District Praline

Expanding from Mosaic and Bethesda to the Wharf, I was able to stop in for a late breakfast/early lunch recently. More spare in design than I expected, the white decor, steel chairs and glassed outside wall gave a fresh feel on a cool, grey day. I selected one of my favorites for lunch, a tomato-mozzarella sandwich with pesto. I also had a twist on my adored chocolate croissant, selecting the pistachio chocolate variety instead. The sandwich was good. The bread seemed to be a cross between a baguette and a ciabatta. The tomatoes and mozzarella were nicely fresh and well balanced. Unlike my other tomato mozzarella sandwiches of late, there was plentiful pesto, which created a good solid base that added flavor to the dish. The croissant was equally enjoyable with a fluffy, buttery inside and "enough" filling. The one surprise was a sugar glaze on the top of the croissant, something which is not standard. Almost unnecessary it thankfully wasn't overwhelming and simply added to the sweetness of the pastry. This place is more New Orleans than Paris, I think, and their savory selections at this location are limited but this is worth a second visit, IMHO, simply to try out one of their other sweet concoctions. It is also one of the more affordable options at the Wharf. It will be on my list the next time I am down there in the early hours.

Counter Service Pastry
Several locations in the DC Metro area
http://www.praline-bakery.com/

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