After a beautiful walk around Burke Lake, a friend and I headed to Clifton for some lunch. We decided on the Clifton Cafe. Neither of us had ever been. We wanted to eat outside so we were told we would have to place a to go order which was fine. It's off season so no wait staff outside just yet. I ordered the Mediterranean chicken salad and my friend had the chicken salad. They were out of brioche buns so she went with the croissant. She also ordered a side of hummus instead of kettle chips as well as the Almond Joyous latte. We waited about 15-20 min for our food which was fine. It was so beautiful out and the town and cafe were hopping! My friend enjoyed her sandwich and said that the Almond Joyous latte was one of the best lattes she's ever had. The side of hummus was HUGE and came with some crackers. She has plenty to take home and snack on for a few days. My salad was also a large portion. All of the toppings blended nicely and the citrus basil dressing was delicious. I wish the artichoke hearts were cut up smaller only bc they were impossible to cut with a plastic knife. This salad was 2 meals for me. Cute little cafe, would definitely go again. read more

Clifton Cafe - Chicken salad on croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

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A hidden gem to say the least. More indoor seating than I first expected. Outdoor seating is available also. Monte cristo was absolutely delicious. Savory and the toast/bread was so soft and sweet which contrasted well with the mustard inside. Chips came automatically as a side. I totally recommend the blueberry pancakes! Blueberry jam on top was rich and not too sweet or bitter. Blueberries pickled in the pancake truly made these blueberry pancakes and the soft, moist pancakes honestly melted in my mouth. Haven't come across pancakes like this so try it out! Planning to come again and I recommend the Clifton cafe read more

The food is great. The service is frustrating. We called to make reservations for Mother's Day in advance and were told they weren't taking reservations. So we go and you need reservations. We literally couldn't get a table and by then other restaurants were fully booked so we ended going home. read more

The food was pretty good, and the servers were nice. The outdoor dining area on the side could be improved a little, but considering the size of the cafe, you really shouldn't be too picky. read more

Clifton Cafe - Portobello Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

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This is a charming spot for brunch or a treat. I visited with two friends this spring, and we enjoyed tasty brunch entrees and good service. The goat cheese crepe that I ordered was fantastic that day and the leftovers were almost as good the next day. Downsides: there are very few parking spaces in the cramped parking lot beside the building. Also, like many businesses in this pandemic, the Clifton Cafe has experienced some problems with understaffing. Don't expect to get someone on the phone if you call with a question. Overall, I recommend this business, and I would visit again when I'm near the area. read more

Clifton Cafe - French toast and bacon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

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We are new to the area and like to check out new places. We went to this cafe for breakfast. It is very cute inside and the staff was very friendly. My husband had the breakfast hang over burritos. It looked good and my husband said it was very tasty. Since we are new to the south I thought I would try the chicken and waffles. The chicken was very good. I wish I could say the same for the waffle. It was cold and not fluffy. When I pointed that out to our server he was vey apologetic and took it off our bill. Since he did try and make it right we will give it one more try. read more

TL;DR: Disappointing. Slow service, bad food. Crepes were the worst. Possibly a bad day? I have been wanting to try this place for a while. It looks like a little house, and what is seen as the front door is actually the back door. So to the side and go through that entrance. When we first entered, we walked down the hall inside to the front so that we could be seated. As we walked through, 80% of the empty tables were not bussed, but chalked that up to end of the brunch rush/understaffed. We were seated and took a while to get greeted and place our orders. Then our food took about 40 minutes to come out. At the end of our meal, the server did apologize for the wait, and again, we assumed that they possibly only had one person cooking all the food. FOOD: ~Coffee ($3 - 1/5): We got black coffee, and it came in a soda cup (literally looked like coke), which we thought was a little strange, but it was a lot of coffee, so we weren't complaining. The coffee was terrible. Tasted watered down and days old. ~Blueberry Pancakes ($13 - 3/5): standard pancakes, nothing special. Came with a side of bacon. High price point for what you get. ~Chicken Florentine Crepe ($15 - 1/5): the crepe was so dry, hard, and cracking. Chicken was dry and rubbery, and the parmesan cream sauce was overpowering. ~Ani's Bananaberry Crepe ($10 - 1/5): again, crepe was dry, hard, and cracking. When I cut into it, the crepe broke into pieces like a cracker. The whipped cream that came with it was liquified (I assume the plate was hot). SO disappointing ~Chicken and Waffles ($16 - 2/5): The chicken was like store bought chicken tenders. The waffle was okay. Overall, this place was extremely disappointing. It definitely could have been an off day. read more

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It gets two stars just for the atmosphere. The food was underwhelming and the service was terrible. Not only did they try to deliver the wrong food to our table 2 times, but when our food arrived, separately, the first person who received the food could have been finished before the other two people's food was delivered. The classic pancakes were so rubbery and sweet. I couldn't even eat them. They were served with Smuckers/plastic peel off container that lists high fructose corn syrup as the second ingredient right on the package. I would expect more from Clifton Café. Our server was MIA the entire time ..the poor girl working in the same room as him waited on us more than he did ..very disappointing. Go to First Watch or Silver Diner, better quality food/ingredients, and better service. Sorry... I love the little town of Clifton but they need to step up their game. read more

Good food, great ambiance, wonderful staff! Located in the quaint little town of Clifton, we've stopped in at Clifton Cafe for breakfast on a few occasions over the last year. Each time it has been a good experience. My go-to is either the Belgian waffle or the classic/chocolate chip pancakes with a side of eggs. I appreciate how they can make both so fluffy and enjoyable. The wait may be long on the weekends, but I think it's worth it if you're really craving some good breakfast food. read more

This review is from 2017 Came here for a friend's birthday. It is located kind of out of the way and near some train tracks. Parking was little inconvenient as there were many spots outside the cafe so I had to park in a nearby lot. Inside is an interesting vibe. Like a rustic barn in way. It was pretty dark inside even though it was midday. They have savory and sweet crepes. Though I felt the prices were pretty high for what they were. So I got a basic lemon crepe, which decent. I think certain people would really like this spot. If you like cute unique countryside vibe. Just not my cup of tea. read more

Clifton Cafe - lemon crepe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

Been going here for years and it's so nice to see how much they've expanded. Love their lattes, crepes, and other menu items. Only caveat is that food is a little pricey. read more

Clifton cafe is a very cute cafe located in a little town. Since it is right by the railway so you could see the trains come and go. Definitely a perfect place for a weekend brunch or a date. The first time I came on the weekend in the summer, the place was packed and I had to wait for table for about 25 minutes to be seated. This time we were told to choose any seat we prefer as we went around 11 am and it was quite empty. Tried couple of their brunch option and was very impressed. Classic French toast: served with bacon and fruits which really go well together as you get both sweet and savory in one dish! Chicken and waffle w/ honey butter: fried chicken is seasoned well, I could tasted a little bit of cumin( if I was not mistaken) which, personally I did not like, but my friend loved it. Sausage egg and cheese classic breakfast sandwich: good, nothing special about it. Sarah was out server and she was very attentive and came to check on us several times. Unfortunately, the espresso machine wasnt working, so I couldnt try their espresso drinks. read more

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This place is the cutest. Great brunch spot. I felt like I was getting out of town, even though it's just 25-min from the mixing bowl. read more

Clifton Cafe - CJ Chorizo & Hash Crepe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

Cute spot with both indoor and outdoor seating. Truly GIANT crepes - mine was so delicious that I surprised myself by finishing it all. Nice, attentive service. Crispy bacon, delicious smoothies. All in all, exactly what you'd want from brunch read more

Strange place Gorgeous location Decent food, but overpriced Waitstaff once stole something from my backpack while I was in the bathroom And I saw a cat inside near the kitchen area on multiple occasions Do not recommend read more

Loveee the savory crepes! Been meaning to go back for a long time, used to go quite frequently with my best friend and haven't since she moved. read more

We had a great breakfast at the Clifton Cafe. The expanded menu beyond their famous crepes was terrific. The walk in Bermuda coffee was to die for. The French Toast and the breakfast burrito were super. The big breakfast sandwich on a bagel was amazing. Sam our server was very helpful and patient with our family when ordering and giving us her inside recommendations. We will definitely be going back. read more

As a local cliftonite this is a community restaurant. I had a Ruben sandwich with cole slaw. The Ruben was pretty good for northern Virginia. The Cole slaw is was great, and plentiful. My brother had the Cesar salad with chicken. The lettuce was fresh, no gross brown bits. Dressing was tasty and lovely piece of chicken. Service was okay, I think our server was having a slightly off day. Not sure what the situation was there. I really like this place. Been going for 12+ years. The food is always pretty good here no matter what you order. It's reliable and good. Mostly soups, sandwiches, wraps, salads. Nice little bar, and TV for sports. Live music on certain nights. Great little place. read more

First time here. Sat outside for lunch. Everyone had masks and socially distanced. The service could not have been nicer. I enjoyed a lobster roll served with potato salad, and an iced coffee. The lobster roll was fresh and full of claw meat. The bun was lightly toasted, just how I like it. Only thing I would change is to serve it on a larger plate, so when the filling falls out (which it often does), it doesn't wastefully land on the table. The potato salad was excellent, and the coffee nice and strong. Very good My husband really enjoyed his Cuban sandwich. He asked for the Apple slaw on the side, bc he's a Cuban sandwich purist. It was so filling, he took half of his Cuban home. Can't wait to go back and try a crepe or salad. They looked delicious. read more

Clifton Cafe - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

Creative savory crepe options and lattes! The crepes were tasty. I would recommend Sriracha with the meat lovers. The service was overall good with a hiccup that was quickly corrected. I've been many times over the years and overall, Clifton Cafe is consistent. read more

Clifton Cafe - Sven's and Meat lovers - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

This is one of the best cafes I've ever been. The food is elegant and delicious. The service was very good and everyone was very nice. BEST CAFE EVER read more

Props to the team for maybe trying their best to like make best of the situation? But we were seated outside, in the back of the outdoor patio. A large family seated at the other table with kids was at the other table. This is not an issue, it's a open establishment and we were on the patio. We had our dogs, one being a service dog, with us all laying under the table. We waited and a server never came to us while serving the family besides us, and yes we had come inside to ask to take the seat we did at the patio. A server still never came. We went in TWICE. To ask for menus or to see if we needed to order inside, by the second time we went up the parents seated at the other table were, for back of a better term, being very irresponsible. Kids are kids and that's fine but the kids were given a soccer ball to aim at our dogs and the neighbors dog that was in a fenced yard behind the cafe, and when we were hit one of the adults laughed got the ball and tossed it back. When we went in noting of this behavior and that a server still had never come to see us the only solution was to move our table (not to ask the parents to stop letting their kids throw balls at us and our dogs) and that we would be seen too. By this time our dogs are terrified, the neighbors dog is loosing their mind, because he is being yelled at by the kids over the fence. We had to leave, I don't know if the staff understands that moving a dog to just a different location after it's constantly being harassed does not change the dog not being nervous about the situation. I'm aware this is a food establishment but its patio has been a place I've gone to with my dogs who were behaved for over 10 years. The lack of service the lack of accountability the lack of any resolution to a situation was disappointing and honestly just not at all ok? A comped latte is nice sure? but what really happened was our plans were completely ruined for a full lunch, our dogs should not have been treated like that for being behaved patio dogs, and the fact that a family was just going to be allowed to literally throw soccer balls at our table, our things, us and our dogs was a horrible experience. read more

this place is definitely one of my favorite breakfast/lunch spots! The food is amazing, espresso the crepes. I have never been a big crepe person, but when I come here I can never pass on a crepe. read more

Clifton Cafe - Melissas Goat & Date (bottom) Banana Foster French Toast (right) Chorizo & Hash (top) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

Love! Love! All of the crepes are amazing! I get so excited when they bring me my latte with a cute design. The environment is quaint, cute and inviting. It's one of my favorite places to eat. The service is top notch. Everyone is so friendly. read more

We love this place. Happened upon it after a hike one day. Cute little outdoor space, funky indoor space with a great bar and even better young staff. The food i pretty good. Service a tad slow but matches the slowed down pace of life in this sleepy little quaint town. read more

Clifton Cafe - Pancakes and pear cocktail - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

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Great service, great food and family friendly. They have awesome options for drinks, coffees and foods!

A terrific choice! I had Melissa's Goat and Date savory crepe and it was so delicious! Perfect balance of flavors! Great size for a meal, too. My only (small) criticism is that the sound bounces off the walls and can make conversations difficult. But that won't keep me from coming back! read more

My date and I went for weekend late lunch at Clifton Cafe recently. The cafe itself is located at behind the store but the sign out front had us confused at first. It's a small cafe but it wasn't crowded so we were seated right away. We were seated for quite a while waiting for a menu but apparently the server forgot about us (hence four stars). We ordered coffee and bloody mary for drinks which were both good. For food, I had seasonal soup, savory crepes - Hannah's Denver and Matt's Meatless Mistake, and Claudia's Classic Nutella for dessert crepe. We had no complaints about the food - everything was delicious and the portions were perfect. We'd love to go back soon but hopefully experience a better service. read more

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Love the food and ambiance. The place is very small so if you are coming for brunch and you have a big group, you may have to wait a bit, but it's worth it :) read more

Nice place to have gals brunch together! Reasonable price. Homey and cozy! Kind and friendly service! And other things to do after brunch these area read more

pleasantly surprised by this place! love the coffee have to get one everytime! my friend and i stop by here after our morning hikes! food has been good except for the shrimp and grits idk the grits were like creme of wheat if that makes sense but i still ate it just wasn't my fav! staff is great as well!! I wish i could remember his name but long curly hair he always greets us with a smile! read more

Clifton Cafe - cinnabon latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

Cozy, family vibe cafe AND they make great coffee. Their latte drinks were so attempting. I had a crème brûlée latte, delicious! I saved the Hazelnut Turtle Mocha for my next visit. Maybe brunch as well. read more

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This is our second visit here during the Clifton Day festival. The first visit last year was very nice, tasty food and drinks. This year is a disappointment. Perhaps with the rise of their popularity, their was a decline in their food/ beverage quality. Hibiscus Royale - they pretty much poured some sparkling wine in a glass and threw a hibiscus blossom in it- no lime flavor no hints of hibiscus flavor. Mac and cheese- creamy but bland. Waste of money Walk in Bermuda latte- perhaps a walk in Jersey. No complexity in flavor Chili and cornbread - the chilli was ok, nothing to write home about. The cornbread was absolutely delicious. Lobster roll - not bad but not worth $14. A meh experience this time around. read more

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The Clifton Cafe is a cute little spot with premiere outdoor seating right in the heart of historic Clifton! Service is a a bit slow but I didn't mind taking in the sights of the charming town and enjoying the fresh autumn air. We really enjoyed our seasonal lattes (Yin and Yang for me and Pumpkin Spice for the boy) as well as our crab dip which was surprisingly chock full of crab! Loved the Old Bay flavor and we really enjoyed our quick afternoon date. read more

Love this cute coffee/restaurant! Over the years, I have frequently stop for coffee, brunch and more. The menus may be short but I like their selection. Every visit has been nothing but pleasant. read more

This is a very cute brunch & date place! It's homey and cute. Parking isn't the best situation, but they have a small lot in the back. The staff is very kind and helpful. Their coffee was pretty good and they have a good number of choices for brunch/lunch. I would go again! read more

Clifton Cafe - Iced White Mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

We had such a nice breakfast here today! Our server was Robert, which we have had him before. He's very good at explaining the menu and answering questions . Our food was delicious, and came in an appropriate amount of time. We ordered the quiche, French toast and salmon crepe . The restaurant is in the quaint little town of Clifton, close to fairfax and Woodbridge/ Manassas. There are other little shops and a few restaurants near by. In the spring and summer there is a cute ice cream place next to the cafe . The Clifton pub is next door , which has live music on weekends . The commuter train runs through town on occasion during the day . Back to the Clifton cafe, the manager Ian, has a great staff, and he's helped improve the wait time at the restaurant for food service . A few years ago, the food service was slow , so we stopped going . Thank you for a great meal ! read more

This sweet cafe has been in rotation as one of my fave local spots for 12 years. I come here frequently with family and friends. Who doesn't love little Clifton! The current owner has done a great job here with an amazing breakfast/lunch menu specializing in sweet and savory crepes and plenty of other options. ABC license was a stroke of brilliance too. And coffee is top notch. read more

First time coming here for brunch and it was delicious. We had lemon ginger mimosas, monte Cristo and French toast with bacon and eggs. Located in a beautiful town and the cafe vibe felt welcoming. read more

Clifton Cafe - Monte Cristo, French toast with eggs and bacon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Clifton, Virginia

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Not really sure why this place gets such great reviews. It's pretty meh. Let's starts with the service. It seems like none of the servers know which tables are theirs. We had three different people come to serve us and yet it took over an hour to get food. Then there's the food. Pretty mediocre sandwich - Turkey and havarti and they forgot the havarti... the crab BLT crepe was tasteless. The crepe was under cooked, crab had shell in it, the lemon aioli was pretty good but it didn't make up for the rest of the elements. Overall, not a good experience. read more