The Difference Baker - George Mason University

i’m medically gluten free and when i started at GMU there was almost nothing on campus that was safe for me to eat. now there is, and what makes it even better is that the pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch sandwiches here are amazing! however, i think the pizzas leave something to be desired. the workers here also super friendly and many of them have dietary restrictions themselves.

Alyssa and her team at the Difference Baker go out of their way to make sure their food is safe from allergens and the food is absolutely delicious. We are beyond thrilled to have a bakery that is safe for my family. It’s the first restaurant where my children can choose from anything on the menu. Thank you, Difference Baker! Please open a new store in Vienna or Oakton!

I like the sweets, but the savory stuff at this place is very hit or miss. The pretzel bites were strange, more like little bread pieces and didn't have the pretzel taste at all. The Stromboli (spinach and mushroom) is dry and has limited seasoning (also took forever to get- I guess everything is just frozen and then warmed up at this location). I feel like a lot of new stuff is added to the menu when they can't even figure out how to make the old stuff sell or even tase good and non-frozen. I think they need to actually have a kitchen with equipment so they can make fresh things- this frozen food business isn't working and I think it's a part of the reason why it's so bare.

The cookies are great and I appreciate the donuts (don't appreciate how I'm just given one from the display case when I thought the difference baker brand was the airfried donuts). The cake is very dense, more brownie than cake. I've made desserts that are less dense and still taste great while gluten (and usually even egg and dairy) free.

There's usually 1-2 people working there so it takes a while to get food. It's a small place, which is fine, but the refrigerated cases near the front are SO loud so it makes staying in the cafe a non-option.

I was really wanting this spot to be a go to for me, since I am gluten free, but I think it's been missing the mark so far.

This place is the best for students looking for a quick healthy grab. If you’re lucky enough, it’s best to come in the mornings to avoid that lunch hour traffic. Also if you’re a student that is sick and tired of trying to find a new study place then I recommend coming here where you can drink a nice cup of coffee and get your work done in peace! I highly suggest trying out their cookies as it’s extremely delicious and will satisfy your sweet tooth.