with friends after school

Convenient coffee stop

A cozy cafe on Rockville Pike is the perfect place to hang with friends after school

Eitan Malkus Arts and Entertainment Editor

Tucked in the shrubbery on a stretch of bustling Rockville Pike sits a cozy neighborhood coffee house and bakery. The local gem Java Nation opened its first Kensington location in 2012 and has recently expanded to a larger North Bethesda locale convenient for students coming or going during commutes.

In addition to coffee, the cafe offers an expansive menu including traditional brunch fare, sandwiches and a touch of Latin influence. Live music is also offered outdoors on specific weeknights.

Immediately when walking into the coffee house, I noticed the homey and cozy furnishings and decorations. The shelves are filled with trinkets; large sofas and chairs dot the room.

The sounds of the coffee brewing can be heard over the din of people speaking outside. There is limited indoor seating, but most people chose to sit on the large outdoor deck with heat lamps covered by a tent.

I was plagued by what to order from a plethora of breakfast, brunch and lunch options. In addition to the large menu, there is a long counter flooded with baked goods, ranging from beautiful crumbly muffins to stacks of creamy cakes and loaves.

My party ordered a chocolate croissant, the morning glory loaf, the huevos rancheros, the french toast, a veggie green omelette and a slice of avocado toast. For drinks, we got a chai tea latte as well as a java brew. The coffees ranged from $2 to $5 depending on add-ons and the breakfast options ranged from $6 to $11. The pricing was slightly lower than I expected, making for a pleasant surprise.

The pastries and baked goods were made to order and we were able to enjoy them as we got to our table. We opted to eat outdoors and the seating was well-designed for safety and weather.

Eating outside on a rainy 30 degree day turned out to be surprisingly pleasant with Java Nation’s tented porch and numerous heaters and fans. For safety reasons, one side of the porch was open, but it felt as if we were eating inside with the heat cranked up.

Once we selected our table, we began to enjoy the gooey and crispy chocolate croissant and the delicious morning glory loaf. Both pastries were freshly baked and contained the perfect amount of sweetness.

After quickly chowing down our pastries, the coffees arrived at our table. Both coffees were foamy and tasty, and they instantly satisfied my craving for a homemade warm coffee. Java Nation’s hot beverages arrive with aesthetically pleasing designs on top of the steaming coffee. The beverages were a cozy addition to such a blustery day.

The food arrived quickly after, with each item carefully plated to perfection, reflecting the coffee house’s eye for detail. The huevos rancheros had a unique taste, and the beans, tortilla and eggs perfectly blended together to create an eye catching and tasty dish. The veggie green omelete was especially creamy with a much needed crunch from the vegetables. The arugula salad provided on the side was a good addition to the omelete. The slice of avocado toast did not disappoint, with eggs carefully cooked and avocados ripe to perfection.

However, the French toast was a bit of a disappointment as it was layered with too much cinnamon and brown sugar, creating a much too sugary taste. Nevertheless, quickly indulging in another bite of the avocado toast put my mind at ease.

Leaving the coffee house proved to be the hardest part for me, as I was inching towards trying another pastry or breakfast option. While walking in the rain away from the cafe, I knew I would be back soon to try another crispy baked good or a foamed coffee. The experience proved worthwhile and is definitely a must visit for those who live in the area or find themselves passing by the local gem.

Photos listed from top to bottom: Huevos rancheros Chocolate crossiant French toast Veggie green omelette Morning glory loaf Photos by Eitan Malkus