Cafe Aurora — Restaurant in Alexandria

Today was my first time at Café Aurora, and man, it hit different. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt welcoming and comforting — a place full of warmth and authenticity.

The food was beyond amazing, not just in taste but in the memories it unlocked. The moment I took my first bite, it was as if I had been transported back to my childhood. This was the kind of food my mom used to cook for me before I was adopted, and I haven’t tasted anything like it in years. It wasn’t just a meal — it was a wave of nostalgia, a plate filled with love, tradition, and comfort.

I felt just like the food critic in Ratatouille when he takes that one bite and is instantly carried back to a cherished moment in his past. That’s exactly how it felt — powerful, emotional, and nostalgic.

I can’t lie eating here felt like coming home after being away for too long. It showed me just how out of touch I’ve been with my culture, and how comforting it is to rediscover it through food. I guess it’s true food does carry the soul...

Mildly infuriating experience.

The two of us were seated immediately upon arriving. After about about a minute, a group of six came and were seated next to us. The waitress that seated us promptly took their drink orders. After a few more minutes a different waitress came over and took our whole order. And we opted to get our drinks with our food instead of before. A long wait ensues.

-The table of 6 got their food way before us despite us being seated and ordering food first.

-We had to remind the waitress about our drinks after receiving our food and we were already halfway through eating before actually getting them.

-My food wasn't as hot as I had hoped (warm scrambled eggs are inferior to hot eggs...)

-Our waitress was very sweet and nice and our food tasted delicious. We got the panino and the breakfast balance. Hot chocolate was good but they forgot the whipped cream. Americano was fine, but they didn't...

I had breakfast this morning at cafe aurora and left with mixed feelings. The food was decent, but the experience was spoiled by unexpected charges. Without any prior notice, either when we arrived, before ordering, or when we asked for the check, an automatic 20% gratuity was added to the bill. I typically tip 20-25%, but I prefer to make that decision myself. It’s one thing to add a gratuity for larger groups, but it was just two of us at the table.

To make matters worse, the service was poor. No one offered us drinks when we arrived, and after 15 minutes, we had to ask if someone could take our order. Even then, it took calling over servers multiple times before they attended to us. Despite the poor service, the 20% gratuity was added without hesitation. It’s frustrating when a restaurant charges a tip without checking if the service actually warrants it. I won’t be returning...