3 Best French Restaurants in Washington, DC

“Le Diplomate serves classic French food and drinks in a relaxed restaurant. Their big menu has many favorite French dishes like steak with fries, snails, onion soup, and daily specials like fish stew and bean stew. Their team of dedicated chefs, servers, and managers is passionate about hospitality and French food. This passion helps them create a warm, joyful, and memorable experience for every guest every day. They have a great wine list with wines from France and special cocktails to make your meal extra nice. You can try their Beef Bourguignon, American-style Burger, Halibut Bourride, and Trout Amandine. There are options for vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free diets. They also offer group dining. The semi-private L’Orangerie room fits up to 40 people, and the semi-private Terrace seats up to 60. Group dinners are available every day, and private lunches from Monday to Friday. Their Weekend Menu is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 pm to 5 pm. They offer free street parking and sell gift cards.”

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“Central Michel Richard Washington offers a mix of different cooking styles. The restaurant is famous for their fried chicken and classic French dishes like pâté. David Deshaies is the Chef Partner of this restaurant. David Barigault is the Executive Chef, Giovani Flores is the Executive Sous Chef, and Christopher Howell is the General Manager. Michel Richard won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef in 2007 and Best New Restaurant in 2008. The restaurant aims to be welcoming and friendly, with great food at prices that let you bring more friends. The menu has many choices for different tastes. You can enjoy a 3-course lunch or dinner prix-fixe menu. The main dining room can seat 120 guests or 250 for receptions. There is plenty of street and garage parking nearby. The bar has a huge wine display and many seats. Gift cards are also available. The Legacy Room, seating up to 14 guests, offers the perfect private dining setting for anything from special occasions to business gatherings. They also serve happy hour food and great cocktails. For private dining, they offer a set menu for $85 per person or the full menu for $125 per person.”

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“Bistrot Du Coin Washington serves classic French and Belgian dishes, like buckets of mussels, hearty French onion soup, fresh salads, and sautéed foie gras. Yannis Felix and Michel Verdon started what became a famous French restaurant in Washington, D.C. After 20 years and a pandemic, Bistrot du Coin is still doing great, serving classic French dishes in the DMV area. Their motto has stayed the same, French, Fun, and Friendly. Their long wine list includes cocktails and apéritifs. You can eat authentic French favorites every day of the year. They also have vegetarian and gluten-free options. If you bring your own wine, there’s a $40 corkage fee for each 750 ml bottle. Walk-ins are welcome, and they’ll seat you as soon as they can based on availability. Bistrot Du Coin was named one of Washingtonian Magazine’s Top 100 Restaurants. They host parties three times a year for French celebrations like Bastille Day (July 14), Beaujolais Nouveau Day (third Thursday in November), and New Year’s Eve. You can surprise your loved ones with their gift cards. Outdoor seating and curbside pickup are also available.”

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