The Most Delectable French in Washington

Del Ray Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (906) • $$

"Very first thing to notice about this establishment is that it is inside a house, super cute location! I love that its setting really sets it apart from other restaurants. Nestled in a quiet neighborhood, parking appears to be plentiful albeit street parking. We were immediately greeted once going inside, and also promptly served by our waiter. They have an extensive brunch and lunch menu alike. Average prices for a restaurant in this area. Portion sizes were not massive which I really appreciated, but perhaps others might want multiple items from the menu if extra hungry. I couldn't decide what I wanted, so I requested my server surprise me with his favorite sandwich. He chose the croque monsieur and I was very happy with this option. Thanks for a great lunch today, Del Ray Cafe!"

Bistro Cacao

★★★★☆ 4.2 (815) • $$$

"Recently came here for brunch, it was absolutely divine, the highlight for me were the escargot, they had a zesty and garlic taste to them, I love me some smoked salmon so the entree was great!! Service was very amazing, our host Maria took really great care of us!! Would have loved to try their pastry basket but it took so long and came after we had already ate, other than that it was a really great experience for me."

Fig & Olive

★★★★☆ 3.6 (955) • $$$

"Came here for my friend's birthday and to check out restaurant week. We came in a party of 8 and had a reservation. We were seated right away and loved the decor of the restaurant. It's very spacious and they have a really good playlist. The restaurant week menu has really great portion sizes. We were not that impressed with the taste of the food. I will say I really enjoyed the wild mushroom croquette but the chicken Milanese tasted like eating an upside down fried chicken salad. There was a little sauce on the bottom but there wasn't enough to really tell what the flavor of it was. I got the dark chocolate mousse for dessert but was disappointed because the texture reminded me more of pudding. My friend's lemon olive cake was good but she thought it tasted a little too salty in certain bites. The best part of the meal was the bread they brought up with a little olive oil on it. The overall experience was only okay. I was hoping the food would could come out a little sooner than it did. I probably wouldn't eat here again by choice but the service is really nice and maybe someone else would like it. The overall consensus from my group was a little disappointment."

Mele Bistro

★★★★☆ 4 (562) • $$$

"Some people dole out stars based on an ideal. That's fine. I grant stars based on how well a restaurant achieves what it is trying to do. Mele Bistro was a stunning discovery and a beautifully executed French & Italian place. I will be back.First, the food was mouthwatering and precisely prepared. The blackened sea bass was cooked perfectly. I both wanted to devour and savor it over an hour. I appreciated the lightness of the wilted spinach and the warmth of the shared bread. The spice trio with olive oil was a delightful touch. The overall ambiance was incredibly charming and relaxing. How many people begin a menu detailing over an entire page in small font how the selected ingredients are tailor-made for health and taste? The staff and owner were incredibly friendly. As I said at the outset, we will return as soon as possible."

Brasserie Liberte

★★★★☆ 4 (546) • $$

"Nice American French place. I got the Coq Au Vin which is chicken with mashed potatoes, carrots and onions. It was surprisingly good. All dark meat chicken. There were some pieces I ate that I did not enjoy like cartilage etc because I couldn't see them covered in the sauce. Overall it was cooked well as the chicken was coming off the bone. Service was ok. FYI- They charge 20% gratuity to all orders. Ambiance is relaxed but very loud on a Saturday night."

Boulangerie Christophe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (510) • $$

"Had the most delicious pastries here while on a recent trip to DC. Their Paris-Breste was absolutely incredible and the chocolate eclair was to die for. I am so glad I stopped by."

Cafe Renaissance

★★★★☆ 4.2 (375) • $$$

"1/23/24: absolutely lovely date night spot. we shared the french onion soup and it was AMAZING, highly rec this. i got the chicken with mushroom sauce. hub got veal. he loved his entree. when i go back im gtg the french onion soup and not sharing! their drinks were really good. i got the french 75 and husband got the french martini. fab service by all. they def give a lot of space for yall to talk. they wont rush the dinner.we already talked about coming back."

Grand Cru Wine Bar and Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.8 (415) • $$

"With a dinning establishment with a name like Grand Cru you have established yourself as a high bar as Grand Cru wines are the pinnacle of quality and prestige within the wine world. Grand Cru in Arlington clearly makes the effort to be at the pinnacle of quality. When eating French I am always looking for fish on the menu as French know fish. I ordered the oven roasted honey balsamic steelhead trout with garlic roasted vegetables medley. It was perfectly prepared as I expected. The vegetables were equally prepared. With my meal I chose my wine from the by the glass menu which had numerous selections. I chose a classic Côtes du Rhône from the Domaine A. Berthet Rayne. For desert I had an encore glass. All in all Grand Cru is worth the visit if you crave classic French. My server was Erick and he was excellent. Attentive and knowledgeable. I enjoyed my evening at the Grand Cru."

La Chaumiere

★★★★☆ 3.7 (424) • $$$

"We went for dinner here with my bf's family, who happen to eat here whenever they are in DC. Our party of 6 was taken upstairs for the seating. Service was quick and attentive, making sure we had our drinks in order. I tried an espresso martini that was delicious. For my app, I got the lobster bisque, which hit the spot on a cold winter night. My main was a stuffed pheasant with bokchoy and mushrooms and was one of the specials of the night. Never had pheasant before, so I didn't know what to expect, but it was ten, er and the sauce was salty and complex. My boyfriend enjoyed the soup du jour, which was a parsnip soup and a red snapper that was also a special of the day. I do think the trout Amandine is popular as 3 people in our party got it and thoroughly enjoyed it."

Bistrot Lepic & Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (307) • $$$

"Absolutely fantastic food.Although I lived in Paris, this prix fixe dinner is superior to anything I ate in France. I highly recommend. Friends and I tasted each others meals, and everything was phenomenal. Prix fixe on Wednesday night at the wine bar, $45"

Parc de Ville

★★★★☆ 3.9 (324) • $$

"The decor and vibe here takes you right to France, from the tiles to the table and bar gives you the modern French bistro feel.Our server was super friendly, full of personality and was very helpful with menu recommendation.My friend ordered a espresso martini and I got to have a sip of it, and wow very good I was super tempted to get one.I ordered the Steak Frites, which is a pan roasted skirt steak, sauce béarnaise, frites. My steak was cooked perfectly to medrare, béarnaise sauce was right amount of seasoning, creamy and complimented the steak very well. The frites, cut to perfection, cooked to the right crispiness.I also shared the Bucatini Provencal with my friend and I loved that the noodles was al denti. It had pistachio pistou, roasted tomato, basil, and pecorino. I loved that the pasta was dressed full of fresh pistachio, not a heavy sauce where I didn't feel guilty eating it. You can tell all the ingredients used in the pasta were fresh.My other friend ordered the Croque Madame in which I did get to get a bite of it. It's a grilled ham & Gruyère sandwich, friend egg, sauce mornay. Talk about cheesiness--it was so delicious and definitely a sandwich I'd get for brunch."

Le Refuge Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (279) • $$$

"I was searching for a French restaurant to celebrate my wife's birthday and came across Le Refuge. Although it wasn't available on the typical reservation platforms, the website mentioned calling for reservations. Luckily, I had no trouble securing a same-day reservation.The restaurant is intimate, with charming French decor that gives it a cozy, romantic feel. The staff was incredibly friendly, and we were seated at a lovely window table, which added to the atmosphere.We started our meal with the soup of the day and a fresh salad. For the main course, I had the Dinner Special Seared Tuna, which was perfectly thick-cut and served with a delicious bordelaise sauce and black pepper. My wife chose the Shrimp Provençal, and the seasoning was absolutely amazing.Both dishes were fantastic, and we couldn't have asked for a better dining experience. If you're looking for a special place to celebrate or enjoy a romantic evening, Le Refuge is a must-visit!"

Primrose

★★★★☆ 4 (268) • $$

"This is easily one of our favorite local spots. The service is always excellent, with attentive management that makes you feel at home. Their rotating menu is consistently creative and delicious, and the wine selection is top-notch. It has a unique, cozy ambiance, and it's the perfect place for a relaxed yet classy dining experience."

La Ferme

★★★★☆ 3.8 (257) • $$$

"Just a lovely place to celebrate our anniversary. Beautiful old house with quaint French country decor on the inside.We ordered the skirt steak (specials menu) and filet mignon (regular menu). Both pieces of meat came out to perfection. My filet mignon had the perfect pink and juices. I don't believe I've had a better piece of meat anywhere else. We added the potato gratin and it was creamy and delicious.For dessert, we got the praline and Grand Marnier souffles. I have never had souffle before so had to try it since it was supposedly, "The best dessert in town!" Our server informed us that we needed to order this at the beginning of our meal since it takes 45 minutes to prepare. Though I conclude that souffles are probably not what I expected, my partner enjoyed it and finished mine as well!Service was excellent and attentive. Just a wonderful dining experience. Parking: Easy on a weeknight. Spaces are a little tight."

Bistro Du Jour

★★★★☆ 3.8 (243) • $$

"A nice pick for an affordable but still upscale dinner. Their food is delicious with large portions and their service is was very accommodating. The restaurant is small, dimmed pretty dark in the evening, is quiet, and there is one single-stall bathroom which acquired a line at several points throughout the night. Would recommend a reservation. A good date night spot."

Apéro

★★★★☆ 4.3 (121)

"My girlfriend and I go out 1x a year to celebrate the holidays and keep up our gift exchange "tradition" by taking ourselves out to a bougie/fancy meal, and this year it was my turn to pick the location. I stumbled upon Apero while reviewing Yelp recommendations and was instantly impressed! my gf had never had caviar service before, so I knew this had to be the experience for this year. I was drawn in by the Michelin stars too.Upon walking in, it's instantly clear this is a hole in the wall/hidden gem like spot. The interior was nicely decorated, modern and complementary to the vibe they cultivate here. Upon walking in I was seated, as I made a reservation and found parking right out front. I was asked whether I wanted sparking or still and I opted for the bottle of still. The server was busy tending to many tables and once my guest arrived he came around to ask if this was a "birthday". I explained to him that upon making the reservation I labeled it a special event and he corrected me by saying "so....not a birthday". From there it seemed the attention waned. I understand this is a cozy spot but it felt as if they were rushing us quite often, even when tables were vacant. This restaurant automatically charges patrons 22.5% tip so I would expect stellar service. The food was honestly, remarkable. The deviled eggs with the house caviar was delectable and decadent. The house caviar was on the briny salty side so it worked with the appetizer. We also got the oysters with the pear mignonette. It all came ready to eat with the vinegar already perfectly portioned per shell. I booked for brunch, kind of expecting the lunch menu to be available to order the caviar tagatelli, but only brunch was offered. We split the pear salad and that was scrumptious too! We topped it off with a caviar selection that was more on the creamy and less briny scale and the chips and accoutrements were awesome. I didn't quite understand the waffles. We didn't quite love them. When we wanted more chips he insisted he would run it as an extra charge so we decided not to.We got 2 beverages each- one glass of champagne and one espresso martini. They are well known for their caviar and champagne so we just had to indulge in some bubbly. I asked for a sweeter option but ultimately settled for a brut champagne which was very nice. The espresso tini was very strong! Loved it! We ended the evening with the baba (cake soaked in rum) and braised apples. The apples retained their tartness and it was so yummy. We ordered tea as well. I had to ask for cream and honey. Overall, this place is worth a visit. Food gets 5 stars for sure, service is really the only reason this review isn't 5 stars. Keep in mind the preferred 2 hour block of seating time if you want to keep prompt and friendly service. The items we ordered were absolutely lovely. My special event was a hit!"

All Day by Kramers

★★★★☆ 3.9 (140) • $$

"I love Kramers bookstore and their restaurant is a great addition to the place. So many great options and loved the breakfast served all day. The eggs were creamy and delicious and got the chocolate cake at the end of the meal which was HUGE. A lovely little spot to eat after book-shopping"

Maison Cheryl

★★★★☆ 3.9 (120) • $$$

"My recent experience at Maison Cheryl was absolutely delightful. They were doing a special limited menu (apparently the chef rotates seasonally and likes to try new things) and was fantastic from start to finish. Our first course was a beet citrus salad which included goat cheese and was based around this lovely roasted beat flavor that tied everything together really well. With a small bit of honeycomb on top, the salads overall flavor profile hit all the right notes. We paired the salad with a fried green tomato dish that had a perfect cream sauce. I've had overly fried tomatoes before but these were light and really flavorful. For entrees we got an order of the bay scallop + shrimp orecchiette which was highlighted by the unexpected but very good corn forward flavor. The serving size a little too large for me, but leftovers are never a real problem. In addition we had a salmon and mussel dish where the broth it was set in blew my mind. Cooked perfectly, both the salmon and mussels were great, but I could have enjoyed just a bowl of the broth with a loaf of bread. Being so full for the dessert I'm not sure if I truly appreciated the chocolate cake or cheesecake as much as I could have, but they were both a very nice conclusion to the meal. Our server was very attentive to us the entire night, never leaving us waiting or wanting for a single thing. The restaurant itself is situated in a cute part of Arlington, and really matches the vibes of sophistication with a lot of comfort. I am excited for my next culinary adventure here!"

Bar a Vin

★★★★★ 4.6 (67) • $$

"My partner and I were out and about in Georgetown for our anniversary, and we wanted to wrap up the outing with drinks at a romantic bar - Bar a Vin proved to be just what we had in mind. Associated with the neighboring Billy du Sud restaurant, it was a little confusing to find because I didn't see a name for the building, but it seemed to match the address, and once inside I recognized it from Yelp descriptions and photos. There's a romantic, dimly lit front room with several comfy couches and armchairs, and a fireplace; sadly it was 60 degrees in December so no roaring fire. The bar area is nice, with plenty of seating and high tables, but my partner and I wanted to cozy up on a couch so we took our drinks back to the front room to enjoy the warmth of candlelight in lieu of the fireplace. As far as those drinks, Bar a Vin has a great wine and cocktail menu - the beer offerings are limited, albeit eclectic. I ordered the Armagnac Old Fashioned while my partner got a Cloture en Pierre. We were both very pleased with our drinks and upon tasting the drink chosen by the other, also very glad that the order wasn't reversed. My Old Fashioned was very good - I've never had the Armagnac version before and its a great substitute for whiskey. The Cloture was sweet and spicy but for me that was not in a good way; the Liquore delle Sirene overpowered the drink or maybe the mix with the other ingredients just wasn't right for me.I would love to come back on day that's actually cold so I can experience the fireplace. The cocktail menu has a lot of interesting NA options and I'd want to try them for sure."

Michele’s

★★★★☆ 3.5 (101)

"Michele's is a nice restaurant in a great venue. Eaton DC is a multi-faceted hotel that offers a modest number of hotel rooms, work space, a dope roof top lounge/club, and one of DC's most popular Speakeasy's (Allegory). We went to grab a nice dinner before going to the aforementioned Allegory. Michele's is a solid restaurant. The menu is limited but what we had was good. She had the salmon and I had the crab cakes. Neither was great but good. The Charbroiled Oysters were delicious but you only get 4. I'd rather they up the price from $16 to $20 and give us two more. Michele's is located in the front of Eaton, so in the winter months, you may have to keep your jacket on because it gets a little cold if you're seated near the door like we were.Service was good, even though our server was also one of the bartenders doing dual duty. Again, as far as casual hotel restaurants go, Michele's is definitely a nice dining experience, however, if you're not staying at Eaton or going to Allegory, it's not special enough to make the busy DC trip."

Cafe Tatti

★★★★☆ 4.1 (73) • $$

"We love Cafe Tatti, which I have visited over decades and which feels like stepping into a real French country cafe. It is casual but warm with welcoming service, and the food is always delicious. Our party enjoyed the beef bourguignon, sole almandine, shrimp with rice and the crabcake entrees and all were delicious, with lovely options for dessert. This place is a gem."

Gustave Boulangerie

★★★★☆ 4.1 (66)

"I was driving by Delray to find a coffee shop to set up and work and I literally just passed this place and made a u-turn to check it out. I don't know about you but anything named with the word Boulangerie has me salivating. I parked across the street near the church and parking was free. Overall, I love that this is a beautiful corner store and love the color outside and the openness inside. At this point I think I was at my third cup of coffee for the day and wanted another iced coffee. I almost got tea but I'm glad I got the coffee because I love illy coffee. I had just had lunch in Annandale and needed something sweet so this was the perfect place to satisfy my craving. After looking through the case, I opted to get smaller portions of their pastries. I'm so glad they have the smaller versions to make me feel less guilty:) I chose the following: -Mini chocolate croissant-Chocolate torsade -Apple chaussomThese pastries were all nice and flakey and delicious. I would definitely get them again or try something else. I also enjoyed the coffee and the overall service. It was the perfect place to have a place to work and set up my computer. My only wish is that they have outleta or.power strips to plug in your electronics."

Opaline

★★★★☆ 3.8 (75)

"We thought it was great for breakfast. I can't tell you about lunch or dinner. All I know is that we enjoyed our mornings at Opaline while staying at the Sofitel.The breakfast café is to the right of the doorway as you enter the hotel. It's nicely decorated in the colors of Provence. The yellow mosaic tile pops with the blue paint on the walls. It's very pretty. The windows and view of the outdoor tables make it feel authentic. Service was great!The French Press coffee was the first to arrive. We always look forward to coffee at any Sofitel. It's always an amazing experience. I was told it's a special blend of the Lavazza brand. I'd make it myself, but I don't have the time or patience to use this type of coffee maker.The breakfast menu is limited. Keep in mind that it is a hotel restaurant. The prices are comparable to other 5 star hotel restaurants. You do pay more for something substantial such as the Croque Madame and Opaline Breakfast. We enjoyed both of these breakfast offerings. So much so, that my husband ordered the same Opaline Breakfast 2 days in a row. The Croque Madame was so cheesy and crispy. It's a gruyère lover's dream. I'm still dreaming about it. The egg on top was cooked perfectly as well. The salad looked simple, but it was so tasty and fresh. It's the perfect brunch dish. I couldn't eat it all because it was so rich for an early in the morning meal. With that said, I wish I had ordered it again the next day. The Continental Breakfast was good, but the pastries left a lot to be desired. I did like the fresh butter croissant and the blueberry muffin. The chocolate croissant and pain au raisin were very forgettable. I didn't say anything about it to our server. To be honest, I wasn't as hungry that morning.Would we go back? Absolutely! I haven't had a Croque Monsieur/Madame like this in a very long time. Even the mornay sauce on the sandwich was very good. I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It was that wonderful."

Right Spot Restaurant & Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (52) • $$

"Came to Right Spot on a Saturday around 5 after seeing a flyer advertising a day party. Although it was much more chill than an actual day party (everyone was sitting, no real dancing), I had such a great time there. My group was seated upstairs which had a bar, some lounge style seating, and a bunch of tvs showing football (win!). There was a DJ there who was spinning some old school and some new school, and had my group singing and dancing the entire time. Best part of this spot was that it is super affordable. The hookah was around $25 and pulled well the entire time we were there. The drinks were also inexpensive and I believe there were $5 shots of anything (yes anything!). Overall this was one of my favorite new spots on my latest dc trip and I will definitely visit again when I'm in DC next time."

Amelie

★★★★★ 4.5 (26)

"Amelie is such a cute restaurant. I love the French touch inside. It's right around the corner where I live and this is the 3rd times I have had dinner there.I love the food, the atmosphere, the wine. So French! Oui oui!I am going to try everything on their menu."

Ellington Park Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.6 (39)

"Food and drinks from happy hr are just ok not bad or good but my fries were not truffle as they say they are and over cooked"

Garden Cafe

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (48) • $$

"I was pleased with my meal at Garden Cafe. I was hesitant to try it with only 3 stars, but I was looking for something conveniently located in the smithsonian and was pleasantly surprised. It's not a huge buffet but there are definitely enough choices to fill your plate. The main meat dish, which was chicken today, was a little dry but everything else was very good and of good quality. Not a typical buffet. Our service was perfectly fine. I thought the waitress was very nice. Atmosphere was probably the best part of the experience. Very pretty and French-like. Would definitely come back."

Belga Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.6 • $$$

"Stopped in for some dinner and drinks and was impressed on the first visit. I loved the burger and the menu has a lot of options that will please everyone's taste from mussels to special three course meal events. The vibe is chill and upscale. Loveee the beer selection as this is a Belgian style restaurant so they have Duvel and Stella which can be hard to find. The service is great at the bar and Kaylie was so great! Will definitely be back."

Le Diplomate

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$$

"I came here years ago, when it was new and super trendy. It was amazing back then, but I haven't been back until last weekend, for a pre-theater brunch. I wasn't sure how it would age - it can be hard for a place to stay so good for so long! But let me tell you, it was just as good as before! The food was delicious, our server was lovely and perfectly attentive without being annoying, and the interior is timeless. We had the steak tartare to start, which was divine. I had the mussels which were probably the best I've ever had, and my husband had the duck confit - to die for. It was such a lovely meal, we won't wait years to return!"

Central Michel Richard

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$$

"9.26.2024. We had a 6:15 reservation. The bar area was so crowded the tables were invisible with all the bodies there having a great time decompressing after work. We checked in and was seated immediately in front of the open kitchen. Once seated, I noticed how attractive the restaurant is with copper detailing throughout. We both decided on the Express Pre-Theater menu ($58/pp) as we prepared to enjoy Lalah Hathaway later that evening. For apps, the French onion soup was a little sweeter than most. I suspect the miso broth contributed to that. I had the goat cheese Caesar, the textures were satisfying. For entrées, we ordered the fried chicken w/ mashed potatoes and the Atlantic salmon with colorful vegetables. Finally, the desserts were truly delicious. He ordered the Chocolate bar which was heavy on hazelnut and the Crème Brûlée was divine. I enjoyed the experience and will definitely return, maybe for HH."

Lyon Hall

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$

"I got the thai curry musells with fries and WOW it was worth it! the quantity was huge of the mussels! i will 100p just come back for the mussels! it was AMAZING and so flavorful and so fun to eat as well! the fries were not as great but the mussels made up for the fries! the service was pretty fast at the place and they were super accomodating for my friend who had a kid as well! the ambiance was pretty coool! it was more upscale but not to the point where you had to really dress up!100000p would come back and recommend to anyone"