So here's what happened...I was researching fried chicken spots, I found one, I went to the spot, I…read moreordered their food, I got the food, I was skeptical, I ate it, and it exceeded my expectations!! Good people when I tell you that the Fried chicken at this establishment is delectable...STAMP THAT!! On my initial review of this place, @janess_backstage_kitchen , I took a bite out of the Halal chicken, and waffle, (pictured-$12) and I gave it the Big Schlim grade of DELICIOUS!! So I finished the review, and started pushing. While pushing, I kept dipping into the container with the chicken in it, taking bites. I did this so much so, that I got viciously honked at while stopped at a green light. I crushed that meal before I arrived at my next destination...and I wasn't even hungry!! That's some good a** chicken my good folks...please believe me...it's officially STAMPED!! So this spot is a licensed, black owned, startup establishment that I decided to give some go too...I'm super happy that I did. With curbside service only, Janess's has a very simple menu that includes shrimp and grits (pictured $12), Belgian Waffles, Halal fried chicken, hand cut Zentachi fries, and a house made mumbo sauce chicken combo that comes with a Belgian waffle. That's it. For now!! I also ordered their shrimp and grits (pictured-$12), that came in a container with enough room to feed 3. It smelled good, but aesthetically it didn't look that great. I took a bite and seemed it DECENT. But once again, I pulled off and I kept dipping!! So this one is officially DELICIOUS!! The more, and more i dipped into these meals, the better they got!! Customer service was excellent (these are some truly kind hearted folks good people), and online ordering is easy. Now In order to perfect your meal, they take their time. So add 30 mins to your pick up time. Online ordering was simple, and parking was available. Good people...trust me on this one...get the chicken, be patient, and enjoy. That's it. #bigschlimsreviews #blackowned #halalfriedchicken #shrimpandgrits #belgianwaffles #housemademumbo #deliciousness #goodeats #stamp #tryit #startup #thatsit

Takoma Bev has become one of our favorite neighborhood spots for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or just…read moremeeting friends for drinks. The avocado toast topped with a perfectly poached egg topped with Japanese black sesame seeds is my go-to order, and the sandwiches are consistently good. Their cocktails are excellent, and the bar side makes a great venue for private parties or larger gatherings. I am apparently in the miniscule minority, but I find the drip coffee a bit too dark and somehow slightly burnt for my taste. Fortunately, they make an outstanding Dirty London Fog and a wonderful London Fog Chai Latte, either of which I'd happily order instead. All manner of alternative "milks" are available as are a pretty decent selection of local beers in their cooler if you are grabbing take out. Be prepared for a wait on weekends--this is one of Takoma Park's most popular brunch destinations. Like many cafés these days, it's a favorite of laptop-wielding remote workers, so tables can be at a premium. In my experience, though, solo diners are often gracious about moving to the communal table when they notice [or more likely are asked polietly if they wouldn't mind moving] a larger group waiting. It's just one more example of the friendly neighborhood atmosphere that keeps people coming back.

We were staying in the area and spent the day exploring the neighborhood. We found this cool place…read morewith outdoor seating available. They were serving brunch so we decided to go in and order. I like the local merchandise and variety of beers they serve here. I ordered the TKMA breakfast sandwich and a cold brew. They were supposed to bring the food to the table but forgot my coffee. I had to go back up and get it. The sandwich was okay. The bread was hard and not easy to eat. The coffee was good. I finished my meal and then headed on my way. It was a good place to try out but don't think I would come back again.

I've been here a few times & really love this place! It does get pretty busy but I've never had to…read morewait long for a table (for two). I love ordering the vegan hash (veggie hash w no egg) & the drinks are pretty good , but definitely over priced. The service is always great & I love supporting this business. Parking can be a little tricky on the weekends, but street parking is free on Sundays. Love the decor, I just wish the bathrooms were better kept. Mimosas -- 7/10 overpriced Cab Calloway -- 7/10 Seafood grits -- 9/10 has a little spice to it! Veggie Hash -- 10/10 super filling Veggie burger -- 8/10

The food was okay, but there are a couple of things customers should know. First, an 18% service…read morecharge is automatically added to the bill. I was told this charge does not go to the waiter but is instead shared with other staff (busser, host, etc.), and that customers are expected to leave an additional tip for the server. I initially left a 20% tip because I did not notice the automatic 18% service charge. To make matters worse, I was initially given the wrong receipt, which added to the confusion. When I realized the service charge had already been included and asked for the extra tip to be removed, the waiter told me he does not receive any portion of the 18% charge. I asked whether the expectation was for customers to leave a total of 38%, and I was told that is how it works at this restaurant and in Washington DC. I found the billing and tipping process confusing and misleading. I won't be back.

Whatever Kaldi's did to improve their service, it's turned into one great coffee house. The coffee…read moreand food is excellent. Terrific neighborhood place that welcomes everyone.

I recently revisited Kaldi's Social House, a place I hadn't been to in years. The restaurant…read morefeatures comfortable seating and a large bar that effectively divides the space, accommodating both diners and those working on laptops. We decided to order breakfast to-go. Although there was a line, it moved quickly, which was a pleasant surprise. We tried the 12oz lattes, which were decent but could use a little extra flair to elevate the flavor. On the bright side, the Sweet Corn Waffle and the Waffles with Fresh Berries were both absolutely delicious and a highlight of our meal.

Zed's is a great place for coffee. My wife and I went there five years ago before we got together…read moreas a couple. In fact she turned me into coffee drinker after taking me there. We hope to go back soon as it is a very cozy and friendly place with great staff to have a cup of coffee. They temporarily closed due to staffing but we are glad they reopened so we definitely need to go back.

Tried here to work for a few hours this week. It's so cute in the pictures, I've always wanted to…read moretry it. We had neighbors getting construction this week so I worked there Wednesday morning for some peace. The menu is small, but mighty, the service is iffy, and the pastries are store bought and stale. The front of house guy who brings the food and prepared the drinks is awesome, accommodating, and polite. I ordered egg and cheese on croissant, which came with salad and fruit. I also got my standard americano with room for cream. The food was well made, the perfect temperature and had just right seasoning levels. The americano was a bit cold so I figure he'd let it set while the food was being made to run them together. I had asked for cream, it was forgotten, they don't have any Splenda, only sweet n low, and their teaspoons are tablespoons, but the food was good. I also ordered a muffin later just to see what their pastries were about. It had clearly been in the pastry case for more than 3 days. It was REVOLTINGLY stale. I returned and advised and he offered a "fresh one" - from the fridge, in plastic, from a bakery in NEW JERSEY. They'd be better off selling Costco muffins. That muffin was HORRIBLE. Sickeningly sweet, 7 blueberries that were clearly rehydrated in the batter, and tasted like oil and preservatives. Sad. However, I came to work! There were two tables there when I arrived, they left within 15/20 minutes. The bathroom was not clean AT ALL - toilet bowl was gross and it was 10:00 am and they were out of soap and toilet paper. Ewwwww. I pray there was a hand washing sink in the kitchen. Also, the cook or whomever was in the back was watching something on tv, yelling in Spanish loudly, and generally making a racket. This did not make for an easy or enjoyable working environment. The layout is lovely, the chairs are comfy, the tables are just the right size for individuals or small groups (read 2 people) so the vibe is work/co-work, but then the dude is yelling in the kitchen!!! The other thing is, there was NOBODY in the place but me and one other dude who'd long since eaten, and the tables from the other people hadn't been wiped. They were bussed, but not wiped. The floor wasn't swept. It was just a general aura of idgaf but that's young workers in 2023 I guess. The concept is good, but the execution is struggling. I want to hope it's a bad day but who knows. I would try again if I was in the area but would definitely not go out of my way given the parking plus the issues above. Okay, not Great.

I told y'all I was coming back to this cloud kitchen in Takoma right? Well guess what? I'm BACK!!…read moreI'm just in time too, it's a whole new fresh food spot in here that I've never heard of!! LET'S GO!! . Where I am: @freshbiteskitchen6120 . Location Reviewed: 6120 Kansas Ave., N.W. Washington D.C. inside of @takomaeats . Items Reviewed: LIKE THAT! Their Impossible Spice Bowl ($14.99 with Impossible meat, rice, tomatoes salad, peppers, jalapenos, & house spicy sauce). I couldn't tell it was meatless protein!! Spicy, fresh, tasty!! STAMP!! Their Signature Golden Hour Bowl ($18.99 with beef tips, eggs, sliced avocados, peppers, & Kinche-cracked wheat mixed with spices). That wheat taste just like a spicy rice!! Tender beef, & their sauce is spicy, & EVERYTHING!! STAMP!! Their Smoothies ($7.50 Their Berry Blast Smoothie with strawberries, & blueberries, & $8.50 House Special Smoothie with kale, ginger, pineapple, & orange juice). Super fresh, refreshing, & tasty!! STAMP!! Their Tibs Sandwich ($12.99 spicy beef tenderloin with onions, tomatoes, jalapeno, & an Ethiopian cottage cheese). Hearty, mildly spicy without the sauce, with a flavorful cheese!! STAMP!! Their Sun Kissed Crepe ($10.45 with bacon, scrambled eggs, & cheese inside a crepe). This might be my new style of breakfast sandwich!! Get this!! STAMP!! Their Nutella Crepe ($9.25 with Nutella, Bananas, & chocolate sauce inside a crepe). Perfect fresh ending to this food!! . Customer Service: On Point. . Parking: Rough. . Recommendations: Get the Breakfast Crepe, & that sandwich!! . Accessibility: It's wheelchair friendly, & it's differently abled persons friendly. 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews

Fresh Bites Kitchen is a family-owned cloud restaurant operating out Takoma Eats and bringing the…read morewarmth of homemade goodness straight to your door. They specialize in handcrafted savory crepes, fluffy pancakes, flavorful bowls, and fresh-pressed juices. I had the bowl, strawberry crepe, and juice. The food was delicious. You can place an order on your food delivery app or come in person and wait for them to make it.

I ordered my food via DoorDash for pickup and it was a breeze! Cute little restaurant with a good…read moremenu! The staff was very nice and my food was ready when I got there! I got the smothered chicken and biscuits and it was so good! Every bite was flavorful and the eggs were fried to perfection. The biscuits and Cajun sauce were perfect. My husband got the fried fish sandwich and he finished it before I could even get a picture, he definitely enjoyed it and said it was good! I'll definitely be back because they have a bunch of things I want to try!

We came here on Saturday. The food was solid. I will say the collard greens were yummy…read more If i was to be frank: Seating and customer service was a little lacking. 3.75 stars rounded up.

I was in the mood for a smoothie and Nips just so happened to be staring right at me so I popped…read morein! I asked for some suggestions and ended up going with the peanut butter. I'm a person who likes peanut butter but if you're not into it so much this may not be for you. The peanut butter is thick! It's heavy on the peanut butter and bananas without much fluff of milk or other liquids. I really appreciated this and found it quite tasty. I'll likely pop in again to try some of their other offerings!

Smoothies were amazing! I customized mine with almond milk and it was still a great consistency,…read morejust thick enough! My 9 month old drank from a straw for the first time here with one of their smoothies Forever one of my favs now. Veggie patties are bomb too!