On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Tue-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Tue-Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sun. 1:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Loading...
I just got back from dinner and I can tell you that I can barely stay awake to say anything constructive. I have the ITIS. lol
Seriously though, we were taken care of wonderfully. The staff are so fun to watch. So well coordinated and attentive. The food was pretty good (I chose rabbit...it is possible that I just do not enjoy rabbit). Everyone else's dishes were A+. The deserts were FABULOUS. It's a shame that we were so full from the three previous courses to properly enjoy it.
Great for a pricy date night, I suppose, if you're looking to set a really high bar. Better suited for a special celebration such as a Birthday or an Anniversary.
As she teeters between 3-stars and 4....she picks 3. Why, you ask? Well, I'm just not overly fanatical about this place. While the food was good, and service ok (a little slow on drink refills and they weren't too great at catching the diner's "stink eye" when I needed a little something else), I'm still not sure what exactly I should or shouldn't point out. Quaint, yes, but you might think too kitschy. Stuffy, no, but the all-male host/bar/sommelier team might make you feel a little odd. The ambiance just didn't live up to the food.
Oh yeah, the food.
I had the Chilean sea bass, which was indeed to die for. Served with a caper butter sauce and a side of various in season vegetables. Also included was a carrot puree for the table to share- I wasn't a fan- too sweet- and it was obvious the rest of the table wasn't really into it either. The pre-entree quiche was great (a good reason to go back for the brunch) and the orange sorbet with a candied violet was a nice intermezzo. Dessert...meh. I should've gone for the souffle, but with the price tag already rising on the $69 sea bass prix fix, another 7 bucks just wasn't in the plan. Plus I didn't order it early enough (souffles need to be ordered when you pick your entree choice). I went with the almond hazelnut cake. Just ok. Coffee service was slow, one cup was forgotten and never brought back to the table.
Would I go back? Brunch maybe. Dinner, only if you buy.
Experience this cozy Washington mainstay while you still can. It feels like a 5-star experience from start to finish and if you have gone through the other high end DC establishments without making the trip out to backwoods Great Falls you are certainly missing out. Avoid holidays if possible and call well in advance for reservations.
L'Auberge Chez Francois is just amazing. One of the top restaurants in the Washington metro area. Outstanding service, stunning food, great atmosphere, excellent wine -- this place has it all. It's a little pricey, but worth going for an anniversary, birthday, out-of-town guests or other special occasion.
4.5 stars. On the fence. I have clicked back and forth about 3 times.
We ate here for our wedding anniversary. The foie gras is amazing. My husband says it's the best thing he's ever eaten. Ever. The food just keeps coming. The little quiche palate cleanser app was delicious!
For my main, I had the lamb chop, veal medallion lobster tail combo. The lamb and veal was superb. The lobster was tough, however. Hubs got the goose, duck, pork assortment. It was dry, and he was pretty unpleased with it, but it was OK.
The chocolate souffle was a-mazing. The service is fantastic. Overall, we were very, very pleased.
I'm not quite sure what else I can say, as many other reviewers have said the same... this is as good as it gets.
My husband adores the Baked Alaska here.
My personal favorite meal is starting out with either French Onion Soup, or seafood (crab, scallops, etc) in the seashell. Next comes the Salad (Love the house salad with the awesome cruton). Who can forget the sherbet palate cleanser. My favorite entree by far is the twin beef tenderloin. I consider it "old faithful". I always order it. However, last Sunday, I decided to order the Chateaubriand for 2 with my husband. It was out of this world!
My favorite dessert is the assortment of ice creams and sherbet in the maple tulip shell. Its great!
I guess you could say I grew up dining at this culinary institution, so L'Auberge Chez François occupies a special place in my heart.
Older, long-time Washingtonians recall that François Haeringer - Monsieur - originally founded the restaurant of his namesake, Chez François, in Washington but moved it to its present "country home" location in 1976, thus rebranding the establishment as L'Auberge. Back then, this part of Great Falls was, let's say, undeveloped. Yet, despite its remote location, the restaurant quickly garnered a reputation for delivering exquisite Alsatian cooking and eclipsed any success it formerly enjoyed in DC.
My mother regularly took my sister and me to L'Auberge for lunch. Yes, early on, the restaurant offered a lunch service. Here, we learned and practiced our good table manners - napkin stays on one's lap, utensils are used from outside-in, no elbows on the table - and restaurant etiquette - "May I please have..." while enjoying favorites such as French Onion Soup and Quiche Lorraine washed down with the then-seemingly sophisticated Shirley Temple. As siblings are wont to do, my sister and I would try to crack each other up while the poor waiter would recite the specials. Goobers that we are, we still can't look in one another's direction when it comes time to hear about the specials...
I've been to Chez François countless times for dinner with family, friends, business associates, clients, SOs and my wife; I've celebrated birthdays, business deals and holidays including many a New Year's Eve. But my story is not unique - there are many who dine here weekly or return each year to mark special occasions. Why? Because the restaurant strives to make each dining experience an occasion. Monsieur insists upon it. And, typically, Chez François delivers.
Valets greet guests as they pull up to the Alsatian-style cottage. A staff member holds open the front door and a coat checker helps with coats and umbrellas. The maitre de - often one of the Haeringer sons - extends a genuine welcome and escorts diners into one of the dining rooms. Napkins are undone and placed on laps. Formal but congenial servers offer an aperitif - perhaps a house twist on the classic Kir Royale - and an amuse bouche. Diners receive a detailed recitation of specials. Menus are opened and presented. A sommelier assists with wine selections and later presents the bottle and decants it contents. Water goblets are refilled by seemingly-invisible busboys. Napkins are re-folded should one get up from the table. Crumbs are wiped clean from tablecloths.
The aforementioned is orchestrated ostensibly with ease, resulting in the illusion that diners inexplicably seem to possess their own corps of servers and that they have been magically transported away from frenetic Northern Virginia and instead deposited in Alsace for two-and-a-half-hours.
Indeed, as Washington has legitimately solidified its position as a top restaurant city, newer establishments have eclipsed Chez François in both cuisine and ambiance. Chefs such as Michel Richard, Johnny Monis and Eric Ziebold have raised the bar with their culinary sorcery. Meanwhile, dining rooms such as Rasika, Komi, 2941 and Proof make Chez François appear, well, dated.
Still, the Haeringers expertly know how to pamper their guests. And the familiar and relaxing setting and classic Alsatian dishes of Chez François conjure warm memories of meals shared with friends and family from years past. Oh, and fond recollections of trying to crack up my sister while our server recites the dinner specials!
Beyond the goofy decor (think 1970's), the restaurant was fantastic. Those of you familiar with L'Auberge know that it is a 4 course meal that is priced based on the main dish and some of the other courses have upcharges.
I had a dish that was a mix of lobster, scallops, mussels, shrimp and fish in a tarragon cream sauce. The lobster was very tender - and I didn't even have to remove it from the shell - and the rest of the seafood was well prepared. I wasn't sure if I would like the scallops as they weren't seared but they were delish. I thought that I'd died and gone to heaven. My date had a rib eye special with an aj jous and a bernaise sauce - very good.
I was careful not to overeat on earlier courses as I wanted to save room for a chocolates souffle. The meals at L'Auberge include an appetizer, salad and desert. I had the onion soup and it was great, especially with the garlic bread that is served to every patron. My date had the tuna tartar and pronounced it good. I didn't think it would pair well with the wine but he didn't seem to mind.
And the souffles were really good. We'll be back again - as soon as we save enought money to affort it!
The sommelier (who was about 70 years old) helped us select an appropriate french wine and it paired well with the meal.
Well we went back to Chez Francois on Sunday for the Sunday prixe fix menu. $54 per person includes: Complimentary sliver of quiche, appetizer of your own choosing, awesome salad, glass of wine, entree and dessert.
I had Coq au Vin with veggies and an insanely delish crepe filled with mushrooms and tomato confiture as my appetizer. Pre-ordered the baked alaska which arrived swathed in lemon meringue (inside had choc, raspberry and strawberry sorbet)
The interior is classic Alsatian so expect a very homey French & German Inn theme. If you want chrome light fixtures and miniscule portions head elsewhere.
A very full lunch for two including tip was around $150.00 and this included my Baked Alaska that was an extra charge.
PRO: Delish food, very professional wait staff.
CON: Not the easiest place to get to but worth the drive into Great Falls, VA
This was a special birthday dinner for me and I truly enjoyed the entire experience. I was also… Read more »
I'm pretty sure a lot of this weight I've suddenly found came from this place.
When I endeavored to find a new job Boyfriend said to me "I know where I'll take you for dinner if you get it." He would not event hint as to the sort of food I was to expect.
So the eve after my last day at the previous joint came to be and we met, well groomed and dressed for dinner (Boyfriend cleans up very nicely I must say) and took a winding drive out to the middle of nowhere in Falls Church.
The restaurant kind of pops up out of nowhere. It's dramatic lighting on the imitation chateau lead to a charming entrance to your meal.
We were quickly seated (Boyfriend having called to make reservations before hand) and we were promptly presented with a pitcher of water, garlic bread, fresh baguette, a plate of butter and a bowl of cottage cheese mixed with sour cream and chives to spread on the bread. I probably could have downed that entire bowl in one sitting and I will be trying to recreate the spread on my own.
The beginning of our service was very slow. We sat for a few minutes without menus before we were greeted by a server. When she finally came we placed our drink orders before menus were even mentioned (I ended up having two glasses of the house pinot noir which I absolutely loved. It was dry without being oaky and the portion was generous, Boyfriend had a mojito...the portion noticeably less generous).
The menus are a 5 course ordeal that include a little quiche, appetizer, salad, sorbet, entree and desert. The price of the entree includes all mentioned except for a few items which incur a little bit extra cost (a few appetizers, a couple deserts, and a salad). All in all the pre fixe menu was fine and I didn't feel the need to order any of the upgrades.
The quiche was well flavored and the crust was tender (something I would expect to be done well in a French restaurant, I was not disappointed)
For appetizer I had the salmon duo (which included a fillet of smoked salmon and one of poached salmon) which came with grated celery root, capers, onions, a couple pieces of toast, and a little puff pastry shell with some caviar topping some creme fresh. The fish itself was not as fresh as I would have liked but the accouterments it came with masked any fishy flavor. Boyfriend had a mushroom crepe for his appetizer. He let me try a bite and it was decent. It didn't last long on his plate.
The salads that came next were made up of baby field greens and baby mushrooms and covered in a light vinaigrette. I happen to adore salad and ate every last bite.
The sorbet was a light citrus sorbet garnished with a candied lavender flower.
I had the duo of fillet for my main course with Bearnaise sauce. The beef was cooked perfectly to the medium rare I asked for but the flavor was nothing incredibly special. The Bearnaise it was served with was perfect though. It also came with some oven roasted vegetables soaking in the beef juices that were cooked to al dente perfection and well seasoned. Boyfriend had a sampling of sausages which he dubbed to be "pretty good." They also included a creamed spinach for the two of us which was edible but nothing special (I took it home and doctored it up with a little chipotle pepper which made it yummy instead of just meh).
The server (who by this time had become attentive and speedy...I think it just took her a minute to get going) asked if we were celebrating anything to which we informed her of my new job. For telling her this we received an extra desert to split which was ice cream covered in a meringue shell.
For actual desert I had the selection of cheese and fruit with a glass of port wine and boyfriend had an apple tart. The cheese was well chosen (as once again, you would hope for from a French place) and the port was...well...porty. The coffee was perfectly brewed and delicious.
The manager came by the table before we left and offered us two chocolate truffles and cookies. By that point we were stuffed but I managed to take a bite of the truffle.
All in all, it was a great experience and nice to be waited on by about 5 people for a change but at $90 bucks a person it'll be a while before we go back.
This is one of the very best restaurants in the DC area. It's more 4.5 stars than 5 because I have experienced 3 instances where the food came out cold and another instance where the service was somewhat lacking. However, the other 2 dozen times I have frequented this establishment, it has been par excellence experiences.
This place epitomizes fine French dining. The prix fixe menu has a variety of excellently prepared entrees and there are 6 courses total. I've pretty much gone up and down the list myself and regard them highly. The chef here has real technical skills and talent and it shows in the food. With many typical french meals, the secret is in the sauces. And it's no exception here.
If you're a meat-lover, the braised veal cheeks appetizer is delectable. That stuff just melts like butter in your mouth and has a really good strong meaty flavor that is well-tempered by the sherry sauce. For the non-meat eaters, definitely hit the warm roquefort with candied pear appetizer. It is perfectly balanced with just a natural sweetness and not sugary at all.
The roasted rack of lamb with herb de provence in taragon sauce is a killer. And the veal sweetbread will send your palate to Nirvana. If you like chateaubriand, this place has a bearnaise sauce that really complements the meat. I usually prefer my meat simple with salt and pepper. But I'd have to make an exception for the chateaubriand here. It's a thick cut of meat and is enough for two, but I'm not sharing.
For dessert.. and remember to leave room for dessert.. settle down with a glass of sauterne and maybe a bite or two of the lime tart or bread pudding.
This place will get really busy during holidays. Even mothers/fathers days are crowded. You're also going to pay a lot, because you'll be wanting to have 2-3 wines with your meal courses. It's totally worth it.
Quite possibly the best restaurant in the D.C. area. I've come here numerous times for special occasions and cannot recommend it enough. I highly recommend ordering the souffles, especially the raspberry, if it is available. Reservations can sometimes be difficult to get, but it is definitely worth it. If it's a beautiful spring/summer day, request to sit outside on the patio or in one of the gazebos, even though you can't go wrong with the inn-like atmosphere inside the restaurant. The service is always magnificent, and the food is always incredibly delicious. The rainbow trout and rockfish are my standbys, and I've been told the Kobe beef is excellent. In short, this restaurant is the perfect place to celebrate any special occasion.
Where do I start?.... Lets see.. I took my girlfriend (at the time) for a nice birthday dinner. One of the main reasons I choose to go here was because they had outdoor seating. The service, the food and decore were excellent! We spent about 3 and a half hours eating and drinking under well trimmed trees that shaded our seating from the July sun. We had aproximately seven dishes (all delicious) and ended the day with souffles. This was my first, but my girlfriend said she expected more from it. In anycase, the food was outstanding and, for me, I will only return when I can sit outside as that was more than half of the charm. We had a great night even though we ended up spending about $250. Not to mention we did walk out tipsy from the bottle of wine we had.
I confess to not being a great fan of (often heavy) Alsatian food. However, Chef Jacques Haeringer chimes my note. His la Sole de la Manche Belle Meuniere, homard, asperges, champignons des bois, cpres, beurre noisette is truly stunning. I had dinner here with several friends, and each of the entrees was superbly prepared and presented. I finished my meal with the Notre traditionelle tarte aux quetsches l'Alsacienne (plum tart) ... excellent, but very filling (they should provide a gurney ride to the parking lot, following this dessert). The cellar is well-stocked with (those overly sweet) Alsatian wines and the service is quite good.
L'Auberge Chez Francois is very large, very busy, and rather remotely located. Never attempt dining without reservations. High marks for quality.
This is one of those "celebration" restaurants. A special occasion place that will not disappoint. It's set in a very residential area of Great Falls, VA, and you wouldn't know it's there unless you tried to find it. But inside, is a delightfully elegant French restaurant, where you will be treated with the utmost respect, and dine as if you are a guest of Mr. Francois.
The menu is large, and extensive, and ranges from beef to fish to seafood and everything in between. There is definitely something for everyone. Don't be alarmed at the prices on the menu, as those prices reflect your "full meal" cost, including an appetizer, salad, palate cleanser, main course, dessert and coffee. Very reasonably priced when you take that into consideration.
I started with the roquefort cheese and apple appetizer, a house salad (with an extremely potent garlic crouton on top!), Chilean sea bass with roasted veggies for a main course, and a chocolate cake for dessert. Everything was excellent. I'd definitely recommend the souffles for dessert -- we prefer the hazelnut one, but there are quite a few to choose from. Just be sure to order it when you order your main course, otherwise it won't be ready for an additional half hour!
The service is top notch. It's polite and attentive without being in your face or stuffy. This is definitely an upscale place to eat, but it's comfortable as well, which is a nice change. And everyone in the place is celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or some other special occasion. Reservations are taken a month in advance, so plan ahead!
A cut above the rest of the restaurants in the DC area, both in terms of food and service. If you're looking for trendy or hip, you won't find it here. You will find excellent old world food in a French country setting. It attracts an older crowd and has a warm and inviting ambiance that's perfect for special occasions (especially romantic ones!).
Although pricey, it's a great deal for what you get, especially when you factor in the reasonable wine prices. They offer a fixed-price menu (currently set at $60-70) that includes an amuse bouche, appetizer, salad, main course, dessert/coffee. You'd easily spend that at a trendy restaurant in Georgetown for food that doesn't even come close to what L'Auberge offers.
From my first experience there almost 20 years ago.
My good friends called me and asked if I would like to join them and another very good friend of ours for an evening of dining heaven." Sure, I would be delighted. This was going to be their last hurrah for a long time, they had been married for a number of months and she just discover she is with their first bambino. "Of course I'm there" I said with great joy "when and where? "Well in about a month I have to make reservations today" she replied. Huh? Reservations that far in advance? Asked I. "Yes that far" said she. "And you must wear a jacket and tie and you cannot be late not by a minuet." Aye Captain.
Three weeks later on a Saturday she emailed me the directions no map quest back then that I knew of. Hum... looks pretty far I thought, but I'm the road warrior no problem. So on to adventure picked up good friend she lived in Chevy Chase and off we went and went and went and... where is this place? It got dark early, late in October lots of rain, lots of big over grown trees, lots and lots of fallen leaves in the rain, lots of long dark twisted road ahead. Slippery when wet? Who are you kidding. Gosh I hope it's worth it. Finally there is a light ahead a little civilization no actually alot of Civilization. This place this tight space that resembles an old country manor in Europe. Was the most exquisite place in the middle of nowhere. Now being a fairly young single guy back then I wasn't use to paying no more then 25 bucks for two including drinks (remember this was years ago). So this was a little stretch for me, but that was OK that's what plastic is for. What an experience gourmet continental 5 course meal with great wine pairings just like on TV. My eyes are open I can clearly see the upscale food world now in all of it's splendor and I had been forever changed to this day I still remember how this place this special little place introduced me to world class gastronomy.
It's been a while but I shall return I'd better make those reservations now for next month.
It was a dark and stormy night - we were trying to keep our eyes on the winding road to L'Auberge Chez Francois and wondering why people would want to live sooooo far away from civilization (ok my idea of civilization is having a Metro station within walking distance). There was a lone motorbike travelling behind when lightening struck. Thunder followed and I was more worried about the motorbike skidding off the winding roads. We drove what seemed to be a lifetime (I was thinking that you could really die out here without anyone knowing for a looooong loooong time) when lo and behold - L'Auberge Chez Francois appeared before us! Think Hanzel and Greta when they discovered the gingerbread house in the woods!
Everyone was dressed for dinner - so this is not a causal kind of place to hang out with your pals. It felt a little like the Normandy Inn at Falls Road only grander.
Service was good and we were showed to our table pretty quickly. Our waiter brought us an amuse bouche of quiche and we started on our meal thereafter. They work on a pre-fixe menu system so you get to pick an appetizer, an entree, dessert and then coffee or tea. Depending on your choice of entree, be prepared to spend between $70-80 per person. Not a bad deal for the many courses. While I did enjoy the food - I had the Papa Ernest (an assortment of meats!!!!) - I was not wowed over. Their desserts are good though and I had very nice home made ice-cream and sorbet. The most memorable thing for me was the grapefruit sorbet they served as a palate cleanser. Yum! I dug out every last bit from the tiny glass they served it in!
This is one of those places where your mom or dad would be happy to go to I suppose - good food with little fuss. The wait staff here is very attentive. I am as much for the presentation as I am for the food so L'Auberge Chez Francois did not really cut it for me but it may be an experience for some.
Food is always excellent, make sure you order a soufflé when you order you main dish. Service is great but the restaurant is always very busy so you need reservations.
One of the best fine dining experiences in the D.C. area, if not the best. Since I was a teenager and old enough to appreciate a six course meal I've been going back to this restaurant an average of every 2-3 years. The restaurant itself looks like a large french country inn and even more so inside. There are approx. seven dining rooms all decorated beautifully with old school country french motif, seasonal fresh flowers and wood fireplaces throughout. Chez was in D.C. for something like 20+ years and has been in Great Falls for almost 30 yrs now, that's saying something about tradition and quality.
On every other occasion I've been to Chez we've had impeccable service, tonight was the exception. I was thinking about how much the quality of service matters when you're out to dinner, especially at a place like this, and I would have to say at least 20%. The guy we had was no good, rushed through certain things and took his time on others, no balance and not very personable--except to make a snide comment about how I wanted my tenderloins cooked medium well. Don't you just love when that's pointed out--especially by some dumb ass stranger!
I will absolutely go back and have not let that hinder my perception of the restaurant, food and experience in itself~just one guy that shouldn't work at a place like this. The whole dining experience takes about 2-3 hours depending on how many people you have in your party. Approx. $240 for a dinner for two, which includes at least 3 alcoholic bevs each and tip. If you're looking for a special occasion dinner experience, this is it. If you think a place like the Melting Pot would be any less expensive, you're wrong. If you're not that crazy about fondue to begin with and still want the french experience, def worth every penny.
We have tried and love the french onion soup, marie antoinette appetizer (think fancy mini chicken pot pie), angus rib-eye, twin tenderloins (filet mignon), roasted rack of lamb, the chocolate souffle (it's no Sweetwater chocolate waffle though) and the baked alaskan dessert--it's all so delicious in a quiet, inviting and relaxing atmosphere!
This is one of my wife and I's favorite places. It is a once a year kind of place, for special moments as it is a little pricey. But we never leave disappointed. We find it to be very cozy and the service to be excellent (the food isn't bad either ;) ).
This will continue to be our go to place to celebrate special occasions.
Lovely. Always a special dining experience, but the entrees sometimes list toward overcooked and over salted. Sorry, Alsace.
Normally I wouldn't complain, but it's hard for a (wine drinking) couple to get out of here for 500 clams and for that I like to be a.) eating in a Michelin starred restaurant or b.) making a scene with mmming sounds or c.) getting drunk. I must admit b. and c. can happen here, but certainly not always, and if it's c. add an extra buck. Another takeaway: Average wine list for intergalactic prices. Maybe if Montmartre didn't achieve b and c on a regular basis for 1/3 the price I could go 4 stars.
Nonetheless, great food and flawless service. Get the souffle without hesitation. And please, experience this wonderful restaurant without hesitation, it really is special.
A note: When your prices are this high, you're in another league. Fantastic service and lovely atmosphere can't cover for a mediocre-- for the price mind you-- dinner. I dare say Chez Frank's food can't compete.
I'd rather have a way better dinner, SPEND THE NIGHT, and have a brilliant breakfast at L'Auberge Provencale for about the same price.
Can't afford a plane ticket to old-world France for the night? Head to Great Falls.
L'Auberge Chez Francois routinely receives praises for it's classic, no-nonsense French cuisine. Be warned, reservations are a must- they're often booked more than 3 weeks in advance.
If you're in the mood for country French cooking, the food is superb. Hearty flavors, full portions, thick sauces. It's not diet food, people. Excellent bottled wine list, their "by the glass" selection is especially weak. No matter, who only has one glass of wine with a French meal anyway?!
Loses Two Stars for unimpressive service. They sent my 25 year old girlfriend to the car for her ID when ordering a bottle of wine. Ridiculous. Also, don't pour my wine all over the tablecloth.
My fiance and I was surprisingly able to reserve a table for 4 last minute (the day before) on a Friday night in February, for a late meal. We are fairly young (mid-late 20's) and were afraid the place would be too stuffy for us.. and it was a bit upscale but everyone treated us well. Our waiter was young (probably our age) and treated us wonderfully. We're not wine people and neither are we really alcohol people (I ordered coke and my sister had OJ I think lol so that shows how 'sophisticated' we are =P ) The food is fantastic! Be prepared to spend at least 3 hours here going over the full course. I think we ended up spending roughly 400 for 4 people and we ended up being one of the last people to leave.
this is fine dining at its best! I was taken here by a friend to celebrate my birthday. I now take people there to celebrate their birthdays. This is a "special occasion" place. My pockets would LOVE to afford this place once a week but can't/ The meal will take you a good couple of hours but it is PHENOMENAL! Their souffles...OMG are so good! I have not had 1 thing on the menu that I did not like.
Very romatic place, food and atmosphere ALWAYS OUTSTANDING....staff is always ON POINT! Every time I go there to eat, I just want to shake the chefs hand its so good.
I"ve lived in area for years and always heard how wonderful this place was. We went there with eight people to celebrate an anniversary on a Sunday afternoon. It's quaint looking but the unusual number of handicap parking spaces should hint at the type of clientele that frequent this establishment, if you know what I mean. It classic country French on the inside but we got the sense that it hasn't been updated ever.
The food was very good but it really wasn't anything special. If you to go somewhere and want to have solid traditional French food, then this is the place for you. If you lean towards a more exciting atmosphere and inventive food experience like CityZen or Komi, then I would go somewhere else.
I also felt it was extremely overpriced and we were paying more for the reputation of the place than the actual product. With entrees around the $70 mark (it includes a salad and dessert), I expected something mind blowing. It was very good solid food but I just expected more.
That all said, if you go there, you'll have a good experience. I just don't think it'll be amazing.
My husband and I recently hosted our wedding ceremony and reception at L'Auberge Chez Francois on June 14th, 2008. It was wonderful - the food was delicious, the atmosphere was romantic, and the restaurant took care of everything from decorating the room for the ceremony (candleabras and lovely plants, setting up the chairs), to printing menus - everything was well organized thanks to the coordinator, Mark. We and our guests loved the wedding and it had a lot to do with the fact that we had it at L'Auberge.
For a wedding, the price per person is about $110 not including alcohol and tip. (I think my husband mentioned that it was about $120 after tax and tip). This price seems steep at first, but it was worth the expense because L'Auberge is a full service place - Mark helped us coordinate the event; we did not have to deal with a caterer, or lighting or linen vendors; and we did not have to spend any money on decoration or flowers since the restaurant is so well decorated - In short, L'Auberge certainly saved us from a great deal of wedding stress and frenzy. The $110 included choice between two entrees, an appetizer, salad, sorbet, hor doevers, and dessert as well. I think the main limitation is the day and the time (Saturday from 11:30 to 4:30) of when one can host a wedding at L'Auberge. You get the whole restaurant to yourself at that time, however, and the time frame is more than enough to have a joyful wedding celebration.
L'Auberge has been voted favorite by Washingtonian readers for many years. You can trust that your guests will be delighted with your wedding hosted at L'Auberge. My guests certainly were.
Before the wedding, my flowergirls and I were able to visit the kitchen and see the chefs, which was very exciting! After the wedding, my husband and I were able to meet with the owner Francois Haeringer who was very nice and kind and wished us the best. He took a photo with us, and he gifted us with an autographed copy of his cookbook! It was as if we had spent the afternoon in the home of a very gracious host... I can't thank L'Auberge enough, and so I hope this review will help those planning their wedding to consider the very fitting and wonderfully lovely L'Auberge for their own celebration.
I've been going to L'auberge nearly every year for the past eight years for my birthday. Only last year was I disappointed when I strayed from my usual order of Chateau Briand and tried the Alsatian feast. The souffles are off the hook.
Great experience, but it has gotten a bit less romantic, more scheduled. They don't let you linger . . . . food is great, but there are other restaurants around that can give a similar experience.
I find the service here to be excellent. Food is excellent too. Portions are small, but by the time you get through all the courses, you will be full. It's not the kind of place from which to take home a doggy bag, anyway. They actually have some inexpensive wines (we thought at first the price was per glass, not per bottle). This place is not, however, a good value. Once a certain price is reached, how much better can the food get? While this place is very good, there are any number of places that cost half as much that are just as good. Although, I did have an amazing raspberry souffle last time.
Maybe I should deduct a star or two for value.
Curiously, a good value can be had here for wedding receptions. By the time you add up catering and location rental and alcohol, L'Auberge is a great deal -- they take care of everything.
Tip 1: If it's winter, ask to sit by the fire.
Tip 2: If you are an artist, take advantage of the monthly drawing contest to win a free dinner. (We didn't win :()
My favorite restaurant in/near DC to date.
It is $$$$ but you pay for what you get. And in this case you get a TRUE dining experience.
This is not some trendy, hip spot. The style is more of a quaint cottage with plenty of room (not crammed like many nice restaurants), with a central fire places.
I remember the very first meal I had here 7 years ago... it was that good.
The entree consisted of Venison, Boar, Antelope and Pheasant. It marked the start of my mission to try as many unique meats as I can.
Everything about this place is top notch.
Service, atmosphere, drink list and of course the food.
I am yet to be there in the spring to try the terrace.
The winter is nice, they throw lights out and as I said, plenty of fireplaces.
Wow! What a delightful location for romantic celebrating. Worth the drive. The restaurant was fully booked. But 'George' suggested we come early (prior to 5 pm) on Saturday for dining on the terrace. He warned that it would be a busy evening as the weather was perfect (upper 70's and dry air, unusual for an August night in DC) so arrived early. We drove up at 4:45 and were ushered into a parking space by a resturant employee who greeted us. We were seated immediately on a double bench on the flagstone terrace, under a beautiful tree with a fountain gurgling behind and gardens surrounding, and knew we had made the righ choice. (We also were not the first to arrive.)Soon the terrace tables were filled and people were waiting an hour or more for al fresco dining.
So to make a long (2 1/2 hours of perfectly paced dining) story short, the smoked salmon trio was perfect, the chteaubriand perfect, the little champagne and raspberry liquor apperitif was perfect and the meringue 'Kugelhopf'--all perfection. From the moment we were seated, the large staff catered to us as only the French do, with quiet detail and attention. Check out the web site to understand the fixed prix
pricing as the entree price dictates the meal. The rest of the courses are included with some small exceptions. This terrace would be lovely for a wedding reception. Hmmm. Maybe for my daughter someday?
As for the comments from the Sunday diner-- this establishment has actually been around for more than 50 years, not 30. And if it's a crowd you wish to dine with, check out Capital Grill at Tyson's. If you want something slower paced and quietly elegant, visit the Auberge.
Alsacian cuisine. The restaurant is quite a hike outside DC and is worth every mile to drive. The multiple course adventure I had here was fabulous.
World class dining in a well-to-do suburb. Out of the way but well worth it. Family run.
I have been going to this restaurant since 1996. It is my favorite. While there are many fabulous restaurants out there, this one is always fantastic, with amazing service, a beautiful setting, and a terrific (and well priced) wine list. The value for the meal here is much better than any other fine dining restaurant I have eaten at in the DC Area.
This Alsatian establishment has been around for 30 years and when my husband and I first came to the DC area a dozen years ago, this was one of the fanciest French restaurants. Times have changed and the competition has gotten fierce. L'Auberge is not what it once was. The food is still pretty good, but the buzz and the glamour is gone. We went there last fall for my birthday and found the food still very good, but it was just kinda dead. Really sad to see the place half empty on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
Best place in the area for that special dinner or date.
Top shelf food and service. A large, but fairly priced, wine list.
You won't find better French food anywhere. Atmosphere and service cannot be topped.
Better that the Inn at Old Washington, for less than 1/2 the price. Still - bring money.
Wow! This is a wonderful French restaurant hidden off a winding road in Great Falls. I never really enjoyed French food until I dined at L'Auberge Chez Francois. Their food and service are always outstanding. The meal starts off with an Amuse Bouche ( a tiny morsel served before the mean). They serve a slice of the most wonderful herb quiche I have ever tasted. Amuse Bouche-nothing! They could served me a whole plate of the quiche for my dinner and I would be happy. The assortment of bread is wonderful and comes with an herb cottage cheese dip that is out of this world. You get a sorbet to cleanse your palate between the salad and main course. They have a nice selection of fish, meats and a veggie option for the main course. Dessert is great as well. They have a wide selection of some unusual things not seen on French menus in this country very often. I recommend the Kugelopf- a meringue with Kirsch and Vanilla ice cream. And after all that you still get some truffles and cookies when you are presented with the check. Everything is included in one price-you just pick an appetizer, salad, main course and dessert. Coffee or tea is included as well. If you are celebrating a special occasion, and they know about it-you will get another dessert (usually something chocolate and yummy.) We don't tell them if it is a special occasion when we make the reservations anymore-we are too stuffed. You need to make reservations about a month in advance-especially during the holidays. As you are making your way from the parking lot into the restaurant, you may be able to peek into the kitchen to see the masters at work. Just try it once-you won't be disappointed.
Outstanding food! Only complaint is there is too much of it!! The service was above par. The ambience is quaint and cosy. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the region. It is pricey...but you must go at least once!!
Great Falls, VA
Category: Mediterranean
Reston, VA
Category: Steakhouses
Middleburg, VA
Category: Restaurants
Reston, VA
Category: French
Herndon, VA
Category: American (New)
Here are a few that I have been to and enjoyed…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
