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Cafe Deluxe
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants American (Traditional) Breakfast & Brunch, American (Traditional) [Edit]
3228 Wisconsin Ave NW(between N Lowell St & N Macomb St)
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 686-2233
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 10 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
115 reviews for Cafe Deluxe
Review Highlights
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"I always get the ahi tuna tacos (yummy) and comes with a..." In 2 reviews -
"...on the menu is the herb-roasted chicken, which comes with..." In 3 reviews -
"It is conveniently located 1 block north of the cathedral." In 10 reviews
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115 reviews in English
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Review from Matthew M.
Dallas, TX
12/11/2011
Went there late Sunday night. It was not very busy. We were seated next to two other tables full of people. Was not pleased, and when we heard those two other tables complain about service we were not going to be pleased.
My friend ordered a side car and thought it was delicious. I ordered a beer, not bad. We finished our waters and requested more. It was not delivered until we received our entrees about 20 minutes later. Service was not good in our section.
Now the food, and why I gave this restaurant 4 stars.
We ordered the gruyere mac and cheese with prosciutto. Though I thought the noodles were a little over cooked, it was very savory and they put plenty of the prosciutto on it.
My friend orderd the chicken pot pie, it was savery and salty and huge. I ordered the lamb shank with mashed potatoes and asparagus. The lamb shank was large, well worth the price. It was cooked well and had good flavor. The savory sauce was ok, not great. The potatoes were good. I didn't like the asparagus...they were the size of a baseball bat, blackened and flavorless. Very poor indeed.
All in all, I liked the food, was pleased with the quality and cleanliness. The service was poor and we weren't the only ones complaining that night.
I would suggest this place to anyone to try. A little pricey, but well worth it. -
Review from Bill B.
Washington, DC
1/19/2012
OK - NOTE TO ALL FELLOW CUSTOMERS AND PATRONS, AS PROMISED HERE IS THE FIRST OF MANY POSTS TO COME ON THIS TOPIC - I HOPE!
First - I love Cafe Deluxe and have NO complaints about the food, nor the service (ESPECIALLY the guys and gals at the bar, where I always sit 'cause I'm a loser widower who is too lazy to cook anymore).
My beef?? The goddamn (forgive me Lord) HEAT. Four times in the last month, my food has gotten COLD before I could finish eating it. And that is pretty goddamn (forgive me again Lord) hard to do with a steaming hot chicken pot pie!!
My additional problem is the ATTITUDE by the three respective managers on duty during the four times I got frozen out of the place.
LATEST EXAMPLE (Sunday night): AGAIN, the 20 or so ceiling fans in Cafe Deluxe - in the middle of the winter - are spinning at full twist likes it's August in Savannah. The airconditioning blowers are blowing COLD air to boot! The results?
- Cold Food
- Customers Sitting at the bar (this is NO JOKE!) with their winter HATS, COATS AND Gloves on, sipping cocktails; COLD red wine; and eating COLD FOOD. (Did I say "COLD FOOD" yet??)
- Bartenders with snivelly colds, SERVING your drinks and food, spreading their germs.
- YOU catch their cold.
- CUSTOMERS walking out after canceling their food order because it's so damn cold. The bartender getting pissed 'cause he/she just lost ANOTHER good tip.
- You listen to the waiters and bartenders COMPLAINING to the manager that THEIR customers are freezing and the MANAGER replying to those staff to tell their customers, "We don't control the airconditioning system, it's controlled by our landlord!" Then that same manager telling ME that hot air rises; so the ceiling fans are on to recirculate that hot air downward! (Note to moron manager: There has to BE hot air for that principal to work, idiot! You're blowing and recirculating COLD AIR so you better go back to HVAC school; OR get an excuse that doesn't sound like made-up b.s. that you disrespect your customers by spewing on them when they have a ligitimate complaint!)
So, when someone else posts that the heating system has now been fixed "by the landlord" (wink, wink, nod, nod), I'll be happy to go back to my humble little corner of the bar at Cafe Deluxe and get another chicken pot pie and mind my own business!
Until then, it's not worth the effort to park and walk in this freezing cold of our DC winter, only to go into Cafe Deluxe and get EVEN COLDER!
P.S. Ditto what John L. says about BAR SERVICE on 1/19/12. I'm going back this weekend, handwarmers (and maybe even one of the NFL sideline warmers that keep the players & coaches warm) JUST IN CASE! -
Review from Alex G.
4/22/2012
I've been here three times now, and have yet to be disappointed. I've tried the meatloaf, as well as the chicken, both of which come with delicious mashed potatoes. Last night I tried the Greek Salad with grilled chicken, which was equally tasty with the mix of feta, lettuce, olive oil, olives, peppers, etc. It's really nice decor, moderately priced, good American bistro foods. My salad was a little bit on the small side for $13, but all in all the service is excellent and the food is tasty!!
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Review from Jesse S.
Washington, DC
5/3/2012
Neighborhood staple. Food is decent, but service recently leaves a lot to be desired.
To be fair, I've had the same awful server 3 of my last 4 or 5 times there (out of probably 20 or so total visits). 2 of those times I actually asked for the check BEFORE I even took a bite of my entree just to guarantee I could GTFO of there when we were finished.
All in all, a textbook 3 star experience, it's slightly overpriced for what it is too. -
Review from Erin H.
Washington, DC
4/26/2012
The food is good, but it is a little expensive. Nice atmosphere!
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Review from Benion H.
Wilkesboro, NC
4/7/2012
Nice lunch with good service and great food.
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Review from Cathy J.
Alexandria, VA
3/11/2012
This is our "go to" restaurant when we attend events at the National Cathedral. The food is consistently good. The menu is a tad limited but good nevertheless. The service has been consistently good as well; not too attentive but just right. This is a perfect location for before or after event eating. We'll be back again and again.
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Review from Joanne M.
Washington, DC
10/8/2011
Cafe Deluxe is one of my favorite brunch places in DC, but it also has a really great lunch and dinner menu. It's my go-to place whenever I'm not sure where to eat, because I'm sure I'll find something I like on the menu. Kind of how in high school you and your friends always ended up at Chili's because you couldn't decide on what kind of food you actually wanted. But this is better than Chili's.
My favorite things to order here:
- Crispy onion strings!!! I know I said this is a good brunch spot and it is, but I have to put the crispy onion strings first because I order them no matter what meal I'm here for. Including brunch. I don't care if the rest of the table judges me for it!
- Can't go wrong with their basic breakfast combo with eggs, bacon, and potatoes.
- If I'm not as hungry, I'll order the oatmeal with fresh fruit. It's a perfect size and as yummy as oatmeal gets.
- The tomato soup!! I love this tomato soup so much.
- Salmon benedict (I think this might be a brunch special) was delicious.
- Gruyere mac & cheese - so good!
The service is so-so, but that might be because I'm usually there when it's pretty busy.
Overall, a solid place to go for whatever meal. I brought five of my friends here when they were visiting DC, and everyone found something they liked and left happy. -
Review from Anna S.
10/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
When I went to high school down the street, my friends and I came to this block for dinner practically every Friday. First we'd try Two Amys, then if the wait there was too long we'd try Cactus, and if the wait at Cactus was too long too, we'd head over to Cafe Deluxe.
Good old Cafe Deluxe. It's still my go-to place when it's cold outside and I just think, hey, you know what I want to do? Look at some vintage French posters while eating warm, bland meatloaf. -
Review from Marissa C.
Allston, MA
8/27/2011
If you're not here when it's completely busy, the service is great. If you're here for brunch, you'll be waiting outside for awhile and won't be receiving much attention from your server. There aren't many options in that area of town to grab dependable brunch food, and it's brunch menu has a little something for everyone, so there's a reason that the wait time exists.
For dinner, the hangar steak and roasted lamb shank are solid choices. Oh, and the mimosas are wonderful. -
Review from Angel W.
4/30/2011
Cafe Deluxe is a relaxing place to grab a bite. The menu is a little light on the vegetarian entrees but they do offer an option to create a platter of sides for a reasonable price. I had the grilled asparagus, roasted tomatoes, a small side salad and potatoes au grautin. All of these offerings were well prepared. My friend had a pizza which I found to be a bit too chewy.
Our server approached us within 30 seconds of our being seated. We also promptly received our food and the check.
I visited the Cafe Deluxe in Mclean years ago and remember having a positve dining experience then as well. The food tends to be of good quality and the service is quick.
I also heard the dining guests around us complimenting the repeated positive experiences they have had at Cafe Deluxe, which is always a good sign.
Cafe Deluxe has a pleasant outdoor seating area with umbrellas for shade. -
Review from Michelle S.
Fort Washington, MD
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
When I worked up the street, I did frequent this place. It has great food. Glad they expanded because it use to be small. There is usually always a wait to be seated. The noise level is a little high. But overall, I like this place.
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Review from Martin B.
College Park, MD
7/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars
The service is usually pretty nice but not the fastest. I had a less than stellar experience here once, but most recently I got the turkey burger and it was pretty good. It's an alright choice for the basics, and there's something for everybody. A little pricy though. -
Review from Heather J.
Washington, DC
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars. I usually go to the Cafe Deluxe in Bethesda. The restaurant (either location) is my go-to choice when choosing a place to eat for a group with different (read: picky) tastes. The Cafe Deluxe menu has something for everyone, and it's all pretty good! My favorite thing on the menu is the herb-roasted chicken, which comes with mashed potatoes and asparagus. It's delicious, and the portion is HUGE (leftovers - yay!). The prices are reasonable, too.
My experience there today was just as good as ever food-wise, but the wait-staff were on the unprofessional side. Our server was fine, but the other servers working outside on the patio (which, I should add, is a big bonus) were talking about how many tables they were serving and one was whining loudly about how hungry she was. I felt like offering her some of our bread, but figured that would make the situation even more inappropriate.
All in all, good food, good prices, and something for everyone. -
Review from Anita C.
6/26/2011
A cute restaurant with a relaxing atmosphere in the Tenleytown area. It has great service but mediocre food.
Price: ~$10-12 for most lunch menu items, such as sandwiches, salads, etc. A little pricier, but it's DC, right?
Food: My companions highly recommended the ahi tuna tacos, which came with a side salad. I thought it was just okay. The tuna was flavorless, but the bean mix inside the tacos were tasty. The flour tacos were limp and floppy, and it didn't come out warm either. One of my friends ordered a tilapia sandwich, but the toasted bread was so hard, she could barely bite into it. Um...inedible?
Service: We had a very friendly waitress. We were seated outside because of our large party, but when it started to drizzle a bit, they quickly found a large booth for us to sit in.
Overall, this place is just okay. Maybe it was my blah dish - I may be back to try something else next itme. -
Review from Kate R.
Washington, DC
11/6/2011
Good food and a very nice restaurant. The decor feels like a Chicago bar in the fifties (like a painting by Edward Hopper). You must try the Chicken Pot Pie. I ordered it every time after a midterm when I was a graduate student. It's such comfort food. Steak is yummy, too. In fact, everything else is equally good, including soup and dessert (except for pasta and I've tried them all). This is the place to go, if you want an all American dining experience.
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Review from Julia B.
3/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
A solid 3.5 stars.
I've been here twice, now. First time we went for brunch, and I had the french toast which was quite delicious. The biscuits were also really good. The home fries were a bit lacking, though, which made me sad. I really love my home fries! I had to smother these in salt and ketchup, which is never a good sign.
Second time I had the bison burger. This is what gives the place 3 stars for me. I have to say, I think the bison burgers at Ted's Montana Grill are way better. They cooked it perfectly to how I wanted it, but something was lacking.
The sweet potato fries the burger came with, though, were great! As was the appetizer of macaroni and cheese with grueyere. We ordered it with the prosciutto, but it probably would have been better without it.
For dessert, we had the brownie. It comes out looking almost like a molten lava cake, with the ice cream and whipped cream on the side. It was delicious! It was very warm and chocolatey. Definitely a bit more cake-like than I usually like my brownies, but it was still very good.
I also had a frozen margarita with pomegranate, and while it was good, it definitely wasn't worth $9.50. But that price is pretty standard for DC, it seems. -
Review from Candace C.
New York, NY
3/12/2011
I come here quite often with my sister and her babies. If you come earlier (for brunch or dinner), it is a big stroller scene. A lot of families bring their kids here. Also, the outdoor seating is highly coveted during the summer time when dining al fresco is enjoyable.
The food is consistently good and the prices are right. I always get the ahi tuna tacos (yummy) and comes with a nice side salad. I've also had the gruyere mac and cheese, another good choice. Save some room for their berry cobbler. It is so yummy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! -
Review from Penny S.
11/12/2010
Old school. Paper on the tables, subway tiles, a large wood bar, solo diners, cafe aprons on the servers - Cafe Deluxe is exactly what I want in a restaurant sometimes. It screams "EAT ME"...er, you know what I mean.
Bustling lunchtime and some weary travelers needed some grub. Score! White wine and a Yuengling ordered for yours truly, we settled in with some warm bread and cold butter.
Clam chowder, a nicoise salad, a house salad and a chicken caeser salad later, we were sated and happy. Everything was fresh and delicious with minimal, friendly service. Our gracious host mentioned that while his house was under renovation, this was his most frequented spot and he is still very happy to return to it. It's on the "must return to" list for DC, easily. -
Review from Huntting B.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2011
So, I walk by this place all the time to get somewhere else. Finally decided to stop in at it and give it a try. Unfortunately it was the winter time and rainy so there was no outdoor seating, but the "unfortunatelys" end there!
The Lamb Sammich was SUPER YUMMY! Great quality roasted lamb, some white sauce that wasn't too mayoie (wait! That was goat cheese!), spinach and roasted red peppars! Yum Yum! The sourdough bread was butter seared in a pan giving it my favorite tasting grilled cheese flavor!
The Mac n Cheese are one of their specialties apparently. Super awesome. The Gruyere cheese was so good. It could have been a little hotter when served and I do miss the crust you get with some of them when the cheese is put under the broiler.
The Bread n Butter is totally totally worth it! I am not really sure if it was free or not, but it was some of the best bread I've had around in a while.
She had the French Toast. They were really buttery and buttermilky totally yummy, but nothing so cool that you couldn't make it at home.
Skip the Home Fries though. They were cut too small, did not really have enough seasoning. Not really sure I have much positive to say about these guys. If they were twice as wide and tall, or given more seasoning, or something...maybe they'd be better.
Totally worth coming here, particularly for lunch/dinner. The biscuits looked really good too, but I didn't have them. -
Review from Jessica D.
Washington, DC
11/27/2011
The best brunch place in DC! I've been here countless times, for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Whatever the occasion, make sure to get their creme brûlée! It's absolutely delicious, creamy, and melts in your mouth. The solution to any bad day. Their pastas are amazing and their mussels are too die for! The service is always professional and friendly, and the manager always comes by the table to make sure everything is okay.
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Review from Laura D.
Gaithersburg, MD
10/7/2011
The pot pie...I'm still thinking about it. So delicious and perfect in every way. The service was excellent. My friend and I enjoyed the patio on a perfect fall day. I can't wait to come back. Everything I had was so good. But, if I could eat that pot pie every day, I probably would.
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Review from Ralph A.
Washington, DC
10/11/2011
Beautiful day to sit outside and have the wonderful Cobb Salad and finish with fresh berry's with creme frèche
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Review from Healey S.
Washington, DC
1/7/2011
I have been here for lunch on several occasions since the Van Ness neighborhood of my workplace is sadly very short on lunch options.
I think this place is great. The menu is quite varied and has some options you often don't see at chain places (e.g. lamb sandwich, sweet potato fries). It's reasonably priced for the neighborhood and has a very high-end feel inside with the table linens and nicely dressed wait-staff.
I've only visited a few times so I can't speak to too much on the menu (the pasta with vegs, chicken and cream sauce is tasty albeit heavy, as you'd expect), but I recommend checking it out at some point! -
Review from Sheldon A.
Columbia, MD
8/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
Café Deluxe has a very good Sunday brunch. The menu has enough variety that everyone can find something good to eat. - unlike Cactus Cantina where everything is a variety of tortilla and cheese or 2 Amy's where your choice is Italian or Italian. Everything I've had here has been extremely fresh, delicious, and very affordable.
The bartenders were personable, professional, and quick. Best Bloody Mary's ever. The rim of the glass was lined with old bay. It was like drinking a crab with my Eggs Benedict.
If you're looking for modern cuisine or exotic spices and creations, you won't find it here. However, if you just want fun, good drinks and great food, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Royelen B.
Washington D.C., DC
8/9/2011
Back when Cafe Deluxe was new in my neighborhood, I watched with wonder as Virginia-plated taxi cabs drove the Arlingtonians across the river to get to this trend-setting spot. Now there are several Cafe Deluxes and this one in Cathedral Heights seems to have evolved into a more neighborhood-friendly spot. But it hasn't evolved into a place witha more robust serving for people not eating meat. Come on Deluxe, it's 2011! Delcious and local vegetable dishes will make everyone happy. I took my brother there on 7/20 for his birthday. I wouldn't bother ever going back based on what was served and what was on the menu. Not that I really remember much about it.
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Review from Evan H.
9/14/2009
The small collection of restaurants and shops on Wisconsin between Tenleytown and Glover park includes a few of the more well known places to eat - 2 Amy's and Cactus Cantina - but lets not forget about Cafe Deluxe. Ive been here quite a few times, but realized I'd never reviewed it here.
The restaurant is more of a bistro type establishment and has a very friendly interior as well as a somewhat large outdoors seating area. Since last night was gorgeous, we sat outside right by the street. Good for people watching.
The food at Cafe Deluxe isn't going to blow you away and leaving saying "wow, what a meal!!" However, with so many mediocre mid-range restaurants in D.C., this place is great to have for a nice tasty, and big meal. I've really only ordered a few dishes here, as they are my staples:
1) Meatloaf - always very moist, never dry. Comes with a mildly spicy tomato sauce and mashed potatoes. A very nice, and large dish
2) Roasted Herb Chicken - half a chicken with a very crisp and flavorful skin, also with mashed potatoes and asparagus. I always substitute the spinach instead of the asparagus -- the spinach is sauteed in garlic *yum*.
3) Burgers - very tasty and they will cook it rare or mr, and actually bring it bloody. Any place that wont cook it pink inside or at least never serve it that way piss me off.
I've almost always had great service here, but there have been little issues here and there. Last night my chicken arrived with asparagus rather than spinach. Rather than letting me enjoy the meal and bring me spinach, they insisted upon taking it back for replacement -- not the way to do it IMO. Anyway, I was still unable to finish the large portion.
Overall, this place is a nice restaurant for a tasty sandwich or a large "All American" meal. Sundays in Rib night, whats not to love. The servers are friendly and the prices are very reasonable. Dinner for 2 with 2 vodka spiked arnold palmers, 2 main courses will run you $45 -
Review from Alicia G.
11/3/2008
**3.5**
I can't come to Cafe Deluxe and NOT order the gruyere mac and cheese as a side. It's just not possible. My girlfriends and I came here for dinner last week and it was pretty hoppin'. We were reallly hungry.
I got the grilled tuna sandwich (med rare) and it was delicious. Emily got her usual grilled lamb sandwich and Mary got the grilled tilapia BLT without the B. Of course I got a side of mac and cheese. Ooooh so good.
Still hungry, we got one of the cobblers of the day for dessert. Our choices were strawberry, peach or blackberry. We got blackberry. It was served with vanilla ice cream and was just perfect.
Service was okay. She looked pretty tired and her section seemed to be keeping her very busy. The 3 of us were all servers so we understand. But she did forget a few things here or there. But like I said, we're not ones to make a fuss.
It does get pretty noisy in here so I'd recommend coming early or requesting a table in a corner. -
Review from Sean G.
Silver Spring, MD
8/18/2006
I think of CD as a sort of Appleby's for the GTown & Calvert crowd -- no alarming oddities on the menu here -- youve had everything before.
But it's all done acceptably well and the dining room has a certain elan to it.
Good spot for brunch with the 'rents, and it's kid friendly.
Probably not worth driving across town for tho and if youre in the neighborhood you'd do as well or better at some of the other places nearby.
On the dinner menu, the meatloaf is good, and whens the last time you went out for meatloaf? -
Review from Marcello M.
Washington D.C., DC
11/2/2011
Went there last night with a buddy. I had the fish tacos and they where very good! Nice crowd and great neighborhood bar!
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Review from Clara L.
11/18/2008
I had a nice random tuesday lunch here last week. It was Veteran's Day, so my fellow Fed friend and I tried to be as lazy as possible. The most effort we put anything into was making the drive to Cafe Deluxe for lunch, since he had a craving for the tuna with ginger mayo. I had previously been to the Cafe Deluxe in Tyson's and remembered the food to be pretty good. So I had no objection to trying out this location.
We got there around 11:30, just before the lunch rush [cause it seriously was packed by the time our food had arrived, as well a line going out the door!]. There were some lunch specials, where you can get a 1/2 salad and a sandwich with fries for $9.95. I opted to take advantage of this special and ordered a 1/2 caesar salad (very good, not too much dressing), a melty (fresh!) mozzarella, tomato and basil sandwich and french fries. Everything was really good. I was extremely please with my meal and I'm sure having the day off of work, helped keep my happy mood even happier. =) -
Review from Chris F.
Worcester, MD
12/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
Cafe Deluxe is one of your best brunch options in this neighborhood of D.C. We went here for brunch on a cold winter's day before attending afternoon services at the National Cathedral.
The highlight of the meal was definitely the prosciutto macaroni and cheese...ordered initially as an appetizer and later as an entrée. Seriously. The service was good and fast and they have a full bar and some drink options. It's definitely food of the hearty, cheesy, starchy variety, which is really good comfort food on a cold day.
We would definitely go back. -
Review from Jennifer S.
Arlington, VA
9/28/2006
Cafe Deluxe...the name is deceiving.
While many yelpers enjoy the food here, I'm not of like-mind. I've been to both locations on several occasions (I unfortunately know others who DO like it) and it never redeems itself. Really, the only reason I will go again to this 2.5 star eatery, only if asked and I am indebted to this particular person, is on a Monday when at least I could take part in the half price wine bottles (though the selection is minimal and far from exceptional). The experience is rather predictable - eat some slightly better than TGI Friday food (only because the selections are more inventive, but the execution isn't always there) and enjoy the people watching from the patio (probably the best part of the whole experience).
Again, I'm not the majority and I am one of the pickier eaters around, so take it for what it's worth. Admittedly, I have not been for brunch...and that could be a draw because the location is good and it's difficult to screw up eggs to the point of repulsion. -
Review from Ann L.
8/23/2008
No, it isn't gourmet but it is probably my new favorite place to go to in the neighborhood. it's got a decent menu with enough of variety that everyone in a group would be pleased - unlike Cactus Cantina where everything is a variety of tortilla and cheese or 2 Amy's where your choice is Italian or Italian. My boyfriend got the steak frites which he quite enjoyed and I got the pizza with chicken which was good but not entirely filling.
The patio is nice but they tend to push people together which can lead to some discomfort and pretending to ignore the awkward first date going on four inches away from you - but hey, in the right circumstances that may just be some good entertainment for the night.
You get what you should expect with this place. Some things are better than others. Some seating placements are worse than others. But for the reasonable prices, it's usually a hit. -
Review from Tim P.
Seattle, WA
6/6/2007
Maybe I'm not going to the right Applebees or Fridays, because those places DO NOT compare to this. Great ingredients and flavors and well executed meals were all I've ever gotten here, for dinner at least (never tried their brunch).
Our first trip, we were out on the patio with our dog. We sat down and talked over the menu, and happened to be sitting next to two regulars. They basically recommended everything on the menu. I ended up with a goat cheese salad and tomato soup. Somehow, even two choices as simple as that came out outstanding. On top of that, we hit up the half priced wine selection. After being sprayed by the waitor in a corking malfunction, he was extremely apologetic and insisted (after I tried to insist that it wasn't necessary) on a dessert on the house. We went with the creme brulee and weren't disappointed.
I have to say NO to the two Amys hype and NO to the Cafe Deluxe bashing. Check it out and make up your own mind! -
Review from Kathleen M.
Atlanta, GA
3/5/2007
As others have said, this a good, safe restaurant to go to when you're craving some "normal" food. I would definitely not compare it to TGI Friday's or Applebees---its a huge step up from that, as in, I wouldn't be pissed if a guy asked me on a date and brought me here. And there's no "flare," striped tablecloths, or local school's paraphernalia on the walls.
It gets loud on the weekends and there can be a bit of a wait, but we came here last Saturday after deciding that even though we love 2 Amy's, it wasn't worth the 2 hour wait. The food isn't edgy or exciting, but it's good. I had a filet mignon that was cooked exactly to the right temperature with potato au gratin and sauteed spinach with roasted tomatoes. My sister had the roasted chicken and our friend had salmon. The portions are great- large and filling (we were starving!) but not absolutely overwhelming. Our service was good, fast, and friendly. No complaints here! -
Review from Mike W.
Washington, DC
10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Always a dependable tasty meal!
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Review from Jeff G.
Washington, DC
6/12/2007
Cafe Deluxe is a great standby for a good meal at lunch or dinner. The service is excellent and the food is always well done. Prices are reasonable for what you get, which are not massive portions, but just right.
I really like the tuna sandwich that they offer (make sure that you order it rare for extra tastiness). My wife always goes for the 4-sides plate that is an excellent way for a vegetarian to enjoy a meal. Drinks here are pretty pricey, but that seems to be the curse of living in DC.
Service is usually quite good; however, I have had a few issues when the place gets overly crowded, which is usually around dinner on the weekends.
Overall, a good value that churns out consistent food. -
Review from Laura V.
Alexandria, VA
8/27/2007
Recently, we had our department "team building" afternoon. It started with Lunch at Cafe Deluxe.
It turned out to be the perfect choice. We got there right at noon so our party of 5 wouldn't have to wait too long for a table. We were seated right away. Our waitress was friendly and welcomed us almost instantly.
On the whole, we were all very pleased with the service and the food. It was really good. The Halibut, served over grilled corn and asparagus, seemed to be the choice of most at the table and it didn't disappoint. (I've had the halibut in the past and have thoroughly enjoyed it.) I had the grilled tuna sandwich, and while I asked for it rare, it came to me a little bit more like medium. But it still tasted good. The tomato soup, while tasty, was only lukewarm. Call me silly, but I prefer my soup hot unless otherwise specified.
I rarely get dessert when I eat out because I'm full and don't really want to spend the extra bones when I could have ice cream at home. But when the office is buying, we ALL get a dessert. I must say, it was extremely disappointing to find out that they were only offering 3 of the six desserts listed on the menu. But the hot fudge sundae was delish.
Overall, we had a nice time and enjoyed the ambiance and the service. Food was a little iffy in spots, but still quite good. I'd recommend Cafe Deluxe as a great lunch spot - especially if you're heading over to a tour of the National Cathedral after. -
Review from Monica D.
Los Angeles, CA
1/7/2008
I stopped in for lunch here by myself one day. The restaurant is divided into two parts; general dining room and bar area. I chose to sit at one of the tables in the bar area.
Bartender set me up with a nice cold pint of Yuengling lager. Great amber color, and refreshing. I always like trying regional beers unknown to me and this one was quite good.
I had a turkey club on sourdough which had a goat cheese spread, served with crispy hot french fries. The sandwich was huge as I was only able to eat half. If i lived anywhere near here I would definitely be back. Friendly service and great prices.
