Bistro L'Hermitage is one of those rare restaurants that consistently delivers an exceptional…read moredining experience. Nestled in the historic Occoquan area, it offers a charming French country atmosphere that is quaint, cozy, eclectic, and a perfect for special occasions. The cuisine is authentically French and beautifully prepared. Favorites like the lobster bisque, escargots, and filet mignon never disappoint (always prepared as ordered.) The full bar and extensive wine list complement the menu well, and their weekend brunch is equally impressive. What truly sets Bistro L'Hermitage apart is the service. The staff is attentive, friendly, and professional, always willing to accommodate special requests and ensuring guests feel welcomed and valued. With its warm ambiance, fresh flowers, candlelit dining rooms, outstanding food, and impeccable service, Bistro L'Hermitage remains one of the finest dining experiences in all Northern Virginia and a restaurant I highly recommend.

not worth the price... truly unfortunate…read more sadly our server was not polite and their menu hasn't changed for 10 years as far as my family and I can discern

First the good: the food is great. We have eaten there twice and both times the food was superb…read more But now the bad: the service was horrible. We were there for at least 15 minutes before a waiter appeared to take our order. But it went downhill from there. We were there for an hour and fifteen minutes before we received our lunches. The waiter did not alert us there was a problem, and when I complained, for the second time, about the delay, he said, "Well the food is a little slow coming out of the kitchen." That was after we had been there for over an hour, and, as I said, I complained for the second time. No matter how good the food is, and it is, it is totally unacceptable to have to wait an hour and a quarter for food. and the restaurant was not even crowded.

How do you define a solid meal? Excellent food, outstanding service, and decadent cocktails…read more So we went to happy hour at Petite Auberge. It may not have been their official happy hour, but it was ours--and if you know us, you know we love happy hour. We had a fantastic time. The service could not have been more attentive. Every bite had just the right amount of flavor and spice, and the cocktails were absolutely spot on. We shared three appetizers and couldn't have been more pleased. The octopus was fantastic, the truffle fries are something I'll be craving for a long time, and the charcuterie board topped everything off perfectly. If you get the chance, make a reservation and go. We left grinning from ear to ear after a great meal, great drinks, and a great evening.

Cute little bakery café with both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff was warm, welcoming, and…read morevery pleasant. On this visit, I stopped in for breakfast and later returned to pick up a couple of desserts. The ham and egg croissant was absolutely delicious, and I enjoyed it with a hot cup of tea while relaxing at one of the tables and reading. The desserts were just as impressive. I tried the heart-shaped pastry and the chocolate tart, and both were fresh, flavorful, and the perfect sweet ending to a wonderful experience. I'll definitely be back!

Quaint culinary experience. BLUF: Would recommend…read more We experienced the Friday price-fixe dinner service. Our entire meal was unique and flavorful. The menu changes, but we had the boeuf bourguignon, fish, salad nicoise, ratatouille quiche, sabayon, and raspberry heart cake w/ strawberry ice cake. Also bought two tarts (fruit-pistachio and lemon meringue) My favorites were the boef (beef), quiche, fresh squeezed orange juice, and strawberry ice cream. Excellent service provided by Diego. Easy enough parking. Reservation is needed. Tight space, but beautiful decor. Clean restroom. Overall, would return.

We visited La Grande Boucherie with my family and made a reservation about two days in advance…read more When we arrived, we were initially seated on the second floor, which wasn't very convenient for my parents. Although they offered us the elevator, it was located on the opposite side of the restaurant, making it a bit difficult. I asked if it would be possible to move to the first floor, and they kindly accommodated our request, which we really appreciated. The food was absolutely delicious, and the drinks were just as good. The portions are quite generous, so if you're not a big eater, you may want to consider sharing a dish. One thing to note is that the restrooms are gender-neutral. While they were very clean, I found this a little inconvenient when visiting with children. If you plan to go on a weekend, expect the restaurant to be lively and a bit noisy. Also, avoid the parking lot next door if possible--it was very chaotic and not worth the hassle. Overall, we had a wonderful dining experience with excellent food, great drinks, and friendly service. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoy French cuisine.

This was such an odd dining experience; I think I had a good time but it was so strange…read more My husband and I happened upon La Grande Boucherie after we were deterred from our original dinner plans. We arrived at 7:45 on a Saturday night to see if there was room for two or at least room at the bar. I wish the hostess had told us that we could wait at the bar for a table to open up, as we saw that's what many other patrons did, but she told us there was bar seating and high tops and so my husband and I went on up. We easily had our choice of two seats at the bar or a high top, and we selected a high top. After 5 minutes of no one acknowledging us, my husband and I told each other we would wait two more minutes before we would bail. Right as we were about to jump ship, a server came by and asked if we wanted menus. We said sure but it was just strange that no one greeted us, it was just "you want menus?" Lol. Another server brought us menus and asked if we would like water and a breadbasket. We said yes and after about 15 minutes, bread arrived. We chatted with the server about what drinks we should order; I ordered a French 75 and my husband ordered a special Sazerac. We also ordered the tuna carpoacio. After about 10 minutes, the server came back and to confirm if I wanted the soft side cocktail and if my husband wanted an old fashioned. We said we did not and corrected him. Then, a server tried to give our drinks to the table next to us and our server corrected him and brought steak tartare. And then he goes "oh wait, did you order this?" We said no and he asked if we wanted it because if not he had to throw it away lol. And then 5 seconds later, the tuna came. Both the tuna carpaccio and the steak tartare were delicious. But this was the entire evening: we ordered something, something else came. I ordered a glass of sparkling rose, and an espresso martini appeared on the house. We had to ask for our bill twice and when we got our bill, it was definitely someone else's. Finally, as we were preparing to go, the original server comes back and goes "here's your espresso martini." Like bro we asked you originally for the check and we are clearly leaving. Luckily, my husband and I had plenty of time before our show, it was a great atmosphere, and the food was super delicious. It was just such a comically bizarre experience and I feel like they are definitely losing money. I think we paid for half of what we ate and drank and probably ate and drank other people's food! Maybe we will go back? Maybe not lol

The overall restaurant felt rustic and honey (minus chill because the restaurant was a little…read morechilly where we were sitting). Our server was attentive, welcoming, and patient. The Salted Caramel Martini was delicious, creamy, caramel-y, and smooth. The wine menu could include more sweet wines because we were recommended the Rosé for something sweet. Now the food, overall, I'd give the food 4 stars because the Bouef Bourguignon was full of flavor, beef was tender, sauce was seasoned quite well. My partner had the Coq au Vin, which was more on the lightly seasoned spectrum compared to the beef dish. If you're more into lightly seasoned dish, I'd go with this one. Otherwise, the bouef bourguignon would be the deep flavor dish.

Really good, classic, homie French food tucked in the corner of a shopping center in Germantown…read more French onion soup had a very nice broth that was light on salt. Beef bourguignon had quality ingredients that really highlighted the beef and the rich red wine sauce. It was a little quiet for lunch, but I came on a Tuesday. I hear nights and weekends draw a bigger crowd, which makes sense because you really need to take your time and enjoy the delicious meal while savoring the music and ambiance. Bon appetite!

YES! Yes, Yes, yes, yes, yes!! Run, don't walk, to L'Auberge…read moreChez Francois in Great Falls, VA!! They're not just a restaurant, it's a full experience. I've been dining here since I was in High School - trying to impress my dates - and 35 years later it's even better than I remember. I even got engaged here 15 years ago. The service here is just unequalled. I walked through the front door and was immediately greeted by name - they just know somehow (magic). And the server became a good friend by the time we left. The ambiance takes you back to old-world France - simply gorgeous. The food was amazing as usual. I had the Beef Wellington with foie gras and it was cooked perfectly. The wine was amazing. Everyone loved their food. They knew it was our friend's birthday and brought them a free little desert treat. More than ever, L'Auberge is not just a restaurant, it's a magical experience worthy of being a culinary destination. Loved it and can't wait to go back.

First, driving to L'Auberge Chez Francois at night is an adventure all its own. I might recommend…read moregetting there in the daylight even if you have reservations, just to enjoy all of the gorgeous winding roads and tree-lined turns. And, if you get lost easily even with GPS, you might arrive with the gift of daylight. Especially if you are not familiar with Great Falls. The drive does really double the charm of the meal, here. I love the old world aesthetic of L'Auberge Chez Francois. It is intimate, elevated, classic and offers many diners Alsatian meals to remember. I used my hiring bonus to take a new hire here. We both enjoyed steaks. It's been awhile but I loved the French Onion Soup and whatever fabulous steak they were offering that season. I just took a look at the current menu and if I was ordering this season, the Chateaubriand de l'Auberge - for two - is looking like the winner. I think they have their own garden which the vegetables with the steak come with. We went in the evening, so I didn't get to see the lush gardens pictured on their website. And I am sure the béarnaise and truffle sauce are divine. I might have enjoyed a hot soufflé here. The current soufflé options, aside from the dessert tray, are Grand Marnier, Chocolate and Raspberry. Where else can you find 3 variations of soufflé? For that matter, where can you enjoy soufflés, at all? Definitely check their event list for the special wine dinners and musical events at www.laubergechezfrancois.com. Happy Hours are on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6pm. At time of writing, their famed Garlic bread and salads range between $6 to $10 and small plates range between $15 and $20. Craft beers, wine and cocktails range between $7 and $12. L'Auberge Chez Francois is a lovely and special place to dine and celebrate.

Everything was awesome. Service, food, company, the fact that the server never rushed us into…read moreanything realizing we are a group of friends catching up. Sure, we ordered expensive things including bottle of bubbly for $149, but we also enjoyed our time and felt take care of all in the right time. We know this place and always had good experience, so it is awesome to know some things remain perfect as they are. And we got there at 16:00 so quieter time to give us more time to talk even loud without (I hope) disturbing other patrons. Definitely will be dining there again.

Bistrot du Coin has been a Dupont Circle fixture since it opened on Memorial Day 2000, founded by…read moreYannis Felix and Michel Verdon under the motto "French, Fun and Friendly." It recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and has been a consistent presence on best-of-DC French restaurant lists, including InsideHook's, for its old-school Parisian charm. I didn't find record of a specific named award (e.g., a Washingtonian award), just consistent recognition in local "best of" roundups. I had the escargot, mussels, steak au poivre, onion soup, and Mont Blanc chestnut mousse for dessert -- all solid, classic bistro dishes done well. The atmosphere is lively and loud, with picnic-style tablecloths and a packed second floor -- fits the casual Parisian bistro feel they've built over 25 years. Service was brusque, no-nonsense, consistent with what you'd expect from a French bistro -- not overly attentive but efficient. Good option if you want an authentic, long-running French bistro experience in DC.

Great Filets and meal! Just passing though, we spent our…read morefirst night ever in the area. Thursday night in August, and my wife loved walking around all the shops and restaurants. Lots of places to eat have good reviews but are empty. Then we get to F132 and every table is full and there's a line waiting! We had no reservation and got seated at the bar area in 5 min. Staff were all perfect. Oysters, wedge salad, (2) filet with 2 sides, and 3 drinks, and peanut butter pie dessert. $200 + $40 tip. Crystal commented twice how excellent the steak was, and we eat steaks in a lot of places. Highly recommend!

I entered the restaurant at approximately 4:00 p.m. after standing outside in the heat. There was…read morealready a long line of guests waiting at the bar, so I was pleased to be seated promptly. Upon entering, I informed the hostess that I had a reservation, and I was then escorted to my table. Shortly thereafter, Trevor came over to introduce himself. I advised him that Merlot is my preferred wine, and he graciously showed me the available Merlot selections. I chose a half-bottle of Duckhorn. For my meal, Trevor recommended the steak and the soup. Both were delicious. The soup was excellent, and the mashed potatoes were clearly homemade, which was a nice touch. My only disappointment was that the steak was heavily charred--almost blackened. I was also surprised that the entrée was not accompanied by a vegetable. Despite those minor shortcomings, the meal was delicious, and Trevor provided excellent service throughout the evening. In fact, I suspect that because of the overly charred steak, the restaurant generously comped my coffee, which was a very thoughtful gesture. Overall, this was a very enjoyable dining experience. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and Trevor's knowledge and attentiveness contributed significantly to my positive experience.