The food was great; however, beware on using credit cards. My information was stolen after paying for my meal.

My first visit was last summer for brunch on my birthday. Whenever I travel, I always try to find the best restaurants--described as French country cuisine made with fresh American ingredients, Del Ray Cafe is a true gem! Located on a residential street in a house converted into a restaurant, this place is truly charming. I ordered the French Toast--brioche dipped in Grand Marnier batter, served with a mixed berry ginger compote--exactly what I wanted for my celebratory birthday breakfast. My mom ordered the Fresh Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Eggs Benedict and loved it! We were so happy with our meal that we came back for brunch the next day before driving home from our travels. Day 2--Abdel was our server and he was so friendly and welcoming. I ordered the Scottish Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict and it was legit one of the best meals I've ever had. The first bite was melt-in-your-mouth, a burst of flavor--perfectly poached eggs, delicate lox and Hollandaise sauce on top of a buttery croissant. OMG. Every bite gave me the same delicious mouth-watering rush as the first. When I visited again last week, Abdel greeted me at the door, "Nice to see you again." He remembered me *months* after my previous visits! I had come back specifically for the Scottish Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend! Will definitely be back! read more

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

We have been going to Del Ray Cafe since they opened--before, during, and after the pandemic--and have never been disappointed in food or service. Wait staff always seem glad to welcome us back, and are attentive and friendly. As for the food...one would have to go far to find its equal in the DMV. Seldom can you find a neighborhood restaurant (with a casual ambiance) that would be at home with the finest and fanciest in the area. We have moved from Del Ray to Old Town to Maryland, but we are still coming back, and will continue to do so. (Souffles are a must!) read more

There are many facets to a rewarding, delicious dining: amazing food, excellent service, and pleasant ambience. Del Ray Cafe is located in an off-street neighborhood area of the Del Ray neighborhood. It is a higher-priced option from the usual casual fare on the main drag, but perhaps that price comes with a wider selection, finer food, and better service. Let's start with the service and ambience: both excellent. Attentive servers, extremely polite, and very cheerful. Location? Nice unassuming decor that felt as if you were eating at someone's home rather than an impersonal restaurant. The food? There is an eighth deadly sin and it is lukewarm food. We ordered the PEI mussels as well as the veggie burger. Each came with french fries. Everything was just barely warm. Unpardonable. Food should be hot when it reaches the table. This food gave the impression that it had been sitting in the kitchen for some time before service. Or that it simply was served cold. The quality of the food is hard to judge when the food, itself, is served cold when it should be piping hot. Del Ray Cafe did not meet the mark on this occasion. read more

The food is superbly good and the serving is just right for a senior like me could only eat much. Service is great very friendly and patient server. Ambiance is good though limited space downstairs but ample space on the 2nd floor. Outside seating is available but close during our visit since there were no available server it was early morning. There is a parking at the back and the ramp is at the back. It seems more houses in Alexandria are not ADA. This place is like a house converted to a wholesome restaurant. Will come back. Price is okay for good food. read more

Arrived for brunch on a busy Saturday. The food was delicious but two crepes took an hour to make. I can't believe that a crepe is that difficult to put together even when that busy. read more

Extremely disappointed.... My first time here, because friends said it was soooo great. NOT. Service seemed to be an anomaly to them. I was there with a good friend, we ordered cocktails.... Finished with the cocktail, we ordered dinner. We also ordered another cocktail and I wanted wine with my dinner. Was told, ohhhh we no longer have that wine on the menu, I wil bring a simalar one for you to try..... ok, never came. An then, Seriously, our food came in 6 minutes! I REALLY was not happy. I told the deliverer of the food to cancel my cocktail, as the waiter was NO where to be found... MORE than half way through dinner, another person brought my cocktail.... REALLY?!? I told that person, that I told the delivery person, to cancel because my dinner appeared rather instantly! NOBODY LISTENS IN THIS RESTAURANT !! OR they dont understand you!! And seriously, I am FINISHED with my dinner, the waiter comes with wine! O M G..... I said.... do you see i am finished with my dinner? I no longer want wine that I wanted with my dinner!!! He said, oh... I am a little behind because I have a lot of big tables! Wow. ok. My fault. Im just a customer too.... I would NEVER go back to this place... We cook very well at home, I go out for service...... My moto is, If the food is not great, but the service is wonderful, yes I would go back. If the food is great, and the service sucked, like this place, I would NEVER go back. read more

I went back to this restaurant for Restaurant Week to see if they could redeem themselves which they very much did (from last year's Restaurant Week). They had curbside pickup and it was definitely more organized this year. This year you received 3 items for $35. Like last year I ordered Escargot in Garlic Parsley Butter and it came with 3 pieces of hearty and crusty bread. It was perfect for mopping up the rest of that scrumptious garlic parsley butter. No drop was left behind. For my main course I really wanted the Venison Stew but they were all out. Instead I ordered the Hanger Steak which was cooked perfectly rare per my request. The red wine sauce was deliciously seasoned and complemented the steak so well. The au gratin potatoes and veggies rounded out my main course quite nicely. For dessert I ordered the beignets. They had little pockets of cinnamon in them which was a nice surprise. The dipping sauce was very scrummy and I found myself licking the little container. (I am so glad I was eating this in the privacy of my own apartment.) I don't know if the beignets are a normal staple on their menu but I would definitely get them again. I hope to one day return to this restaurant and actually dine in. I want to see what else they have on their menu. I am so glad they participated in Restaurant Week again. Excellent job!! read more

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The place was very cute. The staff was friendly and very kind and attentive. The vibes outside were also, very cute and aesthetic. The food was pretty average. The banana bread was dry. I ordered the wagyu burger, medium, and that was also pretty dry. The latte was all cream, with a hint of coffee. The water with lemon was a 10/10 though. read more

This is such a cute little brunch spot! Wide variety of brunch options but be aware that the time you arrive for "brunch" will dictate whether or not some items on the lunch portion of the brunch menu will be available. We arrived around 10:30 and they did not have chicken pot pie available yet. Our waiter was very nice. The crab benedict is so delicious! I love the fact that they use a croissant instead of an English muffin. Crab was sweet, tender, and fresh. The salad had a nice tangy vinaigrette. I wish their croissant side order came with butter and jam instead of just jam. Parking is a little tricky but worth it for a yummy French style breakfast! read more

I leave public reviews maybe once every 3-4 years. This made the cut. Received the exact opposite of what I expected--coffee was water, watery vegetable hash consisted of what I can only imagine were steamed vegetables from a bag poured in a bowl, some crispy potatoes, and unseasoned eggs. Omelette was lazy--none of the fillings were sautéed which led to a weirdly textured and flavorless omelette. Also, $2 for all toppings, including cheese, is overpriced. Tl;dr lazy cooking, incredibly overpriced for what you're getting. read more

We had Reasonable expectations for Del Ray but will we return... Del Nay. . . Literally the First to sit last to be served in the entire room we sat in... I need not say why, it was blatantly obvious, which wouldn't have been such a problem... management can't really control all the operations biases, employees will be employees, if the food was up to par we could have overlooked it. There is simply no way to excuse a DEL RAY CAFE call at 1:48pm for our reservation and to be served at 2:48pm. An hour wait for poached eggs and a pancake when the tables around us ordered meat heavy entrees and were served entirely first and we the literal last... last week we went to Flora Flora at the wharf, same prices way different quality way different service... Word of Caution: Save your money & head to Flora Flora for brunch. Sophie the hostess & the Crème Brûlée (fantastic!) earned them the 2 stars. VERDICT: Del Nay. Order lots of champagne for the pain. Head for Fora Flora thank me Later :) Smallest tip I ever left. (See pic) read more

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

Beautiful little home turned cafe. We were wondering around Del Ray when we came across it. The girlfriend got the french toast with bacon and I got eggs benedict with prosciutto over a croissant. All was extremely delicious. The bacon was thick slab and cooked to perfection. read more

Del Ray Cafe - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Going to Del Ray Cafe is like having a meal at a good friend's home...if that friend cooked amazing French American food! DLC is in a home on a residential street. Parking is extremely limited so you will have to park on the street, sometimes a couple of blocks away. Trust me when I say you won't mind the distance because you will enjoy the walk after a sumptuous meal. We arrived at 1100 and were seated upstairs in a sun filled room with a vaulted ceiling. I started off with a deliciously spicy Bloody Mary and my friend had a glass of Rose. For appetizers I had the escargot and my friend had a beautiful salad. The escargot was perfect and served with crusty bread to soak up all the delicious butter. We continued with a house special of risotto. It isn't on the regular brunch menu and it was so creamy, filled with mushrooms and truffle oil. We splurged on dessert. I had another special that isn't usually available at brunch, a raspberry soufflé. Yum! It was perfect! My dear friend had a dessert of pastry with ice cream (I forget the name). You cannot ask for better service anywhere. Nadir and Ahmed are top notch and have been with DRC for years. I have been coming to first LaBergerie (previous restaurant by owner Laurent Janowsky) and now DRC for over 15 years. I will be back, over and over again! read more

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I had never been to this restaurant, but I picked it because I have some food allergies/sensitivities that it looked like they could accommodate (gluten foremost). I requested to substitute potatoes for polenta as the side in my dish because I have a corn allergy. They charged me extra for the switch even though I explained I had an allergy. I'm trying to be understanding, but I wasn't asking for a switch with fillet mignon. Corn and potatoes are a fair swap, and I don't think people should be charged extra because they have an allergy. Thankfully, there are a lot of other good restaurant options for food sensitivities. read more

All staff members were attentive and respectful throughout our experience I visit Alexandia frequently and always look forward to visiting this marvelous eatery each time! My omelet was exquisite and favorably seasoned, my companions ordered a variety of items, and we all left sated! read more

Alright! Restaurant is two floors, pretty good seating. Came here for July 4th and got sat immediately, but could imagine that there would be a wait at times! So..... I liked the food here, but wasn't exactly blown away, but I think it's because the French toast loooooked so much better than it tasted. We ordered the FRENCH TOAST because the pictures looked amazing. I was really disappointed. If it wasn't for the blackberry syrup on the table, it would have just tasted like pan fried bread. It's missing something. Maybe more egg? I have no idea. We also ordered the FRIED OYSTER BENEDICT and the LOBSTER BENEDICT. Both dishes were good, but my boyfriend and I were still hungry. I wish I would have know the Benedict was going to come on half of a croissant. I meannn at least throw the other half on there so I could be full. Just wasn't enough on the plate for 19 bucks. My friend got the SOS, now this dish was tastyyyyy. I actually really enjoyed it, the meatball and potatoes in the dish were really good. I mayyyy come back here to try dinner. read more

One immediately feels transported to France when you enter this charming restaurant. If you get seated upstairs, you are warmly greeted by the owner and shown to your table. The menu is delightful with enough selections to satisfy everyone. Daughter had a pot of mussels accompanied with French fries and toasted bread. I had the veggie burger and sweet potato fries, all of which were delicious. Hubby had a burr at a and ham sandwich that he said was outstanding. Unfortunately, no room left for dessert but it was a lovely meal with excellent service. We visited here on our last visit to see our daughter and husband and enjoyed our lunch here that there was no question where to dine for lunch this trip. read more

I've since been back here a few times and can say the food and service are both great. My previous review was about an overpriced dish but it appears to have been a fluke (I hope). read more

We have never been disappointed in our visits to Del Ray Cafe! We are welcomed as if we are coming for a family gathering and no matter how busy, the wait staff always has time for a brief chat. The restaurant has a great neighborhood vibe and is not pretentious as one finds some French restaurants. We usually do lunch but had dinner last night for a special occasion. Despite it being Restaurant Week, we were able to order off the off the main menu. Both the Bouillabaisse & short ribs were delicious finished off with a soufflé. read more

Quaint spot in Del Ray. The food was just ok for the price. The pancakes were really heavy and dense to the point that neither one of us ate them. The farm to table scrambled eggs and cheese made up for the other food. I ordered the chip beef which was a twist on the classic. It was served over potatoes and I had to ask for more of the chipped beef gravy if that's the official term, all of the potatoes weren't coated and they were going to charge me additional. I said that was ok and then the waiter brought me some. read more

One of our favorite spots for breakfast. We almost always walk in without a reservation, as a part of two, and they are extremely accommodating. The environment is very homey and relaxing. The food is amazing as well. The quiche varies in variety and is always tasty! read more

Del Ray Cafe is an unassuming restaurant that is actually quite impressive in what they serve. The atmosphere is quaint, but the offerings are numerous. The staff was quite friendly and tried hard to be helpful and thorough when asking about different dishes and preferences. I ordered a lamb shank special and a raspberry soufflé. The lamb was absolutely tender and moist and the sauce paired well to give it a little flavor, but was just pleasant. The special came with a few sides which were dressed down and underwhelming for all things considered. After I finished the entrée, I was actually wondering if I ate an actual entrée. The soufflé was nice. The cream was refreshing and airy and not overpowering the pasty, so it was a pleasant finish to the meal overall. This restaurant is on the more expensive side, but most French food is so it's not a knock against it in terms of what to expect with other restuarants in the space. I don't know if I can say I left completely satisfied though. read more

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This place is absolutely adorable. So charming and I love all the little French touches all over the place, from the cute ouvert and fermé sign to all the French signature dishes on their menu. We came for breakfast on a weekday morning and had a lovely time. We were seated promptly and the waiter was attentive to a tree nut allergy present in our group. I had the 2 egg omelet with bacon (hearty, salty pieces!) and asparagus. It was served with an organic mesclun mix and dressed lightly with a delicious vinaigrette. It also came with a small cup of fruit that was nicely cubed and cut up. Upon departure, the hostess offered my child a chouquette to munch on. Cute gesture and the pastry was nicely baked. read more

Del Ray Cafe - Create your Own 2 Egg Omelet with bacon and asparagus - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Very small, built from a little house, horrible parking but....This place was amazing!!!! Expensive but amazing. Well worth the $200 tab for 2 entries and a few mimosas! Staff was very friendly and attentive. Place was busy so get a reservation. I had the lobster Benedict and my wife had the S.O.S. We will definitely return again for brunch! read more

Consistently excellent ! I just love Del Ray Cafe. I have never had a bad meal there and my most recent visit did not disappoint. The quiche was amazing. The side salad had just the right amount of dressing on it and the croissant was perfect. The wait staff is so attentive. My coffee cup never got below half empty. I can't wait for the next visit. read more

My new favorite spot! Great service and delicious food. This is the type of food that warms the heart and makes you smile!

Glasses on the table were dirty, like half full, finger prints and all. Bread basket; butter was half full with marks of previous use We should have left, but already opened a bottle of wine. Steak was dry and chewy (medium??, not!!) Fish was not cooked in the middle and the sauce it was sitting in was crusted over!! Who gave the previous ratings?? read more

Very good food!!! Service was A+ I had pancakes with eggs and sausage. The sausage were ok but the pancakes were bomb!!

Best Brunch ever. Food is amazing at dinner also. All Staff there is happy to help A favorite for sure read more

This place is so awesome ! Abdelhadi was our server and he was awessssome. He pointed us to all the good stuff on the menu especially dessert ! I got the croque madame and it was bomb. The egg, the cheese, the oozy cheese, it was great! The garlic fries are soooooo good too. We already ordered two entrees so he suggested we just get the side of the sos chipped angus! We sat on the back patio area which has umbrella shade :) I have to go back and eat the dinner menu next time !! read more

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Went for brunch with 9 adults and a baby and they were incredibly accommodating. They are open early and worked with us to get our group on the porch (staying Covid-conscious with a small baby). Plus the menu had something for everyone and food was delicious. 100% recommend. read more

Place is interesting, it's a renovated house. Very nice set up downstairs. We were on the patio covered and heated. The food was good, drinks were good and service was good. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary spectacular but it was good. One great thing we had eggs Benedict's and it's not hard to cook but so many places mess them up. All of our eggs (4 orders) they were cooked perfect. The only one star removed is it's kinda pricey. It is aligned with this area though on price. read more

We were visiting MD and were looking for a restaurant that had organic, healthy food. We found it! We split the soup, salad, snails and wagu beef & cheese. Everything was incredibly tasty! The risotto was fantastic and the spinach and bacon melted in your mouth. The veal and mashed potatoes were a perfect ending. Well...then there was the chocolate mousse. It tasted better than it looked! Service was very friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend visiting! read more

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They say a place is only as good as your last visit. My last visit was yesterday and I cannot wait to go back! I love bistro food done well and it was. A pack of six friends who date their relationships back to first grade got together. All six got different entrees, drinks and desserts and all six walked out happy campers. We were (are) pretty seasoned travelers now in our early 70's and have very distinct and demanding standards and palates. This place, on this day, met all our brunch expectations. Major kudos. The only drawback was parking, but, since overcrowded streets are not in their purview, I don't include that situation in my rating, but for future visitors it's something to be aware of and dealt with. Merci beaucoup Del Ray Cafe!!!!! read more

As always , delicious food amazing service!!!! Never disappoints , brought some relatives from out of town , they were soooo pleased!

Covid mitigation fully in place so get over here! I can't believe it took us so long to try this place. We had brussels.(crisped to perfection), ginger carrots, DRC salad, duck, portebella and the grand marnier souffle!! I didn't know you could get a soufflé in Alexandria. The small staff is extremely professional and takes real pride in what they are doing. Come support this local business. Enjoy the experience. Don't go in a hurry, and take a date :-) read more

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

The pictures from Ashli B and other Yelp buds got me in the door, the food and personal service even from the incognito owner most assuredly will make me a regular!! I mean, come on, the owner was my waiter for goodness sake!! The smell alone once you walk in sets you up for the kill!! And when I say kill, that's exactly what I did to my Lobster Benedict, I "KILLED" IT!!!!! Good lawd was my meal GOOD. I wanted to order another one but I try not to be greedy, so I just licked my fork and walked away.. Lol. This two level converted early 20th century house is the perfect setting for this French inspired Bistro that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Although I have only had breakfast here dinner is soon to follow. I don't claim to be a French Bistro aficionado, all I know is, this one is my FAVORITE! Writing this review is making me want that damn Lobster Benedict.. Lol!! read more

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

This has quickly become by favorite little French country cafe. I've dined at several French bistros, but this one feels different. Relaxed & welcoming... The charming French owner has a lot to do with this vibe. He smiles often, doesn't mind getting his hands dirty and shows me love every time I drop in. I'm also a fan of mixing the old with the new. This refurbished house built almost 100 years ago has lots of character, but you'll notice upgrades throughout. Aside from architecture, food is Del Ray's true hero. DRC starts with fresh natural or organic ingredients then carefully prepare each dish. I've seen customers sliding the last of a croissant across their plates to pick up the final drop of sauce. So far, I've had the French toast with a little bourbon syrup, chicken sausage, lobster Benedict, and roasted potatoes, ... Entirely Delicious. Can't wait to try more! Special Thanks to Big Bro for pointing out delicious food in restaurants close to me. Finally, the DelRey mantra is one to live by: Spread Kindness...Build Community. Apply this mantra within your community and see what happens. read more

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Great standard classic French food served in an eccentric house setting. Clearly a neighborhood favorite. If I lived nearby, it would be a weekly treat. read more