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Mon Ami Gabi
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bethesda Metro Station (Red)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
211 reviews for Mon Ami Gabi
Review Highlights
-
"Great steak-frites every time." In 20 reviews -
"They have great onion soup, which is all I usually get." In 30 reviews -
"...dessert - the warm berry crumble with vanilla ice cream." In 7 reviews
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211 reviews in English
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Review from Colin H.
Olney, MD
5/8/2012
Came here Monday evening with my wife. We learned that they were hosting a private wine party in the back of the restaurant that limited tables in the dining area, so we seated ourselves at one of the tables available in the bar area.
We were greeted by the bartender who asked for our drink order, I ordered a glass of champagne ($8), and my wife ordered a Kieral-Royale ($8) (apologize for the inaccuracy!) which is champagne with a couple other items added to it. We were given a french baguette, butter, and distilled water (free of charge; I note this because in France they will charge you for a bottle of distilled water) to start off. For an appetizer we ordered the Chicken Liver Mousse ($6.95; pate), definitely an acquired taste! This was not as earthy, and gamey as their other pate option that I have had before, but I could only eat several portions of it, and we had more than 50% remaining after our fill.
For our entrees, I ordered the Beef Bourginon ($21.95; French version of pot-roast) that was flavorful, tender, and accompanied with carrots, mushrooms, mini-onions, and noodles. Ate the whole thing, none left to take home. Wife ordered the Steak Bernaise ($21.95), she liked the dish and shared some with me, I thought the steak had good flavor, and was cooked properly. This was accompanied by a large amount of "french" fries, more like crispy chips than typical fries. Overall we enjoyed our entrees!
Maybe it was because we were seated in the bar area, but the service was slightly lacking. The server(s) only checked on us once in the beginning of the meal, and did not refill our water bottle when it became low/empty. Other than that our experience at Mon Ami Gabi was very good! We will definitely be coming back! -
Review from Jonathan R.
Germantown, MD
4/4/2012
I've been going to this place for 9 years now. While it doesn't quite hit the highs it did back then, I know exactly what to expect from this restaurant in regards to the food and the staff, and for expectations and consistancy are key.
Is it loud? Yes, but I don't find it to be overbearing.
A couple of highlights from the last few years: Watermelon Gazpacho, Queen's bread pudding, their ribeye and their reg and sweet potato gratin.
The misses: bannana's foster crepe, neopolitan profiteroles.
We've been fortunate to have some really incredible server's. Thankfully, the turnover rate is lower than many other places.
Ask for Bryan. He is the best.
All of this praise isn't to say that we haven't had bad experiences there. Steaks have been miscooked (drastically over and under), creme brulee came out raw one time, and we even had a server with a chip on her shoulder. What sets this place apart is the over all willingness to "make it right". Whether that means when you are there or in the future. The owners and managers are very communicative and open to hearing from you.
This is still a highlight of Bethesda. -
Review from Daphne A.
New York, NY
3/29/2012
Go for the Chicken Paillard. I switched the frites for brussels sprouts for a hearty but healthy dinner.
The ambiance is charming and the service is impeccable - just attentive enough not to be overbearing. Actually, everyone seems to be on their best manners at Mon Ami Gabi - even the children were formally dressed and well-behaved!
I'll definitely be back here. Next time, steak. -
Review from Jeff G.
Rockville, MD
5/15/2012
Mother's Day brunch was a treat! The food was very good, the atmosphere lively, and the staff took care of us from start to finish.
Mon Ami Gabi occupies a prime corner in Bethesda's "Woodmont Row". It has outdoor seating & plenty of tables indoors - perhaps a bit too many in the bar area.
Live music is a big plus.
Reservations are recommended.
Three cheers for Gigi for her patience and attentive service. -
Review from LaToya E.
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
After looking for a great lunch spot with an out of town friend we decided on this place just from the look of the patio area and boy am i glad we did! its such a cute little french bistro!
The baguette that was brought out before our meal was delicious and my friend and I had the same burger cooked different ways and they were both PERFECT!
The wait staff were great they were somehow always there when we needed something. I will have to stop by this place again when i want to get my fill of a bistro lunch. -
Review from Carol C.
Gaithersburg, MD
3/20/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Okay, I get it, it's not the hyper authentic carved out of the streets of Paris bistro that real Francophiles (just go to France already) want to be associated with. Yes, the waiters speak perfect English and no, please don't bring your bichon frise into the restaurant with you. About half an hour into our dining experience here though, I was frankly too enraptured with the warm crusty bread, sinfully melty brie (dripping with honey and hazelnuts. TMI?), and licking the bottom of my onion soup cup to care if i was in Bethesda or on the moon. And our entrees hadn't even come out yet.
Food aside, our waiter definitely gets some major props. My friend and I even jokingly complained to each other that he was in fact, a little TOO attentive. But that was all quickly forgotten and forgiven when we consulted him for our most important decision of the night: whether to get the profiteroles or the chocolate pudding cake in addition to the white chocolate bread pudding we had already committed to. His elegant solution was to just give us the profiterole while we ordered the other two. Um, is this real life? I then proceeded to drown in melted chocolate and ice cream perfection. Also, the whipped cream is salted, which means delicious. So no, it wasn't real life. It was unadulterated nirvana.
If you are what you eat, then I definitely left here as a Carol Au Gratin a la Mode. And I liked it. -
Review from Jacinda T.
Rockville, MD
2/22/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I'd give this place 3.5 stars if I could. But as I'm not much of a red meat eater, I'm going to have to round down this time. It's a very nice place, fits in well in Bethesda. The waiters are very courteous and usually attentive. I've dined with people who've said the steak frites is very good, so I'm going to take the word for it. I did steal some fries from the bf though, and they were very delicious. But then again, they're fries.
I am a huge fan of the French onion soup here. It's a bit on the cheesy side, but I can look passed that. (which is saying something, considering I'm lactose intolerant! lactaid FTW) I also love their French baguettes; good ones are so hard to come by in MD. I've gotten the scallops here, which I didn't really like. But I'm really picky about how my scallops are seared, and these were a bit overcooked. I've also gotten a salad with some time of fish (sorry, I can't remember!) but it was good.
Also, the cocktails are quite strong here. I'd stick with wine if you want to enjoy yourself. Oh, and make a reservation on open table ahead of time, you'll save yourself a wait since it gets crowded.Listed in: my "go-to" places in MD
-
Review from Keith R.
Cockeysville, MD
3/6/2012
We were looking for a place to go around the shopping area of Bethesda Ave for lunch so we randomly chose this place. The atmosphere was great. The place had a good french bistro feel to it. The restaurant was larger than we had expected.
The free bread was fresh and delicious. They also give you a free pile of shredded carrots, nothing special here, just carrots. We started with the snails. They were tasty, smothered in garlic, pretty standard. We used the snail oil as a bread dipping sauce. My fiance had the tuna salad. She liked it until she got to the hair (not part of the salad, this was a chef's addition). The waiter comped the salad, and gave us a free entree and dessert. He was very apologetic. She then had the mushroom soup which was loaded with mushroom flavor and delicious. I had a gruyere cheese burger with fries. The burger was good, as expected. It is hard to screw up a burger. The fries were very good. They are fresh cut, thin and crispy.
Finally to the dessert. The creme brulee was sooo good and only $6 (free for us because of the hair thing). Service was amazing, staff was friendly, food was on time. I would definitely go back again. -
Review from Tim D.
1/16/2012
First of all, what self-respecting French restaurant doesn't have French waiters, or servers, or bartenders, or host, etc.?? This place is sooooo "Bethesda" that they even have a giant (fake antique) sign up on the wall that says: "French Fries/ Frites" No,- I'm not kidding! (Next time you're at the bar turn around and look up.)
I decided to celebrate my MLK Day by having some wine and nibbles at a restaurant, so that's why I stopped in. The wine list (by the glass) was pathetic! No Cab's whatsoever! The guy next to me actually thought he was drinking a Cab but when I asked him to point it out on the menu he pointed to the "house" Bordeaux. When I said: uh, that's a Bordeaux not a Cab he said "oh,- the bartender said it was "like" a Cab"... uh huh.... uh...NOT! I guess that's why he's a bartender not a sommelier! Still, I expect better from a French restaurant....
"By the glass" there was only ONE choice for Pinot, Chard, or Malbec. Bordeaux had three or four choices but seriously, $20 for a "no-name" '07?? ...for one glass?? You gotta be kidding me!
The only thing that looked decent was a half-bottle (375 ml.) of '03 Medoc for $34. When I asked if I could "see" the bottle, the bartender said "sure" but it took him 20 min. to produce it (and the place wasn't busy at all). Hmmmm.... Finally the bottle comes, everything looks ok so I say "fine." As he's opening the bottle and about to pour it into a wine glass, I ask him to decant it. He says "sorry, decanter's are only for FULL Bottles"!!! Again,- you gotta be kidding me!!
As I contemplate this conundrum (and look around for the manager), he offers to pour it through a sieve (for sediment) and into a carafe instead of a proper decanter... I stifle my disappointment, determined to make the best of it, and the deed is done. The taste was fine...well, "okay" but there was absolutely no "nose" (aroma, bouquet, whatever you want to call it)!!! I waited.......and waited........sipped, and waited.......It took over an hour to "open up" and when it (finally) did,-- it was nothing to "write home about"!
The escargot was yummy and the French bread was great: served in a paper bag about 15" long but HOT which really made a difference... (That's the ONE thing they got right!)
All in all, $50 for yummy bread & escargot but "ho-hum" wine??
What a RIP! -
Review from Christina H.
San Francisco, CA
4/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I really do appreciate a good steak, but I maybe only order one once a year... I was only in MD for one week and had the steak and frites TWICE! Amazing. Their staff was wonderful, very friendly and knowledgeable. Both times here were just all around a great experience.
-
Review from Bernard D.
San Francisco, CA
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love this place!! While its not authentic like Le Bistro Du Coin in Dupont it is still a great restaurant. You can't go here without getting some variation of the Steak-Frites.
The fries are very unique and VERY tasty. Service has always been great and it is not too difficult to get a table although they can get busy. -
Review from Lisa N.
Germantown, MD
1/3/2012
What brought us here: My birthday lunch.
What we got:
Butternut Squash Soup (seasonal special?)
Four Mushroom Soup
Jumbo Lump Crab Cake
Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese Crepe (shared with my 17-month-old)
Prime Steak Sandwich served with hand-cut fries (mmmm....hand-cut fries...)
You get this baguette to start with, and it's like the most amazing free bread I've ever eaten...well, next to the fruit & nut bread at Fork Restaurant in Philly (http://www.forkrestaur...).
Review:
Butternut Squash Soup - sweet and salty, smooth
Four Mushroom Soup - earthy, as it should be
Jumbo Lump Crab Cake - on top of cole slaw, crab cake good
Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese Crepe - creamy, chicken very tender, wish it had more broccoli though
Prime Steak Sandwich served with hand-cut fries - steak cooked perfectly and I don't have to say anymore about the fries
Verdict: Would eat here again if in Bethesda. A bit pricey, but not too high compared to surrounding restaurants - I'm talking to you Jaleo (http://www.jaleo.com/i...). Fairly kid-friendly, except I couldn't find anything off the kids menu (only mac n cheese, burgers, and pizza, egh!). -
Review from Scott S.
Silver Spring, MD
4/12/2012
This is the only one in the DC area, so you must at least give it a try. The location is perfect (lots of other shopping, restaurants, biking, etc), and the restaurant atmosphere is perfect. Though the food was great but not as amazing as I had expected, this was the only reason I gave 4/5 stars.
-
Review from Adriana H.
Silver Spring, MD
2/8/2012
Love it! we went there for brunch twice and both times we had a good experience. The wine list is not the best, but everything else is :)
The french bread in a paper bag is FABULOUS!! The price is realistic, the service is spot on and the food delicious.
My husband had a steak for brunch. It was scrumptious. I ordered eggs and they were delicious.
Yes, we will be back :) -
Review from Roy S.
1/14/2012
This was a pretty nice place. Busy and loud but with a reservation I waited 5 minutes. The steak au poivre was nicely cooked but the focus was on the brandy sauce and not the peppercorns. I was hoping for the opposite. The steak is also pretty thin. The french fries were plentiful but flat? It was interesting but I prefer larger fries (tough to complain about fries though). I really liked the green beans but some people might want them mushier (no idea why).
Great wine list, very friendly staff, and right next to Bethesda Row theater (dinner and a movie!!!)
I want to try the chicken next... -
Review from Bill O.
Gaithersburg, MD
2/19/2012
I must say, I was expecting more. Having enjoyed French Bistros from Paris to many across the U.S. I have to to say that Mon Ami Gabi is more of a Corner Bakery kind of place than a serious restaurant. The food was quite bland, not very interesting and should have been hotter. However, the space is nice, bustling and the service very good.
The particulars: After reading earlier reviews I was surprised that the bread was very ordinary. I had the jambalaya with two poached eggs. The dish was lukewarm and bland. Fortunately it was served with tabasco sauce. The eggs were nicely poached. My companion ordered the eggs florentine which was surprisingly served atop two English muffin halves. Again, the eggs were nicely poached. The accompanying Hollandaise Sauce was likewise bland and should have been hotter as well (for obvious reasons).
When the weather is warmer, it would be nice to go back, sit on the patio which is appealing, and have a glass of wine and some frites. -
Review from Armine S.
Rockville, MD
3/12/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Never had a bad meal there. The quality of food, preparation and service are truly outstanding!
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Review from Marry K.
Washington, DC
2/7/2012 1 photo
Best Steak ive had in a long time! i can still taste it...and i want more!!!
Went there on a Friday night and Thank God we booked because gosh was it packed! Walk-ins were being told the wait was about 30-40mins and we were seatead in less than 2 mins when we got there.
I ordered the mushroom soup to start which looked and tasted a bit like baby food. i wasnt a fan. We all ordered steak and each and every bite was good till the last morsel. The fries were a bit difficult to eat. A bit soggy and hard to pick up with a fork so i ended up using my hands and eventually stopped eating the fries.
id definitely go back and id definitely have the steak again. it was HUGE!! I tried three different types (bites of what my family was having) and each steak was tender and delicious.
Service was great. the staff is very polite and our waiter was quite attentive. The restaurant was quite loud and tables too close together. it felt like we were pretty much sitting with other guests as we could hear every bit of their gossip.
besides that, mon ami gets a thumbs up! -
Review from Donna C.
Buffalo Grove, IL
12/4/2011
I absolutely adore this restaurant! So if it is located in a city that I am in, I try to eat there, Vegas, Chicago (hometown) and Bethesda.
Saturday 8pm, it is beyond crowded but they sit me even though my daughter is parking the car. Yes, I was seated with an incomplete party!!!
Our waiter, was beyond courteous, efficient and knowledgeable! It was such a joy to dine with him. Because the bar was unable to make our cocktails, due to lack of ingredients, he did so many little extra things since he felt we were very gracious not to get upset.
The Caesar salad was "big" but so very good, not drenched in dressing and accompanied by a wonderful thin baguette crouton and shaved Parmesan.
The steaks classique and bleu cheese were so tender and cooked to perfection, between the juices and melted herb butter, the traditional frites took on an additional layer of flavor. These steaks tasted like they had been flown over from a Paris bistro.
My daughter and i enjoyed the warm chocolate pudding cake with salted caramel creme and white chocolate bread pudding for dessert and both were a tad big but so tasty and a perfect way to end a mother daughter weekend away....
Every moment and every bite of food was sheer perfection! Every employee was courteous and professional, smiled and talked to me-not insult me with a corporate script written by an out of touch marketing major.
Do yourself a favor and enjoy it for yourself...... -
Review from Kathy W.
Fairfax, VA
4/30/2012
Fantastic service and the food was delicious. They didnt rush us but they werent slow either. The mussels were awesome. Fresh and the broth was very good. Had the scallops appetizer which we didn't realize was covered in cheese but it was still very good. The baked Brie was excellent and the bread pudding was delicious as well. We just had appetizers and dessert and I would definitely go back for a full dinner.
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Review from Tracy L.
Arlington, VA
So what if this Is a chain, because it's a really good one!
We've had dinner here twice and it never fails to deliver a delicious classic French meal.
Go with one of their steak and frites entrees and get garlic spinach as a side to complete the meal.
While you eat, enjoy some wine, the traditional French brasserie decor and the attentive service.
Recommended. -
Review from Heidi W.
Bethesda, MD
1/27/2012
I did not have a very good dining experience, but I appreciate that our friend treated us for dinner here. It was quite pricey!
Food:
AVERAGE. I ordered a fish special that sounded very good. The seared skin part of the fish was yummy, but the rest still tasted fishy. I've definitely had better. My boyfriend's steak was better, but it was still just okay.
Price:
Too much.
Service:
Waiter was kind of pretentious, but I guess he was...on time with his service?
Meh. -
Review from C T.
Washington, DC
12/27/2011
I am from the greater SF area and my husband from the greater London area, and we both really enjoy eating. Somehow we ended up in the greater DC area and we dine at MAG, as we like to call Mon Ami Gabi, on a weekly basis. Exceptional service, awesome happy hour if you can get there before 6:30pm and delicious steak frites.
Bon appetit! -
Review from Tina H.
Rockville, MD
1/13/2012
I went here for my birthday with my girl friends couple months ago. It was pricey but it was definitely worth it! One of my friends and I got the steak classique. It came with fries and it was really good! My other friend got jumbo lump crab cakes and it looks delicious.
If you have room for desert, you definitely have to try their profiteroles! It IS SO GOOD! It's kind of like creme puffs but better! and top with chocolate fudge, it's amazing! They gave me one because it was my birthday, & it was so good that we end up order one for ourselves.
Our waiter was super friendly, helpful & funny. It was pretty packed when we were there but I had reservation so I didn't have to wait too long. Definitely worth trying. -
Review from Andrew W.
Bethesda, MD
1/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Amazing French-themed restaurant in the heart of downtown Bethesda!
Since moving to Bethesda from NYC over a year ago, I have come to this restaurant over a dozen times (admittedly more so for their Sunday brunch than for dinner), but I recently went to try to satisfy an insatiable craving for a good piece of meat. I was debating between here and Ruth's Chris or Mortons, but decided on MAG because they have a gluten-free menu, and my SO's diet is a lot stricter than mine. The two of us had an absolutely perfect meal in a beautiful restaurant.
PS - for those of you who are gluten-free, if you ask for the gluten-free menu when you sit down, the waiter will bring you gluten-free bread in addition to the normal bread they put on the table. This is a nice touch, and is very much appreciated.
NOTE: I gave this place 5-stars but I seriously considered 4 becuase the tables can be uncomfortably close to eachother at prime dine time. -
Review from Jen F.
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mon Ami Gabi has some great French food and the people who work here are genuinely great people. It's really all about the customers here, which I think a lot of restaurants lose sight of. Sometimes that warm, family-type atmosphere is what makes eating out great! Do not be surprised if they remember you and treat you well.
They start you off with a loaf of bread and some delicious dips. Try to refrain yourself and leave room for the meal!
For an appetizer, I ordered the squash soup. It was thick and delicious. I probably could have stopped there, but no- onto the entrée! I ordered the roasted chicken- YUMZER. The pom frites were also yumzer. I drool at the very thought.
I would suggest calling ahead because it can get very crowded here. There is also a section in the back reserved for private parties. -
Review from Kitty W.
Brooklyn, NY
1/1/2012
Great food and service. This is our second trip to the restaurant. We started out with four mushroom soup. It was creamy, rich and flavorful. My boyfriend ordered steak classique, I ordered steak Bernaise. Steak classique came with flavored butter with herbs which was delicious. Bernaise sauce was greasy without much flavor. (lots of crushed black pepper but no other taste) I wasn't a fan. For dessert, we ordered warm chocolate pudding cake. It was very very rich. Too rich and sweet for my taste (but read in the other reviewers that they have enjoyed it.)
Extremely friendly, attentive and fast service.
We will be back again. -
Review from Mari C.
Alexandria, VA
4/24/2012
Highly recommended for food, ambiance, knowledgeable staff. Going here for dinner is an experience to be cherished.
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Review from Eddie G.
Brooklyn, NY
2/29/2012
Want me to be honest? (And I know you do...) I wasn't impressed with this place. The hangar steak itself had no flavor, save for the sauce which wasn't too great. And the weird part was that the dish arrived in like five minutes - but wasn't hot. In fact, the spinach side dish (tasty) was also properly cooked, but not hot. All of which me wonder - is their food not cooked to order? In fact, the onion soup struck me the same way - like it had been sitting under a lamp. The cheese on top (thick and promising) wasn't melty, but stringy and tough. Lastly, the fries were a real disappointment. A mound of salty, crunchy bits, like the bottom bits of a bag of chips.
Nice dining room, though. -
Review from Harmony H.
Chevy Chase, MD
10/25/2011
I went for brunch and the food was really good and decent priced. Th crab and lobster sandwich was good and the salmon sandwich was really good. I have also heard that their dinner food is really amazing. The profiteroles dessert is AMAZING.
Avoid the paninis, they're not that great.
The feel of the place is really nice and classy and the service was really good -
Review from Maria S.
9/5/2011
I only recently discovered that there was a Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda. Oui, oui!
Anyway, this turned out to be a solid place for brunch--they give you a warm mini baguette and little cups of whipped butter and raspberry preserves as starters. It was perfect to nibble on while waiting for food! They also have bellinis, kirs, and mimosas during brunch. ..although my kir was not quite as cold as I would have liked on such a hot day for whatever reason (perhaps the bottle of wine was out of the fridge for a bit), it was still quite refreshing.
Our food was delicious, too--I had the tuna nicoise tartine, which was topped with with both tuna salad and seared tuna slices, as well as tasty olives, tomatoes, and green beans. My dining partner had their bananas foster waffles, which she declared excellent (they bring the sauces, bananas, etc. in separate dishes so you can top the waffle yourself). Service was pleasant and knowledgeable about specials and our food came very quickly, but they did seem totally swamped during the brunch rush. -
Review from Emily P.
Bethesda, MD
10/3/2011
Okay, I think I'm just done with French restaurants. They either serve puny dishes or food that je ne sais quoi the fuss is all about. Mon ami gabi. I don't get the appeal. I think I went in with high expectations?
Maybe I should have gotten the steak because I heard that was their specialty, but I wasn't feeling steak (so maybe, maybe, if I go back, I can write a different review.) Alas, I got the half chicken and fries. Yes, the dish was huge. I couldn't finish it. 2/3 of it was covered with these flat fries that went through liposuction. Not a fan of anorexic fries. The chicken was juicy and seasoned, so I guess that was pretty good. But my friend who ate the rest of the chicken I barely poked into said that the center wasn't that good. The chocolate mousse was divine. I guess, overall, I am not an ami, but not an enemy I either. -
Review from cerri c.
Knoxville, TN
2/12/2012
Wonderful food! I had the steak and frites, and I really can't believe how tender and flavorful the steak was. The potato bisque and bread were also fantastic.
A VERY cosy atmosphere, which was nice in some ways, but also a little awkward as we could hear every bit of the conversations on either side of us.
The service was spot on! Wonderfully attentive wait staff.
For dessert my husband and I shared the profiteroles, and they were also very good. All of the desserts served around us looked lovely as well.
The portions of food of very large, so go in hungry! -
Review from Joey M.
Vienna, VA
9/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'll keep this one short and sweet because it was some weeks ago that I had visited:
OUTSTANDING BARTENDER! Made some recommendations for some drinks based on what I was already drinking and delivered some of the best mixology I've had. Freakin' delicious!
Food was quite good, and the ambience was just right. Highly recommended -
Review from Tiffany H.
Washington, DC
4/1/2011
Guess this name's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Looks like you've got a lot of friends, Mon Ami Gabi. Good for you.
I actually think the food here is just a hair above mediocre, but then it is French(ish) meaning everything's swimming in butter, so it's hard for me not to just tell my inner food critic and my arteries to shut the hell up and enjoy it. Their "classic" quiche lorraine is only so-so, but the crust is nice and flaky and buttery. Sea scallops gratinées are slightly more impressive, a bit overcooked, but yup - butter, herbs and gruyere make just about everything better. I bet if I asked the waiter to just bring me a big bowl of butter and a spoon, he'd do it. Service is excellent, and it's that, the atmosphere, the patio, and the proximity to a number of downtown Bethesda shops and the Landmark Cinema that'll probably bring me back soon enough. Overall, a very nice little spot for brunch or a laid back dinner. 3.5 stars. -
Review from Cheryl T.
2/2/2011 9 photos
I've been wanting to try Mon Ami Gabi for awhile, and I finally went!
So the first thing I noticed is that Mon Ami Gabi reminds me of a high-end cafe or a bistro. They have a band playing live jazz music, and the restaurant buzzes with excitement during the dinner rush.
The food is average, but I like their menu selections. I also noticed their huge selections of wine, which could be nicely paired with some fish.
Overall, it was an average experience, but I'd like to be back to try their other items. -
Review from Hue K.
1/1/2011 4 photos
I felt that Mon Ami Gabi was not exactly romantic french bistro .. but more like low-key everyday french restaurant you can come with your family, friends or just neighbors. All brunch dishes looked very good but my friend and I took lunch items since it was already 2:30 pm..
- Complimentary warm baguette comes with butter and jam. This is good enough for 4 stars.
- Onion soup: Gooey Gruyere cheese covered onion soup. Good portion. Very satisfying.
- Frisee warm bacon salad w/ poached egg: something light yet hearty. If you don't want anything too heavy, try this with a glass of wine and baguette.
- Crab meat tartin: Lump crab meat salad (1000 island dressing) on top of buttery toast. Simple yet flavorful open sandwich. Home made potato chip was excellent.
Good and attentive service.
I will definitely come back for brunch and HH.Listed in: Basket of bread, Happy hour
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Review from Steven L.
Washington D.C., DC
2/14/2011
Just got back from what was a perfect Valentine's Day meal at Mon Ami Gabi!
Living right in DC, my partner and I often like to mix things up by eating outside of the city itself. As I pondered Valentine's Day possibilities, Mon Ami Gabi came to mind. I had never eaten there... just have always admired how simultaneously classy and quirky the place seemed to be whenever walking by. So anyway, my interest in the place plus our like of Bethesda sealed the deal.
I did wait a little too long to make a reservation, though, so all of the dinner options were filled. But we have flexible schedules on Mondays, so I opted for an early 2:30 Valentine's Day meal.
It ended up being a great time of the day -- quiet, calm, and the perfect environment in which our waiter (Alex) could give us lots of individual attention. Alex, by the way, was a pro: attentive, professional, friendly, talkative, full of good recommendations (including the wine).
My partner ordered the lobster bisque, chicken liver mousse, and pear with blue cheese salad. He seemed to enjoy it all, especially the liver mousse. I was a little more indulgent with the sweet potato soup, macaroni gratin, and salmon and bacon sandwich with lemon aioli. The soups were creamy and delicious, the macaroni gratin cooked perfectly and in a huge portion, and the salmon quite flavorful.
Topping things off, Alex very kindly brought us an (on-the-house) dessert -- a single profiterole for each of us. The ice cream and chocolate sauce were really, really good.
All in all, a really great experience. And Alex, you're the best! -
Review from A H.
Germantown, MD
12/13/2011
I have eaten in this restaurant many times, mostly for business lunches. I have never been disappointed! So when I had the opportunity to swap some United air miles for a $50 gift certificate, I did it without blinking.
So my boyfriend and I finally decided to go and made our reservation in advance (since it was for a Saturday night and they are always packed). When we arrived we were quickly seated (although it was a bit close to other other guests on either side but I was entertained by the other guests conversations so it was all good). I already knew this restaurant can get quite noisy so that was not a concern of mine. The food is VERY inexpensive for what you get (please note I am not saying it is CHEAP, just cheaper than other restaurants of the same quality).
So my boyfriend and I were trying not to spend more than just a tip. We ordered their homemade chips with blue cheese dip that i LOVE as an appetizer. He ordered one of the Steak Fritas, and I ordered the Scallops in Butternut Squash puree with brussel sprout leaves. Well I HATE brussel sprouts but NOT in this dish... everything was delicious! I almost licked my plate clean. My boyfriend ate faster than I have ever seen him eat before (he is a VERY SLOW eater) and finished his steak in record time. He was so full he couldn't even finish the "fritas".
Soooo... the service was great but our waiter was so busy. Apparently, the appetizer order was missed b/c we got our entrees and hadn't received the chips yet. I said something to the guy who brought us our food and told him we still wanted them. Our waiter came over to sincerely apologize and told us the chips were on him... COOL! (HOWEVER, I had a gift card for $50 that I was trying to spend and no cash on me)... soooo... we decided to order dessert to go since we were too stuffed to eat there. We ordered an apple tart of some sort and it was soooo good when we did eat it later that night! BUT when the bill came, the waiter had also COMPED the dessert b/c he missed the appetizer which was sooo thoughtful but it did not allow us to leave him a large enough tip (we tipped 25-30% on the 2 entrees but wish we could have tipped on the comped items too) ... b/c I couldn't have him run my debit card for just a tip (I was hoping that we would go over the $50 when tax was added by $1-2 bucks so we could leave the tip on my debit card). We scrounged around a couple of bucks and wish we could have tipped him way more than we did... b/c comping both the app and the dessert was above and beyond... I would totally go here again b/c they own up to their mistakes and made me feel happy again when we left... some restaurants do not have this same type of customer service!!!!
FABULOUS! :-) -
Review from Mattie C.
4/12/2011
Great location in central Bethesda near the bike path and across from the Barnes&Noble. It is a cute restaurant with a great atmosphere and also very interesting food choices. They have great onion soup, which is all I usually get. Also, I tried escargot for the first time in my life here. It wasn't that expensive, and I have to say it was quite tasty! They seemed to be drenched in some type of buttery oil, but I can still say that I tried them :)
There were other great items on the menu too, but I am always satisfied with a light lunch of soup and some bread. And try the escargot! It is a shame that I live so far away from here or I would come more often.
