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Fraiche DC was AMAZING! The service, the vibe, the music and the FOOD! Everything was on point. We started with the oxtail meatballs and they were so good we literally ordered a second round! I had the Golden Noodles with salmon and shrimp and Brussel sprouts, and my husband had the Jalapeño Jam Burger and oysters. And because clearly we weren't ready for it to end, we took home the mac & cheese and Old Bay wings for my daughter to experience which she also gave a thumbs up! Y'all... it was ALL amazing! Great food, great atmosphere, and an overall great experience. We can't wait to go back! Highly recommend!
Me and my family went here for a night out and to celebrate my cousin's business. The atmosphere is very nice, a great spot to go to when you want to enjoy a vibe. My cocktail was on point and out of everything that we tried, we thoroughly enjoyed the devil eggs and the charbroiled oysters. For my entrée, I had the garlic noodles with crab and they were delicious. I will say this establishment is rather pricey, but it's definitely something you can go and try. The customer service, what's subpar, but overall we had a good time
I was invited to check out their dinner menu and I really enjoyed the entire experience. A girlfriend and I went in on a Tuesday and the bar and lounge was buzzing. D&K was doing karaoke. The space is beautiful with black Art pieces on the wall for purchase. Chef JR was present and greeted us and gave us history on the restaurant which we appreciated. For drinks, we ordered Dusse sidecar, Blueberrymint margarita, and Lemon spritz. The side car was definitely my favorite! For Appetizers, we ordered Mambo Royal wings, Charbroiled oysters, and Sticky ribs. The ribs were mouth watering. For Entrees, we enjoyed the golden gate noodles with Lamb chops, Salmon, and the Coco Curry (vegetarian). The lamb was my favorite. For dessert, we enjoyed Butterscotch Bread pudding . Our Server was Bagner and he and the Manager Riggs was great. Parking is around the corner near giant . The vibes are great although the crowd looked a little younger. I definitely want to try the red snapper next and go to brunch.
Went back to Fraîche and had a MUCH better experience than my first visit! This time around, everything hit. The French onion soup wasn't overly salty like last time and was actually really filling. Loved that. My friend loved the mussels and the vegan entrée, and the fried snapper is definitely a MUST. The oxtail meatballs were also such a creative addition to the menu and something a little different. The drinks HIT, but dessert might honestly be one of the best parts. The churros and bread pudding were both so good and the perfect way to end the meal. Definitely glad I gave Fraîche another visit because this experience was a complete turnaround!
My husband and I have been following Chef Matt for yearsssss and jumped on the opportunity to try his restaurant while in town. I booked a reservation for 9pm on a Saturday night and while busy, it was not packed. There was room at the bar and other tables if someone were to try to do a walk in though. We were seated very quickly and greeted by our server. She was very lively and seemed happy to be there which is a great quality and made us comfortable right away. Drinks: Red Sparrow & Fraîche Old Fash. The red sparrow was good and simple. Reminded me of a boozy strawberry lemonade. The old fashioned was eh. Nothing worth ordering again. Appetizers: Deviled Eggs & Sticky Ribs. The sticky ribs were really saucy and had a tangy flavor which was really good. My only complaint was that the pieces were not meaty enough. The deviled eggs were also really good and while the yolk was not heavy in flavor, the caviar, chicken, and hot honey complimented it perfectly. Main Course: French Quarter Risotto & Mambo Fried Snapper. These stole the show. I'll be thinking about that snapper forever. Fried perfectly, not fishy, seasoned great. I love that I didn't have to take it off the fish myself. Having it fried in bite sized pieces made it easier to enjoy. The Risotto was also perfection. Strong Cajun flavors that was complimented by the salmon. Nothing was overpowering and it was a struggle not being able to finish the whole thing. I'm beyond happy that the restaurant lived up to our expectations and exceeded them. We had been making Chef Matt's recipes from YouTube for years and love that his own versions were consistent with how he teaches us to make his dishes at home. Fraiche is a must stop for us next time we're back in the DMV.
My friend & I came here to enjoy the oysters & wings Happy Hour on a Tuesday a couple of weeks ago. It was both our first time there. The host(ess) was missing the majority of time and we were finally seated after a really long wait (maybe they were short staffed that night who knows). I guess we did not realize it was karaoke night that night. The music was so loud, we literally had to lean in too close or stand by each other to hear our own conversations at the table. The wait staff was so disorganized & all over the place. We never received water nor silverware for at least 20 minutes of being seated before I decided to walk to the bar & get it all myself. I should not have to do that. We also had to keep flagging down the waiter to take our orders (along with other people in our part/ section of the restaurant). Apparently, the wings ran out two hours into the Happy Hour & my friend was annoyed because that's what she really wanted. She ended up just ordering the truffle fries & she liked it. The oysters were pretty typical. They had no oyster forks & the ice was mostly melted by time I received it. Nothing to write home about. It was really hard for us to enjoy ourselves because the music & singing was entirely too loud, similar to a night club. This is coming from someone who's kinda hard of hearing. I dont know how long Fraîche has been around, but they have A LOT of things to work on such as professionalism, staff communication, timeliness, organization skills, and customer service. They have potential but have blinders on. The prices absolutely do NOT match the ambiance of the establishment. High end, upscale prices in a place that looks partly like a mix of a dive bar, club, & regular dine-in restaurant does not add up. Do you want fine dining or do you want karaoke nights in a club? I am always weary of chefs who start restaurants from social media fame & the influencers who do their reviews without telling the whole story to potential customers. I am unsure if I would return here on my own. It did not leave a good first impression on me.
My Wife and I went here for date night based on a recommendation from our Daughter, and when I tell you it exceeded all expectations, I mean it! Out of three suggestions she gave us, I chose Fraiche because the Creole soul/fusion vibe sounded so interesting. The crazy part is, I've actually been following both of the owners, Chef Matt Price (Mr. Make It Happen) and Chef J.R. Robinson, on social media for a long time! I love their work but had no clue this was their restaurant until we got there. First, a quick tip on parking: we parked in the Tivoli Square parking garage, which is not expensive at all, and it's right by Giant (which we needed to stop by after dinner anyway). When you walk in, the atmosphere is beautiful, and they were playing R&B hits that set the perfect mood for date night. Our waitress was super helpful and brought us the water we wanted right away. To drink, I tried the Honey Bear gin cocktail, very refreshing and lemony. For an appetizer, we got the Sticky Ribs, which have a great Asian fusion style. Oh my God, they were so good! They were flavorful, juicy, and you get four ribs, which is perfect. For dinner, my Wife got the Golden Gate Noodles (the garlic noodles) and added salmon. The red pepper flakes gave it a kick that was a little bit too much heat for her, but it was still so tasty that she fought right through it and loved it. Personally, I thought the heat level on it was perfect! I ordered the special, which was the Grilled Jerk Honey Lamb Chops served with mac and cheese and broccolini. Everything was top-notch. The lamb chops were cooked perfectly, and you get 4 or 5 of them, which is more than enough. The mac and cheese came out in a cast-iron skillet, and "Oh Hell Yes," that cheese pull was ridiculous! It was so flavorful, you can tell they put real seasoning and love into those noodles. The broccolini was cooked perfectly too. Without a doubt, I want to go back and try even more of the menu. These chefs are amazing, wonderful, and top-notch. Anytime someone asks me for a DC recommendation, I'm giving them this spot. 10 out of 10!
First time trying this spot! I came with friends and we had a reservation, so we were seated right away. The atmosphere was nice, but it felt more laid-back than the website had led me to expect. Our waiter was friendly, though service could have been a bit more attentive. We had to remind him a couple of times about things we'd requested, like water and our drinks. To drink, I ordered the Fraîche Spritz, which I'd give a 6/10. For appetizers, I tried the fried oxtail meatballs (7/10) and the charbroiled oysters topped with lobster and crab (4/10). The oysters looked promising, but they were underseasoned for my taste, so I probably wouldn't order them again. For my entrée, I had the gumbo, and it was definitely the highlight of my meal. I'd give it a 7-8/10 and would absolutely come back for it. It's not easy to find good gumbo in the DMV, so that alone makes it worth another visit. We skipped dessert this time. The menu is pretty eclectic, but that makes sense since the restaurant blends Cajun, Caribbean, South American, and French influences. Overall, while a few dishes didn't quite hit the mark for me, I'd be interested in coming back to try more of the menu.
Don't we all love a good happy hour? I know I do :) The ambience of the place was so nice. It had the lights dimmed but not enough that you can't see your food. The music was great and not too loud and if you stay long enough they do karaoke on Tuesdays. The service was amazing! They were so nice and pretty funny when you chat with them. Service was quick and the food was always hot. Now for the important part lol. The sticky ribs fell off the bone yall! It was really tasty and flavorful. TikTok did not lie the garlic noodles were so yummy I had to order some to take home. The old bay wings were cooked and seasoned perfectly I love a great wing! The spritz was sweet and very refreshing. The crab fries were great too; I didn't like the sauce on it and it could use more crab in my opinion but my friend ate it up. The snapper bites were a little bit too salty for me. Overall it was a great vibe and yall should come out!
Hits the fundamentals of an exceptional dinning experience. Great Food, Fun Vibe, and most importantly, Great Service. We weren't able to get a reservation so ended up eating at the bar. And that was best decision of the evening. The bartender, Tony welcomed us and walked us through the history, concept, and menu extremely well. We wanted to order everything by the time he was done walking us through the menu. We ordered Golden Gate Noodles, French Quarter Risotto, Oxtail Meatballs, Mac and Cheese, and the Bread Pudding. And nothing disappointed, every bit was as delicious as described by Tony! The music added to the vibe! But the service was top notch! And Tony did his thing!
Checked this place out for happy hour with my sisters, and when I saw they had garlic noodles, I couldn't wait to get here! Let me start by talking about the service because everyone was absolutely amazing. Starting with the chefs, both were very pleasant, generous, and provided great customer service. I actually know one of the chefs from a previous restaurant I used to frequent all the time, so when I saw him, I already knew the food was going to be delicious! Both chefs took the time to talk to us about the restaurant and share some of their favorite menu items. Of course, I had to give them a special shoutout for those garlic noodles because they were AMAZING! Our server, Taylor, was training with another young lady whose name I unfortunately forgot. She did a great job! I overheard the other server giving Taylor the opportunity to handle certain tasks while she stood nearby, and whenever Taylor needed help, she stepped right in to assist. Both servers made sure we were well taken care of throughout our visit. I also want to highlight the young lady working at the front. She was so sweet and had such a welcoming personality. She was a great face to see when walking in and leaving! I really loved seeing how everyone was working together and how it was truly an "all hands on deck" type of environment. Now, let's get into the food: Garlic Noodles: 10,000/10! Absolutely AMAZING! Fried Snapper Bites: 7.5/10 Mocktail: 5/10 -- A little too sweet for my taste. Chicken: 10/10 -- My sisters really enjoyed them! Lemon Drops: 10/10 -- My sisters said they were nice and strong, just how they like them! I also loved the graffiti and artwork throughout the restaurant. The space was clean, and the bathroom was clean as well, which is always a plus for me. Overall, I'm giving this experience a 9/10. The only reason I'm taking off a point is because I'm honestly getting tired of the automatic 20% service charge being added to checks at so many restaurants. Other than that, I had a great experience and will definitely be coming back!
Absolutely delicious! I loved everything about our experience at Fraîche. I had the Golden Noodles with short rib, and the flavors were incredible--savory, rich, and perfectly balanced. The short rib was so tender it practically melted in my mouth! And don't forget to order the mac and cheese--WOW!! It was seriously amazing! My husband follows the Chef's recipes and makes this at home so it was fun tasting the original! So good! The service was also top-notch, friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. I absolutely loved this place and can't wait to come back! Highly recommend!
Potential vs Availability. Fraîche was a very beautiful restaurant in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. The ambiance is perfect for photos and even viral posts. The food was made with soul. Open Table was very useful for making reservation and time adjustments for accommodations. There is a nice bar area for walk ins and bar side experience which I'll have on my next visit. Unfortunately, the camera didn't fully eat first this opportunity but I did attach the receipt from the visit and will break down the experience. Very Good: The steak dish was right on the freaking money and arguably at $54 a good value, portion, and great quality. The Snapper Bites was my favorite appetizer and honestly I could have just eaten 2-3 orders of it and some cocktails. The crisp Brussels sprouts were good and excellent complimentary selection. The glaze worked well in balancing the bitterness by adding sweetness. Cocktails were Good: Fraîche seafood omelette was quite tasty and made to perfection. I appreciated fresh egg from the shell verses box or premixed eggs. The seafood was premium and finished with a good crème sauce. This isn't a large or overstuff portion so I do recommend having appetizers or consider a second main dish if you have a robust appetite. The peach cobbler pancakes were unique providing combination of flavors that excite the palate. The fresh fruit added more depth to the dish though having it on a side cup will work better for some. The pancakes were on the sweeter side so you may not need syrup. All the rest: The fried chicken devils eggs was a very smart idea. I am not sure if the mixture for the eggs was house made verse outsourced and premade. They were decent; however, the flavor of the egg mixture was lacking the flavor depth and richness. The chicken topper was a completely different story. Seasoned well, fresh, hot, juicy, and tender. The glaze didn't particularly add any flavor and worked more as a garnish and for plating. In short, Fraîche fried chicken on someone else's devil eggs is what it appeared. I didn't try the shrimp and grits so no review points on this review. Items not available and things worth noting: There wasn't any cranberry juice, mint, rosé wine. The over medium egg was well done when it arrived to the table. The Albariño wine wasn't pre-chilled before serving but, was put on ice table-side to address that issue. There was another main dish that wasn't available at that time. Overall, the experience was inconsistent but should not stop you from going there. I for sure will be back because these folks can cook and made a mean cocktail. This visit 3.3 out of 5. I'm looking forward to the next visit.
2 months ago
This place is super cute. Perfect for a night out with friends or a date night. I was there for a girls night and they were very accommodating. My friends were traveling from out of town and DC Traffic shifted all of our events for the weekend. They were able to move my 7pm reservation to 9:45 at the last minute. They also surprised us and sat us early when we arrived by 9:25, that was great and gave us enough time for the full experience. Our server, Olive, was a delight. Olive made sure we got the right drinks for each of our distinct tastes and explained the menu items greatly. She checked in with us a good amount of times without seeming like she was interrupting our girls night. Also, want to note that the music here is 10/10 and the PERFECT volume to allow me to enjoy the vibe and not yell at my friends. Ok, now for the important part: the food! I try deviled eggs every restaurant that has them. These were pretty solid, not the best but good. For apps, tried that and the mussels. The mussels were delicious. The Caesar salad was huge, but we split it. I'd love if they offered a side Caesar option. All of my friends loved their entrees. Only notes were that the lamb chops were pretty fatty and not enough meat. For me, my steak frites were more on the well done side opposed to the medium that I ordered. That was disappointing, but the flavor was there. This is what stopped the 5 star review! The 5 cheese Mac made up for my overcooked steak. I'd come back just for the Mac and cheese alone. The portion sizes were better than I thought they'd be and the Chef really nails the flavor on the dishes. I wish I had room for dessert, but I was stuffed. I'll certainly come back here again. read more
16 days ago
Fraîche is located where the old Creole on 14th used to be, and the inside décor is beautiful. Shoutout to Chris Pyrate for some of the wall designs--they really stood out. I went here on a date, and I loved how each room had its own unique theme. Our waiter (can't remember his name) was personable and made the experience easygoing. For appetizers, we ordered the Cajun mussels. They looked good, but the flavor was lacking. They only tasted right when paired with the andouille sausage in the dish. Personally, I'd pass on those next time. The oxtail meatballs were the star of the night--genius execution and packed with oxtail. Honestly, they deserve their own dish, maybe a Rasta pasta or something featuring that same flavor. The butter lamb chops were another highlight--tender and melt-in-your-mouth good. The oxtail lasagna was okay, but I expected more after tasting the meatballs. I think it would have been a hit if they swapped out the marinara for a rich oxtail gravy-style sauce. The Brussels sprouts were fantastic--crispy and flavorful. For dessert, I tried the bread pudding. As a bread pudding lover, I found it just okay--it was a bit too firm for my taste. Overall, it was a cool experience, especially knowing the owner is Mr. Make It Happen. Some dishes definitely shine, but a few could use a little tweaking. read more
1 year ago
We met for dinner on a Sunday. We were greeted by the staff with lots of energy & they promptly seated us. The food was delicious & plated nicely. Our favorites were the macaroni and cheese, Brussel sprouts, oxtail meatballs, & gumbo. I ordered the deviled eggs & they were extremely small, definitely not regular sized & plated on a large dish which made it hard to desire. The red snapper was good, I just wasn't a fan of the rice & peas. Something to note, if you have Sunday dining & want more time to enjoy the ambiance, come before 7:45, the kitchen and bar close a little before 9. read more
1 year ago
Made a reservation for Sunday brunch. Its a Beautiful space- Appreciate the touch of fresh flowers on tables. Great r&b playlist. Good service- Thank you shantell! And the young lady who kept my water filled. Drinks Bees knees on 14th- 5/5 strong. Gin fwd, but refreshing with a hint of sweet. Punch drunk- 5/5 not too sweet or thick like alot rum punches. Oxtail meatball- 5/5 - no notes. Deviled eggs- 4/5 solid deviled egg. I love simple things done well. The chicken was a little underwhelming though. Shrimp and grits with crab and chicken sausage as the side. 4.5/5- good flavor. Grits good not too thick. Glad the tail was taken off the shrimp, little details like that make for a better dining. Didn't have a strong resemblance of gumbo. Would have love to taste some peppers and onions or even okra. But nonetheless flavor was great. French toast and chicken 5/5. Some of the best French toast I think I've ever had. Its a lot of food even though it's technically 2 full pieces of bread and 3 full wings. The vanilla and caramel add a perfect sweetness so you really don't need syrup. The chicken was fried and Seasoned well. & The berries broke up the heaviness. Overall, Fraiche is a vibe and the food is Delicous. Will definitely return when I visit the area to. read more
Me and some friends went here for brunch and the entire experience was everything. Our waitress hands down was the best. She gave us a little history about the restaurant and described her favorite dishes. We just ordered a lot of different things and shared. It was so worth it. HANDS DOWN, the BEST French toast I've EVER had. My God! I love that it had a crunch to it but soft inside. It was perfect. I'm not a fan of French toast because most times it's too soft. I love a good crunch. The chicken surprisingly was not seasoned enough for my liking. The flavor wasn't there but it was fried perfectly with a good crunch (chef add more seasoning). The oxtail meatballs were delicious. All meat, it did not disappoint. The short rib hash was so savory and delicious (chef, I'm not sure if this is on the dinner menu but I would definitely eat this anytime) Y'all! I LOVE deviled eggs. I don't care what kind you fix I want them and these passed my tastebud test. The cornbread I wasn't a fan of just because it gave me cake vibes. It was too sweet for me but my friends loved it. Overall 5 out of 5. I will be back because I was very satisfied. I believe our waitress name was Ms. OLIVE!! She is the BEST. read more
2 stars is being generous! Let's jump in... Food: Mambo Fried Snapper: 3/5 the whole fish was fried on the plate per the picture, but meat was nuggets. It was good, regular fried fish, definitely not $56 good. I could have gotten fish nuggets at a carry out and been just as satisfied. The amount of fish could serve two, not the amount of rice. Deviled eggs: 3/5 decent sweet deviled eggs. There were 4 drops of caviar that you can't taste. The fried chicken was the size of my finger nail and hard, presumably because so small to fry. NY Strip: 1/5 Walmart has a better quality cut of steak than this, I promise you!! The truffle fries had lots of truffle which were good. Salmon Risotto: 1.5/5 wayyyyyyy too salty. Sent it back, the waiter agreed don't know what happened but it was too much. Second plate not as salty, but still salty. Sent it back. Branzino: 4/5 at this point this is the only thing you should order! My friend actually ordered it and it was very tasty. The sour cream green sauce they could have kept. Flavor profile didn't even go with the fish. Butterscotch bread pudding: 5/5 now this!!!! Amazing! I would go back for this buttttttt I'm not driving from Virginia and there isn't any parking. Speaking of you can park in the target garage, which is like a block and a half down or the giant garage. It is around the corner either of which you have to walk and it's cold outside. The front staff were not organized on tables. There were long waits for people waiting for large tops while only two people sat there and there were two tops available. Won't be back! read more
2 months ago
I came here expecting the happy hour specials to be available throughout the restaurant, but found out they only apply to the bar. I wish that had been made clearer, especially since the bar only has about nine seats. Because of that, the only happy hour items we were able to order were the $1 wings (minimum order of 6) and $1 oysters (minimum order of 12) at the actual table. The sticky ribs pictured ended up costing much more than we expected since they weren't happy hour items. The service was excellent, and our server was friendly, attentive, and made the experience enjoyable. However, there is also an automatic gratuity added to the bill, which wasn't clearly communicated beforehand. Overall, I found the prices to be higher than comparable restaurants with similar food quality and flavor. I ordered the wings, but they weren't particularly memorable. On the positive side, the restaurant itself is clean, well-kept, and has a nice atmosphere. read more
Me and my friends went here over the weekend for a birthday. The vibe is really nice. Service wasn't bad, but our drinks took a little while--got an espresso martini, spicy mezcal margarita, and a Long Island. I had the salmon risotto, but it was kinda salty, especially without the salmon. One of my friends had the pasta with short rib, and that was really good. Dessert? Nah, not it. Overall, cool spot for drinks and hanging out, but food was kinda hit or miss. read more
Excellent experience from customer service, food and atmosphere. Taesha was our waitress and she was full of positive, high energy and provided great recommendations. The oxtail meatballs are tasty, offering something different. The crab topped oysters were good but need more topping or oysters to be fulfilling. Salmon and risotta are good. Rockfish is phenomenal, well seasoned, crisp batter and moist meat. Brussels are well prepared. I recommend the description for the fingerling potatoes note truffle and parmesan topping for awareness and increased interest in the flavor profile. The bread pudding had a good flavor better than the average for fans of that dessert. We also appreciated the champagne provided for our celebration. Chef Robinson also took time to speak with all of the patrons that evening. read more
A gem in Columbia Heights! I've been seeing a lot of postings about this place so I decided to check it out for myself. Well, I'm sure glad that I did because the experience was magical! First, the staff were very friendly and accommodating and smiles were seen from the entrance all the way to my table. Shoutout to our waitress, Taesha! She was knowledgeable and offered excellent recommendations. Her service was great and she stayed on top of things to ensure that we were good. Next, I cannot get over the ambiance that this place offers. From the door to the bathroom, the artwork is beautiful and gives a bit of a speakeasy vibes. Have you seen the bar area? My picture doesn't do it justice but what a beautiful setup. Drinks: at the recommendation of Taesha, I ordered the vodka berry smash, this was my drink of choice after I told her that I didn't want anything too sweet. This drink was the right balance of tangy and tasty with a good serving of vodka. Very refreshing! Appetizers: the She Crab soup was not offered on the brunch menu, only dinner, but I was able to get an order in. Can I just take a moment of say that the chef is a culinary master! This soup was DIVINE! Infused with the right seasonings and topped with a generous amount of lump crab, the soup was a star on its own. 10 stars! Main brunch course: another recommendation, I ordered the short rib hash and my friend ordered the banana foster pancakes with a side of chicken sausage and tater tots. My friend loved her pancakes although they were no longer offering banana foster and instead offered berry pancakes-she was still pleased with the taste. My short rib hash was phenomenal! However, my only complaint was that there was too much fresh ginger in the potato hash, almost overpowering the intended flavor of the dish. Aside from that, I topped it with a scrambled egg which was prepared soft and buttery (topped with cheese). The short rib was marinated by the flavor gods themselves lol it was juicy, tender, and falling apart with every stroke of my fork. But the flavors...omg the flavors! I was swept away. No dessert, I was stuffed lol but thoroughly satisfied with my dining experience. Few things to know: They offer reservations online but a card is required (no charges applied if you show up) Parking is tough so consider share rides Tip is included This is the old location of Creole on 14th with one of the original owners being one of the owners of this new space. It's lively and the playlist was excellent Great for a date, family, friends, or coworkers you enjoy being around lol Overall, my experience was great and I'll be back to try dinner. read more
3 months ago
The ambiance was really nice, great customer service and loved the 90's R&B music. However, my food was too salty for my liking. I ordered the Bayou gumbo and I was unable to finish it. read more
Fraiche was a very good dining experience. The menu features upscale comfort food with catchy names, fusing multiple cuisines, but most notably southern American and French. The decor on the inside is contemporary urban, which lends to the casual atmosphere including the posture of the workers. The dining room is very dimly lit, making the urban artwork pop with even more drama. The service and clientele are not pretentious, however, the dining experience feels upscale. The menu is very approachable and many of the food items are recognizable. If you follow the executive chef's and his business partner's social media, you will be familiar with many of the food items like the garlic noodles and lamb chops, both of which are delicious. The execution on all of the menu items I ordered was very good and the food was delicious. Overall, a very good experience and I will visit again. read more
9 months ago
Tried Fraîche for my sisters bday dinner. The decorations are nice however, this location to me still screams a little janky in areas being that it's small. All of us that ordered sodas had to send them back because they were flat. Service was fast and the server was very friendly, enjoyed all the drinks. Food was mid and overpriced in my opinion. But good for a first and last experience. I would go back for drinks and the garlic noodles my brother ordered. read more
2 months ago
I went to Fraiche on a Tuesday night in July for dinner with my sister. Even though we had a reservation, the wait was about 30 minutes. There were 3 other groups waiting and there is not really a waiting area, so it was cramped. It was karaoke night and they sat us in the back near the karoke machine. So, needless to say, it was extremely loud. The space is not large so if you are looking for a quiet or moderate noise level environment for dinner, this might not be the spot. The people that signed up to sing were very entertaining and it was a good time. The service was not great. Our waiter took our order and brought our drinks and then never returned to our table until we waved him down. He did not come to check if our orders were correct after the food arrived, did not come to see how we were doing with beverages, did not come at all. When I waved him down to ask for water, it was if he forgot. I ended up asking another waiter for water. Our waiter eventually returned with the bill and we had to ask for the dessert menu. We had the oxtail meatballs, a bit dry and not very good to either of us. We tried the macaroni and it was delicious!!! I rarely love mac and cheese from restaurants but I would definitely order this again. 5 stars!! I also had the golden gate noodles with shrimp. Very good. Wonderful flavor and just enough food to fill you up. We did not have dessert. read more
Was I dragged to Fraîche with promises of delight and wonder? Yes! Was the promise fulfilled? No! And so my tail of woe begins. The vibes for Fraiche are definitely giving restaurant turned lounge with sparklers and buckets of Dusse on display for all to see. As soon as my party was sat I scoured the menu for the enchantment that I was promised (as apparently the chef and owner are Instagram famous) however I settled for the fried snapper (sans mumbo sauce). While waiting for my entree I sampled my sister's oxtail meatballs which were surprisingly good (4/5). The fried snapper, however only disappointed me. I was expecting a whole fried snapper but I received the fish equivalent of a "chicken nugget". The breading although light and airy had a particular flavor which I wasn't a fan of and I couldn't taste the fish. (0.5/5). The rice was also overcooked on top of that. I never had high hopes for the place so I ate some of the fish and the pickled veggies that came with it. My sister who ordered the same sent hers back immediately and got the baked chicken instead to which she said it was a (2/5). Long story short I doubt that I'll be back. read more
9 months ago
Loved the garlic noodles (although a little oily), same for the cornbread. Also tried the brussel sprouts, which initially were drowned in sauce & uneatable, once recooked with light sauce they were delicious! Street parking was findable & there are a few garages around. A tad overpriced, but an interesting menu which is worth experiencing if it's on your list. Standard service, auto gratuity is added to all checks which is a little aggressive for the assumed clientele. The space is seemingly a night lounge turned restaurant, but they've made it work. read more
Enjoyed a birthday celebration with a party of six. The restaurant atmosphere is subtile but chic and nicely decorated. All staff were friendly, helpful, and somewhat attentive. The food was a mixed bag. We started with the oxtail meatballs and they were everything right about this dining experience! We also started with the charbroiled oysters and they were slightly underwhelming to be honest. I was most excited about this dish and did not let the high price tag put me off. When they arrived, truthfully my face fell. They were the tiniest four oysters that ended up being about $6.50 each, and the pile of lobster and crab I was expecting to top it off was virtually non existent. They were however flavorful despite being an underwhelming size and presentation. Next were our dinners. We had an 11 year old with us and we decided on wings and truffle fries for her. She is a good eater but she only finished half her 6 wings and did not like the fries. Two of our party had the jambalaya and they both enjoyed their meals with no complaints. Two others had the salmon risotto and both agreed the salmon was a bit dry but the risotto was wonderful and full of flavor. I had the Cornish hen and although it was full of flavor (although a tad bit salty), it was pretty dry. The macaroni and cheese and the broccolini were wonderful. This can be a hot spot with the right adjustments. I probably won't frequent too much because I found the prices to be a bit too high for what was received. read more
9 months ago
I put this location off for a while because of personal reasons, but a friend of mine wanted to meet here and I decided to go. The parking is really crazy in this area and it's really hard to miss the door to get into this location on the night that I went they had a Dj who was spinning 90s in 2000s music and I love the vibe. I didn't really know what I wanted but the table beside me they had a lot of different food which looked good so I ended up getting the short ribs and pasta and I probably think about that dish once every week it was that good and I think I would Battle parking to have it again. The drink I ended up with was pretty basic because we ordered an item from their new drink menu which came in a bear glass and it just didn't taste like the flavors meshed well together. read more
The ambiance of this restaurant was nice! At times the DJ's music was a bit loud when trying to have a conversation. Our server was very helpful with recommendations but at times took awhile to come back to check on us. We all enjoyed our appetizers and main course. Our favorite appetizers were the macaroni and cheese and the sticky ribs! However, my lamb was a bit overcooked (I asked for medium rare). The drinks were very good and they were able to make a mocktail for my friend who does not drink. read more
1 year ago
Ambiance 9/10 - music was good and wasn't playing to loud. The table set up is a little weird I'm wondering if they make the open space a dance floor at night. But other than that cute spot nothing spectacular Service 10/10- out server Armanden (I believe it was he was russian) was spectacular. He made suggestion, was very upbeat and friendly. He knew the menu and everyone around helped bring food and clear off our table was very friendly. We got seated quickly with no reservation. Food 10/10 - DC known for their seafood we went for it. My friend got the crab soup chile she couldn't stop eating she said it was so good. I got the fried oxtail balls and let me tell you BOMB.COM!! We shared the gumbo and crab cakes. The salad they had with the crab cakes was fire. The crab cakes were cooked well and had an amazing sauce with them and the gumbo was fire!!! It's not spicy bc neither of us like spicy but it was seasoned well and the roo it was in was perfect! They also had this like sweet cornbread in it whew chile I was smacking my lips hard! Definitely recommended and when I visit DC again this will be my first stop! read more
1 year ago
Overall experience at Fraîche was just ok. I honestly can say that I was a bit underwhelmed; being that it is a French, Cajun/Southern American, and Caribbean inspired cuisine, I expected more. It's a melting pot of different cuisines! We started off with the Royal Wings and the Oxtail Meatballs. The wings were good, nothing too spectacular. I was not a fan of the Oxtail Meatballs; they were dry.The sauce did help, but not a fan favorite. Our main courses were the Butter-Kissed Lamb Chops and the Charm City Cakes. Both entrées lack seasoning and were a little dry. Lastly, note that 20% gratuity is automatically added to your bill. I did not like that considering our server was not the greatest and did not check-in with us. Overall, Fraîche is not a place that I am in dire need to try again. read more
8 months ago
I went to Fraîche on Valentine's Day, and overall it was... okay. The atmosphere is fine, but I was expecting something a bit more upscale. In hindsight, the location should've told me it leans more loungey than luxe. To be fair, they do their best to present an elevated vibe, but it still feels like a lounge at heart. The hostess was very sweet, but our waiter really missed the mark on basic customer service. My husband was struggling to find parking, and the waiter immediately told me I only had 90 minutes--as if I was making up the fact that someone else was joining me. When my husband finally walked in and I asked about the 90‑minute rule again, suddenly the waiter acted like he had no idea what I was talking about. Service didn't improve from there. He never offered drink refills, never cleared empty glasses or bottles, and walked past us multiple times without checking in. My husband had to flag him down twice. I asked for sparkling water and never got it. Now, the food. Maybe we ordered the wrong thing, but we both got noodles--mine with short rib, his with crab. The short rib itself was bomb, and the noodles were good. I cook a lot, so I understood the flavor profile they were going for, but I was expecting a bit more depth. Still, it was decent. I don't think I'd come back for a fancy dinner or anything important, but I could see myself stopping by for brunch with friends or if I'm already in the neighborhood. Pricing felt fair--nothing outrageous. And honestly, I'm happy for the owner; I think he got his start on IG, and it's cool to see him doing his thing. read more
2 months ago
This place is seriously so good! Everything I tried was very spot on, I had gotten the rum punch drunk which included Appleton rum which was super impressive and strong! The oxtail meatballs were highly recommended and they were very on point, the shredded oxtail was very good and the outside was so crispy! The gumbo was also super flavorful and loved the fried okra and cornbread. Everything came out super quickly and hot, I can't wait to come back! read more
2 months ago
Music, decor and service were excellent. Let me preface this food review with I am from New Orleans where flavor is paramount. The fish was fried perfectly and the presentation was beautiful; but it lacked salt, pepper or any other spices. Same issue with the buffalo chicken wings. The mac n cheese was okay. I am a big fan of Mr. Make It Happen, but he is a better chef than who was in his kitchen tonight (August 18 from 6-7pm). read more
11 months ago
Great food! The music is a bit loud which isn't a bad thing it just depends on the vibes you are looking for and we went on a Sunday. Delicious breakfast & im interested enough to come back to check out their other menus. read more
Service was great !!!!! We were a party of 8 . Gratuity is automatically added on all checks. We literally tried the entire menu . Charm city crab cakes were good , lamb chops were decent. Over all 7.8/10 . Banana bread pudding is the best dessert. Must try . Both charbroiled and raw oysters are good . Brussels are extremely sweet way too much glazed. It's like eating candied veggies. lol good aesthetically pleasing restaurant. $130 pp average if you you order an app , a cocktail, entree and gratuity. For reference. read more
Fraiche replaced Creole on 14th... so if you remember the gnats.. they are still there. I came an hour before close but was greeted warmly, though i wasn't offered a table- only bar seating and there were only 2 other dining parties in there. Bartender Asia was cool and even offered suggestions when i mentioned i was just gonna do appetizers. Got the oxtail meatballs which were delicious with a good amount of oxtail inside. Came 3 in an order. Also enjoyed the charbroiled oysters- it was more crab than oyster cuz the oysters were small but im not complaining! 4 in an order. Gratuity is included in all checks, so my bill for 2 APPETIZERS was about $55. No drink just 2 apps. But thats dining in 2025 for you. No rush to return but great looking menu. Hope they can take care of the gnat infestation better than the old owners. read more
1 month ago
My husband and I tried Fraiche for a rare date night out. I've followed Matt @mrmakeithappen on IG for a few years and have always loved his fusion cooking style. His restaurant certainly delivered. We started with the oxtail meatballs, the Fraiche salad, and the charbroiled oysters. Everything delicious! For our entrees we had the fried snapper with rice and peas and the garlic noodles surf and turf (with the fried lobster tail and steak). Everything delicious! We ended the meal with the butterscotch bread pudding. I'm not even a bread pudding girl, but, delicious! Our waitress, Chantelle (I believe that was her name) was so helpful with recommendations, constantly checking on us throughout the meal, and a great personality). The restaurant is aesthetically pleasing too with beautiful artwork throughout the place. The chef even came out to introduce himself and say hello! If I had to give any critique I'd say that the two-top tables are small and the dishes are big so it felt crowded on the table especially when we were having three appetizers. Also, the drinks were just ok. They didn't blow us away nor were they bad, but at $17-19 a piece, you do want them to be memorable. Overall, would absolutely go again! read more
Finally made it here: been following Mr. Make it Happen for quite a while...and I wish I hadn't waited so long! I had a grand experience during my visit. For starters, it was my birthday and I simply called to confirm availability; and upon arrival, they had a table set up for me with a menu that said happy birthday! What a pleasant surprise. They clearly do their research here. The staff were super attentive and friendly. They made me feel like a celebrity lol. The restaurant itself has very dope and unique decor. The bar lighting is set at the right temperature with sufficient seating. The artistry on the walls is cool and not something you see in a restaurant typically, particularly one that has such elegant seating like this one. Loved it! It's also surprisingly spacious, given its location in Columbia heights. THE FOOD: DE-LICIOUS. Started off with the charbroiled oysters, cuz why the hell not (ode to the chef). They were very tasty, some of the better ones I've had in the area. Wish they were a tad larger, but I cannot complain. For the main course I had the lamb chops and the risotto. WOW to both. Each of these dishes were seasoned to perfection and I wouldn't change a thing. I've never had a more enjoyable risotto. It tasted like an elevated red beans and rice! I don't typically order dessert, but of course a complimentary one was sent out. This place knows how to treat folks on their birthday! I believe it was the macaroon cheesecake and it was delicious. I would definitely order it if I had a sweet tooth. Overall: AMAZING experience and I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu. Great job, chef! read more
I had such a great experience at Fraîche! The vibe here is amazing--the music was on point and really added to the whole atmosphere. For food, I started with the oxtail meatballs, which were so good. They reminded me of a croquette...crispy on the outside and packed with flavorful, tender meat inside. Our server was awesome and super helpful with recommendations. She suggested I try the Golden Gate Noodles with a side of short rib, and I'm so glad I listened to her. Everything was delicious and really well-seasoned. For dessert, I had the butterscotch bread pudding (bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts btw), and it definitely didn't disappoint. I would absolutely come back to Fraîche and I'm really hoping they add a brunch menu one day. I feel like the vibe would be perfect for a weekend brunch!! read more
11 months ago
The food here was quite good. We tried the Oxtail Meatballs and Crispy Chicken as appetizers. My husband and son can't stop raving about the meatballs. We were surprised that it was ALL meat, no filler like breadcrumbs, just rich and tender oxtail. My son, who lives here, said it would be worth coming back just for the meatballs! For mains we tried the Bayou Gumbo, French Quarter Risotto, Lamb Chops with a side of their Oxtail Bone Broth French Onion Soup. Everything was amazing. Just rich, deep flavors with the right hint of heat to remind us that this is a French, Caribbean, and Cajun/Southern-American fusion restaurant. The service was great. At check-in we were asked if we were celebrating anything, and we said "yes we are" and the hostess immediately replied, "Congratulations, right this way." It was our 30th Anniversary. I was surprised no one said anything more or even asked us what we were celebrating. We decided to have dessert elsewhere. read more
2 months ago
We had the absolute best experience at Fraîche DC for my husband's birthday! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was a 10--elegant, inviting, and perfect for a special occasion. The wait staff was amazing--attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. Now, the food...WOW! We started with the oxtail meatballs, which were such an interesting and flavorful twist--we loved them! My husband had the lamb chops with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and he couldn't stop raving about how perfectly cooked everything was. I had the mambo fried snapper, which was crispy, well-seasoned, and absolutely delicious. My daughter enjoyed the Golden Gate noodles with crab meat, and we also shared sides of mac & cheese and broccoli--both were fantastic. The drinks were equally impressive, pairing perfectly with our meal. Overall, I'd rate our experience a solid 10 across the board. Everything--from the food to the service to the atmosphere--was exceptional. We will definitely be back! We had the absolute best experience at Fraîche DC for my husband's birthday! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was a 10--elegant, inviting, and perfect for a special occasion. The wait staff was amazing--attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. read more
I follow Mr. Make It Happen--aka Chef Matt--on social media and subscribe to his newsletter, so when I heard about the soft opening of his new restaurant, I had to make reservations. My friend and I booked a table for 7:30 PM on Wednesday night. We arrived about 15 minutes early, and the hostess kindly seated us right away. The place was already buzzing with energy--laughing patrons, a lively atmosphere, and friendly staff. We stayed for about two hours, and in that time, I lost count of how often the staff checked on us to make sure everything was going well. I truly appreciated that level of attentiveness. At one point, there was a small mix-up--our server accidentally gave the wrong table number to the staff running drinks, so a glass of wine meant for the table next to us was delivered to ours. The general manager handled it graciously, offering us champagne for the mishap, which I thought was a thoughtful touch. He even took the time to chat with us, adding to the warm experience. I was hoping to meet Mr. Make It Happen himself, but we just missed him--hopefully next time! For appetizers, we ordered the oxtail meatballs and charbroiled oysters--and wow. The flavors blended beautifully, and I couldn't stop doing my little happy dance as I ate. For my entrée, I went with the Mambo Red Snapper, served with rice and peas and an escovitch salad. The presentation was stunning, and the flavors were an absolute party in my mouth. The escovitch salad had a kick to it--rightfully so--but even as someone who doesn't typically love spicy food, I found it flavorful rather than overwhelming. It was so fresh and well-balanced that I might need to learn how to make escovitch salad myself because, honestly, can I eat fish any other way now? I also ordered a side of the five-cheese mac and cheese, which was creamy with a nice smoky flavor. The cornbread, however, was my least favorite item of the night. I ordered it expecting a classic piece of cornbread with honey butter on top, but it turned out to be more savory than sweet, with corn, jalapeño, and cheese mixed in. It just had a little too much going on for my taste. To be clear, it didn't taste bad--just a bit too busy for me. I prefer a simple cornbread. For dessert, I had the crème brûlée, topped with fresh berries. There was a hint of citrus in it, which was different for me. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. That said, my friend--who usually doesn't even like crème brûlée--actually enjoyed it, which was a fun surprise. The cocktail menu is definitely for those who enjoy bold, unique flavor combinations. I'm more of a lemon drop and cosmopolitan kind of girl, but unfortunately, they didn't have the syrup for a strawberry lemon drop or the cranberry juice for a cosmo. Instead, I opted for sparkling water with lemon and lime on the side, which turned out to be a refreshing way to wash down all that amazing food. The space itself is super clean, but as expected with a brand-new restaurant, there are still a few small things to iron out. Our table was in a corner near a hallway that leads to the entrance, so every time the front door opened, we felt a cold draft. Also, there was a random table next to us where the POS system was set up, meaning staff frequently came over to ring in orders--right next to us. It wasn't ideal, but it also wasn't unbearable, and I imagine as they fine-tune operations, this won't be an issue in the future. Street parking is hit or miss, but worst-case scenario, there's a parking lot around the corner. For two appetizers, two entrées, two additional sides, a bottle of sparkling water, a cocktail, and dessert, our bill came to $233. Honestly, for the amount of food we had, this is a reasonable price in 2025, especially considering the quality and portion sizes. Fantastic experience! In the words of Chef Matt--looking good. I highly recommend checking out Fraîche, and I'll definitely be back. Hopefully next time, I'll finally meet the man behind the magic! read more
Omg! The food was sooooo good! We went for a bday dinner and they accommodated like 8 of us. We even got to meet Mr. MakeItHappen. He came out and took pics with us. Everyone said their food was really good. I had the steak frites and it was BOMB! I took my leftover home and my husband tried it and said it was still amazing hours later. I tried the deviled eggs and those were really good as well. Cornbread and bread pudding were delicious too. Only thing is that it cost $15 for a piece of cornbread! That's absurd! lol read more
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Fraîche - french - Updated October 2026
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