French Restaurants in Washington, DC

“Restaurant Review: Le Sel French Bistro Le Sel French Bistro near Logan Circle delivers a delightful mix of classic French cuisine with modern flair in a cozy, chic setting. The Escargots were indulgent, with garlic Pernod butter enhancing their tender richness, while the Onion Soup transported me to Paris with its flavorful broth and golden, cheesy crust. The Steak au Poivre & Frites was a standout, perfectly cooked with bold black pepper jus, creamy Béarnaise, and crispy frites. Each dish balances tradition and creativity, making for a memorable dining experience. For an authentic taste of France in DC, Le Sel is a must-visit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #LeSelFrenchBistro #FrenchCuisine #LoganCircleEats #DCFoodies #FineDining #FoodieFavorites“

“Nous avons passé une superbe soirée au Convivial. Merci à toute l’équipe et tout particulièrement au jeune serveur très gentil fan de dimitri Payet ainsi et surtout au chef toulonnais qui a régalé nos papilles en côtoyant l’excellence avec son poisson au pistou et les côtes d’agneau. Une petite famille du sud de la France, allez l’OM et le RC Toulon 😉.“

“my 11 yo daughter went here for a business trip with her grandma and they went here for brunch. she ordered a brunch burger and said it was the best burger of her life. it was so good that she had to call them all the way from IL to ask how they made it!!“

“Good and service was exemplary“

“Bistro Cacao was an outstanding choice to cater lunch for a very important business meeting. The food was AMAZING, from appetizers, salad, main course and dessert! Highly recommend them for your next event, meeting or just a fine place to dine!! Great Service, Great Food, Great Presentation!“

“The elderly lady at the restaurant reception should be more friendly and welcoming to guests. She is the first person we encounter in the morning before breakfast, and unfortunately, her attitude feels more like she’s working at the White House than in a hospitality setting. I hope she can be more warm and smiling like the rest of the staff at the restaurant.“

“Truly fantastic food and a first rate professional staff. Always a pleasure to dine at La Bise. Amazing service, very interesting and upscale interior, and a great meal, what else could you ask for?“

“Superlative tasting menu, top notch wine parings, outstanding service, from a staff that outnumbers the clientele, what’s not to like? Yes it’s small, so leave the soccer team meetup for the pizza place. For Lutece, bring your favorite couple or 1 or 2 very special friends“

“Overall lackluster experience. There are better French-style restaurants in DC. Cute place, great location, food was just ok. We've had better similar dishes elsewhere locally. Wait staff was attentive but seemed disinterested. Might try brunch one day. Not sure we'd return for dinner.“

“Best French restaurant in DC. The prix fixe menu is innovative, delicious, copious, and fairly priced. We went to celebrate a birthday and the chef really made it special. The attention to detail is wonderful and the food is majestic. Best bouillabaisse outside Marseille. 10/10 recommend and will be back, merci!“

“This place is amazing! What a great local gem to find! All their wine options are delicious, and they added a happy hour menu with small bites that are perfect. My only critique is that they don’t have any gluten free substitution options.“

“This place was wonderful. The food was just the right portion for trying a little bit of everything paired with a couple of glasses of very reasonably priced wines.“

“Lovely ambiance! We sat at the bar and had the three course menu. I was gluten free and the staff was so great about accommodating me! The food was very tasty with great flavors and texture. I really enjoyed all the courses. The beef was so tender and flavorful. I thoroughly enjoyed the dessert as well. The only downside was that we had been walking all day through the city and my phone had died. I was hoping they might be able to let me charge my phone briefly so we could get home but they were unable to do allow that.“

“Great food in a great location in Georgetown. Parking right down the street.“

“Everything about our experience was amazing—from the food to the service. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and every dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. What truly made the night special was the hospitality. Meti, the manager, was incredible—she went above and beyond to make sure we felt welcome and cared for. We'll definitely be coming back!“

“Love the foods and place . All employee are very good .“

“The tagine was excellent. Central has a fantastic wine list, and it so pleasant to sit outside on Pennsylvania Avenue and people watch.“

“For years, I was an absolute fan of Le Diplomate. It reminded me of the charm of old Europe—Paris, Vienna—something I missed after moving to the U.S. The atmosphere was always inviting, the restaurant beautiful, and the food consistently good. As a bread lover, I was particularly fond of their bread basket. I often asked for a second round because I could never get enough of this delicious treat, made in countless ways over thousands of years.
A couple of weeks ago, my friends recommended a new French restaurant, Amélie. We decided to try it one evening, and what a treat it was! While the ambiance isn’t as old-world European as Le Diplomate, the modern vibe was refreshing. The open kitchen, with the crew moving around preparing dishes, added an exciting touch. But what I truly must highlight here is the food. Every single dish was bursting with flavor, expertly prepared, and utterly mouthwatering.
I was genuinely surprised to find that the food at Amélie surpassed even Le Diplomate and Pastis DC, which I had visited just a few weeks earlier. All four of us—who had visited both Le Diplomate and Pastis together—agreed that Amélie was the winner! The two desserts we shared were also fantastic, and the receipt presented to us in an old French book (ours was a classic Diderot) was a charming and thoughtful detail.
Amélie is now absolutely my go-to spot for exceptional French food, fantastic service, and a fun, lively atmosphere.“

“Dinner at Pastis was good, but I won’t try the duck confit again. This is was my second visit to Pastis. The onion soup and calamari were very good. My friend’s steak frites were excellent. The crème brûlée was great. But I feel sorry for the poor duck that gave up its life for the duck confit I was served. Duck confit if supposed to be rich in flavor with meat that falls off the bone at the slightest touch. This was a tough duck leg that resisted most of my efforts to cut off a few bites of meat. It was not good. Oh, well.“

“Absolutely amazing food by a talented chef“

“A cozy and intimate space with warm lighting and vintage decor. The service and staff go beyond and above for you to spend a lovely time. Unfortunately the food is not up to the standards of the place. The steak was hard to cut and chew. The frites where plain and a little bit saggy. Even the filet mignon was hard.

Make sure to have a reservation. Another option is the bar, first come first serve.“

“Today was my 1st time eating here and I came with my father for Fathers Day. My father had eaten here several times and wanted me to try it. I liked Le Chat Noir and would come back again. Reasonably priced for higher quality French food.“

“Best mushroom soup ever with all the good wines!“

“Catching up with old friends and it was a wonderful setting. Comfy booth, not too loud, we could really talk. Food was delicious. The only thing that was a little off putting was that they were out of things on the wine list-one white was completely not available and second choice only had one bottle left. At least our server was honest with us. This was a Thursday night. Hopefully, a shipment was arriving the next day.“

“Beautiful place, excellent food!“

“We had a great lunch! Highly recommended! 😋😋😋“

“Good food, perfect portions, and good cocktails!“

“Trope fantastique. Always prepared perfectly“

“Washington rang me up and was so kind and you can tell he loves taking care of guests at Maman. The vanilla cloud cookie was so yummy along with Oprah’s fave - kitchen sink cookie. Such a treat if you’re looking for a mid-day lunch, coffee or a snack. They also have craft cocktails and a happy hour. Definitely check them out!“

“Macarons are what they are known fa!“

“I ordered 3 items, only the French Opera Cake tasted good. The cake had a rich chocolate flavor, not too sweet, and a firm texture. I personally recommend it.
The Tuna Steak Tartare tasted horrible, I like raw tuna and salmon. But under a few pieces of tuna was a pile of tasteless avocado, they were tasteless and inedible. The only flavor was probably a little bit lemon juice, and I wouldn’t have known how to eat it without the bread.
That cup of Americano was the worst coffee I had in maybe half year. It was just like water and had no aroma.“

“We loved this place—good food & drinks, nice atmosphere, and friendly, attentive staff. Highly recommended!“

“Food was very good and wonderful servers.“

“Wonderful menu and amazing staff. This restaurant has never disappointed. Love the foie gras and the salmon stuffed with lentils, and the frites.“

“This was the second visit, and the food was impeccable as the last time. I will be making this a must everytime that I visit DC. The service was just as remarkable as the meal. I personally give it 6 stars out of 5!😁“

“Love the foods and place . All employee are very good .“

“Amazing place and staff is very helpful“

“A cute and cozy bistro with delicious food and fabulous service!“

“A friend treated me to birthday dinner at Rosemary’s. Neither of us had been before and we were so happy to discover it. Start to finish every morsel was fresh, tasty and beautifully presented. We will be back!“

“Nice wine pair with mussels. Reasonable pricing.“

“The food, ambiance and service were spectacular. I can’t say enough good things about this place!!!“

“Great service and amazing food“

“DELICIOUS lunch at Et Voila DC!! The salads were amazing and the beer was cold and wonderful! It was my first time at the restaurant & I will definitely return. Highly Recommend!! 🎉🥗🍻❤️🍻🥗🎉“

“Excellent lunch. French onion soup to die for.“

“Great restaurant and service.“

“Really love their pastry and croissant. Cappuccinos are wonderfully made each morning. Frassier white chocolate cake is my favorite. Also tried the new grilled cheese for brunch - excellent.“

“a right Spot I thought it was closed but it isn't it Memorial Day so you guys got the best burgers and pizza I ever taste it I appreciate that food“

“Food was wonderful and my server was ok. I was excited to try this restaurant and wanted to experience as many flavors as possible. I was a bit disappointed that my server couldn't explain the menu, I ended up having to use Google since she left me mid order to serve drinks. The decorations were pretty and the music wasn't too loud. The water had a weird taste and smell, which for an upscale restaurant, you would think they'd have filtered water for their guests.“