maman — Restaurant in Merrifield

After a nearby lunch, we visited for coffee and dessert and had a mixed experience. I was hoping to enjoy the same quality I've come to expect from other Maman cafes in DC, but found it to be a bit underwhelming this time. The food was decent, but the lattes seemed somewhat watered down, and while the pastries had a lovely appearance, they were drier than anticipated. The space had the charming decor typical of Maman locations, complete with artificial trees and flowers, but it felt a bit small and crowded during my visit. Although many staff members were present, it took some time for the tables to be cleaned.

I look forward to returning during a less busy time to explore other menu items and hopefully have a better experience.

Update: July 20, 2025

We visited for breakfast this morning, and I can confidently say this cafe becomes packed right after opening, a testament to its popularity. The breakfast was fantastic, and the pastries and coffee were exceptional. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal.

The food we tried was outstanding. Maman’s Breakfast Sandwich was small yet satisfying and flavorful, featuring avocado, roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, bacon, and a sunny egg on a brioche bun. Anna’s Belgian Waffles were delightful, with a gooey texture reminiscent of Kouign Maman—rich and sweet, complemented by guava jam, fresh-cut strawberries, and served with maple syrup and salted whipped butter. The Kouign Maman was perfect, showcasing buttery layers with just the right sweetness, and the nutty chocolate chip cookie was spot on. We are thrilled that the food was fresh and delicious, so I’m confidently updating my previous...

This trendy new cafe is located in the former Oath Pizza space in Mosaic. I visited on a Monday afternoon and was able to avoid the crowds.

As you enter, the space immediately feels tight and cramped. It's clear that maximizing seating was a priority in the design, but this comes at the expense of guest comfort, especially if you’re looking to grab and go. Customers are forced to either stand awkwardly in the narrow walkways or wait outside for their order. The pickup counter is tucked in the far back corner, making it difficult to hear your name being called unless you're standing inside. Tables and chairs take up the majority of the space, and the three workstations fill the remainder, leaving just inches of room for guests to wait without blocking traffic.

We ordered the Wild Blueberry Caramel Iced Coffee, the Mango Passion Fruit Beach Ball, and the Peach Scone. Unfortunately, all three items fell short of expectations. The pastries were very stale, likely due to them propping both doors open on a rainy, humid day. While the flavor combinations sounded interesting, the execution was mediocre at best, comparable to or worse than what you'd find at Au Bon Pain. The coffee was bland, and both blueberry and caramel flavors were nonexistent. The coffee itself lacked richness, and the drink tasted watery after just a few minutes. The coffee here lacked the balance and flavor similar shops like Shotted have mastered.

Overall, it was underwhelming, which makes it hard to recommend this spot at this time. I hope to update my review following a better...

I got coffee drinks along with other pastries for my family and I to share. I can only base my review on the iced americano and blueberry thyme goat cheese scone. The iced americano is so smooth and creamy, very delicious! However, the blueberry scone was a huge disappointment! First of all, I know you should only take pictures online with a grain of salt because they’re obviously going to look better than what you actually get. Aside from the aesthetics of the scone, I could not appreciate the taste. Thyme is not an herb I’m used to but I wanted to try it. It was not my liking. That’s my fault. But the blueberry jam wasn’t sweet and it was kind of bland. The scone batter had goat cheese infused with it which is just okay but the thyme overpowered everything. My least favorite thing about this scone was the fact that it had crystal sugar coated ALL OVER the top! I hate crystal sugar, and in the picture on their website, I didn’t see that there would be crystal sugar all over the top. I ordered online through a family member so did not see the pastry in person. I took two bites and threw away the $5 scone! I hate wasting money on food like this. Mosaic is far from where I live so I wouldn’t go out of my way to go here again. If I happen to be there, maybe I’ll stop by for coffee but I’m scared to try other pastries after this horrible experience. The picture on the left is what’s displayed on their website vs. what I got in the bag… also, it was kind of burnt and hard—I prefer my scones to be softer and fluffy and without crystal sugar coated all...