The best free standing bakery in Bethesda - everything they have is extremely fresh and quite tasty. The restaurant upstairs is reliable and well made. The outdoor patio is a plus, it's off of the second floor. And the special orders are also quite reliable as well! read more

Praline's has a pleasant patio upstairs where they serve a menu of standard bistro food. We had a delightful Mother's Day lunch there, in the full splendor of spring. I ordered the Nicoise salad, which came with canned tuna. Sorry; since I have been to restaurants that serve it with grilled fresh tuna over the salad, I can no longer be happy with this. The other components (egg, potato, green beans) were simply boiled, no dressing except for the spinach. It wasn't bad, but it was also something I could easily have put together at home. Nothin' special. The others had the lobster benedict. While they were happy with the quantity of lobster, I did not hear any oohs or aahs about the taste. Service was either paced for a leisurely lunch, or too slow, depending on how you like to dine. If this is your neighborhood restaurant, it is a fine place to dine in good weather. I wouldn't cross town for it. Perhaps the lack of effort is because the focus is on the bakery downstairs, but the bistro upstairs falls just short of that je ne sais quoi that you want from a restaurant experience. Come on, Pralines, just a little more finesse! read more

I came in to the upstairs bistro for a solo lunch. I was sat right away and received quick service. The food was out quickly as well and served warm! It didn't blow me away, but it didn't taste bad. The lemon bar was tart, which I liked. I got 2 macarons to go (pistachio and lemon) and I would not recommend the macarons. They tasted fine, but not great. They are not worth $3 a cookie. They were sad, stiff macarons with barely any filling and 0 feet on the cookie. It's a no go for me. Definitely go for a different pastry or treat if you stop in! It was rainy when I went, so I couldn't sit outside. I imagine the outdoor terrace would be great on a nice day! The inside is nice. Overall I had a fine experience. I would come back again if someone invited me, but if I had a choice I'd want to try somewhere else in hopes of a better experience. read more

Praline Bakery - Lemon bar - Bakeries Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

I am basing this entire review off a single interaction in this place of business, a restaurant/pastry & coffee establishment. After purchasing some of their goods, I asked for a sip of water and was told that they were forbidden from giving me water. The employee looked humiliated. First time I've ever experienced that! This is a restaurant. Of course they were happy to sell me a bottle of water. But talk about ruining a customer's experience... read more

Poor food. Small portions. Salad barely had any lettuce in it. Lentil soup was thin liquid puree. Just not good food. Staff nice and helpful, but the food is just not good. Delay in getting food and restaurant was empty. Would not return. read more

Terrible place!! Stay away!! This is a popular spot among locals but it's aged and service sucks. The Bistro upstairs might be better but it's full service and doesn't open until 11am. Until then, you're left with weak coffee, fridge cold & not fully baked quiches, mediocre pastries and hopeless staff. Don't expect to get a plate (even a paper one) for your "breakfast" or even a cup of water after you shell out almost ten bucks for a crappy "quiche" that's inedible as is. If this is meant be to go, why have seating?! Confusing! I'll not be going back! Ever! read more

Couldn't imagine a worst impression. No 30 steps up to dining area. Upstairs Terrace closed without signage. Only 5 customers in the entire restaurant but we were told to sit away from windows! So called reserved table, again no signs. The entire place felt dirty and used. We walked out. read more

There pastries are Devine. Prices are high but if you can afford them, they are worth it. The meals here are average...

I advance ordered a cake for my wife's birthday. At pick-up I was given a mis-shaped (because it was stored lying on its side) cake with a dry cracked glaze, one of a dozen they made (clearly not a special birthday order). The cake did reflect the 'facts' of the order, but this clearly was not a cake fit for an occasion. I suppose if you just want to go for a piece of cake it might be an acceptable place, but do not mistake this for a professional bakery capable of putting out cakes that are both tasty and something you would present to guests. read more

Tremendous croissant-adjacent products. Go early for the best selection. Dining is also first rate. Accessibility, however, is a bit of a challenge, owing to the stairs. read more

I still enjoy picking up the occasional box of pastries or having a cup of coffee and dessert here with a friend--the seating area is limited but very cozy and relaxing, especially by the fireplace on a chilly day. Service is friendly and efficient, and it is always fun to admire the wonderful pastries behind the glass display--the pave is a favorite, as are the almond cookies... read more

Praline Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

Food, service, and ambiance are 5 Stars! Owners and staff are excellent! This place is a community asset! 5 Stars read more

Sorry, but after Boulangerie Christophe there's no way I can sanction day old (or older) pastries. Ginger cookie Chocolate chip Walnut Dacquoise Linzer They were fine, but not perfect and amazing, unfortunately. read more

Our group of 10 people went there for brunch to celebrate a birthday. Most of us ordered from the brunch choices. Items included Omelet your way, New Yorker (bagel with smoked salmon and a fried egg, Mezze, pot pie, burger and such. Food was good and the outdoor space on the second floor deck was spacious with big umbrellas and plantings. So I would recommend this if you live nearby. One sour note for us though. When reservation was called in, our friend specifically mentioned it was for a birthday celebration and whether we can bring a cake. She was told Yes. We got there with the cake and the staff put it in the fridge for us and did not mention anything. At the end of the meal, the owner came to our table and sternly declared: No Outside Food is allowed. We understand. But the restaurant staff made a mistake and told our group otherwise. We did not make a fuss but all of us felt that we were being chastised because of the owner's tone of voice! Our original desire to buy pastries was dashed. Paid our bill, took our cake and left. read more

See all

Very much an old college-town feel (that's a good thing) and experienced hands in the kitchen! Loved the Seafood salad ($18) which was a pile of mixed greens surrounded by two shrimp, a scallop, two mussels, and a decent portion of salmon. All the seafood was perfectly seasoned and the presentation made it fun to eat. I did request a tad more dressing as I felt the greens were a little underdressed. No biggie. The Vegetarian Quiche ($12) was delicious as expected. A standalone single quiche is the style here, which is appealing in its own way. Coffee ($3) is of good quality and the service is top-tier and very friendly. Our water glasses were filled to the brim at all times. I look forward to frequenting Praline and trying more of their brunch and dinner menu items! read more

Praline Bakery - Vegetarian Quiche - Bakeries Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

Honestly this place was pretty blah. The ONLY thing that was good was the Walnut Dacquoise. I ordered a Croque Madame and got a Croque Monsieur instead. Oh well, I can roll with the punches. However, it was...smothered in cheese. Like, swimming. I had to tease out the ham (which looked like generic supermarket ham instead of a nicer cut) and just eat a part of the sandwich because it was so overwhelming. Tried the bakery downstairs where I had to repeat my order 4 times (two pastries, it's not hard). Of the two, the Walnut Dacquoise is the only thing worth paying attention to. It's not enough to save this place overall. I'll pass on coming back. read more

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Great breakfasts, brunches and pastries in a charming ambience. Upon the recommendation of relatives the hubby and I tried this place during our visit to the area. It was a short walk from where we were staying so we ended up visiting twice: brunch one day and breakfast another day. The restaurant has a bakery on the first floor with some small tables but the regular dining room/patio is upstairs. As far as I could tell I didn't see any elevators so I'm not sure how people with mobility issues make it up there. The decor is French country-cute, but not too precious. We were sat at a comfortable booth by some windows looking out onto the patio, which also looked pleasant. We tried the following: - Eggs Benedict minus ham, with dressed greens and garlicky potatoes that were unusually oily-looking but turned out to be very tasty. The bread slices on which it came were nice and flaky, and the hollandaise sauce was good. - The coffee was good and strong. - French toast was moist and cinnamon-y. - Buckwheat crepes with mushrooms in cream were a savory delight. - Beet salad with red and golden beets was good but nothing earth-shattering. The prices aren't cheap, but I thought it was fine for what we got. The great food, good service and pleasant atmosphere make it a winner in my book. read more

Praline Bakery - Buckwheat crepe with mushrooms and side of over easy egg - Bakeries Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Always excellent Varied menu and excellent pastries Tight tables though and noisy At times read more

I have been searching for a bakery with amazing baked goods and THIS IS IT! I selected several different cookies to try. They were all amazing. Been back twice since then. The cookies aren't cheap but this is definitely "you get for you pay for" bakery. First class baked goods. Last Sunday I visited their Bistro upstairs for breakfast. Food was good but doesn't open till 11 so not a great breakfast place but good for brunch. Cant go wrong if you love high quality, fresh baked goods read more

The restaurant gets a 2, the bakery gets a 4. Dining outside at this restaurant yesterday was lovely due to the warm weather & pleasant vibe. Unfortunately, my Niçoise salad was the definition of bland & my French fries were only slightly better. Items that I bought at the bakery downstairs & took home were much better. I liked the cinnamon roll as well as the raspberry twist. The brownie was fine & the chocolate mousse cup was delicious. read more

See all

The food was delicious! I got the chicken pot pie and Caesar salad (no protein). Perfect temperature. Came out in a reasonable time. Staff were super friendly and accommodating! The restaurant was cozy and spacious. read more

Praline Bakery - Chicken Pot Pie - Bakeries Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

Wow. Their Chocolate Truffle Cake is CHOCOLATE EVERYTHING! If you are a chocolate lover, you have got to try this! It was so rich in chocolate and everything a chocolate lover needs in life. This bakery seems to be a local favorite and looked like several customers were getting the French Baguette. Personally, I think pastries were reasonably price, so definitely give it a try! read more

Praline Bakery - Opera, Apple Pie, Chocolate Truffle, Lemon Almond, and Dacquoise - Bakeries Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

The pastries are pretty good, not great. The coffee is pretty good considering that's not an emphasis. The sandwiches are good as are the cakes and cookies, some excellent (Pave). There is at least one very helpful/professional person there and then there are others who seem to be poorly trained. Place is always a bit too dusty, needs a really good deep clean and all staff should be trained on use of gloves/paper/tongs etc to handle baked goods. read more

Do not purchase their to-go food. My "salad" turned out to be an artfully prepared box of lettuce with 2 tomatoes, 4 green beans, 1 fingerling potato, and no more than 2 tablespoons of tuna. I actually spent some time rummaging through the lettuce because I was sure there must be more. Nope. Worst were the 2 kalamata olives, one of which was pitted, so I bit into the second one incautiously--and surprise! It had a pit. I fear I may have cracked my tooth. Clearly they do not value their customers enough to do much quality control, or to put enough ingredients into a $14 salad to make it an actual "salad" rather than a box of lettuce with some garnish. read more

I have been to this restaurant three times now. The first two times, I sat outdoors on the patio. The ambiance of the patio is lovely. The first two times, the food was ok. I enjoyed the mussels and crab louie salad dishes the best. The french onion was nothing to write home about, which is unfortunate because that is my favorite. I was just happy to get out of the house in a safe environment during covid. It is my most recent experience that compels me to write a review. I wanted to celebrate my husband's recent professional accomplishment by surprising him with his favorite sandwich: croque monsieur. We recently moved to this area, so I wasn't sure where to go for it and even though I had been to this restaurant twice, I still did my research before deciding to order from Praline (which included reading yelp reviews and looking at pictures of their version of the sandwich online on Praline's website and on yelp). I am disappointed with the croque monsieur and feel the restaurant provided an inaccurate representation of the sandwich on their website. The website menu for carryout has a picture that looks like versions of the sandwich I've seen in the past. What I received was shockingly different looking...and had I known this was how they made it, I would not have gone here. The menu picture has melted cheese that looks thicker and the one I received had cheese with a soupy consistency. When I called the restaurant, thinking I had the wrong order, they told me they recently changed the way they prepare the sandwich. I told them they should update the website to show the new way they are preparing the sandwich. I know this is a really specific review, but I felt I needed to leave it because sometimes I go to restaurants with my heart set on a certain item, and I would want to know the discrepancy between the advertised pictures and the actual item prior to dining. Croque Monsieur Sandwich read more

Praline Bakery - This is the photograph on the website - Bakeries Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

This a very fine bakery and if you order something specially made, the results are excellent. I have had them make a variety of pastries, all excellent. read more

We had a poor experience at the downstairs bakery this morning. After purchasing two small quiches and sitting down to eat them we were informed that they would only be sold cold - it is agains their policy to heat anything up. As the one which was still partially frozen we left. This poor review is strictly for the downstairs bakery section - we hope the upstairs dining remains as wonderful as we remember it. read more

Epic! A place not to be missed! Love supporting the local eateries! Try the quiche, the flat iron steak and the chocolate desserts! Who knew spiders could be so tasty?! read more

Praline Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This is a detailed review of the bistro and the bakery. We tried to get a fair representation by buying a variety of items from both places. At the bistro, my wife and I were seated outside on the roof terrace. It was spacious with a casual upscale atmosphere. We ordered split pea with ham soup (soup du jour), onion soup gratinée, crab cake sandwich, chicken pot pie, crème brûlée and coffee. The split pea with ham soup was delicious. I don't normally like split pea with ham soup, so this is saying something. The peas were pureed which made the soup broth very smooth. The taste was balanced and well-rounded. No overpowering flavor from the peas. Instead, there was a satisfying blend of ham, onion, peas and spices. The soup was thinner than expected, but it didn't make much difference to the taste.    The onion soup gratinée was beautifully prepared. This was one of the best examples of gratinée that I've seen. Gratinée is a french cooking term for browning a topping of cheese or breadcrumbs. The melted cheese was oozing with umami. There was plenty of bread in the soup which was fine for soaking up the broth. The broth was excellent in many ways except one. The beef flavor was too weak. Our server, Billy, told the chef. We received an apology. That was very gracious of the chef. We appreciated that.    The chicken pot pie came in a square bowl with a square puff pastry crust on top that was detached. The crust was light, airy, flaky and crispy. Buttery in flavor like a croissant. The filling was a creamy chicken velouté sauce with big pieces of boneless chicken, carrots, peas, pearl onions and mushrooms. The chicken needed to be cut into bite-sized pieces. Other than that, it was a great comfort food.    The crab cake sandwich was all lump crabmeat. No breading, just delicious sweet crabmeat in a brioche bun. It came with a choice of salad or fries. The salad had a slightly sweet dressing. This was one of the best crab cakes I have had the pleasure of eating.    The crème brûlée had a creamy custard with a rich vanilla flavor. The beautifully caramelized sugar on top was nice and thick. With the coffee, it was a perfect ending to the meal.    Our waiter, Billy was knowledgeable, attentive and friendly. He knew a lot about the food they serve and he asked about our opinion of the food. We look forward to another visit.    See the previous review for the bakery visit. read more

See all

Praline Bakery is one of my favorite spots! They have delicious food and pastries and also have sandwiches and entrees. I come by all the time! The owner is also extremely nice. read more

Praline is a very nice neighborhood bakery/bistro. The bakery has wonderful pastries and the restaurant has reliably good food. On a recent visit I had the smoked salmon appetizer which was absolutely delicious and I love the presentation and the lemon chive spread that comes on the side. The toast is perfectly done - crisp on the outside but still soft. Definitely the standout and my husband, who didn't enjoy his Poulet Grand'mere, happily took care of the leftovers. He found the white wine sauce that his chicken was cooked with to be salty and bland. I agreed. Unfortunately a disappointing dish. I also had the onion soup, which I always get. It's a lovely version! Others in our party enjoyed the Lamb Special, which came in a nice apricot and sundried tomato sauce but the meat seemed a bit dry. The Charcuterie and Cheese platter was enjoyed and had a nice variety of components. The fries to share are always delicious - perfectly crispy. While we didn't get them this time, we often get the Praline burger and the Ratatouille Salmon. Both are very good. For dessert I highly recommend the Praline Crunch, which unfortunately they no longer offer at the bakery. Service is always wonderful here! The long time host and hostess are no longer around but the newer staff is attentive and friendly. There are a few elements that could be improved on the menu, but overall an enjoyable experience. read more

See all

We are new to the neighborhood and had heard great things about the bistro and the bakery and so were anxious to try it. We arrived for lunch and were shown to a table outside in a lovely setting. The ambiance proved to be the high point. After waiting over a half an hour for a server we decided to leave as being studiously ignored is never a pleasant experience. I completely understand how difficult it is for our local restaurants to meet the surge in demand and have had managers/servers ask us to be patient as they try to provide good service. This is appreciated, ignoring patrons is not. read more

I ordered a pistachio chocolate croissant and chocolate chip cookie. The croissant was very flaky which I liked but the pistachio filling didn't taste like pistachio at all. Fake flavor, and was probably almond and died that bright green color. The cookie was also ok, listed as choc chip but actually has oatmeal in it as well. read more

Overpriced and awful food. Inside looks terrible but frankly that's minor in light of the issues with the food and service. Speaking of service, pretty all over the place. Save yourself time and money and skip this one. read more

I'm so happy I found this restaurant! I went there today for dinner, and I was greeted right away with a big smile. I sat down, and my server came right away. I ordered a drink and an appetizer and entree, which I loved. Finally, I ordered tiramisu for dessert which was delicious. The ambiance was cozy.! definitely recommend this place. Great job to the chef and wait staff. read more

This review is for a bridal shower held at this location: I came here for a bridal shower and the food and service were okay. I do have to say that the room that we were in for the bridal shower was kind of too small for the amount of people that were there. It was hard to walk around and mingle with people. They gave us an array of food. There was smoked salmon sandwiches, salad, cheese and cracker boards, and so much more. They even gave us unlimited alcoholic drinks. I thought this was kind of wasteful because I didn't drink and I know a lot of other people did not drink either. All in all, the food was okay and the service was okay too. read more

Two years ago I stumbled upon this bakery while I was house/dog sitting for a friend in the nearby AU Park neighborhood. It had only been open about a month at that time. I do not recall the upstairs dining area being opened at the time. I only visited the bakery and OMG, what a bakery! Almond croissants, pastries galore, and bars and cookies to die for! Now, fast forward to this past Sunday. My neighbor and I decided to venture out here after devouring their lemon bar at the Silver Spring Farmers Market. We arrived shortly before ten when the dining area was scheduled to open; good timing on our part! Breakfast/brunch options are fairly routine. They offer omelets, bacon and eggs and quiche, for example. Each of these entrees are $8.50 each, not exactly cheap compared to other places. My neighbor and I both had the quiche. It was an individual quiche about 5" across. It was light and fluffy and definitely made from scratch with a crisp, pastry crust. We ate outside on the upstairs patio which was nice because of the weather, but there is no view and the only tables with an umbrella are the bigger ones which they did not want to seat two people at. With a drink (try their Arnold Palmer!) this meal is slightly more than ten bucks, and you must save room for a pastry from their countless selection. I stopped by the pastry counter (see the photo!) on the way out. I purchased another lemon bar. It was the same price ($3) as they charge at the Farmers Market. I also got a Jalousie pastry. Its name translates to 'jealous' in French, and that's what my neighbor was. She wanted me to dig into it right there, but I told her I was taking it home whole. It was basically two palmier cookies with raspberry jam spread in between. It wasn't my favorite dessert ever, but I could tell it was made from puff pastry. The friend I dog sat for two years ago is moving to the Brookmont neighborhood this month, which is even closer! When I dog sit next month you can be sure I will be here again and again! read more

Praline Bakery - I'll take one of everything! - Bakeries Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

Service can be slow but it is a delightful place for a leisurely lunch with delicious food.

I hosted an "afternoon tea" baby shower here for 16 people. I had never been here before (other than to see the space) but was pleasantly surprised and would be back here again. Upstairs, there is a small private room (where we were) and a larger main dining room. I worked with Susan and Carine via email and it was an easy process to set up logistics. On the day of, We were able to come in a little early to set up some simple decorations. Afternoon tea was reasonably priced and we had a lot of sweet and savory bites to choose from. Everything that we got was delicious (crab cake, mini smoked salmon sandwich, caramelized onion tart, lemon meringue tart, macarons). The main con to our event was the room was way too small for 16 people. I think that 10 people would be ideal, and maybe AT MAX 12, but with 16, people were crammed in the corner and against the walls and it made conversation difficult and moving around uncomfortable. It was also hard for the waiters to come in and serve the guests. I had asked about moving to the main dining room beforehand but we were not given the option. Also, not a big deal, but it wasn't clear how many small bites we would be getting and I thought that with our large party size we would have had more food. read more

See all

So a little pricey but well worth it. Came by accident. The downstairs is the bakery and the top floor is the restaurant. Unique french decor, love it. Not much sitting place so the place got packed quick, obviously a local favorite. Enjoyed the written daily menu. Food was amazing. Hot, fresh, and have a variety of options for various dietary needs. Desserts melt in your mouth. Coffee nice and strong, just the way I like it! Def a cute unique dinner date location. read more

See all