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So there's not an awning or sign to locate the shop. But there will be a long line. Apparently the line is typically around the corner from what ppl say. But, the line wasn't this time. I got in line at 12:37 and left with my items by 1:08. They do take FOREVER and they only allow 6 ppl in at one time and it's STRICTLY enforced. I ordered the crab dip bagel, banana bread, s'mores cookie and monkey bread... my total was $30. I was wondering why something with crab was so cheap and that's because the little bit of crab that you see at the top of the bagel is all that you get. There was no crab throughout. It was mostly cream cheese and corn. And not much crab flavor. The banana bread lacked that uhmph... like it was missing something... maybe cinnamon or even more banana. The s'mores cookie was basic and too chocolatety for my liking. I ate the marshmallow/biscoff cookie top. Now the monkey bread was ok. Actually it's the best thing that I ordered really. It wasn't traditional in any way, it was croissant-textured, the passion fruit caramel is what steals the show. Definitely the best part. To be honest, I wouldn't go back. The long wait mixed with the bare minimum makes me realize that this was just an overhyped tiktok trend.
I'm glad I waited in the line! When I first walked up I didn't know what make of the line out front. Should I wait? Should I leave? I asked the couple in front of me if this was usual and they said yes but it moves quickly. I'm so glad I waited! The coffee and pastries were amazing. I had a seasonal coffee and a crab dip bagel. That bagel was pure heaven. There's no seating inside but there is some outdoor seating on the sidewalk. Friendly and fast service too.
Whenever I'm in Baltimore in the morning/early afternoon I make sure that I head to one place... and that's Cafe Dear Leon. Their crab dip bagels are sooo sooo good. I tried them out for the first time last year and then again a week ago and everything was exactly as I remember it to be. Friendly service, hot and fresh food and not too long of a wait The inside of the cafe is also very well organized with a small retail space filled with merch and plants. They do a great job making the most of the small space, it's a very homey feel. I haven't tried anything else on the menu lol but other items in their case look delicious with sweet and savory options. Highly recommend especially because parking isn't too bad during the day. Support this small, local business.
Needless to say, everything I tried was delicious. My personal favorites were the Smoked Salmon on Everything Focaccia (12/10) and the Basque Cheesecake (10/10). The smoked salmon focaccia is incredibly rich and well-balanced. The scallion cream cheese is deep and flavorful, pairing beautifully with the crispy pickled onions, caper berries, and fresh arugula, which add brightness and layered aromas to the sandwich. I truly can't recommend this focaccia enough--and the portion is generous. I ended up sharing half with my friend! The Basque cheesecake is dense and indulgent, bursting with cheesy flavor without being overly sweet. It's the perfect companion to a cup of coffee. The staff were gentle and very attentive to hygiene. They spoke softly when near the food and were warm and enthusiastic at the counter. The space itself feels cozy and inviting. I can't wait to come back and try more items!
12/10 highly recommend! If you're curious or on the fence about this place, please go! I visited after leaving town for a brief visit after a friend highly recommended it and it's the best bakery I've been to in a very long time. The pastry is delectable, and the service was lightning fast. It is a very tight space and it only allows 6-people inside the shop at a time so pack your patience when you plan your visit, especially if you arrive and there's a line. They move so quickly with the orders I wasn't even bothered. The strawberry & lavender danish was so good I'm sad I didn't order two. I also tried a honey lavender iced matcha and was very impressed, although it was small I liked it. I can't wait for another opportunity to visit the city because Café Dear Leon will be one of my first stops!
Ventured up to Baltimore to hangout for the day coming from DC. Cafe Dear Leon has been on my list for some time now and I was so excited to try. I went on a Wednesday so no line and plenty of goods still in stock. Had to get the crab dip bagel. It really is that good. Never sure nowadays what is hype and what actually tastes good but the bagel was amazing. I was debating getting another crab dip bagel to take home and eat later. It has a generous about of crab in it and they serve it warm. I recommend eating the crab dip bagel soon after you receive your order. Yes, you could place it in the microwave at home but I don't think it's the same experience. I also got a s'mores cookie for dessert. It was very good as well. My total came out to $16 for my two items. The crab dip bagel was $10-$11 and the cookie $4, plus tax. I will be back for sure!!
The hype is real. The crab dip bagel is THAT GOOD. A must try if you love crab and visiting or haven't been. I think it's something everyone should at least try once. However, everything else on the menu is also incredible. My mom loves their croissants and raves about them. I unfortunately have tried 2-3 drinks and never liked any of them - either they aren't sweet enough or the flavor profile isn't what I imagined. It may take a while to get the food but is worth the wait! Go to the Remington location for more spacious and sit down location!
Cafe Dear Leone is exactly as hyped as everyone says. As you can see in the photos, all the items are pictured, and yes, there is always a line down the block. I was not excited about standing in line at all, but I had to try the crab bagel, so here we are. The wait was about 30 minutes, and it was hot outside, but it was absolutely worth it. Once inside, we had a lot of questions. Even though the staff was clearly focused on moving the line along, they were calm, kind, and genuinely helpful. We didn't linger, but we never felt rushed in a bad way. The space itself is very small, so there is really no room to hang out and enjoy your food there. Since we already survived the line, we figured we might as well order everything that caught our attention. My favorite item ended up being the Tamgo Sando. I would stand in that line every day for that sandwich, or honestly just for the recipe.
I've been wanting to try this bakery for quite some time. I don't know why, but I've been on this bakery kick for the past few months. This place has rave reviews. My partner & I came through on a rainy day, hoping there wouldn't be a long line. It wasn't that long. It helps that they have a heated awning to wait under. It was a bit cool, so that was great. It didn't take us long to get inside. We studied the menu while we waited. I ordered the crab tamago sando. I was initially planning for the smoked salmon, but since that's my go-to, I thought I'd try something different. It tasted like an egg salad sandwich with crab. There was enough crab in the sandwich that I could taste it. I also ordered the Koginut Pumpkin Tart, Toffee cookie, and chocolate chip cookie. OMG, those sweets were delicious. That's my Achilles heel------- sweets. If I return, I'll opt for the Salmon! And of course, more cookies!
3 years later and the same complaint stands. The people working inside are nice but again I just cannot get on board with their business model. Yes they've opened La Maison in Remington and maybe that siphons some of the business that way, but there is always a line here. Though the wait this time was 15 minutes instead of 40 minutes and it was Friday at 9:30am. I wasn't actually anticipating that I would end up getting the infamous crab dip bagel on a Friday morning well past the 7:30am bake schedule drop time, but I managed to snag what looked like the last one (I actually don't know if they keep on making this one item throughout the day to have just have some available always). And yes. Its delicious. I get it. But man imagine if the person in front of me had snagged that last one as I stood behind them. (Happened the last time I was here with the tamago sandwich). But luck was on my side this time. Once they took my order I was in and was out of the store within 5 minutes. I also got the mushroom tart which served with the garlic aioli is so dang good. And the tiramisu brioche. Good lord who even conceived of such a thing? Diabolical in a good way. Man if only they had some way of mitigating the line situation. Rest assured you won't ever catch me going there on a weekend.
I have been wanting to try Cafe Dear Leon's crab tamago sando since I moved to Baltimore! After hearing so many people's reviews and recs, I checked out their instagram before visiting to make sure I arrived in time for their bake time which was 11AM. I got there on a Friday at 10:40ish and there were two groups in line ahead of us. The line area had heated lamps to keep us warm which was nice and there's plenty of street parking around the block. Once we got in, we were able to order quickly and also get our orders pretty quickly. The staff were super nice and helped with other recommendations that were available. I tried the fig lavender fog? which was amazing!! And the crab tamago sando did not disappoint! My sister, who was visiting from NYC also really enjoyed it and said she would return just for the sando. Will be back for the pear vanilla danish! I highly recommend Cafe Dear Leon and can't wait to try their new location La Maison soon!
the brief: cozy and cute spot located in the Canton area of Baltimore. Delicious baked goods with a very calming/peaceful aesthetic all around the store. All of the staff was super nice too. Plan accordingly for a wait though. how it works: the shop itself is pretty small. They only allow like 6 patrons in at a time, so if you're not one of the 6 people ordering or waiting on an order, you're supposed to wait in a line outside. I will say it's not very fast either. I ordered 4 baked goods and it took around 10-15 minutes. Even the barista orders were taking around that time (big caveat: a lot of their beverages are fancy and take time to actually make). So basically you can expect your spot to take roughly 5-10 minutes for each person that's ahead of you if you're waiting in line. Depending on the time of the day (like 6:00AM vs 7:30AM and not just breakfast/lunch/dinner), the menu is different. You should definitely check their menu ahead of time so you can appropriately time what you're going to get. how's it taste: delicious. Everything was good. Great balance on everything and all the pastries were flaky and soft. Everything that I'm looking for in a cafè bite. They don't have much seating aside from the outdoor venue, but you can totally take advantage of some of the cute places in the Canton area especially on a nice day. Very nice spot in Baltimore and would totally recommend checking it out.
Finally checked out Cafe Dear Leon. I went to check out the crab dip bagel. I wasn't sure what else to get because I needed to see the other pastries in person. The items are released on a time schedule so depending on what you want you have to time your visit. On my trip I got : Almond Crossiant Crookie Crab Dip Bagel Blueberries and Lemon Ricotta Danish Blueberry Muffin Everything was tasty and delicious. My top favorites were the danish and the crookie. There are a few other items I would try. If you are in the area I think it's worth checking out. read more
My sister made sure this was a stop in my Baltimore itinerary and I'm so happy she did! Everything we had from here was so unique and delicious. We took out goodies to the park by the water since there is no seating at the store. It's tiny, just allows 6 people in at a time but it's well worth stopping by. They have a restroom upstairs which was a plus. read more
YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS PLACE. I understand the excitement now. I went on a Tuesday at 0725 for their 0730 menu. Look on their IG or website for the full menu because they have certain items available at specific times. I must've gotten lucky because there wasn't a line at all. Workers were pleasant. Keep in mind that only 6 customers + 1 dog are allowed in the store at a time. There isn't any seating in the bakery as it's super duper small. The crab dip bagel was 10/10 !! Super filling. I saved the rest for later and it was just as good heated up. The financier was 11/10. So perfect! Slightly sweet and the crunch of the almonds made it taste like heaven. Definitely would pair well with a hot tea. The crème brûlée tart was actually heaven though. The flaky outside with the creamy inside filling cannot be described. You must try it yourself. The mocha latte was my favorite. Very rich, in depth flavors but not dehydrating or thick. The matcha latte with vanilla bean syrup was good. Probably the best matcha I've had in a while. The mocha just really left an impact on me so it is still my favorite and maybe my go-to drink for now on. Tip: don't forget to grab napkins and straws in the corner !! read more
It has been on my list to try this viral crab dip bagel so I got the energy to go last wknd! It was a line around the block when I pulled up around 9 am. I called when in route to double check that the bagels were in fact in stock still and they confirmed a yes. I waited in light rain for about 50 mins before entering in. All the food and beverage items looked great but my mind was only set on the bagels. So I got two! It tasted SOOO good!! I ate my 2nd one the following day after reheating very well in the oven. I think the big size and quality of the bagel is fairly priced at $11.50. I hope the line situation gets better and they open up a bigger space so ppl are in and out more quickly. read more
6 months ago
I still think about their crab dip bagel to this day, definitely worth the wait! I've been back a few times and all their other pastries are really good as well. The inside is a bit small which is why the line is always out the door but the service is quick once you order. It also cool how their menu changes throughout the day and monthly! read more
1 year ago
round ??? I've been to CDL enough times that my friends are all aware of it and when my parents came to visit me here in Baltimore; I took them here for breakfast. Okay; I will be the apparent only person brave enough to say it, the Crab Dip Bagel is simply not good. I am a lover of bagels and I like savory breakfast meals!! This was not that. Imagine taking a plain egg (?) bagel, scooping out significant inner bread-y parts, overloading it with cream cheese, adding a minuscule amount of crab, strange amount of corn, and then enough Old Bay to bring tears to your eyes. There's your Crab Dip Bagel. I didn't even want this thing, I got it because it went viral and yes I blame myself for that in hindsight but if you're driving here just for that; do not come. Or; do yourself the favor and get anything else. 1/5 Banana pudding 5/5 CDL has banana pudding?? Yeah, I'm shocked too. This doesn't make it on their menu but if you enter the shop, you'll see a sign advertising it. For around $9, this banana pudding is soft and melts in your mouth. The cup it comes in is big and enough dessert for 2 sittings Maritozzi 4.5/5 my mom ordered this and we split it. She was obsessed how it wasn't "too sweet", I would have preferred if it was a little bigger though. Morning Kouign 4/5, pronounced "morning queen", this tastes like a bread-ier version of a cinnamon roll (minus the frosting). loved the taste, but again, I would have preferred if it was a bit bigger Creme Brûlée Tart 5/5, my mom and my dad split this and adored it, noting again that it wasn't "too sweet" read more
They say the third time is a charm. Well, I guess that's true--I finally scored! I'd been hearing about the infamous "Crab Dip Bagel" spot in the Canton neighborhood. The first time I came, they were sold out. The second time, I learned they were closed on Mondays. Today, I happened to be on a walk with my dog and decided to give it another shot. I stood in line for 45 minutes and only spent 2 minutes inside. The wait was insane for the speed at which they operate. There has to be a better way! They only allow six people and one dog in at a time, which, in my case, held the line up because there was a lady and a dog behind me. I mean, we stood in line together, so there should have been an exception to the rule to keep the line flowing. The Crab Dip Bagel--soft, salty (with Old Bay), and flavorful. However, I wish it were fresh and warm; I feel it would have elevated the taste. Was it worth standing in line for 45 minutes? No. Would I come back if the line were shorter? Yes. read more
This tiny place offers a limited menu where items routinely sell out and typically has a significant line to get in. If those constraints are not for you, best to look elsewhere. If the question is whether the end result is of enough quality to be worth waiting in line, the answer appears to be an abundant yes, based on the pull-apart bread with passionfruit caramel and a chocolate chip cookie with an extra chocolate medallion on top that I acquired. Ordering a lychee iced tea yielded an actual lychee fruit without an excess of sugar and made for great refreshment. Their website has detailed information on allergens and dietary concerns. There are some items that I avoided on that basis, and I wish they'd make things without gelatin, but my general standard is that the open disclosure on the part of the business is what matters. read more
Finally made it back here after quite a while. I've been wanting to try the crab dip bagel because I've heard such good things about it. I came at 11 AM but they still had some and so I was able to try it. I also got the crab tamago sandwich and I tried the chocolate chip cookie. Everything was so delicious. The crab dip bagel was warm and filled with a delicious creamy crab dip. The bagel itself was more of a bread bowl and was the perfect accompaniment to the dip. The sandwich was simple but delicious with a mix of egg and crab inside and served on toast. The chocolate chip cookie was one of the best I've ever had. It was gooey and delicious with dark chocolate chips and then had a little pool of milk chocolate in the center. I can't wait to go back for more! read more
What a great bakery! My first visit here happened to be on a rainy Sunday morning, so I really put the work in, standing in that notoriously long line. The shop is very small, so they can only accommodate 5-6 customers at a time. I didn't carefully count the number of people ahead of me, so I was swiftly scolded when I increased the customer count to 7 lol. Anyway, I got two of the crab dip bagels, and they're everything the TikTok crowd claims. Delicious stuff that hits all the taste sensations. I also snagged a raspberry eclair, which was pretty good. read more
I get why people rave about this place now. Items are expensive but worth it. I tried the crab dip bagel and it was MASSIVE and sooo yummy. Their almond croissant was butter-y and less than sweet than I thought it'd be, which made it perfect for my tastes, and the dirty hojicha latte pleasantly surprised me with an ube flavor. I waited about 25 minutes on line, though the real bottleneck comes with ordering a drink (only one staff member makes ALL of them) so just pastries would definitely have you in and out once you're inside. The outdoor space was completely taken up by the line, so I ate outside a Mexican restaurant on the corner, which seemed to be what everyone else did as well. read more
7 months ago
I had the tamago kare pan. So freaking good. Perfectly jammy egg and definitely Japanese styled curry which is a bit on the sweeter side surrounded by buttery crispy croissant. I love the addition of little pickled peppers which cuts through the curry. The service was also great and quick after you order. The line can get long but moves quickly. Will definitely be back to try the other pastries read more
Just here to update my review and say I have NEVER been disappointed by Cafe Dear Leon. In fact, this is my favorite bakery in town. Despite the long lines, the staff is always so sweet and kind, and even better, the pastries and my coffees, matchas, and teas are always made perfectly. read more
I haven't been here in a while but came to try the crab bagel and it's truly as good as everyone says. I enjoyed it! Get there early or during off peak times or you'll be waiting a little, but the service was still quick. read more
CDL is a quaint, LITTLE eatery in O'Donnell Square. With that being said, parking is very limited. As previously mentioned, CDL is tiny with a limited capacity of "6 guests (and 1 dog)". They do provide a heated outdoor space for overflowing guests to gather. There is no indoor or outdoor seating. After perusing the menu, I decided on the Tamago Sando, which is essentially a fancy egg salad sandwich, and a Chai Latte. Both were quite satisfying; absolutely no complaints. Service was fast and friendly. Just a FYI, menu options vary depending on the time of day. Be sure to check out their "bake schedule" when deciding to visit. Either way, this was a pleasant experience and I definitely plan on returning. read more
So me and my homie took a trip to Cafe Leon. I hopped in line around 8:45am to get my paws on one of those tasty crab bagels. I ended up trying the ham and cheese croissant and a coffee with some fancy syrup. All I know is, I had rebuke that food because it was so good, my back would be bigger than all outdoors if I went back every day since like I have wanted to. The bagel was so fluffy. The crab was a bit sour creamy but still very very flavorful. The coffee was so sweet which was a great contrast to my tangy bagel and croissant. All I know is, this place is definitely a place I'm going to treat myself when I accomplish things. Such a treat. read more
6 months ago
I had been waiting for weeks to find time to try this raved cafe in baltimore, and I'm so glad I finally did! Cafe Dear Leon is a quaint bakery with an affordable drink menu. The staff was friendly but very busy, considering there was a line starting to wrap around outside. It's order-to-go only so I was able to find a nearby table with my friend to try out the goodies while it was still fresh. Here's what I ordered: Japanese iced coffee 7.5/10 - it felt like a standard coffee but I added lavender syrup to it. It wasn't overbearingly sweet, and it paired nicely with the savory pastries. Crab dip bagel 10/10 - This was what I was looking forward to and exceeded my expectations. There was real crab inside and the bread was so fluffy. Ham and cheese croissant 8/10 - crispy and gooey from the cheese! Pumpkin basque cheesecake 8.5/10 - this was so delicious and I'm not even that fond of cheesecake in general! It came with a spiced caramel dip that paired nicely. The cheesecake itself was so creamy and sweet. I can't wait to return to try other items in their menu! I love that their menu changes every couple hours and they keep everything seasonal. Don't worry about having to be on time for certain menu items though; it seems like they make enough so that people can still enjoy an earlier morning item later in the day. read more
While Cafe Dear Leon may best be known for their crab dip bagel, I'm glad I grabbed a sandwich as I think that was my favorite item! The line was not horrible, despite what I've heard. The staff was super friendly and happy to answer any questions. Parking in the morning was pretty easy, maybe a street or so away. This is a gorgeous little bakery tucked away in a Canton Square. Their menu operates on a bake schedule so make sure you check that out before heading over. read more
1 year ago
Finally got to try the viral crab dip bagel! I'm usually not one to be impressed by these viral tiktok spots, but this bagel was definitely worth the hype. The bake schedule for the crab dip bagel is 7:30am and we got in line at 7:20am on a Saturday. The line already had 50-60 people in front of us. We ordered around 8:50am so we waited an hour and a half in line. They already had to bake new batch when it was our turn and we had to wait another 10 minutes to get the bagel. If you don't want to wait as long and secure the bagel for sure, I recommend getting there at least 30 minutes before bake time-ideally an hour before. As for the bagel itself, the filling was super rich and the bagel was crispy and garlicky. I pretty much fell in love at first bite! It does get pretty messy to eat so be ready for that. I'd definitely try to come back for some of their other pastries. read more
I am genuinely obsessed with Cafe Dear Leon! I waited in line for the crap dip bagel for a full two hours, and I fear it was worth it. A worker kindly periodically made trips outside to people in the line to give a sense of how many bagels were left, which was super helpful. Ratings of the things I got: Crab dip bagel: 12/10 (seriously so good, and if you can get it WARM? even better) Crème brûlée tart: 10/10 (absolutely delicious!! a Cafe dear leon staple that I like to get every few visits, and that I am glad sticks around!) Chausson aux champignon: 7/10 (good but not my favorite, maybe because I am not in love with mushrooms. but it came with a truffle aoili that I really enjoyed) Raspberry croissant eclair: 9/10 (i LOVE an eclair and i love raspberry! also very very good, but pretty sweet so be warned!) Mango passion fruit danish: 7.5/10 (I really enjoyed, but mostly because I love mango. I wish there had been a little more curd but still nothing short of delicious) read more
I wish I lived in Baltimore on O'Donnell Street. After hearing and seeing all of the hype on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, I decided to take a little trip. I have absolutely no regrets for the 45 minute ride going and the 65 minute ride to return home. If you plan on visiting the cafe, especially early in the morning, please pack your patience and dress accordingly. We only had to stand in line about 15 minutes. However, the 15 minutes seemed like 30 due to the windchill. Fall is here. Our main reason for the return visit this weekend to Cafe Dear Leon was the crabdip stuffed bagels. However, the star of the show this trip, IMHO, were the Crookies. Those things are amazing. The cross between chocolate chip cookie and croissant is ingenious. But, let's be totally transparent...everything we tried this trip and the first were delicious. Weather permitting, I am committed to making this road-trip at least once a month. This small and quaint bakery is creating some big delights! You will not regret your visit or standing in line. The price point is a little high. But, well worth it. The carbs are a little high. But, also well worth it. Happy eating! read more
9 months ago
Beautiful and tasty coffee and pastry spot. I got a decaf iced latte and one of the few pastries left, a delicious salted chocolate cookie with cherry. The space is cute but small, with all the seating outdoors. I'm very into ambiance so wish that there was more indoor space. Not a spot to work, rather a great place to grab and go and walk around. Definitely look up the bake schedule before going! read more
The crab dip bagel lives up to the hype!!! Whole experience, besides the wait, was worth it. Got in like at 823am, finally able to order and pay at 914. So was in line for 51 minutes. And the food was definitely worth the wait. Crap dip bagel: 20/10 so flavorful, freshly made, perfect dip, perfect bagel. Phenomenal. I see why 2 is the limit because I'd order 5. Almond croissant: 15/10 the best croissant I've ever had. I BS you not. Crème brûlée tart: 10/10 very surprising for me because I don't usually like brûlée treats. Spectacular. Banana pudding: 7/10 not really my style but I recognize it could be someone's favorite. Would return and wait inline again. read more
One of the best bagels I've ever had. Listen if you cafe dear Leon you know recently the crab dip bagel has gone viral and it's worth the hype. So much so, they added It to their monthly changing menu AGAIN!!!! Sweet, savory, at lot of flavors, crab in every bite, and the cream cheese is not overwhelming. They did a big one! read more
I have been to Cafe Dear Leon many times before and have loved their products. I hadn't been in a while and had some extra time so I decided to wait in line for the raved about crab dip bagel. They have clearly posted instructions on when to begin lining up for the 9 am release of the bagels and where to line up. Everything is very streamlined and I feel the line goes fairly quickly. I decided to purchase a financier in addition to the crab dip bagel. I love the soft inside and crispy outside of the financier. And the almonds on top are a lovely addition. The crab dip bagel smelled amazing and was very delicious just not what I was expecting. It was a bit sweeter than expected but had a nice little kick on the end note. I'm not sure I would purchase the crab dip bagel again but will definitely continue to frequent Cafe Dear Leon. Their product is very much worth the wait. Everything is always fresh, delicious, and the staff are always kind and helpful. read more
1 year ago
Went for the crab dip bagel. Yup, took a 1.5 hour drive on a Sunday morning just to taste it and it was fantastic. Warm crisp bagel with the perfect amount of old bay and the crab dip itself was creamy, cheesy and flavorful! It was truly delicious. I got two just incase if I liked it, I could have one for the next day, but I finished them both in like 20 minutes lol. It was just that good. And people question them as to why they put corn in it but I'm here to tell you that it works. It just does. Even with that being the case, still, you don't even taste it. It's a non factor. So please don't let it keep you from trying it. Now onto some t&c's if you will. There will be a line. No question about it. The crab bagel is quite popular and it has everyone in a frenzy..rightfully so. With that said, there is a limit of two per customer for it. Also, there can only be six people and a dog in there at any time. The shop is quaint and the customer service is stellar. But please know that there is only counter service available with a bathroom upstairs for customers to use, but no seating area. If you're wondering how to plan your visit to ensure you get the crab bagel specifically, you will have to do some planning and again, plan on still waiting no matter your place in line. For reference, I arrived at 8:46 on a Sunday, my place in line was at the end of the block and I got one..I waited 1:14 minutes from the time I joined the line, until I was walking out with my bag. They have other pastry items, unique coffee offerings as well as matcha and chai. Their baked goods are made fresh daily and are on a bake schedule. Check their website before your trip to see what time things are available. As of now, the crab bagel itself is offered at 9AM. In addition to the crab bagel, I got the brie and berry danish offering and a chai. Both of those were great as well. You really can't go wrong with anything you order I believe. It is so worth it to patronize this business. I will be back for sure! read more
I'm glad that they give you a baking schedule, you can plan out when to arrive based on the items you want to try. I arrived around 8:15 based on the schedule and me wanting to try the crab bagel. I wanted to try some items from the ramjet time period but didn't think of going on to get those items when I first arrived and then waiting in line again for the crab bagel. When I arrived at 8:15, there were already about 20 people in ahead of me. Then within 10 minutes the line started wrapping around the building. The crab bagels were ready around 8:50 )the baking schedule said 9:00). I was able to get my bagel and leave by around 9:10. Once I got into the space, I got my food within minutes. The space inside is really small...it said capacity is for 6 people. That's not for sitting. It's just for standing to order. I ordered the crab bagel, a raspberry eclair, and a cream brûlée tart. I loved the eclair? it has the perfect balance of flavors and texture. It wasn't just sweet enough and not tart. Very flavorful and soft. The tart was really good as well, and not super sweet. Both of their exteriors were almost corrisant like. The crab bagel was really delicious. It wasn't like normal bagel bread )a little softer and less dense). The filling was really good but a tiny bit salty. The parts that had crab were excellent and it was a perfect bite. There were parts that were more cream cheese and that was too much for me. I'll definely go back and try more items. read more
1 year ago
Cafe Dear Leon opened during the pandemic. But they were really just a counter business with no where to sit so that was fine. Within an hour they would sell out of all their amazing pastries. Then they started staggering their menu. They also change their menu monthly. In January they introduced a crab dip bagel that went viral. They also have a Japanese egg sandwich that is another viral sensation. I could look in the name but I'm on a roll with this review. I was trying to make room for the hundred people that were in line behind me for this bagel and I didn't take enough pictures. Their desserts are works of art and taste amazing. When the weather is warm, there is room to eat outside. But just get it to go and enjoy in your own home. If you want the crab dip bagel, the limit is two. It comes out at 9 and if you get there at 9 you will be standing in line down the street and probably won't get a bagel. But get something else and still count that as a blessing. read more
Ok so I decided to check this place out today. I thought to myself, it's a Tuesday. Surely I'll be in and out right? Wrong! There was a line upon my arrival and I got there around 9:15 a.m. I believe the cafe opens at 6 a.m. I will say the line moved rather nicely and I appreciated the warmers once you got under the pergola. There's menu's outside along with signage of how things operate. Everyone's there for the crab dip bagel which becomes available at 9 a.m. If you take a look at the menu, the stagger the items being offered by certain times. So I waited and chatted up a few folks in line and before I knew it, it was my turn to go in. They allow 6 people and 1 dog in the cafe at one time so you just go in as people come out. You are limited to 2 crab dip bagels so I grabbed those and I got a chocolate croissant along with a dulce de leche iced latte, which wasn't bad. I waited until I got home to try the bagel. Rewarmed it a bit. It was good! It didn't blow me away but it was good. There was corn and I believe maybe an artichoke or onion, wasn't too sure but that was different for a crab dip. The staff were very friendly! Kind and welcoming upon entering the cafe! There is a public restroom if you need to use it. My experience was a good one and there were tons of delicious offerings! I'd say to get here as close to 9 a.m. if you'd like a crab dip bagel. After grabbing mine, I overhead the staff say there were about 11 left, plus what was on the display so some folks were definitely not going to be able to grab any that were in line. Just a heads up. Check this place out if you're interested and you have some free time. read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
Very small, unassuming cafe in canton neighborhood. Parking was easy enough to find on a Sunday afternoon. Yes, you have to wait in line as the shop is THAT small !! But the line moves quickly since all food items are prepared in advance. Around 12:30 there wasn't much pastry items left so I chose the smoked salmon bagel and one of their cookie. Price wise I spent $18 for both. Was it worth it ? The cookie was delish, the sandwich was okay...it was my first time have smoked salmon on a bagel and I wanted more from it (maybe a splash of some of the caper juice? Some hot sauce? Do you put hot sauce on lox? Lol. I digress. There was also an Italian sub option and tomago sandos which kinda felt like a Japanese take on egg salad sandwiches. I think they do pastry well here ! I would recommend grabbing a few of those items to go. The s'mores cookie looked amazing and so did the almond croissant ! read more
Soooooooooooooo good. So good. That's it. That's all LOL Very cute shop with a seating area right outside and steps away from the water. They release their pastries on a time schedule and only allow up to 5 people in the shop at a time. The only "bad" thing about it is the wait time but that's only because of how delicious the crab bagel is. But I will say during the winter it's pretty brutal. Worth the wait though read more
Ever since this bakery was recommended to me by a friend who used to live in Bmore, I've been dying to try it. He told me it was 100 times better than the best bakery in our city (which is one I adore) so I was super excited to try it. The extremely long lines at this place should be an indication of how good it is. In the past, I've had a few experiences where a long line wasn't warranted, but for this place it totally is. We visited on a Sunday morning so the line was almost wrapped around the block. I didn't time how long we were waiting, but I was with my best friend and we could talk for hours. I recommend either waiting in line with someone time flies by with or listening to a good audiobook because it was a bit of a wait. The bakery itself is super tiny. It can only carry about four customers inside at a time. There wasn't any indoor seating when I visited, but they had quite a few tables outside. My friend had been before and said it best, it's a good idea to order a bunch of things from here because some things are incredible and others are just fine. On my visit I got the matcha red bean bun, pomme turnover, and pain au chocolat. She got a very delicious fig pistachio tart. I adored my pain au chocolat. It was buttery perfection. The matcha red bean bun was very ok, the bun was drier than I had hoped. I absolutely loved the pomme turnover. It was not only delicious, but beautiful too. I'd be excited to return to try the sandwiches. The friend who originally recommended it likes the almond croissants the most. If you have time in your day, I recommend checking out this delicious bakery. read more
This place has been on my list for a while now! I tried items from a few different menus depending on the time. Lines were long but moved quickly. It's better to get there early or close to the start of the menu item you are looking for. Everything I ate was amazing. read more
Wonderful local bakery in central Canton! There was a relatively shorter line around late afternoon Sunday, and a good amount of items were still in stock. Got the monkey bread with passion fruit/caramel, which was super tasty. Hope to be back to try more things around their bake times (6a, 7:30a, 9a, 11a). Limited outdoor seating. Parking available nearby on side streets. Pet friendly! read more
10 months ago
The crab dip bagel was amazing, the blueberry muffin was delicious too. We got there at 7 and we were the 2 ppl in line, by the time we got our food ( party of 4) walked and went to the sitting area across the street at the park the line was already full of ppl going down that sidewalk: I think for people that visit from OT they should have a 4 person limit just my greedy opinion read more
More info about Café Dear Leon
2929 O'Donnell St
Baltimore, MD 21224
Canton
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(667) 335-9160
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https://cafedearleon.com
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Ask the Community - Café Dear Leon
Do they make a kouign amaan? (French variation on a donut theme)? Can be spectacular!
Hey I'm not sure sorry! I didn't see that multiple times I went there.
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Café Dear Leon - cafes - Updated June 2026
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