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    Rosemary Bistro Cafe

    4.3 (84 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Rosemary Bistro Cafe Photos

    ROSEMARY BISTRO CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Rosemary Bistro Cafe

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    Linda O.

    The French onion soup and classic Caesar salad are both standouts. The prime beef tips are a nice surprise; tips are tender and accompanying cognac pepper sauce is bright and yummy. Their creme brulee is respectable, but not out of this world. Overall plating of food is noticeably attractive. Service is friendly, however can get behind when the crush is on. This is a quintessential "cozy place". The space is narrow and features lots of booth-tables that make for an intimate setting, especially for small parties of 2-4. There's also an outside dining option, weather permitting. I've only had lunch here; and enjoy it. Tom Sietsema, longtime Washington Post food critic, recognized Rosemary Bistro Cafe as a top spot in 2022.

    Hair in omelette

    HAIR IN THE FOOD ‼ I came here for Mother's Day brunch for my mom and grandma and what a ridiculous disappointment. It took 50 minutes for them to bring us a bread basket. They sat our reservation for 7 adults at a table fit for MAYBE 5 people. They cooked my mother's meal incorrectly but after 2 hours we did not want it remade. Iced latte was served hot with a glass of ice. It's a shame because this is a neighborhood spot my grandparents have loved, and now we will never be back. Rosemary, get your service together.

    Beet Tartare flan of bucheron goat cheese brûlée, pistachios, candied orange zest, and 
special sauce
    Alexandra K.

    After living in the neighborhood for a few years, I finally made my way over to Rosemary Bistro for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day this year. I've purchased their pastries available at the seasonal farmers market, so I had a sense of what to expect, but of course the dine-in experience is always different. I say "dine-in" but my MIL insisted on eating on the sidewalk patio on a chilly mid-morning, so that alone killed it for me. However, my beet tartare flan was very prettily prepared, and I was definitely fooled into forgetting that the dish came with a round of farmer's cheese, I mistook it for half a jammy egg! (I took the entire thing home to heat) up and eat there, and it was very good.) My partner got the egg white omelette, and from the picture you can see it looks nice, but the potatoes were cold (I personally blame my MIL, not the restaurant, for that), and while the omelette was okay, he was a bit overwhelmed by the volume of feta (admittedly he's been eating less dairy recently). He was also disappointed with the coffee. At least my MIL was thrilled with her avocado toast. She declared it the best she's ever had, and she seemed very excited by the hot, frothy milk served on the side with her coffee. All in all, probably not a place my partner and I will return to for ourselves, but very happy to have found a local, reasonably priced option that will keep my MIL happy

    Warm onion tart - little to no onion taste, not warm
    Elizabeth B.

    First, the good - nice server, visually appealing food presentation, and the beet carpaccio was tasty. Live saxophone music was really nice on a Saturday night! But alas, things went downhill fast with the food. My warm onion tart had little if any onion flavor, and wasn't warm. The chicken, mussels meunière and $24 filet burger were all bland and underwhelming. I asked for more bread in anticipation of soaking up delicious broth from the mussels, but it was completely bland. I hope they don't have to throw away the bread, unfortunately, it was not needed. Fries were blah and not hot. Wish the food tasted as good as it looks! It wasn't crowded and we noticed that I am Eddie Cano next door was hopping - maybe that's a hint.

    Grilled swordfish over couscous
    David A.

    I'd been to Rosemary's before, but I think they've really leveled up. Our family had dinner there last week for my wife's birthday. I had the grilled swordfish, a restaurant week special. It was delicious, but the presentation was most memorable: A perfectly circular inch-high bed of couscous with sprinkled succotash above a drizzled red-orange sauce, all holding up the filet, with garnishes on top. (Just check out the photo, I can't do it justice.) High marks also for onion soup and creme brulee. We ate outside, so I can't say anything about indoor ambience, but the sidewalk tables have improved significantly in terms of space and comfort since the last time I was there. Friendly service, too.

    Rabbit leg
    Yin Y.

    A good brunch menu. More like 3.5 stars for the following reasons: 1. Our waiters got our orders wrong twice and it was only two tables inside on a Sat morning. I was surprised to see an empty space when walked in. 2. The mussels are a bit bland. On top of that, lots of sand in the mussels. Clearly the cleaning was not done properly. I wanted to support a neighborhood business, but I am probably not going back.

    Outdoor covered section
    Anthony B.

    I was greeted warmly right away as I entered the establishment and seated in the outdoor area; I ordered the classic muscles, which were cooked very well. The sauce at the bottom could use some work. It was a bit bland to be honest, I'm not sure what it needed. it could've used a bit more flavor. The service was good and everyone seem to enjoy themselves. Overall, I had a good time.

    Posters of Bayonne France in the Pays Basque
    Dan F.

    I've eaten here several times this year. It's a nice place with good food. Now that Blue44 has closed this may be my new go to neighborhood restaurant, although parking is a little tougher.

    Mussels
    Letisha W.

    This place is an upscale cafe in my opinion. We called ahead for sane day reservations and were seated quickly. They do have gluten free options or ability to modify, let your server know. The beet salad is always a favorite of mine and this one was delicious. It's on the sweet side but not too sweet, after all it's beets. I could have eaten 2 more servings it was so good to me. The muscles were a decent size portion and tasted fresh with fresh herbs, but it lacked flavor and seasoning. I would not order it again unless they changed the recipe. I usually like a light white wine sauce, cream or red sauce. This tasted steamed with fresh herbs mildly flavored. Personally, I would revamp this recipe. The ingredients were nice tho. The cafe is small and busy and my server was great BUT, to me this environment would work better if everyone helped each other out, like all hands on. Coppi in bDC used to do service that way. Everyone had all tables so things moved more quickly and tips were shared. The busboys were on it! Fast, courteous and attentive. The steak and cheese sandwich was good, the bread delicious. The salad it came with could use improvements. The cooked green peppers with lettuce was just a strange combo and the salad dressing was meh with flavor. The ingredients were fresh tho and a good variety. The lettuce, I would have trimmed off the harder pieces for a place of this caliber. I probably would have enjoyed this dish more if it was more seasoned. The French Fries soooo good, I had to order an extra order. I don't think I have had better fries in this area. It reminded me of Republic fries that used to be in Takoma Park. We would go there just for fries sometimes. The duck confit was delicious. That was better than the sandwich. The duck was moist and perfectly seasoned. The sauce it was laid on fabulous. The oranges on the the plate sooo good, I really enjoyed them. The potatoes perfectly cooked and this dish was nicely seasoned and the vegetables buttery. The snow peas to me a little overdone. They were soggy and I like mine crispy. The carrots perfect. We used dipped the steak sandwich in the sauce and it tasted even better. I would probably serve a side of that sauce with the steak sandwich or serve some bread with the duck. The sauce is too yummy to leave a drop behind. The desert star was the floating merengue. I love chocolate and this was better than the chocolate GF cake and ice cream. The owner suggested that one and he was right! Sooo good. It's light, moist, fluffy, not too sweet and full of flavor. It's a little pricey but for fresh ingredients, with many components and a decent portion size, I found it fare. I was surprised with the many drink selections, they had NO mocktails. This place could easily add some fresh juice or non alcoholic creative drinks and boost their sales and add to the dining experience. A fresh fruit infused ice tea or lemonade even would be a great addition.

    Fish of the day
    Christopher P.

    Excellent French food, lovely service, and fun decor. My dining companion and I ordered the fish of the day, scallops, and dumplings. Everything was absolutely delicious. Service was cheerful and helpful and we enjoyed the surroundings. They were able to get us in and out of the restaurant quickly as we had a show to see. Definitely will be back to try the other options on the menu.

    Fennel salad
    Stuart M.

    A safe outdoor environment with heat lamps, and festive lights. Good service. We started with an off menu special salad that had walnuts, blue cheese, fennel, lettuce, burnt peach,and a nice vinaigrette. They divided it for my wife and I without our asking. A great mix of ingredients that go well together. We had the duck leg entree. It had a savory reduction sauce that was expertly developed. The sides were a salad, and potato slices. The portion size for each component was small. Our other entree was branzino filet, with a side of spinach, butternut squash, and cranberries. The fish was moist, but the skin was soft in spots. In prefer the skin crispy. I liked the sides, but couldn't find cranberries. Again, smallish portion size. I enjoyed my pinot noir. Overall, I the food was quite good, and there was a welcomed atmosphere. I would prefer a slightly larger portion, however.

    Beet Salad

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    Thank you so much! We appreciate it!

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    7 months ago

    Food, service, and ambience very good for the price. Best restaurant near Ingleside. Parking easy.

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    Thank you! We are glad you enjoyed your meal and hope to see you soon

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Rosemary Bistro Cafe

    Can I order to go?

    Yes, you most certainly can. They have a great to go menu and even deliver within a mile of the restaurant. Great food with awesome service!

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    The Best Sandwich Place - Korean Steak Melt Sandwich

    The Best Sandwich Place

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    4.3 miDowntown
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    This is a busy little sandwich shop that has a small dining area and some seating out front on the…read moresidewalk. There is metered street parking and commercial lots/garages within a reasonable walking distance from here. They serve wraps, salads, and cold and hot sandwiches. I ordered the Korean Steak Sandwich. It took them about 10 to 15 minutes to prepare my sandwich. They should use a number system for order pickups because people, including myself, had difficulty determining which order they were serving. Many of the sandwich names sounded alike. My sandwich was kind of small for the price, and it wasn't very filling. It was, however, very good. It was flavorful and packed with flavor. The service was ok. It was nothing special. They did their job and did not go beyond or be overly friendly. All in all, I would recommend checking this deli out for some really good sandwiches. They really do live up to their name, the Best Sandwich Place.

    3.5 stars! This is a…read moregreat location and they are super quick with making your food & checking you out! I came here after seeing a lot online about their Chicken Caesar Wrap. Personally, don't think the hype meets the expectations. But with that said, it's still a good wrap and I'd get it again but I don't think it's the best wrap I've had or worth going out of your way for. If you're hungry and near by, sure go get it but don't make any special trips just for this wrap. Id love to try their other options on the menu at some point!

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    Fresh Baguette - A Nutella croissant... speaks for itself, really.

    Fresh Baguette

    4.4(25 reviews)
    1.6 miCleveland Park

    Picked up the torch when Yelp changed their ordering platform and I wanted to keep sending my…read morebrother's family way too many baked goods on Saturday mornings despite being 3,000 miles away. Grubhub chastised me for being "too far away". Well the Fresh Bag website ordering was a breeze, they delivered in 45 minutes and everything from the madeleines to the quiche was perfect. Love the sourdough. And the almond croissants are always a hit.

    We are patrons of the other locations and menu so I'd like to believe this was a one off for this…read morelocation. The chocolate eclair was completely frozen and stale with hardened pastry cream and ice fragments. We let the staff at the counter know in case the refrigeration temperatures were off. The canele was rubbery and chewy with an eggy aftertaste unlike the caneles we've had at the McLean location. Three in a group of five felt abdominal discomfort after having the pastries. The Rustic Boule, again something we've bought multiple times was doughier than usual, without the hearty pores and crust, like it was packed warm days ago. The saving grace was the pistachio orange blossom tart. Stars are for the tart and one of the guys at the counter who was kind enough to hold on to a sling bag the 7 year old left behind. Kid was in tears but knowing the bag was safe brought a smile to her face while we drove back to get it.

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    Fresh Baguette - Yummy gluten free thing

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    Duke's Counter - Wagyu burger and elote.... Yum

    Duke's Counter

    4.2(648 reviews)
    1.9 miWoodley Park
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    Wow this place must be popping when the zoo is really lively! It was the tail end of ZooLights, and…read moreit was busy, but my friend and I were able to grab bar seats. A friend invited me to go on a little Duke's tour with her, and this was our first stop. They were decked out in panda decor and had a charming menu. I was mainly there for their drinks, but I decided to try their quinoa salad too. What a hefty, satisfying salad! The butternut squash, goat cheese, and pumpkin seeds were the highlights. Based on this initial experience, I'd be back for sure. Good happy hour too. Now, this location may be a little out of my way, but thankfully there are closer Duke's.

    Stopped in at Duke's before heading in to the zoo. I was really excited after reading a lot of good…read morethings about their burger. It was an overall ok experience. The service when we went left a lot to be desired. It was busy for sure being a weekend but not overwhelming. There were empty tables inside. Even still, it took forever to get acknowledged at times just to take our order. If we hadn't asked someone walking by for the bill, we still may be there. We had an app of fries and then my main was the burger with fries. The fries were great. They are those style of pub fries that are crispy and delicious. The garlic aioli dip was a great pairing for them. The burger was fine. It wasn't anything out of this world but it was still good. All the toppings blended well with the burger. I felt it could have used some more flavor. Duke's is in an unbeatable spot being right across from the entrance to the zoo. If you are looking for a bite right there, it's a good option.

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    Nash & Smashed

    Nash & Smashed

    4.6(14 reviews)
    0.0 miChevy Chase

    Very good chicken sandwich, and waffle fries are sooo good and super crispy!…read more Also there mint beverage was really a must

    This fried chicken could actually rival that of local chicken sandwich chain Roaming Rooster. That…read morewas my first thought when I opened the box of my Honey Butter Buzz chicken sandwich. Eaten fresh at the gas station, the chicken was still steaming after I took my first few bites. I ordered it "spicy" and it was just the right level for me. Like Roaming Rooster's honey butter chicken sandwich, Nash and Smashed's also has cheese in it, which I think overpowered the honey butter oozing from the top of the chicken. The chicken itself, though, was delicious and juicy. I got a side of their creamy signature sauce in the bag, but I did not really need it since there was already plenty of sauce for me inside the sandwich. It probably would have gone well with their waffle fries had I gotten them. The sandwich alone was enough to fill me up. A big reason for me coming to Nash and Smashed was a 3.99 deal for the Oh My Thigh chicken sandwich that they advertised on their Instagram page. I was bummed to learn this location was not doing it. This gas station version of their menu didn't even have that chicken on it, so the worker had no idea what I was talking about. Just a warning if you see any deal on their social media page. There's stool seating on the side with a lovely view of the gas station and Connecticut Ave out the window. There was enough room for four to five people. Another comparison to Roaming Rooster, the chicken sandwich prices are a little cheaper than RR's. Only a few menu items sound similar, but Nash and Smashed has a larger selection of burgers, chicken buckets, sides, and drinks. FWIW some guys next to me raved about their hamburgers, especially the sauce.

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    Nash & Smashed - Honey butter buzz Sandwich

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    Rosemary Bistro Cafe - french - Updated May 2026

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