Praline Bakery & Bistro

At first glance, Praline Bakery & Bistro, located in The Shops at Sumner Place in Bethesda, may look like just another storefront. But stepping inside reveals a hidden gem that beautifully blends French charm with warm, neighborhood hospitality. On the first floor, you’ll find an elegant bakery filled with colorful macarons, beautifully crafted tarts, éclairs, buttery croissants, fresh breads, and other pastries that could easily belong in a Parisian patisserie. The staff are welcoming and attentive, making the experience feel both personal and refined. The real surprise awaits upstairs, where the bistro offers a spacious, inviting atmosphere perfect for a date, family lunch, or a relaxed gathering with friends. The menu is distinctly French, featuring traditional dishes such as French Onion Soup, Escargots, Steak Frites, Poulet Grand-Mère, Salmon Paillard, and savory buckwheat crêpes, all carefully prepared and elegantly plated. Even the desserts—like Crème Brûlée and Tarte Tatin—stay true to their French roots. While there are a few contemporary additions like the Praline Burger, everything is crafted with a French culinary approach that keeps the menu cohesive. In addition to the cozy indoor dining area, the second floor features an open-air terrace with tables and umbrellas—perfect for enjoying fresh air in a more relaxed setting. Personally, I would suggest adding a few plants for increased privacy between tables, but overall, the space is lovely and well thought out. One of the key advantages of this location is the free parking available on-site, a major plus in the Bethesda area. Whether you're planning a full meal or just stopping by to pick up pastries, it makes the visit even more convenient. In short, discovering Praline Bakery & Bistro was a delightful and memorable experience. What looks like a simple shop from the outside reveals a true culinary oasis inside, rich in flavor, tradition, and heart. Don’t hesitate to visit, especially if you’re craving a little taste of France right here in Maryland.

Our group enjoyed a delicious lunch on their patio on a glorious day in late May. The place had the staff to seat and serve a group of nearly twenty, and to provide excellent service throughout. My mushroom, spinach and cheese omelette was delectable with a good size spring mix salad accompaniment. Others enjoyed their Nicoise and Praline salads, the baked salmon with ratatouille, and their Lorraine and veggie quiches.

Absolutely love this local gem. Brought a number of friends who had never been there, to eat outside on the patio on a lovely night - everyone was very impressed with the service and quality of food. They said 'What a find!' Shout out to our delightful server Stephanie, who was so polite, patient and just charming. We all will be back ! PS - and you will not find a better pastry anywhere !

Terrible place!! Stay away!! This is a popular spot among locals but it’s aged and service sucks. The Bistro upstairs might be better but it’s full service and doesn’t open until 11am. Until then, you’re left with weak coffee, fridge cold & not fully baked quiches, mediocre pastries and hopeless staff. Don’t expect to get a plate (even a paper one) for your “breakfast” or even a cup of water after you shell out almost ten bucks for a crappy “quiche” that’s inedible as is. If this is meant to go, why have seating?! Confusing! I’ll not be going back! Ever!

The food was good but they said they didn’t have water for paying customers, only bottles for purchase. Then after a while someone begrudgingly brought water for our toddler but not for the rest of us. The heat index outside was over 100 degrees. Very strange. We didn’t just walk in and ask for water, we ordered and paid for our food order. Either they’re desperate for the additional $3 per bottle, were trying to get a bigger tip, or just lacked basic customer service skills. They’re only getting 4 stars because we used to be regulars and this was atypical a few years ago, otherwise it would be 2 or 3 stars.

This is mainly in regards to one item. The chicken tenders at the bakery used to be super good. Hand breaded and all perfectly irregular . Last Friday however, there was a dramatic change ! They were now from bagged frozen. Not sure what’s going on, just hope the quality of other things doesn’t go down. Oh also, some days the croissants are pretty awesome. Days like Sunday and Saturday they don’t seem to be as good .

Their chocolate mousse cake was amazing. I have bought their cake so many times. But now the quality has gone down. This was my favorite bakery. I don’t know what happened. They need to go back to how they do things. The cake was dry and it wasn’t as chocolatey as it used to be.

We tried the bistro part for the first time for a quick early dinner on a Sunday evening. They have a small patio upstairs which we enjoyed (but had to move indoors due to mosquitoes!). It was quiet and the service was good. Onion soup was delicious! We also ordered two caesar salads (salmon and chicken), which were very big portions and delicious as well. We paid 10$ for soup, 22$ for salmon caesar salad and, 17$ for chicken caesar salad. I’d like to try the bakery part soon. Overall, it was a solid 4-4,5 star. I recommend this business.

Terrible place!! Stay away!! This is a popular spot among locals but it's aged and service sucks. The Bistro upstairs might be better but it's full service and doesn't open until 11am. Until then, you're left with weak coffee, fridge cold & not fully baked quiches, mediocre pastries and hopeless staff. Don't expect to get a plate (even a paper one) for your "breakfast" or even a cup of water after you shell out almost ten bucks for a crappy "quiche" that's inedible as is. If this is meant be to go, why have seating?! Confusing! I'll not be going back! Ever!

There pastries are Devine. Prices are high but if you can afford them, they are worth it. The meals here are average...

Tremendous croissant-adjacent products. Go early for the best selection. Dining is also first rate. Accessibility, however, is a bit of a challenge, owing to the stairs.

Food, service, and ambiance are 5 Stars! Owners and staff are excellent! This place is a community asset! 5 Stars

I advance ordered a cake for my wife's birthday. At pick-up I was given a mis-shaped (because it was stored lying on its side) cake with a dry cracked glaze, one of a dozen they made (clearly not a special birthday order). The cake did reflect the 'facts' of the order, but this clearly was not a cake fit for an occasion. I suppose if you just want to go for a piece of cake it might be an acceptable place, but do not mistake this for a professional bakery capable of putting out cakes that are both tasty and something you would present to guests.

I still enjoy picking up the occasional box of pastries or having a cup of coffee and dessert here with a friend--the seating area is limited but very cozy and relaxing, especially by the fireplace on a chilly day. Service is friendly and efficient, and it is always fun to admire the wonderful pastries behind the glass display--the pave is a favorite, as are the almond cookies...

Sorry, but after Boulangerie Christophe there's no way I can sanction day old (or older) pastries. Ginger cookie Chocolate chip Walnut Dacquoise Linzer They were fine, but not perfect and amazing, unfortunately.

Our group of 10 people went there for brunch to celebrate a birthday. Most of us ordered from the brunch choices. Items included Omelet your way, New Yorker (bagel with smoked salmon and a fried egg, Mezze, pot pie, burger and such. Food was good and the outdoor space on the second floor deck was spacious with big umbrellas and plantings. So I would recommend this if you live nearby. One sour note for us though. When reservation was called in, our friend specifically mentioned it was for a birthday celebration and whether we can bring a cake. She was told Yes. We got there with the cake and the staff put it in the fridge for us and did not mention anything. At the end of the meal, the owner came to our table and sternly declared: No Outside Food is allowed. We understand. But the restaurant staff made a mistake and told our group otherwise. We did not make a fuss but all of us felt that we were being chastised because of the owner's tone of voice! Our original desire to buy pastries was dashed. Paid our bill, took our cake and left.

Honestly this place was pretty blah. The ONLY thing that was good was the Walnut Dacquoise. I ordered a Croque Madame and got a Croque Monsieur instead. Oh well, I can roll with the punches. However, it was...smothered in cheese. Like, swimming. I had to tease out the ham (which looked like generic supermarket ham instead of a nicer cut) and just eat a part of the sandwich because it was so overwhelming. Tried the bakery downstairs where I had to repeat my order 4 times (two pastries, it's not hard). Of the two, the Walnut Dacquoise is the only thing worth paying attention to. It's not enough to save this place overall. I'll pass on coming back.

Wow. Their Chocolate Truffle Cake is CHOCOLATE EVERYTHING! If you are a chocolate lover, you have got to try this! It was so rich in chocolate and everything a chocolate lover needs in life. This bakery seems to be a local favorite and looked like several customers were getting the French Baguette. Personally, I think pastries were reasonably price, so definitely give it a try!

The food was delicious! I got the chicken pot pie and Caesar salad (no protein). Perfect temperature. Came out in a reasonable time. Staff were super friendly and accommodating! The restaurant was cozy and spacious.

Always excellent Varied menu and excellent pastries Tight tables though and noisy At times

I have been searching for a bakery with amazing baked goods and THIS IS IT! I selected several different cookies to try. They were all amazing. Been back twice since then. The cookies aren't cheap but this is definitely "you get for you pay for" bakery. First class baked goods. Last Sunday I visited their Bistro upstairs for breakfast. Food was good but doesn't open till 11 so not a great breakfast place but good for brunch. Cant go wrong if you love high quality, fresh baked goods

This a very fine bakery and if you order something specially made, the results are excellent. I have had them make a variety of pastries, all excellent.

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Great breakfasts, brunches and pastries in a charming ambience. Upon the recommendation of relatives the hubby and I tried this place during our visit to the area. It was a short walk from where we were staying so we ended up visiting twice: brunch one day and breakfast another day. The restaurant has a bakery on the first floor with some small tables but the regular dining room/patio is upstairs. As far as I could tell I didn't see any elevators so I'm not sure how people with mobility issues make it up there. The decor is French country-cute, but not too precious. We were sat at a comfortable booth by some windows looking out onto the patio, which also looked pleasant. We tried the following: - Eggs Benedict minus ham, with dressed greens and garlicky potatoes that were unusually oily-looking but turned out to be very tasty. The bread slices on which it came were nice and flaky, and the hollandaise sauce was good. - The coffee was good and strong. - French toast was moist and cinnamon-y. - Buckwheat crepes with mushrooms in cream were a savory delight. - Beet salad with red and golden beets was good but nothing earth-shattering. The prices aren't cheap, but I thought it was fine for what we got. The great food, good service and pleasant atmosphere make it a winner in my book.

Do not purchase their to-go food. My "salad" turned out to be an artfully prepared box of lettuce with 2 tomatoes, 4 green beans, 1 fingerling potato, and no more than 2 tablespoons of tuna. I actually spent some time rummaging through the lettuce because I was sure there must be more. Nope. Worst were the 2 kalamata olives, one of which was pitted, so I bit into the second one incautiously--and surprise! It had a pit. I fear I may have cracked my tooth. Clearly they do not value their customers enough to do much quality control, or to put enough ingredients into a $14 salad to make it an actual "salad" rather than a box of lettuce with some garnish.

The pastries are pretty good, not great. The coffee is pretty good considering that's not an emphasis. The sandwiches are good as are the cakes and cookies, some excellent (Pave). There is at least one very helpful/professional person there and then there are others who seem to be poorly trained. Place is always a bit too dusty, needs a really good deep clean and all staff should be trained on use of gloves/paper/tongs etc to handle baked goods.

I ordered a pistachio chocolate croissant and chocolate chip cookie. The croissant was very flaky which I liked but the pistachio filling didn't taste like pistachio at all. Fake flavor, and was probably almond and died that bright green color. The cookie was also ok, listed as choc chip but actually has oatmeal in it as well.

Overpriced and awful food. Inside looks terrible but frankly that's minor in light of the issues with the food and service. Speaking of service, pretty all over the place. Save yourself time and money and skip this one.

The restaurant gets a 2, the bakery gets a 4. Dining outside at this restaurant yesterday was lovely due to the warm weather & pleasant vibe. Unfortunately, my Niçoise salad was the definition of bland & my French fries were only slightly better. Items that I bought at the bakery downstairs & took home were much better. I liked the cinnamon roll as well as the raspberry twist. The brownie was fine & the chocolate mousse cup was delicious.

I'm so happy I found this restaurant! I went there today for dinner, and I was greeted right away with a big smile. I sat down, and my server came right away. I ordered a drink and an appetizer and entree, which I loved. Finally, I ordered tiramisu for dessert which was delicious. The ambiance was cozy.! definitely recommend this place. Great job to the chef and wait staff.

Service can be slow but it is a delightful place for a leisurely lunch with delicious food.

We had a poor experience at the downstairs bakery this morning. After purchasing two small quiches and sitting down to eat them we were informed that they would only be sold cold - it is agains their policy to heat anything up. As the one which was still partially frozen we left. This poor review is strictly for the downstairs bakery section - we hope the upstairs dining remains as wonderful as we remember it.

I have been to this restaurant three times now. The first two times, I sat outdoors on the patio. The ambiance of the patio is lovely. The first two times, the food was ok. I enjoyed the mussels and crab louie salad dishes the best. The french onion was nothing to write home about, which is unfortunate because that is my favorite. I was just happy to get out of the house in a safe environment during covid. It is my most recent experience that compels me to write a review. I wanted to celebrate my husband's recent professional accomplishment by surprising him with his favorite sandwich: croque monsieur. We recently moved to this area, so I wasn't sure where to go for it and even though I had been to this restaurant twice, I still did my research before deciding to order from Praline (which included reading yelp reviews and looking at pictures of their version of the sandwich online on Praline's website and on yelp). I am disappointed with the croque monsieur and feel the restaurant provided an inaccurate representation of the sandwich on their website. The website menu for carryout has a picture that looks like versions of the sandwich I've seen in the past. What I received was shockingly different looking...and had I known this was how they made it, I would not have gone here. The menu picture has melted cheese that looks thicker and the one I received had cheese with a soupy consistency. When I called the restaurant, thinking I had the wrong order, they told me they recently changed the way they prepare the sandwich. I told them they should update the website to show the new way they are preparing the sandwich. I know this is a really specific review, but I felt I needed to leave it because sometimes I go to restaurants with my heart set on a certain item, and I would want to know the discrepancy between the advertised pictures and the actual item prior to dining. Croque Monsieur Sandwich

Very much an old college-town feel (that's a good thing) and experienced hands in the kitchen! Loved the Seafood salad ($18) which was a pile of mixed greens surrounded by two shrimp, a scallop, two mussels, and a decent portion of salmon. All the seafood was perfectly seasoned and the presentation made it fun to eat. I did request a tad more dressing as I felt the greens were a little underdressed. No biggie. The Vegetarian Quiche ($12) was delicious as expected. A standalone single quiche is the style here, which is appealing in its own way. Coffee ($3) is of good quality and the service is top-tier and very friendly. Our water glasses were filled to the brim at all times. I look forward to frequenting Praline and trying more of their brunch and dinner menu items!

Praline Bakery is one of my favorite spots! They have delicious food and pastries and also have sandwiches and entrees. I come by all the time! The owner is also extremely nice.

Epic! A place not to be missed! Love supporting the local eateries! Try the quiche, the flat iron steak and the chocolate desserts! Who knew spiders could be so tasty?!

This is a detailed review of the bistro and the bakery. We tried to get a fair representation by buying a variety of items from both places. At the bistro, my wife and I were seated outside on the roof terrace. It was spacious with a casual upscale atmosphere. We ordered split pea with ham soup (soup du jour), onion soup gratinée, crab cake sandwich, chicken pot pie, crème brûlée and coffee. The split pea with ham soup was delicious. I don't normally like split pea with ham soup, so this is saying something. The peas were pureed which made the soup broth very smooth. The taste was balanced and well-rounded. No overpowering flavor from the peas. Instead, there was a satisfying blend of ham, onion, peas and spices. The soup was thinner than expected, but it didn't make much difference to the taste.    The onion soup gratinée was beautifully prepared. This was one of the best examples of gratinée that I've seen. Gratinée is a french cooking term for browning a topping of cheese or breadcrumbs. The melted cheese was oozing with umami. There was plenty of bread in the soup which was fine for soaking up the broth. The broth was excellent in many ways except one. The beef flavor was too weak. Our server, Billy, told the chef. We received an apology. That was very gracious of the chef. We appreciated that.    The chicken pot pie came in a square bowl with a square puff pastry crust on top that was detached. The crust was light, airy, flaky and crispy. Buttery in flavor like a croissant. The filling was a creamy chicken velouté sauce with big pieces of boneless chicken, carrots, peas, pearl onions and mushrooms. The chicken needed to be cut into bite-sized pieces. Other than that, it was a great comfort food.    The crab cake sandwich was all lump crabmeat. No breading, just delicious sweet crabmeat in a brioche bun. It came with a choice of salad or fries. The salad had a slightly sweet dressing. This was one of the best crab cakes I have had the pleasure of eating.    The crème brûlée had a creamy custard with a rich vanilla flavor. The beautifully caramelized sugar on top was nice and thick. With the coffee, it was a perfect ending to the meal.    Our waiter, Billy was knowledgeable, attentive and friendly. He knew a lot about the food they serve and he asked about our opinion of the food. We look forward to another visit.    See the previous review for the bakery visit.

The most yummy & sumptuous cookies, tarts, pies, pound cake and sandwiches + coffee in the tri area of MD, VA & DC!!! But oh wait- the BEST tasting & beautiful Joyeaux Noel log that really elevates the holidays! If you took one for a holiday party, you'll be on the permanent guest list! Here's a pro tip - they sell out FAST, so place your orders early! Susan and her team are awesome and go the extra mile to care for customers. Sooo good, I make a point of stopping by while in DC.

Praline is a very nice neighborhood bakery/bistro. The bakery has wonderful pastries and the restaurant has reliably good food. On a recent visit I had the smoked salmon appetizer which was absolutely delicious and I love the presentation and the lemon chive spread that comes on the side. The toast is perfectly done - crisp on the outside but still soft. Definitely the standout and my husband, who didn't enjoy his Poulet Grand'mere, happily took care of the leftovers. He found the white wine sauce that his chicken was cooked with to be salty and bland. I agreed. Unfortunately a disappointing dish. I also had the onion soup, which I always get. It's a lovely version! Others in our party enjoyed the Lamb Special, which came in a nice apricot and sundried tomato sauce but the meat seemed a bit dry. The Charcuterie and Cheese platter was enjoyed and had a nice variety of components. The fries to share are always delicious - perfectly crispy. While we didn't get them this time, we often get the Praline burger and the Ratatouille Salmon. Both are very good. For dessert I highly recommend the Praline Crunch, which unfortunately they no longer offer at the bakery. Service is always wonderful here! The long time host and hostess are no longer around but the newer staff is attentive and friendly. There are a few elements that could be improved on the menu, but overall an enjoyable experience.

We are new to the neighborhood and had heard great things about the bistro and the bakery and so were anxious to try it. We arrived for lunch and were shown to a table outside in a lovely setting. The ambiance proved to be the high point. After waiting over a half an hour for a server we decided to leave as being studiously ignored is never a pleasant experience. I completely understand how difficult it is for our local restaurants to meet the surge in demand and have had managers/servers ask us to be patient as they try to provide good service. This is appreciated, ignoring patrons is not.

This review is for a bridal shower held at this location: I came here for a bridal shower and the food and service were okay. I do have to say that the room that we were in for the bridal shower was kind of too small for the amount of people that were there. It was hard to walk around and mingle with people. They gave us an array of food. There was smoked salmon sandwiches, salad, cheese and cracker boards, and so much more. They even gave us unlimited alcoholic drinks. I thought this was kind of wasteful because I didn't drink and I know a lot of other people did not drink either. All in all, the food was okay and the service was okay too.

Used to be my go to place for delicious French pastries and breads but the customer service has really gone downhill. It's a shame to see it go down so much in the past couple of years.

The quality of the food and baking here is pretty good. But don't eat-in: the seating area was dirty on a recent visit, they were out of both knives and forks and got our orders wrong. There's even a sign saying "we will not cut or heat anything for you." Whatevs. If you want to go...get carryout.

I hosted an "afternoon tea" baby shower here for 16 people. I had never been here before (other than to see the space) but was pleasantly surprised and would be back here again. Upstairs, there is a small private room (where we were) and a larger main dining room. I worked with Susan and Carine via email and it was an easy process to set up logistics. On the day of, We were able to come in a little early to set up some simple decorations. Afternoon tea was reasonably priced and we had a lot of sweet and savory bites to choose from. Everything that we got was delicious (crab cake, mini smoked salmon sandwich, caramelized onion tart, lemon meringue tart, macarons). The main con to our event was the room was way too small for 16 people. I think that 10 people would be ideal, and maybe AT MAX 12, but with 16, people were crammed in the corner and against the walls and it made conversation difficult and moving around uncomfortable. It was also hard for the waiters to come in and serve the guests. I had asked about moving to the main dining room beforehand but we were not given the option. Also, not a big deal, but it wasn't clear how many small bites we would be getting and I thought that with our large party size we would have had more food.

So a little pricey but well worth it. Came by accident. The downstairs is the bakery and the top floor is the restaurant. Unique french decor, love it. Not much sitting place so the place got packed quick, obviously a local favorite. Enjoyed the written daily menu. Food was amazing. Hot, fresh, and have a variety of options for various dietary needs. Desserts melt in your mouth. Coffee nice and strong, just the way I like it! Def a cute unique dinner date location.

First things first - if you're not from the area, your GPS will be very confused trying to get here. See the shopping center? It's in there. I stopped for a very late lunch and some macarons before heading to the airport. I ordered the quiche Lorraine with greens but received a different quiche. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I ordered and I didn't have time to send it back. That would have made this a 3 star experience if it weren't for the MACARONS. Holy. Cow. I'm talking about melt-in-your-mouth, buttery, slightly crunchy goodness with the smoothest, most delectable cream fillings you could imagine. To top it off, they put them in this tiny little suitcase box that made me swoon like a little girl. All in all, I think I'll be back for the bakery items but will pass on the cafe.

Two years ago I stumbled upon this bakery while I was house/dog sitting for a friend in the nearby AU Park neighborhood. It had only been open about a month at that time. I do not recall the upstairs dining area being opened at the time. I only visited the bakery and OMG, what a bakery! Almond croissants, pastries galore, and bars and cookies to die for! Now, fast forward to this past Sunday. My neighbor and I decided to venture out here after devouring their lemon bar at the Silver Spring Farmers Market. We arrived shortly before ten when the dining area was scheduled to open; good timing on our part! Breakfast/brunch options are fairly routine. They offer omelets, bacon and eggs and quiche, for example. Each of these entrees are $8.50 each, not exactly cheap compared to other places. My neighbor and I both had the quiche. It was an individual quiche about 5" across. It was light and fluffy and definitely made from scratch with a crisp, pastry crust. We ate outside on the upstairs patio which was nice because of the weather, but there is no view and the only tables with an umbrella are the bigger ones which they did not want to seat two people at. With a drink (try their Arnold Palmer!) this meal is slightly more than ten bucks, and you must save room for a pastry from their countless selection. I stopped by the pastry counter (see the photo!) on the way out. I purchased another lemon bar. It was the same price ($3) as they charge at the Farmers Market. I also got a Jalousie pastry. Its name translates to 'jealous' in French, and that's what my neighbor was. She wanted me to dig into it right there, but I told her I was taking it home whole. It was basically two palmier cookies with raspberry jam spread in between. It wasn't my favorite dessert ever, but I could tell it was made from puff pastry. The friend I dog sat for two years ago is moving to the Brookmont neighborhood this month, which is even closer! When I dog sit next month you can be sure I will be here again and again!

Delicious food and wonderful rooftop seating! I've had everything from the delicious cookies, macaroons, and croissants from the bakery to the summer risotto, mezze plate, and nicoise salad from the bistro. They also had a great Mother's Day bruch. My "go-to" place for meeting friends out!

This praline is not so sweet. I haven't written a review on Yelp in over 3 years, and this experience was so bad I had share. If you dine here, beware. They may have hidden fees they don't divulge to you. They have an upcharge for getting pastries from their bakery and dining in the restaurant. The real problem: -They never explained this to us. -They let us personally transport pastries (so we weren't technically served). -They showed us some alternative menu we had never seen before to justify the upcharge. -Our waitress said she actually didn't know of the upcharge and that it was news to her. -The manager was very unhelpful and unwilling to provide a refund for the measly $3. What added insult to injury is that we still had the mandatory 20% to pay for parties of 6 or more, and the food and coffee weren't even that good. They lost 6 customers from that experience. Go here if you want to ruin your morning!

My YELP app said the bakery was open, but at 730 PM Saturday night, it had closed. The restaurant was still open so we chose to have our desserts on the outdoor patio. It was lovely out there, with shrubs, flowers, and a warm summer breeze. I had a decaf and their chocolate mousse napoleon. I like my coffee bold, and a little bitter. This cup was a compromise, that probably caters to the largest number of drinkers. It was a medium roast that lacked character. My napoleon had thin crisp dark chocolate wafers, with chocolate mouse layers. It worked visually, and delivered the chocolate flavor, but not to the extreme I was hoping for. I tasted the other desserts at our table. The brownie was ordinary. The crunch bar delivered a nice hazelnut taste along with the promised crunch. The walnut dacquoise did little to impress me. Please be mindful that my review was limited to desserts. I intend to sample some savory dishes, as well as bakery items, and hope to increase the star rating. They also deserve support because of their alliance with Glen Echo Park. They are a civic minded business with roots in the community.

Great local place. I've had their desserts a few times over the years and always been a fan, but this was the first time I ventured inside to try the bistro. The upstairs seating area is cute and small. The noise isn't so bad that you are unable to carry on a conversation in regular volume speech. The menu features daily specials in addition to a variety of brunch and lunch plates to satisfy both the savory and sweet tooth. I opted for the beet salad, while my friend got the turkey sandwich. I am not a fan of horseradish, and was very glad to get the dressing on the side. It was potent. The salad already had a house vinaigrette on it, which was lovely. The beet pieces were nice and big and there was a generous sprinkle of goat cheese on top. Our service was quick, but we had a fairly long conversation before ordering and didn't feel rushed or pressured to order. Complimentary bread and butter on the table while you wait for your meal is a nice touch. Friend's sandwich was gone quickly and the side order of fries that came with it looked crisp and delicious. Overall, nice place to visit, there were definitely vegetarian options other than just salads.

A really cute French cafe in such an unexpected spot! They have a variety of options including soup, salad, quiche, and desserts. I like to get French onion soup here and it's always good. They have outdoor seating upstairs for when there is nice weather. It's really cute and perfect for a leisurely lunch. The chef used to be the retired White House chef but the new chef is also great!

I've tried both the restaurant and the bakery here, and both exceed expectations, especially given the modest, out-of-the-way location. In particular, the bakery is a true gem: when we are craving or really need some high-end pastries, we love being able to just walk in and select from the single portion servings of many of their incredibly delicious desserts. For special occasions (birthdays, guests, etc) we stop by and pick up one of their specialty cakes (*anything* with chocolate is always a huge hit, and my personal favorite is the melt-in-your-mouth walnut dacquoise cake ... Literally heaven dancing on your tastebuds). Not surprising as the pastry chef used to be the White House pastry chef. (They're coming out with a book, in fact, about gingerbread at the WH!) The bakery savories are also very tasty - the single serving quiches and pizzas are particular faves when I'm on the go. Warning, though - this place is expensive. But hey, expect to pay for quality. Additional plus: Starbucks is in the same shopping center, so this is a great trip to get your coffee *and* dessert in one shot. Just sayin' ...

Such an underrated bakery! I ordered the baguette, walnut dacquoise, chocolate pistachio cake, and quiche. All of them were delicious and they had such a variety of goods. I was especially surprised at how good their baguette was!

I notice that reviews for Praline complain about tiny portions.... that's interesting to me! this seems indeed to be the M.O. of the chef there ... A loud and unpleasant woman who claims to be the owner and has reduced the size of what she bakes or cooks to the very minimum she can, while hiking her prices by 20 or 25% and more. what used to be a delicious chocolate pound cake of decent size and cost $15 is now reduced to a mini size for $19 and all the so-called 8-portion cakes are in fact 6-portion cakes nowadays with a hefty increase in price all the viennoiseries have shrunk in size and risen in price. The delicious refined French pasties have become ordinary. Very Sad! No one will cut a sandwich in half, no one ill heat up anything in the bakery! A rude sign tells you so! How is that too much to ask? All decent bakeries are happy to give these basic services ! The loud and rudely unpleasant chef has one answer to the remarks one makes to her : "YOU ARE FORBIDDEN TO COME BACK HERE, DONT COME BACK HERE ". thank you for the advice. We won't come back ! much to our regret, because Praline used to be a favorite place to buy pastries and enjoy delicious food. Not any more!

Great place! My only (slight) complaint, which isn't exactly a bad thing, is that they sometimes have been sold out of a few baked goods I was hoping to buy, including their apricot pastry. But that is mostly just an indication of how popular the place is and how loyal many customers are. I have always been able to find something else in those situations, like a croissant or cookie. The staff are very good, and the quality of the coffee has also always been quite high. Great bread as well. Highly recommend.

Delightful bistro and bakery. Seating is both down and upstairs. We ate lunch upstairs and outside on a wonderful patio with huge, adjustable umbrellas. I had loose crab tiny pieces in a green salad with avacado, tomato and hard boiled egg that was just ok. Maybe I should have had the burger. Our server was well versed in the dishes and was attentive to the five of us. My complaint is that we could not have separate checks. There is NO excuse for not offering separate bills. It makes it easier on the customer. I would think easier on the wait staff who does not have to explain this to customers. Update your computer and offer separate checks. It's the 21st century.

I stumbled across this establishment when hubby took me for my COVID-19 test (negative...thank God!) and I needed a pick me up after a rough couple of days. I had no idea what a praline is but the storefront was so cute and I saw that they sold other desserts so we decided to treat ourselves! I had no idea a praline had nuts...I am allergic and they were out BUT they had Parisian macrons of all sorts! They have a special display case for them. I lost my mind and I think I ordered 2-3 of each type. As I paid for my order, I saw that they had brioche beignets filled with chocolate! I added 2 of those to my order. I spent so much money in so little time but it was so worth it! I will be back. I cannot wait until this quarantine lifts so I can check out their patio. Looks like a fun spot to enjoy my treats on a weekend afternoon. Thanks for making a sucky day end on a sweet note.