The Difference Baker - George Mason University — Restaurant in Virginia

I like the sweets, but the savory stuff at this place is very hit or miss. The pretzel bites were strange, more like little bread pieces and didn't have the pretzel taste at all. The Stromboli (spinach and mushroom) is dry and has limited seasoning (also took forever to get- I guess everything is just frozen and then warmed up at this location). I feel like a lot of new stuff is added to the menu when they can't even figure out how to make the old stuff sell or even tase good and non-frozen. I think they need to actually have a kitchen with equipment so they can make fresh things- this frozen food business isn't working and I think it's a part of the reason why it's so bare.

The cookies are great and I appreciate the donuts (don't appreciate how I'm just given one from the display case when I thought the difference baker brand was the airfried donuts). The cake is very dense, more brownie than cake. I've made desserts that are less dense and still taste great while gluten (and usually even egg and dairy) free.

There's usually 1-2 people working there so it takes a while to get food. It's a small place, which is fine, but the refrigerated cases near the front are SO loud so it makes staying in the cafe a non-option.

I was really wanting this spot to be a go to for me, since I am gluten free, but I think it's been missing the...

So happy to have a dedicated gluten free spot in Fairfax! My husband, who doesn’t need to eat gluten free (and doesn’t really like a lot of gluten free things) got a breakfast sandwich and he really enjoyed it. We split a pizza, which was small, but very delicious. It’s hard to find a gluten free pizza that’s safe for someone with celiac, and usually it’s just on a prepared cracker like crust. But this was thick, bready crust with a nice developed yeast flavor, which is uncommon in the gluten free world. I really enjoyed it. The lemon cake was fantastic, I also brought a bagel home and toasted it later and it was great, it was soft and flavorful. I’m excited to go back and try more things, everything I’ve tried from the Difference Baker has been delicious. Definitely worth a visit!

The hours are tricky for a working professional, but I understand it’s geared for students (and I’ll say, I think it’s amazing that there is a place like this...

I finally made it over to Mason just to try these allergen-friendly goodies as Fairfax City doesn't have another bakery like this.The pop tart was amazing and not too cloyingly sugary like some GF, vegan desserts are. Ambience was lacking in really every way in the shop, but at least the outdoor campus area nearby was nice since it is spring. Please note that this is on floor one of the building and there are no signs to direct you within the building (the room number was around 1800). As for parking, once I found my way out of the Shenandoah parking garage (again, poor signage, but that's a Mason problem, not a Difference problem), it was a very short walk. I was able to get in, eat, and get out all within the free 30 minutes of parking. I will be back for more...