Big Bear Cafe - New American restaurant in Washington - 1700 First St NW, USA

This place is SOOOO CUTE! I love the vibe and the outdoor space! I just wish the food was better! The grilled cheese would be so much better with a jam or something on it and the chicken on the chicken sandwich is very dry. The salad was pretty good. Essentially, overpriced for the quality of food but a super cute spot to grab lunch or get some work done. I’d go back and try it again, maybe for a drink.

Ran in for a quick to go meal & coffee before leaving DC. Super nice ambiance and finally a good coffee after trying multiple disappointing places around the city. I believe the syrups were homemade and was impressed with the campfire flavor. Grabbed the breakfast burritos, which were big and very filling and came with some yummy salsas on the side. Their spicy Mayo was super good too! Would definitely like to come back, definitely on the more expensive side.

Loved the place. Al fresco dining lets you interact with some of the fauna. The coffee is great. Loved the burger. Not too salty. The greens are a star as well. But the cinnamon roll is a tad too hard. Seems it was heated and reheated in the microwave. It wasnt a deal breaker. But it was easily a 5 star if not for that.

Cute neighborhood haunt. The upstairs was pretty cozy. Seating left something to be desired but the windows and the fireplace were certainly a nice touch. Coffee was great, staff was nice and attentive. Outside would probably be lovely in the spring and fall. They do have a heated section on the side for outdoor seating where you can bring your dogs. Parking on the streets can be hit or miss so I do feel like if you're looking for the perfect "DC" coffee spot to write or read this could be it.

As soon as I entered I felt a warm welcome by the staff. Vibe made me want to stay for lunch rather than take home as I first intended. Engaging conversation initiated by employee made me feel more like a friend than a customer. Will def go back!

Pros: Love the coffee and it’s a great outdoor work space. Cons: Usually this place is pretty good, but I’ve been a bit disappointed recently. I don’t eat red meat or chicken for health reasons. Once I ordered the breakfast burrito with no chicken. They cooked it with chicken. Another time I ordered the focaccia BLT, asked for avocado instead of bacon and got a straight up lettuce sandwich!!

Big Bear's pizza has a lot of potential. The toppings are good and well-distributed across their pies. However, they are falling short in their attention to the crust. Despite being advertised as wood-fired pizza, my crust had very little of the blistering and char typically associated with this cooking technique. This left the crust tasting rather bland and didn't provide that extra flavor to round out the pizza itself. If Big Bear is able to spend some more time on their crust, they could easily serve up the best pizza in the neighborhood. Logistically, if you order online, you will be instructed to pick up your order at the "pick-up window on the patio;" however, this did not actually exist when I picked up my order. Instead, I had to walk into the cafe itself. If this process has changed, I would suggest Big Bear update the default messaging customers are receiving.

Love the food, staff, patio and trivia night here. Great place to work and chill and the upstairs is so cozy with the fireplace in the winter.