Halwa Bakery & Cafe — Restaurant in Blacksburg

What an amazing experience! Not sure where to even begin.

Coffee- truly high quality coffee with baristas that know what they are doing. They use beans from Counter Culture in NC which is a local, small batch roaster with an eye for detail in their flavor profile. Halwa offers all the expected espresso machine options as well as a huge list of things you won't find anywhere else like Arabian and Turkish style coffees. Try one of these!

Food- an astonishing variety of pastries, sweet loaves, cookies and bars with flavors you won't find elsewhere. There are a plethora of middle eastern options that will transport you across the world and immerse you in a culture of spice that will brighten your life. Seriously, this stuff is good. Visit a foreign country without leaving town.

Ambiance- dark wood tones and black metal are accented perfectly with pops of color and clever placement of greenery. The whole shop feels thoughtful and relaxing. There are couches, tables and outdoor seating to accommodate whatever needs you may have. Honestly, I didn't want to leave. I even sent a picture of the bathroom to my wife because it was beautifully decorated and so clean!

Overall, this place clearly exceeded my expectations. I can't wait to visit again and I hope many others will stop in to experience what Halwa has to offer. My only complaint is that they are 4 hours from where I live so it will be hard to swing through on my...

This place had no disappointments. We called ahead just to see what all this place has to provide. The owner answered the phone and was the most helpful anyone could ask for. She answered all my questions to a tee, made sure to take time to explain things, and even help us know where she was located. When I got to the bakery/cafe, the inside was so relaxing and warming. It seemed others were there with friends or even coworker hanging out and enjoying their time. The owner herself also helped us. She was so sweet and helped to explain everything she had. A lot of her food has the background of Mediterranean style. With all the choices, you can’t walk out with just one thing. Her prices were perfect for the amount of food you get. You can tell she has a touch of detail with each item. Perfectly displayed, the colors, and even the smell was breathtaking. We got our food Togo. The boxing is simple but elegant. When we were able to try what we got, all of it was for sure made with love. If you are looking for your melt in your mouth cookies, crispy but buttery baklava, or even fresh baked cakes, this is your place. We rather have something to remind us of home cooked food rather then store brand items. This by far exceeded our expectations! I would recommend this place to everyone. You never feel like a stranger from...

Food - I had quiche with flaky crust, savory filling, and size-able portion. It was wonderful

Coffee - hot and well-made (I had a double-shot late so hard to judge but the espresso in it is definitely solid)

Service - the two ladies who served me were so very nice and one of them, who I believe to be the owner, bakes all of the scrumptious-looking goods on display.

Atmosphere - warm and inviting (they were playing classical music when I was there today and that kept me studying g there which was super nice but I am told they do change it up depending on who is working). Music is not too loud like a lot of other cafes. There is ample seating for a small-medium sized cafe.

Hygiene - since this is a hot topic, I will include it in my brief review. There is evidence of great sanitation efforts both behind the counter and in the seating area. There is sanitizer at the door and all employees wear masks. The owner even took a squirt of sanitizer before handing me my change and food :)

Summary - I’ve been here twice this week. The first time I had a freshly baked apple pie baklava and it was enough to bring me back. I can see myself coming here on a much more frequent basis as a place to study outside of my home and to meet up...