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    Bistro Cacao

    4.2 (835 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:45 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    BISTRO CACAO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Quiet
    Dressy

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    Anya R.

    This is quite possibly the best French restaurant in town and I'm not joking. Seriously a 10/10 experience. A date night or special occasion restaurant for sure, the interior is gorgeous. My cousin and I were speechless. We were right on time for our reservation and there was plenty of street parking in front of the restaurant. It was 80° today in Washington DC so everyone was seated outside, which meant we got the whole upstairs dining room to ourselves as we watched the patrons outside. Very first time dining here. I saw it on Instagram and I am blown away. We started Soupe a l'oignon (French onion soup) Grilled de calamari (grilled calamari) Poulpe grille(octopus) and Mushroom Vol-au-vent which is a mushroom pastry. 10 out of 10 on every single appetizer, we were really hesitant on the mushroom pastry and we were so glad we tried it. It was fluffy and light and decadent flakiest dough. Absolutely phenomenal. And like I said, every appetizers blew us away at a point in time we were speechless. Mikey was our waiter and when we told him we were interested in the octopus, he assured us that we've made a really good choice and we did. The octopus is fabulous if you're into that kind of thing. He was such a great sport going over the menu with us and so polite. For dinner we got the fillet and my cousin got the scallops and we cleaned our plates. I don't have any other thing to say about bistro cacao, except that you have to visit, words can't really put into frame how this experience was. The interior is really picturesque by the way, we couldn't stop taking photos. We ended with crème bruele and profiteroles, again, FAB!! This was a FABULOUS experience and we will be back.

    Private Tables
    Michaela N.

    I wanted to come here for quite some time. I was not disappointed. The ambience is super cute. Coming in it looked more like a bar and possibly a little Parisian Café. But the second floor was weird. It really became more of an experience. Sexy curtain off two seats and eclectic layered patterns and tapestry really made bistro cacao feel like it was outside of the city. The Waite staff was really attentive. Water and bread, service or top-notch. I had the escargot and steak frites. Both the escargot and the steak were pretty good. But I must say the french fries were the highlight. They almost melt into your mouth. I'm a fry girl. I love fries. Honestly these might be some of the best I've had in DC. I just kept remarking the French really know their french fries. C'est magnifique!

    Cheeseburger
    Brianna T.

    Have you tried a lunch at @bistrocacao on @capitolhillbid yet? I'd been craving their steak sandwich and fries all week, and my friend thoroughly enjoyed a fat cheeseburger! I'll be back for their brunch menu at some point because their steak and eggs and eggs Benedict looked to die for

    Profiteroles
    Julia G.

    What a lovely meal - will come back! French cuisine isn't one I naturally gravitate to but my friend wanted to come here. I'm glad we went! Our server was very attentive and friendly. My friend got the old fashioned which she said was very well done and I got a glass of Pinot noir. I ordered the Filet mignon. It was cooked perfectly and whatever they did to the potatoes--chefs kiss! Soft on the inside, crusted and crispy on the outside and I think a hint of sage? Could eat them all day. We split the profiteroles for dessert - hard to go wrong.

    2nd floor seating
    Gi S.

    Came for brunch on a Saturday. Cute place. Nice looking bar and outdoor patio, but we opted to be inside on the 2nd floor since it was about to rain. Service was friendly, place was mostly empty. Brunch is a good value 3-course meal, but can go a la carte. We ordered the onion soup, burger, steak frites, French toast dessert, all decent. Also ordered the pastry basket of mini croissants, but small serving for $8 and not very good.

    Trendy D.

    Such a cute and aesthetic place!!! Tons of seating, in a lovely area of DC, with street parking available. They have outdoor and upstairs seating. The service was great! They have a good brunch deal which is $35 for an appetizer, entree, and desert. They also have a la carte options or you can do bottomless drinks. We ordered Appetizers - escargot which was a 10/10 sooooo goooood! It was my first time having it and really enjoyed. The flavors were bursting, it wasn't slimy like I thought it would be, and honestly had the texture of grilled oysters. We also had the French Onion Soup - 10/10 best one I've ever had! Flavor was sooooooo gooooood!!! Entrees: The smoked salmon Benedict was alright according to my friend. I'm not a fan of Benedict's so I didn't try it out. I got the Steak and Frites I enjoyed my meal! It wasn't the best steak and frites, but it was solid. They have my favorite frenchy fries the shoe string fries. I'd say if they want to level up the steak rather than mustard they should provide something more savory to go with Desserts were meh we got the crepe and French toast. I'd go with the French toast over the crepe. The crepe was dry as hell Overall I'd come back and try dinner. I feel like this would be a sexy date night spot!

    Branzino
    Sigma C.

    Very cute decor inside, loved the theme was very cozy. The food was good. The calamari was amazing definitely didn't expect the flavor but was happily surprised.

    Perfect
    Chelsea A.

    Randomly was cruising the city and I was starving! My friend and I found this gem and it was so good! Pasta was fresh! Service was quick! And food was good! My friend enjoyed hers too. I got a mushroom ravioli and tore it up in 8 minutes! It's also a cozy place very friendly! I would definitely come back again!

    The overall restaurant was amazing. I was seated upstairs since I was by myself and my waitress was phenomenal. The muscles and the wine that I have were fresh and better than anywhere that I've tasted thus far in DC.

    Jamie J.

    What a cute hidden gem in Capitol Hill! The restaurant has a beautiful ambiance and the food was great. Definitely great for a romantic night out or an intimate dinner. We came for lunch, which was also a great time to come. I would definitely come back for brunch and try other things. I had one of the salads which was delicious and my friend had a sandwich - we were both very happy. Service was also great, highly recommend stopping by if you have a chance. They also seem to have a space for private dining if you wanna plan an event.

    Triple Chocolate Roll Cake
    Madelyn V.

    DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY - plz i never spend time to make a review but this was the biggest waste of money my boyfriend and i came here for valentine's day and we were already pissed because we didn't get the transparency of knowing there was a set menu....anyways... we decided to stay because why not treat ourselves first my drink...i got the lavender french 75. it tasted good don't get me wrong, could've been a bit stronger. but why was there lavender leaves in my drink? i literally had to keep spitting out the actual lavender it was so distasteful next was our food...i was so excited to try dinner menu items that are raved about on here but they didn't have any of the actual good stuff on that set menu. i got a salad which i could've easily made at home (mind you i don't cook) and scallops which were teeny tiny. entrees- a steak should not be wrapped in bacon for it to taste good. at least it was cooked correctly but has no flavor. and the lobster ravioli was more of a lobster empanada. dough was THICK and bread-like. and the sauce was all cheese, just nasty. and you don't think it could get worse but it does. dessert....we got two desserts, which one was okay. do not get the chocolate roll cake- so dry and so tough to actually get through. it felt like chewing styrofoam. anyways $400 later and we are on our way to mcdonald's cuz we are still hungry after that meal

    Khamil T.

    Best place for a romantic special occasion. Staff was super helpful, they allowed me to bring a violinist to play some music for my wife's and I 5th anniversary. They accomodated us in a private space, the service was really nice. Food was delicious, and the place was very cozy and intimate. Overall a great experience. 10/10.

    Apple pie
    Mark O.

    My wife and I went to Bistro Cacao for date night recently and we were pretty impressed. Without a doubt this was one of the most romantic venues we've ever eaten in before. From the music to the decor to the rose petals on the table, we loved the detail. I ordered the Salad Cacao and Magret de Canard while my wife ordered the Soupe à l'Oignon and Bœuf Bourguignon. The dishes were fantastic. I haven't had duck in so long so this was a great reminder of how amazing duck is. Parking was not too bad we got lucky. This gem is definitely on the top of our list. Our host/server was extremely attentive and made our experience great.

    Romantic atmosphere

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    7 months ago

    Everything is delicious--onion soup, mussels (maybe the best I've ever had), steak, dessert.

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    Page 1 of 21

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    ChurchKey - Tots, fries, mushroom flatbread and a glimpse of chicken sando

    ChurchKey

    3.9(1.5k reviews)
    1.9 miLogan Circle, Downtown
    $$

    Great local bar with large rotating craft beer selection. Highly recommend for any beer…read moreenthusiast. They have wine and cocktails as well. They are happy to recommend beer for your taste, and let you sample. It can be very busy and difficult to get a seat at the bar or get a table on a Friday or Saturday evening. We ordered food, and were expecting elevated bar food. The tater tots were a huge disappointment- they were very large squares , bland, and not crispy. The wings were okay. The cheeseburgers were the best- from the restaurant downstairs- mallard. Huge burger, done perfectly medium.

    Here's a review written as part of a visit to both Churchkey and Birch & Barley (the downstairs…read morerestaurant -- together they form the "2 Enjoy Everything" concept by Neighborhood Restaurant Group): A DC Gem That Delivers on Every Level If you haven't made it to Churchkey on 14th Street yet, move it to the top of your list. I visited as part of the full experience -- dinner downstairs at Birch & Barley, then up to Churchkey for drinks -- and honestly, it's one of the best evenings I've had in DC. Churchkey itself is everything a great bar should be. The beer selection is absolutely unreal -- hundreds of carefully curated labels spanning every style, region, and flavor profile you can imagine. What sets it apart is that the staff actually knows the menu. Our server walked us through a few options based on what we liked and landed us on perfect picks both times. That kind of genuine expertise is rare. The tavern pizzas from the wood-fired oven were a wonderful surprise -- thin, crispy, and the perfect companion to a cold draft. The smash burger also deserves a mention: simple, well-executed, and hits the spot. The vibe is warm and lively without being overwhelming. Great for a date, a group, or even just sitting at the bar solo with a good beer and good conversation with the bartender. This place has earned its reputation as one of the best beer bars on the East Coast -- and then some. Highly recommend making a full night of it with both floors. You won't regret it. Feel free to adjust the tone or add any personal details from your actual visit!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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    ChurchKey
    ChurchKey
    ChurchKey - Stairs

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    Stairs

    Henceforth - Waffle and potato

    Henceforth

    4.5(31 reviews)
    0.8 miH Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast

    We walked to this brewery, but could easily make it on the streetcar as it stops right across the…read morestreet. This former mini golf country club space has transformed into such a cute and classy neighborhood watering hole, while maintaining some of the golf decor. With a large and varied draft beer menu (our group had IPAs, stouts, seasonal ales, and even a cider), plenty of wines (including NA!) and an expert sommelier, and bar snacks for all tastes, I can see myself ducking into Henceforth for any sort of drinking. Their upstairs area had more tables and intimate spaces, but our group took up the comfy couches downstairs. Their staff is incredibly friendly, and just generally seem happy to be there. They also host monthly activities on their calendar, which sounds like a great way to gather!

    A fun business for a quick dinner. The restaurant clearly has an identity crisis, with food quite a…read morebit nicer and more put together than you'd expect from a brewery/pub (especially at the price point, I was monumentally impressed by basically nice sit-down restaurant level of dishes), but the beer was very standard and crowdplraser-y and didn't quite match. For a "hole in the wall gem" vibe they seem to be going for, I wished they had more creative, experimental beers.

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    Henceforth
    Henceforth - Triple Fried Fat Fries with aioli verde, buffalo and honey old bay wings, Spicy Chicken sandwich, and Braised Short Rib.

    Triple Fried Fat Fries with aioli verde, buffalo and honey old bay wings, Spicy Chicken sandwich, and Braised Short Rib.

    Henceforth

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    The Sovereign - Mariniere Mussels | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

    The Sovereign

    4.0(604 reviews)
    3.4 miGeorgetown
    $$

    This place is fantastic! We sat at the bar on a Sunday afternoon. Great atmosphere, beautiful bar…read more I appreciate the hooks under the bar to hang your purse or bags. Thank you for having that. It's a detail that many bars forget but I can relax and enjoy my stay more when I know my belongings are safely tucked away. We got the Smorgesboard and Saffron Mussels. Both were EXCELLENT. The Mister got a few beers. The Smorgesboard had every charcuterie option and it was really fun building the perfect bite. I thought it was absolutely worth the price. I've paid more for less. Let me take a moment and collect myself before I talk about the Saffron Mussels. They were freaking amazing. The broth was mildly spicy, a powerful punch of salty herby flavor that paired wonderfully with the mussels. They were perfectly cooked with a tender chew. Served with fries and chunks of bread to sop up all that glorious broth. If you're thinking about getting the mussels, just do it. Truly, one of the best pot of mussels I've had. We are just visiting the area, but I'd definitely come back the next time I'm in town. What a delightful surprise to find this place.

    Came to the Sovereign on a Friday night for happy hour -- a great deal, cocktails for $6 and some…read morebites. Walked to the upstairs bar and was able to find a seat no problem around 6:30pm. There were still seats at the downstairs bar too. I went for a cocktail off their full menu not featured on happy hour - the tricky tripel, and it was delicious! The bartender did a great job explaining the tasting notes of all the drinks and helped me choose a good one. I also sipped the Belgian sour many of my friends opted for and that's a great cocktail for just $6 during happy hour. Happy hour is tricky -- it's really a great deal making it difficult to justify paying full price for anything but the crowd here is two folds. You have a lot of young college kids mixed with an older crowd so one comes for the deals while the other comes for amazing food and cocktails -- something for everyone! Overall I would definitely come back for dinner. This place has a very lowkey casual vibe but upscale food and drinks. The atmosphere/ambiance leaves a little to be desired with not so great lighting and no background music that I can recall but still a nice spot to pop in.

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    The Sovereign - Bottle room

    Bottle room

    The Sovereign - Steak frites & eggs, saffron mussels (ig @fanaticdiner)

    Steak frites & eggs, saffron mussels (ig @fanaticdiner)

    The Sovereign - The bar

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    The bar

    Dacha Beer Garden - Grilled Chicken Sandwich with purple kraut, Havarti cheese, pickles, LTO and famous sea salt fries at Dacha Beer Garden (Shaw), DC

    Dacha Beer Garden

    4.1(507 reviews)
    1.6 miShaw
    $$

    My boyfriend and I went to Dacha Beer Garden (Shaw) for an afternoon date and it was such a vibe…read more The patio was full but still felt cozy and fun lots of energy without feeling chaotic. The sunlight coming through the big windows and umbrellas made everything feel warm and relaxed. It's definitely one of those spots that feels very DC weekend.We ordered the giant pretzel with cheese and mustard and it was SO good soft, warm, perfectly salted, and ideal for sharing. The fries were crispy and seasoned just right. We also tried a couple of beers (the grapefruit one was especially good and refreshing), and everything paired perfectly with the food. It's casual but still cute enough to make it a real date. You can sit, talk, enjoy your drinks, and not feel rushed. I'd absolutely come back, especially on a sunny day. Perfect for daytime dates, meeting friends, or just enjoying good vibes in Shaw.

    It has been nearly 11 years (!) since my initial review, so an update is sorely in order. This…read moreplace is still going strong, stronger than ever in my view. They have slowly made changes over the years that make this an absolute must visit. What hasn't changed: the outdoor vibes and string lights are as pleasant as ever, and without the crushing crowds and lines that typified this location in their early years, it is a much nicer vibe most days. In my first review, I complained that the menu was very light on German beer options. They offer far more now, including a beer that I do not believe you can regularly find at any other bar in the city: the Weihenstephaner Korbinian, the world's finest doppelbock. It is one of the most delicious beers I have ever had, and they have it here on tap for a very reasonable price. Another positive change: they have a kitchen now with a full menu of food options. Their giant pretzel is a classic, of course. If you're a weekend happy hour chaser, they sell $5 High Noons all day Sunday. One final note: the location is absolutely perfect. Baan Mae has opened next door to the north (a 5/5 dining experience, amazing Thai food), Ugly Duckling is across the street to the south (a 5/5 happy hour and cocktail experience), and Ivy & Coney is right across the street to the east (a DC icon and 5/5 dive bar and football spot), so Dacha is essentially the centerpiece of the perfect night (or whole day) out.

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    Dacha Beer Garden - Brunch at Dacha Beer Garden is iconic.

    Brunch at Dacha Beer Garden is iconic.

    Dacha Beer Garden - Guinness is served in a pint glass and Das Boot at Dacha Beer Garden.

    Guinness is served in a pint glass and Das Boot at Dacha Beer Garden.

    Dacha Beer Garden - Cocktails are crafted to order at Dacha Beer Garden. Refreshing.

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    Cocktails are crafted to order at Dacha Beer Garden. Refreshing.

    Kingfisher

    Kingfisher

    4.3(125 reviews)
    2.0 miLogan Circle, Downtown
    $$

    I've been hearing about this place for years but never actually stopped by. They're currently on my…read morelist of weekend happy hour spots, having it all day on Sundays. I made a last minute change to meet a friend here, but much to my surprise... they had a PS5 and Tekken booted up at the bar. I am by zero means a Tekken player. Yes, I'm a huge gamer, but I'm terrible at Tekken. But the mere concept of being able to watch and play it at a bar is incredible. That aside, they got a bunch of board games like Trouble, Uno, Trivial Pursuit... the classics man! Oh right, the bar part. Their drinks are great. The staff are great. The specials are great. And they give you popcorn! And they have a whole little table with all the popcorn fixings if you don't want to eat it plain. You can literally bring in food from anywhere on top of that. I'm not sure if it's a Sunday thing, but the place really doesn't get too busy. It's quite a vibe. If you've never been and you're in the Logan Circle area, go.

    My go to spot once or twice a month. Straight to the point with great aesthetics. Love the wood…read morelook and clean dive bar vibes.. they have a huge variety of beers and kozys to put them in since they don't have draft beer. The bartenders no matter what day it is always execute with divine hospitality!! Oh yeah forgot to mention the popcorn machine free popcorn is a plus, it also has a huge selection of seasoning to get that popcorn right. See you soon!! Say what's sup if you see me there!!

    Photos
    Kingfisher
    Kingfisher
    Kingfisher

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    Bistro Cacao - french - Updated May 2026

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