Carma’s Café

The food is really good, but the waiting time is downright insulting. I’ve been there 3 times and each time the wait took a solid 25+ minutes, and that was with only a couple of other people there.

Such a lovely, little restaurant. I enjoyed a veggie frittatta with a side salad. My friend savored a chicken salad meal. It’s been 8 years since I used to frequent this lunch hot spot. Glad to have rediscovered Carma’s! I recommend this restaurant if you like fresh, healthy food.

An absolutely amazing lunch spot. Although it’s very small it has a lot of options for great meals and incredible coffee. We were in town for our niece’s graduation from Johns Hopkins University. She recommended it and treated us to a great great lunch. I’m a vegetarian and had the special that was on the wall (plate) which was an avacado tomato pesto grilled cheese. My husband had bratwurst grilled cheese and loved it. The coffee was also incredible and love the big mugs. They only have about 5 tables inside but about 6 tables outside (it was cold and raining so we waited for a table inside) we ordered our meals at the counter and as soon as it was ready they were able to seat us. (They had to ask a party of 4 if they would kindly give us their table since they were just sitting and talking at the table) Everything was great and we loved it.

When I order sirloin, I expect delicate shaved meat that’s crispy, salty and euphoria-​inducing. What Carma’s calls sirloin is actually ground hamburger meat that tastes heat-​shocked from frozen. The sandwich was bland and unexciting.
The side of cold sesame noodles was good. The noodles had a pleasant bouncy bite and finished on the palette with notes of toasted sesame and peanut sauce.
Do yourself a favor and find another place to grab a sandwich. Carma’s doesn’t extend well beyond it’s hot drink selection.

Fan of Carma’s Café! I love its homey and welcoming aura. When my family comes to visit, we usually dine here since it’s super close to campus. I highly recommend the sirloin panino with a side of cold sesame noodles! The panini is savory but has a hint of sweetness, making it absolutely delicious. I normally wouldn’t order a panini with noodles on the side, but I am a sucker for Carma’s peanut butter noodles! My friends rave about the grilled cheese with the side of tomato soup so i’ll have to try that soon. Also, if you have a HUGE sweet tooth like me, I really recommend the pink dalmatian cookie for dessert. You won’t regret it!

One of my favorite spots to eat at near the Homewood campus! The food definitely grows on you. I only came to love this place last fall, after being here for three years.
The grilled cheese with the side of tomato soup is to die for. To die for. They also have different variations of the sandwich throughout the week. The Brussels sprout one is great. At first I was deterred by the blue cheese in it, but you can barely taste it! The garlic aioli ones are pretty good too! And you can add avocado for $ 1 to any sand which! Instead of the tomato soup, I sometimes go for the sesame noodles, one of their specialties.
The TCB sandwich is my go-​to. It’s the perfect version of a grilled cheese with protein! And it’s great for all those with sweet tooths! The Xander is another good one if you’re looking for a more dessert-​y taste.
When it comes to dessert, you must try the Pink Dalmatian! Although I am a true chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, my loyalties lie with the Pink Dalmatian. The chocolate chip cookies are a bit too healthy-​tasting for me with the nuts. Ooh a second favorite is the molasses cookie! To be honest, it kind of tastes like a gingerbread cookie. But it works.
Super cozy environment! Definitely come here! And it’s BYOB! Bonus, they also offer almond milk with their drinks.

A friend of mine had mentioned Carma’s to me in passing a few times but I hadn’t gotten around to visiting until recently. She had said it was one of her favorite spots to frequent for coffee/​dessert. I went with little expectations because of the close to 3 star review but this is one of the times when I appreciated going to a place not taking into much consideration the amount of stars.
I was taken aback by the small cozy interior but this is just my style. I felt at home as soon as I walked through door of the short walkway. The first barista who greeted us at the counter was more than happy to answer my questions about the menu choices and gave a detailed explanation of the Mayan mocha and the café crème. My interest was piqued by the ingredient list of the Mayan mocha which included espresso and chocolate that is made in-​house along with some spices like cinnamon. I’m usually not big on drinks that have cinnamon in them but I was feeling adventurous. I went all out and ordered it with whipped cream and it came out to my surprise with a little drizzled chocolate on top. It was superb. Little notes of chocolate while not being too sweet and subtle hints of spice that didn’t overtake the taste of the sweetness. I’m in love! I also really enjoyed the black bottom which was so moist and also delicious. I had higher hopes for the Pink Dalmation cookie but it was overly sweet due to the over abundance of white chocolate and had an interesting after taste that I didn’t care for. I can only explain it by describing a taste from a food that was either left in the fridge for too long or on the verge of stale. It wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t something I would order again.
We had to wait in the chairs along the wall until a table became available so I wouldn’t come here if you’re short on time. And the volume level was so high that I felt like I was shouting at one point. I’m sure it’s only like that in its peak hours. Overall really enjoyed my experience here. I’m coming back for that Mayan!

As a tip, always check out
for their daily specials before ordering! Sometimes the specials are amazing. If it’s around Thanksgiving and you see The Gobbler, GET IT. It’s basically Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich with a gravy dipping sauce. SO AMAZING.
This time, I ordered the Rosemary white bean grilled sandwich which had sauteed mushrooms, onions and vegan coconut bacon on toasted sourdough, which sounded really good, but it ended up just being okay. I think it could have been more toasted overall. Also vegan coconut bacon is just not my thing – I think it’s a texture thing, but something about it just doesn’t float my boat.
While this wasn’t their best, I do absolutely love some of their other sandwiches a lot. The veggie rocket with extra sauce is one of my favorites and never disappoints.

This was the first place I went upon my arrival to Baltimore, as recommended by a friend.
At first, I liked how small and cozy the café was. The seats were mostly taken (surprising since it was early January — when Hopkins students were mostly away), but there was an open table available, so my friend and I snatched it up.
We ordered our sandwiches, and took our seats. Slowly, more and more people came in as lunch time progressed. Now, we were at the point where there were two or three parties awkwardly standing around waiting for their food/​a table to sit (and sure, there are tables outside, but not many people I know would want to have lunch in 20 degree weather!). The place became more and more crowded, as for each person that’d leave, two would come in.
When our food arrived, I was fairly disappointed. My sandwich was seriously lacking; it tasted no better than a sandwich I could have gotten for a fraction of the price at any deli.
The mediocrity of the food + the crowdedness of the café + the prices charged, to me, means I personally will probably only go back if someone I’m with wants to.

Great place to grab food. They have a variety of items to choose from, including some very interesting combinations. I love the Icelandic yogurt, and you certainly cannot go wrong with their cookies. I’ve heard most of their drinks are good as well. While most of their food is good, not all the items on their menu are equally as impressive. I’ve found their meatball sub to be average, which can be expected since a meatball sub isn’t exactly something that blows your mind away. They also have an incredibly long wait times during peak hours. I’ve waited almost an HOUR for my food, which can be time-​consuming. They could definitely do with more staff, though overall I’d say their food is decently good.

A small but lovely neighborhood café to get good coffee and bakes (muffins, hammies and cookies are really yummy). They also have some good options for lunch, and outdoor seating!

Road side café in between Charles and St Paul’s street. Usual chat and drink place for Hopkins students. Not much to talk about other than that.

Being a local native to Charles Village, I can safely say that this is the best place for a cup of coffee or espresso drink. Also one of the better places for a breakfast bagel sandwich. Their frittata is also delicious.
This place is popular, so it’s recommended to get here relatively earlier in the morning to avoid any long lines.
Outdoor seating is available which is beautiful during the warmer months, or even on a sunny Winter day.

I’ve been getting to explore Baltimore lately, and this café was suggested. It’s a cute little place and there are definitely some pros and cons.
If it’s busy, be prepared to become close and intimate with the people next to you in line. I wish the cashier area was set up a little different. I know it’s complicated because the café is so small.
The pumpkin coffee I had was tasty. Mmm… Pumpkin… However, there weren’t too many gluten free food options. I really hope they get more in the future.
If you can’t find room to eat inside, you can try to find a spot outside. They don’t clean up fast enough once customers leave so it can be confusing if the table is still taken or not. When I was there, I ate outside, and they had blankets out for people to freely use. That was a nice plus! They also seem to be very dog friendly.
All in all, this place is good. Just wish they had more gluten free restaurants and made the sitting down to eat situation a little easier.

If you like slow, occasionally rude, always indifferent service, this place is for you. The food and drinks are consistently delicious when they do remember to bring out your order, so I gave it an extra star. Try the overpriced grilled cheese and tomato soup, nice and cold by the time your friend’s food arrives, a favorite of every Hopkins student who subscribes to the idea that Carma’s is a ~Sunday brunch staple~!
I’m a sheep and I do subscribe to the above nonsense so I’ll probably keep coming here. Only after payday and if I’m feeling extra patient.

Everyone I know seems to love this place. I will give credit where credit is due – the pink Dalmatian cookies are amazing! But the rest of the food is meh, the sirloin panino is the worst, doesn’t even look like real meat, looks kinda like one of those frozen meat breakfast patties but gray. The coffee is pretty standard but better than the Starbucks across the street. They do have a pretty decent selection of special teas which is nice.

Super great place for breakfast or brunch. I tried the egg sandwich and egg bagel, they were very carefully baked and looked very nice.
Also, they tasted good! That’s the importance thing!

I came by for a salad on my lunch hour. I’d been several times before and had great sandwiches and coffee. I waited about 10 minutes for my salad, to go.
The real problem was the greens. They were old and slimy. I had to eat around them which is unfortunate since a salad is primarily greens and it was $ 9. Next time I am back to sandwiches and coffee.

New favorite. If only I lived in Baltimore. My friend and I shared the bagel w apple honey and cream cheese and the lemon ricotta waffles. They were both delicious; I was happily surprised by the bagel (I’m a bagel snob from NY). My other friends got the homemade granola and yogurt which I would also recommend! Also super impressed that they have a whole section of their menu dedicated to chai! I’m surprised this place isn’t rated higher.

I stopped here for a sandwich after visiting the BMA and it was great. They were getting ready to close, but the staff was more than happy to serve us before they started cleaning up. The only thing that was disappointing was that they had no ice for my iced chai (which was delicious), but they made up for that with the blueberry muffin.

Carma’s is the essential college coffee spot. In terms of beverages, I usually get their iced chai tea (really authentic tasting/​great spices) or their homemade soda (I recommend the blackberry flavor).
The food is delicious as well. A classic grilled cheese/​tomato soup combo is the way to go– honestly, the best comfort food around. Their Apple Alexander sandwich (apple, honey, and brie) is wonderful. All around, just a really great, filling lunch. For breakfast, I’ve only ever had their Irish steel cut oatmeal, but it’s one of my favorite breakfasts to get in Charles Village– I recommend having the berry medley and brown sugar served on the side. If you have room for it, I also suggest getting one or two (or ten) of their cookies. The standouts are the Pink Dalmatian, the Cappuccino Chew, and the ginger molasses.
Service is generally quick if it isn’t crowded. However, at peak times, there’s usually a really long line and waiting for food takes a while. It can often be hard to find a seat because the space itself is so small. It can feel kind of cozy that way, but when there are thirty people standing in line to place their order, it’s not always very comfortable. There’s also a specific «Carma’s smell» and if anyone has been to Carma’s, they’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. The smell lingers with you long after you’ve left. Some like it, some don’t. It’s not a BAD smell, but it’s certainly a strong smell that’s difficult to describe. You’ll just have to go to know what I’m talking about. To avoid it, you can sit outside if the weather is nice.
Otherwise, Carma’s is a really wonderful spot with great food and beverages. I’ve never had a negative experience there.

Their steak sandwich is as good as it gets. Spiced steak drizzled with garlic aioli, melted cheese, two hearty slices of french bread served with a side of cold sesame noodle.
Portions are sizeable and I almost always have leftovers. This place is great for an weekend brunch when the weather is nice because they have an outdoor seating area. Service can be a bit slow though, so go when you have lots of time on your hand! My favorite restaurant in Charles Village.

If you are into waiting almost an hour for below average food, this is the place for you. That is about the amount of time our group had to wait for a cup of granola, a breakfast sandwich made on a bagel from the grocery store, and a pre-​made frittata. My cup of coffee was also half full when I received it. Do yourself a favor and head somewhere else for breakfast.

I’ve forgotten how busy coffee shops can be in the middle of the day — especially when they serve food this good. There was a long line to order which gave me plenty of time to check out the menu. They have a lot more choices than what is written on the wall of ceramic plates. It’s laminated and in a magazine holder near the cash register. When they are busy, please take a look at it. The barista was very happy with me when I knew exactly what I wanted and I was happy for the compliment. :-)
I went for the chicken salad sammich with the sesame noodle salad. The baguette had a fresh crunch and was filled full with a hearty chicken salad with grapes, celery and some baby greens. I loved the grapes in the chicken salad — adding great texture and brightness. This was so much food, especially when paired with their noodle salad. I usually go the side salad when I eat in because I like their tangy house dressing — but the sesame noodle salad travels a little better. I am not a huge fan of sesame noodles in general; It is not normal go to. But, it sure is at Carma’s. The cold noodles are lightly dressed with your classic sesame sauce. This one is lighter on the peanut flavor — which highlights the sesame, chili and green onions.
These guys are great and don’t get nearly enough attention with some of the bigger chains nearby. The café inside is on the smaller side, so it fills up quickly, but they have tons of outdoor seating for when the weather is nice.
Remind me to go here next time when I am in a rush — they hade twice the number of folks in line and I was in and out in less than half the time of some other cafes.

Update: the last two times I’ve been here have left me disappointed. Maybe new cooks and cashiers… But the man who served me today kept pacing around an empty café, didn’t give me a side salad with my quiche (I didn’t even bother correcting him), he was rude and awkward and made the café environment so strange and unlike its usual charming spot. I also have noticed a decrease in quality of their quiches. They’re less fluffy, savory, and delicious in general. I’ll still come here b/​c the food and menu are good. But they need to hire better front-​of-​house staff.

I was wandering around my neighborhood and at first glance, I noticed a restaurant that was packed with people chatting and sitting outside. I desired some coffee and thought this would be the place. I immediately loved the ambience of the place once I went inside. Typical coffee shop type feel… tables and benches for customers and space for people to sip coffee and work on their laptops. The décor consisted of decorated plates that had the specials of the day listed and designed on the plates. I ordered a large whole milk vanilla latte with 2 extra espresso shots and found myself a table. My latte came in a large mug with a little leaf design which is one of my favorite things about getting coffees from true authentic coffee shops. The flavor of vanilla was just enough and perfectly complimented the espresso shots. I didn’t have to add more sugar and it was the right amount of bitter taste that I was looking for. I wish I had an appetite to get food because the food that people had ordered looked quite tasty. I sat in contentment as I sipped my coffee and mentally noted to myself that I would come back.
A few things to note is at times the staff seemed short-​staff. The 2 baristas/​workers were running around making drinks leaving the line to grow longer since no one was manning the register the whole time. I also noticed, the place lacked in space. I had to weave around people in line to get to my table and or avoid the waitress running outside to bring out food. Overall, I still had a great experience and hope to spend more time there.