Reminds me of one of my childhood homes. Food is excellent and comforting. Brings back a ton of memories. Ready to go back soon.

This spot is such a hidden gem!! Local, fresh, and friendly. Their dishes are tasty and unique. What you get here you can't just make at home; take the Lobster Eggs Benedict for example. They also have a crab and a salmon variation too! read more

This morning I visited Del Ray Cafe with friends that are constantly raving about the cafe. It has a quintessential vibe to it, and you feel right at home when you walk in. The decor is wonderful, and they offer a variety of seating options from small, romantic two-person tables, to large farm table style seating for the whole family. If the weather is nice, ask for seating on the patio, its whimsical, and makes the meal feel even more personalized. When we visited for the first time, it was a large group of us, so we sat upstairs at a large farm table. We all ordered a variety of breakfast foods, and everyone was pleased with their meals. From breakfast quiches, to french toast, to eggs benedict, everyone was happy. To top it off, the house coffee was also perfectly brewed, which just topped off the experience. Although I have only been for breakfast and lunch, I guarantee, whether you go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you will leave full, content, and perfectly satisfied. read more

Delicious brunch! I got eggs Benedict and they were perfectly cooked. By far, the best eggs Benedict i have had. Great service and adorable restaurant. We will Come back :) read more

01/03/2020: I live for the dessert soufflé. I tried the hazelnut & loved it better than the chocolate, that they don't have anymore. It's the worth the trip from Richmond! Every dish is delectable! read more

It hurts me to give such praise and accolades to a restaurant. It means the crowd gets bigger and I will have to wait longer. However I wanted the owner and staff how wonderful The Del Ray Cafe is or any meal. The charm of its interior, the hugs you get as a regular, the wonderful outdoor seating. Even during peak times, it is not a bad wait. Now let's talk food....yummy to the max. Never have I got a wrong order, never had to send anything back and if anything there are times I get a little extra surprise on my plate. I often feel I have been transported back to a place in the south of France. Good flavors, super mixtures and always cooked to perfection. read more

Bad service and they make you ame on line after 11 when is is empty inside. Very disappointed. Will never come again.

I went here once. Pros: good food, good service. Cons: Ridiculously overpriced. $4 for drip coffee with brunch? Seriously? read more

Nadir is SIMPLY PERFECT. The right guy for the perfect food. SO GOOD we went 2 DAYS in a row! One on business breakfast and the second with a hoard of Vaz's clan, newborn grand and all. SO! What was SO perfect? Croissants that will make the Eiffel Tower CRY. Lump crab or LOBSTER bennies that would start another coup. Let them eat... yeah. Impeccable service. Want to die and go to heaven? Order a crepe. The scottish salmon with dill creme fresh and a poach perched on top is sheer decadence. TRULY and honestly. Pancakes? Fluffy and perfect. Better than mine (for which I hate them because I'm in MA and they are... in Del Rey. A hefty commute. But I WILL make it again). Rules are strict. The owner runs a tight ship. Because they want to extend the best food with the best service possible in this impossibly uncomfortable to navigate when PACKED building with obnoxiously delicious food, and lovely people! read more

This place is really hit or miss. When it's a hit, it's really good. I love their lobster benedict. Until I got the one with the hair in it. My wife and I had brunch their on Sunday, and she threw up an hour after eating there, and the next day I had, well, TMI. For the prices they charge they should hit every time, consistency. Because we both got sick I don't know if we'll try this again, lobster benedict or no. read more

The place is amazing! Best croissant I've had in America. Also, the eggs on the egg Benedict were perfect with a beautiful tail on them. Now, it was a little more money than most nice breakfast places but well worth it. read more

Fabulous food in a warm, welcoming atmosphere with Country French decor, and excellent service. Near my neighborhood and a favorite destination for me, family and friends. read more

This French bistro/Cafe is a splurge, but worth it for a nice occasion. We started with the escargot which were absolutely delicious, in a typical white wine/herb/butter sauce. We even asked for more bread ($3 for an extra basket) to soak up all the sauce. For our entrees, my husband had the lamb duo (medium rare) and it was cooked perfectly with a great taste. I had the moules frites cooked in a saffron/chorizo/jalapeño broth which wasn't too spicy and I actually ate all 2 pounds! The chorizo was delicious. We didn't get dessert, but they gave us homemade puppy treats for our 12 week old puppy. On a nice spring evening, the porch was really comfortable, but could get too hot in the middle of summer. I would highly recommend Del Ray Cafe for a nice celebratory dinner out. read more

Del Ray Cafe - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I went to Del Ray Cafe with my family on a Sunday morning for breakfast. The location itself is cute, as is everything in Del Ray, and the vibe is French Bistro. - The restaurant itself is essentially a large house so there are a lot of seating options in different rooms, it is bright and sunny inside and they mentioned that they were going to be doing some interior renovations - Although we had a reservation, there was a little bit of a wait in the beginning which the host continuously gave us updates on. Our servers were very attentive, helpful, and nice. No coffee cup or water glass was ever empty. - Del Ray Cafe, like many other locations in Del Ray, was very kid and family friendly. This was very helpful as we had a baby in our group. - The food is good. Not outstanding or anything, but there are a lot of good quality basics at breakfast. I got the eggs benedict which were satisfying. Rather than an english muffin, the benedict is served on a croissant which gave it some flair. Overall, Del Ray Cafe is a great place to go for a family, group with kids, or if people are visiting. It is pleasant and has food that most people would like. I would like to come back for lunch or dinner to try some of the more interesting items in their repertoire. read more

We had the best brunch ever! A great menu variety, excellent food, and the best service we've had on the East coast so far :)

My mother always told me "a goal without a plan is merely a wish". I'm sure this restaurant's owner lives by these rules as well. Every single time I've visited this restaurant, I have been wowed. From the décor to the meals, every aspect of your dining experience is well thought out to provide a comfortable experience with delicious fare to boot. And although, once in a blue moon, they'll mess up (partner's eggs were too hard on only one occasion) you'll hardly dwell on it as the overall experience is well worth it. Oh, and the incredible staff left the cutest surprise for my gf's birthday! This is definitely our go-go spot. read more

A friend recommended this place, so we went for dinner... I should have read up on it first, though. All the "wow", "great" and "impressed" BRUNCH reviews should tip you off that this is not the place to come for serious food. I won't say anything else except that this: they charge extra for bread. Ordinary baguettes are such a delicacy there that they have to charge extra. The nerve! read more

Memorable food, amazing service. The menu is absolutely filled to the brim with all sorts of delicious things. Charming, lovingly made, highly recommend you going to try it for yourself. read more

Classic rustic French perfected. Love this place! Best chocolate mousse I've ever tasted and I've tasted hundreds. Was a little disappointed in the morels but that might just be me. Service was excellent. Waiter is genuinely French. And get the scallops. read more

Tucked away on e. Howell different menu for del Ray, but very good food. Defly coming back. read more

Del Ray Cafe - Deeeliccccousness, hanger steak with bareniase and garlic fries. - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Wonderful, great food, great service. Beautiful. The coffee is wonderful, doesn't need a thing. The omelette was perfectly cooked. Love that comes with side of lightly dressed greens and fruit. Perfect meal for perfect healthy day. Family friendly or just nice meal with your crew. Can't wait to come back for lunch, dinner, or quick healthy nosh. read more

Del Ray Cafe - This was the most wonderful breakfast. Healthy, great atmosphere. The service was wonderful, friendly informative. - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I've had brunch here twice and have left impressed both times. There was nothing that I didn't like and that is a difficult feat to achieve for any eatery. Located in Del Ray, this restaurant/cafe is a house converted into a dining room with delicious food. You can see the owner working hard and being friendly with regulars. There is usually a short wait during busy brunch time and parking is on the street. The ambiance is cozy. The wait staff is very friendly and mostly attentive. Fresh squeezed orange juice is always a delight to start off with! Coffee was decent and kept flowing. The croissants are served with butter and jam and are warm and fluffy. I tried the SOS chipped beef and black angus ground beef in gravy which was delicious and a pretty generous portion. Even though I added eggs to mine I don't feel they particularly go with the beef and gravy. For my second visit I tried the Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Eggs Benedict and even though I'm not a big crab fan this was one of the best benedicts I've had with fresh delicious crab meat and a perfectly balanced and tasty holondaise sauce. The pancakes had nice big juicy blueberries and were served with butter. Rotisserie potatoes are absolutely the best. Few places get breakfast potatoes the right way and Del Ray Cafe needs to make no changes to the way they do their potatoes because they have pretty much perfected them. The potatoes are crispy, hot and garlicky! The prices are a bit on the high side however you get quality for what you pay. I plan to be back for lunch and dinner. read more

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Charming spot in the adorable Del Ray neighborhood. Breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner are all great.

Charge for additional bread?! Seriously? Beyond cheap! Had a large group with me but never again. Good riddens! P.S. I just noticed reply by Owner to Penny M. concerning charging for additional bread and he defends this policy. I've dined at much nicer places and have never been charged for additional bread. And he says there is "no charge for butter"! It's getting worse and who charges for butter? This is an absurd policy and insanely cheap. Good way to lose customers! read more

Best part about this place was all the choices because my group needed them with our different dietary needs. And the food was delicious. I had lobster benedict. And I don't know if they bake the croissants on the premises, but they came warm and seemed fresh. The jams had choices between raspberry and strawberry - I'm allergic to strawberry, so getting raspberry was a relief - and there was lots of choices in the syrups which I didn't take but I heard my friend list at least three to her son. I was able to get almond milk for coffee, again, yay, because dairy intolerance. And the staff were all polite and friendly. I also liked how bright and airy the place was. read more

I've been to Del Ray Cafe for brunch and dinner and both meals were excellent. We had crab benedict and stuffed pork belly for breakfast. For dinner, roasted chicken and mushroom risotto. Everything was really tasty and the hollandaise was perfect. I always order a bloody mary with breakfast, even though I don't like how most places make them, but theirs was great! Make sure to ask for it spicy. The staff is very friendly, though it was much busier at brunch and they were a bit less attentive then. The reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars is the ambiance. It's super cute and charming, for sure. But at the price point (most things are $20-35), I feel like it needs to be a little nicer. Bare tables, bare walls, and ugly carpet (upstairs) detracts from an otherwise adorable location. read more

We were surprised to find this in a neighborhood, but the food, ambiance and service were spectacular. Our server was courteous and stopped our table many times. My wife and I got the sumptuous croque madame, which had a soft and thick smothering of cheese topping. During our meal, I think the owner(?) came out to greet us and ask us how everything was going. I would come here more if I lived closer. read more

Definitly a MUST! Super delicious, taste and presentation was awesome. Don't miss it read more

Del Ray Cafe - French Toast - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Best French Onion soup anywhere! Friendly staff and great food. Best place to eat in DMV.

I have dined at this restaurant many times and usually enjoy good food and service. The last couple times the owner was present and outright rude while friendly to other patrons. On one occasion, others who arrived after me were served their meals even though I placed my order before them. The owner brushed me off when I inquired. I then asked another server who quickly bought out my entree. During my last visit the owner went from table to table asking patrons how they were enjoying their meals, could he get them anything, etc. I watched as he walked past our table. He then stopped, briskly said thank you for coming, and quickly moved on. Clearly this restaurant is not intended for everyone. I will find another spot for my beloved Lobster Benedict. No patron should be treated this way. read more

Had a great brunch experience at Del Ray Café. It's a house turn restaurant, super cute. We made a reservation and had a large party of 7 with no problem. We had a nice sized farm house table in an intimate little cove. I had a create your own omelet to which I added mushrooms, swiss cheese, and herbs. The herbs made a huge difference. It was well cooked and seasoned and came with a little salad, fresh fruit, and a mini croissant. The croissant was delish. I'd say the only thing I didn't like about it was that you have to pay for each topping you add to the omelet. Service was great and it wasn't packed like pretty much every other brunch place in northern Virginia (could have just been because it was a rainy day). I would definitely go back. read more

Del Ray Cafe - Omelette with mushroom, Swiss cheese, and herbs - cooked well done how I like it! - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

We moved to Del Ray just a few months ago. While all the restaurants are top notch, Del Ray Cafe is definitely one of my absolute favorites. I wouldn't hesitate to drover here if we lived farther away. It's worth the effort! From the service to the food to the ambiance, you will NOT be disappointed. And don't let a wait fool you, they will get you in fast and treat you well. Enjoy! read more

Yooooo, Del Ray Cafe! What's good!? Answer: this place is good. It won the brunch of the weekend spot in our vote. Take a look at our delicious meal. Custom omelette with bacon and goat cheese and spinach. That was the healthy selection. Then we went sweet with the raspberry French toast, which was great. Wonderful that they have real maple syrup and real raspberry syrup as well. Super good all around. We will definitely be coming back. read more

Del Ray Cafe - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Second time at this quaint restaurant. Had Eggs Benedict and wine for brunch. For dessert, chouquettes with chocolate, raspberry and whip cream dipping sauces. Our waiter was attentive, quick, funny and personable. This is a true gem in Arlington for brunch, lunch and dinner. read more

A bit overpriced for mediocre food. Service was good but food is only average especially for the cost. $5 for half a grapefruit?! I love brunch so I'm totally willing to pay more for good food but this place definitely left me wondering why I'm paying this much for food that's nothing out of the ordinary. read more

Great place service, food, and drinks were awesome! We had a group of 5 and everyone loved their lunches. I saved the beat for last and hand a apple butter crepe for desert. If you are in the area this is a must stop in and try! read more

Great French cafe with awesome food. Service was great despite the accidental spill . Came with a party of four and sat right away. Try the SoS and the pork belly. Delicious. Crab meat eggs Benedict was also tasty. Not too good for large groups. read more

Amazing food, cute cozy atmosphere and 5 service, food is super fresh and make from scratch, the server was super knowledgeable, we needed to wait to be seated because the place was pack, and it's easy to know why read more

Why the minus 1 ? Portion size. Everything else was wonderful from the quality of food, fresh ingredients used, quaint home that was turned into a two level restaurant, and outstanding service. Expect a wait because this place is known for its food! Also, try going around 1:30-2 to beat the wait if your appetite can wait that long. Brunch ends at 2:30 on weekends and 10:45 on weekdays FYI. read more

Hoo. It's hard for me to put off writing reviews these days. I like to make a snap judgment, come home, and fire off a Yelp right away. It's a compulsion. But I made myself wait for Del Ray Café. Why? Well, the first time we came here for breakfast the experience was *so* consistently inconsistent I figured it had to be a fluke. Service moved at a glacial pace. I had to get up and get my own silverware. The server told us the quiche of the day, Pops and I ordered it, and out came two entirely different quiches from the description and each other. Knowing the place had just opened recently, we vowed we'd give it another go. Especially considering we all agreed the quiche was some of the best ever to pass any of our lips. Husband, Moms, Pops and I have been back many times since then. We really do love breakfast at DRC. While the service has improved, it continues to need fine-tuning. The food, on the other hand, continues to soar. Velvety buckwheat crépes with sweet and sour marmalade, tender flaky croissants, chunky crab Benedicts with unctuous eggs, delicate escargot bobbing in a buttery bath, and that quiche. That silken, custardy quiche, quivering atop crisp squares of phyllo and trembling beneath a fine layer of browned cheese -- unlike any other quiche you will try, and studded with fun combinations like fennel and squash, ham and jalapeño, wild mushroom and bacon, spinach and pepper. Whenever possible, menu ingredients are sourced locally. And the Del Ray home at 205 E. Howell has been lovingly refurbished with polished woods and elegant seating, as well as a fabulous screened-in side porch, perfect for enjoying your meal al fresco. If you're prepared to exercise a modicum of patience over service, your taste buds will thank you. read more