Godfrey's — Restaurant in Falls Church

I am passionate about finding good quality coffee in Northern Virginia and Godfrey's has topped my list as one of the best coffee shops that I've ever been to. That may not seem like high praise to you but, trust me, it is.

When trying to find a coffee shop that I like, there are a couple of things that I typically look for:

1. Quality of the coffee (obviously). I'm not a coffee expert by any means of the imagination, but you don't have to be a coffee bean grower to recognize a bad cup of coffee most of the time. If the coffee is bad, there's really not much reason to go back.

2. Atmosphere. The coffee shop is a special and unique place in the world; there are so few places like it and so few coffee shops that actually do it well. From this laymans opinion, a coffee shop should be somewhere comfortable, have warm vibes and be a place that you want to sit and spend a little time reading, working or chatting with a friend. It's not a Starbucks, it's not a McDonalds, it's a coffee shop.

3. Price. Good coffee should cost a little more. I have no problem paying speciality prices for specialty coffee to help support local small businesses and the speciality coffee industry that they typically support. That said, even my willingness to pay a little more has limits. If I feel like I'm getting robbed, I'm not coming back.

Those are my criteria and, needless to say, Godfrey's received perfect points on everything. To start, the shop has ample parking. For a coffee shop in Falls Church you know that's important. They have their own private parking lot which is rare and really nice.

On walking in, there is a massive patio area outside with plenty of outdoor seating and a beautiful patio firepit. It was chilly the night we went, but there were folks sitting out by the fire because it was so warm. Nice touch. On stepping inside, you walk past the kitchen with a massive glass window where you can see the kitchen staff literally making all the pastries, cakes and food that they're selling out front. That experience was literally lightyears ahead of watching a Starbucks employee slap your egg sandwich into a microwave in front of your eyes.

Finally, on walking into the dining area you're almost surprised that it's not a sit-down restaurant. There are ample tables, couches, a roaring fireplace and, all in all, a beautiful, classy atmosphere. This, by far, was the most impressive point for me. Godfrey's absolutely nailed the line between a modern, industrial feel while still maintaining an atmosphere of warmth and welcome. Absolutely beautiful. I will say, we went on a Friday evening right around 5pm and things were pretty busy. We found a table pretty easily, but if you go during a popular time, I could see that being an issue, but that's true of every coffee shop.

The staff we interacted with were pleasant, helpful and generous. The lady who brought out our coffees mixed them up and promised that she'd make us a new one if she handed it to the wrong person. That was cool.

We ordered two coffees and paid about $12 for the pair. That seemed fair to me. Food was a little on the pricier side of things, but considering that it's all made at the restaurant, I'm okay with it. One thing I really appreciated, was there was no annoying, awkward tip screen at the checkout counter. Such a small thing, but was a pleasant, unexpected surprise.

The coffees were lovely. I ordered a latte and my wife ordered a mocha. We both had plenty to drink and both agreed that they were delicious. The coffee was fresh and had wonderful flavor, the milk was silky and delicious, and the latte art was well done. We weren't particularly hungry when we went, but their menu options were intriguing (soup, pizza, drinks, sandwiches, etc).

Godfrey's is new and, I'd say, relatively undiscovered. It's busy but not wild and well worth your patronage while they're getting established. This will, and should be, a coffee staple in the area for...

EDIT: Have to move it to 2 stars (from 3) for one reason... they hide a service charge in their bill. There is no sign or anything on their menu saying they are automatically adding the service charge and it's added to everything. Someone grabs 3 pastries from the case... you still pay an additional 10% for that very basic activity. It's dishonest. To be clear, I don't care they make it automatic. Caboose Brewing does it an clearly tells you it's a fair wage fee. Fine. I don't like the practice personally but at least you clearly know. Just tell people about it and make it clear who is getting that service charge. Is it the staff (who aren't very friendly) or going to the business? 3 is maybe generous but hear me out. It comes down to service here. Food was great. Coffee very average. Service is downright poor. Atmosphere is a mixed bag with how busy it gets, the standing in the corner for drinks jostling around people, and the quieter upstairs. Great decor.

Cons: Poor for families. The setup is horrible for families. First, the setup where they deliver food but don't deliver drinks is just bad. It means someone has to stand there and wait (for a long time on a weekend) til they finally get to your drinks. Then you have to go deliver that. If you have 3 drinks, it means two trips because of the nice cups/plates they have but it's just you acting like a server at that point. Oh and if you order a pastry, that will come out a different time than your drinks. So you end up running back and forth with drinks/pastries. Fine. Except with kids the upstairs has way more space. Now do this running up and down the stairs. It is annoying as all get out while missing family time. Next, there is no changing station in the bathroom. But they have a shower. Come on. Servers aren't nice. Example... One occasion I ordered an iced latte to go. They made it "for here." I nicely said hey that was to go and the person didn't say a word or look at me. They simply dumped the coffee in a to go cup, set it down, and turned away. No words. No eye contact. Which btw means I'm still having to turn back around to get the lid, etc. which back to point 1 is a pain in the butt if you are wrangling kids too. But point is, that is the norm here. I've had a few of these types of interactions. Everyone is busy. No one ever smiles. It's rare to get a friendly greeting at all. No one is outright rude... you can debate the story above but I'd call that transactional versus directly rude. They just make zero effort to make your life easier or to enhance the experience. Espresso is average. The illy espresso is just very flat. It's not offensive but not special at all. Which translates to their espresso based drinks... fine to have but nothing at all to write home about. Haven't tried drip coffee here yet.

Pros: Food is great. Pastries I've tried are all top notch. The breakfast sandwiches are nuanced and super tasty. Not downplaying this at all... this alone is worth it to come here and why it's still 3 stars despite above. I'm very excited to try the lunch items as well. The interior is cozy and inviting. Weekends are brutal on the first floor but if you like the busy vibe, it's still a nice setup. Upstairs is rarely busy and also a nice vibe. Can't complain there. Parking! They have a bunch of parking which (again to point 1 above) makes life so much easier for families. Mugs/plates are cool. It's a nice touch on the decor. Elevates the...

We stayed at the Meeting House for 3 nights & attached to the hotel is this spectacular bakery & cafe!

Falls Church hit the jackpot with the visionaries that created a boutique hotel with a foodie experience onsite.

This is not a typical bakery & cafe, we felt swept up into a delightful, culinary world. We also had the honor of meeting Godfrey one evening, and he is really personable & his love of creativity in food is quite evident. He shared his story of how he became a chef, from experiences on luxury cruise lines and the far reaches of the world. Bringing exceptional menu items to Falls Church.

I peeked into the large window, several times, during our stay & observed the staff. What you can’t really see is the dedication to make the most delectable baked goods & cafe menu items.

The breakfast was out of this world! Although Meeting House offers a coffee/muffin for its guests- do not stop there! We tried the French toast, the brioche & croissant sandwiches & over the course of our stay, multiple baked goods.

My husband Pete & I have dine in Michelin establishments, but we can wholeheartedly say, “Godfrey’s should be on that list!”

I also love the fact that they have organic including orange juice!

After exploring the area including DC, we had dinner at Godfrey’s and found live music- a Parisian theme. It was just lovely. We tried the ribeye & salmon sliders, and what I appreciate the most is how you can take anything off the menu and customize it. I requested chicken on my Asian citrus salad. The boys also customized their own meals with protein.

Godfrey sent out The Gathering Board & it is a must! Perfect for a group. There were two types of goat cheese on the board. But they told me you can customize it with a different cheese. Just ask!

Our server Jocy went over & above to provide us with the most amazing experience. After a long day, she recommended for me a fresh fruit sparkler & it was perfect! We also tried her favorite, the Basque burnt cheesecake. It was excellent! Our son ordered pizza. It’s popular & really good!

I also want to make sure that I mention Matthew, who approached our table and asked us if there was anything else that we wanted. He contributed to the elevated dining experience we felt Godfrey represents.

One of the managers, Michelle, was outstanding! She gave me a tour. There is a second floor (The Upper Rooms) You can actually reserve these for events! I love that! (I took some videos, etc) & suggested a sign on the brick-pointing in that direction because it’s so worth exploring the upper floor!

We also highly recommend the Back Bar at Godfrey’s. My husband & son really liked that back area. I also watched people around us really enjoying that outdoor space.

I also want to take a moment to mention Charlotte, this young woman takes such pride in her work & she genuinely wants the customer experience to be wonderful! On one night, I noticed that she was working late, but when we came in to order breakfast in the morning, she was just as sweet as she was the night before! An establishment is only as good as its people.

Monica Roha, whom I mentioned in the hotel review, was simply delightful. I noticed she went back & forth from the Meeting House to the bakery & cafe. She has a wonderful work ethic!

My recommendation is to stay two nights in the hotel & indulge in this fabulous foodie adventure!

Bon appétit,

Josephine

Huge thanks to all that made our...