It was 12:30 and we wanted lunch. We headed over to a place that we both remembered favorably from last year, "Bread and Chocolate." Not far away, in Chevy Chase on Connecticut Ave. The waiter came over a few minutes after we were seated. My friend ordered chicken salad and tea, while I ordered a caprese panini. Mine was supposed to come with a choice of salad or chips. The waiter didn't ask which I wanted, just snatched the menus away and left. Not a long wait, but time for me to go downstairs to the grim bathroom. Plates on the table when I returned. First thing I noticed was a brownish rib of lettuce in my salad. Then the sandwich. It seemed to be on something that resembled a cheap hamburger bun. It had pesto (to provide the basil), and also had French Dressing, which I've never before seen in a caprese sandwich. Not very good. I ate most of the filling and about half the bread. My friend commented that the restaurant was "fair." We walked two blocks one way for her to get cash from her bank and two blocks the other way, to go to Starbucks. We passed several other restaurants, and kept saying that a meal at each of them might have been better, including at the bagel dogs place. We decided we would have said that if we'd seen a McDonalds. read more

I have come here twice, always with the hope that the cafe will live up to its glorious name. Unfortunately, it doesn't, much like its sister store in Eastern Market. The first time I came with a friend and her husband before church. We were a little pressed for time, but not so much that a quick scone and coffee would make us late. Oh, but we underestimated the time it takes to get a scone and coffee. We waited and waited, and then we waited to pay the bill, and waited to sign the bill and then barely made it out in time for church. We had warned the waitress at the beginning--we are a little pressed for time, just three scones and some coffee please! Did they make the scones from scratch? I don't know, but I know that it took far too long. The second time I came with my parents for brunch. The brunch was good, and there were a lot of interesting people and cute families and overall it was pleasant. But again with the waiting! And the forgetting of the refills! If it is bad enough that my laconic father comments on their disorganization, it's *bad*. The food was good, though, and the coffee was nice, when it came. Definitely not reliable enough to take anyone again, especially not witha time crunch. I might stop in to this location to buy a pastry and leave (i.e. avoid the waitservice) but...I might not. There are other pastries to be had. read more

French food that tries to pass itself off as authentic when it is not, but charges what it thinks French food should cost. It is pricy for what it is. I have been to France five times, similar food is much cheaper and better across the pond. Maybe the owner is French and has Americanized the food and increases the price just because the whole French label, deserved or not, is associated with fancy. But I had this type of food in hole of the wall places in various cities in France...Not everywhere is fancy over there, obviously. The food was average, lacking flavor but nothing horrible. Just too much money for what it is and I left hungry, which is hard to do because I usually do not require much food. I'll just wait until my next trip to France and go somewhere else while in the neighborhood/DC. read more

This place is for people that have money to spend. Its in a good location. It has outdoor and indoor seating. Its staff is civil. read more

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Looking through these reviews I'm surprised... I've never had a bad time here. It's not the world's best cafe, but it works. I do notice that a visit to this place will often drag on longer, but thankfully I've never come here when I've been pressed for time. I think people just aren't used to the European style of sitting back and relaxing in a cafe. The food's pretty good. The challah french toast is tasty, as is the french onion soup and the potato latkes. I usually get a cafe mocha here; they give you these drinks in a nice big mug with some weight to it. I wouldn't call it destination dining, but if you're in the area give it a shot. read more

I popped in just for iced coffee but couldn't help get one of the treats they have out in the display case. I went with the Tres leches 3 incher. It is tasty, no doubt, but not out of this world. The coffee is just decent as well. If you find yourself on the block and need to be caffeineited, they will get the job done, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here over other coffee places/bakeries. read more

We've been here several times (we used to walk here until we moved away). We've always loved the food and vibe. But today we had what to us was a unique experience. My wife ordered a decaffeinated coffee drink. The waitress brought it out and, as she was setting it down, realized that it wasn't actually made with decaf. Instead of trying to blow it by us, she returned it to the coffee person and got a new one. How many times have we questioned waiters and waitresses about the caffeine content of the drinks we've been served? Thousands! How many times have they fessed up (not counting today)? None, zero, nunca! How many of them have we cursed in the middle of the night? Dozens. Thank you, Meron. We'll be back (and tell our friends). There ought to be medals for that kind of integrity. read more

food is okay except they didn't give me what the menu said they would give me, which is always incredibly annoying.

Bad quality food. All their bread/pastry products taste of low quality bread and the sandwich fillings taste like poor quality prepackaged cold cuts you could get at Safeway. Not worth it, especially for the price. Coupled with the bad service and constantly botched orders, I'm surprised this place is still open. read more

The vanilla napoleon alone merits five stars. This is one of the best desserts in the city, and it puts all other napoleons to shame. Aside from that, the ambiance is nice, particularly in the front half of the restaurant or on the patio, which was nicely renovated over the last year. The food is consistently good, and they offer breakfast all day. When available, the mousakka is excellent. The quality of the service varies, but I've generally had good experiences. My one complaint is that, as a breakfast/lunch-oriented cafe, they close quite early. Many late-night vanilla napoleon cravings often go unfulfilled. read more

Long wait 25mins to order, 20 minutes for the drinks and 40 mins since order to get the food. Out of 2 items ordered. don't waste your time

Delicious, sophisticated breakfasts and lovely pastries and ambiance too. A great place for brunch or a long sit with something hot and something sweet. read more

Muesli was probably the best I have ever had. Fresh fruit and I wish I could I had more. The apple french toast was yummy too. It's looks like the toast was going to be dry but was fluffy and light. Not too sweet and super fast service. The French Dip was really good too, not to salty and the bread was chewy/crisp. read more

This place is absolutely amazing. The food is incredible. I usually have the Cuisine-A-Gogo, which is a croissant with cheese and either turkey bacon or turkey sausage. I've had the paninis and they are also delicious! All of the food is filling without leaving you with that bloated feeling that often accompanies a trip to the diner. The interior is simple but still gives off the cafe vibe. The coffee is outstanding and refills are always quick. I think my favorite part of the restaurant, however, has to be the pricing. Everything is so cheap compared to the quality of the food. You've got to come here! read more

vanilla mocha pretty sweet and i got the specific vanilla and mocha flavors as well. was genuinely good & satisfying. pastries are stodgy and not really worth getting read more

Went to this place for brunch. Got some french toast. It was pretty average. My friend got some crepes which she said she loved. This is a great place that isn't pretentious like so many other Foggy Bottom brunch areas. Decent food, decent prices. Overall a safe place to go. read more

I loved this place. I grew up as a young child in this area so remember the former Schupp's bakery here which was almost legendary. This place has excellent food from sandwiches, to soups, to baked goods and desserts. The chicken noodle soup was very hot and fresh. The apple turnovers are outstanding. There is a good amount of room to sit and eat before or after a movie at the nearby Avalon theatre. My only criticism is they are very short staffed. This is definitely a place to try. read more

I wish I'd tried the pastries, but I was in a protein - eggs for breakfast mood, and it's the holidays so I figured I would be getting my fill of sweets later in the day. (I think I would have gone with the chocolate banana french toast if i were being decadent.) Instead I had the "healthier breakfast" - three eggs, which come scrambled but I ordered sunny side up, and turkey bacon with turkey sausage. The eggs were fine, the turkey bacon was a little dry but good, and the turkey sausage was done quite well. It came with a bit of fruit salad on the side. We had a large party and our waiter was conscious and patient in taking everyone's orders. The atmosphere was somewhere in between a quaint american diner and a european cafe. The coffee was good, not overly roasted or burnt tasting. Overall, a solid option and I would go back to try something sweeter. read more

My sister, who lives near Bread and Chocolate and I, who grew up near there, have been going to B&C for years. This time we were really SURPRISED when the monkey bread, which we had not seen there before, turned out to be delicious. They also have an assortment of other pastries which are good, but along with the cappuccino, the monkey bread is superior!! NOT so the service. I'll let it go this time, but....... read more

Wait staff was less that interested in making the experience good. Water glasses were cloudy with visibly dried food on them and aftet being in the table for all of 3 mins a gnat landed in my water. Individual treat selection was minimal and seemed to have been sitting for a while. I expected more after reviewing this place online before arriving. read more

Bread & Chocolate - Say hello to the gnat funny but not funny - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had the salmon eggs Benedict with hash browns. The eggs Benedict part was really good, but the hash browns were pretty disappointing. Instead of giving it a nice crispy exterior they managed to make it hard. Very strange but didn't taste too bad. I bought a muffin on the way out. It was very delicious. Overall I'd recommend it. read more

There are two reasons that I'm giving Bread and Chocolate 5 stars. The first is their food and drink. Specifically, their shakshuka and lattes. My wife and I come here for breakfast at least once a month and that's what I get and man, oh, man is it worth it. The second reason, and perhaps even more important, is the service. They are really tops. Once I left my wallet and the server literally ran after me as I walked to my car. I've also seen them handle very difficult customers with a grace and aplomb that I can only hope to match some day. Really - a great neighborhood place. read more

Bread and chocolate is a great place to have brunch with friends or family when you are in town for a second. I live in bethesda, right near this spot on Connecticut Avenue. It has wonderful small brunch plates. Cute pastries in the display and outdoor seating available. The service is very slow, but that's fine if you are enjoying a leisurely meal with your friend/family. My friend and I both got chai lattes, and then we shared a salmon eggs Benedict which had a latke under it and was perfectly cooked. Very unique with the latke- sort of European! Enough foam on latte; too. Then, we shared a chocolate and bananas crepe, which was deliciously rich and just enough for two people. The waiter was rather inattentive and unapologetic, but we were enjoying our meal nonetheless. Downside is also the bathrooms are all the way downstairs. Time to fly back to LA, thanks, B&C, for a yummy last meal in DC for now. read more

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Great place for brunch. French toast with apple sauce were delicious, crepes with chocolate were good too. Service was excellent. I'd definitely go back on my next trip to D.C read more

My normal Sunday Brunch Spot-- Love their Bagel and Lox Platter. Must come for brunch on the weekend for their special which includes coffee/juice/and pastries with your meal. read more

It could have been so good, unfortunately not. Really can't recommend it. Terrible service, and the coffee/hot chocolate and sweets are the same as the service. read more

This place has been here for 15 or more years, but if they don't step up their game, they will go the way of the American City Diner next door. I want to support local places like this, BUT FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY could you perhaps cook the latkes even the same day so they don't taste like a defrosted and fried hair ball that you scraped off the floor? Their breakfast latkes really are the most pitiful, stale and flavorless things that have ever crossed my plate. And when you ask for sour cream? You get "no, only applesauce". WTH. A limp latke with cold applesauce. At least give customers a choice. I could choke it down slathered in sour cream, maybe. I have tried this several times with absolutely no improvement over the years. Sometimes I think, "let's give it a go, maybe they've figured it out" but no, never. Also, the "country bacon" is so leathery you could break a tooth trying to chew it. That said, they make a nice chai latte and the pain au chocolat is passable. read more

I was a regular here and haven't been here for few months! Looks like the ownership might of changed because the food and service is nowhere where it used to be!!! Got an ice cold cup of coffee when I ordered hot coffee! Asked for it to be changed and server didn't even apologize and brought back another cup of coffee with lipstick marks on it and I'm sure it wasn't mine cause I'm a male! Then we asked for the big breakfast which I used to order all the time in the past and the bacon was old, the hash browns were old and greasy and the sausage tasted like plastic and dry! My wife and I also ordered Croissant and it used to be fresh and flaky but it was not! Almost sure it was Costco croissant and was not warm! Totally disappointed with my experience here and sadly will not be coming back.... this place has lost its charm.... read more

First of all they have some really yummy choices. The Bavarian Fruit Cake is fantastic and unlike any other cake I've ever tried. Not too sweet, but moist and the fruit really made it refreshing. I like the croissant sandwiches. But primarily, I would like to comment on how helpful a manager named Darren was in my case. I ordered the said cake for a birthday and it was essential that it be picked up at a certain time. Darren processed my order and made it happen all without a glitch. read more

Excellent place for breakfast and brunch, good coffee and great dishes offered! Of course the pastry's are delicious too. Good spot

I love shakshuka which is on the menu, so I have given them more chances than I should have just because of that. The service is absolutely terrible, as others have said you will not find worse. The last time I went, the server took my order and that was the end of that. Maybe 30 or 40 minutes later I had to ask the manager where my food was, for silverware, etc. And then I had to go to the register to ask the manager to pay because the server was completely missing all that time. She walks up and the manager said, she's paying here because you gave her bad service, and the lady said what? And the manager said, tell her. Really? I think I just said, you took my order and that was it. And seems the service is just as nonexistent whether you sit at the bar or at a table! Once my friend found a piece of hard plastic in her food, and the server basically had the attitude, well what's the problem? Every time I have to speak with the manager, and last time I told him I wasn't going to give it another shot since the service never improves. I told him that I knew the restaurant had been there a long time, but that I couldn't imagine it could stay in business if they didn't make some actual improvements. read more

Where do I begin? A few years ago Bread and Chocolate on Pennsylvania Ave was a very enjoyable experience with a wide variety of breads,desserts, and filling entrees. Today, the Connecticut Ave location, was full of disappointment. Dirty glasses, varying menu items, none of which were included on the website. After finally picking an item, the Latkes that were to be included with my meal were unavailable. Instead of verifying if I was okay with the option, I was given a side of very disappointing old fruit. My sad sandwich and fruit was definitely not worth the price I paid. The desserts were limited and only 2 kinds of breads were available, which I was not too concerned with as I was deterred from their open foods by the gnats. After sharing my disappointment, my waiter was indifferent and made no attempt to rectify the situation other than a monotone "I'm sorry". Bread and chocolate has come a long way from what I remember, unfortunately not in a good way. read more

Bread & Chocolate - Dirty glasses - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Well. I did not actually purchase or consume anything from here, but I did try the other day.... And do you know WHY I didn't partake of their fare?? Because the staff, from the cashier to the COOK, were unwilling to simply look at ingredients in their soup. I told them I had a food allergy to soy. I asked them if they could tell me what ingredients were in their soup of the day, and do you know what I got in return? A blank stare and then a halting referral to the cook. From the cook: a pause.... and then a shrug of the shoulders and a half-assed mumbled "I'm not really sure of all the ingredients." Ummm... Okay, so I try again, "Could you check for me, please?" And again, the shrug and the not sure answer. Okay fine. Bye! Those of us with food allergies are limited beyond belief in what we can eat when we go out, we depend on the staff of establishments such as these to tell us when we ask about ingredients so that we don't have horrible reactions when we try to nourish ourselves. Oh well Bread and Chocolate, I guess you don't need my business. (who knows, maybe they don't, but STILL) read more

If you like being called a bitch and being confronted about your tip by a mediocre waitress then this is the place to go! We waited to get seated, we waited for drinks, had to ask two different waitresses in order to get our coffee. Food was mediocre at best. Service was awful and we tipped accordingly. So the other waitress comes to our table to confront us about the tip. IT IS A TIP! IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BASED ON THE SERVICE RECEIVED! On our way out the door, she proceeds to call me a bitch. Wow, really? I have never had someone in the service industry treat a customer this way. Unbelievable. Needless to say, we won't be going back. read more

I've always thought this place was a bit odd. The menu is sort of limited and the service has always been on the cold side. It has gotten better over the past few years, but it's still just OK. My experience there today was not much different than it always has been. The food is better than it used to be, but the service is the same. Our waitress was not very attentive. We waited for at least 15 minutes to be able to order our lunch. When we ordered, we asked for separate checks, thinking that would make it easier in the end. She obliged, but not without rolling her eyes. And at the end of the meal, we had to flag her down to get the check. I had the French onion soup and the ham and brie sandwich. The soup had good flavor, but the cheese could have used a little more time under the broiler. The ham and brie was good, and I really liked the baguette it was served on. It came with a nice mixed greens salad, as well. After today, I feel the same way about this place as I always have. It's fine, but nothing special. read more

Bread & Chocolate - French onion soup - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We have been going to B&C for years. Never disappoints. Usually get the meusli -- fruit is fresh; bread is warm, crisp, and fresh. I like the vibe -- many families, relaxed matrons, and couples learning how to resume dating (just a guess!). Great coffee and prompt service. Enjoy read more

The food is good. The service is the worst I've ever had in DC. So bad that I can't even remember what I ordered. We didn't get what we ordered, the food took too long to get to our table, and the staff had awful attitudes. I usually tip 20% or over 20% if I like you. For the first time in my life, I tipped nothing. The manager came by and arrogantly pointed out that I didn't tip anything, so I proceeded to explain why. He gave my friends and I a completely expressionless face and walked away. Maybe I caught the entire staff, including the manager, on a bad day. It was enough for me to never want to go back though. Why 2 stars? Because I remember the food was OK. But again...I can't remember what I ordered. read more

Ugh! Now I remember why I have not gone there in almost a gazillion years. I went there for Brunch today and the service took FOREVER! And, when the food came, my Eggs Benedict were just barely warm. Not really much more to say about it except, I would not return for brunch. read more

I've been here twice for breakfast and both times were great - the french toast is pretty amazing, so is the Pfannkuchen. However, I got some pastries to go today and they were pretty...average. I'm sure the croissant was store bought **Costco** and the Challah was dry. For a bakery I was expecting much more. Stick to breakfast here and you'll be happy. read more

I have been here twice before, once for brunch and the other for a late lunch/ early dinner. I have left very happy both times! They have a fantastic brunch special that includes one entree (i ordered the Berry Pfannkuchen), a cup of coffee/tea, fresh squeezed juice (I had the orange juice which was so yummy), and a starter of pastries. I'm not sure who can actually finish everything, but I had the pastries wrapped up to go :) For dinner, I split the bagel and smoked salmon with my friend who got the Challah French Toast (Challah-anything is amazing... just saying). Lets just say we were very happy. Would definitely go again! Also the decor is adorable, and when its nice out try to sit outside ! read more