Café Dear Leon

I get the hype. I'm a trained pasty chef and these were some of the best pastries I've had in a very long time. The Yuzu Brioche, and Crème Brûlée tart were standouts for myself. The crab dip bagel is good too, but from a value perspective the other options are better. I'll absolutely be back.

It was a cold crisp morning. We awoke at 6:45am to make the trek to Canton for this long awaited bagel. We knew, due to its virality, that they sell out daily. Thus, we had to get there first thing. Bundled up, with hope in our eyes and nothing in our stomach, we began the perilous journey through downtown Baltimore. We arrive to a full bakery, but no line. A good sign. The smell of garlic and cinnamon sugar filled up the air. We ordered- one crab dip bagel, one ham and cheese croissant, and one crème brulee tart. But oh, did we want to order more. They asked if they could warm them up, a tantalizing offer we couldn’t refuse. But we knew, we had to wait until we got home to devour all this goodness. With a strong will and discipline, we made it through the drive back without even opening the bag. Once inside and free of the shackles of the bra, we cut in. Still warm, still beautiful. First, we started with the bagel. We had to. Stuffed to the brim with crab dip. It was fluffy, it was savory, it was cheesy. Dense but somehow also light. Seasoned beautifully. Enough old bay to make any Baltimorean smile. It had bits of corn, small chunks of crab. Pre-cut to make it easier to rip. A crisp outside maintaining a soft gooey center. We ate it in 1 minute, Leia (our dog) at our feet praying either one of us drop dead at that second so that she could savor a crumb. The ham and cheese croissant, lovely. Not too much ham, just enough cheese. And finally, the creme brûlée tart. Perfectly crispy. Not too sweet. The crust you want on any crème brûlée. The right ending to our journey.

Café Dear Leon is the best pastry bakery in Baltimore. I went several times during my visit and had to talk myself out of going more. Tried quite a few of their pastries and while you cannot go wrong, here are a few of my favorites: - Chausson aux Pommes: Perfectly balanced, apples make it feel like a sweet treat without the imbalance of guilt. - Vanilla Maritozzo: A bit more indulgent but a great option to share - Almond Croissant: Not everyone's thing, but this was an excellent rendition of an almond croissant. Not overly sweet or fake almond flavory - which is surprisingly difficult to find in the states - Egg Tamago Sando: If you like egg salad sandos, you have to give this a try. Best egg salad sandwich I've ever had. Well balanced egg salad with spring onions that add texture and a nice refreshing bite.

Cafe Dear Leon is a small yet busy bakery and coffee shop in Canton Square in Baltimore, MD. I have been several times and suggest that if you decide to come down, prepare to wait a bit, just depends on their bake schedule and how much time you have. They frequently run out of items but that speaks to the quality of the food they put out. Never hand anything bad there honestly. Today was the crabby Tobago while it was tasty I do prefer the original. Also had the smores cookie which was phenomenal. Give this place a try if you're a food with a sweet n savory tooth and fan of the small bakeries out there!!

arrived at around 8:30 on a sunday morning and waited about 30 minutes. SO worth the wait! their sweet pastries are a dream for anyone who doesn’t have a major sweet tooth. i tried the guava & cheese danish, blueberries & lemon ricotta danish, and creme brulee tart from the sweet pastry options, and all were filled so generously without tasting too sweet. both danishes had tart flavors that balanced the sweetness so perfectly, and i’ll definitely be thinking about the guava & cheese danish for a long time!

When I travel I always skip tolls. Not to save money but it takes me off the beaten path and through small towns a s big cities to find great food. In this case I came across Café Dear Leon. Everything was delicious but their Carb Dip Bagel is worth the wait and taking a detour. I bought 2. One for day of and one for breakfast 2 days later. I made an egg sandwich that I added my Fauquier Famous Bomb Sauce!

I visited at 10 AM and there was a waiting line. BUT it was absolutely worth it. I ordered several breads, and every bite was satisfying. The coffee was also good flavored. All staff were professional and warmly welcoming. I am definitely willing to revisit.