by Naomi Bang ‘23

Scratch Kitchen & Bistro is a small business serving fresh, locally sourced ingredients, making it the perfect spot for your next Sunday brunch. Located at 18062 Georgia Ave in the shopping strip just behind Popeyes, the cafe and bistro recently had their grand opening with an added lunch menu along with their repertoire of breakfast dishes. 

Upon walking in, customers are greeted by a clean, farmhouse-style setup. A pastry case displays a variety of baked goods and an open drink cooler features their orange juice and yogurt parfaits alongside standard fountain drinks. An outdoor patio provides ample seating—perfect for the upcoming fall weather—and I was able to share a meal there with my family of six.

Following the concept of a scratch kitchen, which only serves customers with fresh ingredients, their all-day breakfast menu is loaded with fluffy eggs straight from Brookville’s Bella Vita Farm. The bagel and lox features smoked salmon served on a toasted bagel from Ive’s Deli & Bagelry in Rockville Pike, and another nice addition is a self-serve coffee bar featuring Mayorga coffee from their Rockville facility. 

The only downside of using all fresh ingredients is a higher price point, though the $6 orange juice (squeezed right behind the counter) is still worth giving a try. The most expensive dish is Angie’s “Lobstah” roll on the lunch menu for $27, but there are some cheaper options like The Single Hander breakfast sandwich for $7.

Several dishes come with lightly seasoned, rosemary home fries that are just the right amount of flavorful, and the turkey bacon balances a crispy yet tender texture. The pancakes were a bit dense and without anything else to break up the dish, it was difficult to finish. Overall, the food maintains restaurant quality while being reminiscent of home-cooked meals.

Scratch Kitchen & Bistro also has a powerful story that will have you cheering for their success. Owner Bernadette Rousseau planned to lease the space for her daughter, Angelina, as the two of them shared a strong passion for cooking. But after her daughter’s sudden passing on February 1, the same day Rousseau received the keys for the lease, she delayed opening for funeral preparations. Rousseau ultimately decided to open the restaurant and carry on her daughter’s dream. Despite the personal loss, Rousseau decided to make the most of her situation and support the community by creating jobs to encourage entrepreneurship and by sourcing locally.

Scratch Kitchen & Bistro is worth giving a try, even with the higher price points since the extra expense goes toward quality sourced food. Rather than grabbing a quick bite at any of the other dozen chain franchises in Olney, “go local” at a restaurant that is boldly offering something fresh.