My husband and I had such a lovely brunch here this afternoon! The building itself is adorable, very rambling farmhouse-y. We both loved the natural light that illuminated in from the windows and skylight on this warm Fall day! This place is VERY family-oriented, which I personally think is great, but if you are looking for a quiet spot you might want to look elsewhere. We did find parking on a side street (as their lot was full) but just beware parking may be an issue. We were seated upstairs immediately upon our arrival around 12:15pm. Service was shared amongst various gentlemen all of whom were gracious and clearly experienced. I was not feeling particularly breakfast-y so I decided to order the open faced chicken salad tartine which was served with a mesclun mix side salad. I am actually not one for chicken salad as I find it to be too mayo-based for me but this version was absolutely perfect! Lots of sliced rotisserie chicken, sliced celery root, candied walnuts (which I would normally remove but after a bite of one I could not stop eating them), whole red grapes and half of a hard boiled egg. The rustic french bread it was served on was perfectly toasted-just divine! The side salad, while just greens, complemented the entree well and I absolutely loved the champagne (I think) vinaigrette! My husband enjoyed his eggs Benedict-in his words "nice runny eggs, good texture" and I should note, he finished his side salad (same as the salad served with my meal) when it is so difficult to get him to eat vegetables in general, so I know he felt the same way about the salad as I did. His meal also included a small fruit cup which he enjoyed. The only negative about our experience was the coffee. It was always very, very luke-warm, even after fresh refills, and just tasted off. I feel this might be an exception, but I was really tempted to order another mode of caffeine even though I stuck with it. Our meals, though, were delicious and the atmosphere was so cute-I'd love to return here again for brunch, maybe even dinner! read more

Del Ray Cafe - Eggs Benedict - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Visited this restaurant during restaurant week. The atmosphere was nice and quaint and it is easily accessible. The food was ok but not amazing. I had the pate, hanger steak, and creme brûlée. The pate was good but the portion was very small. The hanger steak was a bit tough and the fries it came with were undercooked and very oily. The creme brûlée was average as well. From reading the reviews, perhaps next time I should try this place for brunch instead of dinner. read more

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French Country cooking made from the freshest American products, the Del Ray Café is a neighbor gem and great choice for very nice, casual and affordable meal. Friendly staff, a warm ambience and great location in Del Ray. I liked the wine list. Very reasonably priced, quality house wines (from Sonoma) come in various sizes (carafes), as well as a lengthy list of wines by the bottle. Food wise it is hard to know where to start. The crusty French Baguette is not to be missed. Fried cauliflower and Calamari we fried perfectly. The calamari was crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, not tough or chewy. A Bouillabaisse with Mussels, Fresh Halibut, and shrimp was reminiscent of what I tasted in France. Fresh Halibut was the fish of the day, when we visited; over the top perfection. The dessert tartes were crisp and light. Consider ordering the soufflé, just do so at the beginning as it takes 20 minutes to prepare. It was light, fluffy, melt in my mouth goodness. Overall a charming restaurant, with a convenient location, that was also quiet enough to talk to my friends. read more

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We had the best brunch here while visiting DC. Staff was very friendly and attentive. I think the owner was out on the floor serving alongside the other wait staff, which was impressive. The menu is large and has something for everyone. Organic and fresh ingredients. Fresh warm and flakey chocolate croissants. I had a strawberry and blueberry crepe with Nutella which was amazing. My husband had the lump crab eggs Benedict that was served on a toasted croissant slice. Fresh squeezed orange juice. House made cappuccino. Brunch doesn't get better than this. read more

Came here for a birthday dinner during Restaurant Week and WOW! Our whole party was amazed with how great the food was. I got the Potato Leek Soup, Hanger Steak, and Chocolate Moose - all were so incredible. Perfectly cooked and amazing flavors. The atmosphere is nice, it's very cozy you feel like you're at home. The service was wonderful as well, our glasses were always full and the food came out very quickly. Highly recommend and we will definitely be back soon to try out the brunch! read more

Service was good but the portions were small. Expect to spend $30 and be hungry in about 2 hours. The breakfast menu looked better than the dinner menu. I can tell their specialty is Breakfast. I unfortunately went for Dinner :( read more

My first time here and my last time . After being told wait time was 20 to 25 minutes we waited for about 40 minutes . Finally ordered food and was brought the wrong thing . Eventually food arrived and what a disappointment it was bland and flavorless. Waste of time and money . Really would like to give 0 stars ! read more

Incredible and FUN Dinner! I rarely describe dinner out as fun. It's a lot of things, delicious, romantic, perhaps exquisite. This dinner was all of those things, but we also had a blast! The service was impeccable. Nadir and Aodel (sp?) were amazing. We started with the mesclun salad and fried calamari, which were perfectly executed. I had the duck breast and my husband had the special T-Bone steak. All of the food was perfectly executed and delicious. the cumquat sauce on the duck was a heavenly surprise of sweet and sour. The wine recommendation from Nadir was right on point and perfectly complimented the meal. We finished the night with some profiteroles which were divine. We are already talking about our return trip to this lovely estabishment. Thank you for a dinner well executed. read more

It was okay, I came here for a book club meeting and everyone got drinks and something to eat. I really think the area and restaurant itself is cute, great for gatherings or really any type of meeting! The kitchen is downstairs and dining area upstairs which is cozy and well decorated. The service is also pretty good, with staff being very knowledgeable of their menu items, able to explain in detail about each dish. My only problem was with the crepes, they really weren't that special, and for $8 (minus the nutella, separate charge, and strawberries, another separate charge), I really expected it to be a lot better. I've been to food trucks that have had way more explosively flavored crepes for cheaper. Their brunch menu and breakfast menu was VERY impressive and I could see them being popular and well-liked for this, but their sweet crepe was just...well, a sweet crepe. read more

Since I first discovered Del Ray Cafe a few months ago, I've gone back three times! This converted home has a cheery, comforting feel that envelops you as soon as you walk in. I love the red checked napkins, friendly-as-can be servers, and their big giant farm table in the upstairs back corner. Even in the dead of winter, they will seat people in their heated patio so you can enjoy Del Ray's welcoming atmosphere. And because it's a huge priority for me right now -- this place is super, super, super baby friendly which is one of the biggest pluses in my book! Whether you go here for brunch, lunch or dinner you won't be disappointed with their large menu offering everything up from traditional French crepes, croque monsieur, steak frites, quiche to veggie burgers, crab cakes, lobster benedict and more! I have not had one bad dish here and their french fries are my new favorite. They are shoestring thin and fry up extra crispy and come in a huge container that could be a meal in itself. I can see my family coming here for years to come! read more

This place was pretty great for brunch. Definitely noisy and crowded so be prepared to wait if you did not reserve ahead. I ordered the veggie hash, and I was actually pretty disappointed. It was very "blah" with no flavor. I was able to try the French toast and the chicken salad sandwich though, which was delicious. The food comes out quick and the service is nice. I will try it again for dinner! read more

Del Ray Cafe - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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My husband and I came to the Del Ray Cafe for breakfast this morning. I legit had the best omelet I have ever had! It was a make your own omelet and I'll tell you what I put in it ;) - eggs - duh, goat cheese, caramelized shallots, fine herbs, and tomato. OMG - those caramelized onions were delicious! I also had the half grapefruit which was a nice treat with honey, served warm. The hubs had crab meat Benedict and he loved it. The service is on point and friendly. We'll be back for sure! Thank you! read more

One of my favorite restaurants to to have brunch is Del Ray Cafe in Alexandria Virginia. Not only can you enjoy a nice variety of French inspired Gluten Free dishes, they are also Organic and always delicious . They never disappoint. It's a cute, quaint and cozy place to visit and they do well with social distancing seating which includes outdoor dining if you so choose. read more

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I got the lobster Benedict, which was amazing. And my friend got the crab cake Benedict, which she enjoyed as well. I love the coziness of this place. It seemed really busy. I also like how it was a house turned into a restaurant. The guy who served us had such a personality! He was so funny and he just made the dining experience even better. I wish I had caught his name. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone in the area. Totally worth it. read more

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Quaint dining rooms, wonderful food. A real plus for Del Rey. Service was good, but not pushy or hovering.

My friend's nephew and fiance picked us up for dinner at their favorite neighborhood restaurant. Judging from the modest outside, which looked like someone's house, I wasn't expecting much. But -- oh wow! -- remember that old line about judging books and their covers? Del Ray Cafe was amazing! My friend ordered her favorite to start: French onion soup. I chose the heirloom beet salad with spinach and caramelized pecans. Nephew and fiance shared a bowl of steamed mussels. There is a good variety of dinner entrees, so we ordered rotisserie chicken; duck leg; my friend's amazing osso bucco; and chicken, asparagus, and curry cream crepes. The dessert menu was too tempting, but we were pretty full, so wisely chose the 8 chocolate beignets with orange sauce, which we shared. read more

Del Ray Cafe - Osso Bucco at Del Ray Cafe. - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

My wife, friend, and I ate brunch here on Monday, June 20, 2022. Our server, Tenley, and Alex took great care of us. My ham, chicken, organic guacamole, avocado, wild mushrooms, and organic salsa crepe was delicious. read more

Hands down the best breakfast I have had since moving to Alexandria. Stopped by here for brunch on Sunday and I left thinking about the next time I would be back. We started with the SOS Chipped Beef and the roasted pork belly and either they were the best items on the menu or this place is just that good!! The savory flavors mixed with eggs and a cup of coffee were enough to make a grown man cry. Both plates were licked clean with just enough room for dessert. Don't skip the dessert. We ordered the creme brûlée and it was just perfect for two people. Just big and sweet enough for a couple that had to take a short nap from this food tasting bliss. I'm coming back and I'm bringing friends. Also, shout out to the owner, you could tell his passion and charisma right from the time we walked through the door. Amazing read more

Good place, good food, and good service. Came for brunch with a friend. The parking is atrocious but totally worth coming here on a rainy Tuesday. We made reservations so I definitely recommend that because the place was full. Will definitely be back! read more

Del Ray Cafe - Nutella Crepe with powdered sugar - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The best! Del Ray Cafe is a go to place for us. We can always count on great food and service with a nice atmosphere. This restaurant is truly a cut above! read more

I went for lunch and ordered the chicken paillard and it was so good. The cafe itself is adorable. I would come here again.

Del Ray Cafe is the place you can always count on to take people. They constantly impress me and is on the few to perform consistently. Every single one of their staff is so polite and polished. Helpful, kind and they genuinely care about their customers. Their rotiserrie chicken to-go meal deal is like a gateway drug. Well, it was the one that got me hooked anyway. Add their angel-kissed brussel sprouts and you have the best meal in town. Their brunch is also to-die for. I usually get the salmon benedict and I can't wait to try some crepes. Every single dessert is delicious and I do not order dessert often! read more

This restaurant is wonderful. There's parking on the side and street parking. On good weather days they open the outside back area which is nice. Inside is architecturally interesting with a few levels and separate rooms like a house. Very friendly staff. Nice selections and quality food. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. I asked for a scramble instead of an omelet and it was not a problem. It was delicious and a lot of food! I will definitely be back! read more

Wow wow wow. I'm so glad Yelp led me here because it's DELICIOUS! My best friend and I couldn't decide on what to order from their vast weekend menu but asked the couple next to us what they were eating and followed suit. Let me tell you, you will not go wrong with their omelettes. They're made to order with your choice of ingredients and served with a mini croissant, salad, and fresh fruit. The base price is $8 and each ingredient thereafter is anywhere from $1-$2.50, so they can become expensive real quick, but yesterday was a treat yo self kinda day, so we went all out. I ordered: One 2-egg omelette (smoked salmon, asparagus, fresh herbs, asparagus, caramelized shallots) Rotisserie potatoes They were very generous with the smoked salmon, and the caramelized shallots were perfection. I would absolutely leave my husband for the potatoes if they asked. They're covered in butter and fresh garlic and are cooked to perfection - a little crisp on the outside, tender on the inside. You'll have bad breath afterward, but they're worth it. Even the mini croissant and fresh fruit were some of the best I've had. Their presentation is lovely, and the service is good. We also loved the ambiance and decor! It's comfortable and not stuffy at all. So. Go to Del Ray Cafe. Trust me, I'm Korean. read more

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I came here for brunch with a friend and i truly enjoyed their eggs Benedict on a bed of croissant served with greens & fruit on the side. It was a good start to a Saturday morning. I was also pleasantly surprised with the bottomless coffee they served. The coffee was not very strong but tasted good. The wait staff were also very courteous. Ill return here again whenever i visit Alexandria VA. read more

Del Ray Cafe - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Update: unfortunately I have to knock down the stars because the waiter wasn't particularly nice, my eggs Benedict were over cooked. I asked to have a tomato instead of their green beans and carrots on my eggs --and the waiter said "no substitutions." --- Worth the wait for a table. Vegetarian options and has ambiance. If I tweeted I'd say #mynewfavbreakfastplace read more

Del Ray Cafe - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Perfect little restaurant. We stopped in for dinner and were so impressed. Our server Nadir was just the nicest and so professional. From the selection of wine, our appetizers the crab salad and French onion soup, to our main courses halibut and lamb shank, everything was delicious! Best meal we have had in awhile. We definitely will be back and are looking forward to it. read more

Such a cute place. Very clean and nicely decorated.The service was wonderful and the food was delicious. I ordered the Lobster Benedict for breakfast one Friday morning and it was fantastic! read more

Del Ray Cafe - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Laurent and team continue to be the standard for Del Ray. French onion soup is le bomb!! The entire time my daughter was eating the soup she was in heaven!! Must try. read more

If you are looking for to be insulted for free from the waiter , who is not even assigned to your table and lose your appetite during your meal consumption , it's right place to go. We discovered this place in June and been there already 3-4 times and even celebrate birthday there , but today during the brunch waiter who served us previous time give himself freedom to come and greet us very loud and remained that I had drinks in my previous visit and then announce " she must be still under hungover " . I told manager about his behavior and he send him to our table to apologize, but even that lame apology didn't return my appetite and nice Sunday mood. Other wise restaurant is nice , food is good , but I don't think we would be back there anymore. read more

#1 on waitlist for a 45 minute waitlist but never seated coz we gave up after waiting an hour.

Every aspect in this restaurant is superb. From the moment we walk in we were greeted by very friendly and warm faces. I love the ambiance, it looks so cozy. Every dish that we order was delicious! To top it off, our waiter, Elvin, was definitely excellent in taking care of us from the moment we sat on the table from the moment we left. He has impeccable manners which made a very good impression on all of us. Overall, we truly enjoyed our lunch here. Definitely five stars! read more

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I went here a few weeks ago for Saturday morning brunch and oh my was it amazing!!! I ordered the crab cake benedict and the person I was with ordered an omelet. The food was amazing and all fresh & homemade. We both ordered cappuccinos and again they were perfectly done. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the area and looking for a good brunch! read more

First off, shout out to Abdel for being a very bright and upbeat server. The staff in general was great in keeping the waters filled and attending to our needs. I believe the owner came by to check on how everything was doing, which is always a good thing for any restaurant, though I wonder what he would've done had I said something was off? Nothing was though, so no biggy. Nothing critical at least. Alright, so as you can see, we got an order of 2 lb of mussels, the fried calamari, the osso bucco entree (veal shank I believe) w/ rissoto and the 7 oz...filet I think? Don't remember, with roasted veggies on the side. The mussels came with fries on the side. You get a complimentary plain baguette with butter, and we ordered a side of garlic bread to dip into the mussel broth sitting beneath...the mussels. Some little places of improvement: the garlic bread was a bit soggy in the interior, as if it was soaked in butter in a french toast sort of way, yet the edges of each slice was crispy, but not necessarily the white surface of the bread. I believe they may have grilled it? but it wasn't evenly crispy all around, probably due to being soaked in fat. Also, I would have hoped to have the pot of mussels served in a wider, more shallow bowl, where you could remove the mussel meat and easily dip it into the broth. Because the pot was so deep, half of the mussels were eaten by itself. Though they were still good, I want more of that delicious broth to coat it while I consume it, ya know? Just a tip for them. Calamari was good. The breading is crunchy and the protein itself was cooked well. The filet itself was cooked perfectly at medium rare. The osso bucco was braised long enough so that it was tender but still had bite to it. I will say though, that the typical lamb/veal taste gets lost a bit and it's almost reminiscent of plain beef, so don't expect too much. The dissolved bone marrow tastes hella delicious, and I didn't realize till later that the mini fork they give you was for that (I think, maybe I'm wrong lol). Food was great for the most part, interior was nice, workers were pleasant, and there was parking in the back! The prices are a bit heavy though (we went for dinner if you didn't notice), so you see that $$ up there? That only applies to anytime EXCEPT dinner. Expect $$$ for dinner. Bring yourself a date here or something, ;} 8.5/10, will come back and will recommend to a friend. read more

Gave this place another try on the behest of friends. Much different experience. Great food and service. Will now go again.

This is the best restaurant in Del Ray, period. I tell everyone this. I have only been for brunch because my husband doesn't love French food as much as I do, but I will vouch for their brunch all day long. Let me count the ways: 1. I have NEVER had a disappointing meal here, nor has anyone I have dined with. 2. The service is always warm and friendly. 3. The prices are fantastic for the quality of the food. I had a huge portion of an amazing venison stew for like $20 that would have easily been $38 in a different restaurant. 4. The setting is casual yet the food is top notch. This is key if you have a kid in tow. 5. Farm-to-table and organic (for some items, but I'll take it). Favorites: the veggie hash, the croissants, the bacon, the benedicts, their hollandaise sauce, the crepes, and the aforementioned venison stew. The menu changes regularly but has solid standbys. Tip: you need to make reservations. The wait can get outrageous. read more

Come here for: breakfast the day after Xmas when nothing else is open and you happen to be in the area, basically come here if you don't have other options Food: it's meh, I wouldn't go back for anything. Prices are pretty high for what it is. I had an omlette with crab and I thought they forgot the crab until I was pretty far in Service: friendly and welcoming Decor: food menu is supposed to be French (I think?) but the decor really doesn't support that idea, think about it as your grandmother's really weird old house read more

Wow. This place was amazing. From the friendly service to the outstanding food. There is free parking on site, which is an added bonus for this area. There's a screened in outside patio area with several tables. This is a two floor restaurant. The open kitchen is on the first floor along with a few dining tables and then the upstairs dining area is clean and roomy. We went for breakfast and we were seated immediately. A server came over and offered coffee and water, he also went over the morning specials. We ordered the banana bread, my partner felt it lacked sugar but was still flavorful and also had what tasted like a hint of lime. For breakfast I ordered the lobster Benedict. The toast was nice and crispy, not soggy which I've had at other establishments. The lobster was prepared to perfection, seasoned well and moist. It was plentiful with what I believe to be an entire tail along with a claw. The eggs were cooked just as well as the lobster. The fruit was fresh and tastes like it was just picked from their vines. The salad had just enough dressing and just as fresh as the fruit. This is a family friendly environment where the staff look genuinely happy to work there and serve you amazing food. I can't wait to return and try their other meals. read more

Del Ray Cafe - Lobster Benedict - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

This review must be read in the context of the occasion--a Valentine's Day dinner with the expectation of good food and tender, intimate conversation. With that disclaimer out of the way, let's begin! My boyfriend made reservations at Del Ray Cafe for Valentine's dinner. He made the reservation pretty late (the day of but understandable given his rigorous schedule so spare him please!), and to our surprise, Del Ray Cafe, with its promise of French/American eats, still had availability. We gave the menu a quick glance and we were satisfied with the advertised offerings. Given the prices, we expected the service and ambience to match as well. Things started off well! The hostess warmly greeted us and service was prompt and attentive. We were given a complimentary bread basket to start our meal. The bread was warmed, crisp, and served with whipped butter -- a great starter! But questions marks started to fill our heads once our ordered food arrived. We ordered the French onion soup and the burgundy snails as appetizers. The onion soup was under-seasoned and lukewarm, which made the cheesy top layer more of an impenetrable slab of dairy rather than a gooey gate to the (what was expected to be) luscious soup beneath. There seemed to be a lack of a flavorful punch that I've come to expect with French onion soup. As for the snails, they were probably one of the saving graces of the meal, served in a pool of herby, melted butter (you really can't go wrong with butter). The snails paired great with the bread, but, again, I was wishing for the dish to be a little warmer. For our main dishes, we ordered the Lamb, Two-Ways (upon recommendation from our server) and the Moules Frites (Mussels and Fries). My boyfriend wasn't too impressed with his lamb, later telling me that, overall, it wasn't stand-out. For me, the fries needed heavy seasoning on my part and the mussels were plentiful (2 lbs apparently!) but lacking in flavor. Given the price of our meal, I'd have to admit that I expected more in terms of flavor and presentation. With lukewarm food and underperforming flavors, I was definitely left disappointed at the end of the night. What was perhaps most shocking, though, was the ambience of the restaurant. While I understand that Del Ray Cafe may be more of a neighborhood eatery that prides itself on its quaint charm in a converted house, I expected at least somewhat of a heightened sense of awareness during Valentine's Day dinner! We were seated in the first room of the establishment, to the left of the kitchen and stairs, and any conversation we wanted to have was drowned out by all the noise. Servers loudly conversed with kitchen staff. Servers or workers pounded up and down the staircase throughout our meal. With the premium price tag on the food, I expected to at least be able to hear my dinner partner during our meal. Del Ray Cafe hasn't earned my recommendation when it comes to an intimate dinner spot (definitely much better places out there for the same price), but given its reputation, I'd like to come back for brunch or lunch to enjoy Del Ray in, perhaps, its more natural form. read more

Del Ray Cafe - Mussels in fg and lamb in bg - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Found Del Ray Cafe and the yelp rating were pretty good. Was told we'd have a 20 min wait and it was more like 40. We were seated in the parking lot behind the restaurant that has been turned into extra seating. They have done a really nice job, so you don't feel like you are in the parking lot but rather a large patio. Food was very good as I had a bloody mary and a savory crepe. Our waiter Elvin provided great service. read more