Three talented guys oversee the food at this tiled bakery/gelateria/cafe adjoining the Italian restaurant Potenza. Chef Bryan Moscatello offers a terrific range of sandwiches—we couldn’t put down the roast beef with orange-and-fennel aïoli on brioche ($7) or a warm rolled stromboli with marinara for dipping ($7). Pastry chef Chris Kujala turns out gorgeous cherry sticky buns ($2), whimsical gelatos ($2 a scoop), and bomboloni ($6), freshly sugared doughnuts served with cherry compote.
Finally, bread guru Mark Furstenberg consults on the ten kinds of loaves. That’s a kitchen dream team, even if the service has been both forgetful and slow.
Open Monday through Friday 8 to 8, Saturday 10 to 8, Sunday 10 to 6.
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Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
