Rare Bird Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Falls Church

Rare Bird Coffee is a "rare" sight in the heart of Falls Church area. A quaint coffee bistro in a rusty, idyllic street, where other shops/restaurants such as Dogwood Tavern are located.

What I ordered: Cardamom Vanilla Latte. It was so-so and while I probably would not try again, I recommend giving it a go if it's your first time grabbing something on the menu, as it was me. 2/5 stars overall.

My recommendation: go on the weekends, specifically on Saturday. The local FC farmer's market runs from 9-12 on Saturdays and is easily within walkable distance of here. There's also a nicely-designed, upscale Harris Teeter's here which is a bit closer to the market, so you can also knock out grocery shopping at the same time.

Parking: I took pictures and figured out there's an attached parking lot behind the coffee shop in question. A small entranceway leads off to the back, and sufficient parking there. When driving from the main road, you can take a right (and left into the lot) when you see Rare Bird's on your street-side. I did not know of this, and instead took a turn one street early; but that worked out well, as there's another lot there as well. Free 2-hour parking, just avoid the reserved spots and you should be good to go.

Ambiance: 4/5 stars. A semi-grand, open seating (albeit in a sunny spot) near the storefront of the coffee shop. I've never sat here, but it appears packed most of the time I come here. There's also a secluded nook if you take a right from the entrance, which leads to a few tables and a calmer, more "relaxed" ambiance, likewise looking into the Main Street (see included photo). I haven't sat here, but I could easily see myself busting out my laptop along with a latte (maybe) and riding the web on the coattails of the complementary wifi for a good while here, without anyone tapping you on the shoulder and reminding you it's about time to hit the road, you freeloader you.

So far I've come here three or so times, all on weekend afternoons. My recommendation would be to come early(ish) and to check the store hours beforehand, as they do close earlier than expected at times.

All in all, their lattes here are nothing to write home about, and I've certainly had better ones elsewhere, in more hole-in-the-wall places. The Cardamom Vanilla latte I had, which is supposed to be their crown jewel or some such, was rather lackluster to me and borderline mediocre, meaning it barely squeezed by in the taste test. So don't expect anyone to hit anything out the park, and you should be solid.

Their ambiance is spot on, and I like the ample sunlight and cooled interior on summer days, provides a noteworthy respite. The FC Main Street is right outside, and I would highly recommend going for a stroll, maybe get some ice cream on the way at the nearby shop (same side of the street). All in all, solid ambiance, good palate-cleanser lattes, and try to manage expectations and you might very well end up...

I’ve been coming to this place for over a year now, and in fact it was the café I visited before I even moved into the area! Here’s the breakdown:

About the Coffee: The employees here are well knowledgeable in the art of coffee, it’s a specialty coffee shop so the beans they roast are all ethically sourced from various countries around the world and are sold at the price they should be to give the coffee farmers a living wage. They specialize in light roast coffee, and focus on flavor profile so remember to expect that when you are here, as all drip coffees are single origin and they only do their birdie blend and decaf for espresso. Their butterscotch latte is my current favorite and it’s good both hot and iced! The line can be long on the weekends and during peak so remember to allot extra time to wait when you get coffee (I promise it’s worth the wait)

About the food: All of the pastries and food items are made in house (including all the syrups for your coffee drinks). The croissants and Kouign Amans are hands down the best thing on the menu but get here early as most pastries sell out fast since they open at 6:30 in the morning. Sometimes if it’s busy there can be a wait for made to order items like sandwiches but that’s because each food item is made fresh and is definitely worth the wait. I love that you’re able to customize the sandwiches so if you don’t want American cheese for the bacon egg and cheese you could get havarti !

Atmosphere: The vibes are phenomenal in this cafe! There’s plenty of seating both inside and outside for you to chill, dogs are allowed outside but not inside however they have an online ordering system that you can use to order while sitting outside and they’ll bring you the drinks if you select curbside pickup! It’s super handy for dog moms like myself who don’t want to leave my baby outside or even in the car! There’s tons of plants everywhere and they offer free wifi which is nice.

Service: anytime I’ve gone the service has been super exceptional. The baristas are well knowledgeable on their craft and are super accommodating (obviously within reason). They communicate everything clearly (where to pick up the food and drinks when ready, where to place your dirty dishes when you’re done etc). All you need to do is be patient and kind and they’ll treat you with the same respect!

Parking: Parking can be a little confusing but there’s three places you can park, the lot behind the building, the lot across the street and street parking in the neighborhood. They have a handy visual aid taped to all doors, on their website and Instagram as well as at the register for any extra assistance you may need.

I definitely recommend giving this place a try! Probably better to go on the weekdays when volume is normal instead of on the weekend when it’s super busy for...

I recently visited this rare bird coffee location in Falls Church, Virginia on a Saturday morning. Despite the long line, I patiently waited my turn to order. I ordered a large cup of coffee, a latte, and some bakery items. However, when I received my coffee, I noticed that the cup was more like a small size. Perplexed, I asked the server about my large cup of coffee.

To my surprise, the server informed me that they only serve one size of coffee. Confused, I politely requested if it would be possible for them to give me another cup of coffee, for which I was willing to pay. Unfortunately, the server declined my request, stating that I would have to go back in line to get another cup of coffee. I was taken aback by this response as I was not expecting such a hassle for a simple addition to my order. I explained to the server that I wasn't making a big order, I just wanted another cup of coffee since the one I received was not large enough to share it with the other person I was with.

Despite my efforts, the server remained firm in their refusal. Frustrated, I had no choice but to escalate the issue to the manager. Much to my disappointment, the manager reiterated the same response, claiming that they were unable to do anything about it.

Based on this experience, I must caution others against visiting this particular coffee location due to their poor customer service. This incident left me feeling unheard and frustrated, as I have never encountered such an inflexible and unaccommodating response before. It is disheartening to see a lack of willingness to rectify a simple oversight and accommodate a customer's reasonable request.

In conclusion, I highly recommend avoiding this coffee location in Falls Church, Virginia. The subpar customer service and the refusal to address a basic customer concern have left a lasting negative...