Pineapple & Pearls

Dropped in just to check out the lunch offerings because there miraculously happened to be parking available on 8^th Street. As a huge fan of Rose’s, I expected good things, but was unprepared for the absolutely delicious, amazing and addictive spicy chicken sandwich! I’m a southerner and am a fan of fried chicken in just about any form. This sandwich is insane– a huge thigh with all the crunchy, crispy edges and chunks you’d ever want– spiced to perfection and set off by housemade herb pickles and a lovely spicy sauce that brings just the right amount of heat. The butter lettuce and soft yeast roll are also exactly right for this little bomb of deliciousness. I’m a fan– and this is one I’ll be back for again and again!

I seriously need Unilocal to add one more star just once so I can give this the only 6 star review. I’ll break this review down by different aspects of the experience.
Service: Impeccable. The staff was welcoming, engaging, friendly, while being incredibly professional yet down to earth and sincere. They somehow achieved this without being overbearing all at the same time. If only they could train every other restaurant (or comcast for that matter!) in the area on this type of amazing customer service then life would be so much more pleasant!
Atmosphere: We sat at the Chef’s Counter and despite being right by the kitchen the noise level was still fine and didn’t require us to raise our voices to talk to each other. It was awesome to see the dishes form right in front of us! The décor was classy and modern without feeling stuffy and the lighting levels were perfect, not so dark that you couldn’t see, but not so bright that you didn’t know it was night.
Drinks: We were greeted at the door with our choice of either a bourbon cocktail with a chocolate gold flaked cherry or Prosecco with a blackberry. While we waited for our seats to be ready for us, I finished my cocktail and was promptly asked if I’d like another one, quickly realizing that this theme would probably continue through the night, I declined because I wanted to pace myself. The next cocktail/​snack was the amazing Fennel & Absinthe bonbon that is pictured in other reviews. The drinks that followed through the night included: Blanc de Blanc Champagne, white Burgundy (chardonnay), a Rose made with the holy trinity of grapes (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre), a Japanese belgian style beer, a Saint Bernardus Abbey ale, a Spanish red (Rioja), and a Scotch cocktail with dessert. All of the pairings were spot on and enhanced the flavors of the drinks and the food.
Food: I don’t know how to describe it, so I won’t. Every dish had so much thought and perfect execution. Each dish made you surprised about something, whether it be a flavor combination, or just that mouthgasm you get when all the ingredients are in perfect balance. Absolutely incredible. Even if all the other parts of this restaurant were terrible, I would still go back like a fat kid willing to be abused just for another scoop of icecream.
Price: Totally worth every penny of the $ 250 a person price tag considering tax tip booze food, and the amazing mini donuts, shortbread and flash brew coffee goody bag for the next morning (which of course were freaking amazing and reminded me to write this review).
Again, 6 out 5 stars. I sincerely hope this restaurant gets the Michelin stars it clearly deserves come October 13^th, even though it will inevitably be even harder to get a reservation. Go while you can!

From the first step in the door, this place will transport you like no other restaurant can. You begin with a small tasty welcoming cocktail before being swept past a calming bar area where happy guests have already started their journey, and away into a magical open-​kitchen dining room. There is another bar area in front of the kitchen where these diners have a front row seat into the creation of over 17 courses.
We had a comfy corner banquette table and started with a great Champagne in the most beautiful Zalto stemware I’ve ever seen. Forget about Reidel, We start with three finger food snacks which are far from snack food, but mouthsize morsels of heaven. I can’t even describe each of the courses, as each one has a combination of flavors, sauces, greens, melted cheeses that can only be experienced. This continues for nearly 3 hours. Unlike other multiple course dining experiences, the time flies in this one. The courses come quick enough that it keeps your interest and tastebuds on point. You will not walk away hungry, but also not bloated. The creations are perfectly sized, and build on each other perfectly. You never want it to end, and you leave the restaurant energized with a parting schwag bag!
The course offerings will continually change, so if I win the lottery, I would come here one night a week for the rest of my life, and would wake up every day waiting for that night!

After falling in love with sister venue Rose’s Luxury during a visit to Washington DC last fall, our meal at Pineapple & Pearls was a focal point of this vacation. Generally not a fan of pre-​paid tickets to restaurants, this was a rare exception where I gladly ponied up the $ 250 deposit weeks in advance. Having dined at the more casual Rose’s Luxury I knew the chef had the talent to make the meal worthwhile, as well as the popularity to otherwise make dining here a challenge (at Rose’s there is a no reservation policy and people often start lining up well over an hour prior the restaurant opening to secure a table).
While the cuisine at Pineapple and Pearls is certainly more upscale than Rose’s, what I was really happy about was the vibe is still very relaxed and friendly, yet not so casual as to lose the ambiance of a fancy meal. The dining room is intimate, extremely comfortable and beautifully decorated. So much attention to detail was made to the restaurant design as well as the stunning serving pieces.
We enjoyed approximately 14 courses, initially a series of one biters followed by more substantial fare with the final savory consisting of a smokey, delicious rib of beef (we gladly jumped at the offer of seconds). Absolutely no duds and several of the courses were so amazing we longed for more (we half jokingly contemplated calling the restaurant the next evening to see if there was anyway they could sneak us in for a repeat experience). Unlike some extended tasting menus, there was no let down with desserts.
Presentations are beautiful, artistic with occasional whimsy (i.e. a play on mixing a Wendy’s frosty with French fries), but all without coming across as gimmicky or pretentious. The total portion of food was just right for me, but if one has a particularly large appetite I could see leaving a tad hungry. Pacing was perfect as well, definitely a leisurely dining experience (we were there just over three hours), but such a pleasant environment to be in it did not seem too lengthy and there were no big gaps between courses.
The beverage pairings were spot on (nine total drinks, four wines with a couple of beers and cocktails mixed in for good measure and coffee at the end). Pours of the wine were fairly generous and we were topped off when we finished our glass too early (hard not to do with some of the wines; there were some real gems). The only confusing factor was some pairings were only meant for one course, whereas others for a few courses — it would have been nice to have been told when served how many courses the beverage was meant to last.
Like at Rose’s, service at Pineapple & Pearls is extremely friendly. Such a wonderful group of people working at both venues. The perfect mix of being personable yet polished. Staff seemed genuinely enthusiastic about being there and really enhanced the dining experience. There was only a single faux pas; with advance notice Pineapple & Pearls strives to accommodate dietary restrictions and aversions. At the onset of the meal they confirmed my wife’s aversion to honey and commented that they would be delivering her something special in lieu of one of the desserts that contained honey, but this was forgotten. This was more than made up for later; my wife had mentioned regretting not having ordered the brisket at our last meal at Rose’s and at the end of our meal they surprised us with a nicely packaged brisket sandwich to enjoy later at our hotel. That is truly service at it’s best.
I strongly recommend securing seats at the chef’s counter as this makes the experience even more special. So much fun sitting on the other side of the kitchen, watching the chef’s work their magic. Like the front-​of-​the-​house, the chefs themselves were all super friendly, willing to answer questions and engage in banter — even the Executive Chef/​Owner Aaron Silverman was so down to earth. All said and done, this was definitely among my better meals this year and just a fantastic across the board dining experience. While not inexpensive, considering what is included it is actually a fairly good value.
Just days before our meal, news broke that Michelin had started covering Washington DC and would be releasing their first guide this fall. With nearly every course flawlessly executed, a high percentage of courses incredibly delicious and lots of creativity, I think Pineapple & Pearls has a strong chance to debut at 2* (no small feat for a new venue). The only possible limiting factor is most 2*‘s I’ve frequented feature a larger quantity of luxurious ingredients; IMHO this did not impact the quality of my meal and Pineapple & Pearls is priced less expensive than most 2* restaurants.
Please note that Pineapple & Pearls during the day time operates as a casual, inexpensive coffee shop; since the daytime and nighttime experience is so different, IMHO Unilocal should separate this venue into two distinct listings.

I am in love with Pineapple & Pearls’ spicy fried chicken sandwich. Their menu is small but I want to try everything. Although run by the same people as Roses Luxury, I much prefer P&P. The flavors just worked, so well. Wouldn’t be surprised if they are awarded a michelin star in the fall, if the restaurant part is as on point as the café!

The café at Pineapple & Pearls is a great addition to Barrack’s Row. BR lacks quick breakfast and lunch options, and on those criteria, the Pineapple & Pearls café does not disappoint.
They have three main menu items: An egg hash sandwich, Fried chicken sandwich, and Falafel sandwich. Otherwise, they have a variety of buns, which looked great, but I was craving something more substantive. I went for the egg hash. It’s an interesting and pretty delicious sandwich. I don’t love eggs in scrambled/​omelet form (I’m an over medium girl), but the hash contained potatoes, peppers, and other goodies. The bread was light and fluffy, and they provide some crispy chilies on the side which I recommend putting inside of the sandwich. And the ice coffee is delish.

Incredible experience. A must in DC!
I went a few weeks ago with my husband and two friends of ours. We love Rose’s and were so excited to try this place out.
The food was amazing and it’s a set menu, so you’ll be getting whatever is in season at that point. I should point out that they were incredibly accommodating of our dietary restrictions, and since they know in advance who’s coming in to the restaurant, they can actually tailor the seasonal menu to fit the needs of their guests. For example, my husband doesn’t eat seafood or pork, and there was only one dish that they needed to modify for him.
The reservation system is unique in that you purchase tickets for the day and time that you want. You pay half the cost of the ticket upfront and half on the day of the reservation.
Since the menu is changing, I’ll focus on a few things that stood out to me.
You really feel like you’re sitting in your kitchen (a beautiful, streamlined kitchen) and you’ve got a chef that is cooking food just for you. The waiters are barely noticeable. The service is nearly seamless. I will say, though, that when we went it felt like the waiters were still trying to figure out how formal to be. Rose’s is very low-​key and friendly. P&P is trying for a level above that, but it’s also not black tie formal.
Non-​alcoholic pairings. I wish they offered a lower priced meal for those who are not drinking. I went with the non-​alcoholic pairings and some of the drinks were interesting, but it didn’t seem quite worth the price in comparison to the liquor that the others at my table were getting.
The donuts were the low part of the meal. They were a series of liquor inspired donuts that were lauded as the big finale, and they really fell short. The shortbread and the coffee that we went home with were quite good though.
Overall though a wonderful treat that celebrated the arrival of a new addition to our family and a new address.

Cyndy’s Bottom Line: Outstanding refined service and food! Best restaurant in D.C.
I was so excited to get a reservation because hubby attended the soft opening and said the experience was phenomenal.
We were warmly greeted by Joan and Jeff who welcomed us with wonderful cocktails. I loved the Kir Royal and the diminutive flower so pretty!
We were greeted by Joe and escorted to the table. We were so delighted to see Joe. He is the best in the business! Glad that he is at P&Ps doing great things!
The dining room is intimate. The décor and the white conjures up a relaxed setting. The kitchen is stunning and is the main focal point. It is full of creative energy! There is seating around the kitchen. There is additional seating at bar too.
This is what we ate/​drank:
We were served a flute of Agrapart & Fils Grand Cru, Extra Brut. A lovely bubbly! It taste extraordinary good when served in the proper stemware. Excellent!
The first three are bites to spark your palette. They certainly did! Very yummy!
*Fennel & Absinthe Bonbon —
Beautifully & brilliantly presented. Unique combination of flavors.
*Masa Chip & Dip —
Delightful and delicious! Love the little white flowers.
*Tempura Ramp Tops —
A perfectly fried tempura, light and airy batter. Love the ponzu sauce! The best I’ve ever had. So flavorful! A well balanced amount of mirin and soy. Dressed with pretty pink flowers!
Interlude: presented with a crystal bowl and it is filled with jasmine water. A hand towel is now available to use.
*Roasted Potato Ice Cream with Ossetra Caviar —
A spectacular combination of flavors are aesthetically plated. Love the saltiness of the caviar with the creamy, smooth and luscious texture of the ice cream, sprinkled with the delicate
onion flavor of the chives together
with the crunchy goodness of the potato sticks! Brilliant & decadent!
A wonderful bright 2002 Chablis is served.
*Matcha Soba with SnapPea & Sea Urchin —
Creatively presented in an ice craved bowl. The ratio of cold soba to sea urchin is perfect. All the flavors mesh with the snap pea and nori.
*Spring Garlic Egg Drop —
The soup is served table side from a copper pot and poured into bowls. Beautiful diminutive flowers are floating around. Delicious!
*Fluke «Veronique»
Magnificent, executed dish. The fluke was cooked perfectly. Moist, tender and
seasoned with robust flavors. Stunning presentation with delicate tiny flavors.
*Carrot Pan Au Lait with Cocoa Nib Butter and Lardo
Presentation is everything at P&P! Love the bento style wooden box with bread and sauce. The bread was hearty with a dense texture which goes great with the
cracklings sauce. So yummy!
*Shaved Porcini Mushrooms with Grain Porridge —
Beautiful & delicious! Enjoyed the freshly shaved porcini mushrooms. The porridge was a flavorful surprise. Yummy!
*White Asparagus Okonomiyaki —
Loved the spargel! Plump and tender. Delicious sauce. Loved the plate!
However, the wrapper seemed over cooked and too thick which made it difficult to eat.
*Mole Smoked Beef Rib with charred ramp, leek and spring garlic and grits.
Rib perfectly cooked and seasoned. Delicious grits with crunchy edges.
*Coffee Kakigori — an interesting transition to the desserts.
*Pecorino Cake with Basil Gelato —
Yummy!
*Chocolate Soufflé with Crispy Buckwheat & Honeycomb Ice Cream
Yummiest! My favorite!
*Chartreuse, Campari, Grappa & Nardini Donuts
Yumminess!
We had a magnificent dining experience! Joe & Tim explained every course and wines in full descriptive detail. Outstanding service which made for a wonderful night!
Upon our departure we received a bag filled with pistachio shortbread cookies, brewed iced tea, a menu and a written note from the owner Aaron. What a class act. Mahalo!

Review for coffee house only–
What a cute/​sleek/​sophisticated/​minimalistic place! I wish there was more seating so you could really enjoy your sweet or savory bites with your beverage of choice but I can see why not; you don’t want those people to show up with their MacBooks, big headphones, and take up real estate: P
Located right next to Rose’s Luxury, P&P is like the cooler, mature, leather jacket wearing sibling. The menu is simple and if the weather is nice, there’s some nice seating outside.
The lattes could be made with one of their 3 house made nut milks BUT I only know this bc I overheard the barista after we ordered, and saw something on the menu after.
The girl barista started taking our order and then another guy took over… not bad but not the service I would have expected. He let us order something that was already sold out (didn’t tell us until we closed out our bill) and he didn’t offer an alternative or refund and just expected us to go for another pastry of the same cost. Hmm. Would have been nice considering the pineapple and pearls pastry was the thing we were excited about.
Got the hot chicken sandwich which was tasty. Rosemary thyme shortbread, delicious. Mexican chocolate roll, not bad but I personally would have liked more spice: P

4.5
Finally made it to Pineapple and Pearls Coffee Bar. They close early at 2pm! Small menu, small space! Between my family and I, we ordered a few different things: chicken sandwich, egg hash, falafel sandwich, short bread cookie, pineapple and pearl bun, chai lattes and my cortado.
I felt a bit uncomfortable waiting as the space was small. There were two stools by the window, but they were occupied. While waiting, we admired the small details and touches of the waiting area. You don’t notice at first, but as I looked around and saw the design. floor, ceiling, napkins, gold accents, my espresso drink cup and my espresso art! The actual espresso machine, napkins and all. So cool! Then the food came out. It was perfectly wrapped and packaged like food from a high end department store. Impressive! We waited a reasonable time for our drinks and cooked to order food. I was so curious and wanted to know what it looked like. I needed a first bite! With no seating in the small space or outside, I took a bite of the sandwich while standing. I didn’t want to get to my destination wondering if it would have been better while hot. It was good standing and at my destination.
SPICY CHICKEN SANDWICH: It looks quite small for $ 9, but a very filling portion for one person. Low on the heat meter; great, crispy piece of boneless dark meat (?), delicious brioche bun, special sauce. Comes with a side of the yummy pickles. RECOMMENDED.
EGG HASH SANDWICH: Spanish egg tortilla (baked egg dish with potatoes and a few veggies) on masa bread (delicious, cornmeal bread) with pickled cabbage and some special sauce. I only ate half (after a few bites of the other food.) Still great the next day! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
FALAFEL SANDWICH: Great sandwich, light and fresh! The falafel balls had good consistency (not dense).
CHAI: Delicious with good spice, just like I like! RECOMMENDED.
CORTADO: I’m learning about espresso. Is it supposed to be bitter? I think, not sure. I believe I’ve had espresso that’s not bitter, but creamy steamed milk, a bit of the bitter espresso and cute latte art!
SHORT BREAD COOKIE: Good. My dad loves short bread cookies, so he was a fan. Me? I could take it or leave it.
PINEAPPLE BUN: Sweet frosting with some pineapple in the center of the bun. Enough to satisfy your sweet indulgence craving, but not too big to make you feel guilty. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
After my egg hash sandwich, cortado that woke me up, samplings of other items and to have it topped off by that delicious little pineapple bun, I almost started singing negro spirituals! Ok I’m exaggerating, but P&P delivered and held up to all the hype, making my wait and anticipation well worth it. Glad I stopped by and you should too!
Now the dinner experience… it comes with a hefty price tag and reservations only. hmmmm?

Review of dinner portion only at the bar.
So many choices! Well not really– it’s a set menu… But you do get to choose if you want to sit at the bar, table, or chefs counter. I chose the bar… No frills and no drinks included. But they can do the full menu with drinks if you want. Or a la carte. Just food for me please.
Warning: budget at least 3 hours for this experience. And I do mean experience. Start with the bar. Custom made teak bar. Touch it… And you’ll want to keep touching it. Ask for the story behind the bar. Beautiful. Most things here are custom or antiques. Just ask and there will be a story! Check out the plates and cutlery. Very unique. My fav are the resin plates from Australia. Can you find them on my pics???
Ok. I’m sure you just want to know about the food. Most of it is mind blowing. Some of it is just ok. So all in all a very good. So I don’t want yo spoil the fun of the tasting… But the white asparagus… The mackerel… The soufflé. The cake… And so many more… Happy dining! And the ingredients will depend on what’s fresh that day… So… Who knows what you’ll get.
Try it for yourself! Although I think the bar is the the best deal…

Pineapple and Pearls is owned by Chef Aaron Silverman (Rose’s Luxury), in which during the day, it’s a coffee bar that serves pastries and sandwiches, but at night, behind the curtains, is a fine-​dining establishment. I was able to score seats on their first night of the dinner service, so I was super excited! Just note that you need to make reservations online, in which half is charged up front, and the rest of the remaining is charged on the morning of your reservation — the amount also includes the tax and the gratuity. We had: a Spring Onion & Whipped Ranch (this was a lovely little crispy bite, heavier on the spring onion and the ranch sauce, which I was totally a-​okay with); Masa Chip with Dip (small little samosas that was filled generously with guacamole; this was okay, but it had a slight cilantro flavor to it — I was a little disappointed as it was noted on my extreme aversions to cilantro and the restaurant made it clear that they will accommodate); Fennel & Absinthe (a nice little mouthful of a crisp with a ‘chaser’ afterwards); Caviar, Avocado & Lime Crema (I loved the saltiness from the caviar); Snow Pea & Spring Garlic Egg Drop Soup (this had a very pungent cheesy-​aroma to it; this was one of my least favorites); Bone Marrow Custard, Morel, Red Onion Marmalade (comes in a little egg cup — this was not too heavy, but quite delicious, spread on little brioche soldiers); Spanish Mackerel, Ramp & Zucchini Blossom (the fish was a bit too touch, and not as delicate and flaky); Spring Vegetable Barigoule with Trout Roe (the trout roe is more fishy in taste, and this was just okay); Toasted Rice Bread with White Miso Butter (the bread was cute, and even though the miso wasn’t tasted in the butter, I really enjoyed this combo); White Asparagus Okonomiyaki (gigantic asparagus from Holland, this had a very meaty flavor to it — I was a little put-​off by it after a few bites, as it was a bit too much and overwhelming; the crispy exterior was tasty, but the dish itself was a bit too heavy for me); Smoked Beef Rib with Mole & Jimmy Red Grits (the beef rib, which has been smoked for 12 hours, was super fatty, but cooked perfectly; it had a nice little crispy exterior, but watch your mouth — I first thought they were splintered bones, but they happen to be just really hard charred pieces!; you build your own spoonful with the grits and the mole sauce; I really liked the grilled scallion on the side — salted and perfectly grilled); Rhubarb-​Pea Kakigori (a take on shaved ice made of condensed milk — the chewy rhubarb in this was fantastic and added a great texture to this; the little tiny meringue drops were adorable); Pecorino Cake, Basil Gelato & Strawberry (this was delicious — the basil gelato was super tasty, and the strawberries were beautifully-​ripened and fresh); Chocolate Soufflé with Crispy Buckwheat & Honeycomb Ice Cream (the soufflé tasted like a brownie batter; the ice cream was yummy — caramel-​like with the honeycomb infused within, and I loved the toasted buckwheat toppings); and, a little box of mini donuts (Chartreuse, Campari, Grappa, and Zucca — the Campari was probably the best out of the four, but it was a bit bitter (like the white part of the rind bitter; the other donuts were a little off in taste, as it seemed as if it either infused with alcohol or tasted a bit overly done). When we walked out, we had a little ‘parting gift’ bag, that had a copy of the menu and some pistachio shortbread cookies. I was a little confused as even though there were two of us, that: the little donut box was meant to be shared (when there was clearly 1 flavor of each in the box); for the ice cream, there was only a scoop instead of 1 for each of us; for the Toasted Rice Bread — there could have been one roll for each of us (it was stated that the courses are for every 2 people — boy, the party of 1s sure are lucky, then!). I’m thinking that if you’re dropping a couple of Benjamins, these are some items they can be slightly generous with: P For the parting gift, I think it would have been nice to have our own separate bags — they were kind enough to give us two bags of the pistachio shortbreads, but it was only after some realization from the barista that another copy of the menu was given to us. Service was nice & friendly, but the pacing needs work (we were there for 3 hours). I really enjoyed their serving sets, from the beautiful and unique dish designs to the Portugal-​originated gold-​ware. Check out the beautiful teak bar — I couldn’t stop petting it hardcore. Just note that the restrooms are unisex, but they do have Kiehl’s!
+Spring Onion & Whipped Ranch
+Bone Marrow Custard, Morel, Red Onion Marmalade
+Smoked Beef Rib
+Pecorino Cake, Basil Gelato & Strawberry
+Crispy Buckwheat & Honeycomb Ice Cream
+stingy with some of the courses and the parting gift set-​up T_​_​_​_​T
+pacing needs work!!!
+online reservations required
+bar seats = best bargain
+street parking and 2-​hour parking availabl

The other week, after dropping my toddler off at her Friday preschool group on the Hill, I decided — it is SO lovely out, I think I’ll take a stroll and try someplace new! I looked on my Unilocal bookmarks and saw I had made a note to try out Pineapple and Pearls for a little morning bite. So, with my infant in tow, I eagerly made my way over to 8^th Street.
I was surprised to enter and find no one else there. There had been a bit of hype when P&P opened and I quite expected it to be busy busy busy. Sleep deprived as I was (see above: I have a toddler and infant, zzzzzzzzz), I decided for a cortado. After checking out their sweet buns on offer, I opted for the Mexican chocolate. I had mixed feelings about both items. The cortado was strong, but there was an overpowering bitterness that I’ve never experienced in a cortado before. I don’t know how to explain it other than — it tasted off. The Mexican chocolate bun was really good for the most part but I found there wasn’t enough of a balance to the spicy and sweet combination. I think I’d opt for a different bun unless I really wanted super spice in the morning again (which — I won’t). The breakfast sandwiches looked AWESOME, so I’m hoping to come back and try one.
(I was only recently made aware that this is also going to be a full restaurant, so keep in mind that this review is just for the café portion)

This tiny coffee shop is everything one could ask for in a spot that caters to the bustling market crowd. It’s perfect if you’re strolling along with a friend and want to grab a snack to go or the perfect cup of coffee/​espresso. The space, as you can imagine considering the folks next door, is elegant, marbled, and bright with friendly moderate-​speed service. It’s hard to rush quality. And when it comes to their soft, warm, luxurious sweet rolls, you can’t go wrong. Forget yesterday’s stale leftover pastries. P+P has quality down. I opted for their namesake and it was indeed pineappley and inspiring.
P+P just launched their $ 250 pp prix fixe dinner service. I haven’t been but am looking forward to reading about the dishes to try and wrap my head around the hefty price tag.

4.5 stars
Walked over for breakfast sandwiches yesterday and were pretty impressed. As expected there was a bit of a wait and the space is small so it was a tight squeeze trying to find a place along the wall to stand and wait for food. The coffee came out quicker than expected (especially considering the art!) and we were somehow able to score two of the four bar stools before our food even came out of the kitchen!
We each got a latte (4.25 + 1 markup for nut milk with a choice of hazelnut or pistachio) with pistachio milk. My latte came out first and was non-​description but moments later Justin’s came out with a cat on it! Of all the places that do latte art I’ve been to, I’ve never actually gotten anything this cute. And as a crazy cat lady, I can tell you, it was absolutely adorable. I tried to make sense of what was on the top of my latte but it sorta just looked like a butt. Maybe it was the front end and the back end of the cat?
The food menu consists of three breakfast sandwiches, an add on salad option (3) and five kinds of rolls (including a savory brisket option; 3 each). I had the egg hash + salsa verde on masa bread (7.5). The «hash» was sort of like a frittata consistency with very well cooked potatoes in it. It was soft enough but firm enough to go well inside the toasted bread. The salsa verde and pickled veggies were a nice contrast and provided a lot of flavor.
Justin had the spicy fried chicken with herb pickles and secret sauce (9). The bun didn’t hold up very well but the chicken was big and moist with a Thai-​style spice to it. The homemade pickles were pretty sweet giving it even more of an Asian type of sweet and spicy flavor.
Before we departed we ordered a Mexican hot chocolate roll to take home. Not sure if our order got lost in the shuffle but the food runner ended up inquiring what we were waiting for and apologetically brought us the roll — and threw in a couple of freebies for the oversight. The Mexican hot chocolate was great but I liked the cinnamon roll even more. So many end up being overly sweet or just plain dry but this one somehow had moist bread, tons of cinnamon inside and an icing that wasn’t too sweet or too abundant.
We will absolutely come back here. The prices for the sandwiches are probably a bit steeper than they ought to be for the size but the flavor is there. I would, however, get my coffee with normal milk. Nut milks separate too much and make for an unpleasant consistency and the pistachio tasted a bit too gamey for my preference (might not be as bad in iced coffee).

This is a review for just the café. I came in on a busy Saturday, but they already had a system down! Orders were placed with ease and the cashier was extremely personable and friendly making it a joy to wait for my buns. I ordered a macchiato, which happened to be the best one I’ve ever had (okay, I’ve only ever had a few, but this was easily the top).
They were out of the lemon shortbread when I arrived, but I was able to get the brisket roll and the pineapple and pearls roll. Both were delicious and complete opposites. I will definitely be coming back for the brisket roll again! Totally worth the hype and the money.

Before you pick up your lap top bag and head over to Barracks Row’s hottest, newest coffee shop, just know that Pineapple & Pearls is a walk up coffee shop meaning there is absolutely NO seating and therefore no public wifi. If you know that going in, you’ll have right expectations and will most likely LOVE this place.
As DC continues to «New Yorkify» (Thanks to Maketto for starting that movement), it only seems appropriate for Pineapple a& Pearls to open. It’s a small coffee shop/​pastry walk in from, by, and right next door to Rose’s Luxury. It’s simple and chic like New York City using a neo-​modern beach theme. It’s reminiscent of high class Charleston.
The two staff members behind the white marble counter are friendly and they may ask you if you’ve been in before, but not in a way that’s a question. They ask it as if you for sure have been in before, but you haven’t. Psychologically that makes you feel more connected to them as if they think you’re familiar. It gives you a real sense that you are in fact invited and welcomed at Pineapple & Pearls. Even as a student of psychology, I fell for it and am already planning on my next visit.
They sell quality, artisan coffee as the Peregrine-​esque menu boards tells you. However, unlike nearby Peregrine, Pineapple & Pearls sells chai latte and a darn good one at that. They also sell 6 pastries most of which are of the cinnamon roll variety. If you like chocolate and a little kick in the morning, order the Mexican chocolate cinnamon roll. It will come out from the oven warm oozing with Mexican chocolate. They’ll give it to you in a clean, white bag, but ask for napkins… LOTS of them. You’ll need it to wipe off the warm Mexican chocolate from your lips, chin, and in my case my eyebrow (I still don’t know how that happened).
Pineapple & Pearls– Welcome to DC. I wouldn’t be surprised if you get named «Best New Coffee Shop in the USA.» After all, you are the child of Rose’s Luxury. Way to live up to the expectation and hype!
Now I need to go continue wiping that Mexican chocolate from my brow.
UPDATE: I returned to Pineapple & Pearls after I read they have one of the best chicken sandwiches in DC. As a Chick-​fil-​A fan, I had to go. I went on Saturday at 2PM and there was a little wait, but worth it. Their take on a spicy chicken sandwich is perfection. It comes on quality bread, a perfect looking piece of lettuce, perfectly crispy chicken, and homemade pickles. They then add their secret sauce, which make it a combo of southern, Indian, and Asian spices. It’s AMAZING and decently priced at $ 9. It comes in a fancy white box too!

Luxury Café
This place makes me feel like I left DC and ended up in Europe. It has a great French vibe and luxurious décor. From the floor tile to the coffee machine, I am impressed with the details! I LOVE the paper cup with the gold detail.
Sweet Treats
Had the pineapple and pearl roll as well as the cinnamon roll. If you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth craving — you have hit gold. The pineapple one has a subtle pineapple tang that is not too overpowering and the cinnamon roll tastes as you would expect — sweet and ‘cinnamon-​y.‘
Grab and Go:
Heads up — currently this spot has no seating area so you can only come in, order and then leave.
Wish for:
As they just opened, I do hope there will be some seating area in the future (maybe outside?) Would love to sip on some delicious beverage and eat a sweet treat.

I just ate both the falafel and chicken sandwich.
Falafel — pretty good for a pre made falafel sandwich. It tasted and felt fresh with a lively cabbage slaw. The pita came apart, but I’m glad it was soft.
Chicken — I overhead a lady bring it back because her mother thought it was underdone. The chef explained it was smoked, which means it retains a more pink color. I got mine and she was right. The sandwich was interesting, although the brioche is fluffy so I was disappointed with the amount of chicken. Also, I found the meat rather tough.
I will eat the buns in an hour and update the review. At the moment. If you want a falafel sandwich, go to Amsterdam Falafel and if you want another one go to Taylor or Bub & Pops.
Best of luck!

Barracks Row is slowly turning into Luxury Row, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Awesome first experience this morning on their opening day! I am glad they opened despite that the entire place is not completely ready.
The front of the restaurant serves as a coffee shop and is beautifully decorated. I felt pretty fancy and chic just standing inside.
They offer many different coffee drinks, I went for the chai latte which was definitely the best chai latte I have ever had! The coffee drinks are expensive, so it would be tough to make this your everyday coffee shop… but it is perfect for a special occasion.
I also ordered the egg hash and salsa sandwich, and was very impressed. I believe the eggs were baked, so the sandwich is super thick and very filling. I have never had an egg sandwich like this, and love the creativity. The sandwich came packed in a pretty package inside a high end black bag adorned with a gold pineapple design– fancy shmancy.
For the time being there are no tables here yet. I am looking forward to being able to dine in here.
They will eventually serve dinner as well, I am not sure where people will find room to stand in line while everyone starts lining up next door at 4:30!
Looking forward to the owners of Rose’s Luxury to takeover the rest of barracks (luxury) row.