Shoestring
My daughter wanted to find out if the pastries were as good as the reviews claimed – they were better! The pastries were so light, flaky, and crispy, they weren’t overly sweet at all, and the breakfast sandwich was so good! It was a spinach and egg omelette with cheese and a sweet pepper relish. Also, we had to get a latte. They make their own syrup. I thought the passionfruit dessert was the best. The café was spotless and the eating area outside was very clean and had heat warmers above the tables. The staff was super friendly! It was worth a 30 minute drive! We hope to go back each month to try the new items!
… moreDavid Liss
We loved this place. Great and creative bakery. Delicious crab dip bagel. Delicious. Soft and pulls apart easily. Fantastic. They only can fit 6 people and one dog inside at a time. Really creative menu. The menu changes throughout the morning. Just loved it. We waited in line on a nice day for about thirty to get in. Will definitely go back ‼️
… moreReem
It was a cold crisp morning. We awoke at 6:45am to make the trek to Canton for this long awaited bagel. We knew, due to its virality, that they sell out daily. Thus, we had to get there first thing. Bundled up, with hope in our eyes and nothing in our stomach, we began the perilous journey through downtown Baltimore. We arrive to a full bakery, but no line. A good sign. The smell of garlic and cinnamon sugar filled up the air. We ordered- one crab dip bagel, one ham and cheese croissant, and one crème brulee tart. But oh, did we want to order more. They asked if they could warm them up, a tantalizing offer we couldn’t refuse. But we knew, we had to wait until we got home to devour all this goodness. With a strong will and discipline, we made it through the drive back without even opening the bag. Once inside and free of the shackles of the bra, we cut in. Still warm, still beautiful. First, we started with the bagel. We had to. Stuffed to the brim with crab dip. It was fluffy, it was savory, it was cheesy. Dense but somehow also light. Seasoned beautifully. Enough old bay to make any Baltimorean smile. It had bits of corn, small chunks of crab. Pre-cut to make it easier to rip. A crisp outside maintaining a soft gooey center. We ate it in 1 minute, Leia (our dog) at our feet praying either one of us drop dead at that second so that she could savor a crumb. The ham and cheese croissant, lovely. Not too much ham, just enough cheese. And finally, the creme brûlée tart. Perfectly crispy. Not too sweet. The crust you want on any crème brûlée. The right ending to our journey.
… morewbyoure1
Cafe Dear Leon is a small yet busy bakery and coffee shop in Canton Square in Baltimore, MD. I have been several times and suggest that if you decide to come down, prepare to wait a bit, just depends on their bake schedule and how much time you have. They frequently run out of items but that speaks to the quality of the food they put out. Never hand anything bad there honestly. Today was the crabby Tobago while it was tasty I do prefer the original. Also had the smores cookie which was phenomenal. Give this place a try if you’re a food with a sweet n savory tooth and fan of the small bakeries out there!!
… moreAsh M
Basically got everything off the menu. The bruleé custard tart was good but runny, and that mocha carmel cookie pastry was good. I prefer my own almond crossiants, as there was hardly any filling as well as the chocolate crossiat. The mushroom crossiant was a bit weird, can’t really pin point what was up with that. Banana bread was average. The madeliene tasted burnt. Found that most of their sweets are like a crossiant/flaky based??? I prefer moist bready dough kinda sweets. The crab dip bagel was okay, mostly corn.
They’re alright! Maybe a gamble? Long lines so clearly some people really love them but I personally wouldn’t trouble with them again.
… moreBrina Zinter
Food was amazing! Went on a Tuesday morning and was lucky to not find a line. The crab dip bagel and crookie were off the hook! Took the order to go.
… moreVikram Bala
There is usually a line ➖ here on the weekends, and it can get pretty crowded since the space is small. They have plenty of delicious sandwiches , pastries, and desserts . My only knock is that they gave us a regular croissant even though we asked and paid for an almond one…
… moreJosh Freed
When I travel I always skip tolls. Not to save money but it takes me off the beaten path and through small towns a s big cities to find great food. In this case I came across Café Dear Leon. Everything was delicious but their Carb Dip Bagel is worth the wait and taking a detour. I bought 2. One for day of and one for breakfast 2 days later. I made an egg sandwich that I added my Fauquier Famous Bomb Sauce!
… moreYoungmin Cho
I visited at 10 AM and there was a waiting line. BUT it was absolutely worth it. I ordered several breads, and every bite was satisfying. The coffee was also good flavored. All staff were professional and warmly welcoming. I am definitely willing to revisit.
… moreAshley Holloway
Cafe Dear Leon is one of my absolute favorite coffee shops in Baltimore! There’s often a line to get in, but it’s always worth the wait. Their menu changes every month and they offer different pastries throughout the day, so there’s always something new to try. The café mocha is hands down the best I’ve ever had! The employees are consistently kind, welcoming, and accommodating. Couldn’t recommend this place enough!
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