I love exploring cafes when I visit new places, my first time in DC last year, I came across this very cute and charming cafe on the 18th street.We came for a light breakfast. Ordered turmeric milk, brownie, butter croissant and I don’t exactly remember the name but it was something coconut pie kind of thing but it was super delicious.I even loved the turmeric milk.We sat outside. Our server was a very pleasant guy.Would definitely recommend this place.
Lavender Latte was perfectly steamed. The pastries were fresh and flaky. Also tried the Santa Cruz bagel on an everything bagel. Bagel was soft and not too salty, cream cheese had to be made in house because it was so creamy and not too rich. Only suggestion would be is to lightly apply the basil, rosemary, mint and chive garnish...it was a bit much on mine. And if you try this bagel, try adding a tomato...wouldve been awesome with a balsamic glaze or even an infused honey. definitely dine in, great space to enjoy!
First time there. Very laid back which was exactly what I was looking for. I had to do a Zoom meeting for my job and the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful. Service was wonderful.
Went here for the first time today, and it was a great experience! The cafe is large and spacious, and the interior is quite charming. This is one of the only cafes I have been to that has table service.i had a dirty chai with almond milk that was delicious! They also put a couple animal crackers on the saucer which was a nice touch. All I need now is a doily! 😊
I had heard good things about Tryst from a few people before finally checking it out myself. Im a graduate student so I enjoy changing up my working environment. I liked the concept of Tryst. Open seating, shared tables, couches, etc. A spot for every type of coffeehouse-goer. There were also a lot of small groups grabbing brunch so there was a variety of guests here but it worked. The server comes to your table once you find a spot and each time Ive come here (3 times) I havent had to wait long to be served. Each time I would order a latte with oat or almond milk and on my last visit I tried a bacon, egg & cheese. I really liked the bread it came on and the eggs were freshly cooked and pretty fluffy! I enjoyed the sandwich but it wasnt the best BEC Ive ever tried. Final note, the playlist is always on point here.
I think Im done with Tryst. The food is good but the service is so bad. The past two times Ive been really patient with the slow and disorganized service, both at the host stand and table-side, and each time the staff has been rude and short with us. This time after waiting for a long while for an empty table to be cleared, shortly after being seated we were asked if we had cut the line - we had not. We waited a while longer for waters and the menu QR. After ordering, our same server came back to offer us menus and seem confused when we replied that she had just taken our order. Another tables food was brought to us and moments later our food was brought to another table, then a second order of our same food was brought to us. During the meal we had wanted another round of coffee and more water but it took so long to get attention that by the time she came back we were just ready for the check. At our last experience about a month ago our server had apparently left for the day and no one knew what our bill was or what we had ordered. A visibly annoyed server asked us to recount everything we had ordered and repeatedly questioned our honesty.The oat milk lattes are delicious hot or cold and the food is great. I just wish I could order from an app and still eat at the restaurant.
High quality food and a gentle spirit to the service and atmosphere. We liked it a lot.
Rough going for businesses on 18th Street and Columbia Road these days. It appears to me many businesses are closed. But they have heart at Tryst, open and doing the best they can under challenging circumstances. Coffee is still great and seated at exactly 10:00 AM time qualified to order a bloody mary. Our server gave the cautionary disclaimer that no garnishes - celery stick, pickle, olives nor lime squeeze in bloody mary’s, I guess in an effort to combat COVID. It’s still a breakfast of champions without the garnish.I generally am not ordering a bloody mary at 10:00 AM mid-week. My best friend’s son is in DC from LA for a couple of days and suggested we get together for coffee this morning. I thought a bloody mary was appropriate. Tryst is near where Jon is staying and the perfect location for our purpose, being seated at a table outside on the street between the curb on one side, sidewalk side, and butted up against a jersey wall on the other, in the street. It added to the already dystopian ambience.Our server was in good spirits and my spirit (bloody mary) was good. Cheese and ham croissant tasted delicious though mustard, which I like on cheese and ham croissant, was not available under a variation of the no garnish bloody mary rule. We had a nice time. Real life is your best entertainment value.
Perfect espresso drinks, theres no other word for them. Any place that serves Counter Culture Coffee is going to have a high standard. They are tip top!
Coffee was okay, but the woman at the counter was so rude! I understand having a bad day or whatever but she seemed incredibly annoyed that we dared to order a cup of coffee at a coffee shop. It was a very unpleasant experience.
We usually love Tryst for their ambiance and service, but it seems that during the weekends the managerial office will turn wifi off to discourage patrons from coming in to enjoy their day as working professionals. This is quite unreasonable as a coffee place/restaurant in DC and has discouraged me from recommending this place to other working professionals for meetings. I hope they change this in the near future.
Amazing brunch spot! Community seating (big wooden tables)and also couches and smaller tables towards the back. I ordered an Irish coffee, due to the winter weather, and it was exactly as I had hoped. The quiche (broccolini and cheddar) had a rich but flaky crust, and was not overdone. I also ordered the fruit instead of salad and everything was fresh. My boyfriend ordered the breakfast burrito which I also tried and was not disappointed. The service was outstanding and our server was friendly and very helpful!! We will be back for sure!
Always great. They are also hiring right now. For being short staffed they were still getting everyone taken care of in a timely manner.I absolutely love their buttermilk waffle! And of course bacon on the side! Top it off with a yummy cappuccino
Came here with a friend for lunch and I would like to preface by saying the food I ordered and actually received was pretty good. Never received a drink I ordered despite several requests for it, when it came time to pay the bill I had to go to the bar to get the check and the tried to convince me to pay for the drink I never received by saying I could get it to go. This was not an option and I found it strange the server’s first reaction was not to immediately apologize and remove it from my bill. Would recommend it for takeout, but not for dine in.
Great friendly local breakfast/ brunch place . Still there, still good with nice outdoor space. Hope they keep the curbside tables! COme early - it fills up fast for brunch! Bfast menu is honest... bagels with egg and cheese/ avocado, pastries etc. You can get the big fry-up breakfast at its sister restaurant the Diner next door.Shout out to the super friendly staff - especially today - we forgot our masks... and the waiter was super cool about it and kindly gave us some from their back up stash for forgetful customers.... Thanks!
Tryst is a welcoming respite in a pandemic ridden world. They are large enough that the tables and seating can naturally social distance while the indoor/outdoor lines are blurred by the doors being open the whole time. This may change as it gets cooler, but for now, it’s a lovely feature.They have full table service while you’re sitting, including a selection of brunch items that range from small to filling, sweet to savory. I’ve found their table service to be somewhat curt at times, but service is quick and reliable. Coffee tastes great too.In terms of a place to come work to get out of the house, this Tryst location gets a full endorsement from me. I’ve spent several full work days here and have had zero issues with their WiFi (in fact, it’s sometimes faster than my home WiFi!). Sometimes, sitting outside can be hard during calls since 18th st is quite loud, but inside is wonderful. They do close at 4pm right now during the pandemic, so make sure to plan for the inevitable relocation if you have meetings that bump up against that closing time. But overall, a really great experience to work outside the house.In closing, thank you Tryst, for trying so hard during this challenging time to make a welcoming space that also is safe. I’ll keep coming back!
Craving coffee and pie. Coffee good flavor but not hot. Pie, filling great, crust, (bottom), not so much. Pixie (server) made it all worth it.
The barista had a very nice Pooh Bear embroidery! ❤️ Great coffee!
Interesting place. They have a massive seating area, but if you sit you are expected to order (meaning someone will bring you water and a menu). On the other hand you can grab a coffee and pastry to go. They also have a really nice seating area outside. When I was there around 5pm the place was pretty lively, but not overly crowded.
I just couldnt give this place a lower rating.This used to be a reference, neighborhood place for me in my early years in DC, which really looks like another geological era now.I just cant believe how low this place has fallen.The service is virtually inexistant now, and exceptionally rude at that.If you dont get to place an order yourself at the counter, as well you might wait for the next Allen comet to pass by before you get table service.The food, which admittedly has never been a trademark of this joint, has become life-shortening, disgusting scrap material.In this exceptionally humid summer, where every affected business stocks up accordingly, I dared to ask a bartender if they had any insect repellent (mosquitoes in the outdoor seating were having the time of their life).She pretended not to understand my question at first, and then she blurted out a negative answer with a shockingly condescending tone.So did the server who bothered to check outside after more than half an hour I was there.Do yourself a favor and stay out of this place for your own sake.
Tryst is the perfect stop in Adams Morgan for outdoor dining coffe and breakfast. The coffee is 5 stars - very good. I ordered a Latte with oat milk and it was deelishus!! The Food was just ok but they do have many options on their bakery and Brunch All Day menus. Everything from Croissants, Bagels and waffles to breakfast burritos. The Quiche tasted ok, it does come with a fresh salad which is nice. Prompt, friendly service, nicely decorated restaurant and great use of space for Social Distancing. I highly recommend this place for a coffee!
The chai is an instant powder by Pacific Chai. Its basically just sugar. Expected more from a place like Tryst. Steep some tea and spices, is that too much to ask?
Cute little shop in a bustling area of Adams Morgan. Great place to grab a coffee and pastry. I enjoyed placing the animal crackers in the coffee like they were swimming. Love it. Next pastry will be the spinach feta croissant
I randomly chose this restaurant for breakfast based on the number of people that I could see through the window. The room is large and pleasantly furnished, with a mixture of tables, chairs and sofas. It has a relaxed and friendly vibe. My savoury avocado on toast was adequate but not amazing. Decent coffee. The waiting staff were a bit thin on the ground, but definitely pleasant. Overall, a good experience.
Long standing coffee shop with 90s vibe. Good pastries and youll definitely be able to find a table.
Stopped here because of the reviews and they did not disappoint! Great food, great coffee and great service!!
Over priced mediocre food with famously bad service (pre-pandemic). The coffee is great though. Every now and then you may actually get good service. It is a nice place to hangout with friends, indoors, if you don’t mind waiting a long time for the server to remember your table.
I like this place but I feel they need more people to help around. I had to wait quite some time before ordering.
Stopped in to grab a beverage and wait on some friends. Arrived 1 hour before closing and the staff was really put off by the fact the I had the audacity to be there. The food may be good, the coffee may be great, but the staff was just really off-putting.
Tasty food and good coffee. Worth a stop for breakfast if youre in the area.
One of the coolest coffee hangouts in DC. It’s comfortable, welcoming, and cool, unlike most utilitarian coffee shops that seemingly want you out of their coffee shop ASAP. Buy a croissant, coffee, or mixed drink and hang out a while. (No WiFi on weekends!) Finding a table for a big group is hard, especially in the afternoons. But for a couple, the couches at days perfect and the menu selection ranges from baked goods to salads to full meals. It’s pricey but everything in DC seems to be.
Cannolis were delicious (they were not so sweet). Coffee is very good. Service too.
Casual establishment with great sandwich selections and gourmet beverages! Friendly staff!
Good vibes, decent food, nice variety of beverage options. Perfect day-to-night spot.
The staff was very kind and friendly. I would recommend a second visit.
Their chai latte is my favorite in DC! Its also a great place to get some work done. Downside: not a ton of free parking, and its not really metro accessible
Really nice place for lunch, awesome service and food!
Great coffee shop. Dirty Chai Frape is really good. Service is on average but understandable after COVID crisis.
Great everything. They are short staff and it shows but dope place over all
Delicious hot chocolate. The seating arrangement is quite plain and trite if not for the lighting
Friendly, casual and welcoming vibe. Great start to the day for a meeting or just to catch up on your own items.
I was really excited to try this place, but I was incredibly disappointed. My boyfriend and I were seated right away, and then no one came to check on us or take our order for over a half hour. Other tables around us were taken care of, but no one came by us. We eventually went inside to order our coffees which took awhile (understandable because they were busy), but they were unable to make any frappes/cold drinks on the menu. The coffee drink I got instead was disappointing (mediocre at best), the service was non existent, and when we told the waitress at the end that we were frustrated by the lack of service, she wasn’t particularly apologetic. It seemed like it was an inconvenience that we were telling her this. Will not be returning any time soon.
The service was terrible at best, but the food and drink fare was delicious. Wed go again, but might consider waiting until the waitstaff is a bit more on top of their game.
Great food. Service was a bit slack, but I wasnt in a hurry.
Go here if you want to eat food that looks good,tastes disgusting and is expensive for the quality,quantity.Also free flies available- which keep you entertained while your wait for the food seems endless.The place was super busy,we literally had to stand next to a table who were paying and grabbed the seats as soon as they got up!Looking at the number of people in the restaurant and their reviews,I was expecting decent food but what a disappointment it was!A cup of coffee,Avocado toast and chocolate waffles costed us around 30$ including tax.
The worst customer service I’ve experienced in any coffee shop in DC. I was told by a waiter that I could find an empty table outside and she pointed directly at one that was empty for me to sit at. Another waitress approached me and asked me in a very rude manner why I was sitting there and to go find another table indoors since it had not been cleaned. I told her that I specifically asked to sit outside and was told to sit at this table. She then proceeded to clean the table very rudely as if she did not want to serve me. I placed my order and after that she completely disappeared. She did not deliver my drink or food to my table. I waited roughly 30 minutes before I stood up and went to ask for my drink which they had not prepared yet. I got up about four times to grab my food items and silverware. Apparently, the server left for the day and she did not care to let me or the other guests know outside. We did not receive any type of service from another server after that. This is so unprofessional and the lack of care for guests is unbelievable. The cherry on top was that my salad had a hair in it and I didn’t even bother to let anyone know considering the horrible customer service I had already received to begin with. I live only a few minutes of a walk from Trust and feel so disappointed to not have a decent cafe to go to.
They have a nice vibe going on here. It was a bit crowded so we took advantage of communal seating and we joined a dude who was studying. It seems to be a great place for working on things or chatting with a friend.They have table service and a bar. It’s loud, and comfortable. The service was very good, our server answered ALL of my questions, even when I got super specific and a bit annoying, and she was prompt.We had the tarp and beetroot latte, iced. I enjoyed this drink and would order it again. I’m not sure I’d like it hot. The Angela was ok. The bread was not as crunchy as a baguette, even though I think it was supposed to be a baguette and the cheese used was overwhelming for the sandwich. The turkey was moist and all the veggies was fresh and crunchy. The avocado toast was yummy. The grainy and seedy bread was perfectly toasted, the avocado was fresh, sliced hard boiled egg and radish pieces all worked together for a perfect bit. I would order this every time I visited. The bagel was ok, better than most in the area, but not as good as a New York bagel. The cookie was big and chocolaty and was enjoyed (duh). I would argue that the fudgy brownie was really more cakey brownie, and I want fudgy when ordering fudgy.I’d like to return to try other menu items.
I’ve had a number of bad experiences both here and at The Coupe (same owners), but never left a review until now. We waited 30 minutes to be seen by a waitress, and additional 25 minutes for our drinks, and then the food was cold. The frustrating thing was that our waitress (Rita) did an amazing job and was clearly working very hard and managing at least 10 tables, while two of her colleagues stood by the hostess stand doing nothing for long periods of time. Won’t be back for a long time. Something about the management of these two restaurants results in some of the worst service I’ve ever experienced anywhere.Thank you to Rita for making the best of a hard situation without support.
I’ve started making the drive from Fairfax County for the house-made syrups. So good.
The dirty chai and pecan pie was delicious (The pecan pie was not too sweet). My wife ordered the matcha latte and loved it. Its a bit pricey but it is tasty. Its extremely packed inside and hard to find a place to sit (you come in and seat yourself). We had to share a table with strangers nevertheless it was an intresting and welcoming ambience.
One of the all time great coffee houses. Charming, funky, and hip, Tryst is as great for a quick take out order as it is for a sit down creative team meeting. Get the chai-pacinno for a guaranteed delicious jolt of creamy goodness.
I got an iced cherry blossom latte, which was fine (3.5 or 4/5). The direct service was of mixed quality (3/5), ambience of mixed quality (3/5), and the service system was poor (2/5)Story-The person at the entrance was not particularly friendly and did not provide clear or helpful directions for me on my first time (directing me to just go in once confirming I was not waiting for a seat outside). I ordered my coffee at the counter and they said they would call my name so I could hear it, and the two people staffing the register were friendly and cordial. I took a table, where I was eventually approached by a server who criticized me for ordering at the counter because that was not how [I] was supposed to do it - as if I would somehow know when it was my first time. After waiting a while to hear my name called, I walked over to the counter to ask for the WiFi password and check on my drink. No one at the counter was available to tell me the WiFi password, so I asked a barrista who told me something that didnt work. I was also told that they had already called my name a long time ago, so they quickly made a new one.I go to coffee shops all the time and rarely leave reviews of places unless they are positive. Not a relaxed environment. Not impressed.
Tryst is a wonderful place to come to work or to eat/drink something with friends. It is slow paced, as many people come here to spend the whole afternoon or even the whole day working. Monday through Friday, Tryst offers free wifi; I am not sure about the weekends now. Since they reopened in the new coronavirus era, I like to spend one day a week working here, so that I change the scenery of my kitchen. Regarding the food today, I totally loved the spinach and feta cheese (amazing!!!) and the greek salad. But I was pretty disappointed at the Death by Chocolate Waffle. I had imagined rich melted chocolate would be available to pour abundantly on the waffles, but there is no chocolate to add. Its just that they put some chocolate inside the waffle mix. It comes with honey. I cant even taste the chocolate, so big disappointment. But I dont want to focus on that too much. The menu was never what brought me here. If they had a better menu, I would surely spend more money here. But I still come, and since I usually spend a bunch of hours, I make sure to tip accordingly. That is not just 20% of what I consumed. If I keep a table busy all day long, I leave 15 or 20 dollars of tip, which is still much cheaper than paying any office space per hour.
Stopped in for coffee & pastries. Enjoyed everything.
Great coffee, great service.
I am not a regular in this neighborhood, but the second you walk in, you feel like everyone is.A coffee shop with actual places to sit and a menu of actual food.I don’t drink coffee so I was so grateful for full Coca Cola product line from the tap next to my friend with a giant cup of coffee.I got the cranberry ricotta toast which was the perfect mid day snack! (There were 4 pieces, I just forgot to take a pic before I started devouring)
Great coffee shop with great vibes
Come for great sounds, a diverse crowd, and overall sense overload. The walls are covered in art and brightly colored. The street wall opens up to the patio and natural air fills the room. You can people watch from the many other venues nearby while sipping a well crafted cocktail or espresso drink and munching on original menu that has a few beer bite staples for the less adventurous. Lots of atmosphere here.
I LOVE Tryst - I’ve been coming for years. It’s a great spot to socialize or to get some time away for yourself. Nothing I’ve ever tried here has disappointed - the desserts and pastries are sublime, the sandwiches are tasty and filling, the waffles are to die for, and the drinks are great too! The lavender hot chocolate especially is worth trying. And the animal crackers they serve with the drinks is such a cute touch!
Tryst is a very safe a comfortable coffee house and lounge in the heart of Adams Morgan on 18th St. Its staff like, Juan, makes sure you get your drink exactly like you want it. The space is big and social distancing is carefully kept. Highly recommended!
I went to Tryst to meet someone for coffee. We were seated very close to large open doors so it felt very safe considering Covid. While we were talking and drinking our coffee we were singled out 3 times in less than an hour to put our masks back on unless we were actively drinking. It was excessive, awkward and unnecessary. We were a good distance from anyone else. It wasnt a good experience. Would not recommend going to Tryst. Added after the response: the standards were not enforced equally. Many people were talking and not wearing masks for very long period of times. We were singled out over and over...even if we only had our mask off for a short time between sips. It doesnt make much sense to take a sip, put your masks on, take your mask off and take another sip. We were very far from others and essentially seated outside. I have not been to any other business that was as strict. I stand by the comment that it was unnecessary. We were in no way unsafe and we were not putting others at risk in any way.
I loved the fact that they had tomato soup as a side option to go with the spinach and feta quiche it was delicious!!! Had to order some to go.
Tryst has great atmosphere. Though slightly changed due to Covid, and added service area on the street available. Its still pretty great tea and excellent coffee. However menus leave something to be desired. Mostly because price didnt seem to fit the final product. Still if budget isnt a concern for you, have at it. Their Death By Chocolate is excellent.
Good social distancing..they take info for contact tracing..delicious food..friendly staff..enjoyed the visit.
Tryst was my favorite coffee shop in DC! I used to go there every week to study! The atmosphere is great, service is great, and food is great. Price is also a plus. The only down side is that this place gets really busy during the day, other than that this is a must go in Adams Morgan.
Came here just for desserts and relax after a night out. The service was a bit slow, but we were able to order our drinks and dessert.The Death by Chocolate Waffle is quite delicious! Highly recommend it for anyone looking for some nutella covered waffles, and it is really soft so it was easy to slice through it with a fork.The Matcha Green Tea Latte and Lavender Hot Chocolate is quite good too. The Matcha Latte could taste a bit more bitter, but thats my preference. The Lavender Hot Chocolate was light and sweet.Overall, I would definitely go back just for the waffles!
Nice atmosphere. Good music. Good coffee. Honestly, thats the magic for me.