French-inspired food is everywhere, but authentic French food is hard to come by. Luckily, D.C. is home to an impressive number of French restaurants serving everything from regional stews to classic duck and lamb dishes.
Next time you're ready for a taste of Paris, these nine carefully-selected D.C. restaurants serve a variety of high-quality French cuisine that'll transport your senses, no passport required.
See also: 7 Best Croissants in Washington D.C.
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316 Massachusetts Ave. NE / Website
This refined Capitol Hill restaurant is located inside a sumptuously-decorated rowhouse. The intimate establishment serves specialties and classics, including Alsatian tarte flambée, pâté de campagne and magret de canard.
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99 District Square SW / Website
A new addition to the Wharf, this French waterfront bistro serves daily breakfast beginning at 8 a.m., as well as weekend brunch, weekday lunch and dinner. Bristo Du Jour serves pastries from New York City-born bakery Mah-Ze-Dahr, and casual fare such as quiche florentine, with a few elevated additions at dinnertime.
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1738 Connecticut Ave. NW / Website
This restaurant has a much more casual and lively ambiance than some of our other picks. The posters and French soccer regalia will transport you to the neighborhood bistro of a small French town. The family-friendly establishment has an extensive and well-priced wine list, and waiters are happy to guide your choice.
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1039 31st Street NW / Website
Located in a cozy brick building near the canal, this intimate Georgetown restaurant and wine bar is the perfect date night spot. The high-quality wine menu and authentic dishes are complemented by impeccable service.
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3251 Prospect Street NW / Website
This newer, beautifully-decorated restaurant has found success among Georgetown diners. Open for brunch, weekday lunch, dinner, and even Christmas and the New Year, the restaurant serves both authentic French dishes like trout amandine, escargots and coq au vin. The cheese menu features eight solid options accompanied by fruit and nuts.
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2813 M Street NW / Website
This cozy restaurant is sophisticated but not pretentious. We recommend the lobster bisque, the saumon mariné en croûte and the chocolate soufflé. Similar to a beef wellington, the saumon mariné is first marinated then enrobed in puff pastry. Cheese lovers will adore the emmental soufflé.
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1601 14th Street NW / Website
“Who in town makes a lighter foie gras mousse, or a finer duck a l’orange, the skin of the leg fried so that it shatters under your teeth?” writes Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema. Le Diplomate serves delightfully-prepared French fare in an authentic setting that pays homage to French cafe culture.
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3714 Macomb Street NW / Website
This friendly Cathedral Heights neighborhood establishment uses fresh, locally-sourced ingredients in all of its dishes. Its brasserie ambiance and friendly staff create a lively, welcoming environment. They also serve warm, freshly-baked bread.
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4907 Wisconsin Ave. NW / Website
Enjoy a homey meal in an Art Nouveau setting in this Friendship Heights bistro. Le Chat Noir might be the only D.C. restaurant serving bouillabaisse, a Marseillais fish stew, or Toulousain cassoulet: a hearty dish made from sausage, confit, pork and white beans.
Photography by: Pixabay
