Location: 2406 Columbia Pike, Arlington
I was hoping for so much more at Rappahannock Coffee. The drink menus really looked great, and they even offered machiato, which tends to be a good sign. Espresso-based drinks are served in paper cups (they do have ceramic mugs for drip coffee -- the cylindrical kind), and are really weak. Two big dings. In a blind tasting I'm not sure I would have know there was espresso in my medium cappuccino. And I can't review what I can't taste.
Medium cappucino: $3.25
Hubby ordered the double machiato and was equally disappointed. In fact, he just texted from Minnesota to tell me that was drinking McCafe while on the road (recommended only in desperate situations), and that McCafe was better than Rappahannock. So there you have it.
The venue is OK. It's a nearly-stand alone shop decorated in art-deco. The layout is sort of early 1990's coffee shop.
3 or 4 other patrons were also in the shop, mid-afternoon. Free wi-fi.
Vib Level: OK, some interesting conversations to eavesdrop on.
Parking: Easy -- parking spaces available behind the building.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Pastry Xpo
Location: Strawberry Lane, Falls Church (Merrifield Town Center, just off Gallows Road)
Pleasant surpises await at Pastry Xpo, a new confectionary in the Merrifield Town Center. A smart layout makes each patron walk past countless, sugary goodies on the way to the coffee bar in the back. We resisted goodies on our first visit so I could focus more on the espresso.
I was pleasantly surprised with my cappuccino. First, they offer ceramic cups. Second, the coffee and machine is Illy. The coffee was a fine quality: nutty with cocoa-like qualities, though not mind-blowing. (Certainly exceeded the average paper-cup-only establishment coffee.) The milk foam was dense and creamy. The "to stay" cappuccino is $2.85 and about 8 oz.
Pastry Xpo also offers lunch items, including salads, sandwiches, and Lebanese specialties. Lunch items appeared to be expensive for what you get, in terms of volume (example: small portion of lentils and rice with side salad for $9.99).
The inside of the cafe is modern and inviting, though very quiet. Feels more like a casual restaurant than coffee or desert bar.
Vib Level: Essentially none
Parking: Easy -- free covered parking, or park in lot in front of the cafe
Pleasant surpises await at Pastry Xpo, a new confectionary in the Merrifield Town Center. A smart layout makes each patron walk past countless, sugary goodies on the way to the coffee bar in the back. We resisted goodies on our first visit so I could focus more on the espresso.
I was pleasantly surprised with my cappuccino. First, they offer ceramic cups. Second, the coffee and machine is Illy. The coffee was a fine quality: nutty with cocoa-like qualities, though not mind-blowing. (Certainly exceeded the average paper-cup-only establishment coffee.) The milk foam was dense and creamy. The "to stay" cappuccino is $2.85 and about 8 oz.
Pastry Xpo also offers lunch items, including salads, sandwiches, and Lebanese specialties. Lunch items appeared to be expensive for what you get, in terms of volume (example: small portion of lentils and rice with side salad for $9.99).
The inside of the cafe is modern and inviting, though very quiet. Feels more like a casual restaurant than coffee or desert bar.
Vib Level: Essentially none
Parking: Easy -- free covered parking, or park in lot in front of the cafe
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Grounded Coffee
Location: 6919 Telegraph Road, Alexandria
Grounded Coffee is a French pastry / American espresso shop based in a small strip mall in Alexandria. Right off I'll say that Grounded has the best coffee I've found in the VA suburbs... so far. And, their pastries take me right back to France and Austria; they're fantastic and reasonably priced at $2.45 per croissant (plain, chocolate, apple, almond).
I've sampled the cappuccino 3 times. Two out of three times it's been very good: strong, complex, nutty, and the milk appropriately foamy. The third time it was burnt and watery. Hint: make sure one of the girls pulls your coffee. They have ceramic mugs, but you must request one upfront. The teenies always reach for paper out of (bad) habit. And, be prepared to explain what cup is deemed for your drink. Always much confusion here, which the owner has had to explain to her help each time.
While the lighting is florescent and all that, their is ample space with plenty of indoor and outdoor tables (outdoor is fully shaded, though along the sidewalk that overlooks the parking lot) and 3 leather sofas. Wi-fi is available and free. Decor is fairly minimalist, clean, and timeless.
They have a very nice play area for toddlers, and... gasp... a real changing table in the women's bathroom. (I have to note that since my 5 month old is alway en tow with me.)
Sandwiches, soup, salads, muffins, smoothies also available.
I like Grounded. Our friends plan to make it a regular stop on Sunday mornings. They liked the pastries and coffee as well (drip coffee in this case), and their toddler son loved the toy trains in the play area.
Grounded Coffee is a French pastry / American espresso shop based in a small strip mall in Alexandria. Right off I'll say that Grounded has the best coffee I've found in the VA suburbs... so far. And, their pastries take me right back to France and Austria; they're fantastic and reasonably priced at $2.45 per croissant (plain, chocolate, apple, almond).
I've sampled the cappuccino 3 times. Two out of three times it's been very good: strong, complex, nutty, and the milk appropriately foamy. The third time it was burnt and watery. Hint: make sure one of the girls pulls your coffee. They have ceramic mugs, but you must request one upfront. The teenies always reach for paper out of (bad) habit. And, be prepared to explain what cup is deemed for your drink. Always much confusion here, which the owner has had to explain to her help each time.
While the lighting is florescent and all that, their is ample space with plenty of indoor and outdoor tables (outdoor is fully shaded, though along the sidewalk that overlooks the parking lot) and 3 leather sofas. Wi-fi is available and free. Decor is fairly minimalist, clean, and timeless.
They have a very nice play area for toddlers, and... gasp... a real changing table in the women's bathroom. (I have to note that since my 5 month old is alway en tow with me.)
Sandwiches, soup, salads, muffins, smoothies also available.
I like Grounded. Our friends plan to make it a regular stop on Sunday mornings. They liked the pastries and coffee as well (drip coffee in this case), and their toddler son loved the toy trains in the play area.
Undergroundz at the Soundry
Location: 316 Dominion Road, Vienna
Undergroundz is a small coffeeshop inside the Soundry artist studio that took over an autobody shop in late 2007. While the concept of an espresso supply for the artists-at-work is nifty, I would not consider Undergroundz a destination coffee shop.
The coffee shop is very small, appropriately so, and is located just under the garage door. Four 2-person tables and free wi-fi are available. The quality of the espresso drinks rank somewhere between Starbucks and Caribou, and is poured into paper cups (no ceramic available) by unknowledgeable, but friendly teenagers. Think: mild, flat, milky coffee. I ordered my usual medium cappuccino ($3 for 16 oz.).
The sound system is bad (small boombox). The art goings-on is interesting. It's worth the time to wander the studio and perhaps see an artist creating his next work.
We were the only patrons on a Friday afternoon.
Vibe level: low
Parking: 2-3 spots in front.
Undergroundz is a small coffeeshop inside the Soundry artist studio that took over an autobody shop in late 2007. While the concept of an espresso supply for the artists-at-work is nifty, I would not consider Undergroundz a destination coffee shop.
The coffee shop is very small, appropriately so, and is located just under the garage door. Four 2-person tables and free wi-fi are available. The quality of the espresso drinks rank somewhere between Starbucks and Caribou, and is poured into paper cups (no ceramic available) by unknowledgeable, but friendly teenagers. Think: mild, flat, milky coffee. I ordered my usual medium cappuccino ($3 for 16 oz.).
The sound system is bad (small boombox). The art goings-on is interesting. It's worth the time to wander the studio and perhaps see an artist creating his next work.
We were the only patrons on a Friday afternoon.
Vibe level: low
Parking: 2-3 spots in front.
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