Caboose Cafe
2419 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA, 22301
Caboose Cafe Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Alexandria for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Alexandria for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Alexandria for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
2419 Mt Vernon Ave
Alexandria, VA, 22301 - Phone (703) 566-1283
- Website https://www.caboose-cafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Bryan S.
I eat a lot of Ethiopian food and was very happy with the vegan sampler plate. The restaurant itself is simple, comfortable and non-ostentatious. Staff are friendly. I didn't have a coffee but it looked like they had a nice range of options. I'll come back and try some other dishes.
(4)Ashley H.
We stumbled upon this place and it's my new Del Ray fav. The people are sweet and the food was delicious! Nice outdoor seating too :) Get the eggplant parmesan.
(5)Ashlee S.
My mom loves Caboose. She took me here one day and introduced me to all her Caboose staff friends. I tried the honey vanilla latte which was great. I also had a breakfast sandwich which was great. The one thing I suggest is you get there early. A lot of regulars come and sit at tables for hours.
(4)Jason G.
If you're looking for an artisanal breakfast, this is not the place for you. We popped in yesterday morning; sat at a table on the sidewalk. We ordered a breakfast croissant with ham, eggs, and cheese, a farmer's omelet, a cappuccino, and an americano. Both the dishes were simple and basic, served warm, and tasted fine. The farmer's omelet, served with toast and fruit was a good portion size. The breakfast sandwich, though a decent size on its own, felt a bit small as a meal. Perhaps if the dish had included something else, maybe some fresh fruit, it would have felt more complete. The coffee drinks were both good, though won't win any awards. All in all a decent no frills breakfast. I'm sure we'll go back.
(3)Jeff C.
You just have to love this place, for the food, prices, and communal atmosphere are perfect. This is a neighborhood spot, and the customers and staff are friendly beyond measure. In a way it is almost as if you are sitting down and having coffee in someone's kitchen. Proof that they are really friendly at the Caboose Cafe is that the last time I was here for a meeting it a little over two hours and not once did I feel rushed to leave or order something else. In many ways, it was like dinning in Europe. The food is fantastic here with a wonderful selection of soups that changes regularly. However, my favorite item here is the hot chocolate which may very well be the best on the whole planet. I'd match it against anything Willy Wonka and a team of Oompa Loompas could produce any day of the week.
(5)sandy b.
Very reasonable prices and wholesome dishes. Hubby and I have enjoyed are meals here several times. Nice soup, healthy mixed salad and tasty meat.
(4)Jeanette W.
I recently returned for a second time. We were excited to return until I sat down and was wiping things down and I saw a large cockroach on the floor belly up. I told a worker who really didn't say or do too much. We walked out disgusted abd I do not plan to return! Previous post (first visit) My husband and I stopped in to the little restaurant for brunch after visiting the farmers market. It was quite busy but found a seat quickly. You order your meal at the cash register and they come find you when its ready. My husband got coffee but you loved and a ham and cheese omelette. The only it was fresh hot and tasty and possibly the best I want we've had out to eat in awhile. I had the French toast which came out hot fresh and amazing! I highly recommend it to anyone who goes to the cafe. The orange juice was freshly squeezed and tasty if you don't like pulp pass on the orange juice. We will definitely be back!
(1)Miguel H.
A good place to hang out and enjoy some good Ethiopian food. The food is always delicious and the wait staff is always friendly. Sometimes it gets a bit crowded and seating is limited.
(4)T C.
We're always taken by Ethiopian food, but didn't expect this combination of a casual cafe bakery (home-made items) with takeout, dine-in and wine menu to also have a back side to their menu that had Ethiopian cuisine. The prior YELP reviews and our search of "Ethiopian" attracted us to this restaurant. Don't let the outside of the cafe fool you in thinking it's only a cafe. We enjoyed dining in for an early dinner in on New Year's Eve. The restaurant has breakfast, lunch and dinner menu offerings. And a very friendly behind-the-counter and service staff. As others shared in their reviews, the atmosphere is communal. Appears many of the patrons have been here multiple times. And the early evening we went, there was even a live accordionist playing background Italian music! On the food, we had the vegan sampler for two, and also a Tibbs sampler. You can get more injera if you'd like, but we were all more than stuffed. And all good ,... prepared, looked and tasted as good as it gets. We think the sampler for two was actually more than enough for three! The bakery items included amongst many things buns and scones . We took some home and had them for breakfast. Delicious. The restaurant atmosphere is just like a cafe with outside seating too. But for us, what's neat, if not endearing, is the Ethiopian menu ... and it's done well. Our hats go off to this cafe. We'll be back.
(5)Faith C.
I and a friend wandered in during the Del Ray Art Festival and ordered Ciabatta bread, and a salad. We enjoyed the bread with a Manchego cheese we just purchased next door at Cheesetique. I'll certainly buy bread from this location the next time I'm in Del Ray.
(3)Naomi D.
This is the best neighborhood café/restaurant in Del Ray. My family and I have been going to Caboose Café for 6 years and frequently. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Not only is the food delicious with a number of Ethiopian, American, Mediterranean, and French options, the service is friendly and warm. It has a charming atmosphere and very loyal patrons. It will keep you coming back.
(5)Michael L.
A bit eclectic, but we enjoyed the Ethiopian offerings for dinner a few nights ago. The service was a little casual, but very friendly and attentive. We will certainly be back!
(4)Jason P.
Casual neighborhood breakfast spot with outdoor seating. Great breakfast sandwiches, French toast, bacon, and organic coffee. The only thing that that I am iffy on is the ceramic tile and grout bar counters and floors. Grout is very pourous and difficult to keep clean and harbors bacteria. Doesn't convey warmth and cleanliness.
(4)Janet D.
We love the Ethiopian dinners and their freshly baked bread. Tuesday evenings you can get dinner for 2, including a bottle of wine and dessert for $34! Can't beat that. The food is fresh, hot and delivered with a smile. My meat eating fiancé can enjoy his meals there as much as I do my vegan options. Caboose is his favorite restaurant on Mount Vernon Ave. We're fans!
(4)Julie S.
Excellent sandwiches and muffins. Very friendly employees. Highly recommend checking it out.
(5)Joseph G.
I am from out of town and a friend brought me here. The oatmeal with green apples was so good I had seconds. The coffee was strong and black. I will return.
(4)Virginia M.
Such a cute little cafe. And they make great sandwiches. I've had the bellefonte and the Cuban and both were pressed and crispy- so good! They also have really nice looking fresh baked breads and a few pastries. Interesting enough they have an Ethiopian menu and wine and beer in the evening- we might have to give it a try.
(4)Leah G.
Cute neighborhood cafe with a friendly wait staff and good menu selection. Sure to be able to find something for everyone; the BLT and Cuban were tasty and were just the right amount if filling. Can get lunch all day, just ask!
(4)Laura N.
This is a solid place to grab any of the 3 meals. Breakfast is great for omelettes. While lunch has wonderful salads. I think the best salads on the Avenue! Dinner is some great vegetarian and Ethiopian choices on top of salads and sandwiches. You can always sit and chat too! Great people who take a moment to talk to you!
(4)George C.
A varied fare: coffee, vegan food, snacks, desserts, etc. Friendly staff, and pleasant outdoor seating. A cheerful interior, and clean restrooms.
(5)Larry B.
We asked a local where to get the best salad in Del Ray...She quickly replied "The Caboose"!...She was spot on...The beet salad and the shrimp Ceviche salad was to die for and cheap.
(5)Zachary H.
Can't speak for everything this place does - pastries, breakfast, lunch, and a generic dinner menu, etc - but the Ethiopian food was great! Granted it was my first experience with Ethiopian cuisine, so I also can't speak for authenticity, but I'm a fan of what Caboose Cafe presents as Ethiopian. I ordered the vegan sampler, so I could try 5 different dishes at once. I'm not going to bother spelling out the dish names - check out the menu - but I had some lentils, yellow peas, cabbage, collards, green beans, and potatoes in a variety of sauces. Great spices and flavor and really enjoyed the Injera (Ethiopian flat bread) that was served with it - somewhat crepe-like. I will be back to Caboose Cafe for this dish again and highly recommend it for those seeking a vegan meal in the Alexandria area!
(3)Sarah J.
A solid place to grab breakfast in Del Ray. Not a lot is open before brunch so it's a hard to beat. The food is bready; egg sandwiches, bagels, etc. The coffee is dynamite! Well roasted and smooth. Definitely grab a cup!
(3)John F.
Caboose has added Belly, a program for frequent diners. There's an app for that!
(4)Marissa D.
I'm at the joint right now and wondering why I haven't written a review before. I never write reviews, but find it absolutely necessary for Caboose. I've always had a top-notch experience, specifically with the service. Everyone is overly friendly and the owner often comes around to tables asking guests about their meals. The portions are ample, and you definitely get your bang for your buck.
(5)Greg G.
I don't like giving low ratings -- and I especially don't like giving low ratings to small mom and pop places like the Caboose Cafe & Bakery. Unfortunately, two stars is all they earned for my recent breakfast. I had a bacon and cheddar omelet, home fries, and toast. The omelet was smaller than average -- that's not to say it was "too small", but it was certainly smaller than most other restaurants serve. The amount of filling was OK and the quality of the bacon and cheddar was average. The home fries were -- in a word -- terrible! The quantity was almost non-existent (I've left more spuds on my plate at other restaurants), the spuds themselves were very dry and shriveled, and they had a strange flavor. They tasted artificial. They were the worst potatoes I have ever been served -- and it's doubtful I will ever find a place with worse home fries! The toast consisted of three small half slices -- one white, one raison, and one that was indistinguishable (my guess was wheat). I suspect the bread was baked on premise and it probably had potential. However, it was so thinly sliced that toasting turned it into the texture of croutons. To sum up -- it was a disappointing breakfast.
(2)Rachel S.
What a CUTE place! We grabbed dinner here the other night. The service was great. My husband and I got the Caboose vegan sampler served on injera (an Ethiopian flatbread, that you tear off bits and use to scoop up the yummy stews) and it was really tasty! My favorite was the tekel gomen with the cabbage, and I loved the spicy miser watt. We both got glasses of tej (Ethiopian wine) with dinner and it was also really delicious (head's up....it's pretty sweet, not unlike a gewurtztraminer or moscato). I definitely recommend trying the Ethiopian food at Caboose...it's so tasty, and even better to be able to eat with your hands! Next time we will leave room for dessert, as the pastries looked wonderful!
(4)Patricia G.
Good Coffee, Good Portions of Breakfast entrees... the omelets were delicious and there was no skimping on the ingredients. Good Value for the $$. The staff was friendly and efficient. The outdoor seating was the perfect setting to enjoy a good breakfast while enjoying the crowds of people walking about. Will definitely go back for more... would like to try the luncheon menu as well.
(4)Megan S.
The service was fast and polite and the fresh orange juice was great. I got waffles that were doughy, stuck to the roof of my mouth and tasted like bisquick. I barely got down half of it. The fresh fruit was a slice of cantaloupe and honey dew. Not terrible, but not what I'd expect for fresh fruit in August. won't be back.
(2)Kate E.
Great neighborhood place! Excellent food, good service, perfect place to meet friends. Love that it's like locally owned!
(4)Karen O.
Great atmosphere! The coffee is awesome and I love the outdoor seating for those perfect Saturday mornings! The salads are also fantastic and should definitely be tried !
(5)Kate K.
This place is one of my favorites in Del Ray. The food is consistent, it's always a good value, and there are many great vegetarian and vegan options. The owners and staff are lovely, too!
(5)Stephanie H.
love this spot. the service is amazing and theres such a wonderful selection of foods to pick from!! go hungry, order a variety of dishes, & grub on leftovers. im a sucker for casual elegant spots with fantastic food thats awesome for both dates and large group gatherings!
(5)Mike R.
We live in old town, but make our way over to Del Rey on occasion, but we've never given this place a try. Many times we were on the verge of eating there, but it would look crowded or we wouldn't be in a sandwich mood. Well we finally gave it a try and it truly was just Meh. I got the Cuban which is one of their signature sandwiches and my wife had a sandwich as well...I think something with fresh mozzarella and spinach...maybe...I could be making that one up. At any rate, being from Florida, the Cuban certainly wasn't a Cuban. That said, I've come to expect that and can judge it without my authentic hat on. It was fine, but nothing special...and the same for my wife's. There are too many better options in the area to waste my time on fine.
(2)Kim J.
I have lived in Del Ray for many years and have tried this place many, many times - and the quality of this place has gone downhill ever since it first opened its doors in 2003. Since this is a small business, I REALLY want to support this place, but today was the last chance. I can excuse the dry pastries, the stale coffee, and the weirdly watery paninis if the people serving me have a smile on their faces and are polite. For some reason, I never get that when I come here. I either get barely contained contempt or indifference - both of which I got in spades this morning along with my undrinkable, overpriced coffee and stale muffin. I will not return to this place again if I can help it. They seem to not want my money, and I am glad to take my money elsewhere. I really want to give this place one star, but I'm giving them two because it's a local, small business.
(2)Shawn H.
I eat here regularly. The California croissant (turkey croissant + avocado + sprouts) and couscous are staples of my diet. The occasional wait for food (~10-15 min for a sandwich) doesn't affect me as I find the staff and restaurant exceptionally pleasant. Why so rushed, business professional? Patience is a virtue. They'll make it right if you're kept waiting too long. ...and a bonus point for the staff not scoffing drinkers of tap water! :D
(4)Ideen S.
Friendly, intimate environment. The two cashiers were fun and helpful. I had the egg, tomato, cheese sandwich and a strawberry-banana smoothie. The sandwich was great, the smoothie a big sugary. But overall, a great meal.
(4)Fuzz H.
A good cafe with quick and hearty food. It's strange that this is a coffee shop meets panini-press meets Ethiopian restaurant. The Ethiopian is actually good (especially the bread); the paninis are a heavy on cheese and soggy; the coffee is a little burnt; the muffins are dry. Free wifi and good service.
(3)Carrie M.
One of my favorite places in Del Ray. Good food, good coffee and everyone who works here is really nice. The pastries are WAY better than the ones down the street at St. Elmo's. Caboose has a nice quiet environment to do work in, too (free Wifi). I haven't tried anything other than the sandwiches and baked goods, but I really like those and my boyfriend is OBSESSED with their Cuban.
(4)Drew S.
I wandered in the other day for a coffee when I realized my nearby butcher was closed on Mondays (sigh). The place was packed on the Federal holiday, but I still got very friendly service quickly. I ordered a reasonably priced coffee (self serve), and was pleased with the balanced, non-bitter, organic Sumatran roast they had available. As a black coffee drinker, it's important to me that coffee isn't overly bitter, and the Caboose didn't disappoint. The assortment of pastries behind the glass was very tempting, but I had already eaten that morning. I will be heading back to give their food menu a try though.
(4)Larry N.
My favorite place in my neighborhood
(5)Anne-Margaret O.
Love the Caboose. Whether you want breakfast, lunch or dinner- you get a great selection of items to choose from. The coffee is the best in Del Ray. The food keeps you coming back for more.
(5)Tanya S.
I love Caboose. The food is delicious, staff friendly, prices reasonable. I highly recommend the vegan sampler.
(5)Peter M.
So, update time! Improved menu. very popular with locals. Very casual atmosphere. Free wifi. Lots of kids items too. Great decor and local art on the walls. Right across from Mt. Vernon Elementary. Drop off the kids, and have a nosh!
(4)Megan M.
I have to say that today was my 3rd time eating here and I can't say I'm impressed. The first time I had a southwest chicken salad. This was just "ok" nothing to special about it. - lettuce, chicken, beans, pico and dressing. The 2nd time I ordered a chicken salad sandwich which was dry and flavorless - this was on a roll that was so chewy it was hard to bite into in. This took 15 minutes to make - I watched them just open the container of the premade chicken salad and put it on a roll with a slice of tomato and a piece of lettuce...I could have made this at home in less time using fresh grilled chicken. Today's lunch was a cobb salad which comes with an avocado ranch dressing. I love avocado's and ranch is usually fine with me this this tasted horrid. The restaurant wasn't busy but I took it back to my office to eat. Still a 15 minute wait for a damn salad that was "premade" and sitting in the case. I should mention that there was 3 people TOTAL in the restaurant and they were all eating. The salad ratio was 75% lettuce, 1/2 of a hard boiled egg, 1/2 of a slice of a tomato wedge and a sprinkle of bacon with maybe 10 chunks of cold chicken. $9.00 was a bit much for basically lettuce.
(2)Kel S.
I was happy to find this dog friendly eatery for breakfast. We sat in the outdoor patio area, where my dog and I shared a yummy bagel sandwich, and an OK breakfast burrito. The later was disappointing because I don't know that I've ever had one I disliked before. It was pre-made, and tasted as such. The latte was good. I'd go back for a bagel sandwich, but skill the breakfast burrito.
(3)Jacob L.
The service here is still piss poor. With all of the places to go on the avenue you can EASILY skip this hell hole.
(1)George A.
An awesome landmark of Del Ray. Everyone who works there, from the front staff to the owner and the back staff, is always friendly and likable. And the real gem of this place is the Ethiopian food at dinnertime. I can't imagine why they don't push this more as by all indications this place should be full every night. Most people I know aren't even aware that they make enjera-based dishes (with a great vegan plate for two)! I would love to see Caboose re-format themselves towards their Ethiopian roots. The neighborhood would thank them for it. Otherwise, I think most Del Ray residents think of Caboose as a breakfast location where you can get some fresh bread. It is this too, and that is good, but I would love to see this place shine at dinnertime as it deserves to.
(4)LorRaine D.
This place rocks for brunch!!! I had a chai latte (best EVER) and Calif omelet and apple crepes on a Saturday at noon and it was EXTREMELY AWESOME!! And I'm from San Diego, just dropped in while cruising Del Ray (best Main Street outside of the Gaslamp District. Don't be slow getting here. Meal arrived within 10 min of our sitting down. Service was professional and quick! Totally worth it, Dude...!!
(5)Ryan H.
This is secretly the best restaurant in Del-Ray, the Cuban sandwich is phenomenal and probably my favorite thing to eat overall in Del-Ray if you had to make me pick 1 thing, literally everything on the Breakfast menu is fantastic, the Ethiopian dinner is awesome and competes with the best ones in the area. They also have very affordable wine, VERY friendly staff, I don't want to blow up our spot but this place deserves to be found, it's just fantastic.
(5)Kristin D.
We were here for lunch, which probably isn't their strong suit - we were in the neighborhood and thought we'd give it a try. I had the cuban sandwich, which was easily the worst cuban I've ever had. My husband's eggs were okay, but not great... we really wanted to like this place more than we did. Maybe we'll come back for Ethiopian sometime, but... maybe not.
(2)Jaye V.
I enjoyed the atmosphere of this neighborhood place, but the sandwiches at lunch are a bit off. It reminded me of ordering familiar American staples in foreign countries - where the ketchup tastes more like worcestershire sauce, or the nachos are really pita chips with hardened melted cheddar. For example, I ordered the Cuban sandwich, and instead of the Cuban bread being pressed down on the grill, they used already-flat pita bread and grilled that. I didn't mind that -- however, the ultimate mistake was putting sickeningly sweet bread and butter pickles on the sandwich instead of the dill variety. Yuck! Thankfully my boyfriend's sandwich came with a dill pickle spear, which I cut up and put in my sandwich. As for his sandwich, it was an Italian hoagie with all those Italian cold cuts. It was a much better attempt but still a bit off. I'd like to come back here for dinner to try the Ethiopian fare instead. Until then, I'm afraid the 2 stars will have to stand.
(2)Eddi M.
For those of you who like a bit of spice in your cuisine, go for the delectable, fresh Ethiopian food at dinner. Hubby and I are huge fans of good Ethiopian food and have tried various places in the DC metro area, only to find that the best of the lot is right here in Del Ray! Gotta love that--we can walk there and back, enjoy some wine with dinner, hang out on Mt. Vernon eating outside on a lovely evening. The wait staff are very friendly and welcoming, and the sampler plates are a great way to find out what you like most from a tasty array of the spicy goodness that is Ethiopian cuisine. I recommend their rich Doro Wat (chicken and egg in a spicy brick red sauce), Miser Wat (lentils) and Gomen (collard greens, oh my!) as well as their Zizil Tibbs (steak with onions and tomatoes). There's other standard dinner fare for those wimps who don't like a bit of spice or food adventure, and a good selection of dishes for kids. The prices are very reasonable as well. Highly recommended for foodies in search of a yummy, very local place to chow down on authentic, delicious Ethiopian offerings.
(5)mike f.
Comfortable cafe, daughter enjoyed the kids spaghetti. But, wow, that is bad Ethiopian food.
(2)Lisa P.
Omg! The best Ethiopian food I've have. Better than what I've have on ninth street, adams morgan, Georgetown. If you like Ethiopian food go here for dinner. Best complex flavors, yum!
(5)Jessica K.
I've been here for lunch and breakfast on occasion and they food is always great, service is friendly and quick so when I needed a meeting catered last minute on a Sunday, I called Caboose to rescue me. Not only did they deliver to my meeting on Sunday (on time), I had a handful of people comment that they loved the food. Their staff was very helpful and they even called to follow up with me the next day to see how things were. I will continue to love this place and will continue to give them great business. My go-to is the four cheese grilled cheese. Try it on multigrain and add tomatoes and/or bacon.
(5)David K.
A strange mix of foods and a great location right on the Avenue in Del Ray. I have come here for breakfast and lunch and enjoyed the sandwiches. The French Dip in particular was very good. The food is very affordable with sandwiches running $5 or so. They have a wide variety of pastries, as well as a full coffeehouse. At night, it transitions into an Ethiopian restaurant which I am eager to try. The location has outdoor seating and is great if you want to dine with your dog. It also seems to be a great place to socialize with neighbors walking by. Caboose Cafe is the type of neighborhood cafe that Del Ray is famous for having on its Main Street. I also enjoyed the local art on the walls all over, I think it really adds to the neighborhood feeling.
(4)Stephanie C.
*Note* This review is based solely on lunchtime visits. Interested in a cup of coffee and a panini? Stop by here. Need to get in and out quickly? Meh... you might wanna go someplace else, as service can be spotty. The breakfast/lunch menu features omelets, cafe sandwiches, soups, salads and an extensive list of very creative panini sandwiches. My personal favorite? The Quadruple -- four different types of cheese, tomato and bacon. Hard to go wrong there. And as a bonus you'll get a small scoop of couscous or pasta salad, depending on what they've got back in the kitchen. Even their daytime menu has an ethiopian flare -- lentil soup, hummus, couscous, ect, which is nice when you want something a little different from the norm. This is the type of place where you order and pay up front and they bring it out to you. This has typically worked out well for me, except for the other day when I ordered soup and a salad (usually a speedy choice at any location) and sat for 45 minutes before finally going back to the register and requesting a refund after seeing burgers and sandwiches shuffled out to other patrons during a leisurely lunchtime hour. The owner was thoroughly apologetic and gave me a refund in addition to a $10 giftcard. She genuinely cared that I had the experience I did and really wanted me to come back. Either way, I'd say this is a safe bet for those chill lunchtimes you just wanna enjoy a cup of coffee and read the paper. Just don't expect them to operate on city time.
(3)S. R.
I ordered the smoked salmon and croissant. Both items were okay, but nothing to get excited over. My boyfriend order a breakfast burrito, which tasted frozen. This makes sense when reading another review from someone whose breakfast burrito was frozen on the inside.
(2)Mark A.
Had the omelet and giving the good feel of Del Ray I thought this would be a hit. But the omelet was bland and even the coffee didn't help. It's a cool local place but if you have low expectations, you won't be dissatisfied. I will say the staff is very friendly and nice, just might try something other than an omelet next time.
(2)Carolyn M.
Love this place for Ethiopian food. The veggie platter for two is a must try. They also have the carnivore version but why bother? The veggie has lots of flavor. The servers tend to be very helpful overall. I dont' recommend the Ethiopian wine they offer. Ambience: has a bakery/cafe style vibe. Price: definitely wallet friendly. Parking on Mt. Vernon ave. tends to be pretty easy on weekday evenings.
(4)Rebecca S.
We needed breakfast, and Dunkin Donuts wasn't gonna cut it. We've been trying to check out more of the local places in Del Ray, and a quick use of the neato search function brought up Caboose. Right next door to the farmer's market too? Let's go. We both ordered the California Omelet - bacon, guacamole, tomatoes, and cheddar, served with potatoes and their fresh baked bread. I had a cup of delicious Sumatran coffee, and the food was out fairly quickly. My first thought was that it wasn't much of a serving of potatoes. But as I ate, I realized it was perfect. The omelet was a good size (not tiny but not IHOP sized, just right), and it was stuffed nicely - a great blend of the fillings. I wouldn't have minded a few more tomatoes, but that's nothing. The potatoes were well seasoned. But I think the bread might have been the highlight for me - it was obviously fresh, soft, and a really nice crust. I think it was a mild sourdough. Either way, it was yummy. As we were eating, the coupe next to us was telling us about the Ethiopian fare they do for dinner and the Tuesday night dinner special - any 2 entrees and a bottle of wine for $30. We will definitely be heading over there on a Tuesday in the near future to check it out. All in all, great breakfast, awesome looking baked goods case (chocolate cream cheese muffins looked phenomenal, but I was already full when i noticed them. Boo.), good coffee, and a friendly staff. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Miatta M.
I really like this place. You can study here, have a cup of coffee, freshly baked onsite bread and pastries. The lunch menu has great sandwiches. Try their Caprese and Cuban sandwiches. Also, their evening menu includes Ethiopian food that is amazingly delicious (Caboose gets five stars for their Ethiopian food). The staff is always warm and friendly. This is one of the best places to Del Ray.
(4)Jack F.
Comfortable and affordable. There's nothing extraordinary about Caboose but it's a good location to park yourself for a few hours away from the office or to stare out the window. [Original Visit: November 17, 2010]
(3)Mookie R.
Our family's experiences with Caboose are limited to breakfast. My husband ordered the salmon lox and was sick for several days. I ordered a breakfast burrito and it took forever to come out. I get home and it was frozen in the middle. It would have been quicker to just make the breakfast burrito fresh! Note to Caboose Management - please use fresh ingredients
(1)Nicole N.
I was forced to come here because my dining companions were not willing to wait at Taqueria Poblano. The waitstaff was nice. But service was slow. We had to get up and find someone to fill our drinks. I love Ethiopian food. So my husband and I ordered one of the Ethiopian samplers. It wasn't good. The food wasn't hot when it was brought out, it was lukewarm. The lamb was overcooked and the cabbage was undercooked. If anyone wants really good Ethiopian food they should go to Ethiopic, which is FANTASTIC!!! When we were all finished we had to hunt someone down to ask for our check. A good way to tell if the food at a restaurant is any good is to see how busy the place is on a Saturday night. If it is the only empty restaurant on a given street then the food sucks. Such is the case here.
(2)Isabel B.
I chose Caboose because I felt like I needed a change from St. Elmo's... I feel like I go there too much. Plus I wanted to try the food since I was starving and a muffin wasn't going to cut it. I decided to have the soup/sandwich combo and opted for the veggie chowder and hummus sandwich on sourdough bread. The soup was OK, I've never had veggie chowder before so I was kind of curious (I must've asked the lady a million times whether it was vegetarian. "no fish, right??") It was good, nothing amazing. The sandwich was very boring. Just two big slices of bread, a couple of sad looking cucumbers and a lonely tomato slice, all for $6 and some change. I also ordered the apple pie since I was still hungry after finishing all the food. Very disappointing. No flavor, really. It needed sugar, Cinnamon, personality. The atmosphere was fine. It's a cute restaurant and the outside seating area is very nice and spacious. But back to St. Elmo's I go.
(2)Leon R.
Dinner review only: I am a huge fan of their Ethiopian menu. Compared to the Ethiopian restaurants I have tried in DC The food is very tasty, and I think much better than the Ethiopian restaurants in DC. The selection is a bit less diverse, but I normally only get the sampler platters at any E restaurant I visit so I have no problem with that. The samplers are very reasonably priced for a good deal of food, especially if you get the sampler for 2 people. I've split the "2 person" vegan sampler 3 ways and everyone was comfortably stuffed. Splitting it 2 ways and eating it all.. yeah you feel like you have to be rolled out. They don't mind bringing out extra ingera if you have the stomach capacity to sop up the last bit from the platter. I've done carry out which was just as much food as eating there, and just as tasty. Service is quick to get your food out and being able to chill out on the patio and people watch is fun. The only negative I have is it sometimes takes them a bit to get the bill out and finish up the transaction as they are often having to serve someone at the bakery counter. Nowhere near as bad as the service at Dukem or anything, but if having to wait 5 minutes is your pet peeve you may be annoyed.
(4)Renee C.
3 1/2 stars for Caboose is just about right. Nice people, good bread, good sandwiches, yummy looking ethiopian food (haven't tried it quite yet as we're usually in a rush when we come here). Only issues are that I haven't been able to connect to their wi-fi, and it's not quite as cozy feeling as some of its competitors. All around, though, a winner!! Try the meditteranean veggie sandwich if you're into that sort of thing....tastes like homemade hummus, AND homemade bread! Can't beat that. Caboose is one of our new weeknight staples.
(4)Daniel B.
The Organic Sumatra is the best coffee on the Avenue. Breakfast burritos are always solid in the morning and There's lots of good sandwiches on their fresh baked bread. BTW the Reuben ius killer! It's where I usually go for a quick bite at a good price.
(4)Kristy H.
This review is for breakfast and lunch only, as I have yet to try their dinner. There's a sandwich here that I really love. It's grilled chicken, cheddar cheese, and red peppers. Until I discovered the buffalo chicken sandwich at Alexandria Pastry, it was my favorite sandwich in the neighborhood. Usually when I order a to-go sandwich, I have to wait around for almost 10 minutes for it, so I prefer to call my order in when I am on my way. The staff is always very friendly, and they have a nice outdoor seating area. I see people hanging out with their laptops a lot, so I am betting they have free wifi. I love their hazelnut coffee. The muffins are good. French toast is delicious. Just an overall great breakfast and lunch place. Oh, and they sell loaves of freshly baked breads, too. DO IT.
(4)Melinda C.
I was excited by the reviews and the menu, so we decided to try this place for lunch. I got a feta breakfast wrap and we also got a turkey club sandwich and brought it home. We were already going to go home but after we saw that there were single patrons taking up each table on their laptops we had to go. My boyfriend has been in the restaurant industry for a bit and was shocked - he mentally counted all the seating that was wasted. I really thought this place was egh. The food didn't have flavor and sadly we probably won't go there again. Their fresh baked breads look good but that may be the only other thing I try from there. The feta wrap - every ingredient was listed on the menu except onions, which I would never have ordered if I knew it was there. Boo. Big boo. My boyfriend after a bite of his club sandwich looked try try mine, having been uninspired with his, and I could tell, wrote off Caboose Cafe with both bites. The place is cute and a nice place to hole up if you need to.
(2)Paolo G.
The honey-vanilla latte was great and my western omelet was tasty too. The owner is really nice and went around every table checking on people. The menu is very eclectic with options from Ethiopian food to Cuban sandwiches.
(3)Nicole L.
Cute lil place in the Del Ray strip of restaurants. Caboose is the perfect place for a nice relaxing weekend breakfast! The cafe has outdoor and indoor seatings. The interior is sunny and brightly painted giving it a cheerful ambience. You have to walk up to the counter to order and there's lots of eye-catching baked goods and pastry at the counter. They have a a variety of breakfast choices - omelet, sandwiches (croissants), oatmeal, waffles and crepe. The breakfast menu is reasonably priced. I also liked the freshly squeezed orange juice. The outdoor patio is dog-friendly there were lots of dogs mingling while the people enjoy a beautiful morning breakfast. I liked the greek omelet - it's spinach, feta cheese and onions. It's simple and good.
(3)Robert P.
Wonderful place for a sandwich, a pastry or inexpensive dinner. They also have an Ethiopian menu which I had never tried. The owners are Ethiopian (and very gracious hosts). I avoided the Ethiopian cuisine. i have dined at other Ethiopian restaurants and found the food to be waaaaay too spicy-hot for me. And this is to be expected, I suspect, in traditional food. I did have a chance to order from the Ethiopian menu when some Peace Corp friends visited for their 50th anniv. celebration. Caboose has moderated greatly the heat in their food, which was wonderful for me. So I was able to really enjoy the flavors and not have to endure the heat. It was delicious! But anyone who visits seeking heat should probably let them know when ordering to pump up the heat index. The service was very good. The waitstaff attentive. This is a great place to start if you wish to explore Ethiopian food and are "heat" averse. If you are ready for the full monty heat-wise, I am sure they can accommodate you also.
(4)Lor B.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. The folks are superfriendly, the food (baked goods and the restaurant) is pretty fantastic, and I keep coming back for more. I didn't give it 5 stars because I don't think the coffee is that great. I love coming here for dinner, not only because it's convenient, but because the food is particularly good, homecooked yumminess (hello, ethiopian. Though their sandwiches and stuff are pretty good too!) A friend and I went here for dinner one evening, and we ended up hanging out till nearly closing time. We were some of the last people to leave. The owner(? not sure) came by before we left and gave us free bread. I walked out with a loaf of this rosemary flecked bread, and a baguette. How fantastic was that? Not only did we have good food and great dessert, we even got freebies!
(4)Kimberly C.
I went here for breakfast yesterday and had lunch here a few months before. Yesterday I ordered the California omelet, fresh o.j. and coffee. The eggs in the omelet weren't thoroughly cooked, the "cheddar" on top was actually a slice of what appeared to be Kraft singles and the side of potatoes were cold and hardly edible. The o.j. also didn't taste fresh. The meal prior was equally lackluster, but I wanted to give the cafe another shot because it is cute and close to home. That said, the employees are polite and it's a clean, cheery space in a good location.
(2)Holly E.
My favorite local coffee shop for getting some work done - free wifi and they are fine with you working as long as you need to..I typically have breakfast and lunch there. My favorite sandwich is the tomato, mozzarella and spinach on ciabatta.
(4)Ryan R.
I want to like this place since I'm new to the area, but it just wasn't that good. It's a cute little establishment in the Del Rey area that had a surprising crowd of patrons for a Saturday morning. We only stood in line for a few minutes, but nothing on the menu really popped out at me. I wound up ordering the spinach omelette for the price of $6.95 and a coffee. The coffee wasn't all that great as I am totally a coffee connoisseur and the omelette was mediocre at best. For $7 dollars you would think it came with something on the side, but it didn't. It was just an omelette. My friend wound up getting the oatmeal with raisins, in which they charge extra for each additional item you add to it, and it was watery and bland. I did see several other patrons getting the pastries, so maybe that's what they are known for. I've only been here for breakfast, so maybe the lunch and dinner Ethiopian dishes are better and require a more in-depth review. I may try this place again one day, as I don't like to leave any place with a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)Topher B.
Not too shabby. Been here a few times and been pleased each visit. Note that Ethiopian food is only served in the evening.
(3)Jennifer L.
There's no better place to get simple and healthy and delicious Ethiopian food- I love their vegetarian sampler. I love their breakfast burritos (spinach and feta!) and coffee as well. It's not dirt cheap, but I'm willing to shell out $14 for a good (relatively healthy) meal. The cafe is also incredibly cute and cozy and they have an outside patio as well with good people watching traffic.
(4)Julie V.
The burritos were not very good. The potatoes were undercooked and it tasted like a McDonald's burrito. Will have to try something different next time.
(3)Jerry W.
I really like the environment at Caboose. It's very laid back and relaxed. The music is at a decent volume, and it's nothing too edgy. Unfortunately, I didn't try their coffee, but I did have a fruit tartlet, a strawberry smoothie, and half of an apple pie. Everything was good, but nothing was great.
(3)Bahareh M.
This is my 100th review! Woot! And I'm glad to say it's of an excellent restaurant. Went here on Saturday evening, around 8. It wasn't crowded, but there were definitely people at the tables. We decided to go Ethiopian, and I'm glad we did. While I'm not a vegetarian, my friend is. I have no problems going veggie with Ethiopian because I really just like all the flavors and spices. We got the vegan platter for two. It was plenty of food, and we even had leftovers. I loved the yellow lentil dish. And the collared greens were the best I've had. Overall, very good. The injera was perfect and the flavors all really worked. But what I really liked was how nice the staff was. They came over and checked on us numerous times. When we were leaving they even gave us a free full-sized loaf of bread to take with. It's a little far from me, but next time I'm in the neighborhood I'll definitely be back.
(4)Gayle G.
Really three and a 1/2 stars -- only due to the fact that they don't offer their tasty Ethiopian entrees during dinner. Boo!! After trying their Cuban sandwich, I wished I had stuck to my regular choice here which is the shrimp mesculin salad. It is so good-- nice, big, fresh shrimp with portobella mushrooms. Instead, I got the Cuban which overall was "OK" but they make it like a panini(?) so I missed the whole hard roll part of the typical Cuban. Speaking of rolls, the breads and pastries here are awesome. Like the chocolate mouse tarts (mmm) and the chocolate eclairs (double mmm). Coffee here is good, too.
(3)Jim W.
Haven't been in a while, but the food has always been good and the staff always pleasant. Eat outside! A not-too-busy side of Mount Vernon Avenue with other great must-see local businesses right next door. One of the few, if not only place on Mount Vernon Avenue to actually serve a full breakfast menu.
(4)C R.
What a great neighborhood spot!! Can't speak for their dinner menu, as I'm a lunch-time hanger-outer here. The couple of times we've gone for breakfast, we've had greek omelets and they're great. Muffins are big, but I've gotten cranberry ones more than once that only have cranberries at the top and the bottom is bare. Waa! But back to lunch: I almost invariably get their smoked turkey on ciabatta with lettuce, tomato, mayo. They are always kind enough to accomodate my request for roasted red pepper in there as well, and that is YUM! Their soups are always delish, and their prices are reasonable. Service is friendly and quick. It gets busy busy! Fun on weekends too.
(4)Amy H.
We visited Caboose Cafe with a restaurant.com coupon for dinner and had a great experience! We split one of the Ethiopian dinner platters which provided a sampling of several delicious dishes. The Shiraz wine was also great! Our server was phenomenal - she checked on us and taught us the proper technique for eating the food with our hands and brought us extra Ethiopian bread when she saw that we needed more to finish our meal. I felt bad that we stayed for 30 minutes after closing, but the staff was incredibly nice about it and we never felt rushed. Our server gave us each an entire baguette at the end of the night to take home too! I would recommend this place for anyone looking for a casual yet intimate dining experience with great Ethiopian food!
(5)Mac O.
Yessir, Caboose is a great place. It's local, it's family-run, and the food is awesome. On Saturdays we hit the Del Ray farmers' market early in the morning and then go to Caboose for breakfast. I LOVE the fact that the coffee is brewed strong, there are several choices, and refills are free -- grab 'em as you need 'em. I like their bagel with lox, cream cheese, capers and onions. A simple breakfast done well. I also love their feta spinach breakfast wrap with scrambled eggs. It's well-seasoned, salty, and gooey. Although this dish is typically on-point, sometimes the eggs are a bit overdone. Yeesh. At dinner, the Ehtiopian food is soooo good. I haven't tried any of their "regular" menu items -- I figured when you can get Ethiopian, why bother with a salad or sammie? There are few places in NoVa to dine on authentic Ethiopian, so I like to take advantage of Caboose's native offerings. Don't be scared off if you've never tried it. It's kind of like Moroccan food met Indian food, had a passionate affair, and produced a gorgeous baby. The owners hail from Ethiopia, so you figure they know what they're doing -- and they do. I prefer the vegan sampler obviously, which comes with 5 vegan selections, a salad, and plenty of delicious, tangy, spongy injera (the little vegan dollops include a daal-like lentil dish, a reeeally spicy lentil, nicely cooked greens with chunks of garlic, green beans and carrots, and potatoes and cabbage -- they are all outstanding). To eat the food as it's intended, tear a small piece of ingera and pinch up some of the desired entree...so good. Husband loves the Meat Combo 1 with lamb (his fave), beef, chicken, and his choice of two vegan sides -- also served wtih injera. If you run out of injera (hard to conceive of, they give you plenty), your waitperson is happy to provide you more. Any of the samplers can be made into two-person servings at a reduced cost, too. ALSO -- on Tuesday evenings they offer a special of *any* two entrees, Ethiopian included, plus a bottle of wine (you can choose either the red or the white they're offering) for $29.95! A really awesome deal. Wine and beer are fairly affordable, too: any bottle of wine is $20, a deal depending on where you're from and where you eat regularly. And the selection is decent. If you eat late enough, as other reviewers have mentioned, a complimentary loaf of homemade bread accompanies your check. We didn't ask, and the waitress didn't ask if we wanted it -- but a beautiful, crusty loaf of house ciabatta magically appeared on the table, and we gratefully took it home to inhale it with some goat cheese and tempranillo. Our only problem with the Caboose -- and it's a small one -- is the "Eurpoean" service, as my husband refers to it. It's a bit slow. The waitstaff doesn't hound you, or constantly ask you how the food is. But it means you might have to flag someone down to get a drink refill, or to ask for your check. Otherwise, we have no complaints with the Caboose and return again and again for the great food at affordable prices.
(4)Alexis S.
I really like this place. It's in my neighborhood, and I've eaten here for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Ethiopian is wonderful, the soup is delicious and the sandwiches are decent. Prices are decent as well. The owner and waitresses are also very nice. One qualm: I met up with someone around 8:30 once (didn't realize that they close at 9) and we were definitely being rushed out.
(4)Vivian R.
Three times a charm. So the saying goes. Hubby asked one day, after observing my almost-full take-out box of Ethiopian food, "is it like sex, like it can't really be that bad?" That was my second try at Caboose for their Ethiopian. Oh, no, honey. It could be that bad. Past tense. I went again this past week. Heading home way too late with Baby, I had to pick up something for dinner. Passed a couple of spots, uninspired, I hurried towards home thinking up what I could pull out my rear end for dinner ideas that night. And then: Caboose, right in front of me. Oh, hell, why not - I'll give it a try again, see if they've improved their Ethiopian fare before I write it off completely. The longer Ethiopian menu was a good start. I had tried out their Ethiopian the first time they advertised they were serving it, and was gravely underimpressed. Second time was above said take-out that remained largely uneaten. This time around, I ordered one of the carrot/cabbage and one of a beef dish. With heavy load in bag on one hand, Baby in stroller on the other, homeward we went, wary Mom in tow. Wow. The food did not disappoint. The texture of the injera was finally on (past couple of times, we got this rather sticky mess of a roll of injera). I found myself slopping up every bite I could with the injera, digging my fingers into the sauce-soaked injera, and wanting more. Baby also slopped up her injera, and she also wanted more after each bite. Hubby, alas, he'll occasionally humor my addiction to Ethiopian, but the look on his face said it all: I found an Ethiopian place close to home, a good Ethiopian place, too close to home for his comfort. He knew he was in trouble. They figured out the flavors, spices, and texture, and I can leave my injera-making experimentation to another day in my kitchen. Go early in the day and enjoy their breads (later in the day yields stale loaves). Muffins are also wonderful. Carrot cake, I've had better at Cheesecake Factory (of all places!). Summertime yields a very happy Mom enjoying their ice-cold fresh-squeezed OJ over the Sunday paper. Stay for dinner, and enjoy some Ethiopian. Finish off with eclairs (one of the first bites I enjoyed when we first moved into our neighborhood).
(4)V In T.
vegan reviewer.. i love this place. i have issues with coffee shops which love serving cheese sandwiches, creamy soups and buttery deserts. but they have great hummus, good bagels and always seem to have a vegan soup on the menu. a coffee shop i can eat at! it's almost unheard of. one gripe.. the veggie sandwiches are way over priced. bagel + hummus and lettuce/tomato runs 7 bucks. not fair. i had that and a cup of soup and suddenly my meal was around $12 which is more than i'd pay for a full dinner somewhere. after a year of coming here multiple times a week, just found out they have ETHIOPIAN FOOD. it's my favorite food in the whole wide world. it's only served after 5 but you better believe i'm coming back this week to have some. this place is so much more than a coffee shop- you'd just never know it by the exterior or sadly, their menu posted behind the counter.
(4)Mari C.
Nice, busy, friendly neighborhood feel. It's a small place, and crowded at times.
(4)Keri M.
I had to give them at least 4 stars b/c at the end of my late dinner (around 10pm), they handed me a free loaf of bread with which I made the most amazing french toast 2 days later. The Ethiopian food is fresh, tasty and is comparable to food and prices in the Ethiopian-restaurant-dense U St. corridor. No ethnic decor here - the walls are lined with painted murals and random photographs while the furniture is a light wood. Makes for a yuppie cafe feel. I regret that they do not serve the Ethiopian dish I most frequently order - Kitfo - which is of the raw meat variety. But I overlook that because the quality of what they offer is good. I love the atmosphere here b/c of the regulars who will without solitication offer recommendations or tell you how things work (when you appear lost and confused - as I did) and make you feel like you're in a rural town cafe. FYI it is a sit-down with waiter service for dinner.
(4)John R.
Ethiopian in Del Ray?! I must have driven past this place a million times and never ventured inside. From the street it looks like your average coffee / sandwich shop, which is why I never stopped - usually preferring St Elmo's just down the street. How wrong I was! First - parking. If you arrive weekends or weekdays after 5pm, there's a huge parking lot out back that's available to the public (although it's a private lot M-F during work hours). Atmosphere - relaxed, clean, cute. Indoor and outdoor seating are both very nice, although, why sit indoors when you have to? The place gets pretty busy, but it's probably better than most places in Del Ray. We had several different dishes from their Ethiopian menu and everyone seemed happy. Yellow and Red lentils were a hit, the combo platter is gigormous, chicken wings and egg dish is deceptive (single chicken wing with hard boiled egg). If it matters, beer and wine is available (I wasn't sure since it looked so much like a coffee shop)...
(4)Jane P.
Caboose is a quirky, funny, place, owned by a wonderful Ethiopian woman. I can't rave enough about the friendliness of her and her staff. There's so many aspects to rate about Caboose that I'll forego attempts at eloquence and just list them out: Ethiopian Dinner: 5 stars. Couscous: 5+ stars. Random American/Italian Dinner: 3 stars (but my bf loves the burger). Sandwiches and Soups: 4.5 stars (Especially the Spinach/Mozzerella). Baked goods: 2 or 3 stars, depending. Homemade Bread: 4 stars. Breakfast: 3.5 stars. Coffee: 3 stars. Service: 10 stars. Free WiFi, center of Del Ray, outdoor seating = all positives. The muffins always seem greasy to me.
(4)Levi B.
Great spot! Had a chicken salad for lunch - it was excellent - generous helpings of chicken salad on fresh greens with balsamic dressing. Americano was ok and only reason I didn't give a five - they could use a few lessons from a PNW coffee shop :) Free wi-fi, plenty of table space and nearby free street parking are all perks
(4)Caitlin S.
I heart this place. Their chicken salad is deliiiiiiiiish, especially on ciabatta. I love the atmosphere, too. :)
(5)Heather C.
I love Caboose. I have to, however, confess to only frequenting during lunch. So, I judge only on the sandwich-ness of it all -- not on the Ethiopian. I nearly always get a turkey sand on ciabatta -- though I love their french dip, too. Everything I've had here has been stellar. The service is top notch and that atmosphere is very welcoming (murals and dark wood tables, as well as small, contained outdoor area. Lastly, and keep this to a whisper, they have free wifi.
(5)Kamau W.
Update 2/15/2007 4 Stars This is the great thing about Yelp. Reviews aren't written in stone so when you give a place a second chance, you can correct your mistake I mistakenly had given this place an undeserved three stars a month ago. My bad. When my wife and I first went to the restaurant, I believe that we got there shortly before they were closing which may have been the reason service seemed just decent. We gave Caboose another shot this past weekend and now this will probably be a goto place for us. The service is great, the Ethiopian meals are great and the cakes are EXCELLENT!!!! The prices are very reasonable also. I'm sorry Caboose Cafe & Bakery. Thanks for proving me wrong. __________________________________________________Â__ 1/21/2007 My wife and I had dinner here yesterday. The ethiopian dinner was pretty good and the dinner menu was pretty varied, considering it was a cafe.The decor was pretty bland though and the service was decent. All in all a good neighborhood restaurant with personable service. Nothing bad but nothing exceptional either.
(4)Jalyn H.
Sorry to rain on the Caboose, but the quality of the food has been lower than average. The interior atmosphere is way groovy. Very nice place to sit and read and have a cup of coffee. This compounded with the fact that the music selection is the complete opposite of what you'd expect to hear here: "Brick House" followed by "You Dropped A Bomb On Me," and then something by Sylvester. But I digress... The few times that I've been here, the sandwiches have either been way too dry (bread stale) or too drenched in some kind of dressing. The soda machine was out of carbonation twice, thus regulating me to a warm canned beverage. The prices you pay are way too high for what you get. Almost $7 for a simple turkey sandwich, no chips, just some carrot sticks as sides. I'm not completely ruling out Caboose yet. Consider this a warning shot though.
(2)Michael R.
Great sandwiches Highly recommend the spinach and mozzarella or the cuban.
(4)Megan K.
My husband and I usually visit Caboose Cafe for dinner on Friday nights. It is a relaxing and casual environment with a friendly waitstaff. My husband usually orders a meat Ethiopian dish, and it is consistently good. On the other hand, I order the Waldorf Salad, Mediterranean Sandwich, or a vegetarian Ethiopian dish. All the food that we have had here is so yummy that I have always have trouble deciding between my 3 staples. If you are extra hungry or looking for an appetizer to share, then definitely try the Sundried Tomato Dip.
(4)K K.
I was amazed when a neighbor said this place has the best Ethiopian food in the area. When we walked in, it sure didn't look like it would have that cuisine, but there it was on the back of the menu. This place is a bit of a drive for us but it's well worth it. We've been there a few times now for dinner and look forward to returning. The restaurant itself is homey but certainly nothing fancy. It feels more like a coffee shop. But when that Ethiopian combination dinner comes out, who cares what the restaurant looks like. The food is just wonderful--full of flavor and reminds me exactly why it was worth the trip. I'd say it's the tastiest Ethiopian food I've had, at least so far, in the DC area. Reading the other reviews here, I see that it may well be worthwhile ordering other types of meals here but I don't think I could resist their Ethiopian fare. Those cakes sure look good though! But we've not yet had room to try those either.
(4)Kathy D.
I was delighted to try this place out in Del Ray today and was really happy with my latest find! It's a very nice cafe, small, but not too small and the staff was really friendly. I ordered a BLT and it was really good - I mean you really can't screw up a BLT, but you can screw up bacon and they didn't. The Wi-Fi is free and fast and they don't seem to mind if you hang out and work on your computer for a little bit after you finish your sandwich. I like that they use real plates and glasses and not the throwaway kind - very environmentally conscious (and probably saves them money too). Prices are fair and to be expected for Del Ray ($5.50 for a BLT). I didn't try the cupcakes, but they were encased in a refrigerated glass container (to my horror!). I will be back for sure!
(4)Amanda G.
Great place to grab coffee and a quick breakfast. Nothing fancy but I haven't been disappointed yet.
(4)Antony C.
This restaurant is great! Wonderful service, great food, fun atmosphere. The owner, Rhoda, is the best. She provides a level of service that is amazing. If you have to pick a place to go in Del Ray, go to Caboose. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Rob A.
Free wifi... but the food is cool, healthy and good. the people are quite friendly. Outside seating is nice because Delray is a good neighborhood.
(4)Kathryn W.
The Ethiopian food here is FANTASTIC. Good enough, in fact, that it makes up for a total and complete lack of ambiance (Ace of Base was playing during dinner. Enough said.) The service is good too, and all the staff are really friendly. We shared a combination platter that just about knocked my socks off. The platter was at least a foot and a half in diameter, and there was so much food that my boyfriend and I couldn't even finish (and he's a human garbage disposal, so that says a lot). The doro watt and the beg watt were my favorites, and the injera was perfect. I didn't even look at the side of the menu with an eclectic-enough-to-be-dubious array of European, Mexican, American, and Asian food. I would order nothing but the Ethiopian, as that is their specialty (the owner is Ethiopian). The coffee is nice too, and the breakfast sandwiches are pretty good. The star of the show, however, is definitely the Ethiopian food.
(5)Wyld K.
Went here for Ethiopian fare, and found the menu to be quite small. That's not a deal-breaker, but the food overall didn't stand out compared to other local Ethiopian restaurants.
(3)Niya N.
Probably some of the best bread I've had in the DC area. Very reasonably priced for the quality you get. My favorites are the whole wheat and multigrain. Also, we tried the Ethiopian dinner and it was by far the best I've had in the DC area. Not too greasy or buttery, and full of flavor. They also have a large sandwich menu. You can pretty much satisfy all types of cravings at Caboose.
(5)Kristen V.
hmmm 2 1/2 stars. we didn't try the pasteries or sandwiches. don't I would eat there. felt dirty and was cuter outside than in. the americano and latte we had were a-okay. lavazza espresso. desserts looked mediocre nothing appealing.
(2)Lee P.
Excellent food at a great price with friendly service. Their breakfast is best, but dinner is wonderful too. The service is excellent and they are happy to customize orders. We've had them make stuff up for us, and they're always happy to do it. Their Ethiopian food is great, and includes a vegan sampler. We also love their burgers, salads, pasta and especially the meatloaf. Their breakfasts include wonderful French Toast or Belgian waffles, but the cream filled chocolate muffins are amazing. For desert, my favorite is the chocolate bread pudding, which comes in a thick slice. I'm told they have some of the best coffee in the neighborhood, but I'm personally a tea drinker. The only down side is that they can get crowded and seating is limited, especially in cold weather when the patio seating is not usable.
(5)Peter R.
This is a wonderful place - excellent coffee, baked goods and Ethiopian food - all at reasonable prices.
(5)Kate M.
This is the one of the best places to sit on the Avenue on a sunny day, and enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Finally there is a sandwich shop to get a quick bite during the day, say hi to a few neighbors, and get helped by great staff. Rhoda has done a great job taking, what seemed to be one unsuccessful cafe after the other, and made it into a nice place to get a cup of coffee, or at the end of the day a glass of wine!
(5)Gretchen L.
We went here for lunch - trying something different from the Mexican/Salvadorean place that we love. My husband and I both thought it was terrible - maybe we just ordered the wrong stuff, but I would not go back. The French Dip didn't even taste like roast beef - it was so salty I thought they might have used ham instead. Hubby got the quadruple cheese panini - neither of us were sure how 4 different cheeses could have gotten on the sandwich - there was maybe a slice and a 1/2 of cheese. Too bad - the people seemed friendly and the service was pretty quick. But we won't be back.
(1)RonAnderson ..
Good Ethiopian food in a place you wouldn't think would have it-- a bakery/cafe in the yuppie Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria. The interior looks like a hip coffee house--and makes for a very laid-back, casual environment to have a quiet, comfortable dinner. I really enjoyed my Doro Watt entree. What surprised me most about this place was the incredible diversity of food options on the menu-- not only Ethiopian, but sandwiches, pasta, salads, soups, brunch items, many vegetarian options, and of course, lots of freshly baked breads, cakes and pastries too. After your meal, head over to the Dairy Godmother to get your fix of frozen custard!!
(4)amy g.
Great place to spend a few hours. The muffins, coffee, and atmosphere is so much better than St. Elmos. Try the ethiopian food!
(5)