Le DeSales

1725 Desales St NW, Washington
(202) 450-3998

Recent Reviews

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Sarah Grand

My friend and I went in desperately seeking a bathroom after 9:00 pm one night. My friend is celiac and had been served gluten at another restaurant. The staff were so kind and immediately allowed her in, and invited me to sit inside while I waited for her. Absolutely wonderful employees.

Service: 5

Thomas Fahy

Always a great meal and fun place

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 3

Nedhal Al-kazahy

great brunch selection!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Raj Haribhakti

Went for dinner. All around, a great experience. Service was exceptional. Strong Strong recommendation.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Julianne

We very much enjoyed our dinner. What was unexpected? Is that it was about 90% women, and that's not a problem just an observation. Perhaps that's Friday night in the district.

Christina Motilall

Came here for Happy Hour and we are glad we did. Not the cheapest but a good value nonetheless. The sushi was tasty and we really liked the salmon sliders. HH wine was nice and the bartender was very attentive. Will make sure to be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Jada

Took my friend here for their first time! The food was great. The kobe beef and salmon cilantro rolls tasted so fresh and had great flavor. The Caesar is classic and not overdressed. I tried a new dish this time around—the grilled shrimp gnocchi. It was good, the sauce was the highlight and the shrimp was cooked well. We shared a bottle of Chardonnay that tasted quite nice. The chocolate tart was a great finisher to dinner. Our server was great and attentive. Always enjoy dining here! I do wish the music fit the vibe of the restaurant a bit better.

Mesi

Great dinner for Restaurant Week. The bisque was the best I have ever had - not over salted, tender shrimp and the dried fruit was an excellent addition. The crudo was great also. The pink lady cocktail well balanced. The breaded flounder was not as exciting and the potatoes had a bland taste. Apple Tarte was delish.

Ankhbayar Sukhmaa

Absolutely loved the Salmon Bento Box! The salmon was perfectly cooked—tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The sushi was fresh and well-balanced, making the meal feel both refined and satisfying. To top it off, the crème brûlée was silky smooth with a perfectly caramelized crust. A wonderful fusion of French elegance and Japanese precision. Highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Bob Randall

Wow, wandered into this restaurant for brunch and it is fantastic! The food was amazing and just what we were looking for.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Robert

Great time. Good Food (like how the caesar salad is done.) Great Service. wonderful ambience

Christian Ceol

TLDR: deceptive pricing, poor service, good dessert, would not recommend

I had a reservation on New Year’s Eve at 6 PM - my dining companion and I chose the NYE menu and we were severely disappointed in our experience. Unfortunately, for the cost we paid, the service and food did not meet our standards, we would also come to find out there was a misunderstanding of how the T-bone steak would be charged despite asking multiple times. As we had to ask for clarification multiple times, it was evident that the staff was ill informed and unprepared regarding the NYE menu logistics despite there being more staff than patrons.

The menu was $75 for a starter, an entrée, a champagne toast, and a dessert. The T-bone steak read, “32oz T-bone, share for 2, +$15). We asked if the $15 would be added to both. Our waiter asked another staff member and came back with an inconclusive answer. We then asked if that meant both are charged $15 and only receive the T-bone, or are able to get the T-bone and the other person order another entrée. Our waiter again left then came back with a confusing answer. My dining companion and I both had different understandings after the multiple explanations. We wouldn’t find out the restaurant’s interpretation until the bill came.

The service was lackluster, the T-bone steak came out rare (ordered med rare) and significantly under seasoned. We also had to ask for the included champagne toast as these were not delivered. It was disappointing to find out post-bill how we would be charged for ordering the T-bone steak after our experience. The bill payment machine also has 18%, 20%, and 22% tips as prepaid options. Although a custom tip can be input, this felt like a slap in the face after our bad experience. It felt like we were being fleeced of money after getting a surprise charge on our bill, not to mention having to ask to be provided drinks we paid for. We will however say the sushi (fish & chips roll) and cream brûlée were excellent.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 1

Tanner Martinez

Great place. We went for brunch. Food, drinks, and service were excellent!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Tiffany

Excellent food & attentive service. We enjoyed the recommendations made by our server, Louis. The beef sushi roll was very different and amazing... shrimp gnocchi was good but not special & the whole bronzino was excellent.

Kim

Le DeSales is a fantastic spot for a polished, classic dining experience without feeling too formal. The food is thoughtfully prepared — steaks are cooked perfectly, seafood dishes are fresh and flavorful, and the sides complement everything nicely. The atmosphere is upscale but still comfortable, and the service is professional, attentive, and friendly. It’s a reliable choice for a business dinner, date night, or just a quality meal out, and I’d happily return.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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