Wow...where do I even start? Whether you're looking for a cozy café with great coffee / pastries, an intimate restaurant serving some of the best New American cooking, or just a place that has some of the friendliest, most inviting staff to ever grace the DC restaurant scene, Elle has you covered. They operate a cute little coffee counter in the day, which includes some of their amazing scones, croissants, and other goodies, as well as outstanding espresso drinks. There isn't a ton of seating in the café section so it ends up being quite crowded, but if you're lucky enough to snag a seat, it's super cozy and the perfect place to read or just hang out. The café area is confined to two mini counters in a small corner next to the front window, so it always gets plenty of natural light and is a great place to people watch. I dropped by on a Sunday morning to grab an americano and their maple pecan scone; the americano was phenomenal, and the scone was such a delightful ode to autumn flavors. It was quite large, super buttery and rich, and packed with maple and pecan flavor without being overly sweet. Come back in the evening and you'll stroll into what feels like a completely different restaurant. The coffee bar is transformed into a standard bar, and the ambient lighting, dark wooden furniture, and brick walls make the space feel incredibly cozy and intimate. Their dinner menu is quite pricey, but it's genuinely worth every penny. My friend promised that Elle had the "best vegetable he's ever tasted," and they absolutely delivered -- the roasted broccoli with sardines and parmesan was delightful. It was super simple, but I appreciated how well it let the natural flavor of each ingredient shine, and each component had plenty of its own flavor, with the parmesan and sardines offering a hit of salt, umami, and sight funkiness. We also got the grilled cucumber which, at first glance, seemed like such an odd menu item. After giving it a try, however, I'm now questioning why we don't always grill our cucumbers -- the cucumber was beautifully charred on the outside, and heat helped to bring out some of the vegetable's natural sweetness to counterbalance the smokiness from the grill. It was served on top of a bed of savory, tangy yogurt and with chopped hazelnuts, which offered a great crunch. I was most impressed by the skate; this fish is a rare find in DC, but they prepared with perfectly. It was super tender, which contrasted beautifully against the crispy, crunchy fried outer shell. The skate was topped with crispy onions and a savory, slightly spicy sauce, as well as swimming in a rich, incredibly umami broth. The skate may have been the single best thing I put in my mouth all year -- I'm going to be devastated when it falls out of season and rotates of the menu, but I'm also super excited to come back and sample Elle's next season of items. read more

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Elle is a great spot for breakfast, especially if you are looking for somewhere comfortable to spend a bit of time. The space is open and inviting, and they are very accommodating if you plan to sit and work for a while. The food and drinks really deliver. Their matcha was delightful, and the egg sandwich is an absolute must. It comes on a house-made potato roll that makes the whole thing feel extra comforting. I would highly recommend adding brisket. It takes the sandwich to another level. Service was friendly and attentive throughout. Even though it is a bit out of the way from downtown DC, I would definitely make the trip back. read more

Ellē - Egg brisket sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

i had an absolutely delightful morning at elle this week and cannot stop raving about it! i came early on monday morning - around 8:45am - and the place was already pretty busy. i managed to snag a table to myself and ordered my coffee and breakfast at the counter. service was super speedy and the cashier was really sweet. i ordered the guava turnover and the granola as my food, and the seasonal caramel miso latte with oat milk. everything was slightly pricey, but the food was well worth the price. the turnover was absolutely incredible and the granola was really unique and tasty - i enjoyed every bite of the coconut, yogurt, banana jam, and mint (warning to banana haters, this definitely will not be for you!). and it kept me full for hours! it was drizzling outside and perfectly cozy inside, and i could feel what they mean when they say it's a primarily social space; i pulled out my laptop but didn't have the heart to do more than the new york times games. the ambiance is definitely more suited for hanging out than working. but i loved it and will be sure to come back with friends. read more

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Followed the recommendation of a good friend, and Elle was fabulous for breakfast. While they were sadly sold out of scones, the breakfast and coffee were great. The service was awesome, and the breakfast sandwich was fabulous. Great spot! read more

Ellē - What a breakfast sandwich! - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We got the strawberry rhubarb donut, and that was really good. It was not too sweet, and sometimes donuts can be way too sweet. We also got a beet-cured salmon bagel, and that was super original and very good, but I could only eat a third of it because it was way too rich. read more

Ellē - Guava Turnover - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of my go-tos in DC for Brunch and Dinner. High-quality ingredients, everything made from scratch - this place doesn't make you feel like you just ate a meal that will take years off your life. With a menu that offers a great variety throughout the day and seasonally, you really cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. Do yourself a favor and eat a baked good, eat the bread and eat anything with tempeh. Offering a cozy environment that is more of a coffee shop during the weekday daylight hours, that turns into a nice, inviting, and lively restaurant environment during the weekend and evenings. Service is always solid, with a knowledgeable staff that keeps bringing me back. read more

Ellē - All partially eaten - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Stopped in for breakfast on a busy Saturday morning. I put my name in and wandered the farmer's market across the street for 10 minutes until they were ready. You can also order at the counter but there will likely be a long line! After I was seated it took a hot minute for the server to come back and take my order since they were fairly busy. I tried the breakfast sandwich and had a hot chocolate. The breakfast sammy was ok but nothing special. It definitely needed some sauce and a veg to zhuzh it up a bit! I enjoyed the hot chocolate. Food came out decently quick but didn't have a server check in on me until I flagged one down to pay. I didn't mind since I had a book with me but if you're in a rush plan to order to go. I'd maybe come back to try happy hour or dinner but breakfast was a little too pricy for what you get in my opinion. read more

Ellē - Hot chocolate - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Went to elle for dinner for the first time and it was amazing. Elle turns into the perfect intimate space for catching up with a friend or a date night. The food was delicious - highly recommend trying whatever seasonal pasta they have, the kimchi toast, and their sourdough. The cocktails here are delicious, elle's staff are super knowledgeable about flavor profiles and happy to answer any questions you have. Great wine list here too! I also want to add elle is amazing for breakfast very cute cafe service before 10:30am then seated brunch after that! The service was phenomenal and I look forward to coming back for dinner some time. read more

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I recommend parking in the nearby neighborhoods and taking a short walk here. This looks like such a great neighborhood coffee shop/spot. I enjoyed the wood floors, comfortable interior, and separated spaces (main room and a separate room where I saw folks on their laptops). Our waitress was lovely (loved her style and metal accessories in her hair)! We got the breakfast sandwich with the sausage -- it was very well executed. The bread was fluffy and moist. The eggs were thick, fluffy, and moist. The sausage was juicy and thick. It made me think of a very well executed McDonalds breakfast sandwich (in the best way). Flavor wise I don't think it stood out enough for me to make the trek but it was a solid sandwich. I'd be interested in coming back to try their dinner. read more

Ellē - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of my favorite spots their baked goods from cakes to sourdough are excellent. Their breakfast sandwich is excellent and has such great savory flavors. Don't skip on the brisket. I've also gotten the reuben which was great savory flavors balanced with the Russian dressing. Service is always kind and helpful. It has a great coffee shop vibe but is also great for dinner. read more

Ellē - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Cute little neighborhood joint but I traveled neighborhoods to check it out. It's a bit noisy and crowded for dine-in and they were oddly almost out of pastry options by 12:30, but otherwise a very nice experience. My friend loves this place. She had the sourdough bread plate with anchovies. I had a special summer dish, white gazpacho. I was going out on a limb trying it but ended up really enjoying it! It tastes creamy but is vegan! It's also not tomato based like traditional gazpacho. Get it with bread on the side. Lovely tea and coffee selection. Small menu but I think they are just trying to do a small number of things and do them REALLY well. read more

Ellē - White gazpacho, add bread on the side. Really unique and lovely cool summer "soup" - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really appreciate the new daytime hours, as this place has a great chill but just upscale enough vibe to keep me focused. And the consistently excellent food always has such attention to detail - it makes for a great reward for a hard days work or study. The music selection and volume are conducive to talking, studying, and relaxing, and it "pairs" well with the staff who are always smart, relaxed, and down to earth yet attentive and seem to be proud of their work. read more

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I see it's popular with neighborhood folks and it seems like a good neighborhood spot. Not sure I will venture out to eat here again because there are better options for the offering. The wait was a bit unreasonable just for a breakfast sandwich (25-30min) and the price for a breakfast sandwich is a bit outrageous ($20 before tax) with no side. There was somewhat of a long line to order but it moved fast. I saw they used Tandem beans, which is one of the best coffee/bakeries in America. However, the latte was overly sweet and tasted little of espresso, and I get 4 shots. The bacon and egg on the sandwich were good but the cheese was mild with little flavor and the biscuit was average--not worth the price. They had several pastry options--the donut and chocolate chip cookie were really good. If I lived nearby I might try again, but not going out of my way. read more

If there is anything you have to know, it's the cheesecake is amazing and you have to get it! We went for dinner here after being recommended by a friend. It's a cute little place and great for a date night dinner. Our server was helpful with recommendations for the evening and we really enjoyed our meal. Some items we loved more than others but overall, we were very happy! With their rotating menu, we will be sure to be back! read more

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If I'm being completely honest, I stumbled upon the cafe looking for a place that I can get a treat and use the restroom. The exterior is very quaint, but the interior is beautiful - I was stunned! Ellē has a full bar, menu, and bakery. All I got was an iced coffee, but I was so tempted to try more! Ellē seems like a great place to catch up with friends, study, or bring a book. It has it all, and you can easily spend a few hours indoors or outdoors. My only downside, which depending on the day, really isn't one: i got an iced coffee that was much stronger than I expected, so I was buzzing for most of the day! But that just means a good brew. Can't wait to go back! read more

why is someone on here lying and saying there is no internet? There is! I'm literally writing this on their internet while others on laptops are clicking away typing as well. Great catching up with a friend here. decent grilled cheese. Good green tea. Cute place. read more

Ellē - grilled cheese - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

one of my new dinnertime favorites honestly incredible burrata that came with little pieces of rhubarb. and i dont even like cheese sourdough was toasted to perfection and the anchovies provided a kick of umami duck confit was an interesting twist -- ive never actually had confit before and fava beans was interesting texture but tbh the flavor profile was ~slightly~ monotonous but otherwise good summer squash was also such a banger. the eggplant at the bottom was my fave part read more

Ellē - sourdough - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cute coffee shop but in my few visits here the service always leaves more to be desired. Picking up a few lattes always turns into an extended wait (~20 minutes) while the staff chats it up without regard for waiting customers. Each time I've been it hasn't been too busy inside so I'm not sure why things take so long. Drinks are also overpriced. read more

Delicious coffee place that has plenty of seating. They also serve food. I only got coffee while I was here but they had Lost Sock beans, which is a favorite local roastery of mine. They made a great Americano with it. The barista was also very helpful in helping me with my order. I will definitely be back for more! read more

Ellē - Coffee Menu - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is one of my favorite spots in DC. This is a wonderful place to spend time to read or have a business lunch. A major draw, however, is there is no internet. Or options to be connected on phone via AT&T. It's a dead zone. With that said, it's a lovely vibe even with its limited hours. read more

Really cute bakery in the middle of Mt. Pleasant DC. It was super crowded when I visited today but not too bad of a wait on lattes and the baked goods. Their blueberry ginger scone was a 7/10. While the flavor was great it was over baked. The matcha about a 6/10 despite me adding vanilla syrup and simple syrup it lacked flavor and the matcha powder sat at the bottom. I'd come back for the pastries but maybe not the matcha. read more

Ellē - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Always appreciate a brunch spot that takes reservations. We went on a very busy Sunday. It was pretty tight and crowded inside, especially around the door. We waited about 5-7 minutes after our reservation and then were seated. Service was solid. A bit slow, but that's expected when it's so busy. Food was hit or miss, to be honest. I had a rueben sandwich and it was good, but my partner's bagel with lox tasted off. And the goat cheese cheesecake was an abomination (no offense). The meal ended on a strange note- we were a party of 3, but my friend had to leave after the first part of the meal. My partner and I stayed (to order the aforementioned cheesecake). Then a hostess came by and asked us if we could move to a two-person table, to free up the four top. We had no problem with moving, but as we were doing so, they realized we were still waiting for our order (and hadn't paid) and got very apologetic and flustered. So I guess they thought we were loitering around and were trying to get us to leave? Then they realized we weren't loitering and tried to back track. IDK! Strange! Overall, I don't think it was quite worth the money, especially in an area with a lot of great brunch options. But I'm also not mad that we tried it. read more

Options for sitting or getting in line to order at the bar. We chose to go here for restaurant week but thankfully went the a la carte menu option instead. The yogurt/peach bowl was incredible. The quiche took the lead for 1st place quiche in my entire life. (Neither were on the restaurant week menu!) The Ruben was good but nothing special and actually came with a large piece of plastic inside it. The server took half price off the Ruben. Restrooms are gender neutral but down stairs and not easily accessible if that is a priority for you. Service was kind but slow. Come when you have some time to spare! Ambiance is great and decor is even better. read more

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I'm not sure how we ended up paying $66 for a coffee, dessert, and two small entrees but here we are... Coffee was decent. Cheesecake was overpriced and too sweet. The Reuben was very savory and I'm glad we shared one sandwich and one quiche because it would have been hard to stomach an entire sandwich. It was so flavorful and more than likely pan fried in butter! The goat cheese in the quiche was very well creamed and integrated. The side salad was very salty. If you ate here every day you would surely die of a happy heart attack. read more

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I recently visited this cafe for dinner with a few friends and had a great time! The space is charmingly decorated, though based on the layout and ambiance, I'd say it's better suited for breakfast or lunch. The menu leans toward vegetarian-friendly options, though there are dishes with fish and meat. If you follow a vegetarian diet, I highly recommend checking this place out. FYI - Parking in this neighborhood can be a bit tricky. Street parking is available, but you may need to circle the block a few times to find a spot. Dinner // XO Caesar Salad - This was a standout! The dressing was flavorful, and the sesame breadcrumbs added a delightful crunch and unique depth of flavor. You can also add anchovies for an extra charge. Brussels Sprouts - Decent, but nothing extraordinary. They were cooked well and had a good sauce on them but I'd probably skip them next time. Rockfish Papillote - I had mixed feelings about this dish. When it arrived, the strong fishy aroma was a bit off-putting, and the rockfish itself had a somewhat unappetizing, slimy appearance. However, the accompanying elements are what truly made it. The flavors of the sides were outstanding, and I'd love to see them paired with a different preparation of fish. The okra was slightly over-charred, making it tough to eat, but overall, the flavors worked well together. Steak - Cooked to perfection! The creamed corn was delicious, and this classic dish was executed really well. Dessert // Mole Bread Pudding - Unfortunately, this was a miss. It was dry, with a burnt chocolate taste, and the muffin-like presentation didn't quite work. Also, since "mole" can have different meanings, it would have been helpful if the menu clarified that this was a chocolate-based dish. We only took a bite and wouldn't order it again. Honey Goat Cheesecake - Absolutely phenomenal! The fried rosemary added a unique and complementary flavor, and the roasted concord grapes were a fantastic touch. The cheesecake itself was rich and perfectly balanced. If you're getting dessert, this is the one to order! This cafe is super charming, and the service was excellent. I'd love to return and try their breakfast menu next time I'm in the area! read more

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This place was absolutely popping off when we went for Saturday brunch! We luckily managed to snag the last two seats at the bar. We ordered the blueberry scone, guava turnover, and the egg sandwich with kimchi. The scone was the perfect balance between flaky and rich, and the guava turnover was so flaky and delicious -- definitely has a strong guava filling. Loooved the egg sandwich with the kimchi: the potato bun is made in house and so fluffy. We also got the gourd latte which was delicious, though it took a while for it to come out because of how busy the place was. Decor was absolutely beautiful and would definitely come back!! read more

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I'm only writing for my experience of the Cafe section. This place confuses me because upon entering it's a full service Café but they stop or do not serve certain drinks in the evening. When I originally wanted to order a latte, the person who was making drinks mentioned they couldn't. It was a bummer but I ended up getting an Americano. Inside, there's dimly lit tables for people that are dining in and a few small tables closer to the café portion as well. We were allowed to sit down but if the place for busy, I'd be asked to leave. That also confused me as we are patrons that just paid for coffee. Why isn't there a section just for people who want to drink coffee after sitting down in the evening? It seems disorganized from my perspective. None less, I'm afraid I'd probably will have to pass on checking out this place as it left a bad impression. I was there briefly to drink my coffee and leave. read more

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Ellē is a fantastic place for special occasions where you want somewhere classy and quiet for dinner. They have very nice, attentive, and fast service, and very fresh flavors. My favorites were the gazpacho and the smashed potatoes. The blueberry balsamic goat cheesecake was simply to die for. I have never had a more perfect cheesecake in my life. To top off with a nice surprise, they gave me a birthday cupcake (dulce de leche filling with coffee icing and chocolate cake) to take home. The lady at the pastry counter also gave us a free baguette and guava turnover. They are big on no food waste from pastries made earlier in the day. All of them were delicious. The baguette remained springy for several days, which I have rarely seen when other loaves tend to turn immediately to bricks. I recall the guava turnover was incredible when I first tried it a few years ago, so I am happy to report it is still delicious as ever. read more

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Elle is a great cafe that offers more than just coffee and bakery items. Although I just got coffee there is a whole restaurant that has a full lunch and dinner menu. This is a very popular spot among locals and it is common to see the line for this place to go out the door. The coffee was delicious and parties look delicious as well. A great spot to grab coffee and a quick bite for breakfast. read more

Took a long walk and ended up near Elle. Was super excited because I've heard a lot of good things about this place! The space is cute and there's a decent number of seats. The line on a Saturday was long so it's not the type of place to grab something quick on a weekend. But I'm always fine to scroll through Tik Tok while waiting so this was fine for me! Tried their iced latte and a pastry. Both were great! I had asked to heat the pastry up and they did which made it so delicious! The latte was also very good as well. They have a menu of breakfast foods that n would love to go back and try too! read more

Ellē - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I met a friend for a quick breakfast/coffee before starting our work days and I very much enjoyed the experience! The people behind the counter were welcoming and the yogurt and guava turnover were delicious. I also appreciated how reliable their internet was -- I was able to hop on a quick work meeting with no issues. Definitely would return! read more

The coffee is good and bakery/brunch items are fresh and delicious!! Friendly atmosphere.

Came here a week ago as a party of 3 and our first time at this establishment. Would come again. Once we walk in, we were greeted right next to the closed-for-the-day coffee bar.. which makes me want to come and try out their bakery/coffee during the day time. We wanted to try most everything on the menu and so we went with sharing. For 3 people, we had 9 dishes and it was the right amount for us. For large eaters, because the sizes are tasting size, you might want to order more. We really didn't have any criticisms of the food. If we were to be picky, the Panna cotta was a bit unstructured, making it a bit difficult to share... so it might be a consideration. One thing to know is if you're sharing, they'll still serve according to the courses in order they're grouped on the menu. Dessert was the best course :) paired with an espresso was divine. Be prepared for some dim lighting - perfect for if you want some mood. I was bit tired, so the lighting did make it hard for me to stay alert. read more

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I was staying nearby recently and Elle became my go-to coffee spot. Their lattes are delish. One of the days I visited and enjoyed breakfast. I got a beet-cured salmon bagel and an oat milk latte. The bagel was absolutely delish as was the smoked salmon. The coffee shop has seating so you can enjoy a meal there. It's also super easy to grab and go. What I thought was cool was that they also have a full bar, which takes loving coffee shops to a whole new level. The staff here was super friendly and inviting and I would definitely add this to my coffee rotation if I lived closer to the area. read more

Ordered the breakfast sandwich with brisket, more like beef jerky! So tough! My order was over $25 and they served it in foil like a taco truck....no longer on plates unless you opt for full service. The vanilla latte was watery with no flavor. They had maybe 4 different pastries available, seemed very sparse and unappealing. This used to be one of my favorite breakfast spots to visit in DC. read more

Ellē - Brisket was so tough, like jerky, gross - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A service and hospitality flop. We live in the neighborhood and until now have been regulars. We had a bad experience on Friday that the restaurant did nothing to address and didn't seem particularly concerned about. We stopped in for a quick drink around 6:15 and they were able to seat us on the then nearly empty street patio. We ordered drinks and decided to turn it into a light dinner placing a food order. After waiting for 40 minutes for both our appetizer and main to arrive, while watching other tables fill up and have their food delivered, we inquired of our server. He told us that 'our food was ready in kitchen' and that it would be right out. 15 minutes later we went inside to try to switch our order to go because so much time had passed for our "quick bite". We were then told that neither the app or the main course had been even started by the kitchen. Server shrugged when asked about why food wasn't started, blamed the kitchen for being backed up and said that we should have known there would be a delay given what a busy evening it was. We understand that mistakes happen in restaurants, but for a place that prides itself on being a premium location for hospitality and quality, there should some effort to make this flop right and not simply blame us. No one offered to make it right in some way, bring out an appetizer to fill in the timing gap or simply apologize for the error. I'm hopeful that this doesn't signal the end of great place losing sight of core hospitality and customer service. read more

The Mount Pleasant area is new to me. I was thrilled when a friend recommended Elle for a breakfast meeting. The restaurant is about 3 blocks from the Columbia Heights metro. There's a bus stop right in front of Elle. I parked in the neighborhood where 2 hours parking is allowed. At about 9 am when I entered the restaurant had a line about 10 people strong but moved quickly. I got the coffee and an almond orange pastry . Coffee was strong and wonderful. They have reasonably good seating. The restaurant has a lunch menu but looking at the bar and the dinner menu, looks like Cinderella the local neighborhood breakfast and lunch in place turns into an upscale dinner restaurant. I want to come back here for lunch and maybe save enough for dinner one day. As I finished my conversation and my coffee the line at the counter didn't diminish. Pretty popular, I guess. Good for families too as I saw many kids with parents too. read more

Ellē - Busy this morning - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Super cute spot for a coffee or tea! The teas and coffee's are fresh and tasty. They have indoor and outdoor patio seating. read more

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Stopped in on a Sunday for lunch - it was busy but we were able to get a seat right away. Our waiter was so nice and offered great recommendations. The food was sooo good!! And the space is beautiful. Would definitely come back to try coffee and dinner. read more

Ellē - Tempeh burger - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I drove into the city to meet with a colleague over breakfast -- what a treat! I walked in and immediately got the good smells of the bakery... but I could smell savory stuff too! The place is spacious and has a ton of private tables for doing some work, so that was nice to see! There were some delicious cookies -- snickerdoodles included XD -- on display right where we order at, and my gosh I wish I got to try one! Next time. What I did end up eating was a tasty breakfast sandwich that had kimchi in it. -- I loved the bun and the contents -- the kimchi made it nice, flavorful and spicy!! I also got a tea --- I think it was the turmeric ginger, that was very pleasant. They have plenty of tea options! I've been hearing about this place for years, and I'm eager to return and try some of their baked treats. Looking forward to making that happen some time soon! read more

Ellē - That snickerdoodle's gotta be good! - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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