Best coffee, baked goods and sandwiches. Everything is worth waiting in line for, my favorite place in Canton read more

Café Dear Leon - Stracciatella mortadella sandwich and iced coffee. Delicious! - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

really long line but sooo worth it. i'm from san francisco so i'm used to waiting in lines for trendy but mediocre bakeries but this one was unbelievably good read more

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If you have followed new business openings in Baltimore, you have probably heard of Cafe Dear Leon, framed as co-owner Min Kim's adorable ode to his infant son. The hype has been serious, and the hype is incredibly well deserved. The three owners have an incredibly prestigious cooking background - professionally trained, and having worked in James Beard awarded and Michelin starred restaurants. This talent and skill is absolutely held up in the incredible quality of the pastries and baked goods. I have been here... according to yelp, 9 times (!) now and it has never failed me. From the adorable mini babka to the soft french cruller donuts, delectable pumpkin tart or savory salmon sandwich and egg sandwich, everything is created absolutely perfectly. It is a small cafe so there is currently a rule of 2 parties and/or three people inside at a time to keep things safe and socially distanced within. Masks are required, and sanitizer is provided. I have seen photos that there is a lovely little seating area upstairs that I can't wait to take advantage of once it is reopened. The staff is absolutely charming and you will often find one of the owners in the shop supervising and interacting with customers. The attention to detail is incredible, such as the tiny shaving of coca nib that gets grated onto the top of their dark chocolate mocha - I think that's what won me over the first time and got me to return so often. There may be (will be) a wait when you arrive, but stick it out and see (taste) for yourself why everyone has been praising this amazing new bakery and cafe! read more

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Worth the hype. Worth the wait. Came at ~10:45 on a Sunday (wanted to be there just in time for the egg sando!). Only a few people ahead of us but by the time we left, the line was realllly long. They only let 1-2 ppl in at a time, which is good during covid bc the space is small. Tamago (egg) sandwich - this was my motivation to come and yeahhhh baaaabe it was just as perfect and delightful as I wanted it to be. That milk bread...that egg...that flavor...10 out of 10, would recommend. Cold Cut - pretty standard on good focaccia the kicker here was this delicious olivey spread. Omfg. Amazing. Pumpkin tart - dazzled me with the toasted marshmallow and ended up being one of the best pastries I've ever had. This place is the truth. I can't wait to go back. read more

Café Dear Leon - Tomago Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I have been coming to Cafe' DearLeon for a while and the team members are outstanding. The pastries, sandwiches, and the seasonal menu items make this cafe unique. The team members are welcoming and the ambiance is relaxing. The atmosphere of plants, books and outdoor decor makes it a cozy environment. All the staff of Cafe Dear Leon (from the front to behind the scenes) makes this place a pleasant experience. A-lot of businesses have good food with rude staff and that negates the enjoyment of being a customer of that business. However, this place is different because the staff is kind and endearing and this what makes this place stands out. Then added benefit are the good desserts, pastries, and other delectable epicurean dishes. To the owner and staff I give them kudos for making Cafe Dear Leon a warm and welcoming place with great food. read more

Visited this café on a rainy afternoon, and it was the perfect escape. The warm lighting, spotless tables, and friendly staff made me feel instantly comfortable. My hot chocolate was rich and smooth. read more

THE BEST BAKERY IN THE AREA. MUST PROTECT! I am so deeply in love with this place! Literally everything taste above amazing and staffs are incredibly friendly. order ahead ( online ) because there's always a long line ( people knows whats good). Definitely would love to go back regularly read more

Café Dear Leon - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This is one of my new favorite bakeries now. I travelled an hour and back just to get breakfast from here and it was totally worth it. The cafe is very small as there's no dine-in but it's so cute and clean. The workers are nice and friendly as well. It's Korean-owned too, which I love. I got their dark mocha with oat milk, pumpkin tart, coffee bun, and chocolate chip cookie. My boyfriend got their cappuccino, apple turnover, and everything bagel focaccia. Their mocha was one of the best I've ever had. I was expecting some coffee jam in the bun but the crusty exterior was still delicious. Their pumpkin tart was a little too sweet for me for breakfast but was still delicious as well. However, the everything bagel focaccia STOLE THE SHOW. It was so good we contemplated hopping back in line. I'll definitely be coming back here again! read more

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Please try this adorable cafe! A friend and I came for drinks and pastries. We had the most delicious lemon Madeline and s'mores chocolate cookie. I had a flavored iced tea and my friend had coffee. Everything was delicious and the staff were so kind! There is no indoor seating, so grab your treats to go or sit in the outdoor lounge. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Loved the vibe here, its small so there's no seating inside but they do have an outdoor seating area. The chorizo and potato torta was great, fresh and hot, and delicious flavor! Torta was crispy too. I also got an iced matcha latte with almond milk sweetened, it was good but nothing out of the ordinary. Definitely worth coming here and trying out one of their goods. read more

Café Dear Leon - Choriza + Potato Torta - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The secret is out about this place. Please expect long lines on most days except Wednesday. With that being said, if I had to wait 2 hours on line, it would be well worth the wait. I literally went there Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and then again on Wednesday. Me and a friend got the pumpkin tart, creme Brule tart, Almond Croissant, Ham and Cheese Croissants, Kalbi Croissant, Salami Divalo, Blue berry muffin, Quiche Lorraine and the Quiche Al Fungi, some tea and a couple Lattes. Seriously, everything we ordered was A-1. This spot is definitely being added to my bmore go-to list along with Clavel and a few more. read more

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I loved everything I had at Cafe Dear Leon. And I'm pretty spoiled when it comes to good bakeries and croissants since I live in the Bay Area. I can see why they sell out quickly. I still think about their almond financiar & Japanese sando. read more

Very fresh very unique and well prepared I highly recommend but must come early there's a line and pastries are prepared at different times. Also seasonal items are 2 per customer read more

This place is top-notch, but beware there will ALWAYS be a line. Thankfully, it's worth it :) I've been there a few times and had good experiences, but this is my first review. Here's what I got most recently: - Everything focaccia: thick, fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside, well salted, and seasoned with caramelized onions. Good size for $4. - Morning Kouign (pronounced "queen"): Beautifully light, sweet, and BUTTERY flavor. It had excellent lamination and a crunchy, sugared crown. For $3.5, I can't think of a more perfect companion to a hot cup of coffee... Will definitely get this again! - Creme brulee tart: HEAVENLY. Layered, buttery crust with thick, rich filling and caramelized sugar on top. I popped it into the microwave for a minute and it made it a warm, decadent treat! The store is adorable, the staff are super friendly, and the goodies are worth telling your friends about. This is my favorite bakery in Baltimore! read more

Café Dear Leon - Everything focaccia with spices and caramelized onion on top. Fluffy inside and crispy outside, very well seasoned. - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Hands down the best pastries in Baltimore. This place is a Canton gem and literally always has a line out front despite having no signage, if you can't find the entrance, just look for the line. They focus on French style pasteries with Korean/Asian flavors that are not too sweet. They have a seasonal menu that changes quarterly and also have special pies/cakes for various holidays that have been amazing. Different pastries are ready at different bake times posted on their Instagram/website with the main release at 9am. Additionally I want to give a shoutout to the barista team, they make excellent espresso based drinks and their beans are never too acidic. FYI if you want one of the quarterly special pastries get there early, you probably have to be in line ~15min before the posted bake time to make sure you get the flavors you want. Some flavors can sell out 30min after the bake time. Overall 5/5, highly recommended to check out for breakfast and pastries in Baltimore! read more

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So impressed! Every dish was a treat for the senses, and the service was impeccable. Warm, inviting, and full of flavor. A perfect dining experience! read more

According to the Baltimore Business Journal, this shop is owned by Min Kim, Cheolsoo Lee, and Sungae Lee. They met at the Culinary Institute of America. They each worked at different prestigious restaurants in New York. Min Kim and his wife moved to Baltimore, his wife's family location, when they found out that they were having their first child, Leon. Min described the shop's name as a "letter" to his son, "I wanted to tell him, hey, I am doing this in a place where you are going to grow up, and I want to create a place that everyone in the neighborhood will be happy to have as part of the neighborhood."  Min convinced the Lees, who are married, to join him in this business. The pastry chef in this group is Sungae Lee.    I found this place through a friend on Yelp. My wife and I arrived at 10 AM and stood in line outdoors. The space was very small inside for customers. After waiting in line for 15 minutes, we got a ham & cheese croissant, almond croissant, quiche al funghi, creme brulee tart, Ispahan danish, maple cardamom latte, and matcha latte.    The ham & cheese croissant had a light and flaky crust that was moist and fluffy inside with a buttery flavor. It had thinly sliced deli ham that was slightly salty and good tasting gruyère cheese. We enjoyed it!    The almond croissant had the same exquisite pastry as above. It was covered with slivers of almonds and powdered sugar. The thinly spread filling had a slightly sweet flavor of almond and vanilla. Tasty but just not enough. In the words of Oliver Twist, "Please, sir, I want some more." An excellent example of an almond croissant otherwise.    The quiche al funghi had thinly sliced fried mushrooms in a fluffy filling that had a creamy egg and cheese flavor. The crust was flaky and tasted like a croissant. A very good combination of flavors, but a bit pricey for the size.    The Creme Brulee tart had the same crust as the quiche. The custard was light, creamy, mildly sweet, and very light in vanilla and egg flavors. We prefer one with a rich flavor. The caramelized sugar on top was very burnt. This was okay except for the burnt topping.    The Ispahan danish was filled with mixed berry jam and raspberry cream, topped with gel-filled raspberries and lychee slices. The pastry shell had a rose lychee glaze. It was flaky and sweet. Overall, it was delectable and superbly balanced between sweet and tart. The name Ispahan, a French pastry created by Chef Pierre Hermé, started as a large macaron with a subtle combination of raspberry, rose, and lychee. It is now used to describe pastries with raspberry, rose, and lychee.    The Matcha latte had matcha green tea with steamed milk and milk foam. It had a good, strong matcha flavor. Loved it! It was only 12 oz in size. There was no other size.    The Maple cardamom latte had a light pancake syrup flavor with an herbal note from the cardamom. Good tasting, but it was only 12 oz also.    All of the food was well-made and most of it was delicious. Service was helpful and quick. However, I was bothered by 2 things. They need space and product supply. Space for products and customers. Even the bathroom needs to be larger. It was clean by the way. That space will cost money. That comes from selling products, not running short, and having disappointed customers who don't come back. There were no financiers, frittata sandwiches, potato onion al taglio, muffins, and scones when we arrived. Limiting product production when there is demand, makes no business sense. They have been open since July 31, 2020. They should know which products sell out daily. As I wrote before, they make delicious, well-made food; so if you're in the neighborhood at the right time, give them a visit. We plan to return in the future to try things made after 11 AM. read more

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Came on a Sunday around 11am and had to wait outside for about 20 minutes. I loved my vanilla latte and Yuzu Peppermint Shaker!! I also enjoyed my Tamago (Egg) Sando and the Potato Foccacia. Very cute shop with friendly employees. I recommend coming early before things sell out! Be sure to check their schedule to see what time things are released that day read more

Never have I been more consistently blown away by food than at Cafe Dear Leon. Every single thing I've tried here (and I go monthly) has been absolutely amazing. I couldn't pick a favorite menu item, everything is so delicious! The tamago sandwich truly blew my mind the first time I had it and has become a lunch-time staple. Their cruellers are life-changing and made me completely reassess my general dislike of donut-like things. I also love that the menu changes so I'm constantly trying new things. Even when I've gone and most of what I thought I wanted was sold out, I've still been amazed by what I had (I'm looking at you, oat scone). Their pop-ups are also worth waiting in line for (Roman pizza? So good, I am still thinking about it). The quality of their food and ingredients is excellent, including their delicious coffee and drinks. They officially have my favorite caramel latte in the city. And everyone there is SO nice and friendly, it's a pleasure going every time. This is by far my favorite place in Baltimore! read more

Café Dear Leon - Grapefruit crueller - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Beautiful lattes that are authentic and fragrant. Pastries that are unique to the shop and add a hint of Korea to the east coast. The service are very friendly and the cafe/bakery is very organized and cozy. read more

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This place is very cute! It's pretty small with no seating inside. The line gets super long on the weekends, so go early if there's something you really want. They sell out very quickly which kinda sucks but what can you do... The tomago one was ok. The bread was not as soft as I'd personally like, overall nothing too special. The crab and egg one was superb!! The more I ate, the better it got. Nice amount of crab and seasonings but not overwhelmingly old bay. But again, the bread could use some work. Try it out if you're in the area! Would love to go back and try their other baked goodies soon. read more

Café Dear Leon - Tomago Sando (top) and crab and egg sandwich (bottom) - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Came highly recommended by a local friend. Small line on Thursday & Friday mornings around 10/11am. Apparently the line gets long on weekends but well worth it! They publish their menu on their website daily. First day we got their butternut squash sandwich (v good), Korean Kalby short rib croissant (unreal!!), quiche, and coffee cake. Second day I got an almond croissant. Absolutely will line up again for this place. Great bake and the savoury things are amazing! read more

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Amazing coffee & croissants but the line just need to wait for 30 mins that's just make no sense They need to be more efficient with that . Or hire more people to work in the cashier read more

The best cafe in Baltimore, maybe the best cafe in Maryland (dare I say the entire United States?)! ! Worth any necessary lines or waits - the freshest pastries posted on the monthly baking schedule are delicious. Freshly roasted coffee is paired with every baked good - you may not be satisfied after just one visit, and you'll likely become a regular like me! read more

Finally got to try Cafe Dear Leon and it did not disappoint!! A small, understated cafe set on Canton Square, Thai cafe can BAKE! Check online the times they serve each item and try to arrive a little early because once they're out, they're out - a line around the corner formed right before their 9am bake time. Despite its popularity, the cafe is super efficient. They enforce effective social distancing and keep the line moving very quickly. The inside is small, but bright and clean. I've been twice this week and have to say they're some of the friendliest baristas in the city! Love their little outdoor patio for those that want to eat right away. We elected to walk about two short blocks down to the canton waterfront park and enjoy by the water. The pastries were insanely delicious! We had a variety - ham and cheese, almond chocolate, blueberry muffin, and another cinnamon pastry (not sure of name). Everything was fresh and sooo delicious! Overall, amazing little bakery with friendly efficient service - just be sure to pay attention to the serving times! read more

Café Dear Leon - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This review is solely for their pizza pop up they had a few months ago where they sold exclusively pizza on the weekends. When I tell you it was the best pizza I've had in a long time...LISTEN! I got a tip from a good friend of mine that the pizza was to die for and to go EARLY! they opened at noon and I showed up at 12:05 pm--line was around the block. 40 mins later I had two "slices" of pizza (they cut each slice into 2). I tried the stratiecella (cheesy savory veggie pizza topped with arugula) and shrimp alla vodka. It was so good I considered going back for seconds. Cafe dear Leon, please bring your pizza pop up back! read more

Café Dear Leon - Pizza pop up - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Hands down one of my favorite cafes in bmore. They release certain items on their menu at different hours of the day (I.e. breads/pastries release at 6, some additional seasonal pastries at 7, sandwiches by 11:30) so everything is incredibly fresh. There's always a line but soooo worth it! They don't have indoor seating but have a small outdoor space, so I recommend taking it outside or getting it to go! Highly recommend the frittata sandwich and tamago sando, also their coffee is great!! read more

FINALLY. After months of IG stalking and infrequent holiday pie pickups, I finally got to stop by for their actual daily goods!! And I'm so happy for it- what a glorious day it is. Got both a savory and sweet today and it was so wonderful. What I love especially about their goods is that neither salt or sugar is overwhelming. Similar to the Asian baked goods I love, the flavors are unique but not too loud that it covers the complexity of the taste. I absolutely love this shop. It's super cute with adorable Korean/English pastry recipe books on the side that I like to flip through while I wait. The staff are always super friendly as well. AND THEIR BAKED GOODS. Yes. Haven't gotten to try much just due to time constraints and distance... but I make sure to get their pre-order holiday goods all the time. Ahh what a happy day. read more

Café Dear Leon - French Cruller and savory Galette - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I've been wanting to try this sandwich since I arrived in Baltimore. They don't start offering the egg sandwich until 11am and stop when they run out. I got here at 11:20 and there was a line so I had to wait for about 15-20 minutes. But once inside, I got my sandwich quickly, and ate it quickly. It was so good! The filling was creamy with a little kick of mustard and the bread was soft but crispy and toasted on the outside with butter. I just ate one and I already want another. read more

Café Dear Leon - Line at 11:20am - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Adorable coffee shop, great coffee and pastry selection. Line wrapped around the building on a Saturday morning!

The long line that is consistently outside should give you an idea of how good this place is. While the line can be daunting it's worth the wait. The earlier you are able to go the shorter the wait will be, if you go before 8am it's usually not too too long. The different pastries come out on a set schedule, I recommend checking their Instagram account for the most up to date bake schedule. And pastries available also change by season. Another bonus is that the inside is good friendly :) read more

Must go to when in the area!! I've vowed to myself that i'll go here every time I'm in the city lol First off, like everywhere in Baltimore, it's street parking. There's a bunch of spots around the neighborhood, and I was able to find one really easily on a Saturday late morning/early afternoon. The weather was super nice (I went in March) and as always, there was a line. I think I waited about 15ish minutes? Not bad at all! They are limiting the number of customers inside and I think masks are required (if not, at least recommended) since it is a small spot. No biggie - service is super quick! Unless you have a big drink order, you should be in and out within minutes. I got an Iced Americano (my go-to). Perfect and refreshing - no sour or super bitter taste; smooth. I also ordered the Crab & Egg sando, Tamago sando, Basque cheesecake, and one of their chocolate chip cookies. Everything was so yum!! The sandwiches though... wow. Soooooo good. Tamago sando tasted exactly like the tamago sando's i had in Japan (convenience store sandos are so bomb everywhere in asia, tbh) and it made me super nostalgic. Crab & egg was also amazing -- similar to tamago but with that wonderful crab and sprinkling of old bay makes it truly Baltimore. Cheesecake was delicious -- it was my first time having a basque cheesecake! Cookie was also good, i warmed it up in the microwave and it was the perfect level of chocolatey-melty goodness. Love this place so much!!! read more

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This place is adorable and a must go if you come by the baltimore area. of all things in baltimore that is hopping - who would have expected a korean style bakery! beyond the the delicious breakfast / lunch foods ~ the food goes quick and according to their bake schedule. the way they set this up makes it continually desirable to go back and back again! Beyond that - the outdoor patio space is equally adorable and demands attention! read more

What a delectable and fancy experience. We've been wanting to try this cafe for a while, and are so happy we now know where to go for an exquisite pastry and coffee experience. We walked down to canton square, and noticed a line out the door. Immediately telling us we made a good decision. Thankfully these folks are enforcing social distancing in their small cafe by only allowing two groups of guests in at the same time. We brought our pup with us, who they happily welcomed in. We were greeted by a beautiful display case of sweet and savory treats. Their signs out front explained that everything is made in house, fresh, and on a baking schedule. So we knew we couldn't go wrong. What I was most appreciative of was the fact that we weren't rushed at all. The team was very patient, was excited to hear that it was our first time, and guided us through our options knowing my allergies. We ended up going with a dark iced mocha, cold brew, chocolate croissant, and their new maritozzo. Everything was amazing. First the coffees. I'm not someone who enjoys chocolate flavored coffees, it this iced mocha was incredible. Rich all natural chocolate richness with chocolate shavings on top made this easily one of the best iced mochas my wife has ever had. My cold brew was also perfectly on point. Our treats- the first bite of the chocolate croissant yielded such a beautiful buttery bite sound that it could have been from an ASMR video. A beautiful buttery pastry was a perfect compliment to the coffee. My maritozzo was amazing. Frankly I've never heard of this thing before but it was a sweet and flaky brioche bun with cranberry and apple jam, topped with mascarpone cream in the middle. I've never inhaled something faster in my life. Overall- treat yourself with this amazing gem soon. read more

Café Dear Leon - Maritozzo and cold brew - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

There's always a long line at Cafe Dear Leon for a reason!!! Their pastries are so fresh (baked that morning) and delicious!!! I was there this past weekend and already want to come back. I got the croissant, chocolate croissant, fig focaccia, and oat pecan chocolate chip cookie. ALL were very good. The croissants reminded me of the ones I've had in France which was very crispy, flakey, and amazing! I want to try the other baked goods they offer, especially the crab/egg sandwich, but it's not available until 11am that Saturday I was there. If you're lucky, you'll find street parking in Baltimore! read more

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This place has earned its 5 star rating for sure. The staff. So nice. So friendly. So enthusiastic about their food!! Their selection? Amazing. They have original flavors, fresh and fruity ones, rich and decadent ones, and more. There's a reason there was a long line out the door when we got there at 9 AM ON A THURSDAY. Their croissants were nothing short of outstanding. The tiramisu croissant was so decadent and is the best one I've ever had. I need to come back for their sandos! read more

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This is one of the best bakeries in Baltimore, highly recommended! The staff is friendly and enthusiastic about their menu. The menu changes all the time to incorporate new & interesting items for every season. The tamago sando is my favorite savory item on the menu, the bread tastes just as amazing as the filling. Check their menu times and get there early because when they run out for the day, that's it! read more

Café Dear Leon - Winter danish - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Joined the line Friday at ~9:18am, out the door with my pastries around 9:32, and by 9:40 I was wiping the crumbs off my face! Café Dear Leon has been open in Canton for over a year, and has amassed quite a following during that time. Their popularity is evident by the line out the door and down the block. Though the line is long, it moves quickly and you'll soon enjoying some of the most delightful and decadent pastries of your life! During this visit, I purchased one savory (shallot and tomato focaccia) and one sweet (pain au chocolat). The focaccia was delicious though a tad oily with bright, juicy tomatoes. The pain au chocolat was solid with buttery, flaky goodness. There are so many more items I am looking forward to trying in the future - like the Dear Leon Cheesecake, the tiramisu croissant, and the cherry lime cruller. Because of the monthly menu rotation and the staggered baking schedule, make sure you check their website/instagram in advance so that you can plan ahead. read more

Café Dear Leon - Pain au chocolat - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Repeat after me - this place is legit and lives up to the hype! Go here now! Everything, from the website to the storefront, and menus to experience, is well thought out and perfectly executed. It's simple, streamlined, and elevated. The baked goods are just perfection. Yes, it's frustrating when you get there hoping for an item and it's sold out - but everything's hand-made and baked fresh, so it happens. Order the next thing that catches your eye, which should be just about anything there, and without a doubt, you'll enjoy it. My personal recommendations are any of the crullers - and don't confuse them with anything you've seen at a DD. These are light, airy, choux pastry perfection with a shape that allows for icing/sugar/toppings to get stuck in every nook and cranny. I do also think their cookies are incredible, but worth noting that the salt is prominent in them - which I think balances the sweetness and flavors - but caught my little one off guard. P.S. Tip the staff who are working; they are always so lovely and welcoming. It such a breath of fresh air during these trying times! read more

Café Dear Leon - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I visited Café Dear Leon on a weekday morning around 8am. There was a short line out the door, but I only had to wait around 5 minutes to enter the shop and order. I ordered an almond croissant and a nutty kougin. The almond croissant was still warm and melted in my mouth. The nutty kougin is flaky and had a gooey center, but there wasn't the caramelized shell I'm used to that Dominique Ansel makes. My friend and I stayed until the 9am bake and shared the everything and cherry tomato focaccia. The line was around 10 minutes until we got in to order. Out of the two, the everything focaccia was my favorite, but both were light, soft, and airy. Overall, the quality of the pastries and everything is great, but the croissants are on the small side so not quite sure it's worth $5 for one, making it on the pricier side. I'd definitely come back if a friend is in town, but I wouldn't come here everyday. read more

Café Dear Leon - Nutty kougin and almond croissant - Cafes Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland