I hesitate to write this review because Bistro Cacao is probably the most underrated restaurant in DC, which means it's not as hard to find a table as some other places. The wine list is on point, as is the food which never disappoints. Please be aware that, as in France, portions here are not American sized, so that you can eat the several courses without exploding. Also, don't expect anything too creative, just good French food, expertly prepared. read more

Everything was excellent. Highly recommend the French Onion Soup and the Duck. Pass on the Boullibase. Lavender French 75 is great.

I visited Bistro Cacao and was not impressed. The decor is lovely and the staff are really attentive, but the food is blah. I ordered frog legs for my appetizer to be adventurous. What everyone says is right, they taste just like chicken. Can't really fault Bistro Cacao for this one, maybe they make the best frog legs on earth and in my inexperience I just didn't recognize it. I had the duck for my main course. The waiter asked how I'd like it cooked, and I said what the chef recommends, which the waiter said was medium. I don't eat duck very often, but I was very surprised when it came back raw in the middle. I thought that was standard for beef, but fowl? It tasted bad. The sauce was also too heavy and didn't blend with the duck taste which was hard to focus on over the sliminess of raw-feeling flesh. I did not stay for dessert. I wish I had had a better experience since the inside really is lovely and the wait staff is very nice, too. read more

Bistro Cacao - Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Sautéed Mushrooms and Spinach, Potato Gratin, Juniper Berries Ginger Sauce. Medium = tasted raw in the middle. - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This lovely french restaurant is the epitome of class and deliciousness. The location is a restaurant turned apartment with a single rose and candle at each table. The walls are decorated with wine bottles and photos, my favorite being a little boy running with a ridiculously large baguette. A recurring theme seems to be the color red wich is brought in different shades in the walls, curtains, napkins, and furniture. There is beautiful french music playing in the background not too loud and not too quiet that really makes it seem authentic and sets the mood perfectly. Our waiter, Johnny, doubled as our sommelier and suggested a wine we thouroughly enjoyed. We each ordered different things off the menu, our favorites being the salmon, french onion soup, and duck foux gras. After dinner, we just couldn't get enough so we grabbed a desert menu ordering the trio creme brulee, moelleux de chocolat (fancy name for chocolate lava cake), poached pear, then more creme brulee. I think it is safe to say we were in french heaven until we got our bill. Although the food was quite pricy, it was quite worth it. From the second we came in, we were treated with respect and courtesy, even when my dad spilled the water from the rose vase on the table cloth and my sister. It was very authentic and professional, Johnny didn't even write down our order, but perfectly memorized the many orders and allergies of 4 different people. The service was fast and impeccable, the food hot, perfectly seasoned, and fresh. On our way out, we grabbed some complementary candied ginger which starts sweet with a spicy after taste. For about two hours, we stepped out of Washington DC and into France. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for quite some time now. I saw it on the list of restaurants for restaurant week and made a reservation right away. My boyfriend and I ordered the spicy shrimp and pate for appetizers. The apps came out super fast. I guess they were super prepared for restaurant week dinner rush. I usually love pates but this was a little disappointing.. The shrimp was a little over cooked and wasn't anything special. Entrees, we ordered the lamb and the duck. These were fantastic! Definitely made up for the mediocre appetizers. The waiter was very attentive and helpful with questions we had. I told him I was a little afraid to try the duck because of the blueberry sauce (I'm not a huge sweets fan) he said it is a little sweet so he suggested I get it on the side. I honestly LOVED the sauce. It wasn't that sweet and it had such a rich flavor. I ended up pouring it all on. We ordered the trio creme brulee and the mango cake (I think)... Once again, I'm not a huge dessert fan, so the cake was a little sweet and tart for me. However, the creme brulees were sooo good. They were a little on the thick and creamy side compared to some places that make creme brulee that's more like gelatin, but these were amazing... And honestly i don't really like chocolate, but the chocolate creme brulee was the best... The restaurant itself is really cute and homey. It does look very romantic and cozy but it's in a house kind of building which makes them have several different rooms. The tables were a little tight. I wish there was more room in between so I could enjoy a romantic dinner and have a conversation. Instead, I couldn't help but to over hear other conversations from the neighboring tables. But the overall experience was good I'll definitely be coming back in the future! read more

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I can't emphasize enough how great this place is. I lived a block away for a year and never visited, but my boyfriend surprised me with a trip for our anniversary as I used to live in Paris and my lord - INCREDIBLE. The food, the drinks, the service (I'm looking at you, Ellie -perfection!), phenomenal. Worth every penny and we will be back. read more

This place is phenomenal! We came here for our valentines dinner and it was perfect. The ambience is very romantic and makes it a perfect place for a special night. We started with the tuna tartare and French onion soup which were fantastic. The French onion soup has the browned melted cheese on top and was wonderful. I got the ribeye steak entree which was one of their specials. It had scallops on top, green beans and a sweet potato au gratin on the side that was incredible. Such a nice balance of flavor profiles, and the steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare. For dessert we had the chocolate lava cake which was also very good. The plate was decorated with a nice note "Love is in the air" written in raspberry syrup. It was such a nice personal touch. Between the outstanding service and perfectly prepared food, I guarantee this place will not disappoint. read more

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BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I made a reservation over six weeks in advance for Valentines Day, and I requested a booth with curtains and communicated upfront that we are vegetarians. I chose this restaurant because their regular menu has multiple vegetarian options. Less than a week before Valentine's Day, the restaurant calls to announce a special, preset menu for $100/person. This menu includes little to no vegetarian options AND up-charges up to $50 per person for the same items on their regular menu. When I communicated with the staff and management, they were unhelpful and at times argumentative. They made minimal effort to accommodate or make exceptions. They acknowledged there were limited options and tried to justify the price like I can't look up the regular menu and do my own math. They also told me they were too busy that night to guarantee the table I requested. I just cancelled my reservation. I would've been more open minded about going if the restaurant offered to make accommodations or make up the difference, but it sounded like they wanted me to cancel my reservation so they could fill that seat with someone else. This restaurant obviously cares more about exploiting special occasions for maximum profit instead of honoring reservations or customer experience and satisfaction. They could care less if they did this to their customers days away from Valentine's Day, when other reservations in D.C. are hard to come by. It's not about the money. It's about the service. On principle, we're not going to pay almost twice as much for limited options and not get the table we requested, especially when we made reservations six weeks in advance and communicated our needs. Do NOT recommend going here. read more

This place is amazing and service is excellent! The manager Dannis went above and beyond to accommodate us and make our celebration of anniversary wonderful. Food is delicious. One of rare places where they make desserts in the house and they are not too sweet. Highly recommend! read more

I dream about their duck and eggplant puree! It's so good. We sat outside and there were very cute fire places near by. They also had great drinks. We had the grapefruit crush and loved it. Really enjoyed everything we had! read more

The duck is simply amazing! Being here is so calming and simply romantic. I absolutely love the atmosphere. It reminds me of moulin rouge! The staff and owner are very kind. I enjoy going here and I can't wait until I take my next visit read more

Found this restaurant on a general "best boozy brunch" search of DC, and boy are we glad we did! Food- So delicious. We started with the pastry basket to share. I've never had such flaky, clearly fresh, WARM croissants before! The chocolate croissants were particularly wonderful. Also, the little dishes of butter, nutella, and jam were a nice touch. I ordered the lobster and goat cheese omelette, which actually had a generous amount of lobster in it! Was super tasty. The only con was that I found a couple of pieces of shell in the lobster, but I guess that translates into the meat being actual lobster meat? Also ordered the profiteroles for dessert- DELICIOUS. Perfect balance of fluffy and flaky pastry stuffed with soft, melt-in-your-mouth cream. Drinks- We opted for the $10 for bottomless mimosas. Excellent deal, and the mimosas were very strong. They left a pitcher at the table, which was very nice, because we could fill at the pace we wanted. Service- EXCELLENT. The servers were all extremely friendly and welcoming. I also really appreciated that our waitress kept asking if we wanted another pitcher of mimosas, and specifically said "you still have plenty of time" in our 2-hour limit. Ambiance- Adorable. The outside has a lovely patio with plentiful outdoor seating. Inside, there are numerous cute seating options. We sat right by a large bay window and had very comfortable, beautiful seats. I loved how it felt like we were just having a meal in a gorgeous old fashioned house. Overally, would definitely recommend and we will definitely be going back! read more

Went here for valentines day and had the cutest menu w drinks, a lovely restaurant and feels so sweet and intimate inside

This review is for their Brunch menu. As others have mentioned their brunch menu is very limited. For $15.95 you get to choose a main dish and two sides. Each table also gets a basket filled pastry and bread. Their warm chocolate croissant was great!! I had the mozzarella and spinach omelet with a side of roasted potatoes and chicken sausage. I asked for 2 eggs...there were at least 3-4 eggs in my omelet. I would not recommend their omelet. The eggs were over cooked and I'm pretty sure they had used egg beaters instead of fresh eggs. The BF had the Eggs Florentine which he thought was fine. Would i go back...NO. There are plenty of places in DC were you can get a decent brunch for $40/ 2ppl. read more

Bistro Cacao - Spinach and mozzarella omelette - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is a gem. Very friendly staff, great and original French food. Not splayed out in a busy commercial neighborhood so relatively quiet. Supports my theory that the better restaurants are often off the beaten path. They have to be better; people don't patronize them for convenience but instead for quality. read more

The ambience is a small intimate French restaurant! It was so warm and cozy. My boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary here. From the time we walked in to the time we left service was absolutely perfect. We ordered the escargot, mushroom soup to start. I like bread so the butter and rolls we were brought were definitely appreciated and tasty. He ordered the seafood entree which came in a broth and he loved it. I ordered the duck and it's was good but I would probably try something else when we return. For dessert we had the apple tart. They decorated the plate to say happy anniversary! It truly was a memorable night. Our waiter was hilarious by the way and definitely added to the experience! We can't wait to go back! We were actually talking about it the other day! Thank you all so much for helping us make such a great memory for us here! read more

Bistro Cacao - Seafood soup - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Bistro Cacao has a super romantic, cozy, intimate atmosphere. Super elegant and professional servers, making it their every effort for your dining experience to be nothing but enjoyable. The adorable owner even made a point to say hello. Was too busy enjoying the meal to snap a pic. More people need to try this place! read more

We went there last week to celebrate our civil wedding en tête-à-tête. The staff were wonderful and gave us a special table. The waiter was great too (can't remember his name though). The food was spectacular! The wine was fantastic. We live close by and definitely plan on becoming regulars! It was delicious and we absolutely loved the experience :) read more

Bistro Cacao - Dessert - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Very disappointing experience. We came for my birthday with high expectations; however, everything from the service to the atmosphere was lacking, as well as the food. Our waitress literally knew nothing about the menu or the food or wine she was serving, she didn't even know how to uncork a bottle and had to ask for help. We ordered a cheese platter and when it came out, we asked what kinds of cheese we received and she had no idea, she replied "French cheese." There were fruit flies buzzing around our food. There was also an out of control man at the bar, not that this was something that the restaurant could control, the staff seemed unperturbed, didn't really do anything about it, and I was frankly scared. We decided to just leave after our appetizers ... but still, just feel so ripped off for what we paid, for such a disappointing experience. For that price, we deserve better. read more

My first review as a Gold Elite had to be something special to go with my new badge and I couldn't think of any other place better than Bistro Cacao. This is hands down the best French restaurant in the area and my personal favorite restaurant period. From the minute you walk in the decor draws you in- old hardwood floors, red velvet drapes, arm chairs with pillows, none of which match. The place screams intimate setting and the servers make you feel like they're there to meet your every need. I'm most often there for brunch and lunch. Brunch has unlimited mimosa for $10. Honestly, as long as you can keep emptying the pitcher they will fill it up with a bottle of champagne and more orange juice. I'm a huge fan of the bread basket which comes with croissants, rolls, nutella, butter and jam. The lobster omelet and the shrimp salad are my go to brunch items- both delicious and complimentary to my unlimited mimosa. For lunch my favorite menu items are the hanger steak, both the steak salad and the steak with frits. The hanger steak is always perfectly cooked at medium, seasoned well and literally makes you feel good when you're chewing. The salad comes with a great dressing, goat cheese and nuts. The steak and frits is served with crunchy shoestring like fries and this sauce that is to die for! The sauce is for the steak but you still dip the frits in it because it's that good. If they have the tomato bisque soup when you are there- get it. It's served with fresh goat cheese and on a cold winter day feels like a nice warm hug. Whether you come with coworkers to get away from the desk, with girlfriends to catch up or with a date (serious this place will have you smooching) Bistro Cacao is the perfect place. I always feel welcomed there. No matter what mood I'm in when I walk in the door, when I walk out I'm full, I'm happy and almost skipping. read more

The cacao salad and the hanger steak is my go to! Both are consistently very tasty! Also got the apple tart last time I visited and very much enjoyed it. Overall, the food and the great patio make it a great neighborhood spot. read more

came here for brunch for RW winter 2018. service was great and fast. However the waitstaff could've informed us of the bottomless brunch. We ordered individual mimosas which were the same price as the bottomless. Otherwise, a great brunch experience in terms of the food and service. read more

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I came here for Restaurant Week and had a reservation but was still told that we'd have to wait a little while. No problem, we headed to the bar! The cocktail of the day was delicious - elderflower liquor with something else. I hate that I forgot the name and the rest of the ingredients, but it was perfectly sweet and refreshing. Once seated, we got on to the food. We started with lobster bisque and one of the salads. They were both very good. We got steak and frites and the mushroom ravioli. Again, both wonderful. The steak was cooked beautifully and the sauce was delicious. The mushroom ravioli was good, seasoned well, but I won't be running back for it. The desserts were great too! A creme brûlée trio and warm chocolate cake. All were delicious! I am glad that I came for Restaurant Week and I will definitely be going back again soon!! read more

I've been to Bistro Cacao twice for work lunches and I have enjoyed myself each time. I love the decor and ambiance. The chairs are by far my favourite as they are all different kinds of antiques with different patterns and pillows. They are also suprising very comfortable to sit in. The food is also amazing. Everything I've tried entree and dessert alike has been wonderful. read more

Bistro Cacao - Asparagus Ravioli - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I went to dinner last night at Bistro Cacao and could not have been more impressed. Upon arrival I was somewhat concerned about the decor. The waiting area is full of large bottles of wine and absurdly large whisk and old lady wall art. As soon as we went to our table my concerns immediately disappeared. The layout creates an intimate environment even though you are in a room full of people. It was difficult to pick what to have for dinner because everything looked great. I had the Frisée et Epinards Salade to start which was a great combination of apples, goat cheese and pistachios over spinach. And I generally hate salad so kudos for Bistro Cacao for getting me excited to have one! My main course was decidedly more suited to my carnivore tastes as I had the Filet Mignon. It was one of the best steaks that I've ever had. I ate every last bite on my plate and had to really consider if I should share a bite. The main reason I did share was my interest in dessert. Dessert was the one slightly disappointing portion of the meal. I ordered the apple tart which came with a raspberry sauce. No one told me there would be a raspberry sauce and it put a bit of a damper on my enjoyment since I really dislike raspberries. Not the end of the world, but not exactly what I wanted! I find this is often an issue with restaurants - if you are going to use a berry sauce just be up front about it! That's all I'm asking for. In summation, it was fantastic, especially if you are fine with hidden raspberry flavors. read more

My review is for brunch and dessert only, I have yet to go for dinner. Each time I've visited Bistro Cacao, I've fallen in love with the ambiance. The restaurant is absolutely adorable with two connected townhouses, and unique little alcoves for booths or tables. It has that wonderful, quirky small French inn kind of feel, similar to the Mansion on O Street. This must be one of the most romantic settings in town. It pains me to review the brunch, merely because I don't think many people know how fantastic it is, and I'm not sure I want everybody to find out. I suppose I have to share: it is the best brunch deal in DC. I looked at everything under the sun in DC for Mother's Day, and the price at Bistro Cacao was extremely fair at $15.95 for a fixed price menu. Furthermore, the amount and quality of food was incredible for that price; the same menu would have cost double elsewhere. The assortment of pastries were served piping hot, and already had us half full before the main meal. I had the cinnamon french toast, which was buttery and fluffy perfection. Chicken sausage is excellent, you wouldn't even know it's chicken. The bacon is very high quality - all you bacon lovers know you can tell the difference between quality bacon and Oscar Mayer bacon. Blueberry pancakes were also delicious. Our entire table of 6 people were all extremely impressed. As for the dessert, the staff were all wonderful in accommodating a large group of ladies on the night of my bachelorette party. Though my memory is kinda fuzzy (it was my bachelorette!), the flourless chocolate cake was melt in your mouth delicious, the trio of creme brulee had everybody oohing and aahing, and the poached pear was also very tasty. read more

I would rate Bistro Cacao more a 3.5 than a 4 because the food is not very unique -- it's really just typical French food -- however, it is done really well. Because the food is done well and the restaurant is incredibly charming, it does make for a nice night out (or brunch). Bistro Cacao is a combination of a couple old rowhouses, creating a bunch of nooks and crannies, which they've filled with small tables and very comfortable seating (and nothing matches, which also adds to the overall atmosphere). I think Bistro Cacao would be great for a first date if you're willing to spend that much. It's definitely very romantic! Brunch seems to be the best deal, and it is definitely worth it! For $16 a person, you start with a pastry basket. It's not just plain bread -- they have some really tasty options! Then you get a main dish AND two side dishes. It's a lot of food -- you can even get steak and eggs included in that price if that's your thing. The sides could also be a meal in themselves, given that you can get chicken sausage, two eggs, fruit, salad, etc. I got the french toast with sausage and fruit when i went and loved it. Bistro Cacao is probably one of the best brunch deals in DC, and I highly recommend it! We went last week for dinner because we had a deal that was expiring (unfortunately I was stupid and didn't read that the deal was only good Sunday through Thursday anyway). Even though we ended up paying full price for the meal, we still had a great time and enjoyed everything we got, so the $120 was worth it. I will say though that for dinner, Bistro Cacao is a little dressier. Being a young couple, I think we were judged a little for our jeans and sweater(me)/polo(my boyfriend). We were seated in a little table in the hallway - although cute, it was a little awkward that we were seated RIGHT next to another couple and could easily hear everything they were talking about. It was almost hard not to get involved in their conversation. Nevertheless, we still had a good time. We started with two glasses of red wine (Malbec), french onion soup, and a spinach salad. Everything was good - the french onion soup was what you would expect and the spinach salad was a good combination of spinach, apples, walnuts, bleu cheese, and a light dressing. I got the hanger steak with fries for my meal, which was phenomenal. I got a huge portion of steak that I couldn't finish and it was tender and juicy, so much so that I had plenty of au jus to dip my fries in. The fries were crispy with just the right amount of salt. I would definitely go again for the steak frites. My boyfriend got the rack of lamb -- I didn't try it because I liked mine so much, but he said it was good as well. For dessert, we got the chocolate mousse, which was good and came in a hard chocolate shell. Overall, we left Bistro Cacao happy and full - it was a very tasty meal with no issues. It is a little pricey and has a little too much attitude for me to go very often for dinner, but I will definitely be back for brunch. read more

Lovely! Lovely lovely lovely! Props to R for thinking of such a great place for our one-year anniversary (he later confessed that he'd found it by searching for "anniversary places" on yelp, ha!). We were seated in the Red Room, which at first glance can seem a bit cheesy, with its red curtains, tucked-in booths, and mismatched furniture. But the ambiance was delightful! It was fairly quiet, which was really nice, but busy, with every table filled Saturday night. And they played vocal jazz/standards to make it even better. Oh, and contrary to the Yelp listing, there is outdoor seating, plenty of it, but we sat inside since Claritin's got nothing on Washington, DC's pathogens. I was well impressed with the food. WELL impressed. R got the venison, cooked on the rarer side so it would soak up the sauce better, and it came with a puff of potatoes on the side. I had only a little bite, but it was scrumptious! I ordered the stuffed chicken breast with sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese, with potatoes au gratin. DELICIOUS! The chicken was so moist and well seasoned, and I cannot think of a better complement than tomatoes and goat cheese. And the potatoes were darn near out of this world, like my mom used to make. (Or wait, did my mom use to make those? Or was it someone else? I don't remember, but whoever made potatoes au gratin in my childhood was a wondeful person.) To our dismay, our anniversary fell on the last day of Lent, so R couldn't have wine (I had the only by-the-glass Argentinian malbec, which was great), and I couldn't have dessert. We ordered the flourless chocolate cake to go so we could eat it Sunday, but it warmed up disastrously, so we'll have to go back and get it and eat it the same day. Our server was terrific as well, attentive but not overbearing, making our experience all the better. So if I'm ever in the mood for French again, I'm sure I'll be back to Bistro Cacao. The only trouble is, the ante's been upped for R to choose an even better place next year. ;) read more

This review is a couple months late, but I felt it had to be written. My boyfriend and I came here after a long day of exploring DC and let me tell you, it was the perfect way to end the day. Right from entering the restaurant, we were greeted by friendly hosts. They even had a cute little coat check type thing at the front (it's free), so that we didn't have to lug our winter coats to our seats. The ambiance of this place is definitely perfect for dates, it's pretty romantic. The tables are partially secluded by curtains and because we came at night, the lights were dim and candles lit the tables. Overall, the ambiance is beautiful. Now to our food. Everything we ordered was delicious! We had calamari to start. It was interesting, but very good. It wasn't fried and there was pineapple (I think it was) with it. The sauce was also so tasty! For our main entree, my boyfriend got the filet minion and I got the salmon. The filet minion literally melts in your mouth. HIGHLY recommend. The salmon was also yummy, but there was nothing too special about it. We unfortunately didn't have time for dessert, but I'm sure that would have been just as good as everything else we had. The only thing about this place is it is on the pricier end, so I wouldn't eat here for dinner every night. But would I go back? Definitely yes. read more

Bistro Cacao just opened this week and I have to say it's doing very well. The service was friendly and courteous. The menu had a wider variety of entrees and appetizers than I expected; fish, meat, poultry, and vegetarian. Don't forget the dessert, seriously. The location is quaint so, plan ahead and make a reservation. The entrees are a steal for the quality and quantity of food you're getting. The venison with chestnuts and black cherries rocked; the rack of lamb was buttery soft (Super Reasonable" $22), the bread was hot, and we kinda went overboard on the desserts (all flavors of the sorbets, the pear tart, and the trio of creme brulees).... Apparently all of the desserts and bread are made on premise daily so, when they're gone, they're really gone. Go early! read more

Two Quail was one of my dad's favorite restaurants in DC, so when it closed we were both very sad to see an old favorite go. On my dad's last visit, we decided to go to Bistro Cacao and see what they created out of the old place. And we were happy we gave the new place a try! As other reviewers have mentioned, it's the same layout at Two Quail. Kind of cramped, lots of two tops, very intimate, and cozy. You should make a reservation, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. While we didn't have to wait long to score a table, the waiting "area" holds about two people and gets awkward really fast. Our waiter was excellent, and seemed to know what we wanted before we ordered. Everything was very, very good. I had the escargot and hangar steak, and my father and boyfriend were equally ecstatic about their choices. We all had a nice bottle of wine, too. We were pleasantly surprised when the bill came, as we avoided spending an arm and a leg. Bistro Cacao is very reasonably priced , especially for the quality of food and charming atmosphere. I will be returning asap, especially since it's only four blocks away from my apartment. Lucky me! read more

I came to Bistro Cacao on Saturday for a couples' date night and had such a great time from start to finish. Bistro Cacao is a cute, little French spot with winding passageways and eclectic, cozy decor that might make you feel like you're in the apartment of a French grandmother. Our server was a sassy French man who teased and advised us all night (thank you for the great wine selections!). For food, I got the lobster bisque and mussels appetizer. The bisque was really amazing: creamy with good-sized chunks of lobster meat. The mussels are served in a lemon mustard cream, which is definitely a first for me, but it was good. The mustard and lemon paired together gives a bit of a zing to the whole dish. Winners of the night include the lobster bisque, the snails, and, according to a friend, the sea bass. The snails, while a bit salty, were smothered in a delicious garlic and parsley sauce, reminiscent of pesto. For a great food and wine-filled night with two other couples, each couple forked up about $140 + tax/tip. Service, environment, and food were all great! read more

Girlfriend and I have been here twice: once in september and on valentine's day 2011/ Our first meal there was very good so we went back for Valentine's Day, which was just great. Good service and the food was very good for a pre fix menu. We've had valentine's day menus other places where it felt like they just gave us subpar crap to make money on the high volume. The food at the Bistro, in contrast, was super both times. We ordered the same entree, but we ordered them medium rare and medium well...they came out the same time and actually both were perfectly cooked to order. Service was pleasant and they gave my girlfriend a rose on Valentine's day, rose petals on the table. Thoughtful staff, good food. Oh and I like the red curtains and the sometimes older folks eating dinner there (I'm in my mid-20s), but I guess if that's not you're scene you can give it a couple years until you get out of your extended teenage years. read more

I would not recommend this restaurant. I ordered the duck, which had burnt skin, resembling the texture of gummy bears and char rather than soft and crisp. The host constantly peered over us like a hawk for whatever reason. If you want something overly expensive and low-quality, this is your place. Otherwise, you can find a higher quality restaurant for half the price that we paid. read more

Well let me say that the owner is my neighbor but that has nothing to do with how great everything was that came to the table. The lamb chops were off the hook, the mussels were on point and the mushroom ravioli with the shrimp was to die for. read more

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Bistro Cacao happily completes Capitol Hill. With the other international cuisines of Indian, Thai, Mexican, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Moroccan, Belgian (and plenty of American), we were in need of French. I do not believe that quality Brasserie cooking is appreciated as it should be in D.C. and in some cases it hasn't survived the District 's hamburger crowd (I am thinking of Brasserie Les Halles on Pennsylvania Ave that closed a few years back, much to my dismay). Bistro Cacao offers a quiet opulence that is certainly closer to Le Cirque than to the several Le Madeline buffet restaurants that pass for French dining in our area. It is charming and romantic. The dining rooms (there are three) are small but airy. Expect close, neighborly tables. The ambience is cheery and distinctly French, with a well-appointed bar, tin ceilings, and accented staff. Bistro Cacao's talented Chef delivers solid traditional bistro dishes. But don't mistake the orthodox for the ordinary. There are some real surprises in his work. Unfortunately, I have eaten here only three times and all at lunch with colleagues. I have not had the pleasure of fully embracing the romantic vibe of Bistro Cacao with my wife. (She is going to love it). Twice at lunch I absolutely enjoyed: Soupe a L'Oignon and Onglet de Boeuf aux Echalottes. On my third visit I ventured into new territory: Nicoise Salade and Moules Cacao. Best of all, on my first visit - shortly after it opened before Christmas - I was treated to a complimentary glass of champagne. Delicious. I am a fan. So a question for the Chef - Why no Croque Madame? On my last visit I was craving fluffy toasty bread, creamy bechamel, paper-thin slices of ham, and a broiled crunchy and chewy crust of tangy, but not overwhelming, Gruyere cheese. You could even crown it a fried egg. Perhaps offer a side Salade Cacao. read more

Service was slow, distracted, and not really worthy of the prices at this restaurant. We waited about 15 minutes before someone came to our table and greeted us to take our drink order and by then we had already decided on what we were all eating. I had asked the server if I could add shrimp to a specific salad and he asked if I wanted one of their salads with shrimp and I said no, and he still brought out the wrong salad. I had to ask for extra rolls twice before the manager was able to accommodate us. Nice courtyard and atmosphere and the food we got was delicious, but the service was inexcusable. Would not recommend to friends. read more

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This new addition to the Capitol Hill eating scene is a gem. Our appetizers -- pan-seared scallops and sauteed shrimp -- were exceptional. My hanger steak entree was superb. Tasted authentically French - I could have ordered it in a Paris brasserie. My companion enjoyed Chilean sea bass, which was also delicious. Finally, we split an Apple Tart dessert that came with vanilla ice cream. It was to die for. The decor is charming and the layout makes for an intimate dining experience. Service was not highly efficient but it was very friendly. No complaints on that front. Some have said this place is inexpensive. That's a stretch. Our bill was about $150 -- but that included two appetizers, two entrees, a bottle of wine, and a shared dessert. Splitting an appetizer, foregoing the wine, and ditching dessert would have brought it down to the $75-100 range for two -- not cheap, but reasonable for a dining experience of this quality. Really, I can't say enough about this restaurant. read more

I'd also like to qualify this review to say that if I could, I'd give it 3.5 stars, just like Jess H. This place is a quality date ris-toran-tay. A converted townhouse, it has a cool layout with a bunch of rooms. There is a fireplace when you first walk in, which is inviting. Didn't get a chance to sit at the bar, because, even though we arrived 15 minutes early for our reservation, they sat us right away. We came for my birthday, and the tasting menu, but it was restaurant week (boo!) and they didn't have the tasting menu available. So we saved ourselves some coin and ordered off the menu. If you ARE on a date, try to score yourself one of the semi-curtained booth things. They have mismatched arm chairs and (if you aren't too weirded out by sitting on it) a funky pillow to prop you up. It is definitely dark and romantic in an eclectic, hoarder kind of way. The service was good - we were helped by no fewer than 3 individuals (including, I believe, the manager and the sommelier). We ordered the scallops and the mussels meuniere to start. Both were ah-mazing. The mussels must have had an entire stick of butter in the sauce, but that's ok by me. After all, you only turn 25 three times(...)! We ordered duck beast and lamb chops. Both were fine, but not as good as the appetizers. The lamb was perfectly cooked, but the flavor didn't seem to go with the sauce it was paired with. My other issue was that they served four little chops (very generous!), but instead of cutting it to give you two double chops, they served it with all four bones. I thought that was kind of... lazy. The Duck? I've had better. We opted to get desert because of the occasion (and we had a bit of wine left to finish). After ordering "chocolate cake" we were surprised to get -what seemed to be - one of those Betty Crocker microwave lava cake thingies. It really did have a microwaved-lowcal-chocolate flavor to it. Other than that, it was a cutesy place and a great date spot. read more

I took my girlfriend here last night based on the rave reviews it's received in it's short existence. it's funny, but it's exactly what everyone's been saying. I have nothing original to add: great, well-executed "classic" French dishes, very reasonable priced, good portions, questionable service, interesting interior. A few annoying things: as I said, the service was very disorganized, we waited 20 minutes to even be acknowledged, we weren't read the specials, and they seemed to know nothing about their wine. This sounds bad, but we werent that upset as it was meant to be a slow-paced, celebratory meal for her birthday, but be warned if you're impatient. It was also about 382 degrees inside. One last negative point was with my rack of lamb. Now this is a personal preference, so I don't ding them for this. Horseradish and blue cheese are the only two flavors I cannot stand. It was entirely covered with horseradish mustard, which would've been nice to know, but was not conveyed to me by the wait staff. cant fault as I'm the only one I know who hates this flavor, so next time I will just get one of the many good-looking entrees they offer (hanger steak + fries, venison, etc.). Everything else was wonderful, and well portioned. The seared scallops, I swear, were the best cooked I've ever had. read more