Le Chat Noir is one of DC's best hidden gems. It's tucked away between Tenleytown and Friendship Heights and while it doesn't look like much, the cuisine is some of the most authentic French food I've had stateside. The service is always great and the staff is super friendly. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but the mushroom tart, crepes and roast salmon is amazing. And don't skip dessert, they have an incredible list of traditional desserts, sweet crepes and ice cream. There's also a great little wine bar upstairs which is cozy and offers cheap glasses of wine for happy hour. It's definitely worth hanging out there for a cheese board and a bottle before dinner! read more

Le Chat Noir - Roast salmon with farro - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Perfect neighborhood bistro. Broad menu. Terrific soup and appetizers. Pleasant staff. Wine overpriced but it's NW DC read more

Came here for a proper dinner with a friend. I purchased a Groupon which was a great deal. It saved me $30 off my bill, which was well over the $50 Groupon deal. I started with the escargot, because how can I dine in a French place and not order them. They're cheaper at $7.95 than other places. They weren't my favorite. I actually think I do them better. Plus, I had to ask for bread to accompany the garlicky critters. We both ordered the scallops. I wish they updated their online menu because I was looking forward to shrimp and risotto. Anyways, the scallops were good, but a tad salty tasting. I liked the giant chickpea fry they were placed on. (There's a French name for it, but I don't recall it.). It taste just like the chickpea fries from All Set in Silver Spring. Service was fine. I really wouldn't recommend this place for a romantic night out. The tables are too close together. Literally, when we were seated they pulled apart a four seater by about three inches. At the table behind us, they had to bring out a cold compress for an elderly patron to put upon his forehead. If I come back, it will be for crepes for lunch. Good location with ample parking. read more

Le Chat Noir - Scallops on a giant chickpea fry. (I don't recall the French name for it.) 7/23/16 - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had a delicious dinner with family. We all were very happy with our meals. The waiter was friendly and helpful.

This is not a study spot. It is a nice French dinner restaurant. Cannot stay here for lengthy amount of times. GREAT FOOD, BUT NOT A STUDY SPOT. Thank you. read more

Tasty, fresh, and flavoful food with attentive service and moderate prices. Always excellent! read more

Love this place, I've been going for years. Food is great, atmosphere is really wonderful and relaxing, and the staff are very nice. Highly recommend. As a side note, it's highly amusing to me when people order delicate, need-to-be-carefully-prepared dishes via takeout and expect them to taste the same as they would in the restaurant. read more

Please note that my review took place during COVID. Amazing, kind, attentive service. Great atmosphere, great menu, INCREDIBLE FOOD. I've had a lot of steak frites and theirs is my favorite. I really love mona mi gabi in Bethesda and this place has better steak AND frites. Really awesome experience, I am grateful I moved in so close! Can't wait to try the snails!! read more

Le Chat Noir - Steak frites and a victory golden monkey! Awesome atmosphere and menu! - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This was one time I didn't mind having a black cat cross my path. The simple furnishings, white table cloths, and tightly clustered tables reminded me of some Paris bistros I have enjoyed in the past. The three course brunch deal with mimosas was too good to pass up Round one included a salad, and a pate plate. The salad was one dimensional, just greens, with a nice vinaigrette. The pate was country style, and the blend of spices were just right. Toss in gherkins, and we went to town. Our entrées were the cod and the steak. The cod was over quinoa, with a light butter garlic sauce that we really enjoyed. Our steak came with a well developed sauce that was spot on. Alas, the steak was tough, and we set it aside after several unsuccessful attempts at chewing. We probably could have exchanged it for something else, but we were rapidly approaching capacity. I had the nutella crepe, and my wife went with the lemon sugar crepe for desert. Both excellent. Let me be clear. It was a wonderful brunch. The mimosas smoothed out the edges. We will be back. Lots of other tempting entrees await. read more

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Never order for delivery, Extremely over priced for the food. The food is just simple. Definetly not worth the price. I am sure you can get better resoult for cheaper at home. I urge everyone to avoid the disappointment. To go orders and delivery should be half the price. Save your hard working dollars !!! read more

One of our favorites. Excellent service, delicious food, and lovely atmosphere. It was very hot tonight, but sitting with the open doors, we felt a nice breeze. My salmon was perfectly done, and strawberry sorbet was a nice refreshing dessert. read more

Le Chat Noir - The view as we sat in the semi-outdoor area. - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Normally when a black cat crosses your path it is bad luck. At Le Chat Noir, however, it is good luck because it means you are about to have a great meal. If 10 stars were available this place would get them all. I had the moules-frites (mussels with fries) and they were ambrosial. I have always believed the quality of the mussels is much better on this side of the Atlantic but the sauces and cooking far superior in France. Et Voila! Le Chat Noir serves up the perfect combination. My wife and son had the tuna, and they said it was delicious and creatively prepared with mango and yellow pepper. read more

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The beet salad was delicious at 5 stars, the bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin was fine at 3.5 stars, and the vegetarian Buckwheat crepe was quite good and a generous portion at 4 stars. Service, ambiance, and no corkage fee on Sunday evening were all 5 star. Looking forward to dining here again. read more

I'd say this is an above average French restaurant- I've been here a couple of times and some meals have been better than others, but overall their food is pretty decent. Today I went there for their brunch special, which I think is one of their more popular specials. You can either choose an appetizer, entree, and drink or an entree, dessert, and drink for around $20. It's not a bad deal and their portion sizes are quite generous. I ordered the steak and fries, and was surprised by how bland the steak was - it was dressed with sautéed onions doused in a peppery sauce. I had to add a bunch of salt and pepper to make it more flavorful. During my other visits the steak tasted much better, so I'm not sure what happened today, but it wasn't what I was expecting. After our entrees, we ordered the nutella crepe, which was very disappointing. The crepe was small, not cooked fully, unimpressive and overpriced- something I could have made at home much better. As for the restaurant itself, the customer service and ambiance is 5/5. The waiters are very attentive, and they checked up on us regularly. The layout and lighting was lovely, and added more to our experience. Overall Le Chat Noir is pretty mediocre- above average tasting french food, but nothing that'll blow your socks off. read more

Le Chat Noir - Eggs Benedict and Steak&Fries for the Brunch Special :) - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came to this spot after dinner for a Wine down Wednesday evening, and Le Chat Noir definitely didn't disappoint! The staff was very friendly, offering their recommendations off the wine list and the restaurant practiced great COVID safety protocols. As we get closer to the summer, I've started inching back to the white wines. The Sauvignon blanc was very crips and light. I appreciated that it wasn't overly sweet and also didn't have a "woody" flavor like most Sauvignon's I've tasted in the past! The Chardonnay was also amazing, and overpoweringly buttery, but had a light aroma and still very rich in flavor. I was definitely pleased with all my wine choices, and will have to come back to try out the food next time! The perfect pick me up for my Humpday venture - I mean you truly can't be the prices nor the pours! read more

Le Chat Noir - Sauvignon Blanc - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great service, menu, a good place to have a warm close evening, it's generally a good experience.

Lately my mom has been on a French restaurant kick so we came here to check it out. I am not sure if all French restaurants in the area are the domain of baby boomers, but it sure seems that way. Perhaps it harkens back to the days of old DC where steak houses and French bistros were the only real options for dining out. To attract a younger demographic they need to be more innovative with their dishes. What we had was good, but not exceptional. We did not have any issues with the service, unlike several other reviewers. I am a sucker for warm bread which they brought out first. My mom had the pork medallions and I had the beef tenderloin. The waitress suggested it since I had trouble picking an entrée since they all sounded good. Both entrees had three "medallions" which were well cooked and very nicely seasoned. The ratatouille was kind of a mush, we both prefer crispier veggies. My potatoes were interesting, but slightly crunchy. I am not sure if that was the intent, but it was fine. Wednesday is half off wine by the glass so I got the Merlot/Cab/Sauv (not great) and my mom had the Sauv Blanc (Pretty tasty). Of course picking wines is totally subjective but at half price it was totally fine with me. Overall this is a nice place with classic dishes, but nothing exciting in my humble opinion. read more

We ate dinner elsewhere, but their menu was lacking in desserts, so we found ourselves near Friendship Heights looking for something sweet, and we found ourselves at The Black Cat. A dark, cozy hideway on Wisconsin Avenue, we ordered three desserts: Creme Brulee Classique, Cafe Liegeois, and Profiteroles. If you have a sweet tooth, this place is definitely for you. The Creme Brulee was as hard and crispy as expected, but once we broke through the torched sugar, the custard creme was tasty but not sickly sweet -- usually I can only take a few bites of a creme brulee before my teeth start to hurt, but not at The Black Cat. The Cafe Liegeois is an ice cream sundae with coffee & vanilla ice cream, espresso coulis, and chantilly (whipped cream). A good sized portion, with contrasting flavors of sweet ice cream and bitter espresso. It didn't last long on our table. The profiteroles were like a miniature ice cream sandwich - flaky pastry puffs, sliced in half, sandwiching a small globe of vanilla ice cream, covered in chocolate cream and chantilly. The chocolate was not too sweet and provided a nice counter to the sweet ice cream and puffs. Based on these three dishes, I highly recommend Le Chat Noir for dessert - given how tasty these were, I can only imagine how good the main courses are. Definitely coming back to give them a try. read more

Le Chat Noir - Cafe Liegeois - Coffee & vanilla ice cream, espresso coulis, & chantilly - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We wanted to support a local restaurant and decided to order from Le Chat Noir. I got the duck confit and my husband the salmon. I never had such dry, tasteless duck! Even the sauce was pointless. The sweet potato gratin was blend, the frisée salad uninteresting... We ordered the goat cheese salad and instead came an endive salad with blue cheese. When I saw the salad, I wanted to cry... This is not an authentic French restaurant. Only the price tag is... Very disappointing to say the least. read more

Delicious Saturday brunch celebrating my mother's 99th birthday along with my sister. Everything was bona fide French perfect. Our prix fixe menus, that kept our tab reasonably priced, started with a choice of a delicious French champagne or mimosa. Pate followed by Eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon, small green salads and fresh, French fries. Desserts included flan, lemon sugar crepe and sorbet du jour with a candle for the birthday girl. The service was excellent and the owner himself was most gracious. Can't wait to return! read more

Le Chat Noir - A birthday Champagne toast, Sorbet du Jour - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

First time here and loved it. Service and food was exceptional. The vibe is of an authentic brasserie.

This is a great place for French cuisine in the DMV. I come here frequently with my family and with my wife. There is a patio with a nice breeze at the front. read more

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I came here recently for brunch with my husband, who scored an excellent TravelZoo deal that brought down the price of our three-course meal + bottle of champagne. We arrived around 1:00 pm, were seated right away, and received a loaf of what must certainly be the best and freshest french bread I've ever had. The whole experience was delightfully French; from our (friendly and attentive) wait staff to the spunky music and decor. The food just kept getting better from there: I had the soup du jour, which was a creamed corn concoction, and while I'm not typically a fan of cold soups, this one beat the odds and was a big hit. I went with the Salade Lyonnaise for my entree and was a bit suspicious that it wouldn't be enough, but it ended up being quite substantial and more than I could finish. Great ingredients from end to end, but I think the vinaigarette maison dressing was the game changing factor. Last but certainly not least, we both got the Nutella Crepe for dessert, which needs little commentary beyond it was really, really good. TravelZoo or no TravelZoo, we'll definitely be visiting Le Chat Noir again in the future. read more

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I went here on Thursday of Restaurant week with my boyfriend. More like a 3.5 stars. Overall it was fairly tasty! However, another reviewer noted the menu in person was very different from the RW menu posted online and we can corroborate that. They did not have the two items I was specifically going for - the foie gras appetizer or the scallops & shrimp entree. The waitress also described the dessert completely innaccurately. Though I was a bit disappointed, the food was tasty so it mainly overcame these concerns, but there were a few minor hitches. For the appetizers, they only had the soup du jour (a watermelon and mint soup), grilled watermelon, and salad available. My boyfriend got the soup and it was nice, cool, and refreshing! I got the grilled watermelon, which was also tasty with a good combo of sweet and savory. Though a bit weird (and cheap) they had so much watermelon going on. Also a bit disappointing there were no really French options. For the entree, my boyfriend got the pork roulade and I got the poisson du marche - bronzini in a carrot lavendar sauce. Mine was tasty, fresh, and the carrot lavendar sauce was mesmerizing. The pork roulade was tasty and filling, though a bit too peppery. The ratatouille was somehow missing some depth, but the pastry it was on was very light and airy. For dessert, my boyfriend got the profiterole, which was amazing and the caramel ice cream was great. I got the fraise melba chantilly. I asked our waitress what melba was and she described it as being a sauce and the dessert being like a strawberry shortcake but with crepe instead of cake. What I got was 2 scoops of ice cream (strawberry and vanilla) with strawberry sauce. No crepe as she described and no chantilly cream as listed on the menu. It was very tasty ice cream, though! So, while we had an overall tasty meal, all these mishaps had us leaving mildly confused and mildly feeling ripped off. With all the other great restaurants in DC, I'm unsure I'll return. read more

Love this place! I always get the salad Nicoise and every time it's amazing. It's not your typical salad Nicoise because it's served with ahi tuna, but I prefer this version. The dressing is light as it should be, the lettuce and veggies are always fresh and they don't put too many potatoes, which I prefer because I always push them to the side anyways as I prefer to save my appetite for the delicious baguette they serve. My partner always gets the cheese and ham crepe and loves it. She's French and lived in France for 30 years, so I think it must really be good. Note to parents: We now take our 3-year-old here, but only for brunch and even that can be a challenge depending on the other diners. Or, if your 3-year-old is super chill, don't even worry about it and enjoy! read more

This review is coming from someone who doesn't eat French food often (other than the occasional croissant), but is a food lover in general. I really enjoyed my meal here last night. They start by bringing out warm, crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside bread which I think is one of the best ways to start a meal. We started with the Trio du terroir, a sampler of pates and a dry cured sausage which was so good with the warm bread. For entrees, our table ordered the Boeuf Bourguignon - the classic beef stew, Les Crevettes - pan seared shrimp with asparagus, truffle risotto, and the special for the night, a Swordfish dish. All were very VERY good! And of course, we finished with crepes! The Shishi and Après-Midi were delicious! I would recommend all of these dishes to anyone planning a visit! I loved everything about my meal last night: the service, appetizer, entree, dessert and the atmosphere. I think the price point is good given the quality of the food and will definitely be returning! read more

Le Chat Noir - Les Crevettes - pan seared shrimp, asparagus, truffle risotto with a garlic sauce. Delicious! - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a nice quaint spot off the beaten path. The service was great. Went here for brunch on a Saturday. I ordered the steak and fries with the leaks and potatoes soup. The soup was amazing with these spicy croutons. The steak I felt had a bit too much sauce on top. It took away from the steak a bit. Fries were good though. read more

I called and made a reservation for 2, inside. We arrived and the host pointed to a 2 top in the outdoor enclosed area. The gentleman had a heavy accent and it wasn't too hot so instead of asking for inside a 2nd time, we made our way to the table. Figured it would be easier to not re-iterate my request. We waited and waited, no waiter, not a big deal, understood since no one wants to work these days. Took 20-25 minutes just to get our order in. No big deal. Probably 35+ before bread showed up. Sure no big deal. Extra slack due to staffing. Meanwhile our table was perfectly situated to observe all the weekend degenerates pickup their vape cartridges and rolling papers at the adjoining smoke shop. Our food showed up and my steak frites was a general disappointment. The steak was so thin it reminded me of a veal that had been pounded hard. It was cooked fine but it generally lacked flavor and the herb butter wasn't anything special. I get that restaurants have tight margins and that beef prices are insane right now. But I would have gladly paid for a proper cut sized quality New York Strip. My wife only ate half her beef dish. I do not recall what she ordered but she said it was just ok. We observed other dishes going to adjoining tables and they all looked good, well presented. In general, my rating was for the steak being a disappointment. What saved my rating was the deserts. They were fantastic. We will probably try this place again sometime as the duck and seafood dishes were probably way more exciting. Worth a note - Parking is easy on the side streets. read more

We came here with my parents, when they were in town recently, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. To commence the meal they bring you individual rolls of bread. I went with the Magret with blackberry sauce and bacon-cornbread. This is an exceptional dish, balancing rich duck meat with a fruity sauce and a bread that is at once sweet and savory. The plate also features a heaping pile of haricort verts. Tart Tatin is a splendid dessert, one of the greatest of French cuisine's many gifts to the world. Sweet, caramelized apples rest upon a subtle pastry crust. read more

Le Chat Noir - Magret, with cornbread and haricot verts. - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Solidly mediocre lunch experience. My wife and I went on a Friday afternoon. Place wasn't too busy. We both ordered lunch items; I ordered Merguez sausage with an appetizer and my wife ordered a ham sandwich with a salad and a side of French fries. Everything seemed to take a little too long to come out, given that the place wasn't very busy and our orders were not complicated. The actual food was good, but I think a slight overpriced. read more

I'm absolutely in love with this place, so delicious! Everything from the service to food were amazing. We randomly decided on French food that day and we're so happy we did. read more

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Divine crêpes, portions are on the larger size. I sat at the outdoor seating with my kid and everyone was very attentive and nice about bringing a child to a nice restaurant. Everyone was so calm and relaxed that my child sat at the table and ate for a full hour - has never happened before. French and English is spoken here so you may choose your language of communication as you please. read more

I had a lovely meal here for brunch. Their brunch prix fixe includes a flute of champagne/rose, and 2 courses. I have been playing the solo dining game recently, so I was able to people-watch. The outdoor patio is beautiful, and the indoor dining area is classy. I had the paté maison for my app, which was pleasantly seasoned and came with a cornichon. I opted for a mimosa to drink, and I quickly realized the flutes were deceptively large (take your time eating). I had the fritatta, which was well seasoned, and was cooked in the french style. After my meal i ordered some coffee with cream to help me wake up after the mimosa, and i have to say it was a very smooth blend. Nice place for small groups and dates! read more

Le Chat Noir - Coffee, cream, and sugar cubes - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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First time at this restaurant and I will be back. The service is terrific The atmosphere is tranquil It was hard not to sample everything on the menu I tried the Wild Boar (I ate a bite off of a friends plate), the presentation was nice over pasta... Lots of Crepes, I am a fan! I had the crabmeat, scallops crepe. Mmmmm m I have food pics! Happy Eats :) read more

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There was a place close to my house and we wanted to try it out for dinner.It was so delicious! * The ham +cheese crepe was so tasty.I would recommend it for kids. * The bread there was awesome because it was nice and warm. * The green beans were marvelous. Now I go there once in a while and like it each time! read more

Cyndy's Bottom Line: Good French restaurant to have steak frites. We were in search of French fries and a glass of wine and stumbled upon this restaurant. We ordered wines a glass of Bourgogne and Bordeaux which were fine. This is what we ate: I started with the scallop appetizer. Seared well and seasoned served with a bed of shredded carrots and celery. Tasty. We shared steak frites "le Chat Noir"NY strip, maître d'hôtel butter, and of course the French fries. Perfectly cooked French fries! Lightly salted, and a perfect crisp on the outside. For dessert we had the profiteroles and the raspberry sorbet. Both were well done. There were two profiteroles which could be shared. Vanilla ice cream and covered with dark chocolate sauce with whipped cream. Sinfully delicious! The sorbet was made in house and you could tell. The flavor was so fresh and yummy! I would definitely like to return for a full dinner. read more

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I'm not sure about the service, as I had a walk in and carry out order, but the Nutella crepe I had was delicious! It had the perfect amount of Nutella and the crepe itself was cooked nicely with a bit of crispness on the edges. Based on the crepe alone, it's 5 stars. I'm planning to come back at some point to sit down and try some menu items for dinner with my fiancé. At that point, I would be able to speak to the service. read more

I came here during DC winter restaurant week 2021, and I had an amazing time. The restaurant was smaller than I had expected, but beautiful nonetheless. It was quite busy during restaurant week, so there was a bit of a wait for our table and to order our meal; however, that was completely understandable, especially because it was restaurant week. Our server, who I believe is also the owner, is incredibly kind, patient, and attentive. Despite being so busy during restaurant week, I was able to see his friendliness, patience, and courtesy on another level. Being able to chat and converse with him for a bit when things had settled down was the highlight of my visit here. Now, onto the food. During restaurant week, they had a three course menu available. I ordered the escargots, mignon de porc, and ice cream for dessert. The escargots were nicely done, tender, and still flavorful. As for the mignon de porc, I fell in love. The blackberry sauce drizzled on top of it is an absolute dream, and the gnocchi is unmatched. It was phenomenal. And you can't go wrong with ice cream for dessert. Overall, I had an absolutely amazing time here, and I can't wait to return! read more

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This is my most favorite French restaurant around DC area. Today was 2nd time to visit. Me Chat Noir has a nice value, two dishes plus a glass of champagne brunch prix fixe menu. It is always surprised us. read more

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Le Chat Noir has great French food and crepes making this an excellent brunch spot. I ordered a breakfast crepe as well as a dessert crepe. Both were great! The service is very friendly as well, I felt so welcome and appreciated for being there. The crowd is a little older but hey- I'd come back here for the food. read more

Le Chat Noir - meow! - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia