First time I came I had the lobster Benny. The second time I made my own omelette . Both times I received fast and friendly service. The location is like a little house in , you guessed it, Del Rey. The potatoes are flavorful and the coffee! The coffee tastes so fresh. I have maybe 3-4 cups while I'm there. Quickly becoming a Sunday favorite. read more

Quick update on carry out, I ordered the croque monsieur - and i just wanted to shout out for the packaging! Compostable bag, green ware to hold the food, my sammy was kept in foil to keep warm and the salad dressing on the side to prevent soggy. And if you haven't read my previous reviews, their croque monsieur is OUTSTANDING. Excellent crisping of the cheese on the exterior, the bechamel doesn't over power. Best one in the area. read more

My husband and I decided to try Del Ray Cafe's brunch on a Sunday morning. It is located just off the Main Street in a cute house with nice gardens that has been converted into this quaint cafe. There was about a 20 minute wait, and it was worth it. Our server was very friendly and quick. We both had a cappuccino, which is one of the better ones we've had. My husband got the SOS Air dried chip beef & black angus ground beef in gravy over roasted potatoes and I got the Sautéed Organic Baby Spinach, Bûcheron Goat Cheese, Scottish Smoked Salmon. Both meals were delicious and we devoured them. Serving size was perfect. Not so large that we had leftovers, but enough for us to be satisfied. If we are ever in the area again, we will definitely go back. read more

Great atmosphere outside on a lovely day. Service was friendly and speedy. Brunch items we had included eggs Benedict, burata and prosciutto sandwich, and crepes. All very good. We would come back again! read more

We had an outstanding meal. Food (scallops and soft shell crab; brussels sprouts extraordinary) and service. Definitely order the souffle.

Greeting through cordial service, the most pleasant staff we have ever encountered. The food was scrumptious and original. Dining in a large converted house with lots of natural light and appointments capped the brunch. We returned the next day for breakfast. read more

I am not sure what happened with some of the other reviews (this business appears to have TWO Yelp entries) but we have been to this restaurant several times and the food and service have always been beyond reproach. From our last visit, the menu had transitioned from summer seasonal items to dishes more in line with the fall (later confirmed with the staff that they always follow a seasonal menu). At our last visit, the table started with French onion soup, fried calamari, and a mushroom salad with Duck "Pastrami." The soup was everything you could want - unctuous, earthy, and satisfying. The mushroom salad was redolent of the season and the balsamic reduction when paired with the duck was indicative of a practiced hand. The fried calamari was expertly prepared with absolutely no hint of the normal vulcanized texture. For mains; skate wing with Jerusalem artichokes, confit duck cassoulet, and lamb with cannellini beans were selected. The skate had a nice tooth without being overdone. Those that had ordered the confit duck cassoulet were rewarded with hearty French country fare that included sausage and pork belly. The suggested Pinot Noir was light yet astringent enough to counterbalance the richness of the duck and pork. The lamb was flawlessly prepared with succulent and full chops beckoning other diners at our table to beg a nibble. Not even a hint of gaminess was present. Dessert, for any that have been there, was itself worth the journey. Chocolate beignets with the most utterly beguiling orange crème anglaise was enjoyed along with hazelnut Paris Brest. The Brest was light and crisp and the crème was flawlessly silky and worthy of a long savoring finish. The beignets were just as maddeningly delicious as they were last time. The warm, gooey and enveloping chocolate present in the centers of each puff melded with the cool, inviting brightness of the orange anglaise in a crescendo of flavor that simply cannot receive justice in the written form. Universally, our service was ever present without being obtrusive and our every conceivable need was almost telepathically addressed. I seriously cannot suggest to people enough that you do yourself and your palate the favor of giving this restaurant a try. I can promise you; we most certainly will return. read more

GRADE: B Overall a pleasant BRUNCH experience. I casually strolled in on a Sunday at 11:15 AM and while there no tables open, there is a section by a windowsill that has 4 seats looking out the house-like restaurant-- perfect for people watching (I know I'm not the only one that enjoys that haha). Needless to say, it was packed but the service was very attentive. I ordered the Ahi Tuna Sandwich (tuna salad, with half an egg, over a bed of seaweed salad) which comes with yummy sweet potato fries. It's one of those dishes that you order once to try and while it was good, it wasn't something I'd be running back to order. read more

Del Ray Cafe - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

This restaurant when you first walk in is just so cozy. The staff are extremely nice, friendly, and so helpful. The food is SO good! Omg! Also the coffee is GOOD coffee :) read more

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The ham cheese mushroom crepe w béchamel sauce never disappoints! Nice & hot and delish! Wish we'd been told about the desserts that need to be ordered in advance but we weren't. read more

This is one of my fave spots! Love the people, the food, everything. They put in a lot of care and quality to their menu. Always enjoy stopping by. read more

My husband and I had a dinner here. I knew that the restaurant was just opened and I wanted to check it out. We have a baby in a stroller. They were supper friendly to us. we really appreciated it. We got a table inside. We had a mussels as a starter. I could still taste a wine in a soap. It didn't have much flavor to it. I thought it was okay. I had a duck breast as main dish. The duck was good. I loved the portion of it. It came with a sauce. It was kinda of soy sauce taste to it. But even I dipped it to eat the duck but it didn't have much flavor to it. It was very easily made it. My husband had a fish from today's special menu. It was nice. But nothing was special. This is very nice charming place but unfortunately it is overpriced. I love their customer service tho. They are so loverly. read more

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Del Ray Cafe is a cute, quaint little spot in Del Ray, Alexandria. It's located just off of Mount Vernon Avenue, in a converted home! It's easy to miss, unless you drive by during peak times, where you'll see the long line, waiting for a table. This is a prime spot for Sunday brunch and you'll pay the price of not making a reservation by waiting a good 45 minutes for a table. There's also no real place to wait inside, so you're stuck waiting outside. Moral of the story - make a reservation! There's street parking available off of Mount Vernon Ave! The interior is adorable. Walking in, you see a large staircase going straight up, with a large kitchen to the right of the entrance. There's seating both upstairs and downstairs, with additional seating available on their converted, heated porch. I came here with Jackie G. and Adrienne S. for brunch last Monday for the President's Day holiday and we had a wonderful visit! We ordered mimosas, and all 3 of us got the Eggs Benedict. I got mine with jumbo lump crab meat! They all came with a side of fruit and a small salad. Initially I was a bit disappointed with the salad, as it was just mixed greens without any sort of toppings, but the dressing was refreshing. The Eggs Benedict was AMAZING! The poached egg with the crab meat and hollandaise sauce was so decadent, that the side salad and fruit made the perfect combo! There ended up being some weird situation with the payment at the end, where they undercharged us and then went back and swipped our cards again with the correct amount but didn't tell us - it was just weird. Overall, Del Ray Cafe is a must try and I'm excited to try it again soon! read more

Del Ray Cafe - Cute exterior! - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Woah what a cool frkn spot. Residential family home turned restaurant gives it a at-home comfortable yet classy feel. Service was great. They were able to company of our group of 18 people!! They brought out 3 servers to make sure we received great attention and that we did receive. Majority of the menu is seafood, all great. They know how to cook their red meats as well, so do not be afraid to try that duck on their menu. Food: 5/5 Price(value) : 4/5 Service: 5/5 Decor : 5/5 read more

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I like this palace so very much. The food it's amazing, I live in the neighborhood and this place has become my favorite cafe ever! The staff it's very friendly and they asked you if you have dogs and if you say yes, they give you treats for your doggies. As a dog owner and lover for doggies that's a plus!! I had French toast and a mimosa! Delish. I had tried their brunch as well and I love it. Our server Alvin, elvin, not sure I'm saying his name right it's always amazing. Ask to be sitting in the back partió it's amazing!!! Here are few pics from my experience! Btw! Thank you so much! I took my bff for her birthday and they gave us a birthday dessert with a happy birthday that's was awesome! Thank you guys! read more

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For years Del Ray Cafe has been the place my family goes for special occasions. They've never let us down. The waitstaff always offer impeccable service, the food and wine are always top-notch, and the charm and respite offered by this small restaurant is always welcome after busy weeks. read more

Loved this place! Had breakfast but later in the day. Sat on the porch which was heated. The place was so cute and the food was amazing!Organic, well sourced...if you haven't eaten here yet it's a must! read more

Del Ray Cafe - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Not only was this an absolutely adorable spot, the service was the best we've had in a long time - including 5 star restaurants in DC. The menu is super interesting and indicates a vast knowledge of good food with a creative flair. The food was excellent and really delicious! I would highly recommend it! read more

food was fabulous and service is great!! very comfy and cozy vibes in here. i had the croque madame and cappuccino and it was absolutely delicious. read more

Had training close to the place and a short lunch tine so decided to check the place out. Do not come here if you have a short lunch or want to order quickly, eat, and leave. Service does take their time to get to you. You will wait for a seat even though the entire downstairs area is open. Food is good and tastefully done but on the high side for me. read more

Del Ray Cafe - Sent back the water it had floaters - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Place was great, cute, clean and good food. It's nice to find a locally owned place that's not some huge franchise! I will be back.

We came here for brunch on Sunday around 11:30. Since there was only two of us we only had to wait about 5 minutes to get a table. First this is a nice little cafe and how they remodel the house is really cute. There isn't much room but still cute. The food was very good and filling but it wasn't really anything over the top. What they need to work on is their service. When our server came the first time all he asked was 'what do you want to drink'. He never welcomed us nor told us his name. When we did order we also asked for more coffee and it took 10 minutes for our coffees to get refilled. Our server never did check on us while we were eating and finally brought more coffee when we were done eating. My seat was also right on top of an air event. I'm glad I wore pants or it would have been way to cold. read more

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The food is always fabulous! We just went for restaurant week and we couldn't compliment it enough. The potato leek soup, the steak melting in your mouth and the delicious chocolate mousse with a raspberry surprise was fabulous! The service was great as well! I always love the quiche and the beignets, I cannot say enough about the quality of this restaurant! I will be going again and again! read more

They are listed as a French restaurant, but I would not really categorize them as that. The decor is more farmhouse modern. I came in for breakfast the first time I dined. I ended up coming for dinner that same night. It is a pretty small restaurant, so expect a wait during dinner time. They do take reservations! It appears to have been someone's home before becoming a restaurant. The main dining area is upstairs, but there is a lower level. I enjoyed the wide selection of food on the menu. I had a difficult time choosing, because all of the options sounded delicious. I ended up ordering the standard eggs and pancakes. My friend was feeling brave, and chose the roasted pork belly. That dish was absolutely delicious. Everyone got a taste of that dish, and instantly regretted not choosing it. My friend does not live in this area, but wants to come back when she is in town. For dinner, I tried the angus tenderloin steak. It did not disappoint. On both occasions, the dessert portions were very generous. Although the creme brûlée was not the best I've had, it was still pretty tasty. The servers are very friendly. It did take some time to get the check, but there are always staff members available to tend to your needs. All in all, I will be back soon! read more

It's not the cheapest place in town, but the food is lovingly prepared and beautifully presented. I usually try to get here once in my visits to enjoy breakfast. The crepes are tasty, but my favorite is the spinach with bucheron goat's cheese and 2 eggs over easy. Heaven. They also have a great dinner, ready to go. It consists of a roasted chicken, gravy, baguette and side. Perfect to eat in with friends or take home to enjoy with the family. Home cooking without the home cooking! read more

Del Ray Cafe - 2 eggs over easy with greens & bucheron cheese on croissant. - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Service must be hit or miss. The new hostess is terrible and wouldn't seat me alone without my other party. Even if i was ordering. Hostess claimed she couldn't seat 1 person at a two top until both people arrive because the staff wouldn't take orders twice and didn't want to go back and forth from the table. That was her exact reason. Now I'm confused about the job description of the wait staff at this place. read more

This is such a cute little place! I was in Del Ray on a weekday morning and was glad to find a place that for a proper breakfast until 10.45 am This seems to be a house that was remodeled into a restaurant. Breakfast was upstairs in a bright and airy room with exposed beams and a lively upbeat atmosphere. To my delight, crepes were offered for breakfast too and I had the option of having them be made of buckwheat flour (which is more conducive to a savory crepe). The cappuccino is seriously good! Salmon crepe with sweet de salad gets glowing marks (although for my personal taste, I will request for the cream to be on the side next time). Definitely recommend this place; definitely going back. The service was courteous and friendly, although a tad slow as everything is made fresh in the kitchen. It's part of the French leisurely experience, and a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of most breakfast establishments. read more

Del Ray Cafe - One of the few places that serves breakfast on a weekday till 10.45 am! - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

It wasn't bad but I likely won't be coming back. Nothing to write home about. Nothing particularly memorable. Long wait for a table. The fries were much too greasy. I even asked the waiter if they were normally like that and he said yes. To their credit they beautifully poached an egg. My guest who got the veggie hash said it wasn't seasoned well at all but was much better with the hollandaise. read more

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This place never disappoints! I'm obsessed with the lump crab cake eggs Benedict! And the coffee is always perfectly brewed.

Wow this place was amazing. I can't believe I've never been here before now so if you haven't it's time to check it out! Stopped in here a few weekends ago for brunch and it was everything you could want out of a good brunch. The omelettes were delicious and the pancakes were great. Good drink options. The place is like an old house so it has a cool family like vibe. Service was also on point! read more

Del Ray Cafe - Brunch - omelettes, pancakes and bacon - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Just had a delightful brunch at Del Ray. Shoutout to Elvin, our great server! He was helpful, punctual at all stages, and made us safe throughout the dining experience. We had an easy time getting a table on the back patio for a Sunday morning brunch (see photo for socially distant setup). The menu is the same. We enjoyed our mussels and the lobster Benedict, a brunch special. Just a delightful morning and so welcome amidst all this uncertainty! read more

Del Ray Cafe - Socially distant back patio with covered tables - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

This is the best breakfast and service I have ever had! The staff is so friendly, and the food was to die for. My child who is picky--ate all his vegetables and breakfast because it was prepared SO well! If I could choose a place to eat forever--here it is! read more

Took an exploratory walk along the main drag and spotted this place on a side street. Sometimes off the beaten path one can find treasures and this was no exception. The community signs and BLM sign drew me in. Seeing the duck on the menu was all the invitation I needed to go inside. So I ordered a delicious, falling off the bone, duck confit salad. A little pricey for lunch but worth the stop. Next time I'll leave room for dessert. And the list of brunch items looked inviting as well. Looking forward taking friends next time. read more

Went for an anniversary celebration, which was noted on my open table Reservation. Was shown to an outside patio area with ceiling heaters and patio furniture. It was 50° temperature and the other patrons were in down jackets and scarves. Not quite my idea of a nice evening out especially at $50-75 per person. Unfortunately there was no mention on open table that we would be seated outdoors. When we mentioned we were too cold the attitude seemed as if that we should suffer through the environment to experience their food. No offer to change seating. We decided to go to a restaurant down the street that was fully climatized. We won't be going back there. Perhaps the patios are great in spring, summer and fall but eating in parkas is not my idea of a pleasant evening. read more

This place has fallen off its high perch...or did I just have really bad luck? I ordered the mixed salad, duck breast (their special this night), and a raspberry soufflé. The salad was technically perfect, but perfectly bland. Good amount of cheese -- kudos on that -- but the dressing was flat. I think it would have benefited from a citrus note. (If one was already there, turn it up a notch.) The duck breast was awful. I only ate it because I was hungry and didn't want to wait for the kitchen staff to get it right, and not trusting that they would. The duck was tough and over-cooked (even though I ordered it between medium and medium-rate, which my server said was the chef's recommendation) and it was barely warm. The vegetables that accompanied it definitely were cold. Also, there was not enough sauce for the amount of duck. It's like ordering a bucket of French fries and getting a single packet of ketchup. The soufflé was just wrong. First, the rise looked more like a muffin top. It was so unsightly. A good soufflé should rise like a wide pipe. This soufflé grew more over the side than up. And the raspberry sauce was more like a cream sauce. If there were any raspberries it it they were beaten to death. Finally, the service (in addition to the food) seemed like a cafeteria. The service was awful. Sometimes bringing or taking things away from the left, and sometimes from the right. Gents, there's a correct way to serve a table. read more

Yummy brunch with good service! Highlight: the red grapefruit broiled with brown sugar and honey, the fresh coffee, and the eggs Benedict with crab. Also, my friend raved about her truffle fries. Downsides: our hostess was brusque and my friend's veggie hash dish did not live up to expectations. Also, the $12 charge on Kir Royal drinks was unexpectedly steep. If I visit again, I will skip any non-standard drinks. read more

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We stopped into the Del Ray Cafe for dinner and didn't actually get our food until over 50 minutes later. I suspect they may be having trouble ramping back up after COVID-19 lockdown. The steak smelled heavenly, but I was in the mood for something slightly lighter, so I ordered the chicken. It arrived hot, but I'm afraid the breast was slightly dry, while the veggies were undercooked, minus the potatoes, which were perfect, with a delicious flavor. The sauce for the whole dish was a bit bland, though. On the upside, the portions were generous. Dessert was fantastic: a nearly flawless and quite generously portioned chocolate mousse with home-made whipped heavy cream and raspberry coulis. The only nitpick was that the mousse was ever so slightly grainy in places, but frankly it tasted so fantastic, the minor issue was easy to ignore. Overall, I hope to revisit when they've staffed up a bit more, which should fix most of the issues. I can't dock a restaurant a star for being busier than they were anticipating. read more

I have been wanting to come here for a while now, but never think about it until it is too late. A friend was in town for lunch, so we decided to give it a try. He said, "you know it is a good place when they take reservations for lunch!" We had a 20 minute wait, not too bad. The service was amazing! Everyone there was so friendly and thanked us for coming. The food was so good and they have some great beer too. I will definitely be back, but I will make a reservation. read more

Another jewel in Alexandria ( Delray neighborhood) ! Y'all! Local sourced deliciousness served up with a side of awesome, brought to the table by Alvin who's so knowledgeable and funny. Just decide to go the Del Ray Cafe. It'll be one of the best dinners you've had. read more

*sigh* So good. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I left. This is a quaint little place, very easy to miss as there aren't a ton of commercial properties right around it (they're on the main road). So worth it! The staff is very friendly and accommodating. I have been avoiding dairy as of late, and they did everything possible to make sure they could figure something out for my lobster eggs Benedict without butter. I know, that sounds absolutely insane. Butter should always be a thing... but here we are. Lol The truffle fries were sooooo yum!!! There was a bit of a wait, so go early if you're doing a Sunday brunch, especially. There's not a ton of seating for those who need to wait - just a bench or two outside. read more