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    Le Refuge Restaurant

    4.2 (297 reviews)
    PriceyFrench
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

    Le Refuge Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    LE REFUGE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Le Refuge Restaurant

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    Grace B.

    This is a cute boutique restaurant. Second time I've been here and I recommend it! It is on the pricier side but I enjoy the quality of the meals and the great service from the staff. I enjoy their seafood and wine options. This is a cute date night spot or to go with a small group of friends/family. Recommend calling to make a reservation during their busier nights!

    Yifan Q.

    Good taste and service. I would like to eat there second time. The experience is great.

    Grenouille. A couple of frogs died for this meal and I regret nothing.

    Great French food at a reasonable price. Who could ask for more? I had a brandy-laced pate and frog legs, wonderfully garlicky.

    This place was amazing if I could give it more than five stars I would. The decor is cozy and really sets the mood of a French café. The staff is attentive and absolutely wonderful, charming and so nice and the food it was to die for everything we ate absolutely amazing 100% would I recommend this place definitely make a reservation though it is a very small restaurant!! It's very homestyle cooking, but the flavors are amazing. All the meat is cooked to perfection and the sauces are heavenly. The chocolate mousse was one of the best things I've ever had. It was so decadent. My only complaint is the plates that the entrees come out on we're crazy hot and it kind of turned the table into and oven.

    Yummmm
    Amy D.

    This is one of our favorite local spots in our town. It's not pretending to be some fine dining French place - this is the home cooked delicious country restaurant in burgundy vibe and food. It is absolutely perfect for a cold winter night. Alex and I try to come for the first snow every year and this was no exception. We always get the sautéed calamari, the cassoulet and a bottle of red wine to top it off! This time we tried this wine and it was sensational! *note: I am not a huge fan of red meat and I'm a "cute"erian aka don't like eating cute creatures and the cassoulet is to die for. I just pretend that I have no idea what's in it!! Haha

    French onion soup
    Nancy M.

    What a lovely spot! You can tell it's a mom and pop shop and I love that! Support your local businesses!!! Had dinner with a friend here recently and cannot wait to come back. Our server was funny and helped us decide what we wanted. He was very attentive and there if we needed anything. We shared a French onion soup and it was hearty! So good. I ordered the tilapia which was so flavorful yet healthy and light. My friend ordered the duck and she loved it! Looked delicious -- she was deciding between that or the scallops and our waiter said "for sure the duck!" Everyone is so nice there! Highly recommend checking it out.

    View from our table.

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    26 days ago

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    2 months ago

    Great atmosphere Great service. Food good but could be better. Not sure I would go back. Bistrot Lepic in Georgetown is better.

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    10 months ago

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    2 months ago

    An authentic French Bistro in Old Town, Alexandria. Good food, nice service and cozy ambiance!

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    6 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Great food, great service. This restaurant has been great for years. The menu is very authentically French.

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Excellent in every way! The sauces are over the top and the service is impeccable. Portions are extremely generous. Le Refuge is a gem.

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    Page 1 of 8

    Le Refuge Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Le Refuge Restaurant

    Is this the place that's on the second floor? If so, this is the place my wife and I visited. Thanks in advance for the answers.

    No I'm sorry. It is on the ground level. There is no retail or other restaurants above this one.

    View All 3 Questions

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    Fontaine - Just Peachy

    Fontaine

    3.8(929 reviews)
    0.2 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$

    Tucked just off King Street, Fontaine offers crêpes and classic French dishes in a charming, bistro…read moresetting. The crepes were good, I tried the Alexandrian and enjoyed it. The menu leans traditional, with a variety of options that highlight classic French flavors. That said, it's a bit on the pricier side for the overall experience. I'd recommend Fontaine more for a specific occasion, like taking visiting parents, or if you're dining with someone who needs gluten-free options, as they have good choices. Overall, a quaint and inviting spot that brings a touch of France to Old Town.

    To quote the great Tyra Banks: "I want to give you a zero, but that's not possible. So I give you a…read more1." Let's just say the food here was absolutely disappointing. All of the hip young girls in high school recommended this place to me and my friends and lets just say, they have never been more wrong. My girls and I went this weekend for a birthday brunch. I wanted a crepe, but when I saw it was 17 DOLLARS to slap some Nutella and strawberries on a piece of crepe is outrageous. I ordered a "Continental Breakfast," which, with tax and tip, cost me $30 DOLLARS. I wish you could have seen the look on my face when they gave me a plate of rabbit food. All 6 of us looked at the plate and laughed. Seriously, my 5 year old neice can eat 3 times as much of that in one sitting. So, in what world would that be enough food for a grown woman? My friend then went on to order the French toast for a grand total of $36 DOLLARS. Mind you, there was only one piece of toast, and the Inside was raw and soggy. Tasted like eating wet, soaked toilet paper. On top of the overpriced food and small portions, our "server" came to our table for a total of ONE SINGULAR TIME. My friend had also ordered a Chai Latte. Surprise, Surprise! It never came, and they still charged her for it. I think the nice man who brought us our food could see the look on our faces when we received our food, because he then brought us a free side of French fries. It is a huge problem when the french fries were the only sufficient thing I put in my mouth at this restaurant. I please, genuinely beg all of you to NOT waste your money. I promise there is anywhere else where you can get a crepe for double the size and half the cost. Once we left, we went down to Call Your Mother, the Jewish Deli, to get more food, as all of us left with our tummies still rumbling. Mind you, a full bagel sandwich and coffee cost HALF THE PRICE of one meal at Fontaine. Horrible. Mind you, it is 2 days later, and I am still thinking about this. I fully created a Yelp account just so I could leave a review. I think I would have a better experience eating an IHOP Continental breakfast than whatever I put in my mouth at this restaurant. Not worth the hype at all. Save your hard-earned cash and be a big baller elsewhere!

    Photos
    Fontaine - Back

    Back

    Fontaine - Egg salad with cucumbers. Delicious!

    Egg salad with cucumbers. Delicious!

    Fontaine - French 75

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    French 75

    L'Auberge Chez Francois

    L'Auberge Chez Francois

    4.4(829 reviews)
    20.8 mi
    $$$$

    I won't tell you how many decades we have enjoyed eating at Chez Francois…read more It is delicious and elegant a meal as you will enjoy in Norther Virginia. The Brasserie, though less formal, is equally as fine and equally as tasty. Plus, you have the option of sitting outside either on the patio or in the inside/outside covered area.  Wherever you sit, you will be happy and very well fed.  The evening we dined, we tried to hold back from eating too much of the super yummy garlic toast and cottage cheese that is always brought to the table at the start of your meal.  It is super good and so tempting to keep on munching but there is so much other good food on the way.  The Caesar salad is crisp and the portion is big enough to share if you are guarding room for the amazing grand marnier souffle which you order at the start of you repas to savor at the end.  My favorite entrée is always the bouillabaisse.  The broth is so amazing and it is filled with seafood. Another favorite is the duck (confit de canard) that is a special on Sunday. Again, save some space for the souffle which is served tableside and worth every calorie.

    Exquisite food and presentation, top notch service, and comfortable ambiance meeting the high…read morestandard of experienced expected - blah, blah, blah blah.......nothing new to add that others have already described. It has a well-deserved top notch reputation. Given the restaurant likely seeks opportunities for improvement, the following details are offered..... 1) Hard seats, though padded, became uncomfortable over time. By the end of our two - hour seating, we were more than eager to get up and go. An unnecessary distraction. We'll bring our own set cushion next time. 2) Water glasses smelled off. It's not the water as the odor remained in glasses used for bottled water. Based on experience, we guessed a dirty dishwasher was to blame. 3) A pesky fly was with us the entire meal. Perhaps it was more than one fly, yet it was surprising for indoor seating. A minor distraction, but surprising. We'll be back.

    Photos
    L'Auberge Chez Francois - Outdoor seating at the entrance of Jacques Brasserie

    Outdoor seating at the entrance of Jacques Brasserie

    L'Auberge Chez Francois - Classic Beef Bourguignon

    Classic Beef Bourguignon

    L'Auberge Chez Francois - Interior

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    Interior

    Gustave Boulangerie - Half of a Caprese sandwich on a freshly made crusty roll. It was delicious and we'll be back for more!

    Gustave Boulangerie

    4.1(88 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    UPDATE: Bravo, Gustave They Listened, They Fixed It -- First Class All the Way…read more Credit where credit is absolutely due. Since my original review, the owners of Gustave Boulangerie have gone above and beyond and replaced the entire front door structure with a proper, commercial-grade door custom fit to the frame -- and it has completely transformed the guest experience. Many operators would have brushed off a review like this, chalked it up to "one opinion," and moved on. Gustave did the opposite. They listened, took it seriously, and invested in a real solution that benefits everyone who walks through the door. That speaks volumes about the ownership and how they run their business. The result? The same vibrant Parisian café energy, the same exceptional coffee and pastries -- now without the unintended wind tunnel. Warm, cozy, inviting, and exactly what you want when sipping a cappuccino or digging into something hot and indulgent. First class all the way around. Issues happen; how you respond to them defines you. Gustave lived up to its reputation and then some. À votre santé -- or perhaps more appropriately, à la French toast. Cheers.

    Love the family friendly/pet friendly vibe of this place! While the bakery itself isn't anything…read moreout of the ordinary, it's the open space right next to the building what is amazing! The huge sandbox is what keeps us coming! Kids can play here for hours on end, my kids actually think we are at the beach when we come here lol! Parents can sit back and relax while sipping on some beers and drinks. Food menu isn't as extensive, but it's straight forward and enough to serve its purpose. They recently added some TVs so now I can drag my husband easier, since he won't miss any of his sport games. The only downside is that there is only one bathroom available. Considering how busy this place gets, you can end up waiting a while in line. And when your little one needs to go potty right.now. that can be an issue! Overall great spot to spend a chill afternoon! P.S. don't forget to pack the sunscreen! Only a couple of tables get shade.

    Photos
    Gustave Boulangerie
    Gustave Boulangerie - Savory pastries

    Savory pastries

    Gustave Boulangerie - Entrance to Avoid

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    Entrance to Avoid

    Le Refuge Restaurant - french - Updated May 2026

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