cafe rated: big bear cafe

Last Monday I went to the Le Droit Park/Bloomingdale area for lunch. Located on the corner of 1st and R St NW, is a rustic neighborhood coffeehouse called Big Bear Cafe. A few quiet customers looked up from their laptops and newspapers as I walked in. I was excited about most of the items on the menu (individual French press coffee, large selection of teas, specialty salads, etc). Since I had already consumed two (or three) cups of coffee that day, I ordered a Chai tea and a hummus sandwich.

I did notice that Chai was not on the menu. And I thought it odd that a place like this would not serve it, because it is popular. So this was sort of a customer service test... Luckily, the male barista said,

“I can make you a Chai. How sweet do you like it? We brew it ourselves.”

Fantastic.

While I waited for my receipt to print, someone put Ratatat's "Classics" album in the stereo. This is one of my favorite CD's to listen to while working. Again, fantastic.

Due to the friendly, comfortable atmosphere (and the neighborhood), the café probably attracts a lot of interesting loners, which made for good people-watching. There are some really lovely photographs on the walls that look familiar to me somehow. Then I read the signature on the matte and see that they are from Claude Taylor Photography, the popular international print shop in Dupont. It makes me smile to think about local community support in a big city like DC.

Monday was a gorgeous day, the sun almost blinding because we had not seen it in four days. But I chose a table inside because it was also extremely windy. The outdoor stone patio of Big Bear Café, open yet intimate, wraps around the exterior of the corner location. There are large planters chock-full of greenery and wooden boxes housing bulbs or flowers waiting to bloom that border dining area.

I watched from the window as a passerby walked up to the planters and pruned a bit off one of the plants. I then realized that it was rosemary. In fact, all the planters were filled with herbs. A community herb garden sponsored by the neighborhood cafe. How neat! This realization was also a testament to the freshness of Big Bear's ingredients. You can check out photos of the cafe's history and of the herb garden's progress here.

For less than $10, I ate a delicious toasted hummus sandwich, complete with roasted red peppers, cucumbers and arugula, with a mixed green salad on the side. Of all the coffeehouses I’ve been to so far, Big Bear Café definitely takes the cake. I only wish it was in my neighborhood.

actual location: 1st & R NW DC
cyber location: www.bigbearcafe-dc.com
hours: M-F: 7a-6p, Sat: 7:30a-6p, Sun: 8:30a-6p
price: $ (of $$$, which is too much)
outdoor seating: yes.
cash/credit: both.
wi-fi: yes.


CAFE RATED:
Coffee: A (they serve only Counter Culture Coffee [which I love] made with the French press, so although I had a Chai tea, I believe I would have been satisfied with the coffee)
Food: B
Service: A
Atmosphere: A