La Caprice Bakery| Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C.

Good loaves are hard to find.

That is, until you head to Columbia Heights.

Peer into the kitchen of new boulangerie Le Caprice, and watch baker Manijeh Erfan improve the city's bread fortunes with trays of French-inspired baked goods.

Chewy boules of cinnamon-swirled raisin-walnut bread ($3) pair nicely with a pat of salted Kerrygold butter. The classic baguette ($2.75) crackles perfectly when you snap off a chunk.

Pastries also excel. Croissants are crackly and flaky, but have a soft, springy interior, golden from the croissant's buttery base ($2). Erfan also sells meatier alternatives filled with ham and a melted pool of sharp Swiss cheese ($5). The almond croissant ($3) is made with superfine almond flour, containing silky, golden marzipan and then topped with a scattering of sliced almonds.

On the substantive front, Erfan is slowly rolling out the bakery's lunch menu. A prime early example: a square slice of quiche lorraine ($5)–made with turkey bacon–sitting below a thatch of crisscrossing melted cheddar shreds.

The rainbow of miniature macarons ($1.50) changes daily. We recommend the Creamsicle-inspired orange, emerald pistachio and bittersweet chocolate versions.

Bid adieu to boring baked goods.

Le Caprice DC, 3460 14th St. NW; 202-290-3109 or lecapricedc.com