French restaurant?

[Anonymous]

Chat Noir and Bistro du Coin are both authentic, but I prefer le Chat Noir for ambiance. You can't hear yourself think at Bistro du Coin. Chat Noir is a little pricier, but not outrageous.

[Anonymous]

I actually do not like Chez Francois.. . .I may be the only one in the DC area, but I find it a bit contrived and the food just ok

[Anonymous]

La Chaumiere?, has always been one of my favorites, though it is very busy.
2813 M St NW, Washington, DC? - [phone]

Gerards Place Restaurant? - was a wonderful experience, quiet, romantic, and excellent food.
Ste A, 915 15th St NW, Washington, DC? - [phone]

Of course, if you want to spend the big bucks:
Citronelle was a delight. Food was exquisitely displayed and prepared and service was impeccable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Montmartre -- small, charming, delicious, and only about two blocks from the Eastern Market metro.
.

Another vote for Montmartre. Consistently good and everything the pp above says is true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually do not like Chez Francois.. . .I may be the only one in the DC area, but I find it a bit contrived and the food just ok

I live in GF and by dafault end up there more often that I'd like if there were more options. I'm not terribly impressed. It has gone downhill over the years. And the service is not so hot for how much you end up spending. Sometimes the waiter knows nothing about the menu, very annoying.

HOWEVER, I LOVE sitting out in the garden patio in the summertime. The ambiance is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:La Chaumiere?, has always been one of my favorites, though it is very busy.
2813 M St NW, Washington, DC? - [phone]

Gerards Place Restaurant? - was a wonderful experience, quiet, romantic, and excellent food.
Ste A, 915 15th St NW, Washington, DC? - [phone]

Of course, if you want to spend the big bucks:
Citronelle was a delight. Food was exquisitely displayed and prepared and service was impeccable.

I don't like it, both times I've been, I feel like I'm at a salt fest.

[Anonymous]

Bistrot Lepic is excellent. We eat there once every two weeks and have never been disappointed. The food is stellar and the service is the best I have experienced in DC.

Bistro Bis - we had brunch there a few times and it was pretty good.

Les Halles - I think Anthony Bourdain shouldn't be allowed to call himself a TV chef if this is what he passes off as good food. He needs to eat at one of his restraunts every now and then. There are much better choices in DC.

We are due to try Le Mistral this weekend and I will post afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:La Chaumiere?, has always been one of my favorites, though it is very busy.
2813 M St NW, Washington, DC? - [phone]

Gerards Place Restaurant? - was a wonderful experience, quiet, romantic, and excellent food.
Ste A, 915 15th St NW, Washington, DC? - [phone]

Of course, if you want to spend the big bucks:
Citronelle was a delight. Food was exquisitely displayed and prepared and service was impeccable.

I don't like it, both times I've been, I feel like I'm at a salt fest.

I had the worst experience at Citronelle. First off, it's pompus. The chairs are actually too low to the floor for some bizzare reason. My entree was like eating a mouthful of salt. The food is generally overly complicated and the service was awful.

[Anonymous]

Les Halles is a chain that has profited from Anthony Bourdain's celebrity. It's fine but not really all that good. More for tourists, I think.

[Anonymous]

Didn't Gerard's Place close?

Anyway, we had a great meal a few years ago at Bistro D'oc
http://www.bistrodoc.com/home.html

OP - what type of atmosphere are you looking for? Loud and brassy? Quiet and intimate?

[Anonymous]

There is a new place in the Palisades, Et Voila, off of MacArthur. Ok, so a friend of ours owns it, so it is more of a scratch to his back. It is French/Belgian. Supposed to be nice. We have not been on account of the kids, but they in fact do have a limited kids' menu.