My first experience at Fraîche in Washington, D.C. was absolutely fantastic! I came in with no expectations and am leaving fully satisfied, and already looking forward to coming back. Before visiting, I called to confirm whether I needed a reservation. The young lady who answered was incredibly pleasant and explained that reservations are highly recommended but not required. Since I was dining alone, she let me know I could sit at the bar. That small interaction set the tone before I even arrived. When I got there, I secured parking and was greeted warmly by the two hostesses. I let them know I was the young lady who had called, and they immediately directed me to the bar. That's where I met Courtney and Tony, and they were phenomenal. Their hospitality and customer service were truly impeccable. They made great recommendations, checked on me throughout my meal, and made sure I was enjoying not just the food, but the entire experience. Courtney is especially memorable. Her personality and customer service skills are unmatched. She has a way of making everyone at the bar feel like she's known them for years. Tony has that same gift. He greets you like someone from your hometown who is reconnecting with an old friend. That kind of warmth makes such a difference. Tony recommended the half bird, and it did not disappoint! I don't eat seafood, so I appreciated having some great poultry options. The chicken was delicious, and everything I ordered was full of flavor, from the broccolini and herb garlic mashed potatoes to the macaroni and cheese with the "food glitter," as my sister and I call it. I even showed Courtney my personal bag of seasonings because I travel with them everywhere, and I didn't need to use ANY of them! That's how good the food was. And the bread pudding? AMAZING. So good that I ordered a second one. I loved the sauce so much that I asked the kitchen for extra because I knew I would be enjoying the bread pudding throughout the week. Thank you to the kitchen staff for going above and beyond and accommodating my request! The quality of the ingredients was noticeable, but what really stood out was the overall hospitality. Everyone, from Courtney and Tony to the kitchen, servers, and support staff, contributed to an experience that was easily one of the better dining experiences I've had in D.C. in a long time. I also have to give credit to Mr. Make It Happen. I've followed him on YouTube, so it was wonderful to see his passion for cooking come to life in a restaurant. The staff truly embody that Southern hospitality while bringing their own kindness, professionalism, and warmth. Courtney and Tony, you both could teach a class on customer service. You don't just serve people. You make them feel welcomed. Fraîche is a 10/10 for me. Highly recommend, and I hope this place continues to do NUMBERS and thrive! I'm so glad Mr. Make It Happen made this happen. I'll definitely be back! read more

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I was invited to check out their dinner menu and I really enjoyed the entire experience. A girlfriend and I went in on a Tuesday and the bar and lounge was buzzing. D&K was doing karaoke. The space is beautiful with black Art pieces on the wall for purchase. Chef JR was present and greeted us and gave us history on the restaurant which we appreciated. For drinks, we ordered Dusse sidecar, Blueberrymint margarita, and Lemon spritz. The side car was definitely my favorite! For Appetizers, we ordered Mambo Royal wings, Charbroiled oysters, and Sticky ribs. The ribs were mouth watering. For Entrees, we enjoyed the golden gate noodles with Lamb chops, Salmon, and the Coco Curry (vegetarian). The lamb was my favorite. For dessert, we enjoyed Butterscotch Bread pudding . Our Server was Bagner and he and the Manager Riggs was great. Parking is around the corner near giant . The vibes are great although the crowd looked a little younger. I definitely want to try the red snapper next and go to brunch. read more

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Went back to Fraîche and had a MUCH better experience than my first visit! This time around, everything hit. The French onion soup wasn't overly salty like last time and was actually really filling. Loved that. My friend loved the mussels and the vegan entrée, and the fried snapper is definitely a MUST. The oxtail meatballs were also such a creative addition to the menu and something a little different. The drinks HIT, but dessert might honestly be one of the best parts. The churros and bread pudding were both so good and the perfect way to end the meal. Definitely glad I gave Fraîche another visit because this experience was a complete turnaround! read more

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My husband and I have been following Chef Matt for yearsssss and jumped on the opportunity to try his restaurant while in town. I booked a reservation for 9pm on a Saturday night and while busy, it was not packed. There was room at the bar and other tables if someone were to try to do a walk in though. We were seated very quickly and greeted by our server. She was very lively and seemed happy to be there which is a great quality and made us comfortable right away. Drinks: Red Sparrow & Fraîche Old Fash. The red sparrow was good and simple. Reminded me of a boozy strawberry lemonade. The old fashioned was eh. Nothing worth ordering again. Appetizers: Deviled Eggs & Sticky Ribs. The sticky ribs were really saucy and had a tangy flavor which was really good. My only complaint was that the pieces were not meaty enough. The deviled eggs were also really good and while the yolk was not heavy in flavor, the caviar, chicken, and hot honey complimented it perfectly. Main Course: French Quarter Risotto & Mambo Fried Snapper. These stole the show. I'll be thinking about that snapper forever. Fried perfectly, not fishy, seasoned great. I love that I didn't have to take it off the fish myself. Having it fried in bite sized pieces made it easier to enjoy. The Risotto was also perfection. Strong Cajun flavors that was complimented by the salmon. Nothing was overpowering and it was a struggle not being able to finish the whole thing. I'm beyond happy that the restaurant lived up to our expectations and exceeded them. We had been making Chef Matt's recipes from YouTube for years and love that his own versions were consistent with how he teaches us to make his dishes at home. Fraiche is a must stop for us next time we're back in the DMV. read more

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My friend & I came here to enjoy the oysters & wings Happy Hour on a Tuesday a couple of weeks ago. It was both our first time there. The host(ess) was missing the majority of time and we were finally seated after a really long wait (maybe they were short staffed that night who knows). I guess we did not realize it was karaoke night that night. The music was so loud, we literally had to lean in too close or stand by each other to hear our own conversations at the table. The wait staff was so disorganized & all over the place. We never received water nor silverware for at least 20 minutes of being seated before I decided to walk to the bar & get it all myself. I should not have to do that. We also had to keep flagging down the waiter to take our orders (along with other people in our part/ section of the restaurant). Apparently, the wings ran out two hours into the Happy Hour & my friend was annoyed because that's what she really wanted. She ended up just ordering the truffle fries & she liked it. The oysters were pretty typical. They had no oyster forks & the ice was mostly melted by time I received it. Nothing to write home about. It was really hard for us to enjoy ourselves because the music & singing was entirely too loud, similar to a night club. This is coming from someone who's kinda hard of hearing. I dont know how long Fraîche has been around, but they have A LOT of things to work on such as professionalism, staff communication, timeliness, organization skills, and customer service. They have potential but have blinders on. The prices absolutely do NOT match the ambiance of the establishment. High end, upscale prices in a place that looks partly like a mix of a dive bar, club, & regular dine-in restaurant does not add up. Do you want fine dining or do you want karaoke nights in a club? I am always weary of chefs who start restaurants from social media fame & the influencers who do their reviews without telling the whole story to potential customers. I am unsure if I would return here on my own. It did not leave a good first impression on me. read more

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My Wife and I went here for date night based on a recommendation from our Daughter, and when I tell you it exceeded all expectations, I mean it! Out of three suggestions she gave us, I chose Fraiche because the Creole soul/fusion vibe sounded so interesting. The crazy part is, I've actually been following both of the owners, Chef Matt Price (Mr. Make It Happen) and Chef J.R. Robinson, on social media for a long time! I love their work but had no clue this was their restaurant until we got there. First, a quick tip on parking: we parked in the Tivoli Square parking garage, which is not expensive at all, and it's right by Giant (which we needed to stop by after dinner anyway). When you walk in, the atmosphere is beautiful, and they were playing R&B hits that set the perfect mood for date night. Our waitress was super helpful and brought us the water we wanted right away. To drink, I tried the Honey Bear gin cocktail, very refreshing and lemony. For an appetizer, we got the Sticky Ribs, which have a great Asian fusion style. Oh my God, they were so good! They were flavorful, juicy, and you get four ribs, which is perfect. For dinner, my Wife got the Golden Gate Noodles (the garlic noodles) and added salmon. The red pepper flakes gave it a kick that was a little bit too much heat for her, but it was still so tasty that she fought right through it and loved it. Personally, I thought the heat level on it was perfect! I ordered the special, which was the Grilled Jerk Honey Lamb Chops served with mac and cheese and broccolini. Everything was top-notch. The lamb chops were cooked perfectly, and you get 4 or 5 of them, which is more than enough. The mac and cheese came out in a cast-iron skillet, and "Oh Hell Yes," that cheese pull was ridiculous! It was so flavorful, you can tell they put real seasoning and love into those noodles. The broccolini was cooked perfectly too. Without a doubt, I want to go back and try even more of the menu. These chefs are amazing, wonderful, and top-notch. Anytime someone asks me for a DC recommendation, I'm giving them this spot. 10 out of 10! read more

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First time trying this spot! I came with friends and we had a reservation, so we were seated right away. The atmosphere was nice, but it felt more laid-back than the website had led me to expect. Our waiter was friendly, though service could have been a bit more attentive. We had to remind him a couple of times about things we'd requested, like water and our drinks. To drink, I ordered the Fraîche Spritz, which I'd give a 6/10. For appetizers, I tried the fried oxtail meatballs (7/10) and the charbroiled oysters topped with lobster and crab (4/10). The oysters looked promising, but they were underseasoned for my taste, so I probably wouldn't order them again. For my entrée, I had the gumbo, and it was definitely the highlight of my meal. I'd give it a 7-8/10 and would absolutely come back for it. It's not easy to find good gumbo in the DMV, so that alone makes it worth another visit. We skipped dessert this time. The menu is pretty eclectic, but that makes sense since the restaurant blends Cajun, Caribbean, South American, and French influences. Overall, while a few dishes didn't quite hit the mark for me, I'd be interested in coming back to try more of the menu. read more

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Don't we all love a good happy hour? I know I do :) The ambience of the place was so nice. It had the lights dimmed but not enough that you can't see your food. The music was great and not too loud and if you stay long enough they do karaoke on Tuesdays. The service was amazing! They were so nice and pretty funny when you chat with them. Service was quick and the food was always hot. Now for the important part lol. The sticky ribs fell off the bone yall! It was really tasty and flavorful. TikTok did not lie the garlic noodles were so yummy I had to order some to take home. The old bay wings were cooked and seasoned perfectly I love a great wing! The spritz was sweet and very refreshing. The crab fries were great too; I didn't like the sauce on it and it could use more crab in my opinion but my friend ate it up. The snapper bites were a little bit too salty for me. Overall it was a great vibe and yall should come out! read more

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Checked this place out for happy hour with my sisters, and when I saw they had garlic noodles, I couldn't wait to get here! Let me start by talking about the service because everyone was absolutely amazing. Starting with the chefs, both were very pleasant, generous, and provided great customer service. I actually know one of the chefs from a previous restaurant I used to frequent all the time, so when I saw him, I already knew the food was going to be delicious! Both chefs took the time to talk to us about the restaurant and share some of their favorite menu items. Of course, I had to give them a special shoutout for those garlic noodles because they were AMAZING! Our server, Taylor, was training with another young lady whose name I unfortunately forgot. She did a great job! I overheard the other server giving Taylor the opportunity to handle certain tasks while she stood nearby, and whenever Taylor needed help, she stepped right in to assist. Both servers made sure we were well taken care of throughout our visit. I also want to highlight the young lady working at the front. She was so sweet and had such a welcoming personality. She was a great face to see when walking in and leaving! I really loved seeing how everyone was working together and how it was truly an "all hands on deck" type of environment. Now, let's get into the food: Garlic Noodles: 10,000/10! Absolutely AMAZING! Fried Snapper Bites: 7.5/10 Mocktail: 5/10 -- A little too sweet for my taste. Chicken: 10/10 -- My sisters really enjoyed them! Lemon Drops: 10/10 -- My sisters said they were nice and strong, just how they like them! I also loved the graffiti and artwork throughout the restaurant. The space was clean, and the bathroom was clean as well, which is always a plus for me. Overall, I'm giving this experience a 9/10. The only reason I'm taking off a point is because I'm honestly getting tired of the automatic 20% service charge being added to checks at so many restaurants. Other than that, I had a great experience and will definitely be coming back! read more

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Visited this restaurant for a dinner party and it was a great experience. I did not leave hungry or disappointed! The interior is high scale and spacious with a wide bar area. Every dish was memorable and absolutely delicious. I've also heard great things about their happy hour so I definitely need to check it out. I'll be returning for sure! read more

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Lobster Waffles Buttermilk Pancakes Fried Chicken Deviled Eggs Charbroiled Oysters Fried Snapper Bites Oxtail Meatballs Fraiche Seafood Omelette Short Rib Hash Golden Gate Noodles Butterscotch Bread Pudding Macaroon Cheesecake Churros Honey Bear Espresso-Tini read more

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It was packed! It's a good sign for the restaurant but the drinks took forever to come out. The appetizers were delicious but the portions were small so in order to feed our table of 8, we had to add an extra deviled egg and meatball. The garlic noodles were a bold try! We are from the Bay so we knew what was being mimicked but it fell slightly short. The snapper had an E X T R E M E L Y hot pepper hidden in the rice and peas and it caused my husband to cough and avoid the the rest of the dish completely. Everything was plated beautifully and the music was great! read more

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Potential vs Availability. Fraîche was a very beautiful restaurant in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. The ambiance is perfect for photos and even viral posts. The food was made with soul. Open Table was very useful for making reservation and time adjustments for accommodations. There is a nice bar area for walk ins and bar side experience which I'll have on my next visit. Unfortunately, the camera didn't fully eat first this opportunity but I did attach the receipt from the visit and will break down the experience. Very Good: The steak dish was right on the freaking money and arguably at $54 a good value, portion, and great quality. The Snapper Bites was my favorite appetizer and honestly I could have just eaten 2-3 orders of it and some cocktails. The crisp Brussels sprouts were good and excellent complimentary selection. The glaze worked well in balancing the bitterness by adding sweetness. Cocktails were Good: Fraîche seafood omelette was quite tasty and made to perfection. I appreciated fresh egg from the shell verses box or premixed eggs. The seafood was premium and finished with a good crème sauce. This isn't a large or overstuff portion so I do recommend having appetizers or consider a second main dish if you have a robust appetite. The peach cobbler pancakes were unique providing combination of flavors that excite the palate. The fresh fruit added more depth to the dish though having it on a side cup will work better for some. The pancakes were on the sweeter side so you may not need syrup. All the rest: The fried chicken devils eggs was a very smart idea. I am not sure if the mixture for the eggs was house made verse outsourced and premade. They were decent; however, the flavor of the egg mixture was lacking the flavor depth and richness. The chicken topper was a completely different story. Seasoned well, fresh, hot, juicy, and tender. The glaze didn't particularly add any flavor and worked more as a garnish and for plating. In short, Fraîche fried chicken on someone else's devil eggs is what it appeared. I didn't try the shrimp and grits so no review points on this review. Items not available and things worth noting: There wasn't any cranberry juice, mint, rosé wine. The over medium egg was well done when it arrived to the table. The Albariño wine wasn't pre-chilled before serving but, was put on ice table-side to address that issue. There was another main dish that wasn't available at that time. Overall, the experience was inconsistent but should not stop you from going there. I for sure will be back because these folks can cook and made a mean cocktail. This visit 3.3 out of 5. I'm looking forward to the next visit. read more

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Tuesday evening, I got to the venue at 5:53 pm. My date was already seated with an order of oxtail meatballs. HAPPY HOUR deals were from 4-7 pm. The first thing I noticed was the happy hour menu on the table was completely different from the happy hour menu they advertised on their instagram. The menu they advertised on the Instagram was literally the day prior so I figured it would have been updated. That was false advertisement. They did have $1 oysters (with minimum of a dozen) but the wings were not $1. They were $10 for six pieces. There were a few other items that did not match with what they advertised as well. There were two men behind the bar and one lady. The first the lady looks like she was the bar back but she eventually started making drinks on one side of the bar. The 2 men were fixing drinks for my side & those who walked up (the bar was fully seated at this point). My waiter (whom I'd rather not call out), said he'll be right with me..cool.. 20 MINUTES go past and I realize he's flirting & taking orders for the women that were walking up and completely neglected to come back and take my order. I didn't want to call his name across the bar so I just gave him that awkward stare until he realized he forgot me. Mind you, my date was there prior to me so already had a drink & shot and finished so was waiting to order with me as well. Also, note that he previously ordered oysters that hadn't come yet. Once the waiter finally came over, I thanked him and ordered everything at once because I figured he might not come back again. The order included 3 shots, 2 Margaritas, 2 waters (didn't even get those when 1st seated), and Old Bay flavored wings. At this time, I'm noticing they're bringing bottled drinks straight from the liquor store & stocking the shelf. It seemed a little unprepared but at least you knew you were getting real D'usse. Instead of regular water, the bartender gave us sparkling water (straight from the box that was brought in from the store) due to his inattentive customer service. BUT one of the women he flirted with, that came up after us, got a free shot. Either way, the drinks were made. The oysters finally came over an HOUR later, right after happy hour ended. Remember those wings I ordered? Yeah, THEY NEVER CAME! As a matter of fact, I looked over to the right at the one woman he was flirting with and she actually got her wings after I ordered! I was wondering if they gave her my wings but I was so frustrated at this point I didn't even want to bring it up. Also, happy hour was over and I just wanted to leave. I will say there may need to be some remedial training for managing the bar. It was a little disappointing to know that the same inattentive bartender was training someone else at the bar but it looked like the trainee was doing such a better job. Food review: I take a bite of the oxtail meatballs and they taste decent. Great concept. The oysters were ok. I prefer mines charboiled. I can't review on the wings because they were either forgotten or given to someone else. The bathrooms are clean and smell fresh , which is refreshing. After happy hour, they did start karaoke, which was a pleasant surprise. Overall, I recommend possibly a dinner there but I WOULD NOT advise it as a great spot for happy hour, mainly because it's such a tight window ( 4 to 7 pm) & the bar service does not help that situation. read more

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Saw this place on social media and the reviews were so great I was compell3d to put 5h3m on the top of my bucket list. We were fortunate and found a parking space directly in front of the facility. The exterior of the building was misleading, yet do not let that dissuade you from adding the.place on your must visit list. The interior is quaint and representative of a rehab..with some of the old theatre infrastructure retained. The service was personable and engaging. I ordered the lamb and asparagus....absolutely outstanding. read more

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My Best Friend and I are avid Mr. Makeithappen YouTube watchers. So while we were planning our trip to D.C. we said we had to go and try his restaurant because the recipes he makes on YouTube are good so that has to mean the food would be good right?! We arrived and were greeted by the hostess and sat immediately. While be seated Mr. Makeithappen or Matt was there and he stopped by our table to say hello. The Ambiance was good, the decor was beautiful and the music they were playing the jams. I ordered the Golden Gate Noodles with Shrimp and my best friend ordered 5 Cheese Mac, Charred Broccolini, Garlic & Herb Mash and Buffalo Royal Wings. I tried the Mac and the Mash and they were amazing. I do wish I would have ordered that as well. She really enjoyed the Broccolini, Mac and Mash as well. She wasn't a fan of the Wings. I really enjoyed the Gold Gate Noodles with the shrimp. I really loved the sauce. My best friend tried the noodles and love them as well. This was an experience that I will definitely remember. The vibes were amazing, Food was amazing, and the experience was amazing. Pricing was average. Overall when I am back in D.C. I will definitely have to come back. read more

Fraîche - Golden Gate Noodles with shrimp - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I took my sister here to celebrate her birthday. It was a Tuesday, so I thought it wouldn't be crowded- I was wrong! We had a reservation and still had to wait almost 30 minutes to be seated. The host kept leaving the host stand. I later realized he was going to clean tables. We started with the oxtail meatballs, had the whole bird and golden gate noodles with shrimp for entrees and the butterscotch bread pudding for dessert. The meatballs were like a falafel on the outside and oxtail on the inside. The oxtail was tender,but not seasoned. The gravy under the meatballs tasted like red wine sauce mixed with pick a pepper sauce. The Cornish hen was seasoned ok,but a bit overcooked and dry. The green sauce on the side helped. The broccolini wasn't seasoned,but the mac&cheese it came with is some of the best I ever had. The golden gate noodles were really good and the shrimp was well seasoned. The service was lacking. We had to ask 3 times to get our water filled. This is the first restaurant I've ever been to where the waiter never came back to the table to check on us. The tables are small and they never removed our used plates. I had to stack our appetizer and entree plates just to make room for the dessert to be sat down and there still wasn't enough room. Only then did they take the used plates away. They add an automatic 20% to the check and then after terrible service, the waiter asked if we'd like to add an additional 3%,5% or 7%! The restaurant was incredibly loud. It was like being in a nightclub. There was a DJ and they were also having people do karaoke. My sister and I were yelling at each other to have a conversation and I still couldn't hear everything she said. I would order carryout again,but I don't think I'd want to dine in again. read more

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I went to Fraiche on a Tuesday night in July for dinner with my sister. Even though we had a reservation, the wait was about 30 minutes. There were 3 other groups waiting and there is not really a waiting area, so it was cramped. It was karaoke night and they sat us in the back near the karoke machine. So, needless to say, it was extremely loud. The space is not large so if you are looking for a quiet or moderate noise level environment for dinner, this might not be the spot. The people that signed up to sing were very entertaining and it was a good time. The service was not great. Our waiter took our order and brought our drinks and then never returned to our table until we waved him down. He did not come to check if our orders were correct after the food arrived, did not come to see how we were doing with beverages, did not come at all. When I waved him down to ask for water, it was if he forgot. I ended up asking another waiter for water. Our waiter eventually returned with the bill and we had to ask for the dessert menu. We had the oxtail meatballs, a bit dry and not very good to either of us. We tried the macaroni and it was delicious!!! I rarely love mac and cheese from restaurants but I would definitely order this again. 5 stars!! I also had the golden gate noodles with shrimp. Very good. Wonderful flavor and just enough food to fill you up. We did not have dessert. read more

Fraîche - Golden Gate Noodles w/Shrimp - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here for a special dinner event held by a promoter I know. I reserved a table for my birthday for my friends and I. Not sure if the venue was familiar with the promoter and his followers but clearly the venue was not prepared. The venue was missing a lot of items from the drink and food menu. They were unable to prepare a large n7mber of drinks due to missing ingredients. I also wasn't avlento purchase wine or sparkling wine bottles because they had run out. Once it got a little busy the service slowed down and it took a long time to place and receive orders. Some never even came. I will definitely come back for the food and hope by them the service will have improved. The music and vibe was dope. Mostly grown and sexy with a few exceptions. The food was amazing! Everyone in my party of 10 enjoyed all the various items they selected and had bo complaints. read more

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I had the honor of visiting Fraiche, and it has by far been one of the best culinary experiences I have had in this country and I really mean it! Every bite was absolutely divine, and I really mean it. If I have to recommend my favorites, I would say you can't leave without trying the oysters, the French onion soup, the mambo fried snapper, and the bread pudding. OMG, I am a savory person, but I need to come back for that dessert! The music was great the ambiance, the drinks and the service was absolutely top tier. And I am coming back really soon! read more

We arrived right as they opened at 4:00 PM and were served ice water, which is always a favorite of mine. However, the atmosphere immediately felt strange and uncomfortable to me. The décor had astronauts on the wall with a skull displayed right beside them, giving the space a dark, almost goth-inspired energy. It just wasn't the vibe I expected for a food tour. I tried the Deviled Eggs with Caviar, which was a new dish for me. The chicken on top was cooked well, but it was dry. My favorite item was definitely the Snapper Bites--those were the highlight for me! I was also under the impression that the food tour would include actual meals or more substantial portions of the featured dishes, rather than small samples from an appetizer menu. That was disappointing because I wanted to experience more of what Fraîche had to offer. There was also no paper towels in the restroom, which was another negative. Final thoughts: The Snapper Bites were my favorite, but between the small tasting portions, the décor/atmosphere, and the restroom issue, Fraîche is a "check it off my list" experience for me. I would not go back. read more

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Had a great experience at Fraîche overall. The lamb chops were cooked well and seasoned perfectly, with great flavor in every bite. The she-crab soup was also a standout, packed with generous lumps of crab and rich flavor. The food definitely made the visit worthwhile, and the atmosphere was enjoyable. The only area that could use some improvement was the service, which was a bit inconsistent at times. Even so, I would return for the quality of the food and look forward to trying more items on the menu. read more

Fraîche - Butter Kissed Lamb Chops - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My first time eating at Fraîche! We went during Winter Restaurant Week and the $40 menu was a steal of a DEAL! If they participate in Summer Restaurant Week, I highly recommend it. First: The salad was my favorite part of the meal. The greens were fresh, cauliflower was flavorful, and the candied pecans were the perfect amount of sweetness. Second: I appreciated that they could take the sausage out of the Cajun mussels. They still had a good flavor. Nothing too amazing, but still very enjoyable. Third: I was full at this point . I got the salmon and risotto. I also appreciated that they could make this dish without the sausage. I ate it the next day and it was as good! The risotto was a bit too salty. It had a nice flavor and texture, just needed less salt and more spice. I'm thinking the spice comes from the sausage. The basil oil was really good and a nice addition! Overall, the service was rushed because there was a big party and they needed our tables. Other than that, the service was good and our server was friendly and answered all my questions. The decor is beautiful! However, it's not a fine dining experience. It's aesthetically pleasing and a good spot for a date night with a partner or a friend! read more

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The ambiance of this place was everything I'd expect it to be. It was a classy elegant vibe. The dishes were so good I forgot to take pictures until I got to the bread pudding for dessert. It was to die for. The staff was urgent and friendly. They gave great recommendations and we even got to see Mr make it happen himself. read more

Fraîche - Butterscotch Bread Pudding - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had brach on Sunday, July 26 with my family from Miami. The food wasn't great and it doesn't look the way it's showed on the website. We had to wait over 40 minutes for our main courses. The manager never come to the table to explain to use why tge long wait. The waitress was nice and give use a appetizer and half price on our drinks. Getting our drinks were over 30 minutes. The coffee was like water and milk was bad. My omelet was so wrong and salt and/or pepper. I asked for no green pepper. Had green pepoers, can't have them. The bread pudding was burned on tge bottom. I was ready to go. Very disappointed. read more

The food was amazing! The service was not great. Servers and busers walked by our table multiple times and didn't even LOOK to see if we needed water. That was disappointing. Also, the sign on the door directing people to the actual entrance door should be much larger and much more permanent. We sat at the table at the front of the restaurant and 85% of guests come to that door first. It always takes them several seconds to realize that the actual entrance is to their right, hidden down a small hallway. read more

Fraîche - Happy Hour Menu on February 9, 2026. - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Visited Fraîche with friends for our monthly girls dinner. The space is very open. It feels like a mix of a sports bar but upscale. It WAS very cold inside. Service was great, our waiter was funny and gave us great recommendations and answered all of our many questions. We got the Cornish Hen, which comes with Mac, the golden gate noodles with short rib, gumbo, and Brussel sprouts. We all enjoyed our dishes. The hen was so juicy and flavorful, I was genuinely surprised by how good this was. I wasn't the biggest fan of the Mac but the other girls enjoyed it! The Gumbo was good but lacked a bit of depth. I will say though, it's been the closest to a true New Orleans gumbo I've tasted on the east coast. read more

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Fraîche, to me, appeared to be an old night club turned into a restaurant. I guess that is the best way to put it. It had that appearance because of the booths in the restaurant. This location has been a few restaurants before it became Fraîche. Some of you foodies know this as Creole on 14th. Before that it was El Tio and Rumberos! That's taking this way back! I'd say El Tio had the better set up! More elegant and just an overall better ambiance. Currently there are tables in the front, then a bar area, then the back which is where warm dark red booths are. They are not VIP booths, but they stand out that is for sure. The booths in the back actually gave an appearance of old nightclub vibes. Adding small tables in the middle makes this super crowded but that is how it's set up. Not a fan! Service: I'm big on service, the waitress was nice although we never met/saw a manager. Manager presence is so important, who is keeping tabs on what hot and what's not? Honestly, the hype around this is mainly due to social media and taking pics with your shoes on a bar is off putting. Anything for the gram, I guess. Shrugs! I'm not sure I'm feeling this spot. It's too trendy where price points just don't match the food, not with how saturated the DMV market is. Let's get into it! Charbroiled Oysters - Full of flavor but portion size compared to price not worth it. Cornish Hen - DRY! It was luke warm, and just not good! The Mac and cheese that came with it was delicious! Lamb Chops - Fatty and not in a good way. Y'all know I venture to many restaurants and this one isn't a winner for me. Wanted to give them a one star but to be fair some dishes were good. read more

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I went to Fraiche for a Sunday brunch to celebrate my boyfriends birthday. From the pictures I saw online of the mac and cheese and the wings I know he would be intrigued. Our waiter Noor was very kind and the service was great overall. He did forget (which saved me some coins, silver lining) to put in the order for my mac and cheese but I didn't bother to remind him cause by the end of my meal I was full. The oxtail meatballs were good. 4/5 The seafood omelet was okay according to my boyfriend. I tried a bite it was okay to me as well. 3/5 The wings were okay. A little bit overcooked, which is better than being undercooked. If I could give constructive criticism I would find a way to make them more tender and juicy. 3/5 The chicken and French toast was the star of the brunch. I enjoyed the French toast a lot! The chicken, again could have been more tender while being fried and add a little more seasoning. 4/5 Noor ended our reservation with a birthday desert to celebrate, and I appreciated the attention to detail. The DJ played some great R&B and throwback jams. Great place to go with your girls for brunch, partner, or hang by the bar. Kind of felt like I was in another city while there. read more

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Music, decor and service were excellent. Let me preface this food review with I am from New Orleans where flavor is paramount. The fish was fried perfectly and the presentation was beautiful; but it lacked salt, pepper or any other spices. Same issue with the buffalo chicken wings. The mac n cheese was okay. I am a big fan of Mr. Make It Happen, but he is a better chef than who was in his kitchen tonight (August 18 from 6-7pm). read more

Fraîche - Fried snapper - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Celebrating my last year in my 50s and treated myself to a solo dinner at the bar. The staff was welcoming and my bartender was top tier -- crafted a smooth espresso martini and a sweet (but not too strong) Jamaican rum punch. Shoutout to Tony...awesome mixologist. Started with the oxtail meatballs and babyyyy that sauce was fire! For my entrée, I had the garlic noodles with salmon -- the salmon was perfectly cooked, just needed a dash more salt for my taste but the noodles were just ok. I think it was the teriyaki flavor that was throwing me but they just didn't do it for me. To close out the night, I was gifted a glass of champagne to celebrate another year of life I would definitely come back for happy hour to try more appetizers. The restaurant has the brick walls when you first come in that reminds me of an old warehouse space. It's very dim with some decent artwork in the front and as you enter. read more

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I came here expecting the happy hour specials to be available throughout the restaurant, but found out they only apply to the bar. I wish that had been made clearer, especially since the bar only has about nine seats. Because of that, the only happy hour items we were able to order were the $1 wings (minimum order of 6) and $1 oysters (minimum order of 12) at the actual table. The sticky ribs pictured ended up costing much more than we expected since they weren't happy hour items. The service was excellent, and our server was friendly, attentive, and made the experience enjoyable. However, there is also an automatic gratuity added to the bill, which wasn't clearly communicated beforehand. Overall, I found the prices to be higher than comparable restaurants with similar food quality and flavor. I ordered the wings, but they weren't particularly memorable. On the positive side, the restaurant itself is clean, well-kept, and has a nice atmosphere. read more

Fraîche - Sticky Ribs - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I'd give them a 3.5 stars, however, I went down and not up because of the distance traveled. Formally "Creole on 14th", I had no idea that they had closed and Fraiche had occupied their former space. As we entered, we were promptly seated by the super friendly host. The restaurant has a nicer feel than the previous placeholder, a tad more upscale I'd say. Our two person table was a little small but it worked because our used plates were removed in a timely manner. We started off with the lobster and crab topped charbroiled oysters. They were delicious, however, for $25, six instead of four would have been nice. I was torn between the lamb chops and the fried snapper. I went with the lamb chops and my girl got the whole bird. My chops were nice and thick, unfortunately, once I removed the fatty part, they were kinda small. I'd suggest they use a better cut. They did have nice flavor and were cooked perfectly. My girl said her cornish hen was a little dry and could have used a bit more seasoning BUT the Mac and Cheese that accompanied it was BOMB! We didn't have cocktails because I'm on a slight drinking fast until my Bday, so I can't critique their drinks. There is an automatic 20% service fee included in the bill, but it came with a breakdown which I took as they'd like us to add a little more. Please know, this isn't the economic climate to ask patrons to add more than 20% to a $200 bill... I'm just sayin! read more

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Mr make it happen really made it happen everything was delicious except the disgusting cornbread 0/10 please do not get it. It tasted like bread soaked in sauce. The oxtail meatballs a must no matter what a solid 12/10. Seasoned well the crisp on the meatballs was perfect. The garlic noodles add the lamb chops 11/10 loved it everything seasoned well and good portion size. The Mac and cheese and Brussel sprouts yummmm loved it the portion size was pretty decent for the price. The bartender I think K was very sweet and made our happy hour even better ! The resturant was so beautiful and clean wait staff was very kind. read more

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My husband and I had a wonderful dining experience at Fraiche. I will admit, it was a hike to get there, but once we arrived, we found street parking nearby --parking was free after 6:30PM. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the host and shown to our table. Since it was a weeknight, it wasn't crowded, but they had plenty of seating available to accommodate parties of any size. The restaurant was clean, and the tables were decorated with simple floral arrangements. I particularly enjoyed the creative murals, which added personality to the space. What was ordered: Oxtail Meatballs- outstanding flavor, crisp outside, moist, and packed with meat on the inside. It was in no way, too saucy- the brown stew reduction was instead, well-balanced. A great way to start our meal. Cajun Mussels- It was tasty. Golden Gate Noodles with Short Ribs- could taste the soy sauce used to season the noodles, providing more asian inspired flavors, it was good. The ribs lacked some seasoning, but they were tender, and when paired with the noodles, it was perfect. Charm City Cakes- I really enjoyed the crab cakes. They were filling, meaty, and not overdone with mayo or breading. The salad that accompanied was very good as well. I wish we had room for dessert, as they presented great options. We did try their Mocktail, and it was great. We'd love to return. read more

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Summer has been a whirlwind of activity. With Autumn moving in, I'm intentionally scheduling time to reconnect & catch up with my folks. We selected Fraîche for dinner on a Friday night. I was excited since I've had this spot bookmarked and I'm a supporter of the talented Chef JR. Three of my gfs arrived before me & were seated at the VIP table. The large corner round table before you access the back seating area. Chef took a pic with them before I arrived. The restaurant was moderately full, but we were able to have conversation without the music & others disrupting. For starters, they ordered the sticky ribs, oxtail meatballs, & Rich Friend, Broke Friend deviled eggs. I don't eat red meat but they raved about the apps. They saved me 1 egg which was tasty. For mains, we ordered the mambo fried snapper, Charm City crab cakes, Bayou gumbo, & Golden Gate noodles w/ Shrimp. All the dishes came out fresh, fragrant, & flavor was on point. Since we were celebrating life in general, we shared desserts. The crème brûlée & butterscotch bread pudding were better than I had in New Orleans!! I can't wait to return to try more of the menu & for their amazing brunch! read more

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This place is super cute. Perfect for a night out with friends or a date night. I was there for a girls night and they were very accommodating. My friends were traveling from out of town and DC Traffic shifted all of our events for the weekend. They were able to move my 7pm reservation to 9:45 at the last minute. They also surprised us and sat us early when we arrived by 9:25, that was great and gave us enough time for the full experience. Our server, Olive, was a delight. Olive made sure we got the right drinks for each of our distinct tastes and explained the menu items greatly. She checked in with us a good amount of times without seeming like she was interrupting our girls night. Also, want to note that the music here is 10/10 and the PERFECT volume to allow me to enjoy the vibe and not yell at my friends. Ok, now for the important part: the food! I try deviled eggs every restaurant that has them. These were pretty solid, not the best but good. For apps, tried that and the mussels. The mussels were delicious. The Caesar salad was huge, but we split it. I'd love if they offered a side Caesar option. All of my friends loved their entrees. Only notes were that the lamb chops were pretty fatty and not enough meat. For me, my steak frites were more on the well done side opposed to the medium that I ordered. That was disappointing, but the flavor was there. This is what stopped the 5 star review! The 5 cheese Mac made up for my overcooked steak. I'd come back just for the Mac and cheese alone. The portion sizes were better than I thought they'd be and the Chef really nails the flavor on the dishes. I wish I had room for dessert, but I was stuffed. I'll certainly come back here again. read more

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Fraîche is located where the old Creole on 14th used to be, and the inside décor is beautiful. Shoutout to Chris Pyrate for some of the wall designs--they really stood out. I went here on a date, and I loved how each room had its own unique theme. Our waiter (can't remember his name) was personable and made the experience easygoing. For appetizers, we ordered the Cajun mussels. They looked good, but the flavor was lacking. They only tasted right when paired with the andouille sausage in the dish. Personally, I'd pass on those next time. The oxtail meatballs were the star of the night--genius execution and packed with oxtail. Honestly, they deserve their own dish, maybe a Rasta pasta or something featuring that same flavor. The butter lamb chops were another highlight--tender and melt-in-your-mouth good. The oxtail lasagna was okay, but I expected more after tasting the meatballs. I think it would have been a hit if they swapped out the marinara for a rich oxtail gravy-style sauce. The Brussels sprouts were fantastic--crispy and flavorful. For dessert, I tried the bread pudding. As a bread pudding lover, I found it just okay--it was a bit too firm for my taste. Overall, it was a cool experience, especially knowing the owner is Mr. Make It Happen. Some dishes definitely shine, but a few could use a little tweaking. read more

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Food is good but very overpriced and portions were small. At this price point the restaurant decor is far too casual. Plus nothing on the menu is French Caribbean. Gumbo is Creole cuisine. Oxtail meatballs with parmesan definitely do not count. read more

The ambiance was really nice, great customer service and loved the 90's R&B music. However, my food was too salty for my liking. I ordered the Bayou gumbo and I was unable to finish it. read more

Fraîche - Bayou Gumbo - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia