Le Bon Café

Overall not a bad experience but not as pleasant as it was expected. The food was self service and the quality was fine, but a little bit in pricy side. If you go during the lunch time the line is hectic to get just a simple coffee! They have very limited and tiny sitting space inside which make each move and people who stands in the line uncomfortable. But, they have seats outside too which is more pleasant.

4/10/24 Hotel's breakfast was awful yesterday, and we this cafe down the block. It's a tiny space, and there was a huge line. I grabbed a table and hubby waited in line to order. Breakfast Sandwich was good. The croissant was buttery. Egg Strata was good. Interesting like a fritata but different.

I didn't like this place. I ordered a cappuccino and they gave me black coffee with milk. They did not immediately agree to replace the request with a real cappuccino. The second time they did better. I didn't really like both the service and the cleanliness of this place. I won't come back here for sure.

Ate here a couple of weeks back, food is not worth it (cold sandwhich), service was downright disgusting. We gave a tip despite the place being self-service and never in my life have I regretted giving a tip so much. We ordered our food and coffee and waited very long (30 mins) for our food to arrive. We checked with the counter and the barista told us “it is coming” in an extremely rude and dismissive manner WITHOUT even checking the order. We continued to wait for about another 20 mins more until we saw customers who came after us receiving their food first. We went back to check with the counter again and suddenly this time round they told us “the order didn’t go through.” Despite hearing this, the barista maintained her rude and arrogant attitude. Did not even look us in the eye or apologise for her actions, ignoring us completely. The cashier herself, who took our order, gave the most pathetic apology I have ever seen. Absolutely disgraceful service. Won’t ever come back to this place and I absolutely do not recommend it. If there was a zero star rating I would have given one.

The food was good. We went for breakfast and ordered avocado toast, English breakfast and Belgian waffles. Every item tasted good. It was pretty crowded so we sat outside - the outside sitting area feel is good, it gives you European town vibes. The chai tea latte however already had sugar and was too sweet for my liking ( I was assuming it would come without sugar and I can add depending on my taste...that was the only put off). For folks who like their tea on sweeter side might like it.

A true DC gem visited by locals and others. We appreciated the conversations around us giving us a real sense of work amongst the House and Senate offices. For us this was a mid morning break and we enjoyed a simple coffee and egg sandwich. There are lots of different options on the menu all made to order. The pastries also looked good.

We enjoyed our food and time at Le Bon café. our drinks were delectable and well priced. The chocolate croissant and muffins were really yummy and definitely is somewhere you should stop for coffee when you are in Washington DC. The staff was nice. It is small indoors but they do have a decent amount of outdoor seating.

Another coffee shop in the capitol hill area, just around the corner from the Madison library. My latte was expensive, which is becoming increasingly common, but perfectly made, and the baked egg strata was delicious and flavorful. Really friendly dude at the front, although he may have started his morning out in the trees, if you follow. Considering the amount of aggressive tourists in the cafe though, and his overall ability to maintain his work performance, nobody should blame him. Wife had quiche, which was good, not great, and a london fog which she enjoyed greatly. We split a raisin thing that was very good, wish they had a chocolate croissant left, but they were sold out, likely for good reason. Outdoor atmosphere was nice.

It was very busy and crowded at lunchtime, but we didn't wait too long after our orders. There were more tables outdoor. The service was per normal. We ordered: 4*La Combo: half of Curried Turkey.... sandwich with organic mixed green salad. It was light and healthy. 5*Le Bon Mixed Greens Salad: for less than $10, weeks got a bowl of colorful and healthy meal. I would come back for more.

4/10/24 Hotel's breakfast was awful yesterday, and we this cafe down the block. It's a tiny space, and there was a huge line. I grabbed a table and hubby waited in line to order. Breakfast Sandwich was good. The croissant was buttery. Egg Strata was good. Interesting like a fritata but different.

This place is a wonderful stop. Lots of food for $12. I got the le bon club sandwich and it was very fresh and large. I enjoyed every bite. The double chocolate chip cookie was super standout. I'd get that again in a heartbeat.

Small cafe with limited seating but great views if you can grab a spot on the patio. It's counter service with a good mix of breakfast and lunch items on the menu - your typical standard cafe options but some unique combos as well. I went with the breakfast croissant which was pretty good although the side of potatoes was cold. The highlight was definitely the iced chai which I got with oatmilk.

I needed a resting place after a busy day in DC. Little café reminded me that there are beautiful little places in a big city. Had a great cappuccino and croissant. Watched interesting people in and out. Staff was very sweet and friendly. I hope their business as well!

"Smoked turkey & Brie panini" Unfortunately I am gonna have to excuse my ignorance and be like, "Ah damn Gabriel. You knew exactly what was needed. Thank you for feeding me." Side salad of fresh leafy greens, juicy halved "baby" tomatoes, thin sliced carrots and cucumbers with an amazing green dressing was a perfect match. The freshly squeezed lavender lemonade was a tart, tangy, and sweet party in my mouth. Finish with a crispy, flaky, delicious Chocolate Torsade and I am fully satisfied. You go guys!

Rounding up a 3.5 to a 4 star for overall experience and value. Le Bon is a tiny little cafe that serves economical food, not far from the Capitol & Library of Congress. We arrived just before a rush on a Saturday morning. While cute French music adds to the ambiance, the interior feels cramped. Sitting at inside tables means you'll likely have the line traveling right next to you while you eat, unless you snag the one little booth tucked by the window. We chose to eat outside since the weather was nice. At one point something in the kitchen was burned or caught fire, filling the entire place with smoke, so that was a good choice! Our food and coffee came out in timely fashion. We decided to eat here once I saw the açaí bowl on the menu. Just what I was craving. Served with generous portions of granola, coconut, and fruit. I wish the açaí smoothie part had been a bit thicker, but I was still quite satisfied with my choice. Both my husband and my son enjoyed their breakfast as well, having ordered the baked egg strata and the baked French toast respectively. Prices were very reasonable. Coffee was good and serve hot, which I appreciate as there's nothing worse than a lukewarm coffee, imho.

This cafe was a great location for a cheap and quick bite. The service here was fast as it is just counter service and my food came out hot and quickly. The omelette was really great and definitely worth it for the price, however the potatoes were cold and not tasty. The seating inside is quite limited but there is a nice small cafe vibe. I would definitely visit Le Bon again but would opt for a side other than the potatoes.

Customer service was exceptional, and there menu filled with many great options and alternatives. Place is small with tables outside.

Was in need of some coffee so decided to stop by as it was close. All in all wish I could give in 3.5 stars. It's solid food and solid coffee. Will it blow your mind? Probably not but damn does that ham and cheese croissant fill you up. Special shout out to their raspberry financier pastry. We had a dirty chai and a gingerbread latte. Latte was okay but the dirty chai was tasty. They have some small tables inside and a few outside. Fair warning we went at 9am on a Friday and it was popping. Additional side note that I don't think matters but just an fyi no public restrooms. Everyone that worked there was lovely and was quick. Can't comment on parking as we walked there but it's dc so err on the side of caution.

all day breakfast, cheap prices, and that good ole Capitol Hill energy win le bon cafe some points - cheap options, like this $12 omelette (up to 4 fillings) and this $12 croque monsieur. basically everything regardless of protein content was below $15 - it was a kitchy spot with diner decorations and trays to eat on. a very small cramped dining area with servers who seem like they've never met a person before .... - I don't like Lily coffee but the woman drinking a fat iced chai next to me had me starrrrring - definitely an okay option if you want a light lunch or woke up late anyday of the week. the omelette was the perfect size with a great serving of chicken and perfectly cooked mushrooms and onions. not somewhere I'd return like with intention though. - all the sandwiches come with like 3 chunks of potato labeled potato salad which was a little funny and pointless

I loved the omelet it was great ! This was a cute French cafe in the area we were sightseeing. Loved the outdoor patio area. I was excited about the illy coffee. My biggest concern was the white chocolate mocha was way way way too sweet. It was like they put 8-10 pumps of sweetener. It was so sweet I thought it was reg chocolate and she said it wasn't . I ordered a black coffee to level it out . Next time I'll ask for 1 pump maybe.

It's usually extremely busy due to its proximity to the House office buildings, and there's very little seating. The WiFi is not reliable. But, the food and coffee is pretty good, and if you do manage to get a table, it's a cute spot to meet and catch up with friends or colleagues.

Cafe mocha was decent if lackluster. Service was good. Ambiance was chilled. A nice spot for a cup, a chair, and relaxed conversation.

Charged extra after giving an incredibly insufficient amount of dressing. Staff also cut us off because we were content to wait for the bathroom instead of trying to barge in to the people ahead of us. Selfish and cheap.

On a recent trip to DC, I was on Capitol Hill at lunchtime. It has been years since I had been in that area at that hour, so I decided to trust Yelp for a recommendation. Le Bon Café was nearby and looked promising, so I made my way over. Located just a few blocks from the Capitol South Metro stop, Le Bon Cafe offers French-inspired cuisine in a quaint cafe setting with a considerable amount of outdoor seating. I queued up for my lunch to-go, ordered, and waited a bit until it was ready. Once I had my Niçoise salad in hand, I headed outside to find a spot to eat and enjoy the beautiful day. At about $11, this salad hit it out of the park. With fresh ingredients, delicious flavors, and a filling mix of ingredients, I was not disappointed. The portion was generous for lunch without being too much. I enjoyed every morsel while sitting outside in the autumn sunshine. Thoroughly pleased, I bookmarked this spot for my next trip to Capitol Hill, and will look forward to discovering a new favorite food there again!

The most expensive coffee for no reason. The wait will be very long. If you want to wait 25 minutes for cold brew this is your spot. Save your money and don't go here.

Stopped by early Monday morning for breakfast. It was not too crowded and plenty of seating was available. The spinach and pepper panini tasted very fresh and was perfectly seasoned. The avocado toast was delicious and the topping added a nice crunch. The iced latte was pretty average, I would have preferred if they had options for flavoring. Great service!

Stopped in for a quick midmorning coffee and breakfast! Ordered a pastry and avocado toast! Yum!

Almost 5 stars! The food was absolutely yummy. Our lunch consisted of curried turkey sandwich, le Bon Club, Prosciutto sandwich. The curried turkey won best lunch with my group! The side for each was potato salad. We sat at one of their outdoor tables, perfect for a warmer December day. The service was a bit on the slow side - they didn't seem to love with a lot of intention. Not a lot of enthusiasm. The other downer - plastic straws, not paper.

Charming and intimate place. There is outdoor seating. Inside can be a little loud and busy. Lots of food options. Great spread on the caffeine. If you're in a rush and just grabbing coffee you might want to pass. Across the street from the Library of Congress

Authentic French speaking workers cozy and friendly with French music prices are the same as the food, great

Baked Egg Strata - Signature baked egg casserole with Italian sausage, caramelized onions and red peppers served with roasted potatoes. Signature indeed. I have never had this before in my life and engulfed it in record time. Light breakfast loaded with protein to get the day started before exploring the Captial. The indoor restaurant is quite small and gets busy very quickly but if standing in long for five to ten minutes is the price I have to pay for novel food I will bare the cost of admission. This cafe has been getting some bad reviews of late but to those trashing it for customer service, what are you expecting from a mom and pop shop with most likely overworked associates working in a hot kitchen from early in the AM dealing with the uncaffeinated public? The owner opened up this shop over twenty years ago and recently spent four years living abroard in Paris. She undoubtedly brought back some of that authenic French cusine back to the cafe and we the patrons could not be more thankful to her for sharing her passion and vocation with the public. As always people SYOY!!

Great breakfast and very fair price. Most meals were $8.95. Everything is made fresh to order. Atmosphere is wonderful-I felt like I was Europe. Definitely will be back here again. I'd have to say on of the better places in DC for a casual breakfast.

We stopped here in the way to Starbucks because we would rather try a local joint. I would not recommend this restaurant. Every item of food or drink ordered was not good, bland, wrong, or missing. Super disappointed because a few local residents said they loved this place. They explained the French toast was a cut French baguette soaked in cream overnight. Maybe it was just me but the bread was super tough and un-cuttable. Both of our coffees were missing the vanilla, super bummed!

I really wanted the lemonade but they were out for the day. That's okay. I went for my backup, a honey lavender latte. I've had lots of these from other coffee shops but this one just tasted... meh. Also, my 16oz cup was only halfway filled up when given to me. So that was weird. Lastly, I tried the orange green tea... it tasted like literal nothingness. Water would have been better honestly. It's like if someone ran water over an orange slide then put it in a cup. Nothing to it. I'd pass on this place. 2 stars because custom service was friendly & fast, otherwise it'd be a 1.

Stopped in here on our way to the Library of Congress and Capitol during the just-after-breakfast rush. There were four of us and a table was readily available. The line was long but service was great. I had the Breakfast Baked Egg Strata and all I can say is WOW! It was mouthful after mouthful of flavor! My son had the same; daughter in law had the grilled chicken sandwich and my grandson had the Jambon Buerre sandwich. Honestly, this was my favorite meal of our whole week-long vacation. It's a small place and feels just like a tiny French cafe should!

An excellent spot for breakfast in Capitol Hill! This French cafe is super adorable and conveniently located just a few blocks away from The Library of Congress and The US Capital Building. Came here for breakfast earlier this year and was blown away by the amazing quality of the food. The interior is cute and comfy with a few communal tables as well as a couple of two sweaters inside. They also have a couple of tables in front for outdoor dining. The interior space is tiny and they did have a small line going when I came in, but it moved pretty quickly. If you love French pastries, Le Bon has a TON of them! I ended up ordering their breakfast sandwich on a croissant, a blondie brownie, and an iced chai latte. The breakfast sandwich was delicious! It came with a toasted croissant filled with a thick piece of egg, my choice of bacon and cheddar cheese, and a side of roasted potatoes. Everything tasted extremely fresh. It was a simple execution of a classic dish that came out beautifully. I absolutely loved the blondie brownie!! It was super chewy and moist with just the right amount of sweetness. The iced chai was tasty too, but I would have loved a little more spice. It could have been because I had it iced instead of hot, but it was still good. This place has a very relaxing and comfortable ambience. It seems like a nice spot to take a break from all of the touristy landmarks nearby. I could also see myself studying and doing work here too. There's no table service here, but the ladies who were working were super sweet and helpful. Although the meal was simple, it was easily one of the best meals that I had while visiting DC. If you're hanging out b Capitol Hill and are looking for a nice spot for breakfast of lunch, I would highly recommend Le Bon Cafe.

Coffee was good but service too slow. I was the only customer and it took 5 mins for the barista to even start making my coffee and another 5 to complete. I'm not exaggerating and was a bit late for my appointment thanks to this. Thankfully not the only cafe in town. Also the sandwiches are outrageously priced, they may be good, I will never pay that much to find out.

Delicious and so fresh. The French toast is crispy with hints of vanilla and orange. The turkey brie was warm and full of flavor. Cesar salad was great. Fresh lemonade was refreshing for hot summer days. Highly recommend

No public restroom :( a little disappointing. Super busy but not worth the wait if there is no restroom.

The cafe is located a block away from the Library of Congress and is highly recommended for lunch if you happen to be in the neighborhood in a good weather. It is pretty small (half the seats are outside) and is apparently popular among the regulars (who look like junior staffers from the nearby Federal buildings). Ambience was above expectations, food is good. One point subtracted for canelé. Paraphrasing the Godfather, here it is better to leave the canelé and keep the other items on the menu.

Honestly don't know who raised the people leaving poor reviews, but I had a great experience? They were sold out of the egg stratta by the time I got there but suggested the Turkey Brie panini and it was perfectly done. The Hazelnut Latte was also perfect and the wait was minimal at best. The only complaint I had was the very entitled young man who wanted my seat and threw a tantrum that he didn't get what he wanted, remarking on the iced tea I was drinking - my third purchase as I worked on my laptop. The workers were lovely, some of the clientele are pompous twits. Can't have everything lol

My first impression of this little cafe was not very "bon." The lady working behind the counter was, in fairness, busy making coffee drinks, but we were standing at the register a foot away from her for several minutes, and despite us making eye contact with each other several times, there was no acknowledgement of our presence. It would have been lovely for her to say, "hello, I'll be with you in just a moment." When she finally came to the register, all she said was "are you ready?" It all seemed very unfriendly and borderline salty. For lunch, I ordered a "Jambon buerre baguette." While the ham was decent, the bread was toasted ciabatta (not the advertised baguette), the butter was melted, and overall it was nothing remotely close to what you'd get in France. What I ate tasted fine, but it was a let down because I thought I'd be getting something authentic from what was billed as a French cafe. Even my beverage was disappointing because the iced citrus green tea tasted neither of citrus or green tea. I liked that the food was served on real plates but the plastic cutlery for dine-in is wasteful. This place has so much potential but was a real let down.

Le Bon Café is one of the best breakfast/brunch spot on the Hill. Hands down! Why do I say that?!... Well for starters, they have the BEST French toast in DC! It is thick, flavorful and the hint of orange throws it over the top. Now I wouldn't call myself a french toast connoisseur, but I am from the deep South and was blessed to grow up with an old school, Southern grandma whose cooking (I would argue) could easily rival any chef in the nation - and french toast was one of her many breakfast specialties. So I'd suffice it to say that I'm a great judge of french toast and it's PHENOMENAL! It's so popular that I'd recommend calling ahead to confirm they have some left if you're visiting later in the day. Every single thing I have tasted there has been excellent. I usually get the french toast, a side of scrambled eggs and a side of bacon. Normally I wouldn't make a fuss about eggs - but their eggs are phenomenal and the bacon is always nice, crisp, and has a very clean flavor. The french toast, comes with a side of fruit, however on one visit, they were out of it so I subbed a side salad and OMG! The simple salad when paired with their house-made (sweet and slightly tart) cilantro based dressing was extraordinary! The dressing was so good that I asked about buying some to take home! In addition to breakfast, I've had many of their pastries and they all have been great. As for ambiance and decor, Le Bon is an intimate spot that's both cozy and inviting. The white and grey marbled tables are accompanied by unadorned black chairs and the soothing Turkish blue painted walls makes a great combination. Upon entering, you'll see the coveted round table in the front bay window. If ever you have an opportunity to snag it, move quickly as it's usually taken. I've even seen people stop eating mid-meal to dash over and grab it once it opened up. I will be honest and and say that aside from the table in the window, if there are a lot of people, seating can be tight. It's not the type of place you come for lengthy stays, but it's perfect for a short intimate breakfast surrounded by neighbors. As far as staff goes, they're always friendly, although at times they may not be as chatty considering the pace of day, but they're never rude or inattentive. I can't say exactly why, but Le Bon has a special place in our heart. If you haven't tried them, I'd definitely make it a point to get over there. It's a solid 5 star establishment in my book!

I love going to this place. It's small & a little on the scruffy side, but it somehow feels authentic. My favorite lunch item is the salmon Niçoise salad. That's what I had today & it was delicious. I'm also a huge fan of the desserts. The chocolate cookies are especially memorable. So soft & gooey inside that I could eat them all day!

First, and definitely my last, time ordering from this place. I was served what I thought was supposed to be a prosciutto sandwich, but when I opened the box I saw bread, cold potatoes, and arugula; after careful examination I saw the thin slice of prosciutto on the bottom of the bread. And yes, it was as disgusting as it sounds. This is NOT a French-inspired anything. This is a hole-in-the-wall establishment that happens to serve what they think passes for "food". There aren't many great places to eat around the Capitol, but this place is prohibitively bad. Avoid at all costs!

This is the third time we come here for early Saturday breakfast as part of our "walking the dog weekend route". The cafe is a short distance to the Eastern market but opens much earlier than the breakfast places over there. There are a few tables outside which is perfect to enjoy a mug of coffee ( Illy) and a choice of freshly baked pastries or baguette ( all house made) with butter and jam. There is "create the omelette of your choice" option, or you can order eggs from the side dish menu and get it done according to your taste. This morning we ordered fried eggs/ sunny up to go with an order of toasted baguette with butter and jam. Belgium waffle with fresh fruit topping and added whipped cream ( today it was extra 70c, last weekend -50c, I think it is an arbitrary decision every time:). THANK YOU for putting a water bowl for the dogs!!!! Much appreciated

Real French taste, look and feel! Highly recommend. Gets pretty busy so finding an open table might get tricky

Very nice local place near the Capitol. I had a smoothie which was nicely done. My companion had a breakfast bowl and coffee and truly enjoyed it. There's indoor and outdoor seating. It's a small place and always packed do expect t a line. Service was very friendly

Good neighborhood spot to sit outside and enjoy a pastry or sandwich. Only complaint I have are the prices (like all DC). Ordered two cold brews, a bacon egg and cheese sandwich, and a chocolate croissant. All together $28. Food wasn't anything special and chocolate croissant had to be a day old.

Cute place close to the United States capital and library of Congress. It has illy coffee and breakfast/lunch meals. You take a menu and order at the register. It is self service so the food comes out pretty fast. Seating is open outdoors and indoors- a little cramped on the seating but if you come around 1pm there wasn't too much traffic. I absolutely loved the salmon Niçoise salad. It was the best I've ever had! There were fresh greens topped with boiled egg, olives, green beens, and a mix of salmon salad. The panini was also delicious and perfectly made. For the price, illy coffee is also so good. I can't believe you can order cappuccinos for under $3 after going to Starbucks for so long. Overall, I will definitely come back here to try more of the menu

I am a frequent visitor to Le Bon--or, as my co-workers and I call it, "the French cafe." The baked goods are exceptional (I am a harsh critic of bakery treats, by the way!), the hot drinks are served in giant cups if you dine in, and there's a large lunch menu. Sometimes they run out of chai, but you can't be perfect. Favorites: steel cut oats, EGG STRATA, homemade gingerbread, and fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Fundamentally, the coffee is really good here, and they know how to mix drinks effectively. So you get what you want! Pastries are solid and the service is pleasant.

Very cute cafe. The menu has a great amount of options. I wouldn't say it's study friendly because it's small, but otherwise it's a good place to get a quick mean

It takes a lot for me to write a one star review. However, my experience with Le Bon was a zero star experience. Red flag one, we were denied tap water, which feels kind of illegal. Red flag two, we discover that the table next to us has a free cup of water. Weren't we just told they don't give out free water? I go up to ask why the lady at the table next to us received a free water cup and we were denied. Cashier shrinks and says "I made a one time exception, sorry about that, but it's not our policy to give out water". Lady who got free water was entering cafe at the same time I was leaving, she looks like an absolute model. Makes sense! Cashier makes exceptions for people who look like absolute models. He essentially told me I wasn't beautiful enough I wanted to gloss over the poor customer service reviews I saw before deciding to come here, let's give them the benefit of the doubt. Learn from my mistake - do not expect to be treated with respect from this place if you do not look like a model! Also, the food was so aggressively mediocre. My baked egg strata was the size of a whole hard boiled egg. This place has nothing redemptive to its name.

Delicious Croque Monsieur and Jambon Beurre sandwiches! Definitely recommend!!! The Iced Vanilla Latte and French potato salad were perfect too!

I have always loved this little cafe in Capitol Hill - good food and reasonable prices for DC. However, customer service has gone steadily downhill. I understand Sunday morning brunch is super busy for many cafes and restaurants. However, I stood at the register to order for over 20 minutes without so much as eye contact from staff, let alone an acknowledgement of my presence or a note that I'd be served as soon as they could. When I finally was able to order, there was no acknowledgment or apology for the long wait. The woman at the register even pulled down her mask when I asked her to repeat something - a huge no-no in these COVID times. I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.

On our way to the National Mall we stopped at Le Bon to grab a quick lunch. We ordered inside and then grabbed a table outdoors. It was a little busy when we got there so our order took a while but it wasn't too bad. The prosciutto and Parmesan salad was so tasty that we tried to make it ourselves at home (def not as good :( ) and the club was also tasty and not too heavy. Would recommend this spot!

My fiancé and I have come here before and the food is great. It's a small place and I understand that good business can become overwhelming for staff members. I also understand that things might take longer than suggested which is fine. My problem this afternoon was that upon my fiancés return to the car, he nearly dropped the boxes he was juggling whilst holding our drinks. No bags were offered whatsoever and apparently they cost 5 cents. Which to me doesn't really make much sense considering it would most likely help the staff organize their orders more efficiently. What really made me want to leave this review was the fact that they were out of one of the pastries I ordered and told my fiancé to pick another. The one I ordered was 4.50 and the only other ones available were 3.95. So now I am short 55 cents and I could've gotten 11 of their 5 cents bags but wasn't offered one and was instead told the price to buy one. Customer service is lacking here in a bit of common sense especially since I tipped nicely on a take out order. It's a paper bag. Be for real.