I swear to god I tried to love this place, I really really did. Despite my husband and I's legit Starbucks addiction, we try to buy local as often as we can, so when we saw that a non-chain coffee shop was opening up near us, we were excited. We were here when it first opened up (and I totally flaked and didn't FTR it. ARGH!), and we were even more excited! The staff were helpful and although they didn't have soy milk (at the time), they were great with recommendations and were very personable. But even more importantly, they baked their own scones, and the Kale scone was *insane*. We had 3 of them in one sitting. Each time we came, it was the same, very wonderful and personable staff, and some delicious eats. So, what's the problem? SO SO SO SLOW. When we're trying to grab coffee in the morning to head to the office, I'm generally running 5 minutes behind as it is; I really don't have the extra 20 minutes to wait for my coffee. A few times, when there are too many people there, my latte would be forgotten or put out of order (so those that came in after me got their lattes before I did). It got to a point that unless I got up earlier than usual, there's no way I can stop here to get coffee. Then, on the weekends, we tried to get breakfast at the sitdown area of the restaurant. And if I thought the coffee bar service was slow, the sit down area is even slower. We would be seated, but no one would come to check on us (to get us water or order) unless we got up to find the manager. Once, we went up to the counter twice (to get water and menu, then coffee) before someone notified the servers that we were still waiting. So while the food is great, and I love that this is a local shop, the slowness of the service is so egregious that we now only come here when we know that we have tons of time to kill. read more

Excellent food and excellent service. The chicken waffle is amazing and the classic eggs benedict is awesome. read more

Barking Mad Cafe - Classic egg benedict and French toast. Yum! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

This is my spot for Nitro Cold Brew and breakfast pizzas. They also have great breakfast sandwiches Monday through Friday!! Check it out!! Your taste buds will thank you. They are well known for their brunch with outdoor seating. Inquire about that because they recently have been having live music on Saturday afternoons which is awesome! read more

Barking Mad Cafe - Avocado toast is good! Has a good amount of cilantro on it and two poached eggs on the side. It comes with two pieces. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Absolutely delicious food! Service was good. Very nice vibe from the place. Would most certainly come back again. read more

Barking Mad Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Love this place. We have a 1 year old and he was able to play outside. The food is amazing and the waiters are very nice. The beignets are really good. I had the salmon breakfast pizza and it was great. The portions are good. read more

Barking Mad Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Service was good . Too pricey for the quality & quantity. Lovely ambiance for patio dining. DO NOT RECOMMEND the fried califlower , Indonesia fried chicken , banana split & also THIS RESTAURANT... read more

Update: we finally had dinner here last night! Why haven't we tried their food earlier! Bravo to the chef! Really enjoyed their succulent mussels, robust, fresh flavor and the garlic bread was so perfect for dipping in the flavorful broth, you really taste the mussels! (I really wanted to say juices) My fiancée got the pancetta fig pizza and we loved that as well. The flavors merry together very well. So happy we tried it (we forced ourselves to try something out of our element even though blue cheese is something we shy away). We will have to do that more often! Salty and sweet, oh what a treat! read more

Barking Mad Cafe - Their mussels were so good and full of meat and flavor! I saw they have them in their happy hour menu! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Fig pizza was so incredible! Can't recommend it enough. The texture and flavor are unreal. However, not so impressed with the Matcha latte. Was very pale and tasted more like milk than Matcha, and was served luke warm. For 5 dollars, I expected better. read more

Barking Mad Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Awesome place to relax with free wifi, a couple drinks, and healthy eating. Great atmosphere. The bartender was incredibly pleasant (definitely a reason to come back). Didn't really care for his female superior's unprofessional attitude, but would still go back. Little tip: When the place is dead and the bartender is offering up friendly conversation to patrons sitting at the bar, maybe don't reprimand him for it and then send him to another area of the restaurant to do something that the manager is supposed to be doing.. unless you are replacing his rapport building with your own (which you did not). Learn your trade; it was rude. Also, smiling at customers will go far. read more

Lovely decor, sweet atmosphere and staff. Best cup of coffee anywhere, I guarantee. And I've had coffee everywhere. I usually drink it black, but love a great latte every now and again. I tried theirs with soy milk (I think milk and I are breaking up) and it was just as stellar as the regular ones I've had there before. Congrats, Barking Mad! read more

Barking Mad Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

The wife and I are huge fans of this place. Creative menu but with standards that most people will enjoy. Have had the pizzas, the steaks, and the brunch, and local specials, all have been great. The coffee bar area is small but they take pride in making and preparing quality coffee, which I can respect. Huge outdoor seating area with live music, and a fountain for the kids to play in. Only negative is that you need to watch the hours they say they are open, sometime the coffee shop is open but the restaurant part is not open. read more

This place has great potential but both times I visited weren't great experiences. It almost seems as if the staff is walking around in a fog. The first time I visited it was weekday, mid-afternoon and I wanted to sit down with a friend so I just went up and ordered, not realizing it was only to-go. Meaning that since I ordered there and didn't get seated by someone (which I didn't even see anyone) they put everything in a to-go container and then I sit down and eat in a designated area. Strange but ok whatever. I also had to ask so many questions to figure out how the place worked. Sorry if that even sounds confusing. lol I also didn't like that I couldn't order certain items (like avo toast) after a certain time. I mean how hard is it to slap some avocado on a couple pieces of bread. The second experience wasn't much better as it was Saturday morning which brings on new issues. I went up to order and literally no one said anything to me like 'be right with you' or anything along those lines. Like 10 min went by and I just left. Super annoying and I doubt I'll be back. I really wanted to like this place. The food I did have was good but service is just as important as the food. read more

This is my first visit. Location = 4 stars. This restaurant sits in a new residential complex. There is ample sunlight - which I like, complete with a front patio - with I love. The area immediately after entry is a coffee area with counter service only and ample seating. The inside area is full-service restaurant. Service = 3.5 stars. Our server was friendly and attentive enough, but she did bring us lemon wedges on a napkin instead of in a dish, and yet she brought us butter packets on a dish - with napkin lining. May she hasn't had her morning coffee yet. Smoked Eggs Benedict, $12 = 4 stars. The eggs were perfectly poached and the muffins perfectly toasted. I only wish there was more smoked salmon. The sautéed onions and potatoes could browned three minutes longer. Belgium Buttermilk Waffles with Berries, $9.95 = 2 stars. The surface didn't have the thin crunch, and the inside was dense. The flavor reminded me of Busiquick. Regular Coffee, $2.50 = 2 stars. The acidity was very pronounced. I think it was either Folgers or Maxwell House. Side Note: The background music can be a tad softer in the morning. Play classical music once in a while maybe? I would give this place another try, if not for the food then for the ambience and the location. read more

I'm so on the fence about this place. I've been about four times so far and just can't give it more than three stars. The food is good (though I find the menu a little limiting), and so is the coffee (lots of options!). The facilities are nice, clean and welcoming. The big problem is the service. I've had servers forget order items (eg. espresso cake for dessert.. then when it was brought out, it didn't have the whipped cream on it as advertised) and I've had to wait well past finishing my meal in order to get my first order of coffee. I used to work in food service, so I get that it takes some time and patience to get the kinks of the job worked out, but my four visits have spanned several months now. Anyway, they practically throw coupons at you so there is some incentive to a return trip. I might give it one more try. read more

Such a cute a pet friendly place!! Their spiked coffee drink is so yummy as well as their brunch meals! Would definitely recommend this cutesy place to others for a girls night or brunch date :) read more

Have been here a few times, the only complaint I have is that I'm not able to get here more often! This place is like a hidden gem, not a lot of street exposure but once you get inside it's clean and the staff is has always been friendly and helpful. They have great food with nice plate presentation and was happy with their drink selection. Perfect for a nice brunch, lunch or dinner with friends or casual date. I can't wait to go back! read more

Was here recently several times and sat at the bar. Mike the bartender was very pleasant and personable and extremely professional. I will be back. read more

WOW! First time here and it is wonderful! Blake is a fantastic Server. She is professional, courteous, and on everything. There were three of us, 2 classic Benedict's and a crab Benedict, all wonderful. We sat inside and folks with 4-legged friends got to sit outside. Something for all customers. Would love to come here again. Have a Fantastic 4th! read more

Barking mad cafe Is a nice restaurant i have gone there s couple times i've tried their pizza their tacos and brunch Let me tell you for brunch this place is amazing i feel like that's the only thing i crave for them besides their coffee I am a huge coffee drinker and i am very picky with it. My husband got me coffee this morning from barking Mad cafe a Caramel latte to be specific coffee tasty delicious the right amounts of everything that a caramel latte has. My only downside the reason why i am rating it a 3 star is because i got to work and my coffee is slowly getting empty with out me drinking it. I sit it on my desk.. and next thing you know it was a lake of coffee on my desk got a few papers wet because i was busy i did not pay attention to it sooner and noticed my cup has a hole in the bottom of the coffee just wish someone would of paid closer attention to that which i totally understand things happen. Long story short my desk enjoyed the coffee more than i did. read more

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Cozy place with great food. The service was attentive and kind, the food was quick, and portions were fair. Got the famous fried cauliflower for starter, which was good, but not worth the hype. The pancetta and fog pizza with white sauce was not quite "divine" (description by server), but it was dang good. To take to the next level I think the pancetta needs to be chopped up finely so it gets crispier and isn't just a slab of bacon. read more

CESAR IS PERFECT I've never had a better server in my entire life. Cesar really made my experience absolutely amazing. I had an awful week and needed some mimosas to let off some steam. Cesar was kind and genuine which honestly made me feel so comfortable. I'm so thankful i came at the time i did because i was placed with him. If you come here, ask for Cesar. Make sure you tip him well because he deserves nothing less. Also the food is amazing. Thank you to everyone at this cafe! read more

Came here for brunch on Sunday morning. Wife and I ordered Eggs Benedict (one classic, one smoke salmon). The smoked salmon one was lacking seasoning and cold. Our suspicion was cold smoked salmon and cold tomato + poached egg = heat rapidly sucked away from egg. Add to that the eggs on both of our dishes were under cooked. Now granted, poaching an egg to perfection is no easy task. But I say that as a home cook, not as a restaurant chef. The brunch menu is not lengthy, 2 of the 3 items offered under "specials" are Eggs Benedict. So, if you're going to focus on so few items- that's fine, but do them really really well. The eggs came with hash browned (?) potatoes- many of the little morsels were firm (under cooked) and a side salad (a bit odd? or maybe just me). Now under cooked potatoes? Sorry, I just can't . . . The coffee was pretty good (just the standard stuff) and our waitress was so friendly. She earned the third star here. I had been for lunch when they first opened, and liked it . . . so I want to go back, but I fear a similar experience as brunch. We want to like this place. I like what they're trying to do. Great layout and decor, nice concept. But in the end, a place can be SO CUTE- but if the food isn't anything to talk about . . .well . . . read more

Delicious, the staff is very friendly, beautiful decor. I love coming here alone or with friends for a nice meal or to stop by for a cup on excellent coffee. Its friendly for adults, or children. I think its meant for adults but ive seen plently of families..in the summer they have outdoor music in the evening. Come try it!! read more

My husband and I came about 1:30 pm last Saturday, which was a beautiful day for outdoor dining. The music was blasting so loud that we quickly figured out it wouldn't be pleasant and went inside. It seemed chaotic and loud, but I thought it was just a high-energy atmosphere. The restaurant was quite busy, and several tables had not been bussed. When we asked if a table for 2 was available, the hostess gave us a smart-alecky/smirky answer. After the table was cleaned, she said she'd bring us a menu. But didn't. After a few minutes of waiting and no waitress, we decided not to even bother to order and just left. read more

4 stars for my experience during lunchtime (2pm) We hadn't even decided to eat here and walked in with the intention of just browsing the menu but once we were greeted (promptly) with a smile we gave it a chance. I'm Glad we did. The server was very friendly and knowledgable about the menu. We were checked on often. She told us everything was prepared fresh daily & you could tell. I ordered what I thought was going to be a basic chicken sandwich but it was actually much more than that. It was fresh, original (had some sort of chicken pesto & chipotle sauce-so good) and flavorful. The accompanying side was French fries and even those were good- not too oily or soggy at all with just the right amount of salt. Oh and if you're a water snob like me you'll be happy to know the water wasn't tap. It was refreshing to have a glass of water that didn't leave a bad aftertaste. I only marked down a star because my food came out a little cold which i thought was weird since it wasn't busy. But that didn't take away from how good it was. The building is kind of hidden due to the apartment complex that houses It but don't let that stop you. The decor is eye appealing: nice clean lines, great color scheme, the open kitchen is a cool feature. I will most likely return for brunch in the near future and will post another review on that. All in all I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed my experience here. Thanks Sarah & management for everything! read more

I entered the Cafe close to noon today, 01/31/2022. I sat myself in the dining area. No one ever appeared to take my order. The interesting part is there was one other gentleman in the dining area that got up and entered the kitchen as I was leaving. I keep thinking if that was the Manager. Yikes! read more

Merlie was an amazing host!!! she did the impossible and made sure we had the best experience! She was very thoughtful and cared for her customers! definitely coming back because of her! read more

Update as of Oct.15: I placed a takeout order for a pizza and a mushroom cheeseburger. Pizza is great, but my husband got a portobello mushroom burger instead of his order. He's not happy, and the cafe may have lost a customer. Loads of potential, but they've got to work out some kinks still. The pizza is fabulous, the cold brew is great, and the chicken wings are really good. Everything else is good, but quality can differ on multiple visits. Bring your patience if you go on a weeknight because of staffing shortages. read more

We went to this place on a Sunday for a late brunch. Got there around 2.40pm. We patiently waited at the hostess station to be acknowledged for a few minutes while the stuff was cleaning around with complete disregard of us. Five minutes later one of the waitresses came to us and said that they close dining area at 3pm and just left (note that there was still 80% tables occupied and ot was 2.45pm!) I wish we asked for her name. She never greeted us or apologized that they could not sit us or any other customer service dialogue. I guess she made her money for the day and could care less about being polite. So sad, this place has good reviews and we were looking forward trying them out but I doubt we'd ever go back read more

If you haven't, definitely try the Barkuccino for your once-in-a-while sweet tooth day. Eggs benedicts is a must try! read more

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Awesome place, especially love the brunch. Creative menu - the pancetta & fig pizza is great!

I thought Barking Mad Café was a coffee and donut spot but my husband and granddaughter, who have both been there before assured me it was a full service restaurant. In the area on a Saturday around lunch time we decided to try it. To my surprise the restaurant was pretty much full. Our hostess asked if we had reservations, it hadn't occurred to me to make them but now I see why you would probably need them, especially on a weekend. It was crowded and very noisy. Fortunately our hostess asked if we would like a tall table in the bar area. It was so much quieter and we had a table against the window with no neighbors and we could do some people watching outside. Now another small problem is we went during brunch since it was a Saturday and we aren't big on brunch. But I was glad to see they had some different options like turkey bacon and fruit, so the bacon and eggs sounded good to me. But when I asked if we could just get a plain cheese pizza, no breakfast toppings, indeed we could. So pizza and fruit cup it was for Rich and me and our granddaughter had a cheeseburger and fries. Our pizza was perfect, the sauce was good, the crust delicious and just enough cheese. It was a nice cup of fruit with strawberries, melon, pineapple and berries. I've never been a huge fan of hamburgers but our granddaughter's looked delicious, she loved it, it was cooked perfectly and the accompanying French fries were delicious (I snitched one!). I had a Bloody Mary which was good and spicy with just the right amount of Vodka. Our server and bartender, Chris, did a perfect job. The restaurant was neat and clean. Would definitely go back but maybe on a weekday when it might not be so crowded and we could order off the regular menu. read more

Great happy hour specials, all the food smelled delicious, and the bar staff was EXCELLENT! Definitely coming back to visit this hidden gem.

If this restaurant were a baseball team they would have fired the manager for underperformance because they seem to have all the ingredients for success. The setting is nice, the food is tasty but they just can't seem to get it together. We were seated last night at 6pm exactly and at 6:15 I had to grab a random server to get some drinks ordered. My wife's wine was served and my beer was nowhere to be seen. Five min later our server came out with the bad news that the beer I ordered ran out (while she was pouring it, according to her) which means they don't know how to stock or buy goods for the bar. Our order finally came out, and while the fries were tasty you could tell they had sat for at least several minutes before serving. All of their failings have to do with simple execution: get people seated and get them served. I lay this at the feet of management who need to fix this if they want to be in business a year from now. read more

The cafe is located in the Spectrum apartment community in Gaithersburg. There is both outdoor and indoor seating. The outdoor set up overlooks a small plaza with a sizable seating area. We opted to sit indoors during this visit because it was hot out. The cafe has a chic and casual vibe to it. The decor was trendy, and yet you feel at home at the same time. The brunch menu looked promising since there were a variety of offerings such as breakfast dishes, pizzas, and burgers. I ordered the avocado toast and my husband ordered the chicken and waffles. For $9.95 I was hoping the avocado toast would be a bigger portion. Unfortunately, it comes with two small slices of toast, and even the poached eggs were small. At least there were toppings on toast such as peppers, cojita cheese, and leafy greens. It tasted good, but it also tasted as though they just made guacamole and put it on toast. The poached eggs were well made and fresh. The waffles were not crispy and undercooked since it tasted like dry batter. The chicken was mediocre; it was just two small chicken tenders placed on top of the waffles. We also ordered a $4.95 side of potatoes, and it was small diced potatoes mixed with onion and red peppers. It was bland and drenched in oil which made it soggy. The service was up to par, and I liked how the water is served alongside a lemon wedge. Our waiter took our order immediately within minutes of being seated. Also, the food did not take long to come out so that was a plus. read more

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I came in yesterday for brunch with a group of friends for my birthday. First of all, I just want to say thank you to the staff at Barking Mad for being able to accommodate my larger party when additional people showed up that we weren't expecting - it was greatly appreciated. The food was great - definitely recommend the pancakes. One minor downfall - 4 of us ordered bottomless mimosas but weren't offered another one until halfway through our meals even though our glasses had been empty for some time. When I asked about it, our server said "we only have 3 pitchers for the whole restaurant". Really? If a bottomless option cannot be accommodated, I would just recommend not offering it. Overall, good experience & will be back! read more

Ambiance is warm and cozy but food was above average but not great. Eggs Benedict which is hard to pull off was luke warm. We will give it another try because coffee was good. Gave it another try..eggs done perfectly but not hot enough. French toast and beignets were again okay. Still great ambience but food is average, read more

Nice café located in Germantown under a new apartment complex. They have plenty of seating inside and a lot of variety. I tried the lavender latte as it was a seasonal item on the menu. It was not bad however I felt like it was a bit overpriced. The barista was extremely friendly and informative about the menu as it was my first time trying this place out. I also enjoyed the small town center area outside they have a nice sitting area with benches and a water fountain. Definitely a must try if you are in the Germantown area. read more

Barking Mad Cafe - Lavendar iced latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

My favorite cafe! Try their salmon or pizza with figs -it's amazing! Especially love lavender latte! Service is always good, already recommended this place to all my friends! read more

*Disclaimer* Newly opened so maybe things will change? I waitressed & bartender for several years so I'm very understanding when it comes to restaurant service. This was simply the worst I've experienced. I walked out with my very pregnant best friend who was visiting from Georgia & my hungry toddler. Never to return. This is a very cute place, but I would wait until they have figured things out before visiting. The kitchen is very slow & every one else is extremely "green" & inexperienced. Give this place a year before patronizing. read more