Tout De Sweet Pastry Shop

Reviews 6

DA

David Kristensen

I dont think I have ever given a review perfect marks on all counts before, but this shop deserves it. The service is extraordinary (on all accounts - friendly, fast, attentive, etc.), the food is exquisite, the South American coffee (I think Colombian?) is LITERALLY one of the best I have ever had, and yet quite inexpensive (a large cup for slightly over $2, with more expensive mochas and such <$4), and the croissants and other items also delightful. I love their almond croissants, but then again, everything I have tried there has been wonderful. The desserts are not cheap though - expect to pay more for this level of quality, from a real French chef with many years of experience who has worked in 5-star restaurants, before he decided to start his own business. A nice benefit is the use of the BellyCard system, which gives you a free Macaroon every 5th visit, or continue to save up points for other larger items. My friends joke and say that I go there to look at the pretty ladies serving the coffee, which surely adds to the already very nice, upscale ambiance, but I am not joking when I say that this coffee is among the very best that I have ever tasted. I have tried Kona coffee while I was in Hawaaii, real French coffee during a super-brief visit to Paris, France, various types of coffee while I visited Seattle, and even coffee handed to me by a Colombian native upon returning from a visit home (i.e., fresh rather than exported), and this ranks among them. Actually, at places like Starbucks I dont even like their regular coffee, and end up getting mochas to hide the bitter taste, but this coffee I like. No, this coffee I LOVE!:) I should note that my friends say that their regular espressos are not as good as those at Cornucopia down the street, although I tend to go for their regular coffee or a mocha, and I have also tried their Chai Latte, and liked all of those. Perhaps the only major detraction (aside from the fact that they are closed Mondays) is the very limited number of spaces to sit inside, although there are many more tables outside, which are in the shade and not immediately adjacent to the street. I usually get my orders to-go or sit inside, but I would guess that this is actually one of the most pleasant places to sit outside in all of the Woodmont Triangle area in Bethesda (quieter, breezy, not too crowded like the Veterans Park area across the street or most places in Bethesda Row, etc.), and I should know b/c I have lived here for nearly 3 years and tried many of them. Overall: this shop has earned my utmost respect, which is why I go there almost daily (except Mondays when it is unfortunately closed), have done so for months, and introduced many friends to it.

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CA

Caitlin Sticco

Its easy to miss this place--I wish you could see their beautiful pastries from the window to draw more traffic in, because they deserve it. The coffee here is very well-made, and its only a skip away from the Starbucks. My latte was so smooth and mellow that it did not even require sweetner. I dont consider myself a macaroon fan, but they were so cute that I had to try a couple: cassis (black current) and salted caramel. Salted caramel was wonderful--slight tang from the salt, and the flavor of the almond paste coming through nutty with the caramel. Bliss. The cassis was dull. Very little fruit flavor, definitely none of that lingering "forest" flavor that makes cassis so wonderful and unique as a fruit. Mostly tasted of butter. I will gladly try other flavors however. I suspect that rosewater and pistachio would both be lovely with the almond batter. They also have variety of other traditional French pastries that will ruin my diet in the future. Edit 7/27/2012: Ive now had the chance to try quite a bit from this place, and I must say, I am still impressed. The coffee is excellent about 90% of the time. The other 10% it can be slightly over-roasted. Ive tried numerous macarons, since I am now converted to a fan, and my favorites are salted caramel and passionfruit. Ive had the occasional misstep here, too--the lighter flavors can be done so softly that the flavor simply disappears into the butter and almond. Similarly, the pastries shine in chocolate and caramel, but the peach one I had was only so-so. I love the chocolate crunchy cake! Hazelnut and pralines and chocolate mousse, oh my! Also, the cupcakes are about a zillion times better than what Ive been getting around here--the buttercream is Euro style (lighter, less sweet, not gritty) and the proportion is correct to the cake, which is also fabulous. Also, they very recently started making Pate de Fruits! Heck yeah! The cassis is amazing, but the apple flavor is booooring. I wish they would make apricot or red fruit instead. Are you listening, TDS? ;)

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BR

Brian Lizzi

I ordered a cake from here for a birthday and I could not have picked a better place. I have been getting macaroons from here for months now (including bringing to many get together functions) and have always been in awe and needed an opportunity to buy a cake. For a friends birthday I got her a cake and it was absolutely incredible. I highly recommend it and the other 12 people that enjoyed the cake as well wanted me to express how amazing this cake was. It was a Red velvet cake with butter cream icing. I even asked them to write on the cake and put a mickey mouse face which was perfectly done. I am glad the cake was not finished b/c now i can continue to enjoy it. As far as everything else is concerned, their coffee drinks are amazing and the service from all their staff is very personalized. A must try for all!!!

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PR

Priscilla Yuen

My happy place! Whenever Im in the mood for macarons, I come here! The macarons are a delight and best in MoCo! Theyre just as awesome as those fancy places in DC! Always fresh, soft, and chewy! My favorites are the rose water, pistachio, and salted caramel. They have pastry items like croissants, cupcakes, and mini cakes. Ive tried their Opera Cake and Praline Lavender Mousse. Taste so heavenly! The cakes were moist and fluffy. Not overly sweet and you dont feel guilty after eating one. They also serve coffee. They have cute boxes if you want to gift the macarons. Its a cute, chic little place with limited seating. Its away from Bethesda Row so its not super packed. Metered street parking. I usually dont have any issues finding parking on a weekend afternoon.

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RO

Robin Schatz

Laduree is the go-to pastry shop for macarons in Paris. Well, the macarons at Tout de Sweet are every bit as good. I am a complete Francophile and whenever I am in Bethesda, I head for Tout de Sweet. The pastries are authentic and delicious and I feel like I am back at my local patisserie in Paris. I am especially addicted to their almond croissants and for a really decadent treat, the chocolate-almond croissant.

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91

917 917

The macarons were good but way too small and over priced! No sample; even if its your first time. I found Looka macarons at my local grocery store and after thawing a few hours, tasted just the same or better. The best part about them, they were only $6.00 for a box of 12. Ill be fair, 1 star for freshness, 1 star for taste, lack of 3 stars for pricey, small, and no sample allowed.

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