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Café Bonaparte
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Creperies French, Creperies [Edit]
1522 Wisconsin Ave NW(between N P St & N Volta Pl)
Washington, DC 20007
Neighborhood: Georgetown
(202) 333-8830
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 8 am - 11 pm
Fri 8 am - 12 am
Sat 10 am - 12 am
Sun 9 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
250 reviews for Café Bonaparte
Review Highlights
"The crepes and omelets are creative and delicious."
(in 128 reviews)
"We then shared dessert: Last Tango (Les Sweet Crepe."
(in 10 reviews)
"We loved the Steak Frites, the drinks, and the dessert."
(in 13 reviews)
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250 reviews in English
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Review from Anna S.
12/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
After shopping at Urban Chic, getting highlights at Ilo, or biking through the spring air down the Capital Crescent Trail, Bonaparte is the perfect place to cap off your day with some light crepes or a Croque Monsieur. I'd say this place approximates the experience of a real French bistro better than anywhere else in the neighborhood, with an intimate atmosphere, dim lighting, French waiters, and a largely international clientele.
For a sophisticated place beloved of diplomats and Georgetowners, it's also reasonably priced - $10-12 for generous crepes and salad; $9/glass wines. -
Review from Carina L.
Arlington, VA
2/5/2012
First time going to this restaurant. Im in love.
Crepes are nice-- a little pricy though. Enjoyed the french onion soup.
Overall a Great restaurant. Do want to come back here
And just so you guys know--The menu in the restaurant is a little bit bigger, and they have specials in stuff. So dont think the menu on the website is all that they have. -
Review from Mai K.
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
A range of savory and sweet crepes, which can highlight an easy walk through Georgetown, Cafe Bonaparte attempts to capture a European cafe within the shopping bustle of Wisconsin Avenue. As with most Georgetown establishments, the prices are a bit inflated, though the food is quite tasty and well-prepared. Most recently, the French onion soup was well-balanced with seasoning, onions, croutons, and cheese.
Points of consideration:
a) seating arrangement seems to be most comfortable for patrons who are not pregnant, or do not otherwise have girth; even the walk toward the bathroom was narrow, which makes it difficult to have girth, or even carry larger bags
b) between 10 and 11:30 on a Saturday, there was quite a wait. Additionally, even though I arrived early to meet a friend, they would not allow me to sit and wait at the bar, unless I committed to ordering and later eating there with the full party. All I really wanted was to sit and have a warm beverage while waiting for my friend to park.
c) oddity with the bill: we split the check between cash and a credit payment, which led to mathematical challenges, surprisingly. By the end, it seemed that they added a 20% tip automatically to the charged credit card, and pocketed the remaining cash, though it was not requested to do so -
Review from P Z.
San Francisco, CA
12/4/2011
I had a reservation for three at 8 pm. We were finally seated at 8.20, ordered at 8.40, and were served at 9.30. By the time the food came, I was absolutely starving.
It's such a shame that the restaurant serves plastic. The ravioli I ordered tasted like the display food outside of Japanese restaurants. The chicken on top was cold in the middle. And for $17, the portion was tiny. -
Review from J C.
Washington, DC
2/3/2012
Very nice cozy atmosphere. Staff was great. We arrived 25 min early for our reservation; the host apologized for not having your table ready and not having anywhere for us to stand while we waited (it's a tiny restaurant) -- offered to call us when our table was ready. Also, our waitress was very good.
The food was hit or miss. The main disappointment for me was the French Onion Soup, which was billed as "award-winning." It had potential, but it was the saltiest thing I've ever tasted (and I like salt), and had very little bread or cheese on top. My crepe was pretty good. The burger was good. The asparagus risotto was very good, but $18 seemed a little steep for this dish considering it consisted of some rice, cheese and a few pieces of asparagus.
I'll be back, but will order carefully. -
Review from Monique M.
Washington, DC
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nutella espresso seemed like a good idea at the time. Alas, it was not.
Cafe Bonaparte is an intimate creperie right there on Wisconsin (I found two hour free parking on one of the side streets - try n or o). They pull off a fairly authentic feel, with detailed decor, great French press coffee, black & whites of Paris on the walls and thickly-accented waiters from Morocco. Oui!
They have all the classic sweet and savory crepes and some creative, indulgent ones that I'll return to try, but to me, the winner was the thigh-flaring coffee menu. Enter the nutella espresso. Not for the faint, or those with any family history of diabetes. I ended up having to cut it with a medium roast.
All in all, a very pleasant breakfast. The only reason I can't give a 5th star is for the steep prices. Yeah, it's g-town, but it's still a crepe! I guess I'm spoiled by DC's other creperies. -
Review from Nick N.
Washington, DC
11/22/2011
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Cleanliness: 4/5
Decor & Style: 3/5
My favorite Ahi Tuna Sandwich lives here! It is called the Saint Tropez. Make sure to eat it with Sourdough bread. They also have this great Belgium beer called Delirium Tremens. Can't wait to come back here! -
Review from Dia D.
11/18/2011 3 photos
We had a nice dinner here starting with the brie, apple, and crepe chip appetizer which was great (I'm a sucker for the brie and apple combination). We also had the Budapest crepe and the Crepe roll which was deep fried and filled with seafood.
The bartender was friendly and the food came out fairly quickly. This isn't a very large restaurant and we didn't have reservations for a Wednesday night, but we should have as the only seats available were at the bar. -
Review from N S.
Washington, DC
8/18/2011
On paper, this place is right up my alley. Visually, this place is right up my alley. The website is even right up my alley. And it pretty much ends there.
I'd been meaning to try this spot for some time because the offerings looked so appealing *and* many are vegetarian-friendly. Started off with the "crepe chips with brie and apple." Wasn't sure how to envision it but it came out as three layered stacks - chip, baked apple slices, and topped with a generous slab of Brie. Too good to be true, really, but as I started to eat it I realized the Brie was pretty low quality. If you need further proof, I detest rind of Brie so much that I all but cut it off when I eat Brie, but guess what? I actually had to add some of the rind back in just to give this "Brie" some flavor!
Onto the Santorini crepe (fresh spinach, caramelized red onion, ricotta, and feta cheese). It came out STEAMING. I mean I'm no chef, but is that natural? Spinach was not freshly sauteed, and it basically tasted spinach lasagna filling. Yes, I understand ricotta may give that impression, but it was just not anything impressive. Did I mention it was still steaming five minutes later? *ahem*
Crepe Suzette for dessert. Not good. Again STEAMING. Had to blow on it like the mother of a two year-old before several bites. Grown ass woman blowing on her food, but I had to! And crepe pans do not get that hot or the crepe would burn. *ahem* Sauce looked like watered down marmalade and I did not discern any butter.
Bonaparte was a huge letdown :( -
Review from Marla M.
Washington, DC
12/23/2011
I had heard such nice things about this tiny bistro that I happily tried it. The place was packed with a short wait. But once seated it went downhill quickly. No one every came to our table, no water, no nothing. Finally I flagged down a server as he was seating the next table and although he wasn't "our waiter" he took our order. It took over an hour after we sat down to get our lunch. The table that was seated at the same time as us had already finished their meal and the people who were seated next to us but seated much later than us had already gotten their food. They had their drinks long before us. The manager tried to blame it on the kitchen but offered us dessert on the house which we did not accept because of our dietary restrictions. I was angry and hungry and could not enjoy the food, which was not as good as my neighborhood French bistro. I will not be back.
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Review from Cara R.
Oakton, VA
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Been here several times and never been disappointed! I have had everything from savory crepes to the steak frites sandwich to the moules frites to the sweet crepes to the quiche. The food is solid, the atmosphere is comfortable (though seating is tight) and the location is convenient. Definitely recommend!
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Review from Phil M.
Bethesda, MD
12/6/2011
This was our first visit to this very French Bistro, and we are delighted we came. We came for lunch and the food was very good and or waitress was very attentive. It was so similar to being in Paris for the hour we were their. We will be back when shopping on Wisconsin Ave. to try the great variety of delicious fare.
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Review from Mckenzie Y.
Washington, DC
8/16/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I came for the crepes and ... it did take like and hour for them to make it (service was incredibly slow) - but they were decent crepes. Not mind blowing crepes but satisfy-your-craving crepes. I went with savory.
It's a cozy spot, so there can be a wait, and... the seating is very.. intimate. (ti's a small place afterall).
Cute, little, low-key place to sit, gab, drink, and have some light fare. -
Review from Adelina Z.
Beltsville, MD
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Started with the Sancerre; apricot notes, "well-balanced".
The Pate du Jour was alright.
But the big disappointments were the bland and lackluster Provencale crepe and the *takes deep breath* pre-made (as in non-cracking caramel top) creme brulee, sans vanilla seeds!
I left very sad. -
Review from Khyati D.
Arlington, VA
8/3/2011
My mother-in law and sister-in-law were in town for the weekend so we wanted to take them to a good brunch place. The usual were booked or had a long wait so we decided to try a new place-Cafe Bonaparte based on the menu.
We were told it would be a 30 minute wait which was more like 45 minutes so 3 of us waited outside in the heat because the place is tiny while my MIL who can't take the heat waited at the bar. They were so nice to let her sit and bring her water. When I came in to keep her company they weren't too keen on letting me sit with her because it was full service bar. Okay..fine. So we both stood and tried to stay out of the way of busy wait staff. When my husband came in after 30 minutes of waiting in the heat and asked where the restroom was, the hostess rudely asked if he was there to eat. Okay..fine.
We finally were seated and the menu looking amazing. We ordered and when my plate came out the potatoes had a piece of hair embedded in one of them. So I quietly motioned to my wait to not embarass them because I understand these things happen. i showed him the plate and he went away to get another one. Okay..fine. I munched on my MILs plate since I was starving. Finally, they brought back another plate and before he could even set it down, I saw the same potatoes with the same hair sticking out. Twice!! I motioned to the different waiter and said look there's a hair, the same one, again not causing a scene. They took it back and 3rd times a charm which is when I got a plate hair free when everyone else was done eating.
Let me say that the food was delicious and the portions were good in a healthy way not in an American over the top kind of way. We just got back from Europe and the type of food was comparable (though not taste).
Then we asked for the check and in spite our assumptions of what to expect from a seemingly classy plate, they CHARGED us for my plate!! Remember the plate that came out twice with hair in it...the same hair nonetheless.
We understood things like this happen but to not have enough class to not charge us for it was class less.
You know our decision about returning... -
Review from Michael J.
Silver Spring, MD
7/6/2011
On the whole this is a delightful little place that offers quality food at a reasonable price. I was here for brunch recently and the restaurant not only offers a wide range of wonderful brunch options (and many vegetarian-friendly options as well) but also a nice bar selection.
The restaurant is on the tiny side and on evenings and weekends there can be a bit of a wait, but the food and drink definitely make it worth the wait. This has been a place that I've passed by for years but kept putting off trying, but now I am kicking myself for not discovering this gem earlier. -
Review from Inspector G.
Washington, DC
5/23/2011
Another reviewer hit the nail on the head: "Reasonably priced, Americanized French food"
This is a terrific go-to neighborhood spot with reliable bistro fare and a decent wine selection. The service is normally very friendly (that's the "americanized" part) and the food is consistent.
For basics, you can always count on the endive salad and the steak frites. The bread is always fresh (also an "americanization"). Mussels and crepes as also popular but not my personal choice. -
Review from Jennifer S.
Dallas, TX
10/8/2011
This place alone makes we want to move back to DC! Everything was just perfect about this place - quaint, Parisian feel, good service, and excellent food and drinks.
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Review from Jeff C.
Washington D.C., DC
11/7/2011
Open earlier now than is indicated on their website, just in time for marvelous croissants and pains au chocolat, which the waiter says are freshly baked on the premises. Crisp and flaky on the outside, soft and buttery on the inside, and the pain au chocolat was liberal on the chocolat, just the way I like 'em. With a cafe au lait today, superb.
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Review from tonton d.
Arlington, VA
7/7/2011
I was disappointed by this place b/c I decided to go with the "special" which was mackerel fish and was I was serve was good but not anywhere close to being meckerel. When I asked the waitress, she replied that she did not know what it should look like and asked "...but is it good?" ..??!!##$ well....yeah.. but that's not what I wanted to eat. Anyhow, didn't want to make a big scene, so went on with my dinner. But did not like the fact that they think that customers and not food connoisseur. Blah
ps; The place is tiny, would not recommend it for romantic dinner. You 'll be rubbing elbow with the guys next table. -
Review from W H.
Washington D.C., DC
7/17/2011
This place offers unique brunch menu and great coffee. I love a place where you can get a cappuccino and fresh orange juice. I would say its one of the better options in Georgetown.
The place is super cramped. I realize its tiny but sometimes you need to take out at least one table to have a better flow in the restaurant. If I have to crawl over people to sit down....and can hear their conversation more than my own. Uncomfortable.
Also, the last time I went there was a top of a spray bottle in my food. The waiter didn't know how to handle the situation and just apologized and tried to hide the evidence. However, we had to request to comp the food when really they should have covered the whole meal. We didn't want to make a scene but that was crazy. -
Review from Danielle F.
Washington, DC
Love the food, love the atmosphere, hated being crammed in like sardines. This place would be a five star were it not for the fact that three of us were crammed around what was definitely meant to be a two person table, with my back jutting out into the table approximately 18 inches next to ours. But, if you can get over the cramped quarters, the food is absolutely incredible.
The Mona Lisa was absolutely delicious - a crepe that had been deep fried into the shape of a taco shell filled with sauteed onions, a poached egg, and then smothered in cheese. It was accompanied by breakfast potatoes that were unbelievably crunchy and oily (in a good way). The french toast and the croque madame also got rave reviews from my fellow diners.
Aside from being tight quarters, the atmosphere is nice and very French bistro-y. There are a few small tables on the sidewalk if it is a nice day out. Service was fine, but you come for the delicious french food, not for the luxurious dining experience. -
Review from Jon and Jenny W.
Arlington, VA
4/24/2011
Jon -
Admirable crepes. I had the Lisbon- salmon, cream cheese, and chives. It was surprisingly light. I expected it to be heavy on the cream cheese. The crepe itself was just a little too tough, but no complaints there. The crepe came with a small side salad dressed with olive oil.
I think this place has potential. The service was quick, the ambiance is pretty low-key, and it looks like a good place for me to take my better half on an impromptu dinner date! I can see this place getting packed on a busier night though- I went in on a Sunday afternoon and sat at the bar.
I'll have to see what other crepes they can interest me in before I start handing out more stars though. -
Review from jen f.
Washington, DC
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
stumbled on a weird midday/early evening 'ladies' scene here.
too bad i was also disappointed by the food.
putting up some stars for the awesome paned storefront window -
Review from Carol M.
Austin, TX
10/12/2011
This was excellent!
We went on a Sunday morning while on a trip to DC and I must say, we loved it. The wait is long, so be prepared, but it is worth it. We all ordered the brunch special (our waitress suggested that people always do because it is the freshest and best menu item), mimosas, french press coffee. All were very, very good. The freshness of the ingredients made it an excellent meal and the juice was very fresh. We has a very attentive and good waitress, the hostess was polite and freindly. All in all, a new favorite in Georgetown. Will absolutely be back. -
Review from Jeanine S.
Washington, DC
4/24/2011
Friday night, dinner date, walk in- sounds like the trifecta of disaster...far from it! I don't know if it was the company I was sharing or the fact that we received a very warm welcome & a table (the last one) upon arriving!
The venue is lovely, hammered tin ceiling, warm & inviting decor and the most adorable server of them all- Caroline.
As mentioned in many reviews the food is yummy! We shared the ground beef crepe to start and then for dinner we had the halibut, sauteed spinach with fingerling potatoes & the veal (med rare of course). Delicious- only short coming was our Pinot Noir- it was very, very warm- after a new bottle that was perfectly temperate, the evening was perfect... -
Review from Saritah K.
San Diego, CA
4/1/2011
The crepes are wonderful, they know how to do coffee, and the service was good.
We came on a weekday late morning and it wasn't too busy. There were plenty of tables available and the service was fairly quick.
Definitely order a crepe. They also have nice lunch combos of half a salad and sandwich. I think I'd skip that next time and go straight for the crepe. The one we got (can't remember now, a sweet one) was great.
We stumbled upon this cafe because we had to go to the Chinese Embassy. If you have to go to the Chinese Embassy (why is it in the middle of nowhere?) at least go to Cafe Bonaparte while you're in the area. -
Review from Steven S.
Hacienda Heights, CA
3/23/2011
I just come here to eat crepes, but apparently it turns into a hip happening bar.
I would usually come here for a lunch or afternoon snack. Small, quiet place with lots to look at (French inspired art and photography) and people watch through the window. I usually order a sweet crepe and they were always very good. Nutella, strawberries, bananas are my usual go to's.
I've gone on a late night on a Saturday with a couple of friends after dinner once and this place is completely different at night. Much more crowded and feels more like a bar crowd than a foody crowd. We still ate our crepes and went on our way.
I prefer to go in the daytime away from the noise and crowd. Nice place to bring a small family, a date, or with a group of friends. -
Review from Katie T.
2/22/2011
I came here for brunch on a Saturday morning. We only had to wait 10 minutes for table for 2, which really is not bad.
The space is cute and cozy! And we enjoyed our separate meals, which came in decent portions!
I'd definitely go back next time I am in town. -
Review from Ahmed H.
San Jose, CA
1/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here for brunch on a Saturday around 2ish. We had a party of 5 and luckily the place wasn't too packed or else we would have had to wait a while for a table.
The place itself is rather small and the seating is really tight. I kept getting bumped into the entire time, which is rather annoying. We were starving when we got there and started off with a bread basket and chocolate croissant, which you have to pay for. The bread basket was delicious and warm. It came with a jam and cream cheese. The chocolate croissant was also delicious and was heated to right temperature with the chocolate perfectly melted inside.
My friend had recommended me to get the crab benedict, but I ended up getting the Burger, which was a huge disappointment. It was really dry and bland. I tried a crepe dish and a sandwich from other friends on the table which were much tastier.
Next time, I'll get the crab benedict for sure. -
Review from Janelle M.
Fulton, MD
10/21/2010
My husband and I used a Groupon for this place, and went there for dinner. Perhaps that was our mistake. This seems to be more of a breakfast/brunch menu. They do have a dinner menu, but I was VERY disappointed with my meal.
I tried one of their specials - "Lamb Porterhouse". You know, when you hear "porterhouse", you think "large quantity of meat". Nope. I was served two (yes, just two) small lamb chops. Approximately 6 bites of meat. For $27.
This experience has now become a running joke for us. Any time we get a way over-priced tiny serving at a restaurant, one of us will mention "Didn't see Lamb Porterhouses on the menu".
We bought a second groupon, and tried again. Didn't order the porterhouse this time. The crepes are good, but not the best I've had. Soup was ok.
The food is overall acceptable, but the portions are small, and the prices aren't cheap. A groupon makes it about the right price.
The dining room is small, and almost always full. Reservations are STRONGLY recommended. We watched many people leave upon hearing the wait time for a table. -
Review from lysa p.
8/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent, to die-for, crepes. Cute space in the area. Very reasonable prices and high quality, delicious food.
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Review from Chrissy D.
New York, NY
1/21/2011 3 photos
Café Bonaparte is an excellent French restaurant in Georgetown. They have an extensive menu and an impressive selection of wines by the glass. They did not have the pinot noir that I ordered so the waitress gave me a more expensive glass of pinot for the price of the wine that I originally ordered. Points for that! In fact I thought it was such a great deal that I had to get another glass to eat with my dessert....
Since dessert is the best part of a meal I will discuss that first. My friend had the banana & nutella crepe. It was delish! I had an amazing slice of chocolate cake with a side order of chocolate gelato. I am a total chocoholic and it was almost too much chocolate for me. So if you are not a chocoholic I recommend you stick with just the chocolate cake.
As for the main courses: my friend had duck while I had the steak frites. Café Bonaparte has the bets steak frites that I have ever had (Paris excluded)! The fries were seasoned perfectly so I didn't need ketchup. I use tons of ketchup on fries so that is really saying something. I will definitely return the next time I am in DC. Also the service was exceptional. -
Review from rebecca t.
Durham, NC
11/22/2010
+solid and flavorful savory crepes. I did not order a dessert crepe, but my friends did and it looked delish.
+ bonaparte fries were just the right texture and didn't feel greasy or gross
+prices were just about right for the quality and portion of food that we got
+/- I also tried one of the entrees: the cornish game hen, and it was not as good as the crepes. The sides of mushrooms and chard were simple and nicely done but the hen itself was nothing special.
- A long wait, b/c we couldn't get a reservation until 9pm. -
Review from M. C. M.
New York, NY
8/22/2011
good soups
decent crepe entrees
cozy, intimate setting -
Review from MY O.
Washington, DC
11/21/2011
I went here with some family visitors from England. The food is great but the service is not. Having one waitress in a packed restaurant is not okay. The waitress was apologetic about the wait times and very helpful when it came to choosing a breakfast entree.
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Review from Ningxi X.
7/15/2011
I took my boyfriend to dinner at this place for his birthday in May 2010. It has a nice ambiance and cute settings. It's a bit pricey, and I opted to have a crepe instead of entree. The food was good, with plenty of beverage options. I recommend going there with no more than three people, as space is limited, and you can't get the most out of the intimate atmosphere if you're in a big group.
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Review from Nick B.
Alexandria, VA
2/15/2011
I went here for brunch with a friend on a Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately the restaurant is way too small, and after waiting about 45 minutes to be seated, we got a table that we practically needed a shoehorn to get into because we were so close to diners on either side of us.
I ordered a crepe, which was wonderful and my friend had an omelet.
Unfortunately the service left a lot to be desired. We had to tell the waiter we were ready to order and he seemed to not even notice that we had been seated in his section. After taking our order, he pretty much ignored us and forgot to even bring the drinks we'd ordered. He never asked us how the food was and we had to flag him down so we could get our check.
I will go back, but I just hope that guy is gone. -
Review from D K.
Washington D.C., DC
7/2/2010
The food at Cafe Bonaparte is great! I have had both savory and sweet crepes and both are wonderful!
They only get 2 stars though, because of the horrible service. Every single time I have been here, either the hostess or the waiter/waitress would have a very bad attitude--leaving a bad taste in one's mouth no matter how good the food is! -
Review from Ken M.
Silver Spring, MD
6/23/2010
Had an early dinner. We had two "savory" crepes: Petersburg (Black forest ham, mustard sauce,..) and Verona (Italian sausage, fontina cheese,...). They were quite heavy (of course), but I enjoyed the taste very well.
The service was pretty good. The atmosphere was nice. It was my second visit. It was during a weekend and the restaurant was quite busy. Since the place is quite small, I recommend to go there weekdays. You will love it.Listed in: Georgetown
