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    Paramount Cafe

    4.8 (355 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

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    PARAMOUNT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Paramount Cafe

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    Beef sandwich

    We looked at pictures of the menu on Yelp and thought the options looked good. Turns out that is an old menu from previous owners. The menu is limited. Either a beef or pork sandwich and about a dozen Asian dishes. We opted for the sandwiches in both beef and pork. We were pleasantly surprised. They were good sized sandwiches and had great flavor. Service was great. Price was likely okay for this area.

    Tank G.

    This is a cute little café that doubles as a small convenience store. The café serves coffees, and sandwiches. They used to serve breakfast but has discontinued that for now. There is a small private parking lot in front of the café, but most of them are reserved for businesses in the strip mall that the café is co-located. They have coolers full of drinks, chips and random items such as bleach, paper towels, toilet paper, laundry shop, and paper cups. The place also looks like it is a pick-up spot for dry cleaning. Talk about your one-stop shopping. They have bar seating along the wall, in the front of the store and a few tables and chairs on the opposite side. The seating is very limited. There is music playing throughout the café. They had some Stevie Wonder playing while I was there. They have a wide selection of sandwiches. I was in an exotic mood, so I decided to go with the Thanksgiving Morning Sandwich. It is a one-person operation, so it took a little time for me to get my food. I would say about 15 minutes. The woman working there was extremely friendly though. I got a drink from the cooler and a bag of chips to go with my sandwich. The sandwich looked small at first glance, but was filling, fresh and delicious. It was packed with flavor. I really liked it. This little hole-in-the-wall café that you will find in a little duck-off, has some awesome food and top-notch service. I really enjoyed my meal here. I highly recommend checking this place out.

    Chinese style box lunch (盒饭)with pork and cauliflower, egg and tomato stir fry, pork ribs, bok choy and egg soup and white rice
    David S.

    I've tried the Chinese pork burger 肉夹馍 and the box lunch 盒饭 and they are both excellent! I especially loved the box lunch, you get to sample a lot of different authentic Chinese food for only $12.99! I'm definitely goin back for more. The service is wonderful, the owners are very friendly! And the ambiance is very relaxing:) try them out!

    the menu for the restaurant
    Esther S.

    Incredible cute little cafe! Smell of delicious food hit as soon as I walked in. They have a variety of different snacks and a beverage fridge. I got the #6 and it was delicious, wish I got 2 sandwiches. Will definitely be back.

    Roasted turkey BLT
    Mike B.

    I have no doubt in my mind why Paramount Cafe has 245 reviews and 5 solid stars. Well, there's several reasons. 1. The owner is one of the most welcoming, caring, and sweet individuals you'll ever meet. 2. The food is fresh and made with love. 3. It's pretty darn convenient. Especially if you live in the Paramount Apartments that sit atop the Paramount cafe. Or even if you're passing by in Pentagon City. They have a few dedicated parking spaces out front for the store, and it was a quick easy delicious meal. From the very moment I walked through the door, the owner of the cafe was treating me like family. "Hey there, how are you doing? What can I do for you? Are you here to have a sandwich?" I have to assume that her sandwiches are what's really bringing in people from far and wide. Sure there's a drink fridge with a variety of different bottles and canned beverages. Sure there's a mish mosh of common household goods like aluminum foil, plastic wrap, canned goods etc. I'd be willing to bet that her biggest revenue stream is from these loaded hearty sandwiches. They're just about 12-15 on the menu. She also does gyro sandwiches too. And right behind the counter there is a little conveyor belt oven that she uses to whip up a pretty darn tasty sandwich. She's an honest business owner (completely fine with me), the competition from the Whole Foods that opened a year ago down the street has definitely taken a big bite out of her business. But if you trust me at all, and I know there's a few of you out there that do, the sandwich that I got at Paramount Cafe stands on a different level than the super giant down the street. It's truly made with love. Is the bacon cooked perfectly? No. Is the bread artisan? No. Is the turkey handcarved fresh right there? No. I can't exactly tell you why, but like I said, trust me; it does. I ended up getting the Roasted Turkey BLT. She first roasts the turkey meat and puts it on a very sizable piece of marble rye. Second she makes sure I want the default horseradish sauce as the base. I opt for mayo, but get horseradish on the side. She then hand cuts avocado, piles on lettuce tomato and bacon, and throws it in a panini press. The result is a SOLID sandwich that I'd be happy to serve in my home. She tells me I can pay later and not to worry, just enjoy my sandwich and relax. She then comes to check-in JUST at the perfect time to make sure that everything is too my liking. "Do I need any more horseradish sauce?" I tried it, its delicious, but "No, I'm good for now." It just goes to show that Customer Service can be everything. From start to finish I felt cared for, cared about, and taken care of. Just an absolutely pleasant experience. Food gets a 4 stars. Customer Service gets 10 stars. Overall: 5 stars.

    Denny K.

    Nearly hidden on the ground floor and Bank of America side of the Paramount Apartment building is a true gem of a mom and pop convenience store. (More of the latter than a Cafe - but it serves dutifully as both.) As you walk in through a narrow seating area near the front door, your senses likely will be stimulated by the appealing aroma of fresh Expresso being brewed or the wafting, toasty notes of a grilled panini sandwich. Operated by a family - not a corporation - this small den of delights, aka snacks, notions, drinks, and sundries, is a repository for all the little things you might have forgotten at the big grocery store (or on your vacation trip). From popcorn and chips to ice cream and candy bars, seltzer to soap, and single serve headache remedies to Ben and Jerry's ice cream, this small store seems to stock a little bit of everything. Freshly made delicious sandwiches, beer, wine, and soft drinks fill the bill for folks in the apartment complex above the store and those in the hotel right around the corner. The list of what they stock is figuratively endless. Love the service, friendliness, and congeniality of Mia and Dave.

    Club Focaccia
    Dj S.

    The BEST sandwiches in the area, and the owner is the sweetest lady. This was voted as the best sandwich shop in Virginia in recent years. Help support small businesses like this stay open!

    Tuna Love

    Really delicious sandwich. Staff was super friendly. Only cons are the lack of air conditioning and the store hours. I wish it was open more often!

    Mozarella + veggie sandwich
    Brady R.

    Two words that set this place apart from most other places you'll find in the area: customer service. I stopped in and was a bit taken aback as it was nothing like I expected. It's located under an apartment building is like a little shop that happens to also be a cafe where you can buy coffees, teas, and small eats, like sandwiches, etc. They have alcohol, bottled beverages, random snacks, and lots of other random finds. I opted for lunch and got the veggie mozarella sandwich, per Kim's suggestion. I also got an iced tea. Kim was phenomenal from start to finish. She helped me decide which vegetarian option was the best. Within a few minutes, instead of handing me the sandwich at the counter, she walked the dish to my table and insisted on doing so. After I was finished, she then made sure that everything was nothing but delicious. I requested that she pour my leftover tea into my reusable water bottle I had to not waste it, and she had no issues with this. Customer service wins the five stars at this location. Food is about 4 stars. Interior could use some love, but the service is the star of this place.

    Turkey blt
    Jen E.

    Was really excited to check this place out since it had five stars for a quick lunch while at a conference at the Crystal City Marriott. It was definitely a neat shop, with lots of fun drinks and necessities. The woman behind the counter seemed nice. We ordered sandwiches. It was fine, but definitely nothing to write home about.

    In the strip center near a Bank of America.
    Crystal R.

    Only in town for a few hours and needed a quick lunch. So glad I found Paramount Cafe. The food is good but I enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and the friendly owner. I enjoy supporting establishments like this one!

    A turkey avocado BLT sandwich and 2 generous sized coffees.

    Small but cute restaurant with a homey atmosphere with friendly staff. The roasted turkey and avocado BLT was well presented, tasty and a generous portion. The staff was friendly as well as efficient in getting our food out in good time. Locals drop by for coffee, a treat or a meal.

    BLT with avocado and chicken.

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    4 years ago

    A hidden gem/ diamond in the rough. Great sandwiches topped with great service. Definitely worth it and will be back for more.

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    4 years ago

    A hidden gem! DELICIOUS, affordable, and great staff. I got the turkey and bacon panini

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    Premium omakase (tempura)

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    Paramount Cafe - cafes - Updated August 2026

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