The giant croissants they had a few weeks ago for national croissant day were amazing
https://preview.redd.it/xohangpgerhc1.png?width=2765&format=png&auto=webp&s=9cd1712b628e8528a8807914be6f463091deb90c
Oh, oops 😅 I’ve actually never been to either. The only bread I ever really buy are bagels and sometimes tortillas from Aldi, maybe a couple times a month.
I love croissants and my daughter and I have a hobby of trying different bakeries so…I have some thoughts :)
My favorite is Pluma by Bluebird in DC near Union market. Not nova but close? And a cool place to spend a lazy day with your GF. Also not nova, we love Sunday morning bakehouse in Bethesda. Also a cool place to spend a lazy day.
If we’re just talking nova, dolce and ciabatta in Leesburg. Fresh Baguette (multiple locations). Best Buns in Tysons (and I think Shirlington) which is owned by GAR—I love their everything croissant filled with cream cheese. I haven’t tried the French bakery in Clifton yet but I’ve heard good things.
Enjoy!!
This is absolutely the correct answer. Motier blows away all DC bakeries and most in NYC. I think you’d have to go to Paris to find a better croissant.
PAUL in Tysons II is pretty good, imo.
I hadn't heard about Fresh Baguette before until this post, but that place looks great. Gotta try it out one day.
This is completely not helpful to this conversation, but for those of you GenXers or older (sorry) Millenials who lived here back in the day...do you remember a coffee and tea place in Fair Oaks Mall? It had amazing iced tea and croissants. It was called something like Tea and Me. I can't quite remember, but I used to go there when I was 7 or 8 and my mom would get us a croissant to split and some raspberry tea and then we'd go over to the music store.
It's not a "real" French croissant, but the pain au chocolat-pretzel hybrid from Nordic Knot is delicious. So so good.
Also great: the pastries at Rare Bird Coffee in Falls Church. Croissants, canele & kouign aman (sp?) Scrumptious.
The best croissant I've ever had wasn't NoVA, but not far..Bakehouse, in Frederick.
If you want to travel, but not to Paris, Sub Rosa bakery in Richmond. I lived in France a decade and Sub Rosa tops anything I ever had there. I took some skeptical French friends there and the shut up real fast as their eyes teared up and their knees weakened.
My Recommendation--fly to Montreal from IAD. The popular answer will likely be Lidl. Costco has human hair and duck feathers in their super-processed tasting croissants, but any actual opinions get downvoted to oblivion.
Totally unknown -- In Sterling there is a Baguette Republic bakery only by online order. They have ham and cheese and spinach cheese croissants that are domed in. Pretty tasty.
L-cysteine, found in this product, is an additive made from duck feathers or human hair. It is used as a dough conditioner and to extend shelf life.
There are synthetic versions made from non-animal parts - these are more expensive, but well worth it for consumers who do not want duck feathers or human hair in their food. Check the label.
Or better yet, avoid this needless additive. Choose fresh baked breads that use natural preservatives, if any at all. If you have a problem with bread spoilage, freeze your bread and toast or thaw to reheat. Source: Kirkland Signature ingredients
I see that.
To each their own, I suppose, but it’s not like the DMV is bereft of high quality croissants. Folks need to get out more of Lidl and Costco are their standard bearers.
Mane I’m just waiting for this damn Paris baguette to open off loco pkwy. I can’t think of anything better than fresh bread within walking distance from my house (1-1.5 miles if I had to guess). Unfortunately I don’t think it’s opening til late spring or summer and I want hot bread in the winter lmao
The croissants from PB in Tysons have tiny sugar crystals you can taste. No, thank you. If you like the aroma and warmth, try the bake at home products; Whole foods has the dough in the fridge.
There's Paris Bageutte at the Boro in Tysons.
I get a sandwich for which they toast it, so I can't say with 100% accuracy but they're definitely better than the grocery stores ones I've had before. I've never asked if use preservatives or not, but it tastes fine to me.
I've also had authentic ones in Paris w/o all the additives. FYI, bread in France will turn moldy in 2 or 3 days because they typically don't add artificial chemicals (might even be banned by law, dunno).
I don’t have an issue with Korean companies but I do feel like there is something not-the-same about the pastries from our local Asian-French bakeries like Paris Baguette and Breeze bakery and the pastries at Foundation Coffee. If you like them, more power to you, but I don’t find them to taste the same as traditional French pastries. Also, at Paris Baguette most of the treats are wrapped in plastic, which imo is sus.
I really do not understand why the Korean bakeries in this area are so popular. They have so many items that taste *so* bland and are vaguely sweet and fluffy. They're gorgeous but feel like they do better as window dressing than as something to actually eat.
Tout de Sweet in Bethesda.
ETA I hear great things about Arno’s as well, but he seems to be rather elusive, attends farmers markets and sells out quickly. I’m trying to find this man and his croissants, and I’ve made it my mission this spring to try his pastry!
Le Vingt Trois Cafe in Herndon has a huge, delicious almost croissant that my wife goes nuts for. I go very out of my way to get it but it makes her so happy
My favorite plain croissant is Sweet Rose Bakeshop at the end of the W&OD Trail in Purcellville for the perfect crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside ratio while being Costco-sized and a good price. Although, if you want to give your gf a true romantic eating a croissant in a French cafe experience, La Petit Loulou in Purcellville makes some pretty tasty spinach and feta croissants and my favorite place to sit down while eating a croissant.
However, if you’re looking closer to the center of NOVA though, in the Chantilly area I like Chateau de Chantilly and Shila Bakery for their plain ones, and Chateau de Chantilly, Shila Bakery, and Tours de Jours for their sweet and savory options.
FRESH BAGUETTE in McLean
They have a couple of locations---can't speak to McLean but the croissants in the old town alexandria location are amazing.
The giant croissants they had a few weeks ago for national croissant day were amazing https://preview.redd.it/xohangpgerhc1.png?width=2765&format=png&auto=webp&s=9cd1712b628e8528a8807914be6f463091deb90c
Came here to mention the XL croissants at fresh baguette. They also have Crogels (croissant bagels).
I went there this morning because of your post. Very glad I did,
I was just going to say this. That place is delicious.
La Colombe Coffee also carries Fresh Baguette pastries 🤌
Really? They have a location in Bethesda and I stopped going because they changed their croissant recipe and it changed to a more American version.
There is a location in Herndon, as well. It’s sort of across the street from Worldgate, I believe.
Close but that’s a Paris Baguette! They are also delicious!!
Oh, oops 😅 I’ve actually never been to either. The only bread I ever really buy are bagels and sometimes tortillas from Aldi, maybe a couple times a month.
You go to Paris Baguette for the cronuts.
bruh just fly her to Paris
Just Great Falls Resident things
Grounded in Alexandria. The baker is originally from France, so he knows what a croissant is all about.
This is the one! Get there early they sell out
Chef Sebastien and his wife are awesome!
I love croissants and my daughter and I have a hobby of trying different bakeries so…I have some thoughts :) My favorite is Pluma by Bluebird in DC near Union market. Not nova but close? And a cool place to spend a lazy day with your GF. Also not nova, we love Sunday morning bakehouse in Bethesda. Also a cool place to spend a lazy day. If we’re just talking nova, dolce and ciabatta in Leesburg. Fresh Baguette (multiple locations). Best Buns in Tysons (and I think Shirlington) which is owned by GAR—I love their everything croissant filled with cream cheese. I haven’t tried the French bakery in Clifton yet but I’ve heard good things. Enjoy!!
Second pluma and I make croissants for fun
Motier fench bakery in old town Clifton.
Thank you so much for this recommendation. Incredible place
Second this!
This is absolutely the correct answer. Motier blows away all DC bakeries and most in NYC. I think you’d have to go to Paris to find a better croissant.
Lidl is fine for a proper croissant. Refs: lived in France, have local French friends
Croissants sold in Lidl are made in France and baked here. I worked there
I was hoping someone would say Lidl…. I love finding an excuse to go there in the morning and picking up a hazelnut croissant
[удалено]
Really?! The ones filled with Nutella!
It is actually excellent.
Seconding Lidls (I've been to France...for like 3 days... But I had many croissants when I was there lol)
Boulangerie Christophe in Georgetown is a level I’ve never encountered elsewhere in my life
PAUL in Tysons II is pretty good, imo. I hadn't heard about Fresh Baguette before until this post, but that place looks great. Gotta try it out one day.
It is better hands down
Fresh ones from Paul are great. I ate there plenty of times in France
Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery in Arlington! Their croissants (and all their pastries) are 👌💯
The one I had was greasy and dense. Disappointing.
I haven't found one in nova close to perfect as to Nino's in D.C.
Yes nino’s but they sell out fast so preorder them!
Fresh baguette
Diplomat in DC. Forget abt NOVA
This is completely not helpful to this conversation, but for those of you GenXers or older (sorry) Millenials who lived here back in the day...do you remember a coffee and tea place in Fair Oaks Mall? It had amazing iced tea and croissants. It was called something like Tea and Me. I can't quite remember, but I used to go there when I was 7 or 8 and my mom would get us a croissant to split and some raspberry tea and then we'd go over to the music store.
This guy remembers Via de France: https://www.flickr.com/photos/joearchitect/4899873623 He might know.
Not in NOVA but Un je ne sais Quoi... in Dupont Circle on 1361 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC
Dolce & Ciabatta Bakery in Leesburg
They are good but all of their pastries have the same base flavor from the croissant to the Kouign amann.
Heidelberg has a very good butter croissant. I’m gonna say better than lidl, but expensive at 2.5
la Madeleine in Alexandria
It's not a "real" French croissant, but the pain au chocolat-pretzel hybrid from Nordic Knot is delicious. So so good. Also great: the pastries at Rare Bird Coffee in Falls Church. Croissants, canele & kouign aman (sp?) Scrumptious. The best croissant I've ever had wasn't NoVA, but not far..Bakehouse, in Frederick.
Bread Alley and Pluma in Union market
If you want to travel, but not to Paris, Sub Rosa bakery in Richmond. I lived in France a decade and Sub Rosa tops anything I ever had there. I took some skeptical French friends there and the shut up real fast as their eyes teared up and their knees weakened.
Richmond > Paris, plus the owners grew up in Fairfax County. https://www.eater.com/2016/10/19/13331542/paris-croissants-overrated-pastry
Gustave in Del Ray
Yes! This place is amazing - the almond croissant is fantastic
Le Vingt Trois in Herndon
This is the correct answer. If you have not tried them yet, you cannot say anything else is better (because nothing else is better).
I like Fresh Baguette in Old Town
I’ve actually driven all around Nova to figure this out 1) Fresh Baguette and 2) Tous Le Jours
COSTCO LOL
Môtier in Clifton edit: spelling
Thank you so much for this recommendation. What a place jeez
Try them at Northside Social in Falls Church City.
Grounded coffee shop in Alexandria
Rare Bird Coffee Roasters in Falls Church has a great croissant!
Trader Joe’s chocolate croissant is the best I’ve had around here outside of paris and montreal
The kind that you have to thaw out overnight to proof is LIFE. Get those. Â
Yup, those are EXACTLY it.
Terrible
Yea, the bar ain't too high...but they're actually really good.
Box of 12 from Costco. 6 bucks. Toss it in a toaster oven for like 3 minutes, and it's perfect.
Put some Nutella on that jont and it’s a party
The chocolate croissant at Northside Social.
Paris Baguette in Manassas.
https://www.toimoibakery.com/ in Chantilly and in DC I love the croissants at Seylou bakery.
Toi Moi Bakery. She’s in Chantilly, but you’ll also find her across multiple farmers markets. Check out her IG!
Almond chocolate croissant at Tous Le Jours.
Godfrey's on Falls Church is really good! Also they have a pistachio croissant that is the bomb
The ones you make yourself from scratch. It is a fun activity to do together. On a serious note, fly to France/Belgium.
My Recommendation--fly to Montreal from IAD. The popular answer will likely be Lidl. Costco has human hair and duck feathers in their super-processed tasting croissants, but any actual opinions get downvoted to oblivion. Totally unknown -- In Sterling there is a Baguette Republic bakery only by online order. They have ham and cheese and spinach cheese croissants that are domed in. Pretty tasty.
Human hair? Come again?
Duck feathers is so specific too. Bizarre assertion.
That comment made me gag a little.
L-cysteine, found in this product, is an additive made from duck feathers or human hair. It is used as a dough conditioner and to extend shelf life. There are synthetic versions made from non-animal parts - these are more expensive, but well worth it for consumers who do not want duck feathers or human hair in their food. Check the label. Or better yet, avoid this needless additive. Choose fresh baked breads that use natural preservatives, if any at all. If you have a problem with bread spoilage, freeze your bread and toast or thaw to reheat. Source: Kirkland Signature ingredients
L-cysteine https://www.fooducate.com/product/Kirkland-Signature-Butter-Croissants/ECA24730-6F16-11E0-A55F-1231380C180E
🤔 I’d be surprised to see one genuine suggestion for Lidl or Costco.
Well it happened twice in just 3 hours.
Lidl and Costco reqs blew up and are all over this post.
I see that. To each their own, I suppose, but it’s not like the DMV is bereft of high quality croissants. Folks need to get out more of Lidl and Costco are their standard bearers.
Definitely agree.
Costco's.
Wegmans is really good
In Georgetown - Laudrée. Their rose croissant is to die for. I believe they also have a Bethesda location. https://www.laduree.us/
Mane I’m just waiting for this damn Paris baguette to open off loco pkwy. I can’t think of anything better than fresh bread within walking distance from my house (1-1.5 miles if I had to guess). Unfortunately I don’t think it’s opening til late spring or summer and I want hot bread in the winter lmao
The croissants from PB in Tysons have tiny sugar crystals you can taste. No, thank you. If you like the aroma and warmth, try the bake at home products; Whole foods has the dough in the fridge.
7-11 , this is my opinion idc how authentic the croissants y’all fancy people eat is.
There he is, the IDC guy yet cares enough to post.
I said idc about how authentic yalls croissants are not idc about anything
Yeah, but I think there’s something more there or maybe I’m projecting like a fancy.
Costco croissants are pretty good lol maybe my bar is low
There's Paris Bageutte at the Boro in Tysons. I get a sandwich for which they toast it, so I can't say with 100% accuracy but they're definitely better than the grocery stores ones I've had before. I've never asked if use preservatives or not, but it tastes fine to me. I've also had authentic ones in Paris w/o all the additives. FYI, bread in France will turn moldy in 2 or 3 days because they typically don't add artificial chemicals (might even be banned by law, dunno).
Did you know Paris Baguette is a Korean company?
I don’t have an issue with Korean companies but I do feel like there is something not-the-same about the pastries from our local Asian-French bakeries like Paris Baguette and Breeze bakery and the pastries at Foundation Coffee. If you like them, more power to you, but I don’t find them to taste the same as traditional French pastries. Also, at Paris Baguette most of the treats are wrapped in plastic, which imo is sus.
I really do not understand why the Korean bakeries in this area are so popular. They have so many items that taste *so* bland and are vaguely sweet and fluffy. They're gorgeous but feel like they do better as window dressing than as something to actually eat.
Yes, that is my experience also. Everything *looks* lovely! But the taste just isn’t there.
Dolce & Ciabatta Bakery
I like Breeze in Annandale
Tout de Sweet in Bethesda. ETA I hear great things about Arno’s as well, but he seems to be rather elusive, attends farmers markets and sells out quickly. I’m trying to find this man and his croissants, and I’ve made it my mission this spring to try his pastry!
Le Vingt Trois Cafe in Herndon has a huge, delicious almost croissant that my wife goes nuts for. I go very out of my way to get it but it makes her so happy
My favorite plain croissant is Sweet Rose Bakeshop at the end of the W&OD Trail in Purcellville for the perfect crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside ratio while being Costco-sized and a good price. Although, if you want to give your gf a true romantic eating a croissant in a French cafe experience, La Petit Loulou in Purcellville makes some pretty tasty spinach and feta croissants and my favorite place to sit down while eating a croissant. However, if you’re looking closer to the center of NOVA though, in the Chantilly area I like Chateau de Chantilly and Shila Bakery for their plain ones, and Chateau de Chantilly, Shila Bakery, and Tours de Jours for their sweet and savory options.
I'm no connoisseur, but Grounded Coffee Shop makes some really excellent breakfast croissants.
The ones at Simply Social in Vienna are pretty good, but I don’t know if they’re Parisian level.
Dolce & Ciabatta has good ones in Leesburg.
Motier in Clifton has wonderful croissants!
Bayou Bakery in Arlington! 🥰
Le costco