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    Carma's Café

    3.7 (176 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 2:00 pm

    Carma's Café Photos

    CARMA'S CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for working
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Carma's Café

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    Street view
    Jada C.

    I am absolutely blown away! I bookmarked this place over 2 months ago to visit from Yelp and I am so glad that I visited today! Call me crazy but, this place is almost directly across the street from a Starbucks and I am thinking about visiting this place more than that Starbucks across the street... and I have stock in Starbucks! It's not the most appealing place on the inside but it's the cutest place on the outside. The inside perks include, fantastic customer service, a nice variety, and plenty of seating for individuals, intimates, and small groups! This place has so much character that I can't wait to come back and visit again! And you guys all know that I love handwritten things! They have boards that are written on with special markers to advertise the daily specials and other items. Dahlia was there to greet me as I entered and answered all of my questions no matter how tedious they were! I definitely appreciate versatile and fantastic customer service when I see it and I am looking forward for the opportunity to receive it again very soon!!

    Peach Cobbler Waffles ($10) = pretty tasty; taken on Oct 07, 2018
    Mike W.

    Location/the physical store itself = 0/5 Food = 3.5/5 Service = 5/5 Value = 2/5 Total = 2.5 stars Carma's café is a small café that has become a Charles Village institution over the years beloved by many Hopkins students and local residents. As others have pointed out, the atmosphere at Carma's is very basement-y: it is in the basement portion of a larger of building. The sitting area inside is tiny, with only 4 small tables available. To be honest, the place is a little dingy. With such a small space, it can get quite loud in there and is not a good place to stay to get some work done. Because of this, they have many tables and a picnic table outside of the store, most of which are covered by a canopy. Due to the limited seating inside the store, they have blankets available for the outdoor seating in case you get cold. While that's thoughtful and cute, this is just not for me. I don't want to share blankets with strangers. I'd not mind sitting outside when the weather is nice. Now onto the food part! Carma's serves some good food that's fresh and yummy. Cold noodle salad, avocado toast, gluten-free baked goods, and weekend brunch waffles are classic. The staff members are nice and sweet. They bring the food to you outside when they're ready. As others have pointed out, the wait for food really varies. I appreciate the fact that they use real plates and utensils. Prices are a little high for my taste and the portions are small for a grown, muscular man like me. On average, you spend about $10-15/person. Pro tip: Carma's has their daily specials listed on their website at carmascafe.com, their Facebook page, and on the board outside the store. They're updated daily so be sure to see what kind of yummy sandwiches they have for that day before you go in!

    Jayne O.

    Carma's is a staple for Hopkins students. In the mornings, the little cafe is quiet and a good place to read. In the afternoons, it becomes more of a social spot for people to get lunch and dinner. The grilled cheese and tomato soup is a favorite, although their turkey, cranberry, and Brie panini is another contender. They also have the best veggie cream cheese I can find in the area. In regard to drinks, the Twiggy tea latte, the Mayan chocolate mocha; and the caramel cloud are all good no matter who makes them. I give this place 3 stars because of the lack of space, the awful take out time (they always take forever), and the inconsistent service. Sometimes the food will come out quickly, other times you will wait 45 minutes and nothing. That being said, roll the dice.

    Sandy J.

    Impression: Came here for breakfast and brunch since I was itching for a breakfast kind of place after eating a lot of Chinese foods and bakeries for desserts. This place serves your omelette, frittata, rockets, sandwiches, paninis, and coffees. It is reasonably priced. Everything was less than 10$. My only tip is that they take a very very long time to prepare foods- that's good! At least all from scratch- but if you're looking for a "quick" breakfast place and you're in a hurry, then this may not be the best place. However if you're wanting to catch up with friends and hang out over a relaxed weekend brunch, this is a great joint! They even provide blankets to cover yourself on cooler mornings since the sun won't get to them until afternoon so it may be chilly if you sit outside on a spring/fall day. Portions were enough for 1 person, so if you're thinking about splitting 1 dish, It may not be enough. Sides include sesame noodles and salads. I would give this place a 3.5/5- good breakfast options- nothing super stellar but still a solid place to go with good prices, overall satisfactory taste, and there are blankets!!! What we ordered i.Meatball Rocket Meatballs were pretty large and well flavored, juicy and tender and came with tomato sauce. Large white roll that you can stuff your meatballs in. 2. Meat Frittata Good for one person unless you order many dishes and you can sample with friends. It's an egg dish with ham, sausage, and something else in it- goes well with a salad i think 3. Virginian Ham Sandwich This reminded me of a Cuban sandwich! Flattened bread with ham slices inside with mozzarella/provolone cheese. This is definitely a filling dish if you're super hungry. I recommend asking for the salad for the side for this one. Sides- We got the sesame noodles and the salad. I thought the sesame noodles were ok- they used spaghetti pasta and flavored lightly with sesame oil and maybe salt. I think this was kind of a weaker dish on their end- A little unflavorful and plain if you're already getting a sandwich as your main entrée. Salad is the better choice- comes with olives and peppers.

    Avocado toast
    Vicky W.

    Really nice cafe with good espresso drinks and sandwiches. Their daily egg frittata is my favourite. They also often have some samples near the counter for customers to try. Cute and warm setting though there aren't too many seats inside. They do have outdoor seating and they even brought out blankets for us. Their avocado toast is also really good!

    Grilled Ham and Brie with Bean & Chicken Chipotle Soup
    Helen T.

    The grilled sandwich was absolutely AMAZING, with a Dijon vinaigrette dressing that perfectly complimented the melted cheese. The soup was okay. However, the wait was very long (more than 45 minutes), so definitely not a good idea for a quick brunch. Not a super pretty interior, but, if you're into that hole-in-the-wall coffee shop vibe, this is the place for you.

    Chai!
    Tiffany D.

    Met friends here for a little chat and some tea. The atmosphere is very "basement"--- as it is in the basement portion of a larger of building. It can get quite loud in here and is not a good place for reading or working. It worked for a girls meet and chat though. The drinks? I got a chai latte, and it had a very funny taste. The price was cheap, but the drink was just subpar. They have a small selection of pastries that I didn't try. Overall, I might come again if I'm in the area, but I'm not raving about this place.

    Latte
    Himali W.

    Surprisingly, there aren't a lot of breakfast/brunch options in the area. This place was decent. I had a latte, with the frittata with tri-color pepper and provolone. I picked this because I thought it would be a healthy option, but it was not. The frittata slice was large, dense with a layer of greasy provolone on the top. I normally like provolone, but it didn't go well with the frittata and I ended up eating around it. It came with one slice of toast and homemade jam (I picked the 3-bees, which was yummy). The latte was good. My friend had the San Pedro sandwich, a vegan sandwich with coconut bacon, avocado, sprouts, and vegannaise, which she loved, along with orange juice, which she also thought was delish. Prices are moderate and they do take credit card.

    TCB w tomato cream soup
    Nicole H.

    One of my favorite spots to eat at near the Homewood campus! The food definitely grows on you. I only came to love this place last fall, after being here for three years. The grilled cheese with the side of tomato soup is to die for. To die for. They also have different variations of the sandwich throughout the week. The Brussels sprout one is great. At first I was deterred by the blue cheese in it, but you can barely taste it! The garlic aioli ones are pretty good too! And you can add avocado for $1 to any sand which! Instead of the tomato soup, I sometimes go for the sesame noodles, one of their specialties. The TCB sandwich is my go-to. It's the perfect version of a grilled cheese with protein! And it's great for all those with sweet tooths! The Xander is another good one if you're looking for a more dessert-y taste. When it comes to dessert, you must try the Pink Dalmatian! Although I am a true chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, my loyalties lie with the Pink Dalmatian. The chocolate chip cookies are a bit too healthy-tasting for me with the nuts. Ooh a second favorite is the molasses cookie! To be honest, it kind of tastes like a gingerbread cookie. But it works. Super cozy environment! Definitely come here! And it's BYOB!! Bonus, they also offer almond milk with their drinks.

    Irish oats with fruit (and part of an iced mocha)
    Jacqueline R.

    A staple during my time at Hopkins. TCB's are the ultimate comfort food. The ginger cookies remind me of home and Christmas. The Irish Oats were a favorite Sunday morning tradition - make sure to get the fruit with it. Waits for to go can be long, but I recommend grabbing friends and shooting the breeze eating at their picnic tables. There's usually even blankets to keep you warm at night. Go to Carma's to feel cozy and content.

    Vegan sandwich with stuffed ingredients
    Prisma T.

    I often pass by this lil underground cafe on my walk to the BMA and I'm so glad that I finally decided to enter. The shop inside is very quaint so thank goodness they have a good seating outside of the shop.the interior design and atmosphere was really cute. The cashier was very kind and patient with the newbie I was and made great recommendations. I saw chai and vanilla ice latte so I was excited. But unfortunately the taste and flavor was lacking. I think it just needed a lot more pumps of vanilla and chai flavoring because the milk and ice just really drowned away any taste. As for the food, I got a vegan veggie sandwich and it was very filling and delicious. There was caramelized onions, avo, lettuce, and a jam that really harmonized with the food. The sandwich has cool ingredients on the inside with a warm toasted bread so it is great for the summer. It is hard to hear your name called out for your order from the outside for drinks. But I'm glad they give a spoon number pager for food and delivered to you at your table. Great overall experience !

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    16 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Pretty good just sometimes slow and slightly over priced. I like taking my dog here because of the outside seating.

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    10 years ago

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    15 years ago

    This place has the best sandwiches, and really good coffee. Tiny inside, but this place is perfect for takeout orders. Friendly staff.

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    Cafe On the Square

    Cafe On the Square

    4.6
    (58 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $

    I've recently started working in the area and they are supper close thus I decided to try them out…read more I was very excited when I saw it was Korean owned however their K-food section is only two items; Bulgogi Dupbap & the Bulgogi Sub. The rest of the menu is American stuff. I've as of now tried both of these and very content with the taste and filling of these two, the price is reasonable per the portion and yummyness($12.49) plus tax about $13.25. The only thing I would change a bit is making sure that the juice from the bulgogi doesn't soak the bread too much cuz then it's mushy. I like a crunchy texture to my subs, but the may be just my preference. Both the son and the mom are super nice, if you become a regular it's very nice to have people know what you want right away. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly. I hope that they can incorporate more korean food to their menu, at least 2 more that have a different protein so we have a bit more variety. Though I understand why the options for kfood are limited given the area's population. Things to keep in mind: - When you order let them know if you want it to go or to eat there. Nobody can read minds, but they will do their best to ask you prior to packaging to confirm. - It can get busy so sometimes transaction may take longer because people are multitasking. - - - Don't rip out the receipt, you might be taking the wrong copy. Wait for the cashier to hand it to you or simply ask. -If you have questions about a product, ask them and don't assume. Yes. There is a big menu and pamphlets available and they provide brief item description but if that's not clear, just ask. They also have prepackaged salads, fruit and a few sweet treats, along with MissVickies chips, and bottle drinks. It's a cafe so the basics. Overall, really nice experience. Tots recommended :3

    Solid Experience, But I Miss the Old Owner…read more Café on the Square is a reliable spot with decent food and a cozy atmosphere. The service was good, and the dishes were tasty, but nothing that really stood out. That being said, I miss the old owner--there was something special about his presence that made every visit feel more welcoming and personal. I hope the new management keeps things moving in the right direction. I'll definitely return, but it's just not quite the same without the old vibe.

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    Bulgogi Dupbab
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    Blue Moon Cafe

    Blue Moon Cafe

    4.1
    (2.8k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    SHUT THE FLUFF UP! SO GOOOOD!!!…read more We were in Baltimore with a few hours to spare in the morning, so what to do?!? First thing that comes to mind is... crab for breakfast! Ok yelp, show me watcha gat!!! Oh, AND Open Early! Unfortunately, we have just a few options pop up (Wha?!? REALLY?!? It's Baltimore, aren't they famous for crab?!?), so we choose to hit Blue Moon Cafe! Yelp directions are on point and only street parking from what we can see. We brave the brisk chilly breeze of early May to get to the cafe... BRRRR!!! Inside motif has a dark theme to it and small patronage area. Per the lovely Nicki who greeted us, Blue has been on Food Network a few times... DDD, Best Things I Ever Ate & Destination FOOD... so settin' the bar HIGH from the start! Ok, okay I dig the confidence!! Menu is via QR code but Nicki, becuz she's fun, excitedly announces the recs to the newbies, which are Sweet Baby Jesus & Cap'n Crunch French Toast. Thanks for the heads up! Sweet Baby has lump Crab in the dish so that's a confident YES! for that, but I spy something more appealing than Cap'n Crunch... Let's EAT! SWEET BABY JESUS!: Wifey and I wanted crab and this was Blue's big gun! So YES! To The Dish! It may appear as a simple Hash Brown dish but it is so much GLORIOUS than that! To start, Hash browns are browned & crisped perfectly and then the angel's touch happens... lump crab (generous portion) with Old Bay Seasoning, fresh diced tomatoes, melty cheese, 2 over Medium eggs and homemade Hollandaise Sauce. HOLEY MOLEY! DEEE-LISH! Generous crab serving allows you to have crab with EVERY bite of this dish! Mmmmm :) Love the ooey gooey stretchy cheese! Love the runny eggs! And that Hollandaise?!?! LEGIT! This heavenly dish deserves all the hype! The only drawback was the dish got cold fast because of the cold weather outside I assume. By the time I finished my order, and got to helping Wifey, not as WOWzers compared to when it first dropped on our table. Now we know... eat fast when it's cold outside. lol SHUT THE FLUFF UP! FRENCH TOAST: Once I read "peanut butter" in its ingredients, no way I was passing this up! Buh Bye fan fave Cap'n Crunch, maybe next time lol. Officially, menu "says" it's a Pretzel encrusted French Toast, layered with chunky peanut butter, marshmallow fluff and Chocolate drizzle... allegedly. The chocolate drizzle was not present when the plate landed but generous melty smooth peanut butter completely covered the top of the marshmallow fluff. Sliced Granny Smith apples and thin pretzels also topped the dish, with a powdered sugar drizzle over the entire plate. I asked for extra peanut butter on the side just because no one ever puts enough for my liking lol. And whattya know?!? This newest iteration of the dish was FABULOUS! Did they run out of stuff? Who cares! The synergy these items had with each other just made an amazing bite each and every time. BOMB-alicious!!! I don't really like marshmallow but it wasn't a hindrance here. I devoured the entire thing. Compliments to the chef! ;) VERY EASY RECOMMENDATION! Definitely worth a visit and a return visit, as well! If it's cold outside, focus on eating not chit chatting lol ENJOY! :)

    My husband and I recently dined at Blue Moon Cafe in Fells Point, Baltimore, and were disappointed…read moreby our experience. The issue began when my husband politely asked a question about a menu item because it appeared to be spelled "browns" rather than "hash browns." He simply wanted clarification regarding what the item was. The server asked him for context, and he explained that he was referring to the item as it appeared on the menu. She then replied, "Oh, now I have context. That's a hash brown." My husband explained that because of the way it was written, he wasn't sure what it meant and was only asking a question before ordering. At that point, the server's tone became noticeably louder, and she responded, "Well, I only work here. I didn't write the menu." We found this response unnecessarily defensive and dismissive. At no point was my husband criticizing the server or correcting her. He was simply trying to understand a menu item. Shortly afterward, a different server began assisting our table, which gave us the impression that the original server was upset by the interaction. When my husband placed his order, he specifically requested that the restaurant's "animal sauce" be served on the side. The menu does not explain what animal sauce is, so he wanted to try it separately before putting it on his meal. When the food arrived, the dish was completely covered in the sauce rather than having it on the side as requested. Afterward, we learned that the sauce is a mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise. My husband does not eat mayonnaise and ketchup on eggs, which is exactly why he requested the sauce on the side. Unfortunately, because of the uncomfortable interaction earlier, he did not feel comfortable asking for the dish to be corrected and simply tried to eat around it. The meal was not inexpensive, and because the sauce had been poured over most of the food, he was unable to enjoy it. Approximately 80% of his meal was left uneaten. We understand that mistakes happen and that restaurant environments can be busy. However, customers should be able to ask questions about menu items and make simple requests without feeling uncomfortable or concerned about how those requests will be received. Description of waitress: Caucasian Middle aged Heavy set Extremely loud voice Rude ( nice/nasty) We wanted to share this feedback because the interaction negatively impacted our dining experience and left us feeling unwelcome. We hope this feedback is received in the spirit intended so that future guests feel comfortable asking questions and making requests without concern.

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    Blue Moon Cafe
    Half stack capt crunch French toast.
    Half stack capt crunch French toast.
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    Sweet baby jesus

    Carma's Café - coffee - Updated July 2026

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