Indulge Bakery and Bistro

Had an excellent lunch experience at Indulge. I ordered a salmon sandwich with a sweet soy glaze, crisp veggies, and wasabi to go with a salted caramel frappé. I was pleased to be asked how I wanted the frappé made (more coffee-​forward, of course) and it was pretty good.
The salmon sandwich was honestly one of the best salmon sandwiches I’ve had in recent memory. I normally do not care for wasabi, but the way it was integrated in this sandwich did not have it overpowering everything else; as wasabi can do if overdone. It was a nice heat that came in after all the other flavors presented themselves. The roll was soft with a nice crust and the salmon was cooked perfectly.
I took home a piece of their chocolate decadence cake that I’m saving for later, but it also looks very well made with the chocolate ganache a good consistency and the cake layers nice and even; which, yes, that matters to me.
I had a nice chat after I ate with one of the family members who run the bakery about how they make their baked goods and it’s very refreshing to see owners take such pride in what they’re serving people. I bake quite a lot and am always very anxious to get people’s feedback on the things I make. I put a lot care and time into what I bake and want people to really like it. It was just nice to see other people who feel that same way about what they bake.

We had our wedding cake done by Indulge, and my oh my can I say they were accommodating!!! I could not make up my mind with what I wanted. and it was between two traditional pound cakes and two different icings. She hands makes EVERYTHING, so I knew it was all fresh! She was SOOO helpful and soo flexible. I am so thankful they opened up shop and could provide us was a memorable experience! Our guest raved about the cake! I will continue to go to eat as well. their iced coffee is great!

I’m pleased that this place in in Hilton Village, but as it’s one of the only coffee/​lunch/​brunch places in the area, I have some nits, that I express out of love and belief that Indulge has the potential to be a real gem… but it’s not there yet.
The main thing is the value. It probably depends on what you order, but my husband and I were in the other day and we ordered the veggie quiche and the caprese panini. Both were good! But really, really small.
Now, I don’t need to be loaded up with food all the time, so this isn’t some big fat American needs huge fast food portions for $ 0.99 cents thing. But I DO like to feel like what I’m paying for is worth it – I think that’s reasonable and how most people feel, and why people write on Unilocal.So. The veggie quiche. It was $ 9. And probably the smallest slice of quiche I’d ever seen. Like, literally, it was gone in about five bites. The two things you could say for it were that, what was there was tasty, and it came with fruit salad. Like, I don’t want to belabor a point, but, honestly, when they brought out the quiche I was a bit shocked that the server could keep a straight face, it all looked so pathetic on the plate. By contrast, the quiche at the Lunch Bell is about 3x as large, comes with more sides, and I’m pretty sure is the same price, or no more than $ 1 or $ 2 more. My sandwich was tasty, and at $ 7 a bit more of a deal, but, again, the vegetarian sandwiches at Taste are all also $ 7 for a whole and are much more filling. At the very least, a side of fruit salad with my sandwich would have made me feel like I was getting my money’s worth. Another point of contrast: we went to Deadrise the other weekend and the fish sandwich I ordered was, I think $ 10 and was the most delicious piece of fried fish I’d ever had, was so big I couldn’t finish it, and came with fries. And I got to see that lovely view. I’m more than willing to pay a little more, but only if it’s worth it.
I also wish it were more of a true bakery in terms of pastries beyond just croissants. It’s focus seems to be more on cakes and desserts, but that’s not something I’m knocking them a star for, since it’s a personal preference. The minus 2 stars are for the value, mainly.
Again, maybe we just ordered the wrong things, and others are a better value. I will say, the service was very friendly and warm. The space is lovely, though I think white table cloths are a bit out of place and wish it had a bit more a cozy coffeehouse vibe but, again, maybe that’s just me.
Other pros: they serve beer and wine.
I hope the owners of Indulge pop down to Norfolk and visit The Starving Artist Café on North Colley. That place is a perfect model for Indulge, I think trying to strike a similar chord, but Starving Artist has their price + value + taste formula down a bit better, in addition to some funkier décor. The prices at Starving Artist are about the same as Indulge but you get, for example, has browns with your benedict as the same price for one egg and no sides at Indulge, and their sandwiches are the same price or cheaper and come with a side (and are larger.) Plus, they offer a variety of delicious, beautiful salads. and have a pretty extensive beer, cider, and wine list.
I point out these points of comparison with other Peninsula restaurants because I want things in Hilton Village to thrive, because the neighborhood has the people and bones to be a wonderful hub and really elevate Newport News, but the businesses that open here have to know that that won’t happen if they don’t compete with businesses in the larger area. Because while I want to walk to lunch and to shops and to bars (because I miss living in a walkable city) it’s not HARD to drive to get food, and most people will do that if they don’t have a compelling reason, other than because something is close, not to. Similarly, people from outside the area won’t come consistently or at all unless they have a compelling reason.
I think if they could get their formula right re: value and either adjust their prices or, preferably, be a bit more generous with their servings and keep the prices the same, even, this place would be a real winner. As it is, I love the location (my ‘hood, so obviously) and want to support them, and will definitely check them out for brunch (that Sriracha egg thing looks legit, but, again, no sides??) but will find it hard to choose them for lunch over, say, Taste, or any of the great places in Hampton unless they tweak either their portions or their prices.

Coffee was good… not the best I have had but it was a good cup of coffee in a town that apparently only drink Starbucks (yuck!).
Cute little café with friendly staff. Although, it felt like a «higher class» lady came in, I was put on the back burner and didn’t get the same warm and fuzzy treatment that had been occurring moments earlier.
The scone I had was delicious and the window seat looking out into the adorable sidewalks of Hilton Village made for a pleasant afternoon. I will be returning for sure!

There was something magical about the quiche Lorraine… The texture and flavor were so perfect that there was no way I would EVER be able to approximate this at home, trying out recipes. This tasted like… expert (French?) technique– soft, creamy, but not wet or watery … (Am I in Newport News?) It was incredible… Until I got to the end. The crust was strange– damp and spongey. Not sure why, but the filling was so good that I’d be willing to give them another shot at it.
Lemon bars were incredible, tart, yes, but surprisingly heavy with a shattery shortbread crust. Almost can’t go wrong with a lemon bar, but these were special. I had a second. I’ll make it up to my endocrinologist later.
ETA– it’s also a BEAUTIFULLY decorated little space. (Seriously, where are we?) And the waitress was super sweet.
Highly recommend.

So was looking for a good hardy breakfast when we were recommended Indulge. When we got there, the counter area was a little weird and kinda hard to order since there were a few people in line, but it gave me a chance to look around and see what other people had ordered. Over half the people there had ordered the biscuits and gravy, and since im usually a fan of that i decided that was what I was going to go for. Biscuits and gravy was some of the best I have had in a long time, crispy bottom, fluffy top biscuits. Gravy was well seasoned and flavorful. The waitress was very nice and even asked if we need anything else and she gave us some homemade hot sauce that was very good to try. Coffee was okay, nothing to special, but it was all a great price. Definitely a place to stop for a good breakfast.

Well I can’t base this review on taste because unfortunately they are not open. I arrived at 7. and waited till 718 abd still not open… hopefully next time I come they are open because people rave about this place. I would of liked to be raving to. on to the closest coffee and food 711 :-(

Indulge is going to be my new go to spot! I went there for the first time today, and not only was the food amazing but so was the customer service as well. I have two small children, and they were patient and engaging. If you are looking for a peaceful getaway with fantastic food and treats– this is the place for you!

A lovely experience this morning. I was actually headed to a lunch meeting at 12 but decided to stop at IBB for a quick bite at 10:20. My search for coffee on the Unilocal app landed me at there.
Inside were two friendly ladies who quickly seated me. I took a peek around and found a bright, shiny, and very clean place. Some baked goods were showcased… I had to hold back. Ya know, new year, new me, no sweets until January 10^th type of thing.
I pulled out my laptop to kill time on their wifi service and ordered a coffee and the AM kickstarter — buttermilk biscuit with sautéed spinach, an over easy egg, Swiss cheese, and Sriracha. Good thing I ate alone because I pigged out. It was enough of a meal to make me feel content without feel overstuffed.
One thing that I really enjoyed is the neighborhood feel of the place. The Hilton Village area of Newport News offers a locals feel to begin with but I really felt at home while there today. A great fit for the area!

Indulge is perhaps the sweetest eatery in eastern Virginia serving up creative sandwiches, sweets, and the most intensively tasting truffles this side of the Atlantic.
We had the chicken salad, a few sandwiches, and fish tacos. They were amazing with just the right portions for a nice lunch. The tacos were crazy with huge hunks of perfectly prepared tuna.
All of that is great but let’s talk truffles. The owner says that she hand makes and dips them in a plethora of flavors like Mexican Hot Pepper, espresso, and the most amazing peppermint. They were each rich and powerful and reminded us of our days in Europe.
The prices were great for the quality of the food and the artisanal Bolyn sodas were the perfect compliment to the meal.
If you are looking for a wonderful stop in Tidewater, Virginia you should make your way in. Your stomach will never be happier.

This establishment is PERFECT with the exception of the service — this is why it’s getting three stars as opposed to five. Seeing today was my friend and I’s first time, I’m thinking maybe it was an off morning.
We walked in and could not tell if we were supposed to seat ourselves or wait for a server/​host, so we went to the counter to ask. Walking up to the counter, a women (possibly the owner or manager) seemed to be preoccupied trying to fix the register, while also getting a customer a glass of milk. The task seemed to overwhelm her and although these are both priorities, I was expecting some kind of greeting. «Hello, welcome. I’m so sorry, but I’ll be right with you, our system seems to have gone down» would have totally sufficed. Even though I did not receive this, I waited until she was finished, asked her how the system for ordering worked since it was our first time and she was totally forth coming. She said the menus were at the beginning of the counter, we could order when we were ready and everything would then be brought out by a server.
A wonderfully pleasant teenage girl came up from the back and we ordered our food from her. I asked if she could tell me which pastries were which (it was listed on the chalkboard but you could not exactly tell what was what in the case since they weren’t labeled). She gave us the run down and we ordered the apple cinnamon bread, a blueberry tart thing, two lattes, two croissant sandwiches (bacon, tomato and avocado) and shared an order of sausage gravy and biscuits. Yes, we were starving and the prices were very reasonable.
It did not take long to receive our drinks or food, but we didn’t have utensils and weren’t sure if we were supposed to get them ourselves or wait for a server to bring some. The teenage server brought over our lattes and got us silverware after we asked. I think Indulge would benefit keeping her at the counter, because she would be an excellent face to entering the bakery.
Everything was absolutely brilliant food wise. The food was simple but fresh and comforting. Even though this is a bistro concept, we weren’t offered any water, but maybe that was because we needed to get up ourselves and order it.
I think Indulge would be perfect if they could decide on a self-​serve or dining concept. It made the process kind of confusing, and some of the other diners seemed to be confused by this as well. Otherwise, it was perfect for a Sunday brunch!

Biscuits and gravy! Never liked it before because I thought it was too heavy but this place has it just right! Quaint little brunch place on a Sunday morning :)

What a cute place! While visiting some friends, we decided to try this place for breakfast/​brunch. The area the Indulge Bakery and Bistro is situated in is very quaint.
So, the menu is limited, which generally makes me nervous as I can sometimes be a picky eater. However, I decided on the biscuits and sausage gravy, which is a favorite dish of mine. Doesn’t come with any sides but is appropriately priced. I also ordered an iced caramel macchiato, which I’ve only had at Starbucks.
So, the specialty coffee was delicious! Maybe even better than Starbucks! Gasp, I know. However, when they brought out the biscuits and sausage gravy, I was immediately turned off by the texture of the gravy. Gravy usually has more of a smooth consistency, but this looked curdled. But, I was hungry and didn’t want to look too picky in front of my friends! haha So, I gave it a try. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious the dish was! The biscuits and sausage were incredible! My friends also enjoyed their selections, which one was the same as mine, and the other got an egg and cheese croissant, which had some avocado and tomato maybe as well. She loved it.
I also got a macaroon (which was my first macaroon of this type!) and some chocolate chip banana bread to go. The caramel macaroon was tasty. It had a nice airy, light sweetness to it. The bread was beyond yummy!
The restaurant gets pretty busy quickly, and there isn’t much staff. The food is made to order, though. So just make sure you give yourself time to hang out and enjoy the place and food. Definitely a place to check out!

If you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing place early in the morning to have a cup of coffee/​tea and some breakfast, go to Indulge Bakery and Bistro.
My good friend and I came here this morning around 9 to catch up and chat for a little. I love the Hilton Village area, it’s quaint and really nice. Indulge fits right in. There’s a light and airy atmosphere to it, décor is pretty and well done, I love the big windows that open up the place a little bit. We weren’t quite sure if it was a sit down at first, but a nice gentleman told us where the menus were, and we figured out we had to order at the register and then sit down. The menu is fairly small for breakfast, but everything sounded delicious.
My friend and I both ordered the quiche lorraine. We got waters and found a place to sit. They brought out the food for us. The quiche was delicious and done well. They didn’t skimp on the bits of ham and presented it beautifully. The fresh fruit it came with was good. Everything was ripe and sweet. I liked that it didn’t have a syrupy taste to it.
We stayed there for a little while, and it was the perfect place to catch up. It was quiet and enough and the service was good. They weren’t intrusive or overly attentive, which I actually prefer in the morning. The meal wasn’t too filling. I was actually still a little hungry, but the meal was only $ 7, so I can’t complain too much I guess. The baked goods at the counter looked really good too. I want to try a macaroon or one of their muffins next time.
I enjoyed it here a lot. It’s the perfect addition to the Hilton Village area. They needed a place for a quiet breakfast! It was nice and family friendly in there. I loved it, I felt a little more at peace just by walking in there. There’s street parking right in front and a parking lot around the corner as well! By the time we left (around 10 AM), the place was almost full. I would suggest going a little earlier on the weekends!

Finally visited Indulge on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It lived up to the talk on Unilocal!
To begin with, the employees were extremely friendly as soon as we entered the establishment. Love the location and French inspired decorations inside.
I had a cappuccino that was good, but slightly too milky. The biscuits and gravy were the best I’ve ever had. Very fresh and savory at the same time. They were unfortunately out of biscuits, but the croissant was a good substitute. Finished off the meal with a triple chocolate miniature cake. I’m a huge chocolate fan, but the cake itself was not my favorite. My friends highly enjoyed the egg & biscuit with Sriracha, the hazelnut blueberry muffin, and the chocolate pumpkin bread.
Once the kinks of being a new restaurant are worked out, this will be a highly successful bistro.

Okay Unilocalers — get your butts over here and check this place out! It is seriously awesome. BEST breakfast/​brunch in gourmet style I’ve had on the peninsula in the 10+ years I’ve lived here. We’ve now made it a weekly routine to visit here and treat ourselves after a long week. The good thing about that is that I’ve had a chance to try a lot of food — and all of it has been fantastic. The house-​made biscuits and gravy are to DIE for, and are a wicked awesome hangover breakfast. If you’re feeling healthier, go for the make-​your-​own egg sandwich on the house-​made wheat croissant with the American cheese, avocado and tomato. YUM! I’ve also had several of their quiche selections, which are all super tasty. Their selection of pastries and treats changes each time we’re in, but my little one loves the banana bread with chocolate chips.
The service can be slow — mostly because this is a small, family run place, and more often than not when we’re there, it’s packed. So order a fancy coffee and be patient. The atmosphere is nice and it’s worth the few extra minutes to breathe and relax. The only thing that would make this place better for me is a larger selection of loose-​leaf, premium teas (since I don’t do coffee), but I’ve brought my own each time I’m in and they are very kind about providing me hot water for refills. Overall, a great experience, so go give it a try.

Excellent!!! Local, family-​run bakery & bistro that is easy for folks in the Hilton area to walk or bike to. Outside seating available on nice days. Great coffee, breakfast options, and lunch fare as well.
I recommend the bagel w/​lox, the AM Kickstarter sandwich, the roast beef sandwich, and the BLT w/​avocado.
The lemon bars, Mexican wedding cookies, and cakes are dangerously addictive.
Unlike some other local bake shops, they are always smiling and pleasant when you walk in the door, and are genuinely happy to serve you. Go now! Don’t wait!

I’m surprised at all of the negative reviews! People in this neighborhood are so darn fickle. It is cheaper to get breakfast at this bakery than it is to go to Hardee’s. I really enjoyed the cinnamon roll, the fresh baked bread, the gelato and my Americano!
The service is a little slower than it should be possibly, but this is a family owned and run business and they are JUST starting out. Give people a chance to get into the groove for god sakes. If the food is good and the coffee is delicious and the prices are very reasonable, relax and give them a chance.
Is you have any helpful tips let the owners know so the Hilton area doesn’t lose another good business. I really am surprised that anyone could rate this bakery 1 STAR. That is ridiculous bordering on insane.
I recommend this place whole heartedly!

I’ll start off by saying this place would get 5 stars if the service were faster. It took about 30 minutes for two sandwiches and a fruit cup. I’m going to believe they are slow because they just opened and I’ll change my review if it’s better the next time.
The staff was friendly enough. Though the people working the register aren’t sure what all the prices are. Having a cheat sheet for them would be nice.
My husband ordered the roast beef and horseradish sandwich. You could taste every aspect of the sandwich from the gorgeous rye bread, to the spicy red onion that had a very fresh taste, to the perfect amount of spice from to horseradish and the perfectly shaved roast beef. What a wonderful sandwich! I got the bltae (bacon lettuce tomato avocado and egg) the bread was soft with a nice crunchy crust, the avocado smooth and creamy, the bacon and lettuce crisp, and the egg perfectly cooked and beautifully runny! My son loves his fruit cup too.
Sweets, I highly recommend the macarons. We got one of each flavor. While all were delicious, crisp yet fluffy pieces of art, two stand out to us. My husband loved the lemon with the right amount of sweet and tart and lemon zest. I really liked the pretty pink one with the raspberry jam in the middle. I imagine the two together would be incredible! Sadly, we ate them all before I could get a picture.
I highly recommend this place, but until they get the wrinkles figured out and get the timing and pricing things fixed, I would suggest being patient and going when you aren’t in a rush. Just sit outside and enjoy the day while you wait for your meal.

So excited this place is finally open. After a year of teasing, our first breakfast/​brunch exceeded our expectations. This place is perfect for families that live in the nearby historic neighborhood, CNU students and their families, and locals that love the charm of Hilton Village in general. It’s located in the first federally-​funded and planned neighborhood in country and is exactly what was needed to liven things up. The coffee was superb and the meals were simple and southern, while offering healthy choices and amazing deserts. They are open for breakfast and lunch and offer clean restrooms and indoor/​outdoor seating. The owner was attentive to each table. The décor is simple and classic. Thankful Hilton Village finally has a place that locals can visit regularly and the sense of community that already exists can be nurtured.