L'Enfant Cafe & Bar
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Late Night
- Best Nights: Fri, Sat, Sun
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: No
36 Reviews for L'Enfant Cafe & Bar
this place is so cute, great for people watching, and oh so french. It is the best place to watch with world go by while sipping on a tasty delirium, but...... every single time I come here and am ready to relax.... the MOSQUITOS!!! Ughhh.. and I am sorry. if you have to offer bug spray to your patrons there is obviously an issue that could be addressed with candles or similar modern mosquito repellent inventions that don't make your food taste like bug spray.
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This is one of my FAVORITE RESTAURANTS.
Sometimes I think my friends and I should just begin our own little asinine "St Elmo's Fire" type of situation. Substitute L'Enfant for that cheesy fictional Georgetown bar, though. Thanks! Ok, moving on:
I've had pretty much everything on the entire menu. I love olives, I love cheese, and I love bread - so, the tapenade appetizer is one of my favorite items on the menu. The crepes are very good - I don't love crepes, but I like these. The salads are good - you can rarely go wrong there. The brunch is FANTASTIC.
In the winter is so nice and cozy - it will make you feel like a character in Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast". The candlelight is so nice - not cheesy at all! End your meal there with a hot toddy.
Of course, in the nicer weather, there is the patio. Get a cool beer, or an iced coffee.
To wrap things up, I will say this:
It is no coincidence that my friends and I always end up asking the waiter to hang out with us after he gets off. The serving staff is uber superb and very charming.
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This is one of my favorite places to head to in the city...
(1) They have Great Beer (of the Belgium variety)
(2) They make some Yummy Crepes (I recommend for the Savory...the ones with sausage and goat cheese; the Sweet...hello, any with Nutella! :o) )
...and man, if we could only extend that patio on the corner. But then again, it might take something away from the "cafeness" of this great spot.
J'adore l'enfant cafe!
Kisses -- *Mwa* *Mwa*!!
I'm here to talk about French Toast....All I wanted was some French Toast to start out my Sunday of Restless wandering. Everywhere else was busy so I stopped in to give French Toast at L'Enfant a try. I waited 2 mins for my order to be taken and 38 mins for my food. for french toast!!! even tho' the staff was kind, they looked a lil overworked for a sunday but for French Toast? seesh... yes We're her about some FRENCH TOAST that was a lil too sour, not enuff syrup and the fruit was better than the FRENCH TOAST... But for French Toast tho'?? French Toast?
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Mosquitoes and crepes. Outdoor seating.
The staff brought the bug spray and worked hard to help us into the crepes. The crepes were thin and chewy. I like the one with butter (surprise!) and nothing else.
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I have a very average feeling about this place. I went with two others on a warm weekend early afternoon for brunch/early afternoon snack. It was busy and it took a few minutes for someone to seat us, which is understandable but bordered on the point of awkwardness in the last few moments. Our waiter was friendly but a little distracted. No complaints there. The food came quickly.
The salad accompanying the crepe was nice and tossed well with light dressing. My chicken-ratatouille -Gruyere crepe was good. Was the chicken moist? Yes. Was the Gruyere plentiful? Not really. Was the ratatouille slimy? No, thank goodness. Would I buy it again? Probably. Would I go out of my way for it? Absolutely not.
I like the ambiance of this bistro and the corner-everybody-knows-your-name feel and also the decor. I like the location and the easy-to-understand, sort-of-Parisian menu. I like that they serve decent crepes. The prices are reasonable - $8 to $13 for a good-sized crepe with a side salad. $3 for orange juice seems steep, though, right?
All in all, I'd go here again to sit on the porch and enjoy the breeze while people watching or chatting with a friend. It's not comfortable enough to feel like you could stay there all day and write letters over your espresso. Don't expect a lot of legroom. But do visit if you're in the neighborhood.
(Next time I'll try one of their Belgian beers and maybe they'll gain a star!)
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Outdoor seating and crepes? In! I haven't sampled much else on their menu save a delicious brie appetizer, but I can say both their sweet & savory crepes are delicious. I'm a tough customer because most of their menu pairings, in terms of crepes, aren't quite what I'm looking for...I want chocolate and banana, but not Nutella...I want Egg & Cheese crepes, but can I sub goat cheese and hold the ham? Even with all my modifications and special requests the service is always with a smile (and usually a laugh at my ridiculousness) and the atmosphere is great. A friend visiting me from out of town w/ her pooch was even given priority seating outdoors so we could tie Jake up and have him eat at our feet. Who doesn't love a neighborhood creperie with a great beer list that lets you snuggle w/ your pets, too?!
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Yummy yummy...fabulous Nutella and chocolate crepe and a cool bartender make for a decent nightcap! The fact that they have Lambic and Chimay is a *HUGE* draw for my buddies. Definitely stop by though...it's a neat little place. Great for a late night date.
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We had a really nice time here sitting outside. The beer was fantastic. Nice, if small, outdoor seating area.
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1/2 price Belgian beers on Tuesdays.
It's a beautiful thing.
Tables are crammed on top of one another in a very French way. Service is quick and attentive, food (I had the goat cheese salad) is fresh and tasty. They may run out of beer choices towards the end of Tuesday's happy hour, but you can always get the "big blue" Grand Reserve Chimay for a mere $9, which is fantastic (that's a lot of quality beer for $9!).
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I can never have a crepe anywhere else again.
I was really wanting dessert, and I had seen this place while walking to and from Adams Morgan, so I gave it a shot.
Since its a bar, and it was freezing cold outside, I wanted a warm, alcoholic beverage. I wanted the hot chocolate, but they usually serve it with peppermint schnapps, and being that I'm not a fan of drinking minty things, I asked the server to surprise me. The bartender mixed it up for me without a problem, opting for vanilla vodka instead, and my hot coco was amazing.
And then there was the crepes. I had a banana split crepe and that thing ruined me for life. The pancake itself was amazing. It was fluffy, with just the right amount of sweet. The chocolate and the bananas complimented the pancake perfectly and then with the whipped cream, I can't even being to tell you how good my crepe was.
The service was good, and it was the first night our server had ever served. (I did give him some pointers, and I'm pretty lenient since I'm a server as well.) I also like that they put a water bottle on your table so you don't have to hunt down a server every time you empty your glass. And I loved the set up. It was very snug inside, but I actually don't mind that. It was warm, and even though it was pretty dark, the light that was available was warm. I was truly a satisfied (and very full) customer.
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love love love love LOVE l'enfant. my absolute FAVORITE place to meet with friends on the weekends. any of the savory crepes are DEEElish. I especially love the ham and gruyere, and the green beans on the side.....oh. my. gosh. there are never enough on the plate! i always want more. and unfortunately no matter how full i am there is no way to possibly turn down a dessert crepe.
great cheap champagne, although as with the dessert i always have a hard time turning down another bottle when sharing with friends!
Marc is my FAAAAVE waiter in the place, and always makes me feel like i'm a regular at his place.
love it love it love it.
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L'Enfant is where all roads meet to form a near-perfect everyday hang-out.
I come here every couple of weeks, I think it's a great place to escape a dull Wednesday evening or try and eek out the last moments of weekend on a Sunday. With simple decor and a cozy feel, L'Enfant has managed to create a laid-back ambiance- the kind of place where a few friends can get together with people dropping in and out over an evening. Or you can bring a good book or newspaper and perch up at the bar or wait for a friend.
The very hungry can order simple Belgian/Low country fare- entrees, crepes, sandwiches etc. The marginally hungry can snack on a pate or cheese plate or you can just stick to the good quality range of beers and wines.
It can get busy and then the service gets a bit slow, but overall the staff are friendly and helpful.
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I really like the relaxed atmosphere of this place, along with the food. The savory crepes are delicious. I particularly like the Ham and Gruyere crepe because of the mustard sauce. Next time I go I want to try the Spicy Sausage and Goat Cheese crepe, as it sounds delicious. The Boeuf Bourguignon is great. The meat is perfectly tender, and it feels like home cooking, if the cook in your home happens to be French and really talented.
I really appreciate the Belgian beer selection.
As far as the dessert crepes go, I found the Liqueur crepes to be overwhelmingly strong and not nearly as enjoyable as the fruit or nutella options.
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If only my most vivid memory of this place wasn't watching the 2004 election returns here, I'd say this place deserved 6 stars. Great all purpose spot: for brunch, studying, happy hour, dinner, nightcap and special events. Good Belgian beer happy hour. Crepes are good, as are the salads. All the food tastes fresh, and there's rarely problems getting a table.
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On a cold Sunday morning, a savory crepe is a little piece of paradise (and little is key, since the portions aren't grande). With good strong coffee (could be hotter, but with refills I'm appeased). And attentive, unFrench service. The restaurant is small enough to be cozy, but big enough not to intimidate you with a wait. And you could always sit in the sidewalk terrace where there are space heaters by the tables.
Come here for a quiet brunch. Grab the Style section of the Post available near the window, sit by the bar, and muse over a Trappiste beer while playing with the mesclun that comes with your meal. A nice way to while away an hour or two before heading back into the cold.
Crepe recommendations: salmon with chives or the crepe complete (egg extra runny).
I don't like to give bad reviews, but this place, in my opinion, warrants it. First of all, the service is poor. Our waitress had absolutely no command of the menu, seemed irritated by valid questions, and actually walked OUT of the restaurant for a bit to take a personal call. I want to just assume that she was having a traumatic day, but wow, that really made a poor impression on us. Furthermore, the drinks are overpriced. While I'm all for 1/2 price Belgian beers on Tuesdays, I can get the exact same beers for a cheaper price with better food and music at Bohemian Caverns further down U Street. If I am having a Belgian beer fix, one can find them all over the U Street area (Saint-Ex, The Reef, Wonderland, etc.) and you can find Belgian spots all over the city (try Brasserie Beck or Granville Moore's if you are seeking Belgian cuisine). L'Enfant does have a nice, cozy atmosphere, but without better food and service, I would hesitate recommending it to anyone.
Eh, it is a fine place to eat.
We ate outside late evening last Saturday and the atmosphere was great. The food didn't quite live up to the atmosphere, though.
My bf really enjoyed his French dip, I had a bite & thought it was great too.
I had a nicoise salad that didn't live up to my expectations. Granted, I was comparing it to an amazing place up in Boston with the best nicoise ever. But these guys used canned tuna (although good quality) and the green beans were very watery and I'm 90% sure they were frozen. The potatoes, while well seasoned, were dry and seemed like they'd been left over from brunch. Guys, lets talk for a second. If you don't sell enough nicoise salads to have fresh green beans & tuna on hand then just take it off the menu. Paying $11 for canned tuna, frozen green beans, and left-over breakfast potatoes stings a little bit.
We had a simple dessert crepe for dessert that was great.
Good beer selection. Next time I'll snack beforehand and grab a beer and nibble on a crepe while enjoying the atmosphere.
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This place was awesome. My enthusiasm could have something to do with my great relief at finally arriving here after nearly an hour in transit on various buses and trains from Glover Park as well as my ravenous appetite, but still.
Ambience is really awesome. Like what L'Madeleine could only dream to be. The patio is absolutely lovely. I had their soup of the day, a perfect tomato bisque which they serve with an entire plate of homemade croutons / stale bread (because that's pretty much what croutons are, right? Whatever, the soup makes them soft and unstale), and followed with the roasted red pepper and goat cheese crepe which was OMGsogood.
Beware of the salads though: they sound pretty good on the menu but unless you REALLY like mesclun lettuce, you're going to find them a bit dry. Those little branches can be tough to cut!
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I absolutely dig this place. Great beer selection, cheesy gooey appetizers, and killer ambiance. This is my new favorite hang out spot and reminds me of the Third Stop, with a full bar (if you're from Los Angeles you will get the reference). Although the beer is a bit pricey -we were drinking bottled Dasnik's and a few others which ranged in price from $6-$12, I found it worth it, all things told. The warm brie with walnuts appetizer is a personal fav.
If you are looking for a chill place in jeans and enjoy the company you're with I would highly recommend this neighborhood spot.
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I'd like to give it three and a half stars.
I dropped in at just about 9 on a Monday night and there were only 2 people at the bar, the restaurant was completely empty. Then I realized that it was 3/4 full outside. I was alone and wanted to read, so I grabbed a seat at the bar and asked the bartender if the kitchen was still open. He told me that only crepes were still available. Great, that's what I wanted.
I ordered a Hoegarden and the chicken, ratatouille & gruyere crepe. My crepe was up in just about 4-5 minutes. It was topped with a lovely red pepper sauce and a simple but nicely dressed green salad. The crepe was tender, but not quite as crispy around the edges as I would've liked. The filling was good, although a little light on the cheese.
$7 for a Hoegarden seems a little steep for me and the crepe was $10.95.
Belgian beers are 1/2 price at Happy Hour, so I'll head back for Happy Hour or for sweet crepes and coffee for dessert.
The service was a tad lacking too. I was never offered a glass of water, no checking in to see how things were, no S&P. I think the bartender was flirting with the gals at the bar.
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Just got back from brunch at L'Enfant and couldn't wait to yelp about it!
We live around the corner from this place and it has taken us 9 months to stop in. I am so glad we did today though - the weather was absolutely gorgeous and we went early enough that the patio wasn't packed yet.
After pouring over the menu for 10 minutes, I finally decided to go with the Crepe Complete, which was one of their Savory Crepes with French ham, eggs and cheese, and I had a choice of having a salad or fruit as a side. My boyfriend got the Frittata Du Jour which was made with spinach, tomatoes and cheddar. The food came out pretty quickly, which was good because I was drooling over the smell of other people's food.
The salad that came with my crepe was rather tasteless but I didn't mind it too much cuz my crepe was fantastic!! It was thin and just a little brown on the outside, and a little crispy on the side, just the way I like it. The filling inside the crepe complimented the crepe very well. My boyfriend's Frittata was very good as well but he said they could've put a little more spinach in there and definitely could've used more tomatoes. The grapefruit that came with his Frittata was fresh and juicy and the side of potatoes were well seasoned.
Our bill came to $24 including tax, which isn't bad for DC at all. With fall here, I am sure we will be back soon to enjoy the breezy warm mornings.
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L'Enfant is as close to Parisian as you can get in this city. A small cafe, with an equal amount of tables inside and out, L'Enfant is a wonderful place to enjoy a light meal. I love crepes, and I love gruyere cheese, and L'Enfant serves both in abundance (Say it out loud - GREE-AIR - what a great name for an amazing cheese).
They're really good about replenishing a bottle of tap water on the table. I love restaurants that keep me hydrated.
The beer during non-happy hour times is $6-12 per bottle/draft, with most beers in the $8-9 dollar range, so you'll spend a pretty penny if your tolerance is high. Luckily, my tolerance (for alcohol and for spending large amounts of money on alcohol) is not.
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I like this as a spot to hit up before going out in Dupont or Adams Morgan. The staff is really great and I love their savory crepes. They had a good selection of wine at pretty reasonable prices as well. This is one of my favorites for catching up with the ladies, although I can see why this would be a perfect spot for a date as well.
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The outdoor patio is perfect for sipping a Belgian brew on pleasant spring and fall evenings. The food is fine, even a little pricey. The salads are plain lettuce, but the dessert crepes are excellent. Hit the happy hour for a break on the expensive beer prices.
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I don't know how authentic this place is (seems enough to me), but the crepes are excellent. I also had the cheese sampler which was huge, not that expensive and very tasty. I would have preferred potatoes with my crepe, but the salad works well (and is presumably healthier).
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I'm not sure what the fuss is about this place. The food is very average; and so is the coffee.
The strangest part about the cafe is that I was refused service TWICE by the otherwise friendly manager because all I wanted was a cup of coffee and a table to sit and read -- as one would do in......PARIS.
Maybe because we were on reasonably friendly terms, he felt that he could tell me not to come in unless I was planning to buy brunch, or whatever. But I've never been there since. That was about two years ago.
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Yum Yum Yum. That about sums it up. I love this place. They havea great beer selection. I love the crepes (try the nutella & strawberry), the caprese salad and they have this amazing goat cheese & red pepper, and a gruyere & mushroom. I love them all. Their soup are always amazing too. The outdoor seating is also perfectly placed on the corner so you can people watch.
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Half priced Belgian beer on Tuesdays + strawberry and nutella crepes= this happy hour is crazy delicious. On nice days its worth leaving work a little early to snag a patio spot.
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Two words: French Dip. Honestly I couldn't really tell you much else about this place, because if I'm there, I'm in my French Dip zone. It's not the world's best French Dip (that distinction, in my humble opinion, belongs to the Rutherford Grill in Napa Valley, which is probably the only other place where I might describe myself as "in a french dip zone"), but it's tasty, cheap, and when you tack on a cold Belgian, it's hard to beat after a long day. It got to the point where no verbal communication was required with my server (always the same one), just a nod... like in some beer commercial or something. Admittedly a little strange, in hindsight. Anyway, great service -- edgy too. Sit outside on a nice day, drink and people-watch at one of the most confusing intersections in all of DC: the corner of 18th, U, Florida, and Vernon.
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On a gorgeous Sunday like today, nothing beats sitting on the breezy patio, in the warm sun, enjoying the Sunday Times and savoring a decadent Nutella crepe soaked in Frangelico. Mmmmmm.
I also really love their Wisconsin Swiss Cheese open-faced sandwich. The cheese is firm and flavorful; it comes on crunchy toast with a bunch of crispy-juicy-delicious little cornichon pickles, very fresh small tomato slices, mesclun greens, and an addictively grainy mustard with terrific texture (full of little mustard seeds?).
The only downside to the patio (if you're on a date) is that it can be distracting to see all the heart-stopping near-accidents at this crazy intersection of Florida Ave, U St, 18th St, and Vernon St.
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Had a very pleasant brunch here. It's quite crowded and the tables are small, but the service definitely makes up for it. Prices were reasonable as well. Food = nice. Not amazing, but a nice, pleasant place to pass some time with friends.
Short, sweet, and simple....The best place to go if you love crepes. You can also get a variety of french pastries as well as quiches, sandwiches, coffee, beer, and wine. Great place to meet up with friends and just relax!
the beer selection at this place is great, especially if you catch the tuesday happy hour prices. this place is intently laid back, and i really like the patio, though it does close early. the food is ok. decent fries, but not much else to write home about.
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we've all been there....the summertime apartment search...you are down on your luck, have no place to live, and there were 50 people offering bribes to the owners of the last place you looked at so things are looking pretty slim....this was me in summer 2006
enter L'enfant cafe....after getting pretty happy about an apartment on Vernon (where I in fact lived for a year) my roomie and I decided a snack was in order....not only did we stumble upon some of the best coffee in the city, seriously, but a place that i tended to frequent quite often
the brunch is actually not the best feature....for the price i dont find it filling enough....for wine and beer and apps, though, its perfect
the sample platter of roasted peppers, cornishons, cheese, etc is a great way to start....the brie and honey is superb...good draft beer...candlelight on small little tables...you feel like you are sitting in a cafe on the west bank in paris...shouldn't we all be so lucky
on a side note....that apartment was great for a year, but renaue real estate company is the worst ever...maybe i should write a review about that...hmmm
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{updated 10.8.06}
have officially added l'enfant to late-night haunts! head down 18th when you've had enough puke-dodging on the sidewalks of adams morgan. met the owner yesterday, who said it will be closed for renovations sometime soon through the first of the year -- expanding their kitchen to accommodate more entrees.
he also said l'enfant was named dc's best spot for a first date. "gemutlich," he says. "untranslatable, from the german. it's like the feeling of a warm hug."
{7.20.06}
what moves me, friends, is brunch. cafe l'enfant has much more to offer than just brunch, but that's what i've been going back for.
the crepes are consistently tasty, served with a mesclun salad. croissant sandwich is delicious. cafe au lait is served by the charming vat. while not cheap, i find it to be reasonably priced, and service so far has been standard but friendly. the patio was perfect for spring, and if getting steam-broiled while drinking mimosas is your idea of a great sunday morning, a fine summer idea as well.
i'll have to get back to you on their wine and wig wednesdays and belgian happy hours, haven't tried them. [lenfantcafe.com]
5 star earner: nutella and banana crepe. split one, you'll be glad you did.
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