cared for, cared about, and taken care of. Just an absolutely pleasant experience. Food gets a 4 stars. Customer Service gets 10 stars. Overall: 5 stars.

    Denny K.

    Nearly hidden on the ground floor and Bank of America side of the Paramount Apartment building is a true gem of a mom and pop convenience store. (More of the latter than a Cafe - but it serves dutifully as both.) As you walk in through a narrow seating area near the front door, your senses likely will be stimulated by the appealing aroma of fresh Expresso being brewed or the wafting, toasty notes of a grilled panini sandwich. Operated by a family - not a corporation - this small den of delights, aka snacks, notions, drinks, and sundries, is a repository for all the little things you might have forgotten at the big grocery store (or on your vacation trip). From popcorn and chips to ice cream and candy bars, seltzer to soap, and single serve headache remedies to Ben and Jerry's ice cream, this small store seems to stock a little bit of everything. Freshly made delicious sandwiches, beer, wine, and soft drinks fill the bill for folks in the apartment complex above the store and those in the hotel right around the corner. The list of what they stock is figuratively endless. Love the service, friendliness, and congeniality of Mia and Dave.

    Club Focaccia
    Dj S.

    The BEST sandwiches in the area, and the owner is the sweetest lady. This was voted as the best sandwich shop in Virginia in recent years. Help support small businesses like this stay open!

    Tuna Love

    Really delicious sandwich. Staff was super friendly. Only cons are the lack of air conditioning and the store hours. I wish it was open more often!

    Mozarella + veggie sandwich
    Brady R.

    Two words that set this place apart from most other places you'll find in the area: customer service. I stopped in and was a bit taken aback as it was nothing like I expected. It's located under an apartment building is like a little shop that happens to also be a cafe where you can buy coffees, teas, and small eats, like sandwiches, etc. They have alcohol, bottled beverages, random snacks, and lots of other random finds. I opted for lunch and got the veggie mozarella sandwich, per Kim's suggestion. I also got an iced tea. Kim was phenomenal from start to finish. She helped me decide which vegetarian option was the best. Within a few minutes, instead of handing me the sandwich at the counter, she walked the dish to my table and insisted on doing so. After I was finished, she then made sure that everything was nothing but delicious. I requested that she pour my leftover tea into my reusable water bottle I had to not waste it, and she had no issues with this. Customer service wins the five stars at this location. Food is about 4 stars. Interior could use some love, but the service is the star of this place.

    Turkey blt
    Jen E.

    Was really excited to check this place out since it had five stars for a quick lunch while at a conference at the Crystal City Marriott. It was definitely a neat shop, with lots of fun drinks and necessities. The woman behind the counter seemed nice. We ordered sandwiches. It was fine, but definitely nothing to write home about.

    In the strip center near a Bank of America.
    Crystal R.

    Only in town for a few hours and needed a quick lunch. So glad I found Paramount Cafe. The food is good but I enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and the friendly owner. I enjoy supporting establishments like this one!

    A turkey avocado BLT sandwich and 2 generous sized coffees.

    Small but cute restaurant with a homey atmosphere with friendly staff. The roasted turkey and avocado BLT was well presented, tasty and a generous portion. The staff was friendly as well as efficient in getting our food out in good time. Locals drop by for coffee, a treat or a meal.

    BLT with avocado and chicken.

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    Excellent customer service! The lady who I believe is the owner treats you very friendly very welcoming. The food was on point!

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    8 years ago

    Kim puts her heart in making sandwiches. You can taste the difference from a regular sandwich shop. Don't miss out!

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    New Yorker Deli - The Menu

    New Yorker Deli

    4.3(14 reviews)
    0.6 miCrystal City
    $

    This place is a hidden gem!…read more Breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks. Friendly service. The greek breakfast burrito is 10/10! Love this place.

    This could be because they were a deer in the headlights and not anticipating the lunch crowd from…read morea conference occurring in a nearby hotel. But I would think they would have some heads up on conferences in the area just due to their location. Anyways, I bee-lined it here during lunch break to get a sandwich, with only one person in front of me at the counter. I had the ribeye cheese with added onions, peppers, and mushrooms (a $2.00 upcharge), and was told to have a seat and they would bring me the food since I was going to eat in the building lobby where this location is. And right after I ordered groups from the conference started coming in and soon enough the line was 15-20 people. At the end of that line were two co-workers that found this place by getting lost. They (co-workers) took over 20 minutes before they were even able to make it to the counter to order their food, chili and another ribeye cheesesteak sandwich with fries. After they placed their order, I looked inside and realized they were overwhelmed and were probably not going to bring out my sandwich so I went to the pick up area to ask the status of my sandwich. The panic behind the counter was telling me they lost my order. And they had me wait at the counter for my sandwich an additional 4-5 minutes. When I got back to the table I realized that all I got was the ribeye cheese sandwich with shredded iceberg lettuce, no peppers, no onions, no mushrooms. I wanted to go back, but with the panic behind the counter I said I am just glad I got something to eat. The sandwich was good, not bad, with a nice toast on the hoagie bread. About 10 minutes after I got my food, my co-workers got their food and the person that ordered the chili was very disappointed, they said they have had better chili and Wendy's. My other co-worker agreed that the ribeye cheese sandwich was not bad, but the fries were flavorless, like they were not salted. Anyways, maybe management could take initiative in finding out what conferences are occurring in the immediate area and be prepared that first day, because you only have one chance to make a first impression. I am not likely to return to this establishment due to the incorrect order and the slow service. I wish them much success.

    Bozzelli's Italian Deli-Crystal City

    Bozzelli's Italian Deli-Crystal City

    4.1(399 reviews)
    0.8 miCrystal City
    $$

    If you're hungering for a no-nonsense "feels like I'm in the Bronx" Italian deli experience in…read moreCrystal City, Bozzelli's hits the mark. It has that perfect "neighborhood staple" feel where the focus is clearly on the quality of the ingredients rather than unnecessary frills. I had the Metro Italian (12") which is a beast of a sandwich!! The meat-to-bread ratio is spot on, and you can tell they aren't skimping on the quality of the cold cuts. The bread has that essential crusty exterior while staying soft enough to soak up the oil and vinegar without falling apart. It's a classic Italian sub done exactly the way it should be. Just good luck opening your mouth wide enough to take that first bite! You can't leave an Italian deli without a cannoli, and this one didn't disappoint. The shell was crisp (not soggy!), and the filling was rich and creamy without being overly sweet. It was the perfect finish to a heavy lunch. The shop has a great, authentic energy. It's efficient, which is a must for the Crystal City lunch rush, but they still make you feel like a regular even if it's your first time in. It's easily one of the best spots in the area for a high-quality, reliable meal. They have some tables outside for the nicer days I think the 12" is definitely enough to share if you aren't starving--or just save the other half for a "Round 2" dinner, you won't regret it!

    I have been hearing about Bozzelli's since even before the pandemic, and I used to work right near…read moreit. But would you believe that I just now recently went for the first time? It was night time and I had a party to go to, so I ordered a head online. By the time I got there, it was ready. The restaurant itself is very small and it's definitely a takeout spot, but there are a couple of tables outside. It's perfect when the weather is nice! I was very impressed by the pizza I got -- the Island Time has bacon, pineapple, chili garlic sauce, and marinara. It was absolutely fantastic, from the base cheese and dough to all the other mentioned ingredients. I love a pizza with a nice kick to it! It's not quite Andy's level for me, but understand why people been telling me about it for years. Also, it's kind of expensive!

    Photos
    Bozzelli's Italian Deli-Crystal City - The menu posted above, along with the view of the kitchen

    The menu posted above, along with the view of the kitchen

    Bozzelli's Italian Deli-Crystal City - A handful of Fries

    A handful of Fries

    Bozzelli's Italian Deli-Crystal City - Outside

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    Outside

    Colada Shop - Nachos

    Colada Shop

    4.5(62 reviews)
    0.3 miCrystal City
    $$

    Ok so first of all, I have been here before but seemingly never got around to writing a review from…read morethe last time I was in the area, my sincere apologies. The first time we got coffee and food and it was legit. Five star rating. That was back in early fall so I'd be remiss to try and remember everything. So I'm just going to review today's visit. We stopped in after a day in Alexandria, and the metro was down in crystal city so we had to walk, bus, metro, shuttle hop and repeat. So a busy day. We just wanted a good solid coffee. And a good solid coffee is what we got. The place was low key, despite it being happy hour time (4-8 every day), and Valentine's Day. Which totally fine by me, I don't love crowds encroaching in my personal space. We got a cute little table by the door and helped ourselves to the coffee station area that had some water while waiting to order at the kiosk (you can order at the counter or the kiosk). He got a cafe con leché (hot) (espresso steamed milk and sweet cuban crema) and I got a cortadito (espresso steamed evaporated milk and sweet Cuban crema). Both were phenomenal and hit the spot after a long day. Would highly recommend. I'm eyeballing getting a couple bags of their fresh roasted coffee beans to go home when I leave.

    Stopped in for some drinks. There are two outdoor bars, one downstairs and one upstairs. Fun…read moreatmosphere and friendly service. Decent prices, also. Spicy Cubanella Margarita - sweet and spicy. Cutting down just a bit on the sugar wouldn't be bad but tasty overall Guava oatmeal cookie - sweet and filling.

    Photos
    Colada Shop - Inside

    Inside

    Colada Shop - Platanachos (plantain chip nachos) - $9 at happy hour

    Platanachos (plantain chip nachos) - $9 at happy hour

    Colada Shop

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    Paramount Cafe - cafes - Updated May 2026

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