Stopped here after a day wandering through Georgetown. I wish I could remember everyone’s names. The hostess was great as were the bartenders. Lovely wine selection, and Mario in particular was fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Paul
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!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bouillabaisse
Shi G
We had the lobster prix fixe menu and wow, it was mostly inedible. The stew was overloaded with saffron unnecessarily and it was all we could taste. The lobster in the salad seemed undercooked and made us nauseous. The lobster thermidor looked like a mess you’d find in a toddler’s pants and tasted like chicken salad. It was the furthest thing from a clean dish (as they presented when advertising it) and the green stuff that came with the turmeric turned potatoes was inedible.
The dessert was the only good thing, but honestly, how ridiculous would it be for a restaurant like this to mess up a simple crème brûlée that can be prepared ahead of time.
A server that was not waiting on us came by to ask us how the food was, and I told him honestly that it wasn’t good and I asked him if he had tried the dishes before, out of genuine curiosity. He immediately got a supervisor of sorts, and I said no, I’m simply asking you but I don’t want any action (I was not trying to deal with the hassle of getting stuff off the bill or getting something different). The supervisor-looking joker said “did he ask you how the food was?” And I said yes, and he looked at the server as if he was saying “well that’s why you don’t ask the customer if they are enjoying the food” - it was so bizarre. Then, he asked me what was wrong with the food, and I said, it’s not good but I’m giving feedback and don’t want action. And before I could even say anything else, he abruptly cut me off and said ok and rushed the server to the side and scolded him for like ten minutes, it seemed.
It was all bizarre and completely unprofessional. I have been here twice now and I will not be coming here again. It is wild that an establishment with this kind of reputation thinks it can treat customers this way and serve trash food. It’s beyond me.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Caroline Lott
We had an incredible birthday celebration at L’Avant-Garde last night. The food was exceptional, and the service was flawless—special thanks to Samantha for recommending the perfect wine pairings. It was an unforgettable experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicole P
Unbelievable experience here last night. I am a self-admitted NYC snob and am not a fan of DC. This place blew me away. We walked into their cocktail bar, L'annexe, so try to get some drinks. The host asked if we had a reservation, which we did not, and he did his best to accommodate us, but there was no room. Totally understandable. We went to leave and he said, "Do you want to go to the bar at our restaurant next door?" We said, sure. He personally walked us over and told the staff to take special care of this "lovely couple." Within 2 minutes of sitting down, a fancy duck dish was set in front of us. "Mistake from the kitchen," the smiling waiter said. "Enjoy."
It just got better from there. I didn't like the first cocktail and asked for another one, saying I knew had to pay for the first one, no worries, but I would like something else. No questions asked- they removed it from the bill and got me a new one right there. We were later offered a free glass of wine, and the bartenders were amazingly nice and attentive. In a city where I find the service is frequently mediocre, this is absolutely the best service I have ever received.
Later, we got to have a detailed conversation with the (female! yay!) sommelier. She was engaging, direct, and friendly. After answering my questions, she arranged for a wine tasting for my husband and I- just impromptu, even thought it was almost closing time. Just absolutely fantastic night. I'm raving about this place to everyone, and we can't wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast
Mathhew Ma
The onion soup was too sweet but otherwise the food we ordered was pretty on point.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Patrick Bucaria
Really great dinner! The ribeye for two was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Azmar Middleton
Went here for my two year anniversary and it was such a great experience. The staff is so friendly and welcoming and the food is out of this world 10/10!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arnold
Lovely French restaurant in Georgetown with a modern and elevated ambiance. Gives you that Parisan vibe. Let's get to the food, onion soup was different, very sweet, not savery like others, it was a bit overly sweet for me and had a bit much cheese compared to the soup. Fois grois was okay, typical fois grois. Had the Branzino for entree, fish could have been more moist and it was also covered with a lot of sauce that took away from the flavor of the fish plus the skin was slightly soggy instead of crispy. The lamb skewer was my favorite, great flavors, only thing it was served with cold sides (on purpose) and it didn't really pair well. Getting to desserts, tried the Peach and the Pavlova. Big portions for both, can definitely split one with another person. They were good but it had way too much whipped cream incorporated in the dessert, but at the same time it was the best whipped cream I've had so there's that. Overall it's a nice place I'd consider going back to for the vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Large Raspberry Macaron with Vanilla
David Fielding
Savory is the word at this classic French restaurant. Service was very attentive. The pace was certainly not rushed, but be sure to allot adequate time for dinner as it may be a slow pace for the impatient.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Bouillabaisse, Large Raspberry Macaron with Vanilla
Some restaurants are worth the price, this sadly was not one of them. Gorgeous modern decor and subdued ambience could not offset the well intentioned but inconsistent menu and service.
We had the following items:
Artichokes Montesquieu (seared foie gras, summer truffle) - excellent start to the meal, presented as a salad, with each unique ingredient complementing one another well.
Maryland Crab Tartare (creamy fresh avocado with fresh basil, chives, and cucumber gazpacho) - another strong starter dish, extremely well fresh with generous slices of fresh avocado beautifully presented against a bed of delicate crab tartar. Solid flavor.
La Soupe à l’Onion - this is where it started to go downhill a bit. The bourbon added to enhance this dish did not have the desired effect. We found the soup to be overly sweet, lacking the savory punch that marks a great French onion soup. Disappointment for sure, would not recommend this item.
Le Foie Gras (cooked in terrine with cognac, griottines cherries, toasted brioche) - this was also underwhelming. These different ingredients did not come together well at all, and the terine itself fell a bit flat in terms of flavor.
Duck Breast (seared magret, red cabbage, duck demi-glace with cloves, caramelized gala apples) - I enjoyed the duck breast itself a bit more than my friend, they were very tender rare cuts, but agreed it could have a bit more flavor. The side items were unremarkable.
Le Filet Mignon Rossini (beef fillet center cut, foie gras and summer truffle, herbs smashed potatoes) - excellent cut of filet mignon, seared to near perfection. The accompanying sauce enhanced the flavor quite well. Again, the side items were unremarkable.
Authentic Crème Brûlée - we shared this for dessert, and as far as creme brulee's go, it was solid but not particularly memorable. The custard could have been both richer and sweeter.
Their custom cocktail menu has some creative items. The one is sampled was the Ask the Colonel (Rye, Calvados, green Chartreuse, lime oil, bay leaf, mint, foam, Angostura bitters) and it was a refreshing, if slightly sweet summer cocktail.
Our server was very good overall, friendly, knowledgeable and fairly attentive. There were just some lapses with providing items like shared plates and a simple condiment that disrupted the pacing of the meal, even though we had telegraphed ahead that we planned to share the items.
Ultimately, I would not recommend L'Avant-Garde from a price to value perspective, though it was hardly a negative experience, solidly positive but just not positive enough.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Dan Golob
Incredibly pricey, but incredibly tasty
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Victor Perea
This is a rare find, particularly for Georgetown. A delicate French flavor from the kitchen but internationally delicious. Far, far above the Georgetown touristy fare and flavors. The lunch menu is a fabulous option. No cheap brunch; real lunch and food. The menu changes every so often.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rob Young
Fantastic food, service, and hospitality! I took my girlfriend there to propose. The atmosphere was perfect. Super classy and perfect venue for the proposal. Bobby the service director was all in and made things very special. Lila our server was professional and kind. The owner even came out to introduce himself and congratulate us. Wonderful experience all the way around. Highly recommend L’Avant-garde for any special occasion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bouillabaisse
Joachim Roski
I can’t think of another place in DC where the lunch experience is as delicate, balanced, and sophisticated as at L’Avant Garde. We have been extremely impressed by the quality of ingredients, the meticulous attention to taste, food texture, and creative, food-enhancing and creative cocktails. This is a very elevated experience. A marvelous combination of French techniques in food preparation combined with very high quality American ingredients and cocktails. The crab tartare! I mean … We LOVE it!!
Stopped here after a day wandering through Georgetown. I wish I could remember everyone’s names. The hostess was great as were the bartenders. Lovely wine selection, and Mario in particular was fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
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!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bouillabaisse
We had the lobster prix fixe menu and wow, it was mostly inedible. The stew was overloaded with saffron unnecessarily and it was all we could taste. The lobster in the salad seemed undercooked and made us nauseous. The lobster thermidor looked like a mess you’d find in a toddler’s pants and tasted like chicken salad. It was the furthest thing from a clean dish (as they presented when advertising it) and the green stuff that came with the turmeric turned potatoes was inedible.
The dessert was the only good thing, but honestly, how ridiculous would it be for a restaurant like this to mess up a simple crème brûlée that can be prepared ahead of time.
A server that was not waiting on us came by to ask us how the food was, and I told him honestly that it wasn’t good and I asked him if he had tried the dishes before, out of genuine curiosity. He immediately got a supervisor of sorts, and I said no, I’m simply asking you but I don’t want any action (I was not trying to deal with the hassle of getting stuff off the bill or getting something different). The supervisor-looking joker said “did he ask you how the food was?” And I said yes, and he looked at the server as if he was saying “well that’s why you don’t ask the customer if they are enjoying the food” - it was so bizarre. Then, he asked me what was wrong with the food, and I said, it’s not good but I’m giving feedback and don’t want action. And before I could even say anything else, he abruptly cut me off and said ok and rushed the server to the side and scolded him for like ten minutes, it seemed.
It was all bizarre and completely unprofessional. I have been here twice now and I will not be coming here again. It is wild that an establishment with this kind of reputation thinks it can treat customers this way and serve trash food. It’s beyond me.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
We had an incredible birthday celebration at L’Avant-Garde last night. The food was exceptional, and the service was flawless—special thanks to Samantha for recommending the perfect wine pairings. It was an unforgettable experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unbelievable experience here last night. I am a self-admitted NYC snob and am not a fan of DC. This place blew me away.
We walked into their cocktail bar, L'annexe, so try to get some drinks. The host asked if we had a reservation, which we did not, and he did his best to accommodate us, but there was no room. Totally understandable. We went to leave and he said, "Do you want to go to the bar at our restaurant next door?" We said, sure. He personally walked us over and told the staff to take special care of this "lovely couple." Within 2 minutes of sitting down, a fancy duck dish was set in front of us. "Mistake from the kitchen," the smiling waiter said. "Enjoy."
It just got better from there. I didn't like the first cocktail and asked for another one, saying I knew had to pay for the first one, no worries, but I would like something else. No questions asked- they removed it from the bill and got me a new one right there. We were later offered a free glass of wine, and the bartenders were amazingly nice and attentive. In a city where I find the service is frequently mediocre, this is absolutely the best service I have ever received.
Later, we got to have a detailed conversation with the (female! yay!) sommelier. She was engaging, direct, and friendly. After answering my questions, she arranged for a wine tasting for my husband and I- just impromptu, even thought it was almost closing time. Just absolutely fantastic night. I'm raving about this place to everyone, and we can't wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast
The onion soup was too sweet but otherwise the food we ordered was pretty on point.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Really great dinner! The ribeye for two was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went here for my two year anniversary and it was such a great experience. The staff is so friendly and welcoming and the food is out of this world 10/10!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lovely French restaurant in Georgetown with a modern and elevated ambiance. Gives you that Parisan vibe. Let's get to the food, onion soup was different, very sweet, not savery like others, it was a bit overly sweet for me and had a bit much cheese compared to the soup. Fois grois was okay, typical fois grois. Had the Branzino for entree, fish could have been more moist and it was also covered with a lot of sauce that took away from the flavor of the fish plus the skin was slightly soggy instead of crispy.
The lamb skewer was my favorite, great flavors, only thing it was served with cold sides (on purpose) and it didn't really pair well. Getting to desserts, tried the Peach and the Pavlova. Big portions for both, can definitely split one with another person. They were good but it had way too much whipped cream incorporated in the dessert, but at the same time it was the best whipped cream I've had so there's that. Overall it's a nice place I'd consider going back to for the vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Large Raspberry Macaron with Vanilla
Savory is the word at this classic French restaurant. Service was very attentive. The pace was certainly not rushed, but be sure to allot adequate time for dinner as it may be a slow pace for the impatient.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Bouillabaisse, Large Raspberry Macaron with Vanilla
Restaurantji Recommends
Some restaurants are worth the price, this sadly was not one of them. Gorgeous modern decor and subdued ambience could not offset the well intentioned but inconsistent menu and service.
We had the following items:
Artichokes Montesquieu (seared foie gras, summer truffle) - excellent start to the meal, presented as a salad, with each unique ingredient complementing one another well.
Maryland Crab Tartare (creamy fresh avocado with fresh basil, chives, and cucumber gazpacho) - another strong starter dish, extremely well fresh with generous slices of fresh avocado beautifully presented against a bed of delicate crab tartar. Solid flavor.
La Soupe à l’Onion - this is where it started to go downhill a bit. The bourbon added to enhance this dish did not have the desired effect. We found the soup to be overly sweet, lacking the savory punch that marks a great French onion soup. Disappointment for sure, would not recommend this item.
Le Foie Gras (cooked in terrine with cognac, griottines cherries, toasted brioche) - this was also underwhelming. These different ingredients did not come together well at all, and the terine itself fell a bit flat in terms of flavor.
Duck Breast (seared magret, red cabbage, duck demi-glace with cloves, caramelized gala apples) - I enjoyed the duck breast itself a bit more than my friend, they were very tender rare cuts, but agreed it could have a bit more flavor. The side items were unremarkable.
Le Filet Mignon Rossini (beef fillet center cut, foie gras and summer truffle, herbs smashed potatoes) - excellent cut of filet mignon, seared to near perfection. The accompanying sauce enhanced the flavor quite well. Again, the side items were unremarkable.
Authentic Crème Brûlée - we shared this for dessert, and as far as creme brulee's go, it was solid but not particularly memorable. The custard could have been both richer and sweeter.
Their custom cocktail menu has some creative items. The one is sampled was the Ask the Colonel (Rye, Calvados, green Chartreuse, lime oil, bay leaf, mint, foam, Angostura bitters) and it was a refreshing, if slightly sweet summer cocktail.
Our server was very good overall, friendly, knowledgeable and fairly attentive. There were just some lapses with providing items like shared plates and a simple condiment that disrupted the pacing of the meal, even though we had telegraphed ahead that we planned to share the items.
Ultimately, I would not recommend L'Avant-Garde from a price to value perspective, though it was hardly a negative experience, solidly positive but just not positive enough.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Incredibly pricey, but incredibly tasty
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is a rare find, particularly for Georgetown. A delicate French flavor from the kitchen but internationally delicious. Far, far above the Georgetown touristy fare and flavors. The lunch menu is a fabulous option. No cheap brunch; real lunch and food. The menu changes every so often.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic food, service, and hospitality! I took my girlfriend there to propose. The atmosphere was perfect. Super classy and perfect venue for the proposal. Bobby the service director was all in and made things very special. Lila our server was professional and kind. The owner even came out to introduce himself and congratulate us. Wonderful experience all the way around. Highly recommend L’Avant-garde for any special occasion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bouillabaisse
I can’t think of another place in DC where the lunch experience is as delicate, balanced, and sophisticated as at L’Avant Garde. We have been extremely impressed by the quality of ingredients, the meticulous attention to taste, food texture, and creative, food-enhancing and creative cocktails. This is a very elevated experience. A marvelous combination of French techniques in food preparation combined with very high quality American ingredients and cocktails. The crab tartare! I mean … We LOVE it!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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