Let’s do a quick, abridged Ashburn dining checklist:

6 Italian restaurants- √    

6 chain sandwich shops- √

8 Thai restaurants- wait, only 7- another one just closed- √

5 non-fast food burger joints-√

12 Starbucks- wait 13- another one just opened- √

and bakeries… wait- how many non-chain, non-supermarket bakeries with baked on-premise croissants, pastries, cookies, cakes and muffins? None. Well now, much to the demise of my waistline, there is one: Café Rumi. 

At first glance I intended to ignore Café Rumi- I had been to Daily Grind (its humdrum predecessor in this location) during its short life in Ashburn, and wasn’t impressed. I thought Café Rumi would be the same old routine coffee shop with a different name. But my interest was piqued when I saw a post about the café on a local message board. So in spite of it being a wet morning- which spells “danger” for anyone in a cast from ankle surgery- I grabbed my crutches and carefully schlepped my way across slick stones to see what the fuss was about.

When I opened the door, to quote the great Yogi Berra- “it was déjà vu all over again.” The décor is the same as before- neutral, blonde wood accented with coffee-themed pictures and accessories. It is clean, smells nice, and fits the typical Ashburn coffee shop mold to a tea- umm- tee.  But a peek in the display case changed everything: flaky, fluffy croissants the size of my hand, glistening Danishes filled with fruit & cheese, and other delightful edibles that belong next to a superior cup of coffee. And are those biscotti in different flavors…?!? Oh- yumm! 

Now- I’m a U.S. Navy veteran, and while we are known for drinking thick, sour, sludge that would not pass as coffee anywhere else in the world- I can recognize a good cup of joe- it’s hot, it’s smooth, not bitter- and it tastes like coffee. You use sweeteners, milk or cream just enough to enhance the coffee’s flavor, not to cover up its shortcomings. 

With my expectations high, I placed my order and hoped for the best. A cheese Danish and a skim latte later, I officially became a fan of Café Rumi. Sam, the owner is a kind and charismatic man who carried my coffee and Danish (plus 2 croissants for my visiting in-laws) to my car for me- either he didn’t want to see my juggling act on crutches, or he is simply a gentleman.

Back to the Danish- it was very European- not overly sweet and literally stuffed with light, cheese filling. It was baked just right so that the pastry didn’t flake apart with every bite, but rather- it held its shape so not a crumb was wasted… I bet that’s what that thin, clear, sugary glaze is for! My latte required less than a teaspoon of sugar- the espresso was richly flavored and balanced just right with the milk to start my morning off with a delicious buzz!

Café Rumi also has sandwiches- I enjoyed a fresh tuna sandwich with slices of brie on 7 grain bread just the other day.  There are hearty salads, boxed chocolates, amazing cakes for special occasions- which- you can also sample at Silk Road Afghan Restaurant in Lansdowne, and gelato. 

It’s definitely worth a second glance. I am glad I took the time to give a new local business a chance! You will be impressed, because-