Sweet Leaf Cafe

This is truly a "sweet", as in lovely place! When I searched Google maps for a breakfast food place (they have lunch and other options, too) it didn't show up! I was walking to the next closest restaurant only to walk by this one and turn back to go inside because it looked appealing. It is bright and sunny. The have a great variety of healthy food options from smoothies, to bowls, to sandwiches, to salads, etc. Everything is fresh. They also serve coffee and tea. The place is clean, well staffed and well stocked. The staff are friendly, quick and polite. 5 out of 5!

The Harvest Bowl is a perfect breakfast. i had them add an additional egg. There is outdoor seating which was great since it was such a nice morning.

I was there today at the height of the lunch rush. This place is busy because it is so good and reliable. And the staff were grinding - they were working so hard and efficiently, and providing great food and terrific customer service. I just want to express my gratitude and admiration for the excellent, hard working staff!!

Came on a Monday in July during the lunch rush. Outstanding service (just a bit warm inside) Would return!!

This review is not about the staff who make the meals. They are very friendly and maybe its because I frequently go their for lunch. But the manager is very rude. I ordered a pesto salad but I wanted vegan, no chicken. When I saw the girl put avocado i reiterated that I wanted vegan no meat cause i know the full pesto salad on the menu comes with avacado and the vegan does not. She said OK. When I got to the register to pay, the manger said $14. I said to him it's vegan no chicken he said it's the same thing. So I replied I've been getting a vegan salad for the past month and it's been around $9. He said because I added avacado. I said I didn't add the avacado but if it's an issue you can take the avacado out. At this point the girl already started mixing the salad up. I don't know what she told him but her gestures seemed apologetic and like she confirmed what I was saying. But he was like No. He then put the already made salad on the back counter and said I have to order another one because the pesto salad is not vegan. So I had to rejoin the line and specifically say vegan salad. But when I got to the end, and i asked for pesto dressing, they added it. The manager attitude was so stupid. I told him, you were willing to discard a perfectly good salad just because of half of an avacado that was already turning brown. He said yes. I am a regular customer so they know I frequently spend my money there for lunch. This happened last week. I'm so disappointed in the service he provided. I think I'm gonna find another lunch spot.

This place is located just outside of the corporate off where I work. Visited them for breakfast. Got the Malibu breakfast sandwich. I had to literally fight my co-workers from trying to take it from me cause it smelled so good and thankfully it tasted even better. My new spot for breakfast.

I always eat here when I'm in town. Delicious, healthy, and fast, and a good value. I haven't had everything on the menu yet, but every thing I have had has been excellent. It's so nice to have a quick and affordable place to eat where you can actually get clean, fresh food.

I was impressed with how tasty their food is. I got the Sabroso rice bowl and it was flavorful and fresh. The staff were friendly too. There are a few tables inside and about 5 outside. Good lunch experience.

I am staying at the hotel across the street from this Sweet Leaf location and this has been my breakfast spot for the majority of the week. They offer a mix of bowls, sandwiches, and salads and the option to build your own. I'm traveling for work and have a few indulgent events at night, so I have been trying to find healthy and filling options during the day. The staff was kind enough to customize a breakfast bowl for me so I've been enjoying their sunrise burrito in bowl form for a high-protien, low-carb breakfast. It's also super affordable. If you're in the area, this is a great spot to grab a quick, satisfying meal.

We were staying at the Madison Hotel. Sweet Leaf was just across the street, so it was perfect for us. I appreciated their salad choices, especially their Greek Roots and Spicy Avocado. Also, they offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. It was lunchtime when we visited, and even though it was busy, we were able to get a table, and the line moved quickly.

oh my gosh. The seasonal cranberry sandwich was life changing. This place is 500x better than Sweet Green!!! The sandwich was so fresh, flavorful, and quick on my lunch break. Great sandwich shop and good service!

With its wide selection of fresh ingredients for salads, grain bowls, and sandwiches, Sweet Leaf is the perfect spot for a healthy and convenient weekday lunch. Similar to other fast-casual salad places like Sweetgreen or Chopt, you can either choose from their chef-curated selections or build your own. A few favorites from their curated menu are the Tofu Tango (basically a vegetarian take on a harvest bowl with roasted tofu, sweet potatoes, quinoa, romaine, kale, apples, goat cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette) and the Salmon + Wild Farro Bowl (replacing the farro with quinoa if you're gluten-free). They have a decent selection of vegetarian mains, including their roasted tofu and baked falafel. Their falafel is by no means traditional, as it has a much softer outer shell, but it's a tasty plant-based addition to your bowl. I also love adding their roasted vegetables (zucchini, yellow squash, red peppers) and, if available, roasted brussel sprouts with pear. If you're looking for a side to pair with your new salad or grain bowl or sandwich, Sweet Leaf has a decent selection of chips and baked goodies (mostly different variations of brownies and cookies), as well as warm soups and fresh smoothies. Just like the rest of their menu, you can either choose from a curated selection of smoothies or make your own concoction. I'm a big fan of their Berry Blanco (blueberries, coconut, granola) and Green Cure (strawberry, avocado, kale). Their smoothies are on the sweeter end, which I didn't love, but they're still delicious and a great mid-day pick-me-up! With its wide selection of bowls, sandwiches, and snacks, as well as its downtown DC location, Sweet Leaf is a convenient spot to drop by and pick up lunch in the middle of the workday. The service is friendly and efficient, and you can also order online to make your pick-up process a bit quicker (and, if you're anything like me, so you don't have to feel bad about being indecisive). They do have a couple of tables inside, as well as one or two outside, but it's generally pretty crowded and loud.

Sweet Leaf is my local hidden gem. I've always been the only person there when I go, but I think it's because I go at random times. It seems jammed during classic work lunch hours. I've also only ordered random items from Sweet Leaf, but that's why I love it - it has unique options outside of the salads, sandwiches, and smoothies they also offer. One favorite of mine is the Green Wrap, which is literally a lettuce wrapped sandwich. It holds the ingredients together really well and adds a fun crunchy element. They also have very reasonably priced Frozen Yogurt (only tart flavor and limited toppings), which is very hard to find in DC!

The food was very good here. The salad with salmon was great. The berry toast was even better. Service was good and the store is an order at counter type.

Grabbed takeout dinner and went with the chicken pesto salad--which was incredibly fresh and delicious. Perfectly meal-sized with what tastes like crisp Parmesan cheese crackers. I'll likely be back for lunch tomorrow because the menu was really difficult to choose from (it all looked good)!

This is a small, casual spot that's great for picking up lunch on a weekday. In my view, a great independent alternative to Sweetgreen or Chopt (the price is comparable). They have salads, sandwiches, soups, and breakfast as well. Smoothies, chips, and dessert are on the menu too. Today I got the tofu tango salad without cheese which was tasty, and a sizable portion. The staff were quick and efficient too! I do wish they had more veg and vegan options--all of their menu is easily customizable but as listed, the options are limited.

Pretty well run little place for breakfast or more like lunch with fresh offerings for bowls, salads, sandwiches, soups and more. Interiors kinda industrial but not inviting. You stand in a queue and they make your request in front of you. Seating is offered both inside (at times noisy) and outside (up to the elements). Food quality is very good and so is the quantity for the price. Service staff is efficient but not rude and they do seem to have a regular following. A real find in a canyon of high rise office buildings and hotels at a higher level of quality than your normal faire.

I was staying across the street in The Madison and decided to go for breakfast at Sweet Leaf. I ordered a breakfast sandwich and it was hands down one of the best I have ever had. They replaced the bacon for some avocado and my total cost was $8. I would highly recommend this spot. Beats the average breakfast at my hotel for $30.

I love having this spot near my office. It has really exceeded expectations for a quick lunch or a smoothie. The salads and bowls are always very fresh and well balanced and there are plenty of options to choose from. It definitely gets busy at lunch time, but the staff is efficient and you can also order ahead to skip the line.

Lots of great options from froyo, soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. Everything is so fresh and the staff is friendly. I love their seasonal menu items, always something new to try! They are quick during lunchtime but the app makes it easy to order and pick up when I'm running behind.

Delicious! 10/10 I ate here probably 4 or 5 times over the course of my stay at the Madison Hotel. The food is fresh, the smoothies are delicious and the staff were very helpful.

Food is always fresh and service is fast and professional. It gets packed during lunch time, with a relatively long line that moves quite fast. Ventilation isn't great, so you may leave the restaurant with your clothes smelling like food.

Comparable to sweetgreen, I like this place much better. The staff is super friendly. The options are plentiful. The portions are generous. The ingredients are fresh. The service is prompt. The prices are reasonable. The Chimichurri and salads are delicious. I am a repeat customer.

Amazing fresh salads and sandwiches .I built my own and it was so fresh and delicious . The manager was really attentive and kind . The service was fast and the employees smiled a lot . The tart yogurt for dessert was the cherry on the top of the experience .

The food was great! They were quick to get out my breakfast sandwich and the brioche was to die for. It has a perfect cafe feel. They were so kind and offered to replace a topping on my sandwich when I asked for no cheese. Really great! Enjoyed it!

Every single time I eat a salad here, I think "this is the best salad I've tasted." Sweetleaf offers a wide selection of fresh fruits, veggies, meats, grains, and dressings for guests to customize salads to their liking, in addition to excellent soups, juices (their fresh OJ rocks), and cookies. I often order using the app (allows me to earn discounts and avoid the lunch rush from 12-2 pm) and my salads are waiting for me on the counter. It can be difficult to find a seat during peak times, so I often take my meals to go. The staff is friendly and efficient, especially when I order late. If the shop is out of some of my selected items, the staff often calls me to suggest substitutions. They're very accommodating of dietary preferences.

Excellent, fresh salad and fast service even during peak hours. Definitely returning. Loved the chicken pesto salad with avocado and reasonable prices

Service was very good even though it was busy. Very pleasant and took time to explain what is on the menu. F First timer will go back when I have a chance to go to Dc.

I wasn't a big salad person until recently due to health reasons. So I gave this place a try since it's very close to my work and recommended by my colleagues. First time I tried Sweet Leaf, I went with the Chimichurri grain bowl and I was pretty surprised that it had so much flavor. It was a good balance between meat, dressing, greens, etc. This is actually what got me started with trying other salads. I also got to try the Steak and Cheddar sandwich and thought it was pretty good. The flavor was very similar to the Chimichurri but then again I believe it had the same sauce. The sandwich was pretty good but the bread was a bit touch to bite through and chew. So I might just stick with their salad/grain bowls moving forward. Two other things that I'd like to mention are that 1. price is a bit high (I understand this is probably market pricing for salad bowls) 2. sometimes the staff seem to be very busy and end up putting in the wrong topping or forget to put something in. Just need to be careful and let them know if they do miss anything.

This is my favourite go to place for lunch. 2 blocks from work. The customer service is SUPERB! They're so friendly! The food is beyond amazing and very filling. I brought few of my co workers here and they are hooked!

Very similar set up to Sweetgreen/Chopt/JustSalad, etc. Try to avoid coming between 12-1; it will be packed with the work lunch crowd. They were fast enough and I liked my salad. Seemed like there was some confusion behind the counter but didn't affect me so can't complain. Got the Kabobi and enjoyed it. Convenient lunch option, I'll go back.

Had avocado and watermelon salad, which is an interesting concept but not the most delicious salad I ever had. But it was a decent enough salad. Huge lunch crowd.

Sweet leaf is an awesome place to go if you want a healthy lunch (or breakfast) with numerous options. The staff are friendly, efficient, and give great suggestions. The place is usually pretty packed between 12-1, but the wait time never exceeds 10 minutes. I have become a lifelong fan of sweet leaf

I stopped at Sweet Leaf today for the first time and I was pretty impressed. This is a fairly new restaurant and I think they just recently opened. The menu is standard for fast casual lunch places downtown; they offer sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls. Everything sounded delicious and I had a hard time choosing what to order. I ordered the So Cali turkey club sandwich and it was delicious. Everything on the sandwich tasted fresh and the flavors were unique. Not like anything at the chain sandwich shops. I will definitely be back to check out other salads and sandwiches!!

I love sweet leaf! It's usually my go to, their ingredients are fresh and they have all the toppings you could want in a salad or grain bowl!! I believe most of the ingredients are locally sourced. My go to is typically the kabobi bowl (light on the rice)! Their harissa is super flavorful, I love the availability of roasted corn and alfalfa sprouts!

Usually, I really enjoy this place. The food is pretty high quality and the portions are good. I was just a little turned off with a recent experience. I ordered a milkshake, and I received a flavor that I didn't order. The manager was standing there and agreed it wasn't what I ordered. She did offer to make another one, but they take about five mins a piece and I had to get back for a meeting. I told her this and she just stared at me. I would have appreciated her offering a refund or a credit on the next one. I'm a little soured on this place, but I'll probably be back eventually.

Was here this past weekend. Enjoyed everything I ate. Fresh, great and friendly service. Nice size portion and they even asked how much dressing I would like on the salad which j appreciated. Will be back.

I would give this place five stars, HOWEVER they really need to offer tofu as a meat substitute. They have so many delicious looking salads on the menu that vegetarians cannot eat. Offering falafel simply doesn't make the cut. As a side, the staff is so sweet and friendly, and the one salad I consistently order there (the harvest bowl) is delicious.

I work in the building next to this location and was excite to see this place open up. Since then I have had many good meals there. Unfortunately early this spring I got food poisoning after eating at this location. I realize this can happen especially when preparing salads in high volume. I stayed away for a long while but decided a few weeks ago I would go back. Again I had a several good meals. The last meal I ordered was a sandwich, and when I bit into it I found a slice of raw bacon - yes raw - hadn't touched a pan or griddle. Frustrated by a second significant miss I sent in an email communication to the customer service group. After a week no response, so I followed up again. I was told by email that if I wanted to provide feedback I would have to call the store manager. Hmmm - I am not sure what the role of customer service is for this organization but it seems a food safety issue would fall under customer service I am disappointed but understand with rapid growth things fall through the cracks.

This place is consistently delicious. I've been here at least 5 times in the last two weeks and always had a great meal. Large portions, fresh ingredients, and very polite staff. It gets a little busy at lunch so plan accordingly.

One of, if not, the best salad bars in Washington DC. The recipes are delicious and the ingredients super fresh. And the staff is professional and friendly!

Kabobi bowl. Made by Donnell da bestest! Hit the spot and healthy! Love IT! This place has been here for 7 months, I am from NYC and have access to a lot of different food! This place will give Seeet Green a run for their money!