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Kintsugi at The Eaton

Advertised as a coffee shop with vegan pastries this one failed for me on almost every level.  Admittedly, I am not a coffee drinker ... however ... First there was the frustration of finding it.  All I knew was that it was in The Eaton, so I went through the main doors and saw the American Son restaurant as well as the coffee bar, but neither had their establishment names were listed on the inside (turns out Kintsugi has a small plaque on their exit door which I saw as I left).  I wandered around The Eaton lobby and encountered a staff member who was unhappy I was blocking her path.  She said "excuse me" in a DC traffic, "get the bleep out of my way" way, then "thank you" as I stepped aside in a way that sounded like "and stay out of my way."  In any case, I wandered into Kintsugi, stood in the substantial line and noted that there were only eight pastries available, with only one being vegan.  Since it was a bran muffin, I elected to get a chocolate croissant instead.  Then came the weird part -- as I handed a five dollar bill to the cashier for a $4.40 he stated that they didn't give change.  Besides being unexpected, I had to ask him to repeat this several times because of the loudness of the space.  Here's the thing.  I have no problem with the increasing number of eating establishments taking credit card only.  But if you do take cash, you should, you know, provide change.  It feels like Kintsugi is trying to straddle an untenable middle.  Just go one way or another, dude.  ANYWAY, the croissant was small and dry.  The only good thing I have to say is that the chocolate was of good quality.  It's not enough to get me back, however.  I will go back to The Eaton for American Son, but not for Kintsugi.

Coffee shop with minimal pastries, one of which might be vegan
1201 K Street, NW (to the right inside the main door)
http://www.kintsugi-dc.com/

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