Well we tried to go across street to founding fathers but they were on a very long wait. So we tried Paul and glad we did! The menu is limited so browse it first. We had omelettes which were all very good!! They came with fresh baguette bread and some salad greens. Pastries all look amazing as did the quiche and pre made sandwiches. Runs like a Panera where you wait in line to order then sit. Very nice atmosphere with good indoor and outdoor options. One star off for the limited menu compared to other restaurants.
John M.
Chocolate croissant and coffee is the best deal in town before 10:30 am. The croissant is fluffy and flakey. The chocolate is bittersweet and smooth. Crisp outer layers with a good amount of dough. It's a bargain and always fresh. Favorite place for a morning bite
Bill Ahearn
A nice place to get off your feet and enjoy a bit of France in Washington, DC. Pastries and sandwiches made right in front of you are about as good as it gets! You can sit at a table and watch the baker's create works of art out of flour, eggs and dairy. So enjoyed this that we went here two days in a row!
Brooklyn T.
My husband and I stumbled across this place as we were walking around in DC. I am a HUGE bread fan (well, only if it's good bread), and I saw their baguette sandwiches and knew we had to stop. I ordered the sandwich of the day which had lettuce, tomato, pesto, fresh mozzarella, and prosciutto. We also had to order an elephant ear and chocolate almond croissant for dessert. Our food was awesome!! The bread was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the dessert was a little less fantastic, but still good. It was difficult to get a cup of water, as we had to ask one of the workers to fill it up for us instead of being able to fill it up ourselves. The cups were also pretty small, and I could tell they were getting a little annoyed at us needing refills after our 3rd cup. Paul is definitely worth trying out, especially if you're longing for that European baguette sandwich taste.
Hana M.
It is pretty rare to find good bakeries where I am from, so i was so excited to eat at PAUL. It is a cute and cozy french bakery with everything from macarons to quiches. I had the quiche and it was amazinggggg as well as the croissant. It is a little pricey, but that is to be expected at a bakery like this. The atmosphere and the food was very good :)
Poushali G.
Very tasty food and nice service but a little pricey for the portion sizes. It's eye-catching exterior with a lowkey interior decor conducive to meet ups with friends or even to just be productive.
Kenny P.
Dry cappuccino- got a milky latte?? Walked in hoping to sit by the window and enjoy a nice hot drink. Should have walked a little further to a "real" coffee place.
Gregory Hayes
Fine little cafe.
Ann C.
Don't know about their food because I didn't eat here and to be honest, didn't look at their menu because I was actually looking for a cupcake. (Who knew nobody sells cupcakes in the Penn Quarter district of DC? Anyway, I entered looking for cupcakes (they don't have them either) and left with a piece of carrot cake and a monster-sized (but perfect) pistachio macaron. My friends, I will cut to the chase: Paul's giant macarons are TO DIE FOR.
Hilda Kroll
A great place to start your day with a fresh chocolate croissant and hot cup of coffee. The breakfast special is only $3.39. the staff is very friendly and helpful. Near the Archives Metro, it's a perfect place to relax while waiting for the museums to open.
I used to love this place, until they changed their French cafe music for truly bad disco. Food and Coffee are still good, if pricey. But you wouldn't want to hang out here anymore. What could they possibly be thinking?
Deirdre G.
Paul is not too far from my job and right off the metro, so off course I had to try it. Coworkers told me the tomato soup was amazing! The first time I went it wasn't available, but I enjoyed the chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese! A 5 star experience. However today when I returned I was unimpressed. I did finally try the tomato soup, which in fact is delicious. However the staff didn't seem prepared to handle the lunch rush. Twice I had to ask for my grilled cheese sandwich. When I finally got it, the cheese was cold. Took it back to have it heated... and still it was returned cold (with warm bread). Who wants a cold grilled cheese??? I know they can do better, because they did my first visit. But today was a turn off. Maybe avoid busier times? I'll be back because I love the cute inside and the selection of treats! It's worth trying, but you've been warned patience is key!
arthurpeabody
Order a Salad Nicoise yesterday for lunch -- very wet salad, very mushy tomatoes (even for winter) and a sprinkling of tuna. So-so -- you can do a lot better.
Steph H.
STEPH JUDGEMENT: Fast casual place convenient to The Mall for a good light meal. We were looking for a place to grab a quick breakfast in the area and Paul fit the bill. It's spendier than a fast food breakfast but the food was much better and worth it, in my view. I liked the classic and comfortable decor. There was plenty of seating inside, in addition to some outdoor seats that faced out on to the adjacent US Navy Memorial Plaza, where some kind of a ceremony happened to be going on the morning we were there.
Amerigo Contini
I love Paul and I am a regular customer. Very disappointed by this location’s staff- Cristal is one of the rudest customer service people I have encountered. Not only she treated us poorly, she also was not able to make the coffees that we ordered, a colleague had to step in for her.
Well we tried to go across street to founding fathers but they were on a very long wait. So we tried Paul and glad we did! The menu is limited so browse it first. We had omelettes which were all very good!! They came with fresh baguette bread and some salad greens. Pastries all look amazing as did the quiche and pre made sandwiches. Runs like a Panera where you wait in line to order then sit. Very nice atmosphere with good indoor and outdoor options. One star off for the limited menu compared to other restaurants.
Chocolate croissant and coffee is the best deal in town before 10:30 am. The croissant is fluffy and flakey. The chocolate is bittersweet and smooth. Crisp outer layers with a good amount of dough. It's a bargain and always fresh. Favorite place for a morning bite
A nice place to get off your feet and enjoy a bit of France in Washington, DC. Pastries and sandwiches made right in front of you are about as good as it gets! You can sit at a table and watch the baker's create works of art out of flour, eggs and dairy. So enjoyed this that we went here two days in a row!
My husband and I stumbled across this place as we were walking around in DC. I am a HUGE bread fan (well, only if it's good bread), and I saw their baguette sandwiches and knew we had to stop. I ordered the sandwich of the day which had lettuce, tomato, pesto, fresh mozzarella, and prosciutto. We also had to order an elephant ear and chocolate almond croissant for dessert. Our food was awesome!! The bread was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the dessert was a little less fantastic, but still good. It was difficult to get a cup of water, as we had to ask one of the workers to fill it up for us instead of being able to fill it up ourselves. The cups were also pretty small, and I could tell they were getting a little annoyed at us needing refills after our 3rd cup. Paul is definitely worth trying out, especially if you're longing for that European baguette sandwich taste.
It is pretty rare to find good bakeries where I am from, so i was so excited to eat at PAUL. It is a cute and cozy french bakery with everything from macarons to quiches. I had the quiche and it was amazinggggg as well as the croissant. It is a little pricey, but that is to be expected at a bakery like this. The atmosphere and the food was very good :)
Very tasty food and nice service but a little pricey for the portion sizes. It's eye-catching exterior with a lowkey interior decor conducive to meet ups with friends or even to just be productive.
Dry cappuccino- got a milky latte?? Walked in hoping to sit by the window and enjoy a nice hot drink. Should have walked a little further to a "real" coffee place.
Fine little cafe.
Don't know about their food because I didn't eat here and to be honest, didn't look at their menu because I was actually looking for a cupcake. (Who knew nobody sells cupcakes in the Penn Quarter district of DC? Anyway, I entered looking for cupcakes (they don't have them either) and left with a piece of carrot cake and a monster-sized (but perfect) pistachio macaron. My friends, I will cut to the chase: Paul's giant macarons are TO DIE FOR.
A great place to start your day with a fresh chocolate croissant and hot cup of coffee. The breakfast special is only $3.39. the staff is very friendly and helpful. Near the Archives Metro, it's a perfect place to relax while waiting for the museums to open.
Restaurantji Recommends
I used to love this place, until they changed their French cafe music for truly bad disco. Food and Coffee are still good, if pricey. But you wouldn't want to hang out here anymore. What could they possibly be thinking?
Paul is not too far from my job and right off the metro, so off course I had to try it. Coworkers told me the tomato soup was amazing! The first time I went it wasn't available, but I enjoyed the chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese! A 5 star experience. However today when I returned I was unimpressed. I did finally try the tomato soup, which in fact is delicious. However the staff didn't seem prepared to handle the lunch rush. Twice I had to ask for my grilled cheese sandwich. When I finally got it, the cheese was cold. Took it back to have it heated... and still it was returned cold (with warm bread). Who wants a cold grilled cheese??? I know they can do better, because they did my first visit. But today was a turn off. Maybe avoid busier times? I'll be back because I love the cute inside and the selection of treats! It's worth trying, but you've been warned patience is key!
Order a Salad Nicoise yesterday for lunch -- very wet salad, very mushy tomatoes (even for winter) and a sprinkling of tuna. So-so -- you can do a lot better.
STEPH JUDGEMENT: Fast casual place convenient to The Mall for a good light meal. We were looking for a place to grab a quick breakfast in the area and Paul fit the bill. It's spendier than a fast food breakfast but the food was much better and worth it, in my view. I liked the classic and comfortable decor. There was plenty of seating inside, in addition to some outdoor seats that faced out on to the adjacent US Navy Memorial Plaza, where some kind of a ceremony happened to be going on the morning we were there.
I love Paul and I am a regular customer. Very disappointed by this location’s staff- Cristal is one of the rudest customer service people I have encountered. Not only she treated us poorly, she also was not able to make the coffees that we ordered, a colleague had to step in for her.