Continues to impress! I've wondered how this was going to differentiate itself from Le Dip (both Stephen Starr, menu options are very similar and comparably priced for the most part). And I think I'm starting to appreciate Pastis for being a bit more relaxed atmosphere, increased ability to take walk-ins over reservations, and generally a more casual vibe (no white table cloth, never feel rushed to leave). I actually prefer Pastis because the food is just as good, but way more approachable. Keep it up! read more

Pastis - Grilled chicken sandwich - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Stopped in after an event at Union Market for drinks and bites. Ended up having the best thing I've tasted all year- the steak sandwich. I don't even like steak so that says something. Perfect balance of fat and acid with a ciabatta that doesn't tear up your mouth. Absolutely delicious. The leeks and vinaigrette were also refreshingly unique and gave a nice little zing. Charles was wonderful, all of the staff was very friendly and helpful. Old school bistro vibes a la Le Diplomate (same owner). The lighting was rough for pictures but hopefully they give you a good idea of what to expect. read more

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We had another great experience at Pastis! As a party of two, we walked in for an early dinner and were seated without a reservation. The onion soup was truly delicious! And I really enjoyed the crispy artichokes. My husband had the steak frites, and that was perfectly pink and rare. It was all great! For cocktails, I had the m. marmalade, and it was artfully crafted. I loved it. Definitely check out Pastis! We have been a couple times now, and it lived up to the hype both times. read more

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Second time trying Pastis and my last. It continues to feel like a mid restaurant hiding behind high-end marketing. We ordered five different entrées and three desserts and nothing stood out or showed real effort. The service was equally pour. Our server seemed disengaged and brought the bill before we even had the chance to order desert. She made very little effort the whole time even with a pretty empty restaurant. read more

Cute neighborhood gem. The outdoor patio is so cute! My steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. My kids had the beef stroganoff and they were not overly impressed with the dish. We had great service and enjoyed our dining experience. read more

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Pastis was very good. But it was not great. We ate outside -- the interior was too noisy for conversation, even on a Wednesday night when they weren't that busy. The service was excellent. Not surprisingly, the bar steak with frites, was the best dish among everything the three of us ordered. The profiteroles for dessert was the least interesting and seemed like something you could make at home very easily and have turn out just as well. Bottom line: if you're in Union Market (we were), Pastis was an excellent option for dinner. I would not make a trip across DC just to eat here. read more

Pastis - Bar - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you are easily overstimulated maybe don't go on a Friday evening like I did. It was loud and crowded. The tables are very close together making it difficult to navigate around the restaurant. I will try to go again sometime Monday - Wednesday to see if it's less stimulating. Escargot was buttery goodness. Duck confit was cooked perfectly and not fatty at all. The sticky toffee pudding was the perfect balance of sweet and boozy. I loved the food! read more

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Pastis is a good place to enjoy comforting classic French dishes. Our favorites were the onion soup and the beouf bourguignon. The house-made sourdough is also excellent and I shamelessly asked for our baskets to be refilled. The only downside to our meal was the noise level. It was really hard to hear conversation at our table because the restaurant was bustling. Pastis offers indoor and outdoor seating as well as valet parking. read more

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We had dinner here tonight to celebrate my daughter's graduation from American University today. The restaurant was completely full and we were seated at a table in the back. It can get a little loud. The menu offers plenty of appetizers, salads, pastas, steaks and other entrees. We started with the escargot and potato pierogis. Both appetizers tasted great. For entrees we had the bar steak, crispy duck, salmon and French onion soup. Everyone loved their dishes. read more

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A very popular place. We had an early evening dinner and the whole restaurant was hopping at 5pm. The Leeks vinaigrette was, hands down, our favorite! Melt in your mouth. I could have had a few more of those. The steak tartar and mussels and fries were good, but the special Cioppino was a bit lacking in flavor and size for a $37 price tag. More bread than soup. The drinks and service were both fine. read more

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My favorite neighborhood spot! It's so good every time. I sat at the bar and the service was great! Steak frites were cooked perfectly and I enjoyed the martinis and oysters. read more

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Pastis in DC is a French-influenced restaurant, with a full bar and attentive, friendly servers. And did I mention that the food is delicious? Do yourself a favor and do not skip dessert. read more

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The food was pretty okay. I felt like the branzino could've had a little more flavor. And the pomme frite could've been hot. But overall the meal was fine, would probably come back if I'm in the area. read more

Pastis - Branzino - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really really LOVE the aesthetic! It's makes me feel like I'm in another place. Somewhere away from DC! The service is hit or miss honestly! I've encountered very kind fun loving staff and I've encountered condescending staff with nasty dispositions. It just depends on the day I guess. The food is good but also mid (definitely lacking flavor and seasoning but still decent). I've had the mussels/fries, steak/fries, and the cesar salad all on separate occasions. The fries are not consistent and those are my fav! Especially with a good pot of mussels smh! It just wasn't what I was hoping! The drinks... AMAZING! Obviously it's the bartenders but they are also hit or miss! You can tell they have favorites and certain types of people they cater to but again it depends on the day! Overall I do enjoy this place from time to time but I think they can do a little better with customer service! They're still a fairly new restaurant here so I'll give it time lol.. I'll be going back! Recommending as well. I still want to try a few other dishes and a couple more cocktails! It's a neighborhood spot, so it's super convenient! read more

Get the lobster frites! *chefs kiss* I had a pretty good experience. The weather was warm enough to sit outside and people watch. Our waiter was nice, good food, & good cocktails. read more

Pastis - Artichoke - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here for a girls night out and we had a blast with the great drinks and great food! Our waiter was very patient as we took time to catch up and peruse the menu. The ambience was great. It wasn't loud, but had a fun laid back vibe that would be great for a night out with friends or even for a date. For appetizer, we split the artichokes, pirogies and steak tartare, and for dinner I ordered the onion soup. Everything was delicious! I would absolutely come here again, in fact, I'm already planning on bringing my husband. Next time I'd love to try the mussels, as those looked delicious. read more

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This place has the young folks vibe but suitable for everyone. Loud, but we don't mind. Friendly service though a bit slow on a Sat night. No big deal! Great food but must have the Vietnamese coffee ice cream. Escargot was decent but you only get 3 slices of crostinis. Parking is hard but valet was only $12. Totally worth it!!!! read more

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Just had a wonderful Saturday brunch at Pastis. We knew from the warm greeting we received from the beautiful Hanane that we were going to have a wonderful experience. And we were right! Our server, Mo, was fantastic! So charming, warm, and attentive. . Carter's drinks (Bloody Mary and Cafe Pastis ( espresso martini) with Bailey's were excellent, and the food (crepe complet and gruyere omelette) was delicious, as always! Mo, Carter, and Hanane, thanks for a wonderful afternoon! We will definitely be back! read more

I absolutely enjoyed this place and will return. The ambiance, service and food were amazing. I like the fact that in Union Market there are options to park so I don't have to ride around too much to find parking. Our waiter, Emerson was fairly new to working at the restaurant but did a great job. He answered all our questions and made great suggestions. We had the calamari for appetizer, bar steak with fries and bar steak with salad and then the crème burlee and sticky toffee pudding. They were all soooo good. Our reservation was at 5:30pm and it was pretty quiet but by time we left about 7:15pm, the Friday night crowd was out. It was noisy but not in a bad way. I will be back. read more

Pastis - Bar Steak - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

While there's nothing quite like a restaurant in Paris, Pastis bears a faithful resemblance to one. The volume level can be quite American--loud--during off hours when the rooms are at full capacity, though early or late dining mitigates this considerably. The food is excellent. For me, the hallmark of French-inspired dining is not fanciness; it's ingredient sourcing and cooking. I ordered Eggs Any Style and ran a simple test: Do the eggs taste like eggs? Do the potatoes taste like potatoes? Is there earth in the potato skin? Can I taste the yeast in plain white-bread toast? Does the coffee, taken black, stand on its own without cream or sugar? The answers were yes across the board. The pancakes were crisp on the outside and moist and fluffy within. The service was efficient. A common error in faux-French dining is mistaking ostentatiousness, condescension, or excessive ornamentation for authenticity. Pastis avoids this. Service errs on the side of efficiency rather than warmth, which is perfectly acceptable. I go to restaurants to be with friends, not to socialize with waiters. The music was fine. On my first visit, classic neo-bop--Miles, Hank Mobley, Wes--was playing, which felt genuinely French in spirit. On my most recent visit, Superfly was on, followed later by a Tina Turner cover of a Led Zeppelin tune. Perfectly serviceable. Atmospherically, the space is a bit cavernous. This is a significant departure from the intimacy of a traditional French bistro. But if you truly need a French restaurant, there are planes leaving from BWI every day. The economics of American restaurants appear to demand a certain scale, along with the accompanying volume level. I'm reminded of Petite Cerise, which created a similar atmosphere with equally thoughtful food, but did not survive--presumably because success in American dining requires a certain size. If you're looking for a very good, well-executed dining experience where the higher price is justified by sourcing and cooking, go to Pastis during off hours. Bon appétit. read more

Had a great time!! Pasta was fire!! Pasta limone rocket!! Highly recommended Vibe of the place and the air is totally great!! read more

Pastis - Great pastas I enjoyed every bite!! Pasta limone - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Pastis is a great place to celebrate, and thanks to the restaurant week extension, we got to have a multi-course experience in a unique setting with excellent waitstaff. Mo took great care of us and shared his menu recommendations. I will be back to try the beef stew and trout! read more

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A group of friends and I came in on a random Wednesday....Amaretto sours, whiskey sours and everyone ordering half the menu! I had the cioppino and it was to die for !!! Honestly I cannot wait to return. The waitstaff were so friendly. The food came out hot, tasty and quickly. NO NOTES! read more

Had a delicious meal at Pastis - new Stephen Starr restaurant in Union Market. Very easy to make a reservation - we loved the French onion soup and the crème brûlée, but there are some obvious classics they do so well too such as the beef bourguignon, burger, and New York strip steak! I would love to come back here for brunch! read more

Pastis - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My wife and I went to Pastis recently and had a great experience. Our server was fantastic. She was kind, responsive, prompt and much more. My wife and I started off with a mocktail and got the onion soup and calamari to start. The peppers with the calamari were a great touch. Haven't had that before. I got the cheeseburger but it was medium well. I should have gotten medium rare. It was still awesome regardless. Love the vibe and the mood of this place. read more

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This Euro-feeling bistro has an good selection of pastas, but the meat selections are terrific. I've seen other reviews about the salt-level on some dishes, so we took precaution and requested no salt, and they followed our request nicely. They have 3 steak options, the most affordable being the Bar Steak, that is an excellent choice. I say if you want a higher end steak, go elsewhere, but the Bar Steak is terrific. I am a huge fan of Duck Confit, and theirs is as good and tasty as it gets. The chicken dishes are solid, tasty and filling, but not an innovative offering, but good for those who stay in that safer zone. Be aware that when busy the noise level here does present some challenges with conversation. But in the end, the food, ambience and service make Pastis a great choice in the Union Market community. read more

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We had another great meal at Pastis. We started by sharing an order of French onion soup. It was everything we hoped for. Very flavorful with lots of gooey cheese. The steak frites (NY strip) was perfectly prepared & wonderfully juicy. The fries were crisp & delicious. The trout almandine was a hit as well. Light & flaky & smothered with almonds. Finally came the chocolate mousse. It may have been the best item of them all--so rich & tasty. read more

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We had a great experience! Great service. The lobster frites had SO many fries and they were soooo good! Calamari was yummy! We got a complementary little treat for dessert... would go back for a special occasion...definitely on the pricey side. read more

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Super cute interior. Bartender was super friendly and walked me through the menu. My party and I were seated promptly and even moved to a bugger table when the original space couldn't accommodate us. I started with the onion soup. Delicious, cheesy, and flavorful. My main was the Caesar salad. Very good! I'll be back! read more

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Went to Pastis for the second time last night and was blown away by the quality of the food, outstanding service, and great vibes. Our waiter was so friendly and personable, and offered some great cocktail recommendations. We did the restaurant week menu, so we got to try three courses. I tried the steak tartare, steak frites, and tarte au citron. Every course was phenomenal, my steak was the perfect medium rare, and I woke up still thinking about that tartare. Pastis makes for the perfect date night or spot to catch up with some friends. Literally no complaints whatsoever, an easy 5 stars! read more

Pastis - Bar steak - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Soooooo I went back to my favorite restaurant and again, I did not leave disappointed. Pastis is literally my favorite restaurant in the city I swear. The service is always 10/10, from the host to our sweetie pie waitress, everyone was amazing! I always ask whoever our waitress/waiter is what their favorite off the cocktail menu is and her (I wish I remembered her name so bad, she was so sweet and so pretty!!!) recommendation was The Eiffel Sour so I got that and OMG!!! IT WAS PERFECT!!! And my girlie pop with me is non-alcoholic so she got the Amaro Spritz N/A, she loveddddd it! Very much appreciate Pastis for having Pathfinder, a beautiful non-alcoholic spirit, on the menu! After that we ordered our favs - escargot and crispy calamari to start. For main's we got the Spaghetti Limone, Steak Frites - New York Strip, and the Saturday special - Rack of Lamb! LOVE LOVE LOVEDDDDDD EVERYTHING as usual! Shoutout to the kitchen staff too for always being so kind for when I ask for extra of the escargot sauce/butter for our steak and rack of lamb!!! WILL BE BACK SOON read more

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What a lovely restaurant with the perfect French interior design for a date night. Since Le Dip's reservations are always booked, I thought Pastis would be closest to having their burger. We had the pierogis (so worth it), Cheeseburger and fries, and for him was Croque Monsieur. The dishes were huge. We had room for dessert and got the profiteroles. We would love to be back during fall and winter where the heartier entrees would be delightful. read more

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Very good service and a nice selection of hors d'oeuvres. Beautiful restaurant more airy than the Pastis in NYC. A bit pricey but a nice afternoon out with friends. read more

Pastis - Menu - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great and consistent service, food was just okay, nothing that was really outstanding. I would be open for coming back for brunch, but probably not dinner. As a note, I was a fan of the le petit pickle martini! It was so perfect I had two! read more

I've been to Pastis DC twice now, once as a couple, once with a group, and both times were great. It's bustling and friendly, and maybe my only minor quibble is that it feels a little Disneyesque. But the food is great, and everyone seems to be having fun at Pastis. The Bluepoints are fresh and briny. The caesar salad is one of the best in town. Gazpacho is light and delicious. I loved the mussels, steak frites, and tuna tartare. The tartare is light and dressed with just lemon, and it sits on crème fraiche packed with dill. It was amazing. And did I mention the frites? So good! I think the wine by the glass is a bit pricey, but I guess that's life in DC these days. I want to get back to Pastis in the fall and sit outside. The seating is so pretty with little lamps on each table. And definitely get the French onion soup! read more

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I stopped by for dinner while I waited for my reservation at the F1 arcade. It was a Friday night and there was a nice crowd inside, but I was able to get a seat at the bar. French isn't a cuisine I have often so I wasn't sure what to expect. I ordered the Moroccan braised lamb and a side of spinach. The lamb was delicious and paired well with the couscous, veggies, & sauce (I think it was a yogurt sauce). My friend had the lobster frites and I really enjoyed that dish. That's what I'll order next time. read more

Pastis - Spinach - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Really solid French spot with generally something for everyone. It's a very lively space but can get very loud - they should have put more acoustic insulation in as it can sometimes be impossible to hear the other people at your table depending where you're seated. I usually sit at the bar and always have a good experience there. When l've sat at a table the experience has been very mixed. Service is unpredictable in the dining area and it's a toss up if the server is diligent or not. One server didn't know what a meringue was which was puzzling. Management has always been excellent and helpful, though, same as the bar staff, especially Jeffrey. Overall solid spot for a dinner with friends but I wouldn't slate it for a special occasion. Le Dip is definitely the better of Starr's French spots in the city. Food wise, the lemon dessert is delicious and crispy artichoke is really tasty. I recently dined there for restaurant week and the Crab & Avocado is a new favorite: light, bright, and perfectly seasoned. The crème brûlée is also perfection. As far as drinks go the, Petite Pickle martini is the ideal size for a boozy amuse bouche. read more

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Went to hang out with a friend. Lovely and comfortable environment, servers were on point, food was excellent and quite generous. I had the French onion soup, foie gras parfait (which was massive), and chocolate mousse. I couldn't eat it all and I couldn't take it with me on account of travel but I intend to do-over soonest. read more

Pastis - French onion soup and foie gras parfait - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Pastis made my 30th birthday awesome! Hanane was our server and had great energy, as did the rest of the staff. The food was excellent and came out quickly. They even gave us all champagne at the end. They make it easy to book large parties, allowing you to book up to 12 on Resy. I can't wait to go back! read more

Of course, as with all Starr restaurants, the ambiance and lighting is fantastic. It is certainly reminiscent of a French bistro and Le Dip (if not a bit of a caricature, but that's to be expected) and an excellent date spot because of it. The service was great and attentive. Cocktails were good too. However, the food itself was just fine. We have scallops and trout, both of which were good, but just good. Since the portions were measly we both left a bit hungry after an appetiser and two entrees. In a word, expensive. Definitely more so than Le Dip and other Starr restaurants. read more