As popular as this chain bakery looked in terms of the line-ups, I had my reservations. The desserts behind the pristine glass display looked fresh and tasty, but considering the area of the city it was situated in, I felt like it would be all looks and no taste. The desserts could walk the walk, but couldn't talk the talk, so to speak. Regardless, my two friends ordered meals with their coffee, but I opted to try a dessert. As it was unseasonably hot outside, I decided to go for something that would be cold, fresh, and tart. I decided on the mini lemon meringue pie, not with the highest of expectations...
...I was proven wrong. Without hesitation I can say that this was one of the most balanced desserts I've ever had. The crust was a buttery delight. It wasn't soggy at all, held together under my fork but was crumbly enough to be delicious and satisfying. Additionally, I suspect that it was lightly salted to bring out the sweetness and tartness of the other components of the dessert. The lemon custard was thick but wasn't wet. While it was a well-created custard and perhaps how a lemon custard "should be", I have to admit that I prefer my custard to be just a touch softer, only because it would make it feel all the more rich on the palette. But, again, it was a well-executed creation. Finally, the meringue was lovely and crispy on the outside, and as the fork penetrated the crust, it landed on pillows of the perfectly sugared egg-white sugar concoction. One criticism I could make, however, is that the meringue should have been slightly more torched as it lacked color.
The ambiance of the bakery was lovely, but I have to say, it seems like the type of place that would attract two types of groups: a) A gaggle of girls who have an obsession with Paris, or b) A girl from group A dragging her boyfriend/husband to the bakery with her.
All in all, an absolute delight.
ADDRESS: 1078 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, DC
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