Call Your Mother has transferred the long waiting line from the bright pink food truck known as Lil’ Deli that sat in Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean for months to their indoor restaurant located in the same place. The indoor restaurant opened a month ago and loyal customers have traveled a few hundred feet away to its new spot in the Mall shops.

Christine Ayers, waiting for her everything bagel with cream cheese on Sunday, Aug. 4 says, “I used to go to the food truck until it got so hot waiting outside a long time for my bagel. This is much better.” 

The bagel choices range from plain to cheddar to sriracha and everything in between. Fatima Rahim, the store manager, says Sunday is most busy, as you can see from the crowd sitting at the few tables and waiting along the walls for their carryout order. She says the favorite bagel is probably the Royal Palm which is plain cream cheese, smoked salmon, tomato, cucumber, red onion, capers on an everything bagel. Another favorite is the unusual Del Ray Club with peach cream cheese, bacon, jalapeno, nectarines and potato chips.

Daniela Moreira, chef and one of the owners of this small chain of restaurants, brings her inspiration from campside meals in Argentina to the bagel menu with a variety of breakfast and lunch choices. Chief Doughboi, Andrew Dana brings his nostalgia of Jewish family tradition. The favorite schmear according to Rahim, is probably the plain or the garlic-herb. You can also order latkes on the side. 

Call Your Mother is open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. every day.

Call Your Mother began at a farmer’s market in D.C. and opened their flagship store in 2018 in Parkview on Georgia Avenue. They have since expanded in D.C. and added restaurants in Virginia and Maryland with their newest addition in Denver, Colorado.